Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday the United States should not get involved in bilateral disputes over the relevant islands and reefs of Nansha Qundao, nor should it aid or abet the impulsion to make provocations.
China firmly upholds its territory, sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, Xi said, adding dialogue and consultation between states concerned is always the best way to manage differences in the South China Sea.
Xi made the remarks during his meeting with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru.
China and Russia on Tuesday had in-depth communication and reached a new consensus in their annual strategic security consultation, marking a high level of mutual trust between the two countries under the guidance of the two heads of state, which not only continues to boost bilateral cooperation, but also helps stabilize regional and global security amid major changes in the international landscape, Chinese analysts said.
China and Russia held the 19th round of their annual strategic security consultation in Beijing on Tuesday, with both sides exchanging in-depth views on major issues of common concern related to strategic security, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
The meeting was co-chaired by Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Sergei Shoigu, secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council.
Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, Wang said that under the leadership of the two heads of state, China-Russia relations have maintained sound, stable momentum amid changes in global affairs.
Both sides adhere to the principles of lasting good-neighborliness and friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination, and mutually beneficial cooperation, all of which serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples, Wang observed.
Wang said that China and Russia have supported each other firmly on issues concerning their core interests, deepened political mutual trust and promoted practical cooperation, creating a new model for relations between neighboring major countries, and significantly promoting solidarity and cooperation within the Global South.
Guided by the consensus reached by the two heads of state, the China-Russia strategic security consultation mechanism should strengthen coordination on strategic and overarching issues related to the security and development interests of both sides, Wang said.
Wang also called for enhanced exchange and multilateral coordination between the two countries amid the changing international landscape, so as to provide a strong guarantee for the high-level development momentum of China-Russia relations and ensure that the two countries work together to maintain global strategic stability.
Shoigu said that Russia is willing to work with China to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, and enhance bilateral cooperation and coordination within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, aiming to promote the continuous development of Russia-China relations.
Shoigu is attending the 19th round of the annual China-Russia strategic security consultation and the ninth meeting of the China-Russia law-enforcement and security cooperation mechanism in China from November 11 to 15, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
High-level mutual trust
Over the last decade or so, President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met over 40 times in various bilateral and multilateral settings, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Under the continuous guidance of the heads of state, China and Russia have close communication through diverse mechanisms and are transforming high-level strategic mutual trust into concrete cooperation in a wide range of sectors, Zhang Hong, a research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Sun Xiuwen, an associate professor at the Institute for Central Asian Studies at Lanzhou University, pointed to cooperation in aspects including the economy, energy and security.
The two countries also coordinate in multilateral mechanisms, which helps amplify the voice of non-Western countries, promote multipolarity and overlap with the needs of the Global South, Sun noted.
China and Russia, both permanent members of the UN Security Council and major world powers, are joining hands to uphold world peace, stability and security. Their strategic mutual trust and close coordination can help stabilize the region and avoid global crisis, Zhang said.
China supported Russia in hosting the latest BRICS summit in October, the first after the expansion of the BRICS mechanism, which is an epitome of the two countries' cooperation in multilateral architectures, including BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Zhang said.
According to Russian news agency Tass, Shoigu will also visit Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province. On Tuesday at the opening of the airshow, Russia's fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet made its public debut in China.
The schedule, in the context of Shoigu's entire visit, underscores that both China and Russia seek to communicate and coordinate amid recent major changes in international politics and their possible ripple effects, which will impact strategic security, technology and the economy, Sun said.
Sun believes that cooperation between China and Russia will continue in related sectors despite external noises and major changes in the international situation.
The steady development of China-Russia relations, while bringing benefits to the two countries, the region and the world, has made some Western countries uneasy.
Zhang explained that Europe has primary concerns over Russia's diplomatic actions. The West also feels anxious that the China-Russia partnership may pose a challenge to the West-dominated world order.
China-Russia relations feature non-alliance, non-confrontation and non-targeting of any third party, the right way for major countries to get along with each other, Zhang said.
However, such a new paradigm for major-country relations in a world in turbulence, which is based on long-term and stable win-win cooperation and solid mutual trust and respect, is misinterpreted by some countries who see the relationship through a confrontational perspective in the geopolitical game, Sun said.
Policies stemming from such a perspective tend to weaponize economics and other topics, with the aim to maintain hegemony, Sun said, citing unilateral sanctions. "But such an approach not only disturbs international cooperation, but can also backfire."
Malaysia and China's robust economic partnership and infrastructure connectivity can serve as a model for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), fostering regional cooperation and sharing of valuable development experiences. Their strong foundation in trade and investment synergy aligns with APEC 2024, underscoring China's pivotal role in regional integration and commitment to peace and prosperity, said Dato' Abdul Majit bin Ahmad Khan, president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association, in a recent interview with the Global Times. The 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting is currently underway in Lima, Peru.
The overarching theme for APEC 2024 is “Empower, Include, Grow,” and there are three priorities: first, trade and investment for inclusive and interconnected growth; second, innovation and digitalization to promote transition to the formal and global economy; and third, sustainable growth for resilient development.
Majid said the theme of the 2024 APEC summit reflects a commitment to inclusive economic growth and sustainable long-term development for the Asia-Pacific region. To achieve the stated goals, leaders need to focus on strengthening open and inclusive trade policies to drive economic growth that benefits all sectors of society, reducing tariffs and barriers, and promoting adoption of emerging technologies and accelerating digital transformation.
Malaysia and China have laid commendable foundations for trade and investment synergy, Majid noted, which can be a model for the APEC framework. The economic partnership between the two countries has further strengthened this linkage through infrastructure connectivity and people to people interactions under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). “Malaysia and China can share their experiences with the APEC member economies. Both APEC and the BRI advocate stronger regional cooperation and integration. China’s success in opening-up policies and green transformation can also be shared with APEC,” he said.
“Malaysia has benefitted from China’s success in green technology such as solar and hydro power, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and automation in its national green transformation program. Collaboration in R&D, training, data centers and scientific exchanges have increased in recent years. It is expected that this cooperation will contribute to Malaysia’s growth and prosperity as a win-win situation,” said Majid.
Majid stressed that as APEC strives to build a more prosperous and equitable order, there are challenges from countervailing forces of anti-globalization and protectionism. To counter this, the summit must continue to advocate for and advance the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). “Leaders should be committed to open market values and inclusive trade. The FTAAP can help create a framework that aligns with existing regional agreements, integrate sustainable practices such as a green supply chain, and strengthen digitized trade and investment policies.”
Majid expressed concerns that while green development has been embraced by member economies, the progress so far has been slow and uneven. A lack of resources and political will has hindered the green transformation, so the summit needs to prioritize strategies for promoting environmentally responsible growth, by supporting green technologies, encouraging sustainable business practices and transitioning to low-carbon energy.
“Leaders need to push for stronger collaboration on climate adaptation and mitigation, as well as initiatives to promote renewable energy, protect biodiversity and reduce waste. Asia-Pacific must place itself as a global leader in responsible and sustainable development,” he said.
Majid believes that as a member of the Asia-Pacific community, China has a crucial role to play in advancing the vision of APEC 2024 for empowerment, inclusion and growth that benefits all in the region. China has been exemplary in areas such as inclusive trade and investment, innovation and digitalization and sustainable development.
China’s development theme overlaps with that of APEC 2024 and China’s pivotal role in initiatives such as the BRI and active participation in APEC demonstrate its commitment to fostering regional integration and development, promoting peace, prosperity and shared growth in Asia-Pacific, he noted.
China has decided to issue five-year multiple-entry visas to qualified business individuals from the five Mekong countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, China Central Television reported on Thursday.
The decision was announced by Chinese Premier Li Qiang while he made remarks at the eighth Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit, which was held in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, from Wednesday to Thursday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
In the first three quarters of this year, Yunnan's import and export value to the five Mekong countries reached 78.92 billion yuan ($11 billion), accounting for 93.7 percent of its trade to the 10 countries of ASEAN, the Foreign Affairs Office of the Yunnan Provincial Government said on Wednesday.
By September, Yunnan had recorded a total of $8.714 billion of non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) in the Mekong River countries, and 680 non-financial ODI enterprises in the Mekong River countries had been registered and set up, according to data from Yunnan Provincial Department of Commerce.
Li said that China stands ready to work with Mekong countries to deepen the "hard connectivity" of infrastructure, and enhance "soft connectivity" on policies, laws, supervision, rules and standards.
China will strive to facilitate the use of cross-border payments and local currency settlements, proactively create more cross-border cooperation demonstration zones, and accelerate the process of regional economic integration, Li added.
"China stands ready to work with Mekong countries to deepen cooperation in the new energy battery, automobile and PV industries, and expand cooperation in emerging areas such as clean energy, smart manufacturing, big data and smart cities," Li said.
Li noted that since the establishment of the GMS mechanism, it has increasingly become an important platform for China and Mekong countries to explore cooperation and promote development. Thanks to concerted efforts, regional economic cooperation has made new progress with growing trade and investment, greater connectivity, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation, and deepening affinity between people. The fruitful cooperation outcomes speak volumes about the vitality and strong resilience of the GMS mechanism.
In a bid to promote sustainable development and economic integration in the region, the GMS Summit is themed "Toward a Better Community Through Innovation-driven Development." Leaders of the five Mekong countries and President of the Asian Development Bank attended the summit upon China's invitation.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has stressed sound protection and in-depth research on ancient bamboo and wooden slips.
Xi made the remarks during his visit to an exhibition featuring slips dating back to the Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.-207 B.C.) and the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220 A.D.) at a museum in Yunmeng County, central China's Hubei Province, on Monday afternoon.
The return capsule of the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship, carrying astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Monday.
An unexpected ostrich, standing higher than an adult, was recently spotted running through a motorway in Xuzhou, East China’s Jiangsu Province, CCTV reported on Monday.
The local police station in Suining county, Xuzhou, received a call from the public reporting an ostrich running on the motorway on October 23. According to a video from CCTV, passing cars were getting out of the way to avoid the ostrich as it ran unpredictably and freely. Local police, along with bystanders, eventually managed to intercept the ostrich at an intersection.
The police found that the ostrich belonged to a nearby farmer and subsequently returned it to its owner, as reported by CCTV. According to the police, the owner had been occupied with fieldwork that day, which allowed the ostrich to escape through a gap in the fence.
The ostrich owner promised to be more vigilant in guarding the ostrich in the future to prevent future escapes, according to local police in Suining. The police reminded animal owners to take their responsibilities seriously and advised drivers in similar situations to prioritize safety.
Calling it the most important trip of the year, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico kicked off his official visit to China on Thursday. This visit is also viewed as having significant practical and positive political implications by some Chinese analysts, who said that it could deepen pragmatic cooperation between Slovakia and China, establish a model for China-EU cooperation and help improve China-EU relations, especially amid ongoing disputes over tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs).
Fico arrived in Beijing on Thursday, reported Chinese news network CGTN.
During a session of the National Council of the Slovak Republic on October 24, Fico stated that he views the official visit to China as "the most significant trip of the year."
Fico's visit to China holds significant and positive political implications. Over the past few years, he has adopted a pragmatic and friendly approach toward China, making Slovakia-China cooperation in strategic level a model among central European nations, Zhao Junjie, senior research fellow at the Institute of European Studies at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Fico had originally planned to visit China in June but had to postpone due to injuries he sustained from an assassination attempt in May, Slovak news website Hnonline.sk reported.
Zhao said that some Central and Eastern European countries, including Slovakia, have strong desire to collaborate with China in new energy sectors, especially in electric vehicles and battery production, and they remain open to Chinese investment.
Given Europe's current economic downturn and high unemployment rate, attracting Chinese investment and fostering high-tech cooperation are crucial for future development and will boost local economies, said Zhao, noting that Fico's visit underscores his pragmatic approach with the goal of strengthening economic and technological ties with China.
The Prime Minister rejected claims that his trip threatens Slovakia's economy.
According to him, if anyone threatens the economy of the Slovak Republic, it is the green deal approved by the EU. Next year, according to him, it will experience difficult economic times due to its decisions, according to news portal European Newsroom.
On Tuesday, the European Union decided to impose the so-called countervailing duties on Chinese EVs, ranging from 17 percent to 35.3 percent, according to the European Commission's press release.
Zhao said that against the background of trade frictions, political trust between China and the EU has somewhat weakened. Some countries face challenges in maintaining strategic autonomy amid great power game, particularly in light of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the EU's increasing alignment with the US. Therefore, Fico's China visit holds particular significance, Zhao noted.
Slovakia and Hungary stand out among Central and Eastern European nations for their pragmatic approach toward China, and high-level interactions are vital for improving China-Europe relations, the expert said.
China on Tuesday unveiled the design of the Haolong space cargo shuttle. It is an independently developed, reusable commercial winged spacecraft for low-cost space station cargo transport missions, the Global Times learned from the spacecraft’s maker.
Lin Xiqiang, spokesperson of the China Manned Space Agency, announced the selection progress of China’s development plans for low-cost cargo spacecraft and manned lunar rover at a press conference for the Shenzhou-19 manned spaceflight mission on Tuesday.
The Haolong space cargo shuttle, developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), was among the winning projects, and was awarded a contract for the engineering flight verification phase.
The spacecraft of this type can be launched by a carrier rocket and dock with the space station. After separating from the space station, it can perform deorbit braking, reentry flight, before landing horizontally on an airport runway. After checking and maintenance, it can be reused in future missions, the Global Times learned from AVIC.
Featuring a large wingspan, high lift-to-drag ratio and reusable vehicle technology, the Haolong is a winged, reusable commercial space vehicle that can further reduce the cost of cargo transportation to the space station, according to the maker.
It has large capacities for cargo transport both to and from the space station, excellent flight environment and efficient support for operations. It can further reduce space station cargo transport cost by repeated use. Together with the existing cargo transportation systems, it aims to establish a safe, reliable, diverse, and efficient cargo transportation system between the space station and Earth. A model of the Haolong is scheduled to make debut at the 15th Airshow China, which will be held from November 12 to 17 in Zhuhai, South China’s Guangdong Province, as AVIC will display the spacecraft from all angles, the company said.
The Haolong cargo spacecraft will lead and promote further breakthroughs and developments in China’s reusable space-Earth transportation technologies, enabling China’s steps to explore space to go steadier and farther, while making new contributions to the well-being of humanity, AVIC said.
