Friends of Socialist China, Author at Friends of Socialist China

CPC delegation visits Egypt and Tanzania

As reported by the Xinhua News Agency, Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC), led a CPC delegation to visit Egypt and Tanzania from May 17 to 20.

On May 20, the Dialogue between the CPC and the six sister parties in Southern Africa was held at Tanzania’s Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School. Centered on the theme “strengthening solidarity and cooperation, advancing side by side on the path to modernisation”, it was attended by Liu Haixing and leaders of the six sister parties, including Asha-Rose Migiro, Secretary General of Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi Party (CCM); Ludmila Maguni, Secretary for Foreign Relations of the Central Committee of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO); Nomvula Mokonyane, First Deputy Secretary-General of the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa; Sophia Shaningwa, Secretary General of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) Party of Namibia; Gonçalves Muandumba, Secretary of Organisation and Mobilisation of the Central Committee of the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA); and Munyaradzi Machacha, National Political Commissar of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).

Liu noted that, over the years, the CPC and the six sister parties have forged an unbreakable brotherhood in the fight against imperialism and colonialism and blazed a distinctive path of cooperation in the journey of development and rejuvenation. Against a complex and grave international landscape, further deepening solidarity and cooperation between the CPC and the six sister parties meets the shared aspirations of the people of China and the six Southern African countries and aligns with the global trend of unity and self-strengthening among the Global South. The CPC stands ready to work with the six sister parties to implement the important consensus reached between General Secretary Xi Jinping and the top leaders of the six parties, draw wisdom and strength from their shared struggles, carry forward fine traditions, and remain good comrades for mutual learning, good partners for common development, good brothers for mutual support, and good friends for solidarity and coordination. No matter how the international situation evolves, the CPC will work with the six sister parties to practice true multilateralism, advance the implementation of the four major global initiatives, and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Leaders of the six sister parties in Southern Africa noted, over the 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between African countries and China, China has been a staunch supporter and reliable cooperation partner of Africa. They spoke highly of the remarkable development achievements made by China under the CPC’s leadership, and commended China for firmly safeguarding the interests of developing countries on international and regional issues. Facing mounting internal and external pressures, many African political parties are thinking and exploring future development paths. They believed that political liberation without economic prosperity is incomplete and unsustainable. Africa is embracing a new wave of pursuit of economic independence. Africa’s modernisation drive shares core commonalities with China’s path to modernisation.

Global view of China grows more positive

The following brief article from China Daily discusses a recent report noting that China is viewed increasingly positively across much of the world. This tallies with multiple recent surveys, which indicate that even in the West, China is seen more favourably than it was previously.

The article includes comments from Friends of Socialist China co-editor Carlos Martinez:

China’s increasingly positive image is a reflection of its concrete achievements: lifting hundreds of millions of its own people out of poverty, building productive infrastructure throughout the Global South, leading the global green energy transition, and consistently advocating for peace, multipolarity, sovereignty and win-win cooperation. Young people in particular are increasingly positive about China, particularly its orientation toward peace and its commitment to green tech. This is feeding into a ‘Chinamaxxing’ phenomenon that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago.

As to why Europe has a more negative view of China than the Global South does, Carlos remarks that “this reflects the political crisis of a continent caught between its inherited Atlanticist commitments and a rapidly changing world. But even there, the US now scores far worse than China – a striking measure of how unilateralism in this era has unsettled even Washington’s closest allies”.

China is viewed positively across much of the world, a recent study has said, with experts attributing it to the country’s governance achievements.

China receives net positive ratings — measured as the percentage of positive views minus negative ones — across most regions surveyed, including the Americas, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa, according to the report, commissioned by a Europe-based nonprofit organization in partnership with Nira Data, published earlier in May.

Global country perceptions, part of the report, are based on responses from a sample of 46,600 people across 85 countries and regions, conducted between March 19 and April 21.

Regionally, particularly favorable perceptions of China were found in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as sub-Saharan Africa.

“China’s increasingly positive image is a reflection of its concrete achievements: lifting hundreds of millions of its own people out of poverty, building productive infrastructure throughout the Global South, leading the global green energy transition, and consistently advocating for peace, multipolarity, sovereignty and win-win cooperation,” Carlos Martinez, cofounder of the Friends of Socialist China platform, told China Daily.

China and Russia agree joint statement on Further Strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation and Deepening Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation

Among the 40 agreements concluded during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s May 19-20 successful state visit to China the most comprehensive was the joint statement on Further Strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation and Deepening Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation.

At a little over 11,700 words, it covers a huge range of bilateral and international issues testifying to the close coordination, consensus and complementarity that has been painstakingly built between the world’s two main anti-hegemonic powers.

Some of the salient points in the joint statement are as follows:

This year marks the 30th anniversary of both sides’ declaration of their determination to develop a strategic partnership of cooperation for the 21st century based on equal trust and equality, and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation.

The Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation inherits and promotes the long-standing tradition of China-Russia exchanges, follows recognised principles and norms of international law, and lays a long-term legal foundation for the development of contemporary China-Russia relations. It not only fully demonstrates the long-standing good-neighbourly friendship and the willingness to develop intergenerational friendship between the peoples of both countries, but also concretely embodies the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom for all humanity.

The basic principles of bilateral cooperation established in the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation have stood the test of time and still hold significant practical significance today. The bilateral relationship is characterised by non-alignment, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of third countries.

Both sides agreed to extend the treaty in accordance with Article 25 of the Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation, and will continue to abide by the principles and spirit of the treaty.

Both sides will continue to consolidate the traditional friendship between the two militaries, enhance mutual trust in the military field, improve cooperation mechanisms, expand joint exercises and joint sea and air patrols, strengthen coordination under bilateral and multilateral frameworks, jointly address various risks and challenges, and jointly safeguard global and regional security and stability.

Both sides emphasised the need to protect memorial facilities for martyrs who died in World War II within each other’s territories, and will continue cooperation in the protection and management of these facilities, jointly promoting the search and extraction of martyrs and missing remains, commemorating and honouring heroes, and improving the foundations of relevant laws and regulations.

Both sides highly appreciated the further deepening of coordination and cooperation under the tripartite mechanism involving Mongolia, as well as the prospects for the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor and will actively promote the implementation and cooperation of key joint projects under the framework of this corridor. Both sides agreed to assist Mongolia in joining the regional integration process, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Both sides will further strengthen cooperation in the protection of wildlife such as the Amur tiger, Amur leopard, giant panda, golden snub-nosed monkey, and migratory birds, and enhance the exchange of management experiences in nature reserves.

Both sides agreed to strengthen close cooperation in environmental protection and water resources. Continue to deepen cooperation in cross-border water and hydrological flood reporting and flood control to ensure flood safety in border areas between the two countries. Continue to deepen practical cooperation in water quality protection across boundary water bodies, maintain cooperation on emergency liaison for sudden ecological environmental incidents, promote the construction of a network of transboundary nature reserves, protect biodiversity, strengthen cooperation in waste management, and continue to advance nature conservation cooperation under the framework of the G20, BRICS, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and the Northeast Asia subregional environmental protection cooperation program.

Both sides agreed to deepen pragmatic cooperation between China and the Eurasian Economic Union under the framework of the “Agreement on Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and the Eurasian Economic Union,” and to continuously advance the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union development plan in areas such as transportation, logistics, transportation, digitalisation, e-commerce, policy coordination and elimination of trade barriers, food, and agricultural product trade. Both sides believe that this dialogue mechanism is crucial for promoting trade cooperation, facilitating deepening economic integration and connectivity in the Asia-Pacific and Eurasian regions, and advancing the joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative and the establishment of the Greater Eurasian Partnership. Both sides are willing to further upgrade and expand the institutional arrangements for economic and trade cooperation between China and the Eurasian Economic Union and its member states.

China and Russia issue joint statement on advocating global multipolarity and new types of international relations

One important outcome of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s May 19-20 state visit to China was the adoption of a Joint Statement on Advocating Global Multipolarity and New Types of International Relations.

Without criticising any country by name, it sets out a democratic program for a new world fundamentally at odds with the arbitrary and aggressive paradigm followed by the imperialist and hegemonist powers headed by the United States.

The statement begins by noting that: “Both the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation have long histories and civilisations, are founding members of the United Nations and permanent members of the Security Council, and are important forces in a multipolar world, playing a constructive role in maintaining the global balance of power and improving the international relations system.”

Noting that since the end of World War II, the international landscape and balance of power have accelerated their evolution, it goes on:

“On one hand, the wave of decolonisation and the end of the Cold War have greatly increased the number of sovereign countries worldwide, making the international community more diverse and complex. The development level and international influence of countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean have surged, and the number of regional and transregional organisations has surged, covering areas such as international politics, security, economy, and cultural cooperation, with their roles in global affairs continuously growing.”

However: “Some countries arbitrarily manipulate international affairs, impose their interests worldwide with colonial-era thinking, and restrict the development of other sovereign nations [but this has] completely failed.”

Rather: “The international relations system of the 21st century is undergoing profound transformation, gradually evolving toward multipolarity and new types of international relations.”

But: “The international situation is becoming increasingly complex, with unilateral coercion, hegemonism, bloc confrontation, and neo-colonialism surging against the currents. International law and basic norms of international relations are being continuously trampled, making it even harder for many global governance institutions to coordinate actions between states and mediate international disputes and to operate effectively. World peace and development face new risks and challenges, with the danger of fragmentation and regression to the law of the jungle within the international community.”

The statement then makes a number of calls:

Adhere to openness, inclusiveness, and mutually beneficial cooperation. We should respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and uniqueness of each country, and respect the development paths and models chosen independently by each sovereign nation. There is no universal development path in the world, nor is there any country or nation superior to others. In the complex international landscape, natural differences between countries should not become obstacles to developing equal, mutually beneficial, and mutually respectful interstate relations. Unilateral means to solve common problems, any form of hegemonic or coercive policies, are unacceptable.

Adhere to safety, equality, and indivisibility. Against the backdrop of growing risks and challenges facing humanity, building a more united international community means that one country’s security cannot come at the expense of another’s security. All sovereign states enjoy equal rights to ensure their own security. We should pay attention to the legitimate security concerns of all countries, strengthen coordination on security issues, resist bloc confrontation and ‘zero-sum games,’ oppose the expansion of military alliances, hybrid wars, and proxy wars, and advocate for the construction of a balanced, effective, and sustainable new global and regional security architecture.

Adhere to promoting the democratisation of international relations and improving the global governance system. All countries and national groups are free to choose partners and international cooperation models. Hegemonism is unacceptable and should be resisted. No country or group of countries may control international affairs, dominate the fate of other countries, or monopolise development advantages. Upholding multilateralism is the main approach to solving complex global problems, and its role should be strengthened to prevent the UN’s authority from being weakened. Reforms of the United Nations and other multilateral institutions should serve the interests of all humanity and continuously enhance the representation and voice of developing countries in the international system. Rules established by a few countries cannot replace universally accepted international laws. A major power should earnestly shoulder its special responsibilities and missions, strengthen self-restraint, and refrain from abusing its own strength.

Uphold world civilisation and value diversity. All human civilisations are equal and possess unique value, with no superiority or inferiority. No civilisation’s moral and spiritual system should be regarded as exclusive or superior to other civilisations.

Both sides agreed that they will continue to develop a shared vision for building a multipolar world and a more just new type of international relations.

China stands with Cuba against illegal indictment of Raúl Castro

On 20 May, the Trump administration unsealed a federal criminal indictment in Miami against 94-year-old Raúl Castro – former president of Cuba and one of the historic leaders of the Cuban Revolution – along with five other Cuban officials. The indictment, on charges including conspiracy to kill US nationals and the destruction of aircraft, was a calculated political provocation at a moment of maximum US pressure on the island.

China’s response, the following day, was unambiguous: a public rebuke calling on Washington to “stop wielding the big stick of sanctions and judicial measures against Cuba”, and a reaffirmation of Beijing’s firm support for Cuban sovereignty.

In the following article, our co-editor Carlos Martinez situates the indictment in the wider US regime-change campaign, examines China’s diplomatic and material solidarity with Cuba, and traces the six-decade partnership that gives it weight.

On Wednesday 20 May the Trump administration unsealed a federal criminal indictment in Miami against 94-year-old Raúl Castro, former President of Cuba and one of the key historic leaders of the Cuban Revolution, alongside five other Cuban officials. The charges include conspiracy to kill US nationals, four counts of murder, and two counts of destruction of aircraft.

The pretext given is the 1996 downing by Cuban air force MiGs of two aircraft operated by the Miami-based exile group “Brothers to the Rescue”.

The indictment is a transparent political provocation. As the Cuban government made clear in its statement on the subject, “Brothers to the Rescue” was not a humanitarian organisation but a counter-revolutionary terrorist operation founded by long-time CIA-linked Cuban exile José Basulto, which had violated Cuban airspace at least 25 times between 1994 and 1996, despite formal complaints filed by Cuba with the US State Department, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

The downing of this terrorist group’s aircraft was nothing more than the defence of Cuban sovereign airspace – an act of self-defence explicitly protected by the United Nations Charter, the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, and the established principles of air sovereignty and proportionality.

Meanwhile, the hypocrisy is breathtaking. The same US government accusing Cuba of murder has, in recent months, killed nearly 200 people and destroyed 57 vessels in international waters of the Caribbean and the Pacific, on obviously false allegations of drug trafficking. These are, in the precise legal terms used by the Cuban government, “extrajudicial executions” under international law, and murders under US law itself. The accuser is the world’s most prolific extrajudicial killer.

The Castro indictment is not an isolated legal proceeding. It is the latest move in an open campaign of regime change. The Trump administration has tightened the six-decade economic blockade into a full-scale genocidal energy embargo, threatening tariffs against any country selling oil to Cuba and cutting fuel imports by an estimated 90 percent. Blackouts of up to 22 hours a day are the result, with all the disastrous impact on people’s lives that might be expected.

Trump himself has openly stated that the goal is to bring down the Cuban government “by the end of this year”, and asked at the press conference about the indictment whether he was considering a military kidnapping (as carried out against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Combatant Cilia Flores), replied only that he “didn’t want to say”. South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham, a highly influential (albeit utterly deranged) figure in the Trump camp, went on record after the start of the US-Israel war on Iran saying that “Cuba’s next”.

China’s response

On 21 May, asked by Cuba’s Prensa Latina news agency about the indictment, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters that Beijing “firmly opposes” illegal unilateral sanctions that lack any basis in international law or authorisation from the UN Security Council, and stands “against abusing judicial means and exerting pressure on Cuba under any pretext by external forces”.

The United States, he continued, “should stop wielding the big stick of sanctions and judicial measures against Cuba, and stop threatening Cuba with force at every turn”. China, he affirmed, “firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and national dignity, and opposes external interference”.

To condemn US aggression in such a direct and unequivocal way, in response to a question from a Cuban journalist, in front of the world’s press, is a significant diplomatic statement. It is a direct rebuke of the US government’s illegal and immoral campaign against Cuba, and a clear declaration of solidarity with Cuba’s Revolutionary Government.

This comes just a day after Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin called out “treacherous military strikes against other countries, the hypocritical use of negotiations as cover for preparing such strikes, the assassination of leaders of sovereign states, the destabilisation of the domestic political situation in these states and the provocation of regime change, and the brazen kidnapping of national leaders for trial”.

Such strident denunciations of the wars on Iran and Lebanon, the assassination of Sayyid Ali Khamenei, the kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores and the indictment of Raúl Castro represent a shift towards a more assertive tone, and send a clear signal that the US’s criminal and imperial conduct will not be tolerated.

A solidarity built over six decades

China-Cuba relations go back many decades. In September 1960, Cuba became the first country in the Western Hemisphere to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic. Fidel Castro always identified strongly with the Chinese Revolution, describing China in 2004 as “the most promising hope and the best example for all Third World countries”.

Visiting China in 1994, Fidel famously said: “If you want to talk about socialism, let us not forget what socialism achieved in China. At one time it was the land of hunger, poverty, disasters. Today there is none of that. Today China can feed, dress, educate, and care for the health of 1.2 billion people. I think China is a socialist country, and Vietnam is a socialist nation as well. And they insist that they have introduced all the necessary reforms in order to motivate national development and to continue seeking the objectives of socialism.”

Xi Jinping has, in turn, called the China-Cuba relationship “an exemplary case of solidarity and cooperation between socialist countries”. Cuba joined the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018 and the Belt and Road Energy Partnership in 2021.

In recent years, that partnership has become a lifeline. China has committed to building 92 solar parks in Cuba by 2028 – with a combined capacity of roughly 2 gigawatts, equivalent to Cuba’s entire current fossil-fuel generation. More than half are already online. Cuba’s solar share of electricity generation has risen from 5.8 percent to over 20 percent in twelve months – in the words of energy analyst Dave Jones, “one of the most rapid solar revolutions” anywhere in the world.

In January 2026, Xi Jinping personally approved $80 million in emergency financial aid for electrical equipment, alongside a donation of 60,000 tons of rice. Beijing has also delivered 10,000 photovoltaic systems for isolated homes, maternity wards and clinics. Chinese Ambassador to Cuba Hua Xin summarises the relationship as one of “firm support under all circumstances”.

The Trump administration’s indictment of Raúl Castro is a calculated provocation, choreographed to threaten and humiliate at a moment of maximum US pressure. It will not succeed. Cuba’s Revolutionary Government has reaffirmed its “unwavering decision to defend the Homeland and its Socialist Revolution”.

China – the world’s largest economy by purchasing power, its largest manufacturer, and the most important member and partner of the Global South – continues to stand squarely behind Cuba and against hegemonism in all its forms.

Pakistan Prime Minister to visit China as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari exchanged congratulatory messages on May 21, marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between their two countries.

Xi said that China and Pakistan are good friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners linked by mountains and rivers and sharing weal and woe. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 75 years ago, no matter how the international situation has changed, the friendship between China and Pakistan has always remained rock-solid and unbreakable.

For his part, Zardari said the Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership has stood the test of time and become a steadfast pillar for regional peace, stability and development. Pakistan sincerely appreciates China’s steadfast support for Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity and promoting its economic and social development, said Zardari, adding that his country will continue to support China on issues concerning its core interests and further elevate the Pakistan-China friendship to new levels.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also exchanged congratulatory messages.

Also on May 21, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that at the invitation of Premier Li Qiang, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will pay an official visit to China from May 23-26.

Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing that Sharif’s visit is an important high-level exchange between China and Pakistan on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will meet with Sharif and Premier Li Qiang will hold talks with him.

Noting that China and Pakistan are good friends and all-weather strategic cooperative partners, Guo said that over the past 75 years, China-Pakistan relations have stood all tests and remained rock-solid, setting a fine example for state-to-state relations. He added that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two countries, the two sides have maintained close high-level exchanges and steadily advanced practical cooperation, yielding fruitful outcomes in the high-quality development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Meanwhile, Cai Dafeng, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC), led a delegation to visit Pakistan from May 20-22 at the invitation of the National Assembly of Pakistan.

During his stay, Cai met with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, and attended the commemorative activities marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan together with the four Pakistani leaders.

The Trump-Xi summit: stalemate or stabilisation?

In the following article, which was originally published in the Morning Star, Jenny Clegg assesses the recent state visit to China by US President Donald Trump and argues that, “for all the ceremony and general bonhomie there seemed in the end to be little for Trump — who asked for the meeting in the first place — to show for it.”

Referring to Trump’s talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Jenny notes that: “Xi’s opening remarks were then apposite, warning in no uncertain terms about the dangers of war as he referenced the Thucydides Trap — the scenario when a rising power and a declining power go to war — the subject of much debate recently in US foreign policy circles.

“Xi then drew the red line on Taiwan, his eyes on Trump in an effort to impress upon him the importance of laying off the island. He, in effect, was telling Trump: don’t make a mess of relations with China like the mess you’ve made in the Middle East.”

Having reviewed the steadily mounting US hostility in the nine years since a US president – also Donald Trump – visited China, Jenny concludes:

“Meanwhile China’s popularity with the American people has grown even as Trump’s approval rating drops: 72 per cent of the US public now say they don’t see China as an enemy.”

Referring to the large number of top US capitalists who accompanied the president, she notes: “The fact that Trump, fielding the better part of the top echelons of the US ruling class, came away with so little is remarkable.

“More than anything he was looking for a big economic win to take back to the US electorate — but discussions about China’s purchase of Boeing aircraft and those millions of tons of soya beans are only ‘preliminary.’ Such was the disappointment that as the summit ended Boeing’s shares fell.”

China’s view that the Hormuz strait should reopen and Iran should not have nuclear weapons is nothing new and whilst Trump’s threats and wars may continue and even intensify elsewhere, greater stability in relations between the world’s two major powers may also create breathing space in other areas, easing pressure on countries to choose between the US and China. Jenny concludes that:

“As space for manoeuvre among Global South countries increases, their growing autonomy will keep driving the multipolar trend forward.”

The eyes of the world were on Beijing and the much-hyped Xi-Trump meeting last week, but for all the ceremony and general bonhomie there seemed in the end to be little for Trump — who asked for the meeting in the first place — to show for it.

It is of course a good thing that the leaders of the two largest economic powers met, and Trump’s invitation to Xi to visit the White House in September – which Xi accepted — indicates a certain degree of stability amid the international chaos he has wreaked elsewhere. So rather than pass by on the event as much ado about nothing, it is worth taking stock.

President Putin makes historic 25th visit to China

Testifying to the exceptionally close friendly relations between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation, Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a state visit to China, May 19-20, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. It was the Russian leader’s 25^th visit to China since he first assumed the presidency of his country.

President Putin arrived in Beijing at night on May 19 and was warmly welcomed at the airport by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the political bureau of the central committee of the Communist Party of China. The substantive business of the visit was conducted throughout an intense May 20.

On the morning of May 20, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Putin at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The talks were held consecutively in small and large group formats and the two presidents agreed to further extend the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation.

According to the report published by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, President Xi noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation Between China and Russia. The signing of the treaty established by law the institutional foundation of long-term good-neighbourliness, friendship and comprehensive strategic coordination. Since then, the bilateral relationship has achieved leapfrog development. China-Russia relations have come this far step by step, “precisely because we have kept deepening political mutual trust and strategic coordination with unyielding tenacity, expanded all-round cooperation with a drive to always scale new heights, and defended international justice and fairness and advanced the building of a community with a shared future for humanity with unflappable resolve. Under the current international situation, as permanent members of the UN Security Council and important major countries in the world, China and Russia should take a strategic and long-term perspective, drive the development and revitalisation of our respective countries through comprehensive strategic coordination of even higher quality, and work to make the global governance system more just and equitable. The two sides should deepen multilateral coordination, further increase coordination and collaboration on multilateral platforms such as the UN, the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation), BRICS and APEC, unswervingly uphold the postwar international order and the authority of international law, unite the Global South, and steer the reform of the global governance system in the right direction.”

President Putin said that Russia-China cooperation is an important stabilising factor in the turbulent international environment. Russia is ready to continue to strengthen multilateral coordination with China, support China in hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, jointly enhance the standing and influence of the SCO, strengthen BRICS unity and coordination, uphold the authority of the UN, advocate diversity of civilisations, and make the international order more just and equitable.

Following the talks, the two heads of state signed and issued the Joint Statement Between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Further Strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Coordination and Deepening Good-Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation and witnessed the signing of 20 cooperation documents in such areas as economy and trade, education, and science and technology.

Cuban commentary on the Xi Trump summit

In the following article, which is reproduced from Resumen Latinoamericano and the Global South, veteran Cuban journalist Luis Manuel Arce Issac writes that:

“Trump’s visit to China highlighted Xi Jinping’s rise and the United States’ global decline in the economy, technology, and international leadership.”

According to Arce: “There is a consensus that… in a year and a few months as president in his second term, the Republican leader set his country back on all fronts with his failed goal of weakening China… China’s strategy has extraordinarily outperformed the US strategy due to a degree of effectiveness that ideologues and political and economic leaders allied with Trump never foresaw or imagined: while they filled the world with wars of all kinds to achieve their goals through brute force, Xi Jinping did the opposite by prioritising peace and mutually beneficial collaboration, with surprisingly positive results.”

He concludes: “While Xi Jinping builds factors of balance and dialogue, Trump destroys what little the US had left and speaks on equal footing with only three countries: China, Russia, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea—all of which are also nuclear powers.

“Outside that narrow framework, it treats even its European allies with contempt and points its guns and missiles at the heads of others or surrounds them with its destroyers and aircraft carriers.

“In short, the US is a power in decline, while China is on the rise.”

Luis Manuel Arce Issac is a Cuban journalist with more than six decades of uninterrupted professional experience. He served as a war correspondent in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Nicaragua, and as a correspondent for the Prensa Latina news agency in countries such as Venezuela, Uruguay, Spain, and Mexico. He served as spokesperson for Commander Ernesto “Che” Guevara when Guevara was Cuba’s Minister of Industry and was part of the group of journalists who covered the overseas trips of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro. He has received awards and honours for his journalistic work in Cuba, Vietnam, Venezuela, and Mexico.

Communist youth see Chinese socialism in action

In the following article, which was originally published by People’s World, Cameron Harrison reflects on what he learned from his participation in the recent delegation to China of young cadres from communist parties in Europe and North America. Cameron represented the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) on the visit.

Noting that the delegation partially overlapped with the state visit of US President Donald Trump, he writes:

“Traveling as a delegate of the Communist Party USA alongside 20 other young communists from 18 countries across Europe and North America, I spent two weeks abroad in a youth delegation organised by the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC). With an average age of just 27, and unlike the billionaires in Washington, our delegation didn’t come to trade diplomatic pleasantries and attempt to secure zero-sum corporate market access. We came to witness what they call ‘socialism with Chinese characteristics,’ a living alternative to the decaying, financialised capitalism that currently grips the Western world… While the Trump administration enforces punishing tariff wars that squeeze workers in my city of Detroit with inflation and layoffs, China’s socialist project is demonstrating what becomes possible when a society is built around the needs of a multi-ethnic working class rather than the dictates of the billionaire class.”

He further illustrates this by reference to China’s achievements in poverty alleviation, putting AI in the service of the working class, and the revolution in green development:

“China is currently executing the most aggressive green transition in human history. Here, the planet is treated as a valuable and essential productive force with economic, social, and cultural value.”

Revolutionary history also formed an important part of the trip:

“Between rides on the country’s whisper-quiet autonomous metro systems and ultra-high-speed bullet trains, our delegation spent long hours tracing the historical roots of these contemporary accomplishments of the CPC. We walked the mountain pathways of Yan’an, the revolutionary city where Mao and the CPC Central Committee headquartered from 1937 to 1947 to organise the resistance against Japanese aggression.

“We stood in the dwellings of Liangjiahe Village, where a young Xi Jinping spent seven years doing hard manual labour alongside local peasants… It was here that the now General Secretary solidified his understanding of the ‘mass line’—the core communist practice of consulting the masses, distilling their practical needs, and translating those needs into state policy.”

Cameron also writes about coming across a statue depicting Mao alongside Edgar Snow—the courageous American journalist who braved the Kuomintang blockades in the 1930s to tell the true story of the Chinese Revolution to Western readers in his seminal book, Red Star Over China.

Ho Chi Minh’s birthday marked in China

May 19 was the 136^th birthday of the Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh.

As part of its coverage of the anniversary, the newspaper Nhân Dân reported on an interview given by Chinese cultural and historical scholar Xie Chaode regarding Ho’s activities in the Chinese regions of Guangxi, Guangzhou and Yunnan during a crucial preparatory stage of the Vietnamese revolution. It writes that at a time when Vietnam’s revolutionary movement was still in its infancy, young patriot Nguyen Ai Quoc, later known as Ho Chi Minh, lived and operated under extreme hardships, constantly relocating to evade persecution while secretly mobilising and rallying revolutionary forces. These years of revolutionary activities in China were decisive in shaping both his political ideology and strategy for liberating Vietnam.

In particular, Guangxi then served as a gathering place for overseas Vietnamese and various Chinese revolutionary groups. There, Ho forged ties with patriotic organisations, absorbed revolutionary theory, and studied Chinese revolutionary experience before adapting those lessons to Vietnam’s struggle for independence.

Li Jie, a tour guide at Nanyang Hotel Memorial House in Liuzhou, Guangxi, said that during President Ho Chi Minh’s stay there, he produced a body of literary works and poems that reflected resilience, determination, and an unbroken will under hardships, all while operating in secrecy. He later relocated to Guangzhou where he ran political and military training courses and educated core personnel for Vietnam’s revolutionary cause.

Xie stressed that President Ho Chi Minh’s activities in China not only made critical contributions to Vietnam’s revolutionary struggle but also embodied the traditional friendship cultivated between the two peoples across multiple historical periods.

Nhân Dân also reported that on May 19, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Hong Kong organised a flower-offering ceremony in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the Tai Kwun heritage site, a historic place closely associated with his revolutionary activities, including the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and his detention in Hong Kong in the early 1930s.

Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong and Macao Le Duc Hanh said that every year on May 19, the Consulate General joins members of the Vietnamese community in in visiting Tai Kwun, formerly Victoria Prison, where President Ho Chi Minh was arrested and imprisoned during his revolutionary activities.

She said the annual activity recalls a pivotal chapter in Vietnam’s revolutionary history while reminding younger generations of the sacrifices, hardships and moral example set by the country’s early revolutionary leaders in the struggle for national independence and reunification.

In addition to Tai Kwun, Hong Kong is home to several other historic landmarks linked to President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary activities in the early 20th century, including Sung Wong Toi Park, where a stone from Sung Wong Toi Hill marks the site where he convened the conference leading to the establishment of the CPV. House No. 186 Tam Kung also served as one of his secret residences before his arrest. Hanh noted that the Tai Kwun heritage site has been restored and preserved by the Hong Kong authorities, with exhibitions documenting President Ho Chi Minh’s activities and locations associated with his revolutionary journey.

The following articles were originally published by Nhân Dân.

Chinese scholar reflects on President Ho Chi Minh’s footsteps in Guangxi

May 17 (Nhân Dân) – At a time when Viet Nam’s revolutionary movement was still in its infancy, young patriot Nguyen Ai Quoc, later known as Ho Chi Minh, lived and operated under extremely hardships, constantly relocating to evade persecution while secretly mobilising and rallying revolutionary forces.

President Ho Chi Minh’s years of revolutionary activities in China were decisive in shaping both his political ideology and strategy for liberating Viet Nam, Chinese cultural and historical scholar Xie Chaode told Viet Nam News Agency reporters in Beijing.

Xie said President Ho Chi Minh spent a long time conducting revolutionary activities in China, especially in Guangxi, Guangzhou and Yunnan, where he not only advanced revolutionary work but also focused on personnel training and laying the groundwork for Viet Nam’s national liberation movement.

Wang Yi elaborates on outcomes from Donald Trump China visit

Following the May 13-15 state visit to China by US President Donald J. Trump, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, gave a detailed briefing on the outcomes and on what China considers to be the common understandings reached between the two sides.

Some of the key points made by Wang Yi include:

China-US relations have reached a new starting point. This is the first face-to-face engagement between President Xi and President Trump since their Busan [Republic of Korea] meeting last October, and also the first visit to China by a US president in nine years. As transformation not seen in a century accelerates across the globe, the world has once again reached a crossroads. President Xi raised some important questions: Can China and the United States overcome the Thucydides Trap and create a new paradigm of major-country relations? Can we meet global challenges together and provide greater stability for the world? Can we build a bright future together for our bilateral relations in the interest of the well-being of the two peoples and the future of humanity? These questions are vital to history, to the world, and to the people. They are the questions of our times.

The most important political understanding they reached was the agreement to build “a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability.” They also agreed for the two sides to pursue more exchanges on foreign policy, military-to-military relations, economy and trade, public health, agriculture, tourism, people-to-people ties, and law enforcement. This will provide a powerful boost to China-US interactions at all levels and in all fields.

President Xi and President Trump agreed on a new vision of building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability. This is how China understands it:

As the world’s top two economies, China and the United States share deep ties. Neither can cut the other out or prosper without the other. We both gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. While a confrontational relationship will be disastrous for both countries and the world, China-US cooperation will get many great things done to the benefit of both and all.

It should be healthy stability where competition is kept within proper limits and is not turned into a zero-sum game. Major-country competition is nothing new, but China-US relations should not be defined by competition. When competition does happen, it must be a healthy one where we learn from each other, pursue excellence together, and compete fairly in compliance with rules.

It should be constant stability where differences are manageable, and the relationship should not be like a roller coaster. Both sides should maintain policy continuity and stability. It is very important for both sides to honour our words and move in the same direction.

It should be lasting stability where peace is expectable and conflicts and wars are not acceptable. Peaceful coexistence is the biggest common denominator of China and the United States. Conflict and confrontation between us will produce consequences no one can bear. To prevent this from happening, the bottom line is that both sides must abide by the three China-US joint communiqués, respect each other’s social systems and development paths, respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, and respect each other’s right to development.

In short, building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability is not a slogan. It should be a goal both sides uphold and entail concerted actions.

At the invitation of President Trump, President Xi will pay a state visit to the United States this fall.

The Beijing summit will reenergise exchanges between the two sides’ legislative bodies, subnational entities and business, academic and media communities, and add more dimensions to the constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability.

President Xi has pointed out that the hope of the China-US relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in grassroots connections, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from subnational exchanges. During this summit, both presidents spoke about the importance of promoting people-to-people exchanges. President Xi specially cited the “Ping-Pong diplomacy” which took place 55 years ago. It opened up the China-US relations that had remained frozen for over two decades and marked a milestone in contemporary international relations. President Trump also reviewed historical interactions between the two nations, noting that Sino-US friendship goes all the way back to America’s founding and the American and Chinese people have shared a deep sense of appreciation and respect that ran in both directions.

During the visit, the two presidents toured the Temple of Heaven together. The tour provided insights into the Chinese appreciation of harmony among all beings and respect for the law of nature. This special program attested to the need for the two great countries to deepen mutual understanding and foster people-to-people friendship.

In the past year and more, legislative, subnational, and business delegations have visited each other more frequently. Many US business leaders accompanied President Trump to China on this trip, and he even invited them to the official talks. President Xi spoke to every one of them, encouraged them to strengthen cooperation with China, and stressed that China will open its door still wider. Premier Li Qiang also met with the US business leaders. They all said that they have a deep commitment to the Chinese market and want to grow their business here and strengthen cooperation with Chinese partners.

The Taiwan question was an important topic taken up at the summit. China’s position is very clear:

First, the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair. Realising complete reunification is an aspiration shared by all sons and daughters of the Chinese nation. It is also the unwavering, historic mission of the Communist Party of China. The mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China. This is a fact established since antiquity, the real status quo of the Taiwan Strait, and an important part of the postwar international order. We hope that the US side will strictly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués and honour its international obligation.

Second, the Taiwan question is the most important issue between China and the US, one that affects the entire relationship. If it is handled properly, the overall relationship will be stable, and the two sides will be able to devote more energy to advancing mutually beneficial cooperation. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, and the entire relationship will be in great jeopardy. China hopes that the US side will take concrete actions to keep the relationship on an even keel and contribute to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Third, China and the US both agree on the vital importance of safeguarding cross-Strait peace and stability. To ensure this is the case, one must never indulge or support “Taiwan independence,” because “Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water. Our impression coming out of the summit is that the US side understands China’s position, takes China’s concerns seriously, and, like the rest of the international community, does not agree with or accept Taiwan’s moving toward independence.

President Xi emphasised that the economic and trade ties are mutually beneficial and win-win by nature. Where disagreements and frictions exist, equal-footed consultation is the only right approach. The two economic and trade teams produced generally balanced and positive outcomes, including continuing to implement all the consensus reached in prior consultations, establishing a board of trade and a board of investment, addressing each other’s concerns regarding market access for agricultural products, and expanding two-way trade within the framework of reciprocal tariff reduction.

On the Middle East situation, President Xi set forth China’s consistent position. He emphasised that the use of force cannot solve problems, and dialogue is the only right choice. Negotiation may not produce immediate results, but now that the door of dialogue has been opened, it should not be closed again. China encourages the US and Iran to continue settling their differences and disputes through negotiation, including on the nuclear issue. China calls for reopening the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible on the basis of continued ceasefire and believes that the fundamental solution to the stalemate in the Strait lies in achieving a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. China has been working to promote peace talks and will continue to play its role for an early end to the conflict and restoration of peace in the Middle East.

Some of the key points made by Wang Yi include:

China-US relations have reached a new starting point. This is the first face-to-face engagement between President Xi and President Trump since their Busan [Republic of Korea] meeting last October, and also the first visit to China by a US president in nine years. As transformation not seen in a century accelerates across the globe, the world has once again reached a crossroads. President Xi raised some important questions: Can China and the United States overcome the Thucydides Trap and create a new paradigm of major-country relations? Can we meet global challenges together and provide greater stability for the world? Can we build a bright future together for our bilateral relations in the interest of the well-being of the two peoples and the future of humanity? These questions are vital to history, to the world, and to the people. They are the questions of our times.

The most important political understanding they reached was the agreement to build “a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability.” They also agreed for the two sides to pursue more exchanges on foreign policy, military-to-military relations, economy and trade, public health, agriculture, tourism, people-to-people ties, and law enforcement. This will provide a powerful boost to China-US interactions at all levels and in all fields.

President Xi and President Trump agreed on a new vision of building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability. This is how China understands it:

As the world’s top two economies, China and the United States share deep ties. Neither can cut the other out or prosper without the other. We both gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. While a confrontational relationship will be disastrous for both countries and the world, China-US cooperation will get many great things done to the benefit of both and all.

It should be healthy stability where competition is kept within proper limits and is not turned into a zero-sum game. Major-country competition is nothing new, but China-US relations should not be defined by competition. When competition does happen, it must be a healthy one where we learn from each other, pursue excellence together, and compete fairly in compliance with rules.

It should be constant stability where differences are manageable, and the relationship should not be like a roller coaster. Both sides should maintain policy continuity and stability. It is very important for both sides to honour our words and move in the same direction.

It should be lasting stability where peace is expectable and conflicts and wars are not acceptable. Peaceful coexistence is the biggest common denominator of China and the United States. Conflict and confrontation between us will produce consequences no one can bear. To prevent this from happening, the bottom line is that both sides must abide by the three China-US joint communiqués, respect each other’s social systems and development paths, respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, and respect each other’s right to development.

In short, building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability is not a slogan. It should be a goal both sides uphold and entail concerted actions.

At the invitation of President Trump, President Xi will pay a state visit to the United States this fall.

The Beijing summit will reenergise exchanges between the two sides’ legislative bodies, subnational entities and business, academic and media communities, and add more dimensions to the constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability.

President Xi has pointed out that the hope of the China-US relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in grassroots connections, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from subnational exchanges. During this summit, both presidents spoke about the importance of promoting people-to-people exchanges. President Xi specially cited the “Ping-Pong diplomacy” which took place 55 years ago. It opened up the China-US relations that had remained frozen for over two decades and marked a milestone in contemporary international relations. President Trump also reviewed historical interactions between the two nations, noting that Sino-US friendship goes all the way back to America’s founding and the American and Chinese people have shared a deep sense of appreciation and respect that ran in both directions.

During the visit, the two presidents toured the Temple of Heaven together. The tour provided insights into the Chinese appreciation of harmony among all beings and respect for the law of nature. This special program attested to the need for the two great countries to deepen mutual understanding and foster people-to-people friendship.

In the past year and more, legislative, subnational, and business delegations have visited each other more frequently. Many US business leaders accompanied President Trump to China on this trip, and he even invited them to the official talks. President Xi spoke to every one of them, encouraged them to strengthen cooperation with China, and stressed that China will open its door still wider. Premier Li Qiang also met with the US business leaders. They all said that they have a deep commitment to the Chinese market and want to grow their business here and strengthen cooperation with Chinese partners.

The Taiwan question was an important topic taken up at the summit. China’s position is very clear:

First, the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair. Realising complete reunification is an aspiration shared by all sons and daughters of the Chinese nation. It is also the unwavering, historic mission of the Communist Party of China. The mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China. This is a fact established since antiquity, the real status quo of the Taiwan Strait, and an important part of the postwar international order. We hope that the US side will strictly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués and honour its international obligation.

Second, the Taiwan question is the most important issue between China and the US, one that affects the entire relationship. If it is handled properly, the overall relationship will be stable, and the two sides will be able to devote more energy to advancing mutually beneficial cooperation. Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, and the entire relationship will be in great jeopardy. China hopes that the US side will take concrete actions to keep the relationship on an even keel and contribute to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Third, China and the US both agree on the vital importance of safeguarding cross-Strait peace and stability. To ensure this is the case, one must never indulge or support “Taiwan independence,” because “Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water. Our impression coming out of the summit is that the US side understands China’s position, takes China’s concerns seriously, and, like the rest of the international community, does not agree with or accept Taiwan’s moving toward independence.

President Xi emphasised that the economic and trade ties are mutually beneficial and win-win by nature. Where disagreements and frictions exist, equal-footed consultation is the only right approach. The two economic and trade teams produced generally balanced and positive outcomes, including continuing to implement all the consensus reached in prior consultations, establishing a board of trade and a board of investment, addressing each other’s concerns regarding market access for agricultural products, and expanding two-way trade within the framework of reciprocal tariff reduction.

On the Middle East situation, President Xi set forth China’s consistent position. He emphasised that the use of force cannot solve problems, and dialogue is the only right choice. Negotiation may not produce immediate results, but now that the door of dialogue has been opened, it should not be closed again. China encourages the US and Iran to continue settling their differences and disputes through negotiation, including on the nuclear issue. China calls for reopening the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible on the basis of continued ceasefire and believes that the fundamental solution to the stalemate in the Strait lies in achieving a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. China has been working to promote peace talks and will continue to play its role for an early end to the conflict and restoration of peace in the Middle East.

A familiar slander: Counterpunch and the recycling of anti-China talking points

In a recent article for Counterpunch, Joshua Frank accuses China of “green economic imperialism” in Africa and Latin America – alleging that Chinese investment in critical minerals and renewable supply chains amounts to a new form of colonial plunder. The piece appeared just days after French President Emmanuel Macron, at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, condemned China for operating with a “predatory logic” across the continent.

In the following article, our co-editor Carlos Martinez responds. He shows that Frank’s case rests on a series of substantive misrepresentations – about China’s energy transition, its mining operations, its lending practices, and the meaning of imperialism itself. Whatever Frank’s intentions, the function of his piece is to manufacture left-wing consent for the US-led New Cold War on China.

In a recent article for Counterpunch, Joshua Frank revives a now-familiar accusation: that China is engaged in “green economic imperialism” in the Global South, plundering critical minerals to fuel its renewable-energy industries while propping up dependent regimes through resource-backed loans. Chinese engagement with the Global South, Frank concludes, is “economic imperialism (which is very much rooted in colonial policies)”.

This is a remarkably timely reproduction of the argument made by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi the previous week. Macron accused China of operating with a “predatory logic” across Africa and of “creating dependencies” by insisting that critical mineral processing takes place on Chinese soil.

That should give pause. As observed on this website, Macron made his Nairobi remarks at a summit explicitly designed to “rebuild French influence in Africa” after France’s humiliating expulsion from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. He spoke as the head of a former colonial power controlling a currency, the CFA franc, which is used to extract foreign-exchange reserves from 14 African states into a French Treasury account. When the head of an actually-existing neocolonial entity denounces Chinese “predatory logic”, it’s not a bad idea for leftists to do their due diligence.

The coal canard

Frank opens by noting that China is “still building coal-fired power plants at a faster pace than any other country” and that “air pollution in China kills 2 million a year”. Both claims are substantively misleading.

China turns the tables: the slow collapse of US sanctions power

US sanctions have long been a primary weapon of imperial coercion – designed, in Henry Kissinger’s chilling phrase, to “make the economy scream” until a target country submits. For decades, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, the DPRK, Zimbabwe, Nicaragua and many others have lived under their crushing weight. Increasingly, however, this weapon is losing its edge.

In early May, Washington added five Chinese oil refineries to its Specially Designated Nationals list, accusing them of buying Iranian petroleum in defiance of US sanctions. China’s Ministry of Commerce responded by invoking the country’s 2021 Blocking Rules for the first time, declaring the sanctions an “improper extraterritorial application” of US law and ordering all Chinese entities to ignore them. Any bank or supplier that stops doing business with the five firms in compliance with US demands can now be sued for damages in Chinese courts.

In the following article, first published in the Morning Star, our co-editor Carlos Martinez situates this development in the wider context of Washington’s weaponisation of sanctions – and the construction of a legal counter-architecture by Beijing that, together with the parallel resistance of Russia and Iran, is bringing the era of unchallenged US economic coercion to an end.

In early May, the US sanctioned five Chinese oil refineries — four of them small independent operations known as “teapot” refineries — for allegedly purchasing Iranian petroleum in violation of Washington’s unilateral sanctions on Iran.

All five were added to the US Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, which bars them from accessing the US financial system and penalises any company that does business with them.

China’s Ministry of Commerce conducted an in-depth assessment of this action and concluded that it “constitutes improper extraterritorial application” of US law. It then ordered all Chinese companies, banks and other entities not to recognise, enforce or comply with the sanctions.

This was the first application of China’s 2021 Rules on Counteracting Unjustified Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Legislation and Other Measures, commonly known as the Blocking Rules.

A successful visit to Beijing: is the US ruling class starting to face reality?

In the following article, our co-editor Carlos Martinez assesses Donald Trump’s 13-15 May state visit to China, arguing that the positive mood music between Trump and Xi Jinping reflects a (slowly) growing understanding in US policy circles that a hawkish anti-China strategy simply is not working. The semiconductor war has accelerated Chinese self-sufficiency rather than slowed it; Trump’s 145 percent tariffs collapsed within days of Beijing tightening rare-earth export controls; and the US-Israeli criminal war on Iran has strengthened, rather than weakened, the multipolar trajectory.

The deeper meaning of this summit is that the US ruling class is having to, very reluctantly, start to come to terms with the world as it actually is. It does not “hold the cards”. As Xi put it at the Great Hall of the People, “the world is big enough to accommodate both countries, and one country’s success is an opportunity for the other.” The Chinese have been consistently saying this for years. The difference now is that, as a growing number of US analysts are admitting that they’re right: win-win cooperation between major powers is possible; what isn’t possible is the indefinite extension of unipolar US hegemony.

NB. An expanded version of this article, including analysis of Vladimir Putin’s visit a few days later, has been published in Beijing Review.

Donald Trump’s 13-15 May state visit to China has produced a raft of headlines that would have been unthinkable a decade ago. “This time, Trump and Xi meet as equals”, declared The Times. The White House spoke of a “constructive relationship of strategic stability”.

A delegation of CEOs – Nvidia’s Jensen Huang (who joined at the last minute), Tesla’s Elon Musk, Apple’s Tim Cook and more – accompanied the president to Beijing, signalling that the decoupling project has, at least for the moment, run its course. Trump publicly defended the right of half a million Chinese students to attend US universities. He called Xi a “great leader” and said “the relationship is a very strong one”. The Times columnist Gerard Baker, who has spent years cheerleading for the China hawks, conceded that “the unipolar moment was fleeting” and that “there are two true superpowers”.

This is a remarkable shift. Trump has cast himself as a China hawk since at least his 2016 campaign. “We can’t continue to allow China to rape our country”, he infamously told a rally in Indiana. He pledged to label China a currency manipulator on day one, accused Beijing of “stealing our jobs” and made tariffs on Chinese goods a centrepiece of his platform. Once in office, he initiated the trade war, banned Huawei from US 5G networks, expelled Chinese journalists, signed bipartisan legislation funnelling weapons to Taiwan, and oversaw the 2017 National Security Strategy that designated China as a “strategic competitor”.

Working people around the world look for Cold War reset as Xi and Trump meet

As Chinese President Xi Jinping sat down with his US counterpart and guest Donald Trump in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People on May 14, the US publication People’s World published an article issued in the name of its editorial collective, saying that “the eyes of working people around the world are fixed on this two-day summit with both urgency and hope.”

It went on to note that the “relationship between the United States and China has deteriorated badly in recent years. Military posturing in the Asia-Pacific and the signing of new war pacts like the AUKUS nuclear submarine scheme have raised the specter of catastrophic conflict. A ‘new Cold War’ framework—driven by Washington’s bipartisan foreign policy establishment—has pushed the two largest economies on earth toward confrontation rather than cooperation… This summit is an opportunity to step back from the brink and push the reset button.”

According to the US comrades, in his opening remarks addressed to Trump, President Xi posed the right question: “Can the United States and China avoid the ‘Thucydides Trap,’ the historical pattern in which a rising power and an established one blunder into war? That question deserves a serious answer, and it demands more than diplomatic pleasantries. It demands concrete commitments.”

We reprint the article below.

As U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping sit across from one another at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the eyes of working people around the world are fixed on this two-day summit with both urgency and hope.

The relationship between the United States and China has deteriorated badly in recent years. Reckless tariff wars have disrupted global supply chains and squeezed workers and consumers in both countries with inflation and layoffs. Military posturing in the Asia-Pacific and the signing of new war pacts like the AUKUS nuclear submarine scheme have raised the specter of catastrophic conflict.

How China prepared for the new global food crisis, caused by the US war on Iran

The US-Israeli war on Iran has triggered a global food and energy crisis that, by some estimates, could push as many as 45 million people into hunger – on top of the hundreds of millions already going hungry around the world. Prices of staple foods are rising sharply, supply chains through the Persian Gulf are disrupted, and the burden, as ever, will fall hardest on the Global South.

In this important essay for Geopolitical Economy Report, Joe Scholten examines how China has prepared for precisely this kind of crisis – and how rational socialist planning has insulated its 1.4 billion people from the kind of shock the world is facing.

The lesson is not new. During the 2022 food crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine, world prices of corn, wheat and soybeans nearly doubled; US grocery prices rose by 11.4 percent that year. China was largely unscathed, thanks to a strategic food reserves system. Today, that system stands at over 700 million metric tons of grain – enough to feed the entire population for a year. Add to this a vast fertilizer reserve, world-leading agricultural drone deployment (over 300,000 units, more than half the global total), AI-enabled pest identification, and $757 billion in water conservation investment under the 14th Five-Year Plan.

As the author puts it: “State planning and the socialist mode of production, in the form of state-owned enterprises and cooperatives under the guidance of a communist party, are capable of addressing fundamental needs.” Where Western pundits once mocked China’s stockpiling as either bureaucratic waste or preparation for aggressive war, the reality is now plain to see: China has anticipated the crisis that US imperialism has manufactured, and stands ready to help cushion its neighbours from the worst of it.

I wrote an article on the topic of food security in China in 2022. The main rationale for that prior essay was that there had been warnings of a global food crisis as the result of the war in Ukraine.

Indeed, prices of staple commodities like corn, wheat, and soybeans nearly doubled in price in the first year of the conflict, and millions were pushed into hunger worldwide.

Young communists from Europe and North America visit China

A delegation of young cadres from communist parties in Europe and North America recently visited China.

On the second day of a two-week trip they met with Jin Xin, Vice-minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC).

According to the report issued by the IDCPC, Jin elaborated on the scientific connotations and global significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and stated that the CPC stands ready to enhance youth exchanges with socialist forces worldwide, including communist parties in Europe and the US, deepen mutual learning on party governance and state administration, and jointly explore practical paths for adapting Marxism to local contexts and the times.

Members of the delegation noted that the successful practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era has greatly inspired progressive forces across the world. As young Marxists, they expressed anticipation of learning from the CPC’s successful experience.

According to Paulius Eidukas, who represented the Communist Party of Norway on the delegation, Jin said that the world is in the process of change and the global winds are blowing in the direction away from capitalism. This is the moment that communist parties in the West should consider carefully, to find out how they can seize the opportunity.

“You, the generation of younger communists, with your admirable courage and fervour, are at the forefront of this change. The future of the world rests on your shoulders.”

Having listened to presentations from various delegation members, the vice-minister spoke about the problem of imperialism and warmongering carried out by the United States and Israel. He also noted the growing concern for Latin American countries, with the Venezuelan and Cuban people in particular experiencing direct military aggression and threats coming from the United States. Jin Xin noted that Cuba finds itself in a dangerous geographical position, being so close to the United States, and so far away from China. Regardless, China is committed to helping the Cuban comrades with all available means. He also celebrated the close solidarity, cooperation and growing ideological dialogue and ties between the “five golden flowers of socialism”, that is China, Vietnam, Laos, Cuba, and the DPRK.

Jin also discussed the state of Marxism in the West, noting that there are some disagreements and splits, in terms of how Marxism is understood and applied. He criticised the dogmatic approach chosen by some parties, which disregard national conditions, and automatically assume that certain aspects, such as the existence and development of the private sector, are a “betrayal” of Marxism.

The parties and organisatons participating in the delegation were:

Communist Party of Britain/Young Communist League
Communist Party of Belarus/League of Communist Youth
Communist Party of Canada
Progressive Party of the Working People of Cyprus (AKEL)/United Democratic Youth Organisation (EDON)
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
Communist Party (Denmark)
Communist Party of Finland/Communist Youth
German Communist Party/Socialist German Workers Youth (SDAJ)
Hungarian Workers’ Party
Communist Refoundation Party of Italy
Italian Communist Party
Communist Party (Italy)/Federation of Communist Youth
Communist Party of Luxembourg
Levica (Left), Slovenia
Communist Party of Norway
Portuguese Communist Party/Portuguese Communist Youth
Romanian Socialist Party
Communist Party of Spain
Communist Party (Switzerland)
New Communist Party of Britain
Communist Party USA

The article below was originally published on the IDCPC website. It is followed by a report kindly provided to us by Comrade Paulius Eidukas from Norway.

Jin Xin Meets with a Delegation of Young Cadres from Communist Parties in Europe and the US

Beijing, May 7 (IDCPC) — Jin Xin, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, met here today with a delegation of young cadres from communist parties in Europe and the US.

Jin elaborated on the scientific connotations and global significance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and briefed the guests on the CPC’s efforts to strengthen self-building since the beginning of the new era, particularly the educational campaign on establishing and practicing a correct view on governance performance. He stated that the CPC stands ready to enhance youth exchanges with socialist forces worldwide, including communist parties in Europe and the US, deepen mutual learning on party governance and state administration, and jointly explore practical paths for adapting Marxism to local contexts and the times.

The delegation members noted that the successful practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era has greatly inspired progressive forces across the world. As young Marxists, they expressed anticipation of learning from the CPC’s successful experience in strengthening self-building, conducting youth work, and improving social governance efficiency through this visit, so as to contribute to strengthening their own parties and advancing the world socialist movement.

Report by Paulius Eidukas

“The far-right parties in the capitalist West can only offer unsustainable, short-term solutions to the problems facing their societies. Socialists, on the other hand, have a long-term plan and vision that is proven to work. This is our advantage.

“Socialism has already transcended the low ebb of the collapse of the Soviet Union. The world is in the process of change and the global winds are blowing in the direction away from capitalism. This is the moment that communist parties in the West should consider carefully, to find out how they can seize the opportunity.

“You, the generation of younger communists, with your admirable courage and fervour, are at the forefront of this change. The future of the world rests on your shoulders.”

These are some of the words said by Jin Xin, Vice Minister and Director-General of the General Office of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. We had the pleasure of meeting him on our second day in Beijing, and that meeting was certainly one of the highlights of the day.

Comrade Jin Xin listened carefully as several communists from our group presented on the situation in their respective countries. We heard analysis from Maise Riley, from the Communist Party of Britain and the YCL; from Iryna Maliuk, from the Communist Party of Belarus and the LCY; and from Nichita Iris Liga, from the Romanian Socialist Party.

Thanking the comrades for their analysis and explanation of the work and strategy of communists in their countries, Jin Xin gave a thoughtful response, discussing the possibilities and responsibilities of young Communists, who are organizing under the conditions of Western capitalism and imperialism.

He talked about the problem of imperialism and warmongering carried out by the United States and Israel. He also noted the growing concern for Latin American countries, with the Venezuelan and Cuban people in particular experiencing direct military aggression and threats coming from the United States. Jin Xin noted that Cuba finds itself in a dangerous geographical position, being so close to the United States, and so far away from China. Regardless, China is committed to helping the Cuban comrades with all available means. He also celebrated the close solidarity, cooperation and growing ideological dialogue and ties between the “five golden flowers of socialism”, that is China, Vietnam, Laos, Cuba, and the DPRK.

Jin Xin also discussed the state of Marxism in the West, noting that there are some disagreements and splits, in terms of how Marxism is understood and applied. He criticised the dogmatic approach chosen by some parties, which disregard national conditions, and automatically assume that certain aspects, such as the existence and development of the private sector, are a “betrayal” of Marxism. China is also being mischaracterised by the right-wing in the US, where many congressmen still treat China as a poor and underdeveloped country. Most of these congressmen, he noted, have not actually visited China to see the modernisation and development that would disprove their misconceptions.

Jin Xin noted that China has made great strides not only in modernisation and development, but also in terms of creating a prosperous and safe society. He noted that China is one of the safest places in the world, where people can walk alone at night without any fear, or where they can leave their belongings unattended. This is not the case in most other countries.

The comrade also noted that China has grown in its “soft power”, with global opinions shifting in favour of China. From social media trends, such as “Becoming Chinese”, to actual Chinese diaspora gradually returning back to their home country, when they realise that countries, such as the US, are not as they imagined. This is a reversal of the tendencies seen a couple of decades ago, where Chinese people would look up to the West as an example to follow.

Jin Xin emphasised that China does not subscribe to a vision of the world ruled by hegemonic countries and blocs, nor the idea of “superior” civilisations. Rather, China would see a world led by many civilisations in tandem. The goal is a harmonious world, which China strives for in its diplomatic efforts. It seeks to build friends, rather than create enemies. In developing China, the CPC does not not seek to compete with or replace any other countries, their industries, or their politics, but rather to lift the whole world up together.

Addressing the young Communists in particular, Jin Xin gave several points of guidance:

1. Be the guardians of ideas and convictions. You chose to join the communist movement in the finest years of your lives. While older generations often have fears and reservations, the youth is what really breathes life and growth into the movement.

2. Be strivers who make a difference. Socialism represents the future of humanity. It brings courage and hope. Young people should work hard to determine the best way forward in their respective countries, and to find out how to attract support to the communist cause.

3. Be the promoters of solidarity and cooperation. Internationalism is at the heart of socialism, and human progress comes through cultural exchange. We need our own media and outlets to showcase our movements and to learn from each other via online platforms. The IDCPC will be active in the development of these.

4. Be the defenders of fairness and justice. Oppose power politics, hegemony and bullying. Be a progressive voice in the international arena.

Jin Xin ended the discussion remarking on the rise in the acceptance and support of communist parties and ideas around the world, with the youth in particular showing high affinity for socialism, more so than in the decades earlier. This, Jin Xin noted, is the single spark that can start a prairie fire.

This whole discussion, to us, communists from the Western countries, was extremely emotional, uplifting and inspiring. We thank the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for organising and supporting this international exchange.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon says France must get along with China

In the following video clip, which was originally posted by Global Times, and which we embed below, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of La France Insoumise, France’s main left wing party, insists that his country must get along well with China. He firmly upholds the one China principle regarding Taiwan and says that the nineteenth century is over, “when we turned up with our English friends and destroyed the Summer Palace… and forced the Chinese to buy opium. This period of colonialism is behind us.”

Mélenchon, who has announced his fourth bid for the French presidency, was being interviewed by the French news channel La Chaîne Info (LCI).

Mélenchon’s book, ‘Now, the People! Revolution in the Twenty-First Century’, has just been published in paperback by Verso.

Hybrid event: China and the Global Green Revolution (Saturday 16 May)

📆 Saturday 16 May 2026, 4:30pm US Eastern, 1:30pm US Pacific, 9:30pm Britain

Friends of Socialist China US committee is organising a hybrid event on the theme of China and the Global Green Revolution, to take place on Saturday, 16 May, at 4:30pm (US Eastern), 1:30pm (US Pacific), 9:30pm (Britain).

Speakers

• Carlos Martinez, co-editor, Friends of Socialist China
• KJ Noh, journalist, peace activist
• Kyle Ferrana, author, Why The World Needs China
• Sara Flounders, International Action Center
• Dee Knight, author, Befriending China
• Janey Mayes, International Action Center
• Lyn Neeley, International Action Center

Join us on Saturday and be part of the discussion!