Author: Friends of Socialist China

Reject Western Marxism, defend the socialist countries, and stand with the peoples of the world against imperialism

On Saturday 5 July 2025, Friends of Socialist China hosted – along with the Morning Star, the International Manifesto Group, Critical Theory Workshop and Iskra books – a discussion of Domenico Losurdo’s crucial book, Western Marxism: How it was Born, How it Died, How it can be Reborn, in which the legendary Italian philosopher charts the long and complex history of Marxism’s bifurcation into ‘Western’ and ‘Eastern’ – a division based primarily on the national question and the relative prioritisation of anti-colonial, anti-imperialist struggles.

The meeting was held in-person at Marx Memorial Library in London (and online via Zoom and YouTube), and the packed room was addressed by Gabriel Rockhill (Editor of the English edition), Jennifer Ponce de León (Co-author of the introduction to the English edition), Alex Gordon (Chair, Marx Memorial Library) and Carlos Martinez (Co-editor, Friends of Socialist China), and was chaired by Francisco Domínguez (National secretary, Venezuela Solidarity Campaign).

Embedded below is the video of the event, followed by the text of Carlos’s speech. Carlos describes the journey Marxism has taken since its inception around the world – “a journey to the East and South”, transforming it “from being a liberatory framework for the industrial proletariat in Western Europe and North America, to being a liberatory framework for the working and oppressed peoples around the world”.

He goes on to define academic Western Marxism on the basis of its rejection of this globalisation of class struggle, and explores the material and ideological reasons for this trend’s refusal to support the socialist states and to prioritise the struggle against colonialism and imperialism.

The speech concludes with a plan of action:

Reject dogmatism and purism, reject Eurocentrism and chauvinism, and get back to playing our part in a global united front composed of the socialist countries, the oppressed nations, and the working classes and progressive forces in the imperialist countries. That’s what will get us on the path to a socialist future.

I’ve been involved in the Marxist movement in the West in some way or another since I was a teenager, but thankfully have never got particularly close to Western Marxism.

The political tradition I grew up in emphasised the importance of supporting the socialist states, and always prioritised the struggle against imperialism, colonialism and racism. To support China, to support the DPRK, to support Cuba, to support the national liberation struggles of the Irish, Palestinian, Zimbabwean, Vietnamese and other peoples were very much part of that tradition.

So despite being a Marxist in the West, I haven’t had all that much exposure to the Western Marxist academics described by Losurdo, and haven’t had to go through that extremely difficult “unlearning” process that many others have. I’ve read a lot of Lenin; I’ve read very little Adorno, Zizek and Perry Anderson.

Nevertheless, Losurdo’s book was really clarifying for me, and helped me understand the ideological roots of some of the objectively reactionary positions that you come up against all the time. Because although Western Marxism exists mainly in an academic ivory tower, it seeps into the wider movement for revolutionary change, which it seems to find quite fertile soil.

Marxism moves East and South

Marxism is, obviously, Western by birth. The first line of the Communist Manifesto is after all: “A spectre is haunting Europe — the spectre of communism”.

The nascent communist movement was geographically limited to Europe and North America, and focused almost exclusively on the industrial working class.

But from the beginning, it’s been on a journey to the East and South, including in Marx’s own lifetime.

Continue reading Reject Western Marxism, defend the socialist countries, and stand with the peoples of the world against imperialism

Liberation movement ties recalled and carried forward

China’s diplomatic missions in South Africa and Tanzania have recently highlighted the historical legacy and continued relevance of the bonds of solidarity forged during the struggle for national liberation.

On 17 June, Pan Qingjiang, China’s Consul General in Johannesburg, published an article entitled “Driving Education Culture, Fostering Youth Friendship Between China and South Africa” in various major South African media outlets.

According to an article published by the South African Government News Agency: “In South Africa, Youth Month is celebrated every June following a declaration by our first democratic President, Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. It is a time when we collectively honour the pivotal role that young people played in the struggle against Apartheid and the historic Soweto Uprising of 1976. Every 16 June, as we mark National Youth Day, we not only remember the sacrifices and courage of those young people, but we also renew our commitment to equipping today’s youth for a vibrant future.”

Pan writes: “On the occasion of South Africa’s Youth Month, I wish to extend my sincere festive greetings to all our young friends. The youth are the future of nations and the future of China-South Africa friendship as well… Our nations, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa, enjoy traditional friendship characterised by a strong ‘comradeship plus brotherhood’ bond…. The shared history and common future between China and South Africa are the solid foundation and driving force for the friendship among our youths.

“In June last year, the Consulate General of China in Johannesburg organised a themed short video competition for secondary school learners, encouraging the youth to reflect on both South Africa’s 1976 Soweto Uprising and China’s May Fourth Movement. More than one hundred participants from over twenty schools in Gauteng and the Free State submitted their creative entries in a variety of creative forms, including drama, speech, song, and dance, which vividly portrayed the heroic struggles of both countries against colonial oppression.

“Together, we paid tribute to, learned, and gained strength from the shared legacy of Chinese and South African youth in their pursuit of freedom, justice, and progress.”

The 1976 Soweto Uprising, led by the township youth, spread like a prairie fire across South Africa. Its brutal repression led thousands of young people to leave home and join the ranks of the African National Congress (ANC) and the other liberation movements waging armed struggle against the apartheid regime. It is considered a key turning point in the fight for a free South Africa.

China’s May Fourth Movement, a student-led anti-imperialist uprising, was sparked by the capitulation of the Chinese government to the humiliating terms imposed by the imperialist powers meeting at the 1919 Versailles peace conference. Together with the influence of the October Revolution in Russia, it played a major role in preparing for the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) two years later. Key founders of the CPC, Li Dazhao and Chen Duxiu were central leaders of the May Fourth Movement.

After detailing a number of current educational and cultural exchanges between South Africa and China, Pan’s article concludes:

“Like the rising sun, the youth brings brilliant prospects. China and South Africa are bound together by shared history, common developmental tasks and strategic interests. The youth serves as the vanguard in building a high-level China-South Africa community with a shared future and advancing our all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era.”

Earlier, on May 28, China’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Chen Mingjian visited the African Liberation Movement Freedom Fighters Kongwa Camp, together with officials from the Tanzanian government and the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Revolutionary Party of Tanzania).

The two sides reflected on China’s contributions to Tanzania’s independence and the national liberation of southern Africa, and agreed to strengthen historical sites protection and inheritance, and to promote inter-party and sub-national cooperation between the two countries.

District Council Chairman White Zuberi, who witnessed the national liberation movement, showed Ambassador Chen around the camp and, together with her, recalled the glorious history of mutual support between China and Africa. The camp was built in 1964 and both Mozambique’s founding President Samora Machel and Namibia’s founding President Sam Nujoma were trained there.

The following articles were originally published on the websites of the Chinese Consulate General in Johannesburg and the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania. They are reproduced here from that of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Chinese Consul General in Johannesburg Pan Qingjiang Publishes Signed Article Titled Driving Education Culture, Fostering Youth Friendship Between China and South Africa

June 17 (MFA) — On 17 June, Consul General Pan Qingjiang published a signed article entitled “Driving Education Culture,Fostering Youth Friendship Between China and South Africa” in the mainstream media of South Africa, including the Star, the Mercury, the Cape Times and the IOL website. Full text below:

On the occasion of South Africa’s Youth Month, I wish to extend my sincere festive greetings to all our young friends. The youth are the future of nations and the future of China-South Africa friendship as well. I have been deeply impressed by the confidence, optimism, and ingenuity of the young South African people.

Our nations, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa, enjoy traditional friendship characterized by a strong “comradeship plus brotherhood” bond.

Continue reading Liberation movement ties recalled and carried forward

Sports and culture promote Ireland-China people’s friendship

We previously reported the visit to China in March by members of two Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubs in the north of Ireland,  St Johns GAA and Naomh Cholmaín Droím an Easa Drumaness GAC, led by Sinn Féin Member of Parliament for South Down, Chris Hazzard.

Following this very successful visit, the Chinese Consul General in Belfast, Li Nan organised a friendship gathering with Chris and members of the two clubs on June 12.

Li emphasised that culture and sports help bring people closer and foster mutual understanding. He expressed the hope that club members would actively serve as inheritors of the friendship between China and Northern Ireland, promoters of friendly cooperation, and builders of shared development.

Chris Hazzard shared his experiences from visiting China and expressed his desire to further expand dialogue, cooperation, and exchanges in areas such as culture, education, and sports. Club members also took turns sharing their thoughts and reflections from their time in China.

Meanwhile, on June 16, at the invitation of the James Joyce Centre, Chinese Ambassador to Ireland Zhao Xiyuan attended the Bloomsday celebration at Belvedere College S.J. in Dublin.

Bloomsday is an annual celebration held on June 16 to commemorate James Joyce’s novel Ulysses, which is set on that specific date in 1904. It is named after the novel’s central character, Leopold Bloom. Joyce’s experience studying at the Belvedere College informed much of the writing of the novel.  In 2012, President Xi Jinping, then Vice President of China, visited the Confucius Classroom at Belvedere College.

With the help of the Chinese Embassy in Ireland, the three Chinese versions of Ulysses that have been published, have been donated to the National Library of Ireland, the James Joyce Centre and the Museum of Literature Ireland for their collections.

Ulysses is widely considered to be one of the most complex and difficult works of world literature to translate. Translation into Chinese required many years of devoted effort and painstaking work. This comparative study of the three Chinese versions was published by the James Joyce Society of Korea.

The following articles were originally published on the websites of the Chinese Consulate General in Belfast and the Chinese Embassy in Ireland and are republished here from that of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Chinese Consulate General in Belfast Holds GAA Club Visit to China Sharing Session and Consulate General Open Day

June 14 (MFA) — On 12 June, the Chinese Consulate General in Belfast hosted a sharing session following the GAA Club’s visit to China and the Consulate’s Open Day. Consul General Mr. Li Nan attended and delivered a speech. Over 50 guests participated in the event, including Mr. Christopher Hazzard MP; the President and members of Drumaness and St John’s Club; and Professor Yu Xiang, Vice President of Hubei Normal University.

Consul General Li welcomed all guests to the Consulate and highlighted China’s latest achievements in economic and social development. He noted that Chinese-style modernization is progressing steadily, and a prosperous, open, and friendly China is creating new opportunities for the world. Mr. Li emphasized that culture and sports help bring people closer and foster mutual understanding. He expressed hope that club members would actively serve as inheritors of the friendship between China and Northern Ireland, promoters of friendly cooperation, and builders of shared development.

Mr. Hazzard shared his experiences from visiting China and expressed his desire to further expand dialogue, cooperation, and exchanges in areas such as culture, education, and sports. Club members also took turns sharing their thoughts and reflections from their time in China. The atmosphere was warm and engaging.

Chinese Ambassador to Ireland Zhao Xiyuan Attends the Bloomsday Celebration

June 18 (MFA) — On June 16th, at the invitation of the James Joyce Centre, Ambassador Zhao Xiyuan and Madam Li Yi, together with ambassadors from other countries to Ireland and officials from Dublin, attended the Bloomsday celebration at Belvedere College S.J. in Dublin.

Bloomsday is an annual celebration held on June 16th to commemorate James Joyce’s novel Ulysses, which is set on that specific date in 1904. It is named after the novel’s central character, Leopold Bloom. Joyce’s studying experience at the Belvedere College was applied many times in his writings. In 2012, President Xi Jinping, then Vice President of China, visited the Confucius Classroom at Belvedere College.

Every June 16th, literature lovers hold various festivities in Dublin, Ireland, and elsewhere including China, through readings, performances, and re-enactments of scenes from the book, often with participants dressed in Edwardian attire. With the coordination of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Ireland, the three Chinese versions of Ulysses that have been published, were donated to the National Library of Ireland, the James Joyce Centre and the Museum of Literature Ireland for collection.

China and Vietnam jointly promote Red Tourism

The Vietnamese newspaper Nhân Dân recently reported that an exhibition on President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary career in China has been jointly organised by the Guangdong Museum of Revolutionary History of China and the Ho Chi Minh Museum of Viet Nam as part of the activities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations and the Year of People-to-People Exchange between the two countries.

During his journey to seek a path for liberating the nation, the paper notes, President Ho Chi Minh spent many years in China, including an extremely important period in Guangzhou, Guangdong province from 1924-1927. During this time, he established the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth League, the predecessor of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), and organised training courses to prepare cadres and build the organisational structure, creating the ideal conditions for the founding of the party.

The exhibition retraces the late Vietnamese leader’s 12 years of revolutionary activities in China and emphasises that, under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh, Chairman Mao Zedong, and other pioneering leaders, the people of Vietnam and China stood together, enduring hardships in their struggles for independence and national liberation. The friendship as comrades plus brothers between Vietnam and China remains a valuable legacy for both nations and will endure for future generations.

Historical sites, it continues, associated with the revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh in China are evidence of his revolutionary journey and serve as important landmarks of Vietnam-China friendship. The Chinese government attaches great importance to preserving these sites, having restored and protected them to enhance their historical value. Today, they serve as “red addresses” – destinations for revolutionary education and people-to-people exchanges, especially among younger generations. The exhibition is scheduled to be held on a rotating basis at several museums in both Vietnam and China.

In a separate article, Nhân Dân reports on the mutual ‘red tourism’ by young people from the two socialist neighbours.

It writes that during her first visit to Vietnam to attend the Vietnam-China Youth Friendship Meeting in April, Huang Chenshen from the China Youth University for Political Studies had listened to speeches by Chinese Party General Secretary Xi Jinping and Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam, visited Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh provinces, and explored the local culture. What impressed her most was experiencing the cultural life of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities.

The “Red Study Tour” programme of visits to China was proposed by Xi during his April visit to Vietnam. It links together historical sites associated with President Ho Chi Minh and former Chinese leaders, serving as a “living history classroom” that fosters a spirit of solidarity and a shared sense of responsibility among young people for peace and development.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, former Deputy Director of the Institute for Chinese Studies and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Chinese Studies Journal, said that the content of youth exchanges has become increasingly diverse, shifting from general forums to more practical, thematic discussions closely tied to the role of young people in national development and innovation.

The first tour visited China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in May, with the theme, “Following President Ho Chi Minh’s Footsteps”. In addition to visiting historical sites, Guangxi also organised activities for the young delegates to experience artificial intelligence technology and the digital environment. Vietnamese participants were able to visit a robotics lab, experience high-speed train travel, and explore advanced technological applications.

The following articles were originally published by Nhân Dân.

Exhibition spotlights President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary career in China

June 30 (Nhân Dân) — An exhibition on President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary career in China has been jointly held by the Guangdong Museum of Revolutionary History of China and the Ho Chi Minh Museum of Viet Nam as part of activities to celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations and the Year of Humanistic Exchange 2025 between the two nations.

Continue reading China and Vietnam jointly promote Red Tourism

China and Senegal reaffirm solidarity

Prime Minister of Senegal Ousmane Sonko met separately in Beijing on June 27 with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. Sonko was visiting China to attend the 2025 ‘Summer Davos’ in Tianjin.

Xi said that last September, he co-chaired the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, together with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, leading China-Africa relations into a new phase of jointly building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Noting that China and Senegal are companions on the path to development and revitalisation as well as good brothers, he added that China is willing to work with Senegal to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, deepen their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, bring more benefits to the two peoples, and inject fresh impetus into China-Africa friendship and Global South cooperation. China and Senegal should firmly support each other in pursuing independent development paths and enhance exchanges among the two countries’ political parties. China stands ready to work closely with Senegal to advance the 10 China-Africa partnership actions for jointly advancing modernisation and implement more projects for people’s well-being.

Sonko conveyed President Faye’s sincere greetings to Xi. He said China is a reliable partner for Senegal, and the bilateral ties have featured mutual respect, mutual support, resilience and stability, with sound progress made in various fields of cooperation. Noting that the two countries, both as members of the Global South, share common values and aspirations, Sonko said Senegal is willing to closely coordinate with China in international and regional affairs, steadfastly act as China’s strategic partner to jointly promote international fairness and justice, and uphold the common interests of the Global South.

Li Qiang said that over the years, China and Senegal have respected each other, treated each other as equals, and carried out mutually beneficial cooperation in a sincere and friendly manner, achieving fruitful results. China encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in Senegal and welcomes Senegalese enterprises making good use of platforms such as the China International Import Expo to enhance the promotion of their products in the Chinese market.

Sonko said Senegal admires the tremendous achievements made in China’s economic and social development and sincerely appreciates China for the vigorous assistance it has provided to Senegal over a long period of time. Senegal is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, promote cooperation on economy and trade, energy and mineral resources, finance, and agriculture under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and deepen people-to-people exchanges.

Sonko, who is also the Leader of PASTEF, the progressive ruling party in Senegal, also met with Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC), at the former’s request.

Sonko said that Senegal and China enjoy a profound friendship, and China has always treated Senegal with equality and respect. The PASTEF administration looks forward to strengthening exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields such as politics, economy and society. PASTEF has gained a lot of inspiration from the endeavour of the CPC, and looks forward to cooperating with China in institutionalised inter-party exchanges, cadre training and youth exchanges, learning from the successful experience of the CPC in party building and state governance, and improving its own governing capacity.

Liu noted that the CPC and the PASTEF party share similar ideas and missions. China is willing to work with Senegal to intensify exchanges between the ruling parties, strengthen political dialogue and strategic integration, deepen mutual learning of experience in state governance and administration, expand exchanges in cadre training, exchanges at local level, and exchanges between youth and women’s organisations, as well as advance practical cooperation in various fields.

Continue reading China and Senegal reaffirm solidarity

Dialogue with Fudan University’s China Institute: videos

As previously reported, on Monday 3 June 2025, the recent Friends of Socialist China delegation participated in a dialogue with the China Institute of Shanghai’s Fudan University, consisting of a panel discussion featuring Professor Zhang Weiwei, Professor Wu Xinwen, and Friends of Socialist China co-editors Carlos Martinez and Keith Bennett, followed by a wide-ranging discussion with the audience.

We have now posted the videos of the full event, plus introductory speeches, on our YouTube channel. These are embedded below.

Witnessing China’s socialist transformation

In the following report for Workers World, Ché Marino reflects on the recent delegation to China, organised by Friends of Socialist China and hosted by the China NGO Network for International Exchanges. Travelling through Shaanxi, Gansu, and Shanghai, the delegation explored China’s development, cultural heritage, and political system.

Ché contrasts the remarkable improvements in living standards and development level in China since his first visit in 2009 – from Shanghai’s modern infrastructure to expansive public amenities and smart technologies. Indeed, China’s development “stands in stark contrast to the crumbling infrastructure and growing inequality I see in New York City”.

Ché emphasises that these changes stem not from a capitalist approach but from China’s socialist model, where policies are shaped by the Communist Party to serve the public good. He cites the lifting of 800 million people from poverty, leadership in renewable energy, and peaceful diplomacy as evidence of socialism’s success. Detailed discussions with scholars such as Professor Zhang Weiwei reinforced the idea that Chinese socialism has global relevance, offering an alternative to imperialism and neoliberalism.

The article also highlights China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Global Civilisation Initiative as examples of international cooperation rooted in mutual benefit and respect, especially in China’s relations with Africa. Ché notes the Western media’s distortions about China, contrasting them with what he witnessed firsthand: a people-centred society focused on ecological sustainability and global solidarity.

Ché concludes that China’s socialist path offers vital lessons for the global left, particularly for youth disillusioned by Western capitalism.

In a world facing multiple crises, from climate change to growing inequality, China’s socialist path illuminates a way forward — not as a template to be mechanically copied but as a source of inspiration for all who seek a more just, peaceful and sustainable world.

In May 2025, I had the privilege of joining a delegation organized by Friends of Socialist China, a collective dedicated to fostering international solidarity and understanding of China’s socialist model. Our journey, hosted by the China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE), took us across several regions, including Shaanxi, Gansu and Shanghai. 

The purpose of our trip was to engage in dialogues on civilizational exchange, witness China’s remarkable socio-economic transformations and deepen our understanding of the principles underpinning its development. Through visits to historic revolutionary sites, discussions with local leaders and participation in cultural events, we aimed to explore the realities of Chinese socialism and its implications for global solidarity.

As I stepped off the plane in Shanghai in 2025, memories of my first visit in 2009 came flooding back. Sixteen years ago, I arrived as a college student seeking the cheapest study abroad option available. What I found then was unmistakably a developing nation: streets that flooded when it rained, large swaths of underdeveloped public infrastructure and transportation that consisted of hitching rides on motorcycles to reach the nearest train station.

The transformation I witnessed upon my return is nothing short of remarkable. Where once stood only the Oriental Pearl Tower on the Bund now rises a skyline of architectural marvels. The face-scanning technology that allows commuters to enter subway stations with just a glance would have seemed like science fiction during my first visit, when my university ID was merely a laminated photo. 

This dramatic metamorphosis represents more than just economic growth; it embodies the success of China’s socialist project with Chinese characteristics. As I traveled through residential areas of Shanghai, I was struck by the quality of life afforded to ordinary citizens: beautiful parks, running tracks with specialized materials that protect joints and extensive bicycle paths. “We don’t have this in New York City,” I found myself repeatedly saying.

Continue reading Witnessing China’s socialist transformation

Vietnam boosts China friendship at Summer Davos

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh paid a working visit to China, June 24-27, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang. The centrepiece of his visit was his participation in the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Tianjin at the co-invitation of WEF President and CEO Børge Brende. Known as the ‘Summer Davos’, the event in Tianjin is the second most important annual WEF activity after the gathering in the Swiss resort of Davos itself. Uniquely among foreign leaders, this was the third consecutive year for the Vietnamese Prime Minister to take part. It was also the first visit by a key Vietnamese leader to China in 2025, taking place shortly after the state visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and Chinese President Xi Jinping in April.

Pham Minh Chinh met with Li Qiang on June 24, shortly after his arrival in Tianjin.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam, Li said the deep friendship of “comrades and brothers” has remained firm and fresh over time. Since the successful visit of Xi Jinping to Vietnam in April, the comprehensive strategic cooperation between China and Vietnam has been further advanced. China is willing to continue to implement the outcomes of President Xi’s visit with Vietnam to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

China welcomes Vietnam to become a BRICS partner country and is willing to work with Vietnam to safeguard free trade and the multilateral trading system, promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation, and inject more stability and positive energy into world peace and development.

Chinh said that Vietnam always considers developing its relationship with China a strategic choice, an objective necessity, and a top priority in its foreign policy and expressed confidence that China will continue to grow and play an increasingly important role in global development, security, and civilisation.

He proposed that both sides further promote the key role of security and defence cooperation in the overall bilateral relationship; improve the quality and effectiveness of practical cooperation across various fields; and maintain regular operations of the intergovernmental working groups on land-based infrastructure, monetary issues, and maritime cooperation, as well as the joint committees on economic-trade and scientific-technological cooperation. He also suggested studying the establishment of new working groups in education, training, finance, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

Pham Minh Chinh also met with other foreign leaders attending the forum, namely Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong,  Kyrgyzstan Prime Minister Adylbek Kasimalyev, and Prime Minister of Senegal Ousmane Sonko.

Thanking Vietnam for its agricultural assistance, Sonko hoped for continued support in rice and cashew cultivation. He praised the success of Vietnam’s agricultural cooperation model in other countries and voiced interest in expanding that model to benefit Senegal and other Global South nations.

The Vietnamese and Senegalese leaders agreed to increase high-level exchanges and mutual visits, boost trade and investment promotion activities, facilitate business connections, and foster market access for each other’s key export products, with a strong focus on agriculture. Chinh invited Sonko to visit Vietnam, an invitation the Senegalese leader accepted with pleasure.

Also, as part of his working trip to China, on June 26 Chinh visited the Memorial Hall of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Pudong district, considered a development model in the new era of Shanghai as well as China.

Writing in the memorial hall’s guestbook, Chinh expressed his admiration and congratulations on the remarkable achievements of the CPC in leading the revolution and building a civilised, prosperous, harmonious, and modern nation.

The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency and Nhân Dân.

Chinese premier meets PM of Vietnam

TIANJIN, June 24 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday met with Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh, who is in north China’s Tianjin Municipality for the 2025 Summer Davos.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam, Li said the deep friendship of “comrades and brothers” has remained firm and fresh over time. Since the successful visit of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, to Vietnam in April, the comprehensive strategic cooperation between China and Vietnam has been further advanced.

Continue reading Vietnam boosts China friendship at Summer Davos

NATO backs the anti-China war drive – Diane Abbott

In the following article, which was originally published by the Morning Star, Diane Abbott sounds a warning that, “Europe is acquiescing in Trump’s manoeuvrings – where Europe takes over the US forever war in Ukraine while Washington gets ready for a future fight with China. And it’s working people who will be left paying the price.”

Noting that the recent NATO Summit saw members commit to spending five percent of GDP on “defence”, Diane explains: “This is more than we were spending during the Gulf war and much more than when this country was waging war on Iraq and Afghanistan. We have not seen such a rapid expansion of military spending in this country since the beginning of the second world war.”

Explaining what lies behind this, she writes: “The US president described the outcome of the Nato summit as ‘a great victory.’ For once, he was telling the truth. It was a great personal victory for him and for the US war machine.

“Trump’s plan, as he said himself, is to ‘un-unite’ Russia and China, so that he can pursue a confrontation with the latter. All of his recent manoeuvrings in imposing tariffs on the world have clearly had that as a central objective, including trying to dictate that other countries are not allowed to trade with China, under threat of even more tariffs.

“Europe’s role in all this is to replace the US resources (under the Nato banner) in Europe that are being used to fight Russia. Those US resources can then be freed up and redeployed to south-east Asia and the coming fight with China.”

She notes that one exception to this policy is the Socialist government in Spain led by Pedro Sánchez. “He is no left-wing firebrand and verbally he makes all the warmongers’ noises about the threats we face and the need for a military upgrade and reform. The essential difference is that he refuses to fund Trump’s war machine and argues that the current level of 2.1 per cent of GDP in the military is quite sufficient. Actions are more important than rhetoric.”

She exposes NATO’s warmongering record: “Despite widespread claims to the contrary, it is not as if the NATO members have a record of demonstrating peaceful intent. NATO was part of the aggression against Serbia, Afghanistan and Libya. Currently, its members have been helping the Israeli genocide, bombing Yemen, installing terrorists in Syria and fighting a nuclear-armed Russia. The latest illegal act is the bombing of Iran. As much-discussed scenarios for the start of World War III go, that is almost the complete set.”

Finally, she clearly draws the link between imperialist war abroad and attacks on the working class at home:

“From the government’s perspective, very large welfare and other cuts are necessary to deliver on the promises to increase the military budget. The war drive and the austerity drive go hand-in-hand. But the sheer scale of the planned rise in the MoD [Ministry of Defence] budget means that austerity, in a number of forms, will go much wider and deeper than it has already. We must be prepared to fight them both.”

Diane Abbott is the Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington in East London. In 1987, she became the first ever black woman to be elected to the British parliament. She is now the ‘Mother of the House’, the longest continuously serving female member of the House of Commons. Consistently on the left of the party, she served as Shadow Home Secretary during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and subsequently defeated a vicious campaign spearheaded by Keir Starmer to drive her out of the Labour Party.

At the recent Nato summit most member countries committed themselves to a target of spending 5 per cent of GDP on the military budget. This is more than we were spending during the Gulf war and much more than when this country was waging war on Iraq and Afghanistan. We have not seen such a rapid expansion of military spending in this country since the beginning of the second world war.

The consequences for the safety and security of this country will be very grave and there will be very significant, negative consequences for most other areas of government spending as a result. The government plans to shift us to a wartime economy, with all the serious consequences that implies.

The US president described the outcome of the Nato summit as “a great victory.” For once, he was telling the truth. It was a great personal victory for him and for the US war machine.

Continue reading NATO backs the anti-China war drive – Diane Abbott

Planned obsolescence of capitalism versus sustainable Chinese alternatives: a clash of ideologies

We are pleased to republish below an interesting opinion piece by Bhabani Shankar Nayak, arguing that the fierce hostility of Western elites toward China stems to a significant degree from an ideological clash between neoliberal capitalism and China’s alternative development model. Unlike the US system – driven by profit and sustained through planned obsolescence – China promotes long-term, sustainable, people-centred development aimed at public well-being and common prosperity.

Bhabani includes examples such as China’s breakthrough in nuclear battery technology by Betavolt, with a 50-year lifespan that threatens the Western consumer electronics model reliant on constant upgrades. Similarly, China’s Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) challenges US financial dominance by providing an alternative to the SWIFT network. These innovations, alongside China’s space program and infrastructure development, reflect a vision rooted in durability and public interest rather than profit.

The article critiques the Schumpeterian notion of ‘creative destruction’ as a myth that masks the exploitative nature of innovation under capitalism, whereby the creative potential of labour is entirely subordinated to private profit. It argues that capitalism commodifies both material goods and human emotions, perpetuating waste and insecurity.

In contrast, China offers a civilisational alternative that fundamentally threatens both the economic viability and ideological foundations of capitalism. This dynamic is a major part of what drives the ongoing campaign to contain and encircle China and to suppress its rise.

Bhabani Shankar Nayak is a Professor of Business Management at London Metropolitan University. He is the author or editor of numerous books and articles on China and other issues related to development in the Global South. This article was first published in Countercurrents.

Why do the American ruling elites, both in the Republican and Democratic parties, oppose China so strongly?


Since taking office, President Donald Trump imposed tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods. But it doesn’t stop at trade and tariffs. The American imperialist strategy—marked by political, economic, and military bullying—continues in an unprecedented scale in an effort to pressure China into submission under imperialist hegemony. The core objective is to undermine China’s development and its alternative path, which challenges the foundations of the capitalist system.

What has China achieved that fundamentally challenges the very foundation of American capitalism?

One striking example is the development of a miniature nuclear battery by the Chinese company Betavolt, with support from the Chinese government. This battery boasts a lifespan of 50 years, eliminating the need for recharging in devices such as mobile phones and electric vehicles. Such a breakthrough not only renders frequent charging obsolete but also disrupts the business models of American and European electronics companies, which rely heavily on planned obsolescence—a strategy that encourages repeated consumption through short-lived products and continual upgrades. For example, Apple Inc. products like iPhones continuously changes every year.

China has not only developed its own space station and lunar exploration program but has also created an international transaction system known as the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS). This system has the potential to completely bypass the Western-dominated SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) network used for global banking and international transactions.

These are just a few examples of the achievements stemming from China’s scientific, political and economic system, which fundamentally contrasts with the American and European capitalist model. Unlike the Western approach, which is largely driven by profit, China’s scientific and technological advancements are geared toward improving the well-being of its people and promoting sustainable development and long-term prosperity. Such alternatives pose a direct challenge to the American-led imperialist capitalist order—one that the ruling elites find deeply threatening and, therefore, unacceptable to their capitalist hegemony.

The Schumpeterian notion of capitalism as a process of “creative destruction”—where innovation leads to the replacement of outdated industries by newer, more efficient ones—is, in reality, a myth. The Schumpeterian sympathy for capitalism stems from its lenient understanding of capitalist innovation. What is truly creative and innovative is labour itself. However, under capitalism, the creative potential of labour is not liberated but rather controlled and exploited to sustain and expand a profit-driven system. Capitalism continually restructures itself to either accommodate or dominate the productive and creative capacities of labour. This dynamic reinforces the strategy of planned obsolescence, accelerating the exploitation of both nature and human beings—as producers and consumers.

Rapid technological advancement, rather than serving human progress, is often harnessed to sustain this exploitative system. The capitalist logic of planned obsolescence deliberately designs products with artificially limited lifespans, ensuring they become quickly outdated. This fuels a “use-and-throw” culture—one that perpetuates constant consumption and reinforces commodity dependency. Far from promoting genuine innovation, this cycle serves to undermine it, replacing durable progress with short-term profitability.

Technological progress under American and European capitalism is primarily driven by the logic of planned obsolescence. It functions not to meet genuine human needs, but to manufacture ever-new desires for commodity-based consumption. Products and services are deliberately designed with short lifespans, encouraging constant replacement and repeat purchases—strategies rooted in corporate interests aimed at sustaining perpetual profit. This cycle not only accelerates the depletion of natural resources but also fuels consumer anxiety, particularly through the psychological pressure of the “fear of missing out.” In this way, capitalism commodifies both material goods and emotional experience, reinforcing a culture of disposability and dependency.

However, China’s scientific and economic progress is guided by a long-term vision centered on the well-being of its people—an approach fundamentally opposed to the capitalist strategy of planned obsolescence. Unlike the American and European market-led systems, which prioritise profit based on exploitation, the Chinese model places public welfare at the core of its technological and developmental agenda. This alternative model threatens the very foundations of Western capitalism by offering a path rooted in sustainability, resilience, and durability—countering the wasteful “use-and-throw” culture that has emerged from capitalist cycles of consumption and planned obsolescence.

In this context, China presents not just a geopolitical rival, but a civilisational alternative—one that challenges the dominance of profit over people. It is precisely because of this that American imperialism, along with its European allies, relentlessly seeks to undermine and weaken China and its achievements. The fear is not merely rooted in economic competition, but in the example that China sets: a political model of planned economic development grounded in peace, progress, and prosperity—one that dares to envision a future beyond capitalist exploitation and its foundation in planned obsolescence.

Iran and the new cold war

The following article by Carlos Martinez, originally published in the Morning Star, argues that the criminal Israeli-US strikes on Iran are not credibly rooted in concerns over the latter’s alleged nuclear weapons program, but rather in its consistent anti-imperialist stance and its far-reaching material support for the cause of Palestinian freedom.

The article also links the attacks to broader geopolitical dynamics, especially Iran’s deepening alliance with China. Since signing a 25-year cooperation agreement with China in 2021, Iran has become integral to the Belt and Road Initiative, in addition to joining BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and emerging as China’s primary trading partner in West Asia.

This growing partnership makes Iran a strategic obstacle to US-led imperialism, especially in the context of the New Cold War against China. Carlos draws parallels with the 1953 coup against Iran’s Prime Minister Mossadegh, orchestrated by the CIA and MI6 to protect Western oil interests in the context of the original Cold War.

Today, the New Cold War, centred on US efforts to encircle and contain the People’s Republic of China, is adding urgency to the US’s bid for regime change in Iran. Iran’s deepening integration into the Belt and Road Initiative, and its close coordination with China and Russia, mark it as a frontline state in the struggle between the Project for a New American Century and the Global Community of Shared Future…

The installation of a US proxy regime in Tehran would be a major blow to the Belt and Road Initiative, and it would potentially compromise China’s energy security, giving the US de facto control over the flow of oil and other resources through the Persian Gulf.

The article concludes by urging Western anti-war movements to oppose this escalating campaign to preserve and expand imperialist hegemony.

There has been a great deal of speculation as to the reasons for the criminal Israeli-US attack on Iran.

The reason proffered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump is that Iran is on the cusp of acquiring a nuclear weapon, and that therefore the forcible dismantling of its nuclear infrastructure is a matter of great urgency.

Obviously, no reasonable person believes this; certainly nobody who remembers Tony Blair’s cynical 2003 claim that Iraq could deploy weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes.

After all, Netanyahu first publicly accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons back in 1992 – 33 years ago – when, in a speech to the Knesset as Deputy Foreign Minister, he declared that Iran was three to five years away from acquiring a nuclear weapon and argued for preemptive action.

Netanyahu was later subjected to widespread mockery in September 2012 when, holding up a cartoonish drawing of a bomb during his speech at the UN, he claimed that Iran was 90 percent of the way to the level of uranium enrichment needed for weaponisation.

Meanwhile, Iran continues to deny seeking nuclear weapons and is a longstanding signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The country’s government maintains a strict edict against the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons or indeed any weapons of mass destruction – contrasting rather starkly with Israel, an undeclared nuclear weapons state and non-signatory to the NPT. Furthermore, there has been no credible intelligence validating Netanyahu and Trump’s claims about Iran’s weapons program.

Continue reading Iran and the new cold war

British government’s new China policy: Another case of one step forward two steps back?

The British government published a new National Security Strategy (NSS) on June 24. Before last year’s general election, the Labour Party said that it would carry out a comprehensive audit of the UK’s relationship with China within 100 days of taking office. With the publication of the NSS, a little over 350 days after taking office, the government announced that the audit had been completed. However, contrary to widespread expectations, it will not be published. Rather it is summarised in paragraphs 26, 27 and 28 of the NSS.

The strategy does at least draw a certain line under the more unhinged positions emanating from sections of the Conservative Party, including the short-lived Prime Minister Liz Truss in that it accepts that not engaging with China at all is simply not realistic:

“The actions taken by China, on issues from international security to the global economy, technological development or climate change, have the potential to have a significant effect on the lives of British people.”

“This work underscores the need for direct and high-level engagement and pragmatic cooperation where it is in our national interest – similar to all other members of the G7. In a more volatile world, we need to reduce the risks of misunderstanding and poor communication that have characterised the relationship in recent years. China’s global role makes it increasingly consequential in tackling the biggest global challenges, from climate change to global health to financial stability. We will seek a trade and investment relationship that supports secure and resilient growth and boosts the UK economy.”

However, it then goes on to repeat a number of slanders, false accusations and Cold War tropes, for example:

“Each pillar of the Strategic Framework contains measures that are designed to bolster our overall security with respect to China and other state actors that have the ability to undermine our security.”

“Yet there are several major areas, such as human rights and cyber security, where there are stark differences and where continued tension is likely. Instances of China’s espionage, interference in our democracy and the undermining of our economic security have increased in recent years. Our national security response will therefore continue to be threat-driven, bolstering our defences and responding with strong counter-measures.”

Other anti-China positions and statements are also scattered throughout the militaristic document. For example:

  • Many of the rules which have governed the international system in the past are eroding. Global commons are being contested by major powers like China and Russia, seeking to establish control and secure resources in outer space, cyberspace, the deep sea, and at the Arctic and Antarctic poles.
  • The possibility of major confrontation in the Indo-Pacific continues to grow, with dangerous and destabilising Chinese activity threatening international security.
  • Authoritarian states are putting in place multi-year plans to out-compete liberal democracies in every domain, from military modernisation to science and technology development, from their economic models to the information space…  As the second largest economy in the world, with strong central government control, the challenge of competition from China – which ranges from military modernisation to an assertion of state power that encompasses economic, industrial, science and technology policy – has potentially huge consequences for the lives of British citizens.
  • The hard realities of our geography, security and trade necessitate a prioritisation of the Euro-Atlantic area as part of our “NATO first” approach. But evidence of countries like Russia, China, Iran and North Korea cooperating across theatres – sometimes opportunistically and sometimes by deepening strategic ties – demonstrates the interconnectedness of the Euro-Atlantic with different theatres like the Middle East and Indo-Pacific, where we already have strong partnerships.
  • The UK’s bilateral relationships and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific are designed to enhance the international security on which our shared prosperity depends. Among others, these include our Global Strategic Partnership with the Republic of Korea, Defence and Security Cooperation Treaty and AUKUS agreement with the US and Australia, our Global Strategic Partnership and joint development of the next generation combat aircraft with Japan alongside Italy, and science and technology collaborations with New Zealand. We will underscore our investment in the stability of the region with the sailing of the UK Carrier Strike Group to Australia, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
  • The centrality of the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait to global trade and supply chains underscores the importance to the UK of regional stability. There is a particular risk of escalation around Taiwan… We do not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo. As part of our strong unofficial relationship with Taiwan we will continue to strengthen and grow ties in a wide range of areas, underpinned by shared democratic values.
  • The AUKUS programme remains a priority project for UK defence and collective security, as part of a NATO-first, but not NATO-only, approach. The US, Australia and the UK will co-develop an advanced fleet of interoperable nuclear-powered attack submarines, which will be operated by both the Royal Navy and Royal Australian Navy, and other advanced capabilities that will strengthen deterrence.

Responding to Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who introduced the report in the House of Commons, Labour’s Emily Thornberry, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, asked:

“In the absence of the published China audit, which we have all been looking forward to so much, the national security strategy has been gone through with a fine-toothed comb by many of us. On China, it states:

“‘Instances of China’s espionage, interference in our democracy and the undermining of our economic security have increased in recent years.’

“May we have some guidance on how we will address that, because that is not entirely clear? In particular, what advice is being given to the nations and regions when they are dealing with our third-biggest trading partner, with whom we need to promote but also protect ourselves?”

Continue reading British government’s new China policy: Another case of one step forward two steps back?

De la contención a la confrontación, del frío al calor: el impulso de EE.UU. hacia la guerra contra China

We are pleased to republish below the Spanish translation, by the progressive Chilean journal El Ciudadano, of Carlos Martinez’s recent article, From containment to confrontation, from cold to hot: the US drive to war on China.

Nos complace republicar a continuación la traducción al español, por parte de la revista progresista chilena El Ciudadano, del reciente artículo de Carlos Martínez, De la contención a la confrontación, del frío al calor: el impulso de EE.UU. hacia la guerra contra China.

La Nueva Guerra Fría no está funcionando

La guerra «fría» liderada por Estados Unidos contra China está fracasando manifiestamente en sus objetivos de suprimir el ascenso de China y debilitar su influencia global.

La economía de China sigue creciendo de manera constante. En términos de paridad de poder adquisitivo (PPA), ya es el más grande del mundo. Su movilización de recursos extraordinarios para salir del subdesarrollo y convertirse en una superpotencia de ciencia y tecnología parece estar dando dividendos sustanciales, con el país estableciendo un claro liderazgo mundial en energía renovable, vehículos eléctricos, telecomunicaciones, fabricación avanzada, construcción de infraestructura y más. Es, con mucho, el líder mundial en el alivio de la pobreza y el desarrollo sostenible. Las sanciones a las exportaciones de semiconductores no han frenado el progreso de China en informática y, de hecho, han tenido un efecto enzimático en su industria nacional de chips. El espectacular éxito del modelo de lenguaje grande R1 de código abierto de DeepSeek indica que Estados Unidos ya no puede dar por sentado su liderazgo en el ámbito digital.

Mientras tanto, los intentos de Occidente de «desacoplarse» de China han dado muy pocos frutos. Si bien un puñado de países imperialistas han prometido eliminar a Huawei de su infraestructura de red, y mientras las sanciones a los vehículos eléctricos chinos significan que los consumidores de Occidente tienen que pagar sumas obscenas por automóviles de calidad inferior, la integración de China y la cooperación mutuamente beneficiosa con el mundo han seguido expandiéndose. China es el mayor socio comercial de aproximadamente dos tercios de los países del mundo. Más de 150 estados se han adherido a la Iniciativa de la Franja y la Ruta. China se encuentra en el centro de los BRICS y de la Organización de Cooperación de Shanghái.Play

Los aranceles de Trump estaban destinados a coaccionar a China para que aceptara los términos comerciales de EE.UU. y obligar a otros países a unirse sin ambigüedades al «campo» económico y geopolítico de Washington, alienando así a China. Nada de eso ha ocurrido. Incluso la Unión Europea, normalmente supina, ha denunciado los aranceles y ha señalado su intención de ampliar el comercio con China.

En resumen, el Proyecto para un Nuevo Siglo Americano no va bien. Zbigniew Brzezinski escribió en su famoso libro El gran tablero de ajedrez: la primacía estadounidense y sus imperativos geoestratégicos (1997) que «el escenario más peligroso sería una gran coalición de China, Rusia y tal vez Irán, una coalición ‘antihegemónica’ unida no por ideología sino por agravios complementarios». Precisamente esa coalición antihegemónica existe, y está uniendo a los países de Asia, África, América Latina, el Caribe y el Pacífico en un proyecto de construcción de un futuro multipolar, lo que plantea un desafío existencial al llamado «orden internacional basado en reglas» basado en los principios del unilateralismo, la guerra, la desestabilización, la coerción y el intercambio desigual.

¿De la guerra fría a la guerra caliente?

Hasta aquí, todo positivo. Pero no hay que olvidar que «la guerra es la continuación de la política por otros medios». Si la política imperialista no está teniendo el efecto deseado, existe un riesgo muy real de que la clase dominante estadounidense y sus secuaces recurran a la guerra abierta en pos de sus ambiciones hegemónicas.

El poder político surge del cañón de una pistola, dijo Mao Zedong. Y aunque el dominio económico de Estados Unidos puede estar disminuyendo, todavía tiene una gran cantidad de armas con las que proyectar poder político. Donald Trump anunció recientemente, sentado junto al genocida maníaco en jefe Benjamin Netanyahu en la Casa Blanca, que el próximo presupuesto de Estados Unidos asignará un billón de dólares récord a las fuerzas armadas. Esto es más de tres veces el gasto militar de China y aproximadamente diez veces el de Rusia. Mientras tanto, Estados Unidos tiene más de 800 bases militares extranjeras, un arsenal de alrededor de 5.500 ojivas nucleares y vastos despliegues de tropas y armas en todo el mundo, cada vez más concentrados en la vecindad de China.

Continue reading De la contención a la confrontación, del frío al calor: el impulso de EE.UU. hacia la guerra contra China

Algerian veterans recall Chinese support to liberation struggle

The Xinhua News Agency recently carried interviews with two veterans of the Algerian liberation struggle regarding the support and training they received from China.

The article states: “In the heat of the Algerian War of Independence in the 1950s, when colonial repression was at its peak and international support was scarce, a distant nation opened its arms to a group of determined young Algerians, training them as soldiers in their quest for national independence. And that nation was the newly founded People’s Republic of China.”

It notes that, after officially recognizing the Provisional Government of the Algerian Republic in September 1958, China hosted 27 Algerian trainees for comprehensive aviation training between 1959 and 1961. More than six decades later, the memories of this experience, which exemplify the long-standing friendship between China and Algeria, remain vivid in the hearts of the veterans.

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Boudaoud Lounes and Colonel Drid Ahmed Lakhdar, two of the Algerian airmen who trained in China, shared their story of sacrifice, solidarity, and a bond that has endured across generations.

Lounes, a former bomber pilot, was among the very first Algerian airmen trained in China during the height of the War of Independence. “We first received basic training in Syria, at the Aleppo military school,” Lounes recalled. “But for our specialization, only one country answered our call: China.” Arriving in China: “We saw immediately the parallels between the Chinese people’s struggles and those of our own people. What touched us most wasn’t just the military knowledge. It was the way they believed in us. We were treated with respect, as equals. In China, we felt like brothers.”

Lakhdar joined the second batch of Algerian air trainees sent to China in 1959. He said: “The Chinese know what it means to be colonized. Their commitment came from their own experience.”

His words echo those of the African-American scholar and revolutionary Dr. WEB Du Bois, speaking in Beijing in 1959 on his 91st birthday:

“China is flesh of your flesh, and blood of your blood. China is colored and knows to what a colored skin in this modern world subjects its owner. But China knows more, much more than this: she knows what to do about it.”

More than 60 years later, Lakhdar recalls when the time came to leave China:

“When we completed our training and went to thank the Chinese Defense Ministry, they told us, ‘no, we must thank you. You opened a front in Africa and freed us from encirclement.’ I will never forget that moment, as it showed how our struggle was part of something bigger. The sense of duty, humility, and collective spirit I learned in China stayed with me for life. I tried to pass it on to younger generations.”

Continue reading Algerian veterans recall Chinese support to liberation struggle

China and Mozambique celebrate 50th anniversary

Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged messages with his Mozambican counterpart Daniel Francisco Chapo on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of their establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations. On June 25, 1975, Mozambique declared its independence after years of hard-fought people’s war against Portuguese colonial rule. China consistently and strongly supported the armed struggle waged by the FRELIMO liberation movement – which remains Mozambique’s ruling party – and the two countries established diplomatic relations on independence day.

Xi Jinping noted that over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Mozambique have trusted and supported each other, and the friendship between the two countries remains rock-solid. Xi expressed his firm belief that bilateral relations will surely usher in a brighter future as long as both sides uphold the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations and move forward hand in hand.

Daniel Francisco Chapo stated that the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries coincides with the 50th anniversary of Mozambique’s independence, which highlights the traditional friendship and brotherhood between the two nations. He expressed gratitude for China’s unconditional support in Mozambique’s struggle for independence.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi also exchanged messages with his counterpart Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas.

He said that over the past five decades, the two countries have upheld mutual respect and trust, consistently supporting each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns. Noting that bilateral cooperation in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, energy and resources has yielded fruitful results, Wang said the two countries have also maintained close coordination on international affairs, jointly safeguarding international fairness and justice.

Lucas said that over the past 50 years, the traditional friendship between Mozambique and China has grown stronger, and the two countries have established a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership based on sincerity, equality, mutual respect and trust. Regardless of changes in the international landscape, Mozambique will always consider China a brother and friend.

The following articles were originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and by the Xinhua News Agency.

Xi Jinping Exchanges Congratulatory Messages with Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo on the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-Mozambique Diplomatic Relations

June 25 (MFA) — On June 25, 2025, President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Mozambique diplomatic relations.

Xi Jinping noted that over the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Mozambique have trusted and supported each other, and the friendship between the two countries remains rock-solid. Xi Jinping expressed his firm belief that bilateral relations will surely usher in a brighter future as long as both sides uphold the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations and move forward hand in hand. Xi Jinping said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Mozambique relations and is ready to work with Mr. President Daniel Francisco Chapo to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as a new starting point to carry forward traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation within the frameworks of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and jointly write a new chapter in the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Mozambique.

Daniel Francisco Chapo stated that the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries coincides with the 50th anniversary of Mozambique’s independence, which highlights the traditional friendship and brotherhood between the two nations. He expressed gratitude for China’s unconditional support in Mozambique’s struggle for independence. Mozambique will continue to abide by the one-China principle, support all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification, and back the major initiatives proposed by China. Mozambique is willing to continuously deepen bilateral relations with China on the basis of mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, expand practical cooperation, jointly defend multilateralism, and promote world peace, security and prosperity.

Chinese FM exchanges congratulations on 50th anniversary of ties with Mozambican counterpart

BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi exchanged congratulations on Wednesday with Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that China and Mozambique share a traditional friendship.

Over the past five decades, the two countries have upheld mutual respect and trust, consistently supporting each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns, he said.

Noting that bilateral cooperation in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, energy and resources has yielded fruitful results, Wang said the two countries have also maintained close coordination on international affairs, jointly safeguarding international fairness and justice.

He added that standing at a new historical starting point, he is ready to work with Lucas to implement the important consensuses reached by the two heads of state, reinforce mutual support, deepen win-win cooperation, and work for more outcomes while advancing the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Mozambique.

For her part, Lucas said that over the past 50 years, the traditional friendship between Mozambique and China has grown stronger, and the two countries have established a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership based on sincerity, equality, mutual respect and trust.

Regardless of changes in the international landscape, Mozambique will always consider China a brother and friend, the minister said.

She reaffirmed Mozambique’s firm commitment to the one-China principle and expressed willingness to learn from China’s experience in sustainable development.

Lucas also called for deeper cooperation across various sectors, closer coordination on regional and global issues, and joint efforts to defend multilateralism and promote world peace and security.

Wang Yi speaks with counterparts from Iran and Türkiye

Chinese Foreign Minister continued his round of telephone diplomacy regarding the critical situation in West Asia caused by US-Israeli aggression with calls with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts on June 24.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi briefed Wang Yi on the latest developments in the regional situation, emphasising that the dangerous actions by Israel and the United States in attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities seriously violate international law, leaving Iran with no choice but to respond. Although a ceasefire has just been reached between Iran and Israel, the situation remains unstable. Genuine negotiations can only begin once Israel halts its aggression. The session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the actions of the United States and Israel and expects the Security Council to play a role in this matter. He appreciated China’s understanding and support for Iran’s legitimate position and expressed willingness to maintain close communication with China.

Wang Yi referred to the four proposals recently advanced by President Xi Jinping and added:

After the US attacked Iran, China immediately condemned the action. Military strikes on nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency severely violate the purposes of the United Nations (UN) Charter and international law and may lead to nuclear leaks or even nuclear disasters, which should be opposed by the international community.

He said that China supports Iran’s efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and security, and on that basis [emphasis added by us], to achieve a real ceasefire, restore normal life for the people, and help deescalate the situation in the Middle East as soon as possible. China commends the OIC’s unified voice for a ceasefire and an end to the hostilities, as well as the advancement of peace.

In his call with Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Wang Yi said that Israel and the United States have used force against Iran on the grounds of “potential future threats”, which has seriously violated international law and infringed upon Iran’s sovereignty. The US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency set a bad precedent and threaten the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. China opposes the use of force to settle disputes and always stands on the side of peace, dialogue, and international justice.

He emphasised that the question of Palestine remains at the heart of the Middle East issue and added that China supports Türkiye in hosting and convening the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, urging all parties to send a unified voice opposing war, supporting peace, and calling for deescalation of conflicts.

Hakan Fidan stated that since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Iran, Türkiye has been committed to promoting a ceasefire and an end to the hostilities, advocating for dialogue and negotiations. The current ceasefire agreement between the two sides brings some hope. The attacks on nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency violate international law and may lead to catastrophic consequences such as nuclear leaks. If Israel wants to safeguard its security, it should accept the two-State solution and stop the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Maintaining one’s own security at the expense of other nations’ security is unsustainable and may lead to more and wider conflicts.

The following articles were originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Wang Yi Has a Phone Call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi

June 24 (MFA) — On June 24, 2025, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.

Seyed Abbas Araghchi briefed Wang Yi on the latest developments in the regional situation, emphasizing that the dangerous actions by Israel and the United States in attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities seriously violate international law, leaving Iran with no choice but to respond. Although a ceasefire has just been reached between Iran and Israel, the situation remains unstable. Genuine negotiations can only begin once Israel halts its aggression. The session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned the actions of the United States and Israel, and expects the Security Council to play a role in this matter. He appreciated China’s understanding and support for Iran’s legitimate position and expressed willingness to maintain close communication with China. Iran looks forward to China’s greater role in easing the situation.

Continue reading Wang Yi speaks with counterparts from Iran and Türkiye

British government’s Strategic Defence Review hypes war threat against China

The British government published its new “defence” strategy on June 2.

According to a summary carried by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), it “aims to put a ‘stronger, more lethal’ Nato at the forefront of British defence plans as the country boosts its nuclear deterrent, rebuilds munitions and weapons stockpiles and invests billions of pounds into technologically advanced warfare methods.”

Filled with bellicose, Cold War rhetoric, the strategy, as reported by the SCMP:

  • Recommends that Britain should begin discussions with the US and NATO on the “potential benefits and feasibility of enhanced UK participation in NATO’s nuclear mission”. The government wants to achieve this by renewing its existing nuclear deterrent, investing £15 billion (US$20 billion) in its warhead programme.
  • The review is explicit in the need for Britain to play a greater role in nuclear deterrence, as the only European country to assign its nuclear capability to the defence of NATO – something that France does not currently do. The need for stepped-up UK action is driven by “the unprecedented challenge” of the US facing two “near-peer” nuclear powers in Russia and China.
  • With Trident already absorbing much of the UK’s defence expenditure, the policy is likely to be expensive. As well as the investment in nuclear warheads, Britain plans to build as many as 12 new submarines.
  • The study also describes China as a “sophisticated and persistent challenge” while falling short of calling it a threat – in line with the government’s existing approach to the Asian nation. It does warn, however, that the UK is likely to face Chinese technology wherever and with whomever it fights.

Simon Tisdall, foreign affairs commentator for the Guardian newspaper, described the new strategy as escalating the global nuclear arms race and “bringing us closer to Armageddon.”

He writes: “Plans by Keir Starmer’s government to modernise and potentially expand Britain’s nuclear weapons arsenal, unveiled in the 2025 strategic defence review (SDR), seriously undermine international non-proliferation efforts… This dangerous path leads in one direction only: towards the normalisation of nuclear warfare.

“These unconscionable proposals are a far cry from the days when Robin Cook, Labour’s foreign secretary from 1997 to 2001, championed unilateral nuclear disarmament and helped scrap the UK’s airdropped gravity bombs. They are a continuation of a redundant, inhuman, immoral, potentially international law-breaking deterrence policy that cash-strapped Britain can ill afford, will struggle to implement at cost and on time, and which perpetuates illusions about its global power status.”

Responding to the review, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Defence rebuked Britain for hyping up the so-called “China threat”. He urged the British side to perceive China in a correct manner and objectively and rationally view China and its military development. “The British side should make more practical efforts to contribute to the growth of relations between the two countries and their militaries.”

In an opinion article, China Military Online wrote:

Continue reading British government’s Strategic Defence Review hypes war threat against China

Liu Jianchao meets ministers from Mozambique and Botswana

Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC), met on June 13 with Maria Manuela dos Santos Lucas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique, and Phenyo Butale, member of the National Executive Committee of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) and Minister of International Relations of Botswana.

Both ministers had been in China to attend the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, held in Changsha.

Meeting with dos Santos Lucas, Liu said that China and Mozambique are true friends and brothers who have supported and stood alongside each other in trying times. China appreciates Mozambique’s long-term strong support for China on issues concerning China’s core interests and major concerns and will continue to firmly support Mozambique in following a development path that suits its national conditions. China is willing to work with Mozambique, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, and better benefit the people of the two countries.

He noted that the CPC and the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) have a long-standing friendship which is the political foundation and unique advantage of China-Mozambique relations. The CPC is willing to work with the FRELIMO to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two Parties, strengthen high-level exchanges and political dialogues, engage in in-depth exchanges of experience in party building and poverty alleviation, expand youth exchanges, enhance cooperation in areas such as cadre training, promote practical cooperation in various fields through inter-party channels, and further promote the development of China-Mozambique and China-Africa relations.

Lucas said that China is Mozambique’s most important friend outside Africa. Mozambique is grateful to China for always lending a helping hand to Mozambique in times of difficulties. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Mozambique’s independence as well as the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mozambique and China, but the relationship between FRELIMO and the CPC dates back even further. FRELIMO cherishes its friendly relations with the CPC and is willing to reinforce exchanges at all levels with it and deepen exchanges of experience in party building and state governance. Mozambique appreciates China’s position on the tariff war. China’s approach has inspired many countries, including Mozambique.

Meeting with Phenyo Butale, Liu said, since China and Botswana established diplomatic relations 50 years ago, bilateral relations have always maintained a sound momentum of development, despite the changes in the international landscape. Last year, the two heads of state upgraded China-Botswana relations to a strategic partnership, charting the course for the future development of bilateral relations. China is willing to work with Botswana to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continue to firmly support each other on issues involving respective core interests and major concerns, strengthen the docking of development strategies, and promote cooperation in economy, trade, infrastructure, and culture under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the FOCAC, so as to promote greater development of China-Botswana and China-Africa relations.

The CPC is willing to, together with the UDC, strengthen political dialogue, enhance mutual learning of experience in party building and state governance, strengthen exchanges in cadre training, and promote practical cooperation in various fields through the “political party +” channel. The world today is fraught with turbulence. Unilateralism, protectionism, and power bullying have severely impacted the international order. Global South countries, including China and Botswana, should strengthen solidarity and coordination, and work together to meet common challenges.

Continue reading Liu Jianchao meets ministers from Mozambique and Botswana

Book discussion: Domenico Losurdo – Western Marxism (5 July)

📆  Saturday 5 July 2025, 6pm Britain, 1pm US Eastern, 10am US Pacific

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Join us at the historic Marx Memorial Library (or online) for a discussion of Domenico Losurdo’s crucial book, “Western Marxism: How it was Born, How it Died, How it can be Reborn”, in which the legendary Italian philosopher charts the long and complex history of Marxism’s bifurcation into ‘Western’ and ‘Eastern’ – a division based primarily on the national question and the relative prioritisation of anti-colonial, anti-imperialist struggles.

Only translated into English in 2024, Western Marxism presents a powerful critique of our movement’s historic eurocentrism, and provides a timely challenge to those of us in the West seeking to move forward the struggle for socialism and against imperialism.

Speakers

  • Gabriel Rockhill (Editor of the English edition)
  • Jennifer Ponce de León (Co-author of the introduction to the English edition)
  • Alex Gordon (Chair, Marx Memorial Library)
  • Carlos Martinez (Co-editor, Friends of Socialist China)
  • Chair: Francisco Domínguez (National secretary, Venezuela Solidarity Campaign)

Organisers

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Liu Jianchao strengthens ties with Cyprus communists; visits Britain and Norway

Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee (IDCPC), recently visited Cyprus, Britain and Norway.

On June 6, he met with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides.

Christodoulides said that Cyprus-China relations have a solid foundation and will grow better and stronger no matter how the international situation changes. He expressed Cyprus’s gratitude to China for the valuable support for the Cyprus problem in the UN Security Council, and said Cyprus’s commitment to the one-China principle remains unchanged. Cyprus is willing to, together with China, strengthen high-level visits and promote cooperation in the Belt and Road cooperation, economy, trade, culture and other fields. Cyprus and China both adhere to multilateralism and oppose unilateralism. In the face of a challenging international situation, cooperation is the only choice, while trade wars should be avoided.

Liu said that China appreciates Cyprus’s firm adherence to the one-China principle and will continue to firmly support Cyprus in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity and support a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem under the framework of relevant UN resolutions. China is willing to work with Cyprus to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen the alignment of development strategies, expand exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, agriculture, innovation, culture and education under the framework of the Belt and Road cooperation, and promote greater development of China-Cyprus strategic partnership. In the face of a turbulent and complex international situation, China and the European Union (EU) should adhere to the positioning of our partnership, adhere to mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win results, and inject more certainty and stability into the world. Cyprus is a good partner of China in the EU and will serve as the rotating presidency of the EU in the first half of next year. China supports Cyprus in playing a greater role in international affairs and hopes that Cyprus will continue to play an active role in promoting the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations.

A major purpose of Liu’s visit was to strengthen ties with the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL), Cyprus’s communist party. AKEL is a mass party, the second largest in the country’s parliament, holding 15 out of 56 seats.

On June 5, Liu met with AKEL General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou.

Liu noted, China and Cyprus enjoy a profound friendship. China appreciates Cyprus’s firm adherence to the one-China principle, firmly supports Cyprus’s efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and supports a comprehensive, fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem under the framework of relevant UN resolutions. China is willing to, together with Cyprus, strengthen the alignment of development strategies, expand practical cooperation in various fields, and strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

He said that the CPC and the Progressive Party of Working People are good comrades and good partners with similar ideals and beliefs. Next year, the Progressive Party of Working People will celebrate its 100th anniversary, and the CPC will celebrate its 105th birthday. The CPC is willing to work hand in hand with the Progressive Party of Working People to strengthen exchanges and political dialogue at all levels, expand youth exchanges, deepen mutual learning of experience in party building and state governance, and push practical cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

Stefanou welcomed the CPC delegation, which was visiting the headquarters of the Progressive Party of Working People and said that the CPC is a reliable friend and close comrade. He said, the Progressive Party of Working People thanks China for the long-term valuable support to Cyprus and is willing to further expand exchanges with the CPC and promote mutually beneficial cooperation in such areas as economy and trade between the two countries. Hailing the CPC’s achievements in leading the Chinese people to successfully build socialism with Chinese characteristics, he said, we are willing to learn from China’s experience. The Progressive Party of Working People firmly adheres to the one-China principle and appreciates China’s just position on the Cyprus problem. The EU should not regard China as an opponent. The two sides should strengthen cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual respect. The Progressive Party of Working People is willing to play its role in the European Parliament, especially in the European United Left-Nordic Green Left grouping, to promote the development of EU-China relations.

Liu also held discussions on June 7, with the grassroots organisation of the Paphos District Committee of AKEL.

Continue reading Liu Jianchao strengthens ties with Cyprus communists; visits Britain and Norway