Author: Friends of Socialist China

Brixton plaque remembers China pioneer

A pioneering photographer, now considered a founder of photojournalism, was honoured with the unveiling of a blue plaque at his former home in the south London district of Brixton on Thursday August 8. London’s blue plaques scheme, run by English Heritage, celebrates the links between notable figures of the past and the buildings in which they lived and worked.

John Thomson, who was born in Edinburgh in 1837 and who died in London in 1921 and is buried in Streatham Cemetery, was known for some of the first photographs of China, Cambodia and Thailand to reach a British audience, as well as for photos of the poorest sections of the working class in Victorian London, before finally winning recognition from ‘high society’ and royalty.

In April 1862, Thomson left Edinburgh for Singapore, beginning a ten-year period of travelling in East and South Asia. After visiting Ceylon (as Sri Lanka was then known) and India in October-November 1864 to document the destruction caused by a cyclone, he travelled to Thailand (then known as Siam), taking photographs of the monarch and members of the royal court and government.

Inspired by accounts of the rediscovery of the ruins of the city of Angkor, which was at the heart of a magnificent Khmer civilisation that flourished from the ninth century onwards, Thomson set off on his first major photographic expeditions and, despite nearly dying of malaria, took the first known photographs of the Angkor Wat Temple, which today takes the central place on the Cambodian flag. As in Siam, he also took photos of the Cambodian royal family.

Following a brief return to Britain, he settled in Hong Kong in 1868, using it as a base to explore and photograph China extensively over the next three years, including Fujian province, Guangzhou, Beiijing, Shanghai, the Great Wall and deep into central China. He published many of his photographs under the title, ‘Illustrations of China and Its People’.

His other important publication was ‘Street Life in London’. According to the BBC, it “recorded some of the impoverished characters living on the fringes of late nineteenth century society in London. His photographs include Hookey Alf of Whitechapel, who wore a hook in place of the arm he lost in an industrial accident and hung around the streets of east London looking for casual labour… His photojournalism, deliberately intended to prick the consciences of the Victorian middle classes, included a poignant picture of a destitute woman in Covent Garden, taken in 1877 and entitled ‘The Crawlers’.”

What the BBC did not report was that, far from merely intending to prick middle class consciences, each of the 36 photos was accompanied by text written by Adolphe Smith Headingley, a Marxist revolutionary and member of the First International. Half-French and a participant in the Paris Commune, Smith narrowly escaped execution when the Commune was crushed and was also instrumental in popularising the singing of the Red Flag in the British Labour movement.

Speaking at the unveiling of Thomson’s plaque, Jamie Carstairs, senior digitisation officer with Bristol University’s library services, who originally made the nomination, said that Thompson was an exceptionally gifted and versatile photographer with “a rare combination of a keen intellectual curiosity, perceptive observational skills, and visual virtuosity.”

‘Illustrations of China and its People’, consisting of 200 photographs and descriptions, was published in 1874. It earned him the nickname “China Thomson”. He is nowadays acclaimed as one of the best foreign photographers ever to set foot in China, Carstairs noted.

 “Thomson’s photography introduced the Victorian public to what it could not see – far away Asia – and to what it did not necessarily want to see – London’s poorest people. John Thomson is a model photographer. Talented, hardworking, innovative, effective, generous, humane. His respect and empathy for the people he photographed made for compassionate and moving portraiture, especially of women.”

Carstairs was followed by Betty Yao MBE, a Chinese community activist, who co-founded the Pan-Asian Women’s Association (PAWA UK) and is the Managing Director of Credential International Arts Management. The rediscovery of Thomson’s work on China is largely thanks to 15 years of tireless work by Betty, who curated the touring exhibition, ‘Through the Lens of John Thomson’, which has now been viewed by over a million visitors throughout Britain, Ireland, China, Europe and North America. Betty has also chaired the John Thomson Commemoration Group, which completed the restoration of his gravestone at south London’s Streatham cemetery in 2019.

She told the gathering of her first encounter with Thomson’s work: “Instantly, I fell in love with his images of China, especially the many, many photographs of women.”

Mayor of Lambeth, and Labour Councillor for Brixton North, John-Paul Ennis said: “I’d like to thank everybody involved in helping to bring this blue plaque to fruition. Blue plaques create the opportunity to sow seeds in people’s minds. To see that great people have lived or worked in your community can have a huge impact on you.”

Thomson’s great-granddaughter, Caroline Thomas said: “As Londoners by upbringing, the work [‘Street Life in London’] resonates greatly, despite being produced over a century ago. It’s sad to think that some of the themes still prevail today. We’re especially proud of the fact that Thomson and Smith chose as their subjects ordinary people and those on the edge of society…  It is this humanity that we would like to honour.”

In 2020, a heritage plaque was unveiled on the Edinburgh building where Thomson was born. 

The below article was originally published on The Brixton Blog. We also embed an interview with Betty Yao, recorded in 2018, to coincide with her exhibition showing at the Brunei Gallery at SOAS University of London.

Continue reading Brixton plaque remembers China pioneer

Remy Herrera: the foundations of China’s economy clearly distinguish it from capitalism

The following text is the English translation of an interview with Rémy Herrera, a research analyst at the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) at the Sorbonne in Paris. The interview was carried out by Tang Xiaofu for the Observers’ Network, Beijing, and was recently posted in Workers World. While covering similar ground to the interview we published in June 2024, it contains a number of additional insights and is well worth reading in full.

In the interview, Herrera firmly rejects the characterisation of China by David Harvey and others of “a neoliberalism with Chinese characteristics”, and points to the foundations that clearly distinguish China’s system from capitalism:

1) The persistence of powerful and modernized planning; 2) a form of political democracy, obviously perfectible, but making collective choices possible; 3) extensive public services, conditioning political, social and economic citizenship; 4) ownership of land and natural resources that remains in the public domain; 5) diversified forms of ownership, adequate to the socialization of productive forces and boosting economic activity; 6) a general policy which consists of increasing labor remuneration more quickly compared to other types of income; 7) a desire for social justice displayed by public authorities in the face of rising social inequalities since 1978; 8) the priority given to the preservation of the environment, the protection of nature being now considered inseparable from social progress; 9) a conception of economic relations between States based on a win-win principle; and 10) political relations between States based on the search for peace and more balanced exchanges between peoples.

Herrera goes on to discuss the unique role of the state-owned enterprises in China’s economy, in particular that “the compass that guides them is not the enrichment of private shareholders, but the priorities given to productive investment and the service provided to their customers”.

The public sector “still represents a large part of industrial assets (in construction, steelmaking, basic materials, semi-finished products, etc.) and almost all of them in strategic areas for the country’s, like infrastructure in energy, transport, telecommunications, and of course armaments — in addition to the banking and financial sectors.” As such, public ownership sits at the heart of – and is able to guide – China’s development strategy.

The planning system “is the place where collective choices are developed and decided, as expressions of a general will. It is the authentic space where a nation chooses a common destiny and the means for a sovereign people to become its own master, in all areas of its existence: way of life, ways of consuming, housing and occupying or developing the national territory, precise definition of the relationships maintained by human beings with their environment and nature.”

Herrera also addresses the US’s trade war, launched by Trump and continued by Biden, assessing that the “problem” from the US’s point of view is that the unequal relationship between the US (an imperialist country) and China (a developing country) is becoming less unequal – “there is an erosion of the advantage of the United States in the exchange”. The trade war “was an attempt by the administration led by President Trump to curb the slow, continuous erosion of the advantage of the United States, observed for decades in trade with its emerging rival, China.”

The interview concludes with an appeal to move beyond a moribund imperialism. “We must dismantle the logic of crisis and war driven by high finance by imposing democratic control on it, and therefore think about alternatives to capitalism. The defense of peace and the reactivation of the socialist project are today’s priorities. In this context, China has a fundamental role to play in these transformations.”

I. How the West interprets China

Tang Xiaofu: 1) You have visited China multiple times, but now many scholars are trying to distort Socialism with Chinese Characteristics into State Capitalism. What’s your view towards State Capitalism? And what’s the difference between State Capitalism and Socialism with Chinese Characteristics?

Rémy Herrera: The speeches of many current leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) suggest that China would still be in the “first phase of socialism,” that is to say, in a stage considered essential for developing the productive forces and which would take a long time to reach its goal. According to them, the historical goal sought would indeed remain that of developed socialism — even if, it is true, the contours of the latter are far from being clearly and precisely defined. However, in Western countries, many researchers claim that these official political declarations claiming the persistence of socialism in China are only a facade, or the cover-up of a hidden form of capitalism, and that socialism is really dead and buried in China. I do not share the opinion of these Western researchers. On the contrary, I think that these statements by Chinese leaders deserve to be taken seriously.

Moreover, even within the debates among Western Marxists, a clear majority of them affirm that the Chinese economy would henceforth be purely and simply capitalist. This is the case of certain well-known Marxists, such as David Harvey, who believes he has seen, since the 1978 reforms, “a neoliberalism with Chinese characteristics” where a particular type of capitalist market economy has incorporated more and more neoliberal devices operated in the framework of very authoritarian centralized control. This is also the case of Leo Panitch, for example, who analyzes the contemporary integration of China into the circuits of the world economy as the duplication by China of the role of “capitalist complement” formerly held by Japan, as a support that China would provide to the United States through capital flows allowing the latter to maintain its global hegemony, and as the trend towards the liberalization of financial markets in China leading to the dismantling of instruments of control of capital movements and undermining at the same time the bases of the power of the CPC. I do not agree with these researchers either. I defend the idea that today, the Chinese system still contains key elements of socialism, and the interpretation I give of its nature is compatible with socialism.

Thus, I read the Chinese political-economic system as a market socialism, or socialism with a market, based on some pillars which still distinguish it quite clearly from capitalism. I will cite, among these foundations: 1) the persistence of powerful and modernized planning; 2) a form of political democracy, obviously perfectible, but making collective choices possible; 3) extensive public services, conditioning political, social and economic citizenship; 4) ownership of land and natural resources that remains in the public domain; 5) diversified forms of ownership, adequate to the socialization of productive forces and boosting economic activity; 6) a general policy which consists of increasing labor remuneration more quickly compared to other types of income; 7) a desire for social justice displayed by public authorities in the face of rising social inequalities since 1978; 8) the priority given to the preservation of the environment, the protection of nature being now considered inseparable from social progress; 9) a conception of economic relations between States based on a win-win principle; and 10) political relations between States based on the search for peace and more balanced exchanges between peoples. Socialism “with Chinese characteristics” is not very far from this reading grid.

Continue reading Remy Herrera: the foundations of China’s economy clearly distinguish it from capitalism

Wang Yi: China, India should properly handle differences, develop mutually beneficial cooperation

During his July visit to Laos, where he attended a number of international meetings held under the aegis of ASEAN (the Association of South East Asian Nations), Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also held a number of bilateral meetings with his counterparts. Among the potentially most significant, on July 25, was that with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

At the meeting, Wang said that, in the face of the current complex international situation and severe global challenges, China and India, as two major developing countries and two major emerging economies living next to each other, should strengthen dialogue and communication, and enhance mutual understanding and trust. They should also work for the improvement, steady and sustainable development of China-India relations with a sense of surmounting differences and frictions.

Wang noted that the two countries’ relationship has an important impact that goes beyond the bilateral scope. An improved relationship should reflect the strategic structure of China and India as two major emerging developing countries. The political wisdom of China and India as two ancient civilisations should be reflected in handling their differences, and the unity and cooperation of countries in the Global South should be reflected in their addressing global challenges. He stressed that the return to the right track of China-India relations not only serves the interests of both sides – it is also the common expectation of countries in the Global South.

Jaishankar said that India and China are the two most populous countries, two major emerging economies and two ancient civilisations with a long history. To maintain the stable and predictable development of bilateral relations fully conforms to the interests of both sides and is of special significance to safeguarding regional peace and promoting multipolarity.

The two sides agreed to work together to maintain peace in the border areas and to push for new progress in consultation on border affairs. They also agreed to strengthen communication within a number of international bodies, among them BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, including to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

VIENTIANE, July 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar here on Thursday, saying the two countries should properly handle differences, and develop mutually beneficial cooperation.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said in the face of the current complex international situation and severe global challenges, China and India, as two major developing countries and two major emerging economies living next to each other, should strengthen dialogue and communication, enhance mutual understanding and trust.

The two sides should work for the improvement, steady and sustainable development of China-India relations with a sense of surmounting differences and frictions, Wang said, adding that the bilateral relationship has an important impact that goes beyond the bilateral scope.

The improvement of bilateral relations should reflect the strategic structure of China and India as two major emerging developing countries, Wang said. The political wisdom of China and India as two ancient civilizations should be reflected in handling their differences, and the unity and cooperation of countries in the Global South should be reflected in addressing global challenges, he added.

It is hoped that the two sides will meet each other halfway, actively explore the right way for the two neighboring major countries to get along, and guide all sectors to build a positive understanding of each other, Wang said.

Wang stressed that the return to the right track of China-India relations serves the interests of both sides and is also the common expectation of countries in the Global South.

Jaishankar said that India and China are the two most populous countries, two major emerging economies and two ancient civilizations with a long history. To maintain the stable and predictable development of bilateral relations fully conforms to the interests of both sides and is of special significance to safeguarding regional peace and promoting multipolarity.

India and China have widely intertwined interests and are also facing the shadow brought by the border situation, but the Indian side is willing to find a solution to differences with a historical vision, strategic thinking and an open attitude and bring bilateral relations back to the positive and constructive track, he said.

The two sides agreed to work together to maintain peace in the border areas and push for new progress in the consultation on border affairs.

The two sides said that they will strengthen communication within the East Asia Cooperation Platform, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Group of Twenty, BRICS and other frameworks, jointly practice multilateralism, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.

Daniel Ortega: China is bringing progress and benefit to the peoples of the world

On July 15, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo attended a special ceremony in the capital Managua to hand over a fleet of Chinese buses produced by the Yutong company to the city’s transport cooperatives.

“Today,” Ortega declared, “we are delivering these buses so that they contribute to the transportation of families, of children going to school, of young people going to school, going to university; of workers, women, doctors, teachers, of all sectors of Nicaraguan society, who use collective transport.”

A special day had been chosen: “Today, July 15th, is the day our Brother Julio Buitrago, a young man, fell in combat. Julio was in college but went on to combat with the Sandinista Front, and the feat, the heroism, of Julio, who fell in combat 55 years ago today, on July 15th 1969, is well known. He was alone! He was surrounded by 300 National Guard, trained by the Yankees, they brought small tanks, they brought airplanes, and he resisted until his last cartridge… And in tribute to Julio we make this handover on this day, in tribute to Julio who represents Nicaragua’s youth, giving their lives for Nicaragua, fighting for Nicaragua.”

Ortega took the occasion to outline in some detail the long history of solidarity between the Nicaraguan and Chinese revolutions. Referring to a speech just delivered by China’s Ambassador to Nicaragua, he continued: “Our relations with China are historic. Ambassador Chen Xi recalled the years of the triumph of China’s revolution, and they will be commemorating now 75 and us 45. What does this mean? That it took 30 years for the triumph of the Sandinista revolution to follow on, and before the triumph of the Nicaraguan revolution was the triumph of the Cuban revolution, which was immediately intertwined with the People’s Republic of China, when the great Chairman Mao Zedong was at the head of the People’s Republic of China.

“When we were fighting, from the 1960s onwards, against the tyranny of Somoza, we maintained links with the leaders of the Chinese party; compañeras and compañeros of the Sandinista Front traveled there, to China, in those years. And naturally we were inspired by the Chinese revolution, a revolution that had an impact on the world, with such an immense territory and with a division in the country, and the ability that the Chinese leadership, headed by Mao, displayed in uniting that great nation, where there were a great many differences between the provinces. They had to be united, and he united them.

“Then the Chinese revolution came to grow, it came to advance, facing counter-revolutions, and later the Chinese people’s revolution managed to take a great leap forward, such that now, with President Xi Jinping, much wider doors are opening for humanity.”

China, Ortega said, “has been fulfilling its principles, which are revolutionary principles, they are the principles of the Chinese Communist Party, with which we have always maintained relations. Tomás [Tomás Borge, a co-founder and central leader of the Sandinista National Liberation Front, FSLN] was there, in China, in various seminars held there in China in which leaders of the revolutionary parties of Central America took part. Victor Tirado [another historic Sandinista Commandante] had also been there before.

“And China today, is really serving as a compass, pointing the way which other nations share as well, that Planet Earth cannot continue to live under the boot of empires which accumulate wealth at the expense of developing peoples, crushing them, invading them, murdering them. This has to change, and it will surely have to change, because every day we find more countries defending these positions.”

Having praised the cultural performances at the celebration from indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples on his country’s Caribbean coast, Ortega referred to the next tranche of 1,000 buses that will be delivered from China, saying that, “we guarantee some buses for the Caribbean coast, so that they reach Bluefields and reach Bilwi, so that they reach the Mines Region; that is, that the embrace of solidarity from the Chinese people reaches the Miskito peoples, the Ramas, the Afro-descendant population, the Mayagna, the Garifuna. May this embrace of solidarity from the Chinese people reach all these communities, because now the highways are there, and the highways are still advancing. So, there should be no problem now for these buses to circulate on the Caribbean coast.”

He went on to recall his own state visit to China in 1986, where, “we managed to meet as the brothers and sisters that we are.” However, “in the 1990s the neoliberal politicians imposed by the Gringos came along, and the first thing they did was break off relations with the People’s Republic of China.”

After the struggle against three consecutive neoliberal governments, “we returned to government, always in communication with the People’s Republic of China, looking for the moment when we could normalise relations again. We have been united in our struggles, in the battles that the Chinese people have been waging to improve their conditions, to strengthen themselves in all fields, to stand in solidarity with the peoples of Asia, Africa, Latin America, with the peoples of the world.”

Four days after this speech, on July 19, Nicaragua celebrated the 45th anniversary of the victory of the Sandinista people’s revolution. Tens of thousands of Nicaraguans were joined by government delegations from numerous countries, including Algeria, Angola, Belarus, Burkina Faso, China, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Ghana, Honduras, Iran, Kuwait, South Ossetia, Palestine, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zimbabwe, along with solidarity delegations from numerous other countries, to hear President Ortega make another important speech. A special guest was the legendary Palestinian revolutionary Leila Khaled.

Having referred to the historic and decisive support rendered by the Soviet Union in the first period of building a new society in Nicaragua, and to Russia’s current struggle against the revival of Nazism in Ukraine, Ortega continued:

“And there is another nation with which we have also had historical relations, the People’s Republic of China, which has been bringing progress, benefits and development to the world’s peoples who were colonised and who became independent, but who were then subjugated under the boot of the interests of the powers that had colonised them, leaving those peoples in poverty, with people in misery, people going hungry, people in illiteracy, with infant mortality, in Africa, in Asia. And the People’s Republic of China has been developing a policy bringing benefits to developing countries, without setting any conditions.

“So now the great powers grouped in NATO already have an incipient war which is in the phase of them preparing their own peoples for what they call a threat; that Russia and China are a threat, but then, too, there are the BRICS, where there is India, and they say they too are a threat. That is to say, everything that is a coming together of nations, of countries, where sovereignty is respected, where they reach agreements to achieve better conditions for their peoples, they see as a threat, because the imperialists are used to occupying by force, and then dominating and murdering; and then pointing accusing fingers at us.”

The following articles were originally published by Tortilla con Sal.

Continue reading Daniel Ortega: China is bringing progress and benefit to the peoples of the world

Chinese modernisation rejects short-termism, stresses sustainability

The Xinhua News Agency recently carried a short interview with our co-editor Keith Bennett on the question of Chinese modernisation, which he said, has as its aim that all people can lead a dignified and meaningful life based on common prosperity.

Keith added that Western countries have seen great economic development over a long period but the gap between the rich and the poor not only persists but even gets worse. Moreover, all sorts of social problems proliferate and eventually become a drag on economic development as well.

On the other hand, Chinese modernisation has taken a different path, which replaces this vicious circle with a virtuous circle and is therefore of great significance to the world. Moreover, China’s foreign policy is an integral aspect of China’s commitment to global stability and development.

“China’s foreign policy of peace is completely connected to and in harmony with its modernisation drive at home as well as with its contributions to the modernisation of other countries.”

The following article was originally published by Xinhua.

LONDON, July 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese modernization rejects short-termism and stresses sustainability, a British expert has said recently.

In an interview with Xinhua, Keith Bennett, an international relations consultant based in London, said that comprehensive and holistic are among the distinctive features of Chinese modernization. “It does not just concern itself with one or other aspect, nor does it see them in isolation from one another but rather as part of an integrated and interconnected whole.”

“This reflects the fact that Chinese modernization rejects short-termism, stresses sustainability,” he said.

On top of that, Chinese modernization is “scientific” and above all “people centered,” Bennett said.

“The aim of Chinese-style modernization is that all people can lead a dignified and meaningful life based on common prosperity,” he added.

The British expert also drew a comparison between Chinese and Western-style modernization approaches.

In his view, Western countries have seen great economic development over a long period but the gap between the rich and the poor not only persists but even gets worse. Moreover, all sorts of social problems proliferate and eventually become a drag on economic development as well.

On the other hand, Chinese modernization has taken a different path, which replaces this vicious circle with a virtuous circle and is therefore of great significance to the world.

He also noted that in China’s case, development and peace are not mutually exclusive; but rather, they are complementary and interdependent.

“China long ago identified development and peace as two key issues of our times. And they are intimately connected. Without peace there can be no development,” he stressed, adding that the tragic conflicts in various parts of the world illustrate this too clearly. “Likewise, successful development helps to eliminate at least one of the main root causes of conflict,” he noted.

Bennett views China’s foreign policy of peace as an integral aspect of China’s commitment to global stability and development.

“China’s foreign policy of peace is completely connected to and in harmony with its modernization drive at home as well as with its contributions to the modernization of other countries,” he said.

So that is why the China-proposed initiatives including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, form an integrated whole, which together lay the foundations to help realize a community with a shared future for mankind, said the expert.

On China’s significant role in the global economy, Bennett said, “China has been the main engine of global economic growth for decades.”

China’s significant contributions as “a major external investor, a major recipient of foreign direct investment, a huge market with the world’s largest middle-income group, and the major trading partner of the majority of the world’s nations” make it a key player in the global economy, he said.

Given the above-mentioned factors, he stressed that China’s efforts in building a high-standard socialist market economy, supporting all-round innovation, and persisting in opening up can have far-reaching effects, which will “help bring stability to the global economy and generate opportunities for businesses and economies worldwide, while providing a valuable point of reference for other countries that wish to develop their economies and realize modernization.”

China shines at the Olympics, but there are some who “don’t want that”

The article below analyses the Western media response to China’s successes in the Olympic Games, in particular the persistent attempts to discredit China’s achievements and to portray the country as a systematic violator of doping regulations.

The author points out that this negative portrayal of Chinese athletes reflects two underlying dynamics. Firstly, an inability to accept that countries of the Global South can, along with their economic emergence, establish the infrastructure necessary to compete at the highest level in sports. Secondly, it reflects a broader hostility towards China, itself a manifestation of an escalating US-led New Cold War.

When it comes to attacking China, racism and war preparation go hand in hand. A campaign is underway against the People’s Republic of China in which lies and distortions of the truth in many areas breed hostility and fear of the country, its leaders and even its people.

This article originally appeared in the Belgian website China Square, and has been translated into English by the author, Friends of Socialist China advisory group member Dirk Nimmegeers.

The people and the media in China are excited about Team China’s outstanding results at the Olympics, though without ignoring the victories of other athletes or looking down on them. Those pushing for war totally dislike this.

Last Sunday, 21-year-old Zheng Qinwen defeated her opponent in the singles tennis final. She made history in Chinese tennis, winning the first gold medal for a Chinese and even for an Asian athlete in that event. Earlier, on Thursday, in the final of the men’s 100-metre freestyle swimming, Pan Zhanle had won and broken his own world record with an astonishing time of 46.40 seconds. Pan is a member of the foursome that won the 4×100-metre medley relay on Sunday.

Exceptional sports performances provoke mixed reactions: admiration, amazement, but sometimes also suspicion. Cyclist Tadej Pogacar, who achieved a spectacular double and more this cycling season, had to deal with doubts from certain quarters. However, the positive usually prevails.

The Positive

Swimming champion Pan Zhanle experienced both positive and negative reactions. His closest sporting rivals, Kyle Chalmers, the Australian silver medal winner, and a previous world record holder, Romanian Popovici, warmly congratulated him. They predicted that swimmers would go even faster as long as they keep working hard and in the right way. Pan has indeed done that and so, after a somewhat hesitant start as a 16-year-old, he managed to make a steep ascent and reach the absolute top just days before he turned 20. Pau Gasol, member of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Athletes’ Commission, and until recently an Olympic athlete himself, stressed that in the “many World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) doping tests that all Chinese swimmers had to undergo, absolutely nothing was found”. At a press conference Gasol also made clear that “he thought those tests that cause a lot of stress and turn athletes’ lives upside down were excessive” and that “he was not sure whether the measure [of testing Chinese swimmers two or three times more than others] is right or not”. IOC spokesman Mark Adams also confirmed that the Chinese swimming team was “the most tested team” at the Paris Olympics. Since January, the team has undergone more than 600 tests.

Continue reading China shines at the Olympics, but there are some who “don’t want that”

State intervention an indispensable factor in China’s economic success

The following article by Michael Roberts reviews and summarises a new book by Brazilian Marxist economists Adalmir Antonio Marquetti, Alessandro Miebach and Henrique Morrone, entitled Unequal Development and Capitalism: Catching Up and Falling Behind in the Global Economy.

The central focus of the book is measuring the progress of Global South countries in catching up with the imperialist countries in terms of economic development. Roberts summarises the authors’ key finding as follows: “The ‘follower’ countries (the Global South) will generally have higher profit rates than the ‘leader’ countries (the imperialist Global North) because their capital-labour ratio (in Marxist terminology, the organic composition of capital) is lower.” However, “as these countries try to industrialise, the capital-labour ratio will rise and so will the productivity of labour.” As a result, “capital productivity will tend to decline and this eventually will slow the rise in labour productivity.”

Consequently, “many Global South countries will never ‘bridge the gap’ on labour productivity and thus on living standards because the profitability of capital in the Global South will quickly dissipate compared to the Global North”.

How to overcome this contradiction where increased productivity of labour leads to a falling rate of profit, thereby decelerating development? The book’s authors write: “This issue is observed in many middle-income trap countries. In these cases, state intervention becomes essential, expanding investment even as the profit rate declines, as in China.” To which Roberts comments: “Exactly. China’s success in catching up, which so frightens US imperialism now, is down to state-led investment overcoming the impact of falling profitability on capital investment.”

China has “a model of development based on dominant public ownership of finance and strategic sectors and a national plan for investment and growth”. As a result, “only China is closing the gap on per capita GDP with the imperialist bloc”. This chimes with Samir Amin’s observation that “China is the only authentically emergent country”.

Brazilian Marxist economists Adalmir Antonio Marquetti, Alessandro Miebach and Henrique Morrone have produced an important and insightful book on global capitalist development, with an innovative new way of measuring the progress for the majority of humanity in the so-called Global South in ‘catching up’ on living standards with the ‘Global North’.

In this book Marquetti et al argue that unequal development has been a defining characteristic of capitalism. “Throughout history, countries and regions have exhibited differences in labor productivity growth – a key determinant in poverty reduction and development – and although some nations may catch up with the productivity levels or well-being of developed economies at times, others fall behind.”

They propose a model of economic development based on technical change, profit rate and capital accumulation, on the one hand, and institutional change, on the other.  Together these two factors should be combined to explain the dynamics of catching up or falling behind.

They base their development model on what Duncan Foley called the ‘Marx-bias’ and what Paul Krugman has called ‘capital bias’; namely that in capitalist accumulation there will be a rise in the organic composition of capital (rising mechanization compared to labour input) leading to an increase in the productivity of labour, but also a tendency for the profitability of accumulated capital to fall.

Continue reading State intervention an indispensable factor in China’s economic success

China a credible peace broker in Palestine

In the following article for Middle East Monitor, Ramzy Baroud, editor-in-chief of the Palestine Chronicle, discusses the historic signing of a unity agreement between 14 Palestinian political parties in Beijing and the implications it has for China’s role as a peacemaker in the Middle East.

Ramzy notes that China has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause, and has been involved in various peace initiatives in the region, including its four-point proposal on the Palestine-Israel conflict, put forward by Foreign Minister Wang Yi in May 2021. This proposal was not immediately successful, but in the intervening period there have been two significant developments: first, “China’s success in ending a seven-year rift between Saudi Arabia and Iran re-introduced Beijing as a powerful new mediator”; and second, “US-dominated western diplomacy is breaking apart” and the US has lost all credibility as a mediator.

Meanwhile, China has been a loud and consistent voice in the international community condemning Israel’s onslaught on Gaza. China has proven itself to be “committed to the rights of the Palestinian people and their historic struggle for freedom and justice”.

China’s efforts towards a lasting peace and justice in the Middle East have been widely welcomed by regional states and by the Palestinian people themselves. “China is now officially a peace broker in Palestine and, for most Palestinians, a credible one at that”.

In the video embedded below the article, Ramzy discusses these issues in greater detail on the Palestine Deep Dive show.

Chinese diplomacy has done it again.

By hosting a historic signing of a unity agreement between 14 Palestinian political parties in Beijing on 23 July, China has, once more, shown its ability to play a global role as a peace broker.

For years, China has attempted to play a role in Middle East politics, particularly in the region’s most enduring crisis, the Israeli Occupation of Palestine.

In 2021, China announced its four-point plan, aimed at “comprehensively, fairly and permanently” resolving the Palestinian question.

Whether the plan itself was workable or not, it mattered little, as neither the Israeli government nor the Palestinian Authority were prepared to ditch Washington, which has dominated Middle East diplomacy for decades.

Continue reading China a credible peace broker in Palestine

Xi Jinping congratulates To Lam on his election as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam

On August 3, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam unanimously elected State President To Lam as its General Secretary following the recent death of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The same day, his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping sent a warm congratulatory message to To Lam, in which he reiterated that, “China and Vietnam are socialist neighbours linked by mountains and rivers… I am ready to join Comrade General Secretary To Lam in leading the building of an increasingly substantial and in-depth China-Vietnam community with a shared future, jointly promoting the traditional friendship, consolidating political trust, deepening strategic exchanges, boosting substantive cooperation, bringing more happiness to the peoples of the two countries, and actively contributing to the cause of peace and progress of humanity.”

The text of the message was published by the Vietnamese newspaper Nhân Dân and is reprinted below. In its initial reports, Nhân Dân also highlighted the messages from the leaders of Laos, Cambodia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, among others.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent congratulations to State President To Lam on his election as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)’s Central Committee.

The message reads:

“I am very delighted to learn that you have been elected to the position of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPV. On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and in my own name, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to you.

“Over the recent years, the CPV has thoroughly implemented the spirit of the 13th National Party Congress’s Resolution, focusing on promoting the Party building, and reaping new achievements in boosting the building of socialism and the renewal and open-door cause.

“We believe that, under the steadfast leadership of the CPV Central Committee, the entire Party and people of Vietnam will successfully realise the objectives and tasks set forth by the CPV’s 13th National Congress, steadily promoting the preparations for the 14th National Congress, and continuously moving towards the “two 100-year goals” of the Party and the country’s founding.

“China and Vietnam are socialist neighbours linked by mountains and rivers. Last December, I paid a state visit to Vietnam, during which both sides announced the building of a China-Vietnam Community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, opening a new journey and a new chapter in the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries. I am ready to join Comrade General Secretary To Lam in leading the building of an increasingly substantial and in-depth China-Vietnam Community with a shared future, jointly promoting the traditional friendship, consolidating political trust, deepening strategic exchanges, boosting substantive cooperation, bringing more happiness to the peoples of the two countries, and actively contributing to the cause of peace and progress of the mankind.

“Wish you new achievements in your noble position”.

Timor-Leste President: If China can help our people, then China is my hero

At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Dr. José Ramos-Horta, the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, paid a state visit to China from July 28-31.

It was Ramos-Horta’s first visit to China since he took office in 2022, but he has visited China many times in the past, the first occasion being in early 1976, as part of a delegation from the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETILIN). With the collapse of Portuguese colonialism, Timor-Leste had declared its independence on November 28, 1975. However, Indonesia invaded and occupied the newly independent country just nine days later. Ramos-Horta had left the country three days before the invasion to present its case to the United Nations and remained in exile for 24 years, leading the work to gain international support and solidarity for Timor’s liberation struggle, which finally triumphed over overwhelming odds.

In a July 2006 article, the right-wing US thinktank Jamestown noted:

“When the Frente Revolucionária de Timor-Leste Independente (FRETILIN) Party declared outright independence from Portugal in November 1975, the PRC [People’s Republic of China] supported the declaration…  Following Indonesia’s annexation of East Timor, the PRC acted as FRETILIN’s primary patron. China argued East Timor’s case at the UN, provided financial support to its government in exile in Mozambique and was prepared to furnish anti-Indonesian guerilla fighters with sufficient military equipment to arm a light division of approximately 8,000 troops… At the stroke of midnight on May 20, 2002, East Timor became fully independent after three years under UN tutelage. The PRC became the first country to formally establish diplomatic relations with the world’s newest country.”

Meeting his Timorese counterpart on July 29, Xi Jinping said that President Ramos-Horta is the founding father of Timor-Leste and the founder of China-Timor-Leste friendship. China and Timor-Leste enjoy a long-standing traditional friendship, with China being the first country to recognise Timor-Leste’s independence and establish diplomatic ties with Timor-Leste.

He added that China firmly supports Timor-Leste’s efforts to safeguard national unity and social stability and stands ready to deepen strategic coordination and cooperation with Timor-Leste in an all-round way, safeguard the sovereignty and security interests of the two countries, and move toward the general direction of building a community with a shared future. He also called on both countries to take the signing of the Belt and Road cooperation plan as an opportunity to synergise their development strategies, share experience and technology in water conservancy construction, water-saving irrigation, disaster prevention and reduction, implement agricultural cooperation such as in rice cultivation, advance cooperation in terms of fisheries and poverty reduction, and help Timor-Leste develop its economy independently and in diversified ways, and continued:

“We should jointly promote the development of the Global South, carry out multilateral cooperation at a higher level, carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, strengthen coordination and cooperation in the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation and other multilateral platforms, jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and an economic globalisation that benefits all, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.”

Ramos-Horta said that he has visited China many times since 1976 and witnessed with his own eyes the earth-shaking changes that have taken place in China. He added that under the leadership of President Xi, China has eliminated absolute poverty, which is a miracle of humanity.

He added that in the face of profound changes in the international situation, China has firmly upheld multilateralism, and proposed the Belt and Road Initiative and a series of other important global initiatives. China has also facilitated reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as among Palestinian factions, making significant contributions to regional and global peace and development, thereby demonstrating China’s role and influence as a peaceful and responsible major country in today’s world.

He also thanked China for its long-term valuable support for Timor-Leste’s economic and social development and his country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that Timor-Leste hopes to further consolidate and develop the comprehensive strategic partnership with China, and strengthen cooperation in food security, infrastructure construction and other fields.

Timor-Leste firmly adheres to the one-China principle, believes that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory, opposes “Taiwan independence” and interference by external forces, and supports all efforts by China to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of the Belt and Road cooperation plan and multiple bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of agriculture, green development, digital economy and air transport. They also issued a joint statement on strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership.

The previous day, Ramos-Horta had met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Li said that that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 22 years ago, no matter how the international landscape has evolved, China and Timor-Leste have always understood and supported each other, deepened political mutual trust and achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation. China is willing to work with Timor-Leste to further carry forward their traditional friendship, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and achieve more results to better benefit the two peoples.

Ramos-Horta also met with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on July 29. 

In their joint statement, both nations shared the view that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Timor-Leste 22 years ago, the two countries have acted with mutual respect and treated each other as equals, with the friendship continuing to deepen, and set a fine example of unity and cooperation between countries of different sizes.

Timor-Leste extended warm congratulations on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the great success of convening the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Timor-Leste commends the impressive achievements China made in the First Decade of the New Era and believes that Chinese modernisation presents a new paradigm, which broadens paths and options for developing countries to achieve modernisation. Timor-Leste trusts that the Communist Party of China will lead all Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realise the Second Centenary Goal of building a great modern socialist country in all aspects, and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernisation.

Continue reading Timor-Leste President: If China can help our people, then China is my hero

Wang Yi to Blinken: the US should return to a rational and pragmatic China policy

On July 27, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Vientiane with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the latter’s request. The two men were both attending various international meetings held under the auspices of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Laotian capital. Laos currently holds the rotating chair of ASEAN.

China’s official report of the meeting clearly indicates the grave situation in which the two countries’ bilateral relationship continues to finds itself.

Wang Yi said that in the past three months, the diplomatic, financial, law enforcement, and climate teams of the two governments and the two militaries have maintained communication, and people-to-people exchanges have been on the rise. However, he continued, it must be pointed out that the US has not stopped, but rather doubled down on its containment and suppression of China. The risks facing China-US relations are still building and the challenges are rising.

He added that China’s policy towards the United States is consistent, and the US side should earnestly implement the commitments made by President Biden (at his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in California in November 2023) and return to a rational and pragmatic China policy. The US, Wang Yi pointed out, holds a wrong perception of China, always seeing China with its own hegemonic mindset.

The Chinese Foreign Minister added that Taiwan is part of China, and it never has been and never will be a country. “Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water. “We will keep reducing the space for ‘Taiwan independence’ and work toward the goal of complete reunification.”

Wang Yi also said that China’s position on the Ukraine issue is fair and transparent. The US should stop abusing unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. China rejects false accusations and will not succumb to pressure or blackmail. China will take resolute and robust measures to protect its major interests and legitimate rights.

From Laos, Blinken went on to visit Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Mongolia, his main purpose being to try to rig up anti-China alliances, attempt to encircle China and thereby prepare for and heighten the risk of a catastrophic war. While this found expression in the conclusion of new military agreements with Japan and the Philippines, Vietnam, Mongolia and Singapore displayed no interest in disturbing their friendly and mutually beneficial relations with China or in being drawn into US schemes.

The following article was originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

On July 27, 2024 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Vientiane at the latter’s request. The two sides exchanged views on current China-U.S. relations, and agreed to maintain communication at all levels and further implement the important common understandings reached by their Presidents at the San Francisco meeting.

Wang Yi said that in the past three months, the diplomatic, financial, law enforcement, and climate teams of the two governments and the two militaries have maintained communication, and people-to-people exchanges have been on the rise. However it must be pointed out that the U.S. has not stopped, but rather doubled down on its containment and suppression of China. The risks facing China-U.S. relations are still building, and the challenges rising. The relationship remains at a critical juncture of deescalation and stabilization. We need to continue to recalibrate the direction, manage risks, properly address differences, remove interference, and advance cooperation.

Wang Yi said that China’s U.S. policy is consistent, and adheres to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. The U.S. side should earnestly implement the commitments made by President Biden, and return to a rational and pragmatic China policy. The two sides need to work together for a stable, healthy, and sustainable China-U.S. relationship.

Wang Yi pointed out that the U.S. side holds a wrong perception of China, always seeing China with its own hegemonic mindset. China is not the United States, nor does China want to become like the United States. China does not pursue hegemony, or practice power politics. China has the best record on peace and security among all major countries. The third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee adopted a major resolution on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. We will stay committed to our founding aspiration, and focus on seeking happiness for the Chinese people, and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. China will stay on the path of peaceful development, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. It is hoped that the U.S. side will better understand the CPC as well as China’s present and future through this resolution.

Wang Yi said that Taiwan is part of China, and it never has been and never will be a country. “Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water. Each time “Taiwan independence” forces make provocation, we will definitely take countermeasures. We will keep reducing the space for “Taiwan independence” and work toward the goal of complete reunification.

Wang Yi reiterated the ins and outs of the Ren’ai Jiao (Reef) issue. Now that China has agreed on a provisional arrangement with the Philippines on managing the situation, the Philippine side should honor its commitment, and not ship construction materials any more. The U.S. side should not take any more action to fan the flames, stir up trouble, or undermine maritime stability.

Wang Yi said that China’s position on the Ukraine issue is fair and transparent, and China will continue to encourage and promote peace talks. The U.S. side should stop abusing unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. China rejects false accusations, and will not succumb to pressure or blackmail. China will take resolute and robust measures to protect its major interests and legitimate rights.

Blinken said that the United States is strongly committed to stabilizing U.S.-China relations and continues to follow the one-China policy. The U.S. side looks forward to keeping in regular communication with the Chinese side and continuing the cooperation in such areas as counternarcotics and artificial intelligence. The U.S. would like to manage differences between the two sides and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation concerning Gaza and the Korean Peninsula, and the question of Myanmar, among other matters.

China using AI in support of peace, progress and human rights

On 7 July 2024, the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations office at Geneva, along with several other international organisations, held an event on the theme of “science and technology enabling human rights protection” at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Nearly a hundred experts from around the world attended.

Ali Al-Assam, representing Friends of Socialist China, contributed to the event at the invitation of the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU). In his presentation, Ali highlighted the potential benefits and risks of artificial intelligence (AI) for human rights protection, and the importance of international cooperation in the field of AI development. He also introduced China’s practices and approaches in the field of AI development and regulation, and drew attention to the Global AI Governance Initiative proposed by China, which seeks to foster international collaboration on AI development, to ensure that AI technologies respect and promote human rights, and to leverage AI to address global challenges.

Embedded below is a video of Ali’s speech, followed by the detailed notes of his presentation.

The event was reported in the China News Service website.

Thank you for inviting me to this meeting dealing with such a key topic: how to make AI work for the people

I am Ali Al-Assam, member of Friends of Socialist China, and also founder of the tech cooperative NewsSocial, that is engaged now in extensive use of AI for community wealth building and Inter-cooperation for the cooperative movement.

AI and Human Rights: A Double-Edged Sword

Promises of AI

• Generative AI is part of the fourth industrial revolution, synthetic biology mobility and energy
• AI is used in B2B and B2C, fuelling huge demand for wafers and connectivity.
• AI is not like other breaking-ground technology such as the steam engine revolution. It is rather a meta-technology that is driving many other technological revolutions and will change modes of production in fundamental ways.
• Artificial general intelligence (AGI) is the point at which an AI can perform all human cognitive skills better than the smartest humans.
• The human brain is said to contain around 100 billion neurons with 100 trillion connections between them. China’s Alibaba announced that they have reached 30 trillion connections in their AI system, so things are developing very quickly.
• AI has the potential to create new economies and lift millions out of poverty by driving innovation and efficiency. It offers solutions to some of society’s most challenging problems, such as advancements in healthcare and education.
• It can help people, organizations and countries to deliberate in a rational manner and solve problems peacefully. It is capable of rational thoughts.

Risks of AI

• However, AI can also pose risks to human rights, such as enabling aggression and war – one clear example is what’s happening in Gaza, where the Israelis are using AI-powered systems to enable their genocide.
• Ethical concerns include privacy issues and the lack of transparency and accountability in AI systems.
• Expanding the gap between the rich and the poor.
• The main danger of AI is that it is being driven by uncontrolled interests of financial capital in Western countries where extreme wealth for the few is the norm.

China’s Approach

• China is actively developing AI technologies to drive economic growth and societal benefits. According to China’s State Council dated 6 April, ‘China aims to become the world’s major AI innovation center by 2030, with the scale of its AI core industry exceeding 1 trillion yuan (about 140.9 billion U.S. dollars), and the scale of related industries exceeding 10 trillion yuan.”
• In China, these emerging technologies are subjected to far more regulation than in the West.
• According to the MacroPolo thinktank, nearly half of the world’s top AI researchers come from China, up from about 33 percent three years ago, while only around 18 percent come from US.
• The government supports AI innovation through comprehensive policies and strategic frameworks.
• China has also established ethical guidelines to ensure responsible AI development and usage.
• Initiated the Global AI Governance Initiative was announced last year by President Xi Jinping with a view to fostering international collaboration on AI development and promote inclusivity in AI.

Global AI Initiative – AI for the People

• On October 18 2023, the Global AI Governance Initiative was announced at the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The proposal put forward an open, fair and efficient approach to the development, security and governance of AI, intending to harness the transformative technologies for the benefit of humanity.

Objectives

• The Global AI Governance Initiative aims to foster international collaboration on AI development.
• It seeks to ensure that AI technologies respect and promote human rights.
• The initiative addresses global challenges by leveraging AI innovation.

Implementation

• Implementation involves multilateral agreements and partnerships among various countries.
• Ethical AI standards and regulations are established to guide AI development.
• The initiative promotes inclusive AI development to avoid biases and discrimination.

Conclusion

• Embrace and implement ethical guidelines and international cooperation in AI development.
• Focus on inclusive AI practices to ensure benefits reach all sectors of society.
• Promote the responsible use of AI technologies to uphold and advance human rights.
• Perhaps cooperate to build multi-lingual Humanity Generative AI engine used a global resource for aid with problem solving and peaceful path for humanity development.

China strongly condemns murder of Ismail Haniyeh

China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Fu Cong has reiterated his country’s firm opposition to and strong condemnation of the murder of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas. Haniyeh and his bodyguard were murdered in a brazen act of Israeli aggression whilst they were in the Iranian capital Tehran to attend the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian as state guests.

Fu was speaking at a July 31 emergency meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC), called in response to Haniyeh’s murder, by the Russian Federation, which currently holds the rotating chair of the UNSC, and at the request of Algeria and China.

Denouncing the act as a blatant attempt to sabotage peace efforts and one of wantonly trampling on the fundamental UN Charter principle of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, Fu said China is deeply worried about an exacerbation of the upheaval in the region that this incident may trigger.

He further noted that: “We strongly object to and condemn the recent irresponsible acts, including Israel’s attack on Southern Beirut [in which Israel murdered Fuad Shukr, a senior commander of the Hezbollah resistance movement].”

The continued deterioration of the Middle East situation is directly attributable to the continuous failure to implement a ceasefire in Gaza, he noted, adding:

“We urge Israel to implement council resolutions in full, immediately halt all its military operations in Gaza, and immediately stop its collective punishment of the people in Gaza.”

Earlier, at the regular Foreign Ministry press conference in Beijing, spokesperson Lin Jian had also condemned the murder of Haniyeh.

A summary of the debate posted on the UN website summarises a number of the contributions to the meeting, including those of the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Algeria, Iran, Palestine, Syria and Lebanon, as well as the United States and Israel, but not those of several others, including China, Russia and Guyana, as well as Britain and South Korea.

The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

UNITED NATIONS, July 31 (Xinhua) — A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called on the parties concerned to take tangible actions to push for deescalation and the restoration of peace and tranquility in the Middle East region.

China firmly opposes and strongly condemns the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh that took place in Iran’s capital Tehran, said Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, in remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

Denouncing the act as a blatant attempt to sabotage peace efforts and wantonly trampled on the fundamental UN Charter principle of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, Fu said China is deeply worried about an exacerbation of the upheaval in the region that this incident may trigger.

He expressed disappointment over the ceasefire negotiations. “Over two months ago, the council adopted Resolution 2735. As of now, however, ceasefire negotiations have yet to yield any progress, while the spillover effects of this conflict are increasingly visible, with the tensions between Lebanon and Israel, between Syria and Israel, and in the Red Sea sounding the alarm frequently.”

“The Middle East situation is hanging by a thread, much to the concern of the international community,” he warned,

“Given the severity of the situation, the parties concerned must heed the international calls for a ceasefire and cessation of fighting,” said the ambassador, urging the parties to implement Security Council resolutions fully, actively coordinate with and support international good offices, and take tangible actions to push for deescalation and the restoration of peace and tranquility in the region.

“They must not act singlemindedly and repeatedly take provocative or risky actions to stoke escalations,” he said. “We strongly object to and condemn the recent irresponsible acts, including Israel’s attack on Southern Beirut.”

Emphasizing that “military means and abuse of force offer no solution and will only lead to a bigger crisis,” Fu said the continued deterioration of the Middle East situation is directly attributable to the continuous failure to implement a ceasefire in Gaza.

He called on all parties to comply with the overwhelming international consensus and work jointly for an immediate ceasefire to save lives, mitigate the impact of the havoc, and contain any spillovers. “We urge Israel to implement council resolutions in full, immediately halt all its military operations in Gaza, and immediately stop its collective punishment of the people in Gaza.”

Fu also urged countries with major influence to put more pressure and work more vigorously on the parties concerned and make tangible good-faith efforts to put out the flames of war in Gaza. 

China, Russia, Laos pledge concerted efforts to safeguard common interests

From July 25-27, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid an official visit to Laos, where he also attended a number of international meetings principally connected to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and related cooperation mechanisms, along with bilateral dialogues with his counterparts from many countries.

In a round of engagements on July 25, Wang met with General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith.

During the meeting, Thongloun said that the important conclusions and innovative achievements of the recently held third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee have provided important references for Laos to promote the socialist cause.

He thanked China for providing valuable support for Laos’ economic and social development over the years, saying that the Laos-China Railway has helped the Lao people realise their dreams and is a precious symbol of friendship between the people of the two countries.

Laos is willing to deepen cooperation with China, speed up comprehensive development along the Laos-China Railway, and build landmark projects of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation that carry forward the Laos-China traditional friendship, Thongloun said, adding that Laos welcomes more investments by Chinese enterprises to help the country enhance its capacity for independent development. He also noted that Laos will never allow anyone to undermine its friendship and practical cooperation with China

Wang responded that China firmly supports Laos in exploring a development path suited to its own conditions and in safeguarding its national sovereignty and dignity, is willing to deepen all-round cooperation with Laos, to strengthen comprehensive development along the China-Laos Railway and to promote connectivity to boost Laos’ economic development

The same day, Wang Yi also held talks with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith

He said that China has always prioritised the development of China-Laos relations in its neighbourhood diplomacy and supported Laos in taking the path of socialism which suits its national conditions, and in promoting the cause of innovation and opening-up,

China is willing to introduce the guiding principles of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the new measures to further deepen reforms comprehensively, share reform and development experiences in a timely manner, jointly improve the ability of governance, and join hands to promote the cause of socialism.

The two sides should implement the action plan for building the community with a shared future signed by the leaders of the two parties and countries.  Based on the construction of the China-Laos Railway, they should give full play to the ‘first-mover’ advantage, build the China-Laos Economic Corridor, and help Laos enhance its capacity for independent development and achieve economic revitalisation. China will continue to provide all possible support for the economic and social development of Laos, deepen practical cooperation in energy, minerals and other fields, and import more high-quality Lao agricultural products to bring more benefits to the Lao people.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional cooperation, saying that they will work together to resist the interference and infiltration of external forces, jointly safeguard the ASEAN-centred regional architecture, and jointly promote regional peace, stability and prosperity. (This and similar subsequent references in this introduction to the interference and infiltration of external forces refers above all to moves by NATO to advance into the East Asian region along with related moves by the United States to further tighten military alignments with Japan and some other countries.)

Wang said China will continue to fully support Laos in fulfilling its responsibilities as the rotating chair of ASEAN and in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs.

Also on July 25, in the first such meeting of its kind, China, Russia and Laos jointly pledged to enhance cooperation to safeguard the common interests of the three countries, thereby contributing to regional stability and prosperity and a proper response to risks and challenges. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith all underlined these points in the course of their trilateral meeting.

Continue reading China, Russia, Laos pledge concerted efforts to safeguard common interests

Peace Mission to Philippines exposes US militarism’s harm to population

The article below, originally published in Workers World, details a recent peace mission to the Philippines by a group of US anti-war activists, aimed at opposing US militarism in the Pacific and the escalating campaign to encircle and contain China.

The article notes that the Philippines has been key to the US’s ‘Pivot to Asia’, and that a deal signed by then-president Obama in 2014 allows the US to rotate troops into the Philippines for extended days. “It also allows the US to build and operate facilities. There are now nine such bases scattered in the Philippines, most of them aimed at China.”

The US military infrastructure in the Philippines is deeply unpopular, not least because its construction often involves the displacement of local communities, which are forced into deep poverty. Meanwhile the US military bolsters the local state forces in their repression of those groups, communities and activists that are fighting for housing, clean water, land, education and food.

The article closes by noting that, “despite the pressure and direct impact of rising militarization and economic plunder, communities continue to fight back for their land, livelihoods and other human rights.”

As the Pentagon dangerously increases its military presence in nations close to China in preparation for another imperialist war, a group of U.S. anti-war activists participated in a Peace Mission to the Philippines May 14-29 to expose and oppose U.S. militarism in the Philippines.

Organized by BAYAN USA, it included 28 militants from across the United States. Filipino activists, military veterans, anti-war advocates, labor unionists, women’s rights defenders, students, filmmakers and others participated, representing BAYAN USA and other groups including NODUTDOL, Malaya, Gabriela, United Auto Workers, Dissenters, Palestinian Youth Movement and Workers World Party.

They spent the first few days in the National Capital Region of Manila, a city of 15 million residents in a country of 120 million people. They heard presentations on BAYAN’s history, labor, student activism, women’s and LGBTQ2+ movement developments and visited historical sites.

The Philippines was a Spanish colony from 1565 to 1898. Revolutionaries were on the brink of defeating their Spanish colonizers when the U.S. stepped in to forcefully re-colonize the populated islands but not before perpetrating a genocide against almost 1 million Filipino people in order to subdue them. The Philippines finally gained formal independence in 1946, but remains closely tied to the U.S. economically, culturally and especially militarily.

Three of the Peace Mission participants — Nina Macapinlac of BAYAN USA and Resist NATO, Patrick Nevada of Anakbayan NY and Joe Piette of Workers World Party — recounted their experiences at a June 28 report-back meeting in Philadelphia.

The three activists were part of a group sent to Cebu — the oldest city in the Philippines with over 1 million residents.

Leaving the airport, they passed by the Mactan Economic Zone — a tax-free, low- regulation center where more than 200 foreign companies exploit over 50,000 workers — the second largest Economic Zone in the Philippines.

At Cendet — an institution with a long and well=known history that provides services to workers, urban poor, farmers and fisherfolks in the Visayas — some background to Cebu’s struggles for justice was given by Jaime Paglinawan Sr. He is one of 27 activists who was recently charged for supposedly violating the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 by the Department of Justice’s Terror Task Force and the Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It would be like the Pentagon charging community activists with terrorism.

The 27 defendants released a statement demanding that the government drop the phony charges and stop “its anti-poor and anti-people policies that conspire with the imperialists, huge local business owners and landlords to generate more wealth in their pockets”.

Fight to remove U.S. military bases

Paglinawan explained how the people succeeded in removing all the U.S. military bases in 1991, after decades of opposition. However, politicians got around the law in 1999 with the Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows U.S. military aircraft and ships access to 22 ports and waived Philippine jurisdiction over any crimes committed by U.S. military personnel.

In 2014, during a visit by President Barack Obama to the Philippines, the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) was signed, allowing the U.S. to rotate troops into the Philippines for extended stays. It also allows the U.S. to build and operate facilities. There are now nine EDCA bases scattered in the Philippines, most of them aimed at China.

The Peace Delegation drove by the entrance to one of the EDCA sites at Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base located in Lapu-Lapu City, on Mactan Island in Cebu. Lapu-Lapu City ironically is the location where Ferdinand Magellan, the Spanish explorer, famous as the first European to circumnavigate the earth, was killed in 1521 by the resistance forces of Mactan chief Lapu-Lapu.

The airbase shares runway facilities with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport next door. The U.S. recently paid $2.7 million for a 40,000-gallon fuel storage facility there, which was completed last fall. Its intended use is for Lockheed-Martin’s C130 military Air Transport, Osprey and other military planes.

We visited a Lapu-Lapu City neighborhood where the extremely impoverished community’s homes were demolished without warning, violating residents’ human right to housing. Developers desire the property, located on a major road not far from the Cebu airport and military base. Residents noticed the military was monitoring their neighborhood during the initial notices of demolition.

Copper, gold, silver and sulfur mines are located in Cebu and in addition a quarrying site next to a peasant community we visited is taking away sandy soil for a reclamation project in Cebu’s harbor and other places. Many of the community members’ homes have developed cracks, and residents worry about their safety as the quarry machines continue to dig away at the hill their mountain village stands on.

A fishing community in Minglanilla is next door to where developers have already built McMansions for wealthy foreigners. Organized fisherfolk are fighting to keep their land and community together despite a 250-acre shore reclamation project that threatens to displace hundreds of families and wreak havoc on the livelihood of the fisherfolk. Some of their leaders have experienced red-tagging (accusing someone of being communist and a terrorist) and harassment from state forces.

The Carbon Market Street Vendors association is an organization representing up to 6,000 vendors fighting developers trying to remove them in favor of a modernization project. Thousands of vendors will be affected by the demolitions, and those left will experience an increase in rent, utilities and other fees. The Carbon Market in Cebu has existed for more than 100 years.

After a suspicious fire burned down their community in 2019, members of the Tipolo Residence Association were placed temporarily in the parking lot of the dilapidated Cebu International Convention Center, which was built for the twelfth ASEAN Summit and the East Asia Summit in 2007. An earthquake and super-typhoon Yolanda in 2013 caused the poorly constructed building to partly collapse.

Since 2019, with little support from city officials, the displaced residents have been forced to live in makeshift homes of scrap wood under overlapping roof panels made of corrugated iron sheets. Despite red-tagging of their leaders, residents are still fighting after five years to return to their properties. Residents suspect officials want to replace their former homes with commercial development.

At the University of the Philippines – CEBU, members of the PISTON transport union, Coca-Cola workers, furniture workers and other workers explained their struggles for better working conditions despite red-tagging and other pressure tactics.

Members of Anakbayan Cebu, Alliance of Concerned Teachers and students in Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante (NKE UP Cebu) described their struggle for better education. NKE UP Cebu is an organization at the University of the Philippines Cebu which aims to provide a “nationalist, scientific and mass-oriented education as an alternative to the existing colonial, commercialized and fascist system of education.”

Conclusions after three days in Cebu

The courts, elected officials and the Philippine military (with close ties to the U.S. Pentagon) all work together in counterinsurgency efforts to impede the human rights of the Filipino people for housing, clean water, land, education and food.

The military is a key tool in the suppression of any organization that is fighting for the basic livelihood of Filipino working people, from NGOs to grassroots organizations.

The military is active in counter-organizing where poor people are fighting back, with bribes of rice and other commodities if they turn in their leaders. The promises of rice and so on are most often not followed through.

Where bribes don’t work, the state uses the accusation of red-tagging, a fear tactic which can lead to arrest, disappearance or even death. It’s often used against community organizers simply fighting against displacement or other human rights.

Despite the pressure and direct impact of rising militarization and economic plunder, communities continue to fight back for their land, livelihoods and other human rights.

China congratulates Maduro on election as Venezuelan president

Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated Nicolás Maduro on his victory in the Venezuelan presidential election held on 28 July.

In his message, Xi said that Maduro has led the Venezuelan government and people in pursuing a development path suited to their own national conditions, making remarkable achievements in national construction and that China and Venezuela are good friends that trust each other, adding that China will, as always, firmly support Venezuela’s efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, national dignity and social stability, as well as Venezuela’s just cause of opposing external interference.

The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

BEIJING, July 30 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent a message to Nicolas Maduro, congratulating him on re-election as president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Since taking office, President Maduro has led the Venezuelan government and people in pursuing a development path suited to their own national conditions, making remarkable achievements in national construction, Xi said.

China and Venezuela are good friends that trust each other and good partners for common development, Xi said, adding that China will, as always, firmly support Venezuela’s efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, national dignity and social stability, as well as Venezuela’s just cause of opposing external interference.

Xi said that he highly values the development of China-Venezuela relations and is willing to work with President Maduro to continue guiding the all-weather strategic partnership between China and Venezuela to new heights, so as to benefit the people of both countries. 

China champions peace in Middle East through concrete actions

Following the July 23 signing of the Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity by 14 Palestinian resistance movements, the Xinhua News Agency released a commentary on July 26, affirming that China champions peace in the region through concrete actions. 

According to correspondent Zhao Wencai: “As witnessed by their Chinese friends, once-bitter rivals among the Palestinians, notably Hamas and Fatah, have decided to bury the hatchet and join forces.”

He goes on to note that during the reconciliation talks, Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, was asked why different factions could resolve their differences in Beijing.

“After thinking for a while, he replied, ‘Because China is decent and honest and wants to help us without interfering in our internal affairs, (and) to support our struggle by enhancing Palestinian unity and enabling Palestinians to achieve what they deserve, which is their freedom, their independence, their rights to sovereignty.'”

The current war in Gaza has, the commentary notes, highlighted for Palestinians the detrimental impact of internal divisions on their goal of establishing a state. There is a growing recognition that a unified voice will amplify their calls for justice, and only by standing together can they advance their cause for national liberation.

“China’s drive for an early, comprehensive, just and lasting resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict stems not from self-serving geopolitical motives, but from a profound empathy for the Palestinian people and an earnest aspiration for peace and prosperity in the Middle East.

“Unlike some Western countries that have often overlooked the suffering in Gaza, China’s historical experience with Western interference has given its people a unique perspective on the hardships faced by those in the Middle East, who long for peace and stability amidst the turmoil of war.”

Meanwhile, in his weekly blog, published on belfastmedia.com, former Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has welcomed the Beijing agreement. He writes: “In a very welcome move Hamas and Fatah and 12 other Palestinian groups signed a ‘national unity’ agreement in Beijing aimed at maintaining Palestinian control over the Gaza Strip once Israel’s genocidal war on the besieged territory ends. The agreement calls for [an] ‘interim national reconciliation government’ to govern Gaza.

“Israel and its allies have sought to dictate the terms of any governance arrangement for the Gaza Strip in any post war situation, including Israel maintaining control of the territory. All of these have been predicated on limiting the democratic rights of the Palestinian people to choose their own representatives and government. This cannot be allowed. The Palestinian people have the right to self-determination.”

The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

CAIRO, July 26 (Xinhua) — As the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in Gaza stretches into its 10th month, there was a bid for peace and unity from Beijing this week: Under China’s mediation, senior representatives from 14 Palestinian factions signed the Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity.

According to the declaration, the Palestinian factions have agreed to establish an interim national reconciliation government, carry out reconstruction in Gaza and prepare and hold a general election as soon as possible in keeping with the adopted election laws.

As witnessed by their Chinese friends, once-bitter rivals among the Palestinians, notably Hamas and Fatah, have decided to bury the hatchet and join forces. They are setting their sights on establishing an independent State of Palestine with Jerusalem as the capital, based on relevant United Nations (UN) resolutions and ensuring the integrity of Palestinian territory, including the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza.

During the reconciliation talks, Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, was asked why different factions could resolve their differences in Beijing.

After thinking for a while, he replied, “Because China is decent and honest and wants to help us without interfering in our internal affairs, (and) to support our struggle by enhancing Palestinian unity and enabling Palestinians to achieve what they deserve, which is their freedom, their independence, their rights to sovereignty.”

Barghouti’s remarks offered a compelling elucidation of China’s sincerity and continual progress in assisting the Middle East in achieving peace.

The Palestinian question has always been the core issue in the Middle East, and achieving internal reconciliation within Palestine is an important step toward resolving the issue and achieving peace and stability in the region.

China has long been committed to promoting reconciliation within Palestine, a goal shared by other Arab nations including Egypt and Jordan.

However, efforts have previously stalled due to an unfavorable international environment, particularly interference from the United States.

The recent round of conflicts in Gaza has highlighted for Palestinians the detrimental impact of internal divisions on their goal of establishing a state. There is a growing recognition that a unified voice will amplify their calls for justice, and only by standing together can they advance their cause for national liberation. This has spurred a renewed desire for reconciliation among Palestinian factions.

Meanwhile, the international community has increasingly recognized that the establishment of a Palestinian state is the key to resolving the Palestinian question. Inspired by China’s successful mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the world and the Palestinian leaders in particular are hopeful that China will play a significant role in addressing the thorny issue.

The most urgent task now is to achieve a comprehensive, lasting and sustainable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip as soon as possible, and ensure access to humanitarian aid and rescue on the ground. China has engaged in close communication and coordination with relevant parties since the outbreak of recent hostilities.

Deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, China has provided significant amounts of humanitarian aid through various channels. It has also actively facilitated the UN Security Council’s adoption of a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

In the Position Paper of the People’s Republic of China on Resolving the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict released last November, China calls for Palestine’s full membership in the UN and a more authoritative and effective international peace conference to work out a timetable and road map for the two-state solution.

China’s drive for an early, comprehensive, just and lasting resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict stems not from self-serving geopolitical motives, but from a profound empathy for the Palestinian people and an earnest aspiration for peace and prosperity in the Middle East.

Unlike some Western countries that have often overlooked the suffering in Gaza, China’s historical experience with Western interference has given its people a unique perspective on the hardships faced by those in the Middle East, who long for peace and stability amidst the turmoil of war.

China’s efforts to promote peace in the region are underscored by its role in facilitating the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023, ending seven years of diplomatic deadlock. The current Beijing Declaration further exemplifies China’s concrete steps to bridge regional divides and lay the foundation for a peaceful Middle East.

On their journey toward lasting peace and prosperity, all parties involved in the Middle East conflict will find in China a true advocate committed to peace and justice in the region.

Nguyen Phu Trong made unforgettable contributions to Vietnam–China relations

Since Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), passed away on July 19, the Vietnamese party newspaper Nhân Dân has carried many articles extolling the late leader’s great contributions to the friendly relationship between Vietnam and China, which has socialism at its core.

On July 20, it carried an interview with Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo who said: “Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a person who persisted in Marxism and a great leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people.”

He added that: “Nguyen Phu Trong attached special importance to the strengthening of the corruption fight and party building and rectification. Especially after the 13th Congress of the Party, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam headed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has pushed up the corruption fight with a spirit of ‘no off-limits zones’ and reaped many important results, firmly ensuring the maintenance of social order and security and the following of the way to socialism suitable to the situation in the country.”

He described Trong’s well-known strategy of ‘bamboo diplomacy’ as “underlining that sturdy root means consistently following the CPV leadership and the path to socialism. At the same time, it is necessary to be flexible in terms of strategy on the basis of firmly maintaining independence and self-mastery, and actively developing friendly relations with countries in the world. Under the leadership of the CPV Central Committee headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnamese diplomacy has gained many important achievements as described by the CPV leader that Vietnam ‘has never enjoyed such fortune, power, international standing and prestige as it does today.’”

Moreover, “Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a close comrade and a sincere friend of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people. He was the one who inherited and developed the traditional friendship of ‘comradeship and brotherhood’ between the two parties and countries of China and Vietnam, forming a passionate friendship with the Communist Party of China and Chinese leaders.”

Recalling his personal relationship and friendship with Trong, the Ambassador said:

“The event that left the deepest impression on me took place on August 25 last year. At the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, I accompanied him in the visit to the Huu Nghi International Border Gate in the northern province of Lang Son, which is located at the border between the two countries. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong repeatedly emphasised that the Vietnam-China Friendship border gate is unique in the world, sending out an important message to the people of both countries and the international community on the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam. 

“Together with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, I planted the Vietnam-China friendship tree. The party leader affectionately said: ‘This friendship tree has strong roots like the Vietnam-China relationship. With the care of the people of the two countries, this friendship tree will surely grow strong and healthy.’ That Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong himself promoted the traditional relations of friendship between the two countries made me feel extremely touched.”

On July 23, the paper reported Li Minghan, a Hong Kong-based scholar on Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, as saying that he is extremely saddened by Trong’s passing. It added that:

“Observing and studying Vietnam’s development for more than a decade, Li realised that General Secretary Trong had good and noble virtues of a leader like President Ho Chi Minh. Vietnam’s achievements have had a profound impact on all socialist countries in the world, especially its anti-corruption results in recent years. General Secretary Trong looked small and simple but he was so strong-willed to order the stringent settlement of corrupt officials strictly, even those holding high positions in the party and state leadership.”

Trong also left  an extremely good impression of his integrity and simplicity during his whole life devoted to the party, the nation and the people.

Noting that the General Secretary used only an old car for about 20 years while working in various positions, including three terms as the leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Li shared that to effectively fight against corruption and negative phenomena, leaders themselves must set good examples first.

Li, who is 80 years old, said that both he and his wife used to learn Vietnamese at Beijing Foreign Studies University. His father-in-law had the honour to prepare a meal for President Ho Chi Minh when he worked at the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi. That inspired his interest in studying Vietnam in general and President Ho Chi Minh in particular.

Regarding Vietnam-China relations, Li said that one of the bilateral ties’ highlights under Trong’s leadership is an appropriate and effective foreign policy in harmonising Vietnam’s relations with major countries, as well as strengthening and developing connections with socialist countries and communist parties.

The following articles were originally published by Nhân Dân.

Ambassador Xiong Bo: Contributions by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to Vietnam – China remain unforgettable

July 20 (Nhân Dân) — General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong passed away on July 19 afternoon at the age of 80, according to the board of health protection and care for central officials. Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo expressed his sentiment and ideas on the late leader following the event.

Reporter: In the great loss of the Vietnamese Party, State and people, how do you assess the role and contributions by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the revolutionary cause of Vietnam?

Ambassador Xiong Bo: First of all, I am deeply grieved and would like to express the deepest condolences on the passing away of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China immediately sent its message of condolences to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, respectfully commemorating Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a person who persisted Marxism and a great leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people. He was elected as General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam at the Party’s 11th, 12th, and 13th Congresses, and supported and loved by the Vietnamese people. Over the past more than 10 years, he has led the Party, Government, and people of Vietnam in recording many important development achievements. Party General Nguyen Phu Trong is an outstanding politician who has profound perception on the maintenance of the Party’s leadership and the persistence of the way to socialism, leaving deep imprints on me.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attached special importance to the strengthening of the corruption fight and Party building and rectification, especially after the 13th Congress of the Party, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam headed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has pushed up the corruption fight with a spirit of “no off-limits zones” and reaped many important results, firmly ensuring the maintenance of social order and security and the following of the way to socialism suitable to the situation in the country.

Reporter: Over the recent years, Vietnam has pushed up the implementation of the “bamboo diplomacy” featuring strong roots, solid stems, and flexible branches. How do you assess the role of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in shaping and developing this diplomatic policy?

Ambassador Xiong Bo: Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong initiated the persistent implementation of the “bamboo diplomacy”, underlining that sturdy root means consistently following the CPV leadership and the path to socialism. At the same time, it is necessary to be flexible in terms of strategy on the basis of firmly maintaining independence and self-mastery, and actively developing friendly relations with countries in the world. Under the leadership of the CPV Central Committee headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnamese diplomacy has gained many important achievements as described by the CPV leader that Vietnam “has never enjoyed such fortune, power, international standing and prestige as it does today.”

We found that Vietnam’s diplomacy underscores the priority to developing relations with neighbours and world powers as well as partners sharing traditional friendship. At the same time, Vietnam has persistently supported true multilateralism, attached importance to the protection of international equality and justice, and opposed the interference in internal affairs of other states. China highly evaluates this.

Reporter: What are your comments on the imprints that Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has left in the Vietnam-China overall relations? During the Vietnam visit by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and Chinese President Xi Jinping in late 2023, the two sides established a “new positioning” for bilateral relations, elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. How do you assess Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s contributions to this event?

Ambassador Xiong Bo: Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a close comrade and a sincere friend of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people. He was the one who inherited and developed the traditional friendship of “comradeship and brotherhood” between the two Parties and countries of China and Vietnam, forming a passionate friendship with the Communist Party of China and Chinese leaders. Since taking office as the General Secretary of the CPV, comrade Nguyen Phu Trong had made considerable contributions to promoting the development of relations between the two Parties and the two countries, especially through the exchange of three historic visits with General Secretary Xi Jinping, during which they oriented the development of relations between the two Parties and countries of China and Vietnam in the new era together.

In the past two years, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited China right after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and warmly welcomed General Secretary Xi Jinping last year. The two leaders announced the building of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, defining a new positioning of the ties between the two countries in the new era, elevating the relations between the two Parties and countries to a new historical height. We recognise, highly appreciate and will never forget this.

Reporter: Could share your impressions on Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong? What is the deepest impression the Party General Secretary has left on you?

Ambassador Xiong Bo: I have been the Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam for more than five years, and my work has received great assistance and help from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. After taking office in 2018, I was very honoured to present my credentials to General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong. This was the first time the Party leader received a foreign ambassador presenting credentials after he had assumed the position of the State President. Since then, I have met with the Party leader many times and had opportunities to listen to his important and profound ideas on developing the relationship between the Parties and countries of Vietnam and China, which has left deep impression on me.

The event that left the deepest impression on me took place on August 25 last year. At the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, I accompanied him in the visit to the Huu Nghi International Border Gate in the northern province of Lang Son, which is located at the border between the two countries. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong repeatedly emphasised that the Vietnam – China Friendship border gate is unique in the world, sending out an important message to the people of both countries and the international community on the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam. Together with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, I planted the Vietnam – China friendship tree. The Party leader affectionately said: “This friendship tree has strong roots like the Vietnam-China relationship. With the care of the people of the two countries, this friendship tree will surely grow strong and healthy.” That Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong himself promoted the traditional relations of friendship between the two countries made me feel extremely touched.

Thank you for your conversation!

Vietnamese Party chief makes life-long dedication to nation: Chinese scholars

23 July (Nhân Dân) — The passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is a huge loss to not only the Party, State and people of Vietnam but also international friends, including Chinese scholars who have spent years studying Vietnam.

Li Minghan, a Hong Kong-based scholar on Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh, said that he is extremely saddened by the passing of the communist, who is one of respectable Vietnamese leaders.

Observing and studying Vietnam’s development for more than a decade, Li realised that General Secretary Trong had good and noble virtues of a leader like President Ho Chi Minh. Under his leadership, the country has achieved outstanding progress in politics, economy, defence and security, and secured increasing prosperity and happiness for its people.

Li said that Vietnam’s achievements have had a profound impact on all socialist countries in the world, especially its anti-corruption results in recent years. General Secretary Trong looked small and simple but he was so strong-willed to order the stringent settlement of corrupt officials strictly, even those holding high positions in the Party and State leadership.

The leader also left extremely good impression of his integrity and simplicity during his whole life devoted to the Party, the nation and the people.

Noting the General Secretary used only an old car for about 20 years working in various positions, including three terms as the leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Li shared that to effectively fight against corruption and negative phenomena, leaders themselves must set good examples first.

Li, who is 80 years old, said that both he and his wife used to learn Vietnamese at Beijing Foreign Studies University. His father-in-law had the honour to prepare a meal for President Ho Chi Minh when he worked at the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi. That inspired his interest in studying Vietnam in general and President Ho Chi Minh in particular.

The scholar found that General Secretary Trong learned and applied much of the style, virtues and ethics of President Ho Chi Minh, especially the loyalty and dedication to the Party, the State and the people of Vietnam.

Mourning the Vietnamese Party chief, Li was so moved that he made a poem to share with his Vietnamese friends and people in Hong Kong. He held that the General Secretary deserves to be one of President Ho Chi Minh’s excellent disciples.

Regarding Vietnam-China relations, Li said that one of the bilateral ties’ highlights under Trong’s leadership is an appropriate and effective foreign policy in harmonising Vietnam’s relations with major countries, as well as strengthening and developing connections with socialist countries and communist parties. Vietnam has not only stabilised relations with the US and Russia, but also promoted relations with China to a new level.

Meanwhile, Wang Feng who is a former reporter of the Xinhua News Agency, said that she felt down to hear about Trong’s passing. The leader dedicated his entire life to the development of Vietnam as well as the friendship in all fields between the two countries.

Wang shared that she met Trong once and felt that he was very friendly, smart and flexible. There are not many leaders like him.

Researching many works by the General Secretary, she perceived that Trong was a person with a deep theoretical foundation, in terms of both politics and economics. He applied Marxism-Leninism into practice, made great contributions to anti-corruption efforts and economic and cultural development in Vietnam, and promoted the two countries’ exchanges and cooperation.

Under Trong’s leadership, the China – Vietnam relationship has achieved many highly positive results in various fields, especially people-to-people exchanges, Wang added.

Chinese FM warns Philippines over US intermediate missile system deployment

From July 25-27, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid an official visit to Laos, where he also attended the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations)-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan, the Republic of Korea) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, as well as holding a considerable number of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from around the world and the first trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of China, Russia and Laos.

As part of his program, on July 26, Wang Yi met with his Philippine counterpart, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, in which meeting he warned the Philippine side over the question of US intermediate missile system deployment. 

Wang said that China and the Philippines are close neighbours across the sea, and good neighbourliness, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development are in the fundamental interests of the two countries.

He noted that the positive and negative lessons of China-Philippines relations in recent years have proved time and again that it is not easy to build good relations, but it is easy to destroy them. At present, he continued, China-Philippines relations are facing serious difficulties and challenges, which are rooted in the fact that the Philippine side has repeatedly violated the consensus of the two sides and its own commitments.

He added that if the Philippines introduces the US intermediate missile system, it will create regional tension and confrontation, triggering an arms race, which is totally not in line with the interests and aspirations of the Filipino people.

Wang pointed out that China-Philippines relations are now at a crossroads and there is no way out of conflict and confrontation, except for dialogue and consultation. He expressed the hope that the Philippine side will seriously think about the future of China-Philippines relations and work with China to push bilateral relations back on the right track at an early date.

Manalo said that despite the difficulties and challenges faced by the two sides due to maritime issues, the Philippines is committed to easing the situation through dialogue and consultation and dealing with differences constructively. He noted that next year is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, and the Philippines is willing to strengthen communication with China in a sincere and pragmatic manner to enhance mutual trust and improve bilateral relations.

In related developments, on July 8, the International Information Office of the National Democratic Front (NDF) of the Philippines issued a statement describing the recently signed Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) as another step in US imperialism’s march towards war, adding that it, “betrays the victims of Japanese war crimes against the Filipino people during World War II and dangerously positions the country on the front lines of war. By allowing the deployment of Japanese soldiers on Philippine soil for so-called joint military exercises, the [President] Marcos Jr. and [Prime Minister] Kishida administrations are shameless puppets in the elaborate war preparations orchestrated by the US in its march toward an armed confrontation with China.

“The RAA with Japan comes at the heels of US overtures to strengthen military alliances in the Indo-Pacific region in its continuing ‘first island chain strategy’ to encircle China. The RAA with Japan allows Japanese military to freely enter and exit the Philippines for combat training including live-fire drills – akin to the lopsided Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) of the Philippines with the US government, which the latter has been using to justify its provocative sabre rattling against China.

“The Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement marks a dangerous precedent, undermining prospects for a peaceful resolution of territorial conflicts in the region while stoking the flames of war. The path to lasting peace lies not in the buildup of military personnel and materiel that serve US war designs against China.”

Further, on July 22, in a statement issued by Marco Valbuena, its Chief Information Officer, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of speaking, “from a fantasy bubble, completely detached from the realities of oppression and exploitation facing the majority of the Filipino people” in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) and ignoring and obscuring, “the stark social realities confronting millions of peasants and workers, fisherfolk, national minorities, unemployed people, urban poor, students and young people, women, and other toiling sectors.”

The CPP statement added: “Marcos falsely depicted himself as a patriot for purportedly asserting Philippine sovereignty and echoing the line ‘atin ang [we’re the] West Philippine Sea,’ blurring the fact that he has completely yielded to the dictates of his US imperialist master to turn the country into an American military base, to station their troops, preposition their weapons, and drag the country into its conflict with China.”

The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency and Philippine Revolution Web Central.

Chinese FM warns Philippines over U.S. intermediate missile system deployment

VIENTIANE, July 27 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo here on Friday, warning the Philippine side over the U.S. intermediate missile system deployment.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China and the Philippines are close neighbors across the sea, and good neighborliness, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development are in the fundamental interests of the two countries.

He noted that the positive and negative lessons of China-Philippines relations in recent years have proved time and again that it is not easy to build good relations, but it is easy to destroy them.

At present, Wang said, China-Philippines relations are facing serious difficulties and challenges, which are rooted in the fact that the Philippine side has repeatedly violated the consensus of the two sides and its own commitments, continuously pushed the infringement of rights at sea and magnified the speculation of public opinion.

China is gravely concerned about and firmly opposes it, Wang said.

He added that if the Philippines introduces the U.S. intermediate missile system, it will create regional tension and confrontation, triggering an arms race, which is totally not in line with the interests and aspirations of the Filipino people.

Continue reading Chinese FM warns Philippines over US intermediate missile system deployment

Chinese FM meets head of Fatah delegation

Following the conclusion of talks in Beijing between representatives of 14 Palestinian resistance groups, which resulted in the signing of the Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity, on July 23, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the head of the Fatah delegation Mahmoud al-Aloul.

Wang stressed that a top priority now is to proceed from the fundamental interests of all the Palestinian people, seize the opportunity and seek common ground while shelving differences, so that unity and reconciliation among the various factions could be realised.

Mahmoud al-Aloul, who is also deputy leader of Fatah, thanked China for its efforts to promote reconciliation among Palestinian factions and for its support and assistance to Palestine over the past decades, calling China a true friend and brother of the Palestinian people.

The following report was first published by the Xinhua News Agency.

BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the head of the Fatah delegation Mahmoud al-Aloul in Beijing on Tuesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stressed that no matter how the international situation changes, China will always firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people.

Noting that the conflict in Gaza has caused a huge humanitarian disaster, Wang said to resolve this historical injustice, the principle of “Palestinian-owned, Palestinian-led and Palestinian-ruled” must be upheld.

Wang said the top priority now is to proceed from the fundamental interests of all the Palestinian people, seize the opportunity and seek common ground while shelving differences, so that unity and reconciliation among the various factions could be realized, and they could form a unified position, define a common goal, and create necessary conditions for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, the realization of an independent state and the implementation of the two-state solution.

Mahmoud al-Aloul, also deputy chief of the Fatah Movement, thanked China for its efforts to promote reconciliation among Palestinian factions and its support and assistance to Palestine over the past decades, calling China a true friend and brother of the Palestinian people.

The Fatah Movement will do its utmost to promote reconciliation and unity among Palestinian factions and contribute to a thorough settlement of the Palestinian issue.