Friends of Socialist China, Author at Friends of Socialist China

The unbreakable China-Latin America ties

As the US wages a criminal war on Iran and attempts to tighten its grip on Venezuela, the Trump administration is simultaneously mounting an aggressive campaign to drive China out of Latin America.

Writing in CGTN, Oliver Vargas – a British-Bolivian current affairs commentator based in Beijing – provides a sharp and timely analysis of Washington’s latest bid to reassert colonial dominance over its southern neighbours. At the centre of this effort is the so-called “Shield of the Americas” summit – a gathering in early March of handpicked right-wing governments whose stated purpose is to “push China out” of Latin America. But as Oliver notes, the material forces driving China-Latin America cooperation are “far more powerful than any summit communique”.

The coercive tactics on display are extraordinary. Chile has been threatened with the loss of its US visa waiver programme for merely considering a $500 million undersea cable connecting it to China. Panama’s Supreme Court was bullied into ruling against
CK Hutchison’s port concessions – concessions built on $1.8 billion of investment over nearly three decades. These are not the actions of a confident power competing on merit; they are the desperate manoeuvres of a declining hegemon that, as the author puts it, has “only one card to play”.

The contrast with China could not be starker. Since 2000, China-Latin America trade has expanded approximately 35-fold. Peru’s Chancay megaport has cut shipping times to Asia by nearly two weeks. BYD has built a major EV factory in Brazil. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking at the recent Munich Security Conference, called for all countries to be “equal in terms of rights, opportunities and rules.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, from the same platform, lamented the decline of “great Western empires”.

China and Pakistan work jointly for peace

China and Pakistan have jointly launched a five-point peace initiative aimed at ending the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

The move came as the centrepiece of a March 31 visit to Beijing by Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar for talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

At their meeting, Wang said that the mediation efforts of the Pakistani side regarding the conflict are in the common interests of all parties. China supports and looks forward to Pakistan playing a unique and important role in easing the situation and resuming peace talks. China is willing to make joint efforts with Pakistan to end the hostilities as soon as possible, create opportunities for peace and open the window for peace talks.

On bilateral ties, Wang said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, calling on both sides to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and constantly advance the building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.

For his part, Dar said the Pakistan-China friendship is precious and deeply rooted in people’s hearts, adding that Pakistan is willing to work with China to promote the continuous development of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. He thanked China for supporting Pakistan’s mediation of the situation in Iran, adding that the current conflict has disrupted international energy supplies and caused heavy damage to developing countries.

Dar had earlier visited China, January 3-5. The two foreign ministers also held phone conversations on March 10 and March 27.

The five-point initiative calls for:

Immediate Cessation of Hostilities. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas.

Start of peace talks as soon as possible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.

Security of nonmilitary targets. The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets and to fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.

Security of shipping lanes. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.

Primacy of the United Nations Charter. China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the UN, and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realising lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law.

At a Chinese Foreign Ministry press conference on April 1, spokesperson Mao Ning said that the initiative is open and all countries and international organisations are welcome to respond to and participate in it.

The 15th Five-Year Plan and China’s economic outlook

We are pleased to republish the below article by the distinguished Marxist economist Michael Roberts, which looks at the reality of the Chinese economy and its prospects in the context of the adoption in March of the 15^th Five-Year Plan, by the country’s highest legislative body, the National People’s Congress (NPC).

Adopting the Marxist standpoint of seeking truth from facts in his economic analysis, Michael deals with a number of erroneous claims often made regarding the Chinese economy in a rigorous but comprehensible fashion, which also does not shy away from some of the very real challenges it faces.

He sees the economic growth target set for this year of around 4.5-5% as being well justified and goes on to explain:

“In 2025, China’s real GDP growth was 5%, a rate among the major economies of the world only surpassed by India (which exaggerates its GDP data) and more than twice the US growth rate and three times that of the rest of the top G7 capitalist economies.

“Since 2020, the government has set a target for China to become a ‘mid-level’ economy, (as defined by the World Bank at $20,000 per person at 2020 prices) by 2035. That meant effectively doubling its per capita GDP over those 15 years. It is clearly on target to do that as China’s per capita income would need to grow only at an average annual rate of about 4.17% a year from hereon. Assuming China averages an annual real per capita GDP growth rate from hereon of about 4.5%, then it will surpass the World Bank definition by 2034.”

Making an important comparison, he further notes: “China’s per capita GDP would still be only 27% of that of the US (assuming the US per capita GDP grows at a 1.5% average rate from here). In contrast, India’s per capita GDP would be only 5% of the US by 2035.”

He then proceeds to deal with the fact that: “China’s GDP and growth rates are continually dismissed by many mainstream Western economists as well as by some on the heterodox left,” but points out:

“Recently the prestigious Penn World Tables have confirmed that they consider China’s growth data as broadly accurate and no longer attempt to ‘adjust’ it downwards… Yes, corporate debt is high, and the property market is still falling. But nearly all this debt is financed entirely from domestic savings, unlike many examples of rapid credit expansion elsewhere. So, this debt is perfectly manageable.”

He also deals with the balance and relationship between investment and consumption, another issue on which a measure of confusion abounds:

“China’s household consumption is not stagnating, it’s growing 4.4%, more or less in line with GDP growth. Exports are not driving growth. Net trade accounted for about 20% of 2025 growth, the rest was driven by domestic consumption and investment.”

China-South Africa relations increasingly demonstrate global and strategic influence

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng recently visited South Africa, meeting President Cyril Ramaphosa and co-chairing the ninth plenary session of the China-South Africa Bi-National Commission.

Meeting with President Ramaphosa on March 25, Han said that China attaches great importance to its relations with South Africa and stands ready to work with the country to further advance the China-South Africa all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era established by the two heads of state.

He added that, as true friends who share weal and woe, China and South Africa should continuously enhance political mutual trust, support each other on issues of their respective major concern, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, strengthen mutual learning between their ruling parties, and promote practical cooperation in a coordinated manner.

Starting from May 1, China will fully implement zero-tariff measures for 53 African countries with which it has established diplomatic relations. In this context, Han said, China is willing to work with South Africa to finalise, as soon as possible, the early harvest arrangements under the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development to ensure that South Africa can benefit on a long-term and stable basis from China’s zero-tariff measures.

Han also stressed that both sides should jointly uphold fairness and justice. In the face of a complex and volatile international landscape, China stands ready to remain South Africa’s most reliable friend, strengthen communication and coordination within multilateral mechanisms, and work together to enhance the representation and voice of the Global South in international affairs.

President Ramaphosa noted that the South Africa-China partnership is both distinctive and strategic, development-oriented, and has effectively promoted the development and progress of South Africa and Africa. He expressed appreciation to President Xi for announcing the full implementation of the zero-tariff measures, saying that South Africa will make good use of these policies to expand exports to China and strengthen cooperation with China in areas such as infrastructure, investment and technology, so as to further enrich the bilateral relations.

South Africa stands ready to further enhance communication and coordination with China under multilateral frameworks to promote the common development of Africa and other countries of the Global South.

The following day, Han Zheng met with South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile and co-chaired the ninth plenary session of the China-South Africa Bi-National Commission.

In his speech, Han said that under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the China-South Africa relations have entered a “golden era,” elevated to an all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, and are moving towards the goal of building a high-level community with a shared future.

In a world of intertwined changes and challenges today, China and South Africa, both major developing countries and important countries in the Global South, share extensive common interests and a broad space for cooperation. China-South Africa relations go beyond the bilateral scope and increasingly demonstrate global and strategic influence.

The claws of a dying beast: US imperialism’s existential quagmire

As the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its second month, a striking vulnerability has emerged that the mainstream media has largely chosen to ignore: the Pentagon’s ability to replenish its rapidly depleting weapons stockpiles is now to a significant degree dependent on China’s rare earth exports, which are essential to everything from jet engine coatings to precision guidance systems. Alternative supply chains are three to five years away at best. China’s leading position in critical minerals processing gives important leverage in any confrontation with Washington.

In the following article, Ileana Chan, Director and Producer at Empire Watch, illuminates this contradiction, situating the criminal war on Iran within the broader imperial logic of a system that is simultaneously dependent on China and desperate to contain it – recognising that China will have surpassed the West in most economic and technological measures within the coming years, and calculating that the window for action is closing.

Ileana highlights the role of China’s steady, principled diplomacy as a counterpoint to US belligerence – a model of sovereignty, development and mutual respect that meets the needs of a rising Global South.

While we grieve for lives lost today and those to come, we know the Global South is building something new. A world defined not by bombastic slogans, but by the steady, even-keeled diplomacy China exemplifies, where sovereignty, development, and mutual respect are paramount.

This article was first published on the Empire Watch Patreon.

The latest US-Israeli war on Iran exposes the desperate belligerence of an empire in inevitable freefall.

It is a war decades in the making, completely aligned with Washington’s geopolitical maneuvering to perpetuate a unipolar world. This empire demands fealty from its vassal states and allies, without being able to articulate a rational strategy and objective. It claims self-defense while committing war crimes and breaking international law with impunity. Yet, somehow, behind the shock and awe tactics and tired propaganda tropes, the US seems utterly unprepared for the reality it has unleashed.

China condemns US and Israeli atrocities at UN Human Rights Council

On March 27, at the request of Iran, China and Cuba, the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, held an urgent debate on the attacks on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ School in Minab, Iran.

Chinese Ambassador Jia Guide stated that the attacks on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ School in Minab, Iran, which claimed the lives of 168 innocent girls, are an act that crosses the line of human morality, the worst violation of human rights, and a blatant contempt of international humanitarian law. China is deeply shocked by the attack, strongly condemns it, and expresses its sympathies for the families of the victims.

The ambassador pointed out that the United States and Israel launched the attack on Iran without the authorisation of the UN Security Council, killed the leaders of Iran, seriously violated the human rights of the Iranian people, and triggered an escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, forcibly dragging regional countries into the fray.

The following article was originally published on the website of China’s Permanent Mission to the UN Office at Geneva and other international organisations in Switzerland.

On March 27, at the request of Iran, China and Cuba, the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council held an urgent debate on the attacks on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ School in Minab, Iran. Ambassador Jia Guide, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland, attended and elaborated on China’s position.

Ambassador Jia Guide stated that the attacks on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls’ School in Minab, Iran, which claimed the lives of 168 innocent girls, are an act that crosses the line of human morality, the worst violation of human rights, and a blatant contempt of international humanitarian law. China is deeply shocked by the attack, strongly condemns it, and expresses our sympathies for the families of the victims.

Ambassador Jia pointed out that the United States and Israel launched the attack on Iran without the authorization of the UN Security Council, which is the root cause of this tragedy. The US and Israel killed the leaders of Iran, seriously violated the human rights of the Iranian people, and triggered an escalation of conflicts in the Middle East, forcibly dragging regional countries into the fray. The sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of all countries should be fully respected. China strongly condemns all acts that violate international law and launch indiscriminate attacks on civilian and non-military targets.

Ambassador Jia stressed that all hotspot issues should be resolved through dialogue and negotiation, and not by the use of force. All parties must seize every opportunity for peace, launch the peace process in good faith as soon as possible, take practical actions to protect the basic human rights of people in the region, and safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East.

See China’s achievements for yourself – Britain’s visa-free travel to China explained

Friends of Socialist China Britain Committee Secretary David Peat recently attended a London event organised by the Chinese National Tourism Office (CNTO) and industry partners celebrating and raising awareness of the Chinese government’s recent policy change allowing British passport holders to visit the People’s Republic of China for tourism or business purposes visa-free for up to 30 days. In the article below David explains how the policy works and how China’s tourism strategy is a fitting and effective way for the country to celebrate its successes and show the world how its system is working to improve its citizens’ lives—a living and vibrant contrast to the increasing chaos and declining living standards in the Western world.

The recent viral phenomenon of “Chinamaxxing”—in which Westerners, increasingly exposed to less biased content highlighting the reality of everyday life in China, are expressing their excitement and admiration of aspects of Chinese culture (see the upcoming online seminar on the topic, organised by Friends of Socialist China)—is set to receive a further boost in Britain as it has just recently joined the group of countries whose citizens can visit the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without requiring a visa, allowing more and more people to conveniently see the country’s achievements for themselves.

The new policy came into effect on February 17 and allows UK passport holders to visit the country for the purposes of “business, tourism, family/friends visit, exchange and transit purposes.” Britain joins around 50 other countries, including most of Europe, Canada, Japan, and many others, to which China has offered a unilateral visa-free policy,^[1] alongside around 30 countries with which China has bilateral agreements. All part of the Communist Party of China’s strategy to facilitate people-people connection and show the world a “more open, accessible China.”^[2]

How does whole process people’s democracy differ from western democracy?

In the following article, which was published by Global Times on March 11, three foreign observers, including Keith Bennett, present their views on the following questions in the context of China’s two annual sessions – of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC):

How are consensuses achieved swiftly and on a broad scale?
How do the down-to-earth style of CPPCC members and NPC deputies differ from Western lawmakers?
And how do weighty national issues debated each year genuinely resonate with the daily lives of ordinary people?

Keith notes that: “China’s whole-process people’s democracy represents and embodies the interests of the vast majority… The key reason is that the type of consensus, uniting state and society, that can be achieved in a socialist country like China, is actually impossible to attain in a capitalist society. At the end of the day, such societies are divided into classes with fundamentally irreconcilable and antagonistic interests.”

In the West, Keith observes, “We see an increasing trend to treat politics as just another profession, with Western legislators going rapidly from elite university to a political think tank or a job in parliament and then rapidly to a parliamentary seat. In this way, any lingering concept of serving the people is disappearing and the people are noticing. In this situation, Western legislators lead lives that are ever more divorced from the people and communities they are supposedly meant to serve.”

“In contrast, through whole-process people’s democracy, people in China have a real input into who will be elected and chosen to represent them. Mostly, they continue to live and work among the people they serve. They are well placed to articulate people’s concerns because in most instances they are their concerns, too.”

China’s two sessions offer a window into how the country aims to advance its high-quality development and sustain the momentum of its reform in an ever-changing global landscape. How are consensuses achieved swiftly and on a broad scale? How do the down-to-earth style of CPPCC members and NPC deputies differ from Western lawmakers? And how do weighty national issues debated each year genuinely resonate with the daily lives of ordinary people? The Global Times invites three foreign scholars to share their perspectives.

Reaching consensus

Denis Simon (Simon), a non-resident fellow at the Quincy Institute in Washington, DC: China’s two sessions sit at the apex of a governance system designed to convert broad political priorities into implementable programs with unusual speed and scale. What often appears to foreign observers as “instant consensus” is, in fact, the product of four interacting features: tightly organized agenda-setting, hierarchical responsibility and evaluation, policy experimentation, and extensive mobilization capacity across Party, state and quasi-state institutions.

Announcements at the two sessions function as authoritative signals that align state organs, markets, and society around a defined set of priorities – economic stabilization, industrial upgrading, employment, common prosperity, carbon peaking, artificial intelligence, or public health capacity.

Wang Yi continues China’s work for peace

China is continuing its active work for peace and for an end to the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran.

Between March 24-27, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held telephone discussions with five of his counterparts in this regard.

On March 24, he spoke again with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, following their call on March 2.

Araghchi briefed Wang on the latest developments in the regional situation. Thanking China for providing emergency humanitarian assistance, he said the Iranian people are more united in resisting foreign aggression and safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and independence.

Iran is committed to achieving a comprehensive end to the war, rather than merely a temporary ceasefire, Araghchi said. The Strait of Hormuz is open to all and ships can pass safely, but countries at war with Iran are not under consideration, he said.

He expressed the hope that measures taken by all parties would help de-escalate the situation rather than intensify the conflict, expecting China to continue playing a positive role in promoting peace and ending the war.

The following day, Wang spoke again with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty following their call on March 12.

Wang said that both China and Egypt are responsible countries. They both oppose military operations without authorizstion from the UN Security Council, oppose attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, and do not approve of affecting the Gulf countries.

The situation in the Middle East is changing rapidly, Wang said, citing that both the United States and Iran are signalling their readiness to negotiate. A glimmer of hope for peace has emerged, he added.

Stressing that as long as there is dialogue, there is hope for peace, Wang said that the actions of the Security Council should help ease the situation and promote dialogue and help prevent the expansion of the war instead of giving a pass to the use of force.

Noting that China supports Egypt in continuing to play a mediating role in promoting the resumption of peace talks and the cessation of the war, Wang said that China is also willing to continue to make constructive efforts for this purpose.

The same day, Wang also had a call with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fida and said that China supports countries in the Middle East in maintaining calm and addressing disputes and differences through dialogue.

The right and wrong of the conflict in the Middle East are clear, and the international community should adopt an objective and impartial position. China supports countries in the region in remaining calm and responding rationally to the current situation from a long-term perspective based on fundamental interests. China also supports Türkiye in playing a constructive role in promoting the resumption of negotiations.

For his part, Fidan said that Türkiye and China are highly consistent in their positions regarding the current situation in the Middle East, and both countries oppose launching military attacks without authorisation from the UN Security Council and oppose further escalation of the conflict.

China has always been committed to maintaining regional and world peace, and it is believed that China will continue to play an important role, he added.

Xi Jinping exchanges messages with Kim Jong Un

Kim Jong Un was re-elected to the post of President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the First Session of the 15^th Supreme People’s Assembly on March 22.

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to his DPRK counterpart on March 26, in which he wrote:

“The traditional China-DPRK friendship is a precious asset common to the two countries. It is the consistent and steadfast policy of the Chinese party and government to successfully defend, consolidate and develop the China-DPRK relations.”

In a reply message sent the following day, Kim Jong Un wrote that:

“I am pleased to note that the traditional DPRK-China relations are being put on a new high stage in keeping with the aspiration and desire of the two parties and the peoples of the two countries according to the important agreement reached at the meeting with you in September last year. Steadfast is the stand of our Party and government to continue to develop in depth the DPRK-China relations of friendship and cooperation with socialism as the core.”

The day following his re-election, Kim Jong Un delivered an important speech in which he began by: “Expressing my thanks to the Supreme People’s Assembly for entrusting me again with the sacred mission of representing the DPRK and guiding the overall work of the country, I solemnly pledge to make all sincere efforts to firmly defend the Constitution of our Republic and promote the prosperity and development of the State and the well-being of the people, bearing deep in mind the trust and expectations of all of you.”

In the course of a comprehensive and wide-ranging presentation the DPRK leader made some significant observations bearing on the present international situation, including the following:

“The past decade clearly showed that no objective conditions and circumstances can ever check the advance of a state and people that have turned out in the struggle to shape their future, rallied as one with a firm faith, and that the most correct road to prosperity is to achieve self-reliance and self-sufficiency.

“The hostile forces wanted us to make a different choice, preaching a payment for our giving up of nuclear weapons, but the present situation clearly proves how just the strategic option and decision of our State were in rejecting the enemy’s cajolery and perpetuating our nuclear possession so that it is irreversible…

“Thus, our State has ushered in a new era of achieving security and safeguarding peace with strength, not by any declaration or through any appeal.

China’s new high quality growth benefits humanity as a whole

The video embedded below is the full recording of an interview and discussion conducted by Jingjing Yang of China Media Group (CMG) with our co-editor Keith Bennett on March 5 regarding issues raised by China’s then ongoing two annual parliamentary sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Reviewing the achievements of Chinese-style modernisation over the last year, Keith notes that we are living through a dramatic period of history, one in which events move very fast and we are experiencing, as Xi Jinping puts it, changes unseen in a century.

China’s growth is now expressed above all in qualitative terms, with advances in AI, robotics and other fields all contributing to what many people in the world, young people in particular, are describing as “a very Chinese moment” in their lives.

The really important figures in China’s development in the present period are those such as in the growth of renewable energy or in the reduction and elimination of extreme poverty. And China’s work to prevent climate catastrophe benefits people throughout the world. The main themes of the incoming 15^th Five Year Plan provide further evidence that what is good for China is also good for humanity as a whole. The emphasis placed on new high quality productive forces, on robotics, EVs and AI, provide new opportunities particularly for those other developing countries that wish to learn from the Chinese example.

However, all this is unfolding against a capricious and dangerous international environment, as shown not only by the egregious use of tariffs as a weapon of economic warfare but even in the kidnapping and murder of leaders of sovereign states. China’s policies are a factor for stability in this situation but, contrary to what some people seem to imagine, China does not possess a magic wand capable of miraculously solving all problems on the global stage. China’s Global Security Initiative has been welcomed by the overwhelming majority of countries in the world as it is based on shared interests and common benefit. The countries standing against it are few in number, but unfortunately they remain powerful.

Extracts from the interview were shown on CCTV coverage during the Two Sessions.

Chinese representative voices support for the just cause of the Palestinian people at UN Human Rights Council

China has taken the opportunity of the ongoing 61^st Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland to affirm that it will continue to firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people and work tirelessly for the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

Speaking in the general debate on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories, on March 24, Ambassador Jia Guide, Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organisations in Switzerland, said:

“The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deteriorated to an unprecedented level, and their [the Palestinian people’s] human rights have been grossly violated. Israel has put forward a plan to annex 82 percent of the West Bank, continued to expand settlements, connived at settler violence, and launched attacks against Lebanon and Syria, all of which constitute serious violations of international law and relevant Human Rights Council resolutions.”

The following article was originally published on the website of China’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organisations in Switzerland.

On 24 March 2026, the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council held the general debate on the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories. Ambassador Jia Guide, Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland, attended the meeting and elaborated on China’s position.

Ambassador Jia Guide pointed out that the situation in the Middle East remains turbulent and the suffering of the Palestinian people is alarming. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deteriorated to an unprecedented level, and their human rights have been grossly violated. Israel has put forward a plan to annex 82 percent of the West Bank, continued to expand settlements, connived at settler violence, and launched attacks against Lebanon and Syria, all of which constitute serious violations of international law and relevant Human Rights Council resolutions.

Ambassador Jia stressed that humanitarian access must be restored, a durable ceasefire in Gaza must be achieved, settlement activities must be curbed, and the two-state solution must be implemented. Israel should immediately withdraw from Lebanese and Syrian territories. China will continue to firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people and work tirelessly for the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.

Xi Jinping greets Lao President on re-election

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, sent a message of greetings on March 23 to Thongloun Sisoulith on his re-election as president of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

In his message, Xi noted that China and Laos are friendly socialist neighbours with a shared future. The two sides have always supported each other with sincerity and mutual assistance and firmly backed each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns, reflecting their profound friendship of “comrades plus brothers”.

The Chinese leader added that he attaches great importance to the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries, and is ready to work with Thongloun, who is also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, to draw a new blueprint for comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries and advance the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future to a higher level, so as to better benefit the two peoples and further contribute to regional peace and development.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Sonexay Siphandone on his re-election as prime minister of Laos.

The KPL Lao News Agency reported that Thongloun Sisoulith was re-elected President of the Lao PDR during the inaugural session of the 10th legislature of the National Assembly held in the capital Vientiane in the morning of March 23. It also reported that Sonexay Siphandone was re-elected Prime Minister of the Lao PDR during the same session.

The following article was originally published by the Xinhua News Agency. Xi’s message was also reported by KPL.

BEIJING, March 23 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, extended on Monday congratulations to Thongloun Sisoulith on his re-election as president of Laos.

In his message, Xi noted that China and Laos are friendly socialist neighbors with a shared future. The two sides have always supported each other with sincerity and mutual assistance, and firmly backed each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns, reflecting their profound friendship of “comrades plus brothers,” he said.

The year 2026 marks the 65th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations as well as the Year of China-Laos Friendship, Xi said, adding that the two sides will hold a series of events of celebration to inject impetus into deepening the friendship between the two peoples.

Noting that this year marks the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Laos’ 10th five-year socio-economic development plan, Xi said both countries are at a critical stage of development and revitalization, and their mutually beneficial cooperation is expected to usher in broader prospects.

Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries, and is ready to work with Thongloun, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, to draw a new blueprint for comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries and advance the building of a China-Laos community with a shared future to a higher level, so as to better benefit the two peoples and further contribute to regional peace and development.

Also on Monday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Sonexay Siphandone on his re-election as prime minister of Laos.

Li said he is ready to work with Sonexay in jointly promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two sides’ departments and localities, and advancing the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future for greater achievements.

Communist Party of Swaziland rejects Taiwan visit

The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) has issued a strong condemnation of the planned visit by the separatist leader of Taiwan to the celebration of King Mswati III’s 40 years of absolute rule this coming April.

A statement issued by party General Secretary Thokozane Kunene on behalf of the Central Committee notes that: “This visit is not an innocent diplomatic engagement, but a calculated political act designed to reinforce imperialist influence, legitimise dictatorship, and deepen the exploitation of the Swazi people.”

It adds: “The CPS reaffirms its principled position that there is only one China. Taiwan is not an independent country, but a province of China that became separated following the victory of the Chinese Revolution in 1949, which decisively defeated the reactionary regime of Chiang Kai-shek.”

The statement notes: “In Swaziland, the role of Taiwanese separatist forces has been deeply harmful and reactionary. Their presence has not contributed to genuine development or the upliftment of the people. Instead, it has entrenched systems of economic domination. Through financial arrangements and so-called ‘aid’, they have subjected the Swazi people to unsustainable debt burdens while facilitating land dispossession and evictions that strip communities of their livelihoods and dignity.”

The CPS further condemns the role of Taiwanese-linked capital in the textile sector, where Swazi workers — particularly women — are subjected to ruthless exploitation. Workers endure poverty wages that cannot sustain a decent standard of living while facing degrading and abusive working conditions. Reports of sexual harassment and gender-based violence expose the brutal reality of capitalist exploitation under foreign ownership.

“The CPS calls upon workers, youth, women, and all oppressed people of Swaziland to reject this visit in the strongest possible terms.”

Swaziland (or Eswatini as it was officially renamed in 2018) is Africa’s only absolute monarchy and also the only African state to still reject diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in favour of maintaining official ties with the authorities on Taiwan in violation of the one China principle. The CPS was founded in 2011 and works under repressive conditions of illegality.

The following article was originally published on the party’s website.

The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) unequivocally rejects the planned visit of Taiwanese separatist leader Lai Ching-te to Swaziland during the celebration of Mswati III’s 40 years of absolute rule this coming April. This visit is not an innocent diplomatic engagement, but a calculated political act designed to reinforce imperialist influence, legitimize dictatorship, and deepen the exploitation of the Swazi people.

Webinar: Socialist Chinamaxxing – How China’s achievements are a product of its socialist system (12 April)

📆 Sunday 12 April 2026, 3pm Britain, 10am US Eastern, 10pm China

In spite of several years of intense propaganda and misinformation about China in the media, large numbers of young people in the West are going through “a very Chinese time in their lives”, not least because they are seeing China’s extraordinary achievements in poverty reduction, technological innovation, ecological protection, infrastructure development and more.

This webinar, organised by Friends of Socialist China and supported by the International Manifesto Group, will explore how these achievements are a product of China’s social, political and economic system: socialism. The speakers will argue that China’s progress would simply not have been possible within a framework of capitalist rule, and that the country’s experience provides a powerful example of the superiority of socialism in terms of delivering for the people and for the planet.

Confirmed speakers

George Galloway (Former MP, leader of Workers Party of Britain)
Li Jingjing (Journalist and political commentator, CGTN)
Chen Weihua (Former China Daily EU bureau chief)
Ben Norton (Editor, Geopolitical Economy Report)
Danny Haiphong (Geopolitical analyst and journalist)
Tings Chak (Asia co-coordinator, Tricontinental Institute)
Qiao Collective (Diaspora Chinese media collective)
Chair: Ileana Chan (Host of the Global Majority for Peace podcast)

Narratives seeking to smear China by exploiting the US-Israel-Iran conflict should stop

As the criminal US-Israeli war on Iran enters its fourth week, a new front has opened in the information space. Alongside the bombs and missiles, a set of coordinated Western narratives has emerged targeting China: claiming that Beijing has suffered a strategic failure, that it bears some responsibility for the conflict, or that it hopes to benefit in some way from the carnage. The following editorial from Global Times systematically dismantles all three claims.

The reality is straightforward. China is not a party to this conflict. It did not authorise it, did not seek it, and has nothing to gain from it. What China has done is speak up clearly for international law, denounce illegal aggression, dispatch its special envoy to the region, call for respect for Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the civilian victims of the war – including the 175 killed in the US bombing of a girls’ school in Minab. As the editorial puts it with blunt precision: “Aside from the Western military-industrial complex profiting from arms sales, there are no winners in this war.”

These narratives targeting China are designed to shift blame, suppress calls for peace, and provide cover for aggression.

The military conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran has entered its third week, with the situation remaining complex and tense. Without authorization from the UN Security Council, the US and Israel launched attacks and killed Iran’s supreme leader, deliberately provoking a war against Iran. China is not a party to this conflict. However, some Western narratives have seized the opportunity to fabricate claims aimed at discrediting China. These narratives broadly fall into three categories: the so-called “China failure” narrative, the “China responsibility” narrative, and the “China winner” narrative. Such absurd claims are driven by ulterior motives and thinly veiled political self-interest.

The so-called “China failure” narrative hypes that China’s strategy of turning Iran into a key regional pillar is on the verge of collapse. The facts are clear: China has never been involved in this conflict, nor has it bet on any side. The conflict is the result of unilateral military actions by the US and Israel and has nothing to do with China’s diplomatic or economic strategies. China has actively expanded exchanges and cooperation with various countries including the Middle Eastern states based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. It does not engage in military alliances, bloc confrontation, or proxy wars. Its influence in the Middle East is built on deep and extensive cooperation, which gives it resilience even amid conflict. Where, then, is the so-called “strategic failure”?

Such claims merely reflect a power-politics mind-set obsessed with staking out spheres of influence, one that fails to understand the values of peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit in China’s foreign policy.

South African Communist Party visits China

A delegation of the South African Communist Party (SACP) led by Solly Afrika Mapaila, the general secretary of the party, recently visited China.

On March 18, the delegation met with Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (IDCPC).

Liu said, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Cyril Ramaphosa, China-South Africa relations have maintained a high level of operation and continuously gained new connotations. The CPC and the SACP are the pioneering forces of the respective countries and important representatives of the world’s progressive forces. The CPC is willing to work with the SACP to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen strategic communication, deepen exchanges and mutual learning on party governance and state administration, promote cooperation in various fields and multilateral coordination through inter-party channels, drive greater development of China-South Africa and China-Africa relations, and work constantly to turn the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity into reality.

Mapaila said, the SACP highly appreciates the tremendous achievements of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the leadership of the CPC and is willing to learn from China’s experience in strengthening Party building, combating corruption, consolidating popular support, and leading economic and social development. South Africa firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports China’s reunification cause.

The following article was originally published on the IDCPC website.

Beijing, March 18th—Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with a delegation led by Solly Afrika Mapaila, General Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP).

China’s role in supporting Iran

The following comment on the various ways in which China has been supporting Iran in defending its sovereignty has been collectively drafted by the members of the Friends of Socialist China US committee.

Increasingly countries are able to resist U.S. imperialism’s most violent, unpredictable attacks and overwhelming firepower by sharing simple technology, resisting U.S. sanctions and increasing trade with each other.

Iran has made stunning progress in self-defense capability by developing many thousands of relatively low tech, far less expensive drones. The Pentagon and the Zionist military is forced to burn through precious supplies of fabulously expensive and complex interceptor missiles in an effort to block barrages of Iranian drones that are very effective.

Until recently the U.S. had a chokehold on many forms of technology. Those days are past.

Iran has acquired significant and strategic technological, military, and surveillance capability from China, strengthening its defense capabilities and internal security infrastructure. Key areas include missile components, air defense systems, drone technology, AI-enabled surveillance, and satellite navigation via the Beidou system to track U.S. forces. This boosts Iran’s operational capabilities.

Although satellites are now precise enough to read the license on a car from space, all of the maps available commercially are clouded over on U.S. bases and important industrial and military sites. Only the Pentagon had full access or the ability to read in real time tens of thousands of complex images.

Real-Time Intelligence Sharing:

But once technology exists it is impossible to keep it in a box.

China has utilized its fleet of 500+ satellites to provide the world with constant SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) and terrain mapping. This support helps Iran track US naval movements in the Persian Gulf in real-time.

Chinese commercial satellite firms, notably MizarVision, have publicly released high-resolution, AI-annotated, satellite images of U.S. military bases and assets throughout West Asia.

The company specialises in generating geospatial intelligence. The images appear in near-real time. So U.S. aircraft, naval vessels, and air defense systems (such as Patriot and THAAD systems) are visible in locations including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain.

Conventional armed forces are now vulnerable to observation from hundreds of satellites in low Earth orbit. A number of the facilities and assets posted by MizarVision were subsequently targeted by Iran in missile and drone strikes, which were launched after the US and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury on 28 February.

The deluge of material shows how difficult it has become to hide military assets..

MizarVision’s account on X media site made its first post on 24 February, four days before the U.S. launched their sneak attack.

This now publicly accessible imagery can be downloaded almost immediately, offering a cheap source of real-time intelligence. The images of U.S. bases, naval groups and air defence systems, are all labelled and geolocated using artificial intelligence.

Chinese Embassy in London hosts briefing and discussion on Two Sessions

The Chinese Embassy in London hosted a symposium on March 19 for Ambassador Zheng Zeguang to brief on the recently concluded annual ‘Two Sessions’ – of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) – held in Beijing, which he had attended as a CPPCC member, and to exchange views in this regard with British friends from various walks of life.

He began, however, with remarks concerning current events in West Asia, which he correctly noted is an issue with which everyone is concerned. The US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran is, he noted, a war that should never happened and Iran had been attacked while negotiations were ongoing; it is a war that does no good to anyone, that had no authorisation from the UN, and that violates international law.

The Ambassador further outlined the ongoing diplomatic efforts to restore peace being undertaken by Foreign Minister Wang Yi as well as by Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, who was still in the region at time of speaking.

Ambassador Zheng noted that the Two Sessions reviewed and adopted the Government Work Report and the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, setting key priorities for China’s economic and social development in 2026, and providing top-level design for development over the next five years.

They are, he explained, a vivid example of whole-process people’s democracy under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. During the Two Sessions, deputies to the National People’s Congress and members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference gather in Beijing to deliberate on state affairs. Both the Government Work Report and the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan were formulated after extensive consultation with all sectors of society, bringing together the broadest possible wisdom and consensus, and reflecting the shared will of the Chinese people.

Ambassador Zheng identified the scientific formulation and implementation of Five-Year Plans as an important governance experience of the Party and a distinctive political advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Through successive Five-Year Plans, China has worked with perseverance to translate its blueprint into reality, creating the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability. By implementing the 15th Five-Year Plan, China will continue to write new chapters in these two miracles and provide stability and positive energy to the world.

He also pointed out that the world is undergoing growing transformation and volatility. Unilateralism and acts of bullying are on the rise, regional conflicts persist, and the international order is facing serious challenges. The more turbulent the world becomes, the greater the need to promote dialogue and cooperation. China always stands on the side of international fairness and justice and on the right side of history. China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with all countries in implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilisation Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, with a view to a community with a shared future for humanity.

Chinese and Vietnamese Defence Ministers commemorate Ho Chi Minh Trail at Sea

Following the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-Vietnam “3+3” Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy, Defence and Public Security held in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi on March 16, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun led a programme of joint military-related activities with his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Giang.

The 10th Vietnam – China Border Defence Friendship Exchange got underway on March 18, launching a two-day programme aimed at strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries. Events were held in Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province on the first day and in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region the following day.

In Quang Ninh, activities began with a welcome ceremony for the Chinese defence minister at the Mong Cai International Border Gate. The two ministers then took part in a range of joint engagements, including a friendship tree-planting ceremony at the border gate, the start of work on a medical station in Hai Son commune, and visits to the Tran Phu High School and Tra Co Border Guard Station.

In China, the main activities included a welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese delegation at the Dongxing International Border Gate; a visit by the two defence ministers to a border guard company, where they also planted friendship trees; and the launch of a joint patrol and training exercise in the Gulf of Tonkin.

The two sides also visited an exhibition wall highlighting the starting point of the Ho Chi Minh Sea Trail, as well as local enterprises. In addition, they laid wreaths at a monument to fallen soldiers of the Vietnam – China people’s revolutionary forces, before a farewell ceremony for the Vietnamese delegation at the Dongxing International Border Gate.

Another highlight of this year’s exchange was the joint patrol and training exercise in the Gulf of Tonkin involving the two countries’ navies.

The two defence ministers held talks on March 18.

Reviewing a decade of the exchange since its launch in 2014, the Vietnamese minister described the mechanism as a bright spot in bilateral defence relations, evolving steadily in both scope and substance. Initially focused on military-to-military activities, the programme has expanded to include local authorities and mass organisations, with regular initiatives such as free medical services for border residents and cultural exchanges among communities and students on both sides. Notably, this year’s edition marks the first time the two navies have conducted joint training activities.

For his part, Dong expressed thanks to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence for its thorough preparations and warm reception. He noted that both ministers had recently participated in the first “3+3” strategic dialogue, where defence cooperation was a key topic of discussion. Affirming that relations between the two countries and their militaries have continued to grow stronger, Dong emphasised the need to expand exchanges to contribute to regional and global stability. Since its inception in 2014, the border defence friendship exchange has fostered goodwill and driven forward bilateral ties, while playing an important role in maintaining border security, he emphasised.