Category: International relations

South Africa and China have an unbreakable bond

Chinese President Xi Jinping paid his fourth state visit to the Republic of South Africa immediately before the country hosted the BRICS Summit.

Meeting his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa in the capital Pretoria on August 22, the two leaders agreed to work together to take the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights and to build a high-quality China-South Africa community with a shared future.

To this end, President Xi made four proposals:

  • China and South Africa should be strategic partners with a high degree of mutual trust. Comradeship and brotherhood are inherent to the bilateral relationship.
  • China and South Africa should be development partners making progress together. Mutual benefits and win-win are defining features of their cooperation.
  • China and South Africa should be friendly partners enjoying mutual understanding. Close ties between the two peoples are a vivid example of amity between the two countries.
  • China and South Africa should be global partners with a commitment to justice. Independence is a principle upheld by both countries.

President Ramaphosa noted that it is a great pleasure to receive President Xi Jinping for his fourth state visit to South Africa. China lent precious support to South Africa during its struggles for national independence and liberation and in its pursuit of national development. China gave South Africa much-needed support in difficult times such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. China is a true friend, brother, and partner of South Africa.

The South African leader went on to say that the world today is faced with geopolitical challenges, energy crises and many other serious and complex issues. He fully agrees with President Xi Jinping’s proposal for win-win cooperation. South Africa and other countries in the Global South all hope to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China to better meet challenges together, and promote an international order that is more egalitarian, just, and equitable.

Following their talks, President Ramaphosa awarded Xi the Order of South Africa, his country’s highest honour for heads of state of friendly countries. The two leaders also witnessed the signing of various bilateral cooperation agreements, and the two sides also agreed a 15-point Joint Statement.

In a related report, the Xinhua News Agency, noted that: “Amidst Western media’s distorted reports accusing China of ‘colonising’ African nations, including South Africa, it is notable that South Africans describe their relationship with China as one of ‘comradeship’ and ‘brotherly friendship’.”

This sense of unity stems from China’s support to the South African people in fighting apartheid, and standing with the African National Congress (ANC) as comrades and friends, according to ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. Apart from strong economic links, “it is a relationship that is formed by ties of anti-imperialism,” he said in an interview on the eve of the Chinese President’s visit.

President Xi’s visit is one of comradeship between the two presidents in strengthening this important relationship, which spans decades and decades, between the African National Congress and the Communist Party of China, he added.

Sifiso Mahlangu, editor-in-chief of South Africa’s leading newspaper, The Star, said that South Africa and China have an unbreakable bond:

“Our history dictates that China has been our friend. The Chinese people, the People’s Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China have been the friends of the South African people.”

The following articles were originally carried on the websites of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Xinhua News Agency.

President Xi Jinping Held Talks with President of South Africa Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 23 August 2023

On the morning of August 22 local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with President of South Africa Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings in Pretoria during his state visit to the country. The two heads of state had an in-depth exchange of views on the development of China-South Africa relations in the new era and international and regional issues of mutual interest, and they reached important common understandings. They agreed to work together to take the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights and build a high-quality China-South Africa community with a shared future.

Under a bright sky in August in Pretoria, flowers at the square of the Union Buildings were in blossom, while national flags of China and South Africa were waving in the gentle breeze. President Xi Jinping arrived at the Union Buildings in the presidential motorcade, and was warmly greeted by President Ramaphosa when getting off the limousine. As the two heads of state stepped onto the stand, a guard of honor saluted with rifles. The military band played the national anthems of China and South Africa, and a 21-gun salute was fired. President Xi Jinping reviewed the guard of honor of South Africa. The two presidents shook hands with senior members of the delegations.

The two heads of state held talks after the welcoming ceremony.

President Xi Jinping noted that it was his fourth visit to South Africa as Chinese President. He said that he has personally experienced the robust growth of China-South Africa relations over the past decade. The key to the strong relationship and profound friendship lies in the mutual support by the two countries and the two political parties in pursuit of their respective development. China is advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, while South Africa is exploring a path toward modernization that suits its own national conditions. China is ready to work with South Africa to carry forward the friendship, deepen cooperation, and strengthen coordination, in an effort to take the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights and build a high-quality China-South Africa community with a shared future.

In this connection, President Xi Jinping made four proposals.

First, China and South Africa should be strategic partners with a high degree of mutual trust. Comradeship and brotherhood are inherent to the bilateral relationship. The two sides need to step up exchange and cooperation between legislatures, political parties, the military and subnational governments, and continue to support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and key concerns. China is ready to step up exchanges between political parties and cooperation on training, and will do its best to help the African National Congress develop the African Leadership Academy. 

Continue reading South Africa and China have an unbreakable bond

US steps up effort to drive a wedge between Vietnam and China

In this article, which was originally carried in People’s World, Amiad Horowitz takes up a recent off-handed comment by US President Joe Biden, that he intends to travel to Vietnam shortly, noting that CNN described it as another attempt to “counter China’s influence.” Amiad further identified this as “part of the US’ new Cold War aimed at China and other socialist and progressive states, [with] leaders in Washington [hoping] to drive a wedge between China and Vietnam.”

Amiad notes that Washington has now been pursuing this policy for years, but with little success. Going along with this, he explains, “would go against the established tenets and guidelines of Vietnam’s foreign policy.”

The US has remained undeterred, but as “the Biden administration amps up the tensions in Asia, the Chinese and Vietnamese governments have chosen to pursue a path of cooperation and peace.”

To illustrate his argument, Amiad refers to high-level diplomatic meetings between the two socialist countries on August 9 and 10 as well as to other recent encounters:

“In fact, as the two largest socialist countries, their relationship takes on a special significance, a relationship of ‘brothers plus comrades’, as a joint statement put it in November last year.”

Immediately following the original publication of this article, on August 16, China’s top diplomat, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Kunming the provincial capital of Yunnan, with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang.

Wang Yi told his visitor that, as neighbouring countries sharing the same ideology, “the two sides should prepare for the next stage of high-level exchanges.” They should also, Wang added, jointly uphold the ideals and beliefs of the communist party and the cause of socialism.

Tran was attending the Seventh China-South Asia Expo, along with other senior leaders from countries in the region, including Laos, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Amiad Horowitz studied at the Academy of Journalism and Communications at Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. He lives in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.

Last Tuesday, in an offhanded remark, President Joe Biden mentioned that he intends to travel to Vietnam “shortly” as part of an effort “to change our relationship” with the country. While no official plan, agenda, or timeline was given, CNN was quick to report that the Biden administration continues to hope it will be able bring Vietnam into the campaign to “counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region.”

As part of the U.S.’ new Cold War aimed at China and other socialist and progressive states, leaders in Washington hope to drive a wedge between China and Vietnam. The two socialist states share a border, and it appears U.S. imperialism is determined to integrate Vietnam into its strategy of encircling China from all sides.

While the United States has pursued this wedge policy toward Vietnam for years, it hasn’t met with much success so far. Any explicitly anti-China agreement with the U.S. would go against the established tenets and guidelines of Vietnam’s foreign policy, which include peaceful coexistence with all states, avoiding entanglement in any military alliances, and never using the threat of violence against another country.

Washington remains undeterred in its effort to draw Vietnam in, however. As the Biden administration amps up the tensions in Asia, the Chinese and Vietnamese governments have chosen to pursue a path of cooperation and peace.

Continue reading US steps up effort to drive a wedge between Vietnam and China

China and South Africa join hands to build a high-level community with a shared future

The annual BRICS Summit will be held in the Republic of South Africa in late August and coinciding with this, Chinese President Xi Jinping has also been invited to pay a state visit by his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa.

As these events draw near, China’s Ambassador to South Africa, Chen Xiaodong, contributed an article, which we reprint below, to IOL (Independent Online), a leading South African news website.

Ambassador Chen states that: “As developing countries with significant influence in the world, China and South Africa share a special bond of ‘comradeship plus brotherhood’. Our friendship was forged during the fight against imperialism, colonialism and racism, and has deepened in the process of win-win cooperation and common development.”

Noting that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties between the two countries, Chen observes that their relations have become a model for China-Africa relations and South-South cooperation.

China has been South Africa’s largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years, and South Africa is one of the largest investment destinations for Chinese enterprises in Africa, with Chinese investment so far totaling more than 25 billion dollars and creating over 400,000 jobs.

China, Ambassador Chen writes, “feels for the pain of South African people as they suffer from power shortages. It has provided South Africa with emergency power equipment, and organised the China-South Africa New Energy Investment and Co-operation Conference to expand new energy investment and cooperation between the two sides.”

Cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries are also thriving. Now that China has resumed outbound group travel since the beginning of the year, a a large number of Chinese tourists have come to South Africa to enjoy the country’s beautiful scenery. And South Africa has incorporated the Chinese language into its national education system.

In May, the Chinese national table tennis team came to Durban to participate in the World Table Tennis Championships Finals and achieved great results, which set off a ‘table tennis craze’ in South Africa.

Chen Xiaodong was an Assistant Foreign Minister before taking up his present appointment. His previous postings include as Ambassador to Singapore and Iraq and as Minister at the Chinese Embassy in London.

As developing countries with significant influence in the world, China and South Africa share a special bond of “comradeship plus brotherhood”. Our friendship was forged during the fight against imperialism, colonialism and racism, and has deepened in the process of win-win cooperation and common development.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between China and South Africa. Over the past 25 years, our relations have made a significant leap from partnership to strategic partnership and to comprehensive strategic partnership, and have become a model for China-Africa relations and South-South cooperation.

In recent years, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Ramaphosa, our comprehensive strategic partnership has continued to move forward with higher quality, in a wider range and at a deeper level.

With the two heads of state steering the ship, strategic mutual trust has continued to deepen.

President Xi Jinping and President Ramaphosa have met, spoke on phone and exchanged letters dozens of times.

They have jointly attended multilateral meetings such as the BRICS Summit, the G20 Summit, and the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-level Meeting. They have co-chaired the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against Covid-19, and have reached broad consensus on deepening the China-South Africa and China-Africa relations, as well as the solidarity and cooperation among developing countries.

Continue reading China and South Africa join hands to build a high-level community with a shared future

A transformative period in world history

This article by Irish journalist and former hunger striker Tommy McKearney, first published in Socialist Voice, assesses the deepening economic and political crisis of global capitalism – a crisis which is evolving into a full-blown crisis of legitimacy, given a powerful new factor: “the presence of a viable alternative in the east, that is, the People’s Republic of China.”

McKearney describes China’s growing weight in international relations, writing that it “has now become a leading influence in three of the world’s most important regions, and has done so without the use of military expansionism.” China’s multipolar strategy, and its consistent adherence to the principles of non-interference and win-win cooperation, have earned it the trust and support of much of the Global South. As far as the imperialist ruling classes are concerned, this constitutes more than just an economic problem: “A deeper concern is that the Communist Party of China has overseen the development of an economic template that is much more successful than that promoted by free-marketeers.”

The imperialists’ response to this crisis is the initiation of a reckless New Cold War – a strategy of hegemonism and hybrid warfare which is now more-or-less a consensus position in the corridors of power in Washington and London.

Referring to some of the Western left’s previous criticisms and misunderstandings of Chinese socialism, McKearney concludes his article with a significant comment: “Whatever view we took in the past about the Chinese path to socialism, it is incumbent upon us now to give adequate consideration to developments in that amazing country where the East is still glowing red.”

Over the past few months the public, or at least a section of it, has been watching with interest the trials and tribulations of two high-profile political demagogues. We refer, of course, to the arraignment of Donald Trump and the British House of Commons voting to censure Boris Johnson.

Yet in spite of what appeared to be damning indictments against both men, they have not been completely ostracised. Mainstream conservatives in both the United States and Britain have deliberately avoided outright condemnation of their actions. It is important to analyse the reason for this reluctance, as it casts a light on significant developments internationally.

The capitalist ruling class, led from the United States and embedded in Western Europe, has had more than two centuries to perfect techniques for retaining power. For the most part they prefer to create the appearance of governing by consensus. They do, after all, control the means of production, giving them enormous influence over employment, thereby facilitating the divide-and-rule strategy used to split working-class communities.

Moreover, ownership of the mass media allows for the creation of a self-justifying narrative. Granting the people a vote every few years lends the appearance of legitimacy to all of this.

Continue reading A transformative period in world history

Algerian President: No matter how the world changes, our friendship with China will remain unchanged

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune paid a state visit to China, from July 17-21 2023. During this visit, shortly after his meeting with President Xi Jinping, he sat down with CGTN’s Li Tongtong to record an episode of the channel’s Leaders Talk series.

The Algerian leader began by expressing his people’s “sincere admiration for the great nation of China.” Algeria and China, he noted, share a similar history of development. Both of them started from scratch. Algeria endured 130 years of colonialism, but friendly countries like China helped both during the struggle for national liberation and when embarking on the road of development.

Li Tongtong noted the emotional way in which Xi Jinping had recalled how the two countries had stood together against imperialism and colonialism.

China was the first non-Arab country to recognise the Algerian provisional government, 65 years ago, at the height of the liberation war. China’s very first overseas medical team was sent to Algeria in 1963 – they were the first foreign doctors to reach the newly liberated country, which was then in dire need of medical assistance. In 1971, together with Albania, Algeria was the key sponsor of UN Resolution 2758, which restored China’s UN seat to its legitimate government.

President Tebboune said that China and Algeria had shared the same experiences. China had suffered from war, poverty and famine, but the indomitable Chinese people, under the leadership of revolutionaries like Chairman Mao Zedong, had fought hard for a better future and now China stands tall in the world.

Beijing’s action, in recognising the Algerian provisional government, he continued, had helped his country to win a complete victory in the war of liberation, and to embark on a new journey hand in hand with friends like China.

President Tebboune expressed great confidence in Xi Jinping, who he described as a wise leader. The weight on his shoulders is immense. China’s new path of development has implications for the whole world and many countries are looking to China. Algeria wholeheartedly supports him.

Algeria, which was the first Arab country to enter into a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, and which joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2018, is seeking to deepen its economic cooperation with China, which has long been its main partner in infrastructure development and other areas. One plan is for a railway to link the north and south of this vast country. Algeria’s first satellite, itself the first product of Sino-Algerian aerospace collaboration, is proudly featured on an Algerian banknote.

According to President Tebboune: “True friends step forward in times of adversity. So we are very clear about who our friends are and who are not. No matter how the world changes or what difficulties we face, our friendship with China will remain unchanged.”

Algeria, he noted, explaining the basis of his country’s regional and foreign policy, had struggled for national liberation, justice and freedom, and this had entered deep into the Algerian people’s subconscious. The Algerian people had paid a heavy price for these ideals. Fifteen percent of the total population at the time had sacrificed their lives in the national liberation war. So Algeria is very clear – it supports national liberation and rejects hegemonism of any kind. Some powers were now pursuing attempts at neo-colonialism, but the African peoples, he said, have awakened. 

Referring to last November’s reconciliation agreement between 14 Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, which was brokered in Algiers with his country’s mediation, President Tebboune said Algeria pursued no selfish interest in this. Palestine’s strength lies in unity. The older generation of his country’s leaders had said that Algeria’s independence would be incomplete without the independence of Palestine and his country always adhered to this.

Algeria is striving for a multipolar world together with China and looked forward to joining the BRICS cooperation mechanism and its New Development Bank. 

The full interview with President Tebboune is embedded below. Our previous report on his state visit to China can be read here. 

China supports Caribbean countries pursuing development and strength through unity

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana was one of a number of international leaders to combine an official visit to China with attending the opening ceremony of the 31st summer edition of the FISU World University Games, held from late July in the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu.

President Ali met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Chengdu on July 28.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Guyana, though far apart, have enjoyed a time-honored friendship. Guyana was the earliest country in the [English-speaking] Caribbean region to recognize the one-China principle and establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Last year, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Guyana was celebrated. China and Guyana should be good friends who trust and count on each other, and both countries should share opportunities, meet challenges, seek cooperation and advance development together, so as to promote the building of a more close-knit China-Guyana community with a shared future, the Chinese President said, adding that China is ready to enhance synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030, and to elevate the level of high-quality BRI cooperation between the two countries.

Xi Jinping also congratulated Guyana on being elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2024-2025 term. China supports Guyana in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and is ready to work together to practice true multilateralism, safeguard the common interests of the numerous developing countries, jointly tackle global challenges, including climate change, food security and energy security, and build a human community with a shared future together.

Xi Jinping added that during his first visit to the Caribbean region in 2013, he joined leaders of nine [English-speaking] Caribbean countries having established diplomatic relations with China in establishing a comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and the Caribbean countries. China, he said, has always supported the Caribbean countries in seeking strength through unity, and pursuing development and prosperity, and is ready to work with the Caribbean countries to build an even closer community with a shared future. He expressed the hope that Guyana will continue to play an active role in promoting the development of relations between China and the Caribbean countries.

President Ali said that the past 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Guyana and China have been years of friendship, cooperation, and mutual support. Guyana firmly abides by the one-China principle, highly admires President Xi Jinping’s outstanding leadership, and highly values China’s international influence. China, the Guyanese President said, has played an important role in the economic and social development of Guyana and the Caribbean region, not only by sharing its experience, but also by providing valuable assistance for Guyana and other regional countries, including in developing infrastructure, connectivity, medicine and health.  Guyana hopes to carry out close cooperation with China to better address global challenges such as energy, climate change and food security.

The Guyanese head of state also met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on July 30. 

Li said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than five decades ago, China and Guyana have always treated each other with mutual respect and equality. The political mutual trust between the two sides has become even firmer as time goes by, he said, adding that their practical cooperation has achieved fruitful results, setting an example of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation between countries with different social systems, histories and cultures. China stands ready to work with Guyana to promote relations between China and Caribbean countries, meet global challenges together, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and improve international fairness and justice.

Reporting on the visit, the Hong Kong newspaper, South China Morning Post, said that China and Guyana had agreed to strengthen their cooperation in agriculture, energy and mining, as well as in education and culture. Under an agreement signed last September, Sinopharm International was building six new regional hospitals in different parts of Guyana and China had also built roads, hotels and airports in the country.

Among the other foreign leaders who attended the opening ceremony of the World University Games, alongside President Xi Jinping, were the Presidents of Indonesia, Mauritania and Burundi, as well as the Prime Minister of Georgia.

The following articles were first carried on the websites of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Xinhua News Agency.

Xi Jinping Meets with Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali

On the morning of July 28, 2023, President Xi Jinping met in Chengdu with Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali who is in China to attend the opening ceremony of the 31st summer edition of the FISU World University Games and pay a visit to the country.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Guyana, though far apart, have enjoyed a time-honored friendship. Guyana was the earliest country in the Caribbean region to recognize the one-China principle and establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Last year, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Guyana was celebrated. In recent years, Guyana has witnessed rapid economic and national development, and China is advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development. China and Guyana should be good friends who trust and count on each other, and both countries should share opportunities, meet challenges, seek cooperation and advance development together, so as to promote the building of a more close-knit China-Guyana community with a shared future.

Continue reading China supports Caribbean countries pursuing development and strength through unity

Liu Jianchao: BRICS countries have become an important force for peace and development

Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) recently visited South Africa to attend the BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue, which was organised by the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa under the theme of ‘BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism’. This was one of the preparatory international gatherings being held in South Africa as it prepares to host the BRICS Summit later in August. Reflecting the trend of more countries seeking to join BRCS, the meeting was attended by leading members of 41 political parties.

Addressing the meeting, which was held on July 18, Liu said, in the past 17 years, the BRICS countries have turned many seemingly impossible things into reality step by step, becoming an important force for maintaining world peace and stability, revitalising the cause of global development, and promoting the progress of human civilisation. He added that the the Chinese side firmly supports the deepening and expansion of the “BRICS+” cooperation mode, and supports the efforts to advance the BRICS expansion process, and to enhance the representativeness and influence of the BRICS, so as to gather more strength for maintaining world peace and promoting common development.

The previous day, Liu had met with Fikile Mbalula, Secretary-General of the ANC. Liu said that, since the establishment of the relationship between the CPC and the ANC 40 years ago, both parties have always supported each other, laying an important political foundation for the development of relations between the two countries. It should be noted that, whilst the formal relations between the ANC and CPC were established 40 years ago, the relations between the ANC and China date back to at least 1954, when Nelson Mandela sent Walter Sisulu to the country to seek China’s support for the anti-apartheid struggle. However, at that time, and for years to come, the IDCPC maintained a formal position of only establishing party-to-party relations with fellow communist parties and organisations, so the ties were previously handled by other departments.

Mbalula said, the ANC thanked the Chinese side for its strong support for the Former Liberation Movements of Southern Africa during the construction of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School in Tanzania. He hoped to make good use of this platform, enhance governing capabilities and better build his country. The South African side supports a series of important global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping, and is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the Chinese side in BRICS and other multilateral mechanisms to build a better world.

On July 18, Liu met with Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the ANC and of the Republic of South Africa. Ramaphosa stated that China is an important strategic partner for South Africa and expressed gratitude to the Chinese side for its valuable support in South Africa’s struggle for national independence, liberation, and economic development, as well as its support for hosting the BRICS Summit. The ANC regards the CPC as a trustworthy friend and appreciates the assistance provided by the CPC in areas such as official training.

Liu also met with Solly Afrika Mapaila, Secretary-General of the South African Communist Party (SACP). Liu stated that the CPC and the SACP are both Marxist political parties and good comrades and brothers. The Chinese side is willing to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning with the SACP, promote theoretical innovation in Marxism based on practice, provide scientific theoretical guidance for the development of undertakings of our respective countries, and work together to promote unity and cooperation among progressive forces in China and Africa, as well as the development of the international socialist movement.

Recalling his recent visit to China, Mapaila said the SACP attaches great importance to its relationship with the CPC and hopes to further strengthen friendly exchanges between the two parties, learn from the CPC’s experience in party building and state governance, and promote the national democratic revolution in South Africa.
Liu also met with political party leaders from other countries in the margins of the conference. Meeting with Roque Silva Samuel, Secretary-General of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), Liu said that China and Mozambique are good friends, partners, and brothers sharing weal and woe. In recent years, President Xi Jinping and President Filipe Nyusi have maintained close exchanges, charting the course for the development of bilateral relations. The CPC and FRELIMO have a long-standing friendship, he noted.

Silva also said that the people of Mozambique and China have a long-standing friendship and expressed gratitude for China’s strong support to Mozambique’s efforts in struggling for national independence and national development, and maintaining national stability. FRELIMO cherishes the brotherly friendship with the CPC and hopes to strengthen all-round exchanges and cooperation, and push bilateral relations forward.

Following his stay in South Africa, Minister Liu visited Madagascar and Mauritius, two important island countries in Africa. On July 21, he met with Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina, who said that China is a good friend and trustworthy partner of his country and thanked the Chinese side for providing valuable assistance for Madagascar’s economic and social development and for improving the lives of the Madagascan people over a long period of time. The Madagascan side admires the CPC for leading the Chinese people to achieve great development achievements and become the world’s second largest economy. This has set an example for developing countries including Madagascar, and strengthened Madagascar’s confidence in realising its own development and its determination to reinforce cooperation with China. The ruling parties of Madagascar and China have similar philosophies, he said, adding that Madagascar has always stood with China, firmly supported China’s position in international affairs, supported China-proposed major global initiatives, and is willing to be a window and platform to promote Africa-China cooperation.

Whilst in Madagascar, Liu also met with the Foreign Minister and the Presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate.

On July 24, Liu met with Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Leader of the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) and Prime Minister of Mauritius, in the capital, Port Louis. Jugnauth recalled that he had met with President Xi Jinping twice in 2018, something which is still fresh in his memory. The friendship between Mauritius and China has a long history, he noted, with the governments and political parties of the two sides maintaining friendly exchanges and numerous cultural exchanges.

Liu also met with Maneesh Gobin, General Secretary of the MSM, together with a number of government ministers. Liu said that China and Mauritius share extensive common interests in safeguarding the rights and interests of developing countries and addressing global challenges such as climate change. The Chinese side supports Mauritius in playing a role in international and regional affairs, and is willing to strengthen international cooperation, jointly oppose hegemonism and power politics, and benefit the people of China and Africa.

General Secretary Gobin said he believed that China had not only achieved its own prosperity and development, but also benefited Africa and the world at large through its development. He added that, since the MSM established relations with the CPC, the two parties have maintained friendly relations and regular exchanges. The Chinese side has given huge support to the MSM and the people of Mauritius in project exchanges, skills training, and facility funds. The Mauritian side particularly thanked China for the vaccines and other support offered during the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped Mauritius successfully control it. Mauritius is the first African country to sign a free trade agreement with China, he observed. It is hoped that the two sides will expand cooperation in trade, finance, education, science, technology, and media, strengthen infrastructure construction, and treat Mauritius as a bridge to develop business with Africa.

Minister Liu also met with a number of other ministers, including the Foreign Minister and leader of the Patriotic Movement of Mauritius, in the course of his visit.

The following reports were originally published on the website of the IDCPC.

Liu Jianchao Attends BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue

Johannesburg, July 18th—The BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue was held here today by the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa under the theme of BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism. Paul Mashatile, Deputy President of the ANC and Deputy President of South Africa attended and addressed the function. Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the dialogue and delivered a speech. About 400 participants were present, including representatives of political parties of BRICS such as Fikile Mbalula, Secretary-General of the ANC, political heavyweights from 41 political parties, such as former South African presidents Thabo Mbeki and Kgalema Motlanthe, and Olusegun Obasanjo, the former Nigerian president, as well as representatives from international organizations.

Liu said, in the past 17 years, the BRICS countries have turned many seemingly impossible things into reality step by step, becoming an important force for maintaining world peace and stability, revitalizing the cause of global development, and promoting the progress of human civilization. The BRICS have adhered to the value of development and sharing, and continuously injected strong impetus into the development of the global economy; adhered to the value of building security together, and have successfully blazed a path of security featuring dialogue rather than confrontation, consultation rather than coercion, and partnership rather than alliance, and adhered to the value of co-existence among civilizations to enhance mutual understanding among people.

Liu said, political parties are the source of policies of countries, representatives of people’s interests, and an important force that determines the domestic and foreign affairs of a country. Every gathering of the BRICS political parties is not only a summary of cooperation experience, but also shows our commitment to cooperation, and an exploration of the future of cooperation. The CPC is willing to work with political parties of other countries to build and make good use of the BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue platform. We should focus on coordinated development and be a contributor to global development; strengthen solidarity and coordination to be a builder of world peace; promote exchanges and mutual learning and be a promoter of civilizations; improve global governance and be a defender of international order.

Liu said, the Chinese side firmly supports the deepening and expansion of the “BRICS+” cooperation mode, and supports the efforts to advance the BRICS expansion process, and enhance the representativeness and influence of the BRICS, so as to gather more strength for maintaining world peace and promoting common development. BRICS and Africa should forge a partnership that promotes global development causes, maintains world peace and security, carries out exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and practices true multilateralism. Both sides should jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, and make the development of the international order more just and equitable.

Representatives of political parties from all countries present said in their speeches that major changes have taken place in the geopolitical landscape of the world today, and the role of the BRICS has become increasingly prominent. The BRICS countries should work with other countries to promote the construction of a mechanism featuring inclusiveness and development that meets the needs of mankind. As an important force in the political life of each country, political parties should shoulder the political responsibilities of leading the way, building consensus, promoting development, strengthening cooperation, and improving governance, and actively explore modernization paths that suit their own national conditions.

Representatives from all countries voiced support for the strengthening of cooperation between BRICS countries and Africa, to accelerate economic growth in Africa and the world. They stressed their support for the central role of the United Nations in international affairs, upholding true multilateralism, and safeguarding international fairness and justice. As an important part of the BRICS mechanism, the BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue plays an important role in building consensus among political parties and promoting BRICS cooperation. Therefore the dialogue should be made a institutionalized one to strive for more practical results.

Continue reading Liu Jianchao: BRICS countries have become an important force for peace and development

Wang Yi trip serves to strengthen bonds of Global South solidarity

China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, visited South Africa in mid-July to attend the 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security, which was held in Johannesburg. This was one of the important political gatherings to be held in South Africa in the run up to the country hosting the main BRICS Summit later in August. It was also attended by representatives from a number of other countries seeking to adhere to the BRICS mechanism. Wang Yi also visited Kenya and Türkiye on the same trip.

First making a stopover in Ethiopia, Wang Yi held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen Hassen in Addis Ababa.

Wang Yi said that China and Ethiopia are good brothers sharing weal and woe, good friends supporting each other, and good partners pursuing common development. China has stood with the Ethiopian people at a critical time when Ethiopia safeguards national peace and stability and will continue to stand with the Ethiopian people as the country enters a new stage of restoration of peace and national reconstruction.

Demeke said Ethiopia-China relations enjoy a long history, and Ethiopia is firmly committed to strengthening cooperation with China at the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. Ethiopia thanks China for providing assistance to the country’s efforts to safeguard national security and stability, expects China to support Ethiopia in consolidating peace, conducting reconstruction and revitalizing the economy, and supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China.

Wang Yi met with Kenyan President William Ruto on July 22 in Nairobi.

Noting that Kenya-China relations have been developing smoothly since the establishment of diplomatic ties 60 years ago, Ruto said strengthening friendly cooperation with China has become a consensus shared by all sectors in the country.

Ruto highly praised China’s efforts in growing relations with Kenya based on the principle of mutual respect. Kenya is firmly committed to deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, and is willing to strengthen inter-party exchanges, deepen cooperation in such fields as railway, highway, water conservancy, aviation, and renewable energy under the frameworks of Belt and Road cooperation and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, in order to promote connectivity and regional integration in Africa and achieve win-win results, Ruto said.

Wang Yi said that China approaches relations with Kenya from a strategic perspective, and is willing to work with Kenya to take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as a new starting point to align their strategies for revitalization with a focus on development and cooperation, and push their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level in the new era.

Continue reading Wang Yi trip serves to strengthen bonds of Global South solidarity

How to understand Kissinger and China’s high-level diplomacy

In this article, which was originally published on CGTN, Friends of Socialist China co-editor Danny Haiphong explains the significance of the recent visit to China by veteran US statesman Dr. Henry Kissinger and assesses some reactions to it.

Kissinger, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, and who has visited China more than 100 times, pioneered the establishment of ties between the People’s Republic of China and the USA, together with President Richard Nixon, Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai.

Danny points out that Kissinger’s latest visit comes at a watershed moment in the two countries’ relationship. And, whilst US officialdom sought to belittle the visit, at least publicly, sourly observing that someone who is now a private citizen enjoys better access to Chinese leaders than their US counterparts, whilst some others on the left imagine that Chinese leaders are unaware of Kissinger’s historical role regarding Vietnam, Laos, Chile and other countries, both of them fail to take account of the overriding importance of China/US relations, not only for the people of the two countries, but for all humanity.

Kissinger’s warm reception, Danny notes, sent a strong message that China is ready to engage in dialogue with the US so as to get relations back on the right track. Kissinger has recently warned of the dangers of US relations with both China and Russia degenerating into open conflict. Against this background, Danny notes: “The era of hegemony for any country is… coming to an end.  Kissinger’s visit placed a spotlight on the choices in front of the US elite.”

At the age of 100, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger traveled to Beijing and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top officials on July 20, 2023, amid a watershed moment in China-U.S. relations.

The visit caused a great level of confusion among the Western media and members of the U.S. political class. Some outright dismissed the significance of the visit. Others expressed a “sour grapes” mentality. National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby demonstrated this reaction best in his claim that it was “unfortunate that a private citizen can meet with the defense minister and have a communication and the United States can’t.”

Outside of the political class, social media users in the U.S. have gone so far as to claim that China misunderstands Kissinger’s true role in the world. Critics remarked that while Kissinger played a major role in normalizing ties between China and the U.S., his tenure within the foreign policy establishment has also been characterized by aggressive U.S. interventions in Vietnam, Laos, Chile, and several other countries. Thus, few on the U.S. side have attempted to truly understand China’s side.

Kissinger’s visit marked an important opportunity not only for China but also humanity as a whole. China-U.S. relations are not simply bilateral in nature. The relationship between these massively influential countries makes an impact on everyone, and everything, living on this planet.

Continue reading How to understand Kissinger and China’s high-level diplomacy

Mia Mottley: China and Barbados share a commitment to putting people first

In this recent episode of the CGTN series Leaders Talk, Zou Yun interviews Mia Mottley, the first woman Prime Minister of Barbados, during her official visit to China in June.

Comparing what she has seen in China this time to her previous visits in 2004 and 2007, Prime Minister Mottley refers to the palpable changes in terms of China’s growth. This growth has continued to fuel the global economy despite recent challenges. She cites climate change as one of the challenges that “unite us in common purpose”. Small island developing states, the Barbadian PM notes, are on the frontline in the fight against climate change. They are the “canaries in the mine” and the world might have seen quicker action had people listened to their concerns.

Zou Yun notes that Mottley has a special bond with China in that she shares an October 1st birthday with the People’s Republic of China. Barbados, the Prime Minister notes, established diplomatic relations with China 46 years ago as an act of courage and on the premise that China and the Chinese culture and civilization are worthy of respect. Noting that a commitment to putting people first is a foundation of the two countries’ relationship, she praises China for its adherence to the principle of equality between big and small nations. An example was the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many countries had refused to provide vaccines to countries like Barbados on the grounds that their market share was too small, but China had provided her country with 30,000 doses of vaccine. She had personally gone to the airport to receive the first batch. 

When some countries had criticized Barbados’ strong relationship with China, she had retorted that since independence, her country had resolved, under successive governments, formed by different political parties, to be, “friends of all, satellites of none.” This had dictated Barbados’ recognition of China in 1977 and also its friendship with Cuba and Venezuela.

In 2021, Barbados had become the world’s newest republic, removing the late Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. Mia Mottley describes this as being about finishing the journey of independence – which started with the emancipation from slavery in 1838, continued with women gaining the vote in 1944, independence in 1966, and removing the UK’s Privy Council as the final court of appeal in 2005. A non-Barbadian head of state, she explained, was no longer acceptable to our people. This was about “the business of nation building” and overcoming the legacy of racism that was intrinsic to British colonialism.

Moving to the conclusion of the interview, Prime Minister Mottley described her mission as being to improve people’s lives and to fight injustice. It cannot just be that the market determines that the victors should live well. The levelling hand of the state is also needed to bring as many people as possible to development.

The full interview with the Barbados Prime Minister is embedded below.

PFLP leader: we highly appreciate China’s constant support for the just cause of the Palestinian people

The fourth China-Arab States Political Parties Dialogue was jointly organised by the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) together with the Central Party School and the party committee of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on July 13 in Yinchuan, the capital city of Ningxia Hui. It was attended by the leaders of 67 political parties and organisations from 19 Arab countries.

Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Fatah party and President of Palestine, sent a written speech to the gathering, in which he said that the Palestinian side thanked the Chinese side for its long-term commitment to resolving the Palestinian issue in a peaceful and just manner, and highly appreciated President Xi Jinping’s three proposals for this purpose. The Palestinian side firmly supports the one-China principle, resolutely opposes external forces’ interference in China’s internal affairs, and opposes the politicization of human rights issues. Fatah, he said, is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the CPC so as to strengthen communication and cooperation, and to promote the further development of Palestine-China relations as well as Arab States-China relations.

A significant intervention was made in the dialogue by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). In his speech, its Deputy Secretary-General, Jamil Mazhar affirmed the Popular Front’s support for China and its sovereignty and territorial integrity, including with regard to Taiwan, and called for the adoption of joint policies and decisions that would limit the US domination of oil prices, and open huge projects in the fields of energy, as well as the establishment of a global cooperation network for dialogue between Arab and Chinese civilizations.

Mazhar called for China to strengthen its role in pressing for the implementation of resolutions to establish fair international legitimacy for the Palestinian people, in addition to presenting proposals to strengthen the special relationship between the Popular Front and the Communist Party of China.

He conveyed greetings to the CPC from the Palestinian people and from the leadership of the PFLP, in particular from its Secretary-General Ahmed Sa’adat. Comrade Sa’adat has spent much of his life in prison and is presently serving a 30-year sentence handed down by an Israeli military court in 2008. He was placed in solitary confinement in 2010, which was only lifted when he and other PFLP prisoners ended a 21-day hunger strike on 17 October 2011.

Comrade Mazhar further stressed that China is a springboard for important global transformations that put an end to US imperialist hegemony and its savage policies in the world, expressing the Front’s pride in the historical China-Palestine relations, which reflect the depth and strength of relations that unite the two peoples, and which have witnessed a great acceleration in recent years in all fields, highly appreciating China’s constant support for the just causes of the Palestinian people in their struggle to restore their legitimate national rights.

He expressed great confidence that China and its leadership will continue to support the struggle of the Palestinian people for statehood, stressing the Front’s keenness to develop relations with the CPC in all fields.

The previous month, on June 7, the China Daily carried an article by another Palestinian resistance leader. Ahmad Majdalani, Secretary-General of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front and Executive Committee member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), wrote that, “Palestinians have a strategic interest in the growing role and power of China as a friendly state,” adding:

“We Palestinians welcome the Global Civilization Initiative, as it is based on mutual respect, mutual benefit, equality and development of all countries. Fair and just resolution of global and regional issues has been hindered under the United States-led world order. The Global Civilization Initiative, on the other hand, is a visionary initiative that aligns with Palestinian aspirations and could help the Palestinian president to convene an international peace conference.

“The initiative creates an ideal opportunity in the year that marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Palestine and China to work toward achieving tangible results, in order to realize better benefits for the peoples of both countries and expand cooperation in various fields. Sino-Palestinian constructive cooperation has been progressing well, giving us enough reasons to be optimistic about the possibility of further deepening pragmatic cooperation.”

The leader of the Popular Struggle Front added:

“We expect China to continue supporting the just Palestinian cause, and hope that China will spare no efforts in helping seek serious negotiations in an attempt to resolve the Palestinian issue. And as Palestinians, we must seize this historic moment to strengthen relations with China as a strategic partner and true friend. Palestine also needs to increase practical engagement in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative while playing an important role in shaping humanity’s shared destiny.

“China has begun its journey to build a modern socialist country, which would achieve the goals of developing Arab-Chinese projects and launching strategic partnerships between China and Arab countries, representing a successful model of solidarity, cooperation and mutual benefit.”

The following articles originally appeared on the websites of the IDCPC, the PFLP and China Daily. The article from the PFLP was machine translated from Arabic and lightly edited by us.

Fourth China-Arab States Political Parties Dialogue Held

On July 13th, the fourth China-Arab States Political Parties Dialogue, which was co-organized by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), the Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), the CPC Committee of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, was held in Yinchuan. The dialogue was themed on “China-Arab States civilization exchanges: from the ancient Silk Road to the community with a shared destiny in the new era”. Liu Jianchao, Minister of the IDCPC, Xie Chuntao, Vice President of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) responsible for routine work, and Liang Yanshun, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region were present. Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of Fatah and President of Palestine sent a written speech to the dialogue. The event’s attendees included political leaders of 67 political parties and organizations from 19 Arab countries and leaders, such as Fatima Habib, leader of the Equity Party and Vice President of the National Assembly of Mauritania, Hassan Benomar, Member of the Political Bureau of the National Rally of Independents (RNI) and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Morocco, Saleban Daher Bile, National Secretary of the People’s Rally for Progress(RPP), Secretary-General of the National Assembly of Djibouti, and representatives of think tanks and media.

Continue reading PFLP leader: we highly appreciate China’s constant support for the just cause of the Palestinian people

Solomon Islands PM: establishing relations with China one of the best decisions in our history

In this episode of the CGTN series Leaders Talk, Zou Yun interviews the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare at the start of his second official visit to China in July. Sogavare came to China nearly four years after his previous visit, which marked the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This time, he officially opened his country’s embassy in Beijing and the two countries formally established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Mutual Respect and Common Development in the New Era. When asked how he felt to be visiting China again, he simply says: “It’s good to be back home.”

Solomon Islands finally won independence from British colonial rule in 1978, but Sogavare repeatedly describes the decades between the proclamation of independence and the establishment of diplomatic relations with China as ones of “wandering in the wilderness”. This strikingly biblical phrase doubtlessly reflects his own Seventh Day Adventist faith, as well as the deep religious sentiments of the Solomon Islands people as a whole, and therefore, in turn, his deep attachment to the China relationship, which, despite being just under four years old, has been on the fast track to become a model of solidarity, cooperation and joint development between large and small countries and between developing countries. For Sogavare, the establishment of diplomatic relations was one of the best decisions made in his country’s history and he praises the attitude he ascribes to President Xi Jinping that, “no country is too small; no one comes too late.”

In the very short history of diplomatic relations between his country and China, Sogavare asserts that the achievements have been huge, not least China’s provision of the national stadium, where Solomon Islands will host the Pacific Games this year. He expresses himself vehemently with regard to those countries who have criticised his relations with China, saying that, “we are a sovereign state and who we have diplomatic relations with and who we develop cooperation with is no one’s business.” He dismisses the theory of a ‘Chinese debt trap’ as “nonsense”, saying that some countries are afraid that they are losing their grip over the small island states.

Establishing relations with China was the best decision because his country is struggling for development. Decades after independence, Solomon Islands is still aid dependent and the country is still poor, despite its immense resources and potential, including in forestry, marine resources, minerals and tourist attractions. Unless his country realigned itself to open up to the opportunities provided by China, he feared it would remain poor forever. Asked about his impressions of President Xi Jinping, he singles out his leadership in lifting the Chinese people out of poverty. This does not simply happen by chance and is something that other countries should emulate.

As the leader of a Pacific Island country, and home to some of the world’s greatest diversity of corals and coral reef species, Sogavare expressed serious and grave concern with regard to both the Japanese plan to release contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear reactor into the ocean and the AUKUS agreement between Australia, the UK and the US that will see the introduction of nuclear powered submarines into the South Pacific. The South Pacific countries had jointly sent the Prime Minister of Cook Islands to Japan to convey their concern. 

Regarding the AUKUS agreement, he explained that the first he had heard of this was on the media – the countries concerned had not even had the courtesy to inform Solomon Islands. This is despite the fact that both Australia and Solomon Islands are signatories to the 1986 South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Rarotonga. The South Pacific, he says, is very clear on its nuclear free policy, citing the impact of the nuclear tests on Moruroa (a part of Polynesia still under French colonial rule) and the continued suffering of the people there.

Finally, Prime Minister Sogavare speaks of his personal admiration for the Chinese martial arts icon Bruce Lee. Himself a Second Dan (black belt) in the Japanese Shotokan school of karate, it was Bruce Lee who inspired him to take up the martial arts seriously and the Prime Minister recalls how meaningful it was for him to visit Lee’s Hong Kong home in 1997.

The full interview with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is embedded below.

President Tebboune: China is Algeria’s most important friend and partner

The President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, paid a state visit to China from July 17-21, 2023, at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. 

This was Tebboune’s first visit to China since he assumed the Presidency in 2019. However, China’s contacts with the ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) date back to the 1950s, when the Algerian people were engaged in a bitter war of national liberation against French colonialism. China was the first non-Arab country to recognise Algeria’s independence and to establish diplomatic relations with the fledgling Algerian republic. In 2014, Algeria became the first Arab country to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership with China.

Meeting his Algerian counterpart on July 18, Xi Jinping noted that this year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Algeria. Xi said that, 65 years ago, China and Algeria were brought together by the common cause of opposing imperialism and colonialism and seeking national independence and liberation. Since then, the two countries have helped each other through thick and thin and rendered mutual understanding and support to one another. They have been true friends and natural partners in the pursuit of common development and national rejuvenation. He thanked Algeria for its unequivocal support for China’s just position on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang and human rights, and reaffirmed that China firmly supports Algeria in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, supports Algeria in following a development path that fits its national reality, and opposes external interference in Algeria’s internal affairs.

Xi added that this year marks the 60th anniversary of China sending its first medical team to Algeria. (And China’s first medical team to any foreign country.) Over the last six decades, 3,522 Chinese medical workers have been sent to Algeria, treating over 27 million people and delivering over 2.07 million babies. “This is a monument to the China-Algeria friendship,” Xi said.

President Tebboune said that China is the most important friend and partner of Algeria. He thanked China for giving Algeria valuable support of various sorts over the years, saying Algeria firmly supports China’s position on issues concerning its core interests such as Taiwan and Xinjiang. He added that Algeria supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China. He expressed readiness for Algeria to take an active part in Belt and Road cooperation and to deepen the Algeria-China comprehensive strategic partnership, which will give a boost to economic and social development in Algeria.

Following their talks, the two heads of state issued a joint statement, in which they recalled the profound traditional friendly relations between the two countries and pointed out that this visit coincides with the 65th anniversary of their establishment of diplomatic relations and is of great significance.

Having discussed the need to further enhance political and security cooperation and that in diversified economic fields, as well as in such areas as culture, sports, tourism and journalism, the two heads of state said they would like to take the celebration of the 60th anniversary of China’s dispatch of the first foreign medical team to Algeria as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in the field of health between the two countries.

With the summit of the BRICS grouping, presently comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, due to be held in South Africa in August, and with more than 40 countries having reportedly expressed an interest in joining, the Algerian side once again informed the Chinese side of the measures taken by them to apply for BRICS membership. China welcomes the positive willingness of Algeria to join the BRICS countries and supports its efforts to achieve this goal. The Algerian side appreciates China’s position and its expression of willingness to support Algeria at all stages of this process.

China, the statement said, supports Algeria in playing an important and constructive role in international and regional affairs, and appreciates the initiatives and ideas put forward by Algeria and its positive efforts to promote a just and lasting settlement of the Middle East issue. The two sides stressed that the question of Palestine should be resolved in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, ensuring the right of the Palestinian people to establish a fully sovereign and independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. China appreciates President Tebboune’s positive efforts to achieve Palestinian unity and intra-Palestinian reconciliation, as well as the Algiers Declaration issued in that regard. The Algerian side appreciates President Xi Jinping’s many initiatives on the settlement of the Palestinian issue, especially the recent three-point proposal; it appreciates China’s long-standing firm support for the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights and supports all Palestinian factions in strengthening unity and achieving internal reconciliation through consultation and dialogue.

The two sides agreed that on the basis of respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of regional countries and through dialogue and consultation, they should promote the political and peaceful settlement of hotspot issues and other crises in the Arab region, such as in Syria, Libya, Yemen and Sudan, stressed their opposition to external interference, support for jointly cracking down on extremist terrorist organizations in their territories, supported the efforts of Lebanon, Somalia and Sudan to achieve security, stability, development and prosperity and counter-terrorism, and supported the efforts of the United Nations and the League of Arab States towards those ends. China stresses its support for Arab countries in resolving regional security issues through solidarity and cooperation. Algeria also expressed its appreciation for China’s efforts to achieve reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Algeria also appreciated China’s firm support for African countries in achieving national independence, following a development path suited to their own national conditions, and supporting Africa’s efforts in integration and joint self-improvement. It believes that China’s cooperation with Africa has always been at the forefront of international cooperation with the continent, and the results of China-Africa cooperation have improved the conditions for Africa’s economic and social development and brought tangible benefits to the people of both sides.

China appreciates the important role played by the Algerian side in supporting stability, development, security and peace in Africa, actively promoting the peaceful settlement of the crises in Libya, Mali, the Sahel and the Sahara region, and appreciates the fact that, as the coordinator of the African Union for preventing and combating terrorism and violent extremist activities, it has long been committed to combating this dangerous public enemy in Africa and has actively worked to share its successful experience in counter-terrorism.

The statement says that on the question of Western Sahara, the two sides stressed their support for efforts to reach a just and lasting solution within the framework of international law, in particular the relevant United Nations resolutions, so as to guarantee the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara under arrangements consistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and for the efforts of the UN to that end. This constitutes a clear and significant statement of China’s support for the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination.

Regarding the situation in Ukraine, the two sides called for resolving differences peacefully through dialogue and negotiation; called for abiding by universally recognised international law and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The security of one country should not be at the expense of the security of other countries, and the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be valued and properly addressed. They oppose coercive measures such as unilateral sanctions, violating international law and harming the livelihood of relevant countries. Possible humanitarian impacts should be mitigated and every effort should be made to avoid escalation and to achieve a peaceful settlement of the crisis.

President Tebboune invited President Xi Jinping to visit Algeria, for which Xi expressed his gratitude, and the date of the visit will be agreed by both sides.

The following day, President Tebboune held separate meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji.

Li Qiang said that China and Algeria should expand cooperation in emerging areas such as information technology, digital economy, new energy vehicles, and space satellites and set an example for high-tech cooperation among developing countries. China supports Algeria in playing a more significant role in international and regional affairs and stands ready to work with Algeria to practice genuine multilateralism and oppose unilateralism, hegemony, and bullying to safeguard the common interests of China, Algeria, and other developing countries. 

Zhao Leji congratulated Algeria on its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2024-2025, and expressed a readiness to work with Algeria to build an open world economy and promote a more just and equitable global governance system.

Noting that Algeria and China have always firmly supported each other, Tebboune said that Algeria admires the great achievements made by the Chinese people through long-term hard work, and is willing to learn from China’s experience and deepen cooperation in various fields to bring better benefits to the two peoples.

In an interview with the Xinhua News Agency, coinciding with the start of Tebboune’s visit, Smail Debeche, President of the Algeria-China Friendship Association, said the “historical and political ties between the two nations serve as a foundation for strategic convergence” and expressed the hope that their bilateral relations can be a model for Africa and the Arab world.

Debeche, who is also a professor of political sciences and international relations at the University of Algiers 3, a Central Committee member of the National Liberation Front (FLN), a leader of the Algerian Committee for Solidarity with the People of Western Sahara, and an Advisory Group member of Friends of Socialist China, added that over the past 65 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Algeria have firmly supported each other on issues related to their core interests and major concerns. The two countries have maintained a consistent stance on international and regional hotspot issues and engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, becoming strategic partners that walk hand in hand. Referring to the 60th anniversary of China’s dispatch of medical teams to Algeria, he added:

“At that time, Algeria emerged from a brutal war and urgently needed medical assistance. The Chinese medical teams brought hope and timely assistance. Chinese doctors treated patients and trained local doctors. Medical cooperation between the two countries has become an example of China-Algeria cooperation.”

The following articles originally appeared on the websites of the Xinhua News Agency and the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The Joint Statement was published by the Foreign Ministry in Chinese. It has been machine translated and edited by us for clarity and accuracy.

Xi holds talks with Algerian president

Xinhua, 18 July 2023

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday held talks with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People.

Noting that this year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Algeria, Xi said 65 years ago, China and Algeria were brought together by the common cause of opposing imperialism and colonialism and seeking national independence and liberation.

Since then, the two countries have helped each other through thick and thin and rendered mutual understanding and support to each other, and the two countries have been true friends and natural partners in the pursuit of common development and national rejuvenation, Xi said.

Continue reading President Tebboune: China is Algeria’s most important friend and partner

Nicaraguan presidential adviser visits Beijing, strengthening ties

The steadily strengthening ties between China and Nicaragua were highlighted by a further visit to Beijing by presidential adviser Laureano Ortega Murillo in July.

Ortega attended the first high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development, which attracted senior representation from throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America, including the Foreign Ministers of Burundi, Gabon, Uganda and Laos.

Meeting Ortega on July 11, China’s most senior foreign affairs official Wang Yi said that his country always views China-Nicaragua relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, regards Nicaragua as a trustworthy partner, will firmly support Nicaragua in defending its independence and national sanctity, and will firmly support Nicaragua in independently choosing a development path in line with its national conditions.

China, he added, is willing to upgrade the strategic level of bilateral relations with Nicaragua, promote the implementation of the free trade agreement, strengthen coordination in the multilateral field, and take a clear-cut stand against all hegemonism and power politics.

The following report on the meeting between Laureano Ortega and Wang Yi was originally carried by the Xinhua News Agency. We also reprint the full text of the statement for the First High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development from the same source.

Senior Chinese diplomat meets with presidential adviser of Nicaragua

Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with Laureano Ortega Murillo, presidential adviser of Nicaragua, in Beijing on Tuesday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, welcomed Laureano to China to attend the first high-level conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development, saying that in the process of promoting the Global Development Initiative, China can become Nicaragua’s closest partner and play an important role in Nicaragua’s development and improvement of people’s livelihood.

Since the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Nicaragua, cooperation in various fields has achieved fruitful results. China always views China-Nicaragua relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, regards Nicaragua as a trustworthy partner, will firmly support Nicaragua in defending its independence and national sanctity, and firmly support Nicaragua in independently choosing a development path in line with its national conditions, Wang said.

Continue reading Nicaraguan presidential adviser visits Beijing, strengthening ties

High-level delegation of Brazil’s Workers’ Party visits China

A high-level delegation of Brazil’s Workers’ Party (PT), led by its General Secretary, Henrique Fontana, visited China in June.

Meeting the delegation on June 13, Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee (IDCPC), noted that their visit followed that in April by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who, together with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, had  jointly made plans for the development of China-Brazil relations in the new era. Liu said he hoped that both sides will take this visit as an opportunity to further implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, deepen exchanges between the ruling parties, enhance political mutual trust, and exchange experience in state governance and administration. 

Liu added that China’s efforts  in promoting the process of the country’s modernization will not only help the Chinese people achieve common prosperity, but will also bring more development opportunities to countries around the world, including Brazil. The Chinese side supports the Brazilian side in playing a greater role on the international stage.

Fontana said that his visit, following that of President Lula, fully shows that the PT attaches high importance to developing relations with the CPC. Next year will be the 40th anniversary of the establishment of relations between the two Parties. The Brazilian side hopes to see inter-party exchanges play a greater role in deepening relations between the two countries and friendship between the two peoples. The PT admires the huge success of the CPC in promoting domestic development with a people-centered approach and responding to international challenges. His party believes that China’s successful development model provides important references for the vast number of developing countries. He further applauded the Chinese side’s important role in promoting the political settlement of the Ukraine issue, and said his party is willing to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side under the framework of the United Nations, the Group of 20, and the BRICS, oppose the new Cold War mentality, champion multilateralism, and together build a multipolar and prosperous world.

The following report was originally published on the IDCPC website.

Beijing, June 13th—Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with a delegation of senior officials of the Workers’ Party of Brazil (PT) led by Henrique Fontana, General Secretary of PT.

Liu said, not long ago, President Xi Jinping and visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva jointly made plans for China-Brazil relations in the new era, charting the course for the development of bilateral relations. We welcome the visit of a high-level delegation of PT, and appreciate PT’s commitment to actively promoting cooperation between the two countries. We hope both sides will take this visit as an opportunity to further implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, deepen exchanges between the ruling parties, and enhance political mutual trust and experience exchange in state governance and administration, and push cooperation between counterpart departments of the two Parties, think tanks and media. We firmly support each other’s core interests and support each other in choosing a development path that suits respective national conditions. We stand ready to jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and continuously push China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership for new development.

Continue reading High-level delegation of Brazil’s Workers’ Party visits China

China-Barbados relations constantly deepening and growing

Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley paid an official visit to China in late June. 

Meeting with Xi Jinping on June 27, the Chinese President pointed out that Barbados is the first country in the eastern Caribbean to establish diplomatic relations with China, and also a good friend and good partner of China in the region. Though separated by vast oceans, China and Barbados share similar goals and have moved forward hand in hand, with bilateral relations constantly deepening and growing. China welcomes Barbados to board the “express train” of China’s development, and to work with China to build a closer China-Barbados community with a shared future.

President Xi went on to note that China, as always, supports Barbados in safeguarding its national sovereignty and independence, and independently choosing its own development path. China and Barbados are both developing countries, sharing much in common in the field of development, and enjoy great potential for cooperation. The two sides should expand practical cooperation and take the Belt and Road cooperation as an opportunity to expand cooperation in such fields as infrastructure construction, digital economy, climate change, new energy, agriculture, medical care and health.  

Xi Jinping said that, facing profound world changes unseen in a century, developing countries should strengthen solidarity and cooperation, practice true multilateralism, oppose the Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation, uphold the basic norms governing international relations, safeguard international fairness and justice, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. China fully understands the aspirations of Barbados and other small island developing states in the field of climate change, and is ready to continue strengthening South-South cooperation on climate change and to provide assistance and support to developing countries, including Barbados. China attaches importance to its relations with the Caribbean from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, and will continue to provide assistance to the best of its ability for the economic and social development of the region.

Mia Amor Mottley said that she was deeply impressed by the solidarity and friendship she witnessed between Barbados and China during the visit. She thanked China for its valuable assistance for Barbados’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic and for its economic and social development. She said the Chinese government has made great achievements in eliminating poverty and benefiting the people, and these achievements are admired around the world.  Barbados firmly supports the one-China principle, highly recognizes China’s philosophies, and is ready to learn from China’s experience and actively participate in the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. Barbados hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in such fields as climate response, water resources, addressing the digital divide, and health care. Barbados is committed to multilateralism, opposes “decoupling and severing industrial and supply chains”, and is ready to continue promoting the development of relations between the Caribbean and China.

Two days previously, on June 25, the Barbados Prime Minister met her Chinese counterpart, Premier Li Qiang, who said that Barbados is a good friend and partner of China in the Caribbean region. Under the new circumstances, China is ready to work with Barbados to further enhance strategic mutual trust, deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields, and build China-Barbados relations into a model of solidarity and win-win cooperation between developing countries. For her part, Mottley said that Barbados attaches great importance to its relations with China, and both countries are committed to improving people’s lives and promoting sustainable development. Barbados thanked China for sending medical teams and providing strong support for its fight against COVID-19.

Mottley has been the Leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) since 2008. She was first elected as Prime Minister in May 2018, when she led the BLP to win all 30 seats in the country’s parliament, for the first time in Barbadian history, taking 72.8% of the vote, the highest ever scored by any party in the country. In the 2022 general election, the BLP again secured all 30 parliamentary seats. On November 30 3021, Mottley led her country to renounce the British monarchy and become a fully independent republic, a trend that is gaining wider support throughout the Caribbean.

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

Xi Jinping Meets with Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley

On the afternoon of June 27, 2023, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People with Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley who is on an official visit to China.

Xi Jinping pointed out that Barbados is the first country in the eastern Caribbean to establish diplomatic relations with China, and also a good friend and good partner of China in the region. Though separated by vast oceans, China and Barbados share similar goals and have move forward hand in hand, with bilateral relations constantly deepening and growing. China is promoting Chinese modernization with high-quality development, which will bring new opportunities for Barbados’ development and China-Barbados cooperation. China welcomes Barbados to board the “express train” of China’s development, and to work with China to build a closer China-Barbados community with a shared future.

Continue reading China-Barbados relations constantly deepening and growing

Kerry must understand – the climate crisis lives in a developmental context

In the following article, submitted to us by Keith Lamb, the author argues that the current China visit by John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, provides an opportunity for the two countries to cooperate in an area that is vital for the future, indeed the survival, of humanity. However, he notes that approaching this issue in isolation is not feasible in the long-term. The fight against climate catastrophe has to be combined with that for development as well as against war and for peace. The Global Development Initiative (GDI), proposed by President Xi Jinping, provides just such a holistic template and approach and is already reflected in numerous agreements between China and other countries of the Global South.

“How can we achieve our global climate goals without having Beijing working with us? We can’t, it’s that simple! There’s no way any one country can solve this crisis and particularly if we’re large emitting nations.” This was the answer of US climate envoy John Kerry being interviewed on MSNBC. He went on to claim that China and the US had agreed to separate climate, which affects us all, from the many other bilateral Sino-US issues.

This sensible recognition that there is a wider commonality binding humanity together is a welcome change from the hegemonic “America first” and faux human-rights rhetoric too often emanating from US circles. When it comes to climate and cooperation with China, Kerry went on to say that, “it’s not a question of the US giving away something, by cooperating we all gain something.”

This pragmatic win-win attitude should serve the diplomatic and well-mannered Kerry well on his current July 16-19 trip to Beijing, where he will discuss the climate crisis and hopefully promote a successful COP28 climate change conference, due to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Coming after the recent visit by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, it may also serve to thaw Sino-US tensions.

However, for real climate cooperation, which seeks the salvation of our planet and humanity, the many Sino-US tensions to which Kerry alludes cannot be bracketed off indefinitely. These tensions include the trade war, sanctions, interference in China’s domestic affairs, not least regarding Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and the US’ military containment of China.

To illustrate this point, climate talks have been suspended in the past, due to Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. The weather balloon debacle led to Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceling his Beijing visit. The pushing of China’s red lines, the threatening of China’s integrity, and the China threat hysteria all push the world closer to the possibility of environmental annihilation, as the US plays a fool’s game of ‘chicken’, risking nuclear catastrophe.

Even without this dire outcome, according to Brown University, the US military is responsible for twice the amount of greenhouse emissions as all the cars in the US. War causes incalculable damage to the environment due to factors such as fuel infrastructure destruction and the use of depleted uranium.[1] In Ukraine, we have seen how the destruction of energy infrastructure has led to renewed use of coal and the purchasing of expensive and environmentally damaging US fracked gas by Europe.

Continue reading Kerry must understand – the climate crisis lives in a developmental context

Liu Jianchao meets with Irish leaders

Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), led a delegation of his department to visit Britain, Ireland and Italy in the second half of June. His meetings in Ireland included with Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann (the presiding officer of the Senate, the upper house of the Oireachtas, or Irish parliament), Bertie Ahern, former leader of Fianna Fáil, former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland, and Co-chair of the InterAction Council, and Eamon Ryan, Leader of the Green Party and Minister for Transport, as well as Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications of Ireland.

Senator Buttimer said that both Ireland and China have splendid culture and art. The two countries enjoy close cooperation in areas including economy, trade, science, education, and agriculture, as well as robust people-to-people and cultural exchanges and exchanges at local levels. The friendship between Ireland and China is deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples. Ireland, he said, speaks highly of China’s important efforts and achievements in helping the development of Africa and other developing countries.

Bertie Ahern congratulated China on its great achievements in economic and social development and in successfully lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, and expressed full confidence in China’s development prospects. He said, both Ireland and China cherish respective excellent traditional culture, and attach importance to education, innovation and development.

Minister Liu responded that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Ireland relations have always maintained healthy and stable development. Despite different history, culture and social system of the two sides, they have both adhered to mutual respect, tolerated differences, continuously consolidated mutual trust, constantly expanded consensus, and carried out exchanges and cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The CPC, he added, is willing to strengthen inter-party exchanges and cooperation with all political parties of Ireland, exchange experience in state governance and administration, push economic and trade cooperation, and enhance non-governmental friendship.

Meeting Minister Ryan from the Green Party, Liu said that Ireland is one of the countries in the world that loves green development the most. And the Green Party of Ireland has actively contributed to the cause of domestic and global green development. Pursuing harmonious co-existence between people and nature and striving for sustainable development has become the important consensus between China and Ireland. He added that the Chinese side is willing to, together with the Irish side, adhere to mutual understanding and mutual respect, deepen cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, clean development, energy conservation, environmental protection, and addressing climate change, so as to promote the development of a China-Ireland strategic partnership for mutually beneficial cooperation.

Ryan said that he had visited China in 1987, 2010 and 2023, and was deeply impressed by China’s development achievements. China is a major energy producer and consumer, as well as a major producer of clean energy technology and equipment. The Green Party of Ireland appreciates the concept of ‘lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets’, put forward by President Xi Jinping, he noted.

The following reports were first published on the website of the IDCPC.

Jerry Buttimer, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann of Ireland Meets with Liu Jianchao

Dublin, June 23rd—Jerry Buttimer, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann of Ireland, met here today with Liu Jianchao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Buttimer welcomed Liu on behalf of the Oireachtas. He said, both Ireland and China have splendid culture and art. The two countries enjoy close cooperation in areas including economy, trade, science, education, and agriculture, as well as robust people-to-people and cultural exchanges and exchanges at local levels. The friendship between Ireland and China is deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples. The Oireachtas attaches great importance to developing relations with China and adheres to the one-China principle. Ireland speaks highly of China’s important efforts and achievements in helping the development of Africa and other developing countries. He expressed the willingness to strengthen dialogue and communication with the Chinese side, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as parliament and political parties, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation between Ireland and China for greater development.

Continue reading Liu Jianchao meets with Irish leaders

A community of shared future is the only viable option for humanity

The Third Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning Among Civilizations and the First World Conference of Sinologists was held in Beijing on July 3-4. Held under the auspices of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, it was hosted by the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU) and organised by the China National Archives of Publications and Culture and Beijing Language and Culture University.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng attended and addressed the opening session, where he also read a letter of greetings sent by President Xi Jinping. In his letter, President Xi said that in the long course of human history, various nations have created civilizations with their own characteristics and symbols, and equal exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations will provide strong spiritual guidance for humanity to solve the problems of the times and achieve common development. He also stressed that China is willing to work with all parties to advocate the universal values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, and to implement the Global Civilization Initiative.

Other speakers in the opening session – in person or via video link – included former Spanish socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and party and state leaders from the Central African Republic, Mauritania and Malaysia.

Friends of Socialist China Co-editors Keith Bennett, Carlos Martinez and Danny Haiphong participated in the conference. On the second day, Danny chaired a parallel session, which included speakers from China, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Cuba, Thailand, Mongolia and South Africa.

Keith spoke at another parallel session, alongside speakers from China, Ireland, Russia, Kenya, Mauritius, USA, Cameroon, Indonesia, Malaysia, Türkiye and Iran.

The closing session included video addresses by Bertie Ahern, former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland and former leader of the Fianna Fáil party, and Erik Solheim, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.

We reprint below Keith’s speech to the conference. An article version has been published in China Today.

Dear Comrades and Friends

It is a great honor for me to be invited to contribute some thoughts to this Third Dialogue on Exchanges and Mutual Learning among Civilizations. Thank you for your invitation.

Humanity has a history of civilization dating back millennia.  Civilizations arose and developed on different continents and at different times. But they prospered and innovated through mutual exchanges and mutual learning. The ancient Silk Road, which began in China, is one of the greatest examples of this.

Through such routes, Roman remains have been found in China and Chinese silk and coins were to be found in the markets of Ancient Rome. Admiral Zheng He introduced the products of Chinese civilization from South East Asia to East Africa while merchants and traders from the Middle East found their way to China, becoming in time part of the great, diverse but united family of the Chinese nation.

Of course, previous history, since primitive communism gave way to class society, is by no means devoid of conflict, but it was, above all, the rise of capitalism and modern imperialism, which, from 1492 especially, fundamentally disrupted humanity’s inter-civilizational relationships.

Continue reading A community of shared future is the only viable option for humanity

Full text of Xi Jinping’s address at the SCO summit

We are pleased to republish below President Xi Jinping’s video address to the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), delivered on Tuesday 4 July 2023 and first published in English on Xinhua.

President Xi’s address is a powerful reiteration of China’s commitment to peace, multipolarity, multilateralism and the principles of UN Charter, and anyone reading it cannot but be struck by the dramatic contrast between China’s policy of peace and cooperation and the US’s policy of hegemonism.

Whereas the US has re-imposed crippling (and illegal) sanctions on Iran, China and the other countries of the SCO are welcoming Iran as a full member, increasing cooperation on economic development, environmental protection, trade, agriculture, technology and security challenges.

Whereas the US has worked for decades to undermine Afghanistan’s sovereignty, has waged a brutal war against it, and has stolen billions of dollars’ worth of Afghan assets, Xi calls for increased coordination among Afghanistan’s neighbours to increase humanitarian support and protect peace.

Whereas the US is waging a proxy war against Russia, providing ever-more powerful weaponry to Ukraine in an attempt to keep the conflict going as long as possible and to “fight to the last Ukrainian”, China is working with the SCO and other countries to promote dialogue and consultation, and to find a peaceful settlement to the conflict.

Whereas the US is expanding the NATO military bloc, and forming new military alliances such as AUKUS and the Quad, China proposes the Global Security Initiative – based on the principle of common security – and strongly opposes any new Cold War or camp-based confrontation.

Whereas the US attempts to use dollar hegemony to impose its will on other countries, Xi calls for the SCO to oppose unilateral sanctions, to scale up local currency settlement between member states, to expand cooperation on a sovereign digital currency, and create an SCO development bank.

Whereas the US and its allies in the West are engaged in McCarthyite suppression of Confucius Institutes and other forms of cultural exchange, Xi Jinping announces the creation of new scholarships for young scientists and language teachers to study and work in China.

China is standing firmly and consistently for a world of peace, cooperation and mutual benefit, and is working with other countries to build a community with a shared future for humanity. This is a project that all progressive and peace-loving people should promote and support.

Staying True to Our Founding Mission and Advancing Unity and Coordination to Realize Greater Development

Statement by H.E. Xi Jinping
President of the People’s Republic of China
At the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Your Excellency Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

Distinguished Colleagues,

I wish to thank India for hosting the meeting of the Council of Heads of State as the current president of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

At this meeting, we are going to welcome Iran as a full member and sign the memorandum of obligations on the membership of Belarus. This will manifest the vitality of our SCO family. I offer my congratulations to the two countries.

Colleagues,

Ten years ago, in view of the changes of the world, of our times and of the trajectory of history, I opined that mankind, living in the same global village, are increasingly becoming a community with a shared future in which everyone’s interest is closely interlinked. Since then, the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind has gained extensive recognition and support from the international community, and has been transforming from an idea to action and a vision to reality. At the forefront of this trend is the SCO, upholding this very concept and the Shanghai Spirit to build an SCO community with a shared future.

— We have followed our fine tradition of standing together through thick and thin, as passengers in the same boat should do, and we have firmly supported each other in standing up for our respective core interests. We have become trustworthy partners on our paths to development and national rejuvenation.

— We have acted out the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, accommodated each other’s legitimate security concerns, and responded to both traditional and nontraditional security challenges. Together we have safeguarded peace and tranquility in the region, and fostered a favorable environment for countries in the region to pursue development and prosperity.

— We have embraced the development philosophy of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared growth, synergized our national development strategies and regional cooperation initiatives, and nurtured new growth areas for our cooperation in economy and trade, connectivity, energy, agriculture, finance, and innovation. This has helped promote coordination in our economic development.

— We have carried forward the spirit of good-neighborliness, and advocated equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness between civilizations. We have called for peaceful coexistence and harmonious development of different civilizations, and expanded people-to-people and cultural cooperation. We have enhanced the popular support for our state-to-state relations.

— We have upheld international fairness and justice, and opposed hegemonic, high-handed, and bullying acts. We have enlarged the circle of friends of our Organization, and built partnerships featuring dialogue instead of confrontation, cooperation instead of alliance. This has strengthened the progressive forces for world peace and stability.

Colleagues,

The world today is undergoing both transformation and upheaval; changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace; human society faces unprecedented challenges. Unity or split, peace or conflict, cooperation or confrontation — these are the questions raised again by our times. My answer is this: the people’s wish for a happy life is our goal, and peace, development and win-win cooperation are the unstoppable trends of the times.

The SCO has been growing stronger in recent years. This means development opportunities as well as unprecedented risks and challenges. As the great Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore put it, “The sea of danger, doubt and denial around man’s little island of certainty challenges him to dare the unknown.” We must rise to the call of our times, keep in mind our founding mission, and stay in unity and coordination to bring more certainty and positive energy to world peace and development. To this end, I wish to make the following proposals:

First, we should keep to the right direction and enhance solidarity and mutual trust. Since its founding over 20 years ago, the SCO has withstood the test of the changing international landscape, and kept moving in the right direction of promoting solidarity, mutual trust, development and cooperation. We have accumulated valuable experience, and achieved hard-won development gains. Facts have shown that as long as we bear in mind the larger picture, shoulder our responsibilities and remain undisturbed by all sorts of distractions, we will be able to protect and promote the security and development interests of our member states.

Continue reading Full text of Xi Jinping’s address at the SCO summit