Category: International relations

Anura Kumara Dissanayake: China has always been a reliable friend and partner of Sri Lanka

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, (popularly known as AKD), who was elected President of Sri Lanka in September 2024, and whose party, the National People’s Power (NPP), whose main component is the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP or People’s Liberation Front), Sri Lanka’s biggest Marxist party, then went on to win a supermajority in November 2024 parliamentary elections, paid a state visit to China from January 14-17 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Although it is his first visit as head of state, Dissanayake is an old friend of China.

Announcing the visit at a January 10 press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying noted that China and Sri Lanka are traditional friendly neighbours. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1957, China-Sri Lanka relations have stood the test of the changing international landscape and maintained sound and steady development, setting a good example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation.

President Dissanayake met with Xi Jinping on January 15. The Chinese leader said that China will actively support Sri Lanka in focusing on economic development and the two countries should jointly foster new highlights in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, as well as cooperation in modern agriculture, digital economy and marine economy.

With joint efforts, he continued, China and Sri Lanka have continuously promoted strategic cooperative partnership featuring mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship. High-quality Belt and Road cooperation and cooperation in various fields have achieved fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples.

Noting that China takes Sri Lanka as a priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy, Xi said that the country will continue to support Sri Lanka in maintaining its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. China supports Sri Lanka in exploring a development path suitable for its national conditions, and is willing to deepen political mutual trust, exchange governance experience, and enhance dialogue and communication between various departments of the two countries. He further called for pooling the joint efforts of the Global South for solidarity and development, contributing to regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Noting that Sri Lanka admires China’s great development achievements in economy, science and technology, and infrastructure, Dissanayake said China has always been a reliable friend and partner of Sri Lanka, and Sri Lanka attaches great importance to its relations with China.

Sri Lanka firmly abides by the one-China principle, and appreciates China’s invaluable support in safeguarding Sri Lanka’s independence, sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests, he added.

Sri Lanka is committed to enhancing regional connectivity through the Belt and Road cooperation and welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the country, Dissanayake said, adding that Sri Lanka is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in infrastructure, energy, agriculture, finance, poverty reduction, digital transformation, tourism, marine industry and personnel training.

China plays a significant leading role in the Global South, as well as a constructive role in international affairs, he added. The Sri Lankan side is willing to continue strengthening coordination and mutual support with China on multilateral occasions to safeguard common interests.

The next day, Dissanayake met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

During the meeting, Li emphasised the enduring friendship between China and Sri Lanka, which has lasted for over a thousand years. “Over the past 68 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the relationship between the two countries has withstood the test of international changes and has maintained a steady and healthy pace of development.”

China is willing to import more high-quality products from Sri Lanka, and encourages capable Chinese enterprises to invest in Sri Lanka and  hopes Sri Lanka will continue to optimise its business environment and provide more convenience and security for Chinese enterprises.

Dissanayake said that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the well-being of the people, has made remarkable achievements in economic and social development, and has fostered state-to-state relations based on mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation.

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Pragmatism not ideology should define Britain’s relationship with China

In the following article, which was originally published in the Morning Star, our co-editor Keith Bennett assesses the recent China visit by UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the highest profile British visit to the country since Theresa May visited as Prime Minister in January-February 2018.

Keith notes that the visit, “restarted the Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) between the two countries, delivered limited but definite gains for the British economy, and was mired in domestic political controversy.”

Outlining the hesitant and partial nature of the Labour government’s re-engagement with China, and the backlash that even such tentative moves have engendered, he concludes:

The moves by the Labour government to reengage positively with China, limited and partial as they are, need to be welcomed. But the labour and trade union movement should press for them to go much further if Britain is to secure the jobs and investment we need and if we are to work constructively to tackle global challenges. This, in turn, will require standing up to the most reactionary sections of the ruling class and doubtless also to the incoming Trump administration across the Atlantic.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves returned to London on Monday January 13, following a three-day visit to China that took her to Beijing and Shanghai.

This first visit by a British Chancellor to the Asian economic giant in more than five years restarted the Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) between the two countries, delivered limited but definite gains for the British economy, and was mired in domestic political controversy.

In protocol terms, the high point of Reeves’s visit was her meeting with Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, Han said that China and Britain are both major economies and financial heavyweights in the world, adding that strengthening economic and financial co-operation in the spirit of strategic partnership is of great significance to promoting economic growth, improving people’s lives and encouraging green development in the two countries.

China, he added, is willing to continue to expand openness and exchanges with Britain, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and deepen mutually beneficial co-operation to bring more benefits to the two countries and the world.

The news agency quoted Reeves as replying that the British side attaches importance to developing relations with China and is willing to strengthen candid dialogue and mutually beneficial co-operation to promote the economic development of each country.

The Economic and Financial Dialogue was co-chaired by Reeves and Vice-Premier He Lifeng. According to the British side, the total value of what was agreed is worth £600 million over the next five years for the British economy.

A briefing paper released by HM Treasury added: “Overall, this government’s re-engagement with China already sets us on course to deliver up to £1 billion of value for the UK economy.”

However, details of how the latter figure, in particular, was arrived at remain scant to non-existent.

Regarding the former figure, a Treasury factsheet drew particular attention to financial services, asserting that financial markets play an important role “in tackling shared global issues — whether climate change, biodiversity loss or ageing populations — and in delivering growth and prosperity” and welcoming China’s decision to grant new commercial licences and quota allocations for British firms, its commitment to issuing an inaugural offshore sovereign green bond in Britain in 2025, and Bank of China London branch’s intention to issue new dual currency sustainability related bonds in Britain in 2025.

Continue reading Pragmatism not ideology should define Britain’s relationship with China

China will remain a reliable friend and partner to the Republic of Congo

Following his visit to Namibia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi next visited the Republic of Congo as the second leg of his Africa visit this January. In the 35th consecutive year that China’s foreign minister made Africa his first overseas destination, Wang also visited Chad and Nigeria.

The Republic of Congo (also widely known as Congo Brazzaville to distinguish it from the Democratic Republic of Congo or Congo Kinshasha) is one of China’s oldest and staunchest friends on the continent of Africa. The two countries established diplomatic relations on 22 February 1964.

Wang Yi met with Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso on January 7.

Recalling that President Xi Jinping chose Africa for his first overseas trip as Chinese president in 2013, during which he made a historic visit to the Republic of Congo, Sassou said this visit remains vivid in his memory. The Chinese president, he continued, proposed 10 partnership action plans at the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Beijing in September 2024, which cover all areas of China-Africa cooperation, focus on tackling Africa’s pressing challenges, and meet Africa’s needs.

Noting that this year marks the start of implementing the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, Sassou said the Republic of Congo, as the FOCAC’s co-chair, will spare no effort in advancing the 10 partnership action plans and will strive for greater progress in China-Africa cooperation. (The Republic of Congo replaced Senegal as Africa’s rotating co-chair at the Beijing summit and will hold the position for three years.)

For his part Wang Yi said that Sassou is a renowned African politician and one of the African leaders who have visited China the most and met with President Xi the most, adding that the deep friendship between the two leaders serves as a vital political guarantee for China-Congo and China-Africa relations.

Calling the Republic of Congo a staunch friend and important partner of China, Wang praised the country’s vibrant development under Sassou’s leadership. China will remain the country’s most reliable friend and partner during its development and revitalisation journey, he said, adding that the Republic of Congo’s role as the FOCAC’s co-chair reflects Africa’s confidence in the country.

Speaking after their meeting, Wang said that China and the Republic of Congo had agreed to set an example for building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. Noting that both sides agreed to continue upholding international fairness and justice, he said that the Chinese side appreciates the Republic of Congo’s unique role in international affairs and is willing to work closely with the country to support Africa in achieving peace and stability, addressing “climate injustice,” advocating for a balanced and orderly multipolar world, and promoting inclusive economic globalisation, so as to jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.

In a press interview, when asked about the plans for China and the Republic of Congo, as FOCAC co-chairs, to implement the outcomes of the Beijing Summit, Wang said that FOCAC has played an important role in promoting Africa’s development and improving the livelihood of the African people. It has become a symbol of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation, a banner of South-South cooperation, and a model for leading international cooperation with Africa.

Over the 25 years since the forum’s establishment, China has helped Africa build 100,000 km of roads, more than 10,000 km of railways, nearly 1,000 bridges, and almost 100 ports. In the past three years alone, China has created more than one million jobs in Africa.

The forum has also launched numerous livelihood projects in Africa, including initiatives focused on food, water supply, and education, benefiting people across the continent. His current visit aims to collaborate with the Congolese side to build consensus on enhancing and upgrading cooperation within the forum. Together, he explained, China and the Republic of Congo have formulated a “timetable” and “roadmap” for the development of the forum over the next three years.

This year, the focus will be on holding a ministerial-level meeting to coordinate and accelerate the implementation of the forum’s outcomes to deliver more “early harvests.” Next year, the two sides will jointly mark the 70th anniversary of China-Africa diplomatic relations and “the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges” through joint events. The 18th senior officials’ meeting will accelerate the mid-term implementation of summit outcomes. In 2027, preparations for the 10th ministerial conference will serve as a driving force to ensure the comprehensive implementation and conclusion of summit outcomes.

Congo will host the 2027 FOCAC Summit.

The South China Morning Post noted that among the agreements reached at the last FOCAC Summit were measures to boost trade, economic and diplomatic relations, as well as military cooperation and strengthening of party-to-party relations, in addition to Xi’s funding commitment for the continent. These included zero tariffs on 100 per cent of goods from Africa’s least developed countries, as well as major land and sea connectivity projects.

Wang Yi also said that China will work with African countries to build the “Africa Solar Belt” program and help Africa truly embark on the path of green and low-carbon development.

When asked about how China and Africa jointly address climate change, Wang said that President Sassou’s high attention to the issue of climate change reflects the foresight of African leaders, adding that China has always supported Africa in achieving green development as the installed capacity of photovoltaic power plants built jointly has exceeded 1.5 GW, lighting up thousands of homes across the continent. China will also join hands with Africa to promote international climate governance, he added.

Noting that fair and common but differentiated responsibilities should be adhered to, Wang called on developed countries to face up to their historical responsibilities, earnestly fulfil their obligations, and provide financial, technical and capacity-building support to developing countries, especially African countries.

Wang Yi also held talks with his Congolese counterpart, Foreign Minister Jean-Claude Gakosso, pledging to implement the outcomes of the Beijing FOCAC Summit.

Describing the Republic of Congo as a steadfast friend of China, Wang said that the two countries have shared an unbreakable bond for more than 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, which is characterised by consistent mutual understanding and support in the face of challenges.

As co-chair of FOCAC, the Republic of Congo reflects the high-level partnership between the two nations and embodies the aspirations of the African continent, Wang said, expressing his confidence in the Republic of Congo’s active fulfilment of its responsibilities as chair, contributing to the implementation of the FOCAC Beijing Summit’s outcomes and advancing China-Africa cooperation. These efforts, he added, will not only strengthen the Republic of  Congo’s development but also enhance its international influence.

The South China Morning Post reported that Foreign Minister  Gakosso has said Chinese funding could rehabilitate the country’s electricity infrastructure and upgrade the 512km (318 miles) Congo–Ocean Railway linking the Atlantic port of Pointe-Noire with the capital Brazzaville.

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

We also embed a short extract from a CGTN Leaders Talk interview with President Sassou Nguesso, recorded in Brazzaville on February 23 last year, one day after the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Asked for the reasons behind his country’s long-lasting relations with China, Sassou says that both the Chinese and Congolese peoples have suffered from oppression and colonisation in the past and both have fought for liberation. “Our shared aspirations for freedom and development unite us. Initially it was about shaking off colonial rule and occupation and later it was about building a future of peace, freedom and development together.”

Continue reading China will remain a reliable friend and partner to the Republic of Congo

Wang Yi in Namibia: China-Africa cooperation is more crucial than ever for the world

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi began his first overseas visits of 2025 with a January 5-11 trip to Namibia, the Republic of Congo, Chad and Nigeria. This marks the 35th consecutive year that the Chinese foreign minister visits Africa on the first overseas tour at the start of the year, something that has become an important tradition and bedrock of Chinese diplomacy.

On January 6, Wang met with Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba in the city of Swakopmund.

He said that, despite the geographical distance, the bond between China and Africa has remained strong. The China-Africa relationship has withstood the test of changing global circumstances and is showing new promising prospects, he added, stressing that China remains a trustworthy partner for Africa, consistently prioritizing the continent in its overall diplomatic strategy.

For 35 years, Chinese foreign ministers have made Africa the destination of their first overseas visit of each year, a tradition that reflects China’s unwavering commitment, Wang said, adding that this tradition will continue because strengthening China-Africa cooperation is more crucial than ever for the world, and their joint development symbolises the rise of the Global South and the growing influence of justice.

At the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Beijing last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed 10 partnership action plans to jointly advance modernisation and announced that the overall characterisation of China-Africa relations was elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Acknowledging Namibia’s unique resources and vast development potential, Wang said that the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) Party of Namibia has adopted a people-centred governance philosophy and guided the country along a development path suited to its national conditions. (The close relations between SWAPO and China date back to Namibia’s armed struggle for independence against the apartheid regime in South Africa. SWAPO adopted socialism with Namibian characteristics as its guiding ideology in 2018.)

President Mbumba said that despite differences in size, Namibia and China have always maintained a relationship of friendship, solidarity and cooperation, based on mutual respect and support.

Namibia firmly adheres to the one-China principle, supports China’s efforts to safeguard its territorial integrity, including Taiwan, and admires the development achievements under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the leadership of the Communist Party of China, he said, adding that Namibia looks forward to enhancing interparty exchanges with China and sharing governance experiences.

The same day Wang Yi met with Namibian President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in the national capital of Windhoek.

He said that the 35-year of tradition of Chinese Foreign Ministers travelling first to Africa each year stems from the deep and enduring friendship between China and Africa, noting that whether during their struggle for national independence and liberation or in the pursuit of common development through mutually beneficial cooperation, China and Africa have always understood, trusted, supported and helped each other. (Global Times reported this as “the glorious years of striving for national independence and liberation”, while the Namibian newspaper New Era reported it as “the extraordinary times of fighting for national independence and liberation.”)

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China and Iran call for an end to Israeli occupation, an immediate ceasefire, and full troop withdrawal

One of the last high level diplomatic visitors to China in 2024 was Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, who held talks in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on December 28.

The timing of this important visit is surely not coincidental, coming at the end of a tumultuous year in the West Asia region, with the continuing genocide in Gaza, spreading conflict involving Lebanon, Yemen and other states, exchanges of missile fire between Iran and Israel and, earlier in December, the overthrow of the legitimate Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad by extremist terrorist forces massively backed by outside powers.

At their meeting, Wang said that China  called on the international community to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the Middle East, respect the legitimate and reasonable concerns of those countries, respect the independent choices made by the people of the Middle East, and respect the historical and cultural traditions of countries in that region.

Noting that the Middle East belongs to the people of the Middle East, he added that it is not an arena for major-power rivalry, nor should it be the victim of geopolitical competition among countries outside the region.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese Foreign Minister went on to say that the successful meeting between the two heads of state during the 16th BRICS Summit, held in Kazan, Russia, provided strategic guidance for deepening China-Iran relations.

Noting the time-honoured China-Iran relations and the traditional friendship between the two peoples, Wang said that enhanced coordination and cooperation between China and Iran will not only benefit the two peoples, but also contribute to regional and world peace, stability and development. The two sides should continue to support each other on issues concerning their core interests, steadily promote practical cooperation and enhance cooperation in multilateral fields.

He called for closer coordination and cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) framework and for the upgrading and strengthening of BRICS cooperation, to better safeguard the common interests of the Global South.

In the face of instability and uncertainty in today’s world, Wang emphasised that China and Iran must stay focused and strengthen solidarity and cooperation, jointly advocate and practice genuine multilateralism, and work for a more just and equitable global governance system.

Araghchi said that developing and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Iran and China is the priority of Iran’s foreign policy, and Iran attaches great importance to China’s important role in upholding justice in international affairs.

The Palestine Chronicle reported that the top diplomats from China and Iran called for the restoration of Palestinian rights and the termination of Israel’s occupation, emphasising the need for an immediate ceasefire, full troop withdrawal, and humanitarian aid.

In a joint statement, it quoted the Anadolu news agency as reporting, the foreign ministers of China and Iran stressed the urgent need to address the Palestinian issue through the restoration of the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights and the end of Israel’s occupation,

The Palestine Chronicle report continued: “This visit marked Foreign Minister Araghchi’s first official trip to China since taking office. During the discussions, the two sides also addressed the situation in Lebanon, urging the effective implementation of the ceasefire agreements, and reiterating their commitment to respecting Syria’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

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Serbian Foreign Minister: Deepening cooperation with China has become a social consensus in Serbia

Foreign Minister of Serbia Marko Djurić visited China in late December 2024 and held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Tianjin on December 20.

Wang Yi said that 2024 is a great year for China-Serbia relations. During President Xi Jinping’s successful state visit to Serbia in May, the two heads of state decided to build a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations. The traditional friendship between China and Serbia was established in their joint opposition to power politics and bullying, forged in the struggle to defend independence and sovereignty, and nurtured through mutually beneficial cooperation and common development. Having withstood the test of the changing international landscape, bilateral friendship will only grow stronger over time, and as a result, the two countries have become true ironclad friends.

Serbia is welcome to board the express train of China’s development and join hands with China to realise their respective modernisation. China will continue to firmly support Serbia in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and will continue to support Serbia’s development and growth.

Marko Djurić said that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China has completed poverty alleviation and made admirable great achievements in development. President Xi Jinping is a dearly beloved friend of the Serbian people, and his historic visit to Serbia has elevated bilateral relations to a new height. The relationship with China is a cornerstone of Serbia’s diplomacy, and deepening cooperation with China has become a cross-party and social consensus in Serbia.

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

On December 20, 2024, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djurić in Tianjin.

Wang Yi asked Marko Djurić to convey President Xi Jinping’s sincere greetings to President Aleksandar Vučić. Wang Yi said that this year is a great year for China-Serbia relations. During President Xi Jinping’s successful state visit to Serbia in May this year, the two heads of state decided to build a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations. The traditional friendship between China and Serbia was established in their joint opposition to power politics and bullying, forged in the struggle to defend independence and sovereignty, and nurtured through mutually beneficial cooperation and common development. Having withstood the test of the changing international landscape, bilateral friendship will only grow stronger over time, and as a result, the two countries have become true ironclad friends. China-Serbia relations stay at the forefront of the times and follow the right direction of history. China is ready to work with Serbia to continuously create new prospects for bilateral relations.

Wang Yi said that China’s economy maintains high-quality growth, remaining at the forefront among major economies. China is constantly improving its high-standard opening-up system, which will not only provide impetus for China’s development, but also will provide new cooperation opportunities for Serbia and other countries in the world. Serbia is welcome to board the express train of China’s development and join hands with China to realize their respective modernization. China will continue to firmly support Serbia in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and will continue to support Serbia’s development and growth. China appreciates Serbia’s positive response to and participation in the three global initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping, and their joint efforts to uphold international fairness and justice.

Marko Djurić conveyed President Aleksandar Vučić’s sincere greetings to President Xi Jinping and extended congratulations on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Marko Djurić said that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China has completed poverty alleviation and made admirable great achievements in development. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee was successfully convened, with over 300 reform measures formulated to lay a solid foundation for future development. President Xi Jinping is a dearly beloved friend of the Serbian people, and his historic visit to Serbia has elevated bilateral relations to a new height. The relationship with China is a cornerstone of Serbia’s diplomacy, and deepening cooperation with China has become a cross-party and social consensus in Serbia. Serbia will continue to steadfastly pursue the one-China policy and firmly support China in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Serbia looks forward to working with China to follow through on the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen economic cooperation, enhance connectivity, and promote greater development in bilateral relations. China plays a balancing and constructive role in international affairs. Serbia supports all the major initiatives put forward by China and backs the advancement of China’s cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries. Serbia looks forward to close communication and coordination with China to jointly tackle global challenges.

The two sides had an exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis and the situation in the Middle East.

Has US considered why it can’t stop China from developing in Latin America?

The following article by Ding Gang, originally published in Global Times, addresses president-elect Donald Trump’s recent threat to demand the “full and unconditional return” of the Panama Canal to the United States, asserting that the canal is essentially being run by China.

The accusation is of course nonsense; Chinese involvement in the operation of the canal is limited to a terminal renovation project led by a Chinese company, won through international bidding. Meanwhile, the threat to take the canal back is clearly illegal, and constitutes a violation of Panama’s sovereignty.

What is true is that economic cooperation between China and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is blossoming. “China’s economic engagement has significantly expanded in the Caribbean, with trade volumes rising to over $11.8 billion in 2023. In the past two decades, Chinese companies have initiated major infrastructure and economic projects in Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago.”

The key difference between China’s approach and that of the US is that “China’s growing influence in the region comes entirely from peaceful economic engagement and trade-based energy rather than military force… China is fostering deeper ties with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean by emphasizing mutual economic benefits and sustainable development rather than geopolitical rivalry.”

The US might want to impede the China-LAC relationship, but it will not succeed, since this is a relationship which benefits the peoples of the region without compromising their sovereignty and independence.

Ding Gang is a senior editor with People’s Daily, and a senior fellow with the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China.

Wang Xuguang, then a project manager at China Harbour Engineering Company, witnessed the same scene every day: cargo ships loaded with containers slowly passing through the Panama Canal, heading toward the Atlantic Ocean in the distance.

When I interviewed in Panama a decade ago, his company was building a terminal for the Taiwan company Evergreen Marine Corp. at Colón Port in Panama.

A Panamanian local half-jokingly told me that if Latin America is called the “backyard” of the US, then the location of this terminal must be regarded as the “front gate” of that backyard.

Fast forward 20 years – again, at this port, a terminal renovation project led by Hong Kong’s Hutchison Whampoa Limited drew criticism from several American politicians and media outlets. They claimed that the investment posed a potential threat to US shipping lines and pressured Washington to pay attention to the possibility of China gaining operational control over the Panama Canal. 

However, in the 2010s, China Harbour Engineering Company won the contract for this project through international bidding, and this time, no American media expressed excessive concern. 

Chinese companies and manufacturing in Panama and other Latin American countries have become commonplace.

Over the past 100 years, the canal’s operation has changed little. Yet the Panama Canal’s shipping routes have expanded from dozens to 144, now serving over 1,700 ports across 161 countries and regions. The “nationality” of the ships passing through the canal has also quietly transformed. 

When entering the top-floor exhibition hall of the Panama Canal Museum, visitors are immediately greeted by a model of a COSCO shipping vessel. Above it is a large photograph of a container-laden cargo ship passing through the canal.

Currently, China is the second-largest user of the Panama Canal, next only to the US. It is also the second-largest source of cargo using the canal and the second-largest destination for cargo transported. 

Meanwhile, the Colón Port, the world’s second-largest free trade zone after Hong Kong, has become a vital trade hub connecting China with Latin America. Over 90 percent of Chinese goods exported to the region, including neighboring countries such as the US, pass through this port. Panama has also emerged as a focal point for Chinese business investment in Latin America.

However, US President-elect Donald Trump has recently cited this development as a reason to take back control of the Panama Canal, hinting that the US cannot allow China to control such a strategically vital waterway.

On December 21, Trump posted on social media: “When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away, for One Dollar, during his term in Office, it was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else.”

Panama’s President José Molino strongly condemned such hegemonic threats.

Trump’s comments emphasized the strategic significance of the Panama Canal. Still, he conveniently ignored an elementary truth – China’s growing influence in the region comes entirely from peaceful economic engagement and trade-based energy rather than military force. China has never sent a single soldier to the area.

China’s economic engagement has significantly expanded in the Caribbean, with trade volumes rising to over $11.8 billion in 2023. In the past two decades, Chinese companies have initiated major infrastructure and economic projects in Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Trinidad and Tobago.

These projects showcase how China is fostering deeper ties with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean by emphasizing mutual economic benefits and sustainable development rather than geopolitical rivalry. 

It has delivered the material for mutual economic development, including products supporting US and Chinese trade. The development of the Caribbean region is also beneficial to the US.

Washington had no intention of calculating how much profit it had gained through the canal due to its investments and trade with China. Instead, it monitors others’ ledgers while ignoring how Latin America benefits from the trade relationship with China. What is deeply hidden here is why the US wants to, but cannot, stop China’s economic and trade relations from developing in this region.

Wang Yi: Riding the trend of the times with a strong sense of responsibility

On December 17, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivered a major speech at an important year end symposium in Beijing on the international situation and China’s foreign relations.

Wang makes a detailed and profound exposition of the thinking behind China’s foreign policy and its stance on key questions, summarises the work of China’s diplomacy in 2024, and outlines priorities for the coming year.

Among some of the highlights of his speech are:

  • Building a community with a shared future for humanity is an important vision put forth by President Xi Jinping. It provides an incisive answer to the important question of “what kind of world to build and how to build it.” It envisions a historic progress in state-to-state relations from the pursuit of peaceful coexistence to that of a future shared by all.
  • The building of a community with a shared future for humanity has become a great enterprise joined by various parties. In the course of 2024, China and Brazil have announced joint efforts to build a China-Brazil community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet, demonstrating their sense of responsibility as two emerging countries; China and Serbia have launched efforts to build a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era, the first of its kind in China’s relations with European countries.
  • What’s worth mentioning in particular is that Chinese and African leaders have agreed to build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, giving expression to the shared desire of the 2.8 billion Chinese and Africans to pursue common development in greater solidarity.
  • We have actively worked for the restoration of world peace and endeavoured to save human lives. On the Ukraine crisis, we have always maintained an objective and impartial position, and actively pushed for peace talks. China and Brazil jointly issued the six-point consensus on political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. We also brought other Global South countries together to launch the Group of “Friends for Peace” to gather consensus for finding a path to peace.
  • The Gaza conflict has taken too many civilian lives. The immediate priority is a comprehensive ceasefire, the key is to ensure humanitarian assistance, and the fundamental way out is to realize the two-state solution. Over the past year, we have pushed for the adoption of the first resolution by the Security Council on a ceasefire in Gaza, facilitated the reconciliation dialogue and the signing of the Beijing Declaration by various Palestinian factions, and delivered multiple batches of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. We will continue to make unremitting efforts toward a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian question.
  • We have mediated peace in northern Myanmar and facilitated multiple rounds of peace talks among conflicting parties.
  • We have supported Afghanistan in building an inclusive political framework and realising peace and reconstruction.
  • Facing the dramatic change in Syria, China will continue to stand with the Syrian people and uphold the “Syrian-led and Syrian-owned” principle. China opposes the attempt of terrorist forces to exploit the situation to create chaos, and will help Syria maintain its sovereignty and restore stability.
  • Over the past year, China’s cooperation with other developing countries has set a fine example, which has reinforced the trend of uniting for strength within the Global South. The collective rise of the Global South in the current chapter of history is a distinctive feature of the great transformation across the world. China will always be an important member of the Global South and always be committed to unity and invigoration of the Global South.
  • Building on its historic expansion last year and setting off this [coming] year from the new starting point of greater BRICS cooperation, BRICS is bringing more partners into its big family to make the platform a primary channel for strengthening solidarity and cooperation among Global South nations.
  • The China-Russia relationship, under the visionary guidance of the heads of state, has grown more mature and stable, demonstrated in a clearer way its independence and resilience, and set an example of friendly exchanges between major countries and neighbours. The three meetings between President Xi Jinping and President Putin this year further deepened the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.
  • China and Europe are two great civilisations of the world and two major forces of the times. China stands ready to work with the European side to handle differences and disputes properly, seek win-win solutions, and jointly safeguard free trade and multilateralism.
  • As long as China and the United States cooperate with each other, they can accomplish many great things together. In the meantime, China firmly safeguards its sovereignty, security and development interests, and firmly opposes the illegal and unreasonable suppression by the US side. In particular, with regard to the US’ gross interference in China’s internal affairs such as Taiwan, China has to make a firm and robust response to resolutely defend its legitimate rights and interests and safeguard the basic norms governing international relations.
  • China will be a firm force for justice in the face of the countercurrents of unilateralism and bullying. We will hold solemn commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people’s war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the world anti-fascist war, promote a correct view of history, uphold true multilateralism, and firmly safeguard the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

The following is the full text of Wang Yi’s speech. It was originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Dear Experts and Friends,

It gives me great pleasure to join you at the year-end for an in-depth discussion about the international situation and China’s diplomacy. Let me start by thanking all of you for your longstanding interest in and support for China’s diplomatic efforts.

In 2024, the world witnessed further transformation and instability, marked by protracted and intensified geopolitical conflicts, repeated attempts to decouple and sever supply chains, and the rapid rise of the Global South. It has become all the more clear where the once-in-a-century transformations are heading.

Continue reading Wang Yi: Riding the trend of the times with a strong sense of responsibility

China pledges support to new Sri Lankan government ahead of proposed presidential visit to Beijing

In the following article, contributed to Friends of Socialist China, Shiran Illanperuma outlines positive steps in the relations between China and Sri Lanka since the recent elections, with new President Anura Kumar Dissanayake (AKD) expected to visit Beijing shortly.

Shiran sets these developments against a background of some key moments in China’s relations with Sri Lanka and specifically between the Communist Party of China and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), the party presently led by AKD, and refutes the persistent myth of Chinese ‘debt trap diplomacy’.

Shiran Illanperuma is a journalist and political economist based in Sri Lanka. He is a researcher and editor at Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and a contributor to Friends of Socialist China. He has an MSc in Economic Policy from SOAS University of London.

China has pledged to support the recently elected government in Sri Lanka led by president Anura Kumar Dissanayake (AKD), ahead of a proposed visit by him to China. In the past few months, it has stepped up its aid, welcomed the country’s representation at the BRICS summit in Kazan, and organised visits by delegations from the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee (IDCPC), and the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF).

AKD was elected to office in September 2024 with 42.3% of the popular vote. Two months later, in November 2024, his party the National People’s Power (NPP) secured a supermajority in Parliament by winning 61.6% of the popular vote in the general election. NPP describes itself as a political movement comprising 21 parties and civil society organisations. However, its main constituent is the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP or People’s Liberation Front) which is organised as a cadre-based Marxist-Leninist party, and of which AKD is also the leader.

On December 18, AKD met with Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the CPPCC Qin Boyong. During the meeting, Qin said that preparations were underway to welcome AKD on a visit to China. The two also discussed completing unfinished Chinese investments in Sri Lanka and jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative.

On December 17, Vice President of the ACWF, Zhang Dongmei, met with Sri Lankan Prime Minister and National Executive Committee member of the NPP, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. According to a report by Sri Lankan government media, Zhang shared China’s experience in in improving women’s workforce participation and grassroots representation. The two also discussed shared issues regarding women’s health and education.

The ACWF is China’s first countrywide women’s organisation, which was established after the revolution in 1949 and initially chaired by communist revolutionary and veteran of the Long March Cai Chang. Dr. Amarasuriya is notably Sri Lanka’s second female Prime Minister after Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who in July 1960 became the world’s first woman Premier. A trailblazer of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), she also forged a strong friendship with first generation Chinese leaders Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, notably visiting China in 1962, welcoming Zhou Enlai to Sri Lanka in 1964, and being received by Chairman Mao in 1972.

On November 25, Vice Minister of the IDCPC Sun Haiyan led a delegation to meet with President Anura Kumar Dissanayake. According to a report by Sri Lankan government media, the delegation expressed China’s readiness to support Sri Lanka on developmental matters such as rural upliftment, technological transfers, and investment. The delegation also pledged to help train education officials. Sun Haiyan had previously met a delegation of the JVP led by AKD in Beijing in December 2023. During that meeting, held nearly a year ahead of elections, both sides had agreed to improve party-to-party exchanges. (The IDCPC delegation also met with a number of other political parties, including Samagi Jana Balawegaya, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, and National Freedom Front.)

Continue reading China pledges support to new Sri Lankan government ahead of proposed presidential visit to Beijing

Assessing recent high level encounters between Britain and China

In the following article, which was originally published by the Morning Star, Kenny Coyle assesses the significance of two recent high level encounters between Britain’s new Labour government and China, namely Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s China visit in October and Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s meeting with President Xi Jinping the next month, in the margins of the G-20 Summit in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.

Comparing and contrasting the Chinese and British read outs of the two meetings, Kenny notes how Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi rebuffed Lammy’s attempts to interfere in China’s internal affairs, forcing him, with what Kenny wittily describes as a “double-Lammy”, into stating that: “Britain  remains steadfast in honouring its commitment to the Taiwan question since the establishment of diplomatic relations and will stick to it in the long term.”

Kenny then spells out exactly what this means: “Although you wouldn’t know from Britain’s readout, which does not mention Taiwan even once, Wang Yi made Lammy squirm. The British side essentially had to reiterate longstanding British policy, dating back to 1972 in the [Sir Edward] Heath era, where Lammy’s predecessor as foreign secretary, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, stated to the House of Commons that: ‘The government of the United Kingdom acknowledge the position of the Chinese government that Taiwan is a province of the People’s Republic of China.

“‘Both the government of the People’s Republic of China and Taipei maintain that Taiwan is a part of China. We held the view both at Cairo and at Potsdam that Taiwan should be restored to China. That view has not changed. We think that the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair to be settled by the Chinese people themselves.’”

It need only be added that given Lammy’s general level of (in)competence and manifest unsuitability for his current position, it is highly likely that he was utterly clueless as to what Alec Douglas-Home might have said on the matter when the two countries established full diplomatic relations. It is at least equally likely that Douglas-Home’s knowledge of the international agreements forged towards the end of World War II was considerably superior to that of the present Foreign Secretary.

Kenny also focuses on the absence of any mention of Xinjiang in the British read out of Starmer’s meeting with President Xi, let alone of any question of supposed genocide in the Chinese autonomous region, a preposterous charge that the hapless Lammy in particular was previously all too happy to bandy about.

As Kenny notes: “The current and previous British governments stand accused of complicity in a televised, live-streamed genocide, namely the one in Gaza. Starmer’s own rancid apologetics for Israeli war crimes is a matter of public record.”

Indeed, it was in the same month as Starmer’s meeting that 37 rights organisations excoriated Lammy’s wilful obfuscation and denial with regard to the all too real ongoing genocide in Gaza. (The full text and list of signatories may be found here.)

Similarly, and ironically on the very day that Starmer met Xi, William Schabas, former president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars and the author of more than 20 books on genocide and other international law topics, lacerated both Starmer and Lammy for their denial of the Gaza genocide. He told Middle East Eye:

 “These people are hypocrites. They speak with a forked tongue. They do not interpret or apply the Genocide Convention in a consistent manner.”

Regarding the situation in Xinjiang, he added: “There is no serious evidence of killings. Not millions. None. The treatment of Uyghurs in China and that of Palestinian Arabs cannot be compared.”

TWICE over the past two months, senior British government figures have met with their Chinese counterparts. The first encounter was Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s meeting with Chinese foreign policy chief Wang Yi in Beijing in October; the second was the talk between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in November.

As is usual with high-level diplomatic bilateral meetings, the full transcripts of the discussions have not been disclosed. Aside from initial pleasantries and photo opportunities, the substantial items of these bilateral talks are always private and confidential.

What we can glean from these two meetings for now is set out in the official “readouts” issued by each government. These readouts are usually predictably formulaic. First, each side indulges in diplomatic pleasantries, second, they highlight areas of broad agreement, and then subtly, the readout may mention issues of disagreement. Finally, it often ends with anodyne suggestions along the lines of “We really should catch up more.”

A careful inspection of the readouts of Lammy’s meeting with Wang Yi and the Starmer-Xi Rio talks is helpful for revealing not just what they say but what they don’t.

If we look at Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FDCO) interpretation of the October Lammy meeting, it starts positively enough. It sets out shared aims of “achieving the global green transition” and “promoting secure and resilient growth through increased trade and investment, which creates jobs, drives innovation, boosts productivity and provides economic stability and certainty” for the British economy. They agreed that Britain and China can support both countries” growth objectives.”

Britain’s readout then moves on to obvious areas of difference on the Nato-Russian war in Ukraine and the crises in west Asia (Middle East).

“The Foreign Secretary urged Wang Yi to take all measures to investigate and to prevent Chinese companies from supplying Russia’s military. The Foreign Ministers agreed to continue to discuss this and other broader foreign policy issues, such as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.”

No mention of preventing Britain from supplying Israel’s military, of course, but no big surprises here.

Then Lammy unwisely turns to China’s internal affairs.

“Human Rights were discussed, including in Xinjiang, and the Foreign Secretary referenced this as an area in which Britain and China must engage, even where viewpoints diverge. Hong Kong is a shared interest, and the Foreign Secretary raised serious concerns around the implementation of the National Security Law and the ongoing treatment of British national Jimmy Lai, again calling for his release.”

How does China’s readout of the same meeting compare? Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs note largely agrees with the FCDO on the obvious benefits of co-operation rather than conflict.

“The British Labour government has put forward the proposal to develop a long-term, stable and strategically significant relationship with China. The Chinese side has positively evaluated this proposal, as it conforms to the historical logic and practical needs of the bilateral relationship, serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples, and aligns with the historical trend and the international situation.”

But then comes the pushback. First of all, Wang Yi gently reminds Britain’s Foreign Secretary that an MP for Tottenham lecturing China on Chinese soil about Chinese issues is hardly conducive to the “bilateral engagement” that Britain leaders claim to seek.

“Noting that Taiwan and Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs, and non-interference in internal affairs is a fundamental principle of international relations, Wang said both sides should respect each other’s concerns, strengthen dialogue on the basis of equality, enhance understanding, and create an atmosphere for communication and co-operation.

Then the Chinese move in for the second strike, a double-Lammy, if you will.

“Britain remains steadfast in honouring its commitment to the Taiwan question since the establishment of diplomatic relations and will stick to it in the long term, Lammy said.”

Although you wouldn’t know from Britain’s readout, which does not mention Taiwan even once, Wang Yi made Lammy squirm. The British side essentially had to reiterate longstanding British policy, dating back to 1972 in the Heath era, where Lammy’s predecessor as foreign secretary, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, stated to the House of Commons that: “The government of the United Kingdom acknowledge the position of the Chinese government that Taiwan is a province of the People’s Republic of China.

“Both the government of the People’s Republic of China and Taipei maintain that Taiwan is a part of China. We held the view both at Cairo and at Potsdam that Taiwan should be restored to China. That view has not changed. We think that the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair to be settled by the Chinese people themselves.”

Naturally, this does not sit well with the increasingly visible and well-funded Taiwan-separatist lobby at Westminster. It shows, of course, that what British leaders tell China is not necessarily what they tell the British people.

Tellingly, Lammy downgraded the Xinjiang question from one of alleged and utterly unproven “genocide,” a pre-election position held by the Parliamentary Labour Party, to the vague but unimpeachable appeal to human rights.

The Downing Street readout on the November 18 Rio summit was terse, just eight paragraphs. This is the key one.

“The Prime Minister said that he also wanted to engage honestly and frankly on those areas where we have different perspectives, including on Hong Kong, human rights and Russia’s war in Ukraine.”

No mention of Xinjiang at all, nor of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, not even Taiwan.

A number of commentators have assumed that the policy shift on Xinjiang is related purely to the Starmer government’s hope to reset economic relations with Beijing, see for example, “Labour backtracks on Uighur ‘genocide’ stance as Lammy heads to China” (Daily Telegraph, October 17). However, given Britain’s continued utilisation of the Hong Kong situation, this is unlikely to be the whole story.

One other explanation is that the Xinjiang genocide propaganda simply hasn’t worked where it was supposed to. The majority Muslim countries of west, central and south-east Asia have, more often than not, expressed guarded support or at least sympathy for China’s view that one key factor in the Xinjiang question is the role of global Islamist extremist networks and terrorist groups.

Uighur terrorists have been apprehended as far afield as Thailand and Indonesia, for example. The recent resurgence of terrorist attacks in Syria’s Aleppo region, which by sheer coincidence synchronised with the Lebanon-Israel ceasefire, involves armed groups drawn from several Turkic-speaking terror groups. These include Chinese Uighur fighters from the Al Qaida-linked Katibat al Ghuraba al Turkistan (KGT).

Or perhaps, just as with the allegations of Tibetan genocide, which notably intensified in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and then gradually dissipated, there is neither the evidence nor continuing credulity to sustain these propaganda projects.

However, there may be yet another rather more obvious reason.

The current and previous British governments stand accused of complicity in a televised, live-streamed genocide, namely the one in Gaza. Starmer’s own rancid apologetics for Israeli war crimes is a matter of public record.

Whether through shame, embarrassment, or guilt, the British Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have good reason to drop the term genocide from their anti-China rhetoric. It seems Starmer and Lammy, or their advisers, are fully conscious of this absurd and self-incriminating juxtaposition.

Xi Jinping holds talks with Cambodia’s senate president Hun Sen

Veteran Cambodian leader Samdech Techo Hun Sen, who is currently the President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) as well as of the country’s Senate, paid an official goodwill visit to China, December 2-4, at the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, met with Hun Sen on December 3 and called for firm mutual support to consolidate the ironclad friendship between the two countries. He said that China has always regarded Cambodia as a high priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy and is willing to work together with the country to build a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

Xi called on both sides to deepen exchanges and mutual learning to seek common development. He said the CPC is willing to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation in cadre training with the CPP, and to assist Cambodia in exploring a development path that aligns with its national conditions.

Against the backdrop of an international landscape fraught with instability, change and various global challenges, Xi added, China will continue to support Cambodia in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and help boost the strength of the Global South.

He expressed China’s support for ASEAN (the Association of South East Asian Nations) to adhere to its strategic autonomy and its opposition to external forces introducing Cold War mentality into the region. China is ready to work with Cambodia with firm determination to strengthen collaboration and coordination, and jointly address various risks.

Noting that the Cambodia-China friendship has withstood the test of history and time, Hun Sen expressed his country’s gratitude to China for its invaluable support and assistance in Cambodia’s political, economic, and social development over the years. He added that China is Cambodia’s most trusted friend. Friendship with China is a consensus within the CPP, which will not undergo any changes with intergenerational leadership transitions in Cambodia, he added.

The following day, Hun Sen met with Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, who noted that the building of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future has entered a new era of high quality, high level and high standard.

Hun Sen said that Cambodia-China cooperation is of great significance to Cambodia’s economic development and poverty alleviation. Cambodia will deepen all-round friendly cooperation with China and firmly push forward the building of a Cambodia-China community with a shared future.

On December 2, he had met with Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Hun Sen spoke highly of China’s development achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. He said that Cambodia and China are iron-clad friends, and that Cambodia is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields, provide firm mutual support, work together to meet challenges, and promote the building of a Cambodia-China community with a shared future.

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

Xi holds talks with Cambodia’s senate president Hun Sen

BEIJING, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) — Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, held talks with Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen in Beijing on Tuesday, calling for firm mutual support to consolidate the ironclad friendship between the two countries.

Xi said China has always regarded Cambodia as a high priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and is willing to work together with Cambodia to build a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

Xi called on both sides to deepen exchanges and mutual learning to seek common development. He said the CPC is willing to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation in cadre training with the CPP, and to assist Cambodia in exploring a development path that aligns with its national conditions.

The two sides should seize opportunities to make new progress in win-win cooperation, Xi said, adding that China is ready to work with the Cambodian side to continuously enrich the “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation framework, and promote the effective implementation of key cooperative projects.

Against the backdrop of an international landscape fraught with instability, change and various global challenges, Xi said, China will continue to support Cambodia in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and help boost the strength of the Global South.

Xi expressed China’s support for the ASEAN to adhere to its strategic autonomy and its opposition to external forces introducing Cold War mentality into the region. China is ready to work with Cambodia with firm determination to strengthen collaboration and coordination, and jointly address various risks, he added.

Noting that the Cambodia-China friendship has withstood the test of history and time, Hun Sen expressed Cambodia’s gratitude to China for its invaluable support and assistance in Cambodia’s political, economic, and social development over the years.

Continue reading Xi Jinping holds talks with Cambodia’s senate president Hun Sen

Xi calls for advancing strategic partnership of cooperation with Nepal

Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli paid an official visit to China from December 2-5 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Premier Li Qiang.

On December 3, Oli, who is also the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) (CPN-UML) met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Xi expressed appreciation for Oli’s firm commitment to promoting friendship between the two sides over a long period of time. He added that China and Nepal, linked by the same mountains and rivers, are good neighbours, good friends and good partners, and bilateral relations have maintained sound and steady development.

Noting that next year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Xi said China places Nepal in an important position in its neighbourhood diplomacy and is willing to work with Nepal to consolidate their traditional friendship and push for new progress in advancing the China-Nepal strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity.

Stressing that China respects Nepal’s choice to follow a development path suited to its national conditions, he said that China supports Nepal in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Oli said that as a friend of China, Nepal is deeply proud of and inspired by China’s remarkable development achievements and hopes to learn from China’s experience to boost its own development.

The Nepalese Prime Minister also met with Premier Li Qiang the same day.

Li said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties nearly 70 years ago, China-Nepal relations have maintained sound and steady development. In 2019, in particular, the bilateral relationship was elevated to the strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity, which has driven the vigorous expansion of exchanges and cooperation in various fields between the two sides and brought tangible benefits to the two peoples.

China firmly supports Nepal in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions and stands ready to enhance the synergy of development strategies with Nepal, leverage the leading role of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation in bilateral cooperation, actively expand two-way trade and investment, and strengthen connectivity at ports, roads, railways and airlines.

Oli also met on December 3 with Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.

A Joint Statement was issued by the two countries.

The two sides agreed that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal in 1955, the bilateral relationship has enjoyed sustained, stable and healthy development. In particular, President Xi Jinping paid a historic state visit to Nepal in 2019, during which the relationship was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity, taking China-Nepal relations into a new historical stage.

As the year 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nepal, the two sides comprehensively discussed the ways and means to make the celebration of the anniversary a momentous one. They are ready to take this opportunity to further accelerate the implementation of the important common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen political mutual trust, and deepen and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the principle of good neighbourliness and friendship, so as to further grow bilateral relations to the benefit of the two countries and peoples in the spirit of a community with a shared future.

The Nepali side warmly congratulated the Chinese side on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, highly commended the remarkable achievements made by China in the new era and expressed support for China’s efforts to build a great modern socialist country in all respects and achieve national rejuvenation through the Chinese path to modernisation.

The Chinese side spoke highly of the efforts made by the government of Nepal to maintain political stability and promote economic and social development and wished the Nepali people an early realisation of the national aspiration of “Samriddha Nepal, Sukhi Nepali” (“Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali”).

The two sides agreed to strengthen the synergy of their development strategies and pursue deeper and even more concrete high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. They expressed their readiness to sign the MoU on building the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network and the Framework for Belt and Road Cooperation between the two Governments as soon as possible. Both sides expressed their commitment to strengthening connectivity between the two countries in such areas as ports, roads, railways, aviation, power grids and telecommunication, to help Nepal transform from a land-locked country to a land-linked country.

The Nepali side expressed its appreciation to China for granting Nepal, as one of the least developed countries, zero-tariff treatment under 100 percent tariff lines. China welcomes Nepal to further expand the export of high-quality agricultural products to China.

Continue reading Xi calls for advancing strategic partnership of cooperation with Nepal

China-Peru friendship blossoms with Xi Jinping visit

From November 13-17, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Peru at the invitation of his Peruvian counterpart Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra, to attend the 31st APEC [Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation] Economic Leaders’ Meeting and to pay a state visit to the country. He then visited Brazil from November 17-21 at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to attend the 19th G20 Summit and pay a state visit.

Immediately prior to his Peruvian visit, Xi published an article in the El Peruano newspaper entitled, “China-Peru Friendship: Setting Sail Toward an Even Brighter Future”.  He noted that:

“It is widely believed in the archaeology communities of China and other countries that the Chinese civilisation and the civilisations of the Americas were in fact created by descendants of the same ancestors at different periods and in different locations,” and added:

“Peruvian thinker José Carlos Mariátegui once said, ‘Spiritually and materially, China is closer to us than Europe. The psychology of our people is more Asian than Western.’ This is the ‘code of civilisation’ that explains the inseparable bond between immigrants of Chinese origin and the local people, forged through seamless integration and familial ties over the past 175 years.”

Xi’s reference to Mariátegui is of special significance. In his speech to our September 28 conference marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Dr. Francisco Dominguez noted:

In 1959, Lui Shaoqi, a leader of the revolution said, the Chinese revolution exerts a formidable ‘attraction for the peoples of backward countries that have suffered, or are suffering, imperialist oppression. They feel that they should also be able to do what the Chinese have done.’

A similar strategy had been put forward in Latin America by Peruvian Marxist, José Carlos Mariátegui as early as 1928. He argued that due to its backward nature, the nations in Latin America had a weak, small and dependent bourgeoisie, subordinated to the landed oligarchy and imperialism, therefore, unable and unwilling to undertake the carrying out of the national democratic tasks to modernise society to fully develop capitalism. Thus, the only way to carry through the national democratic tasks was by a socialist revolution led by the proletariat enjoying hegemony over the majority peasantry with land reform as the sine qua non condition of its success.

Mariátegui posited that the peasantry could play a revolutionary role based on its traditions of primitive agrarian communalism. For him, proletarian leadership meant a Marxist party to lead the revolutionised peasantry and the working class to carry out a socialist revolution to accomplish the national democratic tasks (especially land reform) and move simultaneously to the setting up a proletarian state.

In his introduction to the Selected Works of José Carlos Mariátegui, published by Iskra Books, editor and translator Christian Noakes writes:

Considered by many to be the father of Latin American Communism, he is celebrated for being the first person to utilise Marxist methods of analysis in order to better understand concrete reality in Peru and for carving a path to revolution based off of these particular historical conditions. As such, he was one of the first Latin American socialists to acknowledge the revolutionary potential of the peasantry and Indigenous peoples… His influence on revolutionaries in Nicaragua and Cuba has been particularly pronounced.

Xi Jinping goes on to state that: “Peru is one of the first Latin American countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. For over 50 years, our bilateral relations have been progressing steadily… It is also among the first in Latin America to participate in cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). China has been Peru’s largest trading partner and largest export market for 10 consecutive years. Last year, Peru’s exports to China accounted for 36 percent of its total exports.” (China and Peru established diplomatic relations on November 2, 1971, during the anti-imperialist and progressive presidency of Juan Velasco Alvarado.)

As a major BRI project, Xi’s visit also saw the inauguration ceremony of Chancay Port: “This is not only an important project under Belt and Road cooperation, but also the first smart port in South America. The first phase of the project, when completed, will reduce the sea shipping time from Peru to China to 23 days, thus cutting logistics costs by at least 20 percent. It is expected to generate US$ 4.5 billion in yearly revenues for Peru and create over 8,000 direct jobs… The port’s development plan also includes establishing animal rescue services to fulfil its social responsibility for the rescue and protection of penguins, seals, and birds and to improve the environment of wetlands, beaches, and habitats.”

Continue reading China-Peru friendship blossoms with Xi Jinping visit

Xi Jinping visit to Peru and Brazil strengthens pivotal China-Latin America relationship

In the following article, commissioned by China Daily, Carlos Martinez provides a brief overview of Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Latin America, where he attended the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Lima, paid a state visit to Peru, attended the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and paid a state visit to Brazil.

Carlos highlights the significance of the newly-inaugurated Chancay Port, which is set to provide enormous economic benefit not only to Peru but all the countries of the region, and which will substantially strengthen Latin American integration and trans-Pacific trade relationships.

Carlos contrasts the mutually-beneficial relationship between China and Latin America – and indeed the Global South more generally – with that between the US and Latin America, the US’s supposed “back yard”. China’s approach of respect for sovereignty, support for development, and non-interference in other countries’ affairs “stands in stark contrast to the neoliberal hegemony of the ‘Washington Consensus’, with its wars, destabilisation, unilateral sanctions, economic coercion, blackmail, tariffs, nuclear bullying, military alliances and overseas military bases.”

A version of this article is expected to appear in China Daily Global Edition in the coming days.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Lima, Peru, on 14 November to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and to pay a state visit at the invitation of Peruvian President Peru Dina Boluarte Zegarra.

While in Peru, Xi participated by video link in the opening of the Chancay Port, about 48 miles north of Lima. Chancay is a deep-water port with 15 berths, capable of accommodating some of the world’s largest ships. A shared project of China and Peru, built as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), it will serve as a crucial gateway linking Latin America and Asia, as well as promoting Latin American economic integration. Furthermore, it is Latin America’s first smart, green, low-carbon port, featuring advanced technologies such as automated cranes and electric driverless trucks.

With the opening of the port, average transportation time from South America to the Asian market will be reduced from 35 to 25 days. The Chancay Port will be a major boost for the regional economy, will create vast numbers of jobs, and will help to reduce poverty and inequality. In Peru alone, the port is expected to generate an additional 4.5 billion US dollars of revenue – just under 2 percent of the country’s GDP – and to create thousands of jobs.

Given that Peru shares borders with Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia, the port will serve as the starting point of a land-sea corridor between China and Latin America, giving rise to a dramatic increase in trade, investment, cooperation and friendship.

On 17 November, President Xi travelled from Peru to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the 19th G20 Summit and to pay a state visit at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Particularly under the Workers Party (PT) governments of Lula and Dilma Rousseff, China-Brazil relations have gone from strength to strength in recent years. China has been Brazil’s largest trading partner for the last 15 years, and is a major investor in Brazilian industry and agriculture. Furthermore, Brazil is the largest supplier of agricultural imports to China.

At the conclusion of their bilateral meeting on 20 November, Presidents Xi and Lula announced that China Brazil ties would be elevated to a “community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet”. Furthermore, the two sides will cooperate closely to align Brazil’s development strategy with the BRI.

Far from treating Brazil simply as a source of primary goods, China is increasingly cooperating with the Latin American giant on green energy, digital innovation, economic diversification, advanced infrastructure and industrial modernisation.

Unlike the West, which has always jealously guarded its technological supremacy, China’s vision of a global community of shared future involves encouraging sustainable development and modernisation throughout the Global South. With China’s support, the countries of Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific are starting to break the chains of underdevelopment that were imposed by the colonial and imperialist powers.

Aside from the growing economic relationship, Xi Jinping wrote in a signed article in Brazilian media that “China and Brazil, embracing our roles and responsibilities as major countries, have contributed to a multipolar world, promoted greater democracy in international relations, and injected positive energy into global peace and stability”.

China and Brazil have taken the lead in trying to reach a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and are aligned on attempting to bring about an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Both countries are pursuing sustainable development and modernisation, and both support a fair globalisation characterised by equality and common prosperity. In short, this is a relationship that is not only of great benefit to the two countries, but to the world as a whole.

In his speech at the G20 Summit, President Xi made a powerful call to “see the world as one community with a shared future, and shoulder our responsibility for history, take historical initiative and move history forward”. He insisted on the crucial importance of addressing global inequality, of supporting developing countries to achieve modernisation and pursue sustainable development, of supporting developing countries to adopt and integrate digital technologies, and of cooperating globally to tackle the environmental crisis.

The speech resonated loudly with the peoples of the Global South in particular. Xi’s words were a clear reiteration of China’s global vision of peace and common prosperity – which stands in stark contrast to the neoliberal hegemony of the ‘Washington Consensus’, with its wars, destabilisation, unilateral sanctions, economic coercion, blackmail, tariffs, nuclear bullying, military alliances and overseas military bases.

As the great Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro wrote in 2004, “China has objectively become the most promising hope and the best example for all Third World countries … an important element of balance, progress and safeguarding of world peace and stability”.

For that reason, the US is desperate to throw a spanner in the works; to disrupt the growing ties between China and Latin America, and between China and the Global South more generally. In October, Biden’s trade representative Katherine Tai said she “would encourage our friends in Brazil to look at the risks” of closer ties to China, hinting that the US would punish such unacceptable behaviour.

Shortly after the inauguration of the Chancay Port, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken turned up in Peru to announce a deal for 6 billion dollars’ worth of decades-old trains – presumably an unfortunate attempt to show that the US still has something to offer. A report in South China Morning Post remarked: “as Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated the US$3.5 billion Chancay port in Peru this month that promises to jump-start exports in the region and create a gateway to China, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken oversaw a ceremony just a few miles away to give US$6 million in 1980s diesel locomotives to the Andean nation… One was about the future, the other about the past.”

Donald Trump meanwhile is packing his cabinet with both China hawks and Latin America hawks, and will likely be even more aggressive in pressuring countries to toe the US line on China.

Such tactics will not work. The Financial Times reported on 20 November that “Joe Biden is losing to Xi Jinping in battle for Latin America”, noting that China is meeting the region’s enormous need for infrastructure investment.

The days of the Monroe Doctrine – enshrining the entire American super-continent as the US’s “sphere of influence” – are over. The nations of Latin America are asserting their sovereignty and are joining hands with the peoples of the world to reject hegemony and to create a future of global peace and common prosperity.

China’s global vision benefits all humanity

November 28, 2024, marked the 10th anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping first proposing the idea of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

Marking the anniversary, in a front-page article, China Daily noted that, “many scholars and officials have been impressed by how Beijing has showcased distinct Chinese characteristics, style and ethos in its diplomacy, and how it has been working on building the image of a confident, self-reliant, open and inclusive major country with a global vision over the past 10 years.”

It went on to quote our co-editor Keith Bennett, who spoke to the paper during his recent visit to Beijing, as saying that the Chinese characteristics of the country’s major country diplomacy include a number of components, including commitment to peace, dialogue, equality, mutual respect, non-interference and win-win cooperation.

“The Chinese policies are not based solely on the narrow national interest, or interest at the expense of other countries”, but instead have a global vision and “are for the benefit of all of humanity,” Keith noted.

The following article was first published by China Daily.

As President Xi Jinping wrapped up his trip to Latin America last week, observers noted that the year 2024 has been special for marking the 10th anniversaries of a range of landmark events, such as China’s hosting of the 2014 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Beijing and the founding of the Forum of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.

Following these memorable moments, Thursday also marks the 10th anniversary of another landmark event in China’s foreign policy history — Xi’s proposing of the idea of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

Many scholars and officials have been impressed by how Beijing has showcased distinct Chinese characteristics, style and ethos in its diplomacy, and how it has been working on building the image of a confident, self-reliant, open and inclusive major country with a global vision over the past 10 years.

In the eyes of Keith Bennett, a London-based senior analyst on international relations and co-editor of the Friends of Socialist China platform, the Chinese characteristics of the country’s major country diplomacy include a number of components, such as the country’s commitment to peace, dialogue, equality, mutual respect, noninterference and win-win cooperation.

“The Chinese policies are not based solely on the narrow national interest, or interest at the expense of other countries”, but instead have a global vision and “are for the benefit of all of humanity,” he said.

On Nov 28, 2014, Xi stated in his speech at the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs that China “must have a major country diplomacy with its own characteristics”.

In March 2016, the concept of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics was for the first time clearly stated in the annual Government Work Report.

Analysts said the concept has been developed in the past decade and has seen its theoretical architecture greatly taking shape and its supporting pillars being built.

The Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs held in December last year identified the theme of China’s external work as building a community with a shared future for mankind, which is also the noble goal pursued by China in conducting major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

The conference decided that the current and future work on foreign affairs should follow the principles of “self-confidence and self-reliance, openness and inclusiveness, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation” — the guidelines of major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

“The concept helps to explain the definition and the underlying logic of China’s diplomacy,” said Chen Xulong, a professor of multilateral diplomacy and United Nations’ reform studies at the University of International Business and Economics.

The concept calls for the country to act as a major country should, shoulder its duties, meet the challenges, and make contributions to global governance, he said.

“A range of outstanding, distinct qualities of Chinese culture have been endorsed by this concept, including the consistent pursuit of a peaceful rise, objecting to hegemony and subscribing to innovation,” he added.

In an article published in January in Qiushi Journal, the flagship magazine of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Foreign Minister Wang Yi wrote that “major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era builds on and carries forward New China’s diplomacy”.

“China has become a responsible major country with enhanced international influence, stronger capacity to steer new endeavors and greater moral appeal,” he wrote.

“Head-of-state diplomacy has played an important and irreplaceable role in major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era”, he added.

At a bilateral meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Lima, Peru, on Nov 15, Chilean President Gabriel Boric brought a copy of the fourth volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, one of Xi’s books.

Boric presented the book to Xi and invited him to sign it.

Nadia Helmy, an associate professor of political science at Beni Suef University in Egypt and an expert on Chinese politics and Asian affairs, said, “We find that China has achieved fruitful diplomatic results, as the diplomacy of the Chinese head of state, Comrade Xi Jinping, played a strategic guiding role.”

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics “led China to achieve tangible achievements in the field of Beijing’s foreign policy and international relations, (and) brought China closer to assuming the forefront of the global scene”, she wrote in an article published in January.

She listed some main points of China’s major country diplomacy, such as “maintaining justice while seeking to achieve common interests at the political and economic levels”, “sincere and friendly international relations with the developing countries” and “building a new type of relations between major countries”.

Regarding his expectations for China’s major country diplomacy in the next 10 years and beyond, Bennett, the London-based international relations analyst, said that China is expected to win more support and more understanding from more countries, as there is “quite a strong contrast” between “the worldview and practice of China and the worldview and practice of most other major powers”.

China-facilitated reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran continues to make progress

The reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which was facilitated by China last year, continues to make progress despite imperialist attempts to derail it, which would see Saudi Arabia return to the tawdry path of the ‘Abraham Accords’, recognise Israel and also return to confrontation with Tehran and other contingents of the ‘Axis of Resistance’.

In a significant step, with important regional ramifications, the second meeting of the China-Saudi Arabia-Iran Trilateral Joint Committee was held in the Saudi city of Riyadh on November 19, 2024, to follow up on the implementation of the Beijing Agreement of April 2023. All three countries were represented at deputy foreign minister level.

Saudi Arabia and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to all provisions of the Beijing Agreement as well as their continued efforts to consolidate good-neighbourly and friendly relations between the two countries by adhering to the United Nations Charter, the Charter of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and international law, including respecting national sovereignty, independence and security. Saudi Arabia and Iran welcomed the continued positive role of China and held that China’s support and follow-up to the implementation of the Beijing Agreement is of great importance.

They noted that the current escalation of regional tensions will have serious consequences for regional and global security. Against this backdrop, it is very important for senior officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran to engage in contacts, meetings, and mutual visits. The participating parties appreciated the progress made in consular services between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which enabled more than 87,000 Iranian pilgrims to perform Hajj, and more than 25,000 Iranian pilgrims to perform Umrah rituals with ease and security in the first ten months of 2024. (Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca [the most sacred city in Islam], Saudi Arabia, which all Muslims are required to perform at least once in their lives if they are able. It takes place in a ten-day period, starting on 1 and ending on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth and last month of the Islamic [lunar] calendar. The Umrah is also a pilgrimage to Mecca but, unlike Hajj, may be undertaken at any time of the year.)

The three countries also called for an immediate end to the Israeli military operations in both Palestine and Lebanon, condemn the Israeli attack and its violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran, and call for ensuring the unimpeded flow of humanitarian and relief aid to Palestine and Lebanon. And they reaffirmed their support for a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni issue in accordance with internationally recognised principles and under the auspices of the United Nations.

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

The second meeting of the China-Saudi Arabia-Iran Trilateral Joint Committee was held in Riyadh on November 19, 2024, to follow up on the implementation of the Beijing Agreement. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, with the participation of the Chinese delegation headed by Vice Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Deng Li and the Iranian delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi.

Saudi Arabia and Iran reaffirmed their commitment to all provisions of the Beijing Agreement, and their continued efforts to consolidate good-neighborly and friendly relations between the two countries by adhering to the United Nations Charter, the Charter of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and international law, including respecting national sovereignty, independence and security. Saudi Arabia and Iran welcomed the continued positive role of China and held that China’s support and follow-up to the implementation of the Beijing Agreement is of great importance.

China stressed its readiness to continue to support and encourage the steps taken by Saudi Arabia and Iran towards developing their relations in various fields.

The three countries welcomed the continuous progress in Saudi Arabia-Iran relations, which provides opportunities for direct exchanges between the two countries at all levels and across all sectors. The current escalation of regional tensions will have serious consequences for regional and global security. Against this backdrop, it is very important for senior officials from Saudi Arabia and Iran to engage in contacts, meetings, and mutual visits. The participating parties appreciated the progress made in consular services between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which enabled more than 87,000 Iranian pilgrims to perform Hajj, and more than 25,000 Iranian pilgrims to perform Umrah rituals with ease and security in the first ten months of 2024. They also appreciated the convening of the first meeting of the Saudi-Iranian Joint Media Committee, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and the Institute of Political and International Studies of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Saudi Arabia and Iran also expressed their readiness to sign a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement, and the three countries look forward to expanding trilateral cooperation in economic, political and other fields.

The three countries call for an immediate end to the Israeli military operations in both Palestine and Lebanon, condemn the Israeli attack and its violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran, and call for ensuring the unimpeded flow of humanitarian and relief aid to Palestine and Lebanon. The three countries hold that the ongoing cycle of violence and escalation poses a serious threat to the security of the region and the world, including maritime security.

The three countries reaffirm their support for a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni issue in accordance with internationally recognized principles under the auspices of the United Nations.

Keir Starmer dares to lecture President Xi on human rights?!

As we reported last week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held his first in-person meeting with President Xi Jinping on November 18 on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. As we noted in our introduction to that report, “much of the goodwill generated by the meeting would have been spoiled by Starmer’s tactless and undiplomatic behaviour in publicly raising a number of contentious issues”.

In the video embedded below, Andy Boreham, a journalist from New Zealand who lives in Shanghai and speaks fluent Mandarin, reports on the meeting, observing that Britain is not in a position to lecture China on human rights, given its shameful support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its repression of British citizens who express solidarity with the Palestinian people, including Asa Winstanley and Craig Murray.

Mr Starmer, you have absolutely no right to lecture anyone on human rights.

Andy notes that Starmer also raised the case of Jimmy Lai, who is charged with conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and to publish seditious material. Andy points out that “Lai used his influence and money to try to destabilize China. He’s now facing the legal consequences of his actions – consequences he’d face in any country, including the UK.”

The video also takes up the story that appeared in the Western media that Chinese officials “kicked out” British journalists when Starmer raised the issue of human rights. Andy explains that it’s standard practice for journalists to only be allowed to attend the first few minutes of meetings between world leaders, before the discussion of substantive issues begins, and this is exactly what happened in this instance.

The video was first posted on the Reports on China YouTube channel.

Xi Jinping meets with Mexican President Sheinbaum and Bolivian President Arce

Among the bilateral meetings that Chinese President Xi Jinping held with his counterparts on the sidelines of the recent 19th G20 Leaders’ Summit, held in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, particular significance should be attached to those with two of Latin America’s progressive leaders.

On November 18, President Xi met with Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the recently elected President of Mexico.

Xi said that China and Mexico should continue to enhance exchanges, renew friendship, make good use of the highly complementary nature of the two economies, constantly advance practical cooperation and push for all-round development of bilateral relations in the new era. He once again congratulated Sheinbaum on becoming the first female president in the history of Mexico, and recalled his visit to Mexico in 2013, which he said had left a deep and unforgettable impression.

Sheinbaum expressed her pleasure in meeting Xi, noting that she fully agrees with Xi’s assessment of the relationship between the two countries. Although Mexico and China are far apart in distance, their ties are very close. She also expressed her gratitude for China’s generous and sincere assistance during Mexico’s difficult times, such as the hurricane disaster, which is testament to the friendship between the two peoples.

The following day, Xi met with Bolivian President Luis Arce and called on China and Bolivia to align the Belt and Road Initiative with Bolivia’s 2025 development plan.

Noting that China and Bolivia are good friends and good brothers, Xi said that bilateral relations have maintained a sound momentum of development in recent years. China supports Bolivia in independently exploring a development path suited to its national conditions and is willing to take the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Bolivia next year as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen strategic mutual trust, expand win-win cooperation and lead the China-Bolivia strategic partnership to a new level.

The Chinese leader stressed that the two sides should strengthen exchanges between governments, legislatures and political parties as well as at local level, carry out in-depth exchanges on governance experience, and expand cooperation in infrastructure construction, plateau agriculture, green development and digital economy.

They should also deepen coordination within multilateral mechanisms, including the United Nations and BRICS, to promote unity, self-improvement and common development among Global South countries, he said, adding that China supports the integration of Latin America and stands ready to work with Bolivia to strengthen the building of such mechanisms as the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum.

Hailing the profound and brotherly friendship between Bolivia and China, Arce expressed gratitude to China for helping Bolivia in its fight against COVID-19 and its efforts to promote Bolivia’s economic and social development. China has made remarkable accomplishments in its modernisation process under Xi’s leadership, providing valuable experiences and guidance for the development of Bolivia and other countries, he added.

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

Xi calls for all-round development of China-Mexico relations in new era

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China and Mexico should continue to enhance exchanges, renew friendship, make good use of the highly complementary nature of the two economies, constantly advance practical cooperation and push for all-round development of bilateral relations in the new era.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo on the sidelines of the 19th G20 Leaders’ Summit.

Continue reading Xi Jinping meets with Mexican President Sheinbaum and Bolivian President Arce

China and Brazil working to shape a just, multipolar world order

In the following article, published in China Daily on 19 November 2024, Efe Can Gürcan describes the history of the G20 and argues that Brazil’s presidency of the organisation – and its leadership of the G20 summit that took place this week – “could produce a pivotal transformation in the G20, placing stronger emphasis on Global South perspectives”.

Efe notes the complemenarities of Brazil and China’s development strategies. For example: “Brazil’s Ecological Transition Plan, which has garnered global attention for its ambitious goals and strongly resonates with China’s shared vision of an ecological civilization.” Meanwhile, China is Brazil’s largest trading partner, and Brazil is China’s principal source of agricultural imports.

On foreign policy issues, “both countries, as BRICS members, share similar positions … including on the Palestine and the Ukraine crises, and both advocate for a multipolar world based on fairness and justice.” As such, “by engaging more closely with China, Brazil could amplify its role in shaping a just, multipolar world order and in bringing the Global South’s voice to the forefront”.

The results of the G20 summit and the bilateral meetings between Presidents Xi Jinping and Lula da Silva certainly support the vision Efe outlines. Xi and Lula announced on Wednesday the elevation of their countries’ bilateral ties to a “community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet”, and committed to deepening coordination between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Brazil’s development strategies.

The two “agreed that the relationship is at its best period in history, is growing stronger in global, strategic and long-term significance, and has become an exemplar of common progress, solidarity and cooperation between major developing countries” and that “China and Brazil should also step forward to their historic missions of leading efforts to safeguard the common interests of Global South countries and making the international order more just and equitable”, as reported by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

China and Brazil’s blossoming relationship is based on mutual respect, friendship and solidarity, and a shared determination to struggle against poverty, against war, for sustainable development, and for a multipolar world. This is a relationship that is not only of great benefit to the two countries, but to the world as a whole.

Dr Efe Can Gürcan is currently a Visiting Scholar at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and is a member of the Friends of Socialist China Britain Committee.

With the theme “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet”, Brazil’s G20 presidency provides a unique chance to shape the global agenda at a pivotal time. This role is far from ceremonial — unlike organizations with a permanent secretariat or founding charter, the G20 relies on the country holding the presidency to set priorities, coordinate initiatives, and drive forward discussions. This time, Brazil’s leadership will steer this global forum, which represents over 85 percent of the world’s GDP, three-quarters of international trade, and two-thirds of the global population.

The G20’s history is rooted in responses to the crises of Western-led global capitalism. It emerged initially as a meeting of finance ministers in 1999. The G20 was a response to the devastating 1998 Asian financial crisis, which underscored how global economic turbulence could cascade across borders — especially impacting the developing world. Although the concept of a forum like the G20 emerged within Western circles, G7 leaders initially resisted it, preferring smaller, more private summits to maintain focus and control. Yet, the global call for a more inclusive cooperation mechanism grew louder in 2008, when the US-triggered global financial crisis exposed the limits of Western countries’ ability to stabilize markets and respond to crises alone. Holding its first summit of heads of state in 2008, the G20 ultimately evolved into a “crisis steering group”, which convenes the world’s largest economies, including emerging players that can no longer be sidelined in addressing global problems. As such, the G20’s purpose has expanded beyond finance to encompass pressing global issues such as climate change, economic inequality and sustainable development. Brazil, a key actor in Latin America’s historic “Pink Tide”, a leader in South-South cooperation and champion of multipolarity, is positioned to make the G20 more inclusive and effective in addressing these global challenges.

While the G7 — a smaller, more exclusive club of the wealthiest Western nations — was originally conceived to steer global governance, its legitimacy has waned over time. Its elitist composition, reflective of narrow Western interests, has led to criticism that it excludes key emerging economies. The G7’s exclusive nature was further cemented when it expelled Russia following the 2014 Ukraine crisis, reinforcing its status as a Western bloc rather than a truly global coalition aligned with the common destiny of humanity. The G20, on the other hand, includes a broader array of voices, providing a necessary balance and inclusivity in tackling today’s complex, borderless challenges, such as climate change and inequality.

Brazil’s leadership could produce a pivotal transformation in the G20, placing stronger emphasis on Global South perspectives and potentially transforming it from a North-South platform into a more democratic South-North forum. Brazil’s commitment to inclusive, sustainable development has been formalized in Brazil’s Ecological Transition Plan, which has garnered global attention for its ambitious goals and strongly resonates with China’s shared vision of an ecological civilization. In 2023, Brazil generated an impressive 91 percent of its electricity from clean sources, far surpassing global averages and even its own target of 84 percent by 2030. It also reduced Amazon deforestation to a six-year low, making strides in preserving the planet’s largest rainforest.

Beyond environmental leadership, Brazil is advocating for progressive reforms to reduce inequality and increase global governance inclusivity. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has proposed a 2-percent billionaire tax to combat global inequality and will likely renew his call for reforms to the United Nations, pushing for a more effective and representative Security Council, especially in light of recent failures to address urgent global crises, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The proposals exhibit a striking synergy with China’s Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s continued economic stability and leadership status are closely tied to its relationship with China. China is Brazil’s largest export destination, and from 2007 to 2023, Chinese foreign direct investment in Brazil totaled $73.3 billion, with significant investment in Brazil’s electricity sector, which is crucial given Brazil’s recent energy challenges. China is also one of Brazil’s top agricultural export destinations, vital for an agribusiness sector that makes up almost 25 percent of Brazil’s GDP. President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to Brazil during the G20 summit is an opportune moment to further enhance these economic ties and potentially encourage Brazil’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. Indeed, recent developments ahead of President Xi’s visit, such as Brazil’s offer to allow Shanghai-based satellite manufacturer SpaceSail access to a space base in the northeast of the country, hint at Brazil’s increasing openness to closer cooperation with China. Despite Brazil’s new tariffs imposed on Asian imports of iron, steel and fiber optic cable in October, this gesture toward collaboration shows Brazil’s recognition of China’s strategic importance.

The collaboration potential of the two countries strongly resonates in broader Latin America, where inadequate infrastructure and weak connectivity remain significant obstacles to regional development. The infrastructure gap in Latin America is vast, requiring an estimated $250 billion in investment annually. Brazil, as Latin America’s largest economy, has historically led efforts to promote infrastructure connectivity through the now-defunct Initiative for the Integration of the Regional Infrastructure of South America within the Union of South American Nations. However, sustaining Brazil’s own growth and supporting regional development will require more resources than Brazil currently has due to economic and political challenges that have affected its capacity since the mid-2010s. Chinese cooperation through the BRI could be key in meeting these infrastructure needs. Brazil’s hesitance to formally join the BRI risks stalling not only its infrastructure progress but also its role as a regional leader and its economy’s competitiveness on the global stage.

One cannot but notice a strong synergy between Brazil and China’s foreign policy objectives. Both countries, as BRICS members, share similar positions on major international issues, including the Palestine and the Ukraine crises, and both advocate for a multipolar world based on fairness and justice. This alignment complements Brazil’s G20 agenda, reinforcing its commitment to South-South cooperation and to building a community with a shared future for mankind. By engaging more closely with China, Brazil could amplify its role in shaping a just, multipolar world order and in bringing the Global South’s voice to the forefront.

Xi Jinping meets Keir Starmer in Brazil

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held his first in person meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping on November 18, on the sidelines of the G20 summit, being held in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. The two men had previously held a telephone conversation on August 23.

In his opening remarks, borrowing from the British Labour Party’s stated policy goals, Xi noted that the new government was “working to fix the foundations of the economy and rebuild Britain.” He added that while the two countries differ in history, culture, values, and social systems, they share extensive common interests and enjoy vast space for cooperation in such areas as trade and investment, clean energy, financial services, healthcare and people’s well-being, which should be further expanded to better benefit both peoples.

Starmer responded by saying that, in advancing their shared goals, his approach would be consistent, respectful and pragmatic.  The Prime Minister’s office’s read out of the meeting, added: “On climate, in particular, both said that this should be high on the agenda and there was more work to be done to accelerate global progress towards net zero. Both the UK and China have an important role to play in support of the global clean power transition.”

The British Prime Minister welcomed the recent visit to Beijing and Shanghai by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, looked forward to the planned China visit by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, planned for early next year, and expressed hope for the resumption of full, high-level bilateral engagement with China, which has been interrupted over recent years.

However, much of the goodwill generated by the meeting would have been spoiled by Starmer’s tactless and undiplomatic behaviour in publicly raising a number of contentious issues, in particular the case of Jimmy Lai, publisher of the former scurrilous newspaper, Apple Daily, who has been described by the Chinese Embassy in London as, “one of the most notorious anti-China elements bent on destabilising Hong Kong…  Jimmy Lai was a major plotter and instigator of the anti-China riots in Hong Kong. He blatantly colluded with external forces in jeopardising national security, solicited foreign support, and committed various sinful deeds.”

It is, of course, an act of the most revolting and blatant hypocrisy for Starmer, who has defended and abetted Israeli genocide in Gaza, the most egregious violation of human rights in the world at present, and who continues to do so; and whose government is engaged in a brutal campaign of politically motivated persecution and attempted intimidation of journalists who dare to point out the truth of what is happening in Gaza and elsewhere in the Middle East, such as Richard Medhurst, Sarah Wilkinson and Asa Winstanley, to accuse the leaders of other countries of abuses of human rights or violations of press freedom.

In its editorial comment on the meeting, the Morning Star described it as “long overdue”, noting:

“There is plenty of room for growth, especially in exports to China, where Britain lags far behind Germany, France and Italy. Relaxing the US-inspired ban on selling key electronic, micro-processing and [supposed] ‘dual use’ (civilian-military) engineering products to China would help.

“Restrictions on Chinese investment in Britain already hold back the roll-out of 5G technology and the application of quantum physics – in which China leads the world – to computing, communications, geology and medicine.”

The following articles were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency and the Morning Star.

Xi calls on China, Britain to adopt rational, objective perspective on each other’s development

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 18 — China and Britain should adopt a rational and objective perspective on each other’s development, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the 19th G20 Leaders’ Summit.

The two countries should enhance strategic communication and deepen political mutual trust to ensure a steady, substantial, and enduring development of bilateral relations, he said.

Noting that the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, Xi said that China and Britain, both as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and major global economies, share the responsibilities of advancing their respective national development and addressing global challenges.

Both countries should stick to their strategic partnership, adhere to the principles of mutual respect, open cooperation, and mutual learning, strive for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and jointly write the next chapter of healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, he added.

Continue reading Xi Jinping meets Keir Starmer in Brazil