Category: International relations

Xi meets with leaders of Russia, Laos, Iran, Egypt and Vietnam

Chinese President Xi Jinping held a number of bilateral meetings with fellow leaders in the margins of the BRICS Summit, which was held, October 22-24, in the Russian city of Kazan.

Xi met with his host, President Vladimir Putin on the day of his arrival. He said that China and Russia have found the right way for neighbouring major countries to get along with each other, which features non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, Xi said that over the past years, the relationship between the two countries has weathered challenges.

Noting that the world today is facing momentous transformations unseen in a century, resulting in a fast-changing and turbulent international landscape, he expressed confidence that the profound and lasting friendship between China and Russia will not change, nor will their sense of responsibility as major countries for the world and for the people.

Despite complex and severe external challenges, bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade continues to advance, and large-scale joint projects remain stable in operation, he said, adding that both countries should further promote the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union to support their respective high-quality economic development.

Next year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, Xi stressed. China and Russia, both permanent members of the UN Security Council and major countries in the world, should deepen comprehensive strategic coordination, strengthen communication and coordination within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, promote a correct view of World War II history, firmly uphold the UN-centred international system, and jointly safeguard global strategic stability along with international fairness and justice.

President Vladimir Putin said that thanks to joint efforts from both sides, the Russia-China cooperation, based on equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit, continues to advance, and the activities of the Russia-China Years of Culture have been successfully held, adding that Russia stands ready to further deepen cooperation with China and boost the development and revitalisation of both countries.

Noting that next year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Putin said that both Russia and China made tremendous sacrifices for victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, and that Russia is willing to commemorate this important milestone together with China.

Also on October 22, Xi met with Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR), saying that the two sides should continue to strengthen the development of the China-Laos Railway and promote the construction of the China-Laos Economic Corridor.

As socialist comrades and brothers, the relations with Laos are of special importance in China’s neighbourhood diplomacy, and the two countries have always stayed at the forefront of building a community with a shared future, Xi said, adding that regardless of how the international situation changes, China will always be a trustworthy friend and partner of Laos.

Congratulating Laos on successfully hosting the East Asian Leaders’ meetings on cooperation, the Chinese President said he welcomes Laos’ active participation in BRICS cooperation.

Thongloun Sisoulith said that he went to China last year to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and signed with Xi a new version of the action plan for building a China-Laos community with a shared future, which is being implemented effectively at present.

Laos-China relations are at their best in history, with bilateral cooperation expanding in depth and breadth, he added.

The following day, Xi met with the new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and said that no matter how the international and regional situations change, China will unswervingly develop friendly cooperation with Iran.

Continue reading Xi meets with leaders of Russia, Laos, Iran, Egypt and Vietnam

China and Cuba: Advancing the socialist cause and building a shared future

The close fraternal friendship between China and Cuba was reaffirmed in a recent visit of a delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to the socialist Caribbean island, led Li Shulei, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Central Committee’s Publicity Department.  The delegation was in Cuba to attend the sixth joint theoretical seminar between the CPC and the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), which was held on October 23, with the theme, “Advancing the Socialist Cause and Building a Shared Future.”

The previous day, Li had met with Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the PCC and President of the Republic of Cuba.

Li said China is ready to work with Cuba to implement the important consensus reached by the two top leaders, deepen traditional ties, expand friendly cooperation, and support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests, while collaborating closely on international and regional issues and jointly building a China-Cuba community with a shared future.

Having received the greetings of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Díaz-Canel asked Li to convey his best wishes to Xi and spoke highly of the special friendship between the two parties and countries.

Li also met with Esteban Lazo Hernández, a member of the Political Bureau of the PCC Central Committee, President of Cuba’s National Assembly of People’s Power and President of Cuba’s Council of State, held talks with Roberto Morales Ojeda, member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organisation of the PCC Central Committee, and visited General Raúl Castro, leader of the Cuban Revolution.

Granma, the official organ of the PCC, quoted Díaz-Canel as telling Li, with unmistakable reference to the severe economic crisis currently being faced by Cuba, characterised not least by repeated nationwide power outages: “This visit, at the moment Cuba is living, is one more proof of the indestructible bonds of friendship that exist between our peoples, parties and governments.”

He added that he was looking forward to meeting again with Xi Jinping at the upcoming BRICS Summit in the Russian city of Kazan. However, Díaz-Canel later cancelled his visit due to the domestic economic situation.

Similar sentiments to those expressed by Díaz-Canel were echoed by Esteban Lazo Hernández, who told the Chinese comrades:

“A visit, in the midst of this situation, is one more expression of the deep ties of unbreakable friendship that exist between the Communist Party of China and that of Cuba and, likewise, between our peoples.”

He further underlined the relevance of the seminar held in Havana, saying: “I want to reiterate the importance and usefulness of the theoretical seminars to exchange experiences on the construction of socialism on the tenth anniversary of the beginning of this inter-party practice.”

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

Cuba’s top leader meets senior Chinese official

HAVANA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) — Miguel Diaz-Canel, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and Cuban president, met on Tuesday with Li Shulei, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, who led a CPC delegation to Cuba and attended the sixth theoretical seminar of the two parties.

Li conveyed warm greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, to Diaz-Canel, noting that Xi and Diaz-Canel have reached important consensuses on the development of party-to-party and state-to-state relations, charting a clear course for the longstanding friendship between China and Cuba.

Continue reading China and Cuba: Advancing the socialist cause and building a shared future

President Xi urges China and India to strengthen communication and cooperation

During his recent visit to the Russian city of Kazan, where he attended the October 22-24 summit meeting of the BRICS cooperation mechanism, Chinese President Xi Jinping also held a number of important meetings on the sidelines.

Among the most significant was his October 23 meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two men’s first formal talks since October 2019. Clashes on the two countries’ disputed border (an issue left over from the days of British colonialism) in the Galwan Valley in 2020 had led to a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations. Two days before the Kazan meeting, the Indian Foreign Ministry had announced that an agreement had been reached on patrolling arrangements, which had been the immediate cause of the clash.

At the meeting, President Xi urged China and India to strengthen communication and cooperation, enhance strategic mutual trust, and facilitate each other’s pursuit of their development aspirations. He pointed out that as time-honoured civilisations, large developing countries and important members of the Global South, China and India both stand at a crucial phase of their respective modernisation endeavours.

It is in the fundamental interest of the two countries and two peoples to keep to the trend of history and the right direction of bilateral relations, he said, urging the two sides to shoulder their international responsibility, set an example in boosting the strength and unity of developing countries, and contribute to promoting a multipolar world and greater democracy in international relations.

For his part, Prime Minister Modi noted that maintaining the steady growth of India-China relations is critical to the two countries and peoples. It not only concerns the well-being and future of 2.8 billion people, but also carries great significance for peace and stability of the region and even the world at large.

Against a complex international landscape, cooperation between India and China, two ancient civilisations and engines of economic growth, can help drive economic recovery and promote multipolarity in the world.

The two leaders commended the important progress the two sides had recently made through intensive communication on resolving the relevant issues in the border areas. Modi made suggestions on improving and developing the relationship, which Xi agreed to in principle.

Stressing the need to ensure peace and tranquillity in the border areas and find a fair and reasonable settlement, they agreed on holding talks between their foreign ministers and officials at various levels to bring the relationship back to sound and steady development at an early date.

They further agreed to strengthen communication and cooperation in multilateral fora to safeguard the common interests of developing countries and were of the view that their meeting was constructive and carries great significance. They agreed to view and handle China-India relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, prevent specific disagreements from affecting the overall relationship, and contribute to maintaining regional and global peace and prosperity and to advancing multipolarity in the world.

India’s main communist parties were quick to voice their support for the meeting and its outcome.

People’s Democracy, the newspaper of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) wrote that:

“The economic problems confronting the Indian bourgeoisie have forced them to lobby for easing the ability to do business with China. According to the data of the Ministry of Commerce, China has emerged as India’s top import source with 56.29 billion dollars’ worth of inbound shipments during the April-September period of this fiscal year. In a globalised economic world order, it is increasingly recognised that it is beneficial for both countries to increase economic cooperation. Certain industries for the production of goods like electric vehicles (EVs), smartphones, solar panels and medicine have been identified by the Indian government to transform the country into a manufacturing hub. Most of these industries require the restoration of economic relations with China.”

Continue reading President Xi urges China and India to strengthen communication and cooperation

Xi Jinping: Global South countries marching together toward modernisation is monumental in world history

The summit meeting of the BRICS cooperation mechanism was held, October 22-24, in Kazan, the capital city of the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation, and was hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Alongside dozens of other events within its framework, the summit of the nine full members of BRICS was held on October 23, under the theme “Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security”. This was the first such gathering in which Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa were joined by Ethiopia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran, since the 2023 summit meeting held in South Africa invited the latter four countries to take up full membership in the first wave of BRICS expansion.

This meeting was followed, on October 24, by the “BRICS Plus” Leaders Dialogue, the first gathering of its kind, which was held under the theme, “BRICS and the Global South: Building a Better World Together”.

In all, the Kazan gathering drew the participation of leaders of 36 countries and territories, including 22 heads of state. The leaders of six international organisations, including the Secretary-General of the United Nations, also attended.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered keynote speeches at both the October 23 and 24 meetings. Together, they provide correct strategic guidance to advance the collective agenda and shared goals of the Global South at the present time.

On October 23, President Xi addressed the BRICS Summit, with a speech entitled, “Embracing a Broader View and Cutting Through the Fog of Challenges to Advance High-Quality Development of Greater BRICS Cooperation”.  He said:

“I would like to take this opportunity to once again welcome new members to our BRICS family. The enlargement of BRICS is a major milestone in its history and a landmark event in the evolution of the international situation. At this summit, we have decided to invite many countries to become partner countries, which is another major progress in the development of BRICS…

“As the world enters a new period defined by turbulence and transformation, we are confronted with pivotal choices that will shape our future. Should we allow the world to descend into the abyss of disorder and chaos, or should we strive to steer it back on the path of peace and development? This reminds me of a novel by Nikolay Chernyshevsky entitled ‘What Is to Be Done?’ The protagonist’s unwavering determination and passionate drive are exactly the kind of willpower we need today. The more tumultuous our times become, the more we must stand firm at the forefront, exhibiting tenacity, demonstrating the audacity to pioneer and displaying the wisdom to adapt. We must work together to build BRICS into a primary channel for strengthening solidarity and cooperation among Global South nations and a vanguard for advancing global governance reform.”

Setting out the key tasks for BRICS members at present, Xi said that:

– We should build a BRICS committed to peace and we must all act as defenders of common security. In this context he specifically referred to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. “The Ukraine crisis still persists. China and Brazil, in collaboration with other countries from the Global South, initiated a group of Friends for Peace to address the crisis. The aim is to gather more voices advocating peace. We must uphold the three key principles: no expansion of the battlefields, no escalation of hostilities, and no fanning flames, and strive for swift de-escalation of the situation. While the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the flames of war have once again been rekindled in Lebanon, and conflicts are escalating among the parties. We must promote an immediate ceasefire and an end to the killing. We must make unremitting efforts toward a comprehensive, just and lasting resolution of the Palestinian question.”

– We should build a BRICS committed to innovation, and we must all act as pioneers of high-quality development. China has recently launched a China-BRICS Artificial Intelligence Development and Cooperation Centre. We are ready to deepen cooperation on innovation with all BRICS countries to unleash the dividends of AI development.

– We should build a BRICS committed to green development, and we must all act as promoters of sustainable development. Green is the defining colour of our times. It is important that all BRICS countries proactively embrace the global trend of green and low-carbon transformation.

– We should build a BRICS committed to justice and we must all act as forerunners in reforming global governance. In light of the rise of the Global South, we should respond favourably to the calls from various countries to join BRICS. We should advance the process of expanding BRICS membership and establishing a partner country mechanism and enhance the representation and voice of developing nations in global governance. 

– The current developments make the reform of the international financial architecture all the more pressing. The New Development Bank should be expanded and strengthened.

– We should build a BRICS committed to closer people-to-people exchanges, and we must all act as advocates for harmonious coexistence among all civilisations.

In conclusion he stated: “China is willing to work with all BRICS countries to open a new horizon in the high-quality development of greater BRICS cooperation and join hands with Global South countries in building a community with a shared future for humanity.”

Xi Jinping addressed the BRICS Plus Dialogue on the theme, “Combining the Great Strength of the Global South to Build Together a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity”. He said that:

“The collective rise of the Global South is a distinctive feature of the great transformation across the world. Global South countries marching together toward modernisation is monumental in world history and unprecedented in human civilisation.”

He went on to argue that:

– We should uphold peace and strive for common security. Last July, Palestinian factions reconciled with each other in Beijing, marking a key step toward peace in the Middle East. We must stop the flames of war from spreading in Lebanon and end the miserable sufferings in Palestine and Lebanon.

– We should reinvigorate development and strive for common prosperity.

– We should promote together the development of all civilisations and strive for harmony among them.

Xi Jinping concluded: “No matter how the international landscape evolves, we in China will always keep the Global South in our heart and maintain our roots in the Global South. We support more Global South countries in joining the cause of BRICS as full members, partner countries or in the “BRICS Plus” format so that we can combine the great strength of the Global South to build together a community with a shared future for humanity.”

The following is the full text of the two speeches. They were originally published by the Xinhua News Agency.

Full Text: Address by Chinese President Xi Jinping at 16th BRICS Summit

KAZAN, Russia, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday delivered an important speech at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.

The following is the full text of the speech:

Embracing a Broader View and Cutting Through the Fog of Challenges to Advance High-Quality Development of Greater BRICS Cooperation

Your Excellency President Vladimir Putin,

Colleagues,

First of all, I wish to extend my warm congratulations on the successful opening of this summit. I also wish to thank President Putin and our host Russia for the thoughtful arrangements and warm hospitality.

I would like to take this opportunity to once again welcome new members to our BRICS family. The enlargement of BRICS is a major milestone in its history, and a landmark event in the evolution of the international situation. At this summit, we have decided to invite many countries to become partner countries, which is another major progress in the development of BRICS. As we Chinese often say, “A man of virtue regards righteousness as the greatest interest.” It is for our shared pursuit and for the overarching trend of peace and development that we BRICS countries have come together. We must make full use of this summit, maintain the momentum of BRICS, and consider and devise our strategy to address issues that have a global impact, determine our future direction, and possess strategic significance. We must build on this milestone summit to set off anew and forge ahead with one heart and one mind.

As the world enters a new period defined by turbulence and transformation, we are confronted with pivotal choices that will shape our future. Should we allow the world to descend into the abyss of disorder and chaos, or should we strive to steer it back on the path of peace and development? This reminds me of a novel by Nikolay Chernyshevsky entitled What Is to Be Done? The protagonist’s unwavering determination and passionate drive are exactly the kind of willpower we need today. The more tumultuous our times become, the more we must stand firm at the forefront, exhibiting tenacity, demonstrating the audacity to pioneer and displaying the wisdom to adapt. We must work together to build BRICS into a primary channel for strengthening solidarity and cooperation among Global South nations and a vanguard for advancing global governance reform.

Continue reading Xi Jinping: Global South countries marching together toward modernisation is monumental in world history

Li Qiang: The only true security is security for all

Following his visits to Laos and Vietnam, Chinese Premier Li Qiang paid an official visit to Pakistan, October 14-17, and participated in the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), chaired by Pakistan.

In his address to the heads of government meeting, delivered on October 16, Premier Li noted that:

“At the Astana Summit held last July, President Xi Jinping and fellow leaders of member states reached important understandings on jointly building a common home of the SCO featuring solidarity and mutual trust, peace and tranquility, prosperity and development, good-neighbourliness and friendship, and fairness and justice. This endeavour to build a common home is driven by the values we all share; it focuses on the tough issues we all face, and will help create a future we all desire.”

He expressed the view that this common vision necessitated efforts in five aspects:

  • To build an even more solid political foundation.
  • To provide more reliable security safeguards. “As we speak, geopolitical conflicts, power politics and acts of bullying continue to undermine regional peace and stability, while on such fronts as cyber security and biosecurity, new threats and new challenges continue to emerge. No country is immune, and the only true security is security for all.”
  • To foster closer economic bonds. “The SCO’s continuous expansion of membership in recent years has created more notable economic complementarity among member states. By deepening our economic ties, resisting external attempts at pulling us apart, and tapping into and pooling our respective strengths in resources, market and industries, we will be able to foster even stronger synergy for development.”
  • To cultivate stronger emotional bonds. “Our region is home to diverse and splendid civilisations, where different nations and cultures have interacted and converged with each other throughout the course of history and coexisted in harmony. This has been the source of popular support for cooperation among SCO member states.”
  • To boost coordination in multilateral fora. “Embracing 26 countries from three continents [including Members, Observers and Dialogue Partners], the SCO family is a constructive force that carries important global influence.”

The meeting adopted a Joint Communique, in which:

“The Heads of Delegation noted that the Member States advocate respect for the right of peoples to independently and democratically choose their political, social and economic development, emphasising that the principles of mutual respect for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of states, equality, mutual benefit, non-interference in internal affairs, non-use of force or threat of use of force, are the basis for the sustainable development of international relations. They reaffirm the commitment to the peaceful settlement of differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultations.”

They further noted the tectonic shifts in the global economy, characterised by rapid advancements and interconnectivity in the areas of information technology, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, virtual/digital assets, e-commerce, and so on. They expressed concern over the exacerbation of various challenges that have led to reduced investment flows, disrupted supply chains and caused uncertainty in global financial markets as a result of protectionist measures and other impediments to international trade.

They also opposed protectionist actions, unilateral sanctions and trade restrictions that undermine the multilateral trading system and impede global sustainable development. The heads of delegations emphasised that the unilateral application of sanctions is incompatible with the principles of international law and has a negative impact on third countries and international economic relations.

Recognising the unique role of physical culture and sport in strengthening solidarity and peace, the Heads of Delegations stressed that the SCO Member States will promote the development of international sports cooperation on an equal and depoliticised basis, oppose discrimination against athletes on any grounds, including nationality, language, political and other beliefs, national or social origin. [This refers, in particular, to the discrimination against and exclusion of athletes from member states Russia and Belarus by the Olympic and Paralympic movements as well as some other international sporting bodies.]

The communique further addresses a large number of practical matters across a broad range of subjects.

On October 16, in the margins of the meeting, Li Qiang met with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin.

Li noted that, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has maintained a high level of development. The two sides firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and enjoy fruitful strategic coordination, continued progress in practical cooperation, as well as vigorous people-to-people and sub-national exchanges, delivering tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

Continue reading Li Qiang: The only true security is security for all

Jenny Clegg: Orienting our peace movement towards the Global South

The following is the text of Dr. Jenny Clegg’s speech to our conference celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, held at London’s Bolivar Hall on September 28.

Jenny argues that now, as a wider war looms over us, it is imperative that leftists in the West understand the interconnections between multipolarity, the Global South and China so as to grasp what is going on in the world.

According to her analysis, for the Global South, China provides a model of successful development and the eradication of poverty; its vast market and investment resources puts it at the centre of South-South economic cooperation; whilst its diplomacy fosters unity and promotes pathways towards peace.

Whilst not skirting complexities and problematic factors, she notes that in the next few years, much depends on the BRICS+ holding together.

“The litmus test of BRICS+ right now is their independent foreign policies no matter how hesitant and unreliable… Now is not the time for sitting on the fence, picking and choosing what is right and wrong: that is for the utopian socialists. We have to seize the politics of the moment… if we in Britain can orientate especially our peace movement towards the Global South we will be doing something.”

Jenny is an independent writer and researcher, specialising in China’s development and international role; and a former Senior Lecturer in Asia Pacific Studies at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN). She is the author of ‘China’s Global Strategy: towards a multipolar world’

(Pluto Press, 2009) and ‘Storming the Heavens – Peasants and Revolution in China, 1925-1949 – from a Marxist perspective’ (Manifesto Press, 2024).

There’s more talk now in the Western mainstream about multipolarity, some acknowledgement at least that the world is beginning to change. But 15 years ago, when I was researching for my book on ‘China’s Global Strategy’, I really struggled to find any mention of multipolarity in Western literature.  Yet at the time there was a great deal of debate amongst Chinese scholars about where China fitted into the multipolar trend. 

Today mainstream views see a few random middle powers – Türkiye, Mexico, Malaysia, Australia – starting to play a more important role. The Chinese view, from a historical and materialist perspective, has long recognised multipolarisation as a rebalancing of world power driven by the rise of the Global South.

Now, as a wider war looms over us, it is imperative that leftists in the West understand the interconnections between multipolarity, the Global South and China so as to grasp what is going on in the world.

Amidst multiplying crises, Global South countries are increasingly looking to each other rather than the West.  Given their experiences of vaccine apartheid, high interest rates exacerbating debt, inflation from the Ukraine war, the failure of rich nations to cough up on climate change, Global South countries have every reason to come together as a more vocal force for peace and development.

South-South networks are proliferating; the objective conditions for multipolarisation are unfolding – India and Brazil have risen into the top 10 world economies soon to be followed by Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria displacing G7 members. And subjective consciousness is shifting: one after another, countries across the developing world refused to take sides in the Ukraine conflict – now they are united in horror of Israel’s genocide and in anger and disgust at the double standards of the West’s complicity.

Of course, past experience has shown Global South collective efforts are liable to succumb to imperialist division as when their 1974 call for a New International Economic order fell apart by the 1980s.

Today, the role of China as by far the largest developing state is critical.

For the Global South, China provides a model of successful development and the eradication of poverty; its vast market and investment resources puts it at the centre of South-South economic cooperation; whilst its diplomacy fosters unity and promotes pathways towards peace.

For sure there are problems – reproducing the pattern of colonial trade of raw materials for manufactured goods is hard to change in a short time. Investment projects through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have not always been the best or wisest, but even if as many as 40 percent run into difficulties – as some critics claim – that means 60 percent are working and are making a difference.

Now China is opening a path for developing countries to leapfrog into a green and digitised future. Throwing itself into the growth of new quality productive forces domestically, China is becoming the indispensable power in the global green transition.

Deals with China in general offer something stable to hold onto in an anarchic world economy. Against the colonial pattern, the recent China-Africa summit saw important commitments which will amount to one million jobs for African people.

Now, catching the new momentum in the Global South, China has accelerated its diplomatic activity in forums such as the SCO, the G77+, the BRICS+, the China-Africa and other such forums. Its global initiatives on development, security and civilisation carry forward the basic principles of the UN Charter building on the five principles of peaceful coexistence and the 1955 Bandung agreement.

Continue reading Jenny Clegg: Orienting our peace movement towards the Global South

Time to step up against China-baiting

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy is paying an official visit to China, October 18-19. It is the first visit by a cabinet member to China since the Labour Party won the July 4 general election.

Lammy’s visit was inauspiciously prefaced by an exchange in the House of Commons on October 16 between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his predecessor and outgoing leader of the Conservative Party Rishi Sunak.

In its October 18 edition, the Morning Star newspaper carried an editorial arguing that it was ‘’time to step up against China baiting”.

It noted that Sunak used one of his last appearances at Prime Minister’s Questions as Leader of the Opposition to run through “a familiar litany of sinophobic talking points”, related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Ukraine and Britain’s higher education sector, and added:

“Sunak is yesterday’s politician. The alarming thing about the exchange is that Keir Starmer agreed with him on every point.”

It noted that while Starmer claimed that Britain stood for a combination of cooperating with, competing with and challenging China:

“In fact, the government’s position is worse than that. It appears fully signed up to the Washington-led agenda of confrontation with China.”

The editorial goes on to argue the need to, “focus on the central issue – this military, political, economic and diplomatic offensive against what will shortly be the world’s largest economy runs profoundly against the interests of working people in Britain.

“Addressing the economic and social problems crippling Britain after 15 years of crisis, austerity and degradation of core state functions depends, among other things, on developing links with a Chinese economy that remains among the most dynamic in the world.

“Sanctions and disruption of trade will certainly hurt us here in Britain more than they will damage China… if there is indeed a ‘black hole’ in the public finances, then better relations with China would go a very long way to filling it.”

It concludes: “Peace demands an end to sinophobia. The labour and peace movements must step up.”

The following is the full text of the editorial.

In Britain as in the United States there is a political consensus around China-baiting. Never has the old saw that when the House of Commons is united it is nearly always wrong been more applicable.

In one of his last appearances at the dispatch box as Tory leader, Rishi Sunak spent his time at Prime Minister’s Questions this week running through a familiar litany of sinophobic talking points, prompted apparently by Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s impending visit to Beijing.

First, there were the military manoeuvres the People’s Republic is conducting near Taiwan, internationally acknowledged to be Chinese territory under the “one China” principle.

Then there was the human rights situation in Hong Kong, a former British colony where London maintained a regime of political repression and the denial of any democratic rights until its return to China in 1997.

That was followed by a denunciation of China for not falling into line with Nato’s position over Ukraine, as if China was obliged to follow the diplomatic diktats of its former imperialist overlords.

And then Sunak raised various purported threats to Britain’s domestic security from China, in higher education and elsewhere.

Sunak is yesterday’s politician. The alarming thing about the exchange is that Keir Starmer agreed with him on every point.

The Prime Minister claimed that Britain stood for co-operation with China where possible, along with competition economically and challenging it over “values” and national security.

In fact, the government’s position is worse than that. It appears fully signed up to the Washington-led agenda of confrontation with China.

This involves conducting a slander campaign about China’s internal affairs while escalating military tension in the Far East, most notably with the Aukus pact with the US and Australia which gives a new twist to the arms race there.

It is not necessary for socialists and peace campaigners in Britain to provide a counter-narrative on every single issue. China can well look after itself and it is sufficient to note that many of the matters raised in this new cold war are China’s internal concerns which it has the sovereign right to address.

More important is to focus on the central issue — this military, political, economic and diplomatic offensive against what will shortly be the world’s largest economy runs profoundly against the interests of working people in Britain.

Addressing the economic and social problems crippling Britain after 15 years of crisis, austerity and degradation of core state functions depends, among other things, on developing links with a Chinese economy that remains among the most dynamic in the world.

Sanctions and disruption of trade will certainly hurt us here in Britain more than they will damage China.

Sorting out our beleaguered higher education sector, with universities on the edge of insolvency, requires more, not fewer, Chinese students.

An intensified arms race of the sort involved in Aukus and other military deployments to the Pacific will also cost working people dear at a time of floundering public services.

Take these points together then, if there is indeed a “black hole” in the public finances, then better relations with China would go a very long way to filling it.

But the main reason for challenging the bipartisan hostility to China is that it is setting the country on the road to war, trailing as ever behind a US desperate to prolong its fading global hegemony.

Britain has no business whatsoever in striking military poses on the other side of the world, nor in interfering in relations between Beijing and Taiwan.

Peace demands an end to sinophobia. The labour and peace movements must step up.

China and Vietnam reaffirm spirit of being good neighbours, good friends, good comrades, and good partners

Following his October 9-12 visit to Laos, where he also took part in a series of regional meetings, Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Vietnam from October 12-14, at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Minh Chinh. It was Li Qiang’s first visit to the country since he assumed office and the first by a Chinese Premier in 11 years. Moreover, the visit marks a further chapter in the current intense program of high-level bilateral exchanges between the two socialist neighbours.

In his statement on arrival, Li Qiang said that the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam has a long and enduring history, adding that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, bilateral relations have been developing steadily.

Since the beginning of the year, the two countries have maintained close high-level exchanges and achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields, and the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future has started well.

In August, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President, held talks with To Lam, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Vietnamese President, when the two leaders made a strategic blueprint for comprehensively advancing the China-Vietnam community with a shared future under the new circumstances, charting the course for further development of bilateral relations.

In the face of accelerated changes unseen in a century and growing global risks and challenges, China and Vietnam, as companions of socialism, should strengthen unity and coordination and join hands to promote peace and seek common development, Li said.

On the evening of his arrival, To Lam received the Chinese Premier.

Welcoming Li’s first visit to Vietnam as the Premier of China, Lam stressed that the visit is of important significance, as it helps develop the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries in a deeper and more substantive and comprehensive direction, meeting the aspirations and common interests of the two countries’ people, for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

On the occasion of the 75th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, he congratulated the Chinese Party, State, and people on their significant achievements, especially the successful implementation of the reform and open-door policy, which has led to many important accomplishments in socio-economic development.

“Vietnam always considers the development of relations with China as a top priority in its foreign policy,” he stressed.

Congratulating the Vietnamese people on their important achievements under the leadership of the CPV, the Chinese Premier emphasised that his country regards the development of relations with Vietnam as a priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy and affirmed that the Chinese Party and Government consistently support Vietnam’s renewal, development, and socialist construction.

In an atmosphere of friendship and trust, the leaders informed each other about the situation of each Party and each country. Lam briefed his guest on major positive results in socio-economic development, Party building and rectification, and the fight against corruption and negative phenomena in Vietnam in the past time, as well as preparations for the 14th National Congress of the CPV, which is identified as an important milestone, opening a new era – the era for realising the goal of successfully building socialism.

Host and guest also reviewed the outstanding achievements in bilateral cooperation in the past time, showing their delight at the important and comprehensive progress of the Vietnam-China relationship. They emphasised that the two sides have seriously and actively implemented the important high-level common perceptions reached during the historic visits of late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping in 2022 and 2023 respectively; and the state visit to China by General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and State President To Lam to China in line with the “six major goals” (stronger political trust, more substantial cooperation in defence-security, deeper and more practical cooperation, more solid social foundation, closer multilateral coordination, and better management and settlement of differences).

Lam and Li agreed to maintain regular exchanges at all levels, especially the high level; effectively promote the channels of party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy; boost cooperation in the fields of defence, security, and foreign affairs; together respond effectively to non-traditional security challenges; and improve the effectiveness of existing mechanisms between the two countries and expand the implementation of new mechanisms.

The top Vietnamese leader said Vietnam welcomes and is willing to create favourable conditions for Chinese enterprises to invest in large-scale, advanced technology projects in Vietnam, representing China’s development level and bringing practical benefits to both nations and their people. The Chinese Premier emphasised that China will further open its market to Vietnamese agricultural products and support the neighbouring country in establishing trade promotion offices in China.

Li Qiang met his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh on October 13.

Congratulating the Chinese Party, Government and fraternal people on their achievements over the past 75 years, Chinh affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to strengthening and developing its friendly and cooperative relations with China, considering it a consistent policy, an objective requirement, a strategic choice, and a top priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy.

Continue reading China and Vietnam reaffirm spirit of being good neighbours, good friends, good comrades, and good partners

China, Laos witness new landmark of friendship

Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR) from October 9-12, where he attended the 27th ASEAN [Association of South East Asian Nations] Plus Three [China, Japan and the Republic of Korea] Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit, and then paid an official visit to Laos, October 11-12, at the invitation of Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone. The LPDR is the rotating chair of ASEAN for 2024.

Following his visit to Laos, Li paid an official visit to Vietnam, October 12-14, at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. These were Premier Li’s first visits to the two countries since he took office.

Meeting on October 11 with General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith, Li said that China and Laos are socialist comrades and brothers, noting that over the past 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the relations between the two parties and two countries have withstood the test of changes in the international landscape and shown new vitality.

He added that China firmly supports Laos in pursuing a socialist path in line with its national conditions and stands ready to continue firmly supporting each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns.

Li called on both sides to speed up the implementation of the new action plan for building a China-Laos community with a shared future and to continue promoting the strategic alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the planned transformation of Laos from a land-locked to a land-linked country.

Hailing China’s historic development achievements and its rising international influence under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, Thongloun said the Lao party, government and people have always regarded China as an inseparable good neighbour, good friend, good comrade and good partner.

Laos is ready to further strengthen high-level exchanges with China, reinforce the alignment of Laos’ national development strategy with the BRI, advance cooperation in key areas such as the Laos-China Railway, deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and push the construction of the Laos-China community with a shared future to a higher level to better benefit the two peoples.

In his meeting with President of the National Assembly of Laos Saysomphone Phomvihane the same day, Li said China and Laos, as friendly socialist neighbours, support each other in the struggle for national independence and liberation, and learn from each other in their respective causes of reform, opening up and innovation. “Comrades and brothers” is a vivid portrayal of the traditional friendship between the two parties and two countries, he added.

For his part, Saysomphone Phomvihane expressed gratitude for China’s long-term support for Laos’ economic and social development, adding that Laos is willing to strengthen exchanges with China’s legislative bodies, deepen the exchange of experience on state governance, promote the in-depth development of Laos-China friendly and practical cooperation, so as to push for more achievements in the building of a Laos-China community with a shared future.

Meeting with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on October 12, Li said that China and Laos are good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners that share a river and a common future.

Li pointed out that China is ready to work with Laos to speed up the development along the China-Laos Railway and juxtaposed border control, and strengthen cooperation in new energy, advanced manufacturing, digital economy and artificial intelligence, among other fields.

China is also willing to import more quality agricultural products from Laos, he said, calling on the two sides to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in medical care, education, media, culture and tourism and at sub-national levels to deepen mutual understanding and amity between the two peoples and consolidate China-Laos friendship from generation to generation.

Congratulating Laos on the successful hosting of the leaders’ meetings on East Asia cooperation as the rotating chair of ASEAN, Li said that China stands ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Laos in the United Nations, ASEAN, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and other multilateral mechanisms, actively implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilisation Initiative, and jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation.

For his part, Sonexay warmly congratulated China on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic, highly praised China’s remarkable development achievements, and sincerely thanked China for its long-term strong support for Laos’ economic and social development.

Laos is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, strengthen high-level and all-level exchanges in various fields, give full play to the role of the Laos-China Railway in driving economic and trade cooperation, expand collaboration in trade, investment, agriculture, infrastructure, digital economy and other areas, as well as deepen cultural, people-to-people and tourist exchanges and cooperation.

After their meeting, Li and Sonexay together attended a ceremony which displayed cooperation documents on interconnectivity, economy and trade, inspection and quarantine, green development and other fields.  During Li’s visit, the two countries also released a joint statement.

In the statement, China and Laos agreed to continue to strengthen practical cooperation under the framework of strategic alignment between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Laos’ strategy to “convert the landlocked country into a land-linked hub” and to implement the outline of the cooperation plan for jointly building the Belt and Road between the two countries.

Premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone also attended the inauguration ceremony of the China-aided Mahosot General Hospital building, pledging to reap more fruits in the building of the China-Laos community with a shared future.

Continue reading China, Laos witness new landmark of friendship

China intensifies push for peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine

China used the 2024 session of the United Nations General Assembly, held in New York in the last week of September, to further intensify its diplomatic push for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.

On September 27, a ministerial meeting of the “Friends for Peace” group on the Ukraine crisis was held at the UN headquarters, co-chaired by Foreign Minister Wang Yi along with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Chief Advisor of the Presidency of Brazil Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim. Representatives from 17 Global South countries were present, including the foreign ministers of Egypt, Indonesia, South Africa, Mexico and Zambia.

Wang Yi said, “We gather here with a single purpose: to seek peace… The original intention of this meeting is to unite more forces and amplify stronger voices to contribute Global South countries’ efforts to promoting a ceasefire and achieving lasting peace.”

He emphasised that in the choice between peace and war, the world must resolutely choose peace. “The more critical the situation and the more serious the crisis, the more we cannot give up hope for peace, and the more we cannot slacken our efforts for peace.”

In the choice between dialogue and confrontation, it is essential to firmly choose dialogue. No matter how great the conflicts or how deep the contradictions are, everything must ultimately return to the track of dialogue and negotiation. At the onset of the full escalation of the Ukraine crisis, both Russia and Ukraine were close to reaching an agreement, but it ultimately fell through, and the reasons for this should be reflected upon. [This clearly refers to the efforts of a handful of imperialist countries, principally the United States and Britain, to pressurise, goad and incite Ukraine to reject peace, even when they had already agreed to terms that would have ended the conflict.]

Wang Yi added that Brazil, China, South Africa, Egypt, Indonesia, Türkiye and other countries, as partners of the Global South committed to the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, agreed to launch the “Friends of Peace” initiative on the Ukraine crisis at the platform of the United Nations. The “Friends of Peace” platform is not about taking sides in the conflict, engaging in bloc confrontation, or replacing existing platforms. It is open and welcomes the joining of more like-minded countries, in particular, Global South countries.

In a joint communique issued by the meeting, the participating countries underlined the importance of peaceful solutions for all international conflicts, whilst continuing to promote the spirit of solidarity and partnership between nations, as emphasised by the Bandung principles.

It further stated:

“We call for increased humanitarian assistance and protection of civilians, including women and children. Civilian infrastructures, including peaceful nuclear facilities and other energy facilities should not be the targets of military operation. We support mediation efforts for the exchange of prisoners of war (POWs) between the parties to the conflict.

“We call for refraining from the use or the threat of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons and chemical and biological weapons. All efforts must be made to prevent nuclear proliferation and avoid a nuclear war. All parties must comply with relevant international laws and agreements and resolutely prevent man-made nuclear accidents.”

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

“Friends for Peace” Group on the Ukraine Crisis Set up in the United Nations

Sep 28 (MFA) — On September 27, 2024 local time, a ministerial meeting of the “Friends for Peace” group on the Ukraine crisis was held at the UN headquarters in New York. The meeting was co-chaired by Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi as well as Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and Chief Advisor of the Presidency of Brazil Celso Luiz Nunes Amorim. Representatives from 17 Global South countries were present, including Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Ozzy Lamola, Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena, and Zambian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mulambo Haimbe.

Wang Yi said, “We gather here with a single purpose: to seek peace.” The Ukraine crisis has entered its third year. The fighting is still raging, the risks of spillover are rising, the dawn of peace has yet to emerge, and the developments in the situation are concerning. The original intention of this meeting is to unite more forces and amplify stronger voices to contribute Global South countries’ efforts to promoting a ceasefire and achieving lasting peace.

Continue reading China intensifies push for peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine

China and DPRK mark 75 years of diplomatic relations

China and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) marked the 75th anniversary of their establishing diplomatic relations on October 6. One of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, the DPRK had been founded in the previous year. However, the north of Korea had been liberated by communist-led partisans, supported by the Soviet Red Army, in August 1945. Between 1946-49, the Korean communists provided very significant support to their Chinese comrades, making an important contribution to the liberation of north-east China.

Top leaders of China and the DPRK, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un, marked the occasion with an exchange of messages.

Xi Jinping wrote that: “For 75 years, the two countries have advanced hand in hand on the road of promoting socialist construction while supporting and strengthening exchange and cooperation with each other in the struggle to consolidate the people’s power and defend national sovereignty and have closely cooperated in the work to promote regional peace and stability and safeguard international equity and justice.

“The traditional China-DPRK friendship has withstood the changes of the times and the trials of the ever-changing international situation and become a precious asset common to the two countries and the two peoples.”

He added that: “In the new era and under the new situation, the Chinese side is ready to jointly promote, together with the DPRK side, the stable and further advance of the socialist cause in the two countries and provide the two peoples with better welfare by continuing to write a new chapter of the traditional China-DPRK friendship through strengthened strategic communications and coordination and deepened friendly exchange and cooperation with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an occasion.”

For his part, Kim Jong Un stated that: “Over the past 75 years, the two parties and the two countries have vigorously advanced along the road of socialism, withstanding all sorts of trials and challenges of history with the firm faith in the validity of their cause.”

He added: “Recently, the Chinese people celebrated the 75th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. We hope that the Chinese people will achieve steady and fresh successes in the course of building a modern socialist country on a full scale under the leadership of the Communist Party of China with you as its core.”

The two countries’ foreign ministers also exchanged greetings.

Wang Yi wrote to his DPRK counterpart Choe Son Hui that, the traditional China-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations have entered a new historic period and are maintaining stable development under the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong Un in recent years.

Saying that it is the steadfast policy of the Chinese party and government to successfully defend, consolidate and develop the China-DPRK relations, the message expressed the willingness to promote the greater development of the China-DPRK relations in line with the important common understanding reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries and the common desire of the two peoples.

For her part, Choe Son Hui noted that the two countries have supported and closely cooperated with each other in various fields including politics, economy and culture for the past 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

She added that it is an important duty for the diplomatic field of the two countries to steadily consolidate and develop the DPRK-China friendship and jointly and dynamically promote the socialist cause under the present complicated international situation.

The following articles were originally published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). A related article issued by the Xinhua News Agency may be read here.

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Receives Greetings from Chinese President

Pyongyang, October 6 (KCNA) — Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a message of greeting from Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and president of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), on October 6.

Continue reading China and DPRK mark 75 years of diplomatic relations

China’s ambassador to the UK: History inspires us to better relations

The following article by Zheng Zeguang, China’s Ambassador to the UK, was originally carried in the special supplement marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, which was compiled and edited by Friends of Socialist China and published together with the Morning Star on Saturday, September 28, to coincide with our conference the same day. It is the main body of the speech he delivered at the reception he hosted to mark the anniversary on the evening of September 25.

The Ambassador’s speech was carried in full on the website of the Chinese Embassy, along with a report on the reception. A response to the Ambassador’s speech, on behalf of the British government, was delivered by Catherine West MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The PDF of the full Morning Star supplement may be downloaded here.

Seventy-five years ago, the birth of New China marked the end of more than a century of humiliation for the country, and the beginning of the historic process of China’s rejuvenation.

Over the past 75 years, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chinese people of all ethnic groups have united as one and worked diligently to achieve two phenomenal miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability.

In the new era, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China has made historic achievements and gone through unprecedented transformation.

We have built a well-off society, and are working towards a great, modern socialist country in all respects. National rejuvenation is now on an irreversible course.

China’s composite national strength has achieved historic growth. Once a poor country, China is now the world’s second biggest economy, and the biggest manufacturer, biggest trader in goods, and the country with the biggest foreign exchange reserves.

Based on constant prices, China’s GDP in 2023 is 223 times larger than that of 1952. The average annual growth rate has been 7.9%.

China has become a scientific and technological powerhouse, and important advances have been made in the country’s national defence capabilities.

China is home to the world’s biggest middle-income group with the best growth potential. We have put in place the world’s largest medical, educational and social security systems. The quality of people’s lives has seen continuous improvement.

China’s development has been an engine for the global economy. From 1979 to 2023, China’s contribution to global economic growth averaged 24.8% annually, and for the period between 2013 and 2023, the figure was over 30%.

China itself is making remarkable progress in green and low carbon transition and is now the world’s biggest clean energy producer. In the meantime, China’s ‘new three’, namely, new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products are enabling other countries to expedite their transition.

As a developing country itself, China feels the desire of other developing countries for modernisation and is actually facilitating the modernisation of the Global South, through the Belt and Road Initiative and South-South cooperation.

By the end of 2023, the accumulated investment made by China in Belt and Road partner countries reached over two trillion RMB.

Chinese companies have helped to build Latin America’s first ultra-high-voltage transmission line, Africa’s first modern electrified railway, and its first digital mining project, among many other infrastructure and livelihood projects in developing countries.

China’s development has injected positive energy into world peace. Following an independent foreign policy of peace, China has been building friendship and cooperation with all countries on the basis of mutual respect, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit.

Over the past 75 years, China has never initiated any war or conflict and has never occupied an inch of other countries’ territory. We have always worked for peace and dialogue, and the political settlement of international disputes.

China has sent more troops to UN peacekeeping missions than any other permanent members of the Security Council. We are now the second biggest funding contributor to both the UN and its peacekeeping operations.

In the face of increasing volatility and transformation around the world, we call on all countries to work together to build a community with a shared future and call for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation. 

We stand ready to work with all parties to earnestly implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilisation Initiative, so as to bring about more stability and economic growth to this turbulent world.

As we speak, the Chinese people are going all out to achieve modernisation through our own path. Daunting as our mission may be, we have full confidence in achieving our goals.

In the next five years, we will complete over 300 reforms and further enhance our institutions in different sectors, as set out at the third plenum of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

With these measures, China’s productivity and social vitality will be further unleashed, the development momentum further reinforced, and new opportunities will be created for China’s cooperation with other countries.

The United Kingdom was among the first major Western countries to recognise New China. And it has been 52 years now since the two countries established full-fledged diplomatic relations.

History has taught us a lot about the relations between these two countries:

–Despite the differences in political system, history and culture, we have a lot in common and extensive shared interests.

–Exchanges and cooperation conform to the common aspiration of our peoples and serve the fundamental interests of both sides.

–With our respective advantages in economy, education and culture, there are great potentials for collaboration.

–We can contribute to the resolution of major international issues by working together, and this is also our responsibility as two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

Last month, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Keir Starmer reached important common understanding in their phone call. They agreed that we should uphold mutual respect, enhance engagement, and expand cooperation.

And recently, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Secretary David Lammy met in Laos, Vice Premier He Lifeng and Chancellor Rachel Reeves talked over the phone, and so did our energy ministers. Our two militaries have just conducted their consultations on defence strategies.

Going forward, we should work together to follow up on the understanding between our leaders and build a stable and mutually beneficial relationship.

The development of China-UK relations needs the support of people across different sectors from both countries.

We never forget the “Icebreakers” who opened the doors for trade between China and the UK in the 1950s.

We never forget that generation of statesmen from both countries who made the strategic decision to establish diplomatic relations 52 years ago.

And we never forget all those who have worked tirelessly to help connect our two peoples over the past seven decades.

All of them continue to give inspiration to us today.

I call on all of you to continue to support and take an active part in China-UK relations and make new contributions to the steady development of this relationship.

China, Iran, Pakistan and Russia advocate for an independent, united and peaceful Afghanistan

On the invitation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the third quadrilateral Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the People’s Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and the Russian Federation, on Afghanistan was held on September 27, 2024, on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. 

In a joint statement issued following their discussions, the four neighbours of Afghanistan reiterated their support for the country’s national sovereignty, political independence, unity, and territorial integrity. They asserted that all members of the international community have a shared interest in a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, “a country that should serve as a platform for international cooperation rather than geopolitical competition.”

The ministers expressed deep concern over the security situation related to terrorism in Afghanistan, noting that terrorist groups such as ISIL, Al-Qaida, the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish ul-Adl, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other similar groups in the region including the Majeed Brigade, as well as others, based in Afghanistan, continue to pose a serious threat to regional and global security. 

They acknowledged the efforts of Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to combat ISIL-Khorasan and called on them to take visible and verifiable actions to fulfill the international obligations and commitments made by Afghanistan to fight terrorism, dismantle, and eliminate all terrorist groups equally and in a non-discriminatory fashion, and prevent the use of Afghan territory against its neighbours, the region, and beyond. (The reference to de facto authorities reflects the fact that no country, including the four represented in this meeting, has yet formally recognised the current regime established by the Taliban.)

In this regard, the ministers emphasised the importance of building an inclusive and broad-based governance system in Afghanistan that reflects the interests and aspirations of all segments of Afghan society. 

They called for practical support to the country and rejected imperialist pressure and bullying, saying that they:

  • Supported effective regional initiatives aimed at uplifting Afghanistan’s economy and emphasised the importance of continued economic engagement with the de facto authorities to alleviate the dire situation of the Afghan people.
  • Expressed willingness to expand economic and trade cooperation and regional connectivity with Afghanistan that will contribute to the active integration of Afghanistan into the regional economic cooperation.
  • Pointed out that NATO members should bear the primary responsibility for the current plight in Afghanistan. They should create opportunities for Afghanistan’s economic recovery and future development and prosperity, immediately lift unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan, and return Afghanistan’s overseas assets for the benefit of the Afghan people.

At the same time, they emphasised the importance of the rights and needs of the entire population of the country including all ethnic and religious groups. They also stressed that women and girls’ access to education, and economic opportunities, including access to work, participation in public life, freedom of movement, justice and basic services, will contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the country.

They also encouraged the de facto authorities to maintain a friendly and cooperative foreign policy, adhere to international law, comply with international obligations within the bilateral and multilateral treaties that Afghanistan is a party to, and coexist peacefully with neighbouring countries, and the region. 

They further advocated for the establishment of Afghanistan as an independent, united, and peaceful state, free from terrorism, war, and narcotics, living in peace with its neighbours and ensuring respect for basic human rights and freedoms, including for women, children, persons with disabilities, and ethnic and religious minorities. 

We reprint below the full text of the statement issued by China, Iran, Pakistan and Russia. It was originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Upon the invitation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the third quadrilateral  Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the People’s Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and the Russian Federation, on Afghanistan was held on 27 September  2024 on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. 

During the meeting, the Ministers discussed the situation in Afghanistan and agreed on the following points:

1- The Ministers reiterated their support for Afghanistan’s national sovereignty, political independence, unity, and territorial integrity. They reaffirmed principles of international law, particularly non-interference in its internal affairs, and the right of the Afghan people to independently decide the future of their country in accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter.

2- The Ministers stressed that all members of the international community have a shared interest in a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, a country that should serve as a platform for international cooperation rather than geopolitical competition. 

3- The Ministers expressed deep concern over the security situation related to terrorism in Afghanistan, noting that terrorist groups such as ISIL, Al-Qaida, the Eastern Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish ul-Adl, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other similar groups in the region including Majeed Brigade, as well as others, based in Afghanistan, continue to pose a serious threat to regional and global security. 

4- The Ministers called on strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels. Afghanistan should be supported in taking comprehensive measures to address both the symptoms and root causes of terrorism and to eradicate terrorism at an early date.

5- The Ministers acknowledged the efforts of Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to combat ISIL-Khorasan. They called on de facto authorities to take visible and verifiable actions in fulfilling the international obligations and commitments made by Afghanistan to fight terrorism, dismantle, and eliminate all terrorist groups equally and non-discriminatory and prevent the use of Afghan territory against its neighbors, the region, and beyond. 

6- The Ministers condemned the recent terrorist attacks in all shapes and forms in Afghanistan and the region, including the attacks by ISIL-K on Karbala pilgrims on 13 September  2024 and the attacks by TTP in Bannu and Besham in Pakistan on 15 July and 26 March 2024, respectively. 

7- The Ministers expressed deep concern over the terrorism-related security situation in Afghanistan and the region and stressed the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, as well as principles of equal indivisible security, examine regional security issues from a more comprehensive and integrated perspective, and work together to address various security challenges in Afghanistan and the region. 

8- The Ministers emphasized the importance of building an inclusive and broad-based governance system in Afghanistan that reflects the interests and aspirations of all segments of Afghan society. 

9- The Ministers commended the de facto authorities’ efforts to reduce the cultivation of traditional opium. They called for comprehensive measures to combat narcotics, particularly in light of the significant rise in the production of synthetic drugs, including methamphetamine jointly fighting against and dismantling transnational organized criminal groups involved in the trafficking of opiates, and cutting off trade and transit corridors of narcotics within and beyond the region and stressed the importance of the international assistance to promote agricultural development and alternative crops on the way to building a society free of drug abuse.

10 -The Ministers urged de facto authorities to create conditions that facilitate the return of Afghan refugees to their homeland, prevent further migration, and take serious measures to ensure returnees’ livelihoods and reintegration into political and social processes to achieve a lasting solution. 

11- The Ministers expressed appreciation for the regional countries, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan, for hosting millions of Afghan refugees. They urged the international community and donors to provide, adequate, predictable, regular, and sustainable financial support and other necessary assistance, in line with the principle of international responsibility and burden sharing, for time-bound and well-resourced repatriation of refugees back to Afghanistan, as well as to countries hosting Afghan refugees, particularly the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. 

12- The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of countering attempts to politicize the provision of humanitarian assistance needed by the people of Afghanistan and called on the international community to continue providing humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and help the country strengthen its capacity for sustainable and self-reliant development. 

13- The Ministers supported effective regional initiatives aimed at uplifting Afghanistan’s economy and emphasized the importance of continued economic engagement with de facto authorities to alleviate the dire situation of the Afghan people.

14- The Ministers expressed willingness to expand economic and trade cooperation and regional connectivity with Afghanistan that will contribute to the active integration of Afghanistan into the regional economic cooperation.

15- The Ministers emphasized the importance of the rights and needs of the entire population of the country including all ethnic and religious groups.  They also stressed that women and girls’ access to education, and economic opportunities, including access to work, participation in public life, freedom of movement, justice and basic services, will contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the country.

16-The Ministers pointed out that NATO members should bear the primary responsibility for the current plight in Afghanistan. They should create opportunities for Afghanistan’s economic recovery and future development and prosperity, immediately lift unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan, and return Afghanistan’s overseas assets for the benefit of the Afghan people.

17 -The Ministers encouraged de facto authorities to maintain a friendly and cooperative foreign policy, adhere to international law, comply with international obligations within the bilateral and multilateral treaties that Afghanistan is a party to, and coexist peacefully with neighboring countries, and the region. 

18 -The Ministers emphasized that strengthening peace and stability in Afghanistan and countering the threats of terrorism, radicalism, and drug crime emanating from its territory are in line with our common interests in the region. They advocated for the establishment of Afghanistan as an independent, united, and peaceful state, free from terrorism, war, and narcotics, living in peace with its neighbors and ensuring respect for basic human rights and freedoms, including for women, children, persons with disabilities, and ethnic and religious minorities. 

19- The Ministers supported all diplomatic efforts that are conducive to the political settlement of the Afghan issue and supported the international community, especially the United Nations. They emphasized the significant role of regional frameworks such as the Moscow Format, the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of Afghanistan’s Neighboring Countries, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, to play a positive role in achieving a political solution.

Building on past achievements and forging ahead together toward a Community with a Shared Future

Chinese Foreign Ministry Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visited New York from September 22-28 to attend the United Nations (UN) Summit of the Future and the general debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly as the special representative of President Xi Jinping.

During that week, in a hectic program, Wang Yi also attended a number of events hosted by China, including to promote the Global Development Initiative and to enhance international cooperation on AI, as well as multilateral events, including the Security Council High Level Open Debate, the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting and the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting. He also met with the UN Secretary-General, the President of the 79th session of the General Assembly, and with leaders and foreign ministers of numerous countries.

On September 28, Wang Yi addressed the General Assembly, taking as his theme, ‘Building on Past Achievements and Forging Ahead Together Toward a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity’. He stated that:

This institution, the United Nations, embodies the aspirations of people across the world for lasting peace and common prosperity, and bears witness to the glorious journey of the international community coming together in pursuit of progress. President Xi Jinping stressed on multiple occasions that the role of the UN should be strengthened, not weakened.

He went on to note that, in today’s world:

  • The security of all countries is tied together. In the face of various kinds of global challenges and risks, no one can stay immune or enjoy security alone. Countries need to be guided by a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. We should respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, take the legitimate security concerns of others seriously, and resolve disputes and differences through dialogue and consultation.
  • The development of all countries is deeply integrated. If the rich get richer while the poor remain poor, then “everyone is born equal” would become an empty slogan, and fairness and justice would be even more elusive. Achieving modernisation is a legitimate right of the people of all countries, not a prerogative of a few.
  • Each civilisation has its own strengths. President Xi Jinping pointed out that there is no such thing as a superior or inferior civilisation, and civilisations are different only in identity and location. We should respect the diversity of civilisations and strive to replace estrangement and clash of civilisations with exchanges and mutual learning.
  • Countries should all enjoy sovereign equality. As a large number of Global South nations are growing with a strong momentum, gone are the days when one or two major powers call the shots on everything. We should advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world, and see that all countries, regardless of their size, have their own place and role in the multipolar system.

Prior to addressing a number of the acute areas of conflict and tension at present, the Chinese Foreign Minister noted that:

Peace is the most precious thing in our world today. You may wonder if there is a path leading to peace. In fact, peace is the path. Without peace, development will not sustain; without peace, cooperation cannot happen. For the sake of peace, a single ray of hope is reason enough not to give up; the slightest chance deserves a hundredfold effort.

Besides outlining China’s positions on Ukraine and Afghanistan, Wang said:

The question of Palestine is the biggest wound to human conscience. As we speak, the conflict in Gaza is still going on, causing more civilian casualties with each passing day. Fighting has spread to Lebanon; might must not take the place of justice. Palestine’s long-held aspiration to establish an independent state should not be shunned anymore, and the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people should not be ignored any longer.

China, he added, has always been a staunch supporter of the just cause of the Palestinian people to regain their legitimate national rights, and a staunch supporter of Palestine’s full UN membership. We have recently helped to bring about breakthroughs in intra-Palestine reconciliation and will continue to work in concert with like-minded countries for a comprehensive and just settlement of the question of Palestine and durable peace and security in the Middle East.

The Korean peninsula, he stressed, should not experience war again. The important thing is to make persistent effort for de-escalation, commit to seeking solutions through dialogue and consultation, realise a transition from the armistice to a peace mechanism, and safeguard peace and stability on the peninsula.

China, once a victim of foreign power bullying, knows full well the value of peace and the hard-won gains of development. In fact, China is the only major country that has written peaceful development into its constitution, and the only country among the five nuclear-weapon states [recognised by the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)] to pledge no-first-use of nuclear weapons.

Wang further noted that:

In the face of unilateral, bullying acts such as sanctions and blockade, China firmly supports countries in defending their legitimate rights, upholding the equity and openness of the international system, making global development more coordinated and beneficial for all, and jointly opposing technology blockade and rejecting decoupling or severing supply chains. Sanctions and pressure will not bring monopolistic advantages. Suppressing and containing others will not solve problems at home. The right of people of all countries to pursue a better life should not be taken away. Here, we once again urge the United States to completely lift its blockade, sanctions and terrorism-related designation against Cuba.

In the face of aggravating ecological challenges, he said that China is firmly committed to a path of green, low-carbon and sustainable development. We will move from carbon peaking to carbon neutrality in the shortest time span in world history, contributing China’s efforts to harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.

In conclusion, Wang Yi stated that:

Next year will mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of this very organisation. China stands ready to work with all countries to renew the founding purposes and mission of the UN, reaffirm our steadfast commitment to the UN Charter, advocate and practice true multilateralism, build a community with a shared future for humanity, and jointly usher in a better world.

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

Mr. President,
Colleagues,

Continue reading Building on past achievements and forging ahead together toward a Community with a Shared Future

Xi congratulates Dissanayake on assuming presidency of Sri Lanka

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the People’s Liberation Front (JVP), was inaugurated as the President of Sri Lanka on September 23.

Dissanayake, who stood as the candidate of the Jathika Jana Balawegaya (National People’s Power), an alliance of 28 left wing political parties and mass organisations of workers, women, youth, ethnic groups, and others, initiated by the JVP, led the poll on September 21 with 42.31% of the vote. As no candidate secured 50%, for the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, a second round of voting was held, in which Dissanayake emerged victorious with 55.89%. As a result, the leader of a Marxist political party has become the country’s head of state for the first time.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was among the first world leaders to extend congratulations to Dissanayake. Xi said that he prizes the development of China-Sri Lanka relations and stands ready to work with President Dissanayake to carry forward the traditional friendship and enhance political mutual trust.

Dissanayake led a delegation of the JVP to China at the invitation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in December 2023. During this visit, the CPC declared its willingness to further intensify friendly exchanges with the JVP, strengthen mutual learning, carry forward the traditional friendship between China and Sri Lanka, and promote China-Sri Lanka relations for greater development.

Dissanayake highly appreciated the remarkable achievements that the Chinese people have made under the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC. He thanked the CPC and the Chinese government for their critical support when Sri Lanka was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis. He expressed willingness to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the CPC, learn the successful experience in party building and state governance from the CPC, and work with the Chinese side to promote cooperation between Sri Lanka and China.

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

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a message to Anura Kumara Dissanayake to congratulate him on his inauguration as president of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Xi hailed China and Sri Lanka as traditional friendly neighbors, saying that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 67 years ago, China and Sri Lanka have always understood and supported each other, setting a good example of friendly coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries of different sizes.

Xi said that he prizes the development of China-Sri Lanka relations, and stands ready to work with President Dissanayake to carry forward the traditional friendship, and enhance political mutual trust.

He also pledged to work with the Sri Lankan leader to facilitate more fruitful high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and make steady and long-term progress of China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship so as to better benefit the people of the two countries.

Xi Jinping meets with Spanish and Norwegian prime ministers

The second week of September saw two important official visits to China by European prime ministers. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain visited from September 8-11 and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of Norway from September 9-11. Both premiers held meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the afternoon of September 9.

Meeting with the Spanish Prime Minister, Xi Jinping said that the two sides should give full play to platforms such as the Mixed Committee on Economy and Trade and the Joint Commission on Science and Technology to jointly promote development in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence, digital economy and new energy to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. He expressed the hope that Spain will continue to provide a fair, equitable, safe and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the country. He urged joint efforts from the two sides to stay committed to inclusiveness and mutual learning, strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges in the fields of language education, youth, culture and tourism, and promote friendship between the two peoples. China appreciates Spain’s active promotion of China-EU exchanges and cooperation during its EU rotating presidency in the second half of last year.

Pedro Sánchez said he is glad to visit China again after one year, which shows the closeness of Spain-China relations. Spain and China enjoy time-honored friendship and have constantly developed and deepened the partnership on the basis of mutual respect. He added that during his visit, the two sides signed a number of cooperation agreements in green development and other fields, demonstrating the huge potential and bright prospects of bilateral cooperation. He expressed the hope that the two sides will strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges and deepen cooperation in such fields as economy, trade and new energy vehicles. The world today faces multiple challenges such as turbulence, conflicts, poverty and climate change, which call for greater international cooperation and joint response. China is a key force in safeguarding world peace and development and plays an important, constructive role in resolving major international and regional issues. The Spanish side views its relations with China from a strategic height, firmly pursues the one-China policy, is willing to be a trustworthy partner of China, and looks forward to further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Spain and China and to making greater contributions to the well-being of the two peoples, world peace and prosperity.

Meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Xi Jinping pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Norway 70 years ago, the two peoples have respected, appreciated and learned from each other, forging a valuable friendship. Further developing China-Norway friendly cooperation is consistent with the will of the two peoples, the fundamental interests of the two countries, and an overall trend of maintaining closer ties among countries in the world to share weal and woe. Today’s world is going through rapid and profound changes unseen in a century, which are testing whether the international community can make the right choice. China will continue to follow the path of peaceful development. Through further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernisation, China will inject stability and certainty into a world fraught with changes and turbulence and create more opportunities for the common development of all countries. China is ready to work with Norway to push for continuous development of bilateral friendly cooperation.

Xi Jinping stressed that a review of the 70-year history of China-Norway relations shows that friendship and cooperation are the defining features. He said: “Historical experience tells us that to maintain the steady and sound development of bilateral relations, the most important thing is to respect each other, seek common ground while shelving differences, including respecting each other’s core interests and accommodating each other’s major concerns.”  He called on the two sides to, based on their respective strengths, expand practical cooperation in fields such as environmental protection, energy transition, maritime affairs and shipping, agricultural and fishery products, and electric vehicles, strengthen cooperation in education, science and technology, culture, tourism, winter sports and other fields, and increase personnel exchanges, especially among young people. China and Norway share extensive consensus on maintaining world peace and security, addressing climate change, protecting biodiversity and tackling other global challenges.

Prime Minister Støre said that Norway was one of the first Nordic countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Norway and China 70 years ago, the two countries have witnessed sound development of bilateral relations, and the two sides have conducted dialogue and cooperation in a manner of mutual respect. Norway respects China’s sovereignty, firmly pursues the one-China policy, and is willing to continue to work with China to respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, engage in mutual learning and exchanges, and foster mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. China’s development is full of vitality and has much successful experience worth learning from. Norway looks forward to expanding cooperation with China, especially in such fields as green development, climate change response, maritime affairs and shipping, agriculture, fishery and aquaculture industries, new energy vehicles and artificial intelligence. China plays an important role in addressing many global challenges facing the world today and tackling major international issues concerning international peace and security.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang met his Spanish counterpart on the same day. He said that China is ready to work with Spain to focus on green development and innovation, and strengthen cooperation in new energy, energy conservation, environmental protection, the digital economy and space.

Li said China stands ready to work with Spain to uphold openness and cooperation, safeguard the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation at its core, maintain stability and unimpeded global industrial and supply chains, and jointly build an open world economy. It is hoped that Spain will play a constructive role in promoting China-EU cooperation.

Continue reading Xi Jinping meets with Spanish and Norwegian prime ministers

Jointly advance the building of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future

On September 6, Chinese President Xi Jinping held his final round of bilateral meetings with African leaders who had come to Beijing to take part in the summit meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

In the morning he met with President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, who was also paying a state visit to China.

Xi Jinping congratulated the Republic of the Congo on taking over the African co-chair of FOCAC. He commended Denis Sassou Nguesso for his important contributions to the success of the FOCAC Beijing Summit. Xi pointed out that developing solidarity and cooperation with African countries is an important cornerstone of China’s foreign policy. He recalled that during his visit to Africa in 2013, he put forth the principles of China’s Africa policy – sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and pursuing the greater good and shared interests, which have become the guiding principles for China’s relations with all other developing countries. China is ready to work with the Republic of the Congo to better play their leading role as FOCAC co-chairs, implement the outcomes of the summit, ensure that the “golden brand” of FOCAC shines even brighter over time, and show the international community the firm resolve of China and Africa to jointly advance the building of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Xi Jinping pointed out that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Republic of the Congo. The rock-solid friendship between the two countries is rooted in a high degree of political mutual trust, the common pursuit of ideas and the firm support for each other. China-Africa relations have embarked on a new journey, and friendly cooperation between China and the Republic of the Congo will embrace the next 60 years with even more brilliance.

Xi Jinping suggested that China and the Republic of the Congo play the “four roles”, i.e. a standard-bearer for building a community with a shared future, a pioneer in Belt and Road cooperation, a model of people-to-people bonds, and an example of solidarity and collaboration. China supports the Republic of the Congo in developing a diversified economy and encourages Chinese enterprises to participate in the construction of major infrastructure and regional connectivity projects in the country. China is ready to carry out cooperation in agriculture, digital economy, green development and other fields, deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and encourage the two peoples to actively participate in the cause of friendship between China and the Republic of the Congo. China is ready to work with the Republic of the Congo to carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, strengthen international cooperation in global governance and other fields, and create a more favourable international environment for the development and revitalisation of developing countries.

Denis Sassou Nguesso recalled that 60 years ago, he was one of the first batch of young people from the Republic of the Congo to visit China. Over the years, he has visited China multiple times and witnessed its continuous and remarkable economic and technological development. China has become a powerful country in the world, which fills its people with great pride and earns deep admiration and heartfelt congratulations from the people of the Republic of the Congo. The Republic of the Congo firmly abides by the one-China principle and supports the Chinese government in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. This position remains unwavering.

Meeting with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Somalia enjoy a long history of friendly exchanges. Somalia is the first East African country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, and the friendship between the two countries has withstood many tests. China is ready to work with Somalia to uphold the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic relations and push for more new achievements in bilateral relations to better benefit the two peoples.

Xi Jinping emphasised that both China and Somalia shoulder the historical mission of achieving complete national reunification. [Here Xi Jinping refers respectively to China’s Taiwan province and to the secessionist ‘Republic of Somaliland’.] China supports Somalia in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity and supports the peace and development process in Somalia.   China is willing to continue to support Somalia’s economic and social development, tap cooperation potential and expand development space with Somalia, and take the implementation of the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, fishery and human resources training.  Xi Jinping congratulated Somalia on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and its official accession to the East African Community. 

Continue reading Jointly advance the building of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future

António Guterres: China’s cooperation will help Africa achieve peace and development

On September 5, Chinese President Xi Jinping continued his bilateral meetings with African leaders who were in Beijing to participate in the summit meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Following the summit’s opening ceremony, that was held that morning, Xi Jinping met at noon with Botswanan President Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi.

The Chinese President pointed out that China and Botswana enjoy traditional friendship and have always offered sincere support to each other. In recent years, the two sides have regarded solidarity and cooperation as the cornerstone of their policies, prioritised improving the well-being of the people, and promoted solid progress in bilateral relations. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The two sides should systematically review the successful experience gained over the past half century since the establishment of diplomatic relations and remain committed to being partners of mutual trust, common development and close people-to-people bonds. He also called on the two sides to firmly support each other and strengthen cooperation in industry, agriculture, minerals, clean energy, education, and medical and health care, among others.

China and its African brothers have just gathered together once again, he said, integrating more closely the development of China, Africa and the world. This has yielded fruitful results and unleashed the positive energy of the Global South in promoting world peace, security, prosperity and progress. China is ready to work with Botswana to follow through on the outcomes of the summit and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi said that today marks a historic moment for Africa-China relations. President Xi Jinping just delivered an excellent address at the opening ceremony of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, announcing new measures to advance the China-Africa partnership for modernisation, including the policy of further opening up to Africa, which greatly excited and encouraged the African side. Botswana fully supports this and believes that the vision outlined at the summit will surely be realised. Botswana firmly adheres to the one-China principle and believes that the Chinese people should and can realise national reunification. He thanked China for its long-term valuable support to Botswana, saying that his country is willing to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year as an opportunity to push for further development of bilateral relations.

Xi Jinping also met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who was attending the FOCAC summit as a special guest.

President Xi said that China attaches great importance to developing China-Africa relations. After the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), his first overseas visit was to Africa, where he put forward in Tanzania the principle of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith towards Africa and attended all subsequent FOCAC summits. China has no selfish interests in its cooperation with Africa. Half a century ago, in the face of its own economic difficulties, China responded to the expectations of its African brothers by vigorously assisting the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, writing a touching story of China-Africa friendship. Just now, at the opening ceremony of the summit, he had announced new actions and measures for practical cooperation with Africa. 

António Guterres thanked the Chinese side for inviting him to attend the FOCAC Beijing Summit. He said that historically, Africa has been the primary victim of colonialism. China’s cooperation with Africa will help reduce the historical injustice suffered by Africa and help Africa achieve peace and development. China’s peaceful development is a noble cause in the history of mankind and is conducive to the peace and progress of all humanity. The United Nations is ready to strengthen cooperation with China to resist actions that create division and undermine common progress, jointly practice multilateralism, promote more just and equitable global governance, and build a community with a shared future for humanity. The United Nations is making every effort to prepare for the Summit of the Future and hopes to have close communication with China to promote the reform of the international financial architecture and strengthen global AI governance.

In the afternoon, Xi Jinping met with Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba.

He stressed that the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) of Namibia are both long-ruling progressive parties. He praised SWAPO for having incorporated “building socialism with Namibian characteristics” into its party constitution. China is willing to work with Namibia to enhance friendly cooperation between the two countries and between the two parties, strengthen the exchange of experience in party and state governance, share development opportunities, and jointly advance the modernisation process of their respective countries. 

Nangolo Mbumba said he was honoured to be invited to China for the FOCAC Beijing Summit and had received a warm and friendly reception with Chinese characteristics and tradition. The two outcome documents adopted by the FOCAC Summit in the morning are conducive to consolidating the brotherly friendship between Africa and China and promoting Africa-China cooperation in various areas. In particular, a series of new measures announced by President Xi Jinping for Africa and China joining hands to advance modernisation will guide the two sides to create a bright future of common development and prosperity and promote the building of an Africa-China community with a shared future. 

Xi Jinping also met with Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The Chinese leader noted that Ghana is the second sub-Saharan African country [after Guinea] to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 64 years ago, the friendship between the two countries has remained strong and enduring, regardless of changes in the international landscape. China is ready to carry forward the deep friendship forged by the elder generation of the leaders of the two countries [who include Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai  and Chairman Liu Shaoqi] together with Ghana, so as to constantly enhance political mutual trust, promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields and be good friends who trust each other, good partners for common development, and good brothers with close cooperation. 

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said that Ghana was one of the first batch of African countries to establish diplomatic relations with the PRC. China has been Ghana’s most trustworthy friend and partner for over 60 years. Ghana highly cherishes its friendship with China, firmly pursues the one-China policy and supports China’s stance on human rights and other issues.

Meeting with Prime Minister of Sao Tome and Principe Patrice Trovoada, Xi Jinping pointed out that in recent years, China’s relations with Sao Tome and Principe have maintained a sound momentum of development and the two countries have achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation in various fields. Facts have proved that Sao Tome and Principe’s return to the China-Africa family of friendly cooperation fully conforms to the common interests of the two peoples. [China and Sao Tome and Principe established diplomatic relations in 1975 when the country won its independence from Portuguese colonial rule. However, they were suspended between 1997-2016 when the then government established “diplomatic relations” with the authorities on Taiwan in violation of the one-China principle.]

Patrice Trovoada said that every time he visits China, it feels like returning home. He thanked China for providing invaluable assistance to Sao Tome and Principe’s economic development, saying that the new measures announced by President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the FOCAC Summit in the morning will significantly boost the development of Sao Tome and Principe and Africa.

In the evening, Xi Jinping met with President of Guinea-Bissau Umaro Sissoco Embaló.

Continue reading António Guterres: China’s cooperation will help Africa achieve peace and development

China and Senegal – friends and partners on the path to national development and revitalisation

On September 4, 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping held 10 bilateral meetings with African leaders who were visiting China to attend the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

In the morning, he met with the new progressive President of Senegal Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who was also paying a state visit.

Xi Jinping stressed that China and Senegal are friends and partners on the path to national development and revitalisation. Over the years, the two sides have carried out cooperation in the spirit of sincerity, friendship, equality, respect and win-win cooperation, and achieved tangible results, benefiting the two peoples.

China will continue to send agricultural technological experts to support Senegal in building industrial parks, expand cooperation in new energy and other emerging fields, and boost Senegal’s industrialisation and agricultural modernisation process. China and Senegal hold similar positions on many major international issues, and China is ready to work closely with Senegal in multilateral coordination to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice and the common interests of developing countries.

Xi Jinping pointed out that FOCAC is a golden brand of South-South cooperation, leading international cooperation with Africa and making important contributions to world peace and development. Over the past six years since China and Senegal assumed the co-chairs of FOCAC, China and Africa have overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and other difficulties and successfully completed the eight major initiatives and nine programs launched at the two previous FOCAC conferences, advancing China-Africa relations into a new stage. As the fourth African co-chair of FOCAC, Senegal has made important contributions to China-Africa solidarity and cooperation. China is ready to work closely with Senegal to lead the summit to achieve complete success, join hands to advance China-Africa modernisation and start a new journey of China-Africa relations.

Bassirou Diomaye Faye said that it is a great honour for him to pay his first state visit to China and attend the FOCAC Beijing Summit. He thanked the Chinese side for the warm hospitality that has made him appreciate the beauty and friendliness of China. Since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Senegal and China in 2016, bilateral cooperation has made continuous progress.  Senegal is willing to learn from China’s successful experience in party and state governance, advance cooperation in agriculture, industry, digitalisation, vocational training, youth and other fields, and elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Senegal and China to a higher level. The establishment and development of FOCAC is based on friendship, trust, mutual respect, solidarity, cooperation, practicality and efficiency, and has made important contributions to Africa’s economic and social development.

Xi Jinping also met with President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. 

Xi Jinping emphasised that China and Equatorial Guinea are good friends. High-level political mutual trust, all-round practical cooperation, and profound friendship between the two peoples are the main features of their bilateral relations. China is ready to work with Equatorial Guinea to firmly support each other, expand practical cooperation, deepen defence and security cooperation, help Equatorial Guinea diversify its economy, advance together on their respective modernisation paths, and open up new prospects for the China-Equatorial Guinea comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership. He congratulated Equatorial Guinea on its assumption of the co-chairmanship of FOCAC from 2027 to 2030. 

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo said that as soon as he arrived in Beijing, he felt the sincere friendship of the Chinese people towards Equatorial Guinea and the African people. The organisation of the Summit is meticulous, and the theme is in line with the dream of African countries to pursue modernisation.  Equatorial Guinea’s relations with China are based on profound friendship and a high degree of mutual trust, with fruitful cooperation and close coordination in international affairs. The investment and cooperation of Chinese enterprises have helped Equatorial Guinea take on a new look, and China has made important contributions to promoting world peace.

Continue reading China and Senegal – friends and partners on the path to national development and revitalisation

AU Commission chairperson: China has been firmly supporting Africa’s struggle against colonialism, imperialism and racial discrimination

Chinese President Xi Jinping continued his bilateral meetings with African leaders who came to Beijing to attend the summit meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on September 3.

In the morning he met with Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Moussa Faki Mahamat. 

Xi Jinping pointed out that the African Union (AU) is a banner for Africa to seek strength through unity and an important platform for conducting international cooperation. In recent years, China and the AU have continued to deepen political mutual trust and maintained close coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs. He added that he is glad to see that the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, aided by China for the AU, have been established and put into operation, contributing to African people’s health and well-being.

Xi stressed that the current transformations of the world unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace. The Global South, including China and Africa, is growing stronger, injecting stability and positive energy into world peace and development. Africa is an important pole in the world and an important priority in China’s diplomacy. China is ready to enhance political exchanges with Africa, deepen strategic mutual trust, strengthen practical cooperation, share development experience and promote common development. He called on the two sides to strengthen solidarity and coordination, firmly support each other, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation, and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice and the common interests of developing countries.

Moussa Faki Mahamat said that for more than half a century, China has been firmly supporting Africa’s struggle against colonialism, imperialism and racial discrimination, providing valuable assistance to African countries in various fields such as infrastructure, health, energy, industry and security, and taking the lead in supporting the AU’s accession to the G20, which the African side highly appreciates and sincerely thanks. For this reason, the African side firmly pursues the one-China policy and firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests. The African side expects China to continue playing a key leading role and make greater contributions to helping Africa achieve modernisation as well as for world peace and development.

Xi Jinping also met with Malawi President President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera.

He said that China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Malawi in agriculture, telecommunications, infrastructure and other fields, and to encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Malawi. The two sides should make good use of the Confucius Institute at the University of Malawi to promote cultural exchanges and forge closer bonds between their peoples.

Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera said that every time he comes to China, it feels like coming home. He thanked the Chinese side for the warm and friendly reception. Malawi regards China as its most sincere friend.  Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has lifted hundreds of millions of Chinese people out of poverty. The Belt and Road Initiative and other major initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping have provided important opportunities for all countries to achieve common development and prosperity. Malawi also supports strengthening FOCAC’s institutional development and looks forward to taking this summit as an opportunity to further promote Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen regional connectivity and deepen friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation between Malawi and China.

Meeting with President of Chad Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, Xi Jinping said that China has been Chad’s largest trading partner and investment partner for many years in a row, and bilateral practical cooperation has improved the well-being of the two peoples. China is ready to work with Chad to uphold the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, strengthen the synergy of development strategies, and push for new progress in China-Chad relations.

Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno said that under the wise leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has witnessed rapid development and increasingly rising international standing. Chad admires China’s development achievements, appreciates a series of major ideas and initiatives put forward by President Xi Jinping, and is happy to see China’s continued development and growth. He believes that China’s sustained development will bring more opportunities for the development of Chad, Africa and the world, which is crucial to leading the transformations of the world unseen in a century.

The Chinese President also met with Kenyan President William Ruto. 

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Kenya have a time-honoured friendship that developed in their struggles for national liberation and deepened on their journey toward national rejuvenation. 

Ruto said that the two sides have successfully implemented major infrastructure construction cooperation projects such as the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, which has strongly promoted Kenya’s economic and social development and become a new symbol for Kenya-China friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation. 

In the afternoon, Xi Jinping met with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was also paying a state visit to China.  

Xi Jinping pointed out that Nigeria is a major and highly influential African country with a large population and great development potential. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than half a century ago, China and Nigeria have always respected each other and treated each other as equals and forged a path of self-strength through unity and win-win cooperation. The two countries need to seek greater synergy of development strategies, form a new pattern of practical cooperation featuring complementarity and mutual benefit, promote the interconnected and integrated development of infrastructure, energy and minerals with industries, and create new growth areas for cooperation such as the digital economy and new energy.

He added that FOCAC is not only an effective mechanism for promoting practical cooperation between China and Africa, but also a banner for South-South cooperation. China is ready to take the FOCAC Beijing Summit as an opportunity to review the historical experience of China-Africa friendship, promote the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, and inject new momentum into the development of China-Africa relations in the new era.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu said that Nigeria hopes to become China’s largest trade and investment partner in Africa and welcomes more Chinese companies to invest in the country, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, minerals, energy, infrastructure and other fields, helping Nigeria and West Africa advance modernisation efforts and effectively eradicating poverty. He thanked the Chinese side for providing important training opportunities for Nigerian youth and expressed willingness to deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges with the Chinese side.

The two countries issued a Joint Statement between the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Establishing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Building a High-level China-Nigeria Community with a Shared Future. The full text may be read here. 

President Xi also met in the afternoon with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa. We already reported the details of that meeting here. 

In the evening, President Xi met with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani. 

Xi Jinping stressed that China and Mauritania are good friends and close brothers who trust and help each other. China is ready to work with Mauritania to promote Belt and Road cooperation, deepen cooperation in fisheries, infrastructure and other fields, leverage the role of the agricultural and animal husbandry technology demonstration centre in aiding Mauritania and build China-Mauritania relations into a model of friendly exchanges and win-win cooperation between countries.

The Chinese leader appreciated Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani’s active contributions, as rotating chair of the African Union, to the preparations for the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and expressed China’s willingness to work closely with Mauritania to take the summit as an opportunity to pool the strength of the Chinese and African people, build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, increase the voice and representation of the Global South countries in global governance, and jointly uphold international fairness and justice.

Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani said, the friendship between Mauritania and China is solid and profound, and the Mauritanian side is deeply proud of its friendly relations with China. He thanked China for its valuable support for Mauritania’s economic and social development, including the country’s fight against COVID-19. 

He added that at present, the world is facing many risks and challenges, and deepening cooperation with China is the hope of Mauritania and other countries to achieve sustainable development. Mauritania and China hold highly identical positions on Palestine and other major issues. Both sides firmly oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs, call for respect for the independence of all countries, and reject violent extremism.