Exchanges

Exchanges

Xi’s Asia Visits Highlight “New Type of International Relations”

Chinese President Xi Jinping made state visits to Cambodia and Bangladesh from October 13 to 15, 2016.

His Cambodia visit led to the signing of 31 cooperation documents, deepening the existing friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. The new bilateral agreements were the fruits of high-level meetings held respectively between the Chinese president, Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, and Prime Minister Hun Sen. Xi also visited the Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk and laid a wreath before a statue of the late King Norodom Sihanouk.

In his meeting with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Xi stressed that China is ready to strengthen exchanges with major Bangladeshi parties, including the BNP, on party-building experience so as to increase mutual understanding. China attaches great importance to its relations with Bangladesh, and stands ready to strengthen cooperation with the South Asian country and assist Bangladesh in advancing industrialization, enhancing infrastructure, and improving people’s livelihoods.

On October 16, Xi attended the eighth BRICS summit, held in India. Addressing the meeting, he made a five-point proposal for the BRICS nations to join hands in tough times. It includes building an open world, mapping out a vision of shared development, coping with the most pressing global challenges, safeguarding fairness and justice in the international community, and deepening partnerships within the bloc.

Greek-Chinese Cultural Dialogue Advances Resolution of Common Challenges

Cultural dialogue between Greece and China plays a crucial role in discovering the roots of today’s common challenges and finding solutions, Greek officials and experts on culture have said.

During the “China-Europe: Cultural Dialogues in Greece” forum, held in Athens on October 3, 2016, representatives of both sides spoke of the pillars of philosophy and ways of thinking of Greeks and Chinese throughout the centuries, highlighting differences in style and similar common values. Ideals such as the pursuit of truth, kindness, and respect for each other, which form the bases of the two civilizations, can help advance cross-border understanding and collaboration in efforts to address the common problems of today.

Addressing the event, Greek Culture Minister Aristides Baltas welcomed Liu Yunshan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, as “an ambassador of a great ancient civilization.” “What connects Greece and China above all is civilization,” Baltas said, adding that Greece was for centuries, and is still today, a gateway between the East and West for goods and ideas, and therefore can support exchanges, mutual understanding, and cooperation in all sectors.

The Greek minister, as well as other Greek scholars attending the event, stressed that both the Greek and Chinese ancient civilizations laid the foundations for humankind’s efforts to learn about human beings, the functions of society, and the process of dealing with fundamental problems that remain the same today as in antiquity.

China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Discuss Cooperation at Ministerial Conference

The Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking Countries (PSCs) convened in Macao on October 11, 2016, with the theme of“moving towards a stronger China-Portugal trade and economic relationship: jointly discussing cooperation, constructing platforms, and sharing development.”

Addressing the opening ceremony, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that China is willing to build more substantial economic and trade ties and develop a long-term, stable and sound partnership with PSCs. He also announced 18 new measures to enhance cooperation with PSCs in the next three years, in such areas as trade and investment, technology, health care, production capacity, infrastructure, sustainable development, culture, and education.

During the forum, Action Plans for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (2017-2019) were signed to lay down the key areas and directions of economic and trade cooperation between China and PSCs.

Inaugurated in 2003, the forum is sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China, hosted by Macao Special Administrative Region government, with the joint participation of seven PSCs – Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, and East Timor.

China and Belarus Pledge Closer Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

China and Belarus decided on September 29, 2016 to forge a comprehensive strategic partnership, featuring mutual trust and win-win cooperation.

While holding talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China and Belarus are good friends and sincere partners. Hailing the closer than ever communication and cooperation between China and Belarus at present, Xi said bilateral ties are developing to a higher level. China is willing to work with Belarus to maintain the development momentum and make full use of the opportunities offered by the Belt and Road Initiative, so to add new impetus to their relations and benefit the people of both countries. Both sides are expected to consolidate political trust, maintain high-level visits, and render firm support to each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, Xi said.

Belarus is a reliable friend of China, Lukashenko said, noting that the two countries have broad common interests and cooperate in various fields. Belarus supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and is ready to integrate into it the country’s own development strategies.