CNAD-#23- Updates of ????+(????????????-????-????-??-????-????-???-??-????-????)& 100th Anniversary of Tagore's Visit to China ????????

Everyday Briefing: 2024/04/13

??Neighbourhood First??

The first trilateral summit between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines marks a historic moment in forging partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

? Discussions include deepening ties in technology, clean energy, maritime security, and economic cooperation.

?? Leaders reaffirm their commitment to democracy, good governance, and the rule of law as the foundation of their partnership.

?? Emphasis is placed on building a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region for all.

???????????? Leaders express mutual defence commitments, with any attack in the South China Sea invoking the mutual defence treaty.

?? The summit launches an economic charter in the Philippines, focusing on infrastructure, investment, job creation, and sectoral development.

Regarding US President Biden's commitment to deepening maritime and security ties with Japan and the Philippines, China strongly opposes the US's characterization of its actions as aggressive.

China reaffirms its indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao, including Ren'ai Jiao and Diaoyu Dao, asserting that its actions in the South and East China Seas comply with international law.

China claims and opposes flexing muscles and infringing on its sovereignty under the guise of freedom of navigation while also rejecting the legality of the arbitral award on the South China Sea.

China criticizes the US's Cold War mentality and warns against undermining regional stability through bilateral alliance treaties.

China also lodged representations to Japan concerning negative elements related to China in recent US-Japan leaders' talks and the US-Japan-Philippines leaders' summit, aiming to address concerns and clarify positions.

??? Regarding recent developments in international relations, China strongly opposes the practice of bloc politics by certain countries and emphasizes that the Taiwan question is an internal affair. China asserts sovereignty over the Diaoyu Dao and South China Sea territories, rejecting groundless accusations and smears. China urges parties to respect international law and settle maritime disputes through dialogue and consultation.

????China Internal??

???? China launched its national supercomputing network with an inauguration event in Tianjin Municipality to address the computing power supply-demand gap and support the digital economy. Qian Depei, a computer scientist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), leads the platform's expert panel. The network will leverage artificial intelligence to drive collaborative innovation in hardware, algorithms, applications, and systems. Over 200 service providers have joined, contributing over 3,200 products, including scientific computing, industrial simulation, and AI model training. Construction began in April 2023, as per the Ministry of Science and Technology statement.

In the bustling cities of Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the evolution of cashless payment systems reflects divergent paths toward modernization.

Shenzhen, known as China's Silicon Valley, leads innovation with widespread adoption of digital payment solutions like WeChat Pay and Alipay, alongside innovative palmprint recognition technology.

In contrast, despite its financial prowess, Hong Kong has been slower in embracing cashless payments, largely reliant on the Octopus card system, which has not evolved significantly. The regulatory environment and cultural preferences contribute to Hong Kong's slower adoption. Additionally, complexities arise for travellers due to separate Alipay and WeChat Pay versions, hindering seamless cross-border payments. Collaborative efforts between Shenzhen and Hong Kong could enhance digital finance, leveraging strengths and addressing challenges for residents and visitors alike. The differing approaches highlight the interplay of regulatory, cultural, and technological factors shaping digital finance evolution.

???China-Foreign Affairs??

???? In response to a telephone call between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, China condemned the recent attack on the Iranian Embassy in Syria and called for an immediate ceasefire to end the conflict in the Middle East.

China stressed the importance of respecting Iran and Syria's sovereignty and called on all parties to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2728 to address the humanitarian crisis.

China remains committed to playing a constructive role in resolving the Middle East issue and de-escalating tensions.

Regarding criticisms from a top US Treasury official aimed at China as the largest lender to emerging markets, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs refrained from commenting directly, suggesting consulting competent authorities for specifics. However, China reiterated its commitment to addressing debt issues facing developing countries through equal-footed consultation and mutually beneficial cooperation.

In response to US airlines and aviation unions urging the Biden administration to pause approvals of additional flights between China and the United States due to alleged ongoing anti-competitive policies of the Chinese government, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs refrained from commenting directly, suggesting consulting competent authorities for specifics. However, it was mentioned that the two presidents in San Francisco agreed to increase direct flights between China and the US, aiming to promote exchanges and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

???? The Ministry of Commerce of China strongly opposes the European Commission's assessment of China's market economy, labelling it as subjective and erroneous. The Commission's updated report on "significant state-induced distortions" in China's economy was criticized for being one-sided. China contends that history, culture, and national conditions influence diverse market economy models.

Evaluating China's market economy based on unilateral criteria is deemed seriously wrong and infringes on WTO rules. China, as a WTO member, urges the European Commission to respect the multilateral trading system's authority and cease actions violating WTO rules.

China will closely monitor the Commission's actions and reserves the right to take necessary measures in response.

???? Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated China's commitment to resolving the situation at Ren'ai Jiao with the Philippines through dialogue and consultation. Mao emphasized that Ren'ai Jiao is part of China's Nansha Qundao, asserting China's sovereignty over the area.

She attributed the current tensions to the Philippines' refusal to remove a grounded warship at Ren'ai Jiao and its denial of a previous agreement with China.

Mao accused the Philippines of infringing on China's sovereignty and making provocations by sending construction materials to the area. She urged the Philippines to honour previous commitments, stop provocations, and engage in dialogue to ease tensions. Mao reaffirmed China's diplomatic stance on addressing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao.

???? German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is set to visit China from April 14 to 16, following an invitation from Premier Li Qiang. During the visit, Chancellor Scholz will meet with President Xi Jinping and talk with Premier Li Qiang to discuss bilateral relations and mutual interests. China views Germany as an important partner in mutually beneficial cooperation, and the visit aims to enhance mutual understanding and deepen practical cooperation in various fields. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-Germany comprehensive strategic partnership, and both countries aim to further advance bilateral relations based on principles of mutual respect and equality.

???? China highly values its space cooperation with Russia, particularly evident in joint projects like the International Lunar Research Station, contributing to socio-economic development and technological innovation in both nations. China emphasizes the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, welcoming international collaboration on equal terms.

???? Regarding Japan's Prime Minister Kishida's remarks on China posing a strategic challenge, China strongly opposes and deplores such statements, viewing them as part of a broader trend of bloc confrontation instigated by the US and Japan. China asserts its commitment to peace and development, urging Japan to reflect on its aggressive past and respect regional security concerns.

?? China closely monitors southern Africa's severe drought and food shortages, preparing emergency food assistance for over 20 African countries. President Xi Jinping's Plan for China Supporting Africa's Agricultural Modernization highlights China's commitment to enhancing agricultural cooperation with Africa and supporting food security initiatives.

China calls for international attention and assistance to address the urgent needs of affected African countries.

The Boston University Global Development Policy Center reported that China's energy investments in Africa have focused on fossil fuels rather than renewable energy, urging China to prioritize green energy investment to support Africa's energy transition. However, China emphasizes its commitment to Africa's sustainable development, highlighting extensive clean energy projects implemented on the continent, including solar, wind, and hydroelectric power initiatives. China pledges to continue expanding cooperation with Africa on renewable energy, energy conservation, and emissions reduction to facilitate Africa's transition to green, low-carbon development.

???? Regarding Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhao Leji's talks with a member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea Choe Ryong-Hae in Pyongyang, China expressed willingness to intensify exchanges and cooperation with the DPRK's legislative body to enhance traditional friendship and cooperation. The phrase "intensify exchanges with the DPRK's legislative body" implies strengthening interactions between legislative bodies. As for arranging a meeting between the two countries' leaders later this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that there is no information to share.

?? Regarding the Environmental Justice Foundation's report alleging systemic illegal fishing and human rights abuses by the Chinese fishing fleet in countries bordering the southwest Indian Ocean, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized China's commitment to ecological protection and workers' rights. China denies the allegations, stating they lack factual basis, and reaffirms a "zero tolerance" policy towards violations of laws and regulations.

???? Chinese nationals in Haiti were safely evacuated, with 27 individuals evacuated to the Dominican Republic on April 11 following the deteriorating security situation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated this evacuation in collaboration with relevant government agencies and local authorities.

???? Addressing recent comments by India's Prime Minister Modi calling for peaceful ties and urgent resolution of border issues with China,

the Chinese Foreign Ministry highlighted close communication between China and India through diplomatic and military channels to address border situations, resulting in positive progress.

China emphasized the importance of a sound and stable relationship with India and expressed hope for appropriately placing the boundary question in bilateral relations to maintain a steady trajectory.

??Fresh Perspectives

??Cultural??Insights ??

In celebration of the centennial anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore's visit to China, the Centre for Indian Studies at Shenzhen University organized the "Harmony in Melodies: China-India Classical Music Concert." This event paid homage to Tagore's enduring legacy and the cultural exchange between India and China.

Musicians from both countries collaborated to showcase a fusion of Indian and Chinese musical traditions. Highlights included Indian classical music improvisation, Guqin and Guzheng performances, Indian Kathak Classical Dance, and Tagore Dance.

The concert culminated in a finale symbolizing the enduring spirit of cultural exchange. As we commemorate Tagore's visit, his harmony and cultural exchange legacy inspires generations across borders, fostering compassion and enrichment in our interconnected world.

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