China-Indonesia 2+2 Dialogue - Pilot FTZs Guideline - Ruto: Kenya Evaluating Joining BRICS - Feature on Legal Defects in Trump’s Tariffs
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Page 1: Let’s begin with Xi Jinping’s messages of congratulations to Daniel Noboa on his re-election as president of Ecuador and Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema on his election as president of the Gabonese Republic.
Xinhua reports: “Xi said China and Ecuador are comprehensive strategic partners, and the development of bilateral relations has maintained a sound momentum in recent years. He also said the two countries have witnessed deepening political mutual trust and fruitful cooperation in various fields, adding that the friendship of the two peoples has won greater popular support. Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Ecuador, Xi said he is ready to work with Noboa to take the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a higher level, so as to better benefit the two peoples.”
Xinhua reports: Xi noted that China and Gabon enjoy a traditional friendship, saying that in recent years, political mutual trust between the two countries has continued to deepen, and cooperation in various fields has achieved fruitful results. The two countries have firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, he added. Xi also said that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Gabon relations and stands ready to work with President-elect Nguema to take implementing the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as an opportunity to promote a steady and sustained growth of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, so as to better benefit their people.”
Moving on, there’s a brief report on Vice President Han Zheng meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono in Beijing. The report says nothing really. But on the second page, there are reports of Wang Yi meeting Sugiono and the two countries holding their first 2+2 dialogue.
The Chinese readout of the Wang-Sugiono meeting says:
Wang Yi said that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Prabowo, China-Indonesia relations have maintained smooth development. Last year, the two sides reached an important consensus on building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future that has regional and global influence, upgrading the bilateral cooperation framework from ‘four-wheel drive’ to ‘five major pillars’, opening up broad prospects for China-Indonesia cooperation. This morning, we successfully held the first ministerial meeting of the China-Indonesia Foreign and Defense Ministers’ ‘2+2’ dialogue mechanism, achieving fruitful results and elevating the political security and defense cooperation between the two countries to a new height. 王毅说，在习近平主席和普拉博沃总统战略引领下，中印尼关系保持顺畅发展。去年，双方就构建具有地区和全球影响力的中印尼命运共同体达成重要共识，将两国合作格局从“四轮驱动”升级成“五大支柱”，为中印尼合作开辟了广阔前景。今天上午我们成功举办中印尼外长防长“2+2”对话机制首次部长级会议，取得丰富成果，将两国政治安全和防务合作提升到了新高度.
He added: “China has always regarded Indonesia as a fellow traveler on the path of development and a good partner in cooperation. It is willing to work together with Indonesia, following the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, to continuously consolidate the cooperation framework of the ‘five major pillars’, jointly accelerate the modernisation process of the two countries, and contribute to the prosperity and stability of the region and the world. The two sides should stay focused on high-quality cooperation, strengthen the alignment of Chinese-style modernisation with the ‘Golden Indonesia 2045’ vision, take high-quality joint construction of BRI as the starting point, promote the sustainable operation of iconic projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, and rely on the ‘Two Countries, Twin Parks’ and the regional integrated economic corridor to build a new flagship of connectivity cooperation. The two sides should safeguard free trade, promote the facilitation of two-way trade and investment, and build a secure, stable, and unimpeded industrial and supply chain. China is willing to import more Indonesian products and hopes that the Indonesian government will properly protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese institutions and personnel in Indonesia. The two sides should develop emerging industries, expand and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as scientific and technological innovation, digital economy, green development, low-altitude economy, ocean, and fisheries, and cultivate and grow new quality productive forces. The two sides should expand cooperation benefiting people’s livelihoods, actively carry out cooperation in areas such as food and agriculture, health, poverty reduction and alleviation, disaster prevention and mitigation, and rural revitalization, closely engage in cultural, educational, tourism, and youth exchanges, and lay a solid foundation for lasting friendship between China and Indonesia for generations.” 王毅表示，双方正在庆祝中印尼建交75周年，两国各自发展和双边关系都迎来重要机遇。中方始终视印尼为发展的同路人、合作的好伙伴，愿同印尼一道，以两国元首重要共识为遵循，持续夯实“五大支柱”合作格局，携手加快推进两国现代化进程，为地区和世界繁荣稳定作出贡献。双方要锚定高质量合作，加强中国式现代化同“黄金印尼2045”愿景对接，以高质量共建“一带一路”为抓手，推进雅万高铁等标志性项目可持续运营，依托“两国双园”、区域综合经济走廊，打造互联互通合作新旗舰。双方要维护自由贸易，促进双向贸易投资便利化，构建安全稳定畅通产供链。中方愿进口更多印尼产品，希望印尼政府保障好在印尼中资机构及人员正当权益。双方要发展新兴产业，做大做强科技创新、数字经济、绿色发展、低空经济、海洋、渔业等领域互利合作，培育壮大新质生产力动能。双方要拓展惠民生合作，积极开展粮农、卫生、减贫扶贫、防灾减灾、乡村振兴等领域合作，密切文化、教育、旅游、青年交流，筑牢中印尼世代友好根基.
Finally, talking about this year marking then 80th anniversary of the UN and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference, Wang said that:
With the US initiating a global trade war and the trend of economic globalisation facing headwinds, China and Indonesia, as important developing major countries and key forces of the Global South, should be both defenders of economic globalisation and trade liberalisation. We should take the initiative in history, strengthen mutual trust and cooperation, jointly promote the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit, jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, jointly uphold international fairness and justice, send a signal of unity and openness to the outside world, and further highlight the regional and global influence of China-Indonesia relations.” 王毅强调，今年是联合国成立80周年和万隆会议召开70周年，在美国掀起全球贸易战、经济全球化面临逆流形势下，中国和印尼作为重要发展中大国和“全球南方”主要力量，都是经济全球化和贸易自由化的维护者。我们要发挥历史主动，加强互信合作，共同弘扬和平共处五项原则和“万隆精神”，共同维护以世贸组织为核心的多边贸易体制，共同捍卫国际公平正义，对外释放团结开放的信号，进一步彰显中印尼关系的地区和全球影响.
For the 2+2 dialogue, Dong Jun chaired the meeting, together with Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono and Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin. The Chinese readout of the dialogue says:
Wang Yi told the meeting that “this is the first ministerial-level 2+2 mechanism established by China in the world, which fully demonstrates the high strategic mutual trust between the two countries and further enriches the connotation of the China-Indonesia community with a shared future with regional and global influence … China is willing to hold this meeting with Indonesia, build the 2+2 mechanism into the primary platform for enhancing the political security and defense cooperation between the two countries, and promote the friendship, mutual trust and strategic cooperation between the two countries to a higher level.” 这是中国在全球建立的首个部长级“2+2”机制，充分彰显了两国高度战略互信，也进一步丰富了具有地区和全球影响力的中印尼命运共同体内涵。今年是中印尼建交75周年，双方举行“2+2”机制首次部长会正逢其时。中方愿同印尼共同开好此次会议，将“2+2”机制打造成提升两国政治安全与防务合作的首要平台，推动两国友好互信和战略协作不断迈向更高水平,
Wang added that “we should take the important consensus reached by the two heads of state as the strategic guidance, firmly grasp the main line of building a China-Indonesia community with a shared future, and promote the bilateral relations to open a new chapter at a high level and high starting point. The two sides should jointly adhere to strategic autonomy, support each other’s core interests, strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance dialogue in various fields, enhance law enforcement and security cooperation, and build solid strategic mutual trust. The two sides should deepen the docking of comprehensive development, jointly build BRI with high quality, set more benchmarks for cooperation in emerging fields, cultivate new quality productive forces, leverage the complementary advantages of resources and production capacity, build a safe and stable cross-border production and supply chain, and jointly resist external interference. The two sides should build a solid foundation for people-to-people friendship, continuously expand bilateral cultural exchanges, and hold a series of colorful celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. 王毅表示，我们要以两国元首重要共识为战略引领，牢牢把握中印尼命运共同体建设这条主线，推动两国关系在高水平、高起点上再谱新篇。双方要共同坚持战略自主，支持彼此核心利益，密切高层交往，加强各领域对话，提升执法安全合作，构筑牢固战略互信。双方要深化全面发展对接，高质量共建“一带一路”，树立更多新兴领域合作标杆，培育新质生产力，发挥资源产能互补优势，构建安全稳定的跨境产供链，共同抵制外部干扰。双方要筑牢人民友好根基，不断扩大双边人文交流，办好丰富多彩的建交75周年系列庆祝活动.
Wang said that at present, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, facing severe shocks from unilateralism and hegemonism, and human society is once again at a crossroads. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UN, and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. China is willing to further carry out high-level strategic cooperation with Indonesia, jointly promote the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit, strengthen communication and cooperation on platforms such as the United Nations, BRICS, and the G20 amplify the regional and global influence of the China-Indonesia community with a shared future, and jointly serve as a just force to maintain world peace and stability, a progressive force to defend international fairness and justice, and a constructive force to promote global development cooperation, providing more positive energy for a world of chaos and changes. 王毅表示，当今世界正在经历百年未有之大变局，面临单边和霸权主义的严峻冲击，人类社会再次处于十字路口。今年是中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年、联合国成立80周年，也是万隆会议召开70周年。中方愿同印尼进一步开展高水平战略协作，共同弘扬和平共处五项原则和“万隆精神”，加强在联合国、金砖、二十国集团等平台沟通配合，放大中印尼命运共同体的地区和全球影响，共同做维护世界和平稳定的正义力量，捍卫国际公平正义的进步力量，促进全球发展合作的建设力量，为变乱交织的世界提供更多正能量.
Dong Jun said that:
In recent years, China-Indonesia defense relations have continued to deepen and become more pragmatic, setting an example for military cooperation between China and ASEAN countries and effectively maintaining regional security and stability. With the current international situation experiencing intertwined changes and turmoil, and the region facing multiple challenges, the deepening of defense and security cooperation between China and Indonesia will certainly provide strong support for building a China-Indonesia community of shared future with regional and global influence, and contribute to maintaining regional and even world peace and stability. China is willing to work with Indonesia to implement the consensus reached by the heads of state, focusing on building a new pattern of defense and security cooperation characterized by deeper strategic mutual trust, more complementary mechanism construction, stronger coordinated advancement, and more solid response to challenges, carrying out multi-domain and in-depth practical cooperation, elevating bilateral relations to a new and higher level, and jointly responding to risks and challenges. 董军表示，近年来，在两国元首战略引领下，中印尼防务关系继续走深走实，树立了中国与东盟国家军事合作的典范，有力维护了地区安全稳定。当前国际形势变乱交织，地区面临多重挑战，中印尼深化防务安全合作，必将为具有地区和全球影响力的中印尼命运共同体建设提供有力支撑，为维护地区乃至世界和平稳定贡献力量。中方愿同印尼一道，落实两国元首共识，着力构建战略互信更深厚、机制建设更配套、统筹推进更有力、应对挑战更托底的防务安全合作新格局，开展多领域、深层次务实合作，把两国关系提升到新的更高水平，携手应对风险挑战.
As per the Chinese readout, Sugiono called the meeting “an important milestone in the relationship between the two countries”. He also said that “Indonesia firmly adheres to the one-China policy, believes that issues such as Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong are China's internal affairs, and opposes any external interference.” Defense Minister Sjafrie said that “at present, the development momentum of military-to-military relations between Indonesia and China is good. Indonesia is willing to strengthen strategic dialogue with the Chinese side, deepen strategic mutual trust, adhere to the principle of respecting each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, continuously tap potential, enhance cooperation in defense, maritime security, and other fields, safeguard regional peace and stability, jointly respond to global challenges, and promote the continuous and in-depth development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.” 沙夫里表示，当前印尼同中国两军关系发展势头良好。印尼愿同中方加强战略对话，深化战略互信，恪守尊重彼此主权和领土完整原则，不断挖掘潜力，增进防务、海上安全等领域合作，维护地区和平稳定，携手应对全球性挑战，推动两国全面战略伙伴关系持续深入发展.
The meeting saw the signing of an MoU on establishing a comprehensive strategic dialogue mechanism between the Chinese and Indonesian governments. The two sides also signed documents on cooperation in maritime security and other areas.
Following the meeting, at a press briefing, Wang Yi outlined the key agreements:
We agree to adhere to the strategic guidance of the heads of state, maintain close high-level exchanges, and firmly support each other’s core interests and major concerns. Adhere to strategic autonomy, oppose external interference, and work together to follow development paths with our respective national characteristics. Both sides have decided to establish a China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic dialogue mechanism to coordinate the advancement of ‘five pillars’ cooperation.
We agree to promote deep integration between China’s modernisation and the ‘Golden Indonesia 2045’ vision, helping and achieving mutual success. Both sides will deepen high-quality joint construction of the BRI, strengthen new quality productive forces-related cooperation, fully leverage complementary advantages in resources and production capacity, implement cooperation documents on important minerals and green minerals, and support each other’s development transformation.
We agree to further expand the content of security cooperation and practice a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept. Both sides have decided to establish a China-Indonesia disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control consultation mechanism. Both sides will enhance law enforcement and security cooperation, jointly combat cross-border gambling, telecommunications fraud, and other transnational crimes, and strengthen cybersecurity cooperation.
We agree to jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. Both sides will set an example in maritime cooperation. The coast guard departments of the two countries have signed a maritime security cooperation agreement. Both sides reaffirm their commitment to fully and effectively implement the ‘Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea’ and accelerate consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
We agree to uphold the original intention of building an open world economy, advocate for inclusive economic globalisation, maintain the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, and promote the creation of a just, fair, and non-discriminatory trade and investment environment. China and Indonesia are important trading partners to each other. We must always adhere to the cooperation concept of openness, inclusiveness, and mutual benefit, oppose any form of unilateralism and trade protectionism, and believe that excessive tariffs will seriously damage normal economic and trade exchanges between countries. We will jointly commit to accelerating regional economic integration, maintaining the stability and smooth flow of industrial and supply chains, and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South.
We agree to take the opportunity of the 80th anniversary of the UN and the 70th anniversary of the Bandung Conference to conduct closer multilateral strategic collaboration and jointly promote the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Bandung Spirit. We will strengthen communication and cooperation on platforms such as the United Nations, BRICS, and the G20, and jointly make greater contributions to regional and global peace, stability, and development.
我们同意坚持元首战略引领，密切高层交往，坚定支持彼此核心利益和重大关切。坚持战略自主，反对外部干涉，携手走好具有本国特色的发展道路。双方决定成立中国印尼全面战略对话机制，统筹推进“五大支柱”合作。我们同意推动中国式现代化与“黄金印尼2045”愿景深度对接，彼此助力、相互成就。双方将深化高质量共建“一带一路”，壮大新质生产力合作，充分发挥资源产能互补优势，落实重要矿产、绿色矿产等合作文件，助力各自发展转型。我们同意进一步拓展安全合作内涵，践行共同、综合、合作、可持续的安全观。双方决定建立中印尼裁军、防扩散与军控磋商机制。双方将提升执法安全合作，共同打击跨境赌博、电信诈骗等跨国犯罪，加强网络安全合作。我们同意共同维护南海的和平稳定。双方将在涉海合作上作出表率。两国海警部门签署了海上安全合作协议。双方重申致力于全面有效落实《南海各方行为宣言》，加快推进“南海行为准则”磋商。我们同意坚守建设开放型世界经济初心，倡导普惠包容的经济全球化，维护以世界贸易组织为核心的多边贸易体系，推动打造公正、公平、非歧视的贸易投资环境。中印尼互为重要贸易伙伴，我们要始终坚持开放包容、互利共赢的合作理念，反对任何形式的单边主义、贸易保护主义，认为滥施关税将严重损害各国正常经贸往来。我们将共同致力于加快区域经济一体化进程，维护产业链供应链稳定畅通，维护“全球南方”的正当合法权益。我们同意以联合国成立80周年、万隆会议召开70周年为契机，开展更紧密的多边战略协作，共同弘扬和平共处五项原则和“万隆精神”。加强在联合国、金砖、二十国集团等平台沟通协作，共同为地区和全球和平稳定发展作出更大贡献。
Back to the paper’s front page, there’s a report on Ding Xuexiang and UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan virtually co-chaired the first meeting of a high-level committee for China-UAE investment cooperation. Xinhua reports:
Ding said that “China will work with the UAE to deliver on the common understandings between the two heads of state, and boost the efficiency and scale of investment cooperation to advance the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership. Ding proposed that the two sides should give full play to the steering role of the committee, plan major projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, and encourage enterprises to expand the fields of cooperation between the two countries and innovate their methods of cooperation.”
Finally, there’s a report on the new guideline for improving China’s pilot FTZs to further promote high-standard opening up and high-quality development.
The guideline “proposes to enhance comprehensive competitiveness of foreign trade, promote optimisation and upgrading of goods trade, enhance the vitality of service trade development, and support innovative development of digital trade. It allows Enterprises within the zone to carry out physical blending operations involving gold-containing ores under different tariff codes using bonded logistics methods. It explores establishing a ‘white list’ system for imported R&D items for biomedical enterprises, allowing exemption from obtaining import drug clearance certificates. It explores establishing a ‘white list’ system for imported food and pharmaceutical substances, allowing customs clearance according to actual usage for food-purpose substances. It supports the development of new offshore international trade businesses, with qualified enterprises applying for recognition as technologically advanced service enterprises according to regulations. It explores pilot recognition of foreign professional qualifications. It promotes the application of electronic documents such as electronic bills of lading and warehouse receipts, and promotes the application of electronic signatures in paperless international multimodal transport. It promotes the application of electronic signatures in digital identity authentication and conducts pilot projects for mutual recognition of digital identities. 《意见》提出，要增强对外贸易综合竞争力，推动货物贸易优化升级，增强服务贸易发展活力，支持数字贸易创新发展。允许区内企业以保税物流方式开展不同税号下含金矿砂的物理混配业务。探索建立生物医药企业进口研发用物品“白名单”制度，允许免予办理进口药品通关单。探索建立进口食药物质“白名单”制度，允许食品用途的食药物质按实际用途通关。支持新型离岸国际贸易业务发展，符合条件的企业按规定申请认定技术先进型服务企业。探索开展境外职业资格认可试点。推动电子提单、电子仓单等电子票据应用，推动电子签名在国际联运无纸化运输领域的应用。推动电子签名在数字身份认证中的应用，开展数字身份互认试点.
The guideline “calls for greater efforts to attract and utilise foreign investment. It allows qualified foreign-invested enterprises in the zones to provide post-production services for films. It supports qualified doctors from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan to set up clinics in the zones after obtaining medical practitioner certificates. It allows well-known foreign arbitration institutions to establish business organizations in qualified free trade zones. It launches pilot projects for the registration and management of commercial mediation organizations.” 更大力度吸引和利用外资。允许符合条件的区内外资企业开展电影后期制作服务。支持符合条件的港澳台医生取得医师资格证书后在区内开设诊所。允许境外知名仲裁机构在符合条件的自由贸易试验区设立业务机构。开展商事调解组织登记管理试点.
On innovation and industrial development, the guideline calls “to build a modern industrial system, raise the level of industrial chain modernisation, promote the construction of advanced industrial clusters, and promote coordinated linkage among industries in FTZs. It encourages FTZs to carry out integrated innovation across the entire industrial chain. It supports participation in the construction of national-level industrial clusters. It coordinates the linkage development between FTZs and national independent innovation demonstration zones, selecting qualified regions for exploration. It supports qualified FTZs to deepen road testing and demonstration applications of intelligent connected vehicles and to build civil unmanned aerial vehicle test bases.” 要建设现代化产业体系，提升产业链现代化水平，推动建设先进产业集群，促进自由贸易试验区产业协同联动。鼓励自由贸易试验区开展全产业链集成创新。支持参与国家级产业集群建设。统筹推进自由贸易试验区同国家自主创新示范区联动发展，选取有条件的地区开展探索。支持有条件的自由贸易试验区深化智能网联汽车道路测试、示范应用，开展民用无人驾驶航空试验基地（试验区）建设.
The guideline calls to “establish and improve market rules for data elements”. “It allows carrying out blending and mixing operations of high- and low-sulfur fuel oils under different tariff codes using bonded logistics methods. It allows LNG to enjoy bonded policies as fuel for international navigation vessels. It aims to deepen opening up and innovation in the financial sector, promote financial services for the real economy, and expand financial opening in an orderly manner. It expands the pilot program for integrated RMB and foreign currency capital pools for multinational companies. It supports qualified FTZs to conduct Qualified Foreign Limited Partner pilot programs. It promotes the opening up of futures markets with specific domestic futures varieties as the main focus, expands the range of specific varieties, and explores diversified opening paths such as authorising settlement prices for domestic futures products. It implements more active, open, and effective talent policies, innovates talent cultivation and utilization mechanisms, and promotes the facilitation of personnel exchanges.”《意见》明确，要推动数据高效便利安全流动，建立健全数据要素市场规则，提升数据跨境流动便利化水平。要构建高效畅通开放通道，提升航运服务水平，强化陆运空运辐射能力。允许以保税物流方式开展不同税号的高、低硫燃料油混兑调和业务。允许液化天然气作为国际航行船舶燃料享受保税政策。要深化金融领域开放创新，推动金融服务实体经济，有序扩大金融开放。扩大跨国公司本外币一体化资金池业务试点。支持符合条件的自由贸易试验区开展合格境外有限合伙人试点。推进以境内期货特定品种为主的期货市场开放，扩大特定品种范围，探索境内期货产品结算价授权等多元化开放路径。要实施更加积极开放有效人才政策，创新人才培育使用机制，促进人员往来便利化.
Page 2: There’s an interview with Kenyan President William Ruto, who begins a state visit to China today. Ruto said that Kenya-China exchanges can be traced back more than 600 years. He added: “over the past 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kenya and China, the two governments, parliaments, political parties, and civil society have had close exchanges at all levels. In 2017, the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership.” 应国家主席习近平邀请，肯尼亚总统鲁托将于4月22日至26日对中国进行国事访问。鲁托总统访华前接受本报记者采访时表示，肯中友谊历史悠久，各层级交往密切，共建“一带一路”成果丰硕，两国合作前景广阔。期待通过此访继续深化两国关系，开展更多互利共赢合作. “肯中往来可追溯至600多年前。”鲁托告诉记者，当时第一批中国人已到达肯尼亚拉穆地区。他说，肯中建交60多年来，两国政府、议会、政党、民间等各层级交往密切。2017年，两国建立全面战略合作伙伴关系.
“‘Kenya actively participates in jointly building the ‘Belt and Road.’ We have cooperated to build the standard gauge railway stretching from Mombasa to Nairobi and extending to Naivasha, with a total length of about 600 kilometers, as well as Lamu Port, the Mombasa oil terminal, and the Nairobi Expressway. This demonstrates the strong relationship between Kenya and China,’ Ruto said. The joint construction of BRI has helped Kenya improve its infrastructure in ports, railways, and roads, and has promoted connectivity between Kenya and inland African countries such as Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” “肯尼亚积极参与共建‘一带一路’。我们合作建设了从蒙巴萨到内罗毕并延伸至奈瓦沙的全长约600公里的标准轨铁路，还有拉穆港、蒙巴萨油码头、内罗毕快速路等，这彰显了肯中之间的牢固关系。”鲁托表示，共建“一带一路”助力肯尼亚完善港口、铁路、公路等基础设施，促进了肯尼亚与乌干达、卢旺达、刚果（金）等非洲内陆国家的互联互通.
The article adds:
“Ruto looks forward to Kenya continuing cooperation with China to extend the standard gauge railway, promoting trade between Kenya and other African countries as well as more countries and regions of the world. He said that he hopes more Chinese enterprises will come to Kenya to invest, explore possibilities for expanding infrastructure cooperation, and further tap into the cooperation potential of jointly building BRI. Ruto said that Kenya can leverage China’s technical and financial support to vigorously develop manufacturing. ‘China has performed excellently in related technological fields such as solar panels and electric vehicle batteries,’ he said. Kenya is rich in renewable energy resources and strives to achieve 100% clean energy generation by 2030. China has advanced green energy technology, and there is great potential for green cooperation between the two sides. He looks forward to establishing cooperation between Kenya and Chinese electric vehicle companies and other new energy enterprises to enhance Kenya’s domestic manufacturing capabilities and achieve more green cooperation results. 鲁托期待肯尼亚继续与中方合作，将标准轨铁路进行延伸，促进肯尼亚与其他非洲国家乃至世界更多国家和地区的贸易往来。他表示，希望更多中国企业来肯投资，探索扩大基础设施合作的可能性，进一步挖掘共建“一带一路”合作潜力。鲁托表示，肯方可以借助中方的技术和资金支持，大力发展制造业。“中国在太阳能电池板、电动汽车电池等相关技术领域表现出色。”他说，肯尼亚可再生能源丰富，力争到2030年实现100%清洁能源发电，中国绿色能源技术先进，双方绿色合作潜力大。他期待肯方与中国电动车企等新能源领域企业建立合作，提高肯尼亚本土制造能力，取得更多绿色合作成果.
This bit is interesting, as per the report, Ruto talked about Africa’s poverty challenge. He says that the experience of Chinese-style modernisation is very much worth studying. He particularly emphasised that in the development of agricultural modernisation and the construction of special economic zones, Kenya has formed its own development path and model, which was shaped through understanding and learning from various experiences, including China’s development path. 鲁托高度评价中国式现代化成就。他认为，中国已经打赢脱贫攻坚战，对于仍面临严重贫困挑战的非洲大陆来说，中国式现代化经验非常值得研究。他特别强调，肯尼亚在农业现代化发展和经济特区建设中，形成了自身发展路径和模式，这是通过理解和学习借鉴包括中国发展道路在内的不同经验形成的.
Finally, “Ruto said that Kenya is evaluating joining the BRICS cooperation mechanism. In a multipolar world, Kenya is committed to seeking as many partners as possible and exploring the possibility of multilateral cooperation, which will not only create opportunities for the export of Kenyan products, but also promote cooperation in the field of technology and achieve a win-win situation.” 鲁托说，肯方正在评估加入金砖国家合作机制。在多极化世界中，肯尼亚致力于寻求尽可能多的合作伙伴，探索多边合作的可能性，既为肯尼亚产品出口创造机会，也推动技术领域合作，实现双赢.
There’s also a report on a special meeting themed: “The Story of the Communist Party of China - The Practice of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Chongqing”. More than 200 political leaders from more than 50 countries, some ambassadors to China and representatives of foreign business communities in China attended the meeting. The idea was to tell a positive story about Chongqing’s development in Xi’s new era. ILD chief Liu Jianchao and Chongqing Party Secretary Yuan Jiajun were among the key speakers.
Page 6: I am not detailing these, but there’s an article by the Party History and Literature Research Institute of the CPC Central Committee discussing the recent book of Xi’s thoughts on Party’s work style 习近平关于加强党的作风建设论述摘编.
More interestingly, there’s another article in the series that has begun following the tariff exchange with the US. The series has reporters traveling to key foreign trade towns to signal strength and resolve.
Over the weekend there was a similar piece from Yiwu in Zhejiang. Today, there’s a piece from Jinjiang in Fujian.
Broadly, these articles make the point that China’s foreign trade enterprises are adapting through innovation, market diversification, own brand building to generate consumer loyalty, supply chain optimisation, and by increasingly leveraging the strength of the domestic market. It also talks about Chinese companies working with partners in markets like Egypt, Vietnam and others to set up factories. The report from Yiwu talks about a cosmetics company whose business with the US has fallen from the American market accounting for 60% of its trade in 2018 to 5%. Consequently, it is “calm and composed in response to the impact of the abuse of tariffs by the United States.”
Page 9: There are two articles discussing US tariffs by Kong Qingjiang, Fan Xiaobo, and Che Luyao from the China University of Political Science and Law. I am only summarising one article, which deals with the legal defects in Trump’s tariffs.
The authors write:
“The so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ imposed by the United States expose its mindset of treating international law as a tool to be used when it suits you and abandoned when it doesn’t. The US, using hegemonic logic to challenge multilateral rules, has become a saboteur of international rule of law and will ultimately harm its own international credibility”. 美国加征所谓“对等关税”暴露了其将国际法视为“合则用、不合则弃”的工具心态，美国以霸权逻辑挑战多边规则，成为国际法治的破坏者，终将自损其国际信用.
They argue that pacta sunt servanda ‘agreements must be kept’ is one of the core principles of international law and the US’ ‘reciprocal tariffs’ are a “complete betrayal of this principle. There is no supranational entity in the international community to enforce and implement international legal norms. Under such circumstances, if countries are allowed to abandon their commitments at will, then the normativity and effectiveness of international law will lose their foundation, and the international community will fall into a state of chaos and disorder.” 美国加征所谓“对等关税”是对该原则的彻底背弃。国际社会并不存在超主权实体来执行和贯彻国际法律规范，在此种情况下，若任由各国背弃其承诺，那么国际法的规范性、有效性将失去基础，国际社会将处于混乱无序状态.
They then criticise the US for failing to implement WTO rulings and paralysing its appellate body.
“The so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ of the US are a blatant violation of tariff constraints and the principle of MFN treatment. This obvious and direct deviation from treaty obligations is undoubtedly a disregard for the principle of pacta sunt servanda and has shaken the foundation of international rule of law. Ironically, the US has always loudly declared that it advocates the establishment of a so-called ‘rules-based international order’, but it has blatantly deviated from one of the core principles of international law, pacta sunt servanda. This is enough to show that the so-called ‘rules’ of the US are extremely selective and instrumental, and its hypocrisy stands exposed.” 美国所谓“对等关税”更是公然违反关税约束和最惠国待遇原则。这种对条约义务明显而直接的背离，无疑是对“条约必须遵守”原则的无视，动摇了国际法治的根基。讽刺的是，美国一贯高调宣称其主张建立所谓“以规则为基础的国际秩序”，却公然背离“条约必须遵守”这一国际法的核心原则之一。这足以说明，美国所谓的“规则”是极具选择性和工具性的，其虚伪性暴露无遗.
The authors add that the core obligations undertaken by the members of the WTO include tariff constraints and MFN treatment. US tariffs “are incompatible” with these. Then the authors make four points:
“First, the so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ violate the principle of MFN treatment. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 places MFN treatment in the most critical position in this system, requiring member governments not to discriminate against any other member and not to give their nationals or goods treatment less favorable than that given to any country or region. The so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ implement discriminatory tariffs on imported goods, subjecting different countries or regions to differential treatment by the US under an absurd tariff formula based on trade deficits compared to exports, which constitutes a clear deviation from MFN treatment.
Second, tariffs violate tariff binding obligations. This obligation requires members, when levying tariffs, not to unilaterally raise rates above the levels they committed to during negotiations. Under the so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’, the tariff levels faced by various countries are far higher than the average bound tariff rate of 3.5% promised in the US tariff concession schedule.
Third, the tariffs are a distortion of the reciprocity principle. The ‘Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organisation’ indicates that WTO rules and commitments are formed through negotiations by members based on the principle of reciprocity. In fact, ‘reciprocity’ 互惠 is the customary translation of the so-called ‘equivalence’ 对等, and ‘equivalence’ that complies with world trade rules refers to the mutual granting of preferences and facilities by trading parties, rather than the equivalence of tariff rates or import and export amounts. In using the concept of equivalence, what the US is actually pursuing is an unrealistic ‘zero trade deficit’, which confuses the WTO’s principle of mutual benefit. Such a practice of secretly substituting one thing for another undermines the cornerstone of multilateralism.
Fourth, tariffs damage the multilateral trading system. The ‘Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organisation’ established a rules-based multilateral trading system, which means that WTO members should handle relations between each other through the establishment of rules or systems to achieve coordination and cooperation. When considering its own interests and demands, the US has directly ignored multilateral cooperation mechanisms and arbitrarily relied on unilateralism to achieve its demands, which seriously conflicts with the concept of rules-based multilateralism.” 一是所谓“对等关税”违背了最惠国待遇原则。《1994年关税与贸易总协定》将最惠国待遇置于该体系最为关键的地位，要求成员方政府不得歧视任何其他成员方，给予其国民或商品较任何国家或地区而言更不利的待遇。所谓“对等关税”对进口商品实施歧视性关税，在基于贸易逆差比出口的荒唐关税公式下，让不同国家或地区受制于美国的差别待遇，这构成了对最惠国待遇的明显背离。二是违反关税约束义务。该义务要求成员方在征收关税时，不得单方面提高税率，使之超过其谈判时所承诺的水平。而在所谓“对等关税”下，各国所面临的关税水平都远高于美国关税减让表中承诺的约束关税平均税率3.5%。三是扭曲了互惠原则。《马拉喀什建立世界贸易组织协定》表明，世界贸易组织规则和承诺均由成员方基于互惠原则谈判而形成。事实上，“互惠”才是所谓“对等”的惯常翻译，符合世界贸易规则的“对等”，是指贸易各方相互给予优惠和便利，而非关税税率或进出口额的等同。美国借助“对等”一词，所实现的却是不切实际的“贸易零逆差”，这混淆了世界贸易组织的互惠原则。此种偷梁换柱的行为，动摇了多边主义的基石。四是破坏了多边贸易体制。《马拉喀什建立世界贸易组织协定》建立了一个基于规则的多边贸易体制，这意味着世界贸易组织各成员方应当通过制定规则或制度的方式处理彼此之间的关系，以实现协调和合作。美国在考虑自己利益诉求时，直接无视多边合作机制，专横地依赖单边主义意图实现其诉求，这与基于规则的多边主义理念严重冲突。
After this, the authors charge the US with abusing the national security exception to “circumvent treaty constraints.” They also say that the tariffs face a “legitimacy crisis” even in terms of US’ domestic frameworks. The argument is that the use of emergency powers bypasses the authorisation of Congress. They write:
While the so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ of 2025 did not undergo any statutory procedures required by the ‘International Emergency Economic Powers Act,’ bypassing Congress and being forcibly implemented in the form of an executive order, seriously violating the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances stipulated in the US Constitution, as well as the requirements of procedural justice, weakening the rule of law that the US has always claimed to uphold. For this reason, there have already been multiple lawsuits in the US challenging the legality of the so-called ‘reciprocal tariffs’ executive order. 而2025年所谓“对等关税”未经《国际紧急经济权力法》所要求的任何法定程序，撇开国会，以行政命令形式强制实施，严重违反了美国宪法规定的权力分立、权力制衡原则以及程序正义要求，削弱了美国所一向标榜的法治。正因如此，美国国内已出现多例针对所谓“对等关税”行政令合法性的诉讼.
Finally, the authors argue that the tariffs and their implementation result in unpredictability in US policy, which is detrimental for the world. They also then defend China’s countermeasures.