State Council Discusses Functional Zoning Strategy - What is Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building? - Zhong Sheng Warning on Japan's Military-Industrial Complex - Nepal FM's Meets Wang Yi

Here are the key reports and articles from the People’s Daily’s edition on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

Page 1: There’s a report on Xi Jinping’s article in the latest edition of the Qiushi journal. This one is a collection of Xi’s quotes on advancing the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent. Xinhua English’s summary of some of the key points that the article makes is:

“It stresses that education, science and technology, and talent are both the foundational and strategic pillars needed for building a modern socialist country in all respects. Education should better underpin science, technology and talent development, the article notes. It positions high-level research universities as the main drivers of national basic research and the cradles for major scientific and technological breakthroughs. It urges efforts to optimize higher education layout, advance differentiated reforms in universities, and update teaching methods to foster an environment conducive to the growth of innovative talent. Calling for a more effective national innovation system, the article highlights the need to strengthen the Party Central Committee’s unified leadership over science and technology work. It further demands sustained efforts to reinforce basic research capacity and enhance original innovation, while stepping up research to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields and in frontier technologies.”

Now, read this in the context of reporting that Chinese universities have carried out a wholesale change in the degrees being offered, eliminating “obsolete degrees in favour of new, tech-focused programmes.” SCMP reports:

“Between 2021 and 2025, China’s higher education institutions revoked or suspended 12,200 undergraduate degree programmes while introducing 10,200 new ones, meaning that more than 30 per cent of the nation’s university programmes underwent adjustments, according to Ministry of Education data cited by Xinhua. The cuts have been heavily concentrated in arts, humanities, foreign languages and management – fields that are increasingly deemed outdated or oversaturated in China, where more than 16 per cent of young people are unemployed and the job market is being rapidly transformed by artificial intelligence. Many of the new programmes, meanwhile, are closely aligned with Beijing’s economic development goals. For instance, nine universities have added new majors in embodied intelligence, which dovetails with a national drive to speed up the integration of next-generation AI into the real economy. Universities have faced pressure to adapt to rapid changes in the Chinese economy over recent years, as graduate numbers have soared to record levels but many have found their degrees offer little help when it comes to finding work.”

Moving on, there’s a report on the State Council group study session, which focused on strengthening the implementation of the functional zoning strategy and promoting coordinated regional development. The report says that Fan Jie, from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, gave the guest lecture. Vice Premiers He Lifeng and Liu Guozhong, and State Councilor Shen Yiqin also delivered remarks.

“After listening to the presentation and the speeches, Li Qiang pointed out that in recent years the functional zoning strategy has made major progress from concept to practice, the strategic framework has basically taken shape, and the ‘three zones and three lines’ have been fully demarcated. Entering the 15th FYP period and facing new circumstances and tasks, it is necessary to deeply understand the foundational role and overall, all-encompassing impact of the functional zoning strategy, strengthen the strategy’s implementation, and grasp its advancement and carry out its implementation with the spirit of nailing nails.” 李强在听取讲解和交流发言后指出，这些年来，主体功能区战略从理念到实践取得重大进展，战略格局基本形成，“三区三线”全面划定。进入“十五五”时期，面对新的形势和任务，要深刻认识主体功能区战略的基础性作用、全局性影响，强化主体功能区战略实施，以钉钉子精神抓好推进落实。

“Li Qiang pointed out that it is necessary to focus on prominent contradictions, identify precise entry points, and promote with greater intensity the effective implementation of the functional zoning strategy. It is necessary to optimize the division of major functional zones and make spatial governance more precise and refined. Taking full account of changes in national strategic needs and local development conditions, the positioning of major functions should be dynamically adjusted on the basis of scientific assessment. In accordance with localities’ unique geographic positions and resource endowments, differentiated management should be applied to special functional zones. The information-integration function of the territorial-spatial planning ‘one map’ should be expanded, cross-departmental and cross-level sharing and joint use should be promoted, and a basic platform for territorial-spatial governance should be built. It is necessary to improve the policy and institutional system suited to the major functional zones, and guide differentiated and coordinated development across different regions. More incentive-oriented policies should be provided to urbanised areas, guiding the appropriate preferential allocation of resources and production factors. More guarantee-oriented policies should be provided to major agricultural-product producing areas and key ecological-function areas, and mechanisms such as transfer payments and ecological protection compensation should be improved and strengthened.” 李强指出，要聚焦突出矛盾，找准切入点，更大力度推动主体功能区战略有效落地。要优化主体功能区划，推动空间治理更加精准精细。充分考虑国家战略需求和地方发展条件的变化，在科学评估基础上对主体功能定位进行动态调整。根据地方独特区位和资源禀赋，对特殊功能区实施差异化管理。拓展国土空间规划“一张图”信息集成功能，推动跨部门跨层级共享共用，构建国土空间治理基础平台。要完善与主体功能区相适应的政策制度体系，引导不同地区差异化协同化发展。对城市化地区给予更多激励性政策，引导资源要素适当倾斜配置。对农产品主产区和重点生态功能区给予更多保障性政策，健全强化转移支付、保护补偿等机制.

“Li Qiang stressed that the coordinated regional development strategy, the major regional strategies, the new-type urbanization strategy, and others are all major strategies based on national territorial space. It is necessary to systematically sort out the spatial development patterns, regional functions, and implementation priorities specified in the various national strategies, and coordinate and promote the synergistic overlay of the functional zoning strategy with other major national strategies. The implementation of the functional zoning strategy involves all aspects; it is necessary to further improve the strategic implementation mechanism, strengthen coordination among departments and regions, improve supporting institutions, strengthen policy integration, and form a joint working force.” 李强强调，区域协调发展战略、区域重大战略、新型城镇化战略等都是基于国土空间的重大战略，要系统梳理不同国家战略中明确的空间发展格局、区域功能和实施重点，统筹推动主体功能区战略与其他国家重大战略协同叠加。实施主体功能区战略涉及方方面面，要进一步健全战略实施机制，强化各部门各地区协同，完善配套制度，加强政策集成，形成工作合力。

Next, there’s a report informing that the National Symposium on Party Building Work was held in Beijing on Monday. Cai Qi and Li Xi were in attendance. This is an important meeting because we see another branch of Xi Jinping Thought emerging here.

“The meeting held that, since the 18th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, focusing on the major question of the era, i.e., what kind of long-term governing Marxist party to build and how to build a long-term governing Marxist party, has put forward a series of new concepts, new ideas and new strategies, forming Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building. Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building is an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; it makes a major original contribution to the development of the Marxist theory of party building, and has major practical significance and long-term guiding significance for strengthening the Party and strengthening the country.” 会议认为，党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央围绕建设什么样的长期执政的马克思主义政党、怎样建设长期执政的马克思主义政党的重大时代课题，提出一系列新理念新思想新战略，形成习近平党建思想。习近平党建思想是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要组成部分，为发展马克思主义建党学说作出重大原创性贡献，对强党强国具有重大现实意义和长远指导意义.

The meeting pointed out that Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building is the fundamental guideline for strengthening the building of the Party in the new era. This thought’s connotations are rich and its system is rigorous. It distinctly puts forward:

• upholding the leadership of the Party as the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics;

• upholding the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee;

• upholding strict and comprehensive self-governance of the Party;

• upholding never forgetting the original aspiration and keeping the mission firmly in mind;

• upholding taking the Party’s political building as the overarching principle;

• upholding using the Party’s innovative theory to unite hearts and forge the soul;

• upholding the tempering of a strong Party spirit;

• upholding the improvement of an organizational system that is connected from top to bottom and powerful in execution;

• upholding the building of a high-quality cadre contingent capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility of national rejuvenation;

• upholding the normalization and long-term institutionalization of work-style construction;

• upholding the use of strict discipline to manage and govern the entire Party;

• upholding the integrated advancement of an environment in which officials dare not, cannot, and do not wish to be corrupt;

• upholding governing the Party through institutions and governing the Party in accordance with regulations; and

• upholding the implementation of the political responsibility for managing and governing the Party.

This thought originates from the scientific theory of Marxism, is rooted in China’s outstanding traditional culture, and was nurtured through the great practice of comprehensive and strict Party governance in the new era. It possesses a solid practical foundation and profound theoretical origins. This thought demonstrates firm ideals and convictions, a high degree of historical initiative, a distinct problem orientation, a strong sense of mission and responsibility, deep feelings for the people, and a scientific method of thinking. It illuminates the essence and guides practical application, integrating essence and application throughout, and possesses a distinctive theoretical character. This thought links together history, reality, and the future, and will continue to be enriched and developed along with the development of Party-building practice in the new era.

会议指出，习近平党建思想是加强新时代党的建设的根本遵循。这一思想鲜明提出坚持党的领导是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征，坚持党中央集中统一领导，坚持全面从严治党，坚持不忘初心、牢记使命，坚持以党的政治建设为统领，坚持用党的创新理论凝心铸魂，坚持锤炼坚强党性，坚持健全上下贯通、执行有力的组织体系，坚持建设堪当民族复兴重任的高素质干部队伍，坚持推进作风建设常态化长效化，坚持用严明的纪律管全党治全党，坚持一体推进不敢腐不能腐不想腐，坚持制度治党、依规治党，坚持落实管党治党政治责任，内涵丰富、体系严密。这一思想源自于马克思主义科学理论，植根于中华优秀传统文化，孕育于新时代全面从严治党的伟大实践，具有坚实的实践基础和深厚的理论渊源。这一思想彰显了坚定的理想信念、高度的历史主动、鲜明的问题导向、强烈的使命担当、深厚的为民情怀、科学的思想方法，明体达用、体用贯通，具有鲜明的理论品格。这一思想贯通历史、现实和未来，将随着新时代党的建设实践发展而不断丰富和发展.

The meeting emphasised that studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building is an important political task for the whole Party now and in the coming period. It called for organizing Party members and officials to study the original works, original texts, and underlying principles, understanding not only what it is but also why it is so, and further deepening their appreciation of the decisive significance of the Two Establishments and resolutely achieving the Two Safeguards. It is necessary to organize and carry out systematic and theoretical research and interpretation, thoroughly explaining the principled achievements, original contributions, and the scientific system, rich connotations, spiritual essence, and practical requirements of this thought, and to publicize it in ways that Party members, cadres, and the masses enjoy and find easy to accept. It is necessary to continuously push the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building to go deeper and become more solid, guiding Party organizations at all levels to consciously apply Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building to plan and advance Party building, and to do a good job in all aspects of comprehensive and strict Party self-governance with higher standards and more practical measures. 会议强调，学习贯彻习近平党建思想，是当前和今后一个时期全党的一项重要政治任务。要组织推动党员、干部读原著学原文悟原理，知其然又知其所以然，进一步深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，坚决做到“两个维护”。要组织开展体系化学理化研究阐释，深入阐释这一思想的原理性成果、原创性贡献和科学体系、丰富内涵、精神实质、实践要求，以党员、干部、群众喜闻乐见的方式进行宣传。要持续推动学习贯彻习近平党建思想走深走实，引导各级党组织自觉运用习近平党建思想谋划和推进党的建设，以更高标准、更实举措抓好全面从严治党各项工作.

Accompanying this report on the page is a long Xinhua feature discussing Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building. I am not doing a full breakdown of the piece. But I am offering some excerpts from the first section. The article places the concept of Party-building within the framework of the “second answer” to the “cave-dwelling question”. To do so, it begins with a quote from Xi at the 6th Plenum of the 19th Central Committee. Here’s an excerpt:

“‘Our Party has such a long history, such a large scale, and has been in power for so long, how can we break free from the historical cycle of order and chaos, of rise and fall?’ In November 2021, at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly declared: ‘Comrade Mao Zedong gave the first answer in a cave dwelling in Yan’an, namely, ‘Only by letting the people supervise the government will the government not dare to slacken.’ Through a century of struggle, and especially through the new practice since the 18th Party Congress, our Party has given a second answer: self-revolution’.

From the ‘first answer” to the ‘second answer’, this demonstrates the firm determination of Chinese Communists to unremittingly advance the Party’s self-construction and ensure that it does not change in nature, change in color, or change in flavor. It marks that the century-old Party’s understanding of the laws governing the building of a long-ruling Marxist political party has reached a new height. All epoch-making theories are products created to meet the needs of their times.

Since the 18th Party Congress, focusing on the major question of the age: ‘what kind of long-term governing Marxist party to build, and how to build a long-term governing Marxist party—General Secretary Xi Jinping, with the historical initiative spirit of a Marxist statesman, thinker, and strategist, extraordinary theoretical courage, outstanding political wisdom, and a strong sense of mission and responsibility, has put forward a series of new concepts, new ideas, and new strategies for managing and governing the Party and revitalizing and strengthening the Party. This formed Xi Jinping’s Important Thought on Party Building and Xi Jinping’s Important Thought on the Party’s Self-Revolution, providing the fundamental basis and guide for action for unswervingly advancing comprehensive and strict Party governance and deeply promoting the new great project of Party building in the new era.”

“我们党历史这么长、规模这么大、执政这么久，如何跳出治乱兴衰的历史周期率？”2021年11月，党的十九届六中全会上，习近平总书记郑重宣示：“毛泽东同志在延安的窑洞里给出了第一个答案，这就是‘只有让人民来监督政府，政府才不敢松懈’。经过百年奋斗特别是党的十八大以来新的实践，我们党又给出了第二个答案，这就是自我革命。”从“第一个答案”到“第二个答案”，彰显了中国共产党人锲而不舍推进党的自身建设、确保不变质不变色不变味的坚定决心，标志着百年大党对长期执政的马克思主义政党建设的规律性认识达到新高度。一切划时代的理论，都是满足时代需要的产物。党的十八大以来，聚焦“建设什么样的长期执政的马克思主义政党、怎样建设长期执政的马克思主义政党”这一重大时代课题，习近平总书记以马克思主义政治家、思想家、战略家的历史主动精神、非凡理论勇气、卓越政治智慧、强烈使命担当，提出一系列管党治党、兴党强党的新理念新思想新战略，形成了习近平总书记关于党的建设的重要思想、关于党的自我革命的重要思想，为坚定不移全面从严治党、深入推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程提供了根本遵循和行动指南.

The article also tells us that this thought is an “urgent need for building a strong country and for national rejuvenation.” It further adds:

“‘We are a big Party, leading a big country, and undertaking a great cause.’ Upon entering the 15th FYP period, the heavy tasks of reform, development, and stability, as well as the numerous contradictions, risks, and challenges, all place new and higher requirements on the Party’s own construction, its governing capacity, and its leadership level. Achieving long-term governance is not a one-dimensional process of a political party’s subjective efforts alone. Rather, it is a two-dimensional process in which subjective efforts and objective conditions of development, as well as the laws of development, adapt to and interact with one another.

The Party’s innovative theory is the concentrated embodiment of the Marxist worldview and methodology, and is the compass and direction-marker by which a party advances its own construction. Only under the guidance of correct theory, solving problems ideologically, keeping pace with the times in raising the level of scientific, democratic and law-based governance, and ensuring that the ranks of Party members and officials are politically firm and highly capable, better suited to the requirements of the new situation and possessed of the ability to lead modernization, can the Party shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the era.

Establishing and safeguarding a strong leadership core, and creating and developing scientific guiding thought, are major principles of the Marxist theory of Party building and also fundamental requirements of the Marxist materialist conception of history.

Throughout the 77-year history of New China and the 105-year history of the Party, each time the country has crossed torrents and dangerous shoals and continuously moved from victory to victory, it has depended on a strong and powerful leadership core and on the scientific guidance of the Party’s innovative theory. Ideological unity is the foundation of political unity and unity in action. Only when theory is strong can direction be clear, hearts and minds be united, and confidence be sufficient. Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building will certainly promote the entire Party to more deeply comprehend the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, more consciously strengthen the Four Consciousnesses, enhance the Four Confidences, and achieve the Two Safeguards, always maintaining a high degree of alignment in thought, politics, and action with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and gathering hearts and pooling strength to promote the Party’s and the country’s undertakings to advance steadily and endure over the long term.”

“我们是一个大党，领导的是一个大国，进行的是伟大的事业”。进入“十五五”，改革发展稳定任务之重，矛盾风险挑战之多，都对党的自身建设、党的执政能力与领导水平提出了新的更高要求。实现长期执政，并非政党主观努力的单向度过程，而是主观努力与客观发展条件、发展规律相互适应、相互作用的双向度过程。党的创新理论是马克思主义世界观、方法论的集中体现，是一个政党推进自身建设的指南针、方向标。只有在正确理论指引下，从思想上解决问题，与时俱进提高科学执政、民主执政、依法执政水平，确保党员干部队伍政治过硬、本领高强，更加适应新的形势要求、具备领导现代化建设能力，方能肩负起时代的重任。确立和维护坚强的领导核心，创立和发展科学的指导思想，是马克思主义建党学说的重大原则，也是马克思主义唯物史观的根本要求。77年新中国史、105年党史，一次次跨过激流险滩，不断从胜利走向胜利，都离不开坚强有力的领导核心，都离不开党的创新理论的科学指引。思想统一是政治统一、行动统一的基础。理论强，才能方向明、人心齐、底气足。习近平党建思想必将推动全党更加深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，更加自觉增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，始终在思想上政治上行动上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致，凝心聚力推动党和国家事业行稳致远。

The first section ends with this:

“To understand ‘the governance of China’, one must first understand ‘the governance of the CPC’. The CPC, having passed through 105 glorious years, is becoming an outstanding model for creating the miracle of long-term stable governance through its exceptional leadership capacity and governance capacity, providing useful reference for political party building around the world. As Western party politics is mired in all manner of difficulties, with populism on the rise and far-right currents of thought running rampant, the development of political parties in various countries urgently needs new theoretical guidance. Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, with its lofty value orientation and unique ideological appeal, shatters the myths of the Western party system, and offers China’s proposition and contributes China’s wisdom to the development of world political civilization and the progress of human political civilization in the age of globalization.

A party that has the guidance of scientific theory and that grasps the laws of its own development and progress possesses the powerful consciousness to lead social transformation and advance the cause of justice, and possesses the forward momentum to march onward without turning back, irreversibly. The world is changing, China is advancing, and the Chinese Communists of the new era, with the theoretical courage of Marxism, are continually opening up new horizons and making new summations, propelling contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st-century Marxism to display an ever more powerful and more convincing force of truth.”

读懂“中国之治”，须先读懂“中国共产党之治”。走过105年光辉岁月的中国共产党，正以自身卓越的领导能力、治理能力，成为创造长期稳定执政奇迹的杰出典范，为各国政党建设带来有益借鉴。当西方政党政治深陷种种困境，民粹主义抬头、极右翼思潮泛滥，各国政党发展亟需新的理论指引。习近平党建思想以其崇高的价值取向、独特的思想魅力，打破西方政党制度的迷思，为全球化时代世界政治文明发展、人类政治文明进步提供中国主张、贡献中国智慧。一个拥有科学理论指引、掌握自身发展进步规律的党，就具备了引领社会变革、推进正义事业的强大自觉，就具备了一往无前、不可逆转的前进势能。世界在变化，中国在前进，新时代中国共产党人正以马克思主义的理论勇气，不断拓展新视野，作出新概括，推动当代中国马克思主义、21世纪马克思主义展现出更为强大、更有说服力的真理力量.

Page 2: There’s a Zhong Sheng commentary on the page lashing out at the “activation” of Japan’s military-industrial complex. It says:

“A set of data recently released by the Japanese government is deeply alarming. Influenced by the authorities’ policy of strengthening defense capabilities, the value of machinery manufacturing orders from the Ministry of Defense in fiscal year 2025-26 reached nearly 2.69 trillion yen, surging to approximately three times its level over the past five years and accounting for nearly half of government public-demand orders in that fiscal year. Among these, orders for weaponry and equipment such as surface-to-air missiles and aircraft grew especially markedly. This trend clearly shows that Japan’s military-industrial complex has been reactivated. This is the inevitable result of Japan’s right-wing forces methodically and step-by-step breaking through the postwar peace framework and selectively nurturing the military industry, and it warrants the high vigilance of all peace-loving people around the world, including the Japanese public.” 日本政府日前公布的一组数据令人深感不安：受当局强化防卫能力方针影响，2025年度防卫省机械制造订单额达到将近2.69万亿日元，在过去5年内激增至约3倍，占到当年度政府公共需求订单的近一半。其中，地对空导弹、飞机等武器装备订单增长尤为显著。这一态势清晰表明，日本军工复合体已被重新激活。这是日本右翼势力有计划、有步骤突破战后和平体制、定向扶持军工产业的必然结果，值得包括日本民众在内的全世界爱好和平的人民高度警惕.

The next couple of paragraphs deal with history, before we get to this:

“Right-wing politicians and military-industrial conglomerates are colluding in the pursuit of profit, pushing Japan’s security policy to accelerate its ‘rightward turn’, and their ambition for ‘remilitarization’ is unmistakably clear. Right-wing forces, represented by Sanae Takaichi, continually play up external threats and hype security anxieties, manufacturing pretexts in public opinion for the expansion of armaments; in pursuit of high profits, military-industrial capital keeps pressuring the authorities to break through the constraints of the postwar framework. From pushing to revise the Constitution and the ‘three security documents’, to accelerating the deployment of medium- and long-range offensive missiles, and further to opening up the export of lethal weapons and establishing a ‘national intelligence agency’...a series of radical measures has step by step broken through the bottom line. Japan’s defense budget for fiscal year 2026 has already exceeded 9 trillion yen, setting a record high for the 14th consecutive year, with defense spending as a share of its GDP soaring to 2%, and possibly even rising further. From ‘exclusively defense-oriented defense’ to ‘sustained combat capability’, from extending its reach overseas to positioning itself in space, Japan is substantively departing from its postwar commitment to peace, going ever further down the dangerous road of ‘neo-militarism’.”

右翼政客与军工集团合谋逐利，推动日本安保政策加速“右转”，其“再军事化”野心昭然若揭。以高市早苗为代表的右翼势力持续渲染外部威胁、炒作安保焦虑，为军备扩张制造舆论借口；军工资本为追逐高额利润，不断倒逼当局突破战后体制约束。从推动修改宪法和“安保三文件”，到加快部署中远程进攻性导弹，再到放开杀伤性武器出口、设立“国家情报局”——一系列激进举措步步突破底线。2026财年日本防卫预算已突破9万亿日元，连续14年刷新历史纪录，防卫费占其国内生产总值比重飙升至2%，甚至还有可能进一步提升。从“专守防卫”到“持续作战能力”，从辐射海外到布局太空，日本正实质性背离战后和平承诺，在“新型军国主义”的危险道路上越走越远.

Also on this page is a report on Wang Yi’s meeting with Nepali Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal in Beijing. The readout says:

Wang Yi said that China and Nepal are connected by mountains and rivers and share a common destiny. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, regardless of changes in the international situation or Nepal’s domestic circumstances, the two countries have consistently upheld the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and maintained the sustainable development of bilateral relations. In 2019, President Xi Jinping successfully conducted a historic visit to Nepal, during which the two countries established a Strategic Partnership of Cooperation Featuring Ever-lasting Friendship for Development and Prosperity, providing a clear direction for the joint efforts of China-Nepal relations. Last year, the peoples of the two countries jointly celebrated the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. China is willing to work with Nepal to carry forward the traditional friendship, enhance political mutual trust, and advance China-Nepal strategic cooperation with the times to achieve new results. 王毅表示，中国和尼泊尔山水相连，命运与共。建交以来，无论国际风云和尼国内形势如何变化，两国始终秉持和平共处五项原则，保持双边关系可持续发展。2019年，习近平主席对尼泊尔成功进行历史性访问，两国确立面向发展与繁荣的世代友好的战略合作伙伴关系，为中尼关系明确了共同努力方向。去年，两国人民携手庆祝建交70周年。中方愿同尼方赓续传统友谊，增进政治互信，与时俱进推动中尼战略合作取得新成果.

Wang Yi stressed that China appreciates Nepal’s firm adherence to the one-China principle and its staunch support for China on issues concerning China’s core interests, such as those related to Taiwan and Xizang. China has always placed its relations with Nepal in an important position in its peripheral diplomacy; China’s friendly policy toward Nepal is oriented toward the entire Nepali people. As always, China will support Nepal in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity; support the new Nepalese government in governing smoothly with the support of the people; and support Nepal in exploring a development path suited to its own national conditions. History and facts have proven that China-Nepal friendship is in the fundamental interests of the Nepalese state, nation, and people. 王毅强调，中方赞赏尼方坚定恪守一个中国原则，在台湾、涉藏等涉及中国核心利益问题上给予中方坚定支持。中方始终把对尼关系置于周边外交重要位置，对尼友好政策面向尼全体人民，将一如既往支持尼方维护国家主权、独立和领土完整，支持尼新政府在人民支持下顺利施政，支持尼方探索符合本国国情的发展道路。历史和事实证明，中尼友好符合尼国家、民族和人民的根本利益。

Wang Yi said that a close neighbour is better than a distant relative. China will forever be a good neighbour and good partner that Nepal can trust and rely on in its process of development, revitalization and modernization. China stands ready to pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with Nepal, focusing on cooperation in such areas as power grids, highways, ports of entry, and aviation, to help Nepal transform from a ‘land-locked country’ into a ‘land-linked country’. The two sides should make good use of various cooperation platforms and mechanisms, deepen practical cooperation, and promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges. China encourages Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Nepal, and hopes that Nepal will provide a fairer and more transparent business environment. The two sides should engage in close multilateral coordination to safeguard the common interests of developing countries. 王毅表示，远亲不如近邻。中方永远是尼方发展振兴和现代化进程中值得信赖和依靠的好邻居、好伙伴。中方愿同尼方高质量共建“一带一路”，聚焦电网、公路、口岸、航空等合作，助力尼泊尔从“陆锁国”转向“陆联国”。双方要用好各类合作平台机制，深化务实合作，促进人文交流。中方鼓励中国企业赴尼投资兴业，希望尼方提供更加公平、透明的营商环境。双方要密切多边协作，维护发展中国家共同利益.

As per the readout, Khanal “thanked China for its long-term support of Nepal’s national development and the improvement of its people’s livelihood, and for always treating Nepal as an equal and respecting Nepal’s national sovereignty and independence.” 感谢中方长期支持尼国家发展和民生改善，始终对尼平等相待，尊重尼国家主权和独立. Nepal’s new government is committed to achieving people-centered development and adheres to a policy of non-alignment. 尼新政府致力于实现以人民为中心的发展，坚持不结盟政策.

He added: “The Taiwan and Xizang-related issues are both China’s internal affairs; Nepal unswervingly pursues the one-China policy, supports China in achieving complete reunification, and will never allow any force to use Nepal’s territory to harm China’s interests. China’s development is an opportunity for Nepal. Nepal welcomes Chinese investment and is willing to provide a fair, law-based, and friendly business environment for Chinese enterprises. Nepal is willing to learn from China’s experience in governance, admires China’s achievements in poverty alleviation and ecological and environmental protection, will actively participate in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, raise the level of Nepal-China connectivity, promote mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, strengthen multilateral coordination and collaboration, and achieve common development and prosperity. Nepal endorses the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and is willing to actively support the series of global initiatives put forward by China.”

台湾和涉藏问题都是中国的内政，尼方坚定不移奉行一个中国政策，支持中国实现完全统一，绝不允许任何势力利用尼领土损害中国利益。中国发展是尼方的机遇。尼方欢迎中国投资，愿为中国企业提供公平、法治、友善的营商环境。尼方愿学习中国治国理政经验，钦佩中国脱贫攻坚和生态环保成就，将积极参与高质量共建“一带一路”，提高尼中互联互通水平，促进各领域互利合作，加强多边协调配合，实现共同发展繁荣。尼方认同构建人类命运共同体理念，愿积极支持中方所提系列全球倡议.

Shisir Khanal also met with Liu Haixing during his time in Beijing.

Also on the page is a report (English report) on:

“He Lifeng meeting with US Representative Lou Correa in Beijing Monday. The presidents of China and the United States agreed on a new vision of building a constructive bilateral relationship of strategic stability, providing strategic guidance for the next phase of China-U.S. relations, said He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. China is ready to work with the United States to fully and accurately implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state, strengthen dialogue and expand cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and strive to promote the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations, He said.”

Next, there’s a report on the reception for the 25th anniversary of SCO, where Wang Yi spoke. He essentially highlighted the four global initiatives. The key points he made:

• “It is necessary to improve global governance. Practice true multilateralism, uphold the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, safeguard the authority and role of the United Nations, and advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

• It is necessary to maintain peace and tranquility. Uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, promote peace and stability in the Middle East, assist Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development, and realize long-term peace and stability in the region.

• It is necessary to promote sustainable development. Create new growth drivers in trade and investment, connectivity, scientific and technological innovation, green industries, and the digital economy; accelerate the establishment of the SCO Development Bank; strengthen industrial chains, stabilize supply chains, and upgrade value chains.

• It is necessary to enhance good-neighbourliness, friendship, and cooperation. Promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, advance dialogue among civilizations, support friendship among peoples, and jointly build the Five Homes of peace, tranquility, prosperity, beauty, and friendship.”

要完善全球治理。践行真正的多边主义，坚持共商共建共享，维护联合国权威和作用，倡导平等有序的世界多极化、普惠包容的经济全球化。要维护和平安宁。坚持共同、综合、合作、可持续安全观，推动中东和平稳定，帮助阿富汗重建发展，实现地区长治久安。要促进可持续发展。打造经贸投资、互联互通、科技创新、绿色产业、数字经济增长点，加快开发银行筹建，强化产业链、稳定供应链、提升价值链。要增进睦邻友好合作。促进人文交流、推进文明对话，支持民间友好，共建和平、安宁、繁荣、美丽、友好的“五大家园”.

Also on the page is a report (English report) that cashew nuts produced in African countries with diplomatic relations with China now have access to the Chinese market if they meet a unified set of inspection, quarantine and sanitary requirements, China’s General Administration of Customs has announced.

Page 3: There’s a report on Li Qiang’s call with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung. Xinhua says:

“Li said that during General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Vietnamese President To Lam’s visit to China in April, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with him, and the two sides reached important consensus on building a higher-level China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Li noted that government departments and localities in both countries have since stepped up efforts to implement the outcomes of the visit, making positive progress. Emphasizing the profound traditional friendship between China and Vietnam, Li said China has always prioritized Vietnam in its neighborhood diplomacy, and stands ready to work with Vietnam to follow the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, strengthen solidarity and mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and better promote common development and prosperity. China is willing to work with Vietnam to deepen the alignment of development strategies, expand the scope and improve the quality of bilateral trade, advance infrastructure connectivity, accelerate the development of cross-border economic cooperation zones, and expand cooperation in fields such as energy and mineral resources, the digital economy, artificial intelligence and finance, so as to achieve higher-level mutually beneficial outcomes, Li said. The two sides should work together to successfully hold events such as the China-Vietnam Tourism Cooperation Year, implement ‘small but beautiful’ livelihood projects, properly manage and control maritime differences, and consolidate the foundation of public support for friendship between the two countries, Li said. As unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise globally, Li said China is willing to enhance coordination and cooperation with Vietnam within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, support each other in hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting this year and next year, promote the building of an open Asia-Pacific economy, and safeguard free trade and economic globalization.”

Another report (English report) informs that the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters on Monday upgraded its emergency response for flood control in Guangdong and Guangxi from Level IV to Level III, the Ministry of Emergency Management said. The headquarters also maintained a Level-IV emergency response for flood control in Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Hunan. China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe response.

Page 15: There’s a report on the Foreign Ministry’s comments regarding the US-Iran deal. I am sharing all the exchanges below:

Anadolu Agency: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced early Monday that the U.S. and Iran had reached an agreement following negotiations, with both sides declaring an immediate and permanent end to military operations across all fronts, including in Lebanon. The U.S. and Iran later confirmed the agreement. What’s China’s comment?

Lin Jian: China welcomes the U.S. and Iran reaching agreement on the text of the memorandum of understanding for the first stage of negotiations and commends Pakistan’s mediation efforts. We hope the document will be signed according to the agreed timetable and all relevant parties will stay committed to peaceful solutions and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation. China stands ready to join the international community in playing an active role in restoring peace and tranquility to the Middle East and Gulf region at an early date.

Anadolu Agency: U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his attempts to sabotage the negotiation process with Iran. He said the deal with Iran was reached despite objections from Netanyahu. Now that peace has been achieved, do you have any message for the Israeli side regarding the potential attempts to sabotage the deal or general peace in the region?

Lin Jian: As I have just said, we hope the U.S. and Iran will sign the memorandum of understanding for the first stage of negotiations according to the agreed timetable and all relevant parties will stay committed to peaceful solutions and resolve issues through dialogue and negotiation. China will act on President Xi Jinping’s four propositions and play an active role in the early restoration of peace and tranquility in the Middle East and Gulf region.

AFP: Back on the deal reached between the U.S. and Iran, specifically on the part of the agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, what is China’s comment on this?

Lin Jian: The Strait of Hormuz is an important strait for international navigation. Restoring stability in the Strait serves the common interests of regional countries and the international community. We have noted that the text of the memorandum of understanding for the first stage of negotiations between Iran and the United States includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. We hope the Strait will become safe again for free passage at an early date. China stands ready to maintain communication with regional countries and the international community on relevant issues.

Anadolu Agency: Did China have any involvement during this, especially in the opening of Strait of Hormuz? Do you have any contributions to finding a middle way or a solution to the unblocking of the strait during the negotiations?

Lin Jian: Since the outbreak of the conflict, China has been working tirelessly for the end of fighting and for peace. President Xi Jinping made four propositions on safeguarding and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East, which embody China’s consistent position and active efforts to promote peace, end hostilities, and advocate resolving disputes through dialogue. As a Chinese solution to end the conflict and realize peace, the propositions have played an important role in building global consensus and received broad recognition from regional countries and the international community. Guided by the spirit of the propositions and upholding fairness and justice, China, as a responsible major country, will continue to make our contribution to enabling lasting peace in the Middle East.