Xi Visits Kazakhstan - Flood Situation in 'Critical Stage' - UNGA Resolution on AI
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.
Page 1: Much of the front page is dedicated to Xi Jinping’s visit to Kazakhstan. There’s a report on Xi’s arrival in the country. Cai Qi and Wang Yi are accompanying him.
PD’s report tells us that as soon as it entered Kazakh air space, Xi’s jet was escorted by three Kazakh air force jets. At the airport, there was quite the party to greet Xi, led by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Also present were First Deputy PM Roman Vasilievich Sklyar, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu, Presidential Foreign Affairs Advisor Erzhan Kazykhan, Mayor of Astana Zhenis Makhmuduly Kassymbek, along with other senior officials.
In his remarks at the airport, Xi said:
Over the 32 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the China-Kazakhstan relationship has withstood the test of changing times and international vicissitudes, evolving into a unique permanent comprehensive strategic partnership and setting an example of neighbourly relations characterised by mutual support, mutual benefit, and mutual success. 11 years ago, I first put forward the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt in Kazakhstan. Today, the joint construction of the ‘Belt and Road’ between China and Kazakhstan has yielded fruitful results. I look forward to having in-depth exchanges of views with President Tokayev on China-Kazakhstan relations and international and regional issues of common concern, to draw a new blueprint and make new arrangements for the development of the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Kazakhstan. I also look forward to attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, discussing the future of the organisation and cooperation plans with all parties, and promoting new and greater development of this important multilateral mechanism.” 习近平指出,中哈友好源远流长。两国建交32年来,中哈关系经受住时代变迁和国际风云变幻的考验,结为独一无二的永久全面战略伙伴关系,树立了邻国和衷共济、互利共赢、相互成就的关系典范。11年前,我在哈萨克斯坦首次提出共建“丝绸之路经济带”倡议。如今,中哈共建“一带一路”硕果累累。我期待同托卡耶夫总统就中哈关系以及共同关心的国际和地区问题深入交换意见,为中哈永久全面战略伙伴关系发展擘画新蓝图、作出新部署。我也期待出席上海合作组织阿斯塔纳峰会,同各方一道共话组织未来,共商合作大计,推动这一重要多边机制实现新的更大发展.
Also on the page is a reproduction of Xi’s article in Kazakh media (English text). In it, Xi wrote:
“Our two countries have always supported each other and have always been partners in times of challenge. Our mutual political trust has reached a new level. The China-Kazakhstan relationship has made a leap from a comprehensive strategic partnership to a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. The two countries have agreed on to promote the pursuit of a common future in the spirit of eternal friendship, profound mutual trust and solidarity, development and prosperity. We have rendered each other firm support on issues that bear on our respective core interests and are of major concern to us. We respect the development path that each has chosen according to our respective national conditions. We have always been trustworthy and reliable partners and would invariably extend a helping hand and do our utmost to support each other when we were hit by disasters like floods and pandemics. Such unbreakable mutual trust and support are invaluable, forming the strongest political cornerstone that underpins our bilateral cooperation.”
“Last year, our two-way trade registered a record high of US$41 billion. China is now Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner and its top export destination. Major strategic projects including the Zhanatas wind farm, Turgusun hydropower station, and the modernization of Shymkent Oil Refinery have been completed and commissioned. China-Kazakhstan crude oil and natural gas pipelines are operating in a safe and stable manner. The ‘green lanes’ for fast customs clearance of agricultural products are available at all border ports between the two countries, which makes green agri-products of high quality from Kazakhstan easily accessible for Chinese consumers. The potential for cooperation in new energy and transportation infrastructure has been unleashed. The transport and logistics terminal in Xi'an, the Western Europe-Western China Highway, and the China-Europe Railway Express all operate smoothly, providing a strong boost to the development of both China and Kazakhstan.”
“Thanks to our mutual visa-exemption arrangements, our people can visit each other as frequently as relatives do. Last year, a total of 600,000 cross-border trips were recorded. In the first quarter of this year, the number of visits in both directions amounted to 200,000 and are expected to reach a new high. Subnational cooperation is also booming, with the number of sister cities increasing to 26 pairs.”
“China and Kazakhstan hold similar positions on international and regional affairs. Both countries champion the vision of common, comprehensive cooperative and sustainable security. And both are committed to acting as a world peace builder, a global development contributor, and an international order defender. We have jointly created a China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism, and maintained close coordination and collaboration in the United Nations, the SCO, and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, among other multilateral organizations. We have actively supported each other’s constructive proposals for international cooperation, and taken resolute measures to safeguard our shared strategic, security, and development interests.”
Going forward, Xi said that:
“Our two countries need to further consolidate our political tradition of mutual support…China will work with Kazakhstan to further consolidate mutual political trust, strengthen strategic communication, and firmly support each other on issues that bear on our respective core interests and are of major concern to us. As always, China will support Kazakhstan in upholding its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, in continuing on the development path suited to its national conditions, in implementing domestic and foreign policies in the interest of its development and prosperity, and in opposing interference in its internal affairs by any external forces.”
“Our two countries need to stay committed to the golden rule of mutual benefit and win-win in our cooperation…Our two countries need to deepen cooperation in traditional sectors including business, trade, industrial capacity, investment, energy, mining and agriculture, and enhance the efficiency of customs clearance at border ports. We need to ensure the high-quality operation of the China-Europe Railway Express, advance the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, and make the network connecting our two countries more multidimensional, diverse and efficient. We need to significantly unleash the potential for cooperation in such high-tech areas as new energy, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, cross-border e-commerce, aviation and aerospace, and build more industrial and supply chains with high added-values, in order to inject new impetus to our cooperation.”
“Our two countries need to ensure the success of the Luban Workshop, Confucius Institutes, and the Kazakh campus of the Northwestern Polytechnical University to foster future generations who will carry forward the China-Kazakhstan friendship. China welcomes joint education programs and joint research projects between Chinese and Kazakh higher education institutions, think tanks and research institutes. China supports closer interactions between people from all sectors across Chinese and Kazakh societies.”
“Changes and turbulence in the global landscape pose new threats and new challenges, but also bring new opportunities and create new possibilities for all-round cooperation of mutual benefit between China and Kazakhstan. We Chinese believe that in every challenge lies an opportunity, and that challenges and opportunities are interchangeable. China stands ready to join hands with Kazakhstan in response to the changes of historic significance that are taking place in our world and in our times. We need to foster new opportunities amid crises, and open up new horizons on a shifting landscape. China will work with Kazakhstan to uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, act on true multilateralism, oppose hegemonism, power politics and bloc confrontation. We will work together to build an equal and orderly multipolar world, promote universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and bring about more positivity and certainty to world peace and stability.”
Finally, there’s a report telling us that the third season of Xi Jinping’s Favourite Allusions, a video series, produced by the China Media Group, was launched in Astana. The show will be broadcast on mainstream media outlets in Kazakhstan. This edition focuses on themes such as common prosperity, ecological protection, cultural inheritance, and diversity of civilizations.
Moving on, there’s a report on Xi’s letter to a U.S. Youth Exchange Delegation that is visiting China. The report says that the delegation consists of around 190 teachers and students from 14 schools in seven states across the US. Xi’s basic point was this:
“I hope that through this visit, you will perceive, experience, and have a better understanding of China, communicate and interact with the young people of China to become good partners and good friends, help build more bridges of mutual understanding between the two peoples, and contribute to enhancing the friendship between the two peoples.”
Next, there’s a report on Li Qiang’s comments with regard to flood control and disaster relief during his visit to Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province. Li said that China was in a “critical stage” of flood prevention. He added that “General Secretary Xi Jinping has been paying close attention to the development of the flood situation and disaster conditions. He is deeply concerned about the safety of the people and has issued important instructions multiple times.” 他强调,当前正值主汛期,防汛进入关键阶段,习近平总书记十分关注汛情灾情发展,非常牵挂群众安危,多次作出重要指示.
“We must thoroughly implement and further strengthen risk awareness and bottom-line thinking, adhere to prevention, focus on preparing for major floods, dealing with major dangers, and rescuing from major disasters. We should firmly establish responsibilities at all levels, enhance coordination and cooperation, and remain vigilant in flood prevention, emergency rescue, and disaster relief efforts, fully ensuring the safety of people’s lives and property and overall social stability.” 我们要深入贯彻落实,进一步强化风险意识、底线思维,坚持防患于未然,立足防大汛、抢大险、救大灾,层层压实责任、强化协调配合,毫不松懈做好防汛抢险救灾各项工作,全力保障人民群众生命财产安全和社会大局稳定.
Xinhua English captures the next bit well:
“When visiting a hydrologic station at the confluence of the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake, Li highlighted the important role of forecasting and early warning in disaster prevention, urging efforts to strengthen interdepartmental joint consultation and improve the accuracy of forecasting. Li was also briefed on the work on Yangtze River levee reinforcement and checked the storage of flood-control materials. When communicating with local emergency-response staff, he underlined the need to enhance the inspection and protection of embankments during harsh weather conditions and stockpile adequate materials.”
“At a geological disaster site in Bailu Town, in the city of Lushan, Li urged prioritizing disaster prevention in a period when landslides and debris flows occur frequently, and evacuating residents in areas prone to disasters promptly once dangers have been detected. Li also presided over a meeting on flood control in the town of Bailu. Noting the frequent occurrence of extreme weather conditions this year, Li called for efforts to strictly prevent secondary disasters caused by heavy rainfall, investigate weak links in urban flood-control and drainage systems, and strengthen flood prevention on farmland.”
Page 2: There’s a brief report on Liu Jianchao meeting with a delegation led by Mahamat Zen Bada, secretary general of the ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement of Chad, in Beijing.
Also, there is a brief report on He Lifeng meeting with Swiss Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin, also head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. He also met with Yohei Kono, president of the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade (JAPIT). Xinhua reports:
“When meeting with Kono and the delegation from the Japanese business community visiting China, He extended warm congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the JAPIT. He expressed the hope that the JAPIT will better play the role of a bridge and continue to be a practitioner of the China-Japan friendship, a promoter of mutually beneficial cooperation, and a defender of the stability of the global industrial and supply chains. China is firmly committed to high-level opening up and welcomes Japanese companies to expand investment and cooperation with China further, He said. For his part, Kono said the JAPIT will continue to promote Japan-China economic and trade exchanges and make new contributions to Japan-China friendship.”
Page 3: There’s a report informing that Li Qiang will be attending the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance tomorrow in Shanghai.
Page 4: If you are interested, there have been a couple of series running through the paper — the first one is on the Party’s grassroots activism and the other is on tracing red footprints. These can offer useful data points if you are engaged in specific research. In general, these pieces tend to have little news value.
Page 17: There’s a report on the UNGA adopting a resolution proposed by China to strengthen international cooperation in artificial intelligence capacity building, with more than 140 countries signing it. The resolution underlines that AI development should adhere to principles that are people-centered, promote the greater good and benefit humanity as a whole.