Xi's Pitch to Arab States - China-Arab States Jt. Statement on Palestine Issue - New Emergency Management Mechanism with C5 States - Liu Jianchao's Japan Visit - Criticising Lai's 'Democracy Card'
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Friday, May 31, 2024.
Page 1: The lead story is drawn from Xi Jinping’s speech at the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. The full speech is published on Page 2. Xinhua has the English version.
Xi said:
We will, together with the Arab side, respect the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, the independent choice of every nation and the reality formed in history, and strive together for solutions to hotspot issues that uphold fairness and justice and sustain peace and security.
We will strengthen cooperation in key areas such as oil, gas, trade and infrastructure, step up fostering new growth areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), investment, financing and new energy, and embark together on an innovative and green path to prosperity.
We are ready to work with the Arab side to promote people-to-people exchanges, champion the common values of humanity, and create a stellar example of mutual learning among civilizations in the new era.
China will work closely with the Arab side to make our relations a model for promoting good global governance. The entire humanity shares one common future, which has become an inevitable trend. But deficits in governance, trust, peace and development are getting wider. This calls on us to improve global governance under the principle of ‘planning together, building together, and benefiting together.’ We are ready to work with the Arab side to jointly champion an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and set a model of South-South cooperation on global governance.
Xi then offered “five cooperation frameworks to step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future.”
On innovation: China will build with the Arab side ten joint laboratories in such areas as life and health, AI, green and low-carbon development, modern agriculture, and space and information technology. We will enhance cooperation on AI to make it empower the real economy and to promote a broad-based global governance system on AI. We also stand ready to build with the Arab side a joint space debris observation center and a Beidou application, cooperation and development center, and step up cooperation in manned space mission and passenger aircraft.
On investment and finance: We are ready to establish with the Arab side an industry and investment cooperation forum, continue to expand the China-Arab states interbank association, and implement at a faster pace the cooperation projects that are financed by the special loans in support of industrialization in the Middle East as well as by the credit line for China-Arab financial cooperation. China supports closer cooperation between financial institutions from the two sides, welcomes Arab states to issue panda bonds in China, and welcomes Arab banks to join the Cross-border Interbank Payment System. China is also ready to deepen exchanges and cooperation on central bank digital currency with the Arab side.
Energy cooperation: China will further enhance strategic cooperation with the Arab side on oil and gas, and integrate supply security with market security. China is ready to work with the Arab side on new energy technology R&D and equipment production. We will support Chinese energy companies and financial institutions in participating in renewable energy projects in Arab states with total installed capacity of over 3 million kilowatts.
Trade and economic cooperation: China will continue to implement vigorously the development cooperation projects with a total worth of RMB3 billion yuan. It stands ready to accelerate the negotiations on bilateral and regional free trade agreements and advance the dialogue mechanism for e-commerce cooperation. It welcomes active participation of the Arab side in the China International Import Expo, and is willing to expand import of non-energy products from the Arab side, especially agricultural products.
People-to-people exchanges: China is ready to establish with the Arab side the China-Arab Center of Global Civilization Initiative, expand the size and influence of the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development, accelerate the establishment of such platforms as the think tank alliance, the youth development forum, the university alliance, and the research center on cultural and tourism cooperation. China will invite 200 leaders of Arab political parties to visit China every year. We plan to work with the Arab side to achieve the goal of 10 million two-way visits of tourists in the next five years.
On the Israel-Palestine issue, he said:
“The Middle East is a land bestowed with broad prospects for development, but the war is still raging on it. Since last October, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated drastically, throwing the people into tremendous sufferings. War should not continue indefinitely. Justice should not be absent forever. Commitment to the two-State solution should not be wavered at will. China firmly supports the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. It supports Palestine's full membership in the U.N., and supports a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference. On top of the previous RMB100 million yuan of emergency humanitarian assistance, China will provide an additional RMB500 million yuan of assistance to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support post-conflict reconstruction. We will donate U.S.$3 million to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in support of its emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza.”
The forum ended yesterday. It adopted three documents, i.e., the Beijing Declaration, the Action Implementation Plan and a joint statement on the Palestinian issue.
I haven’t been able to locate the first two documents, but the joint statement is available via Xinhua. It says that both sides called for the full and effective implementation of Security Council Resolution 2728. The statement called for joint efforts to promote an “early ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and an early comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian issue.”
As per the statement, both sides “condemn Israel's continued aggression against the Palestinian people”. It says that “125,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed or injured in the Gaza Strip, most of whom are women and children…residential areas, hospitals, schools, mosques, churches and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip have been systematically destroyed, and thousands of Palestinian prisoners have been detained and abused”. 双方谴责以色列对巴勒斯坦人民的持续侵犯。加沙地带已有12.5万巴勒斯坦平民死伤，其中大部分是妇女和儿童。加沙地带巴勒斯坦民众被迫遭受致命饥荒与封锁，断绝一切生计，加沙地带居民区、医院、学校、清真寺、教堂和基础设施均遭系统性破坏，数千名巴勒斯坦囚犯遭扣押与虐待.
“Both sides condemn the invasion of the city of Rafah, the bombing of refugee camps and the control of the Rafah port.” 二、双方谴责对拉法城的侵犯以及轰炸难民营和控制拉法口岸的行为.
Both sides opposed any “plans, intentions, and actions” to “forcibly transfer the Palestinian people outside their homeland”. They contend that “this will destroy the prospects for peace in the Middle East and lead to an escalation and deterioration of regional conflicts.” 双方反对实施将巴勒斯坦人民强制迁移至其国土之外的计划、意图和行为，这将葬送中东地区的和平机遇，导致地区冲突扩大恶化.
“Both sides demand that the Security Council issue a binding resolution to achieve an immediate, comprehensive and sustained ceasefire, stop the forced transfer of the Palestinian people, ensure the delivery of relief supplies to the entire Gaza, implement relevant Security Council resolutions, and return life in the Gaza Strip to normal. Both sides condemn the United States for using its veto to prevent Palestine from becoming a full UN member.” 双方要求安理会出台有约束力的决议，实现立即全面持续停火，停止强制迁移巴勒斯坦人民，保障救援物资运送至加沙全境，执行安理会有关决议，使加沙地带生活回归正轨。双方谴责美国动用否决权阻止巴勒斯坦成为联合国正式会员国.
Both sides support the orders of the International Court of Justice of January 26, March 28 and May 24, 2024. They called on Israel to “abide by relevant legal provisions, especially international humanitarian law. Both sides stressed that Israel, as the occupying power, is responsible for the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.” 双方支持国际法院于2024年1月26日、3月28日、5月24日就南非起诉以色列违反《防止及惩治灭绝种族罪公约》案作出的临时措施命令，认为以色列应遵守有关法律规定特别是国际人道法。双方强调，作为占领方的以色列对加沙恶劣的人道状况负有责任.
The document backs the “two-state solution” as “the only realistic way out” and it backs Palestine’s bid for UN membership.
Both sides call for “the convening of a larger, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference as soon as possible to launch an authoritative peace process…”
“Both sides support the Palestinian government to perform its duties in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem in accordance with recognized international principles. The Gaza Strip is an integral part of the State of Palestine. Both sides emphasise their support for the Palestinian government's relief efforts in Gaza. Both sides reaffirm that the Palestine Liberation Organization is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and call on all Palestinian factions to unite under the banner of the PLO and assume their respective responsibilities in a national partnership under the leadership of the PLO.” 双方支持巴勒斯坦政府依据被认可的国际原则，在加沙地带、约旦河西岸和东耶路撒冷履职。加沙地带是巴勒斯坦国不可分割的一部分。双方强调支持巴勒斯坦政府在加沙的救济努力。双方重申巴勒斯坦解放组织是巴勒斯坦人民唯一合法代表，呼吁巴勒斯坦各派别统一在巴解旗帜下，在巴解领导下以民族伙伴关系承担各自责任.
“Both sides welcome the recent recognition of the State of Palestine by many countries, and emphasise that this is a legitimate right of the Palestinian people and a driving force for international and regional peace, security, and stability, and call on countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to do so as soon as possible.” 双方欢迎近期多国承认巴勒斯坦国，强调鉴于这是巴勒斯坦人民合法权利和国际地区和平、安全、稳定的推进力，呼吁尚未承认巴勒斯坦国的国家尽快作出承认.
Both sides stress that “Israel's unilateral measures aimed at changing the status quo of Jerusalem are invalid”. They support the Hashemite family in protecting the Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem and endorse its role in safeguarding the Arab, Islamic, and Christian character of Jerusalem, as well as maintaining the existing historical and legal status of Jerusalem and its holy sites. Both parties emphasise their commitment to the existing historical and legal status of the Al-Aqsa Mosque. 双方强调以色列旨在改变耶路撒冷现状的单方面举措是无效的，支持哈希姆家族对被占耶路撒冷伊斯兰教和基督教圣迹的保护，支持其为保护耶城阿拉伯、伊斯兰和基督教属性，以及维护耶路撒冷及其圣迹现有历史和法律地位所发挥的作用。双方强调坚持阿克萨清真寺现有历史和法律地位.
Both sides condemn the Israeli government’s continued promotion of targeted settlement plans, which are aimed at changing the existing historical and legal status of the occupied Palestinian territories and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. 双方谴责以色列政府持续推进有针对性的定居点计划，其目的是改变巴勒斯坦被占领土、叙利亚被占戈兰高地的现有历史和法律地位.
Both sides support the joint efforts of Egypt and Qatar to promote a lasting ceasefire and restore normal living conditions in the Gaza Strip. Both parties also support the roles of Egypt and Algeria in achieving reconciliation among the various Palestinian factions. 双方支持埃及和卡塔尔为推动达成持久停火、使加沙地带生活回归正轨所作共同努力。双方支持埃及和阿尔及利亚为实现巴勒斯坦各派和解所发挥的作用.
The only other story (English report) on the page is about Xi’s meeting with UAE’s Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Xi said that China was ready to “ensure the vigorous development of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.”
He said that “China supports the UAE in pursuing an independent development path and safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and is willing to consolidate political mutual trust and strengthen cooperation with the UAE to jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.” He talked about cooperation under BRI, following the establishment of the new high-level committee on China-UAE investment and cooperation. Xi called for consolidating cooperation in areas such as trade, energy and infrastructure, expand cooperation in high-tech fields such as information technology, artificial intelligence, digital economy and new energy, and strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation. China will also push forward the construction of a Chinese culture center in the UAE.
“Noting that at present the trend towards a multi-polar world is unstoppable, Xi said multi-polarization in essence should mean mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among different civilizations, systems and paths. Countries in the Middle East are an important part of developing countries and an important force in the multi-polarization of the world, he said, adding that China supports countries in the region to continue to follow their development paths suited to their national conditions, firmly follow the path of unity and strength, peace and reconciliation, resolve differences through communication and consultation, and hold their future and destiny in their own hands. Xi said China is ready to work with the UAE and other Arab countries to host the second China-Arab States Summit and promote the building of a community of shared future between China and Arab states. China is willing to strengthen its strategic partnership with the UAE, expand multilateral cooperation and safeguard the common interests of countries in the Global South, he added.”
As per Xinhua, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed called China his “second hometown.” He added that “the UAE attaches great importance to developing relations with China, places China at the top of its diplomatic priority and regards China as a long-term and reliable strategic partner…the government of the UAE firmly adheres to the one-China policy, opposes ‘Taiwan independence’ in any form and supports China's efforts to achieve national reunification…UAE highly appreciates and actively supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative…”
On the Palestine issue, Xi said China and the UAE have the same stance and should work together to push for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the issue. Deals were inked covering BRI, science and technology, peaceful use of nuclear energy, Chinese education, culture and tourism.
Page 3 has a report on the UAE president’s visit with Zhao Leji. Nothing particularly noteworthy there.
Page 3: There’s a report informing that China and the five Central Asian countries have formally established a new emergency management cooperation mechanism. during a ministerial meeting in Urumqi. The six countries also approved an action plan for emergency management cooperation for 2024-2026 and announced the creation of a working group for China-Central Asia emergency management. From what one gathers, this is about dealing with natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, and forest and grassland fires, etc.
Next, there’s a report on Wang Yi’s comments at a high-level China-Russia think tank forum. Wang said that:
“The world is in a period of turbulence and experiencing accelerating changes unseen in a century. He said the world now requires major powers to take responsibility, and that China-Russia cooperation has become even more precious. He said that China will remain committed to its original intentions, build on past achievements and forge ahead with Russia. The two sides should seek common development and rejuvenation through mutual support, achieve mutual benefits through opening-up and cooperation, strengthen public support through exchange and mutual learning, lead global governance with commitment, and participate in international affairs from a just position.”
Next, there’s a consolidated report on Li Qiang’s meeting with Egyptian president Sisi and Tunisian President Kais Saied.
Xinhua’s report on the meeting with Sisi said that:
“Li said that China is willing to work with Egypt to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward the traditional friendship, continuously strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and push the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a new level. Li pointed out that China firmly supports Egypt in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions and safeguarding its national sovereignty, security, and development interests. Guided by high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, China is ready to work with Egypt to deepen cooperation in traditional areas and foster new growth areas of cooperation, further facilitate bilateral trade and investment exchanges, and help Egypt strengthen the internal driving force for economic development to achieve win-win results, Li said. He also called for expanding people-to-people exchanges regarding think tanks, young people, education, and tourism to consolidate public support for good friendship between the two countries. China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Egypt in multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization, work together to end the fighting in Gaza and ease the humanitarian crisis there as soon as possible, and make unremitting efforts for a comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue, Li said.”
Xinhua’s report on Li’s meeting with Saied says:
“China is ready to work with Tunisia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward the tradition of friendship and mutual trust, advance exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and work together to pave the way for an even better future for the two countries, Li said. He noted that China firmly supports Tunisia in actively exploring a development path with Tunisian characteristics and firmly opposes external interference in Tunisia's internal affairs. China is ready to work with Tunisia to deepen practical cooperation guided by high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, make solid progress in key cooperation projects, and expand cooperation in trade and renewable energy, Li said. China is willing to import more quality products from Tunisia and will continue to encourage competent Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Tunisia, Li said, calling on the two sides to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in health, youth education, tourism and archaeology, and continue to enhance the friendship between the two peoples. China is ready to work with Tunisia to make every effort to build a China-Arab community with a shared future for the new era and promote the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, Li said, urging joint efforts from the two sides to strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.”
Page 11: There is a commentary by Wang Yingjin, who is the director of the Cross-Strait Relations Research Center at Renmin University of China. Wang’s basic argument is that the new Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te’s inauguration speech basically showed that he was seeking to play the “democracy card” as a “talisman” for his “independence provocations”. 台湾地区领导人赖清德在就职典礼上发表了讲话。通览全篇讲话，从标题到内容一直围绕着“民主台湾”展开叙事，大肆宣扬台湾的“民主成就”，大打“民主牌”，试图为其下一步谋“独”挑衅作“护身符”.
He makes four arguments:
First, Lai “openly severed the historical link between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait both belonging to one China.” Wang says that Lai’s statement that “On this day in 1996, Taiwan’s first democratically elected president took the oath of office, conveying to the international community that the Republic of China Taiwan is a sovereign, independent nation in which sovereignty lies in the hands of the people” is problematic. “The implication is that the Kuomintang regime that retreated to Taiwan in 1949 was an alien regime that imposed autocratic rule on Taiwan. With the democratic transformation of Taiwan in the 1980s and 1990s, especially the implementation of the ‘direct election’ system, the regime has qualitatively changed into a new ‘democratic country’ that is localised in Taiwan and ‘sovereign and independent’ - the ‘Republic of China-Taiwan’. As we all know, neither ‘Taiwan’ nor ‘Republic of China (Taiwan)’ has ever been a ‘sovereign and independent country.’ Therefore, Lai Ching-te's claim that the ‘Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent country’ is completely inconsistent with historical facts and is nothing but a pipe dream (痴人说梦)! Furthermore, this argument limits the so-called ‘Republic of China’ to the period since 1996 and to the Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu regions, thereby delinking it to the history before 1996 and severing the historical and legal connection between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait that they both belong to one China. The political intention of doing so is extremely sinister, and the intention of ‘Taiwan independence’ is obvious.” 一是公然割裂两岸同属一中的历史连结。赖清德宣称“1996年的今天，台湾第一位民选总统宣誓就职，向国际社会传达，中华民国台湾是一个主权独立的国家、主权在民”。其意涵是：1949年退台的国民党政权是一个对台湾实行专制统治的外来政权，随着20世纪八九十年代台湾民主化转型，特别是“直选”制度的落实，该政权已质变为一个在台湾本地化、“主权独立”的新型“民主国家”——“中华民国台湾”。众所周知，无论是“台湾”还是“中华民国台湾”从来都不是一个“主权独立的国家”，因此，赖清德所言“中华民国台湾是一个主权独立国家”的说法完全与历史事实不符，简直是痴人说梦！另外，该论调将所谓的“中华民国”在时间上缩限于1996年以来，空间上缩限于台、澎、金、马地区，使之与1996年之前的历史割裂开来，从而切断两岸同属一个中国的历史和法理连结，其政治意图非常险恶，“台独”之心昭然若揭. (Comment: This is quite a terrible argument. But okay.)
Second, “by playing the ‘democracy card’, Lai is eager to join the Western ‘liberal democracy’ camp, and use this to advocate the commonalities between Taiwan and the United States and the West in terms of values, systems, interests and positions, in order to gain their support and protection for Taiwan. At the same time, he hyped up Taiwan as a ‘frontline outpost’ of Western-style ‘liberal democracy’, asserting that the Chinese mainland resolving the Taiwan issue would change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and challenge Western ‘liberal democracy’. Lai playing the ‘democracy card’ and the United States’ playing the ‘Taiwan Province card’ echo each other, and the two are closely interlinked.” 通过打“民主牌”，赖清德急于投靠西式“自由民主”阵营，借此鼓吹台湾与美西方在价值观、制度、利益和立场上的共同之处，以期获得他们对台湾的支持和保护。同时，他大肆渲染台湾是西式“自由民主”的“前沿阵哨”，中国大陆解决台湾问题就是改变台海现状、挑战西式“自由民主”。赖清德打“民主牌”，与美国打“台湾牌”两相呼应，二者加紧勾连.
Third, for a long time, the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces have described the reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait as ‘mainland authoritarianism eating up Taiwan's democracy’ and have described the pursuit of ‘independence’ as ‘defending Taiwan's free and democratic constitutional system’. Their purpose is nothing but to leverage Taiwan's alignment with the values and ideologies of the United States and its allies to garner more support, while also attempting to garner more support from the island’s population for their pursuit of ‘independence’. The so-called ‘authoritarianism eating up democracy’ argument is utter nonsense. First, the mainland system is not an authoritarian system. We are following the path of socialist political development with Chinese characteristics, wherein people's democracy is whole-process democracy. Second, the mainland has always advocated ‘peaceful reunification and one country, two systems’ and promised that Taiwan can implement a social system different from that of the mainland after reunification. As General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out in his important speech at the 40th anniversary commemoration of the ‘Message to Compatriots in Taiwan’ on January 2, 2019: ‘Different systems are not an obstacle to reunification, nor an excuse for division’.” 一直以来，“台独”分裂势力将两岸统一说成是“大陆威权吃掉台湾民主”，将谋“独”说成是“捍卫台湾自由民主的宪政体制”。其目的无非是借助台湾在价值观和意识形态上与美国及其盟友的一致性来获取更多支持，同时也妄图获取岛内更多民众对其谋“独”的支持。所谓的“威权吃掉民主”，纯属无稽之谈。一则大陆体制并非威权体制，我们走的是一条中国特色社会主义政治发展道路，人民民主是一种全过程的民主；二则大陆一直主张“和平统一、一国两制”，承诺统一后台湾可实行不同于大陆的社会制度，正如习近平总书记2019年1月2日在《告台湾同胞书》发表40周年纪念会上的重要讲话中所指出：“制度不同，不是统一的障碍，更不是分裂的借口.”
The fourth and final argument is that Lai said that “the future of the Republic of China Taiwan will be decided by its 23 million people.” This argument seeks to leverage democracy and public opinion to provide ‘legitimacy’ for the ‘Taiwan independence’ forces' pursuit of ‘independence’. This is highly misleading.” Why? Because Lai, as per Wang, “intentionally confuses Taiwan, which belongs to all Chinese people, with the 23 million people of Taiwan.” “The Taiwan issue concerns the core interests of the country and the national sentiments of the Chinese people. Any issue involving China's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be decided by all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots.” 四是鼓吹根本站不住脚的“台湾2300万人决定论”。赖清德声称“中华民国台湾的未来，由2300万人民共同决定”。该论调旨在借民主和民意为“台独”势力谋“独”作“合法性”注释，具有很强的迷惑性。但从人民主权的原意看，在一个主权国家内部，其主体是该国家的全体人民，这里的人民是一个集合概念，而不是指个体公民或部分公民。“台湾2300万人决定论”的错误，在于把本来属于全体中国人民的台湾有意混淆成了台湾2300万人民的台湾，这是对“人民主权”或“主权在民”理论的断章取义。台湾问题事关国家核心利益和中国人民民族感情。任何涉及中国主权和领土完整的问题，应由包括台湾同胞在内的全中国人民共同决定.
Wang ends by calling on the “vast number of Taiwan compatriots” to “open their eyes and distinguish right from wrong.”
Other Stories:
ILD chief Liu Jianchao has been visiting Tokyo, where he spoke at an event sponsored by the Japan-China Society on Wednesday. China Daily’s report says:
“He told the audience that the Taiwan question concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and is a very serious matter, highly significant in the minds of the Chinese people. He suggested that Japanese people might not fully understand this sentiment. In addressing the challenge posed by proponents of ‘Taiwan independence’, neither the government nor the people in the Chinese mainland can afford to be ambiguous or take chances, as these forces are the greatest challenge to China's reunification and its territorial integrity, Liu said. He emphasized that any violation of China's territorial integrity is an unbearable weight for the Chinese nation. Therefore, the central government in the Chinese mainland must make its policy clear and unequivocal, responsibly demonstrating to the world the mainland's firm stance against ‘Taiwan independence’. ‘China is firmly committed to achieving peaceful reunification. This is our ideal goal. However, if the forces advocating for 'Taiwan independence' do not give peaceful reunification a chance and insist on moving toward ‘Taiwan independence', they will face a strong reaction from the Chinese people,’ Liu said.”
The report also indicates that there’s no immediate breakthrough likely on export of Japanese aquatic products to China. On US-China ties, Liu said: “We believe these dialogues are beneficial. At the same time, we hope that the ultimate goal of these dialogues is to solve problems and promote the forward development of China-U.S. relations.” He also called on Washington to “adhere to its expressed sincerity, to match its words with actions.”
Some other quotes from the session from the ILD’s website.
“As the region with the world's largest population and most vibrant economy, Asia has maintained relative stability. However, negative trends such as ‘camp confrontation’, ‘small yards and high walls’, and ‘decoupling and breaking links’ are quietly growing, casting a shadow over the grand vision of development and revitalization in Asia.” 作为世界上人口最多、经济最具活力的地区，亚洲保持相对稳定，但“集团对抗”“小院高墙”“脱钩断链”等消极动向潜滋暗长，给亚洲发展振兴宏大愿景蒙上阴影.
He said that “China is an active advocate and faithful practitioner of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence…China’s prosperity is the result of the hard work of the Chinese people. It has not and will not follow the old path of colonial plunder and the crooked path of a strong country seeking hegemony.” 中国是和平共处五项原则的积极倡导者和忠实实践者...中国的富强是中国人民勤劳奋斗的成果，没有走也不会走殖民掠夺的老路、国强必霸的歪路。Liu also called on Japan to “adhere to strategic autonomy, establish a positive and friendly perception of China, and continue to work with China to be a partner in maintaining world peace, stability, development and prosperity.” 希望日方坚持战略自主，树立积极友善对华认知，继续同中国携手做维护世界和平稳定、发展繁荣的伙伴.
Liu added that the two sides should seek common development and achieve mutual success; and that they should value peace and trust. In terms of the second bit, he said:
“I hope Japan will continue along the path of being a ‘peaceful country’. China and Japan should jointly adhere to the bottom line of peaceful coexistence, oppose the creation of ideological confrontation and geopolitical conflicts, refrain from ‘choosing sides’ and engaging in camp confrontation, and pass on the torch of peace from generation to generation. China will steadfastly follow the path of peaceful development and is willing to work with Asian countries, including Japan, to uphold regional peace and stability and achieve common development.” …希望日本继续沿着“和平国家”这条路走下去。中日应共同坚守和平共处的底线，反对制造意识形态对立和地缘政治冲突，不搞“选边站队”和阵营对抗，让和平的薪火代代相传。中国将坚定不移地走和平发展道路，愿同包括日本在内的亚洲各国一道维护地区和平稳定，实现共同发展.
During the visit, Liu met with a cross-section of Japan’s political elite and the media.
In meeting Prime Minister Kishida, he said: “Maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait is in the common interests of China and Japan. Japan should abide by the one-China principle, earnestly maintain the political foundation of Sino-Japanese relations, and properly handle sensitive issues such as the discharge of nuclear contaminated water into the sea. The Communist Party of China is willing to strengthen exchanges with all political parties in Japan to promote the improvement and development of Sino-Japanese relations.” 台湾海峡保持稳定符合中日两国共同利益，日方应恪守一个中国原则，切实维护中日关系的政治基础，妥善处理核污染水排海等敏感问题。中国共产党愿同日本各政党加强交流，推动中日关系改善发展。中国正在全面推进中国式现代化，愿同日本实现互利共赢，推动共同发展.
In meeting foreign minister Yōko Kamikawa, Liu said: “The two sides should implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen exchanges between political parties, promote the resumption of personnel exchanges at all levels and in all fields, promote exchanges in the strategic, academic, local and civil circles, and truly establish a correct understanding of each other. The Japanese side should view China's development objectively and rationally, abide by the one-China principle, properly resolve the issue of nuclear contaminated water discharge into the sea, and remove obstacles to the development of China-Japan relations.” 双方要落实好两国领导人达成的重要共识，加强政党交往，推动恢复各层级、各领域人员往来，促进战略界、学术界、地方、民间等交流，真正树立对彼此正确认知。日方应客观理性看待中国发展，恪守一个中国原则，妥善解决核污染水排海问题，为中日关系发展排除障碍.
Second, China has just launched a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan. Global Times reports:
“The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, or the SUPARCO told the Global Times that ‘this high-power multi-mission satellite will provide communication services in C, Ku, Ka Bands and SBAS services in L Band. Based on advanced communication technologies, PakSat-MM1 will play a pivotal role in the socio-economic uplift of the country. It will prove to be a stepping stone in the transformation of the country into Digital Pakistan.’ ‘It will provide various communication services like broadband internet, and TV broadcasting,’ according to Project Manager MM-1, SUPARCO, Usman Iftikhar. He said that the primary objective behind the PAKSAT MM-1 satellite is to strengthen Pakistan’s communication infrastructure, which would pave the way for broadening the horizons for connectivity, serving the unserved, Tele-education, E-health/Tele-medicine, E-governance and E-commerce while transforming Pakistan into a digital powerhouse.”
Third, SCMP reports that:
“Beijing announced export controls on various military-related materials and tools on Thursday. The restricted items include equipment used to make aerospace parts and engines, gas turbines – which can be used in warships and tanks – as well as key components for bulletproof vests. The rules come into force on July 1 and equipment, software and technology affected by the ban will not be allowed to be exported without authorisation, according to a statement jointly released by the Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs and Central Military Commission’s Equipment Development Department.”
The report adds:
“According to China’s customs data, the US, Vietnam and Singapore were the top-three importers of Chinese aerospace products specified on the list in the first four months of the year. The US, India and Vietnam were the top-three importers of restricted goods related to gas turbines in the same period. Gas turbines can be used in warships and in large vehicles such as tanks. The restrictions also cover ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibre, which can be used for protective equipment such as bulletproof helmets, body armour, bulletproof inserts and bulletproof plates. Major export destinations for the material between January and April were Brazil, Vietnam, the US and Israel. There are also restrictions on molds designed to make spacesuit visors, which are likely to affect countries such as Mexico, the US and Vietnam.”