Announcement on Open Market Operations No.201 [2024]
(Open Market Operations Office, October 12, 2024)
In order to keep liquidity adequate at a reasonable level in the banking system, the People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB23.2 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on October 12, 2024.
Q1: What is the background for the launch of the Announcement?
A1: To smooth the channels of monetary policy transmission and facilitate lower financing costs for the real economy, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) reformed and improved the loan prime rate (LPR) formation mechanism in August 2019 to ensure that loan interest rates could promptly reflect changes in market interest rates. When issuing the Announcement No.16 [2019], we improved the LPR formation mechanism, and took into account the wide range, long maturity, and high public attention regarding commercial personal mortgage loans (hereinafter referred to as “mortgages”). The Announcement specified that mortgage rates should be priced as LPR plus basis points (LPR+bps) to make long-tenor mortgage rates in sync with market rates. In short, the Announcement played a significant role in promoting the market-oriented pricing of mortgage rates and supporting the stable and healthy development of the real estate market. However, deepened market-oriented interest rate reform and significant changes in the supply-demand relationship in the real estate market have exposed some shortcomings in the current pricing mechanism, which aroused public concerns and sorely needed adjustments.
To implement the guidelines of the meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and to address public concerns, the PBOC issued the Announcement No.11 [2024], which refined the pricing mechanism for mortgage rates and fostered lower interest rates on existing home loans.
Q2: What are the problems with the current mortgage rate pricing mechanism, and how will they be addressed?
A2: As agreed in contracts, the bps added to the LPR are fixed during the contract periods. As home mortgage contracts are long tenors in general, the fixed margin between mortgage rates and LPR cannot reflect changes in the borrower’s credit worthiness or shifts in market supply and demand, which may lead to widening spread between old and new mortgage rates as market conditions change. With the deepening of market-oriented interest rate reform, it has become necessary to optimize the system so that commercial banks and borrowers could adjust contracts in an appropriate manner.
In August 2023, in response to public concerns and following a quick-response mechanism, the PBOC, together with the National Financial Regulatory Administration guided commercial banks to adjust interest rates on existing home loans in bulk by negotiating rate changes in mortgage contracts. This move has delivered effective results. However, the spread between new and old mortgage rates has recently widened again due to the fixed additional bps under the current pricing mechanism. Commercial banks will take coordinated steps to lower in bulk the interest rates on qualified existing mortgages to levels close to the newly-issued nationwide, but this provides a temporary fix only. The fundamental solution to the spread is to further deepen the market-oriented interest rate reform, which will, while maintaining the integrity of contracts, remove institutional barriers that hinder commercial banks and borrowers from negotiating and adjusting terms of existing mortgages based on market-oriented principles.
Q3: What are the main changes in this Announcement?
A3: The Announcement No.11 [2024] of the PBOC includes the following major improvements. First, the bps added to LPR is adjustable. Both borrowers and lenders may adjust the LPR+bps by negotiating about contract changes to better reflect developments in market supply and demand as well as the borrower’s risk premium. In the future, market competition may drive commercial banks to negotiate with borrowers over LPR+bps adjustments in a timely manner before the spread between old and new mortgage rates becomes too wide. This will gradually ease tensions and maintain the integrity of contracts.
Second, the one-year restriction, the shortest re-pricing cycle for mortgage rates has been lifted. From November 1, 2024 onwards, for new adjustable-rate mortgage contracts, the re-pricing cycle can be negotiated by both parties, in sync with the re-pricing cycle for other adjustable-rate loans. Borrowers with qualified existing mortgages can also adjust their re-pricing cycle when negotiating changes to the LPR+bps, so as to ensure that the interest rates on existing home loans promptly reflect LPR changes, thus smoothing the channels of monetary policy transmission.
Q4: How will the interest rates on existing home loans be adjusted after the launch of the Announcement?
A4: The self-regulatory pricing mechanism for market interest rates will propose an initiative to guide commercial banks to adjust the interest rates on existing home loans in bulk by October 31, 2024. Commercial banks will release relevant announcements and detailed adjustment plans to uniformly lower the LPR+bps for mortgage rates in the most convenient manner for borrowers. Most borrowers will be able to complete the adjustment through online banking or mobile banking channels with just one click and won’t need to visit bank outlets. Please stay updated by following the relevant information published by your lender. After the adjustments in bulk, both borrowers and lenders can, based on market-oriented principles, further negotiate and dynamically adjust the interest rates on existing mortgages according to the Announcement No.11 [2024] of the PBOC.
Announcement on Open Market Operations No.202 [2024]
(Open Market Operations Office, October 14, 2024)
In order to keep liquidity adequate at a reasonable level in the banking system, the People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB19.5 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on October 14, 2024.
TEL AVIV, Israel, Oct. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radware® (NASDAQ: RDWR), a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments, today announced the results of its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders held October 10, 2024. The Company presented three proposals for the shareholders to vote on at the meeting, of which one proposal (to approve grants of equity-based awards to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company) was not adopted by the requisite shareholder vote. The two other proposals voted on at the Annual General Meeting were adopted by the requisite shareholder vote.
About Radware Radware® (NASDAQ: RDWR) is a global leader in application security and delivery solutions for multi-cloud environments. The company’s cloud application, infrastructure, and API security solutions use AI-driven algorithms for precise, hands-free, real-time protection from the most sophisticated web, application, and DDoS attacks, API abuse, and bad bots. Enterprises and carriers worldwide rely on Radware’s solutions to address evolving cybersecurity challenges and protect their brands and business operations while reducing costs. For more information, please visit the Radware website.
Radware believes the information in this document is accurate in all material respects as of its publication date. However, the information is provided without any express, statutory, or implied warranties and is subject to change without notice.
The contents of any website or hyperlinks mentioned in this press release are for informational purposes and the contents thereof are not part of this press release.
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements made herein that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about Radware’s plans, outlook, beliefs, or opinions, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may,” and “could.” Because such statements deal with future events, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, and actual results, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, could differ materially from Radware’s current forecasts and estimates. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the impact of global economic conditions, including as a result of the state of war declared in Israel in October 2023 and instability in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the tensions between China and Taiwan; our dependence on independent distributors to sell our products; our ability to manage our anticipated growth effectively;a shortage of components or manufacturing capacity could cause a delay in our ability to fulfill orders or increase our manufacturing costs; our business may be affected by sanctions, export controls, and similar measures, targeting Russia and other countries and territories, as well as other responses to Russia’s military conflict in Ukraine, including indefinite suspension of operations in Russia and dealings with Russian entities by many multi-national businesses across a variety of industries; the ability of vendors to provide our hardware platforms and components for the manufacture of our products; our ability to attract, train, and retain highly qualified personnel; intense competition in the market for cyber security and application delivery solutions and in our industry in general, and changes in the competitive landscape; our ability to develop new solutions and enhance existing solutions; the impact to our reputation and business in the event of real or perceived shortcomings, defects, or vulnerabilities in our solutions, if our end-users experience security breaches, if our information technology systems and data, or those of our service providers and other contractors, are compromised by cyber-attackers or other malicious actors or by a critical system failure; outages, interruptions, or delays in hosting services; the risks associated with our global operations, such as difficulties and costs of staffing and managing foreign operations, compliance costs arising from host country laws or regulations, partial or total expropriation, export duties and quotas, local tax exposure, economic or political instability, including as a result of insurrection, war, natural disasters, and major environmental, climate, or public health concerns, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; our net losses in the past two years and possibility we may incur losses in the future; a slowdown in the growth of the cyber security and application delivery solutions market or in the development of the market for our cloud-based solutions; long sales cycles for our solutions; risks and uncertainties relating to acquisitions or other investments; risks associated with doing business in countries with a history of corruption or with foreign governments; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; risks associated with undetected defects or errors in our products; our ability to protect our proprietary technology; intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties; laws, regulations, and industry standards affecting our business; compliance with open source and third-party licenses; and other factors and risks over which we may have little or no control. This list is intended to identify only certain of the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting Radware, refer to Radware’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the other risk factors discussed from time to time by Radware in reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and, except as required by applicable law, Radware undertakes no commitment to revise or update any forward-looking statement in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date any such statement is made. Radware’s public filings are available from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov or may be obtained on Radware’s website athttp://www.radware.com.
An increasing number of Japanese companies operating in China are transferring their production bases to countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This comes as Chinese economic growth slows and concerns rise over the risks of doing business in China, where foreign residents have been arrested on vague grounds.
Chinese real estate slump: Apartment buildings in Guizhou, China. (c) Jiji Press. The Chinese economy is stagnating, and this can clearly be seen in production, consumption and investments. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter (April-June) of 2024 grew 4.7% year over year, which was 0.6 points lower than the first quarter (January-March). Economic data from August shows that retail business sales, an indicator of consumption trends, grew only 2.1% year over year.
The slump in the real estate industry is a major factor behind this. The real estate market and related industries make up a fourth of China’s GDP, but investments in real estate development fell 10.2% year over year in the period between January and August 2024. During the COVID-19 pandemic, China implemented a “Zero-COVID Strategy,” which kept citizens indoors, dealt a major blow to the tourism and restaurant industries, and led to investments being concentrated in real estate. Home prices rose exponentially. In response, the Chinese government placed heavy restrictions on risky deals. This caused home prices to drop drastically, and the businesses of many major real estate developers fell into a decline. Down payments were made but buildings never got built, and as similar cases followed one after another, the consumption trend cooled among the population.
Furthermore, the Chinese government, which places utmost importance on national security, established the Counter Espionage Law in 2014. This has resulted in many foreigners, including Japanese, being arrested for “espionage acts,” which are only vaguely defined. Starting in July 2024, new regulations have been implemented that allow authorities to inspect the contents of electronic devices of individuals and organizations for acts of espionage, raising further concerns that even regular economic activities could be scrutinized. With little hope for significant growth in the Chinese market, coupled with the risks of doing business in China, direct international investments into the country fell 29.1% year over year between January and June 2024. There are also other issues, such as the risk of high tariffs on products produced in China and exported to the USA due to the ongoing tension between the two countries, as well as rising labor costs in China.
Against this backdrop, Japanese companies are turning their eyes to Southeast Asia for new bases of production. In January 2023, Sony transferred the manufacturing of its cameras for Japan, Europe and the USA from China to Thailand. Its factories in China now only make products to be sold domestically, allowing it to reduce dependency on the country. Kyocera also plans to transfer a part of its electric tools production in China to Vietnam in fiscal 2024. The Vietnam site will mainly manufacture products to be sold in the USA in order to avoid the tariffs placed on exports from China. According to Teikoku Databank, the number of Japanese companies operating in China decreased from 14,394 in 2012 to 13,034 in 2023. Many companies are choosing to relocate back to Japan or to Southeast Asia. This can be seen in how Southeast Asian countries now occupy three of the top five locations in terms of the number of Japanese companies’ overseas subsidiaries: No. 1 is China, followed by USA, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam.
Southeast Asia is attractive in many ways for Japanese companies. Not only is it geographically close to Japan but it also offers a rich pool of human resources with technical prowess and fluency in many languages including English, which allows companies to secure a stable labor force. Many ASEAN countries also have highly transparent fiscal policies and stable currency exchange rates. Cities have established solid infrastructure such as electrical power and transportation networks, making it easier for companies to build factories there and secure supply chains, from production and distribution to sales.
The Southeast Asian market is very appealing. The 10 ASEAN countries have a combined population of around 670 million people. It tops the population of the European Union (EU), which is around 450 million people, and is the third largest in the world after India and China. The median age is also young, and unlike many developed nations, the region has not yet been faced with the issue of an aging society with a low birthrate. The 2023 nominal GDP of the 10 ASEAN countries combined rose to around 3.81 trillion US dollars, which ranks right after the USA, China, Germany and Japan. It is forecast to overtake Japan’s GDP by 2030. Due to the effects of an aging population and low birthrate, there are concerns that Japan’s market and labor force will shrink going forward. Japanese companies will benefit greatly from operating and expanding their businesses in Southeast Asia, which has a large market, offers rich human resources and is referred to as “the world’s growth center.”
Japan and ASEAN countries have established various cooperative partnerships in politics, foreign policy and the economy. Japan is an active participant in numerous ASEAN foreign policy and security frameworks, including the East Asia Summit (EAS), which started in Malaysia in 2005, ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which discusses political and security issues, and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), the only formal meeting of defense ministers in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2020, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was officially signed, including Japan, China, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand in addition to ASEAN. Building an open economic sphere by providing market access and establishing economic rules is accelerating active free trade, including small and medium-sized businesses.
While Southeast Asia is attractive to Japan, Japan must also be attractive to Southeast Asia. Southeast Asian company managers often say that decisionmaking is slow in Japanese businesses. They say this is due to a uniquely Japanese custom where multiple meetings are needed to make a single decision, and everyone has to then wait for it to be approved by the head office in Japan. Furthermore, Southeast Asians who grew up loving Japanese brands and anime are already in their 40s and 50s, while the attention of the younger generation, which is driving consumption, has been turning to South Korean and Chinese cultures as well. As such, greater efforts must be made to ensure that Southeast Asia will choose Japan as a partner.
Last year, Japan and ASEAN celebrated their 50th anniversary of cooperative partnerships. The relationship, in fact, began as one of animosity. Japan drew the ire of Southeast Asia by exporting massive quantities of cheap synthetic rubber to ASEAN, a producer of natural rubber, and that led to holding the ASEAN-Japan forum on synthetic rubber in 1973. Friendly relations were established as Japan promised to take care not to interfere with ASEAN’s natural rubber industry. It was a perfect example of the proverb “After rain comes fair weather.” One could call 2024 the first year of the next half-century of new cooperative partnerships. Going forward, Japan’s efforts will determine how strong this partnership with ASEAN will become.
By Akio Yaita – Journalist. Graduated from the Faculty of Letters at Keio University. After completing his doctorate at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, he worked as a correspondent for the Sankei Shimbun in Beijing and as Taipei bureau chief. Author or co-author of many books.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Draper, Professor, and Executive Director: Institute for International Trade, and Jean Monnet Chair of Trade and Environment, University of Adelaide
Finally, Australia’s rock lobster industry will be able to export to China again, following a deal struck on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Laos last week.
It will take some weeks to finalise the paperwork, but Chinese diners can expect to eat our high-quality crustaceans as we devour our Christmas roast turkeys.
The breakthrough brings a particularly nasty chapter in Australia-China trade relations to a close. Tariffs on rock lobsters were the only remaining major restriction of a raft of trade barriers imposed by China in 2020.
It might be tempting to celebrate, but we should tread carefully. Our situation remains hostage to Beijing’s relationship with Washington. Whether Australia’s trade woes with China are actually over may ultimately be out of our hands.
The Albanese government has seen China systematically undo the export restrictions it had imposed on Australia in 2020 – including on barley, wine, beef, and now lobster – without giving away much of substance in return.
Yes, Australia suspended two cases it had brought against China at the World Trade Organization, concerning barley and wine duties China had imposed. But those cases can be resumed if the Chinese government backslides.
And true, the Albanese government did not oppose China’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership – an important regional free trade agreement of which Australia is a founding member. But neither did it endorse China’s bid.
It seems we’ve come a long way since 2020, when China tabled its infamous “14 grievances” against Australia. This deliberately leaked document publicly criticised Australia on a whole range of fronts, including foreign investment decisions, alleged interference in China’s affairs, research funding and media coverage.
A more sobering picture elsewhere
This reopening of trade might make it seem like things are looking up for Australia. In some cases, our business community has bounced back with gusto, notably wine exports to China.
Zooming out, however, paints a more sobering picture of global trade relations. In the near term, the decisions of our key allies – namely the United States – may come to matter more than our own.
The Biden administration has long hoped to place a “floor” under America’s geopolitical competition with China. Neither side wants things to get ugly.
But in Washington, strong bipartisan consensus remains that China must be confronted. The US has continued to take coercive actions against Chinese exports and investment.
For example, the US recently imposed a 100% import duty on electric vehicles produced by Chinese-owned companies. Similarly, it imposed a 25% import duty on imports of Chinese container cranes. Strategic distrust will escalate no matter who wins the White House on November 5.
This animosity is mirrored in Beijing. China’s security state is expanding ever more into business, while its private sector retreats. China’s own coercive activities are also escalating in regional disputes over the South and East China seas, as well as in its trade retaliations against Western markets.
Widening tensions
These tensions are also playing out in Europe and the Middle East. International relations scholars worry that the West must now confront an authoritarian axis comprising Russia, Iran, North Korea and China.
China’s “no limits” partnership with Russia has spooked most European elites. Western sanctions on Russia, meant to erode the Kremlin’s war machine, are likely being circumvented by China’s unmatched industrial capacities.
Iran’s military support for Russia supplements the Kremlin’s war-fighting capacities at Ukraine’s expense.
Unsurprisingly, economic security concerns are rapidly eclipsing free trade considerations for the US.
Advanced manufacturing capabilities – such as semiconductor production – are increasingly important strategic assets. genkur/Shutterstock
When US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan introduced the 2022 National Security Strategy, he adopted a selectively restrictive approach he called “small yard, high fence”.
He was talking about export controls and inward restrictions on investment, applied to high-technology products.
Since then, the “yard” has grown wider, and the “fence” has expanded. More sectors and products are being thrown into the mix, from energy security, through critical minerals, to food production.
The challenge with digital technologies, able to be used for both military and civilian purposes, is that the yard can be very large indeed.
Middle power problems
The US has the economic and military weight to confront China. As the European Union is learning, having the economic weight is necessary. But being politically united is essential, and they remain far from that.
Australia is a middle power, without the necessary economic weight or military heft to confront China. That means we must support the rules-based multilateral trading system – preserving the authority of institutions like the World Trade Organisation (WTO) – to constrain the actions of the great powers and preserve as much of our open trade posture as possible.
Washington, however, increasingly expects its allies to fall into line. How else can one explain Canada’s decision to follow the US and impose 100% import duties on electric vehicles produced by Chinese owned companies?
Like Australia, Canada is also a middle power. It is also a strong supporter of the rules-based multilateral trading system. But Canada’s action violates WTO rules.
The fact that Washington’s actions also violate these rules is taken for granted these days.
Australia must pay attention
Global trade cooperation is deteriorating, and the world is fracturing into two “values-based” trading blocs. While there could be positive upswings in our bilateral trade relations with China, the medium term trend is down.
China is a sleeping giant; let him sleep, for if he wakes he will shake the world.
China has changed, and the world with it.
Australian business needs to pay attention. Our East Asian partners, notably Japan and South Korea, have long spoken of the need for a “China plus one” (or more) business strategy – making sure trade and investment is diversified into other countries, as well.
Such diversification will be increasingly important in the years to come.
Peter Draper does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
NASA and SpaceX launched a new mission to Jupiter on Monday to study Jupiter’s moon Europa.
The Europa Clipper spacecraft, which is NASA’s largest planetary spacecraft, launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket at 12:06 p.m. Eastern Time from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in the U.S. state of Florida.
Europa Clipper is the first mission designed to conduct a detailed study of Jupiter’s moon Europa.
The spacecraft is the largest spacecraft NASA has ever developed for a planetary mission with solar arrays spanning more than 30 meters when deployed and weighing nearly 6,000 kilograms at launch.
Europa Clipper will travel about 2.9 billion kilometers to reach Jupiter in April 2030. The spacecraft, in orbit around Jupiter, will make nearly 50 flybys of Europa at closest-approach altitudes as low as 25 kilometers above the surface, soaring over a different location during each flyby to scan nearly the entire moon, according to NASA.
The mission aims to understand the nature of Europa’s ice shell and the ocean beneath it, along with the moon’s composition and geology.
The mission’s detailed exploration of Europa will help scientists better understand the astrobiological potential for habitable worlds beyond our planet, said NASA.
Jupiter’s moon Europa shows strong evidence for an ocean of liquid water beneath its icy crust. Beyond Earth, Europa is considered one of the most promising currently habitable environments in our solar system.
The top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday convened a consultative meeting on national defense and security in the latest move by the country to address the escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday.
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, was briefed on a general analysis of “the case of enemy’s serious provocation that violated the DPRK sovereignty” as well as the country’s military counteraction plan, measures for weaponry modernization, status of weapons and equipment production and intelligence operations, the KCNA said.
During the meeting, the DPRK leader set forth the direction of military action under the current circumstances and specified the tasks in the operation of the war deterrent and in exercise of the right to self-defense for safeguarding the national sovereignty, security and interests, according to the KCNA report.
Kim expressed a tough political and military stand of the DPRK ruling party and government at the meeting, the report said.
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held talks with his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov in Beijing on Monday.
Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, Dong said the bilateral relationship featuring high-level mutual trust and intensive cooperation is an exemplary model between major countries.
The two militaries should deepen strategic cooperation and enhance the quality and effectiveness of their cooperation, Dong said, adding that both sides should continuously advance the development of military relations, firmly defend the common interests of the two countries, and work together to safeguard global strategic stability.
Belousov said that military cooperation between Russia and China is important in safeguarding global and regional peace and stability.
The Russian side is willing to work with the Chinese side to continuously carry out efficient cooperation, and jointly address security challenges, said Belousov.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HANOI, Oct. 14 — The Dong Anh railway station in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi remains busy in the wee hours as container handling vehicles are moving back and forth, loading containers onto a timber express bound for Nanning, capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
The timber was purchased by a Chinese paper-making company as raw material from southern Vietnam. Speaking of the China-Vietnam freight train service, Zhang Cunwei, head of VTO International Port Development Joint Stock Company, said that like the timber express, a single train might have 10 or 20 containers all carrying the same type of product.
“We often launch trains reserved for transporting agricultural products, fruits, or other goods,” Zhang said.
In the past, a consignment might be made up of miscellaneous goods.
The China-Vietnam freight train service began in 2017, and has expanded from transporting basic goods to over 300 types of goods, said Nguyen Hoang Anh, deputy general manager of Railway Transport and Trade Joint Stock Company of Vietnam Railways.
Vietnam exports mainly agricultural products, fruits, electronics, textiles, and footwear, while China sends raw materials, steel, and construction materials for manufacturing to Vietnam, according to him.
He said that Vietnamese goods are delivered through the freight train service to over 20 provinces and cities in China, and to Central Asia and Europe by connecting with the China-Europe freight train service.
“Meanwhile, Chinese goods are not only transported to Vietnam but also pass through Vietnam to reach Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and other ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries.”
With the promotion and support by both countries’ railway authorities, more and more companies on both sides have ordered the freight train service for shortened transport time, simplified procedures, and reduced costs, he said.
At the Pingxiang Railway Port on the China-Vietnam border in Guangxi, freight trucks shuttle back and forth on the bridge, while China-Vietnam freight trains sound horns as they depart beneath it, reflecting a vibrant two-way trade between China and Vietnam.
“With stable capacity, pricing, and timing, the market appeal of this service has increased. Now the service is covering China’s southwestern market and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,” said Peng Weijun, deputy director of the freight logistics service center of the Nanning Railway Administration.
According to data from the Nanning Railway Administration, as of Sept. 30, the China-Vietnam freight trains departing from Guangxi had shipped a record 10,380 containers this year.
The rapid growth of the freight train service is attributed to the efforts by both countries to facilitate the process.
In 2023, the Nanning Railway Administration completed railway upgrades from Nanning to Pingxiang, raising the freight train’s speed to 90 km per hour.
In January 2024, the entire China-Vietnam freight train service schedule was finalized, significantly reducing transport time. The total transit time from Nanning south station to Hanoi’s Yen Vien station has been cut from over 40 hours to 14 hours.
In the future, the Vietnamese government and relevant departments plan to further invest in improving the railway infrastructure, including stations and freight yard systems to achieve seamless connectivity with China’s railways and enhance transport capacity between the two countries, said Nguyen Hoang Anh.
In recent months, Zhang has traveled frequently to the coconut farms in southern Vietnam, preparing to launch a special train of fresh coconut shipment as China and Vietnam in August signed a protocol for exporting fresh Vietnamese coconuts to China.
“As the operator of the freight train service, we’re working hard in preparation for shipping fresh Vietnamese coconut exports to China by creating a fast channel,” he said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
TAIYUAN, Oct. 14 — China’s major coal-producing province of Shanxi now has more than 50 percent of its coal production capacity achieved via intelligent mining, said local authorities on Monday.
A total of 30 pilot and demonstration coal mines with green mining practices have been established across the province, according to a press conference held Monday on Shanxi’s latest progress in advancing its energy transition.
With nearly 82 percent of its coal production capacity upgraded and recognized as advanced capacity, the province has maintained its lead in coal output nationwide for four consecutive years, said Zhang Xiang, deputy head of the provincial development and reform commission during the press conference.
Over the years, Shanxi has been upgrading its coal industry. In 2023, the province established 118 intelligent coal mines and introduced smart technology to 1,491 mining faces. By 2025, all large-scale and high-risk coal mines in the province are expected to complete intelligent transformations.
In 2023, Shanxi produced over 1.37 billion tonnes of coal, and it has set a production target of about 1.3 billion tonnes for this year.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Oct. 14 — Chinese State Councilor Shen Yiqin met with Sue Lines, president of the Australian Senate, in Beijing on Monday.
Shen, also president of the All-China Women’s Federation, said that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership.
China is ready to work with Australia to strengthen cooperation in fields such as culture, tourism and sports, deepen exchange and experience sharing in women development, and continuously enhance the friendship between the two peoples, Shen said.
Lines expressed the willingness to strengthen dialogue and communication with the Chinese side, carry out exchange and cooperation in various fields including women’s cause, and push for constant development of Australia-China relations.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Oct. 14 — Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with Achim Steiner, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administrator, in Beijing on Monday, calling for strengthened bilateral cooperation between the two sides.
He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, noted that China is actively implementing the guiding principles of the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, further deepening comprehensive reform and opening up, and accelerating the process of Chinese modernization.
It is hoped that the UNDP and China will further strengthen cooperation in areas such as rural revitalization, green development, digital economy, South-South cooperation and trilateral cooperation, and take bilateral cooperation to new heights, He added.
Echoing He’s remarks, Steiner said that the UNDP is willing to enhance cooperation with China in various fields, promote sustainable development, and jointly address global challenges.
Western Australia’s reputation as a key hub for international tourism continues to grow, with hundreds of international travel agents arriving in Perth for Tourism Australia’s mega-event G’Day Australia.
Hosted in partnership with the Western Australian Government through Tourism Western Australia, G’Day Australia will bring around 300 expert travel agents from across the world to WA.
G’Day Australia provides frontline travel sellers who have been trained by Tourism Australia – known as ‘Aussie Specialists’ – the chance to experience the country for themselves, giving them greater confidence to sell Australian holidays to international travellers.
Agents will visit destinations across WA including Perth, Broome and Margaret River, gaining firsthand experience, greater confidence and stronger ability to sell Australia to prospective travellers.
They will also undertake visits across the country, supported by other State and Territory Tourism Organisations.
It is estimated that as a result of attending G’day Australia the agents will sell an additional $30 million in holidays to Australia over the next 12 months.
Travel agents who took part in G’day Australia in Cairns last year said they intended to sell more of Australia as a result of the event, which is vital as we see our international visitor numbers return and set on a path of sustainable growth.
The event follows the prestigious World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit held in Perth last week, with more industry events in the pipeline for WA next year, including 2025 Virtuoso Australia & New Zealand Forum and Routes Asia 2025.
G’Day Australia concludes on Friday, 18 October 2024.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Tourism Don Farrell:
“G’day Australia plays a critical role in ensuring that Australia remains a top choice with international travellers – and what better destination for this year’s event than our country’s spectacular West.
“Travel agents who see for themselves what we have to offer are able to use those lived experiences to better sell Australia as the best destination for their customers next holiday.
“Having hundreds of Aussie Specialists selling trips to Australia in our key markets helps give us an important edge over other destinations around the world, which supports our world-class tourism industry, Australian jobs and our economy.”
Quotes attributable to WA Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism Rita Saffioti:
“Off the back of a huge week with the World Tourism and Travel Council Global Summit being hosted here in Perth, we’re backing it up with G’Day Australia, which presents another great opportunity to showcase Western Australia.
“Events like G’Day Australia are really important in giving hundreds of global travel agents and industry leaders firsthand experience of some of our best tourism assets here in WA, and ultimately, helping them to better promote and sell WA holiday packages to travellers.
“We’re confident that everyone who visits WA as part of G’Day Australia will be taken back by our incredible tourism offerings and natural landscapes, and feel inspired to share these experiences with their clients.
“Perth continues to go from strength to strength as a tourism, aviation and investment hub, and we’ll continue that momentum in particular as we get set to welcome non-stop services from China in November.”
The Capitol building in the Pacific island nation of Palau. Erika Bisbocci
The United States isn’t the only country with a big election on November 5. Palau, a tourism-dependent microstate in the north Pacific, will also vote for a new president, Senate and House of Delegates that day.
Why does this election matter? Palau is one of the few remaining countries that has diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
In addition, elections in the Pacific – and the horse-trading to form government that follows – often present a chance for China to steal an ally away from Taiwan in its efforts to further reduce the self-ruling island’s diplomatic space.
For example, there was speculation Tuvalu could flip its allegiance from Taipei to Beijing based on the outcome of January’s election, but the government decided to remain in Taiwan’s camp.
Another Pacific nation, Nauru, did flip from Taiwan to China in January, less than 48 hours after Taiwan’s own presidential election.
I recently visited Palau as part of a research project examining China’s growing extraterritorial reach, and was curious to see if the balance is shifting towards Beijing in the lead-up to this year’s election.
What’s at stake in Palau’s election?
Palau, a nation of 16,000 registered voters, has close ties to the US. It was under US administration after the second world war and recently signed a “Compact of Free Association” with the US. Palau also has a similar presidential system of government, with a president directly elected by the people every four years.
However, there are also some key differences: there are no political parties in Palau, nor is there any replica of the absurd Electoral College voting system.
The archipelago also has extremely polite yard signs (“Please consider[…]”, “Please vote for […]” and “Moving forward together”). Alliances are based more on clan and kinship relations than ideology (although that’s not entirely dissimilar to the US).
This year’s presidential race is between the “two juniors”: the incumbent, Surangel Whipps Junior, and the challenger, Tommy Remengensau Junior. If either man were facing a different opponent, he would win easily. Nearly all of Palau’s political insiders deem this contest too close to call.
Whipps has been in office since 2021. Accompanied by his beloved father, a former president of the Senate and speaker of the House in Palau, he is expected to door-knock each household at least four times.
Remengensau isn’t a political newbie, either. He’s been president for 16 of Palau’s 30 years as an independent state. In the comments section of the YouTube live feed of a recent presidential debate, one person asked, “you’ve had four terms, how many more do you need?”
Whipps copped flak for his tax policy, but the comments and the debate itself reached Canadian levels of politeness. As the debate wound up, the rivals embraced warmly – befitting their closeness (they are actually brothers-in-law) and their lack of discernible ideological differences.
2024 Palau presidential debate.
A ‘pro-Beijing’ candidate in the race?
However, there is one issue that has the potential to drive a wedge between the two candidates: the China–Taiwan rivalry.
In a recent article for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), Remengensau was described as a “pro-Beijing” candidate who might be inclined to switch Palau’s diplomatic relations to Beijing, cheered on by the “China-sympathetic” national newspaper, Tia Belau.
Remengensau’s reaction to the ASPI piece was genuine fury, and aside from a few fly-in lobbyists from the US, no one in the country has taken the characterisation seriously. Yes, he is less pro-US than Whipps, reciting the “friends to all, enemies to none” mantra beloved by Pacific leaders in the debate. But that’s some distance from being “pro-Beijing”.
Other outside commentators have also weighed in with similar viewpoints. Recent pieces by right-wing think tanks, the Heritage Foundation and the Federation for the Defence of Democracies, have pushed a similar line that every Pacific nation is just “one election away from a [People’s Republic of China]-proxy assuming power and dismantling democracy”.
What’s really behind concerns of Chinese influence
The basis for both allegations in the ASPI piece is a fascinating investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). The story detailed an influence attempt led by a local businessman from China, Hunter Tian, to set up a media conglomerate in Palau with the owner of the newspaper Tia Belau, a man named Moses Uludong. (I played a small part in the investigation.)
The proposed conglomerate had eyebrow-raising links to China’s secret police and military. But COVID killed the deal, and today, the newspaper runs press releases from Taiwan’s embassy without changing a word.
Palau’s media is also ranked as the most free in the Pacific, and Tia Belau is a central part of this healthy media ecosystem.
Uludong is a pragmatic businessman who’s no simple cheerleader for Beijing, explaining to OCCRP’s journalists last year:
The Chinese, they have a way of doing business. They are really not open.
This doesn’t mean Chinese operations in Palau will stop, though. Representatives of the Chinese government like Tian, who is the president of the Palau Overseas Chinese Federation and has impressive family links to the People’s Liberation Army, will keep trying to influence Palau’s elites and media.
Evidence uncovered by Palau’s media suggests some of their elites are vulnerable to capture. In recent months, the immigration chief stepped down for using his position “for private gain or profit”, while the speaker of the House of Delegates was ordered to pay US$3.5 million (A$5.2 million) for a tax violation, in part due to an irregular lease to a Chinese national.
Chinese triads are also now involved in scam compounds and drug trafficking in Palau, which has done little to burnish China’s image among Palauans.
Playing into China’s hands
So, can we expect a dramatic Palau diplomatic flip after November’s election? Not anytime soon.
But labelling respected leaders and media outlets as “pro-Beijing” with no basis, and fabricating a Manichean struggle in a nation where there’s plenty of goodwill for the US, won’t cause China’s boosters in Palau to lose sleep.
Egging on US agencies to “do something” to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific, such as a poorly thought-out influence operation run by the Pentagon in the Philippines during the pandemic, will just play into Beijing’s hands. In the Pacific, secrets don’t stay secret for long. And if you call someone “pro-China” for long enough, one day you might get your wish.
Graeme Smith works for the Australian National University’s Department of Pacific Affairs, which is partially funded by DFAT through the Pacific Research Programme.
It focuses on depressive symptom scales and the impact of demographic, economic, social, and health factors. Although much of the differences of the results across the three countries is due to the differences in the characteristics of older people, significant unexplained differences remain. In particular, even after accounting for several factors, older people in the ROK are more likely to be depressed than in the PRC or Japan.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
This aerial drone photo taken on May 4, 2024 shows a view of Mount Fanjing in Tongren City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
GUIYANG, Oct. 14 — Mount Fanjing National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Guizhou Province has been officially included in the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said local authorities in Tongren City on Sunday.
The Green List is a global program established by the IUCN in order to promote biodiversity conservation based on protected and conserved areas. It serves as a global standard for measuring the management status of such areas.
The inclusion of the Mount Fanjing National Nature Reserve in the IUCN Green List signifies international recognition of its conservation achievements and its significant role in global biodiversity conservation, according to authorities in Tongren, where the mountain is located.
The IUCN plans to announce the new list of protected and conserved areas included in the Green List for 2024 at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), which is scheduled to be held in Colombia in late October.
Mount Fanjing is a World Heritage Site that covers an area of 775 square kilometers. It not only provides an important glimpse into geological evolution in southern China but also serves as an ecological security barrier in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River.
Mount Fanjing boasts a typical and intact ecosystem of the Central Asian subtropical primeval forests, with 7,925 species of wild plants and animals. It is home to many ancient relict plants and rare and endangered species such as Guizhou golden monkey and Abies fanjingshanensis.
Liu Cixin, Chinese sci-fi luminary and president of the newly launched Beijing Yuanyu Science Fiction and Future Technology Research Institute, speaks at a forum during the China Science Fiction Convention (CSFC), held in Beijing, May 30, 2023. [Photo courtesy of the CSFC Organizing Committee]
China launched its first literary museum dedicated to Liu Cixin, a renowned science fiction writer and Hugo Award winning novelist, in Yangquan, Shanxi province, on Sunday.
While accepting the nation’s honor and unveiling the Liu Cixin Sci-fi Museum, Liu, author of the acclaimed sci-fi novel trilogy The Three-Body Problem who grew up in Yangquan, said that he hopes the museum can help the general public gain a better understanding of the sci-fi literature and develop an interest in the genre.
Located at a cultural park, the 700-square-meter museum educates visitors about Liu’s growth, his books and awards, and cultural and creative products derived from his works. Immersive projectors also create an atmosphere mimicking interstellar voyages described in Liu’s novels.
Born in 1963, Liu wrote novels that gained fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with works including The Village Teacher and The Wandering Earth.
The first volume of The Three-Body Problem was first serialized in a magazine in 2006 and eventually won Liu the Hugo Award — the top prize in sci-fi novels — for Best Novel in 2015, making him the first Asian writer to receive the honor. The second volume was published in 2008, and the third in 2010.
Altogether, the trilogy has sold more than 30 million copies, according to Zhao Jilong, head of The Three-Body Universe, which operates the franchise commercially. Zhao said the trilogy has been translated into 35 languages worldwide.
Multiple adaptations of Liu’s novels have hit the screen over the years, including the English-language 3 Body Problem TV series by Netflix this year and Three-Body by Tencent and China Central Television last year. In addition, the movie The Wandering Earth in 2019, adapted from Liu’s novel, garnered nearly 4.7 billion yuan ($660 million) at the box office.
China’s sci-fi market has also boomed following the popularity. An industry report released in April showed that the domestic market hit 113 billion yuan last year, up 29 percent year-on-year. At the 82nd World Science Fiction Convention, or Worldcon, which was held in August in Glasgow, Scotland, a record nine works by Chinese sci-fi authors were nominated for a Hugo Award.
Despite his success, Liu said that overall, Chinese sci-fi literature is not yet prosperous and still needs development, adding that the popularity of The Three-Body Problem trilogy was somewhat “by chance”.
He said he hopes sci-fi can bring readers more joy, so they can “touch the sky with their imagination and embrace the future”. However, fans may have to wait longer if they want to see something new from him.
“I’ve been trying to write, but currently it’s very difficult,” Liu said. “I would only bring out a new work that is of good quality.”
Yan Jingming, vice-president of the China Writers Association, said that the establishment of the museum is not only an homage to Liu and his works but also serves as a beacon for China’s sci-fi writers and fans.
He said he hopes it will bring like-minded sci-fi novelists together and spark more inspiration and works.
The launch was part of a weeklong sci-fi promotional event in Yangquan that also included a symposium on sci-fi literature and real-world productivity, where Liu shared his thoughts on potential immigration to Mars.
“I would love to go to Mars if it were a round trip,” Liu said, explaining that a one-way journey would not suit him as he had work to do and family members to be with on Earth.
Nevertheless, Liu said he admires Elon Musk, who has developed plans for Mars immigration.
“He’s like a person jumping out of sci-fi novels,” Liu said. “He has turned a lot of things from books to reality.”
A tomb dating back approximately 5,000 years, presumed to be the grave of a prehistoric king, has been discovered at a ruins site in central China’s Henan Province, with over 350 artifacts unearthed to date.
Located in the Wangzhuang ruins in the city of Yongcheng, the tomb covers a total area of over 17 square meters, a super large size back then.
The Wangzhuang ruins belong to the middle and late periods of the Dawenkou Culture (4000 B.C.-2600 B.C.), a culture of the late Neolithic Age. Since 2023, experts from the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology, the Beijing-based Capital Normal University and other institutions have been jointly conducting excavations at Wangzhuang.
“The latest discovery indicates the Wangzhuang ruins are not an ordinary settlement, but rather the capital of a prehistoric kingdom,” said Zhu Guanghua, associate professor at Capital Normal University.
The tomb, measuring between 4.52 to 4.8 meters in length and 3.47 to 3.68 meters in width, features both inner and outer coffins. It contains an abundance of burial items, including over 100 pieces of pottery, nearly 200 small jade ornaments, bone tools and animal remains such as pig mandibles symbolizing wealth.
According to Zhu, the ancient tomb was once severely damaged. “The tomb owner’s remains were removed, and many significant artifacts were looted,” he said.
“Most of the tomb owner’s skeletal remains within the wooden coffin are missing, with only a few toe bones left. Small jade ornaments were scattered both inside and outside the coffin, and many stone ceremonial blades were deliberately broken,” the archaeologist added.
He noted that the findings suggest a deliberate act of tomb destruction shortly after the burial, and further research is underway to determine the reason.
This year, 45 tombs of the Dawenkou Culture were newly discovered at the Wangzhuang ruins, with 27 of them already excavated. Some of the tombs are of higher status, yielding a wealth of artifacts, and many contain pig mandibles, said Liu Haiwang, leader of the joint archaeological team.
More than 1,000 burial artifacts, including pottery and jade items, have been unearthed from the Wangzhuang ruins this year.
“The exquisite pottery, stone tools and jade artifacts vividly demonstrate the division of labor and the level of productivity at that time,” said Liu. “The richness of the burial objects is closely linked to the size of the tombs, indicating that a clear social hierarchy and class stratification had already emerged.”
What has excited archaeologists even more is that the artifacts unearthed from the latest tomb also suggest that the Wangzhuang ruins were a cultural melting pot in prehistoric times, where diverse cultures intersected and exchanged influences.
“The ancient residents were clearly influenced by the cultures of the eastern region and the central region, as well as cultural elements from the Yangtze River basin,” said Li Xinwei, deputy director of the institute of ancient history at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
According to Zhu, customs observed at the tomb, such as the burial of water deer’s teeth and the deformed occipital bone of the deceased, align closely with those of the eastern Dawenkou Culture.
However, excavations have also unveiled typical artifacts from contemporaneous Yangshao culture, such as small-mouthed pointed-bottom jars and small-mouthed shouldered jars, indicating a cultural interplay between the Dawenkou and Yangshao traditions in the region.
Archaeologists highlighted the innovative spirit and artistic prowess of the ancient inhabitants of Wangzhuang, who skillfully blended various cultural influences to create a distinct group of pottery.
“Its discoveries testify to the initial exchanges of early Chinese civilization, providing evidence for the nature of diversity of the Chinese civilization. This site offers important examples for studying the cultural fusion across different prehistoric regions,” Li said.
The sixth World Buddhist Forum is scheduled to be held in the coastal city of Ningbo in east China’s Zhejiang Province from Tuesday to Thursday, said the organizers.
According to the press conference on Monday, representatives from the Buddhist community, experts, scholars and other guests from 72 countries and regions around the world will attend this year’s forum.
The forum aims to promote mutual respect, harmonious coexistence, and exchanges among different civilizations and beliefs, contributing Buddhist wisdom and strength to the advancement of world peace, the enhancement of human well-being, and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
Jointly hosted by the Buddhist Association of China and China Religious Culture Communication Association, this year’s event will have seven sub-forums, covering topics such as the inclusive wisdom of Buddhism, its spiritual essence, the compilation of scriptures, social responsibility and cultural arts, among others.
First launched in 2006, the triennial forum has successfully organized five editions, and evolved into the largest and most influential multilateral platform for international Buddhist-related exchange and dialogue initiated by China.
Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
China’s top legislator, Zhao Leji, held talks with President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines in Beijing on Monday.
At present, dialogue in various fields between the two countries is being resumed and promoted in an orderly manner, and practical cooperation and people-to-people exchange are also becoming increasingly active, said Zhao, chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, adding this is the hard-won result of both sides’ joint efforts and should be cherished.
Noting that maintaining the right perception of each other is the basic prerequisite for the development of China-Australia relations, Zhao said that China hopes the Australian side will maintain a correct understanding of China, view China’s development in an objective and positive way, respect China’s core interests and major concerns, and consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations.
He called on the two sides to consolidate cooperation in traditional areas such as energy, mining and agriculture, expand cooperation in emerging areas such as green technology, new energy and artificial intelligence, and promote a fair, open trade and investment environment.
The two sides should deepen cooperation in such fields as culture, education and tourism, as well as cooperation at the sub-national level, and actively promote exchange between the young people of the two countries, Zhao added.
He said the NPC of China is willing to work with the Australian Senate to focus on implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen friendly exchange, and exchange experience in governance, legislation and supervision.
Zhao said China is willing to share development opportunities with countries such as Australia, promote the global green transition and development, and foster an open world economy.
Australia-China relations are very important, and stable, constructive bilateral relations are in the interests of both countries and the broader region, Lines said. She noted that the members of the Senate delegation in China come from different political parties and regions in Australia, but one thing they all share is that all of them hope to see the healthy development of bilateral ties.
Noting that the stabilization and improvement of bilateral relations is encouraging, Lines said that Australia hopes the two sides will be able to promote pragmatic cooperation further in the fields of the economy and trade, the green economy, climate change, and people-to-people exchange. Open dialogue between the two sides and the improved handling of differences are conducive to achieving win-win results, she added.
This aerial drone photo taken on May 4, 2024 shows a view of Mount Fanjing in Tongren City, southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua] Mount Fanjing National Nature Reserve in southwest China’s Guizhou Province has been officially included in the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said local authorities in Tongren City on Sunday. The Green List is a global program established by the IUCN in order to promote biodiversity conservation based on protected and conserved areas. It serves as a global standard for measuring the management status of such areas. The inclusion of the Mount Fanjing National Nature Reserve in the IUCN Green List signifies international recognition of its conservation achievements and its significant role in global biodiversity conservation, according to authorities in Tongren, where the mountain is located. The IUCN plans to announce the new list of protected and conserved areas included in the Green List for 2024 at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), which is scheduled to be held in Colombia in late October. Mount Fanjing is a World Heritage Site that covers an area of 775 square kilometers. It not only provides an important glimpse into geological evolution in southern China but also serves as an ecological security barrier in the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Mount Fanjing boasts a typical and intact ecosystem of the Central Asian subtropical primeval forests, with 7,925 species of wild plants and animals. It is home to many ancient relict plants and rare and endangered species such as Guizhou golden monkey and Abies fanjingshanensis.
Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Douala – From September 29 to October 4, 2024, a major effort to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling took place in Douala, Cameroon. This initiative, named “Operation Liberterra II,” was led by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and brought together a team of nearly 30 experts. The team included police officers, judges, and government officials from departments dealing with social affairs, labor, and job training.
For six intense days, the team worked to uncover and stop groups involved in exploiting vulnerable people. They watched the city closely, checked passengers on certain flights, and looked for people who might be in the country without proper documentation. The team also carried out carefully planned raids on places they suspected were being used by traffickers.
Their hard work paid off with some disturbing but important discoveries. In total, they rescued 17 people who had been trafficked – brought into the country illegally and forced to work against their will. Among those saved were 14 women (10 from Vietnam and four from China) who had been forced into prostitution at a local brothel. They also rescued three people from Chad who had been tricked with false promises of good jobs but instead were made to work in terrible conditions.
These victims, all between 23 and 34 years old, were immediately taken to safe places. The team is now working on plans to help them return to their home countries and families if they want to.
The head of police for the region spoke about why this operation was so important. He said, “This work has finally shown everyone a problem that has been hurting our city for years. It’s a good start, but we need to do more. Douala is a busy place where many people come and go for business, which makes it easier for criminals to take advantage of people. We need to keep working to make our city safer and ensure that people are treated fairly and respectfully when they come here for work.”
The raids also showed how complex these criminal operations can be. The team found that some traffickers were pretending to run normal businesses or job recruitment agencies to cover for their illegal activities. They also identified people who were helping others enter the country illegally or bringing people in specifically to force them into sex work.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) was an important partner in this operation. They emphasized why this work matters for the bigger picture. A representative said, “We want to make sure that when people move to other countries for work, they can do it safely and legally, and that their rights are protected. This operation shows why it’s so important for companies and people who hire workers from other countries to use fair and honest methods. We’re asking everyone involved in hiring to join us in making sure this happens.”
As Douala deals with what was uncovered by Operation Liberterra II, one thing is clear: the fight against human trafficking is far from over. But the success of this operation gives hope for a safer future. It shows how important it is for different organizations and governments to work together to solve this worldwide problem. The challenge now is to build on this success and create lasting changes, not just in Douala but in communities everywhere that face similar issues.
***
For further information, please contact :
Franck Olivier Mbang, IOM Cameroon, Tel : 690366090, Email : fmbang@iom.int
Gisèle MASSINA, IOM Cameroon, Tel : 699004516, Email : gmassina@iom.int
Along the Beijing Central Axis, pedestrians can hear the dang-dang sightseeing bus passing by, so named for the copper bell that rings to announce its presence. The cultural mainstay has become more prominent since the area was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in July.
Red lanterns sway gently before the windows within the quaint confines of the dang-dang bus. Intricate ancient motifs and tile designs adorn the roof, evoking a nostalgic sense of old Beijing. Above them, images of the Beijing Central Axis’ renowned landmarks unfurl a visual narrative of the city’s history.
Beside the seats, tables are elegantly laid with an array of culinary delights. Passengers indulge in panoramic views of the Central Axis while sampling the flavors of authentic Beijing snacks.
“The Great Beauty Central Axis Sightseeing Bus features a novel iteration of the classic dang-dang bus,” shared Yun Haibing, the director of the Beijing Tourism Distribution Center’s market management department.
According to Yun, the dang-dang sightseeing buses date back to the inaugural tram service at Qianmen in 1924. The copper bell was used as a courtesy signal to pedestrians. As the city evolved, the traditional transportation gradually faded from the street.
Today, a revival of these antique-style vehicles, sporting refurbished green or brown exteriors and wooden-framed windows, presents a fresh option for travelers exploring Beijing.
These modern dang-dang buses offer a nostalgic voyage through Beijing’s storied past, traversing iconic landmarks like Zhengyangmen, the Temple of Heaven, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park.
Since the debut of the Great Beauty Central Axis Sightseeing Bus, 41 such vehicles transport an average of 4,000 visitors daily, underscoring the enduring appeal of this unique experience, said Yun.
The dang-dang buses today are all-electric vehicles with a robust battery life, contributing to the eco-friendly ethos of tourism in Beijing.
A new documentary, The Belt and Road Initiative and Xinjiang, will premiere on CCTV and CGTN on Monday, showcasing Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region’s achievements in international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The four-part series, co-produced by the Xinjiang Foreign Affairs Office and China Media Group, offers a comprehensive view of Xinjiang’s strategic role in the BRI, its economic development, international partnerships, and cultural exchanges.
“Xinjiang has long been a key hub for China’s external exchanges, and the BRI has brought significant achievements. We aim to showcase these through the documentary,” said Xu Guixiang, Party secretary of the Xinjiang Foreign Affairs Office, during a media briefing on Sunday.
The documentary will air from October 14 to 17 on CCTV International and CGTN’s Arabic channels, followed by broadcasts on CGTN’s English, French, Spanish, and Russian channels.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Oct. 14 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday called for an immediate, complete and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a telephone call with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz. Wang also called for unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Wang said that the international community is deeply worried about the prolonged escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
Noting that all lives are equally precious, regardless of nationality or ethnicity, Wang said that the humanitarian disaster in Gaza must end and that countering violence with violence cannot truly address the legitimate concerns of all parties.
Pointing out that the conflict in Gaza has once again demonstrated that the Palestinian question remains a core issue in the Middle East, Wang said the voices of the international community are clear, which hope all parties return to the political path of a “two-state solution” as soon as possible. Doing so would realize the peaceful coexistence of Israel and Palestine and the harmonious coexistence of the Jewish and Arab peoples. This is the right way to achieve stability and lasting security for all parties, including Israel, Wang said.
Wang said that China is highly concerned about the tension between Israel and Iran and believes that renewed conflict and turmoil in the region serves the interests of no one.
Wang stated that China urges all parties to proceed with caution to prevent falling into a vicious circle. He said China is not self-interested in the Middle East and never engages in geopolitical contests.
As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has always stood on the side of peace, international law and truth and will continue to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation and restoring peace in the region, Wang said.
Wang stressed that United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is mandated by Security Council resolutions to carry out peacekeeping missions, adding that the Israeli side should take concrete measures to ensure the safety of UNIFIL personnel.
The two sides also exchanged views on China-Israel relations. Katz said that developing relations with China is an established policy in Israel and serves the common interests of the two countries, adding that the Israeli government abides by its consistent position on the Taiwan question.
Wang said that China maintains continuity and stability in its policy toward Israel and is willing to resume exchanges in all aspects as soon as possible when the situation eases and promote the sustainable development of the innovative comprehensive partnership between the two countries.
Wang said he hopes the Israeli side will take effective measures to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and nationals in Israel.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Kite industry thrives in Weifang, east China’s Shandong
Updated: October 15, 2024 09:47Xinhua
Creative cultural products themed on kites are pictured at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. The kite culture and thriving kite industry in Weifang have a long and rich history. In 2006, the manufacturing skill of Weifang kites was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. Nowadays, Weifang is home to more than 600 kite manufacturers, with their annual output value exceeding 2 billion yuan (about 280 million U.S. dollars) and their products sold to over 50 countries and regions. [Photo/Xinhua]Workers make kites at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A worker makes the skeleton of kites at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Staff members display kite samples at a kite factory in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Workers make kites at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A staff member displays kite samples at a kite factory in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A miniature kite is pictured at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Workers make kites at a kite factory in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A worker paints the pattern of a kite at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Creative cultural products themed on kites are pictured at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A worker makes kites at a kite factory in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A miniature kite is pictured at a kite workshop in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Guo Hongli, a kite-making inheritor, showcases a traditional dragon-shaped kite in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Workers make kites at a kite factory in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Workers make kites at a kite factory in Hanting District of Weifang, east China’s Shandong Province, Oct. 14, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Traditional village in S China turns tourist attraction, hot spot for study tours
Updated: October 15, 2024 09:42Xinhua
An aerial drone photo shows a view of Nalu Village in Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. Home to unique ancient dwellings established during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) along with profound cultural legacies, Nalu Village also boasts many kinds of specialty food made with conventional techniques. Included in the first batch of traditional villages under state protection in 2012, Nalu is now turning itself into a tourist attraction and a hot spot for study tours. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows a view of Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A teacher and her students visit the site of an ancient school at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A teacher and her students visit the site of an ancient school at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A teacher instructs students to make fans at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A teacher and her students visit an ancient house at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A villager walks in an alley at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows a view of Nalu Village at sunset in Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Villagers trim vegetables at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Tourists walk in an alley at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A tourist poses for photos at an alley at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows a villager walking along an alley at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows a view of Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows fields at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]A villager packs homemade rice wine at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]Tourists dance at an ancient house at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows a tourist dancing at an ancient house at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 10, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo shows a villager walking along an alley at Nalu Village of Xiangzhou County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 9, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Oct. 14 — Concerning the regional tensions in the Middle East, China will continue to demonstrate a sense of duty as a responsible major country and play a constructive role in promoting the cooling down of the conflict, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.
The two sides spoke highly of China-Iran relations, emphasizing a commitment to maintaining exchanges at all levels and promoting practical cooperation.
Araghchi said Iran is deeply concerned about the risk of an overall escalation of the current regional situation and does not want to see a further expansion of conflict.
Iran highly values China’s influence in international affairs and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to cool down the situation through diplomatic means, Araghchi said, adding that Israel should avoid taking risks and proceed cautiously.
Wang said that the negative impacts of the current Gaza conflict are clearly spilling over, and regional tensions are escalating continuously.
China has always advocated for resolving hotspot issues through dialogue and consultation and opposes exacerbating tensions, expanding conflicts and taking military adventures, Wang said, calling on all parties to make more efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability.
Wang said that China will proceed from the merits of the issue, strengthen communication among all parties, build a broader international consensus, and pool the strengths of all parties.
Wang said that China is pleased to see the Iranian government carry out mediation diplomacy, enhance understanding with relevant parties and improve relations with regional countries.
China supports the historic reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and is willing to jointly push for a positive outcome from the second meeting of the China-Iran-Saudi Arabia Trilateral Joint Committee to consolidate the momentum of reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia and inject positive energy into regional peace and stability, Wang added.
Concerning the regional tensions in the Middle East, China will continue to demonstrate a sense of duty as a responsible major country and play a constructive role in promoting the cooling down of the conflict, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi.
The two sides spoke highly of China-Iran relations, emphasizing a commitment to maintaining exchanges at all levels and promoting practical cooperation.
Araghchi said Iran is deeply concerned about the risk of an overall escalation of the current regional situation and does not want to see a further expansion of conflict.
Iran highly values China’s influence in international affairs and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to cool down the situation through diplomatic means, Araghchi said, adding that Israel should avoid taking risks and proceed cautiously.
Wang said that the negative impacts of the current Gaza conflict are clearly spilling over, and regional tensions are escalating continuously.
China has always advocated for resolving hotspot issues through dialogue and consultation and opposes exacerbating tensions, expanding conflicts and taking military adventures, Wang said, calling on all parties to make more efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability.
Wang said that China will proceed from the merits of the issue, strengthen communication among all parties, build a broader international consensus, and pool the strengths of all parties.
Wang said that China is pleased to see the Iranian government carry out mediation diplomacy, enhance understanding with relevant parties and improve relations with regional countries.
China supports the historic reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and is willing to jointly push for a positive outcome from the second meeting of the China-Iran-Saudi Arabia Trilateral Joint Committee to consolidate the momentum of reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia and inject positive energy into regional peace and stability, Wang added.