NewzIntel.com

Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese Film Festival launched in Slovakia to celebrate bilateral ties

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A Chinese film festival kicked off in Bratislava Wednesday evening, with Slovaks from all walks of life enjoying the first film “One and Only” with relish. 

    As one of a series of events celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between China and Slovakia, the film festival is co-sponsored by the Chinese Embassy in Slovakia, the Slovak Ministry of Culture and the State Film Administration of China.

    Addressing the opening ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Slovakia Cai Ge said that China-Slovakia relations have made great progress over the past 75 years, and films play a unique role in enhancing people-to-people ties between the two countries.

    He extended invitations to the Slovak people to visit China and experience in person the lives of the Chinese people and the development of China.

    Mario Maruska, State Secretary of the Slovak Ministry of Culture, said in his speech that this long-term mutual cooperation contributed to the development of material, intellectual and also spiritual wealth of the two countries, while “the persisting driving force of the rapprochement of our nations” is undoubtedly the area of cultural cooperation.

    Alzbeta Moravcikova, who has visited China herself, said she was touched by the Chinese young man’s unremitting efforts to pursue his dream depicted in the film “One and Only,” and watching films is one of the best ways to enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples.

    During the festival which will run until Sept. 28, the audience can also enjoy “The Wandering Earth II”, “B for Busy”, “Chang An”, “My Love Dunhuang”, “Nice View” and “Song of Spring” with Slovak or Czech subtitles. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sculpture of Laozi unveiled at Greece’s National Archaeological Museum

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A bronze sculpture of ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi (about 571 BC- 471 BC) was installed on Wednesday in Greece’s National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

    The artwork titled “Harmony between Humankind and Nature — statue of Laozi” was crafted by Professor Wu Weishan, who is curator of the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC).

    The sculpture, which won the gold medal at the 2012 Louvre International Art Exhibition in France, will be on display permanently here, engaging in dialogue with the museum’s artifacts, Wu said at an inauguration ceremony.

    “I am moved that the museum’s visitors will from now on be able to see a sculpture created by a Chinese artist,” Wu said.

    “It is our duty to bring closer our peoples via an honest and open dialogue,” Anna Vassiliki Karapanagiotou, general director of the National Archaeological Museum, said.

    “Dialogue between Chinese and Greek civilizations” was the title of Wednesday’s event and this dialogue is deepening in recent years thanks to many initiatives, Karapanagiotou said.

    The Greek Museum has collaborated with NAMOC to exchange exhibitions and more are planned in the future, she said.

    The is not the first piece by Wu to be displayed in Greece. In 2021, his sculpture “Socrates and Confucius: An Encounter,” depicting the two great philosophers of ancient Greece and China, was respectively installed at the Ancient Agora of Athens, a historic site at the foot of the Acropolis once serving as the social, political, and commercial hub of the city. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon on Wednesday result in 51 deaths, 223 injuries

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The death toll from the continued Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday across Lebanese rose to 51, with injuries up to 223, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

    The ministry confirmed casualties in several locations across southern and eastern Lebanon, including Bint Jbeil, Ain Qana, Qabrikha and Tebnine.

    Military sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes targeted approximately 90 villages and towns in southern and eastern Lebanon. Among the casualties was Kamel Karaki, a photojournalist for Lebanese Al-Manar TV, killed in a strike on the southeastern village of Qantara.

    Meanwhile, local media reported at least seven fatalities and 16 injuries from strikes near Beirut, with three deaths in Maaysrah, northeast of the capital, and four in Joun, Chouf district.

    The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that Hezbollah fired a surface-to-surface missile at Tel Aviv early Wednesday, triggering sirens in the city and surrounding areas. The IDF said it intercepted the missile using the David’s Sling defense system, with no injuries or damage reported. The military later stated it had struck the Hezbollah launcher in southern Lebanon’s Nafakhiyeh.

    In a statement, the IDF announced that it had called up two reserve ground brigades to the Israel-Lebanon border following a “situational assessment,” adding that the troops would be deployed for “operational activities on the northern front.”

    It noted that the mobilization would “enable the continuation of combat against Hezbollah, the defense of Israel, and create the conditions for northern Israel’s residents to return to their homes.”

    This surge in violence follows Israeli bombardments on Monday and Tuesday, the most extensive Israeli attacks on Lebanon since 2006. Official figures indicate the two-day strikes have killed more than 550 and wounded around 1,800 in Lebanon.

    On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Beirut’s southern suburbs killed Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Muhammad Qubaisi and five others, according to the Shiite militant group.

    The escalation comes after last week’s explosions targeting communication devices across Lebanon, which left dozens dead. The cross-border conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has been ongoing since Oct. 8, 2023, following Hamas’s attack on southern Israel.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese publishers shine at Indonesia International Book Fair

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    People visit the booth of China Publication during the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair at Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 25, 2024. A delegation of Chinese publishers on Wednesday showcased more than 700 volumes of premium Chinese books at the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair (IIBF), held from Sept. 25-29 in Jakarta. Organized by China National Sci-Tech Information Import & Export Co., Ltd, the collection featured over 400 types of books, covering topics such as traditional Chinese culture, Mandarin learning, literature, social sciences, children’s books, and traditional Chinese medicine. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

    A delegation of Chinese publishers on Wednesday showcased more than 700 volumes of premium Chinese books at the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair (IIBF), held from Sept. 25-29 in Jakarta.

    Organized by China National Sci-Tech Information Import & Export Co., Ltd, the collection featured over 400 types of books, covering topics such as traditional Chinese culture, Mandarin learning, literature, social sciences, children’s books, and traditional Chinese medicine.

    The delegation set up a digital reading stand showcasing Chinese history, culture, and advancements in fields like economics and ecology. The stand’s interactive photo feature allowed visitors to capture memorable moments.

    A highlight of the event was a signing ceremony between China’s publisher Higher Education Press and Indonesia’s PT Legacy Utama Kreasindo, which secured the Indonesian language rights for “Experiencing Chinese for Primary Schools (International Version).” This comprehensive series, designed for overseas elementary students, will be published in Indonesia later this year.

    IIBF Chairperson Wedha Stratesti remarked that the 2024 event, featuring publishers from 15 countries, represents a milestone for the fair. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Death toll from coal mine explosion in E. Iran rises to 50

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The death toll from a coal mine blast in the eastern Iranian province of South Khorasan has risen to 50 after one of the injured succumbed to his wounds, the official news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday.

    Of the 16 workers injured in the mine explosion in Tabas County, two were in critical condition, with one declared dead after suffering brain death, IRNA quoted Mohammad-Ali Akhoundi, director general of the provincial crisis management headquarters, as saying.

    The explosion occurred Saturday night in a mine tunnel about 540 km southeast of Tehran, triggered by a sudden rise in methane gas. At the time, 65 workers were present in the mine, the report quoted Akhoundi as saying, revising the initial figure of 69 workers.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Thousands flee Lebanon to Syria

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    People gather at the Jdeidat Yabous border crossing in the countryside of Damascus, Syria, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Thousands of Lebanese and Syrian families fled Lebanon for Syria as Israeli airstrikes continued, said the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday.

    According to a statement issued by the UN Refugee Agency, hundreds of vehicles were backed up in queues at the Syrian border, with many people arriving on foot, carrying whatever belongings they can. Large crowds, including women, children and babies, reportedly waited in line after spending the night outdoors in falling temperatures. “Some carry fresh injuries from the recent bombardments,” the statement added.

    Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence, stating that the bloodshed was taking a heavy toll, displacing tens of thousands of people from their homes.

    He highlighted the plight of families who had previously fled the war in Syria, only to now face bombings in the country where they had sought refuge. Grandi urged the international community to prevent further scenes of despair and devastation, warning that the Middle East could not endure another displacement crisis. He emphasized that protecting civilian lives must be the top priority.

    Israel has carried out its most extensive bombardment of Lebanon since 2006, starting on Monday, resulting in over 550 deaths and more than 1,800 injuries nationwide. The attacks have also forced thousands of residents in Lebanon to flee their homes.

    The UNHCR, along with its partners, has been present at border crossings, offering essential supplies such as food, water, blankets, and mattresses to incoming refugees, said the statement.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: McClellan Votes to Fund the Government, Avoid Shutdown at Hands of House Republicans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after she voted in support of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025: 

    “After months of Republican inaction and hyper-partisan messaging bills, we were brought to the brink of another government shutdown at the hands of Speaker Johnson and the Republican conference. From day one, House Democrats stood ready to pass a bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through the end of the calendar year to give Congress the time needed to finish the twelve year-long appropriations bills. 

    “Republicans tried repeatedly to advance their restrictive voting bill, the SAVE Act, through this funding legislation, because they knew it could not become law on its own merits. House Democrats defeated their efforts and successfully negotiated a clean CR that funds our federal agencies at current levels through December 20th, provides increased funding for the Secret Service, and ensures critical federal services remain functional and available to the American people. 

    “While we avoided a catastrophic government shutdown, this CR is not cause for celebration. The federal government should not have to operate on these temporary stopgap measures, and the American people should not have to worry about whether or not they will have access to critical services should a shutdown occur. The entire process is emblematic of Republicans’ inability to govern and put the American people above their own party’s politics. Today, House Democrats were the adults in the room, carrying the legislation over the finish line and providing more votes in support of the bill than Republicans. 

    “When we return to Washington after the District Work Period, Republicans need to abandon their extreme agenda and work with House Democrats to expeditiously pass the appropriations bills to fund the government for Fiscal Year 2025. It is our duty as Members of Congress and what the American people deserve.” 

    H.R. 9747 passed on a vote of 341 Yays to 82 Nays. Read H.R. 9747 bill text here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s FAST telescope continues to contribute to global radio astronomy research

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Core Array of China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    The construction of the Core Array of China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) started Wednesday, highlighting China’s growing potential in global radio astronomy research.
    As a proposed extension of FAST, the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope, the Core Array integrates 24 secondary 40-meter antennas implanted within 5 kilometers of the FAST site, said Jiang Peng, deputy director of the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
    The Chinese-designed array will combine the unprecedented sensitivity of FAST with a high angular resolution, thereby exceeding the capabilities at similar frequencies of next-generation arrays in the world.
    The FAST Core Array is estimated to be completed and put into operation in 2027.
    According to a study conducted by CAS, the Core Array will be equipped with advanced devices to improve the survey efficiency of FAST, whose broad frequency coverage and large field of view (FOV) will be essential to study transient cosmic phenomena such as fast radio bursts and gravitational wave events; conduct surveys and resolve structures in neutral hydrogen galaxies; monitor or detect pulsars; and investigate exoplanetary systems.
    Jiang said that once operational, the FAST Core Array could provide more possibilities for global radio astronomy research, owing to a wide range of potential scientific applications from cosmology to exoplanet science.
    Wednesday also marks the eighth anniversary of the launch of FAST. In less than a decade, FAST has already significantly expanded its astronomical observation capability, and the FAST Core Array is set to enhance its observational capabilities further.
    Jiang said observations made solely with FAST are like using a pencil to draw a sketch, while the FAST Core Array is akin to capturing the night sky with a digital camera.
    To date, FAST has identified more than 900 new pulsars since its launch in 2016. The number of new pulsars discovered by FAST is more than three times the total number of pulsars found by foreign telescopes during the same period.
    FAST started formal operations in January 2020 and was officially opened to the world in March 2021. The telescope provides astronomers around the globe with a powerful tool to uncover the mysteries and evolution of the universe.
    Since its formal opening to the global scientific community on March 31, 2021, FAST has facilitated over 900 hours of observations for research teams from 15 countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, and Australia, covering various scientific objectives.
    On April 6 this year, FAST reopened applications for observation projects for the 2024-2025 season, offering 1,600 hours of telescope time for freely applied projects.
    British astronomer Ralph Eatough said that opening up FAST to the world means that astronomers can now perform experiments that were previously not possible due to insufficient telescope sensitivity, with a prime example of this being the potential to detect pulsars located in external galaxies.
    Chen Xianhui, an academician at CAS, said, “FAST is helping mankind explore the origins, evolution, and structure of the universe, providing crucial observational data for understanding pressing scientific questions, while also serving as an important platform for international scientific exchange and collaboration.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s water conservancy projects create 2.1 million jobs

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China’s investment in water conservancy projects totaled 801.94 billion yuan (114.23 billion U.S. dollars) in the first eight months of this year, up 10.7 percent year on year, a government official said on Wednesday.
    At a press conference on water conservancy infrastructure construction held in Beijing, Wang Bao’en, vice minister of water resources, said that water conservancy project construction on a massive scale has contributed to employment. Construction of such projects created nearly 2.1 million jobs in the first eight months, up 6.9 percent year on year.
    Wang said that during the period, the five provinces of Hebei, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong and Anhui each posted investment exceeding 40 billion yuan in the sector.
    Government data also shows that since the beginning of this year, a total of 42,000 water conservancy projects have been implemented nationwide, up 14.1 percent year on year. Among them, 28,000 are newly started projects, up 18.7 percent.
    Wang said that in the next step, the Ministry of Water Resources will continue to make solid efforts to promote water conservancy infrastructure construction after the main flood season. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Confirms Baldwin-Johnson Nominee for U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    Published: 09.25.2024

    WISCONSIN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) applauded the Senate’s bipartisan vote to confirm Byron Conway to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
    “The people of Wisconsin deserve to have qualified, experienced, impartial judges working for them – and I am confident that’s just what we will get with Byron Conway. I was proud to work with Senator Johnson to stand up our bipartisan nominating commission and earn the support from both Democrats and Republicans alike in the Senate. Byron Conway has a proven track record and temperament for this position, and I look forward to seeing him faithfully serve Wisconsin’s Eastern District with fairness and distinction,” said Senator Baldwin.
    Conway was recommended to Senators Baldwin and Ron Johnson (R-WI) by the bipartisan Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission that they established to help find candidates for federal judicial positions and United States Attorneys during the 118th Congress. The Senators then recommended Conway to the White House and, in July, the White House announced that they heeded that call and nominated Conway for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Later that month, both Senators returned their blue slips to the Senate Judiciary Committee, leading to the Judiciary Committee’s bipartisan vote in support of his nomination and teeing up his confirmation by the full Senate today.

    Print
    Email
    Share
    Tweet

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch Supports Bill to Keep Government Open, Vows to Keep Fighting for Disaster Recovery Funding in December Budget Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement on the Senate and House passage of a Continuing Resolution, which will fund the government through December 20th and avoid a costly government shutdown: 
    “It’s unacceptable that some in Congress view paying your bills and keeping the lights on as ‘optional.’ Tonight, we should have negotiated and passed a bipartisan budget bill that looks forward to 2025 and beyond. It’s long-past time every one of my colleagues—in the Senate and the House—commits to passing a budget every year, instead of using government funding and the economic security of hardworking Vermont families as a bargaining chip.
    “By its very function, a Continuing Resolution should continue the government services and funding our communities rely on. This bill does not hit that mark. The disaster relief and recovery provisions in this package will not meet the long-term needs of Vermont, or any state recovering from a disaster. This bill risks another depletion of FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund. Spending down next year’s funds early, especially as we deal with more catastrophic weather, threatens to create a perfect storm by our next funding deadline. 
    “It is our responsibility to fund the government and avoid a shutdown, so tonight I voted for this bill—despite its flaws. But I will keep working across the aisle and across the Capitol to secure the disaster recovery funding Vermont and every state devastated by natural disasters needs.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Census release of iwi data a significant resource for Te Whata  – Stats NZ media release

    Source: Statistics New Zealand

    Census release of iwi data a significant resource for Te Whata  – 26 September 2024 – From today, individuals and dwellings data by Māori descent and iwi affiliation will be available on Te Whata.

    Te Whata is a by iwi, for iwi data platform developed by Te Kāhui Raraunga and supported by Stats NZ. It is available at http://www.tewhata.io.

    Customised census iwi data requests are also available through Te Ara Takatū.

    This is the second time Stats NZ has partnered with Te Kāhui Raraunga to release Māori data from the 2023 Census on the Te Whata platform. The historic joint initiative is part of work under the Mana Ōrite Relationship Agreement between the Data Iwi Leaders Group and Stats NZ.

    Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this news story:

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Accelerated Programme: Next closure on SH1 in South Waikato

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    The third stage of the huge maintenance project to improve State Highway 1 (SH1) in central and southern Waikato gets underway on Sunday night. From 7pm Sunday 29 September 2024, SH1 will be closed at nights between Piarere and just north of Tīrau (SH1/SH27 intersection).

    Work is underway here until 6am Friday 18 October.

    The closures won’t happen every night – they are from 7pm to 6am, Sunday to Thursday nights. The road will be open from 6am each Friday morning until 7pm Sunday nights.

    Residents, businesses and emergency services will have access at all times.

    The detour is via SH29 and SH27 as shown in the map attached. The detour is 12.9 kms which equates to approximately an extra 10 minutes of travel time.

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) Regional Manager of Maintenance and Operations for Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Roger Brady, urges motorists to take extra care. “We ask motorists to use the official detours and to go carefully and drive to the conditions while doing so.

    “Using sideroads for shortcuts is discouraged, as many of them are not designed for large increases in traffic.”

    While this detour is underway at nights, Totman Road will have residents-only access.

    “After a brief delay due to a bout of wet Spring weather, the improvement in the conditions this week has meant the foam bitumen stabilising work is underway between Tīrau and Putāruru and also Ātiamuri to Wairakei. This is a key part of the road rebuilding but is very reliant on temperature and dry conditions,” Mr Brady says.

    The next section for closure will be between Tokoroa and Ātiamuri and this is expected to last for 6 weeks, starting on Monday 7 October.

    A weekly e-newsletter is being produced with further information and people are encouraged to sign up via the website:

    SH1 Tīrau to Waiouru maintenance(external link)

    Piarere to Tirau SH1 closure map

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cardin Statement on Deceptive Attempt to Engage in Fraudulent Communication

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maryland Ben Cardin

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding a recent deceptive attempt to engage in communication under false pretenses:
    “In recent days, a malign actor engaged in a deceptive attempt to have a conversation with me by posing as a known individual. After immediately becoming clear that the individual I was engaging with was not who they claimed to be, I ended the call and my office took swift action, alerting the relevant authorities. This matter is now in the hands of law enforcement, and a comprehensive investigation is underway.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Baldwin Votes to Avoid Harmful Shutdown, Keep Government Open

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    Published: 09.25.2024

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement on the Senate’s passage of a bill to keep the government funded until December:
    “American families suffer if we let the government shut down. It threatens to take Border Patrol off the beat, halt benefits for our Veterans, and block food for families in need. I joined my Democratic and Republican colleagues to vote to avoid a harmful shutdown, boost funding for the Secret Service, and keep the lights on as we work to pass our bipartisan funding bills. I will continue to make sure Wisconsin has a seat at the table in our ongoing negotiations and that our full year government funding bills support our Made in America economy, lower costs for working families, and tackle the opioid and fentanyl crisis.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China ready to be Argentina’s good partner in development

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in New York on Tuesday that China is ready to continue to be Argentina’s good friend and good partner in pushing forward development.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during talks with Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

    China, he said, always attaches great importance to its relations with Argentina, and maintains continuity and stability in its policy toward the country.

    He called on the two sides to continue to place China-Argentina relations at an important position in each other’s foreign policies and deepen political mutual trust.

    Noting that the two economies are highly complementary and their practical cooperation enjoys a solid foundation, Wang also urged the two countries to support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns.

    For her part, Mondino said Argentina prizes the Chinese market, and Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest and do business in her country.

    Mondino also expressed her hope that the two countries can expand bilateral economic and trade cooperation, saying that Argentina is ready to actively participate in China-Latin America cooperation.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tajik PM meets with senior CPC official

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda met with Chen Wenqing, a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official here on Tuesday.

    Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, noted that under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, the relationship between China and Tajikistan has continued to improve and upgrade.

    Both countries are at critical stages of national development and rejuvenation, Chen said, adding that China is willing to work with Tajikistan to jointly promote the building of the China-Tajikistan community with a shared future, actively implement the three global initiatives, deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, enhance law enforcement and security collaboration, and effectively address various regional threats and challenges, ultimately benefiting the people of both nations.

    Rasulzoda congratulated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and expressed Tajikistan’s firm support for the three global initiatives proposed by Xi. He also expressed a desire to deepen practical cooperation in the security field with China and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.

    During the visit, Chen also met separately with Tajikistan’s Secretary of the Security Council Nasrullo Mahmudzoda and Chairman of the State Committee for National Security Saimumin Yatimov.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM urges China, Switzerland to back economic globalization with action

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in New York on Tuesday that against the backdrop of rising protectionism and anti-globalization, China and Switzerland, both defenders of free trade, should demonstrate with concrete actions that economic globalization is unstoppable.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during talks with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

    He hailed the two countries’ announcing the launch of negotiations on an upgraded version of the free trade agreement a piece of good news.

    The two sides should cherish and maintain a high level of political mutual trust, adhere to mutual respect and equal treatment, and ensure a sound and steady development of bilateral relations, he said.

    For his part, Cassis said the Swiss side will make every effort to push forward the negotiation process and promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

    Switzerland values its partnership with China and always adheres to the one-China policy, he added.

    During the talks, the two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM meets Nauruan counterpart

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Nauruan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met with Nauruan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that in January this year, China and Nauru resumed diplomatic ties, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries.

    China attaches great importance to its relationship with Nauru and is committed to strengthening communication and exchanges at all levels with Nauru on the basis of equality and mutual respect, he said.

    China is also keen on actively expanding practical cooperation to continuously advance the bilateral relations, Wang added.

    Aingimea, for his part, said that the resumption of diplomatic ties with China was undoubtedly a correct and historic decision.

    He also expressed the hope of continuing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields to support Nauru’s economic and social development.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM calls for joint efforts to promote peace talks on Ukraine

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a Security Council high-level meeting on the situation in Ukraine at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in New York on Tuesday that all parties should be truly committed to promoting peace talks on the Ukraine issue.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at the United Nations headquarters while attending a Security Council high-level meeting on the situation in Ukraine.

    The Security Council should serve as a bridge between differences and contradictions, an advocate of seeking common ground while shelving differences, a defender of common security, and a builder of lasting peace, he said.

    Wang put forward three propositions in this regard:

    Firstly, it is necessary to enhance the sense of crisis in cooling down the situation. Weapons of mass destruction should not be used, nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes such as nuclear power plants should not be attacked, and civilians and civilian facilities should not be targeted, the envoy said.

    Secondly, it is necessary to enhance the sense of responsibility in promoting peace talks. Dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way out of the Ukrainian crisis, he noted, urging the international community to seize the current opportunity to form joint efforts to promote peace talks.

    Thirdly, it is necessary to enhance the sense of urgency in managing spillovers. China calls on the international community to strengthen cooperation on energy, finance, trade, food security and the protection of key infrastructure such as oil and gas pipelines, so as to jointly maintain the stability and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains, Wang said.

    China is not a creator of the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party concerned, the top Chinese diplomat noted. China has always sided with peace, and maintained contact with all parties, including Russia and Ukraine, he added.

    Warning that any attempt to blame, attack or smear China on the Ukraine issue is irresponsible and will not succeed, Wang called on the international community to join hands to uphold a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 41,495

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A truck carrying about 88 unidentified bodies is seen near the Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 41,495, according to Gaza-based health authorities in a statement on Wednesday.

    In the past 24 hours, the Israeli military killed 28 people and wounded 85 others, bringing the total number of injuries to 96,006 since the conflict erupted in early October 2023.

    In a separate statement, the health authorities reported receiving about 88 unidentified bodies from the Israeli side, adding the Israeli side did not provide any information about their identities, the locations where they were recovered, or the time of death.

    The authorities have suspended procedures for receiving the bodies until complete data is available to identify the deceased and notify their families, as this is considered a fundamental right, the statement added.

    Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza in retaliation for a Hamas attack through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and around 250 hostages taken.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Protectionism hurts Europe’s competitiveness: Chinese FM

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with French President’s Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Protectionism is detrimental to Europe’s competitiveness, and engaging in a trade war does not align with the interests of Europe or China, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in New York on Tuesday.

    Wang made the remarks when meeting with French President’s Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

    Wang expressed hope that the European side will demonstrate sincerity and engage in serious consultations with China to resolve trade disputes in a mutually acceptable manner.

    China is committed to further deepening reforms comprehensively and expanding high-level opening-up, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, welcoming France to seize the opportunity to deepen and expand mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

    Bonne said that France is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in areas such as artificial intelligence and the ocean, and to continue expanding bilateral investment.

    Europe and China can fully resolve differences through consultation and strive to avoid a trade war, he said.

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    On the same day, Wang also met French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot.

    Noting that both China and France are independent major countries, Wang said that the two sides should continue to uphold mutual respect, cooperate with each other for mutual benefit, and enhance exchanges for mutual learning, so as to promote the continuous fruitful development of China-France relations.

    Barrot said that France always adheres to the one-China principle and is committed to strengthening cooperation with China, a position that will not change.

    Both France and the European Union do not wish to engage in a trade war with China and hope to find ways to achieve fair trade, said Barrot.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, US agree to maintain communication on law enforcement

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong had candid, professional and pragmatic exchanges with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas via video link on Wednesday.

    Wang said that the two sides earnestly implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, adhere to mutual respect, dispute management and mutually beneficial cooperation, and have achieved many visible outcomes in areas such as drug control, repatriation of illegal immigrants and cooperation on individual cases.

    China is willing to maintain communication with the U.S. at all levels, and push for steady and long-term law enforcement cooperation between the two countries. The U.S. side should attach importance to addressing China’s concerns, demonstrate sincerity with concrete actions, and remove obstacles for deepening cooperation, Wang noted.

    The two sides agreed to stay in communication on important issues in the field of law enforcement.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-Australia ties see positive progress: Chinese FM

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China-Australia relations have made positive progress, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi when meeting his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

    Both sides should continue to build a more mature, stable, and fruitful comprehensive strategic partnership, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

    Both sides should properly handle the issues in bilateral exchanges and not define China-Australia relations from the perspective of differences, Wang said, hoping Australia joins hands with China to ensure that bilateral relations go on the right track and achieve more results.

    Wong, for her part, said Australia is ready to work with China to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, engage in constructive communication on issues of differences, and promote the stable development of bilateral relations.

    The Australian side’s adherence to the one-China policy has not changed, Wong said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM attends 8th Dialogue of Foreign Ministers of China, Quartet of CELAC

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the eighth Dialogue of Foreign Ministers of China and the Quartet of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday attended the eighth Dialogue of Foreign Ministers of China and the Quartet of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that Latin American and Caribbean countries are an important part of the “Global South,” as well as active participants and contributors to global governance.

    Wang stressed that China will continue upholding the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests, strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries, implement the three global initiatives, promote synergy between the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the development strategies of countries in the region, and deepen and substantiate the building of a community with a shared future between China and Latin America and the Caribbean, so as to bring more benefits to the people of both sides.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China builds high-voltage AC/DC hybrid power grid project

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China on Wednesday started the construction of its first high-voltage alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) hybrid power grid project in Jiangsu Province, marking another step toward a cleaner, safer and more efficient energy system.

    The demonstration project will connect the two cities of Huai’an and Danyang, adding approximately 228 km of DC transmission lines to the existing power grid with two ±200 kV converter stations to be built at both ends, according to the State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power Co., Ltd.

    The project is expected to be operational after completion in 2026.

    China’s current main power grid is primarily composed of AC power grids. However, compared with AC transmission, DC transmission at the same voltage level can transmit larger amounts of power with lower energy losses.

    Once operational, the project will significantly alleviate the pressure on north-to-south power transmission in Jiangsu and enhance grid flexibility, further expanding the application of hybrid grid technologies and helping develop a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system, according to the company.

    China recently issued a plan to promote advanced technologies in key energy fields, including hybrid AC/DC power grids.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global economy growth stabilizes at 3.2% in 2024, 2025: OECD

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A trader works on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, the United States, on Aug. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Global gross domestic product (GDP) growth is projected to stabilize at 3.2 percent in both 2024 and 2025, while inflation should continue to ease, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Wednesday in its latest economic outlook.

    According to the OECD economic outlook, annual GDP growth in the United States is projected to slow down to 2.6 percent in 2024 and further down to 1.6 percent in 2025, but be cushioned by monetary policy easing.

    For Euro area, the OECD said that GDP growth is projected to be 0.7 percent in 2024 and speed up to 1.3 percent in 2025, with activity supported by a recovery in real incomes and an improvement in credit availability.

    Headline inflation has continued to fall this year in most countries, partly due to further declines in food price inflation and low or negative energy and goods price inflation, the organisation noted, adding that the recent steep fall in oil prices, and the ongoing easing of global food prices could place further downward pressure on headline inflation in the short-term.

    “Oil prices have declined by over 10 percent since July, amid expectations for excess supply next year and market concerns about weakening oil demand growth… If oil prices remain at their current level, global headline inflation could be reduced by around 0.5 percentage points over the coming year,” the OECD explained.

    According to the OECD, declining consumer price inflation has supported household spending, providing a counterbalance to the negative impact from restrictive financial conditions and the uncertainty about the ongoing Ukraine conflict and the evolving crisis in the Middle East.

    Along with stable GDP growth and further disinflation, the OECD also said that real incomes would improve and less restrictive monetary policy in many economies would help underpin demand.

    The recovery in real incomes could provide a stronger boost to consumer confidence and spending, and further oil price declines would hasten disinflation.

    Headline inflation is projected to ease from 5.4 percent in 2024 to 3.3 percent in 2025 in the G20 economies.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Official: China reports broadened engagement in global market

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s investment is playing an increasingly prominent role in promoting economic development worldwide, data from the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) showed on Wednesday.

    In 2023, outbound direct investment drove 273.1 billion U.S. dollars of China’s import and export of goods, accounting for 4.6 percent of the total value, said Zhang Li, an official with the MOC, while introducing a yearly statistical bulletin.

    China’s overseas enterprises achieved sales revenue of 3.5 trillion U.S. dollars and paid 75.3 billion U.S. dollars in taxes to the places where they invested last year, said Zhang.

    From 2013 to 2023, China’s overseas enterprises have paid 518.4 billion U.S. dollars in taxes to host countries, providing about 2 million jobs, he said.

    In 2023, China’s outbound investment reached 177.29 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 11.4 percent of the global total and ranking among the top three for 12 consecutive years, said Zhang.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China firmly opposes US proposed ban on Chinese connected vehicles

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China strongly objects to the U.S. proposal to restrict the use of Chinese connected vehicles, as well as their software and hardware, in the United States, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday.

    A ministry spokesperson made the remarks in response to a media inquiry, emphasizing that the U.S. proposal smears Chinese connected vehicles under the pretext of national security.

    The proposal is one of the U.S. actions that targeted Chinese automobiles in recent years, also including tariff hikes, procurement restrictions and discriminatory subsidy policies, said the spokesperson.

    The proposal has no factual basis, violates the principles of the market economy and fair competition, and is a typical act of protectionism, the spokesperson said, adding that it will severely impact China-U.S. cooperation on connected vehicles, disrupt and distort global automotive industrial and supply chains, and harm the interests of U.S. consumers.

    It is also a non-market practice that uses government power to interfere with economic and commercial cooperation between enterprises, constituting economic coercion, said the spokesperson.

    “China urges the United States to cease its wrong practice of generalizing national security, immediately lift the relevant restrictions, and end its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies,” said the spokesperson.

    China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its companies, the spokesperson added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s water conservancy projects create 2.1 million jobs in first 8 months

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China’s investment in water conservancy projects totaled 801.94 billion yuan (114.23 billion U.S. dollars) in the first eight months of this year, up 10.7 percent year on year, a government official said on Wednesday.
    At a press conference on water conservancy infrastructure construction held in Beijing, Wang Bao’en, vice minister of water resources, said that water conservancy project construction on a massive scale has contributed to employment. Construction of such projects created nearly 2.1 million jobs in the first eight months, up 6.9 percent year on year.
    Wang said that during the period, the five provinces of Hebei, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong and Anhui each posted investment exceeding 40 billion yuan in the sector.
    Government data also shows that since the beginning of this year, a total of 42,000 water conservancy projects have been implemented nationwide, up 14.1 percent year on year. Among them, 28,000 are newly started projects, up 18.7 percent.
    Wang said that in the next step, the Ministry of Water Resources will continue to make solid efforts to promote water conservancy infrastructure construction after the main flood season. 

    MIL OSI China News –