A decade on and initiative continues to increase its international trade in food China is seeking to expand agricultural exchanges and trade ties with its partners under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, which a senior official said was aimed at stabilizing the global food supply and promoting sustainable development. This year marks a decade since the initiative was put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Ma Youxiang, a vice-minister of agriculture and rural affairs, said the country is willing to work with BRI participants so that together they can become a hub for global food security and a showcase for sustainable development. "We're glad to work with BRI partners, learn about and respect each other's needs, and work hard to advance food-related cooperation," he said at the Belt and Road Agricultural Cooperation and Development Forum in Beijing on Thursday. Addressing the event's opening ceremony, Ma spoke of the mutual benefits generated through such collaborations since 2013, a period filled with challenges including extreme weather events, pandemic-related disruptions and geopolitical headwinds. He said through BRI programs, many countries have overcome such difficulties, achieved bumper harvests and slashed poverty. The programs helped ease the squeeze that could have otherwise gripped such countries due to turbulent global food prices and supply chain woes. Ma said that over the past decade, China had forged partnerships with more than 90 countries and international organizations and inaugurated 650-plus investment projects worth $14 billion. China's food trade with countries involved in the BRI expanded at an annual rate of 9.9 percent in that time, and has reached over $139 billion. Wheat from Kazakhstan, sesame seeds from Tanzania and honey from Zambia have made it into China's ultra-large market, and in turn, more fruit and vegetables from China are being served on dining tables in those countries, he said. The past decade has also seen a leap in many countries' agricultural know-how. China sent more than 2,000 agricultural technicians to teach the growing techniques for hybrid rice, fungi and many other crops to more than 70 countries. More than 100,000 farmers have received training, and more than 1 million have reaped benefits indirectly. Ma said China is willing to expand its imports of quality food products in the next decade, and supports a more free and convenient trade environment. China has plans to help build overseas food industrial parks and high-tech farming demonstration zones, as well as promote extreme weather-resistant and smart farming technologies, he added. While speaking at the forum, Fu Wanjun, president of the Agricultural Bank of China, one of the forum's organizers, said his bank has established overseas offices in countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Tajikistan, so that financial services are readily available to aid agricultural collaborations under the BRI framework. Some $84 billion in food trade has been transacted through the bank since the start of this year, he said. Representatives from developing countries expressed their desire at the forum for more food-related investments, especially from technologically advanced countries like China. Rahamtalla Mohamed Osman, permanent representative of the African Union to China, told the forum that his continent has 65 percent of the world's remaining uncultivated arable land, and at least one-sixth of global plant species, including many food crops of African origin such as wheat, barley, millet, sorghum, teff, coffee, cowpea and oil palm. "What does this mean? This means that we have the potential to feed 9 billion people in the world by 2050, far more than the current world population," he said. With the removal of barriers to agricultural development achieved by new investments, Africa's annual agricultural output could increase from $280 billion to $1 trillion by 2030, he added. Many agricultural projects require large technological, technical and policy expertise, which may come more easily from China compared to Africa's other development partners, especially given China's experience with smallholder farming and successes in rural poverty alleviation, he said. "China also offers new potential market access for African agricultural products." Source: China Daily

Editor's note:Daryl Guppy, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an international financial technical analysis expert. He has provided weekly Shanghai Index analyses for mainland Chinese media for more than a decade. Guppy appears regularly on CNBC Asia and is known as "The Chart Man." He is a former national board member of the Australia China Business Council. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN. The 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning are two of the most significant events in the ASEAN region. It is more than just a trade expo with the usual fascinating array of goods and products on display. These are important, but it's the dialogues and meetings that deliver the full significance of CAEXPO because they provide a strategic guide to regional policy development. In 2014, I was invited to speak in the first Australian partner participation in CAEXPO. I got to know the outline of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and how this meshed with what is now the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It was the first time the concept had been explained fully to an international audience and the impact was significant. It set the parameters for business engagement and development in the following decade and more. This year's CAEXPO has continued that tradition of policy commitments with the opening ceremony speech by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. He emphasized the significance of building a closer China-ASEAN community. These remarks followed the recent ASEAN meeting in Jakarta where the issue of ASEAN centrality in regional decision making was a major point of discussion. Li acknowledged ASEAN centrality in the process of forging smooth China-ASEAN relationships. This is another important indication of China's desire to work within existing regional trade structures of which CAEXPO is a practical example. This is a direct counter to the approach taken by the United States which seeks to undermine ASEAN centrality in regional decision making by turning organizations like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) into a geopolitical platform. Echoing decade-old remarks, Li placed ASEAN countries at the intersection of the "Belt and Road" on both land and sea. They reflected the historical connections of China trade from the ancient land-based Tea Horse Road and the maritime trade centers in the Straits of Malacca. His remarks provided a clear indication of the vitality and growth of the BRI. This came as a shock to Western observers who have been led to believe that the BRI is a spent force. Nothing could be further from the truth as the multi-faceted BRI continues to expand its engagement with ASEAN in many key areas. The BRI is not just about physical infrastructure. It includes capital infrastructure investment to connect Chinese and ASEAN financial markets. It includes trade and soft infrastructure co-ordination to make cross border trade and settlement more efficient. The establishment of common digital standards across ASEAN is an essential foundation for progress in these areas. Consistent with the objectives of the BRI and ASEAN, the expo has a strong emphasis on the digital economy and green economy. The theme of the expo particularly supports businesses operating in emerging sectors of new information technology and new energy. CAEXPO shows that China is committed to expanding cooperation in culture, tourism, training, and youth exchange because these foster mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the region. The success of the expo in terms of the number and variety of participants, shows that China is a growing economy determined to continue its engagement with the region. On one level, CAEXPO provides an important platform for exhibitors to highlight products and services available within the region and which form the foundation of trade relationships.Many are the traditional products of trade, but they also include the breakthroughs seen with the Huawei Mate60 built on China developed chip technology. One feature overlooked in the colourful displays of ethnic dress and custom is that CAEXPO is held in Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. This is just one of five Autonomous regions in China, a factor rarely recognized in Western media coverage which paints China as a monolithic state. These regions illustrate the cooperative pathway that is an essential part of prosperity in the ASEAN region. On another level, CAEXPO provides the political and strategic framework that underpins the broad improvement of trade relationships, peace and prosperity within the region. Premier Li's remarks confirmed China's commitment to regional prosperity and cooperation within the ASEAN framework. Source: CGTN

The picture shows Chinese Premier Li Qiang (center) taking a group photo with Amb. Francis Chua (fifth from left, front row) and well-known ASEAN entrepreneurs. Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry News:Ambassador Francis Chua, Permanent Honorary Chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Founding Chairman of the Philippine International Chamber of Commerce and Founding Chairman of the Philippine Silk Road International Chamber of Commerce as well as the SRCIC Vice Chairman, at the invitation of the host, Ministry of Commerce of China, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the Government of Guangxi Autonomous Region and Guangxi Council for the Promotion of International Trade, on September 15, went to Nanning, Guangxi Province to attend the 20th China-Asean Expo and China-Asean Business and Investment Summit, and as the only representative guest of the Philippines, met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and took photos with well-known ASEAN entrepreneurs, and attended the State banquet. The theme of this East Expo is "Building a home with harmony and Coexistence, Sharing the Future with Destiny - Promoting high-quality Development of the Belt and Road and Building an Economic Growth Center", during which the side meeting on the theme of "Institutional Opening: At "New Pattern of Regional Economic Development" will be held the first time. Representatives from ASEAN countries will have in-depth discussions and exchanges on the steady expansion of institutional openness of rules, regulations, management and standards in the region. At the same time, activities such as the "Year of Investing in China - Entering Guangxi" special event and the "Face to Face with the Business Counsellors of Chinese Missions in 10 ASEAN countries" exchange meeting will also be held to showcase China's investment opportunities, build a platform for multinational companies to understand China and invest in China, and convey to the world China's confidence and determination to unswervingly promote a high level of opening-up. This East Expo will focus on China-Asean Free Trade Area 3.0, RCEP, the "Belt and Road" and other multilateral and bilateral cooperation mechanisms, continue to hold the third RCEP Summit Forum and other institutional activities, issued the "China-Asean Free Trade Area 3.0 Business Opportunities Outlook" blue book, guide regional enterprises to better grasp the new economic and trade rules, better share the RCEP high-quality implementation of the new dividends. Writer/Picture:Pol Ongkinglok Linguister/Editor:Stephanie Tan

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative continues to drive global development, and through it, the country has helped meet the vital needs of developing nations by cooperating with them to build infrastructure and providing them with financial assistance. The strategic cooperation between countries of the developing Global South in general, and African countries in particular, will be further strengthened through the initiative. The perspective that China offers is one that always defends fundamental common values and the common good of humanity. Unlike Western powers, it does not seek hegemony. The BRI aims to build infrastructure, from highways and railways to ports and power plants, to increase connectivity between Asia, Europe and Africa and to promote trade. It is China's vision that, through this initiative, the world might achieve a common destiny for humanity, development and security. The people of the world in general and African people in particular see clearly that this initiative presents a precious opportunity for peace and sustainable global development. Through BRI projects, China has helped build more than 6,000 kilometers of railway, over 6,000 km of highways and more than 80 large power facilities on the African continent. Infrastructure spurs industrialization, starting with the mechanization of agriculture as the first step in African countries' endeavor to transform their resources to create jobs and markets for their people — locally, regionally and at the continental and international levels. Handouts from the same people who sow disunity in Africa will never transform the continent. Only strategic and long-term investments in infrastructure can do so, because it is exactly the lack of modern infrastructure that constitutes the bottleneck to development in Africa. The Belt and Road Initiative is here to remove this bottleneck and open the way for Africa's industrialization. Otherwise, globalization will bypass Africa and the world will advance without Africa, Furthermore, without this, Africa would remain only a provider of raw materials to other people. China's unconditional involvement and massive investments in Africa's infrastructure through the BRI provide a great opportunity not to be missed by Africa in the 21st century. At the same time, China teaches Africans "how to fish instead of giving them a fish". BRI infrastructure projects provide employment opportunities for the people of the world in general and the African people in particular, since with mobility (the free flow of people and goods) comes opportunities. China is the only true African partner that is ready and willing to share its low-cost technology with Africa. Every Chinese investment in Africa is loaded with historical meaning, because China understands African countries well. China's experience can be considered a source of wisdom for Africa, and the Belt and Road Initiative is a blessing in the pursuit of common prosperity. A new era has begun. It is characterized by true multilateralism spearheaded by the Global South under the aegis of China's nonhegemonic leadership, underpinned by the multilateral, broad-based Belt and Road Initiative. Instead of giving sleepless nights to those who continue to display the divisive Cold War mentality or the zero-sum game in international relations, the BRI should be welcomed as a linchpin of win-win cooperation toward the global, common development of mankind. The result will be common prosperity, common security or stability, shared happiness and progress for mankind based on solidarity and win-win cooperation. Global issues such as climate change and the health crisis of COVID-19 remind us that we should endeavor to work together, and consider the particularities of each and every country in terms of their chosen development path, culture and civilization. We fall or we rise together. China sincerely and positively supports the Global South in general, and African countries in particular, and thereby contributes to reducing the gap between developed and developing countries. That is why the majority of Africans are convinced that China is not there to exploit them or, in the rhetoric of the West, to "recolonize" their countries. The author is a professor of international politics and strategies at Joseph Kasa-Vubu University in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a senior visiting research fellow at Peking University's Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Source: China Daily

Premier Li Qiang stressed China's readiness to bolster Belt and Road cooperation and uphold the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in regional affairs during separate meetings with leaders of Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia over the weekend. Li was in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, to attend and address the opening ceremony of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit on Sunday. In Nanning, he met with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Indonesian Vice-President Ma'ruf Amin on Saturday. He met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday. During the meeting with Sonexay, Li said that China is willing to continue with the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road with Laos and promote the continuous improvement of bilateral cooperation. Both sides should further unleash the potential of the China-Laos Railway in spurring the development of both countries, Li said, adding that China supports Laos in enhancing its domestic development capabilities. The premier expressed China's willingness to import more high-quality Lao products and strengthen people-to-people exchanges to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. He pledged support to Laos as the rotating chair of ASEAN next year, saying that Beijing stands ready to work with Laos to push forward with the building of a community with a shared future between China and ASEAN. Sonexay expressed appreciation for China's support for the socioeconomic growth of Laos, saying that his country firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports Beijing in safeguarding its core interests. During talks with the Vietnamese prime minister, Li said that China stands ready to import more high-quality Vietnamese products that are suitable for the Chinese market, explore the upgrading of border ports and accelerate the construction of smart ports to facilitate trade between the two countries. Li called upon both sides to strengthen cooperation over rail connectivity and key minerals and jointly forge a system of mutually beneficial, stable and unimpeded industrial and supply chains. Both sides should adhere to dialogue and consultation to manage differences and work together firmly to uphold fairness and justice, Li said. Pham Minh Chinh said that Vietnam and China are comrades and brothers, and the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Hanoi and Beijing is Vietnam's oldest, highest-level and most prioritized foreign relationship. Vietnam's development of foreign relations will not harm the interests of third parties, and his country adheres to the one-China principle and supports China's development, he said. While meeting with Indonesian Vice-President Ma'ruf Amin, Li said that Beijing and Jakarta must prioritize cooperation over initiatives including Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor and the "Two Countries, Twin Parks", and seek closer exchanges, and cooperation in education, culture, tourism, youth and sports. China is also willing to strengthen multilateral cooperation with Indonesia, jointly uphold the unity and centrality of ASEAN, and maintain the correct direction of East Asian cooperation, he added. The Indonesian leader expressed readiness to deepen bilateral cooperation in economy, trade and people-to-people exchanges and enhance coordination and mutual support in regional and multilateral affairs. During the talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday, Li highlighted China's readiness to better align development strategies, continue with the high-quality building of Belt and Road and ensure the sound implementation of landmark cooperation projects. Source: China Daily

Ever since its launch 10 years ago, the Belt and Road Initiative has been widely welcomed by the global community as a bridge that supports international cooperation. Yet, there have also been baseless accusations that BRI projects lead to debt traps for its participants. This is merely a misperception, and has damaged the reputation and high-quality development of the program. Boon for all In fact, there have been few serious, research-based proofs that verify the Western narratives. Most of these are a result of the politicization of economic issues by scholars, government officials, think tanks and media outlets from countries such as India, the United States and Australia. For instance, Indian scholar Brahma Chellaney published an article in January 2017 saying that China was pursuing a policy of "debt-trap diplomacy" through the BRI. In the narrative, China was pictured as an insidious lender that ensnares developing countries in unsustainable debt and attempts to take advantage of their military and natural resources when these countries are unable to repay their debts. Such attempts at politicization have been strongly refuted by various parties. Apart from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese scholars, leaders and officials from a slew of BRI participating countries have publicly rebuffed the fallacious claims regarding China's "debt-trap diplomacy". Some US scholars and think tanks have also published reports based on thorough research data to refute these groundless accusations. Deborah Brautigam, a professor of political economy at Johns Hopkins University in the United States, has used the example of Montenegro, Kenya and Zambia, among others, to prove that some Western media outlets had vigorously propagated the debt-trap narrative without supporting evidence. RAND Corp, a renowned US think tank, has also published a research report saying that railway connectivity as a result of the BRI has led to a 2.8 percent increase in exports for countries involved in the initiative. Besides, various studies have shown that transportation infrastructure projects under the BRI have reduced logistics time by an average 1.2 percent to 2.5 percent in the surveyed countries, lowered global trade costs by 1.1 percent to 2.2 percent, and contributed to a global income increase of 0.7 percent to 2.9 percent. These findings are solid proof of the positive economic effects of Chinese investments in recipient countries as a result of the BRI. More opportunities Through extensive research on the so-called "debt-trap diplomacy", we have found that the BRI has led to opportunities and common growth, rather than a trap, for the participating economies, and some unique phenomena have resulted from the initiative. First, some of the political figures who sensationalized the "debt-trap "myth in countries involved in the BRI have eventually opted to strengthen cooperation with China. Quite a few opposition parties in countries involved in the BRI had employed the debt-trap diplomacy rhetoric as a political tool in their election campaigns to challenge political rivals in order to garner votes. However, they have swiftly turned to China for loans and investments once they took power. Second, China has focused on bringing long-term economic benefits to recipients when it invests in countries involved in the BRI. There have been frequent power shifts in many Western countries, where the new governments often fail to honor agreements signed by their predecessors. In contrast, China has been consistently committed to its cooperation agreements with recipient countries, especially those concerning infrastructure investments despite their long payback cycles. For instance, according to Indonesian official estimates, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway built by China at a cost of about $8 billion is projected to generate over $23.1 billion in revenue over the next 40 years. This not only results in returns for both Chinese and Indonesian companies, but deepens economic and trade relations between the two countries. Third, some countries involved in the BRI have actually aimed to repay their debt to Western governments and multilateral financial institutions by borrowing from China to build infrastructure, since infrastructure projects, which account for about 70 percent of BRI projects, can help them develop their economies and accumulate capital. The Western governments and institutions have largely refused to lend to such infrastructure projects given their long payback cycles, but China has helped those countries develop their economies and gain access to higher tax revenues so that they have the money to repay their debts to Western entities and improve domestic livelihoods. Last but not least, the relentless interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve, coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, have posed unprecedented challenges to debt management and governance in countries involved in the BRI. The recent aggressive interest rate hikes by the Fed have pushed countries with substantial US dollar-denominated debts into drastic debt crises. Additionally, the global economy has experienced a widespread downturn due to the nagging impact of the pandemic, resulting in reduced fiscal revenues and increased debt burdens. Publicly available data indicate that China is not their sole or primary creditor and countries involved in the BRI have borrowed from a variety of creditors, including the United States, European countries, Japan, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, among others. According to UK charity Debt Justice, African countries, some of which have participated in the BRI, have 12 percent of their debts borrowed from China, and 35 percent from Western entities, especially private institutions. The interest rate of Chinese loans, on average, is about 2.7 percent, while that of Western creditors is 5 percent. Therefore, rather than accuse China of engaging in "debt trap diplomacy", the Western world should focus more on enhancing the debt management capabilities of these indebted countries, strengthening international negotiations and cooperation in debt governance, and providing comprehensive and systematic solutions for tackling debt crises, so as to help the indebted countries achieve economic recovery and improve their development capabilities. Liang Haiming is dean of the Hainan University Belt and Road Research Institute. Feng Daxuan is honorary dean of the institute. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Source: China Daily

On January 16of 2023, 69 deputies from Shaanxi Province were elected to the 14th National People's Congress(NPC) in accordance with the law at the first session of the 14th Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress. Lu Jianzhong, Chairman of the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce and Chairman of Tang West Market Group, was re-electedas a deputy to the NPC since his last term beginning in January 2018. Before that, Chairman Luwerea member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)for three terms. Since his election as a deputy to the NPC, Luhas been earnestly performinghis duties. He has made suggestions on hot issues such as the innovative development of cultural industry, encouraging and supporting the private economy, and high-quality construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. He put forward the Proposal on the Enactment of the Law on Promoting the Digital Economy.A total of 24 proposals were suggestedin areas such as giving full play to the private sector to promote the Belt and Road Initiative and the high-quality development of the private economy, whichprovide detailed reference for relevant ministries and commissions onformulatingpolicies and regulations. Some of the suggestions have been incorporated into relevant planning or policy-relateddocuments.

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Türkiye’s southern border at 4:17 a.m. local time (0917 GMT+8) on February 6. The earthquake was the most devastating one in Türkiye since 1999, wreaking havoc on at least 10 provinces. The death toll climbed to 2,316 in Türkiye and 711 in Syria, and the number of injured rose to 13,293 in Türkiye and 1,431 in Syria as of February 6 local time, according to Türkiye's Disaster and Emergency Management Agency and Syrian Ministry of Health. Left: damaged buildings in the Pazarcik district of Kahramanmaras province, Türkiye on February 6. Right: rescue efforts at a collapsed building in Malatya, Türkiye on February 6. (Source: Xinhua News) On February 6, Chinese president Xi Jinping sent messages of condolences to the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. The message reads as follows: “I was distressed to learn of the powerful earthquake which has caused heavy casualties and property losses. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I would like to express our deep condolences to the victims and the injured, and their families. We are confident that your people will recover from the disaster and rebuild homes in no time under the leadership of your administration.” SRCIC, with its 218 organizational members from 82 countries, has several Turkish members. Upon learning the severe earthquake in Türkiye, SRCIC chairman Mr. Lu Jianzhong and the Secretariat sent condolences to Mr. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye, Mr. Adnan Akfirat, Chairman of the Turkish-Chinese Business Development and Friendship Association, and the Çalık Group. The Chinese government swiftly launched emergency humanitarian assistance mechanism and provided 40 million RMB of emergency assistance to Türkiye at the first batch, including sending out urban rescue teams and medical teams, and providing relief materials. China also coordinated the delivery of relief supplies to Syria and a speedy implementation of ongoing food aid projects. Meanwhile, Chinese people from all walks of life extended a helping hand to Türkiye and Syria. The Red Cross Society of China donated 200,000 US dollars to both countries respectively. Chinese people in the disaster-hit areas are raising donations of tents, blankets and other relief supplies. It is learned that China's Rescue Team of Ramunion, a civilian rescue organization, has arrived at the disaster area this morning to carry out rescue. Political leaders of many countries expressed their sympathy and support to Türkiye after learning the massive casualties caused by the powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake. We hereby call on all SRCIC members and the international community to provide assistance and support within their capacity to the affected people in Türkiye and Syria. Source: Xinhua News

On November 8th, as a prelude to the 2022 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit, the WIC Member Representative Symposium was held on the venue in ZhejiangProvince. This is the first symposium since the establishment of WIC International Organization, aiming to enhance exchange and cooperation between the organization and its members, and among the membersthemselves. Zhuang Rongwen, chairman of the WIC Organization Committee,attended and addressed the symposium. The eventwasmoderated by WIC Secretary GeneralRen Xianliang. More than 30 member representatives from international organizations, leading global Internet companies, industry authorities and associations listedthe symposium. Lu Jianzhong, chairman of the Board of Directors of Tang West Market Group and chairman of the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce,discussed with other representatives about the opportunities and challenges brought by the development of global internet and the prospects of WIC. Zhuangpointed out that as a common platform for the global Internet family, the WIC originates in China but belongs to the world. He hoped that members would contribute their suggestions to the Conference, participate initsconstructionand support its development. Members need to build consensus on ideas, focus on new challenges and problems in cyberspace, and align the efforts of international community to resolve differences.Thedeepeningintegration of digital economy and real economy, and coordination of global industrial and supply chainsare the focuses in developing the digital economy. Members shouldboostscientific and technological innovation, strengthen international collaborationand global cooperation, and exchangevisions and applications of Internet-related technology. Members should deepen cultural exchanges, promote cooperation in internet media, and strengthen the construction of internet culture. Members shouldalsofocus on leading global cooperation, pursuingcommon prosperity for all mankind, deepeningcommon interests and promoting mutual benefit in the Internet sector. LuJianzhongbriefed thethree platformsbuilt by Tang West Market Group, namely the Datang Chain, the Hainan International Cultural and Art Trading Center,and the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce (SRCIC). The platforms are part of the contributing efforts tothedigital cultural industry,the cultural cause,and the construction of Digital China.He suggestedbuildinga multi-chain, cross-chain and internationally-oriented blockchain infrastructure for cultural and art transactions and a cultural digital Silk Road, which can be based on theDatang Chain, a national blockchain anda pilot project of copyright innovativeapplication. The international resources and industrial advantages of SRCICcould also contribute to this cause. The proposal outlines a cultural digital platform for artworks trading and exchange among various countries. The platform integrates functions including ownership validation, authentication, pricing, sequencing and confirming. Together, they resolve the three pain points of the industry - appraisal, valuation and standardization of artworks. This endeavor will boost international cultural and art exchanges and transactions, and enhance mutual learning among civilizations along the Belt and Road. The WIC International Organizationwas established on July 12 this year. It is an international, industrial and non-profit social organization set upvoluntarily by enterprises, organizations, institutions and individuals committed to facilitatingthe global Internetdevelopment. It was registered in China and headquartered in Beijing. Source: World Internet ConferenceWeChat Official Account

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is delighted to welcome Maria Fernanda Garza as its new Chair. After serving as ICC First Vice-Chair for the past two years, the small business owner from Mexico succeeds Ajay Banga as ICC Chair, making her the first woman to hold this position. Maria Fernanda Garza has been elected ICC Chair for a period of two years following a meeting of the ICC World Council, held yesterday in Mexico City. The ICC World Council additionally elected Philippe Varin, Chair of ICC France, as ICC First Vice-Chair, and Nayla Comair Obeid and Harsh Pati Singhania as ICC Vice-Chairs. Ms Garza is CEO of Orestia, as well as SRCIC Vice Chair, a small manufacturing home improvement solutions company based in Mexico, with exports to the USMCA region, Latin-America and Asia. A lifelong advocate for small and medium businesses in her home country and around the world, she participated 19 years in the Mexican Employers' Association (COPARMEX) and served as Vice-President for four years. In her new role, Ms Garza will continue to drive ICC's mission to make business work for everyone, every day, everywhere. Commenting on her election, Maria Fernanda Garza said: "Given the magnitude of the downside risks facing the global economy, it's absolutely vital for us to have a united business voice committed to openness, fair competition and the enablement of peace through international trade.” "In a period that has been characterized by weak international cooperation, I believe that ICC has a vital role to play in harnessing the expertise, innovation and networks of the private sector to secure an effective response to major global challenges. Simply put, our mission to enable peace and prosperity through trade has never been more vital — and, indeed, more urgent." Ms Garza's interest in improving the business environment made her a prominent business leader at a young age. She was the ICC Regional Coordinator for the Americas and a member of the governing body of the ICC International Court of Arbitration. An ICC Executive Board member since 2014, Ms Garza became the first woman to be elected as ICC First Vice-Chair in 2020. A strong advocate of business ethics and corporate governance standards, Ms Garza was Chair of ICC Mexico until June 2020 and is a former member of the International Affairs Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Labour and former member of the National Advisory Committee of ACLAN. She is also a Board Member of the Corporate Responsibility Alliance AliaRSE and was a member of the Corporate Responsibility Network of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD. ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said: "In her new capacity as Chair, Maria Fernanda's experience and insights as CEO of a successful small business will further reinforce the work we do and help ensure that ICC reaches the whole of the international business community. She has already contributed greatly to ICC's work at the global, regional and national levels, and we are very happy that she will remain a strong champion for ICC and challenge us to push ahead to promote more inclusive growth and prosperity." Effective 14 June 2022 for a two-year term, Ms Garza succeeds Ajay Banga in the role. We take this opportunity to thank Mr Banga for his outstanding leadership of our organisation during the past two years, a particularly challenging and uncertain time for businesses worldwide. Mr Banga will continue to serve on the ICC Executive Board as Honorary Chair. The ICC World Council also elected six new members of the ICC Executive Board for three-year terms, strengthening gender, ethnic and geographical diversity in ICC's leadership. Holger Bingmann, Managing Partner, Bingmann Pflüger International GmbH (Germany) Rebecca Enonchong, CEO, AppsTech and Chair of Afrilabs (Cameroon) Marjorie Yang, Chairwoman, Esquel Group (Hong Kong) Lama Al Sulaiman, Shareholder and a Board Member of Rolaco Holdings, KSA, and LUX (Saudi Arabia) Nicolas Uribe, Chair, Bogota Chamber (Colombia) Justin D’Agostino, CEO, Herbert Smith Freehills (Hong Kong) Fredrik Cappelen, Chair at Dometic and Transcom (Sweden), and Candace Johnson, Vice-Chair at NorthStar Earth and Space (Luxembourg/United States) are starting second terms as members of the ICC Executive Board. The ICC World Council additionally ratifiedthe election of Nicolas Uribe, President of the Bogota Chamber of Commerce and Chair of ICC Colombia, as Chair of the ICC World Chambers Federation. His term begins on 1 July 2022. Source: iccwbo.org

SRCIC Secretary General Diane Bian held a talk with Lum Wan Liang, Consul General of Consulate General of Malaysia in Xi'an and his delegation On April 27, 2022, SRCIC Secretary General Diane Bian held a talk with Lum Wan Liang, Consul General of Consulate General of Malaysia in Xi'an, Loh Kai Yong and Raymond Raman, President and Secretary General of the Xi'an Branch of Malaysian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China (MAYCHAM CHINA). SG Bian first extended welcome to Consul General Lum Wan Liang and his delegation. She pointed out that SRCIC has been committed to building a cooperation platform between governments and enterprises. Despite the suspension of offline activities due to the COVID pandemic, the long-standing cooperation and friendship between SRCIC and its members and partners continues. It is expected that in the post pandemic period, SRCIC and Malaysian Consulate can resume cooperation and share new opportunities for investment and development by co-sponsoring business promotion seminars and other activities. SG Diane Bian and Consul General Lum Wan Liang Although it was only his first visit to SRCIC, Consul General Lum said he had an understanding of it through MAYCHAM CHINA and affirmed SRCIC's achievements since its establishment. Subsequently, he introduced the Consulate General of Malaysia in Xi'an, and said that today's meeting is only a beginning to the many more opportunities to discuss cooperation in depth in the future. The meeting was also attended by Emma Wei, Director of SRCIC Membership Center Section I, Alina Cao, Director of SRCIC Membership Center Section II, and Valentina Wang, Deputy Director of of SRCIC Membership Center Section II.

The national "Two Sessions" for 2022 are ongoing in Beijing. The Shenzhen TV created a special program Two Sessions Through an Foreign Eye, inviting internationally influential figures to comment on China's “Two Sessions” from their perspectives. Recently, Mr. Jean-Guy Carrier, Executive Chairman of the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce and former Secretary General of International Chamber of Commerce, was in for an interview with Zhu Endi, reporter of Shenzhen TV based in Beijing. The transcript of the interview is as follows, Zhu: Our Foreign Minister Wang Yi is holding the annual press conference right now. He mentioned before that it is cooperation that represents the mainstream of the China-US relations. To define the relationship as competition is oversimplification. So how do you think of this? Carrier: I think it's very true because I fervently believe that the world needs more Chinese culture. By that I mean the Chinese way of looking at daily life, and how you deal with living and with developing your economy and so forth, based more on cooperation than on trying to undermine each other or trying to throw tariffs and sanctions at each other. I think all of us in the world will benefit from more of that sort of attitude, being influential in the world. So in that sense, the notion of competition is always going to be there, but I think cooperation is absolutely necessary. Voiceover: Carrier is currently in Switzerland. He observed that when the people of the European continent are worried about a war, China is discussing practical problems faced by the mankind, such as economic development and coping with climate change. Such a sharp contrast made him think. When I follow what Premier Li Keqiang has said and what the People's Congress is discussing, it's such as striking contrast. Because they are talking about vital things for the entire planet like climate change, reducing inequality, the Belt and Road Initiative, and fair development and so forth. And the rest of us are obsessed with a regional war. It is such a striking contrast between that discussion and what is happening here in Europe. Again, it just emphasizes for me the importance of China in the world, and to hear what is being said and what people are thinking in China. Zhu: China has outlined its plan to stabilize domestic economy in this crucial year. So what does it mean to China and to the global economy? Carrier: I think China is becoming an engine for the economy. So we can see that with Covid-19 and all the other kinds of pressures that have been exerted around the world on trade, on investment, on flows within countries etc,. It is perfectly normal for government of China to say we have to pay more attention to our domestic market in this crisis situation. And you know frankly, for the rest of the world, this is also very important. Voiceover: Carrier analyzed that it is realistic and practical for China to set its economic growth target at around 5.5 percent this year given the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainties of global trade and investment. I think there are very obvious reasons. First of all, every economy has suffered because of the Covid-pandemic. China is not immune from that. Also there have been so many disruptions in terms of global trade and investment. Again, everyone suffers from that. So what I find encouraging in the government’s target is I think it is realistic, (which) means to set too high a target at this point would be to try fooling everyone, (making them) thinking the world is in better shape than it is at this moment. Zhu: I noticed that you said the target is realistic and practical. In order to achieve this target, what does China need to do? Carrier: What we are all hoping for is that China will reengage with international community. (It will) in fact promote more trade and investment in the world. We see good signs of this. Chinese company is building the biggest automobile electric battery production facility in Germany. So there are encouraging signs of that sort that Chinese companies are continuing to engage in the world, to invest in the world and to work with business people around the world. And I think that is the key to Chinese development.

A decade on and initiative continues to increase its international trade in food China is seeking to expand agricultural exchanges and trade ties with its partners under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, which a senior official said was aimed at stabilizing the global food supply and promoting sustainable development. This year marks a decade since the initiative was put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Ma Youxiang, a vice-minister of agriculture and rural affairs, said the country is willing to work with BRI participants so that together they can become a hub for global food security and a showcase for sustainable development. "We're glad to work with BRI partners, learn about and respect each other's needs, and work hard to advance food-related cooperation," he said at the Belt and Road Agricultural Cooperation and Development Forum in Beijing on Thursday. Addressing the event's opening ceremony, Ma spoke of the mutual benefits generated through such collaborations since 2013, a period filled with challenges including extreme weather events, pandemic-related disruptions and geopolitical headwinds. He said through BRI programs, many countries have overcome such difficulties, achieved bumper harvests and slashed poverty. The programs helped ease the squeeze that could have otherwise gripped such countries due to turbulent global food prices and supply chain woes. Ma said that over the past decade, China had forged partnerships with more than 90 countries and international organizations and inaugurated 650-plus investment projects worth $14 billion. China's food trade with countries involved in the BRI expanded at an annual rate of 9.9 percent in that time, and has reached over $139 billion. Wheat from Kazakhstan, sesame seeds from Tanzania and honey from Zambia have made it into China's ultra-large market, and in turn, more fruit and vegetables from China are being served on dining tables in those countries, he said. The past decade has also seen a leap in many countries' agricultural know-how. China sent more than 2,000 agricultural technicians to teach the growing techniques for hybrid rice, fungi and many other crops to more than 70 countries. More than 100,000 farmers have received training, and more than 1 million have reaped benefits indirectly. Ma said China is willing to expand its imports of quality food products in the next decade, and supports a more free and convenient trade environment. China has plans to help build overseas food industrial parks and high-tech farming demonstration zones, as well as promote extreme weather-resistant and smart farming technologies, he added. While speaking at the forum, Fu Wanjun, president of the Agricultural Bank of China, one of the forum's organizers, said his bank has established overseas offices in countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, Russia and Tajikistan, so that financial services are readily available to aid agricultural collaborations under the BRI framework. Some $84 billion in food trade has been transacted through the bank since the start of this year, he said. Representatives from developing countries expressed their desire at the forum for more food-related investments, especially from technologically advanced countries like China. Rahamtalla Mohamed Osman, permanent representative of the African Union to China, told the forum that his continent has 65 percent of the world's remaining uncultivated arable land, and at least one-sixth of global plant species, including many food crops of African origin such as wheat, barley, millet, sorghum, teff, coffee, cowpea and oil palm. "What does this mean? This means that we have the potential to feed 9 billion people in the world by 2050, far more than the current world population," he said. With the removal of barriers to agricultural development achieved by new investments, Africa's annual agricultural output could increase from $280 billion to $1 trillion by 2030, he added. Many agricultural projects require large technological, technical and policy expertise, which may come more easily from China compared to Africa's other development partners, especially given China's experience with smallholder farming and successes in rural poverty alleviation, he said. "China also offers new potential market access for African agricultural products." Source: China Daily

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative continues to drive global development, and through it, the country has helped meet the vital needs of developing nations by cooperating with them to build infrastructure and providing them with financial assistance. The strategic cooperation between countries of the developing Global South in general, and African countries in particular, will be further strengthened through the initiative. The perspective that China offers is one that always defends fundamental common values and the common good of humanity. Unlike Western powers, it does not seek hegemony. The BRI aims to build infrastructure, from highways and railways to ports and power plants, to increase connectivity between Asia, Europe and Africa and to promote trade. It is China's vision that, through this initiative, the world might achieve a common destiny for humanity, development and security. The people of the world in general and African people in particular see clearly that this initiative presents a precious opportunity for peace and sustainable global development. Through BRI projects, China has helped build more than 6,000 kilometers of railway, over 6,000 km of highways and more than 80 large power facilities on the African continent. Infrastructure spurs industrialization, starting with the mechanization of agriculture as the first step in African countries' endeavor to transform their resources to create jobs and markets for their people — locally, regionally and at the continental and international levels. Handouts from the same people who sow disunity in Africa will never transform the continent. Only strategic and long-term investments in infrastructure can do so, because it is exactly the lack of modern infrastructure that constitutes the bottleneck to development in Africa. The Belt and Road Initiative is here to remove this bottleneck and open the way for Africa's industrialization. Otherwise, globalization will bypass Africa and the world will advance without Africa, Furthermore, without this, Africa would remain only a provider of raw materials to other people. China's unconditional involvement and massive investments in Africa's infrastructure through the BRI provide a great opportunity not to be missed by Africa in the 21st century. At the same time, China teaches Africans "how to fish instead of giving them a fish". BRI infrastructure projects provide employment opportunities for the people of the world in general and the African people in particular, since with mobility (the free flow of people and goods) comes opportunities. China is the only true African partner that is ready and willing to share its low-cost technology with Africa. Every Chinese investment in Africa is loaded with historical meaning, because China understands African countries well. China's experience can be considered a source of wisdom for Africa, and the Belt and Road Initiative is a blessing in the pursuit of common prosperity. A new era has begun. It is characterized by true multilateralism spearheaded by the Global South under the aegis of China's nonhegemonic leadership, underpinned by the multilateral, broad-based Belt and Road Initiative. Instead of giving sleepless nights to those who continue to display the divisive Cold War mentality or the zero-sum game in international relations, the BRI should be welcomed as a linchpin of win-win cooperation toward the global, common development of mankind. The result will be common prosperity, common security or stability, shared happiness and progress for mankind based on solidarity and win-win cooperation. Global issues such as climate change and the health crisis of COVID-19 remind us that we should endeavor to work together, and consider the particularities of each and every country in terms of their chosen development path, culture and civilization. We fall or we rise together. China sincerely and positively supports the Global South in general, and African countries in particular, and thereby contributes to reducing the gap between developed and developing countries. That is why the majority of Africans are convinced that China is not there to exploit them or, in the rhetoric of the West, to "recolonize" their countries. The author is a professor of international politics and strategies at Joseph Kasa-Vubu University in the Democratic Republic of Congo and a senior visiting research fellow at Peking University's Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Source: China Daily

Premier Li Qiang stressed China's readiness to bolster Belt and Road cooperation and uphold the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in regional affairs during separate meetings with leaders of Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia over the weekend. Li was in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, to attend and address the opening ceremony of the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit on Sunday. In Nanning, he met with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Indonesian Vice-President Ma'ruf Amin on Saturday. He met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday. During the meeting with Sonexay, Li said that China is willing to continue with the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road with Laos and promote the continuous improvement of bilateral cooperation. Both sides should further unleash the potential of the China-Laos Railway in spurring the development of both countries, Li said, adding that China supports Laos in enhancing its domestic development capabilities. The premier expressed China's willingness to import more high-quality Lao products and strengthen people-to-people exchanges to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. He pledged support to Laos as the rotating chair of ASEAN next year, saying that Beijing stands ready to work with Laos to push forward with the building of a community with a shared future between China and ASEAN. Sonexay expressed appreciation for China's support for the socioeconomic growth of Laos, saying that his country firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports Beijing in safeguarding its core interests. During talks with the Vietnamese prime minister, Li said that China stands ready to import more high-quality Vietnamese products that are suitable for the Chinese market, explore the upgrading of border ports and accelerate the construction of smart ports to facilitate trade between the two countries. Li called upon both sides to strengthen cooperation over rail connectivity and key minerals and jointly forge a system of mutually beneficial, stable and unimpeded industrial and supply chains. Both sides should adhere to dialogue and consultation to manage differences and work together firmly to uphold fairness and justice, Li said. Pham Minh Chinh said that Vietnam and China are comrades and brothers, and the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Hanoi and Beijing is Vietnam's oldest, highest-level and most prioritized foreign relationship. Vietnam's development of foreign relations will not harm the interests of third parties, and his country adheres to the one-China principle and supports China's development, he said. While meeting with Indonesian Vice-President Ma'ruf Amin, Li said that Beijing and Jakarta must prioritize cooperation over initiatives including Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor and the "Two Countries, Twin Parks", and seek closer exchanges, and cooperation in education, culture, tourism, youth and sports. China is also willing to strengthen multilateral cooperation with Indonesia, jointly uphold the unity and centrality of ASEAN, and maintain the correct direction of East Asian cooperation, he added. The Indonesian leader expressed readiness to deepen bilateral cooperation in economy, trade and people-to-people exchanges and enhance coordination and mutual support in regional and multilateral affairs. During the talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday, Li highlighted China's readiness to better align development strategies, continue with the high-quality building of Belt and Road and ensure the sound implementation of landmark cooperation projects. Source: China Daily

Ever since its launch 10 years ago, the Belt and Road Initiative has been widely welcomed by the global community as a bridge that supports international cooperation. Yet, there have also been baseless accusations that BRI projects lead to debt traps for its participants. This is merely a misperception, and has damaged the reputation and high-quality development of the program. Boon for all In fact, there have been few serious, research-based proofs that verify the Western narratives. Most of these are a result of the politicization of economic issues by scholars, government officials, think tanks and media outlets from countries such as India, the United States and Australia. For instance, Indian scholar Brahma Chellaney published an article in January 2017 saying that China was pursuing a policy of "debt-trap diplomacy" through the BRI. In the narrative, China was pictured as an insidious lender that ensnares developing countries in unsustainable debt and attempts to take advantage of their military and natural resources when these countries are unable to repay their debts. Such attempts at politicization have been strongly refuted by various parties. Apart from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese scholars, leaders and officials from a slew of BRI participating countries have publicly rebuffed the fallacious claims regarding China's "debt-trap diplomacy". Some US scholars and think tanks have also published reports based on thorough research data to refute these groundless accusations. Deborah Brautigam, a professor of political economy at Johns Hopkins University in the United States, has used the example of Montenegro, Kenya and Zambia, among others, to prove that some Western media outlets had vigorously propagated the debt-trap narrative without supporting evidence. RAND Corp, a renowned US think tank, has also published a research report saying that railway connectivity as a result of the BRI has led to a 2.8 percent increase in exports for countries involved in the initiative. Besides, various studies have shown that transportation infrastructure projects under the BRI have reduced logistics time by an average 1.2 percent to 2.5 percent in the surveyed countries, lowered global trade costs by 1.1 percent to 2.2 percent, and contributed to a global income increase of 0.7 percent to 2.9 percent. These findings are solid proof of the positive economic effects of Chinese investments in recipient countries as a result of the BRI. More opportunities Through extensive research on the so-called "debt-trap diplomacy", we have found that the BRI has led to opportunities and common growth, rather than a trap, for the participating economies, and some unique phenomena have resulted from the initiative. First, some of the political figures who sensationalized the "debt-trap "myth in countries involved in the BRI have eventually opted to strengthen cooperation with China. Quite a few opposition parties in countries involved in the BRI had employed the debt-trap diplomacy rhetoric as a political tool in their election campaigns to challenge political rivals in order to garner votes. However, they have swiftly turned to China for loans and investments once they took power. Second, China has focused on bringing long-term economic benefits to recipients when it invests in countries involved in the BRI. There have been frequent power shifts in many Western countries, where the new governments often fail to honor agreements signed by their predecessors. In contrast, China has been consistently committed to its cooperation agreements with recipient countries, especially those concerning infrastructure investments despite their long payback cycles. For instance, according to Indonesian official estimates, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway built by China at a cost of about $8 billion is projected to generate over $23.1 billion in revenue over the next 40 years. This not only results in returns for both Chinese and Indonesian companies, but deepens economic and trade relations between the two countries. Third, some countries involved in the BRI have actually aimed to repay their debt to Western governments and multilateral financial institutions by borrowing from China to build infrastructure, since infrastructure projects, which account for about 70 percent of BRI projects, can help them develop their economies and accumulate capital. The Western governments and institutions have largely refused to lend to such infrastructure projects given their long payback cycles, but China has helped those countries develop their economies and gain access to higher tax revenues so that they have the money to repay their debts to Western entities and improve domestic livelihoods. Last but not least, the relentless interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve, coupled with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, have posed unprecedented challenges to debt management and governance in countries involved in the BRI. The recent aggressive interest rate hikes by the Fed have pushed countries with substantial US dollar-denominated debts into drastic debt crises. Additionally, the global economy has experienced a widespread downturn due to the nagging impact of the pandemic, resulting in reduced fiscal revenues and increased debt burdens. Publicly available data indicate that China is not their sole or primary creditor and countries involved in the BRI have borrowed from a variety of creditors, including the United States, European countries, Japan, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, among others. According to UK charity Debt Justice, African countries, some of which have participated in the BRI, have 12 percent of their debts borrowed from China, and 35 percent from Western entities, especially private institutions. The interest rate of Chinese loans, on average, is about 2.7 percent, while that of Western creditors is 5 percent. Therefore, rather than accuse China of engaging in "debt trap diplomacy", the Western world should focus more on enhancing the debt management capabilities of these indebted countries, strengthening international negotiations and cooperation in debt governance, and providing comprehensive and systematic solutions for tackling debt crises, so as to help the indebted countries achieve economic recovery and improve their development capabilities. Liang Haiming is dean of the Hainan University Belt and Road Research Institute. Feng Daxuan is honorary dean of the institute. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Source: China Daily

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China 10 years ago, has brought about tangible results and boosted win-win cooperation between China and participating countries, according to numerous ambassadors to China. On Tuesday, ambassadors and diplomats from 18 countries, including Pakistan, Laos, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, visited the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body. They toured an exhibition to learn the history of the CPPCC and China's consultative democracy, and participated in a forum with CPPCC National Committee members to exchange views on the role of consultation in deepening Belt and Road cooperation. Moin ul Haque, Pakistan's ambassador to China, said the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the flagship project of the BRI, has transformed Pakistan's socioeconomic landscape and brought tangible benefits to its people. The BRI, paved with the principles of peaceful coexistence, good neighborliness and win-win cooperation has brought nations together in harmony, transcending differences and working toward shared prosperity, he said. Khamphao Ernthavanh, Lao ambassador to China, said the BRI has created the chance for the improvement of transportation, infrastructure and technical systems, which are crucial for the socioeconomic development of small countries. "We strongly believe that the BRI will bring more opportunities for the participating countries around the world," she said, adding that the China-Laos Railway that opened in 2021 is a landmark high-quality Belt and Road cooperation project that boosts the development of Laos. Farhod Arziev, ambassador of Uzbekistan to China, said that the BRI is playing an important role for many countries, including Uzbekistan, in driving partners to flourish in extended areas such as health, environment and culture. Wang Dongfeng, vice-chairman and secretary-general of the CPPCC National Committee, said China will always adhere to the policy of good neighborliness and partnership with neighboring countries. He said China will continue to work hand in hand with neighboring countries to jointly discuss, build and share in the Belt and Road Initiative, making new contributions to common development, prosperity and the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. Source: China Daily

The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith for China's Africa policy. It also marks the 60th anniversary of China's medical aid to African countries. Africa faces long-standing medical and health challenges. Due to multiple factors such as poverty, inadequate infrastructure and a shortage of human resources, Africa is one of the regions in the world suffering from grim medical and health conditions. Africa has not yet established a well-structured public health prevention and control system and medical service system that can respond timely and run efficiently. For example, in 2021, it was estimated that there were 247 million cases of malaria globally, with approximately 95% occurring in Africa. Four African countries accounted for over half of all malaria deaths worldwide: Nigeria (31.3%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12.6%), United Republic of Tanzania (4.1%) and Niger (3.9%). Africa also bears 23% of the world's tuberculosis burden, with over 500 cases per 100,000 people in countries such as the Central African Republic, Gabon and Lesotho. Furthermore, various tropical diseases pose threats to Africa, including Lassa fever, dengue fever, river blindness (onchocerciasis), schistosomiasis, trypanosomiasis and leprosy to name a few. While these infectious diseases have been largely eliminated in developed countries, they still prevail in African nations. According to the WHO, Africa bears over 25% of the global disease burden, is home to only 3% of the global health workforce and spends less than 1% of the world's financial resources on health, making it the region with the highest disease burden in the world. Our world today is living through accelerating changes unseen in a century. Global macroeconomic imbalances have been exacerbated, and the North-South divide is widening even further. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic has eroded the gains of the last decade in global development and dealt a heavy blow to developing countries. African countries face the following situations and challenges: On one hand, the pandemic has plunged African economies into the most severe recession in fifty years. Although there has been a rebound, the recovery is still relatively slow, and governments are burdened with increasing debt. As a result, many African countries have reduced their domestic health budget, relying heavily on external health assistance funds. On the other hand, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa also faced epidemics including monkeypox, Ebola, plague, yellow fever and Lassa fever. The continent has also long been burdened by diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, which have continued to threaten its population and pose even greater challenges. For example, according to a report by the WHO, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a 4.3% decrease in malaria case detection rate in Africa, with a 13% increase in malaria deaths in sub-Saharan African countries. This has further widened the global health development gap and seriously hindered the implementation of the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2022 annual report released by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation states that "nearly every indicator of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is off track at the halfway point for achieving them by 2030". A report released by the WHO in May this year points out that "the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on global health contributes to the ongoing decline in progress towards the SDGs". China has always been a staunch supporter and important partner for Africa's development and medical and health cooperation is a shining name card of China-Africa cooperation. Since 1963, China has been constantly dispatching medical teams to Africa. Currently, nearly 1,000 medical personnel from 46 medical teams have treated over 230 million local patients at 100 sites in 45 African countries. Since 2015, China has established twinning relations with 46 hospitals in 41 African countries, aiming to train local medical specialists and enhance specialized medical services. In addition, China has dispatched short-term medical expert groups to over 40 African countries to provide free clinic service. It has also launched maternal and child health demonstration projects relying on Chinese medical teams and China-aided hospitals, and assisted African countries in upgrading modern medical and healthcare infrastructure. In the field of public health, China actively helps African countries respond to various infectious diseases and major public health crises. Especially since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, China and Africa have continued to provide mutual support, setting a fine example for international cooperation against COVID-19. Overall, China's health assistance to and cooperation with African countries mainly focus on promoting the provision of medical services, engaging in health workforce cooperation and improving access to essential medicines. However, there is relatively less cooperation in providing health financing, strengthening health information systems and enhancing the capacity-building of partner countries in health governance. In light of the new situations and challenges faced by African countries and the WHO's definition of healthcare systems, China and Africa can deepen and expand their cooperation in the following areas to make new contributions to the building of a China-Africa community of health for all. First, deepen cooperation in public health systems between China and Africa. This can be achieved through participating in the construction of the Africa CDC, supporting the African Union (AU) and individual African countries in establishing robust mechanisms for major epidemic prevention and control, and public health emergency management systems. Additionally, China and Africa should coordinate and integrate relevant medical assistance resources, conduct joint research on the prevention and control of major infectious diseases in Africa, implement relevant prevention and control plans, and effectively improve the overall health of the population in the region. Secondly, promote the sharing and coordinating of health information between China and Africa. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for health informationization in developing countries, and the rapid development of communication networks in Africa in recent years has made the above mentioned cooperation possible. China can provide appropriate products, technologies and services to meet the real needs of Africa. By employing mobile health, telehealth and other methods, we can move diagnosis, treatment and other offline activities online; bring high-quality medical resources to the grassroots level; and effectively improve primary healthcare in Africa. Thirdly, expand partnerships and enhance global discourse power. It is suggested to strengthen practical trilateral and multilateral cooperation with international organizations, international development partners, and domestic civil society organizations, leveraging more international resources to support South-South health cooperation. At the same time, China and Africa should fully utilize multilateral mechanisms and platforms to contribute their wisdom and experience to the setting of relevant global health agendas, formulation of rules and establishment of technical standards, thus enhancing the global discourse power of both sides. The author is an assistant research fellow with Institute of West-Asian and African Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily. Source: China Daily

Editor's note:Daryl Guppy, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an international financial technical analysis expert. He has provided weekly Shanghai Index analyses for mainland Chinese media for more than a decade. Guppy appears regularly on CNBC Asia and is known as "The Chart Man." He is a former national board member of the Australia China Business Council. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN. The 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Nanning are two of the most significant events in the ASEAN region. It is more than just a trade expo with the usual fascinating array of goods and products on display. These are important, but it's the dialogues and meetings that deliver the full significance of CAEXPO because they provide a strategic guide to regional policy development. In 2014, I was invited to speak in the first Australian partner participation in CAEXPO. I got to know the outline of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and how this meshed with what is now the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It was the first time the concept had been explained fully to an international audience and the impact was significant. It set the parameters for business engagement and development in the following decade and more. This year's CAEXPO has continued that tradition of policy commitments with the opening ceremony speech by Chinese Premier Li Qiang. He emphasized the significance of building a closer China-ASEAN community. These remarks followed the recent ASEAN meeting in Jakarta where the issue of ASEAN centrality in regional decision making was a major point of discussion. Li acknowledged ASEAN centrality in the process of forging smooth China-ASEAN relationships. This is another important indication of China's desire to work within existing regional trade structures of which CAEXPO is a practical example. This is a direct counter to the approach taken by the United States which seeks to undermine ASEAN centrality in regional decision making by turning organizations like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) into a geopolitical platform. Echoing decade-old remarks, Li placed ASEAN countries at the intersection of the "Belt and Road" on both land and sea. They reflected the historical connections of China trade from the ancient land-based Tea Horse Road and the maritime trade centers in the Straits of Malacca. His remarks provided a clear indication of the vitality and growth of the BRI. This came as a shock to Western observers who have been led to believe that the BRI is a spent force. Nothing could be further from the truth as the multi-faceted BRI continues to expand its engagement with ASEAN in many key areas. The BRI is not just about physical infrastructure. It includes capital infrastructure investment to connect Chinese and ASEAN financial markets. It includes trade and soft infrastructure co-ordination to make cross border trade and settlement more efficient. The establishment of common digital standards across ASEAN is an essential foundation for progress in these areas. Consistent with the objectives of the BRI and ASEAN, the expo has a strong emphasis on the digital economy and green economy. The theme of the expo particularly supports businesses operating in emerging sectors of new information technology and new energy. CAEXPO shows that China is committed to expanding cooperation in culture, tourism, training, and youth exchange because these foster mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the region. The success of the expo in terms of the number and variety of participants, shows that China is a growing economy determined to continue its engagement with the region. On one level, CAEXPO provides an important platform for exhibitors to highlight products and services available within the region and which form the foundation of trade relationships.Many are the traditional products of trade, but they also include the breakthroughs seen with the Huawei Mate60 built on China developed chip technology. One feature overlooked in the colourful displays of ethnic dress and custom is that CAEXPO is held in Nanning, the capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. This is just one of five Autonomous regions in China, a factor rarely recognized in Western media coverage which paints China as a monolithic state. These regions illustrate the cooperative pathway that is an essential part of prosperity in the ASEAN region. On another level, CAEXPO provides the political and strategic framework that underpins the broad improvement of trade relationships, peace and prosperity within the region. Premier Li's remarks confirmed China's commitment to regional prosperity and cooperation within the ASEAN framework. Source: CGTN

The picture shows Chinese Premier Li Qiang (center) taking a group photo with Amb. Francis Chua (fifth from left, front row) and well-known ASEAN entrepreneurs. Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry News:Ambassador Francis Chua, Permanent Honorary Chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Founding Chairman of the Philippine International Chamber of Commerce and Founding Chairman of the Philippine Silk Road International Chamber of Commerce as well as the SRCIC Vice Chairman, at the invitation of the host, Ministry of Commerce of China, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the Government of Guangxi Autonomous Region and Guangxi Council for the Promotion of International Trade, on September 15, went to Nanning, Guangxi Province to attend the 20th China-Asean Expo and China-Asean Business and Investment Summit, and as the only representative guest of the Philippines, met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and took photos with well-known ASEAN entrepreneurs, and attended the State banquet. The theme of this East Expo is "Building a home with harmony and Coexistence, Sharing the Future with Destiny - Promoting high-quality Development of the Belt and Road and Building an Economic Growth Center", during which the side meeting on the theme of "Institutional Opening: At "New Pattern of Regional Economic Development" will be held the first time. Representatives from ASEAN countries will have in-depth discussions and exchanges on the steady expansion of institutional openness of rules, regulations, management and standards in the region. At the same time, activities such as the "Year of Investing in China - Entering Guangxi" special event and the "Face to Face with the Business Counsellors of Chinese Missions in 10 ASEAN countries" exchange meeting will also be held to showcase China's investment opportunities, build a platform for multinational companies to understand China and invest in China, and convey to the world China's confidence and determination to unswervingly promote a high level of opening-up. This East Expo will focus on China-Asean Free Trade Area 3.0, RCEP, the "Belt and Road" and other multilateral and bilateral cooperation mechanisms, continue to hold the third RCEP Summit Forum and other institutional activities, issued the "China-Asean Free Trade Area 3.0 Business Opportunities Outlook" blue book, guide regional enterprises to better grasp the new economic and trade rules, better share the RCEP high-quality implementation of the new dividends. Writer/Picture:Pol Ongkinglok Linguister/Editor:Stephanie Tan

Qinghai's Achievements in Practicing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era,cohosted by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and the CPC Qinghai Provincial Committee, was held in Xining,Qinghai Provinceon September12. The theme of the event was Chinese Modernization: Harmony Between Humanity and Nature.Over 150 political party leaders or representatives from nearly 30 countries attended the event in person and online. Mr. Mohammad Omer,the SRCIC member andDirector of the China-Africa Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization,was invited to the event. Mr. Omer expressed his appreciation and thanks to the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and the CPC Qinghai Provincial Committee for co-hosting this important event. He underlined how the world can learn from Qinghai's experience of Chinese Modernization in the New Era. Andpointed out that this eventrelates well to the Global Development Initiative proposed by H.E. President Xi and where China-Africa Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization signed its Declaration. In conclusion, Mr. Omer said that Qinghai's success on achieving harmony between mankind and nature contributes to the realization of the Green Silk Road and Building Jointly an Ecological Community of Shared Future for Mankind.

By Adnan Akfirat,Chairman of the Turkish-Chinese Business Development and Friendship Association Can there be a port at the farthest distance from the sea? I went to the Horgos Free Economic Zone, known as the world's largest dry port, which is crossed by both road and rail and will soon have air service. I have seen it, I am writing about it! AT THE INACCESSIBILITY POLE OF EURASIA The Horgos Free Trade Economic (FEZ), a joint creation of both countries on the China-Kazakhstan border, lies at the foot of what is known as the Eurasian Pole of Inaccessibility. The Pole of Inaccessibility is a geographical term. It refers to the geographical region on a continent farthest from the seas. This is the ingenuity of the Asian Century: Eurasia's Pole of Inaccessibility is now the crossroads of transcontinental transportation and manufacturing. Horgos FEZ, in the north of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on the China-Kazakhstan border, is at the very heart of Asia. And it serves as the heart of trade not only to Asia but also to three continents, including Europe and Africa. Asia and Europe's products pass Horgos by road and rail to reach their destinations. Products arriving by sea are also transported by land and rail to the ends of Asia via Horgos. Cargo containers that arrive at Horgos FEZ in 5 days by rail from the port city of Lianyungang in eastern China can reach the city of Duisburg in northwestern Germany in 10 days. This connection route, which is 3 times faster than sea transportation and half the cost of air transportation, offers an alternative to investors in terms of time and cost. Goods purchased from Horgos FEZ can be freely shipped to CIS countries without any additional customs inspection or tax. HERODOTUS' LEGEND COMES TRUE! Horgos is a historical gateway. It has long been called the Dzungarian Gate (or Altai Pass). It is the only pass through the 4,800-kilometer mountain wall stretching from Manchuria to Afghanistan. It is a convenient natural gateway for riders on horseback between the western Eurasian steppes and the lands further east. It has also been noted for its fierce and almost constant winds. In his "Histories", Herodotus quotes travelers' reports of a country in the northeast where men with the bodies of lions and the wings of eagles guarded the gold and the North Wind came out of a mountain cave. Hyperborea, a term meaning beyond the point where Boreas, the god of the North Wind, breathed his breath, is the name of a mythical land in Greek Mythology beyond the North Wind, where the sun never fails to shine, the trees are always full of fruit and the meadows are always green. Some scholars argue that there is a connection between the Dzungarian Gate and the home of Boreas, the creator of the North Wind in Greek mythology. Because this gate is at the foot of the Altai Mountains, named after the Golden Mountain. Horgos have replaced the house of Boreas! BREAKING NEW GROUND IN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION The Horgos FEZ is intended to be a game-changing catalyst for international cooperation and trade. Officially called the International Center for Border Cooperation (ICBC), the five-square-kilometer Free Economic Zone is located in the middle of the Saryesik-Atyrau desert, 670 kilometers west of Urumqi and 380 kilometers east of Almaty. Horgos, in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture of China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, means "the place where camel caravans pass" in Mongolian and "the place where wealth accumulates" in Kazakh. The new city of Horgos on the Chinese side, the size of New York City, is like an oasis in the desert. On the Kazakh side, the developing Horgos-East Gate Special Economic Zone is recovering rapidly after the pandemic. Many of the China-Europe rail lines pass through here. Horgos is also the crossroads of the Western Europe-Western China Highway from the Yellow Sea to the Baltic. It is a successful implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, a massive economic cooperation-trade network of interconnected land and sea ports, special economic zones, new cities, and free trade zones in which 134 countries in Eurasia, Africa, and South America are actively participating. Horgos is positioned as a gateway for international trade linking east and west and a bridgehead for the opening of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the west. It is the world's first cross-border international free economic zone and China's first special economic zone "inside the country but outside the jurisdiction of customs". Moreover, with the facilities provided by the Chinese central government and the strong interest of the Uyghur Autonomous Region, the Horgos Local Government offers very attractive investment incentives for setting up manufacturing facilities. The incentives offered by both China and Kazakhstan for Horgos FEZ to become a production base deserve the attention of investors. THE BRIGHT ROAD OF KAZAKHSTAN When it first opened in December 2011, the Khorgos FEZ was heralded as a cornerstone of China-Kazakhstan bilateral relations and a prime example of Kazakhstan's broader "Nurlu Yol" plan to diversify its economy beyond energy exports. Presented in promotional materials as "a huge new city of the future where two civilizations intersect," Horgos FEZ is envisioned as a multicultural economic crossroads where Central Asian Turks, Russians, and Chinese can come together to buy each other's goods, eat each other's cuisine and consume each other's entertainment and culture. A new city is being built on the Kazakhstan side of the Horgos FEZ. Nurkent is expected to be home to 100,000 people. The first zone is 90% complete. It was announced that the entire development and construction of Nurkent City Phase One will be completed in September 2023. It is planned to be fully completed by 2035. Nurkent is seen as a vehicle to help resettle workers at the Khorgos-East Gate, the largest transportation and logistics hub in the Belt and Road Initiative. These workers will be retrained as a permanent source of labor for the Horgos FEZ, which is already a major trade hub between Kazakhstan and China and is developing into a favored manufacturing zone. HUGE WORK IN LESS TIME The Chinese side of Horgos consists of five giant four-story wholesale markets. They are located side by side in blocks, with wide sidewalks and roads between them. No personal vehicles are allowed within the area, and public golf carts and vans transport customers from the shopping complex to the shopping complex. New wholesale markets continue to be added, while unfinished construction projects take up much of the land. Like Chinese wholesale markets, the inside of the malls is made up of hundreds of small shops and booths rented by individual vendors. Most of the buildings, floors, and corridors are organized by product type. Vendors call out to you as you walk through aisles filled with huge waist-high piles of goods. But it is important to remember that this is not just a new free trade zone, but an entirely new economy being created. ICBC is just one part of a multi-pronged development initiative to build an entirely new trade, manufacturing, and logistics zone where none existed before. The adjacent Horgos special economic zone is estimated to attract 30,000 workers and their families, while the city of Horgos is being built for 200,000 people. Such large-scale development anywhere takes decades, not just years. China did it in 10 years. TUCEM OPENS TURKISH BRANDS TO CHINA FROM HORGOS At the invitation of Mr. Ma Fuming, President of Horgos International Chamber of Commerce, we as the Turkish-Chinese Business Matching Center delegation Mr, Serdar Kulu, Director of TUCEM Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and I spent four full days in Horgos between April 26-30. Mr. Rutkay Çakırkaya, the owner of Balizza, one of Turkey's leading women's clothing brands, joined us coming from through Kazakhstan. We were received by Mr. Hao Jianmin, the CCP Secretary of Horgos. The Uyghur, Kazakh, Hui, and Han officials of the Horgos Local Government mobilized with sincere interest to provide the best service. Here is our good news: On August 12-14, we are organizing a special exhibition and fashion show with Turkish clothing brands in Horgos International Free Economic Zone. Hao Jianmin, Secretary of Horgos CPC, has committed to bringing a delegation of 1000 buyers, including all major garment buyers from the eastern region of China. Turkey is organizing the first international event of Horgos FEZ in a magnificent venue built in the shape of a Chinese Palace. We will continue to report good news from Horgos!

I have been in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, for a week. It snowed two days long, but now spring is in full bloom. It is invigorating with a blue sky that is rarely seen in Shanghai and fresh clean air. During the holy month of Ramadan, we are in a society that fulfills the obligations of Islam. There is peace and respect for faith. I will follow the proverb attributed to the great traveler, scholar, and linguist Evliya Çelebi (1): “Keep what you eat and drink and tell what you see”. The biggest economicdevelopment in progress According to the 2023 Program of the Government of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, the Region will achieve the fastest economic development in its history in the next five years. The government program, presented by Autonomous Region Chairman Erkin Tuniyaz at the opening session of the 14th People's Assembly of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region on January 16, 2023, makes this claim. Erkin Tuniyaz stated that the plan is to exceed China’s national average in all economic indicators over the next five years and announced a GDP growth target of 7 percent for 2023. The link to grasp: opening up! In politics, there is a concept called the “ring to grasp”. It is used to refer to the step that, how you tackle and solve a set of problems that come your way, this paves the way for the solution of other problems. In the Uyghur Autonomous Region's “economic boom”, opening up to the outside world has been identified as the “Ring to Grasp”. Xinjiang CPC Secretary Ma Xingrui's experience as the governor of Shenzhen city and Guangdong province played a major role in this change. Prof. Ma Xingrui, one of China’s renowned rocket scientists, was elected to the Political Bureau of the Central Committee at the 20th Congress of the CPC. He is currently ranked 8th in the CPC hierarchy. Ma Xingrui, who became the Party secretary of the Uyghur Autonomous Region in December 2021 with the great support of the Xi Jinping administration, brought a breath of fresh air to Xinjiang, which we covered in our article titled “More Socialism, Happier Uyghurs” dated June 10, 2022, at Aydinlik Daily in Turkish. Ma Xingrui is prioritizing a high level of opening up to make Xinjiang a core region of the “Silk Road Economic Belt”, one of the two main pillars of the Belt and Road Initiative. Neighboring 8 countries, the region is making an intensive effort to mobilize the opportunities of its geographical location. Erkin Tuniyaz announced the full resumption of all services at the Uyghur Autonomous Region's 13 land ports at the beginning of the year. In an interview with CGTN, Kaiser Abdulkerim, Vice President of the Autonomous Region, explains how they will achieve 7 percent growth: “We will vigorously promote the economic vitality of various market actors; we will create an efficient and good business environment for state-owned enterprises to be bold, private enterprises to be daring, and foreign enterprises to be eager to invest. In the future, we will promote the modernization of agriculture, and support the stable production and quality improvement of the cotton industry. We are very excited to welcome visitors from all over the world. This is a multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society and a place where different civilizations live together. In the coming days, we will utilize these advantages to launch the ‘Xinjiang Tourism Development’ initiative.” Ma Xingrui's first trip abroad On Monday, March 27, Ma Xingrui led a large Sichuan government delegation on an official visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Ma Xingrui is said to have assumed central responsibility for China's opening to the West. CPC secretaries of provinces and autonomous regions rarely travel abroad. Ma Xingrui was received at the highest level in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. In Astana, he met with President Kassym Jomart Tokayev and Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, and in Tashkent with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and in Bishkek with KyrgyzPresident Sadyr Japarov. President Tokayev said Kazakhstan wants to deepen cooperation with China on the basis of strategic partnership and eternal friendship. “We are ready to work with our Chinese colleagues to increase trade volume to $35 billion by 2030,” Prime Minister Smailov said. Smailov and Ma also discussed measures to eliminate bottlenecks at the border. Green corridors have already been opened at two of the five checkpoints. Ismailov also raised the issue of speeding up visa processing for Kazakh trucks entering China. Ma Xingrui said, “As a region of China, we are responsible for the country’s ties with the West. We see Kazakhstan as a top priority area of cooperation. In general, China’s cooperation with Kazakhstan is carried out through Xinjiang.” On November 29, during his visit to Uzbekistan, it was announced that they discussed the implementation of joint projects in the field of renewable energy, the development of transport infrastructure, the creation of industrial parks and agricultural clusters in Uzbekistan with the participation of leading Chinese companies. Mutual interest in accelerating the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China railway construction project was emphasized. President Mirziyoyev's office said in a statement: “It is with deep satisfaction that we note the fruitful results of the historic summit held in Samarkand in September last year, which marked the beginning of a new era in Uzbek-Chinese comprehensive strategic partnership relations.” It said. Ma Xingrui said the purpose of his visit was “to build a bridge of friendship and cooperation between the north and south of the Tienshan and to enable Xinjiang to contribute to writing a new page of friendship between China and Uzbekistan.” KyrgyzPresident Sadyr Japarov, touching upon China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway construction projectnoted that itwould contribute tothe deepening oftrade and economic cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and XUAR, and would also have amultiplicative effect onthe development ofother sectors ofthe economy. Inparticular, the parties signed memorandums ofintent toexport electricity toChina and build a500-kilovolt power transmission line Kyrgyzstan-China and small hydropower plants in Bishkek. Xinjiang really opens to the west with Türkiye The biggest longing of Uyghurs living in the region is access to Turkish goods. The demand for closer economic cooperation with Türkiye has also been the aspiration of the Autonomous Region's administration, which has made “opening up Xinjiang to the west” a top priority. During our meeting in Urumqi on July 5 last year, Ma Xingrui expressed this desire very strongly and invited us to play a role in developing relations with Türkiye. Indeed, on Tuesday, March 28, we met with a large government delegation led by Xing Tao, the head of the Trade Administration of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Xinjiang officials responded positively to all of our requests, reflecting the will of Ma Xingrui. As TUCEM Turkish-Chinese Business Matching Center, we will organize a special fair and fashion show with the participation of 50 Turkish and European clothing brands in the Khorgos International Free Zone, which is located on the China-Kazakhstan border and has the title of “the world’s largest land port” on July 5-9. The Khorgos International Chamber of Commerce hosts this event. The President of the Chamber of Commerce, Ma Fuming, is a Hui Muslim. We negotiated and signed the agreement for the Special Fair and Fashion Show during two iftar meals in our honor. Again, we undertook the Turkish representation of the “Eurasia Commodity and Trade Fair” and “The Tienshan International Shopping Festival” to be held on August 17-21. We will organize the Turkish fashion show in Urumqi as well, and we will create a wind of modern clothing and lifestyle. In addition, we will serve Türkiye’s leading food, cosmetics, and daily use items to reach 1 billion 400 million Chinese consumers through the Xinjiang market. The Deputy Secretary of the China-Eurasia Expo is an Uyghur: Ms. Mihrigul Tursun. We also have good news: We have started working to transform a 60 thousand square meter shopping center in Urumqi into an “imported products duty-free sales center”. Xinjiang government invites Turkish merchants and investors There have been no terrorist incidents in the region for the last 6 years. Relations between ethnic groups in the region are being repaired. Uyghur villagers are being taught Chinese, while Han-based administrators are learning Uyghur. Uighurs have been liberated and relieved from the oppression and terror of religious bigotry in previous years. The impact of Ma Xingru's top priority, “establishing a rule by law”, is felt by ordinary people. An extraordinary effort is being made to “make sure that what happens in Shanghai, what happens in Beijing, happens in Xinjiang”. Xing Tao, head of the Xinjiang Commerce Administration, said, “We invite Turkish merchants and investors to the Uyghur Autonomous Region. We will give them incentives as long as they develop the economy,” he emphasized. Turkish business people are smart and entrepreneurial. They will not leave this strong call from the heart of Asia unanswered. Those who want to earn money will do business in the Uyghur Region. Adnan Akfirat is a Representative to China and Member of International Relations Bureau of Patriotic Party of Turkey; Chairman of Turkish-Chinese Business Development and Friendship Association (Turk-Cin Is Der); visitor researcher of Shanghai University Turkish Studies Center and Shihezi University Silk Road Research Center. Mr. Akfirat has been living in Shanghai since 2011. Source:unitedworldint.com

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sughd province and the Executive Office of Sughd Provinces of the Republic of Tajikistan in cooperation with development partners are conducting the traditional IX-International Trade Fair "Sughd-2023" in Khujand, Sughd province on 22-24 June 2023. The key objective of the Trade Fair is to strengthen long-term trade and partnership links between the business community of Tajikistan with trade companies, potential consumers, investors and businesses from abroad through establishing a platform aimed at demonstrating the potential and possibilities of Sughd province along with the best practices of other countries. Based on the results of the Ⅷ-International Trade Fair "Sughd-2022", which was held in June 2022, it can be noted that this event has already become recognizable among the business circles of the republic and abroad. The exhibition presented products of more than 200 companies from different regions of the Republic of Tajikistan and was attended by entrepreneurs from near and far abroad interested in expanding trade relations. As a result of the Sughd-2022 exhibition held in Khujand, more than 60 contracts, memorandums and agreements were signed. The upcoming IX-International Trade Fair "Sughd-2023" provides new opportunities for expanding and implementing your business through the exchange of professional experience and the presentation of modern and investment projects. In general, the Sughd-2023 International Trade Fair promises to become a place where, in a businesslike and comfortable atmosphere, it will be possible to discuss the terms of cooperation, conclude profitable contracts and meet with potential partners and suppliers. Given the above, it is a great honor for us to invite you and the business community of your region to take part in the IX - International Trade Fair "Sughd-2023". Contact:Ganjina Bakhtiyorovna Tel: (+992) 92754 2421 E-mail: info@tpp-sugd.tj; tpp-tj@bk.ru