UNGA　XI’S PROPOSALS FOR UN’S DEVELOPMENT

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN via video link in Beijing on September 21. (JU PENG/XINHUA)

Chinese President Xi Jinping shared his thoughts on the development of the United Nations (UN) in the post-COVID era at a high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN on September 21.

Xi praised the UN’s work across 75 years, saying that the organization traveled an extraordinary journey. He noted that those 75 years witnessed dramatic progress in human society and profound changes in the international situation, as a period of rapid development of multilateralism.

Xi said China firmly defends the central role of the UN in international affairs. China firmly upholds the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, he added.

Stressing that the UN must stand firm for justice, Xi said no country has the right to dominate global affairs, control the destiny of others, or hoard development advantages. “No nation should be allowed to do whatever it likes and control the world, act like a bully, or be the boss,” Xi said.

He called it imperative to have the representation and voice of developing countries be increased so the UN can become more balanced in reflecting the interests and wishes of the majority of countries in the world.

Stressing that the UN must uphold rule of law, Xi said relations among countries and coordination of their interests must be based only on rules and institutions.

“There must be no practice of exceptionalism or double standards,” Xi said. “Nor should international law be distorted and used as a pretext to undermine other countries’ legitimate rights and interests or world peace and stability.”

The Chinese president said the UN must promote cooperation, noting that “Cold War mentality, ideological lines or zero-sum game are no solution to a country’s own problems, still less an answer to mankind’s common challenges.”

The Chinese president also called for the UN to focus on real action. “To practice the principle of multilateralism, we must act, not just talk,” he said. “We must produce a cure, not just therapy.”

He said particular priority should be given to non-traditional security challenges such as public health.

“Let us renew our firm commitment to multilateralism and work to promote a community with a shared future for mankind,” Xi said before concluding his remarks.

OFFICIAL TALKS　SENIOR CPC OFFICIAL HOLDS TALKS WITH MYANMAR

Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, held talks with Myanmar Minister of Information Pe Myint via video link on September 23.

Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic ties, Huang, also head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, called for building a China-Myanmar community with a shared future by implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

Huang urged the two departments to deepen sharing of governance experience and strengthen cooperation in the fields of publicity and culture.

Pe Myint expressed Myanmar’s readiness to draw on China’s experience in development and governance and promote better development of bilateral relations.

Huang Kunming (center), a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, holds talks from Beijing with Myanmar Minister of Information Pe Myint via video link on September 23. (SHEN HONG/XINHUA)

BRI　LAST MAJOR TUNNEL OF CHINA-LAOS RAILWAY BREAKS THROUGH

The Kunming Branch of China Railway No. 8 Engineering Group (CREC-8 Kunming Branch) completed drilling the 9,000-meter Ban Phoukeu Tunnel, the last major tunnel of the China-Laos Railway, on September 22.

The breakthrough marked an important milestone of construction of the cross-border railway and laid a solid foundation for timely completion of the mega project.

The tunnel in Muang Nga of Oudomxay Province, about 400 kilometers north of the Lao capital Vientiane, is located on the geological suture zone. The tunnel crosses seven faults with extremely complicated geological conditions, which brought difficulties and risks to construction.

The CREC-8 project management fully implemented the COVID-19 prevention and control policies promulgated by the Chinese and Lao governments as well as corporate overseas epidemic prevention requirements, handled both epidemic prevention and construction at the same time, and spared no effort to overcome shortages of personnel and material supplies.

The China-Laos Railway is a strategic docking project between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Laos’ strategy to convert from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub. The project started in December 2016 and is scheduled to be completed and operational by December 2021.

Workers at the construction site of the Ban Phoukeu Tunnel in Muang Nga of Oudomxay Province, Laos, on September 21. (PAN LONGZHU/XINHUA)

Lao girls in traditional festive dresses pose for photos at the breakthrough ceremony of the Ban Phoukeu Tunnel held at the tunnel exit in Muang Nga of Oudomxay Province, Laos, on September 22. (KAIKEO SAIYASANE/XINHUA)

MEDIA DIALOGUE　DIALOGUE UNITES MEDIA FROM CHINA, SOUTH KOREA

The 12th China-South Korea Media High-level Dialogue was held online in Beijing and Seoul simultaneously on September 25.

Representatives from almost 30 mainstream media outlets from China and the Republic of Korea attended the event and conducted discussions on topics including cooperation in the pandemic era.

Xu Lin, minister of China’s State Council Information Office, urged media professionals from the two countries to play an active role in covering the innovative cooperation between China and South Korea in fields including health, medical treatment, intelligent manufacturing, big data, and 5G.

Noting special importance against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, he called on media professionals to look closer at the joint efforts by the two countries to fight the virus to boost mutual understanding and deepen mutual trust.

Park Yang-woo, South Korean minister of culture, sports and tourism, said that “contact-free” culture has spread around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic and is changing lives.

The forum was held online this year in response to the change. It proved that exchange between media insiders of South Korea and China could be conducted in any circumstances, he said. He also expressed hope that media professionals of the two countries would continue to transcend limitations of time and space to meet and communicate frequently.

The forum was held jointly by China International Publishing Group and the 21st Century ROK-China Exchange Association in South Korea.

Established in 2009, the China-South Korea Media High-level Dialogue aims to boost mutual trust and cooperation between media of the two sides. The countries normally take turns hosting the annual forum.

The event venue in Beijing for the 12th China-South Korea Media High-level Dialogue. (LIU RONG)

FORUM　ONLINE FORUM BOOSTS CHINA-MALAYSIA COOPERATION

A China-Malaysia Digital Cultural Tourism Industry Forum was held online on September 24 with participants from both countries on digital cooperation in cultural tourism to boost understanding among the two peoples, especially youth.

The forum was organized by the China Culture and Entertainment Industry Association and themed “New Youth and New Technologies Helping the Innovation and Development of China-Malaysia Digital Cultural Tourism Industry.”

“The young people of Malaysia and China are full of energy and optimism and actively contributing to the promotion of friendship and industrial cooperation between our two countries,” said Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia, in her video speech.

Chinese Ambassador Bai Tian told the forum that exchange between China and Malaysia never stopped even when personnel exchange between the two countries halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak opened opportunities for the cultural tourism industry in both countries to explore new avenues of cooperation.

The forum was part of a series of Digital Cultural Tourism events held from September 24 to 30 including cloud exhibitions, a youth online salon, and e-sport competition, among other activities aiming to strengthen friendship and understanding among youths of the two countries as well as bilateral digital and cultural cooperation.

EXCHANGE WEEK　ASEAN-CHINA BELT AND ROAD CULTURE AND TOURISM EXCHANGE WEEK

The 2020 ASEAN-China Belt and Road Culture and Tourism Exchange Week kicked off in Guiyang, capital of southwest China’s Guizhou Province, on September 17.

This year’s exchange week was held both online and offline, with 213 exhibitors presenting products through cultural performances, tourism promotions, and offline sales activities until September 20. Customers can still choose online from thousands of products exhibited by 350 companies until the end of December.

The offline exhibition hall covered an area of 25,000 square meters with themes on government agencies and international organizations, big data intelligent technology and trade, culture and tourism, and leading companies in Guizhou.

This year’s exchange week is expected to boost the high-quality development of Guiyang in big data and increase cooperation with other countries.

Opening ceremony of the 2020 ASEAN-China Belt and Road Culture and Tourism Exchange Week is held in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, on September 17.

BRI　FIRST ENGINE DRIVERS OF THAI MONORAIL ARRIVE FROM CHINA

Engine drivers for two monorail train lines in Bangkok arrived from China at Laem Chabang port in Thailand’s eastern province of Chon Buri, Thailand’s Ministry of Transport reported on October 1.

The engine drivers were manufactured in China by Puzhen Bombardier Transportation Systems (PBTS), a joint venture between Canada’s Bombardier Transportation and China Railway Rolling Stock Corp (CRRC).

The engine drivers will be used on the 34.5-km Pink Line and 30.4-km Yellow Line, the former running between Khae Rai in Nonthaburi (adjacent to Bangkok) and Bangkok’s eastern Min Buri district, and the latter between Lat Phrao area and Samrong in Samut Prakan, both in Bangkok.

Bombardier Transportation Holding (Thailand), Bombadier’s Thai representative office, is responsible for managing and supplying the engine drivers and monorail carriages for both lines.

After all systems are installed and tests completed, the two lines are scheduled to begin service in 2022.

In the first phase, four trains will run on each line, moving up to 17,000 passengers per hour in each direction.

In the next phase, seven trains will operate on each line, with capacity for 28,000 passengers per hour in each direction.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (left, front) attends the handover ceremony of the engine drivers at Laem Chabang port in Thailand’s eastern province of Chon Buri on October 1. (XINHUA)

The engine drivers arrive at Laem Chabang port in Thailand’s eastern province of Chon Buri on October 1. (XINHUA)

CHINA-BRUNEI TIES　LOGO DESIGN COMPETITION FOR 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHINA-BRUNEI diplomatic TIES

Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Yu Hong (center) joins Brunei officials to launch a logo design competition in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, on September 30. (JEFFREY WONG/XINHUA)

On September 30, the Chinese Embassy in Brunei launched a logo design competition to commemorate the 30th anniversary of establishment of China-Brunei diplomatic relations in 1991.

Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Yu Hong announced that to celebrate the upcoming 30th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Chinese Embassy in Brunei had joined Brunei’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports to co-organize the 30th Anniversary Commemorative Logo Design Competition.

The best design will be jointly selected by the organizers and used for the celebration next year, Yu said.

“I sincerely hope we join hands and lift our strategic cooperative partnership to new heights,” the ambassador added.

CHINA-INDONESIA TIES　CHINA, INDONESIA SIGN MOU TO BOOST USE OF LOCAL CURRENCIES

The central banks of China and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation to promote the use of local currencies, according to a joint statement issued on September 30.

The MoU for the Establishment of a Framework for Cooperation to Promote the Settlement of Current Account Transactions and Direct Investment in Local Currencies was signed by the Governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) Yi Gang and the Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) Perry Warjiyo, the statement said.

The PBOC and BI reached a mutual agreement on initiatives relating to the promotion of the use of local currencies for trade and direct-investment settlement, including the promotion of direct exchange-rate quotations and interbank trading between the Chinese Yuan and the Indonesian Rupiah.

The cooperation will be enhanced through information sharing and periodic discussions between Chinese and Indonesian authorities.

The collaboration marks a key milestone in strengthening bilateral financial cooperation between China and Indonesia. Authorities believe it will positively contribute to encouraging the use of local currencies for settlement of trade and direct investment between the two countries, the statement said.