FRIENDSHIP MEDAL　XI AWARDS CAMBODIAN QUEEN MOTHER FRIENDSHIP MEDAL

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a ceremony to award Cambodian Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk the Friendship Medal of the People’s Republic of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 6. (ZHANG LING/XINHUA)

Chinese President Xi Jinping awarded Cambodian Queen Mother, Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, the Friendship Medal of the People’s Republic of China at a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 6.

Queen Mother Monineath is an important witness and promoter of China-Cambodia friendship, who has forged a tight bond with China since she accompanied Norodom Sihanouk, then Cambodian prince, to China in 1958 for the first time, Xi said when delivering a speech.

Queen Mother Monineath has actively devoted herself to the cause of friendship between China and Cambodia in the past over 60 years, and has witnessed the development of the People’s Republic of China, Xi said.

She has special feelings for the Chinese people, and has actively supported exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields, Xi said, noting that she made outstanding contributions to promoting the development of bilateral ties and enhancing the friendship between the two peoples.

Xi stressed since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia 62 years ago, the two countries have always supported and helped each other, forged an unbreakable iron-clad friendship, and become a strategic community with a shared future.

The relationship between the two countries has withstood various tests, and can be called a model of state-to-state exchange, Xi said, noting the Cambodian royal family has played an important and irreplaceable role in this respect.

The medal represents the Chinese people’s reverence for Queen Mother Monineath and their profound friendship with the Cambodian people, Xi said, and wished China and Cambodia greater prosperity and everlasting friendship.

For her part, Queen Mother Monineath said President Xi awarding her the Friendship Medal of the People’s Republic of China fully reflects the friendship and brotherhood of China and the Chinese people toward her and the Cambodian people.

“I feel extremely happy and express my heartfelt thanks. We will always remember the traditional friendship between Cambodia and China that was forged by King Father Norodom Sihanouk and the older-generation leaders of China,” she said.

She said that for a long time, China has firmly supported Cambodia’s just cause and efforts in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, national peace, ethnic unity, and the development of various undertakings.

The Queen Mother wished the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people greater achievements under the leadership of President Xi, and wished the two countries ever-lasting friendship.

DONATION　CHINESE EMBASSY DONATES MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO THE PHILIPPINES

The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines handed over 150 sets of high flow humidifier, a kind of breathing aid device, to the Philippines on October 21 to help the Southeast Asian country fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In the face of the challenge of COVID-19, China and the Philippines have worked together and lent assistance to each other, attesting the traditional friendship,” Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said at a hand-over ceremony.

At the ceremony, Philippine Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea expressed the hope for continuing the close cooperation with China for an early victory over the pandemic, and for an economic recovery in his country.

China has provided anti-epidemic supplies to the Philippines through multiple channels and in large numbers. The Chinese government has so far donated more than 250,000 test kits, 1.87 million surgical masks, 130 ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPE) among others, in addition to donations by China's local governments, enterprises and civil groups.

The Chinese Embassy and Consulates have also donated over 40,000 “Friendship Bags” containing food and daily necessities to the Filipino families in need to help them get through the current difficult time.

Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian (third right) and Philippine Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea (third left) attend the handover ceremony on October 21. (PH.CHINA-EMBASSY.ORG)

ASSISTANCE　CHINA DONATES HYGIENE SUPPLIES TO PRE-SCHOOLS IN CAMBODIA

China, through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has provided hygiene and learning supplies to 3,064 community pre-schools across Cambodia, allowing some 70,000 children to return to school safely, with better protection from the COVID-19.

The symbolic handing over of these supplies to community pre-schools were held at the Prek Pnov district’s education office in northern suburb of Phnom Penh on October 21.

Speaking at the event, Wu Guoquan, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy to Cambodia, said China actively participates in global anti-pandemic cooperation, firmly supports multilateralism, and fully backs the leading role of the United Nations in the fight against the epidemic.

Cambodian Education Ministry Secretary of State Kim Sethany said Cambodia welcomed the provision of these supplies and thanked China for working with UNICEF to support Cambodia’s pre-school children.

Foroogh Foyozat, UNICEF representative in Cambodia, said China has been a key supporter of the Cambodian government and the UNICEF in their joint response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Representatives from the Chinese Embassy, UNICEF, and Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport attend the symbolic handover ceremony in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on October 21. (UNICEF.ORG)

CHINA-ASEAN TIES　CHINESE PROPOSALS TO PROMOTE TIES WITH ASEAN

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attends the 23rd China-ASEAN leaders’ meeting, which is held via video link, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 12. (DING LIN/ XINHUA)

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang raised four proposals to progress cooperation with ASEAN in a speech at the 23rd China-ASEAN leaders’ meeting held via video link on November 12.

“China will actively consider ASEAN countries’ requirements for COVID-19 vaccines and take practical steps to promote the availability and affordability of the vaccine,” said Li, expressing the hope that the China-ASEAN public health emergency liaison network will be launched as soon as possible, and the 3rd China-ASEAN health cooperation forum will be held successfully.

Noting that ASEAN has become China’s largest trading partner, Li proposed the enhancement of regional trade and investment freedom and facilitation, and the joint building of a regional “fast track” network.

China and ASEAN were among the first to open “fast tracks” and “green lanes” to facilitate flows of people and goods and support economic recovery amid the fight against COVID-19, he said, adding that despite contracting global trade, economic recession and serious disruptions to travel, China-ASEAN two-way trade went up in the first three quarters, while Chinese investment in ASEAN countries surged more than 70 percent year on year.

Li called on the two sides to synergize development strategies on the development of digital economies and work together to push forward sustainable development.

On the issue of the South China Sea, Li said the situation in the South China Sea is, on the whole, stable. Bearing in mind the larger interests, China and ASEAN countries have worked to deepen cooperation, actively manage differences, fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and steadily advance the Code of Conduct (COC) consultations.

Also attending the video meeting were Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Aun Pornmoniroth and Myanmar Union Minister for International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin.

At the meeting, the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity (2021-2025) and the Initiative on Building ASEAN-China Partnership on Digital Economy were released.

AI　AI SUMMIT ON DEEPENING CHINA-ASEAN DIGITAL ECONOMY COOPERATION

The Second China-ASEAN AI Summit is held in Nanning, Guangxi, on November 13.

The second China-ASEAN AI Summit kicked off in Nanning, capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on November 13, with government officials, business leaders and experts from home and abroad participating both online and offline.

Focusing on sci-tech innovation and introducing talent, this year’s summit was held concurrently with the 2020 China-ASEAN Summit Forum for Fulfilling Dreams with Joint Efforts, where experts shared their insights into the future development of the AI industry.

The next generation of AI has injected new growth momentum into global socio-economic development and is profoundly changing production and lifestyles, said Raul Lambino, special assistant to the Philippine president.

He also expressed his hope that exchanges and cooperation with China in the field of AI will be strengthened further.

Meng Qinghai, deputy head of the China Association for Science and Technology, said the association will promote cooperation between its members, enterprises and public institutions in Guangxi, fostering technological transformation, industrial synergy, talent training and international technology transactions.

2020 is the ASEAN-China Year of Digital Economy Cooperation.

COOPERATION　ENTREPRENEURS URGED TO STRENGTHEN COOPERATION FOR POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY

Entrepreneurs from Malaysia and China were urged to strengthen cooperation and tap into the opportunities in the post-COVID-19 economic recovery and the continued opening-up of China.

In his speech to the virtually held 10th Malaysia-China Entrepreneur Conference on October 20, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Lim Ban Hong said the historic friendship between Malaysia and China was further elevated when both countries came to each other’s assistance during the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.

Among the efforts to facilitate recovery from the hit of COVID-19, the Malaysian government has unveiled a number of initiatives to further improve the country’s investment environment for foreign companies.

“Malaysia could be a gateway for Chinese entrepreneurs to tap into the Southeast Asian markets. The Malaysian government welcomes Chinese businesses and companies to prioritize Malaysia as an investment destination,” Lim said, pointing out that China has been Malaysia’s largest source of investment in manufacturing sectors for four consecutive years.

In his speech at the forum, Long Yongtu, China’s former chief negotiator for entry into the World Trade Organization, urged China and Malaysia to strengthen cooperation in areas including COVID-19 response, manufacturing, digital economy, and the Belt and Road Initiative.

The 10th Malaysia-China Entrepreneur Conference, organized by the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce, gathered government officials and entrepreneurs from the two countries to discuss issues related to bilateral economic ties including e-commerce, digital economy, financial cooperation, among others.

SYMPOSIUM　CHINA-ASEAN COMMERCIAL LEGAL COOPERATION

A symposium on China-ASEAN commercial legal cooperation commenced in Nanning, capital of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on October 29, within the framework of the 17th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.

Some 300 business representatives, legal experts and scholars from China and ASEAN countries participated in the symposium both online and offline, exchanging opinions on commercial legal cooperation, as well as the study and practice of the multiple mechanism for dispute resolution in their countries.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. Over the past decade, trade between China and ASEAN countries has grown rapidly through the deep integration of industrial chains and value chains.

Tan Monivann, vice-president of Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, said China and ASEAN countries should work together to advance cooperation on commercial legislation and build a more practical information-sharing platform.

The Symposium on China-ASEAN Commercial Legal Cooperation is held in Nanning, Guangxi, on October 29. (CCPIT.ORG)

MARITIME COOPERATION　SYMPOSIUM ON MARITIME COOPERATION INAUGURATED IN HAINAN

A symposium on maritime cooperation and ocean governance has been held in Haikou, capital of south China’s island province of Hainan.

Some 500 attendees from 28 countries, including experts, scholars as well as government and international organization representatives, participated in the two-day symposium—online and offline.

The Inaugural Symposium on Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance aimed to provide an academic platform for the international community to share views on global ocean governance and promote international cooperation.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former president of the Philippines, said in a keynote speech during the opening ceremony that the relationship between the Philippines and China is of great significance and that the symposium will contribute to the community with a shared future which is connected by the oceans.

It is of immense significance to discuss the challenges in global ocean governance to promote sustainable marine development, especially during the epidemic. Sticking to multilateral ocean governance is a priority for maritime cooperation, said Wu Shicun, director of China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

The venue of the Inaugural Symposium on Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance in Haikou, Hainan. (NANHAI.ORG.CN)