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Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent congratulations to a UN meeting held on Tuesday to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

Noting that the question of Palestine is at the heart of the Middle East issue and concerns international fairness and justice, Xi said the pressing task is to comprehensively and effectively implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions to end the war as soon as possible and ease the regional situation.

In 1977, the General Assembly called for the annual observance of 29 November as International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. On that day in 1947, the Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine, according to the UN website.

Xi has sent congratulatory messages to the UN meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People for 12 consecutive years.

The fundamental way out is to implement the two-State solution and promote the political settlement of the question of Palestine, establish an independent Palestinian state enjoying full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and ensure the right of the Palestinian people to statehood, their right to existence and their right of return, Xi said.

Xi stressed that China has always been a staunch supporter of the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, and has always supported all Palestinian factions in strengthening unity and implementing the Beijing Declaration on Ending Division and Strengthening Palestinian National Unity to realize internal reconciliation.

China firmly supports Palestine in becoming a full UN member and supports the convening of a more broad-based, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference, Xi added.

Xi said that China will continue to work with the international community to end the war and stop the killing, support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in continuing to provide humanitarian assistance to the Gaza people, and bring the question of Palestine back to the right track of the two-State solution to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement at an early date.

Wang Jin, an associate professor at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwest University in Xi'an, told the Global Times on Tuesday that this demonstrates China's firm and consistent support for the Palestinian people's just cause and also shows China's responsibility to uphold justice and fairness in international hot spot issues.

"Chinese people have always been good friends and good partners of the Palestinian people, and our consistent stance on justice has widely won praise and support from the Arab world and the whole international community," Wang said

"The Middle East is still mired in conflict and bloodshed, so the voice from China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a country with international influence, will greatly contribute to international efforts to mediate the conflict and call for a ceasefire. It will boost the confidence of the international community to attain a two-State solution to the Palestine-Israel issue," Wang noted.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, Office of the People's Republic of China to the State of Palestine, through the Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas Foundation, organized a ceremony on Monday to distribute winter supplies to children in two refugee camps in Tulkarm, in the West Bank.

More efforts needed

According to AP, Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants began a ceasefire Wednesday in a major step toward ending nearly 14 months of fighting as a region on edge wondered whether it will hold. The ceasefire began at 4 am Wednesday, a day after Israel carried out its most intense wave of strikes in Beirut since the start of the conflict. At least 42 people were killed in strikes across the country, according to local authorities.

In response to the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China is closely following the current situation between Lebanon and Israel, and has always been calling on all parties to earnestly abide by UN Security Council Resolution 1701. We support all efforts conducive to deescalating the tensions and realizing peace, and welcome the ceasefire agreement reached by relevant sides.

In the meanwhile, China believes that the protracted fighting in Gaza is the root cause of this round of turmoil in the Middle East, and all parties need to work together to realize a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire in Gaza at an early date, Mao said.

The current situation in the Middle East remains concerning as conflicts have already escalated from the Gaza Strip to the Lebanon-Israel border, as well as other parts of the region, and hopes of a ceasefire are still fragile and uncertain, observers noted

"Last Wednesday, because of the single use of veto by the US, the Council's efforts for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza suffered another setback," Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, said at the UN Security Council Briefing on the situation in the Middle East on Monday.

"The Gaza conflict is the biggest stress test the United Nations has ever faced in the Middle East. In our view, this stress test is first and foremost a test for Council members. It tests our ability to save lives and maintain peace. It tests our determination to uphold international rule of law and fairness and justice. It tests our willingness to safeguard the authority of the Council's mechanisms and resolutions," Fu said.

Calling for more actions, Fu added: "So far, due to the negative attitude of some country, the Council's past performance did not pass the test. We call on the individual country to face up squarely to its responsibilities and support the Council in using all options in its toolbox to take further actions to achieve an immediate ceasefire and restore peace." 

The 11th batch of remains of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who died during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea returned to China on Thursday, as China paid the highest respect to these heroes upon their return. 

Escorted by two J-20 fighter jets, a Y-20 PLA Air Force aircraft, also known as Kunpeng, carrying the remains of the 43 CPV martyrs, landed at Shenyang Taoxian International Airport on Thursday.

Since 2014, Shenyang has welcomed the return of remains of CPV martyrs for 11 consecutive years. The latest batch brought the total number of returned CPV martyrs' remains to 981, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Highest honors of the nation

As the remains flew back home aboard the Y-20 transport aircraft, two J-20 fighter jets escorted the flight, creating a three-plane formation which is the PLA Air Force's unique gesture of paying homage. 

In a video released by Xinhua, a J-20 pilot said to the Y-20, "Welcome home, martyrs of the CPV! In this prosperous era, as you wished, we stand guard over this beautiful land and salute the fallen heroes." In response, the Y-20 captain said, "We thank the J-20 formation for escorting us, allowing us to carry the dreams of our predecessors toward new victories!"

This particular Y-20 aircraft, with the number 20048, is the one that was on display at the Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, earlier this month. 

"The Y-20 aircraft that participated in the airshow returned with great honor. It then went to South Korea to bring back the remains of the CPV martyrs, which itself is a highly respectful gesture," Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times. 

On the other hand, as China's J-20 fighter jets have now entered mass production, these advanced weapons escorting the heroes highlighted the significant advancements in the PLA's military capabilities, Song said. "This offers great reassurance for the martyrs. Seeing their motherland becoming strong is what they cared about most, and is the greatest comfort to them," Song said. 

Shortly after landing, the aircraft was greeted with a water cannon salute, the highest honor in aviation industry. The water arch, formed as the plane carrying the martyrs' remains passed through, symbolized profound respect for the fallen heroes and served as a gesture of welcome, honoring their return and washing away the dust of their long journey.

Following the water cannon salute, soldiers solemnly carried the caskets of the fallen heroes off the aircraft and a reception ceremony was held at the airport. After the ceremony, the caskets were transported by military trucks to the CPV martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province.

"Please believe that your sacrifices and devotion will never be forgotten. And please believe, that we are willing to become your eyes, to help you see the rivers and mountains of this beautiful land," Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said at a press briefing on Thursday.

Another tearful moment was "a gaze that transcends time and space" at the Shenyang People's Square. To welcome the heroes home, a national flag that once traveled to space with the Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft was raised there. "This is the only spot where the procession carrying the martyrs' slowed down, just to allow the heroes a final, lingering gaze at this national flag," reported China Central Television.

To welcome the heroes back home, Shenyang has prepared extensively for the martyrs' return, including illuminating outdoor screens along their route to honor the martyrs. The city experienced its first snowfall of the winter on Tuesday, but the large screens on skyscrapers displaying the slogan "Mountains and Rivers Welcome Heroes Home" prominently against a red backdrop added a touch of warmth to the atmosphere. 

Many residents took out their phones to take photos in front of the large screens, as they paid tribute to the heroes and eagerly awaited their return.

In addition, welcoming slogans are also displayed on buses, taxis, and at bus stops. The slogans and images, such as "Remember the martyrs, welcome the heroes home," can be seen all across the city, creating a heartwarming and unified tribute.

Shenyang has also lined the main roads with over 3,000 new national flags to honor the heroes. These meticulous arrangements highlight the city's deep respect and admiration for the martyrs.

'Momentous event'

The participation of the CPV Army in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea holds both a national and international significance. "It carried the significance of defending the homeland and supporting North Korea, as well as safeguarding world peace. It also demonstrated a great spirit of internationalism," Lü Chao, an expert on the Korean Peninsula issue at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. 

Since an agreement to retrieve the remains of the fallen heroes was reached between China and South Korea, the event has been ongoing for a decade without any breaks. Even during difficult times, such as the THAAD issue and the global pandemic, this process has remained uninterrupted. 

"This shows the South Korean government and its people's great respect to this event and the high importance they have placed on the event, which demonstrates the friendship between the two sides," Lü noted.

The event has also become a crucial part of patriotic education. Upon the martyrs' return, many local residents spontaneously waited along the roads where the fleet of the trucks carrying the remains passed through, Lü, who lives in Shenyang, told the Global Times on Thursday as he observed the touching scene.

"Large crowds flooded the streets today," Lü recalled, noting that it's "a momentous event" for the entire city. The atmosphere was solemn but filled with pride, especially considering that on Friday there will be the ceremony for placing the martyrs' remains in the cemetery, he noted. "Each year, this event is one of the most significant patriotic education activities for Shenyang. The fact that the entire city would voluntarily and consciously participate in such an activity every year is something quite precious," Lü said. 

The activity has also prompted heated discussions on Chinese social media platforms. A netizen commented on China's X-like platform Sina Weibo that "whenever I see this scene [of the return of the martyrs,] I always burst into tears, because I feel they are my family." 

Another netizen said that "Heroes of the people and the dearest ones of the motherland, you can finally come home … You are the pride and glory of our country and its people!"

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he would promote mutually beneficial Japan-China relations and communication at every level to build "constructive and stable ties" on Friday. Ishiba's remarks are welcomed, and if the words can be translated into actions, there is hope for a recovery in China-Japan relations, a Chinese expert told the Global Times on Saturday. 

Ishiba delivered a policy speech in the Lower House on Friday that underscored his leadership of a minority government, and emphasized his intent to communicate with China at all levels, including leaders' summits, to promote a "mutually beneficial strategic relationship," according to Japanese media Asahi Shimbun.

Lü Chao, an expert on the East Asian studies at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Saturday that Ishiba's remarks are welcomed, and if he can actually do what he said, there is hope for a recovery in China-Japan relations.

"A thawing China-Japan relationship will not only benefit the two countries and but also greatly benefit the peace, stability and development of the Northeast Asia, especially to the development of China-Japan-South Korea cooperation mechanism," Lü noted.  

"But we also noticed that there are still many hostile voices among Japanese politicians that call for closely following the US to contain and confront China, so when we look at Ishiba's latest remarks on his view to develop Japan-China ties, we should focus more on what concrete actions he will take," Lü said.

The Japanese prime minister expressed willingness to hold frank discussions with US President-elect Donald Trump in the policy speech. Ishiba said he wants to raise the Japan-US alliance to a higher level, according to NHK.

In his speech, Ishiba did not mention his pet projects of revising the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement or creating an Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), said the Asahi Shimbun.

Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Saturday that Ishiba's remarks have reflected Japan's traditional stance of seeking economic benefits from China while standing close with the US for security. 

"Japan's ties with China are deeply affected by the US policy toward China, and to what extent Ishiba can do to promote the bilateral relationship with China depends to how he could withstand and manage pressure and interruption from outside," Li noted.

How Washington will handle the US ties with China and Japan is key for us to observe to what extent Ishiba could do to promote Japan's ties with China, Li said, stressing that if Japan can stay away from interfering in China's domestic affairs and avid challenging China's national interests, especially core interests like the Taiwan question, the two countries will be able to build stable and constructive ties.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on China and Australia to strengthen coordination and cooperation, and oppose protectionism.

In his meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Xi noted that both China and Australia are supporters and defenders of economic globalization and free trade.

He also urged the two sides to promote the sharing of opportunities and benefits among various countries via opening up, so as to realize common development.

China's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Tuesday vowed to firmly deter major violent crimes, extreme crimes, and crimes that endanger public safety and "zero tolerance" for crimes that infringe on students' rights and threaten safety on school campuses.

The top procuratorate held a meeting to convey the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's recent important speeches and directives, and to review and implement strategies to resolve conflicts and risks while maintaining social stability, as well as strengthening the supervision of cases handled by the SPP, according to a release on the SPP's WeChat account.

The meeting also called for earnestly studying and implementing Xi's important instructions regarding the car ramming incident in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, placing the protection of the people's lives and social stability in a more prominent position, and ensuring measures are timely and effective, according to a release on the SPP's WeChat account.

The meeting urged maintaining a balance between strict enforcement of the law and leniency where appropriate. The "strict" approach must never be relaxed; for major violent crimes, extreme crimes, and crimes that threaten public safety, we must adopt a resolute attitude and punish offenders severely and swiftly in accordance with the law, thereby effectively deterring crimes, read the statement.

Handling cases strictly in accordance with the law is a means of preventing and resolving conflicts and risks, read the release, as the SPP vowed to promote judicial fairness, uphold equity and justice, and resolutely prevent new risks arising from irregular judicial practices and inadequate supervision.

The meeting urged resolving conflicts and disputes promptly at the grassroots level and addressing them early. This will effectively prevent potential hazards from turning into real risks and real risks from becoming actual harm.

School campus safety is crucial for the healthy growth of students and for social harmony and stability. We must maintain a "zero tolerance" for crimes that infringe on students' rights and threaten safety on school campuses, collaborating with relevant departments to conduct risk assessments and prevention measures around campuses, and making every effort to ensure the safety of campuses and students.

Xi attends welcome ceremony held by Brazilian president

Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday announced an elevation of bilateral ties to a "community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet."

The announcement, made during Xi's state visit to Brazil, was further bolstered by the leaders' commitment to align the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Brazil's development strategies.

Musical prelude to friendship

The warmth of China-Brazil relations was on full display during a grand welcoming ceremony hosted by Lula on Wednesday.

The ceremony featured a deeply touching moment: a Brazilian singer performed the iconic Chinese song My Motherland in the Chinese language.

It was a reciprocal gesture. When Lula visited China last year, the Chinese side played the Brazilian song Novo Tempo, or A New Time in English, at the welcoming ceremony.

Both songs carry profound significance in their respective nations. My Motherland, an ode to the Chinese people's enduring resilience and love for their country, resonates deeply with the Chinese people, while Novo Tempo, with its hopeful lyrics about a brighter future, symbolizes Brazil's aspirations for progress and renewal even in difficult times.

The choice of the two songs underscores a deep understanding between the two countries: they recognize and honor what each holds most dear.

During his meeting with Lula, Xi said he was deeply touched by the great importance Lula attaches to the China-Brazil relations and his deep friendship toward the Chinese people, as reflected by the grand welcoming ceremony of the highest courtesy accorded to Xi.

Brazil and China are good friends that respect and depend on each other, said Lula at the meeting, adding that China is Brazil's most important strategic partner, and the Chinese people are the most trustworthy friends of the Brazilian people.

Xi's visit to Brazil, his fifth to the South American nation, comes as the two major developing countries celebrate five decades of diplomatic relations.
During the meeting, Xi emphasized the deep ties forged over the past half-century, noting the two sides found a right way for major developing countries to get along with each other, one that is based on mutual respect, mutual benefit, amity and win-win cooperation.

Brazil holds a unique place in China's global partnerships. It is the first country to establish a strategic partnership with China. It is also the first nation in Latin America to enter into a comprehensive strategic partnership with China.

For Julio Bandeira, author of the historical book "Brazil en Route to China," the Brazilian people have a long history of loving Chinese culture and being close to the Chinese people.

"Today, the overseas Chinese in Brazil have also made great contributions to the Brazilian economy and society," he said.

Synergizing development strategies

At the heart of the leaders' discussions was a commitment to align the BRI with Brazil's key development strategies. These strategies aim to modernize Brazil's infrastructure and strengthen regional connectivity, goals that echo the BRI's mission of enhancing global trade and development through shared infrastructure.

The two sides should deepen cooperation in priority areas such as economy and trade, finance, science and technology, infrastructure and environmental protection, and strengthen cooperation in emerging fields such as energy transition, the digital economy, artificial intelligence and green mining, Xi said when jointly meeting the press with Lula after their talks.

Lula, for his part, highlighted plans to focus on expanding and deepening cooperation in areas such as sustainable development, infrastructure, finance, energy transition, and aerospace.
Concrete projects are already underway. For example, the Belo Monte UHV transmission project, which creates an "electricity expressway" linking north and south of Brazil, has not only provided adequate power to industrial hubs there, but also solved the power shortage problem for over 22 million Brazilians.

Meanwhile, Brazil's abundant renewable resources, including hydroelectric, solar, and wind energy, align seamlessly with China's expertise in clean energy technology and manufacturing.

Over the past years, Chinese companies have been actively participating in Brazil's renewable energy sector, particularly in large-scale solar and wind projects, contributing to job creation and technological upgrades in the country.

In a signed article published in Brazilian media ahead of his visit, Xi called on both countries to "seize the opportunities offered by the times" as the new sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation gather pace.

"We should foster more exemplary projects that align with the trend of the times and deliver lasting benefits to the people, and contribute to the common development of our countries and regions," Xi wrote.

Gleisi Hoffmann, president of Brazil's Workers' Party, highlighted the steady growth of economic and trade relations between Brazil and China over the past 50 years. She noted that the partnership has not only met the needs of both nations but also leveraged their respective strengths to create complementary cooperation.

In recent years, she said, China has achieved remarkable progress in areas such as technology, education, and health. Looking ahead, Hoffmann expressed confidence in the potential to deepen collaboration in these fields, envisioning a future marked by what she described as a "new golden 50 years."

China is promoting high-quality development with new quality productive forces, said Mayara Araujo, a researcher from Brazil's Fluminense Federal University, referring to advanced productivity that features high-tech, high efficiency and high quality.

Linking Brazil's development strategies with the BRI will bring more new opportunities to improve and upgrade cooperation between the two countries, said Araujo.

Strengthened voice for Global South

The elevation of China-Brazil ties to a community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet came shortly after the 19th G20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
With the theme "Building a just world and a sustainable planet," this G20 summit offered a vital platform for leaders to address urgent global challenges, including hunger, economic inequity, and climate change.

After calling on Monday for a just world of common development and a fair and equitable global governance system, Xi on Wednesday called on both countries to step forward for world peace and justice.

The two sides should practice true multilateralism, speak up and act for justice, and make global governance more just and equitable, Xi said during his meeting with Lula.

As major developing countries, China and Brazil should take the lead in championing discussion and consultation, promoting global solidarity, and jointly tackling global challenges that affect the future of humanity, Xi added.

Brazil and China are both committed to expanding the participation of developing countries in the decision-making processes of international organizations, said Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, professor at Brazil's Getulio Vargas Foundation.

Moreover, their collaboration within mechanisms such as BRICS demonstrates how they can unite around shared goals and translate that solidarity into concrete actions with substantial impact, said the expert, noting that it is precisely for this reason that an increasing number of developing countries are eager to join these institutions.

China has introduced a wide selection of light arms and a groundbreaking development in military technology: robo-wolf, at Airshow China 2024. The gun series and the multi-function quadruped anti-terrorism robots are designed to bring new levels of versatility and tactical power to modern warfare. 

The state-owned China South Industries Group Corporation (CSGC) exhibited guns in the Type 20 series, which have been modified to be able to fire different calibers of bullets, including 7.62mm, 5.8mm and 5.56mm, to suit the needs of different users from around the world, the Global Times learned from the CSGC at the airshow.

Some of the widely known guns in the Type 20 series, such as the QBZ-191 auto rifle, was redesignated as the CS/LR43 for the 7.62mm version and the QBU-191 precision rifle was redesignated as the CS/LR44 for the 7.62mm version.

Another star item on display is a type of multi-function quadruped anti-terrorism robot called the Grey Wolf. It can be dispatched in combat units such as individual teams and special operations squads for urban warfare, border patrol and sniping missions. It can pass through complex terrains, has high stealth, high accuracy even against moving targets and can carry different modules for different functions, including Type 191 series rifles, Type 171 sub-machine guns and sniper rifles, according to the developer.

The advanced robots used to be called "robo-dogs" but now they have transformed into "wolves," because now they can operate like a pack of wolves in combat, working effectively as a team to accomplish complicated missions rather than working independently.

The Grey Wolf will work with the soldiers in the mission so that it can prevent casualties. Furthermore, the soldiers, or the person who controls the "wolves" can help them avoid making any mistakes during the mission, said an employee of the developer. "For instance, when it carries out a hostage rescue mission, the special force soldiers can see everything from the screen of the controller to make sure it only shoots at terrorists, and doesn't shoot at non-hostile targets."

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the 2024 World Chinese Language Conference, which opened in Beijing on Friday.

In his letter, Xi also congratulated the Confucius Institute on the 20th anniversary of its establishment.

Xi said the Chinese language, which encapsulates the millennia-old wisdom of the Chinese civilization, is an important public cultural product that China has contributed to the world.

China's responsibility as the native-language country is to support and facilitate the international community in conducting Chinese language education, Xi said.

Xi expressed the hope that the conference will enhance interconnection and integration, build consensus, and strive to build bridges of lingual connectivity, understanding and mutual trust, and mutual learning between civilizations, thus contributing to jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The conference, running from Friday to Sunday, brought together over 2,000 participants from more than 160 countries and regions, with many stressing to the Global Times the importance of language education in connecting the difference cultures and saying they highly value the role that Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) has played in the cultural exchanges.

With the theme "Interconnection, Integration, Inheritance, Innovation," the 2024 conference opened at China National Convention Center in Beijing on Friday, aiming to promote the sustained and vigorous development of international Chinese language education, support relevant countries and regions in carrying out Chinese language teaching and deepen exchange and mutual learning among different cultures.

During the conference, an exhibition titled with "Extraordinary 20 Years: Exhibition of Educational Achievements by Confucius Institute at its 20th Anniversary" has also opened to the public. 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the Confucius Institute worldwide. 

According to the exhibition, up to now, 499 Confucius Institutes and 764 Confucius classrooms have been set up in 161 countries and regions to help cultivate more than 20 million students of all kinds to learn Chinese language and 85 countries have incorporated Chinese language into their national education system.

Hassan Muhsan A Khormi, Deputy Minister of Education, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stated at the conference that Saudi Arabia and China have had close cooperation and achieved fruitful results in language education.

As planned, 200 Chinese language teachers will go to Saudi Arabia this year to teach, and the first batch of 175 teachers have already been in place. It is expected that by the end of 2030, this number will reach 800. By then, 350 outstanding Saudi teachers will have trained more than 600,000 local Chinese language talents.

In 2023, China and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement to enhance cooperation in Chinese language education. Following this agreement, Saudi education authorities incorporated Chinese language education into the curriculum of primary and secondary schools.

Gulchekhra Rikhsieva, rector of Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, Uzbekistan, told the Global Times on Friday that over the past two decades, more than 10,000 students have gained Chinese language skills from their programs. "These students have found more job opportunities in various fields in economy, politics and philosophy for bilateral cooperation," she said. 

At the HSK International Education Exchange Section, Global Times reporters noticed that many international guests were consulting Chinese language education courses at different booths representing universities across the country. At the end of the exhibition hall, many people were lining up to receive souvenir panda dolls.

Aliaa Hisham Mohammed Ali Hoshaa from Egypt, holding a stack of brochures from various Chinese universities, told the Global Times that after studying Chinese language at Cairo University, she hopes to apply for graduate studies in North China's Tianjin Municipality, to join her boyfriend who is currently studying in Tianjin.

"In Egypt, learning Chinese has become more popular. When people find out that I can speak Chinese, they become envious," she said, adding learning this language has also helped her find a job at Nile TV.

From words to world

Directors from various Confucius Institutes underscored the pivotal role of languages in fostering global understanding and cultural exchange at the World Chinese Language Conference.

Luis Antonio Paulino, director of Confucius Institute at Sao Paulo State University, told the Global Times on Friday that the spirit that presides over the 2024 World Chinese Language Conference is the spirit of the GCI. 

"Mutual knowledge of language and culture is the basis for strengthening interpersonal relationships, eliminating prejudices and increasing tolerance and respect for other beliefs and ways of life, which in turn is the basis for building a global civilization as proposed by President Xi Jinping," he said.

Maribel Temoche Cortez, local director of Confucius Institute of Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, told the Global Times on Friday that it is of significance in fostering intercultural understanding and diversity among youth, highlighting the language education in bridging cultural gaps. 

"Our goal is to cultivate global citizens who will not only understand the world better but also respect its diversity and become more comprehensive in their understanding of the differences in the world," she said.

Patricio Hernan Conejero Ortiz, director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Buenos Aires, told the Global Times on Friday that he has observed a growing trend of students choosing to learn Chinese in Latin America, attributing its benefits to both professional opportunities and academic enrichment, as language skills spark curiosity about Chinese society, economy, and culture.

"Mutual learning must start from the language cooperation ... Improving our language skills is one of the best and powerful ways that we have to start understanding and knowing each other," he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday delivered an important speech at the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting under the title "Shouldering Responsibility to Our Times And Jointly Promoting Asia-Pacific Development."

Following is the English version of the full text of the speech:

Shouldering Responsibility to Our Times And Jointly Promoting Asia-Pacific Development

Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping

President of the People's Republic of China

At the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting

Lima, November 16, 2024

Your Excellency President Dina Boluarte,

Colleagues,

It is my great pleasure to visit the beautiful garden city of Lima again after eight years and join you in discussing Asia-Pacific cooperation. I wish to thank President Boluarte and the Peruvian government for the excellent organization of this meeting.

Over the decades, APEC has been instrumental in leading Asia and the Pacific to great success in development, prosperity and connectivity, making the region the most dynamic economy and primary engine of global economic growth. The world today is gripped by accelerating transformation unseen in a century as well as anemic growth. The World Openness Index has been on the decline. Asia-Pacific cooperation is confronted with challenges such as rising tendencies of geopolitics, unilateralism and protectionism. At this historic crossroads, we Asia-Pacific countries carry greater responsibilities on our shoulders. We must act in solidarity and cooperation to meet the challenges, fully deliver on the Putrajaya Vision 2040, build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, and start a new era in Asia-Pacific development. To this end, I wish to propose the following.

First, we need to build an open and interconnected paradigm for Asia-Pacific cooperation. We should stay committed to multilateralism and an open economy, firmly uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, fully reactivate APEC's role as an incubator of global economic and trade rules, and advance regional economic integration and connectivity. We should tear down the walls impeding the flow of trade, investment, technology and services, uphold stable and smooth industrial and supply chains, and promote economic circulation in the region and the world. A Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) is an ambitious vision for regional economic integration, and is critical for long-term development and prosperity of our region. Ten years ago, a historic decision to kick off the FTAAP process was taken at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Beijing. Today, we will adopt a new document to guide this process. I believe that this will give new impetus to our efforts toward an open Asia-Pacific economy.

Opening up is a distinct hallmark of Chinese modernization. China always promotes reform through opening up. We voluntarily subscribe to high-standard international economic and trade rules, adopt proactive measures for further opening up, and take systematic steps to further open the telecom, Internet, education, culture, medical service and other sectors. We continue to implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) against high standards. We are also working actively to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA). We have just signed a protocol to upgrade the free trade agreement with Peru, and have substantially concluded negotiations with ASEAN to upgrade to free trade area 3.0. Together with the relevant parties, we will seek to discuss trade agreements in digital and green areas, and steadily expand the globally-oriented network of high-standard free trade areas.

Second, we need to make green innovation a catalyst for the Asia-Pacific. We need to firmly seize the opportunities presented by the new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), quantum information, life and health, and other frontier areas. We need to foster an open, fair, just and nondiscriminatory ecosystem for innovation, and promote a leapfrog development of productive forces across our region. To build a clean and beautiful Asia-Pacific, we should prioritize ecological protection, promote resources conservation and their efficient use as well as green and low-carbon development, and engineer an all-round green transition in economic and social development. We need to push forward coordinated digital and green transformation and development to create new momentum and new drivers for Asia-Pacific development.

China is developing new quality productive forces in light of actual conditions and deepening cooperation with interested parties on green innovation. China will launch a Global Cross-Border Data Flow Cooperation Initiative, and seek deeper cooperation with other parties to promote efficient, convenient and secure cross-border data flows. China has put forward initiatives in the APEC framework concerning, among others, the application of digital bill of lading, capacity building on green supply chains, exchanges and dialogue on approaches to AI, and the digitalization of food supply chains, with a view to contributing to high-quality development of the Asia-Pacific.

Third, we need to uphold a universally beneficial and inclusive vision for Asia-Pacific development. We should make good use of the APEC platform to strengthen economic and technical cooperation. We should increase support for developing economies and disadvantaged groups, and work together to grow the pie and distribute it equitably to allow more economies and people to benefit from development. This year, Peru has been actively promoting cooperation on the transition from the informal economy to the formal and global economy. China welcomes this effort which dovetails with our development philosophy of putting people first, promoting social fairness and justice and improving the people's well-being. China will advance initiatives through the APEC platform on increasing residents' income and promoting the industrial cluster development of small and medium-sized enterprises, for the purpose of bringing about universally beneficial and inclusive development of Asia-Pacific economies.

China will host APEC 2026. We look forward to working with all parties to deepen Asia-Pacific cooperation to the benefit of the peoples in the region.

Colleagues,

Reform and opening up is a historic process in which China and the world achieve development and progress together. A few months ago, the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, at its third plenum, laid out systematic plans for further deepening reform across the board to advance Chinese modernization. More than 300 consequential reform measures were unveiled pertaining to building a high-standard socialist market economy, advancing high-quality economic development, promoting high-standard opening up, improving the people's quality of life, and building a beautiful country. China's further development will provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.

An ancient Chinese sage observed, "A man of virtue, while establishing himself and pursuing success, also works to help others establish themselves and succeed." There is a similar saying in Latin America which goes, "The only way to be profitably national is to be generously universal." China welcomes all parties to continue riding the "express train" of its development and grow together with the Chinese economy so that we can all contribute to the modernization of all countries featuring peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity.