CHINA MIRROR WEEKLY NEWS 23RD ISSUE 24.01.2022

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Association for Sri Lanka China Social and Cultural Co-operation

China, Israel vow to promote more fruitful innovation cooperation

Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan co-chairs the fifth meeting of China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation (JCIC) with Yair Lapid, Israel's alternate prime minister and foreign minister, via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) 2 3

Premier Li stresses primary-level education, medical services

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BEIJING — Premier Li Keqiang called for more sup4 port for primary-level teachers and medical services, 4 asking local governments to better help self-employed 10 individuals and hard-hit service industries. 2

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Webinar to celebrate Chinese Spring Festival.

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CPC meeting urges better response to grassroots grievances 10 3

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China, Israel vow to promote more fruitful innovation cooperation BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua)

Chinese Vice President Wang

Qishan co-chaired the fifth meeting of China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation (JCIC) with Yair Lapid, Israel's alternate prime minister and foreign minister, on Monday via video link, with the two sides pledging to promote cooperation on innovation.

Wang said that, since the implementation of the China-Israel Innovation Cooperation Action Plan (2018-2021), the two sides have strengthened innovation guidance and institutional guarantees, deepened pragmatic cooperation and promoted personnel exchanges.

Hailing the continuous deepening of bilateral relations and cooperation, and the fact that the ChinaIsrael innovative comprehensive partnership has entered a new stage, Wang called on the two sides to follow the instructions of the two heads of state and view the important role of the China-Israel JCIC from a strategic perspective, while taking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to enhance political mutual trust and expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

He also expressed hopes that the two sides will promote the implementation of important consensuses and major projects, conclude the free-trade negotiations within the year, synergize innovation ideas and resources, and strengthen cooperation in such areas as vaccine and drug research and development, so that China-Israel innovation cooperation in various fields can flour-

ish and play a greater role in promoting the economic and social development of the two countries while enhancing people's wellbeing.

For his part, Lapid said that Israel is willing to work closely with China to give full play to the role of the JCIC and promote innovation cooperation between Israel and China to better benefit the two peoples.

Wang and Lapid jointly signed the China-Israel Innovation Cooperation Action Plan (20222024), and witnessed the signing of seven cooperation agreements in the fields of science and technology, health, culture, environmental protection, clean energy and intellectual property rights.

Premier Li stresses primary-level education, medical services Xinhua 24 Jan

Premier Li, a member of the

Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made exchanges with representatives from the education, science and technology, culture, health, and sports sectors at a symposium on Jan 21 to hear their opinions on a draft government work report.

The work report will be deliberated at the top legislature's annual session in March.

Vice-Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the symposium.

Premier Li Keqiang, a member of

the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, makes exchanges with representatives from the education, science and technology, culture, health, and sports sectors at a symposium to hear their opinions on a draft government work report on Jan 21, 2022. Vice-Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the symposium.

When exchanging with representatives from a primary school and Peking University, Premier Li vowed to guarantee salaries for teachers in compulsory education and improve teaching conditions for schools in rural, mountainous and remote areas, as well as to better support the appliance of scientific and technological achievements, with micro, small, and medium tech enterprises being included in preferential policies.

Premier Li also stressed training rural doctors and promoting better diagnosis and treatment skills among primary-level hospitals to make quality medical services more accessible.

Premier Li called for attracting more talent to work in museums, improving cultural services for the public, building more fitness facilities and promoting sports knowledge.

Learning about difficulties brought by COVID-19 to selfemployed catering businesses, Premier Li said governments at various levels should lower taxes for them and provide preferential policies for service industries including tourism, catering, and retail to help them tide over the difficulties.

19-24 Jan 2022

Officials handling the public's complaints listen to a local resident in Shangrao, East China’s Jiangxi province, July 18, 2021.

CPC meeting urges better response to grassroots grievances A key Party meeting, presided

over by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Monday, has called for improving the system for responding to the public's grievances in order to create a sound environment for addressing social problems in accordance with the law.

The meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee reviewed two documents, including a regulation about the response to the public's grievanc-

es.

The meeting's participants stressed that work related to addressing the public's complaints is a "window" that helps in learning about public opinion and social problems, according to a media statement released after the meeting.

The regulation is significant as it will help to standardize and strengthen work in the response to such grievances, summarizing the Party's long-term experience in leading and carrying out work to address the public's grievances, especially the achievements of the reform of related systems since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012.

They underlined the need to uphold the people-centered development philosophy in handling the public's complaints and strengthen the Party's overall leadership over the re-

lated work, the statement said.

The meeting's participants also called for creating a sound social environment where people will resolve the problems they encounter in line with the law, the statement added.

The meeting also reviewed a comprehensive report concerning the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee hearing and studying the work reports of the leading Party members' groups of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, as well as the work report of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee.

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Xi chairs CPC leadership meeting to review report, regulations

2021 and approved their work plans for 2022.

Noting the importance of the year 2022 in China's new journey toward modernization, the meeting urged the leading Party members groups of the top legislature, central government, top political advisory body, top court, and top procuratorate to focus on the preparation and convocation of the 20th CPC National Congress, firm up historical confidence, take the initiative and make concrete progress in all of their work.

The authorities were urged to strictly implement the eight-point decision on improving Party and government conduct. They must also continue to address the practice of pointless formalities, bureaucracy, hedonism, and extravagance and mercilessly fight corruption, according to the meeting.

The Secretariat of the CPC Central BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) Committee was asked to take the in safeguarding the authority Xi Jinping, general secretary of the lead of the CPC Central Committee Communist Party of China (CPC) and its centralized, unified leaderCentral Committee, on Monday ship. chaired a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central ComThe regulations on the handling of mittee. petition letters and visits give a review of the Party's experience in The meeting reviewed a report leading and conducting work in from the Standing Committee of this regard, especially institutional the Political Bureau after the Stand- reform achievements since the ing Committee heard and discussed 18th CPC National Congress in the work reports of the leading Par- 2012, said the meeting. ty members groups of the Standing Committee of the National People's Formulating the regulations will Congress, the State Council, the help optimize the system and National Committee of the Chinese mechanisms to handle petition letPeople's Political Consultative Con- ters and visits, the meeting said. ference, the Supreme People's The meeting stressed upholding Court, and the Supreme People's and strengthening Party leadership Procuratorate, as well as the work over the work of handling petition report of the Secretariat of the CPC letters and visits, and called for Central Committee. fostering a social environment The regulations on the handling of where people do things according petition letters and visits were also to the law, turn to the law when reviewed. they require assistance, and use The meeting fully acknowledged laws to solve problems and conthe work of these authorities in flicts.

China pledges to further support employment of people emerging from poverty BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua)

In an effort to consolidate its

poverty elimination achievements, China will strive to ensure that at least 30 million people who have been lifted out of poverty are employed this year, a senior official said on Tuesday.

In 2021, some 31.45 million people lifted out of poverty found jobs, Liu Huanxin, deputy chief of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group and head of the National Rural Revitalization Administration, told a video conference.

That number is 1.26 million higher than the 2020 level, Liu said, pledging efforts to achieve even better results this year.

To that end, Liu said work will be done to boost labor service cooperation between provinces, cities and counties, develop characteristic industries, provide public welfare jobs in rural areas, and support entrepreneurship and flexible employment.

As a result of the country's efforts to consolidate its poverty alleviation achievements and push for rural vitalization, the average net income of people who have shaken off poverty is likely to have reached 12,500 yuan (about 1,968 U.S. dollars) last year, up over 16.5 percent year on year, official data shows.

19-24 Jan 2022

J-10 fighter jets attached to an aviation brigade with the air force under the PLA Southern Theater Command participate in a close formation taxi during a flight training course on December 28, 2021. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wang Guoyun) Global Time 20 Jan

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) expelled a US warship that trespassed Chinese territorial waters in the South China Sea on Thursday, a move experts said displays the PLA's capability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity amid several other recent US muscle-flexing moves in the region.

On Thursday, the USS Benfold guided missile destroyer illegally entered the Chinese territorial waters of Xisha Islands without authorization from the Chinese government, Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson at the PLA Southern Theater Command, said in a statement on the day.

The PLA Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces who tracked, monitored and warned the US warship away, Tian said.This is the first time a US warship has trespassed Chinese territorial waters in the South China Sea in 2022.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Thursday that the PLA Southern Theater Command's move shows that it is fully capable of dealing with challenges brought by the US in the South China Sea. Expelling the US warship that rudely intrud-

ed Chinese territorial waters is a necessary and powerful move, Song said. "We will do this whenever necessary."

The US move severely violated China's sovereignty and security, and is yet another solid proof of the US' navigational hegemony and militarization of the South China Sea, as facts prove that the US is the non-debatable maker of security risks in the South China Sea, as well as the biggest destroyer of peace and stability in the region, Tian said.

"We sternly demand the US to stop such provocation immediately, or it will face the serious consequences led by accidents caused by this," Tian said, noting that the command troops are always on high alert and will take resolute actions to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and peace and stability in the South China Sea. USS Benfold's trespassing into China's territorial and internal waters of Xisha Islands on Thursday is not "freedom of navigation," but a violation of Chinese sovereignty, and a provocation which harms the peace and stability in the South China Sea, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson at the Chinese Defense Ministry , said in a statement on the day.

aircraft carriers and a ballistic nuclear missile submarine.

According to the fleet and marine tracker by the news website of the US Naval Institute, three US aircraft carrier strike groups, an expeditionary strike group, and an amphibious ready group, were deployed in the West Pacific as of Tuesday.

A US ballistic nuclear missile submarine made a rare port visit to Guam on Saturday, "sending a message amid increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region," CNN reported on Monday.

Chinese analysts pointed out that while these moves looked as if the US is applying huge pressure on China, it shows that the US has no more cards to play, as the US is forced to use nuclear deterrence in addition to regular forces.

The deployment of a large number of US military vessels near China is not only an attempt of deterrence, but also making practical exercises, as the US military seems to be determined to interfere in China's internal affairs in the Taiwan question, as well as in the South China Sea, Song said.

The latest trespassing incident comes amid But the PLA is also making preparations the US' recent, highly concentrated milifor those challenges and will definitely tary moves near China, including those by safeguard China's core interests, Song said.

19-24 Jan 2022

China Focus: GDP of "world factory" in China exceeds 1 trln yuan .

GUANGZHOU, Jan. 24 (Xinhua)

The latest statistics show that the city of Dongguan, dubbed the "factory of the world," in south China's Guangdong Province, reported a GDP of over 1 trillion yuan (157.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2021, up 8.2 percent year on year.

This marks that Dongguan becomes the 24th Chinese city whose GDP has surpassed 1 trillion yuan so far.

Dongguan's crossing the GDP threshold of 1 trillion yuan further demonstrates the strong resilience of China's economy.

As the vane of Chinese foreign trade, the city's foreign trade has been gravely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years.

The previous lack of orders and the later lack of workers as well as a shortage of containers had all affected the normal foreign trade of the city.

However, in January 2021, the growth rate of Dongguan's foreign trade stopped falling and started to pick up. The total import and export volume of the year reached 1.52 trillion yuan, up 14.6 percent year on year.

Dongguan Ramaxel Technology Company, a DRAM module manufacturer, temporarily transformed its meeting rooms into staff dormitories during the hardest time of the COVID -19 outbreak last year, for the sake of a due production schedule and epidemic prevention and control needs.

In 2020, the output value of the company was less than 2 billion yuan, but the figure notched up more than 10 billion yuan merely a year later.

In 2021, the industrial added value of major enterprises in Dongguan reached about 500.9 billion yuan, up

10.2 percent year on year, and its industrial investment increased by 25.3 percent year on year, showing entrepreneurs' confidence in the future.

Overseas investment also continues to favor the city. In the first three quarters of 2021, there were 76 projects with investments of over 10 million U.S. dollars in Dongguan, involving foreign investment of nearly 3.75 billion U.S. dollars, up 111.5 percent year on year.

Such a rapid bounce back in its economic performances can be partly owing to the local government's timely and precise assistance and coordination work.

Acting according to the circumstances of every local company, the local economic operation monitoring and dispatching headquarters rolled out a series of favorable policies and effective measures to bail out the companies trapped in the epidemic.

Another welcome change in the "world factory" is its upgraded industry distribution. Previously, it heavily relied on low-margin processing trade and laborintensive industries.

Born in Dongguan, Yue Yuen Industrial (Holdings) Limited is among the world's largest original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of sports shoes and casual shoes for world-renowned brands. At its peak, the company boasted about 150,000 employees. Due to the rising labor costs over the years, the factory eventually moved to Vietnam.

Nowadays, the traditional bestsellers in Dongguan's foreign trade, including clothing, shoes and hats, have been replaced by high value-added products such as smartphones. Mechanical and electrical products now account for more than 70 percent of Dongguan's total export value.

In 2021, Dongguan's high-end manufacturing industry grew rapidly. For instance, the output

value of industrial robot products increased by 66.8 percent, integrated circuits increased by 22.5 percent, and new energy vehicles increased by 62.5 percent.

The founder of Dongguan's Tianyu semiconductor technology company, or TYSiC, was experienced in the city's papermaking industry but turned to the nascent semiconductor sector in 2009. Last year, the tech company recorded an output value equivalent to the sum of the previous three years and saw its sales reach 160 million yuan.

Dongguan has vowed to take scientific and technological innovation as its engine to drive the city's advanced manufacturing industry, a brand new blueprint for the future of the "world factory."

In 2021, the city saw the total investment in its high-tech manufacturing industries soar by 26.2 percent year on year. At present, there are 7,387 statelevel high-tech enterprises in Dongguan, and the number is still growing by almost 1,000 annually in recent years.

The Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, jointly built by the municipal government and a renowned research institute in China, has attracted more than 5 billion yuan of investment at its initial stage of development.

Songshan Lake Science City, where the joint lab is located, is planned to be built as a pilot area of a comprehensive national science center in the Greater Bay Area.

The lab is committed to studies on advanced science and the combination of science resources and local industrial development, which is expected to help the "world factory" further innovate and upgrade its industrial forms in the new era, according to Chen Dongmin, executive deputy director of the lab.

19-24 Jan 2022

The Founder and President of China Maldivian Cultural Association (CMCA) Mr. Mohamed Rasheed told CHINA MIRROR Weekly News that they will organize several activities to commemorate 5oth anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Maldives and China.

“One of the event, CMCA Cultural Jamboree will be held in Maldives from 9th July to 14th

By Muhammad Asif Noor

President Xi Jinping’s speech at World Economic Forum President Xi Jinping delivered a virtual keynote address at World Economic Forum (WEF) 2022 as his first multilateral event of the New Year. This was the third time that President Xi made an

important contribution towards an overall global dialogue on multilateralism.

Earlier in 2017, President spoke about China’s vision and policy towards globalisation. Then in 2021, about the Chinese model of multilateralism and how it is practised globally, and this year, the focus was on how the world can deal with the challenges of the postCOVID-19 world. The speech came from the backdrop of the world battling with the politicization of sports, pandemic, vaccine financing and distribution, and challenges of governance mounting with each passing day. The socalled leaders of the first world are busy dividing the world rather than uniting it for a better and shared future.

While lamenting the forces of unilateralism and protectionism, President Xi delicately touched upon the significant development issues, economic challenges, and pandemic consequences to create a joint force for countering multifaceted challenges at WEF. The meeting brought states, international organ-

July 2022. Objectives of the events are to foster awareness among the youth for international collaboration, develop skill sets that bridge and celebrate relationship among the youth and encourage dialogue among civilizations. It includes workshops and seminars on language, arts, crafts and environment “he said.

izations, businessmen, civil society leaders, and NGOs at a single forum to deliberate on the pandemic, climate, and technologies of the fourth industrial revolution.

Global cooperation is necessary for vaccinations and development but he lamented that major states like the USA exhibited protectionism and unilateralism to keep the world divided. The primary argument has remained to avoid the old cold war mentality and shun all differences to help the world, with its immediate challenges especially in the post-pandemic new normal.

President Xi appreciated the international community for standing against the pandemic as it has fought a “tenacious battle” against the coronavirus. It was also urged that there should be equality and support towards the global vaccination program against the virus.

Courtesy- Daily Times

19-24 Jan 2022

Webinar to celebrate Chinese Spring Festival.

On January 23, 2022 a spectacular Chinese Spring Festival webinar celebration organized by the Association for Sri Lanka-China Social and Cultural Cooperation (ASLCSCC).

Overseas Chinese in Sri Lanka and other Chinese dignitaries, Princess Xu Shiyin’E, Sri Lankan families and students in China and Sri Lankan people from various circles spoke at the webinar.

HE (Dr.) Palitha Kohona, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China has sent the video greeting message to the celebrations.

Chinese institutes including Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (BPAFFC) and Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU) participated at the webinar.

HE (Dr.) Palitha Kohona, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China

Princess Xu Shiyin'e who has become a symbol of friendship between China and Sri Lanka showed the customs of Chinese Spring Festival including spring festival couplets and other related art and crafts from Quanzhou. The three-hour celebration successfully carried forward the traditional Chinese culture.

The Sri Lankan and Chinese friends spoke about the spring festival and their experiences at the webinar.

(Full report of the webinar will be published in CHINA MIRROR)

Princess Xu Shiyin'e

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19-24 Jan 2022

Cont..Webinar to celebrate Chinese Spring Festival.

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19-24 Jan 2022

BCCEMCC delegation at ASIAN TELEVISION The delegation

of BangladeshChina Cultural, Economic and Mass Communication Center (BCCEMCC) headed by its president Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Mr. Altaf Hossain Choudhury has participated at the ceremony to celebrate 9th founding anniversary of ASIAN TELEVISION in Dhaka,Bangladesh.

The president of BCCEMCC received warm welcome by the Founder Chairman Alhaj Harun-Or

-Rashid and his TV crew members.

BCCEMCC is an active organization for promoting people to people friendship between Bangladesh and China and has close relations with other South Asian friendship organizations

Cont..Webinar to celebrate Chinese Spring Festival.

19-24 Jan 2022

Xinjiang's regional economy grows 7% in 2021, with grain output hitting record high Global Time 23 Jan

Northwest China's Xinjiang

Aerial photo taken on Aug. 22, 2021 shows a photothermal power station in Nom Township of Hami, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Photo: Xinhua

Uygur Autonomous Region reported better-than-expected economic growth in 2021 despite the ongoing COVID19 pandemic. The region's stellar economic performance has successfully smashed US smears over alleged human rights violations and the so-called use of forced labor accusations.

17.36 million tons, an increase of 9.62 percent on a yearly basis, hitting a record high for the past five years.

Cotton, a major agricultural product in the region, also achieved improvement in quality and efficiency in 2021, with a total output of 5.13 million ton which accounted for 89.5 percent of the country's total, maintaining its top ranking Xinjiang's economy expanded 7 perin China for over two decades in terms cent year-on-year to about 1.6 trillion of total cotton output, per-unit yield, yuan ($250 billion) in 2021, according planting area and commodity allocato the local government work report tion. delivered to the annual session of the regional legislature, which opened on The cotton planting area in Xinjiang in Sunday.

2021 reached 2.5 million hectares, accounting for 82.8 percent of the nationThe three drivers of economy - fixed- al planting area. The cotton yield in the asset investment, social retail and for- region averaged 136.43 kg per mu, eign trade - increased by 15 percent, 17 which was 10.26 kg per mu higher than percent and 5.8 percent respectively. the national average, data from the NaValue-added output of enterprises tional Bureau of Statistics revealed. above a designated size rose to 456 billion yuan, up 8.8 percent on a yearly To strengthen the cotton industry, local basis. government said Sunday that it will accelerate the preparatory work for the The urban unemployment rate was establishment of a national cotton and controlled within 5.5 percent, and the yarn trading center in Xinjiang this region's major indicators have exceed- year. ed their annual targets, said the local government.

"It is necessary to give full play to the advantages of Xinjiang's cotton proLast year also marked Xinjiang's mod- duction, petrochemical and coal chemiern agriculture entering a stage of high cal industries, vigorously develop spin-efficiency and high-quality develop- ning, weaving, printing and dyeing and ment, with total grain output reaching clothing industries, and strive to build the entire cotton industrial chain," the

regional government said.

In early 2021, Swedish clothing retailer H&M's refusal to use Xinjiang cotton led to a widespread consumers boycott in China of the brand, which has seen Chinese consumers strike back at a handful of foreign clothing brands banning Xinjiangsourced cotton. Sportswear giants Nike and Adidas were also among the brands that have quickly gone from popular to undesirable.

In the past year, Xinjiang has taken proactive measures to build itself as a core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt. A record number of 122,10 inbound and outbound China -Europe freight trains passed through Xinjiang in 2021, up 21.5 percent year-on-year, data from the local government work report showed.

Looking forward, Xinjiang set its GDP growth target for 2022 at around 6 percent and value-added output of enterprises above a designated size up by about 6.5 percent.

19-24 Jan 2022

Bullet trains are under maintenance for the SpringFestival (the Lunar New Year) across China.

The 2022 Spring Festival travel rush officially kicks off today. It is estimated that 1.18 billion trips will be made nationwide from January 17 to February 25.

Rural children in Duji district of Huaibei city, Anhui province, grin with joy after receiving winter clothing items and school supplies offered by a charity foundation.

Fishermen celebrate their first catch as the winter fishing season in Bosten Lake, the biggest fishery base in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, kicks off.

Foreigners learn to kick shuttlecocks in Dongwu town, Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on Jan 18, 2022. More than 20 foreigners from over 10 countries were invited to experience Chinese Solar power Renewable Energy customs in celebration of the upcom- Climate Action China Green Planing Spring Festival. et

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24.01.2022