CHINA MIRROR WEEKLY NEWS 29 ISSUE

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Association for Sri Lanka China Social and Cultural Co-operation

China calls for efforts conducive to direct negotiations on Ukraine.

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Chinese vice4 premier stress- 25 es high-quality4 development of Xi stresses firm adherence to 10 6 China's path of human rights Belt and Road Initiative. development 3 8

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22-28 Feb 2022

China calls for efforts conducive to direct

negotiations on Ukraine.

Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, address-

A Chinese envoy on Monday called for

es an emergency session of the UN General Assembly on Ukraine at the UN

efforts to create an enabling atmosphere

headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., February 28, 2022. /CFP

and conditions for direct negotiations

and the relevant parties of the interna-

over the Ukraine conflict.

confrontation should be abandoned, as

tional community should prioritize re-

The situation in Ukraine is changing sharp-

nothing can be gained from stirring up a

gional peace and stability and universal

ly and has evolved to a point where China

new Cold War and everyone stands to

security for all, and should help de-

does not wish to see and where it is not in

lose, he warned.

escalate tensions and facilitate a diplo-

the interests of any party, said Zhang Jun,

One country's security should not come

matic settlement, he said, stressing that

China's permanent representative to the

at the expense of the other's, and region-

China does not approve of any approach

United Nations.

al security should not rely on reinforc-

that may exacerbate tensions.

The immediate priority is for all parties

ing or even expanding military blocs, he

China supports relevant UN agencies'

concerned to exercise restraint, prevent the

said.

continued work on humanitarian aid in

worsening of the situation while stepping

China supports the European Union,

Ukraine and believes that the safety of

up diplomatic efforts aiming for a political

NATO and Russia in resuming dia-

civilian life and property and their hu-

solution, he told an emergency special

logues, bearing in mind the concept of

manitarian needs should be effectively

session of the UN General Assembly on

indivisible security, properly addressing

guaranteed, he said.

Ukraine.

the legitimate security concerns of all

"As a permanent member of the UN

"China welcomes the start of direct dia-

parties, including those of Russia, and

Security Council, China always earnest-

logues and negotiations between Russia

striving to put in place a balanced, ef-

ly fulfills its responsibility of maintain-

and Ukraine," Zhang said, adding that

fective and sustainable European securi-

ing international peace and security,"

Ukraine should serve as a bridge of com-

ty mechanism, so as to achieve lasting

said Zhang.

munication between the East and the West,

peace and stability on the European

"It is our consistent and unequivocal

rather than an outpost for confrontation

continent, he said.

position that all countries' sovereignty

between major powers.

At a UN Security Council briefing on

and territorial integrity should be re-

"We call for efforts to create an enabling

the humanitarian situation in Ukraine on

spected, and that the purposes and prin-

atmosphere and conditions for direct nego-

Monday, Zhang reiterated China's

ciples of the UN Charter should be up-

tiations between the parties concerned, as

stance that the safety of life and proper-

held. China will continue to play a con-

this is the fundamental way to resolve the

ty of all civilians, including foreign

structive role in the pursuit and realiza-

issue," he said.

nationals, and their humanitarian needs

tion of peace," he said.

All actions taken by the United Nations

should be effectively guaranteed.

A Cold-War mentality based on bloc

"It is of utmost importance to prevent a large-scale humanitarian crisis."

22-28 Feb 2022

Xi stresses firm adherence to China's path of human rights development Xinhua 28 Feb BEIJING — Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has stressed unswerving adherence to China's path of human rights development.

Xi made the remarks while presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Feb 25.

Xi called for more efforts to pay attention to, respect and safeguard human rights and better advance the development of China's human rights cause as the country has embarked on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist China.

To respect and protect human rights is a persistent pursuit of the CPC, Xi stressed.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC has continued to make the respect for and protection of human rights an important agenda of national governance, and has prompted historic achievements in China's human rights cause, Xi said.

The problem of absolute poverty has been solved, whole-process people's democracy further developed, social equity and justice firmly safeguarded, and the world's largest education, social security and healthcare systems established, Xi said, highlighting some of the progress in human rights development.

China has effectively combated COVID-19 to protect the health and safety of the people to the greatest extent possible. China maintains that all ethnic groups are equal, respects people's religious beliefs, and safeguards the lawful rights and interests of people of all ethnic groups, Xi said.

China has ensured long-term social stability. It is the only major country in the world that has consecutively formulated and enforced four national human rights action plans.

It also actively participates in global governance on human rights, Xi added.

In the practice of advancing the cause of human rights, China has blazed a path of human rights development that is consistent with the trend of the times and suits the nation's conditions, Xi stressed.

Xi noted six main features of China's development of human rights: upholding the Party's leadership, respecting the people's principal position, proceeding from national realities, upholding the rights to subsistence and development as the primary and basic human rights, safeguarding human rights in accordance with the law, and participating in global governance on human rights.

The features are also experience that should be further upheld and developed in the context of new

practices, Xi said.

Xi urged further efforts to fulfill the people's expectation for high-quality and better lives, and meet their growing needs to exercise lawful rights in various aspects.

The legal protection for human rights should be strengthened to fully cover the whole process of legislation, law enforcement, administration of justice, and observance of the law, Xi stressed, adding that the miscarriage of justice, which hurts people's sentiments and interests, must be completely eradicated.

Xi urged extensive publicity and dissemination of human rights knowledge, so as to create a positive environment for respecting and protecting human rights.

Xi stressed actively promoting global governance on human rights, upholding the common values of humanity, and advancing the global governance on human rights in a fairer, more equitable, rational and inclusive direction.

Human rights cannot be detached from the context of different social, political conditions as well as history and cultural traditions in different countries, Xi said.

Whether human rights are upheld in a country cannot be judged by the criteria from others, Xi said, adding that the practices of applying double standards or using human rights issues as political tools to interfere in others' internal affairs must be opposed.

22-28 Feb 2022

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the first plenary meeting of the 33rd session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb 27, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]

sion of the 13th NPC, which will open on March 5.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the session's first plenary meeting. A total of 157 members of the NPC Standing Committee attended the meeting.

Lawmakers reviewed the work report of the NPC Standing Committee. The Xinhua 27 Feb work report will be submitted to the annual assembly of the BEIJING -- The Standing Com- legislature in March for delibmittee of the 13th National Peo- eration.

Lawmakers also reviewed the ple's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, started its 33rd draft agenda for the NPC annual session, the draft name session Sunday to prepare for the upcoming fifth annual ses- list of the annual session's presidium and secretary-

China's top legislature starts standing committee session

general, and the draft name list of members invited to sit in on the annual session as non-voting participants.

They deliberated a draft decision on the ranks for activeduty soldiers of the People's Liberation Army, a draft decision to establish a ChengduChongqing financial court, and a report on the implementation of a decision by the NPC Standing Committee regarding the litigation procedure of intellectual property cases.

Lawmakers also reviewed a report on certain deputies' qualifications, as well as personnel-related bills.

22-28 Feb 2022

China launches a Long March 4C rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwestern China's Gobi Desert to deploy an Earth-observation radar satellite on Feb 27, 2022. [Photo by Zhuang Jiajing/For chinadaily.com.cn]

China launches rocket to deploy Earthobservation satellite

China Daily 27 Feb China launched a Long March 4C rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwestern China's Gobi Desert to deploy an Earthobservation radar satellite on Sunday morning, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the nation's leading space contractor.

The rocket blasted off at 7:44 am and soon placed the 3.2 metric ton Land Surveyor 1-01B satellite in a quasisun-synchronous orbit about 607 kilometers above the ground and will team up with its predecessor -- Land Surveyor 1-01A that was launched on Jan 26 – to use their L-band synthetic aperture radars to carry out round-the -clock, all-weather observation of ground areas, the State-owned con-

glomerate said in a statement.

Both the satellite and the rocket were built by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. The launch marked the 408th flight of the Long March rocket family and the third space mission by China.

After their in-orbit tests, the twosatellite system will be tasked with providing data and images to land resources, disaster prevention and relief, mapping, and forestry authorities and will extensively strengthen the rapid response capability for major natural disasters, according to the space administration.

22-28 Feb 2022

65

Bhikkhus

from

China and 65 from Sri Lanka

jointly

per-

formed a Seth Pirith Chanting friendship

for

the

On 26th February, 65 Bhikkhus from China and 65 from Sri Lanka jointly performed a Seth Pirith Chanting for the friendship, health and well-beings of the peoples of the two countries to commemorate the 65th Anniversary of Sri Lanka China Diplomatic Relations.

Ambassador Qi Zhenhong and Sri Lanka Ambassador Dr. Palitha Kohona Sri Lanka Embassy in China joined the event respectively in Anuradhapura and Beijing.

Ambassador Qi Zhenhong The Buddhist exchanges between China and Sri Lanka date back thousands of years and are deeply rooted in the heart of our peoples.

See More Photos

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22-28 Feb 2022

22-28 Feb 2022

Chinese vice premier stresses highquality development of Belt and Road Initiative.

Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the leading group for promoting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), chairs the conference of the leading group for promoting the BRI in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 24,

BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng stressed the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) at a meeting Thursday, urging efforts to improve people's sense of gain in participating countries.

Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while chairing the conference of the leading group for promoting the BRI.

With remarkable achievements in

Han called for greater alignment

jointly building the BRI, the work

of the BRI and China's major

should stick to the basics of main-

strategies and coordinated devel-

taining stability while pursuing pro-

opment, which will offer more

gress and comprehensively imple-

support for the country's dual cir-

ment the new development concepts,

culation development paradigm,

he said.

where domestic and overseas mar-

Han said the BRI should continue to

kets reinforce each other.

feature extensive consultation, joint

Also emphasizing risk prevention

contribution, and shared benefits and

and control, Han urged efforts to

aim for high-standard, sustainable,

strengthen risk monitoring and

and people-centered progress.

prediction of major projects of the

More energy should go into projects

BRI.

concerning people's livelihood to

Thursday's meeting reviewed

improve people's sense of gain in

jointly building the BRI in 2021

participating countries, Han said.

and mapped out priorities this year.

22-28 Feb 2022

U.S. is South China Sea "troublemaker ": military spokesperson BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese military spokesperson on Thursday said the United States has become a "troublemaker" and "accident-maker" in the South China Sea, rather than a "defender" of free navigation and over-

China urges Japan to properly handle historical issues BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua)

China Sea," said the spokesperson.

flight as it has claimed.

The United States has aggravated ten- He added that several severe accision by blatantly sending military

dents in other sea areas in recent

ships and aircraft to the South China

years also resulted from actions of

Sea, said Tan Kefei, a spokesperson

U.S. military ships and aircraft.

for the Ministry of National Defense, Tan urged the United States to

at a press conference.

immediately stop its extensive and

"Free navigation and overflight have

high-frequency military activities

never been a problem in the South

in the South China Sea, which he

China Sea," said Tan.

said should be a sea of peace,

"We all know that since last year, the friendship and cooperation.

U.S. military has caused a submarine collision and an air crash in the South

China's Foreign Ministry on Thursday urged the Japanese side to properly handle issues left over from history so as not to lose further credibility in the eyes of its Asian neighbors and the international community.

It has been reported that Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Minister Chung Euiyong expressed his concerns over Japan's bid to register the war-linked gold mines on Sado Island as a UNESCO World Heritage Site when holding talks with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay in Paris on Tuesday.

When asked to comment on Chung's remarks, spokesperson Hua Chunying told a daily press briefing that China's position on the issue of forced labor in Japan during World

War II is constant and clear, noting that China understands and supports the attitude of the ROK. The forced recruitment and enslavement of laborers were grave crimes committed by the Japanese military during its overseas acts of aggression and colonial rule, Hua said. In a similar previous bid, Japan admitted that there was forced labor at some of these sites involving workers from China, the Korean Peninsula and other Asian countries, and promised to set up an information center to honor the victims, but never fulfilled that promise.

"Now, ignoring the painful memories of its neighbors, Japan is trying to make a similar new bid, which will only trigger stronger indignation and opposition," Hua said.

Japan should face up to its history, adopt an honest and responsible attitude, and take concrete actions to properly handle issues left over from history so as not to lose further credibility in the eyes of its Asian neighbors and the international community, she said.

22-28 Feb 2022

Photo taken on Feb. 25, 2022 shows an empty street in Kiev, capital of Ukraine. (Xinhua/Lu Jinbo)

Chinese FM elaborates China's basic position on Ukrainian issue The Chinese side supports and encourages all diplomatic efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, said

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday elaborated China's basic position on the Ukrainian issue.

He made these remarks and exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine during his phone talks with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell as well as Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counselor to French President Emmanuel Macron, respectively.

Wang expounded on China's basic position on the Ukrainian issue in the following five points.

First, China firmly stands for respecting and safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and

earnestly abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, said Wang.

Secondly, China advocates the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, he said.

Thirdly, he said, "China has been following the evolution of the Ukrainian issue, and the present situation is something we do not want to see."

Fourth, the Chinese side supports and encourages all diplomatic efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.

Fifth, China believes that the UN Security Council should play a constructive role in resolving the Ukrainian issue and that regional peace and stability as well as the security of all countries should be the priorities, he added.

22-28 Feb 2022

Zhang Xuecheng.

"The camera he used to shoot his videos was the only gift I managed to send him. My father was a rural doctor who felt deeply about our choral tradition. As the songs don't have lyrics and can only be passed on to the next generation through cal tradition performed without mu-

Woman seeks to showcase Dong culture China Daily 27 Feb

sical accompaniment, often makes an appearance in the videos. The 32year-old has been trying to become a recognized inheritor of this world intangible cultural heritage since 2015 and now promotes it through

singing, he volunteered to record the songs from villagers, and transcribed the melodies in notebooks," Zhang said, adding that her father didn't get married until he was 40 because he was so busy with his collection.

social media.Perhaps unlike most

Some of his notebooks were burned

other livestreamers, Zhang's first

by her mother as part of funeral tradi-

inheritance was her father's final

tions, but Zhang insisted on keeping a

wish.After graduating, she was

few.

working in foreign trade in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong prov-

Her father's love for Dong choral sing-

Zhang Guodan, an ethnic Dong woman

ince, earning about 500,000 yuan

ing and his unfinished work touched

from Liping county in Southwest Chi-

($79,000) a year.

the young woman. "Let me sing, or

na's Guizhou province, produces short videos showcasing the culture and life of people in her hometown and sells agricultural products via livestreaming to boost local industry and rural vitalization.

Dong choral singing, a polyphonic vo-

the song will be buried with me," she

In the winter of 2015, she received

recounts one old man saying in one of

news of her father's accidental death the videos. "By the time I watched it, and returned home. While she was neither he nor my father were alive. I packing up his belongings, she

realized then the importance of record-

found a lot of videos of Dong cho-

ing these songs."

rals, as well as songs recorded and written down by her late father,

22-28 Feb 2022

Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022 captures lovers sharing a tender moment at a Marriage Registration Office on the special "Twosday" in Changchun City, north China's Jilin Province.

A villager works in a field in Xindian Visitors pose for photo on the roof of a Town of Yuping Dong Autonomous County in Tongren City, southwest skyscraper in Chongqing on Feb 23, 2022. The high-altitude site has drawn China's Guizhou Province, Feb. 21, 2022. Farming activities are in full many tourists as an attractive vantage swing across the country. (Photo by point to get an aerial view of the city.

Hu Panxue/Xinhua)

China's Sui Wenjing and Han Cong perform their pairs free skate routine during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Capital Indoor Stadium on Feb 19, 2022. The pair captured the Olympic gold medal. [Photo/Xinhua]

Fog shrouds Changsha, capital of Hunan province, in the morning of Feb 24, 2022. The phenomenon, known as advection fog, forms when moist air moves above a colder surface.

A plane of SF Airlines Co., Ltd. takes off at Bao'an International Airport in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/ Mao Siqian)

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28.02.2022