CHINA MIRROR WEEKLY NEWS 32 ISSUE

V O L U M E - 1

I S S U E - 3 2

1 5 - 2 1

M A R C H

2 0 2 2

Association for Sri Lanka China Social and Cultural Co-operation

Xi stresses ethnic unity, strengthening sense of community for Chinese nation

President Xi Jinping Has a Video Call with US President Joe Biden 3

2

Wang Yi urges greater securi2 5 ty role for SCO amid Ukraine conflict 4

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof.

G.L Peiris held discussions with the Ambassador of China6 in Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong at the Ministry

China-aided hospital in Sri Lanka completes 1st organ trans-

4

4 10

7

3

New development philosophy helps China prosper, benefits world 3 3

5 2

8

11 5 4

15-21 March 2022

President Xi Jinping Has a Video Call with US President Joe Biden On the evening of 18 March, President Xi Jinping had a video call with US President Joe Biden at the request of the latter. The two Presidents had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on China-US relations, the situation in Ukraine, and other issues of mutual interest.

President Biden said that 50 years ago, the US and China made the important choice of issuing the Shanghai Communiqué. Fifty years on, the US-China relationship has once again come to a critical time.

How this relationship develops will shape the world in the 21st century.

Biden reiterated that the US does not seek a new Cold War with China; it does not aim to change China’s system; the revitalization of its alliances is not targeted at China; the US does not support “Taiwan independence”; and it has no intention to seek a conflict with China.

The US is ready to have candid dialogue and closer cooperation with China, stay committed to the oneChina policy, and effectively manage competition and disagreements to ensure the steady growth of the relationship. President Biden expressed readiness to stay in close touch with President Xi to set the direction for the US-China relationship.

President Xi noted the new major developments in the international landscape since their first virtual meeting last November. The prevailing trend of peace and development is facing serious challenges.

The world is neither tranquil nor stable. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and the world’s two leading economies,

China and the US must not only guide their relations forward along the right track, but also shoulder their share of international responsibilities and work for world peace and tranquility.

President Xi stressed that he and President Biden share the view that China and the US need to respect each other, coexist in peace and avoid confrontation, and that the two sides should increase communication and dialogue at all levels and in all fields. President Biden has just reiterated that the US does not seek to have a new Cold War with China, to change China’s system, or to revitalize alliances against China, and that the US does not support “Taiwan independence” or intend to seek a conflict with China. “I take these remarks very seriously,” said President Xi. President Xi pointed out that the China-US relationship, instead of getting out of the predicament created by the previous US administration, has encountered a growing number of challenges.

What’s worth noting in particular is that some people in the US have sent a wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” forces.

This is very dangerous. Mishandling of the Taiwan question will have a disruptive impact on the bilateral ties. China hopes that the US will give due attention to this issue. The direct cause for the current situation in the China-US relationship is that some people on the US side have not followed through on the important common understanding reached by the two Presidents and have not acted on President Biden’s positive statements. The US has misperceived and miscalculated China’s strategic intention.

President Xi underscored that there have been and will continue to be differences between China and the US. What matters is to keep such differences under con-

trol. A steadily growing relationship is in the interest of both sides.

The two sides exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine.

President Biden expounded on the US position, and expressed readiness for communication with China to prevent the situation from exacerbating.

President Xi pointed out that China does not want to see the situation in Ukraine to come to this. China stands for peace and opposes war. This is embedded in China’s history and culture.

China makes a conclusion independently based on the merits of each matter. China advocates upholding international law and universally recognized norms governing international relations.

China adheres to the UN Charter and promotes the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. These are the major principles that underpin China’s approach to the Ukraine crisis. China has put forward a six-point initiative on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, and is ready to provide further humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and other affected countries. All sides need to jointly support Russia and Ukraine in having dialogue and negotiation that will produce results and lead to peace. The US and NATO should also have dialogue with Russia to address the crux of the Ukraine crisis and ease the security concerns of both Russia and Ukraine.

President Xi stressed that with the need to fight COVID-19 on the one hand and protect the economy and people’s livelihood on the other, things are already very difficult for countries around the world. As leaders of major countries, we need to think about how to properly address global hotspot issues and, more importantly, 6

15-21 March 2022

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. G.L Peiris held discussions with the Ambassador of China in Sri Lanka, Qi Zhenhong at the Ministry on 18 March, 2022.

During the meeting, a first day cover issued by the Chinese authorities to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka and the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Rubber-Rice Pact between the two countries in 1952, was handed over to the Foreign Minister by the Chinese Ambassador.

Foreign Minister Peiris commended the support extended by the Government of China during the recently held 49th Human Rights Council. Minister Peiris also recalled the support extended by China during previous Human Rights Councils and expressed confidence abd hope that China would extend support when required in the future as well.

The discussions were also focused on the ongoing negotiations of the Sri

Lanka- China Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Minister Peiris highlighted that the 7th round of FTA negotiations will soon commence with the support of the respective line agencies in Sri Lanka.

The Foreign Minister also stated that the President has appointed three committees to resolve the ongoing food, medicine and cement shortages.

Ambassador Qi while stating that China had signed over 26 FTAs, expressed that finalising the proposed FTA between Sri Lanka and China would immensely benefit the Sri Lankan local market and products.

He also urged the Sri Lankan authorities to resume the 7th round of FTA negotiations at the earliest.

The Chinese Ambassador also thanked the Foreign Minister and expressed utmost satisfaction in the organising of a successful official visit for the State Councillor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, to Sri

Lanka in late December 2021. He also thanked the Government of Sri Lanka for issuing a commemorative coin on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Community Party.

Further, the Chinese Ambassador briefed the Foreign Minister on several welfare activities organised by the Embassy of China in Colombo for Buddhist Monks and Temples as well as providing 150 food parcels for needy people.

Both parties expressed great satisfaction over strong bilateral relations, including government to government contacts, people to people contacts as well as Party to Party contacts between the Chinese Communist Party and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.

State Minister for Regional Cooperation Tharaka Balasooriya, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy, were also present during the meeting.

15-21 March 2022

Wang Yi urges greater security role for SCO amid Ukraine conflict

Organization (SCO) to play a more active role in maintaining regional and global security and stability as the world faces turbulent changes and impacts brought by the Ukraine conflict.

Wang made the remarks during a meeting with new SCO SecretaryGeneral Zhang Ming in Beijing.

Noting the SCO is the world's largest and most populous regional institution, Wang called on the SCO to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, deepen the solidarity and cooperation among member states, and increase mutual support.

The SCO should actively practice the common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept to maintain regional stability and security, Wang stressed.

Chinese State Councilor and ForCTGN 17 March eign Minister Wang Yi (R) holds Chinese State Councilor and Foreign talks with SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming in Beijing, China, Minister Wang Yi on Thursday called on the Shanghai Cooperation March 17, 2022. /Chinese Foreign Ministry

Wang voiced opposition against reviving the Cold War mentality and stoking confrontation between blocs, adding the pursuit of exclusive security and absolute security is futureless and harmful.

The Chinese foreign minister also called for resolutely opposing illegal unilateral sanctions, respecting the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and safeguarding international justice and equity.

The SCO is highly concerned about the situation in Ukraine and hopes that peace will be restored and the long-term peace and security of the world will be realized, Zhang told Wang.

Zhang added he will lead the SCO secretariat to actively perform its duties, carry out solid work, coordinate and promote cooperation in various fields, and make due contribution to the development of the SCO.

15-21 March 2022

Yang Jiechi (1st L), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, meets with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (1st R) in Rome, Italy, March 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Jin Mamengni)

Senior Chinese diplomat meets U.S. national security advisor

ROME, March 14 (Xinhua) -Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Monday in Rome, capital of Italy.

Both sides conducted candid, indepth and constructive communication over China-U.S. relations, as well as international and regional issues of common concern.

The two sides agree to jointly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, increase understanding, manage differences, expand consensus and strengthen cooperation, so as to accumulate conditions for bringing China-U.S. relations back to the track of sound and steady development.

Yang, also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said the implementation of the consensus between the two heads of state is the most important task for China-U.S. relations.

He said that Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation as the three principles in developing China-

U.S. relations in the new era, which has charted the course for the development of the bilateral ties.

U.S. President Joe Biden responded positively with such important commitments as that the United States does not seek a new Cold War or to change China's system, nor will it oppose China through strengthening alliances, support "Taiwan independence," or seek confrontation with China, Yang said.

The Chinese side always views and handles bilateral relations in accordance with the three principles put forth by President Xi, Yang said, expressing his hope that the U.S. side can truly deliver on President Biden's promises. 6

15-21 March 2022

Senior Chinese diplomat meets U.S. ...

Under the current international situation, China and the United States should strengthen dialogue and cooperation, properly manage differences and prevent conflict and confrontation, which not only serves the interests of the two people but also meets the expectation of the international community and the interests of people across the world, he added.

Stressing that the Taiwan question concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Yang said in the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, the U.S. side explicitly recognized that there is only one China and that the one-China principle is the premise for establishing diplomatic relations between China and the United States as well as the political foundation of their relations.

The current U.S. administration

President Xi Jinping Has a Video Call with US .. keep in mind global stability and the work and life of billions of people. Sweeping and indiscriminate sanctions would only make the people suffer. If further escalated, they could trigger serious crises in global economy and trade, finance, energy, food, and industrial and supply chains, crippling the already languishing world economy and causing irrevocable losses. The more complex the situation, the greater the need to remain cool-headed and rational. Whatever the circumstances, there is always a need for political courage to create space for peace and leave room for political settlement. As two Chinese sayings go, “It takes two hands to clap.” “He who tied the bell to the tiger must take it off.” It is imper-

has pledged to adhere to the one -China policy and not to support "Taiwan independence" in regard to the Taiwan question, but its actions are obviously inconsistent with its statements, he said.

The Chinese side expresses grave concern over and firm opposition to the recent wrong words and deeds of the U.S. side on Taiwan-related issues, Yang noted, adding that any attempts to condone and support "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, or play the "Taiwan card" and use the Taiwan question to contain China will be futile.

China urges the U.S. side to recognize the high sensitivity of the Taiwan question, abide by the one-China principle, the provisions of the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques and the commitments made by the U.S. side, and stop going further down the dangerous path.

Yang expounded on China's sol-

ative that the parties involved demonstrate political will and find a proper settlement in view of both immediate and long-term needs. Other parties can and should create conditions to that end. The pressing priority is to keep the dialogue and negotiation going, avoid civilian casualties, prevent a humanitarian crisis, and cease hostilities as soon as possible. An enduring solution would be for major countries to respect each other, reject the Cold War mentality, refrain from bloc confrontation, and build step by step a bal-

emn position on issues related to Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong, pointing out that these issues concern China's core interests and are China's internal affairs that allow no foreign interference. Any attempt to use these issues to suppress China will fail, he said.

Yang noted that seeking common ground while shelving differences and building a bridge of cooperation on top of proper settlement of differences is the right way for China and the United States to get along with each other, which has been tested by practice since the Shanghai Communique was issued 50 years ago.

The two sides should learn from history, grasp the premise of mutual respect, hold the bottom line of peaceful coexistence and seize the key of win-win cooperation, he said.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues including the Ukraine issue, the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Iran nuclear issue and the Afghanistan issue.

anced, effective and sustainable security architecture for the region and for the world. China has been doing its best for peace and will continue to play a constructive role.

The two Presidents agreed that the video call is constructive. They directed their teams to promptly follow up and take concrete ac-

15-21 March 2022

China-aided hospital in Sri Lanka completes 1st organ transplant COLOMBO, March 18 (Xinhua)

A specialized nephrology hospital in Sri Lanka, built with the assistance of the Chinese government, has successfully performed a kidney transplant surgery from a living donor recently, the first of its kind since the operation of the hospital.

The China-Sri Lanka Friendship National Nephrology Hospital said the recipient of the transplant is a 28year-old woman who had been suffering from kidney disease for 10 years and the kidney donator is her mother.

The mother and daughter are in stable condition after the surgery, and both the medical staff and patient are very satisfied with the results of the operation, according to the hospital.

Buddima Jayawickrama, a wellknown transplant surgeon in Sri Lanka, who was in charge of the surgery, attributed the success of the operation to adequate preparation and close collaboration among all parties, as well as to the advanced and complete medical facilities of the hospital, especially giving credit to the technical team of the Chinese company that built the hospital for providing the hardware guarantee for the operation.

The success of this transplant surgery is a good start, which makes the hospital more confident to become an important platform for kidney transplant in Sri Lanka and South Asia, said Sampath Indika Kumara, director of the hospital.

The China-Sri Lanka Friendship National Nephrology Hospital, located in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and officially opened in June 2021, has an area of 25,000 square meters, featuring 200 general inpatient beds,

A medical worker attends to the recipient of a kidney transplant in an ICU of the China-Sri Lanka Friendship National Nephrology Hospital in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, March 17, 2022. The China-Sri Lanka Friendship National Nephrology Hospital, a specialized nephrology hospital in Sri Lanka built with the assistance of the Chinese government, has successfully performed a kidney transplant surgery from a living donor recently, the first of its kind since the operation of the hospital. (Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd./Handout via Xinhua)

15-21 March 2022

Chinese Ambassador H.E. QI Zhenhong hosted a 2-hours press conference with around 50 news agencies from China, Sri Lanka and int'l media today at Colombo. A wide range of topics focusing China - SriLanka relations have been discussed.

Woman gives birth to quintuplets in Shandong China Daily

A young woman gave birth to quintuplets, a daughter and four sons, on Sunday in Tai'an, East China's Shandong province, according to the Xiaoxiang Morning Herald, a local newspaper in

Central China's Hunan province.

pregnant women, the director said.

A medical worker from Tai'an Central Hospital told the newspaper on Monday the five infants were in good condition, all in neonatal intensive care units and weighed from 1.14 to 1.4 kilograms.

The hospital has arranged rounds of multidisciplinary consultation to provide nutrition guidance and set up an emergency plan team for her during the pregnancy.

Li Qinwen, director of the hospital's obstetrics and gynecology center, said quintuplets are a rare phenomenon and their rate in a natural pregnancy was only one in 60 million.

The mother, 24, showed symptoms of edema, insomnia, hypertension and proteinuria recently.

Doctors reviewed the situation and prepared a cesarean section for the mother on Sunday.

Multiple pregnancies carries high risks, such as the fetus not getting sufficient nutrition and premature delivery, and it can also lead to hypertension for

The eldest, the daughter, was born around 9:30 am and the last at 9:53 am. Because the five newborns were premature, they are on ventilators and being closely monitored at the hospital.

15-21 March

Passenger plane carrying 132 people crashes in south China, rescue underway CGTN Updated 22:47, 21-Mar-2022 A Boeing 737-800 passenger jetliner with 132 people on board crashed into a mountainous area in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region at about 2:38 p.m. on Monday.

The crashed plane, operated by China Eastern Airlines, was flying from Kunming, the capital city of southwest China's Yunnan Province, to Guangzhou, capital of the southern Guangdong Province. The plane lost contact while flying over the city of Wuzhou, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) confirmed.

The crash site is located at Molang Village, Langnan Town in Tengxian County, Wuzhou City in Guangxi, according to a local emergency department.

There were 123 passengers and nine crew members aboard the flight MU5735, which took off at about 1:15 p.m. and was scheduled to land in Guangzhou at 3:05 p.m.

The number of casualties remains unknown.

China Eastern Airlines' website and some of its social media platforms were turned to black and white in a sign of mourning.

The accident triggered a mountain fire, which has been extinguished, China Media Group (CMG) reported, citing local emergency management staff.

All-out rescue efforts Shortly after the plane crash, Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered all-out efforts for rescue operations and appointed State Council members to find out the cause of the incident as soon as possible, strengthening the investigation of safety hazards in

civil aviation and ensuring the absolute safety of aviation operations and peo-

ple's lives.

The CAAC and China Eastern Airlines have activated emergency mechanisms and sent working teams to the scene.

The airline has opened a special line for emergency assistance to family members and established nine special working groups for aircraft disposal, accident investigation, family assistance, logistics support, legal support, public relations, security, financial insurance and cargo disposal, the company said.

Families of some crew members of the crashed flight have arrived in the company's branch office in Yunnan Province, and an assistance team is working on follow-up issues with them, CMG has

learned.

After the plane crash, the Wuzhou fire rescue team immediately dispatched 23 fire trucks and 117 rescuers to the site. Another 538 rescue workers from other parts of Guangxi have been sent to the scene to reinforce the rescue effort.

The neighboring Guangdong Province has also dispatched 505 firefighters and 97 vehicles to aid the rescue operation, with the first batch already having arrived at the scene.

The regional health commission of Guangxi has dispatched 12 medical experts to the site, while over 80 medical workers and 36 ambulances sent by health authorities in Wuzhou have arrived at the scene, Xinhua reported.

15-21 March 2022

China reaffirms 'four musts' stance on Ukraine issue CGTN 16 March

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday said the "four musts" highlighted by President Xi Jinping are China's clearest and the most authoritative attitude on the Ukraine issue.

All measures taken by China will be based on the "four musts," Wang told Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wopke Hoekstra in a phone conversation.

During his virtual summit with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on March 8, Xi said China maintains that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be fully observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously, and all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis must be supported.

A checkpoint at the western entrance of Kyiv, Ukraine, as a curfew is imposed, March 14, 2022. / CFP Wang said China has always been committed to peaceful settlement of disputes through political means, and is ready to work with the Netherlands and other countries of the European Union to play a constructive role in resolving the Ukraine crisis.

Noting that Russia and Ukraine have held four rounds of talks and progress has been slow, Wang said there is hope for a ceasefire and a peaceful future can be opened up if the talks can be maintained, adding that China will continue making efforts in its own way to promote peace talks.

Sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe against Russia, which have been escalating, have compounded the difficulties facing a struggling global economic recovery and inflicted undue damage on the people's livelihood of various countries, he said, calling on all parties to do more to promote peace talks and not the opposite.

Wang stressed that the top priority for the international community at the moment is to deal with a possible large-scale humanitarian crisis.

China has already put forward a six -point proposal on easing the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and taken concrete actions, with the first batch of emergency humanitarian aid arriving and being distributed, and with more assistance to be provided in the future as needed, he added.

that dialogue and negotiations are the most important means to resolve conflicts and confrontation, and expressed hope that China will continue to play a positive role to facilitate the efforts.

All countries should respect others' sovereignty and territorial integrity and adhere to the basic norms governing international relations, Hoekstra said.

Wang responded that this is China's consistent stance. He called for walking the talk on the Taiwan question as well and refraining from double standards.

Wang noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations between China and the Netherlands, callThe Chinese diplomat expressed ing for efforts to promote new hope that European countries can development in the open and sit down with Russia for an inpragmatic partnership for comdepth and comprehensive dialogue, prehensive cooperation between and discuss ways to set up a balthe two countries. anced, effective and sustainable European security framework in a Hoekstra said the Netherlands bid to achieve long-term stability in stands ready to enhance commuEurope. nication and exchanges with China in holding a series of events to Hoekstra said the Netherlands apmark the anniversary and further preciates China's humanitarian aid developing bilateral ties. to Ukrainian refugees. He stressed

15-21 March 2022

OSARFCC- CAFIU meeting Organization for South Asian Regional Friendship and Cooperation with China (CAFIU) and Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU) co-organized a zoom meeting to initiate joint cooperation officially on 16th March 2022.

Liu Lujun, Deputy Secretary General of CAFIU chaired the meeting and Anoop Ranjan Bhattarai headed the OSARFCC delegation. CAFIU ,Deputy Secretary General Liu Lujun ,

.Anoop Ranjan Bhattarai, President of

OSARFCC & Chairman of Nepal China Executive Council (NCEC) , Air Vice Marshal (Rtd.) Altaf Hossain Choudhury, President of Bangladesh China Cultural Economic and Mass Communication center (BCCEMCC) , Mohamed Rasheed, President of China Maldivian Cultural Association (CMCA), Dr. George Herman Fernandez, President of India China Friendship Association (ICFA), Farwa Zafar, General Secretary of All Pakistan China Friendship Association (APCFA (introducing APCFA) and Indrananda Abeysekera, President of Association for Sri Lanka-China Social & Cultural Cooperation (ASLCSCC) delivered the speeches at the meeting.

15-21 March 2022

The Chun'an County in Hangzhou City, China's Zhejiang Province is a large tea production county. At present, it has entered the stage of comprehensive mining. Local villages and towns have strengthened the dispatching service of spring tea picking, processing and sales, and mobilized tea farmers and tea enterprises to actively organize the production works.

In spring when flowers bloom, visitors will visit the cherry blossom forest in Jiangbei DisIn the greenhouse fruit and vegetable trict, Ningbo City, China's production base in the National Ag- Zhejiang Province. What a viricultural Science and Technology brant scene of spring.

Park of Wensu County, China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, employees are picking cherry tomatoes for sale. In October last year, the park introduced new varieties of cherry tomatoes from Shandong Province, successfully planted in the greenhouse and ushered in the harvest season. It adopts online and offline sales and sells well in major In Benji village, Dagong Town, Hai'an City, Jiangsu Province, markets. villagers are driving plant protection machinery to spray pesticides in the wheat field

NEWS CONTRIBUTION Embassy of China in Sri Lanka, CPAFFC, CAFIU, and other Chinese Media PUBLISHER

D30, Matha Road, Manning Town Colombo 8 Sri Lanka

Executive Editor Indrananda Abeysekera

Phone: +94 112695772 +94 710885588

714925151

E-mail: chinamirrorsl@gmail.com chinamirrorsl@yahoo.com

Editor in Chief Madushan Kularathne

21.03.2022