CHINA MIRROR WEEKLY NEWS 36 ISSUE

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Association for Sri Lanka China Social and Cultural Co-operation

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

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Xi stresses role of "Chinese seeds" in ensuring food security 2 7

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5 Chinese astronauts return with six-2 month space station mission accom4 plished 10

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RMB's importance to continue rising as Chinese economy grows, says Brit3 ish expert 2 3

Chinese, Vietnamese FMs hold phone talks over ties 8

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11-18 April 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a seed laboratory to learn about seed industry innovation in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, April 10, 2022. Xi on Sunday inspected the city of Sanya, south China's Hainan Province. (Xinhua/ Li Xueren)

SANYA, April 11 (Xinhua) Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Sunday stressed the crucial role of "Chinese seeds" in ensuring the country's food security.

China's food security can only be safeguarded when seed resources are firmly held in our own hands, Xi said while inspecting a seed laboratory in the city of Sanya, south China's Hainan Province.

"To ensure that China's seed resources are self-supporting and under better control, self-reliance must be achieved in seed technology," he said.

Highlighting the strategic significance of the related work, Xi called for carrying forward the spirit of scientists and researchers of the older generations, including Yuan Longping.

Xi also called for sustained efforts in developing the country's seed industry.

RMB's importance to continue rising as Chinese economy grows, says British expert

LONDON, April 17 (Xinhua) With the rising significance of the Chinese economy and China's efforts, the Chinese currency renminbi (RMB) has gained increasing importance internationally and the momentum is expected to continue, a British expert has said.

"China's economy has grown rapidly in recent decades and it has become the second largest economy in the world and even the largest economy in purchasing power parity terms," said Jan Knoerich, a senior lecturer in the economy of China at King's College London, during a recent written interview with Xinhua.

With such growing global importance of the Chinese economy, it is not surprising that the RMB's international status has been strengthening as well, he said.

"China is the world's largest trading nation (in goods), and the renminbi internationalisation has been driven primarily by the expansion of the

settlement of trade-related transactions in renminbi," the expert said, noting that the renminbi is much less important as a global investment or reserve currency.

Another factor that has contributed to the development of the currency is that the Chinese government has actively advanced international initiatives to support the internationalization of the renminbi, said Knoerich.

This, according to him, includes expanding the issuance of renminbidenominated bonds oversees, the launch of an offshore renminbi next to its onshore counterpart, the advancement of bilateral currency swap arrangements with other central banks, and the establishment of renminbi centers in the world's major financial hubs to facilitate crossborder trade settlements in the renminbi.

It also includes the launch of the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System to facilitate international clearing and settlements in the renminbi, the advancement of stock and bond connect programs, the inclusion of the renminbi in the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket, among others, he added.

London has also played a role as it has become the world's leading offshore RMB trading center.

"London and the UK have been at the forefront in supporting the development of initiatives that advanced the internationalisation of the renminbi," Knoerich said, noting that Britain hosted the first renminbi clearing bank outside Asia, and that London was among the first cities to establish an offshore renminbi hub.

Britain also strongly supported the inclusion of the renminbi in the IMF's SDR basket and was the first major Western country to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, he said, adding that London was also at the forefront when it came to establishing a stock connect program with Shanghai.

In the future, the expert noted, "As the global importance of the Chinese economy and China's international trade continues to grow, so will the importance of the renminbi."

11-18 April 2022

China has been helping Sri Lanka with its socioeconomic development to the best of our capability and will continue to do so in the future: Chinese FM Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, on Tuesday says that China and Sri Lanka have always enjoyed mutual understanding and mutual support since diplomaticrelations were established. China has been helping Sri Lanka with its socioeconomic development to the best of our capability and will continue to do so in the

Chinese Ambassador and Madam Qi Zhenhong donated food parcels as new year gifts to 850 housewives from low-income families in Kaduwela yesterday, with the support of the women's wing of @sjbsrilanka

11-18 April 2022

Chinese, Vietnamese FMs hold phone talks over ties

In a time of unprecedented global changes, a once-in-acentury pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, China and Vietnam need to give full play to the political advantages of the two parties and two countries, and carry forward their traditional friendship of "comrades and brothers," said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. BEIJING, April 14 (Xinhua) Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on

Thursday held a phone conversation with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son over bilateral ties.

China and Vietnam are close neighbors and both of them are pursuing a socialist path, Wang noted.

In a time of unprecedented global changes, a once-in-acentury pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, the two countries need to give full play to the political advantages of the two parties and two countries, and carry forward their traditional friendship of "comrades and brothers," said Wang.

The two countries need to run their own things well while maintaining the momentum for development and the revitalization, Wang said, adding

they also need to strengthen strategic communication and make new contribution to safeguarding regional peace and stability.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced that China will donate 150 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to ASEAN members within the year, Wang said.

China is ready to continue to provide Vietnam with antipandemic assistance, including COVID-19 vaccines, medical supplies and COVID-19 drugs, while pushing for early delivery of assistance to Vietnamese people's livelihood, Wang said. 6

11-18 April 2022

Chinese Ambassador QI Zhenhong met with Finance Minister Ali Sabry and had an in-depth discussion on Sri Lanka current economic situation, as well as Sri Lanka and China financial, economic, trade & investment cooperation. Amb. QI reiterated that China would always support Sri Lanka in trying times.

China Forestry Group to plant over 40,000 hectares of forests nationwide

BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) China Forestry Group Corporation said on Saturday that it will strive to plant 604,000 mu (40,267 hectares) of trees in the country in 2022.

The corporation will promote

large-scale afforestation and carry out afforestation activities according to local conditions, it said.

As the only centrally administered stateowned enterprise in the forestry field, China Forestry Group Corporation raked in 1.28 billion yuan (about 200 million U.S. dollars) in profits in 2020, jumping by 64.7 percent from the previous year.

China planted 3.6 million hectares of forest and converted 380,800 hectares of farmland into forest in 2021, and took targeted measures to improve the quality of forests, restoring 933,300 hectares of degraded forest last year.

11-18 April 2022

Chinese, Vietnamese FMs hold phone talks over ties……

to provide a more solid guarantee for the long-term stability of the South China Sea. Wang also expressed hope that Vietnam will play an active and Wang called for efforts from both constructive role in this regard.

For his part, Son extended consides to strengthen joint prevention and control efforts in border gratulations on China's successful holding of the 2022 Beijing port areas to ensure the safety of people at border ports and goods Winter Olympics, and wished the 20th national congress of the exported to China.

Communist Party of China a full success.

Wang also expressed hope that Always regarding the relationthe two countries launch more ship with China as a top priority cross-border railway services, of its foreign policy, Vietnam, he promote connections with the said, is willing to strengthen stranew western land-sea corridor, and build a "green passage" with tegic communication with China, consolidate political mutual trust, smoother logistics for highdeepen mutually beneficial coopquality Vietnamese agricultural eration and push for continuous products exported to China. development of the VietnamChina comprehensive strategic At present, the situation in the cooperative partnership.

South China Sea has remained generally stable with the joint efforts of China and ASEAN coun- Expressing his gratitude for Chitries, Wang said, adding that it is na's vigorous support to Vietnam precisely some forces outside the in fighting the pandemic, he said region with ulterior motives who Vietnam understands and reare anxious that the South China spects China's COVID-19 prevention policy, and expects the Sea will not be chaotic. two countries to continue to It serves the common interests of adopt flexible and effective measures to ensure the safety China and Vietnam to maintain against COVID-19 and the peace in the South China Sea, Wang said, noting that it is neces- smooth operation of ports. sary to give full play to the role of Against the backdrop of complex international and regional changthe land boundary negotiations es, Vietnam is ready to work and the three maritime working groups, push for substantive pro- with China to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of gress in demarcating the waters Parties in the South China Sea, outside the mouth of the Beibu Gulf and joint development in the reach a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the South South China Sea, and avoid uniChina Sea at an early date and lateral actions that may complimaintain peace and stability in cate the situation. the South China Sea. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Declara- He expressed the hope that substantive progress will be made in tion on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, Wang said, the consultations of the three calling for relevant parties to take maritime working groups of the this opportunity to reach an early two sides, with the demarcation of the waters outside the mouth agreement on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, so as of the Beibu Gulf to be promoted

as a priority.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine issue. Wang said the Ukraine issue has once again made Asian countries realize that maintaining peace and stability is precious and indulging in group confrontation will lead to endless risks.

The United States tries to create regional tension and provoke confrontation by pushing the "IndoPacific Strategy," which will seriously damage the hard-won peaceful development in the region and seriously erode the regional cooperation structure centered on ASEAN, he said.

We cannot let the Cold War mentality return to the region and the tragedy of Ukraine be repeated around us, Wang said.

Noting that both China and Vietnam are socialist countries, he said that China is willing to strengthen unity and cooperation with Vietnam, resist external risks, cope with the spillover impact of the Ukraine crisis on the region, and play an active role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

Son said that Vietnam welcomes China's contribution to promoting peace talks, ending conflicts and preventing humanitarian crises.

Vietnam maintains that all relevant parties should abide by the UN Charter and international law, and seek a long-term solution to differences on the basis of respecting the lawful rights and interests and interests of all parties.

Vietnam shares many similarities with China in its position and hopes to continue communication with China on the Ukrainian issue, Son said.

11-18 April 2022

Chinese astronauts return with six-month space station mission accomplished

tion.

BEIJING, April 16 (Xinhua) Three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-13 manned spaceship have completed their six-month space station mission and returned to Earth safely on Saturday.

The mission marks that China has completed the verifi* Three Chinese astronauts cation of key technologies of its space station, and also of the Shenzhou-13 sets a record for Chinese asmanned spaceship have completed their six-month tronauts' duration in orbit, said the China Manned space station mission and returned to Earth safely on Space Agency (CMSA).

Shenzhou-13's return capSaturday. sule, carrying astronauts * The mission marks that Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping China has completed the verification of key technol- and Ye Guangfu, touched ogies of its space station, down at the Dongfeng landand also sets a record for ing site in north China's InChinese astronauts' dura- ner Mongolia Autonomous tion in orbit.

Region at 9:56 a.m. (Beijing * This year, China will Time). complete the in-orbit con- The Shenzhou-13 manned struction of its space stamission was a complete suc-

cess, the CMSA announced.

The trio were carried out one by one by ground workers and placed onto chairs in front of the capsule. They looked relaxed and waved to the ground crew.

"Welcome back home," people cheered for the trio and raised their cameras to capture the historic moment.

"It is the power and strength of our country that built the highflying space station. I am proud of my great motherland," Zhai, the mission commander, told the state broadcaster CCTV in a live program.

Wang, first female to China's space station, said she is very happy to return to the motherland and wants to tell her 5year-old daughter that "her stars-picking mom is back."

Ye, a newcomer to space, said that he has realized his dream of flying into space.

11-18 April 2022

ber of scientific and technoChinese astronauts re- logical experiments, includturn with six-month ing manual remote operation space station mission and module transfer supported by the robotic arm. accomplished….

They performed extravehicThe return capsule separated ular activities (EVAs) twice from the spaceship's orbiting during the mission, in November and December recapsule at 9:06 a.m. under the command of the Beijing spectively.

Aerospace Control Center.

The first EVAs, performed The braking engine of the return capsule was ignited at by Zhai and Wang, took approximately 6.5 hours.

9:30 a.m., followed by the separation of the return cap- Wang's EVAs made her the sule from the propelling cap- country's first female astronaut to leave footprints in sule. outer space.

After the return capsule Zhai and Ye carried out landed successfully, the EVAs for the second time, ground search team arrived at the landing site. The medi- completed tasks such as liftcal personnel confirmed that ing panoramic camera and the astronauts were in good testing goods transport in about six hours of EVAs. health.

The EVAs further tested the function and performance of From separating from the space station core module to the core module airlock cabin, extravehicular suit and return to Earth, the journey mechanical arm, and astook only over nine hours, sessed the technologies rethe first time for a Chinese manned spacecraft to use the lated to EVAs, the coordina"rapid return mode." It short- tion of astronauts inside and ened the flight mainly by re- outside the space station, and the coordination beducing traveling circles tween space and Earth. around the orbit, according The crew members delivered to the CMSA. two live classes from the The Shenzhou-13 spaceship space station, on Dec. 9 and March 23, respectively. was launched from the In the classes, they conductJiuquan Satellite Launch ed various scientific experiCenter in northwest China ments, such as the crystallion Oct. 16, 2021, and later zation of supersaturated sodocked with the space stalution, a liquid bridge tion core module Tianhe.

During their stay in Tianhe, demonstration, water-oil separation and throwing obthe crew conducted a num-

jects under the zero-gravity condition, amazing numerous students on the ground.

In the second class, the trio expressed their expectations for the students on Earth. "We hope you will continue to gain scientific knowledge and explore the mysteries of science. The future space station is waiting for you guys," Wang said.

The six-month mission also saw Shenzhou-13 crew members celebrate traditional Chinese festivals in space. The trio became the first Chinese to spend the nation's most important festival -- the Chinese Lunar New Year -- in outer space.

They extended their Spring Festival greetings in a video released by the CMSA on New Year's Eve. They wished the motherland and all Chinese people prosperity.

With five launches, including two crewed missions, China completed the technology verification phase of its space station program.

This year, China will complete the in-orbit construction of its space station. It has planned six launch missions, including the launching of two lab modules Mengtian and Wentian, two cargo crafts Tianzhou-4 and Tianzhou-5, and two crewed missions Shenzhou-14 and Shenzhou-15.

11-18 April 2022

Air Vice Marshal (Rted) Altaf Hossain Choudhury President of Bangladesh-China Cultural ,Economic and Mass Communication Center (BCCEMCC.) has participated at the BANGLADESH NATIONAL CULTURAL FOUNDATION book launching Ceremony and the panel discussion .

Name of the book:“Mao Tse-tung er Deshe”Meaning: “In the country of Mao Zedong”.Author- Moulana Bashani, Name of the author is Mawlana Bhashani.,a great Internatinal Labour leader and a personal friend of Chairman Mao.The book published by Abdul Hai Shikder.

Rt to Lt: Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Altaf Hossain Choudhury, Prof. Dr. Anwarulla Chowdhury, Janab Mirza Faqrul Islam Alamgir and Kobi Abdul Hai Shikder.

11-18 April 2022

the 10 richest people in China.

With a fortune of 455 billion yuan ($72 billion), Zhong Shanshan, founder of Chinese bottled water giant Nongfu Spring, retained his position as China's richest person, according the latest Hurun Global Rich List 2022.

ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming ranked second, with a personal wealth of 340 billion yuan, followed by Zeng Yuqun (335 billion yuan), chairman of China's largest battery supplier Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd, and Tencent CEO Ma Huateng (330 billion yuan).

This year, a total of 3,381 entrepreneurs with a personal fortune of at least $1 billion entered the list, 153 more than the number in the previous year. China led with 1,133 billionaires, followed by the United States 716, and India 215.

Let's take a look at the 10 richest people in China.

Zhong Shanshan, founder of Chinese bottled water giant Nongfu Spring,

No 2 Zhang Yiming (340 billion yuan) No 3 Zeng Yuqun (335 billion yuan) chairman of China's largest battery supplier Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd

11-18 April 2022

The 10 Richest people in China...

No 4 Ma Huateng (330 billion yuan) Tencent CEO

No 5 Jack Ma and family (235 billion yuan) Alibaba Company

No 6 He Xiangjian and family (225 billion yuan)

No 7 (tie) Ding Lei (205 billion yuan) NetEase founder and CEO

No 7 (tie) Li Ka-shing and family (205 billion yuan) chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings.

No 9 Wang Wei (190 billion yuan) chairman and founder of SF Holding

No 10 Qin Yinglin and his wife Qian Ying (175 billion yuan) founder of Muyuan Group, a Henan-based major pig breeder.

11-18 April 2022

CPC opens 1st online public opinions on natl congress; offers reference for report of 20th congress GlobalTimes 15. April A national flag-raising ceremony is held at Tian'anmen Square during a ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2021.

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18.04.2022