CHINA MIRROR NEWS WEEKLY ISSUE 46

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Association for Sri Lanka China Social and Cultural Co-operation

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3 President Xi Meets HKSAR Chief Execu2 5 tive John Lee 2 2 Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with newly inaugurated Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee in Hong Kong, south China, July 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

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Xi confidence in Hong Kong’s

future of feats and glory

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Chinese FM to attend several high-level international meetings3 4

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Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong met with Foreign Minister in Sri Lanka Prof. G.L. Peiris. 7 5 4 3

28 june-4 July 2022

President Xi MeetsHKS AR Chief Executive John Lee

the chief executive and confi-

bilities as the chief executive

dence in Hong Kong's future.

and lead the HKSAR govern-

The central authorities will ful-

ment in fully and faithfully im-

ly support Lee and the sixth-

plementing the principle of

term HKSAR government in

"one country, two systems"

law-based governance, Xi

and the Basic Law of the

said while meeting with the

HKSAR.

chief executive who was

Xi called on Lee to unite peo-

sworn in on Friday morning.

ple from all walks of life in advancing Hong Kong's prosperity and writing new chapters of the practice of "one

country, two systems" in Hong Kong.

Expressing his gratitude for the trust of Xi and the central government, Lee

pledged to lead the HONG KONG, July 1 (Xinhua) President Xi Jinping met with newly inaugurated Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee here on Friday morning, expressing full support for

"We have full confidence in

HKSAR government in im-

you and the new-term HKSAR

proving governance and mak-

government, and we have full

ing new advances in Hong

confidence in Hong Kong's

Kong's development.

future," Xi said.

Accompanied by Lee, Xi also

The president expressed his

met with senior figures of the

hope that Lee will faithfully ful-

HKSAR's executive, legisla-

fill his constitutional responsi-

tive and judicial bodies

28 june-4 July 2022

Xi confidence in Hong Kong’s future

of feats and glory Xinhua July 2

*President Xi Jinping on Friday expressed confidence in Hong Kong's take-off toward "a splendid feat" with the solid implementation of "one country, two systems." *"There is no reason for us to change such a good policy, and we must adhere to it in the long run," said Xi, whose Hong Kong trip has gained widespread international attention. *The next five years will be crucial for Hong Kong to break new ground and achieve another leap forward, said Xi.

The practice of "one country, two systems" has achieved success in Hong Kong recognized by all, Xi said.

"There is no reason for us to change such a good policy, and we must adhere to it in the long run," said Xi, whose Hong Kong trip has gained widespread international attention.

Hong Kong is in a new stage of transitioning from chaos to order and then to greater prosperity.

HONG KONG, July 1 (Xinhua) -- The next five years will be crucial President Xi Jinping on Friday ex- for Hong Kong to break new pressed confidence in Hong Kong's ground and achieve another leap take-off toward "a splendid feat" forward, said Xi, also general secrewith the solid implementation of tary of the Communist Party of Chi"one country, two systems." na Central Committee and chairman Hong Kong will share the glory of of the Central Military Commisthe great rejuvenation of the Chi- sion. nese nation with the rest of the country, Xi said when attending a A NEW ERA meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Hong Kong is in a festive mood. the motherland and the inaugural Flags adorn avenues and alleys, red ceremony of the sixth-term govlanterns line the overpass to the ernment of the Hong Kong Special main pier of the Hong Kong Island, Administrative Region (HKSAR). and neon-lit celebratory messages The president extended cordial can be seen on the facades of skygreetings to all Hong Kong resiscrapers against the night sky. dents when addressing the events. Hong Kong people have every reaRecalling history, throughout son to be joyous on the celebratory which Hong Kong compatriots occasion and proud of their have always stood together with achievements over the past quarter the motherland, Xi praised the new of a century. era of Hong Kong since its return Since its return to the motherland, to the motherland in 1997 and the Hong Kong has overcome various resounding success of "one coun- difficulties and challenges and try, two systems." forged ahead with steady steps, Xi

said, lauding Hong Kong's "irreplaceable contributions" to the development of the motherland.

Over the years, Hong Kong has become an integral part of the country's overall development and actively aligned with national development strategies.

The Guangdong-Hong KongMacao Greater Bay Area, a significant national project, for example, has brought about new opportunities for Hong Kong.

From 1997 to 2021, Hong Kong's GDP more than doubled from 1.37 trillion Hong Kong dollars (174.59 billion U.S. dollars) to 2.86 trillion Hong Kong dollars.

Its economy remains one of the freest and most open in the world. While boasting a worldclass business environment, Hong Kong has maintained its status as an international financial, shipping and trade center.

Xi hailed the true democracy Hong Kong has enjoyed after its return to the motherland, which ensures the democratic rights of Hong Kong residents and helps maintain Hong Kong's prosperity and stability.

Recent years have seen such efforts as the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong, improvements to the region's electoral system, and the implementation of the "patriots administering Hong Kong" principle. 11

28 june-4 July 2022

Chinese FM to attend several highlevel international meetings BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua)

mar and attend the G20 Foreign

capital city of south China's

Ministers' Meeting in Indonesia up- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous on invitation.

Region, said the spokesperson.

Wang will also pay an official visit

Senior officials pledge allegiance to Constitution

to Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia and host the

second Meeting of China-Indonesia BEIJING, July 5 (Xinhua) High-level Dialogue Cooperation Mechanism from July 3 to 14, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian announced on Friday.

Wang will also chair the 14th Meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign

Committee for Bilateral Coopera-

Minister Wang Yi will chair the sev-

tion and the sixth Meeting of China-

enth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation

Cambodia Intergovernmental Coor-

Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Myan-

dination Committee in Nanning, the

A total of 45 senior officials of departments and units under the State Council, China's cabinet, took an oath of allegiance to the Constitution at a ceremony on Tuesday.

The ceremony was overseen by Premier Li Keqiang, who urged the oathtakers to fulfill their pledge by taking on responsibilities and taking real actions.

Li called on them to fully apply the new development philosophy and give greater prominence to keeping economic growth stable, in a bid to promote sustained and sound economic and social development.

Vice Premier Han Zheng and other senior State Council officials also attended the ceremony.

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28 june-4 July 2022

China Opposes remarks of NASA official on space program BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) China firmly opposes irresponsible remarks made by an official of the NASA on China's space program, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Monday.

It was reported that NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said that China's space program is a "military" space program.

In response, spokesperson Zhao Lijian told a daily news briefing that it is not the first time that NASA has disregarded the facts and smeared China. Some U.S. officials have continuously framed and slandered the normal and reasonable outer space cause of other countries, and China firmly opposes such irresponsible re-

marks.

eration and ex-

Zhao said Nelson, as the director of

changes with China, the spokes-

the U.S. aerospace department,

person said.

should be very aware of the dark

China advocates the peaceful

history of the U.S. space program,

use of outer space, opposes the

the negative role the United States

weaponization of an arms race in

has played in creating space junk,

outer space, and calls for the

provoking arms races in outer

building of a community with a

space, and undermining global

shared future in outer space,

strategic stability, and the huge

Zhao said.

threat that the United States has

He stressed that China's explora-

posed to the peaceful use of outer

tion of outer space is to meet the

space.

legitimate needs of the country's

In recent years, the United States

economy, society, science and

has openly defined outer space as

technology, and security. The

a combat domain, accelerated the

development of China's aero-

formation of the outer space force,

space industry is achieved inde-

developed and deployed offensive

pendently, and its rights and

outer space weapons, and has long

achievements cannot be ques-

passively resisted the negotiation

tioned or smeared.

of legal documents on outer space

"We urge the U.S. official to ear-

control, and continuously strength-

nestly shoulder the responsibili-

ened the outer space military coop-

ties of a major country, seriously

eration with its allies, he said.

review and correct the negative

The United States has set up ob-

words and deeds of the U.S. side

stacles in space cooperation, arbi-

in outer space, and make due

trarily sanctioned the space agen-

contributions to safeguarding

cies of other countries, and intro-

sustained peace and security in

duced laws to restrict space coop-

outer space," Zhao said.

28 june-4 July 2022

World's 2nd largest hydro-plant completes sectional power transmis-

The Zhejiang section of China's Bai-

Located in east China, the Zhejiang

hetan-Zhejiang ultra-high-voltage direct

section is the first part of the project to

current (UHVDC) power transmission

be completed. It is 113.95 kilometers

project was completed in east China on

long, with 234 new power pylons.

July 2.

Zhou Chenglin, executive manager of

The transmission line begins with the

the Baihetan-Zhejiang UHVDC trans-

Baihetan hydropower station, a 16 giga-

mission project, told China Media

watt (GW) hydroelectric facility, the

Group (CMG) that "the terrain of the

world's second-largest power station

Zhejiang section of the Baihetan-

after the 22.5GW Three Gorges Dam,

Zhejiang UHVDC power transmission

also in China.

project is complex, with both high

Located on the Jinsha River, the upper

mountains and deep waterways."

section of the Yangtze River which runs "The power line needs to cross dozens through the provinces of Sichuan and of high-speed roads, railways and key Yunnan in southwest China, the Bai-

power transmission lines. Therefore,

hetan hydropower station transmits elec- the construction is quite difficult. Once tricity from the resource-rich west to the section is completed and put into energy-hungery regions in east China,

operation, its annual power transmis-

marking a major step in the country's

sion is expected to exceed 23.6 billion

utilization of clean energy.

kWh."

The line, which is part of China's "East

The project was conducted in an envi-

Powered by the West" project, covers a

ronmentally-friendly way along the

total length of 2,140.2 kilometers with

best path between mountains and riv-

a transmission capacity of 8,000 mega-

ers, bypassing a number of cultural

watts.

relics and scenic spots, in order to reBaihetan-Zhejiang UHVDC transmis- duce carbon emissions, Zhou added. sion project

World's second largest hydropower plant The main construction project of the Baihetan hydropower station started in July 2017, and the first two generating units started operation four years later.

By the end of this May, the Beihetan hydropower station had produced over 26,900 gigawatt -hours of electricity, according to Wang Zhilin, who heads the Baihetan project construction at China Three Gorges Corporation.

The project is expected to be completed in July. Upon full operation, the hydropower station will generate an average of more than 62,400 gigawatt-hours of electricity every year, sufficient for the annual electricity consumption of approximately 75 million people.

28 june-4 July 2022

Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong met with Sri Lanka Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris.

The two sides had discussion on China's assistance and support to SriLanka, bilateral & multilateral cooperation, as well as other topics of mutual interests

Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong met with Hon. Minister of Investment Promotion Dhammika Perera and exchanged views on enhancing economic & trade cooperation, promoting the Chinese invested projects in Sri Lanka as well as other

topics of mutual interests

Chinese provinces, cities, companies and the Red Cross Society of China have provided multiple batches of various types of assistance to Sri Lankan people to improve their livelihood.

28 june-4 July 2022

voys and foreign visitors.

According to tradition 'it is better to go without meat for 100 days than without tea for one day.' China is the home of the tea culture, which is

Maritime Silk Road International

the China-proposed Belt and

Tea Culture Forum held in Fujian to

China's experience on rural re-

boost exchanges and share highlights

vitalization.

Road Initiative (BRI) and share

of China's rural revitalization Launched in Fuding, East China's

The forum, which was broad-

Fujian Province, from June 27 to 30,

casted live from the main ven-

the forum aims to promote the tea

ue in Fuding and in cohost city,

industry and cultural exchanges be-

Tokyo, attracted more than 250

tween China and foreign countries,

Chinese and foreign tea experts

to further boost the construction of

and scholars, diplomatic en-

visible in every part of the daily life of Chinese people. Here, in Fujian Province, we see vivid examples of poverty alleviation through the development of the tea industry and Sri Lanka would like to do the same," Sri Lanka's Ambassador to China, Palitha Kohona, told the Global Times on Wednesday during the Third Maritime Silk Road International Tea Culture Forum 2022.

28 june-4 July 2022

Meeting with Yu Xiuming Mayor of a Yingtang Municipal People’s Government of Jiangxi Province in 2018.

Congratulations from ASLCSCC and CHINA Mirror Weekly News to Janith De Silva, President, Sri Lanka China Society.

China’s Economy expected to improve amid supportive policies in H2

international financial markets might

moderate range, leaving more room for au-

continue to weigh on the economic

thorities to maneuver macro policies, accord-

outlook, the report said domestic de-

ing to the report.

BEIJING, July 5 (Xinhua) -- China's econ- mand will play a key role in stabilizing

Going ahead, the report has suggested lever-

omy is expected to gradually overcome the the country's growth during the second

aging fiscal and monetary policies further to

negative impacts of the epidemic in the

half of the year.

help enterprises tide over difficulties, and

second half of this year, with economic

It added that China's economic funda-

expand effective investment and stabilize

indicators showing improvement amid a

mentals and potential for long-term

growth.

raft of supportive policies, according to a

growth remain unchanged.

More efforts should be made to spur con-

report by the Bank of China.

Despite the challenges, the country's

sumption, promote the steady development of

Noting that risks including rising global

employment has remained stable and

the real estate sector, and foster long-term

inflation, geopolitical tensions and volatile the price rise has been kept within a

competitiveness through technological upgrading and innovation, the report said.

28 june-4 July 2022

Chinese Primer stresses crackdown on IPR infringeme nts

To protect IPR is to protect en-

group for the crackdown on

trepreneurship and innovation,

IPR infringement and counter-

and the crackdown on IPR in-

feits, attended the conference.

fringement and counterfeits

Efforts must be made to

bears on public health and secu-

strengthen supervision over

rity, Li said.

key products such as epidemic

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has

Emphasis should be put on im-

relief materials, food, agricul-

stressed efforts to fight intellectual

proving laws and regulations

tural supplies and construction

property rights (IPR) infringements

and on the punishment of viola-

materials, said Wang.

and counterfeits and speed up foster- tions, and campaigns should be

He called for resolute

ing a market-oriented, law-based and launched to fight IPR infringe-

measures to fight illegal activi-

BEIJING, July 5 (Xinhua)

internationalized business environ-

ment and counterfeits in key

ties, improve regulatory coor-

ment.

areas, according to the premier.

dination and joint law enforce-

Li, also a member of the Standing

Li also underlined the need to

ment, and boost public ser-

Committee of the Political Bureau of enhance coordination between the Communist Party of China Cen-

departments, sectors and re-

tral Committee, made the remarks in gions, and deepen international an instruction to a teleconference on

cooperation.

the crackdown on IPR infringements State Councilor Wang Yong, and counterfeits held Tuesday.

also head of the leading national

vices on product quality and IPR to support fair competition and innovation-driven development of market entities.

28 june-4 July 2022

Xi confidence in Hong …

These have provided Hong Kong with a solid institutional guarantee to overcome immediate difficulties, achieve good governance, and ensure lasting security and stability.

A GOOD POLICY Xi's Friday address reiterated implementing the principle of "one country, two systems" in both letter and spirit without deviation or wavering.

Upholding national sovereignty, security and development interests is the policy's paramount principle. On the basis of this prerequisite, Hong Kong and Macao maintain their capitalist systems in the long run and enjoy a high degree of autonomy, he said.

The more firmly the principle of "one country" is upheld, the greater the advantages the "two systems" will demonstrate in practice, Xi said.

He emphasized both enforcing the central authorities' overall jurisdiction and upholding the special administrative regions' high degree of autonomy.

The president voiced firm stance of keeping the power to administer the HKSAR "in the hands of patriots," which is essential to safeguarding the long-term stability and security of Hong Kong.

"There is no country or region in the world where its people will allow an unpatriotic or even treasonous force or figure to take power," he said.

HIGH HOPES FOR NEW GOV'T

On Friday, John Lee was sworn in as the sixth-term Chief Executive of the HKSAR, and the inauguration of the sixth-term HKSAR government followed.

Xi expects the new government to take on a new look in good governance.

Hong Kong faces both opportunities and challenges, but there are more opportunities than challenges, Xi said.

The president's hopes for the new government involve improving governance, strengthening the city's growth momentum and addressing difficulties in people's lives. Harmony and stability are also high on the agenda.

There is an extensive consensus that no time should be lost in Hong Kong's development and that all interference should be removed so that Hong Kong can stay focused on development, according to Xi. Xi pledged the central government's support for Hong Kong' development, including the maintenance of its "free, open and sound business environment."

Xi met with Lee after his inauguration.

"We have full confidence in you and the new-term HKSAR government, and we have full confidence in Hong Kong's future," Xi told the chief executive, who won the election on May 8 by an overwhelming majority.

Being aware of the immense responsibility on his shoulder, Lee pledged to lead the HKSAR government in improving governance and making new advances in Hong Kong's development.

HEART "ALWAYS WITH THE HONG KONG PEOPLE" "Over the past five years, I have always been concerned about and caring toward Hong Kong, and my heart and the heart of the central government are always with our Hong Kong compatriots," Xi

said upon his arrival in Hong Kong on Thursday.

These words echoed a wellknown soundbite from his trip to Hong Kong five years ago, during which he said, "Hong Kong's development has always pulled at my heartstrings."

Over the years, Xi has interacted with young Hong Kong people on many occasions, offering encouragement, addressing their needs and helping them improve their lives.

Friday's address once again demonstrated Xi's care for the people of Hong Kong.

Currently, what the people of Hong Kong desire most are better lives, bigger homes, more business start-up opportunities, better education for their children and better elderly care, Xi said. Expressing hope for the new HKSAR government, he said, "What the people call for, we must strive to deliver."

Xi's trip to Hong Kong included meetings with senior officials and dignitaries, and warm exchanges with researchers and entrepreneurs in the Hong Kong Science Park. He also inspected the Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

After attending ceremony celebrations, Xi left Hong Kong by train.

At the West Kowloon highspeed rail station, people from all walks of life bid the president a warm farewell, waving flags and flowers and singing songs.

Among the crowd were many young people, upon whom Xi has pinned high hopes for the future of Hong Kong. They will, as the president said, have more opportunities to "grow and shine."

28 june-4 July 2022

Aerial photo taken on June 24, 2022 shows a city view of Meishan, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan)

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

04.07.2022