CHINA MIRROR WEEKLY NEWS ISSUE 61

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1 - 7 N O V E M B E R

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Association for Sri Lanka China Social and Cultural Co-operation

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Xi addresses CIIE, calls for joint efforts for bright fu2 ture of openness, prosperity 5

J-20s highly likely in ground display at Zhuhai Airshow

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Beijing Marathon kicks off after two-year hiatus. 10 World's first national-level im3 port expo a "golden gate"

Chinese FM meets with UNGA president 5 4 3 11

1-7 November 2022

BEIJING, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday addressed the opening ceremony of the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE), calling on all countries to work together toward a bright future of openness and prosperity.

"We should commit ourselves to openness to meet development challenges, foster synergy for cooperation, build the momentum of innovation, and deliver benefits to all," Xi said via video, noting that the world today is confronted with accelerated changes unseen in a century as well as a sluggish economic recovery.

"China is ready to work with all countries to practice true multilateralism, build more consensus for openness, jointly overcome the difficulties and challenges confronting global economic growth, and make sure that our commitment to openness will bring about broad prospects for global development," said Xi.

The import expo, inaugurated in 2018, aims at expanding China's opening-up and turning the country's vast market into enormous opportunities for the world.

Visitors taste beer at the Food and Agricultural Products exhibition area of the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2022.

(Xinhua/Liu Ying) UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITIES With its vast market and continued efforts in advancing opening-up, the opportunities China has to offer are unprecedented.

The country has been the world's secondlargest importer for 13 consecutive years.

It is the export market of 210 countries and regions and the main export market of 60 countries and regions, according to China's commerce ministry.

In the first half of this year, China's imports accounted for 10.6 percent of the world's total.

China will work with all countries and

all parties to share the opportunities in its vast market, and will step up efforts to cultivate a robust domestic market, upgrade trade in goods, develop new mechanisms for trade in services, and import more quality products, Xi said.

He added that the country will steadily expand institutional opening-up with regard to rules, regulations, management and standards, put into full effect the new Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment, and further develop the national integrated demonstration zone for greater openness in the service sector.

China announced this week that 29 more national demonstration zones for import promotion and innovation will be set up, bringing the total number of such demonstration zones to 43 across the country.

"Skechers has been developing in China for 15 years, and once again we see the bright future from China's deepening reforms, which brings us a firm determination to increase our investments in China," said Willie Tan, who is in charge of Skechers' China, the Republic of Korea and Southeast Asia markets.

Visitors taste beer at the Food and Agricultural Products exhibition area of the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) in east China's Shanghai .

Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) to expand the globallyoriented network of high-standard free trade areas, Xi said.

DEEPENED INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

The country will also firmly support other developing countries and assist them in growing faster, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi added.

The expo, designed by Xi, is the world's first import expo held at the national level, an innovation in the history of global trade.

Since its debut, the platform for international procurement, investment promotion, cultural exchange, and open cooperation has now evolved into a public good for the world.

China has long been a firm supporter of economic globalization and has worked hard to promote international cooperation when unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise.

The expo is a glowing representation of China's continuous commitment to expanding high-level opening-up and achieving high-quality development, said Shiseido China CEO Kentaro Fujiwara.

In his remarks, Xi said China will engage fully and deeply in WTO reform negotiations, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and enhance international macro-economic policy coordination, with a view to jointly fostering new drivers for global growth.

China will endeavor actively to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Digital

"Through the Expo, we are able to experience the connection between China and the global market, the mutual promotion of innovation and development, and the opportunities brought by greater inclusivity and openness," he said.

Statistics showed that exhibitors to the previous four editions of the expo launched more than 1,500 new products, technologies and services, with a total of 270 billion U.S. dollars worth of tentative

1-7 November 2022

World's first national-level import expo a "golden gate"

up, including opening a new section of the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone, shortening the negative list for foreign investment, and an orderly opening-up of the service sector.

Data from the Ministry of Commerce shows that, from 2018 to 2021, exhibitors at the four previous editions of the CIIE SHANGHAI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) had launched more than 1,500 new products, technologies and services, with a total The fifth China International Import Expo expected turnover exceeding 270 billion (CIIE), the world's first import-themed U.S. dollars. national-level expo, is sure to serve as an important window for more countries to Many participants have grown from enjoy China's development opportunities. "exhibitors" to "investors." Leading bioChinese President Xi Jinping on Friday pharmaceutical company Takeda is one addressed the opening ceremony via vid- such example. The company has been exeo, stressing that China will work with all panding its presence in China in recent countries and all parties to share opportu- years, with nine innovative products havnities in the vast Chinese market, from ing been approved to enter the Chinese China's institutional opening-up and from market. deepened international cooperation.

Jurgen Unser, president of Audi China, The expo was designed by Xi for the very referred to the CIIE as a "perfect platform." purpose of expanding China's opening-up He said the CIIE showcases China's nuand turning China's enormous market into merous advantages, which include "a huge enormous opportunities for the world. market, a great business environment, and This pioneering move in the history of favorable opening-up policies." international trade is regarded as a This expo has joined the China Import and "golden gate" leading to the vast Chinese Export Fair (Canton Fair) and the China market.

International Fair for Trade in Services in becoming major platforms for China's Since its debut in 2018, the CIIE has beopening-up. come a showcase of China's new development paradigm, a platform for highThe world today is confronted with accelstandard opening-up, and a public good erated changes not seen in a long time, as for the whole world. well as sluggish economic recovery. Despite such challenges, the fifth import expo At the previous four editions, China intro- still attracted 145 countries, regions and duced a series of measures to further open international organizations, and 284 indus-

try leaders and world top 500 companies.

In the gigantic exhibition hall covering more than 300,000 square meters, the newly established subsections for artificial intelligence and crop seeds display a variety of new exhibits such as robots and crop seedlings. Specialties like coffee from Timor-Leste and Afghan carpets attract visitors to booths that are offered free of charge to the least developed countries.

As a frequenter of the fair, Varian Medical Systems, a leading U.S. company in the field of radiotherapy, has experienced China's progress in opening-up, and become even more determined to be rooted in the market, said Zhang Xiao, Varian vice president and head of its China operations.

Countries, big and small, have benefited from the CIIE in many ways, noted Bei Lei, executive curator of the national pavilion of Timor-Leste at the expo, adding that such moves make them "feel the warmth of China."

China, which has embarked on a new journey to build itself into a modern socialist country in all respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts, will unleash greater potential in the future.

Confident in the abundance of opportunities in China, dozens of foreign companies including Panasonic and Zeiss have taken the lead in signing up for the sixth edition of the CIIE, which is dubbed a "never-ending" expo by industry insiders.

1-7 November 2022

Calendar for Chinese 24 Solar Terms: Start of Winter People's Daily November 07,

The Start of Winter, or "Lidong" in Chinese, falls on November 7 this year. It is the first solar term of winter, which means winter is coming and crops harvested in autumn should be stored up.

Here are things you should know about the Start of Winter.

Welcoming winter In ancient times, people celebrated festivals at the beginning of every season. On the Start of Winter, the emperor would lead his officials to the suburbs and perform a ceremony to "welcome the winter."

Eating dumplings It is said that at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD25220), Zhang Zhongjing, who is known as the "Medical Saint", invented a food during the Start of Winter to dispel coldness and increase body heat. This food is what we call "dumplings" today.

There is still a saying in China: "Eat dumplings on the Start of Winter, or your ears will be frostbitten."

"Nourishing the winter" On the first day of the Start of Winter, there is a custom, "nourishing the winter," in Southeast China. To prepare for

the oncoming cold winter, people there like to eat high-calorie foods such as chicken, beef, mutton and fish, which are usually stewed with four Chinese herbs, namely, angelica, ligusticum wallichii, Chinese herbaceous peony and rehmannia glutinosa libosch, to enhance nourishment.

Eating Chinese pumpkin On the first day of the Start of Winter, people in Tianjin like to eat Chinese pumpkins, or "wo gua" in Chinese, which is a common vegetable in Northern China.

inside the tuanzi.

Winter Swimming

Eating tuanzi in Wuxi On the first day of the Start of Winter, people in Wuxi have a custom of eating tuanzi, a traditional Chinese dish made with rice. On that day, the newly-harvested crops have just been sold on the market, which people use to make tuanzi.

Mostrural residents make tuanzi by themselves, while urban residents buy it ready-made. Sweet bean paste, radish or lard can be stuffed

In Harbin, to celebrate winter's coming, athletes in Heilongjiang Winter Swimming Association will swim across the Songhua River.

Nowadays, winter swimming becomes popular in Shangqiu, Henan Province, Yichun, Jiangxi Province and Wuhan, Hubei Province.

1-7 November 2022

A view of the south square of the National Exhibition and Convention Center for the 5th CIIE in Shanghai

AstraZeneca booth taken at the venue for the 5th CIIE in Shanghai

A staff member debugs a robot at the venue for the 5th CIIE in Shanghai A volunteer takes photos at the CIIE media center in Shanghai, Nov 4, 2022.

1-7 November 2022

Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong had an extensive discussion with State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe on Sri Lanka's debt issue, and reiterated China's continued & concrete support to the island to overcome various challenges.

Sri Lanka has been participating in the CIIE since its inception. Our businesses have benefited greatly through the participation, we have been provided the opportunity for our industries to establish a foothold in the Chinese market. For this we are grateful.

1-7 November 2022

Xi congratulates International Bamboo and Rattan Organization on 25th anniversary

has been committed to the protection, development and utilization of bamboo and rattan resources, and has played a constructive role in promoting global ecological and environmental protection as well as sustainable development, Xi said.

The Chinese government and the organization have joined hands to implement the Global Development Initiative and jointly BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) launched the Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic Initiative to enChinese President Xi Jinping sent a courage countries to reduce plascongratulatory letter on Monday to tic pollution, respond to climate the Celebration of International change and accelerate the impleBamboo and Rattan Organization mentation of the UN 2030 Agen(INBAR)'s 25th Anniversary and the da for Sustainable Development, Second Global Bamboo and Rattan he said.

Congress.

Xi stressed that China has been Since its founding, the organization vigorously promoting ecological

progress and pursuing the development concept of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

China is willing to continue to work with all parties to build a community of life for man and nature and construct a clean and beautiful homeland for future generations, Xi said.

The Celebration of INBAR's 25th Anniversary and the Second Global Bamboo and Rattan Congress, themed "Bamboo and Rattan -- Nature-based Solutions for Sustainable Development," opened in Beijing on Monday.

The event was co-hosted by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China and INBAR.

This photo taken on Nov. 6, 2022 shows the booth of Nissan at the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai. The fifth CIIE, which will run until Nov. 10, attracted more than 280 industry-leading or the world's top 500 companies, with nearly 90 percent being repeat participants.

1-7 November 2022

He Licheng and his family smile joyfully in front of their guesthouse in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture of South China’s Yunnan Province.

This photo taken on Nov. 6, 2022 shows a racing vehicle exhibited at the automobile exhibition area of the fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) in east China's Shanghai. The fifth CIIE will run until Nov. 10 in China's economic hub Shanghai.

1-7 November 2022

A pilot opens the cockpit of a J-20 stealth fighter jet at the venue of the Zhuhai Airshow on Saturday.

J-20s highly likely in

never been displayed so close to the public due to secrecy.

ground display at Zhuhai Airshow

Also on Saturday afternoon, four J-20s rehearsed aerobatic stunts above the air show site.

The J-20 stealth fighter jet, China's top combat aircraft, is highly likely to be on public display on the ground for the first time after a pair of the planes landed at the site of a coming air show.

According to video clips and photos taken by separate sources, two J-20s, clad in the silver-gray paint of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, landed at the venue of the 14th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, on Saturday afternoon.

The exhibition, the largest air show in the nation, is scheduled to take place in Zhuhai from Tuesday to Sunday. It is more commonly called the Zhuhai Airshow.

It will be the first time for the J-20, one of the world's most advanced fighter jets, to appear publicly on the ground. The stealth fighter has carried out several flight performances at previous Zhuhai Airshows and has flown in military parades, but it has

Wu Peixin, an aviation industry observer in Beijing, said the decision to display the J-20s on the ground represents the Chinese military's rising confidence, transparency and openness.

"If there were only a small number of J20s delivered, I don't believe the PLA Air Force would send two of them to stay onsite at the air show for several days," he said, noting that the unprecedented openness may also hint that the nation's nextgeneration fighter jet project is advancing well.

China's first stealth combat aircraft, the J20 was designed and manufactured by the Aviation Industry Corp of China and is widely deemed one of the best fighter jets ever built in modern history.

The plane conducted its maiden flight in January 2011 and was officially declassified in November 2016 when it staged a

brief flight performance at the 11th Zhuhai Airshow. It was commissioned to the People Liberation Army's Air Force later that year, becoming the third stealth fighter jet in the world to enter service following the US' F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. Military analysts said the aircraft has enabled the PLA Air Force to be capable of engaging any other top fighter jet and has substantially enhanced its operational capability.

The J-20 shoulders the heavy responsibility imposed by the PLA Air Force to make way for other aircraft in an air battle, according to Zhang Hao, a veteran pilot who has operated the combat plane for years.

"The J-20 will be like a needle that can penetrate and break down the enemy's (air-defense) network," he previously told China Central Television. "The plane is a typical offensive weapon. It has good stability, stealth capability, situational awareness capacity and firecontrol systems."

1-7 November 2022

Beijing Marathon kicks off after two-year hiatus.

BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) The 2022 Beijing Marathon, the 40th edition since 1981, kicked off on Sunday morning after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

About 20,000 runners set off from the Tian'anmen Square to run to the destination in the Olympic Park, which was one of the main venues of the Beijing 2008 Olympics and the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

China's Anubaike Kuwan won the men's race in two hours 14 minutes and 34 seconds, while his compatriot Xia Yuyu claimed the women's title in 2:28:57.

It was the seventh time for China to win the men's race of the Beijing Marathon. Kuwan stood out from the leading group after the 30kilometer mark and kept the advantage till the end. Yang Chunlong finished second in 2:19:11, and He Jie pocketed the bronze in 2:21:26.

In the women's race, non-seeded runner Xia from Tsinghua University, who took the lead after 35 kilometers, emerged as a dark horse and refreshed her personal best to win the race.

Li Yingmei got the sliver in 2:30:44 and Wang Min finished third in 2:33:05.

1-7 November 2022

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets via video link with Csaba Korosi, president of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

Chinese FM meets with UNGA president China would continuously deepen cooperation with the United Nations and make greater contributions to addressing common challenges facing the international community, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday.

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China, made the remarks in a virtual meeting with President of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly Csaba Korosi.

During the talks, Wang underlined that China has always supported the cause of the UN and the important role of the UNGA.

Noting Chinese modernization pursues the harmony between human and nature, Wang

said China stays committed to following a Korosi congratulated China on the sucgreen, low carbon and sustainable path. cessful convening of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, noting the UN He pledged China would participate in hope to strengthen cooperation with international cooperation on climate Beijing to make COP27 a success and change, and actively engage in major ne- jointly address climate change. gotiation on climate change.

China would provide support and help to developing countries within its utmost abilities and make positive contributions to the success of 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Wang said. The COP27 kicked off on Sunday in Egypt.

China is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with countries on water resources, through the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, he said.

Korosi said the UN also looked forward to stepping up cooperation with China on water resource utilization and management, and help vulnerable countries tackle challenges, while expressing his gratitude to China’s positive posture and constructive role in the regard.

He also expressed willingness to support China's efforts and promote the second wave of meetings of COP15 to realize positive outcomes.

The two sides also exchanged views on Security Council reform and

As the country holds the presidency of the many other important issues.

15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, known as COP15, Wang said China would work with parties to well organize the second part of COP15 and make COP15 a success.

1-7 November 2022

This photo taken with a mobile phone on Oct. 29, 2022 shows the Lhalu wetland in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

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

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Editor in Chief Madushan Kularathne (志尚 ) 07.11.2022