Editor's Note: The Communist Party of China (CPC) will convene, on July 15 in Beijing, the third plenary session of its 20th central committee, which is expected to focus on deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization. John Ross, senior fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China, shared his perspectives with the Global Times (GT) on his expectation on the upcoming meeting.

GT: How do you assess the significance of the coming Third Plenum for China's economic development and reform over the next decade, as the country faces growing geopolitical complexity in the world?

John Ross: The upcoming plenum is of great significance for both domestic and international reasons. Domestically, China has already achieved its first centenary goal - building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by its national standards. If China manages to double its per capita income by 2035 compared to 2020, it will well exceed the threshold for a high-income economy by international standards.

The living standards, life opportunities, demands, and expectations of China's population will have increased enormously. The Chinese economy will correspondingly become far more diverse and sophisticated. Achieving such a transformation in a country with 1.4 billion people - surpassing the combined populations of all other high-income economies - will stand as an unprecedented achievement in human history. This historical perspective underscores the profound significance of the plenum.

GT: In light of the opportunities and challenges ahead for China's economy, how do you anticipate the plenum will guide and advance economic reforms in critical areas such as technological innovation, capital market regulation, and accelerate the private sector, real estate, and opening-up? 

John Ross:  China's transition to a high-income economy requires a sustained increase in high-quality productivity, achievable only through substantial investments in research and development and the application of its outputs. This shift is already being realized in multiple sectors such as telecommunications, green industries, high-tech products such as drones, and social platforms.

The plenum will need to set forth guidelines for the widespread adoption of these advancements throughout the entire economy. China's technological leadership in these and other industries forms the foundation for its evolving role in the global economy and consequently as a leading technological innovator in its opening-up policies.

GT: How do you evaluate the role of the CPC's leadership and institutional advantages in contributing to the country's economic achievements and future development?

John Ross: The remarkable transformation of China, from being one of the world's poorest countries in 1949 to emerging as the world's second-largest economy within just over 70 years is entirely credited to the pivotal role and visionary leadership of the CPC. No other political party in the world can claim a comparable achievement. This stands as an objective fact.

GT:  What are your expectations regarding the plenum's role in advancing China's distinctive modernization?

John Ross: Throughout each phase of its journey the country has consistently encountered diverse and evolving challenges. The CPC's resilience and vitality are evidenced by its ability to devise precise and effective responses to these challenges at every turn, as evidenced by the significant milestones achieved in China's economic and social advancement. Looking ahead, I am confident that the upcoming Third Plenum will mark another crucial step forward in this on-going transformative process.

Chinese industry insiders and experts said India's reported plan to make it easier for Chinese citizens to get visas to visit India is positive for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, which is facing a surge in demand in the post-pandemic era.

The remarks were made in response to media reports that the Indian government is making preparations to cut down visa delays for Chinese technicians, under the pressure of the country's business groups, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.

However, Chinese engineers and technicians are largely wary. 

An executive from a Chinese technology company told the Global Times on Thursday that the news has been circulating for a while, but it depends on when the Indian authorities will heed to the calls from the civilian sectors and take concrete steps to lessen such curbs. "In fact, in recent months the Indian government has tightened the review process for visa extensions for Chinese citizens working in India."

"The Indian government treated the issuance of visas to Chinese citizens as a bargaining chip," the person said on condition of anonymity.

There has been a rather unfair approach being practiced by New Delhi. Visa applications submitted by companies from China's Taiwan Island, or companies of a joint venture, were processed on an expedited basis to help the Indian authority to realize its ambition to build India into a semiconductor manufacturing hub, the person said. "In contrast, a very lengthy process of application is awaiting Chinese nationals."

According to Bloomberg, the Indian Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade is working with the ministries of home and external affairs to lay a framework that will fast-track visas for the engineers and technicians from China, with the aim to cut down the visa processing time to within 30 days from the four to five months it currently takes. 

India used to put in place a blanket restriction on visa application by Chinese nationals after bilateral ties soured under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government since the two countries' border clash in 2020.

Chinese analysts called for New Delhi to drop its restrictive visa practices, which they refer to as a "double-edged sword" that both served the Indian purpose to look tough on China, but actually undermined its economic interests.

"China and India, the two largest developing countries in the world, are facing a surge in demand in people-to-people exchanges," Dai Yonghong, director of Institute of Area and International Studies, Shenzhen University, told the Global Times on Thursday. "Regrettably, such a demand has been suppressed by the Indian authority's visa restrictions."

Despite frayed ties, India still imports a lot of equipment from China, and many of these machines need technicians and engineers to operate and repair.

A report published by the Economic Times in June said that Indian electronics manufacturers have suffered $15 billion in economic losses and 100,000 job cuts due to escalating tensions with China. Visa delays for Chinese executives are hindering the industry's expansion plans, leading to a $10-billion export loss and $2 billion in value-added loss.

A Chinese national who recently returned from India told the Global Times that he once saw two Chinese engineers were maintaining a machine at an Indian industrial plant that needs 20 people to maintain, resulting in production efficiency being held back.

Local media estimated that India issued just 2,000 visas to Chinese nationals in 2024 from about 200,000 before the pandemic in 2019, according to Bloomberg.

Visa facilitation is an important component in a country's opening-up and business environment, streamlined visa application process increases a country's appeal to business community, investors and tourists, Dai noted, calling the Indian government to scrap visa restrictive measures for Chinese technicians, as well as Chinese government officials, scholars and tourists.

The complementarity between China and India in industrial cooperation is greater than that of India and Western developed economies, and China's advantages in technology, capital and management expertise can be of great use to India, Dai said. 

"The Indian government needs to work on improving its business environment, so as not to hamper its industrialization, manufacturing sector upgrade and overall competitiveness," Dai said.

"I think the Indian government is wise enough to realize that the West may be not willing to give it the best of their technologies, capital and management," Dai said. "China should be the more suitable choice as a partner."

Lingshan Island is covered in green grass, lush trees, singing birds, and fragrant flowers in the summer. The sound of laughter resounds endlessly, and most of the tourists on the island come to see the "carbon-negative sea island".
How did they achieve “Carbon-Negative”?

Carbon emission reduction is not an easy task, and the core of it is “electricity”. To change the way of life and production of the islanders, it is important to ensure that the island has a safe and reliable power supply.

To protect the safe and reliable operation of the island power supply, the State Grid Qingdao Huangdao District Power Supply Company developed an innovative Submarine Cable Inspection Robot, which has increased inspection efficiency from the traditional 0.2 kilometers per hour to 3.2 kilometers. This changed the “fault repair” of submarine cables to “full monitoring.”

The State Grid Qingdao Huangdao District Power Supply Company developed an innovative Submarine Cable Inspection Robot in action.

In addition, since 2020, the State Grid Qingdao Huangdao District Power Supply Company has fully implemented the Lingshan Island distribution network renovation project, completing 12 low-voltage substation upgrades and replacing 7.8 kilometers of overhead wires.

What are the benefits of “Carbon-Negative”

The “Carbon-Negative” sign has promoted the steady improvement of Lingshan Island’s cultural tourism industry, forming a tourism aggregating effect.

To ensure reliable power supply throughout the tourist season, Gu Yongjun, Miao Zaiwei, and Xiao Yonglei, grid managers of the Qingdao Huangdao District Power Supply Company of SGCC, carry out safe electricity inspection at each hostel every day before the peak of electricity consumption, helping to timely eliminate hidden dangers.

This year marks their 33rd year working on the island. “We are busier during the tourist season. It is hard, but we can see the whole island becoming more and more beautiful, and everyone's life getting better and better and that makes it all worth it, and we all feel proud of the work.” Gu Yongjun said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his sympathy to former US President Donald Trump on Sunday, following the shooting incident at Trump's rally in Pennsylvania. China is paying attention to the incident, China's Foreign Ministry said.

The Chinese Embassy in Sweden refuted on Friday the erroneous remarks made by some Swedish politicians related to China on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, South China Sea issue and Taiwan question. The Chinese Embassy urged Sweden not to mirror China with the template of "a major country must be hegemonic," not to misjudge China by the trajectory taken by the Western powers, and not to fabricate false narratives designed to smear China.

According to the embassy, some Swedish politicians have stated that if Russia wins in its conflict with Ukraine, it will “encourage China to seize territory from other countries.” They also smeared China by claiming that the Philippines and Vietnam “are facing pressure from China” in the South China Sea, and that the island of Taiwan “is at risk of invasion” from mainland.

The Chinese Embassy refuted the attacks, clarifying that the Swedish side's remarks are filled with Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice, making baseless accusations and attacks targeting China, which China strongly protests and firmly opposes.

It is known to all that China has adhered to the path of peaceful development, has never aggressed against any country, never interfered in the internal affairs of other countries, and never undermined the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries. China has always been committed to an independent foreign policy of peace, adhered to developing friendly cooperation with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and firmly pursued the strategy of openness, development and mutual benefit. China is not a threat to any country, but a force for peace and stability in the international community, a spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy said.

The spokesperson reiterated that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan has never been a country, but an inseparable part of Chinese territory. The one-China principle is a universal consensus in the international community and a basic norm in international relations, and it is also the political foundation for China to establish and develop diplomatic relations with all countries, including Sweden. 

The Taiwan question and the Ukraine issue are fundamentally different and cannot be compared, said the spokesperson, noting that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair, while the Ukraine issue is a dispute between Russia and Ukraine as two separate countries. 

The spokesperson added that equating the Taiwan question with the Ukraine issue is tantamount to distorting the cross-Straits relations as relations between two countries, creating "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," which is essentially challenging the one-China principle, undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, interfering in China's internal affairs, and seriously violating international law and basic norms of international relations.

China urged the Swedish side to fully recognize the seriousness and sensitivity of the Taiwan question, earnestly adhere to the one-China principle, stop spreading irresponsible false statements, and take actions conducive to the stability of the Taiwan Straits and the development of world peace, the spokesperson said.

On the South China Sea issue, the Chinese Embassy noted that the matter is between China and several ASEAN members, and that China insists on negotiating and resolving maritime disputes with the directly involved parties, while firmly opposing to any maritime infringements and provocations. 

With the joint effort of China and ASEAN members, the overall situation in the South China Sea remains stable. China is willing to continue working with ASEAN members to build the South China Sea into a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation, the spokesperson said.

“We urge countries outside the region, including Sweden, to play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability, and not to provoke trouble or become disruptors and troublemakers in the South China Sea,” the spokesperson noted.

After the British Union Jack, which had flown over Hong Kong for more than 150 years, was lowered for the last time on June 30, 1997, terms such as "Her Majesty" and "Governor," which had persisted in various Hong Kong laws, finally made their exit on Wednesday. 

Some legal representatives in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) hailed it as necessary legal reforms to remove such outdated colonial references and fill gaps in the law.

The Legislative Council (LegCo) of the HKSAR passed the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 in its third reading, officially removing terms like "Her Majesty," "Governor," from the legal texts of several Hong Kong laws.

The bill is divided into 15 parts, with the most notable being Part 14, which concerns amendments made for legal adaptation, according to media reports.

The modifications in Part 14 include replacing "Her Majesty, her heirs and successors" with "the Central People's Government or the Government of the HKSAR in accordance with the Basic Law and other laws"; "Governor" with "Chief Executive"; and "Governor in Council" with "Chief Executive in Council." 

In an interview with Yangcheng Evening News, Deputy Secretary for Justice of HKSAR government Cheung Kwok-kwan said that the Part 14 was proposed by different policy bureau of the Hong Kong government, including the Department of Justice, suggesting amendments to various expressions and provisions in statutory laws. Most of the proposed amendments are of a terminological or technical nature. 

The purpose of the legal adaptation amendments is to ensure that certain provisions or expressions in ordinances and subsidiary legislation in force before July 1, 1997, conform to the Basic Law of Hong Kong and reflect Hong Kong's status as a SAR of the People's Republic of China, appropriately mirroring the policy intentions of the relevant policy bureau.

"The issue of inaccurate legal terminology has existed for many years and should have been addressed long ago," Chan Man-ki, a deputy to the National People's Congress and a member of the LegCo, wrote to the Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR government and the Chairman of the Legislative Council's Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services in September 2022, urging the acceleration of the "decolonization" of local laws. 

On Wednesday, Chan Man-ki told Yangcheng Evening News that the long-term presence of colonial-era legal provisions in Hong Kong posed a significant obstacle to the implementation of patriotic education. 

This amendment directly adapts expressions that do not conform to the constitutional status of the HKSAR, such as deleting terms like "Her Majesty" and "Governor," and this amendment effectively and swiftly implements the "decolonization" of local laws, correctly reflecting the constitutional order of the HKSAR, Chan was quoted as saying in the media report. 

"I believe this amendment will enable Hong Kong's local laws to keep pace with the times," Chan said. 

Willy Fu, a law professor who is also director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies, welcomed and supported the second and third readings of the bill.

27 years after Hong Kong's return to the motherland, it is necessary to undertake legal reforms to remove these outdated colonial references and fill gaps in the law, Fu said, noting that this is a necessary and appropriate measure that deserves support. 

Hong Kong residents should set aside their colonial nostalgia, unite, and fully support the SAR government's lawful administration. By relying on the motherland and connecting with the world, Hong Kong can leverage its unique advantages, integrate into the national development agenda, boost the economy, pursue development, and benefit people's livelihoods, Fu noted. 

"Hong Kong can achieve a renaissance, faithfully implementing One Country, Two Systems and steadfastly maintaining its prosperity and stability. The future of Hong Kong will certainly be brighter," he said. 

Terms such as "Her Majesty," "royal family," and "loyalty" might lead to misunderstandings that Hong Kong has not fully returned to the motherland in many aspects, potentially forming long-term misconceptions about One Country, Two Systems, Priscilla Leung, Chairperson of the LegCo's Bills Committee, was quoted as saying in media reports on Wednesday.  

Hong Kong was a member of an international treaty in 1989, but has since ceased to apply the relevant regulations. Revising them after 35 years is hard to accept, and Leung said that she hopes that all departments will expedite their work to complete the adaptation process as soon as possible.  

China's Shandong aircraft carrier group reportedly started its first far seas exercise of the year after it was spotted on Tuesday operating in the West Pacific, where another group of Chinese and Russian warships are conducting a joint maritime patrol.

Amid Taiwan Straits and South China Sea tensions, as well as the US-led RIMPAC 2024 exercise that blatantly targets China, Chinese naval activities, not aimed at any other country, serve to enhance combat capabilities and deter unstable security factors, experts said on Wednesday.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's aircraft carrier Shandong, the Type 055 large destroyer Yan'an, the Type 052D destroyer Guilin and the Type 054A Yuncheng were spotted sailing in the Philippine Sea on Tuesday, the news website of the US Naval Institute reported on the day, citing a news release from Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff.

The Japanese news release said that the Shandong was observed conducting flight operations with its fighter aircraft and helicopters.

The Chinese aircraft carrier group was spotted sailing in the South China Sea near the Philippines in June, and analysts said that the carrier likely sailed from the South China Sea via the Bashi Channel to the south of the island of Taiwan into the Philippine Sea in the West Pacific.

A release by the defense authority on the island of Taiwan said that it spotted 37 PLA aircraft of various types around the island conducting air-sea joint training along with the carrier Shandong and other PLA Navy vessels on Wednesday.

It marks the first time the Shandong has embarked on a far seas exercise beyond the first island chain this year, observers noted, further mentioning that they are looking forward to seeing if the carrier will make new breakthroughs in terms of training intensity, new tactics practiced and new locations reached.

The aircraft carrier Shandong and its escorts are not the only PLA Navy warships currently operating in the West Pacific.

Citing the Russian Pacific Fleet, Russian News Agency Tass reported on July 4 that the Russian corvette Sovershenny joined the PLA Navy's Type 052D destroyer Yinchuan, Type 054A frigate Hengshui and Type 903 replenishment ship Weishanhu at a designated meeting point to commence the fourth joint Russia-China maritime patrol in the Asia-Pacific region since 2021 to bolster naval cooperation and maintain peace and stability.

The joint group is set to conduct anti-submarine and air defense drills and practice search and rescue measures at sea during their joint patrol, Tass reported.

The China-Russia joint group was spotted entering the West Pacific from the East China Sea via the Osumi Strait from July 4 to 5, according to Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff.

Additional PLA Navy warships, including the Type 055 large destroyer Lhasa, the Type 903A replenishment ship Kekexilihu, the Type 052D destroyer Kaifeng and Type 054A frigate Yantai, also entered the West Pacific by July 1. They first entered the Sea of Japan from the East China Sea via the Tsushima Strait, then entered the West Pacific via the Tsugaru Strait, two separate news releases by Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said.

China has yet to officially announce these naval activities. Observers wonder if there is a link between the aircraft carrier Shandong's far seas exercise and the China-Russia joint patrol, reflecting on possible training objectives, and where the warships would travel to, considering the ongoing security tensions over the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue, and that the Chinese and Russian naval activities are coinciding with the US-led RIMPAC exercise being held around Hawaii Islands, with China believed to be set as an imaginary enemy.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the China-Russia joint maritime patrol has become regular occurrence, and such activities can further consolidate the strategic mutual trust between the two countries and the two militaries.

It is not impossible that the Shandong carrier group and the China-Russia joint group join force in the West Pacific waters to conduct mock confrontation drills or joint defense drills, Zhang said.

In addition to traditional areas such as the East China Sea, the West Pacific and the North Pacific, it cannot be ruled out that the groups could sail to regions farther away, such as the East Pacific and South Pacific, which completely conforms to the international law and practices, Zhang said.

The Chinese drills combined with the China-Russia joint patrol are completely different from the US-led RIMPAC exercise, as they are not targeted at any other country. The RIMPAC, on the other hand, is obviously simulating a scenario in which the US militarily interferes in the Taiwan question in case of a conflict, analysts said.

Another Chinese military expert, who requested anonymity, told the Global Times on Wednesday that while the PLA Navy's exercises and drills are prescheduled and are not related with the ongoing situations, they contribute to regional peace and stability by deterring unstable factors and provide strategic power balancing.

The goal of any exercise should be enhancing combat capabilities and safeguarding national sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and development interests, the expert said.

The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia have enhanced their infringement in the islands and reefs they illegally occupied in the South China Sea, according to a report Chinese think tank Grandview Institution released on Tuesday. Experts from the institution also warned of increasing illegal resupply activities by the Philippines to the illegally grounded warship in the South China Sea in 2024.

In recent years, China’s land reclamation and deployment of defensive military facilities on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea, out of its concern for maintaining national sovereignty and security, have been hyped up by the Western media as a testimony of the alleged "China threat" theory. Thereafter, the US and other extra-regional countries have been intensifying their interference, especially military interference, in the South China Sea issue. Their intervention has further worsened the maritime security environment in China’s periphery. In sharp contrast, the Western media turns a blind eye to the fact that Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia have occupied more than 40 islands and reefs in the Nansha Islands over the past four decades, and kept expanding land area, building facilities and deploying military capabilities on some of these islands, read the report.

In particular, Vietnam and the Philippines have further intensified their construction activities on occupied islands and reefs since 2022. Vietnam has carried out large-scale land reclamation on several islands and reefs, increasing the land area by three square kilometers, far exceeding the total construction scale of the past forty years. The Philippines has frequently attempted to reinforce its construction on the illegally grounded warship at the Ren'ai Jiao (Ren'ai Reef).

These actions have complicated and escalated the disputes, and have had an impact on peace and stability, the report said.

On May 9, 1999, the military vessel BRP Sierra Madre illegally intruded into China's Ren'ai Jiao, or what the Philippine side calls as the Second Thomas Shoal, running aground due to purported "technical difficulties."

According to the report, the vessel Sierra Madre has been grounded in the Ren'ai Jiao for a long time with over ten Filipino soldiers stationed and this has constituted actual encroachment of the Ren'ai Jiao. The Philippine military's Western Command is responsible for commanding the grounded troops and the Philippine Navy sends ships to resupply the grounded troop.

In 2022, the Philippine Navy conducted 11 illegal resupply activities to the Ren'ai Jiao, while in 2023, the number increased to 14 with more disguised approaches, according to the report.

Liu Xiaobo, director of the ocean research center of the Grandview Institution, told the Global Times that, before 2023, the Philippine Navy supplied the grounded military vessel once a month, but after that, the number of illegal resupply activities increased.

The current trend shows that the illegal supply actions in 2024 will continue to increase, according to Liu. "In order to reduce sensitivity, the Philippines has rented civilian ships - instead of sending military vessels - to supply the stranded ship under the escort of coast guard ships, but the Philippines has been reportedly taking advantage of the opportunity of resupplying troops to transport illegal construction materials to the grounded ship and China firmly opposed such attempt."

In addition, the Philippines currently invites international media to board transport ships and openly hype up China's so-called "interception actions" against them in order to gain sympathy and support from the international community. However, images accompanying the report show that compared to before, the main deck of the vessel Sierra Madre as been partially reinforced and renovated in 2023, indicating that the Philippines had secretly transported building materials long ago.

The report also points out that the Philippines has enhanced construction on the islands it occupied in the South China Sea. Apart from Ren'ai Jiao, the Philippines has illegally occupied eight islands and reefs in China's Nansha Islands, namely, Mahuan Dao, Feixin Dao, Zhongye Dao, Nanyao Dao, Beizi Dao, Xiyue Dao, Shuanghuang Shazhou, and Siling Jiao. In June 1978, it unilaterally went beyond its territorial scope to set up the so-called "Kalayaan Island Group," which violates China's territorial sovereignty.

Before 2022, the Philippines conducted less construction on the occupied islands and reefs. But in March 2022, the Philippines built a new helicopter landing pad on the Mahuan Dao; and in May of that year, the Philippine Coast Guard established command observation stations on the Mahuan Dao and others. These command observation stations monitor surrounding vessels and report information to the Philippine Coast Guard headquarters, according to the report.

In January 2024, Manila's military chief Romeo Brawner told media that the Philippines would develop islands in all the nine islands and reefs in the South China Sea that it considers part of its territory to make them more habitable for troops.

The Philippines Coast Guard recently claimed that China was attempting to build an "artificial island" in the Ren'ai Jiao. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press conference on Monday "the Philippines has repeatedly spread rumors, deliberately vilified China and tried to mislead the international community. None of those attempts will succeed."

Wang also urged the Philippines to stop making irresponsible remarks, face up to the facts and return to the right track of properly handling maritime disputes through negotiation and consultation.

Liu believes the Philippines will continue to advance its confrontational South China Sea policy in 2024. He points out that main factors contributing to the escalation of the disputes between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea include the pro-US stance of the Marcos government, the increased assistance from the US and its allies to the Philippines, as well as the joint defense commitment of the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty that backs and encourages the Philippines' provocative actions of encroachment.

In addition, the Philippines has strengthened its maritime military capabilities in recent years, providing it with confidence, Liu said. But ASEAN countries will continue to be important forces in maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea with China as resolving disputes through peaceful means and maintaining regional peace and stability remains a consensus between ASEAN countries and China despite the differences in their concerns and positions on the South China Sea issue, Liu noted.

Under the strategic guidance of their top leaders, China and Russia saw economic and trade cooperation overcome a complex external environment to make steady progress during the recent years.

Chinese observers said China-Russia trade and economic cooperation offers great potential, as bilateral trade is forecast to reach $300 billion in 2025, and their cooperation in sectors such as agriculture and renewable energy generation bring new opportunities.

However, the US' groundless accusation against normal China-Russia economic and trade relationship, as well as the US' imposing sanctions on selected Chinese companies has stirred up more troubles, negatively impacting global flow of logistics and trade settlement, industry insiders said.

They noted that the US' pursuit of power play and hegemony in international affairs cannot hold back the global trend toward a multi-polar world.

Normal trade exchange

During recent years, trade between China and Russia has been expanding rapidly, while commodity structure optimization is ongoing. In 2023, bilateral trade between the two nations reached $240.1 billion, a historical high, achieving the established trade target of more than $200 billion ahead of schedule.

In the first four months this year, the trade volume between China and Russia grew by 4.7 percent year-on-year to reach $76.58 billion, according to latest data released by Chinese Customs.

Now, China-Russia oil pipeline and China-Russia east-route natural gas pipeline are operating at high capacity, and the number of freight containers transported through Heihe-Blagoveshchensk road bridge and Tongjiang-Nizhneleninskoye cross-border railway bridge continues to grow. And, the cooperation projects in energy, aviation and aerospace are being boosted steadily.

The scope and quality of China-Russia cooperation see constant improvement, Chinese Commerce Ministry official Liu Xuesong said at a news conference on May 6.

"Based on equality and mutual benefit, the economic and trade exchanges between China and Russia are normal and conforms to rules of international trade. It serves the interests of both peoples and the world at large," Song Kui, president of the Contemporary China-Russia Regional Economy Research Institute, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Given the strong momentum of China-Russia relations, it's projected that bilateral trade volume will reach $300 billion in 2025, Song said.
In March 2023, China and Russia signed a joint statement on a Pre-2030 Development Plan on Priorities in China-Russia Economic Cooperation, underscoring both sides' commitment to improve the quality and structure of rapidly expanding economic and trade cooperation.

As part of the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia this year, the 8th China-Russia Expo is being held in Harbin, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The event fosters extensive discussions and negotiations between the two countries.

"By attending the expo, we aim to break into the Russian market this year. Russian people have a strong interest in traditional Chinese medicines (TCM), which provides a sound basis for the exports of our products," Gao Yuan, a manager from Shanxi Zhendong Pharmaceutical Co, which is engaged in the research and development of TCM, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Gao said the great potential of China-Russia economic and trade relations gives a boost to the company's sales in Russia market.

As Russia continues to improve its infrastructure and local business environment, with policy rollouts to boost goods export and find more import substitutes, Chinese companies could move to further tap the Russian market, Chen Zhigang, director general of the Russian-Chinese Business Park in St. Petersburg, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

False accusations rejected

However, against the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the US continues to assault normal China-Russia trade, and has imposed sanctions on selected Chinese companies. The US Commerce Department recently announced a decision to add 37 Chinese entities to the country's export control "entity list."

China categorically rejects US' groundless accusations over the country's keeping normal economic relations with Russia, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on April 23.

China's right to conduct normal trade and economic exchanges with Russia and other countries should not be interfered or disrupted. China's legitimate and lawful rights and interests should not be infringed on, the spokesperson said.

"The US' imposing economic sanctions on other countries for its own interests are typical examples of economic hegemony and American bullying," Song said.

But, the US' pursuit of hegemony in international affairs will not impede the trend toward a multi-polar world, Song said, noting that the US' unreasonable sanctions on other countries will erode the US dollar's dominant position in the world.

Given the financial sanctions imposed by the West on Russia, China and Russia should work to ensure that their bilateral trade is safe from the sanctions. More cooperation in the financial field, or within the BRICS countries, or between member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, should all be explored, Chen said.

In an exclusive interview with the Global Times in April, South African Ambassador to China Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele said the BRICS are promoting the progress of its common currency, while actively promoting the use of local currencies from member states to reduce the risks of relying on the US dollar.

Song said more China-Russia trade is expected to be settled in Chinese yuan in the future. By taking advantage of platforms like the China-Russia Expo, the two countries could ramp up regional and corporate communications to deepen cooperation, he said.

The Samaranch Cup Junior Tennis Challenger 2024 ASICS Tennis Junior Tour Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao was officially unveiled in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on May 11 and Macao Special Administrative Region on May 12. As an original competition of ASICS, the Tennis Junior Tour has received widespread attention and recognition since its launch in 2022 as it provides a professional competition platform and communication opportunities for young people who love tennis. This year, the competition is linked to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, gathering outstanding young tennis players from all over the country to swing for their dreams.

This year, the ASICS Tennis Junior Tour has been officially upgraded to a Class B event in China Tennis Junior Tour. This tour will compete over four rounds to select multiple outstanding young players, while the finals will be held in Shanghai in October. As the main organizer, ASICS places great emphasis on upgrading and building the entire event experience and has spared no effort to provide professional event platforms and high-quality participation services for domestic tennis youth for three consecutive years. In addition, this year's tour also specially invited Yang Weiguang, former head coach of the national team and chief of the coaches for the Tokyo Olympics, to serve as the coach of the Hong Kong Masters Training Camp, providing professional technical guidance to participating athletes. At the same time, ASICS-signed athlete Yang Zhaoxuan and Wang Kangyi have been invited to interact with young people on site to enhance their enthusiasm for competition.

At the opening ceremony, ASICS also officially launched the "Dream Voices" program, which will collect the sports dreams of participants during this year's competition and help more young people realize their dreams on the tennis court with brand's resources and equipment. Moreover, the Samaranch-ASICS Xiangyang Foundation also awarded special funds for youth tennis exchange to the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association and the Macau Tennis Association. The two sides will work together in the future to support the development and exchange of youth tennis in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. At the same time, the Hong Kong, China Tennis Association and the Macau Tennis Association also awarded ASICS the title of "Strategic Partner," injecting sustained momentum into the development of youth sports through joint efforts from multiple parties.

Tsuyoshi Nishiwaki, senior managing director of ASICS Greater China, said, "ASICS has always been focused on the sports and health development of Chinese youth, and hopes to inspire more young people's interest and love for tennis and sports through hosting such competitions, promoting their physical and mental health. In the future, ASICS will continue to increase investment in related competitions, provide more opportunities and platforms for young people, and inject more vitality into the vigorous development of the national health cause."

ASICS has always been based on the brand concept of "Sound Mind, Sound Body," and has helped promote the healthy development of Chinese youth by various means such as hosting high-quality sports events and collaborating with deep enterprise school cooperation. In March, ASICS officially launched the global campaign "Move your mind with ASICS" along with several running events, aiming to help the public strengthen their bodies and minds through exercise, encourage more people to enjoy a healthy lifestyle oriented by their hearts, and enjoy the motivation brought by sports.

In the future, ASICS will also promote the effective implementation of sports and education integration with higher quality event resources and more diverse cultural exchange activities, contribute brand strength to the construction of a sports powerhouse, and call on more people to participate in sports to "move their mind."