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Amid intensive and fruitful exchanges and cooperation between China and South Pacific island nations, Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is scheduled to visit China from Monday until August 21. Analysts said the visit shows that the two countries are actively seeking closer ties and opportunities for cooperation.

During the visit, leaders of the two countries will have in-depth exchanges of views on China-Fiji relations and important issues of mutual interest, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday.

Fiji is the first Pacific island country to have established diplomatic ties with China. Over the 49 years of diplomatic ties, China-Fiji relations have continued to make new progress, with fruitful outcomes in exchanges and cooperation in various areas, bringing benefit to the peoples of both countries, the ministry said. 

Through Rabuka's visit, China hopes to take the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development to a new level and work with Fiji to build an even closer community with a shared future between China and Pacific island countries, stated the ministry.

During this upcoming visit, we can expect increased cooperation in addressing climate change and economic development given that South Pacific countries place great importance on those areas, Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at the East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Additionally, in areas such as new energy and desalination, China has advanced technologies that can directly translate into economic benefits for the South Pacific, which is exactly what these regional countries need, Chen noted.

Citing the previous China trips by some other Pacific island nation leaders who not only traveled to Beijing but also to other places in China, the expert predicted that the Fijian prime minister may also follow the same approach during his visit to conduct an in-depth bilateral interaction with China, indicating their desire to not only engage in dialogue and cooperation at the government level but also to deepen bilateral cooperation comprehensively.

While cooperation with China has brought tangible benefits to South Pacific island countries and their peoples, some politicians and media outlets from the US and some of its allies including Australia are trying to slander the cooperation.

For example, they tried to defame and mislead a policing cooperation between China and Fiji, citing the backdrop of a tussle for influence between China and the US in the Asia-Pacific.

After reviewing a policing cooperation deal with China for a year, Fiji in March decided to maintain the cooperation although Pacific Islands countries (PICs) are facing mounting pressure from some former colonial powers such as the US and Australia.

The police cooperation between China and PICs is rooted in the strong demand of those countries, Chen commented. The restored cooperation shows that the motivation behind the police cooperation is selfless and can genuinely help improve local social security, which will contribute to creating a favorable business environment for Chinese-funded enterprises and Chinese businesspeople in the area, representing a tangible mutual benefit, Chen added.

"Due to the long history of colonial rule by Western countries, the colonizers focused solely on exploitative governance, neglecting the well-being, economy and public governance of the local population. After these island nations gained independence, they were left with a mess in terms of governance and economy, often struggling to effectively address social security issues. In such circumstances, South Pacific island countries hope for cooperation from China," the expert said.

However, cooperation in social security has been misconstrued by the US-led West as a national security issue. 

Chen stressed that China has no military presence in the South Pacific island countries. Those former colonial powers including the US and Australia hope to firmly control the region politically, economically and in terms of security, reflecting a hegemonic mentality.

South Pacific island countries have no interest in getting involved in major power competition, experts said.  

For example, Fiji appeals to seek to strike a delicate balance between China and the US and its allies.

AFP reported Friday that during a visit to Australia last October, Rabuka said "Fiji's position is very clear. We are friendly with China, now, and the US, always, and do not want to be caught in the struggle between the superpowers."

With an ambitious zero-emission vehicle sales target, Canada needs to face up to the competitiveness of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) and is advised to value and encourage the participation of Chinese EV makers, rather than erecting trade barriers that dampen their enthusiasm for the Canadian market.

Chinese EV maker BYD is looking to enter the Canadian automotive market, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing a regulatory document filed recently.

Separately, according to a report by Automotive News, BYD recently hired lobbyists to advise it on entering the Canadian market to sell passenger EVs, establishing a new business and responding to the possible imposition of EV tariffs.

As China's leading EV manufacturer, BYD's plan to enter the Canadian market showcases its confidence and optimism toward this market. Although Canadian officials are considering imposing tariffs on EVs imported from China, BYD's efforts indicate that it believes the Canadian market has promising growth potential and business opportunities. 

This confidence may stem from Canada's heightened emphasis on environmental protection, its ambitious 100 percent EV sales target and rising demand for EVs.

It is no secret that Canada is committed to achieving 100 percent zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035, including interim targets of at least 20 percent by 2026 and at least 60 percent by 2030, as announced in Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan. 

But carmakers in Canada appear doubtful about the targets. According to a Bloomberg report in June, executives at Toyota Motor Corp and Honda Motor Co expect that consumers will switch to EVs if they are more affordable, meet their range needs and are supported by sufficient charging infrastructure. But those conditions haven't been met. Under such circumstances, BYD's entry could be paramount for Canada to achieve the target. 

It would be regrettable if Canada were to replicate the US decision to impose new tariffs on EVs imported from China without considering the potential long-term benefits.

Given Canada's close relationship with the US, it is understandable that much of Canada's economic and trade policy has come under pressure to align with that of the US. But is it necessary for Ottawa to do it on all aspects and at the expense of its own economic interests?

For a country where the consumer market for EVs is still developing, putting up trade barriers will mean higher EV prices, increasing the economic burden of consumers and curbing consumer demand for and acceptance of green vehicles.

The US is a prime example. Demand for EVs in the US has grown more slowly than expected, according to media reports. Relatively high costs and insufficient charging facilities have impeded the growth of the US EV market, leading to multiple automakers scaling back production plans. This is a clear illustration of the detrimental effects that protectionism has had on the domestic industry.

Moreover, the protectionist approach conflicts with Ottawa's high hopes for the development of the EV industry. The Canadian government has signed agreements with automakers such as Honda Motor and Volkswagen to make EVs, batteries or components in Ontario, Canada's most populous province.

Some may believe that imposing new tariffs on Chinese EVs may prompt Chinese automakers to invest in Canada, instead of just selling cars. However, the problem is that the political implications behind the potential new tariffs could be magnified, which would be sufficient to weaken investment confidence among Chinese automakers.

If Canada were to follow the protectionist path of the US in the EV sector, it should carefully examine the problems facing the American EV market and be prepared to accept the even worse consequences of replicating American protectionist practices. 

China strongly opposes trade protectionism. If Canada continues to erect barriers, it will ultimately harm its own interests. China will protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.

Canada's ambitions for EV development are in line with the global trend toward sustainable transportation solutions. In this context, despite geopolitical undercurrents, it is crucial for Ottawa to remain strategically rational and keep an open mindset when it comes to formulating relevant trade policies, so as to avoid restricting natural competition and undermining Canada's appeal as a promising market.

Thanks to the collaborative efforts, China-Canada economic and trade relations are progressing steadily. It is imperative that we continue to enhance our cooperation, not backslide it.

As the traditional Qixi Festival, or Chinese Valentine's Day approaches, the romantic atmosphere is driving the continuous improvement of the consumption market in China.

This year’s Qixi Festival falls on Saturday and major shopping malls and flower shops are gearing up for the event by launching a variety of promotions to attract couples and people looking to purchase gifts for their loved ones.

The festival has driven a wave of enthusiasm for flower and dining consumption. 

At a flower shop in Shanghai the Global Times saw that it is filled with various sizes of colorful and fragrant flower bouquets, with the shop owner busy trimming and arranging flowers for customers. 

“We have already started Qixi Festival flower pre-orders, and currently, our orders have doubled compared with normal period. We will be operating 24 hours on the festival day to ensure on-time delivery,” the shop owner surnamed Yao, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Many people have made reservations in advance at restaurants to enjoy a lavish meal for the occasion.

A Shanghai scenic restaurant told the Global Times that its special menus for Qixi priced at 1,314 yuan ($183.54 yuan) has already been fully booked, with no available seats from Friday to Sunday. 

Norah Li, a Shanghai resident, told the Global Times on Thursday that she had made a restaurant reservation two weeks in advance to dine out with her fiancé to celebrate the Qixi Festival on Saturday. They are also planning to shop for accessories and jewelry for their wedding.

As Qixi Festival approaches, multiple e-commerce platforms are offering promotions for high-end consumer goods and jewelry.

For example, Chinese e-commerce platform Pinduoduo has launched a Qixi special event with discounts for a number of jewelry brands as high as 50 percent. 

Douyin is offering a 15 percent discount on some selected items. The promotion will feature a variety of products including beauty products, jewelry, flowers, clothing, electronics, and health foods to meet consumers' diverse gifting needs. The promotion will last for eight days and end on Saturday.

The "romance economy" is driving the continuous improvement of the consumption market, analysts said.

According to iiMedia Research, the gift economy industry market size in China is expected to reach 1.37 trillion yuan by 2024, the Global Times learned from the consultant company.

In the first six months of this year, China's retail sales of services increased 7.5 percent from a year ago, 4.3 percentage points higher than that of goods, official data showed.

China will work to further develop consumer services to support high-quality economic development and meet people's demand for personalized, diversified and quality services, according to a guideline made public Saturday.

Multiple Chinese funds have terminated cooperation with international auditing company PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), according to the firms' statements and media reports.

Baoying Fund said in a statement on Wednesday that the auditor for one of its funds has switched from PwC Zhong Tian to RSM China, and the change has been approved by the company's board of directors and has been notified to fund custodians.

In addition, TruValue Asset Management said on Tuesday that it has switched auditor for 51 of its funds to Ernst & Young (EY) from PwC Zhong Tian, as the reappointment started taking effect on August 2.

On June 29, Hotland Innovation Asset Management announced a change of auditor for 22 of its funds from PwC Zhong Tian to EY as well.

As of Wednesday, PwC audits 5,432 out of the 12,088 public funds on the market, accounting for nearly half of the total, Jiemian.com reported, citing Wind data.

Liquidators on behalf of China Evergrande Group have launched court proceedings against PwC, accusing the firm of "negligence" and "misrepresentation" in its work for Evergrande, the Financial Time reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, lawyers for the liquidators started the legal process against PwC Hong Kong and PwC Zhong Tian in March, citing court documents obtained by the Financial Times.

Previously, multiple Chinese companies, such as insurance firms China Life Insurance Company and PICC Property and Casualty Company, as well as energy giant PetroChina, and China Merchant Bank, had announced the cutting to ties with PwC.

In May, China Securities Regulatory Commission fined Evergrande Group 4.175 billion yuan ($581.37 million) for alleged fraudulent bond issuance and information disclosure violations, while both domestic and foreign media outlets have reported that PwC might be implicated in the fraud.

Tsung-Dao Lee, Chinese-born American Nobel Prize winner in Physics, renowned for his contributions to high-energy physics and his role in advancing China’s science education, passed away in the US early Monday morning at the age of 97. 

The Tsung-Dao Lee Institute and Tsung-Dao Lee Library at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and China Center for Advanced Science and Technology jointly issued an obituary to mourn with deep sorrow the passing of Lee at his home in San Francisco, California. 

Born in Shanghai on November 24, 1926, Lee developed interest in physics at an early age. In 1957, he won the Nobel Prize in Physics with Chen-Ning Yang, another renowned Chinese physicist, for advancing parity nonconservation in weak interactions, overturning what had been considered a fundamental law of nature that particles are always symmetrical.

Lee served as a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, an academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, the lifelong director of the China Center of Advanced Science and Technology, an honorary professor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and an honorary director of the university’s Tsung-Dao Lee Institute.

Throughout his more than 60-year academic career, Lee pursued rigorous scholarship, seeking breakthroughs and continually reaching new scientific heights in various fields such as quantum field theory, fundamental particle theory, nuclear physics, statistical mechanics, fluid mechanics and astrophysics. He made enduring and significant contributions to the development of physics, the obituary reads.

In addition to his cutting-edge research outcomes, Lee was deeply respected for his efforts in cultivating Chinese science talents and contributing to the development of the study of physics in China. 

He vigorously promoted the development of high-energy physics in China through China’s first physics collider, the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider. 

He facilitated the establishment of the “Special Class for the Gifted Young,” an educational model created at the University of Science and Technology of China. 

He also initiated the China-US Physics Examination and Application (CUSPEA) program for selecting physics postgraduate students, and advocated for the establishment of systems such as postdoctoral positions and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. 

On hearing the news about Lee’s passing away, many scientists in China expressed their condolences. 

Yan Ning, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and founding president of the Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation, said on Monday afternoon on her social media account that the death of Lee is “the fall of a giant star.”

Tang Chao, an academician of the CAS and head of the National Natural Science Foundation of China's interdisciplinary science department, said that the CUSPEA program initiated by Lee more than four decades ago had trailed a blaze in sending Chinese students to study in the US. 

This forward-looking, groundbreaking initiative opened the door to “going global,” marking a significant historical achievement and bearing great historical significance, Tang wrote in a statement, noting that the program also changed people’s destiny. 

Should restrictions on Chinese investment be relaxed immediately to boost export levels? Since the Indian Ministry of Finance recently released the Economic Survey for 2023-24 calling for the introduction of Chinese investment and the improvement of China-India relations, this topic has sparked intense debate within India. As the debate continues to escalate, there are also rumors that the Indian government is considering relaxing restrictions on Chinese investment and visa restrictions for Chinese citizens. This confirms a fundamental fact: The "Asia's strictest curbs on Chinese business" have indeed hindered India's industrial upgrading. It also indicates that more and more people in India are beginning to face up to this reality.

In 2020 New Delhi adopted a series of measures to obstruct normal economic and trade exchanges between the two countries under the guise of protecting domestic industries. These measures included strictly limiting the issuance of visas to Chinese citizens, banning hundreds of Chinese mobile applications, delaying the approval of Chinese investments, and reducing and even halting direct flights between the two countries. However, four years later, these measures have not achieved any results and are widely believed to have "undermined Modi's ambitions to make India a factory hub." In 2023, the share of manufacturing in India's GDP fell from 16 percent in 2015 to around 13 percent, far below the Modi government's target of 25 percent, a goal that has been postponed three times to 2025. Once again, it has been proven that decoupling does not lead to prosperity, and such extreme policies have essentially reached an impasse.

The development of India's manufacturing industry requires Chinese components, intermediate goods, and technical support. It is not realistic to bypass China. In recent years, the fastest-growing segment of China-India trade has been electronic products, presenting a great opportunity for India which is eager to expand and strengthen its manufacturing sector. However, a large number of skilled Chinese professionals have been kept out of the country due to visa restrictions. From footwear and textiles to engineering and electronics, Indian businesses have purchased machines from China but cannot use them productively without the help of Chinese technicians. The machines are lying idle, and export orders unfulfilled. Many Indian companies are eagerly waiting for the government to relax visa restrictions with China and resume direct flights between the two countries to boost their orders. It is evident who has been harmed by New Delhi's reckless moves.

In fact, over the past four years, the most vehement opposition to those policies has come from the very groups that New Delhi is trying to "protect." Some Indian media outlets have reported that in the past four years, Indian electronics manufacturers have suffered $15 billion in production losses and 100,000 job cuts due to escalating tensions with China. Indian business leaders and some scholars believe that India has almost missed out on the opportunities brought by the global industrial chain adjustment, as "the world is not waiting for India." The latest report from the Indian Ministry of Finance is actually a concentrated presentation of such voices, and it is worth the attention of the Indian policymakers.

The latest to speak out is the Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who stated on July 30 that India is not re-thinking the issue of allowing Chinese investments into the country. This statement is regrettable and shows the wavering and division within the Indian government. Some Indian elites deeply rooted in their hostility toward China, interest groups, and Western lobbyists will continue to influence decision-making in New Delhi, but this does not change the fact that choosing to cooperate with China will benefit India's development. As the Global Times stated in a previous editorial, by continuing to refuse visas and resist resuming direct flights, India risks losing Chinese business and tourism to other destinations. New Delhi should do the correct math.

At the same time, we also noticed that many Western media outlets are closely watching the direction of India's policy toward China, trying to steer economic and trade issues toward geopolitical directions. Some American media outlets have openly stated that the Indian government's approach to Chinese investment must consider broader geopolitical implications, especially India's relationship with the US and other strategic partners, and reminded India to ensure that its economic interests are aligned with its strategic goals. This is actually telling India to follow America's lead. India, which places great emphasis on independent diplomacy, needs to be vigilant against such rhetoric.

The China-India relationship has important implications beyond bilateral relations. As two neighboring major developing countries and emerging economies, both countries should have the wisdom and capability to achieve peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation, setting an example for other "Global South" countries. We urge New Delhi to face up to the growing domestic voices with a more positive and open attitude toward bilateral cooperation in the economic and trade fields. New Delhi should know that a timely correction of wrong policies will not lead it to "lose face," but will demonstrate India's maturity and confidence.

China and the US recently held their first senior officials' meeting on drug-tackling cooperation since the two countries launched a counternarcotics working group in January, with analysts describing it as a positive and pragmatic engagement.

They noted that China adheres to the principle of humanism and is always open to counternarcotics cooperation with other countries. However, the most important thing for the US to solve its drug problem lies in domestic drug control and improving multi-department collaboration, and if the US politicizes the fentanyl issue and smears other countries again, it will only undermine the hard-won achievements of cooperation.

At the meeting held in Washington on July 31 local time, both countries briefed each other on the latest progress made in their anti-drug work, including substance control, cooperation over relevant cases, technique exchanges, and multilateral cooperation, Xinhua reported on Friday.

The two sides also exchanged their concerns and clarified the direction of cooperation, agreeing to further strengthen dialogue and deepen counternarcotics cooperation on the basis of "mutual respect, managing differences and conducting mutually beneficial cooperation".

According to a White House statement released on Thursday local time, the discussions focused on ways to strengthen coordination on law enforcement actions; disrupt the illicit financing of transnational criminal organization networks; accelerate the scheduling of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals; address the illicit diversion of precursor chemicals; and exchange information on emerging threats.   

In January this year, China and the US launched a bilateral counternarcotics working group, an implementation of the meeting between the two countries' heads of state in San Francisco and a crucial mechanism for coordinating bilateral efforts to counter the global manufacturing and trafficking of illicit synthetic drugs.

Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times that the latest engagement is a phased outcome of the China-US joint efforts in the field of counternarcotics over the past six months, and the overall tone is positive and constructive.

The meeting is also aimed at making a plan for the next stage of cooperation, and dealing with the drug problem is of great political importance, especially in the context of the US election, Wu noted. 

Echoing Wu, Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the meeting was a pragmatic one with less politicization. 

China takes an open attitude in counternarcotics cooperation with other countries, and we will not exclude any country, said Lü, noting that China will do its best to maintain dialogue and cooperation with the US in a humanitarian manner, especially as the US has one of the worst drug problems in the world.

According to the Xinhua release, the Chinese delegation had exchanges with several US authorities. The delegation will also have in-depth discussions on key cases with front-line investigators of the US Drug Enforcement Administration's San Francisco office.

Despite the collaboration with multiple departments, Lü said it is difficult to see which department is leading the collaboration in anti-drug tasks, which highlights the issue of lack of multi-agency coordination and lax law enforcement in the US.

At the same time, although the coordination between the two sides has been relatively successful, as the US has gradually adapted to China's stance and principles on drug control in the past few months, differences still remain, Wu said. 

For example, China has stressed that the US drug issue is largely a US domestic one, but the US has always blamed it on others, a manifestation of its inability to deal with its domestic drug problems, Wu said.

"If the US had done stricter domestic prescription control and law enforcement, there would be less demand," Wu said, "most countries did not export drugs to the US, but just raw chemical materials."

With a developed chemical industry that has the strongest management capacity in the world, China has the responsibility to maintain the security of the global chemical supply chain, and will not let fentanyl synthesized in the country flow abroad, Lü said.

China will not reject the US if it is really serious about seeking cooperation in anti-drug law enforcement. But the US' real problems will ultimately have to be solved largely by itself, he added. "If the US politicizes the anti-drug issue again, it will undoubtedly impact cooperation between the two countries again."

Hamas' political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was targeted and killed in an Israeli strike early Wednesday while visiting Iran, according to a statement released by Hamas on the same day.

China said on Wednesday that it is closely monitoring the situation, and voiced its firm opposition to and condemnation of acts of assassination.

"We are closely following the incident. China firmly opposes and condemns the act of assassination and is deeply concerned that the incident may plunge the region into greater turmoil. China has been calling for settling regional disputes through negotiation and dialogue and an early, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and there should be no more escalation of the conflict and confrontation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday.

Some Chinese experts said that the wave of conflicts in the Middle East is likely to overshadow the wave of reconciliation as the biggest issue now is the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.

Wang Jin, an associate professor at the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Northwest University in Xi'an, believes the attack on Haniyeh could end political negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

"The ongoing dialogues are at a very critical stage, and this incident could negatively impact the direction of the Israeli-Palestinian situation," Wang said.

The death of Haniyeh is considered the "first most significant Israeli operation" since October 7, 2023, according to CNN, as the senior Hamas official was considered as a key interlocutor in hostage negotiations and a cease-fire deal in Gaza. His assassination will have a significant influence on negotiations.

The assassination of Haniyeh occurred one day after Israel claimed that a strike in Beirut, Lebanon on Tuesday had killed Hezbollah's most senior military commander, CNN said.

Israel is engaged in multi-front operations, striking Hezbollah in Lebanon on one side and launching attacks on Houthi forces in Yemen on the other. This latest strike within Iran's borders further highlights the escalating wave of conflicts in the Middle East, Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"As a result, reconciliation efforts between Israel and Palestine as well as peace talks between Hamas and Israel are likely to face significant setbacks," Sun said.

Further complications in relations

Some experts believe that Israel is currently adopting a two-pronged strategy.

"On one hand, it continues to carry out intermittent military strikes on Gaza. On the other, it is targeting Hamas' senior leaders through a policy of pinpoint elimination," Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Since October last year, a number of senior Hamas officials have been killed as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to eliminate Hamas, according to media reports. Other members of Haniyeh's family were killed by an Israeli air strike in June.

"This could lead to further complications in the relationship between Israel and Iran," Liu told the Global Times. Since the start of the latest Israeli-Palestinian conflict, tensions have also escalated between Hezbollah and Israel. Whether it is Hamas, Hezbollah or the Houthi rebels, they all receive a certain level of support from Iran, Liu noted.

"Although the military situation in southern Gaza has somewhat eased, the conflict between Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel is escalating," Liu said. "The assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran has increased the risk of further conflict between Israel and Iran."

China's Special Envoy on Middle East Affairs Zhai Jun met with Iranian Ambassador to China Mohsen Bakhtiar on Tuesday.

The two sides agreed on the need to de-escalate tensions in southern Lebanon as quickly as possible to prevent the conflict from expanding or evolving into a regional war, according to a readout released by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.

Critical moment

With the death of Haniyeh, Hamas may face a leadership crisis, and there is bound to be significant internal struggles before new leaders emerge, some experts said, noting that the situation could put the entire organization at risk of division, further weakening its ability to act collectively.

"Hamas' power within the Palestinian factions has been weakened, raising new questions about who will govern the Gaza Strip in the future," Wen Shaobiao, an expert from the Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"Based on the current situation in Gaza, the main armed forces of Hamas have been largely dismantled by the Israel Defense Forces, making it unlikely that Hamas can maintain control over the Gaza Strip. It is possible that new factions may emerge to fill the void," Wen told the Global Times.

The fate of Hamas has reached a very severe stage, as the organization's elite forces have suffered significant losses, Liu said.

"With the elimination of its top leader, Hamas faces the challenge of how to rebuild its organizational system," Liu said, noting that given the extent of damage to both its military and political structures and its leadership, Hamas is in a dire state.

Both China and Russia support a regional architecture centered around ASEAN, as the multilateral coordination mechanism helps to prevent major powers from excessively intervening, and especially NATO from extending its tentacles into the Asia-Pacific region, observers said Friday after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Vientiane, on the sidelines of the ASEAN ministerial meetings.

China is ready to work with Russia to uphold the ASEAN-centered, open and inclusive regional cooperation architecture, Wang told Lavrov.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that in the face of the volatile and complex international situation and external disturbances and obstacles, China is ready to work with Russia to uphold the original aspiration of lasting good neighborliness and friendship, firmly support each other, safeguard each other's core interests, and remain each other's good partners for development and revitalization.

Russia will work with China to support the centrality of ASEAN and prevent the interference and infiltration of external forces, Lavrov noted.

Relations between China and Russia are at their best time in history, and the meeting between Wang and Lavrov is a specific manifestation of the sound bilateral relations, Cui Heng, a research fellow from the Center for Russian Studies of East China Normal University, told the Global Times.

By working together, the two countries can effectively address common challenges and promote stability and cooperation, Cui said.

Both China and Russia support a regional architecture centered around ASEAN, as the multilateral coordination mechanism helps to prevent major powers from excessively intervening and disrupting the regionalization process for their own interests, especially NATO from extending its tentacles into the Asia-Pacific region, Cui said.

In a trilateral meeting on Thursday between Wang Yi, Lavrov and Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Wang stressed that enhancing cooperation among the three countries will not only help safeguard their common interests, but also send a clear message of solidarity and cooperation among regional countries to join efforts to promote regional stability and prosperity and cope with risks and challenges.

Wang cited rising hegemonism, unilateralism and protectionism, and the undercurrents of "small courtyard, high fence" and "decoupling and breaking chains," coupled with persisting regional conflicts as pervading, destabilizing, uncertain and unpredictable factors around the world.

A statement on Lavrov's meeting with Wang from the Russian Foreign Ministry also said that "the two ministers went on to discuss ways to implement the concept of building a new security architecture for Eurasia."

Asian affairs are decided by Asians, and this trend is now very obvious. The Western-dominated global order has begun to fail, at least in Asia and Eurasia, and there has been a tendency for non-Western countries to cooperate bilaterally or multilaterally to dominate regional processes, Cui said.

However, bilateral relations between China and Russia differ from the normal kind of military-political alliance. The two countries transcend this model of state-to-state relations, adopting an approach of non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party, Zhang Hong, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, underscored.

China and Russia on Thursday held their eighth joint aerial strategic patrol that saw bombers of the two countries flying over the Bering Sea for the first time. The patrol closely followed a joint naval patrol that stretched from northern Pacific waters to the South China Sea and a joint naval exercise in waters off China's southern coast earlier this month.

Experts said it highlighted the growing China-Russia military cooperation and its contribution to peace and stability through providing global strategic balance.

The meeting between the foreign ministers of Russia and China was held on the second day after Wang Yi's meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Guangzhou.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Friday, China will send Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui to visit Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia. Starting from July 28, Li will carry out the fourth round of shuttle diplomacy on the crisis, further exchange views with major members of the Global South on the current situation and the process of peace talks, discuss with them the de-escalation of the situation, and accumulate conditions for restoring the peace talks, Mao said.

China's role in promoting peace talks has become uniquely significant. Beijing has consistently promoted peace talks, has no direct interest in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and does not profit from it. It is a trustworthy party, Zhang said.

The fighting is still ongoing, the prospect for peace talks remains unclear, and the conflict could further escalate and spill over. There is widespread concern among the international community, especially countries of the Global South, about the situation and the call for de-escalation has become all the more urgent, Mao noted.

Editor's Note:

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. The bilateral relations have seen rapid development in past decades in many aspects, ranging from the economic sphere to the people-to-people exchange level. In a recent interview with Global Times (GT) reporters Xia Wenxin and Yang Sheng, Victoria Panova (Panova), Head of the BRICS Expert Council and Vice Rector of Russia's National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE University), shared her opinions on topics including China-Russia relations and the two countries' further cooperation under the BRICS framework.

GT: How do you see the overall development of current China-Russia relations? What kind of relations does Russia want to develop with China?

Panova: Since the establishment of our bilateral relations, the [two] countries have come a long way. The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era has proved to be trustworthy, reliable and mutually beneficial. The relationship between our countries is indeed time-tested and future-oriented. Further strengthening the relationship is key to fulfilling the fundamental interests of Russia and China as well as ensuring global stability.

Russia aims to further develop its dialogue with the People's Republic of China in all fields of cooperation, including providing mutual assistance and strengthening policy coordination in the international arena to ensure security, stability and sustainable development in Eurasia and globally.

The two countries continue close dialogue within the framework of such platforms as the United Nations and its Security Council, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, G20, and ASEAN Regional Forum, among others. Russia and China continue to work on linking development plans for the Eurasian Economic Union and the Belt and Road Initiative.

The volume of bilateral trade increased for the third consecutive year and reached over $240 billion in 2023. In February 2024, Russian company Gazprom became the first largest supplier of pipeline gas to China, having outrun Turkmenistan - a long-standing leader in this respect. Chinese businesses are actively investing in Russia's Far East with their investment size amounting to approximately 1.2 trillion rubles ($13 billion) in the region. Those projects encompass many areas from logistics and agriculture to pharmacy and high technology.

As a Vice Rector of HSE University, I would also like to draw your attention to people-to-people exchange and cultural cooperation between our countries. In the 2023/2024 academic year, the Government of the Russian Federation provided 1,000 scholarships for Chinese students to study in Russian universities. In Russia, over 360 educational organizations from primary schools to universities teach Chinese as a foreign language. Around 860 educational organizations provide Russian as a foreign language courses all over China. HSE University has developed partnerships with over 30 leading scientific, analytical and educational institutions from China.

GT: How has Russia's diplomatic strategy changed in the two years since the conflict with Ukraine broke out?

Panova: In fact, the situation in Ukraine didn't lead to dramatic shifts in Russia's diplomacy. In fact, the situation that has been unfolding for the recent two years has shown "who is who" in terms of Russia's relations with the US, the European Union and other Western states. It has clearly illustrated that the elites who now lead the West do not treat Moscow as an equal and are not really interested in dialogue.

You must have noticed that Russia has been intensifying its relations with countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This should not come across as something completely new in Russia's foreign policy. We have been developing ties with those states for decades, the process started long before the escalation with Ukraine. The difference today is that we have indeed become more active in these regions that we collectively refer to as the world majority.

In 2023, the changes that have occurred in the new geopolitical reality were reflected in the edition of Russia's Foreign Policy Concept. It clearly mentions the fact that the world is moving toward a more just and multipolar system. This estimation of the global trends unites Russia with the countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Our states [Russia and China] share the idea that international relations should be based on mutual respect and the recognition of each other's interests. No one actor has the right to rule the world unilaterally as a hegemon. All countries have the right to equitable development. These beliefs and values remain at the core of Russia's diplomacy which is a foundation for building constructive partnerships with anyone who is open and interested.
GT: How has Russia used diplomatic means to resist US-Western isolation and suppression?

Panova: Russia has consistently employed diplomacy as the main tool to counter Western efforts to isolate and suppress its voice on the global stage. These diplomatic means are rooted in Russia's desire to maintain its sovereignty, protect its interests and remain a major player in international affairs. Thus, Russia, forging strategic partnerships with China, India, Iran, and others, is bolstering its diplomatic leverage and creating a counterbalance to Western initiatives.

With the support of its partners, Russia continues to diversify its foreign trade with Asian, Latin American and African countries. In the first quarter of 2024, the volume of Russian oil imported by China increased by 12.85 percent compared to the same period of 2023. In total, China imported 28.528 million tons of oil from Russia in January-March. In value terms, the supplies increased by 17.9 percent to $13.858 billion.

If we judge by the intensity of Russia's foreign trade and diplomatic contacts with the world majority over the years, then Western unfriendly policies obviously failed. While trying to isolate Russia from the world, the West has isolated itself from Russia. The big question is whether such an approach truly meets the interests of the EU, which has proposed and supported anti-Russian sanctions.

GT: The 2024 BRICS Leaders' Meeting will be held in Russia in October. What are your expectations for the future development of the BRICS mechanism? In what way do you think China and Russia will promote a multipolar world order, especially under the BRICS framework?

Panova: Russia proactively engages in multilateral formats, including BRICS, which grow in prominence on several fronts ranging from economics to geopolitics. Russia attributes great importance to BRICS. Over the years, the BRICS grouping has grown in scope and depth with BRICS countries exploring practical cooperation in a spirit of openness and solidarity, sharing common interests and values. Thus, BRICS serves as a platform for Russia to enhance its global standing, diversify its partnerships and pursue common objectives with other emerging powers.

The political influence of BRICS goes hand in hand with its economic power. BRICS unites developing countries all of which demonstrate steady economic growth. Since the expansion, BRICS' share in global GDP has reached over 30 percent which is considerably more than the share of G7. The values and principles that BRICS countries share are appreciated by many countries. Approximately 40 states have expressed an interest in joining, and there is every reason to suggest that another wave of expansion is on the way.

During its BRICS Chairship, Russia strives to facilitate a smooth integration of the new states into the grouping. This is the number one task of BRICS. Russia will make efforts to strengthen the intra-BRICS policy coordination at multilateral platforms, including the World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the G20. Together with China and other BRICS countries, Russia will stand for a balanced and just energy transition process. Among other things, one of the priorities is promoting cooperation in the field of international information security to prevent the militarization of the Internet. BRICS will deepen dialogue on counter-terrorism, drug trafficking, and other fields.