Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong in Beijing on Tuesday, calling for further synergy of development strategies and enhanced cooperation.
Commending the remarkable achievements Singapore made during Lee's tenure as prime minister, Xi spoke highly of Lee's long-term support for China-Singapore cooperation. The two sides established an all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership last year, setting a strategic course for the development of bilateral ties, Xi said.
Noting that next year will mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore, Xi called on the two countries to strengthen high-level exchanges and deepen cooperation in various fields, so as to deliver more benefits to the two peoples and make greater contributions to regional peace and prosperity.
Chinese President Xi Jinping often quotes an ancient saying on many diplomatic occasions: "No mountain or ocean can separate those who share the same aspirations." This powerful message underscores the undeniable force of friendship and cooperation in bridging hearts across nations, cultures, and civilizations. Inspired by President Xi's vision, people-to-people exchanges between China and the world have been flourishing.
People from diverse backgrounds and fields - united by common goals and dreams - traverse mountains and oceans to connect with each other. Through letters, face-to-face dialogues and vibrant cultural events, they are collectively weaving a magnificent tapestry of building a community with a shared future for humanity.
The Global Times presents "Intertwined Destinies, Shared Paths," a series spotlighting the touching stories written by these "friendship ambassadors." They are scholars pushing the boundaries of research, diplomats advocating for deeper cooperation on the global stage, artists igniting imaginations with their creations and ordinary people extending heartfelt love beyond national borders driven by genuine sincerity.
Their tales illuminate the spark of cultural exchange, the driving force of technological innovation, the bountiful harvest of economic cooperation and the enduring warmth of human connection - all contributing to a more peaceful, prosperous and open world. This is the first installment of the series.
When Chinese scholar Li Xiuzhen first saw the Rhine River while studying in the Netherlands in 1996, she was deeply impressed by the river's crystal-clear waters, similar to that of China's Yangtze River. Although Li had never seen the Rhine before, this famous European river made the then young woman, who later became a well-known expert in wetland ecology, feel so close.
Two years later, Dutch scholar Huib de Vriend encountered the Yangtze River for the first time in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, during his trip to China in 1998. "It was so vast," he recalled to the Global Times on his first impression of the river, known as the mother river of China, with its wide expanse of water stretching as far as the eye could see.
At that time, neither Li nor de Vriend knew that their respective institutions - East China Normal University (ECNU) in Shanghai and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in western Netherlands' Delft city - would engage in over 20 years of continuous collaboration focused on major rivers and delta regions like the Yangtze and the Rhine, being a vivid example of people-to-people exchange between China and Europe in the academic field.
Now old friends, Li and de Vriend met again at an academic forum in mid-November. Themed "Yangtze-Rhine-Danube Regional Dialogue," the forum brought together more than 100 global government officials, scholars and industry veterans, who shared their insights on topics including river improvement, environmental protection, the relationship between rivers and human society, and grass-roots exchanges based on rivers and deltas.
Dialogues on rivers from different regions is of great significance today, said Li, now deputy director of the Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research at ECNU.
"Rivers nurture civilization and promote communication, diminishing the constraints of geopolitics," she told the Global Times. "Our academic exchanges based on rivers are an important part of grass-roots diplomacy."
Similarities and differences
Co-hosted by ECNU and Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (SPAFFC), the forum held in Shanghai on November 21 explored the cultural exchanges and sustainable development cooperation mechanisms among the Yangtze River, Rhine River, and Danube River basins, promoting win-win development and fostering China-Europe friendship, said Chen Jing, president of SPAFFC.
Many guests at the forum told the Global Times that there are numerous similarities and differences among these three rivers. It is these similarities and differences that provide value for mutual learning and motivation for cooperation among the involved countries, they said.
As a keynote speaker who provided a detailed introduction to the situation of the rivers Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt and their delta, de Vriend said the most obvious similarity between the Yangtze River and the Rhine River is that they are economic chains connecting particularly important economic areas. "Here in China is the case; and also, northwest Europe is the most important economic area there, thanks to the Rhine," he said.
Another major similarity is that both the Yangtze River and the Rhine River carry a lot of sediment, which can be used to build up land or to ensure that the river remains stable, de Vriend said. "So there are a lot of things in common between these rivers, but there are also differences," he told the Global Times, noting that "differences are driving the collaboration."
The flow rate and number of dams on the Yangtze River far exceed those of the Rhine, making mutual learning particularly appealing, he said. "It's not only that we bring knowledge here, but we also get something back.''
Echoing de Vriend, Li said that academic cooperation between China and Europe in the field of rivers is a process of mutual learning. She said the Netherlands is ahead of China in its pollution remediation of the Rhine River, and its efforts in returning farmland to wetlands, which have offered many valuable experiences to learn from.
On the other hand, China is enlightening in its efficient implementation of certain central government-led policies, such as the 10-year fishing ban on the Yangtze River. "Similar policies would be very difficult to implement in Europe, due to the competing interests among different river basin countries," he said.
Iulian Nichersu from Romania-based Danue Delta National Institute for Research and Development, another keynote speaker at the forum, said this was his first visit to China. He plans to visit the Yangtze River Delta, a part which is a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) listed heritage.
Speaking of the possible areas for enhanced cooperation between China and Romania in the study of rivers, Nichersu highlighted nature preservation and wetland management as key areas for deeper collaboration. He mentioned that there have been some cooperative programs for ecological restoration between Chinese and Romanian institutions, which are important aspects of wetland management.
"They can serve as a way for information and knowledge exchange between these two systems," he told the Global Times. Long-term academic cooperation
The forum was held as part of a series of international meetings under the "Mega-Delta Programme." The program was one of the inaugural 65 Decade Actions endorsed by the "United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)," making Chinese mainland's sole inclusion.
Initiated by the State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research at ECNU, the "Mega-Delta Programme" aims to address distinctive challenges encountered by estuarine deltas across varied regions, typologies, and developmental stages amid global transformations. He Qing, director of the laboratory, believes that the fact that the program was selected demonstrates the essential role of rivers in facilitating cultural exchange.
"The development of human civilization is closely linked to rivers. Historically, the four major cradles of civilization all emerged around great rivers," she told the Global Times.
"Moreover, this program embodies the idea that, the UN needs scientists like us to take on a social responsibility to jointly preserve and protect our river ecosystems and civilizations," she added.
In 2023, ECNU and SPAFFC co-hosted the Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Forum, focusing on dialogue between the two major rivers of China and the US. He said they plan to regularly hold such similar academic forums, which will include more of the world's great rivers, such as the Mekong and the Amazon, to further promote dialogue and cooperation among more regions globally.
Over the past few decades, Chinese scholars have maintained close exchanges with their global peers in the field of river studies under supported of the government. The cooperation between ECNU and TU Delft, for instance, has involved long-term collaborative projects since 2002, under a strategic cooperation framework signed by the Chinese and Dutch governments, according to He.
With the help of these collaborative projects, many ECNU faculty and students in river studies have traveled to the Netherlands multiple times over the two decades, either for short visits or to pursue an 18-month graduate program at TU Delft. "As for myself, I've been to the Netherlands at least 30 times in the past 20 years, and I even know well the cashiers at the supermarket near TU Delft," He said.
De Vriend is a frequent visitor at Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Research of ECNU. In addition to teaching, he supervises some doctoral students and occasionally offers management advice.
Close academic exchanges are especially valuable in the current complex international landscape. De Vriend mentioned that now in his country, there sometimes may be "a bit of stress" regarding collaboration with China. "But I think in our field, there's no reason to have stress, and we can be relaxed about exchanging information and insights," he told the Global Times.
Broader exchanges
2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU).
"As two major global powers, markets, and civilizations, the China-EU relationship is vital for the well-being of both sides and for global stability and prosperity," said Hao Zhongwei, director-general of Department of European and Asian Affairs of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), in a speech delivered at the forum's opening ceremony on November 21.
In addition to academic exchanges, the forum also featured a panel discussion on the broader topic of "Mechanisms of Collaboration between River Basins." During this session, representatives from various governments, companies, and civil friendship organizations shared their views on how to further expand people-to-people exchanges between China and Europe in various fields.
Nagy Judit Éva, president of Hungarian-Chinese Friendship Association, was a guest at this session. She mentioned that this year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Hungary and China, and both countries have organized a series of activities, from government to grass-roots levels, to enhance mutual understanding and friendship. "Chinese culture is getting closer to Hungarian people, and in Hungary, learning the Chinese language is getting more and more popular." she told the Global Times.
Luoding Lammel-Rath, chairperson of the German-Chinese Friendship Association, shared her observations on cooperation between China and Europe regarding rivers during this session, covering areas such as trade, navigation, flood warning, environmental and climate protection, as well as cultural and tourism exchanges.
Before the forum began, Lammel-Rath shared in a brief interview with the Global Times about a German festival called Mainfest. Mainfest is a celebration held in riverside cities like Frankfurt, originally derived from a fishing festival created by fishermen and captains to pay tribute to the rivers. Like China's Dragon Boat Festival, it is a traditional holiday related to rivers.
Germany and China, as well as their peoples, are very similar, both hard-working and diligent, said Lammel-Rath. "Rivers provide a great opportunity for both sides to learn about each other," she said. "Under this theme, there will be more development around people-to-people diplomatic relationships. That's the future."
The Taklimakan Desert, known as the "Sea of Death," has been completely encircled with a sand-blocking green belt stretching 3,046 kilometers, said local authorities in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Satellite remote sensing images show that this is the world's longest green ecological barrier surrounding a desert, the Xinjiang Daily reported.
On Thursday morning, several plant species, including Populus euphratica (more commonly known as "desert poplar"), sacsaoul and red willow, were planted on sandy land in Yutian county on the southern edge of the desert, marking the completion of the final stretch of the green belt, according to the Xinjiang regional forestry and grassland bureau.
The Taklimakan covers 337,600 square kilometers and its circumference measures 3,046 kilometers, making it the largest desert in China and the second-largest drifting desert in the world, Xinhua said.
According to the Xinjiang Daily, the desert receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 50 millimeters, while evaporation rates surpass 2,500 millimeters.
There are three challenges to accomplishing this task, reported the China Central Television (CCTV). First, the large size of the desert poses the greatest challenge. It covers about 76 percent of the desert area in Xinjiang and about 49 percent of the national desert area. Of this, the area of mobile sand dunes measures about 258,400 square kilometers, and the highest part of the dunes can stretch up to about 300 meters, which is equivalent to a skyscraper with 100 floors.
Second, the dry climate and scarce precipitation make reforestation efforts more challenging. Third, dust storms formed by sand are a challenge.
Liu Yongping, a researcher at the Institute of Afforestation and Sand Control within the Xinjiang Academy of Forestry, said that the Taklimakan Desert is the area in China with the most intense sandstorm activity and the most severe sandstorm disasters. Under the influence of atmospheric circulation, it continuously threatens the oases and serves as a major source of dust and an upwind area in China, Liu added, according to the Xinjiang Daily report.
"It is a new miracle in China's efforts to combat desertification, such a large-scale project is unimaginable in other countries," Liu said, who has conducted research on desertification control efforts worldwide. Liu also noted that this green ecological barrier around the desert safeguards the ecosystem of southern Tianshan Mountain in Hami of Xinjiang, bringing favorable living and production conditions for local residents, and showcasing China's technological strength and organizational capability in ecological governance.
A 57-year-old Xinjiang resident specially traveled 20 kilometers to witness on-site completion, saying, "this green barrier will be sure to yield harvests for his family in the future," the Xinjiang Daily reported.
After the completion, Xinjiang will continue to strengthen and expand the green ecological barrier around the Taklimakan Desert, aiming to restore million 2.34 million hectares of decertified land by 2030, the report said.
China strongly condemns the US' arranging for leader of China's Taiwan region Lai Ching-te's "stopover" and has lodged serious protests with the US, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Sunday.
China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the US and the Taiwan region, firmly opposes any trip by leader of the Taiwan authorities to the US in any name or under whatever pretext, and firmly opposes any form of US connivance or support for "Taiwan independence" separatists and their separatist activities, the spokesperson said, in response to reports saying Lai has begun his trip to so-called "diplomatic allies" in the Pacific, and he has arrived in Hawaii for a "stopover."
The spokesperson stressed that the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, and the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-US relations.
"We urge the US to fully see the separatist nature of Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities, fully understand the grave damage that 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities do to cross-Straits peace and stability, fully abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, act on the commitments made by US leaders such as not supporting 'Taiwan independence,' stop having official interaction with the Taiwan region, and stop sending any wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces," the spokesperson said.
China will closely follow the developments and take resolute and strong measures to defend our nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the spokesperson said.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba reportedly didn't get meeting he sought with US president-elect Donald Trump, who though met with Argentina's President Javier Milei last week. Observers said that the cold shoulder Ishiba received may be a sign that Japan may not be marked as a priority on the diplomatic agenda of the next US administration.
Ishiba, who is on an eight-day trip for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Peru and G20 summit in Brazil, had explored the possibility of stopping in the US afterward for a meeting with Trump, Japan Today reported on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters in Lima, Peru, Ishiba said Trump's team explained that the president-elect, who has received numerous requests for meetings from world leaders, cannot hold talks with them before taking office due to legal constraints.
Japanese media quoted Ishiba as saying, "I hope to hold talks with him at the most convenient, earliest possible time for both," showing his eagerness to arrange a meeting following Trump's inauguration in January.
At a gala at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort on Thursday, Trump however met with Milei ahead of a conservative investment summit. The Argentinean president is the first foreign leader to meet Trump since his US presidential election victory on 5 November, according to BBC.
Japanese media took note of the incident. The Asahi Shimbun described that Ishiba "suffered an embarrassing diplomatic setback" when he failed to secure an early meeting with Trump.
Ishiba's was re-elected as Japan's prime minister on November 11. However, the vote in parliament went to a runoff for the first time in 30 years when no candidate was able to muster majority support in the first round.
Observers said this shows Ishiba is a "weak leader," which Trump could see as a stark contrast to the late Shinzo Abe, reported Singapore-based media CNA.
On November 17, 2016, then Japanese Prime Minister Abe held a meeting with Trump, before the latter took office, in Trump Tower for approximately one hour and 30 minutes, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Following the meeting, Abe presented Trump a golf club and Trump presented Abe golf goods including a golf shirt.
"Trump remembers very well how sturdy, strong and trustworthy his pal Shinzo Abe was," said Tomohiko Taniguchi, a specially appointed professor at the University of Tsukuba, CNA news reported.
"Ishiba must counter the shadow of Shinzo Abe. For the moment, Donald Trump is not going to pay much attention, I'm afraid, to Ishiba," added Taniguchi, who is also a special advisor at think tank Fujitsu Future Studies Centre.
The cold shoulder Ishiba received from Trump may indicate that for the next US administration, Japan may not be marked as a priority on the diplomatic agenda, and Washington may be asking Tokyo to be more compliant and proactive in sharing the defense expenses, Lü Chao, an expert on Northeast Asia issues at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.
Lü said that Ishiba's recent remarks regarding the security alliance between the US and Japan, such as putting the US-Japan alliance on a more equal footing, indicate certain mood, which may have sparked discontent in Washington, suggesting an emerging rift in the longstanding alliance.
"The current Japan-US security treaty is structured so that the US is obligated to 'defend' Japan, and Japan is obligated to 'provide bases' to the US," Ishiba was quoted as saying in a statement provided to the Hudson Institute, according to the Pacific Island Times report. "The time is ripe to change this 'asymmetrical bilateral treaty'," media reported.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks at the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he called for building a fair and equitable global governance system and outlined China's eight actions for global development, drew widespread attention and positive response among participants.
Meanwhile, in line with Xi's remarks calling for practicing true multilateralism, G20 leaders reaffirmed their strong commitment to multilateralism and pledged to reform the global governance system, according to the G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders' Declaration released on Tuesday.
Xi on Monday called for building a fair and equitable global governance system, while warning against politicizing economic issues, fragmenting the global market and taking protectionist moves, in remarks delivered at the Session II of the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"We should keep in mind that mankind lives in a community with a shared future, see each other's development as opportunities rather than challenges, and view each other as partners rather than rivals," Xi said in the speech.
"In light of the G20's mandate, we could build greater international consensus in the economic, financial, trade, digital and eco-environmental fields, among others, to improve global governance and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization," Xi said.
In the remarks, Xi stressed the need to improve global economic governance and build a world economy characterized by cooperation, the need to improve global financial governance and build a world economy characterized by stability, and the need to improve global trade governance and build a world economy characterized by openness.
"We should press ahead with reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO), oppose unilateralism and protectionism, restore the normal functioning of the dispute settlement mechanism as soon as possible, include the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement into the WTO legal framework, and reach early consensus on the e-commerce agreement," Xi said.
"It is important to avoid politicizing economic issues, avoid fragmenting the global market, and avoid taking protectionist moves in the name of green and low-carbon development," he said.
The Chinese president also emphasized the need to improve global digital governance and build a world economy characterized by innovation, saying that "we should step up international governance and cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI), to make sure that AI is for good and for all, not a game of the rich countries and the wealthy."
Xi also stressed the need to improve global ecological governance and build a world economy characterized by eco-friendliness. "China stands ready to continue to deepen international cooperation with all sides on green infrastructure, green energy, green mining and green transport, and will provide support to developing countries to the best of its ability," he said.
Leading multilateralism, supporting Global South
In Rio de Janeiro, the Chinese president's attendance and remarks at the G20 summit drew widespread attention, with journalists from around the world closely following Xi's meetings and commending his remarks for promoting multilateral cooperation on addressing global challenges.
"I think that Xi has set out a really significant international agenda, so he had outlined his eight concrete actions," Matthew Bishop, a senior lecturer in international politics at the University of Sheffield in the UK, told the Global Times on Monday on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. "It seems to me that China is increasingly trying to take a lead when it comes to global multilateralism."
Also in his remarks on Fight Against Hunger and Poverty at Session I of the 19th G20 Summit on Monday, Xi said that China is ready to work with all parties to build a just world of common development and outlined China's eight actions for global development, including pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, implementing the Global Development Initiative, and supporting development in Africa.
Xi stressed China's support for the Global South. China will always be a member of the Global South, a reliable long-term partner of fellow developing countries, and a doer and go-getter working for the cause of global development, he said at Session I of the 19th G20 Summit on Monday.
Among the eight actions outlined by Xi, three specifically mentioned the Global South. For example, China will make sure the Global South research center that is being built is fit for purpose, and the 20 billion US dollars of development funds will continue to be put to good use to support developing countries and deepen practical cooperation in areas such as poverty reduction, food security and the digital economy.
He said China, alongside Brazil, South Africa and the African Union, is proposing an Initiative on International Cooperation in Open Science to help the Global South gain better access to global advances in science, technology and innovation.
He also stressed supporting the G20 in carrying out practical cooperation for the benefit of the Global South and using such outcomes as the Roadmap to Increase Investment in Clean Energy in Developing Countries and the High-Level Principles on Bioeconomy to good effect.
Fighting hunger and poverty has become a priority issue at this year's G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, with the first session of the G20 Summit focusing on the issue and a Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty launched, with China having decided to join as a key participant.
China has made historical achievements in alleviating poverty and can make significant contributions to global poverty alleviation through partnerships with countries like Brazil, according to foreign experts.
Theo Schunck, executive secretary of the Rio Metropolis Institute, said that the most urgent global challenges today include environmental crises such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, social and economic inequalities, including hunger and poverty, geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts.
"China and Brazil can work together in various ways to address these challenges," Schunck told the Global Times.
China's increasingly critical role in addressing global challenges and promoting common development is also evident on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, where local residents, foreign visitors and summit staff showed significant interest in China, its economic progress, and cultural contributions.
At the G20 media center on Monday, a Portuguese student volunteer at the G20 Summit demonstrated his Chinese language skills to the Global Times.
"I am fascinated by China and I think China is such a big and important country. The West has a lot of misconceptions toward China, so I want to learn Chinese so I can better understand China," the volunteer named Rafael told the Global Times, when asked why he is interested in studying Chinese.
Xi's speech attracted attention from world media. Reuters and the VOA have highlighted a series of steps announced by the Chinese president to support the Global South, such as the "China would support global development with eight actions, including building 'high quality' Belt and Road Initiative", and the "Open Science International Cooperation Initiative" that aims at boost sci-tech innovation for the Global South has also attracted high attention.
G20 declaration
According to the G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders' Declaration released on Tuesday,the leaders pledged to work for a reinvigorated and strengthened multilateral system, rooted in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law, with renewed institutions and a reformed governance that is more representative and effective.
G20 leaders also called for urgent action to address major geopolitical, socioeconomic, and climate and environmental challenges and crises, according to the Declaration.
The leaders reaffirmed the role of the G20 which is well suited to address those challenges through much-needed international cooperation and political drive and also their strong commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Bishop also noted that the G20 Summit has a good agenda on substantial global issues, including Global South unity and fighting poverty. "The thing that I'm really liking about this particular G20 is this kind of sense of Global South unity," the UK scholar said.
In an era marked by unprecedented global transformations, the world stands at a critical crossroads, grappling with deepening deficits in peace, development, security, and governance. As humanity faces unparalleled challenges during this tumultuous period, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, has put forth a solemn call to action through the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI).
The three pivotal initiatives address the pressing issues of our time, offering viable pathways and robust support for the building of a global community of shared future. Rooted in the rich historical experiences of the CPC's century-long struggle and infused with the wisdom of China's traditional culture, these initiatives are expected to unite the world in the pursuit of common progress and stability.
To offer a deep understanding of the GDI, the GSI, and the GCI, and elaborate on their significance on a global scale, the Global Times is launching a series of articles featuring engaging stories and in-depth interviews to provide our readers with a comprehensive insight into the three initiatives. In this installment, we converse with artists and scholars from Latin America, exploring how the enhanced exchanges and mutual learning in the fields of literature, music, and art under the GCI proposed by President Xi are deepening the friendship between China and Latin America. Chinese writer Ge Fei holds deep sentiments for Jorge Luis Borges. The Argentine writer had always been "a writer, poet, and scholar that I have full respect for. He is also renowned in novels, poetry, and literary theory, and no one in the world can deny this."
Borges was an admirer of traditional Chinese culture. Chinese philosophy greatly influenced his works, such as "Kafka and His Precursors" and "The Garden of Forking Paths." He is the Latin American writer with the largest number of works translated into Chinese, and his work has significantly influenced Chinese authors including Yu Hua, Ma Yuan, and Sun Ganlu.
His writing reflects his extensive knowledge of Chinese culture. In 1937, he published a review of the novel "Dream of the Red Chamber" by Cao Xueqin, one of the four classics of Chinese literature. Three years later, he published "The Book of Fantasy," featuring two translated episodes from "Red Chamber."
In his essay "Kafka and his Precursors," he mentioned Tang dynasty poet Han Yu, and in the story "The Garden of Forking Paths," he again alluded to the "Red Chamber."
While Borges never visited China, he made an invaluable contribution to the West's understanding and appreciation of China.
In 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping cited Borges in a signed article in an Argentine newspaper, writing that "the literary legend Jorge Luis Borges used Chinese allusions such as the butterfly dream of the philosopher Chuang Tzu and the Great Wall in his works, including The Paint Cane. And he indeed had a cherished Chinese paint cane in his possession."
Numerous stories of exchanges between Chinese and Latin American writers including Borges are painting a vivid picture of mutual learning, a vivid practice of GCI proposed by President Xi, who stresses that promoting people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning is of great value in summoning the enormous wisdom and energy needed to advance the progress and development of human civilizations.
The GCI can be a powerful engine for strengthening ties between China and Latin American countries by fostering cultural exchanges and direct cooperation between their people. Through projects that promote the exchange of cultural, educational, and artistic experiences, the GCI can serve as a bridge to build mutual understanding and bring the two regions closer, Ronnie Lins, director of the China-Brazil Center for Research and Business, told the Global Times. Tales of two peoples
As an ancient Chinese poem reads, "If you have a friend afar who knows your heart, distance cannot keep you two apart."
Although China and Latin America are far away from each other, the two peoples enjoy a long history of interactions and profound friendship.
Recently, Enrique Teixeira, former Deputy Mayor of Campinas, Sao Paulo State, and more than 100 friendly personages from the Brazil-China Friendship Association, Sao Paulo University, Sao Paulo State University, and the Copacabana Fort Orchestra in Rio de Janeiro wrote to Xi, respectively, thanking the Chinese government, enterprises, and universities for their contributions to China-Brazil friendly exchanges and the improvement of local people's livelihoods.
Founded in 2011, the Copacabana Fort Orchestra, made its first tour to China in September. The orchestra recruits young music enthusiasts aged 10 to 21 from various low-income communities in Rio de Janeiro. Thanks to the support of Chinese enterprises in Brazil, these young musicians regularly receive musical training. The orchestra has gained valuable development and has been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of Rio de Janeiro State.
"I believe that music is a universal language and a perfect medium for cultural exchange. By sharing Brazilian music and learning about Chinese music and culture, we aim to deepen mutual understanding between our countries. We hope that these exchanges will broaden the perspectives of our musicians and audiences, fostering a deeper appreciation for the shared qualities and values between cultures. For us, it is about building friendships and inspiring young musicians through a real connection with China," Marcia Melchior, founder and director of the Orchestra, told the Global Times.
In Chile, Pablo Neruda, a Nobel Prize laureate in literature and a major poet in Chile, referred to China affectionately as a "great brother."
Neruda made multiple visits to China and wrote poems such as Cancion de la Tierra China and El Viento de la Asia, in which he expressed his love and best wishes for China. His works have been widely read in China and have influenced many Chinese poets.
Jose Venturelli (1924-88), a famous Chilean artist, lived in China for many years. He learned Chinese ink painting and created works such as the Yangtze River, which demonstrated his strong attachment to China.
"These poems and paintings reflect the profound friendship between the two peoples," wrote President Xi in his signed article in a Chilean newspaper in 2016.
In 2023, Chilean President Gabriel Boric kicked off an exhibition at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing, paying tribute to the Chilean artist Jose Venturelli for his contributions to the Chile-China friendship.
"We have highlighted the pride we feel in having been the first country in South America to establish relations with China and, from there, a path was opened that we continue to broaden today and this path would surely not have been possible to open without Jose Venturelli," said Boric, adding that Venturelli was a man "who carries a message of peace to the world."
Venturelli, a Chilean artist, was the first Latin American painter to visit China in 1952. He participated in the founding of the Chilean-Chinese Institute of Culture and contributed to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as well as the fostering of friendship between China and Latin America.
While in China, he participated in a collective workshop at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing and befriended famous Chinese artists such as Qi Baishi, Wu Zuoren, and Li Keran.
All these stories demonstrated that the GCI connects people with various cultural means, from paintings to literary works, as mutual understanding leads to further cooperation.
Vibrant cultural ties
This year, many people in China were charmed by the ancient Inca civilization at an exhibition held in the Southern Chinese metropolis of Shenzhen.
The artifacts, ranging from leopard-print pottery and stone slabs adorned with mythical creatures to intricately crafted figurines, were shipped to China from 14 museums across Peru. Initially set to run from April to August, the exhibition was extended to October because of its popularity.
The success of the exhibition underscored the vibrant cultural ties between China and Latin America, which are both home to some of the world's oldest and most influential civilizations.
"Upon his arrival in Peru to participate in the APEC 2024 Summit, President Xi penned a message to the Peruvian people, in which he highlighted the close relationship that exists between the people of China and Peru, indicating that this is not a reflection of an economic or political interest of either party, but rather a desire for rapprochement and association based on ancient historical and cultural ties," Juan Carlos Capuñay, former Peruvian Ambassador to China, told the Global Times.
Back in 2016, when Xi was in Peru on a state visit, Peru's National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History played host to the closing ceremony of the China-Latin America and Caribbean 2016 Year of Culture Exchange. Ivan Ghezzi Solis, then director of the museum, said he was taken aback by the Chinese president's insight into the nation's over 5,000 years of history.
"People from countries that have seen the rise of great civilizations, such as Peru and China, understand better than anyone the importance of culture and history to give us a deep perspective on the world. Respect for the diversity of civilizations, while acknowledging and taking advantage of common values, is a path to cooperation and mutual progress," Solis told the Global Times.
Linked dreams
"Condition of good friends, condition of old wine." Xi cited a Brazilian proverb to describe the long-running friendship between the Chinese and Latin American people when addressing the Brazilian National Congress during a visit to the South American country in 2014. It was Xi's first visit to Brazil after assuming the Chinese presidency.
Noting that he has visited Brazil four times and witnessed the development and changes in the country over the past 30 years, Xi said he feels very close to Brazil as he again stepped onto this passionate land. Xi made the remarks in a written statement upon his arrival in Brazil for the 19th G20 Leaders' Summit and a state visit to the country.
The president published a signed article in Brazilian media outlet Folha de S. Paulo on November 17 titled "A Friendship Spanning Vast Oceans A Voyage Toward a Brighter Shared Future." In the article, Xi cited Brazil's renowned poets and writers Cecilia Meireles and Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis who translated poems from China's Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), though not directly from Chinese.
Their commendable endeavors reflect the resonance between our two cultures that defy time and space. In recent years, music, dance, and other forms of art, along with cuisine and sport, have become a new bridge connecting the people of our two countries, helping to enhance amity and mutual understanding, wrote Xi.
Brazil's cute capybaras, bossa nova music, Samba dance, and Capoeira are immensely popular in China. China's traditional festivals like the Spring Festival and its cultural heritages such as traditional Chinese medicine are increasingly well-known among Brazilians, according to the article.
"The 'Chinese Dream' and the 'Latin American Dream' are closely linked. Both sides should take the courage to pursue the dream and jointly make the dream come true," Xi said during the China-Latin America and the Caribbean Summit in Brasília in Brazil in July 2014.
Today, in Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro, there stands a "Chinese Pavilion." With its uniquely styled eaves, pillars, and pointed roof, it sits gracefully among lush greenery, attracting countless visitors.
Since its building in 1903 to remember the Chinese tea farmers, who generously shared their expertise and taught the art of tea cultivation in Brazil 200 years ago, the pavilion will always tell the world about the bond "forged by tea" between the two nations and the fruitful results of the seeds of friendship between the two great civilizations.
On the issue of Palestine, China has always stood on the side of fairness and justice, as well as on the side of international law. China opposes all actions that violate international law, including international humanitarian law, and condemns any practices that harm civilians or attack civilian facilities, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday in response to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.
Spokesperson Lin Jian said the ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. China supports any efforts by the international community that contribute to achieving fairness and justice and upholding the authority of international law regarding the Palestine issue.
We hope the ICC will maintain an objective and fair stance, exercise its power in accordance with the law, and interpret and apply the Rome Statute and general international law comprehensively and in good faith according to uniform standards, Lian said.
The ICC judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant were criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution and starvation as a weapon of war as part of a "widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza," Reuters reported.
China's Supreme People's Procuratorate on Thursday stressed that procuratorate organs must fulfill their duties, cooperate with relevant departments to clarify facts, punish offenders in accordance with laws, manage the aftermath and maintain stability, so as to ensure public safety and social order, after a car ramming incident in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, that killed 35 and injured 43 on Monday.
The car ramming incident occurred at the Sports Center in Zhuhai, resulting in significant casualties and severe consequences. Similar vicious criminal offenses should be rigorously reviewed for arrest and prosecution, with strict measures to deter crime, Ying Yong, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, made the remarks while he led an investigation team of the Supreme People's Procuratorate in Shanghai on Thursday.
"President Xi Jinping recently made an important instruction regarding the car ramming incident, which is striking and enlightening, serving as a wake-up call. It holds significant guiding importance for us in lawfully punishing and preventing extreme violent crimes, as well as fully ensuring the safety of people's lives and social stability," Ying said.
Ying said the procuratorial organs must learn from the incident, thoroughly investigate risks and hidden dangers, and ensure fair and lawful handling of cases. They must promote the rule of law in petition work, and resolve conflicts involving prosecution cases to prevent the spread of risks, Ying said, noting that more efforts should be made to strengthen comprehensive governance of public security and to enhance risk prevention capabilities.
The procuratorial organs also need to intensify supervision, strictly investigate irregularities in judicial processes, prevent wrongful convictions, and combat judicial corruption to ensure justice, effectively fulfilling their duty, he said.
Ying also highlighted the importance of protecting the interests of key groups such as women, the elderly, the disabled, and children, while also addressing issues like wage claims by migrant workers and employment for college graduates.
He further called for clarifying doubts and resolving issues through public hearings, helping parties alleviate confrontational and dissatisfied emotions, smoothing the channels for the public to express their demands, improving the judicial relief protection system, and enhancing the mechanisms for safeguarding litigation rights in the prosecutorial phase, so as to ensure that the people feel fairness and justice in every judicial case and at every stage of the case.
China and Peru are located on opposite sides of the world, separated by the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. In the past, this distance seemed unimaginable.
However, a new port project is making such a distant journey less difficult.
The Chancay Port project is a collaborative project between China and Peru under the Belt and Road Initiative. Located in the Chancay district of the province of Huaral, Peru, the port is approximately 80 kilometers from the capital, Lima.
Chancay Port is positioned as Peru’s gateway port and regional hub, connected by a tunnel to the Pan-American Highway, directly linking it to the capital Lima. This enables goods to conveniently reach Peru and other Latin American countries, significantly enhancing trade efficiency, according to the People’s Daily.
On Thursday, this significant project, symbolizing the friendship between China and Peru, finally opened for operations.
The first phase of the Chancay Port project began in 2021 and includes four dock berths. The port’s maximum depth is 17.8 meters, allowing it to accommodate ultra-large container ships with a capacity of up to 18,000 TEUs.
The design throughput capacity is 1 million TEUs annually in the short term, and 1.5 million TEUs in the long term. With over 80 percent of the project completed, the main structures of the docks were finished earlier this year, according to the People’s Daily.
He Bo, deputy general manager at COSCO SHIPPING Ports Chancay Peru, has witnessed the significant progress of the port over the past three years. “Hills have been leveled, beaches turned into storage yards, breakwaters and docks stand tall in the water, port cranes are on land, and buildings for production and office purposes have sprung up,” He told the People’s Daily.
“From Chancay to Shanghai” is a phrase well-known among locals. He Bo explained that the Spanish pronunciations of these two important port cities, Chancay and Shanghai, are very similar. Initially, locals would confuse them, but now they are familiar with both names. Before Chancay, most of Peru’s cargo shipments to Asia and Oceania had to be transshipped through Central or North America, and port capacity could not meet the demands of growing foreign trade.
Today, the phrase “From Chancay to Shanghai” will become a reality. With the opening of the new land-sea corridor between China and Latin America, the shipping time between Peru and China will be shortened by about 10 days.
As the construction of Chancay Port progresses, jobs related to the project have become highly sought after locally. Sun Yan, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at Ricardo Palma University, told the Xinhua News Agency that many Peruvian students from the institute are eager to use their language skills to apply at the port for positions such as translators, technical staff, and operators.
Moreover, thanks to China’s advanced technology and the environmental awareness of Chinese companies, Chancay Port is being developed as a green, low-carbon, and modern smart port. Dock workers demonstrated electric container trucks with autonomous driving technology, which travel quietly and precisely, Xinhua reported.
Near the entrance to the project site, there is a wetland. In the evening, birds come and go, bringing life to the area.
He Bo mentioned that Chinese companies constructing the port have paid attention to controlling noise, lighting, and dust during construction, minimizing the impact on the wetland “residents,” and have actively participated in rescuing seals, penguins, pelicans, and other animals to help improve local biodiversity.
With Chancay Port, the distance between China and Peru is no longer as far as it once seemed.
