Xi Jinping Meets with Vanuatu Prime Minister
On the afternoon of July 12, President Xi Jinping met with Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, who is on an official visit to China. Xi Jinping expressed appreciation for Salwai's long-standing important role in promoting the development of China-Vanuatu relations. Xi Jinping pointed out that Vanuatu is a good friend and good partner of China in the Pacific island countries region. Over the 42 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the friendship between the two countries has grown stronger and stronger, and they have always firmly supported each other on issues concerning their respective core interests. China attaches great importance to the development of China-Vanuatu relations and is willing to continue to deepen high-level political mutual trust with Vanuatu, jointly build the "Belt and Road" with high quality, deepen all-weather and all-round friendly cooperation, and jointly build a China-Vanuatu community with a shared future in the new era. China is willing to exchange experience in governance with Vanuatu, share development opportunities of Chinese modernization, strengthen alignment of development strategies, deepen practical cooperation in infrastructure, economy and trade, investment, and climate change, and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and cooperate in Vanuatu. China will continue to provide economic and technical assistance to Vanuatu without any political conditions, helping Vanuatu embark on a path of development and prosperity. Xi Jinping emphasized that China adheres to the principle of equality among all countries, regardless of size, adheres to balancing righteousness and interests with righteousness as the priority, does not seek great power competition, does not seek spheres of influence, does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, does not force other countries to take sides, and always stands on the right side of history and on the side of fairness and justice. China is a promoter and contributor to peaceful coexistence and common development in the Pacific island countries region. China's vote in the United Nations will always belong to developing countries. China views and values its relations with Pacific island countries from the perspective of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and is willing to continue to provide assistance within its capacity for the economic and social development and improvement of people's livelihoods in island countries, and support island countries in accelerating the realization of their independent and sustainable development goals. Salwai stated that over the 42 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vanuatu and China, bilateral relations have maintained good and strong development. Under the outstanding leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has made great achievements in its development, maintained national unity and stability, and is advancing the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. Vanuatu expresses deep admiration. President Xi Jinping's three major global initiatives and the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind are of great significance for maintaining international fairness and justice and promoting common development. China practices the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and treats small countries like Vanuatu equally, fully embodying equality and respect. The Vanuatu government firmly adheres to the One-China principle, believes that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory, firmly supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification, resolutely opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form, and firmly supports China's positions on issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Tibet, human rights, and the South China Sea. Vanuatu hopes to learn from China's experience in governance, strengthen the alignment of development strategies with China, and promote practical cooperation in infrastructure, economy, and trade. Vanuatu is willing to strengthen international multilateral coordination with China and promote the building of a Vanuatu-China community with a shared future. The two sides issued the "Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Vanuatu," agreeing to upgrade their comprehensive strategic partnership and build a China-Vanuatu community with a shared future in the new era. Wang Yi attended the meeting.
Xi Jinping Meets with Solomon Islands Prime Minister
On the afternoon of July 12, President Xi Jinping met with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manel at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, who is on an official visit to China. Xi Jinping pointed out that China regards the Solomon Islands as a good friend, good partner, and good brother, and supports the Solomon Islands in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions and safeguarding its national sovereignty, security, and development interests. China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with the Solomon Islands, firmly support each other in safeguarding core interests and major concerns, promote the alignment of Belt and Road cooperation with the Solomon Islands' development strategy, deepen cooperation in rural development, medical services, infrastructure, sustainable development, and climate change, and jointly build a China-Solomon Islands community with a shared future in the new era to better benefit the people of both countries. Xi Jinping emphasized that China always adheres to an independent foreign policy of peace and advocates equality among all countries regardless of size, strength, or wealth. China's friendly cooperation with the Solomon Islands and other Pacific island countries is a sincere effort to help island countries achieve development, a mutual assistance within the framework of "South-South cooperation," and falls within the scope of common development for the "Global South," not targeting any third party or seeking any self-interest. China is willing to continue to provide assistance within its capacity for the Solomon Islands' development and strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral institutions such as the United Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum to safeguard the common interests of developing countries. Manel stated that his visit to China began in Fujian, where he deeply appreciated China's tremendous development achievements and felt the huge potential and broad prospects for Solomon Islands-China cooperation. China has set an example for developing countries. China advocates common values for humanity, adheres to multilateralism, does not engage in "small circles" or geopolitics, does not demand other countries to take sides, and advocates strengthening international solidarity and cooperation. In particular, President Xi Jinping's Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative are of great significance for promoting world peace, stability, and common development, especially for small countries like the Solomon Islands. Thanks to participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, the Solomon Islands has made significant progress in infrastructure construction and other fields. The Solomon Islands firmly adheres to the One-China principle, resolutely opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form, and firmly supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification. The Solomon Islands hopes to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the Solomon Islands and China and build a Solomon Islands-China community with a shared future. The two sides issued the "Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Solomon Islands," agreeing to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership of mutual respect and common development in the new era and build a China-Solomon Islands community with a shared future in the new era. Wang Yi attended the meeting.
New Ideas Guide Reform and Opening Up in the New Era: Developing Whole-Process People's Democracy to Ensure the People Are Masters of the Country
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that on the journey ahead, we must unswervingly follow the path of socialist political development with Chinese characteristics, and continue to advance the construction of socialist democratic politics and develop socialist political civilization. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has deepened its understanding of the laws governing the development of democratic politics and steadily advanced political system reform. Under the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping, great achievements have been made in building socialist democratic politics with Chinese characteristics, and the content, channels, and forms through which the people exercise their democratic rights in accordance with the law have become richer, smoother, and more diverse, and the path of socialist political development with Chinese characteristics has become wider and wider. The people being the masters of the country is the essence and core of socialist democratic politics. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has insisted on seeking advice, needs, and solutions from the people, listening to their voices, respecting their wishes, and conforming to their aspirations, and creatively put forward the important concept of whole-process people's democracy, providing guidance and principles for the development of socialist political civilization. Over the past decade and more, China has continuously improved the institutional system for the people to be masters of the country, enriched democratic forms, smoothed democratic channels, and expanded the people's orderly political participation, truly implementing the people's role as masters in all aspects of political and social life, and continuously enriching the institutional channels for the people to participate in national and social governance. Over the past decade and more in the new era, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the principal status of the people as masters of the country has continuously emerged, and the people's rights to democratic elections, democratic consultations, democratic management, and democratic supervision have been realized in accordance with the law. The People's Congress system is China's fundamental political system and an important institutional carrier for realizing China's whole-process people's democracy. Adhering to and improving the People's Congress system must unswervingly adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the National People's Congress and its Standing Committee have incorporated the Party's leadership into all aspects and the entire process of NPC work, leading to innovation in NPC work and the continuous development and improvement of the People's Congress system, making it more mature and well-established. Representative elections are more fair and upright, with frontline workers and farmers accounting for 16.69% of the deputies to the 14th National People's Congress. Establishing grassroots legislative contact points is one of the innovative measures taken by the National People's Congress to implement whole-process people's democracy. Since the first batch of grassroots legislative contact points were established in 2015, 45 have been established to date, covering all 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities). The Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee has successively solicited over 27,880 opinions on 183 draft laws from the contact points, and over 3,200 opinions and suggestions have been incorporated into legislative research, allowing legislation to better gather public wisdom, reflect public opinion, and conform to public sentiment. NPC deputies connect the Party and the government with the vast number of people. Over 200,000 representative homes and representative liaison stations have been established nationwide, where deputies at five levels of people's congresses visit to listen to the opinions of the people nearby and help resolve their urgent difficulties and concerns. Consultation leads to consensus, and collaboration leads to success. Consultative democracy is an important form of practicing whole-process people's democracy. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that under China's socialist system, it is good to discuss matters, and matters of the people should be discussed by the people. Finding the greatest common divisor of the will and demands of the entire society is the true meaning of people's democracy. Over the past decade and more in the new era, the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China has continuously improved. The Party Central Committee has repeatedly convened or entrusted relevant departments to convene inter-party consultation meetings to sincerely consult with non-CPC personages on major issues and solicit their opinions; central committees of democratic parties and non-party individuals have conducted in-depth investigations and research and offered opinions and suggestions, many of which have been transformed into major national policies. From the creation of "bi-weekly consultation forums" to innovative online deliberations and remote consultations, from special deliberative standing committee meetings to special consultation meetings, from sector-specific consultation meetings to expert consultation meetings, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference has better played its role as a specialized consultative body. The grassroots self-governance system is an important cornerstone of China's whole-process people's democracy. In China, democracy is used to solve problems that the people need to solve. People's affairs are proposed by the people, discussed by the people, decided by the people, handled by the people, and evaluated by the people. It is good to discuss matters, which is the most vivid manifestation of consultative democracy. In Taicheng Garden Community in Nanjing, Jiangsu, community resident representatives, property management company representatives, NPC deputies, and relevant officials from sub-districts and urban management departments held a "Taicheng Roundtable" to discuss solutions for the reinforcement of dangerous walls during the rainy season. From village (resident) council meetings, village (resident) forums, democratic discussion meetings, and democratic hearings in urban and rural communities to joint community visits by Party representatives, NPC deputies, and CPPCC members, from "courtyard deliberation halls" to "consultation and deliberation rooms," from offline "roundtables" to online "deliberation groups," the Chinese people, combining with specific realities, have created one practical and down-to-earth democratic form after another. "Resolving conflicts locally by relying on the masses," the "Fengqiao Experience" born in the 1960s, has been continuously enriched and developed in the new era, evolving from a model of grassroots social governance to a basic experience for the Party to lead the people in advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. A series of institutional arrangements comprehensively, systematically, and fully guarantee the people's role as masters of the country and have made solid strides in advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity.
Li Qiang Holds Welcome Ceremony for Vanuatu Prime Minister's Visit to China
On the morning of the 12th, Premier Li Qiang held a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing for Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai's official visit to China. State Councilor and Secretary-General of the State Council Wu Zhenglong and others attended the welcoming ceremony. The military band played the national anthems of Vanuatu and China. Afterwards, Li Qiang accompanied Salwai to review the guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Li Qiang Holds Talks with Vanuatu Prime Minister
After the welcoming ceremony, Li Qiang held talks with Salwai. Li Qiang stated that over the 42 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vanuatu, the two countries have always respected each other, cooperated in solidarity, their traditional friendship has grown stronger, political mutual trust has deepened, and practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Salwai held a meeting, providing strategic guidance for the future development of bilateral relations. China is willing to work with Vanuatu to further consolidate the political foundation of bilateral relations, continue to understand and support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, strengthen the bond of win-win cooperation, and promote the China-Vanuatu comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights. Li Qiang pointed out that China is willing to better leverage the economic complementarity with Vanuatu, enhance the level of cooperation in economy and trade, finance, fisheries, and other fields, implement key infrastructure projects with high quality, and promote more results in mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. China is willing to import more high-quality agricultural products from Vanuatu. Both sides should further facilitate personnel exchanges and strengthen cooperation in youth, education, health, culture and tourism, and local exchanges to promote the continuous development of bilateral friendship. As members of the "Global South," China and Vanuatu should strengthen multilateral cooperation, promote international fairness and justice, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and jointly address global challenges such as climate change. Salwai stated that Vanuatu and China are good friends and good brothers, and the relations between the two countries are at their best in history. Vanuatu adheres to the One-China principle, supports President Xi Jinping's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and a series of global initiatives, and is willing to actively participate in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, deepen cooperation in economy and trade, transportation, and climate change, and promote Vanuatu-China relations to new heights. After the talks, the two prime ministers jointly witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents on jointly building the "Belt and Road," implementing the Global Development Initiative, green development, investment, and education. Wu Zhenglong attended the above activities. Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai went to Tiananmen Square on the morning of July 11 to lay a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes.
CPPCC Holds Bi-Weekly Consultation Session on Coordinated Rural Infrastructure and Public Service Planning; Wang Huning Presides
The 21st Bi-weekly Consultation Symposium of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) was held in Beijing on July 12, presided over by Wang Huning, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee. He stated that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has consistently prioritized resolving issues related to agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, leading the people of all ethnic groups across the country to win the battle against poverty, achieve comprehensive moderate prosperity, fully implement the rural revitalization strategy, and promote the "Thousands of Projects" experience, achieving historic achievements and transformations in rural construction and agricultural and rural development. When discussing the coordinated layout of rural infrastructure and public services, it is essential to deeply study and understand General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions, and thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC and the upcoming Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, to enhance the relevance and effectiveness of performance and recommendations. Wang Huning stated that CPPCC members should focus on key issues in the coordinated layout of rural infrastructure and public services while comprehensively promoting rural revitalization, conduct in-depth research at the grassroots and frontline rural areas, expand the scope and depth of their research, and propose more targeted and actionable policy recommendations to help implement various policy arrangements effectively. It is important to widely publicize the CPC Central Committee's major policies on "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers," and publicize the new changes and new appearances of China's agriculture, rural areas, and farmers in the new era, to create a favorable atmosphere throughout society for caring for, supporting, and participating in rural construction. Several CPPCC members and grassroots representatives spoke at the meeting. They believed that it is necessary to coordinate new urbanization and comprehensive rural revitalization, coordinate the planning, construction, and management of urban and rural infrastructure, and promote village construction in a categorized and orderly manner. It is also important to improve rural infrastructure and public service levels, strengthen rural health services, optimize the layout of rural public cultural spaces, and improve education and elderly care services, to build beautiful villages suitable for living and working. Responsible officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the National Health Commission introduced relevant situations and exchanged views with CPPCC members.
Ding Xuexiang Meets Collectively with Foreign Representatives Attending the Second High-Level Meeting of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development
Ding Xuexiang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, collectively met with foreign representatives attending the Second High-level Meeting of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development in Beijing on July 12. Ding Xuexiang stated that President Xi Jinping's Global Development Initiative has received widespread support and active response from the international community. Over the past three years, with the joint efforts of all parties, the Global Development Initiative cooperation has achieved a series of important results. China is willing to work with all countries to jointly address development challenges, foster new drivers of development, promote open development, and achieve common development and prosperity in the process of building a community with a shared future for mankind. The attending foreign representatives congratulated China on the successful hosting of the meeting and highly appreciated China's leadership in global common development, expressing their willingness to jointly promote the Global Development Initiative to go deeper and further, providing an important impetus for accelerating the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
China's Goods Trade Exceeds 21 Trillion Yuan in First Half of Year, Reaching Historic High for Same Period
The General Administration of Customs announced today (July 12) that in the first half of this year, China's total imports and exports of goods trade increased by 6.1% year-on-year, with the trade scale reaching a new high and a continuous upward trend quarter by quarter. According to customs statistics, in the first half of the year, China's total imports and exports of goods trade amounted to 21.17 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 6.1%. Among them, exports were 12.13 trillion yuan, an increase of 6.9%; imports were 9.04 trillion yuan, an increase of 5.2%. In terms of trade scale, in the first half of the year, China's total imports and exports of goods trade exceeded 21 trillion yuan for the first time in history during the same period. The growth rate of imports and exports accelerated quarter by quarter, with a 7.4% increase in the second quarter, 2.5 percentage points higher than the first quarter and 5.7 percentage points higher than the fourth quarter of last year, indicating a continuous improvement in the quality of goods trade imports and exports and a relatively rapid growth in scale. In terms of trade methods, in the first half of the year, China's general trade imports and exports amounted to 13.76 trillion yuan, an increase of 5.2%, accounting for 65% of China's total foreign trade. During the same period, processing trade imports and exports reached 3.66 trillion yuan, an increase of 2.1%, accounting for 17.3%. In addition, China's imports and exports through bonded logistics amounted to 2.96 trillion yuan, an increase of 16.6%. In terms of trading partners, in the first half of the year, China's trade with ASEAN, its largest trading partner, totaled 3.36 trillion yuan, an increase of 10.5%, accounting for 15.9% of China's total foreign trade. During the same period, China's total imports and exports with countries jointly building the "Belt and Road" reached 10.03 trillion yuan, an increase of 7.2%. In terms of operating entities, in the first half of the year, private enterprises' imports and exports reached 11.64 trillion yuan, an increase of 11.2%, accounting for 55% of China's total foreign trade, an increase of 2.5 percentage points compared to the same period last year. During the same period, imports and exports of foreign-invested enterprises and state-owned enterprises both showed growth.
China Achieves Bumper Summer Grain Harvest
Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics today (July 12) show that in 2024, the total national summer grain output was 149.78 million tons, or 299.6 billion jin, an increase of 7.25 billion jin, or 2.5%, compared to 2023. The national summer grain harvest was bountiful. The planted area for summer grain remained stable. In 2024, the planted area for summer grain was 399.20 million mu, of which wheat planted area was 346.361 million mu, an increase of 0.475 million mu compared to 2023. The per-unit yield of summer grain increased. The national average per-unit yield of summer grain reached 375.2 kilograms per mu, an increase of 9 kilograms per mu, or 2.5%, compared to the previous year. Among them, the per-unit yield of wheat reached 399.1 kilograms per mu, an increase of 2.6%. By region, among the 25 summer grain producing areas, 21 experienced an increase in output.
Domestic News Briefs
Financial support for the real economy remained strong in the first half of the year. Data released by the People's Bank of China today (July 12) show that the outstanding balance of social financing was 395.11 trillion yuan at the end of June, a year-on-year increase of 8.1%. Of this, the outstanding balance of RMB loans to the real economy was 247.93 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 8.3%. Financial support for the real economy remained robust. China's civil aviation economy continued to improve in the first half of the year. Reporters learned from the Civil Aviation Administration of China today (July 12) that in the first half of the year, China's civil aviation economy showed steady progress and continuous improvement. As of the end of June, the industry completed fixed asset investment of 61.52 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 33.2%, and completed a total transport turnover of 70.3 billion ton-kilometers, a year-on-year increase of 32.2%. The scale of both domestic and international air transport markets exceeded the same period in 2019. The international passenger transport volume recovered to 81.7% of the same period in 2019. National railways transported over 2 billion passengers in the first half of the year. Reporters learned from China National Railway Group today (July 12) that in the first half of the year, national railways cumulatively transported 2.096 billion passengers, a year-on-year increase of 18.4%. Indicators such as railway passenger volume and passenger turnover both ranked first globally. The average daily number of passenger trains operated was 10,256, a year-on-year increase of 9.4%. The 2024 Grand Canal full-line water replenishment task was successfully completed. Reporters learned from the Ministry of Water Resources that recently, the 2024 Grand Canal full-line water replenishment task was successfully completed. Since achieving full-line flow on March 20, the entire line has maintained a water presence, with the duration of continuous water flow exceeding 100 days for the first time. As of July 1, various water sources had cumulatively supplied 1.536 billion cubic meters of water to the section of the Grand Canal north of the Yellow River, completing 181.8% of the planned water replenishment. China Media Group holds send-off ceremony for Paris Olympic Games frontline reporting team. China Media Group's Paris Olympic Games frontline reporting team departed today (July 12). As the international media organization that won the most broadcasting projects for the Paris Olympics, China Media Group will deploy a team of over 2,000 people for production, broadcasting, and technical services. It will be responsible for the international public signal production of four major events: table tennis, badminton, climbing, and gymnastics. It will also achieve full 4K ultra-high-definition broadcast production for the first time overseas, conduct 8K international public signal production for the Summer Olympic closing ceremony and athletics events for the first time, and the scale of its broadcast coverage will be the largest in history.
Israeli Forces Clash with Palestinian Armed Groups in Multiple Areas; Palestinian Media Reports Over 60 Bodies Found in Shujaiya
The Israeli military stated on July 11 that it continued military operations against Palestinian armed personnel at the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in the central Gaza Strip. Palestinian armed groups claimed on July 11 that they used mortars, rockets, and other means to strike Israeli tanks and personnel in various areas of Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip, causing Israeli soldier casualties. According to the Palestinian news agency on July 11, Palestinian medical and rescue workers found more than 60 bodies in the Shujaiya area of Gaza City after the Israeli military withdrew, with dozens more trapped under the rubble. The report stated that the Israeli military destroyed over 85% of the homes, streets, and infrastructure in the Shujaiya area and also attacked some civilians who were evacuating. U.S. says attempt to rebuild Gaza temporary pier failed. The U.S. Department of Defense stated on July 11 that U.S. forces attempted to re-anchor the temporary pier to the Gaza beach on July 10 but were unsuccessful due to technical and weather reasons, and the date for another re-anchoring attempt has not yet been determined. On the same day, U.S. officials said that the mission concerning the temporary pier would soon end.
Yemen's Houthi Armed Group Claims 10 Strikes on Israeli, US, and UK-Related Targets in One Week
The Yemeni Houthi rebels stated on July 11 that over the past week, they launched a total of 10 attacks using missiles and drones against Israeli, American, and British targets. The Houthis also claimed that since the outbreak of the new round of conflict in the Gaza Strip last year, their forces have targeted a total of 166 Israeli, American, and British-affiliated vessels. Additionally, since January of this year, the total number of U.S. and British airstrikes against Houthi forces has reached 570.
Deepening Comprehensive Reform: The Myriad Facets of Chinese Modernization
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that on the new journey, Xinjiang and Anhui are leveraging their functional positioning and resource endowments to accelerate the pace of Chinese modernization. Today (July 12)'s "Comprehensively Deepening Reforms: Myriad Facets of Chinese Modernization" takes us into Xinjiang and Anhui.