Russia, Ukraine exchange prisoners
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed an offer of direct peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin late Monday, and Moscow has announced the first prisoner exchange between the two countries.
In an interview with Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne late on Monday, Zelensky said he was ready to meet with Putin "in any format" to discuss ending the almost monthlong "special military operation" that has shattered several Ukrainian cities.
Zelensky said even the status of Crimea and Russian-backed statelets in Donbas was up for discussion. It was the first time he said the status of disputed territories could be up for discussion and a possible referendum.
"At the first meeting with the president of Russia, I am ready to raise these issues," he said.
Although Zelensky signaled that he is willing to talk about the status of the three areas, he has repeatedly insisted all three are part of Ukraine and that his country would not surrender.
Satellite images taken on Monday showed Russian artillery positions west of Russian-held Antonov Air Base, northwest of Kyiv. Those positions resemble other Russian artillery positions, with earthen berms been built around them.
Damage from Russian military strikes was also visible in images of Irpin, northwest of Kyiv. Two distinct fires could be seen in central Irpin near a city government complex and other buildings.
Russia has not responded to Zelensky's meeting offer, but announced the first prisoner exchange between the two neighboring countries, Russian state media TASS reported on Tuesday.
"The first exchange happened. We returned nine of our boys," Human Rights Commissioner in Russia Tatyana Moskalkova said in an interview with RT, Russia's English-language TV news network. She confirmed that Russian servicemen were exchanged for the mayor of the Ukrainian city Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov. The Office of the President of Ukraine also confirmed the exchange.
Russia announced that Moscow is ending peace treaty talks with Tokyo in light of new unilateral restrictions against Russia that Japan adopted in response to the Ukraine situation. Russia cited the "impossibility" of continuing discussions "with a country that has taken an openly hostile position and is striving to cause harm to the interest of our country".
Japan and its Group of Seven allies have been united in imposing tough sanctions on Russian financial institutions and leaders.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it was ending a visa-free policy for Japanese people to visit the disputed Kuril Islands－which Tokyo calls the Northern Territories－and was pulling out of talks on joint economic activity there.
Agencies contributed to this story.
Envoy clarifies China's Ukraine stance
The assertions that "China knew about, acquiesced to or tacitly supported" Russia's military operation in Ukraine "are purely disinformation", Qin Gang, the Chinese ambassador to the US wrote in an op-ed published Tuesday.
In the piece in The Washington Post, he dispelled talk of a comparison between the situation in Ukraine and Taiwan, calling them "totally different things".
In the article titled "Where We Stand in Ukraine," Qin said that he was writing to "explain fully and dispel any misunderstandings and rumors".
He denied claims that China had prior knowledge of Russia's military action and that it had demanded Russia delay it until the Beijing Winter Olympics had concluded. Qin also denied that Russia was seeking military assistance from China.
"Let me say this responsibly: Assertions that China knew about, acquiesced to or tacitly supported this war are purely disinformation. All these claims serve only the purpose of shifting blame to and slinging mud at China," wrote Qin.
"There were more than 6,000 Chinese citizens in Ukraine. China is the biggest trading partner of both Russia and Ukraine, and the largest importer of crude oil and natural gas in the world. Conflict between Russia and Ukraine does no good for China. Had China known about the imminent crisis, we would have tried our best to prevent it."
The ambassador reiterated the positions emphasized by other senior Chinese officials: China is committed to an independent foreign policy of peace, and as a "staunch champion of justice", China decides its position on the merits of the issue.
He also reiterated China's "objective and impartial" position on Ukraine. "The purposes and principles of the UN Charter must be fully observed; the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, including Ukraine, must be respected; the legitimate security concerns of all countries must be taken seriously; and all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis must be supported," the ambassador wrote.
"Given this, threats against Chinese entities and businesses, as uttered by some US officials, are unacceptable. Neither war nor sanctions can deliver peace. Wielding the baton of sanctions at Chinese companies while seeking China's support and cooperation simply won't work," said Qin.
Qin mentioned specifically that some people are linking Taiwan and Ukraine to play up the risk of a conflict in the Taiwan Straits, referring to the analogy as "a mistake".
"These are totally different things. Ukraine is a sovereign state, while Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question is a Chinese internal affair. It does not make sense for people to emphasize the principle of sovereignty on Ukraine while hurting China's sovereignty and territorial integrity on Taiwan," said Qin. "The future of Taiwan lies in peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and the reunification of China."
The ambassador stressed that China is committed to peaceful reunification and retains all options to curb "Taiwan independence". He expressed the hope that the United States earnestly abide by the one-China principle and not support "Taiwan independence" separatism in any form.
"To ensure long-term peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, China and the United States must work together to contain 'Taiwan independence," Qin wrote.
Qin enumerated the efforts of China to push for peace talks and the prevention of a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, including President Xi Jinping's phone call with President Vladimir Putin on the second day of the conflict expressing China's desire to see Russia and Ukraine hold peace talks as early as possible; Xi's virtual meeting with leaders of France and Germany emphasizing the need to jointly support peace talks between Russia and Ukraine; the Rome meeting between Yang Jiechi, the director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs of China, and Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser of US in Rome; and the close communication State Councilor Wang Yi has maintained with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other foreign ministers.
Qin also mentioned that China outlined a six-point initiative to address the Ukraine crisis and suggested that humanitarian operations abide by the principles of neutrality and impartiality. He also wrote that the first tranche of emergency humanitarian supplies provided by the Red Cross Society of China to its Ukrainian counterpart had been shipped from Beijing.
Qin cited a Chinese proverb, "It takes more than one cold day to freeze three feet of ice." He said the long-term peace and stability of Europe rely on the principle of indivisible security, and there must be a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture.
"The priority now is to achieve a cease-fire to protect civilians from war, "said Qin. "But as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China will continue to coordinate real efforts to achieve lasting peace. We stand ready to do whatever we can and work with other parties.
"Our ultimate purpose is the end of war and support regional and global stability," Qin concluded.
Prudent politicians of EU are expected to offer foresight amid uncertainty on ties with China
| By George N. Tzogopoulos · 2021-06-07 · Source: NO.23 JUNE 10, 2021 |
The current world order produces a sentiment of anxiety and fear within the international community. China’s development is often interpreted in negative terms by the West and this evaluation shapes antagonistic tendencies. Sino-European relations have been partly affected by this atmosphere. Although last year ended with the conclusion in principle of negotiations for a comprehensive agreement on investmentbetween China and the EU, tensions have not been uncommon in the first months of 2021.
The decision of the European Parliament in May to freeze the ratification of the dealinfluences the usual kinetic energy of the bilateral partnership. The EU had already imposed sanctions on China for alleged human rights abuses in XinjiangUygur Autonomous Region, to which the Chinese Government fiercely responded. The European Parliament now hopes that China will lift its own sanctions as a goodwill gesture. But State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi clarified in a recent speech at a virtual session of the Munich Security Conference that it is not acceptable for some in the EU to turn trade issues into political ones. Encouraging political confrontation and economic decoupling between the two sides does not serve Europe's interests and will not go very far, Wang added.
The nature of the sanctions is mainly symbolic. What matters more is the existing misunderstanding in Sino-European relations. The EU believes that it can act as a normative power in international relations and is eager to shape policies in accordance with what it perceives as ideal and close toits values. China, for its part, rejects concepts such as "systemic rivalry"and envisages a world where it ought to be respected by others for what it has accomplished with its own governance model. Its evolution as the second biggest economy in the world and its alleviation of absolute poverty are characteristic of these achievements. China thus does not tolerate finger-pointing.
What is crucial is the symbiosis of different countries in a world destined for peace and prosperity. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed serious weaknesses in the global capacity to respond to a common invisible enemy. The EU, where GDP per capita is much higher than in China, found it hard to prevent a second waveof infection,and the pace of its vaccinations has been slowerin comparison to other Western countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. The delayed return to normalcy maximizes economic losses for companies and individuals and ushers in a new period of uncertainty. In this respect, China’s progress is confirmed by statistics, namely the total number of COVID-19 deaths, its economic performance as the only major economy to achieve positivegrowth in 2020 and the continuous increase in vaccination doses it administers.
The COVID-19 experience is edifying. International cooperation is necessary in order to guarantee that a similar crisis will never be repeated. At the same time, stable economic recovery from the ongoing pandemic should not be taken for granted. Initial growth rates and enthusiasm will naturally replace stagnation and contraction. But the main objective is to add permanent features to the process.
The EU has set up an ambitious recovery plan to help its member states overcome the crisis. Other investment opportunities, for instance in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, are not excluded and have the potential of playing a useful, complementary role. In today’s world the engine of growth is transnational. It is positive that Chinese and European banking institutions have already started to parallelize their priorities. The concept of green financing is promising.Social imbalances are yet to be addressed in the post-COVID-19 world. The discussion goes beyond the wellbeing of people in Europe and China to other continents such as Africa. In meeting sustainable development goals, broader synergies are a prerequisite. In recent years, the EU has witnessed the arrival of numerous refugees, including from Africa. Climate change and social instability will perhaps add to the causes of regional conflict after the pandemic by subsequently creating new waves of refugees. If the roots of the problem are not eliminated, mitigation measures alone--as the EU carried out in response to the Syrian civil war--will not suffice.
The EU has demonstrated a remarkable degree of resilience and coherence during its debt crisis and in its handling of Brexit. At present, it is striving to see light at the end of tunnel after the pandemic and strengthen its position in a multilateral world order. Disagreements with China are nothing new and can occasionally intensify during turbulent times. When the dust settles, prudent politicians are expected to offer foresight amid uncertainty.
The author is EU-China Program director at the Centre International de Formation Européenne
(Print Edition Title: Sino-European Cooperation Matters)
Copyedited by G.P. Wilson
Comments to yanwei@bjreview.com
Xinhua Commentary: Anti-China bill detrimental to America's competitiveness
by Xinhua writer Guo Yage
BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate on Tuesday passed an expansive bill that is apparently seeking to use an obsolete Cold-War mentality to boost America's future tech and manufacturing.
The 2,400-plus-page bill shows Washington's growing anxiety over and ideological prejudice towards China's development, as well as its paranoia to maintain America's global technological superiority.
However, those U.S. lawmakers who sponsored the bill as well as other like-minded Washington politicians are steering their country onto a wrong and dangerous path, which will only harm the United States and the world at large.
Hyping up the so-called "China-threat" theory may be a convenient political stunt, and help some self-serving politicians score some cheap political points for the moment.
Yet demonizing China won't fix the chronic, deep-rooted political, social and economic problems that have been plaguing the United States for decades. These problems are the real obstacles that are undermining America's potential for long-term healthy development.
What's worse: This big bloated bill could drag the United States into years of wasteful investment on industrial subsidies, hurt American businesses, and even stoke racial conflicts that would rip the country further apart.
The world also stands to lose. The bill, if it becomes law and is implemented, could rock global supply chains, block international tech cooperation, encourage unhealthy market competition, and restrain innovation. This all would be terrible news for a trembling global economy struggling to get back on its feet in the post-pandemic era.
It is perfectly reasonable that Washington politicians are yearning for a stronger United States. Yet they have no right to do so by ridding the Chinese people of their legitimate right to pursue better lives.
China has made it clear repeatedly that its development is never intended to beat that of the United States, but to build a better China for its own citizens. It has also proven on various occasions that it aims to contribute to global development with its economic and technological advancements.
The research and development of COVID-19 vaccines serves as a perfect example. From the very beginning, China has pledged to make its vaccines a global public good. Indeed, it has honored its commitments by providing vaccine assistance to more than 80 countries and three international organizations, exporting vaccines to over 50 nations, and offering vaccines to United Nations peacekeeping missions and the International Olympic Committee.
In this era of globalization, China and the United States, the world's top two economies, share a responsibility to work with the rest of the international community to address multifaceted challenges facing humanity, like climate change.
Thus, Washington should ensure that its cooperation with Beijing is the mainstay of their overall relationship, while at the same time make sure that their competition, if inevitable, is a healthy one.
The United States and China both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. As the bill now heads to the House of Representatives, decision-makers in
Washington should seize the opportunity to think carefully about what is really beneficial for America's long-term competitiveness.
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Commentary: Vitality of Chinese democracy never more evident
Source: Xinhua| 2020-05-29 Editor: huaxia
The closing meeting of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)
BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The annual session of China's national legislature concluded Thursday, showing firm determination to achieve development milestones and making key progress in protecting civil rights and safeguarding national security.
The week-long session of the National People's Congress (NPC) adopted the milestone Civil Code and a decision to make Hong Kong national security laws. The annual "two sessions" also include the session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the national political advisory body.
In the year of unprecedented challenges and crucial significance in the nation's development, the major political events have built consensus, boosted confidence and solidarity, and pooled wisdom to enable the country to resolutely advance toward its set goals while overcoming all difficulties and obstacles.
As the Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership steers the nation through these most hazardous times, the vitality, strength and wisdom of Chinese socialist democracy have never been more evident.
During the two sessions, which are major platforms for Chinese people's democracy and consultative democracy, the term "people first" reverberated among nearly 3,000 national lawmakers and more than 2,000 political advisors.
People have always meant the most to the CPC which follows a people-centered approach. Through legally established procedures, the CPC's stances take the form of the will of the country, and its key decisions and people's aspirations are transformed into concrete plans and actions.
The NPC meeting received 506 motions and around 9,000 suggestions from deputies, while members of the session of the CPPCC National Committee raised 5,709 proposals -- a vivid example of reflecting the voices of the people.
Deputies to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) walk towards the Great Hall of the People for the closing meeting of the third session of the 13th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, May 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
As showcased in the country's achievements in containing COVID-19 in a short time through a people's war and giving full play to institutional strength of mobilizing resources for accomplishing major undertakings, Chinese democracy has set an example of protecting lives, health, rights and interests of the people.
The epidemic was behind postponing the two sessions, normally held in March, in order to control it and save the lives of people. And the convening of the sessions also was thanks to the fact that the country had turned the tide in fighting COVID-19 through arduous efforts.
The miraculous lifting of over 90 million people out of poverty over the past seven years and the imminent elimination of absolute poverty this year are concrete manifestations of the strength and effectiveness of democracy in China.
The system of CPC-led multiparty cooperation and political consultation is an important contributor to democratic decision-making and problem-solving. The ruling CPC has cooperated with non-Communist parties which build consensus, formulate proposals and participate in discussing and handling state affairs.
With a stronger common will formed, the two sessions have boosted the national morale for fulfilling development goals to meet people's aspirations for a better life. And China will continue striving to build a community with a shared future for humanity through deepened cooperation with the rest of the world. ■
Xinhua News
Continuing on the right path opened up by the CCP and the people
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, stressed that during the 70 years since the founding of New China our party led people to constantly explore practices and gradually formed a Socialist State System and Legal System with Chinese Characteristics. It provides fundamental guarantee for the development and progress of contemporary China, and also provides important experience for the development of national system and legal system in the new era continuing, with self-confidence, along the path opened by the CCP and the people, guided by theoretical self-confidence, system self-confidence, culture self-confidence, advancing the modernization of the governance system and of the governance capabilities of the country
Xi delivered a speech while conducting the study. He noted that in a few days, we will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The purpose of organizing this collective study by the Politburo is to review the Party's history in promoting the state system and legal system since the founding of New China in 70 years, sum up achievements and experiences, think deeply about the important issues of upholding and improving the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, promoting the national governance system and modernizing the governance capacity.
He underlined the needs to lead the people to fight for the establishment and consolidation of the country's state system, political system, fundamental political system, basic economic system, and all important systems in all fields. Since the 18th national congress of the communist party of china, comprehensive and in-depth reforms has being carried out. The socialism system with Chinese characteristics has become more mature and finalized.
Xi Jinping pointed out that the socialist state system and legal system with Chinese characteristics were formed in long-term practice exploration, which is a great creation in the history of human system civilization. Practice has proved that our party has integrated the basic tenets of Marxism with the specific conditions of China, and has established in the big ancient oriental country a system to ensure that hundreds of millions of people are masters of their own affairs. The miracle of long-term social stability has also provided a new choice for developing countries to move towards modernization and contributed the Chinese wisdom to mankind's quest for a better social system: It has drawn on the useful achievements of human civilization and passed the test of long-term practice.
" Firstly, over the years, under the leadership of the CCP, focusing on national unity and effective organization of various undertakings, carrying out works with a series of major risk challenges, we have overcome numerous difficulties and obstacles, always along the direction of steady progress".
Secondly we have ensured that the people are masters of their own affairs. Our national system is deeply rooted in the people and can effectively embody their will, protect their rights and interests and inspire their creativity.
Thirdly managing the country according to law in all sectors of society. Adhering to the rule of law, the government have build a society governed by the rule law thus liberating and enhancing social vitality, promoting social equity and justice, maintaining social harmony and stability, and ensuring the long-term stability of the country.
Last, but not least, due to the advantages of democratic centralism of the leadership of the CCP, each state organ is a unified whole, with a rational division of labor and close collaboration, both fully carrying forward democracy and effective centralization".
Xi Jinping pointed out that the socialist state system and legal system with Chinese characteristics is a system that can work well, truly and efficiently.
Mao Pengfei, Nguon Sovan
Cambodian adviser EK Sam Ol, said that China has been making remarkable contributions to maintaining peace, security and development in the world.
"Over the past years, China has played a very important role, as a core force for maintaining peace in the world," he said during a recent interview with Xinhua and other Chinese media ahead the 70th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC).
Sam Ol, who is also president of the Cambodia-China Friendship Association, said he witnessed a remarkable change in China's socio-economic development during past decades.
"I've seen that China has developed very fast, especially in economics, society, science, technology and education," he said.
For technology, he praised China for pioneering in the development of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and the 5G (fifth generation) wireless network, saying that these latest technologies have been providing great benefit to the people around the world.
"Another impression is the development of urban areas in China," he said. "High-rise buildings have mushroomed in Chinese cities, and this proves that under the right leadership of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, China has developed very fast and has become the world's second largest economy."
Sam Ol said the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has offered tremendous opportunities to Cambodia for infrastructure development.
"The BRI brings joy, hope and happiness to countries along the route," he said. "This initiative will help strengthen peace, friendship and cooperation within the global framework between China and countries along the BRI route."
He said the BRI has helped Cambodia accelerate the development of infrastructures such as roads, rails, ports, airports and special economic zones, among others.
"For Cambodia, we're very happy to partake in the BRI because Cambodia is located along the BRI route, and it's a golden opportunity for Cambodia and our people," he said.
Sam Ol said there have been massive influx of Chinese investments and tourism into Cambodia in recent years thanks to the BRI, and that China is the No. 1 builder of high-rise buildings in Cambodia.
Sam Ol said China is the best friend of Cambodia and has respected Cambodia's independence and sovereignty.
He said the diplomatic ties between the two countries were forged in 1958, three years after a meeting between late Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk and then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai at the Bandung Conference in Indonesia. The ties were elevated to the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation in 2010.
"Our relations dated back to ancient times, and the two countries and peoples have moved closer to each other since the diplomatic ties were established," he said.
Sam Ol said China's aid, investments, and tourists have greatly contributed to the development of economy, society and culture in Cambodia.
"If compared to investments or support from other countries, China ranks No. 1 in helping Cambodia," he said, adding that China has helped the country build more than 3,000 km of roads and large bridges.
He suggested that to further deepening the Sino-Cambodian ties, the two countries need to continue to enhance mutual trust, support and understanding as well as people-to-people exchanges.
"For me, friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and China were born from people's hearts of the two countries, so we have to continue to strengthen our mutual trust," he said.
PHNOM PENH, Sept. 20 (Xinhua)
China provides help that Kyiv needs most
The Russia-Ukraine conflict witnesses these phenomena: China is sending humanitarian aid to Ukrainians while the United States is delivering weaponry to Kyiv, and China is promoting dialogue to end the crisis and ease its global impact while the US is keen to escalate sanctions that could disrupt global economic recovery.
Throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict, China has maintained a state of neutrality, citing its close friendship, trade and economic ties with both countries.
During a video call with US President Joe Biden last week, President Xi Jinping said the top priorities were to continue dialogue and negotiations, avoid civilian casualties, prevent a humanitarian crisis, cease fighting and end the war as soon as possible.
Xi had urged the US to hold talks between the US, NATO and Russia on what he described as the "crux" of the Ukraine conflict: the security concerns of both Moscow and Kyiv.
Washington seems obsessed with sanctions and warnings that China would "face the consequences". The US State Department has threatened even more sanctions if China provided support to Russia.
No doubt what Ukrainians need most are daily living necessities, a cease-fire and an end to military operations. As shelling continues in key places in Ukraine, daily necessities have become scarce, and the injured need medical care.
China has insisted on and worked for diplomatic solutions to the crisis, apart from offering humanitarian aid.
Shortly after President Xi discussed options with his French and German counterparts, the first shipments of aid to Ukraine's 44 million people had been sent. The shipments, consisting of milk powder for children, blankets and quilts, arrived via Bucharest on March 12.Subsequent aid convoys brought such items as towels, buckets and torches to Lviv and Chernivtsi in western Ukraine.
In addition, at the request of Ukraine, the Red Cross Society of China is providing more humanitarian aid, including food and daily necessities.
In the meantime, the US has managed to sell and fly into Ukraine a large range of basic and sophisticated weapons, worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Western media disappoint readers with disinformation or coldness about the voices and actions of non-NATO countries during the crisis, railing against nations that are not ready to toe the US line.
China has consistently maintained its anti-war policy. It is not a warmongering and war-profiteering country, in stark contrast to a superpower that highlights its military muscle across the world, especially in squeezing the breathing space for Russia's security.
China's partnership with Russia and Ukraine has been long-standing and built on trust, and it will continue.
China has been Russia's largest trade partner for 12 consecutive years, according to China's Commerce Ministry. In addition, it was the largest importer from Ukraine in 2021, with goods worth $8 billion－up 12.7 percent year-on-year.
Ukraine imported Chinese goods worth $10.97 billion last year, an increase of 31.9 percent year-on-year, according to data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine.
However biased the Western media have become against China, the Ukrainians will suffer more with the influx of US weaponry, but they will be better off with assistance and solutions from China and others. Whatever the White House claims, time will prove to the rest of the world what kind of solutions work for the better coexistence of Ukraine, Russia and the rest of Europe.
The author is a former chief information officer for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government and a media consultant. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily
US political scientist blames West for Ukraine crisis
LONDON - "The West, and especially America, is principally responsible" for the Ukraine crisis, John J. Mearsheimer, a US political scientist, wrote in a recent opinion piece published in The Economist.
American and European policymakers provoked the Ukraine crisis by trying to integrate Ukraine into the West and asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin bears full responsibility for the crisis, said Mearsheimer, a political science professor at the University of Chicago, "But that story is wrong."
In his view, the Ukraine crisis "is the most dangerous international conflict since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis." The West is now increasing aid to Ukraine while imposing economic sanctions on Russia, a step that Putin sees as "akin to a declaration of war."
Understanding the root causes is essential to finding a way to bring the crisis to an end. The trouble over Ukraine started at NATO's Bucharest summit in 2008 when George W. Bush's administration pushed the alliance to announce that Ukraine and Georgia "will become members," said the article.
In late 2021, the West ignored Russia's security concerns, with intentions of including Ukraine into NATO, which led directly to the current war, Mearsheimer wrote.
Furthermore, Russian policymakers have said "hardly anything about conquering new territory to recreate the Soviet Union or build a greater Russia," said the expert, adding that Russian leaders have repeatedly said that they view Ukraine joining NATO as "an existential threat that must be prevented."
"As Mr. Lavrov noted in January, 'the key to everything is the guarantee that NATO will not expand eastward,'" Mearsheimer said.
Beijing supports Islamic way to solve issues, FM says
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that China will continue to support Islamic countries using Islamic wisdom to resolve hot spot issues and find solutions to maintaining stability and promoting peace.
Wang made the remark when addressing the two-day 48th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Islamabad, which is being hosted by Pakistan.
The OIC is the world's second-largest intergovernmental body after the United Nations, with 57 members across four continents.
Noting it is the first time a Chinese foreign minister has been invited to attend an OIC foreign ministers' meeting, Wang said it fully shows sincerity for China and the Islamic world to enhance exchanges and cooperation and is bound to elevate bilateral ties to a new level.
As the theme of the two-day conference is "Building Partnerships for Unity, Justice and Development", Wang said it reflected the common calls of most countries in the world.
In the face of a world of turbulence and transformation, Wang called for China and Islamic countries to be partners on unity and coordination, adding that the two sides have always been committed to mutual respect and trust and have supported each other's core concerns.
China and Islamic countries should resolutely support each other in safeguarding their own legitimate rights and interests, as well as the shared interests of most developing countries, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Islamic countries to champion true multilateralism, uphold the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and the UN-centered international system, Wang added.
He underlined that the two sides should be development and revitalization partners, pledging that China would provide 300 million vaccine doses to help Islamic countries fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wang also suggested the two sides bolster strategic synergy by fully leveraging high-quality Belt and Road construction and implementing the Global Development Initiative, so as to lead South-South cooperation and inject strong impetus into the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
According to Wang, China has signed cooperation documents with 54 Islamic countries and carried out nearly 600 major projects worth $400 billion, bringing tangible benefits to people on both sides.
Noting that Chinese and Islamic civilizations are both ancient and have significant influence, Wang said the two sides have discovered a path of friendship and win-win cooperation, which serves as a model for practicing a new type of international relations and for different countries to get along.
Wang said the two sides should advocate the common values of humanity and oppose discrimination against and conflict between civilizations.
Source: Xinhua| 2019-09-28 02:40:28|Editor: Huaxia
A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot to throw back a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops during clashes on the Gaza-Israel border, east of Gaza City, on Sept. 27, 2019. A young Palestinian man was shot dead Friday by Israeli army's gunfire during the weekly anti-Israel protests along the Gaza-Israel border, Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said. At least 63 Palestinians were injured during a daylong protest in eastern Gaza Strip, Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the health ministry in Gaza, said. (Photo by Mohammed Dahman/Xinhua)
