China's annual political meetings feature minority delegates in tribal finery with a message - International
Every year in early March, China's rubber-stamp legislature and its advisory body gather to hear speeches and hold discussions in the capital, Beijing.
In contrast to the long and monotonous sessions, a bustling scene unfolds outside the Great Hall of the People in the heart of Beijing, where ethnic minority delegations from far-flung provinces pose for photographs donning their finest traditional costumes.
Jangly silver headdresses and elaborate embroidery work, felt hats and long, layered skirts in a kaleidoscope of colors draw attention in stark contrast to the drab business suits, routinely dark grey with conservative ties or bows.
It's a visual display of one of the purported ruling concepts of the Chinese Communist Party, that all 56 ethnic groups in the nation are equal. Yet, the majority Han group has dominated politics and the economy going back thousands of years and continues to do so, making up about 92% of the population.
The vast majority of minority delegates come from mountainous and border areas, such as Yunnan, Guangxi, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Tibet. While some names may be familiar, such as Uyghurs and Tibetans, most are from smaller or less known groups, some with just a few thousand members.
Many have become virtually assimilated with the Han, including the Manchus who, despite their relatively small numbers, swept down from the Great Wall of China and ruled the country for around 300 years before being overthrown by its first republic.
After taking power in 1949, Mao Zedong declared all were members of a single Chinese nation, regardless of ethnicity, and began a steady campaign to impose a single Chinese language on Han and minority peoples alike, accompanied by rigid political orthodoxy and campaigns against Tibetan Buddhism and Islam as practiced by Uyghurs and other groups in the far northwest.
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Active progress has been made in the negotiation between Chinese enterprises, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority and the governments of Tanzania and Zambia on signing agreements to revitalize the Tanzania-Zambia Railway. From the Beijing Summit to the end of March 2025, new investment from Chinese enterprises to Africa reached RMB13.38 billion yuan. 9. Pushing forward the pilot zone for the in-depth China-Africa economic and trade cooperation and holding the Fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. The Chinese side has been advancing the establishment of the Fund for In-Depth China-Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation, and has set up the China-Africa Trial Center of China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission. 10. Supporting the development of African SMEs. The Chinese side has provided loans worth of RMB2.08 billion yuan to about 350 SMEs from 19 industries, creating around 4,500 jobs. 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The China-Africa Development Fund and the China-Africa Capacity Cooperation Fund have newly invested about RMB3.2 billion yuan and RMB2.9 billion yuan in Africa respectively. Cooperation 14. Carrying out international development cooperation in various forms. China has continued to provide grant to the African side. China has been actively advancing nearly 600 'small and beautiful' projects, covering connectivity, poverty alleviation for the benefit of farmers, health, green development, digital economy, and people-to-people exchanges, benefiting almost all African nations. Positive progress has been made in multiple projects including the Stadium and Swimming Pool Project in the Comoros, the social housing project in Seychelles, the Improved Public Educational Service Facilities for Youth in Sierra Leone, the Youth Cultural Palace Project in Algeria, the Yaoundé Conference Center Technical Cooperation Project in Cameroon, the Project for the reconstruction of the Olympic Stadium in Menzah, Tunisia, the Project of Technical Assistance of the Presidential Palace and the National Stadium in Cabo Verde, the project of 500 social housing units in Djibouti, and the Multipurpose Building Construction Project for Gabon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. China has provided urgent humanitarian aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Mozambique, and supported Senegal in hosting the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games through assistance in stadium technical maintenance, goods and materials, and technologies. China has also signed exchanges of notes on preparatory technical survey on poverty alleviation demonstration village projects with South Africa, and has carried out the project of African Mothers' New Farm. 15. The China-Africa-UNIDO Center of Excellence was set up and officially launched in Ethiopia. The regulation on the management and operation mechanism of the demonstration center was signed. And three projects for industrialization, agricultural modernization and talent cultivation have been implemented in Ethiopia. 16. China and Africa jointly issued the Joint Statement on Deepening Cooperation under the Framework of the Global Development Initiative, and 30 African nations and the African Union have officially become members of the Global Development Promotion Center network. China has signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Implementing the Global Development Initiative with Botswana. The China-World Bank Group Partnership Facility was replenished by a signed agreement, and has delivered the first donation of US$20 million on that basis. 17. Enhancing international cooperation in capacity-building of Artificial Intelligence (AI). China has put forward the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All, and established with Zambia the Group of Friends for International Cooperation on AI Capacity-Building and held group activities. China has hosted the Workshops on AI Capacity-Building, and supported Rwanda in hosting the Global AI Summit on Africa. 18. Implementing the medical and health programs. The project of the new Regional Hospital of Tadjourah in Djibouti completed construction and has been handed over, and the projects of the Bobo-Dioulasso Hospital in Burkina Faso and the El-Maarouf National Center Hospital in the Comoros will soon be completed and handed over. 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Strengthening mutual exchange and sharing of agricultural techniques. China sent more than 200 agricultural experts to countries including Madagascar, Eritrea and Burundi, and provided assistance of material and expertise to the agricultural technology centers in Equatorial Guinea and other countries. Technical demonstration of green and effective production and processing of cassava started in the Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana. Progress was made in the Juncao technological projects in Central Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, South Sudan and other countries, and in the Sustainable Rice and Millet Food Systems Transformation in Gambia. China carried out the Poverty Alleviation and Agriculture Assistance in Red Sea State, Sudan with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). China launched agricultural cooperation projects in Malawi and Namibia, and sent 16 agricultural experts to provide technical guidance. China worked with the FAO and the World Food Program (WFP) to carry out technical training on enhancing the value chain of cassava for African countries. 22. Implementing agricultural development cooperation projects. The China-aided Jamestown Fishing Port Complex in Ghana was completed. Progress was made in the China-aided Integrated Rice SAPZ Development Project in Sierra Leone, and a rural hydraulics project was launched in Togo. China supports Africa's agricultural mechanization and has provided Equatorial Guinea, Lesotho, Zambia and other countries with agricultural machines and tools. Emergency food aid of RMB210 million yuan was provided to nine African countries including Somalia. China cooperated with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on advancing agricultural development projects in Tanzania through the use of satellite digital technology. 23. Diversifying agricultural cooperation platforms. The meeting of the China-Sierra Leone Joint Committee on Fishery was held, and memorandums of understanding were signed on agricultural cooperation with Burundi and Côte d'Ivoire. The China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance was established, and at the round table of the alliance, the China-Nigeria Joint Laboratory for Soil and Water Conservation and Agricultural Sustainable Development, the China-Rwanda Joint Laboratory for Crop Pest Sustainable Management, and the China-Burundi Joint Laboratory for Arthropod-Transmitted Animal Disease Prevention and Control and One Health were established. The China-Africa Cooperation Center for Perennial Rice Technology was set up. China helped build the China-Africa Juncao Cooperation Center and the China-Africa Bamboo Center. The 2024 FOCAC Africa-China Poverty Reduction and Development Conference was held. China attended the 7th International Exhibition of Agriculture and Animal Resources in Côte d'Ivoire as the guest of honor and held the China Day event. China has worked actively with agricultural science and education institutions of African countries to jointly advance the construction of the China-Africa Center for Tropical Agricultural Science and Technology. VIII. People-to-People Exchanges 24. China and Africa are preparing for a series of events of the Year of China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges and have issued the concept paper. 25. Advancing China-Africa cooperation on talent cultivation. China has helped train more than 10 thousand professionals of various areas for African nations, and plans to provide training programs for about 20 thousand people covering more than 100 professions in over 20 fields including connectivity, health, poverty alleviation for farmers, trade and investment, green development and digital economy in 2025. 26. Enhancing education cooperation. The 'Future of Africa' China-Africa Vocational Education Cooperation Plan was implemented. 33 educational institutions from 13 African nations joined the China-Africa Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Cooperation Consortium. The first China-Africa Regional Development Center for 'Chinese + TVET' was established, and the first China-Africa Regional Cooperation Center for Digital Education was set up. The Luban Workshops and schools were newly-built or upgraded in Benin and Rwanda, adding to a total of 17 Luban Workshops in 15 African nations. Under the China-Africa Universities 100 Cooperation Plan, 114 universities between the two sides have conducted exchanges and cooperation across various fields. Joint laboratories were launched between China and ten African countries including South Africa and Egypt. China has signed memorandums of understanding on educational cooperation with five African countries including Guinea-Bissau and Zimbabwe. The China-aided National Examinations and Competitions Center in the Republic of the Congo started construction. 27. Expanding people-to-people exchanges. Progress was made on 18 projects of people-to-people exchanges, including the Confucius Institute in the Republic of the Congo and the Culture Palace technical support project in Côte d'Ivoire. Training on culture and tourism was held, involving over 200 African professionals. China conducted a joint underwater archaeology project with South Africa. A total of 54 flagship events including 'Happy Spring Festival' and China-Africa Cultural Focus were held in African nations. The 2024 China-Africa Cultural Silk Road Exchange Month, China-Africa Culture and Tourism Exchange Conference, and 'Hello! China' tourism promotion were held. China hosted the third China-Africa Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, and will host the fifth China-Africa Future Leaders' Dialogue and China-Africa Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum in July 2025, and the ninth China-Africa Youth Festival in September 2025. China attended the 39th edition of Tunis International Book Fair as guest of honor. 28. Enriching cooperation on press and media. The China-Africa Press Center Program was implemented, inviting journalists from 49 African countries including Angola and Niger to China. Over 100 media personnel from 23 African countries including Kenya, South Africa, and Burundi came to China for visits or assisted training programs. The two sides have enhanced cooperation on television and film production. The 'Reel Africa' film screening and salon event was held. China cooperated with Egypt, Ethiopia, the African Broadcasting Union as well as other countries and organizations on historical film restoration. China has handed over the Seychelles Broadcasting Center Project to the host country, and completed the maintenance of the Djoué Radio Station of the Republic of the Congo. The events of 'Seeing China' were held in Egypt, Ethiopia, etc. IX. Green Development 29. Enhancing practical cooperation on climate change, green development and in other key areas. From the Summit to the end of March 2025, the revenue of the contracted clean energy projects in Africa by Chinese enterprises reached RMB21.18 billion yuan. The Special Found for China-Africa Green Industrial Chain was founded, and seven projects with an investment of RMB6.2 billion yuan have been approved. Support was given to African nations with the implementation of the first batch of programs under the Kunming Biodiversity Fund. The China-Africa Green Envoys Program was implemented, uplifting the green skills and knowledge sharing of sustainable development of both sides. China has signed memorandums of understanding on green development with countries including Guinea-Bissau, Ethiopia and the Republic of the Congo, and implemented the Climate Information and Early Warning Systems (CIEWS) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Seychelles, Madagascar and other countries. 30. Strengthening cooperation on marine and geology and mineral resources sectors. China has signed cooperation agreements and provided material assistance to countries including Benin, Togo, and Ghana, supporting them in enhancing capabilities of marine observation and monitoring. Geology officials and experts were invited to China for exchange and visits, and a total of 13 geoscience training programs were held for African countries, training over 400 participants. China has signed cooperation documents in earth science with Zambia, South Africa, and other countries. 31. Strengthening scientific cooperation. China signed an intergovernmental agreement on science and technology cooperation with Kenya. China hosted the second China-Africa BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) Cooperation Forum, issued the Joint Statement of the Second China-Africa BDS Cooperation Forum, and signed BDS cooperation documents with African countries. Construction of the China-Africa Cooperation Center on Satellite Remote Sensing Application was making progress. China provided emergency satellite imaging services for natural disasters preparedness in Nigeria, Ethiopia and other countries, and delivered satellite remote sensing data processing software for Cameroon. The China-South Africa jointly-built remote sensing satellite ground station was put into operation, and real-time satellite-to-ground quantum communication and 10,000-kilometer quantum key distribution was utilized in bilateral cooperation for the first time. A major achievement of scientific research between China and Kenya Flora of Kenya (Vol. 4) Orchidaceae was released. Construction started on the China-Zimbabwe BRI joint laboratory of agro-ecological environment and cash corp research. Training courses on digital transformation were held for Libya. China also held the China-Africa Innovation Cooperation and Development Forum, and will hold the China-Africa Forum on Peaceful Use of Nuclear Technology. X. Common Security 32. Building the Global Security Initiative (GSI) demonstration zone. China has signed memorandums of understanding of the GSI and conducted practical cooperation in areas of traditional and non-traditional security under the framework of the GSI with multiple African countries. The two sides are working to further strengthen their partnership for implementing the GSI, promote the Partnership Action for Common Security, and jointly safeguard and promote regional and global peace and stability. 33. Enhancing cooperation on peace and security. With the joint efforts of China, African countries and other members of the developing world, the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted in December, 2024 with a vast majority the resolution on Promoting International Cooperation on Peaceful Uses in the Context of International Security. Safe City projects in countries including Djibouti and Guinea were implemented, and construction started on the smart customs project of Côte d'Ivoire. 34. Strengthening communication on security issues. The first Military Education Seminar of the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum, the fourth Thematic Conference on Military Medicine under the Framework of China-Africa Peace and Security Forum, and the third Counter Terrorism Consultation between Ministries of Foreign Affairs of China and Egypt were held. The delegation of African young and middle-aged military officers visited China. 35. 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7 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
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CNN — At long last, the United States has reached a trade agreement with China. Again. After a testy war of words that escalated into a tit-for-tat restriction on key exports, American and Chinese officials this week met in the United Kingdom with a singular goal: Find a way to agree to what they had agreed to a month earlier in Geneva. It appears the countries' top trade negotiators have accomplished that. On Tuesday night, both Chinese and Trump officials said they had agreed to a framework to implement the consensus they reached in May, and the trade truce would be sent to their respective leaders for their approval. Businesses, consumers and Wall Street investors will no doubt breathe a sigh of relief: Burdensome tariffs have raised significant anxiety, and easing trade barriers between the world's two largest economies should lower costs and help inject some much-needed certainty into an economy that has been demonstrating some signs of strain. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said in a Truth Social post that a 'deal' with China has been completed. 'Our deal with China is done,' Trump said in his all-caps social media post. Trump said both countries agreed to ease export restrictions, per the prior arrangement agreed upon in Geneva in May. The president also confirmed on Wednesday in his post that the deal included 'full magnets, and any necessary rare earths, will be supplied, up front, by China.' But in reality, the trade truce – if that's really what was accomplished this time around – is mostly just a return to the already-tense state of affairs from before April 2. Tariff rates from both countries remain historically high, and significant export restrictions remain in place. The United States has not opened its doors to China's autos, nor is it going to sell its high-end AI chips anytime soon. And, in Trump's parlance, China isn't treating America much more 'fairly' after this agreement than it did before. A much-needed détente Without a doubt, a trade agreement was much needed. After Trump's April 2 'Liberation Day' announcements, tensions ran so high that trade between the United States and China came to an effective halt. A 145% tariff on most Chinese imports made the math impossible for US businesses to buy virtually anything from China, America's second-largest trading partner. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, America's chief negotiator in both trade talks with China, said previous tariff levels were 'unsustainable.' On May 12, delegates from China and the United States announced they would significantly roll back their historically high tariffs on one another. Economists pared back their recession forecasts, and moribund consumer confidence rebounded. But Trump and his administration in recent weeks grew increasingly hostile toward China, accusing the country of breaking the promises it made in mid-May. China similarly said the United States failed to live up to its obligations under the Geneva agreement. The Trump administration had expected China to lift restrictions on rare-earth materials that are critical components for a wide range of electronics, but China has only very slowly allowed them to return to the open market, causing intense displeasure inside the Trump administration and prompting a series of export restrictions on US goods to China, three administration officials told CNN last month. China has a virtual monopoly on rare earths, without which cars, jet engines, contrast dye used in MRI machines and some cancer drugs cannot be manufactured. Trump told reporters Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed to allow exports of rare earth minerals products to begin, but industry analysts said the crucial materials had not been flowing to the United States as they once had. If both countries satisfy the terms of the agreement this time around, the de-escalation should prevent the direst warnings about the trade war, including potential pandemic-level shortages. Back to reality Despite the good vibes, the United States and China remain in an economic standoff. The Trump administration – and the Biden administration before it – have maintained that Chinese companies are more than happy to sell inexpensive products to the US market but that China places significant restrictions on US businesses operating in the country and encourages Chinese companies to steal American intellectual property. China has long disputed those claims. Trump, in his first term, raised tariffs on China based on national security concerns. Biden maintained many of those tariffs and doubled down on some. But the second Trump administration has taken trade barriers to an unprecedented level. It has placed a 10% universal tariff on virtually all goods coming into the United States. It put in place an additional 20% tariff on Chinese goods in an effort to get China to take action to reduce the flow of fentanyl over the US border. Both of those extraordinary tariffs remain in place on most Chinese goods, with the exception of some products like electronics. In addition, the White House closed the so-called de minimis exemption that allowed packages with a value of under $800 to come into the United States tariff-free. Hefty new tariffs remain in place on small packages, undermining the business models of Chinese ecommerce giants Shein and Temu. The compounding tariffs create significant trade barriers with America's second-largest trading partner, raising prices for American businesses and consumers with no easy fixes or clear market alternatives. Some gigantic companies, such as Apple, have complex supply chains that can withstand some of the price pressures. But even Apple, which has said it would ship most US iPhones from India as Chinese tariffs rise, said it would face a $900 million quarterly cost increase because of tariffs – at their current levels, not at the sky-high 145% rate. Other businesses, such as Boeing, have been completely shut out of China's market. Even without any tariffs or other formal barriers by China on purchases of US aircraft, Boeing has made virtually no sales in China, the world's largest for aircraft purchases, since 2019. So a trade truce may be better than the alternative – if it lasts this time.
