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Korea Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Global Prosperity Summit 2025 successfully concludes
Event underscores Hong Kong's bridging role, contributions in people-to-people diplomacy HONG KONG, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Prosperity Summit 2025 (GPS2025), jointly organised by Savantas Policy Institute, the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies and the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, came to a close today following two days of insightful discussions by distinguished leaders and experts from around the world on the most pressing issues impacting global prosperity. The event also underscored Hong Kong's bridging role and soft power in advancing people-to-people diplomacy and facilitating dialogue for addressing geopolitical issues. Mrs Regina Ip, Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the Savantas Policy Institute, said that the final two panel discussions at this year's Global Prosperity Summit focused on climate change and sustainable development, as well as Hong Kong's role. Quoting speakers at the event, she underscored the importance of enhancing efforts to showcase Hong Kong's cultural richness and achievements to the global audience, for the world to see the city's diverse identity, so that Hong Kong can fully demonstrate its role as a bridge, and continue to play a unique role on the international stage. Today's programme began with the first panel discussion on "Climate Change and Sustainable Development", a panel that brought together international experts for an in-depth exploration of issues such as climate change and green transformation. The Summit then concluded with "Hong Kong's Bridging Role in a Changing World", where international relations experts from the United Kingdom and United States shared their unique perspectives and insights. (Key points from these discussions can be found in the Annex.) Regarding the many strengths of Hong Kong, Ambassador Craig Allen, Senior Counselor, The Cohen Group, noted that "Hong Kong has some of the greatest entrepreneurs in the world"; "The financial markets are superb"; and "diversity is Hong Kong's strength." Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles KCMG LVO, Chair, China-Britain Business Council and Senior Adviser to the Group, HSBC Holdings plc, also pointed out that "I've always thought that Hong Kong undersells itself, not realizing its extraordinary assets, which in this time and this world, make it exceptionally well-placed. I think I'm right in saying that 70% of the foreign direct investment coming out of China goes through Hong Kong, 60% of the incoming investment into China comes through this territory. Britain does about as much trade with Hong Kong as we do with Japan." He also said "You only have to walk through Central, dance in Lan Kwai Fong, do what you always do in Hong Kong, to know that it is special and different and will remain so. So I say to my friends from Hong Kong here - keep selling Hong Kong. Be confident that it is what the mainland wants, it is what the leadership wants, and it is what the leadership will support." The organisers of GPS2025 said they are grateful to the speakers and experts who came to Hong Kong from the mainland and countries across the globe to share their profound insights and forward-thinking perspectives. They added that the summit will continue to invite renowned experts with a view to fostering global prosperity and strengthening cross-region and cross-sector collaboration. About Global Prosperity Summit Global Prosperity Summit was initiated by a group of business, academic and experts in Hong Kong to provide a platform for frank, objective and rational discussion of dominant issues impacting global prosperity. The inaugural Summit was held in Hong Kong in 2024. About Savantas Policy Institute Savantas Policy Institute (SPI) was founded in 2006 by a group of Hong Kong belongers with overseas experience who care deeply about Hong Kong. The core vision of SPI is to enhance Hong Kong's transformation into a knowledge-based economy. SPI engages mainly in conducting public policy research and analysis and recommending appropriate long-term developmental strategies, as well as promoting public understanding of and participation in the economic and social development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. About Shanghai Institutes for International Studies Established in 1960, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS) has played a crucial role in conducting strategic research, providing policy recommendations and contributing to the understanding of international politics, economics, security and other related fields. It has evolved into an important institution informing and shaping China's foreign policy and global engagement and has been accredited as one of the most influential think tanks in China and around the world. About European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Initiated in 1997, the European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (EuroCham) is a non-governmental business interest group. The EuroCham is a 'Chamber of Chambers' with its membership comprising 16 European Chambers based in Hong Kong. The appointed representatives of these chambers make up EuroCham's Board of Directors. Over 1,600 European companies are operating in Hong Kong. In 2019, Europe maintained its position as Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner after mainland China and Hong Kong's second-largest export destination and third-largest import supplier.
Asia Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Asia Times
China's flawed narrative on India's Indus Water Treaty abeyance
The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, India, and military clashes that followed between India and Pakistan have reignited fears of a renewed spiral of tensions between the two neighbours. Even though the two sides have agreed to a US-mediated ceasefire for now, India has not withdrawn its decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) – a historic agreement that long survived hostile bilateral relations. India has been mulling over the possibility of stopping the water flow of rivers flowing toward Pakistan. It's important to note that 80% of river water in Pakistan passes through or originates from India – a strategic asset that India has not used thus far in its battle against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism. International laws and conventions do allow a country to take recourse to such measures, in case the other party engages in unlawful conduct such as cross-border terrorism. Yet, what deserves closer scrutiny is China's reaction. As an upper riparian state, China's narrative on India's Indus water decision reveals more about Beijing's geopolitical calculus than about any principled stance on transboundary water management. Despite official proclamations of neutrality, Chinese commentators have largely cast India's suspension of the IWT in a negative light, framing it as a form of unlawful coercive diplomacy rather than a response to the Pahalgam terror attack in India from across the border. Articles published on Chinese media platforms such as Baidu – with titles such as 'Water is a Weapon – paint India's decision as a manifestation of a strategy aimed at destabilizing regional equilibrium under the guise of treaty reinterpretation. Such a narrative framing stands in stark contrast to Beijing's own opaque and unilateral transboundary water governance practices on the Tibetan Plateau. Domestically, its expansive hydropower projects face minimal criticism, while India's actions are vilified as attempts to 'weaponize' natural resources. Chinese analysts have described India's control over the upper Indus as a geopolitical lever, an assertion of dominance that allegedly leaves Pakistan vulnerable and beholden to New Delhi's goodwill. Such accusations conveniently ignore India's repeated calls, especially after the 2016 Uri and 2019 Pulwama attacks, to review the treaty as a matter of national interest, not religious or ideological motivation. The portrayal of India's treaty suspension as a strategic 'water cut-off' further reinforces Beijing's narrative-building attempts about India. Chinese commentators have also subtly inserted China into the water-sharing conversation by emphasising that the Indus originates from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, referred to domestically as the Shiquan River. This framing positions China not just as a neutral observer but as a potential stakeholder, with a latent claim to relevance in Indus Basin geopolitics. Scholars such as Liu Zongyi of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies argue that India's move aims to amplify diplomatic pressure on Pakistan while enhancing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's domestic political stature. Liu contends that the decision also reflects India's limited retaliatory options post-Pahalgam and is a calculated effort to renegotiate the treaty under duress. While acknowledging the challenges this creates for Pakistan, some Chinese analysts point out that Pakistan is not entirely defenseless. Strategic infrastructure, such as the Tarbela and Mangla dams, provides short-term mitigation. And the legal framework of the Indus Water Treaty, under World Bank auspices, allows Islamabad to pursue remedies through international institutions. However, considering the complexity of the situation, Pakistan's options are limited. China's professed neutrality rings hollow in light of recurring rhetorical patterns that consistently side with Pakistan. Phrases such as 'India is using water as a weapon' and 'the Indus does not solely belong to India' underscore a discernible alignment with Islamabad's position. A Baidu commentary noted, 'The best way forward is to use a platform like CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor) to promote water cooperation and stabilize South Asia. After all, water belongs to everyone, and the good fruit is not eaten alone.' Such commentators overlook the fact that CPEC passes through a disputed territory between India and Pakistan, thus making any infrastructure development there unlawful in the eyes of international law. The irony is unmistakable: while China appeals to the principles of shared water governance in South Asia, it remains opaque and unilateral in its practices as an upper riparian state. China's repeated violation of international norms by unilaterally stopping and releasing waters during the summer and monsoon season of the Brahmaputra / Yarlung Tsangpo river is a telltale sign of this behavior. China is also using the India-Pakistan water dispute as leverage to signal its broader geopolitical intentions. Lin Minwang of Fudan University suggests that India might pursue limited military action against Pakistan to satisfy domestic audiences – but such a move would be widely condemned. He emphasizes that China's troop presence near the Line of Actual Control in Kashmir since 2020 acts as a deterrent, forcing India to weigh Chinese sensitivities in its regional security calculus. Such narratives portray China as a direct party to the India-Pakistan water dispute. What is notably absent in Chinese discourse is empathy for the victims of terrorism in India. The narrative prioritizes geopolitical advantage and regional leverage, not human tragedy. China's emerging posture is less about impartial and professional diplomacy and more about strategic signalling – reaffirming its 'ironclad' friendship with Pakistan while reinforcing its stake in South Asia's evolving water politics.
South China Morning Post
20-04-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Beijing adviser Yan Anlin on why a timetable for Taiwan reunification has disadvantages
Professor Yan Anlin is one of mainland China's most highly regarded Taiwan studies experts. A former close aide to Wang Daohan, the mainland representative at the historic talks with Taiwan in 1993, Yan is frequently consulted by Beijing on cross-strait policymaking and sits in on official meetings. Advertisement He currently serves as president of the Shanghai Association of Taiwan Studies as well as the Shanghai Institute for International Strategic Studies. He is also a former vice-president of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies think tank. This interview first appeared in SCMP Plus . For other interviews in the Open Questions series, click here What is your assessment of the current state of cross-strait relations and the historical progress towards reunification? In my view, we are still in the early stages of building momentum towards complete reunification, which can be seen as a preparatory phase. It is likely to take another five to 10 years to achieve full reunification, as we are still in a phase of quantitative change, rather than having reached a qualitative shift. Advertisement However, we cannot entirely rule out the possibility that – if [Taiwanese leader] William Lai Ching-te and other forces advocating Taiwan independence push matters to the extreme – peaceful reunification becomes no longer feasible, which is when the situation might escalate rapidly. When I say it will take five to 10 years, I'm referring to peaceful reunification. I believe it would be very difficult to achieve sooner than that.
