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IOL News
5 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
China's top legislator calls for high-level development of innovative strategic partnership with Switzerland
Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, poses for a photo after his meeting with President of the National Council of Switzerland Maja Riniker (R) and President of the Council of States of Switzerland Andrea Caroni (L) in Switzerland, July 30, 2025. Image: Xinhua China's top legislator Zhao Leji called for jointly advancing the high-level development of the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership during an official goodwill visit to the country from Monday to Thursday. Switzerland was one of the first Western countries that established diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, said Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, during his meeting with President of the National Council of Switzerland Maja Riniker and President of the Council of States of Switzerland Andrea Caroni. Over the 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have jointly cultivated a spirit of cooperation featuring "equality, innovation and win-win," setting a model for cooperation between countries with different social systems, at different stages of development and of varying sizes, he said. China stands ready to work with Switzerland to implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries and promote the high-level development of the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership, Zhao said. He noted that mutual respect and mutual trust are important foundations for the long-term stable development of bilateral relations, and that China is willing to maintain the positive momentum of high-level exchanges with Switzerland and welcomes more Swiss leaders and parliamentarians to visit China to understand a real, multidimensional and comprehensive China. Respecting each other's core interests and major concerns is a valuable experience and the right approach to China-Switzerland relations, he said, adding that China appreciates Switzerland's commitment to expanding cooperation with China and hopes to strengthen exchanges and interactions to pool more positive energy for the development of bilateral relations. Switzerland is the first continental European country that signed free trade agreement with China, and bilateral economic and trade cooperation has grown rapidly since the deal came into effect, said Zhao, who also expects to jointly push forward negotiations on upgrading the free trade agreement and high-quality financial cooperation, as well as welcomes the expansion of investment in China by Swiss capitals. He also called for enhancing cooperation in arts, sports, education and between local governments to consolidate the social and public support for bilateral friendship. He expressed the hope that China and Switzerland, both important forces loving peace and advocating multilateralism, will continue to enhance multilateral coordination, jointly combat unilateralism and protectionism, and safeguard international trade rules and world economic order, so as to promote a more just and equitable global governance. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The NPC of China and the Swiss Federal Parliament have maintained long-standing friendly relations and made positive contributions to the development of bilateral ties and practical cooperation, he said. The two sides should further intensify friendly exchanges among legislatures, share and learn from each other's experience in legislation, supervision and other areas, timely formulate, revise and approve legal documents conducive to bilateral cooperation, and strengthen communication and collaboration within multilateral mechanisms such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, he noted. Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, visits the DSM-firmenich company in Switzerland, July 28, 2025. Image: Xinhua For her part, Riniker said that this year marks the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, while relations between the two countries have developed steadily and achieved fruitful results based on mutual respect, openness and goodwill. The National Council of Switzerland stands ready to strengthen cooperation with the NPC of China to play an active role in pushing for an upgrade of the free trade deal between the two countries, as well as promoting sustainable development, she said. Caroni, for his part, said that both countries adhere to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and firmly uphold multilateralism. Strengthening cooperation with China is of strategic significance to Switzerland, he said, adding that the Council of States of Switzerland looks forward to further strengthening exchanges and dialogues with the Chinese side to enhance mutual understanding and common development. CGTN Source: Xinhua News Agency
South China Morning Post
08-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China as global conflict mediator: from ambition to action
China has increasingly taken on the role of conflict mediator on the world stage – hosting negotiations, proposing peace plans and even deploying personnel to oversee ceasefires. Once reluctant to engage in United Nations peacekeeping activities, it now provides more troops than any other permanent member of the Security Council. These are dramatic shifts for a country that was once a staunch advocate of non-interference. As its economic and security interests now reach far beyond its borders, China's engagement on the world stage has understandably grown accordingly. It has a strong incentive to resolve conflicts that threaten its trade, overseas investments, citizens abroad or simply regional stability. The six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue, beginning in 2003, marked China's first major foray into multilateral conflict mediation. The talks provide a good example of China's approach to conflict mediation, summarised in its foreign policy lexicon by the phrase '劝和促谈' (persuading for peace and promoting dialogue): while Beijing had no coercive leverage over Pyongyang, it served as a consistent convenor – urging North Korea to halt its nuclear ambitions while pressing the US to address the country's security concerns. North Korean official Choe Ryong-hae (right) speaks with Zhao Leji (left), chairman of the National People's Congress of China, during a reception in Pyongyang last year. Photo: KCNA/KNS via AP China's ambitions are now broader. It has been positioning itself as a leader of the Global South, embracing inclusive multilateralism more than the West.
Asahi Shimbun
30-04-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
Japan seeks new panda loan from China ahead of zoo returning 4
Hiroshi Moriyama, left, leader of the Japanese parliamentary delegation to China, with Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, in Beijing on April 29 (Pool) BEIJING—A delegation of Japanese lawmakers met senior Chinese officials here hoping for a continuation of "panda diplomacy," requesting the continued loan of giant pandas to Japan. 'Many fans, especially children, are saddened by the pandas' departure,' said Hiroshi Moriyama, the secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party, on April 29. The request for a new panda loan comes ahead of the scheduled return of four pandas currently residing at a Wakayama Prefecture zoo by the end of June. Zhao Leji, the third-ranking member of the Chinese Communist Party, responded positively. According to sources, he called pandas "ambassadors of friendship," stating that the relevant authorities in China would discuss the matter. The two officials also agreed on the mutual benefit of promoting bilateral relations. In response to the meeting, the spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry noted that cooperation between China and Japan on panda breeding and technical exchanges has yielded positive results. Moriyama led the cross-party delegation, which visited China for the first time since August. Currently, six pandas are in Japan under China's breeding and research program, including two at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo, which are also set to be returned by February next year. The latest instance of panda diplomacy highlights Beijing's growing interest in strengthening economic ties with Japan and other Asian neighbors. Chinese President Xi Jinping criticized U.S.-imposed tariffs on China, urging other nations to stand against a 'unilateral act of bullying' by the United States. While Japan and China share common interests in opposing U.S. tariffs and supporting free trade, their relationship remains strained by political tensions. These include territorial disputes and Beijing's ban on Japanese seafood imports following the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Since taking office in October, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has held talks with Xi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to improve bilateral relations. Arrangements are being made for a trilateral summit between Japan, China and South Korea later this year, with Chinese Premier Li Qiang expected to visit Japan for the occasion.
The Mainichi
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Cross-party Japan lawmakers meet with China's top legislator
BEIJING (Kyodo) -- A cross-party group of China-friendly Japanese lawmakers are meeting in Beijing with the country's top legislator Zhao Leji, the No. 3 in the ruling Chinese Communist Party's leadership, on Tuesday as Tokyo presses its neighbor to lift its blanket ban on Japanese seafood imports. The delegation led by Hiroshi Moriyama, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, is on a three-day visit to China through Tuesday. The group is set to call for an end to the seafood import ban imposed in August 2023 over Japan's discharge of treated radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea. On Monday, the Japanese lawmakers asked Beijing to lease some more giant pandas to the neighboring country as four pandas currently at a western Japan zoo will return to China around late June. During their trip, the lawmakers met with Liu Jianchao, head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Department, and Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. The parliamentarians' group last sent a delegation to China in August last year, headed by then LDP heavyweight lawmaker Toshihiro Nikai, who retired from politics in October.
27-04-2025
- Business
Suprapartisan Group of Japanese Lawmakers Visits China
Beijing, April 27 (Jiji Press)--A suprapartisan group of Japanese lawmakers promoting friendship between Japan and China arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a three-day stay in China, during which the members will hold talks with dignitaries and inspect advanced technologies. According to informed sources, the group is working to arrange a meeting with Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, or Chinese parliament, who is the third-ranking official of the Chinese Communist Party. The visit is aimed at encouraging the improvement of Japan-China relations, including through the promotion of a mutually beneficial strategic relationship that has been confirmed by the two countries' leaders. Fourteen members of the group from six ruling and opposition parties are visiting China, including its chairman, Hiroshi Moriyama, secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, as well as Kazuyoshi Akaba, deputy head of Komeito, the junior coalition partner of the LDP, and Katsuya Okada, former secretary-general of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. In their talks with Chinese dignitaries, the Japanese lawmakers are expected to take up pending issues between the two countries, including the resumption of China's imports of Japanese fishery products and the release of Japanese nationals currently detained in China. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
