Latest news with #ZhaoLeji
South China Morning Post
19 hours ago
- 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.]
South China Morning Post
14-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Mainland China calls for legal improvements to fight Taiwan independence, foreign forces
Mainland China's No 3 official has called for 'further improving' the legal system against Taiwan independence during a symposium in Beijing marking the 20th anniversary of the country's Anti-Secession Law Advertisement Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said on Friday that China should 'resolutely crack down on Taiwanese secession and intervention of foreign forces'. China has doubled down on 'improving the legal system to penalise independence forces' and the 'large-scale anti-secession, anti-intervention struggle' under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Zhao said at the event. The last time such a meeting was held was in 2020, which marked the 15th anniversary of the law. Zhao Leji (top, centre), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, addresses a symposium in Beijing on Friday marking the 20th anniversary of the Anti-Secession Law. Photo: Xinhua Zhao added that the country would continue to step up its confidence and determination to achieve reunification with Taiwan, which Beijing sees as part of its territory.
