The China Now program informs about this country's news, culture and technological advances. This episode analyzes Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's first visit to China, the latest Chinese news and technology launches, and also includes three speeches from the third Belt and Road Forum, held in Beijing. teleSUR
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00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:08 Hello.
00:09 The Loser English presents a new episode of China Now,
00:12 a web media production that showcases
00:14 the culture, technology, and politics of the Asian giant.
00:17 In this first segment, we have the Prime Minister
00:19 of Australia, Antonio D'Anesse, making his first trip to China
00:24 since his inauguration and the first visit
00:26 by an Australian premier since 2016.
00:29 Also is the Russian President Vladimir Putin,
00:32 who has Shan Yoshiya, the Vice Chair
00:35 of the Central Military Commission of China
00:37 in Moscow, on board.
00:39 Let's see.
00:41 China Current is a weekly news talk show
00:44 from China to the world.
00:45 We cover viral news about China every week
00:48 and also give you the newest updates on China's
00:50 cutting edge technologies.
00:52 Let's get started.
00:53 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:57 [MUSIC PLAYING]
01:01 Hi, welcome to China Current.
01:04 I'm Chris.
01:05 On November 4, Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese
01:08 started his four-day trip to China,
01:10 seeking dialogue and cooperation.
01:13 It is Albanese's first visit to China since its inauguration
01:16 and the first visit by an Australian Prime Minister
01:19 since 2016.
01:21 On November 5, Prime Minister Albanese
01:23 delivered a speech at the opening ceremony
01:25 of the 6th China International Import Expo in Shanghai.
01:29 "Constructive economic engagement between countries
01:31 helps to build relationships.
01:33 That's why the government that I lead
01:34 will continue to work constructively with China,"
01:38 Albanese said in his speech.
01:40 The visit is largely reported positively
01:42 in both China and Australia, which
01:44 is seen as China-Australia relations getting back
01:47 in the right direction.
01:49 On November 6, Prime Minister Albanese
01:51 met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
01:53 President Xi told PM Albanese that his visit
01:56 can be described as carrying on the past
01:58 and opening up the future, citing the fact that this year
02:02 marks the 50th anniversary of the trip made
02:04 by Gough Whitlam, the first Australian leader
02:07 to visit China.
02:08 Xi told Albanese in the small-yard and high-fence
02:11 mentality, decoupling and de-risking
02:13 are essentially forms of protectionism,
02:16 which runs counter to the laws of the market,
02:18 the laws of science, and the trend of human society.
02:22 China pursues a win-win strategy of opening up
02:24 and comprehensively promotes the building
02:26 of a strong country and national rejuvenation
02:29 through Chinese-style modernization.
02:31 This will bring unprecedented opportunities
02:33 to Australia and other countries around the world.
02:36 Xi called on China and Australia to enhance
02:39 mutual understanding and trust through peaceful coexistence
02:42 and achieve common development through mutually beneficial
02:45 cooperation.
02:46 Next up, on November 5, the sixth China International Import
02:50 Expo started in East China's Shanghai,
02:53 with 154 countries, regions, and international organizations,
02:57 more than 3,400 exhibitors, and more than 390,000 attendees
03:02 participated.
03:03 Among these countries, 64 are in the Belt and Road Initiative.
03:08 And notably, this year marks the first time
03:10 the United States has set up an official pavilion.
03:13 A great number of cutting-edge technologies and new products
03:16 are making their debut at this event.
03:18 It received acclaim from foreign leaders and officials
03:21 for its contributions to providing business
03:23 opportunities to global enterprises,
03:25 fostering international trade and cooperation,
03:28 and promoting global economic development.
03:31 Next up, on Chinese national defense,
03:33 China's National Defense Ministry spokesperson,
03:35 Zhang Xiaogang, responded on a Saturday
03:38 to Canada's recent claim of unsafe interception
03:41 by Chinese military jets, saying that the Canadian helicopter's
03:45 approaches to Chinese airspace in the South China Sea
03:48 were malicious and provocative acts with ulterior motives.
03:53 On November 3rd, Canadian Minister of National Defense
03:56 Bill Blair accused Chinese fighter jets
03:58 of circling over the so-called international waters
04:01 in the South China Sea on October 29th,
04:04 and launching flares over a Canadian helicopter,
04:07 stating that these incidents put Canadian aircrew at risk.
04:12 Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang clarified
04:14 that two unidentified Canadian helicopters
04:16 from the Frigate Ottawa repeatedly
04:19 approached Chinese airspace over the Xisha Islands.
04:22 The People's Liberation Army took appropriate measures
04:25 to identify and warn the aircraft.
04:28 The Canadian helicopters not only failed to respond,
04:31 but they also engaged in provocative actions,
04:33 such as flying at extremely low altitudes.
04:36 Subsequently, the Canadian side sensationalized
04:38 and misrepresented the incident through the media,
04:41 baselessly accusing and tarnishing China.
04:44 Such actions by Canada violate both Chinese domestic law
04:48 and relevant international law,
04:50 endangering Chinese sovereignty and security,
04:52 representing a deliberate act of malicious provocation.
04:56 This is the second time within two weeks
04:58 that Canada has publicly sensationalized
05:01 what they refer to as dangerous intercepts
05:04 by Chinese military aircraft.
05:06 On October 14th, a CP-140 aircraft from Canada
05:10 illegally entered Chinese territorial airspace
05:12 near Diaoyu Islands,
05:14 seriously infringing upon Chinese sovereignty
05:17 and posing a threat to China's national security.
05:20 And next up on technology,
05:22 the opening ceremony of the 2023 World Internet Conference
05:26 Wu-Jen Summit was held on November 8th.
05:29 Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the summit via video.
05:32 He called for building a more equal and inclusive cyberspace
05:36 and stressed the need to better promote
05:38 the shared values of humanity.
05:41 Hosted by the WIC and People's Government of Zhejiang Province,
05:45 the summit aims to celebrate achievements and advancement
05:48 in the digital world
05:49 while fostering global cooperation in cyberspace.
05:52 The Wu-Jen Summit will feature 20 sub-forums
05:55 covering a wide range of topics,
05:57 including global development initiatives
05:59 for digital cooperation,
06:01 digital transformation for green and sustainable development,
06:04 data governance, network computing power,
06:07 artificial intelligence, and the digital future.
06:10 The summit brings together more than 580 enterprises
06:13 from over 48 countries,
06:15 both in-person and online.
06:17 The event will combine exhibitions, product launches,
06:21 technology demonstrations, and job fairs,
06:23 covering a multifaceted platform
06:26 for knowledge exchange and industry engagement.
06:29 It serves as a platform for participants
06:31 to explore innovative solutions
06:33 and seize opportunities
06:34 in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
06:37 On November 8th, the China Internet Development Report
06:41 and the World Internet Development Report
06:43 were unveiled during the 2023
06:45 World Internet Conference Wu-Jen Summit.
06:47 According to the reports, as of June,
06:50 an impressive 364 million individuals in China
06:53 were utilizing internet healthcare services,
06:56 showcasing a profound integration of digital technology
06:59 into people's daily lives.
07:01 Furthermore, an average of 68,000 disabled individuals
07:06 annually found employment opportunities
07:08 through the internet in China,
07:10 underscoring the transformative power of digital platforms.
07:14 In addition to its domestic advancement,
07:16 China has demonstrated its commitment
07:18 to global digital public services enhancement.
07:21 The country is actively engaged
07:23 in international collaboration,
07:25 particularly in the realm of internet-based
07:27 poverty alleviation.
07:28 The release of these reports signifies China's dedication
07:33 to fostering digital innovation,
07:35 expanding internet access,
07:37 and utilizing technology
07:38 for the betterment of society at large.
07:42 And next up, let's take a look at some extreme weather.
07:45 Since November 5th,
07:46 the China Meteorological Administration
07:48 has issued three-day warnings for blizzard,
07:50 cold waves, and strong winds,
07:52 signaling the first major blizzard of the season
07:55 in China's Northeast region.
07:57 Local weather stations picked up
07:59 a record-breaking snowfall on November 6th.
08:02 In response to the anticipated severe blizzard,
08:04 multiple cities in the Northeast
08:06 have enforced school closures on November 6th.
08:09 As one of the region's largest hubs,
08:11 Harbin Airport grounded 260 flights on the same day.
08:15 As one of China's main grain-producing regions,
08:18 the Northeast has millions of acres of corn and rice
08:21 yet to be harvested as blizzards hit.
08:23 The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
08:26 has dispatched expert teams to Northeast provinces
08:29 to expedite the final stages of autumn harvest.
08:32 Additionally, local farmers have been guided
08:34 to reinforce windproof structures
08:36 for greenhouses and warehouses to ensure food supply.
08:40 On November 6th, a stadium collapsed in Jiamusi,
08:43 a city in China's Northeastern province Heilongjiang.
08:46 The building, which had a two-story frame structure
08:49 covering an area of 2,000 square meters,
08:51 experienced a collapse
08:53 in approximately one-fourth of its structure.
08:56 There were a total of seven people present.
08:58 The rescue operation was completed by midnight,
09:01 resulting in three fatalities and one injury.
09:04 Witnesses reported that heavy snow and ice
09:07 had accumulated on the roof of the stadium
09:09 prior to the collapse.
09:11 Next up, on November 8th,
09:12 Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Zhang Youxia,
09:15 the vice chairman of the Central Military Commission
09:18 of China in Moscow.
09:20 Zhang Youxia conveyed President Xi Jinping's warm greetings
09:23 and best wishes to President Putin.
09:25 Zhang Youxia stated that China-Russia friendship
09:28 continues to grow and strengthen over time
09:31 and this year, China and Russia
09:32 have achieved several successful meetings
09:34 and a series of important consensus.
09:37 China is willing to work with Russia
09:39 to jointly safeguard the interests of both countries
09:42 as well as the world and regional prosperity and stability.
09:46 And during the meeting, Putin emphasized
09:48 Russia and China are not seeking to create
09:50 any military alliances using Cold War era templates.
09:54 He points out that although military cooperation
09:57 is becoming increasingly important,
09:59 China and Russia are currently paying more attention
10:02 to the economic front
10:03 and have been quite effective in these efforts,
10:05 which is a positive momentum
10:07 in bilateral trade and economic ties.
10:10 Last but not least,
10:11 at the invitation of US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen,
10:14 He Lifeng, member of the Political Bureau
10:16 of the CPC Central Committee
10:18 and vice premier of the State Council,
10:20 departed for San Francisco on November 8th
10:23 to visit the United States.
10:25 The trip is to implement the consensus reached
10:27 at the meeting between the heads of two countries
10:29 in Bali last year.
10:31 During the Bali meeting, the two leaders agreed
10:33 that the financial teams of the two countries
10:36 would conduct dialogue and coordination
10:38 on macroeconomic policies
10:40 as well as economic and trade issues.
10:42 In September, 2023,
10:44 to implement the important consensus of the meeting in Bali,
10:47 China and US agreed to establish working groups
10:50 in the economic field,
10:51 including an economic working group
10:53 and a financial working group.
10:55 He Lifeng's visit to the United States
10:57 aims to strengthen the cooperation
10:59 between China and US in the economic field.
11:03 China-US relations are a hot topic on the Chinese internet.
11:07 The general consensus among Chinese netizens
11:09 is that the possible win-win of China-US relations
11:11 is beneficial for economic development of both countries.
11:15 And that's all for today.
11:16 Thank you for watching this episode of China Currents.
11:18 If you have any thoughts and comments about our show,
11:21 please reach us at the email address below.
11:23 I'm Chris, looking forward to hearing from you
11:25 and see you next time.
11:27 (air whooshing)
11:30 We will go for a short break now,
11:33 but we'll be right back, stay with us.
11:35 (upbeat music)
11:39 Welcome back to China Now.
11:52 In this second segment,
11:53 we'd have a first hold up with some tech innovations
11:56 and announcement that happened in China last week.
11:58 Just an Asian alien rock may be buried
12:02 deep within the earth since its birth
12:04 and satellite images revealing humanitarian crisis
12:08 in the gas strip.
12:09 Meanwhile, in Thinkers Forum,
12:11 we have Professor Kishore Mambubani
12:14 and a distinguished fellow at Asian Research Institute
12:18 of the National University of Singapore
12:20 talking in the thematic forum on think tank exchange
12:24 of the Third Bell and Road Forum
12:26 for the International Cooperation.
12:29 Also in Thinkers Forum, in the same thematic forum
12:33 in think tank exchange of the Third Bell and Road Forum
12:36 of International Cooperation,
12:38 we have Dr. Ismail Sarandegui,
12:41 former Vice President of the World Bank
12:44 talking about how important is the BRI
12:47 to help us all to achieve broader international collaboration
12:52 in everything such as a global peace and security
12:55 to the rules of the new mutualism.
12:57 Let's have a look.
12:58 Hi, I'm Lisa and this is Threshold in China.
13:06 Today, we are going to share some exciting tech innovations
13:09 and announcement that happened in China last week.
13:12 Traces of an ancient alien protoplanet
13:20 may have been lurking deep inside Earth
13:23 for billions of years since the planet's birth.
13:26 A new study from Caltech in the US
13:28 and the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory
13:31 suggest parts of a Mars-sized rock called Theia
13:35 may still be buried in Earth's lower mantle,
13:38 around 2,900 kilometers beneath the surface.
13:43 Theia is the name given to the hypothetical protoplanet
13:46 believed to have collided with the proto-Earth
13:49 around 4.5 billion years ago during Earth's formation.
13:53 And there is a hypothesis that suggests this giant impact
13:57 threw debris into space, which eventually formed the Moon.
14:01 Over the centuries,
14:02 various other Moon formation theories have been proposed.
14:05 The fission hypothesis suggests
14:07 that part of the early molten Earth
14:09 was spun off into space due to rapid rotation,
14:13 later cooling to form the Moon.
14:16 The capture hypothesis proposed the Moon was captured
14:19 into Earth's orbit as it flew nearby.
14:22 However, the different compositions of the Earth
14:24 and the Moon contradicts these ideas,
14:27 so the giant impact hypothesis is more plausible.
14:30 But concrete evidence of Theia's existence
14:33 has yet to be found.
14:34 Previous research had shown that seismic waves
14:38 traveled very slowly through the anomalies,
14:41 which are the size of two continents in the lower mantle,
14:45 2,900 kilometers below the surface.
14:48 In this study, computer stimulations indicate
14:51 that they were 2 to 3.5% denser than the surrounding mantle.
14:56 The researchers speculate the high-density material
15:00 may be the remains of buried Theia mantle material,
15:03 which was retained deep in the primordial Earth
15:06 as a result of the colossal collision.
15:09 These high-density Theia remnants
15:11 sank across tens of kilometers to lower regions of the mantle
15:16 where they accumulated to form denser clumps
15:18 above the Earth's core, which remains to this day.
15:22 According to the research,
15:23 these formations are expected
15:25 to have a higher concentration of iron
15:28 compared to the typical mantle rock found on Earth.
15:31 Additionally, their chemical compositions
15:33 may bear resemblance to volcanic rocks found on the Moon.
15:37 This study backs the lunar impact hypothesis,
15:40 and it may just tell us how the Earth and the Moon came about.
15:44 How many of us have indulged in high-calorie foods?
15:53 Now, scientists have discovered
15:55 why it is so hard to stop eating them.
15:58 According to a new study
15:59 from Zhejiang University's School of Medicine,
16:02 high-fat diets can potentially cause a group
16:05 of appetite-suppressing brain cells to go on strike,
16:08 leading to uncontrolled eating.
16:11 The researchers focused on GABAergic neurons
16:13 in a brain region called the VOPAG.
16:17 These VOPAG neurons act to prevent overeating.
16:21 When the brain senses hunger signals,
16:23 the VOPAG neurons respond to supervised food intake.
16:28 Some studies show that even when people lose weight
16:31 by changing diets and lifestyle,
16:33 their weight often rebound within five years.
16:36 So what do high-calorie foods do to our brains?
16:39 To find out, the researchers fed one group of mice
16:42 a high-fat diet,
16:44 while a controlled group received a standard food.
16:47 After six to eight weeks,
16:48 the mice in the high-fat diet group
16:50 showed a 25% increase in body weight.
16:54 What surprised the researchers
16:56 was that the GABAergic neurons of the mice
16:59 were strongly inhibited after about a week
17:02 of feeding the high-calorie food.
17:04 That means even before we see a change in weight,
17:07 the brain is already affected with activities
17:09 in these regulatory neurons dropping dramatically.
17:13 Without the self-regulation of the brain cells,
17:16 the mice became addicted to food and soon became obese.
17:20 To further understand the molecular changes
17:23 associated with obesity
17:25 and potential targets for intervention,
17:27 the researchers performed a single nucleus RNA sequencing.
17:31 They identified the CaCNA2D1
17:34 as a gene of particular interest,
17:36 suggesting its potential involvement
17:39 in obesity-related mechanisms.
17:41 Through the transgenic adenovirus technology,
17:44 they increased the expression of the CaCNA2D1 gene
17:48 in the Veal PAG GABAergic cells of the obese mice.
17:53 Their food intake is reduced,
17:55 and at the same time,
17:56 its body weight and body fat levels have also declined.
18:00 This makes CaCNA2D1 a potential target
18:04 for the treatment of recalcitrant obesity as well.
18:07 The team leader, Professor Wang Hao,
18:09 also suggested the possibility
18:11 to screen for potential weight-loss drugs.
18:14 The Washington Post published a group
18:22 of disturbing satellite images
18:25 that shows just how immense
18:27 the people in the Gaza Strip are suffering.
18:30 Using advanced nightlight remote sensing technology,
18:33 the image provides a comprehensive analysis
18:36 of the data-stricken region.
18:38 It is a collaboration between the UNO-SAT
18:41 and Wuhan University.
18:43 It highlights a steady decline in the power supply
18:46 across the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the conflict.
18:50 As of 21st October,
18:52 an alarming 80% of the buildings in Gaza
18:55 experienced power outages,
18:57 with the few remaining structures primarily
19:00 being vital health care institutions.
19:02 Among Gaza's five provinces,
19:04 Rafa province exhibits relatively lower power losses
19:09 compared to other areas.
19:11 The team carried out detailed correlation analysis
19:14 between geographic and satellite data
19:16 to assess damaged key infrastructures,
19:19 such as schools, hospitals, and refugee camps.
19:22 This provided direct and accurate information
19:25 to support international relief effort.
19:28 Remote sensing technology is used to obtain ground images
19:32 to provide disaster information.
19:34 Nightlight remote sensing has unique advantages
19:37 over traditional remote sensing in two ways.
19:40 First, it can provide larger images
19:42 of disaster distribution under the same condition,
19:45 allowing macro assessment.
19:48 Second, traditional remote sensing
19:50 can only detect damage during the day.
19:52 Nightlight remote sensing obviously overcomes this limitation.
19:56 Earlier this year, the Wuhan team and UNOSAT
20:00 also collaborated to assess the earthquake-stricken areas in Turkey
20:05 and identify significant reduction in nighttime light,
20:09 particularly in these locations.
20:11 In the aftermath of a disaster,
20:14 electricity serves as a lifeline for hospitals,
20:17 sustaining the lives of patients and newborns.
20:21 Lives could be saved using nightlight remote sensing
20:24 to understand the power situation
20:26 and map the nearest power lines.
20:29 And that is all for today's Threshold.
20:31 We hope you like this new section
20:33 on science and technology in China.
20:35 As usual, we welcome your feedback and thoughts.
20:49 -is that to improve the state of our world,
20:53 we first have to agree on what's the state of our world.
20:57 And we do know that our world is a very complex place.
21:01 So much is happening, as business has been said.
21:05 But clearly, there are some overriding drivers of change
21:10 in our world.
21:12 And one of the most strongest drivers of change
21:15 is the simple fact that our world is shrinking and shrinking
21:22 and becoming-- we live in a small, interdependent planet.
21:28 And to try and explain how small the world is becoming,
21:31 in my book, The Great Convergence,
21:33 I use a simple analogy, a boat analogy,
21:37 where I said that in the past, when 8 billion of us
21:39 lived in 193 separate countries, it
21:43 was as though we were living in 193 separate boats, which
21:47 owed each boat having a captain and a crew.
21:50 But now the world has shrunk.
21:52 8 billion of us no longer live in 193 separate boats.
21:57 We literally live in 193 separate cabins
22:03 on the same boat.
22:05 And if you had any doubt about this,
22:09 just ask yourself, what was the big metaphysical message
22:14 from COVID?
22:17 If we were in separate boats, COVID
22:20 wouldn't have spread from country to country.
22:23 How did it go like wildfire around the world
22:26 within a few days?
22:27 The whole world got it.
22:29 What does it say?
22:30 We are on the same boat.
22:33 And therefore, we have to try to understand
22:37 how we manage this one boat of us.
22:42 And this brings me to the second point.
22:45 Clearly, if our lives are so deeply integrated,
22:51 we have to strengthen the positive forces that
22:55 link us together, that create avenues for cooperation,
23:00 even across different parts of the world.
23:04 And trust me, there aren't many initiatives like that.
23:09 But one of them is the Belt and Road Initiative.
23:14 And it's actually-- looking back now,
23:17 it's quite remarkable that 10 years ago,
23:20 China decided that what the world needed
23:24 was an initiative that would help to bring humanity
23:28 together.
23:30 That must have showed great foresight on their part.
23:34 And after 10 years, we can see the results.
23:37 The world has become more connected.
23:39 And the Belt and Road Initiative has made
23:43 many concrete contributions.
23:46 You heard many of them already.
23:48 But sometimes, what may be a bilateral relationship,
23:53 say, between China and Laos, they build a fast railway.
23:56 Guess what?
23:57 Fruit from Thailand can go to China faster
24:00 through the Laotian Railway.
24:02 Right?
24:04 Let me give you another example.
24:05 The former president of Croatia referred to the bridge
24:08 built by China.
24:10 I actually traveled on that bridge a few weeks ago.
24:14 And I discovered that because of that bridge,
24:19 Croatia could join the Schengen Agreement.
24:22 And because Croatia could join the Schengen Agreement,
24:24 it got more tourists.
24:25 The economy went up.
24:27 You see?
24:29 These are all the incredible benefits of the Belt and Road
24:32 Initiative.
24:34 And the net result of it is that millions of people
24:38 are benefiting from it.
24:40 And what is very important, there
24:43 are actually millions who are very, very poor,
24:47 for whom there was no hope.
24:50 And suddenly, a Belt and Road Initiative came.
24:53 And as you know, the initiative has also
24:56 lifted millions out of poverty.
24:59 So after all the good that has been done,
25:02 and this brings me to my third point,
25:05 why is there so much negative portrayals of the Belt and Road
25:11 Initiative?
25:13 As the former Polish deputy prime minister was saying,
25:18 if you travel in the West, you mention Belt and Road.
25:21 They say, oh, that's debt trap diplomacy.
25:25 You know?
25:26 That's China trying to trap the rest of the world,
25:29 suck them into traps, and make them indebted.
25:34 We know that's rubbish.
25:36 But that rubbish is believed by the most sophisticated,
25:41 and the most powerful, and the most influential journals
25:46 in the world.
25:47 And when they pour poison on the Belt and Road Initiative,
25:52 they are at the same time insulting
25:54 the intelligence of the billions who have signed up
25:58 for the Belt and Road Initiative.
26:01 And they're not even aware when they
26:04 drop the tsunami of condescension
26:07 on the third world, they're insulting
26:09 a massive amount of humanity.
26:13 But what is even more amazing is that when
26:19 they pour poison on this initiative,
26:24 they're actually poisoning their own rice bowls.
26:28 Because in the long run--
26:30 and this brings me back to my first point--
26:33 if we are in one small interdependent world,
26:38 if something goes wrong with the 88% who live outside the West,
26:42 the West will be affected too.
26:45 Again, the former Polish deputy prime minister was dead right.
26:49 When China invests in Africa, there are less migrants
26:54 to Europe.
26:55 Europe should send a thank you note to China.
26:57 No thank you note from Europe.
27:01 And that's the tragedy.
27:03 This is why this meeting is so important.
27:08 If we can generate a better global understanding
27:13 of the Belt and Road Initiative, then
27:15 we are helping to create a better world that we desperately
27:19 need.
27:19 Thank you very much.
27:20 We all need China to build on the enormous successes
27:27 of the BRI to help us all achieve
27:30 a broader international collaboration in everything
27:34 from global peace and security to the rules
27:38 of the new multilateralism, from the global response
27:41 to climate change to the implementation of the SDGs.
27:45 Chinese leadership is vital and increasingly
27:49 recognized by one and all.
27:52 Indeed, we must all remember that it
27:54 was China's signal achievements in largely abolishing poverty
27:59 in its borders during the 2000 to 2015 period that
28:05 helped the whole world achieve the Millennium Development
28:09 Goals of halving world poverty.
28:14 If we look at the BRI, it is now 10 years
28:18 since President Xi announced the BRI in 2013.
28:22 A new and visionary reimagining of the old Silk Road of yore
28:28 into a 21st century global vision of enhanced overland
28:33 and maritime links to promote trade, collaboration,
28:37 cultural exchange, and people-to-people relationships.
28:42 The BRI is the largest political, economic,
28:45 physical project for international collaboration
28:49 in the world.
28:51 Already now, no less than 147, maybe 150 countries
28:56 accounting for 2/3 of the world's population and 40%
29:01 of global GDP have signed on to the BRI,
29:06 in related projects or at least indicated
29:08 their interest in doing so.
29:11 And in addition to physical infrastructure,
29:14 China has funded hundreds of special economic zones
29:18 or industrial areas designed to create jobs
29:21 and also collaborating with a number of countries
29:24 to upgrade their technological infrastructure
29:28 and to accommodate expanding maritime and trade traffic.
29:31 China is also investing in port development in many countries.
29:36 The overall ambitions of the BRI vision
29:39 are staggering in their scope and their potential benefits.
29:44 And as we enter the second decade
29:47 of this ambitious enterprise, we need
29:50 to think how the key aspects of China's ambitious program
29:54 can be carried over by China and her partners
29:58 into other domains.
30:00 So let me open a window on the existential challenge
30:04 of our time, climate change.
30:07 China has been a pioneer of renewable energy.
30:11 And today is by far the world's largest producer
30:15 of renewable energy and of electric cars.
30:18 Indeed, China is the world's leader
30:20 in electricity production from renewable energy sources,
30:24 with over three times the generation
30:27 of the second-ranking country, which is the United States.
30:31 And it is undisputed global leader
30:34 in renewable energy expansion,
30:37 adding new projects to the grid almost as fast
30:41 as the rest of the world combined in last year,
30:45 with the statistics of last year.
30:47 China also leads the world in electric vehicles.
30:50 Two-thirds of global total electric vehicles
30:54 were sold by China.
30:55 But despite these many achievements,
30:58 China remains still a major emitter of carbon dioxide
31:02 and still builds a significant number
31:04 of coal-fired thermal power plants in China and abroad.
31:07 We sincerely hope that the same determination
31:11 that put China so far ahead of all other nations
31:15 in advancing renewable energy will also be deployed
31:19 to deal with the needed energy transition
31:21 across all sectors.
31:23 We, all of humanity, need China's leadership
31:28 in action as well as words to curb emissions,
31:32 to help the poor in the world with adaptation
31:34 and resilience projects in the face
31:37 of increasingly negative consequences of climate change.
31:41 But that is not all, for we look to China
31:45 even more to help redesign the entire global world order.
31:50 China has a unique position in the world.
31:54 It has enormous economic power
31:56 and an unrivaled position in global trade.
32:00 But moreover, China's good relations
32:02 with much of the world gives it enormous capacity
32:06 to contribute to reshaping the global economic
32:09 and political order.
32:11 That order needs restructuring.
32:14 The main organizations, be it the United Nations
32:18 or the Bretton Woods system, were designed
32:20 almost 80 years ago in a very different world
32:24 than the world of today, much less the world of tomorrow.
32:27 China's involvement with these issues
32:30 could take us towards a new world order
32:33 based on our common humanity rather than relying
32:37 on the configurations of exclusionary military
32:39 or economic alliances.
32:42 An inclusive new world order based on our common humanity
32:47 would ensure that the strong protect the weak
32:49 and the rich help the poor.
32:52 With BRI, China showed how it could lead
32:55 with vision and imagination beyond anything
33:00 that anybody else could dream of.
33:02 The world needs such Chinese engagement
33:05 with the redesign of the institutions
33:08 of the global world order for something fitting
33:11 to the 21st century and our future.
33:14 I thank you.
33:16 - Esteemed friends, India and China should be partners
33:25 and not rivals in the emerging new world order
33:32 to make it better and brighter for all.
33:34 This is the theme of my short speech today.
33:39 The Belt and Road Initiative is unique in global history.
33:44 It has the potential to change the destiny of the world
33:49 and contribute to creating a community of shared future,
33:53 a future of peace, prosperity, and harmony
33:57 for all of humanity.
33:59 A very small part of that potential has been realized
34:02 in the first 10 years of the BRI.
34:05 The BRI is a product of the profound wisdom
34:10 of Chinese civilization.
34:12 The BRI is also a product of the commitment,
34:17 firm commitment of China's president Xi Jinping
34:20 to the essential principles of the Chinese civilization.
34:25 I am a humble representative
34:29 of China's sister civilization, India.
34:33 I have participated in all the three Belt and Road forums
34:38 as a non-official representative from India
34:42 because as all of you know, India, Indian government
34:46 has stayed away from the Belt and Road Initiative.
34:48 Mine is a determined voice
34:52 for India-China-Pakistan cooperation,
34:55 which I believe is a precondition for the rise
34:59 of a peaceful and prosperous new South Asia.
35:03 I have been a consistent champion
35:05 of India joining the Belt and Road Initiative
35:08 as an equal partner for two reasons.
35:12 First, it is not possible for India to have smooth
35:16 and seamless land connectivity with the vast landmass of Asia
35:21 both towards India's west as well as towards India's east
35:27 without cooperation with China and other countries.
35:32 And this is not possible
35:33 with the help of China's other neighbors,
35:36 immediate or extended.
35:38 Second reason, even China will not be able
35:44 to realize the full potential of the BRI in South Asia,
35:49 which is the most populous region in the world
35:51 with a combined population of over 1.8 billion
35:55 without India's cooperation.
35:59 We'll not benefit fully
36:01 from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, CPEC,
36:05 a flagship project under the BRI without India joining it.
36:10 Therefore, the experience of the past 10 years
36:15 of the BRI in South Asia clearly shows
36:19 that India, China, Pakistan, all three of us
36:23 have lost opportunities for creating a better future
36:27 for the people of South Asia.
36:29 The time has therefore come for India, China,
36:34 and Pakistan to explore bold, new, innovative,
36:38 and practical ideas that can overcome the hurdles
36:42 in the path of India joining the Belt and Road Initiative.
36:45 This will enable India, China, Pakistan,
36:49 along with Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka,
36:54 Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives,
36:56 to jointly create a new vision of regional cooperation
37:00 and connectivity in South Asia.
37:02 The current tense India-China relations are the outcome
37:08 of futile, sterile, and dangerous geopolitical conduct,
37:13 which is made worse by an external power,
37:18 the United States of America,
37:20 trying to fish in troubled waters.
37:24 Before the situation gets more dangerous
37:27 for our two countries, for our neighbors,
37:31 for all of Asia, India and China should resolve
37:35 their differences through trust-promoting dialogue
37:38 and win-win cooperation.
37:39 And the responsibility for this rests both
37:44 on India and China.
37:46 This is only possible if both governments abandon
37:51 geopolitical one-upmanship and embrace
37:55 geocivilizational wisdom.
37:56 This means India-China relations should be reset
38:02 on the principles of absolute equality,
38:05 absolute mutual respect,
38:07 mutual sensitivity to each other's legitimate concerns
38:10 and aspirations,
38:12 mutual cooperation to enhance each other's
38:15 people-oriented development,
38:17 mutual commitment to peace in Asia,
38:20 and last but not the least,
38:23 firm rejection of malign external interference.
38:28 Let me be explicit.
38:30 This means saying no to Asian NATO,
38:34 saying no to quadrilateral becoming a military alliance,
38:39 saying no to AUKUS,
38:41 and saying no to any country becoming a regional
38:45 or global hegemon.
38:48 Western powers have sought to discredit the BRI
38:51 by launching a propaganda that it is China's way
38:54 of establishing its global hegemony.
38:57 Friends, to counter this,
39:01 I would like to refer to a few wise thoughts
39:05 contained in the white paper titled
39:08 A Global Community of Shared Future,
39:10 China's Proposals and Actions,
39:13 which was released last month.
39:16 It is one of the most enlightened documents
39:18 presented by the Chinese government
39:20 to the international community.
39:23 It says, I quote,
39:24 "China has never accepted that once a country
39:28 "becomes strong enough,
39:29 "it will invariably seek hegemony.
39:34 "China understands the lesson of history,
39:39 "that hegemony preludes decline."
39:42 I repeat this.
39:44 China understands the lesson of history,
39:47 that hegemony preludes decline.
39:50 America has not understood this lesson,
39:53 which is why it is declining.
39:54 These are truly reassuring words, friends.
39:58 The white paper also states, I quote,
40:01 "No country, however strong it may be,
40:04 "can do everything on its own.
40:06 "We must engage in global cooperation.
40:09 "Only when all countries work together,
40:12 "only when we align individual interests
40:14 "with the interests of all,
40:16 "and only when we truly build a global community
40:19 "of shared future,
40:20 "can humanity tide through the crises confronting us all
40:25 "and sail towards a better future," unquote.
40:28 Friends, I'm absolutely confident
40:32 that India will someday join the Belt and Road Initiative,
40:36 just as China too should join India's connectivity,
40:41 cooperation, and development initiatives.
40:43 It cannot be one-way street.
40:45 Atal Bihari Vajpayee, India's former prime minister,
40:50 with whom I had the privilege of working closely,
40:54 had wisely said, I quote,
40:56 "You can change history, but you cannot change geography.
41:00 "You can change friends, but you cannot change neighbors."
41:07 Professor Ji Xianlin, the great Chinese scholar of Indology,
41:12 had famously remarked, I quote,
41:16 "Sino-Indian neighborliness was created in heaven
41:20 "and constructed on earth."
41:22 Sino-Indian neighborliness was created in heaven
41:28 and constructed on earth, unquote.
41:32 It is a sacred command of the heaven itself
41:36 that India and China should become good neighbors,
41:39 living in peace and harmony with one another,
41:42 and set an inspiring example to the rest of the world,
41:45 which has become weary of wars,
41:48 conflicts, and confrontations.
41:50 Heaven has further commanded that India and China,
41:55 as two great ancient civilizations,
41:58 and as the only two countries
41:59 with populations more than one billion,
42:03 must work together to create a new, peaceful,
42:06 prosperous, and harmonious world,
42:09 harmonious Asia and a harmonious world.
42:12 Let us not be deaf to the command of the heaven.
42:16 Thank you very much.
42:17 Xie xie.
42:18 (audience applauding)
42:21 - And this was another episode of China Now.
42:26 I'm sure that opens a window to the present
42:28 and the future of the Asian giant.
42:29 Hope you enjoy it.
42:30 See you next time.
42:32 (upbeat music)
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42:38 (upbeat music)