Voices

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Voices

“The arbitration case unilaterally initiated by the Philippines clearly contravenes the principle of ‘mutual agreement’ and could be regarded as an abuse of rights. Without the prior consent of the concerned parties, the international judicial bodies will make no contribution to the peaceful settlement of the disputes.

Most importantly, by requesting the Arbitral

Tribunal to apply to UNCLOS to determine the extent of China’s maritime rights in the South China Sea without first having ascertained sovereignty over the relevant maritime features, the Philippines contravenes international jurisprudence on the settlement of international maritime disputes.”

This is an extract from the article that Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Dr. Xu Bu wrote entitled “Criticizing China on the Arbitration Case Lacks Sound Legal Merit” on the second round of hearings by the Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague on the arbitration case unilaterally initiated by the Philippines. It was published in the English-language Indonesian newspaper The Jakarta Post on December 26, 2015.

“Cultural attraction is mutual, and Chinese people are also becoming more interested in African films. Before, our knowledge of Africa came from Hollywood movies. Now we are looking forward to watching more films made in Africa, by Africa and for Africa, such as Nollywood films ... After coordinating with our Consulate, Zhejiang Normal University and other institutes from my hometown successfully held the “Forum on China-Africa Film and Television Cooperation” which Nollywood representatives attended and enjoyed lively exchanges with their Chinese counterparts. Meanwhile, in recent years many Chinese films and TV series have been exported to African countries and translated into local languages. They are warmly welcomed by local people and have accumulated a large number of fans in Africa.”

Consul General Liu Kan made the remarks on December 23, 2015 in a speech he gave at the Chinese Film Festival in Lagos, Nigeria.

Economy & Nation Weekly

Issue No. 26, 2015

“Belt and Road” Two Years On

The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping is entering its third year. It is estimated that the initiative will draw trillions of dollars worth of investment, ushering China into the new strategic stage of two-way opening up. It is therefore a boon for both the Chinese and the global economy.

“The ‘Belt and Road’ is a stupendous program, and in the same way as a 1,000-mile journey is completed one step after another, we must advance steadily and resolutely in accomplishing it,” National Development and Reform Commission official Ou Xiaoli said. The initative has made preliminary achievements in fields ranging from toplevel design and institutional/mechanism recalibration to supportive systems like financial institutions, Ou told Economy & Nation Weekly. There are, of course, difficulties to surmount, in particular the need for greater headway towards key projects in key countries, which call for international exchanges. Ou urged that, two years into the Belt and Road Initiative, the relevant countries remain clear-eyed, composed, patient, and confident.

According to incomplete statistics cited by Economy & Nation Weekly, President Xi has made visits to 32 countries and regions so far since September 2013, which resulted in cooperation agreements either signed or in the pipeline that amount to US $1.42 trillion in total. There are more pacts with countries like Russia, the U.S., and Germany whose details and values are not yet publically known.

Premier Li Keqiang has also visited 27 countries and regions, which has produced cooperation deals signed or to be signed worth a total of US $1.47 trillion and RQFII of US $15.5 billion. Revealed investment in projects along the “Belt and Road” add up to US $1.36 trillion.

These movements have canvassed international support for the Belt and Road Initiative, and enhanced the perception of the community of common interests and a shared future.