International

Efforts aim for healthy grain harvest

China will step up efforts to coordinate agricultural production and COVID-19 epidemic prevention, stabilizing economic development in agriculture and rural areas amid rising uncertainties in the overall economy, a senior official with the agriculture ministry said recently.

Vice-Minister Deng Xiaogang said that annual grain output above 650 million metric tons is the bottom line, and spring sowing under epidemic prevention and control measures is crucial for the country’s summer harvest－the first battle for the annual grain harvest.

Affected by rare autumn floods in five provinces last year, the late-sowing area of winter wheat reached 7.3 million hectares, resulting in a complicated seeding situation that hasn’t happened in many years.

In addition, the prices of agricultural materials such as pesticides have continued to rise and many places are seeing flare-ups of domestic cases. “The harvest of summer grain has encountered unprecedented pressure,” Deng said.

The central government has invested a record 6 billion yuan ($900 million) to support summer grain production, including 1.6 billion yuan to subsidize the robust growth of wheat. A one-time subsidy of 20 billion yuan has been distributed to farmers to alleviate the impact of rising agricultural material prices, he added.

The ministry has launched campaigns to survey the seedling growth of each county, and has dispatched 100 officials and 200 technicians nationwide to instruct field management in accordance with emergency plans and guidelines.

As the transportation of agricultural products was affected by the local epidemic outbreaks, “the ministry has opened a hotline and online message platforms to solve the difficulties encountered by farmers in spring sowing.”

At present, the supply of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides is generally guaranteed. The production of summer grain is better than expected. Spring sowing is progressing smoothly and faster than last year, with more than 40 percent of the crops having been planted, Deng said.

He stressed that increasing farmers’ incomes is an essential task of the agricultural sector. “An important measure to test the achievement of rural work is to check whether farmers’ pockets are bulging,” he said.

In the first quarter of this year, farmers’ incomes increased by 6.3 percent, 2.1 percentage points faster than their urban counterparts. However, farmers met challenges in going out to work due to the spread of the epidemic.

“We must spare no effort to maintain the increase of farmers’ incomes by developing rural industries, stabilizing employment, promoting entrepreneurship and investing in business,” Deng said.

Local authorities will expand the agricultural processing industry, gradually restore rural tourism, and focus on developing characteristic industries in areas that have shaken off poverty.

As wages account for more than 40 percent of farmers’ total income, modern agricultural industrial parks should be built to ensure farmers employment in nearby areas.

Regional cooperative projects and enterprises are expected to play roles in ensuring that more than 30 million migrant workers in once poverty-stricken areas get jobs.

The country will keep promoting rural entrepreneurship to further drive employment and increase farmers’ incomes.

“A rural start-up project can provide stable jobs for six to seven farmers and flexible employment for 17 people on average,” Deng said.

The ministry will continue to optimize the rural business environment, guide commercial capital to flow to the countryside and help farmers become prosperous together, he added.

International

CHINA CELEBRATES ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY

China marks National Day with light shows, #fireworks, drone displays #PRC75Years

Fireworks illuminate the sky in Macao, south China on Oct. 1, 2024. Various events and activities were held to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

*Tourists visit the Senado Square in Macao, south China*

International

Wang Yi calls on Global South to jointly advance peace and development

Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday called on the Global South to work actively and contribute to building a world of lasting peace and universal security.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a dialogue session between high-ranking officials responsible for security matters and national security advisors from BRICS and Global South countries in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

Noting the international security situation is becoming increasingly complex with fierce geopolitical competition and emerging hotspot issues, Wang said the aspiration of people of all countries for peace and security has become stronger and the call for unity and cooperation has become more urgent.

Global peace and development cannot be achieved without the support and participation of all progressive forces, Wang added.

Gaining momentum in the new century, Wang said, the Global South should stand ahead and make positive contributions to building a world of lasting peace and universal security in the face of a turbulent and interwoven world.

Wang called on the Global South countries to adhere to dialogue and cooperation and share the development opportunities and fruits to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, realize common prosperity and gain a greater voice in the international arena.

Wang said, being an ex-officio member of the Global South, China has always stood firm with southern countries to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice and promote world peace and development.

BRICS countries and the Global South share a natural emotional bond and extensive common interests, Wang noted, and China supports BRICS in pursuing development with an open door and promoting cooperation with open arms.

China welcomes more like-minded Global South countries to join the BRICS family and work together as a force for stability and peace, a backbone for open development, a force for global governance and a force for mutual learning among civilizations, so as to build a community with a shared future for mankind, Wang added.

Caption: Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, attends a dialogue session between high-ranking officials responsible for security matters and national security advisors from BRICS and Global South countries in St. Petersburg, Russia, September 11, 2024.

International

The Authority of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 Cannot Be Challenged

Article by H. E. YanXiusheng, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Barbados

The 79th United Nations General Assembly opened on September 10 in New York. At present, there are still a handful forces that have been deliberately distorting and challenging UNGA Resolution 2758 adopted in 1971, trumpeting the notion that Taiwan’s status is undetermined, and advocating support for Taiwan’s participation in UN meetings and activities, in an attempt to challenge the international community’s consensus on the one-China principle. I believe that such actions, which go against the tide of history, will undoubtedly end in failure.

On October 25, 1971, the 26th UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority, deciding to “restore all its rights to the People’s Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it”. The Resolution resolved once and for all politically, legally and procedurally the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, at the United Nations. The resolution also made clear that there can only be one seat representing China at the UN and precluded the possibility of “two Chinas” or “one China, one Taiwan.”

UNGA Resolution 2758 is based on historical facts and has a legal basis. Taiwan has been part of China since ancient times. Before the adoption of Resolution 2758, it was already a historical fact and an international consensus that Taiwan is part of China. This was a significant political precondition for the UN General Assembly to adopt Resolution 2758. The 1943 Cairo Declaration and the 1945 Potsdam Proclamation clearly stipulated that Taiwan, a Chinese territory stolen by Japan, shall be restored to China. These documents with international legal effect formed an integral part of the post-WWII international order and also established the legal foundation of Taiwan’s status as China’s inalienable territory.

The one-China principle adopted by UNGA Resolution 2758 is a widely accepted international consensus. For over half a century since the resolution’s adoption, the UN system has always observed Resolution 2758 and upheld the one-China principle in dealing with Taiwan-related issues. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly reaffirmed that the UN’s position is very clear, which is to observe the Resolution and uphold the one-China principle, and that all UN actions are based on this. To date, 183 countries, representing over 93% of UN member states, have established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. These facts fully demonstrate that the one-China principle reflects the will of the people and represents the trend of the times and the course of history.

Barbados is one of the earliest countries in the eastern Caribbean to establish diplomatic relations with China, and is also a good friend and partner of China in the region. Over the past 47 years, the bilateral relations have steadily advanced based on the one-China principle, mutual respect, and mutual benefit. China highly appreciates Barbados’ firm adherence to the one-China principle and is willing to work with Barbados to continue implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of our two countries, deepen political mutual trust, strengthen cooperation in various fields, continue to understand and support each other on issues concerning our core interests and major concerns, constantly expand and enrich the friendly relations between our two countries, and build a closer China-Barbados community with a shared future.