Oriented on making people closer

This week (August 23-29), a number of significant events occurred in China, including diplomatic meetings with Chairman Xi Jinping, preparations for the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, developments in relations with South Korea, the successful China-Arab States Expo, and the publication of a strategic guide for artificial intelligence development.

1.Diplomatic Meetings of Chairman Xi Jinping

This week, Chinese Chairman Xi Jinping held several important meetings in Beijing. On August 26, he met with Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of Russia, and emphasized that China and Russia continue to strengthen strategic mutual trust and work toward creating a more just world order. On the same day, Xi Jinping and his wife met with King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia and the Queen Mother, reaffirming the "unshakable" ties between the two nations.

2.Preparations for the 80th Anniversary of Victory Day

China is preparing to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. On August 28, it was announced that 26 heads of state and government, including North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, along with approximately 50 representatives from 30 European countries, will participate in the commemorative events on September 3. In response to reports that Japan had been using diplomatic channels to discourage European and Asian countries from attending, China immediately issued a protest demanding an explanation.

3.South Korea's "Pragmatic Diplomacy"

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung sent a special envoy, Park Byeong-seug, to China to strengthen relations. The delegation’s visit, from August 24, coincided with the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Park delivered a letter from President Lee to Chairman Xi Jinping, expressing hope for the normalization of bilateral relations. The Speaker of the National Assembly of South Korea confirmed his participation in the Victory Day celebrations in Beijing.

4.China-Arab States Expo: Record-Breaking Participation

The 7th China-Arab States Expo, which opened on August 28 in Yinchuan, set a new record for participation: for the first time, all 22 Arab countries took part in the event. The UAE was the guest of honor. The expo, themed "Innovation, Green Development, and Prosperity," covered eight key sectors. Bilateral trade reached $407.4 billion in 2024, confirming China's status as the largest trading partner of the Arab states.

5.China's AI Strategy: "AI Plus"

On August 26, China published a guide for the implementation of its national "Artificial Intelligence (AI) Plus" initiative. The strategy sets goals for the deep integration of AI into six key areas. According to the plan, a high level of AI penetration into daily life is expected by 2030, with a full transition to a new stage of intelligent economic and societal development by 2035. This guide underscores China's ambition to become a world leader in AI.

ORIENT

Photo: substack.com