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Category: China

  • China’s State Council appoints, removes officials

    China’s State Council appoints, removes officials

    Li Ming was appointed vice chairperson of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, replacing Fang Xinghai…reports Asian Lite News

    China’s State Council on Wednesday announced the appointment and removal of several officials.

    Shang Rui was appointed deputy auditor-general of the National Audit Office.

    Li Ming was appointed vice chairperson of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, replacing Fang Xinghai.

    Mao Xu was appointed deputy head of the National Immigration Administration, Xinhua news agency reported.

    Liang Nan was appointed deputy head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, while Wu Lizhu was appointed vice president of the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

    Zhang Yaping will no longer serve as vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

    Ex-political advisor expelled from CPC

    Dai Daojin, a former senior political advisor of central China’s Hunan Province, has been expelled from the Communist Part of China (CPC) over serious violations of discipline and laws.

    The decision was made following an investigation by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision upon the approval of the CPC Central Committee, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

    Dai was formerly deputy secretary of the leading Party members group of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and vice chairperson of the committee.

    The investigation found that Dai took a perfunctory and selective approach to implementing the decisions and plans of the Party Central Committee, Xinhua news agency reported.

    He failed to comply with the central Party leadership’s eight-point decision on improving work conduct by attending banquets that may have compromised his ability to perform his duties fairly, according to the statement.

    He was found to have abused his power to seek benefits for his relatives in business operations, allowing them to exploit his position for personal gain.

    Dai’s acts constituted a serious breach of office duties and he was suspected of taking bribes, the anti-graft body said, adding that his illicit gains will be confiscated and his case will be transferred to the procuratorate for assessment and prosecution in accordance with the law.

    ALSO READ: Tibetan govt-in-exile slams China’s closure of educational institute

  • India, China agree to uphold peace at LAC

    India, China agree to uphold peace at LAC

    According to the release, the discussion at the meeting was “in-depth, constructive and forward-looking.” Both sides agreed to maintain the momentum through the established diplomatic and military channels…reports Asian Lite News

    India and China held the 30th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) in the national capital on Wednesday, and the two sides agreed to uphold peace and tranquility at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and work for early resolution of outstanding issues.

    The Indian delegation was led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia), from the Ministry of External Affairs. The Chinese delegation was led by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    “Further to discussions between the two Foreign Ministers in their recent meetings at Astana and Vientiane, the two sides reviewed the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with a view to finding an early resolution of the outstanding issues,” the MEA statement read.

    “Restoration of peace and tranquility, and respect for the LAC are an essential basis for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations,” it added.

    The two sides agreed on the need to “jointly uphold peace and tranquillity” on the ground in the border areas in accordance with relevant bilateral agreements, protocols and understandings reached between the two governments.

    According to the release, the discussion at the meeting was “in-depth, constructive and forward-looking.” Both sides agreed to maintain the momentum through the established diplomatic and military channels.

    The leader of the Chinese delegation also called on Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

    The previous round of diplomatic talks between New Delhi and Beijing was held in March this year.

    Notably, in 2020, the Indian and Chinese troops clashed at Galwan, the same year the pandemic started.

    Since May 2020, when the Chinese troops tried to aggressively change the status quo on LAC in eastern Ladakh, both sides have been deployed in forward positions near Patrolling Point 15, which emerged as a friction point in the wake of the Galwan clash.

    Over 50,000 Indian soldiers have been stationed since 2020 at forward posts along the LAC, with advanced weapons to prevent any attempts to change the status quo unilaterally on the LAC. (ANI)

    ALSO READ-China’s State Council appoints, removes officials

  • Tibetan govt-in-exile slams China’s closure of educational institute

    Tibetan govt-in-exile slams China’s closure of educational institute

    The Chinese government has recently closed a prominent vocational high school in a Tibetan region of Qinghai province, adding to a series of closures of Tibetan private schools in recent years…reports Asian Lite News

    Amidst China’s clampdown on Tibetan-run private schools in the China’s Qinghai province, the research centre of the Central Tibetan Administration organised a discussion in Dharamshala recently to highlight the issues faced by the community.

    The Tibet Policy Institute (TPI), organised a panel discussion titled “Forced Closure of Ragya Sherig Norling Educational Institute: Causes and Impacts,” moderated by its Deputy Director Zamlha Tempa Gyaltsen.

    Key participants included Parliamentarian Pema Tso, Director Dawa Tsering from the Tibet Policy Institute, and Shede Dawa, a former student and researcher at Tibet Watch.

    The Chinese government has recently closed a prominent vocational high school in a Tibetan region of Qinghai province, adding to a series of closures of Tibetan private schools in recent years.

    During the discussion, Pema Tso highlighted the difficulties encountered by Ragya Sherig Norling, expressing her initial disbelief upon learning via mobile about its sudden closure on July 14. She emphasised the institute’s crucial role in Tibetan education, having graduated more than 2,200 students, and provided a historical context on its founder, Gen Jigme Gyaltsen.

    Shede Dawa, drawing on personal experiences, emphasised Gen Jigme Gyaltsen’s commitment to preserving Tibetan language and culture, despite modest beginnings. He recounted his own transformation from disinterest to dedication under Gen Jigme’s guidance, underscoring the institute’s significance in nurturing Tibetan identity.

    The panel also included parliamentarians, additional secretaries, and representatives from NGOs, all united in their condemnation of the closure and its adverse effects on Tibetan cultural and educational institutions.

    According to reports, there’s a deliberate effort to elevate Mandarin Chinese over Tibetan in education and public discourse. Tibetan language instruction is increasingly restricted, with Mandarin becoming the primary language of instruction in many schools. Higher education institutions face limitations on teaching Tibetan, stifling opportunities for Tibetan language development.

    The recent report by the International Campaign for Tibet highlighted significant challenges faced by Tibetans on Chinese social media platforms like Douyin, which are part of China’s strategy to diminish Tibetan language and culture in favour of promoting Mandarin.

    Despite Chinese claims of supporting minority languages, including Tibetan, there has been no official response to Tibetan protests against these discriminatory practices. The report detailed how Tibetans encounter barriers such as blocked livestreams and restricted comments in Tibetan, severely limiting their online engagement.

    Even Tibetan medical professionals struggle to communicate effectively in Tibetan due to platform-imposed language restrictions. These actions are portrayed as deliberate efforts to enhance Mandarin dominance while suppressing Tibetan cultural expression, contradicting official claims of respecting ethnic minority languages.

    The International Campaign for Tibet has criticised the stringent censorship and monitoring of Tibetan-related content on platforms like Douyin, which it sees as part of a broader Chinese Communist Party agenda to control narratives and silence dissent. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: US Senators push sanctions for China if Taiwan is invaded

  • US Senators push sanctions for China if Taiwan is invaded

    US Senators push sanctions for China if Taiwan is invaded

    The bill states that it would impose sanctions on China should it initiate “a military invasion of Taiwan.”…reports Asian Lite News

    Two members of the US Senate Armed Services Committee have proposed a bipartisan bill that would impose a wide range of sanctions on China if it attacks Taiwan, reported Focus Taiwan.

    The bill states that it would impose sanctions on China should it initiate “a military invasion of Taiwan.”

    Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced the Sanctions Targeting Aggressors of Neighbouring Democracies with Taiwan Act of 2024, or STAND with Taiwan Act of 2024 for short, on July 25.

    The proposed bill “would impose devastating, comprehensive economic, energy, financial, and other sanctions on China in the event that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) initiates military aggression against Taiwan,” according to a press release issued by Sullivan’s office on July 26.

    The sanctions would include the targeting of “Chinese Communist Party members and Chinese financial institutions and industrial sectors, as well as prohibiting US financial institutions, including investment companies, from making any investments in a Chinese entity that benefits or is affiliated with the CCP,” the release said.

    Further, the bill would also restrict the importation of China-produced goods into the United States, as reported by Focus Taiwan.

    US-China flag

    “In these increasingly dangerous times, it is critical that America show steady, unwavering bipartisan commitment and resolve in support of Taiwan’s democracy,” Sullivan said.

    Tammy Duckworth said that it was important for the US as a global leader to show support for Taiwan, which is facing escalating threats from China.

    “With this legislation, we’re sending a strong message to our partner [Taiwan] and our competitors that we are here for long haul — and we won’t tolerate the kind of unilateral aggression that would endanger a democratic friend and the health and stability of the global economy,” she stated.

    According to the draft text of the bill, if passed into law, the STAND with Taiwan Act would “require the imposition of sanctions with respect to the People’s Republic of China if the People’s Liberation Army initiates a military invasion of Taiwan.”

    The term “military invasion” is defined in the bill to include amphibious landings, airborne operations, aerial bombardments or blockades, missile attacks, naval bombardments or blockades, or an “attack on any territory controlled or administered by the Government of Taiwan, including offshore islands.”

    The two senators were among the visiting US Congressional delegation to Taiwan in May, during which time they met with President Lai Ching-te (Lai Qing De ) at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Focus Taiwan reported.

    However, Sullivan previously introduced the STAND with Taiwan Act in 2022.

    The bill was later referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, but no further action was taken by Congress in relation to the proposed legislation.

    Earlier on Tuesday, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) thanked the two American lawmakers for their continued support and for proposing the STAND with Taiwan Act of 2024.

    MOFA spokesperson Jeff Liu said that MOFA will closely monitor the progress of the legislation and “continue to work closely with friends from all walks of life in the United States on the basis of the robust friendship between Taiwan and the US”. (ANI)

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  • Taiwan Welcomes Japan-US Statement on China

    Taiwan Welcomes Japan-US Statement on China

    Taiwan welcomed the regulation and expressed gratitude to the US and Japan for their attention to peace in the Taiwan Strait…reports Asian Lite News

    Taiwan on Sunday welcomed the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee (SCC) (Japan-US “2+2”) joint statement which pointed out that China is attempting to reshape the international order for its benefit.

    “Japan and the US highlighted that the PRC employs political, economic, and military coercion of countries, companies, and civil society, as well as facilitates its military modernization through the diversion of technology to achieve these objectives. Japan and the US shared the understanding that such behaviour is a serious concern to the Alliance and the entire international community and represents the greatest strategic challenge in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond,” read the press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

    The meeting was attended by Kamikawa Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Kihara Minoru, Minister of Defense, from the Japanese side, and Antony Blinken, Secretary of State, and Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense, from the US side. The joint statement reiterated that maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is indispensable to the security and prosperity of the international community, and urged the peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues.

    “The United States, Japan and the international community are deeply concerned about this and regard it as the biggest strategic challenge in the Indo-Pacific region,” added the release. Japan and the US reiterated their strong opposition to the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) intensifying attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea, including through actions that seek to undermine Japan’s longstanding and peaceful administration of the Senkaku Islands, as well as escalatory behaviour around the Southwest Islands.

    Japan and the US recognized that their basic positions on Taiwan remain unchanged, and reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity in the international community and encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.

    Taiwan welcomed the regulation and expressed gratitude to the US and Japan for their attention to peace in the Taiwan Strait. “Currently, authoritarian countries continue to expand outward and attempt to challenge the rules-based global order, which has caused instability in the international situation. As a responsible member of the Indo-Pacific region, Taiwan will continue to deepen cooperation with like-minded partners such as the United States and Japan to jointly defend the common values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law, and safeguard peace, stability and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region,” read the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan statement. (ANI)

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  • Uyghurs Mark Yarkand Massacre Anniversary in DC

    Uyghurs Mark Yarkand Massacre Anniversary in DC

    Yarkand massacre occurred on July 28, 2014, when Chinese security forces brutally suppressed peaceful Uyghur protesters in Yarkand County, Xinjiang, China…reports Asian Lite News

    The Uyghur community, led by the East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) and the East Turkistan National Movement (ETNM), gathered in Washington, DC to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 2014 Yarkand massacre. The event called for urgent US action against China’s ongoing persecution of Uyghurs. Yarkand massacre occurred on July 28, 2014, when Chinese security forces brutally suppressed peaceful Uyghur protesters in Yarkand County, Xinjiang, China.

    In a recent post on X, the East Turkistan Government in Exile (ETGE) highlighted the significance of the commemoration, stating, “#Uyghurs in DC, led by ETGE and ETNM, commemorated the 10th anniversary of the 2014 Yarkand Massacre, in which 3,000 to 5,000 Uyghurs were killed by Chinese forces, and called on the US Government to take action to end #China’s ongoing #UyghurGenocide.”

    Reports indicate that between 3,000 and 5,000 Uyghurs were killed by Chinese forces during the violence, and is a stark reminder of the ongoing genocide faced by the Uyghur people at the hands of the Chinese government. The Yarkand massacre exposes the multifaceted oppression enforced by the Chinese government against the Uyghurs. Indiscriminate force is routinely abused, they are branded as “gangs” and “separatists.” Moreover, the Chinese government covers up the death count and arrests netizens who aim to expose the truth.

    At the commemoration event, Uyghur leaders and activists called on the US to adopt a more robust stance towards China, akin to its approach towards Tibet.
    They advocated for the passage of the Senate’s Uyghur Policy Act and the appointment of a Special Coordinator for East Turkistani issues within the State Department. The speakers emphasised the critical need for US support in restoring East Turkistan’s independence, underscoring the importance of international intervention to halt the persecution and ensure justice for the Uyghur people.
    The East Turkistan National Movement (ETNM) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to human rights and political advocacy. Established in Washington, DC, in June 2017 by Salih Hudayar, a Uyghur American consultant and graduate student, ETNAM has been at the forefront of raising awareness about the plight of Uyghurs.

    East Turkistan, a name historically used and favoured by many advocacy groups, refers to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR). Reports on human rights violations in Xinjiang highlight severe abuses against Uyghur Muslims and other minority groups.
    Investigations by human rights organisations and international media indicate that over one million Uyghurs have been detained in so-called “re-education camps” or “vocational training centers” described by the Chinese government as measures to combat extremism.
    Cultural and religious repression is also evident, with the destruction of Uyghur mosques and cemeteries, and stringent restrictions on religious practices. (ANI)

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  • Pakistan faces challenges in energy loan talks with China

    Pakistan faces challenges in energy loan talks with China

    Aurangzeb, who arrived in Beijing on Thursday, is in talks about relief for Pakistan’s power sector debt, alongside proposed structural reforms recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)…reports Asian Lite News

    Concerns are escalating within Pakistan’s financial sector as negotiations with Chinese authorities over rescheduling energy sector loans have encountered complications, Dawn reported.

    On Friday, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb met with Pan Gongsheng, the governor of China’s central bank, to discuss bilateral financial cooperation, according to a statement from the People’s Bank of China.

    Aurangzeb, who arrived in Beijing on Thursday, is in talks about relief for Pakistan’s power sector debt, alongside proposed structural reforms recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The outcome of these discussions is causing significant anxiety among stakeholders, who worry about potential impacts on foreign investment and exchange rate stability if the negotiations do not proceed favourably, as reported by Dawn.

    A senior banker closely following the situation expressed doubt about the negotiations, saying, “We believe China will not outright reject Pakistan’s request to reschedule energy sector loans, but the final outcome appears bleak.” This sentiment reflects China’s initial reluctance to address the issue, which delayed the meeting and indicated their reluctance to discuss the energy loans.

    China has long been Pakistan’s largest foreign investor, with Hong Kong’s investments also playing a crucial role. Despite a decline in Chinese investments, they remain the largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) for Pakistan in FY24. Combined investments from China and Hong Kong accounted for nearly half of Pakistan’s total FDI inflows, which grew by 17 per cent to USD 1.9 billion. Of this, China contributed USD 568 million and Hong Kong USD 338 million, totaling USD 906 million.

    SS Iqbal, a senior banker, noted, “Our dependency on China has increased as we negotiate to reschedule USD 15bn in energy sector loans, receive the highest FDI from China, and rely on them as our largest trade partner.” He added that China has also been instrumental in providing loans or rescheduling payments to bolster Pakistan’s reserves.

    On March 23, 2018, the People’s Bank of China signed an agreement with the State Bank of Pakistan to provide a USD 2 billion loan via China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) to support Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves. This loan has been rolled over annually since 2018, with the latest extension occurring on February 29, 2024, extending it for another year.

    Iqbal highlighted an additional concern, noting, “While China has supported our reserves, the State Bank stopped a USD 1.8 billion profit outflow to Chinese investors in FY24.” He questioned, “How can the Chinese sit calm and cool with this kind of treatment?” Dawn reported. (ANI)

    ALSO READ: Pyongyang says ties with China to be ‘firmly’ carried forward

  • Pyongyang says ties with China to be ‘firmly’ carried forward

    Pyongyang says ties with China to be ‘firmly’ carried forward

    Kim’s visit came as the North has appeared to be aligning closer to Russia and away from China…reports Asian Lite News

    North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said “kindred” relations with China will be “firmly” carried forward as he visited a monument symbolising bilateral ties, state media reported on Saturday, amid suspected signs of strain between the traditionally friendly countries.

    On Friday, Kim visited the Friendship Tower in Pyongyang, which was erected to commemorate China’s participation in the 1950-53 Korean War, and paid tribute to fallen Chinese soldiers during the war, a day ahead of the 71st anniversary of the armistice that ended the conflict, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

    “He expressed the belief that the North Korea-China friendship established as the ties of kindred would be firmly carried forward and developed along with the immortal spirit of the martyrs,” the KCNA said in an English-language dispatch.

    The Korean War, which started with an invasion by North Korea, ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, on July 27, 1953. North Korea celebrates the armistice signing date as Victory Day, claiming it won what it calls a liberation war against US-led aggression, Yonhap news agency reported.

    Kim’s visit came as the North has appeared to be aligning closer to Russia and away from China, with the North’s leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin signing a “comprehensive strategic partnership” agreement during their summit in Pyongyang last month.

    Earlier this month, the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of the North’s ruling party, did not carry any articles on the anniversary of the signing of the friendship treaty between North Korea and China as it had done so on the anniversary date in the past.

    Separately, Kim also visited a cemetery of North Korean soldiers who died during the Korean War in Pyongyang on Friday, along with elderly war veterans, according to the KCNA.

    “It is the sacred mission and duty of our generation to reliably defend our ideology and social system, safeguarded by the victorious wartime generation at the cost of blood, and build a people’s paradise,” Kim was saying in another English-language KCNA report.

    Kim has visited the Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery every year around the time of the anniversary of the armistice signing.

    The North’s leader also visited the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mt. Taesong later that day, where forces who fought against Japan’s 1910-45 rule of the Korean Peninsula under his late grandfather Kim Il-sung remain buried.

    It marked the first time Kim visited the cemetery on the occasion of the armistice signing anniversary in an apparent effort to emphasise their importance.

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  • Jaishankar Urges ‘Effective’ Code Of Conduct For SCS

    Jaishankar Urges ‘Effective’ Code Of Conduct For SCS

    Jaishankar stressed that a “substantive and effective” code of conduct should be in place that is “consistent with international law and should not prejudice legitimate rights and interest of nations not party to the discussions”.

    The Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) passing through the South China Sea are crucial for peace, stability, prosperity, and development of the Indo-Pacific Region, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar said at the 14th East Asia Summit (EAS) foreign ministerial meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on Saturday.

    He stressed that a “substantive and effective” code of conduct should be in place that is “consistent with international law and should not prejudice legitimate rights and interest of nations not party to the discussions”.

    “The EAS process completes two decades next year and India will contribute towards a stronger EAS process,” he said in a post on X, mentioning the statements he conveyed at the meeting.

    He said the Act East Policy, announced at that 9th EAS, has completed a decade, and India will continue to “uphold ASEAN unity and centrality through our Act East Policy.”

    The EAM emphasised that India remains a steadfast supporter of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and values its convergence with the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

    Additionally, he stressed that the country encourages more EAS members to join the IPOI.

    He said India has consistently contributed towards the EAS Plan of Action, citing the summit conference on Maritime Security and Cooperation held in Mumbai on July 4-5.

    Jaishankar also mentioned the realisation of the Nalanda University resolution, highlighting it as an “important commitment” to the EAS.

    Calling for de-escalation and restraint in Gaza, the EAM said, “India continues to extend humanitarian assistance to the people of Palestine. Attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea are concerning. India is independently contributing to ensuring the safety and security of maritime shipping.”

    On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he maintained the importance of dialogue and diplomacy, recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

    He also said that India “stands ready to contribute” in any manner possible.

    Underlining the significance of EAS in bringing together nations at a time when “differences are sharp and interests are diverse”, the EAM said, “India will always stand firm in its commitment to the EAS process.”

    ALSO READ: Modi To Visit Ukraine, First Since Russia’s Invasion

  • China, UAE explore boosting industry, energy ties

    China, UAE explore boosting industry, energy ties

    During the visit, agreements and MoUs were signed in vital areas and sectors of common interest…reports Asian Lite News

    Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), held bilateral meetings with government officials and CEOs of Chinese companies during a visit to the People’s Republic of China.

    His visit builds on the industry and energy outcomes from the successful state visit made by the President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to China in May, which witnessed the celebration of the 40th anniversary UAE-China diplomatic relations.

    During the visit, agreements and MoUs were signed in vital areas and sectors of common interest, within the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership – CSP.

    During the visit, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber met with Ding Xuexiang, Chinese Vice Premier; Zhao Chenxin, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and Xuande Wu, Mayor of Fuzhou.

    The meetings were also attended by Hussain Al Hammadi, UAE Ambassador to China.

    Dr. Al Jaber conveyed the greetings of the UAE leadership and extended its wishes to the government and people of the People’s Republic of China for further progress and prosperity. The two sides also discussed ways to enhance cooperation and partnership between the two countries in key areas such as Oil and Gas, Petrochemicals, Renewable Energy, PV Manufacturing, logistical services, shipping, and storage, among others.

    He said that the UAE and China have close relations based on mutual respect, a shared vision, and sustainable economic interests, thanks to the directives of the leadership of the two countries and their keenness to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

    He added that his visit reaffirms the UAE’s commitment to collaborating with partners, exploring new opportunities for collaboration in vital fields, and building on the positive discussions that took place during President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit in May.

    Dr. Sultan Al Jaber stated that China is one of UAE’s strategic partners, playing a vital role in strengthening partnerships and initiatives that support sustainable economic development. China is also among the most significant markets for ADNOC, for its production of crude oil, refined products, and petrochemicals. He emphasised that the UAE will remain a partner for China for its role as a reliable energy supplier.

    He also indicated the importance of strengthening collaboration and leveraging economically viable opportunities and strategic partnerships to achieve mutual and sustainable benefits for both countries in all fields, including oil and gas, renewable energy, shipping, and storage.

    During his meetings with representatives of the Chinese government, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber expressed his aspiration to achieve greater cooperation by creating new opportunities in the priority sectors of both countries, aiming to serve common interests and enhancing existing cooperation within the CSP framework.

    He also met with CEOs of leading companies in energy, petrochemical, renewable energy, manufacturing, shipping and logistics. The meetings focused on enhancing cooperation and exploring new joint investment opportunities in oil and gas, renewable energy, logistics, manufacturing of solar panels and batteries.

    Meetings included Dai Houliang, Chairman of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the national oil and gas corporation of China and one of the largest integrated energy groups in the world; Wang Dongjin, Chairman of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC Group), one of China’s largest national oil companies producing crude oil and natural gas from offshore fields; Wang Yuetao, Chairman of ZhenHua Oil; Zengtai Liao, Chairman of Wanhua Chemical Group Co Ltd.; Hu Kai, President of China Shipbuilding Trading Co., Ltd. (CSTC); Ou Lin, Chairman of Jiangnan Shipyard; Wu Gang, Chairman of Goldwind, Dr Jianhui Zhang, Founder and CEO of Hyperstrong; Yanming Xu, Chairman and President of Zhuhai Cosmx Battery Co, Ltd; Cao Renxian, Chairman & Founder of SUNGROW, Cao Lu, Chairman of Jolywood and Dr. Chen Guanfu, Chairman of POWERCHINA International Group Limited.

    The meetings with private sector companies witnessed the signing of strategic agreements with the Chinese side, including: the announcement of two agreements between ADNOC Logistics and Services and Wanhua Chemical Group’s join venture AW Shipping, Jiangnan Shipyard, and China Shipbuilding Trading (CSTC), to construct nine Very Large Ethane Carriers, priced at approximately US$1.4 billion, and construct two to four Very Large Ammonia Carriers priced at US$250 million to US$500 million.

    This was in addition to a strategic cooperation agreement between ADNOC and CNPC across the energy value chain, including low-carbon solutions, liquefied natural gas, oil and gas exploration and development, advanced technologies, refining, marketing and trading; a strategic collaboration agreement between ADNOC and CNOOC to explore opportunities in new energies and low-carbon solutions international gas and LNG ventures, oil and gas activities and marketing, sales and trading projects.

    A project collaboration agreement was also signed between a consortium comprising ADNOC, Borealis, and Borouge with Wanhua Chemical Group and Wanrong New Materials, for a feasibility study to establish a specialty polyolefins complex in China.

    The UAE’s delegation included Omar Al Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Musabbeh Al Kaabi, Executive Director of Low Carbon Solutions & International Growth Directorate at ADNOC; Hazeem Sultan Al Suwaidi, CEO of Borouge; and Captain Abdulkareem Al Musabi, CEO of ADNOC Logistics & Services.

    China is the UAE’s largest trading partner, with trade reaching US$95 billion in 2023, including US$83 billion in non-oil trade, marking a 7.5 percent growth compared to 2022. This reflects efforts by both countries to reach a US$200 billion target by 2030.

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