On the afternoon of December 15, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attended the 13th meeting of the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
WANG Yiwei: China and U.S. Have Different Understanding of the New Model of Major-Country Relations
WANG Yiwei, Director of the International Affairs Institute at Renmin University of China, recently wrote an article that was published on Huanqiu (Global Times, a division of People’s Daily). In the article he discussed the differences between China and the United States as to how they each understand the new model of major-country relations. Below is an excerpt from the article:
Sino-Russia Trade Suffers from Ruble Depreciation
On December 17, 2014, China National Radio reported that the Russian Ruble was the worst performing currency with a 49 percent depreciation rate (against the dollar) this year and is damaging Sino-Russian trade.
PLA Daily: Anti-corruption Is a Life and Death Battle That We Cannot Afford to Lose
Xi Jinping: Strictly Governing the Party in All Areas
On December 16, 2014, Xinhua published an article on the new policies that Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party General Sectary, has proposed: Building a moderately prosperous society in all areas; deepening reforms in all areas; promoting the rule of law in all areas; and strictly governing the Party in all areas. Among the four “in all areas,” the last one “strictly governing the Party in all areas” is the new policy.
The article explained the different sub-areas of “in all areas” in terms of “strictly governing the Party.” “These include the Party’s ideological development, organizational development, mode of work development, anti-corruption development, and institutional development. All levels of the Party’s organizations must follow the requirement of strict governance of the Party and management of team members, and must normalize and institutionalize “strictly governing the Party.”
Source: Xinhua, December 16, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-12/16/c_1113661816.htm
Huanqiu: As Everyone Knows, China Does Not Want Russia to Fall”
On December 17, 2014, Huanqiu (the Chinese edition of Global Times) published an editorial titled, “As Everyone Knows, China Does Not Want Russia to Fall.” After an analysis of Russia’s situation and economic difficulties, the article said that Russia is still far away from any real danger of collapse. However, what Russia has to deal with is not a short-lived super storm either. “Sino-Russian relations are generally regarded as one of the key conditions for protecting Russia against strategic risks.” “China does not want Russia to fall; the whole world is clear about (China’s) stand.” According to the Huanqiu editorial, China must be clear about several points when dealing with Russia.
First, the China-Russia strategic partnership is no longer built on ideology but on the national interests of both countries. A Russia that does not show its weakness to the U.S. and the West is important to China in terms of China’s national interests. China and Russia mutually need each other with a back to back strategic relationship.
Source: Huanqiu, December 17, 2014
http://opinion.huanqiu.com/editorial/2014-12/5248588.html
Xinhua: China’s Major-Country Relationships in 2014
Xinhua published an article reviewing China’s progress in developing major-country relations with Russia, the U.S., the E.U. and major developing countries.
Sino-Russia relations: "The relationship is the best it has been in the 65 years since China and Russia established diplomatic relations. The Sino-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership will be moving forward at a high level in 2015. In May 2014, the heads of the two countries signed the ‘Sino-Russian Joint Statement on the New Stage of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Coordination.’ The two countries finalized a gas supply treaty. The two countries are working on reaching the goal of bilateral trade at $100 billion in 2015 and $200 billion by 2020."
Sino-U.S. relations: "Although there was friction in the relationship in 2014, the waves didn’t stop the voyage. In 2015, the two countries will continue developing their relations while controlling their differences. Xi Jinping and Obama not only met twice in 2014, but also called and sent letters to each other multiple times. A highlight in 2014 was the continuous military relations development. Military exchanges frequently got interrupted due to issues of the Sino-U.S. relations in the past, but the exchanges were strong last year."
Sino-E.U. relations: "Xi Jinping’s visit to Europe in the spring of 2014 set the direction for Sino-E.U. relations, and thus European scholars largely viewed his visit as a ‘milestone in the Sino-E.U. relationship.’ The European Commission and European Council went through an election. The new leaders expressed a desire to push for an E.U.-Sino comprehensive strategic partnership."
China and major developing countries: "China has an outstanding relationship with Brazil, India, and South Africa. It can be summarized as frequent top leaders’ visits, the development of practical cooperation, support for each other’s discourse rights, the enhancement of strategic trust between the different countries, and substantive improvement in connecting each other’s development strategies."
Source: Xinhua, December 16, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2014-12/16/c_1113667231.htm