Chinese Ambassador to India's visit to Bhutan 'helps advance friendly ties'
Chinese Ambassador to India Sun Weidong recently paid a three-day visit to Bhutan, during which Sun met with Bhutanese leaders and the two sides vowed to promote the development of relations, the Chinese Embassy in India said in a statement on Saturday night, Global Times reported. Sun's visit to Bhutan signifies a step forward in friendly relations between the two neighbors, although the two countries have yet to establish official diplomatic relations, Chinese experts noted on Sunday. They believe the visit is conducive to further improving people-to-people exchanges and implementing the Three-Step Roadmap signed in 2021 to expedite boundary talks. During his visit from October 10 and 13, Sun met with Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Prime Minister of Bhutan Lotay Tshering, Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji and others, according to the statement. During the meetings, Sun said that China is willing to make joint efforts with Bhutan to well implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a Three-Step Roadmap, maintain friendly exchanges, expand win-win cooperation, advance the boundary negotiations, and push for new progress in China-Bhutan relations to benefit the two countries and two peoples, the statement said. Sun also expressed appreciation for Bhutan's adherence to the one-China principle and noted that the two countries helped each other and jointly overcame difficulties in face of the challenges of the COVID-19 epidemic. China attaches great importance to China-Bhutan relations and will, as always, respect Bhutan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the development path chosen by Bhutan according to its own national conditions, Sun noted. Bhutan will continue to adhere to the one-China principle and is willing to strengthen practical cooperation with China, solve boundary issues through friendly consultation and advance the development of the two countries' relations, Bhutanese leader told Sun, according to the statement. The Bhutanese leader also thanked China for its support and help during the COVID-19 epidemic. Sun's visit further promotes the friendly relations between the two neighboring countries and indicates that the boundary issue between the two countries has been developing in a positive direction since the two signed the MoU last year, Zhang Yongpan, a research fellow of the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Science, told the Global Times on Sunday, according to Global Times. China and Bhutan signed the MoU in October 2021 in a bid to speed up boundary talks that had been delayed. The MoU is of historic significance and is the result of years of joint efforts and sincere cooperation between the two sides, Chinese analysts said, noting that the move helps expedite boundary talks and advances the process of establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries. Though China and Bhutan have yet to establish diplomatic ties, the two have maintained sound communications in many ways. In the difficult time of the COVID-19 epidemic, China and Bhutan helped each other, people-to-people exchanges have seen a substantial increase and cooperation on hydropower has continued during the period, Zhang said, Global Times reported.
Xi emphasizes Chinese path to modernization as central task
Xi Jinping delivered a report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Sunday, China Daily reported. The following are some highlights from the report: Momentous five years The five years since the 19th National Congress of the CPC have been truly momentous and extraordinary. The Party Central Committee has pursued a strategy of national rejuvenation amid global changes of a magnitude not seen in a century, with major strategic plans made for advancing the cause of the Party and the country. (Read more) Historic achievements over past decade The CPC has taken China on a new journey toward building a modern socialist country in all respects. Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, the entire Party, the military, and the Chinese people have been brought together to carry out a great struggle with many new features of the times. (Read more) Opening new chapters in adapting Marxism to Chinese context It is the solemn historic responsibility of today's Chinese Communists to continue opening new chapters in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, with the courage to make theoretical explorations and innovations, the CPC has, from an entirely new perspective, deepened its understanding of the laws that underlie governance by a communist party, the development of socialism, and the evolution of human society . (Read more)
China congress: Xi Jinping defends zero-Covid as party meeting opens
China's President Xi Jinping has been defending his controversial zero-Covid strategy as a historic Communist Party congress kicks off in Beijing, BBC reported.
In a break in decades-long tradition, delegates are likely to hand Mr Xi a third term as party chief.
Zero-Covid was an "all out people's war to stop the spread of the virus", he said.
The policy has saved lives, but also exacted a punishing toll on the Chinese people and economy.
There is increasing public fatigue over lockdowns and travel restrictions.
Beijing has come under strict security measures ahead of the congress, sparking frustration in the city with a rare and dramatic public proteston Thursday criticising Mr Xi and zero Covid.
Mr Xi also addressed the issue of Taiwan - which China claims as part of its territory. Self-governing Taiwan sees itself as distinct from the mainland.
Speaking slowly and deliberately, he said Beijing would "never promise to renounce the use of force" and that "complete reunification of our country must and will be realised", prompting sustained applause from delegates.
On Hong Kong, Mr Xi said Beijing had exerted control there, turning the situation from "chaos to governance". Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on the territory after pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019.
Since reaching top office, he has overseen a wide-reaching corruption crackdown extending to the highest echelons of the party. But critics have portrayed it as a political purge.
Mr Xi's speech dominates the first day of the congress - the choice of words has been workshopped for months and analysts will be poring over it for any signs of policy shifts.
A third term as leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will pave the way for him to become the most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, according to BBC.
About 2,300 delegates are meeting to elect party leaders and debate key policies.
Over the course of the congress, delegates are also expected to elect various leaders including the Politburo Standing Committee - China's equivalent of a presidential cabinet - who will present themselves to waiting media during the congress.
In the past, the twice-a-decade congress was seen as a chance for leaders to promote their supporters, as they vied to increase the power of their factions within the party.
But observers say these days there appears to be only one faction at the 20th Party Congress - that of Mr Xi.
In a clear sign of this consolidation of power, top Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders released a communiqué days earlier endorsing him as "the core" of the party and leadership. They also called for the party to unite even more closely behind him.
The CCP does not set any term limits. But no leader besides Mao, the founder of communist China, has ever served a third term.
The presidency also used to have a two-term limit in the country's constitution, put in place by reformer Deng Xiaoping to prevent the rise of a Mao-like figure.
But Mr Xi has managed to eliminate this requirement: in 2018 China's rubber-stamp parliament abolished the rule, effectively allowing him to remain president for as long as he likes.
Since taking power in 2012, Mr Xi has led China on a path that has been equal parts ambitious and authoritarian, BBC reported.
He has pushed for "a great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation", which saw him pursuing economic reform, reducing pollution and alleviating poverty.
Newly appointed US Ambassador Thompson arrives in Nepal
Newly appointed US Ambassador to Nepal Dean Thompson arrived in Nepal on Thursday. Ambassador Thompson arrived in Nepal, a week after Ambassador Randy Berry returned home completing his four-year term. According to the US Embassy in Kathmandu, newly appointed Ambassador Thompson along with his family would spend some days in get-together with Nepal-based US mission families and then present his letter of credentials to the government of Nepal.
