Tag: InternationalNews

Knighton tested positive for the banned steroid trenbolone during an out-of-competition test on March 26. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) opted not to impose a suspension, attributing the positive result to contaminated meat. This decision allowed Knighton to compete in the Paris Olympics qualifiers, a move that has sparked widespread concern.

China’s Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) publicly questioned USADA’s handling of the case, calling for an independent investigation into what it described as a serious breach of the World Anti-Doping Code and a potential cover-up of anti-doping violations.

Olympic regulations require all athletes to pass through the mixed zone for media interviews before leaving the venue. However, after the 200-meter final, Knighton was absent, leaving reporters waiting in vain. His absence stood in stark contrast to his teammate, Kenneth Bednarek, who won the silver medal and spoke openly with the media. Even Noah Lyles, who had tested positive for COVID-19, made a masked appearance to share his experiences.

When asked about Knighton’s whereabouts, a U.S. team staff member informed reporters that Knighton had already left and did not stop for interviews. Fellow journalists reported that Knighton hurried past the American TV reporters’ interview area without saying a word.

“Knighton’s silence is particularly striking given the ongoing scrutiny of doping practices,” commented one pundit. “Questions remain as to why the typically outspoken Knighton has chosen not to address the media, leaving the doping controversy surrounding him unresolved in the public eye.”

Olympic regulations require all athletes to pass through the mixed zone for media interviews before leaving the venue. However, after the 200-meter final, Knighton was absent, leaving reporters waiting in vain. His absence stood in stark contrast to his teammate, Kenneth Bednarek, who won the silver medal and spoke openly with the media. Even Noah Lyles, who had tested positive for COVID-19, made a masked appearance to share his experiences.

When asked about Knighton’s whereabouts, a U.S. team staff member informed reporters that Knighton had already left and did not stop for interviews. Fellow journalists reported that Knighton hurried past the American TV reporters’ interview area without saying a word.

“Knighton’s silence is particularly striking given the ongoing scrutiny of doping practices,” commented one pundit. “Questions remain as to why the typically outspoken Knighton has chosen not to address the media, leaving the doping controversy surrounding him unresolved in the public eye.”

In a historic moment in the cause of Palestinian liberation, as descried by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the Palestinian factions inked a declaration on ending divisions and strengthening unity.

In the Beijing Declaration, they agree to realize national unity among all factions within the framework of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Experts that CGTN spoke to applauded the significance of the Declaration and called it another major diplomatic victory for China’s dedication to promoting peace in the Middle East following the detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran through Beijing’s mediation in March 2023.

{{Milestone in intra-Palestinian reconciliation}}

Speaking at the closing meeting of the reconciliation dialogue among Palestinian factions on Tuesday, Wang said the most important consensus reached at the dialogue is to achieve grand reconciliation and unity among the 14 factions.

The core outcome is to make clear that the PLO is the sole legitimate representative of all the Palestinian people, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

The most significant highlight is the agreement to form an interim national reconciliation government focusing on the post-war governance of Gaza, and the strongest call is for the creation of a truly independent Palestinian state in accordance with relevant United Nations (UN) resolutions, Wang said.

The Chinese foreign minister extended his congratulations on the success of the Beijing dialogue and the signing of the Beijing Declaration.

Speaking to CGTN’s Global Watch, Rong Ying, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said that the signing of the Beijing Declaration is a milestone for Palestine’s internal reconciliation.

This is the first time since the start of the Palestine-Israel conflict on October 7, 2023, that Palestinian factions have reached a reconciliation agreement, Rong noted.

The reconciliation is an essential step for Palestine to speak with one voice in the international community, said Yu Guoqing, professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and executive director of the Chinese Association of Middle East Studies.

It is also a major step towards ending the current conflict in Gaza, realizing a ceasefire and making post-war arrangements, Yu told CGTN.

Moreover, it marks an indispensable step towards the realization of a Palestinian state on the basis of the two-state solution, he stressed.

In a third-step approach unveiled on Tuesday, China also proposed to promote Palestine to become a full member of the UN.

Palestine has been a non-member observer state at the UN since November 2012. By June 2024, it had been recognized as a sovereign state by nearly 150 countries, with China among the first to do so.

{{China’s peace efforts}}

The latest round of talks came after Fatah, the Palestinian National Liberation Movement and the largest faction of the multi-party PLO, and Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement that runs Gaza, held talks on promoting intra-Palestinian reconciliation in Beijing at the end of April.

It also marked the first time that the 14 Palestinian factions gathered in Beijing for a reconciliation dialogue. At Tuesday’s closing meeting, Mahmoud al-Aloul, Fatah’s deputy chief and head of its delegation, and Moussa Abu Marzouk, who leads the Hamas delegation, gave speeches.

It is not easy logistically for representatives of all 14 factions to meet in Beijing since they reside in different places, some in the West Bank and others overseas, according to Yu.

“At present, I believe only China is able to bring together these factions, whose stances vary,” he said.

Yet it is only natural for China to make the get-together happen because Beijing has long been sincerely pushing for peace among different Palestinian factions, with an eye on the resolution of the Palestine issue, Yu added.

In the Beijing Declaration, the factions also expressed their appreciation for China’s sincere efforts to support the rights of the Palestinian people, end Palestine’s division and accommodate different stances.

“That speaks volumes for China’s image,” said Yu. “China seeks no interests for itself when it comes to Middle East issues.”

It shows the world once again that China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, is practicing the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and the Global Security Initiative in the Middle East with real actions, he said.

China is contributing to the lasting security and peace in the Middle East and to the region’s development in the future, said Yu.

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Landline home phones were a luxury in China back in the 1970s, when an average employee earned a few hundred yuan a month but had to pay a staggering 3,000 yuan for a new installation. Now, in 2024, new installations cost only 100 yuan ($13.8), while the average salary has increased to thousands of yuan.

The Chinese people can enjoy such drastic price cuts thanks to the country’s sci-tech development. In the 1970s, China relied on imported telephone infrastructure. With no key technology at hand, the price of a phone service was largely decided by foreign tech powers. Now, China is a major player in 5G, with companies like Huawei and ZTE being industry leaders.

China’s transformation from an underdeveloped nation to a global scientific powerhouse is a result of strategic planning and sustained investment. The cornerstone of this remarkable journey was the launch of the reform and opening-up policies in 1978.

Prior to this, China was mired in economic stagnation and poverty. Agriculture dominated the economy, characterized by low productivity and yields. Industry was underdeveloped, inefficient and heavily reliant on sectors like steel and coal.

Furthermore, the Cold War had limited China’s access to advanced technology and new knowledge in foreign countries.

Recognizing the critical role of science and technology in driving economic growth, China made a pivotal shift in 1978 with the holding of the National Science Conference. The country’s decision makers recognized science and technology as a “productive force” – a Marxist concept that drives the society forward. They embarked on a mission to rebuild the country’s research infrastructure, foster collaboration with global researchers and align scientific endeavors with national development goals. In 1988, China’s leadership further promoted sci-tech as the “primary productive force.”

In 1995, China formalized its commitment to science by declaring it one of the two keys of national rejuvenation. The government further solidified this priority in 2006 with the Outline of National Medium- and Long-term Science and Technology Development Plan (2006-2020), elevating innovation to a national strategy.

This strategic focus bore fruit. By the end of 2023, China’s research and development expenditure had skyrocketed over 200 times compared to 1991, reaching a staggering 3.3 trillion yuan ($460 billion). This massive investment fueled a vibrant innovation ecosystem, attracting and nurturing a burgeoning scientific workforce that grew ninefold to 6.35 million full-time equivalents by the end of 2023.

The results are undeniable. China’s intellectual output has soared, with over 4 million invention patents granted by the end of 2023 – an 80-fold increase from 1991.

China’s journey is a compelling case study of how strategic investment in science and technology can transform a nation’s trajectory. By prioritizing research, development and innovation, China has catapulted itself into the ranks of global scientific leaders.

In a distinct fashion, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, vividly communicates the country’s reform goals and methods to audiences both at home and abroad.

The following are some examples.

VENTURING INTO THE MOUNTAIN DESPITE KNOWING THERE ARE TIGERS

In April 2014, Xi delivered a speech at the College of Europe during his state visit to Belgium.

China needs to “venture into the mountain despite knowing there are tigers,” as its reform has entered a “deep water zone” where tough challenges must be addressed, Xi said.

Ahead of a visit to Latin America about three months later, Xi once again invoked the expression to proclaim to the world China’s unwavering determination and courage in furthering reform.

“We will advance reform with the political courage and wisdom of ‘venturing into the mountain despite knowing there are tigers,’ and with great dedication to working hard and achieving tangible results,” he said.

PLAYING THE PIANO WITH ALL 10 FINGERS

In an interview with a Russian TV station in February 2014, Xi said that Chinese leaders must “play the piano with all 10 fingers,” emphasizing the need to plan for the bigger picture while keeping all moving parts in play.

Since assuming the Party’s top post in November 2012, Xi has made “coordination” a keyword in the CPC’s endeavors to deepen reform so as to improve and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernize China’s system and capacity for governance.

Amid changes in the domestic and global landscapes, China’s reform is confronting challenges on an unprecedented scale, involving a wide range of complex issues.

“It is crucial to enhance the coordination and mutual support among reform measures, ensuring that reforms across different fields and sectors align and synergize to maximize overall effectiveness,” Xi said in his inspection tour of east China’s Shandong Province in May this year.

CLEARING THE CAGE FOR NEW BIRDS

During his tenure as Party chief of Zhejiang Province, Xi put forward the expression “clearing the cage for new birds” to shed light on the transformation of a relatively extensive model of growth in the eastern province, which boasts a strong private sector.

Since he became general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in 2012, Xi has made use of this expression on multiple occasions. In March 2014, when taking part in deliberation in the annual national legislative session with lawmakers from Guangdong Province, China’s economic powerhouse and a pioneer in reform and opening up, Xi used the expression to stress the importance of deepening reform in all areas and promoting structural adjustments.

Xi called for efforts to advance industrial upgrading, give full play to the role of innovation in propelling progress, and embrace green development.

Three years later, also during the annual national legislative session, Xi mentioned the phrase again in a discussion with lawmakers from Liaoning Province, one of China’s earliest major industrial bases, emphasizing the necessity of replacing old industries with new ones amid the country’s economic transformation drive.

TWO WINGS OF A BIRD, TWO WHEELS OF A CART

Xi referred to the roles of reform and the rule of law in propelling China’s development as “two wings of a bird or two wheels of a cart” while addressing senior officials during a meeting in February 2015.

“Reform should be promoted under the rule of law and the rule of law should be enhanced in the process of reform. This is why we refer to them as ‘two wheels,’” Xi stressed.

ENGINE IGNITER

“If innovation is the new engine for China’s development, reform is the indispensable igniter,” Xi said in his address at the APEC CEO Summit held in Beijing in November 2014.

“To comprehensively deepen reform, we need to broaden the path for innovation,” Xi stressed in his address, pledging to enable the engine of innovation to run with full power.

China has reformed its talent evaluation system for years to boost creativity among sci-tech professionals. Provinces including Anhui, Shandong and Sichuan have introduced pilot programs to shift away from overemphasizing academic papers, professional titles, degrees and awards.

“In a new round of global growth, only reformers can advance, only innovators can thrive, and only those who reform and innovate will prevail,” Xi said.

A FAIR SHARE OF A BIGGER PIE

Addressing the G20 Hangzhou Summit in 2016, Xi used the metaphor “a bigger pie” to describe China’s development and stressed the necessity of “ensuring that people get a fair share of it.”

This is an answer to the question “for whom the reform was conducted.”

“We will resolve the most pressing problems affecting the immediate interests of the people to their satisfaction,” he said.

Achieving common prosperity is a basic requirement of socialism and an important feature of the Chinese path to modernization. Making “the pie” bigger while dividing it well has enriched both the theory and practice of common prosperity.