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China’s business community urges U.S. to stop tariff hikes on goods

An employee works at a workshop of a photovoltaic equipment manufacturing company in Yutian County, north China’s Hebei Province, March 18, 2023. /Xinhua

The United States should earnestly abide by World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and immediately stop further increasing additional tariffs on some Chinese goods, a spokesperson for the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) has said.

The U.S. on Tuesday decided to raise additional tariffs on its imports of some Chinese products, including electric vehicles (EVs), lithium-ion batteries, solar cells, critical minerals, semiconductors, steel, aluminum, and cranes, on top of the existing tariffs under Section 301.

“China’s industry and commerce community firmly opposes this U.S. act,” said the spokesperson.

On behalf of China’s industry and commerce community, the CCPIT and China Chamber of International Commerce have called on the United States to earnestly abide by WTO rules and immediately revoke the tariff increases.

They encouraged the industry and commerce communities on both sides to enhance mutual trust and cooperation, jointly maintain the stability and smooth operation of industrial and supply chains, and work for the accelerated recovery of the world economy.

China’s EV, lithium-ion battery, and solar cell industries, among others, have injected strong impetus into the global energy conservation drive, boosted emission reduction efforts, as well as promoted green innovation and development via continuous technological innovation, active participation in market competition, and deep integration into the global supply chain, the spokesperson said.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has ignored the WTO rules and continued to abuse the Section 301 tariff review procedure to substantially increase tariffs on some products imported from China, said the spokesperson, calling it a typical form of unilateralism and trade protectionism practice.

At the same time, the United States provides a large amount of subsidies for its own electric vehicles, semiconductors and other industries, which obviously violates the principle of market economy and international economic and trade rules and seriously undermines the stability and security of global industrial and supply chains, said the spokesperson.

The additional levy will raise tariffs on Chinese EV imports to 100 percent this year. Meanwhile, the tariff rate on solar cell imports will increase to 50 percent this year. Tariffs on certain Chinese steel and aluminum products will also climb to 25 percent this year, and semiconductor tariffs will soar to 50 percent by 2025.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency

Overcapacity

Museum unveils rich tapestry of Sichuan artistry through three exhibitions

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

On Friday, the Guang Hui Art Museum, a distinguished nonprofit private art gallery in Chengdu, Sichuan province, unveiled a trio of exhibitions designed to offer a comprehensive exploration of modern and contemporary art evolution since the 20th century, spotlighting artists native to the vibrant Sichuan region.

The museum, situated in Chengdu — renowned for its pandas and hot pots — opened its doors to the public on Friday, presenting a diverse array of artistic expressions. The first exhibition, a collection showcase, features masterful ink paintings by luminaries like Zhang Daqian, Qi Baishi, Lin Fengmian, and Xu Beihong, influential figures who have significantly shaped the landscape of Chinese art.

High-level visits from Pakistan highlight investment, bilateral ties

Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (right) shakes hands with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing on May 15, 2024. The two held the fifth round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue that day. Photo: Website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry

Pakistan’s newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar is visiting Beijing this week. He has a busy schedule of meetings with officials and business leaders in a bid to attract Chinese investment and further improve bilateral relations between China and Pakistan.

From Monday to Thursday, at the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Dar is paying an official visit to China. On Wednesday, Wang and Dar held the fifth round of the China-Pakistan Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue.

Wang told the media after the strategic dialogue on Wednesday that following his assumption of office as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Dar chose China as the first country to visit officially, this highlighted Pakistan’s special emphasis on China-Pakistani relations.

Wang mentioned that he had engaged in in-depth strategic communication with Dar on bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields, and international regional issues of common concern, leading to a broad consensus.

“We both agree that China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners, and the ironclad friendship between our two countries has stood the test of time, remaining as solid as a rock and as heavy as Mount Tai,” Wang said. “In a world of turmoil and change, a healthy, stable, and strong China-Pakistan relationship is of great significance for regional peace and prosperity,” he noted.

According to Pakistani state media, during his visit to China, Dar also invited Chinese companies to invest, set up their manufacturing and process units in Pakistan and benefit from the government’s investor-friendly policies.

Ahsan Iqbal, Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, also visited China last week as part of the high-level interactions between China and Pakistan.

Analysts pointed out that the visits of high-level officials from Pakistan since Pakistan’s new government came to power showed the country’s willingness to further develop cooperation with China under the framework of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), especially in the high-quality development of the CPEC, a flagship project of the BRI.

Launched in 2013, the CPEC is a corridor linking the Gwadar port in southwestern Pakistan with Kashi in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport, and industrial cooperation.

According to materials sent to the Global Times by the Pakistani Embassy in Beijing, during the visit, Dar had a tight schedule as he is busy with meeting both government officials and business communities in Beijing during the four-day trip.

During his visit, he has emphasized opportunities for collaboration in various sectors, including infrastructure, renewable energy, textiles, agriculture, IT, and mining.

He has reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm support to China on its core issues and expressed the country’s willingness to accelerate progress on all CPEC projects including ML-I upgradation, the Gwadar port, and KKH realignment.

“The first decade of the CPEC has laid important ground for fast-tracking development,” Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi told the Global Times in a previous interview.

“Over 73 years, the Pakistan-China relationship has become very solid and assumed unique characteristics in terms of inter-state relations. Ours is a relationship that is not affected by internal developments in either country or regional and international events. That is why we refer to it as an ironclad relationship that has stood the test of time,” he said in the interview.

Donation ceremony held at Beijing Dance Academy

Ancient Chinese music and dance pottery figurines.Photo: Screenshot from the 70th anniversary of the founding of Beijing Dance Academy.

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of Beijing Dance Academy, Wang Qian, a master of art and crafts from Shaanxi, donated to the academy hundreds of replicas of ancient Chinese music and dance pottery figurines made by Wang and her father. On the morning of May 14, the college held a donation ceremony. Guests attending the ceremony included Wang Qian, her daughter Sun Jin, assistant Xu Yan, and dance research scholar Wu Yunming.

The music and dance figurines span from the Warring States Period to the Ming Dynasty, showing the development history of ancient Chinese music. The donation adds valuable resources for teaching and scientific research by the Beijing Dance Academy. Secretary of the Party committee of the college, Batu, accepted the donation and issued a donation certificate to Wang. Dean Xu Rui also gave her a distinguished professor certificate.

Wang reviewed in detail her experience in restoring pottery figurines, emphasizing the importance of these works to the development of ancient Chinese music. She said that these pottery figurines are not only a form of cultural heritage, but also an interpretation of the history of Chinese music.

“The music and dance figurines will inspire dance students and promote the inheritance and innovation of Chinese dance culture,” said Xu Rui.

Professor Wu Yunming affirmed the important value of these music and dance figurines in the fields of dance choreography, painting and other fields. “These musical and dance pottery figurines vividly reproduce the style of ancient Chinese dance through superb reproduction techniques,” Wu noted.

Global Times

Police clear pro-Palestinian camp from Swiss university

A banner reading “In Gaza this university would have been bombed” (L) is displayed as Pro-Palestinian students prepare to leave a building of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland on May 7, 2024. /CFP

Swiss police moved in early on Wednesday to remove dozens of pro-Palestinian student protesters holed up at the University of Bern, the school said in a statement.

Student demonstrations have gathered pace across Western Europe in recent weeks with protesters demanding an end to the Gaza bloodshed and urging that ties be cut with Israel.

Swiss police acted following a request by Bern University’s management, which had described the student occupation as “unacceptable.”

The students were protesting against Israel’s Gaza offensive that was sparked by Hamas’s unprecedented October 7 attack that killed around 1,200 people.

Israel’s subsequent bombardment and offensive in Gaza have killed at least 35,000 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

The last of around 30 protesters left Bern University early on Wednesday. They chanted pro-Palestinian slogans outside the building before leaving the area, a journalist from the Keystone-ATS agency said.

Dozens of demonstrators had been occupying university premises, including the restaurant, since Sunday night.

They were demanding an “academic boycott of Israel institutions” and had ignored a university ultimatum to leave the premises.

University rector Christian Leumann said in a statement published on Wednesday that he was open to talks but that “an occupation with politically-motivated demands does not create an environment for constructive dialogue”.

On Tuesday, police in Geneva removed around 50 pro-Palestinian protesters from a university there.

Source(s): AFP

90% of hearing-impaired children in China use cochlear implants

/CFP

The research, development and application of cochlear implants have enabled nearly 90 percent of hearing-impaired children in China to hear, speak and attend regular kindergartens and schools, according to a press conference held by the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) on Tuesday.

Scientific research projects in the fields of disability rehabilitation, barrier-free environment development and assistive technology have been included in China’s plan for key research and development.

The federation has organized and implemented seven such projects to date, attracting participation from 25 universities, 16 research institutes and 24 enterprises, according to the press conference.

In the past five years, the federation has launched over 300 research projects to promote research on and the application of assistive technology. A number of research outcomes have already been widely applied, playing a significant role in improving the quality of life for people with disabilities, the press conference said.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency

China ‘strongly’ opposes U.S. tariff hike on EVs, chips and others

China’s commerce ministry on Tuesday said the country “strongly opposed” the U.S.’ decision to increase tariffs on a wide range of Chinese imports, including electric vehicles, lithium batteries, and semiconductors, adding that it will take resolute measures to defend its rights and interests.

The U.S. should immediately correct its “wrongdoings” and cancel additional tariff measures against China, the ministry said in a statement.

The Biden administration announced the tariff hike earlier on Tuesday. The hike could affect $18 billion worth of imported Chinese goods, including steel and aluminum, semiconductors, batteries, critical minerals, solar cells, and cranes, while retaining Trump-era tariffs on over $300 billion in goods.

Driven by domestic political considerations, the U.S. has abused the Section 301 tariff review process to further increase tariffs on certain Chinese products. This move politicizes and weaponizes trade issues, representing a typical case of political maneuvering, the statement said.

The Chinese ministry urged Washington to stop its unilateralism mentality, adding that the move is “exacerbating” the tensions between the world’s two biggest economies.

(Cover: A file photo of a section of the exterior of the Ministry of Commerce building in China. /CFP)

Exhibition recalls historic exchanges between China and France

People visit the joint exhibition showcasing exchanges between China and France in the 17th and 18th centuries, in Beijing, May 14, 2024. /CFP

An exhibition focusing on the exchanges between France and China in the 17th and 18th centuries is currently on display at the Palace Museum in Beijing. To mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Palace Museum and the Palace of Versailles have gathered more than 200 works of art into a collection that shows the rich history and culture of the two countries from various aspects.

Louis XIV sent French Jesuit priests to China in the 17th century to win favor with Emperor Kangxi and build mutual trust and respect between the two countries. The exhibition shows how Chinese art became a source of inspiration for French art during this period and reveals the deep interest of the former Chinese emperors in French culture. With works mainly from the collections of the two museums, from painting to literature, from architecture to music and science, these diplomatic gifts show us a glorious history and friendly exchanges.

This is one of Sichuan’s main mountain ranges

The tallest point in the Qionglai Range is a peak of Mount Siguniang in Sichuan Province. /CGTN

The Qionglai Mountain Range runs roughly north to south within south China’s Sichuan Province. Its highest point is the 6,250-meter Yaomei Peak on Mount Siguniang.