Editor's Note:

When it comes to Tanzania, one must remember the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, operational since 1976. Constructed during challenging times for China, this vital transport link was a lifeline for the development of African countries, deeply cherished by both sides. Over the years, cooperation between China and Tanzania has grown even closer, particularly in infrastructure, yielding abundant results. On the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Global Times (GT) reporter Yin Yeping conducted an exclusive interview with the Ambassador of Tanzania to China Khamis Mussa Omar (Omar), who shared insights on the bilateral cooperative achievements and new opportunities. The ambassador said that Tanzania needs responsible investments, while Chinese entrepreneurs value a secure investment environment, presenting a promising future match. He also rebutted claims of debt traps, emphasizing that the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has played a crucial role in fostering African development.
GT: This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Tanzania. What achievements have you seen in the bilateral ties over the years, and how do you envision further strengthening this relationship?

Omar: Our two brotherly countries have enjoyed excellent all-weather relations for the past six decades. Mainly this has been possible due to mutual trust, sincerity and good faith. The mutual satisfaction on the fraternal relations led to its elevation to the comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership status in November 2022. Together, the two sides boast of major accomplishments during the six decades. These include a solid friendship of the two peoples heightened by many exchanges of high-level visits; major economic gains through bilateral trade and investments; cultural exchanges strategic cooperation; human capital development and technological sharing and humanitarian cooperation including on health and disaster management. Going forward, I only see the relations deepening in all spheres for a shared prosperity of the two people.

GT: How has Tanzania's economic development benefitted from its cooperation with China, given China's status as its largest trading partner for many years? In what sectors do you envision potential for future collaboration?

Omar: As you have rightly put it, Tanzania benefits from China's remarkable economic progress since its reform and opening-up. While still developing, China has become the second largest economy in the world. It has become both a recipient and a source of foreign investment. Equally, with her status as the global manufacturing powerhouse, China's economy is more integrated with the rest of the world now than ever before. Tanzania has benefitted in both these crucial areas, trade and investment thereby spurring our economic growth. China has also benefited through the development of its private sector, especially in engineering and construction through its contractors who lead in infrastructure development, be it ports, airports, energy, railway, roads and telecommunication infrastructure. Looking ahead, I see more partnerships being forged between Chinese and Tanzanian private enterprises for win-win alliances in industrialization through mining and mineral development, agriculture and agro-processing, light manufacturing, blue economy and new energy. Untapped investment opportunities still exist in logistics, tourism and related services.
GT: How do you evaluate the benefits brought to Tanzania through joint construction under the BRI? How can both sides enhance their collaboration in the years ahead under this initiative?

Omar: The BRI has injected new impetus in trade and investment cooperation. Its emphasis on connectivity, economic transformation, seamless trade and human capital development augers very well for China-Tanzania's socio-economic aspirations. Through the program Tanzania has benefited in improved maritime and aviation connectivity with China, enhanced production through the creation of industrial parks as well as further development of key infrastructure including energy generation and transmission, improved roads network and ports expansion, both sea and airports.

Fortunately, the BRI is still a work-in-progress. The two sides are bound to mutually benefiting through deepening cooperation on all the mentioned areas. Tanzania needs more responsible investment; Chinese entrepreneurs need a safe investment destination. The future offers a perfect match.

GT: There have been some assertions from certain Western media claiming that the BRI has resulted in a so-called debt trap. How do you respond to this?

Omar: Africa faces multiple developmental challenges that continue to work in a vicious circle of poverty, low production and productivity, very acute economic transformation, environmental degradation due to over consumption of certain resource and very limited fiscal space. As such, we are in a situation of multiple traps, which play as a low-level equilibrium. Global economic history taught us that an "external big push" might be necessary to be able to jump from a vicious to virtuous circle. Overseas development assistance, including concessional borrowing might be an important part of such big push. Of course, fiscal prudence is a necessity, including a watch on sovereign debt levels and dynamics. On this regard, Africa has been raising its voice on the need for broader reform of international development financing architecture. In my view, the African predicament is a deeply rooted structural issue. Indeed, the BRI has extended a critical helping hand on this regard.

GT: China's burgeoning new energy industry stands at the forefront globally, speeding up green development. How do you envision China's new energy sector helping Tanzania on its own green transformation?

Omar: I have visited several provinces since my arrival in China eight months ago. I have witnessed inspirational innovations by Chinese companies on the new energy sector, like many others. Broadly, China plays an important role in addressing climate change and carbon emission, thanks to its efforts and investment in research and development. There is a very broad potential for cooperation on green transformation between our two countries, beyond the current level that only covers limited green energy generation, mainly through transactional arrangement. Electric vehicles, investing in development and storage of different forms of green energy are some potential areas for further cooperation.

China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced on Monday that the country's 144-hour visa-free transit policy has been expanded to three more entry ports, taking the number of Chinese ports covered by the policy to 37. 

The move marks the ramped-up effort by Chinese government to facilitate international travel and opening-up with more convenient visa policy.

The three new ports are Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in Central China's Henan Province, Lijiang Sanyi International Airport in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, and the Mohan railway port in Yunnan, the administration said in a statement.

Starting from Monday, the 144-hour visa-free transit policy at the Zhengzhou airport will allow visitors to travel within the administrative region of Henan. Additionally, the specific area covered by the 144-hour visa-free policy in Yunnan Province will be expanded from Kunming city to include eight other cities and regions within the province.

With the new addition of entry ports, the NIA has implemented the 144-hour visa-free transit policy in a total of 37 ports in China.

Foreign citizens from 54 countries including the US, Canada, and the UK who enter China through the designated entry ports and hold valid international travel documents and connecting tickets to a third country within 144 hours, will be allowed to stay in designated areas for tourism, business, and visiting relatives visa-free for 144 hours.

The NIA said that the 72/144-hour transit visa-free policies, implemented since January 2013, has played a crucial role in supporting the nation's high-level opening up and facilitating international travel and exchanges. 

The expansion of the visa-free transit policy in Henan and Yunnan provinces will offer foreign citizens more options when traveling to China for tourism and business. 

According to NIA, the total number of visa-free entries made by eligible foreigners exceeded 8.54 million in the first six months this year, accounting for 52 percent of the inbound trips during the first half year and representing a year-on-year growth of 190.1 percent.

Editor's Note:

Since 1978, China has made remarkable achievements in economic and social development. Many of the things that were unthinkable, unimaginable in the past have now become reality. Today, looking back, why did China choose to reform and open up in the late 1970s?

From the early 1980s to the present, Chi Fulin, head of the Hainan-based China Institute for Reform and Development, has devoted almost all his time and energy to researching China's pathway toward reform and development. Almost the same age as New China (referring to the People's Republic of China which was founded in 1949), he has witnessed the whole process of the country's reform and opening-up, during which time he realized that it is the only way for China to develop, and it is a key move that determines the future of the country.

Recently, Global Times reporter Cao Siqi spoke with Chi, who shared his stories from throughout key moments in the reform and opening-up. During the interview, he conveyed a clear message: China's reform and opening-up is not yet completed, and it needs the young generation to carry it forward in the next step.

This story is also part of the Global Times' "Witness to History" series, which features first-hand accounts from witnesses who were at the forefront of these historic moments. From scholars, politicians and diplomats to ordinary citizens, their authentic reflections on the impact of historical moments help reveal a sound future for humanity through the solid forward steps taken in the past and the present.
What did reform and opening-up get right?

Born in 1951 to an ordinary family in Zhaodong county, Heilongjiang Province, before he was 16 years old, Chi Fulin received an education in "being the successor of the revolution" in primary and middle schools. In January 1968, he joined the army, beginning a 20-year military career. In 1984, while studying at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, he chose to devote himself to the study of reform and opening-up. In 1986, he was transferred to a central government agency to conduct deeper research into the subject.

At the end of 1987, he took off the military uniform he had worn for 20 years and moved to Hainan Province, presiding over the work of the provincial institutional reform and policy research institute. He participated in the initial market-oriented reform of Hainan Province and pursued the dream of establishing a free trade port. In 1991, he co-founded the China Institute for Reform and Development, a think tank dedicated to China's reform agenda.

Chi's life choice is a microcosm of his generation's commitment to reform and opening-up, a generation who deeply understand that "reform and opening-up would determine the future of China."

In Chi's eyes, there are many reasons why China chose reform and opening-up in the late 1970s, but the bottom line is that reform and opening-up were a "forced" decision.

At the end of the "Cultural Revolution" (1966-1976), China's national economy was on the verge of collapse. The income of the ordinary people decreased, and it was difficult to make a living. Economic development became a common and urgent aspiration of the people. Where to go? How to steer the country away from poverty and backwardness? This required the Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership and the government to make a historic choice.

It was against this specific background that the great decision of reform and opening-up was made at the third plenary session of the 11th CPC Central Committee in 1978, which realized a great turning point of far-reaching significance in the history of the Party since the founding of New China in 1949. Ever since, the 40-plus years of reform and opening-up have proved that under the leadership of the CPC, China has built a vibrant socialist market economy, made a historic leap toward economic modernization, and created a miracle of sustained and rapid economic growth rarely seen in the history of the civilized world.

Today, there are different perceptions around China's reform and opening-up. For example, while most believe that the historic task of reform and opening-up has been accomplished, some people question reform and opening-up by blaming it for certain problems currently existing in society.

"From my 40 years of experience in studying the reform, I deeply feel that without reform and opening-up, how could today's historic changes in the country and people's lives have been possible? Without reform and opening-up, how could people live a happy life today? Without reform and opening-up, how could there be growing international influence?" Chi told the Global Times.

Chi stated that reform and opening-up has become a pillar of Chinese national policy, a driving force for economic and social development, and the theoretical foundation for forming and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. In the same way, without reform and opening-up, China cannot achieve its second centennial goal. To comprehensively deepen reform and opening-up, the country needs the efforts of young generations.

"Many young people do not understand the reform and opening-up very well. Generation Z were born and grew up in an environment characterized by China's rapid economic growth, the continuous enrichment of consumer goods, and a constant increase in spending power. The reason why the country had to reform and open up is not so strong in their perception," Chi said.

However, data tell the real story. In terms of the level of economic development over the past 40 years, China's GDP was less than 400 billion yuan in 1978, exceeded 10 trillion yuan in 2000, grew above 50 trillion yuan in 2012, and broke through 100 trillion yuan for the first time in 2020. In 1978, the US GDP was 15 times that of China, and its per capita GDP was 30 times that of China. By 2020, the US GDP was 1.5 times that of China and its per capita GDP was six times that of China, according to official data released by national statistics bureau.

China's reform and opening-up has also had a profound impact on the world. Since 2006, China has contributed an average of more than 30 percent to global economic growth over consecutive years. The country has become a major engine of international economic growth.

"In recent years, I have visited Europe more than 10 times as part of my research. They [European people] attach great importance to China's large market and opening-up. Practice has fully proved that China's reform and opening-up has created a miracle in the history of global development. This conclusion is consistent with reality and history. Without the vitality unleashed by reform and opening-up, how could young people enjoy today's life of great material prosperity?" Chi asked.

"When I look at these figures, I always wonder, if it were not for reform and opening-up, would there be a consumer society for us today? Would we be able to enjoy the abundance of products and services we currently have? These are the fruits of the tireless efforts of several generations of Chinese people who have promoted and practiced reform and opening-up for more than 40 years," Chi noted.
Why some young people misread history?

One day in September 2021, Chi was invited to give a lecture on the history of reform and opening-up at a Chinese university. He shared with the Global Times an unforgettable moment: There were over 600 full seats on that day. During the question-and-answer session, one student said, "We are young people who grew up in the new era of socialism. Why do we want to work for capitalists?" I asked him, "Who are the capitalists?" He replied, "Private entrepreneurs are all capitalists." To my surprise, as soon as the student finished, the audience burst into applause.

"I began to realize that Chinese students not only need to learn about the history of reform and opening-up, but also need to develop a basic understanding of the formation and development of the theory of socialism with Chinese characteristics," Chi said. "We cannot equate the private economy with capitalism, nor can we simply equate public ownership with socialism. At present, China's economic development and common prosperity cannot be separated from the private economy. If small and medium-sized private enterprises are problems, how can there be innovation and entrepreneurship? Where will stable employment come from?"

Chi shared another story with the Global Times. In the 1970s, when he was in the army, some officers managed to get a bag of moldy peanuts. He scalded the peanuts with hot water and asked a medic for some medical alcohol to fry them in a mug before drinking some alcohol.

At that time, it was not easy for a family to enjoy a plate of peanuts for dinner. A family might be able to obtain half a kilogram peanuts a year.

In 1971, he went to the Greater Khingan Mountains to buy wood for an army construction project. The director of a local forestry bureau asked him for peanuts. He quickly dispatched 2.5 kilograms of peanuts from the army, which resulted in getting an extra 10 cubic meters of wood. The currency of peanuts at that time was significant.

Why couldn't people have peanuts to eat at that time?

In 2018, he delivered a class to 52 PhD students and, as an experiment, he conducted a survey among the students, asking the same question.

However, none of the students got it right. They mainly gave three answers: one is peanuts were used to extract oil; the second one is due to natural disasters; the third reason is because of exports. They didn't realize the fact that under China's highly planned economy at that time, the planting of peanuts was strictly limited.

"These stories made me feel the importance and urgency of strengthening education on the history of reform and opening-up to young people. Today's Chinese youth have a strong sense of pride. Compared with previous generations, they enjoy the better quality life, a wider range of experiences, and a better access to international information. The future of China's reform and opening-up, and the future of China's competitive position in the world, depends on the young people," Chi said.

Only when young people learn about the history of China's reform and opening-up can they inject vitality into comprehensively deepening reform and opening-up. If we forget how history came about, do not understand reform and opening-up, or even deny reform and opening-up, it will be a tragedy of history, he noted.

The future of reform and opening-up

Today, the cause of reform and opening-up has been carried out for nearly half a century. In the future, the key to shouldering the responsibility of reform and opening-up and carrying the reform to the end lies in the hands of China's young people.

The young people today have full access to the internet, and have their own understanding of and requirements for a better life. If young people do not appreciate the history of reform and opening-up, they tend to equate certain problems in reality with reform and opening-up, which leads to some doubts about reform and opening-up. Therefore, it is important to help them understand the history of reform and opening-up.

The practice over the past 40 years and more has proved that reform and opening-up are the source of China's sustained economic and social development and the formation and development of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Only by deepening reform and opening-up at a higher level can we create an inexhaustible driving force for economic and social development and successfully achieve the country's second centennial goal.

"I believe that the new generation of young people will surely shoulder this important historical responsibility," Chi said.

The Chinese sports delegation for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games was announced in Beijing on Saturday with netizens sending blessings and best wishes that the national sports delegation achieve the best of results and win the highest number of gold medals.

The delegation consists of a total of 716 people, including 405 athletes, 136 male and 269 female, competing in 30 sports at the Games to be officially opened on July 26. The average age of Chinese athletes is 25, with 42 Olympic champions and 223 first-time Olympians.

There are 26 minority athletes, coming from 12 different ethnic minorities of Mongolian, Hui, Tibetan, Uygur, Miao, Zhuang, Korean, Manchu, Dong, Bai, Tujia, and Kazakh.

The delegation includes 42 foreign staff  from 17 countries and regions, including Serbia, Spain, Italy, among which there are 34 foreign coaches.

Women's skateboarding player Zheng Haohao, 11, is the youngest member of the delegation, while the 37-year-old race walker Liu Hong, who is participating in her fifth Olympics, will be the oldest athlete of Chinese delegation.

The news received widespread public attention and quickly began trending topic on Chinese social media platforms soon after it was released. On Chinese X-like Sina Weibo, more than 24 million had viewed the topic within one hour of the announcement.

Netizens expressed their respect and blessings for the whole delegation and some expressed their deep admiration for their sporting idols. 

"Cheer for Quan Hongchan and Team China," one netizen commented on Sina.

"Wang Chuqin, Sun Yingsha, Fan Zhendong, go go go!" another said.

Over 10 thousand athletes from more than 200 countries and regions are expected to take part in the Paris Olympics from July 26 to August 11, according to Xinhua News Agency.

China has established a childbearing and child-rearing supporting system, with a number of  policies rolled out in localities across the country, including extending maternity leave to 158 days or longer, raising childbirth allowance and child-rearing subsidies, and providing more professional and affordable babysitter services at childcare institutions, Central China Television reported on Thursday, the 35th World Population Day, citing officials from China's National Health Commission (NHC). 

A demographer suggested that these policy measures should be further strengthened and added to cope with the fundamental concerns of young people, such as employment stability while more equitable income distribution, should be taken into consideration to boost China's birth rates. 

Themed under advocating a focus on family education and traditions and cultivation of marriage and child-rearing by the NHC, this year's population day aims to raise public awareness about further addressing China's declining birth rates in recent years and the demographic issues that may affect China's sustainable development. 

According to the NHC, all provinces have extended maternity leave by 60 days or more, and have set 15 days of paternity leave for families with newborns. In addition, five to 20 days of parental leave are given each year for families with toddlers, with all the provinces having extended their maternity leaves to 158 days or above. 

Compared with merely extending maternity leave, assuring women's employment after childbirth while offering flexible working hours may have a stronger positive effect, Li Jianmin, a professor of demography with the Institute of Population and Development at Nankai University, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

In order to alleviate the financial burden of childbearing, child-rearing and education, China established in 2022 the individual income tax special additional deduction for infants nursing for three years, with the deduction standard being 1,000 yuan ($137.53) per month for each child. In 2023, the threshold for special additional income tax deductions for taking care of children under age three was raised from 1,000 yuan to 2,000 yuan each month. 

Besides, subsidy policies for childbirth and child-rearing have been explored and rolled out in localities across the country. The subsidies offered in Southwest China's Yunnan Province and Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region have covered the entire provincial regions.  

Yunnan provides a one-time subsidy of 2,000 yuan and 5,000 yuan to families having a second and third child, respectively, along with an annual childcare subsidy of 800 yuan until the child turns three years old. Ningxia offers a one-time subsidy of 2,000 yuan and 4,000 yuan to families having a second and third child, respectively, and a monthly subsidy of no less than 200 yuan to families with a third child until the child reaches three years old. 

According to Li, rather than introducing the individual income tax special additional deduction which has little impact on low-income families, the root cause of high costs of child-rearing expenses and the problems relating to income distribution must be addressed. 

Moreover, a unified national policy on subsidies should be introduced since governments in localities at all levels are currently acting according to their own financial capabilities with most subsidies being temporary and not being able to be sustained in the long run, Li said. 

According to the NHC, a lack of childcare services for infants and toddlers aged up to three years old is one of the major factors holding back childbirth. Last year, the NHC and China's National Development and Reform Commission selected 33 cities as the first batch of demonstration cities for national infant and toddler childcare service, and introduced relevant policies to support and encourage the development of affordable childcare services.

One of the 33 demonstration cities, Nanjing in East China's Jiangsu Province has adopted measures such as offering financial subsidies, providing venues, reducing rents and giving tax incentives to encourage social forces to participate in the establishment of an affordable childcare service system. 

On top of that, Li noted that policies that ensure stable employment and certainty around income will have positive effect on their family planning decisions. 

China continues to make efforts to improve comprehensive prevention and treatment capabilities for birth defects with the nationwide infant mortality rate and the mortality rate of children under 5 years old due to birth defects both decreasing by over 30 percent compared with five years ago. 

Japan and NATO are reportedly finalizing plans to establish a line for sharing highly confidential security information during the ongoing NATO summit in Washington, DC. This latest move, along with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's remarks implying China's "support" for Russia, underscores Japan's "pivotal role" to cater to the US' strategy in building an "Asian NATO" and to serve Japan's goal of breaking free from post-war restrictions, observers said.

Japan's introduction of NATO into the Asia-Pacific has drawn criticism for escalating regional instability and introducing uncertainty, with some experts expressing concerns about a potential arms race.

Kishida is expected to meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to reach an agreement on Thursday to strengthen security cooperation by establishing a system on sharing high-level information even at ordinary times, The Japan News reported on Wednesday.

From Tuesday to Thursday, leaders of NATO's 32 member countries are conducting a three-day summit in Washington, DC. And for the third year in a row, the leaders of New Zealand, Japan and South Korea will attend the NATO summit.

"Japan has played a pivotal role in driving NATO's engagement in the Asia-Pacific and integrating the region into NATO's strategic framework. It has facilitated NATO's entry into the Asia-Pacific through various means and assisted the US in establishing cooperative relationships with neighboring countries," Xiang Haoyu, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Japan's enhanced cooperation with NATO serves two primary objectives: to leverage NATO's capabilities in countering China, especially in maritime disputes like the East China Sea and South China Sea, and to circumvent its constitutional constraints by pursuing unprecedented military expansion. This aims to shed Japan's status as a defeated nation in WWII and elevate its influence as a significant political power, Xiang said.

Hyping threats from North Korea, Russia and China, along with emphasizing the Taiwan question and maritime disputes is tactics that Kishida has taken to "persuade" the Japanese to back his plan to revise the pacifist constitution, bolster the defense budget and elevate cooperation with NATO, Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

In July 2023, Japan and NATO signed the renewed Individually Tailored Partnership Program, with both sides agreeing to expand cooperation on security issues across all domains of warfare. Also in recent years, Japan has been negotiating and signing new reciprocal access agreements (RAA) on defense training and capacity building with NATO member states, according to media reports.

The US is currently pushing for the convergence of the transatlantic NATO alliance and the Asia-Pacific alliance to align with its "Indo-Pacific strategy," collectively applying pressure on China to curb its rise. However, with its global resources spread thin and domestic factors like elections influencing its leadership, the US is also utilizing Japan's proactive engagement with NATO to achieve its strategic objectives, Xiang said.

Despite NATO's efforts to use the pivot to the Asia-Pacific as a catalyst to demonstrate its global influence, establishing an Asian version of NATO, which includes Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand or other countries - faces significant challenges in practice, analysts said.

Xiang noted that the diverse interests and demands of NATO's 32 member countries lead to substantial divisions on how to approach China. While NATO requires external threats to maintain internal unity as a military alliance, member states do not universally agree on whether China poses such a threat. Moreover, many countries maintain strong economic and trade ties with China, constraining NATO's focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

But NATO's expansion to Asia is also alarming. At a press conference on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that China's position on NATO is consistent.

We firmly oppose NATO acting beyond its characterization as a regional defensive alliance, inserting itself into the Asia-Pacific to incite confrontation and rivalry, and disrupting the prosperity and stability in this region. We urge NATO to make real contribution to world peace, stability and security, Lin said.

Da said that with NATO's increased involvement in the Asia-Pacific region and its heightened containment efforts against China, particularly concerning issues like the South China Sea and Taiwan Straits, China may face a deteriorating external environment.

Japan's efforts to introduce external influences into the Asia-Pacific have been criticized for increasing regional instability and introducing uncertainty. Their collaboration with NATO often prioritizes military aspects, thereby heightening the risk of arms races, Da said.

Moreover, when countries in a region shift their focus away from multilateral cooperation, free trade and regional welfare and development, instead prioritizing military buildup and mutual deterrence, it ultimately harms the region itself, said the expert.

Editor's Note:

After seven months of conflict in Gaza, a cease-fire still seems distant. Meanwhile, the Palestine-Israel conflict is causing ripple effects across the region, and has led to major humanitarian crises. The international community, including China, is making efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crises.

What's the situation on the ground in Gaza? How does the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) view the humanitarian efforts that China has made on the global stage? Global Times reporters Xie Wenting, Zhao Juecheng, and Liu Caiyu (GT) spoke with ICRC's vice-president Gilles Carbonnier (Carbonnier) about these issues and more.
GT: What's the work the ICRC has conducted in the Gaza Strip? What are the major challenges facing the ICRC?

Carbonnier: We reminded the parties to the conflict of their obligations under the Geneva Conventions and stressed the importance of adhering to international humanitarian laws. Next to that, we provide assistance in Gaza and we do our utmost to provide food assistance, especially at present. We have set up kitchens in the refugee camps in Gaza to provide food to the most vulnerable people. We also provide water through water tracking and support the water board and water utility in repairing wells, water pumping stations, and restoring water and wastewater treatment to prevent epidemics. Finally, we support hospitals and medical centers with drugs and medicines among others in Gaza.

The first issue, which we have mentioned again and again, is that it is key to reduce civilian losses and civilian suffering by abiding by and respecting international humanitarian law. Under international humanitarian law, civilians and essential goods and services must be protected. Another priority for us is to bring enough support to help avert major health issues, so that people can access healthcare, injured individuals can be treated, and epidemics can be averted, ensuring sick people have access to medical assistance.

However, there is a challenge as most of the health system in Gaza is not functioning or has been impaired, making it difficult to bring drugs into Gaza and distribute them to the different health centers that are still operational due to security concerns and logistical hurdles.

Food security is also a major concern. Currently, it is a struggle to bring enough food into Gaza, and the production of vegetables, poultry, and other food items has been partially destroyed.

We welcome the repeated support of China for the respect of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law. We also welcome China's support to help provide life-saving assistance, including medicines and other life-saving assistance in Gaza for those most in need. China has a very important role to play, all the way from being a member of the UN Security Council down to the provision of and support for medical assistance.

GT: How do you see the ongoing conflicts affecting the world? And personally do you think there is any solution to these conflicts?

Carbonnier: First, conflicts are becoming increasingly protracted, spanning generations. It is clear that there are no humanitarian solutions to these crises, only political ones. Therefore, we must identify the necessary political steps toward conflict resolution. However, peace and security are becoming more elusive as finding a solution becomes increasingly difficult.

Interestingly, the initial steps often involve humanitarian efforts, such as attempting to establish a humanitarian cease-fire. The ICRC serves as a neutral intermediary, able to communicate with all parties involved. It is crucial to maintain this space for neutral and impartial humanitarian actors like the ICRC, as they can facilitate dialogue with various parties in conflicts.

Sometimes the parties agree that they want to start a discussion between themselves and they ask us as a neutral intermediary to ensure the safe passage of, for instance, one party to the conflict, to be able to go to a place where they can meet and discuss. We provide this neutral intermediation. Sometimes this neutral intermediation that we do is the first step that provides an enabling environment for peace conversations.

The problem nowadays is that we see a lot of attacks against neutral humanitarian actors. Some people say, if you are not with us, you are against us. We say we are not against anyone, but we have to maintain a neutral role. And we will not publicly denounce this party to the conflict or that party to the conflict because if we publicly denounce different parties to the conflict every day, then we would be kicked out. And the international community would be left without a neutral intermediary on the ground. It is in the interest of major powers and the international community to preserve that space.

GT: Could you introduce some of the major cooperation between China and the ICRC?

Carbonnier: We have been present in China and have been cooperating with key stakeholders in China for many years. I believe we want to take this cooperation to a new level following the discussions and visit that President of the ICRC Mirjana Spoljaric had in September, 2023.

I believe that we can further our cooperation by engaging with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Chinese government on international humanitarian law, as well as by working more practically with Chinese foreign aid, particularly in the medical sector.

We had conversations with the National Health Commission recently. We also had a meeting with the China medical teams which have been sent to African countries. We engaged with them to share our expertise and experiences in the humanitarian sector. We have also started conversations with the China International Development Cooperation Agency to explore opportunities for better cooperation in the future. We welcome Chinese humanitarian workers who are interested in working with us. We are currently working closely with the Red Cross Society of China.

What I see and am really glad about is that our own delegations, present in about 100 situations of conflict, engage with the Chinese embassies on the ground to have a dialogue on the humanitarian situation. This interaction is much more fluid now. We also have regular discussions with foreign affairs officials, where we can share our assessment of the situation in Africa and in approximately 60 countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) where we are active.
GT: What's your take on the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI)?

Carbonnier: I think with the GSI and the GDI provides clear guidance and perspectives that are of great interest to us. It also helps us to have a better understanding of foreign policy priorities for China.

Our understanding is indeed that China recognizes the interactions between security, development, and peace. I see common interests in that we work in protracted conflict situations. We aim to stop providing aid as soon as possible and instead provide sustainable humanitarian solutions. This includes providing people with seed capital and access to tools so they can generate income and regain dignity. We also aim to stop water trucking and repair wells and water pumping stations quickly so that major urban systems can function again, providing services to schools, hospitals, and other essential facilities.

I think we see an interaction between preserving development gains, even in conflict, and restoring them in order to provide people with opportunities as soon as possible. Once they have opportunities and income, the prospects for reconciliation and stability improve. The last point is that by promoting respect for international humanitarian law, we prevent the worst from happening. If we prevent the worst, people will reconcile more easily. If the worst has happened to your family, then hatred can pass from generation to generation.

The goal of the GSI and GDI is to preserve and promote sustainable development as a way to provide greater stability. In fragile situations, our efforts aim to restore livelihoods, preserve development gains, and prevent distractions and violations of international humanitarian law that could sow the seeds of further conflicts.

GT: I noticed that the ICRC is paying attention to the impact of AI in the military domain. What suggestions do you have to strengthen global governance cooperation on AI?

Carbonnier: For us, it's important to recognize that in situations of armed conflict, the potential of AI is like a magnifying glass. It can save lives and achieve great things, but the risks are also heightened, as it can lead to tragic humanitarian consequences. Therefore, we believe it is crucial to harness scientific and technological advances to provide a more impactful and effective response.

Currently, humanitarian needs are increasing while funding is decreasing, making it necessary to find ways to be more effective. Utilizing digital transformation through technology is a key part of achieving this impact.

However, the use of AI, especially in weapons and machine learning, raises significant concerns. We have called for the regulation of autonomous weapon systems to address these concerns swiftly, as technological advancements are outpacing the government's ability to regulate and govern these developments. We are worried that autonomous weapon systems powered by AI and machine learning could make life and death decisions without human control.

For us, it is critical to maintain human control over these decisions and human responsibility in accountability. We are also concerned about autonomous weapons, which have unpredictable consequences that even the designers and developers of the algorithm and products cannot anticipate. This is something that is unacceptable from an ethical standpoint, a legal standpoint, and a humanitarian standpoint. It is urgent. There are intergovernmental reflections on the global framework to govern AI at large, but also on the specificity of using AI in new warfare means and methods. This is a pressing issue that must be addressed by the international community.

GT: How do you view China's role in gathering representatives from regional countries and international organizations to promote prosperity and economic development in Asia?

Carbonnier: It is important to recognize the critical importance of China in the region. China has been booming for many years and has greatly contributed to reducing overall poverty rates and addressing development issues. The region has seen significant progress in economic development, science and technology, and diplomacy. It is crucial to have opportunities like the Boao Forum for Asia to engage in diplomatic discussions with political leaders on fundamental issues such as development, security, and stability that have global implications.

I have been coming regularly to China. I hope to come back to Boao certainly in 2025 and the years after that.

Online travel searches for Cuba have skyrocketed after Cuba announced a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens in early May.

Direct flights are set to resume from Friday. The surge in tourists' interest showcased an optimistic outlook for personnel exchanges and economic vitality between China and Cuba, analysts said.

As of Thursday, online travel searches for Cuba were up nearly 10 times month-on-month, according to data that Fliggy, a China-based travel platform, sent to the Global Times on Thursday.

Searches for flight tickets from China to Cuba skyrocketed more than 30 times on a monthly basis.

As the summer vacation - from early July to early September - for Chinese students approaches, Fliggy expects a surge of Chinese tourists going to Cuba, marking the first peak since the visa exemption for Chinese citizens was announced on May 4.

Tickets for direct flights from Beijing, China's capital city to Havana, Cuba's capital city, are on sale on some Chinese travel platforms. Such tickets cost about 7,800 yuan ($1,080) on travel platform Qunar.

The flights, which open on Friday, will operate twice a week. They were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The rise of Chinese tourists, with their increasing spending power, is expected to boost Cuba's economic development, Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Thursday.

"Businesspeople will also utilize the direct air route for easier access to Cuba and even destinations in Latin American countries, which will further support economic and trade activities," Zhou said, adding that the resumption of the direct flight showcases the willingness for personnel exchanges between China and Cuba.

Cuba's economy has been under pressure for a long time, given the US economic sanctions and blockade on the movement of people, said Zhou.

The potential for increasing personnel exchanges and commercial cooperation between China and Cuba is huge, which will boost Cuba's economic development, Pan Deng, director of the Latin American and Caribbean Region Law Center of the China University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times on Thursday.

"More frequent travel and business visits by Chinese citizens can also be expanded to other Latin American countries if they also develop favorable visa policies for Chinese travelers and business personnel," said Pan.

The US unveils new tariffs on imports of electric vehicles, solar cells and other clean-energy products from China, in blatant protectionist move

The final visiting session of the 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum was recently held in San Jose, capital of the Republic of Costa Rica. On the Russian side, the discussion was attended by Alexander Stuglev, CEO of the Roscongress Foundation, and Yuri Bedzhanyan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Costa Rica.

“The first country in Central America with which Russia established official contact was Costa Rica. This happened in 1872. Over more than 150 years of relations between the countries, a strong bond has been built up. Today our diplomatic and trade relations are full-fledged and at a high level. We see great prospects for the development of cooperation in the spheres of tourism, culture, investment and business,” noted Yuri Bedzhanyan. 

The Costa Rican delegation included representatives of companies from the agricultural industry, digital technologies and tourism. More than 10 senior executives and managers took part in the SPIEF visiting session. The discussion touched on bilateral business relations between the countries and demonstrated the business development opportunities for Costa Rican entrepreneurs that SPIEF offers. 

Alexander Stuglev commented: “We see a mutual interest in cooperation, the creation of partnerships and the development of international cooperation between our countries. That is why we are here today to tell you about the opportunities that SPIEF offers to Costa Rican businesses. Today, the forum is a bridge for creating new ties between entrepreneurs, it helps participants to find new partners and create interesting projects aimed at strengthening mutually beneficial relationships.”

Representatives of the Roscongress Foundation told the guests of the event in detail about the thematic areas of the forum and their formats, and then moved on to smaller scale negotiations.  

The 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will take place on 5–8 June, 2024. 

The Roscongress Foundation is a socially oriented non-financial development institution and major organizer of nationwide and international conventions; exhibitions; and business, public, youth, sporting, and cultural events. It was established in pursuance of a decision by the President of the Russian Federation.