By Samuel Sukhnandan
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) is committed to upholding long-term peace, equality and development with all its allies including those in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region.
These were the sentiments of the Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister, Hua Chunying on Friday at the official opening of this year’s China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) programme.
While addressing journalists representing over 53 developing countries from LAC, Asia, South-East Asia and Africa, Minister Chunying said “developing countries have a common purpose with China, and our hearts are closely linked.”
She added, “China has all along been a member of the big developing country family, standing with each other through thick and thin. We shall never forget that it is our brothers and sisters in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean who helped restore the lawful seat of the PRC at the United Nations. Today, China is on a better footing. It will do its best to help so that we all can have a better life.”
The Minister recalled President Xi Jinping’s deep concern over the fact that some countries were faring very well, while others were still struggling and in response to this issue, the PRC launched the Belt and Road Initiative.
Today, 130 countries have signed on the initiative with many benefitting tremendously including those in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and SouthEast Asia. Guyana signed on in 2018 and also stands to benefit tremendously.
“People in all countries are entitled to choose their development paths and deserve a better and happier life. Just as China believes that not a single Chinese should be left behind on the journey toward common prosperity, no country should be left behind in our common pursuit of greater development,” she added.
Minister Chunying also referred to a recent high-level dialogue between 18 emerging markets and developing countries on Global Development and chaired by the Chinese president, saying that they agreed that unity and cooperation should be enhanced to build a better world that meets the needs and aspirations of the developing world.
“This shows that we developing countries have a common purpose, and our hearts are closely linked. The world today still faces many risks and challenges, and we need to jointly respond with unity and cooperation. There is much unfairness and injustice, and we need to support each other in defending our interests.”
Extending a warm welcome to foreign journalists, the Minister said that since 2014, the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA) has been dedicated to developing the CIPCC – to build a platform for the media from all across the world to observe, understand and study China.
“In the past two years, due to COVID-19, the Centre had to suspend its in-person programmes, but it has never stopped its work on the cloud. The cloud centre has opened a virtual window for the media of developing countries to see and feel the pulse of China’s development,” she remarked.
President of the CPDA, Wu Hailong and diplomatic officials were present at the event.
Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister, Hua Chunying (centre).
Since 2014 more than 370 journalists have taken part in the prestigious CIPCC training programme. This year, the on-site training programme was relaunched for the first time after two years of the Covid-19 outbreak.
This year’s programme runs from July to November and will provide foreign journalists opportunities to attend lectures on China’s politics, diplomacy, economy, poverty reduction, culture, internships in Chinese media, cover major domestic and regional events in China and visit various provinces.
NCN Editor, Samuel Sukhnandan is currently in Beijing for the China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) Fellowship held for five months at the invitation of the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA).