Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for stepping up international governance and cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI), to make sure that AI is for good and for all, not a game of the rich countries and the wealthy.

Xi made the remarks at Session II of the 19th G20 Summit on Reform of the Institutions of Global Governance.

---

Xi calls for building a world economy characterized by cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for improving global economic governance and building a world economy characterized by cooperation.

Xi made the remarks at Session II of the 19th G20 Summit on Reform of the Institutions of Global Governance.

As main creditors, international financial institutions and commercial creditors need to take part in debt reduction and suspension for developing countries, he said.

---

Xi calls for building a world economy characterized by stability

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for improving global financial governance and building a world economy characterized by stability.

Xi made the remarks at Session II of the 19th G20 Summit on Reform of the Institutions of Global Governance.

Joint efforts are needed to keep the international financial market stable and prevent negative spillover of domestic monetary policy adjustments, and developed countries should fulfill their responsibilities in this regard, he said.

---

Xi calls for building a world economy characterized by openness

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for building a world economy characterized by openness.

"We need to improve global trade governance and build a world economy characterized by openness," Xi said when addressing Session II of the 19th G20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"We should press ahead with reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO), oppose unilateralism and protectionism, restore the normal functioning of the dispute settlement mechanism as soon as possible, include the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement into the WTO legal framework, and reach early consensus on the e-commerce agreement," he added.

Xi said that it is important to "avoid politicizing economic issues, avoid fragmenting the global market, and avoid taking protectionist moves in the name of green and low-carbon development."

---

Xi calls for building a world economy characterized by innovation

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for improving global digital governance and building a world economy characterized by innovation.

He called for stepping up international governance and cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI), to make sure that AI is for good and for all, not a game of the rich countries and the wealthy.

Xi made the remarks at Session II of the 19th G20 Summit on Reform of the Institutions of Global Governance.

---

Xi calls for building a world economy characterized by eco-friendliness

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for improving global ecological governance and building a world economy characterized by eco-friendliness.

He called for expediting the green and low-carbon transition of the world economy.

"Energy transition and energy security is a major issue. We should follow the approach of 'establishing the new before abolishing the old,' and replace traditional energy with clean energy in a stable and well-ordered way," Xi said when addressing Session II of the 19th G20 Summit on Reform of the Institutions of Global Governance.

---

Xi calls for expediting green, low-carbon transition of world economy

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for expediting the green and low-carbon transition of the world economy.

"Energy transition and energy security is a major issue. We should follow the approach of 'establishing the new before abolishing the old,' and replace traditional energy with clean energy in a stable and well-ordered way," Xi said when addressing the Session II of the 19th G20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

---

Xi calls on G20 to support UN and its Security Council in playing greater role, support all efforts conducive to peaceful settlement of crises

---

Xi calls for improving global trade governance, restoring normal functioning of dispute settlement mechanism

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for improving global trade governance and restoring normal functioning of dispute settlement mechanism as soon as possible.

"We should press ahead with reforming the World Trade Organization, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, restore the normal functioning of the dispute settlement mechanism as soon as possible," Xi said when addressing the Session II of the 19th G20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

---

Xi calls for de-escalating Ukraine crisis, seeking political settlement

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for de-escalating the Ukraine crisis and seeking a political settlement.

"To deescalate the Ukraine crisis and seek a political settlement, we should follow the principles of no expansion of the battlefields, no escalation of hostilities and no fanning flames," Xi said when addressing the Session II of the 19th G20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

---

G20 members should see each other's development as opportunities rather than challenges -- Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that G20 members should keep in mind that mankind lives in a community with a shared future, see each other's development as opportunities rather than challenges, and view each other as partners rather than rivals.

---

Xi stresses urgency to stop fighting in Palestinian-Israeli conflict

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that it is urgent for all sides in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to stop fighting and end the war.

"The fighting in Gaza has inflicted deep suffering on the people. It is urgent for all sides to stop fighting, end the war, and provide support for easing the humanitarian crisis in the region and for postwar reconstruction," Xi said when addressing the Session II of the 19th G20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"The fundamental way out of the cycle of Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the implementation of the two-State solution, the restoration of Palestine's legitimate national rights, and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine," he added.

---

Xi calls for reaching early consensus on e-commerce agreement

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for reaching early consensus on the e-commerce agreement.

---

Xi warns against politicizing economic issues, fragmenting global market

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday that it is important to "avoid politicizing economic issues, avoid fragmenting the global market, and avoid taking protectionist moves in the name of green and low-carbon development."

---

Int'l financial institutions, commercial creditors need to take part in debt reduction, suspension for developing countries -- Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that as main creditors, international financial institutions and commercial creditors need to take part in debt reduction and suspension for developing countries.

---

Developed countries should prevent negative spillover of domestic monetary policy adjustments -- Xi

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that joint efforts are needed to keep the international financial market stable and prevent negative spillover of domestic monetary policy adjustments, and developed countries should fulfill their responsibilities in this regard.

China is ready to continue its financial cooperation with Argentina and help Argentina maintain economic and financial stability, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Xi pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than half a century ago, the two countries have adhered to mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

China's policy toward Argentina has always been oriented towards all the Argentine people, and China-Argentina cooperation also benefits them all, he said.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership, and relations between the two countries stand at an important historical juncture of building on past achievements and forging ahead, Xi said.

China cherishes the traditional friendship between the two peoples, supports the Argentine side in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions through reform, he said.

China stands ready to work with Argentina to promote the long-term and stable development of the China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership and make a greater contribution to their respective development, said Xi.

Noting that the current world situation is undergoing profound changes, Xi said China and Argentina should continue to firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, strengthen exchanges at all levels and in all fields, and promote people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, so as to make China-Argentina friendship more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

The economic and trade structure between the two countries is highly complementary, and the prospects for cooperation are broad, Xi said.

He welcomed the Argentine side to seize the significant opportunities created by China's high-level opening-up and further expand its market share in China.

China is willing to work with Argentina to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said.

China is ready to deepen cooperation with Argentina in energy and mining, infrastructure, agriculture, scientific and technological innovation, digital economy and other fields, he added.

For his part, Milei said he was very pleased to meet President Xi, thanking China for the valuable assistance to Argentina in stabilizing its domestic economic and financial situation.

Argentina and China enjoy profound traditional friendship, Milei said, adding that Argentina hopes to be a reliable and stable partner of China.

Argentina firmly supports China's position on the Taiwan question and stays committed to the one-China principle, he said.

Milei said Argentina hopes to further strengthen cooperation with China in the fields of economy, trade, energy, mining and finance, welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and cooperate in Argentina, and stands ready to provide a sound business environment for Chinese enterprises investing in Argentina and protect their legitimate rights and interests in accordance with the law.

The Argentine side highly appreciates Xi's insightful proposals on global governance at the G20 Leaders' Summit and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China, Milei said.

Argentina supports the further success of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum and is willing to play a positive role in promoting the development of relations between China and Latin America, he added.

China's manned space program has released a promotional video showcasing a series of recent advancements, including the first animated demonstration of taikonauts' "adventure" on the moon by 2030, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Thursday.

The video highlights that China's first manned lunar landing aims to leverage taikonauts' unique advantages in conducting exploration activities on the lunar surface, thus laying the foundation for China's future exploration of extraterrestrial bodies.

This feat is scheduled to take place before 2030, which includes conducting lunar scientific investigations and related technological experiments, the video showed. During the mission, it aims to master key technologies for manned round trips between Earth and the moon, short-term stays on the lunar surface and human-machine joint exploration.

The mission eyes to complete multiple tasks including lunar landing, orbiting, sampling, researching and retrieving, establishing an independent capability for manned lunar exploration.

Chinese researchers will also utilize pre-manned flight tests and the manned lunar landing mission to conduct large-scale space science experiments, with preliminary plans outlining nine scientific objectives across three fields - lunar science, lunar-based science, and resource exploration and utilization.

The video further noted that components for the lunar crewed landing are currently progressing as planned in the production of prototypes and related ground tests, including the Long March-10 carrier rocket, the Mengzhou manned spacecraft, the Lanyue lunar lander, the lunar spacesuit and the manned rover.

On Wednesday, Long March-10 carrier rocket completed a fairing separation test, marking another solid step forward in the rocket's prototype development.

Additionally, a batch of ground facilities and equipment to support these production tests has been completed and put into use, with construction of the Wenchang launch site in South China's Hainan Province also underway, the video disclosed on Thursday.

On the same day, the 6th Human Space Symposium kicked off in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province. Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the successful launch of Shenzhou-1, China's first experimental crewed spaceship and the upcoming second anniversary of the completion of the Chinese space station, over 800 experts and scholars from the field gathered to exchange the latest cutting-edge academic research results and to look forward to the development of China's manned spaceflight program.

This is also the first academic conference held since the completion of the "three-step" strategic tasks of China's manned spaceflight program, marking the beginning of a new journey in space station applications and development, as well as manned lunar exploration.

The one-China principle is a basic norm in international relations and prevailing international consensus. The Lai Ching-te authorities' political manipulation activities and provocations using trips to countries having so-called "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan will lead nowhere, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday, in response to reports that Taiwan regional leader Lai will visit three Pacific island nation "allies" at the end of this month in his first overseas trip since taking office.

It will not shake the solid and strong international commitment to the one-China principle, or stop the overriding historical trend towards China's reunification, Lin said. 

"We urge relevant countries to see clearly the trend of history at an early date, and make the right decision that truly serves their fundamental and long-term interests," Lin told a routine press conference.

In response to whether China demanded the US not to allow Taiwan's Lai to "transit" in US territory when he travels to the Pacific, Lin said that Chinese President Xi Jinping in the meeting between Chinese and US Presidents in Lima stressed that the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués are the political foundation of China-US relations and they must be observed. 

Cross-Straits peace and stability and "Taiwan independence" separatist activities are irreconcilable as water and fire. If the US side cares about maintaining peace across the Taiwan Straits, it is crucial that it sees clearly the true nature of Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities in seeking "Taiwan independence," handles the Taiwan question with extra prudence, unequivocally opposes "Taiwan independence," and supports China's peaceful reunification, Lin said.

Lin reiterated that China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the US and the Taiwan region, firmly opposes any visit by the leader of the Taiwan authorities to the US in any name or under whatever pretext, and firmly opposes any form of US connivance and support for "Taiwan independence" separatists and their separatist activities. 

"We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, act on its leaders' commitments, including not supporting 'Taiwan independence,' stop any official interactions with the Taiwan region, and stop sending wrong signals to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces. China remains resolutely determined to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and oppose interference in our internal affairs by external forces," Lin said.

When responding to an inquiry of the commander of US Space Command recently saying that China is moving at a mind-boggling speed in developing a large number of different categories of space weapons, which is very threatening, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said on Friday that the US has been using the so-called "China threat in space" as a pretext to deploy weapons that target satellites. It is purely the distortion of facts and is like a thief crying "catch the thief." 

Zhang said that the US defines space as a "war-fighting domain," continues to expand its space forces, forms military alliances in this regard, and keeps militarizing the space. These acts pose grave threats to the common security and development interests in space of all countries, Zhang added.

Zhang noted that facts have proven that the US is the greatest threat to space security and the biggest instigator of space arms race.

The Chinese side advocates the peaceful use of space, opposes the weaponization of and arms race in space, and promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind in the field of space, said Zhang.

We urge the US side to stop spreading irresponsible remarks, stop expanding its arsenal and making war preparations in space, and contribute its due share to maintaining lasting peace and security of space, Zhang said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping held a series of bilateral meetings on Friday local time in Peru, on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting hosted in the capital Lima. 

On Friday, President Xi met with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, Chilean President Gabriel Boric, New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, respectively. 

During Xi's meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, he  said China stands ready to work with Thailand to carry forward the traditional friendship, strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen exchanges on governance experience, advance mutually beneficial cooperation across various fields, support the modernization of both countries and push forward the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future, according to Xinhua. 

In meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Xi said that China is ready to join hands with Singapore and continue to march forward together on the road of modernization and open a new chapter of high-quality development.

Xi also called on China and South Korea to promote a sound and steady development of the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries on Friday. 

During the meeting with Chilean President Gabriel Boric on Friday afternoon, Xi said that China and Chile should expand bilateral cooperation to more sustainable and broader areas with high-level free trade and more open industrial policies. 

In the next meeting with New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Xi said that China is ready to join New Zealand in building a bilateral relationship featuring mutual respect, mutual tolerance, cooperation and common development. Xi also urged China and New Zealand to regard each other as an opportunity and partner, rather than a challenge or threat.

Xi also told Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba that China-Japan relations are at a critical stage of improvement and development, and he is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with the Japanese prime minister to jointly push China-Japan relations along the right track and make steady and long-term progress.

Ishiba said that Japan has no intention of decoupling from China. He stressed that Japan's position on the Taiwan question, based on the Japan-China joint communique in 1972, remains unchanged

Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that the intensive high-level meetings underscore China's recognized prestige and influence among other Asia-Pacific countries, highlighting China's role in promoting regional stability, safeguarding peace, and contributing to prosperity. 

The series of bilateral meetings shows that both China and relevant countries in the Asia-Pacific are eager to mitigate the uncertainties in the region's political, economic and social order. Closer coordination and cooperation are essential for ensuring sustained prosperity and stability, Li said. 

It is worth noting that most of the six countries are, commonly recognized as allies and partners of the US.

According to Li, the above fact may indicate apprehension among US allies regarding American policies in the region and in international trade, and they are seeking to enhance stability by strengthening ties with China to better protect their general interests.

These six countries share strong economic and trade ties with China. Therefore, the use of such an opportunity to hold high-level meetings advances shared interests and fosters consensus on regional stability and prosperity, Li said.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the new Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command, Rear Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, to lead the naval force, amid tension in South China Sea, according to media reports. Chinese observers said the new Navy chief is likely to maintain the Philippine's policy of taking provocative actions against China, but China will firmly respond to any provocations from the Philippines with countermeasures as always.

Ezpeleta has vowed to sustain and further strengthen military might and presence at sea as part of efforts to deter attempts to subvert the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The new navy chief did not specifically mention China in his assumption speech on Friday, according to the Philstar.

Before becoming the new Navy chief, Ezpeleta was the Navy's 57th vice commander from August to November this year, its chief of staff from August 2022 to August 2024, and commander of the Naval Forces Southern Luzon from September 2019 to August 2022, the Manila Times reported. 

The new appointment is not expected to significantly impact the Philippines' policies and stance in the South China Sea, Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday. 

Since the Philippines under Marcos Jr. is undergoing a strategic shift, and its South China Sea policy has become more assertive, a military officer who is close to Marcos Jr. will further bolster his governance foundation and back the implementation of his South China Sea policy, Chen said. 

Regarding the South China Sea issue, the Chinese side has consistently maintained an open attitude, expressing a hope for the Philippines to return to dialogue. Meanwhile, China will firmly respond to any provocations from the Philippines with a variety of measures, Ding Duo, a deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at China's National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday. 

On the same day as the change of command in the Philippine Navy, the Philippine officials stated that its navy transported food and other supplies to the illegally grounded warship at China's Ren'ai Jiao (Ren'ai Reef) in the South China Sea without any confrontation with the Chinese side, according to media report.

With China's approval, the Philippines resupplied an illegally grounded military ship with living necessities at China's Ren'ai Jiao in the South China Sea via a civilian vessel on Thursday, the China Coast Guard (CCG) announced Friday.

The CCG conducted verification and maintained oversight throughout the process, said Liu Dejun, a CCG spokesperson, in a statement. 

The Philippines is aware that each provocative action it takes has been met with targeted countermeasures from China, leading it to assess whether it can afford to halt the provisional agreement reached regarding Ren'ai Jiao, Ding said. 

China has reached a provisional arrangement with the Philippines on managing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao in July this year, Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

Recently, the Philippine President signed the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, attempting to solidify the illegal rulings of the 2016 arbitration case through domestic legislation. This move undermines regional peace, exacerbates tensions, while also inflicts damage on Philippines' own interests, according to Chen.

On Friday, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense urged the Philippines to return to the right track of resolving the South China Sea disputes through dialogue and consultation.

The Philippines, in collusion with external countries, carried out frequent military exercises in the South China Sea, disrupted peace and stability in the South China Sea, and undermined the interests and well-being of people in the region, spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said.

The Philippines intends to buy intermediate-range missile launchers from the US, a move revealed by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, according to the Financial Times. A Chinese observer told the Global Times on Monday that a recent series of actions by the Philippines shows that it is on track to become a real troublemaker in the South China Sea.

Teodoro said Manila was looking at getting mid-range capability launchers, which the US brought to the Philippines in April for two bilateral military exercises, as reported by the Financial Times on Sunday.

According to the report, the deployment of the Typhon launcher in April remains in the Philippines after the exercises were finished. US media outlet The War Zone said that the Typhon system is in the Philippines for its inaugural Indo-Pacific deployment.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on September 19 that the US deployment in the Philippines is a move to turn back the wheel of history. It gravely threatens regional countries' security, incites geopolitical confrontation, and has aroused high vigilance and concerns of countries in the region. We urge relevant country to heed the call of countries in the region, correct the wrongdoing as soon as possible, stop inciting military confrontation, quickly pull out the missile system as publicly pledged, and avoid going further down the wrong path.

Philippine's potential purchase of US missile launcher came after the enactment by the Philippines of its "Maritime Zones Act" and "Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act" on Friday, which prompted the Chinese Foreign Ministry to summon the Philippines' Ambassador to China to make serious protests.

Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that the Philippines should assess the situation in the South China Sea with a rational perspective, recognizing that the so-called purchase of any weapons will neither be helpful nor carry any significance.

Xu noted that in addition to the problems in the South China Sea remaining unresolved, the Philippines' actions could also exacerbate the current situation. In other words, the Philippines can be viewed as more than just a troublemaker, it contributes to regional instability.

The Philippines' actions are aimed at drawing the US into providing more aid, while also serving its own domestic political interests, by positioning itself as a so-called hardliner on the South China Sea to boost its domestic support, Xu said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Monday responded to a statement by the US State Department supporting the Philippines in enacting the so-called Philippine maritime act, saying that over the years, for the sake of its geopolitical agenda, the US has been instigating the Philippines to engage in acts of infringement and provocations in the South China Sea, as if the area needed any more instability. This vicious intention is so clear for all to see.

While urging other countries to abide by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the US refuses to join it, which fully reveals its hypocrisy and double standards. The South China Sea arbitration in itself violates UNCLOS and is a political farce through and through, and the so-called arbitral award is illegal, null and void, Lin said.

Indian media have recently hyped Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's reported visit to China as a sign of strained relations between Kathmandu and New Delhi.

However, rather than lamenting the choices of a sovereign nation regarding its diplomatic engagements, this so-called "break from tradition" should prompt India to reflect on why China is increasingly welcomed among South Asian countries, a Chinese expert said.

The upcoming China visit of Oli will focus on the implementation of past agreements and accords, the prime minister's party CPN-UML said on Saturday, The Kathmandu Post reported. Preparations for the visit to China have already begun, it added.

The visit, however, has not yet been confirmed by Chinese authorities as of press time.

Oli's scheduled visit to China has drawn attention from India, as Indian media, including The Hindu, said this visit will make Oli "the first Nepali leader not to visit India on his first bilateral visit abroad after taking over."

The Hindu cited experts as saying that Oli's visit is a symptom of strain in India-Nepal ties on a number of issues, including India's objection to Chinese investment or components in India-Nepal projects, as well as Nepal's pending request for additional routes for overflight from India for newly built airports that are running into losses.

The Indian Express also published an article on November 3, calling Oli's visit a "break from tradition."

India's excessive attention on the choices of state visit made by Nepal, an independent country, not only reflects India's disregard for Nepal's sovereignty but also demonstrates India's Monroe Doctrine mentality of treating South Asian countries as its backyard, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times.

Qian said Nepal's visit to China does not necessarily indicate a change in its relationship with India; cooperation with China and cooperation with India are not mutually exclusive for Nepal. 

"That I am visiting China first does not mean our relation with India is not good," said Oli, the Kathmandu Post reported. "We took a position while India imposed a blockade [in 2015-16], so they were not happy. There is no reason for them to be unhappy with us [now] as we will maintain friendly, balanced and good relations with both our neighbors."

China's cooperation with South Asian countries is based on mutually beneficial relationships without any restrictive conditions, Qian said.

In July, Ramesh Aryal, deputy director general of the customs department of Nepal's Ministry of Finance, said China is an important trade partner of Nepal, with their bilateral trade accounting for 17 percent of Nepal's total, according to Xinhua News Agency. 

In 2023, China's foreign trade with Nepal reached 12.69 billion yuan ($1.78 billion), up 15.6 percent year on year. Among them, the value of trade between China's Xizang Autonomous Region and Nepal reached 2.77 billion yuan, representing over one-fifth of the total.

Editor's Note:

From the 2006 Lebanon-Israel conflict to the escalating tensions in 2024, Zhao Ying, an ethnic Chinese, has experienced it all as she chose to stay in Lebanon while refusing to evacuate twice. Currently, she serves as the president of the China Arab Association for Promoting Cultural and Commercial Exchange. Since arriving in Beirut in 2001 with her Lebanese husband, she has been engaged in tourism, trade, and cultural exchanges between China and Lebanon, with no consideration of leaving.

Despite the labels often attached to Lebanon - "war," "over two years without a president," "nation unable to repay European debt" - Zhao shared her experiences of life in Lebanon over the past 23 years, from which we can glimpse the real Lebanon beyond the headlines and see the Lebanese people who, despite facing misfortunes and tragedies, still hold onto their love for peace.

This story is also part of the Global Times' "Witness to History" series, which features first-hand accounts from individuals who were at the forefront of 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.

'Every Lebanese is a politician'

In 2001, when I first arrived in Beirut, once known as the "Little Paris of the Middle East," with my husband, some media outlets described my move as "marrying for love and moving to West Asia." In my view, love requires fate, marriage requires courage, and marrying someone from afar demands "strategy." This includes having the bravery to face the challenges of different cultures, the ability to bear the risks of one's decisions, and the confidence to survive and take root in a foreign land.

Although Lebanon is an Arab country, there are no deserts here. After World War I, Lebanon fell under French mandate. From 1940 onward, Lebanon was successively controlled by the Axis powers of Germany and Italy, and then occupied by British forces. In 1943, Lebanon declared independence, but British and French troops did not completely withdraw until the end of 1946. Even now, although the official language is Arabic, the languages used in Lebanese schools are more often French or English. It is common to find multilingual residents in Lebanon.

Like many ordinary Lebanese families, my husband's family is large. His parents live in a small village in Northern Lebanon, where everyone shares the same last name. During the holidays, all my relatives and friends would gather together at home.

The main religions practiced in Lebanon are Islam and Christianity. Within Islam, there are sects such as Sunni, Shia, and Druze, while Christian denominations include Maronite, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and others. Additionally, Lebanon has over 100 political parties and more than 40 militia groups. Therefore, even within the same family, relatives may belong to different political sects. Coupled with the tradition of "every Lebanese is a politician," it is common for people to argue passionately about politics one minute and sit down at the dinner table to laugh and enjoy a meal the next.

First Confucius Institute in Middle East

My husband studied Chinese and acupuncture for nine years in China and has been working as a manager and traditional Chinese medicine practitioner at a Chinese medical center in Lebanon since 2001. From 2007 to 2011, he also taught traditional Chinese medicine at Saint Joseph University in Lebanon.

In early 2006, the Confucius Institute in China urgently needed to find partner institutions in Lebanon. At that time, I was managing a language center and promoting Chinese culture through teaching Chinese. Upon hearing about this need from my home country, I immediately set aside the business of the language center and began to help connect the institute with Saint Joseph University in Lebanon, working hard to facilitate the establishment of the Confucius Institute program in the Middle East. Just as we were about to sign the agreement, the Lebanon-Israel conflict broke out.

Looking back on the Lebanon-Israel conflict in the summer of 2006, I still feel a sense of dread; it was my first experience of war. Every day, I could hear Israeli warplanes tearing through the sky, followed by the deafening sound of explosions. Each time, I worried about whether a bomb would fall on my head, and I had no idea how long the war would last.

The conflict lasted for 34 days, and the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon organized the evacuation of Chinese citizens in six batches, but I ultimately chose to stay in Lebanon. The reasons for this decision were twofold: First, the conflict had already shown signs of being geographically limited, with attacks primarily targeting Lebanon's infrastructure and areas inhabited by Shia Muslims, while the Christian neighborhood we were in was relatively safe. Although we faced issues like supply shortages and unstable electricity supply, and often heard the sound of bombing nightly, our lives were not in danger. Second, to maintain our source of income, my husband's clinic had to resume operations, and I was also worried about leaving him behind.

Fortunately, it only lasted a total of 34 days. After the conflict ended, the Confucius Institute at Saint Joseph University in Lebanon was officially established on November 2, 2006, becoming the first Confucius institute in the Middle East. In the first year after its establishment, Chinese became the most popular foreign language course at Saint Joseph University, with the highest number of elective students, second only to Spanish.

In my view, the success and growth of the Confucius Institute program in Lebanon can be attributed to the good development of the education sector and cultural inclusiveness in the country. In Lebanon, which covers just over 10,000 square kilometers, there are 41 universities. This solid educational foundation has made Lebanon a country rich in talent in the Middle East, and the long-standing harmonious coexistence of various religions has fostered a high level of openness and cultural inclusiveness in Lebanon.
Functioning and surviving in war

When people hear about Lebanon, in the recent past, words like "war" and "national bankruptcy" often come to mind. Naturally, they also wonder how this country manages to function and survive.

Lebanese people are known for their entrepreneurial spirit, a trait that can be traced back to the ancient Phoenicians, who mastered shipbuilding and used Lebanese cedarwood to create vessels for trade in the Mediterranean Sea. Interestingly, one of Lebanon's three main pillars of its economy is remittances from the overseas Lebanese community. While Lebanon's population stands at roughly 6 million, there are over 15 million Lebanese people and their descendants living abroad. Despite migrating overseas, these individuals maintain strong ties with their homeland.

Since 2013, China has consistently been Lebanon's largest trading partner. As I have observed, many products on the Lebanese market originate from China, particularly clothing, shoes, bags, electronics, and machinery. In recent years, solar energy products and electric vehicles have also become increasingly popular imports. Lebanon exports products like Baci Perugina chocolate, Elie Saab's fashion, as well as olive soap and skin care products to China.

In 2011, a group of Arab businesses jointly established the China Arab Association for Promoting Cultural and Commercial Exchange, a non-profit and non-governmental organization. I was elected as its president. Since then, I've led delegations of Arab entrepreneurs to participate in events like the China-Arab States Expo and the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, while also assisting Chinese enterprises in expanding their reach and collaborating with partners in the Arab world. This strong trade relationship between China and Lebanon has also facilitated the faster integration of Chinese culture into Lebanese society.

A Lebanese mother once told me she wants her two-year-old daughter to learn Chinese. She said, "Language learning starts from a young age. Her father is doing business with China, and she'll inherit his work someday!"

Furthermore, tourism is one of Lebanon's three major industries, alongside finance and remittances. This is an industry I've been involved in since 2008 when I founded my own travel agency.

Lebanon was once a popular tourist destination in the Middle East, but suffered greatly during the civil war from 1975 to 1990. After the conflict ended, the Lebanese government made revitalizing tourism a key part of its reconstruction plan.

Statistics show that Lebanon's direct tourism receipts totaled $5.4 billion in 2023, accounting for about 25 percent of the country's GDP. However, the recent conflict between Lebanon and Israel has dealt a heavy blow to the Lebanese tourism industry.

Despite its small land area, Lebanon boasts six UNESCO World Heritage sites. Additionally, Beirut's central district showcases the city's transformation over millennia, highlighting its resilience after having been ravaged by six tsunamis.

The National Museum of Lebanon in Beirut houses numerous world-class artifacts that chronicle the evolution of multiple civilizations across this land for thousands of years. Many exhibits document the scars left by war. For instance, in the second floor's last display case, there are numerous rusted and deformed glass and metal artifacts. These were damaged during the Lebanese civil war when the museum was situated in a crossfire zone, leaving its walls breached and allowing rainwater to seep into the basement, submerging the artifacts for years. The museum utilizes this unique approach to remind the world of the importance of peace.
Always prepared for the unexpected

Yet, this place, where people deeply despise war, repeatedly falls victim to it.

The summer of 2024 was supposed to be Beirut's most exciting time since the 2020 Beirut explosion. With over a dozen new restaurants and bars opening, and international musicians scheduled to hold open-air concerts, Beirut seemed poised to reclaim its former glory as the "Little Paris of the Middle East." It was expected to welcome a wave of tourists from around the world who would run along its beaches and shop for clothing and jewelry crafted by Lebanese designers.

However, this hopeful vision was shattered on July 30 when an Israeli airstrike targeted a residential building in Beirut. In response, Lebanon's concert organizers postponed upcoming events, airlines suspended flights, and several embassies issued travel advisories urging their citizens to avoid traveling to Lebanon.

This year, a young Chinese lady nicknamed Shasha came to Lebanon for the first time. She and her Lebanese boyfriend had planned to hold their wedding in a historic church in Beirut in late September, but due to the conflict, they had to move the ceremony to a restaurant in the mountainous region of Faraya in northern Lebanon.

While the South echoed with gunfire, the North celebrated with wedding songs and dances, in Lebanon, everyone does their best to overcome anxiety and fear, holding onto the hope that peace will ultimately prevail.