China&Hungary elevate ties to ’all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era‘
Welcome to this week’s Jingjing Newsletter. Let’s continue to explore under-reported sides of world news.
President Xi Jinping was in Europe this week, the first trip to Europe by the Chinese president in over five years. France was the first stop on the Chinese president’s 6-day tour of Europe, where President Xi and his French counterpart President Emmanuel Macron continued their in-depth engagement over key bilateral and multilateral issues. The talks built on Macron’s successful visit to China in April 2023, which Macron recalled fondly during the talks. According to a joint statement issued by the two nations during the visit, the two sides agreed to explore ways to strengthen scientific and technological cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as crops, livestock, poultry, fruits and vegetables, smart agricultural equipment, and climate change adaptation. The two nations also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their agri-food partnership, with the French side expressing appreciation for the "French Farm to Chinese Table" initiative.
The next stop on Xi’s European tour was Serbia. In a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, it was announced that China and Serbia would upgrade their relations from the comprehensive strategic partnership established eight years ago, deciding to go forward together to build a community for a shared future. Xi stressed that the ironclad friendship between China and Serbia has stood the test of the changing international landscape, saying that such friendship is characterized by profound historical roots, solid political foundation, extensive common interests, and strong popular support. Xi’s visit to Serbia coincides with the 25th anniversary of the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia, which killed three Chinese nationals.
The final country on President Xi’s tour was Hungary. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban decided on Thursday to elevate bilateral relations to an "all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era." Pushing bilateral relations to new heights, the two leaders affirmed that the decision has charted the course for the future development of China-Hungary relations, and will inject new and powerful impetus into bilateral cooperation and create a better future for the two peoples.
Despite Hamas announcing last week that they were willing to accept a ceasefire, Israel has begun its assault on the densely populated city of Rafah in the south of the Gazan Strip. This seems to be a step too far even for the Biden administration who on Tuesday night confirmed reports that it had recently held up a large shipment of 2,000- and 500-pound bombs that it feared Israel might use them in Rafah. Senior Israeli officials remained bullish on hearing the news of the pause in US arms shipments, with one saying, "If we have to fight with our fingernails, then we'll do what we have to do." The death toll in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the Israeli operation now exceeds 34,000.
Vladimir Putin was sworn in as President of the Russian Federation on May 7th at a ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow. His 6-year term will run until 2030, which will make Putin one of the longest-serving leaders in Russian history. In his inauguration speech, the Russian president took a firm line against Western interference, noting that while Russia does not refuse to open dialogue with the West, “"We [Russia] will determine the fate of Russia by ourselves and only ourselves, for the sake of today's and future generations." The full speech can be found HERE.
In African elections news, the small West African nation of Togo has announced that the ruling party, Union for the Republic (UNIR) party, has won 108 seats in the nation’s 113-seat parliament. Changes to the constitution prior to this year’s election mean Togo’s president is elected by a vote in parliament. With his party securing a super-majority, it is all but guaranteed that the incumbent, President Faure Gnassingbe, will secure re-election when his current mandate expires next year. Togo has been ruled by a member of the Gnassingbe family for 57 years.
The central African country of Chad has also gone to the polls, voting on their president on Monday after several years of military rule. As of writing, the results have not been announced, but the interim president, Mahamat Deby Itno, is widely expected to win. Chad is one of the few remaining Western allies in the Sahel region following military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in recent years. The governments in all three of these nations have expelled Western forces and turned closer to Russia. This means that the US has lost the key military base in Agadez, Niger, the center of US military operations in the region. Chad, a country that historically had a fairly light US footprint, will no doubt become more central to Western operations in the Sahel in the future as its neighbors turn from the Western system of military alliances.
Scientists have revealed that last month was the hottest April on record, marking the 11th consecutive month that has broken the previous heat record. The average global surface air temperature during April 2024 was 15.03°C, which is 0.14°C above the previous record for April set in 2016. This means that the global temperature last month was around 1.6°C higher than the pre-industrial average.
China’s Chang’e-6 lunar mission entered the moon’s orbit on Tuesday. Chang’e-6 is China’s most ambitious lunar mission yet, aiming to land on the moon’s far side, collect samples, and return to Earth. If successful, Chang'e 6 will only be the second probe to land on the far side of the moon, and the first mission to return samples from there. The only other successful landing on the far side of the moon occurred in 2019 when China’s Chang’e-4 mission touched down on the lunar surface. Chang'e 6 is the fifth mission China has launched to the moon since 2018 and is part of an extended effort by the country to land a crew of Chinese astronauts on the moon by 2030.
Jingjing’s Highlights in This Week
1. Vlog in France: What do Chinese people & French people want to tell each other?
Understanding starts with communicating. Let's talk to each other, understand each other, and maybe, we can be friends with each other for a long time.
2. Vlog: Chinese and Hungarians are quite similar!
When I arrived in Budapest, I spoke to a professor and economist to understand how Hungary looks at China. Here's what I found out.
What You May Have Missed This Week in the World.
1. Xi concludes Europe trip with clear message on fortifying cooperation
“The message, delivered amidst rising protectionism and mounting geopolitical tensions, symbolized China's latest endeavor to promote stability and cooperation on the global stage.”
2. Upgrade in China-Serbia ties highly expected and warmly welcomed
“During their Wednesday meeting in Serbia, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vučić have decided to build a community with a shared future, an upgrade of their relations from the comprehensive strategic partnership established eight years ago.”
3. 'Golden voyage' in bilateral ties: China, Hungary outline new blueprint for cooperation, development
“China and Hungary decided on Thursday to elevate bilateral relations to an ‘all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era.’ The decision was announced during the talks between visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.”
4. Second Thought - Is The US Headed Towards Fascism?
5. MintPress News - From PropOrNot to New Lines: How Washington is Weaponizing Media
“New Lines Magazine purports to be an independent media organization. Yet it constantly attacks genuine alternative media who stray from Washington’s official foreign policy line, all while employing many spooks, spies and other figures at the heart of the national security state.”
6. Sun Kissed Bucket List – The TRUTH about ISLAM in China... (FIRST TIME in XI`AN Surprised us)
“How do Chinese Muslims live in China? Are they free to practice their faith? Our first hand experience challenges Western narratives, offering a nuanced perspective on the lives of Chinese Muslims and the religious landscape in modern China.”
Page Editor: Jin Yulin
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If China lands astronauts on the moon by 2030 the Empire managers will go totally batshit crazy. I hope I live to see it.
'Course, they'll go crazy trying to beat China to the moon, but that'll be tough.They're running out of money because they've spent it making war.