China has submitted a request to Canada for consultations at the WTO on the additional tariffs Ottawa decided to impose on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) and steel and aluminum products, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced on Friday.

China urges Canada to abide by WTO rules and immediately correct its wrong doings following its announcement of a 100-percent tariff on China-made EVs and a 25-percent tariff on imported steel and aluminum products from China.

Such moves are typical unilateralist and trade protectionist approaches that seriously undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system and disrupt global industrial and supply chains, MOFCOM said, adding that China is firmly against it.

China's latest move came after MOFCOM on Tuesday announced decisive measures against Canada, including plans to initiate dispute settlement proceedings at the WTO and launch an anti-discriminaton probe.

"The submission underscores China's firm commitment to multilateralism, and shows that China seeks to resolve trade issues with Canada under WTO rules in a bid to avoid the escalation of trade frictions," said Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

The Chinese Embassy in Canada expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to Canada's latest decision to impose additional tariffs on Chinese-made EVs and other products, vowing to take "necessary measures" to safeguard Chinese firms' legitimate rights and interests.

As for the dispute at the WTO, Canada is unlikely to win since it's unreasonable for it to impose additional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and other products, Zhou said.

"Chinese new-energy products are a good choice for Canada to fulfill its climate change commitment and diversify its imports," Zhou said, noting that ordinary Canadian consumers have to pay higher prices without Chinese products.

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL), China's largest automotive lithium-ion battery maker, on Thursday refuted baseless accusations by some US politicians, noting its batteries pose no threat to US national security.

The accusations by the US politicians will harm normal China-US economic and trade cooperation and the well-being of ordinary American users, observers said. They called for the US to strengthen cooperation with China, which will only bring benefits to the US.

Two top US Republican lawmakers, namely Marco Rubio, the vice chair of the Intelligence Committee, and John Moolenaar, who chairs the House Select Committee on China, on Wednesday called on the US Defense Department to add Chinese battery maker CATL to a restricted list of companies, claiming that "reliance on CATL batteries endangers US national security," Reuters reported.

"CATL's battery products pose no more of a threat to national security than a brick," the company said.

CATL's battery products have helped millions of American families and small businesses during power outages caused by natural disasters, extreme weather, and grid instability. Battery products that CATL sell in the US market are passive products - without any communications hardware or software that allows for remote access or control, it said. 

CATL said it is not directly competing with any US companies. By working closely with American partners, CATL is assisting US companies with strengthening their competitiveness to turn out reliable and competitively priced products.

CATL is not engaged in any military-related activities, the company said, stressing that it was privately founded and became a publicly-listed company in 2018.

"Out of their Cold War mentality, a number of US politicians tend to play up the narrative of 'national security' threat to crack down on Chinese high-tech companies," He Weiwen, senior fellow from the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Thursday.

He said the groundless US accusations will harm normal China-US economic and trade cooperation, and negatively impact the well-being of ordinary Americans.

Instead of continuing to expand its "small yard, high fence" approach, the US should sit down with China to seek practical cooperation, which will bring sufficient benefits for the US side, He said. 

With the US reportedly set to announce final implementation plans in coming days for imported Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) and other products, Chinese experts are calling on the US side to make a goodwill gesture, as pragmatic economic and trade cooperation between the world's two largest economies benefits the US and the world as a whole.

Experts said some Western countries' high tariffs will have a limited impact on Chinese EVs in the long term, as there is great potential for Chinese automakers to tap other overseas markets including BRICS and the Global South. They added that China has sufficient patience and resilience to overcome trade barriers put up by some Western countries.

Following US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's just concluded visit to China, the Chinese Commerce Ministry said on Thursday that Beijing and Washington have agreed to hold a vice-ministerial meeting of the China-US commercial and trade working group in Tianjin on September 7.

However, amid growing talks to stabilize ties, Reuters reported on Thursday that the US' top trade representative is expected to announce final plans in the coming days on Chinese imports, including EVs.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Thursday (US time) strongly endorsed Canada's 100 percent tariffs on Chinese-made EVs.

The Biden administration's fresh tariff threat indicates that its green policies are flawed, Lü Xiang, an expert on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.

"There are many businesses in the US that oppose new tariffs on Chinese products because the administration's harmful move will impede the green transition in the US and the world," Lü said, calling on Washington to make some kind of goodwill gesture.

Reuters reported in June that a group of 173 trade associations in the US under the "Americans For Free Trade" umbrella requested the USTR to hold a hearing on the decision to impose steeper tariffs on Chinese EVs and other goods.

Bao Jianyun, director of the Center for International Political Economy Studies at Renmin University of China, projected that the US' potential tariffs on Chinese EVs will be one of the key topics during the upcoming meeting in Tianjin.

"It is hoped that the US can view its relations with China from a long-term perspective. As two major countries, China and the US should be responsible for the people and for the world to seek a solution that benefits both sides," Bao said.

Despite some Western countries' high tariffs on Chinese EV makers, there is great potential for Chinese automakers to tap other overseas markets including BRICS and the Global South, Bao said, stressing that politically-driven trade barriers cannot hinder the global opening-up and cooperation trend, and China has sufficient patience and resilience to overcome them.

Chinese and African experts thought highly of the achievements in bilateral agricultural cooperation and expressed hopes for further exploring this potential, ahead of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled to be held in Beijing from Wednesday to Friday.

At the upcoming forum, agricultural cooperation is expected to be a key focus of the agenda. 

Thanks to relentless efforts by the Chinese side - such as tax reductions, green channels for trade and trade expos - agricultural development has been boosted in Africa, helping regional countries in poverty alleviation and hunger reduction, experts said.

Through mechanisms such as the FOCAC, China has provided African countries with channels to enter the Chinese market, which will drive Africa's industrial revolution, Dennis Munene Mwaniki, director of research and executive director of the China-Africa Centre at the Africa Policy Institute, told the Global Times.

Mwaniki cited examples of China's gradual implementation of tariff-free measures for more African products that promote economic diversification, industrialization and processing development in Africa.

Behind Africa's hope to expand agricultural exports to China is close China-Africa cooperation in the fields of agriculture and food security, Mwangi Wachira, former economist at the World Bank and advisor to the Government of Kenya, told the Global Times.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, nearly 20 percent of the population in Africa faces hunger, a much larger proportion compared with other regions in the world.

Addressing this urgent issue is the basis of all African development plans, Wachira said. 

He said that in Kenya, there are Chinese-funded agricultural projects dedicated to improving the food production capacity which is of great significance to the local people.

The growth in China-Africa agricultural trade reflects the high level of complementarity between the two sides in this field, Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Sunday. 

Song said that China is expected to continue facilitating imports of high-quality African agricultural products by expanding the types of imported products and optimizing customs processes.

Additionally, China is likely to send more agricultural experts to Africa to help cultivate higher-quality products and increase investment in African agricultural processing, supporting local agricultural modernization, Song said.

The 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit will be held in Beijing from September 4 to 6. The theme of this year's summit is "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future." In light of this, we are launching a series of China-Africa stories, including interviews with political leaders, stories of exchanges between young people from both regions, and intensive cooperation in various fields. Through these stories, we will see how China and Africa are deepening their ties and building a brighter future together.
With a petite frame, a soft voice, and a face more youthful than her chronological age, it's hard to imagine Rotsy as a formidable kung fu master when you first meet her.

Rotsy, whose full name is Miarimbola Andrianalinatovo Rotsy Ny Fitia, is a 24-year-old from Madagascar. Her journey began with Chinese martial arts films on a black-and-white TV, continued with kung fu training at the Confucius Institute, and led to becoming a martial arts instructor.

With a deep understanding of Chinese culture, Rotsy aspires to engage in diplomacy and become a bridge between China and Africa.

"I first encountered China when I was a child on a black-and-white TV," Rotsy recalled.

In 2010, Jackie Chan's movie The Karate Kid sparked a martial arts craze in Madagascar. Rotsy and the village children mimicked the moves from the movie. At the time, the seeds of martial arts had already taken root in her heart.

As she grew older, Rotsy's longing for martial arts did not diminish, but grew stronger as her elder sister who studied Chinese at the Confucius Institute always shared stories about the institute upon her returned home, which fueled Rotsy's fascination with Chinese martial arts.

After entering university, she joined the Confucius Institute and began her journey of learning the Chinese language. Without any hesitation, she quickly joined the martial arts team and began her training.

"The variety of weapons like swords, spears, and staffs dazzled me; the intricate moves of the senior students overwhelmed me; and the movements of the martial arts teacher left me in awe. Hands like shooting stars, eyes like lightning, body like a dragon, legs like arrows," Rotsy described her teacher's movements with admiration in her eyes.

However, the path to mastering martial arts was not smooth. Due to her short stature, she faced difficulties in performing jumps and aerial moves. "I would often stumble or jump half as high as others, not to mention others performing 90-degree aerial turns with ease," Rotsy said, recalling the hardships of her training.

But these challenges did not make her give up; instead, they motivated her to train even harder. She practiced tirelessly until she mastered each move.

Among all the martial arts disciplines, Rotsy's favorite is swordplay. "When wielding a sword, it gleams with silver light, moves like a dragon, flows like water, dazzles like a firework, slithers like a snake, and soars like an eagle," she described her swordsmanship.

"For every kung fu enthusiast, the biggest dream is to visit the Shaolin Temple," Rotsy told the Global Times.

This July, she finally fulfilled her dream by representing Africa at the 2024 Shaolin Games at the Shaolin Temple in Central China's Henan Province.

"I felt nervous and excited when I landed, because, on one hand, I was here for the competition, but on the other hand, it was also a dream come true," she said excitedly.

Standing on the grounds of the Shaolin Temple, the emotions of nervousness and excitement intertwined, creating one of the most cherished memories of her martial arts journey.

After studying Chinese for two years, she also participated in the 19th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students in 2020. With her excellent Chinese language skills and outstanding martial arts performance, she won the Grand Prize in the Madagascar Division and eventually clinched the African Continental Championship.

During the competition, she played the traditional Chinese instrument guzheng while singing "A Laugh in the Sea," a song that depicts the grandeur of the martial arts world.

Today, she works as an interpreter, Chinese teacher, and martial arts instructor, passing on her knowledge of martial arts and her love for Chinese culture to more students in her country.

Every time she sees her students sweating during training, Rotsy is reminded of her own days at the Confucius Institute. "It feels like a passion is growing from the bottom of my heart, slowly growing stronger," she said. "Perhaps this is called belief, perhaps it is called courage, or perhaps it is called a sense of mission."

"My dream is to quickly reach China, continue my studies, return to Madagascar, and teach this beautiful culture and language to more people in Madagascar, allowing them to discover the wonderful world of China and the Chinese language," she said.

The Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Beijing hosted a reception to celebrate the 59th National Day of the Republic of Singapore and Singapore Armed Force Day on August 13. Delegates from all walks of life attended the event.
The National Day of the Republic of Singapore falls on August 9 and Singapore Armed Force Day, July 1.

China's Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong and Major General He Shuhong with the People's Liberation Army Academy of Military Science attended the event.

The international choir of the China Children's Performing Art Troupe sang the Singaporean national anthem and the Chinese national anthem with great spirit.

Singaporean brands showcased their products at the event, sharing a taste of Singapore with friends in China.

Singaporean music producer Billy Ko, as well as renowned Singaporean director, producer, and actor Jack Neo and his team Hu Jing, Terence Cao and Glenn Yong in I Not Stupid 3 also participated in the event.