阿拉爱上海

At the Quad leaders' summit US President Joe Biden hosted in his Delaware hometown over the weekend, the four-nation group - which consists of the US, Japan, India and Australia - agreed to expand security cooperation, including joint coast guard mission, with China on mind.

The agenda of the meeting and its joint statement, which referred to East and South China Seas, exposed Quad's nature of bloc confrontation, analysts said on Sunday, criticizing the four-nation partnership for its detrimental role of fomenting confrontation and inciting geopolitical tensions in Asia Pacific.

US national security adviser Jake Sullivan insisted earlier Saturday during a briefing with reporters that "China is not the focus of the Quad," CNN reported, but the issue (of China) featured throughout the day.

The joint statement, released on the White House's website, did not directly name China, but it did mention "East and South China Seas," meanwhile, Biden was caught on a hot mic telling the other leaders that an "aggressive China is testing us," CNN reported.

Anchored by shared values, the Quad leaders seek to uphold the international order based on the rule of law and they are "seriously concerned" about the situation in East and South China Seas, according to a joint statement after the summit.
Create division

Ding Duo, deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, noted that Quad members have made efforts to downplay its focus on China, emphasizing instead the shared values and strategic interests of the four countries. However, analysis of the summit's outcomes reveals it is targeting China.

"Targeting China" is not only at a strategic level but it also involves tactical arrangements, and specific plans, Ding told the Global Times on Sunday.

Per the joint statement, the four countries have agreed on a joint coast guard mission in 2025, and vowed to enhance logistics cooperation as well as data and information sharing within and outside the bloc, giving attention to developing maritime security ties with Pacific Island Countries and Southeast Asia.

Ding pointed out that the Quad could support countries like the Philippines and Japan, which have maritime disputes with China, through specific joint maritime operations.

The Quad statement also mentioned so-called "dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, including increasing the use of dangerous maneuvers," hinting at China's frictions with the Philippines; however, in face of Philippine provocations under US instigation, China's actions aim to safeguard its sovereignty and legitimate rights, analysts said.

The Quad has been scaremongering, inciting antagonism and confrontation, and holding back other countries' development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press briefing in July in response to a Quad foreign ministers meeting in Tokyo which voiced "serious concern about the situation in the East and South China Seas."

Some countries outside the region have frequently sent advanced military aircraft and vessels to the South China Sea to flex their muscles and create tension, and have formed various groupings and incited division and confrontation in the region. All of this makes them the biggest threat and challenge to regional peace and stability, Lin said.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Sunday that the Quad mechanism is US-led and serves as a strategic tool to favor the US in its competition with China at both regional and global levels.

Although India, Australia and Japan have their own interests, the nature and direction of this mechanism will remain aligned with the strategic needs of the US, Li said.

Biden would not give up the opportunity of his last Quad summit to hype up China issues to amplify "China threat" rhetoric, and create a wrong impression that Washington's China policy is embraced widely, Li said.

Loose partnership

Although the Quad mechanism has convened meetings at different levels in the past few years and the US has strived to paint a picture of extensive and in-depth cooperation under the mechanism, "the outcomes have focused on political and diplomatic realms, being more of a posture," Ding said.

Cooperation is difficult when it comes to substantial inputs and spending of money, Ding said, adding that many of the proposals, such as joint actions and information sharing, can actually be carried out in a bilateral manner without a structure like the Quad.

Also, the obscure reference to China in the Quad statement could be the result of an internal compromise, analysts said, as members have different views on the approach to deal with China - Japan, Australia and India have intensive economic or people-to-people exchanges with China.

Different from US alliance with Japan or Australia, the Quad is a rather loose partnership, with each member aspiring to utilize the bloc to elevate their own international status, Li told the Global Times.

"It remains to be seen whether the Quad will continue to be a loose group or become a real alliance and further consolidate," Li said.

Editor's Note:

"Read ten thousand books, and your pen will be guided as if by the gods" is an ancient Chinese idiom that can be seen in students' textbooks. China's Ministry of Education has published an action plan to further promote reading among students across the nation. With new and diverse book recommendations, the reading scene is expected to be revived not only at schools, but also across society. To contribute to this endeavor, the Global Times launched "My Reading Life" essay contest for middle school students.

Please pick up a pen and share your stories with us at reading@globaltimes.com.cn

Participants will be rewarded once the article has been selected.
Over the years, reading has become an important part of my life. I always remember a notable motto that says, "Books are the ladder of human progress."

I like reading because reading can change people's lives. Through reading, people can obtain different information, knowledge and experiences, which can help them better understand the world and improve themselves.

At the same time, reading good books can also help people establish good values, world views and life attitudes, and obtain spiritual satisfaction and growth, and promote personal development.

Reading has not only enriched my mind, but also provided spiritual support and impetus for my growth.

For example, my favorite book Wonder by R.J. Palacio shows the substance of empathy, friendship, acceptance and celebrating differences.

I remember a quote from the book says that when given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind. I believes in this quote.

Wonder tells the story of August, a 10-year-old boy who lives with his parents and sister in New York.

August is an ordinary boy in many ways. He likes riding a bike and playing video games. But August, or Auggie as people call him, was born with facial deformities and so looks very different from others. Because of his facial deformities, his mother homeschooled him for the past five years, but the family finally decided that it was time for him to start school. Auggie's first year at school was terrible, most people were afraid of him, so they kept away. Day after day, some kids bullied him with a game called "The Plague."

Whenever somebody got close to Auggie, that meant they caught the plague. But he never gave up on himself, and never lost hope. Through the hard times, a girl called Summer reached out her hands for him to be friends, that was when August first felt kindness from friends.

But towards the end, a dramatic event at a school camp changed things completely, people found out how brave he was, and how hard it was for him to get along with people and began to understand him.

Kindness is the main theme in Wonder. It helps us realize that a small, simple act of kindness can make a big difference, and we have the ability to choose kindness. From this book, I have learned to face differences in people. Maybe if we knew what other people were thinking, we'd know that no one is ordinary, and at least we all deserve a standing ovation at least once in our lives, because everyone is a unique star, and always ready to shine.

In 2017, the novel was adapted into a film of the same name by US director Stephen Chbosky. The film features stars like Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson and was a box-office success due to the heartwarming story that resonated with many audiences.

Although some of us do not go through the kind of hardship that Auggie does, we still can feel connected to the boy's story because at some points in life we have all gone through struggles and pain like Auggie.

Books like this make me believe that cultural productions can really inspire people and change how people think about life.

All in all, reading helps us become better people, and we can also gain happiness. If we continue to learn and constantly improve our cognition, we will be able to achieve a higher level of happiness. This sense of happiness derived from knowledge leads to both external happiness and inner satisfaction and prosperity.

So, I hope everyone can find a book that makes your day, and try to make reading part of your life.

The author is a student at the Beijing Wenhui Middle School

An opening ceremony for master classes at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts was jointly hosted by Russia's Federal Agency for the Commonwealth of Independent States Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and the International Humanitarian Cooperation, or Rossotrudnichestvo, the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS), the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing on September 18. 

Deputy Head of the Public Diplomacy Department of Rossotrudnichestvo Evgeniy Demin, read a welcoming speech by the Head of Rossotrudnichestvo, Yevgeny Primakov. 

"I am sure that the best professionals will teach you techniques that will undoubtedly be useful in your professional activities," Primakov said, wishing the Chinese trainees new horizons, true creative inspiration, a positive charge of energy, and new friends. 

Ma Xinming, executive vice chairman of the Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, said that, as China's cultural center, Beijing has been committed to building a platform for international cultural exchanges through promoting mutual learning between civilizations. 

"Through in-depth study and discussion of the essence of Russian drama art, this program [of master classes] aims to broaden our artistic horizons and enhance the professional quality and innovation capability of players in [the] literary and art [fields] in the capital city," Ma said. 

Tatiana Urzhumtseva, director of the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing, said that Russian dramaturgy played a significant role in the development of Chinese modern theatre. "Understanding Russian classical dramaturgy in China and Chinese culture, the theatrical art of China in Russia contributes to the development and mutual enrichment of the theatrical systems of our countries," she said. 

The GITIS, a Russian higher education institution, is the largest theatre university and one of the largest in the world. It is the only higher education institution in Russia at which students receive education in all theater specialties and levels of training in eight faculties. The master classes run until September 21. 

A summer camp was held at the Tianjin University in Tianjin from August 11 to August 24, with the aim to strengthen higher education cooperation and exchanges between the ASEAN and China, and improve student enthusiasm for learning marine science and technology.
The Education Counsellor of the Malaysian Embassy in China Muhammad Sallehuddin delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the Blue Ocean Summer Camp on August 11.

Sallehuddin shared with the students the benefits of participating in the student exchange programs, which are strengthening self-improvement and developing leadership skills to become future leaders.

The summer camp promotes comprehensive cooperation and exchanges between universities in ASEAN member countries and Chinese universities in the fields of talent training, scientific research, and cultural exchanges. A total of 19 ASEAN students participated in the summer camp, including five from Malaysia.

Featuring about 70 sessions, the education cooperation week has developed into a high-end platform and bridge making positive contributions to China-ASEAN relations.

The Consulate General of Malaysia, Guangzhou hosted the 67th National Day of Malaysia celebration held in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, on August 30, marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations.

Liu Yahong, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress, was invited to attend the event. In her speech, Liu said that China's Guangdong Province and Malaysia are geographically close and their people are also close to each other. The two sides have close exchanges at all levels, especially in the fields of economy, trade, and people-to-people exchanges.

The provincial government is willing to work with Malaysia to build a high-quality Belt and Road Initiative, share the development opportunities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and deepen practical cooperation in various fields between the two sides, she said.

Suraya Pauzi, Malaysian consul general in Guangzhou, said in her welcome remarks that for Malaysia, China is a good friend who helps others in the same boat, and the exchange of high-level visits between the two countries has become a norm in the 50 years of friendly relations between China and Malaysia.

Pauzi also noted that in 2022, China became Malaysia's largest investor.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) renewed its call for comprehensive reforms in the US anti-doping system, citing growing concerns about American athletes participating in major international competitions without undergoing adequate testing. 

On Monday the WADA published on its official X account a recent letter to Tobie Smith, board chair of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), in which the WADA revealed that 90 percent of American athletes, particularly those in professional leagues and college sports, compete outside the jurisdiction of the World Anti-Doping Code. WADA vowed in the letter that it will continue applying the World Anti-Doping Code without fear or favor "in the face of ongoing geopolitical interference."

James Fitzgerald, head of media relations with the WADA, told the Global Times on Wednesday that USADA's CEO Travis Tygart seems to recognize that anti-doping in college sports is a joke and has even said that he wonders if foreign athletes are coming to US universities to enjoy a "doping vacation" in America.

"This is a shocking admission and it is strange that Tygart does not seem in a hurry to improve things. We feel the USADA board should lead the way and push for reforms within its anti-doping system," said Fitzgerald.

"Of primary concern is the matter of college sports, which account for so many athletes who go on to compete at the very highest levels, including the Olympic Games," the WADA said in the letter. 

"75 percent of US athletes competing in Paris came through the collegiate system. That is three-quarters of American Olympians who were at one time part of an elite system that operates far below the globally recognized clean sport standard."

WADA also published a reply letter in response to a letter sent in July from the Central European Anti-Doping Organization, representing 32 National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations from Europe, Asia, and Africa. The letter requested clarification regarding the worldwide enforcement of the World Anti-Doping Code.

In the letter to Smith, WADA reproached USADA's testing efforts as insufficient, pointing out that in 2023, USADA collected only 7,773 samples from 3,011 athletes, based on its own data. WADA deemed this figure "disappointing," considering the US population, its vast athlete base, and the size of its Olympic team.

"The French National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) collects significantly more samples than USADA, despite having a budget that is just a little more than one-third of USADA's. USADA also collected fewer samples than the NADOs in China, Russia, Italy, and Great Britain," WADA noted.

In August, the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) called for an independent investigation into USADA's misconduct and for intensified testing on US track and field athletes to rebuild global trust in fair competition, after the USADA allowed American sprinter Erriyon Knighton to compete in the Paris Olympic Games without suspension, despite him having tested positive for banned steroid trenbolone in March. 

WADA also expressed concern about the wider implications, emphasizing that the issue affects more than just US athletes. Media reports indicated that National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) schools sent over 1,000 former, current, and incoming student-athletes, representing more than 100 countries and regions, to the Paris Olympic Games. Among them, 272 athletes secured 330 medals for 26 different countries and regions.

"We are sure it horrifies you to know that top overseas athletes may be taking 'doping vacations' on US soil," said WADA in the letter to Smith.

WADA also criticized USADA for allegedly operating a scheme that permitted athletes guilty of serious doping violations to go undercover and continue competing for several years. WADA viewed this practice as unfair to clean athletes.

WADA emphasized that "In the face of ongoing geopolitical interference, WADA will continue applying the World Anti-Doping Code without fear or favor, working with athletes, the sport movement, national and regional anti-doping organizations, and governments."

"The completion of the supercharging station has brought great convenience to the surrounding residents. It used to take three hours to fully charge my car at home, but now it only takes five minutes," Liu Wei, a new energy vehicle owner from Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province, said with surprise at the New Energy Theme Pocket Park in Jiangyan District on September 10.

In March 2024, while continuously following up on the construction needs of the New Energy Theme Pocket Park, State Grid Taizhou Electric Power Supply Company constructively proposed the idea of building an integrated demonstration station for photovoltaic storage supercharging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) interaction.

In response, State Grid Taizhou Electric Power Supply Company arranged personnel to actively visit several new station-grid interaction demonstration centers in the power system across various locations, strengthened communication with designers from Jiangzheng Jinjiao Company, fully considered the characteristics and needs of each subsystem during the design phase, and formulated a scientific and reasonable system design plan. Meanwhile, the company continuously invested in research and development resources, paid attention to the latest advancements in photovoltaic storage charging and discharging technology, introduced advanced technology and equipment, and improved the overall integrity and stability of the system. The final design was finalized in April 2024. The new installation includes a distributed photovoltaic capacity of 45.25kW and one 100kW/215kWh energy storage device. The modern, intelligent, and new charging station, integrating photovoltaic storage, charging, discharging, advanced charging technology, and smart energy control, was completed and put into operation on August 28, 2024.

"The construction of the integrated 'photovoltaic storage, charging, and discharging' demonstration station helps reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and the emission of vehicle exhaust, which is of great significance for improving urban air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the promotion of V2G technology will also facilitate the utilization of renewable energy and enhance the scheduling flexibility and stability of the power grid," introduced the relevant person in charge of the company's marketing department.

A recent protest against a lithium mining project broke out in Serbia, with demonstrators filling the streets of capital Belgrade. They reportedly obstructed the tracks at two railway stations in the city, and briefly halted traffic on a major highway.

While Serbian government believes that the mine is an opportunity for economic development, protesters say it would cause pollution on the Jadar Valley.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told reporters that although the main protest was done democratically, the blockage of traffic on the highway amounted to "terror of the minority over the majority."

"It is part of the hybrid approach" designed to topple the government, Vucic said, adding that he had been tipped off by Russian intelligence services that a "mass unrest and a coup" were being prepared in Serbia by unspecified Western powers that wish to oust him from power.

Analysts said that under the environmental protection slogans are probably subversive activities by the West, in an attempt to stage a coup d'état in Serbia and install pro-American opposition forces in power.

And this protest, similar to the previous ones, was ostensibly spontaneous, organized by Serbian citizens and ENGOs (environmental non-governmental organizations), but in reality the influence of a few Western countries including the US was lurking behind the scenes, analysts noted.
Whitewashed 'color revolution'?

Earlier this month, tens of thousands took to the streets in Belgrade against a government-approved lithium mining project in western Serbia's Jadar Valley. It is a cooperative project between the Serbian government and Rio Tinto, a British-Australian multinational metals and mining corporation.

The protest, which Western media outlets described as "one of the biggest in recent years" in the country, was allegedly organized by the country's ENGOs and environmentalists concerned about the project's potential impact on the environment.

According to Western media, the protest seemed reasonable and reflected public sentiment, as many mainstream Western news outlets shone the spotlight on a protester named Zlatko Kokanovic in their stories, introducing him as an individual who loves environmental protection.

In a Reuters story on August 9, for instance, Kokanovic was described as "a 48-year-old Serbian farmer" and "a father of five." An Associated Press (AP) story on the same day used a similar description, calling Kokanovic a 48-year-old farmer who has five children. Another individual, Marijana Petkovic, has also been frequently covered in some stories as a "local resident" or "neighbor" of a villager close to Jadar Valley.

However, the two names above are president and key member of the ENGO "Ne damo Jadar" respectively, a main initiator of the protest, the Global Times found. In a story published by Belgrade-based newspaper Danas, Kokanovic "called on all citizens of Serbia to come to the protest in Belgrade."

Rather than making their roles in the protest public, some Western media outlets seemingly preferred to carefully portray them as ordinary citizens who are purely passionate about environmental protection and who happened to participate in the demonstration. Clearly, they made every effort to depict this riot as a spontaneous act by the Serbian people based on their will.

But various signs have indicated that, as Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on August 11, this was no ordinary protest but rather "part of Western-backed 'hybrid' warfare" against his government. "We knew everything in detail," AP cited Vucic as saying. "You think you have surprised someone… we have always been restrained, without violence we ensured order in the country, without a problem."

According to a TASS article published on August 10, Vucic told the media that Moscow had warned Belgrade of preparations for mass riots initiated by representatives of Western countries. "Today, we received official information from the Russian Federation," said Vucic. He added that the information was provided through formal channels, and the Security and Information Agency - Serbia's intelligence body - was responsible for that.

The TASS article also noted that, Serbian newspaper Vecernje Novosti earlier reported that members of Serbia's opposition were ready to take advantage of the pro-Western protests in Belgrade planned for August 10, "to seize the presidential palace, eliminate the head of state, and launch a similar scenario as in Ukraine."

It has obviously gone far beyond just a simple environmental protest. In an interview with news agency RIA Novosti, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin implied that the nature of the protest was a color revolution and foreign interference.

"The lithium protests are not so much about the environment. Their goal is to overthrow the government," said Vulin, according to a Sputnik article on August 12.

Connections with US

Some of the ENGOs involved in the protests against the lithium mining project actually have connections with the US, although such connections are not well known to the public, the Global Times discovered.

Ekoloski Ustanak, or "Ecological Uprising," for instance, is one of the most active organizations engaged in the protests against the lithium-mining project. Early in June, Ecological Uprising reportedly "called for mobilization" of Serbia's opposition parties, civic environmental organizations, and activists "for a joint front" against the project, according to local media reports.

The biggest funders of environmentalist groups are "certainly, from the United States of America," Serbian President of the National Assembly Ana Brnabic once said in January 2022, according to website Balkan Green Energy News.

Mass protests were organized by the Ecological Uprising and other groups to demonstrate against the same lithium mine in December, 2021, Balkan Green Energy News reported.

"I lack words to describe the hypocrisy of foreigners that finance these organizations and these foreigners," Brnabic criticized. She listed some of the biggest US funders - the Rockefeller Foundation, USAID, the Open Society Foundations, the NED, and Edge Funders Alliance. Some on the list are disreputable veterans of inciting color revolutions.

"The infiltration of American influence in Serbia is often evident in environmental protection matters. By providing support to environmental organizations at a relatively low cost, the US is able to achieve significant results efficiently. The so-called NGOs that represent American interests can take a moral high ground in shaping agendas and garnering support from local pro-American factions," Ju Weiwei, deputy director of the Central and Eastern Europe Office, Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

An anonymous scholar who has conducted multiple research trips to Serbia told the Global Times that American support for opposition forces is almost an "open secret."

Attacking Chinese projects

For the ENGOs in Serbia, Chinese observers may be more familiar with Tvrdjava ("Fortress"), a health and environmental NGO that hyped the "carcinogenic Chinese-owned steel company" rumor in late 2021.

A Reuters report in November 2021 cited data obtained by Tvrdjava, alleging that Smederevo Steelworks in central Serbia caused more pollution, after being purchased by China's HeSteel Group (HBIS) in 2016. Tvrdjava said that "the municipality (Smederevo) of around 100,000 people reported 6,866 cancer cases in 2019, up from 1,738 in 2011."

Chinese media outlets later refuted the accusation, and provided solid data proving that China's takeover didn't increase, but largely decreased, the pollution emitted by Smederevo Steelwork.

It's worth noting that, Tvrdjava, "as Reuters mentioned, is found to have a connection with the USAID," the Xinhua News Agency reported in January 2022. The Washington-based agency has a bad reputation of interfering in other countries' internal affairs under the White House's instructions, said Xinhua.

The US' "white gloves" have long been colluding with some Serbian NGOs, in defaming China and Chinese-invested projects. "NED-backed Serbian NGOs coordinated with CNN's Serbia branch to fabricate China-related fake news, slandering projects undertaken by the Chinese side and hyping up so-called environmental protection, labor, and corruption issues," pointed out a report released by Chinese Foreign Ministry on August 9.

The NED's website showed it funded various Serbian NGOs in 2021. With the NED's backing, some recipient organizations were found slandering Chinese-invested companies and projects in Serbia.

The "Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia" was one of the recipients on NED's list, receiving $59,000 in 2021. In a report it released in 2022 that specifically attacked China-Serbia relations, the "committee" groundlessly accused Chinese employers of "inhumane and humiliating treatment."

All these tricks just expose that, the US is dissatisfied with the significant practical investment and cooperation between China and Serbia. As a result, they have allegedly influenced some local opposition forces to oppose Chinese investment in Serbia and undermine the projects involving China, Ju said.

Ju, who had been in Serbia before for field research, discovered that some individuals, despite knowing the lack of evidence in their lawsuits, persisted in suing Chinese companies under the guise of environmental concerns. He noted that it is not ruled out that there may be support from other foreign forces behind this.

This tactic, commonly employed by American-backed NGOs, aims to disrupt Chinese companies under the pretext of human rights and labor issues, tarnishing their reputation in the process, said Ju.

However, due to the current Serbian government's commitment to an independent foreign policy and stable diplomatic ties with the EU, China, Russia, and other nations, along with Chinese companies' adherence to legal and ethical business practices, these attempts to tarnish our reputation are unlikely to succeed. It is evident that Chinese companies and the Chinese economy have greatly enhanced the quality of life for the local population, the expert stressed.

A total of 20 Australian companies, organizations and institutions, including a number of universities, are attending the ongoing 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, as they look for opportunities to boost cooperation amid improving ties.

The attendance to CIFTIS by Australian entities in 2024 has improved markedly from last year, amid an improvement of bilateral relations highlighted by a series of recent high-level interactions between officials of the two countries after years of frayed ties.
At the CIFTIS, Dale Pinto, global president of CPA Australia, a global accountant organization, told the Global Times that the relationship with China, Australia’s leading trade partner, is “absolutely critical.”

“It is really important to us, in the opening ceremony on Thursday, to hear that China is ready to increase its collaboration and cooperation [with the world],” Pinto said.

According to Pinto, many of the challenges people face today cannot be addressed by one country alone and needs collaboration, such as emission control, and that’s what makes the CIFTIS platform, which reinforces people-to-people exchange and cooperation, significant.

“We like to work with China. China is very advanced in many ways and can help Australia,” Pinto said, noting that in other areas, Australia can help China as well. “It is a mutually beneficial relationship.”

Australian representatives at the CIFTIS noted that a series of trade talks, high-level communications and official visits in the past two years sent really positive signals that the dialogue is really moving in a positive direction. And Australian companies and institutions are looking for opportunities in enhancing bilateral cooperation in several areas, including international education, green financing, digital transformation, and technological innovation.

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers is visiting China later this month, according to Bloomberg, in another high-level visit by officials of the two countries.

“Those high-level visits between the two sides have sent a signal to our business communities that we are talking and we are engaging. And that's really important,” Dominic Trindade, minister (commercial) at the Australian Embassy in Beijing, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Trade in services from Australia is quite diverse. A very large element of that is in the visitor economy – tourists, students, people visiting family and friends, and short-term business visitors. Those were affected during the pandemic years, according to the trade official.

“We'd like to see those links, those strong people-to-people links continue to build, but also looking at new avenues, new services, particularly in the technology areas, and in those areas around sustainability, environmental services [at the CIFTIS],” Trindade said.

“Australia’s multi-year attendance to the CIFTIS attests to the long tradition of cooperation between our two countries in services trade. Also, we will have a range of other events during the next 12 months that will culminate in Australia being the CIFTIS country of honor in 2025,” said Trindade.

Australia is China’s seventh-largest trading partner, and China has become Australia's largest services export partner in 2023, public data showed.

Australia’s services exports to China surged by more than A$5 billion ($3.36 billion) in 2023, reaching A$14.7 billion, accounting for 12.9 percent of the total service exports in the year.

Media

The Forum was attended by 1,515 media representatives from Russia and 10 other countries, namely (Bosnia and Herzegovina, the UK, Vietnam, Italy, China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Japan.

Agreements

At the Forum, 313 agreements were signed for a total of RUBLE 5.569 trillion (approximately $61 billion, including agreements whose amount is not a commercial secret, and non-public agreements between the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation and the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic for a total of RUBLE 3.825 trillion), including 27 agreements with foreign organizations, 15 with ministries and agencies, and two during the Falcon Day International Forum. 

Additionally, the Roscongress Foundation and RUSAL, Russia's aluminum giant, reached an agreement to offset the carbon footprint of the EEF 2024. The company donated part of the carbon units it received as a result of a project to protect forests against fires in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The carbon footprint of the EEF 2024 will be offset using the Thread of Nature platform, which can conduct transactions with carbon units and quota fulfillment units based on a marketplace principle.

Far East street exhibition

On the embankment of Ajax Bay, 11 regions of the Far East presented their key projects and achievements in various fields. The Ministry of Sport of the Russian Federation pavilion and Sports Arena hosted the “Developing the Far East!” joint exposition of the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation and the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, while the Tourism.RF regional development corporation had its own pavilion as well.

The Falcon House pavilion introduced guests to birds of the falcon family, their habitats, behavioural features, threats to the population, and measures being taken by the government to preserve these predators. For the second year, the exhibition included the Arab Village exposition, which was timed to coincide with the second Falcon Day International Forum. The exposition is dedicated to the culture and specific features of the Arabian Peninsula. In addition, for the first time, the Primorsky Territory opened a Fish Market at the Far East Street exhibition, where guests were presented with Far Eastern cuisine, including signature dishes made from pollock, scallop, crab, and mussels.

The “Time to Live in the Far East” flash mob was held as part of the opening ceremony.

The exhibition was organized by the Roscongress Foundation with the support from the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Russian President in the Far Eastern Federal District.

In addition, the “Welcome to the Far East” exhibition took place with the attendance of nine federal executive bodies and the Republic of Tatarstan.

BRICS Creative Innovation Forum

The EEF also hosted the BRICS Creative Innovation Forum, which was organized by the Innosocium Foundation, the social platform of the Roscongress Foundation. Nine discussion sessions were held on how to develop a human-based approach to innovation that combines consumer demand, technological capabilities, and the needs of businesses. In light of Russia’s BRICS chairmanship, all the main focuses of the Forum programme were prepared with an emphasis on how to thoroughly intensify interaction with BRICS countries in culture and art. The key event was the plenary session “New Russian Cultural Code: The Art of Preserving, Rethinking, and Transforming.”