Ray Cordeiro, 1924 – 2023

If the “DJ Mag” has it right, EMI in London lent him a tape recorder when he spontaneously interviewed the Beatles in the record company’s offices. Ray Cordeiro, a radio trainee from Hong Kong, had shown up at EMI some day in 1964 – unannounced, but the managers apparently saw his arrival as an opportunity to cultivate the Hong Kong market in a nutshell. It wasn’t the only interview he did during his three-months stay in London, and when he arrived back at Radio Hong Kong (now RTHK) with his achievments, he was rapidly promoted there.

He wasn’t really a newbie. He was in his forties, and he had hosted a number of programs before being sent to London.

Cordeiro was a musician (a drummer), a promotor and a journalist, but best known as a DJ. He started running the nightly show “All the Way with Ray” in 1970, every weekday evening from two hours before until two hours after midnight. Some time this century, he reduced those four hours by one, but he only retired in 2021.

His durability was probably one of his greatest assets. Another was the rapport he created with his audience, both in Hong Kong and in closely neighboring regions of Guangdong Province. One of his biggest fans rembered how Cordeiro’s shows helped him to improve his English at job as a front-desk employee at the airport.

“To become a famous DJ, you definitely need a distinct voice,” he said in an RTHK production in 2012, “to build your image”.

What he would never do was part of his image, too. “During all my career as a disk jockey, I concentrate only on music. No politics. Not even a word,” he told a BBC reporter in 2009. According to the same interview, he didn’t keep completely out of either. In 1967, during the cultural revolution, he played his “Hot Hundred” from Radio Hong Kong’s roof in Central, on his boss’s request, to drown out the propaganda speakers from the neighboring Bank of China building. “So I was on the roof spinning my Hot Hundred and was blasting from Queens Road Central all the way to Star Ferry, and the Bank of China’s [little loudspeaker system] couldn’t be heard, so they just shut down and called it a day.”

“No matter how bad I feel,” the New York Times quoted from a book of his in February this year, “once I walk into the studio, I’m full of energy — and ready to go”.

When he left his best-known program after all, over half a decade after it had first aired, he said that he could still go on, but wanted “to retire a bit earlier”.

Ray Cordeiro died on January 13, 2023.

Sherman-Xie Tianjin Meeting: “The Eyes of the Chinese Common People are Sharp”

The following is a translation of a rant by China’s deputy foreign minister Xie Feng (谢锋), as rendered by a number of Chinese mainstream media (with Shanghai newsportal Guanchazhe apparently as the original source), in a meeting with U.S. deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman and her delegation in Tianjin on Monday.

The meeting apparently didn’t make it into Monday’s main Chinese telvision newscast, “Xinwen Lianbo”.

Links within blockquotes added during translation. My translation may contain errors, and corrections aind suggestions are welcome.

Main Link: Deputy Foreign Minister Xie Feng’s Tianjin Talks with U.S. Principal Deputy Secretary of State Sherman

(Guanchazhe online news) In the morning of July 26, Chinese vice foreign minister Xie Feng held talks in Tianjin with American deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman.

（观察者网讯）7月26日上午，中国外交部副部长谢锋同美国国务院常务副国务卿舍曼在天津举行会谈。

According to Weibo @玉渊谭天 news¹⁾, Xie Feng said during the talks with Sherman that Chinese-American relations were currently in deadlock²⁾ facing serious difficulties, the basic cause of which was that some people in America regarded China as an “imaginary enemy”.

据微博@玉渊谭天 消息，谢锋在和舍曼会谈时表示，中美关系目前陷入僵局，面临严重困难，根本原因就是美国一些人把中国当作“假想敌”。

Xie Feng said that for some time, some people on the American side had embellished Sino-American conflicts as so-called “Pearl-Harbor moments” and “Sputnik moments”. Some experts and scholars stated clearly that America is comparing China to second world wartime Japan and the cold-war Soviet Union, wanting to establish China as an imaginary enemy country, to reignite a sense of national purpose by demonizing China, thus deflecting the American people’s discontent with domestic politics, the economy and society, shifting the blame for deep-seated American structural contradictions onto China.

谢锋表示，一段时间以来，美方一些人在渲染中美冲突和美国面临的挑战时提到所谓“珍珠港时刻”和“斯普特尼克时刻”。一些专家学者明言，美方是在把中国比喻成二战时的日本、冷战时的苏联，想通过树立中国这个“假想敌”，重新点燃国家目标感，通过妖魔化中国，转移美民众对国内政治、经济、社会的不满，把美国内深层次结构性矛盾甩锅到中国身上。

Xie Feng pointed out that the entire American government and society were mobilized to comprehensively contain China, as if America’s domestic and external problems could be easily solved and as if America could become great again, and American hegemony continue, if only China’s development was contained. America readily criticized China, and things looked as if without gossiping about China, nothing could be said and done in America. We urge America to change its current, extremely mistaken, thought and its extremely dangerous China policy.

谢锋指出，美全政府全社会动员，全方位遏制中国，似乎只要遏制住中国的发展，美内外难题就能迎刃而解，美国将重新变得伟大，美国治下的霸权就可以延续。美方动辄拿中方说事，好像不扯上中国，都不会说话做事了。我们敦促美方改变当前这种极其错误的思维和极其危险的对华政策。

Xie Feng said that the eyes of the Chinese common people were sharp. America’s “competition, cooperation, confrontation” trichotomy was just America’s smokescreen. The innate character were confrontation and containment, while cooperation was a stop-gap plan of convenience and competition was the discourse trap. When China is needed, cooperation is demanded; when there’s an advantage [on America’s side], there’s decoupling, blockade and sanctions; and in order to contain China, [America] unscrupulously applies conflict and confrontation. If only matters of concern to America should be solved, if only results wanted by America should be reached, if benefits are unilateral and there’s always leeway for extreme measures [for America], how in the world can that be justified?!

谢锋表示，中国老百姓的眼晴是雪亮的。美方的“竞争、合作、对抗”三分法就是遏制打压中国的“障眼法”。对抗遏制是本质，合作是权宜之计，竞争是话语陷阱。有求于中方时就要求合作；在有优势的领域就脱钩断供，封锁制裁；为了遏制中国，不惜冲突对抗。只想解决美方关切的问题，只想得到美方想要的结果，单方面受益，既要坏事做绝，还想好处占尽，天下哪有这样的道理?！

Xie Feng pointed out that America’s so-called protection of the “rules-based international order” was just about packaging its own and a minority of Western countries’ “lineage rules and gang regulations”, to be used to block and suppress other countries. America is turning away from the international community’s accepted international law and international order, damagaging the international system it once participated in building, [then] building a new stove to throw the so-called “rules-based international order” out. Only in order to play shameless games, to usurp and change rules to restrict others, to strive for its own profit, it wants to execute the “law of the jungle” where you either eat or are eaten.

谢锋指出，美方所谓维护“基于规则的国际秩序”，就是想把自己和少数西方国家的“家法帮规”包装成国际规则，用来规锁打压别国。美方抛弃国际社会广泛接受的国际法和国际秩序，破坏自己曾经参与构建的国际体系，另起炉灶抛出所谓“基于规则的国际秩序”，无非是想耍赖，想篡改规则限制别人、谋利自己，是想施行弱肉强食、以大欺小的“丛林法则”。

Xie Feng said that what the world needed most these days was joint cooperation, rising to the challenges from the same boat³⁾. The Chinese people loved peace, actively promoted the building of a new world order of mutual respect, fairness and justice, cooperation and double-win, the building of a community with a shared future for mankind⁴⁾. China wanted to interact mutually with America on an equal footing, seeking common ground while keeping differences. America should change its ways⁵⁾ and choose meeting with China halfway, mutual respect, fair competition, and peaceful coexistence. Healthy and stable Sino-American relations are not only in both sides’ interest but also the international community’s shared expectation.

谢锋表示，当今世界最需要团结合作、同舟共济。中国人民爱好和平，积极推动构建相互尊重、公平正义、合作共赢的新型国际关系，构建人类命运共同体。中方愿与美方平等相待、求同存异。美方应该改弦易辙，选择与中方相向而行，相互尊重，公平竞争，和平共处。一个健康稳定的中美关系不仅符合双方利益，也是国际社会的共同期盼。

Xie Feng said that America should first solve its own human rights problems. From a historical perspective, racism and genocide against native people; seen from reality, 620,000 people died from inactivity in fighting the virus; from a global perspective, putting all military might into wars of aggression, using lies to provoke wars, bringing the world serious disasters. What is America’s advocacy role for democracy and human rights based on?

谢锋表示，美方应该首先解决好自己的人权问题。从历史看，对土著居民搞种族灭绝；从现实看，消极抗疫造成62万美国人死亡；从世界看，长期穷兵黩武，用谎言挑起战争，给世界带来深重灾难。美国凭什么以全球民主人权自居?

Xie Feng said that America wasn’t qualified to wave around and making indiscreet remarks⁶⁾ about democracy and human rights in China. If there was no strong and effective leadership of China’s Communist Party, no strong governing system, no appropriate road of development for China, and if the Chinese common people were denied democracy, freedom and human rights, how would the Chinese people be able to release such huge creativity and productivity? How did China, an enormously large country with more than a billion inhabitants, create the two miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability? How was the Chinese nation able to perform the great leap of standing up, prospering and becoming strong within just 100 years? Western opinion polls show that the Chinese masses’ satisfaction with Chinese government exceeds 90 percent – an amazing rate for any country.

谢锋说，美方没有资格在中方面前指手画脚谈民主人权。如果没有中国共产党坚强有力的领导、没有一套行之有效的政治制度、没有一条适合国情的发展道路，如果老百姓都被剥夺了民主、自由、人权，中国人民怎么能释放出如此巨大的创造力和如此巨大的生产力?中国这么一个十几亿人口的超大规模国家怎么能创造经济快速增长与社会长期稳定两大奇迹?中华民族怎么能在短短的100年间迎来从站起来、富起来到强起来的伟大飞跃?西方民调显示，中国民众对中国政府的满意度超过90%，这在任何一个国家都是惊人的。

Xie Feng said that Chinese culture advocated not to do to others what you don’t want others do to yourself, as it had no hegemonic genes, expansionist moods, or any precedent cases of coercion of any other country. Facing external interference, China had adopted adequate and lawful countermeasures to defend the country’s righteous interests, to protect international fairness and justice, and never ran to other peoples’ doors to pick fights, to reach into other people’s property, let alone occupy other countries’ territory – not even an inch. The patent and intellectual property on coercive diplomacy⁷⁾ is all belonging to the Americans, as America applies sanctions on a grand scale, long-arm jurisdiction and interference in domestic politics. America’s so-called “interaction with other countries from a position of strength” is really just about bullying others based on one’s power, tyrannize others based on one’s power, [with the idea that] might makes right. It is coercive diplomacy through and through.

谢锋表示，中国文化主张己所不欲、勿施于人，从无霸权基因、扩张冲动，从不胁迫任何国家。面对外来干涉，中方采取的是合理合法反制，捍卫的是国家正当权益，维护的是国际公平正义，从未跑到别人门口挑事，从未将手伸进别人家里，更没占领过别国一寸土地。胁迫外交的发明权、专利权、知识产权，都非美国人莫属，是美国大搞单边制裁、长臂管辖、干涉内政。美方所谓“从实力地位出发与别国打交道”，本质就是仗势欺人、恃强凌弱、强权即公理，是彻头彻尾的胁迫外交。

____________

Notes

1)	I’m not familiar with this account, but this way of quoting Xie Feng may intend to carry his message the Chinese public in a less official way than through the Chinese foreign ministry’s website
2)	or, in other translations, in a stalemate
3)	Please see Adam Cathcart’s great comment with classical background – two antagonized parties, condemned to cooperate
4)	More literally translated: a community of common destiny for mankind
5)	Literally translated, this could be mounting a new bowstring (or a string on a musical instrument) and change track”. This is sort of loaded, as the saying has also been used in the context of self-criticism and becoming a new man. The memory of that isn’t really cherished by the common people and doesn’t look like a constructive remonstrance to me.
6)	literally: pointing fingers and drawing feet
7)	more literally: diplomacy that threatens violence

____________

Related

G7, small-circled cliques and factions, May 4, 2021
Anchorage meeting,wise and competent, March 15, 2021

____________

Updates/Related

“Taiwan most important in Tianjin talks”, RTI, July 27, 2021
____________

Xu Yuanchong, 1921 – 2021

Documentaries made during a man’s lifetime often do a better job at describing him, than obituaries. Here’s a good film on Xu Yuanchong (许渊冲) – unfortunately only in Chinese.
____________

____________

Huanqiu Shibao: G7 London Meeting, small-circled cliques and factions

As he said before, it’s you, not us

The following is a translation of an article by Huanqiu Shibao online, published on Tuesday (May 4). Huanqiu’s translations from English do not necessarily reflect what the persons quoted there actually said.

The Reuters article referred to by Huanqiu Shibao can be found here.

Main Link: Evoking the China-Russia threat once again? (又渲染中俄威胁)

Bian Zihao, Huanqiu Online reporter — Hyping another Chinese-Russian threat? The G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Britain’s capital London opened on May 3. According to Reuters, Britain will seek decisive action from the G7 member states to respond to global threats. Reuters says that these so-called “global threats” include China and Russia.

【环球网报道 记者 边子豪】又炒作中俄威胁？七国集团外长会3日在英国首都伦敦开幕，据路透社报道，英国4日将寻求与G7成员国采取果断行动以应对全球威胁。路透社称，上述所谓“全球威胁”包括中国和俄罗斯。

As it holds the G7’s rotating chairmanship this year, Britain also invited Australia’s, India ‘s , South Africa ‘s and South Korea ‘s foreign ministers this week. Reuters says that this is the first time in two years that G7 representatives talk face-to-face and that this is seen as an opportunity to “strengthening support for the international rules-based system.

作为今年七国集团轮值主席国，除了G7成员国外，英国本周还邀请了澳大利亚、印度、南非和韩国等国外长。路透社说，本次会谈是近两年来七国集团代表首次举行面对面会议，被英方视为“加强支持基于规则的国际体系的机会”。

Reuters also quoted Britain’s wording, an evocation of the so-called “China-Russia threat”, saying that China’s economic influence and Russia’s “evil activities” could break that system.

此外，路透社还引述英方说法，渲染所谓“中俄威胁”说，中国的经济影响力和俄罗斯的“恶意活动”可能会破坏上述体系。

The report also mentioned that on May 3 local time, U.S. secretary of state Blinken, after meeting British forign secretary Raab, called for the building of an international alliance. He claimed that although there was no intention to “contain China”, there was a need to make sure that China “acted in accordance with the rules”. In a program broadcast by Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), Blinken explained his position similarly. He said there, “our goal isn’t to contain China, not to block China, not to inhibit China. (But) it is the protection of order-based rules to which China currently raises challenges …”

报道还提到，当地时间5月3日，在与英国外交大臣拉布会面后，美国国务卿布林肯呼吁组建一个全球联盟，他宣称尽管不想“遏制中国”，但要确保中国“按规则行事”。 而在5月2日哥伦比亚广播公司（CBS）播出的一档节目中，布林肯也曾有过相似表态。当时他说：“我们的目的不是遏制中国，不是阻止中国，不是压制中国。（而）是为了维护基于秩序的规则，（但）中国正在对（这些规则）提出挑战……”

The foreign ministers’ meeting is seen as a warm-up for the G7 summit in June. The G7 consists of Britain, America, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan. Russia joined as the eighth country in 1997. In 2014, after the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, Russia was excluded.

本次外长会被视为将于6月在英国举行的七国集团峰会的预热。七国集团由英国、美国、法国、德国、意大利、加拿大和日本组成，俄罗斯1997年加入后成为八国集团。2014年乌克兰危机爆发以后，俄罗斯被排除在外。

In reality, concerning talk about the so-called “China threat”, FMPRC spokesman Zao Lijian has previously emphasized that China adheres unswervingly to the road of peaceful development, we have never provoked a war on our own accord, and never violated an inch of another country’s territory, nor have we ever constituted a threat to any country. Facts have repeatedly proven that China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a protector of international order, and that China’s development is an opportunity for the world.

事实上，关于所谓“中国威胁论”，中国外交部发言人赵立坚此前曾强调，中国坚定不移走和平发展道路，我们从来没有主动挑起过一场战争，也从来没有侵犯过别国一寸领土，不对任何国家构成威胁。事实一再证明中国始终是世界和平的建设者、全球发展的贡献者、国际秩序的维护者，中国的发展是世界的机遇。

Zhao Lijian said that China’s development spells the growth of global peace, that it is the woeld’s opportunity and not a challenge. China has always firmly upheld the international system with the United Nations at the core, based on international law. But that isn’t an international order defined by individual countries to protect their own interests. In the age of globalization, the destruction of international order [happens] for real when lines are drawn along ideology and when countries form small-circled cliques and factions. In the end, this is what really doesn’t enjoy popular support and what doesn’t provide a way out.

赵立坚说，中国的发展是世界和平力量的增长，是世界的机遇而非挑战。中方始终坚定维护的是以联合国为核心的国际体系和以国际法为基础的国际秩序，而不是个别国家为维护自身霸权所定义的国际秩序。在全球化时代，以意识形态划线，拉帮结派，搞针对特定国家的小圈子才是对国际秩序的破坏。这终究是不得人心的，也是没有出路的。

____________

Related

Wolf Warrior Diplomacy on Vacation, Aug 9, 2020
An unprecedented common cause, June 7, 2013
____________

Trans-Pacific Press Review (TPPR), April 14

—

Happy reading …

Date	Item
	—
April 1	Argentina has sought Chinese support in its negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Argentina started with reaching an agreement with the IMF. China is one of Argentina’s biggest trade and investment partners. According to a report by Argentina’s embassy to China, Argentina’s ambassador to China, Sabino Vaca Narvaja, has had meetings with high-level Chinese officials. The purpose was to ask China to support Argentina in its talks to have deadlines extended and interest on debt lowered.
	—
April 9	Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and a master of innocuous small talk, died last Friday.
	—
April 9	Also on Friday, the world’s biggest Mazu pilgrimage started in Dajia District, Taichung, Taiwan.
	—
April 9	Still on Friday, China’s ambassador to Canada had reassuring news for Michael Spavor‘s and Michael Kovrig‘s fellow citizens: the “vast majority” should not worry about being kidnapped by the police, he reportedly told a Zoom audience Memorial University of St. John’s. (I suppose his wording was a bit different from kidnapped by the police, rather something like “people engage in those criminal activities, whether it’s Canadians or other nationalities”.)
	—
April 12	Gao Fu (高福), head of the Chinese Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, has been quoted as saying that China’s current vaccines  “don’t have very high rates of protection”, but later referred to this statement as a “complete misunderstanding”.
	—
April 14	US climate envoy John Kerry is in China, and two authors on Foreign Policy have some advice for him.
	—
April 14	Also, a US delegation is in Taiwan at President Joe Biden‘s request. President Tsai Ing-wen will reportedly meet with the delegation on Thursday morning.

____________

Related

Universal topics, Mar 22, 2018
RAE adds Chinese programs, Jun 10, 2013

“Pragmatic Cooperation”: German and Chinese foreign ministers hold videoconference

The following are three off-the-cuff translations of the news articles published by the FMPRC and the German foreign office earlier today, after a videoconference between the two countries’ foreign ministers. These translations are by no means authoritative and may contain errors – in case of the doubt, look at the originals. If either of them is a comprehensive description of the conference is, of course, impossible to tell.

Wang Yi also presented the Chinese version of his country’s conflict with the US, but this was published in an extra article by the FMPRC – please refer to the third translation.

“Positive and constructive attitude”

Links within blockquotes added during translation.

The following is a translation of the news article published by China’s foreign ministry.

On July 24, 2020, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a video conference with German foreign minister Heiko Maas.

2020年7月24日，国务委员兼外长王毅同德国外长马斯举行视频会晤。

Wang Yi said that since the outbreak of the epidemic, China and Germany had both upheld close communication through telephone, video and other means, to plan for the next step in the development of Chinese-German and Chinese-European relations. We must actively  implement the political consensus reached by the two countries’ leaders, ensure the sound and stable development of Chinese-German relations, advocate multilateralism together, reject unilateral behavior, and provide more stability and correct energy for the world:

王毅表示，疫情发生以来，中德两国领导人通过通话、视频等方式保持密切沟通，为下一步中德、中欧关系发展作出规划。我们要积极落实两国领导人达成的政治共识，确保中德关系健康稳定发展，共同倡导多边主义，抵制单边行径，为世界提供更多稳定性和正能量：

Firstly, to newly start Chinese-German dialog on all levels and in all fields, actively plan and carry out dialog and consultation mechanisms in a flexible way, with the two foreign ministries taking a role in the resumption of exchanges.

一是要让中德各层级、各领域对话重新启动起来，以灵活方式积极规划实施好各种对话磋商机制，两国外交部可在恢复交往方面发挥作用。

Secondly, to let Chinese-German pragmatic cooperation resume as soon as possible, to jointly maintain international supply chains and their stability. The two countries have already taken the lead in the implementation of “fast-lane travels”, with the need to create better conditions by strengthening prevention and expanding bilateral staff contacts and increasing the numbers of flights.

二是要让中德务实合作尽快恢复起来，共同维护国际产业链、供应链稳定。两国已率先实行“快捷通道”，要通过加强联防联控，为扩大双方人员往来和增加航班创造更好条件。

Thirdly, to let Chinese-German interaction and coordination on multilateral matters, strengthen cooperation on United Nations matters, implement the G20 summit countries’ consensus and promotion of international epidemic prevention, including help for African and other less-developed regions in fighting the epidemic, and strengthen vaccine research and development and sharing.

三是要让中德在多边事务中的互动与协调活络起来，加强在联合国事务中的合作，落实好二十国集团峰会共识，推动国际抗疫合作，包括帮助非洲等欠发达地区抗击疫情，加强疫苗研发合作和分享。

Wang Yi emphasized that China has always looked at the EU and Chinese-EU relations with a positive and constructive attitude, always supported the European integration process, supported the EU’s growth and expansion, and happily watched the EU’s development of a greater international role. To develop Chinese-European relations well, comprehensive, objective and accurate knowledge of each other is the key. Wang Yi reiterated that Chinese-European consensus was much greater than their divisions, and cooperation much greater than competition. The two sides’ contacts should be positive and win-win, not a you-lose-I-win zero-sum game. China and Europe are cooperation partners, not systemic rivals. China expects the term of Germany’s rotating EU presidency to promote the realization of still bigger upgradings of Chinese-European relations and is willing to work with Europe to plan and prepare the next stages of the Chinese-European political agenda, to deepen cooperation on climate change, and to send a positive signal that China and Europe join hands to cooperate in safeguarding multilateralism and improving global governance.

王毅强调，中国始终以积极、建设性心态看待欧盟和中欧关系，始终支持欧洲一体化进程，支持欧盟发展壮大，乐见欧盟在国际上发展更大作用。发展好中欧关系，全面、客观、准确的相互认知是关键。王毅重申，中欧共识远大于分歧，合作远大于竞争。双方的交往应当是互利共赢的良性互动，而不是你输我赢的零和博弈。中欧是合作伙伴，而不是制度性对手。中方期待德国担任欧盟轮值主席国期间推动中欧关系实现更大提升，愿同欧方一道，筹划好下阶段中欧重大政治议程，深化气候变化国际合作，对外释放中欧携手合作，维护多边主义、完善全球治理的积极信号。

Maas first expressed sympathy to the Chinese people suffering the flood disaster. Maas said that Germany places great attention on German-Chinese relations. Close German-Chinese communication, dialog and cooperation in the face of the epidemic challenge had led to good results. Germany highly appreciated China’s pledge to  turn a successfully developed vaccine into an international product after successful development. [Germany] wanted to strengthen cooperation with China in vaccine R & D, and in improving accessibility to such a vaccine. Germany firmly supported multilateralism and supported the WHO. It would substantially increase financial support for the WHO. Germany was willing to make ample use of existing dialog and consultation mechanisms, to strengthen strategic dialog and communication, to cooperate on post-epidemic economic recovery, increase the numbers of business and chartered flights while doing a good job at prevention and control, and promote essential contacts. As rotating president of the EU, Germany placed great attention on European-Chinese relations, was willing to plan the next stages of European-Chinese high-level exchanges, to deepen cooperation on climate change, strengthen third-party cooperation in Africa, and contribute efforts to the promotion of European-Chinese relations’ development.

马斯首先向遭受洪涝灾害的中国民众表示慰问。马斯表示，德方高度重视德中关系。面对全球疫情挑战，德中保持密切沟通，对话与合作富有成果。德方高度赞赏中方承诺在疫苗研发成功后将作为国际公共产品，愿同中方加强疫苗研发合作，提高疫苗的可及性。德方坚定支持多边主义，支持世卫组织，将大幅提高对世卫组织的资金支持。德方愿充分利用现有各种对话磋商机制，加强战略对话与沟通，就疫后经济复苏开展合作，在做好防控的同时，增加商业航班和包机数量，促进必要人员往来。作为欧盟轮值主席，德方高度重视欧中关系，愿同中方共同规划好下阶段欧中重要高层交往，深化应对气候变化协作，加强在非洲第三方合作，为促进欧中关系发展贡献力量。

The two sides exchanged opinions about the China-EU investment agreement negotiations, concurred that with the background of unilateralism and protectionism, efforts to meet half-way and to negotiate needed to be increased, so as to strive for the attainment of a comprehensive, balanced and high-class Chinese-European investment agreement at the earliest possible date.

双方就中欧投资协定谈判交换了意见，一致同意在当前单边主义、保护主义抬头背景下，应加快相向而行，加大谈判力度，争取尽早达成一项全面、平衡、高水平的中欧投资协定。

The following is a translation of the news article published by Germany’s foreign ministry.

Since early June, the worst rains ever since the beginning of keeping records have caused massive floods in China. We are aghast of the pictures and reports about the flood disaster. On behalf of the federal government, I have expressed our deepest sympathy and our solidarity with the population affected by the floods.

Seit Anfang Juni sorgen die schlimmsten Regenfälle seit Beginn der Aufzeichnungen für massive Überschwemmungen in China. Wir sind bestürzt über die Bilder und Berichte der Flutkatastrophe. Im Namen der Bundesregierung habe ich der chinesischen Seite unser tiefstes Mitgefühl und unsere Solidarität mit der von den Fluten betroffenen Bevölkerung ausgedrückt.

For us, China is an important partner, but a competitor and systemic rival, too. Maintaining cooperation matters to us. However, it is also crucial that we keep up dialog especially about critical topics.

China ist für uns ein wichtiger Partner, aber auch Wettbewerber und systemischer Rivale. Für uns ist der Erhalt der Zusammenarbeit wichtig. Gleichzeitig ist es aber auch entscheidend, dass wir im Dialog insbesondere auch zu kritischen Themen bleiben.

The most An important topic of my discussion with Wang Yi was the situation in Hong Kong – as has been in my talks with Great Britain this week, and in EU circles last week. I have presented the common European position and reflectins among EU partners, concerning the treatment of the new legal situation, once again. There, too, there is need for action. To us, it is and remains important that, in accordance with international law entered by China, Hong Kong’s autonomy and the liberties guaranteed by the Basic Law, including freedom of opinion, remain guaranteed. That is why we are watching closely now how the law will be applied in practice, also with reference to the Legislative Council elections. If the principle of “one country, two systems” gets eroded by the security law, there will be consequences for our relations with Hong Kong and China. The human rights situation in China was also a topic in our discussion.

Wichtiges Thema meines Gesprächs mit Wang Yi war die Situation in Hongkong – wie im Übrigen auch schon bei meinen Gesprächen mit Großbritannien diese Woche und im EU-Kreis in der vergangenen Woche. Ich habe Wang Yi nochmals die gemeinsame europäische Haltung und die Überlegungen unter den EU-Partnern zum Umgang mit der neuen Rechtslage dargelegt. Denn auch dort gibt es Handlungsbedarf. Für uns ist und bleibt es wichtig, dass gemäß der völkerrechtlichen Verpflichtungen, die China eingegangen ist, die Autonomie Hongkongs und die im Basic Law garantierten Freiheiten, einschließlich der Meinungsfreiheit, gewährleistet bleiben. Deshalb beobachten wir jetzt genau, wie das Gesetz in der Praxis angewandt wird, auch mit Blick auf die Wahlen zum Legislative Council. Wenn das Prinzip „Ein Land, zwei Systeme“ durch das Sicherheitsgesetz ausgehöhlt wird, hat das auch Folgen für unser Verhältnis zu Hongkong und China. Auch die Menschenrechtslage in China war Thema unseres Gesprächs.

As the EU’s presidency, we also still hope that the EU-China summit, originally planned for mid-September, can soon be catched up with. It is important that we finally reach substantial steps in the EU-China investment agreement.

Als EU-Ratspräsidentschaft hoffen wir nach wie vor, dass der ursprünglich für Mitte September geplante EU-China-Gipfel bald nachgeholt werden kann. Es ist wichtig, dass wir endlich substantielle Schritte beim EU-China-Investitionsabkommen erreichen.

G5 network development was a topic in our discussion, too. I explained that strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty is an important concern for the German EU presidency. We have a strategic interest in our critical infrastructur’s security. To this end, security criteria will be established that all companies have to fulfill if they want to take part in 5G network development.

Auch der 5G-Netzwerkausbau war Thema unseres Gesprächs. Ich habe erläutert, dass die Stärkung der digitalen Souveränität Europas ein wichtiges Anliegen der deutschen EU-Ratspräsidentschaft ist. Wir haben ein strategisches Interesse an der Sicherheit unserer kritischen Infrastruktur. Dafür werden Sicherheitskriterien aufgestellt, die von allen Unternehmen zu erfüllen sind, wenn sie am 5G Netzwerkausbau beteiligt sein wollen.

In the area of climate change, the EU wants to work closely with China. Without China, we will not be able to achieve sustainable results here. Therefore, it was important that here, too, we remain in a close dialog.

Im Bereich Klimaschutz wollen wir als EU den engen Schulterschluss mit China suchen. Ohne China werden wir hier keine nachhaltigen Ergebnisse erzielen können. Deswegen war es wichtig, dass wir auch hierzu im engen Dialog bleiben.

We have also addressed the situation in Libya and Iran. If we want progress, we need China as a responsible actor in international politics. I have once again made a case for more Chinese support about Libya in the UN Security Council, and for constructive cooperation about Iran. Here, it has to be our main goal to preserve the JPCOA.

Wir haben auch die Situation in Libyen und dem Iran angesprochen. Wenn wir Fortschritte erzielen wollen, brauchen wir China als verantwortungsvollen Akteur in der internationalen Politik. Ich habe mich nochmals stark gemacht für eine weitere Unterstützung durch China zu Libyen im Sicherheitsrat der Vereinten Nationen und für eine konstruktive Mitarbeit zum Iran. Hier muss es unser oberstes Ziel bleiben, das JCPoA zu erhalten.

Of course, we also discussed COVID-19. The pandemic appears to be under control in our two countries for now – a success of our cooperation and solidarity. We agreed that this creates the opportunity for gradual development of travel connections between our countries.

Selbstverständlich haben wir auch über COVID-19 gesprochen. Die Pandemie scheint in unseren beiden Ländern vorerst unter Kontrolle zu sein – ein Erfolg unserer Zusammenarbeit und Solidarität. Wir waren uns einig, dass dies die Möglichkeit schafft, gemeinsam am schrittweisen Ausbau von Reiseverbindungen zwischen unseren Ländern zu arbeiten.

However, we must not relent in our efforts in fighting Corona. The pandemic continues to require international solidarity, especially in a globally fair distribution of a future vaccine. However, it is also important in our view that there will be scientific research [or investigation] of the virus’ origins. Therefore, we also discussed an invitation to the WHO, concerning the deployment of an expert commission.

Wir dürfen in unseren Bemühungen im Kampf gegen Corona aber keinesfalls nachlassen. Die Pandemie erfordert nach wie vor internationale Solidarität, gerade auch bei der global gerechten Verteilung eines künftigen Impfstoffes. Wichtig ist aus unserer Sicht allerdings auch eine wissenschaftliche Untersuchung der Herkunft des Virus. Daher haben wir auch über eine Einladung an die WHO über die Entsendung einer Expertenmission gesprochen.

The following is a translation of Wang Yi’s version of China’s conflict with the US.

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a video meeting with German foreign minister Heiko Maas on July 24, 2020, introduced [Maas] to the current [state of] Chinese-American relations on request.

2020年7月24日，国务委员兼外长王毅同德国外长马斯举行视频会晤时，应询介绍了当下的中美关系。

Wang Yi said that the problems in Chinese-American relations are all created by America, their objective is to try to interrupt China’s development progress, by means fair or foul, and even with a lack of any bottom line. Recently, some American anti-China forces also deliberately created ideological antagonism, openly forced other countries to choose the side to stand on, to get into confrontation with China for America’s selfish interest, but no country with an innate sense of right and wrong and an independent spirit would keep that kind of company.

王毅表示，中美关系目前面临的困难完全是美方一手造成的，其目的就是企图彻底打断中国的发展进程，为此可以不择手段，甚至毫无底线。最近美方一些反华势力还蓄意制造意识形态对立，公开胁迫别国选边站队，为了美方的私利与中国对抗，但任何有良知和独立精神的国家都不会与之为伍。

Wang Yi said that China still hopes that non-conflict with America can be reached, without confrontation, with mutual respect, mutually profitable cooperation, but that we will inevitably and resolutely defend national sovereignty and national dignity, resolutely defend our own just development rights, and the principles of international relations. China will not behave like America, but won’t tolerate American trouble-making either.

王毅表示，中国仍希与美国实现不冲突、不对抗、相互尊重、合作共赢，但我们必将坚定维护国家主权和民族尊严，坚定维护自身正当发展权利，坚定维护国际关系基本准则。中国不会随美方起舞，但也绝不容美方胡来。

____________

Updates / Related

Crunch time, SCMP, July 23, 2020
Subsidies beyond reach, SCMP, July 24

____________

x

China Media Group and the Coronavirus: Independent Television quotes China Media Group’s inspiring News

The following is a translation of an article published by People’s Daily, on January 29.

A few explanations to make it more readable:

China Media Group is a  state-owned Chinese multi-media, multi-language conglomerate, resulting from a merger of China Central Television (CCTV), China Radio International (CRI) and China National Radio (CNR, or, in Chinese, Central People’s Broadcasting Station/CPBS). All these flags are still up in the national media landscape, but under the “Media Group’s” more or less centralized control. China Radio International’s last director Wang Gengnian reportedly retired in 2018 from his now obsolete job, and Yan Xiaoming, who used to head the domestic CPBS radio service, became the new organization’s deputy director. Shen Haixiong became China Media Group’s first director (and party secretary).

The level of China Media Group’s international “successes” can’t be measured from the People’s Daily article. However, it may count as an indicator of the pressures under which the state-owned media giant has to justify its budget. The CPC has become more demanding of the propaganda industry after Xi Jinping became the party’s secretary general, and less tolerant of fiefdom’s within the propaganda structures.

Links within blockquotes added during translation.

Main Link: International mainstream media pay attention to China’s epidemic prevention and control work, widely transmit China Media Group coverage

In the last few days, China Media Group’s coverage of prevention and control work against the new coronavirus viral infection pneumonia epidemic has been widely republished by American, British, German, French and other country’s mainstream media. According to unfinished statistics until January 28, some ninety mainstream media, including Fox Broadcasting Company, the BBC, CNN, Russia National Television, French BFM Business television, German ZDF channel two television, Italian RAI national broadcaster and other have quoted from relevant China Media Group coverage.

连日来，中央广播电视总台有关新型冠状病毒感染肺炎疫情防控报道，受到美英德法等国际主流媒体的广泛转发。据不完全统计，截至28日，包括美国福克斯广播公司、英国广播公司、美国有线电视新闻网、俄罗斯国家电视台、法国BFM BUSINESS电视台、德国电视二台、意大利广播电视公司等近90家主流媒体引用了总台相关报道。

In recent days, American Fox Broadcasting Company news channel, the BBC’s international news channel, America’s CNN international channel have all transmitted relevant China Media Group coverage and presented the measures taken by China in its prevention and control work against the epidemic, and America’s, Asia’s, Europe’s and other regions’ epidemic situation.

近日，美国福克斯广播公司新闻频道、英国广播公司国际新闻频道、美国有线电视新闻网国际频道均转引了总台相关报道，介绍中国在防控疫情方面所采取的措施以及美国、亚洲、欧洲等地疫情情况。

CMG media review: Just look at our incredible propaganda!

On January 28, Russia National Television, Russia Today TV, Independent TV [Dozhd TV]  and other mainstream media continued to pay close attention to China’s new coronavirus epidemic situation, with several television broadcasters using China Media Group coverage on that day. Dozhd TV reported that inspiring news was coming from China, with Chairman Xi Jinping stating that China had full confidence and the ability to win the battle of preventing and controlling the new coronavirus epidemic pneumonia.

28日俄罗斯国家电视台、今日俄罗斯电视台、独立电视台等主流电视媒体继续关注中国新型冠状病毒疫情，多家电视台当天引用了总台报道。独立电视台报道称：从中国传来令人振奋的消息，习近平主席表示中国完全有信心、有能力打赢新型冠状病毒肺炎防控攻坚战。

Also on that day, Russia National Television gave a full rebroadcast of China Media Group reporters’ interview with Wuhan mayor Zhou Xianwang, reporting the city government’s resolve in handling and overcoming the epidemic.

俄罗斯国家电视台当天全文引用总台记者对武汉市长周先旺的采访，报道武汉市政府处理疫情的考量和战胜疫情的决心。

Russia National Television channel 1’s primetime “Sixty Minutes” live broadcasts at noon and in the evening invited China Media Group reporters and Russian experts to interpret together the epidemic in China and the Chinese government’s active steps against it. An edited video of the program was uploaded to Youtube and viewed there nearly 100,000 times.

俄罗斯国家电视台1频道收视率最高的时事评论节目《60分钟》28日播出的午间和晚间两档直播节目，邀请总台驻站记者与多位俄罗斯专家一同解读中国国内的疫情和中国政府的积极应对。节目视频经过剪辑上传到YouTube平台上后观看量近10万次。

Italy’s biggest privatly-run television station, Mediaset TgCom24 TV, in its live news program “Behind the Incident”, repeatedly contacted China Media Group’s Italian-department reporter(s) to get information about the epidemic’s latest developments, and prevention and control measures, reporting the Chinese people’s confidence in overcoming the epidemic, and China’s desire to actively participate in international cooperation.

意大利最大的私营电视台——梅地亚塞特传媒集团TGCOM24电视台——的新闻直播节目《事件背后》，多次连线总台意大利语部记者，了解中国疫情最新进展及防控措施，报道中国民众战胜疫情的信心以及中国积极参与国际合作的意愿。

France’s BFM Business TV cooperated with China Media Group’s French department on January 23, inviting  Foundation for Strategic Research Antoine Bondaz to invite the in the program’s discussion. He said that “the Chinese government has taken active and fast measures to control the spread of the epidemic. The Chinese government’s quick response deserves recognition.”

法国BFM BUSINESS电视台23日与总台法语部合作，邀请法国战略研究基金会中国问题专家安东尼奥（Antoine Bondaz）参加节目访谈。安东尼奥表示：“中国政府采取了积极迅速的措施，控制了疫情蔓延。中国政府做出的快速反应，值得肯定。”

DRF Deutschland‘s [Germany] “China Info” changed its originally planned program on January 27, quoting from material from China Media Group’s German department, with a focus on the active measures taken by China to fight the epidemic.

德国DRF电视台《中国新闻》栏目27日改变原播出节目，转引转发总台德语部稿件，重点报道中国抗击疫情所采取的积极举措。

Also, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Turkey, Israel and other countries’ media have amply used China Media Group’s multilingual coverage, informing their countries’ national audiences about the Chinese government’s active measures in preventing and controlling the epidemic, and its work together with the international community to maintain regional and global confidence in public health.

此外，巴西、印度、印尼、泰国、土耳其、以色列等国的媒体也充分采用总台多语种报道，向本国受众及时介绍中国政府在防控疫情方面所采取的积极措施，以及与国际社会一道，共同维护好地区和全球公共卫生的信心。

[…]

____________

Related

The true story, Montsame, Febr 14, 2020
Borrowed boats, Jichang Lulu, Nov 4, 2015
This content in Swahili, Nov 13, 2014

____________

One Territory, two Statements

Apolitical, too? Erdogan in talks hosted by Xi Jinping, July 2019 (CCTV coverage)

Erdogan said that connected by the ancient Silk Road, Turkish-Chinese friendship had a long history and was now strengthened further. Close Turkish-Chinese relations were significant for regional peace and prosperity. Turkey made efforts for the development of relations with China, and for deepening cooperation. Turkey staunchly persued the one-China policy, the happiness of all Xinjiang nationalities in China’s development was also a fact, and Turkey would never allow anyone to incite disharmony in Turkish-Chinese relations. Turkey resolutely opposed extremism, wanted to enhance mutual trust and strengthen security cooperation. Potential for Turkish-Chinese cooperation was huge, Turkey resolutely upheld the construction of “one belt, one road”, and hoped that the two sides would strengthen cooperation on trade, investment, financial, energy, car building, infrastructure, 5G mobile communication, smart cities, etc., and enhance exchanges in the fields of education, culture, research, etc..

埃尔多安表示，通过千年古丝绸之路连接起来的土中友好源远流长，今天得到进一步加强。密切的土中关系对地区和平繁荣有重要意义。土耳其致力于发展对华关系，深化对华合作。土方坚定奉行一个中国政策，中国新疆地区各民族居民在中国发展繁荣中幸福地生活是个事实，土方不允许任何人挑拨土中关系。土耳其坚定反对极端主义，愿同中方增进政治互信，加强安全合作。土中合作潜力巨大，土方坚定支持“一带一路”建设，希望双方在“一带一路”框架内加强贸易、投资、金融、能源、汽车制造、基础设施、第五代移动通信、智慧城市等领域合作，增进在教育、文化、科研等领域交流。

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan‘s statement in July this year, according to the Chinese government’s website

Mesut Özil‘s statement this month, according to “The Guardian”:

His Instagram message read: “East Turkistan, the bleeding wound of the Ummah, resisting against the persecutors trying to separate them from their religion. They burn their Qurans. They shut down their mosques. They ban their schools. They kill their holy men. The men are forced into camps and their families are forced to live with Chinese men. The women are forced to marry Chinese men.

“But Muslims are silent. They won’t make a noise. They have abandoned them. Don’t they know that giving consent for persecution is persecution itself?”

____________

Related

Beijing invites fact finding mission, July 9, 2019

___________