China’s Position: Ukraine still hopes for the Best

On February 27, Ukraine issued a rejection of sorts of China’s February 24 position paper “on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis”. Advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Mykhailo Podolyak, told “Freedom TV”  that the only effective measure the position paper called for was “immediate cessation of fire.”

“This means that Russia will remain in the occupied territories, we will have a new dividing line, and we will have a slow absorption of Ukraine. That is, the slow death of Ukraine,” the TV station quoted Pdolyak.

The rejection from Zelensky’s office, but only in an unofficial interview, suggests that Kiev doesn’t want to anger Beijing and possibly provoke Chinese lethal-arms supplies to Russia that wouldn’t happen otherwise.

^{中共中央外事工作委员会办公室主任王毅会见乌克兰外长库列巴，慕尼黑，Febr 18, 2023}

In an article published on March 3, “Freedom TV” quotes interviewees as saying that “it is too early to say that China is openly opposing Ukraine”. China’s “global ambitions”, its long common border with Russia, and its dependence on Russian energy supplies as well as the two countries’ traditional alliance are quoted as factors supporting the bilateral relationship, but “Beijing will not sacrifice its own well-being because of Russia, experts are sure”.

Part of China’s “well-beings” is the arable land it owns in Ukraine. It shouldn’t be too difficult to replace, given that Beijing’s investment companies are scouting all continents for farmable land to buy or rent, but it wouldn’t be fun to see the goose being killed by Russia – even if it isn’t quite the “golden” goose.

Besides, at least one of “Voice of America’s” interlocutors, Taiwan International Strategic Study Society director Ching-Sheng Lo (羅慶生), took a rather critical view of China’s food security, a year ago.

Lo Ching-Sheng says: “Having bought that much grain, with storage for a year and a half, there’s nothing to care about – no problem in the short run. If this should turn into an Afghanistan kind of war of twenty years, China’s problems will be very big.”
罗庆生说：“因为中国买了太多粮食的关系，它储存了一年半的粮食，所以一年半之内它不会有事情，所以短期的话没问题。长期的话，如果说变成阿富汗战争那个样子打个20年，那中国的问题就很大了。”

But the Russian hinterland will count more than Ukraine – be it for China’s “global ambitions”, be it for its food security. Beijing took a speaking decision in early February, 2022, a few weeks before the Russian invasion of Ukraine started. Answer to the unfolding crisis: more grain imports from Russia.

Ukraine’s hopes on China are unreasonably high. As Zongyuan Zoe Liu, a fellow for international political economy at the Council on Foreign Relations, recently wrote,

The party can survive setbacks in the chip war, but the stakes are much higher in the fight for food security. Failure on the food security front will threaten the survival of the regime.

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Related

Kuleba addresses Asia, March 22, 2022

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Chinese-Philippines Ties: “Brimming with Expectations”

The following is my translation of a press release by the Chinese foreign ministry (FMPRC), published on Wednesday morning (GMT) this week.

Links within blockquotes were added during translation.

一百聞不如一見：
maritime disputes (click map for source)

Main Link: 

Wang Yi meets Philippine national security advisor Carlos

王毅会见菲律宾国家安全顾问卡洛斯

On July 6 local time, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Philippine National Security Advisor Ms Carlos¹⁾ in Manila.

当地时间2022年7月6日，国务委员兼外长王毅在马尼拉会见菲律宾国家安全顾问卡洛斯女士。

Wang Yi said that Sino-Philippine have a thousand-year history of friendly relations. During the past six years, with the joint efforts of both sides, Sino-Philippine relations had achieved a change for the better and advanced quality. The election of President Marcos had opened a new page in Sino-Philippine relations, and the two countries’ peoples were brimming with expectations for the development of bilateral relations. This visit represents the Chinese side’s focus on Sino-Philippine relations and its support for the new government, the continuity and stability in China’s friendly policies toward the Philippines. China would like to cooperate with the Philippine side to implement the important consensus between the two heads of state, to deepen pragmatic cooperation and to initiate another “golden age” in Sino-Philippines relations.

王毅表示，中菲有着千年友好交往历史。过去6年来，在双方共同努力下，中菲关系实现转圜改善、提质升级。马科斯总统当选为中菲关系翻开了新的一页，两国人民对双边关系发展充满期待。此访旨在体现中方对中菲关系的重视和对菲新一届政府的支持，体现中国对菲友好政策的连续性和稳定性。中方愿同菲方落实好两国元首重要共识，深化各领域务实合作，开创中菲关系下一个“黄金时代”。

Carlos said that the two peoples of the Philippines and China were were deeply attached and culturally connected to each other. China was a friendly major power. Chairman Xi Jinping had emphasized that he wanted to create a prosperous and beautiful future together with the Ascia-Pacific countries. The Philippine side is fully in favor of this and would like to broaden exchange and cooperation with the Chinese side, handle disagreements properly, promote mutual trust, improve confidence, gather goodwill and strengthen friendship.

卡洛斯说，菲中两国人民相亲、文化相通。中国是友善的大国。习近平主席强调要同亚太国家共创共享和平繁荣的美好未来，菲方完全赞同，愿同中方扩大交流合作，妥善处理分歧，促进互信、增强信心、积累善意，巩固友好。

Wang Yi said that China had never followed the traditional great powers’ road of colonialism and lootings and that it would maintain its own peaceful development, maintain cooperation and win-win, maintain shared development of opportunities with neighboring countries, join hands to build the community of human destiny²⁾ together and take good care the global village inhabited by all of us together.

王毅说，中国从不走传统大国殖民掠夺的老路，将坚持自身和平发展，坚持合作共赢，坚持与邻国分享发展机遇，携手共建人类命运共同体，呵护好我们共同居住的地球村。

Wang Yi emphasized that China and the Philippines were neighbors neither of which could be moved away, and our choice was friendship, friendship, and friendship again. The healthy continuation and the stable development of Sino-Philippine relatoins was in accordance with the two countries’ and the two peoples’ fundamental and long-term interests. Given the current international and regional situation full of uncertainty and instability, the two sides must continue and enhance their traditional friendship, and let Sino-Philippines relations become more stable and durable, so as to keep them moving forward on the right track.

王毅强调，中菲是搬不走的邻居，我们唯一的选择就是友好、友好、再友好。中菲关系健康持续稳定发展符合两国和两国人民的根本和长远利益。面对当前充满不确定不稳定性的国际地区形势，双方要传承弘扬传统友好，使中菲关系更加稳固坚韧，始终沿着正确轨道向前发展。

Both sides believed unanimously that people-to-people exchange should be strengthened and that the two countries’ friendly public opinion and the societal foundations of the two countries’ friendship be solidified.

双方一致认为应加强人文交流，夯实两国友好的民意和社会基础。

The two sides unanimously believed that the valuable experience of the two countries should be summed up, the overall situation of Sino-Philippine friendship should be actively protected, bilateral relations should not be defined by disputes, and definite differences not be allowed to be in the way of the two countries’ cooperation.

双方一致认为应总结两国交往宝贵经验，努力维护中菲友好大局，不以争议定义双边关系，不让具体分歧阻碍两国合作。

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Notes

¹⁾ Clarita Reyes Carlos, aka Clarita Carlos
²⁾ frequently, but not precisely, translated as a community with a shared future
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CPC Economic Work Plan 2022: Manufacturing Chain Resilience, Discipline Inspection Regulations, and a warm Two-Festivals Season

The following Xinhua report was also broadly reported on Monday night’s (China local time)  main evening news, Xinwen Lianbo. “Stability” enjoys a preference among China’s leadership, and that also seems to be the case for “social development”, along with economic development (统筹疫情防控和经济社会发展).

In addition to the meeting described in the following translation, Xi Jinping also “solicited opinions and suggestions concerning economic work” from dangwais, also on Monday. Contrary to the Xinwen Lianbo report on the CPC politburo meeting, the coverage of the dangwai ceremony was accompanied by video footage.

Maome

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Not daring to speak

–
Links within blockquotes added during translation.

Main link: Xi Jinping chairs politburo meeting, analyzes 2022 economic work

 

According to Xinhua, Beijing, December 6, the central committee’s politburo held a meeting on December 12, analysed and researched 2022 economic work, heard the central disciplinary national inspection and supervision work report, studied and arranged the 2022 clean-party-building and fighting-corruption work, and gave consideration to the “work regulations for the CPC discipline inspection commission”. CPC secretary general Xi Jinping chaired the meeting.

据新华社北京12月6日电 中共中央政治局12月6日召开会议，分析研究2022年经济工作;听取中央纪委国家监委工作汇报，研究部署2022年党风廉政建设和反腐败工作;审议《中国共产党纪律检查委员会工作条例》。中共中央总书记习近平主持会议。

The meeting believed that this year had had milestone historical significance for the party and the state. We have calmly esponded to situations with lasting effects and to the global pandemic, did our outmost to complete the enormous tasks of reform and development, and put the “14th five-year plan” to a good starting point. Our national economic development maintains a leading global position, th national strategic technological strength sees accelerated development, manufacturing chain resilience and advantages have been upgraded, reform and opening have been promoted in-depth, the people’s livelihood has been efficiently guaranteed, and construction of ecological civilizsation continuously promoted.

会议认为，今年是党和国家历史上具有里程碑意义的一年，我们从容应对百年变局和世纪疫情，奋力完成改革发展艰巨任务，实现“十四五”良好开局。我国经济发展保持全球领先地位，国家战略科技力量加快发展，产业链韧性和优势得到提升，改革开放向纵深推进，民生保障有力有效，生态文明建设持续推进。

The meeting demanded next year’s economic work to be done well, to be guided by Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and to fully implement the spirit of the Party’s 19th National Congress and the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth plenary sessions of the CPC’s 19th Central Committee. [The meeting demanded] that the spirit of the great construction of the party be enhanced, the overall main key of making progress while ensuring stability be persisted in, the new development concept be completely, accurately and thoroughly be carried out, the construction of the new development pattern be accelerated, reform and opening be comprehensively deepened, innovation-driven development be persisted in, high-quality development be promoted, the central line of supply-side structural reform be maintained, wholistic plans for epidemic prevention and economic as well as social development be applied, wholistic plans for development and security be applied, the good work on the “six stabilities” and “six guarantees” be continued, the hard work at stability be maintained, the economy be kept operating within reasonable ranges, general social stability be maintained, and the victorious 20th CPC national conference be welcomed.

会议要求，做好明年经济工作，要以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻落实党的十九大和十九届二中、三中、四中、五中、六中全会精神，弘扬伟大建党精神，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念，加快构建新发展格局，全面深化改革开放，坚持创新驱动发展，推动高质量发展，坚持以供给侧结构性改革为主线，统筹疫情防控和经济社会发展，统筹发展和安全，继续做好“六稳”、“六保”工作，持续改善民生，着力稳定宏观经济大盘，保持经济运行在合理区间，保持社会大局稳定，迎接党的二十大胜利召开。

The following paragraph re-emphasizes the need for ” making progress while ensuring stability” (and putting stability first – “稳字当头”), for expanded domestic demand, a steady monetary policy, consumption recovery, supply chain resilience, and also it mentions affordable housing (including support for the commercial building industry), plus a “virtuous circle” of science & technology, industry, and finance. In Chinese:

会议强调，明年经济工作要稳字当头、稳中求进。宏观政策要稳健有效，继续实施积极的财政政策和稳健的货币政策。积极的财政政策要提升效能，更加注重精准、可持续。稳健的货币政策要灵活适度，保持流动性合理充裕。实施好扩大内需战略，促进消费持续恢复，积极扩大有效投资，增强发展内生动力。微观政策要激发市场主体活力。要强化知识产权保护。结构政策要着力畅通国民经济循环，提升制造业核心竞争力，增强供应链韧性。要推进保障性住房建设，支持商品房市场更好满足购房者的合理住房需求，促进房地产业健康发展和良性循环。科技政策要加快落地，继续抓好关键核心技术攻关，强化国家战略科技力量，强化企业创新主体地位，实现科技、产业、金融良性循环。改革开放政策要增强发展动力，有效推进区域重大战略和区域协调发展战略，抓好要素市场化配置综合改革试点，扩大高水平对外开放。社会政策要兜住民生底线，落实好就业优先政策，推动新的生育政策落地见效，推进基本养老保险全国统筹，健全常住地提供基本公共服务制度。

The meeting pointed out that the importance of doing good work concerning the turn of the year and making sure that the masses’ were going to have a good “two-festivals” season¹⁾. Maintain prevention of the coronavirus re-entering the country and causing a new epidemic, and do the prevention work precisesly and solidly. Have a wholistic plan for the arrangement of coal, electricity, oil and gas transportation guarantees, ensure that the laobaixing keep warm during winter. Payment of the migrant workerss’ wages need to be ensured. the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics work be well done, and a marvelous distinguished Olympic gathering be guaranteed.

会议指出，要做好岁末年初各方面工作，确保人民群众过好“两节”。坚持“外防输入、内防反弹”，科学精准扎实做好疫情防控工作。统筹安排煤电油气运保障供应，确保老百姓温暖过冬。要保障农民工工资发放。要做好北京冬奥会、冬残奥会筹办工作，确保办成一届简约、安全、精彩的奥运盛会。

The meeting pointed out that under the strong leadership of the party central committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection had, at all levels, faithfully carried out the responsibilities assigned to them by the party constitution and statute. closely centered around the “four consciousnesses”, strengthen the “four confidences”, achieve strengthened political supervision of the “two upholds”, promote solid progress in political inspection, unremittingly pursue the promotion and implementation of the spirit of the central eight-point regulations, correct and punish the chronic “four winds” diseases, promote the struggle for the building of “party work style and clean government” without a single pause, resolutely bring problems with corruption and work style under control that affect the masses, unfold supervision and law enforcement in line with the rules and regulations, solemnly change the general attitude towards discipline, deepen the use of the “four forms”, deepen reform of the disciplinary inspection and supervision, increase the degree of self-constraint and self-purification, continuously improve the integrated promotion of effectiveness of not daring to, not being able to and not wanting to commit corruption, and to provide strong guarantees for a good start for the 14th five-year plan.
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会议指出，在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，中央纪委国家监委和各级纪检监察机关忠实履行党章和宪法赋予的职责，紧紧围绕增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”强化政治监督，扎实推进政治巡视，持之以恒推动落实中央八项规定精神，着力纠治“四风”顽瘴痼疾，一刻不停推进党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争，坚决整治群众身边腐败和作风问题，依规依纪依法开展监督执纪执法工作，严肃换届纪律风气，深化运用“四种形态”，深化纪检监察体制改革，加大自我约束、自我净化力度，不断提升不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐一体推进综合效能，为“十四五”开好局起好步提供了坚强保障。

The meeting pointed out that the courage to conduct self-revolution is a significant mark that makes our party different from other political parties. The sixth plenary session of the 19th central committee had comprehensively summarized the party’s one-hundred years of struggle, its successes and historic experience, so as to show the way to deepening and promoting the new-era party’s self-revolution, and to comprehensively and strictly govern the party. Discipline and supervision work must be guided by Xi Jinping socialism-with-Chinese-characteristics-in-the-new-era ideology, comprehensively implement the spirit of the party’s 19th national conference’s as well as its 19th central committee’s second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth plenary sessions, maintain the overall main key of making progress while ensuring stability, maintain seeking truth from facts, keep to the right path and innovate and, based on the new development phase, to completely, accurately and comprehensively implement the new-development concept, construct a new development pattern, promote high-quality development, make conscious use of experience from the party’s century of historic struggle, always maintain the spriit of self-revolution, keep to the strategic guideline of strictly governing the party, unswervingly carry the clean-party-building and fighting-corruption to the end, continue to deepen the integrated promotion of not daring to, not being able to and not wanting to commit corruption, integrated exercise of power to achieve awe through punishment, institutional constraints and improved awareness, efforts for the achievement of more institutional results and greater administrational efficiency, strengthen the standardization of inspection and supervision organs, the construction of rule of law and standardization, and bring the supervision, guarantee, implemantation and promotion of development still better into play.

会议强调，勇于自我革命是我们党区别于其他政党的显著标志。党的十九届六中全会全面总结党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验，为深入推进新时代党的自我革命、全面从严治党指明了前进方向。纪检监察工作要以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻党的十九大和十九届二中、三中、四中、五中、六中全会精神，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，坚持实事求是、守正创新，立足新发展阶段，完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念，构建新发展格局，推动高质量发展，自觉运用党的百年奋斗历史经验，永葆自我革命精神，坚持全面从严治党战略方针，坚定不移将党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争进行到底，持续深化不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐一体推进，惩治震慑、制度约束、提高觉悟一体发力，努力取得更多制度性成果和更大治理成效，加强纪检监察机关规范化、法治化、正规化建设，更好发挥监督保障执行、促进完善发展作用。

Before this, secretary general Xi Jinping chaired a meeting of the politburo’s standing committee, heard the central discipline inspection commission’s 2021 work report and 19th central discipline inspection commission’s sixth plenary session peparatory report.

此前，习近平总书记主持召开中央政治局常委会会议，听取中央纪委国家监委2021年工作情况和十九届中央纪律检查委员会第六次全体会议准备情况汇报。

The meeting agreed to next year’s 19th central discipline inspection commission’s sixth plenary meeting to take place from January 18 to January 20.

会议同意明年1月18日至20日召开十九届中央纪律检查委员会第六次全体会议。

The meeting pointed out that the central discipline inspection commission members at all party levels are the party’s internal organs with specific responsibilities, with the “work regulations for the CPC discipline inspection commission”, since the 18th national conference, deepening and summarizing the theoretical, practical and institutional results from comprehensively and strictly governing the party, promoting party work style and clean government & deepening discipline inspection institutional reform, having provided operational, duties and comprehensive standards for discipline inspection leadership systems at all levels.

会议指出，党的各级纪律检查委员会是党内监督的专责机关，《中国共产党纪律检查委员会工作条例》深入总结党的十八大以来全面从严治党、推进党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争、深化纪检监察体制改革的理论成果、实践成果、制度成果，对党的各级纪律检查委员会的领导体制、产生运行、任务职责等作出全面规范。在建党百年之际制定出台《条例》，彰显了我们党勇于进行自我革命的坚强决心。

The meeting emphasized the need to promote discipline inspection and supervision work to serve the party’s and state’s work better, to bring more effectiveness into play at organizational setups, to link discipline and law enforcement together into a new structure, to maintain systematic treatment of both causes and symptoms. There is a need for clear-cut limits of power, for strict internal control mechanisms by a rule-by-law line of thought and lawful methods strengthen supervision, for corruption prevention, to continuously build comprehensive organizational systems, operational guidelines and approval procedures, in accordance with supervisory work regulations. There is a need for the building of high-quality and specialized disciplinary inspection cadre units, a strengthening of achieving a political consciousness of the “two upholds”, for strengthening ideological training, political experience, practical training, professional training, continuous improve one’s self-immunity and ones’s sense of duty, fulfillment of duty, unity of sense and fulfillment of duty, and to be a model for respecting discipline and the law.

会议强调，要推动纪检监察工作更好服务党和国家工作大局，在组织体系上发挥新效能，在贯通执纪执法上形成新机制，坚持系统施治、标本兼治。要明确权力边界，严格内控机制，以法治思维和法治方式强化监督、防治腐败，不断健全符合纪检监察工作规律的组织制度、运作方式和审批程序。要建设高素质专业化纪检监察干部队伍，增强做到“两个维护”的政治自觉，加强思想淬炼、政治历练、实践锻炼、专业训练，不断提高自身免疫力，知责于心、担责于身、履责于行，自觉做遵纪守法的标杆。

Editor: Zhao Xi
Source: Xinhua News Agency

编辑 赵熹
来源：新华社

____________

Notes

1)	international and lunar new year / new year’s eve and spring festival
2)	formalism (xíngshì zhǔyì) bureaucracy (guānliáo zhǔyì), hedonism (xiǎnglè zhǔyì) and luxury (shēmí)

Argentina: Hualong-1 Nuclear Reactor Construction at Atucha may start by Mid-2022

The following is my translation of a post by “China Nuclear Think Tank”, republished by “Beijixing” (literally “Polaris”), a technology news website. Author: Zhang Yan.
My translation may contain errors. Corrections are welcome.

In case of a doubt go by original reporting.

Argentina announces new nuclear power plant construction
Related channel: nuclear power. Keywords: nuclear plant, nuclear power construction, Argentina.
北极星电力网新闻中心  来源:中核智库  作者:张焰  2021/8/27 10:45:32  我要投稿
所属频道: 核电   关键词: 核电厂 核电建设 阿根廷
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Beijixing Nuclear Power website news: According to reporting of the website “World Nuclear News”, the CEO of Argentina’s national nuclear energy company (NASA), Antunez, has recently said that Argentina is seeking a new nuclear agreement with China and Canada.
北极星核电网讯:【据世界核新闻网站2021年8月24日报道】阿根廷国家核电公司（NASA）总裁安图内斯近日表示，阿正在寻求与中国和加拿大达成新建核电协议。
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Antunez said that negotiations with China on forming partnership relations with China that had been conducted from 2014 to 2017 would be reopened. Talks between the governments were to reach a new “financial plan”, after which a construction agreement would be signed. It was also expected that in the middle of next year, construction of the first “Hualong No. 1” unit would be started on the Atucha site.
安称，将重启2014至2017年与中国形成伙伴关系的洽谈。政府间谈判将达成新的“财务方案”，随后将签署建设协议，并有望在明年年中在阿图查（Atucha）启动首台“华龙一号”机组的建设。
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Antunez said that the construction of a Candu pressurized heavy water reactor was considered an Argentine “national project”, to be constructed with Canadian participation and support. The site would probably be next to Atucha, but much of the project work would use national engineering resources as used before at Embalse, where Argentina had successfully refurbished and upgraded a Candu reactor. Argentina also plans to relaunch the Arroyito heavy-water production plant which, because of prior close-down, had led to the need of annual imorts of 25 tons of heavy water for Argentina.
安还称，建设坎杜型加压重水堆已被视为阿“国家项目”，将在加拿大的参与和支持下建设。厂址很可能位于阿图查或附近，但大部分工程工作将利用本国资源在恩巴尔赛（Embalse）核电厂附近开展，阿于2019年在那里成功翻新并升级了一座坎杜堆。阿还计划重启阿罗伊托（Arroyito）重水生产厂，由于此前被关闭，导致阿每年需要进口25吨重水。
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Argentina currently has three pressurized heavy water reactors, Atucha-1, Atucha-2 and the Embalse heavy-water reactor, with a total installed capacity of 1641 megawatts. It is said that the newly-planned total installed capacity will be twice the existing total installed capacity. Also, NASA is currently installing a 25 megawatts CAREM-25 prototype unit in Atucha.
阿目前拥有阿图查1号、2号和恩巴尔赛三台加压重水堆机组，总装机容量1641兆瓦。安透露，新建计划的总装机将是现有装机容量的两倍。此外，阿国核还正在阿图查建设25兆瓦的CAREM-25原型机组。
–
Source: China National Nuclear Strategic Planning & Research Institute’s Weixin public account.
（来源：微信公众号“中核智库”  ID：zhzk_cinie  作者：中核战略规划研究总院 张焰 编译 伍浩松 审校）

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Related

在与IMF的谈判中寻求中国的支持, RAE, April 1, 2021
Universal Topics, March 22, 2018
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Wudongde Dam Hydroelectric Station’s first units go into operation, Xi Jinping issues instructions

The following is a Xinhua news item, published this morning UTC. Links within blockquotes added during translation.

Wudongde first units’ opening ceremony
(click picture for news video)

Xinhua, Beijing, June 29 — Communist Party of China Central Committee Secretary General, State Chairman and Central Military Commission Chairman Xi Jinping has recently issued important instructions for Jinsha River Wudongde Dam Hydroelectric Station’s first units going into operation. On behalf of the Party Central Committee, he cordially congratulated and greeted all builders and cadres and masses that contributed to the project.

新华社北京6月29日电 中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平日前对金沙江乌东德水电站首批机组投产发电作出重要指示，代表党中央，对首批机组投产发电表示热烈的祝贺，向全体建设者和为工程建设作出贡献的广大干部群众表示诚挚的问候。

Xi Jinping emphasized that Wudongde Hydroelectric Station implemented the major project of “East-West power transmission”. He hoped that the comrades would continue to make unremitting efforts, persevere with the New Development Concept, bravely climb new technological heights, continue the building tasks at high standards and quality after completion, and diligently create Wudongde Hydroelectric Station as a first-class project. It was important to maintain ecology and green development as a priority, scientifically and orderly advance Jinsha River hydropower resources development, promote Jinsha River Basin’s development in a protective way, protect it during development, to even better benefit the people.

习近平强调，乌东德水电站是实施“西电东送”的国家重大工程。希望同志们再接再厉，坚持新发展理念，勇攀科技新高峰，高标准高质量完成后续工程建设任务，努力把乌东德水电站打造成精品工程。要坚持生态优先、绿色发展，科学有序推进金沙江水能资源开发，推动金沙江流域在保护中发展、在发展中保护，更好造福人民。

Wudongde Hydroelectric Station’s first units’ start of operation ceremony was held by video, with Beijing as the main gathering place and Yunnan and Sichuan and other locations as sub-venues. During the ceremony, Xi Jinping’s important instructions were conveyed.

乌东德水电站首批机组投产发电仪式29日以视频方式举行，在北京设主会场，云南、四川等地设分会场，仪式上传达了习近平重要指示。

Wudongde Hydroelectric Station is located at the common boundary of Hunan Province’s Luquan County (Kunming) and Sichuan Province’s Hudong County (Liangshan Prefecture), with construction comprehensively started by China Three Gorges Corporation in December 2015, and an overall installed capacity of 10.2 million kilowatts, or an average annual generation of 38.91 billion kWh. The hydroelectric station’s complete units are scheduled to become operational in July 2021.

乌东德水电站位于云南省昆明市禄劝县和四川省凉山州会东县交界，由中国长江三峡集团有限公司于2015年12月全面开工建设，总装机容量1020万千瓦，年均发电量389.1亿千瓦时。水电站全部机组计划于2021年7月前建成投产。

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Related

Three Gorges Dam issues, Taiwan News, June 22

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Li Peng obituary: firm measures, brimming with feelings

Main Link: Central Committee’s, NPC Standing Committee’s, State Council’s and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference’s Li Peng obituary

Xinhua — Beijing, July 23. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, the State Council of the People’s Republic of China and the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference declare in deep sorrow that the outstanding member of the Chinese Communist Party, the time-tested, loyal warrior of Communism, distinguished proletarian revolutionary, politician, splendid leader of the party and the state, member of the Communist Party of China’s 12th Central Committee’s Politburo, Party Secretariat Secretary, Member of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Central Committee Politburo, former Chief State Councillor, and head of the 9th National People’s Congress Head of Committee, Comrade Li Peng, has died in Beijing on July 22, 2019, after medical treatment had been unsuccessful. He was aged 91.

新华社北京7月23日电 中国共产党中央委员会、中华人民共和国全国人民代表大会常务委员会、中华人民共和国国务院、中国人民政治协商会议全国委员会沉痛宣告：中国共产党的优秀党员，久经考验的忠诚的共产主义战士，杰出的无产阶级革命家、政治家，党和国家的卓越领导人，中国共产党第十二届中央政治局委员、中央书记处书记，第十三届、十四届、十五届中央政治局常委，国务院原总理，第九届全国人民代表大会常务委员会委员长李鹏同志，因病医治无效，于2019年7月22日23时11分在北京逝世，享年91岁。

Comrade Li Peng was born in Chengdu, Sichuan update, July 28: as a Sichuanese from Chengdu, in October 1928. He was born into a revolutionary family, with his father heroically dying a martyr while [Li Peng] was a child. In his early years, he was influenced by his family, took up revolutionary ideology on his own initiative, and threw himself into the revolutionary cause. in March 1941, he came to Yan’an to take part in revolutionary work, receiving revolutionary theoretical, scientific and cultural education, and joined the CCP in November 1945. During the war of liberation, he followed the party organization’s call and rushed to the frontline, serving as a technician at Jinchao Electric Company, at the Harbin Oil and Grease Factory, and party branch secretary. In September 1948, he went to the Soviet Union, to study there in accordance with the party’s arrangements. After his return to China in 1955, he asked for a job at the grassroots on his own initiative, serving as deputy director and chief engineer at Fengman Power Plant, as chief engineer at the Northeast electric power administration, as the dispatch office’s bureau chief, and as Fuxin Electric Power Plant director. From 1966 to 1979, he was successively appointed acting secretary of Beijing Power Bureau’s party committee, director of the revolutionary committee, director and party secretary of Beijing Electric Power Administration. He was attacked during the “Cultural Revolution” period, but he adhered to the principles of the party spirit, of seeking truth in the facts, and to struggle. From April 1979, he was deputy minister for energy and both party leadership group member and the North China Power administration’s party secretary. Then he became minister for energy and party secretary, deputy minister for water resources and electric power and deputy party secretary, and creatively implemented the party strategy of “electric power first”, issued the appropriate development of electric power, ahead of his time, and promoted our country’s remarkable progress in power station construction, power-grid management and other fields. He was an outstanding leader in our country’s electric power industry, and an important pioneer of nuclear power.

李鹏同志1928年10月生，四川成都人。他出身革命家庭，幼年时父亲英勇就义，少年时期受家庭影响，主动接受革命思想，立志投身革命事业。1941年3月，他到延安参加革命工作，接受革命理论和科学文化知识教育，1945年11月加入中国共产党。解放战争时期，他响应党组织号召奔赴前线，历任晋察冀电业公司技术员，哈尔滨油脂厂协理、党支部书记。1948年9月，根据党组织安排到苏联留学。1955年回国后，他主动要求到基层工作，历任丰满发电厂副厂长、总工程师，东北电业管理局副总工程师、调度局局长，阜新发电厂厂长。1966年至1979年，历任北京供电局党委代理书记、革委会主任，北京电业管理局局长、党组书记。“文化大革命”期间，受到冲击，但他坚持党性原则，实事求是，进行斗争。1979年4月起，历任电力工业部副部长、党组成员兼华北电业管理局党组书记，电力工业部部长、党组书记，水利电力部副部长、党组副书记，他创造性地贯彻党中央“电力要先行”战略，提出电力适度超前发展，推动我国在电站建设和电力生产、电网管理等方面取得长足进步，是我国电力工业的杰出领导人、核电事业的重要开创者。

In June 1983, Comrade Li Peng became deputy chief state councillor, in September 1985 he became a member of the politburo at the 12th Central Committee’s fifth plenary session, and Party Secretariat Secretary. He was in charge of energy, transportation, key transportation building projects, took part in the development of the 7th Five-Year Plan guidelines, promoted the establishment of integrated communications and transportation system and fundamental construction organizational reform. In November 1987, Comrade Li Peng was chosen as member of the politburo and the politburo’s standing committee at the first plenary session of the 13th Central Committee, and during the same month, at the 23rd meeting of the National People’s Congress session, he was made acting Chief State Councillor. In April 1988, at the first session of the 7th National People’s Congress, he was made Chief State Councillor. He firmly implemented, managed, reorganized and deepened the guidelines of reform, explored new means and methods of macro-managing the national economy, and promoted our national economy’s breakaway from its predicaments and its entry into a new period of development. In the political disturbances of spring and summer 1989, with the firm support of the old proletarian revolutionary generation with Deng Xiaoping as their representative, Comrade Li Peng took a clear-cut stand, and together with the majority of the comrades at the politburo, he took firm measures to curb the unrest, to suppress counter-revolutionary rebellion, thus playing an important role in this fateful struggle concerning the party’s and the country’s future prospects.

1983年6月，李鹏同志任国务院副总理，1985年9月在中共十二届五中全会上增选为中央政治局委员、中央书记处书记。他分管能源、交通、重点建设项目等工作，参与研究“七五”计划能源交通方面的发展方针，推动建立综合统一的交通运输体系和基本建设体制改革，加快重大技术装备研制步伐。1987年11月，李鹏同志在中共十三届一中全会上当选为中央政治局委员、常委，同月在六届全国人大常委会第二十三次会议上被任命为国务院代总理。1988年4月，在七届全国人大一次会议上被任命为国务院总理。他坚决贯彻治理整顿和深化改革的方针，探索对国民经济进行宏观调控的新手段和新方法，推动我国经济摆脱困境、进入新的发展时期。1989年春夏之交的政治风波中，在以邓小平同志为代表的老一辈无产阶级革命家坚决支持下，李鹏同志旗帜鲜明，和中央政治局大多数同志一道，采取果断措施制止动乱，平息反革命暴乱，稳定了国内局势，在这场关系党和国家前途命运的重大斗争中发挥了重要作用。

[…]

[…] Comrade Li Peng brimmed with deep feelings for the masses, especially for the impoverished masses, and attached great importance to helping the poor, and was absolutely concerned about the situation of staff laid off in state enterprises.

[…..] 李鹏同志对人民群众特别是困难群众饱含深情，高度重视扶贫工作，十分关心国有企业下岗职工的冷暖。

In March, Li Peng didn’t serve as the National People’s Congress Standing Committee Chairman for another term. After retiring from the leadership position, he firmly endorsed and supported the party’s central committee with Hu Jintao as its secretary general, he firmly endorsed and supported the party’s central committee with Xi Jinping as the core, caring about the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and firmly supporting the building of the party style, clean politics, and anti-corruption struggle.

2003年3月，李鹏同志不再担任全国人大常委会委员长职务。从领导岗位上退下来以后，他坚决拥护和支持以胡锦涛同志为总书记的党中央，坚决拥护和支持以习近平同志为核心的党中央，关心中国特色社会主义伟大事业，坚定支持党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争。

Comrade Li Peng’s life was a revolutionary life, the life of a warrior, a life of glory, of whole-hearted and single-minded service to the people, and a life of striving for the cause of communism. His death is a major loss for the party and the state. We want to learn from his revolutionary spirit, his sublime moral character and his fine style of work, and still more closely unite around the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, never forgetting where we started from, hold on to the mission, to capture the victory of moderate prosperity, the victory of the new era’s socialism with Chinese characteristics, and to bring about the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

李鹏同志的一生，是革命的一生、战斗的一生、光辉的一生，是全心全意为人民服务、为共产主义事业光辉的一生的一生。他的逝世，是党和国家的重大损失。我们要学习他的革命精神、崇高品德和优良作风，更加紧密地团结在以习近平同志为核心的党中央周围，不忘初心、牢记使命，为决胜全面建成小康社会、夺取新时代中国特色社会主义伟大胜利、实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦而努力奋斗。

Eternal glory to Comrade Li Peng!

李鹏同志永垂不朽！

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Related

Detective Li, June 30, 2010

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Belarus, Russia: together, but not THAT together (yet)

The following is a translation of a Guanchazhe newsarticle, published on February 23.

Main Link: Lukashenko: no Merger with Russia at any Time

News bubbled last week that “Belarussian president has agreed to a merger with Russia”. It also caused a former NATO secretary‘s “concern”, who demanded on that occasion that Belarus protect itself against “Russian threats.”

“白俄罗斯总统同意与俄罗斯合并”的消息上周传得沸沸扬扬，还引来了北约前秘书长的“关怀”，借此要求白俄罗斯保护自己免受“俄罗斯威胁”。

Belarussian president Lukashenko personally rebuked the rumor on February 22, stating the importance of national sovereignty and independence. He also said that as president, he would not merge Belarus into another country at any time.

对于这一传言，白俄罗斯总统卢卡申科2月22日亲自辟谣，他重申了国家主权和独立的重要性，并表示作为总统，任何时候都不会将白俄罗斯并入他国。

According to the Belarussian president’s press office on February 22, Lukashenko said on that day, while inspecting the Military Academy of Belarus and having exchanges with the academy’s teachers and students, that “national sovereignty and independence are the most important achievements we have made now. To have become the first president of this sovereign and independent state is something that makes me proud and happy.”

据白俄罗斯总统新闻局22日消息，卢卡申科当天在视察白俄罗斯共和国军事学院并与该学院师生进行交流时表示：“主权和独立是我们当今取得的最重要成就，我为能成为这个主权国家的第一任总统感到骄傲和高兴。”

Concerning speculation abroad that Belarus could merge into Russia, Lukashenko asked back: “What kind of people could allow such things to happen, after having established and lead an independent country? Would you destroy it with your own hands by letting it become part of another country? Poland or Russia? I will never take this road.

对于外界有关白俄罗斯并入俄罗斯的猜测，卢卡申科反问：“什么样的人会在建立和领导独立国家之后，允许这样的事发生？你会亲手去摧毁它，让它成为其他国家的一部分吗？波兰还是俄罗斯？我永远不会走这条路。”

Lukashenko emphasized that he had clear boundaries that he would never cross, among them, as the most important one, that of defending his country’s sovereignty and independence. He appealed not to pay attention to foreign conjectures that Belarus could lose its sovereignty and independence.

卢卡申科强调，自己有明确的不能逾越的界限，其中最重要的界限就是守卫本国的主权与独立。他呼吁，不要去理会外界关于白俄罗斯会失去其主权和独立性的猜测。

However, he said on the same day that “Russia is our important friend. No matter how many contradictions and disputes we may have, we and Russia will always be together.”

不过，他当天也表示：“俄罗斯是我们重要的朋友，无论我们有多少矛盾和争执，我们和俄罗斯永远在一起”。

Before, there had been rumors abroad that “Belarusian president Lukashenko has announced preparations to merge with Russia,” even with people relating that he had said that “tomorrow there can be a merger into Russia, no problem.”

此前，外界曾盛传“白俄罗斯总统卢卡申科宣布准备与俄罗斯合并”一事，甚至有人转述卢卡申科的话说：“明天就可以并入俄罗斯，没问题”。

Guanchazhe online checked on many Russian and Belarusian official media reporting that Lukashenko had not announced a “Belarusian-Russian merger,” but had made a vigorous statement about the two countries’ union (Guanchazhe note: the original word was объединение, meaning union or unification, translated as integration by Russian media.)

观察者网查证多家俄媒与白俄罗斯官方媒体报道，卢卡申科并没有宣布“白俄合并”，而是对两国联合（观察者网注：原文объединение意为联合、统一，俄媒译为一体化）进行了积极表态。

Reacting to the sentence of “merger tomorrow”, TASS quoted Lukashenko’s original words as being “provided that you are prepared, we can have a union tomorrow (объединиться вдвоем), that’s no problem. But are the Russian and Belarusian people well prepared? (но готовы ли вы),” “if well prepared, we will fulfill the will of the people.”

针对那句“明天就合并”，塔斯社援引卢卡申科说法，其实原话是这样，“只要你们准备好，明天我们就可以联合（объединиться вдвоем），这点没有问题，但是白俄罗斯人和俄罗斯人们准备好了吗？（но готовы ли вы）”，“如果准备好了，我们将履行人民的意志。”

According to Belarusian newsagency belta.by reporting, Lukashenko had previously also reiterated that sovereignty was sacred and could not be violated.

据白方官媒白俄罗斯通讯社（belta.by）报道，卢卡申科此前也重申了主权神圣不可侵犯。

Meanwhile, Russian president Vladimir Putin had vaguely commented about “Belarusian-Russian integration”, discussing his opinion about “independence” and saying that “there is no completely independent country in the world. No matter if they are big or small countries, today’s world is interdependent.”

俄罗斯总统普京则对“白俄一体化”进行了模糊表态，他谈到了自己对“独立”的看法，称“世界上不存在完全独立的国家，无论是大国还是小国都是如此，现代世界相互依存。”

On February 22, Lukashenko also mentioned the INF treaty. He said that Russia had not violated the treaty in question, and voiced concern that America could deploy missiles after its withdrawal [from the treaty]. He believed that this could create a very big threat to Belarus. He said that Belarus would need to consider countermeasures.

22日，卢卡申科也谈及了《中导条约》问题，他表示，相信俄方未违反相应条约，并对美国在退约之后可能在欧洲部署导弹表示担忧，认为这将对白俄罗斯造成很大威胁。他表示白俄罗斯需要与俄罗斯共同思考如何采取回应措施。

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Related

We are no scroungers, BelTa, March 1, 2019
How the EU lost Ukraine, Der Spiegel, Nov 25, 2013

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Promising Profits: Syria’s Nation (Re)building Propaganda

Links within the blockquotes were added during translation.

Following America and Russia, China has announced its interest in playing a greater role in Syria, TRT Ankara‘s Chinese service reported on February 12. China’s ambassador in Damascus, Qi Qianjin (齐前进),

said that China wanted to play a greater role in solving the Syria crisis. The diplomat told Xinhua that “the time has come to focus on the development and reconstruction of Syria. I believe that in this course, China can provide more help to the Syrian people and government, and play a bigger role.”

向新华社表示：“现在已到聚焦于叙利亚的发展和重建的时机。我认为中国在这一进程中能够为叙利亚人民和政府提供更多帮助，发挥更多作用。”

Ambassador Qi Qianjin visited al-Mouwasat University Hospital in Damascus, and the hospital director thanked him.

齐前进大使参观了位于大马士革的姆瓦萨特大学医院，医院院长向中国大使表示感谢。

The Syrian communications minister had previously said that Syria’s transportation network, once restored, could become a railroad extending to China.

叙利亚交通部长之前曾表示，在叙利亚交通网得到恢复之后，可建立一个延伸至中国的铁路。

According to a report by China’s “Global Times”, at least 30 Chinese business people have been to Syria since April, to explore investment opportunities.

据中国《环球时报》报道，4月至今至少有30名中国商人前来叙利亚探索投资机遇。

China is acting together with Russia in the Syrian conflict, but has worked hard to avoid American resentment.

中国在叙利亚冲突中与俄罗斯一道行动，另一方面致力于避免美国的不满。

In the United Nations security council’s seven important resolutions concerning Syria, China abstained and chose not to get involved in the US-Russian quibble.

中国在联合国安理会关于叙利亚的7个重要表决中弃权，选择了不卷入俄罗斯-美国较量的道路。

Reportedly, from the three countries of Russia, China and America, China is the only country that hasn’t sent troops to Syria.

据悉，俄中美三国中唯一没有向叙利亚派兵的国家是中国。

Radio Damascus shortwave QSL, 1980s ^*)

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The war in Syria is by no means over, and Turkey itself plays no small role in keeping it alive. According to Syrian foreign radio ORTAS‘ German service on Friday, that day marked the 27th day of “the Turkish regime’s barbarian aggression against the Syrian town of Afrin”. According to the same news broadcast, the Syrian government and the Kurdish “people’s defence units (or protection units, YPG, Volksverteidigungseinheiten)” had agreed to have the Syrian army stationed in Afrin. Both ORTAS and Xinhua quoted Rezan Heddo, a media advisor of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), as saying that “Afrin is a Syrian city”.

German news magazine Der Spiegel reported on Sunday night that “of all things”, “dictator Assad’s army is coming to the aid of Afrin region.”

At the same time, Syrian media accuse the US of trying to prolong the war. In its “News and Views” program of February 4, Syrian foreign radio’s English service noted that [27′ 40”]

It is pretty clear that the regional and international powers … do not have a desire to reach a political solution, but, in accordance with their interests in Syria, and for achieving them, those foreign sides try to prolong their war against Syria to give them a chance to extend their presence in the Syrian land under the pretext of combatting terrorism or preserving the alledged national security, as Turkey is claiming to justify its aggression on the Syrian territory.

That said, the Syrian media depict the situation as one where powers hostile to Damascus will prolong, but never win the war. This has been Damascus’ propaganda approach for some time. On October 4 last year, an ORTAS commentary in German claimed that the end of the war was approaching [6’52”]:

Nobody but some hateful or uneducated people can deny this truth. All conditions on the ground and their political consequences are emphasizing that the end of the struggle against terror and terrorist gangs is a matter of time. Aggravations here or there, the committing of crimes by the terrorist gangs is only this terror’s death struggle, carried to Syria from the outside.

It was time to rebuild the country, the same commentary said [08’58”]:

It is clear that the world has begun to think of the post-war situation in Syria, especially concerning a political settlement by dialog among the Syrians themselves. According to that, the Syrians think and talk about reconstruction of the facilities destroyed during the war. The talk in some concerned states, regarding reconstruction and a preparedness to contribute to this mission, is currently “hip”, even in some states that enormously contributed to the destruction of Syria.

Nation-building propaganda is nothing new in Syria. Before the war, too, posters portraying President Bashar al-Assad adorned not only public buildings, but many shops and retail stores, too, some combined with the depiction of a fingerprint in the colors of the Syrian flag, apparently suggesting that there was a genetic link between the people and the regime, in accordance with Syria’s nature. However, at least in Aleppo, you would usually find those posters at the doors of better-off neigborhoods.

But if an era of reconstruction should be upon Syria – depending on which areas are considered sustainably safe by domestic and foreign investors -, the narrative that is shaped by Damascus is beginning to show, as described there by a retired US Army officer:

Nation building can involve the use of propaganda or major infrastructure development to foster social harmony and economic growth.

Reconstruction and “dialog” aren’t only aiming at positive dynamics within Syria, but abroad, too. Syria’s officials and media have sent clear signals to friends and enemies abroad. Newsagency SANA reported on September 30 last year that

China’s Special Envoy for Syria Xie Xiaoyan affirmed that his country would support efforts for reconstruction and rebuilding infrastructure in Syria.

Xiaoyan’s remarks came in a seminar held in Beijing University titled “Rebuild Syria,” during which he called on the Chinese companies to participate in the reconstruction.

For his part, Ambassador of Syria in Beijing Imad Mustafa said that Syria seeks to form a joint strategic vision with China and will not wait for the end of the war to begin reconstruction, noting that the priority in that field will be given for companies from friendly countries.

Early in October, Syrian president Bashar al-Assad told a delegation led by Russian deputy minister for energy Kirill Molodtsov that [00’41”]

it was obvious that those states that had stood with the Syrian people during its war against terror would be entrusted with the task of reconstruction.

Beijing must have been glad to hear that, too. But TRT Ankara’s report – see beginning of this post – is correct in that China is trying to avoid “American resentment”. For sure, Beijing isn’t asking for it.

Also in September last year, Chinese foreign-policy newspaper Huanqiu Shibao quoted Beijing’s Middle-East envoy Xie Xiaoyan (解晓岩) as saying that he had heard suggestions about reconstructions during his visits both to Russia and Syria:

The situation has improved, but first, the country needs to be stabilized, and comprehensive cease-fire agreements are necessary. It is hard to imagine that war should be conducted on the one hand, and roads should be repaired on the other. What is repaired on one day, may be destroyed one day later. But the fact that war still continues doesn’t mean that the parties couldn’t think about rebuilding and reconstruction. China has sufficient industrial capabilities and is preparing for active involvement in this process.

在访问叙利亚和俄罗斯时，听到有关开始叙利亚重建进程的提议。目前那里的局势已经得到改善。但首先仍需要实现国家稳定，需要全面执行停火协议。很难想象，一边在打仗，一边在修路。修好的基础设施在第二天就会被摧毁。其次，尽管现在战斗仍在进行，这并不意味着各方不去考虑基础设施的改建和重建。中国拥有足够的工业能力，准备积极参与这一进程。

However, Xie also said that

China is the world’s second-largest economy, but it can’t do the rebuilding alone. Reports say that reconstruction is going to cost two to three hundred billion Dollars. Therefore, not only China, but countries of the region and of the international community, too, should make joint efforts to achieve Syria’s reconstruction.

中国是世界第二大经济体，但中国独自无法完成重建工作。据有关报道，重建需要大约2000至3000亿美元资金。 因此，不仅是中国，本地区国家和整个国际社会都应共同努力，实现叙利亚的重建。

In a number of ways, China is well-positioned to draw the lion’s share from post-war profits – once the war is really over, or limited to a few marginal conflict zones. While Russia certainly spearheaded military support for Damascus, and while Beijing rather tried to hedge its bets, Russia may not have those industrial capabilities that Xie Xiaoyan ascribes to his own country.

Western economic powers may prove to be essential in one or another aspect of reconstruction, but Damascus is likely to maintain its position that countries that propped it up during the crisis, and during foreign aggression, should profit most.

That doesn’t mean that China would be extremely popular in Syria – although the war may have helped its soft power there. When former Chinese chief state councillor Wen Jiabao referred to the Arab people as good friends, good partners and good brothers, regional elites, rather than entire populations, came to mind. Wen made his statement about Sino-Arab friendship while Hosni Mubarak was still Egypt’s president, and Wen himself may have cherished a memory of Chinese relations with a – then nationalist rather than islamist – Arabia of the 1950s.

Syria’s regime may be the last (and maybe the only lasting) representative of that cherished past.

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Notes

^*) Until some time into the war, ORTAS – named “Radio Damascus” until recently – broadcasted on shortwave. Two frequencies were usually announced, but only one of them actually appeared to be in operation (9330 kHz). Reportedly, the facilities have been demolished – apparently in a regular way, and not because of the war.

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Related

Russia is very clever, Sept 11, 2013
A Just Mideast Position, Febr 16, 2012
Understanding and Support, Oct 25, 2011

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