China's National Immigration Administration announced on Wednesday the full implementation of a visa exemption policy for foreign tourist groups entering China on cruise ships from the country's coastal provinces and cities. The policy will take immediate effect.
This decision was made through consultation and coordination among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the General Administration of Customs, and approved by the State Council, China's cabinet.
Starting from Wednesday, foreign tourist groups (consisting of two or more people) traveling by cruise ship and organized by domestic travel agencies can enter Chinese mainland without a visa as a whole group through the designated ports in 13 cities including Tianjin, Dalian in Northeast China's Liaoning Province, Shanghai, Lianyungang in East China's Jiangsu Province, Wenzhou and Zhoushan in East China's Zhejiang Province, Xiamen in East China's Fujian Province, Qingdao in East China's Shandong Province, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province, Beihai in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Haikou and Sanya in South China's Hainan Province, said the National Immigration Administration at a press conference on Wednesday.
Tourist groups ought to accompany the same cruise ship to the next port until the cruise ship leaves China, and their stay in China cannot exceed 15 days, with activities limited to the coastal provinces and Beijing, the administration said.
In order to support the development of cruise tourism, seven new cruise ports including Dalian, Lianyungang, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Beihai were added to the list of ports eligible for China's transit visa exemption policy, facilitating transit for overseas passengers traveling by cruise.
China's steel sector, an important gauge of the national economy, is advancing toward high-quality development by optimizing its product structure, as reported by the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) during a press conference addressing the first-quarter industry operation report.
Specifically, the proportion of high-end manufacturing steel, including automobiles, household appliances, and photovoltaics, increased from the 42 percent in 2020 to 48 percent in 2023, and has maintained a further upward trend since the beginning of 2024, according to the CISA.
The positive trend reflects a significant acceleration in the restructuring of the steel industry's operating structure, industry insiders noted.
Meanwhile, businesses are contending with multiple hurdles, including diminished market demand, declining steel prices, and escalating iron ore expenses. External factors, such as heightened scrutiny targeting the Chinese steel industry overseas, compound the profitability challenges faced by enterprises, the Global Times learned from the industry body.
Speaking at Tuesday's press conference, Jiang Wei, vice chairman and secretary general of the CISA, said that China's steel industry is embracing high-quality development which have borne positive results so far.
The optimization of steel-related product structures is accelerating in response to ever-growing demand from burgeoning industries such as car manufacturing, shipbuilding, home appliance production, as well as the wind and solar power sectors.
The production upgrade is reflected in the corresponding export volume. In the first quarter, China's high value-added product exports accounted for more than 35 percent, Jiang said.
Efforts are underway to enhance intelligence in steel production and management within the industry. According to a report by the CISA, surveyed companies have invested approximately 38.5 yuan per ton of steel in digital and intelligent transformation initiatives so far this year. This represents a notable year-on-year increase of 23.9 percent.
There were 40 percent of surveyed companies applying 3D visual simulation technology in their main production lines, another reflection of the industry digitalization and upgrade, according to the CISA.
In addition, domestic steel companies are actively pursuing green transformation, another key element of high-quality development. As of April 23, 2024, a total of 136 companies had either completed or partially completed ultra-low emission transformations and undergone assessment monitoring.
Challenges persist in China's steel industry, primarily stemming from a significant structural imbalance between market supply and demand. Difficulties also include declining steel prices and high iron ore prices, according to the CISA.
In the first quarter, the national crude steel production came to 257 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 1.9 percent. Meanwhile, nationwide consumption of crude steel was 232 million tons, a decrease of 4.7 percent year-on-year, indicating a surplus in steel supply over demand.
National steel exports reached 25.8 million tons in the first quarter, marking a year-on-year increase of 30.7 percent, while the average export price stood at $789 per ton, reflecting a decline of 33.4 percent year-on-year, suggesting thinner profit margins for companies despite strong demand overseas.
Meanwhile, the high price of iron ore, a key raw material for steelmaking, remained elevated, serving as another factor affecting company profits. The primary cause behind this is the lack of bargaining power in international pricing negotiations, Shi Hongwei, deputy secretary general of the CISA, said on Tuesday.
Inventories of domestic steel companies were also on the rise. As of mid-March, key steel enterprises reported steel inventory levels of 19.53 million tons, the highest level since the beginning of this year and the highest level in nearly four years, trailing only the 21.41 million tons during the 2020 pandemic period, according to the CISA.
The high inventory reflects the juxtaposition of weak market demand with strong market expectations for the economy, which have supported stockpiling.
Looking ahead, China's steel industry remains optimistic despite certain and temporary challenges.
Despite the challenges, the steel industry's structure is continually optimizing in pursuit of high-quality development, as industry insiders said, with manufacturing figures being a reflection.
In April, China's Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index stood at 50.4 percent, down 0.4 percent from the previous month, remaining in the expansionary zone for two consecutive months. This indicates the continued recovery and development momentum of the manufacturing industry, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics Service Industry Survey Center on Tuesday.
As China further ramps up its investment in new energy and the development of infrastructure, which are major consumers of steel, and implements policies promoting the trade-in or the replacement of old equipment with new, there will be a boost in steel demand, industry insiders said.
French businesses have expressed growing confidence in investment in the China market, as a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to France is set to strengthen bilateral ties and economic and trade cooperation.
French direct investment in China has been skyrocketing in recent months, highlighting the great attractiveness of the China market among French companies amid China's steady opening-up measures, experts said.
The state visit will bolster the confidence of both Chinese and French businesses to pursue win-win cooperation, they noted.
"President Xi's visit to France reinforces the potential for the two countries to open up a new future of collaboration on the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties," Paul Hudson, CEO of Sanofi, a French multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company, told the Global Times. "The two countries have opportunities to strengthen their bilateral relationship while also further collaborating to address global topics."
Hudson said that the company has seen a great expansion in the China market over the past several decades and will continue to expand in China, amid growing potential and the improving business environment.
"As one of the first multinational companies to enter China since its reform and opening-up more than 40 years ago, our footprint has grown significantly over the years as a result of openness and collaboration between our two countries," Hudson said.
"China staying focused on high-level opening-up and actively improving the environment for foreign investment incentivizes pharmaceutical innovation for patients in China and beyond."
Sanofi is hardly alone in expanding in the China market. In 2023, France was one of the fastest-growing sources of direct investment in China, with direct investment surging 77 percent year-on-year to $1.34 billion, according to China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).
L'Oreal Chairman Jean-Paul Agon also said that the company remains committed to the China market.
"I can assure you that we are more determined than ever to contribute, together, to the mutual development of our two countries. To this end, I believe it is essential to reiterate the imperative need for an ongoing dialogue between us," Agon said.
That trend has only intensified this year, with French direct investment in China surging 585.8 percent year-on-year in the first two months of this year, data from the MOFCOM showed.
A survey of French companies in China conducted by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China in 2023 showed that members' willingness to operate in China over the coming three years had increased, with 47 percent saying they planned to further invest in the Chinese market.
French companies are interested in cooperation with Chinese companies in a wide range of areas including pharmaceuticals and clean energy. During the fifth meeting of the China-France Business Council in April 2023, 36 Chinese and French businesses signed 18 cooperation agreements in the areas of green energy, innovation, aerospace and new energy.
"In China specifically, we are bolstering local innovation and investment by prioritizing early-stage [research and development], involving China in 90 percent of our global simultaneous projects," Hudson said.
The growing commitment of French companies to the China market is mainly due to China's continuous opening-up measures, efforts to improve the business environment for foreign companies, as well as China's steady economic recovery and its vast market potential, experts noted.
Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said that the state visit will send a clear signal to French and European businesses that China remains committed to continuous opening-up in an all-round way.
"This will further strengthen the confidence of French businesses and investors in the China market," Cui told the Global Times on Monday, noting that remarkable growth in French direct investment in China in recent months has already showed growing confidence in China.
Baidu's vice president and head of its public relations department Qu Jing, whose remarks on her personal social media account provoked an uproar from the public, has left the company, the Economic View reported on Thursday, citing an insider familiar with the incident from the company. Information from the company's email system also shows her departure from her position.
Chinese search engine giant Baidu has unexpectedly found itself in a public relations crisis stemming from recent comments made by its head of public relations.
Qu Jing, Baidu's vice president and head of the public relations department, created a personal account on Douyin, Chinese version of TikTok, during the May Day holidays and posted four videos. In the first video, she criticized employees who refused to go on long business trips, stating she had "no obligation to know if employees are crying," and no obligation to "consider employees' families, as I'm not your mother." "If you are not satisfied with your job, you can resign. I will approve it immediately," she said.
Qu later apologized for the controversy caused by her personal short video recently. "I have carefully read all the opinions and comments from various platforms, and many criticisms are very pertinent. I deeply reflect on and humbly accept them," Qu said in a WeChat post seen by the Global Times.
She said that the videos did not represent the company's stance and apologized for any misunderstandings they may have caused. Her original idea was to do her job well, but she admitted that she was too hasty and using inappropriate methods.
"Before posting the short videos, I didn't seek the company's opinion in advance, which doesn't comply with the relevant procedures and doesn't represent the company's position. I clarify and apologize. There were many inappropriate and unsuitable points in the videos, which led to misunderstandings about the company's values and corporate culture, causing serious harm," Qu said.
"If you work in public relations, don't expect weekends off," she said in another video posted previously."Keep your phone on 24 hours a day, always ready to respond."
In another video, Qu said she had received hundreds of reports from employees' families, describing it as "the lowest tactic." She also said, "I can make it impossible for you to find a job in this industry with just a short essay. [If you don't believe me,] try it."
Due to the extreme nature of Qu's comments in the videos and the unreasonable treatment of employees, she quickly sparked widespread controversy.
In the past few days, several related topics about her comments have trended on Weibo. Many people believe that her tough approach demonstrates the excessive exploitation and lack of empathy for employees that large tech companies are often criticized for. Some netizens have directly vented their anger at Baidu and posted screenshots uninstalling the Baidu app. At the same time, some netizens have created sarcastic parodic videos from the perspective of employees.
After sparking widespread anger, the four videos posted by Qu were deleted.
Subsequently, a video widely circulated on the Chinese internet showed Qu in the office using a data cable whipping a homemade doll with a media outlet's name written on it. The shooting time and the person who filmed the video are unknown.
At the same time, some netizens pointed out that Qu's account followers might not be real. According to Douyin account information, Qu's account had hundreds of thousands of followers before she started to post videos, and the name was that of a clothing store. Therefore, many netizens speculated she had purchased the account.
In recent months, many executives of Chinese tech companies have opened public accounts on short video platforms, including Xiaomi's Lei Jun, Nio's Li Bin, and Li Auto's Li Xiang. Some executives have won public favor for their companies by chatting humorously with netizens in the comments section.
However, Qu sparked a public relations crisis just days after opening her personal account. Observers pointed out that she provoked public anger by "describing exploitation as something worthy of praise from a condescending perspective." Some media reports also noted that her videos were intended to provoke confrontation, a common tactic for gaining attention on short video platforms.
"Companies cannot simply enjoy the utilitarian value provided by employees without shouldering the emotional burden they create. People are the purpose, not tools," Red Star News stated in a commentary.
The 21st Century Business Herald quoted a senior expert as saying that Qu's remarks cannot be simply viewed as personal opinions. "Creating a workplace internet celebrity IP itself is not right or wrong, but whether the remarks represent the individual or reflect the company culture, they absolutely cannot challenge mainstream values. Above company rules and economic rationality, there is also human care, warmth, and humanity."
Following the incident, Baidu's Hong Kong-listed stock price continued to decline, closing at HK$106.9 on Wednesday, down 1.29 percent. As of press time, Baidu's US-listed stock fell 0.92 percent to $109.51 on Wednesday.
China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, was up 0.3 percent year-on-year in April, the National Bureau of Statistics unveiled on Saturday, adding more positive signs to the country's upbeat economy performance since the first quarter of the year.
Data showed clear signs that the consumption-driven recovery is being maintained from demand to production, laying the foundation for a strong recovery, analysts noted.
Dong Lijuan, statistician from the NBS, pointed out that continuous consumption recovery reversed the 1-percent drop in CPI from March on a monthly basis, and further expanded growth on an annual basis.
General food prices were down by 1 percent, narrowing by 2.2 percentage points from the reading in March. Prices of vegetables, meats, fruits and eggs declined due to sufficient supply, according to the NBS.
Non-food prices recorded a 0.3 percent increase, bouncing back from a 0.5-percent fall in March on monthly basis. Benefiting from holidays, non-food consumer prices, including flight tickets, vehicle rental, hotel and tourism products, reported a clear increase in prices.
Core CPI, deducting for food and energy prices, was up 0.7 percent year-on-year last month, expanding 0.1 percentage point from March, according to the NBS.
Meanwhile, China's producer price index (PPI), which measures costs for goods at the factory gate, dipped 2.5 percent year on year in April, narrowing by 0.3 percentage point from the drop in March. Dong noted that the country's industrial operation is keeping recovering, while some industries saw a seasonal drop in demand.
Other economic indicators also showed that the world's second-largest economy remains on a steady recovery trend.
China's trade in goods in the first fourth months of 2024 recorded an increase of 5.7 percent year-on-year to reach 13.81 trillion yuan ($1.91 trillion), data from China's General Administration of Customs showed on Thursday.
Notably, in April alone, China's imports and exports reached 3.64 trillion yuan, rising 8 percent year-on-year. Exports stood at 2.08 trillion yuan with a year-on-year growth of 5.1 percent, while imports surged by 12.2 percent year-on-year to reach 1.56 trillion yuan, thanks to improving overseas demand as well as strengthening domestic consumption demand.
Hu Qimu, a deputy secretary-general of the digital-real economies integration Forum 50, told the Global Times on Saturday that data for China's foreign trade and domestic economic indicators were correlated, which all pointed to an encouraging link between demand and production.
"The current 0.3 percent growth in CPI is positive, while relatively moderate. It has shown a strong momentum for a further improvement in production, which also needs supports from policy and market players," Hu noted.
Li Changan, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies of the University of International Business and Economics, pointed out that the nation's economy is still facing challenges, and needs more support to boost consumption and market investment.
Policymakers have vowed to further step up policy measures to further consolidate the recovery. A meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee noted that the economy has secured a good start this year, and urged to front-load efforts to effectively put the established macro policies in place, and well implement a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy, according to Xinhua.
For the first time, US President Joe Biden stated that he would stop certain deliveries of American weapons to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a significant incursion into the Palestinian city of Rafah. Observers interpreted the move as a "show" staged together by the US and Israel to meet their own aims, and won't alter Netanyahu's determination to eradicate Hamas.
The US president had previously stopped the delivery of 3,500 bombs last week due to worries that American weapons could be used to cause further civilian casualties in Rafah. He announced on Wednesday that he would also prevent the transportation of artillery shells.
In an interview with CNN, Biden said he had conveyed to Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders that American support for operations in population centers was limited.
Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times that although the US is by far the biggest supplier of weapons to Israel, Biden specifically used the word "some" when talking about the halt in weapons shipments, which means the US still hasn't ultimately altered its position of being a supporter of Israel.
With anti-war protests continuing at American universities and the November election looming, Biden finds himself behind Donald Trump in the polls, and his administration must demonstrate a willingness to enact changes. Therefore, the decision to halt certain weapon shipments is seen as just a tactic to send a warning message to Israel, and serves as a temporary measure by the US to ease pressure for his own election interests, Liu noted.
Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, reacted to Biden's decision, saying it was a "difficult and very disappointing remark."
Erdan was also quoted by the Times of Israel as saying, "Of course any pressure on Israel is interpreted by our enemies as something that gives them hope. There are many Jewish Americans who voted for the president and for the Democratic Party, and now they are hesitant."
While Jews make up only 3 percent of the entire electorate, the US president won't risk disappointing them, given the huge influence they have over the US presidency, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.
"We're not walking away from Israel's security," Biden told CNN, "we're walking away from Israel's ability to wage war in those areas," referring to densely populated areas of Rafah where more than one million Palestinians are taking shelter.
In addition to suspending the shipment of ammunition to Israel, in recent times, US politicians have repeatedly expressed so-called "criticism" toward the country. Some analysts believe that these statements are nothing but "smokescreens" aimed at diverting public attention from Israel's ground offensive in Gaza.
Not having support from US weapon supplies doesn't mean Israel is out of weapons to sustain its bombing and attacking. The channels for military supplies from other countries including from Europe as well as reserves will allow Israel to continue its operation. Most importantly, the operation in Rafah will not consume large amounts of ammunition, Liu noted.
Liu stated that Netanyahu has been advancing his strategy through a combination of military actions and diplomatic overtures. By pushing forward on the battlefield to enhance its position during hostage negotiations with Hamas, Israel remains steadfast in its goal of eradicating it.
Israeli troops seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday. Netanyahu called it an "important step" toward dismantling Hamas' military and governing capabilities, and its defense minister threatened to "deepen" the Rafah operation if talks on the hostage deal failed, AP reported.
In refuting accusations from Australia which claimed that a Chinese fighter jet fired flares into the path of an Australian naval helicopter last weekend over the Yellow Sea, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday clarified that the truth is that an Australian military aircraft deliberately flew within close range of China's airspace in a provocative move that endangered China's maritime and air security in the name of enforcing UN Security Council's resolutions.
The Chinese military took necessary measures at the scene to warn and alert the Australian side. The way the situation was handled was consistent with Chinese laws and regulations, professional and safe, Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Tuesday.
Lin stated that China has lodged serious protests to the Australian side on its risky moves, while urging Australia to immediately stop the provocations and hypes to prevent misunderstanding and miscalculation.
The Chinese spokesperson's remarks came after Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said Monday that a Chinese Chengdu J-10 fighter jet released flares in the flight path of an Australian navy Seahawk helicopter deployed from the Australian air warfare destroyer HMAS Hobart, according to Western media outlets, including AP News. The media outlets claimed that the Australian air warfare destroyer on Saturday was "enforcing UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea in international waters in the Yellow Sea." According to media outlets, there were no injuries or damage reported.
"We've just made it very clear to China that this is unprofessional and that it's unacceptable," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Nine Network television.
Also on Tuesday, China's Ministry of National Defense debunked the Australian accusations.
"We are firmly opposed to what the Australian side has said, which distorts black and white," said Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense.
According to Zhang, from May 3 to 4, during the training of Chinese naval vessels in relevant waters of the Yellow Sea, the Australian guided-missile destroyer HMAS Hobart sent shipborne helicopters three times to conduct close-in reconnaissance and disturb the normal training activities of the Chinese side.
The Chinese military issued warnings and forced them away. The relevant operations were reasonable, professional and safe, and fully in line with international law and practice, Zhang stated.
We urge the Australian side to earnestly respect China's sovereign security concerns, stop spreading false narratives, strictly restrain naval and air force operations, and stop all dangerous and provocative actions so as not to undermine the overall relationship between the two countries and two militaries, Zhang said.
Chinese military experts pointed out that Australia's actions under the guise of implementing UNSC sanctions against North Korea are in fact provocation, probing, and reconnaissance against China.
Military expert Zhang Xuefeng told the Global Times on Tuesday that the fact that Australian warships have travelled so far into the Yellow Sea, so close to China's territorial waters and inland seas, is itself a sign of the growing aggressiveness.
It is not the first time that Australia has conducted close-in reconnaissance against China and been expelled after not listening to warnings, Zhang Xuefeng noted. The Australian military is responsible for all the consequences by those provocations, he warned.
Last November, Australia claimed that a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) destroyer used sonar to force divers from an Australian frigate to exit the water. In response, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on November 20, 2023 that "The Chinese military is strictly disciplined and always operates professionally in accordance with the international law and international common practices. We hope relevant parties will stop making trouble in front of China's doorsteps and work with China to preserve the momentum of improving and growing China-Australia ties."
After several senior Philippine officials denied that the Marcos administration had negotiated with China to reach "arrangements" on the Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef), the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines raised five questions, emphasizing that China has consistently been committed to managing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao, maintaining dialogue with the Philippines in a responsible manner, and reaching internal understandings and arrangements on multiple occasions.
The Philippines has repeatedly denied recently that China and the Philippines had reached "agreements" on the South China Sea issue.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro stated that since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in 2022, the Philippine Defense Department is "not aware of, nor is it a party to, any internal agreement with China."
Philippine National Security Adviser Secretary Eduardo Año also said that there is "no agreement whatsoever" in Ren'ai Jiao between the Philippines and China, saying that this "new model" announced by the Chinese side is nothing more than a new invention, according to the agency.
However, facts speak louder.
China has always been committed to properly managing maritime differences through dialogue and consultation with the Philippines and has made relentless efforts in this regard, the Chinese Embassy said in a statement published on its website on Saturday.
The "gentlemen's agreement" is a concrete outcome of such efforts. To follow up on the important consensus between the two heads-of-state to deescalate tension in the South China Sea, the Chinese side and the Philippine side through AFP WESCOM agreed on a "new model" for the management of the situation at Ren'ai Jiao early this year after multiple rounds of discussions.
Either the "gentlemen's agreement" or the "new model" is a confidence-building measure aimed at managing disputes, avoiding conflicts and maintaining peace, and has nothing to do with each other's sovereign positions, the embassy said.
During the discussion the AFP WESCOM has made repeated confirmation that the "new model" has been approved by all key officials in the Philippine chain of command, including the Secretary of National Defense and the National Security Advisor.
The communication and negotiation on this subject matter is kept on record in every detail by the Chinese side. Thanks to the "new model," frontliners of both sides had guidance to follow on how to interact with each other, which made the resupply mission on last February 2 a smooth one.
The AFP Spokesperson described this resupply mission as "flawless" in a post on social media X on the same day. Positive efforts of the frontliners in this regard are commendable, the embassy said.
China has always attached great importance to communication and dialogue with the Philippine DND and the AFP. In fact, on July 5, 2023, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines had the honor to pay a courtesy call on Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. at Camp Aguinaldo, exchanged views with the latter on China-Philippines military relations, and maritime issues, among other things.
During the meeting, the Philippine side was briefed on the "gentlemen's agreement" on the management of Ren'ai Jiao. Readouts of the meeting were released respectively by the DND and the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, the embassy spokesperson said.
The above are facts, not narratives, nor inventions. China is always committed to managing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao and maintaining dialogue and communication with the Philippines in a responsible manner, the spokesperson noted, adding it is regrettable that despite the internal understandings and arrangements, peace and tranquility was disrupted again and again at Ren'ai Jiao.
The Chinese Embassy put five questions to the Philippines: Why the Marcos administration repeatedly denies having negotiated with China to reach understandings and arrangements on Ren'ai Jiao?
Why does the Philippine Department of National Defense refuse to engage in dialogue and negotiation with China to properly handle maritime disputes?
The "new model" has been proven to be effective in managing differences and avoiding conflicts, why has the current Philippine government unilaterally abandoned it after being put into practice only once?
Who made the decision to betray the "new model"?
Does managing differences and avoiding conflicts go against the interests of certain forces?
Argentina's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship, Diana Mondino, is set to visit China from Saturday to May 1 amid expectations of advancing currency swap line negotiations and fostering cooperation in various sectors, including new energy. Analysts noted that although China-Argentina bilateral relations entered "a running-in" period of adjustment after Javier Milei assumed the Argentine presidency late last year, Argentina's perception of China has become more pragmatic, recognizing the crucial importance of the relationship with China for its economic recovery.
In addition, at the invitation of Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia Celinda Sosa Lunda and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru Javier González-Olaechea Franco will also visit China from April 28 to 30.
Observers said that in light of this year marking the 10th anniversary of the Forum of China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (China-CELAC Forum), China and countries in South America are expected to increase interactions, fostering deeper cooperation and providing momentum for regional and global development.
During the visits of the foreign ministers from Argentina, Bolivia and Peru in China, Wang Yi will hold talks with them respectively on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a press conference on Friday.
While introducing Foreign Minister Mondino's visit to China, Wang Wenbin noted that this is her first visit to China since she took office. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership. China hopes that through this visit, the two countries will further enhance political mutual trust, offer broader prospects for our mutually beneficial cooperation, enrich the China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership, and achieve common development and prosperity, the spokesperson said.
The currency swap deal will top the agenda of Mondino's delegation in China, as solving debt issues is a pressing issue for the Argentinian government, Wang Youming, director of the Institute of Developing Countries at the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, told the Global Times on Saturday.
Argentina's Central Bank President Santiago Bausili and Finance Secretary Pablo Quirno will reportedly travel to China along with Foreign Minister Mondino. During the visit, they are expected to discuss the $18 billion currency swap agreement with Chinese monetary authorities.
Wang Youming noted that Mondino is also being joined by a large delegation of Argentine businesspeople, and the two sides will discuss economic cooperation, including exports of agricultural and livestock products and Chinese investments and engineering projects in Argentina. Lithium resource cooperation is also a key project in new energy cooperation between China and Argentina, said Wang Youming.
This round of interactions will help promote exchanges between China and Argentina, Wang Youming noted, adding that after Milei took office in Argentina, China-Argentina relations entered a period of adjustment. However, Argentina's perception of China has become more pragmatic, and it now recognizes the crucial importance of the relationship with China for economic recovery.
Some Western media also reported President Milei as taking "a softer tone" toward Beijing than he did as a candidate.
However, the Milei government's bid to align Argentina with the US may also bring some uncertainties to bilateral relations, analysts said, noting that Milei has withdrawn the country from its planned entry into the expanding BRICS and formally requested to join NATO as a global partner.
As Argentina's second-largest trading partner, the importance of China is self-evident, and the structural and long-term trade and investment between the two countries suggests that the partnership between them has a certain degree of flexibility, said analysts.
China is willing to engage in mutually beneficial economic cooperation with any partner country, they said, urging Argentina to engage in constructive discussions with China.
The visits of the foreign ministers from Argentina, Bolivia and Peru in the coming week coincide with a bustling period in China's diplomacy and also part of the series of exchanges between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries, Wang Youming said, noting that such interactions will peak in the second half of the year during the China-CELAC summit.
These countries, along with other nations in the Global South, hold a positive outlook on China's market, investment, and development. Collaboration between China and these countries has the potential to propel regional economic development and act as a catalyst for global economic growth, said the expert.
