On 13th July, the 47th Session of the Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on combating systemic racism submitted by African countries. The resolution deplores all forms of racial discrimination, including systemic and structural racism, and condemns the continuing racially discriminatory and violent practices perpetrated by many law enforcement officials against Africans and people of African descent. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that the resolution sets out the systemic agenda for the international community to tackle systemic racism and racial discrimination and protect the human rights of Africans and people of African descent, Asians and people of Asian descent and indigenous peoples. The adoption of this strong resolution will further galvanize international consensus and bring new impetus to the world anti-racism cause.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends APEC meeting
At the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the Informal Economic Leaders’ Retreat of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held on 16th July. Here is the full text of his speech:
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-07/16/c_1310065704.htm
China has provided more than 500 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines globally
As COVID-19 continues to spread across the world, China has been actively implementing its pledge of making vaccines a global public good and upholding the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind to provide vaccines abroad in an open and inclusive manner, said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian. Zhao revealed that to date, China has provided more than 500 million doses and concentrates to over 100 countries and international organizations, accounting for one sixth of the total global output. Doses produced by Chinese companies for the WHO-led COVAX has rolled off the assembly line and will be delivered soon. China has provided more doses to developing countries than anyone else and has vaccine cooperation partners all over the globe.
Diplomats from 48 countries oppose politicization of COVID-19 origin-tracing
Permanent representatives of 48 countries to the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) on 15th July addressed to World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and voiced their support to advance the study of origins of SARS-CoV-2 globally and opposed the politicization of the origin-tracing. The diplomats highlighted that COVID-19 is a common enemy of mankind, and it can only be defeated by solidarity and cooperation of the international community. The study of origins is “a matter of science, and should be conducted around the world by scientists.” The diplomats also welcomed the publication of the Joint Report of the WHO-convened global study of origins of SARS-CoV-2 and stressed that the global study on origin-tracing “should be based on and guided by this scientific report.”
China’s economy grows 12.7% in H1
China’s GDP grew by 12.7% year-on-year in the first half of this year to 8.2 trillion USD, with the steady and sound growth momentum consolidated. In the second quarter, the economy grew by 7.9% year-on-year, down from 18.3% in the first quarter, as the effect of low comparison base due to the outbreak of COVID-19 eased. With more countries recovering from the pandemic, consumption is rebounding in China and exports will cool down in the rest of this year. Meanwhile, foreign direct investment (FDI) into Chinese mainland in the first six months of the year jumped to 93.89 billion USD, up 28.7% from the same period last year.
