Adhere to the Principle of ＂Common But Differentiated Responsibilities＂ An Interview with Maged George,Egyptian Minister of State for Environmental Affairs

ON August 28, Maged George, Egyptian Minister of State for Environmental Affairs, was interviewed in Cairo by China Today. He talked about the Cancun International Conference on Climate Change to be held at the end of 2010, Egypt＇s views on global climate change and its expectations for the conference.     

Inclusive Growth

正As BRICS chair,South Africa seeks to solidify partnerships and foster understanding among its member states and peoples This is a big year for South Africa and BRICS.The country assumed the role of BRICS chair on January 1 and will remain in this position until the end of 2018.In addition,the year represents a milestone as the 10th BRICS Summit will be hosted in Johannesburg on July 25-27,which will be     

UN Landmark Convention of Rights of Disabled People——Interview with Zhang Guozhong of the China Federation for Disabled Persons

The 61st UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York City on December 13,2006. This is the first legally binding international convention on the protection of the rights of disabled persons, the first of its kind in the history of the United Nations. It is also the latest efforts of the international community to protect and promote human rights and development of persons with disabilities. On March 30,2007, China signed the Convention. The following is an interview with Mr. Zhang Guozhong of the International Department of the China Federation for Disabled Persons, who witnessed the whole process of the negotiations on the Convention:     

BETTER TOGETHER

正India will host the Eighth BRICS Summit in Goa on October 15-16.What will the event mean to the club of emerging powers,and what global infuence does the BRICS mechanism have?Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi,Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj,and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports have given their answers on various occasions.Edited excerpts of some of their opinions follow:     

Xiamen Embraces Summit Opportunities

<正>At a press briefing held on January 3,2017,Geng Shuang,spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,announced that China had officially assumed the rotating BRICS presidency on January 1,and Xiamen in southeast China’s Fujian Province will host the Ninth BRICS Summit in September.After Beijing,Shanghai and Hangzhou,Xiamen will become another Chinese city to host an important international event.     

Bilateral Relations Intac Amid Debt Issues

正The international community is ablaze with questions as the economic situation deteriorates in Venezuela.Will the country default on its debts?What will China—one of Venezuela’s top creditors—do in the face of this dilemma?China has already consulted with Venezuela on its debt issues.While it’s natural for the former to be worried about the latter’s problems,reaching the conclusion that these issues will twist the relationship between the two countries is a stretch.     

China-Africa Seeking Equality

In the context of today's globalization,peace and stability will not prevail in the world unless they first materialize in Africa.This is the view of Liu Guijin,Special Representative of the Chinese Government for African Affairs.As long as the African continent is mired in pov- erty,wars and chaos,the world will not be able to embrace common prosperity,said Liu.He is calling for the international community to assist the continent in resolving its problems with concrete actions,an endeavor that requires the collaboration of all countries and regions, including those from Europe,China and Africa.Liu recently made these and other assessments on the China-Africa connection at a joint interview with CHINAFRICA reporter Wang Zhe and Beijing Review reporter Yan Wei.The main points follow:     

China and Russia Buddy Up

正As China continues on its inevitable rise,the East Asian giant is on the lookout for a sidekick.Fortunately,its powerful neighbor to the north appears ready to seize what may be a pivotal moment in the history of international relations. Ties between China and Russia are arguably at their best in history.But     

A VOICE FOR CO-GOVERNANCE

<正>How BRICS countries are contributing to international governance and equality.The BRICS mechanism plays the role of a bellwether for developing countries.Unity and cooperation among BRICS members enhance developing countries’rights to be heard and participate in decisionmaking on global political and economic affairs.     

A Changing World Order

With its own development bank, the BRICS countries can work together to shape a new international monetary system 2013 is an important year for South Africa.The country will host the Fifth BRICS Summit in March and it also celebrates the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with China.On January 31,Bheki Langa,South African Ambassador to China,shared his thoughtson the upcoming     

Significance of the BRICS Mechanism

正The two-day Sixth BRICS(Brazil,Russia,India,China,South Africa)Summit,which convenes on July 15 in Fortaleza,Brazil,marks the fi rst session of the second cycle of BRICS Summits.Formulated as a global investment concept a decade or more ago,the BRICS group has held summits respectively in Yekaterinburg,Brasilia,Sanya,New Delhi,and Durban.Inter-BRICS cooperation began with the foreign ministers’meeting during the 2006 UN General Assembly,and progressed to the First BRICS Summit of 2009.The mechanism has since evolved into a framework for building partnerships in international politics,international economy and pragmatic cooperation.Centering on BRICS Summits,the partnership is buttressed     

A Peaceful Role Player In World Affairs

China is committed to peaceful development and proud to be a responsible stakeholder participating in the international order and upholding its values. This is according to Wang Guangya, Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations, who was speaking at a symposium entitled China and the Future of the World, held by the University of Chicago just a week after Chinese President Hu Jintao's U.S. visit Wang also explained why China's development is an opportunity rather than a threat to the rest of the world and how China and the United States are partners in cooperation. Excerpts follow:     

The International Protection of Women＇s Human Rights： with Emphasis on UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women

1. The International Protection of Women＇s Human Rights： Emergence of CEDAW
For a long time, women＇s rights have been excluded from traditional discourse on human right. The traditional discourse on human rights has developed without considering its impact upon women. Transforming this discourse to a perspective that will consider the needs and vindications of women is absolutely essential.1 Although international efforts addressing women＇s issues presumed to be associated with women began in the nineteenth century, it was in the postwar period that such activity gained a coherent focus under the auspices of United Nations.     

Statutes of the Chinese People''''s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

(Amended and Adopted by the Ninth National Council Meeting on May 18, 2007)Chapter One General Principles Article 1 The Association is a national people's organization of the People's Republic of China known as the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and abbreviated as CPAFFC. Article 2 As an institute of people-to-people diplomacy, on behalf of the Chinese people, the Association makes friends extensively and makes close friends on the international arena and works to win broad international sympathy for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and to provide a consolidated social basis for the establishment of good state relations between China and all other countries. Article 3 To enhance people's friendship, further international cooperation, safeguard world peace and promote common development are purposes which the Association pursues indefatigably in its work.     

An International Platform of Consumption

The first China International Consumer Products Expo is to be held in Haikou.the provincial capital of Hainan Province,from May 7 to 10.The event joins China Import and Export Fair(Canton Fair)and China International Import Expo,as one of China's leading international commercial and trade events.China has been constantly working to foster the development of foreign trade platforms around a variety of themes that cater to the demands for development that occur at different times.     

FIVE PLUS MORE

<正>Editor’s Note:President Xi Jinping drew a bright blueprint for BRICS cooperation in his address to the BRICS Business Forum in Xiamen on September 3.He made a four-point proposal for the next golden decade of cooperation among the five BRICS member countries to achieve common development.The following is an edited version of scholars’comments on the     

Diplomatic Wisdom

正For any sovereign state,diplomacy is an important part of international relations,and one of the principal goals of diplomacy today is for a country to carry out its foreign policies,protect its core national interests,develop friendly and cooperative ties with other states,and to try to enhance its influence in the international community.Since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949,China has pursued independent foreign policies that are focused on peace and     

CPAFFC Delegation Visits Hungary, Austria and Czech

ACPAFFC delegation headed by its vice presi-dent Su Guang paid a goodwillvisit to Hungary, Austria andCzech from May 11 to 23. Dur-ing its stay in Hungary. the del-egation called on Denes Tomaj,deputy state secretary incharge of the Ministry for For-eign Affairs, Szabo Vitmos,vice chairman of the Commis-sion for Foreign Affairs of the     

Five Fingers of One Hand

正BRICS cooperation has become a major force in the modernization of international governance South Africa will host the 10th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg in July this year.The summit returns to South Africa after being hosted in Durban in 2013as BRICS enters its second decade as an infl uential group.BRICS cooperation was established as a response to the 2008 international fi nancial crisis.South Africa joined BRICS in 2010.