CLAIMING THEIR PLACE

正In a move away from the U.S.dollar as the international reserve currency, the BRICS members agreed to extend loans within the group in local currencies.Leaders of the five major emerging economies-Brazil,Russia,India,China and South Africa-reached the agreement at the Fourth BRICS Summit in New Delhi on March 29.     

RELATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi took questions from the media on China's foreign policy and external relations at a press conference on the sidelines of the Fourth Session of the 13th National People's Congress on March 7.This is an edited excerpt from what he said:China-U.S.As two countries with different social systems,China and the U.S.naturally have differences and disagreements.     

Lost in Protectionism

On March 22, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum targeting China's so-called "economic aggression," threatening to impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of imports from China based on an investigation into alleged Chinese intellectual property and technology transfer practices under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974. He also directed the U.S. Treasury Department to propose restrictions on Chinese investment in the United States.     

Trading Blows

Afmter introducing tariffs on steel and alu-inum imports, U.S. President Donald Trump again caused sensation on March 22 by signing a memorandum alowing the United States to levy tariffs on up to $60 bilion of imports from China and restrict Chinese in-vestment.     

One Crisis,Different Agendas

Sadly,the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has continued for over a month and still shows no signs of de-escalation or ceasefire.On March 18,Chinese President Xi Jinping had a video call with U.S.President Joe Biden.     

'Dark Lord' Set on Destroying International Order

<正>"Just in one year,our sanctions are likely to wipe out the last 15 years of Russia’s economic gains" and make Russia "an outcast on the international stage."U.S.President Joe Biden made these remarks after the outbreak of the RussiaUkraine military conflict in February.It is frightening that the U.S.could succeed in such a plan of economic and political strangulation of a major global economy like Russia,not to mention other countries that are not as powerful.     

Trade War Debate

正Trade friction between China and the U.S.has been in the spotlight for around three months since U.S.President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum on March 22 authorizing the United States Trade Representative(USTR)to impose tariffs on$50 billion worth of imports from China.The two sides decided to halt a potential trade war after Chinese Vice Premier Liu He’s visit to the U.S.for trade     

No to a New Cold War

正At a webinar on July 25, No to the New Cold War, speakers from China, the U.S., the UK, India, Russia, Canada, Venezuela and Brazil discussed how to counter the new U.S. hostility toward China. The following is an edited     

China Goes All Out to Ward off H1N1 Flu

AFTER its debut in late March, A/H1N1 flu soon spread from Mexico and the .U.S. to more than 30 coun-tries and regions worldwide, including China＇s mainland and Hong Kong, causing global alarm and prompting a flurry of precautions. By April 27 the World Health Organization had raised its pandemic alert level from Phase 3 to 4, and only two days later, to the second place register on the scale.     

Positively Rare--P5 rules out nuclear war despite rising global tensions

An unexpected gift for world peace arrived with little fanfare at the beginning of 2022. On January 5, a joint statement on preventing nuclear war and avoiding arms races was released by the leaders of China, France, Russia, the UK and the U.S. Their shared voice is considered a positive step toward enhancing mutual trust and creating a world free of nuclear fear.     

Sharp as a Steel Trap

On February 7,the U.S.and Japan inked an agreement,allowing Japanese steel products to enter the American market without the application of the Section 232 tariffs introduced by former President Donald Trump.The presidential orders imposed a 25-percent tariff on imported steel and 10 percent on imported aluminum,coming into effect on March 23,2018.Under the latest agreement,the U.S.will remove the steel tariff on Japanese exports of up to 1.25 million tons.     

PEOPLE & POINTS

“We have a strong sense, and the DPRK has a strong sense,that this approach is the rightapproach.”U.S. Assistant Secretary of StateChristopher Hill, telling reporters on March 6that Washington and Pyongyang are on the“right track” for normalizing relations     

Doing a Wonderful Job

正Confucius institutes serve as a successful platform to promote language and culture Adispute about the immigration status of Chinese teachers at Confucius institutes on U.S. university campuses was resolved on May 25 after a 24-hour consultation between officials from the Chinese embassy and the U.S. State Department.     

Doing a Wonderful Job Confucius institutes serve as a successful platform to promote language and culture By Yin Pumin

Adispute about the immigration status of Chinese teachers at Confucius institutes on U.S.university campuses was resolved on May 25 after a 24-hour consultation between officials from the Chinese embassy and the U.S.State Department.     

STAYING COOL

Right in the middle of the deepe ning U.S.-China trade war storm, Huawei Technologies Co.,the world's leading telecom network equipment provider from Chin a, is maki ng world headlines as a result of the U.S. ban on its products and cutoff from its business partners. During an exclusive interview with state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) on May 21, Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei showed little concern about the challenges facing the company.     

AIRLINE INFORMATION

United Airlines United Airlines and Shanghai Airlines signed a code-sharing agreement on March 21 that expands international destination options and frequent flyer opportunities for customers of both carriers. Pending U.S. Government approval, the 11 code-sharing flights covered by the agreement are scheduled to commence May 15. Once the agreement takes effect, customers from both carriers will be able to accrue and redeem frequent flyer miles and enjoy airport lounges supported by both carriers.     

Belated ＂Thanks＂

On February 21, 1972, U.S. President Richard Nixon started a weeklong official visit to China, the first by an American leader to the People＇s Republic. Nixon later called it ＂The week that changed the world.＂ At the end of his trip the two countries released the Joint Communique of the United States of America and the People＇s Republic of China （also known as Shanghai Communique）, in which both expressed a desire to normalize relations and stressed common ground on several key issues. The frosty ties between two of the world＇s biggest countries began to thaw. On December 16, 1978, China and the U.S. signed the Joint Communiqu6 on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, officially recognizing each other and establishing diplomatic relations on January 1, 1979. On March 1 the same year they exchanged ambassadors and embassies, and Sino-U.S. relationships entered a new epoch.     

Temporary Relief

Biden’s relief bill might bring about greater challenges in the long run U.S.President Joe Biden signed the$1.9-trillion American Rescue Plan(ARP)Act into law on March 11,delivering on one of his key campaign promises.After the signing,Biden called the bill a historic legislation with overwhelming support from Americans,saying it will help rebuild the COVID-19-ravaged U.S.economy.     

PLOTTING A COURSE

<正>Participants attend a roundtable discussion with the theme of"Building the Silk Road Consensus"during the Boao Forum for Asia(BFA)on March 26.The annual conference took place on March 26-29 in the scenic town of Boao on south China’s tropical island province of Hainan.Delegates from Asia and beyond conducted discussions on a diversity of topics ranging from economic growth to innovation.The BFA,a non-governmental and non-profit international organization founded in 2001,aims to promote cooperation between Asian nations as well as between Asia and other parts of the world.     

For a Consensual COVID-19 Reduction Strategy

Cooperation on medical research,trade and among institutions is the only answer On March 24,U.S.President Donald Trump asked for medical equipment and test kits in a 23-minute phone call with Moon Jae-in,President of the Republic of Korea(ROK).The call was said to be arranged after an urgent request by Trump.The U.S.president has repeatedly bragged about the U.S.preparedness for the novel coronavirus disease(COVID-19),but the surging confirm ed cases and increasing death toll tell another story.