Nigeria Times

By Jiang Yunlong, Wen Suwei, People’s Daily

Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, located at the heart of the Eurasian continent, sees the most land ports as a provincial-level region in China. It plays an irreplaceable role in the development of the Silk Road Economic Belt.

In Xinjiang, it takes only 0.08 hours for cargos to complete customs clearance through the Alashankou railway port; the number of China-Europe freight trains departing from and arriving in Horgos has increased with an annual growth of 81 percent; foreign trade volume of the autonomous region exceeded 250 billion yuan ($34.44 billion) in the first three quarters this year, reaching a historical high.

In recent years, with China’s efforts to expand opening up, develop its western region, and promote the Belt and Road Initiative, Xinjiang has transformed from a relatively closed inland area to a frontier of opening up.

Not long ago, China’s State Council issued a general plan for establishing the Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), further promoting Xinjiang’s high-level opening up and writing a new chapter in the autonomous region’s engagement with the outside world.

Recently, a China-Europe freight train departed from Xinjiang’s Alashankou, also known as Alataw Pass, for Kazakhstan.

“We send polyvinyl chloride materials and solar cells out and take wheat, edible oil, and minerals back to China,” said Guan Xizhi, driver of the train. Thanks to the continuous improvement in transport efficiency, the frequency of the China-Europe freight service has also increased in recent years, Guan added.

It is learned that the Alashankou railway port has introduced a “24/7” appointment-based customs clearance mechanism to ensure quick inspection, verification and release. This helps minimize the time for customs clearance and significantly reduces transportation costs.

Since the freight service was launched in 2011, the number of China-Europe freight trains leaving and entering China via the Alashankou Port has surpassed 30,000. Nearly 6,000 trips are made a year now, up from 17 in the beginning, connecting 25 Chinese provincial-level regions to some 20 countries to the west.

At present, a network covering over 110 routes has been formulated. More than 200 categories of goods are currently being transported along these routes, including automobiles, auto parts, cotton yarn, and timber.

“Reaching Europe via Alashankou is the international trade channel with the shortest distance, the least time and the lowest freight cost on the Silk Road Economic Belt,” said Li Jianglin, executive deputy mayor of the city.

At the Horgos highway port, trucks are often seen lining up. As of Nov. 3 this year, the number of vehicles exported through this port reached 101,100, a year-on-year increase of 177.3 percent. The highest daily export of vehicles reached 1,301 units, showing exponential growth.

“Chinese vehicles, especially new energy vehicles, have become a new highlight of Xinjiang’s foreign trade,” said Hu Laijie, director of the port management bureau of the Horgos economic development zone.

Currently, 35 Chinese carmakers export vehicles through the Horgos highway port, and there are over 80 vehicle export agencies, according to Hu. He said Chinese vehicles are exported via the port to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and other Belt and Road countries.

“I believe I can find ‘gold’ in the ‘desert,'” said He Haiyan, who came to Alashankou from her hometown Shaanxi province to start a business.

Today, her three small counters have blossomed into a 275-square-meter cross-border e-commerce store. Stepping into the store, visitors are greeted by a dazzling array of imported goods that entice them to fill their shopping carts and spend hours exploring the vast selection.

To support the development of cross-border e-commerce and leverage the advantages of the Alashankou port and the Alashankou Comprehensive Bonded Zone, the city has established a 28,000-square-meter sorting and customs clearance center. Renowned e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba, Amazon, and eBay have settled in the city, providing services to 508,000 e-commerce enterprises.

“We have pioneered an innovative ‘slow air transportation’ model, enabling exported goods to reach Europe within 12 to 18 days, at a cost of only 1/5 of regular air transportation and 1/6 of the time taken by sea freight,” said Zhou Chong, deputy director of the management committee of the Alashankou Comprehensive Bonded Zone.

The local authorities have implemented an efficient and fast customs clearance process, prioritizing the declaration, sealing, and inspection of cross-border e-commerce goods, Zhou added.

In addition to numerous cross-border e-commerce enterprises, there is also a fantastic destination for shopaholics in Horgos－the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center. Spanning an area of 3.43 square kilometers on the Chinese side and 2.17 square kilometers on the Kazakh side, this center offers visitors 30 days of visa-free cross-border facilitation.

Entering into the Chinese side of the center, each visitor is allowed to carry 8,000 yuan worth of duty-free goods per day. The center received an average of 24,000 visitors per day from January to September this year.

“The demand for shops is so high that as soon as one becomes available, it is immediately snatched up by eager tenants,” said Ji Gang with the cooperation center.

As the autonomous region becomes more open, ports in Xinjiang are thriving, said Hao Weiming, head of Urumqi Customs. He believes that by taking the establishment of Xinjiang Pilot FTZ as an opportunity, the high-quality development of Xinjiang’s open economy will surely reach a new level.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Chinese President Xi Jinping has been invited to attend the 30th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, which fully showcases the great importance China attaches to Asia-Pacific economic cooperation.

China will continue to contribute wisdom and strength to deepen Asia-Pacific cooperation and promote the building of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.

The Asia-Pacific region accounts for one-third of the world’s population, over 60 percent of the world’s economic output, and nearly half of global trade. It is the most dynamic economic area of the world.

As an important economic cooperation platform in the Asia-Pacific region, APEC has made continuous progress in promoting regional trade and investment liberalization and facilitation and played a positive role in driving global and regional economic growth.

Currently, the Asia-Pacific region enjoys overall stability, and regional cooperation continues to make progress. Peaceful development and win-win cooperation remain the mainstream.

At the same time, the world enters a new period of turbulence and transformation, with geopolitical tensions and an evolving economic landscape impacting the development environment and cooperation framework in the Asia-Pacific region.

All parties expect the Asia-Pacific region to follow the path of peaceful, open, cooperative, win-win and inclusive development, respond to the challenges of the times, promote regional economic integration, explore new development prospects, and lead global economic growth.

China has been actively advocating for the building of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future and firmly led the direction in promoting cooperation in the region.

Since 2013, Xi has attended or chaired APEC Economic Leaders’ Meetings and delivered important speeches.

China has promoted Asia-Pacific cooperation through its propositions, promoted the development of the region with its contributions, built consensus in the region with its wisdom, and promoted the joint construction of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future featuring openness and inclusiveness, innovation-driven growth, greater connectivity, and mutually beneficial cooperation.

At the 30th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, Xi will deliver an important speech to fully elaborate on China’s major propositions on deepening Asia-Pacific cooperation and driving regional and global growth.

China will steadfastly work with all parties to promote the prosperity and development of the Asia-Pacific region and create a better future for the region.

China, as a key player in the Asia-Pacific region, holds immense potential for economic growth and plays a significant role in driving regional economic development.

The Asian Development Bank’s Asia Economic Integration Report 2023 indicated that China contributed 64.2 percent to the region’s total economic growth, 37.6 percent of the growth in trade in goods, and 44.6 percent of the growth in trade in services.

The country is dedicated to deepening the Asia-Pacific partnership featuring mutual trust, inclusiveness and mutually beneficial cooperation. It aims to build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future that is peaceful, stable, clean and beautiful, a region where all are ready to help each other and that brings prosperity for all.

The commitment will create new opportunities and inject fresh impetus into the development and prosperity of both the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.

China’s development has benefited from the Asia-Pacific region, and China reciprocates by benefiting the region through its own progress.

China stays committed to opening up in a wider scope and broader areas and at a deeper level. It sticks to Chinese modernization and builds new systems for higher-level open economy. China will continue to share its development opportunities with the world, especially with the Asia-Pacific region.

It is widely recognized that a prosperous and strong China not only serves the fundamental interests of the Chinese people but also brings more benefits to the Asia-Pacific and the world.

The peace, stability, and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region belong to all the people in the region, and the future of the Asia-Pacific relies on the joint efforts of the people.

All parties should stay true to their original aspirations, adopt a strategic and long-term perspective on regional cooperation, and uphold APEC’s role as the main channel in regional cooperation and keep Asia-Pacific cooperation in the right direction, so as to work together to build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.

By Bai Ziwei, Liu Ge, Liu Lingling, People’s Daily

“Should old acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne…”

Accompanied by melodious accordion music, a delegation of the U.S. Flying Tigers veterans and their descendants joined teachers and students from the Kunming Foreign Language School, a “Sino-U.S. Hump Airlift Memorial School”, in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan province, in singing the song “Auld Lang Syne” during a visit to the school.

The song reminded Flying Tigers veteran Harry Moyer of the days when the Flying Tigers fought alongside the Chinese people against Japanese aggression and forged a deep friendship.

Reliving that history and seeing the smiles on students, Moyer was moved to tears by the performance of the song in the auditorium of the Kunming Foreign Language School.

The friendship did not come easily, said Moyer.

Their visit to the Kunming Foreign Language School was part of a recent China tour organized by the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation for members of the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, known as the “Flying Tigers,” and their descendants.

The delegation visited Chinese cities including Beijing, southwest China’s Chongqing municipality, Kunming, and Liuzhou city of south China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, renewing friendship between the Chinese and American people.

Moyer told People’s Daily that Kunming was the place he looked forward to visiting the most in this tour of China.

The city was where the Flying Tigers first took off to combat in China, and also the starting point and logistics hub of the famous “Hump” air route, a vital airlift route over the Himalayas and the primary way the Allies supplied China between 1942 and 1945 in World War II.

In 1942, after Japan occupied Myanmar and cut off China’s last international connection, the Flying Tigers blazed a new air route – the “Hump” route over the Himalayas. The route was extremely difficult to fly, but the fearless and selfless members of the Flying Tigers braved all challenges and built an “air bridge” over Kunming.

Back then, people in Yunnan also overcame tremendous difficulties to provide supplies for the Flying Tigers, and did their utmost to rescue downed members of the Flying Tigers, making the legendary American Volunteer Group a symbol of mutual assistance between the Chinese and American people.

During the visit to the Kunming Foreign Language School, members of the delegation watched the musical “Green Path and Rainbow: the Story of the Flying Tigers and the Hump”, which showed the Flying Tigers’ adventure to open the “Hump” air route. The musical was voluntarily created by locals of Kunming.

As actors playing locals gave a thumbs-up gesture and praised the bravery of members of the Flying Tigers as “ding hao” (“top-notch”) in local dialect, Moyer, sitting in the audience, also raised his hands and gave a thumbs-up to the actors on stage.

The American people speak a different language from the Chinese people, but the friendship and emotions between the two peoples are connected, said Moyer’s granddaughter Sarah Moyer.

Deeply touched by the performance, she said she will definitely pass on this sincere friendship.

At the Kunming Flying Tigers Museum, exhibits including pilot goggles, military oil stoves, and group photos of members of Flying Tigers and Chinese soldiers and civilians evoked memories of the Flying Tigers.

Jane Bonner Scott, daughter of Flying Tigers pilot Steve Bonner, couldn’t help but shed tears as she saw her father’s photos in the museum.

Her father loved China very much, according to Jane Bonner Scott, who recalled that her father, who passed away two years ago, often talked to her about China and the Chinese people.

Coming to China to visit the place where her father had fought made her think of him a lot, Jane Bonner Scott said.

The history and memories of the Flying Tigers belong not only to her and her family, but also to the people of both countries, noted Jane Bonner Scott, who added that she hopes more young people will learn about the Flying Tigers’ story and cherish peace and friendship.

The name “Flying Tigers” can be frequently seen along the streets of Kunming, where there are buildings, avenues, theme restaurants, among other facilities named after the Flying Tigers, which have become a vivid demonstration of the profound friendship between the Flying Tigers and the Chinese people.

Nell Calloway, granddaughter of U.S. General Claire Lee Chennault, who led the wartime Flying Tigers pilots to fight Japanese invaders in China during World War II, has visited Kunming more than once.

All the members of the Flying Tigers she knows have told her that they received warm welcome and support from the Chinese people, said Calloway, who disclosed that she was present at the opening of the Kunming Flying Tigers Museum.

During her recent visit to Kunming, Calloway expressed her heartfelt wish for the deep friendship between the Flying Tigers and the Chinese people to continue to be passed down from generation to generation, and for a continuation of the beautiful story of friendship between the American and Chinese people.

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

At the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend a China-U.S. summit meeting and the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in San Francisco.

The two Presidents will have in-depth communication on issues of strategic, overarching and fundamental importance in shaping China-U.S. relations and major issues concerning world peace and development.

It will be the first visit of Xi to the U.S. in the recent six years, and the first face-to-face meeting between the two heads of state since their Bali meeting last year. The meeting will be of significant importance and attract worldwide attention.

The China-U.S. relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world. Whether China and the U.S. can handle their relationship well bears on the future of the world.

Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic role in growing bilateral ties. Since February 2021, Xi has had multiple phone talks and meetings with Biden, aiming to steer the China-U.S. relationship along the right track.

During a virtual meeting with Biden in November 2021, Xi pointed out that the most important event in international relations in the coming 50 years will be for China and the U.S. to find the right way to get along.

China’s policy toward the U.S. is consistent, which is mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. China is ready, on this basis, to explore with the United States the right way for the two countries to get along and take their relations steadily forward.

Last November, Xi and Biden met in Bali, Indonesia, and reached a series of important common understandings, which had profound impacts on China-U.S. relations.

The meeting identified a clear direction, that is, to prevent China-U.S. relations from getting derailed or out of control, and to find the right way for the two major countries to get along with each other.

It established a framework, i.e., jointly working out the guiding principles, or a strategic framework, for China-U.S. relations. It also kicked off a process, i.e., implementing the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state to manage and stabilize China-U.S. relations.

In recent times, the two countries have implemented the consensus reached by the two heads of state during their meeting in Bali, increased high-level exchanges and initiated a series of dialogue mechanisms, thus activating exchanges and cooperation in sub-national, non-governmental, and people-to-people levels. As a result, bilateral relations between the two countries have shown signs of stabilization.

The face-to-face meeting between Xi and Biden this time, a year after they met in Bali, will be of great significance for stabilizing and improving China-U.S. relations, and for the two countries in jointly coping with global challenges and promoting world peace and development. China and the U.S. “returning to Bali and leading to San Francisco” is in line with the common interests of the two countries and the general expectation of the international community.

The fluctuation of China-U.S. relations in recent years has proved that both countries should always adhere to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. Mutual respect is the prerequisite for the two countries’ interactions; peaceful coexistence is the red line they must keep to; win-win cooperation is the goal they should aim at.

There have been and will continue to be differences between the two countries, but this should not hinder China and the U.S. from seeking common ground while shelving differences and pursuing win-win cooperation.

China will not become another U.S., and the U.S. cannot reshape China according to its own likes and dislikes. Mutual respect and inclusiveness is the only choice for both countries.

Adhering to the basic norms of international relations and the three China-U.S. joint communiques is crucial for managing differences, preventing confrontation, and avoiding conflicts between the two sides.

The U.S. should abandon the Cold War mentality and confrontational mindset, take concrete actions and policies to address the “action deficit,” and increase strategic mutual trust with China.

Win-win cooperation is the true narrative of China-U.S. relations in the past half a century. Defining the entire China-U.S. relationship solely by competition not only disrespects history but also goes against the facts.

The common interests of the two countries far outweigh their differences, and the respective success of China and the U.S. is an opportunity, rather than a challenge, to each other. Both sides should seek common development and prosperity that benefit not only themselves but also the rest of the world.

As two major countries, China and the U.S. shoulder special responsibilities and should demonstrate the broad-mindedness, vision, and commitment of major countries. Only by handling the China-U.S. relations with a sense of responsibility for history, for the people and for the world can the two countries continuously enhance the well-being of their peoples, promote the progress of human society, and contribute to world peace and development.

To be responsible for history means to learn from historical experience and grasp the initiative of history.

History is today’s past, and today is the history of the future. The Chinese and American people have joined forces in the World Anti-Fascist War, defending peace and justice, The relationship between the two sides has continued to develop through thick and thin since the establishment of diplomatic ties, which has benefited the two countries and the rest of the world.

Historical facts have repeatedly proven that both China and the U.S. gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation, and that cooperation is always the best choice for them.

The assertion that “U.S. policy of engagement with China has failed” is being hyped by some in the U.S., which goes against historical truth. The U.S. labeling China as the “most serious competitor” and the “most significant geopolitical challenge” is not in line with facts and is irresponsible to history.

Competition between major powers does not conform to the trend of the times and cannot solve real challenges. At this critical juncture of historical development, every decision made by China and the U.S. will be justly recorded by history.

Both sides should view and handle their relationship from the perspective of history, and jointly explore the right way for the two countries to get along with each other in the new era, so as to ensure that China-U.S. relations are a force promoting historical progress.

To be responsible for the people means to face up to common interests and pursue mutual achievements.

Recently, new inspiring stories have been written in the continuous people-to-people exchanges between China and the U.S.

The group “Kuliang Friends” has continued the legacy of friendship forged a hundred years ago. The U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association has taken active actions to promote friendly exchanges between youth from both countries. The Flying Tigers veterans inherit and carry forward the precious spiritual wealth of cooperation between China and the U.S. The Philadelphia Orchestra is extending its musical bond with the Chinese people that has spanned half a century.

Strengthening exchanges, deepening friendship, and achieving win-win cooperation are the common expectations and choices of the people of both countries.

In recent years, China-U.S. relations have faced difficulties, which do not align with the fundamental interests of the two peoples. The cost of “decoupling and severing industrial and supply chains” will ultimately be borne by the people. Blocking exchanges cuts off the channels for people to know and understand each other, and confrontation between major powers leads to the loss of people’s opportunities for development.

Both China and the U.S. should consider the aspirations of their peoples and act in what the two peoples want. They should engage in more interactions, dialogues, and exchanges, melt the icy misunderstandings and misjudgments, and build bridges of mutual understanding.

To be responsible for the world means to listen to international voices and lead global cooperation.

China and the U.S., as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the world’s top two economies, account for over 1/3 of the global economy, nearly 1/4 of the world’s population, and approximately 1/5 of global bilateral trade. They bear significant responsibilities for the peace, stability, and development of the world.

As the world enters a new period of turbulence and transformation, uncertainties, instabilities, and unpredictable factors are increasing. The international community universally hopes for an early return to the track of healthy and stable development in China-U.S. relations, which would inject stability, certainty, and constructiveness into the uncertain world.

In today’s world, coordination and cooperation between China and the U.S. are indispensable to the post-pandemic global recovery, the response to climate change, and the resolution of regional hotspot issues. The two countries jointly tackling global challenges is not only a necessity for world peace and development, but also a responsibility of major countries.

Given the profound changes unseen in a century, every responsible politician must answer the questions of the times and make historic choices with confidence, courage, and a sense of responsibility.

Both China and the U.S. should adhere to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. With a sense of responsibility for history, for the people and for the world, the two countries should meet each other halfway and strive for sound and stable development of their relations.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)

By Wu Lejun, Zhang Mengxu, People’s Daily

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently replied to a letter from Matias Tarnopolsky, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the first American orchestra to perform in China after the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Xi said in his reply that half a century ago, the orchestra’s historic China tour marked a thaw in China-U.S. cultural exchange, which was a very important part in the normalization of the two countries’ diplomatic relations.

Since then, the orchestra visited China 12 times as an active cultural envoy, playing an instrumental role in strengthening China-U.S. ties.

Xi said it was a pleasure to learn that the Philadelphia Orchestra would visit China in November for the 13th time and join the Chinese side to celebrate the orchestra’s China tour in September 1973 with musical performances and activities and renew the 50-year musical friendship between the orchestra and the Chinese people.

On the evening of Nov. 10, the 50 Years of Friendship Special Anniversary Concert of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s 1973 China Tour was staged at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

The concert was jointly presented by the Philadelphia Orchestra and the China National Symphony Orchestra. As young conductor Tristan Rais-Sherman of the Philadelphia Orchestra gently lifted his baton, the Overture to Candide composed by American conductor Leonard Bernstein was performed. After the uplifting piece, a serene and melodic tune started, the well-known Er Quan Ying Yue (Two Springs Reflecting the Moon), which witnessed the 50-year friendship between the Philadelphia Orchestra and the China National Symphony Orchestra.

Rais-Sherman said the concert was an honorable moment, and its repertoire was a homage to the Philadelphia Orchestra’s 1973 China tour.

He noted that the Echoes of Ancient Tang Poems staged in this concert was a new composition combining Western and Chinese symphonic music. In January this year, he performed excerpts from it in Philadelphia and New York, and received positive response.

It was through that performance that Rais-Sherman was exposed to Chinese Tang poetry and characters. He called it a fascinating cultural interaction, which made him appreciate China’s rich historical and cultural heritage. He said he will learn and study Chinese culture his entire life.

Philadelphia Orchestra cellist Ohad Bar-David said that Xi’s reply made the concert this time even more extraordinary.

He told People’s Daily that he was touched and honored to hear that Xi said the musical performances and activities this time would renew the 50-year musical friendship between the orchestra and the Chinese people.

Music is a bridge of communication for people, and music and friendship are the common assets of the Chinese and Americans, he noted, adding that the assets should be passed on by musicians.

Ryan Fleur, executive director of the Philadelphia Orchestra, said he believes that music transcends borders and facilitates communication in ways that words cannot express.

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s visit to China this time aimed at using music as a medium to promote understanding between the Americans and Chinese, he told People’s Daily, adding that he was delighted to share these cross-cultural musical works with the Chinese people.

“President Xi’s reply has further strengthened our confidence in continuing to promote cultural exchanges between China and the United States,” said Zhou Yu, Party secretary of the China National Symphony Orchestra.

In his reply, Xi emphasized the importance of cultural exchanges between China and the U.S., which is a great encouragement to artists, Zhou said, adding that as the first national-level orchestra in the history of the People’s Republic of China, the China National Symphony Orchestra has played an important role in music exchanges between China and other countries. “Music originates from life, yet transcends it. It interprets a country or a nation’s understanding of the world and its thoughts on the future. Artists from China and the U.S. can better serve as bridges and messengers, thus playing a greater role in promoting cultural exchanges and mutual learning,” Zhou

By People’s Daily

The social and economic progress of Xizang epitomizes the nation’s outstanding achievements in development, created on the roof of the world through the Chinese path to modernization, says a white paper titled “Communist Party of China (CPC) Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era: Approach and Achievements.”

The white paper was released by China’s State Council Information Office on Nov. 10. With detailed statistics and abundant facts, the document systematically summarizes the comprehensive progress and historic achievements in all undertakings related to the Xizang autonomous region under the CPC’s strategy in governing Xizang in the new era. It fully demonstrates China’s firm determination and strong confidence in ensuring good governance in Xizang and maintain long-term stability and high-quality development in the autonomous region.

To govern the country well, China must first govern the frontiers well, and to govern the frontiers well, the country must first ensure stability in Xizang.

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC held in 2012, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has deepened its understanding of the work related to Xizang through years of practice, summarized the successful experience of the CPC in leading the people to govern, stabilize, and develop Xizang, and has formulated the CPC policies on the governance of Xizang in the new era. This provides fundamental guidance for effectively carrying out work related to Xizang in the new era.

The CPC policies on the governance of Xizang in the new era, grounded on the practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the actual situation of Xizang, demonstrate a keen understanding of work related to Xizang. They encapsulate the CPC’s past successes in stabilizing Xizang and its plans for future development. Embodying Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, these guidelines provide answers to a series of questions on the future direction and strategy in governing Xizang.

The main driver of the CPC’s endeavors is the people’s aspirations for a better life. From eradicating absolute poverty to developing a system of public cultural services, from strengthening its work related to ethnic affairs and managing religious affairs in accordance with the law to constantly improving its working mechanisms and governance capacity, and from making efforts to become a national or even an international model in advancing eco-civilization to ensuring the right of all people of all ethnic groups to be masters of the region and the country, Xizang, following the CPC policies on the governance of Xizang in the new era, has made significant progress in stabilizing the social environment, achieving rapid economic progress, and strengthening the Party organization in Xizang, which has led to a better life to its people, amity among all ethnic groups and religions, cultural prosperity, sound ecological systems, and secured borders.

Together with the rest of the country, people in Xizang have witnessed the tremendous transformation of the Chinese nation from standing up and becoming prosperous to growing in strength.

Since the new era, Xizang has experienced a period of unprecedented development and huge change, bringing more tangible benefits to the people. It has achieved all-round progress and historic success in various undertakings. The fundamental reason for such huge progress is that the autonomous region follows the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and follows the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

The region’s achievements have proved that to ensure long-term stability and high-quality development in the region, the Party’s guidelines on the governance of Xizang in the new era must be fully and thoroughly implemented. The region’s development must serve to benefit ethnic unity and progress, to safeguard national unity and oppose separatism, and to improve people’s lives and build social consensus, so that people of all ethnic groups in Xizang will have a greater sense of gain, fulfillment and security. To ensure long-term stability, prosperity and high-quality development in Xizang, the four main tasks of ensuring stability, facilitating development, protecting the eco-environment, and strengthening the borders must be successfully and effectively fulfilled.

Since the 20th National Congress of the CPC held in 2022, people of all ethnic groups in China have embarked on a new journey of promoting comprehensive national development and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through the Chinese path to modernization.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee stressed that no ethnic group shall be left behind in building a great modern socialist country in all respects.

He urged full realization of common prosperity and development of all ethnic groups, so as to ensure that people of all ethnic groups can share the glory of building China into a great country and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation..

Embarking on the new journey, China must align its thoughts and actions with the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee. It must firmly forge a stronger sense of the Chinese nation as one single community, unswervingly follow a Chinese approach to ethnic issues, fully implement the Party’s policies on the governance of Xizang in the new era, apply the new development philosophy in full, to the letter and in all fields, and promote ethnic unity and progress on all fronts.

The country must focus on safeguarding national unification and strengthening ethnic unity, focus on improving people’s lives and strengthening unity in socio-economic development, consolidate its achievements in poverty reduction and comprehensively advance rural vitalization, build Xizang into a high ground of ecological progress, and pave a path of high-quality development that suits Xizang’s reality.

It has been proved that without the CPC, there would have been neither New China nor new Xizang, said Xi during an inspection tour in Xizang. The CPC Central Committee’s guidelines and policies concerning Xizang work are completely correct, he added.

Today, Xizang is embracing an unprecedented and extraordinary opportunity for development, as it takes flight towards a brighter future.

Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, guided by the CPC policies on the governance of Xizang in the new era, and with the wholehearted support of the people across the nation, as well as the collective efforts of all ethnic groups in Xizang, the autonomous region will surely open a new and splendid era of long-term peace and stability and high-quality development.

By Jeffrey Greene

Recently, I led a delegation of the Flying Tigers to China to attend an event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the U.S. 14th Air Force’s participation in China’s war of resistance against Japanese aggression. We visited Beijing, Chongqing, Kunming, Liuzhou, and other cities. Among the members of our delegation were Flying Tigers veterans Harry Moyer and Melvin McMullen, as well as relatives and descendants of Flying Tigers veterans. Together, we reviewed the history of the American and Chinese people fighting shoulder by shoulder during the war and encouraged the younger generation to inherit and carry forward the spirit of the Flying Tigers. The spirit of the Flying Tigers is a shared legacy of the American and Chinese people, and we believe that this visit to China will promote greater understanding of the Flying Tigers story and better inheritance of their spirit among the people of both countries, particularly the younger generation, so that the friendship between the two nations will be passed down from generation to generation.

The story of the Flying Tigers is well-known in China. In 1941, General Claire Lee Chennault established the American Volunteer Group, also known as the Flying Tigers, to assist China in its fight against Japanese aggression. My first visit to China in 1995 was related to the Flying Tigers. At that time, a group of Flying Tigers veterans were invited to China to participate in an activity commemorating the 50th anniversary of the victory of Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. I was producing a documentary about the Flying Tigers and had the privilege of accompanying them. During that time, we were considering how to ensure that more people would remember this history and promote the spirit of the Flying Tigers. Eventually, we decided to establish the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, with the aim of deepening Americans’ understanding of this history and encouraging more young people to carry on the spirit of the Flying Tigers.

Since its establishment in 1998, the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation has financed nearly 500 Flying Tigers veterans and hundreds of their relatives to visit China. Over the years, the foundation and the Flying Tigers veterans have been telling the story of the Flying Tigers in the U.S. and China, promoting the understanding of the history and deepening friendship between the young generation of the two countries. Last year, the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation launched the Flying Tigers Friendship Schools and Youth Leadership Program, and facilitated the establishment of a “Flying Tigers Friendship School” relationship between Jack Lund Scofield Middle School in Nevada, U.S. and two middle schools in China. This has created a new platform for passing on the Flying Tigers spirit and enhancing friendship among young people from both countries.

The Flying Tigers symbolizes the mutual assistance between the people of the U.S. and China, and the spirit of the Flying Tigers represents friendship and cooperation. During their operations in China, over 2,000 Flying Tigers members sacrificed their lives, and thousands of Chinese people gave their precious lives when rescuing endangered Flying Tigers pilots. During this trip to China, we saw many monuments and museums in different cities that tell the stories of how our two countries’ military and civilians fought side by side. We were deeply moved. As time goes by, there are now only around 20 surviving Flying Tigers veterans. Therefore, we have invited many veterans’ families and descendants to participate in our programs, allowing them to share the stories of the Flying Tigers and promote the Flying Tigers spirit with the younger generation. They will return to the U.S. with fascinating stories and share their experiences in China with their friends, ensuring the continuous inheritance of friendly exchanges.

Earlier this year, Moyer, McMullen and I wrote a letter to President Xi Jinping, introducing the efforts of the foundation and Flying Tigers veterans in helping promote U.S.-China friendly exchanges, and expressing our willingness to inherit and carry forward the precious spirit of U.S.-China cooperation. We were honored to receive a reply from President Xi Jinping. His reply conveyed to the American people and the people of the world at large that China will never forget old friends. In his reply, President Xi Jinping said that to grow China-U.S. relations, the hope and foundation lie in the people, and its future lies in the youths. I fully agree with this. The youth are of utmost importance in cultural exchanges between the two countries and are the hope for the healthy and stable development of U.S.-China relations. By letting more young people understand the story of the Flying Tigers, the spirit of the Flying Tigers will be passed down, and the younger generations of the U.S. and China will become closer with each other and be envoys of friendship between the two countries.

The U.S.-China relationship holds significant importance for world peace, stability, and development. While facing some challenges at present, both countries can draw inspiration from history. Just as the Flying Tigers went all out to assist the Chinese people during World War II, and the Chinese people fearlessly rescued endangered Flying Tigers members, the American and Chinese people should join hands with mutual trust. We will work together with Flying Tigers veterans, their families, and like-minded partners to tell the story of the Flying Tigers to more young people in both the U.S. and China. We will encourage them to become a new generation of Flying Tigers dedicated to fostering friendly relations between the two peoples, ensuring that the spirit of the Flying Tigers is passed down from generation to generation, and making contributions to the friendship between the two countries.

(Jeffrey Greene is the chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation.)

By Deng Yu

“Dad, it’s the song you always hum!” As my child shouted excitedly, a familiar melody rang in my ears.

On the TV screen, Greek singer Theodora Baka was singing the Greek folk song “The Children of Piraeus.”

“So much I’ve tried, I’ve never found a port to captivate my heart as Piraeus does,” sang Baka.

At that moment, I had a flashback to the memories of the Port of Piraeus.

The song “The Children of Piraeus” was written by Greek composer Manos Hatzidakis. It conveys the optimistic and open-minded attitude of the Greek people. In 1960, it gained worldwide acclaim when Greek actress Melina Mercouri performed it in the film “Never on Sunday,” and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in the same year.

The first time I heard “The Children of Piraeus” was at a reception held by the Chinese Embassy in Greece in 2014. Its catchy and melodious chorus made me hum along. As a newcomer, I quickly memorized the melody.

Facing the Aegean Sea, Greece is the cradle of Western civilization. The ancient Greek culture, like a dazzling star, shines brightly in the long river of human history. Represented by epics, dramas, and philosophy, the classical culture of ancient Greece, nurtured and enriched by the Aegean Sea, has yielded fruitful intellectual achievements and become the source of Western civilization.

However, Greece in the early 21st century was plagued by various problems such as the debt crisis, a high unemployment rate, and a stagnant economy.

In 2010, China’s COSCO Shipping acquired and successfully operated the No.2 and No.3 container terminals of the Piraeus, bringing significant economic and social benefits. It was regarded by the locals as a business model.

In 2016, COSCO Shipping acquired a 67 percent stake in the port authority and officially took over in August.

I was also transferred to work at the Port of Piraeus, and got to see with my own eyes the picturesque scenes depicted in the song “The Children of Piraeus” with the sound of birds chirping and young people joyfully singing and dancing.

However, it was much more challenging to truly integrate into the Port of Piraeus than just learning a song. As a management executive, my first challenge was institutional reform and personnel adjustments.

In October 2016, I was responsible for selecting department leaders for the new structure. Among the interviewees was a woman surnamed Vassiliou, who was then the general manager of the labor department at the Port of Piraeus. She had extensive experience in human resources, and her confidence was evident on her face, making the atmosphere a bit tense at the beginning.

Suddenly, Vassiliou’s phone rang with the ringtone “The Children of Piraeus.” This little incident made her somewhat embarrassed. I smiled and said in English, ” ‘The Children of Piraeus’ is a great song, very touching.” She was surprised that I knew this song.

The song suddenly broke the ice between us, and the conversation flowed easily. Vassiliou said that this song was her favorite, just like the Port of Piraeus, where she had worked for most of her life. She also expressed some disappointment about the changes happening there.

In response to her honesty, I said, “You and my parents are close in age, and I am deeply honored and humbled to meet you. The Chinese company’s acquisition of the Port of Piraeus aims to collaborate with Greek colleagues for mutual benefit, improving the port’s facilities and services, and enhancing its competitiveness in the global market. The Port of Piraeus needs constant renewal, but it will always be the Port of Piraeus in your heart.”

The sincere beginning paves the way for a wonderful ending. After thorough communication, Vassiliou accepted the arrangement and became a department advisor as she wished. She left us with her affirmation and blessings, saying, “You are a management team worth expectation. I hope our cooperation will make the Port of Piraeus better and better.”

One year later, on her retirement day, she specifically came to bid me farewell, saying that she always remembered the little incident during the interview, our honest communication, and the constant renewal of the Port of Piraeus.

Under the management of COSCO Shipping, the container throughput of the Piraeus has increased from 880,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2010 to over 4 million TEUs in 2017, making it the fastest-growing port in container throughput worldwide. This remarkable growth led to a significant improvement in economic benefits and the Port of Piraeus has been highly praised by both the Chinese and Greek governments.

In the pleasant sunshine in June 2017, the Port of Piraeus and Shanghai Port signed a sister port agreement, further strengthening the connectivity between the Piraeus port and Chinese ports. Tassos Vamvakidis, a Greek employee, applauded the moment.

Vamvakidis has been working in shipping since 1973 and has witnessed the rise, fall, and revival of the Port of Piraeus. In an article titled “The Children of Piraeus,” he recounted his observations, feelings, and thoughts during the seven to eight years since he joined the container terminal of the Port of Piraeus managed by COSCO Shipping in 2009.

Vamvakidis once saw the predicament of the port in 2010. He could feel the fundamental change in local people’s attitude when Greeks often give a thumb-up to COSCO Shipping employees with oriental faces.

In his opinion, this change came from the Chinese company’s commitment to transformation while maintaining localization: only six or seven executives were sent from China, while the rest of the managers and employees were all Greeks. This decision quickly provided thousands of new direct job opportunities for the locals and indirectly employed tens of thousands of people.

Through sincere cooperation between employees from both countries, the Port of Piraeus has gradually become a modern, reliable, and highly productive port, gaining an increasingly higher reputation in the industry and effectively supporting the development of the local business community.

Vamvakidis, upon invitation, attended the inaugural Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and took the stage on China Central Television’s show “The Reader.” After reciting his story to the Chinese audience, Vamvakidis sincerely said to the camera, “I am proud to be a member of the COSCO Shipping family. As a ‘Child of Piraeus’ and a shining pearl in the Mediterranean Sea, the Port of Piraeus will continue to create new benefits and hopes for the Greek people, and renew the chapter of friendship, cooperation and development between Greece and China.”

In the summer of 2019, my family and I traveled to Switzerland. While staying at a local hotel, a familiar melody started playing. It was “The Children of Piraeus.”

I couldn’t help but hum along, and noticed the eager gaze of the hotel receptionist. After some talks, I learned that he was a native of Piraeus and had come to Switzerland for work due to employment difficulties back home.

“You’re from China, and do you know a Chinese company called COSCO Shipping? They’re doing great in the Port of Piraeus, and I have friends working there,” he asked me.

I replied that I was actually working for COSCO Shipping in Piraeus, making development plans for the port and promoting the cruise and other industries. I told him that in the future, surrounding tourism facilities such as hotels, duty-free shops, and malls would embrace significant development, and perhaps in a few years, he would return to his hometown and find a job of his choice.

In Greek, Piraeus means “the place over the passage,” and it once withstood frequent invasions from foreign naval forces. Today, the Port of Piraeus is opening its arms to welcome visitors and fully loaded container ships from all directions.

The song “The Children of Piraeus” and the China-Greece cooperation on the Port of Piraeus are reflections of the profound friendship between the two countries. Today, under the Belt and Road Initiative, Piraeus has once again become a shining pearl in the Mediterranean Sea.

“The Children of Piraeus” is a song that symbolizes the Port of Piraeus. Most importantly, it is a witness to the exchange, mutual learning, and win-win cooperation between China and Greece.