CUSEF Blog

Qin Gang on China’s foreign policy

• Qin Gang held his first annual press conference (Zh/En) as China’s Foreign Minister in the morning. Qin said humanity had “come to a new crossroads,” warning that “containment and suppression will not make America great and will not stop the rejuvenation of China.” On the “Chinese-style modernization process,” Qin said it is “the growth of world peace, justice and progress,” adding that “every country has the right to choose its own path.”

Chinese leaders visit CPPCC meetings

• President Xi Jinping (Zh/abridged En) and other senior Chinese leaders (Zh/En) attended the group discussions of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) yesterday.

• At the discussions of the China National Democratic Construction Association (中国民主建国会) and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (工商联界), Xi said, “western countries—led by the U.S.—have implemented all-round containment, encirclement and suppression against us, bringing unprecedentedly severe challenges to our country’s development” (尤其是以美国为首的西方国家对我实施了全方位的遏制、围堵、打压，给我国发展带来前所未有的严峻挑战). The remarks were seen as “an unusually blunt rebuke of U.S. policy.” Wang Huning, Cai Qi, and Ding Xuexiang also participated in the discussion.

• Here are the CPPCC discussions joined by other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee:
  • Li Qiang joined a meeting of members from the economic sector.
  • Zhao Leji attended a meeting of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (中国国民党革命委员会), the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (台湾民主自治同盟), and the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots (中华全国台湾同胞联谊会).
  • Wang Huning joined the discussions with the advisors from the Communist Party of China (CPC).
  • Cai Qi participated in a meeting of the China Association for Science and Technology (中国科学技术协会) and the sector of science and technology
  • Ding Xuexiang attended a meeting of members from the environment and resource sector.
  • Li Xi joined a meeting of the China Association for Promoting Democracy (中国民主促进会) and the sector of press and publication.

China on technology decoupling

• When asked about the U.S.’s effort to prevent China from accessing advanced chips, Chinese Foreign Minister Spokesperson Mao Ning said yesterday that “there is nothing wrong with wanting to be in the lead on the high-tech front, but the right way to achieve it is through fair competition.” She also emphasized that “curbs and bans will not stop China’s development, but will only strengthen China’s resolve and capability to seek self-reliance and technological innovation.”

China adds 1,034 stocks to Hong Kong-Shanghai-Shenzhen trading programs

• China will add 436 Shenzhen stocks and 598 Shanghai stocks to the stock connect programs with Hong Kong. The additional stocks make up almost 40% of the 3,623 A-shares that international investors can buy from March 13. The mainland and Hong Kong securities regulators agreed in December on the expansion, which is a boost for the Chinese stock markets.