Chinese vice president attends opening ceremony of Int'l Horticultural Exhibition 2024 Chengdu

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Friday attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the International Horticultural Exhibition 2024 Chengdu in Sichuan Province, southwestern China.

China is ready to work with all other countries to build a better homeland and a community with a shared future for mankind, Han said, adding that the latter had received positive responses from countries around the world.

He pointed out that the Chinese government has relentlessly promoted green development, contributing about a quarter to the increased afforestation areas worldwide, and made positive contributions to the sustainable development of mankind.

The world today still faces global environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity protection, and there is a long way to go to achieve the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, Han said, calling for joint efforts from all parties to promote the modernization of harmony between man and nature.

Countries across the global should regard the ecological environment as the foundation of human survival and development, respect nature, follow nature's ways, and protect nature, Han said.

He also called on all parties to uphold the concepts of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits in global governance, jointly improve the environmental governance system, and explore and develop solutions for sustainable development.

As the largest developing country in the world, China will actively shoulder international responsibilities commensurate with its level of development and capabilities, strengthen dialogue with other parties on ecological progress, and carry out extensive cooperation on biodiversity, climate change and other fields, Han said.

With the theme of "Park City, Beautiful Habitat", the opening ceremony was attended by about 1,000 representatives from 54 countries and regions.

Before the opening ceremony, Han toured the expo site and posed for group photo with important guests from both China and abroad.

Chinese vice president attends opening ceremony of Int'l Horticultural Exhibition 2024 Chengdu

Chinese vice president attends opening ceremony of Int'l Horticultural Exhibition 2024 Chengdu

Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined China's principled position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Ukraine crisis when he jointly met the press with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday.

The prolonged tragedy of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a test for human conscience, and the international community must act, Xi said.

"We call on all parties to work for an immediate, comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza. China supports the full membership of Palestine in the United Nations, and supports restoring to Palestine its legitimate national rights and restarting the two-State solution, so as to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East," said Xi.

Xi stressed that China has stated its position on the Ukraine crisis on many occasions.

"China did not start the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party to or a participant in it. Instead of being an onlooker, China has been playing an important role for peace. The special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs is on his third round of shuttle diplomacy," said Xi.

At the same time, China opposes attempts to use the Ukraine crisis to scapegoat or smear a third country or to stoke a "new Cold War," he said.

"History has proven time and again that at the end of the day, conflicts can only be resolved through negotiation. We call on all parties to resume engagement and dialogue to build mutual trust. China supports holding at a proper time an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and ensures the equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans. China supports a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture in Europe," said Xi.

Xi arrived in Paris on Sunday for a state visit to France at the invitation of President Macron.

This is the second state visit by China's head of state to France in five years and coincides with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

Xi elaborates on China's position on Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Ukraine crisis