ASEAN-China Week 2024 opens, fostering more in-depth cooperation, innovation

The ASEAN-China Week (ACW) 2024 opened in Changzhi City of north China's Shanxi Province on Monday, marking the start of an important event within the framework of the 2024 ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

Co-hosted by the ASEAN-China Center (ACC) and Shanxi Province, the ACW, themed "Achieving Prosperity through Innovation," brought together senior government officials, diplomatic envoys, and representatives from all walks of life from ASEAN member states and China. At the opening ceremony, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as "invigorating a quality growth with new force" and "interacting through mutual learning towards harmony," generating valuable insights and recommendations for building an even closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

"China-ASEAN relations are at their best stage in history. We would like to avail ourselves of this occasion as an opportunity to advance pragmatic cooperation with ASEAN, especially in economic and trade sectors, with new quality productive forces as the basis. Additionally, we look forward to deeper and more comprehensive people-to-people exchanges between the two sides, laying a more solid foundation for long-term friendship between China and ASEAN," said Shi Zhongjun, secretary-general of the ACC, said in an interview with China Central Television on the sideline of the event.

Since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between them in 2021, China and ASEAN have witnessed fruitful results in various areas. The two sides have been each other's largest trading partners for four consecutive years. Connectivity between China and ASEAN has deepened, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) has come into full effect, benefiting more than two billion people.

"As we look toward a future filled with more challenges and opportunity, the significance of our comprehensive strategic partnership cannot be overstated. The ASEAN-China relationship has evolved from strength to strength, reflecting our shared commitment to peace, stability and sustainable development in the region," said Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information of Cambodia, in addressing the opening ceremony.

It is noteworthy that new drivers of cooperation between China and ASEAN have emerged, particularly in clean energy projects. Also addressing the opening ceremony, Nararya S. Soeprapto, deputy secretary-general of ASEAN, said that he looks forward to more cooperation between the two sides in emerging areas such as joint research and development and the digital economy.

"As we face the challenge of the 21st century, cultivating an innovating environment is paramount. By collaborating on research and development, we can also address critical global issues such as climate change, healthcare and food security. China's technological expertise combined with ASEAN's entrepreneurial dynamism can reshape our region's economic future," said Nararya.

ASEAN-China Week 2024 opens, fostering more in-depth cooperation, innovation

The targeting of Lebanese citizens in simultaneous pager explosions in the Arab state has provoked rapid and widespread international condemnation and marked an extremely concerning escalation in the Middle East.

At least nine people were killed, and over 2,800 others, including Hezbollah members, were wounded on Tuesday in different areas of Lebanon as their pagers exploded, said Hezbollah officials.

Elnashra news website reported that the son of Hezbollah parliamentarian Ali Ammar was among those killed, and Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon Mojtaba Amani was among the injured.

Israeli military targeted the batteries of these pagers, leading to their explosions, said the report, adding the injured were being transferred to hospitals.

In a statement, Hezbollah said it is conducting security and scientific investigations to identify the reasons behind these explosions, adding that the group is "at the highest level of readiness to defend Lebanon and its people."

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said they deeply regretted any civilian deaths. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the current UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, expressed in a statement that the attack "marked an extremely concerning escalation" in the conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday strongly condemned the "terrorist action by Israel," and expressed solidarity and extended condolences to Lebanon, voicing Iran's readiness to provide assistance to treat the injured or transfer them to Tehran.

On the same day, Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also noted the country's readiness to provide any necessary medical assistance to the Lebanese and emphasized the urgent need for de-escalation in the Middle East.

In addition, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reiterated his warning of the potential for escalating regional conflict into a full-scale regional war in the Middle East.

During a press briefing at the State Department on Tuesday, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the U.S was not involved in the incidents and did not know who was responsible. He also stressed that civilians must never be the target of military operations.

On Wednesday, Hezbollah once again issued a statement regarding the pager explosions that occurred on the Sept 17, extending condolences to the victims and their families. According to the statement, Hezbollah pledged to retaliate against Israel and planned to launch military operations on Israeli targets as usual on the Sept 18.

Deadly pager blasts in Lebanon provoke widespread condemnation