China will produce more technological breakthroughs to overcome any blockades, and innovate its way out of any external suppression, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, listed the many achievements China has made on the way to becoming a global sci-tech powerhouse.
"Recently, China's scientific and technological innovation has continuously exceeded people's imagination. From breakthroughs in atomic bombs, intercontinental ballistic missiles and satellites, to the Shenzhou crewed space missions and the Chang'e lunar probes, and to 5G, quantum computing and DeepSeek, generations of Chinese people have never stopped striving, making China's path to becoming a science and technology powerhouse grow ever wider," he said.
"Of course, it's not all smooth sailing. Be it in space science or chip making, unjustified external suppression on China has never stopped. But where there is blockade, there is breakthrough; where there is suppression, there is innovation. The most violent storm is precisely the stage where [Chinese mythological hero] 'Ne Zha' makes his way to the sky," Wang continued.
He also stressed that any attempt to suppress the spirit of innovation will fail, while efforts to decouple and disrupt supply chains will only lead to self-isolation.
"As an old Chinese saying goes, 'no mountains can stop the surging flow of a mighty river.' In the same way, 'high fences and small yards' cannot suppress the spirit of innovation, and decoupling and supply chains disruption will only lead to self-isolation. Science and technology should not be used to put up an iron curtain, but should instead be the wealth that benefits all and is shared by all," he said.
Wang added that China has deepened international science and technology cooperation and stands ready to work with more countries to advance sci-tech innovation.
"To promote the common development of mankind, China is earnestly implementing the Global AI Governance Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping, and proposed the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All. China, alongside Brazil, South Africa and the African Union, launched an Initiative on International Cooperation in Open Science, calling for priority to be given to scientific and technological capacity building in the Global South, so that no country is left behind. We are willing to share the fruits of innovation with more countries and jointly explore the mysteries of the stars and oceans with every nation," he said.
China's sci-tech innovations cannot be suppressed: FM
China's sci-tech innovations cannot be suppressed: FM
Palestinians are pinning their hopes on the newly-formed National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NGAC), believing the body can play a key role in alleviating the suffering and improving the living conditions of people across the Gaza Strip amid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
The Palestinian technocratic committee was formed on Jan. 16 to temporarily administer the post-war Gaza Strip, with a Palestinian source saying on Sunday that members of the committee are now preparing to enter the enclave to begin their work.
Hamas has previously reaffirmed its readiness to hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to the committee and to facilitate its mission, while the Palestinian presidency also announced its support for the body, emphasizing the importance of linking institutions in the West Bank and Gaza and rejecting the establishment of parallel administrative, legal, or security systems that could deepen division.
Residents in the Gaza Strip expect the committee will have the capacity to help rebuild the devastated enclave, despite the enormous challenges brought by the brutal war between Israel and Hamas which has left more than two million Palestinians in a desperately precarious situation.
"It is not the best of options, but it is the only option left for the Palestinian people. There are two aspects: the humanitarian aspect and the political aspect. The technocratic committee has nothing to do with the issue of self-determination or political rights, which is, in fact, a very serious issue, as Palestinians may wake up in the future to find themselves reduced to a mere humanitarian and reconstruction issue. However, under the current reality, and given the social and living conditions of some two million people in the Gaza Strip, neither the right to self-determination nor the international community nor the new world order cares about their daily reality. What matters to people is finding treatment and medicine, and spending the night in a tent that is not flooded and where their children do not freeze from the cold," said Thabet Al-Amour, a political analyst specializing in Palestinian affairs.
Despite these challenges, many Gazans say the committee offers a glimmer of hope which can map out a more stable future.
"We support Palestinian consensus wherever it may be, and we seek to establish this committee as a fundamental body because it is the only body that represents us as the Palestinian people and feels the pain of residents who have been crushed by war. We need it, at least as a first step, to prove to the world that Palestinians are capable of managing their own affairs, paving the way for reconstruction, a complete end to the war, and the withdrawal of the [Israeli] occupation," said Mohammed Al-Ahmad, a resident in Gaza.
Many outlined what they see as the key priorities for the committee, and believe it must act immediately to help ease the day-to-day suffering in the Gaza Strip.
"The greatest thing it can offer is to the exhausted and destitute people. We need electricity, water, solar energy, and we need real homes instead of tents that have no electricity or any of the essentials of life," said Fayez Abu Jazar, another Palestinian resident.
"We look to it with hope; hope for the lifting of injustice and alleviation of our suffering. We Palestinians need relief, travel, reconstruction, and the restoration of our rights; in short, we need everything," said Tamer Qishta, a Palestinian journalist in the region.
While the formation of the committee paves the way for the start of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, Palestinian sources reported that three Palestinians were killed on Sunday by Israeli army fire in the Gaza Strip, while four others were wounded in a drone attack.
Gaza-based health authorities said the death toll since the ceasefire came into effect last October has now risen to 484, with over 1,300 wounded. This brings the total number of fatalities since the conflict erupted in October 2023 to 71,657.
Gaza residents pin hopes on newly-formed committee to improve dire conditions
