CMG hosts dialogue in Colombia on opportunities from China's high-quality development

China Media Group (CMG) held a dialogue on Friday in Bogota, the capital of Colombia, bringing together political, business, academic, and media representatives to explore the opportunities that China's high-quality development presents for the world, particularly for developing countries.

The event was part of CMG's "China in Spring Time: Sharing Opportunities with the World" Global Dialogue series and gathered about 150 representatives from both China and Colombia for in-depth exchanges.

Speaking via video link, CMG President Shen Haixiong noted that China's annual "two sessions" showcased the country's vitality in a new era. The two sessions refer to the annual meetings of China's national legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), and the top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

At this year's "two sessions," Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to steadily expand institutional opening-up and continuously broaden space for international cooperation, Shen said. He added that China will continue to open even wider to the world.

Chinese Ambassador to Colombia, Zhu Jingyang, said the recently concluded "two sessions" attracted global attention. He emphasized that China will remain committed to high-quality development and high-level opening-up, providing fresh momentum for the recovery and growth of the global economy.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Colombia, as well as the 10th anniversary of the official operation of the China-CELAC Forum, said Zhu.

He added that China and Colombia should seize this opportunity and uphold the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation to build a better future for their relations and usher in a new chapter in the China-Latin America community with a shared future.

"More than expectations, we have come to reaffirm the national government's willingness to strengthen this strategic relationship between the two nations. Clearly, it is focused on trade, and on readjusting trade conditions, so to speak, in accordance with the existing agreement," said Cielo Rusinque, current Superintendent of Colombia's Superintendency of Industry and Commerce.

Guillermo Puyana, President of the Colombia-China Friendship Association, said the world seeks to understand China's modernization path through the information released during the "two sessions."

He added that Colombia has admired China's development philosophy and achievements since the two countries established diplomatic relations 45 years ago, and that China's commitment to peaceful development holds great significance for Colombia and other Latin American nations.

"The important investments from China in technology and infrastructure, as well as the strategic relationship and economic benefits that the Chinese development model brings to countries like Colombia, [hold very important significance]," said Puyana.

Colombian youth representative Julio Andres Saavedra said that with China's assistance, the construction of Bogota Metro Line 1 is in full swing, helping Colombia realize its dream of building a metro system on the plateau.

Guests attending the dialogue also viewed the international promotional video for China's blockbuster animated film "Ne Zha 2".

Many local mainstream media outlets in Colombia, such as the Colombian National Television and El Tiempo, reported on the dialogue.

CMG hosts dialogue in Colombia on opportunities from China's high-quality development

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's political stunts both at home and abroad cannot whitewash Japan's World War II (WWII) aggression, but instead expose the schemes of the country's far-right forces to incite bloc confrontation and promote remilitarization, says a China Media Group commentary published on Sunday.

An edited English version of the commentary is as follows:

In recent days, Takaichi has faced fierce criticism both domestically and internationally.

Her political stunt of kneeling in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier to lay flowers at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra during her visit to Australia further exposed her multiple political calculations to the international community.

Choosing to kneel in front of a tomb in Australia, Takaichi was not regretting for Japan's aggression and atrocities during World War II.

This act not only reveals the distorted world outlook of Japanese politicians, but also exposes their attempts to mislead public opinion, whitewash the crimes of WWII aggression, instigate bloc confrontation, and push for military buildup.

From "fawning diplomacy" during her U.S. visit in March to the recent kneeling show during her visit to Australia in May, Takaichi has been trying to cultivate a friendly image towards the West.

Geopolitically speaking, Japan's far-right forces are trying to expand their military and breach from the restraints of the pacifist constitution by exaggerating external threats. To this end, they are making every effort to exploit geopolitical conflicts and draw neighboring countries, especially Western countries, into bloc confrontation.

Since the end of WWII, Japanese leaders have never apologized to the people of victim countries such as China, the Republic of Korea, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Many Japanese politicians have even tried every means to justify the war crimes.

In particular, Takaichi has questioned the 1995 Murayama Statement, denied the Nanjing Massacre, visited the notorious Yasukuni Shrine annually for many consecutive years, and revived military rank titles during WWII, such as "taisa."

On the issue of Japan's history of aggression, Takaichi's insidious move cannot deceive the world.

Takaichi's political stunts both at home and abroad are a provocation against WWII victim countries in Asia and other regions.

This cannot conceal Japan's remilitarization attempt or the reality that " neo-militarism" is spreading and becoming a threat.

All countries that have suffered from Japanese militarist aggression should remain highly vigilant and united, and work together to safeguard the outcomes of WWII victory, so that historical tragedies never repeat themselves.

Takaichi's political stunts cannot whitewash Japan's history of aggression, remilitarization attempt: commentary