A delegation of foreign journalists visited China's Yangtze River Economic Belt from Wednesday to Friday to witness how the country pursues a development paradigm that balances economic growth with environmental protection.
Over 40 reporters from more than 20 countries and regions including the U.S., the UK, Germany, Japan, Indonesia and Iraq toured several key cities along the Belt at the invitation of the State Council Information Office to gain first-hand materials about the Belt's achievements made in innovation-driven, sustainable development from multiple angles.
The tour featured visits to the Three Gorges Dam's twin-line 5-tier ship lock system, an experiential demonstration of water-level adjustment at the Gezhouba Dam, and test rides on autonomous buses and the cutting-edge "Optics Valley Photon" suspended rail system in Wuhan's tech hub.
"I've read about the Three Gorges Dam, and have never seen it, so it's cool. It put a lot more focus on environment, and not just focus on economic growth rates. So look, a lot of people would agree that on environmental policy, in the current era of Chinese politics, there is much more emphasis on that," said Will Glasgow, journalist from The Australian.
Through visit to enterprises and dialogues with local officials, the journalists have gained an understanding of Hubei's integrated approaches to green industrial transformation, including smart transportation solutions and low-carbon logistics management systems.
At Yangluo Port in Wuhan, the journalists had been briefed on the multi-modal connectivity between China-Europe freight trains and Yangtze River shipping networks -- a testament to Hubei's growing role as a domestic-international dual circulation hub.
The Hubei tour is the final leg of this year's first "foreign media perspectives on China" event organized by the State Council Information Office.
Foreign journalists witness China's dual push for economic growth and environmental protection
Foreign journalists witness China's dual push for economic growth and environmental protection
The statement of U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted the urgency for reforming global governance, according to a poll from China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Friday.
"I don't need international law," said Trump during an with The New York Times this week, days after the U.S. attack on Venezuela and the forcible seizure of President Nicolas Maduro. This statement perfectly captures Washington's unilateral and hegemonic trajectory. The New York Times observed that Trump's assessment of his own freedom to use any instrument of military, economic or political power to cement American supremacy was the most blunt acknowledgment yet of his world-view.
In a global public opinion poll conducted by CGTN, 93.5 percent of respondents expressed belief that the U.S., by pursuing unilateralism, has placed itself in opposition to the international community. Also, 91.7 percent think that reforming the global governance system is an urgent priority.
On Wednesday the U.S. announced its withdrawal from 66 international organizations, setting a new record for its retreat from multilateral commitments. These organizations span climate, energy, and global governance, among other fields. Trump argues that their operations run counter to U.S. national interests, sovereignty, and economic prosperity.
In response, 84.1 percent of respondents were not surprised by the U.S. move. Meanwhile, 88.9 percent viewed it as another radical step under the "America First" doctrine. In addition, 93 percent believed the U.S. approach of using international systems when beneficial and abandoning them when not severely undermines the existing international order and global fairness and justice. Also, 88.3 percent noted that the U.S. withdrawals once again expose it as an irresponsible major power, dealing a significant blow to its international reputation. Furthermore, 88.5 percent believe the U.S. withdrawals reflect its negative attitude toward global governance.
The recent episode of unilateral and bullying actions by the U.S. government has sparked widespread alarm and discontent within the international community. Washington's adherence to the law of the jungle where "might is right" is severely undermining the global governance system. In the poll, 89.9 percent of respondents agreed that multilateralism, based on coordination and cooperation, remains key to addressing current global governance challenges. Meanwhile, 94.4 percent believe it is crucial to advance the reform of the global governance system, uphold international rule of law, and enhance the effectiveness of multilateral mechanisms. Moreover, 90 percent think major powers should shoulder greater responsibility and play a more constructive role in promoting global governance reform.
The poll was conducted across CGTN platforms in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian languages, attracting 24,000 responses within 24 hours.
Trump says 'I don't need international law,' highlighting urgency for reforming global governance: CGTN poll
