The European Union should play its unique role in Israel-Iran conflict in Middle East peace efforts and reduce dependence on the United States, said a scholar from a Brussels-based think tank while commenting on the intensifying Israel-Iran conflict.
As the division between the EU and the U.S. has been exposed amid the escalating Israel-Iran hostilities, European experts have argued that the European side should reflect on its the reliance on the United States in terms of the security issue.
Sven Biscop, director of the Europe in the World program at Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations, said that European countries must develop autonomous military capabilities.
"In my view, that means that all the European forces of NATO together should be able to operate, if necessary, without American help, no longer being shown the dependence on the United States. And also we will have to act very urgently, whereas it would have been wiser to start to rebuild our forces a few years earlier," Biscop said.
Biscop said the EU should take an active part in the Middle East and the Gulf to guard against spillover effects from the region and push for an agreement among all parties concerned.
"Unfortunately Europe, for the moment, has little influence in the Middle East and the Gulf. We must play a more active role again in the Middle East and the Gulf, because it's in our neighborhood. And if things go wrong, the early spillover effects will hit us first. So I think in the past, we have not paid enough attention to the region, and this is something to be corrected. I think we should make our position clear that what we want is a balanced regional agreement, a consensus between all the key players. From the European point of view, we don't have to choose sides in this, we just need all the parties to come to an agreement," he said.
The conflict enters the seventh consecutive day on Thursday. Israel carried out fresh waves of airstrikes in Iran on Wednesday, with the Israeli military saying it was targeting nuclear-related facilities and weapons sites.
Overnight, Iran launched two missile barrages at Israel, triggering air raid sirens across the country and sending millions to shelters. Security officials said several missiles were intercepted, while others sparked fires. There were no reports of casualties, according to emergency services.
The current hostilities began with Israeli airstrikes on Iran on June 13. Nearly 600 people have been killed in Iran and 24 in Israel since the aerial conflict erupted, according to official figures.
EU needs greater independence on Iran-Israel conflict: scholar
The 140th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, entered its third day on Saturday, with a wave of AI-powered products making their debuts and injecting fresh momentum into China's export growth.
The event opened to visitors in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province on Thursday, and will be held in three phases through Nov 4.
The latest edition of the fair is showcasing 235,000 AI products, while more than 20,000 exhibitors have adopted different kinds of new technologies. Booths featuring the latest AI products have been drawing crowds, with visitors waiting in long queues to try out the exhibits.
"[The Canton Fair] really gets more popular every year. By around 9:30, people were already queuing in two lines. Some buyers did not want to wait to try the products, so they just bought them on the spot," said exhibitor Liang Linchao.
"The enthusiasm of Canton Fair [buyers] has exceeded my expectations. About one-third of customers want to take one home immediately after the fair ends. That gives us great confidence to explore and expand our overseas markets," said another exhibitor Cui Wei.
Beyond creating business opportunities, products showcased at the Canton Fair can also make a difference in the lives of people in need.
Max Young, who was visiting the Canton Fair for the third time, brought his mother along this time. The mother and son had expected to simply soak up the bustling atmosphere, but an exoskeleton robotic device they came across brought them an unexpected surprise.
His mother, who has had difficulty walking since suffering a stroke, was able to stand up and walk with the help of the device.
"It just keeps my legs going. It's good. Yes, it's good," said his mother, Suzanne Elliott, almost bursting into tears.
"Last year she had a stroke, so the left-hand side of her body is a little bit weaker. About one year ago she couldn't walk or stand up at all. We tried this one today. It seems very good. I think it would help her to get better," said Young.
At the 140th Canton Fair, many exhibitors are accelerating the rollout of research achievements into real application scenarios, turning technological strengths into market advantages and making the fair a major showcase for technological innovation.
"Extremely impressive. Just everything about the efficiency and just how vast and large everything is. We saw a lot of production now is gone to robotics production, AI technology, less humans, really advanced and precise, a lot of precision manufacturing. I think innovation is starting here now. I think now the initiation is here, the R and D is here, and the creativity is coming from China. Very, very impressed," said Canadian buyer Yehuda Klein.
Serving as a barometer and wind vane of China's foreign trade, this year's fair, marking its 70th anniversary, features innovation, intelligence, greater specialization and higher quality.
The Canton Fair is one of the world's few one-stop trade platforms offering a complete range of products with convenience and efficiency, while bringing together the latest products and technologies.
AI products take center stage at 140th Canton Fair, showcasing innovation, offering real-world benefits
AI products take center stage at 140th Canton Fair, showcasing innovation, offering real-world benefits
