Chinese embassies, diplomatic missions hold receptions for China's National Day

Chinese embassies and diplomatic missions all around the world have been holding a series of activities and high-level receptions to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which landed on Wednesday.

The Chinese Mission to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) hosted a reception in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Tuesday, one day ahead of China's National Day.

In a speech at the event, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn pointed to how China's development achievements in recent decades have inspired other countries and said the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), which was recently proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, also sets out a clear vision to the world of the need to work together.

"The step China has taken since 1949 has reshaped not only its own destiny, but also that of the region and the world at large. At this period, President Xi Jinping's Global Governance Initiative (GGI) offers a valuable reminder of the importance of shared responsibility, inclusivity and cooperation. These principles resonate closely with ASEAN's own vision for a peaceful and sustainable regional order," said Kao.

Over ten heads and representatives of international organizations and people from all walks of life attended a National Day reception hosted by the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and the Permanent Mission of China to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland last Thursday.

"Congratulations on your anniversary, and just the amazing growth we are seeing in China, and as they increase their influence around the world, and their recognition that humanitarian aid around the world, especially with the help of China will make a great difference," said Kate Forbes, president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV).

Nearly 700 people from various sectors of society in Laos attended a National Day reception which was recently hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Laos. The guests highly praised the development achievements of the People's Republic of China and the positive outcomes brought by the friendly cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

"I would like to extend my congratulations and appreciation to the Communist Party of China, the Chinese government and the Chinese people for the achievements made in national construction and development over the past 70-plus years," said Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith.

Meanwhile, at a National Day reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, attendees noted that China's development experience has set an example for the rest of the world to follow.

"I've actually reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment on behalf of the President of Nigeria on our acceptance and our concurrence of the GGI. Our cooperation, which is now a comprehensive strategic partnership relationship, is extremely important to us," said Joseph Tegbe, Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), an organization committed to boosting bilateral ties.

On Monday, U.S. representatives who attended a National Day reception held by the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., complimented China's development achievements and say they look forward to the stable development of China-U.S. relations.

"Where you are today in comparison of where you began is just absolutely fabulous. There is no example in human history of a nation advancing so rapidly," said William Jones, former Washington bureau chief of the Executive Intelligence Review, a weekly U.S. news magazine.

Chinese embassies, diplomatic missions hold receptions for China's National Day

The Japanese government's move to lift the ban on lethal weapon exports has sparked strong opposition among citizens, who denounce it as a shameful attempt to make money at the cost of harming innocent people abroad.

On April 21, the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi officially revised the "three principles on transfer of defense equipment and technology" and their implementation guidelines, scrapping restrictions that had limited Japan's defense equipment exports to five noncombat categories. The revision allows, in principle, overseas sales of weapons, including those with lethal capabilities.

The change has drawn strong concern and protest in Japan.

A poll released by Kyodo News on Sunday showed that 57.2 percent of respondents rejected allowing exports of lethal weapons, while 37.1 percent were in favor.

Another poll conducted by public broadcaster NHK from May 8 to 10 found that 52 percent of respondents opposed the government's move to open the door to lethal arms exports, compared with 35 percent who expressed support.

Masayasu Kai, chair of the Citizens' Movement Committee at Japan's New Socialist Party, voiced his concern in an interview on Monday with CCTV.

"The Japanese government is trying to make money off weapons, and it's a truly disgraceful way to go about it. This so-called exporting of weapons and profiting from the arms industry clearly means that lives will inevitably be lost. This should never be tolerated," Kai said.

"Even if Japan is not directly involved in a war, these weapons could be sent overseas and used to harm people in other countries. Many people don't even fully realize what's happening. The current situation is far from normal," said one demonstrator.

The Takaichi administration has also been pushing for the first-ever change to the Constitution. The postwar supreme law, which took effect in 1947, is often referred to as the pacifist Constitution because its Article 9 renounces war as a sovereign right and prohibits Japan from possessing "war potential".

Japanese citizens have warned that altering the pacifist Constitution would lead the country down a dangerous path.

"Japan is clearly moving toward military expansion, and that in itself goes against the fundamental stance of the Constitution. Some people are even talking about 'revising the Constitution.' We are firmly against that. We demand that the Constitution be protected. It must not be broken for the sake of starting a war," said another resident in Tokyo.

Japanese residents voice opposition to lethal arms exports