Chinese embassies host receptions to mark 76th anniversary of founding of PRC

Chinese embassies around the world have been hosting receptions to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China(PRC) on Oct 1.

The Chinese Embassy in Ghana hosted a reception last week in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, to celebrate the anniversary and the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-Ghana diplomatic relations.

Approximately 1,200 guests attended the event, including local political dignitaries and representatives of Chinese-funded enterprises in Ghana.

"We acknowledge the initiatives from China and how they align with our commitment and we also acknowledge the ways in which we can [moving] forward the relationship even more," said Ghanaian Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang addressing the event.

The Chinese Embassy in Liberia hosted an anniversary reception in the capital Monrovia earlier in September, gathering over 400 distinguished guests including Liberian President Joseph Boakai.

"Liberia and China have enjoyed an long out-standing friendship since the establishment of the diplomatic relations on February 17, 1977. Over the years, our partnership has brought tangible benefits to our people through collaboration, the [development of] infrastructure, health, education and many other vital services," said Boakai.

More than 500 guests including Natalia Kiselova, Speaker of the National Assembly of Bulgaria and Tsoncho Ganev, the Deputy Speaker, participated in a National Day reception hosted last week by the Chinese Embassy in the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

At the reception, the inaugural China-Bulgaria cultural exchange contribution award was also presented.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who support and contribute to Bulgarian-Chinese relations. I wish you health and prosperity and I hope for peace and mutual progress between our two friendly nations. May the friendship between China and Bulgaria last forever," said Kiselova in her address.

The Chinese Embassy in Mongolia hosted a National Day reception and an exhibition of Chinese high-tech products, with nearly 400 guests in attendance, including senior officials from Mongolia's political parties, the government and the military.

Benjamin Dousa, Sweden's Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, was among more than 800 guests at the anniversary reception at the Chinese Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.

In Spain, Yolanda Diaz, Second Deputy Prime Minister of Spain, and Alfonso Rodriguez Gomez de Celis, First Vice President of the Spanish Congress of Deputies, were among the more than 1,000 guests at the Chine Embassy reception in the capital Madrid. Attendees also toured an exhibition on China's development and intangible cultural heritage.

"The cooperation between China and Spain has resulted in mutual trust, economic, educational and cultural exchanges, and an ever-deeper understanding between our societies," said Diaz.

The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar organized a reception, where guests viewed a photo exhibition on China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and watched a video presentation highlighting China's development.

Chinese embassies host receptions to mark 76th anniversary of founding of PRC

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