IN BRIEF
By Avishka Ashok and Arshiya Banu

INTERNAL 
Hong Kong: President Xi addresses the city on 25th handover anniversary 
On 1 July, President Xi Jinping addressed the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China and validated the country’s actions and rule in the former British colony. President Xi congratulated the city and the country on the occasion and officially welcomed the new Chief Executive of the HKSAR John Lee and the members of the Executive council while appreciating the “one country, two systems” in the city. Xi said: “Hong Kong's return to the motherland marked the beginning of a new era for the region. Over the past 25 years, with the full support of the country and the joint efforts of the HKSAR government and people from all walks of life in Hong Kong, the success of "one country, two systems" has won recognition throughout the world.”

Xi appreciated China’s monumental reform and opening-up efforts which according to the President helped in bridging the gap between China and the former British colony. Xi also valued Hong Kong’s economic capabilities and its contributions to the rapid and stable economic growth of China. Xi stressed on the efforts taken by the central government in strengthening the cooperation and exchanges between Hong Kong and the rest of China.

Xi admired the city’s resilience against local and global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the global financial crisis, social unrest, and many more and noted the continuous progress and achievements as an international financial hub and a shipping and trading centre. Xi said: “Hong Kong has remained one of the most liberal and open economies in the world, it has also maintained a world-class business environment, its previous laws including the practice of the common law have been maintained and developed, various social programs have made all-around progress, and overall social stability has been ensured.”

On human rights, Xi said that the authorities had ensured the protection of the people’s status as the “masters of the region” while administering a high level of autonomy in the city. He also addressed the implementation of the National Security Law in the city and the modification of the electoral system in Hong Kong and said that HKSAR must be administered by patriots. 

The President further stressed on the “One country, two systems” principle followed by China in the region and said “All that the central government has done are for the benefits of Hong Kong and Macao, for the well-being of all residents of the two regions, and for the future of the whole country.” Xi revisited his speech celebrating 20 years of Hong Kong’s handover and stressed on two key points: the central government’s dedication towards implementing the principle and its implementation in its pure and original form. 

On the occasion, Xi underscored four practices in China’s mission of integrating Hong Kong with the mainland. First, implementing the “one country, two systems” principle and protecting national security and sovereignty in the region. Second, upholding the central government’s jurisdiction while allowing the SAR’s autonomous status. Third, ensuring the city is being ruled by patriots and not anti-China individuals. Fourth, maintaining the city’s status and beneficial features while also preserving the Chinese sentiments. 

Xi stressed on the next five years as the most important in the process of integrating the city with the rest of the country. He urged the people of the city to improve its governance, continue the journey towards growth, address people’s concerns and difficulties, and work towards safeguarding harmony and stability in the city. (“Full text of Xi Jinping's address at the meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,” Xinhua Net, 02 July 2022)

Aviation industry: Four Chinese airlines to buy 292 planes from Airbus
On 01 July, four Chinese airlines announced that they will purchase 292 planes from Airbus, bringing the aviation giant a windfall of USD 37 billion as the market recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. The orders follow a bumper year for Airbus, which in 2021, following a two-year economic decline, generated record earnings, giving the business an edge over US rival Boeing. China Southern confirmed on the same day that it would buy 96 of the same models, while China Eastern stated on Friday that it had decided to buy 100 A320neo planes. (“Chinese airlines, including Air China, buy almost 300 planes from Airbus,” The Strait Times, 02 July 2022)

INTERNATIONAL
New Zealand: President of the NZ-China Friendship Society praises the CPC and China for protecting its citizens 
On 1 July, Xinhua Net reported on the interview with the President of the New Zealand China Friendship Society (NZCFS) Dave Bromwich and his take on the Communist Party of China’s relationship with the people of the country. Dave described the relationship as a service and said: “The government is the people. The people are the government. It is a mutual relationship. If using one word to describe my feeling about the CPC and the government of China, I very quickly came up with one word and I haven't been able to replace it, and the word is service. Why service? Because China has developed so fast and taken all of its population with it.” He referred to food security. Adequate housing and the right to education as the basic human rights of the people and said that the country had done an amazing job in providing the basic necessities to its people. Bromwich also highlighted education of the younger generation, sustainable business relations and promoting the Chinese perspective instead of the narrative by the West as the key points in building relations with China. (“Interview: "Service" best describes CPC, says president of New Zealand China Friendship Society,” Xinhua Net, 01 July 2022)

The UAE: Yang Jiechi meets President and discusses bilateral relations
On 1 July, the Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee Yang Jiechi travelled to the UAE and met with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussed the bilateral relationship between the two countries while also discussing ways to increase cooperation. Yang expressed China’s perception of the UAE as a comprehensive strategic partner and said: “China highly appreciates the UAE's support for the China-proposed Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative, and is willing to deepen cooperation with the UAE under the two major initiatives, aiming to make positive contributions to lasting world peace and long-term development.” Yang also encouraged the country’s participation in the Belt and Road Initiative of China while cooperating on defeating the COVID-19 pandemic. Civil aviation, infrastructure, energy, finance investment and other traditional sectors were highlighted as the areas for heightened future cooperation. (“UAE president meets senior Chinese diplomat on bilateral ties, cooperation,” Xinhua Net, 01 July 2022)

India: GWM Automaker abandons project worth Rs 7,895 crores
On 02 July, the Times of India reported that Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM) will no longer be a player in the Indian automotive industry. Over 11 of GWM's employees had received pink slips at its India headquarters, three months of severance compensation, and one year of variable pay. Increasing political tensions between India and China, the delay in approval of GWM's plant in Pune due to government roadblocks, increased scrutiny over Chinese investments, amendment to the FDI rules, and the company's rejection of India's proposal to sell completely built-up units (CBU) are other factors that led to the company pulling out of the seven crore project in India. Thousands of jobs and the Rs 7,895 crore manufacturing project that were intended to be established at General Motors' facility in Talegaon, Pune, also dissipated with GWM's departure. (“China's Great Wall Motors abandons Rs 7,895 crore project in India," Times of India, 02 July 2022)

FINA World Championships: China bags gold for the 10th time
On 02 July, Ren Qian, and Duan Yu, both 16 years old, won the mixed 10-meter synchro final at the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest, continuing China's diving "Dream Team’s” dominance over opponents. The pair scored 341.16 points to win China's 10th diving gold medal at the Duna Arena. Both jumped out to an early lead with a perfectly timed back dive pike and never took their feet off the pedal. As a result, China has won every gold medal in the mixed 10m synchro since the competition's debut at the global championships in Russia in 2015. (“Chinese divers reign supreme at FINA World Championships with 10th gold,” CGTN, 02 July 2022)

Afghanistan: China urges the US to responsibly rectify its actions
On 1 July, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Chen Xu addressed the emergency debate on the condition of Afghan women and girls’ human rights and urged the US to rectify its mistakes and actions in the country. Chen recalled China’s decision to donate USD 7.46 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan after the earthquake killed over 1500 people and injured more. The Chinese representative then accused the US of plundering the country and bringing devastating misfortunes on thousands of citizens by its war in Afghanistan. Chen said: “The US is the initiator of the Afghan issues and bears the primary responsibility. The war in Afghanistan has resulted in large numbers of innocent civilians being killed and tens of millions of people becoming refugees, including large numbers of women and girls. The US has blatantly plundered Afghan national assets, further aggravating the suffering of the Afghan people.” He further urged the US to unfreeze the Afghan assets, lift the sanctions and take concrete steps to provide assistance in the country. (“China's UN envoy urges US to lift coercion on Afghanistan, fix its humanitarian damage on civilians,” Global Times, 02 July 2022)

The US: China softens restrictions for American travellers
On 02 July, the Chinese embassy in Washington announced that entry restrictions for Americans would be loosened, enabling admission in the event of transit through a third country to ease restrictions put in place as part of Beijing's effort to stop COVID-19. China's "dynamic COVID zero" policy, which tries to reduce the danger of infected travellers entering from outside, has led to a number of obstacles to foreign travel, from tight procedures for quarantine upon arrival to limitations on the issuance and renewal of passports for Chinese nationals. A revised policy statement states that Americans who want to travel to China with legitimate negative COVID test results can now apply for and acquire a green health code for entry from either the US or another nation. In the past, the embassy would only give out the passwords to Americans on direct flights from their country. (“China to loosen entry restrictions on U.S. citizens, transit via 3rd country now permitted,” The Asahi Shimbun, 02 July 2022)