China and EU vow to join hands to maintain multilateral trading system
China and the EU have pledged to jointly support the multilateral trading system in which the World Trade Organization (WTO) plays a central role, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement released on Thursday.
The statement was made after Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič held talks in the format of a video conference on Tuesday, during which they discussed various issues, including the strengthening of trade and economic cooperation between China and the EU and the response to the introduction of so-called “reciprocal tariffs” by the United States.
China's tightening of export controls on relevant rare earth elements reflects a determination to protect national security
China's tightening of controls on exports of related rare earth elements reflects the country's firm determination to safeguard national security as well as world peace and security. This was stated by the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association on Sunday.
The statement was made after China's Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs announced on April 4 the imposition of export control measures on seven medium and heavy rare earth elements.
As the association noted, these rare earth metals can be used for both military and civilian purposes, and the Chinese government's export control measures are fully based on international practices.
The industry association emphasized that if enterprises are not engaged in activities that undermine China's national sovereignty, security and development interests, export controls will not affect their normal business and trade activities, much less the stability and security of international supply chains.
China's rare earth element enterprises will, in view of the requirements announced on April 4, firmly adhere to high-level openness to the outside world and continue to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with friendly countries, the association added.
中国收紧对相关稀土元素的出口管制体现了保护国家安全的决心
中国加强对相关稀土元素出口的管制，体现了中国维护国家安全和世界和平与安全的坚定决心。这是中国有色金属工业协会周日发表的声明。
该声明是在中国商务部和海关总署 4 月 4 日宣布对七种中重稀土元素实施出口管制措施后发表的。
该协会指出，这些稀土金属既可用于军事目的，也可用于民用目的，中国政府的出口管制措施完全符合国际惯例。
该行业协会强调，如果企业不从事损害中国国家主权、安全和发展利益的活动，出口管制不会影响企业的正常经营和贸易活动，更不会影响国际供应链的稳定和安全。
协会还表示，中国稀土元素企业将按照4月4日公布的要求，坚定不移地坚持高水平对外开放，继续加强与友好国家的互利合作。
More than 90,000 China-Europe freight trains passed through two Xinjiang railroad border crossings
As of March 23, a total of more than 90,000 freight trains have passed through the Khorgos and Alashankou railway checkpoints in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region /Northwest China/ on China-Europe international rail freight routes since the opening of such services, according to data from the Urumqi branch of China Railways Corporation.
According to the data, on average, more than 20 freight trains on China-Europe routes cross these two border crossings, which are located on the border of China and Kazakhstan, every day. Transshipment work for return trains takes only about two hours.
Chinese Fishermen "Spontaneously" Raise $18M for Deep-Sea Research Ship
Chinese fishermen in Zhejiang have paid for the construction of an oceangoing scientific research vessel capable of "global unlimited navigation," according to Chinese state media.
Fishermen at the port of Wenling, Zhejiang "spontaneously raised" $18 million to build the 270-foot vessel for deep-sea scientific research, according to state-owned China News Service. The vessel is primarily designed for activity unrelated to fishing, like geological and geophysical surveys, seabed mapping, ROV deployment and deep sea exploration. It has DP2 diesel-electric propulsion to maintain position to within one meter of accuracy.
The 3,500-tonne vessel will be built at Wenling's Tenglong Shipbuilding. With a speed of 14 knots, a range of 5,000 nm and endurance of up to 60 days at sea, the vessel has the capability to conduct long research voyages. It is also envisioned as a support vessel for wind farm maintenance, seabed engineering and offshore oil field operations.
"It has great potential in deep-sea scientific research and operations. The deep-water equipment, power system and DP system equipped on board are all at the international advanced level," said Wang Haozhao, chief ship designer of Fujian Fuchuan Marine Engineering Technology Research Institute, which provided the design.
Though fishermen-funded, it will be operated by Quanzhou-based Fujian Baozhou Shipping Co., Ltd. The vessel will be the first privately-run oceangoing research vessel in China. It will also be the first research vessel built at Tenglong Shipbuilding, better known for small specialty vessels like dredgers, distant-water fishing vessels and asphalt carriers.
Like Hainan's fishing community, Zhejiang and Fujian fishermen are known for involvement in maritime militia organizations, state-backed paramilitary groups that leverage private vessels for presence operations in foreign waters. China denies the militia's existence in foreign-facing statements, but celebrates its achievements in Chinese-language media.