News

Call for collaboration in science, tech hailed

Published

3 years ago

06/10/2021

MNN

President Xi’s speech sets out a vision on global economic recovery, development

Experts worldwide have praised a speech by President Xi Jinping at the Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing, saying its call for openness and collaboration in science and technology has pointed out the way for world economic recovery and sustainable development.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Zhongguancun Forum via video link on Friday, Xi called on all countries to strengthen openness and collaboration in science and technology and deal with challenges together.

President Xi’s call for global cooperation in technology is consistent with his broader vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, namely, to advance the good of the whole of humanity, said Peter Chang Thiam Chai, deputy director of the Institute of China Studies at the University of Malaya in Malaysia.

Xi’s emphasis on collaboration was important because “there are countervailing forces pulling the world apart rather than drawing the global community closer as one human family”, he said.

This year’s forum, with the theme of Intelligence, Health, and Carbon Neutrality, runs until Tuesday.

Dennis Munene, executive director of the China-Africa Center at the Africa Policy Institute, said Xi’s message also helps counter growing nationalism.

“Problems such as food security, healthcare, and climate change amongst others are intertwined. Thus, science and technology have the potential to solve these pertinent global problems, bridge the gap between the developed and underdeveloped civilizations leading to economic growth and sustainable development,” Munene said.

George Koo, a retired international business adviser in Silicon Valley, California, said science and technology have always been a global good and a global benefit, and advances made by anyone sooner or later are shared by everyone.

“It only became less true in recent years, because the United States started to act like ‘China was only interested in stealing technology from the US, and not recognizing that China has as much to offer in technological advances and innovations as the US,” Koo said.

“What President Xi says makes a whole lot of sense, if you put the geopolitics aside because sharing technology is sharing know-how between the people in the world. And by sharing, you can help each other, making more advances on top of advances. So the benefit is for everybody.”

Andrei Ostrovsky, head of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said: “China has consistently advocated the creation of an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for global scientific and technological cooperation.”

China has had tremendous achievements in fields such as information technology, 5G, and space exploration, he said.

Chang said: “As the world stands at the doorstep of a new industrial revolution that is expected to radically change our way of life, China can provide the global leadership to guide humankind toward this new scientific era and exciting technological frontier.”

Raquel Isamara Leon de la Rosa, professor and researcher of international business at the Meritorious Autonomous University of Puebla in Mexico, said China is growing to become a technology-oriented economy.

Technologies such as artificial intelligence, green energy, and carbon neutrality showcased at the Zhongguancun Forum have drawn worldwide attention, De la Rosa said.

Liu Hongjie and Yang Ran, in Beijing, and Xinhua contributed to this story.

News

Foreign observers impressed with election arrangements

Published

2 hours ago

23/04/2024

Foreign observers have praised the voting arrangements made by the Elections Commission (EC) for the this year’s parliamentary election.

A total of 19 international observers from nine different countries visited the Maldives to observe the election for the 20th parliament assembly. The observer groups consisted of elections commissioners and chief elections commissioners of the foreign countries.

The chair of the foreign observers team spoke with the local media, noting they monitored the elections by splitting the team into four groups.

The observers team chair also highlighted peaceful proceedings across the all polling stations from commencement until the end, and singled out the installation of fans for voters in waiting areas.

“It is delightful to see that 90% of the elections officials were women. Vote counting had begun almost immediately after polling closed, which too proceeded peacefully,” the observers team chair commented.

Besides this, majority of the observers had praised the use of technological equipment in the voting as well. Nelson Sallis, the election monitor from the Philippines highlighted the voter’s details could be accessed promptly using the tablets used by the officials, which allowed voters to cast the ballots faster.

“This was an exemplary usage of technology by the Maldives Elections Commission,” Nelson said.

The monitors unanimously singled out the lack of any notable confrontations or commotions at the polling stations during the election, and praised the Elections Commission for it.

Source(s): sun.mv

World

Biden tells Zelenskyy new arms will be provided quickly to Ukraine

Published

2 hours ago

23/04/2024

U.S. President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over phone on Monday that his administration will soon quickly provide additional arms to Ukraine once a bill authorizing related funds clears Congress and becomes law.

“President Biden shared that his administration will quickly provide significant new security assistance packages to meet Ukraine’s urgent battlefield and air defense needs as soon as the Senate passes the national security supplemental and he signs it into law,” the White House said in a readout of the call.

Biden was referring to the $61 billion aid for Ukraine that the House passed Saturday. The measure, now bundled with other foreign aid funding, will be voted on as a comprehensive national security supplemental appropriations bill in the Senate this week, with passage all but certain and Biden pledging to sign it as soon as it reaches his desk.

“President Biden also underscored that the U.S. economic assistance will help maintain financial stability, build back critical infrastructure,” the readout said, adding that the economic assistance will also “support reform as Ukraine moves forward on the path of Euro-Atlantic integration.”

Zelenskyy said on Telegram that the new aid from Washington is expected to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense as well as its long-range and artillery capabilities.

The Ukrainian president also discussed with Biden the work on a bilateral security agreement and the preparations for the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland slated for mid-June, he said.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X on Saturday that senators have reached an agreement to vote on the national security supplemental on Tuesday.

Source(s): CGTN

News

President invites political leaders’ involvement for nation’s progress

Published

2 hours ago

23/04/2024

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has urged all political leaders to refrain from political rivalry and to exert collaborative efforts, aiming for the nation’s expedite development. The remarks were made by the president in the event held to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of the People’s National Congress (PNC) in the parliamentary elections.

Speaking at the event, President Dr. Muizzu affirmed that the projects and plans made by the government will be executed and completed at an accelerated rate, following PNC’s victory. The president assured that with the new Parliament, the international community will comprehend the significance of independence and freedom of expression to the Maldivians. On this stance, he invited all political leaders to participate and exert collaborative efforts to ensure sustainable development in a timely manner. He additionally ensured that no individual will be discriminated based on their parties.

Furthermore, President Dr. Muizzu stated that it is a responsibility of all individuals to contribute to the development of the nation. The president urged boosting communal harmony and bolstering Islamic values as well.

Source(s): PsmNews