Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 210

From China's Past: Mao Zedong Meets Richard Nixon, February 21, 1972

"History has brought us together. The question is whether we, with different philosophies, but both with feet on the ground, and having come from the people, can make a breakthrough that will serve not just China and America, but the whole world in the years ahead. And that is why we are here."Declassified transcript of the Beijing meeting between China's leader and America's. It took place in

Professor Arne Jon Isachsen: Velstand for alle

I et møte med en amerikansk delegasjon i oktober 1985 hadde Deng Xiaoping, Kinas ubestridte leder fra 1978 til 1989, dette å si om veien til “Common Prosperity”, eller“Velstand for alle”:“Some areas and some people can get rich first, to drive and help other areas and other people to gradually achieve Common Prosperity.”Det geniale her er det lille ordet “first”. Om alle etter hvert skal få det

China boosts military spending by 7.2%, vows to ‘resolutely’ deter Taiwan ‘separatist activities’

China is set to increase its defense spending by 7.2% to 1.67 trillion yuan in 2024, according to a budget report released by the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, as part of the country’s annual parliamentary meetings in Beijing. This year’s military budget announcement comes against the backdrop of several generals from the People’s Liberation Army, including the country’s previous Defense

China sets ambitious economic growth target of ‘around 5%’ for 2024, vows to ‘transform’ economy

China has set an ambitious economic expansion target of “around 5%“ for 2024, as its leaders vowed to “transform the growth model” in the face of significant challenges facing its development. The figure — similar to last year’s growth target — was announced by Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday at the opening of the annual gathering of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s

From China's Past: A Young Deng Xiaoping in France

Deng Xiaoping arrived in the French port of Marseille on October 19, 1920, disembarking from the Lebon, a refitted cargo ship that had been enlisted in the service of the French government and the Chinese Labour Corps. The local press reported that the Chinese students, including the future leader of China and symbol of reform and opening, wore Western-style clothes, including a broad-brimmed hat

China Media Project: The Local Game of Global Propaganda

In January this year, executives from the state-run China Daily newspaper took the stage with top propaganda officials from southwest Yunnan province to launch a new regional media network meant to strengthen Chinese state narratives and agendas in Southeast Asia. The formation of the South and Southeast Asian Media Network is the latest move in a broader effort by China’s leadership to mobilize

Economy, security, party drama: What to expect at China’s ‘two sessions’

China’s two sessions, the state’s most important annual political meetings, open this week in Beijing where the country’s political elites will reflect on the broader trends in Chinese politics, offering a sense of what to expect in the coming year. The capital will host concurrent meetings of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the top legislature, and the Chinese People’s Political

Freedom House: The Mounting Damage of Flawed Elections and Armed Conflict

Global freedom declined for the 18th consecutive year in 2023. The breadth and depth of the deterioration were extensive. Political rights and civil liberties were diminished in 52 countries, while only 21 countries made improvements. Flawed elections and armed conflict contributed to the decline, endangering freedom and causing severe human suffering.Widespread problems with elections, including

World History: The Chinese Text Project

The Chinese Text Project is the largest database of pre-modern Chinese text digitally available, and is open access to researchers around the world. It focuses specifically on pre-Qin and Han dynasty works, as well as post-Han dynasty texts. These works include some images, poetry, philosophy, and other academic subjects like mathematics and military sciences that are written in a variety of

What to Watch at China’s Two Sessions in 2024

Where is China heading? This perennial question of executives, investors, and policymakers has taken on new urgency as markets slide, growth slows, international tensions rise, and politics remains in command. That is the context for this year’s Two Sessions, one of the most important watchpoints for analyzing Beijing’s policy outlook.The Two Sessions are the concurrent annual meetings of the