China This Week: Five things you need to know (May. 10-16, 2025)
One Step Closer to China: A weekly dispatch from Beijing every Friday with insights you don’t want to miss.
Editor's note: This week was a fruitful one for cooperation between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries. Chinese ties with Brazil, Colombia and Chile were boosted via head-of-state diplomacy, and Colombia became a new partner of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). How does one interpret the China-U.S. tariff discussions in the global context? How will China honor the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII? Also, China's crackdown on illegal mineral smuggling is worth reading. Check it out!
1. China, Latin American and Caribbean Countries Hope for 'Golden Decade' in Relations
Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 13 urged solidarity and deeper cooperation at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum in Beijing. The China-CELAC joint action plan (2025-2027) and the Beijing Declaration have emphasized political, economic, and cultural cooperation and unity in the Global South in countering hegemony and illegal unilateral sanctions. China extending its visa-free policy to nationals from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay will boost people-to-people exchange.
Read more:
Writing a New Chapter in Building a China-LAC Community with a Shared Future -Chinese Foreign Ministry-
President Xi unveils roadmap for deepening cooperation with LAC countries -CGTN-
Wang Yi on Five Programs for the China-LAC Community with a Shared Future and Implementation Measures -Chinese Foreign Ministry-
2. Head-of-State Diplomacy: China's Ties with Brazil, Colombia and Chile Hit New Heights
Photo credit: Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Mao Ning on X (Twitter) Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Chilean President Gabriel Boric as China and Latin American and Caribbean countries vowed to strengthen cooperation in Beijing. Chinese and Brazilian leaders drew a grand blueprint for the next "golden 50 years" of bilateral relations. Both vowed to defend the rights of the Global South and issued a joint statement on the China-Brazil community with a shared future and multilateralism and a joint statement on the Ukraine crisis. In the meeting, China and Colombia took the latter's formal accession to the BRI as an opportunity to upgrade bilateral cooperation. On China-Chile ties, both sides hail the state of the relationship, calling it exemplary in the context of South-South cooperation.
Read more:
China, Brazil sign deals to further deepen financial cooperation -Yicai-
Ministers: BRI cooperation plan positive to promote Colombia's development -Global Times-
Govt and industry representatives from China, Chile call for stronger bonds -Global Times-
3. China-U.S. Tariff Adjustments Take Effect, Broader Discussion to Continue
Chinese and U.S. tariff adjustments took effect on May 14 as both sides eased tariff tensions for 90 days and agreed to continue broader discussions on economic and trade issues through a newly established mechanism following the two-day China-U.S. Economic and Trade Meeting held in Geneva, which concluded with the release of a joint statement. Ocean shippers raised prices within 24 hours of the announcement to slash tariffs. Some U.S. small businesses welcomed the tariff reductions but expressed concerns about remaining duties and uncertainties.
Read more:
On-Site | China-U.S. Agree to Slash Tariffs for 90 days, What's Next? -the China Briefing-
China: Countermeasures against U.S. unreasonable tariffs over fentanyl remain effective -CGTN-
Chinese Exporters Rush to Book Cargo Space After China-US Trade Breakthrough -Yicai-
4. 80 Years after WWII: China Unveils Emblem Commemorating 80th Anniversary of Victory in Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War
An emblem marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. (XINHUA)China on May 13 unveiled an official emblem to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War (中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年纪念活动标识), highlighting its pivotal role as the main eastern theater of WWII. As the mainstay against Japanese militarism, China's efforts significantly weakened Axis forces, underscoring its historic sacrifices of over 35 million casualties and contributions to global peace. The commemoration reaffirms China's commitment to upholding the UN-centered international order and combating historical revisionism, emphasizing the enduring legacy of its resistance in safeguarding regional stability and advancing shared security.
Read more:
China releases emblem commemorating 80th anniv. of victory in war against Japanese aggression -China’s State Council Information Office (SCIO)-
Remarks by China’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Fu Cong at the UN General Assembly Special Solemn Meeting in Commemoration of All Victims of the Second World War -Chinese Mission to the United Nations-
Victorious outcome of World Anti-Fascist War must be defended -Chinese Defense Ministry-
5. China Launches Crackdown on Strategic Mineral Smuggling to Safeguard National Security and Global Supply
China launched a crackdown on strategic mineral smuggling aimed at safeguarding national security and global supply chain stability. Illicit actors, driven by exorbitant profits, have undermined legal frameworks and export controls for critical strategic minerals, posing risks to domestic resource security and the international market order. The Chinese Commerce Ministry stressed the policy seeks to eliminate illegal channels while protecting legitimate trade, reinforcing China's commitment as a reliable global supply.
Read more:
China pledges concrete measures to prevent illegal outflow of strategic minerals -Xinhua-
Commerce Ministry: China to organize a series of actions to curb smuggling of strategic minerals -Global Times-
Stay tuned for more updates on China's political, economic, and cultural landscapes.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational purposes only. All sources are publicly available and subject to change.
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