As a sign of the value that Beijing places on its ties with Paris, both Premier Li Qiang and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met separately with him.

Li told Sejourne that Beijing expects the stability of China-France relations to contribute to the respective development of the two countries and “inject certainty into the world’s development”.

Beijing looks to deepen practical cooperation with Paris in conventional areas, as well as in green energy and advanced manufacturing, to “better realize mutual benefits and a win-win situation”, Li said.

The premier also talked with Sejourne about China-European Union economic and trade relations.

He expressed his hope that France will actively push the EU to follow the laws of economy and the rules of the market, and to properly address the concerns of both sides through consultation.

Sejourne said Paris adheres to independence and self-reliance, opposes bloc confrontation, economic decoupling and disruptions of production and supply chains, and firmly adheres to the one-China policy.

France is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields and promote greater development of the two nations’ comprehensive strategic partnership, he added.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

As part of the recent and frequent high-level exchanges, Foreign Minister Wang met with Sejourne in Munich and visited France in February.

Analysts said the visit of the French foreign minister comes amid the chaos of the current international situation and rising divides in the global community, and the two countries, as major countries, should work together to be a stabilizer for the world.

Yu Jiang, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, noted that as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and France have transcended bloc confrontation and are both committed to the “two-state solution” to the Palestine-Israel conflict.

“The two countries have contributed to the reform and construction of the global governance system, setting a model for exchanges and cooperation between countries with different historical backgrounds, cultural traditions and political systems,” Yu said.

Earlier on Monday, the two foreign ministers held talks at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse and met with reporters on the sidelines.

At the media briefing, Wang announced that the two sides agreed to “build China-France relations to be more stable and foresighted in strategic perspective”.

Wang said Beijing and Paris agreed to play a leading role in four areas: international solidarity, innovative development, openness and win-win situations, and dialogue among civilizations.

“The two sides agreed to provide more convenience for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and to deepen cooperation in areas such as science, education, sports and cultural heritage preservation,” Wang said.

France is China’s third-largest trading partner within the European Union, and China is France’s top trading partner in Asia and seventh-largest in the world. In 2023, bilateral trade reached $78.9 billion.

China will create more convenience for enterprises from various countries, including France, and “it is also believed that France will provide a fair, just and predictable business environment for Chinese companies to invest in France”, Wang said.

Sejourne told Wang during their meeting that Paris advocates openness and cooperation. On economy and trade, France is committed to properly handling differences through consultation, he added.

When asked by a reporter about the EU’s seeking “de-risking “regarding China, Wang noted that this year, China and the EU have resumed interactions at all levels. He said cooperation in various fields is in full swing, “the EU’s rational knowledge of China is increasing, and its willingness to cooperate with China is increasing”.

“Some insightful minds in Europe are also soul-searching and believe that decoupling from China carries real risks,” he added.

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While speaking to Ajay Banga, the World Bank president, Premier Li Qiang stressed China’s readiness to establish an even closer partnership with the group to jointly support the Global Development Initiative and respond to global challenges including climate change.

China backs the World Bank’s reform agenda and advocates increased investment in poverty reduction and development — the traditional domains of the group, he said.

The premier also emphasized Beijing’s support for boosting the representation of developing countries to ensure they play a more effective role in global governance.

The nation will continue to foster a top-notch business environment that is in line with market principles, the rule of law and international standards and share development opportunities with various nations, Li added.

Banga expressed appreciation for China’s longstanding support for the World Bank, acknowledging China as a model for international cooperation.

He conveyed the World Bank’s eagerness to deepen ties with China and to contribute positively to the country’s high-quality development.

In a separate engagement, Li met with Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF, in Beijing, conveying messages of confidence to ensure the sustained and healthy growth of the Chinese economy.

He cited China’s strengths in systems, market, industries, human resources and innovation, saying that the long-term positive fundamentals of the Chinese economy have not changed and will not change.

Li said he hopes the IMF will continue to exert a positive influence, safeguard economic globalization and free trade, and foster an open world economy.

Georgieva thanked China for its substantial support for the IMF, noting that China’s economic growth over the past year exceeded expectations.

She emphasized the global significance of China’s economic health, adding that the IMF is keen on further enhancing cooperation with China and increasing China’s representation and voice within the organization.

She later wrote on her social media platform that the meeting with the Chinese premier was “productive”, as the two leaders touched upon topics such as “the global economic outlook, reforms China is pursuing to seize the opportunities for high-quality growth, and efforts to further deepen IMF-China partnership”.

Meanwhile, Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Masatsugu Asakawa, president of the Asian Development Bank, on Monday.

Ding called upon both sides to deepen pragmatic cooperation on environmental protection, green and low-carbon development, elderly care and healthcare.

The ADB president said he looks forward to forging close partnerships with China and will continue to support China’s high-quality growth.

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The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani says Tehran is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Beijing to jointly promote regional and global peace and stability.

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During the meeting, Xi heard a report from Lee on Hong Kong’s current situation and the HKSAR government’s work.

Lauding Lee’s work over the past year, Xi said Lee has led the HKSAR government in shouldering responsibilities and delivering good results.

The HKSAR government has resolutely safeguarded national security, reformed the District Council system in Hong Kong, smoothly completed the District Council Ordinary Election, and brought Hong Kong out of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and toward a comprehensive recovery, Xi said.

The HKSAR government has maintained the region’s distinctive status and advantages, bolstered the drivers for development, and worked hard to solve the most pressing issues and difficulties of the people, Xi said, adding that all these have consolidated the HKSAR’s turn for the better and facilitated its entry into a new stage in which it has restored order and is set to thrive.

Xi said the central authorities fully acknowledged the work of Lee and the HKSAR government.

The central authorities will fully, firmly and accurately implement the “one country, two systems” policy for a long time and fully implement the principle of “patriots administering Hong Kong,” Xi said.

The central authorities will fully support the chief executive and the HKSAR government in uniting and leading all sectors of society to seize the historic opportunities brought about by the nation’s development and consolidate and elevate Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, shipping and trade center, thus promoting Hong Kong to achieve greater development.

Noting that the vitality and strength of “one country, two systems” will inevitably continue to emerge, Xi expressed full confidence in Hong Kong’s brighter prospects.

Li Qiang, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Shi Taifeng, Chen Wenqing, Xia Baolong and other senior officials attended the meeting.

President Xi Jinping meets with Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee, who is on a duty visit to Beijing, the capital of China, Dec. 18, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

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Influential groups such as Human Rights Watch and high-profile advocates including former U.N. special rapporteurs Tomas Ojea Quintana and Marzuki Darusman were among those calling for Beijing to permanently cease the forcible repatriation of North Koreans.

Other participants include David Alton, crossbench member of the House of Lords in Britain, Sonja Biserko, former Commission of Inquiry (COI) member on the human rights situation in North Korea, Roberta Cohen, co-chair emeritus of the Washington-based Committee for Human Rights in North Korea, Lee Yang-hee, former U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, and Suzanne Scholte, president of Defense Forum Foundation.

The release of the letter in three languages ― Korean, English and Chinese ― comes two days before the opening of the international sporting event scheduled until Oct. 8 in the eastern Chinese coastal city amid growing worries over the government’s resumption of sending back North Korean escapees. Some 2,000 such people have been detained in China over the three years of North Korea’s border closure during the pandemic, according to rights groups.

“We are writing to express our concern about the resumption of forcible returns of North Koreans detained in the People’s Republic of China to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea),” the 54 participating organizations and seven individuals said in the letter.

“We are concerned regarding news of North Korea’s border reopening, with the registration of around 200 athletes, coaches and officials to attend the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, and your government’s resumption of forcible repatriations of reportedly 2,000 North Koreans detained in China.”

They noted any humanitarian consideration by Beijing should result in the granting of legal status for the North Korean escapees and the stopping of their deportation back to North Korea where “torture, sexual and gender-based violence, forced abortion, imprisonment in brutal labor camps and even executions await them.”

“The official slogan of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 is ‘Heart to Heart, @Future.’ As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, we will not only win our freedom for ourselves, we will so appeal to your heart and conscience that we will win you in the process, and our victory will be a double victory,” the letter says.

“In this regard, we urge you to officially end the policy of forcible repatriation of North Korean escapees and to implement the procedure for the individualized determination of refugee status.”

To increase pressure on the Chinese government, rights groups plan to hold a rally in front of the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, on Friday. Organizers said activists from 63 countries are expected to show up.

Meanwhile, South Korean, American and Japanese representatives of NGOs working for the improvement of North Korea’s human rights gathered Thursday in Seoul, vowing to strengthen cooperation for the common cause.

In a joint statement, they put forward Beijing’s forcible deportation as one of the four issues to focus on, along with toughening sanctions against Pyongyang, improving human rights as a precondition for humanitarian aid and developing strategies for reaching out to the North Korean people for peaceful unification.

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“China is continuing its efforts for peace, safety, development and prosperity in the region. I hope this meeting will be helpful in line with these efforts,” Xing said, referring to the trilateral summit between President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, set to take place at Camp David, Friday (local time).

“I hope that mutual communication between related countries will contribute to peace and stability in the region. At the same time, China is firmly opposed to any practices which target, imply or even interfere with China’s internal affairs,” he said.

Xing noted that “China will protect its national interests,” but did not comment further on what outcomes he expects from the Camp David summit.

The security alliance surrounding North Korea’s missile and nuclear threats will be the top agenda item of the three-way talks. But security cooperation between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo is expected to go beyond deterring North Korean threats, as the U.S. is seeking to link its two Asian allies into a tighter security network and expand their roles in the Indo-Pacific region.

During the meeting, the three leaders are expected to agree on establishing three-way hotlines and holding annual joint military drills.

The Chinese envoy viewed that bolstering military power is not helpful in achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula.

“Through the twists and turns we have seen in the issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula, it is clear that dialogue and negotiation are the only correct and effective methods in easing tensions and pursuing a political resolution,” he said.

Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Decoupling from China will hurt the US

The envoy was critical of the U.S. government’s recent decision to ban certain investments in Chinese entities in semiconductors, microelectronics and certain artificial intelligence sectors, in the latest sign of escalating economic tensions between the two nations.

“Decoupling (from China) will damage the U.S., too. It will damage every player including the U.S.,” he said, adding that South Korea and China should continue to pursue win-win economic cooperation.

But China’s deepening economic slump has been raising alarms among South Korean businesses as the nation struggles to recover from a pandemic-induced slowdown.

Xing, however, expressed confidence in the outlook for the world’s second-largest economy.

“Recently, there has been a fabricated narrative among some people about China’s economic ‘peak’ and ‘crisis’ that undervalues the prospects of the nation’s economic development. These people have been calling for a so-called ‘de-risking’ drive from China,” he said.

Xing viewed that such claims are aimed at inciting division, eliminating opportunities for growth and cooperation, and thus would ultimately damage each country’s interests.

“China still remains a crucial engine for a global economic recovery and growth,” the ambassador said.

“Moving forward, China will steadfastly expand high levels of openness and cultivate a more favorable business and market environment, while ensuring various legitimate rights for foreign companies, including South Korean firms,” he explained.

As Pyongyang mulls lifting its years-long COVID-19 border closure policy, the South Korean government has been urging Beijing to refrain from repatriating North Korean escapees against their will.

“Our stance is that we make decisions based on domestic laws, international laws as well as from a humanitarian perspective. And we exchange opinions with various countries in the process. We have been following this principle, and will continue to do so in the future,” the ambassador said.

Xing added that many other countries handle similar issues in the same manner, mentioning how the U.S. government deals with illegal border crossings in El Paso, Texas, as an example.

31st anniversary of diplomatic relations

This year marks the 31st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and China. Throughout the past three decades and more, the neighboring countries have made quantitative developments in the realms of politics, trade and people-to-people exchanges, Xing said.

However, bilateral relations have been quite tense under the Yoon administration as Seoul’s policy of closer alignment with Washington has drawn dissatisfaction from Beijing.

“I do not think that there are fundamental, systemic problems in China-Korea relations. Some difficulties faced by the two countries are temporary,” Xing said, adding that the two nations will see healthy developments in relations as long as both sides respect each other’s core interests and major concerns.

The envoy acknowledged that South Korean and Chinese public sentiment toward each other has been deteriorating in recent years.

“It is true that emotions between people of the two nations have somewhat grown. I won’t deny that,” he said, pointing out that a lack of people-to-people exchanges due to the COVID-19 outbreak seems to be the main reason behind it.

A street in the shopping area of Myeong-dong in downtown Seoul is crowded with local and foreign visitors, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Ahn Da-eun

In that sense, Xing hoped that the Chinese government’s recent decision to allow group tours to South Korea will be a catalyst in improving bilateral relations.

Beijing announced last week that it will lift its ban on Chinese group tours to South Korea, ending a six-year hiatus caused by frayed relations following the deployment of a U.S. anti-missile battery system here, better known as THAAD.

“After China announced the latest measures, I have heard that the search volume for Korean hotels at Chinese travel websites increased by 15 times. And a significant number of Chinese people are considering spending their Golden Week holiday in October in Korea,” Xing said.

He added, “I believe that these measures will play a positive catalytic role in the recovery and development of the economies of both countries, as well as in improving public sentiment following the COVID-19 pandemic.”

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Like much of the world, China is reeling from extreme weather events this summer. Heat waves scorched China earlier than usual this year while records have been set worldwide for global temperatures, ocean heat and the loss of sea ice.

Doksuri hurtled into the southeastern coastal province of Fujian late last week, weakening as it carved its way north but bringing huge amounts of rain to at least five northern Chinese provinces since Saturday.

More than 31,000 people were evacuated from the Chinese capital as of Sunday night, state broadcaster CCTV reported. Another half million people in the Fujian were forced to evacuate from flooding, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Xinhua reported two deaths from the storm in Beijing as of Monday, while another two fatalities were recorded in northeastern Liaoning province, according to CCTV.

The precipitation in Beijing could break records as nearly 40 inches of rain is projected to pour over the southwestern parts of the capital and neighboring Hebei province, according to the China Meteorological Administration on Monday.

Heavy downpours are expected to continue through Tuesday, increasing concerns about dangerous flooding and landslides.

On Monday, nine districts of Beijing were under a red rainstorm alert, the highest in the country’s warning mechanism, while the weather signal was downgraded to the second-highest level in other parts. At least 95 other weather warnings were issued across the country.

The intense downpours prompted the temporary closure of several railroads and highways in the capital, while schools also remained closed and people were told to stay indoors.

Doksuri is the most powerful typhoon to make landfall in China and the strongest storm to hit Fujian since Typhoon Saomi in 2006, according to CNN Weather based on preliminary information. The closest and most powerful storm to pass near Beijing was Rita in 1972.

Before hitting Fujian it had killed at least 39 people in the Philippines and lashed parts of southern Taiwan.

The rains inundated large swathes of farmland and homes in Fujian, causing nearly $60 million ($428 million yuan) in direct economic losses, Xinhua reported. More than 6,333 hectares of farmland in Fujian were damaged and over 151 hectares suffered complete crop failure, the state media outlet said.

And there is little relief on the horizon. Even as Doksuri tapers off, authorities are preparing for incoming Khanun, the sixth typhoon projected to hit China this year.

Forecasters expect storm tides to hit coastal areas of eastern Zhejiang province from Monday to Thursday as Typhoon Khanun draws closer, prompting local authorities to activate the lowest out of a four-tier emergency response level on Monday, Xinhua reported.

Khanun is gathering strength in the Pacific Ocean and has been upgraded to a Category 3-equivalent typhoon by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. It’s forecast to draw close to Japan’s southern Okinawa islands over the next two days and begin a slow crawl through the East China Sea.

Over 200 domestic flights to and from Naha, Miyako, and Ishigaki islands in Okinawa were canceled from Monday through Wednesday, affecting nearly 30,000 passengers.

Extreme weather in Asia

Asia, the world’s largest and most populous continent, is reckoning with the deadly effects of extreme summer weather, as countries endure blistering heatwaves and record monsoon rains.

While most of northeastern China is inundated by rainfall, the neighboring Korean peninsula is suffering from deadly heat waves.

At least 10 people have died from heat-related illnesses as South Korea swelters under a heat wave that has brought its highest temperatures so far this year to parts of the country, according to data released Sunday by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

Just two weeks ago, torrential rain in South Korea killed at least 41 people from landslides and flash floods, including at least 13 dead from a flooded underpass that trapped vehicles in the deluge.

This weekend, a total of 1,015 people suffered heat-related diseases, which the KDCA defines as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat syncope and heat edema.

More than a quarter of those affected by the heat were aged 65 years and older, while around 20% were aged between 50 and 59.

More than a third of the cases were reported from people working outside and around 14% were reported on farmland, it added.

Since late July, heat wave warnings have expanded to most of the country with temperatures soaring over the weekend to between 33 and 39 degrees Celsius (between around 91 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit).

On Saturday, a number of cities reported their highest daily temperatures so far this year. The city of Gyeongju saw temperatures reach 36.8 degrees Celsius (98.24 Fahrenheit) and Jeongseon county saw temperatures reach 36.1 Celsius (96.98 Fahrenheit), according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

Seoul’s affluent Gangnam district saw temperatures reach to 35.7 degrees Celsius (around 96.2 Fahrenheit), while North Gyeongsang Province saw temperatures reach 38.1 degrees Celsius (100.58 degrees Fahrenheit).

A heat wave warning remains in effect on Monday, which signals daily maximum temperatures are expected to be 35 degrees Celsius or higher for more than two consecutive days.

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In a meeting in Beijing, the Iranian Foreign Minister and his French counterpart emphasized the necessity of mutual respect and the continuation of dialogues between Tehran and Paris.

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