SAIC Anji Splendor, a second world's largest clean energy-powered ro-ro vessel built by the China State Shipbuilding Group, was handed over to SAIC Motor Corp on Tuesday, forming a dual-vessel fleet in promoting China's cars exports.
The vessel will reportedly set sail on Thursday to Europe by stopping at Lianyungang in East China's Jiangsu Province carrying China-made cars, and forming a regular dual-vessel fleet with its operating sister vessel SAIC Anji Sincerity on the China-Europe shipment route, the China News Agency reported.
The newly delivered ro-ro vessel has total length of 200 meters, width of 38 meters and height as 13-floor-building. It has 7,600 parking slots and over 40,000 tons of displacement, said the company on Wednesday.
From January to June this year, China's car exports totaled 2.793 million units, increased by 30.5 percent year-on-year. Among them, new-energy vehicle exports reached 605,000 units, an increase of 13.2 percent year-on-year, data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers revealed.
Multiple Chinese automakers are mapping out their own plans for global car transporting networks to meet the rising demand.
The SAIC Anji Logistics has formed a global fleet comprising with 32 car carriers and is operating seven international routes to Southeast Asia, Mexico, west coast of South America and Europe, the company said.
On July 10, 2024, COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers CO's first batch of LNG dual-fuel powered ro-ro vessel set sail from Xiamen in East China's Fujian Province, transporting about 4,800 cars produced by BAIC Group, BYD and Chery to Europe, empowering global green transition, according to the China Media Group.
Despite Western attempts to downplay China's economic prospects, the country is resolutely forging ahead with its ambitious reform agenda, following the just-concluded third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. The plenum outlined a detailed roadmap for China's economic trajectory over the next decade, aiming to further deepen reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization and counter biased narratives through substantial achievements.
In an exclusive interview with Global Times reporter Ma Tong (GT), Alexander Lomanov (Lomanov), deputy director for scientific work at Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences, emphasized the resilience of the Chinese economy despite increasing external pressures and underscored the crucial role of CPC leadership in ensuring the success of the country's reforms.
GT: According to your observations on China, how do you assess the significance of the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee for China's economic development and reform over the next decade, particularly amid increasing global uncertainty and China's ongoing economic transformation and upgrades?
Lomanov: The plenum was held against the background of a positive economic outlook. China's economy will grow by at least 5 percent this year. The problem is how to extend this favorable trend of sustainable growth for a long period. The key topic of the plenum was the discussion of the main economic policies that can lead China to build a high-standard socialist market economy by 2035.
The external environment for China's economic development has deteriorated. The outside pressure is increasing. This is an unfavorable situation that cannot be ignored. It is necessary to acknowledge that the Western developed countries will continue the policy of protectionism, destruction of production chains, and creation of technological barriers. The causes of decline in the inflow of foreign investment are rooted not so much in the economy as in the West's policy of unhealthy competition and containment.
In the forthcoming decade, China will have to combine the policy of protection of national economic security with maintaining a high degree of openness to the outside world. It is obvious that China will have to develop key advanced industries and scientific innovations on its own without relying too much on foreign resources, but also without refusing to use them. China will have to improve its global competitiveness. For this purpose, it will be necessary to create new technologies and new production facilities, and to ensure the inflow of investment.
GT: How do you evaluate the role of CPC's leadership and institutional advantages in China's economic achievements and their contribution to further development?
Lomanov: The CPC's policies have ensured the success of economic reforms. Now this success must be protected from unfavorable external influences. The CPC's ability to correctly assess the situation in the economy, proceed from the interests of the people and defend these interests with all its strength is particularly important. Only a unified centralized leadership of the CPC will make it possible to organically combine national security and economic development without mutual conflict between these goals.
There is a lot of talk in the West about how to reduce the "overcapacity" of the Chinese economy. In fact, it is a question of how to stop China's development and limit the presence of Chinese products in world markets in order to protect the West's economic dominance. Some foreign experts frankly say that the more success China achieves in mastering new technologies and creating new industries, the more pressure the West will apply.
The West is misguided and will ultimately harm its own economy. However, it should be assumed that this policy toward China will not change in the coming years. Rather, it is likely to continue with modifications over the coming decade. China has no unlimited resources and no margin for strategic error. Therefore, the top-level design in economic policy, which only the CPC leadership can provide, is very important.
GT: What is your take on the plenum's role in advancing Chinese modernization and reinforcing confidence in its economic development?
Lomanov: To formulate updated priorities for economic development, new breakthroughs in reform theory will be required. To guarantee the successful advancement of Chinese modernization, the legal institutions of the market economy will need to be strengthened. They are the key source of business confidence and activity.
The main aspects of Chinese modernization remain unchanged. These are ensuring material prosperity and cultural advancement for a huge population, and maintaining a reasonable balance between economic development and environmental priorities. Despite growing pressure from the West, we can be sure that China will never use war and neocolonial plunder as instruments of its development. However, if China wants to modernize, it will need to increase its willingness to fight for its legitimate national interests.
The long-term success of Chinese modernization is linked to the trend of multipolarization of the world. China's economic development creates favorable prerequisites for the creation of a new type of international relations based on the principles of equality and mutual respect, free from intimidation and pressure. China needs to expand the circle of new partners that are ready to cooperate under these principles.
It will not be easy to remain committed to a policy of openness to the outside world in a situation where other countries are "decoupling" from China behind high fences. China needs to continue to move forward on the path of reform to address this challenge.
The ninth review of China's trade policies and practices by the World Trade Organization (WTO) concluded on Friday in Geneva, Switzerland. Throughout the session, the Chinese delegation, led by Vice Minister of Commerce Li Fei, actively and comprehensively addressed concerns raised by WTO members about China's economic and trade policies, firmly refuting any unfounded accusations.
During the review, which spanned from Wednesday to Friday and featured statements from 71 WTO members, the Chinese delegation staunchly defended its position, refuting false allegations over "overcapacity" and "economic coercion."
The Chinese side also emphasized that its subsidy policies comply with WTO regulations and attributed the success of Chinese companies to market competition rather than government subsidies.
Attending members lauded China's significant achievements in reform and opening-up, as well as its substantial contribution to the WTO. They also expressed willingness to further deepen economic and trade relations with China, and conveyed high hopes for China’s role in driving global economic recovery, fostering practical cooperation with developing nations, and upholding the multilateral trade system, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
China also highlighted its contribution to the global green and low-carbon transition and its role in tackling climate change with its new energy products. Despite the rapid growth in the supply of new energy products, they still fall short of global demand, negating claims of "overcapacity." The notion of "economic coercion" was also dismissed as it has never been and will not be a part of China's trade policy, the Chinese delegation emphasized.
Data from the China Passenger Car Association shows that from January to May 2024, global car sales reached 35.66 million units, with new-energy vehicles accounting for 5.85 million units, equaling only 16.4 percent of the total car sales, indicating substantial room for growth.
China's new-energy passenger vehicles have grown faster than the global average, with the country’s global market share exceeding 64 percent in the first five months of 2024, significantly boosting the global green transition.
Additionally, China criticized some member states for exerting long-arm jurisdiction, setting control lists, and arbitrarily sanctioning enterprises and individuals of other members, identifying these actions as the real sources of economic coercion.
Trade policy reviews are one of the main functions of the WTO. The reviews are a crucial mechanism for transparency, where members can question each other’s trade policies and express concerns, allowing for a better understanding of policy directions and commitments. According to WTO rules, members whose trade volumes rank among the top four globally are reviewed every two years.
The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), the top stock market regulator, announced on Tuesday that starting on Wednesday, applications for securities relending, a tool used for short-selling, would be suspended, in another step to stabilize the capital market.
In a separate announcement on its website, the CSRC also said that it has significantly curbed computer-driven programmed trading and vowed to expedite the roll-out of more pragmatic measures to strengthen regulation of programmed trading so as to reduce its adverse impact on the capital market.
Chinese regulators have stepped up curbs against activities that negatively impact the stock market, and the new steps will further help to lift investors’ confidence and stabilize the capital market, analysts said.
In the announcement on Wednesday, the CSRC said that the move to suspend new applications for securities relending was aimed at effectively responding to investors’ concerns and maintain the stable operation of the market, after fully evaluating the current market situation. The new adjustment will “help prevent operational risks and maintain the stable and orderly operation of the market,” the CSRC said.
While new applications for securities relending will be suspended starting on Thursday, existing contracts are allowed to continue until the end of September, according to the CSRC. In addition, the minimum margin requirement ratio for securities relending will be raised to 100 percent from the current 80 percent, starting on July 22, while the ratio for those involving private securities investment funds will be raised from 100 percent to 120 percent.
The CSRC said that in response to investors’ concerns, it has taken a series of measures to strengthen regulations for securities relending since August 2023, including a continuous crackdown on illegal activities in the area, which has resulted in a significant drop in the overall scale of securities relending.
According to Xu Kang, chief financial industry analyst at Huachuang Securities, since the beginning of the year, the market scale of securities relending has dropped from 69.2 billion yuan ($9.51 billion) to 31.8 billion yuan.
“This will help boost market confidence to a certain extent,” Xu said in a note. “The suspension of securities relending and the overall increase in the securities relending margin ratio will help to boost market sentiment,” Xu added.
In another major step to stabilize the stock market, an official with the CSRC said on Wednesday that the regulator’s curbs against programmed trading have seen remarkable initial success and more measures will be taken to further regulate programmed trading.
According to the official, as of the end of June, there were more than 1,600 high-frequency trading accounts in the market, a drop of more than 20 percent during the year, and trading activities that meet abnormal transaction monitoring standards have dropped by nearly 60 percent in the past three months.
Going forward, the CSRC will accelerate the introduction of more pragmatic measures to further strengthen regulation of programed trading, reduce the negative impact of programmed trading, and effectively maintain market transaction fairness, the official said.
The announcements came after trading closed on Wednesday. Chinese stocks closed lower, with the Shanghai Composite Index falling 0.68 percent, while the Shenzhen Component Index lost 0.1 percent.
The visa-free policy introduced by the Chinese government has boosted passenger flights by more than 20 percent, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said on Friday.
In the second quarter, the number of scheduled passenger flights to Malaysia, Spain, Hungary, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Kazakhstan and other countries that have implemented visa-free policies increased by more than 20 percent, Xu Qing, an official from the CAAC said at a press conference on Friday.
In addition, since the second quarter, Chinese and foreign airlines have launched or resumed passenger routes from China to six countries - Bahrain, Cuba, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Mexico, and Ireland - further broadening China's international route network, Xu added.
Currently, 38 ports in 18 provincial-level regions throughout China offer visa-free transit policies for 72 or 144 hours to nationals from 54 different countries.
In the first six months of this year, China saw foreign arrivals increase to 14.64 million, according to the National Immigration Administration (NIA) on July 5.
The NIA said from January to June, the figure for visa-free entries by foreigners topped 8.54 million, accounting for 52 percent of the inbound trips and representing a year-on-year surge of 190.1 percent.
The CAAC said China's international air passenger transport market continues to recover, with flight numbers reaching roughly 80 percent of the level in 2019 for five consecutive months since February of this year. From July 1 to 7, Chinese and foreign airlines operated a total of 6,045 international passenger flights.
Currently, China operates flight services to a total of 72 overseas countries. The number of passenger flights from China to 30 countries including the UK and the United Arab Emirates has exceeded the 2019 level, and flights to seven countries including Egypt and Saudi Arabia have more than doubled the level in 2019.
The CAAC said the industry is expecting international travel to remain strong over the summer, and the most popular routes will continue to be concentrated in surrounding traditional tourism markets such as Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asian countries.
China on Saturday officially announced its 716-member delegation to the upcoming Paris Olympic Games. As more than 400 Chinese athletes, including 42 Olympic champions, are headed for Paris for the competitions, Chinese companies are churning out equipment and other products that will be used at the biggest sports event in the world.
The presence of Chinese products and brands at major international sports event has been expanding rapidly in recent years. Before the Paris Olympic Games, Chinese brands became a highlight at the Euro Cup 2024. Such a growing presence underscored the rising competitiveness of Chinese businesses, not just in manufacturing but in other fields as well, experts said.
At the Paris Games, which are scheduled to open on July 26, Chinese companies Alibaba Group and Mengniu Group, one of the leading dairy product manufacturers in China, will be among the top partners of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As a global leading Cloud Services Partner, Alibaba Cloud, the data intelligence backbone of the Alibaba Group, will provide world-class cloud infrastructure and services supporting the digitization of the Olympic operations to optimize, secure and enhance the experience for the athletes and fans from across the globe, according to the IOC.
With a joint partnership with Coca-Cola, Mengniu became the first Chinese fast-moving consumer goods company to become a top partner, the IOC's official website said.
In addition to Chinese firms' partnerships with the IOC, Chinese equipment and other products will be used at various venues and sports competitions at the Paris Games. TaiShan Sports, a leading sports equipment manufacturer, is among the main equipment suppliers of the Olympics.
The company said that it has served five Olympic Games, three Youth Olympic Games, five Universiades, six Asian Games and more than 1,000 domestic and international sports events.
For the Paris Games, the company said it will provide equipment for wrestling, cycling, taekwondo, gymnastics, track and field, and other competitions, and it will provide pre-match training and indoor fitness equipment for the Chinese National Team training base, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
He Wenyi, a deputy director of the National Sports Industry Research Base at Peking University, said that the trend of Chinese firms' growing sponsorships at major international sports event is in line with the robust development of China's manufacturing industry, which continues to upgrade in all aspects.
"As China is a standard-setter in smart manufacturing, and made-in-China continues to become globalized, major sports events like the Olympics have become a big international stage for advanced Chinese companies to go global," He told the Global Times on Sunday.
China has been dominating the manufacturing industry for years, and its continuous upgrade toward smart manufacturing has further cemented the global leadership of made-in-China. More than just manufactured products, Chinese technologies and services, such as cloud and telecommunications, have become new bywords of Chinese manufacturing, experts said.
The growing visibility of Chinese companies at the Euro Cup 2024 made global headlines. According to media reports, among the tournament's 13 top-tier sponsors, five are Chinese companies, making China the largest source of sponsors for the event. The five Chinese companies are Hisense, a leading appliance and electronics manufacturer, Alipay, a payment services under Alibaba, Vivo, a smartphone maker, AliExpress and BYD, an electric vehicle maker.
Vivo told the Global Times on Sunday that the company showcased its commitment to digital inclusivity by providing X100 series smartphones to visually impaired and elder fans, aiming to enhance their experience and promote social equity.
"Vivo captures legendary moments with exceptional imaging technology and enhances the event experience, showcasing the beauty of sports and the joy of humanity on the international stage by Chinese-made video equipment," the company said. "Vivo is committed to technology that serves people and to sustainable innovation, empowering greater products and sharing the beauty of technology with consumers worldwide."
The presence of the Chinese sponsors at the Euro Cup highlighted Chinese companies' competitiveness in not just manufacturing but also technologies. Hisense, for example, said that in addition to brand promotion at the Euro Cup, it also became a technological cooperation partner for the championship in terms of video assistant referees.
Bian Yongzu, a senior industry researcher, said that Chinese home appliance manufacturers have long been top sponsors of major international sports events, but recently more and more Chinese companies in other fields have become major sponsors, indicating the comprehensive rise of various Chinese industries.
"It shows that in addition to traditional industries, Chinese companies in various industries are also on the fast track of internationalization through active efforts to open up to the outside world," Bian told the Global Times on Sunday.
To cope with the peak electricity consumption in summer, many regions in China have urged government agencies, businesses, and residents to join in efforts to conserve energy, such as reducing decorative lighting, suspending unnecessary light shows, and promoting the use of energy-efficient appliances.
We call for a united effort from all sectors of society to actively promote green and low-carbon production and lifestyle practices. Let’s work together in practicing off-peak power consumption and conserving energy, read a recent proposal released by the authorities in East China’s Jiangxi Province.
It is important to prioritize public safety during nighttime travel by ensuring that street lights all work efficiently and promoting the use of renewable energy-efficient lights. Unnecessary lighting displays, landscape projects, and commercial signs are encouraged to be suspended to conserve electricity, according to the proposal.
Meanwhile, industrial enterprises should scientifically and reasonably arrange production schedules, avoiding peak production through planned maintenance and shift adjustments, achieve energy saving and cost reduction, and alleviate power supply pressure during peak hours, said the authorities.
In regions of Southwest China’s Chongqing, from 12 am to 8 am the next day, electronic display advertisements should be turned off, while other types of outdoor advertising facilities should be turned off or kept at minimal brightness, according to local officials.
Public institutions must lead in energy conservation efforts by setting cooling temperatures no lower than 26 C. Residents are encouraged to choose off-peak time consumption, with lower rates for nighttime usage and slightly higher rates for other times, according to the authorities in East China’s Anhui Province.
Total electricity consumption across China increased by 6.7 percent year-on-year in 2023. The growth rate of electricity consumption in 2024 is forecast to be close to that of 2023, with new installations of renewable energy are expected to continue to increase at a rapid pace, according to the report of China’s electric power industry 2024 released by the China Electricity Council on July 10.
National electricity supply and demand are generally balanced, with peak consumption expected during summer and winter. Some regions may experience tight supply, leading to demand-side management measures being implemented at certain times, according to the report.
China's deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle has completed sea trials at depths exceeding 4,000 meters, the Shanghai municipal government announced on Tuesday. The vehicle's explorations set six records in the field of deep-sea mining in China, with technological performance reaching the leading domestic and advanced international levels.
In the deep-sea experiment, the vehicle, "Kaituo 2" successfully completed five consecutive dives in the seabed polymetallic nodule and cobalt-rich crust mining area, including one dive to a depth of 4,000 meters and four dives to a depth of 2,000 meters.
The mining vehicle reached depths of 1,802.4 meters, 1,929.9 meters, 1,955.8 meters, 2,048.5 meters, and 4,102.8 meters respectively, marking the first time that domestic deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle has conducted deep-sea mineral resource trial mining at a depth of 4,000 meters.
The vehicle also demonstrated powerful underwater rock drilling and collection capabilities during its dives. It has efficiently extracted various types of deep-sea minerals, including multi-metal crusts tightly attached to hard rocks and multi-metal nodules buried in soft deep-sea sediments. Over 200 kilograms of multi-metal crusts, multi-metal nodules, and seabed rocks were successfully obtained.
According to the research team from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the vehicle has achieved six breakthroughs in similar research in China. For example, for the first time, it has achieved a water depth breakthrough of over 4,000 meters for deep-sea heavy-duty mining vehicle deployment operations. It pioneered high-mobility technology for complex deep-sea seabed terrain, and it also pioneered deep-sea multi-mineral composite drilling and mining technology, achieving efficient mining and collection of different types of ores such as polymetallic crusts and polymetallic nodules.
The mining vehicle is also equipped with an environmental monitoring system, which comprehensively monitors and evaluates the environmental impact of seabed plume generation and diffusion, underwater operation noise, etc., providing valuable first-hand materials and data for China's deep-sea mineral resource exploration and green environmental protection mining.
In the five years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the relationship between China and Solomon Islands has positioned at the forefront of China's ties with Pacific Island Countries (PICs), becoming a model of mutual support and joint development between countries of different sizes, Chinese Ambassador to Solomon Islands Cai Weiming recently told the Global Times ahead of a visit to Beijing by Solomon Islands' prime minister.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele is paying an official visit to China from July 9 to 15.
In addition to Beijing, Manele will also visit East China's Fujian and Shandong provinces. Both provinces are economically strong coastal provinces and have played significant roles in cooperation with PICs.
"In September 2019, China and Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations, opening a new chapter of solidarity, cooperation and joint development," Cai said. "Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, political mutual trust has been solidified, the results of mutually beneficial cooperation have been fruitful, and cultural exchanges have been vibrant. This has positioned our relationship at the forefront of China's ties with PICs, becoming a model of mutual support and joint development between countries of different sizes."
"Solomon Islands has firmly stood on the right side of history, adhering to the one-China principle and firmly supporting China's just stance on issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Xizang, and human rights," Cai noted.
The two countries have maintained close exchanges at all levels, continuously upgrading their relationships and establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era, he said.
According to Cai, over the past five years, China has remained Solomon Islands' largest trading partner and top export destination, with affordable and high-quality Chinese goods enriching the lives of Solomon Islands' residents.
Chinese aid has improved local living standards. For instance, Chinese-aid national sports stadiums and Solomon Islands National University dormitories have been constructed one after another, becoming new landmarks in Honiara.
The National Referral Hospital Comprehensive Medical Center and the National Broadband Network construction projects are progressing steadily and will significantly improve healthcare and communication conditions in Solomon Islands once completed. China has carried out hundreds of small livelihood projects in Solomon Islands, improving local living conditions.
In terms of security cooperation, China Police Liaison Team have been dispatched to Solomon Islands, providing substantial professional equipment and skills training to local police, contributing positively to local stability.
Additionally, China has provided hundreds of opportunities for Solomon Islands people to study and train in China, helping many ambitious young people pursue their dreams and fostering a large number of talents for Solomon Islands' economic and social development.
China has sent medical teams to Solomon Islands and organized the Peace Ark hospital ship visit, treating over 30,000 patients in Solomon Islands, alleviating the suffering of the people with benevolence and medical skills.
Fruitful local exchanges between the two countries have also taken place, with Guadalcanal Province, Malaita Province, Western Province, Isabel Province, Renbel Province and Honiara City steadily advancing friendly cooperation with Chinese provinces and cities, bringing more support to the people of Solomon Islands.
In April this year, Solomon Islands held a general election, attracting international attention. The O.U.R. Party won most seats, and former foreign minister Manele was elected as the Prime Minister.
"The new Solomon Islands government has just been formed, and Prime Minister Manele is visiting China shortly after taking office. During his visit, the leaders of the two countries will exchange views on China-Solomon relations and important issues of common concern," Cai stated.
"China stands ready to work with the new government of Solomon Islands, making Prime Minister Manele's visit as an opportunity to strengthen strategic communication, expand practical cooperation, and promote the continuous development of bilateral relations. I believe both sides should continue to consolidate the foundation of political mutual trust and continue on the path of mutual understanding, mutual trust, mutual support and mutual assistance," he said.
He quoted Manele's remarks in a media interview, stating that the establishment of diplomatic relations with China in 2019 was standing on the right side of history, and it was the most important decision made in the 46 years of Solomon Islands' independence.
"I am fully confident that China and Solomon Islands, standing at this new historical starting point, will jointly write new stories of friendship, plan new cooperation blueprints, and jointly open up a better future for the people of both countries," Cai said.
China reiterated its call for all parties involved in the Ukraine conflict to exercise rationality and restraint, effectively comply with international humanitarian law, and avoid attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, said on Tuesday.
Since the crisis in Ukraine escalated in February 2022, the ongoing conflict has led to a large number of casualties among innocent civilians and destruction of infrastructures, triggering a dire humanitarian crisis and generating a huge spillover effect, which is a source of deep concern for China, Geng said at the UN Security Council briefing on Ukraine, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
China remains deeply concerned that the war has not ceased, but rather intensified, and that vicious attacks have occurred from time to time, resulting in serious casualties, Geng added.
There are no winners in conflict and confrontation, and military means cannot bring lasting peace. Geng stressed that an early ceasefire and political settlement is in the interests of all parties, and the priority is to cool down the situation by observing the "three principles" of no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no fanning of the flame by any party.
On the Ukraine issue, China has always maintained that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be adhered to, the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the crisis should be supported.
China calls on the parties to the conflict to demonstrate political will, meet each other halfway and start peace talks at an early date. Geng also urged the international community, based on an objective and impartial position, to create conditions conducive to putting an early end to the fighting and play an active role in this regard.
China will continue to actively promote peace and dialogue in its own way, and will make unremitting efforts and play a constructive role in promoting a political settlement of the Ukrainian issue, Geng said.
Russia on Tuesday rejected claims of the country's alleged attacks on a children's hospital in Kiev, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Peskov said Russian strikes are carried out against critical infrastructure and military targets related to Ukraine's military potential.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Tuesday that "many eyewitnesses and other sources" have confirmed that the hospital had been hit by a Western-made surface-to-air missile from the Ukrainian air defense system that went off course.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday on Telegram that the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kiev was hit by a Russian missile on Monday, adding that the strikes had killed 38 people and injured 190, according to preliminary reports.
