CICA Meeting to Contribute to Regional Peace

The Second Conference of the CICA （Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia） Non-Governmental Forum was held on June 28 in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the meeting.

Xi noted that since becoming Chair of the CICA in May 2014， China has made efforts to advocate and implement a common， comprehensive， cooperative and sustainable Asian security model， and support the establishment of a new regional security and cooperation framework. China has also sought to expand the partner network and mobilize non-governmental entities to offer consultancy and recommendations.

The non-governmental forum was established based on a proposal by Xi at the Shanghai Summit of the CICA in May 2014. The first meeting was held in May 2015， offering a new channel for publicizing the CICA security concept and promoting regional security governance. The second meeting， with the theme “25 Years of CICA： for Asias Security and Development，” is understood to contribute to regional peace， stability and common prosperity.

Europe-China Human Rights Seminar Opens in Amsterdam

The 2017 Europe-China Seminar on Human Rights opened in Amsterdam on July 2， gathering over 50 researchers to discuss various topics concerning protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.

“China is not only the initiator of the concept of building a global community with a shared future， but also a firm advocate and practitioner，” said Cui Yuying， vice minister of Chinas State Council Information Office， in her opening speech at the seminar.

She also noted that China is pursuing a development strategy mindful of its national conditions. The country has always put the peoples rights and interests first and has worked hard to advance and uphold human rights.

“The rights to subsistence and development are essential and basic human rights. We adhere to the comprehensive， inclusive and sustainable development of human rights， actively take part in global human rights governance， present a Chinese solution to the problem of human rights infringements in the international community and make our own contribution to the cause of international human rights and to the realization of the United Nations human development program，” she added.

Cui called on Chinese and European scholars to further promote exchanges in the field of human rights following the principles of mutual understanding， learning from each other， respecting differences and making progress together.

This years seminar was co-hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies and the Vrije University Amsterdam， and co-organized by the Human Rights Institute of Southwest University of Political Science and Law and the Cross-Cultural Human Rights Center at Vrije University.

Chinas Premier Meets Foreign Secretary of the Philippines

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met Alan Peter Cayetano， foreign secretary of the Philippines， in Beijing on June 30.

Li Keqiang said that the Chinese government heralds the Philippines efforts in nation building， economic development， enhancing stability， and is willing to make joint efforts with the Philippine side to adhere to mutual respect and equal treatment， consolidate mutual political trust， deepen cooperation in major fields such as infrastructure building， and intensify people-to-people and cultural exchanges， so as to broaden and deepen the Sino-Philippine relationship between both nations and their people.

He pointed out that China supports the Philippines work as the rotating presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations （ASEAN） this year， and the Philippines commendable efforts in hosting the series of Leaders Meetings on East Asia Cooperation.

The Chinese side， on the basis of comprehensive and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the agreement on the framework of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea， expressed its willingness， together with all relevant parties， to continuously advance dialogue and consultation， conduct mutually beneficial cooperation in a bid to jointly safeguard peace， stability and prosperity of the region.

Alan Peter Cayetano stated that the Philippines hopes to make efforts to push forward the development of Sino-ASEAN relations and effectively host the series Leaders Meeting on East Asia Cooperation with the aim to jointly send out positive signals of safeguarding regional peace and stability.

BRICS to Promote Traditional Medicine

The BRICS nations have pledged to strengthen the integration of traditional medicine in their national healthcare systems to enrich and enhance existing services， according to a declaration by the five nations released during the BRICS Health Ministers Meeting and High-Level Meeting on Traditional Medicine on July 6.

“It is necessary to strengthen the integration of traditional medicine in the national healthcare system as a valuable means to promote and encourage the practice， education and implementation of traditional medicine to improve the quality and outreach of healthcare services，” said the declaration， released during the meeting held in the port city of Tianjin.