In response to a reporter question on White House statement claiming that China now faces tariffs of up to 245 percent on imports to the US, China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that "We have noticed relevant report. As for how the figure comes out, you can ask the US side for the specific tax rate figures."
China has stated that the excessively high tariffs on China has degenerated into a "numbers game," which no longer has any practical economic significance, the FM said. It only further exposes the US tricks of using tariffs as a tool and weapon for bullying and coercion.
Tariff and trade wars have no winner. China does not want to fight these wars but is not afraid of them. If the US continues its tariff "numbers game", China will ignore it, the statement said.
If the US insists on continuing to substantively infringe upon China's rights and interests, China's response will continue to the end, it said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday held talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. The two leaders agreed to build an all-weather community with shared future in a new era and designated 2025 China-Cambodia Year of Tourism, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
The leaders of China, Cambodia also witnessed the exchange of more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents.
Xi said China will open its mega-market to Cambodia, import more high-quality Cambodian agricultural products. He also said China, Cambodia will take stronger, more effective measures to resolutely crack down on online gambling, telecom fraud, Xinhua reported.
President Xi also met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Thursday.
Xi said China and Cambodia set a model for equality, mutual trust and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes during his meeting with the Cambodian King, adding that he believes Chinese modernization will bring more opportunities to neighboring countries including Cambodia.
During his meeting with Hun Sen, Xi said that unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people, and trade wars undermine the multilateral trading system and disrupt global economic order.
Xi also urged all countries to unite and firmly keep the reins of national security and development in their own hands, adding that China will maintain the continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy.
Xi arrived in Phnom Penh earlier on Thursday for a state visit to Cambodia, his second visit to the country in nine years. Cambodia is the third leg of Xi's three-nation Southeast Asia tour after concluding successful state visits in Vietnam and Malaysia.
Xi said China takes Cambodia as a priority in neighborhood diplomacy, and firmly supports Cambodia upholding strategic independence and following a development path suited to its national conditions.
Xi was warmly welcomed by King Sihamoni, Hun Sen and other senior officials at the airport during a grand welcome ceremony held by the king.
Large enthusiastic crowds lined up neatly at the airport to warmly welcome President Xi.
"We love China!" said Cambodian girls dressed in traditional white and red attire, standing among the welcoming crowds. They held golden cups filled with jasmine petals - a unique Cambodian tradition for receiving the country's most distinguished guests, the Global Times learned.
Cambodian media also expressed a positive and welcoming attitude toward the leader's visit. The Khmer Times said Xi's "landmark visit" is expected to "further cement the historical bonds of friendship and cooperation nurtured by successive leaders of both countries."
Jian Hua Daily said Xi's visit is an important manifestation of the traditional friendly relations between the two countries, and it will further promote bilateral cooperation in various fields to a new level.
Enriched dimensions
Lu Guangsheng, a professor at Yunnan University's Institute of International Relations, told the Global Times that President Xi's visit has continued and strengthened the traditional friendly and cooperative relationship between China and Cambodia, further enriching the already close strategic partnership between China and Cambodia.
The further deepening of practical cooperation between the two countries holds landmark significance in promoting the substantive and thorough implementation of Belt and Road Initiative projects in Southeast Asia, Lu said.
In a recent interview with Xinhua News Agency, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin said China has been Cambodia's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. And in 2024, two-way trade reached $17.83 billion, up by 20.7 percent year-on-year.
China has remained Cambodia's largest source of foreign investment for 13 consecutive years, with investments spanning a wide range of sectors, including transportation, power, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, special economic zones, as well as information and communications technology, characterized by extensive coverage, large scale and strong results, said Wang.
Kin Phea, director general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told the Global Times that Xi's visit will further strengthen political trust and reinforce China-Cambodia shared vision for common development.
He said that the "ironclad friendship" between China and Cambodia has consistently delivered results, even amid global uncertainties.
"It [The visit] is a powerful driver to elevate our already strong ties, ensuring long-term peace, stability, prosperity, and friendship for both nations and the broader region," he said.
Ties withstand the test
Noting that bilateral ties were forged and nurtured by the elder generations of leaders of the two countries, Xi said in a written statement upon his arrival in Phnom Penh that China-Cambodia relations have withstood the test of global transformations, and always remained rock-solid.
China and Cambodia have supported each other in maintaining stability and promoting development and prosperity, and worked together in upholding international fairness and justice, setting an example for a new type of international relations while contributing to building a community with a shared future for mankind, he added.
Together we must stand against hegemonism, power politics and camp-based confrontation, and defend the shared interests of our two countries and other developing countries, Xi said in a signed article titled "Together We Strive, Together We Thrive: Toward a Stable and Sustainable China-Cambodia Community with a Shared Future in the New Era" published Thursday in Cambodian media outlets Khmer Times, Jian Hua Daily and Fresh News ahead of his arrival in Cambodia, according to Xinhua.
We should advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, endeavor to safeguard world peace and stability and international fairness and justice, jointly oppose protectionism, and defend an international environment of openness and cooperation, Xi noted.
"Cambodia-China's special and unbreakable ties are a 'unique role model' of interstate relations … Joint efforts in diplomacy, trade, and security enhance peace and prosperity, while close coordination on global platforms strengthens multilateralism," Kin Phea said.
Cambodia greatly values this partnership, which contributes not only to our national development but also to regional harmony. The enduring strength of our ties demonstrates the power of genuine friendship based on equality, respect, and mutual support, the Cambodian expert added.
At a time when the world is facing rising uncertainty, there is no doubt that the deepening cooperation between China and Cambodia represents a kind of certainty amid turbulence, Lu Guangsheng said. "It also serves as a role model for the development of relations among regional countries."
Moreover, against the backdrop of the US using tariffs and economic pressure as tools of strategic coercion, President Xi's state visits demonstrate confidence in countering coercion and hegemony through cooperation - both bilaterally and within the region - with Southeast Asian countries, Lu said.
The anti-China rhetoric of some individual British politicians is extremely absurd, reflecting their arrogance, ignorance, and twisted mindset, a spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in the UK said on Wednesday, in response to various comments in the UK regarding the government’s takeover of British Steel, during which several politicians took the opportunity to attack all Chinese companies and the Chinese government.
The spokesperson shared a few basic facts. The Jingye Group is a private Chinese enterprise that makes business investments in the UK on the basis of market principles and conducts operation on its own, said the spokesperson, according to a release posted on the website of the Chinese Embassy in the UK.
It is well-known that British Steel had been losing money for many years before its acquisition by Jingye in 2020 and actually went into compulsory liquidation in 2019. After taking over, Jingye put in substantial funding to keep the company afloat to this day. Had it not been for the involvement of this Chinese company, British Steel workers might have already faced the risk of unemployment, the spokesperson noted.
It is understood that under the UK government’s net zero strategy, steel companies that use iron ore to make steel must achieve net zero emissions by 2035. To that end, British steel companies including British Steel have all negotiated with the government to find a path to decarbonisation transition. Among them, the Port Talbot Steelworks in Wales closed its blast furnace in July 2024. British Steel’s plan to close its blast furnaces and build electric arc furnaces is a normal decision, and it is understandable that the company conducted negotiations with the government on investment for the transition, the spokesperson said.
Generally speaking, Chinese companies in the UK have operated in compliance with law and achieved steady progress. They have made positive contributions to the local economy. According to statistics available, Chinese companies in the UK have contributed over 115 billion pounds ($152.6 billion) to the UK economy and created nearly 60,000 jobs, the spokesperson said.
At a time when the US is wielding the tariff stick against all countries, the UK included, and engaging in unilateral and protectionist trade bullying, those British politicians just keep slandering the Chinese government and Chinese enterprises instead of criticizing the United States. What on earth are they up to, the spokesperson said.
Any words or deeds that politicise or maliciously hype up business issues will undermine the confidence of Chinese business investors in the UK and damage China-UK economic and trade cooperation. We urge the British government to follow the principles of fairness, impartiality and non-discrimination and to make sure that the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies in the UK are protected. At the same time, it is hoped that the British government will continue to engage in consultations and negotiations with Jingye to actively seek a solution acceptable to all parties. We will continue to follow the development of this situation, the spokesperson said.
On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that “As for the current difficulties arising in the operation of British Steel, the two sides should resolve them through consultations in the principle of mutual benefit.”
“We hope that the British government will treat Chinese companies investing and operating in the UK in a fair and just manner, protect their legitimate rights and interests, and refrain from turning economic and trade cooperation into political and security issues lest it should undermine the confidence of Chinese companies in their normal investment and operation in the UK,” said Lin.
When asked about Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's visit to China while the trade war between China and the US is still ongoing, and what role China thinks Spain and the EU can play in easing this tension and strengthening economic ties with Asia, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday that the phone call between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen yesterday sent a positive message to the outside world. China and the EU are both advocates of economic globalization and trade liberalization, as well as firm defenders and supporters of the WTO.
Lin said the two sides should work together to safeguard free and open trade and investment, maintain a stable and smooth global industrial and supply chain, and inject more stability and certainty into both sides and the world economy. Spain is an important economy of the EU and an important partner of China in the EU. Maintaining strategic stability in China-Spain relations and adhering to openness, cooperation, mutual benefit, and win-win results will play a positive role in the continued development of China-Europe relations, Lin noted.
The second batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government arrived at Yangon International Airport in Myanmar on Thursday.
The second batch of aid supplies includes 800 tents, 2,000 blankets, 3,000 boxes of biscuits, 2,000 boxes of mineral water and other urgently needed supplies. The supplies were transported to Yangon by a chartered flight from China.
The first batch of emergency humanitarian aid supplies dispatched by the Chinese government for earthquake disaster relief arrived in Myanmar on March 31.
Li Ming, spokesperson for China International Development Cooperation Agency, said that China is willing to continue providing assistance to the people in the disaster-stricken areas based on Myanmar's needs, supporting their efforts to overcome the disaster as soon as possible.
He expressed confidence that with the joint efforts of China and the international community, the people of Myanmar will surely be able to overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes at an early date.
Following the earthquake in central Myanmar, the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar said that it has been using a Chinese-Myanmar-English translation system developed on the DeepSeek platform to support earthquake relief efforts, according to CCTV News.
The system was developed in just seven hours by a language service team formed by the Secretariat of the National Language Service Corps of China and Beijing Language and Culture University. So far, more than 700 people in Myanmar have used the platform to assist communication during the emergency, according to the report.
The National Language Service Corps of China is a public-service alliance established under the guidance of the Ministry of Education, the National Language Commission, the Ministry of Emergency Management, and other agencies. Its mission is to provide language support during public emergencies and other key national tasks, helping to overcome communication barriers.
The deployment of this language technology in international disaster relief demonstrates the unique value of language services in advancing the building
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday met with U.S. Senator Steve Daines and some American business people, who are here to attend the China Development Forum 2025.
Noting that the development of China-U.S. relations has reached a new important juncture, Li said that history has proven that both China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Both sides should choose dialogue rather than confrontation, and choose win-win cooperation instead of a zero-sum game.
It is hoped that the United States will work with China to engage in candid communication, and build trust and clear up misgivings in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. They should deepen pragmatic cooperation, and work together to promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of relations, he said.
Li pointed out that economic and trade cooperation is an important foundation of China-U.S. relations. Over the past few decades, the fruitful economic and trade cooperation achieved between China and the United States is the result of joint efforts of both sides and should be cherished.
The more difficulties bilateral relations face, the more important it is to safeguard and develop China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation, said the premier.
Li said that nobody has to gain from a trade war, and no country can achieve development and prosperity through imposing tariffs. He called on the two countries to solve problems, such as trade imbalance, by making the pie of cooperation bigger.
"China always welcomes companies from all over the world, including the United States, to share development opportunities in China, and will actively address their legitimate demands, treat domestic and foreign companies as equals, and continue to foster a sound business environment," Li said.
People from the American side said that great changes have taken place in China in recent decades. U.S. companies actively participate in and support China's development, and are willing to continue investing in China, strengthen dialogue and cooperation to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and strive to promote the sustainable development of b
Chengdu police in Southwest China's Sichuan Province announced on Thursday that six people were administratively detained for staging a matchmaking video by fabricating facts, recruiting participants, and falsifying identities.
Previously, a matchmaking video involving a man claiming to "work in a provincial-level government agency with an annual income of 350,000 to 400,000 yuan ($55,265)" was circulating on the internet, attracting public attention.
According to the police statement, a legal investigation confirmed that the video was fabricated by a company from another province to generate online traffic. The company planned and produced the fake content by fabricating facts, recruiting participants, and falsifying identities. The company's legal representative, a 28-year-old man surnamed Liu, organized and wrote the fake script, recruited a 37-year-old company employee surnamed Li, and paid him to play a fictional role. He also instructed employees, including a 26-year-old man surnamed Li, a 24-year-old man surnamed Yan, another 24-year-old man surnamed Xu, and a 28-year-old surnamed Zhang, to stage the video in Chengdu, handle post-production, and upload it online.
The individuals involved in the case fabricated identities such as civil servants, residential addresses, and income levels with the aim of directing traffic to a certain matchmaking platform to earn referral commissions, severely misleading the public and causing negative social impact. Their actions constitute the fabrication of facts and disruption of public order, the statement said.
Currently, the public security authorities have imposed administrative detention penalties to the people involved based on the Public Security Administration Punishment Law of the People's Republic of China. Liu has been penalized with 10 days of detention, Li seven days, and employees Yan, Xu, Zhang, and Li got five days each. The case is still under further investigation.
The police have urged the public that cyberspace is not a realm beyond the law and no organization or individual is allowed to fabricate or spread false information to disrupt public order. Public security authorities will work with relevant departments to continue deepening the comprehensive governance of cyberspace, severely crack down on various online illegal activities in accordance with the law, and effectively maintain a clean and healthy online environment.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff late Thursday to discuss the details of an American-proposed 30-day ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, asking him to relay Moscow's perspectives to Washington, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Friday, the Associated Press (AP) reported. This follows Putin's remarks Thursday that Russia is "in favor" of the 30-day ceasefire plan proposed by the US and Ukraine, but nuances exist.
Peskov indicated that a potential phone call between Putin and US President Donald Trump to address unresolved ceasefire issues could be arranged once Witkoff delivers Moscow's messages to Washington, according to the AP report.
He [Witkoff] was received by President Putin late last night, providing additional information to Russia. Through Witkoff, Putin conveyed messages and further signals to President Trump, Peskov explained, as reported by TASS. However, the Kremlin spokesman refrained from disclosing the specific topics covered during the meeting.
A TASS source noted that Witkoff departed Moscow around 11 a.m. local time on Friday.
Witkoff landed in Moscow for talks and presented the ceasefire plan on Thursday. The ceasefire proposal gained traction earlier this week when Ukraine, following talks with a US delegation in Jeddah, expressed support for an "immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire," according to a joint statement released on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin remarked, "We agree with the proposals to stop hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be one that would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original causes of this crisis," according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Putin highlighted the difficulty in monitoring ceasefire violations along the 2,000 km contact line of the conflict and raised the issue that Ukraine might use the temporary ceasefire for mobilization and weapons supplies, according to the report.
Putin also indicated that he might call Trump to discuss the issue, adding that Russia will negotiate the next steps to end the conflict and reach acceptable agreements based on the situation "on the ground," according to Xinhua.
Wan Qingsong, an expert at the Center for Russian Studies at East China Normal University, told the Global Times that Putin's statement continues Russia's previously expressed openness to peace talks while reaffirming that any negotiations must address the root causes of the conflict. Furthermore, Putin is also signaling an intent to sustain the thawing momentum of Russia-US relations that has already begun.
Mixed reactions
US President Donald Trump said on social media Friday that "We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday," and there is a very good chance that "this horrible, bloody war" can finally come to an end.
Also in response to Putin's statement, President Trump said earlier that there have been "good signals" coming out of Russia. Speaking at the White House alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said, "Putin put out a very promising statement, but it wasn't complete," the AP reported.
"Now we'll see if Russia follows through. If they don't, it'll be a deeply disappointing moment for the world," Trump reiterated, stressing the urgency of ending the conflict, according to AP.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky struck a "pessimistic tone" in his evening address to Ukrainians on Thursday, the New York Times said.
Zelensky said Putin's response to the ceasefire proposal was "very predictable." He added that Putin has set so many preconditions "that nothing will work out at all, or that it will not work out for as long as possible," according to the media report.
Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that all parties are exercising diplomatic flexibility to signal to their domestic populations and the international community that they are not the ones impeding peace or exacerbating the conflict.
Nevertheless, their reactions also underscore profound disagreements over arrangements for enduring security, presenting formidable obstacles to a comprehensive resolution of the Ukraine crisis, Li said.
Li noted that the peace plan put forward by the US does not adequately account for the demands of all stakeholders. The ceasefire proposal, laden with temporary measures, lacks the foundation for long-term stability, raising the risk of a superficial "ceasefire for ceasefire's sake."
According to Wan, the parties involved may still be engaged in a phase of mutual probing. "Within the US-Ukraine joint statement issued Tuesday, the US pledge to resume military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine stands in apparent contradiction to the very objective of securing a ceasefire."
The UN Secretary-General's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday that the UN will welcome any potential ceasefire in Ukraine, hoping that it will be concluded and lead to a lasting peace, according to Tass.
"On the Ukraine crisis, China has all along followed the four points proposed by President Xi Jinping on what must be done, namely, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and all efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis should be supported," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday.
"We hope relevant parties will reach a fair and durable peace deal that is binding and accepted by all the parties concerned through dialogue and negotiation. China stands ready to work with the international community and continue to play a constructive role in resolving the crisis and realizing lasting peace," Mao said.
Based on 'new realities'
Meanwhile, ministers from G7 countries are holding meetings in Canada, seeking unity amid both US tariff pressure and the followup of the Ukraine crisis.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, who opened the formal G7 meeting, said she hoped to find ways to "continue to support Ukraine in the face of Russia's illegal aggression." Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged the G7 to avoid "antagonistic" language toward Russia, saying it would hinder US diplomacy that could end the conflict, according to Deutsche Welle.
According to a communique draft seen by Reuters, there is no mention of possible new sanctions on Russia. However, it stressed the need for "robust and credible security guarantees" so that a ceasefire would be respected and that Ukraine would be able to "deter and defend itself against future aggression."
As the US envoy landed in Moscow on Thursday for talks on an American-proposed 30-day ceasefire, Russia's Defense Ministry announced the same day that its forces had retaken the key town of Sudzha in Ukraine-held Kursk region, following President Putin's visit to Kursk.
Putin said on Thursday that Russia is in full control of the situation in the Kursk Region and the Ukrainian combat group is completely blocked, per TASS.
Earlier on Thursday, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told media that the ceasefire plan proposed by the US and Ukraine is a "temporary respite" for Ukraine's military, according to Xinhua. Ushakov said in a TV interview that Moscow is striving for a "long-term" peaceful settlement that takes into account Russia's legitimate interests.
Negotiations with Moscow are unlikely to yield progress if the US and Ukraine fail to take into account the new battlefield realities and Russia's core demands for resolving the conflict, Wan said.
Territorial issues will clearly influence whether peace negotiations can achieve substantive progress, noted Wan, adding that as Russia gains the upper hand on the battlefield, its demands are likely to escalate, leaving less room for compromise, rather than merely accommodating US' preferences.
Since the publication of the first volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China in 2014, the book has garnered widespread recognition globally, becoming a key resource for political figures, scholars, and experts in many countries. It stands as the leader's work with the most published languages, the widest coverage, and the greatest global influence, opening a "window of thought" for understanding China in the new era.
To offer global audiences deeper insights into Xi Jinping: The Governance of China and the key concepts it contains, including perspectives on development, civilization, security, human rights, ecology, international order, and global governance, the Global Times is launching the "Decoding the Book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" series. Through themed columns such as "Scholars' Perspectives," "Translators' Voices," "Practitioners' Insights," and "Readers' Reflections," this series will feature perspectives from Chinese and international scholars, translators of the work, practitioners of its concepts, and overseas readers. It aims to share what they have seen and understood about China's philosophy, values, and wisdom through the book.
For the first installment of the "Readers' Reflections" column, we invite Zoon Ahmed Khan, a Pakistani researcher and journalist based in Beijing, to share her insights from reading the volume 4 of the book and her perspective on China's democratic system. During reading Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, I felt China's whole-process people's democracy is unique as a model of governance; it is responsive, effective, and focused on achieving results from a genuinely people-centered perspective. The country's democratic system emphasizes dialogue, results, accountability, and grassroots participation. It's a "living democracy."
Having lived in China since 2015 and studying and working as an international relations researcher and journalist, I have had the opportunity to visit numerous rural villages, urban communities, and legislative bodies. I found there is a deep focus on tangible improvements in people's lives. Government officials in local communities are responsible for bringing sensible improvements through not only their expertise but also by engaging with the people, and this is a significant difference.
We foreigners are here in China because we see opportunity, progress and a welcoming environment. We have also been involved in visiting different areas of the country and having our suggestions on improvements heard by the governments. Everyone who lives here has a space to contribute, regardless of their background or age.
