Hong Kong on the path to electoral reforms through universal suffrage

The special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong; has made a substantial step towards democratic electoral reforms of how to select its leaders in 2017. Just two decades after returning to China, Hong Kong is on course to attain universal suffrage by 2017. The decision was adopted by China’s National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. The decision of the standing committee of the NPC relates to issues of selecting the Chief Executive by universal suffrage and the method of forming the legislative council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) by 2016.

The democratic development of Hong Kong has been a major topic since the return and transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997. So far, universal suffrage in the selection of its chief executive has been the most important political issue. This is indeed a great step in electoral reforms vital for the development of the region’s political system in line with the one country, two systems principle. 

The One country, Two Systems Principle allows the Hong Kong government to administer all areas of government except foreign relations and military defence separately from the national Chinese government. Hong Kong’s basic law governs its political system, and stipulates that Hong Kong shall have a high degree of autonomy in all matters except the two. It also allows Hong Kong's independent judiciary to function under the common law framework. Nevertheless, the special administrative region of Hong Kong is required to cooperate with the central government. 

Representatives from the top legislature reiterated the view that minimizing the risk of political confrontation between the Special Administrative Region and the central government was essential. This was emphasized by the deputy secretary general of NPC Standing Committee, Mr. Li Fei when he said “To implement the policy of One country - Two systems, we won’t allow confrontations, neither within Hong Kong, nor between the SAR and the central government,". He added "There is a simple logic behind those who want different standards. It means we have to allow someone who wants to confront the central government to run in the elections. Otherwise, it’s not real universal suffrage; it doesn’t conform to international standards. Our attitude is very clear. 

At the heart of the political debate was whether a truly international standard exists when it comes to democratic elections, and whether they can be applied universally, especially in the context of Hong Kong. There was consensus and strong views that there is no such international standard.  According to Chu Kai, advisor of Fed. of Hong Kong watch Trades and Industries, “"There is no such international standard. Each country has its own special situation. We can never copy a so-called international standard and apply it to our own elections."

Therefore, the NPC’s standing committee’s decision was based on the Five-Step Process of Constitutional Development and it complied with the One Country Two Systems practice, the relevant provisions of the Basic Law of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, its legal status, the interests of different sectors of Hong Kong’s communities and the development of Hong Kong’s economy.

Experts believe the NPC Standing Committee’s decision has offered a clear direction and provided guidelines for achieving the goal of universal suffrage in 2017. Different sectors of Hong Kong society have also hailed the decision of the Committee. The experts said that one of the biggest changes under the new policy is the nomination process for Chief Executive Candidates.

The new policy stipulates that, depending on its feasibility, a committee will name no more than two to three candidates. This will allow the ballot to be more efficient and avoid having to hold multiple rounds in case several candidates each only get 10 or 20 percent of the vote. Also unlike before, candidates must be endorsed by half of the nomination committee, rather than just one-eighth. That’s because in the past, the Chief Executive was elected only by the twelve-hundred members of the committee. But in the future, universal suffrage will apply to over 6 million Hong Kong residents. The elected candidate must have the endorsement of over half the committee, which takes into consideration all the different political, religious and social groups’ standpoints. 

However, the decision is not the final step as the decision still needs to be implemented wholly and it requires a two- thirds majority support from all members of the Legislative Council. Mr. CY Leung, the Chief Executive Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), said "We should cherish the rights to historically elect our chief executive through ‘one person, one vote,' and express our opinions peacefully, rationally and legally. He urged all Hong Kong people, irrespective of their political affiliations, to come together with one heart, one vision, and take forward the democratic development of Hong Kong, and to implement universal suffrage."

Deng Xiaoping: Commemorating the Birth of a great reformer.

August 22, 2014 was a very important day for the Chinese people as well people in developing countries. On this day, we payed tribute to a man credited with China’s economic miracle that continues to inspire all developing countries. Perhaps no one in the twentieth century had a greater long-term impact on world history than Deng Xiaoping. Therefore, as friends of China who continue to draw inspiration and support from China’s economic prosperity, we stand together with our Chinese counterparts to Celebrate the 110 birthday of paramount leader and great reformist, Deng Xiaoping.

Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese politician and reformist leader who led China towards a market economy. He was instrumental in China's economic reconstruction following the great leap forward in the early 60s. He is widely considered an architect of a new brand of socialist thinking, having developed socialism with Chinese characteristics and led the successful economic reforms in China through a synthesis of theories that became known as the socialist market economy. Under him, the world came to witness one of history's most dramatic stories of economic transformation in the once-isolated, formerly poor and frail China. He is generally credited with developing China into one of the fastest growing economies the world for over 30 years and raising the living standards of hundreds of millions of Chinese people.

Deng’s sweeping economic reforms brought in copious flows of FDI and changed the face of China in the over two decades from one of the poorest countries to the world's second largest economy only after the US. He opened China to foreign investment, the global market and limited private competition. He was a revolutionary nationalist who wanted to see China standing on equal terms with the great global powers.

China's economic miracle represents an attractive model of state-led capitalist development that has dramatically enhanced the economic fortunes of many developing and emerging economies. The so-called "Beijing Consensus" reshaped the terms of international trade and investment that opened up fair trade policies for developing countries.

Therefore, Deng Xiaoping is a role model for statesmanship and reformist leaders that all developing countries look up to. He took power in 1978, when China was in dire poverty. By the time he stepped down 14 years later, over 200 million people had been lifted out of poverty, and the policies he introduced set China on the path to become an economic powerhouse. We celebrate him and wish our Chinese brothers a happy celebration of Deng Xiaoping's 110th birthday to be celebrated on August 22.

China seeks greater cooperation with Arab Nations

On June 5, 2014, the Chinese government hosted the 6^th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) at the great hall of the people in Beijing. With the theme “building modern Silk Road and promoting China-Arab common development, the Conference brought together delegates from Arab states and the Arab league with their Chinese counterparts to discuss further cooperation in economic, political, cultural and educational fields. More than 200 delegates were in attendance including foreign ministers and representatives of China and the League of Arab states (LAS). Africa was well represented by Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.

President Xi Jinping graced the opening ceremony of the ministerial conference and delivered an important speech stressing the promotion of the Silk Road spirit to deepen the china-Arab cooperation. The Silk Road is a series of trade and cultural transmission routes that connected regions of the Asian continent from China through the Mediterranean Sea by linking traders, merchants, pilgrims, monks, nomads and urban dwellers during various periods in historical times. Trade on the Silk Road was a significant factor in the development of the civilizations of China, the Indian subcontinent, Persia, Europe, and Arabia, opening long-distance, political and economic interactions between the civilizations. During the coming of age of Islam, Arab traders became very prominent.

In his speech, president Xi Jinping said that through the ancient Silk Road, the ancestors of the Chinese and Arab peoples took the lead in the friendly exchanges among nations in the ancient world. It is in this historical context that he hoped the two sides will promote the Silk Road spirit and take the joint construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century for the benefit of the Chinese and Arab people. The Silk Road proudly bears the spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning, mutual benefits and win –win results.

China and the Arab states enjoy mutual understanding and friendship because of the Silk Road, and are natural cooperative partners in jointly building the "One Belt One Road". The two sides should hold a broader vision and down-to-earth attitude to establish a "1+2+3" cooperation pattern, namely, to take energy cooperation as the core, infrastructure construction, trade and investment facilitation as two things and three;  high and new tech fields of nuclear energy, space satellite and new energy as new breakthroughs.

Foreign Minister Abdurrahman Beileh of Somalia met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and discussed the current situation in Somalia. He expressed that Somalia is now facing very big challenges and hoped to carry out cooperation with China in the fields of road network, port construction and agriculture.

China is the old friend and traditional trade partner of Somalia. The famous Chinese navigator Zheng He passed the costal shores of Somalia to the Kenyan coast of Malindi where he decked. A constantly developing Somalia is good for the Silk Road maritime trade. Wang Yi expressed that the Chinese side will firmly support the peaceful and social development of Somalia and will reopen the Chinese Embassy in Somalia as soon as possible. He further stated that China stands ready to continue to strengthen security cooperation, provide assistance to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and send the convoy fleet to safeguard the maritime security in relevant waters.

The conference achieved major positive outcomes and consensus was achieved on all the major directions, priority fields, specific measures and implementation road map in strengthening China-Arab cooperation. Both sides signed three important documents including the "Beijing Declaration", the "Action Plan for 2014 to 2016" and the "Development Plan for 2014 to 2024", proposing cooperation ideas, cooperation measures and cooperation routes on how to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results between China and the Arab states. Among the documents, the "Development Plan" puts forward the overall objective and advancement direction for the development of the China-Arab relations and determines 15 key cooperation fields such as economy and trade, energy, culture, industry, agriculture, science and technology, health care, education, press and publication, infrastructure, aerospace, environmental protection and non-governmental exchanges.

The "Action Plan" stipulates that in the following two years, both sides will continue well organizing the seven major institutional activities such as the China-Arab Business Conference and Investment Seminar, China-Arab Energy Cooperation Conference, Seminar on China-Arab Inter-civilization Dialogue, China-Arab Friendship Conference, China-Arab Press Cooperation Forum, and China-Arab Senior Health Officials' Meeting. It also determines that in the following two years, both sides will focus on eight major cooperation intents such as establishing China-Arab senior officials' strategic dialogues, promoting the construction of the free trade area between China and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, establishing China-Arab Technical Training Center of Desertification Prevention and Control, and implementing China-Arab Scientific and Technological Partnership Program.

The 6^th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) was a great success as both sides have become closer and more focused as Arab states are “turning east” while China is seeking greater cooperation for mutual development through the modern Silk Road.

My visit to China Giant Panda Sanctuaries

A visit to the Giant Panda sanctuaries in China is akin to foreigners visiting the Maasai Mara in Kenya. Whereas the Maasai Mara has been named the seventh wonder of the world, the Sichuan Giant Panda sanctuaries was inscribed on the world Heritage list as a natural property by UNESCO. The sanctuaries are, to some degree  ‘a living museum’ where you will find apart from the giant Pandas, golden monkeys, antelopes and other rare animals as well as more than  10,000 species of flora, this being a world-renown biodiversity area. The sanctuaries offer the most awe inspiring sights on earth and a trip to witness this magnificence is an unforgettable experience.

 The Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries are located in southwest Sichuan province of China. They are home to more than 30% of the world's pandas which have since been classified as highly endangered. The area covers 924,500 ha and boasts seven nature reserves and nine scenic parks in the Qionglai and Jiajin Mountains. The sanctuaries constitute the largest remaining adjacent habitats of the rare giant panda and are a relic from the paleo-tropic forests of the tertiary Era which makes them historic objects.

Previous IUCN evaluations have noted the potential to meet natural world heritage criteria citing the earth’s history and geological features with its superlative natural beauty and aesthetic importance to biodiversity and threatened species. The sanctuaries are home to other globally endangered animals such as the red panda, the snow leopard and clouded leopard. They are among the botanically richest sites of any region in the world outside the tropical rainforests, with between 5,000 and 6,000 species of flora in over 1,000 genera.

The Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries are principally renowned for their importance for the conservation of the giant panda and recognized as a “National Treasure” in China as well as a flagship for global conservation efforts. The property is the largest and most significant remaining adjacent areas of panda habitat and the richest sites of any temperate region in China and the world. Underlining the outstanding value is that it protects a wide variety of topography, geology, and plant and animal species. The property has exceptional value for biodiversity conservation and can demonstrate how ecosystem management systems can work across the borders of national and provincial protected areas.

The range of landforms within the sanctuaries contributes greatly to its high scenic value. There are 20 special scenic areas within the property, each possessing its own unique features. These include steep forested valleys, scenic rivers, rocky crags, wide alpine meadows and the mountain peaks of Siguniang Mountain. The area is vast and breathtaking covering a total area of 9,245 square kilometers in 12 counties and four cities and prefectures. These are Chengdu, Ya'an, Aba and Garze.  

The Giant Panda’s themselves are the most lovable creatures on earth. They have a simple, rather naive look and seeing them automatically translates to loving them. They have small black ears, a big head, a round face and the famous “black eye patches”. Its body is covered with fur which looks like a black and white coat. Giant Panda’s mostly eat and rest and are not aggressive. Because of their humility, they serve as an enduring symbol of peace and friendship in China. They are rare animals and considered as "living fossil" native to China. However, they are endangered species attracting global attention and affection in equal measure. With fewer than 1,000 in the wild and 100 in captivity, its extinction may be only a matter of time if the conservation efforts stop. They not only constitute one of China's national treasures, but they are of universal value in terms of the protection of biodiversity.

Panda tourism is big business in China as more and more are people are discovering this hidden paradise. Each year 800,000 people visit the country's best-known centre at Chengdu, which is almost 2,000km southwest of Beijing. If you like your animals black, white and unabashedly cuddly, this is the place to be. The Chengdu Railway Station has trains leading to more than 10 large cities in China, including Beijing and Shanghai. There are also regular scheduled bus services to the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries.

Chengdu is known as the panda capital of the world and is the obvious destination for panda lovers. It is where you will find Panda Base, an important conservation and breeding centre and a green oasis in the city, home to more than 90 of the black-and-white bears. The city of Chengdu loves it pandas and there are homages to them everywhere you go, from taxis with pandas on their bonnets, to the 20ft tall silver statue in the city centre.

China’s success in bringing pandas back from the brink offers important lessons for other countries. The nation that saved the panda has arguably the best record of any developing country for protecting endangered animals, saving not just the panda but also stabilizing populations of Tibetan antelopes and black snub-nosed monkeys. I would therefore recommend a visit to the giant Panda sanctuaries for an experience of a lifetime.