Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says China values its ties with South Korea and welcomes President Lee Jae-myung's upcoming visit.
Several dozens of countries have expressed support for China on its recent countermeasures and military drills around the Taiwan region.
And China ratifies UN High Seas Treaty, advancing protection of marine life beyond national borders.
Welcome to Road Today, a news program with a different perspective.
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Foreign Minister Wang Yi says China places high importance on its relations with South Korea and welcomes President Lee Jae-myung's upcoming visit to China.
He made the remarks during a phone conversation with his South Korean counterpart, Chung Yeon, at a letters request.
During the conversation, the South Korean foreign minister reaffirmed his country's commitment to the One China principle and to advancing the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership.
President Lee Jong-un is scheduled to pay a state visit to China from Sunday to Wednesday next week.
This is Lee's first visit to China since taking office in June.
So for more on this, let's have Dr Rong Ying, chair professor at the School of International Studies at Sichuan University.
Professor, to begin with, could you please help us review China-South Korea relations since President Lee took office?
What positive changes have you seen in their ties?
Well, I think China and our OK relationship has seen over the new administration of President Li Jianming since June 2025.
We're seeing a steady progress towards closer interactions at the higher level and also, I think, growing communications and even at the certainly economic and cultural levels.
If you look at political high-level interactions President Xi and President Li the new government would take over President Xi had phone conversations and afterwards, of course, K government sent a special envoy to China, which was well-received, and then The list has been very long.
I think the speakers of ROK of South Korea also attended the military parade commemorating the victories of Chinese war resistance and Japanese aggressions.
And last but not least I think the highlight of course the state visit by President Xi to South Korea when he attended the APEC summit meeting.
During the visit, President Xi invited President Li Jiuming to visit China.
And interestingly, what is important is that this visit is the first visit in almost nine years.
So this is, I think, definitely a very important, not only the concrete result, but also the implication, the impact for the region and beyond.
Could you please elaborate more on the importance of this visit?
As you mentioned, President Li is about to make his first visit to China since taking office.
How crucial is the timing of this trip?
For both sides, this marked the first major diplomatic engagement of 2026, right?
Yeah, definitely.
I think timing is very much important.
As far as I think, China is concerned, at the beginning of the new year, host a state visit like that, it's not so usual.
I think a look at the agenda, the political agenda of the Chinese leaders has been also very much busy.
Not only the spring festival but more or very much related to domestic agenda the two sessions and so on and so forth.
So I thought it was a quite extraordinary arrangement.
But, of course, for South Korea's concern.
They reported that, after the visit to China, President Lee is also going to visit Japan.
So to some extent demonstrate that the two sides are very much important to the close interactions, certainly to strengthen communication, strategic communications, but most importantly to ensure the momentum of the strategic partnership would be maintained so that strategic communications, high-level exchanges and, most importantly, the two countries.
As they start the new year, they can have a better understanding about the strategies, but most importantly, in the case of China,
Speaking of the top priorities on the agenda during the visit, in which areas do you see the greatest potential for breakthrough, given what both sides are really hoping to gain from this visit?
Definitely the strategic communications.
For the sake of strength and political trust is very much important, as we agreed, we need to, with interaction, the highest level other dialect mechanism between the two countries, whether be resumed or whether be accelerated.
That's the most important thing.
But i think the top priority, in addition to the strategic communication side, is the practical corporations.
That is very much so always been defining features of china and our relationship, after such a close neighbors, a partner for cooperation.
It is also very much reflected by the delegations and the present these entourage that have been announced reported that over 200 sort of businessmen, including the four big conglomerates, Korean ones, were becoming the Hongdae, the Samsung and SK and others.
And there are also expectations that the two sides would talk a lot about how to strengthen the institutional arrangement for trade and investment, for example.
I think one can expect, with reasonably expect, that the phase two free trade uh sort of deals between the two countries this all would be resumed and hopefully it will accelerate then.
The other areas, of course, relate to the supply chains and the other, the safe and stable supply chains and others.
The question like the so-called new or emerging areas, the digital economy, green transition and so forth.
Last but not least, I believe that people-to-people interaction, cultural interaction, has always been important.
Unfortunately, because of the relationship difficulties that have been thrown into in the past few years, people-to-people interaction has been assumed that, with the assumption and acceleration of high-list level exchanges, there will be more coming.
About the room for new agreements.
We've seen Western media talk about competition between China and South Korea in areas like semiconductors, but many analysts argue that the two economies are actually highly complementary in high-tech sector, be it the chips or EV batteries.
So how do you read these very different interpretations?
It is true, I think to some extent as Chinese in capabilities or technologies advancement.
There are some competition in sectors like automobile manufacturing, ship buildings and chemicals, petrochemicals and so on and so forth.
But it is true.
That is, I think, the fact.
But in the meantime I think the relationship in the trade investment, particularly in the supply value chain sort of sector, the two sides, the two countries as highly integrated, turning into a kind of a community of shared interest.
And also, even in those areas where there are competitions, also there are highly complementarities.
So the question is, first and foremost, how to perceive, look at the reality, but most importantly, I think, how the two sides can work together to ensure that their competitions were properly managed and complementarities would be given full play.
So that's why, with the political relationship is improving, it's getting steady and the practical cooperation trade investment in particular should be working.
If we look at the announced agenda, there will be, in addition to Beijing President Li is going to Shanghai.
There, in addition to his visit to some cultural, historical fair site where the Korean leaders for Korean independence will be respected.
There have also been function events for the two countries.
Particularly two business sectors worked there for innovation.
That is also very much important.
I expect that something big or something new will be coming out, in addition to the narrative of competition which is, of course, there.
But how to manage that competition is very much important.
Professor, thanks, Chris.
Foreign Minister once again reaffirmed commitment to the one China principle at a time when some Japanese political forces are trying to rewrite history.
How should we understand this statement and what message does President Lee's China visit send in this realm?
The importance of the relationship, the reason that the two sides being able to go beyond difficulties, the relationship they run into in the past few years, particularly the previous administrations, is that now that there's agreement on the question of core interests, major concerns,
The two sides should respect each other, show sensitivities.
In the case of the question related to the history, international order and Japanese Prime Minister Takahashi's wrongful remarks related to the history and others.
That is very much helped.
Important in a sense, it touched upon the political foundation of that.
I think China very much of South Korea on the question of Taiwan, the one China principle.
In the meantime, I think China and South Korea will continuously working together to ensure that the post-World War historical views, in particular on the question of Japan's strategic directions and the danger or the risk of the possibility of revival of resurgence of Japanese militarism.
Again, there are more conversations, more strategic coordination on that.
After all, China and Korea, the two neighboring countries that have been suffered so much from the Japanese military and Japanese aggression.
And the reason why, as I said, that President Lee, in his coming trip he will be visiting pay respect to the Koreans' founding fathers for Korean independence.
To commemorate the event 150 sort of years, birthdays and others.
It's very much significant.
I think that tells a lot.
China and South Korea will be working together to ensure the military in Japan will never succeed.
Will make every effort possible to ensure that that will never happen.
Professor, one last question.
Let's talk about China-Japan-South Korea relations.
Some observers say, before Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takeuchi took office, public support for closer trilateral cooperation had been growing in all three countries, which might bring huge economic and regional benefits.
But they also argue that Washington is uncomfortable with this trend, and the recent provocations by Takeuchi toward China and South Korea have disrupted this momentum.
So how do you view this argument?
Looking ahead to 2026, Where do you see trilateral relations heading, and how does the US factor into the equation?
Leave the U.S. factor for a moment.
Go first to the trilateral cooperation China, Japan and South Korea which I think again economically and also in terms of cultural and people-to-people interaction,
And I think to China. even politically, certainly means a lot.
And we have seen huge potential.
Great progress has been made.
If you look at the mechanisms of dialogue, the potentialities, and if you look at the agreements, the investments and also the benefits for the two sides working together to address the common challenges facing the two countries in pursuing their own respective development.
Unfortunately, the process of trilateral cooperation always being suffered or undermined negatively by Japanese moves around in history and others.
For example, the last round back in, I think 2012 13, up to resumption of the trilateral leaders meeting in 2016, 18s.
It was exactly because Japanese positions on history, the visit of Yusuke Isshin by the former Prime Minister Abe and others make it impossible politically and even economically.
So if Japan whatever their argument Japan, if it's seriously about the Charter Corporation, it should take a right position, right policies.
The U.S. factor is always there.
The US has always been one to bring the two allies most arguably the most important allies in the region between Japan and South Korea together, to form a kind of a group, and in the hope that they would overcome their so-called historical problems, the territorial disputes and so on.
Unfortunately, Japan has always created problems and troubles and making it impossible.
I don't think the trilateral cooperation between China and Japan and the South Korea has any particular geopolitical significance or agenda.
Rather it is very much, i think, out of the geographical proximity and the economic logic and the potentiality of that relationship.
So only hope that the united states would respect the trilateral corporations and, the most important about japan, will take the cooperation with china, with south korea, seriously by going beyond its political or personal agenda of Japanese leaders.
And I see that, as Takahichi government, there are a lot of expectations that would pursue their conservative, right-wing agendas, particularly on defense security field.
I will see more challenges, possibly more difficulties, going ahead with the planned agenda on the trilateral cooperation.
That's very unfortunate.
Thanks, Professor, for those in-depth analysis.
That was Dr Rong Ying Chair, Professor at the School of International Studies at Sichuan University.
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Several dozens of countries have expressed support for China following its latest countermeasures and military drills around the Taiwan region.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday that China highly appreciates the firm backing from these countries.
He noted that their statements reaffirm key principles.
Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.
The Taiwan question is China's internal affair and the so-called Taiwan independence in any form must be rejected.
To delve deeper into these issues, we are joined by Dr. Shao Yuchun.
She is a director of the Institute for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies.
Thanks for joining us, Dr. Shao.
Thank you very much for having me.
Recently, dozens of countries, including many neighboring nations, the South Korea Thailand Cambodia Malaysia, the list goes on have once again spoken out to reaffirm the one China principle.
What does this tell us about the broader international consensus on the Taiwan question?
And why does this principle still matter so much for regional stability and the basic norms of international relations?
It reflects that most of the countries around the world, especially our neighboring countries, they support and adhere to the one China principle, which is there is but one China in the world.
Taiwan is a part of China and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.
The number of countries which adhere to the one China principle is much bigger than the one group which supports one China policy.
According to the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and Japan's intrusion of surrender, Taiwan has long been returned to China.
And in 1971 the government of the People's Republic of China also regained China's lawful seat in the United Nations.
Therefore, the one China principle embodies the fundamental spirit of international law.
And the One China Principle also embodies the fundamental spirit of the United Nations Charter, Article 2, Item 4, which says that the territorial integrity or political independence of any state should not be threatened.
The importance of the One China Principle for regional stability is reflected in both positive and negative aspects.
On the positive side.
If all countries in the region adhere to this principle, interstate relations will have a fundamental legal and political guarantee, making them sustainable and thereby ensuring the stability of the entire region.
On the negative side, if some countries fail to adhere to this principle and attempt to challenge China's core national interests, the political foundation of interstate relations will be undermined, making conflicts among regional countries more likely.
Building on that, when a few Japanese, Australian and EU institutions say China's recent military drills are unilaterally changing the status quo.
And China says these are legitimate exercises within its own sovereignty.
How do you assess these narratives?
And when the US continues selling weapons to Taiwan, is it really China that's changing the status quo?
The fundamental position of these countries is that the Taiwan status undetermined.
This argument.
They hope that the two sides of the strait will remain permanently separated, believing that this best serves their national interests.
As a result, on the one hand, they tacitly accept the DPP authorities' push for a Taiwan independence policy, while on the other hand, they accuse China's military deterrence measures as changing the support status quo.
Behind the differing narratives of these countries in China lies a contest between two visions of regional and global order.
This is why the Chinese government stresses the need to uphold the correct view of the World War II history and to safeguard the fruits of victory of World War II and the foundations of the post-war international order.
So there are different versions of the so-called status quo of the Taiwan Strait.
Our definition is different with the version defined by the United States.
The divergence illustrates the difference between the one-channel principle and the one-channel policy.
So the US government has promised in their Sino-US joint communique, the August 17 communique, the third one, that the US pledged to gradually reduce arms sales to Taiwan.
But afterwards the US sought various pretexts to continue selling arms to Taiwan, with both the quantity and the quantity steadily increasing, culminating in the largest arms sales to Taiwan today.
So this reflects the fact that the US is fundamentally unwilling to abandon the Taiwan status undetermined argument and still seeks to use the Taiwan question to strategically consume China's strength and influence in order to maintain its regional hegemony.
Although the latest national security strategy report by the Trump administration does not explicitly identify China as a strategic competitor, it repeatedly emphasized the need to strengthen military deterrence in the Taiwan Strait, indicating that, while the US has made tactical adjustments in the face of its declining power, it remains unwilling to relinquish its military dominance in this region.
Dr Shao.
China has repeatedly stressed that its military actions are necessary countermeasures against the so-called Taiwan independence activities and external interference.
How should we understand the defensive and restrained nature of China's action in this context?
I think we can look at this from three perspectives.
First of all, when various changes occur in the external environment.
The Chinese government's policies have consistently maintained strong continuity, which is peaceful unification and one country, two systems.
This demonstrates the Chinese government's great strategic resolve and strategic patience to deal with the Taiwan question.
Secondly, China's military exercise always take place after serious public provocations by the Taiwan authorities or the US government.
For example, the recent Justice Mission 2025 military exercise happened after the US did the largest military sales to Taiwan.
And this past April's Strait Sunda military exercise took place after Lai Ching-te's speech on March 17, which labeled the mainland as a foreign hostile force.
Another example is Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.
After her visit, the PLA did the military exercise.
And certainly, China's military exercises have not affected the normal operation of international shipping lanes, nor have they infringed upon the airspace or territorial waters of other countries.
Dr Xiao.
We see reports say that this week the US ambassador to China brought together diplomats from Australia, India and Japan in Beijing, portraying the Quad as a positive force for a quote unquote free and open, so-called Indo-Pacific.
How do you rate this move and how would you assess the true nature and role of the Quad?
Actually, the U.S. ambassador towards China's claim and the gathering, I think, were a symbolic show of solidarity among Quad members in the face of Chinese military exercises. reinforce the Quad's narrative of being a so-called stabilizing force rather than a confrontational block.
The Quad is a group revived during the first Trump administration to counter China's economic, diplomatic and military influence in the region.
In the context of Trump administration, define China as its most important strategic competitor.
Due to concerns of most regional countries, ASEAN countries, especially that there will be a military confrontation between China and the US-led group of countries.
Quad members.
So they call it a diplomatic partnership instead of a security one.
But in the essence, it's a security group.
During the current Trump administration.
Because of its policy to India, Japan and Australia, especially to India, Quad has become increasingly irrelevant.
President Trump didn't visit India last year, and the Quad summit that was supposed to be hosted by India did not take place.
So some American analysts are already saying that the Quad is dead now.
Finally, let's talk about what's happening on the island of Taiwan.
The Lai Ching Teh authorities keep pushing separatist rhetoric and raising tensions across the street.
Who actually benefits from higher tensions in the region and who pays the price?
Lai Ching Teh continues to make all those separatist remarks.
I think his purpose is mainly as follows.
First of all, because of his poor governance and lack of achievements in improving people's livelihoods on the island.
He relies on pro-independence rhetoric to consolidate his base, thereby securing his position within the DPP and maintaining support on the island.
Secondly, after the mainland carries out military deterrence activities, he and the DPP promote the narrative that the mainland intends to use force for reunification.
In order to gain support from the U.S. and other and certain European countries.
He then used this to claim that Taiwan enjoys very good relations with the US, Japan, and Europe.
Certainly when opposition parties criticize his very erroneous statements.
He and the DPP portray the opposition as being aligned with the Chinese Communist Party, using fear to pressure the Taiwanese public into supporting the DPP rather than the Kuomintang or the Taiwan People's Party.
And, at the end of the day, the people of Taiwan will be the ones to shoulder the huge costs.
Increasing defense spending has already diverted resources away from social welfare and infrastructure.
With cross-strait relations highly strained and travel difficult, the people of Taiwan have lost chance to take part in China's modernization.
Thanks, Dr. Shao Yuchun.
That's all the time for the first half of this program.
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Dominica's president, Suwenny Burton, has praised China's contribution to the international community, especially within Commonwealth framework.
In an exclusive interview with my colleague Zhou Yun, President Burton emphasized how continuous dialogue between China and Dominica has strengthened mutual understanding, deepened friendship and enhanced cooperation on development and shared global challenges.
For more on this conversation, let's take a listen.
This time, Madam President, during your visit, it was quite a demanding yet very, I would say, diversified trip because you met with China's top leadership, attending international meetings on women, meeting young entrepreneurs, and also visiting Chinese companies, and the Great Wall, Forbidden City, the Museum of CPC.
How would you characterize this trip?
So we visited a number of areas and held a discussion, as you said, with the leadership of China and to hear the president of the People's Republic of China recommit and not only recommit in words, but recommit resources. to ensuring gender equality across the world.
So for me, that was something that was very, very critical.
And we went to the museums.
We went to the Forbidden City.
And of course, we enjoyed quite a bit of China's cuisine.
So for me, China has preserved its history, as I mentioned, its heritage.
And even it's cuisine.
I usually stand in my hotel room and look at all the highways that you have and all the vehicles.
This for me, it's a contrast.
Here you have modernization, but you've not left behind what will keep you healthy, what will get you to work faster?
And so you've incorporated the two. both in terms of modernization and what you used to do before.
Also, I think the technology in China is something that we look at and we say China should come to Dominica to assist us in our technological development.
And so that is also something that I look at as a positive for China.
And a lot of work has been done.
I applaud China for the work that they've done and the work that they continue to do.
Another good example of people-to-people exchanges between our two nations is in the past 17 years there have been around 40 Chinese medical experts providing high-quality services to the country.
And one of the achievements that you might be very familiar with is the country's very first cardiology surgery, only made possible with a China-assisted cardiology unit.
How do you think the Chinese medical teams, the assistance and the efforts they made, help improve the healthcare system in your country?
Well, first and foremost, let me thank the government of China again for the construction of the Dominica China Friendship Hospital.
Because of that the construction of that hospital, the equipping of that hospital and the Chinese medical teams we have been able to offer an additional 30 services healthcare services to our people.
And for us this is critical, because a number of our people will have to be flown out of the country to receive medical care.
And with the assistance of the Chinese medical team, we have been able to make strides to assist our medical personnel with experiences and sharing experiences.
And they've also not just returned home, but they've continued to do telemedicine.
And so a patient in Dominica has can be diagnosed or treated or given advice by the Chinese doctors here in China.
So it's not only that the Chinese medical team has come and assisted us in training our medical personnel, in developing some of the units that we have at the hospital, but they have also made friends.
They've also made friends.
And so you spoke about this lady who got the medical service and was treated.
This lady is alive because the Chinese medical team, the cardiology team, was there at the time to assist her.
And for that, we are very grateful.
And we can speak about other areas.
For example, we have the Chinese agricultural missions that has been in Dominica for a number of years assisting us with different varieties, especially because of the fact that, with climate change, the number of diseases, we now have to ensure that we have resilient crops for food security.
And we are very grateful for them.
And China, as well as Dominica, signed an MOU on the Belt and Road Initiative back in 2018.
So, President Burton, how do you think The changes brought by the Belt and Road Initiative has helped to impact it and also change the well-being of the people in the country?
The Belt and Road Initiative is a very important initiative for us.
We are benefiting from assistance from the Chinese government for the construction of six primary schools which were destroyed or damaged during Hurricane Maria.
And these schools are being constructed.
A secondary school is also being constructed.
A number of other projects that the Chinese government has assisted us with under the Belt and Road Initiative.
And these projects have definitely changed the lives of many Dominicans, have impacted the lives of Dominicans.
So for example, we have the road from the north to the south, from the north to the city.
Before it would maybe take you two hours to get to the city.
Now it takes you about an hour, less than an hour.
So, post after Hurricane Maria, About five or six of the bridges on that main road that was constructed, that I mentioned, was destroyed.
They were either damaged or destroyed.
And the Chinese government decided that hey, we will reconstruct these bridges to ensure that people have access and have safe access.
So the Belt and Road Initiative has seen a number of projects in Dominica.
We look forward to other projects, of course.
We hope very soon that our international airport will be constructed, completed.
Well, its works are progressing satisfactorily.
That was Dominica's President, Sue Winnie Burton, talking with Zhou Yue.
This is Road Today.
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China has ratified a UN agreement on conserving marine diversity, marking a key step in its efforts to protect marine ecosystems beyond national borders.
The agreement, also known as the High Seas Treaty, aims to conserve and sustainably use marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdictions.
China signed the agreement in 2023 after participating in a 19-year negotiation process.
With its ratification, China will become a contracting party when the agreement takes effect this month.
So for more on this, my colleague Lian Qingxuan talked with Professor Zhang MK Wang, a marine environment advisor to Qatar's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
So, Professor Wang.
The BBNG agreement addresses marine genetic resources and area-based management tools, like marine protected areas.
So what practical benefits will it bring to marine life in the high seas and deep oceans after it takes effect?
And are there any links to our daily lives, like seafood supply or marine tourism?
Yes, of course it will be beneficial to marine life and that also means that there are our seafood security will be secure, that there will be no overfishing.
There will be some kind of management beyond the boundary jurisdictions in the open water.
And also if we protect the migratory species such as the whales or the sea turtles.
Those are subject of ecotourism.
So this will also provide a blue economy to the countries that's adjacent to those open oceans.
So all these, you know, with proper management, we can actually have sustainable marine resources for all to use.
The BBNG agreement will take effect on January 17, 2026.
In your opinion, what are the top priorities that need to be implemented first to see quick conservation results?
And what leading role can China play in this process?
The first priorities are actually identifying the important areas in the open waters, where those are feeding sites for important fisheries and also endangered migratory species such as the whales or the sea turtles and the dolphins.
And all these need the cooperation of all the countries in the region, such as, for example, in china.
We are in the west pacific ocean region and, through the united nations, the un unisco ioc, the west pacific region, that we can actually manage the west pacific ocean marine assets and understand that in china we do have a representative Actually, one of the chairmen was a Chinese in this commission.
The UNESCO IOC means the Intergovernmental Ocean Commission, which is responsible for the management of planning the ocean decade.
And they also draft policies and take actions for the protection of the marine resources up to 2030.
So it's ocean decade is actually a 30 by 30, meaning by 2030, 30% of the ocean should be protected.
But near the coastal areas, many countries are already taking actions to that.
But now with the new BBNJ, that means we can extend the management to the open waters, the international waters.
So this will help us to actually take care of 30%.
We need to identify 30% of the open waters to be designated as protected areas.
So this will need international cooperation and regional cooperation is very important.
And China has been very active in the oceanography studies and also conservation.
So we can play a leading role if we can take more proactive action through the UNESCO IOC Commission.
The West Pacific region area.
The BBNG agreement requires capacity building and marine technology transfer.
In recent years, China has carried out many marine conservation efforts, such as building marine protected areas and resorting coastal zones.
Can these practical experiences provide a reference for the world, especially in terms of helping developing countries in related fields?
Yes, of course, China has been very active in applying the marine technology and also we have trained a lot of marine scientists and with many ocean universities being built.
And we have many good policies such as the marine protected areas.
And also we have fishing ban for three months.
This is something that other, such as the developing countries, or even the developed countries, can use as a reference.
We need the international cooperation for the regional management of these resources.
The fish farming China is very well experienced, especially the large scale fish farming in the open waters, and also the data sharing china.
We have a lot of data on the hydrology and also the meteorology data from our satellite, especially the west pacific region.
But one thing that we wanted to stress is that the plastics is a very important factor that actually affecting the whole world, and it is in this area that we should actually put more efforts to to combat this pollution of plastic, because all the fish is getting into the ecosystem.
The microplastics.
So, with more advanced technology, Chinese research, and maybe we can cooperate with our partners to combat the challenges of the ocean.
China is at the world's leading level in the acquisition of deep-sea genetic resources, but there is still room for improvement in downstream development and utilization.
After joining the agreement, through what international cooperation channels can we make up for the shortcomings and achieve breakthroughs in new tracks?
As I mentioned earlier, it's the UN, the UNESCO, IOC, West Pacific region.
There is an existing body, United Nations Education Science and Culture Organization.
Under that there's the Intergovernmental Ocean Commission, which oversees the management of the ocean, and then the group that actually proposed the ocean decade, and actually last year the ocean decade conference was held in barcelona and also some of our colleagues from china also attended.
It is through this un entity that we will participate in the management of high seas and marine resources and China's participation will be appreciated and also we are already active in it, but we need to strengthen the participation and we need to be more proactive.
We need to send more young marine scientists to join this institution, and so this will help us to have a more influential position to actually help to spread the conservation of marine resources in the Western Pacific, because China has done a lot of research in this region.
There is a view that the BBNG agreement does not merely restrict development but achieves sustainable use through scientific conservation.
Could you explain this balance between conservation and utilization in simple terms?
Actually, conservation is for sustainable development, so we conserve not just for protecting everything.
We're still using it.
So for the benefit of the local communities and the society, we have to use a sustainable use, for example with this protection of the migratory species.
Then we can actually develop blue economy, which is well watching.
It's already started in the south china.
We're watching that as an example of actually conservation and utilization of the marine resources.
This is a coastal.
But in the open oceans there are also some important areas that we need to protect so that the breeding sites or the feeding sites of the fisheries or migratory species that they need to protect so that the population will not decline.
And then so we ensure that there's no overfishing.
There will be some sort of management of the open ocean so that you ensure sustainable development through conservation of our marine resources, applying the scientific knowledge.
Faced with global challenges like climate change and marine pollution, will the BBNG agreement promote closer international cooperation in addressing cross-cutting issues related to marine biodiversity conservation?
And how can China's concept of a maritime community with a shared future boost such cooperation in implementation of the BBNG agreement?
Yeah, China has a very long coastline in the West Pacific Ocean.
And although we manage our coastal area, but in the open oceans, we can actually participate more.
And with the cooperation of the regional partners, our Asia countries and neighbors, then we can actually have some sort of joint projects programs, long-term programs, for example protecting the important fisheries and also endangering migratory species to endangering, ensure the genetic biodiversity in the region.
And it was again through the UN.
But China can take a leading role because already China is the chairman of the subcommittee.
And if we want to have a successful impact on these conservation, we need to quickly identify the 30 of those important habitats, important waters for the fisheries or the endangered species to survive as a population.
Because many of the endangered species are being threatened by heavy maritime traffic and, if necessary, we can have the marine protected area in the international water, but it will be managed through the regional partners so that, if possible, we can reroute some of the marine traffic so that would avoid killing or harming some of these megafauna in the area, and also the fishery stocks can be protected through the establishment of marine protected area for the fishery protected area so that ensure that the fisheries are protected for sustainable use, and it's through international regional cooperation We can do it.
So China has a lot of new technology getting applied and also we have already collected a lot of data about the regional hydrographic data.
So we can contribute a lot and also we can be the leader to actually share with our partners in the region.
So China can be the leading role in this BBNJ for the Western Pacific region.
That was Professor John M K Wong, a Marine Environment Advisor to Qatar's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, speaking with Lan Qingxuan.
Turkey has granted visa-free travel to Chinese citizens holding ordinary passport for tourism and transit, aiming to strengthen trade and tourism between the two nations.
Chinese travelers will be exempt from visa requirements first days of up to 90 days within any 180 days period.
According to Turkey's official data, Chinese tourists' arrivals surged 65 last year, reaching more than 400000 visitors.
The new regulations will take effect on January 2nd.
So for more on this, my colleague Song Ruixin spoke with He Wenping, Senior Research Fellow at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
First of all, Professor He, to ground our discussion, have you personally visited the country?
Oh, yes.
I think that was a long ago, at least before the COVID-19.
I think I may be been to Turkey twice.
The first time I was remember that was in Istanbul.
The big international humanitarian summit was taking place.
So I was invited to also join that event.
So that was first time.
Second time, maybe another event.
But both time, I was not there by my personal, this individual joined the tour group.
I was there, by you know, business trip, but also took this chance also has seen those countries by and large.
So it looks like the policy takes effect on January the 2nd and coinciding precisely with China's holiday travel period.
Have you observed any particular trends in Chinese holiday travel in recent years?
Yes, I think actually before COVID-19 lots of Chinese tourists already, you know, traveling all over the world, even not mention to Middle Eastern country, also to Africa, quite a lot.
I even tell you something very interesting.
I even in Kenya, even met one of my old friends by chance.
You see, she joined a travel group organized by Shanghai, some travel agency.
So in Kenya, you met an old friend just by chance.
So from that perspective, you can see that's the biggest trend already.
Chinese people now with better well-being and now They have a deep pocket.
They want to see the world.
Not only those European and American, those Western countries.
Now they want to go to Africa or go to Middle East.
Many other different cultures, different scenarios and different history backgrounds.
So this is already the trend.
Only then, because of COVID-19, you cannot travel at all because of this virus.
So now, after this COVID-19, I think all those travel now want to go to see the world.
Now it's booming up again.
Then what was your most striking impression of this current societal or economic dynamism that might inform this policy decision?
Yeah, of course, the biggest background, I think, economically speaking, all those countries, including China ourselves.
Now we also offer this visa-free policy to as many as even more than 40 countries, one by one.
So this name list of the countries are now getting more and more.
So vice versa, other countries, similar.
For example, Turkey.
They're also suffering from this economic challenge, development challenge, because now the global economic picture is not that you know good.
So a lot of a downturn trend.
Global trade and like a global flow of commodity and also flow of the person, those peoples.
So that is why many countries now are trying to dig out the potential of the travel industry, especially those countries.
They have a rich, those very attractive, those tourists, those resources.
For example, take Turkey as an example, because this country is very unique.
They are just in the middle of this place linking with Europe and Asia, those two continents.
So, like even the streets of Bursa, Exactly when you take the boat on the street and then you're already on the hallmark linking with Europe and the Asian continent.
That is why also Turkey's culture also has something combined with the European culture and the Asian culture.
Even this kind of characteristics can link to Turkey's foreign policy.
So on one hand, they want to be the member of the EU for decades, decades long, but always failure.
And then they're also the member of the NATO.
And then, on the other hand, they're looking to the east, want to expand this economic cooperation and the trade and investment, all of those things with 18 countries, particularly with China.
So that is why this policy of visa-free. policy to Chinese tourists.
You know, they want to lure in a lot of Chinese tourists, especially before our Lunar New Year.
Now it's coming.
It's just around the corner.
So now, with this policy, probably many Chinese people before they travel to Japan.
I think Turkish President Erdogan also has very sharp eyes.
They noticed now the China, Japan, so somehow now these tourists definitely cannot continue.
Even now step back cannot, because historical issue China Japan, those diplomatic, those issues now all becoming serious.
So all those Chinese people, yeah, those people, they travel to Japan, also has money, huh?
They are rich, so they want to go to somewhere else.
So now turkey gives this option right there, a visa-free account to our country, so they also, from this perspective, they can gradually get more chinese people and also booming up their own travel industry and then maybe, using this as an entry point, can make china turkey, other others, trade and investment.
All those other economic pictures are getting bigger.
This year, 2026, will be our anniversary for Turkey and China.
We built diplomatic ties already getting to this is a benchmark.
Now it's 55 years.
Now we have diplomatic ties.
So exactly.
This is also a good entry point to celebrating our diplomatic ties 55 years anniversary.
Okay.
So the immediate benefit is clear for tourism, but it has some long-term strategic wins that Turkey is seeking.
Then, with President Erdogan signing the decree, how much is this driven by its domestic imperatives?
Because Turkey, their own economic development now is facing challenge.
Even i i heard from those friends, their personal information saying the inflation now also up, even turkey, the currency also not that high value anymore.
Now is the value.
So all those need something, need some way to stimulate their economy.
Of course cannot count on just by nearing some chinese tourists and then driving back their economy, but at least this is one of the way with tourists come moving, of course those service uh, service industry to you know hotel restaurant, all of those uh can be also gets developed uh, at least moving to the good direction.
Even to address our bilateral relationship, because china turkey, our trade uh, this structure now is too much turkey imported, chinese made, china made those manufacturer products and so on, so forth, but quite few can be exported to china.
So they want to also address this trade imbalance.
Then, if we move on to the external dimension, which you have just touched on a little bit, as a NATO member, how might this new policy be viewed within the alliance, particularly among members focused on so-called de-risking from China?
Turkey has this, you know, uh two sides of the coin.
So one side, he is a member, this country is a member of nato.
So of course unilaterally, because turkey make the first move, but i'm sure china maybe will follow up uh in some near future.
So we also offer a visa free to turkey people.
So but at least, being the nato member now make this uh first move, say now visa free to chinese tourists.
Of course this send up a very strong signal also to other members in the nato saying now turkey is not saying oh, we are now saying show a very tough face to China, to Chinese, and then united that tightly with all the NATO members, saying to have some kind of a constrained policy, tough policy to China.
So at least we see economically not seeing all the NATO member, not only Turkey itself.
They also want to build strong economic ties with China.
That was Dr. He Wenping.
That's all the time for this edition of World Today.
I'm Gaena in Beijing.
Thank you so much for listening.
Happy New Year 2026.
