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Hello and welcome to World Today, I'm Ding Hen in Beijing.
Coming up, European leaders gather in Copenhagen to discuss an EU-wide drone wall.
The first cargo flight route from China's Hainan to Africa has embarked on its operation.
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European Union leaders have held an informal summit in Copenhagen to discuss building an EU-wide drone wall and continued support for Ukraine.
The leaders are also in the Danish capital for a separate European political community summit.
The security of this informal summit was bolstered by troops and anti-drone systems sent by other European countries.
All drone flights over Denmark have been banned until Friday.
The heightened security measures came after suspected drone activity disrupted flights at airports in the run-up to the meetings.
So joining us now on the line is Helga Zapp-LaRouche, founder of the Schiller Institute, a Germany-based think tank.
So thank you very much for joining us today, Helga.
European authorities and NATO have accused Russia of violating of their airspace, including this alleged incursion by drones over Poland and fighter jets over Estonia.
But these allegations have been denied by Moscow.
In the context of these recent developments, how would you look at this idea regarding building an EU-wide drone wall?
Well, I mean, first of all, if Russia denies of having been responsible for the deployment of these drones, I would say the origin of the recent drone attacks remains unclear and would require an investigation before going into a hysterical response.
The German Defense Minister Pistorius had said a couple of days ago that it would take many years to build such a drone wall, and the Russian spokesman Peskov basically said history has shown that the idea of erecting walls is always a bad thing.
Now Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia, recently said that the Western elites remain focused on inflicting quote strategic defeat on Russia.
And I think that's really behind this, because even if they change their terminology and now say only weakening Russia or this or that, The aim remains the same.
So I would really say this idea of a drone war is part of a Russophobic hysteria which is being cultivated in Europe right now, which I think is very, very dangerous.
The European Union has not yet produced a detailed plan for the drone war.
So what is your thought regarding the cost and the feasibility of such a defense program?
Well, I think one has to see that in the context of a major warmongering which has erupted in Europe, where some of the establishments not all of them, but some want to convince their populations that a war with Russia would be inevitable in five years the latest.
This is the basis of the European Union program.
To quote rearm Europe.
German Chancellor Merz unbelievably said a couple of days ago that Germany is no longer in peace, not yet at war, but somewhere in between.
Now, Chancellor Merz had promised during the election campaign that he would not increase the debt.
One day after he was elected, he caused the so-called debt break which is written into the German constitution, which puts a limit on expenditures.
He got that lifted to allow for an unlimited potentially unlimited military spending.
All of this is happening at the complete expense of investments in infrastructure education, the health system and other social expenditures.
So I think this is an extremely negative development which we are experiencing in Europe, and in Germany in particular, right now.
U.S.
President Donald Trump has long demanded that Europe take more responsibility for its own security matters.
So to what extent do you think the EU's willingness to move in that direction will be decided, or will be determined, by the end result of the ongoing Ukraine war?
Well, President Trump has demanded that the European countries increase their military budget to 5 of the GDP.
Now, most European countries have been doing that at the expense of social expenditures.
There are some countries who have refused that, like Spain, and you know.
It is basically One should remember history that once countries go into these unlimited military spending programs, then war becomes almost a self-fulfilling prophecy.
There are many people in Europe very concerned about that and there is actually no unity in the European Union about that, because there is now the coalition of the willing, that is, Great Britain, France and Germany who are pushing this, but many countries in the south of Europe, in Eastern Europe, in the Balkans, are very, very critical of this policy and do not agree with it.
Now regarding finance.
We understand the European Union has already backed the proposals to try to raise up to 150 billion euros on capital markets to help finance defense investment.
Was Britain and Canada likely to take part in the relevant fund?
In your understanding, does this represent a sustainable way to finance future defense investment?
If you push the militarization of the economy, one has to understand that if you neglect investment in the actual physical economy, then the investment in military is actually a destruction of physical assets.
Now, if you compare, for example, China and Europe, China just announced that you have concluded the highest and longest bridge in the world.
European bridges are collapsing and in Germany to even repair bridges, it takes 10 years.
It's completely ridiculous.
China has just announced the largest water management project in the world.
And Europe is completely neglecting repair of basic infrastructure.
So I would say this is not sustainable at all.
Now European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at this particular informal meeting held in the city of Copenhagen, that quote Russia tries to test us, but Russia also tries to sow division and anxiety in our societies.
We will not let that happen, unquote.
In your understanding, is that what Russia is trying to do to Europe right now?
I mean, at the end of the day, Russia and Europe are neighbors to each other.
So ultimately, what do you see as the realistic or the ideal way for the two sides to coexist with one another?
Well, eventually we will have to do that, but in the meantime, I personally think that it is not Russia causing anxiety in the population, but it is warmongers, who for some reason has an incredible Russophobia.
Secretary of State Baker promised to Gorbachev and Shevardnadze, the foreign minister at that time of the Soviet Union, that NATO would not move one inch to the east if the Soviet Union would agree to the peaceful reunification of Germany.
There are many, many documents in archives which have been recently released.
Everybody can prove that to be the case.
Nevertheless, there were five eastward expansions till the border of Ukraine, of NATO.
I mean, almost the border to Russia between Ukraine and Russia.
And there was a sixth expansion after the Ukraine war had started.
So you can actually say that this is creating a reverse Cuban Missile Crisis, where the Russians objecting to the fact that there should be offensive weapon systems by NATO at their border?
Now unfortunately, Chancellor Merz has completely rejected the option of dialogue with Russia to resolve any problems.
That is what makes many people in Germany very concerned.
Now, on Friday, tomorrow, the 3rd of October, is the day of German unification.
And you will see that there will be many demonstrations, especially in Berlin and Stuttgart, by the peace movement, opposing this belligerent policy towards Russia and obviously also what is going on in Gaza.
So watch out for the size of these demonstrations and you will get a real indicator of what is the mood in the German population.
Thank you very much for joining us.
Helga Zapp-LaRouche, founder of the Schiller Institute, a Germany-based think tank.
Coming up, the first cargo flight route from China's Hainan to Africa has embarked on its operation.
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You are listening to World Today, I'm Ding Hen in Beijing.
The operation of the first direct cargo flight route from Hainan, China to Africa has begun.
A cargo plane carrying 48 tons of goods left Hainan's provincial capital on Thursday and will finally land on Johannesburg after transiting in Nairobi.
The route will see one such flight on a weekly basis.
In 2020, China announced an initiative to transform Hainan into a high-quality free-trade port.
In 2022, the southern Chinese island launched a maritime freight route to Africa.
So for more, joining us.
Now on the line is Dr Yao Shujie Chang Kong, Professor of Economics with Chongqing University.
So thank you very much for joining us today, Professor Yao.
In recent years we are seeing three-digit or almost three-digit growth in the strait between Hainan and Africa.
For example, in the first seven months of 2024, Hainan's exports to Africa grew by over 94 year-on-year, while imports surged by more than 115.
What is driving this remarkable growth?
First of all, it's the policy, the open policy provided by the central government to the free trade zone of Hainan.
And secondly, I think the African economy is booming due to the connection with China and also the economic transformation in the African continents, particularly in Southeast Africa, where the economic growth has been much higher than the world average.
And probably certainly, I think, China's effort to diversify international trade and investment into the less developed countries in Africa, Latin America and other parts of the world, given the trade condition with the United States and other major industrialized economies has reached a very stable stage.
So further expansion of Chinese trade and investment have to be expanding into Africa, into Latin America and the country of the developing world.
Now, with the bail and loan initiative and also with the opening up of Hainan Island, Hainan itself has the top priority of connecting Africa and also Southeast Asia.
So this newly opened cargo flight route is bound for Africa.
In the future?
Do you see any possibility for the opening of a new route for cargo planes the other way around from Africa to China?
Yes, first of all, I'm very pleased to see this direct flight from Highland to Africa, especially Johannesburg, which is the economic powerhouse not only in South Africa but also in the African continent.
I think the direct flight from Haiku to Nairobi to Johannesburg opened a very new route of connecting the Highland Islands and Africa.
And currently, I think it's a good geosceptic from Highland to Johannesburg.
But in the future, I'm sure there will be similar good shipping from Africa to Highland.
There is a lot of complementarity between the two locations Highland and also Africa agriculture, goods and also raw materials and mineral.
And also in the future, maybe manufacturing goods.
High-quality computers, mobile phones all these could be the items that could be transmitted between the two locations.
So, in other words, Professor Yao, in your observation there were still many goods or services, for that matter whose potentials currently remain untapped when we talk about trade between Hainan and Africa.
Yes, I think there are lots of potential, because the Chinese economy is still evolving to become more internationalized.
And Africa also is in an effort to be integrated with the rest of the world.
China is the biggest exporter of gold tank services, and Africa is a huge potential because the population is so large and also the demand from the African people is so strong.
So there are ample opportunities between both sides.
Now, in a bigger picture sense, what role do you expect Hainan to play when we talk about future China-Africa cooperation?
Yeah, there are lots of things that Hainan could do.
Apart from the cargo trade, the merchandise trade, I think people-to-people exchange, especially tourism.
Highland is very attractive for foreign tourists as well.
So in the future, the more affluent African tourists, they may come to explore China to have a visit, to see how China is developed and learning some experience which could be taken back to Africa to help the local economy.
And also training, education program, all these kinds of things, visible and invisible, good and services.
There are lots of potential.
This is just the beginning of the episode of connecting Highland and Africa.
I think in the next 10 or 20 years I'm sure there will be much more activities between the two places.
Now, nowadays we know the Chinese government, Chinese businesses or Chinese universities also.
They are offering many opportunities for African workers or African students, African youths, to come to China to receive certain job skill training or educational training, etc.
So what could be the meaning of taking the African people who are involved in programs like that to the Hainan Islands and giving them an opportunity to take a look at the local development?
For example, as a university professor yourself, if you are tutoring a few african phd candidates um would you be interested in taking them on a tour to take a look at the highlands economic and social development?
Yes, sure.
I mean in Chongqing and other parts of the country.
I have given lectures to foreign students, and some of them indeed, do come from Africa.
I personally.
When I was working in Oxford University, I was given a lot of opportunity to go to Africa myself to deliver training courses.
African students are actually very hardworking.
They have a very strong desire to change the fortune of their own countries.
So they have eager eyes, eager soul to change their country.
And over the process, I think China has put in a lot of effort into this process.
Not only the government, which have the China African Forum which is held last year, lots of African leaders coming to China to join the big conferences.
And this is hold on a regular basis.
Now at a lower level, students and scholars.
They come into different parts of the country in the Chinese university.
And Hainan University is getting more and more prominent in terms of the quality of education and providing opportunity for overseas students, especially for African students.
I think this kind of you know, international trade, investment activity and also international tourism services provide a lot of opportunity for the African students to come to China, not only to see what is happening in the country, in Hainan Island, and this experience will be very useful for their own country when they go back to Africa.
I think they will have a China connection and in the future they will be the ambassadors for promoting the bilateral trade between Thailand and Africa, between China in general and many African states, because the population in in Africa is already similar to the whole population of China and there will be a lot of opportunity for people-to-people exchange and also high quality training of the human power.
This human power.
Once they are trained, they get to know China's culture, Chinese business better, and that will facilitate the bilateral exchange of work, services and people.
So the final question before we let you go.
Professor Yao, we know Hainan was once seen as one of the least developed regions or provinces here in China.
But now it is a booming free trade region, free trade port.
What do you think are some of the most important points, lessons or experiences that we can draw from this island's development that might be useful to other developing countries?
Yes, you are right.
I mean Hainan before the economic reform and shortly after the economic reform.
It is an island because the transportation system, the education system and also the economic development they are lagging behind the continent of Guangdong and other parts of the country.
And this is why Hainan Island was separated from Guangdong Province to become an independent province And the island economy from them is given a lot of policy priorities of how to transform the local economy.
I think why the central government is giving a lot of attention to Hainan is because Hainan is important.
Because the territory of Hainan, including the water service, is the biggest province of China, because it covers a vast area of the South China Sea.
And this is strategically very important for the country in terms of national defense, national security.
Now, without stimulating the economy in Hainan Island, it's difficult for the island to play the role that the country wishes to be.
Priority are always given to the island, including the latest effort of making a free trade zone.
And this cancer policy initiative is very, very important because Hainan is now becoming the so-called lay-comer.
Everything is new, every effort is new and also industrial services, technology.
They are very new, including the education policy.
All these are given the very good priority development, and this will propel the island economy to become one of the most active and dynamic system in the country.
And this kind of experiment to become a free trade port.
I think the central government have something in mind that in the future it could become another Hong Kong.
Although it is a long way to go, but it could be possible that Hainan Island could become a fairly attractive place for many talents and also modern services in manufacturing.
Thank you very much for joining us.
Professor Yao Shujie, Chang Kong Professor of Economics, West Chongqing University.
That's all the time for this edition of World Today.
To listen to this episode again or to catch up on our previous episodes.
You can download our podcast by searching World Today.
For further discussion, you can follow us on X at CGTN Radio.
I'm Dinghan in Beijing.
Thank you so much for listening.
Bye for now.
