भारतीय रोज़ नई ख़बरें – Page 2 – भारतीय रोज़ न्यूज़ भारत की सबसे अधिकारपूर्ण, समय पर और विश्वसनीय समाचार सलाहकार वेबसाइट है

‘AI for good’: China and France issue joint statement on AI governance

Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday issued a joint statement on artificial intelligence (AI) governance, pledging to work together to promote the responsible development and use of AI for the benefit of all.

The statement, released at the conclusion of Xi’s state visit to France, comes as AI is rapidly becoming a major global issue. AI can revolutionize many aspects of our lives, but it also raises many challenges, such as its impact on employment, its misuse for malicious purposes, and the ethical implications of AI.

In their statement, Xi and Macron acknowledged the importance of AI and the need for international cooperation to ensure it is developed and used responsibly. They called for AI to be human-centered and to serve the common good.

The two leaders also pledged to work together to promote the development of AI governance frameworks that are flexible, inclusive and transparent. They called for these frameworks to protect individual privacy, promote ethical AI development and ensure that AI is used in a way that is consistent with international law.

(Cover via CFP)

Refugee Team demonstrates Olympic spirit, sends message of hope

Refugee Olympic Team members will compete across 12 sports during the Paris Olympic Games. Photo: Courtesy of International Olympic Committee

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has unveiled its largest Refugee Olympic Team to date for the Paris Olympic Games and a new emblem for the team.

A total of 36 athletes from 11 different countries and regions will compete across 12 sports including swimming, badminton and breaking during the Paris Games from July 26 to August 11, marking the third time for the Refugee Team to take part in the Olympic Games since Rio 2016.

The announcement was made by IOC president Thomas Bach during a live-streamed ceremony from Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland on May 2.

“With your participation in the Olympic Games, you will demonstrate the human potential for resilience and excellence. This will send a message of hope to the more than 100 million displaced people around the world. At the same time, you will make billions of people around the world aware of the magnitude of the refugee crisis,” said Bach.

The establishment of a Refugee Team is more than an enrichment to the Olympic community. It is the best interpretation of the Olympic spirit of peace, mutual respect and understanding by promoting inclusiveness, unity, perseverance and fair play and it serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of sport.

The Olympic Games aim to bring together athletes from all over the world to compete regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or background.

In 2024, for the first time in the Olympic history, the Refugee Team will compete under its own emblem, instead of the Olympic flag with its signature five interlocked rings. Bringing a unique identity to the team, the design of a circle of arrows around a red heart represents the team members coming from different corners of the world and sharing their unique journeys.

The Refugee Olympic Team symbolizes unity and solidarity among nations and athletes. It sends the powerful message that despite the challenges and adversities faced by refugees, they can come together as a team and compete alongside athletes from around the world.

Additionally, the participation of refugee athletes in the Olympic Games promotes a message of peace and understanding. It highlights the human cost of conflict and displacement while at the same time emphasizing the importance of global cooperation and support for refugees.

In promoting peace, the team’s purpose positions itself on the same level as the Olympic Truce, an ancient Greek tradition which required the cessation of all hostilities to secure safe passage for athletes during the ancient Olympic Games.

According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there were an estimated 114 million people forcibly displaced worldwide as of September of 2023.

Supporting refugees and displaced populations remains a key priority for the IOC, and is part of Olympic Agenda. The Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF) was established in 2017 to build on this commitment.

Representing the people affected by war and poverty, refugee athletes from countries such as Iran, Afghanistan and Syria will take this opportunity to raise global awareness of the refugee crisis and serve as role models to inspire individuals facing adversities worldwide and convey to the world a call for unity and peace.

This year, the team will be led by Chef de Mission Masomah Ali Zada, who competed for the Refugee Team at Tokyo 2020 in road cycling. In an interview, Zada commented: “With all the challenges that you have faced, you now have a chance to inspire a new generation, represent something bigger than yourselves and show the world what refugees are capable of,”

The presence of the Refugee Team at the Olympic Games is a perfect example of how sports are able to promote global peace and the harmonious coexistence of mankind, said a Chinese netizen on X-like Sina Weibo.

The Olympic spirit represents the universal values of excellence, friendship, respect, sportsmanship, and inspiration that unite athletes and people around the world in the pursuit of athletic achievement and human excellence.

The Refugee Olympic Team will definitely leave a lasting legacy beyond the Games and it is hoped that such initiative will lead to increased support and opportunities for refugee athletes at all levels of sport, encouraging participation, integration, and social inclusion in communities worldwide.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. [email protected]

Strategic significance of China-France relations is becoming increasingly prominent: Global Times editorial

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived Sunday in Paris for a state visit to France as the first stop of his European trip. He received a grand welcome from the French side. At the same time, President Xi’s written speech upon arrival at Paris Orly airport, the signed article published in French media Le Figaro, and the China-France-EU trilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have continued to spark heated discussions in Western public opinion, highlighting the significance of this visit at the bilateral, European and global levels.

President Xi said in his signed article that during his visit to France, he brought with him three messages from China: China will work with France to carry forward the spirit that guided the establishment of their diplomatic ties, build on past achievements and open new vistas for China-France relations; China will open even wider to the world and deepen cooperation with France and other countries; China will strengthen communication and coordination with France to uphold world peace and stability. These three messages not only demonstrate China’s concept of development, security, and civilization in the new era, but also reflect the strategic, epoch-making and global nature of China-France relations in the context of a changing world order.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France. Sixty years ago, the two countries broke through the icy barriers of the Cold War, bridged the gap between camps, and established ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations, “ripping a slit in an iron plate,” pushing the world toward dialogue and cooperation. Even today, admiration for the strategic vision and broad-mindedness of that generation of leaders remains a common sentiment from top to bottom in both China and France, demonstrating that the strategic direction of the relationship established at that time was correct and stood the test of time. President Xi’s emphasis of carrying forward the spirit that guided the establishment of diplomatic ties, namely the spirit of independence, mutual understanding, foresight, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, shows that in the face of profound global transformations and uncertainties, it is hoped that the two countries can lead the world back to the right path of cooperation rather than confrontation, to win-win results rather than zero-sum.

We have noticed that from the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to trade disputes, some Western public opinions have previously listed a “to-do list” between China and France. China and France never avoided these issues. Over the past 60 years, the reason why China-France relations have consistently remained at the forefront of China’s relations with Western countries, pioneering many “firsts,” is not because they have not experienced ups and downs, but because they have always focused on the fundamental and long-term interests of both countries and peoples, jointly safeguarded world peace and stability, and promoted human development and progress.

Charles de Gaulle once said at a press conference after the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, “France simply recognizes the world as it is.” He firmly believed in the long history of Chinese civilization and emphasized that global development cannot be without China. Today, as China deeply integrates into globalization, just as de Gaulle foresaw, it has a strong willingness and continues to contribute to global development. China’s expansion of high-level openness and deepening cooperation with other countries, including France, is not a forced choice, but a conclusion drawn from our own development experience and a natural result of our development needs. China offers opportunities rather than risks, and seeks cooperation rather than confrontation. As long as one can correctly grasp the main thread of comprehensively understanding China’s development, all problems will be technical and temporary.

France is an influential major power in the Western world, and its influence stems not only from its hard power but also from its longstanding tradition of independence and its unique perspective and vision. The stability and development of China-France relations will become a very prominent case in China’s relations with the West, helping other Western countries to understand China’s foreign policy and the principles China upholds when developing relations with countries of different systems and cultural backgrounds. The stability of China-France relations provides more impetus for China-Europe relations and also helps European countries to understand China in a rational, pragmatic, and objective manner and handle their relations with China accordingly.

France was the first Western power to establish diplomatic relations with China, and China-France relations have always carried the genes of influencing international relations and the world order from the very beginning. Just as President Xi said, “both China and France value independence as two major countries, and our interactions in the long course of history have released tremendous energy swaying the trajectory of the world.” Under the strategic guidance of the two leaders, we look forward to China and France embarking on a new journey for the next 60 years of bilateral relations, constantly making new achievements for global peace and stability as well as human development.

China braces for potential disruptions as more solar flares loom

China’s National Satellite Meteorological Center (NSMC) has issued a warning for potential disruptions to communication systems due to a series of expected solar flares.

The alert comes after an X-class flare, the strongest classification, struck on Sunday afternoon.

According to the NSMC, additional solar flares are anticipated to erupt between May 6 and 8. These flares are predicted to fall within the X-class or M-class, the second highest, categories.

Solar flares are intense bursts of energy erupting from the sun. They pose a threat to satellites, astronauts and radio communications, while also generating spectacular auroras.

The NSMC advises users of radio communication to mitigate potential disruptions by switching frequencies or employing alternative communication methods.

(Cover via CFP.)

French museum adopts ‘China’ as its theme of the year

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Exquisite porcelain, vibrant clay figurines, famous paintings from ancient China… Visitors to the Guimet Museum in Paris this year may feel as if they have stepped into this ancient Eastern civilization. The museum, which has the largest collection of Asian art in Europe, has chosen “China” as its theme for 2024, with Chinese elements appearing in all its activities throughout the year.

The historic Zhou Enlai – Pompidou visit to Yungang Grottoes

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French sinologist David Gosset reminisces about the historic visit of China’s former Premier Zhou Enlai and then French President Georges Pompidou to the Yungang Grottoes in 1973, symbolizing the enduring friendship between France and China. Despite their respective illnesses, the leaders’ determination to elevate bilateral relations resonates through time, underscoring the importance of collective efforts in fostering global understanding, dialogue and cooperation.

Clarity vs turbidity: The spectacle of contrasting rivers

Distinct yellow and green hues are observed at the confluence of the Qingshui River and Xiaojiang River in Jinping County, Guizhou Province on May 5, 2024. The currents of the two rivers remain distinctly clear and muddy at the confluence without mixing. /CFP

One river runs clear, while another runs turbid. When the two rivers meet, what will happen?

Distinct yellow and green hues were spotted at the junction of two rivers in Jinping County, Guizhou Province following recent heavy rainfalls. The water clarity of the Qingshui River is maintained year-round due to water flow regulation by two local hydroelectric stations. In contrast, the Xiaojiang River, devoid of such controls, has accumulated sediment from various streams within its watershed, giving it a yellowish tint. The currents of the two rivers remain distinctly clear and muddy at the confluence without mixing, presenting a unique spectacle of contrasting colors.

China-France space cooperation benefits global scientific research

A Long March-5 Y8 rocket, carrying the Chang’e-6 lunar probe, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China’s Hainan Province, May 3, 2024. /CFP

China sent the Chang’e-6 lunar probe into orbit on May 3 with the primary mission of collecting samples from the less-known far side of the moon – the first endeavor of its kind in human history.

One of the highlights of this mission is international cooperation – the probe carries payloads from four countries, and France is one of them. Its payload will be used to measure radon gas and its decay products on the lunar surface.

“The study of radiation environment in cislunar space is very helpful for our scientists to have a better understanding of the moon,” Yang Yuguang, vice chair of the International Astronautical Federation’s Space Transportation Committee, told CGTN.

“Radon is the product of many radioisotope during their radioactive decay, therefore the detection of radon is an effective way to study radioactivity in cislunar space,” he said. “It’s also necessary to do this research as a preparation to set up permanent base on the lunar surface.”

The Chang’e-6 mission is not the first time that China and France are exploring space together. In 1997, the two governments signed an agreement for the peaceful use of outer space, marking the first cooperation in the space field.

China-France Oceanographic Satellite

An illustration of CFOSAT. /CMG

Chinese and French researchers work on CFOSAT. /CMG

In October 2018, the first oceanographic satellite jointly developed by China and France was sent into orbit. The satellite, named China-France Oceanographic Satellite (CFOSAT), has been tasked to provide 24/7 observation services to the researchers in both countries.

It helps people improve the understanding of the interaction between the oceans and atmosphere, and helps model and tackle climate change.

The effort was first conceived as part of a 2005 deal between the two countries’ science communities.

Lunar samples

Lunar samples brought back by China’s Chang’e-5 mission demonstrated at the 2021 China Space Conference, east China’s Nanjing City, April 24, 2021. /CFP

Lunar samples brought back by China’s Chang’e-5 mission, Beijing, August 26, 2021. /CFP

Lunar samples brought back by China’s Chang’e-5 mission demonstrated at an exhibition, central China’s Wuhan City, April 30, 2024. /CFP

During French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to China in April 2023, China presented France with 1.5 grams of lunar samples returned by its Chang’e-5 mission in December 2020 for scientific research.

The international sharing and joint research on lunar samples is a major event in the scientific community worldwide, an important approach to study the formation and evolution of the moon, as well as a key scientific activity for human society to explore the unknowns, said the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The samples have been settled at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris and studied in a joint effort by the French National Center for Space Studies, the French National Center for Scientific Research, the Paris Institute of Earth Physics and the University of Paris-Sorbonne.

Space Variable Objects Monitor

An illustration of SVOM. /CMG

Engineers prepare for the acoustic test of SVOM, August 11, 2023. /CGTN

Chinese and French engineers conduct acoustic tests, Shanghai, China, August 11, 2023. /CGTN

The next step of China-France space cooperation is the Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM), which is planned to be launched later this year.

Jointly developed by the two countries, the satellite is designed to investigate distant cosmic explosions known as gamma ray bursts.

The SVOM satellite was approved for development in 2006 by the CNSA and the French national space agency Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (National Centre for Space Studies, CNES).

The two countries both have their strengths in space exploration, said Yang.

“France has sufficient experience in space engineering. It has many ground stations in its territory outside Europe, which are very helpful for communication with deep space probes,” he said.

“China’s space industry is developing very fast. It already has a very huge space industry and it hopes to become an advanced country in space field. To achieve this goal, international space cooperation is extremely important for China,” Yang said.

The expert said the collaboration between China and France with not only benefit both countries, but also bring more returns on scientific research to experts all over the world.

“To have scientific research instruments on the spacecraft of another country can greatly promote the efficiency of certain space missions,” he said.

“We believe China and France may have deeper and wider collaboration in space field,” Yang said. “Besides the cooperation between space administrations of both countries, we also hope commercial entities of both countries can also have more chances to cooperate in the future.”

Hypocrisy

An inspiring visit to the foundation that witnesses China-France exchanges

The Charles de Gaulle Foundation in Paris, France Photo: He Zhuoqian/GT

Despite having only worked for the Charles de Gaulle Foundation for two years, Antoine Broussy, director of the foundation, can detail the circumstances through which Chinese President Xi Jinping came to the foundation 10 years ago during his official visit to France.

“President Xi was welcomed to the foundation by Laurent Fabius, then minister of foreign affairs, and Jacques Godfrain, the foundation’s chairman at the time. To mark the solemnity of the occasion, the Republican Guard was present in front of the foundation. President Xi laid a wreath in honor of General de Gaulle in the office where he worked from 1947 to 1958. Gifts were exchanged,” Broussy recalled to the Global Times while showing a video capturing this moment.

Broussy displayed a guest book to the reporter, on which President Xi wrote “Paying Tribute to the Great Man and Composing a New Chapter in Chinese and French History,” during his visit to the foundation.

This year, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, President Xi pays a visit to France again, which Broussy said he is very much looking forward to.

The Charles de Gaulle Foundation in Paris, France Photo: He Zhuoqian/GT

Bold decision

In 1964, then French president General de Gaulle made the bold decision to establish diplomatic ties with China, making France the first Western country to do so. General de Gaulle famously said, “China is a big country inhabited by many Chinese.”

The spirit of de Gaulle, who demanded complete autonomy for France in world affairs, still inspires France today.

Now a portrait of General de Gaulle painted by Chinese artist Fan Zeng hangs on the wall of the foundation. Broussy showed the office where de Gaulle used to work and receive guests with whom he would talk about literary and political matters. The room restores the scenarios when he worked there, a globe was placed on the upper left corner of his desk, and behind his chair was a map of France. The books de Gaulle used to read now silently line the bookshelf.

Broussy believes that the two pillars that drove de Gaulle’s decision still remain.

“The establishment of diplomatic relations in 1964 was the result of a rational analysis of the geopolitical situation at the time, taking into account that China’s history, geography, civilization, demographic weight, and de facto existence made it impossible to ignore it as a country in its own rights. This decision was intended to level the prospects for trade and cultural exchanges, which Charles de Gaulle saw as the way to strengthen peaceful relations between nations by creating common interests,” Broussy told the Global Times.

The Charles de Gaulle Foundation, previously Institut Charles-de-Gaulle, has operated since 1971 to publicize and perpetuate the action of General de Gaulle by offering educational activities, academic research, and policy thinking services.

Over the years, the foundation has played a positive role in promoting cultural exchanges between China and France.

“The offspring of General Charles de Gaulle and the Foundation have continued the cause of General Charles de Gaulle and are working hard to promote China-France friendship,” President Xi said during his visit 10 years ago.

In January this year, representatives from the foundation took part in commemorative events held by the Chinese Embassy in France at de Gaulle’s former residence. Some Chinese students have taken internships in the foundation, and the foundation also opened the library to Chinese students and researchers, providing them with important first-hand information for understanding and writing papers about General de Gaulle.

The foundation also conducts exchanges with Chinese think tanks and institutions.

Broussy said that the foundation sometimes hosts young people to inform them about the deeds of de Gaulle and to pass on the spirit of de Gaulle.

A scene inside the Charles de Gaulle Foundation in Paris, France Photo: He Zhuoqian/GT

‘A direct dialogue’

Frédéric Fogacci, Broussy’s colleague and head of research and scientific studies at the Charles de Gaulle Foundation, told the Global Times that it is important that China and France maintain their stable and friendly relations in current times.

“Both China and France are involved in the global dialogue. Nothing can be done without one of them. So, they have to talk and solve some problems. The dialogue between the top leaders between China and France is somehow a direct dialogue, which is also important for the China-Europe relation,” said Fogacci.

In a showroom on the ground floor of the Charles de Gaulle Foundation, a bronze half-body statue of de Gaulle stands. He looks contemplative, apparently observing the historical trajectory of China-France relations.

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