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Archives: Dispatches

All Lingua Sinica Dispatches

Chinese Ambassador Marks China-EU Anniversary in Czech Media

On July 21, 2025, Chinese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Feng Biao (冯飚) published an op-ed in Czech publication Parlamentní Listy (议会报) titled “Fifty Years of China-Europe Diplomatic Relations: Fruitful Results, Bright Prospects,” commemorating the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations. The ambassador promoted expanding bilateral trade relationships, claiming annual trade volumes grew “from 2.4 billion dollars to over 780 billion dollars” and positioning mutual investment stock at “nearly 260 billion dollars.” Feng defended China’s market access policies and dismissed concerns about trade imbalances, stating “the surplus is on China’s side, the profits are on Europe’s side.” The article employed standard PRC diplomatic terminology about “comprehensive strategic partnership” (全面战略伙伴关系) and called for “dialogue and cooperation” (对话合作) while promoting the upcoming 25th China-EU Leaders’ Meeting in Beijing.

Chinese Ambassador Promotes Economy in Czech Media

On December 20, 2023, Chinese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Feng Biao (冯飚) conducted a written interview with Czech media outlet Naše Pravda (我们的真相), addressing China’s economic development achievements and foreign policy positions. The ambassador touted China’s claimed “5.2 percent GDP growth during the first three quarters” of 2023 as evidence of long-term growth momentum. Feng described China as “standing on the correct side of history” and promoted China-Czech cooperation opportunities, calling for expanded trade and tourism collaboration while criticizing “some Czech politicians” for engaging with Taiwan. The interview employed standard PRC diplomatic terminology about “mutual benefit and win-win cooperation” (互利共赢) and “constructing a community with shared future for mankind” (构建人类命运共同体).

Nase Pravda

Naše Pravda (我们的真相) is a weekly publication that replaced the left-wing daily newspaper Haló Noviny, which operated from 1991 to 2022. According to available information, the publication positions itself as a party weekly that presents primarily the views of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (捷克和摩拉维亚共产党), or KSČM), and organizations and individuals close to the party. The weekly claims to serve as a successor publication continuing coverage for readers previously served by Haló Noviny. The publication operates as what it describes as a purely party weekly focusing on presenting political perspectives aligned with the KSČM and associated organizations.

Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia

The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM) (捷克和摩拉维亚共产党) is a communist party established on March 31, 1990, and headquartered in Prague that claims to represent communist ideology in the Czech Republic with a membership of 16,000 as of 2024. According to organizational listings, leadership has included Kateřina Konečná as chairwoman and Milan Krajča as deputy leader. The party positions itself as one of the few former ruling parties in post-Communist Central Eastern Europe to retain the Communist title in its name and describes its ideology as communism and anti-capitalism. The organization has engaged with various political coalitions, provided parliamentary support to Andrej Babiš’ Second Cabinet until April 2021, and published the newspaper Haló Noviny until 2013. The party claims to follow the slogan “With the people for the people” and maintains observer status with the Party of the European Left.

Chinese Ambassador Promotes Economic Cooperation in Finnish Media

On February 11, 2021, Chinese Ambassador to Finland Chen Li (陈立) published an op-ed in Finland’s Helsingin Sanomat (赫尔辛基日报) titled “Join Hands to Meet Challenges and Promote Economic Recovery.” The ambassador claimed China achieved “positive growth of 2.3 percent” in 2020, positioning the country as “the only major economy to achieve positive growth” during the pandemic. Chen described China’s economy as demonstrating “strong resilience and vitality” and said the nation will “continue to deepen integration into the world economy.” The article promoted China’s post-pandemic economic policies and called for strengthening “practical cooperation” between China and Europe, employing standard PRC diplomatic terminology about “mutual benefit and win-win cooperation” (互利共赢) and emphasizing China’s role in global economic recovery.

Chinese Ambassador Marks Trade Anniversary in Finnish Media

On June 5, 2023, Chinese Ambassador to Finland Wang Tongqing (王同庆) published an op-ed in Finland’s Helsingin Sanomat titled “Equality, Mutual Benefit, and Win-Win Cooperation” commemorating the 70th anniversary of the China-Finland trade agreement. The ambassador claimed the 1953 accord was “the first government trade agreement between New China and a Western country,” positioning it as establishing “equal and mutually beneficial” (平等互利) economic relations. Wang described current bilateral trade as “stable and positive” and called for deepening “practical cooperation” across sectors, employing standard PRC diplomatic terminology about “mutual benefit and win-win cooperation” (互利共赢).

Chinese Ambassador Criticizes US Trade Policy in Danish Media

On April 29, 2025, Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Wang Xuefeng (王雪峰) published an op-ed in Denmark’s Arbejderen (工人日報) titled “Tariff Blackmail Harms Others and Oneself, Open Cooperation is the Right Path.” The ambassador criticized US tariff policies as “economic bullying behavior” and claimed China would “resolutely oppose and fight to the end” against American trade measures. Wang positioned China as defending “international rules and multilateral trading systems” while describing US actions as “unilateral protectionism.” The article promoted China-Denmark economic cooperation, citing bilateral trade reaching “15.7 billion dollars in 2024, up 17 percent year-on-year,” and called for strengthening “communication and coordination” with the EU to achieve “mutual benefit and win-win cooperation” (互利共赢), employing standard PRC diplomatic terminology.

Republic of Maldives

The Republic of Maldives is an archipelagic nation in the Indian Ocean comprising 26 atolls southwest of Sri Lanka and India. As the world’s lowest-lying country with an average elevation of just 1.5 meters above sea level, the Maldives faces significant environmental challenges from rising sea levels. The nation operates as a presidential republic established in 1968, with an elected People’s Majlis serving as its legislative body. Malé serves as the capital and most populous city. Since gaining independence from Britain in 1965, the country has experienced periods of political instability alongside efforts at democratic reform. Under President Mohamed Muizzu, the Maldives has strengthened ties with China through the Belt and Road Initiative, borrowing $1.4 billion and shifting away from its traditional partnership with India. The Maldives maintains membership in various international organizations including the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, reflecting its active engagement in regional and global affairs despite being Asia’s smallest country by land area.

State Council Information Office

The State Council Information Office (SCIO) is the external nameplate of the Central Propaganda Department (中共中央宣傳部) of the Chinese Communist Party. Established in January 1991, SCIO was created to improve China’s international image following the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. Until 2014, SCIO operated under the arrangement known as “one institution with two names” (一個機構兩塊牌子) alongside the Office of External Propaganda (OEP). In May 2014, the OEP was formally absorbed into the Central Propaganda Department, transforming SCIO into an external nameplate. SCIO’s functions include holding press conferences on major national policies, providing media materials to introduce China internationally, assisting foreign journalists covering China, and encouraging Chinese media to report on international news. While SCIO’s official description claims it “promotes communication, understanding and trust between China and countries across the world,” scholars describe it as the “public face” of China’s “foreign propaganda work.”