China accuses US of ‘seriously’ damaging bilateral trust
December 13, 2019, 11:13 am

China accuses US of ‘seriously’ damaging bilateral trust

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi gestures during an interview with AFP in Paris on October 21, 2019. (File photo AFP)

China’s foreign minister on Friday accused the United States of “seriously” damaging trust between the two countries amid tensions over human rights in Xinjiang and protests in Hong Kong.

The two countries have been locked in a trade dispute for almost two years, while rights issues in China’s northwest region of Xinjiang and Hong Kong have further strained diplomatic relations.

The United States has “seriously damaged the foundation of hard-earned trust between China and the US,” said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Speaking at a symposium on international affairs in Beijing, Wang said that Washington was “suppressing” China across a number of fields, including the economy, trade and technology.

The US has “deliberately attacked and discredited China on issues of national sovereignty and dignity,” he added.

Last month, Washington drew the ire of the Chinese government by enacting a law supporting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, where six months of increasingly violent demonstrations have rocked the semi-autonomous financial hub.

It is the starkest challenge the city has presented to Beijing since its 1997 handover from Britain, which guaranteed freedoms unseen on the mainland -- rights that activists say are being eroded.

In retaliation, China last week imposed sanctions on US-based NGOs in the financial center and suspended future visits by US warships to the semi-autonomous territory.

Beijing has also threatened even more punitive action pending the enactment of a Uighur rights bill in the US, which could sanction officials behind the mass detention of mostly Muslim ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

On the trade war front, President Donald Trump tweeted Thursday that the two countries were “very close” to finalizing a deal to de-escalate their dispute.

But Beijing declined to confirm a deal was imminent.

source: AFP

Armenia PM hails ‘courageous’ genocide vote in US Congress Clashes erupt in New Delhi between students, police over citizenship law

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.