Dear Focus Reader,
As the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate this week, and President Biden completed a trip to the region, the Chinese foreign ministry released a new statement on Friday stating that Beijing and Moscow plan to work together to cool the situation and help establish a two-state solution.
"China and Russia have the same position on the Palestine question, and China is ready to maintain communication and coordination with Russia to promote de-escalation of the situation," said Zhai Jun, China's special envoy to the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration recently imposed new restrictions on advanced chip exports to China, which prompted a sharp response from Beijing. The move is seen as an attempt to close loopholes that became clear after an initial wave of chip controls last October. But the Chinese foreign ministry has said that the curbs "violate the principles of the market economy and fair competition."
Stay up to date on the global developments by catching up on our latest Focus content, including topics covering recent summits around the world, the global impact of U.S.-China relations, China's Belt and Road Initiative, and more.
We're also excited to announce that CUSEF will be hosting the upcoming Hong Kong Forum on U.S.-China Relations this November 9-10th. This event will convene leaders from government, business, and civil society to discuss critical issues impacting the bilateral relationship and beyond, and solutions to create a more peaceful world. We're thrilled to welcome guest speakers including Charlene Barshekfsy, Max Baucus, Stephen Roach, and more. Learn more at hkforum.com.
Have a good weekend!
Team Focus
The growth rate of the Chinese economy during the second quarter of 2023, compared to the same period last year. Read more in "China's Policy-Induced Slowdown," by Yu Yongding, Former President, China Society of World Economics
Love You to the Moon and Back
Watch VideoIn our Focus Insights section, we shared an article by Wang Yiwei on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its implications for worldwide interconnection, and infrastructure and financial advancement.
We want to hear from you:
Do you think that global infrastructure initiatives like the BRI should strive for a collaborative approach where all countries play a part, or should some countries take on a dominant role?
Submit your thoughts to USeditor@chinausfocus.com for a chance to be featured in next week's Focus This Week.
Prepared by China-US Focus editorial teams in Hong Kong and New York, this weekly newsletter offers you snap shots of latest trends and developments emerging from China and the U.S. every week. It is a community space to exchange thoughts and ideas about the China-U.S. relationship and beyond.