He Lei, vice president of the Academy of Military Science of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the head of the Chinese delegation to the 17th Shangri-La Dialogue [Photo/cri.cn] SINGAPORE -- China's concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security has clarified the country's stance on issues of regional concern, contributing to long-term stability and development in Asia, Chinese delegates to the ongoing 17th Shangri-La Dialogue said Saturday. The policy package includes the promotion of common development, building of partnerships, improvement of existing multilateral frameworks, rule-setting, military exchanges and proper settlement of differences. Speaking at a special session of the dialogue, officially known as the Asia Security Summit, He Lei, vice president of the Academy of Military Science of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the head of the Chinese delegation to the dialogue, said the Asia-Pacific region has witnessed a growing gap between economic development and security, with economy maintaining a steady and fast growth and security still facing many uncertain factors. The security challenges include the rising zero-sum competition; disputes over territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests as well as the non-traditional security threats, such as terrorism, natural disasters and transnational crimes among others, He said. To ensure long-term stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific, China has put forward a number of proposals that have been highly valued by the international community. China advocates the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, takes win-win cooperation as the core of new international relations based on partnerships instead of alliances, and strives to pursue a new path of security which is built by all, shared by all, win-win for all and safeguarded by all, He said. China also champions common development to consolidate economic foundation for peace and stability in the region as there are many regional security issues that cannot be solved without development, the chief delegate said. Achieving common development is the fundamental guarantee of peace and stability, and the 'master key' to solving security problems. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative is not only a path of development but also a path of peace, as it will not only bring opportunities to the economic development of regional countries, but also provide ideas and solutions for them to solve security problems, he noted. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, proposed by China in 2013, is aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes. China also calls for improving regional security architecture to lay a solid foundation for enduring peace and stability in the region, He said, adding that China also calls on countries to properly handle differences and disputes to maintain the peaceful and stable environment in the region. Echoing He at a discussion session of the Shangari-La Dialogue, Zhou Bo, director of the Center for Security Cooperation at the Office for International Military Cooperation at Chinese Defense Ministry, said China, while recognizing that peaceful development of its own is closely linked to the future of the Asia-Pacific, puts forward the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security and supports active bilateral and multilateral security dialogue and collaboration, so as to move forward economic and security cooperation in the region. China holds the view that a country should not pursue its own absolute security at the expense of that of others, said Zhou. Meanwhile, Zhao Xiaozhuo from the Xiangshan Forum Secretariat said China, seeking to promote common development and prosperity, has put forward the Belt and Road Initiative which also aims at connecting countries along the routes and promoting unimpeded trade among countries and understanding among peoples. Since its launch in 2002 by the British think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies and the Singaporean government, Shangri-La Dialogue has been held annually as an Asian security forum. rubber arm bandsrainbow wristbandcustom printed wristbandscustom livestrong braceletscustom rubber braceletspersonalized silicone braceletswristbands online
Construction workers remove a billboard from the roof of a building near Tiantan Park in Beijing on Nov 28. [Photo/Xinhua] The Beijing city management authority is limiting the number and placement of signs on buildings in order to create an urban skyline that is visually clear and bright, and strengthen urban management. The campaign was launched as part of the capital's urban planning for 2016 to 2035. According to a notice from the Beijing Commission of City Management, all signs and billboards attached to roofs must be removed. In addition, there can be only one sign with a building's name on the third or higher stories, and the name should be the same as the one registered with planning authorities. Each of the capital's 16 districts will launch an enforcement campaign, the notification said, and any failure by institutions and individuals to remove noncompliant signs will be noted on their credit record. According to Beijing Daily, nearly 9,000 signs and billboards had been removed by Thursday. There are more than 27,000 signs and billboards that are non-compliant across the capital, the newspaper quoted an unnamed official from Beijing Commission of City Management as saying. The official also said that the Shijingshan district removed 1,700 signs and billboards and was the first one to remove all non-compliant signage. Chaoyang district topped all districts, having removed almost 2,500 signs. Signage must be removed by the end of December and the municipal commission will inspect the capital road by road in January. The campaign has provoked heated discussion online. While some Beijing residents applauded the campaign, some worried that it will be difficult for them to find their destinations. Sometimes, when I am looking for friends I have made an appointment with, I can easily let them know my exact location by telling them what sign is over my head, said Zhang Zhenyu, a resident of Chaoyang district. A netizen named Cycy Lee didn't like the feeling of walking near buildings with signs over the roofs. Some of the signs or billboards have been there for years and they may fall down, the netizen commented on Weibo.
