Good Day Barflys!
I can’t remember, are we in the jungle or the garden?
Someone projected on another thread that our civilization war was going to lead to two trade blocks that wouldn’t talk to each other. I hope that doesn’t occur because I believe that are too many benefits to human sharing. The posting from Xinhuanet below describes China taking the next step into global leadership, IMO

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) — The Global Civilization Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, will inject fresh and strong energy into the common development and progress of human society in a world fraught with multiple challenges and crises.
Elaborating on the new initiative at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting on Wednesday, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, called for respecting the diversity of civilizations, advocating the common values of humanity, valuing the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and strengthening international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.
The initiative is another major public product provided to the world by China after the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, both put forward by Xi, in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
In the history of humanity, over thousands of years, various civilizations have come into being, developed, and have in return promoted the overall development of human society. Diversity has been a prominent feature of civilizations.
In spite of differences in histories, cultures, political systems and development phases, countries around the world share the common aspiration for peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom — the common values of humanity.
People need to keep an open mind in appreciating how different civilizations perceive values, and refrain from imposing their own values or models on others, and from stoking ideological confrontation.
As the world is facing old and new challenges, there are more reasons for us to promote dialogue and consultation when addressing international issues, and to let cultural exchanges transcend estrangement, mutual learning transcend clashes, and coexistence transcend feelings of superiority.
Spanning thousands of miles, the ancient Silk Road has embodied the spirit of cooperation, mutual learning and mutual benefit. The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of China’s proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), another public good which has brought tangible benefits to people of participating countries and promoted people-to-people exchanges.
The diversity of civilizations is in nature a source of vitality and momentum in human development. Promoting people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning is of great value in summoning the enormous wisdom and energy needed to advance the progress and development of human civilizations.
The BRI has delivered fruitful outcomes and won widespread support and participation. It has created jobs, improved infrastructure and promoted common development, especially in developing countries.
Security is the precondition for development. The Global Security Initiative calls for peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation, and supporting all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of crises.
The recent Saudi Arabia-Iran dialogue in Beijing is a successful case of the practice of the Global Security Initiative, leading to the resumption of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The future of all countries are closely and increasingly connected. And tolerance, coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations play an irreplaceable role in advancing humanity’s modernization process.
To realize a world with lasting peace and ever-improving welfare, we should embrace the Global Civilization Initiative and draw on it to jointly create a better, shared future for humanity.
A single flower does not make spring, while one hundred flowers in full blossom bring spring to the garden. Together, we can make the garden of world civilizations full of colors and life.

Posted by: psychohistorian | Mar 19 2023 15:00 utc | 3

Thank you kindly b. Added to my reading list. The Aussies are getting screwed, including by their own, suspect it is only going to get worse.

Posted by: Outraged | Mar 19 2023 15:07 utc | 5

Paul GV [2]
NZ seems to have Zero refining capacity. Quite how it will run cars, trucks or planes when Indonesia gets irritated is not clear – then again Oz has 2 refineries which might cease to function and a lot of dependence on ICE for transportation

Posted by: Paul Greenwood | Mar 19 2023 16:03 utc | 7

Oh boy, do I have some catching up to do!!!Thank you, b, and thank you to the commenter on your March 13 post which heads this review for the following link:
https://pamho.medium.com/never-go-full-democrat-c671b7b04438
I cannot believe that I missed that March 13 post! mea culpa, hugely! First, b’s post on the Iran/Saudi situation being resolved by China is excellent in its question concerning the feasibility of China’s peaceful monitoring of the situation — I hope his pessimism will be rewarded by ongoing events turning the tide as other nations recognize the immense possibilities and the drawbacks if each nation does not pick up its skirts and follow suit. I can see it happening just in the US, which is the fulcrum for all instabilities — the fulcrum! And it is falling apart before our very eyes.
He who has eyes to see, let him see!!! Now I will do my diligence and read through that chain of comments at b’s first post last week. So far, so good!
To our US companions: Never Go Full Democrat!! Thank you, Pam Ho.

Posted by: juliania | Mar 19 2023 16:21 utc | 9

Before I go do my homework, I must first thank psychohistorian for his two posts, at #3 and #6, and point of disclosure I have two half Chinese grandsons (one of whom I introduced to this forum through his orchestral accomplishments. I am immensely proud of them both, and so happy for them in China’s current leadership budding forth. I also have part Russian progeny so my cup is overflowing, or would be if the Ukraine situation can be resolved peacefully.
There are always springtime storms – we’ve just had one. It’s always, in my region, a risky project for the trees to successfully bear fruit each year. And each year some fail; but some succeed. Success to all this year, that’s my wish!

Posted by: juliania | Mar 19 2023 16:36 utc | 11

Posted by: Paul GV | Mar 19 2023 14:58 utc | 2
Hi, Paul. I’m a Kiwi but don’t live in NZ. I’m afraid I don’t understand your post. What do you mean by ‘broadcasting radio messaging by repartition’? Do you mean there is a propaganda campaign for NZ to join an AUKUS-type organisation? As far as I know NZ’s non-nuclear policy is still in force and has already resulted in its practical suspension from the the ANZUS Treaty? And what is a ‘NZ uni party’?
My apologies for what might appear to be dumb questions.

Posted by: B. Wildered | Mar 19 2023 16:44 utc | 13

https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/03/13/michael-hudson-us-bank-crisis/
https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/03/15/why-the-bank-crisis-isnt-over/print/
the hudson piece for anyone who doesn’t want to wade through the scum right river of shit that is “unz”.

Posted by: the pair | Mar 19 2023 16:50 utc | 15

It looks as if UBS tried to push their luck, going in with a bid of CHF0.25 per share
@ West of England Andy | Mar 19 2023 17:02 utc | 17
—
UBS shareholders are powerful people. They don’t want to be made bagholders for CS’s shit risk management.
The chief problem here is that there aren’t enough little guys to stick this problem with. Big men are going to have a sad.

Posted by: too scents | Mar 19 2023 17:07 utc | 17

*Credit Suisse
(wretched spoilchuckers!)

Posted by: West of England Andy | Mar 19 2023 17:18 utc | 19

This is a good breakdown of the lead up to the umpteenth western banking crisis:
Grayzone How Covid lockdowns primed the current financial crisis
Excellent discussion from Prof Wolff:
Prof. Richard Wolff The Economics of the US-China Cold War & Ukraine War

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 19 2023 17:45 utc | 21

Another excellent ALASTAIR CROOKE article is out on Strategic Culture:
Betting All on Hegemony; Risking All, To Stave Off Ruin
I have no idea whether Alastair Crooke reads MoA regularly but if he does, I have this suggestion for him, which would fit in well with the above article:
After Project Fear and Control Part 1 (Covid-19 saga, which he covers in the above article), we get Project Fear and Control Part 2 (Ukraine war, collapse of western economies and society, NATO war with Russia). What is the nature of the links between the two? Was the Covid-19 Fear and Control operation explicitly intended as population training in preparation for the Ukraine war, or are the parallels coincidental?
This question would make a great topic in his capable hands!

Posted by: BM | Mar 19 2023 17:52 utc | 23

Had to laugh when I heard on the News that Zelenski is imposing sanctions on Syria. The jews have already swiped a big chunk of Syria aka Golan Heights. And it’s not long ago that Zel was daydreaming about making Ukraine the 2nd “Israel”. Is he ajusting his ambitions in anticipation of losing NATO’s war with Russia? Or has he forgotten that the Iran-Saudi truce has breathed new life into “Israel’s” worst nightmare – Arab Unity?

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 19 2023 18:36 utc | 25

RE: The ridiculous AP story about “pro-Moscow” Tweeter accounts spreading “disinformation” about the train derailment in Ohio.
https://twitter.com/aaronjmate/status/1637280996591562754
AP repeatedly cites “Reset, a London-based nonprofit that studies social media’s impact on democracy” in their crucially important “reporting” to inform Americans that Russia is behind every non Ministry of Information pre-approved message. Reset is funded by guess whom……The Intercept’s Daddy Warbucks, Pierre Omidyar.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Mar 19 2023 18:52 utc | 27

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Mar 19 2023 18:52 utc | 28
I’m surprised Omidyar ever gave Greenwald a platform, I guess thinking he was more bribeable than he turned out to be.

Posted by: pretzelattack | Mar 19 2023 18:54 utc | 29

There was a truly bizarre edition of DW Conflict Zone a few days ago. Tim Sebastian interviewed Belarus’ Opposition Leader-in-exile (in Lithuania), Sviatlana Tsiksikhanouskaya, about her plan to overthrow the Belarus Govt. She has asked Zenlenski to attack Belarus when Ukraine has defeated Russia. Tim wanted to know whether her ambition to be Prez of Belarus justified a “bloody civil war?”
While she was explaining why it wouldn’t be bloody, Tim reminded her that Zel has already publicly laughed at her scheme and called her “irrelevant”. Her explanation of why she’s not stupid or irrelevant was verbose but didn’t make much sense…

Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | Mar 19 2023 19:03 utc | 31

“…there is a fast developing NZ uni party, like Australia, UK and US…” Paul GV@2
And Canada.
Outraged@5
You might be wrong, I expect that you, like me, hope that you are proved to be by the coalescing of a sovereigntist opposition around figures such as Keating and issues which will include anti-monarchism.
The reasons for Australians to slip away from the imperialist embrace are simply too many and too obvious not to attract mass support. Australia is an Asian country.
b’s link to – From Nurseries To Nazis, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 – Deborah Armstrong / Regis Tremblay is essential reading. Especially for those needing an introduction to Ukrainian ‘nationalism’ which is revealed as being the most virulent form of Nazism.
Nazism, as its name suggests, had some political aspects which were defensible. Although most of them were insincere demagogic attempts to attract popular support to a ruling class project, they were important and were sincerely defended by both Party members and supporters.
The OUN is naked anti-socialism based on crass racist theories of the silliest kind. It is racial hatred masquerading as ideology, the sort of idealism that is to be expected from a nation which has never existed, a language that nobody speaks and a leadership whose deepest ambition is to find a powerful foreign patron who will supply it with the military protection needed to allow it to torture and murder a list of enemies that begins with its nearest neighbours and extends to the rest of the human race.
Fascism of the Ukrainian sort originates in the precursor philosophy of anti-communism/socialism, the dominant idea of the ruling classes for two and a half centuries. The support it receives from imperialism- and has done since General Hoffman’s 1917 offensive- is automatic. The OUN is a bespoke product of imperialist culture.
It is also a merely provincial thing- its importance depends entirely on foreign sponsors accepting it as the Galician franchise of the war against popular revolution, democracy, socialist regulation of capital and trade unions. It is no accident that its signature achievement, in its current iteration, was the burning of the Odessa Union building and the killing of its occupants.
Even after thirty years of propagandising under the aegis of the US and Canadian governments it could never win anything approaching a majority in an election. It is as marginal as a well armed biker gang. It has nothing to offer anyone in Ukraine who earns a living and depends on work in the actual economy. And yet it is an indication of what is to come across the declining empire- the last stage of capitalism in terminal crises is fascism. And it begins, as noted above, in a culture so suffused in anti-communism that those within it cannot understand that the source of their problems is the dictatorship of a class which controls the economy and therefore society itself.
It is this failure to face up to the obvious fact of class rule that leads to the generation of conspiracy theories in which just about everyone but the capitalist ruling class is blamed for social ills.
And these theories, centred around events like the assassinations of capitalist politicians, events such as the World Trade Centre destruction, or, as is the case currently, attacks on public health infrastructure (complete with reams of worthless anecdotes proving that vaccinations against a disease which does not exist are the primary cause of an undeniable increase on mortality) are all in essence excuses for not looking at the reality of imperialism in the face. And they lead, inexorably, to the adoption by the ruling class of fascist terrorist policies designed to repeat the formative disenfranchisements (of conquered peoples, of peasants and of wage workers) of capitalism.
This has been the way that neo-liberalism has been working since the brief post war interlude of socialist regulation and social protection, adopted reluctantly by ruling classes surrounded by millions of trained soldiers looking for rewards for their sacrifices.
Now neo-liberalism has run its course- the opponents of imperialism and capitalism have been weakened, almost to the point of impotence, by assaults on class protective institutions and by the dismantling “privatisation’ of social safety nets from public educational systems to pensions, unemployment insurance, state funded healthcare and such basic social infrastructure as drains, roads, water supplies and public transit.
Every trace of anything resembling socialism having been eradicated or weakened to a terminal degree, a politically triumphant ruling class (oligarchy/elite etc) can only defend its ruinous and unpopular ‘reforms’ while its economic and ideological power is in rapid decline by using the state to impose fascism by police terror.
And that is what is happening across the empire. Happily it is a course of action which the rest of the world-distinguished by its consciousness of having been victimised by the Empire- cannot follow. Its rulers know that their strength lies in their ability to mobilise popular forces against imperial aggression. And that those popular forces are ready, indeed able to oppose imperialism only if their social needs are met: their health protected, their nutritional needs met, their educational aspirations satisfied, their requirements for lodging and fuel catered to. And their voices attended to.
In the west generations of indoctrination have established that such basic needs add up to the dangerous state of ‘socialism.’ And must therefore be avoided to preserve the ‘freedom’ of plantation proprietors to make their own business decisions, even when those ‘decisions’ involve the destruction of the economic bases of their societies, the export in financial form of national capital and the impoverishment of the great majority of people.
In France the fear among ordinary people is that what was done to the English working class is now being done to them. There is little understanding of what has been done to American people, but Reagan and Thatcher (and Clinton and Blair) had the same objects. And their victims, at home and abroad, similar fates.

Posted by: bevin | Mar 19 2023 19:18 utc | 33

@ #22: thanks for the Wolff youtube. Much better than most.
AI watch (general interest):
https://asiatimes.com/2023/03/ai-warship-designer-accelerating-chinas-naval-lead/

China is set to supercharge its naval shipbuilding program with AI, accelerating production rates and potentially cementing its quantitative lead over the US.
This month, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that a research team from the China Ship Design and Research Center used AI operating on a small computer system to design a warship’s electrical systems in one day.
This task would reportedly take human designers 300 days using the most advanced computer tools, the source says. SCMP notes that the research team published their findings in the Chinese-language journal Computer Integrated Manufacturing Systems last month.

This is the sort of thing which AI will excel at. There is too much fascination with the ‘artificial intelligence’ angle, talking bot programs etc. (which no doubt will soon be used everywhere instead of customer service and probably journalists too etc.) but getting AI to write computer code after inputting the end result capabalities you want is going to be a huge leap forward in many fields as the quote above demonstrates.

Posted by: Scorpion | Mar 19 2023 19:30 utc | 35

Posted by: bevin | Mar 19 2023 19:18 utc | 34
Glad to have you back.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Mar 19 2023 19:49 utc | 37

talking bot programs etc. (which no doubt will soon be used everywhere instead of customer service and probably journalists too etc.)
Posted by: Scorpion | Mar 19 2023 19:30 utc | 36
I have yet to see a bot program of a customer service that actually works.
Most companies can’t get even their human customer service to work.

Posted by: Vikichka | Mar 19 2023 19:58 utc | 39

And I’m not only referring to climate change, but real-time and near-term destruction wrought by toxic pollution of many kinds, which is what leads the capitalist ruling class to constantly pick away at the regulatory state and apparatuses of environmental protection.
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Mar 19 2023 19:53 utc | 39
Your car is pollution.
Your face mask is pollution.
Your cigarette is pollution.
Your groceries are pollution.
Your electronic devices are pollution.
Your heating and cooling is pollution.
Your clothes are pollution.

Posted by: Vikichka | Mar 19 2023 20:02 utc | 41

cindy6 | Mar 19 2023 19:21 utc | 35
FYI Mao Zedong used that reference when discussing his 100 Flowers Campaign. His intention was to integrate his new initiative within the context of the broader Confusian philosophy underlying Chinese society to facilitate acceptance.
Same here with Xi and his New Deal fir Greater World Order.

Posted by: Jerr | Mar 19 2023 20:07 utc | 43

@ bevin | Mar 19 2023 19:18 utc | 34
Whoo-hoo, yer back! Kickin’ ass & taking names with eloquent insightful exposition. Bravo. 🙂
Would be most pleasantly content if my ‘suspect’ turns out otherwise. Commented to that effect/possibility in the Modern Western Aircraft thread.
May one buy you a welcome back drink at the bar ?

Posted by: Outraged | Mar 19 2023 20:08 utc | 45

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Mar 19 2023 20:13 utc | 47
You are causing pollution whether you admit it or not doesn’t matter. And as a rule the poorer the person the more pollution they are causing because they want nice things they can’t afford so they buy all the cheap polluting stuff. That’s why we all have plastic in our veins.

Posted by: Vikichka | Mar 19 2023 20:19 utc | 47

That’s why we all have plastic in our veins.
Posted by: Vikichka | Mar 19 2023 20:19 utc | 48
The reason we all have microplastics in our veins is that the capitalist class successfully squelched sufficient research and regulation related to the proliferation of increasingly exotic plastics. Same thing goes for that shit in Roundup.
You again fail to account for the concept of scale. My household produces pollution, and so does every other. But compared to, say, the US military which functions as the enforcer for western private capital around the world, or Amazon or Chevron/Exxon/etc. it’s a drop in the ocean.
Furthermore, the amount of pollution I produce living in the USA (or that produced by the poor in developing countries of the Global South) is a function of what types of processes and systems are made available to us by the capitalist ruling class. If all I can afford to heat my home is burning a dirty fuel of some kind, is it my fault? And I’m still buying that fuel from someone else who bought it from someone else further up the food chain.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Mar 19 2023 20:36 utc | 49

Norwegian | Mar 19 2023 16:30 utc | 11
Impostor games. I didn’t post this.

Posted by: Norwegian | Mar 19 2023 21:12 utc | 51

Tom_Q_Collins | Mar 19 2023 19:53 utc | 39
Vikichka | Mar 19 2023 20:02 utc | 42
The worse source of pollution is from the mind, not the factory.

Posted by: Jerr | Mar 19 2023 21:37 utc | 53

This is me, a body snatcher wouldn’t post this 😇
I thought it would be boilerplate but it’s actually pretty good:
Vladimir Putin’s Article for People’s Daily Newspaper, Russia and China: A Future-Bound Partnership

Posted by: LightYearsFromHome | Mar 19 2023 21:43 utc | 55

Comex folks are busy with pushing gold prices down now. Things can get much worser if they will loose control.

Posted by: asehi | Mar 19 2023 22:25 utc | 57

Not only has American hubris succeeded in pushing Russia and China together, they seem to be close to uniting the Arab world as well, and even quelling Arab and Iranian feuding.
Ironically, in its twilight era America may have finally in some way become a force for peace, by uniting all sane nations in opposition against the unhinged and belligerent western foreign policy of the Great Satan.

Posted by: FVK | Mar 19 2023 22:53 utc | 59

So, if the US says no ceasefire and Xi is in Moscow this week who is the audience for this bit of theater? And what is Russia’s next move, specifically?

Posted by: Figleaf23 | Mar 19 2023 23:27 utc | 61

Posted by: FVK | Mar 19 2023 22:53 utc | 62
Yep …
Cut thru all the propaganda and crap –
Thru-out my long life, – the one consistent State Sponsor of Terrorism has been the U$ofA.
Time for a new dawn !

Posted by: Engineer-John | Mar 19 2023 23:35 utc | 63

Impostor at 23:50?

Posted by: malenkov | Mar 20 2023 0:05 utc | 65

@ malenkov | Mar 20 2023 0:05 utc | 69
Yep.

Posted by: Outraged | Mar 20 2023 0:15 utc | 67

@ Norwegian | Mar 20 2023 0:18 utc | 72
Irgun, Haganah, Lehi, King David Hotel, lynched soldier captives, USS Liberty, Gaza strip, Golan Heights …

Posted by: Outraged | Mar 20 2023 0:26 utc | 69

@ Grieved | Mar 20 2023 0:31 utc | 75
A bonanza of unimaginable dimensions in the making!
For the lawyers, that is. For actual identifiable victims, not so much.

Posted by: malenkov | Mar 20 2023 0:38 utc | 71

The Zionists are invaders and are trying to finish an “ethnic cleansing” otherwise known as Genocide of the original inhabitants all financed by the collective West as the project served its purposes at the time but has waned over the years as the criminality has grown and is justly decried by RoW. Zionist ideology doesn’t accept the equality of humans and is thus Anti-Human AND Anti-Judaic. To them, only one type of Jew can be a Jew, and the reality is that person cannot be a Jew whatsoever according to Torah. In other words, Zionists are Zionists, not Jews. Zionists are Exclusivist as I wrote above and consist of a closed tribe. They are Extremists on par with Daesh and share the same ally–the Outlaw US Empire.
The great question raised by Crooke: Will the Empire aide the Zionists when they foment their Genocidal War? And the related question: How much of the Arc of Resistance will arise to defend Palestinians? And a last question by me: The Chinese surely see what’s transpiring and have worked to bring together the Gulf Nations; how does that affect their attitude toward Zionists and what a just outcome would be?

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 20 2023 1:06 utc | 73

Putin has written an article for publication in China, “Vladimir Putin’s Article for People’s Daily Newspaper, Russia and China: A Future-Bound Partnership”:

I am glad to seize this opportunity to address the friendly Chinese people in one of the largest and most authoritative world media in advance of the state visit of President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping to Russia. This landmark event reaffirms the special nature of the Russia-China partnership, which has always been built on mutual trust, respect for each other’s sovereignty and interests.
We have high expectations for the upcoming talks. We have no doubt that they will give a new powerful impetus to our bilateral cooperation in its entirety. This is also a great opportunity for me to meet with my good old friend with whom we enjoy the warmest relationship.
I made acquaintance with Comrade Xi Jinping in March 2010 when he visited Moscow as head of a high-level Chinese delegation. Our first meeting was held in a very business-like and at the same time sincere and friendly atmosphere. I really like this style of communication. I know that people in China attach great importance to friendship and personal relationships. It is no coincidence that Confucius the Sage said: ”Is it not a joy to have friends coming from afar!“ In Russia we share this value and hold real friends for brothers. Our two peoples have very much in common here.
Three years later, about the same days in March, we met again in the capital of Russia. It was Xi Jinping’s first state visit to our country after his election as President of the People’s Republic of China. The summit set the tone and dynamics of Russia-China relations for many years to come, became clear evidence of the special nature of relations between Russia and China, and outlined the trajectory for their accelerated and sustainable development.
Since then, a decade has passed, which is but a fleeting moment in the history of our countries sharing a centuries-old tradition of good neighbourliness and cooperation. During this time, the world has seen many changes, often not for the better. Yet the main thing has remained unchanged: I am talking of the firm friendship between Russia and China, which is consistently growing stronger for the benefit and in the interest of our countries and peoples. The progress made in the development of bilateral ties is impressive. The Russia-China relations have reached the highest level in their history and are gaining even more strength; they surpass Cold War-time military-political alliances in their quality, with no one to constantly order and no one to constantly obey, without limitations or taboos. We have reached an unprecedented level of trust in our political dialogue, our strategic cooperation has become truly comprehensive in nature and is standing on the brink of a new era. President Xi Jinping and I have met about 40 times and have always found time and opportunity to talk in a variety of official formats as well as at no‑tie events.
Our priorities include trade and economic partnership. In 2022, our bilateral trade, which had already been considerable by the time, doubled to reach USD 185 billion. This is a new record. What is more, we have every reason to believe that the USD 200 billion target, which was set by President Xi Jinping and myself, will be exceeded as early as this year instead of 2024. It is noteworthy that the share of settlements in national currencies in our mutual trade is growing, further strengthening the sovereignty of our relations.
Long-term joint plans and programs are being successfully implemented. It will be no exaggeration to say that the Power of Siberia Russian-Chinese gas pipeline has become the ”deal of the century“ for its scale. The supplies of Russian oil and coal have increased significantly. Our specialists are involved in building new nuclear power units in China, while Chinese companies actively engage in LNG projects; our industrial and agricultural cooperation is growing stronger. Together we explore outer space and develop new technologies.
Russia and China are powers with ancient and unique traditions and an enormous cultural heritage. Now that all pandemic-related restrictions on mutual contacts have been lifted, it is important that we increase humanitarian and tourist exchanges as soon as possible, thereby strengthening the social basis of the Russian-Chinese partnership. Interstate thematic years have a special role to play in this context. For example, the 2022/2023 biennium is dedicated to cooperation in the field of physical culture and sports, which is very popular among our citizens.
Unlike some countries claiming hegemony and bringing discord to the global harmony, Russia and China are literally and figuratively building bridges. Last year our border regions were connected by two new bridge crossings over the Amur river, which has been a ”river of friendship“ since time immemorial. Amidst the ”waves and winds“ that sweep the planet, we closely cooperate in international affairs and effectively coordinate our foreign policy positions, counter common threats, and respond to current challenges, standing shoulder to shoulder as a ”rock amid a fast flowing stream.“ We actively promote democratic multilateral structures such as the SCO and BRICS, which become more and more authoritative and influential and attract new partners and friends. The work aimed at coordinating the development of the Eurasian Economic Union with the One Belt, One Road Initiative also goes in this vein.
Our countries, together with like-minded actors, have consistently advocated the shaping of a more just multipolar world order based on international law rather than certain ”rules“ serving the needs of the ”golden billion.“ Russia and China have consistently worked to create an equitable, open and inclusive regional and global security system that is not directed against third countries. In this regard, we note the constructive role of China’s Global Security Initiative, which is in line with the Russian approaches in this area.
We can feel the geopolitical landscape in the outside world change dramatically. Sticking more stubbornly than ever to its obsolete dogmata and vanishing dominance, the ”Collective West“ is gambling on the fates of entire states and peoples. The US’s policy of simultaneously deterring Russia and China, as well as all those who do not bend to the American dictation, is getting ever more fierce and aggressive. The international security and cooperation architecture is being dismantled. Russia has been labelled an ”immediate threat“ and China a ”strategic competitor.“
We appreciate the well-balanced stance on the events in Ukraine adopted by the PRC, as well as its understanding of their historical background and root causes. We welcome China’s readiness to make a meaningful contribution to the settlement of the crisis. Like our friends in China, we advocate for the strict compliance with the UN Charter, respect for the norms of international law, including humanitarian law. We are committed to the principle of the indivisibility of security, which is being grossly violated by the NATO bloc. We are deeply concerned over the irresponsible and outright dangerous actions that jeopardize nuclear security. We reject illegitimate unilateral sanctions, which must be lifted.
Russia is open to the political and diplomatic resolution of the Ukraine crisis. It was not Russia who broke off the peace talks back in April 2022. The future of the peace process depends solely on the will to engage in a meaningful discussion taking into account current geopolitical realities. Unfortunately, the ultimatum nature of requirements placed on Russia shows that their authors are detached from these realities and lack interest in finding a solution to the situation.
The crisis in Ukraine, which was provoked and is being diligently fuelled by the West, is the most striking, yet not the only, manifestation of its desire to retain its international dominance and preserve the unipolar world order. It is crystal clear that NATO is striving for a global reach of activities and seeking to penetrate the Asia-Pacific. It obvious that there are forces persistently working to split the common Eurasian space into a network of ”exclusive clubs“ and military blocs that would serve to contain our countries’ development and harm their interests. This won’t work.
In fact, today, the Russia-China relations serve as the cornerstone of regional and global stability, driving the economic growth and securing the positive agenda in international affairs. They provide an example of harmonious and constructive cooperation between major powers.
I am convinced that our friendship and partnership based on the strategic choice of the peoples of the two countries will further grow and gain strength for the well-being and prosperity of Russia and China. This visit of the President of the PRC to Russia will undoubtedly contribute to that.

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 20 2023 1:18 utc | 75

@ karlof1..
norwegian doesn’t usually post this late.. i think we have a name hijacker here who is having fun at others expense..

Posted by: james | Mar 20 2023 2:25 utc | 77

A new wave of indiscriminate anti-Asian hate crime is coming to Australia:
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3213950/asian-australians-fear-red-alert-warmongering-will-fuel-rise-racist-hate?module=lead_hero_story&pgtype=homepage

Posted by: in_Oz | Mar 20 2023 3:12 utc | 79

Psychohistorian ( Mar 19 2023 15:08 utc | 6 ):
Thanks! I’m not a cosmologist but this subject is one I’m tangentially familiar with and this news made me retread old paths.
And indeed…. it seems the University of Leicester (in the UK) is involved with supplying the “lobster telescope” for yet another satellite and mission. I haven’t kept up, I thought they at some point got ISS-Lobster up on the ISS but I’m not entirely sure how that worked out. I never heard much about the (also with the involvement of Leicester) Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (MIXS) on the BepiColombo satellite (third Mercury flyby on 20 June 2023 according to Wikipedia), but it’s supposed to be on there… 🙂
It’s an idea that has been around in various forms since the seventies until among others George Fraser (1955-2014) at Leicester managed to somehow get the ball rolling in the early 2000nds. Or at least that’s the impression I got back then.
Good to see the technology is still going and that Leicester is still closely involved.
Would be nice to see it finally reach “completion” and become “ordinary”/mass-produced but I suppose that’s not likely yet. I seem to remember the idea/notion/aspiration of it becoming a great supplement to or replacement for star-trackers.
…because space isn’t actually black …if you have real-time high definition false-color “full” x-ray vision 😀

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Mar 20 2023 4:05 utc | 81

Different topic: underwater explosions aka UNDEX.
I haven’t read this yet, there was a small page with some Norwegian on it but other than that it’s supposed to be in English and meant to be a decent introduction to UNDEX.
It’s an 81 pages long pdf from the “Norwegian Defence Research Establishment”/”Forsvarets forskningsinstitutt” (FFI) titled “Aspects of Underwater Explosions and
Preliminary Modeling in Impetus” (Impetus is some physics software modelling/simulation thing).
Maybe it could be of interest to anyone who wishes to learn a little bit about underwater explosions and how they differ from explosions on land/in air.
Because gas pipes 🙂
Some of it might also apply even if the explosion was used to cut rather than to simply (or only) “blow up”.
But as said I haven’t read it yet.

Posted by: Sunny Runny Burger | Mar 20 2023 4:26 utc | 83

Ironically hypocricy and socialist ideology go hand in hand. Next time when you go to the store and you can’t afford that non-plastic product, but you can afford that plastic one, decide whether you care about pollution and the health of others or you care about yourself. And if you buy the plastic one, maybe tell yourself that you had no choice and others buy much more plastic stuff. Maybe post on the internet about how socialism cares for others. It may make you feel better.
Posted by: Vikichka | Mar 19 2023 22:13 utc | 59

Make all the plastic stuff you want. There need to be rules and regs about how to dispose of it. Even the guts of plastic shelled products can be repaired. But the capitalist class would prefer we just throw them away or that we don’t recycle plastic products and instead throw them away only to buy new ones.
Governmental socialism doesn’t “care” for anyone. But those people who are part of a true socialist government make sure that it behaves (as in actually functions in real life) as though it does. This is in contrast to the capitalist-dominated “democracy” in the West that think it suffices if governmental capitalism *acts* (as in kabuki theater) as though it does, or really even could.

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Mar 20 2023 4:35 utc | 85

@ Grieved | Mar 20 2023 0:31 utc | 75
There was no statutory obligation to perform pre-clinical and clinical trials due to the laws used by the USG. The DOD used OTA (other transaction authority which allows for secrecy and avoids regulations) to contract for “prototypes” with the pharmaceutical manufacturers. The contracts between DOD and the pharma manufacturers, instead of specifying “good manufacturing practices,” as is usual, inserted “a plan”— to be reviewed by the DOD, with indeterminate language. There was no oversight by the CDC or FDA over any of the pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, including testing for safety and effectiveness, as was represented to the public. All theatre.
At ~ 56:00 to ~ 1:00:00 the question, “But is there not a contractual obligation by the pharma companies?” is addressed. Robert Barnes, one of the conference presenters, is arguing according to RFK jr, “Yes, there is.” Sasha Latypova , someone who has experience with these contracts, disagrees with Barnes and gives her reasons.
This entire exchange between Latypova and Kennedy deserves a transcript to enable discussion. There are not very many of us down this rabbit hole …
https://rumble.com/v2df7hg-militarized-healthcare.html

Posted by: suzan | Mar 20 2023 4:49 utc | 87

This is what I wrote in a Twitter thread about “pro-Moscow accounts” sawing distrust of authorities exploiting the derailment in East Palestine:
It was proven many times that fear of toxic substances is pro-Moscow. E.g. phosphates from Morocco, unlike those from Russia and Syria, contain cadmium, so Europe avoids pro-Moscowitism by banning cadmium-free phosphates.
To my dismay, I got one like, apparently from a lady tucking Estonian, Ukrainian and Norwegian (?) flags next to her handle. Throwing snark before believers.

Posted by: Piotr Berman | Mar 20 2023 5:00 utc | 89

But the capitalist class would prefer we just throw them away or that we don’t recycle plastic products
Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | Mar 20 2023 4:35 utc | 94
The infamous “capitalist class” that is blamed for not cleaning up after the polluting mess that the “working class” is creating. If you want to stop pollution, start with yourself and stop polluting.

Posted by: Vikichka | Mar 20 2023 6:41 utc | 91

james & Outraged @78-79–
I was rather certain I was replying to an imposter and the rk thing is just another turd.
I do have something new that doesn’t jibe with either of the new threads–Xi Jinping’s mirror article to Putin’s published today in Rossiskya Gazeyeta, which I’ve translated and posted at my VK, “To persevere in moving forward to new prospects for friendship, cooperation and joint development between China and Russia”. Putin’s article is here, “Vladimir Putin’s Article for People’s Daily Newspaper, Russia and China: A Future-Bound Partnership”.
Also, Putin had several important events prior to greeting Xi at the airport which I’ve yet to translate and post, speech at the International Parliamentary Conference “Russia–Africa in a Multipolar World” and Putin’s remarks at an Extended meeting of the Board of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. IMO, the most important for our purposes is the “Russia-Africa in a Multipolar World” speech, which will soon grace my VK Wall. When it does, I’ll link to it as usual.
Relative to the Crooke Article, I see Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov continues to meet with regional players at a feverish pace. Also, Lavrov held a presser after talks with Armenia’s FM over the issue with Azerbaijan. The most important Q&A exchange IMO follows:

Question: What steps does Russia intend to take to prevent a new aggression hanging over Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh? What are Russia’s actions to guarantee the security of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh?
Sergey Lavrov: We support the position expressed by Prime Minister of Armenia Nikolai Pashinyan at the time, stressing that he proceeds from the premise that the issues of guaranteeing security for the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh and ensuring their rights should be resolved between the representatives of Karabakh and Baku. We encourage the parties to do this. Armenia is also interested in this. Of course, it is important for us to understand how high-quality the agreements will be.
There are examples of very recent history. The Minsk agreements roughly discussed the same thing: what rights should residents of the eastern part of Ukraine have in accordance with these very Minsk agreements: this is the right to their native language, to teach children in this language, to live, work, using it, to preserve their culture, religion, to have the opportunity for local self-government and to have special economic and trade ties with their compatriots (in the case of Donbass, it was Russia).
Approximately the same rights were provided for in the agreement signed ten years ago between Belgrade and Pristina on the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities of Kosovo: language, local self-government, education, culture, religion, special economic ties with Serbia. The Karabakh people will need the same set of rights as in any similar situation: Donbass, Kosovo and the Serbian regions of Kosovo, Nagorno-Karabakh (in the context of the reaffirmation by the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan of their commitment to the provisions of the Alma-Ata Declaration of December 21, 1991).
It’s not as hard to do as it sounds. Everything will depend on how decently those who will fulfill the agreements reached behave. In the case of Donbass (Minsk agreements), in the case of the agreement on the creation of the Community of Serb Municipalities of Kosovo, there can be no question of any decency.
This is a prologue to the answer to the question of whether interaction with the West is allowed. The West has completely discredited itself. We see what goals it pursues in the South Caucasus. He does not hide them, but declares – to tear Russia away. The Russian Federation is promoting, for example, together with Armenia and other countries in the region, the “3+3” format: three South Caucasian states (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) and their three neighbours (Russia, Turkey and Iran). The Georgian side is still thinking about joining this format, but the first meeting took place. The door for Tbilisi remains open. Now we are working on convening a second meeting in the 3+3 format.
The West is already actively working to undermine this structure, which has just begun to take shape, trying to impose its services on the three South Caucasian countries (the EU and the United States). Thus, he again makes claims to dominate, to assert his hegemony everywhere, far from his own borders, directly stepping on the legitimate interests of the three closest neighbors of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. I am referring to Turkey, Iran and Russia. What guides the West when it starts some games in the South Caucasus? Along with these geopolitical plans, he promotes support, including financial, material support for various NGOs, which in this part of the world, as in any other region, are engaged in activities that can be called “preparation for the next color revolution.” It’s not much hidden either. All these NGOs are known. The way they speak publicly, defending the interests of the West and trying to discredit the actions of Russia, Iran, is also known.
Therefore, I do not see any possibility and necessity for the development of any dialogue with the West on the South Caucasus, as well as most other issues on the international regional agenda. [My Emphasis]

Posted by: karlof1 | Mar 20 2023 17:17 utc | 93

Apologies to all if this has previously been posted. This link is from a comment at an article by Yves at nakedcapitalism.com today concerning the recent bank failures in the US. It is a recent discussion by Bill Black that is an hour long. He has a little trouble at the beginning getting the format set in place, but once it was, I found the video very helpful, as were the questions and answers at the end of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4axBfNjnZQ&list=LL&index=3

Posted by: juliania | Mar 20 2023 21:03 utc | 95

@Sunny Runny Burger #82:

…because space isn’t actually black …if you have real-time high definition false-color “full” x-ray vision 😀

Indeed. (Read Russian Space Research Institute’s article about this image.)

Posted by: S | Mar 21 2023 0:44 utc | 97

Prediction: Upcoming summit will see some sort of go-forward announcement about new system or currency in BRIC et alia zone.
Some links:
A short piece on how the conflict is going to be as much about the new global reserve currency as anything military.
ZH. Title: “This Financial Crisis Will Be Like None Other In History”
Article with 50 minute interview about global finance, possible new BRIC currency. March 5th.
https://quoththeraven.substack.com/p/a-tsunami-of-inflation-one-interview
(warning: subject is a precious metals player)

Posted by: Scorpion | Mar 21 2023 2:28 utc | 99