China ready to share opportunities, benefits with world: spokesman

As a significant driving force for strengthening global connectivity, China stands ready to share opportunities and benefits with the world, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman at a press briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.

Guo Jiakun, the spokesman, made the statement in response to a media inquiry on the fruitful cooperation between China and other countries in promoting global connectivity.

China is an important driving force for strengthening global connectivity and over the recent period the country has been making continuous progresses in related cooperation, said Guo.

"We've heard good news recently about connectivity cooperation between China and relevant countries. The China-Europe Railway Express has run over 100,000 trips in total, the total cargo throughput of the China-Laos Railway has exceeded 50 million tonnes, the new western land-sea corridor train service has run over 10,000 trips in the whole year for the first time, the China-Europe Trans-Caspian Express was officially launched, the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway has started, priority projects such as the China-Viet Nam cross-border railway and the Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link have made important progress, and the first ever two-way voyage between Chancay and Shanghai through the new land-sea corridor between China and Latin America has been completed. China has become an important driving force for global connectivity," said Guo.

Strengthening connectivity can help the Global South promote development and China has been increasing related efforts to share benefits and opportunities with the world through high-quality development and high-level opening up, said Guo.

"Connectivity is one of the important cooperation areas under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and meets the Global South's aspiration for 'empowering development' China last week unveiled 15 measures aimed at advancing large-scale development of the western region, and the country will take synergized efforts in building an international logistics corridor to forge an all-round opening up paradigm at a faster pace that connects China and the world through land and sea as well as the eastern and western regions of the nation. We will uphold the principle of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, expand new space for win-win development at a higher level and with greater resilience and sustainability, share with the world opportunities and dividends with China's high-quality development and high-standard opening up, and help Global South countries realize modernization," said Guo.

China ready to share opportunities, benefits with world: spokesman

China has pledged additional emergency humanitarian aid to Myanmar following the devastating earthquake, aimed at supporting ongoing relief efforts with a focus on urgent needs such as medical supplies and reconstruction, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian announced on Thursday.

During a press briefing in Beijing, Lin outlined the details of the aid and summarized China's immediate involvement in the search and rescue operations following the March 28 earthquake.

"Since the outbreak of the earthquake, Chinese rescue forces have rallied around and saved lives against time. China was the first country that announced emergency assistance to Myanmar, sent rescue forces to the country, and set up settlement centers in the affected areas. The Chinese rescue team found the first trapped survivor. More than 30 rescue teams of over 600 members rushed to Myanmar for rescue work and we offered several batches of supplies, which demonstrates China's speed, contribution and kindness. This is warmly welcomed and appreciated by the people in Myanmar," said Lin.

Lin also emphasized the significance of the "pauk-phaw" friendship -- a Myanmar term for siblings - in the context of China's ongoing support.

"Myanmar's disaster response work has moved to epidemic prevention and control, as well as recovery and reconstruction. As a friendly neighbor and 'pauk-phaw' brother, China has decided to send another batch of emergency humanitarian supplies, which include the most needed refined oil, prefabricated houses, operating rooms, medicines, and vaccines. China will also dispatch medical and epidemic prevention experts for treatment and disinfection, as well as experts to examine, assess, reinforce, and repair affected buildings and cultural relics. A merciless disaster brings the best out of humanity. China will continue to promote the China-Myanmar 'pauk-phaw' friendship and, upholding the spirit of the China-Myanmar community with a shared future, help the people in Myanmar overcome difficulties and rebuild their homes," Lin added.

The earthquake, which struck Mandalay on March 28, has claimed 3,649 lives, injured 5,018 people, and left 145 missing, according to the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council on Wednesday.

China to provide additional emergency aid to Myanmar following earthquake: spokesman