In an era marked by unprecedented global transformations, the world stands at a critical crossroads, grappling with deepening deficits in peace, development, security, and governance. As humanity faces unparalleled challenges during this tumultuous period, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, has put forth a solemn call to action through the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI).
Pascal Lamy, former director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), warned that the US administration's tariff policies are built on "completely mistaken" diagnosis of its domestic economy, which will backfire by fueling US inflation and pushing its interest rates higher.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's skepticism and bearish stance on the Chinese economy have encountered a rather ironic twist of fate. China's GDP grew at a robust 5.4 percent in the first quarter, in sharp contrast with the US, where GDP decreased at an annual rate of 0.3 percent in the same period, the first decline since the first quarter of 2022. This juxtaposition not only challenges the narrative of China's economic fragility in the face of US tariffs but also raises questions about the endurance of the US economy amid the chaos sparked by tariffs.
