The Prime Minister met His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan at Downing Street today.

They both welcomed the historic and strong ties between the UK and Jordan and the close partnership we have developed over many years on areas such as security and defence.

On Syria, they noted the importance of securing a lasting ceasefire, and reiterated that political talks are essential to reaching a settlement that can bring about a long-term solution to the conflict.

They also discussed the vital regional role Jordan is playing in hosting Syrian refugees. The Prime Minister assured King Abdullah that the UK will continue to support Jordan in these efforts and encourage others to do the same, including through the Brussels Conference in April.

On wider regional issues, the Prime Minister reinforced the UK’s commitment to working with all parties to bring about a two state solution in the Middle East, and they agreed on the need for inclusive political settlements in Iraq and in Yemen as the only way to ensure long-term stability. They also discussed progress in the wider campaign to defeat Daesh.

They ended by committing to further deepen the bilateral partnership for mutual benefit, for example on intelligence and counter-radicalisation.

Amid all the hype created by four articles published by overseas media about the “torture” of detained Chinese lawyer Xie Yang, investigations by reporters and an investigative team have showed that the accusations were nothing but cleverly orchestrated lies.

Xie Yang, a lawyer in central China’s Hunan Province, was put under investigation by police in July 2015 for suspected inciting subversion of state power and disrupting court order, and placed under “residential surveillance in a designated location.”

The four stories carried by overseas media between Oct. 11 and Nov. 15, 2016 were entirely fabricated by disbarred Beijing lawyer Jiang Tianyong, 46, who was aiming to cater to the tastes of western institutions and media organizations and to use public opinion to pressure police and smear the Chinese government. The stories were essentially fake news.

Imagination-based “torture stories”

Jiang was detained on Nov. 21, 2016 after attempting to use somebody else’s identification card to take train. He was found to be carrying seven mobile phones, 11 SIM cards and seven bank cards.

Police investigations showed that he was also suspected of being in possession of documents that were related to state secrets, and inciting subversion of state power.

He is currently under “coercive measures,” which can include summons by force, bail, residential surveillance, detention and arrest.

Jiang confessed that after the Fengrui Law Firm in Beijing was put under police investigation in July 2016, he had been organizing people, including relatives of suspects involved in the case, to carry placards, create disturbances and secure interviews to mislead overseas reporters.

After Xie was detained, Jiang met with Xie’s wife, surnamed Chen, in September last year. He incited her to invent Xie’s torture stories and post them online.

According to the law, without police approval the defense lawyer could not meet with criminal suspects in custody during an investigation if they were involved in criminal cases including endangering national security, terrorism or serious bribery.

Both Jiang and Chen had not seen Xie during his detention.

However, to convince the public, Jiang gave Chen instructions, telling her:

— Fatigue interrogation must have been used by the police and it was a kind of torture;

— Xie was not a smoker, but the investigators were usually shown on TV as heavy smokers that stay up all night during interrogation, and that they could make up the story of Xie being fumigated with smoke, and this was also a kind of torture;

— Xie had not recovered from a fracture in his right leg before his arrest, and that they could pretend that the investigators tortured him by hurting his injured leg;

— They could pretend Xie was beaten up during interrogation.

Such coaching shows that Jiang was all too aware how people and the media could easily be manipulated for his own criminal ends.

“People could be easily convinced if we mingled the true with the false,” Jiang said. “I later rewrote and polished Chen’s torture story, split it into parts and published them in instalments to arouse sustained attention on Xie’s case.”

Jiang said he also sent the fake stories to “activists” overseas.

XIE IN GOOD CONDITION

When the Hunan Provincial People’s Procuratorate learnt about the media reports about Xie, it set up an independent team to investigate.

The team’s report, resulting from an investigation of Xie’s fellow inmates, interrogators, related personnel when he was under residential surveillance, and Xie himself, showed that the, so-called, torture did not happen.

A criminal suspect surnamed Wu, who shared a cell with Xie for three months, said Xie claimed that he was very comfortable when he was held under residential surveillance.

“Xie told me that he had several dishes for each meal and the police dared not to mistreat him,” Wu said.

Xie’s interaction with reporters tells a different tale to the “torture” story: he walked steady, took firm steps and acted naturally during his interview with the reporters; he told reporters that he slept nine hours every day, could get access to essential physical examinations, and was in a good physical condition; he said he enjoyed decent food and clothing and also received clothes and cotton quilts from his family last winter.

He could maintain communication with his family members even when he was under residential surveillance.

A letter sent by Xie’s wife to the police on Jan. 5, 2016, also shows that Xie was treated well.

“You have bought medicine for Xie Yang’s leg, passed our letters to each other, which conveyed my, and our child’s, yearning for Xie and Xie’s yearning for us. This has made us not that lonely in the past half year,” she wrote.”I appreciate your people-oriented management of Xie. Although it’s not convenient for you to tell me about his case, we know that Xie is safe and comfortable there through his letter.”

When the judicial organ told Chen she could meet Xie during his custody, Chen was very happy and sent a note to Xie through the police, saying that she would meet him at 3 p.m. the same day. However, she changed her mind half an hour later.

Jiang said that he persuaded Chen not to meet Xie, because he was afraid this might upset his plan. As a result, Xie has not been able to meet Chen so far.

Confessing his guilt and showing remorse, Jiang said he had created trouble for the police, attacked the Chinese government and smeared the image of the judicial organs.

He also expressed his hope that those who did similar illegal acts would learn a lesson from him and start afresh.

“It’s not too late,” he said.

Rebecca
Long-Bailey MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, commenting on a
leaked report which reveals over a thousand jobs are at risk at Ford’s Bridgend
base, said:  

‘’Today’s
leak is deeply worrying for the 1,160 workers at Ford’s Bridgend plant who may
lose their jobs by 2021.

“The
Government must urgently provide further details of the dialogue they have had
with Ford and provide much needed assurances to the families who will be affected.

“It
is becoming clearer each week that the Government’s approach is to jump from
crisis to crisis and offer assurances to individual companies on a piecemeal
basis. This is failing to give the manufacturing sector the certainty it so
needs.’’

Members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee have started to gather in Beijing for the top political advisory body’s annual session, which is scheduled to open Friday.

Political advisors from central China’s Henan Province were the first to arrive on Wednesday.

On Sunday, the National People’s Congress (NPC), the top legislature, will also convene its annual session. Dubbed the “two sessions,” the dual gathering is significant in China’s political calendar as it sets the national agenda for the year and beyond.

This year the meetings carry extra weight as they are the fifth and last sessions of the 12th NPC and the 12th CPPCC National Committee.

At the parliamentary assembly, legislators are expected to deliberate a draft decision on deputy elections for the 13th NPC, and draft methods for the election of deputies to the 13th NPC from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.

The two sessions are also the first high-profile national political events held since President Xi Jinping was endorsed as the core of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee at a key CPC meeting last October.

Pledges to conform to the CPC Central Committee with Xi as the core are expected to feature significantly.

“The CPC needs a strong core of leadership. Otherwise, it will have no cohesiveness or competence to lead all manners of undertakings. The endorsement of Xi as the core has come naturally, with the backing of the entire Party and the people,” said Xin Ming, a professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

Much of the focus during the March sessions will center on the economic front, as in previous years, with a government work report to be delivered by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to confirm the country’s growth targets for the year.

China registered 6.7 percent GDP growth in 2016, a nearly three-decade low, amid concerns over weak growth momentum in major economies, rising trade protectionism, domestic debt overhang, excess capacity and a highly leveraged property market.

However the growth rate was within the Chinese government’s target range and outpaced most other major economies, scotching rumors of a hard landing.

Although no official target for this year will be available until the opening of the parliamentary session, China has targeted average annual growth of more than 6.5 percent during the 13th-five-year plan (2016-2020).

Explaing the plan to a key Party conference in late 2015, President Xi Jinping said maintaining an average annual growth of at least 6.5 percent was necessary to reach the target of doubling GDP and per capita income from 2010 levels by 2020.

The target is crucial for China to attain its two centenary goals: becoming a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2021, the 100th anniversary of the CPC, and a modern socialist country that is “prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious” by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.

“I see 2017 as showing considerable continuity with 2016. Growth will continue to be fueled primarily by the increasing importance of consumption as opposed to investment, and services as opposed to industry,” said Nicholas R. Lardy, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

With the CPC set to hold its 19th National Congress in Beijing in the second half of the year, stabilizing the economy will be prioritized by policymakers.

A Central Economic Work Conference late last year made “seeking progress while maintaining stability” the main theme for economic work in 2017, pledging progress in supply-side structural reform.

Xu Guangjian, vice dean of Renmin University’s School of Public Administration, is confident in China’s ability to maintain medium-high growth of 6.5 to 7 percent.

“The domestic market is yet to be further tapped, the infrastructure sector has huge potential for investment and resident consumption keeps growing steadily,” he said.

Zheng Xinye, assistant dean of Renmin University’s School of Economics, suggested increasing effective supply in medical, education and housing sectors in order to meet people’s needs, give people a greater sense of gain and ensure steady economic growth.

For those eyeing the effects of China’s economic projects on the rest of the world, the Belt and Road Initiative will be a focus.

The initiative, which has yielded infrastructure projects, economic and trade cooperation zones, and jobs, is telling evidence of China’s resolution to champion free trade and open markets amid increasing anti-globalization sentiment and rising trade protectionism.

“The Initiative signals China’s active participation in global economic and financial governance. Rather than a passive player in the building and maintenance of the international economic order, China has taken on responsibilities that match its economic status and national strength,” Xu said.

Lawmakers and political advisors will also take the occasion to review and discuss a draft General Provisions of Civil Law, which states the basic principles of the country’s long-awaited civil code.

The drafting of the general provisions started in March 2015. Since June last year, the draft has gone through three readings at the top legislature. During the process, many opinions and revisions have been taken on board to address people’s concerns, adapt to the country’s needs and embody socialist values.

It is rare for a draft law or an amendment to go through three readings and not be passed. One outstanding case was the property law, which was passed in March 2007 after eight readings.

The draft states that personal liberties and human dignity are protected by the law, and is expected to be approved at the upcoming parliamentary session, a crucial first step in introducing a civil code, hopefully in 2020.

Since a decision to compile a civil code was made in October 2014, it has been treated as a necessary move to perfect the country’s socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, and significant in modernizing state governance.

Compiling a civil code takes two steps: formulating the general provisions, and integrating separate civil laws into a unified code.

“The making of the general provisions and the civil code will elevate the protection of civil rights to a new height,” said Professor Yin Tian with the Law School of Peking University.

“This will contribute significantly to promoting the sound development of the economy, improving state governance, and preventing state power from encroaching upon the legitimate rights of civil subjects,” Yin said.

Other topics at the NPC session include a state budgetary review, military spending and law enforcement.

China announced a 7.6 percent rise in its national defense budget last year, the lowest growth in six years, breaking off a five-year run of double-digit increases between 2011 and 2015.

The increase in 2015 was 10.1 percent.

Jeremy
Corbyn works with European socialist parties in government to lobby for rights
of British people in EU and EU citizens in the UK.

Jeremy
Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, is coordinating EU-wide efforts by socialist
parties to protect the rights of UK citizens living in the EU and EU citizens
living in the UK.

Today,
Jeremy has written to leaders of seven European socialist parties, allied to
Labour and in government, to lobby, at every level of the EU, for the rights of
British citizens abroad and to reaffirm Labour’s commitment to the rights of EU
residents in the UK.

The
letters follow discussions Jeremy Corbyn initiated at a Party of European
Socialists conference that Labour hosted in London last week.

With the
British government likely to trigger Article 50 in the coming weeks and
negotiations around Britain’s future relationship with the EU about to begin,
millions of people across the EU are uncertain and fearful about what the
future holds for them. 

In the
letters, he appeals to the “common voice” of socialist parties across
Europe to help guarantee the rights of “around 3 million EU Citizens,
living, working and contributing greatly in our societies” and “an
estimated 1.5 million British people living in different parts of the European
mainland.”

Theresa
May has resisted Labour calls for the government to act unilaterally to
guarantee the rights of EU citizens in the UK. It currently looks likely to
take the issue of rights for EU migrants in the UK and British migrants in the
EU into what could be a difficult and unpredictable period of negotiations.

Corbyn
states this is the reason he is writing “as a friend and sister party
colleague” asking “for you and your government to work formally with
other socialist colleagues in the EU council and insist that the current rights
of both EU and British citizens are guaranteed and insist this decision is the
first to be made once Article 50 is triggered.”

“As
socialist parties, we all agree that we must work together to make sure the
basic values we share are fully represented in a final agreement between
Britain and the EU. Therefore I see no better way to start by making this issue
a key priority for us in the coming months, we cannot allow our citizens, our
neighbours and our friends be subject to further uncertainty or be used as a
bargaining chip.”

“We
as socialists must stand up for the rights of everybody and I am confident this
can be done through the Brexit process and beyond, if we stay true to our
beliefs and work together.

Ends