Australian-Chinese TV anchor Cheng Lei, who has been in prison in China and will be now spending three years more in detention, in a rare message said that she has been missing her family and life in Australia. 
 
“I miss the sun. In my cell, the sunlight shines through the window but I can stand in it for only 10 hours a year,” she stated in a message which was released by her partner Nick Coyle on Thursday (August 10) on an account named “ FreeChengLei” on platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

<h2>Love letter to Australia</h2>

Speaking to CNN, Coyle said that the message was dictated to diplomatic officers and was shared with him. “I can’t believe I used to avoid the sun when I was living back in Australia,” said Cheng’s message. It was described as a “love letter” to Australia by Cheng, who said, “I haven’t seen a tree in 3 years.”

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-claims-to-expose-cia-espionage-case-after-arrest-of-alleged-agent-624441">China claims to have exposed CIA espionage plot after arrest of alleged agent</a> 
 
Cheng, a former business anchor for China’s state broadcaster CGTN and mother of two, is accused of illegally supplying state secrets overseas, a charge that carries a possible sentence of five years to life in prison. 
 
She had been on her way to work on the morning of August 13, 2020, when she “was taken by China’s Ministry of State Security,” Coyle said in a letter published in The Australian newspaper in May.

The details of the allegations against Cheng have not been revealed by the Chinese authorities. The court in China delayed in giving a verdict several times, which left Cheng in custody and gave no clarification to her loved ones regarding her fate. In the letter released, Cheng fondly spoke about her life in Australia, saying, “I miss the Australian people.” 
 
“I remember camping for the first time with my family. I miss the sweet encounters of wildlife in Australia, the sea salt whirling in my ear. I relive every bushwalk, river, lake, beach with swims and picnics and psychedelic sunsets, sky that is lit up with stars, and the silent and secret symphony of the bush,” she writes.

WATCH |&nbsp;China's trade slumps, threatening recovery prospects

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“I secretly mouth the names of places I've visited and driven through,” Cheng said. “It is the Chinese in me that has probably gone beyond the legal limit of sentimentality. Most of all, I miss my children,” she added. Coyle further informed CNN that he is able to hear from Cheng only after she is visited by her consular once every month.

<h2>Australian minister confirms support for Cheng</h2>

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, in a statement, said that Cheng and her family will be supported and her interests and well-being will be taken care of. 
 
“Cheng's message to the public makes clear her deep love for our country,” said Wong in a statement. “All Australians want to see her reunited with her children,” he added. 
 
Wong said that the government has been advocating for Cheng and asked that "basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment be met to Cheng, in accordance with international norms.”

You can&nbsp;now write for&nbsp;wionews.com&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Australian-Chinese TV anchor Cheng Lei, who has been in prison in China and will be now spending three years more in detention, in a rare message said that she has been missing her family and life in Australia.

Australian-Chinese TV anchor Cheng Lei, who has been in prison in China and will be now spending three years more in detention, in a rare message said that she has been missing her family and life in Australia. “I miss the sun. In my cell, the sunlight shines through the window but I can stand in it for only 10 hours a year,” she stated in a message which was released by her partner Nick Coyle on Thursday (August 10) on an account named “ FreeChengLei” on platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Love letter to Australia Speaking to CNN, Coyle said that the message was dictated to diplomatic officers and was shared with him. “I can’t believe I used to avoid the sun when I was living back in Australia,” said Cheng’s message. It was described as a “love letter” to Australia by Cheng, who said, “I haven’t seen a tree in 3 years.” ALSO READ | China claims to have exposed CIA espionage plot after arrest of alleged agent Cheng, a former business anchor for China’s state broadcaster CGTN and mother of two, is accused of illegally supplying state secrets overseas, a charge that carries a possible sentence of five years to life in prison. She had been on her way to work on the morning of August 13, 2020, when she “was taken by China’s Ministry of State Security,” Coyle said in a letter published in The Australian newspaper in May. The details of the allegations against Cheng have not been revealed by the Chinese authorities. The court in China delayed in giving a verdict several times, which left Cheng in custody and gave no clarification to her loved ones regarding her fate. In the letter released, Cheng fondly spoke about her life in Australia, saying, “I miss the Australian people.” “I remember camping for the first time with my family. I miss the sweet encounters of wildlife in Australia, the sea salt whirling in my ear. I relive every bushwalk, river, lake, beach with swims and picnics and psychedelic sunsets, sky that is lit up with stars, and the silent and secret symphony of the bush,” she writes. WATCH | China's trade slumps, threatening recovery prospects “I secretly mouth the names of places I've visited and driven through,” Cheng said. “It is the Chinese in me that has probably gone beyond the legal limit of sentimentality. Most of all, I miss my children,” she added. Coyle further informed CNN that he is able to hear from Cheng only after she is visited by her consular once every month. Australian minister confirms support for Cheng Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, in a statement, said that Cheng and her family will be supported and her interests and well-being will be taken care of. “Cheng's message to the public makes clear her deep love for our country,” said Wong in a statement. “All Australians want to see her reunited with her children,” he added. Wong said that the government has been advocating for Cheng and asked that "basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment be met to Cheng, in accordance with international norms.” You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'Haven’t seen a tree in three years,’ says jailed journalist in China in rare message

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un a rare message, Pyongyang&#39;s official news agency reported Thursday, in his first public communication with his wayward neighbour for more than a year.

The note signalled a possible improvement in their strained relationships, which has soured over Pyongyang&#39;s growing weapons ambitions even though Beijing is its longtime ally and economic benefactor.

Xi&#39;s message, dated Wednesday, was sent in response to congratulations from Kim last week for securing a second term as the head of China&#39;s ruling party.

&quot;I wish that under the new situation the Chinese side would make efforts with the DPRK side to promote the relations between the two parties and the two countries to sustainable soundness and stable development,&quot; Xi said, according to the North&#39;s KCNA news agency said, addressing Kim as &quot;Comrade Chairman&quot;.

In his earlier note, Kim had offered Xi his &quot;sincere congratulations&quot; and expressed his belief that their relations would develop &quot;in the interests of the people of the two countries&quot;.

The last time KCNA reported a message from Xi was in July 2016.

Analysts say that such exchanges have become extremely rare under the current leaders, even though Beijing and Pyongyang traditionally sent greetings and congratulations on each other&#39;s key anniversaries in the past.

Their relationship was forged in the blood of the Korean War, when Mao Zedong sent millions of &quot;volunteers&quot; to fight US-led United Nations forces to a standstill.

Mao described the allies as close as &quot;lips and teeth&quot;, and China has long been accused of failing to enforce United Nations sanctions against the North for its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, even after voting for them in the Security Council.

But Beijing has grown increasingly frustrated by its belligerent neighbour, and rapidly backed a new set of UN measures after a flurry of missile launches by the North and its sixth nuclear test in September.

Professor Yang Moo-Jin of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul said the public exchange of messages signalled a willingness on both sides to improve relations.

&quot;The fact that both sides are swiftly trading letters and announcing it carries a symbolic meaning,&quot; said Yang.

&quot;If the message was more intimate, we could expect a faster thawing of ties,&quot; he added, &quot;but for now, it shows that both sides agree on the need to improve their relations&quot;.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un a rare message

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un a rare message, Pyongyang's official news agency reported Thursday, in his first public communication with his wayward neighbour for more than a year. The note signalled a possible improvement in their strained relationships, which has soured over Pyongyang's growing weapons ambitions even though Beijing is its longtime ally and economic benefactor. Xi's message, dated Wednesday, was sent in response to congratulations from Kim last week for securing a second term as the head of China's ruling party. "I wish that under the new situation the Chinese side would make efforts with the DPRK side to promote the relations between the two parties and the two countries to sustainable soundness and stable development," Xi said, according to the North's KCNA news agency said, addressing Kim as "Comrade Chairman". In his earlier note, Kim had offered Xi his "sincere congratulations" and expressed his belief that their relations would develop "in the interests of the people of the two countries". The last time KCNA reported a message from Xi was in July 2016. Analysts say that such exchanges have become extremely rare under the current leaders, even though Beijing and Pyongyang traditionally sent greetings and congratulations on each other's key anniversaries in the past. Their relationship was forged in the blood of the Korean War, when Mao Zedong sent millions of "volunteers" to fight US-led United Nations forces to a standstill. Mao described the allies as close as "lips and teeth", and China has long been accused of failing to enforce United Nations sanctions against the North for its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, even after voting for them in the Security Council. But Beijing has grown increasingly frustrated by its belligerent neighbour, and rapidly backed a new set of UN measures after a flurry of missile launches by the North and its sixth nuclear test in September. Professor Yang Moo-Jin of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul said the public exchange of messages signalled a willingness on both sides to improve relations. "The fact that both sides are swiftly trading letters and announcing it carries a symbolic meaning," said Yang. "If the message was more intimate, we could expect a faster thawing of ties," he added, "but for now, it shows that both sides agree on the need to improve their relations".

China's President Xi Jinping sends rare message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

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