President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a reception held on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
\n
President Xi Jinping has called on the Chinese people to continue drawing on historical experience and forge ahead with determination in advancing Chinese modernization, as the country prepares to mark its National Day on Oct 1.
\n
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing a reception held in Beijing to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
\n
Xi said that over the past 76 years, under the Party's leadership, the Chinese people have relied on self-reliance and unremitting struggle to achieve remarkable accomplishments that will be remembered by history.
\n
"Looking back, the Chinese nation has advanced from the brink of peril to the great journey of rejuvenation. The path has been arduous and filled with hardships, but it has also been full of passion and triumphant progress," he said.
\n
In his address, Xi recalled the grand commemorations hosted earlier in September marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.
\n
The events, he said, have greatly inspired the national spirit, motivated patriotic enthusiasm and forged the strength of working hard.
\n
"We must continue to draw on historical experience to build our country better, and to ensure that the cause pioneered by the older generations of leaders and revolutionary martyrs continues to thrive," Xi said.
\n
Highlighting the progress made this year in various undertakings despite complex circumstances, Xi said that China has further deepened reforms across the board, advanced high-quality development, improved people's livelihoods and made new headway in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance.
\n
As the 20th CPC Central Committee will convene its fourth plenary session in October to discuss major issues related to the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development, Xi called for efforts on the new journey in the new era to plan and implement the goals, tasks and strategic measures for the period and to secure decisive progress toward the basic realization of socialist modernization.
\n
To fully, faithfully and resolutely implement the "one country, two systems" policy, Xi stressed the importance of supporting the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in better integrating into the country's overall development, developing the economy and improving people's well-being.
\n
Xi also called for deepening cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, firmly opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference, and resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
\n
Facing a rapidly evolving international landscape unseen in a century, he underlined the need to champion the shared values of humanity, practice genuine multilateralism, and advance the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, so as to jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.
\n
"The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a noble cause unprecedented in human history. Both aspirations and challenges inspire us to forge ahead with a spirit of urgency and perseverance," Xi said.
\n
The reception, held at the Great Hall of the People, brought together dignitaries including Party and State leaders, foreign envoys and recipients of national honors.
President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a reception held on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
\n
President Xi Jinping has called on the Chinese people to continue drawing on historical experience and forge ahead with determination in advancing Chinese modernization, as the country prepares to mark its National Day on Oct 1.
\n
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing a reception held in Beijing to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
\n
Xi said that over the past 76 years, under the Party's leadership, the Chinese people have relied on self-reliance and unremitting struggle to achieve remarkable accomplishments that will be remembered by history.
\n
"Looking back, the Chinese nation has advanced from the brink of peril to the great journey of rejuvenation. The path has been arduous and filled with hardships, but it has also been full of passion and triumphant progress," he said.
\n
In his address, Xi recalled the grand commemorations hosted earlier in September marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.
\n
The events, he said, have greatly inspired the national spirit, motivated patriotic enthusiasm and forged the strength of working hard.
\n
"We must continue to draw on historical experience to build our country better, and to ensure that the cause pioneered by the older generations of leaders and revolutionary martyrs continues to thrive," Xi said.
\n
Highlighting the progress made this year in various undertakings despite complex circumstances, Xi said that China has further deepened reforms across the board, advanced high-quality development, improved people's livelihoods and made new headway in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance.
\n
As the 20th CPC Central Committee will convene its fourth plenary session in October to discuss major issues related to the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development, Xi called for efforts on the new journey in the new era to plan and implement the goals, tasks and strategic measures for the period and to secure decisive progress toward the basic realization of socialist modernization.
\n
To fully, faithfully and resolutely implement the "one country, two systems" policy, Xi stressed the importance of supporting the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in better integrating into the country's overall development, developing the economy and improving people's well-being.
\n
Xi also called for deepening cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, firmly opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference, and resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
\n
Facing a rapidly evolving international landscape unseen in a century, he underlined the need to champion the shared values of humanity, practice genuine multilateralism, and advance the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, so as to jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.
\n
"The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a noble cause unprecedented in human history. Both aspirations and challenges inspire us to forge ahead with a spirit of urgency and perseverance," Xi said.
\n
The reception, held at the Great Hall of the People, brought together dignitaries including Party and State leaders, foreign envoys and recipients of national honors.
President Xi Jinping and other leaders walk up to the Monument to the People's Heroes at Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing as guards of honor present flower baskets to honor fallen heroes on Tuesday, Martyrs' Day.
\n
President Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China and the State attended a ceremony at Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing on Tuesday to present flower baskets to honor fallen heroes.
\n
The event was held to mark Martyrs' Day, one day ahead of the National Day in China. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.
\n
Tuesday was the 12th Martyrs' Day. In 2014, China's top legislature approved Sept 30 as Martyrs' Day to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Chinese people and the development of the country.
\n
At around 10 am, Xi and other leaders — Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng — arrived at the square. They were joined by representatives from all walks of life.
\n
Among the attendees carrying flowers were veterans, relatives of martyrs, recipients of national medals and honorary titles, role models, students and children.
\n
As the ceremony started, all attendees sang the national anthem, and then paid a silent tribute to the fallen heroes.
\n
Nine large flower baskets, with ribbons that read "Eternal Glory to the People's Heroes", were placed in a line. As the military band played Flower Presenting Melody, 18 guards of honor steadily lifted the baskets, walked slowly to the Monument to the People's Heroes and laid them on the pedestal.
\n
Xi and other leaders approached the foot of the monument, where Xi took a few steps forward and straightened the ribbons on the baskets. They then walked around the monument to pay their respects.
\n
People at the ceremony said they were inspired by the solemn moment and would carry forward the spirit of the martyrs and draw strength from it.
\n
Chen Shuyan, a fourth-grade student from Cuiwei Primary School in Beijing's Haidian district, who presented a flower at the ceremony, said, "Standing in front of the monument, I felt my heart fill with respect."
\n
Expressing her gratitude for the sacrifices of national heroes, Chen said she feels more determined to cherish today's peace and prosperity.
\n
jihaisheng@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
President Xi Jinping and other leaders walk up to the Monument to the People's Heroes at Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing as guards of honor present flower baskets to honor fallen heroes on Tuesday, Martyrs' Day.
\n
President Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China and the State attended a ceremony at Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing on Tuesday to present flower baskets to honor fallen heroes.
\n
The event was held to mark Martyrs' Day, one day ahead of the National Day in China. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.
\n
Tuesday was the 12th Martyrs' Day. In 2014, China's top legislature approved Sept 30 as Martyrs' Day to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Chinese people and the development of the country.
\n
At around 10 am, Xi and other leaders — Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng — arrived at the square. They were joined by representatives from all walks of life.
\n
Among the attendees carrying flowers were veterans, relatives of martyrs, recipients of national medals and honorary titles, role models, students and children.
\n
As the ceremony started, all attendees sang the national anthem, and then paid a silent tribute to the fallen heroes.
\n
Nine large flower baskets, with ribbons that read "Eternal Glory to the People's Heroes", were placed in a line. As the military band played Flower Presenting Melody, 18 guards of honor steadily lifted the baskets, walked slowly to the Monument to the People's Heroes and laid them on the pedestal.
\n
Xi and other leaders approached the foot of the monument, where Xi took a few steps forward and straightened the ribbons on the baskets. They then walked around the monument to pay their respects.
\n
People at the ceremony said they were inspired by the solemn moment and would carry forward the spirit of the martyrs and draw strength from it.
\n
Chen Shuyan, a fourth-grade student from Cuiwei Primary School in Beijing's Haidian district, who presented a flower at the ceremony, said, "Standing in front of the monument, I felt my heart fill with respect."
\n
Expressing her gratitude for the sacrifices of national heroes, Chen said she feels more determined to cherish today's peace and prosperity.
President Xi Jinping's speech at the reception marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Tuesday reviewed the great transformations of China over the past 76 years and charted the course for advancing Chinese modernization and contributing to global peace and development.
\n
He emphasized that the nation's monumental achievements — through self-reliance and continuous struggle — are fundamentally rooted in the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China and the tireless efforts of all ethnic groups.
\n
This journey has seen the Chinese nation evolve from a state of peril to a path of great rejuvenation. To ensure that the great cause pioneered by the older generations of leaders and revolutionary martyrs continues to flourish, the nation should continue to leverage its historical experience. The nation now has more solid material foundations and stronger institutional underpinnings for its modernization, and as Xi urged, it should firmly adhere to the Party's leadership so it can seize the day and maintain a firm grasp on the country's development and progress.
\n
The country will continue to forge ahead, and not be swayed by fallacies, or cowed by pressure and intimidation, meeting any obstacles and difficulties it encounters head on. The recent commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War serves as a reminder of how national spirit and unity can triumph over adversity.
\n
Despite the achievements that have been made, there is still a long way to go to build a modern socialist country in all respects. The 15th Five-Year Plan, which draws on the collective wisdom of the nation, will chart the country's course from 2026 to 2030. The 20th CPC Central Committee will study and formulate proposals for the plan at its fourth plenary session in Beijing later this month, mapping out the goals, tasks and strategic measures to ensure decisive progress toward the basic realization of socialist modernization.
\n
Xi's emphasis on the importance of supporting Hong Kong and Macao in integrating into the overall national development to improve livelihoods and prosperity shows Beijing's intent to give strong support to the two special administrative regions' development in the new era.
\n
Equally firm is China's resolve to deepen cross-Strait exchanges. The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is now on an irreversible historical course and the country will resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. That the national unity is the foundation of rejuvenation should be taken as a grave warning to the secessionists that their attempt to separate Taiwan from the motherland is doomed to fail.
\n
In the face of a rapidly evolving international landscape, China will continue to champion the common values of all humanity and practice true multilateralism. By implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, China is actively working to push the reform of the global governance system and build a community with a shared future for humanity.
\n
As the country prepares for the next phase of its modernization journey, Xi's call for the entire nation to unite closely around the Party, forge ahead, and work diligently is a resounding mandate to compose a more splendid chapter in the history of the nation and make fresh contributions to peace, progress and prosperity for all humanity.
President Xi Jinping's speech at the reception marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Tuesday reviewed the great transformations of China over the past 76 years and charted the course for advancing Chinese modernization and contributing to global peace and development.
\n
He emphasized that the nation's monumental achievements — through self-reliance and continuous struggle — are fundamentally rooted in the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China and the tireless efforts of all ethnic groups.
\n
This journey has seen the Chinese nation evolve from a state of peril to a path of great rejuvenation. To ensure that the great cause pioneered by the older generations of leaders and revolutionary martyrs continues to flourish, the nation should continue to leverage its historical experience. The nation now has more solid material foundations and stronger institutional underpinnings for its modernization, and as Xi urged, it should firmly adhere to the Party's leadership so it can seize the day and maintain a firm grasp on the country's development and progress.
\n
The country will continue to forge ahead, and not be swayed by fallacies, or cowed by pressure and intimidation, meeting any obstacles and difficulties it encounters head on. The recent commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War serves as a reminder of how national spirit and unity can triumph over adversity.
\n
Despite the achievements that have been made, there is still a long way to go to build a modern socialist country in all respects. The 15th Five-Year Plan, which draws on the collective wisdom of the nation, will chart the country's course from 2026 to 2030. The 20th CPC Central Committee will study and formulate proposals for the plan at its fourth plenary session in Beijing later this month, mapping out the goals, tasks and strategic measures to ensure decisive progress toward the basic realization of socialist modernization.
\n
Xi's emphasis on the importance of supporting Hong Kong and Macao in integrating into the overall national development to improve livelihoods and prosperity shows Beijing's intent to give strong support to the two special administrative regions' development in the new era.
\n
Equally firm is China's resolve to deepen cross-Strait exchanges. The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is now on an irreversible historical course and the country will resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. That the national unity is the foundation of rejuvenation should be taken as a grave warning to the secessionists that their attempt to separate Taiwan from the motherland is doomed to fail.
\n
In the face of a rapidly evolving international landscape, China will continue to champion the common values of all humanity and practice true multilateralism. By implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, China is actively working to push the reform of the global governance system and build a community with a shared future for humanity.
\n
As the country prepares for the next phase of its modernization journey, Xi's call for the entire nation to unite closely around the Party, forge ahead, and work diligently is a resounding mandate to compose a more splendid chapter in the history of the nation and make fresh contributions to peace, progress and prosperity for all humanity.
Students from Beihang University take a group photo after performing in a mass choir during the V-Day parade at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Sept 3.
\n
Students clap while listening to a speech at the semester's opening ceremony at Renmin University of China in Beijing.
\n
Sun Yuxuan shares his thoughts with fellow students during the semester's opening ceremony at Beihang University.
\n
When Sun Yuxuan, a doctoral student from the School of Transportation Science and Engineering at Beihang University in Beijing, stood before thousands of freshmen at the school's opening ceremony in early September and sang On the Songhua River, he was channeling history.
\n
The folk ballad recalls the suffering and resilience of Northeast China during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
\n
His performance, part of a broader national commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, resonated deeply.
\n
"My hometown is on the Songhua River in the northeast, where there are forests and coal mines, and soybeans and sorghum across mountains and fields," he sang with deep emotion.
\n
A video of his singing became very popular online, amassing over 3 million views.
\n
"This song carries the historical memory of my hometown and embodies the national spirit," said Sun, who is from Jilin city in Jilin province. "It's not just a melody — it's an emotional bridge to the past."
\n
With the 80th anniversary of the end of the war coinciding with the new school year, opening ceremonies have featured performances celebrating the great struggle and China's ultimate victory.
\n
In classrooms, auditoriums and galleries nationwide, the new academic year began not only with new knowledge, but with old memories — memories of a war that changed the world, and a spirit that continues to shape China's future.
\n
Sun was also a member of the mass choir that performed at the grand parade held in Beijing on Sept 3. Rehearsing through scorching summer days and chilly rainy nights, he and fellow choir members began to embody the very perseverance they sang about.
\n
During evening rehearsals that stretched late into the night, they worked tirelessly under the stars — an effort he described as "practicing by starlight and moonlight".
\n
"Through our persistence, we hope to prove to the predecessors who fought in the war of resistance that our young generation is capable and responsible," Sun said.
\n
Many may think Red songs are a thing of the past, and that they may not sound as diverse as modern music, he said. But the reason these songs have stood the test of time is that they carry profound historical meaning and deep emotion. Singing Red songs is not just about the melody — it's about telling the stories behind them and passing on their spiritual strength, he said.
\n
Under ordinary circumstances, people might not feel it deeply. But when you truly immerse yourself in the moment — whether at a grand event held at Tian'anmen Square or watching on television — they will be moved, he said. "As Chinese people, when we listen with a heart full of love for our country, we can understand why these melodies remain timeless."
\n
This spirit of perseverance was echoed on university campuses across the country. At Renmin University of China in Beijing, the opening ceremony held in late August served as a profound historical tribute.
\n
Zhang Donggang, the university's Party secretary, welcomed students by underscoring the institution's origins in the revolutionary flames of the war of resistance.
\n
He said RUC is a university that marches courageously on the journey toward national rejuvenation, one that inherits a glorious revolutionary tradition and flows with distinct Red genes, as well as being the first university founded by the Communist Party of China.
\n
He urged the class of 2025 to uphold the spirit of the Shaanbei Public School — the predecessor of the university — and embrace the core values of loyalty that reassure the Party, dedication that serves the people, truth-seeking through practical action, and pioneering through tireless endeavor.
\n
A particularly moving moment came when Chen Hong, a descendant of war martyr Zhao Yiman, appeared alongside a digital avatar of her grandmother to revisit the spirit of the war years in letters.
\n
Chen shared excerpts from her grandmother's family letter, noting that her father — the first student enrolled in the university's diplomacy department — had handwritten a copy of the letter for her.
\n
Chen shared: "Dear student, always remember the arduous years of the war of resistance. Remember those who fought for national survival, for rejuvenation, and for human justice."
\n
She encouraged students to draw strength from the deeds of heroes and grow into pillars capable of shouldering the great task of national rejuvenation.
\n
For Li Zhixuan, an undergraduate student at the university's business school and a former soldier, the ceremony carried deep personal resonance.
\n
"In the army, I learned responsibility and commitment. Today, hearing stories of heroes like Zhao Yiman, I understand that retiring from service doesn't mean retiring from spirit," Li said.
\n
"The war spirit, for me, is the drive to push through academic challenges, to step up as a student leader when tired, and to hold firm in my beliefs."
\n
Another freshman, Yu Ziran from the university's School of Public Administration, was raised on family stories of the war.
\n
His great-grandparents and grandfather were Party members, and tales of heroic war heroes were his childhood bedtime stories. "The seeds of history were planted in me long ago," Yu said.
\n
"Today, at Renmin University, they are reawakening."
\n
At Nanchang University in Jiangxi province, some 3,700 freshmen gathered in the indoor stadium to watch the live broadcast of the Sept 3 commemoration in Beijing.
\n
Among them was Liu Zhen, a postgraduate student in Marxist studies, who had proactively asked his teacher to organize a collective viewing session for his class. "In the resonance, in the veterans' firm gazes, and in the steady march of the People's Liberation Army, I saw the great spirit of the war of resistance," Liu said.
\n
Since arriving to study six years ago, Liu has visited all the major sites of the important revolutionary heartland such as the Nanchang August 1 Uprising Memorial Hall. He got to know how the People's Liberation Army emerged from Jiangxi.
\n
Last August, he became a volunteer teacher in Guizhou province. There, he took students to cinemas, cultural centers and martyrs' cemeteries, sharing stories of revolutionary heroes. In June, he led 29 students from Guizhou to Nanchang to revisit the memorial hall. "I want to pass on the Red spirit to the next generation," he said.
\n
"I will study hard, spread these Red stories, and turn patriotic will into action."
\n
At the Communication University of China, the commemoration of the end of the war took a powerful visual form through an art exhibition, which featured 124 works, including 100 traditional Chinese paintings by doctoral students and 24 oil paintings by Russian artists.
\n
Liao Xiangzhong, the university's Party secretary, framed the exhibition as both an artistic and political endeavor — a "comprehensive exam" evaluating students' political awareness and artistic skill.
\n
The event has shown that students have integrated their artistic pursuits into national cultural development, Liao said.
\n
"These works demonstrate the doctoral students' firm political conviction, deep national sentiment, and strong sense of mission," he added.
\n
Doctoral student Lu Ming presented two ink paintings: Black Mountains, White Waters — Yang Jingyu and Black Mountains, White Waters — Zhou Baozhong, portraying two legendary commanders of the northeast army unit.
\n
Lu depicted General Yang in a critical charge scene, holding a pistol, eyes filled with determination and belief, contrasting the intensity of the combat with the commander's calm decisiveness. For General Zhou, Lu set the scene in a snowy birch forest, highlighting both the harsh environment and the resilience of the troops. "I used gray tones to portray skin, reflecting both the bitter cold and the harshness of the struggle," he explained.
\n
The exhibition not only guides viewers to remember history and honor the martyrs, but also inspires patriotism on a spiritual level, providing robust support for inheriting the Chinese nation's spiritual lineage and promoting cultural development in the new era, he said.
\n
Ding Zhe, another doctoral candidate, described her work White Mountains, Black Waters, Casting Loyal Souls as a "spiritual dialogue "with the past. "Art is how we refuse to forget," she said. "Through ink, I tried to reconstruct the spiritual aura of the land — the steadfastness of the mountains, the vastness of the snow. Behind those simple brushstrokes lie countless unknown heroes who protected the motherland with their lives."
\n
Art is also a universal language for conveying the message of peace to the world. It transcends borders and cultures, directly speaking to the human heart, she said. "Through such creative expression, we are not only looking back at the past but also making a forward-looking statement: May courage be passed down, may sacrifice be remembered, and may peace become a shared vision for the global village."
\n
zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Students from Beihang University take a group photo after performing in a mass choir during the V-Day parade at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Sept 3.
\n
Students clap while listening to a speech at the semester's opening ceremony at Renmin University of China in Beijing.
\n
Sun Yuxuan shares his thoughts with fellow students during the semester's opening ceremony at Beihang University.
\n
When Sun Yuxuan, a doctoral student from the School of Transportation Science and Engineering at Beihang University in Beijing, stood before thousands of freshmen at the school's opening ceremony in early September and sang On the Songhua River, he was channeling history.
\n
The folk ballad recalls the suffering and resilience of Northeast China during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
\n
His performance, part of a broader national commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, resonated deeply.
\n
"My hometown is on the Songhua River in the northeast, where there are forests and coal mines, and soybeans and sorghum across mountains and fields," he sang with deep emotion.
\n
A video of his singing became very popular online, amassing over 3 million views.
\n
"This song carries the historical memory of my hometown and embodies the national spirit," said Sun, who is from Jilin city in Jilin province. "It's not just a melody — it's an emotional bridge to the past."
\n
With the 80th anniversary of the end of the war coinciding with the new school year, opening ceremonies have featured performances celebrating the great struggle and China's ultimate victory.
\n
In classrooms, auditoriums and galleries nationwide, the new academic year began not only with new knowledge, but with old memories — memories of a war that changed the world, and a spirit that continues to shape China's future.
\n
Sun was also a member of the mass choir that performed at the grand parade held in Beijing on Sept 3. Rehearsing through scorching summer days and chilly rainy nights, he and fellow choir members began to embody the very perseverance they sang about.
\n
During evening rehearsals that stretched late into the night, they worked tirelessly under the stars — an effort he described as "practicing by starlight and moonlight".
\n
"Through our persistence, we hope to prove to the predecessors who fought in the war of resistance that our young generation is capable and responsible," Sun said.
\n
Many may think Red songs are a thing of the past, and that they may not sound as diverse as modern music, he said. But the reason these songs have stood the test of time is that they carry profound historical meaning and deep emotion. Singing Red songs is not just about the melody — it's about telling the stories behind them and passing on their spiritual strength, he said.
\n
Under ordinary circumstances, people might not feel it deeply. But when you truly immerse yourself in the moment — whether at a grand event held at Tian'anmen Square or watching on television — they will be moved, he said. "As Chinese people, when we listen with a heart full of love for our country, we can understand why these melodies remain timeless."
\n
This spirit of perseverance was echoed on university campuses across the country. At Renmin University of China in Beijing, the opening ceremony held in late August served as a profound historical tribute.
\n
Zhang Donggang, the university's Party secretary, welcomed students by underscoring the institution's origins in the revolutionary flames of the war of resistance.
\n
He said RUC is a university that marches courageously on the journey toward national rejuvenation, one that inherits a glorious revolutionary tradition and flows with distinct Red genes, as well as being the first university founded by the Communist Party of China.
\n
He urged the class of 2025 to uphold the spirit of the Shaanbei Public School — the predecessor of the university — and embrace the core values of loyalty that reassure the Party, dedication that serves the people, truth-seeking through practical action, and pioneering through tireless endeavor.
\n
A particularly moving moment came when Chen Hong, a descendant of war martyr Zhao Yiman, appeared alongside a digital avatar of her grandmother to revisit the spirit of the war years in letters.
\n
Chen shared excerpts from her grandmother's family letter, noting that her father — the first student enrolled in the university's diplomacy department — had handwritten a copy of the letter for her.
\n
Chen shared: "Dear student, always remember the arduous years of the war of resistance. Remember those who fought for national survival, for rejuvenation, and for human justice."
\n
She encouraged students to draw strength from the deeds of heroes and grow into pillars capable of shouldering the great task of national rejuvenation.
\n
For Li Zhixuan, an undergraduate student at the university's business school and a former soldier, the ceremony carried deep personal resonance.
\n
"In the army, I learned responsibility and commitment. Today, hearing stories of heroes like Zhao Yiman, I understand that retiring from service doesn't mean retiring from spirit," Li said.
\n
"The war spirit, for me, is the drive to push through academic challenges, to step up as a student leader when tired, and to hold firm in my beliefs."
\n
Another freshman, Yu Ziran from the university's School of Public Administration, was raised on family stories of the war.
\n
His great-grandparents and grandfather were Party members, and tales of heroic war heroes were his childhood bedtime stories. "The seeds of history were planted in me long ago," Yu said.
\n
"Today, at Renmin University, they are reawakening."
\n
At Nanchang University in Jiangxi province, some 3,700 freshmen gathered in the indoor stadium to watch the live broadcast of the Sept 3 commemoration in Beijing.
\n
Among them was Liu Zhen, a postgraduate student in Marxist studies, who had proactively asked his teacher to organize a collective viewing session for his class. "In the resonance, in the veterans' firm gazes, and in the steady march of the People's Liberation Army, I saw the great spirit of the war of resistance," Liu said.
\n
Since arriving to study six years ago, Liu has visited all the major sites of the important revolutionary heartland such as the Nanchang August 1 Uprising Memorial Hall. He got to know how the People's Liberation Army emerged from Jiangxi.
\n
Last August, he became a volunteer teacher in Guizhou province. There, he took students to cinemas, cultural centers and martyrs' cemeteries, sharing stories of revolutionary heroes. In June, he led 29 students from Guizhou to Nanchang to revisit the memorial hall. "I want to pass on the Red spirit to the next generation," he said.
\n
"I will study hard, spread these Red stories, and turn patriotic will into action."
\n
At the Communication University of China, the commemoration of the end of the war took a powerful visual form through an art exhibition, which featured 124 works, including 100 traditional Chinese paintings by doctoral students and 24 oil paintings by Russian artists.
\n
Liao Xiangzhong, the university's Party secretary, framed the exhibition as both an artistic and political endeavor — a "comprehensive exam" evaluating students' political awareness and artistic skill.
\n
The event has shown that students have integrated their artistic pursuits into national cultural development, Liao said.
\n
"These works demonstrate the doctoral students' firm political conviction, deep national sentiment, and strong sense of mission," he added.
\n
Doctoral student Lu Ming presented two ink paintings: Black Mountains, White Waters — Yang Jingyu and Black Mountains, White Waters — Zhou Baozhong, portraying two legendary commanders of the northeast army unit.
\n
Lu depicted General Yang in a critical charge scene, holding a pistol, eyes filled with determination and belief, contrasting the intensity of the combat with the commander's calm decisiveness. For General Zhou, Lu set the scene in a snowy birch forest, highlighting both the harsh environment and the resilience of the troops. "I used gray tones to portray skin, reflecting both the bitter cold and the harshness of the struggle," he explained.
\n
The exhibition not only guides viewers to remember history and honor the martyrs, but also inspires patriotism on a spiritual level, providing robust support for inheriting the Chinese nation's spiritual lineage and promoting cultural development in the new era, he said.
\n
Ding Zhe, another doctoral candidate, described her work White Mountains, Black Waters, Casting Loyal Souls as a "spiritual dialogue "with the past. "Art is how we refuse to forget," she said. "Through ink, I tried to reconstruct the spiritual aura of the land — the steadfastness of the mountains, the vastness of the snow. Behind those simple brushstrokes lie countless unknown heroes who protected the motherland with their lives."
\n
Art is also a universal language for conveying the message of peace to the world. It transcends borders and cultures, directly speaking to the human heart, she said. "Through such creative expression, we are not only looking back at the past but also making a forward-looking statement: May courage be passed down, may sacrifice be remembered, and may peace become a shared vision for the global village."
China on Tuesday conferred the 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award on 50 foreign experts working in the country in recognition of their contributions to the nation's development.
\n
State Councilor Shen Yiqin presented the Friendship Award to the honorees at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
\n
On behalf of the Chinese government, Shen extended congratulations to the laureates and expressed sincere greetings and heartfelt thanks to all foreign experts and their families for their support.
\n
She noted that foreign experts, working hand in hand with the Chinese people, have made significant contributions to advancing Chinese modernization and promoting friendship and cooperation between China and the rest of the world, which will always be remembered.
\n
As China maps out its economic and social development plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, she said the country has firm confidence and ample capability to achieve long-term, stable growth and bring new momentum and opportunities to the world.
\n
Shen emphasized that China will remain committed to high-standard opening-up, actively promote innovation-driven cooperation, and deepen reforms in talent-development systems and mechanisms. More high-caliber overseas talent will be welcomed to work, innovate and start businesses in China, she added.
\n
Shen also expressed the hope that foreign experts would fully leverage their expertise in the great endeavor of Chinese modernization and join hands with the Chinese people to write a new chapter of mutual learning and common development between China and the world.
\n
James Healy, an international communication expert and a senior editor at China Daily, is among the winners of the 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award. Known for his concise yet vivid writing style, Healy offers incisive interpretations of China's proposals and wisdom.
\n
The Friendship Award is the highest honor to commend foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive. Since its establishment in 1991, more than 2,000 foreign experts have received the award.
\n
Gordon Trimble, one of the recipients of this year's award, is now a professor at Fujian Hwa Nan Women's College. From his great-grand aunt to himself, four generations of his family have devoted their efforts to promoting the development of science and education in Fujian province.
\n
Trimble's great-grand aunt Lydia Trimble founded the predecessor of Pingtan Experimental Primary School in 1908, while his grandfather Garnet Trimble practiced medicine in Nanping, Fujian, for 14 years following in his aunt's footsteps.
\n
Trimble recalled how his father had returned to China in 1989, carrying old photographs in search of long-lost friends. His father, who was born in China, had left for the United States in 1927 at the age of 12.
\n
When asked why his father still felt such a deep bond with China after so many years abroad, Trimble explained that one difference lies in language: people born in China learn Chinese as their first language, while those born in the US learn English — even if they may look very Chinese.
China on Tuesday conferred the 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award on 50 foreign experts working in the country in recognition of their contributions to the nation's development.
\n
State Councilor Shen Yiqin presented the Friendship Award to the honorees at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
\n
On behalf of the Chinese government, Shen extended congratulations to the laureates and expressed sincere greetings and heartfelt thanks to all foreign experts and their families for their support.
\n
She noted that foreign experts, working hand in hand with the Chinese people, have made significant contributions to advancing Chinese modernization and promoting friendship and cooperation between China and the rest of the world, which will always be remembered.
\n
As China maps out its economic and social development plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, she said the country has firm confidence and ample capability to achieve long-term, stable growth and bring new momentum and opportunities to the world.
\n
Shen emphasized that China will remain committed to high-standard opening-up, actively promote innovation-driven cooperation, and deepen reforms in talent-development systems and mechanisms. More high-caliber overseas talent will be welcomed to work, innovate and start businesses in China, she added.
\n
Shen also expressed the hope that foreign experts would fully leverage their expertise in the great endeavor of Chinese modernization and join hands with the Chinese people to write a new chapter of mutual learning and common development between China and the world.
\n
James Healy, an international communication expert and a senior editor at China Daily, is among the winners of the 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award. Known for his concise yet vivid writing style, Healy offers incisive interpretations of China's proposals and wisdom.
\n
The Friendship Award is the highest honor to commend foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive. Since its establishment in 1991, more than 2,000 foreign experts have received the award.
\n
Gordon Trimble, one of the recipients of this year's award, is now a professor at Fujian Hwa Nan Women's College. From his great-grand aunt to himself, four generations of his family have devoted their efforts to promoting the development of science and education in Fujian province.
\n
Trimble's great-grand aunt Lydia Trimble founded the predecessor of Pingtan Experimental Primary School in 1908, while his grandfather Garnet Trimble practiced medicine in Nanping, Fujian, for 14 years following in his aunt's footsteps.
\n
Trimble recalled how his father had returned to China in 1989, carrying old photographs in search of long-lost friends. His father, who was born in China, had left for the United States in 1927 at the age of 12.
\n
When asked why his father still felt such a deep bond with China after so many years abroad, Trimble explained that one difference lies in language: people born in China learn Chinese as their first language, while those born in the US learn English — even if they may look very Chinese.
Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy ship Qi Jiguang sails through Victoria Harbour in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Tuesday. The training vessel and Yimengshan, a landing ship of the PLA Navy, are visiting the Hong Kong SAR. They will be open for public visits at the PLA Hong Kong Garrison's naval base in Stonecutters Island.
\n",
+ "content": "
Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy ship Qi Jiguang sails through Victoria Harbour in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Tuesday. The training vessel and Yimengshan, a landing ship of the PLA Navy, are visiting the Hong Kong SAR. They will be open for public visits at the PLA Hong Kong Garrison's naval base in Stonecutters Island.
China's official manufacturing purchasing managers' index for September stood at 49.8, up from 49.4 in August and marking the second consecutive monthly increase, according to data released on Tuesday by the National Bureau of Statistics.
\n
Based on changes in sub-indices and sector-specific indicators, analysts suggest market demand is stabilizing and recovering, with accelerated production expansion and sustained rapid growth in new growth drivers.
\n
Wen Tao, an analyst at the China Logistics Information Center, said market demand has recently shown signs of vitality, with economic growth momentum continuing to solidify.
\n
In September, as the impact of extreme weather conditions — including high temperatures and heavy rainfall — largely subsided, coupled with the continued implementation of policies to expand domestic demand and stimulate growth, manufacturing market demand stabilized and recovered. The new orders index reached 49.7, up from 49.5 in August.
\n
Meanwhile, the decline in export demand has narrowed, driven by factors such as the sustained strengthening of China's "new trio "of exports — electric passenger vehicles, lithium batteries and solar cells, the stable performance of the equipment industry, and the continued advancement of export market diversification strategies. The new export orders index reached 47.8, up from 47.2 in the previous month.
\n
New growth drivers continued to expand at a relatively rapid pace. In September, the PMI for equipment manufacturing stood at 51.9, up from 50.5 in August. High-tech manufacturing also maintained steady expansion, with its PMI at 51.6. Both the production and new orders indices of the sector have been in the expansion zone for eight consecutive months, indicating that high-tech manufacturing is on a sustained upward trajectory.
\n
Driven by the push to achieve economic targets in the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, macro policies are expected to be further intensified and implemented in the fourth quarter, injecting new momentum and confidence into the market. Additionally, factors such as holidays and promotional seasons will boost consumer demand, while infrastructure development and key projects will drive demand for basic raw materials and equipment, said Wen.
\n
Analysts at Golden Credit Rating International wrote in a report that the manufacturing PMI index rebounded at a relatively fast pace in September. This recovery was driven by several factors: the full dissipation of the impact of hot and rainy weather, the effectiveness of consumption-boosting policies, sustained growth in exports, and the outcome of trade talks between the Chinese and US delegations in Madrid, Spain.
\n
Overall, macroeconomic conditions showed a slight improvement. However, the property market continued its adjustment that month, and consumer spending remained weak, the analysts said in the report.
\n
The main highlight of the September manufacturing PMI was that apart from the high-tech manufacturing PMI — a gauge of new quality productive forces — which stood at 51.6, down slightly from the previous month but still in a relatively strong expansion range, the equipment manufacturing PMI jumped significantly to 51.9, according to the report.
\n
The analysts said they believe that the impact of high US tariffs on global trade and Chinese exports may become more pronounced in the fourth quarter, while the effects of adjustments in the domestic real estate market also warrant continued attention.
\n
However, they pointed out that marked by the accelerated deployment of a 500-billion-yuan ($70 billion) new policy-based financial instrument, a new round of growth-stabilizing policies is expected to be rolled out successively. These measures will focus on bolstering fiscal support, easing monetary policy, and intensifying efforts to stabilize the real estate market. Such actions will provide crucial support for stabilizing macroeconomic operations in the fourth quarter.
\n
Li Chao, a spokeswoman for the National Development and Reform Commission, said on Monday that China will introduce a new policy-based financial instrument worth 500 billion yuan. The NDRC is working with relevant parties to swiftly channel the funds to specific projects, and it will urge local governments to accelerate project construction.
\n
Since September, policies have continued to be introduced in a moderate and steady manner.
\n
Government bond issuance has accelerated, the central bank has injected liquidity through various policy instruments, multiple first-tier cities have eased property market policies, the new policy-based financial instrument has been rolled out more quickly, and measures to support service consumption have been strengthened — all of which have jointly contributed to a marginal improvement in the economy, particularly in manufacturing, said Wen Bin, chief economist at China Minsheng Bank, and Wang Jingwen, director of the Macro Research Center affiliated to the China Minsheng Bank Research Institute, in a research note.
\n
They said that current macro policies are in a phase of "continued effort with timely strengthening", characterized mainly by a gradual and stabilizing approach. Since the pressure to achieve the full-year economic and social development targets is relatively manageable, policies are focused on the dual objectives of stabilizing short-term growth and advancing long-term structural adjustments.
\n
jiangxueqing@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
China's official manufacturing purchasing managers' index for September stood at 49.8, up from 49.4 in August and marking the second consecutive monthly increase, according to data released on Tuesday by the National Bureau of Statistics.
\n
Based on changes in sub-indices and sector-specific indicators, analysts suggest market demand is stabilizing and recovering, with accelerated production expansion and sustained rapid growth in new growth drivers.
\n
Wen Tao, an analyst at the China Logistics Information Center, said market demand has recently shown signs of vitality, with economic growth momentum continuing to solidify.
\n
In September, as the impact of extreme weather conditions — including high temperatures and heavy rainfall — largely subsided, coupled with the continued implementation of policies to expand domestic demand and stimulate growth, manufacturing market demand stabilized and recovered. The new orders index reached 49.7, up from 49.5 in August.
\n
Meanwhile, the decline in export demand has narrowed, driven by factors such as the sustained strengthening of China's "new trio "of exports — electric passenger vehicles, lithium batteries and solar cells, the stable performance of the equipment industry, and the continued advancement of export market diversification strategies. The new export orders index reached 47.8, up from 47.2 in the previous month.
\n
New growth drivers continued to expand at a relatively rapid pace. In September, the PMI for equipment manufacturing stood at 51.9, up from 50.5 in August. High-tech manufacturing also maintained steady expansion, with its PMI at 51.6. Both the production and new orders indices of the sector have been in the expansion zone for eight consecutive months, indicating that high-tech manufacturing is on a sustained upward trajectory.
\n
Driven by the push to achieve economic targets in the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, macro policies are expected to be further intensified and implemented in the fourth quarter, injecting new momentum and confidence into the market. Additionally, factors such as holidays and promotional seasons will boost consumer demand, while infrastructure development and key projects will drive demand for basic raw materials and equipment, said Wen.
\n
Analysts at Golden Credit Rating International wrote in a report that the manufacturing PMI index rebounded at a relatively fast pace in September. This recovery was driven by several factors: the full dissipation of the impact of hot and rainy weather, the effectiveness of consumption-boosting policies, sustained growth in exports, and the outcome of trade talks between the Chinese and US delegations in Madrid, Spain.
\n
Overall, macroeconomic conditions showed a slight improvement. However, the property market continued its adjustment that month, and consumer spending remained weak, the analysts said in the report.
\n
The main highlight of the September manufacturing PMI was that apart from the high-tech manufacturing PMI — a gauge of new quality productive forces — which stood at 51.6, down slightly from the previous month but still in a relatively strong expansion range, the equipment manufacturing PMI jumped significantly to 51.9, according to the report.
\n
The analysts said they believe that the impact of high US tariffs on global trade and Chinese exports may become more pronounced in the fourth quarter, while the effects of adjustments in the domestic real estate market also warrant continued attention.
\n
However, they pointed out that marked by the accelerated deployment of a 500-billion-yuan ($70 billion) new policy-based financial instrument, a new round of growth-stabilizing policies is expected to be rolled out successively. These measures will focus on bolstering fiscal support, easing monetary policy, and intensifying efforts to stabilize the real estate market. Such actions will provide crucial support for stabilizing macroeconomic operations in the fourth quarter.
\n
Li Chao, a spokeswoman for the National Development and Reform Commission, said on Monday that China will introduce a new policy-based financial instrument worth 500 billion yuan. The NDRC is working with relevant parties to swiftly channel the funds to specific projects, and it will urge local governments to accelerate project construction.
\n
Since September, policies have continued to be introduced in a moderate and steady manner.
\n
Government bond issuance has accelerated, the central bank has injected liquidity through various policy instruments, multiple first-tier cities have eased property market policies, the new policy-based financial instrument has been rolled out more quickly, and measures to support service consumption have been strengthened — all of which have jointly contributed to a marginal improvement in the economy, particularly in manufacturing, said Wen Bin, chief economist at China Minsheng Bank, and Wang Jingwen, director of the Macro Research Center affiliated to the China Minsheng Bank Research Institute, in a research note.
\n
They said that current macro policies are in a phase of "continued effort with timely strengthening", characterized mainly by a gradual and stabilizing approach. Since the pressure to achieve the full-year economic and social development targets is relatively manageable, policies are focused on the dual objectives of stabilizing short-term growth and advancing long-term structural adjustments.
The Communist Party of China Central Committee has appointed Wang Weizhong as the new secretary of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Committee of the CPC. Sun Shaocheng will no longer serve as Party secretary of the autonomous region. Wang was deputy secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPC and governor of Guangdong.
\n
The CPC Central Committee has also appointed Xu Kunlin as the new secretary of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee. Hao Peng will no longer serve as Party secretary of the province. Xu was deputy secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the CPC and governor of Jiangsu.
\n
CPC Central Committee's Intl Dept gets new head
\n
Liu Haixing has been appointed minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, according to the department's official website. Liu, born in April 1963, is a member of the 20th CPC Central Committee. After joining the Foreign Ministry in 1985, Liu became a seasoned diplomat and served as assistant foreign minister and director-general of the ministry's department of European affairs. Before the new post, he served as the executive deputy director of the general office of the National Security Commission of the CPC Central Committee.
The Communist Party of China Central Committee has appointed Wang Weizhong as the new secretary of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Committee of the CPC. Sun Shaocheng will no longer serve as Party secretary of the autonomous region. Wang was deputy secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the CPC and governor of Guangdong.
\n
The CPC Central Committee has also appointed Xu Kunlin as the new secretary of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee. Hao Peng will no longer serve as Party secretary of the province. Xu was deputy secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the CPC and governor of Jiangsu.
\n
CPC Central Committee's Intl Dept gets new head
\n
Liu Haixing has been appointed minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, according to the department's official website. Liu, born in April 1963, is a member of the 20th CPC Central Committee. After joining the Foreign Ministry in 1985, Liu became a seasoned diplomat and served as assistant foreign minister and director-general of the ministry's department of European affairs. Before the new post, he served as the executive deputy director of the general office of the National Security Commission of the CPC Central Committee.
Wang Xudong (left), director of the Palace Museum in Beijing, introduces a cultural relic on Tuesday to guests at the opening ceremony of an exhibition commemorating the southward evacuation of the museum's artifacts in the 1930s.
\n
It was probably one of the largest wartime rescue missions of cultural relics in history.
\n
In 1933, when invading Japanese forces had advanced to the Great Wall, staff of the Palace Museum in Beijing soon launched a project to evacuate precious cultural relics that were housed in this former Chinese imperial palace as well as other key venues in Beijing via a southward route in case the items fell into the enemy's hands.
\n
Decades later, the bravery and determination of this mission was remembered on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the museum and the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
\n
An exhibition commemorating the southward evacuation of the artifacts opened in the museum's Shenwumen (Gate of Divine Prowess) Gallery on Tuesday. Through cultural relics that were part of that trek — including porcelain, paintings and jade as well as related old photos, documents and other exhibits — an epic effort to safeguard the lineage of a country's civilization was unveiled for visitors.
\n
"The arduous southward journey during the war of resistance, marked by numerous twists and turns, reflects the tumultuous national history and collective memory of the Chinese people," Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum, said at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.
\n
"These cultural treasures represent the preservation and continuation of the brilliant Chinese civilization," he said. "They not only embody the unity and resilience of the Chinese nation in times of crisis, but also illustrate the enduring appeal of Chinese culture."
\n
Wang said the museum had devoted itself to study relevant historical files and explore the value of the relocated relics, and the exhibition was the fruit of its endeavors.
\n
The first batch of evacuated relics set off on its journey in February 1933 from the square before Shenwumen.
\n
More than 13,400 crates of artifacts from the Palace Museum and around 6,000 crates from other venues, including Guozijian, the former imperial academy, were relocated.
\n
After the evacuation of relics from Beijing to Shanghai and Nanjing — then China's national capital and present-day capital city of Jiangsu province — the relic protectors also built warehouses in Nanjing. Even during the tough years in the 1930s, some of these artifacts were escorted to the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union for exhibitions.
\n
However, as the war spread to East China in 1937, these relocated treasures had to be evacuated again westward to Chongqing, as well as Hunan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces. Following China's victory in the war in 1945, the relics began traveling again on the journey home.
\n
"We also want to remind people how precious peace is through these relics that once endured the war and remained intact," said Xu Wanling, curator of the exhibition.
\n
A wooden crate that once held the relics is displayed in the center of the Shenwumen Gallery. Covered by various seals through the years of turmoil and being a crucial witness to history, it had already become a key cultural relic as well, the curator noted.
\n
Not a single artifact was lost in the yearslong trek, but not all relics finally returned to Beijing. For instance, about one-fifth of them were shipped to Taiwan in 1948 due to the civil war. They later became the cornerstone of the Palace Museum in Taipei.
\n
"Numerous cultural workers participated in the mission to safeguard national treasures, and they were fearless in the face of difficulties and continued studies of the cultural relics," said Shih Chin-wen, secretary-general of Taiwan-based Sheen Chuen-Chi Cultural & Educational Foundation, a co-organizer of the exhibition.
\n
"It reflected the Chinese nation's perseverance and an unstoppable cultural legacy," she said.
\n
wangkaihao@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Wang Xudong (left), director of the Palace Museum in Beijing, introduces a cultural relic on Tuesday to guests at the opening ceremony of an exhibition commemorating the southward evacuation of the museum's artifacts in the 1930s.
\n
It was probably one of the largest wartime rescue missions of cultural relics in history.
\n
In 1933, when invading Japanese forces had advanced to the Great Wall, staff of the Palace Museum in Beijing soon launched a project to evacuate precious cultural relics that were housed in this former Chinese imperial palace as well as other key venues in Beijing via a southward route in case the items fell into the enemy's hands.
\n
Decades later, the bravery and determination of this mission was remembered on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the museum and the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
\n
An exhibition commemorating the southward evacuation of the artifacts opened in the museum's Shenwumen (Gate of Divine Prowess) Gallery on Tuesday. Through cultural relics that were part of that trek — including porcelain, paintings and jade as well as related old photos, documents and other exhibits — an epic effort to safeguard the lineage of a country's civilization was unveiled for visitors.
\n
"The arduous southward journey during the war of resistance, marked by numerous twists and turns, reflects the tumultuous national history and collective memory of the Chinese people," Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum, said at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.
\n
"These cultural treasures represent the preservation and continuation of the brilliant Chinese civilization," he said. "They not only embody the unity and resilience of the Chinese nation in times of crisis, but also illustrate the enduring appeal of Chinese culture."
\n
Wang said the museum had devoted itself to study relevant historical files and explore the value of the relocated relics, and the exhibition was the fruit of its endeavors.
\n
The first batch of evacuated relics set off on its journey in February 1933 from the square before Shenwumen.
\n
More than 13,400 crates of artifacts from the Palace Museum and around 6,000 crates from other venues, including Guozijian, the former imperial academy, were relocated.
\n
After the evacuation of relics from Beijing to Shanghai and Nanjing — then China's national capital and present-day capital city of Jiangsu province — the relic protectors also built warehouses in Nanjing. Even during the tough years in the 1930s, some of these artifacts were escorted to the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union for exhibitions.
\n
However, as the war spread to East China in 1937, these relocated treasures had to be evacuated again westward to Chongqing, as well as Hunan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces. Following China's victory in the war in 1945, the relics began traveling again on the journey home.
\n
"We also want to remind people how precious peace is through these relics that once endured the war and remained intact," said Xu Wanling, curator of the exhibition.
\n
A wooden crate that once held the relics is displayed in the center of the Shenwumen Gallery. Covered by various seals through the years of turmoil and being a crucial witness to history, it had already become a key cultural relic as well, the curator noted.
\n
Not a single artifact was lost in the yearslong trek, but not all relics finally returned to Beijing. For instance, about one-fifth of them were shipped to Taiwan in 1948 due to the civil war. They later became the cornerstone of the Palace Museum in Taipei.
\n
"Numerous cultural workers participated in the mission to safeguard national treasures, and they were fearless in the face of difficulties and continued studies of the cultural relics," said Shih Chin-wen, secretary-general of Taiwan-based Sheen Chuen-Chi Cultural & Educational Foundation, a co-organizer of the exhibition.
\n
"It reflected the Chinese nation's perseverance and an unstoppable cultural legacy," she said.
President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a reception held on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
\n
President Xi Jinping has called on the Chinese people to continue drawing on historical experience and forge ahead with determination in advancing Chinese modernization, as the country prepares to mark its National Day on Oct 1.
\n
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing a reception held in Beijing to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
\n
Xi said that over the past 76 years, under the Party's leadership, the Chinese people have relied on self-reliance and unremitting struggle to achieve remarkable accomplishments that will be remembered by history.
\n
"Looking back, the Chinese nation has advanced from the brink of peril to the great journey of rejuvenation. The path has been arduous and filled with hardships, but it has also been full of passion and triumphant progress," he said.
\n
In his address, Xi recalled the grand commemorations hosted earlier in September marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.
\n
The events, he said, have greatly inspired the national spirit, motivated patriotic enthusiasm and forged the strength of working hard.
\n
"We must continue to draw on historical experience to build our country better, and to ensure that the cause pioneered by the older generations of leaders and revolutionary martyrs continues to thrive," Xi said.
\n
Highlighting the progress made this year in various undertakings despite complex circumstances, Xi said that China has further deepened reforms across the board, advanced high-quality development, improved people's livelihoods and made new headway in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance.
\n
As the 20th CPC Central Committee will convene its fourth plenary session in October to discuss major issues related to the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development, Xi called for efforts on the new journey in the new era to plan and implement the goals, tasks and strategic measures for the period and to secure decisive progress toward the basic realization of socialist modernization.
\n
To fully, faithfully and resolutely implement the "one country, two systems" policy, Xi stressed the importance of supporting the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in better integrating into the country's overall development, developing the economy and improving people's well-being.
\n
Xi also called for deepening cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, firmly opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference, and resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
\n
Facing a rapidly evolving international landscape unseen in a century, he underlined the need to champion the shared values of humanity, practice genuine multilateralism, and advance the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, so as to jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.
\n
"The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a noble cause unprecedented in human history. Both aspirations and challenges inspire us to forge ahead with a spirit of urgency and perseverance," Xi said.
\n
The reception, held at the Great Hall of the People, brought together dignitaries including Party and State leaders, foreign envoys and recipients of national honors.
\n
mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a reception held on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
\n
President Xi Jinping has called on the Chinese people to continue drawing on historical experience and forge ahead with determination in advancing Chinese modernization, as the country prepares to mark its National Day on Oct 1.
\n
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing a reception held in Beijing to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
\n
Xi said that over the past 76 years, under the Party's leadership, the Chinese people have relied on self-reliance and unremitting struggle to achieve remarkable accomplishments that will be remembered by history.
\n
"Looking back, the Chinese nation has advanced from the brink of peril to the great journey of rejuvenation. The path has been arduous and filled with hardships, but it has also been full of passion and triumphant progress," he said.
\n
In his address, Xi recalled the grand commemorations hosted earlier in September marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.
\n
The events, he said, have greatly inspired the national spirit, motivated patriotic enthusiasm and forged the strength of working hard.
\n
"We must continue to draw on historical experience to build our country better, and to ensure that the cause pioneered by the older generations of leaders and revolutionary martyrs continues to thrive," Xi said.
\n
Highlighting the progress made this year in various undertakings despite complex circumstances, Xi said that China has further deepened reforms across the board, advanced high-quality development, improved people's livelihoods and made new headway in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance.
\n
As the 20th CPC Central Committee will convene its fourth plenary session in October to discuss major issues related to the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development, Xi called for efforts on the new journey in the new era to plan and implement the goals, tasks and strategic measures for the period and to secure decisive progress toward the basic realization of socialist modernization.
\n
To fully, faithfully and resolutely implement the "one country, two systems" policy, Xi stressed the importance of supporting the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in better integrating into the country's overall development, developing the economy and improving people's well-being.
\n
Xi also called for deepening cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, firmly opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference, and resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
\n
Facing a rapidly evolving international landscape unseen in a century, he underlined the need to champion the shared values of humanity, practice genuine multilateralism, and advance the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, so as to jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.
\n
"The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a noble cause unprecedented in human history. Both aspirations and challenges inspire us to forge ahead with a spirit of urgency and perseverance," Xi said.
\n
The reception, held at the Great Hall of the People, brought together dignitaries including Party and State leaders, foreign envoys and recipients of national honors.
President Xi Jinping and other leaders walk up to the Monument to the People's Heroes at Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing as guards of honor present flower baskets to honor fallen heroes on Tuesday, Martyrs' Day.
\n
President Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China and the State attended a ceremony at Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing on Tuesday to present flower baskets to honor fallen heroes.
\n
The event was held to mark Martyrs' Day, one day ahead of the National Day in China. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.
\n
Tuesday was the 12th Martyrs' Day. In 2014, China's top legislature approved Sept 30 as Martyrs' Day to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Chinese people and the development of the country.
\n
At around 10 am, Xi and other leaders — Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng — arrived at the square. They were joined by representatives from all walks of life.
\n
Among the attendees carrying flowers were veterans, relatives of martyrs, recipients of national medals and honorary titles, role models, students and children.
\n
As the ceremony started, all attendees sang the national anthem, and then paid a silent tribute to the fallen heroes.
\n
Nine large flower baskets, with ribbons that read "Eternal Glory to the People's Heroes", were placed in a line. As the military band played Flower Presenting Melody, 18 guards of honor steadily lifted the baskets, walked slowly to the Monument to the People's Heroes and laid them on the pedestal.
\n
Xi and other leaders approached the foot of the monument, where Xi took a few steps forward and straightened the ribbons on the baskets. They then walked around the monument to pay their respects.
\n
People at the ceremony said they were inspired by the solemn moment and would carry forward the spirit of the martyrs and draw strength from it.
\n
Chen Shuyan, a fourth-grade student from Cuiwei Primary School in Beijing's Haidian district, who presented a flower at the ceremony, said, "Standing in front of the monument, I felt my heart fill with respect."
\n
Expressing her gratitude for the sacrifices of national heroes, Chen said she feels more determined to cherish today's peace and prosperity.
\n
jihaisheng@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
President Xi Jinping and other leaders walk up to the Monument to the People's Heroes at Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing as guards of honor present flower baskets to honor fallen heroes on Tuesday, Martyrs' Day.
\n
President Xi Jinping and other leaders of the Communist Party of China and the State attended a ceremony at Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing on Tuesday to present flower baskets to honor fallen heroes.
\n
The event was held to mark Martyrs' Day, one day ahead of the National Day in China. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.
\n
Tuesday was the 12th Martyrs' Day. In 2014, China's top legislature approved Sept 30 as Martyrs' Day to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for the liberation of the Chinese people and the development of the country.
\n
At around 10 am, Xi and other leaders — Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng — arrived at the square. They were joined by representatives from all walks of life.
\n
Among the attendees carrying flowers were veterans, relatives of martyrs, recipients of national medals and honorary titles, role models, students and children.
\n
As the ceremony started, all attendees sang the national anthem, and then paid a silent tribute to the fallen heroes.
\n
Nine large flower baskets, with ribbons that read "Eternal Glory to the People's Heroes", were placed in a line. As the military band played Flower Presenting Melody, 18 guards of honor steadily lifted the baskets, walked slowly to the Monument to the People's Heroes and laid them on the pedestal.
\n
Xi and other leaders approached the foot of the monument, where Xi took a few steps forward and straightened the ribbons on the baskets. They then walked around the monument to pay their respects.
\n
People at the ceremony said they were inspired by the solemn moment and would carry forward the spirit of the martyrs and draw strength from it.
\n
Chen Shuyan, a fourth-grade student from Cuiwei Primary School in Beijing's Haidian district, who presented a flower at the ceremony, said, "Standing in front of the monument, I felt my heart fill with respect."
\n
Expressing her gratitude for the sacrifices of national heroes, Chen said she feels more determined to cherish today's peace and prosperity.
The iconic Red Building of Peking University now houses the Memorial Hall for the CPC's Early Revolutionary Activities in Beijing.
\n
Visitors admire an exhibition of Marxism archives at the Red Building in February.
\n
For over a century, the iconic Red Building of Peking University in Beijing has remained a vibrant part of young people's lives, serving as a key site for understanding the early history of the Communist Party of China.
\n
Once the main campus of Peking University, the building was built from 1916 to 1918 and was named after its red brick walls and tiled roof. It witnessed several of China's major historical events, including the New Culture Movement and the May Fourth Movement, both of which greatly contributed to the early spread of Marxism in the country and the founding of the CPC.
\n
Today, it houses the Memorial Hall for the CPC's Early Revolutionary Activities in Beijing. It is not just a museum but a symbol of modern China's intellectual awakening and revolutionary spirit, attracting many visitors, especially students, to learn about this critical era.
\n
Since reopening in 2021, the memorial hall has received nearly half a million visitors annually, more than half of whom are under the age of 30, according to Yang Jiayi, director of the Memorial Hall for the CPC's Early Revolutionary Activities in Beijing.
\n
To improve public access, the building has eliminated the booking requirement, and weekend study programs have become especially popular among young people, he said, adding that it has established partnerships with more than 20 universities.
\n
Since 2023, the Beijing municipal government has held the "Vibrant Culture, Youthful Bloom "campaign annually, taking students to important cultural sites in the capital. Study tours to the Red Building are an important part of the campaign.
\n
Xie Yinnan, head of the social education department of the memorial hall, leads a team of tour guides with an average age of around 30. "Though we come from different academic backgrounds, we share the same belief: to tell the Party's stories to more people," she said. The team designs age-specific tours and narratives for different student groups.
\n
The volunteer guide team has further recruited 330 students who have contributed 40,000 service hours. "We use the language of youth to tell Red stories, creating a virtuous cycle of young people inspiring their peers," Xie said.
\n
Inside the Red Building, immersive installations allow visitors to almost hear the footsteps of those who walked its corridors a century ago.
\n
Gao Chao, a student counselor from Capital Normal University's School of Marxism, has brought students on study tours to the building since June 2023. He said that visiting the site turns the history of Marxism's spread in China from textbook knowledge into "a breath you can almost touch".
\n
"The study tour is a journey that moves both body and mind. It transforms the inheritance of the Red stories from passive acceptance into active exploration," he said.
\n
Many students have transitioned from listeners to storytellers themselves. Yu Wei, a PhD candidate at Peking University, took part in a research project on the compatibility between Marxism and traditional Chinese culture. Working with primary historical materials in the Red Building, he evolved from a learner to a researcher.
\n
He Jiabei, another doctoral candidate at Peking University, said that the May Fourth Movement was not an isolated incident but part of a global wave of anti-imperialist and anti-colonial movements. "This makes us reflect seriously on the responsibility and role of Chinese youth in global governance," she said.
\n
Tian Zichong, a student at Capital Normal University's School of Marxism and a volunteer guide in the building, said attending lectures on Li Dazhao's political views has enriched his academic training.
\n
Explaining history where it happened has turned communism from an abstract concept into a living ideal, he said. Li's belief — "There are two kinds of ideals: one is that I realize my ideal; the other is that the ideal is realized through me, even at the cost of my life" — has profoundly shaped his worldview, Tian said.
\n
"It is my hope to continue sharing these stories and this spirit, contributing in my own way to passing on the Red gene to future generations," he added.
The iconic Red Building of Peking University now houses the Memorial Hall for the CPC's Early Revolutionary Activities in Beijing.
\n
Visitors admire an exhibition of Marxism archives at the Red Building in February.
\n
For over a century, the iconic Red Building of Peking University in Beijing has remained a vibrant part of young people's lives, serving as a key site for understanding the early history of the Communist Party of China.
\n
Once the main campus of Peking University, the building was built from 1916 to 1918 and was named after its red brick walls and tiled roof. It witnessed several of China's major historical events, including the New Culture Movement and the May Fourth Movement, both of which greatly contributed to the early spread of Marxism in the country and the founding of the CPC.
\n
Today, it houses the Memorial Hall for the CPC's Early Revolutionary Activities in Beijing. It is not just a museum but a symbol of modern China's intellectual awakening and revolutionary spirit, attracting many visitors, especially students, to learn about this critical era.
\n
Since reopening in 2021, the memorial hall has received nearly half a million visitors annually, more than half of whom are under the age of 30, according to Yang Jiayi, director of the Memorial Hall for the CPC's Early Revolutionary Activities in Beijing.
\n
To improve public access, the building has eliminated the booking requirement, and weekend study programs have become especially popular among young people, he said, adding that it has established partnerships with more than 20 universities.
\n
Since 2023, the Beijing municipal government has held the "Vibrant Culture, Youthful Bloom "campaign annually, taking students to important cultural sites in the capital. Study tours to the Red Building are an important part of the campaign.
\n
Xie Yinnan, head of the social education department of the memorial hall, leads a team of tour guides with an average age of around 30. "Though we come from different academic backgrounds, we share the same belief: to tell the Party's stories to more people," she said. The team designs age-specific tours and narratives for different student groups.
\n
The volunteer guide team has further recruited 330 students who have contributed 40,000 service hours. "We use the language of youth to tell Red stories, creating a virtuous cycle of young people inspiring their peers," Xie said.
\n
Inside the Red Building, immersive installations allow visitors to almost hear the footsteps of those who walked its corridors a century ago.
\n
Gao Chao, a student counselor from Capital Normal University's School of Marxism, has brought students on study tours to the building since June 2023. He said that visiting the site turns the history of Marxism's spread in China from textbook knowledge into "a breath you can almost touch".
\n
"The study tour is a journey that moves both body and mind. It transforms the inheritance of the Red stories from passive acceptance into active exploration," he said.
\n
Many students have transitioned from listeners to storytellers themselves. Yu Wei, a PhD candidate at Peking University, took part in a research project on the compatibility between Marxism and traditional Chinese culture. Working with primary historical materials in the Red Building, he evolved from a learner to a researcher.
\n
He Jiabei, another doctoral candidate at Peking University, said that the May Fourth Movement was not an isolated incident but part of a global wave of anti-imperialist and anti-colonial movements. "This makes us reflect seriously on the responsibility and role of Chinese youth in global governance," she said.
\n
Tian Zichong, a student at Capital Normal University's School of Marxism and a volunteer guide in the building, said attending lectures on Li Dazhao's political views has enriched his academic training.
\n
Explaining history where it happened has turned communism from an abstract concept into a living ideal, he said. Li's belief — "There are two kinds of ideals: one is that I realize my ideal; the other is that the ideal is realized through me, even at the cost of my life" — has profoundly shaped his worldview, Tian said.
\n
"It is my hope to continue sharing these stories and this spirit, contributing in my own way to passing on the Red gene to future generations," he added.
Students from Beihang University take a group photo after performing in a mass choir during the V-Day parade at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Sept 3.
\n
Students clap while listening to a speech at the semester's opening ceremony at Renmin University of China in Beijing.
\n
Sun Yuxuan shares his thoughts with fellow students during the semester's opening ceremony at Beihang University.
\n
When Sun Yuxuan, a doctoral student from the School of Transportation Science and Engineering at Beihang University in Beijing, stood before thousands of freshmen at the school's opening ceremony in early September and sang On the Songhua River, he was channeling history.
\n
The folk ballad recalls the suffering and resilience of Northeast China during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
\n
His performance, part of a broader national commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, resonated deeply.
\n
"My hometown is on the Songhua River in the northeast, where there are forests and coal mines, and soybeans and sorghum across mountains and fields," he sang with deep emotion.
\n
A video of his singing became very popular online, amassing over 3 million views.
\n
"This song carries the historical memory of my hometown and embodies the national spirit," said Sun, who is from Jilin city in Jilin province. "It's not just a melody — it's an emotional bridge to the past."
\n
With the 80th anniversary of the end of the war coinciding with the new school year, opening ceremonies have featured performances celebrating the great struggle and China's ultimate victory.
\n
In classrooms, auditoriums and galleries nationwide, the new academic year began not only with new knowledge, but with old memories — memories of a war that changed the world, and a spirit that continues to shape China's future.
\n
Sun was also a member of the mass choir that performed at the grand parade held in Beijing on Sept 3. Rehearsing through scorching summer days and chilly rainy nights, he and fellow choir members began to embody the very perseverance they sang about.
\n
During evening rehearsals that stretched late into the night, they worked tirelessly under the stars — an effort he described as "practicing by starlight and moonlight".
\n
"Through our persistence, we hope to prove to the predecessors who fought in the war of resistance that our young generation is capable and responsible," Sun said.
\n
Many may think Red songs are a thing of the past, and that they may not sound as diverse as modern music, he said. But the reason these songs have stood the test of time is that they carry profound historical meaning and deep emotion. Singing Red songs is not just about the melody — it's about telling the stories behind them and passing on their spiritual strength, he said.
\n
Under ordinary circumstances, people might not feel it deeply. But when you truly immerse yourself in the moment — whether at a grand event held at Tian'anmen Square or watching on television — they will be moved, he said. "As Chinese people, when we listen with a heart full of love for our country, we can understand why these melodies remain timeless."
\n
This spirit of perseverance was echoed on university campuses across the country. At Renmin University of China in Beijing, the opening ceremony held in late August served as a profound historical tribute.
\n
Zhang Donggang, the university's Party secretary, welcomed students by underscoring the institution's origins in the revolutionary flames of the war of resistance.
\n
He said RUC is a university that marches courageously on the journey toward national rejuvenation, one that inherits a glorious revolutionary tradition and flows with distinct Red genes, as well as being the first university founded by the Communist Party of China.
\n
He urged the class of 2025 to uphold the spirit of the Shaanbei Public School — the predecessor of the university — and embrace the core values of loyalty that reassure the Party, dedication that serves the people, truth-seeking through practical action, and pioneering through tireless endeavor.
\n
A particularly moving moment came when Chen Hong, a descendant of war martyr Zhao Yiman, appeared alongside a digital avatar of her grandmother to revisit the spirit of the war years in letters.
\n
Chen shared excerpts from her grandmother's family letter, noting that her father — the first student enrolled in the university's diplomacy department — had handwritten a copy of the letter for her.
\n
Chen shared: "Dear student, always remember the arduous years of the war of resistance. Remember those who fought for national survival, for rejuvenation, and for human justice."
\n
She encouraged students to draw strength from the deeds of heroes and grow into pillars capable of shouldering the great task of national rejuvenation.
\n
For Li Zhixuan, an undergraduate student at the university's business school and a former soldier, the ceremony carried deep personal resonance.
\n
"In the army, I learned responsibility and commitment. Today, hearing stories of heroes like Zhao Yiman, I understand that retiring from service doesn't mean retiring from spirit," Li said.
\n
"The war spirit, for me, is the drive to push through academic challenges, to step up as a student leader when tired, and to hold firm in my beliefs."
\n
Another freshman, Yu Ziran from the university's School of Public Administration, was raised on family stories of the war.
\n
His great-grandparents and grandfather were Party members, and tales of heroic war heroes were his childhood bedtime stories. "The seeds of history were planted in me long ago," Yu said.
\n
"Today, at Renmin University, they are reawakening."
\n
At Nanchang University in Jiangxi province, some 3,700 freshmen gathered in the indoor stadium to watch the live broadcast of the Sept 3 commemoration in Beijing.
\n
Among them was Liu Zhen, a postgraduate student in Marxist studies, who had proactively asked his teacher to organize a collective viewing session for his class. "In the resonance, in the veterans' firm gazes, and in the steady march of the People's Liberation Army, I saw the great spirit of the war of resistance," Liu said.
\n
Since arriving to study six years ago, Liu has visited all the major sites of the important revolutionary heartland such as the Nanchang August 1 Uprising Memorial Hall. He got to know how the People's Liberation Army emerged from Jiangxi.
\n
Last August, he became a volunteer teacher in Guizhou province. There, he took students to cinemas, cultural centers and martyrs' cemeteries, sharing stories of revolutionary heroes. In June, he led 29 students from Guizhou to Nanchang to revisit the memorial hall. "I want to pass on the Red spirit to the next generation," he said.
\n
"I will study hard, spread these Red stories, and turn patriotic will into action."
\n
At the Communication University of China, the commemoration of the end of the war took a powerful visual form through an art exhibition, which featured 124 works, including 100 traditional Chinese paintings by doctoral students and 24 oil paintings by Russian artists.
\n
Liao Xiangzhong, the university's Party secretary, framed the exhibition as both an artistic and political endeavor — a "comprehensive exam" evaluating students' political awareness and artistic skill.
\n
The event has shown that students have integrated their artistic pursuits into national cultural development, Liao said.
\n
"These works demonstrate the doctoral students' firm political conviction, deep national sentiment, and strong sense of mission," he added.
\n
Doctoral student Lu Ming presented two ink paintings: Black Mountains, White Waters — Yang Jingyu and Black Mountains, White Waters — Zhou Baozhong, portraying two legendary commanders of the northeast army unit.
\n
Lu depicted General Yang in a critical charge scene, holding a pistol, eyes filled with determination and belief, contrasting the intensity of the combat with the commander's calm decisiveness. For General Zhou, Lu set the scene in a snowy birch forest, highlighting both the harsh environment and the resilience of the troops. "I used gray tones to portray skin, reflecting both the bitter cold and the harshness of the struggle," he explained.
\n
The exhibition not only guides viewers to remember history and honor the martyrs, but also inspires patriotism on a spiritual level, providing robust support for inheriting the Chinese nation's spiritual lineage and promoting cultural development in the new era, he said.
\n
Ding Zhe, another doctoral candidate, described her work White Mountains, Black Waters, Casting Loyal Souls as a "spiritual dialogue "with the past. "Art is how we refuse to forget," she said. "Through ink, I tried to reconstruct the spiritual aura of the land — the steadfastness of the mountains, the vastness of the snow. Behind those simple brushstrokes lie countless unknown heroes who protected the motherland with their lives."
\n
Art is also a universal language for conveying the message of peace to the world. It transcends borders and cultures, directly speaking to the human heart, she said. "Through such creative expression, we are not only looking back at the past but also making a forward-looking statement: May courage be passed down, may sacrifice be remembered, and may peace become a shared vision for the global village."
\n
zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Students from Beihang University take a group photo after performing in a mass choir during the V-Day parade at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Sept 3.
\n
Students clap while listening to a speech at the semester's opening ceremony at Renmin University of China in Beijing.
\n
Sun Yuxuan shares his thoughts with fellow students during the semester's opening ceremony at Beihang University.
\n
When Sun Yuxuan, a doctoral student from the School of Transportation Science and Engineering at Beihang University in Beijing, stood before thousands of freshmen at the school's opening ceremony in early September and sang On the Songhua River, he was channeling history.
\n
The folk ballad recalls the suffering and resilience of Northeast China during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
\n
His performance, part of a broader national commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, resonated deeply.
\n
"My hometown is on the Songhua River in the northeast, where there are forests and coal mines, and soybeans and sorghum across mountains and fields," he sang with deep emotion.
\n
A video of his singing became very popular online, amassing over 3 million views.
\n
"This song carries the historical memory of my hometown and embodies the national spirit," said Sun, who is from Jilin city in Jilin province. "It's not just a melody — it's an emotional bridge to the past."
\n
With the 80th anniversary of the end of the war coinciding with the new school year, opening ceremonies have featured performances celebrating the great struggle and China's ultimate victory.
\n
In classrooms, auditoriums and galleries nationwide, the new academic year began not only with new knowledge, but with old memories — memories of a war that changed the world, and a spirit that continues to shape China's future.
\n
Sun was also a member of the mass choir that performed at the grand parade held in Beijing on Sept 3. Rehearsing through scorching summer days and chilly rainy nights, he and fellow choir members began to embody the very perseverance they sang about.
\n
During evening rehearsals that stretched late into the night, they worked tirelessly under the stars — an effort he described as "practicing by starlight and moonlight".
\n
"Through our persistence, we hope to prove to the predecessors who fought in the war of resistance that our young generation is capable and responsible," Sun said.
\n
Many may think Red songs are a thing of the past, and that they may not sound as diverse as modern music, he said. But the reason these songs have stood the test of time is that they carry profound historical meaning and deep emotion. Singing Red songs is not just about the melody — it's about telling the stories behind them and passing on their spiritual strength, he said.
\n
Under ordinary circumstances, people might not feel it deeply. But when you truly immerse yourself in the moment — whether at a grand event held at Tian'anmen Square or watching on television — they will be moved, he said. "As Chinese people, when we listen with a heart full of love for our country, we can understand why these melodies remain timeless."
\n
This spirit of perseverance was echoed on university campuses across the country. At Renmin University of China in Beijing, the opening ceremony held in late August served as a profound historical tribute.
\n
Zhang Donggang, the university's Party secretary, welcomed students by underscoring the institution's origins in the revolutionary flames of the war of resistance.
\n
He said RUC is a university that marches courageously on the journey toward national rejuvenation, one that inherits a glorious revolutionary tradition and flows with distinct Red genes, as well as being the first university founded by the Communist Party of China.
\n
He urged the class of 2025 to uphold the spirit of the Shaanbei Public School — the predecessor of the university — and embrace the core values of loyalty that reassure the Party, dedication that serves the people, truth-seeking through practical action, and pioneering through tireless endeavor.
\n
A particularly moving moment came when Chen Hong, a descendant of war martyr Zhao Yiman, appeared alongside a digital avatar of her grandmother to revisit the spirit of the war years in letters.
\n
Chen shared excerpts from her grandmother's family letter, noting that her father — the first student enrolled in the university's diplomacy department — had handwritten a copy of the letter for her.
\n
Chen shared: "Dear student, always remember the arduous years of the war of resistance. Remember those who fought for national survival, for rejuvenation, and for human justice."
\n
She encouraged students to draw strength from the deeds of heroes and grow into pillars capable of shouldering the great task of national rejuvenation.
\n
For Li Zhixuan, an undergraduate student at the university's business school and a former soldier, the ceremony carried deep personal resonance.
\n
"In the army, I learned responsibility and commitment. Today, hearing stories of heroes like Zhao Yiman, I understand that retiring from service doesn't mean retiring from spirit," Li said.
\n
"The war spirit, for me, is the drive to push through academic challenges, to step up as a student leader when tired, and to hold firm in my beliefs."
\n
Another freshman, Yu Ziran from the university's School of Public Administration, was raised on family stories of the war.
\n
His great-grandparents and grandfather were Party members, and tales of heroic war heroes were his childhood bedtime stories. "The seeds of history were planted in me long ago," Yu said.
\n
"Today, at Renmin University, they are reawakening."
\n
At Nanchang University in Jiangxi province, some 3,700 freshmen gathered in the indoor stadium to watch the live broadcast of the Sept 3 commemoration in Beijing.
\n
Among them was Liu Zhen, a postgraduate student in Marxist studies, who had proactively asked his teacher to organize a collective viewing session for his class. "In the resonance, in the veterans' firm gazes, and in the steady march of the People's Liberation Army, I saw the great spirit of the war of resistance," Liu said.
\n
Since arriving to study six years ago, Liu has visited all the major sites of the important revolutionary heartland such as the Nanchang August 1 Uprising Memorial Hall. He got to know how the People's Liberation Army emerged from Jiangxi.
\n
Last August, he became a volunteer teacher in Guizhou province. There, he took students to cinemas, cultural centers and martyrs' cemeteries, sharing stories of revolutionary heroes. In June, he led 29 students from Guizhou to Nanchang to revisit the memorial hall. "I want to pass on the Red spirit to the next generation," he said.
\n
"I will study hard, spread these Red stories, and turn patriotic will into action."
\n
At the Communication University of China, the commemoration of the end of the war took a powerful visual form through an art exhibition, which featured 124 works, including 100 traditional Chinese paintings by doctoral students and 24 oil paintings by Russian artists.
\n
Liao Xiangzhong, the university's Party secretary, framed the exhibition as both an artistic and political endeavor — a "comprehensive exam" evaluating students' political awareness and artistic skill.
\n
The event has shown that students have integrated their artistic pursuits into national cultural development, Liao said.
\n
"These works demonstrate the doctoral students' firm political conviction, deep national sentiment, and strong sense of mission," he added.
\n
Doctoral student Lu Ming presented two ink paintings: Black Mountains, White Waters — Yang Jingyu and Black Mountains, White Waters — Zhou Baozhong, portraying two legendary commanders of the northeast army unit.
\n
Lu depicted General Yang in a critical charge scene, holding a pistol, eyes filled with determination and belief, contrasting the intensity of the combat with the commander's calm decisiveness. For General Zhou, Lu set the scene in a snowy birch forest, highlighting both the harsh environment and the resilience of the troops. "I used gray tones to portray skin, reflecting both the bitter cold and the harshness of the struggle," he explained.
\n
The exhibition not only guides viewers to remember history and honor the martyrs, but also inspires patriotism on a spiritual level, providing robust support for inheriting the Chinese nation's spiritual lineage and promoting cultural development in the new era, he said.
\n
Ding Zhe, another doctoral candidate, described her work White Mountains, Black Waters, Casting Loyal Souls as a "spiritual dialogue "with the past. "Art is how we refuse to forget," she said. "Through ink, I tried to reconstruct the spiritual aura of the land — the steadfastness of the mountains, the vastness of the snow. Behind those simple brushstrokes lie countless unknown heroes who protected the motherland with their lives."
\n
Art is also a universal language for conveying the message of peace to the world. It transcends borders and cultures, directly speaking to the human heart, she said. "Through such creative expression, we are not only looking back at the past but also making a forward-looking statement: May courage be passed down, may sacrifice be remembered, and may peace become a shared vision for the global village."
United States President Donald Trump holds a meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday.
\n
United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday they had agreed on a plan to end the conflict in Gaza, leaning heavily into conditions that Hamas has previously rejected.
\n
Trump's 20-point plan calls for all hostilities to end immediately, a swap of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli troop withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, Hamas disarmament, and a transitional government led by an international body.
\n
Trump would chair an international "board of peace" to govern and reconstruct the Gaza Strip as part of the plan, which does not require residents to leave the territory.
\n
Speaking at a joint news conference with Netanyahu, Trump said it is time for Hamas to accept the peace proposal.
\n
Hamas said on Tuesday it will discuss the peace plan within the group and with other Palestinian factions before responding.
\n
Trump said on Tuesday that Hamas has about three or four days to respond to his Gaza peace plan proposal or face the consequences.
\n
Global reaction was swift. Eight Arab and Islamic countries, including Egypt, Qatar and Indonesia, welcomed the plan, reaffirming their commitment to working with the US to secure a deal that guarantees unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza, the release of hostages, security for all sides, complete Israeli withdrawal, reconstruction of Gaza, and a path toward a just two-state solution.
\n
The Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank, expressed readiness to work with the US and partners to end the Gaza conflict through a comprehensive agreement, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
\n
Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group fighting alongside Hamas in Gaza, slammed the peace proposal as "a formula for igniting the region".
\n
Questions raised
\n
In devastated Gaza, meanwhile, residents expressed skepticism that the plan could end their sufferings. "We as a people will not accept this farce," said Abu Mazen Nassar, 52.
\n
"They want to impose their own peace," Umm Mohammed, a history teacher who sheltered with her family in Gaza City, told The Associated Press. "In fact, this is not a peace plan. It's a surrender plan. It returns us to times of colonialism."
\n
Phyllis Bennis, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, said Trump's plan lacks protection for Palestinians. "There are no guarantees to protect Palestinian interests. There are no guarantees that the war will come to a permanent end ... This is really a scenario that does not promise an end to the war, does promise a long-term occupation by foreign troops," she said.
\n
In a video statement published on Telegram early on Tuesday, Netanyahu said the Israeli military "will remain in most of the Gaza Strip".
\n
In another development, Netanyahu expressed regret for an Israeli attack in Doha to Qatar's leader on Monday in a three-way call with Trump, the White House said.
\n
Netanyahu also expressed regret for Israel violating Qatari sovereignty and "affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future", the White House added.
\n
At a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, on Monday, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, said "the country with special influence on Israel" must assume its corresponding responsibilities in earnest.
\n
Fu did not name the country.
\n
"We must take robust action to de-escalate tensions in the West Bank," Fu said. "We must act with utmost urgency to end the conflict in Gaza."
\n
He also called for efforts to revitalize the two-state solution with a firm resolve.
\n
"China reiterates that attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure is unacceptable, weaponizing humanitarian supplies is unacceptable, and violating international law and international humanitarian law is equally unacceptable," Fu said.
\n
"Together with the international community, China stands ready to push for an immediate end to the fighting in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, implement the two-state solution, and advance a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, to make greater contributions to the peace and stability in the Middle East."
\n
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, pluralities of US citizens — including self-described Democrats and Independents — think the US is providing Israel with too much support and military aid in its offensive, according to a report on the 2025 Chicago Council Survey released on Sept 18.
\n
The poll, conducted in July, found that 53 percent of Democrats consider the US supports Israel too much, upped by 13 percentage points from last year. In contrast, more Republicans now believe that the US strikes the right balance in its support (47 percent, up from 23 percent).
\n
Contact the writers at huanxinzhao@chinadailyusa.com
\n",
+ "content": "\n
United States President Donald Trump holds a meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday.
\n
United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday they had agreed on a plan to end the conflict in Gaza, leaning heavily into conditions that Hamas has previously rejected.
\n
Trump's 20-point plan calls for all hostilities to end immediately, a swap of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, a staged Israeli troop withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, Hamas disarmament, and a transitional government led by an international body.
\n
Trump would chair an international "board of peace" to govern and reconstruct the Gaza Strip as part of the plan, which does not require residents to leave the territory.
\n
Speaking at a joint news conference with Netanyahu, Trump said it is time for Hamas to accept the peace proposal.
\n
Hamas said on Tuesday it will discuss the peace plan within the group and with other Palestinian factions before responding.
\n
Trump said on Tuesday that Hamas has about three or four days to respond to his Gaza peace plan proposal or face the consequences.
\n
Global reaction was swift. Eight Arab and Islamic countries, including Egypt, Qatar and Indonesia, welcomed the plan, reaffirming their commitment to working with the US to secure a deal that guarantees unrestricted humanitarian aid to Gaza, the release of hostages, security for all sides, complete Israeli withdrawal, reconstruction of Gaza, and a path toward a just two-state solution.
\n
The Palestinian Authority, based in the West Bank, expressed readiness to work with the US and partners to end the Gaza conflict through a comprehensive agreement, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
\n
Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group fighting alongside Hamas in Gaza, slammed the peace proposal as "a formula for igniting the region".
\n
Questions raised
\n
In devastated Gaza, meanwhile, residents expressed skepticism that the plan could end their sufferings. "We as a people will not accept this farce," said Abu Mazen Nassar, 52.
\n
"They want to impose their own peace," Umm Mohammed, a history teacher who sheltered with her family in Gaza City, told The Associated Press. "In fact, this is not a peace plan. It's a surrender plan. It returns us to times of colonialism."
\n
Phyllis Bennis, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, said Trump's plan lacks protection for Palestinians. "There are no guarantees to protect Palestinian interests. There are no guarantees that the war will come to a permanent end ... This is really a scenario that does not promise an end to the war, does promise a long-term occupation by foreign troops," she said.
\n
In a video statement published on Telegram early on Tuesday, Netanyahu said the Israeli military "will remain in most of the Gaza Strip".
\n
In another development, Netanyahu expressed regret for an Israeli attack in Doha to Qatar's leader on Monday in a three-way call with Trump, the White House said.
\n
Netanyahu also expressed regret for Israel violating Qatari sovereignty and "affirmed that Israel will not conduct such an attack again in the future", the White House added.
\n
At a United Nations Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, on Monday, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, said "the country with special influence on Israel" must assume its corresponding responsibilities in earnest.
\n
Fu did not name the country.
\n
"We must take robust action to de-escalate tensions in the West Bank," Fu said. "We must act with utmost urgency to end the conflict in Gaza."
\n
He also called for efforts to revitalize the two-state solution with a firm resolve.
\n
"China reiterates that attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure is unacceptable, weaponizing humanitarian supplies is unacceptable, and violating international law and international humanitarian law is equally unacceptable," Fu said.
\n
"Together with the international community, China stands ready to push for an immediate end to the fighting in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, implement the two-state solution, and advance a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, to make greater contributions to the peace and stability in the Middle East."
\n
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, pluralities of US citizens — including self-described Democrats and Independents — think the US is providing Israel with too much support and military aid in its offensive, according to a report on the 2025 Chicago Council Survey released on Sept 18.
\n
The poll, conducted in July, found that 53 percent of Democrats consider the US supports Israel too much, upped by 13 percentage points from last year. In contrast, more Republicans now believe that the US strikes the right balance in its support (47 percent, up from 23 percent).
\n
Contact the writers at huanxinzhao@chinadailyusa.com
Floodwaters engulf homes after Typhoon Bualoi swept through Lam Thanh commune in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, on Tuesday. The country's most powerful storm this year unleashed torrential rains and severe flooding across the north, killing at least 26 people and leaving 22 missing, according to state media.
\n",
+ "content": "
Floodwaters engulf homes after Typhoon Bualoi swept through Lam Thanh commune in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, on Tuesday. The country's most powerful storm this year unleashed torrential rains and severe flooding across the north, killing at least 26 people and leaving 22 missing, according to state media.
China issued a position paper on Tuesday, expounding on the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, and reiterating that the one-China principle must be upheld, while warning against any attempt to challenge the resolution.
\n
The paper, released on the Foreign Ministry's website, said Resolution 2758 solemnly confirms and fully embodies the one-China principle.
\n
Adopted at the UN General Assembly's 26th session in October 1971, the resolution "decides to restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations".
\n
The paper emphasized that the one-China principle is the premise and foundation of the resolution, which resolved once and for all the question of the representation of the whole of China — including Taiwan — at the UN, as a political, legal and procedural issue. The resolution, it added, "brooks no challenge to its legitimacy, validity and authority".
\n
"The resolution makes it clear that there is but one China in the world and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate representative of the whole of China, including the Taiwan region," it said, adding that the resolution "completely precluded any possibility of creating 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan'".
\n
The UN is an international organization of sovereign states, and accepts only representatives from such states, the paper said, adding that Taiwan, which is part of China and not a sovereign state, has no right to send representatives to it.
\n
After the resolution's adoption, all official UN documents have referred to Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China", it said. The adoption made the one-China principle a basic norm of international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community, it added.
\n
The position paper also recalled how the United States and other countries attempted to obstruct the efforts of the People's Republic of China to regain its lawful seat in the UN, and how those attempts failed.
\n
"The whole process leading to the adoption of Resolution 2758 speaks volumes for the irreversible trend of the international community to uphold the one-China principle, and there is no 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan'," it said.
\n
The resolution states that the restoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China is essential both for the protection of the UN Charter and for the cause that the UN must serve under the charter.
\n
Recalling these words, the position paper said the UN is at the center of the post-World War II international order.
\n
Any attempt to challenge the resolution constitutes not only a challenge to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also a challenge to the authority of the UN and the international order, it said.
\n
Warning that "flagrantly reversing the course of history is absurd and highly dangerous", the paper said the status of Taiwan as a part of China's territory has never changed and shall never change.
\n
wangqingyun@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
China issued a position paper on Tuesday, expounding on the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, and reiterating that the one-China principle must be upheld, while warning against any attempt to challenge the resolution.
\n
The paper, released on the Foreign Ministry's website, said Resolution 2758 solemnly confirms and fully embodies the one-China principle.
\n
Adopted at the UN General Assembly's 26th session in October 1971, the resolution "decides to restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations".
\n
The paper emphasized that the one-China principle is the premise and foundation of the resolution, which resolved once and for all the question of the representation of the whole of China — including Taiwan — at the UN, as a political, legal and procedural issue. The resolution, it added, "brooks no challenge to its legitimacy, validity and authority".
\n
"The resolution makes it clear that there is but one China in the world and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate representative of the whole of China, including the Taiwan region," it said, adding that the resolution "completely precluded any possibility of creating 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan'".
\n
The UN is an international organization of sovereign states, and accepts only representatives from such states, the paper said, adding that Taiwan, which is part of China and not a sovereign state, has no right to send representatives to it.
\n
After the resolution's adoption, all official UN documents have referred to Taiwan as "Taiwan, Province of China", it said. The adoption made the one-China principle a basic norm of international relations and a prevailing consensus in the international community, it added.
\n
The position paper also recalled how the United States and other countries attempted to obstruct the efforts of the People's Republic of China to regain its lawful seat in the UN, and how those attempts failed.
\n
"The whole process leading to the adoption of Resolution 2758 speaks volumes for the irreversible trend of the international community to uphold the one-China principle, and there is no 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan'," it said.
\n
The resolution states that the restoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China is essential both for the protection of the UN Charter and for the cause that the UN must serve under the charter.
\n
Recalling these words, the position paper said the UN is at the center of the post-World War II international order.
\n
Any attempt to challenge the resolution constitutes not only a challenge to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also a challenge to the authority of the UN and the international order, it said.
\n
Warning that "flagrantly reversing the course of history is absurd and highly dangerous", the paper said the status of Taiwan as a part of China's territory has never changed and shall never change.
(From left) China Daily reporter Belinda Robinson interviews panelists Alicia Adams, Jindong Cai, Hai-Ye Ni, Beitong Liu, Xiaoyan Luo and Katherine Chernyak at the China Now Music Festival in New York on Sunday.
\n
New York's iconic Lincoln Center hosted the second day of programming for the eighth China Now Music Festival on Sunday, featuring a concert and forum presented by the US-China Music Institute of Bard College and China Daily.
\n
The groundbreaking concert, performed by The Orchestra Now in the Rose Theater at Frederick P.Rose Hall, showcased the legacy of three generations of Chinese composers, from the 1950s through the 1980s, whose seminal works bridged music, dance and opera.
\n
It was conducted by Jindong Cai, director of the US-China Music Institute and a professor at Bard College. An exploration of the China-United States relationship through art was also woven into the programming.
\n
Hai-Ye Ni, principal cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, performed the US premiere of The Lonely Camel Calf by Chinese-Mongolian composer Yu Mengshi. She highlighted the orchestra's pivotal role in building US-China relations dating back 50 years.
\n
"The Philadelphia Orchestra was the first American orchestra to visit China in 1973. It was (conductor) Eugene Ormandy and the whole orchestra. We still have a couple of musicians in the orchestra now who were on that tour," she said.
\n
The US-China Music Forum followed the concert, with panelists delving into the value of continuing cross-cultural musical exchange between the two countries and reflecting on the impact of the Bard East/West Ensemble's first tour of China, which took place from June 7 to 21.
\n
Formed in 2022, the ensemble brings together musicians from diverse backgrounds and features performances on 14 Chinese and Western instruments.
\n
"In the past 10 to 20 years, I started to think about how we can introduce music from China to the West," said Cai, artistic director of the ensemble. "So that's how we initially started the US-China Music Institute at Bard College.
\n
"Three years ago, I came up with the idea because of an event at the Kennedy Center (in Washington) … we thought, what if we combine Chinese instruments with Western music. That's how we created the ensemble. After that performance, I thought, 'I want this to continue.'"
\n
Progress made
\n
Alicia Adams, former vice-president of international programming and dance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, reflected on the progress she helped make in US-China cultural exchange during her time at the center.
\n
"We made a lot of progress," she said.
\n
"I did a China festival at the Kennedy Center in 2005, when we brought over nearly 1,000 artists from China, ranging from the Beijing Opera to the Beijing People's Art Theatre.
\n
"It was before the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and before many of these artists had performed in the US, so there was huge interest in China at the time — and in these artists."
\n
Katherine Chernyak, a member of the Bard East/West Ensemble, described the tour — her first visit to China — as "special", adding that she felt "very lucky to visit and go there".
\n
Panelists also emphasized the importance of continuing to foster US-China ties through the arts.
\n
"Musicians like me and musicians like us love both countries," Cai said. "If you ask all the musicians in China and in America, I think we don't want to depart. We want to continue to work together."
\n
belindarobinson@chinadailyusa.com
\n",
+ "content": "
(From left) China Daily reporter Belinda Robinson interviews panelists Alicia Adams, Jindong Cai, Hai-Ye Ni, Beitong Liu, Xiaoyan Luo and Katherine Chernyak at the China Now Music Festival in New York on Sunday.
\n
New York's iconic Lincoln Center hosted the second day of programming for the eighth China Now Music Festival on Sunday, featuring a concert and forum presented by the US-China Music Institute of Bard College and China Daily.
\n
The groundbreaking concert, performed by The Orchestra Now in the Rose Theater at Frederick P.Rose Hall, showcased the legacy of three generations of Chinese composers, from the 1950s through the 1980s, whose seminal works bridged music, dance and opera.
\n
It was conducted by Jindong Cai, director of the US-China Music Institute and a professor at Bard College. An exploration of the China-United States relationship through art was also woven into the programming.
\n
Hai-Ye Ni, principal cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, performed the US premiere of The Lonely Camel Calf by Chinese-Mongolian composer Yu Mengshi. She highlighted the orchestra's pivotal role in building US-China relations dating back 50 years.
\n
"The Philadelphia Orchestra was the first American orchestra to visit China in 1973. It was (conductor) Eugene Ormandy and the whole orchestra. We still have a couple of musicians in the orchestra now who were on that tour," she said.
\n
The US-China Music Forum followed the concert, with panelists delving into the value of continuing cross-cultural musical exchange between the two countries and reflecting on the impact of the Bard East/West Ensemble's first tour of China, which took place from June 7 to 21.
\n
Formed in 2022, the ensemble brings together musicians from diverse backgrounds and features performances on 14 Chinese and Western instruments.
\n
"In the past 10 to 20 years, I started to think about how we can introduce music from China to the West," said Cai, artistic director of the ensemble. "So that's how we initially started the US-China Music Institute at Bard College.
\n
"Three years ago, I came up with the idea because of an event at the Kennedy Center (in Washington) … we thought, what if we combine Chinese instruments with Western music. That's how we created the ensemble. After that performance, I thought, 'I want this to continue.'"
\n
Progress made
\n
Alicia Adams, former vice-president of international programming and dance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, reflected on the progress she helped make in US-China cultural exchange during her time at the center.
\n
"We made a lot of progress," she said.
\n
"I did a China festival at the Kennedy Center in 2005, when we brought over nearly 1,000 artists from China, ranging from the Beijing Opera to the Beijing People's Art Theatre.
\n
"It was before the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and before many of these artists had performed in the US, so there was huge interest in China at the time — and in these artists."
\n
Katherine Chernyak, a member of the Bard East/West Ensemble, described the tour — her first visit to China — as "special", adding that she felt "very lucky to visit and go there".
\n
Panelists also emphasized the importance of continuing to foster US-China ties through the arts.
\n
"Musicians like me and musicians like us love both countries," Cai said. "If you ask all the musicians in China and in America, I think we don't want to depart. We want to continue to work together."
Thailand's new government will put economic revival at the top of its agenda, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday as he presented the administration's policy statement to Parliament, pledging swift action to tackle immediate problems while laying the foundations for sustainable growth.
\n
Highlighting the "uncertainty on all fronts" facing the country, Anutin outlined a comprehensive plan focused on four key areas: the economy, security, disaster management and social issues.
\n
Economic policies will include a co-payment plan to reduce living costs, continued price management of agricultural products, and initiatives to boost income generation and competitiveness for small traders, entrepreneurs, farmers and local communities.
\n
Amid challenges stemming from tariff wars, a "Team Thailand" of officials, industry representatives and experts will be established to promote trade and expand partnerships in new markets.
\n
To strengthen natural disaster responses, the government will expedite the establishment of warning systems and preventive measures. And on social issues, it will maintain its resolute opposition to the legalization of gambling businesses.
\n
Regarding the border dispute with Cambodia, Anutin stated that Thailand will adopt a dual approach, combining diplomatic measures with military strategies to safeguard national sovereignty and protect citizens' interests.
\n
In addition, Anutin reaffirmed the strength of Thai-Chinese friendship and expressed confidence in the potential of cooperation between the two countries in all fields.
\n
Speaking at the Thailand-China Cooperation Expo in Bangkok last week, he outlined five key areas for future collaboration, including infrastructure, the green economy, digital innovation and expanded people-to-people exchanges.
\n
"Bilateral ties between the two nations over centuries have also been strengthened," he said at the event. "People-to-people links are also close, as expressed in the phrase that China and Thailand are not far apart, but brothers."
\n
Anutin said Thailand aims to serve not only as an economic partner but also as a key gateway to broader regional cooperation, with the longstanding Thai-Chinese friendship serving as a "springboard" for sustainable development in all aspects.
\n
"We will work closely with China to reduce barriers, improve regulations and facilitate business operations. This will ensure stable mutual growth for the private sectors of both countries," he added.
\n
yangwanli@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Thailand's new government will put economic revival at the top of its agenda, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday as he presented the administration's policy statement to Parliament, pledging swift action to tackle immediate problems while laying the foundations for sustainable growth.
\n
Highlighting the "uncertainty on all fronts" facing the country, Anutin outlined a comprehensive plan focused on four key areas: the economy, security, disaster management and social issues.
\n
Economic policies will include a co-payment plan to reduce living costs, continued price management of agricultural products, and initiatives to boost income generation and competitiveness for small traders, entrepreneurs, farmers and local communities.
\n
Amid challenges stemming from tariff wars, a "Team Thailand" of officials, industry representatives and experts will be established to promote trade and expand partnerships in new markets.
\n
To strengthen natural disaster responses, the government will expedite the establishment of warning systems and preventive measures. And on social issues, it will maintain its resolute opposition to the legalization of gambling businesses.
\n
Regarding the border dispute with Cambodia, Anutin stated that Thailand will adopt a dual approach, combining diplomatic measures with military strategies to safeguard national sovereignty and protect citizens' interests.
\n
In addition, Anutin reaffirmed the strength of Thai-Chinese friendship and expressed confidence in the potential of cooperation between the two countries in all fields.
\n
Speaking at the Thailand-China Cooperation Expo in Bangkok last week, he outlined five key areas for future collaboration, including infrastructure, the green economy, digital innovation and expanded people-to-people exchanges.
\n
"Bilateral ties between the two nations over centuries have also been strengthened," he said at the event. "People-to-people links are also close, as expressed in the phrase that China and Thailand are not far apart, but brothers."
\n
Anutin said Thailand aims to serve not only as an economic partner but also as a key gateway to broader regional cooperation, with the longstanding Thai-Chinese friendship serving as a "springboard" for sustainable development in all aspects.
\n
"We will work closely with China to reduce barriers, improve regulations and facilitate business operations. This will ensure stable mutual growth for the private sectors of both countries," he added.
US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would impose 10 percent tariffs on imported timber and lumber, as well as 25 percent duties on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and upholstered furniture. The action is the first in three sectors that Trump said last week would get steep new duties as early as Oct 1, including patented pharmaceutical imports and heavy truck imports.
\n
MADAGASCAR
\n
President dissolves govt following protests
\n
Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina said on Monday he was dissolving the government and promised to appoint a new prime minister within three days. The announcement followed days of protests in major cities across the nation over frequent power outages and water shortages. "I have heard the call of young people and I fully understand their concerns and frustrations," Rajoelina said.
\n",
+ "content": "
UNITED STATES
\n
10% tariff slapped on lumber imports
\n
US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would impose 10 percent tariffs on imported timber and lumber, as well as 25 percent duties on kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and upholstered furniture. The action is the first in three sectors that Trump said last week would get steep new duties as early as Oct 1, including patented pharmaceutical imports and heavy truck imports.
\n
MADAGASCAR
\n
President dissolves govt following protests
\n
Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina said on Monday he was dissolving the government and promised to appoint a new prime minister within three days. The announcement followed days of protests in major cities across the nation over frequent power outages and water shortages. "I have heard the call of young people and I fully understand their concerns and frustrations," Rajoelina said.
The Yangtze River, a mother river of the Chinese nation and a core pillar of the country's development, is the world's third-longest river and the longest in China.
\n
Originating from the main peak of the Tangula Mountains on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it stretches over 6,300 kilometers. Flowing west to east, its main stream passes through 11 provincial-level regions, before emptying into the East China Sea, while its tributaries extend into eight provincial-level regions, including Guizhou, Gansu, and Shaanxi.
\n
Economically, the river underpins national strategies such as the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta.
\n
As a vital conduit connecting the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, it plays an irreplaceable role in China's economic and social progress.
\n
Culturally, the Yangtze River Basin is one of the primary cradles of Chinese civilization. With a continuous cultural legacy since the mid-to-late Paleolithic Age, it has been the stage for pivotal historical chapters, such as the Bronze Age Sanxingdui culture, the Iron Age Qin-Han cultures, modern industrial culture, and the revolutionary culture associated with the foundation of the Communist Party of China.
\n
The basin is also a strategic freshwater reservoir for China. Through monumental projects like the South-to-North Water Diversion, its abundant water resources are channeled to vast areas beyond the basin, safeguarding national water security.
\n
Furthermore, the basin serves as a major hydropower base and is endowed with rich wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy, solidifying its status as a critical zone for China's new energy development.
\n",
+ "content": "\n\n
The Yangtze River, a mother river of the Chinese nation and a core pillar of the country's development, is the world's third-longest river and the longest in China.
\n
Originating from the main peak of the Tangula Mountains on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it stretches over 6,300 kilometers. Flowing west to east, its main stream passes through 11 provincial-level regions, before emptying into the East China Sea, while its tributaries extend into eight provincial-level regions, including Guizhou, Gansu, and Shaanxi.
\n
Economically, the river underpins national strategies such as the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt and the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta.
\n
As a vital conduit connecting the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, it plays an irreplaceable role in China's economic and social progress.
\n
Culturally, the Yangtze River Basin is one of the primary cradles of Chinese civilization. With a continuous cultural legacy since the mid-to-late Paleolithic Age, it has been the stage for pivotal historical chapters, such as the Bronze Age Sanxingdui culture, the Iron Age Qin-Han cultures, modern industrial culture, and the revolutionary culture associated with the foundation of the Communist Party of China.
\n
The basin is also a strategic freshwater reservoir for China. Through monumental projects like the South-to-North Water Diversion, its abundant water resources are channeled to vast areas beyond the basin, safeguarding national water security.
\n
Furthermore, the basin serves as a major hydropower base and is endowed with rich wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy, solidifying its status as a critical zone for China's new energy development.
The Yangtze River Economic Belt, a key national development strategy, encompasses 11 provinces and municipalities, stretching across China's eastern, central, and western regions. It represents nearly half of the country's total population and economic output, highlighting its immense development potential.
\n
Wuhan in Hubei province serves as a core city within the economic belt and plays a pivotal role in advancing the Belt and Road Initiative. With its unique Yangtze River shoreline resources, Wuhan has a distinct advantage in developing port-based hubs.
\n
In 2020, the city took the lead in receiving approval to construct a national port-type logistics hub. From 2021 to 2025, it gained approvals for national logistics hubs in land ports, airports, commercial services and production services, making it the second city in China to host all five types of national logistics hubs.
\n
Economically, Wuhan's GDP surpassed 2 trillion yuan ($281.4 billion) in 2023, becoming the first city in Central China to reach this milestone. In 2024, its GDP grew by 5.2 percent year-on-year, maintaining the leading position in Central China by total economic output.
\n
Currently, Wuhan is accelerating the development of a core area within the Yangtze River International Golden Tourism Belt, aiming to offer a richer and more diverse experience in landscape and cultural tourism centered around the Yangtze River.
\n",
+ "content": "\n
The Yangtze River Economic Belt, a key national development strategy, encompasses 11 provinces and municipalities, stretching across China's eastern, central, and western regions. It represents nearly half of the country's total population and economic output, highlighting its immense development potential.
\n
Wuhan in Hubei province serves as a core city within the economic belt and plays a pivotal role in advancing the Belt and Road Initiative. With its unique Yangtze River shoreline resources, Wuhan has a distinct advantage in developing port-based hubs.
\n
In 2020, the city took the lead in receiving approval to construct a national port-type logistics hub. From 2021 to 2025, it gained approvals for national logistics hubs in land ports, airports, commercial services and production services, making it the second city in China to host all five types of national logistics hubs.
\n
Economically, Wuhan's GDP surpassed 2 trillion yuan ($281.4 billion) in 2023, becoming the first city in Central China to reach this milestone. In 2024, its GDP grew by 5.2 percent year-on-year, maintaining the leading position in Central China by total economic output.
\n
Currently, Wuhan is accelerating the development of a core area within the Yangtze River International Golden Tourism Belt, aiming to offer a richer and more diverse experience in landscape and cultural tourism centered around the Yangtze River.
Blessed with an extensive network of rivers and lakes, a unique natural ecosystem, and robust functions for sustaining life that releases oxygen, sequesters carbon, and purifies the environment, the Yangtze River plays an irreplaceable role in safeguarding China's critical biological gene pool and ensuring its ecological security.
\n
As a key national biological gene pool, the Yangtze River Basin spans tropical, subtropical, and warm-temperate zones, featuring complex landforms and diverse ecosystem types. Among its ecologically vital areas, the forest ecosystems in the river valleys of western Sichuan, the evergreen broad-leaved forests in southern subtropical regions, and the wetlands in the Yangtze's middle and lower reaches stand as globally significant priority zones for biodiversity conservation.
\n
Notably, the wetlands serve as a crucial stopover and wintering grounds for over 100 species and millions of migratory waterbirds. The basin is also home to rare animals like the Chinese sturgeon, finless porpoise, and Yangtze alligator, as well as rare plants including the Chinese fir, dawn redwood, and dove tree, making it a major concentration of China's rare and endangered wildlife.
\n
Hubei, boasting the longest stretch of the Yangtze River's shoreline, has consistently taken on the political responsibility of high-standard ecological protection. During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the province strengthened coordinated ecological governance and deepened joint prevention and control efforts across 19 key river basins.
\n
To date, it has completed the remediation of 12,462 discharge outlets into the Yangtze River, effectively boosting the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the river's ecosystem.
\n",
+ "content": "
An elk.
\n
A golden monkey.
\n
A Chinese sturgeon.
\n
A Yangtze alligator.
\n
A Chinese dove tree.
\n
A wild yak.
\n\n\n
Blessed with an extensive network of rivers and lakes, a unique natural ecosystem, and robust functions for sustaining life that releases oxygen, sequesters carbon, and purifies the environment, the Yangtze River plays an irreplaceable role in safeguarding China's critical biological gene pool and ensuring its ecological security.
\n
As a key national biological gene pool, the Yangtze River Basin spans tropical, subtropical, and warm-temperate zones, featuring complex landforms and diverse ecosystem types. Among its ecologically vital areas, the forest ecosystems in the river valleys of western Sichuan, the evergreen broad-leaved forests in southern subtropical regions, and the wetlands in the Yangtze's middle and lower reaches stand as globally significant priority zones for biodiversity conservation.
\n
Notably, the wetlands serve as a crucial stopover and wintering grounds for over 100 species and millions of migratory waterbirds. The basin is also home to rare animals like the Chinese sturgeon, finless porpoise, and Yangtze alligator, as well as rare plants including the Chinese fir, dawn redwood, and dove tree, making it a major concentration of China's rare and endangered wildlife.
\n
Hubei, boasting the longest stretch of the Yangtze River's shoreline, has consistently taken on the political responsibility of high-standard ecological protection. During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the province strengthened coordinated ecological governance and deepened joint prevention and control efforts across 19 key river basins.
\n
To date, it has completed the remediation of 12,462 discharge outlets into the Yangtze River, effectively boosting the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the river's ecosystem.
Bart Dessein (left) at the reception of Mission of China to the European Union on Nov 19, 2010.
\n
A photograph of Bart Dessein when he was young, posted on the official website of Ghent University in Belgium.
\n
An incense burner in Dessein's office, which was a gift from his Chinese friends.
\n
The poster of a Chinese concert that Dessein attended almost 20 years ago, which he kept as a precious item in office.
\n
Publications of Dessein that are related to Chinese and Asian studies.
\n
Publications of Dessein that are related to Chinese and Asian studies.
\n
Publications of Dessein that are related to Chinese and Asian studies.
\n
In the 1980s, in the early years of China's reform and opening-up, Bart Dessein, then a young student in Belgium, got to know the term and became deeply interested in what was still in the West a mysterious oriental land.
\n
It was an era when China was gradually opening its doors to the world, and in Belgium, a handful of curious students were discovering China not through internet videos or immersive exchange programs, but through heavy textbooks, fragments of literature, and scarce opportunities to hear the language spoken aloud.
\n
Early interest
\n
Dessein recalled with a smile what it was like to embark on Chinese studies at that time. "In the early 1980s, learning Chinese was very much the study of a book language. There were very few occasions or possibilities to speak or hear Chinese. There was no internet back then. Also, our knowledge about the Chinese language was not what it is now. If I look back at the study materials that were available then, great progress has been made. Linguistic research since then has changed the situation a lot."
\n
Those early years demanded patience. Dictionaries were often incomplete, and grammar explanations lacked clarity. Yet for Dessein, every character he traced, every text he deciphered, was a window into a civilization he yearned to understand more deeply.
\n
One of the pivotal choices of his academic life came when deciding where to study in China. Many international students gravitated toward Beijing or Shanghai as two metropolises, but Dessein deliberately chose Liaoning University in Shenyang.
\n
In a conversation with Professor Roger Darrobers, Professor Fang Xudong of East China Normal University recalled the story: "I asked Professor Dessein why he chose to go to Liaoning University instead of Beijing or Shanghai. He replied that since fewer people there spoke foreign languages, he would be forced to speak only Chinese. That was his way of pushing himself to truly learn."
\n
This immersion worked wonders. Dessein formed lasting friendships with Chinese classmates and professors. "I still have a very good contact with my mother school in China," he said, using an affectionate term for an alma mater.
\n
"This also shows the high appreciation Chinese universities have for their former students. After all these years, you still feel as one of them. My department has very good contacts with many universities in China. Experiences of Chinese PhD students also are important for new incoming students of the same universities."
\n
"Also here, family ties are made," he added.
\n
After returning from China, Dessein continued his academic career and obtained a PhD in 1994. His dissertation marked the beginning of a lifelong scholarly journey into Chinese philosophy. Initially, he focused on Buddhist philosophy, but his curiosity soon drew him into the interwoven traditions of Confucianism, Neo-Confucianism, and the broader field of cross-cultural studies.
\n
Today, Dessein is a professor in the Department of Languages and Cultures at Ghent University, where he leads the research group "East Asian Culture in Perspective: Identity, Historical Consciousness, Modernity".
\n
His influence extends well beyond Belgium. From 2016 to 2022, he served as president of the European Association for Chinese Studies, fostering dialogue and collaboration among Sinologists across the continent.
\n
Deep research
\n
The studies done within the research group of Dessein and his students as the whole team span a remarkable range, from ancient Buddhist texts to the way modern Chinese society interprets its philosophical traditions.
\n
Studies conducted within the group include an examination of Zheng Banqiao's (1693-1765) famous calligraphy nande hutu (It's difficult to be muddled), which remains immensely popular in China today. The study explored how the phrase has inspired not only academic reflection but also a broader cultural movement sometimes called hutuxue (the art of being, or pretending to be, muddled).
\n
The analysis demonstrated how a centuries-old concept continues to resonate in a society navigating the pressures of individualism, capitalism, and globalization.
\n
Another study conducted in the research group delved into the Zutang Ji (Collection of the Patriarchal Hall), the earliest surviving genealogical record of Chan Buddhism. Through philological research, textual criticism, and even digital humanities tools and historical social network analysis, the compilation history of the text and its role in shaping medieval Chinese Buddhism were reconstructed.
\n
Another study concerns the formation of regional monastic communities in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). By studying extra-canonical sources such as epigraphy, secular literature, and local gazetteers, overlooked actors and networks were identified, challenging conventional narratives about the relationship between the center and periphery in Chinese religious life.
\n
Yet another study concerns the doctrine of wu wo (no-self, or anatman) in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Buddhism. While the Indian tradition treated "no-self" as an ontological denial of a permanent self, Chinese interpretations often took an epistemological turn, emphasizing relational non-duality. The research on the Ming monk Zibo Zhenke (1543-1603) highlights the dynamic interplay between Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism in late imperial thought.
\n
For Dessein, these projects, diverse as they are, share a common thread: a deep commitment to understanding China's intellectual traditions on their own terms, while also situating them within global philosophical and cultural conversations.
\n
Views on relations
\n
Beyond his research, Dessein has long reflected on the broader relationship between China and Europe. He emphasizes that understanding another country requires empathy, and that language, history and culture are indispensable to this process. "The way a country behaves on the international scene is very much influenced by that country's history and self-perception," he says. "It is therefore very necessary that studying language and culture go hand in hand. Having empathy with a country helps to understand a country and vice versa."
\n
He observes that both China and Europe face similar global challenges — food security, environmental concerns, and technological change — that can only be addressed through collaboration. "Reality will sooner or later necessitate more collaboration," he says, warning that the decline of cultural and language studies worldwide risks undermining mutual understanding.
\n
On academic exchanges, Dessein points to clear evidence that mobility fosters trust. "We see that those countries that receive most Chinese students are also those countries that send most students to China. This shows that exchanges are important for mutual understanding and building trust. Mutual understanding and trust are fundamental for political and economic relations to be built on."
\n
As for whether China and Europe are diverging or converging, he offers a balanced perspective: "The world has always been global. This is not a new thing. The speed with which events in one place impact other places is, however, increasingly quick. This makes Europe more Chinese but also makes China more European. Divergence and complementarity are present simultaneously."
\n
Engaging with Chinese civilization, he believes, is ultimately a mirror for Europe. "Cultural contacts help to see that there are different ways of looking at things, and give more nuanced standpoints. The global and the local are two sides of the same coin."
\n
For young Europeans considering Chinese studies, his advice is unequivocal: "China is one of the major powers in the current world. What happens in China has an effect on the world at large. We therefore need more people who can communicate with Chinese people, read Chinese, and can contextualize in a broader historical frame. Studying Chinese language and culture is very important. In general, studying another culture is very conducive to better understanding oneself."
\n
And looking ahead 20 years, he envisions a China-Europe partnership that extends beyond bilateral ties. "The global scene is changing rapidly. A constructive China-Europe partnership needs to extend beyond the bilateral relationship, it should also have an eye on the rest of the world, and the varied domains of the partnership."
\n
Rediscovering culture
\n
Dessein's research trajectory — from Buddhist philosophy to Confucianism and New Confucianism — reflects not only his scholarly curiosity but also his attentiveness to China's evolving society.
\n
"If you study Chinese Buddhism, you inevitably encounter Confucianism," he explains. "From the Wei Dynasty (220-265) onwards, Buddhism influenced Confucianism. They are inseparable." His later turn to New Confucianism stemmed from a desire to understand contemporary China. "What struck me was that after a period of harsh criticism, Confucianism regained importance in modern society. I wanted to explore why, and what this says about China today."
\n
He attributes this revival to China's growing international confidence. Once derided as a cause of weakness, Confucianism is now recognized as part of China's cultural strength. "No culture has a future without its history. Confucianism is part of China's roots. As China's global status rises, it realizes that not everything in the West is superior. This is not arrogance, but a rediscovery of cultural advantages."
\n
Confucian ideas, he argues, still have practical value. The philosophy of xiushen (self-cultivation), which emphasizes personal moral responsibility, remains relevant. "If every individual strives to become a 'junzi' (gentleman), the whole nation improves. Confucianism is not against development. On the contrary, its focus on moral self-improvement can contribute to modernization."
\n
On the concept of modernization itself, Dessein stresses that it need not equate to Westernization. "China has its own historical background. Chinese modernization inevitably includes elements of traditional culture. Western culture has strengths, but it is not the standard. Every country should absorb foreign culture according to its own needs, just as Buddhism integrated into Chinese culture and became part of it."
\n
He believes Chinese philosophical traditions also offer insights for global challenges. The concept of tian ren he yi (harmony between heaven and humanity), for example, provides a counterpoint to the Western idea of conquering nature. "This perspective encourages us to rethink the relationship between human development and the natural environment. It can help address issues such as climate change."
\n
That's why he insists that equality must be the foundation for cultural exchanges. "If you start from a Western-centric point of view, you will never understand other cultures. Differences should not be dismissed as negative. We must ask why they exist. Even if we do not agree, trying to understand is essential."
\n
From tracing Buddhist manuscripts to analyzing modern reinterpretations of Confucianism, from building academic networks to advising young Europeans, Dessein has spent four decades weaving intellectual and personal ties between China and Europe.
\n
As China continues to develop and Europe redefines its role in a globalized world, his message remains simple but profound: empathy, equality, and mutual learning are the cornerstones of meaningful exchange. And in that lifelong exchange, Dessein himself has become not only a scholar of China but also, in many ways, part of its extended academic family.
\n
zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Bart Dessein (left) at the reception of Mission of China to the European Union on Nov 19, 2010.
\n
A photograph of Bart Dessein when he was young, posted on the official website of Ghent University in Belgium.
\n
An incense burner in Dessein's office, which was a gift from his Chinese friends.
\n
The poster of a Chinese concert that Dessein attended almost 20 years ago, which he kept as a precious item in office.
\n
Publications of Dessein that are related to Chinese and Asian studies.
\n
Publications of Dessein that are related to Chinese and Asian studies.
\n
Publications of Dessein that are related to Chinese and Asian studies.
\n
In the 1980s, in the early years of China's reform and opening-up, Bart Dessein, then a young student in Belgium, got to know the term and became deeply interested in what was still in the West a mysterious oriental land.
\n
It was an era when China was gradually opening its doors to the world, and in Belgium, a handful of curious students were discovering China not through internet videos or immersive exchange programs, but through heavy textbooks, fragments of literature, and scarce opportunities to hear the language spoken aloud.
\n
Early interest
\n
Dessein recalled with a smile what it was like to embark on Chinese studies at that time. "In the early 1980s, learning Chinese was very much the study of a book language. There were very few occasions or possibilities to speak or hear Chinese. There was no internet back then. Also, our knowledge about the Chinese language was not what it is now. If I look back at the study materials that were available then, great progress has been made. Linguistic research since then has changed the situation a lot."
\n
Those early years demanded patience. Dictionaries were often incomplete, and grammar explanations lacked clarity. Yet for Dessein, every character he traced, every text he deciphered, was a window into a civilization he yearned to understand more deeply.
\n
One of the pivotal choices of his academic life came when deciding where to study in China. Many international students gravitated toward Beijing or Shanghai as two metropolises, but Dessein deliberately chose Liaoning University in Shenyang.
\n
In a conversation with Professor Roger Darrobers, Professor Fang Xudong of East China Normal University recalled the story: "I asked Professor Dessein why he chose to go to Liaoning University instead of Beijing or Shanghai. He replied that since fewer people there spoke foreign languages, he would be forced to speak only Chinese. That was his way of pushing himself to truly learn."
\n
This immersion worked wonders. Dessein formed lasting friendships with Chinese classmates and professors. "I still have a very good contact with my mother school in China," he said, using an affectionate term for an alma mater.
\n
"This also shows the high appreciation Chinese universities have for their former students. After all these years, you still feel as one of them. My department has very good contacts with many universities in China. Experiences of Chinese PhD students also are important for new incoming students of the same universities."
\n
"Also here, family ties are made," he added.
\n
After returning from China, Dessein continued his academic career and obtained a PhD in 1994. His dissertation marked the beginning of a lifelong scholarly journey into Chinese philosophy. Initially, he focused on Buddhist philosophy, but his curiosity soon drew him into the interwoven traditions of Confucianism, Neo-Confucianism, and the broader field of cross-cultural studies.
\n
Today, Dessein is a professor in the Department of Languages and Cultures at Ghent University, where he leads the research group "East Asian Culture in Perspective: Identity, Historical Consciousness, Modernity".
\n
His influence extends well beyond Belgium. From 2016 to 2022, he served as president of the European Association for Chinese Studies, fostering dialogue and collaboration among Sinologists across the continent.
\n
Deep research
\n
The studies done within the research group of Dessein and his students as the whole team span a remarkable range, from ancient Buddhist texts to the way modern Chinese society interprets its philosophical traditions.
\n
Studies conducted within the group include an examination of Zheng Banqiao's (1693-1765) famous calligraphy nande hutu (It's difficult to be muddled), which remains immensely popular in China today. The study explored how the phrase has inspired not only academic reflection but also a broader cultural movement sometimes called hutuxue (the art of being, or pretending to be, muddled).
\n
The analysis demonstrated how a centuries-old concept continues to resonate in a society navigating the pressures of individualism, capitalism, and globalization.
\n
Another study conducted in the research group delved into the Zutang Ji (Collection of the Patriarchal Hall), the earliest surviving genealogical record of Chan Buddhism. Through philological research, textual criticism, and even digital humanities tools and historical social network analysis, the compilation history of the text and its role in shaping medieval Chinese Buddhism were reconstructed.
\n
Another study concerns the formation of regional monastic communities in China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). By studying extra-canonical sources such as epigraphy, secular literature, and local gazetteers, overlooked actors and networks were identified, challenging conventional narratives about the relationship between the center and periphery in Chinese religious life.
\n
Yet another study concerns the doctrine of wu wo (no-self, or anatman) in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Buddhism. While the Indian tradition treated "no-self" as an ontological denial of a permanent self, Chinese interpretations often took an epistemological turn, emphasizing relational non-duality. The research on the Ming monk Zibo Zhenke (1543-1603) highlights the dynamic interplay between Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism in late imperial thought.
\n
For Dessein, these projects, diverse as they are, share a common thread: a deep commitment to understanding China's intellectual traditions on their own terms, while also situating them within global philosophical and cultural conversations.
\n
Views on relations
\n
Beyond his research, Dessein has long reflected on the broader relationship between China and Europe. He emphasizes that understanding another country requires empathy, and that language, history and culture are indispensable to this process. "The way a country behaves on the international scene is very much influenced by that country's history and self-perception," he says. "It is therefore very necessary that studying language and culture go hand in hand. Having empathy with a country helps to understand a country and vice versa."
\n
He observes that both China and Europe face similar global challenges — food security, environmental concerns, and technological change — that can only be addressed through collaboration. "Reality will sooner or later necessitate more collaboration," he says, warning that the decline of cultural and language studies worldwide risks undermining mutual understanding.
\n
On academic exchanges, Dessein points to clear evidence that mobility fosters trust. "We see that those countries that receive most Chinese students are also those countries that send most students to China. This shows that exchanges are important for mutual understanding and building trust. Mutual understanding and trust are fundamental for political and economic relations to be built on."
\n
As for whether China and Europe are diverging or converging, he offers a balanced perspective: "The world has always been global. This is not a new thing. The speed with which events in one place impact other places is, however, increasingly quick. This makes Europe more Chinese but also makes China more European. Divergence and complementarity are present simultaneously."
\n
Engaging with Chinese civilization, he believes, is ultimately a mirror for Europe. "Cultural contacts help to see that there are different ways of looking at things, and give more nuanced standpoints. The global and the local are two sides of the same coin."
\n
For young Europeans considering Chinese studies, his advice is unequivocal: "China is one of the major powers in the current world. What happens in China has an effect on the world at large. We therefore need more people who can communicate with Chinese people, read Chinese, and can contextualize in a broader historical frame. Studying Chinese language and culture is very important. In general, studying another culture is very conducive to better understanding oneself."
\n
And looking ahead 20 years, he envisions a China-Europe partnership that extends beyond bilateral ties. "The global scene is changing rapidly. A constructive China-Europe partnership needs to extend beyond the bilateral relationship, it should also have an eye on the rest of the world, and the varied domains of the partnership."
\n
Rediscovering culture
\n
Dessein's research trajectory — from Buddhist philosophy to Confucianism and New Confucianism — reflects not only his scholarly curiosity but also his attentiveness to China's evolving society.
\n
"If you study Chinese Buddhism, you inevitably encounter Confucianism," he explains. "From the Wei Dynasty (220-265) onwards, Buddhism influenced Confucianism. They are inseparable." His later turn to New Confucianism stemmed from a desire to understand contemporary China. "What struck me was that after a period of harsh criticism, Confucianism regained importance in modern society. I wanted to explore why, and what this says about China today."
\n
He attributes this revival to China's growing international confidence. Once derided as a cause of weakness, Confucianism is now recognized as part of China's cultural strength. "No culture has a future without its history. Confucianism is part of China's roots. As China's global status rises, it realizes that not everything in the West is superior. This is not arrogance, but a rediscovery of cultural advantages."
\n
Confucian ideas, he argues, still have practical value. The philosophy of xiushen (self-cultivation), which emphasizes personal moral responsibility, remains relevant. "If every individual strives to become a 'junzi' (gentleman), the whole nation improves. Confucianism is not against development. On the contrary, its focus on moral self-improvement can contribute to modernization."
\n
On the concept of modernization itself, Dessein stresses that it need not equate to Westernization. "China has its own historical background. Chinese modernization inevitably includes elements of traditional culture. Western culture has strengths, but it is not the standard. Every country should absorb foreign culture according to its own needs, just as Buddhism integrated into Chinese culture and became part of it."
\n
He believes Chinese philosophical traditions also offer insights for global challenges. The concept of tian ren he yi (harmony between heaven and humanity), for example, provides a counterpoint to the Western idea of conquering nature. "This perspective encourages us to rethink the relationship between human development and the natural environment. It can help address issues such as climate change."
\n
That's why he insists that equality must be the foundation for cultural exchanges. "If you start from a Western-centric point of view, you will never understand other cultures. Differences should not be dismissed as negative. We must ask why they exist. Even if we do not agree, trying to understand is essential."
\n
From tracing Buddhist manuscripts to analyzing modern reinterpretations of Confucianism, from building academic networks to advising young Europeans, Dessein has spent four decades weaving intellectual and personal ties between China and Europe.
\n
As China continues to develop and Europe redefines its role in a globalized world, his message remains simple but profound: empathy, equality, and mutual learning are the cornerstones of meaningful exchange. And in that lifelong exchange, Dessein himself has become not only a scholar of China but also, in many ways, part of its extended academic family.
Using digital tools, visitors enjoy shadow puppetry at a cultural expo in Hotan, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, in August.
\n
Children touch the digital image of a camel at the expo.
\n
A child moves a wooden loom to produce digital Uygur Atlas silk patterns on the screen.
\n
A woman dances against the backdrop of polychromatic digital Atlas silk patterns at the event.
\n
Online Scan the code to watch the video.
\n
At a cultural exhibition in Hotan in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in mid-August, audiences watched in silence as polychromatic projections of the region's vibrant Atlas silk, famed for its multicolored resist-dyeing patterns, illuminated a digital screen. On the stage, a boy pretended to be turning what looked like a wooden loom, modeled on the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) jacquard loom. As he turned the levers, on the screen before him, the classic "five stars rising in the East" pattern — an auspicious cultural symbol — slowly unfurled. The crowd erupted in applause.
\n
The above scene unfolded at the Xinjiang Is a Nice Place intangible cultural heritage exhibition, a master class in fusion. A simple pull of the lever could trigger changing patterns, which, synchronized with traditional music, transformed intangible heritage into a multisensory experience.
\n
"When visitors 'weave' these patterns with their own hands, the culture … comes alive," said Wang Dongjie, deputy general manager of Shanghai-based ALight, which designed the space.
\n
The event demonstrated a powerful new paradigm for cultural preservation. Across the hall, the Silk Road in Motion project let visitors pick up virtual brushes to color desert animals — antelopes, camels, peacocks — which then sprang to life on a digital canvas.
\n
"Here, visitors are not just spectators; they are creators. Their collective doodles form a fantastical 'Silk Road animal party'," Wang said.
\n
The result was a dynamic, collaborative artwork that played out in real time.
\n
Another installation, inspired by Hotan's deep history with jade, allowed visitors to step on jade-colored floor panels. With each step, glowing lines of water burst forth, transforming the floor into a flowing stream of light — a digital metaphor for the region's life-giving rivers and cherished stone.
\n
"Technology is no longer just a tool for display; it's a medium for connection," Wang said.
\n
"It amplifies cultural heritage, making it visible, touchable, and deeply meaningful for the next generation."
\n
A short distance away, audiences exclaimed in awe as traditional Chinese patterns came to life through a dazzling display of digital fireworks. The installation, created by the Public Art and Experience Design Studio of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, introduced audiences to auspicious motifs such as grapes and the ornamental ceilings of Dunhuang, all reinterpreted through digital light.
\n
With a simple touch of the ignition device, audiences watched cultural symbols and the colors of Xinjiang's Atlas silk bloom into radiant fireworks across a virtual Silk Road.
\n
"The audience, through the gesture of striking a match, was experiencing the intangible cultural heritage technique of making fireworks and firecrackers. This not only evoked warm memories of traditional festivals but also conveyed the Chinese cultural value of reunion and togetherness," said Lu Yingying, a mentor from the CAFA studio.
\n
The studio also staged two other tech-enabled immersive programs.
\n
The Shadow Play: Dragon Palace focuses on the preservation and creative reinterpretation of traditional shadow puppetry within the context of the Dragon Palace mythology, where visitors can interact with puppet figures on a screen, using a sticklike device to guide their movements.
\n
The work is different from traditional shadow puppetry, in which the audience only watches, and the performers perform, offering a fresh perspective on how this ancient art can be expressed in today's world.
\n
The other digital interactive art installation, Eternal Echo, is inspired by the intangible cultural heritage of Henan's nigugu — clay whistles that produce a pleasant "cooing "sound when blown.
\n
These clay whistles, often shaped like historical characters or animals, are rich in cultural meaning and folk tales. Human and animal forms serve as symbols of ritual, remembrance, and reverence toward nature.
\n
The installation enabled visitors to activate the digital clay figures by blowing into sensors, triggering a process of dispersion and reorganization. As the figures dissolved, visual scenes gradually emerged — such as "spring swallows heralding abundance", wartime imagery, and local temple fair celebrations — creating an immersive experience centered around disappearance, rebirth and memory.
\n
These works, originally part of a student graduation exhibition, attracted a staggering 250,000 visitors and over 200 million online views.
\n
"What mattered wasn't just the scale, but the appeal to nonspecialist audiences. This significantly expands the reach and influence of traditional culture," Lu said.
\n
This trend of digitization is gaining momentum.
\n
Yin Zijun, creative director of Shanghai Fengyuzhu Culture Technology, has noticed that expressions of intangible cultural heritage are becoming increasingly youthful and innovative. With the rise of new-generation influencers such as Li Ziqi, intangible cultural heritage has emerged as a popular topic across social networking sites. This trend has been further supported by China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for cultural development, which encourages the integration of intangible cultural heritage and technology, Yin said.
\n
"In recent years, technologies such as artificial intelligence and interactive virtual reality have been widely applied to cultural experiences, reshaping how intangible cultural heritage is presented," she said.
\n
At the Exhibition of Intangible Cultural Heritage in China zone created by Fengyuzhu at the Hotan intangible cultural heritage showcase, an AI paper-cutting generation system became the most popular interactive experience, Yin said.
\n
Visitors can have their faces scanned to generate personalized paper-cut portraits that incorporate their unique facial features. The system automatically matches patterns from a paper-cutting design database to recommend customized design proposals.
\n
One of Fengyuzhu's landmark projects is a 24 solar terms museum in Shouxian county, Anhui.
\n
"By combining traditional aesthetics with augmented reality, we designed AI-powered performances that visualize seasonal changes. Naked-eye 3D displays and digital flight simulations built immersive time-space narratives," Yin said.
\n
Inside the hall, the flow of the solar terms unfolds visually. AI has also been applied to re-create the study of Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24) writer and thinker Liu An, who contributed to the formalization and systematic recording of the 24 solar terms. Watching this program, visitors can experience the origins of the solar term culture.
\n
"The project has achieved remarkable success, attracting over 12 million visitors," Yin said.
\n
Additionally, the reinterpretation of the martial art form called yongchun (Wing Chun) boxing by blending comic-style visuals with interactive screens has also been a hit.
\n
Visitors have given positive reviews after they were able to mimic movements to generate their own martial arts manuals. "The guiding principle has been to make intangible cultural heritage engaging and enjoyable," Yin said.
\n
"We achieve this by building digital archives, designing immersive storytelling environments, and creating interactive experiences that foster genuine participation," she said.
\n
The success of these projects underscores a shift in cultural consumption — where audiences no longer simply observe, but actively participate in heritage.
\n
This spirit of innovation is echoed by Wang from ALight, who emphasizes that "digital technology has become essential in revealing and reconstructing the expression of intangible cultural heritage".
\n
One of ALight's projects, the Hunan Jiangyong Yao ethnic music pavilion, merges traditional Yao music, luminous projections, and interactive Nyushu — a centuries-old script created and used exclusively by women — to form a unique cross-cultural encounter.
\n
The exhibit attracted over 12 million online views and gave a significant boost to local tourism, Wang said.
\n
Another installation, a large-scale kinetic kite featuring a 6-meter-high projection dome and a dynamic track system, allowed visitors to pilot virtual kites through digital skies. It became an instant attraction at the 8th China Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo in Shandong last October, drawing long queues of eager participants.
\n
These projects illustrate a new paradigm — technology is not replacing tradition but expanding its language, ensuring that ancient cultures resonate louder and reach farther than ever before, Wang said.
\n
Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Using digital tools, visitors enjoy shadow puppetry at a cultural expo in Hotan, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, in August.
\n
Children touch the digital image of a camel at the expo.
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A child moves a wooden loom to produce digital Uygur Atlas silk patterns on the screen.
\n
A woman dances against the backdrop of polychromatic digital Atlas silk patterns at the event.
\n
Online Scan the code to watch the video.
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At a cultural exhibition in Hotan in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in mid-August, audiences watched in silence as polychromatic projections of the region's vibrant Atlas silk, famed for its multicolored resist-dyeing patterns, illuminated a digital screen. On the stage, a boy pretended to be turning what looked like a wooden loom, modeled on the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) jacquard loom. As he turned the levers, on the screen before him, the classic "five stars rising in the East" pattern — an auspicious cultural symbol — slowly unfurled. The crowd erupted in applause.
\n
The above scene unfolded at the Xinjiang Is a Nice Place intangible cultural heritage exhibition, a master class in fusion. A simple pull of the lever could trigger changing patterns, which, synchronized with traditional music, transformed intangible heritage into a multisensory experience.
\n
"When visitors 'weave' these patterns with their own hands, the culture … comes alive," said Wang Dongjie, deputy general manager of Shanghai-based ALight, which designed the space.
\n
The event demonstrated a powerful new paradigm for cultural preservation. Across the hall, the Silk Road in Motion project let visitors pick up virtual brushes to color desert animals — antelopes, camels, peacocks — which then sprang to life on a digital canvas.
\n
"Here, visitors are not just spectators; they are creators. Their collective doodles form a fantastical 'Silk Road animal party'," Wang said.
\n
The result was a dynamic, collaborative artwork that played out in real time.
\n
Another installation, inspired by Hotan's deep history with jade, allowed visitors to step on jade-colored floor panels. With each step, glowing lines of water burst forth, transforming the floor into a flowing stream of light — a digital metaphor for the region's life-giving rivers and cherished stone.
\n
"Technology is no longer just a tool for display; it's a medium for connection," Wang said.
\n
"It amplifies cultural heritage, making it visible, touchable, and deeply meaningful for the next generation."
\n
A short distance away, audiences exclaimed in awe as traditional Chinese patterns came to life through a dazzling display of digital fireworks. The installation, created by the Public Art and Experience Design Studio of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, introduced audiences to auspicious motifs such as grapes and the ornamental ceilings of Dunhuang, all reinterpreted through digital light.
\n
With a simple touch of the ignition device, audiences watched cultural symbols and the colors of Xinjiang's Atlas silk bloom into radiant fireworks across a virtual Silk Road.
\n
"The audience, through the gesture of striking a match, was experiencing the intangible cultural heritage technique of making fireworks and firecrackers. This not only evoked warm memories of traditional festivals but also conveyed the Chinese cultural value of reunion and togetherness," said Lu Yingying, a mentor from the CAFA studio.
\n
The studio also staged two other tech-enabled immersive programs.
\n
The Shadow Play: Dragon Palace focuses on the preservation and creative reinterpretation of traditional shadow puppetry within the context of the Dragon Palace mythology, where visitors can interact with puppet figures on a screen, using a sticklike device to guide their movements.
\n
The work is different from traditional shadow puppetry, in which the audience only watches, and the performers perform, offering a fresh perspective on how this ancient art can be expressed in today's world.
\n
The other digital interactive art installation, Eternal Echo, is inspired by the intangible cultural heritage of Henan's nigugu — clay whistles that produce a pleasant "cooing "sound when blown.
\n
These clay whistles, often shaped like historical characters or animals, are rich in cultural meaning and folk tales. Human and animal forms serve as symbols of ritual, remembrance, and reverence toward nature.
\n
The installation enabled visitors to activate the digital clay figures by blowing into sensors, triggering a process of dispersion and reorganization. As the figures dissolved, visual scenes gradually emerged — such as "spring swallows heralding abundance", wartime imagery, and local temple fair celebrations — creating an immersive experience centered around disappearance, rebirth and memory.
\n
These works, originally part of a student graduation exhibition, attracted a staggering 250,000 visitors and over 200 million online views.
\n
"What mattered wasn't just the scale, but the appeal to nonspecialist audiences. This significantly expands the reach and influence of traditional culture," Lu said.
\n
This trend of digitization is gaining momentum.
\n
Yin Zijun, creative director of Shanghai Fengyuzhu Culture Technology, has noticed that expressions of intangible cultural heritage are becoming increasingly youthful and innovative. With the rise of new-generation influencers such as Li Ziqi, intangible cultural heritage has emerged as a popular topic across social networking sites. This trend has been further supported by China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for cultural development, which encourages the integration of intangible cultural heritage and technology, Yin said.
\n
"In recent years, technologies such as artificial intelligence and interactive virtual reality have been widely applied to cultural experiences, reshaping how intangible cultural heritage is presented," she said.
\n
At the Exhibition of Intangible Cultural Heritage in China zone created by Fengyuzhu at the Hotan intangible cultural heritage showcase, an AI paper-cutting generation system became the most popular interactive experience, Yin said.
\n
Visitors can have their faces scanned to generate personalized paper-cut portraits that incorporate their unique facial features. The system automatically matches patterns from a paper-cutting design database to recommend customized design proposals.
\n
One of Fengyuzhu's landmark projects is a 24 solar terms museum in Shouxian county, Anhui.
\n
"By combining traditional aesthetics with augmented reality, we designed AI-powered performances that visualize seasonal changes. Naked-eye 3D displays and digital flight simulations built immersive time-space narratives," Yin said.
\n
Inside the hall, the flow of the solar terms unfolds visually. AI has also been applied to re-create the study of Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24) writer and thinker Liu An, who contributed to the formalization and systematic recording of the 24 solar terms. Watching this program, visitors can experience the origins of the solar term culture.
\n
"The project has achieved remarkable success, attracting over 12 million visitors," Yin said.
\n
Additionally, the reinterpretation of the martial art form called yongchun (Wing Chun) boxing by blending comic-style visuals with interactive screens has also been a hit.
\n
Visitors have given positive reviews after they were able to mimic movements to generate their own martial arts manuals. "The guiding principle has been to make intangible cultural heritage engaging and enjoyable," Yin said.
\n
"We achieve this by building digital archives, designing immersive storytelling environments, and creating interactive experiences that foster genuine participation," she said.
\n
The success of these projects underscores a shift in cultural consumption — where audiences no longer simply observe, but actively participate in heritage.
\n
This spirit of innovation is echoed by Wang from ALight, who emphasizes that "digital technology has become essential in revealing and reconstructing the expression of intangible cultural heritage".
\n
One of ALight's projects, the Hunan Jiangyong Yao ethnic music pavilion, merges traditional Yao music, luminous projections, and interactive Nyushu — a centuries-old script created and used exclusively by women — to form a unique cross-cultural encounter.
\n
The exhibit attracted over 12 million online views and gave a significant boost to local tourism, Wang said.
\n
Another installation, a large-scale kinetic kite featuring a 6-meter-high projection dome and a dynamic track system, allowed visitors to pilot virtual kites through digital skies. It became an instant attraction at the 8th China Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo in Shandong last October, drawing long queues of eager participants.
\n
These projects illustrate a new paradigm — technology is not replacing tradition but expanding its language, ensuring that ancient cultures resonate louder and reach farther than ever before, Wang said.
\n
Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn
People walk through Brussels' Grand Place, where ornate guildhalls adorned with gold details provide the backdrop to historical figures.
\n
Crowds gather at the Grand Place in Brussels.
\n
The White Swan House on Brussels' Grand Place.
\n\n
In French, they call it La Grand-Place. In Dutch, De Grote Markt.
\n
Even if you don't speak the local languages, the name is still recognizable: a big, grand place, used as a market. That is exactly what it has been for centuries, as it has been serving as the beating heart of Brussels, dating back to the 1000s when the city was gradually taking shape.
\n
In its earliest days, the square was little more than an open village fairground. Farmers from the surrounding countryside would drive in their horse carts, loaded with grains, fruits and vegetables from the fields. They bartered their goods for bolts of cloth and household wares laid out by peddlers. The air was thick with competing smells from the sharp tang of manure mixing with the aroma of baked bread, while cries of vendors filled the area.
\n
By the 13th century, Brussels had grown rich enough to erect permanent indoor markets at the northern edge of the square: one for meat, one for bread and one for cloth. These stone halls formalized what had long been a rustic gathering into an organized commercial hub.
\n
Over time, power followed money. Tall and imposing civic buildings rose above the merchants' stalls, and mayors and councilors moved in, making the square not only the city's commercial hub but also its political center. The majestic Town Hall still functions today, and although centuries have passed, the Grand Place remains what it has always been: a place where commerce, culture and civic pride intersect.
\n
Now, the square is one of Brussels' most popular tourist attractions. Its cobbled surface swarms with visitors, cameras raised to capture the ornate gabled facades that surround it. Electric vintage cars circle the perimeter for 70 euros ($83) a ride, the drivers dressed in capes cut to resemble 19th-century styles, welcoming passengers with courtly gestures, while the plate number of one car is Brussels-001, one with rich history.
\n
Restaurants fill the square's corners with the chatter of diners, their outdoor tables crowded beneath awnings. Down the narrow side streets, the air is sweetened by waffle shops, where long lines of tourists wait for freshly pressed waffles drenched in molten chocolate. Those who wander off with a cone of fries or a sugared waffle often find themselves trailed by the square's other regulars: pigeons, fat and insistent, waddling close behind in hopes of a careless crumb.
\n
However, beneath the postcard beauty and touristic bustle, the Grand Place holds a deeper grandeur. Its cobblestones echo with the footsteps of exiled thinkers and wandering writers who once lived nearby. If we draw a circle with the radius of a few hundred meters and its center being the square, some of Europe's most brilliant and troubled minds found shelter in the city of Brussels. Their homes may now be ordinary apartments or shops, but plaques on the walls whisper reminders that some of humanity's most brilliant souls had once passed through these doors.
\n
Karl Marx: The drafting of The Communist Manifesto
\n
Brussels is a city of thousands of narrow streets, most unremarkable to the casual passerby. Rue Jean d'Ardenne is one such street — quiet, tucked away, lined with plain three-story homes weathered by Belgian rain. The walls are streaked with black, bicycles lean at odd angles, and the occasional blue-and-white garbage bag sits slumped against a lamppost.
\n
No 50 is a four-story building that blends into its surroundings. "Ordinary" must be a key word among any writer's hands to describe this old building. However, a modest metal plaque carries shock for anyone reading it. It says:
\n
Karl Marx, 1846-1848
\n
Installed by the Ixelles Historical Society.
\n
Everyone knows this name. Here, in this modest Brussels residence, Karl Marx lived for two years. At first he was expelled from Prussia and moved to France, but later under pressure of the Prussian government he was deported from France again. In 1845, this wandering thinker arrived in Brussels — a frontier city willing to harbor exiles and this house near the Grote Markt is where he once lived.
\n
Marx's life here was far from idle. He spent his days immersed in discussions, writings and debates with his comrades, most often at a cafe on the Grote Markt: La Maison du Cygne, or the White Swan.
\n
The White Swan has long been a fixture of the square. Originally built in the 1500s to serve merchants and farmers, it was reduced to ashes during French bombardments but rebuilt in 1698. Its richly ornamented facade, glittering with baroque details, earned it the nickname "the jewel of elegance" of the Grand Place. Over the centuries it changed hands and purposes, eventually becoming a cafe.
\n
It was here, in 1846, that Marx and his comrade and supporter Friedrich Engels often gathered with friends. Sometimes they sat hunched in animated debate, their words spilling into the smoke-filled air; other times they bent silently over pages, writing feverishly. To this day, the cafe preserves the table where Marx was said to have sat most often, a small plaque marking the place where theory met ink.
\n
Brussels gave Marx a pause from the exile life he had endured. It allowed him the quiet to reflect on years of thought and experience he had accumulated while editing Die Neue Rheinische Zeitung (The New Rhein Newspaper). In Brussels, he digested all those lessons learned from past experiences and transmuted them into something larger.
\n
After two years' working, by the time he left the city in 1848, Marx and Engels had completed the draft of The Communist Manifesto. Published in London that same year, the pamphlet would reverberate across continents, inspiring workers' movements and shaping the course of world history.
\n
Victor Hugo: The most beautiful square in Europe
\n
Directly across from the White Swan stands another building named for a bird: La Maison du Pigeon, the Pigeon Hotel. Like its neighbor opposite, it had been destroyed in the French bombardments and rebuilt in 1698. For centuries, it served travelers passing through Brussels, offering rest to merchants, soldiers and occasionally exiles.
\n
In 1851, three years after Marx had departed Brussels, the Pigeon received its most celebrated guest: Victor Hugo.
\n
Hugo had once supported Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte but turned into a fierce critic after the latter declared himself Emperor Napoleon III. Forced into exile, Hugo fled to Belgium, where he first lodged at the Pigeon Hotel.
\n
Hugo's exile didn't dull his creative fire. He would stroll the Grand Place, absorbing the square's dramatic Gothic facades with the eye of a poet. He left some of the most enduring tributes to its beauty: "The Town Hall of Brussels is a jewel comparable to the spire of Chartres; a dazzling fantasy of a poet fallen from the mind of an architect. And then, the square that surrounds it is a marvel. Save for three or four houses which modern pedants have allowed to be distorted, there is not a single facade which is not a date, a costume, a stanza, a masterpiece. I would have wished to draw them all, one after the other."
\n
Hugo didn't linger at the Pigeon long, but his time there was productive. He composed Napoleon le Petit (Napoleon the Little), his scathing denunciation of Napoleon III's regime, a pamphlet that spread across Europe and reinforced his reputation as both a literary giant and a political conscience.
\n
Today, a plaque on the building reminds passersby that Hugo once lived here, gazing out at the square that awes visitors still.
\n
Charles Baudelaire: A poet's bitterness, legacy
\n
From the Grand Place's northeast corner, a short walk past several gray-stone churches leads to a quieter street of aging buildings. On one of its dim walls hangs a plaque:
\n
Charles Baudelaire, 1864-1866 The Grand Mirror Hotel
\n
The name needs no introduction. Baudelaire, author of Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil), is among the greatest poets of the French language. His verses, heavy with eroticism, decay and mortality, still appear atop best-seller lists in the Francophone world.
\n
Yet in life, his fame was more fraught. Les Fleurs du mal, published in 1857, earned him both notoriety and legal trouble. French prosecutors accused him of obscenity; the courts banned portions of the book and fined him 300 francs, a crushing sum when a skilled worker earned only 3 or 4 francs a day.
\n
By 1864, weary and broke, Baudelaire sought refuge in Brussels. He took up residence at the Hotel du Grand Miroir — the Grand Mirror Hotel — a modest boarding house favored by struggling writers. To make ends meet, he delivered lectures and sold books. But his oratory lacked decorum. At one lecture to young, female students, he startled his audience by saying, "It was with you that I lost my virginity as an orator" — a line that sent many young women fleeing in embarrassment.
\n
During his stay, Baudelaire continued to write. Alongside poetry, he penned Pauvre Belgique! (Poor Belgium!), a manuscript filled with biting critiques of the country and its people.
\n
Yet, rather than holding his bitterness against him, the city chose to honor his memory. Today his former residence bears a plaque, and in 2017 the Brussels City Museum mounted an exhibition on Baudelaire, featuring Pauvre Belgique! as a central theme.
\n
Marx, Hugo and Baudelaire were not the only intellectual exiles who found their way to Brussels. The roll call of names who once lingered in its cafes and boarding houses reads like a who's who of 19th-century Europe: Alexandre Dumas, Heinrich Heine, Mikhail Bakunin, and many more.
\n
They had little money but immense ambition. They spent long hours in smoky cafes, sipping cheap coffee, arguing over politics, literature and the future of humanity. They were dreamers and revolutionaries, carrying the weight of centuries on their shoulders even as they struggled to pay their rent.
\n
Brussels, known for its tolerance, provided them with a haven in which they could write, reflect and continue their debates with words. That's what makes the Grand Place grand in the spiritual sense. While being a tourist magnet, a commercial hub, a civic square, its true grandeur lies deeper, in the layers of history and memory embedded in its stones. It was here that Marx sharpened his theories, that Hugo praised the beauty of architecture, that Baudelaire vented his frustrations.
\n
To walk across the square today is to tread the same ground where these restless spirits once walked. The ornate facades are not merely architectural marvels; they are the backdrop against which some of Europe's greatest ideas were debated, some of its most scathing criticisms penned, and some of its most luminous literature conceived.
\n
With such residents in its past, the Grand Place is not just the heart of Brussels. It is, in a sense, a crossroads of human history — where thought and art, politics and poetry, have converged, and where great thinkers and great writers clashed in minds.
\n
That is what will make it truly grand for another 1,000 years.
\n
zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
People walk through Brussels' Grand Place, where ornate guildhalls adorned with gold details provide the backdrop to historical figures.
\n
Crowds gather at the Grand Place in Brussels.
\n
The White Swan House on Brussels' Grand Place.
\n\n
In French, they call it La Grand-Place. In Dutch, De Grote Markt.
\n
Even if you don't speak the local languages, the name is still recognizable: a big, grand place, used as a market. That is exactly what it has been for centuries, as it has been serving as the beating heart of Brussels, dating back to the 1000s when the city was gradually taking shape.
\n
In its earliest days, the square was little more than an open village fairground. Farmers from the surrounding countryside would drive in their horse carts, loaded with grains, fruits and vegetables from the fields. They bartered their goods for bolts of cloth and household wares laid out by peddlers. The air was thick with competing smells from the sharp tang of manure mixing with the aroma of baked bread, while cries of vendors filled the area.
\n
By the 13th century, Brussels had grown rich enough to erect permanent indoor markets at the northern edge of the square: one for meat, one for bread and one for cloth. These stone halls formalized what had long been a rustic gathering into an organized commercial hub.
\n
Over time, power followed money. Tall and imposing civic buildings rose above the merchants' stalls, and mayors and councilors moved in, making the square not only the city's commercial hub but also its political center. The majestic Town Hall still functions today, and although centuries have passed, the Grand Place remains what it has always been: a place where commerce, culture and civic pride intersect.
\n
Now, the square is one of Brussels' most popular tourist attractions. Its cobbled surface swarms with visitors, cameras raised to capture the ornate gabled facades that surround it. Electric vintage cars circle the perimeter for 70 euros ($83) a ride, the drivers dressed in capes cut to resemble 19th-century styles, welcoming passengers with courtly gestures, while the plate number of one car is Brussels-001, one with rich history.
\n
Restaurants fill the square's corners with the chatter of diners, their outdoor tables crowded beneath awnings. Down the narrow side streets, the air is sweetened by waffle shops, where long lines of tourists wait for freshly pressed waffles drenched in molten chocolate. Those who wander off with a cone of fries or a sugared waffle often find themselves trailed by the square's other regulars: pigeons, fat and insistent, waddling close behind in hopes of a careless crumb.
\n
However, beneath the postcard beauty and touristic bustle, the Grand Place holds a deeper grandeur. Its cobblestones echo with the footsteps of exiled thinkers and wandering writers who once lived nearby. If we draw a circle with the radius of a few hundred meters and its center being the square, some of Europe's most brilliant and troubled minds found shelter in the city of Brussels. Their homes may now be ordinary apartments or shops, but plaques on the walls whisper reminders that some of humanity's most brilliant souls had once passed through these doors.
\n
Karl Marx: The drafting of The Communist Manifesto
\n
Brussels is a city of thousands of narrow streets, most unremarkable to the casual passerby. Rue Jean d'Ardenne is one such street — quiet, tucked away, lined with plain three-story homes weathered by Belgian rain. The walls are streaked with black, bicycles lean at odd angles, and the occasional blue-and-white garbage bag sits slumped against a lamppost.
\n
No 50 is a four-story building that blends into its surroundings. "Ordinary" must be a key word among any writer's hands to describe this old building. However, a modest metal plaque carries shock for anyone reading it. It says:
\n
Karl Marx, 1846-1848
\n
Installed by the Ixelles Historical Society.
\n
Everyone knows this name. Here, in this modest Brussels residence, Karl Marx lived for two years. At first he was expelled from Prussia and moved to France, but later under pressure of the Prussian government he was deported from France again. In 1845, this wandering thinker arrived in Brussels — a frontier city willing to harbor exiles and this house near the Grote Markt is where he once lived.
\n
Marx's life here was far from idle. He spent his days immersed in discussions, writings and debates with his comrades, most often at a cafe on the Grote Markt: La Maison du Cygne, or the White Swan.
\n
The White Swan has long been a fixture of the square. Originally built in the 1500s to serve merchants and farmers, it was reduced to ashes during French bombardments but rebuilt in 1698. Its richly ornamented facade, glittering with baroque details, earned it the nickname "the jewel of elegance" of the Grand Place. Over the centuries it changed hands and purposes, eventually becoming a cafe.
\n
It was here, in 1846, that Marx and his comrade and supporter Friedrich Engels often gathered with friends. Sometimes they sat hunched in animated debate, their words spilling into the smoke-filled air; other times they bent silently over pages, writing feverishly. To this day, the cafe preserves the table where Marx was said to have sat most often, a small plaque marking the place where theory met ink.
\n
Brussels gave Marx a pause from the exile life he had endured. It allowed him the quiet to reflect on years of thought and experience he had accumulated while editing Die Neue Rheinische Zeitung (The New Rhein Newspaper). In Brussels, he digested all those lessons learned from past experiences and transmuted them into something larger.
\n
After two years' working, by the time he left the city in 1848, Marx and Engels had completed the draft of The Communist Manifesto. Published in London that same year, the pamphlet would reverberate across continents, inspiring workers' movements and shaping the course of world history.
\n
Victor Hugo: The most beautiful square in Europe
\n
Directly across from the White Swan stands another building named for a bird: La Maison du Pigeon, the Pigeon Hotel. Like its neighbor opposite, it had been destroyed in the French bombardments and rebuilt in 1698. For centuries, it served travelers passing through Brussels, offering rest to merchants, soldiers and occasionally exiles.
\n
In 1851, three years after Marx had departed Brussels, the Pigeon received its most celebrated guest: Victor Hugo.
\n
Hugo had once supported Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte but turned into a fierce critic after the latter declared himself Emperor Napoleon III. Forced into exile, Hugo fled to Belgium, where he first lodged at the Pigeon Hotel.
\n
Hugo's exile didn't dull his creative fire. He would stroll the Grand Place, absorbing the square's dramatic Gothic facades with the eye of a poet. He left some of the most enduring tributes to its beauty: "The Town Hall of Brussels is a jewel comparable to the spire of Chartres; a dazzling fantasy of a poet fallen from the mind of an architect. And then, the square that surrounds it is a marvel. Save for three or four houses which modern pedants have allowed to be distorted, there is not a single facade which is not a date, a costume, a stanza, a masterpiece. I would have wished to draw them all, one after the other."
\n
Hugo didn't linger at the Pigeon long, but his time there was productive. He composed Napoleon le Petit (Napoleon the Little), his scathing denunciation of Napoleon III's regime, a pamphlet that spread across Europe and reinforced his reputation as both a literary giant and a political conscience.
\n
Today, a plaque on the building reminds passersby that Hugo once lived here, gazing out at the square that awes visitors still.
\n
Charles Baudelaire: A poet's bitterness, legacy
\n
From the Grand Place's northeast corner, a short walk past several gray-stone churches leads to a quieter street of aging buildings. On one of its dim walls hangs a plaque:
\n
Charles Baudelaire, 1864-1866 The Grand Mirror Hotel
\n
The name needs no introduction. Baudelaire, author of Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil), is among the greatest poets of the French language. His verses, heavy with eroticism, decay and mortality, still appear atop best-seller lists in the Francophone world.
\n
Yet in life, his fame was more fraught. Les Fleurs du mal, published in 1857, earned him both notoriety and legal trouble. French prosecutors accused him of obscenity; the courts banned portions of the book and fined him 300 francs, a crushing sum when a skilled worker earned only 3 or 4 francs a day.
\n
By 1864, weary and broke, Baudelaire sought refuge in Brussels. He took up residence at the Hotel du Grand Miroir — the Grand Mirror Hotel — a modest boarding house favored by struggling writers. To make ends meet, he delivered lectures and sold books. But his oratory lacked decorum. At one lecture to young, female students, he startled his audience by saying, "It was with you that I lost my virginity as an orator" — a line that sent many young women fleeing in embarrassment.
\n
During his stay, Baudelaire continued to write. Alongside poetry, he penned Pauvre Belgique! (Poor Belgium!), a manuscript filled with biting critiques of the country and its people.
\n
Yet, rather than holding his bitterness against him, the city chose to honor his memory. Today his former residence bears a plaque, and in 2017 the Brussels City Museum mounted an exhibition on Baudelaire, featuring Pauvre Belgique! as a central theme.
\n
Marx, Hugo and Baudelaire were not the only intellectual exiles who found their way to Brussels. The roll call of names who once lingered in its cafes and boarding houses reads like a who's who of 19th-century Europe: Alexandre Dumas, Heinrich Heine, Mikhail Bakunin, and many more.
\n
They had little money but immense ambition. They spent long hours in smoky cafes, sipping cheap coffee, arguing over politics, literature and the future of humanity. They were dreamers and revolutionaries, carrying the weight of centuries on their shoulders even as they struggled to pay their rent.
\n
Brussels, known for its tolerance, provided them with a haven in which they could write, reflect and continue their debates with words. That's what makes the Grand Place grand in the spiritual sense. While being a tourist magnet, a commercial hub, a civic square, its true grandeur lies deeper, in the layers of history and memory embedded in its stones. It was here that Marx sharpened his theories, that Hugo praised the beauty of architecture, that Baudelaire vented his frustrations.
\n
To walk across the square today is to tread the same ground where these restless spirits once walked. The ornate facades are not merely architectural marvels; they are the backdrop against which some of Europe's greatest ideas were debated, some of its most scathing criticisms penned, and some of its most luminous literature conceived.
\n
With such residents in its past, the Grand Place is not just the heart of Brussels. It is, in a sense, a crossroads of human history — where thought and art, politics and poetry, have converged, and where great thinkers and great writers clashed in minds.
\n
That is what will make it truly grand for another 1,000 years.
From left: Chinese men's tennis players Zhang Zhizhen, Shang Juncheng, Buyunchaokete and Wu Yibing are looking to end the "China Swing" on a high note during the "Golden Week" holiday, and rebound from a recent dip in form at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Asia's only top-tier ATP 1000 tournament, which is set to kick off main-draw actions on Wednesday.
\n
Even with some recent flops on the pro circuit sending them into an abrupt nosedive, China's men remain upbeat about being pull back up to cruising altitude, counting on the grind and exposure at home events to fuel the climb.
\n
Just one year apart, the narrative surrounding Chinese men's tennis has taken a dramatic turn, with a string of early exits at home tournaments over the past fortnight leaving fans concerned about the consistency of their countrymen, while lamenting the fleeting successes of a breakout 2024 season.
\n
Injuries, fatigue and a lack of mental stability, which have been hampering the country's top players over the past six months, have taken a heavier toll toward the end of the season, when the highly competitive game's demanding nature rears its head.
\n
China's highest-ever ranked man Zhang Zhizhen, who was at world No 31 in July last year, has fallen back to No 370 this week, after coming back from a long injury break, apparently not fully ready to handle the intensity of the ATP Tour, underscored by two losses in three matches since his return.
\n
The finalist at last year's ATP 250 Hangzhou Open crashed out of the same tournament in the second round on Sept 20, after a straight-sets loss to Czech youngster Dalibor Svrcina, before suffering an opening defeat to Frenchman Terence Atmane at the ATP 500 China Open five days later, with his swing motion still affected by soreness in his injured right shoulder.
\n
"I am a patient person, but in this case, it really makes me mad, especially the beginning part, which was really difficult," Zhang said of his tough rehab from the shoulder injury, which had sidelined him since the end of Indian Wells.
\n
"There are always many things you can not control. Everyone wants to be back to the level where they were, but you have to be patient and you have to do it in the correct way," added Zhang, the first man from the Chinese mainland to break into the world's top 100 in October 2022.
\n
"I don't know how long it takes, but I think the toughest part has passed already. Reflecting on two months ago, what I was doing, it's a big improvement already. I will keep going this way."
\n
Another promising male prospect slowed down by injury woes is last year's Chengdu Open winner Shang Juncheng, who seemed nowhere close to his best either, after failing to defend his title in the Sichuan provincial capital with a second-round loss, followed by an opening defeat in Beijing last week.
\n
Although pain-free now, having recovered from a foot injury, Shang confessed that his "on-and-off" campaign this year has cost his momentum dearly.
\n
"I wasn't able to play as many matches as needed this year, sidelined by injuries during the majority of the season," said Shang, who reached a career-high ranking of No 47 after his Chengdu title run a year ago.
\n
"I do feel good physically, just maybe not quite ready for a tough (three-set) battle like today. But everything is going in a positive direction," Shang said after losing 2-1 to Frenchman Arthur Cazaux in Beijing.
\n
As the only fully healthy ace among the chasing pack, China's current highest-ranked man Buyunchaokete (No 121) has his own hump to get over — taming his emotions when things get hot.
\n
The 23-year-old, who hails from the Mongolian ethnic group in Northwest China, became the biggest surprise during last year's "China Swing", fighting his way to backto-back Tour-level semifinals in Hangzhou and Beijing, becoming the first Chinese man to achieve the feat at consecutive tournaments.
\n
His lack of experience at the elite level, coping with expectation and pressure at a home tournament, made him vulnerable while facing world No 8 Alex de Minaur in the first round in Beijing, where he was routed by the Australian third seed 6-4, 6-0 on the center court on Saturday.
\n
"My emotions got the better of me in the second set, and I just couldn't focus on the match from there," he said. "For sure, I have a lot to improve with my mental game."
\n
Although entering the National Day holiday without any of them ranked within the top 100, Chinese men are embracing another high-profile opportunity during the "Golden Week" holiday to rebound at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Asia's only top-tier ATP 1000 tournament.
\n
Five Chinese players have entered the main draw through rankings or wildcards, led by Buyunchaokete, Shang and Wu Yibing, the 2023 Dallas Open winner, and will test their grit and craft up against world's elite players in their respective first-round battles beginning from Wednesday.
\n
Wu, the only Chinese man having shown any real form recently, is expected to face former world No 1 Daniil Medvedev in the second round in Shanghai, should he pass the opening test against a qualifier.
\n
And he certainly hopes to carry the momentum of stunning the Russian star in the quarterfinals in Hangzhou recently, into an almost instant rematch in Shanghai.
\n
Hangzhou native Wu, advancing to the semis at his hometown tournament on the back of that win, lost to eventual champion Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan.
\n
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open winner, said he'd expected the rise of Chinese men, and believes their climb will continue.
\n
"It's a long way, but, if I see it right, they are better than anyone in their history. It's a good step forward," the 20-time ATP tournament winner said of China's current generation.
\n
"For sure, it's a bit unlucky that they got injured, but they played great. The more they play like they do right now, the more young guys will look at them and want to start playing tennis."
\n
sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
From left: Chinese men's tennis players Zhang Zhizhen, Shang Juncheng, Buyunchaokete and Wu Yibing are looking to end the "China Swing" on a high note during the "Golden Week" holiday, and rebound from a recent dip in form at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Asia's only top-tier ATP 1000 tournament, which is set to kick off main-draw actions on Wednesday.
\n
Even with some recent flops on the pro circuit sending them into an abrupt nosedive, China's men remain upbeat about being pull back up to cruising altitude, counting on the grind and exposure at home events to fuel the climb.
\n
Just one year apart, the narrative surrounding Chinese men's tennis has taken a dramatic turn, with a string of early exits at home tournaments over the past fortnight leaving fans concerned about the consistency of their countrymen, while lamenting the fleeting successes of a breakout 2024 season.
\n
Injuries, fatigue and a lack of mental stability, which have been hampering the country's top players over the past six months, have taken a heavier toll toward the end of the season, when the highly competitive game's demanding nature rears its head.
\n
China's highest-ever ranked man Zhang Zhizhen, who was at world No 31 in July last year, has fallen back to No 370 this week, after coming back from a long injury break, apparently not fully ready to handle the intensity of the ATP Tour, underscored by two losses in three matches since his return.
\n
The finalist at last year's ATP 250 Hangzhou Open crashed out of the same tournament in the second round on Sept 20, after a straight-sets loss to Czech youngster Dalibor Svrcina, before suffering an opening defeat to Frenchman Terence Atmane at the ATP 500 China Open five days later, with his swing motion still affected by soreness in his injured right shoulder.
\n
"I am a patient person, but in this case, it really makes me mad, especially the beginning part, which was really difficult," Zhang said of his tough rehab from the shoulder injury, which had sidelined him since the end of Indian Wells.
\n
"There are always many things you can not control. Everyone wants to be back to the level where they were, but you have to be patient and you have to do it in the correct way," added Zhang, the first man from the Chinese mainland to break into the world's top 100 in October 2022.
\n
"I don't know how long it takes, but I think the toughest part has passed already. Reflecting on two months ago, what I was doing, it's a big improvement already. I will keep going this way."
\n
Another promising male prospect slowed down by injury woes is last year's Chengdu Open winner Shang Juncheng, who seemed nowhere close to his best either, after failing to defend his title in the Sichuan provincial capital with a second-round loss, followed by an opening defeat in Beijing last week.
\n
Although pain-free now, having recovered from a foot injury, Shang confessed that his "on-and-off" campaign this year has cost his momentum dearly.
\n
"I wasn't able to play as many matches as needed this year, sidelined by injuries during the majority of the season," said Shang, who reached a career-high ranking of No 47 after his Chengdu title run a year ago.
\n
"I do feel good physically, just maybe not quite ready for a tough (three-set) battle like today. But everything is going in a positive direction," Shang said after losing 2-1 to Frenchman Arthur Cazaux in Beijing.
\n
As the only fully healthy ace among the chasing pack, China's current highest-ranked man Buyunchaokete (No 121) has his own hump to get over — taming his emotions when things get hot.
\n
The 23-year-old, who hails from the Mongolian ethnic group in Northwest China, became the biggest surprise during last year's "China Swing", fighting his way to backto-back Tour-level semifinals in Hangzhou and Beijing, becoming the first Chinese man to achieve the feat at consecutive tournaments.
\n
His lack of experience at the elite level, coping with expectation and pressure at a home tournament, made him vulnerable while facing world No 8 Alex de Minaur in the first round in Beijing, where he was routed by the Australian third seed 6-4, 6-0 on the center court on Saturday.
\n
"My emotions got the better of me in the second set, and I just couldn't focus on the match from there," he said. "For sure, I have a lot to improve with my mental game."
\n
Although entering the National Day holiday without any of them ranked within the top 100, Chinese men are embracing another high-profile opportunity during the "Golden Week" holiday to rebound at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Asia's only top-tier ATP 1000 tournament.
\n
Five Chinese players have entered the main draw through rankings or wildcards, led by Buyunchaokete, Shang and Wu Yibing, the 2023 Dallas Open winner, and will test their grit and craft up against world's elite players in their respective first-round battles beginning from Wednesday.
\n
Wu, the only Chinese man having shown any real form recently, is expected to face former world No 1 Daniil Medvedev in the second round in Shanghai, should he pass the opening test against a qualifier.
\n
And he certainly hopes to carry the momentum of stunning the Russian star in the quarterfinals in Hangzhou recently, into an almost instant rematch in Shanghai.
\n
Hangzhou native Wu, advancing to the semis at his hometown tournament on the back of that win, lost to eventual champion Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan.
\n
Medvedev, the 2021 US Open winner, said he'd expected the rise of Chinese men, and believes their climb will continue.
\n
"It's a long way, but, if I see it right, they are better than anyone in their history. It's a good step forward," the 20-time ATP tournament winner said of China's current generation.
\n
"For sure, it's a bit unlucky that they got injured, but they played great. The more they play like they do right now, the more young guys will look at them and want to start playing tennis."
From left: Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev are among the superstars who will be battling it out at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in two weeks.
\n
From left: Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev are among the superstars who will be battling it out at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in two weeks.
\n
From left: Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev are among the superstars who will be battling it out at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in two weeks.
\n
From left: Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev are among the superstars who will be battling it out at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in two weeks.
\n
When action swings off on Wednesday at the state-of-the-art Qizhong Tennis Center in western Shanghai, fans of the rapid-fire, adrenaline-pumping men's game know they are in for a real treat, like nothing elsewhere at the same tier of competition.
\n
The 96 best available singles players, including all the top-ranked ATP stars, have descended on the East China metropolis, where they will vie for a share of the more than $9 million prize purse and the 1,000 ranking points afforded the winner at the 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters, the pinnacle of men's tennis in Asia and the penultimate ATP 1000 tournament of the season.
\n
Of course, the current top three in Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev will be there, ready to rumble, but it is the reunion of two of the all-time "Big Three" that has left the sport's global fan base envious of their peers in Shanghai.
\n
Confirmed after a last-minute decision, 24-time Grand Slam champion, and a four-time winner of the tournament, Novak Djokovic is making an unexpected and exciting return to the city, where he has racked up 39 wins, the most ever, across 10 appearances.
\n
The Serbian great will, for sure, be greeted enthusiastically by his loyal Chinese fans, and, possibly, by an old rival — Swiss legend Roger Federer — an ambassador for the Shanghai tournament and who is due to make a special appearance on Oct 10 as part of the Roger & Friends Celebrity Doubles match.
\n
"Shanghai has always been a special place for me with great fans, unforgettable memories and a real love for the game," said Federer, a two-time champion in Shanghai, who retired in 2022.
\n
Djokovic, who also competed in Shanghai last year and lost to Sinner in the final, originally wasn't expected to travel to Asia, having confessed to mainly be focusing on the Slams for the remainder of his career, looking for a crack at a 25th major singles title that will help him break the tie with women's legend Margaret Court.
\n
The 83-year-old Australian great was on-site at the Qizhong center on Monday as a guest during the draw ceremony alongside wildcards Stan Wawrinka and Wu Yibing, who, together, witnessed the unveiling of the tournament's refurbished Grandstand Court, equipped with a retractable roof.
\n
With the roof being able to be fully closed in under 10 minutes, the upgrade of the 5,000-seat court will help significantly address issues caused by rain delays alongside the Stadium court, which already has a built-in roof.
\n
"We're bulletproof now as far as the weather is concerned. We can still play no matter what," Charles Smith, representative of ATP tournament advisory council, said of the facility upgrade.
\n
"I guarantee you, there is no city in the world that can build stadiums as fast as Shanghai," Smith said. "My friends in Europe say this would take three, four, probably five years (to build), and we did it in about seven or eight months."
\n
Other major upgrades include the transformation of Court 17 into the Royal Caribbean masters training court, with a stand expansion to 1,200 regular and 150 VIP seats to better accommodate fans' interest watching their beloved stars practice up close.
\n
"It's huge for fans, that they are able to come here for two weeks to see the best tennis players in the world," said Wu, the best-performing home player in Shanghai last year who reached the third round.
\n
"This is the court where I won my first Challenger title (2017), so it means a lot, and I am very happy to see, in China, the huge development of tennis and the bright future of the tournament."
\n
As for the title race on court, defending champion Sinner and world No 1 Alcaraz remain the only two clear-cut favorites.
\n
The two young superstars have met in the last three Slam finals, with the Spaniard bagging titles at Roland Garros and the US Open, and the Italian capturing Wimbledon. Sinner also retained his Australian Open title in January. Overall, they have accounted for the last eight Grand Slam titles.
\n
"We are looking forward to another exciting Rolex Shanghai Masters and we have an outstanding field," said tournament director Michael Luevano.
\n
From 2009-2013, the tournament was voted ATP Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year by the players five times in a row, while last year it won the "Standards of Excellence" award from the ATP for exceptional quality, hospitality and player experience.
\n",
+ "content": "
From left: Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev are among the superstars who will be battling it out at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in two weeks.
\n
From left: Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev are among the superstars who will be battling it out at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in two weeks.
\n
From left: Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev are among the superstars who will be battling it out at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in two weeks.
\n
From left: Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev are among the superstars who will be battling it out at the Rolex Shanghai Masters in two weeks.
\n
When action swings off on Wednesday at the state-of-the-art Qizhong Tennis Center in western Shanghai, fans of the rapid-fire, adrenaline-pumping men's game know they are in for a real treat, like nothing elsewhere at the same tier of competition.
\n
The 96 best available singles players, including all the top-ranked ATP stars, have descended on the East China metropolis, where they will vie for a share of the more than $9 million prize purse and the 1,000 ranking points afforded the winner at the 2025 Rolex Shanghai Masters, the pinnacle of men's tennis in Asia and the penultimate ATP 1000 tournament of the season.
\n
Of course, the current top three in Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev will be there, ready to rumble, but it is the reunion of two of the all-time "Big Three" that has left the sport's global fan base envious of their peers in Shanghai.
\n
Confirmed after a last-minute decision, 24-time Grand Slam champion, and a four-time winner of the tournament, Novak Djokovic is making an unexpected and exciting return to the city, where he has racked up 39 wins, the most ever, across 10 appearances.
\n
The Serbian great will, for sure, be greeted enthusiastically by his loyal Chinese fans, and, possibly, by an old rival — Swiss legend Roger Federer — an ambassador for the Shanghai tournament and who is due to make a special appearance on Oct 10 as part of the Roger & Friends Celebrity Doubles match.
\n
"Shanghai has always been a special place for me with great fans, unforgettable memories and a real love for the game," said Federer, a two-time champion in Shanghai, who retired in 2022.
\n
Djokovic, who also competed in Shanghai last year and lost to Sinner in the final, originally wasn't expected to travel to Asia, having confessed to mainly be focusing on the Slams for the remainder of his career, looking for a crack at a 25th major singles title that will help him break the tie with women's legend Margaret Court.
\n
The 83-year-old Australian great was on-site at the Qizhong center on Monday as a guest during the draw ceremony alongside wildcards Stan Wawrinka and Wu Yibing, who, together, witnessed the unveiling of the tournament's refurbished Grandstand Court, equipped with a retractable roof.
\n
With the roof being able to be fully closed in under 10 minutes, the upgrade of the 5,000-seat court will help significantly address issues caused by rain delays alongside the Stadium court, which already has a built-in roof.
\n
"We're bulletproof now as far as the weather is concerned. We can still play no matter what," Charles Smith, representative of ATP tournament advisory council, said of the facility upgrade.
\n
"I guarantee you, there is no city in the world that can build stadiums as fast as Shanghai," Smith said. "My friends in Europe say this would take three, four, probably five years (to build), and we did it in about seven or eight months."
\n
Other major upgrades include the transformation of Court 17 into the Royal Caribbean masters training court, with a stand expansion to 1,200 regular and 150 VIP seats to better accommodate fans' interest watching their beloved stars practice up close.
\n
"It's huge for fans, that they are able to come here for two weeks to see the best tennis players in the world," said Wu, the best-performing home player in Shanghai last year who reached the third round.
\n
"This is the court where I won my first Challenger title (2017), so it means a lot, and I am very happy to see, in China, the huge development of tennis and the bright future of the tournament."
\n
As for the title race on court, defending champion Sinner and world No 1 Alcaraz remain the only two clear-cut favorites.
\n
The two young superstars have met in the last three Slam finals, with the Spaniard bagging titles at Roland Garros and the US Open, and the Italian capturing Wimbledon. Sinner also retained his Australian Open title in January. Overall, they have accounted for the last eight Grand Slam titles.
\n
"We are looking forward to another exciting Rolex Shanghai Masters and we have an outstanding field," said tournament director Michael Luevano.
\n
From 2009-2013, the tournament was voted ATP Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year by the players five times in a row, while last year it won the "Standards of Excellence" award from the ATP for exceptional quality, hospitality and player experience.
The booth of the Bank of China at the 2025 China Langfang International Economic and Trade Fair.
\n
A BOC staff member poses with a foreign visitor in front of the bank's e-CNY product area at the fair.
\n
A woman is served at BOC's payment service center in Shaanxi province.
\n
The Bank of China has consistently prioritized advancing high-level opening-up and facilitating cross-border trade, playing a pivotal role in the steady, long-term development of China's foreign trade.
\n
This year, the bank has enhanced the efficiency of its financial services by deepening the digital and intelligent development of cross-border financial business, innovating services for new foreign trade formats, and optimizing support for key customer groups.
\n
These efforts have addressed corporate financing challenges, aiding foreign trade entities in their global expansion and injecting financial momentum into the high-quality development of foreign trade.
\n
Cross-border e-commerce
\n
New formats like cross-border e-commerce have emerged as crucial engines for optimizing the foreign trade structure and smoothing domestic and international dual circulation.
\n
Preliminary estimates from the General Administration of Customs indicate that China's cross-border e-commerce imports and exports reached approximately 1.32 trillion yuan ($185 billion) in the first half of this year, marking a 5.7 percent year-on-year increase and demonstrating strong development vitality.
\n
Recognizing this trend, BOC has made cross-border e-commerce a core focus of its services for new foreign trade formats, achieving impressive results.
\n
According to the bank's semiannual report released in late August, the total transaction volume of its cross-border e-commerce business hit 530 billion yuan in the first six months, a 42 percent year-on-year increase. The number of cooperative institutions continued to grow, with the coverage rate of key customers reaching 80 percent.
\n
To further extend its cross-border e-commerce service chain, BOC has adopted a strategy of "global layout plus digital empowerment". It has strengthened financial support for overseas warehouses, expanded scenario-based foreign trade businesses, and launched cross-border e-commerce overseas collection projects, promoting its global service penetration.
\n
By targeting the small-amount, high-frequency, and large-volume transaction characteristics of cross-border e-commerce, the bank led major Chinese-funded peers by launching related overseas collection services in Singapore, a major international financial center and home to the capital hubs of many well-known overseas payment institutions.
\n
This service offers one-stop financial support through full-process online operations. It covers currency exchange, cross-border remittances, bank-enterprise reconciliation, and parent-subsidiary account fund management. It is a key step in building the bank's multilevel service system for the sector.
\n
BOC has also made significant strides in facilitating overall cross-border trade. Official data show that in the first half of this year, the number of cross-border settlement customers served by the bank increased by more than 16 percent year-on-year, and the volume of cross-border renminbi settlement rose by more than 17 percent.
\n
Also, the growth rate of the bank's international trade settlement volume surpassed China's foreign trade import and export growth by 1.2 percentage points.
\n
These achievements are underpinned by the bank's multidimensional service upgrades. In May, BOC released a comprehensive financial service plan to support cross-border trade facilitation.
\n
The plan addresses three core enterprise needs: fund security, asset preservation, and stable improvement of operational capabilities. It covers five key scenarios: new offshore trade, export-to-domestic sales, expansion into emerging markets, global supply chain optimization, and capital market services.
\n
The bank also provides customized services for multinational enterprises, small and medium-sized foreign trade companies, cross-border e-commerce and overseas warehouse operators.
\n
During the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services, BOC launched a digital ocean freight payment service, offering full-process, full-scenario, and multichannel payment solutions for international trade participants, such as import and export enterprises, freight forwarders, international transportation companies and shipping platforms, further simplifying trade procedures.
\n
The bank also introduced an insurance service for the low-altitude economic industry chain during the conference. This service provides loss compensation, risk management, and financing facilitation for technology companies in the low-altitude economy, based on the risk protection needs and real transactions of upstream and downstream enterprises.
\n
It aims to ensure the smooth operation of the industry chain and support the robust development of the low-altitude economy.
\n
Moreover, as a leading Chinese investment bank in the overseas exchangeable bond and convertible bond market, BOC International features the largest market share, the earliest operations, the most underwriting deals, and the richest execution experience in recent years.
\n
In March, it successfully assisted China Hongqiao Group in issuing $300 million in convertible bonds due in 2030, marking the first one of its kind in the domestic aluminum products industry in the past three years.
\n
SME-centered solutions
\n
BOC has tailored services to meet the unique needs of various foreign trade enterprises, with a particular focus on assisting SMEs. For instance, in Guangzhou, a technology company specializing in e-commerce furniture exports faced financing challenges due to its asset-light operation model and lack of collateral.
\n
After on-site communication and risk assessment, BOC's Guangdong branch verified the authenticity of the enterprise's trade and approved a credit line, addressing its financing needs effectively. The enterprise's financial director stated that BOC used customs data instead of financial statements, truly understanding the pain points of cross-border enterprises.
\n
In Shanghai, an import and export company mainly engaged in the wholesale of pesticides and fertilizers, with products sold to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other regions, faced seasonal working capital needs and exchange rate risks.
\n
BOC's Shanghai branch, in collaboration with the Shanghai Administration Center of Policy Financing Guarantee Funds for SMEs, provided a working capital loan and customized an integrated renminbi and foreign currency service plan, and also offered credit risk limits for its trading counterparts, enhancing capital utilization efficiency.
\n
Furthermore, BOC has strengthened financial support for customers like large supermarkets and e-commerce platforms engaged in export-to-domestic sales, offering comprehensive services including account management, settlement and financing. This support helps enterprises link domestic and international markets, reinforcing BOC's commitment to high-level opening-up.
\n
haonan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
The booth of the Bank of China at the 2025 China Langfang International Economic and Trade Fair.
\n
A BOC staff member poses with a foreign visitor in front of the bank's e-CNY product area at the fair.
\n
A woman is served at BOC's payment service center in Shaanxi province.
\n
The Bank of China has consistently prioritized advancing high-level opening-up and facilitating cross-border trade, playing a pivotal role in the steady, long-term development of China's foreign trade.
\n
This year, the bank has enhanced the efficiency of its financial services by deepening the digital and intelligent development of cross-border financial business, innovating services for new foreign trade formats, and optimizing support for key customer groups.
\n
These efforts have addressed corporate financing challenges, aiding foreign trade entities in their global expansion and injecting financial momentum into the high-quality development of foreign trade.
\n
Cross-border e-commerce
\n
New formats like cross-border e-commerce have emerged as crucial engines for optimizing the foreign trade structure and smoothing domestic and international dual circulation.
\n
Preliminary estimates from the General Administration of Customs indicate that China's cross-border e-commerce imports and exports reached approximately 1.32 trillion yuan ($185 billion) in the first half of this year, marking a 5.7 percent year-on-year increase and demonstrating strong development vitality.
\n
Recognizing this trend, BOC has made cross-border e-commerce a core focus of its services for new foreign trade formats, achieving impressive results.
\n
According to the bank's semiannual report released in late August, the total transaction volume of its cross-border e-commerce business hit 530 billion yuan in the first six months, a 42 percent year-on-year increase. The number of cooperative institutions continued to grow, with the coverage rate of key customers reaching 80 percent.
\n
To further extend its cross-border e-commerce service chain, BOC has adopted a strategy of "global layout plus digital empowerment". It has strengthened financial support for overseas warehouses, expanded scenario-based foreign trade businesses, and launched cross-border e-commerce overseas collection projects, promoting its global service penetration.
\n
By targeting the small-amount, high-frequency, and large-volume transaction characteristics of cross-border e-commerce, the bank led major Chinese-funded peers by launching related overseas collection services in Singapore, a major international financial center and home to the capital hubs of many well-known overseas payment institutions.
\n
This service offers one-stop financial support through full-process online operations. It covers currency exchange, cross-border remittances, bank-enterprise reconciliation, and parent-subsidiary account fund management. It is a key step in building the bank's multilevel service system for the sector.
\n
BOC has also made significant strides in facilitating overall cross-border trade. Official data show that in the first half of this year, the number of cross-border settlement customers served by the bank increased by more than 16 percent year-on-year, and the volume of cross-border renminbi settlement rose by more than 17 percent.
\n
Also, the growth rate of the bank's international trade settlement volume surpassed China's foreign trade import and export growth by 1.2 percentage points.
\n
These achievements are underpinned by the bank's multidimensional service upgrades. In May, BOC released a comprehensive financial service plan to support cross-border trade facilitation.
\n
The plan addresses three core enterprise needs: fund security, asset preservation, and stable improvement of operational capabilities. It covers five key scenarios: new offshore trade, export-to-domestic sales, expansion into emerging markets, global supply chain optimization, and capital market services.
\n
The bank also provides customized services for multinational enterprises, small and medium-sized foreign trade companies, cross-border e-commerce and overseas warehouse operators.
\n
During the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services, BOC launched a digital ocean freight payment service, offering full-process, full-scenario, and multichannel payment solutions for international trade participants, such as import and export enterprises, freight forwarders, international transportation companies and shipping platforms, further simplifying trade procedures.
\n
The bank also introduced an insurance service for the low-altitude economic industry chain during the conference. This service provides loss compensation, risk management, and financing facilitation for technology companies in the low-altitude economy, based on the risk protection needs and real transactions of upstream and downstream enterprises.
\n
It aims to ensure the smooth operation of the industry chain and support the robust development of the low-altitude economy.
\n
Moreover, as a leading Chinese investment bank in the overseas exchangeable bond and convertible bond market, BOC International features the largest market share, the earliest operations, the most underwriting deals, and the richest execution experience in recent years.
\n
In March, it successfully assisted China Hongqiao Group in issuing $300 million in convertible bonds due in 2030, marking the first one of its kind in the domestic aluminum products industry in the past three years.
\n
SME-centered solutions
\n
BOC has tailored services to meet the unique needs of various foreign trade enterprises, with a particular focus on assisting SMEs. For instance, in Guangzhou, a technology company specializing in e-commerce furniture exports faced financing challenges due to its asset-light operation model and lack of collateral.
\n
After on-site communication and risk assessment, BOC's Guangdong branch verified the authenticity of the enterprise's trade and approved a credit line, addressing its financing needs effectively. The enterprise's financial director stated that BOC used customs data instead of financial statements, truly understanding the pain points of cross-border enterprises.
\n
In Shanghai, an import and export company mainly engaged in the wholesale of pesticides and fertilizers, with products sold to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and other regions, faced seasonal working capital needs and exchange rate risks.
\n
BOC's Shanghai branch, in collaboration with the Shanghai Administration Center of Policy Financing Guarantee Funds for SMEs, provided a working capital loan and customized an integrated renminbi and foreign currency service plan, and also offered credit risk limits for its trading counterparts, enhancing capital utilization efficiency.
\n
Furthermore, BOC has strengthened financial support for customers like large supermarkets and e-commerce platforms engaged in export-to-domestic sales, offering comprehensive services including account management, settlement and financing. This support helps enterprises link domestic and international markets, reinforcing BOC's commitment to high-level opening-up.
A visitor at the 2025 China Langfang International Economic and Trade Fair asks about financial products at the booth of BOC.
\n
This year, China has rolled out targeted policies to invigorate its consumer market. These initiatives include refinancing support for elderly care services, interest subsidy programs for personal consumer loans and loans to service industry entities, as well as incentives for service consumption.
\n
Complementing these measures, the country has also stepped up efforts to promote large-scale equipment upgrades and the trade-in of consumer goods, injecting robust momentum into the recovery and growth of the consumer sector.
\n
In response to the national strategy, the Bank of China has actively supported these initiatives through policy implementation, scenario-based innovation, and product optimization, refining measures in such areas as cultural tourism consumption, daily livelihood services, and cross-border financial services to ensure that policy benefits reach market entities and individual consumers.
\n
On Aug 12, for example, the Chinese government unveiled two financial interest subsidy programs focusing on personal consumption and service industry entities. BOC moved swiftly to align with these policies by administering interest subsidies for eligible personal consumer loans from Sept 1.
\n
Also, the bank has advanced interest subsidies for loans to service industry operators, optimizing and streamlining application processes for eight sectors including catering, accommodation, elderly care, housekeeping, cultural entertainment, and sports.
\n
Prior to the rollout of these national subsidy policies, Sichuan province took the lead by launching interest subsidies for personal consumption loans in 2023, covering offline financing for car purchases, electronic products, home renovations, and durable goods like furniture.
\n
BOC's Sichuan branch simplified the financial subsidy application procedures, integrated policy promotions into customer marketing efforts to boost participation, and guided eligible individuals through claiming benefits. By the end of July, the branch had helped customers obtain more than 2.8 million yuan ($392,532) in interest subsidies.
\n
"As a major State-owned bank, we are committed to ensuring national policy benefits reach consumers and service industry entities efficiently and effectively through scenario-tailored product design, dynamic risk pricing models, and ecosystem collaboration," said a representative from the branch.
\n
Aligning with the national drive to promote large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-ins, BOC has concentrated on automobiles, home appliances, and home renovations. It has developed an integrated "policy + finance + scenario "model to turn policy advantages into real consumer demand.
\n
For instance, in terms of new energy vehicles, the bank has established strategic partnerships with 17 leading automakers including Tesla, Li Auto, and BYD, to offer installment discounts such as reduced interest rates and flexible repayment terms.
\n
The impact is notable. By the end of May, BOC's Hebei branch had issued 1.1 billion yuan in auto installment interest subsidy loans, saving consumers over 40 million yuan while advancing China's green transportation goals.
\n
Leveraging nationwide cultural and tourism consumption promotion campaigns, BOC has integrated global service resources and invested over 100 million yuan in dedicated subsidies. It has built a comprehensive cultural and tourism financial service system that covers the entire industry chain, unleashing potential in the sector and supporting its high-quality development.
\n
In the dining category, the bank has collaborated with intangible cultural heritage food vendors, time-honored brands, and chain restaurants to launch discount activities. A standout example is BOC's Shaanxi branch, which has run a "50 percent off Thursdays" campaign on Alipay. This initiative has driven over 30,000 transactions in key dining areas of Xi'an, the provincial capital, allowing consumers to savor local delicacies at lower costs and promoting the local food culture.
\n
Accommodation, a cornerstone of cultural and tourism consumption, has also received robust support. BOC has partnered with major hotel groups to offer room discounts, ranging from luxury to budget options, catering to diverse traveler needs.
\n
For smaller operators like homestays, BOC has tailored fast-track financing, with its Fujian branch providing loan disbursement within a maximum of three working days. To date, the branch has issued over 88 million yuan in loans to 119 homestays in Pingtan, a coastal tourist hub, supporting their facility upgrades and capacity expansion.
\n
Additionally, BOC has strengthened collaboration with cultural and tourism departments across China, incorporating scenic spot tickets, special cultural products, and merchant discounts into its mobile banking platform.
\n
In Shaanxi, its branch has provided over 3 billion yuan in credit to iconic cultural and tourism projects, such as the Huaqing Palace Heritage Site, the Grand Tang Mall, and the Huashan Mountain scenic area. In Fujian, the branch has issued a 210 million yuan loan to the Longyan Honggutian Education and Training Center to boost the development of Red tourism.
\n
In the shopping sector, BOC has joined forces with retailers like China Duty Free Group and major outlet malls to launch attractive discount activities. During this year's China International Consumer Products Expo, BOC's Hainan branch introduced an "immediate tax refund upon purchase" service for overseas tourists, simplifying the tax refund process and greatly enhancing the cross-border shopping experience in the province.
\n
In September, at the China International Fair for Trade in Services, BOC launched a cross-regional recognition program for its "immediate tax refund upon purchase "service. This new mechanism enables overseas tourists to complete tax refund transactions in one city and exit China through a different port.
\n
The bank also unveiled its "Easy Tax Refund" system for departure tax refunds, integrating online applications, real-time verification, and fast disbursement to streamline the process further.
\n
Building on earlier cross-regional recognition efforts in the Beijing-Tianjin and Sichuan-Shaanxi regions, BOC has developed a nationwide systematic plan this year to accelerate innovation in this service.
\n
This plan aligns with the Ministry of Commerce's "Shop in China" campaign, aiming to position China as a global shopping destination and unlock more cross-border consumption potential.
\n
BOC's leadership in departure tax refund services dates back to 2015, when it became China's first bank to obtain departure tax refund agency qualification and process the country's first official tax refund transaction.
\n
Since then, it has expanded its network of tax refund merchants, promoted policies to both businesses and international tourists, and enhanced multilingual customer support. Today, BOC handles departure tax refund services in 16 provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Sichuan, covering nearly half of all regions in China with such services.
\n
In terms of promoting sports consumption, BOC has long been providing financial support for building a leading sports nation through comprehensive services. This commitment aligns with the State Council's directives to accelerate the development of the sports industry and promote sports consumption.
\n
On Nov 2, the 2025 Bank of China Beijing Marathon will take place. To facilitate the participation of international runners, BOC has designated its official English website and BOC Compass, an innovative application designed specifically for foreigners visiting China, as the official registration platforms.
\n
By leveraging its extensive global network spanning 64 countries and regions, BOC actively promotes the marathon and supports international participants. This initiative not only underscores BOC's global reach, but also highlights and shares the charm of Chinese sports culture with the world.
\n",
+ "content": "
A visitor at the 2025 China Langfang International Economic and Trade Fair asks about financial products at the booth of BOC.
\n
This year, China has rolled out targeted policies to invigorate its consumer market. These initiatives include refinancing support for elderly care services, interest subsidy programs for personal consumer loans and loans to service industry entities, as well as incentives for service consumption.
\n
Complementing these measures, the country has also stepped up efforts to promote large-scale equipment upgrades and the trade-in of consumer goods, injecting robust momentum into the recovery and growth of the consumer sector.
\n
In response to the national strategy, the Bank of China has actively supported these initiatives through policy implementation, scenario-based innovation, and product optimization, refining measures in such areas as cultural tourism consumption, daily livelihood services, and cross-border financial services to ensure that policy benefits reach market entities and individual consumers.
\n
On Aug 12, for example, the Chinese government unveiled two financial interest subsidy programs focusing on personal consumption and service industry entities. BOC moved swiftly to align with these policies by administering interest subsidies for eligible personal consumer loans from Sept 1.
\n
Also, the bank has advanced interest subsidies for loans to service industry operators, optimizing and streamlining application processes for eight sectors including catering, accommodation, elderly care, housekeeping, cultural entertainment, and sports.
\n
Prior to the rollout of these national subsidy policies, Sichuan province took the lead by launching interest subsidies for personal consumption loans in 2023, covering offline financing for car purchases, electronic products, home renovations, and durable goods like furniture.
\n
BOC's Sichuan branch simplified the financial subsidy application procedures, integrated policy promotions into customer marketing efforts to boost participation, and guided eligible individuals through claiming benefits. By the end of July, the branch had helped customers obtain more than 2.8 million yuan ($392,532) in interest subsidies.
\n
"As a major State-owned bank, we are committed to ensuring national policy benefits reach consumers and service industry entities efficiently and effectively through scenario-tailored product design, dynamic risk pricing models, and ecosystem collaboration," said a representative from the branch.
\n
Aligning with the national drive to promote large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-ins, BOC has concentrated on automobiles, home appliances, and home renovations. It has developed an integrated "policy + finance + scenario "model to turn policy advantages into real consumer demand.
\n
For instance, in terms of new energy vehicles, the bank has established strategic partnerships with 17 leading automakers including Tesla, Li Auto, and BYD, to offer installment discounts such as reduced interest rates and flexible repayment terms.
\n
The impact is notable. By the end of May, BOC's Hebei branch had issued 1.1 billion yuan in auto installment interest subsidy loans, saving consumers over 40 million yuan while advancing China's green transportation goals.
\n
Leveraging nationwide cultural and tourism consumption promotion campaigns, BOC has integrated global service resources and invested over 100 million yuan in dedicated subsidies. It has built a comprehensive cultural and tourism financial service system that covers the entire industry chain, unleashing potential in the sector and supporting its high-quality development.
\n
In the dining category, the bank has collaborated with intangible cultural heritage food vendors, time-honored brands, and chain restaurants to launch discount activities. A standout example is BOC's Shaanxi branch, which has run a "50 percent off Thursdays" campaign on Alipay. This initiative has driven over 30,000 transactions in key dining areas of Xi'an, the provincial capital, allowing consumers to savor local delicacies at lower costs and promoting the local food culture.
\n
Accommodation, a cornerstone of cultural and tourism consumption, has also received robust support. BOC has partnered with major hotel groups to offer room discounts, ranging from luxury to budget options, catering to diverse traveler needs.
\n
For smaller operators like homestays, BOC has tailored fast-track financing, with its Fujian branch providing loan disbursement within a maximum of three working days. To date, the branch has issued over 88 million yuan in loans to 119 homestays in Pingtan, a coastal tourist hub, supporting their facility upgrades and capacity expansion.
\n
Additionally, BOC has strengthened collaboration with cultural and tourism departments across China, incorporating scenic spot tickets, special cultural products, and merchant discounts into its mobile banking platform.
\n
In Shaanxi, its branch has provided over 3 billion yuan in credit to iconic cultural and tourism projects, such as the Huaqing Palace Heritage Site, the Grand Tang Mall, and the Huashan Mountain scenic area. In Fujian, the branch has issued a 210 million yuan loan to the Longyan Honggutian Education and Training Center to boost the development of Red tourism.
\n
In the shopping sector, BOC has joined forces with retailers like China Duty Free Group and major outlet malls to launch attractive discount activities. During this year's China International Consumer Products Expo, BOC's Hainan branch introduced an "immediate tax refund upon purchase" service for overseas tourists, simplifying the tax refund process and greatly enhancing the cross-border shopping experience in the province.
\n
In September, at the China International Fair for Trade in Services, BOC launched a cross-regional recognition program for its "immediate tax refund upon purchase "service. This new mechanism enables overseas tourists to complete tax refund transactions in one city and exit China through a different port.
\n
The bank also unveiled its "Easy Tax Refund" system for departure tax refunds, integrating online applications, real-time verification, and fast disbursement to streamline the process further.
\n
Building on earlier cross-regional recognition efforts in the Beijing-Tianjin and Sichuan-Shaanxi regions, BOC has developed a nationwide systematic plan this year to accelerate innovation in this service.
\n
This plan aligns with the Ministry of Commerce's "Shop in China" campaign, aiming to position China as a global shopping destination and unlock more cross-border consumption potential.
\n
BOC's leadership in departure tax refund services dates back to 2015, when it became China's first bank to obtain departure tax refund agency qualification and process the country's first official tax refund transaction.
\n
Since then, it has expanded its network of tax refund merchants, promoted policies to both businesses and international tourists, and enhanced multilingual customer support. Today, BOC handles departure tax refund services in 16 provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Sichuan, covering nearly half of all regions in China with such services.
\n
In terms of promoting sports consumption, BOC has long been providing financial support for building a leading sports nation through comprehensive services. This commitment aligns with the State Council's directives to accelerate the development of the sports industry and promote sports consumption.
\n
On Nov 2, the 2025 Bank of China Beijing Marathon will take place. To facilitate the participation of international runners, BOC has designated its official English website and BOC Compass, an innovative application designed specifically for foreigners visiting China, as the official registration platforms.
\n
By leveraging its extensive global network spanning 64 countries and regions, BOC actively promotes the marathon and supports international participants. This initiative not only underscores BOC's global reach, but also highlights and shares the charm of Chinese sports culture with the world.
Tourists enjoy a camel ride on Saturday at the Crescent Spring scenic spot that boasts views of sand dunes at Mingsha Mountain in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu province.
\n
Holiday bookings for the upcoming National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival break are continuing at a feverish pace, with both domestic and overseas destinations clocking better-than-expected booking numbers and overseas destinations rolling out the red carpet to welcome Chinese tourists.
\n
The National Day holiday, which typically lasts seven days from Oct 1 to 7, has been extended to eight days this year as it overlaps with the Mid-Autumn Festival on Oct 6.
\n
"I can't wait to go on my vacation! I made the booking for my family's five-day trip to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region way back in August. Many of my friends left it till very late, going back and forth while deciding on a destination, and as a result, paid much more for both tickets and accommodation," said 36-year-old Beijing resident Wang Siyun, adding that she and her family have set Friday — the third day of the holiday — as their departure date, in order to avoid the peak travel rush.
\n
Wang is not alone in being passionate about her travel plans, as several tourism agencies have been reporting robust booking numbers since mid-September.
\n
The latest figures from travel portal Tuniu show that bookings for self-driving tours, independent tours and group tours have all registered robust growth on the platform. Bookings for self-driving and independent tours, for example, have increased by over 60 percent in the past week, from Sept 22 to Sunday, compared with the week before, from Sept 15 to 21.
\n
Metropolises including Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan province remain the top choices for domestic travelers during the eight-day break.
\n
Some second-tier cities and niche destinations, such as Huangshan in East China's Anhui province and Rizhao in Shandong province, are also witnessing growing bookings due to their natural beauty and unique cuisines, according to Tuniu.
\n
"This year's National Day holiday is a longer-than-usual break and many people are stretching it even further by taking a few days off from work, which is good news for both domestic and overseas long-distance tourism markets," said Qi Chunguang, vice-president of Tuniu, adding that bookings for overseas trips have surged 110 percent year-on-year to date on the platform.
\n
Chinese people's passion for traveling far and wide has made popular holiday destinations abroad roll up their sleeves to make Chinese tourists feel more welcome.
\n
South Korea unveiled on Monday a trial visa-free entry policy for Chinese tourist groups, which will remain in effect till June 30,2026, as part of its efforts to boost tourism. The policy allows groups of three or more Chinese travelers to enter South Korea visa-free and stay in the country for up to 15 days. South Korea's Jeju Island will continue with its existing policy of allowing both individual and group travelers from China to stay visa-free for up to 30 days.
\n
According to travel portal Qunar, figures show that South Korean capital Seoul was one of the top overseas destinations on the search list of the platform on Monday, and was also among the top three destinations for Chinese people looking to spend the National Day holiday abroad based on hotel bookings.
\n
In addition to South Korea, other Asian destinations including Japan, Indonesia, Maldives and Malaysia, as well as European countries such as Italy, France and Switzerland, have seen increasing bookings from China for the eight-day break.
\n
Yao Jing, a resident of Beijing, set out for Greece on Monday on the first leg of a 10-day vacation, which also includes Italy, with her husband.
\n
"We've taken two days off from work to leave early to avoid the travel rush and lengthen our holiday to 10 days. It's been a long time since we last went abroad and we will be visiting Santorini and Athens in Greece and Napoli in Italy during this holiday," she said.
\n
chengsi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Tourists enjoy a camel ride on Saturday at the Crescent Spring scenic spot that boasts views of sand dunes at Mingsha Mountain in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu province.
\n
Holiday bookings for the upcoming National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival break are continuing at a feverish pace, with both domestic and overseas destinations clocking better-than-expected booking numbers and overseas destinations rolling out the red carpet to welcome Chinese tourists.
\n
The National Day holiday, which typically lasts seven days from Oct 1 to 7, has been extended to eight days this year as it overlaps with the Mid-Autumn Festival on Oct 6.
\n
"I can't wait to go on my vacation! I made the booking for my family's five-day trip to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region way back in August. Many of my friends left it till very late, going back and forth while deciding on a destination, and as a result, paid much more for both tickets and accommodation," said 36-year-old Beijing resident Wang Siyun, adding that she and her family have set Friday — the third day of the holiday — as their departure date, in order to avoid the peak travel rush.
\n
Wang is not alone in being passionate about her travel plans, as several tourism agencies have been reporting robust booking numbers since mid-September.
\n
The latest figures from travel portal Tuniu show that bookings for self-driving tours, independent tours and group tours have all registered robust growth on the platform. Bookings for self-driving and independent tours, for example, have increased by over 60 percent in the past week, from Sept 22 to Sunday, compared with the week before, from Sept 15 to 21.
\n
Metropolises including Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan province remain the top choices for domestic travelers during the eight-day break.
\n
Some second-tier cities and niche destinations, such as Huangshan in East China's Anhui province and Rizhao in Shandong province, are also witnessing growing bookings due to their natural beauty and unique cuisines, according to Tuniu.
\n
"This year's National Day holiday is a longer-than-usual break and many people are stretching it even further by taking a few days off from work, which is good news for both domestic and overseas long-distance tourism markets," said Qi Chunguang, vice-president of Tuniu, adding that bookings for overseas trips have surged 110 percent year-on-year to date on the platform.
\n
Chinese people's passion for traveling far and wide has made popular holiday destinations abroad roll up their sleeves to make Chinese tourists feel more welcome.
\n
South Korea unveiled on Monday a trial visa-free entry policy for Chinese tourist groups, which will remain in effect till June 30,2026, as part of its efforts to boost tourism. The policy allows groups of three or more Chinese travelers to enter South Korea visa-free and stay in the country for up to 15 days. South Korea's Jeju Island will continue with its existing policy of allowing both individual and group travelers from China to stay visa-free for up to 30 days.
\n
According to travel portal Qunar, figures show that South Korean capital Seoul was one of the top overseas destinations on the search list of the platform on Monday, and was also among the top three destinations for Chinese people looking to spend the National Day holiday abroad based on hotel bookings.
\n
In addition to South Korea, other Asian destinations including Japan, Indonesia, Maldives and Malaysia, as well as European countries such as Italy, France and Switzerland, have seen increasing bookings from China for the eight-day break.
\n
Yao Jing, a resident of Beijing, set out for Greece on Monday on the first leg of a 10-day vacation, which also includes Italy, with her husband.
\n
"We've taken two days off from work to leave early to avoid the travel rush and lengthen our holiday to 10 days. It's been a long time since we last went abroad and we will be visiting Santorini and Athens in Greece and Napoli in Italy during this holiday," she said.
Robotaxis owned by autonomous driving company Pony.ai operate in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in May.
\n
The screen of a robotaxi operating in March in Guangzhou, Guangdong, shows the road condition.
\n
A driverless minibus operates in Barcelona, Spain, in March. The pilot service was the result of cooperation between Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide and France's Renault Group.
\n
A passenger gets on an autonomous driving bus in Chongqing's Yongchuan district in April.
\n
On a brisk Friday morning in early September, a fleet of light blue cars glided quietly in front of the Amiri Diwan — the imposing building housing the seat of governance — in Doha, capital of Qatar.
\n
For most passersby, the sight probably looked like nothing more than regular vehicles navigating through traffic. But for Pony.ai, the fleet marked something bigger — the official start of its robotaxi testing in the Middle Eastern country.
\n
The leading Chinese autonomous driving company has formed a strategic partnership with Qatar's national transport company, Mowasalat, to advance autonomous driving technology and vehicle deployment in Qatar.
\n
The collaboration came two months after Pony.ai's partnership with Dubai's Road and Traffic Authority in the United Arab Emirates. Robotaxi tests will start later this year, with driverless robotaxis scheduled to start commercial operations in 2026.
\n
Pony.ai's expansion is part of a broader trend of Chinese autonomous vehicle companies stepping beyond their home market at an accelerating pace.
\n
In early September, WeRide announced its robotaxis would soon arrive in Singapore. The autonomous driving company, based in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said the vehicles will be deployed later this year with a local mobility service provider.
\n
The robotaxis follow the start of WeRide's robobus service on Singapore's Sentosa island in July.
\n
The robobus, equipped with 360-degree vision and capable of detecting obstacles more than 200 meters away, operates on a fixed 1.2-kilometer loop every 12 minutes, connecting three hotels and T Galleria shopping mall.
\n
Since late last year, WeRide's robosweepers have been working along Marina Coastal Drive and at the Esplanade, as Singapore's first commercial autonomous sanitation projects.
\n
Chinese companies have also joined hands with global ride-hailing platforms like Uber to speed up their rollout and expand the availability of their services.
\n
During the International Motor Show Germany, officially known as IAA Mobility, in Munich this month, Momenta, backed by investors such as Mercedes-Benz and SAIC, said it would begin rolling out robotaxi services on the Uber network in early 2026, starting in the German city.
\n
The initial deployments will have safety operators onboard. "This partnership completes a critical piece of our global scaling puzzle," said Cao Xudong, Momenta's founder and CEO.
\n
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi described the deal as a significant step toward delivering "more reliable and affordable autonomous mobility" to users worldwide.
\n
Toyota-backed Pony.ai is partnering with Uber as well, and is expected to first launch its service in a key market in the Middle East later this year, with a goal of scaling deployments to additional international markets in the future.
\n
WeRide is expanding its existing cooperation with Uber to 15 additional cities outside China and the United States over the next five years.
\n
The two companies started their cooperation in September 2024, and launched commercial robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, last December, with the fleet to include 50 vehicles by mid-2025.
\n
"We are taking this partnership to a new level," said Tony Han, founder and CEO of WeRide. "This reflects our joint ambition to make autonomous mobility accessible and affordable across the globe."
\n
Domestic strengths
\n
The flurry of announcements signals the start of the globalization of China's autonomous driving sector.
\n
Over the past years, China has become one of the most vibrant testing grounds for autonomous vehicles, with dozens of companies piloting robotaxis in cities from Beijing and Shanghai to Wuhan in Central China's Hubei province and Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong.
\n
Statistics show that as of August 2024, Chinese public security authorities had issued 16,000 test licenses for autonomous vehicles and more than 32,000 km of roads had been opened for testing across the country.
\n
"Autonomous driving is a national strategic priority. Policies like the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Digital Economy and directives supporting AI demonstration projects clearly define the technology development path," said Zhang Ning, Pony.ai's vice-president.
\n
Zhang, who is also head of the company's Beijing R&D center, said over 50 Chinese cities have local regulations supporting testing and commercialization, with 20 cities designated for integrated "vehicle-road-cloud" pilot programs. This scale is not seen in any other country.
\n
The favorable policies, combined with China's edge in computer and artificial intelligence-related technology and its vast population and complex road conditions, have seen autonomous driving companies making rapid progress.
\n
In April, Pony.ai unveiled its seventh-generation automotive-grade system at the Shanghai auto show. With a designed life of 10 years or 600,000 km, it features a 70 percent reduction in hardware costs compared with the previous edition, said the autonomous driving company.
\n
Its autonomous vehicles have accumulated over 50 million km in mileage, including daily commercial operations in some of China's megacities, including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as testing in other parts of the world.
\n
China also boasts a pool of outstanding talent in the autonomous driving sector and the wider technology sector.
\n
In late August, James Peng, Pony.ai's founder and CEO, was named on the TIME AI 100 list, recognizing him as one of the most influential figures in AI globally.
\n
Also on the list were also Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, Unitree Robotics CEO Wang Xingxing and DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng.
\n
In the same month, WeRide's founder and CEO Han was invited by the Singaporean government to join the country's steering committee on autonomous vehicles. The committee brings together leaders from the autonomous vehicle and public transport industries, union representatives, and various government bodies to guide the progressive rollout of autonomous vehicles in Singapore.
\n
Rapid replication
\n
Zhang from Pony.ai said the current technological readiness of autonomous driving enables rapid replication and deployment, forming the foundation for commercial exploration in overseas markets. Many countries outside China and the US are actively promoting autonomous driving to address challenges such as aging populations, creating new opportunities for technology deployment abroad, he said.
\n
Pony.ai emphasizes that international expansion is driven by commercial opportunity, not for the sake of expansion itself, Zhang said. "Expanding internationally at this stage allows technology to reach more users and regions, generating social and economic impact," he said.
\n
Pony.ai prioritizes countries with a strong willingness to develop the autonomous driving technology and open policies that embrace innovation, he said. Other considerations include well-developed road infrastructure and existing automotive and electronics supply chains.
\n
Countries facing aging populations or driver shortages also present significant market and transformation opportunities, said Zhang.
\n
"Selected overseas markets — including the Middle East, Europe, Singapore and South Korea — share characteristics such as economic development, open policies and well-maintained infrastructure," he said.
\n
Markets such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia are particularly attractive.
\n
In Abu Dhabi, regulators have rolled out "green channel" policies to fast-track approvals, enabling WeRide and Pony.ai to launch pilot fleets of robotaxis and driverless buses.
\n
Singapore, with its well-established tech ecosystem and controlled urban environment, has positioned itself as a laboratory for next-generation mobility.
\n
By gaining a foothold in these regions, Chinese companies can showcase their technology in real-world settings, while also building brand recognition far beyond their home base.
\n
Sharing risks
\n
The strategy also reflects pressure from investors. For venture-backed companies in a capital-intensive industry, "going global" serves as a compelling narrative to demonstrate growth potential and resilience.
\n
International expansion is not just about new roads to drive on — it is about staying in the race for relevance and survival in a sector where timelines are long and costs are enormous.
\n
WeRide, in a written reply to China Daily, acknowledged that expanding internationally provides "rich opportunities for financing and business development". It echoed Pony.ai's Zhang's answer that "international expansion is driven by commercial opportunity".
\n
That also explains in part why Chinese autonomous driving companies are partnering with global mobility giants like Uber, which is seen as a win-win and risk-sharing solution, to make inroads into overseas ride-hailing markets.
\n
According to the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility, robotaxis are expected to become commercially available on a large scale by 2030.
\n
For Uber, which has wound down its own in-house autonomous driving unit, the partnerships represent a strategic bet on outsourcing core technology while focusing on network scale and user engagement, said analysts.
\n
"First, it must be affordable for consumers, but at the same time, it also needs to be profitable for service providers," said Philipp Kampshoff, a senior partner at McKinsey.
\n
Southeast Asian super-app Grab, which offers ride-hailing and food delivery services, announced in August that it will invest tens of millions of dollars in WeRide, in a deal aimed at speeding up the rollout of Level 4 robotaxis and other self-driving vehicles across Southeast Asia.
\n
Roadblocks in US
\n
While Chinese autonomous driving enterprises expand actively overseas, US companies have largely remained focused on domestic operations.
\n
Waymo, owned by Alphabet, operates its Waymo One robotaxi service in Phoenix, Arizona, and San Francisco in California. It is testing logistics fleets under Waymo Via, but has yet to establish a commercial presence outside the US.
\n
Similarly, Cruise, backed by General Motors, concentrates on California and Arizona, where regulatory frameworks and urban infrastructure are familiar and predictable.
\n
The contrast is striking. Chinese companies such as WeRide, Pony.ai and Baidu pursue a "dual track" strategy: maintain domestic leadership while entering selected foreign markets where pilot programs are feasible and government support is accessible.
\n
This divergence stems from fundamental differences in market structure and strategic incentives.
\n
In the US, the domestic market is fragmented, concentrated in a very limited number of cities including Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin, Texas.
\n
It is also hindered by complex, inconsistent state and local regulatory hurdles and concerns about the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicle technology following high-profile incidents, such as those involving Tesla's Autopilot, resulting in challenges in achieving widespread public acceptance and trust.
\n
In contrast, Chinese companies have accumulated extensive experience in the home market over the years because of China's favorable policies and complex road conditions.
\n
WeRide, for example, operates Robotaxi networks across core urban areas, transportation hubs and large communities in countries including China, the UAE and Switzerland, and has accumulated over 2,200 days of safe operation.
\n
Other countries have shown interest in the new technology, and are both technologically and strategically ready for the rollout of products and technologies.
\n
Pony.ai's Zhang said he believes that Chinese companies have "inherent advantages" when exploring overseas markets.
\n
The combination of high population density, heavy traffic and complex road conditions in China has enabled local companies to handle difficult scenarios. A mature automotive industry and advanced vehicle intelligence also help facilitate faster deployment in foreign markets, said Zhang.
\n
"The robotaxi industry may appear crowded and fiercely competitive, but in reality, the technical barriers are extremely high, so there are actually only a handful of true players at the table — and China's autonomous driving technology is among the most advanced in the world," he said.
\n
Technical adaptation
\n
Despite early successes, overseas expansion will not be without bumps for Chinese autonomous vehicle companies, said analysts.
\n
One thing is technical adaptation. Systems calibrated for Chinese megacities may require substantial recalibration for Singapore, Abu Dhabi, or other foreign urban environments, they said.
\n
Also, regulatory uncertainty persists. Even in markets that appear welcoming, policy changes can occur quickly, potentially limiting operational scope or requiring costly adjustments. Compliance with local safety and liability standards adds complexity to international operations.
\n
The right business model and profitability pressures need addressing. While pilot programs and partnerships can demonstrate technological capability, achieving sustainable revenue in robotaxis, unmanned buses, or delivery vehicles remains a challenge.
\n
But Chinese autonomous driving companies are firm in their targeted and phased international expansion strategy.
\n
"Strategically, we definitely have the ambition to go global," said Pony.ai founder and CEO Peng. "Because mobility needs are everywhere. Using technology to have a positive societal impact should be our ambition."
\n
The broader implication is a shift in the global autonomous vehicle landscape. While US companies have traditionally defined the frontier, Chinese enterprises are now asserting their presence beyond national borders, demonstrating that the next phase of mobility innovation will be increasingly international and competitive.
\n
lifusheng@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Robotaxis owned by autonomous driving company Pony.ai operate in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in May.
\n
The screen of a robotaxi operating in March in Guangzhou, Guangdong, shows the road condition.
\n
A driverless minibus operates in Barcelona, Spain, in March. The pilot service was the result of cooperation between Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide and France's Renault Group.
\n
A passenger gets on an autonomous driving bus in Chongqing's Yongchuan district in April.
\n
On a brisk Friday morning in early September, a fleet of light blue cars glided quietly in front of the Amiri Diwan — the imposing building housing the seat of governance — in Doha, capital of Qatar.
\n
For most passersby, the sight probably looked like nothing more than regular vehicles navigating through traffic. But for Pony.ai, the fleet marked something bigger — the official start of its robotaxi testing in the Middle Eastern country.
\n
The leading Chinese autonomous driving company has formed a strategic partnership with Qatar's national transport company, Mowasalat, to advance autonomous driving technology and vehicle deployment in Qatar.
\n
The collaboration came two months after Pony.ai's partnership with Dubai's Road and Traffic Authority in the United Arab Emirates. Robotaxi tests will start later this year, with driverless robotaxis scheduled to start commercial operations in 2026.
\n
Pony.ai's expansion is part of a broader trend of Chinese autonomous vehicle companies stepping beyond their home market at an accelerating pace.
\n
In early September, WeRide announced its robotaxis would soon arrive in Singapore. The autonomous driving company, based in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said the vehicles will be deployed later this year with a local mobility service provider.
\n
The robotaxis follow the start of WeRide's robobus service on Singapore's Sentosa island in July.
\n
The robobus, equipped with 360-degree vision and capable of detecting obstacles more than 200 meters away, operates on a fixed 1.2-kilometer loop every 12 minutes, connecting three hotels and T Galleria shopping mall.
\n
Since late last year, WeRide's robosweepers have been working along Marina Coastal Drive and at the Esplanade, as Singapore's first commercial autonomous sanitation projects.
\n
Chinese companies have also joined hands with global ride-hailing platforms like Uber to speed up their rollout and expand the availability of their services.
\n
During the International Motor Show Germany, officially known as IAA Mobility, in Munich this month, Momenta, backed by investors such as Mercedes-Benz and SAIC, said it would begin rolling out robotaxi services on the Uber network in early 2026, starting in the German city.
\n
The initial deployments will have safety operators onboard. "This partnership completes a critical piece of our global scaling puzzle," said Cao Xudong, Momenta's founder and CEO.
\n
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi described the deal as a significant step toward delivering "more reliable and affordable autonomous mobility" to users worldwide.
\n
Toyota-backed Pony.ai is partnering with Uber as well, and is expected to first launch its service in a key market in the Middle East later this year, with a goal of scaling deployments to additional international markets in the future.
\n
WeRide is expanding its existing cooperation with Uber to 15 additional cities outside China and the United States over the next five years.
\n
The two companies started their cooperation in September 2024, and launched commercial robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, last December, with the fleet to include 50 vehicles by mid-2025.
\n
"We are taking this partnership to a new level," said Tony Han, founder and CEO of WeRide. "This reflects our joint ambition to make autonomous mobility accessible and affordable across the globe."
\n
Domestic strengths
\n
The flurry of announcements signals the start of the globalization of China's autonomous driving sector.
\n
Over the past years, China has become one of the most vibrant testing grounds for autonomous vehicles, with dozens of companies piloting robotaxis in cities from Beijing and Shanghai to Wuhan in Central China's Hubei province and Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong.
\n
Statistics show that as of August 2024, Chinese public security authorities had issued 16,000 test licenses for autonomous vehicles and more than 32,000 km of roads had been opened for testing across the country.
\n
"Autonomous driving is a national strategic priority. Policies like the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Digital Economy and directives supporting AI demonstration projects clearly define the technology development path," said Zhang Ning, Pony.ai's vice-president.
\n
Zhang, who is also head of the company's Beijing R&D center, said over 50 Chinese cities have local regulations supporting testing and commercialization, with 20 cities designated for integrated "vehicle-road-cloud" pilot programs. This scale is not seen in any other country.
\n
The favorable policies, combined with China's edge in computer and artificial intelligence-related technology and its vast population and complex road conditions, have seen autonomous driving companies making rapid progress.
\n
In April, Pony.ai unveiled its seventh-generation automotive-grade system at the Shanghai auto show. With a designed life of 10 years or 600,000 km, it features a 70 percent reduction in hardware costs compared with the previous edition, said the autonomous driving company.
\n
Its autonomous vehicles have accumulated over 50 million km in mileage, including daily commercial operations in some of China's megacities, including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as testing in other parts of the world.
\n
China also boasts a pool of outstanding talent in the autonomous driving sector and the wider technology sector.
\n
In late August, James Peng, Pony.ai's founder and CEO, was named on the TIME AI 100 list, recognizing him as one of the most influential figures in AI globally.
\n
Also on the list were also Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, Unitree Robotics CEO Wang Xingxing and DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng.
\n
In the same month, WeRide's founder and CEO Han was invited by the Singaporean government to join the country's steering committee on autonomous vehicles. The committee brings together leaders from the autonomous vehicle and public transport industries, union representatives, and various government bodies to guide the progressive rollout of autonomous vehicles in Singapore.
\n
Rapid replication
\n
Zhang from Pony.ai said the current technological readiness of autonomous driving enables rapid replication and deployment, forming the foundation for commercial exploration in overseas markets. Many countries outside China and the US are actively promoting autonomous driving to address challenges such as aging populations, creating new opportunities for technology deployment abroad, he said.
\n
Pony.ai emphasizes that international expansion is driven by commercial opportunity, not for the sake of expansion itself, Zhang said. "Expanding internationally at this stage allows technology to reach more users and regions, generating social and economic impact," he said.
\n
Pony.ai prioritizes countries with a strong willingness to develop the autonomous driving technology and open policies that embrace innovation, he said. Other considerations include well-developed road infrastructure and existing automotive and electronics supply chains.
\n
Countries facing aging populations or driver shortages also present significant market and transformation opportunities, said Zhang.
\n
"Selected overseas markets — including the Middle East, Europe, Singapore and South Korea — share characteristics such as economic development, open policies and well-maintained infrastructure," he said.
\n
Markets such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia are particularly attractive.
\n
In Abu Dhabi, regulators have rolled out "green channel" policies to fast-track approvals, enabling WeRide and Pony.ai to launch pilot fleets of robotaxis and driverless buses.
\n
Singapore, with its well-established tech ecosystem and controlled urban environment, has positioned itself as a laboratory for next-generation mobility.
\n
By gaining a foothold in these regions, Chinese companies can showcase their technology in real-world settings, while also building brand recognition far beyond their home base.
\n
Sharing risks
\n
The strategy also reflects pressure from investors. For venture-backed companies in a capital-intensive industry, "going global" serves as a compelling narrative to demonstrate growth potential and resilience.
\n
International expansion is not just about new roads to drive on — it is about staying in the race for relevance and survival in a sector where timelines are long and costs are enormous.
\n
WeRide, in a written reply to China Daily, acknowledged that expanding internationally provides "rich opportunities for financing and business development". It echoed Pony.ai's Zhang's answer that "international expansion is driven by commercial opportunity".
\n
That also explains in part why Chinese autonomous driving companies are partnering with global mobility giants like Uber, which is seen as a win-win and risk-sharing solution, to make inroads into overseas ride-hailing markets.
\n
According to the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility, robotaxis are expected to become commercially available on a large scale by 2030.
\n
For Uber, which has wound down its own in-house autonomous driving unit, the partnerships represent a strategic bet on outsourcing core technology while focusing on network scale and user engagement, said analysts.
\n
"First, it must be affordable for consumers, but at the same time, it also needs to be profitable for service providers," said Philipp Kampshoff, a senior partner at McKinsey.
\n
Southeast Asian super-app Grab, which offers ride-hailing and food delivery services, announced in August that it will invest tens of millions of dollars in WeRide, in a deal aimed at speeding up the rollout of Level 4 robotaxis and other self-driving vehicles across Southeast Asia.
\n
Roadblocks in US
\n
While Chinese autonomous driving enterprises expand actively overseas, US companies have largely remained focused on domestic operations.
\n
Waymo, owned by Alphabet, operates its Waymo One robotaxi service in Phoenix, Arizona, and San Francisco in California. It is testing logistics fleets under Waymo Via, but has yet to establish a commercial presence outside the US.
\n
Similarly, Cruise, backed by General Motors, concentrates on California and Arizona, where regulatory frameworks and urban infrastructure are familiar and predictable.
\n
The contrast is striking. Chinese companies such as WeRide, Pony.ai and Baidu pursue a "dual track" strategy: maintain domestic leadership while entering selected foreign markets where pilot programs are feasible and government support is accessible.
\n
This divergence stems from fundamental differences in market structure and strategic incentives.
\n
In the US, the domestic market is fragmented, concentrated in a very limited number of cities including Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin, Texas.
\n
It is also hindered by complex, inconsistent state and local regulatory hurdles and concerns about the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicle technology following high-profile incidents, such as those involving Tesla's Autopilot, resulting in challenges in achieving widespread public acceptance and trust.
\n
In contrast, Chinese companies have accumulated extensive experience in the home market over the years because of China's favorable policies and complex road conditions.
\n
WeRide, for example, operates Robotaxi networks across core urban areas, transportation hubs and large communities in countries including China, the UAE and Switzerland, and has accumulated over 2,200 days of safe operation.
\n
Other countries have shown interest in the new technology, and are both technologically and strategically ready for the rollout of products and technologies.
\n
Pony.ai's Zhang said he believes that Chinese companies have "inherent advantages" when exploring overseas markets.
\n
The combination of high population density, heavy traffic and complex road conditions in China has enabled local companies to handle difficult scenarios. A mature automotive industry and advanced vehicle intelligence also help facilitate faster deployment in foreign markets, said Zhang.
\n
"The robotaxi industry may appear crowded and fiercely competitive, but in reality, the technical barriers are extremely high, so there are actually only a handful of true players at the table — and China's autonomous driving technology is among the most advanced in the world," he said.
\n
Technical adaptation
\n
Despite early successes, overseas expansion will not be without bumps for Chinese autonomous vehicle companies, said analysts.
\n
One thing is technical adaptation. Systems calibrated for Chinese megacities may require substantial recalibration for Singapore, Abu Dhabi, or other foreign urban environments, they said.
\n
Also, regulatory uncertainty persists. Even in markets that appear welcoming, policy changes can occur quickly, potentially limiting operational scope or requiring costly adjustments. Compliance with local safety and liability standards adds complexity to international operations.
\n
The right business model and profitability pressures need addressing. While pilot programs and partnerships can demonstrate technological capability, achieving sustainable revenue in robotaxis, unmanned buses, or delivery vehicles remains a challenge.
\n
But Chinese autonomous driving companies are firm in their targeted and phased international expansion strategy.
\n
"Strategically, we definitely have the ambition to go global," said Pony.ai founder and CEO Peng. "Because mobility needs are everywhere. Using technology to have a positive societal impact should be our ambition."
\n
The broader implication is a shift in the global autonomous vehicle landscape. While US companies have traditionally defined the frontier, Chinese enterprises are now asserting their presence beyond national borders, demonstrating that the next phase of mobility innovation will be increasingly international and competitive.
At a mechanical engineering school in Wuhu, Anhui province, students train on industrial robots under teacher supervision.
\n
Some young people practice livestreaming sales at a public training base in Guizhou province.
\n\n
The Study for Dreams Initiative, a collaborative program launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Education and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, has been significantly upgraded this year to enhance the academic qualifications and skills of industrial workers.
\n
Initially focused on migrant workers, the initiative now extends its reach to all industrial workers, emphasizing both academic and non-academic education, and integrating academic learning with skill development.
\n
This expansion is shaped by comprehensive guidelines jointly issued by the ministry and the ACFTU, as well as the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce.
\n
By 2030, the program aims to establish at least 300 projects dedicated to education and capacity building for industrial workers, fund at least 3 million eligible workers — including more than 2 million migrant workers — and inspire a culture of lifelong learning.
\n
This effort seeks to enhance workers' qualifications and skills, contributing to the development of a first-class team of industrial technicians.
\n
The upgraded initiative focuses on integrating resources from multiple parties, emphasizing coordinated efforts in organizational support, funding subsidies, and talent training. It also encourages universities, vocational colleges, craftsman academies, and enterprises to share high-quality educational resources, according to the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
As of June 2024, more than 500 universities across China have participated, with trade unions at all levels investing over 1.1 billion yuan ($154 million) to help more than 2.4 million migrant workers upgrade their academic qualifications and skills.
\n
Yuan Caifeng, who grew up in a small village in Anhui province, is one of the beneficiaries. After leaving junior high school to work, she joined an electronics company in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, as an apprentice in 2004.
\n
"I knew improving my education and skills was important, but with a busy work schedule and limited finances, continuing my studies seemed out of reach," she recalled.
\n
In 2017, Yuan discovered the Study for Dreams Initiative, which offered a blended online-offline learning model that fit her schedule. The Wuxi Federation of Trade Unions also provided scholarships to subsidize tuition for outstanding students.
\n
Yuan enrolled in the human resources school at Jiangnan University, which opened new opportunities for her.
\n
"This experience opened a new world for me," she said. "For example, when the company faced high staff turnover, I initially thought it was just due to low salaries. But through studies, I realized optimizing the salary structure and improving incentive mechanisms are key to boosting employee motivation."
\n
Jiangsu has been allocating special funds for the initiative since 2017, increasing its budget from 7.5 million yuan to 40 million yuan.
\n
"We continue to expand coverage, with a focus on migrant workers and new forms of labor," said an official at the Jiangsu Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
This year, the provincial federation plans to subsidize 60,000 migrant workers and front-line employees with 60 million yuan.
\n
At the Fengqi Road branch of SF Express in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, operation supervisor He Xiujie, who has been in the industry for 12 years, exemplifies the initiative's effect.
\n
In 2018, he enrolled in the economic information management program at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, focusing on improving business knowledge and management thinking. After graduating with an associate degree four years later, he joined the supervisor reserve team and received three months of full-time training.
\n
"We have built a practical training platform and adopted a work-study alternation system, integrating on-the-job practice with coursework," said Ma Hongfei, general manager of SF Express Zhejiang.
\n
This system bridges the career ladder from courier to station manager and district manager, while integrating the development pathway that encompasses skill enhancement, qualification certification, and professional title assessment, ultimately forging a robust link between academic credentials and job roles, he noted.
\n
The company has seen more than 400 employees upgrade their education, with many transitioning from front-line couriers to grassroots managers.
\n
In Chongqing, the Study for Dreams Initiative has been particularly transformative. In a classroom at Chongqing Electric Power College, craftsman tutor Chen Chong captivates students with his detailed explanation of switchgear structure and operation.
\n
This session is part of the "corporate expert in the classroom" course, a component of the Study for Dreams Initiative. Chen is among the pioneering craftsman tutors in Chongqing's industry-education integration alliance within the electric power sector.
\n
Several years ago, while serving as a centralized control operation inspector at Huadian Power International's Fengjie power plant, Chen encountered university educators for the first time during an academic upgrade class. This class was a collaborative effort between Chongqing Electric Power College and the power plant.
\n
Chen, alongside 40 colleagues from various departments such as fuel, operations, and maintenance, enrolled as part of the inaugural group of students.
\n
Under the guidance of university teachers, Chen helped address challenges faced by the power grid in northeastern Chongqing and wrote his graduation thesis on the topic.
\n
The industry-education integration alliance in Chongqing's electric power industry has pioneered a craftsman tutor-plus-full-time-teacher model, integrating scientific research with industry. Over the past two years, the alliance has obtained 505 patents and transformed 348 innovative achievements, helping more than 800 workers upgrade their educational degrees and training more than 300,000 on-the-job workers.
\n
"This reform has been effective and is gradually expanding to other industries in Chongqing," said Yu Jiping, Party secretary and vice-chairman of the Chongqing Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
This year, the city federation has led the establishment of industry-education integration alliances in sectors such as intelligent connected new energy vehicles, smart equipment and manufacturing, gas geology, and chemical pharmaceuticals, linking 100 universities with 1,000 key enterprises in Sichuan and Chongqing.
\n
Within three years, these alliances aim to help 10,000 industrial workers advance their education and 1 million others enhance their skills.
\n
haonan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
At a mechanical engineering school in Wuhu, Anhui province, students train on industrial robots under teacher supervision.
\n
Some young people practice livestreaming sales at a public training base in Guizhou province.
\n\n
The Study for Dreams Initiative, a collaborative program launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Education and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, has been significantly upgraded this year to enhance the academic qualifications and skills of industrial workers.
\n
Initially focused on migrant workers, the initiative now extends its reach to all industrial workers, emphasizing both academic and non-academic education, and integrating academic learning with skill development.
\n
This expansion is shaped by comprehensive guidelines jointly issued by the ministry and the ACFTU, as well as the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce.
\n
By 2030, the program aims to establish at least 300 projects dedicated to education and capacity building for industrial workers, fund at least 3 million eligible workers — including more than 2 million migrant workers — and inspire a culture of lifelong learning.
\n
This effort seeks to enhance workers' qualifications and skills, contributing to the development of a first-class team of industrial technicians.
\n
The upgraded initiative focuses on integrating resources from multiple parties, emphasizing coordinated efforts in organizational support, funding subsidies, and talent training. It also encourages universities, vocational colleges, craftsman academies, and enterprises to share high-quality educational resources, according to the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
As of June 2024, more than 500 universities across China have participated, with trade unions at all levels investing over 1.1 billion yuan ($154 million) to help more than 2.4 million migrant workers upgrade their academic qualifications and skills.
\n
Yuan Caifeng, who grew up in a small village in Anhui province, is one of the beneficiaries. After leaving junior high school to work, she joined an electronics company in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, as an apprentice in 2004.
\n
"I knew improving my education and skills was important, but with a busy work schedule and limited finances, continuing my studies seemed out of reach," she recalled.
\n
In 2017, Yuan discovered the Study for Dreams Initiative, which offered a blended online-offline learning model that fit her schedule. The Wuxi Federation of Trade Unions also provided scholarships to subsidize tuition for outstanding students.
\n
Yuan enrolled in the human resources school at Jiangnan University, which opened new opportunities for her.
\n
"This experience opened a new world for me," she said. "For example, when the company faced high staff turnover, I initially thought it was just due to low salaries. But through studies, I realized optimizing the salary structure and improving incentive mechanisms are key to boosting employee motivation."
\n
Jiangsu has been allocating special funds for the initiative since 2017, increasing its budget from 7.5 million yuan to 40 million yuan.
\n
"We continue to expand coverage, with a focus on migrant workers and new forms of labor," said an official at the Jiangsu Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
This year, the provincial federation plans to subsidize 60,000 migrant workers and front-line employees with 60 million yuan.
\n
At the Fengqi Road branch of SF Express in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, operation supervisor He Xiujie, who has been in the industry for 12 years, exemplifies the initiative's effect.
\n
In 2018, he enrolled in the economic information management program at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, focusing on improving business knowledge and management thinking. After graduating with an associate degree four years later, he joined the supervisor reserve team and received three months of full-time training.
\n
"We have built a practical training platform and adopted a work-study alternation system, integrating on-the-job practice with coursework," said Ma Hongfei, general manager of SF Express Zhejiang.
\n
This system bridges the career ladder from courier to station manager and district manager, while integrating the development pathway that encompasses skill enhancement, qualification certification, and professional title assessment, ultimately forging a robust link between academic credentials and job roles, he noted.
\n
The company has seen more than 400 employees upgrade their education, with many transitioning from front-line couriers to grassroots managers.
\n
In Chongqing, the Study for Dreams Initiative has been particularly transformative. In a classroom at Chongqing Electric Power College, craftsman tutor Chen Chong captivates students with his detailed explanation of switchgear structure and operation.
\n
This session is part of the "corporate expert in the classroom" course, a component of the Study for Dreams Initiative. Chen is among the pioneering craftsman tutors in Chongqing's industry-education integration alliance within the electric power sector.
\n
Several years ago, while serving as a centralized control operation inspector at Huadian Power International's Fengjie power plant, Chen encountered university educators for the first time during an academic upgrade class. This class was a collaborative effort between Chongqing Electric Power College and the power plant.
\n
Chen, alongside 40 colleagues from various departments such as fuel, operations, and maintenance, enrolled as part of the inaugural group of students.
\n
Under the guidance of university teachers, Chen helped address challenges faced by the power grid in northeastern Chongqing and wrote his graduation thesis on the topic.
\n
The industry-education integration alliance in Chongqing's electric power industry has pioneered a craftsman tutor-plus-full-time-teacher model, integrating scientific research with industry. Over the past two years, the alliance has obtained 505 patents and transformed 348 innovative achievements, helping more than 800 workers upgrade their educational degrees and training more than 300,000 on-the-job workers.
\n
"This reform has been effective and is gradually expanding to other industries in Chongqing," said Yu Jiping, Party secretary and vice-chairman of the Chongqing Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
This year, the city federation has led the establishment of industry-education integration alliances in sectors such as intelligent connected new energy vehicles, smart equipment and manufacturing, gas geology, and chemical pharmaceuticals, linking 100 universities with 1,000 key enterprises in Sichuan and Chongqing.
\n
Within three years, these alliances aim to help 10,000 industrial workers advance their education and 1 million others enhance their skills.
Xu Zhenchao (center), awarded the title People's Craftsman, talks to students at a crafts class held in Shenyang, Liaoning province.
\n
For Xu Zhenchao, a recipient of the title of People's Craftsman, it's not only about overcoming technical challenges with his skills; it's also about passing down the spirit of craftsmanship to future generations.
\n
Xu, 75, who is the senior manager for equipment engineering and technology at Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal, regularly visits frontline operations to exchange insights and share expertise.
\n
Born into a working-class family in Rongcheng, Shandongprovince, Xu began his career as a dockworker at Qingdao Port in 1974. A decade later, at the age of 34, he was selected as one of Qingdao Port's first crane operators for container handling. Since then, he has pursued excellence in his role. Despite having only a middle school education, Xu taught himself English to study the circuit diagrams of crane control panels. Through repeated experimentation, he overcame numerous challenges and ultimately produced two complete sets of detailed circuit diagrams based on the actual circuit boards.
\n
Over the past few decades, Xu has shattered the world record for container handling nine times, establishing the renowned "Zhenchao efficiency". Leading his team in technological innovation, he pioneered the "oil-to-electric" conversion for container gantry cranes, helping to significantly reduce production costs.
\n
"I've worked with gantry cranes all my life, and I hope to help others grow quickly," Xu said.
\n
In 2011, the Xu Zhenchao Model Worker Innovation Studio and Master Studio were both established, covering areas of 100 and 120 square meters respectively, and each accommodating more than 100 people.
\n
Focusing on major topics such as smart ports, green ports, safety and quality, loading and unloading efficiency, equipment technology, and energy conservation, the two studios have established four innovation teams dedicated to efficiency, informatization, technology, and migrant workers. These teams tackle technical challenges in port innovation projects and play a leading role in summarizing achievements, innovative processes, and new project development.
\n
The studios have advanced Xu's mentorship in "teaching, assisting, and guiding", providing a vital platform for skill exchange. This initiative continuously boosts the learning capacity, creativity, and expertise of technical personnel and key technicians. Since their establishment, the two studios have filed 108 national patents and completed 998 technological innovation projects.
\n
"From carrying loads by hand to achieving mechanization and now automation, I have witnessed the changes at Qingdao Port over the decades. This progress is due to both national support and the hard work of dock workers," said Xu. "We must continue to invest in the training of technical workers, cultivating versatile talents to contribute to the construction of a world-class marine port."
\n
Wang Ruyun, a senior electric welder technician from China Railway Baoji Bridge Group, is also committed to leading more people in tackling technical challenges through his innovation studio.
\n
Bearing the responsibility of advancing new steel bridge welding technologies, the Wang Ruyun Model Worker Innovation Studio has been dedicated to overcoming key technical challenges. Leading a team through meticulous research, Wang and his teammates focused on welding tests for weather-resistant steel, ultra-thick steel plates, and ultra-high-strength steel plates. These efforts helped resolve critical bottlenecks in major domestic projects, such as China's first railway bridge built using weathering steel — the Zangmu Grand Bridge on the Lhasa-Nyingchi section of the Sichuan-Xizang Railway — and the nation's largest bridge steel tower — the Taizhou Bridge steel tower.
\n
In 2024, Wang's studio launched three major research projects, generating two innovative outcomes and addressing a total of 18 production-related technical challenges. They also put forward 16 rationalization proposals and completed two quality control technician team research projects, providing crucial technical support for the construction of various large steel bridges within Baoji Bridge.
\n
Since the establishment of the studio, Wang has trained five senior technicians, 12 technicians, and 25 senior workers. The studio has become a "university" for developing a highly skilled workforce, contributing to improvements in quality, efficiency, transformation, and innovation.
\n
"In recent years, we have closely focused on high-quality corporate development and the reform of the industrial workforce. We have continuously promoted the establishment of model worker and craftsman innovation studios at all levels, providing relentless impetus for the development of new quality productive forces within the company," said Liu Jun, deputy Party secretary and chairman of the trade union at Baoji Bridge.
\n
"It has been proven that model workers and advanced employees are the backbone of corporate innovation and development. By organizing them through the Innovation Studio platform, we engage in activities such as invention, creation, renovation, and tackling key challenges. These efforts help solve problems in production, operations, technology, and management, thereby enhancing the company's technological innovation capabilities, product transformation and upgrading capabilities, and market competitiveness," Liu said.
Xu Zhenchao (center), awarded the title People's Craftsman, talks to students at a crafts class held in Shenyang, Liaoning province.
\n
For Xu Zhenchao, a recipient of the title of People's Craftsman, it's not only about overcoming technical challenges with his skills; it's also about passing down the spirit of craftsmanship to future generations.
\n
Xu, 75, who is the senior manager for equipment engineering and technology at Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal, regularly visits frontline operations to exchange insights and share expertise.
\n
Born into a working-class family in Rongcheng, Shandongprovince, Xu began his career as a dockworker at Qingdao Port in 1974. A decade later, at the age of 34, he was selected as one of Qingdao Port's first crane operators for container handling. Since then, he has pursued excellence in his role. Despite having only a middle school education, Xu taught himself English to study the circuit diagrams of crane control panels. Through repeated experimentation, he overcame numerous challenges and ultimately produced two complete sets of detailed circuit diagrams based on the actual circuit boards.
\n
Over the past few decades, Xu has shattered the world record for container handling nine times, establishing the renowned "Zhenchao efficiency". Leading his team in technological innovation, he pioneered the "oil-to-electric" conversion for container gantry cranes, helping to significantly reduce production costs.
\n
"I've worked with gantry cranes all my life, and I hope to help others grow quickly," Xu said.
\n
In 2011, the Xu Zhenchao Model Worker Innovation Studio and Master Studio were both established, covering areas of 100 and 120 square meters respectively, and each accommodating more than 100 people.
\n
Focusing on major topics such as smart ports, green ports, safety and quality, loading and unloading efficiency, equipment technology, and energy conservation, the two studios have established four innovation teams dedicated to efficiency, informatization, technology, and migrant workers. These teams tackle technical challenges in port innovation projects and play a leading role in summarizing achievements, innovative processes, and new project development.
\n
The studios have advanced Xu's mentorship in "teaching, assisting, and guiding", providing a vital platform for skill exchange. This initiative continuously boosts the learning capacity, creativity, and expertise of technical personnel and key technicians. Since their establishment, the two studios have filed 108 national patents and completed 998 technological innovation projects.
\n
"From carrying loads by hand to achieving mechanization and now automation, I have witnessed the changes at Qingdao Port over the decades. This progress is due to both national support and the hard work of dock workers," said Xu. "We must continue to invest in the training of technical workers, cultivating versatile talents to contribute to the construction of a world-class marine port."
\n
Wang Ruyun, a senior electric welder technician from China Railway Baoji Bridge Group, is also committed to leading more people in tackling technical challenges through his innovation studio.
\n
Bearing the responsibility of advancing new steel bridge welding technologies, the Wang Ruyun Model Worker Innovation Studio has been dedicated to overcoming key technical challenges. Leading a team through meticulous research, Wang and his teammates focused on welding tests for weather-resistant steel, ultra-thick steel plates, and ultra-high-strength steel plates. These efforts helped resolve critical bottlenecks in major domestic projects, such as China's first railway bridge built using weathering steel — the Zangmu Grand Bridge on the Lhasa-Nyingchi section of the Sichuan-Xizang Railway — and the nation's largest bridge steel tower — the Taizhou Bridge steel tower.
\n
In 2024, Wang's studio launched three major research projects, generating two innovative outcomes and addressing a total of 18 production-related technical challenges. They also put forward 16 rationalization proposals and completed two quality control technician team research projects, providing crucial technical support for the construction of various large steel bridges within Baoji Bridge.
\n
Since the establishment of the studio, Wang has trained five senior technicians, 12 technicians, and 25 senior workers. The studio has become a "university" for developing a highly skilled workforce, contributing to improvements in quality, efficiency, transformation, and innovation.
\n
"In recent years, we have closely focused on high-quality corporate development and the reform of the industrial workforce. We have continuously promoted the establishment of model worker and craftsman innovation studios at all levels, providing relentless impetus for the development of new quality productive forces within the company," said Liu Jun, deputy Party secretary and chairman of the trade union at Baoji Bridge.
\n
"It has been proven that model workers and advanced employees are the backbone of corporate innovation and development. By organizing them through the Innovation Studio platform, we engage in activities such as invention, creation, renovation, and tackling key challenges. These efforts help solve problems in production, operations, technology, and management, thereby enhancing the company's technological innovation capabilities, product transformation and upgrading capabilities, and market competitiveness," Liu said.
A total of 200 senior technicians working on the front lines of production were recently awarded the title of "national-level master craftsmen" after completing a one-year training program at Tsinghua University.
\n
The first Master Craftsman Talent Training Camp, initiated by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, was launched in July 2024 to strengthen technicians' expertise and address skill gaps through targeted training.
\n
Unlike traditional vocational programs, the camp brings together top craftsmen from various industries, giving them access to intellectual resources, experimental equipment, and innovation networks typically unavailable in their daily work. This approach encourages the development of disruptive ideas and technological integration that would be difficult to achieve in isolation, helping cultivate a new generation of master craftsmen.
\n
The training camp is divided into four sessions across three stages, featuring experts such as Tsinghua University professors and academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering as theoretical mentors, alongside national-level master craftsmen as practical mentors. Emphasizing its innovative learning model of "high-end guidance, cross-collaboration, digital integration, focused practice, diverse learning, and systematic support", the camp enables participants to engage in collaborative problem-solving with their mentors. Trainees also take part in a variety of enriching campus activities.
\n
"Participating in the training camp not only allows us to learn from academicians, experts, and master craftsmen at Tsinghua University, but also to stay updated on the latest policies and experience cutting-edge national technology. It truly broadens our horizons and is incredibly rewarding," said Yang Yongxiu, a senior technician in the prototype department at FAW's research and development institute.
\n
In 2010, Yang joined FAW as an ordinary milling worker after graduating from Changchun Technical University of Automobile. Confronted with an English-only computer numerical control system, he shadowed his mentor during the day to learn operations, while spending nights in his dormitory copying codes.
\n
In 2018, China FAW began developing a new V12 engine, crucial for achieving self-sufficiency in high-end vehicles. Faced with challenges such as precision machining and multi-axis coordinate transformation, Yang and his team worked tirelessly. He verified algorithms in the CNC system and solved over 20 technical problems, including automatic multi-axis coordinate conversion for the V12 cylinder head. They achieved manufacturing precision within 0.015 millimeters, reaching international standards. This breakthrough ended reliance on foreign processing for key engine components and filled a gap in domestic V-type engine manufacturing, giving Chinese cars a powerful and controllable "heart".
\n
From an ordinary milling worker to a national-level master craftsman, Yang has witnessed the automotive industry's transformation from traditional fuel vehicles to new energy models.
\n
"I'm dedicated to helping young workers grow and working with them to boost the core competitiveness of our national automotive brands amid industry transformation," Yang said.
\n
Yang Jin'an, head of the electric furnace team at CITIC Heavy Industries, also participated in the training camp.
\n
"Professor Zhang Chi from Tsinghua University's School of Materials Science and Engineering recommended switching the large mill liners from cast to forged. If this experiment succeeds, it could significantly enhance our company's products and similar ones across the country," said Yang Jin'an.
\n
For 41 years, the technician has dedicated himself to the intense heat of steel furnaces. He has developed nearly 100 types of special steels for major projects, including the Shenzhou spacecraft, domestic large aircraft, and new-generation nuclear power plants. Leading his team, he has solved material challenges for 18 critical steel types, addressing key national equipment needs and strengthening the backbone of China's manufacturing industry.
\n
"The new era is a golden age for industrial workers, offering opportunities and a platform to showcase our skills," said Yang Jin'an. "I will continue to uphold the spirit of model workers and craftsmen, continually enhancing my innovation abilities and refining my craft. It is essential to 'take hold of key core technologies ourselves', and I am committed to working tirelessly to elevate the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing."
\n
Zhang Zhongyi, director of the government and corporate talent learning center at Tsinghua University's School of Continuing Education and head of the training project, said: "This training camp focuses on developing both talent and tangible results, enhancing the 'five strengths of craftsmen' — leadership, practical skills, innovation, problem-solving, and heritage."
\n
The program aims to cultivate more master craftsmen while solving technical challenges in various industries. It seeks to foster innovation and produce strong outcomes, showcasing the role of craftsmen and inspiring more workers to succeed through skills and contribute to national development, Zhang added.
\n
As a major initiative to deepen reform of the industrial workforce, the ACFTU launched the national-level master craftsman training project in 2024. It includes dedicated funds for cultivating and rewarding master craftsmen, with plans to train around 200 national-level craftsmen annually. Additionally, it will guide regions and industries to develop approximately 1,000 provincial-level craftsmen and 5,000 municipal-level craftsmen each year.
A total of 200 senior technicians working on the front lines of production were recently awarded the title of "national-level master craftsmen" after completing a one-year training program at Tsinghua University.
\n
The first Master Craftsman Talent Training Camp, initiated by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, was launched in July 2024 to strengthen technicians' expertise and address skill gaps through targeted training.
\n
Unlike traditional vocational programs, the camp brings together top craftsmen from various industries, giving them access to intellectual resources, experimental equipment, and innovation networks typically unavailable in their daily work. This approach encourages the development of disruptive ideas and technological integration that would be difficult to achieve in isolation, helping cultivate a new generation of master craftsmen.
\n
The training camp is divided into four sessions across three stages, featuring experts such as Tsinghua University professors and academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering as theoretical mentors, alongside national-level master craftsmen as practical mentors. Emphasizing its innovative learning model of "high-end guidance, cross-collaboration, digital integration, focused practice, diverse learning, and systematic support", the camp enables participants to engage in collaborative problem-solving with their mentors. Trainees also take part in a variety of enriching campus activities.
\n
"Participating in the training camp not only allows us to learn from academicians, experts, and master craftsmen at Tsinghua University, but also to stay updated on the latest policies and experience cutting-edge national technology. It truly broadens our horizons and is incredibly rewarding," said Yang Yongxiu, a senior technician in the prototype department at FAW's research and development institute.
\n
In 2010, Yang joined FAW as an ordinary milling worker after graduating from Changchun Technical University of Automobile. Confronted with an English-only computer numerical control system, he shadowed his mentor during the day to learn operations, while spending nights in his dormitory copying codes.
\n
In 2018, China FAW began developing a new V12 engine, crucial for achieving self-sufficiency in high-end vehicles. Faced with challenges such as precision machining and multi-axis coordinate transformation, Yang and his team worked tirelessly. He verified algorithms in the CNC system and solved over 20 technical problems, including automatic multi-axis coordinate conversion for the V12 cylinder head. They achieved manufacturing precision within 0.015 millimeters, reaching international standards. This breakthrough ended reliance on foreign processing for key engine components and filled a gap in domestic V-type engine manufacturing, giving Chinese cars a powerful and controllable "heart".
\n
From an ordinary milling worker to a national-level master craftsman, Yang has witnessed the automotive industry's transformation from traditional fuel vehicles to new energy models.
\n
"I'm dedicated to helping young workers grow and working with them to boost the core competitiveness of our national automotive brands amid industry transformation," Yang said.
\n
Yang Jin'an, head of the electric furnace team at CITIC Heavy Industries, also participated in the training camp.
\n
"Professor Zhang Chi from Tsinghua University's School of Materials Science and Engineering recommended switching the large mill liners from cast to forged. If this experiment succeeds, it could significantly enhance our company's products and similar ones across the country," said Yang Jin'an.
\n
For 41 years, the technician has dedicated himself to the intense heat of steel furnaces. He has developed nearly 100 types of special steels for major projects, including the Shenzhou spacecraft, domestic large aircraft, and new-generation nuclear power plants. Leading his team, he has solved material challenges for 18 critical steel types, addressing key national equipment needs and strengthening the backbone of China's manufacturing industry.
\n
"The new era is a golden age for industrial workers, offering opportunities and a platform to showcase our skills," said Yang Jin'an. "I will continue to uphold the spirit of model workers and craftsmen, continually enhancing my innovation abilities and refining my craft. It is essential to 'take hold of key core technologies ourselves', and I am committed to working tirelessly to elevate the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing."
\n
Zhang Zhongyi, director of the government and corporate talent learning center at Tsinghua University's School of Continuing Education and head of the training project, said: "This training camp focuses on developing both talent and tangible results, enhancing the 'five strengths of craftsmen' — leadership, practical skills, innovation, problem-solving, and heritage."
\n
The program aims to cultivate more master craftsmen while solving technical challenges in various industries. It seeks to foster innovation and produce strong outcomes, showcasing the role of craftsmen and inspiring more workers to succeed through skills and contribute to national development, Zhang added.
\n
As a major initiative to deepen reform of the industrial workforce, the ACFTU launched the national-level master craftsman training project in 2024. It includes dedicated funds for cultivating and rewarding master craftsmen, with plans to train around 200 national-level craftsmen annually. Additionally, it will guide regions and industries to develop approximately 1,000 provincial-level craftsmen and 5,000 municipal-level craftsmen each year.
Developing an innovative talent cultivation model:
\n
Deepen cooperation between schools and industry to innovate talent training models tailored to local conditions. Create hybrid learning systems that support flexible education for industrial workers, integrating both online and offline methods. Establish mechanisms that combine moral education with technical training, and coordinate work with studies. Support various schools in enhancing higher education related to continuing studies, providing effective skills training, and encouraging programs for model workers and skilled craftsmen. Promote advanced research classes and organize innovation camps for these talented individuals.
\n
Enhancing the development of learning facilities:
\n
Utilize union worker service bases, industry and enterprise training centers, and open regional practice centers for industry-education integration, and school-enterprise joint continuing education or training centers for industrial workers. Establish and support in-house training facilities within enterprises, allowing capable schools and social training institutions to participate in employee education and training in an orderly manner. Build an extensive and rich learning network for industrial workers, and explore effective ways to provide inclusive and universal educational training for migrant workers and industrial workers in new employment forms.
\n
Expanding the availability of educational resources:
\n
Support schools in developing specialized programs aligned with regional industries and key talent needs. Create high-quality online courses and continually updated textbooks for lifelong learning among industrial workers. Utilize platforms like a national smart vocational education platform, a national smart lifelong education platform, and the "home of workers" APP to develop an intelligent skill-learning platform. Encourage universities, open universities, vocational schools, craftsman colleges, and industry enterprises to share quality teaching resources with industrial workers.
\n
Promoting the recognition and conversion of learning achievements:
\n
Establish a standard system to certify and convert industrial workers' learning outcomes. Enable mutual recognition of educational achievements, degrees, skill credits, and certificates to support lifelong learning. Encourage schools to recognize workers' professional experience and informal learning. Urge skill evaluation institutions to exempt certain vocational skill assessments for workers with relevant education. Implement a system linking vocational qualifications and skill levels with job titles and educational benefits, and establish mechanisms for smooth transitions between professional, managerial, and technical roles.
\n
Encouraging active participation of enterprises:
\n
Enhance employee education systems to protect learning rights, and support paid learning for industrial workers. Motivate companies to invest in worker education. Support large and medium-sized enterprises in establishing craftsman colleges and conducting public vocational training. Guide small and medium-sized enterprises to use learning service platforms and resources. Encourage inking workers' ongoing education to skill assessments, factoring in skill enhancement for wage increases.
\n",
+ "content": "
Developing an innovative talent cultivation model:
\n
Deepen cooperation between schools and industry to innovate talent training models tailored to local conditions. Create hybrid learning systems that support flexible education for industrial workers, integrating both online and offline methods. Establish mechanisms that combine moral education with technical training, and coordinate work with studies. Support various schools in enhancing higher education related to continuing studies, providing effective skills training, and encouraging programs for model workers and skilled craftsmen. Promote advanced research classes and organize innovation camps for these talented individuals.
\n
Enhancing the development of learning facilities:
\n
Utilize union worker service bases, industry and enterprise training centers, and open regional practice centers for industry-education integration, and school-enterprise joint continuing education or training centers for industrial workers. Establish and support in-house training facilities within enterprises, allowing capable schools and social training institutions to participate in employee education and training in an orderly manner. Build an extensive and rich learning network for industrial workers, and explore effective ways to provide inclusive and universal educational training for migrant workers and industrial workers in new employment forms.
\n
Expanding the availability of educational resources:
\n
Support schools in developing specialized programs aligned with regional industries and key talent needs. Create high-quality online courses and continually updated textbooks for lifelong learning among industrial workers. Utilize platforms like a national smart vocational education platform, a national smart lifelong education platform, and the "home of workers" APP to develop an intelligent skill-learning platform. Encourage universities, open universities, vocational schools, craftsman colleges, and industry enterprises to share quality teaching resources with industrial workers.
\n
Promoting the recognition and conversion of learning achievements:
\n
Establish a standard system to certify and convert industrial workers' learning outcomes. Enable mutual recognition of educational achievements, degrees, skill credits, and certificates to support lifelong learning. Encourage schools to recognize workers' professional experience and informal learning. Urge skill evaluation institutions to exempt certain vocational skill assessments for workers with relevant education. Implement a system linking vocational qualifications and skill levels with job titles and educational benefits, and establish mechanisms for smooth transitions between professional, managerial, and technical roles.
\n
Encouraging active participation of enterprises:
\n
Enhance employee education systems to protect learning rights, and support paid learning for industrial workers. Motivate companies to invest in worker education. Support large and medium-sized enterprises in establishing craftsman colleges and conducting public vocational training. Guide small and medium-sized enterprises to use learning service platforms and resources. Encourage inking workers' ongoing education to skill assessments, factoring in skill enhancement for wage increases.
The fourth Global Digital Trade Expo holds a boxing match between two humanoid robots manufactured by Unitree Robotics.
\n
A robotic arm writes on a whiteboard at the fourth Global Digital Trade Expo.
\n
Visitors are attracted to AI-driven products at the artificial intelligence section of the expo.
\n
Foreign buyers talk with an exhibitor at the expo.
\n
The fourth Global Digital Trade Expo, which concluded on Monday in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, showcased not only how digital technology empowers industries and reaches households but the profound transformations in the digital trade sector.
\n
Held under the theme "Witness the Innovative Future at the Global Digital Trade Expo", the five-day GDTE was divided into seven specialized industry exhibition areas — artificial intelligence, digital entertainment, Silk Road e-commerce, smart mobility, digital healthcare, smart spaces, and smart logistics.
\n
A total of 1,812 exhibitors from 154 countries and regions participated in the exhibition, presenting future scenarios where digital technology empowers industrial development. As of noon on Monday, the total number of visits had reached 257,000, an increase of 28.5 percent compared to the previous session. The total amount of investment and trade intentions signed during the event hit 161.98 billion yuan ($22.8 billion).
\n
Foreign exhibitors reached 381, accounting for more than 20 percent of the total. The number of foreign buyers reached 11,000, up 64 percent year-on-year. A total of 33 international organizations participated in the exhibitions and conferences held during the expo, up 50 percent year-on-year.
\n
At the expo, technology felt tangible and closer than ever to daily life. Visitors could see numerous real-world applications, such as the AI-driven diagnosis based on traditional Chinese medicine theory. At one booth, visitors wearing specially designed spacesuits could become lunar explorers.
\n
The Hangzhou "Six Little Dragons" Zone was set up in the Digital and Smart Future Theme Exhibition Zone, where a range of products made by Hangzhou-based tech startups were showcased.
\n
A boxing match between two humanoid robots became a crowd-puller in the zone. The G1 model — the same type as the "dancing robot" at the nationally televised 2025 Spring Festival Gala — was produced by Unitree Robotics.
\n
Whether attacking or dodging, the robots' movements were flexible and natural thanks to an array of joint motors and algorithmic support, drawing applause and cheers from the audience.
\n
At the BrainCo booth, experience officers wearing the Revo 1 bionic dexterous hand became capable of playing music on a keyboard. The latest version Revo 2 bionic dexterous hand, which weighs about the same as six eggs, yet can easily lift 20 kilograms, was also unveiled.
\n
Manycore Tech, also one of the "Hangzhou six little dragons" firms, attracted numerous enquiries from e-commerce exhibitors with its virtual studio solution. Its booth showcased how virtual studio photography can replace traditional shooting.
\n
Traditional e-commerce photography requires physical studios, photographers and models, which is costly and inefficient. The virtual studio solution, relying on its self-developed rendering engine and AI and 3D capabilities, allows quick generation of marketing videos and images through a 3D model or picture. In 2024, it helped e-commerce companies produce more than 30 million images.
\n
This year's GDTE went beyond showcasing products, emphasizing how to build digital capabilities to enable more small and medium-sized enterprises to share in the new opportunities of the digital trade sector.
\n
The inaugural Digital Trade Innovation Venture Capital Day was noteworthy, focusing on how government can better guide funds and market-based investments to assist in the commercialization of technological achievements by SMEs.
\n
At the event, the achievements of the Zhejiang Provincial Venture Capital Fund project were highlighted. By the end of August, the fund had cumulatively invested in 1,684 projects within the province and helped 101 enterprises go public. And 371 involved in the project were rated as "specialized, refined, distinctive and innovative companies" or "little giant firms", which refer to innovative specialized small enterprises recognized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
\n
By the end of August, the fund had cumulatively committed 60 billion yuan, with 42.7 billion yuan paid in. It has established 123 sub-funds with a total scale of 425.4 billion yuan, said Zheng Jun, chairman of Zhejiang Jinkong Investment Management, adding that the fund has built a multilevel matrix covering a government investment fund, angel fund, innovation fund, and science and technology innovation parent fund.
\n
Zhang Min, a manager from Unitree Robotics, noted the crucial role of capital in promoting the development of technology. "Since the startup, the development of the robotics track has relied on the ecological flywheel effect, which requires policy, capital and market to work together."
\n
Zhang also called for strengthening international collaboration. "The robotics industry requires a close combination of technology, mass production, and industrial ecosystem iteration. Expanding the global market in the future will require more cross-industry cooperation."
\n
Hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and Zhejiang provincial government, the GDTE has become an international showcase for the digital trade sector. This year's expo hosted eight major thematic events including the launch ceremony, Silk Road E-commerce Day, African Digital Trade Day, and the BRICS Special Economic Zones Dialogue. More than 30 industry, investment and financing matching activities were also held during the event.
\n
The expo also highlighted the release of significant achievements and rankings such as the Global Digital Trade Development Report 2025, the Report on China's Development of Digital Trade 2025, and the Top 10 Outstanding Young Professionals Under 35 in Digital Trade.
\n
liyou@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "\n
The fourth Global Digital Trade Expo holds a boxing match between two humanoid robots manufactured by Unitree Robotics.
\n
A robotic arm writes on a whiteboard at the fourth Global Digital Trade Expo.
\n
Visitors are attracted to AI-driven products at the artificial intelligence section of the expo.
\n
Foreign buyers talk with an exhibitor at the expo.
\n
The fourth Global Digital Trade Expo, which concluded on Monday in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, showcased not only how digital technology empowers industries and reaches households but the profound transformations in the digital trade sector.
\n
Held under the theme "Witness the Innovative Future at the Global Digital Trade Expo", the five-day GDTE was divided into seven specialized industry exhibition areas — artificial intelligence, digital entertainment, Silk Road e-commerce, smart mobility, digital healthcare, smart spaces, and smart logistics.
\n
A total of 1,812 exhibitors from 154 countries and regions participated in the exhibition, presenting future scenarios where digital technology empowers industrial development. As of noon on Monday, the total number of visits had reached 257,000, an increase of 28.5 percent compared to the previous session. The total amount of investment and trade intentions signed during the event hit 161.98 billion yuan ($22.8 billion).
\n
Foreign exhibitors reached 381, accounting for more than 20 percent of the total. The number of foreign buyers reached 11,000, up 64 percent year-on-year. A total of 33 international organizations participated in the exhibitions and conferences held during the expo, up 50 percent year-on-year.
\n
At the expo, technology felt tangible and closer than ever to daily life. Visitors could see numerous real-world applications, such as the AI-driven diagnosis based on traditional Chinese medicine theory. At one booth, visitors wearing specially designed spacesuits could become lunar explorers.
\n
The Hangzhou "Six Little Dragons" Zone was set up in the Digital and Smart Future Theme Exhibition Zone, where a range of products made by Hangzhou-based tech startups were showcased.
\n
A boxing match between two humanoid robots became a crowd-puller in the zone. The G1 model — the same type as the "dancing robot" at the nationally televised 2025 Spring Festival Gala — was produced by Unitree Robotics.
\n
Whether attacking or dodging, the robots' movements were flexible and natural thanks to an array of joint motors and algorithmic support, drawing applause and cheers from the audience.
\n
At the BrainCo booth, experience officers wearing the Revo 1 bionic dexterous hand became capable of playing music on a keyboard. The latest version Revo 2 bionic dexterous hand, which weighs about the same as six eggs, yet can easily lift 20 kilograms, was also unveiled.
\n
Manycore Tech, also one of the "Hangzhou six little dragons" firms, attracted numerous enquiries from e-commerce exhibitors with its virtual studio solution. Its booth showcased how virtual studio photography can replace traditional shooting.
\n
Traditional e-commerce photography requires physical studios, photographers and models, which is costly and inefficient. The virtual studio solution, relying on its self-developed rendering engine and AI and 3D capabilities, allows quick generation of marketing videos and images through a 3D model or picture. In 2024, it helped e-commerce companies produce more than 30 million images.
\n
This year's GDTE went beyond showcasing products, emphasizing how to build digital capabilities to enable more small and medium-sized enterprises to share in the new opportunities of the digital trade sector.
\n
The inaugural Digital Trade Innovation Venture Capital Day was noteworthy, focusing on how government can better guide funds and market-based investments to assist in the commercialization of technological achievements by SMEs.
\n
At the event, the achievements of the Zhejiang Provincial Venture Capital Fund project were highlighted. By the end of August, the fund had cumulatively invested in 1,684 projects within the province and helped 101 enterprises go public. And 371 involved in the project were rated as "specialized, refined, distinctive and innovative companies" or "little giant firms", which refer to innovative specialized small enterprises recognized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
\n
By the end of August, the fund had cumulatively committed 60 billion yuan, with 42.7 billion yuan paid in. It has established 123 sub-funds with a total scale of 425.4 billion yuan, said Zheng Jun, chairman of Zhejiang Jinkong Investment Management, adding that the fund has built a multilevel matrix covering a government investment fund, angel fund, innovation fund, and science and technology innovation parent fund.
\n
Zhang Min, a manager from Unitree Robotics, noted the crucial role of capital in promoting the development of technology. "Since the startup, the development of the robotics track has relied on the ecological flywheel effect, which requires policy, capital and market to work together."
\n
Zhang also called for strengthening international collaboration. "The robotics industry requires a close combination of technology, mass production, and industrial ecosystem iteration. Expanding the global market in the future will require more cross-industry cooperation."
\n
Hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and Zhejiang provincial government, the GDTE has become an international showcase for the digital trade sector. This year's expo hosted eight major thematic events including the launch ceremony, Silk Road E-commerce Day, African Digital Trade Day, and the BRICS Special Economic Zones Dialogue. More than 30 industry, investment and financing matching activities were also held during the event.
\n
The expo also highlighted the release of significant achievements and rankings such as the Global Digital Trade Development Report 2025, the Report on China's Development of Digital Trade 2025, and the Top 10 Outstanding Young Professionals Under 35 in Digital Trade.
The fourth Global Digital Trade Expo closed on Monday, standing as a window for global investors to learn about Zhejiang province's effort to cultivate the digital economy and free trade of such products.
\n
By implementing a range of policies, the provincial government has been promoting the deep integration of digital tools and free trade, creating a digital economy ecosystem, local officials said.
\n
In the construction of the digital free trade zone, the Zhejiang provincial government demonstrated how to perform institutional innovation. The construction plan for the Hangzhou Sector of the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone was proposed on Aug 30, 2020. After five years, this strategy has achieved fruitful results.
\n
Currently, the zone has cumulatively created 458 institutional innovation achievements in the digital field, 122 of which are national firsts.
\n
Artificial intelligence, as a high-tech industry, is a key driving force behind the development of the digital economy. Zhejiang places great emphasis on fostering the AI industry by providing policy support and resource integration, creating a favorable ecosystem for the growth of AI enterprises.
\n
Unitree Robotics, a globally renowned civilian robotics company based in Hangzhou, focuses on the development and production of high-performance general-purpose robots for consumer and industrial-class applications. The company is involved in comprehensive fields such as core robotic components, motion control, robotic perception and decision-making, and robotic AI.
\n
Unitree's products perform excellently not only in the domestic market but are also exported worldwide, making it a representative enterprise in China's AI and robotics industry.
\n
Chen Jiaxin, market manager of Unitree Robotics, said at the expo: "Our quadruped robots account for 60-70 percent of global shipments, and our large-sized general-purpose humanoid robots lead global shipment volumes, with our business covering more than 50 percent of countries and regions worldwide."
\n
Another standout enterprise is BrainCo, which is involved in noninvasive brain-computer interface technology. BrainCo's intelligent bionic hand assisted athletes in completing the torch relay at the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics and has received US Food and Drug Administration approval. The company is now establishing itself as a benchmark enterprise in the global brain-computer interface field.
\n
In the journey of developing AI, going global is an essential path. Currently, Zhejiang is facilitating this through a series of policies, such as aiding cross-border e-commerce retail imports and exports, and implementing a negative list for data outbound transfers. These measures provide support for the internationalization of high-tech industries. Additionally, Zhejiang has established multiple international platforms such as the China Center for Cooperation on Special Economic Zones in BRICS Countries, bridging the gap for enterprises to explore global markets.
\n",
+ "content": "
The fourth Global Digital Trade Expo closed on Monday, standing as a window for global investors to learn about Zhejiang province's effort to cultivate the digital economy and free trade of such products.
\n
By implementing a range of policies, the provincial government has been promoting the deep integration of digital tools and free trade, creating a digital economy ecosystem, local officials said.
\n
In the construction of the digital free trade zone, the Zhejiang provincial government demonstrated how to perform institutional innovation. The construction plan for the Hangzhou Sector of the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone was proposed on Aug 30, 2020. After five years, this strategy has achieved fruitful results.
\n
Currently, the zone has cumulatively created 458 institutional innovation achievements in the digital field, 122 of which are national firsts.
\n
Artificial intelligence, as a high-tech industry, is a key driving force behind the development of the digital economy. Zhejiang places great emphasis on fostering the AI industry by providing policy support and resource integration, creating a favorable ecosystem for the growth of AI enterprises.
\n
Unitree Robotics, a globally renowned civilian robotics company based in Hangzhou, focuses on the development and production of high-performance general-purpose robots for consumer and industrial-class applications. The company is involved in comprehensive fields such as core robotic components, motion control, robotic perception and decision-making, and robotic AI.
\n
Unitree's products perform excellently not only in the domestic market but are also exported worldwide, making it a representative enterprise in China's AI and robotics industry.
\n
Chen Jiaxin, market manager of Unitree Robotics, said at the expo: "Our quadruped robots account for 60-70 percent of global shipments, and our large-sized general-purpose humanoid robots lead global shipment volumes, with our business covering more than 50 percent of countries and regions worldwide."
\n
Another standout enterprise is BrainCo, which is involved in noninvasive brain-computer interface technology. BrainCo's intelligent bionic hand assisted athletes in completing the torch relay at the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics and has received US Food and Drug Administration approval. The company is now establishing itself as a benchmark enterprise in the global brain-computer interface field.
\n
In the journey of developing AI, going global is an essential path. Currently, Zhejiang is facilitating this through a series of policies, such as aiding cross-border e-commerce retail imports and exports, and implementing a negative list for data outbound transfers. These measures provide support for the internationalization of high-tech industries. Additionally, Zhejiang has established multiple international platforms such as the China Center for Cooperation on Special Economic Zones in BRICS Countries, bridging the gap for enterprises to explore global markets.
Visitors watch a humanoid robot band perform musical instruments at the fourth Global Digital Trade Expo.
\n
As a significant engine for China's opening-up, Zhejiang province in East China has achieved remarkable results in high-level opening-up and cross-border e-commerce in recent years, according to data released at the just-ended fourth Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.
\n
In 2024, Zhejiang's total foreign trade value reached 5.3 trillion yuan ($742.9 billion), a year-on-year increase of 7.4 percent, with an export value of 3.9 trillion yuan, maintaining the second-largest scale in the country.
\n
The total foreign trade value of services trade and digital trade increased by 24.5 percent and 14.5 percent year-on-year respectively. Represented by regions and enterprises such as Xiaoshan district, Alibaba, and Hangzhou Haicang Technology, Zhejiang is promoting high-quality development in the cross-border e-commerce and foreign trade fields through innovative models and digital technologies.
\n
Xiaoshan district in Hangzhou, the province's capital, is recognized as one of the top 10 strong foreign trade counties in Zhejiang province, thanks to the resources of the National Airport Economic Demonstration Zone, Xiaoshan Block of the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and China (Hangzhou) Cross-Border E-Commerce Comprehensive Pilot Area, said officials from the Xiaoshan district commerce bureau.
\n
By promoting multichannel integrated sales models such as independent sites and overseas marketing centers, the district has become a model for high-level opening-up, said local officials.
\n
In 2024, the cross-border e-commerce export volume of Xiaoshan reached 23.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 57.6 percent, ranking first in the province. This district supports enterprises in exploring emerging markets involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, providing comprehensive services such as booth subsidies and overseas warehouse support.
\n
During the expo, Yu Qian, deputy director of the foreign trade section of the Xiaoshan commerce bureau, said that Xiaoshan district is building four global cross-border e-commerce centers, comprising the cross-border smart chain center of industrial belts, global live marketing center, overseas supply chain service center, and trade risk emergency service center. These centers foster the deep integration of cross-border e-commerce and manufacturing through flexible supply chains, virtual reality workshop livestreams, and localized marketing in Southeast Asia, creating a new model of brand globalization and transitioning from order-driven export to brand-led globalization.
\n
Alibaba.com, the first business platform launched by Alibaba Group to aid enterprises in expanding their business abroad, has developed into an internationally renowned business-to-business digital trade platform over the past 25 years. Its users now cover more than 200 countries and regions in 16 languages, with nearly 200,000 suppliers and more than 40 million buyer users globally.
\n
It is now integrating the latest generative artificial intelligence technology into various aspects of the foreign trade industry to help small and medium-sized enterprises complete their overseas tasks.
\n
In November 2024, Alibaba launched Accio, the world's first B2B AI search engine, which simplifies the procurement process by supporting multiple languages and billions of products. This innovation increases the conversion rate from search to purchase and lowers business operation thresholds, thereby improving business effectiveness and quality.
\n
On the import side, Hangzhou Haicang Technology, one of the first pilot enterprises of the China (Hangzhou) Cross-Border E-Commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zone, has been rooted in Hangzhou for 11 years. Focusing on comprehensive cross-border import services, digital supply chain, and cross-border retail solutions, it helps global brands enter the Chinese market by providing one-stop services such as cross-border logistics, customs clearance, and warehousing. Utilizing its self-developed digitalized product selection center, it connects 60 countries, 2,000 brands, and 3,000 stock keeping units globally.
\n
Haicang Technology CEO Wang Hong said that the Hangzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone is nationally renowned for cross-border imports, forming an innovative leading advantage. The company plans to continue deepening AI technology applications to further enhance customs clearance efficiency and product selection accuracy, promoting high-quality cross-border e-commerce development.
\n
fanzitong@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Visitors watch a humanoid robot band perform musical instruments at the fourth Global Digital Trade Expo.
\n
As a significant engine for China's opening-up, Zhejiang province in East China has achieved remarkable results in high-level opening-up and cross-border e-commerce in recent years, according to data released at the just-ended fourth Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.
\n
In 2024, Zhejiang's total foreign trade value reached 5.3 trillion yuan ($742.9 billion), a year-on-year increase of 7.4 percent, with an export value of 3.9 trillion yuan, maintaining the second-largest scale in the country.
\n
The total foreign trade value of services trade and digital trade increased by 24.5 percent and 14.5 percent year-on-year respectively. Represented by regions and enterprises such as Xiaoshan district, Alibaba, and Hangzhou Haicang Technology, Zhejiang is promoting high-quality development in the cross-border e-commerce and foreign trade fields through innovative models and digital technologies.
\n
Xiaoshan district in Hangzhou, the province's capital, is recognized as one of the top 10 strong foreign trade counties in Zhejiang province, thanks to the resources of the National Airport Economic Demonstration Zone, Xiaoshan Block of the China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and China (Hangzhou) Cross-Border E-Commerce Comprehensive Pilot Area, said officials from the Xiaoshan district commerce bureau.
\n
By promoting multichannel integrated sales models such as independent sites and overseas marketing centers, the district has become a model for high-level opening-up, said local officials.
\n
In 2024, the cross-border e-commerce export volume of Xiaoshan reached 23.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 57.6 percent, ranking first in the province. This district supports enterprises in exploring emerging markets involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, providing comprehensive services such as booth subsidies and overseas warehouse support.
\n
During the expo, Yu Qian, deputy director of the foreign trade section of the Xiaoshan commerce bureau, said that Xiaoshan district is building four global cross-border e-commerce centers, comprising the cross-border smart chain center of industrial belts, global live marketing center, overseas supply chain service center, and trade risk emergency service center. These centers foster the deep integration of cross-border e-commerce and manufacturing through flexible supply chains, virtual reality workshop livestreams, and localized marketing in Southeast Asia, creating a new model of brand globalization and transitioning from order-driven export to brand-led globalization.
\n
Alibaba.com, the first business platform launched by Alibaba Group to aid enterprises in expanding their business abroad, has developed into an internationally renowned business-to-business digital trade platform over the past 25 years. Its users now cover more than 200 countries and regions in 16 languages, with nearly 200,000 suppliers and more than 40 million buyer users globally.
\n
It is now integrating the latest generative artificial intelligence technology into various aspects of the foreign trade industry to help small and medium-sized enterprises complete their overseas tasks.
\n
In November 2024, Alibaba launched Accio, the world's first B2B AI search engine, which simplifies the procurement process by supporting multiple languages and billions of products. This innovation increases the conversion rate from search to purchase and lowers business operation thresholds, thereby improving business effectiveness and quality.
\n
On the import side, Hangzhou Haicang Technology, one of the first pilot enterprises of the China (Hangzhou) Cross-Border E-Commerce Comprehensive Pilot Zone, has been rooted in Hangzhou for 11 years. Focusing on comprehensive cross-border import services, digital supply chain, and cross-border retail solutions, it helps global brands enter the Chinese market by providing one-stop services such as cross-border logistics, customs clearance, and warehousing. Utilizing its self-developed digitalized product selection center, it connects 60 countries, 2,000 brands, and 3,000 stock keeping units globally.
\n
Haicang Technology CEO Wang Hong said that the Hangzhou Comprehensive Bonded Zone is nationally renowned for cross-border imports, forming an innovative leading advantage. The company plans to continue deepening AI technology applications to further enhance customs clearance efficiency and product selection accuracy, promoting high-quality cross-border e-commerce development.
The Communist Party of China will convene a key leadership meeting from Oct 20 to 23 in Beijing to map out priorities of the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), a blueprint that will shape the nation's economic and social agenda and lay the groundwork for its long-term modernization goals.
\n
The date for the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee was set at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Monday. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.
\n
Five-year plans are crucial strategic documents guiding China's medium- and long-term development, which outline national goals, major tasks and policy directions in various sectors for each five-year period.
\n
During Monday's meeting, the Political Bureau was briefed about the opinions solicited from within and outside the CPC about a document on the CPC Central Committee's proposals for formulating the next five-year plan. It was decided at the meeting that the document will be revised based on the discussion at the meeting and submitted to the fourth plenary session for deliberation.
\n
The plenary session will take place as China nears the completion of its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), which has yielded significant achievements. The country is now gearing up to establish priorities for the upcoming 2026-30 period.
\n
The meeting highlighted the importance of upholding the Party's overall leadership during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
\n
With a focus on putting people first, efforts should be made to ensure that more benefits of modernization are shared more fairly among all the people, the meeting said.
\n
It stressed the need to stay committed to high-quality development, foster new quality productive forces in line with local conditions, and comprehensively deepen reform while further expanding high-level opening-up.
\n
China will promote better interplay between an efficient market and a well-functioning government, giving full play to the decisive role of the market in the allocation of resources and ensuring that the government plays its role better, said a statement released after the meeting.
\n
In accordance with the strategic plan for building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, as outlined at the 20th CPC National Congress in 2022, China will basically achieve socialist modernization by 2035 through the implementation of the 14th, 15th and 16th five-year plans.
\n
Since the start of this year, Xi has made a series of instructions to chart the course for the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan.
\n
During an inspection tour to Shanghai in April, Xi said at a symposium on China's economic and social development in the 2026-30 period that "the planning must focus on the goal of basically realizing socialist modernization, with a view to building a great country and advancing national rejuvenation".
\n
In an instruction in May, he stressed sound, democratic and law-based decision-making to ensure high-quality formulation of the five-year plan.
\n
He also emphasized the importance of integrating top-level design with seeking advice from the public, enhancing research and discussions, and building broad consensus.
\n
The General Office of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, noted in a report released earlier this month that guiding economic and social development with medium-and long-term plans is an important approach adopted by the Party in governing the country.
\n
Practice has proved that medium-and long-term development plans can not only give full play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, but also better leverage the role of the government, the report said.
\n
In a report released on Sunday, China Galaxy Securities said it believes that the key focuses during the 15th Five-Year Plan period will include promoting technological innovation, boosting domestic demand, addressing "involution-style" competition, advancing market-based reforms for the allocation of production factors, building a green and low-carbon economy, and enhancing people's well-being.
\n
jihaisheng@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
The Communist Party of China will convene a key leadership meeting from Oct 20 to 23 in Beijing to map out priorities of the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), a blueprint that will shape the nation's economic and social agenda and lay the groundwork for its long-term modernization goals.
\n
The date for the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee was set at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Monday. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.
\n
Five-year plans are crucial strategic documents guiding China's medium- and long-term development, which outline national goals, major tasks and policy directions in various sectors for each five-year period.
\n
During Monday's meeting, the Political Bureau was briefed about the opinions solicited from within and outside the CPC about a document on the CPC Central Committee's proposals for formulating the next five-year plan. It was decided at the meeting that the document will be revised based on the discussion at the meeting and submitted to the fourth plenary session for deliberation.
\n
The plenary session will take place as China nears the completion of its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), which has yielded significant achievements. The country is now gearing up to establish priorities for the upcoming 2026-30 period.
\n
The meeting highlighted the importance of upholding the Party's overall leadership during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
\n
With a focus on putting people first, efforts should be made to ensure that more benefits of modernization are shared more fairly among all the people, the meeting said.
\n
It stressed the need to stay committed to high-quality development, foster new quality productive forces in line with local conditions, and comprehensively deepen reform while further expanding high-level opening-up.
\n
China will promote better interplay between an efficient market and a well-functioning government, giving full play to the decisive role of the market in the allocation of resources and ensuring that the government plays its role better, said a statement released after the meeting.
\n
In accordance with the strategic plan for building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects, as outlined at the 20th CPC National Congress in 2022, China will basically achieve socialist modernization by 2035 through the implementation of the 14th, 15th and 16th five-year plans.
\n
Since the start of this year, Xi has made a series of instructions to chart the course for the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan.
\n
During an inspection tour to Shanghai in April, Xi said at a symposium on China's economic and social development in the 2026-30 period that "the planning must focus on the goal of basically realizing socialist modernization, with a view to building a great country and advancing national rejuvenation".
\n
In an instruction in May, he stressed sound, democratic and law-based decision-making to ensure high-quality formulation of the five-year plan.
\n
He also emphasized the importance of integrating top-level design with seeking advice from the public, enhancing research and discussions, and building broad consensus.
\n
The General Office of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, noted in a report released earlier this month that guiding economic and social development with medium-and long-term plans is an important approach adopted by the Party in governing the country.
\n
Practice has proved that medium-and long-term development plans can not only give full play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, but also better leverage the role of the government, the report said.
\n
In a report released on Sunday, China Galaxy Securities said it believes that the key focuses during the 15th Five-Year Plan period will include promoting technological innovation, boosting domestic demand, addressing "involution-style" competition, advancing market-based reforms for the allocation of production factors, building a green and low-carbon economy, and enhancing people's well-being.
A visitor takes a close look at a scale model of undersea data pods for a commercial undersea data center in Lingshui, South China's Hainan province, on Thursday. The project, launched in 2022, is part of China's quest to harness marine resources for next-generation computing power. See story, page 5
\n",
+ "content": "
A visitor takes a close look at a scale model of undersea data pods for a commercial undersea data center in Lingshui, South China's Hainan province, on Thursday. The project, launched in 2022, is part of China's quest to harness marine resources for next-generation computing power. See story, page 5
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called on Monday for ensuring systematic efforts to further adapt religions in China to the Chinese context and providing active guidance to religions so that they can adapt to socialist society.
\n
He highlighted steps to draw on historical experience, base policies on China's religious realities, strengthen systematic thinking, improve institutional frameworks, and enhance comprehensive governance and grassroots work, while speaking at a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
\n
There are close to 200 million religious believers in China, with over 380,000 clerical personnel, about 5,500 religious groups and over 140,000 places registered for religious activities, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said last year.
\n
Zhang Xunmou, head of the center on religious studies at the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, shared his insights during the session on Monday.
\n
Xi noted at the session that history and practice have proved that only by making unremitting efforts to further adapt religions in China to the Chinese context can the nation promote harmony among religions, unity among ethnic groups, social stability and long-term security.
\n
It is imperative for China, a socialist country led by the CPC, to provide active guidance to religions, so that they can adapt to the socialist society, he said.
\n
Xi called for steps to guide religious personnel and believers to develop an accurate understanding of the country, history, ethnicity, culture and religion, while enhancing their level of recognition toward the motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics.
\n
He went on to point out that religions in China can only ensure their healthy inheritance by remaining rooted in Chinese soil and imbued with Chinese culture, adding that efforts must be made to integrate China's religions to the nation's fine traditional culture.
\n
Xi highlighted the significance of encouraging the religious sector to make proactive steps in self-reform, urging support for religions to meet the needs of the times in doctrine, regulations, rituals and codes of conduct, while enhancing their capacity for self-education, self-management and self-discipline.
\n
Xi also stressed that managing religious affairs under the rule of law is the primary approach to resolving various conflicts and problems in religion. He called for improved relevant legal frameworks and policies, greater efforts to conduct education on the rule of law and stricter law enforcement.
\n
According to China's Constitution, the State shall protect normal religious activities, and no State organ, social organization or individual shall coerce citizens to believe in or not to believe in any religion, nor shall they discriminate against citizens who believe in or do not believe in any religion.
\n
xuwei@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called on Monday for ensuring systematic efforts to further adapt religions in China to the Chinese context and providing active guidance to religions so that they can adapt to socialist society.
\n
He highlighted steps to draw on historical experience, base policies on China's religious realities, strengthen systematic thinking, improve institutional frameworks, and enhance comprehensive governance and grassroots work, while speaking at a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
\n
There are close to 200 million religious believers in China, with over 380,000 clerical personnel, about 5,500 religious groups and over 140,000 places registered for religious activities, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said last year.
\n
Zhang Xunmou, head of the center on religious studies at the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, shared his insights during the session on Monday.
\n
Xi noted at the session that history and practice have proved that only by making unremitting efforts to further adapt religions in China to the Chinese context can the nation promote harmony among religions, unity among ethnic groups, social stability and long-term security.
\n
It is imperative for China, a socialist country led by the CPC, to provide active guidance to religions, so that they can adapt to the socialist society, he said.
\n
Xi called for steps to guide religious personnel and believers to develop an accurate understanding of the country, history, ethnicity, culture and religion, while enhancing their level of recognition toward the motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics.
\n
He went on to point out that religions in China can only ensure their healthy inheritance by remaining rooted in Chinese soil and imbued with Chinese culture, adding that efforts must be made to integrate China's religions to the nation's fine traditional culture.
\n
Xi highlighted the significance of encouraging the religious sector to make proactive steps in self-reform, urging support for religions to meet the needs of the times in doctrine, regulations, rituals and codes of conduct, while enhancing their capacity for self-education, self-management and self-discipline.
\n
Xi also stressed that managing religious affairs under the rule of law is the primary approach to resolving various conflicts and problems in religion. He called for improved relevant legal frameworks and policies, greater efforts to conduct education on the rule of law and stricter law enforcement.
\n
According to China's Constitution, the State shall protect normal religious activities, and no State organ, social organization or individual shall coerce citizens to believe in or not to believe in any religion, nor shall they discriminate against citizens who believe in or do not believe in any religion.
Tourists enjoy a camel ride on Saturday at the Crescent Spring scenic spot that boasts views of sand dunes at Mingsha Mountain in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu province.
\n
Holiday bookings for the upcoming National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival break are continuing at a feverish pace, with both domestic and overseas destinations clocking better-than-expected booking numbers and overseas destinations rolling out the red carpet to welcome Chinese tourists.
\n
The National Day holiday, which typically lasts seven days from Oct 1 to 7, has been extended to eight days this year as it overlaps with the Mid-Autumn Festival on Oct 6.
\n
"I can't wait to go on my vacation! I made the booking for my family's five-day trip to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region way back in August. Many of my friends left it till very late, going back and forth while deciding on a destination, and as a result, paid much more for both tickets and accommodation," said 36-year-old Beijing resident Wang Siyun, adding that she and her family have set Friday — the third day of the holiday — as their departure date, in order to avoid the peak travel rush.
\n
Wang is not alone in being passionate about her travel plans, as several tourism agencies have been reporting robust booking numbers since mid-September.
\n
The latest figures from travel portal Tuniu show that bookings for self-driving tours, independent tours and group tours have all registered robust growth on the platform. Bookings for self-driving and independent tours, for example, have increased by over 60 percent in the past week, from Sept 22 to Sunday, compared with the week before, from Sept 15 to 21.
\n
Metropolises including Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan province remain the top choices for domestic travelers during the eight-day break.
\n
Some second-tier cities and niche destinations, such as Huangshan in East China's Anhui province and Rizhao in Shandong province, are also witnessing growing bookings due to their natural beauty and unique cuisines, according to Tuniu.
\n
"This year's National Day holiday is a longer-than-usual break and many people are stretching it even further by taking a few days off from work, which is good news for both domestic and overseas long-distance tourism markets," said Qi Chunguang, vice-president of Tuniu, adding that bookings for overseas trips have surged 110 percent year-on-year to date on the platform.
\n
Chinese people's passion for traveling far and wide has made popular holiday destinations abroad roll up their sleeves to make Chinese tourists feel more welcome.
\n
South Korea unveiled on Monday a trial visa-free entry policy for Chinese tourist groups, which will remain in effect till June 30,2026, as part of its efforts to boost tourism. The policy allows groups of three or more Chinese travelers to enter South Korea visa-free and stay in the country for up to 15 days. South Korea's Jeju Island will continue with its existing policy of allowing both individual and group travelers from China to stay visa-free for up to 30 days.
\n
According to travel portal Qunar, figures show that South Korean capital Seoul was one of the top overseas destinations on the search list of the platform on Monday, and was also among the top three destinations for Chinese people looking to spend the National Day holiday abroad based on hotel bookings.
\n
In addition to South Korea, other Asian destinations including Japan, Indonesia, Maldives and Malaysia, as well as European countries such as Italy, France and Switzerland, have seen increasing bookings from China for the eight-day break.
\n
Yao Jing, a resident of Beijing, set out for Greece on Monday on the first leg of a 10-day vacation, which also includes Italy, with her husband.
\n
"We've taken two days off from work to leave early to avoid the travel rush and lengthen our holiday to 10 days. It's been a long time since we last went abroad and we will be visiting Santorini and Athens in Greece and Napoli in Italy during this holiday," she said.
\n
chengsi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Tourists enjoy a camel ride on Saturday at the Crescent Spring scenic spot that boasts views of sand dunes at Mingsha Mountain in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu province.
\n
Holiday bookings for the upcoming National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival break are continuing at a feverish pace, with both domestic and overseas destinations clocking better-than-expected booking numbers and overseas destinations rolling out the red carpet to welcome Chinese tourists.
\n
The National Day holiday, which typically lasts seven days from Oct 1 to 7, has been extended to eight days this year as it overlaps with the Mid-Autumn Festival on Oct 6.
\n
"I can't wait to go on my vacation! I made the booking for my family's five-day trip to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region way back in August. Many of my friends left it till very late, going back and forth while deciding on a destination, and as a result, paid much more for both tickets and accommodation," said 36-year-old Beijing resident Wang Siyun, adding that she and her family have set Friday — the third day of the holiday — as their departure date, in order to avoid the peak travel rush.
\n
Wang is not alone in being passionate about her travel plans, as several tourism agencies have been reporting robust booking numbers since mid-September.
\n
The latest figures from travel portal Tuniu show that bookings for self-driving tours, independent tours and group tours have all registered robust growth on the platform. Bookings for self-driving and independent tours, for example, have increased by over 60 percent in the past week, from Sept 22 to Sunday, compared with the week before, from Sept 15 to 21.
\n
Metropolises including Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan province remain the top choices for domestic travelers during the eight-day break.
\n
Some second-tier cities and niche destinations, such as Huangshan in East China's Anhui province and Rizhao in Shandong province, are also witnessing growing bookings due to their natural beauty and unique cuisines, according to Tuniu.
\n
"This year's National Day holiday is a longer-than-usual break and many people are stretching it even further by taking a few days off from work, which is good news for both domestic and overseas long-distance tourism markets," said Qi Chunguang, vice-president of Tuniu, adding that bookings for overseas trips have surged 110 percent year-on-year to date on the platform.
\n
Chinese people's passion for traveling far and wide has made popular holiday destinations abroad roll up their sleeves to make Chinese tourists feel more welcome.
\n
South Korea unveiled on Monday a trial visa-free entry policy for Chinese tourist groups, which will remain in effect till June 30,2026, as part of its efforts to boost tourism. The policy allows groups of three or more Chinese travelers to enter South Korea visa-free and stay in the country for up to 15 days. South Korea's Jeju Island will continue with its existing policy of allowing both individual and group travelers from China to stay visa-free for up to 30 days.
\n
According to travel portal Qunar, figures show that South Korean capital Seoul was one of the top overseas destinations on the search list of the platform on Monday, and was also among the top three destinations for Chinese people looking to spend the National Day holiday abroad based on hotel bookings.
\n
In addition to South Korea, other Asian destinations including Japan, Indonesia, Maldives and Malaysia, as well as European countries such as Italy, France and Switzerland, have seen increasing bookings from China for the eight-day break.
\n
Yao Jing, a resident of Beijing, set out for Greece on Monday on the first leg of a 10-day vacation, which also includes Italy, with her husband.
\n
"We've taken two days off from work to leave early to avoid the travel rush and lengthen our holiday to 10 days. It's been a long time since we last went abroad and we will be visiting Santorini and Athens in Greece and Napoli in Italy during this holiday," she said.
Robotaxis owned by autonomous driving company Pony.ai operate in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in May.
\n
The screen of a robotaxi operating in March in Guangzhou, Guangdong, shows the road condition.
\n
A driverless minibus operates in Barcelona, Spain, in March. The pilot service was the result of cooperation between Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide and France's Renault Group.
\n
A passenger gets on an autonomous driving bus in Chongqing's Yongchuan district in April.
\n
On a brisk Friday morning in early September, a fleet of light blue cars glided quietly in front of the Amiri Diwan — the imposing building housing the seat of governance — in Doha, capital of Qatar.
\n
For most passersby, the sight probably looked like nothing more than regular vehicles navigating through traffic. But for Pony.ai, the fleet marked something bigger — the official start of its robotaxi testing in the Middle Eastern country.
\n
The leading Chinese autonomous driving company has formed a strategic partnership with Qatar's national transport company, Mowasalat, to advance autonomous driving technology and vehicle deployment in Qatar.
\n
The collaboration came two months after Pony.ai's partnership with Dubai's Road and Traffic Authority in the United Arab Emirates. Robotaxi tests will start later this year, with driverless robotaxis scheduled to start commercial operations in 2026.
\n
Pony.ai's expansion is part of a broader trend of Chinese autonomous vehicle companies stepping beyond their home market at an accelerating pace.
\n
In early September, WeRide announced its robotaxis would soon arrive in Singapore. The autonomous driving company, based in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said the vehicles will be deployed later this year with a local mobility service provider.
\n
The robotaxis follow the start of WeRide's robobus service on Singapore's Sentosa island in July.
\n
The robobus, equipped with 360-degree vision and capable of detecting obstacles more than 200 meters away, operates on a fixed 1.2-kilometer loop every 12 minutes, connecting three hotels and T Galleria shopping mall.
\n
Since late last year, WeRide's robosweepers have been working along Marina Coastal Drive and at the Esplanade, as Singapore's first commercial autonomous sanitation projects.
\n
Chinese companies have also joined hands with global ride-hailing platforms like Uber to speed up their rollout and expand the availability of their services.
\n
During the International Motor Show Germany, officially known as IAA Mobility, in Munich this month, Momenta, backed by investors such as Mercedes-Benz and SAIC, said it would begin rolling out robotaxi services on the Uber network in early 2026, starting in the German city.
\n
The initial deployments will have safety operators onboard. "This partnership completes a critical piece of our global scaling puzzle," said Cao Xudong, Momenta's founder and CEO.
\n
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi described the deal as a significant step toward delivering "more reliable and affordable autonomous mobility" to users worldwide.
\n
Toyota-backed Pony.ai is partnering with Uber as well, and is expected to first launch its service in a key market in the Middle East later this year, with a goal of scaling deployments to additional international markets in the future.
\n
WeRide is expanding its existing cooperation with Uber to 15 additional cities outside China and the United States over the next five years.
\n
The two companies started their cooperation in September 2024, and launched commercial robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, last December, with the fleet to include 50 vehicles by mid-2025.
\n
"We are taking this partnership to a new level," said Tony Han, founder and CEO of WeRide. "This reflects our joint ambition to make autonomous mobility accessible and affordable across the globe."
\n
Domestic strengths
\n
The flurry of announcements signals the start of the globalization of China's autonomous driving sector.
\n
Over the past years, China has become one of the most vibrant testing grounds for autonomous vehicles, with dozens of companies piloting robotaxis in cities from Beijing and Shanghai to Wuhan in Central China's Hubei province and Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong.
\n
Statistics show that as of August 2024, Chinese public security authorities had issued 16,000 test licenses for autonomous vehicles and more than 32,000 km of roads had been opened for testing across the country.
\n
"Autonomous driving is a national strategic priority. Policies like the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Digital Economy and directives supporting AI demonstration projects clearly define the technology development path," said Zhang Ning, Pony.ai's vice-president.
\n
Zhang, who is also head of the company's Beijing R&D center, said over 50 Chinese cities have local regulations supporting testing and commercialization, with 20 cities designated for integrated "vehicle-road-cloud" pilot programs. This scale is not seen in any other country.
\n
The favorable policies, combined with China's edge in computer and artificial intelligence-related technology and its vast population and complex road conditions, have seen autonomous driving companies making rapid progress.
\n
In April, Pony.ai unveiled its seventh-generation automotive-grade system at the Shanghai auto show. With a designed life of 10 years or 600,000 km, it features a 70 percent reduction in hardware costs compared with the previous edition, said the autonomous driving company.
\n
Its autonomous vehicles have accumulated over 50 million km in mileage, including daily commercial operations in some of China's megacities, including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as testing in other parts of the world.
\n
China also boasts a pool of outstanding talent in the autonomous driving sector and the wider technology sector.
\n
In late August, James Peng, Pony.ai's founder and CEO, was named on the TIME AI 100 list, recognizing him as one of the most influential figures in AI globally.
\n
Also on the list were also Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, Unitree Robotics CEO Wang Xingxing and DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng.
\n
In the same month, WeRide's founder and CEO Han was invited by the Singaporean government to join the country's steering committee on autonomous vehicles. The committee brings together leaders from the autonomous vehicle and public transport industries, union representatives, and various government bodies to guide the progressive rollout of autonomous vehicles in Singapore.
\n
Rapid replication
\n
Zhang from Pony.ai said the current technological readiness of autonomous driving enables rapid replication and deployment, forming the foundation for commercial exploration in overseas markets. Many countries outside China and the US are actively promoting autonomous driving to address challenges such as aging populations, creating new opportunities for technology deployment abroad, he said.
\n
Pony.ai emphasizes that international expansion is driven by commercial opportunity, not for the sake of expansion itself, Zhang said. "Expanding internationally at this stage allows technology to reach more users and regions, generating social and economic impact," he said.
\n
Pony.ai prioritizes countries with a strong willingness to develop the autonomous driving technology and open policies that embrace innovation, he said. Other considerations include well-developed road infrastructure and existing automotive and electronics supply chains.
\n
Countries facing aging populations or driver shortages also present significant market and transformation opportunities, said Zhang.
\n
"Selected overseas markets — including the Middle East, Europe, Singapore and South Korea — share characteristics such as economic development, open policies and well-maintained infrastructure," he said.
\n
Markets such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia are particularly attractive.
\n
In Abu Dhabi, regulators have rolled out "green channel" policies to fast-track approvals, enabling WeRide and Pony.ai to launch pilot fleets of robotaxis and driverless buses.
\n
Singapore, with its well-established tech ecosystem and controlled urban environment, has positioned itself as a laboratory for next-generation mobility.
\n
By gaining a foothold in these regions, Chinese companies can showcase their technology in real-world settings, while also building brand recognition far beyond their home base.
\n
Sharing risks
\n
The strategy also reflects pressure from investors. For venture-backed companies in a capital-intensive industry, "going global" serves as a compelling narrative to demonstrate growth potential and resilience.
\n
International expansion is not just about new roads to drive on — it is about staying in the race for relevance and survival in a sector where timelines are long and costs are enormous.
\n
WeRide, in a written reply to China Daily, acknowledged that expanding internationally provides "rich opportunities for financing and business development". It echoed Pony.ai's Zhang's answer that "international expansion is driven by commercial opportunity".
\n
That also explains in part why Chinese autonomous driving companies are partnering with global mobility giants like Uber, which is seen as a win-win and risk-sharing solution, to make inroads into overseas ride-hailing markets.
\n
According to the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility, robotaxis are expected to become commercially available on a large scale by 2030.
\n
For Uber, which has wound down its own in-house autonomous driving unit, the partnerships represent a strategic bet on outsourcing core technology while focusing on network scale and user engagement, said analysts.
\n
"First, it must be affordable for consumers, but at the same time, it also needs to be profitable for service providers," said Philipp Kampshoff, a senior partner at McKinsey.
\n
Southeast Asian super-app Grab, which offers ride-hailing and food delivery services, announced in August that it will invest tens of millions of dollars in WeRide, in a deal aimed at speeding up the rollout of Level 4 robotaxis and other self-driving vehicles across Southeast Asia.
\n
Roadblocks in US
\n
While Chinese autonomous driving enterprises expand actively overseas, US companies have largely remained focused on domestic operations.
\n
Waymo, owned by Alphabet, operates its Waymo One robotaxi service in Phoenix, Arizona, and San Francisco in California. It is testing logistics fleets under Waymo Via, but has yet to establish a commercial presence outside the US.
\n
Similarly, Cruise, backed by General Motors, concentrates on California and Arizona, where regulatory frameworks and urban infrastructure are familiar and predictable.
\n
The contrast is striking. Chinese companies such as WeRide, Pony.ai and Baidu pursue a "dual track" strategy: maintain domestic leadership while entering selected foreign markets where pilot programs are feasible and government support is accessible.
\n
This divergence stems from fundamental differences in market structure and strategic incentives.
\n
In the US, the domestic market is fragmented, concentrated in a very limited number of cities including Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin, Texas.
\n
It is also hindered by complex, inconsistent state and local regulatory hurdles and concerns about the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicle technology following high-profile incidents, such as those involving Tesla's Autopilot, resulting in challenges in achieving widespread public acceptance and trust.
\n
In contrast, Chinese companies have accumulated extensive experience in the home market over the years because of China's favorable policies and complex road conditions.
\n
WeRide, for example, operates Robotaxi networks across core urban areas, transportation hubs and large communities in countries including China, the UAE and Switzerland, and has accumulated over 2,200 days of safe operation.
\n
Other countries have shown interest in the new technology, and are both technologically and strategically ready for the rollout of products and technologies.
\n
Pony.ai's Zhang said he believes that Chinese companies have "inherent advantages" when exploring overseas markets.
\n
The combination of high population density, heavy traffic and complex road conditions in China has enabled local companies to handle difficult scenarios. A mature automotive industry and advanced vehicle intelligence also help facilitate faster deployment in foreign markets, said Zhang.
\n
"The robotaxi industry may appear crowded and fiercely competitive, but in reality, the technical barriers are extremely high, so there are actually only a handful of true players at the table — and China's autonomous driving technology is among the most advanced in the world," he said.
\n
Technical adaptation
\n
Despite early successes, overseas expansion will not be without bumps for Chinese autonomous vehicle companies, said analysts.
\n
One thing is technical adaptation. Systems calibrated for Chinese megacities may require substantial recalibration for Singapore, Abu Dhabi, or other foreign urban environments, they said.
\n
Also, regulatory uncertainty persists. Even in markets that appear welcoming, policy changes can occur quickly, potentially limiting operational scope or requiring costly adjustments. Compliance with local safety and liability standards adds complexity to international operations.
\n
The right business model and profitability pressures need addressing. While pilot programs and partnerships can demonstrate technological capability, achieving sustainable revenue in robotaxis, unmanned buses, or delivery vehicles remains a challenge.
\n
But Chinese autonomous driving companies are firm in their targeted and phased international expansion strategy.
\n
"Strategically, we definitely have the ambition to go global," said Pony.ai founder and CEO Peng. "Because mobility needs are everywhere. Using technology to have a positive societal impact should be our ambition."
\n
The broader implication is a shift in the global autonomous vehicle landscape. While US companies have traditionally defined the frontier, Chinese enterprises are now asserting their presence beyond national borders, demonstrating that the next phase of mobility innovation will be increasingly international and competitive.
\n
lifusheng@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Robotaxis owned by autonomous driving company Pony.ai operate in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in May.
\n
The screen of a robotaxi operating in March in Guangzhou, Guangdong, shows the road condition.
\n
A driverless minibus operates in Barcelona, Spain, in March. The pilot service was the result of cooperation between Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide and France's Renault Group.
\n
A passenger gets on an autonomous driving bus in Chongqing's Yongchuan district in April.
\n
On a brisk Friday morning in early September, a fleet of light blue cars glided quietly in front of the Amiri Diwan — the imposing building housing the seat of governance — in Doha, capital of Qatar.
\n
For most passersby, the sight probably looked like nothing more than regular vehicles navigating through traffic. But for Pony.ai, the fleet marked something bigger — the official start of its robotaxi testing in the Middle Eastern country.
\n
The leading Chinese autonomous driving company has formed a strategic partnership with Qatar's national transport company, Mowasalat, to advance autonomous driving technology and vehicle deployment in Qatar.
\n
The collaboration came two months after Pony.ai's partnership with Dubai's Road and Traffic Authority in the United Arab Emirates. Robotaxi tests will start later this year, with driverless robotaxis scheduled to start commercial operations in 2026.
\n
Pony.ai's expansion is part of a broader trend of Chinese autonomous vehicle companies stepping beyond their home market at an accelerating pace.
\n
In early September, WeRide announced its robotaxis would soon arrive in Singapore. The autonomous driving company, based in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, said the vehicles will be deployed later this year with a local mobility service provider.
\n
The robotaxis follow the start of WeRide's robobus service on Singapore's Sentosa island in July.
\n
The robobus, equipped with 360-degree vision and capable of detecting obstacles more than 200 meters away, operates on a fixed 1.2-kilometer loop every 12 minutes, connecting three hotels and T Galleria shopping mall.
\n
Since late last year, WeRide's robosweepers have been working along Marina Coastal Drive and at the Esplanade, as Singapore's first commercial autonomous sanitation projects.
\n
Chinese companies have also joined hands with global ride-hailing platforms like Uber to speed up their rollout and expand the availability of their services.
\n
During the International Motor Show Germany, officially known as IAA Mobility, in Munich this month, Momenta, backed by investors such as Mercedes-Benz and SAIC, said it would begin rolling out robotaxi services on the Uber network in early 2026, starting in the German city.
\n
The initial deployments will have safety operators onboard. "This partnership completes a critical piece of our global scaling puzzle," said Cao Xudong, Momenta's founder and CEO.
\n
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi described the deal as a significant step toward delivering "more reliable and affordable autonomous mobility" to users worldwide.
\n
Toyota-backed Pony.ai is partnering with Uber as well, and is expected to first launch its service in a key market in the Middle East later this year, with a goal of scaling deployments to additional international markets in the future.
\n
WeRide is expanding its existing cooperation with Uber to 15 additional cities outside China and the United States over the next five years.
\n
The two companies started their cooperation in September 2024, and launched commercial robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, last December, with the fleet to include 50 vehicles by mid-2025.
\n
"We are taking this partnership to a new level," said Tony Han, founder and CEO of WeRide. "This reflects our joint ambition to make autonomous mobility accessible and affordable across the globe."
\n
Domestic strengths
\n
The flurry of announcements signals the start of the globalization of China's autonomous driving sector.
\n
Over the past years, China has become one of the most vibrant testing grounds for autonomous vehicles, with dozens of companies piloting robotaxis in cities from Beijing and Shanghai to Wuhan in Central China's Hubei province and Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong.
\n
Statistics show that as of August 2024, Chinese public security authorities had issued 16,000 test licenses for autonomous vehicles and more than 32,000 km of roads had been opened for testing across the country.
\n
"Autonomous driving is a national strategic priority. Policies like the 14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Digital Economy and directives supporting AI demonstration projects clearly define the technology development path," said Zhang Ning, Pony.ai's vice-president.
\n
Zhang, who is also head of the company's Beijing R&D center, said over 50 Chinese cities have local regulations supporting testing and commercialization, with 20 cities designated for integrated "vehicle-road-cloud" pilot programs. This scale is not seen in any other country.
\n
The favorable policies, combined with China's edge in computer and artificial intelligence-related technology and its vast population and complex road conditions, have seen autonomous driving companies making rapid progress.
\n
In April, Pony.ai unveiled its seventh-generation automotive-grade system at the Shanghai auto show. With a designed life of 10 years or 600,000 km, it features a 70 percent reduction in hardware costs compared with the previous edition, said the autonomous driving company.
\n
Its autonomous vehicles have accumulated over 50 million km in mileage, including daily commercial operations in some of China's megacities, including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as testing in other parts of the world.
\n
China also boasts a pool of outstanding talent in the autonomous driving sector and the wider technology sector.
\n
In late August, James Peng, Pony.ai's founder and CEO, was named on the TIME AI 100 list, recognizing him as one of the most influential figures in AI globally.
\n
Also on the list were also Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, Unitree Robotics CEO Wang Xingxing and DeepSeek CEO Liang Wenfeng.
\n
In the same month, WeRide's founder and CEO Han was invited by the Singaporean government to join the country's steering committee on autonomous vehicles. The committee brings together leaders from the autonomous vehicle and public transport industries, union representatives, and various government bodies to guide the progressive rollout of autonomous vehicles in Singapore.
\n
Rapid replication
\n
Zhang from Pony.ai said the current technological readiness of autonomous driving enables rapid replication and deployment, forming the foundation for commercial exploration in overseas markets. Many countries outside China and the US are actively promoting autonomous driving to address challenges such as aging populations, creating new opportunities for technology deployment abroad, he said.
\n
Pony.ai emphasizes that international expansion is driven by commercial opportunity, not for the sake of expansion itself, Zhang said. "Expanding internationally at this stage allows technology to reach more users and regions, generating social and economic impact," he said.
\n
Pony.ai prioritizes countries with a strong willingness to develop the autonomous driving technology and open policies that embrace innovation, he said. Other considerations include well-developed road infrastructure and existing automotive and electronics supply chains.
\n
Countries facing aging populations or driver shortages also present significant market and transformation opportunities, said Zhang.
\n
"Selected overseas markets — including the Middle East, Europe, Singapore and South Korea — share characteristics such as economic development, open policies and well-maintained infrastructure," he said.
\n
Markets such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia are particularly attractive.
\n
In Abu Dhabi, regulators have rolled out "green channel" policies to fast-track approvals, enabling WeRide and Pony.ai to launch pilot fleets of robotaxis and driverless buses.
\n
Singapore, with its well-established tech ecosystem and controlled urban environment, has positioned itself as a laboratory for next-generation mobility.
\n
By gaining a foothold in these regions, Chinese companies can showcase their technology in real-world settings, while also building brand recognition far beyond their home base.
\n
Sharing risks
\n
The strategy also reflects pressure from investors. For venture-backed companies in a capital-intensive industry, "going global" serves as a compelling narrative to demonstrate growth potential and resilience.
\n
International expansion is not just about new roads to drive on — it is about staying in the race for relevance and survival in a sector where timelines are long and costs are enormous.
\n
WeRide, in a written reply to China Daily, acknowledged that expanding internationally provides "rich opportunities for financing and business development". It echoed Pony.ai's Zhang's answer that "international expansion is driven by commercial opportunity".
\n
That also explains in part why Chinese autonomous driving companies are partnering with global mobility giants like Uber, which is seen as a win-win and risk-sharing solution, to make inroads into overseas ride-hailing markets.
\n
According to the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility, robotaxis are expected to become commercially available on a large scale by 2030.
\n
For Uber, which has wound down its own in-house autonomous driving unit, the partnerships represent a strategic bet on outsourcing core technology while focusing on network scale and user engagement, said analysts.
\n
"First, it must be affordable for consumers, but at the same time, it also needs to be profitable for service providers," said Philipp Kampshoff, a senior partner at McKinsey.
\n
Southeast Asian super-app Grab, which offers ride-hailing and food delivery services, announced in August that it will invest tens of millions of dollars in WeRide, in a deal aimed at speeding up the rollout of Level 4 robotaxis and other self-driving vehicles across Southeast Asia.
\n
Roadblocks in US
\n
While Chinese autonomous driving enterprises expand actively overseas, US companies have largely remained focused on domestic operations.
\n
Waymo, owned by Alphabet, operates its Waymo One robotaxi service in Phoenix, Arizona, and San Francisco in California. It is testing logistics fleets under Waymo Via, but has yet to establish a commercial presence outside the US.
\n
Similarly, Cruise, backed by General Motors, concentrates on California and Arizona, where regulatory frameworks and urban infrastructure are familiar and predictable.
\n
The contrast is striking. Chinese companies such as WeRide, Pony.ai and Baidu pursue a "dual track" strategy: maintain domestic leadership while entering selected foreign markets where pilot programs are feasible and government support is accessible.
\n
This divergence stems from fundamental differences in market structure and strategic incentives.
\n
In the US, the domestic market is fragmented, concentrated in a very limited number of cities including Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin, Texas.
\n
It is also hindered by complex, inconsistent state and local regulatory hurdles and concerns about the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicle technology following high-profile incidents, such as those involving Tesla's Autopilot, resulting in challenges in achieving widespread public acceptance and trust.
\n
In contrast, Chinese companies have accumulated extensive experience in the home market over the years because of China's favorable policies and complex road conditions.
\n
WeRide, for example, operates Robotaxi networks across core urban areas, transportation hubs and large communities in countries including China, the UAE and Switzerland, and has accumulated over 2,200 days of safe operation.
\n
Other countries have shown interest in the new technology, and are both technologically and strategically ready for the rollout of products and technologies.
\n
Pony.ai's Zhang said he believes that Chinese companies have "inherent advantages" when exploring overseas markets.
\n
The combination of high population density, heavy traffic and complex road conditions in China has enabled local companies to handle difficult scenarios. A mature automotive industry and advanced vehicle intelligence also help facilitate faster deployment in foreign markets, said Zhang.
\n
"The robotaxi industry may appear crowded and fiercely competitive, but in reality, the technical barriers are extremely high, so there are actually only a handful of true players at the table — and China's autonomous driving technology is among the most advanced in the world," he said.
\n
Technical adaptation
\n
Despite early successes, overseas expansion will not be without bumps for Chinese autonomous vehicle companies, said analysts.
\n
One thing is technical adaptation. Systems calibrated for Chinese megacities may require substantial recalibration for Singapore, Abu Dhabi, or other foreign urban environments, they said.
\n
Also, regulatory uncertainty persists. Even in markets that appear welcoming, policy changes can occur quickly, potentially limiting operational scope or requiring costly adjustments. Compliance with local safety and liability standards adds complexity to international operations.
\n
The right business model and profitability pressures need addressing. While pilot programs and partnerships can demonstrate technological capability, achieving sustainable revenue in robotaxis, unmanned buses, or delivery vehicles remains a challenge.
\n
But Chinese autonomous driving companies are firm in their targeted and phased international expansion strategy.
\n
"Strategically, we definitely have the ambition to go global," said Pony.ai founder and CEO Peng. "Because mobility needs are everywhere. Using technology to have a positive societal impact should be our ambition."
\n
The broader implication is a shift in the global autonomous vehicle landscape. While US companies have traditionally defined the frontier, Chinese enterprises are now asserting their presence beyond national borders, demonstrating that the next phase of mobility innovation will be increasingly international and competitive.
Experts have underscored the vital importance of vocational education and high-level skills in driving economic growth, fostering innovation and achieving strategic national goals.
\n
Vocational skills development serves as a cornerstone for individual empowerment, industrial upgrading and technological self-reliance, they said, at the recently concluded 3rd Vocational Skills Competition of the People's Republic of China in Zhengzhou, Henan province, drawing widespread attention to the country's skilled talent pool.
\n
Xie Jingrong, vice-chairman of the China Vocational Education Association, said vocational education is essential to national socioeconomic development.
\n
He stressed that its core mission remains helping people "secure employment, find joy in work and achieve entrepreneurial success".
\n
In his view, vocational education is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between learning and earning, especially as industries evolve.
\n
Still, Xie acknowledged persistent challenges: a cultural preference for academic education, a misalignment between the fast pace of industrial upgrading and slower educational adaptation, and a shortfall in the number of teachers who are truly proficient in practical skills.
\n
He called for deeper cooperation between schools and enterprises to ensure that training closely follows the needs of industry and proactively aligns with emerging sectors.
\n
Elaborating on the practical impact of high-level skills, Hao Chunyu, chief technician at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, shared his experiences producing cable networks for major aerospace programs, including the Shenzhou spacecraft, the Tiangong space station and lunar exploration missions.
\n
Specific breakthroughs — such as developing cables for the Chang'e-5 probe that can withstand the moon's 300 C temperature variations and reducing the weight of satellite cable networks by 36 percent for the Beidou-3 system — have illustrated how skilled technical talent can drive innovation, lower costs and help achieve technological self-reliance, he said.
\n
Through his State-supported master training studio, Hao has also cultivated more than 40 skilled professionals using a blended training model that combines written guidelines, instructional videos and hands-on practice.
\n
Highly skilled workers serve as a crucial cornerstone of national strength and competitiveness, and significantly contribute to national security and social development, he said.
\n
"With our own hands, we will help fuel the magnificent journey of the Chinese nation as it explores the vast cosmos and pursues dreams among the stars."
\n
Song Yang, deputy general manager of Zhengzhou Jiean Hi-Tech Co, said that as China's suburban railway network expands rapidly to meet intercity transportation needs, a severe shortage of skilled workers — especially train drivers — has emerged. However, this gap also presents bright career prospects for vocational education graduates, he said.
\n
"The core issue is turning graduates into job-ready professionals quickly," Song noted.
\n
His company has developed a 1:1 simulated train driving system, which has attracted the attention of many visitors at the national competition. This system helps shorten the training cycle: students mastering it at school only need one to two months of corporate training to start working, he said.
\n
The career appeal is strong, too — new drivers earn 7,000 to 8,000 yuan ($983 to $1,123) monthly, and demand will grow as railway equipment upgrades.
\n
"Skilled workers who can operate advanced technology are invaluable," Song said, adding that such roles are highly important and promising.
\n
The push to train skilled suburban railway workers not only addresses industry needs but also highlights the value of vocational education, challenging outdated perceptions that vocational paths are less desirable than academic ones, he added.
\n
The vocational skills competition, which concluded recently in Zhengzhou, has attracted 3,420 participants competing in 106 events. As the country's premier vocational skills event, it also serves as a selection platform for the WorldSkills Competition, underscoring the national commitment to recognizing and nurturing skilled talent.
\n
For the first time, a special category for rural vitalization has been introduced. More than 50 percent of the events focus on smart manufacturing, the industrial internet and artificial intelligence, while 17 new professional categories highlight the latest trends in technological and skills development.
\n
Competitors, aged 16 to 57, include young vocational students and experienced front-line technicians.
\n
Among them, 58 percent are technical school students and 21 percent are enterprise employees. Participants with bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees make up 33 percent of the participants, possessing qualifications with concentrations in advanced technical fields such as smart manufacturing and high-end equipment.
\n
zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Experts have underscored the vital importance of vocational education and high-level skills in driving economic growth, fostering innovation and achieving strategic national goals.
\n
Vocational skills development serves as a cornerstone for individual empowerment, industrial upgrading and technological self-reliance, they said, at the recently concluded 3rd Vocational Skills Competition of the People's Republic of China in Zhengzhou, Henan province, drawing widespread attention to the country's skilled talent pool.
\n
Xie Jingrong, vice-chairman of the China Vocational Education Association, said vocational education is essential to national socioeconomic development.
\n
He stressed that its core mission remains helping people "secure employment, find joy in work and achieve entrepreneurial success".
\n
In his view, vocational education is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between learning and earning, especially as industries evolve.
\n
Still, Xie acknowledged persistent challenges: a cultural preference for academic education, a misalignment between the fast pace of industrial upgrading and slower educational adaptation, and a shortfall in the number of teachers who are truly proficient in practical skills.
\n
He called for deeper cooperation between schools and enterprises to ensure that training closely follows the needs of industry and proactively aligns with emerging sectors.
\n
Elaborating on the practical impact of high-level skills, Hao Chunyu, chief technician at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, shared his experiences producing cable networks for major aerospace programs, including the Shenzhou spacecraft, the Tiangong space station and lunar exploration missions.
\n
Specific breakthroughs — such as developing cables for the Chang'e-5 probe that can withstand the moon's 300 C temperature variations and reducing the weight of satellite cable networks by 36 percent for the Beidou-3 system — have illustrated how skilled technical talent can drive innovation, lower costs and help achieve technological self-reliance, he said.
\n
Through his State-supported master training studio, Hao has also cultivated more than 40 skilled professionals using a blended training model that combines written guidelines, instructional videos and hands-on practice.
\n
Highly skilled workers serve as a crucial cornerstone of national strength and competitiveness, and significantly contribute to national security and social development, he said.
\n
"With our own hands, we will help fuel the magnificent journey of the Chinese nation as it explores the vast cosmos and pursues dreams among the stars."
\n
Song Yang, deputy general manager of Zhengzhou Jiean Hi-Tech Co, said that as China's suburban railway network expands rapidly to meet intercity transportation needs, a severe shortage of skilled workers — especially train drivers — has emerged. However, this gap also presents bright career prospects for vocational education graduates, he said.
\n
"The core issue is turning graduates into job-ready professionals quickly," Song noted.
\n
His company has developed a 1:1 simulated train driving system, which has attracted the attention of many visitors at the national competition. This system helps shorten the training cycle: students mastering it at school only need one to two months of corporate training to start working, he said.
\n
The career appeal is strong, too — new drivers earn 7,000 to 8,000 yuan ($983 to $1,123) monthly, and demand will grow as railway equipment upgrades.
\n
"Skilled workers who can operate advanced technology are invaluable," Song said, adding that such roles are highly important and promising.
\n
The push to train skilled suburban railway workers not only addresses industry needs but also highlights the value of vocational education, challenging outdated perceptions that vocational paths are less desirable than academic ones, he added.
\n
The vocational skills competition, which concluded recently in Zhengzhou, has attracted 3,420 participants competing in 106 events. As the country's premier vocational skills event, it also serves as a selection platform for the WorldSkills Competition, underscoring the national commitment to recognizing and nurturing skilled talent.
\n
For the first time, a special category for rural vitalization has been introduced. More than 50 percent of the events focus on smart manufacturing, the industrial internet and artificial intelligence, while 17 new professional categories highlight the latest trends in technological and skills development.
\n
Competitors, aged 16 to 57, include young vocational students and experienced front-line technicians.
\n
Among them, 58 percent are technical school students and 21 percent are enterprise employees. Participants with bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees make up 33 percent of the participants, possessing qualifications with concentrations in advanced technical fields such as smart manufacturing and high-end equipment.
A new guideline has been introduced to prohibit city- and provincial-level high schools from luring outstanding principals and teachers away from county-level schools, a move designed to address the decline in education quality at county high schools.
\n
The guideline also explicitly bans such high schools from recruiting top students from county-level schools.
\n
With nearly 60 percent of high school students in China studying at county-level schools, the performance of these institutions is crucial to the development and future of more than 16.7 million students. However, in recent years, many high-achieving teachers and students have been drawn to better-equipped urban schools, leading to what has been described as the "collapse of county-level high schools".
\n
The comprehensive plan, rolled out to revitalize ordinary high schools in county-level areas, aims to tackle existing irregularities and shortcomings while promoting high-quality educational development in less-developed regions.
\n
Issued by the Ministry of Education and five other departments on Friday, the guideline outlines a systematic approach to strengthening county-level high school education. By 2030, the plan aims to improve the resource supply mechanism for ordinary high schools in line with the growing school-age population and to optimize the distribution of schools.
\n
It also seeks to enhance coordination between urban and rural education, narrow the development gap among high schools within the same city and establish a pattern of quality, distinctive and diversified development.
\n
The plan emphasizes correcting the tendency among high schools to focus solely on university enrollment rates and calls for deepening evaluation reform.
\n
Additionally, provincial-level authorities are required to specify daily schedules and vacation periods for high school students, including winter and summer breaks. Schools are prohibited from organizing make-up classes or assessments on weekends, holidays or during vacations.
\n
Moreover, efforts will be made to address shortcomings in infrastructure at county-level high schools, with a focus on classrooms, laboratories, libraries, sports grounds and student dormitories.
\n
Authorities will promptly fill vacancies in understaffed subjects, and outstanding teachers from urban high schools will be encouraged to teach at county schools, the guideline said.
\n
Greater support will be provided in professional title evaluation, appointment and compensation at county high schools to cultivate a group of leading teachers.
\n
Support will also be given to county-level high schools in building smart classrooms, making full use of national and provincial smart education platforms, and encouraging urban high schools to share high-quality digital education resources with county schools. Teachers' digital literacy will be enhanced to support these upgrades, it added.
\n
During a recent news conference, Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng said revitalizing county-level high schools is a key priority in building a fair and high-quality basic education system. They play a crucial role in strengthening education, advancing rural vitalization, promoting new urbanization and supporting high-quality population development, he said.
\n
"The quality of county high schools directly affects the growth and future of tens of thousands of students, particularly those from rural areas. Therefore, revitalizing these schools is not an option — it is a necessity. It is a matter of fundamental fairness and warmth in education," Huai said.
\n
Through the thorough implementation of the national guideline, authorities aim to make continuous efforts to strengthen and improve these schools, significantly narrow the development gap between urban and rural ordinary high schools, and enable rural students to access high-quality educational resources close to home, he said.
\n
zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
A new guideline has been introduced to prohibit city- and provincial-level high schools from luring outstanding principals and teachers away from county-level schools, a move designed to address the decline in education quality at county high schools.
\n
The guideline also explicitly bans such high schools from recruiting top students from county-level schools.
\n
With nearly 60 percent of high school students in China studying at county-level schools, the performance of these institutions is crucial to the development and future of more than 16.7 million students. However, in recent years, many high-achieving teachers and students have been drawn to better-equipped urban schools, leading to what has been described as the "collapse of county-level high schools".
\n
The comprehensive plan, rolled out to revitalize ordinary high schools in county-level areas, aims to tackle existing irregularities and shortcomings while promoting high-quality educational development in less-developed regions.
\n
Issued by the Ministry of Education and five other departments on Friday, the guideline outlines a systematic approach to strengthening county-level high school education. By 2030, the plan aims to improve the resource supply mechanism for ordinary high schools in line with the growing school-age population and to optimize the distribution of schools.
\n
It also seeks to enhance coordination between urban and rural education, narrow the development gap among high schools within the same city and establish a pattern of quality, distinctive and diversified development.
\n
The plan emphasizes correcting the tendency among high schools to focus solely on university enrollment rates and calls for deepening evaluation reform.
\n
Additionally, provincial-level authorities are required to specify daily schedules and vacation periods for high school students, including winter and summer breaks. Schools are prohibited from organizing make-up classes or assessments on weekends, holidays or during vacations.
\n
Moreover, efforts will be made to address shortcomings in infrastructure at county-level high schools, with a focus on classrooms, laboratories, libraries, sports grounds and student dormitories.
\n
Authorities will promptly fill vacancies in understaffed subjects, and outstanding teachers from urban high schools will be encouraged to teach at county schools, the guideline said.
\n
Greater support will be provided in professional title evaluation, appointment and compensation at county high schools to cultivate a group of leading teachers.
\n
Support will also be given to county-level high schools in building smart classrooms, making full use of national and provincial smart education platforms, and encouraging urban high schools to share high-quality digital education resources with county schools. Teachers' digital literacy will be enhanced to support these upgrades, it added.
\n
During a recent news conference, Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng said revitalizing county-level high schools is a key priority in building a fair and high-quality basic education system. They play a crucial role in strengthening education, advancing rural vitalization, promoting new urbanization and supporting high-quality population development, he said.
\n
"The quality of county high schools directly affects the growth and future of tens of thousands of students, particularly those from rural areas. Therefore, revitalizing these schools is not an option — it is a necessity. It is a matter of fundamental fairness and warmth in education," Huai said.
\n
Through the thorough implementation of the national guideline, authorities aim to make continuous efforts to strengthen and improve these schools, significantly narrow the development gap between urban and rural ordinary high schools, and enable rural students to access high-quality educational resources close to home, he said.
Calligraphy enthusiasts write the 2025 Belt and Road Initiative's Chinese character of the year, yong, at the release event in Chongqing's Yongchuan district, on Sunday.
\n
CHONGQING — The 2025 Belt and Road Initiative annual Chinese character release event took place on Sunday in Chongqing's Yongchuan district, where the character of the year — yong, meaning "everlasting" — was officially announced.
\n
Co-hosted by the China Public Relations Association and the People's Government of Yongchuan District, the event saw the character selected from a shortlist of nine contenders, which also include kai (openness), lian (connectivity) and wen (stability).
\n
Guo Weimin, president of the CPRA, noted that Chinese characters are key to cross-cultural communication and international outreach. The event aims to further promote Chinese culture, extend the reach and appeal of the Chinese civilization and facilitate people-to-people exchanges among BRI countries.
\n
Huang Tianshu, a professor at Tsinghua University, explained that the character yong, resembling ripples in water, symbolizes the flow of time and the enduring nature of Chinese culture. He emphasized that yong represents both historical continuity and a hopeful vision for lasting cooperation and friendship.
\n
Youth representatives from countries such as China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Laos attended the event.
\n
The annual Chinese character release event has been held since 2016, with previous Chinese characters including he (harmony), xin (innovation) and gong (together).
\n",
+ "content": "
Calligraphy enthusiasts write the 2025 Belt and Road Initiative's Chinese character of the year, yong, at the release event in Chongqing's Yongchuan district, on Sunday.
\n
CHONGQING — The 2025 Belt and Road Initiative annual Chinese character release event took place on Sunday in Chongqing's Yongchuan district, where the character of the year — yong, meaning "everlasting" — was officially announced.
\n
Co-hosted by the China Public Relations Association and the People's Government of Yongchuan District, the event saw the character selected from a shortlist of nine contenders, which also include kai (openness), lian (connectivity) and wen (stability).
\n
Guo Weimin, president of the CPRA, noted that Chinese characters are key to cross-cultural communication and international outreach. The event aims to further promote Chinese culture, extend the reach and appeal of the Chinese civilization and facilitate people-to-people exchanges among BRI countries.
\n
Huang Tianshu, a professor at Tsinghua University, explained that the character yong, resembling ripples in water, symbolizes the flow of time and the enduring nature of Chinese culture. He emphasized that yong represents both historical continuity and a hopeful vision for lasting cooperation and friendship.
\n
Youth representatives from countries such as China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia and Laos attended the event.
\n
The annual Chinese character release event has been held since 2016, with previous Chinese characters including he (harmony), xin (innovation) and gong (together).
Jobseekers bustle at a high-level recruitment fair, which is part of the 2025 Hangzhou International Human Resources Exchange and Cooperation Conference, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sunday. Over 6,000 job opportunities were open to graduates, foreign talent and experienced professionals, with over 93 percent offering monthly salaries above 10,000 yuan.
\n",
+ "content": "
Jobseekers bustle at a high-level recruitment fair, which is part of the 2025 Hangzhou International Human Resources Exchange and Cooperation Conference, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sunday. Over 6,000 job opportunities were open to graduates, foreign talent and experienced professionals, with over 93 percent offering monthly salaries above 10,000 yuan.
Thirty-nine members of a family-run syndicate based in northern Myanmar have been convicted of multiple crimes, including killing 14 Chinese nationals and injuring six others, a Chinese court announced on Monday.
\n
The Wenzhou Intermediate People's Court in East China's Zhejiang province found the defendants guilty of 14 offenses, which range from fraud and intentional injury to intentional homicide. Sentences were handed down based on each convicted person's criminal acts, circumstances and the degree of harm caused to society, the court said.
\n
Eleven people, including ringleaders Mg Myin Shaunt Phyin and Ma Thiri Maung, were sentenced to death. Five others received death sentences with a two-year reprieve, and 11 were given life imprisonment.
\n
In China, a suspended death sentence is typically commuted to life imprisonment if the convicted person commits no new offenses during the two-year probation period. The sentence can be further reduced for good behavior.
\n
The remaining defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to 24 years. Several were also fined or had their properties confiscated, while others were scheduled for deportation, according to the court.
\n
The court said the criminal group had used its influence in Myanmar's Kokang region to build an armed faction and commit a range of offenses since 2015. It established scam compounds in the area and collaborated with other gangs that provided funding and armed support. Their activities included telecom fraud, casino operations, drug trafficking and organized prostitution.
\n
The syndicate's crimes resulted in 14 deaths of Chinese nationals and injuries to six others, with total proceeds from gambling and fraud exceeding 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion), the court said.
\n
More than 160 people, including family members of the defendants as well as national lawmakers and political advisers, attended the sentencing.
\n
The case has drawn wide public attention since 2023. In November that year, the Wenzhou public security department issued a wanted notice for the group's suspected leaders. Following law enforcement cooperation between China and Myanmar, three key members were captured and handed over to Chinese police for investigation.
\n
In 2024, prosecutors charged the 39 members with multiple crimes, including conducting telecom fraud targeting residents in China.
\n
In recent years, China has intensified its campaign against telecom fraud and sent working groups to countries such as Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia for joint law enforcement efforts.
\n
In July, the Ministry of Public Security said Chinese police had solved 1.74 million telecom fraud cases during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25). The joint operations dismantled more than 2,000 overseas fraud centers and led to the capture of over 80,000 suspects.
\n
caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Thirty-nine members of a family-run syndicate based in northern Myanmar have been convicted of multiple crimes, including killing 14 Chinese nationals and injuring six others, a Chinese court announced on Monday.
\n
The Wenzhou Intermediate People's Court in East China's Zhejiang province found the defendants guilty of 14 offenses, which range from fraud and intentional injury to intentional homicide. Sentences were handed down based on each convicted person's criminal acts, circumstances and the degree of harm caused to society, the court said.
\n
Eleven people, including ringleaders Mg Myin Shaunt Phyin and Ma Thiri Maung, were sentenced to death. Five others received death sentences with a two-year reprieve, and 11 were given life imprisonment.
\n
In China, a suspended death sentence is typically commuted to life imprisonment if the convicted person commits no new offenses during the two-year probation period. The sentence can be further reduced for good behavior.
\n
The remaining defendants were sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to 24 years. Several were also fined or had their properties confiscated, while others were scheduled for deportation, according to the court.
\n
The court said the criminal group had used its influence in Myanmar's Kokang region to build an armed faction and commit a range of offenses since 2015. It established scam compounds in the area and collaborated with other gangs that provided funding and armed support. Their activities included telecom fraud, casino operations, drug trafficking and organized prostitution.
\n
The syndicate's crimes resulted in 14 deaths of Chinese nationals and injuries to six others, with total proceeds from gambling and fraud exceeding 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion), the court said.
\n
More than 160 people, including family members of the defendants as well as national lawmakers and political advisers, attended the sentencing.
\n
The case has drawn wide public attention since 2023. In November that year, the Wenzhou public security department issued a wanted notice for the group's suspected leaders. Following law enforcement cooperation between China and Myanmar, three key members were captured and handed over to Chinese police for investigation.
\n
In 2024, prosecutors charged the 39 members with multiple crimes, including conducting telecom fraud targeting residents in China.
\n
In recent years, China has intensified its campaign against telecom fraud and sent working groups to countries such as Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia for joint law enforcement efforts.
\n
In July, the Ministry of Public Security said Chinese police had solved 1.74 million telecom fraud cases during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25). The joint operations dismantled more than 2,000 overseas fraud centers and led to the capture of over 80,000 suspects.
The Long March 2D, one of the most reliable and successful models of carrier rockets in China, conducted its 100th flight on Monday morning from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, sending two experimental satellites into space.
\n
The rocket blasted off at 11 am from a mountain-surrounded service tower, and then successfully placed the Shiyan 30A and 30B satellites into their preset orbital positions, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the launch mission's contractor.
\n
All of the Long March 2D type's 100 launches have been successful. It is known as a "gold-medal rocket model" in China's space industry.
\n
Those missions deployed a total of 316 scientific, remote-sensing, technology demonstration and other kinds of satellites into space.
\n
In addition to Chinese satellites, the model has also lifted satellites for a number of foreign clients from countries such as Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, the Netherlands, Argentina and Pakistan.
\n
Designed and manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a CASC subsidiary, the Long March 2D made its maiden flight in August 1992, transporting a recoverable Earth-observation satellite into orbit.
\n
The 40.6-meter rocket has a diameter of 3.35 meters and a liftoff weight of 251 metric tons.
\n
Its typical tasks are to transport satellites to low-Earth or sun-synchronous orbits.
\n
It is capable of sending a 1.3-ton spacecraft to a sun-synchronous orbit with an altitude of 700 kilometers, or satellites with a combined weight of 4 tons to a low-Earth orbit.
\n
Besides its reliability, the rocket also features technologies that enable it to de-orbit after putting payloads in orbit, contributing to the mitigation of space debris and sparing of orbital resources, designers said.
\n
Monday's launch has made Long March 2D the second rocket model to have reached 100 flights, following the Long March 3B that achieved such a feat in December 2024. It also marked the 598th mission of the Long March family and China's 60th rocket launch in 2025.
\n
In June 2023, the model's 76th flight transported 41 satellites into their orbital positions, setting a national record for the most spacecraft launched in a single mission.
\n
zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
The Long March 2D, one of the most reliable and successful models of carrier rockets in China, conducted its 100th flight on Monday morning from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, sending two experimental satellites into space.
\n
The rocket blasted off at 11 am from a mountain-surrounded service tower, and then successfully placed the Shiyan 30A and 30B satellites into their preset orbital positions, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the launch mission's contractor.
\n
All of the Long March 2D type's 100 launches have been successful. It is known as a "gold-medal rocket model" in China's space industry.
\n
Those missions deployed a total of 316 scientific, remote-sensing, technology demonstration and other kinds of satellites into space.
\n
In addition to Chinese satellites, the model has also lifted satellites for a number of foreign clients from countries such as Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, the Netherlands, Argentina and Pakistan.
\n
Designed and manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, a CASC subsidiary, the Long March 2D made its maiden flight in August 1992, transporting a recoverable Earth-observation satellite into orbit.
\n
The 40.6-meter rocket has a diameter of 3.35 meters and a liftoff weight of 251 metric tons.
\n
Its typical tasks are to transport satellites to low-Earth or sun-synchronous orbits.
\n
It is capable of sending a 1.3-ton spacecraft to a sun-synchronous orbit with an altitude of 700 kilometers, or satellites with a combined weight of 4 tons to a low-Earth orbit.
\n
Besides its reliability, the rocket also features technologies that enable it to de-orbit after putting payloads in orbit, contributing to the mitigation of space debris and sparing of orbital resources, designers said.
\n
Monday's launch has made Long March 2D the second rocket model to have reached 100 flights, following the Long March 3B that achieved such a feat in December 2024. It also marked the 598th mission of the Long March family and China's 60th rocket launch in 2025.
\n
In June 2023, the model's 76th flight transported 41 satellites into their orbital positions, setting a national record for the most spacecraft launched in a single mission.
The Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence at Fudan University announced that it will establish a joint laboratory with a domestic hospital management enterprise centered on the early prediction of brain disorders on Monday, the 10th anniversary of the institute's founding.
\n
The facility aims to provide affordable early genetic testing for degenerative brain diseases, priced between 100 yuan ($14) and 200 yuan, said Feng Jianfeng, dean of the institute, in an exclusive interview recently.
\n
In collaboration with the China Railway 24th Bureau Group, the institute will also set up another lab to apply artificial intelligence and brain-inspired technologies to construction sites, aiming to enhance the capabilities of the country's construction sector.
\n
"The labs, each with an investment of 12 million yuan from the industrial partners, showcase how our scientific research is being practically applied in various industries," Feng said.
\n
Emphasizing that the future of medicine lies in prevention rather than treatment, Feng said the institute has developed techniques to conduct protein tests through blood samples, combined with other data and AI algorithms, to identify early signs of degenerative brain diseases, allowing for early intervention and prevention. The new labs are expected to facilitate the industrialization and commercialization of such research.
\n
In 2024, in collaboration with Shanghai Huashan Hospital, the institute achieved a breakthrough in devising a method to predict Alzheimer's disease up to 15 years in advance with 91 percent accuracy.
\n
Alzheimer's disease poses a significant burden in aging societies. Shanghai's latest government data showed that as of 2024, 5.77 million residents with permanent household registration in the city were age 60 and above, comprising 37.6 percent of Shanghai's population.
\n
"We pioneered the use of peripheral blood for such predictions in the research published in the journal Nature, avoiding the need for invasive procedures such as spinal taps and PET-CT scans," Feng said.
\n
Another major achievement was the creation of the world's first digital twin brain at the neuronal level. A news article in Nature Computational Science hailed the result as a milestone and a first-of-its-kind platform globally for advancing AI. Feng said the innovation holds promise for medicine, basic biological research and the future development of general AI.
\n
A third breakthrough involved brain-spine interface surgeries that enable paralyzed patients to control movements through their thoughts, allowing them to stand and walk again. Four such surgeries have been completed in Shanghai hospitals, Feng said.
\n
Such world-class achievements have attracted international attention and collaborations, significantly enhancing the global visibility and influence of the institute, which was the first of its kind at Chinese universities.
\n
"We were bombarded with emails from all over the world after those results were published. For example, scientists in the United States approached us to discuss possibilities of early breast cancer detection, and European scientists expressed interest in deploying our digital twin brain technology," Feng said.
\n
"Our brain-spine interface success led to collaboration requests as well as inquiries from foreign consulates about assisting their citizens," he said.
\n
Feng noted that the research capabilities of the institute are closely linked to the country's overall strength.
\n
"China's comprehensive national power and the pace of scientific development are escalating year by year, which in turn enhances the global influence and appeal of our research outputs," he said.
\n
The institute has attracted world-class experts, including computational neuroscientist Gunter Schumann, who joined as a distinguished professor in 2021. Leveraging Schumann's dataset tracking adolescent brain development over a decade and the strong data analysis capabilities of other members, the institute has made significant progress in this field, Feng said.
\n
"These foreign experts praised the mathematical and physical prowess of our young Chinese faculty and students, who have enabled them to achieve long-sought scientific goals. At the same time, Shanghai offers a conducive environment with world-class research facilities and data access," Feng said.
\n
"I enjoy working here with a team of colleagues who are very gifted and motivated. I find human resources are the most important. The students here are very smart, and the senior colleagues are of international standard, with strong neuroimaging capacities and passion for their work," Schumann said.
\n
Looking ahead, Feng said the institute aims to cultivate talent with original innovation who will become leading figures in the field and guide development in areas such as brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence, brain-inspired intelligence and big data applications.
\n
"I firmly believe that the most important aspect of scientific research is people, rather than computing power, algorithms or data," he said.
The Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence at Fudan University announced that it will establish a joint laboratory with a domestic hospital management enterprise centered on the early prediction of brain disorders on Monday, the 10th anniversary of the institute's founding.
\n
The facility aims to provide affordable early genetic testing for degenerative brain diseases, priced between 100 yuan ($14) and 200 yuan, said Feng Jianfeng, dean of the institute, in an exclusive interview recently.
\n
In collaboration with the China Railway 24th Bureau Group, the institute will also set up another lab to apply artificial intelligence and brain-inspired technologies to construction sites, aiming to enhance the capabilities of the country's construction sector.
\n
"The labs, each with an investment of 12 million yuan from the industrial partners, showcase how our scientific research is being practically applied in various industries," Feng said.
\n
Emphasizing that the future of medicine lies in prevention rather than treatment, Feng said the institute has developed techniques to conduct protein tests through blood samples, combined with other data and AI algorithms, to identify early signs of degenerative brain diseases, allowing for early intervention and prevention. The new labs are expected to facilitate the industrialization and commercialization of such research.
\n
In 2024, in collaboration with Shanghai Huashan Hospital, the institute achieved a breakthrough in devising a method to predict Alzheimer's disease up to 15 years in advance with 91 percent accuracy.
\n
Alzheimer's disease poses a significant burden in aging societies. Shanghai's latest government data showed that as of 2024, 5.77 million residents with permanent household registration in the city were age 60 and above, comprising 37.6 percent of Shanghai's population.
\n
"We pioneered the use of peripheral blood for such predictions in the research published in the journal Nature, avoiding the need for invasive procedures such as spinal taps and PET-CT scans," Feng said.
\n
Another major achievement was the creation of the world's first digital twin brain at the neuronal level. A news article in Nature Computational Science hailed the result as a milestone and a first-of-its-kind platform globally for advancing AI. Feng said the innovation holds promise for medicine, basic biological research and the future development of general AI.
\n
A third breakthrough involved brain-spine interface surgeries that enable paralyzed patients to control movements through their thoughts, allowing them to stand and walk again. Four such surgeries have been completed in Shanghai hospitals, Feng said.
\n
Such world-class achievements have attracted international attention and collaborations, significantly enhancing the global visibility and influence of the institute, which was the first of its kind at Chinese universities.
\n
"We were bombarded with emails from all over the world after those results were published. For example, scientists in the United States approached us to discuss possibilities of early breast cancer detection, and European scientists expressed interest in deploying our digital twin brain technology," Feng said.
\n
"Our brain-spine interface success led to collaboration requests as well as inquiries from foreign consulates about assisting their citizens," he said.
\n
Feng noted that the research capabilities of the institute are closely linked to the country's overall strength.
\n
"China's comprehensive national power and the pace of scientific development are escalating year by year, which in turn enhances the global influence and appeal of our research outputs," he said.
\n
The institute has attracted world-class experts, including computational neuroscientist Gunter Schumann, who joined as a distinguished professor in 2021. Leveraging Schumann's dataset tracking adolescent brain development over a decade and the strong data analysis capabilities of other members, the institute has made significant progress in this field, Feng said.
\n
"These foreign experts praised the mathematical and physical prowess of our young Chinese faculty and students, who have enabled them to achieve long-sought scientific goals. At the same time, Shanghai offers a conducive environment with world-class research facilities and data access," Feng said.
\n
"I enjoy working here with a team of colleagues who are very gifted and motivated. I find human resources are the most important. The students here are very smart, and the senior colleagues are of international standard, with strong neuroimaging capacities and passion for their work," Schumann said.
\n
Looking ahead, Feng said the institute aims to cultivate talent with original innovation who will become leading figures in the field and guide development in areas such as brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence, brain-inspired intelligence and big data applications.
\n
"I firmly believe that the most important aspect of scientific research is people, rather than computing power, algorithms or data," he said.
The world's first commercial underwater data center has successfully become operational off the coast of Hainan province, and the first sub-sea data hub powered by offshore wind is set to debut in Shanghai this October — a twin breakthrough advancing the nation's digital economy with greener infrastructure.
\n
The Hainan underwater data center project, developed by Beijing Highlander Digital Technology Co, and backed by Hainan State-owned assets supervision and administration commission, was launched in 2022 in Lingshui Li autonomous county, Hainan, and is an important part of the "East Data, West Computing" strategy.
\n
The project plans to deploy 100 data pods in three phases. The first phase was completed in November 2023 and the Hainan underwater AI computing center went live in February 2025.
\n
Using natural seawater cooling, the underwater and offshore facilities place servers in the ocean or on floating platforms to lower power use, operating closer to coastal users, with faster deployment, lower energy costs, less land use and greater reliability than land-based ones, Beijing Highlander said.
\n
The company is now developing the next step: an underwater facility integrated with offshore wind power in Shanghai's Lingang Special Area, with its launch date planned for Oct 15. The company said the model combines renewable energy and high-performance computing to meet surging global demand for low-carbon digital infrastructure.
\n
Pu Ding, general manager of Beijing Highlander's Hainan project, likened the company's role to that of a "real estate developer in the digital world", offering customized "computing shops" for clients such as Alibaba Cloud. Other user cases include large-scale AI model training, artificial intelligence big models and cloud services.
\n
As data demand continues to grow, the company estimates that China's demand for AI computing will rise 500-fold by 2030, while general computing demand will grow tenfold. Underwater data centers, Pu said, will help secure a first-mover advantage in the global race to build a greener and more efficient digital infrastructure.
\n
Gao Qingpeng, director at the department of foreign economic relations of the Development Research Center of the State Council, said: "Commercial underwater data centers are a new form of digital infrastructure. Though still in the exploratory stage, the project has already identified a potential path for Hainan to build a competitive edge in its digital economy.
\n
"For the energy-intensive data center industry, the projects offer a low-carbon — potentially even zero-carbon — alternative that could serve as a global pilot," Gao said.
\n
Highlander said its new project in Shanghai, which combines wind power and a shared marine cable, has lower costs than its land-based peers.
\n
Contact the writers at wangzhuoqiong@chinadaily.com.cn
The world's first commercial underwater data center has successfully become operational off the coast of Hainan province, and the first sub-sea data hub powered by offshore wind is set to debut in Shanghai this October — a twin breakthrough advancing the nation's digital economy with greener infrastructure.
\n
The Hainan underwater data center project, developed by Beijing Highlander Digital Technology Co, and backed by Hainan State-owned assets supervision and administration commission, was launched in 2022 in Lingshui Li autonomous county, Hainan, and is an important part of the "East Data, West Computing" strategy.
\n
The project plans to deploy 100 data pods in three phases. The first phase was completed in November 2023 and the Hainan underwater AI computing center went live in February 2025.
\n
Using natural seawater cooling, the underwater and offshore facilities place servers in the ocean or on floating platforms to lower power use, operating closer to coastal users, with faster deployment, lower energy costs, less land use and greater reliability than land-based ones, Beijing Highlander said.
\n
The company is now developing the next step: an underwater facility integrated with offshore wind power in Shanghai's Lingang Special Area, with its launch date planned for Oct 15. The company said the model combines renewable energy and high-performance computing to meet surging global demand for low-carbon digital infrastructure.
\n
Pu Ding, general manager of Beijing Highlander's Hainan project, likened the company's role to that of a "real estate developer in the digital world", offering customized "computing shops" for clients such as Alibaba Cloud. Other user cases include large-scale AI model training, artificial intelligence big models and cloud services.
\n
As data demand continues to grow, the company estimates that China's demand for AI computing will rise 500-fold by 2030, while general computing demand will grow tenfold. Underwater data centers, Pu said, will help secure a first-mover advantage in the global race to build a greener and more efficient digital infrastructure.
\n
Gao Qingpeng, director at the department of foreign economic relations of the Development Research Center of the State Council, said: "Commercial underwater data centers are a new form of digital infrastructure. Though still in the exploratory stage, the project has already identified a potential path for Hainan to build a competitive edge in its digital economy.
\n
"For the energy-intensive data center industry, the projects offer a low-carbon — potentially even zero-carbon — alternative that could serve as a global pilot," Gao said.
\n
Highlander said its new project in Shanghai, which combines wind power and a shared marine cable, has lower costs than its land-based peers.
\n
Contact the writers at wangzhuoqiong@chinadaily.com.cn
Spectators watch an aerobatic performance by Aurora SA60L planes at the 2025 Liaoning Aviation Industry Development Conference, which opened in Shenyang, Liaoning province, on Monday. The three-day event showcases 110 aircraft with diverse low-altitude applications, including demonstrations of amphibious electric aircraft, drones and smart equipment.
\n",
+ "content": "
Spectators watch an aerobatic performance by Aurora SA60L planes at the 2025 Liaoning Aviation Industry Development Conference, which opened in Shenyang, Liaoning province, on Monday. The three-day event showcases 110 aircraft with diverse low-altitude applications, including demonstrations of amphibious electric aircraft, drones and smart equipment.
Researchers in northern China have developed a new catalyst technology that could significantly reduce costs and carbon emissions in the production of propylene, a key raw material for plastics, synthetic rubber and fibers.
\n
The team from Tianjin University reported that it achieved almost complete utilization of precious metal atoms in propylene catalysts — a long-standing challenge for the chemical industry. Their findings were published in the journal Science on Friday.
\n
Propylene is among the world's most widely used chemical feedstocks, found in everyday products ranging from medical equipment and textiles to agricultural materials. While catalysts are essential in its production, improving their efficiency and cost-effectiveness remains a major global challenge, said Gong Jinlong, who leads the research team and is a faculty member at Tianjin University.
\n
"We have developed an internationally pioneering technology that can effectively extract precious metal atoms hidden deep inside catalyst particles to the surface, thereby achieving full utilization of these atoms, significantly reducing production costs and improving propylene generation efficiency," said Sun Guodong, co-first author of the research paper.
\n
Sun explained that precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum and palladium are rare and costly to extract. Platinum and palladium are mainly used in catalysts and medical devices. Platinum, valued for its stability and safety, serves as a catalyst in about two-thirds of the "on-purpose" propylene production from propane.
\n
However, platinum atoms often clump together inside catalyst particles "like actors hiding behind the scenes," unable to fully play their catalytic role, Sun said. This leads to low efficiency and high costs.
\n
"In 2024, the global usage of precious metals in catalysts reached nearly 200 billion yuan ($28 billion)," he said.
\n
To address this, the Tianjin University team developed a new strategy called "atomic extraction "after more than a decade of research. The method involves adding tin to the surface of a platinum-copper alloy. Tin acts "like a magnet", pulling nearly all the buried platinum atoms to the surface of the catalyst particles.
\n
Gong explained that the process first disperses platinum atoms on copper, breaking up the aggregates into isolated atoms. Then, the "magnetic-like" effect of the tin draws the platinum atoms outward.
\n
"Due to its large atomic radius, tin cannot enter the interior of the copper particles, but it has a strong attraction to platinum atoms. Through strong interactions, tin can completely pull the internal platinum atoms to the catalyst surface," Gong said. "With this strategy, the exposure ratio of platinum on the surface increases from about 30 percent to nearly 100 percent."
\n
He added that earlier experiments in 2018 showed copper could improve the dispersion of platinum atoms, paving the way for the new approach.
\n
In propylene production, the new catalyst requires only one-tenth of the platinum used in the most advanced existing catalysts, while offering even better performance. Compared with traditional catalysts, the new method reduces precious metal consumption by 90 percent — meaning catalyst costs can also fall by 90 percent.
\n
"This marks a major breakthrough in China's catalytic industry, successfully advancing toward a new paradigm of full atomic utilization for low-carbon development," Gong said.
\n
The breakthrough not only offers a revolutionary catalyst design for propylene production, but also holds promise for developing other precious metal catalysts. It could greatly reduce industry reliance on scarce metals such as platinum and palladium, supporting a shift toward low-cost, resource-efficient and high-performance chemical production.
\n
Gong noted that traditional propylene production has a low conversion rate and that carbon residues often build up on catalyst surfaces, reducing efficiency. Air must then be introduced to burn off the carbon deposits, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide and wasting carbon resources. The new technology improves propylene generation efficiency and minimizes carbon buildup, helping achieve low-carbon production.
\n
The technology remains at the laboratory stage and is expected to take five to 10 years to reach large-scale industrial application.
\n
"This research not only achieves nearly complete utilization of precious metal atoms, but also provides new ideas for improving atomic efficiency in catalyst design," Gong said.
\n
yandongjie@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Researchers in northern China have developed a new catalyst technology that could significantly reduce costs and carbon emissions in the production of propylene, a key raw material for plastics, synthetic rubber and fibers.
\n
The team from Tianjin University reported that it achieved almost complete utilization of precious metal atoms in propylene catalysts — a long-standing challenge for the chemical industry. Their findings were published in the journal Science on Friday.
\n
Propylene is among the world's most widely used chemical feedstocks, found in everyday products ranging from medical equipment and textiles to agricultural materials. While catalysts are essential in its production, improving their efficiency and cost-effectiveness remains a major global challenge, said Gong Jinlong, who leads the research team and is a faculty member at Tianjin University.
\n
"We have developed an internationally pioneering technology that can effectively extract precious metal atoms hidden deep inside catalyst particles to the surface, thereby achieving full utilization of these atoms, significantly reducing production costs and improving propylene generation efficiency," said Sun Guodong, co-first author of the research paper.
\n
Sun explained that precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum and palladium are rare and costly to extract. Platinum and palladium are mainly used in catalysts and medical devices. Platinum, valued for its stability and safety, serves as a catalyst in about two-thirds of the "on-purpose" propylene production from propane.
\n
However, platinum atoms often clump together inside catalyst particles "like actors hiding behind the scenes," unable to fully play their catalytic role, Sun said. This leads to low efficiency and high costs.
\n
"In 2024, the global usage of precious metals in catalysts reached nearly 200 billion yuan ($28 billion)," he said.
\n
To address this, the Tianjin University team developed a new strategy called "atomic extraction "after more than a decade of research. The method involves adding tin to the surface of a platinum-copper alloy. Tin acts "like a magnet", pulling nearly all the buried platinum atoms to the surface of the catalyst particles.
\n
Gong explained that the process first disperses platinum atoms on copper, breaking up the aggregates into isolated atoms. Then, the "magnetic-like" effect of the tin draws the platinum atoms outward.
\n
"Due to its large atomic radius, tin cannot enter the interior of the copper particles, but it has a strong attraction to platinum atoms. Through strong interactions, tin can completely pull the internal platinum atoms to the catalyst surface," Gong said. "With this strategy, the exposure ratio of platinum on the surface increases from about 30 percent to nearly 100 percent."
\n
He added that earlier experiments in 2018 showed copper could improve the dispersion of platinum atoms, paving the way for the new approach.
\n
In propylene production, the new catalyst requires only one-tenth of the platinum used in the most advanced existing catalysts, while offering even better performance. Compared with traditional catalysts, the new method reduces precious metal consumption by 90 percent — meaning catalyst costs can also fall by 90 percent.
\n
"This marks a major breakthrough in China's catalytic industry, successfully advancing toward a new paradigm of full atomic utilization for low-carbon development," Gong said.
\n
The breakthrough not only offers a revolutionary catalyst design for propylene production, but also holds promise for developing other precious metal catalysts. It could greatly reduce industry reliance on scarce metals such as platinum and palladium, supporting a shift toward low-cost, resource-efficient and high-performance chemical production.
\n
Gong noted that traditional propylene production has a low conversion rate and that carbon residues often build up on catalyst surfaces, reducing efficiency. Air must then be introduced to burn off the carbon deposits, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide and wasting carbon resources. The new technology improves propylene generation efficiency and minimizes carbon buildup, helping achieve low-carbon production.
\n
The technology remains at the laboratory stage and is expected to take five to 10 years to reach large-scale industrial application.
\n
"This research not only achieves nearly complete utilization of precious metal atoms, but also provides new ideas for improving atomic efficiency in catalyst design," Gong said.
Young people show off mooncakes they made during a cultural experience event held in Beijing on Monday to celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival. Over 30 people from more than 20 countries participated in the event.
Young people show off mooncakes they made during a cultural experience event held in Beijing on Monday to celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival. Over 30 people from more than 20 countries participated in the event.
China has built the world's largest, most comprehensive and populous water infrastructure system, Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying said on Monday.
\n
By the end of 2024, the country had constructed 95,000 reservoirs, 200 large and medium-sized water diversion projects, 6,924 large and medium-sized irrigation areas and 318,000 kilometers of embankments, Li said at a news conference at the State Council Information Office.
\n
In 2022, investment in water conservancy construction exceeded 1 trillion yuan ($140 billion) for the first time, reaching 1.35 trillion yuan in 2024. Total investment during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) is projected to surpass 5.4 trillion yuan, 1.6 times that of the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), he said.
\n
Globally, China has one of the most complex water systems. Workers in China's water sector undertake the most challenging river management tasks and the most arduous water control missions in the world, he said.
\n
Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, new achievements in water conservancy have contributed significantly to ensuring flood control security, water supply security, grain security and ecological security, Li added.
\n
The country has consistently prioritized the safety of people's lives and property, continuously improving the flood and drought disaster prevention system, he said.
\n
The flood control capacity of reservoirs stands at 185.6 billion cubic meters, embankments protect 660 million people and national flood detention zones have a capacity of 109 billion cubic meters, Li said.
\n
Over the past five years, China successfully managed floods exceeding warning levels on 3,981 rivers, including 223 rivers that have experienced their largest floods on record, he said.
\n
The flood storage capacity of seven major river basins has reached 210.4 billion cubic meters, capable of handling the largest floods since the founding of New China, he said.
\n
Meanwhile, the country has also effectively addressed severe droughts in basins such as the Yangtze and Pearl rivers, ensuring drinking water security and irrigation needs. The proportion of economic losses from flood disasters to GDP decreased from 0.28 percent during the 13th Five-Year Plan period to 0.18 percent during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Li said.
\n
Frequent and severe floods and droughts in recent years have posed serious challenges to grain production, Li said. During severe droughts, such as the 2022 event in the Yangtze River Basin, precise water dispatching from 75 reservoirs ensured irrigation for 12.2 million hectares of autumn grain, securing a harvest despite the drought.
\n
Flood control measures also saved 4.91 million hectares of farmland from inundation and prevented a grain output reduction of 26.5 billion kilograms during the first four years of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, he added.
\n
Zhang Xiangwei, director of the ministry's Department of Planning and Programming, said the reinforcement of 17,994 risky reservoirs restored their functions and improved safety over the past five years, achieving zero reservoir collapses for three consecutive years from 2022 to 2024.
\n
zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
China has built the world's largest, most comprehensive and populous water infrastructure system, Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying said on Monday.
\n
By the end of 2024, the country had constructed 95,000 reservoirs, 200 large and medium-sized water diversion projects, 6,924 large and medium-sized irrigation areas and 318,000 kilometers of embankments, Li said at a news conference at the State Council Information Office.
\n
In 2022, investment in water conservancy construction exceeded 1 trillion yuan ($140 billion) for the first time, reaching 1.35 trillion yuan in 2024. Total investment during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) is projected to surpass 5.4 trillion yuan, 1.6 times that of the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), he said.
\n
Globally, China has one of the most complex water systems. Workers in China's water sector undertake the most challenging river management tasks and the most arduous water control missions in the world, he said.
\n
Since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, new achievements in water conservancy have contributed significantly to ensuring flood control security, water supply security, grain security and ecological security, Li added.
\n
The country has consistently prioritized the safety of people's lives and property, continuously improving the flood and drought disaster prevention system, he said.
\n
The flood control capacity of reservoirs stands at 185.6 billion cubic meters, embankments protect 660 million people and national flood detention zones have a capacity of 109 billion cubic meters, Li said.
\n
Over the past five years, China successfully managed floods exceeding warning levels on 3,981 rivers, including 223 rivers that have experienced their largest floods on record, he said.
\n
The flood storage capacity of seven major river basins has reached 210.4 billion cubic meters, capable of handling the largest floods since the founding of New China, he said.
\n
Meanwhile, the country has also effectively addressed severe droughts in basins such as the Yangtze and Pearl rivers, ensuring drinking water security and irrigation needs. The proportion of economic losses from flood disasters to GDP decreased from 0.28 percent during the 13th Five-Year Plan period to 0.18 percent during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Li said.
\n
Frequent and severe floods and droughts in recent years have posed serious challenges to grain production, Li said. During severe droughts, such as the 2022 event in the Yangtze River Basin, precise water dispatching from 75 reservoirs ensured irrigation for 12.2 million hectares of autumn grain, securing a harvest despite the drought.
\n
Flood control measures also saved 4.91 million hectares of farmland from inundation and prevented a grain output reduction of 26.5 billion kilograms during the first four years of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, he added.
\n
Zhang Xiangwei, director of the ministry's Department of Planning and Programming, said the reinforcement of 17,994 risky reservoirs restored their functions and improved safety over the past five years, achieving zero reservoir collapses for three consecutive years from 2022 to 2024.
At a mechanical engineering school in Wuhu, Anhui province, students train on industrial robots under teacher supervision.
\n
Some young people practice livestreaming sales at a public training base in Guizhou province.
\n\n
The Study for Dreams Initiative, a collaborative program launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Education and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, has been significantly upgraded this year to enhance the academic qualifications and skills of industrial workers.
\n
Initially focused on migrant workers, the initiative now extends its reach to all industrial workers, emphasizing both academic and non-academic education, and integrating academic learning with skill development.
\n
This expansion is shaped by comprehensive guidelines jointly issued by the ministry and the ACFTU, as well as the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce.
\n
By 2030, the program aims to establish at least 300 projects dedicated to education and capacity building for industrial workers, fund at least 3 million eligible workers — including more than 2 million migrant workers — and inspire a culture of lifelong learning.
\n
This effort seeks to enhance workers' qualifications and skills, contributing to the development of a first-class team of industrial technicians.
\n
The upgraded initiative focuses on integrating resources from multiple parties, emphasizing coordinated efforts in organizational support, funding subsidies, and talent training. It also encourages universities, vocational colleges, craftsman academies, and enterprises to share high-quality educational resources, according to the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
As of June 2024, more than 500 universities across China have participated, with trade unions at all levels investing over 1.1 billion yuan ($154 million) to help more than 2.4 million migrant workers upgrade their academic qualifications and skills.
\n
Yuan Caifeng, who grew up in a small village in Anhui province, is one of the beneficiaries. After leaving junior high school to work, she joined an electronics company in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, as an apprentice in 2004.
\n
"I knew improving my education and skills was important, but with a busy work schedule and limited finances, continuing my studies seemed out of reach," she recalled.
\n
In 2017, Yuan discovered the Study for Dreams Initiative, which offered a blended online-offline learning model that fit her schedule. The Wuxi Federation of Trade Unions also provided scholarships to subsidize tuition for outstanding students.
\n
Yuan enrolled in the human resources school at Jiangnan University, which opened new opportunities for her.
\n
"This experience opened a new world for me," she said. "For example, when the company faced high staff turnover, I initially thought it was just due to low salaries. But through studies, I realized optimizing the salary structure and improving incentive mechanisms are key to boosting employee motivation."
\n
Jiangsu has been allocating special funds for the initiative since 2017, increasing its budget from 7.5 million yuan to 40 million yuan.
\n
"We continue to expand coverage, with a focus on migrant workers and new forms of labor," said an official at the Jiangsu Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
This year, the provincial federation plans to subsidize 60,000 migrant workers and front-line employees with 60 million yuan.
\n
At the Fengqi Road branch of SF Express in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, operation supervisor He Xiujie, who has been in the industry for 12 years, exemplifies the initiative's effect.
\n
In 2018, he enrolled in the economic information management program at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, focusing on improving business knowledge and management thinking. After graduating with an associate degree four years later, he joined the supervisor reserve team and received three months of full-time training.
\n
"We have built a practical training platform and adopted a work-study alternation system, integrating on-the-job practice with coursework," said Ma Hongfei, general manager of SF Express Zhejiang.
\n
This system bridges the career ladder from courier to station manager and district manager, while integrating the development pathway that encompasses skill enhancement, qualification certification, and professional title assessment, ultimately forging a robust link between academic credentials and job roles, he noted.
\n
The company has seen more than 400 employees upgrade their education, with many transitioning from front-line couriers to grassroots managers.
\n
In Chongqing, the Study for Dreams Initiative has been particularly transformative. In a classroom at Chongqing Electric Power College, craftsman tutor Chen Chong captivates students with his detailed explanation of switchgear structure and operation.
\n
This session is part of the "corporate expert in the classroom" course, a component of the Study for Dreams Initiative. Chen is among the pioneering craftsman tutors in Chongqing's industry-education integration alliance within the electric power sector.
\n
Several years ago, while serving as a centralized control operation inspector at Huadian Power International's Fengjie power plant, Chen encountered university educators for the first time during an academic upgrade class. This class was a collaborative effort between Chongqing Electric Power College and the power plant.
\n
Chen, alongside 40 colleagues from various departments such as fuel, operations, and maintenance, enrolled as part of the inaugural group of students.
\n
Under the guidance of university teachers, Chen helped address challenges faced by the power grid in northeastern Chongqing and wrote his graduation thesis on the topic.
\n
The industry-education integration alliance in Chongqing's electric power industry has pioneered a craftsman tutor-plus-full-time-teacher model, integrating scientific research with industry. Over the past two years, the alliance has obtained 505 patents and transformed 348 innovative achievements, helping more than 800 workers upgrade their educational degrees and training more than 300,000 on-the-job workers.
\n
"This reform has been effective and is gradually expanding to other industries in Chongqing," said Yu Jiping, Party secretary and vice-chairman of the Chongqing Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
This year, the city federation has led the establishment of industry-education integration alliances in sectors such as intelligent connected new energy vehicles, smart equipment and manufacturing, gas geology, and chemical pharmaceuticals, linking 100 universities with 1,000 key enterprises in Sichuan and Chongqing.
\n
Within three years, these alliances aim to help 10,000 industrial workers advance their education and 1 million others enhance their skills.
\n
haonan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
At a mechanical engineering school in Wuhu, Anhui province, students train on industrial robots under teacher supervision.
\n
Some young people practice livestreaming sales at a public training base in Guizhou province.
\n\n
The Study for Dreams Initiative, a collaborative program launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Education and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, has been significantly upgraded this year to enhance the academic qualifications and skills of industrial workers.
\n
Initially focused on migrant workers, the initiative now extends its reach to all industrial workers, emphasizing both academic and non-academic education, and integrating academic learning with skill development.
\n
This expansion is shaped by comprehensive guidelines jointly issued by the ministry and the ACFTU, as well as the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce.
\n
By 2030, the program aims to establish at least 300 projects dedicated to education and capacity building for industrial workers, fund at least 3 million eligible workers — including more than 2 million migrant workers — and inspire a culture of lifelong learning.
\n
This effort seeks to enhance workers' qualifications and skills, contributing to the development of a first-class team of industrial technicians.
\n
The upgraded initiative focuses on integrating resources from multiple parties, emphasizing coordinated efforts in organizational support, funding subsidies, and talent training. It also encourages universities, vocational colleges, craftsman academies, and enterprises to share high-quality educational resources, according to the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
As of June 2024, more than 500 universities across China have participated, with trade unions at all levels investing over 1.1 billion yuan ($154 million) to help more than 2.4 million migrant workers upgrade their academic qualifications and skills.
\n
Yuan Caifeng, who grew up in a small village in Anhui province, is one of the beneficiaries. After leaving junior high school to work, she joined an electronics company in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, as an apprentice in 2004.
\n
"I knew improving my education and skills was important, but with a busy work schedule and limited finances, continuing my studies seemed out of reach," she recalled.
\n
In 2017, Yuan discovered the Study for Dreams Initiative, which offered a blended online-offline learning model that fit her schedule. The Wuxi Federation of Trade Unions also provided scholarships to subsidize tuition for outstanding students.
\n
Yuan enrolled in the human resources school at Jiangnan University, which opened new opportunities for her.
\n
"This experience opened a new world for me," she said. "For example, when the company faced high staff turnover, I initially thought it was just due to low salaries. But through studies, I realized optimizing the salary structure and improving incentive mechanisms are key to boosting employee motivation."
\n
Jiangsu has been allocating special funds for the initiative since 2017, increasing its budget from 7.5 million yuan to 40 million yuan.
\n
"We continue to expand coverage, with a focus on migrant workers and new forms of labor," said an official at the Jiangsu Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
This year, the provincial federation plans to subsidize 60,000 migrant workers and front-line employees with 60 million yuan.
\n
At the Fengqi Road branch of SF Express in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, operation supervisor He Xiujie, who has been in the industry for 12 years, exemplifies the initiative's effect.
\n
In 2018, he enrolled in the economic information management program at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, focusing on improving business knowledge and management thinking. After graduating with an associate degree four years later, he joined the supervisor reserve team and received three months of full-time training.
\n
"We have built a practical training platform and adopted a work-study alternation system, integrating on-the-job practice with coursework," said Ma Hongfei, general manager of SF Express Zhejiang.
\n
This system bridges the career ladder from courier to station manager and district manager, while integrating the development pathway that encompasses skill enhancement, qualification certification, and professional title assessment, ultimately forging a robust link between academic credentials and job roles, he noted.
\n
The company has seen more than 400 employees upgrade their education, with many transitioning from front-line couriers to grassroots managers.
\n
In Chongqing, the Study for Dreams Initiative has been particularly transformative. In a classroom at Chongqing Electric Power College, craftsman tutor Chen Chong captivates students with his detailed explanation of switchgear structure and operation.
\n
This session is part of the "corporate expert in the classroom" course, a component of the Study for Dreams Initiative. Chen is among the pioneering craftsman tutors in Chongqing's industry-education integration alliance within the electric power sector.
\n
Several years ago, while serving as a centralized control operation inspector at Huadian Power International's Fengjie power plant, Chen encountered university educators for the first time during an academic upgrade class. This class was a collaborative effort between Chongqing Electric Power College and the power plant.
\n
Chen, alongside 40 colleagues from various departments such as fuel, operations, and maintenance, enrolled as part of the inaugural group of students.
\n
Under the guidance of university teachers, Chen helped address challenges faced by the power grid in northeastern Chongqing and wrote his graduation thesis on the topic.
\n
The industry-education integration alliance in Chongqing's electric power industry has pioneered a craftsman tutor-plus-full-time-teacher model, integrating scientific research with industry. Over the past two years, the alliance has obtained 505 patents and transformed 348 innovative achievements, helping more than 800 workers upgrade their educational degrees and training more than 300,000 on-the-job workers.
\n
"This reform has been effective and is gradually expanding to other industries in Chongqing," said Yu Jiping, Party secretary and vice-chairman of the Chongqing Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
This year, the city federation has led the establishment of industry-education integration alliances in sectors such as intelligent connected new energy vehicles, smart equipment and manufacturing, gas geology, and chemical pharmaceuticals, linking 100 universities with 1,000 key enterprises in Sichuan and Chongqing.
\n
Within three years, these alliances aim to help 10,000 industrial workers advance their education and 1 million others enhance their skills.
Xu Zhenchao (center), awarded the title People's Craftsman, talks to students at a crafts class held in Shenyang, Liaoning province.
\n
For Xu Zhenchao, a recipient of the title of People's Craftsman, it's not only about overcoming technical challenges with his skills; it's also about passing down the spirit of craftsmanship to future generations.
\n
Xu, 75, who is the senior manager for equipment engineering and technology at Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal, regularly visits frontline operations to exchange insights and share expertise.
\n
Born into a working-class family in Rongcheng, Shandongprovince, Xu began his career as a dockworker at Qingdao Port in 1974. A decade later, at the age of 34, he was selected as one of Qingdao Port's first crane operators for container handling. Since then, he has pursued excellence in his role. Despite having only a middle school education, Xu taught himself English to study the circuit diagrams of crane control panels. Through repeated experimentation, he overcame numerous challenges and ultimately produced two complete sets of detailed circuit diagrams based on the actual circuit boards.
\n
Over the past few decades, Xu has shattered the world record for container handling nine times, establishing the renowned "Zhenchao efficiency". Leading his team in technological innovation, he pioneered the "oil-to-electric" conversion for container gantry cranes, helping to significantly reduce production costs.
\n
"I've worked with gantry cranes all my life, and I hope to help others grow quickly," Xu said.
\n
In 2011, the Xu Zhenchao Model Worker Innovation Studio and Master Studio were both established, covering areas of 100 and 120 square meters respectively, and each accommodating more than 100 people.
\n
Focusing on major topics such as smart ports, green ports, safety and quality, loading and unloading efficiency, equipment technology, and energy conservation, the two studios have established four innovation teams dedicated to efficiency, informatization, technology, and migrant workers. These teams tackle technical challenges in port innovation projects and play a leading role in summarizing achievements, innovative processes, and new project development.
\n
The studios have advanced Xu's mentorship in "teaching, assisting, and guiding", providing a vital platform for skill exchange. This initiative continuously boosts the learning capacity, creativity, and expertise of technical personnel and key technicians. Since their establishment, the two studios have filed 108 national patents and completed 998 technological innovation projects.
\n
"From carrying loads by hand to achieving mechanization and now automation, I have witnessed the changes at Qingdao Port over the decades. This progress is due to both national support and the hard work of dock workers," said Xu. "We must continue to invest in the training of technical workers, cultivating versatile talents to contribute to the construction of a world-class marine port."
\n
Wang Ruyun, a senior electric welder technician from China Railway Baoji Bridge Group, is also committed to leading more people in tackling technical challenges through his innovation studio.
\n
Bearing the responsibility of advancing new steel bridge welding technologies, the Wang Ruyun Model Worker Innovation Studio has been dedicated to overcoming key technical challenges. Leading a team through meticulous research, Wang and his teammates focused on welding tests for weather-resistant steel, ultra-thick steel plates, and ultra-high-strength steel plates. These efforts helped resolve critical bottlenecks in major domestic projects, such as China's first railway bridge built using weathering steel — the Zangmu Grand Bridge on the Lhasa-Nyingchi section of the Sichuan-Xizang Railway — and the nation's largest bridge steel tower — the Taizhou Bridge steel tower.
\n
In 2024, Wang's studio launched three major research projects, generating two innovative outcomes and addressing a total of 18 production-related technical challenges. They also put forward 16 rationalization proposals and completed two quality control technician team research projects, providing crucial technical support for the construction of various large steel bridges within Baoji Bridge.
\n
Since the establishment of the studio, Wang has trained five senior technicians, 12 technicians, and 25 senior workers. The studio has become a "university" for developing a highly skilled workforce, contributing to improvements in quality, efficiency, transformation, and innovation.
\n
"In recent years, we have closely focused on high-quality corporate development and the reform of the industrial workforce. We have continuously promoted the establishment of model worker and craftsman innovation studios at all levels, providing relentless impetus for the development of new quality productive forces within the company," said Liu Jun, deputy Party secretary and chairman of the trade union at Baoji Bridge.
\n
"It has been proven that model workers and advanced employees are the backbone of corporate innovation and development. By organizing them through the Innovation Studio platform, we engage in activities such as invention, creation, renovation, and tackling key challenges. These efforts help solve problems in production, operations, technology, and management, thereby enhancing the company's technological innovation capabilities, product transformation and upgrading capabilities, and market competitiveness," Liu said.
Xu Zhenchao (center), awarded the title People's Craftsman, talks to students at a crafts class held in Shenyang, Liaoning province.
\n
For Xu Zhenchao, a recipient of the title of People's Craftsman, it's not only about overcoming technical challenges with his skills; it's also about passing down the spirit of craftsmanship to future generations.
\n
Xu, 75, who is the senior manager for equipment engineering and technology at Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal, regularly visits frontline operations to exchange insights and share expertise.
\n
Born into a working-class family in Rongcheng, Shandongprovince, Xu began his career as a dockworker at Qingdao Port in 1974. A decade later, at the age of 34, he was selected as one of Qingdao Port's first crane operators for container handling. Since then, he has pursued excellence in his role. Despite having only a middle school education, Xu taught himself English to study the circuit diagrams of crane control panels. Through repeated experimentation, he overcame numerous challenges and ultimately produced two complete sets of detailed circuit diagrams based on the actual circuit boards.
\n
Over the past few decades, Xu has shattered the world record for container handling nine times, establishing the renowned "Zhenchao efficiency". Leading his team in technological innovation, he pioneered the "oil-to-electric" conversion for container gantry cranes, helping to significantly reduce production costs.
\n
"I've worked with gantry cranes all my life, and I hope to help others grow quickly," Xu said.
\n
In 2011, the Xu Zhenchao Model Worker Innovation Studio and Master Studio were both established, covering areas of 100 and 120 square meters respectively, and each accommodating more than 100 people.
\n
Focusing on major topics such as smart ports, green ports, safety and quality, loading and unloading efficiency, equipment technology, and energy conservation, the two studios have established four innovation teams dedicated to efficiency, informatization, technology, and migrant workers. These teams tackle technical challenges in port innovation projects and play a leading role in summarizing achievements, innovative processes, and new project development.
\n
The studios have advanced Xu's mentorship in "teaching, assisting, and guiding", providing a vital platform for skill exchange. This initiative continuously boosts the learning capacity, creativity, and expertise of technical personnel and key technicians. Since their establishment, the two studios have filed 108 national patents and completed 998 technological innovation projects.
\n
"From carrying loads by hand to achieving mechanization and now automation, I have witnessed the changes at Qingdao Port over the decades. This progress is due to both national support and the hard work of dock workers," said Xu. "We must continue to invest in the training of technical workers, cultivating versatile talents to contribute to the construction of a world-class marine port."
\n
Wang Ruyun, a senior electric welder technician from China Railway Baoji Bridge Group, is also committed to leading more people in tackling technical challenges through his innovation studio.
\n
Bearing the responsibility of advancing new steel bridge welding technologies, the Wang Ruyun Model Worker Innovation Studio has been dedicated to overcoming key technical challenges. Leading a team through meticulous research, Wang and his teammates focused on welding tests for weather-resistant steel, ultra-thick steel plates, and ultra-high-strength steel plates. These efforts helped resolve critical bottlenecks in major domestic projects, such as China's first railway bridge built using weathering steel — the Zangmu Grand Bridge on the Lhasa-Nyingchi section of the Sichuan-Xizang Railway — and the nation's largest bridge steel tower — the Taizhou Bridge steel tower.
\n
In 2024, Wang's studio launched three major research projects, generating two innovative outcomes and addressing a total of 18 production-related technical challenges. They also put forward 16 rationalization proposals and completed two quality control technician team research projects, providing crucial technical support for the construction of various large steel bridges within Baoji Bridge.
\n
Since the establishment of the studio, Wang has trained five senior technicians, 12 technicians, and 25 senior workers. The studio has become a "university" for developing a highly skilled workforce, contributing to improvements in quality, efficiency, transformation, and innovation.
\n
"In recent years, we have closely focused on high-quality corporate development and the reform of the industrial workforce. We have continuously promoted the establishment of model worker and craftsman innovation studios at all levels, providing relentless impetus for the development of new quality productive forces within the company," said Liu Jun, deputy Party secretary and chairman of the trade union at Baoji Bridge.
\n
"It has been proven that model workers and advanced employees are the backbone of corporate innovation and development. By organizing them through the Innovation Studio platform, we engage in activities such as invention, creation, renovation, and tackling key challenges. These efforts help solve problems in production, operations, technology, and management, thereby enhancing the company's technological innovation capabilities, product transformation and upgrading capabilities, and market competitiveness," Liu said.
A total of 200 senior technicians working on the front lines of production were recently awarded the title of "national-level master craftsmen" after completing a one-year training program at Tsinghua University.
\n
The first Master Craftsman Talent Training Camp, initiated by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, was launched in July 2024 to strengthen technicians' expertise and address skill gaps through targeted training.
\n
Unlike traditional vocational programs, the camp brings together top craftsmen from various industries, giving them access to intellectual resources, experimental equipment, and innovation networks typically unavailable in their daily work. This approach encourages the development of disruptive ideas and technological integration that would be difficult to achieve in isolation, helping cultivate a new generation of master craftsmen.
\n
The training camp is divided into four sessions across three stages, featuring experts such as Tsinghua University professors and academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering as theoretical mentors, alongside national-level master craftsmen as practical mentors. Emphasizing its innovative learning model of "high-end guidance, cross-collaboration, digital integration, focused practice, diverse learning, and systematic support", the camp enables participants to engage in collaborative problem-solving with their mentors. Trainees also take part in a variety of enriching campus activities.
\n
"Participating in the training camp not only allows us to learn from academicians, experts, and master craftsmen at Tsinghua University, but also to stay updated on the latest policies and experience cutting-edge national technology. It truly broadens our horizons and is incredibly rewarding," said Yang Yongxiu, a senior technician in the prototype department at FAW's research and development institute.
\n
In 2010, Yang joined FAW as an ordinary milling worker after graduating from Changchun Technical University of Automobile. Confronted with an English-only computer numerical control system, he shadowed his mentor during the day to learn operations, while spending nights in his dormitory copying codes.
\n
In 2018, China FAW began developing a new V12 engine, crucial for achieving self-sufficiency in high-end vehicles. Faced with challenges such as precision machining and multi-axis coordinate transformation, Yang and his team worked tirelessly. He verified algorithms in the CNC system and solved over 20 technical problems, including automatic multi-axis coordinate conversion for the V12 cylinder head. They achieved manufacturing precision within 0.015 millimeters, reaching international standards. This breakthrough ended reliance on foreign processing for key engine components and filled a gap in domestic V-type engine manufacturing, giving Chinese cars a powerful and controllable "heart".
\n
From an ordinary milling worker to a national-level master craftsman, Yang has witnessed the automotive industry's transformation from traditional fuel vehicles to new energy models.
\n
"I'm dedicated to helping young workers grow and working with them to boost the core competitiveness of our national automotive brands amid industry transformation," Yang said.
\n
Yang Jin'an, head of the electric furnace team at CITIC Heavy Industries, also participated in the training camp.
\n
"Professor Zhang Chi from Tsinghua University's School of Materials Science and Engineering recommended switching the large mill liners from cast to forged. If this experiment succeeds, it could significantly enhance our company's products and similar ones across the country," said Yang Jin'an.
\n
For 41 years, the technician has dedicated himself to the intense heat of steel furnaces. He has developed nearly 100 types of special steels for major projects, including the Shenzhou spacecraft, domestic large aircraft, and new-generation nuclear power plants. Leading his team, he has solved material challenges for 18 critical steel types, addressing key national equipment needs and strengthening the backbone of China's manufacturing industry.
\n
"The new era is a golden age for industrial workers, offering opportunities and a platform to showcase our skills," said Yang Jin'an. "I will continue to uphold the spirit of model workers and craftsmen, continually enhancing my innovation abilities and refining my craft. It is essential to 'take hold of key core technologies ourselves', and I am committed to working tirelessly to elevate the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing."
\n
Zhang Zhongyi, director of the government and corporate talent learning center at Tsinghua University's School of Continuing Education and head of the training project, said: "This training camp focuses on developing both talent and tangible results, enhancing the 'five strengths of craftsmen' — leadership, practical skills, innovation, problem-solving, and heritage."
\n
The program aims to cultivate more master craftsmen while solving technical challenges in various industries. It seeks to foster innovation and produce strong outcomes, showcasing the role of craftsmen and inspiring more workers to succeed through skills and contribute to national development, Zhang added.
\n
As a major initiative to deepen reform of the industrial workforce, the ACFTU launched the national-level master craftsman training project in 2024. It includes dedicated funds for cultivating and rewarding master craftsmen, with plans to train around 200 national-level craftsmen annually. Additionally, it will guide regions and industries to develop approximately 1,000 provincial-level craftsmen and 5,000 municipal-level craftsmen each year.
\n",
+ "content": "\n
A total of 200 senior technicians working on the front lines of production were recently awarded the title of "national-level master craftsmen" after completing a one-year training program at Tsinghua University.
\n
The first Master Craftsman Talent Training Camp, initiated by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, was launched in July 2024 to strengthen technicians' expertise and address skill gaps through targeted training.
\n
Unlike traditional vocational programs, the camp brings together top craftsmen from various industries, giving them access to intellectual resources, experimental equipment, and innovation networks typically unavailable in their daily work. This approach encourages the development of disruptive ideas and technological integration that would be difficult to achieve in isolation, helping cultivate a new generation of master craftsmen.
\n
The training camp is divided into four sessions across three stages, featuring experts such as Tsinghua University professors and academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering as theoretical mentors, alongside national-level master craftsmen as practical mentors. Emphasizing its innovative learning model of "high-end guidance, cross-collaboration, digital integration, focused practice, diverse learning, and systematic support", the camp enables participants to engage in collaborative problem-solving with their mentors. Trainees also take part in a variety of enriching campus activities.
\n
"Participating in the training camp not only allows us to learn from academicians, experts, and master craftsmen at Tsinghua University, but also to stay updated on the latest policies and experience cutting-edge national technology. It truly broadens our horizons and is incredibly rewarding," said Yang Yongxiu, a senior technician in the prototype department at FAW's research and development institute.
\n
In 2010, Yang joined FAW as an ordinary milling worker after graduating from Changchun Technical University of Automobile. Confronted with an English-only computer numerical control system, he shadowed his mentor during the day to learn operations, while spending nights in his dormitory copying codes.
\n
In 2018, China FAW began developing a new V12 engine, crucial for achieving self-sufficiency in high-end vehicles. Faced with challenges such as precision machining and multi-axis coordinate transformation, Yang and his team worked tirelessly. He verified algorithms in the CNC system and solved over 20 technical problems, including automatic multi-axis coordinate conversion for the V12 cylinder head. They achieved manufacturing precision within 0.015 millimeters, reaching international standards. This breakthrough ended reliance on foreign processing for key engine components and filled a gap in domestic V-type engine manufacturing, giving Chinese cars a powerful and controllable "heart".
\n
From an ordinary milling worker to a national-level master craftsman, Yang has witnessed the automotive industry's transformation from traditional fuel vehicles to new energy models.
\n
"I'm dedicated to helping young workers grow and working with them to boost the core competitiveness of our national automotive brands amid industry transformation," Yang said.
\n
Yang Jin'an, head of the electric furnace team at CITIC Heavy Industries, also participated in the training camp.
\n
"Professor Zhang Chi from Tsinghua University's School of Materials Science and Engineering recommended switching the large mill liners from cast to forged. If this experiment succeeds, it could significantly enhance our company's products and similar ones across the country," said Yang Jin'an.
\n
For 41 years, the technician has dedicated himself to the intense heat of steel furnaces. He has developed nearly 100 types of special steels for major projects, including the Shenzhou spacecraft, domestic large aircraft, and new-generation nuclear power plants. Leading his team, he has solved material challenges for 18 critical steel types, addressing key national equipment needs and strengthening the backbone of China's manufacturing industry.
\n
"The new era is a golden age for industrial workers, offering opportunities and a platform to showcase our skills," said Yang Jin'an. "I will continue to uphold the spirit of model workers and craftsmen, continually enhancing my innovation abilities and refining my craft. It is essential to 'take hold of key core technologies ourselves', and I am committed to working tirelessly to elevate the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing."
\n
Zhang Zhongyi, director of the government and corporate talent learning center at Tsinghua University's School of Continuing Education and head of the training project, said: "This training camp focuses on developing both talent and tangible results, enhancing the 'five strengths of craftsmen' — leadership, practical skills, innovation, problem-solving, and heritage."
\n
The program aims to cultivate more master craftsmen while solving technical challenges in various industries. It seeks to foster innovation and produce strong outcomes, showcasing the role of craftsmen and inspiring more workers to succeed through skills and contribute to national development, Zhang added.
\n
As a major initiative to deepen reform of the industrial workforce, the ACFTU launched the national-level master craftsman training project in 2024. It includes dedicated funds for cultivating and rewarding master craftsmen, with plans to train around 200 national-level craftsmen annually. Additionally, it will guide regions and industries to develop approximately 1,000 provincial-level craftsmen and 5,000 municipal-level craftsmen each year.
Developing an innovative talent cultivation model:
\n
Deepen cooperation between schools and industry to innovate talent training models tailored to local conditions. Create hybrid learning systems that support flexible education for industrial workers, integrating both online and offline methods. Establish mechanisms that combine moral education with technical training, and coordinate work with studies. Support various schools in enhancing higher education related to continuing studies, providing effective skills training, and encouraging programs for model workers and skilled craftsmen. Promote advanced research classes and organize innovation camps for these talented individuals.
\n
Enhancing the development of learning facilities:
\n
Utilize union worker service bases, industry and enterprise training centers, and open regional practice centers for industry-education integration, and school-enterprise joint continuing education or training centers for industrial workers. Establish and support in-house training facilities within enterprises, allowing capable schools and social training institutions to participate in employee education and training in an orderly manner. Build an extensive and rich learning network for industrial workers, and explore effective ways to provide inclusive and universal educational training for migrant workers and industrial workers in new employment forms.
\n
Expanding the availability of educational resources:
\n
Support schools in developing specialized programs aligned with regional industries and key talent needs. Create high-quality online courses and continually updated textbooks for lifelong learning among industrial workers. Utilize platforms like a national smart vocational education platform, a national smart lifelong education platform, and the "home of workers" APP to develop an intelligent skill-learning platform. Encourage universities, open universities, vocational schools, craftsman colleges, and industry enterprises to share quality teaching resources with industrial workers.
\n
Promoting the recognition and conversion of learning achievements:
\n
Establish a standard system to certify and convert industrial workers' learning outcomes. Enable mutual recognition of educational achievements, degrees, skill credits, and certificates to support lifelong learning. Encourage schools to recognize workers' professional experience and informal learning. Urge skill evaluation institutions to exempt certain vocational skill assessments for workers with relevant education. Implement a system linking vocational qualifications and skill levels with job titles and educational benefits, and establish mechanisms for smooth transitions between professional, managerial, and technical roles.
\n
Encouraging active participation of enterprises:
\n
Enhance employee education systems to protect learning rights, and support paid learning for industrial workers. Motivate companies to invest in worker education. Support large and medium-sized enterprises in establishing craftsman colleges and conducting public vocational training. Guide small and medium-sized enterprises to use learning service platforms and resources. Encourage inking workers' ongoing education to skill assessments, factoring in skill enhancement for wage increases.
Developing an innovative talent cultivation model:
\n
Deepen cooperation between schools and industry to innovate talent training models tailored to local conditions. Create hybrid learning systems that support flexible education for industrial workers, integrating both online and offline methods. Establish mechanisms that combine moral education with technical training, and coordinate work with studies. Support various schools in enhancing higher education related to continuing studies, providing effective skills training, and encouraging programs for model workers and skilled craftsmen. Promote advanced research classes and organize innovation camps for these talented individuals.
\n
Enhancing the development of learning facilities:
\n
Utilize union worker service bases, industry and enterprise training centers, and open regional practice centers for industry-education integration, and school-enterprise joint continuing education or training centers for industrial workers. Establish and support in-house training facilities within enterprises, allowing capable schools and social training institutions to participate in employee education and training in an orderly manner. Build an extensive and rich learning network for industrial workers, and explore effective ways to provide inclusive and universal educational training for migrant workers and industrial workers in new employment forms.
\n
Expanding the availability of educational resources:
\n
Support schools in developing specialized programs aligned with regional industries and key talent needs. Create high-quality online courses and continually updated textbooks for lifelong learning among industrial workers. Utilize platforms like a national smart vocational education platform, a national smart lifelong education platform, and the "home of workers" APP to develop an intelligent skill-learning platform. Encourage universities, open universities, vocational schools, craftsman colleges, and industry enterprises to share quality teaching resources with industrial workers.
\n
Promoting the recognition and conversion of learning achievements:
\n
Establish a standard system to certify and convert industrial workers' learning outcomes. Enable mutual recognition of educational achievements, degrees, skill credits, and certificates to support lifelong learning. Encourage schools to recognize workers' professional experience and informal learning. Urge skill evaluation institutions to exempt certain vocational skill assessments for workers with relevant education. Implement a system linking vocational qualifications and skill levels with job titles and educational benefits, and establish mechanisms for smooth transitions between professional, managerial, and technical roles.
\n
Encouraging active participation of enterprises:
\n
Enhance employee education systems to protect learning rights, and support paid learning for industrial workers. Motivate companies to invest in worker education. Support large and medium-sized enterprises in establishing craftsman colleges and conducting public vocational training. Guide small and medium-sized enterprises to use learning service platforms and resources. Encourage inking workers' ongoing education to skill assessments, factoring in skill enhancement for wage increases.
At a mechanical engineering school in Wuhu, Anhui province, students train on industrial robots under teacher supervision.
\n
Some young people practice livestreaming sales at a public training base in Guizhou province.
\n\n
The Study for Dreams Initiative, a collaborative program launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Education and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, has been significantly upgraded this year to enhance the academic qualifications and skills of industrial workers.
\n
Initially focused on migrant workers, the initiative now extends its reach to all industrial workers, emphasizing both academic and non-academic education, and integrating academic learning with skill development.
\n
This expansion is shaped by comprehensive guidelines jointly issued by the ministry and the ACFTU, as well as the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce.
\n
By 2030, the program aims to establish at least 300 projects dedicated to education and capacity building for industrial workers, fund at least 3 million eligible workers — including more than 2 million migrant workers — and inspire a culture of lifelong learning.
\n
This effort seeks to enhance workers' qualifications and skills, contributing to the development of a first-class team of industrial technicians.
\n
The upgraded initiative focuses on integrating resources from multiple parties, emphasizing coordinated efforts in organizational support, funding subsidies, and talent training. It also encourages universities, vocational colleges, craftsman academies, and enterprises to share high-quality educational resources, according to the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
As of June 2024, more than 500 universities across China have participated, with trade unions at all levels investing over 1.1 billion yuan ($154 million) to help more than 2.4 million migrant workers upgrade their academic qualifications and skills.
\n
Yuan Caifeng, who grew up in a small village in Anhui province, is one of the beneficiaries. After leaving junior high school to work, she joined an electronics company in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, as an apprentice in 2004.
\n
"I knew improving my education and skills was important, but with a busy work schedule and limited finances, continuing my studies seemed out of reach," she recalled.
\n
In 2017, Yuan discovered the Study for Dreams Initiative, which offered a blended online-offline learning model that fit her schedule. The Wuxi Federation of Trade Unions also provided scholarships to subsidize tuition for outstanding students.
\n
Yuan enrolled in the human resources school at Jiangnan University, which opened new opportunities for her.
\n
"This experience opened a new world for me," she said. "For example, when the company faced high staff turnover, I initially thought it was just due to low salaries. But through studies, I realized optimizing the salary structure and improving incentive mechanisms are key to boosting employee motivation."
\n
Jiangsu has been allocating special funds for the initiative since 2017, increasing its budget from 7.5 million yuan to 40 million yuan.
\n
"We continue to expand coverage, with a focus on migrant workers and new forms of labor," said an official at the Jiangsu Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
This year, the provincial federation plans to subsidize 60,000 migrant workers and front-line employees with 60 million yuan.
\n
At the Fengqi Road branch of SF Express in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, operation supervisor He Xiujie, who has been in the industry for 12 years, exemplifies the initiative's effect.
\n
In 2018, he enrolled in the economic information management program at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, focusing on improving business knowledge and management thinking. After graduating with an associate degree four years later, he joined the supervisor reserve team and received three months of full-time training.
\n
"We have built a practical training platform and adopted a work-study alternation system, integrating on-the-job practice with coursework," said Ma Hongfei, general manager of SF Express Zhejiang.
\n
This system bridges the career ladder from courier to station manager and district manager, while integrating the development pathway that encompasses skill enhancement, qualification certification, and professional title assessment, ultimately forging a robust link between academic credentials and job roles, he noted.
\n
The company has seen more than 400 employees upgrade their education, with many transitioning from front-line couriers to grassroots managers.
\n
In Chongqing, the Study for Dreams Initiative has been particularly transformative. In a classroom at Chongqing Electric Power College, craftsman tutor Chen Chong captivates students with his detailed explanation of switchgear structure and operation.
\n
This session is part of the "corporate expert in the classroom" course, a component of the Study for Dreams Initiative. Chen is among the pioneering craftsman tutors in Chongqing's industry-education integration alliance within the electric power sector.
\n
Several years ago, while serving as a centralized control operation inspector at Huadian Power International's Fengjie power plant, Chen encountered university educators for the first time during an academic upgrade class. This class was a collaborative effort between Chongqing Electric Power College and the power plant.
\n
Chen, alongside 40 colleagues from various departments such as fuel, operations, and maintenance, enrolled as part of the inaugural group of students.
\n
Under the guidance of university teachers, Chen helped address challenges faced by the power grid in northeastern Chongqing and wrote his graduation thesis on the topic.
\n
The industry-education integration alliance in Chongqing's electric power industry has pioneered a craftsman tutor-plus-full-time-teacher model, integrating scientific research with industry. Over the past two years, the alliance has obtained 505 patents and transformed 348 innovative achievements, helping more than 800 workers upgrade their educational degrees and training more than 300,000 on-the-job workers.
\n
"This reform has been effective and is gradually expanding to other industries in Chongqing," said Yu Jiping, Party secretary and vice-chairman of the Chongqing Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
This year, the city federation has led the establishment of industry-education integration alliances in sectors such as intelligent connected new energy vehicles, smart equipment and manufacturing, gas geology, and chemical pharmaceuticals, linking 100 universities with 1,000 key enterprises in Sichuan and Chongqing.
\n
Within three years, these alliances aim to help 10,000 industrial workers advance their education and 1 million others enhance their skills.
\n
haonan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
At a mechanical engineering school in Wuhu, Anhui province, students train on industrial robots under teacher supervision.
\n
Some young people practice livestreaming sales at a public training base in Guizhou province.
\n\n
The Study for Dreams Initiative, a collaborative program launched in 2016 by the Ministry of Education and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, has been significantly upgraded this year to enhance the academic qualifications and skills of industrial workers.
\n
Initially focused on migrant workers, the initiative now extends its reach to all industrial workers, emphasizing both academic and non-academic education, and integrating academic learning with skill development.
\n
This expansion is shaped by comprehensive guidelines jointly issued by the ministry and the ACFTU, as well as the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce.
\n
By 2030, the program aims to establish at least 300 projects dedicated to education and capacity building for industrial workers, fund at least 3 million eligible workers — including more than 2 million migrant workers — and inspire a culture of lifelong learning.
\n
This effort seeks to enhance workers' qualifications and skills, contributing to the development of a first-class team of industrial technicians.
\n
The upgraded initiative focuses on integrating resources from multiple parties, emphasizing coordinated efforts in organizational support, funding subsidies, and talent training. It also encourages universities, vocational colleges, craftsman academies, and enterprises to share high-quality educational resources, according to the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
As of June 2024, more than 500 universities across China have participated, with trade unions at all levels investing over 1.1 billion yuan ($154 million) to help more than 2.4 million migrant workers upgrade their academic qualifications and skills.
\n
Yuan Caifeng, who grew up in a small village in Anhui province, is one of the beneficiaries. After leaving junior high school to work, she joined an electronics company in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, as an apprentice in 2004.
\n
"I knew improving my education and skills was important, but with a busy work schedule and limited finances, continuing my studies seemed out of reach," she recalled.
\n
In 2017, Yuan discovered the Study for Dreams Initiative, which offered a blended online-offline learning model that fit her schedule. The Wuxi Federation of Trade Unions also provided scholarships to subsidize tuition for outstanding students.
\n
Yuan enrolled in the human resources school at Jiangnan University, which opened new opportunities for her.
\n
"This experience opened a new world for me," she said. "For example, when the company faced high staff turnover, I initially thought it was just due to low salaries. But through studies, I realized optimizing the salary structure and improving incentive mechanisms are key to boosting employee motivation."
\n
Jiangsu has been allocating special funds for the initiative since 2017, increasing its budget from 7.5 million yuan to 40 million yuan.
\n
"We continue to expand coverage, with a focus on migrant workers and new forms of labor," said an official at the Jiangsu Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
This year, the provincial federation plans to subsidize 60,000 migrant workers and front-line employees with 60 million yuan.
\n
At the Fengqi Road branch of SF Express in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, operation supervisor He Xiujie, who has been in the industry for 12 years, exemplifies the initiative's effect.
\n
In 2018, he enrolled in the economic information management program at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, focusing on improving business knowledge and management thinking. After graduating with an associate degree four years later, he joined the supervisor reserve team and received three months of full-time training.
\n
"We have built a practical training platform and adopted a work-study alternation system, integrating on-the-job practice with coursework," said Ma Hongfei, general manager of SF Express Zhejiang.
\n
This system bridges the career ladder from courier to station manager and district manager, while integrating the development pathway that encompasses skill enhancement, qualification certification, and professional title assessment, ultimately forging a robust link between academic credentials and job roles, he noted.
\n
The company has seen more than 400 employees upgrade their education, with many transitioning from front-line couriers to grassroots managers.
\n
In Chongqing, the Study for Dreams Initiative has been particularly transformative. In a classroom at Chongqing Electric Power College, craftsman tutor Chen Chong captivates students with his detailed explanation of switchgear structure and operation.
\n
This session is part of the "corporate expert in the classroom" course, a component of the Study for Dreams Initiative. Chen is among the pioneering craftsman tutors in Chongqing's industry-education integration alliance within the electric power sector.
\n
Several years ago, while serving as a centralized control operation inspector at Huadian Power International's Fengjie power plant, Chen encountered university educators for the first time during an academic upgrade class. This class was a collaborative effort between Chongqing Electric Power College and the power plant.
\n
Chen, alongside 40 colleagues from various departments such as fuel, operations, and maintenance, enrolled as part of the inaugural group of students.
\n
Under the guidance of university teachers, Chen helped address challenges faced by the power grid in northeastern Chongqing and wrote his graduation thesis on the topic.
\n
The industry-education integration alliance in Chongqing's electric power industry has pioneered a craftsman tutor-plus-full-time-teacher model, integrating scientific research with industry. Over the past two years, the alliance has obtained 505 patents and transformed 348 innovative achievements, helping more than 800 workers upgrade their educational degrees and training more than 300,000 on-the-job workers.
\n
"This reform has been effective and is gradually expanding to other industries in Chongqing," said Yu Jiping, Party secretary and vice-chairman of the Chongqing Federation of Trade Unions.
\n
This year, the city federation has led the establishment of industry-education integration alliances in sectors such as intelligent connected new energy vehicles, smart equipment and manufacturing, gas geology, and chemical pharmaceuticals, linking 100 universities with 1,000 key enterprises in Sichuan and Chongqing.
\n
Within three years, these alliances aim to help 10,000 industrial workers advance their education and 1 million others enhance their skills.
Xu Zhenchao (center), awarded the title People's Craftsman, talks to students at a crafts class held in Shenyang, Liaoning province.
\n
For Xu Zhenchao, a recipient of the title of People's Craftsman, it's not only about overcoming technical challenges with his skills; it's also about passing down the spirit of craftsmanship to future generations.
\n
Xu, 75, who is the senior manager for equipment engineering and technology at Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal, regularly visits frontline operations to exchange insights and share expertise.
\n
Born into a working-class family in Rongcheng, Shandongprovince, Xu began his career as a dockworker at Qingdao Port in 1974. A decade later, at the age of 34, he was selected as one of Qingdao Port's first crane operators for container handling. Since then, he has pursued excellence in his role. Despite having only a middle school education, Xu taught himself English to study the circuit diagrams of crane control panels. Through repeated experimentation, he overcame numerous challenges and ultimately produced two complete sets of detailed circuit diagrams based on the actual circuit boards.
\n
Over the past few decades, Xu has shattered the world record for container handling nine times, establishing the renowned "Zhenchao efficiency". Leading his team in technological innovation, he pioneered the "oil-to-electric" conversion for container gantry cranes, helping to significantly reduce production costs.
\n
"I've worked with gantry cranes all my life, and I hope to help others grow quickly," Xu said.
\n
In 2011, the Xu Zhenchao Model Worker Innovation Studio and Master Studio were both established, covering areas of 100 and 120 square meters respectively, and each accommodating more than 100 people.
\n
Focusing on major topics such as smart ports, green ports, safety and quality, loading and unloading efficiency, equipment technology, and energy conservation, the two studios have established four innovation teams dedicated to efficiency, informatization, technology, and migrant workers. These teams tackle technical challenges in port innovation projects and play a leading role in summarizing achievements, innovative processes, and new project development.
\n
The studios have advanced Xu's mentorship in "teaching, assisting, and guiding", providing a vital platform for skill exchange. This initiative continuously boosts the learning capacity, creativity, and expertise of technical personnel and key technicians. Since their establishment, the two studios have filed 108 national patents and completed 998 technological innovation projects.
\n
"From carrying loads by hand to achieving mechanization and now automation, I have witnessed the changes at Qingdao Port over the decades. This progress is due to both national support and the hard work of dock workers," said Xu. "We must continue to invest in the training of technical workers, cultivating versatile talents to contribute to the construction of a world-class marine port."
\n
Wang Ruyun, a senior electric welder technician from China Railway Baoji Bridge Group, is also committed to leading more people in tackling technical challenges through his innovation studio.
\n
Bearing the responsibility of advancing new steel bridge welding technologies, the Wang Ruyun Model Worker Innovation Studio has been dedicated to overcoming key technical challenges. Leading a team through meticulous research, Wang and his teammates focused on welding tests for weather-resistant steel, ultra-thick steel plates, and ultra-high-strength steel plates. These efforts helped resolve critical bottlenecks in major domestic projects, such as China's first railway bridge built using weathering steel — the Zangmu Grand Bridge on the Lhasa-Nyingchi section of the Sichuan-Xizang Railway — and the nation's largest bridge steel tower — the Taizhou Bridge steel tower.
\n
In 2024, Wang's studio launched three major research projects, generating two innovative outcomes and addressing a total of 18 production-related technical challenges. They also put forward 16 rationalization proposals and completed two quality control technician team research projects, providing crucial technical support for the construction of various large steel bridges within Baoji Bridge.
\n
Since the establishment of the studio, Wang has trained five senior technicians, 12 technicians, and 25 senior workers. The studio has become a "university" for developing a highly skilled workforce, contributing to improvements in quality, efficiency, transformation, and innovation.
\n
"In recent years, we have closely focused on high-quality corporate development and the reform of the industrial workforce. We have continuously promoted the establishment of model worker and craftsman innovation studios at all levels, providing relentless impetus for the development of new quality productive forces within the company," said Liu Jun, deputy Party secretary and chairman of the trade union at Baoji Bridge.
\n
"It has been proven that model workers and advanced employees are the backbone of corporate innovation and development. By organizing them through the Innovation Studio platform, we engage in activities such as invention, creation, renovation, and tackling key challenges. These efforts help solve problems in production, operations, technology, and management, thereby enhancing the company's technological innovation capabilities, product transformation and upgrading capabilities, and market competitiveness," Liu said.
Xu Zhenchao (center), awarded the title People's Craftsman, talks to students at a crafts class held in Shenyang, Liaoning province.
\n
For Xu Zhenchao, a recipient of the title of People's Craftsman, it's not only about overcoming technical challenges with his skills; it's also about passing down the spirit of craftsmanship to future generations.
\n
Xu, 75, who is the senior manager for equipment engineering and technology at Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal, regularly visits frontline operations to exchange insights and share expertise.
\n
Born into a working-class family in Rongcheng, Shandongprovince, Xu began his career as a dockworker at Qingdao Port in 1974. A decade later, at the age of 34, he was selected as one of Qingdao Port's first crane operators for container handling. Since then, he has pursued excellence in his role. Despite having only a middle school education, Xu taught himself English to study the circuit diagrams of crane control panels. Through repeated experimentation, he overcame numerous challenges and ultimately produced two complete sets of detailed circuit diagrams based on the actual circuit boards.
\n
Over the past few decades, Xu has shattered the world record for container handling nine times, establishing the renowned "Zhenchao efficiency". Leading his team in technological innovation, he pioneered the "oil-to-electric" conversion for container gantry cranes, helping to significantly reduce production costs.
\n
"I've worked with gantry cranes all my life, and I hope to help others grow quickly," Xu said.
\n
In 2011, the Xu Zhenchao Model Worker Innovation Studio and Master Studio were both established, covering areas of 100 and 120 square meters respectively, and each accommodating more than 100 people.
\n
Focusing on major topics such as smart ports, green ports, safety and quality, loading and unloading efficiency, equipment technology, and energy conservation, the two studios have established four innovation teams dedicated to efficiency, informatization, technology, and migrant workers. These teams tackle technical challenges in port innovation projects and play a leading role in summarizing achievements, innovative processes, and new project development.
\n
The studios have advanced Xu's mentorship in "teaching, assisting, and guiding", providing a vital platform for skill exchange. This initiative continuously boosts the learning capacity, creativity, and expertise of technical personnel and key technicians. Since their establishment, the two studios have filed 108 national patents and completed 998 technological innovation projects.
\n
"From carrying loads by hand to achieving mechanization and now automation, I have witnessed the changes at Qingdao Port over the decades. This progress is due to both national support and the hard work of dock workers," said Xu. "We must continue to invest in the training of technical workers, cultivating versatile talents to contribute to the construction of a world-class marine port."
\n
Wang Ruyun, a senior electric welder technician from China Railway Baoji Bridge Group, is also committed to leading more people in tackling technical challenges through his innovation studio.
\n
Bearing the responsibility of advancing new steel bridge welding technologies, the Wang Ruyun Model Worker Innovation Studio has been dedicated to overcoming key technical challenges. Leading a team through meticulous research, Wang and his teammates focused on welding tests for weather-resistant steel, ultra-thick steel plates, and ultra-high-strength steel plates. These efforts helped resolve critical bottlenecks in major domestic projects, such as China's first railway bridge built using weathering steel — the Zangmu Grand Bridge on the Lhasa-Nyingchi section of the Sichuan-Xizang Railway — and the nation's largest bridge steel tower — the Taizhou Bridge steel tower.
\n
In 2024, Wang's studio launched three major research projects, generating two innovative outcomes and addressing a total of 18 production-related technical challenges. They also put forward 16 rationalization proposals and completed two quality control technician team research projects, providing crucial technical support for the construction of various large steel bridges within Baoji Bridge.
\n
Since the establishment of the studio, Wang has trained five senior technicians, 12 technicians, and 25 senior workers. The studio has become a "university" for developing a highly skilled workforce, contributing to improvements in quality, efficiency, transformation, and innovation.
\n
"In recent years, we have closely focused on high-quality corporate development and the reform of the industrial workforce. We have continuously promoted the establishment of model worker and craftsman innovation studios at all levels, providing relentless impetus for the development of new quality productive forces within the company," said Liu Jun, deputy Party secretary and chairman of the trade union at Baoji Bridge.
\n
"It has been proven that model workers and advanced employees are the backbone of corporate innovation and development. By organizing them through the Innovation Studio platform, we engage in activities such as invention, creation, renovation, and tackling key challenges. These efforts help solve problems in production, operations, technology, and management, thereby enhancing the company's technological innovation capabilities, product transformation and upgrading capabilities, and market competitiveness," Liu said.
A total of 200 senior technicians working on the front lines of production were recently awarded the title of "national-level master craftsmen" after completing a one-year training program at Tsinghua University.
\n
The first Master Craftsman Talent Training Camp, initiated by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, was launched in July 2024 to strengthen technicians' expertise and address skill gaps through targeted training.
\n
Unlike traditional vocational programs, the camp brings together top craftsmen from various industries, giving them access to intellectual resources, experimental equipment, and innovation networks typically unavailable in their daily work. This approach encourages the development of disruptive ideas and technological integration that would be difficult to achieve in isolation, helping cultivate a new generation of master craftsmen.
\n
The training camp is divided into four sessions across three stages, featuring experts such as Tsinghua University professors and academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering as theoretical mentors, alongside national-level master craftsmen as practical mentors. Emphasizing its innovative learning model of "high-end guidance, cross-collaboration, digital integration, focused practice, diverse learning, and systematic support", the camp enables participants to engage in collaborative problem-solving with their mentors. Trainees also take part in a variety of enriching campus activities.
\n
"Participating in the training camp not only allows us to learn from academicians, experts, and master craftsmen at Tsinghua University, but also to stay updated on the latest policies and experience cutting-edge national technology. It truly broadens our horizons and is incredibly rewarding," said Yang Yongxiu, a senior technician in the prototype department at FAW's research and development institute.
\n
In 2010, Yang joined FAW as an ordinary milling worker after graduating from Changchun Technical University of Automobile. Confronted with an English-only computer numerical control system, he shadowed his mentor during the day to learn operations, while spending nights in his dormitory copying codes.
\n
In 2018, China FAW began developing a new V12 engine, crucial for achieving self-sufficiency in high-end vehicles. Faced with challenges such as precision machining and multi-axis coordinate transformation, Yang and his team worked tirelessly. He verified algorithms in the CNC system and solved over 20 technical problems, including automatic multi-axis coordinate conversion for the V12 cylinder head. They achieved manufacturing precision within 0.015 millimeters, reaching international standards. This breakthrough ended reliance on foreign processing for key engine components and filled a gap in domestic V-type engine manufacturing, giving Chinese cars a powerful and controllable "heart".
\n
From an ordinary milling worker to a national-level master craftsman, Yang has witnessed the automotive industry's transformation from traditional fuel vehicles to new energy models.
\n
"I'm dedicated to helping young workers grow and working with them to boost the core competitiveness of our national automotive brands amid industry transformation," Yang said.
\n
Yang Jin'an, head of the electric furnace team at CITIC Heavy Industries, also participated in the training camp.
\n
"Professor Zhang Chi from Tsinghua University's School of Materials Science and Engineering recommended switching the large mill liners from cast to forged. If this experiment succeeds, it could significantly enhance our company's products and similar ones across the country," said Yang Jin'an.
\n
For 41 years, the technician has dedicated himself to the intense heat of steel furnaces. He has developed nearly 100 types of special steels for major projects, including the Shenzhou spacecraft, domestic large aircraft, and new-generation nuclear power plants. Leading his team, he has solved material challenges for 18 critical steel types, addressing key national equipment needs and strengthening the backbone of China's manufacturing industry.
\n
"The new era is a golden age for industrial workers, offering opportunities and a platform to showcase our skills," said Yang Jin'an. "I will continue to uphold the spirit of model workers and craftsmen, continually enhancing my innovation abilities and refining my craft. It is essential to 'take hold of key core technologies ourselves', and I am committed to working tirelessly to elevate the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing."
\n
Zhang Zhongyi, director of the government and corporate talent learning center at Tsinghua University's School of Continuing Education and head of the training project, said: "This training camp focuses on developing both talent and tangible results, enhancing the 'five strengths of craftsmen' — leadership, practical skills, innovation, problem-solving, and heritage."
\n
The program aims to cultivate more master craftsmen while solving technical challenges in various industries. It seeks to foster innovation and produce strong outcomes, showcasing the role of craftsmen and inspiring more workers to succeed through skills and contribute to national development, Zhang added.
\n
As a major initiative to deepen reform of the industrial workforce, the ACFTU launched the national-level master craftsman training project in 2024. It includes dedicated funds for cultivating and rewarding master craftsmen, with plans to train around 200 national-level craftsmen annually. Additionally, it will guide regions and industries to develop approximately 1,000 provincial-level craftsmen and 5,000 municipal-level craftsmen each year.
A total of 200 senior technicians working on the front lines of production were recently awarded the title of "national-level master craftsmen" after completing a one-year training program at Tsinghua University.
\n
The first Master Craftsman Talent Training Camp, initiated by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, was launched in July 2024 to strengthen technicians' expertise and address skill gaps through targeted training.
\n
Unlike traditional vocational programs, the camp brings together top craftsmen from various industries, giving them access to intellectual resources, experimental equipment, and innovation networks typically unavailable in their daily work. This approach encourages the development of disruptive ideas and technological integration that would be difficult to achieve in isolation, helping cultivate a new generation of master craftsmen.
\n
The training camp is divided into four sessions across three stages, featuring experts such as Tsinghua University professors and academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering as theoretical mentors, alongside national-level master craftsmen as practical mentors. Emphasizing its innovative learning model of "high-end guidance, cross-collaboration, digital integration, focused practice, diverse learning, and systematic support", the camp enables participants to engage in collaborative problem-solving with their mentors. Trainees also take part in a variety of enriching campus activities.
\n
"Participating in the training camp not only allows us to learn from academicians, experts, and master craftsmen at Tsinghua University, but also to stay updated on the latest policies and experience cutting-edge national technology. It truly broadens our horizons and is incredibly rewarding," said Yang Yongxiu, a senior technician in the prototype department at FAW's research and development institute.
\n
In 2010, Yang joined FAW as an ordinary milling worker after graduating from Changchun Technical University of Automobile. Confronted with an English-only computer numerical control system, he shadowed his mentor during the day to learn operations, while spending nights in his dormitory copying codes.
\n
In 2018, China FAW began developing a new V12 engine, crucial for achieving self-sufficiency in high-end vehicles. Faced with challenges such as precision machining and multi-axis coordinate transformation, Yang and his team worked tirelessly. He verified algorithms in the CNC system and solved over 20 technical problems, including automatic multi-axis coordinate conversion for the V12 cylinder head. They achieved manufacturing precision within 0.015 millimeters, reaching international standards. This breakthrough ended reliance on foreign processing for key engine components and filled a gap in domestic V-type engine manufacturing, giving Chinese cars a powerful and controllable "heart".
\n
From an ordinary milling worker to a national-level master craftsman, Yang has witnessed the automotive industry's transformation from traditional fuel vehicles to new energy models.
\n
"I'm dedicated to helping young workers grow and working with them to boost the core competitiveness of our national automotive brands amid industry transformation," Yang said.
\n
Yang Jin'an, head of the electric furnace team at CITIC Heavy Industries, also participated in the training camp.
\n
"Professor Zhang Chi from Tsinghua University's School of Materials Science and Engineering recommended switching the large mill liners from cast to forged. If this experiment succeeds, it could significantly enhance our company's products and similar ones across the country," said Yang Jin'an.
\n
For 41 years, the technician has dedicated himself to the intense heat of steel furnaces. He has developed nearly 100 types of special steels for major projects, including the Shenzhou spacecraft, domestic large aircraft, and new-generation nuclear power plants. Leading his team, he has solved material challenges for 18 critical steel types, addressing key national equipment needs and strengthening the backbone of China's manufacturing industry.
\n
"The new era is a golden age for industrial workers, offering opportunities and a platform to showcase our skills," said Yang Jin'an. "I will continue to uphold the spirit of model workers and craftsmen, continually enhancing my innovation abilities and refining my craft. It is essential to 'take hold of key core technologies ourselves', and I am committed to working tirelessly to elevate the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing."
\n
Zhang Zhongyi, director of the government and corporate talent learning center at Tsinghua University's School of Continuing Education and head of the training project, said: "This training camp focuses on developing both talent and tangible results, enhancing the 'five strengths of craftsmen' — leadership, practical skills, innovation, problem-solving, and heritage."
\n
The program aims to cultivate more master craftsmen while solving technical challenges in various industries. It seeks to foster innovation and produce strong outcomes, showcasing the role of craftsmen and inspiring more workers to succeed through skills and contribute to national development, Zhang added.
\n
As a major initiative to deepen reform of the industrial workforce, the ACFTU launched the national-level master craftsman training project in 2024. It includes dedicated funds for cultivating and rewarding master craftsmen, with plans to train around 200 national-level craftsmen annually. Additionally, it will guide regions and industries to develop approximately 1,000 provincial-level craftsmen and 5,000 municipal-level craftsmen each year.
Developing an innovative talent cultivation model:
\n
Deepen cooperation between schools and industry to innovate talent training models tailored to local conditions. Create hybrid learning systems that support flexible education for industrial workers, integrating both online and offline methods. Establish mechanisms that combine moral education with technical training, and coordinate work with studies. Support various schools in enhancing higher education related to continuing studies, providing effective skills training, and encouraging programs for model workers and skilled craftsmen. Promote advanced research classes and organize innovation camps for these talented individuals.
\n
Enhancing the development of learning facilities:
\n
Utilize union worker service bases, industry and enterprise training centers, and open regional practice centers for industry-education integration, and school-enterprise joint continuing education or training centers for industrial workers. Establish and support in-house training facilities within enterprises, allowing capable schools and social training institutions to participate in employee education and training in an orderly manner. Build an extensive and rich learning network for industrial workers, and explore effective ways to provide inclusive and universal educational training for migrant workers and industrial workers in new employment forms.
\n
Expanding the availability of educational resources:
\n
Support schools in developing specialized programs aligned with regional industries and key talent needs. Create high-quality online courses and continually updated textbooks for lifelong learning among industrial workers. Utilize platforms like a national smart vocational education platform, a national smart lifelong education platform, and the "home of workers" APP to develop an intelligent skill-learning platform. Encourage universities, open universities, vocational schools, craftsman colleges, and industry enterprises to share quality teaching resources with industrial workers.
\n
Promoting the recognition and conversion of learning achievements:
\n
Establish a standard system to certify and convert industrial workers' learning outcomes. Enable mutual recognition of educational achievements, degrees, skill credits, and certificates to support lifelong learning. Encourage schools to recognize workers' professional experience and informal learning. Urge skill evaluation institutions to exempt certain vocational skill assessments for workers with relevant education. Implement a system linking vocational qualifications and skill levels with job titles and educational benefits, and establish mechanisms for smooth transitions between professional, managerial, and technical roles.
\n
Encouraging active participation of enterprises:
\n
Enhance employee education systems to protect learning rights, and support paid learning for industrial workers. Motivate companies to invest in worker education. Support large and medium-sized enterprises in establishing craftsman colleges and conducting public vocational training. Guide small and medium-sized enterprises to use learning service platforms and resources. Encourage inking workers' ongoing education to skill assessments, factoring in skill enhancement for wage increases.
\n",
+ "content": "
Developing an innovative talent cultivation model:
\n
Deepen cooperation between schools and industry to innovate talent training models tailored to local conditions. Create hybrid learning systems that support flexible education for industrial workers, integrating both online and offline methods. Establish mechanisms that combine moral education with technical training, and coordinate work with studies. Support various schools in enhancing higher education related to continuing studies, providing effective skills training, and encouraging programs for model workers and skilled craftsmen. Promote advanced research classes and organize innovation camps for these talented individuals.
\n
Enhancing the development of learning facilities:
\n
Utilize union worker service bases, industry and enterprise training centers, and open regional practice centers for industry-education integration, and school-enterprise joint continuing education or training centers for industrial workers. Establish and support in-house training facilities within enterprises, allowing capable schools and social training institutions to participate in employee education and training in an orderly manner. Build an extensive and rich learning network for industrial workers, and explore effective ways to provide inclusive and universal educational training for migrant workers and industrial workers in new employment forms.
\n
Expanding the availability of educational resources:
\n
Support schools in developing specialized programs aligned with regional industries and key talent needs. Create high-quality online courses and continually updated textbooks for lifelong learning among industrial workers. Utilize platforms like a national smart vocational education platform, a national smart lifelong education platform, and the "home of workers" APP to develop an intelligent skill-learning platform. Encourage universities, open universities, vocational schools, craftsman colleges, and industry enterprises to share quality teaching resources with industrial workers.
\n
Promoting the recognition and conversion of learning achievements:
\n
Establish a standard system to certify and convert industrial workers' learning outcomes. Enable mutual recognition of educational achievements, degrees, skill credits, and certificates to support lifelong learning. Encourage schools to recognize workers' professional experience and informal learning. Urge skill evaluation institutions to exempt certain vocational skill assessments for workers with relevant education. Implement a system linking vocational qualifications and skill levels with job titles and educational benefits, and establish mechanisms for smooth transitions between professional, managerial, and technical roles.
\n
Encouraging active participation of enterprises:
\n
Enhance employee education systems to protect learning rights, and support paid learning for industrial workers. Motivate companies to invest in worker education. Support large and medium-sized enterprises in establishing craftsman colleges and conducting public vocational training. Guide small and medium-sized enterprises to use learning service platforms and resources. Encourage inking workers' ongoing education to skill assessments, factoring in skill enhancement for wage increases.
Despite Hong Kong affairs being purely China's internal affairs, the United States has never ceased trying to interfere in them. It has persistently vilified the Chinese central government's policy toward the special administrative region, provided support to those who seek to destabilize Hong Kong, and made unfounded charges against Hong Kong in an attempt to undermine the SAR's stability and prosperity. Such words and deeds of the US run counter to the basic norms governing international relations.
\n
In yet another attempt to discredit and smear Hong Kong, the US State Department, in its 2025 Investment Climate Statements published on Friday, has again made biased assertions regarding the SAR.
\n
By resorting to lies and unfounded accusations, the US report targets the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, enacted under Article 23 of Hong Kong's Basic Law. It falsely claimed they have "heightened uncertainty" for foreign and local businesses operating in Hong Kong. Its conclusion that rule-of-law "risks" have become "a potential concern" in Hong Kong flies in the face of the facts. The report is purely aimed at bad-mouthing the practice of the "one country, two systems" policy in the SAR.
\n
The report has rightly drawn sharp criticism from the Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR as well as the SAR government.
\n
The US interference does not end there. The US consul general in Hong Kong and Macao, Julie Eadeh, triggered strong disapproval in Hong Kong by inviting some major figures who played ugly roles in the 2019 unrest in the SAR to her recent inaugural reception. The move has attracted a barrage of criticism, as people are questioning her motivation and intention.
\n
That the US, a major source of disruptions of international trade nowadays, is making irresponsible judgments on the investment climate in other economies is ironic. As a spokesperson for the commissioner's office pointed out, given the US has frequently wielded the stick of tariffs and sanctions and erected systemic barriers to international investment and trade, it is in no position to make such baseless remarks about Hong Kong's business environment.
\n
The implementation of the legal measures to ensure national security in Hong Kong has helped restore a safe and stable environment in the SAR. The move not only safeguards the legal rights and interests of the public, but also makes the SAR a more attractive and secure destination for capital and investment.
\n
Rather than a picture of doom and gloom that the US report has tried to paint for Hong Kong, the SAR's business environment remains appealing to enterprises and investors from around the world.
\n
The SAR has been recognized once again as the world's freest economy, according to the Economic Freedom of the World: 2025 Annual Report released by the Fraser Institute. It is also one of the top three global financial centers, ranking third for global competitiveness, according to the Global Financial Centres Index report.
\n
Furthermore, the World Investment Report 2025 published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development indicates Hong Kong attracted $126 billion in foreign direct investment last year, which ranked third globally.
\n
The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong's annual member survey published earlier this year showed that 83 percent of US businesses based in Hong Kong were confident in the SAR's rule of law, representing an increase of 10 percentage points compared to 2023.
\n
That the US' trade surplus with Hong Kong has exceeded $270 billion over the past decade, the highest among US trade partners, also proves that the drummed-up scaremongering about Hong Kong's business environment is nothing but a lie.
\n
It is a daydream for some in the US to hope that they will be able to compromise the prosperity and stability of the SAR by bad-mouthing it.
\n",
+ "content": "
Despite Hong Kong affairs being purely China's internal affairs, the United States has never ceased trying to interfere in them. It has persistently vilified the Chinese central government's policy toward the special administrative region, provided support to those who seek to destabilize Hong Kong, and made unfounded charges against Hong Kong in an attempt to undermine the SAR's stability and prosperity. Such words and deeds of the US run counter to the basic norms governing international relations.
\n
In yet another attempt to discredit and smear Hong Kong, the US State Department, in its 2025 Investment Climate Statements published on Friday, has again made biased assertions regarding the SAR.
\n
By resorting to lies and unfounded accusations, the US report targets the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, enacted under Article 23 of Hong Kong's Basic Law. It falsely claimed they have "heightened uncertainty" for foreign and local businesses operating in Hong Kong. Its conclusion that rule-of-law "risks" have become "a potential concern" in Hong Kong flies in the face of the facts. The report is purely aimed at bad-mouthing the practice of the "one country, two systems" policy in the SAR.
\n
The report has rightly drawn sharp criticism from the Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in the Hong Kong SAR as well as the SAR government.
\n
The US interference does not end there. The US consul general in Hong Kong and Macao, Julie Eadeh, triggered strong disapproval in Hong Kong by inviting some major figures who played ugly roles in the 2019 unrest in the SAR to her recent inaugural reception. The move has attracted a barrage of criticism, as people are questioning her motivation and intention.
\n
That the US, a major source of disruptions of international trade nowadays, is making irresponsible judgments on the investment climate in other economies is ironic. As a spokesperson for the commissioner's office pointed out, given the US has frequently wielded the stick of tariffs and sanctions and erected systemic barriers to international investment and trade, it is in no position to make such baseless remarks about Hong Kong's business environment.
\n
The implementation of the legal measures to ensure national security in Hong Kong has helped restore a safe and stable environment in the SAR. The move not only safeguards the legal rights and interests of the public, but also makes the SAR a more attractive and secure destination for capital and investment.
\n
Rather than a picture of doom and gloom that the US report has tried to paint for Hong Kong, the SAR's business environment remains appealing to enterprises and investors from around the world.
\n
The SAR has been recognized once again as the world's freest economy, according to the Economic Freedom of the World: 2025 Annual Report released by the Fraser Institute. It is also one of the top three global financial centers, ranking third for global competitiveness, according to the Global Financial Centres Index report.
\n
Furthermore, the World Investment Report 2025 published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development indicates Hong Kong attracted $126 billion in foreign direct investment last year, which ranked third globally.
\n
The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong's annual member survey published earlier this year showed that 83 percent of US businesses based in Hong Kong were confident in the SAR's rule of law, representing an increase of 10 percentage points compared to 2023.
\n
That the US' trade surplus with Hong Kong has exceeded $270 billion over the past decade, the highest among US trade partners, also proves that the drummed-up scaremongering about Hong Kong's business environment is nothing but a lie.
\n
It is a daydream for some in the US to hope that they will be able to compromise the prosperity and stability of the SAR by bad-mouthing it.
People-centered governance is the defining attribute of both China's governing principle and its governing approach. In order to better ensure that the people enjoy the fruits of development, a balance must be struck not only between different regions and sectors, but also between quantity and quality, growth and fairness, and development and stability.
\n
The achievements China has made in advancing people's well-being since 2021 are encapsulated in a report released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Sunday.
\n
The report on social and livelihood development since the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) clearly shows how the improved well-being of the people is not only "the greatest political achievement" of the Communist Party of China and the government, but also of "the utmost importance" for Chinese modernization, as President Xi Jinping said.
\n
For instance, the per capita disposable income reached 41,314 yuan ($5,747) in 2024, up 5.3 percent year-on-year in nominal terms, with rural incomes growing faster than urban ones, which has helped to narrow the gap between regions. Public services such as education and healthcare have become more balanced and accessible, with gross preschool enrollment reaching 92 percent, 6.8 percentage points higher than 2020, and the average life expectancy rising to 79 years, 1.07 years higher than 2020, and five years higher than the global average.
\n
That China has steadily improved people's well-being during this period, despite the challenges and headwinds it has encountered, testifies to the effective leadership of the CPC.
\n
The pragmatism, pertinence and responsiveness of policymakers — coupled with the efficient implementation of their policies — are evident in areas such as employment, healthcare, housing, education, public cultural services and social security.
\n
Advances in technology, the growth of the green economy and the pursuit of sustainable development have all been aligned with the promotion of urbanization and the continuation of reform and opening-up in sectors directly or indirectly related to people's livelihoods.
\n
The comprehensive policy framework and systematic approach explain why broad-spectrum improvements have been achieved simultaneously across relevant sectors.
\n
For example, the number of practicing doctors per 1,000 people rose from 2.9 in 2020 to 3.4 in 2024, while cultural participation expanded dramatically, with 1.07 billion people now regularly using online video platforms. Such progress reflects the synergy between social development and economic modernization.
\n
The progress China has made in improving people's well-being since 2021 not only lays a solid foundation for further advancement in the years ahead but also provides valuable experience and reference for the design and implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), which the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau discussed at a meeting on Monday.
\n
As the NBS report rightly notes, the next five years might present more challenges, from further balancing regional disparities to addressing the evolving needs of an aging society. Nevertheless, the meeting reiterated the importance of adhering to the people-centered principle in the blueprint for addressing major issues related to national economic and social development over the coming five years.
\n
Social and livelihood development are the bedrock and barometer for the country's progress. As the NBS report highlights, the steady rise in incomes, expanded access to education and healthcare, improved protection for vulnerable groups, and enhanced cultural and living standards all point to a society that is becoming more inclusive, sustainable and equitable.
\n
With the momentum already generated, China is now better-positioned than it was five years ago to seek high-quality development step by step — in which stability, fairness and prosperity are not abstract goals but increasingly the lived reality of the people.
\n
History shows that as long as the country upholds the leadership of the Party and adheres to the people-centered development philosophy, relevant work will continue to break new ground and create fresh opportunities.
\n
Looking ahead, the country should be confident that the Party and the government will continue to strive to ensure that the advancement of the country's modernization translates into a greater sense of fulfillment, happiness and security for the people.
\n",
+ "content": "
People-centered governance is the defining attribute of both China's governing principle and its governing approach. In order to better ensure that the people enjoy the fruits of development, a balance must be struck not only between different regions and sectors, but also between quantity and quality, growth and fairness, and development and stability.
\n
The achievements China has made in advancing people's well-being since 2021 are encapsulated in a report released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Sunday.
\n
The report on social and livelihood development since the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) clearly shows how the improved well-being of the people is not only "the greatest political achievement" of the Communist Party of China and the government, but also of "the utmost importance" for Chinese modernization, as President Xi Jinping said.
\n
For instance, the per capita disposable income reached 41,314 yuan ($5,747) in 2024, up 5.3 percent year-on-year in nominal terms, with rural incomes growing faster than urban ones, which has helped to narrow the gap between regions. Public services such as education and healthcare have become more balanced and accessible, with gross preschool enrollment reaching 92 percent, 6.8 percentage points higher than 2020, and the average life expectancy rising to 79 years, 1.07 years higher than 2020, and five years higher than the global average.
\n
That China has steadily improved people's well-being during this period, despite the challenges and headwinds it has encountered, testifies to the effective leadership of the CPC.
\n
The pragmatism, pertinence and responsiveness of policymakers — coupled with the efficient implementation of their policies — are evident in areas such as employment, healthcare, housing, education, public cultural services and social security.
\n
Advances in technology, the growth of the green economy and the pursuit of sustainable development have all been aligned with the promotion of urbanization and the continuation of reform and opening-up in sectors directly or indirectly related to people's livelihoods.
\n
The comprehensive policy framework and systematic approach explain why broad-spectrum improvements have been achieved simultaneously across relevant sectors.
\n
For example, the number of practicing doctors per 1,000 people rose from 2.9 in 2020 to 3.4 in 2024, while cultural participation expanded dramatically, with 1.07 billion people now regularly using online video platforms. Such progress reflects the synergy between social development and economic modernization.
\n
The progress China has made in improving people's well-being since 2021 not only lays a solid foundation for further advancement in the years ahead but also provides valuable experience and reference for the design and implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), which the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau discussed at a meeting on Monday.
\n
As the NBS report rightly notes, the next five years might present more challenges, from further balancing regional disparities to addressing the evolving needs of an aging society. Nevertheless, the meeting reiterated the importance of adhering to the people-centered principle in the blueprint for addressing major issues related to national economic and social development over the coming five years.
\n
Social and livelihood development are the bedrock and barometer for the country's progress. As the NBS report highlights, the steady rise in incomes, expanded access to education and healthcare, improved protection for vulnerable groups, and enhanced cultural and living standards all point to a society that is becoming more inclusive, sustainable and equitable.
\n
With the momentum already generated, China is now better-positioned than it was five years ago to seek high-quality development step by step — in which stability, fairness and prosperity are not abstract goals but increasingly the lived reality of the people.
\n
History shows that as long as the country upholds the leadership of the Party and adheres to the people-centered development philosophy, relevant work will continue to break new ground and create fresh opportunities.
\n
Looking ahead, the country should be confident that the Party and the government will continue to strive to ensure that the advancement of the country's modernization translates into a greater sense of fulfillment, happiness and security for the people.
The recent failure of the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution that would have extended UN sanctions relief to Iran under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and the possible consequences underscore the fragility of diplomatic frameworks, eroded by unilateralism and political maneuvering.
\n
China has expressed regret at the outcome and reaffirmed its principled stance: respect for multilateralism, adherence to international law and opposition to coercive pressure.
\n
The draft resolution, jointly tabled by China and Russia, failed to secure the required support, which is emblematic of how divisions and double standards undermine the authority and credibility of multilateral institutions. China's response — urging dialogue, restraint and a return to the negotiating table — is consistent with its long-standing calls for political means to prevail over coercion.
\n
The reinstatement of UN sanctions represents a blow not only to Iran's lawful rights but to the integrity of negotiated agreements. The measures include an arms embargo, restrictions on nuclear transfers, asset freezes, travel bans and inspection mandates.
\n
Yet their reimposition, bypassing the dispute resolution mechanism provided in the original deal, reveals how some countries can distort procedural rules to justify their coercion.
\n
As some observers warn, placing Iran again under Chapter VII of the UN Charter gives sweeping enforcement authority, potentially legitimizing greater coercion and heightening risks of confrontation under the auspices of the UN. China rightly contests this, arguing that peaceful rights under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the JCPOA must be respected and that sanctions should not be wielded as tools of political coercion.
\n
China's position is coherent, consistent and constructive. As Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, put it, the current moment is "critical", and all parties should "exercise calm and restraint, continue dialogue and engagement, handle the current predicament prudently, and avoid escalating tensions".
\n
China also calls on the United Kingdom, France and Germany — the three European parties to the Iran nuclear deal — to abandon coercive pressure and fully respect Iran's rights, while urging a genuine collective return to the negotiating table under the principles of equality and mutual respect.
\n
That China frames its diplomacy in principled multilateralism aligns with its vision of a global order based on fairness, not force.
\n
The international community must also consider the broader context of instability in the Middle East: the conflict in Gaza, regional tensions and shifting alignments. The reimposition of sanctions against Iran invites further confrontation in the region.
\n
China, unambiguously and without equivocation, stands for peaceful resolution of all conflicts, while opposing punitive measures that fragment diplomacy and provoke escalation. In such volatile conditions, the value of dialogue, negotiation and treaty enforcement becomes ever clearer.
\n
Sanctions cannot resolve complicated conflicts. Some stakeholders are trying to weaponize sanctions for their own narrow geopolitical ends on the Iran nuclear issue.
\n
China's diplomacy is proactive, principled, and grounded in sustained engagement. It doesn't merely react to crises — it seeks to shape a safer, fairer international environment by resisting unilateral coercion and reinforcing the JCPOA.
\n
As the JCPOA landscape enters a fresh period of uncertainty — with Resolution 2231 lapsing in October — China will continue its role as a stabilizer, striving to preserve the deal's architecture and prevent the descent of the Iran issue into ungoverned conflict. Now is the time that all parties should return in good faith to talks, restore mutual trust, and revitalize diplomacy — otherwise, the Middle East and the world at large will suffer.
\n
In the face of mounting pressures and unilateralism, China's steady voice offers clarity: sanctions should not be used as weapons; treaties must not be toyed with; and the global order cannot survive when geopolitical forces bend the rules. As the world watches, China reaffirms that constructive diplomacy, grounded in law and mutual respect, remains the path forward.
\n",
+ "content": "
The recent failure of the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution that would have extended UN sanctions relief to Iran under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and the possible consequences underscore the fragility of diplomatic frameworks, eroded by unilateralism and political maneuvering.
\n
China has expressed regret at the outcome and reaffirmed its principled stance: respect for multilateralism, adherence to international law and opposition to coercive pressure.
\n
The draft resolution, jointly tabled by China and Russia, failed to secure the required support, which is emblematic of how divisions and double standards undermine the authority and credibility of multilateral institutions. China's response — urging dialogue, restraint and a return to the negotiating table — is consistent with its long-standing calls for political means to prevail over coercion.
\n
The reinstatement of UN sanctions represents a blow not only to Iran's lawful rights but to the integrity of negotiated agreements. The measures include an arms embargo, restrictions on nuclear transfers, asset freezes, travel bans and inspection mandates.
\n
Yet their reimposition, bypassing the dispute resolution mechanism provided in the original deal, reveals how some countries can distort procedural rules to justify their coercion.
\n
As some observers warn, placing Iran again under Chapter VII of the UN Charter gives sweeping enforcement authority, potentially legitimizing greater coercion and heightening risks of confrontation under the auspices of the UN. China rightly contests this, arguing that peaceful rights under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the JCPOA must be respected and that sanctions should not be wielded as tools of political coercion.
\n
China's position is coherent, consistent and constructive. As Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, put it, the current moment is "critical", and all parties should "exercise calm and restraint, continue dialogue and engagement, handle the current predicament prudently, and avoid escalating tensions".
\n
China also calls on the United Kingdom, France and Germany — the three European parties to the Iran nuclear deal — to abandon coercive pressure and fully respect Iran's rights, while urging a genuine collective return to the negotiating table under the principles of equality and mutual respect.
\n
That China frames its diplomacy in principled multilateralism aligns with its vision of a global order based on fairness, not force.
\n
The international community must also consider the broader context of instability in the Middle East: the conflict in Gaza, regional tensions and shifting alignments. The reimposition of sanctions against Iran invites further confrontation in the region.
\n
China, unambiguously and without equivocation, stands for peaceful resolution of all conflicts, while opposing punitive measures that fragment diplomacy and provoke escalation. In such volatile conditions, the value of dialogue, negotiation and treaty enforcement becomes ever clearer.
\n
Sanctions cannot resolve complicated conflicts. Some stakeholders are trying to weaponize sanctions for their own narrow geopolitical ends on the Iran nuclear issue.
\n
China's diplomacy is proactive, principled, and grounded in sustained engagement. It doesn't merely react to crises — it seeks to shape a safer, fairer international environment by resisting unilateral coercion and reinforcing the JCPOA.
\n
As the JCPOA landscape enters a fresh period of uncertainty — with Resolution 2231 lapsing in October — China will continue its role as a stabilizer, striving to preserve the deal's architecture and prevent the descent of the Iran issue into ungoverned conflict. Now is the time that all parties should return in good faith to talks, restore mutual trust, and revitalize diplomacy — otherwise, the Middle East and the world at large will suffer.
\n
In the face of mounting pressures and unilateralism, China's steady voice offers clarity: sanctions should not be used as weapons; treaties must not be toyed with; and the global order cannot survive when geopolitical forces bend the rules. As the world watches, China reaffirms that constructive diplomacy, grounded in law and mutual respect, remains the path forward.
Editor's note: Eight central departments on Sunday jointly unveiled a plan to support the growth of the nonferrous metals industry. China Daily spoke to Mei Xinyu and Peng Bo, researchers at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce, about the measures envisaged in the plan. Below are excerpts from their interviews. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
\n
The plan released by the authorities targets around 5 percent average annual growth in the sector's value-added output from 2025 to 2026 and expects the output of 10 major nonferrous metals to grow by around 1.5 percent annually during the same period. The plan also outlines tasks, including raising the annual output of recycled metals to over 20 million tonnes, providing more high-end products and improving the industry's green and low-carbon development.
\n
The nonferrous metals industry — which includes copper, aluminum, lithium, nickel, cobalt and tin — is crucial for a range of future-oriented industries such as electric vehicles, integrated circuits, the low-altitude economy, humanoid robots and artificial intelligence.
\n
China has a comparative advantage in both the reserves and the output of some nonferrous metals. The industry has a solid foundation, which is reflected in the high production capacity, high output and market competitiveness. However, it also faces some structural challenges. Many raw materials are sourced from overseas markets and many customers are located abroad, which make the industry somewhat vulnerable.
\n
The 2025-26 period is pivotal for China to shape its industrial landscape. This plan can help enhance the resource efficiency of nonferrous metals, and standardize as well as promote the sector's development. The plan can also help address the structural issues, strengthen the production and promote the high-quality development of the sector.
\n
On the one hand, it is important to intensify mineral exploration efforts in overseas markets, while on the other, enhancing the domestic mining intensity also needs to be prioritized. That is why the plan says the country will implement a new strategy for making breakthroughs in mineral exploration and enhance the prospecting of nonferrous metals.
\n
The production growth targets outlined in the plan will strengthen China's advantages in the global supply of nonferrous metals while consolidating the domestic production.
\n
The rise of protectionism and unilateralism is posing challenges to industry and supply chains and international trade. The nonferrous metals sector is one area where some developed economies rely on Chinese supply.
\n
So, at a time when the export controls of some developed economies are restricting China's access to critical strategic components and there are attempts to "decouple" from the country, a stable nonferrous metals sector is crucial for China to leverage its strategic advantage, safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and maintain the normal order of international trade.
\n
To effectively implement the plan, collaboration among three key parties is necessary. The government needs to provide guidance and support by creating a favorable policy environment, the market needs to allocate resources, and enterprises need to act as main drivers. This is what the plan embodies — promoting collaborative development where all three parties work together, each playing their respective indispensable role.
\n",
+ "content": "
Editor's note: Eight central departments on Sunday jointly unveiled a plan to support the growth of the nonferrous metals industry. China Daily spoke to Mei Xinyu and Peng Bo, researchers at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce, about the measures envisaged in the plan. Below are excerpts from their interviews. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
\n
The plan released by the authorities targets around 5 percent average annual growth in the sector's value-added output from 2025 to 2026 and expects the output of 10 major nonferrous metals to grow by around 1.5 percent annually during the same period. The plan also outlines tasks, including raising the annual output of recycled metals to over 20 million tonnes, providing more high-end products and improving the industry's green and low-carbon development.
\n
The nonferrous metals industry — which includes copper, aluminum, lithium, nickel, cobalt and tin — is crucial for a range of future-oriented industries such as electric vehicles, integrated circuits, the low-altitude economy, humanoid robots and artificial intelligence.
\n
China has a comparative advantage in both the reserves and the output of some nonferrous metals. The industry has a solid foundation, which is reflected in the high production capacity, high output and market competitiveness. However, it also faces some structural challenges. Many raw materials are sourced from overseas markets and many customers are located abroad, which make the industry somewhat vulnerable.
\n
The 2025-26 period is pivotal for China to shape its industrial landscape. This plan can help enhance the resource efficiency of nonferrous metals, and standardize as well as promote the sector's development. The plan can also help address the structural issues, strengthen the production and promote the high-quality development of the sector.
\n
On the one hand, it is important to intensify mineral exploration efforts in overseas markets, while on the other, enhancing the domestic mining intensity also needs to be prioritized. That is why the plan says the country will implement a new strategy for making breakthroughs in mineral exploration and enhance the prospecting of nonferrous metals.
\n
The production growth targets outlined in the plan will strengthen China's advantages in the global supply of nonferrous metals while consolidating the domestic production.
\n
The rise of protectionism and unilateralism is posing challenges to industry and supply chains and international trade. The nonferrous metals sector is one area where some developed economies rely on Chinese supply.
\n
So, at a time when the export controls of some developed economies are restricting China's access to critical strategic components and there are attempts to "decouple" from the country, a stable nonferrous metals sector is crucial for China to leverage its strategic advantage, safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and maintain the normal order of international trade.
\n
To effectively implement the plan, collaboration among three key parties is necessary. The government needs to provide guidance and support by creating a favorable policy environment, the market needs to allocate resources, and enterprises need to act as main drivers. This is what the plan embodies — promoting collaborative development where all three parties work together, each playing their respective indispensable role.
Sept 30 marks Martyrs' Day. As usual, the Chinese leadership, along with representatives from various sectors, will gather at Tian'anmen Square to lay wreaths in honor of the people's heroes. This ceremony is not only important for showing respect for the sacrifices of the martyrs but also vital for fostering patriotism among the Chinese people.
\n
This year, which marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War, has seen the special organization of artistic works and cultural tourism projects to commemorate the occasion. While the film, Dead to Rights, has been well-received by audiences, "red tourism sites" (mostly related to the historical sites of the revolutionary era) across the country have gained in popularity due to the growing sense of patriotism among the Chinese people.
\n
In recent years, festive celebrations have increasingly highlighted the importance of national consciousness and patriotism. During this National Day holiday week, for instance, national symbols are being prominently displayed across the country, sparking different interpretations, from respect for patriotism to misconceptions, by different countries.
\n
Rising patriotism reflects a greater sense of identity among the Chinese people. In its effort to achieve national rejuvenation, China is putting special emphasis on the historical narrative and national identity, which are manifested in the country's national image.
\n
Countries worldwide have prioritized shaping their national image in the new media landscape. A country's image is shaped by both global perceptions and people's expression of their identity, which includes a country's values, historical memory and narratives. In particular, this is reflected in the vision put forward by President Xi Jinping to showcase the image of China as a trustworthy, loveable and admirable country in the new era.
\n
A country's image is built first and foremost on reverence for its own history and shared values. Following the collapse of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), China embarked on a half-century journey of rebuilding the Chinese nation. Through struggles against imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism before the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Chinese people forged a clearer national identity. During this process, China suffered greatly in the two world wars, which made it better appreciate independence and sovereignty.
\n
Many of today's red tourism sites, in essence, represent those historical memories. When I asked one of my students what was the most important lesson he had learned from over a decade of patriotic education, he said: "Peace. A world without war is the best world."
\n
Following the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country began to fully exercise its sovereignty, build a modern state and shape its national identity. The unique historical awareness inherent to a nation, combined with the narrative of struggle for national liberation, needs to be more accurately reflected in education, culture and international communication, so as to help the world better understand China's contributions to global development.
\n
When we refer to "red China", we also refer to a century of struggle by the Chinese people. Red is a symbolic representation; what hold greater significance are the historical memories and narratives of perseverance that the color red represents.
\n
Without the correct understanding of 20th century history, the world risks descending into chaos, marked by populism and anarchism.
\n
China's patriotic education represents both the values of its historical narrative and contribution to universal human values. By honoring their national heroes, people help their country to assume shared responsibilities for humanity's development and provide vital global public goods. The Chinese people can easily understand the differences between civilizations, sympathize with the vulnerable, oppose power politics and uphold justice.
\n
Consequently, China's narrative of patriotism is invaluable; it signifies humanity's concern for the planet and deep respect for collective memory. Such national memories are genuine and complete, not crafted or packaged by individual political figures, but rather inherited by the Chinese people through cultural and educational continuity. Otherwise, why should the Chinese people be moved to tears watching films like Dead to Rights, wave the national flag on Tian'anmen Square or share their family stories with foreigners?
\n
By understanding the historical memory and national identity of the Chinese people, one can also understand China's domestic and foreign policies, and realize that the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity indeed stems from the common values that emerged from China's own historical experience.
\n
Narrating China's patriotism and connecting it with the shared global development goals has become essential for China's global communication. Building a community with a shared future for humanity, strengthening security, promoting development, upholding civilizational legacy, and improving governance are at the core of China's development philosophy.
\n
In other words, patriotism is the soul of global security and development, and the most important common language for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
\n
The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\n",
+ "content": "\n
Sept 30 marks Martyrs' Day. As usual, the Chinese leadership, along with representatives from various sectors, will gather at Tian'anmen Square to lay wreaths in honor of the people's heroes. This ceremony is not only important for showing respect for the sacrifices of the martyrs but also vital for fostering patriotism among the Chinese people.
\n
This year, which marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War, has seen the special organization of artistic works and cultural tourism projects to commemorate the occasion. While the film, Dead to Rights, has been well-received by audiences, "red tourism sites" (mostly related to the historical sites of the revolutionary era) across the country have gained in popularity due to the growing sense of patriotism among the Chinese people.
\n
In recent years, festive celebrations have increasingly highlighted the importance of national consciousness and patriotism. During this National Day holiday week, for instance, national symbols are being prominently displayed across the country, sparking different interpretations, from respect for patriotism to misconceptions, by different countries.
\n
Rising patriotism reflects a greater sense of identity among the Chinese people. In its effort to achieve national rejuvenation, China is putting special emphasis on the historical narrative and national identity, which are manifested in the country's national image.
\n
Countries worldwide have prioritized shaping their national image in the new media landscape. A country's image is shaped by both global perceptions and people's expression of their identity, which includes a country's values, historical memory and narratives. In particular, this is reflected in the vision put forward by President Xi Jinping to showcase the image of China as a trustworthy, loveable and admirable country in the new era.
\n
A country's image is built first and foremost on reverence for its own history and shared values. Following the collapse of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), China embarked on a half-century journey of rebuilding the Chinese nation. Through struggles against imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism before the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Chinese people forged a clearer national identity. During this process, China suffered greatly in the two world wars, which made it better appreciate independence and sovereignty.
\n
Many of today's red tourism sites, in essence, represent those historical memories. When I asked one of my students what was the most important lesson he had learned from over a decade of patriotic education, he said: "Peace. A world without war is the best world."
\n
Following the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country began to fully exercise its sovereignty, build a modern state and shape its national identity. The unique historical awareness inherent to a nation, combined with the narrative of struggle for national liberation, needs to be more accurately reflected in education, culture and international communication, so as to help the world better understand China's contributions to global development.
\n
When we refer to "red China", we also refer to a century of struggle by the Chinese people. Red is a symbolic representation; what hold greater significance are the historical memories and narratives of perseverance that the color red represents.
\n
Without the correct understanding of 20th century history, the world risks descending into chaos, marked by populism and anarchism.
\n
China's patriotic education represents both the values of its historical narrative and contribution to universal human values. By honoring their national heroes, people help their country to assume shared responsibilities for humanity's development and provide vital global public goods. The Chinese people can easily understand the differences between civilizations, sympathize with the vulnerable, oppose power politics and uphold justice.
\n
Consequently, China's narrative of patriotism is invaluable; it signifies humanity's concern for the planet and deep respect for collective memory. Such national memories are genuine and complete, not crafted or packaged by individual political figures, but rather inherited by the Chinese people through cultural and educational continuity. Otherwise, why should the Chinese people be moved to tears watching films like Dead to Rights, wave the national flag on Tian'anmen Square or share their family stories with foreigners?
\n
By understanding the historical memory and national identity of the Chinese people, one can also understand China's domestic and foreign policies, and realize that the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity indeed stems from the common values that emerged from China's own historical experience.
\n
Narrating China's patriotism and connecting it with the shared global development goals has become essential for China's global communication. Building a community with a shared future for humanity, strengthening security, promoting development, upholding civilizational legacy, and improving governance are at the core of China's development philosophy.
\n
In other words, patriotism is the soul of global security and development, and the most important common language for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
\n
The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
The integration of culture and tourism in China in recent years offers novel cultural experiences, and has created new consumption models, stimulating overall consumer demand, and driving socioeconomic development. And the integration of culture and technology has fostered a positive cycle of innovation and high-quality development.
\n
Thanks to these developments, traditional public cultural spaces are being reimagined and revitalized through the innovative combination of culture, commerce, tourism and sports, re-activating existing resources and streamlining the entire industry chain.
\n
Museums, too, are evolving, shedding their once rarefied image and becoming more user-friendly with their engaging appeal. With fresh presentations and vibrant atmospheres, exhibitions in museums have become part of everyday life, with "museum fever" emerging as a new cultural trend. In fact, visiting a museum has now become a popular social activity, and traveling to a city specifically to explore its museums a popular choice for young tourists.
\n
As culture and tourism continue to intertwine, China's museum sector is poised to undergo a new wave of development. By launching their own themed initiatives, major museums are positioning themselves to play a more significant role in the integration of culture and tourism, and promoting global cultural exchanges.
\n
While cultural and creative products are serving as a bridge between museums and the public, collectible items like refrigerator magnets have extended the influence of cultural relics, by allowing people to "bring some copies of the exhibits home". For example, while people may not visit the National Museum of China in Beijing every day to see the "Phoenix Coronet", they can still appreciate its beauty by purchasing a refrigerator magnet.
\n
Compared with traditional exhibitions, digital tools have far greater communicative power and represent a vital aspect of China's contemporary global cultural outreach. In an era of rapid technological advancement, digital culture and the digital economy are creating new possibilities of promoting artifacts. And digital technologies can now be leveraged to transform cultural relics into dynamic, personalized intellectual properties, facilitating their global dissemination through media channels.
\n
Following the inclusion of Chinese New Year on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list, "new Chinese-style" cultural tourism is becoming increasingly popular. Also, experiential activities related to intangible cultural heritages, such as folk customs and handicraft-making techniques, have significantly gained in appeal, further driving cultural development.
\n
The inclusion of Chinese New Year on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list has prompted a large number of overseas tourists to visit China to experience firsthand how China's biggest festival is celebrated. The visa-free entry policy has made it more convenient for overseas visitors to experience China's intangible cultural heritage, and local cultural and tourism departments are holding different activities, including themed events such as exhibitions and cultural shows centered on the country's intangible cultural heritage, emphasizing the importance of personalized and experiential travel.
\n
Distinct regional settings and unique cultural atmospheres are improving tourism formats, with the growing influx of overseas visitors prompting the authorities to provide them with culturally immersive experiences and upgrading other tourism offerings.
\n
As tourism, in all its forms, becomes more sophisticated, traditional cultural and tourism development frameworks, too, require improvement. Also, to have the Beijing Central Axis recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is crucial to articulate its development, central themes and historical significance. And to transform them into cultural and tourism products and services, there is a need to more creatively tell China's story and showcase the country's rich traditional culture. This approach will also help boost the integration of culture and tourism.
\n
With the overall advancement of China's trade in services, infrastructure and service quality can now boost global exchanges, contribute to the well-being of people across the world, and create integrated cultural and tourism sectors, cultivating a new wave of popular culture and arts.
\n
It is therefore necessary to keep advancing the cultural consumption infrastructure, in both urban and rural areas, strengthen overall management and service standards of the cultural market, and to improve the quality of cultural and entertainment products and services. It is also important to better protect visitors' rights, and cultivate an ecosystem that encourages the continuous development of cultural consumption, in order to further unleash the potential of China's cultural industry.
\n
At its core, the Chinese way of life — respectful of cultural diversity and inclusive values — is attracting a growing number of foreign tourists and promoting greater equality, diversity and harmony, continuously dismantling barriers.
\n
The vibrant growth of the cultural and tourism sectors has boosted the high-quality development of China's trade in services and promoted higher-level opening-up. And in line with the Global Civilization Initiative, which invites countries to engage in serious dialogue, China continues to contribute its wisdom and solutions to boost international cooperation.
\n
The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\n",
+ "content": "\n
The integration of culture and tourism in China in recent years offers novel cultural experiences, and has created new consumption models, stimulating overall consumer demand, and driving socioeconomic development. And the integration of culture and technology has fostered a positive cycle of innovation and high-quality development.
\n
Thanks to these developments, traditional public cultural spaces are being reimagined and revitalized through the innovative combination of culture, commerce, tourism and sports, re-activating existing resources and streamlining the entire industry chain.
\n
Museums, too, are evolving, shedding their once rarefied image and becoming more user-friendly with their engaging appeal. With fresh presentations and vibrant atmospheres, exhibitions in museums have become part of everyday life, with "museum fever" emerging as a new cultural trend. In fact, visiting a museum has now become a popular social activity, and traveling to a city specifically to explore its museums a popular choice for young tourists.
\n
As culture and tourism continue to intertwine, China's museum sector is poised to undergo a new wave of development. By launching their own themed initiatives, major museums are positioning themselves to play a more significant role in the integration of culture and tourism, and promoting global cultural exchanges.
\n
While cultural and creative products are serving as a bridge between museums and the public, collectible items like refrigerator magnets have extended the influence of cultural relics, by allowing people to "bring some copies of the exhibits home". For example, while people may not visit the National Museum of China in Beijing every day to see the "Phoenix Coronet", they can still appreciate its beauty by purchasing a refrigerator magnet.
\n
Compared with traditional exhibitions, digital tools have far greater communicative power and represent a vital aspect of China's contemporary global cultural outreach. In an era of rapid technological advancement, digital culture and the digital economy are creating new possibilities of promoting artifacts. And digital technologies can now be leveraged to transform cultural relics into dynamic, personalized intellectual properties, facilitating their global dissemination through media channels.
\n
Following the inclusion of Chinese New Year on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list, "new Chinese-style" cultural tourism is becoming increasingly popular. Also, experiential activities related to intangible cultural heritages, such as folk customs and handicraft-making techniques, have significantly gained in appeal, further driving cultural development.
\n
The inclusion of Chinese New Year on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list has prompted a large number of overseas tourists to visit China to experience firsthand how China's biggest festival is celebrated. The visa-free entry policy has made it more convenient for overseas visitors to experience China's intangible cultural heritage, and local cultural and tourism departments are holding different activities, including themed events such as exhibitions and cultural shows centered on the country's intangible cultural heritage, emphasizing the importance of personalized and experiential travel.
\n
Distinct regional settings and unique cultural atmospheres are improving tourism formats, with the growing influx of overseas visitors prompting the authorities to provide them with culturally immersive experiences and upgrading other tourism offerings.
\n
As tourism, in all its forms, becomes more sophisticated, traditional cultural and tourism development frameworks, too, require improvement. Also, to have the Beijing Central Axis recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is crucial to articulate its development, central themes and historical significance. And to transform them into cultural and tourism products and services, there is a need to more creatively tell China's story and showcase the country's rich traditional culture. This approach will also help boost the integration of culture and tourism.
\n
With the overall advancement of China's trade in services, infrastructure and service quality can now boost global exchanges, contribute to the well-being of people across the world, and create integrated cultural and tourism sectors, cultivating a new wave of popular culture and arts.
\n
It is therefore necessary to keep advancing the cultural consumption infrastructure, in both urban and rural areas, strengthen overall management and service standards of the cultural market, and to improve the quality of cultural and entertainment products and services. It is also important to better protect visitors' rights, and cultivate an ecosystem that encourages the continuous development of cultural consumption, in order to further unleash the potential of China's cultural industry.
\n
At its core, the Chinese way of life — respectful of cultural diversity and inclusive values — is attracting a growing number of foreign tourists and promoting greater equality, diversity and harmony, continuously dismantling barriers.
\n
The vibrant growth of the cultural and tourism sectors has boosted the high-quality development of China's trade in services and promoted higher-level opening-up. And in line with the Global Civilization Initiative, which invites countries to engage in serious dialogue, China continues to contribute its wisdom and solutions to boost international cooperation.
\n
The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
Far too often, women's reproductive health issues go undiagnosed and untreated. Globally, cervical cancer accounts for about one in four cancers among women, killing more than 340,000 women each year. Cervical cancer, mostly caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), is a silent killer. Symptoms may take years to develop, by which time it is often too late to treat. Prevention, screening and early treatment are therefore vital to save lives.
\n
This is why the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) warmly welcome China's decision to include the HPV vaccine, which prevents cervical cancer, in its National Immunization Program.
\n
China accounts for 23 percent of cases and 16 percent of deaths from cervical cancer worldwide. By expanding HPV vaccination to all girls aged between 9 and 14, China is not only protecting women's health in the country but also advancing global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals on health and gender equality and the World Health Organization's global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer.
\n
The WHO's global strategy sets clear targets for 2030. These include getting 90 percent of girls fully vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15, 70 percent of women screened by ages 35 and 45, and 90 percent of women identified with cervical cancer receiving treatment. The introduction of the HPV vaccine in China will help achieve the first part of this strategy, which is also the most cost-effective way of preventing and eventually eliminating cervical cancer.
\n
There are also wider implications for China. By expanding vaccination coverage, the policy is expected to not only deliver stronger preventive outcomes but also promote greater health equity across the country. Previously, HPV vaccination rates varied by region and economic status, with lower coverage in economically less-developed areas. The new policy will ensure that all eligible girls — regardless of where they live or their family's financial situation — have equal access to protection against cervical cancer.
\n
The policy also has implications for the vaccine industry. It is likely to increase both the availability and affordability of HPV vaccines in China and potentially abroad, by incentivizing companies to compete and produce inexpensive vaccines.
\n
Currently, six HPV vaccines are licensed worldwide, yet access remains uneven, especially in low- and middle-income countries, which account for 90 percent of global cervical cancer cases and deaths. These countries may not be able to afford the expanded use of this vaccine for the entire target population at the current prices.
\n
Realizing the full potential of this decision will require coordinated action on multiple fronts. Here are five key areas where targeted efforts can amplify impact. First, reaching every girl. Each child, whether she lives in a bustling city or a remote village, deserves equal protection. Special attention and resources must be directed toward underserved regions. This includes strengthening delivery systems to close the gap between rural and urban areas.
\n
Second, collaboration across sectors like health and education. UNICEF's global HPV Plus Initiative has shown that school-based vaccine delivery, linked with community outreach and integration with adolescent health services, can boost coverage and reduce missed opportunities. Engaging parents, teachers and community leaders helps build trust, understanding and confidence in the vaccine.
\n
Third, empowering girls as health advocates. Girls should not just receive services but also help shape them. The UNFPA's experience in supporting youth networks and peer education shows that when girls are equipped with accurate information and encouraged to share their perspectives, they become powerful champions for their own health. HPV vaccination can serve as an entry point for important conversations on puberty, menstrual health, as well as sexual and reproductive health.
\n
Fourth, leveraging HPV vaccination for holistic adolescent health and empowerment, including through integration of services. By linking HPV vaccination with sexual and reproductive health education, mental health support and protection from violence, we can move beyond disease prevention to building healthy, resilient lives for girls and boys.
\n
And fifth, generating evidence to inform policy and practice. Monitoring vaccine coverage, evaluating outcomes and analyzing trends in cervical cancer incidence can provide critical insights, to guide future policy decisions and improve program delivery. These lessons can also be shared with other countries through South-South cooperation, helping to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer around the world.
\n
UNICEF and UNFPA share a vision of a world where every girl and woman can realize her right to health and well-being. China's decision to include HPV vaccination in its National Immunization Program brings that vision closer to reality, offering an opportunity to protect millions of girls from cervical cancer and advance health equity nationwide.
\n
The impact of HPV vaccination goes far beyond disease prevention. Good health gives girls the freedom to learn, grow and thrive. This is not just about a vaccine; it's an investment in health, equality and shared prosperity. Done well, it can be a bold step that protects girls and women's health, and unlocks their potential to learn, grow, and pursue the future they desire for themselves.
\n
The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\n",
+ "content": "\n
Far too often, women's reproductive health issues go undiagnosed and untreated. Globally, cervical cancer accounts for about one in four cancers among women, killing more than 340,000 women each year. Cervical cancer, mostly caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), is a silent killer. Symptoms may take years to develop, by which time it is often too late to treat. Prevention, screening and early treatment are therefore vital to save lives.
\n
This is why the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) warmly welcome China's decision to include the HPV vaccine, which prevents cervical cancer, in its National Immunization Program.
\n
China accounts for 23 percent of cases and 16 percent of deaths from cervical cancer worldwide. By expanding HPV vaccination to all girls aged between 9 and 14, China is not only protecting women's health in the country but also advancing global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals on health and gender equality and the World Health Organization's global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer.
\n
The WHO's global strategy sets clear targets for 2030. These include getting 90 percent of girls fully vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15, 70 percent of women screened by ages 35 and 45, and 90 percent of women identified with cervical cancer receiving treatment. The introduction of the HPV vaccine in China will help achieve the first part of this strategy, which is also the most cost-effective way of preventing and eventually eliminating cervical cancer.
\n
There are also wider implications for China. By expanding vaccination coverage, the policy is expected to not only deliver stronger preventive outcomes but also promote greater health equity across the country. Previously, HPV vaccination rates varied by region and economic status, with lower coverage in economically less-developed areas. The new policy will ensure that all eligible girls — regardless of where they live or their family's financial situation — have equal access to protection against cervical cancer.
\n
The policy also has implications for the vaccine industry. It is likely to increase both the availability and affordability of HPV vaccines in China and potentially abroad, by incentivizing companies to compete and produce inexpensive vaccines.
\n
Currently, six HPV vaccines are licensed worldwide, yet access remains uneven, especially in low- and middle-income countries, which account for 90 percent of global cervical cancer cases and deaths. These countries may not be able to afford the expanded use of this vaccine for the entire target population at the current prices.
\n
Realizing the full potential of this decision will require coordinated action on multiple fronts. Here are five key areas where targeted efforts can amplify impact. First, reaching every girl. Each child, whether she lives in a bustling city or a remote village, deserves equal protection. Special attention and resources must be directed toward underserved regions. This includes strengthening delivery systems to close the gap between rural and urban areas.
\n
Second, collaboration across sectors like health and education. UNICEF's global HPV Plus Initiative has shown that school-based vaccine delivery, linked with community outreach and integration with adolescent health services, can boost coverage and reduce missed opportunities. Engaging parents, teachers and community leaders helps build trust, understanding and confidence in the vaccine.
\n
Third, empowering girls as health advocates. Girls should not just receive services but also help shape them. The UNFPA's experience in supporting youth networks and peer education shows that when girls are equipped with accurate information and encouraged to share their perspectives, they become powerful champions for their own health. HPV vaccination can serve as an entry point for important conversations on puberty, menstrual health, as well as sexual and reproductive health.
\n
Fourth, leveraging HPV vaccination for holistic adolescent health and empowerment, including through integration of services. By linking HPV vaccination with sexual and reproductive health education, mental health support and protection from violence, we can move beyond disease prevention to building healthy, resilient lives for girls and boys.
\n
And fifth, generating evidence to inform policy and practice. Monitoring vaccine coverage, evaluating outcomes and analyzing trends in cervical cancer incidence can provide critical insights, to guide future policy decisions and improve program delivery. These lessons can also be shared with other countries through South-South cooperation, helping to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer around the world.
\n
UNICEF and UNFPA share a vision of a world where every girl and woman can realize her right to health and well-being. China's decision to include HPV vaccination in its National Immunization Program brings that vision closer to reality, offering an opportunity to protect millions of girls from cervical cancer and advance health equity nationwide.
\n
The impact of HPV vaccination goes far beyond disease prevention. Good health gives girls the freedom to learn, grow and thrive. This is not just about a vaccine; it's an investment in health, equality and shared prosperity. Done well, it can be a bold step that protects girls and women's health, and unlocks their potential to learn, grow, and pursue the future they desire for themselves.
\n
The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
Economy ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations concluded a four-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday with pledges to deepen regional integration, expand trade partnerships, and uphold open and free trade in the face of rising global protectionism.
\n
The 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting marked the first time the region's top trade officials had gathered since the United States imposed punitive tariffs on Aug 7 against trading partners, including ASEAN members.
\n
The export-reliant bloc, which includes the US as a key market, is expected to be significantly affected by the tariffs. Since Aug 7, US imports from Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand have faced tariffs of 19 percent, while shipments from Vietnam are subject to a 20 percent duty. Brunei faces a 25 percent tariff, while Laos and Myanmar face 40 percent, and Singapore faces 10 percent.
\n
In a joint statement, the ministers said that regional growth, which expanded by 4.8 percent last year, is projected to slow to 4.2 percent this year, "reflecting the adverse impact and uncertainty arising from the global tariff landscape".
\n
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Monday he would impose a 100 percent tariff on all foreign-made movies, signaling the administration's willingness to extend protectionist trade policies into the cultural industries.
\n
Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who chairs this year's ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting, said the bloc will continue to support the rules-based multilateral trading system aligned with World Trade Organization principles.
\n
Despite unilateral US moves, "we continue to support multilateralism and continue to diversify, strengthen our companies", he said.
\n
Awang Azman Awang Pawi, a professor at the Academy of Malay Studies at the University of Malaya, said the ministerial meeting was "extremely important", calling it the bloc's "first collective response "since the US tariffs took effect.
\n
The ministers' concern over unilateral trade measures amounts to a "direct critique of the global tariff environment", he said, adding the meeting served as a coordinated policy response to growing trade fragmentation.
\n
Sharon Seah, a senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said the ministers' statement implied "a renewed sense of urgency" among ASEAN members to counter the rise of global protectionism.
\n
Rules-based order
\n
While countries will continue to engage the US on a bilateral rather than regional basis, Seah said ASEAN had reiterated its commitment to maintaining an open, multilateral, rules-based trading order.
\n
During the meeting, the region's trade chiefs held talks with dialogue partners, including China, India and the US, and worked to accelerate the upgrade of strategic free trade pacts.
\n
They also explored new, mutually beneficial trade partnerships. They agreed to expedite discussions on launching the accession process for economies such as Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Chile, which are seeking to join the ASEAN-initiated Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership — the world's largest free trade agreement.
\n
James Chin, a professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania in Australia, said regional integration has always been central to ASEAN's agenda. "That's what RCEP is all about, anyway to integrate them," he said.
\n
Josua Pardede, chief economist of Permata Bank in Jakarta, said the planned upgrade of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement next month is the bloc's "near-term shock absorber", as it goes beyond tariff reductions to address nontariff barriers, enhance transparency, strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms and improve supply chain connectivity.
\n
A broader RCEP membership could also serve as "an immediate diversification valve" for ASEAN exporters, Pardede said. Expanding RCEP would extend tariff preferences and rules of origin to more markets, enlarge the pool of intermediate suppliers, and reduce ASEAN's tariff exposure to any single destination, such as the US, he said.
\n
Despite the challenges posed by US tariffs, Awang Azman highlighted ASEAN members' engagement with the US, as shown by the meeting between economy ministers and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer last week.
\n
"While acknowledging strong trade and FDI (foreign direct investment) ties with the US, the ASEAN side reiterated its focus on resilient supply chains and constructive engagement, signaling that ASEAN is not abandoning dialogue but instead diversifying partnerships and hedging risks," he said.
Economy ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations concluded a four-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday with pledges to deepen regional integration, expand trade partnerships, and uphold open and free trade in the face of rising global protectionism.
\n
The 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting marked the first time the region's top trade officials had gathered since the United States imposed punitive tariffs on Aug 7 against trading partners, including ASEAN members.
\n
The export-reliant bloc, which includes the US as a key market, is expected to be significantly affected by the tariffs. Since Aug 7, US imports from Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand have faced tariffs of 19 percent, while shipments from Vietnam are subject to a 20 percent duty. Brunei faces a 25 percent tariff, while Laos and Myanmar face 40 percent, and Singapore faces 10 percent.
\n
In a joint statement, the ministers said that regional growth, which expanded by 4.8 percent last year, is projected to slow to 4.2 percent this year, "reflecting the adverse impact and uncertainty arising from the global tariff landscape".
\n
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said on Monday he would impose a 100 percent tariff on all foreign-made movies, signaling the administration's willingness to extend protectionist trade policies into the cultural industries.
\n
Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who chairs this year's ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting, said the bloc will continue to support the rules-based multilateral trading system aligned with World Trade Organization principles.
\n
Despite unilateral US moves, "we continue to support multilateralism and continue to diversify, strengthen our companies", he said.
\n
Awang Azman Awang Pawi, a professor at the Academy of Malay Studies at the University of Malaya, said the ministerial meeting was "extremely important", calling it the bloc's "first collective response "since the US tariffs took effect.
\n
The ministers' concern over unilateral trade measures amounts to a "direct critique of the global tariff environment", he said, adding the meeting served as a coordinated policy response to growing trade fragmentation.
\n
Sharon Seah, a senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, said the ministers' statement implied "a renewed sense of urgency" among ASEAN members to counter the rise of global protectionism.
\n
Rules-based order
\n
While countries will continue to engage the US on a bilateral rather than regional basis, Seah said ASEAN had reiterated its commitment to maintaining an open, multilateral, rules-based trading order.
\n
During the meeting, the region's trade chiefs held talks with dialogue partners, including China, India and the US, and worked to accelerate the upgrade of strategic free trade pacts.
\n
They also explored new, mutually beneficial trade partnerships. They agreed to expedite discussions on launching the accession process for economies such as Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and Chile, which are seeking to join the ASEAN-initiated Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership — the world's largest free trade agreement.
\n
James Chin, a professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania in Australia, said regional integration has always been central to ASEAN's agenda. "That's what RCEP is all about, anyway to integrate them," he said.
\n
Josua Pardede, chief economist of Permata Bank in Jakarta, said the planned upgrade of the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement next month is the bloc's "near-term shock absorber", as it goes beyond tariff reductions to address nontariff barriers, enhance transparency, strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms and improve supply chain connectivity.
\n
A broader RCEP membership could also serve as "an immediate diversification valve" for ASEAN exporters, Pardede said. Expanding RCEP would extend tariff preferences and rules of origin to more markets, enlarge the pool of intermediate suppliers, and reduce ASEAN's tariff exposure to any single destination, such as the US, he said.
\n
Despite the challenges posed by US tariffs, Awang Azman highlighted ASEAN members' engagement with the US, as shown by the meeting between economy ministers and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer last week.
\n
"While acknowledging strong trade and FDI (foreign direct investment) ties with the US, the ASEAN side reiterated its focus on resilient supply chains and constructive engagement, signaling that ASEAN is not abandoning dialogue but instead diversifying partnerships and hedging risks," he said.
Canada is seeking stronger ties with Mexico as the US prepares to review the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, in a bid to safeguard its interests amid growing uncertainty in Ottawa's relationship with Washington.
\n
The US decision to launch the review sets the stage for a challenging year ahead for Canada, said Ron Stagg, a history professor at Toronto Metropolitan University who specializes in Canada-US ties.
\n
"Any review will be interpreted in the manner that the American government wants, especially if questions are biased," Stagg said.
\n
The three countries are required to conduct a joint review of the deal next year and have begun public consultations. Meanwhile, US tariffs on Canadian imports — including a 50 percent tax on steel and aluminum — remain in place.
\n
Stagg said the lack of progress in recent US-Canada trade talks reflects a strategic pause by Washington. "I suspect the American government is in no hurry to negotiate. It is Canada that is anxious to get some issues settled before the review — steel, aluminum and others."
\n
The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario released an outlook on Sept 17, projecting that Canada's economy will slow this year and next, with the sharpest slowdown expected in Ontario.
\n
Trade uncertainty could weigh on investment decisions, Stagg said, even if US investment in Canada remains stable for now.
\n
Supply chains could face particular stress, he added. "Supply chains are threatened if an American company imports from China and then sends (the products) to a Canadian subsidiary to be sold."
\n
Stagg said he is certain that US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called for a "drastic renegotiation" of the pact, is looking forward to the 2026 talks. "He wants the agreement to clearly favor the United States, as he does with any agreement. Both Canada and Mexico will be threatened in the negotiations."
\n
Canada has sought to broaden its alliances. On Sept 18, Prime Minister Mark Carney signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Mexico. "Canada and Mexico are entering a new era of cooperation," Carney said.
\n
Stagg said the deal is not just about leverage. "Both countries are looking for ways to diversify trade," he said.
\n
Julian Castro-Rea, a political science professor at the University of Alberta, said the pact could mark a rare moment of alignment between the two smaller North American partners and signal a shift toward more genuine cooperation.
\n
"The government-to-government political and strategic partnership has yet to be established, firmly based on mutual trust," he said. "Both Canada and Mexico want to strengthen their negotiation positions against the unpredictable, protectionist US government."
\n
gaoyang@chinadailyusa.com
\n",
+ "content": "
Canada is seeking stronger ties with Mexico as the US prepares to review the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, in a bid to safeguard its interests amid growing uncertainty in Ottawa's relationship with Washington.
\n
The US decision to launch the review sets the stage for a challenging year ahead for Canada, said Ron Stagg, a history professor at Toronto Metropolitan University who specializes in Canada-US ties.
\n
"Any review will be interpreted in the manner that the American government wants, especially if questions are biased," Stagg said.
\n
The three countries are required to conduct a joint review of the deal next year and have begun public consultations. Meanwhile, US tariffs on Canadian imports — including a 50 percent tax on steel and aluminum — remain in place.
\n
Stagg said the lack of progress in recent US-Canada trade talks reflects a strategic pause by Washington. "I suspect the American government is in no hurry to negotiate. It is Canada that is anxious to get some issues settled before the review — steel, aluminum and others."
\n
The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario released an outlook on Sept 17, projecting that Canada's economy will slow this year and next, with the sharpest slowdown expected in Ontario.
\n
Trade uncertainty could weigh on investment decisions, Stagg said, even if US investment in Canada remains stable for now.
\n
Supply chains could face particular stress, he added. "Supply chains are threatened if an American company imports from China and then sends (the products) to a Canadian subsidiary to be sold."
\n
Stagg said he is certain that US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called for a "drastic renegotiation" of the pact, is looking forward to the 2026 talks. "He wants the agreement to clearly favor the United States, as he does with any agreement. Both Canada and Mexico will be threatened in the negotiations."
\n
Canada has sought to broaden its alliances. On Sept 18, Prime Minister Mark Carney signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement with Mexico. "Canada and Mexico are entering a new era of cooperation," Carney said.
\n
Stagg said the deal is not just about leverage. "Both countries are looking for ways to diversify trade," he said.
\n
Julian Castro-Rea, a political science professor at the University of Alberta, said the pact could mark a rare moment of alignment between the two smaller North American partners and signal a shift toward more genuine cooperation.
\n
"The government-to-government political and strategic partnership has yet to be established, firmly based on mutual trust," he said. "Both Canada and Mexico want to strengthen their negotiation positions against the unpredictable, protectionist US government."
Spectators watch an aerobatic display during the Malta International Airshow at St. Paul's Bay, Malta, on Sunday. Since its launch in 1993, the biennial event has drawn aviation enthusiasts from around the world to celebrate their shared passion for aviation.
\n",
+ "content": "
Spectators watch an aerobatic display during the Malta International Airshow at St. Paul's Bay, Malta, on Sunday. Since its launch in 1993, the biennial event has drawn aviation enthusiasts from around the world to celebrate their shared passion for aviation.
Even as Chinese-made tunnel boring machines are being assembled for a major project in Sydney, industry experts are already lauding the effort as a model of Sino-Australian partnership in advanced technology and engineering expertise.
\n
Two of these machines — the largest of their kind in the Southern Hemisphere — will be used to construct a transportation tunnel beneath Sydney's iconic harbor. One of the machines arrived in the city late last month.
\n
Designed with an excavation diameter of 15.7 meters and an overall length of about 113 meters, the machines include multiple intelligent technologies, including robotics for unmanned, high-precision work, according to their manufacturer.
\n
The machines will operate up to 50 meters below sea level as part of the Western Harbour Tunnel project in New South Wales. A 6.5-kilometer tunnel is scheduled to open to traffic in 2028, the state government said.
\n
Built by China Railway Engineering Equipment Group, or CREG, the machines are expected to complete their work in about a year. Mark McLean, CREG's general manager for the Australian market, said the machines, which use slurry technology, are "equipped and built to cope with the ground conditions we may encounter on the project".
\n
"Why did we go to China to get our technology? The main reason is the steel manufacture, the design work — it's pretty much second to none anywhere in the world now," he said.
\n
Emily Kahn, a mechanical project engineer at Acciona Construction Australia, the contractor delivering the project, said one of the two machines ranks among the largest tunnel boring machines ever deployed in the Southern Hemisphere, with a total weight exceeding 4,000 metric tons.
\n
"It's going to excavate 1.5 kilometers of a three-lane motorway with twin tunnels. Unlike previous tunnel boring machines … the immense size allows it to fit three metro-sized tunnels within each tunnel … it highlights the unprecedented scale and capability," Kahn said.
\n
Handling challenges
\n
The section of the Western Harbour Tunnel to be bored lies beneath Sydney Harbour, where ground conditions are particularly challenging, she said, adding the machine is "well-equipped to handle these conditions".
\n
"CREG is globally renowned for its technological capability in the production of very large tunnel boring machines. We've already experienced high levels of collaboration and are very confident CREG will meet expectations," she said.
\n
Christian D'Hondt, construction manager of the tunnel project at Acciona, said the project was initially conceived as a submerged tube tunnel, which would have necessitated dredging operations and cofferdams, resulting in significant environmental and community impacts.
\n
Acciona worked closely with CREG to design a bespoke machine suited for tunneling beneath Sydney Harbour, he said.
\n
McLean of CREG described the Sino-Australian partnership on the project as a major achievement.
\n
While language differences can sometimes present challenges, the teamwork has been excellent, he said.
\n
The project can also help reflect the rising confidence in Chinese technology and expertise going global, he said. "I've been personally traveling to China for more than 10 years, and the change that I see is absolutely amazing in terms of the infrastructure that's being built. So, Australia leveraging off what's happening in China can only be a success."
\n
Contact the writers at xinxin@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Even as Chinese-made tunnel boring machines are being assembled for a major project in Sydney, industry experts are already lauding the effort as a model of Sino-Australian partnership in advanced technology and engineering expertise.
\n
Two of these machines — the largest of their kind in the Southern Hemisphere — will be used to construct a transportation tunnel beneath Sydney's iconic harbor. One of the machines arrived in the city late last month.
\n
Designed with an excavation diameter of 15.7 meters and an overall length of about 113 meters, the machines include multiple intelligent technologies, including robotics for unmanned, high-precision work, according to their manufacturer.
\n
The machines will operate up to 50 meters below sea level as part of the Western Harbour Tunnel project in New South Wales. A 6.5-kilometer tunnel is scheduled to open to traffic in 2028, the state government said.
\n
Built by China Railway Engineering Equipment Group, or CREG, the machines are expected to complete their work in about a year. Mark McLean, CREG's general manager for the Australian market, said the machines, which use slurry technology, are "equipped and built to cope with the ground conditions we may encounter on the project".
\n
"Why did we go to China to get our technology? The main reason is the steel manufacture, the design work — it's pretty much second to none anywhere in the world now," he said.
\n
Emily Kahn, a mechanical project engineer at Acciona Construction Australia, the contractor delivering the project, said one of the two machines ranks among the largest tunnel boring machines ever deployed in the Southern Hemisphere, with a total weight exceeding 4,000 metric tons.
\n
"It's going to excavate 1.5 kilometers of a three-lane motorway with twin tunnels. Unlike previous tunnel boring machines … the immense size allows it to fit three metro-sized tunnels within each tunnel … it highlights the unprecedented scale and capability," Kahn said.
\n
Handling challenges
\n
The section of the Western Harbour Tunnel to be bored lies beneath Sydney Harbour, where ground conditions are particularly challenging, she said, adding the machine is "well-equipped to handle these conditions".
\n
"CREG is globally renowned for its technological capability in the production of very large tunnel boring machines. We've already experienced high levels of collaboration and are very confident CREG will meet expectations," she said.
\n
Christian D'Hondt, construction manager of the tunnel project at Acciona, said the project was initially conceived as a submerged tube tunnel, which would have necessitated dredging operations and cofferdams, resulting in significant environmental and community impacts.
\n
Acciona worked closely with CREG to design a bespoke machine suited for tunneling beneath Sydney Harbour, he said.
\n
McLean of CREG described the Sino-Australian partnership on the project as a major achievement.
\n
While language differences can sometimes present challenges, the teamwork has been excellent, he said.
\n
The project can also help reflect the rising confidence in Chinese technology and expertise going global, he said. "I've been personally traveling to China for more than 10 years, and the change that I see is absolutely amazing in terms of the infrastructure that's being built. So, Australia leveraging off what's happening in China can only be a success."
At least four people have died and eight others have been injured after an Iraq War veteran crashed his truck into the doors of a Mormon church in Michigan and opened fire during a morning service on Sunday.
\n
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said a 40-year-old male drove his vehicle through the doors of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at about 10:25 am and began firing an assault rifle at hundreds of churchgoers. He also set fire to the church, which was engulfed in flames and billowing smoke.
\n
Two of the shooting victims died and eight others were hospitalized, officials said. Several hours after the shooting, police reported finding at least two more bodies in the charred remains of the church.
\n
The Michigan rampage marked the 324th mass shooting in the US this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks such incidents and describes a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.
\n
It was also the third US shooting in less than 24 hours, including one at a waterfront bar in North Carolina, where three people were killed, and another a few hours later at a casino in Eagle Pass, Texas, that killed at least two.
\n
Grand Blanc, a town of 7,700 people, is about 100 kilometers northwest of Detroit.
\n
Investigators confirmed the gunman was Thomas Jacob Sanford, who served in Iraq in 2004-08.
\n
Investigators said Sanford started a fire in the church before fleeing. He later exchanged gunfire with police and was killed in the parking lot.
\n
"We do believe that there were people up there who were near that fire, and they were unable to get out of the church," Renye added. "So, we do believe we will find additional victims once we're able to search that, once there are no signs of a fire reigniting."
\n
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in a statement, "We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world."
\n
Investigators were still trying to determine Sanford's motive, and were searching his home and cellphone records.
\n
US President Donald Trump wrote on social media that this shooting was "yet another targeted attack" on Christians in the US.
\n
Soaring tensions
\n
The United States, where firearms are readily available, has a long history of gun violence.
\n
However, tensions have soared in recent weeks after a series of high-profile attacks, including the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk in Utah and a deadly shooting at a federal immigration enforcement facility in Texas.
\n
Sunday's attack also comes a month after a mass shooting at a Catholic church and school in Minnesota, in which two children were killed while attending Mass, and several others were severely wounded.
\n
Political divisions have grown deeper in the wake of the attacks, with Trump launching a campaign targeting left-wing groups he accuses of being "domestic terrorists".
\n
Agencies and Xinhua contributed to this story.
\n
shiguang@chinadailyusa.com
\n",
+ "content": "
At least four people have died and eight others have been injured after an Iraq War veteran crashed his truck into the doors of a Mormon church in Michigan and opened fire during a morning service on Sunday.
\n
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said a 40-year-old male drove his vehicle through the doors of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at about 10:25 am and began firing an assault rifle at hundreds of churchgoers. He also set fire to the church, which was engulfed in flames and billowing smoke.
\n
Two of the shooting victims died and eight others were hospitalized, officials said. Several hours after the shooting, police reported finding at least two more bodies in the charred remains of the church.
\n
The Michigan rampage marked the 324th mass shooting in the US this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks such incidents and describes a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.
\n
It was also the third US shooting in less than 24 hours, including one at a waterfront bar in North Carolina, where three people were killed, and another a few hours later at a casino in Eagle Pass, Texas, that killed at least two.
\n
Grand Blanc, a town of 7,700 people, is about 100 kilometers northwest of Detroit.
\n
Investigators confirmed the gunman was Thomas Jacob Sanford, who served in Iraq in 2004-08.
\n
Investigators said Sanford started a fire in the church before fleeing. He later exchanged gunfire with police and was killed in the parking lot.
\n
"We do believe that there were people up there who were near that fire, and they were unable to get out of the church," Renye added. "So, we do believe we will find additional victims once we're able to search that, once there are no signs of a fire reigniting."
\n
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in a statement, "We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world."
\n
Investigators were still trying to determine Sanford's motive, and were searching his home and cellphone records.
\n
US President Donald Trump wrote on social media that this shooting was "yet another targeted attack" on Christians in the US.
\n
Soaring tensions
\n
The United States, where firearms are readily available, has a long history of gun violence.
\n
However, tensions have soared in recent weeks after a series of high-profile attacks, including the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk in Utah and a deadly shooting at a federal immigration enforcement facility in Texas.
\n
Sunday's attack also comes a month after a mass shooting at a Catholic church and school in Minnesota, in which two children were killed while attending Mass, and several others were severely wounded.
\n
Political divisions have grown deeper in the wake of the attacks, with Trump launching a campaign targeting left-wing groups he accuses of being "domestic terrorists".
A visitor views ancient Chinese musical instruments at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on Sunday. The exhibition, The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China, showcases more than 100 pieces from the National Museum of China, tracing the evolution of Chinese music and artistry across millennia.
\n",
+ "content": "
A visitor views ancient Chinese musical instruments at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on Sunday. The exhibition, The Sound of Harmony: Musical Instruments in Ancient China, showcases more than 100 pieces from the National Museum of China, tracing the evolution of Chinese music and artistry across millennia.
Moldova's ruling party secured a majority in Sunday's parliamentary elections with just over half of the vote, according to data released on Monday by the Central Electoral Commission. With nearly all votes counted, President Maia Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity won 50.1 percent of the vote, followed by the Patriotic Bloc with 24.1 percent, the Alternative Bloc with 7.9 percent, Our Party with 6.2 percent and the Dignity and Truth Platform Party with 5.6 percent. All five parties surpassed the electoral threshold to enter parliament. A total of 14 political parties, four electoral blocs and four independent candidates contested the 101-seat legislature.
\n
UNITED STATES
\n
Leaders meet as govt shutdown draws closer
\n
Democratic and Republican congressional leaders were heading to the White House for a meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday in a late effort to avoid a government shutdown, but both sides have shown hardly any willingness to budge from their entrenched positions. Republicans are daring Democrats to vote against legislation that would keep government funding at mostly current levels, but Democrats have so far held firm. Trump has said repeatedly that he fully expects the government to enter a shutdown this week. "If it has to shut down, it'll have to shut down," he said on Friday. "But they're the ones that are shutting down government."
\n
UNITED KINGDOM
\n
Tougher rules for migrants planned
\n
United Kingdom Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood on Monday proposed strict new rules for migrants seeking to settle in the UK.Migrants looking to remain indefinitely will have to have a job, not claim benefits, and undertake volunteer community work under plans designed to claw back support among voters drawn to the anti-immigrant Reform UK party, whose popularity is soaring. The government will consult on the changes later this year, according to a Labour party press release. Meanwhile, authorities in northern France said on Monday that security forces rescued almost 400 migrants seeking to take advantage of good weather and make the perilous crossing across the English Channel to Britain in a weekend that also saw several fatalities.
\n",
+ "content": "
MOLDOVA
\n
Ruling party wins parliamentary polls
\n
Moldova's ruling party secured a majority in Sunday's parliamentary elections with just over half of the vote, according to data released on Monday by the Central Electoral Commission. With nearly all votes counted, President Maia Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity won 50.1 percent of the vote, followed by the Patriotic Bloc with 24.1 percent, the Alternative Bloc with 7.9 percent, Our Party with 6.2 percent and the Dignity and Truth Platform Party with 5.6 percent. All five parties surpassed the electoral threshold to enter parliament. A total of 14 political parties, four electoral blocs and four independent candidates contested the 101-seat legislature.
\n
UNITED STATES
\n
Leaders meet as govt shutdown draws closer
\n
Democratic and Republican congressional leaders were heading to the White House for a meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday in a late effort to avoid a government shutdown, but both sides have shown hardly any willingness to budge from their entrenched positions. Republicans are daring Democrats to vote against legislation that would keep government funding at mostly current levels, but Democrats have so far held firm. Trump has said repeatedly that he fully expects the government to enter a shutdown this week. "If it has to shut down, it'll have to shut down," he said on Friday. "But they're the ones that are shutting down government."
\n
UNITED KINGDOM
\n
Tougher rules for migrants planned
\n
United Kingdom Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood on Monday proposed strict new rules for migrants seeking to settle in the UK.Migrants looking to remain indefinitely will have to have a job, not claim benefits, and undertake volunteer community work under plans designed to claw back support among voters drawn to the anti-immigrant Reform UK party, whose popularity is soaring. The government will consult on the changes later this year, according to a Labour party press release. Meanwhile, authorities in northern France said on Monday that security forces rescued almost 400 migrants seeking to take advantage of good weather and make the perilous crossing across the English Channel to Britain in a weekend that also saw several fatalities.
Nanxiang Old Street in Nanxiang town, Jiading district, Shanghai, bustles with activity during the 2024 Nanxiang Guochao Convention.
\n
The main entrance of the 2024 Nanxiang Guochao Convention on the event's opening day.
\n
The 2025 Nanxiang Guochao Convention opens on Tuesday in the historic town of Nanxiang in Jiading district, Shanghai. The nine-day event aims to celebrate Nanxiang's rich heritage while embracing contemporary trends, transforming the ancient town into a premier hub of guochao, or China chic.
\n
Handrails along Line 11 of the Shanghai Metro are neatly adorned with promotional posters for the event. "In the past, whenever Shanghai was mentioned, I would immediately think of Nanxiang steamed stuffed buns. I never expected such an exciting event," said a passenger surnamed Wang from Kunshan, Jiangsu province. "The design (of the poster) perfectly blends animation elements with traditional Chinese style, preserving the essence of traditional culture while appealing to the aesthetics of young people. This kind of innovation is truly distinctive."
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Set against the backdrop of historic landmarks such as the Twin Pagodas at Yunxiang Temple, the convention coincides with the Shanghai Tourism Festival, the Shanghai International Light Festival, National Day, and Mid-Autumn Festival. It features activities across four categories: night tours, local life, artificial intelligence experiences, and music tours.
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The night tours include illuminated displays and activities focusing on local nightlife. Among the highlights is a lantern festival on Nanxiang Old Street, recreating the lively atmosphere of the traditional Chafu lantern showcase, with lanterns adorned with riddles hanging on either side of the street.
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Guyi Garden uses technology to bring traditional brick carvings to life, accompanied by live Kunqu Opera performances. The festivities will reach a climax with a parade of gigantic fish-shaped lanterns through the garden on the evening of Mid-Autumn Festival, which will fall on Monday this year. Through the creative combination of tradition and modernity, these activities turn the night scenes of the ancient town into living carriers of history and traditions.
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The local life category spotlights traditional culinary arts, traditional markets, and leisure activities. The centerpiece event is the grand Nanxiang steamed stuffed buns feast featuring "1,000 tables and thousands of diners". There will also be demonstrations of how to make this iconic delicacy. During the 2024 edition of the convention, around 15,000 people enjoyed the feast.
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An accompanying hawker market will recreate scenes of ancient times, with stalls offering traditional snacks and handmade crafts. In Guyi Garden, visitors can speak with a digital "garden owner" to gain insights into the garden's history. A stamp collection activity, covering seven cultural spaces, will guide visitors on an in-depth tour of the ancient town.
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To deepen cultural immersion, intangible cultural heritage classes will offer hands-on learning experiences in traditional crafts such as Jiading bamboo carving. Activities such as trying on hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) and learning Su embroidery will connect people to their cultural roots.
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The AI category merges China-chic culture, animation, and comics, showcasing the vitality of new quality productive forces. The Sharp Art Trend Expo at the Nanxiang subvenue will not only showcase limited edition art toys, trendy artworks, and collaborative creations, but also feature interactive sessions with artists, providing an opportunity to delve into the nuances of trendsetting art styles.
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Animation-themed flash events will offer merchandise and cosplay interactions. An online lantern riddle activity, which modernizes a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) tradition through QR codes, will offer a fresh twist on cultural interaction while encouraging participation.
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The music tours will feature an array of performances, including Shanghai-style one-man shows, traditional Chinese operas, and folk dances. This series will celebrate both folklore and traditional arts, showcasing their enduring appeal.
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Floating boats will host flash performances blending traditional opera, folk dances, and animation against a water backdrop. Additionally, a photo exhibition capturing the magic of traditional Chinese clothing, age-old crafts, and ancient town life will enhance the event's artistic appeal.
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To further the harmonious blend of culture, tourism, commerce, sports, and exhibitions, Nanxiang has crafted a two-day, one-night tour themed around China chic. The tour will offer immersive cultural experiences in Nanxiang.
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Tour participants can take part in activities such as making steamed stuffed buns, wandering ancient streets, and exploring ancient temples. Interactions with intelligent robots will add a modern twist to the experience.
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Nanxiang Ancient Town's development philosophy of combining culture, technology, industrial strength, promotional efforts, and human warmth positions it as a model for the integrated development of the cultural, tourism, commercial, and events sectors, enhancing Shanghai's efforts to become the top destination for tourists visiting China.
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huyuyan@chinadaily.com.cn
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+ "content": "
Nanxiang Old Street in Nanxiang town, Jiading district, Shanghai, bustles with activity during the 2024 Nanxiang Guochao Convention.
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The main entrance of the 2024 Nanxiang Guochao Convention on the event's opening day.
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The 2025 Nanxiang Guochao Convention opens on Tuesday in the historic town of Nanxiang in Jiading district, Shanghai. The nine-day event aims to celebrate Nanxiang's rich heritage while embracing contemporary trends, transforming the ancient town into a premier hub of guochao, or China chic.
\n
Handrails along Line 11 of the Shanghai Metro are neatly adorned with promotional posters for the event. "In the past, whenever Shanghai was mentioned, I would immediately think of Nanxiang steamed stuffed buns. I never expected such an exciting event," said a passenger surnamed Wang from Kunshan, Jiangsu province. "The design (of the poster) perfectly blends animation elements with traditional Chinese style, preserving the essence of traditional culture while appealing to the aesthetics of young people. This kind of innovation is truly distinctive."
\n
Set against the backdrop of historic landmarks such as the Twin Pagodas at Yunxiang Temple, the convention coincides with the Shanghai Tourism Festival, the Shanghai International Light Festival, National Day, and Mid-Autumn Festival. It features activities across four categories: night tours, local life, artificial intelligence experiences, and music tours.
\n
The night tours include illuminated displays and activities focusing on local nightlife. Among the highlights is a lantern festival on Nanxiang Old Street, recreating the lively atmosphere of the traditional Chafu lantern showcase, with lanterns adorned with riddles hanging on either side of the street.
\n
Guyi Garden uses technology to bring traditional brick carvings to life, accompanied by live Kunqu Opera performances. The festivities will reach a climax with a parade of gigantic fish-shaped lanterns through the garden on the evening of Mid-Autumn Festival, which will fall on Monday this year. Through the creative combination of tradition and modernity, these activities turn the night scenes of the ancient town into living carriers of history and traditions.
\n
The local life category spotlights traditional culinary arts, traditional markets, and leisure activities. The centerpiece event is the grand Nanxiang steamed stuffed buns feast featuring "1,000 tables and thousands of diners". There will also be demonstrations of how to make this iconic delicacy. During the 2024 edition of the convention, around 15,000 people enjoyed the feast.
\n
An accompanying hawker market will recreate scenes of ancient times, with stalls offering traditional snacks and handmade crafts. In Guyi Garden, visitors can speak with a digital "garden owner" to gain insights into the garden's history. A stamp collection activity, covering seven cultural spaces, will guide visitors on an in-depth tour of the ancient town.
\n
To deepen cultural immersion, intangible cultural heritage classes will offer hands-on learning experiences in traditional crafts such as Jiading bamboo carving. Activities such as trying on hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) and learning Su embroidery will connect people to their cultural roots.
\n
The AI category merges China-chic culture, animation, and comics, showcasing the vitality of new quality productive forces. The Sharp Art Trend Expo at the Nanxiang subvenue will not only showcase limited edition art toys, trendy artworks, and collaborative creations, but also feature interactive sessions with artists, providing an opportunity to delve into the nuances of trendsetting art styles.
\n
Animation-themed flash events will offer merchandise and cosplay interactions. An online lantern riddle activity, which modernizes a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) tradition through QR codes, will offer a fresh twist on cultural interaction while encouraging participation.
\n
The music tours will feature an array of performances, including Shanghai-style one-man shows, traditional Chinese operas, and folk dances. This series will celebrate both folklore and traditional arts, showcasing their enduring appeal.
\n
Floating boats will host flash performances blending traditional opera, folk dances, and animation against a water backdrop. Additionally, a photo exhibition capturing the magic of traditional Chinese clothing, age-old crafts, and ancient town life will enhance the event's artistic appeal.
\n
To further the harmonious blend of culture, tourism, commerce, sports, and exhibitions, Nanxiang has crafted a two-day, one-night tour themed around China chic. The tour will offer immersive cultural experiences in Nanxiang.
\n
Tour participants can take part in activities such as making steamed stuffed buns, wandering ancient streets, and exploring ancient temples. Interactions with intelligent robots will add a modern twist to the experience.
\n
Nanxiang Ancient Town's development philosophy of combining culture, technology, industrial strength, promotional efforts, and human warmth positions it as a model for the integrated development of the cultural, tourism, commercial, and events sectors, enhancing Shanghai's efforts to become the top destination for tourists visiting China.
Cosplayers enjoy Nanxiang steamed stuffed buns during the 2024 Nanxiang Guochao Convention.
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An installation themed around Nanxiang Game Valley is seen in Nanxiang town during the 2024 edition of the convention.
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Nanxiang Ancient Town, located in Shanghai's Jiading district, seamlessly blends historical charm with modern innovation. Known for its cultural landmarks and scenic beauty, it is evolving into a hub for technology and tourism, with strengths in animation, medicine, and robotics.
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Just a 15-minute drive from the Hongqiao transport hub, Nanxiang boasts an integrated transportation network, including major highways like the Shanghai-Jiading and Shanghai-Nanxiang expressways.
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The town is enriched by its water systems, where the Hengli and Zoumatang rivers converge, alongside Liuyun and Yinxiang lakes. The Wenzaobang ecological corridor and the Hengli cultural waterway connect the Five Hengli Scenic Views, establishing Nanxiang as a cultural and ecological gem.
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Past and present
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Nanxiang was established more than 1,500 years ago with the construction of the Baihe Nanxiang Temple. Today, it stands as one of Shanghai's four renowned towns. Key historical landmarks such as Guyi Garden and the Twin Pagodas, along with cultural treasures like the technique for making Nanxiang steamed stuffed buns, a national intangible cultural heritage item, contribute to Nanxiang's profound cultural legacy.
\n
Nanxiang town is pursuing the goal of becoming China's premier hub for guochao, or China chic, incorporating intangible heritage, animation, and technology.
\n
While strolling along Nanxiang Old Street, one can feel the weight of history and experience the pulse of modern times with the rise of new businesses, such as animation-themed stores and shops selling Chinese-style creative products.
\n
During this year's eight-day Chinese New Year holiday from late January to early February, Nanxiang welcomed 1.24 million tourists, with about 340,000 visiting the old street. From January to August, the total influx of visitors to the old street surpassed 4.73 million.
\n
Technological heights
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The drive behind the transformation of Nanxiang Ancient Town is industrial renewal. Nanxiang is home to 12 publicly listed companies and 594 high-tech companies. By combining technological and industrial innovation, Nanxiang is creating a modern industrial system to support the transformation of the ancient town.
\n
Through collaborations with Fudan University, Nanxiang has gathered over 400 enterprises in biomedicine and precision medicine. Prominent projects like the Shanghai (Nanxiang) International Innovation Center for Precision Medicine and Xiang Yun Techno Park Phase II are underway.
\n
For the gaming and animation industry, Nanxiang boasts a robust foundation, having nurtured the sector for 15 years and generating a total output of over 30 billion yuan ($4.2 billion). Nanxiang is driving the industry forward through platforms like Nanxiang Game Valley and Metaverse Valley, focusing on China-chic brands and leveraging events such as the Shanghai international contest for artificial intelligence-generated content to enhance digital content innovation.
\n
The Huanqiu ACG (Animation, Comic, and Game) Industrial Base, located in Nanxiang Game Valley, hosts both upstream and downstream businesses in the ACG industry. An example of efficient collaboration within the base is the production of the Nezha animated film series, where companies such as Hong Li Animation Studios and Rayvision Technology contributed their expertise. They completed complex tasks efficiently by working across different floors within the same base.
\n
In developing intellectual property-based merchandise, children's animated series Dooro Bear collaborates with clothing brand Classical Puppets to create the popular Dooro Bear Lolita-style outfits, while Nuctopus Studio partners with animation company Shizhou Culture to develop special effects installations for the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum's Rainforest Pavilion. These are examples of cooperation among upstream and downstream businesses in the base.
\n
When enterprises move in, the base assists them with business registration and other preparations. During operation, it helps companies apply for policy benefits to reduce operating costs and leverages industry association resources to connect upstream and downstream businesses. This allows creativity to swiftly transform into commercial success, showcasing strong incubation capabilities.
\n
Nanxiang now hosts more than 100 smart manufacturing and robotics companies. The town has mapped out a robot industry chain, leveraging parks like the North Hongqiao Smart Manufacturing Industrial Park to develop intelligent robot training grounds. Collaboration with academic institutions such as Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Tongji University brings in top-tier robot teams and technologies.
\n
Nanxiang town has also been exploring a wider range of application scenarios for intelligent robots. Moving beyond industrial scenarios, intelligent robots are now being utilized for street cleaning, food delivery, and waterway maintenance in Nanxiang town.
\n
Nanxiang drives the online new economy sector through key platforms such as Euro-American Studio, Yunxiang Future City, and internet companies such as Shenbianyun and Xiaoniu Media. By developing an ecosystem of micro-dramas, livestreaming, and short videos, the town has fostered a distinctive online new economy framework.
\n
Nanxiang's fiscal revenue in 2024 ranked second in Jiading district, propelling itself through technological and industrial innovation.
\n
Moving forward
\n
Nanxiang is reinventing itself through the dual drivers of its ancient heritage and a new town center.
\n
Future developments include a three-line transit hub at Nanxiang Metro Station, integrating Metro Line 11, the under-construction Jiading-Minhang Line, and a planned rail transit line. Superior geographical advantages and convenient transportation networks provide a solid foundation for highquality social and economic growth in the town.
\n
In the future, Nanxiang will focus on the Yunxiang Central District, a 3-square-kilometer demonstration zone for technological innovation and city-industry integration. This future hot spot will emphasize high-end industrial development, diversified residential offerings, refined public services, and unique landscapes, creating a 24-hour vibrant area with a seamless blend of work, leisure, and living.
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With convenient transportation, comprehensive commercial facilities, premium educational resources, and upscale communities, Yunxiang Central District is poised to become the most dynamic, promising, and rapidly developing area in Nanxiang town.
\n",
+ "content": "
Cosplayers enjoy Nanxiang steamed stuffed buns during the 2024 Nanxiang Guochao Convention.
\n
An installation themed around Nanxiang Game Valley is seen in Nanxiang town during the 2024 edition of the convention.
\n
Nanxiang Ancient Town, located in Shanghai's Jiading district, seamlessly blends historical charm with modern innovation. Known for its cultural landmarks and scenic beauty, it is evolving into a hub for technology and tourism, with strengths in animation, medicine, and robotics.
\n
Just a 15-minute drive from the Hongqiao transport hub, Nanxiang boasts an integrated transportation network, including major highways like the Shanghai-Jiading and Shanghai-Nanxiang expressways.
\n
The town is enriched by its water systems, where the Hengli and Zoumatang rivers converge, alongside Liuyun and Yinxiang lakes. The Wenzaobang ecological corridor and the Hengli cultural waterway connect the Five Hengli Scenic Views, establishing Nanxiang as a cultural and ecological gem.
\n
Past and present
\n
Nanxiang was established more than 1,500 years ago with the construction of the Baihe Nanxiang Temple. Today, it stands as one of Shanghai's four renowned towns. Key historical landmarks such as Guyi Garden and the Twin Pagodas, along with cultural treasures like the technique for making Nanxiang steamed stuffed buns, a national intangible cultural heritage item, contribute to Nanxiang's profound cultural legacy.
\n
Nanxiang town is pursuing the goal of becoming China's premier hub for guochao, or China chic, incorporating intangible heritage, animation, and technology.
\n
While strolling along Nanxiang Old Street, one can feel the weight of history and experience the pulse of modern times with the rise of new businesses, such as animation-themed stores and shops selling Chinese-style creative products.
\n
During this year's eight-day Chinese New Year holiday from late January to early February, Nanxiang welcomed 1.24 million tourists, with about 340,000 visiting the old street. From January to August, the total influx of visitors to the old street surpassed 4.73 million.
\n
Technological heights
\n
The drive behind the transformation of Nanxiang Ancient Town is industrial renewal. Nanxiang is home to 12 publicly listed companies and 594 high-tech companies. By combining technological and industrial innovation, Nanxiang is creating a modern industrial system to support the transformation of the ancient town.
\n
Through collaborations with Fudan University, Nanxiang has gathered over 400 enterprises in biomedicine and precision medicine. Prominent projects like the Shanghai (Nanxiang) International Innovation Center for Precision Medicine and Xiang Yun Techno Park Phase II are underway.
\n
For the gaming and animation industry, Nanxiang boasts a robust foundation, having nurtured the sector for 15 years and generating a total output of over 30 billion yuan ($4.2 billion). Nanxiang is driving the industry forward through platforms like Nanxiang Game Valley and Metaverse Valley, focusing on China-chic brands and leveraging events such as the Shanghai international contest for artificial intelligence-generated content to enhance digital content innovation.
\n
The Huanqiu ACG (Animation, Comic, and Game) Industrial Base, located in Nanxiang Game Valley, hosts both upstream and downstream businesses in the ACG industry. An example of efficient collaboration within the base is the production of the Nezha animated film series, where companies such as Hong Li Animation Studios and Rayvision Technology contributed their expertise. They completed complex tasks efficiently by working across different floors within the same base.
\n
In developing intellectual property-based merchandise, children's animated series Dooro Bear collaborates with clothing brand Classical Puppets to create the popular Dooro Bear Lolita-style outfits, while Nuctopus Studio partners with animation company Shizhou Culture to develop special effects installations for the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum's Rainforest Pavilion. These are examples of cooperation among upstream and downstream businesses in the base.
\n
When enterprises move in, the base assists them with business registration and other preparations. During operation, it helps companies apply for policy benefits to reduce operating costs and leverages industry association resources to connect upstream and downstream businesses. This allows creativity to swiftly transform into commercial success, showcasing strong incubation capabilities.
\n
Nanxiang now hosts more than 100 smart manufacturing and robotics companies. The town has mapped out a robot industry chain, leveraging parks like the North Hongqiao Smart Manufacturing Industrial Park to develop intelligent robot training grounds. Collaboration with academic institutions such as Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Tongji University brings in top-tier robot teams and technologies.
\n
Nanxiang town has also been exploring a wider range of application scenarios for intelligent robots. Moving beyond industrial scenarios, intelligent robots are now being utilized for street cleaning, food delivery, and waterway maintenance in Nanxiang town.
\n
Nanxiang drives the online new economy sector through key platforms such as Euro-American Studio, Yunxiang Future City, and internet companies such as Shenbianyun and Xiaoniu Media. By developing an ecosystem of micro-dramas, livestreaming, and short videos, the town has fostered a distinctive online new economy framework.
\n
Nanxiang's fiscal revenue in 2024 ranked second in Jiading district, propelling itself through technological and industrial innovation.
\n
Moving forward
\n
Nanxiang is reinventing itself through the dual drivers of its ancient heritage and a new town center.
\n
Future developments include a three-line transit hub at Nanxiang Metro Station, integrating Metro Line 11, the under-construction Jiading-Minhang Line, and a planned rail transit line. Superior geographical advantages and convenient transportation networks provide a solid foundation for highquality social and economic growth in the town.
\n
In the future, Nanxiang will focus on the Yunxiang Central District, a 3-square-kilometer demonstration zone for technological innovation and city-industry integration. This future hot spot will emphasize high-end industrial development, diversified residential offerings, refined public services, and unique landscapes, creating a 24-hour vibrant area with a seamless blend of work, leisure, and living.
\n
With convenient transportation, comprehensive commercial facilities, premium educational resources, and upscale communities, Yunxiang Central District is poised to become the most dynamic, promising, and rapidly developing area in Nanxiang town.
\n \n \n Starting in the autumn semester, primary and middle schools across Beijing will introduce general education on artificial intelligence, with at least eight class hours per academic year, according to a document released by the Beijing Education Commission. Skills related to AI applications will be included in students' comprehensive assessments.\n \n \n
\n \n \n For the new semester, multiple regions across the country have launched special inspections on school bus safety to eliminate potential hazards and ensure the safety of student transportation.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Staff members sort out textbooks to be dispatched for the upcoming new semester at a warehouse in Zunhua City, Heibei Province, Aug. 16, 2025. Schools and bookstores across the country are getting textbooks ready for the upcoming new semester. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua)\n \n \n \n \n
\n \n \n As the new school year approaches, many parents are increasingly concerned about \"back-to-school syndrome.\"\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Heading back to school sparks an upswing in anxiety for many children. The average child's school day is packed with potential stressors: separating from parents, meeting academic expectations, managing peer groups, and navigating loud, crowded school hallways and cafeteria, to name just a few of many challenges. That's why it's typical for children to experience some anticipatory anxiety leading up to the new school year — and for parents to notice a rise in worries.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Back-to-school syndrome presents in various ways. Children may suddenly complain of stomachaches or headaches, lose their appetite or become unusually irritable. Some may have trouble sleeping at night, frequently visit the bathroom without a clear reason, or exhibit tic disorders, such as excessive blinking, throat clearing or repetitive mouth sounds.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Experts advise against scolding children when they resist going to school, as it is ineffective. \"Instead of rushing to resolve their anxiety or forcing them to cope, it's crucial to allow children to manage their feelings at their own pace,\" said Lee Moon-soo, a professor of psychiatry at Korea University Guro Hospital. \"If parents acknowledge their concerns and engage in open conversations, children will feel more emotionally secure.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n A video of rabbits bouncing on a trampoline has gone viral on social media, garnering millions of views and shares over platforms. It started on July 27 when a TikTok user posted a video with the caption, \"Just checked the home security cam and… I think we've got guest performers out back!\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n First, as the video starts, pay close attention to two bunnies on the left-hand side of the trampoline. What initially looks like two grey rabbits sitting side-by-side, unnaturally warps into a single bunny, which bounds away.\n \n \n
\n \n \n A similar transformation occurs with two other rabbits around the five-second mark.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n To spot the subtle flaw, focus on the leftmost rabbit as it starts to run across the trampoline. The rabbit jumps up and obscures another rabbit sitting on the back edge, which has vanished by the time the first rabbit lands.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n A fact-checking platform Snopes stated that\n \n \n \n \n the account that posted the video previously shared at least one video (archived) generated by Google's artificial video generator \"\n \n \n \n \n \n Veo\n \n \n \n \n \", as evidenced by a watermark on the footage.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Despite the subtle hints and the account's unusual behaviour, many people still found themselves falling for the clip.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Some commenters even joked that they had thought only their parents would fall for fake AI content. One wrote: \"A few years ago I was laughing at my mother for believing AI.\" Another joked: \"I'm getting scammed when I'm older.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n Experts say there are many reasons why this was so believable\n \n \n \n \n , such as surveillance footage providing a sense of authenticity. Before AI became popular, security footage was viewed as a reliable record, according to CBS News Confirmed.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n 图源：新浪微博@七三一官方微博截图\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Chinese historical drama titled\n \n \n \"731,\"\n \n \n which revisits the horrific World War II-era human experiments conducted by Japan's notorious germ warfare unit 731, is set to premiere on Sept 18, sources associated with the film have said.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n \n \n 二战期间，侵华日军第七三一部队在哈尔滨市平房区以“给水防疫”为名，秘密研制细菌武器，抓捕平民、抗日志士等进行活体实验，成为日本军国主义实施细菌战的铁证。\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Unit 731, a top-secret biological and chemical warfare research base, was established in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang province, and served as the nerve center for Japanese biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia during WWII.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 图源：\n \n \n \n \n \n 新浪微博@七三一官方微博截图\n \n \n \n \n \n \n 据新华社报道，主创团队介绍，影片讲述了当地小贩王永章等人被强行抓入“特设监狱”，侵华日军以“配合健康检查与防疫研究即可换取自由”的虚伪承诺，欺骗他们遭受冻伤实验、毒气实验、活体解剖等极端折磨的故事。\n \n \n
\n \n \n According to the film's director Zhao Linshan, it tells the story of Wang Yongzhang, a local vendor, and others who were imprisoned and lured by false promises of freedom in exchange for cooperation with health checks and disease prevention research.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Instead, they became victims of brutal medical experiments carried out by the occupying Japanese forces -- including frostbite testing, gas exposure and vivisection.\n \n \n
\n \n \n “日本侵略者给中国人民带来了沉重灾难，这是不容忘却的历史。”侵华日军第七三一部队罪证陈列馆馆长金成民说，\n \n 影片展现绝境下中国人不屈的反抗精神，警醒世人铭记历史、捍卫和平。\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"This is a history that must never be forgotten,\" said Jin Chengmin, a historical adviser for the film and head of the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"The film reveals the inhumane atrocities committed by the invading Japanese army through the eyes of ordinary civilians, while highlighting the unyielding resistance spirit of the Chinese people in the face of despair,\" Jin said. \"It serves as a powerful reminder to safeguard peace.\"\n \n \n \n \n \n 定档消息发出后\n \n \n \n \n 相关话题引发关注\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 网友：真相不能忘！\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Dead to Rights\n \n \n \n \n \n ,\n \n \n a film set during the Nanjing Massacre,\n \n \n \n \n \n opened in domestic theaters on July 25\n \n \n \n \n \n .\n \n \n \n \n Marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), the film revisits one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II through the perspective of a group of unsung heroes.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Set against the Nanjing Massacre, the film follows a group of civilians sheltering in a photo studio.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Forced to develop a Japanese military photographer's film to survive, they accidentally uncover photographic proof of the atrocities. Initially focused on mere survival, they ultimately risk everything to preserve the evidence and expose the war crimes.\n \n \n
\n \n \n The most powerful core of this film lies in its tearing open the veil of history, allowing me an outsider to viscerally empathize wth the unimaginable suffering endured by the Chinese nation during the catastraphe. It doesn't shy away from the darkness, nor does it gloss over the pain. It confronts the nation's scars with immense artistic courage.\n \n \n
\n \n \n China's 2025 summer box office, including presales, exceeded 5 billion yuan on Sunday. Daily box office takings have remained above 100 million yuan for 10 consecutive days. On Saturday alone, ticket sales hit 293 million yuan, setting a new single-day high for this year's summer movie season.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Leading the charts is Universal's \"Jurassic World Rebirth,\" with 541 million yuan in ticket sales, followed by Chinese comedy \"The Lychee Road,\" which has grossed 468 million yuan. Other top performers include Japanese animated movie \"Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback,\" Peter Chan's crime drama \"She's Got No Name\" and the sports film \"F1 The Movie\" starring Brad Pitt.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Health authorities said all affected children received treatment, with nearly all now discharged after their blood lead levels dropped by around 40 percent on average. The government is covering medical costs and has set up a monitoring program to track the children's recovery.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Seventeen officials have been placed under disciplinary investigation, and 10 others, including senior health and education officials in Tianshui city and its Maiji district, Gansu province, face formal accountability procedures, according to a report released on Sunday.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Authorities said the kindergarten was operating without a license and that local education and market supervision departments failed to carry out oversight. Some officials are suspected of accepting bribes and favors from the kindergarten's investor. Disciplinary and criminal investigations have been launched against officials, including the head of the provincial health commission and the mayor of Tianshui.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Authorities found that the kindergarten's management had instructed staff to add brightly colored but inedible industrial pigments to foods such as corn rolls and jujube cakes (steamed buns), to make them look more appealing to children and parents.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Two samples from Peixin — a tricolor red date sponge cake served at breakfast and a corn roll with sausage served at dinner — failed to meet food safety standards. The samples contained lead levels of 1,052 milligrams per kilogram and 1,340 milligrams per kilogram, respectively, far above the national limit of 0.5 milligram per kilogram.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n On Sunday, officials revealed in a report that six had been arrested on suspicion of producing toxic and harmful food.\n \n \n
\n \n This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.\n \n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n Today, July 7, is etched in history with the Lugou Bridge Incident (1937) in Beijing, when Japanese troops attacked Lugou Bridge (Marco Polo Bridge) and the defending Chinese troops rose to fight the enemy. The event triggered China's full-scale war of resistance against Japanese aggression, also a main Eastern theater of the World Anti-Fascist War.\n \n
\n \n \n Japan has never fully reflected on its aggressive acts and war crimes before and during World War II. Right-wing forces have repeatedly downplayed or glorified this history, promoting revisionist narratives that blur public understanding of World War II.\n \n \n
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+ "content": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-30/009/20250930_009_01_49.png\")
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