![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/001/20250924_002_01_39460.png\")
Elderly people from different ethnic groups pose for a group photo at the Hu'erjia Cultural Compound in Altay, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on Sept 9. The compound is a significant cultural and historical site that embodies multicultural integration and ethnic harmony in Xinjiang.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/001/20250924_002_01_55460.png\")
Residents dance during a communal banquet in Tacheng, Xinjiang, in September last year. The Hardun community is home to 14 ethnic groups.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/001/20250924_002_01_21460.png\")
Local residents perform while dining at the banquet.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/001/20250924_002_01_12460.png\")
Students play Go at a school in Wushi county, Xinjiang, in September last year.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/001/20250924_002_01_32460.png\")
People of different ethnicities dance after dinner at a homestay in Tacheng on Sept 17.Residents from more than 20 ethnic groups live in Tacheng.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/001/20250924_002_01_68460.png\")
\nLi Limin greeted Azgul Abula with a peck on the cheek when the two women bumped into each other on a sunny afternoon in a residential community garden in Urumqi.
\nThe intimate exchange, at Guyuanxiang community in the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, is a Uygur ethnic group custom when close female friends meet.
\n"Although I am from the Hui ethnic group, it has become a subconscious thing to do after living for over 40 years in a neighborhood where people from ethnic minority groups account for more than 95 percent of the residents," Li said.
\nThe residents know and respect the traditions of people from different ethnic groups including Han, Hui, Uygur, Kazak and Tatar. At the same time, they care for each other like members of one big family, 70-year-old Li said.
\nForging ethnic unity may seem like a big challenge, but in Xinjiang — which has been a multiethnic region since ancient times — it starts with little things such as a peck on the cheek, lending a helping hand when someone is in need, or celebrating festivals together.
\n"Such actions are never deliberate, but something happens every day and comes naturally from people's hearts," Azgul, 49, said. "A simple greeting like that means a lot."
\nMembers of 'big family'
\nXinjiang people have a strong understanding of the severe consequences when ethnic unity is sabotaged, which in the past has caused social instability and even led to violence. The lives of people from all ethnic groups are severely disturbed and affected when such incidents happen, Li said.
\n"We have seen what Xinjiang and Xinjiang people can achieve when the relationships between the region's diverse, interwoven ethnic groups become harmonious, especially over the past decade," she said. "So, more than ever, people in Xinjiang cherish ethnic unity, especially the younger generations."
\nWhen he visited the community in July 2022, President Xi Jinping said ethnic unity is the lifeline of all ethnic groups in the country, and that all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are inseparable members of the big family of the Chinese nation.
\nXi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, also called for cherishing the stability and unity that have already been achieved.
\nLi said: "Xinjiang's stability doesn't only matter to the local people, but is also key to the development of China. And it can only be achieved when people from all ethnic groups understand that despite their different ethnicities, they are all equal members of the Chinese nation with a shared future."
\nShalkjan Yiming, from northern Xinjiang's Tacheng city, said ethnic unity is the best defense against secessionists who have in the past harmed Xinjiang residents' lives and damaged national unity.
\n"The last thing the secessionists want to see is that people from different ethnic groups are united, because they know how powerful it can be," the 79-year-old from the Uygur ethnic group said in the small courtyard of his home in the Hardun residential community. In the city, the courtyard is well-known for the raising of the Chinese national flag during every major festival.
\nThe first flag-raising ceremony was on Oct 1, 2009, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Shalkjan felt there was a great need for people to gather under the national flag and "plant the seeds of love" for the country in the hearts of the young generation.
\n"Besides communicating with each other during my flag-raising ceremony, now people from the 14 ethnic groups in the Hardun community often have meals together and taste the signature dishes of different ethnic groups," he added.
\n"The music of all ethnic groups can be played on the accordion, which is the most popular instrument in Tacheng. We are just one big family with no distinction between one ethnic group and another," he said.
\nThe Hardun community is home to 3,821 residents living in 1,510 households, and people from ethnic minority groups account for 66.69 percent of the total population. What's more, the number of mixed families formed by different ethnic groups has reached 274.
\nBahargul, Party secretary of the community, said integration had happened gradually over time.
\n"Forging ethnic unity always starts with little, but heartwarming things," said Bahargul, who asked to be identified by one name. "For example, residents have the habit of leaving the front gates of their houses open so neighbors will feel that they are welcome to visit at any time. It goes beyond people's need for a sense of security when they do this."
\nKhalitan Ylahon is one of those residents who leaves her gate open, and her house is known as the "rose garden" for the colorful flowers that crowd her front yard.
\nKhalitan, from the Uygur ethnic group, learned how to cook a wide variety dishes from her relatives, who are from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
\nHer husband is Uzbek, her younger sister married a Kazak, her older sister married a Tatar, and her son-in-law's father is Russian. From them, she learned how to make Uzbek stewed lamb with fruits and vegetables, Kazak horse and lamb noodle soups, and Tatar cakes.
\n"I am very proud of my family and the community," Khalitan said.
\n"Having lived together for so long, we have come to understand each other's languages, grown accustomed to each other's cuisines, and moved in harmony to the rhythm of each other's music. It feels like we are having parties all the time because we celebrate the festivals of different ethnic groups together. I believe it's a life that can make many people jealous," she said.
\nDirect beneficiaries
\nIn Xinjiang, people have tasted the fruit of ethnic unity and become its direct beneficiaries. They are determined to be more united in the future, which is also crucial for China's development, said Cai Lei from the Xibe ethnic group.
\nCai owns a guesthouse on the outskirts of Urumqi, which is a popular wedding venue. "We have hosted weddings for couples from the Kazak, Hui and Uygur ethnic groups, which follow different customs and traditions," he said.
\nCai's employees are also from different ethnic backgrounds.
\n"I hope they can share their unique customs and traditions with the guests and turn the guesthouse into a place to showcase the diverse cultures in Xinjiang. Meanwhile, we are also one big family."
\nThe social stability brought by enhanced ethnic unity in recent years has made people feel greatly encouraged and confident about Xinjiang's future, Cai said. That's why many Xinjiang people who went to other parts of China for work or business have come back after seeing the great potential of their home, he added.
\n"It's clear that ethnic solidarity has become a critical guarantee for Xinjiang's social progress and prosperity," he said.
\nBuilding together
\nXinjiang is now in the best period of development in its history, featuring unprecedented economic and social progress, marked improvements in people's well-being and a stronger sense of gain, happiness and security among residents, according to a white paper issued on Friday.
\nTitled "Communist Party of China Guidelines for Governing Xinjiang in the New Era: Practice and Achievements", the white paper was unveiled at a news conference held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing.
\n"People have all benefited from such development even in remote areas of the region," said Cai.
\nAs an example, he pointed from the guesthouse balcony to a nearby highway under construction that runs through the mountains. The highway is part of the Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, which is set to slash travel time to just three hours by crossing the Tianshan Mountains. It will feature the world's longest expressway tunnel.
\n"After becoming operational, the mountains will no longer divide northern and southern Xinjiang. It will further improve the lives of so many people," Cai said.
\nHe added that more than ever, Xinjiang people have reached the consensus that they are members of the Chinese nation. That's why many children will say they belong to the Chinese nation first when asked about their ethnicity, he said. "We often see tourists posting such videos on social media. And you can tell that the children feel proud of that from the bottom of their hearts," Cai said.
\nOuyincaolimeng, from the Mongolian ethnic group, said all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are united in support of diversity.
\nAn increasing number of people have shown interest in preserving the cultures and traditions of different ethnic groups, which have been supported by governments at all levels. Many young people do an outstanding job of promoting ethnic cultures via social media, said Ouyincaolimeng, an intangible cultural heritage representative inheritor of Mongolian traditional costumes.
\n"We are proud of being both a member of the Chinese nation and our ethnic group. Take me as an example, I am proud to be Chinese first. And when I travel outside the region, I am proud to say that I am from Xinjiang," said Ouyincaolimeng, who goes by one name.
\n"When asked about my ethnicity, I will proudly tell them about the rich history of the people from the Mongolian ethnic group in the region," said the owner of a traditional Mongolian costumes showroom at the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar — one of the most popular spots for tourists in Urumqi.
\nLi from the Guyuanxiang community, which is next to the Grand Bazaar, said all the residents want to see more people visit Xinjiang, especially tourists from overseas.
\n"We know that there are many rumors spread about Xinjiang, but they can all be easily cleared up by a visit to the region. More importantly, they (the visitors) can see how people from different ethnic groups live harmoniously together; and our life and the region's future will only get better," Li said.
\ncuijia@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "content": "Elderly people from different ethnic groups pose for a group photo at the Hu'erjia Cultural Compound in Altay, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on Sept 9. The compound is a significant cultural and historical site that embodies multicultural integration and ethnic harmony in Xinjiang.
\nResidents dance during a communal banquet in Tacheng, Xinjiang, in September last year. The Hardun community is home to 14 ethnic groups.
\nLocal residents perform while dining at the banquet.
\nStudents play Go at a school in Wushi county, Xinjiang, in September last year.
\nPeople of different ethnicities dance after dinner at a homestay in Tacheng on Sept 17.Residents from more than 20 ethnic groups live in Tacheng.
\n\nLi Limin greeted Azgul Abula with a peck on the cheek when the two women bumped into each other on a sunny afternoon in a residential community garden in Urumqi.
\nThe intimate exchange, at Guyuanxiang community in the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, is a Uygur ethnic group custom when close female friends meet.
\n"Although I am from the Hui ethnic group, it has become a subconscious thing to do after living for over 40 years in a neighborhood where people from ethnic minority groups account for more than 95 percent of the residents," Li said.
\nThe residents know and respect the traditions of people from different ethnic groups including Han, Hui, Uygur, Kazak and Tatar. At the same time, they care for each other like members of one big family, 70-year-old Li said.
\nForging ethnic unity may seem like a big challenge, but in Xinjiang — which has been a multiethnic region since ancient times — it starts with little things such as a peck on the cheek, lending a helping hand when someone is in need, or celebrating festivals together.
\n"Such actions are never deliberate, but something happens every day and comes naturally from people's hearts," Azgul, 49, said. "A simple greeting like that means a lot."
\nMembers of 'big family'
\nXinjiang people have a strong understanding of the severe consequences when ethnic unity is sabotaged, which in the past has caused social instability and even led to violence. The lives of people from all ethnic groups are severely disturbed and affected when such incidents happen, Li said.
\n"We have seen what Xinjiang and Xinjiang people can achieve when the relationships between the region's diverse, interwoven ethnic groups become harmonious, especially over the past decade," she said. "So, more than ever, people in Xinjiang cherish ethnic unity, especially the younger generations."
\nWhen he visited the community in July 2022, President Xi Jinping said ethnic unity is the lifeline of all ethnic groups in the country, and that all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are inseparable members of the big family of the Chinese nation.
\nXi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, also called for cherishing the stability and unity that have already been achieved.
\nLi said: "Xinjiang's stability doesn't only matter to the local people, but is also key to the development of China. And it can only be achieved when people from all ethnic groups understand that despite their different ethnicities, they are all equal members of the Chinese nation with a shared future."
\nShalkjan Yiming, from northern Xinjiang's Tacheng city, said ethnic unity is the best defense against secessionists who have in the past harmed Xinjiang residents' lives and damaged national unity.
\n"The last thing the secessionists want to see is that people from different ethnic groups are united, because they know how powerful it can be," the 79-year-old from the Uygur ethnic group said in the small courtyard of his home in the Hardun residential community. In the city, the courtyard is well-known for the raising of the Chinese national flag during every major festival.
\nThe first flag-raising ceremony was on Oct 1, 2009, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Shalkjan felt there was a great need for people to gather under the national flag and "plant the seeds of love" for the country in the hearts of the young generation.
\n"Besides communicating with each other during my flag-raising ceremony, now people from the 14 ethnic groups in the Hardun community often have meals together and taste the signature dishes of different ethnic groups," he added.
\n"The music of all ethnic groups can be played on the accordion, which is the most popular instrument in Tacheng. We are just one big family with no distinction between one ethnic group and another," he said.
\nThe Hardun community is home to 3,821 residents living in 1,510 households, and people from ethnic minority groups account for 66.69 percent of the total population. What's more, the number of mixed families formed by different ethnic groups has reached 274.
\nBahargul, Party secretary of the community, said integration had happened gradually over time.
\n"Forging ethnic unity always starts with little, but heartwarming things," said Bahargul, who asked to be identified by one name. "For example, residents have the habit of leaving the front gates of their houses open so neighbors will feel that they are welcome to visit at any time. It goes beyond people's need for a sense of security when they do this."
\nKhalitan Ylahon is one of those residents who leaves her gate open, and her house is known as the "rose garden" for the colorful flowers that crowd her front yard.
\nKhalitan, from the Uygur ethnic group, learned how to cook a wide variety dishes from her relatives, who are from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
\nHer husband is Uzbek, her younger sister married a Kazak, her older sister married a Tatar, and her son-in-law's father is Russian. From them, she learned how to make Uzbek stewed lamb with fruits and vegetables, Kazak horse and lamb noodle soups, and Tatar cakes.
\n"I am very proud of my family and the community," Khalitan said.
\n"Having lived together for so long, we have come to understand each other's languages, grown accustomed to each other's cuisines, and moved in harmony to the rhythm of each other's music. It feels like we are having parties all the time because we celebrate the festivals of different ethnic groups together. I believe it's a life that can make many people jealous," she said.
\nDirect beneficiaries
\nIn Xinjiang, people have tasted the fruit of ethnic unity and become its direct beneficiaries. They are determined to be more united in the future, which is also crucial for China's development, said Cai Lei from the Xibe ethnic group.
\nCai owns a guesthouse on the outskirts of Urumqi, which is a popular wedding venue. "We have hosted weddings for couples from the Kazak, Hui and Uygur ethnic groups, which follow different customs and traditions," he said.
\nCai's employees are also from different ethnic backgrounds.
\n"I hope they can share their unique customs and traditions with the guests and turn the guesthouse into a place to showcase the diverse cultures in Xinjiang. Meanwhile, we are also one big family."
\nThe social stability brought by enhanced ethnic unity in recent years has made people feel greatly encouraged and confident about Xinjiang's future, Cai said. That's why many Xinjiang people who went to other parts of China for work or business have come back after seeing the great potential of their home, he added.
\n"It's clear that ethnic solidarity has become a critical guarantee for Xinjiang's social progress and prosperity," he said.
\nBuilding together
\nXinjiang is now in the best period of development in its history, featuring unprecedented economic and social progress, marked improvements in people's well-being and a stronger sense of gain, happiness and security among residents, according to a white paper issued on Friday.
\nTitled "Communist Party of China Guidelines for Governing Xinjiang in the New Era: Practice and Achievements", the white paper was unveiled at a news conference held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing.
\n"People have all benefited from such development even in remote areas of the region," said Cai.
\nAs an example, he pointed from the guesthouse balcony to a nearby highway under construction that runs through the mountains. The highway is part of the Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, which is set to slash travel time to just three hours by crossing the Tianshan Mountains. It will feature the world's longest expressway tunnel.
\n"After becoming operational, the mountains will no longer divide northern and southern Xinjiang. It will further improve the lives of so many people," Cai said.
\nHe added that more than ever, Xinjiang people have reached the consensus that they are members of the Chinese nation. That's why many children will say they belong to the Chinese nation first when asked about their ethnicity, he said. "We often see tourists posting such videos on social media. And you can tell that the children feel proud of that from the bottom of their hearts," Cai said.
\nOuyincaolimeng, from the Mongolian ethnic group, said all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are united in support of diversity.
\nAn increasing number of people have shown interest in preserving the cultures and traditions of different ethnic groups, which have been supported by governments at all levels. Many young people do an outstanding job of promoting ethnic cultures via social media, said Ouyincaolimeng, an intangible cultural heritage representative inheritor of Mongolian traditional costumes.
\n"We are proud of being both a member of the Chinese nation and our ethnic group. Take me as an example, I am proud to be Chinese first. And when I travel outside the region, I am proud to say that I am from Xinjiang," said Ouyincaolimeng, who goes by one name.
\n"When asked about my ethnicity, I will proudly tell them about the rich history of the people from the Mongolian ethnic group in the region," said the owner of a traditional Mongolian costumes showroom at the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar — one of the most popular spots for tourists in Urumqi.
\nLi from the Guyuanxiang community, which is next to the Grand Bazaar, said all the residents want to see more people visit Xinjiang, especially tourists from overseas.
\n"We know that there are many rumors spread about Xinjiang, but they can all be easily cleared up by a visit to the region. More importantly, they (the visitors) can see how people from different ethnic groups live harmoniously together; and our life and the region's future will only get better," Li said.
\ncuijia@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/24/content_001_68d31c00ed50ccabe151a0a3.htm#001FRONT", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "4e5ca3f81634c4c3a1061bfffbc5164e", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "001FRONT - Visit by US lawmakers expands dialogue", "description": "A series of high-level engagements in the past three days between Chinese leaders and US lawmakers from the House of Representatives have widely been described by analysts as a "positive start" aimed at rebuilding trust and expanding institutional dialogue across politics, economics and defense.
\nThe trip, led by US Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, is the first delegation of House lawmakers to visit China since 2019.
\nIt also came just two days after a phone call between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, which was described as pragmatic, positive and constructive, and during which the two heads of state sought a course out of a period of strained ties.
\nThe delegation met separately with Premier Li Qiang, top legislator Zhao Leji, Vice-Premier He Lifeng, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Defense Minister Dong Jun during their stay in Beijing.
\nDuring their meeting on Tuesday, Zhao, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, said the NPC is willing to strengthen exchanges with the US Congress.
\nZhao said the NPC is ready to facilitate more interactions and visits to play a constructive role in promoting the development of bilateral ties. He welcomed more US lawmakers to visit and see China for themselves.
\nSpeaking at a news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, Smith said the delegation's goal was to "open up the lines of communication". He underscored the global importance of the relationship: "Our relationship is going to be the most consequential relationship in terms of what the world is going to be like for decades to come."
\nAcknowledging differences, Smith said disagreements were natural but required mechanisms to manage them. "Everybody has disagreements. You have to set up mechanisms for being able to talk about those disagreements, and resolve them the most reasonable way possible," he said.
\nAnalysts said the delegation's trip demonstrates that direct contact and dialogue between the US Congress and China are not something unimaginable, and the visit represents significant progress in stabilizing ties with far-reaching global implications. The trip has also raised global expectations for China and the US to step up strategic communication and provide greater certainty to the world, they added.
\nLyu Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the visit is a "positive start", noting that institutionalized dialogue between legislatures serves the interests of both nations.
\n"Broader engagement with various Chinese senior officials can help US lawmakers gain a more objective and comprehensive understanding of China, bring back the country's real voice to Washington, and add positive factors to the relationship while reducing negative ones," he added.
\nLi Haidong, a professor of US studies at China Foreign Affairs University, said the delegation's visit, part of the overall improvement in China-US communication and exchange, once again "underscores the irreplaceable strategic leadership "of the two heads of state in guiding the development of China-US relations.
\nA stable China-US relationship not only serves the fundamental interests of both countries but also meets the expectations of the international community, Li said.
\nzhaojia@chinadaily.com.cn
\nThe name Confucius has transcended the confines of history books to become a frequent reference in global education, philosophy, and even management.
\nWhen Western philosophers strive to understand the golden rule of "Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself", and when modern business leaders explore the wisdom in benevolent governance and rule by virtue, people from around the world are realizing that the teachings of this ancient Chinese sage are a valuable cornerstone for building global ethical and cultural consensus.
\nStarting from Qufu, Shandong province, where Confucius was born during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), Confucian culture spread across the nation and the world, interacting with and influencing local cultures to form diverse regional expressions.
\n"It is often said that customs differ every 10 miles, and styles change every hundred miles. The manifestations of Confucianism vary in different regions, primarily influenced by local culture and prominent figures," said Wei Yanhua, vice-president of the Confucius Research Institute of China.
\nGlobally, Confucian culture has spread along two main paths. One is the East Asian cultural sphere, where countries like Japan, South Korea and Vietnam have integrated Confucian thought with their local cultures.
\nThe other is extending the influence of Confucian thought to the Western world through the active dissemination by missionaries, scholars, and overseas Chinese.
\nAdditionally, Wei believes that with the opening of economic channels, the transmission of Confucian culture has become smoother, promoting multicultural exchanges, mutual learning, and integration. Countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative have shown growing interest in Chinese Confucian culture, making Confucius studies a global topic. Notably, in conversations, many national leaders take pride in quoting Confucius.
\nThe Qilu Visiting and Research Residency Program is a contemporary practice of this dissemination strategy. This program recruits visiting scholars globally and has attracted applications from 29 scholars in 15 countries.
\nEight Sinologists from countries such as Croatia, South Korea, Greece and Russia have come to the Confucius Research Institute for residency and research in 2025, engaging in academic exchanges through lectures, seminars and other activities.
\nAt the crossroads of human civilization's development, Confucian culture offers unique resources for constructing global ethics. Its worldview of Tianxia (all under heaven) aligns closely with the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind. The idea of harmony without uniformity provides a methodology for civilizational dialogue, while the concept of benevolence offers a foundational value for global ethics.
\n"In the exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations, Confucian culture acts like a sage traversing millennia, sowing the seeds of Confucian wisdom wherever it goes," Wei said.
\n", - "content": "The name Confucius has transcended the confines of history books to become a frequent reference in global education, philosophy, and even management.
\nWhen Western philosophers strive to understand the golden rule of "Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself", and when modern business leaders explore the wisdom in benevolent governance and rule by virtue, people from around the world are realizing that the teachings of this ancient Chinese sage are a valuable cornerstone for building global ethical and cultural consensus.
\nStarting from Qufu, Shandong province, where Confucius was born during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), Confucian culture spread across the nation and the world, interacting with and influencing local cultures to form diverse regional expressions.
\n"It is often said that customs differ every 10 miles, and styles change every hundred miles. The manifestations of Confucianism vary in different regions, primarily influenced by local culture and prominent figures," said Wei Yanhua, vice-president of the Confucius Research Institute of China.
\nGlobally, Confucian culture has spread along two main paths. One is the East Asian cultural sphere, where countries like Japan, South Korea and Vietnam have integrated Confucian thought with their local cultures.
\nThe other is extending the influence of Confucian thought to the Western world through the active dissemination by missionaries, scholars, and overseas Chinese.
\nAdditionally, Wei believes that with the opening of economic channels, the transmission of Confucian culture has become smoother, promoting multicultural exchanges, mutual learning, and integration. Countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative have shown growing interest in Chinese Confucian culture, making Confucius studies a global topic. Notably, in conversations, many national leaders take pride in quoting Confucius.
\nThe Qilu Visiting and Research Residency Program is a contemporary practice of this dissemination strategy. This program recruits visiting scholars globally and has attracted applications from 29 scholars in 15 countries.
\nEight Sinologists from countries such as Croatia, South Korea, Greece and Russia have come to the Confucius Research Institute for residency and research in 2025, engaging in academic exchanges through lectures, seminars and other activities.
\nAt the crossroads of human civilization's development, Confucian culture offers unique resources for constructing global ethics. Its worldview of Tianxia (all under heaven) aligns closely with the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind. The idea of harmony without uniformity provides a methodology for civilizational dialogue, while the concept of benevolence offers a foundational value for global ethics.
\n"In the exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations, Confucian culture acts like a sage traversing millennia, sowing the seeds of Confucian wisdom wherever it goes," Wei said.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/24/content_005_68d31c2aed50ccabe151a0af.htm#005ADVERTORIAL", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "7e81f8d3c459ad7e49fb45b87cd89246", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "007ADVERTORIAL - SHANDONG BLENDS HISTORY, SCENERY AND FLAVOR", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/007/20250924_006_01_39.png\")
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/007/20250924_006_01_40.png\")
\nSituated along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and on the eastern edge of the North China Plain, Shandong province has long been renowned for its rich resources, profound historical heritage and diverse cultures.
\nFrom multiple historical sites and breathtaking landscapes to appetizing local cuisine, the province offers a broad array of attractions and experiences that captivate tourists from home and abroad.
\nNatural beauty
\nThe provincial capital Jinan is known as the "city of springs" for its abundant water resources.
\nThe most famous is the Baotu Spring in the city's downtown area, which has been celebrated in poetry and art over the centuries for its crystal clear, bubbling water.
\nThe spring flows northward into Daming Lake — another renowned scenic attraction in the city. Tourists can take a boat tour and explore the historical sites on the shoreline.
\nNext to southern Jinan is Taian city, where stands the majestic Mount Tai with an altitude of 1,545 meters.
\nReaching the mountain's pinnacle Jade Emperor Peak requires visitors to conquer a challenging ascent of nearly 8,000 steps. Yet the arduous effort is rewarded at the top with a stunning vista of ancient temples, towering pines, and steep cliffs piercing through a sea of clouds.
\nShandong also boasts a long coastline of about 3,500 kilometers, offering tourists impressive sea views, various water sports and fresh seafood delicacies. One of the most popular seaside cities is Qingdao, which is noted for its charming beaches and historical European-style architecture. The Golden Beach, named for its sands, is ideal for sunbathing and swimming, while the Shilaoren Beach offers a perfect viewpoint for watching the sunrise over the sea.
\nThe coastal city of Dongying is where the Yellow River, China's mother river, joins the Bohai Sea, creating a unique estuary wetland.
\nSpanning more than 150,000 hectares, the Shandong Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in Dongying is home to nearly 400 species of birds, some of which are under first-class national protection such as the Oriental stork, the hooded crane and the red-crowned crane.
\nBased on the reserve, the city has set up the Yellow River Estuary Eco-tourism Area, allowing nature enthusiasts to admire bird flocks, beautiful wetlands and the spectacular dividing line between the Yellow River and the Bohai Sea.
\nCultural heritage
\nAs one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization, Shandong has been a vital cultural and political center for millennia.
\nFrom the Western Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-771 BC) to the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), the region was home to the two powerful states of Qi and Lu. That's why Shandong is known as "the Land of Qilu" today.
\nThe Lu State was also the home of the great philosopher and educator Confucius, or Kong Qiu, whose teachings have profoundly shaped Chinese culture and society for centuries.
\nThe Temple of Confucius in Qufu, Shandong, along with the Confucius Cemetery and the Kong Family Mansion, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Visitors can gain a deeper understanding of Confucius' life and philosophy at the site while admiring exquisite ancient buildings.
\nAnother UNESCO World Heritage Site in Shandong is the Great Wall of Qi. Dating back more than 2,600 years, it is one of the oldest Great Wall sections in China with well-preserved conditions, earning it the nickname "father of the Great Wall".
\nThe Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the world's longest ancient canal, runs 643 km in Shandong, passing through the five cities of Dezhou, Liaocheng, Taian, Jining and Zaozhuang.
\nBased on the natural beauty and cultures of different regions, the province has released 10 Grand Canal cultural and tourism routes, with themes such as canal scenery, ancient cities along the canal and the inheritance of canal culture.
\nTaierzhuang Ancient Town in Zaozhuang city, for example, is rich in intangible cultural heritage and traditional handicraft resources. The town still retains numerous ancient streets, lanes and buildings, earning it the title of "Living Ancient Canal" by the World Tourism Organization.
\nShanxi-Shaanxi Guild Hall, located on the west bank of the ancient canal in Liaocheng, used to be the place where Shanxi and Shaanxi merchants gathered, conducted business, stored goods and entertained during the mid to late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). It is the only well-preserved commercial guild hall in the city.
\nCurrently, Shandong has more than 800 museums, including 32 designated as national first-level museums.
\nThe Shandong Museum, located in Jinan, possesses a collection of more than 400,000 artifacts.
\nIts most famous exhibits include a black pottery high-stem goblet from the Neolithic period, the Ya Chou bronze battle-axe from the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC), and the nine-tasseled crown that was unearthed from the tomb of Zhu Tan (1370-89), the son of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) founder Zhu Yuanzhang.
\nAdditionally, a total of 186 cultural items from Shandong have been recognized as national intangible heritage including kite-making techniques from Weifang, shadow puppet plays from Jinan and paper-cutting from Yantai.
\nFolk activities
\nShandong province offers tourists brilliant festivals and traditional cultural activities throughout the year, showcasing its vibrant artistic creativity and cultural diversity.
\nEvery April, kite-flying masters from around the world gather in Weifang city for the international kite festival.
\nDuring the festival, the sky becomes a blue canvas dotted with colorful kites of all shapes and sizes, ranging from traditional designs such as intricate centipedes and dragons to modern artistic innovations and giant three-dimensional designs like buildings and cartoon characters. This year's event attracted 257 teams from 51 countries and regions, highlighting cultural exchanges and the global appeal of kite-flying traditions.
\nHeld annually in summer, Qingdao International Beer Festival is Asia's biggest beer party.
\nThe 35th session of the event, lasting one month from July to August, featured more than 2,300 domestic and international beer brands and, for the first time, introduced an "exclusive festival beer" to give visitors a truly unique tasting experience. About 22.48 million people took part in the festival this year, consuming more than 3,000 metric tons of beer.
\nOther international festivals hosted by Shandong include the Heze International Peony Cultural Tourism Festival, the Yantai International Wine Exposition and the Mount Tai International Mountain Climbing Festival.
\nShandong also holds a variety of folk activities including the Dongyue temple fair in Taian, the Huji Shuhui, a festival celebrating multiple forms of narrative and singing folk arts and the fish lantern festival, which is mainly popular in fishing villages of Yantai.
\nRural tourism
\nShandong is as an ideal destination for people who are looking to escape from the relentless hustle and bustle of cities, as it boasts a multitude of picturesque, tranquil villages.
\nZhuquan village in Linyi, Shandong province, has a history of more than 400 years. In Chinese, zhu literally means bamboo and quan means springs, reflecting the two major landscapes of the village.
\nIn 2019, the village was inducted into China's first batch of key villages for rural tourism. Visitors can take a casual stroll along the bamboolined paths, stay in traditional stone dwellings, and partake in activities such as fruit picking in order to enjoy the slow-paced, leisurely village life.
\nAt Houshanwang village in Rizhao, travelers can explore rolling mountains, pick tea leaves and sip some fresh tea amid a breathtaking landscape of vibrant green.
\nMeanwhile, at Dongchudao village in the city of Rongcheng, they can wander the streets dotted with ancient buildings, have a close encounter with seagulls and fish with local residents.
\nTransportation, accommodation
\nShandong has been improving its transport system in recent years to offer tourists better services and boost the tourism industry.
\nThe province now has five international airports in Jinan, Qingdao, Yantai, Weihai and Linyi, with direct flights to the United Kingdom, Russia, Australia, Japan and South Korea, among other countries and regions.
\nThese airports are equipped with modern facilities and high-quality services, ensuring a hassle-free travel experience.
\nDuring the first half of this year, the number of inbound tourists to Shandong reached 705,000, up 72.1 percent year-on-year, thanks to China's visa-free policy and the increasing number of international flights.
\nAlso, there is an extensive highway network and well-connected high-speed railways in the province, which enable tourists to travel efficiently between its major tourism cities.
\nFor example, the high-speed rail journey from Qingdao to Weihai takes just over one hour. Departing from Jinan, travelers can reach Beijing in only one and a half hours and Shanghai in about three hours via the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway.
\nVisitors are also offered a diverse selection of accommodation, from luxury hotels and cozy homestays to rustic countryside inns and traditional guesthouses. Some cities have built special hotels close to scenic attractions, allowing tourists to immerse themselves in natural beauty and enjoy a pleasant stay. Tourists should not miss the seaside Confucianism-themed hotel, the Lalu Qingdao, and the Bright Qi Hotels and Resort in Zibo, which features an awe-inspiring landscape due to its location on an 800-meter-high cliff.
\nCulinary delights
\nShandong's waters supply its people with abundant seafood like sea cucumbers, abalones, and prawns, while its inland regions with fertile land offer high-quality grains, vegetables, and poultry.
\nAs one of China's eight major culinary schools, Shandong cuisine, or Lu cuisine, has a history spanning over 2,500 years. It is celebrated for its fresh, salty flavors, meticulous cooking techniques, and emphasis on dining rituals.
\nOne signature dish is sweet and sour carp, made with a fresh carp from Shandong's lakes or rivers. The fish is carefully prepared with parallel cuts across its body, marinated, coated in a light batter, and deep-fried until its skin turns golden and crisp, while the flesh remains tender.
\nWhat elevates it is the smooth sweet-and-sour sauce: a perfect mix of vinegar, sugar, soy sauce and starch water, sometimes with black fungus and bamboo shoots, simmered to a thick consistency and poured over the carp.
\nIn addition, nearly every city in Shandong boasts its own local specialties and street food. Famous examples include braised chicken from Dezhou, shaobing (a type of crispy baked flatbread) from Zhoucun district in Zibo, and bazirou (pork belly stewed with soy sauce) from Jinan.
\nzhanglinwan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", @@ -11379,28 +11335,6 @@ "hash": "d0245e0c47322f11d22e1499db9a2cfc", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "008ADVERTORIAL - Veins of civilization: Resonance of Confucian thought across the globe", - "description": "The name Confucius has transcended the confines of history books to become a frequent reference in global education, philosophy, and even management.
\nWhen Western philosophers strive to understand the golden rule of "Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself", and when modern business leaders explore the wisdom in benevolent governance and rule by virtue, people from around the world are realizing that the teachings of this ancient Chinese sage are a valuable cornerstone for building global ethical and cultural consensus.
\nStarting from Qufu, Shandong province, where Confucius was born during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), Confucian culture spread across the nation and the world, interacting with and influencing local cultures to form diverse regional expressions.
\n"It is often said that customs differ every 10 miles, and styles change every hundred miles. The manifestations of Confucianism vary in different regions, primarily influenced by local culture and prominent figures," said Wei Yanhua, vice-president of the Confucius Research Institute of China.
\nGlobally, Confucian culture has spread along two main paths. One is the East Asian cultural sphere, where countries like Japan, South Korea and Vietnam have integrated Confucian thought with their local cultures.
\nThe other is extending the influence of Confucian thought to the Western world through the active dissemination by missionaries, scholars, and overseas Chinese.
\nAdditionally, Wei believes that with the opening of economic channels, the transmission of Confucian culture has become smoother, promoting multicultural exchanges, mutual learning, and integration. Countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative have shown growing interest in Chinese Confucian culture, making Confucius studies a global topic. Notably, in conversations, many national leaders take pride in quoting Confucius.
\nThe Qilu Visiting and Research Residency Program is a contemporary practice of this dissemination strategy. This program recruits visiting scholars globally and has attracted applications from 29 scholars in 15 countries.
\nEight Sinologists from countries such as Croatia, South Korea, Greece and Russia have come to the Confucius Research Institute for residency and research in 2025, engaging in academic exchanges through lectures, seminars and other activities.
\nAt the crossroads of human civilization's development, Confucian culture offers unique resources for constructing global ethics. Its worldview of Tianxia (all under heaven) aligns closely with the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind. The idea of harmony without uniformity provides a methodology for civilizational dialogue, while the concept of benevolence offers a foundational value for global ethics.
\n"In the exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations, Confucian culture acts like a sage traversing millennia, sowing the seeds of Confucian wisdom wherever it goes," Wei said.
\n", - "content": "The name Confucius has transcended the confines of history books to become a frequent reference in global education, philosophy, and even management.
\nWhen Western philosophers strive to understand the golden rule of "Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself", and when modern business leaders explore the wisdom in benevolent governance and rule by virtue, people from around the world are realizing that the teachings of this ancient Chinese sage are a valuable cornerstone for building global ethical and cultural consensus.
\nStarting from Qufu, Shandong province, where Confucius was born during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), Confucian culture spread across the nation and the world, interacting with and influencing local cultures to form diverse regional expressions.
\n"It is often said that customs differ every 10 miles, and styles change every hundred miles. The manifestations of Confucianism vary in different regions, primarily influenced by local culture and prominent figures," said Wei Yanhua, vice-president of the Confucius Research Institute of China.
\nGlobally, Confucian culture has spread along two main paths. One is the East Asian cultural sphere, where countries like Japan, South Korea and Vietnam have integrated Confucian thought with their local cultures.
\nThe other is extending the influence of Confucian thought to the Western world through the active dissemination by missionaries, scholars, and overseas Chinese.
\nAdditionally, Wei believes that with the opening of economic channels, the transmission of Confucian culture has become smoother, promoting multicultural exchanges, mutual learning, and integration. Countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative have shown growing interest in Chinese Confucian culture, making Confucius studies a global topic. Notably, in conversations, many national leaders take pride in quoting Confucius.
\nThe Qilu Visiting and Research Residency Program is a contemporary practice of this dissemination strategy. This program recruits visiting scholars globally and has attracted applications from 29 scholars in 15 countries.
\nEight Sinologists from countries such as Croatia, South Korea, Greece and Russia have come to the Confucius Research Institute for residency and research in 2025, engaging in academic exchanges through lectures, seminars and other activities.
\nAt the crossroads of human civilization's development, Confucian culture offers unique resources for constructing global ethics. Its worldview of Tianxia (all under heaven) aligns closely with the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind. The idea of harmony without uniformity provides a methodology for civilizational dialogue, while the concept of benevolence offers a foundational value for global ethics.
\n"In the exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations, Confucian culture acts like a sage traversing millennia, sowing the seeds of Confucian wisdom wherever it goes," Wei said.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/24/content_008_68d31c2fed50ccabe151a0b3.htm#008ADVERTORIAL", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "d218da41b3002ff18ec21c9ff0f09af9", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "009COMMENT - Strategic autonomy serves EU interests", "description": "China rebuked the European Commission for unwarrantedly and wantonly imposing sanctions on Chinese entities in its previous packages of sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis, based on the false allegation that they are "supporting" Russia's military. However, the commission targeted more Chinese entities in a sweeping new package of sanctions against Russia over the weekend.
\nIn its 19th package of sanctions since the start of the Ukraine crisis, the European Commission added 12 Chinese enterprises to its blacklist, targeting refineries, oil traders and petrochemical companies. Subject to approval by all EU member states, the sanctions purportedly demonstrate that "Europe is increasing its pressure on Russia", according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
\nChina is not the creator of, nor is it a party to the Ukraine crisis. It remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting peace talks and playing a constructive role in multilateral efforts to realize a political settlement of the crisis. By trying to demonize the normal exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Russian entities as efforts to "support" Russia's military, the European Union is simply trying to shift the blame onto China for its own failure to end the conflict.
\nThe commission has apparently realized that Ukraine, despite the support it is receiving from the United States and the EU, is unlikely to defeat Russia on the battlefield. And that the bloc cannot impose comprehensive sanctions against Russia without harming its own interests. It is using sanctions against third parties, such as China, as a form of virtue signaling and as an attempt to appease the White House. It is a display of the EU's willingness to do the US' bidding on the issue, rather than as a genuine effort to end the conflict.
\nThe US administration has called on the EU to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on China and India, as part of its efforts to pressure Beijing and New Delhi to cut their purchases of Russian oil and end their "aid" to Russia. This is another sign of the US' exploitative approach to the EU on the Ukraine crisis and tariffs. The US administration recently admitted the US has made profits from selling weapons to the EU over the Ukraine crisis.
\nBy meting out punitive measures against Chinese companies on such spurious grounds, the European Commission is doing nothing but seeking to show the US that it is answering its call without imposing a blanket tariff hike.
\nThe commission's unjustified move against China is shortsighted as the US is instrumentalizing Europe's vulnerabilities for its own geopolitical gains. Von der Leyen's alignment with Washington — accepting a US baseline 15 percent tariff on most EU goods while promising large EU purchases of US energy and defense — is intended to cement transatlantic unity.
\nBut in practice it leaves the EU exposed to loss of leverage in trade talks, domestic criticism over economic imbalance, and a weakened ability to defend its interests independently amid the Ukraine crisis and US pressure.
\nSanctioning the Chinese entities undoubtedly harms Sino-EU relations and represents another ill-advised move of the EU.
\nFor its own good, the EU should uphold its strategic autonomy rather than making decisions to try and claim the moral high ground and accommodate the US administration's agenda.
\nThe development of China-EU relations over the past 50 years has proved that China and the EU are partners, not rivals, still less enemies. There is no territorial dispute, no geopolitical conflict, nor any fundamental conflict of interests between the two sides. China has always viewed its relations with the EU from a strategic and long-term perspective. It is hoped that the EU will work with China in the same direction to ensure that cooperation remains the underlying feature of China-EU relations.
\nTo end the Ukraine crisis, it is necessary for the US and the EU to refrain from seeking selfish gains and not add fuel to the fire by further exacerbating tensions. The sanctions imposed by the EU, as well as those by the US, over the Ukraine crisis have not only fueled tensions, but also seriously disturbed global supply chains.
\nHistory clearly shows that such sanctions, devoid of legitimacy in international law, have never been solutions to burning issues, not to mention the goal of founding a lasting, workable and balanced security mechanism for Europe.
\n", @@ -11423,28 +11357,6 @@ "hash": "ea87c01362bcdc7dbc8ea8939b4e1b76", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "009COMMENT - Agriculture, rural areas and farmers essential to national modernization", - "description": "President Xi Jinping's festive greetings ahead of the eighth Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival, which fell on Tuesday this year, were a clear signal that China regards food security as a core strategic issue. As rains, droughts and floods continue to test the country's agricultural resilience, Xi's message underscores both what has been accomplished and what remains to be done to ensure that its food bowl remains firmly in its hands.
\nThe festival is the first national festival created specifically for the country's farmers. Initiated in 2018, the festival coincides with the autumnal equinox each year, which is one of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. It usually falls between Sept 22 and 24 during the country's agricultural harvest season.
\nDespite natural disasters such as droughts and floods, China managed to secure a stable summer crop this year. The production of early rice increased, and yet another bumper grain harvest is anticipated. These achievements reflect that China has achieved basic self-reliance in staple grains, such as rice and other major cereals.
\nHowever, China remains a net food importer, especially of agricultural goods where domestic production is insufficient and demand exceeds domestic supply.
\nIt is thus necessary to modernize both agriculture and rural areas to ensure food security. To that end, China must deepen its inputs in science, technology, equipment and policy to raise the overall agricultural production capacity and efficiency. And priority should be given to policies that strengthen agriculture, benefit farmers and enrich rural areas. This means enhancing agricultural R&D and widely adopting mechanization. The use of resilient seed varieties, improving water and soil management and disaster-response are also fundamental requirements to ensure that agriculture lays the foundation for social stability, modernization and national rejuvenation.
\nFurthermore, strengthening agricultural infrastructure is critical. A bumper harvest depends not only on the quality of seeds but also on the quality of farmland, irrigation facilities, water conservancy, pest control, storage and transportation and more. How prepared the farmland is, how good the irrigation and drainage facilities are, and availability of agricultural technology will all contribute to reducing losses and boosting efficiency.
\nBut production is only part of the equation. The state of the rural economy is also important. Agriculture's modernization requires that processing, logistics, storage, commercialization, rural markets and value chains work better. Farmers' incomes must rise not just through higher yields but also through value added by downstream industries, rural enterprises and better market access. The goal is for agricultural modernization and rural vitalization to go hand-in-hand.
\nEqually important is protecting farmers' legal rights and interests. President Xi emphasized the need for policies that strengthen agriculture, benefit farmers and enrich rural areas. Legal protection — over land tenure, fair returns, contracts, access to inputs and redress for disaster losses — is essential. Without secure rights and shared benefits, farmers become vulnerable, and their eagerness to invest or adopt innovations could weaken.
\nXi also linked agricultural modernization with efforts to build a beautiful and harmonious countryside — a place desirable to live and work in. This requires enhanced environmental protection, better public services, support for the local rural culture and improved living conditions. As China upgrades its agricultural capacity, it must also ensure that rural life improves, not just economically but socially, culturally and environmentally.
\nAs Xi urged, multiple measures should be taken to boost employment and incomes for farmers, while advancing all-around rural vitalization.
\nBy accelerating the modernization of agriculture and committing to protect farmers and rural life, China is demonstrating its resolve to make rural development and environmental harmony integral elements of its modernization. That is not only essential for China — it offers lessons to many countries seeking stable, sustainable food security in an unpredictable world.
\nFood security is multifaceted. It requires not just planting more grain, but also resilient infrastructure, better systems and stronger production chains, as well as improved welfare and protection of the rights of those working on the land. The integration of agricultural modernization with rural vitalization and building a beautiful countryside means that China's rural areas will not lag behind but become important contributors to the country's modernization.
\n", - "content": "President Xi Jinping's festive greetings ahead of the eighth Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival, which fell on Tuesday this year, were a clear signal that China regards food security as a core strategic issue. As rains, droughts and floods continue to test the country's agricultural resilience, Xi's message underscores both what has been accomplished and what remains to be done to ensure that its food bowl remains firmly in its hands.
\nThe festival is the first national festival created specifically for the country's farmers. Initiated in 2018, the festival coincides with the autumnal equinox each year, which is one of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. It usually falls between Sept 22 and 24 during the country's agricultural harvest season.
\nDespite natural disasters such as droughts and floods, China managed to secure a stable summer crop this year. The production of early rice increased, and yet another bumper grain harvest is anticipated. These achievements reflect that China has achieved basic self-reliance in staple grains, such as rice and other major cereals.
\nHowever, China remains a net food importer, especially of agricultural goods where domestic production is insufficient and demand exceeds domestic supply.
\nIt is thus necessary to modernize both agriculture and rural areas to ensure food security. To that end, China must deepen its inputs in science, technology, equipment and policy to raise the overall agricultural production capacity and efficiency. And priority should be given to policies that strengthen agriculture, benefit farmers and enrich rural areas. This means enhancing agricultural R&D and widely adopting mechanization. The use of resilient seed varieties, improving water and soil management and disaster-response are also fundamental requirements to ensure that agriculture lays the foundation for social stability, modernization and national rejuvenation.
\nFurthermore, strengthening agricultural infrastructure is critical. A bumper harvest depends not only on the quality of seeds but also on the quality of farmland, irrigation facilities, water conservancy, pest control, storage and transportation and more. How prepared the farmland is, how good the irrigation and drainage facilities are, and availability of agricultural technology will all contribute to reducing losses and boosting efficiency.
\nBut production is only part of the equation. The state of the rural economy is also important. Agriculture's modernization requires that processing, logistics, storage, commercialization, rural markets and value chains work better. Farmers' incomes must rise not just through higher yields but also through value added by downstream industries, rural enterprises and better market access. The goal is for agricultural modernization and rural vitalization to go hand-in-hand.
\nEqually important is protecting farmers' legal rights and interests. President Xi emphasized the need for policies that strengthen agriculture, benefit farmers and enrich rural areas. Legal protection — over land tenure, fair returns, contracts, access to inputs and redress for disaster losses — is essential. Without secure rights and shared benefits, farmers become vulnerable, and their eagerness to invest or adopt innovations could weaken.
\nXi also linked agricultural modernization with efforts to build a beautiful and harmonious countryside — a place desirable to live and work in. This requires enhanced environmental protection, better public services, support for the local rural culture and improved living conditions. As China upgrades its agricultural capacity, it must also ensure that rural life improves, not just economically but socially, culturally and environmentally.
\nAs Xi urged, multiple measures should be taken to boost employment and incomes for farmers, while advancing all-around rural vitalization.
\nBy accelerating the modernization of agriculture and committing to protect farmers and rural life, China is demonstrating its resolve to make rural development and environmental harmony integral elements of its modernization. That is not only essential for China — it offers lessons to many countries seeking stable, sustainable food security in an unpredictable world.
\nFood security is multifaceted. It requires not just planting more grain, but also resilient infrastructure, better systems and stronger production chains, as well as improved welfare and protection of the rights of those working on the land. The integration of agricultural modernization with rural vitalization and building a beautiful countryside means that China's rural areas will not lag behind but become important contributors to the country's modernization.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/24/content_009_68d31c42ed50ccabe151a0b7.htm#009COMMENT", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "51a02b1fb4810b47c23e2e17910d331b", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "010VIEWS - Call for campaign to eliminate trans fat", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/010/20250924_010_01_64.png\")
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/010/20250924_010_01_44.png\")
\nWars and other manmade health crises understandably capture global emotion and attention, and prompt urgent calls for action. However, there is another less visible manmade health challenge that countries are increasingly fighting against.
\nThe drive to rid the global food supply of industrial trans fat — a chemical responsible for over 278,000 deaths each year around the world — is a clear case of how government commitment and action are succeeding in promoting health and saving lives.
\nIndustrially-produced trans fat is a silent killer found in everyday products, often in baked goods, snacks and margarine. It is formed when liquid vegetable oils are industrially processed into semisolid forms to improve texture, taste and shelf life. Trans fat has no known health benefits but numerous proven harms. Even small amounts can increase the risk of coronary heart disease. However, with dedicated action, trans fat can be significantly reduced, or even eliminated, from the food supply chains, offering hope for a healthier future for tens of millions of people worldwide.
\nIn 2018, the World Health Organization proudly launched a global initiative supported by its member states to eliminate trans fat from processed foods. Two years later, the WHO initiated a program to recognize countries for successfully doing so.
\nThe drive is bearing fruit.
\nDenmark, Lithuania, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Thailand were the first to be recognized for eliminating trans fat. Now, four more countries — Austria, Norway, the Sultanate of Oman and Singapore — have joined that number. This means a combined population of more than 170 million people live in nine countries now certified by the WHO for eliminating trans fat from food manufacturing.
\nAustria was one of the first countries to introduce limits on trans fat content in foods, following Denmark's lead in 2009. Austria has since seen a significant reduction in trans fat levels across the food supply, with most products now complying with limits during routine monitoring.
\nNorway is an early adopter and has set limits on the use of trans fat in foods since 2014. Monitoring of dietary intake has shown a steady decline in consumption of trans fat over time. Trans fat has consistently accounted for less than 1 percent of energy intake.
\nIn 2022, Oman joined other Gulf Cooperation Council countries to prohibit the production, import and marketing of partially hydrogenated oils and related food products. This decisive move aligned with Oman's broader goal of eliminating all forms of malnutrition, as outlined in its National Nutrition Strategy 2020-30.
\nSingapore, on the other hand, has pursued trans fat elimination since 2013, and has imposed a limit on all fats and oils sold in retail markets or supplied to food service establishments and manufacturers. Later, Singapore prohibited the use of partly hydrogenated oils (PHO) as an ingredient in fats, oils, and pre-packaged foods. The city-state has also worked with major food companies to reformulate their products to be PHO-free.
\nEncouragingly, food manufacturers themselves are supporting this effort. Members of the International Food and Beverage Alliance have committed to eliminating trans fat from their products. While progress has been made, efforts remain varied and reflect a broader, ongoing shift within the food industry to create healthier food options and contribute to the global fight against trans fat.
\nWhen the WHO first called for the elimination of industrially produced trans fat across the world seven years ago, only 11 countries, accounting for only 6 percent of the global population, had best-practice trans fat elimination policies in effect.
\nThis number has since increased to almost 60, including the nine countries certified by the WHO, comprising 46 percent of the global population. In 2019, the European Union, too, set a legal limit of no more than 2 grams of trans fat per 100 grams of oil or fat used in food. These rules apply to all countries in the European Economic Area.
\nWe look forward to these, and all other countries, being recognized by the WHO as eliminating trans fat from their manufactured food supplies.
\nAn essential factor in success of the campaign against trans fat is the implementation of nationwide systems to rigorously monitor and enforce the policies to remove the deadly threat from foods.
\nAs Austria, Norway, Oman and Singapore have demonstrated, it is possible to realize great change when strong commitment is paired with decisive evidence-based action. But while measures are in place in many countries, continued monitoring and enforcement are essential to ensure they succeed in eliminating trans fat for foods.
\nLet's build on this momentum and protect more people from this deadly product. We call on all governments to join this growing movement and commit to a future free from trans fat, where preventable deaths are averted, and everyone can benefit from safer and healthier food.
\nA world free from manmade trans fat is within reach.
\n", @@ -11467,28 +11379,6 @@ "hash": "c2ff90ec829e592d24d9b5412389ca1c", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "010VIEWS - Everyday acts of unity form the heartbeat of life in Xinjiang", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/010/20250924_010_03_42.png\")
\nBefore my business trip to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in September last year, I used to think "ethnic unity" was a lofty political phrase, something reminding us of official documents. That impression changed one afternoon on a community square in Korla in central Xinjiang. I saw a 74-year-old Uygur man, Qader Keyim, leading a "pomegranate seed art troupe" in singing a song, Blossoms of the Pomegranate.
\nHe was playing the Xinjiang hand drum, called dap, with an elderly man of Han ethnic group accompanying him on the accordion and a Mongolian woman adding her high-pitched but mellifluous voice to the song.
\nAt that moment, it was impossible to tell who belonged to which ethnic group. What you felt was a sense of togetherness and camaraderie. Scenes like this are common across Xinjiang, but what struck me most were the small, human stories.
\nIn Aksu, a city level prefecture in southwestern Xinjiang, I met Zhao Wuzhong, a farmer from Sichuan province who traveled to Xinjiang in the 1990s to plant walnut trees on barren desert land. When a sandstorm nearly destroyed his young orchard, Zhao thought of winding up everything and returning home in Sichuan. It was a Uygur neighbor, Muheddin Tuerdi, who persuaded him to stay — and even lent him 10,000 yuan ($1,405), nearly all his savings.
\n"People thought he was crazy," Zhao told me, "but he said that he trusted me." Years later, Zhao's walnuts bore fruit. The first person he rushed to tell about it was Tuerdi, cycling to his house with a handful of fresh walnuts. Zhao later returned the kindness, teaching his neighbor new pruning and grafting skills that helped Tuerdi's older trees to yield far more walnuts than before.
\nOver the past two decades, the two families have become as close as those of brothers, celebrating holidays together and raising their children side by side. Unity here is not an abstract slogan; it is the help extended when someone is about to give up.
\nIn Altay prefecture in far north Xinjiang, I heard the story of Alipa Alimahong, a Uygur mother who has been honored as one of China's "most inspiring women".
\nShe adopted 10 orphans from Han, Hui, Uygur, Kazakh and other ethnic groups, in addition to raising her own children.
\nTo pay for their schooling, she and her husband worked extra jobs and even sold the milk from their cows instead of keeping it for the family. "In my home," she said, "there is no difference between one child and another. They are all my children." Her household eventually comprised six ethnic groups and more than 180 people — a living symbol of what "a big family" means.
\nSuch encounters convinced me that unity is not an abstract concept; it grows out of ordinary people's kindness, trust, and love for each other.
\nI also saw how broader policies and support make such unity more sustainable.
\nIn Wensu county, which is part of Aksu prefecture, I visited "Jinhua New Village", once a poor settlement relocated in 2012 and renamed in gratitude for the support from Zhejiang province. Rows of houses stood amid apple trees and grape arbors, with a cultural hall and a community stage at the center. A young mother told me shyly, but with a smile: "My husband and I earn about 7,000 yuan a month. Healthcare is free, kindergarten is free, and our children enjoy 15 years of compulsory education in both Uygur and Mandarin."
\nHer words pointed to something larger: the strength of a system that shares resources across regions, so that no community is left behind. What I saw in Jinhua was not only better living conditions, but also the spirit of mutual help that makes unity a lived reality.
\nXinjiang offers a powerful model of multiethnic harmony. There, I observed that cultural distinctions are celebrated, yet they do not lead to division. The bond could be a shared bowl of pilaf, a chorus and a dance on the square, the brotherhood born out of a walnut orchard, or a mother's embrace that crosses ethnic lines.
\nEthnic unity, I came to understand, is far more than a symbol. It is the foundation for stability and development, for families to prosper and for regions to pursue modernization. This is not unique to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region or the country as a whole. It answers a universal question: How can people of different ethnic and religious groups not only live together but also help each other thrive?
\nStanding on the Korla square, I thought again of the metaphor Chinese leaders often use: the people of all ethnic groups should be "closely united like the seeds of a pomegranate that stick together".
\nIt is an image that foreigners may be unfamiliar with, but after my visit to Xinjiang, I can say the use of the metaphor is exactly right. The seeds do not lose their own shape or flavor, but united together, they form something stronger, sweeter, and complete.
\nThe views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\n", - "content": "\nBefore my business trip to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in September last year, I used to think "ethnic unity" was a lofty political phrase, something reminding us of official documents. That impression changed one afternoon on a community square in Korla in central Xinjiang. I saw a 74-year-old Uygur man, Qader Keyim, leading a "pomegranate seed art troupe" in singing a song, Blossoms of the Pomegranate.
\nHe was playing the Xinjiang hand drum, called dap, with an elderly man of Han ethnic group accompanying him on the accordion and a Mongolian woman adding her high-pitched but mellifluous voice to the song.
\nAt that moment, it was impossible to tell who belonged to which ethnic group. What you felt was a sense of togetherness and camaraderie. Scenes like this are common across Xinjiang, but what struck me most were the small, human stories.
\nIn Aksu, a city level prefecture in southwestern Xinjiang, I met Zhao Wuzhong, a farmer from Sichuan province who traveled to Xinjiang in the 1990s to plant walnut trees on barren desert land. When a sandstorm nearly destroyed his young orchard, Zhao thought of winding up everything and returning home in Sichuan. It was a Uygur neighbor, Muheddin Tuerdi, who persuaded him to stay — and even lent him 10,000 yuan ($1,405), nearly all his savings.
\n"People thought he was crazy," Zhao told me, "but he said that he trusted me." Years later, Zhao's walnuts bore fruit. The first person he rushed to tell about it was Tuerdi, cycling to his house with a handful of fresh walnuts. Zhao later returned the kindness, teaching his neighbor new pruning and grafting skills that helped Tuerdi's older trees to yield far more walnuts than before.
\nOver the past two decades, the two families have become as close as those of brothers, celebrating holidays together and raising their children side by side. Unity here is not an abstract slogan; it is the help extended when someone is about to give up.
\nIn Altay prefecture in far north Xinjiang, I heard the story of Alipa Alimahong, a Uygur mother who has been honored as one of China's "most inspiring women".
\nShe adopted 10 orphans from Han, Hui, Uygur, Kazakh and other ethnic groups, in addition to raising her own children.
\nTo pay for their schooling, she and her husband worked extra jobs and even sold the milk from their cows instead of keeping it for the family. "In my home," she said, "there is no difference between one child and another. They are all my children." Her household eventually comprised six ethnic groups and more than 180 people — a living symbol of what "a big family" means.
\nSuch encounters convinced me that unity is not an abstract concept; it grows out of ordinary people's kindness, trust, and love for each other.
\nI also saw how broader policies and support make such unity more sustainable.
\nIn Wensu county, which is part of Aksu prefecture, I visited "Jinhua New Village", once a poor settlement relocated in 2012 and renamed in gratitude for the support from Zhejiang province. Rows of houses stood amid apple trees and grape arbors, with a cultural hall and a community stage at the center. A young mother told me shyly, but with a smile: "My husband and I earn about 7,000 yuan a month. Healthcare is free, kindergarten is free, and our children enjoy 15 years of compulsory education in both Uygur and Mandarin."
\nHer words pointed to something larger: the strength of a system that shares resources across regions, so that no community is left behind. What I saw in Jinhua was not only better living conditions, but also the spirit of mutual help that makes unity a lived reality.
\nXinjiang offers a powerful model of multiethnic harmony. There, I observed that cultural distinctions are celebrated, yet they do not lead to division. The bond could be a shared bowl of pilaf, a chorus and a dance on the square, the brotherhood born out of a walnut orchard, or a mother's embrace that crosses ethnic lines.
\nEthnic unity, I came to understand, is far more than a symbol. It is the foundation for stability and development, for families to prosper and for regions to pursue modernization. This is not unique to the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region or the country as a whole. It answers a universal question: How can people of different ethnic and religious groups not only live together but also help each other thrive?
\nStanding on the Korla square, I thought again of the metaphor Chinese leaders often use: the people of all ethnic groups should be "closely united like the seeds of a pomegranate that stick together".
\nIt is an image that foreigners may be unfamiliar with, but after my visit to Xinjiang, I can say the use of the metaphor is exactly right. The seeds do not lose their own shape or flavor, but united together, they form something stronger, sweeter, and complete.
\nThe views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/24/content_010_68d31c54ed50ccabe151a0bb.htm#010VIEWS", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "3a65d94effb2156b8c853ee0d142e454", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "011WORLD - US considers imposing sanctions against ICC", "description": "The United States is reportedly considering imposing sanctions on the entire International Criminal Court, or ICC, within a matter of days, potentially jeopardizing its daily operations, which currently include investigating suspected Israeli war crimes.
\nAuthorities in Washington have previously imposed sanctions on specific individuals working for the Netherlands-based court; however, targeting the entire organization would be a significant escalation of confrontation.
\nReuters quoted several sources with knowledge of the matter as saying that so-called entity sanctions were expected soon, and that emergency meetings had already taken place within the court to assess and prepare for their impact.
\nIsrael's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant have both been indicted by the court over alleged crimes committed during Israel's ongoing assault on Gaza. Leading figures in the Hamas militant group, whose attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, triggered the current eruption of the conflict between the two sides, have also been indicted. The Times of Israel newspaper reported that Israeli forces have subsequently killed all the indicted Hamas officials.
\nA spokesperson for the US State Department accused the court of asserting what it called its "purported jurisdiction" over US and Israeli personnel and suggested that Washington would not back down over the issue.
\n"It (the ICC) has the opportunity to change course by making critical and appropriate structural changes," said the spokesperson. "The US will take additional steps to protect our brave service members and others as long as the ICC continues to present a threat to our national interests."
\nThe Times of Israel also quoted an unnamed diplomat as saying, "The road of individual sanctions has been exhausted. It is now more about when, rather than if, they will take the next step."
\nReuters reported that some ICC staff had been paid their salary in advance, in case potential sanctions included actions that would disrupt the court's software and banking capabilities, and that alternative financial services suppliers were already being sought.
\njulian@mail.chinadailyuk.com
\n", @@ -11511,28 +11401,6 @@ "hash": "0a214feafd0d1e30dbc0380a508588d3", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "011WORLD - Trump designates Antifa as 'terrorist organization'", - "description": "WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order designating Antifa as "a domestic terrorist organization", a move some experts believe lacks legal authority.
\n"President Donald J. Trump is right: the violence problem is on the Left. That's why he just designated Antifa — a network of Radical Left terrorists that aim to overthrow the government through violence and agitation — as a domestic terrorist organization," the White House said in a document. It also lists examples of the movement's "long history of terrorizing our communities", including attacks on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, police officers, attendees of conservative political events, and Trump supporters.
\nThe order directs the federal government to "investigate, disrupt, and dismantle all illegal operations "conducted by Antifa or any person claiming to act on behalf of Antifa. It also calls for "necessary investigatory and prosecutorial actions against those who fund such operations".
\n"Antifa's terror is part of the trend of Radical Left violence that has permeated the nation in recent years, incited by constant lies and vicious attacks against Republicans from unhinged Democrat politicians, well-funded leftist organizations, and their allies in the media," said the document, adding that conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed by a "radical left terrorist".
\n"There is no legal authority to actually designate a domestic group as a terrorist organization even assuming that Antifa is an organization and not just an ideology," Mary McCord, a former acting head of the Justice Department's national security division, was quoted by The New York Times as saying.
\nNo legal means
\nA report by The Washington Post also noted that the United States has no legal means of designating domestic terrorist groups, adding that experts expressed concern that the move could be used to justify a crackdown on the political left more generally.
\nDuring his first term in 2020, Trump also announced he would designate the Antifa movement as "a terrorist organization", largely a response to the nationwide protests and unrest that erupted after the killing of African American George Floyd by police. But no concrete action was taken.
\nTrump signed the latest executive order amid a heated domestic debate over political violence following the death of Kirk. In response to Democrats' argument that both the left and right engage in political violence, Trump recently claimed that "most of the violence is on the left".
\nUS authorities have charged the suspected shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, with murder.
\nAntifa has a track record of confronting right-wing groups and engaging in civil disobedience.
\nAntifa-aligned activists, often dressed entirely in black, protest against racism, far-right values and what they consider fascism, and say violent tactics are sometimes justified as self-defense.
\n", - "content": "WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order designating Antifa as "a domestic terrorist organization", a move some experts believe lacks legal authority.
\n"President Donald J. Trump is right: the violence problem is on the Left. That's why he just designated Antifa — a network of Radical Left terrorists that aim to overthrow the government through violence and agitation — as a domestic terrorist organization," the White House said in a document. It also lists examples of the movement's "long history of terrorizing our communities", including attacks on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, police officers, attendees of conservative political events, and Trump supporters.
\nThe order directs the federal government to "investigate, disrupt, and dismantle all illegal operations "conducted by Antifa or any person claiming to act on behalf of Antifa. It also calls for "necessary investigatory and prosecutorial actions against those who fund such operations".
\n"Antifa's terror is part of the trend of Radical Left violence that has permeated the nation in recent years, incited by constant lies and vicious attacks against Republicans from unhinged Democrat politicians, well-funded leftist organizations, and their allies in the media," said the document, adding that conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed by a "radical left terrorist".
\n"There is no legal authority to actually designate a domestic group as a terrorist organization even assuming that Antifa is an organization and not just an ideology," Mary McCord, a former acting head of the Justice Department's national security division, was quoted by The New York Times as saying.
\nNo legal means
\nA report by The Washington Post also noted that the United States has no legal means of designating domestic terrorist groups, adding that experts expressed concern that the move could be used to justify a crackdown on the political left more generally.
\nDuring his first term in 2020, Trump also announced he would designate the Antifa movement as "a terrorist organization", largely a response to the nationwide protests and unrest that erupted after the killing of African American George Floyd by police. But no concrete action was taken.
\nTrump signed the latest executive order amid a heated domestic debate over political violence following the death of Kirk. In response to Democrats' argument that both the left and right engage in political violence, Trump recently claimed that "most of the violence is on the left".
\nUS authorities have charged the suspected shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, with murder.
\nAntifa has a track record of confronting right-wing groups and engaging in civil disobedience.
\nAntifa-aligned activists, often dressed entirely in black, protest against racism, far-right values and what they consider fascism, and say violent tactics are sometimes justified as self-defense.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/24/content_011_68d31c66ed50ccabe151a0bf.htm#011WORLD", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "490c90677190c48f67e341c9e6077e86", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "012WORLD - Lantern splendor", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/012/20250924_012_02_35100.png\")
A tourist photographs glowing lantern displays during the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore on Monday.
\n", @@ -11555,28 +11423,6 @@ "hash": "f71017ab6e908c246ea8c19383c38534", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "012WORLD - Briefly", - "description": "ECUADOR
\nPrison riot leaves 14 dead, 14 wounded
\nA prison riot caused by gang fighting in southern Ecuador on Monday left 14 people dead and another 14 wounded, according to a local police chief. Prisoners in the port town of Machala, south of Guayaquil, faced off with authorities, killing a guard and kidnapping officers, police chief William Calle told TV network Ecuavisa. "From the inside, they were shooting, throwing bombs, grenades," Calle said. Some prisoners escaped, and 13 have been recaptured so far, he added.
\nBRAZIL
\nWashington's sanctions on judge's wife decried
\nBrazil's government said on Monday that it received the announcement of sanctions imposed by the United States on the wife of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes with "deep indignation", and described the move as an attack on the country's sovereignty. "Brazil will not bend to yet another aggression," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
\nSOUTHEAST ASIA
\nTimor-Leste to join ASEAN in October
\nTimor-Leste is set to become the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in October, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday during a visit to the country. The accession will be formalized at a gathering of world leaders in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said, as Malaysia currently chairs the regional bloc. "The accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN will be of immense benefit to us all," he said after meeting Timor-Leste's President Jose Ramos-Horta.
\n", - "content": "ECUADOR
\nPrison riot leaves 14 dead, 14 wounded
\nA prison riot caused by gang fighting in southern Ecuador on Monday left 14 people dead and another 14 wounded, according to a local police chief. Prisoners in the port town of Machala, south of Guayaquil, faced off with authorities, killing a guard and kidnapping officers, police chief William Calle told TV network Ecuavisa. "From the inside, they were shooting, throwing bombs, grenades," Calle said. Some prisoners escaped, and 13 have been recaptured so far, he added.
\nBRAZIL
\nWashington's sanctions on judge's wife decried
\nBrazil's government said on Monday that it received the announcement of sanctions imposed by the United States on the wife of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes with "deep indignation", and described the move as an attack on the country's sovereignty. "Brazil will not bend to yet another aggression," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
\nSOUTHEAST ASIA
\nTimor-Leste to join ASEAN in October
\nTimor-Leste is set to become the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in October, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday during a visit to the country. The accession will be formalized at a gathering of world leaders in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said, as Malaysia currently chairs the regional bloc. "The accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN will be of immense benefit to us all," he said after meeting Timor-Leste's President Jose Ramos-Horta.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/24/content_012_68d31c79ed50ccabe151a0c3.htm#012WORLD", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "bab7f4cdace248d59ec79a2ea45e6ff2", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "012WORLD - Engulfed by water", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/012/20250924_012_06_45100.png\")
Residents wade through a flooded street after heavy rains in Kolkata, India, on Tuesday. Torrential downpours triggered severe waterlogging, with the India Meteorological Department issuing a yellow alert for more thunderstorms and heavy rain in West Bengal state. Local police said at least five people died because of electrocution in the city in the past 24 hours.
\n", @@ -11599,28 +11445,6 @@ "hash": "cbde5bc3b640519a2e00b01c6b528bdb", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "013BUSINESS - Smooth freight transport", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/013/20250924_013_02_19239.png\")
A shunting employee from Taiyuan North Railway Station, one of the most important freight marshalling yards in Shanxi province, checks the working status of a train stationed in the hub, which sees thousands of carriages converge and depart every day. Railway staff members have drawn up detailed plans and organized a well-defined division of labor, ensuring that trains reach their destinations safely and on time.
\n", - "content": "A shunting employee from Taiyuan North Railway Station, one of the most important freight marshalling yards in Shanxi province, checks the working status of a train stationed in the hub, which sees thousands of carriages converge and depart every day. Railway staff members have drawn up detailed plans and organized a well-defined division of labor, ensuring that trains reach their destinations safely and on time.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/24/content_013_68d31c8bed50ccabe151a0c7.htm#013BUSINESS", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "fc7d7d80663f09fe231064a7d0ec2a6a", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "013BUSINESS - Digital economy spurs firms' growth", "description": "The global digital economy's rapid growth is providing new development space for Chinese companies to expand overseas, with emerging markets gaining momentum driven by their young population, according to a recent report.
\nAlthough the size of the digital economy in emerging markets such as Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Middle East currently is relatively smaller, these markets' demand for digital consumption is increasing quickly and their internet penetration rate has large room for growth.
\nThese emerging markets offer vast development space and significant growth potential for Chinese enterprises, according to the report, jointly released by Tencent Cloud and ShineGlobal on the sidelines of the 2025 Tencent Global Digital Ecosystem Summit held in Shenzhen last week.
\nThe younger generation in the emerging markets embraces new technologies and demonstrates a robust demand for digital consumption. This trend is particularly evident in Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, which serve as significant sources of user growth for digital entertainment and represent key incremental markets for cross-border e-commerce, the report found.
\nAccording to the report, the median age of the population in Southeast Asia is 30.1 years, while that in the Middle East is 28.9 years. By comparison, the figures for North America and Europe stand at 40.4 and 43.2, respectively.
\nThe younger population have a higher preference for online shopping, which fuels e-commerce development in those regions. The retail e-commerce market in Latin America is expected to hit $228 billion yuan by 2028, representing a compound annual growth rate of 11 percent.
\nMeanwhile, the compound annual growth rate of social e-commerce in the Middle East is projected to reach 16 percent in the next five years.
\nTo grasp the vast opportunities of emerging markets, Tencent Cloud is ramping up its digital infrastructure globally to help Chinese enterprises with their international expansion drive. It has announced plans to invest $150 million to build a data center in Saudi Arabia, the first of its kind in the Middle East region. It is also establishing its third data center and office in Osaka and setting up nine major technical support centers in cities including Jakarta, Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul and Frankfurt.
\nThe primary challenge of building a data center in the Middle East lies in the complex compliance procedures associated with heavy-asset projects like data centers, said Xu Huabin, vice-president of Tencent Cloud.
\n"Unlike content-related or entertainment-related overseas expansion, which involves relatively simpler processes, data center construction requires strict adherence to local filing, registration and regulatory requirements," he noted.
\n"Critical to success is recognizing that domestic application procedures cannot be directly applied. Instead, a localized approach led by professionals familiar with regional regulations is essential."
\nTencent Cloud's international business has maintained a high double-digit growth rate over the past three years, according to the company. This business has become its new growth engine, with overseas customers doubling year-on-year in the past year.
\nWhen Chinese enterprises make decisions on overseas investment, the key priority should be whether their core business can be replicated, rather than first considering the input-output ratio, said Zhang Zheng, vice-president of Chinese digital and creative software company Wondershare.
\n"Take Southeast Asia as an example. Despite the robust growth of many Chinese enterprises in the region, we did not invest heavily there in the early stage. The main reason is that the Southeast Asian market lacked a strong software payment habit — local users are more willing to accept ad-supported software. Therefore, we put our focus on mature markets such as North America and Europe," he said.
\nsally@chinadailyhk.com
\n", @@ -11643,28 +11467,6 @@ "hash": "bc95f01a29cab7de480013430eb6ea87", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "013BUSINESS - AI march heats liquid cooling demand", - "description": "The surging demand for higher computing power is driving the growth of China's liquid cooling sector, with global players such as Castrol seeing huge business opportunities, said a senior executive.
\n"Although traditional air cooling still dominates, the rising demand for GPUs (graphics processing units) driven by AI development requires much higher thermal efficiency and the future market will undoubtedly belong to liquid cooling, which offers far greater performance," said Peter Huang, global president of British lubricant supplier Castrol's thermal management and data center business.
\nFrom the chip perspective, Huang said some high-end GPUs may consume over 1,000 watts nowadays, comparable to household microwaves and ovens. When a single chip reaches this level, an entire cabinet can easily surpass 50 kilowatts, or even 100 kW, as seen in next-generation AI servers from Nvidia and Inspur.
\nLiquid cooling helps manage heat generated by high-performance computing systems, servers and data centers — increasingly related to artificial intelligence — using a liquid medium.
\n"Such high-density cabinets can only rely on liquid cooling technology," Huang added.
\nAccording to the latest data from high-tech industry consultancy TrendForce, as cloud operators accelerate AI data center upgrades, liquid cooling penetration worldwide is forecast to rise from 14 percent in 2024 to 33 percent in 2025, with further growth ahead.
\n"When power reaches 70 to 80 kW, hybrid cooling is still possible, but beyond 100 kW, air cooling is ineffective and liquid solutions are the only way," Huang explained.
\nIt is now widely recognized by industry players that if a data center runs AI computing, about 70 percent of resources are allocated to GPUs and 30 percent to storage or cloud services, he added.
\n"With 70 percent of resources used for AI computing, at least 70 percent of equipment must adopt liquid cooling, showing great market potential for the new technology," he said.
\nIn China, the liquid cooling server market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 46.8 percent between 2024 and 2029, reaching $16.2 billion by 2029, said global market consultancy IDC.
\nHuang described China's liquid cooling industry as being at a "critical and opportunity-rich stage".
\n"Most liquid cooling product lines start from hardware, and China is undoubtedly the best in the world in terms of design and manufacturing," he said. "The range of supplies and application scenarios is also very complete, which is why we attach such great importance to this market."
\nFor example, in places such as Dongguan, Guangdong province, many refrigeration and air-conditioning companies are shifting to liquid cooling component manufacturing, contributing to a rather complete and mature supply chain, the executive added.
\nHowever, Huang also pointed to challenges as the industry moves from a component focus to integration and new business models.
\n"Many companies are still at the stage of 'having a good product', but when it comes to design, deployment and meeting end-user needs, there is still room for integrated development. We see great potential in this area," he said.
\nIn response, Castrol has introduced its end-to-end liquid cooling solutions first in the China market this month, covering deployment, operation, maintenance and upgrades across the full lifecycle.
\n"Leveraging China's supply chain advantages, we aim to build comprehensive solutions that directly serve end customers, where we see tremendous market opportunities," Huang said.
\nlijiaying@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "content": "The surging demand for higher computing power is driving the growth of China's liquid cooling sector, with global players such as Castrol seeing huge business opportunities, said a senior executive.
\n"Although traditional air cooling still dominates, the rising demand for GPUs (graphics processing units) driven by AI development requires much higher thermal efficiency and the future market will undoubtedly belong to liquid cooling, which offers far greater performance," said Peter Huang, global president of British lubricant supplier Castrol's thermal management and data center business.
\nFrom the chip perspective, Huang said some high-end GPUs may consume over 1,000 watts nowadays, comparable to household microwaves and ovens. When a single chip reaches this level, an entire cabinet can easily surpass 50 kilowatts, or even 100 kW, as seen in next-generation AI servers from Nvidia and Inspur.
\nLiquid cooling helps manage heat generated by high-performance computing systems, servers and data centers — increasingly related to artificial intelligence — using a liquid medium.
\n"Such high-density cabinets can only rely on liquid cooling technology," Huang added.
\nAccording to the latest data from high-tech industry consultancy TrendForce, as cloud operators accelerate AI data center upgrades, liquid cooling penetration worldwide is forecast to rise from 14 percent in 2024 to 33 percent in 2025, with further growth ahead.
\n"When power reaches 70 to 80 kW, hybrid cooling is still possible, but beyond 100 kW, air cooling is ineffective and liquid solutions are the only way," Huang explained.
\nIt is now widely recognized by industry players that if a data center runs AI computing, about 70 percent of resources are allocated to GPUs and 30 percent to storage or cloud services, he added.
\n"With 70 percent of resources used for AI computing, at least 70 percent of equipment must adopt liquid cooling, showing great market potential for the new technology," he said.
\nIn China, the liquid cooling server market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 46.8 percent between 2024 and 2029, reaching $16.2 billion by 2029, said global market consultancy IDC.
\nHuang described China's liquid cooling industry as being at a "critical and opportunity-rich stage".
\n"Most liquid cooling product lines start from hardware, and China is undoubtedly the best in the world in terms of design and manufacturing," he said. "The range of supplies and application scenarios is also very complete, which is why we attach such great importance to this market."
\nFor example, in places such as Dongguan, Guangdong province, many refrigeration and air-conditioning companies are shifting to liquid cooling component manufacturing, contributing to a rather complete and mature supply chain, the executive added.
\nHowever, Huang also pointed to challenges as the industry moves from a component focus to integration and new business models.
\n"Many companies are still at the stage of 'having a good product', but when it comes to design, deployment and meeting end-user needs, there is still room for integrated development. We see great potential in this area," he said.
\nIn response, Castrol has introduced its end-to-end liquid cooling solutions first in the China market this month, covering deployment, operation, maintenance and upgrades across the full lifecycle.
\n"Leveraging China's supply chain advantages, we aim to build comprehensive solutions that directly serve end customers, where we see tremendous market opportunities," Huang said.
\nlijiaying@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/24/content_013_68d31c9ded50ccabe151a0cb.htm#013BUSINESS", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "5ec93d24983694aa9fb570e671d7cd6f", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "014BUSINESS - China's lead in renewable energy a boon to world", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/014/20250924_014_02_49835.png\")
\nChina's dominance in renewable energy production is driving down costs and accelerating global deployment, making clean energy more affordable worldwide, said industry experts and company executives.
\nThe scale of China's new renewable capacity has made renewable energy affordable worldwide, said Ilina Radoslavova Stefanova, head of coalition for action, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
\n"China plays a pivotal role in the global clean energy supply chain, particularly in solar PV modules, battery cells, and balance-of-system components. This scale has enabled learning curve effects that have driven down costs and accelerated global deployment," she said.
\nAccording to Stefanova, in 2024 alone, the world added approximately 582 gigawatts of new renewable capacity, with China contributing nearly 370 GW, representing over 60 percent of the global total.
\nThis massive contribution primarily comes from solar photovoltaic and wind energy, highlighting China's leadership in these key renewable technologies, she said.
\n"China shows what's possible when policy, scale and speed align. The government's commitment to advance renewables is shown through its enabling policies and regulation."
\nThe global energy storage market is experiencing explosive growth driven by technological advancements and rapidly declining costs, according to a report released by IRENA at the World Energy Storage Conference in Ningde, Fujian province, recently.
\nThe report underscores the pivotal role of energy storage in facilitating the transition to a sustainable energy future, highlighting that the combination of solar power and energy storage is increasingly becoming the most economical green energy solution, more economical than the solution of coal+CCUS, or carbon capture, utilization and storage.
\nThis shift signifies a fundamental change in the economics of energy production, with renewable sources coupled with storage becoming increasingly competitive against traditional fossil fuel-based power generation, it said.
\n"Energy storage is a key technology for smoothing the intermittency and volatility of renewable energy sources, and is an important means of meeting the flexibility adjustment needs of the power grid during the energy transition," said Meng Xiangfeng, vice-president of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd, at the conference.
\nCATL, a major battery company, collaborated with IRENA on the report, providing valuable insights into the technological advancements and cost reductions driving the energy storage revolution.
\n"To effectively integrate renewable energy sources, energy storage is essential for managing their inconsistent output. This technology plays a vital role in ensuring that the power grid can adapt to the changing energy landscape by providing flexibility," he said.
\n"Currently, with the iterative upgrading of technology, energy storage costs are rapidly declining, and the global energy storage market is experiencing explosive growth."
\nBy the end of 2024, the cumulative installed capacity of new energy storage projects worldwide reached approximately 180 GW, nearly double the figure at the end of 2023 — approximately 90 GW.
\nAmong these, China's newly installed capacity in 2024 reached 42.37 GW, accounting for 47 percent of the global increase, making it a leading force in the global energy storage industry.
\nThe IRENA report, the agency's first dedicated to energy storage, notes that lithium-ion battery storage is progressively extending its response time to four-eight hours or even longer, positioning it as a crucial technology for energy storage of longer duration to meet the grid's need for flexible regulation over extended periods.
\nThis extended duration capability is essential for ensuring grid stability and reliability as renewable energy sources become a larger part of the energy mix, it said.
\nThe report urges countries to integrate energy storage into their top-level grid planning and design. It also recommends improving electricity market rules and mechanisms to expand revenue channels for energy storage in peak shaving, ancillary services, and capacity support.
\nThese recommendations aim to create a more favorable regulatory and economic environment for energy storage deployment, encouraging investment and innovation in the sector, said Stefanova.
\nzhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/014/20250924_014_04_50835.png\")
\nChinese consumers have shown greater interest in traveling during the upcoming holiday, which is one day longer than usual, and travelers have booked their trips further in advance, with long-haul outbound travel proving extremely popular.
\nAs of early September, the number of consumers planning to travel during the holiday had already surged by 130 percent year-on-year, according to Chinese tourism services firm U-tour.
\nIt found that domestic travelers had booked accommodation at over 2,800 hotels globally as of early September. In terms of hotel booking volumes, some of the most popular destinations include Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam, according to Qunar, a Beijing-based online travel agency.
\nEgypt, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Cambodia and Sweden recorded the highest growth rates in hotel bookings, Qunar said.
\nTourism agencies found that the peak travel period will run from Sept 29 to Oct 12, with more office workers requesting three days of leave to combine into a 12-day extended holiday.
\nChinese travelers' enthusiasm for overseas travel has been boosted by more convenient visa-free policies rolled out by multiple countries. For example, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand have introduced reciprocal visa-free policies with China, while South Korea and Russia have launched visa-free entry for group tours.
\n"Chinese travelers are no longer satisfied with tours that check out different scenic spots. Instead, they prefer to have in-depth experiences in a single country. With ample time during the National Day holiday, Chinese tourists are traveling to more distant destinations for more in-depth experiences," said Cai Muzi, a Qunar researcher.
\n"As a representative of ancient civilizations, Egypt enjoys pleasant weather in autumn. Besides, Russia offers the chance to see the aurora, and Norway's unique fjord landscape is best viewed in the fall," Cai said.
\nTrip.com Group, China's largest online travel agency, found that Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore and Malaysia remain popular destinations for Chinese travelers, and countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative have become more sought-after.
\nMore Chinese travelers are showing higher interest in visiting Africa, and the booking volume of travel products to Kenya and Tanzania during the holiday has surged 130 percent year-on-year, Trip.com found.
\nMeanwhile, a large number of foreign visitors plan to travel to China during the holiday, with some of the most popular destinations being Shanghai; Beijing; Guangzhou, Guangdong province; Chengdu, Sichuan province; and Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Qunar found.
\nFor source markets of inbound foreign tourists, the top five countries with the highest growth rate during the National Day holiday are Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Spain, Hungary and Saudi Arabia, according to Qunar.
\nIssac Nyaganya, a student from Tanzania studying in Chongqing, has no plans to return to his home country during the holiday and will travel to multiple places in China to experience more beautiful scenery. He booked his trips on the English version platform of Qunar.
\nzhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn
\n\nChinese consumers have shown greater interest in traveling during the upcoming holiday, which is one day longer than usual, and travelers have booked their trips further in advance, with long-haul outbound travel proving extremely popular.
\nAs of early September, the number of consumers planning to travel during the holiday had already surged by 130 percent year-on-year, according to Chinese tourism services firm U-tour.
\nIt found that domestic travelers had booked accommodation at over 2,800 hotels globally as of early September. In terms of hotel booking volumes, some of the most popular destinations include Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam, according to Qunar, a Beijing-based online travel agency.
\nEgypt, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Cambodia and Sweden recorded the highest growth rates in hotel bookings, Qunar said.
\nTourism agencies found that the peak travel period will run from Sept 29 to Oct 12, with more office workers requesting three days of leave to combine into a 12-day extended holiday.
\nChinese travelers' enthusiasm for overseas travel has been boosted by more convenient visa-free policies rolled out by multiple countries. For example, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand have introduced reciprocal visa-free policies with China, while South Korea and Russia have launched visa-free entry for group tours.
\n"Chinese travelers are no longer satisfied with tours that check out different scenic spots. Instead, they prefer to have in-depth experiences in a single country. With ample time during the National Day holiday, Chinese tourists are traveling to more distant destinations for more in-depth experiences," said Cai Muzi, a Qunar researcher.
\n"As a representative of ancient civilizations, Egypt enjoys pleasant weather in autumn. Besides, Russia offers the chance to see the aurora, and Norway's unique fjord landscape is best viewed in the fall," Cai said.
\nTrip.com Group, China's largest online travel agency, found that Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore and Malaysia remain popular destinations for Chinese travelers, and countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative have become more sought-after.
\nMore Chinese travelers are showing higher interest in visiting Africa, and the booking volume of travel products to Kenya and Tanzania during the holiday has surged 130 percent year-on-year, Trip.com found.
\nMeanwhile, a large number of foreign visitors plan to travel to China during the holiday, with some of the most popular destinations being Shanghai; Beijing; Guangzhou, Guangdong province; Chengdu, Sichuan province; and Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Qunar found.
\nFor source markets of inbound foreign tourists, the top five countries with the highest growth rate during the National Day holiday are Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Spain, Hungary and Saudi Arabia, according to Qunar.
\nIssac Nyaganya, a student from Tanzania studying in Chongqing, has no plans to return to his home country during the holiday and will travel to multiple places in China to experience more beautiful scenery. He booked his trips on the English version platform of Qunar.
\nzhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/015/20250924_015_02_49905.png\")
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/015/20250924_015_02_15905.png\")
Sam's Club (Jiang'an store), a subsidiary of Walmart, welcomes a large number of consumers in Wuhan, Hubei province, on May 28.
\nWalmart Inc is betting small will be big in China. The US retailer opened its fourth neighborhood store at its China headquarters, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on Sept 13, signaling that the compact format has found traction and is expected to scale.
\nEach store, about 500 square meters in size, mainly carries some 2,000 stock-keeping units or products tailored to the most frequent needs of nearby residents. In the store, food dominates — fresh produce, bakery, hot meals, ready-to-eat options and snacks — covering what Walmart calls "five meals a day".
\nJason Yu, general manager of CTR Market Research, said community stores are becoming a vital part of Walmart's proximity retail strategy in China. Consumers today lean toward shopping close to home or using instant retail platforms for daily, high-frequency purchases, which the traditional hypermarket's all-in-one format can no longer fully satisfy.
\n"Smaller formats offer advantages in cost efficiency, flexible site selection and curated assortments tailored to neighborhood needs, while instant retail extends their catchment area — making the model a strong fit with Walmart's omnichannel approach in China," Yu said.
\nFor Walmart, community stores fill a strategic gap between its sprawling Sam's Clubs and shrinking hypermarkets. Walmart's China net sales jumped 30 percent year-on-year to $5.8 billion in the second quarter, driven by Sam's Club expansion and its double-digit growth in transactions, as well as its e-commerce growth at 39 percent.
\nSam's remains the company's profit driver in China, with 57 outlets across 25 cities. At the 2025 Walmart global investment conference, Zhu Xiaojing, CEO of Walmart China, revealed that eight Sam's Club stores in China are expected to reach annual sales volume of over 3.6 billion yuan ($500 million) per store at the end of this year.
\nEven so, their suburban footprint leaves downtown areas underserved.
\nNeighborhood markets address that gap with its bigger stores that enhance one-stop experiences and 30-minute reach by e-commerce. The compact store is intensifying its coverage by reaching customers within a 10-minute walk and sharing supply chains with Sam's to break bulk packs into smaller sizes.
\nThe expansion comes as Walmart's hypermarket model wanes. From 2020 to April 2025, the retailer's store number — including hypermarkets and Sam's Club — fell from 429 to 334. That coincided with the addition of seven new Sam's Club stores, according to data from the China Chain Store &Franchise Association.
\nThe decline reflects long-standing issues: sites misaligned with shifting population flows, bulk pack sizes mismatched to smaller households and rising operating costs.
\nDespite that, Yu said hypermarkets will still serve one-stop shopping needs, though much of that demand is being diverted to e-commerce and specialized retail channels. He added "community stores face their own challenges, having to compete head-on with 24-hour convenience stores and delivery platforms".
\nYet demand for them remains relatively stable, and Walmart has an opportunity to differentiate through private-label products and value-added services, he added.
\n"The pilot stores in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in my view, are also a signal of Walmart's intent to scale the format into China's smaller third- and fourth-tier cities," he said.
\nGovernment policy is lending momentum to the shift. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Commerce and eight other ministries issued a notice to accelerate the rollout of"15-minute community life circles", underscoring support for small-footprint retail and commerce.
\nThe latest report released by Worldpanel shows that small supermarkets grew 7.3 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2025, stabilizing overall modern trade (defined as hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores). Community grocery stores also performed well, with sales up 4.7 percent.
\nCompetition is already intensifying. In the first half, leading discount retailers continued to capture market share through business model upgrades and supply chain optimization. Aldi advanced steadily through localization strategies: its store in Kunshan of East China's Jiangsu province set a new sales record in China.
\nLeveraging their experience in Shanghai, regional supply chains, and a "high quality groceries and lifestyle products" strategy, Aldi's penetration in the eastern region increased by 1.2 percentage points, according to Worldpanel.
\nTraditional e-commerce players are expanding into offline formats to break the limitation of the pure online shopping experience. JD Group's JD Mall offers immersive lifestyle solutions, while JD Fresh has accelerated its store model (central stores plus satellite community shops) in the northern region, boosting penetration by 0.4 percentage point.
\nIn the first half, China's fast-moving consumer goods market saw moderate recovery. Price-sensitive and experience-driven consumers demand higher product quality and functionality. This pursuit drives offline and online channels to reshape the consumption landscape through both competition and complementarity, according to Worldpanel.
\nIn offline channels, Sam's Club, Aldi, and JD Fresh precisely target consumer needs via membership formats, hard discount formats and community models. Traditional supermarkets have focused on optimizing product selection as part of their upgrades, while integrating with online-to-offline services to overcome customer traffic challenges, according to Worldpanel.
\n", @@ -11731,28 +11511,6 @@ "hash": "23c343b032308ffda7c3dfb24faf96eb", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "019SPORTS - French triathlete enjoys an elevating experience in Guizhou", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/019/20250924_019_02_26605.png\")
Frenchman Alexandre Sybillain in action during the inaugural World's Highest Bridge Triathlon International Challenge.
\nGUIYANG, Guizhou — Alexandre Sybillain, a French amateur triathlete and founder of a triathlon training center in Shanghai, has been a pioneer in promoting the sport in China and has witnessed its expanding opportunities.
\nSybillain has competed in triathlons for a decade, drawn to the sport as a complete full-body workout. "No one is naturally strong in all three disciplines. You might be a good runner, but a weak swimmer — so you have to work on your limitations," he said. "The goal isn't necessarily to be the best, but to do your best."
\nThe first World's Highest Bridge Triathlon International Challenge began Sunday morning on and around the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in Southwest China's Guizhou province.
\nNearly 200 athletes from more than 20 countries and regions tested their limits on a 36.75-kilometer course. The race started with a 750-meter swim in the Beipanjiang River, followed by a 26 km cycling leg along gorge roads with a 798m elevation gain, and culminated in a 10 km run finishing atop the world's highest bridge.
\nSybillain organized a youth training camp in Guizhou at a provincial coach's invitation in 2024. "Last year, we brought 15 kids to train in the mountains for two weeks. The environment is perfect — quiet, clean and with little traffic," he recalled.
\nWhen he learned about this year's bridge race, he did not hesitate. "I visited it last year and loved it. As someone from the French Alps, I love climbing — it's my strength. This course has a lot of elevation, which really appealed to me," he told reporters.
\n"Running on a bridge that hasn't even opened to traffic yet is a unique experience, a one-time opportunity," he added. "That's why I traveled all this way, even though it meant a four-hour flight."
\nHe said the Guizhou triathlon stood out for its challenging terrain. "There weren't many races in China with this much climbing. It's one of the toughest courses here," he said.
\nWhile running on the world's highest bridge, he appreciated the breathtaking view. "When you're up there, you feel like you're on top of the world," he said.
\nSybillain finished second in his age group (46-60) and expressed no regrets about making the trip. "I came here to enjoy the experience, not to win. I gave it my all," said the 55-year-old.
\nHaving lived in China for years, he has witnessed triathlon's rapid growth. "A decade ago, there were only one or two races in China per year; now there are over 100, and some events attract more than 1,000 participants. The equipment has also improved," he said.
\nSybillain first came to China for business, trading technical and mechanical parts between China and Europe. About 10 years ago, he transitioned to full-time sports development and, with his Chinese wife, founded a triathlon club in Shanghai.
\n"Now it's one of the largest clubs in China, with over 500 children training. We partner with schools to promote the sport. My wife manages the club, and I coach part-time," he said.
\nLearning that extreme sports might be offered on the world's highest bridge, Sybillain expressed great interest in the concept.
\n"If you can integrate activities like bungee jumping or other extreme sports with a landmark like this bridge, it would attract more visitors and bring great benefits to the province. It's a good idea," he said.
\nIn a post-race interview, he said that if the event is held again next year — whether on the bridge or nearby — he will definitely return.
\n"Triathlon in China has grown exponentially. Now, there are races almost every month in cities nationwide, which provides more stages to challenge ourselves," he said.
\n", - "content": "Frenchman Alexandre Sybillain in action during the inaugural World's Highest Bridge Triathlon International Challenge.
\nGUIYANG, Guizhou — Alexandre Sybillain, a French amateur triathlete and founder of a triathlon training center in Shanghai, has been a pioneer in promoting the sport in China and has witnessed its expanding opportunities.
\nSybillain has competed in triathlons for a decade, drawn to the sport as a complete full-body workout. "No one is naturally strong in all three disciplines. You might be a good runner, but a weak swimmer — so you have to work on your limitations," he said. "The goal isn't necessarily to be the best, but to do your best."
\nThe first World's Highest Bridge Triathlon International Challenge began Sunday morning on and around the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in Southwest China's Guizhou province.
\nNearly 200 athletes from more than 20 countries and regions tested their limits on a 36.75-kilometer course. The race started with a 750-meter swim in the Beipanjiang River, followed by a 26 km cycling leg along gorge roads with a 798m elevation gain, and culminated in a 10 km run finishing atop the world's highest bridge.
\nSybillain organized a youth training camp in Guizhou at a provincial coach's invitation in 2024. "Last year, we brought 15 kids to train in the mountains for two weeks. The environment is perfect — quiet, clean and with little traffic," he recalled.
\nWhen he learned about this year's bridge race, he did not hesitate. "I visited it last year and loved it. As someone from the French Alps, I love climbing — it's my strength. This course has a lot of elevation, which really appealed to me," he told reporters.
\n"Running on a bridge that hasn't even opened to traffic yet is a unique experience, a one-time opportunity," he added. "That's why I traveled all this way, even though it meant a four-hour flight."
\nHe said the Guizhou triathlon stood out for its challenging terrain. "There weren't many races in China with this much climbing. It's one of the toughest courses here," he said.
\nWhile running on the world's highest bridge, he appreciated the breathtaking view. "When you're up there, you feel like you're on top of the world," he said.
\nSybillain finished second in his age group (46-60) and expressed no regrets about making the trip. "I came here to enjoy the experience, not to win. I gave it my all," said the 55-year-old.
\nHaving lived in China for years, he has witnessed triathlon's rapid growth. "A decade ago, there were only one or two races in China per year; now there are over 100, and some events attract more than 1,000 participants. The equipment has also improved," he said.
\nSybillain first came to China for business, trading technical and mechanical parts between China and Europe. About 10 years ago, he transitioned to full-time sports development and, with his Chinese wife, founded a triathlon club in Shanghai.
\n"Now it's one of the largest clubs in China, with over 500 children training. We partner with schools to promote the sport. My wife manages the club, and I coach part-time," he said.
\nLearning that extreme sports might be offered on the world's highest bridge, Sybillain expressed great interest in the concept.
\n"If you can integrate activities like bungee jumping or other extreme sports with a landmark like this bridge, it would attract more visitors and bring great benefits to the province. It's a good idea," he said.
\nIn a post-race interview, he said that if the event is held again next year — whether on the bridge or nearby — he will definitely return.
\n"Triathlon in China has grown exponentially. Now, there are races almost every month in cities nationwide, which provides more stages to challenge ourselves," he said.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/24/content_019_68d31cd9ed50ccabe151a0d8.htm#019SPORTS", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "1db3d7d68e6bd0d03d9dec342a468e59", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "020SPORTS - Donnarumma admits 'I had wanted to stay' at PSG", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/020/20250924_020_02_22763.png\")
Manchester City's Gianluigi Donnarumma, his partner Alessia Elefante and their son Leo pose for a photo at the Ballon d'Or award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, on Monday.
\nGianluigi Donnarumma admitted to reporters on Monday that he would have preferred to stay at Paris Saint-Germain before a shock switch to Manchester City this month.
\nDonnarumma, winner of the best goalkeeper award at the Ballon d'Or award ceremony on Monday for his key role in PSG's Champions League triumph last season, replied "yes "when asked if he would have liked to stay with the club.
\n"When you have shared a lot with people, and spent a lot of time and made friends, it's difficult (to leave)," he admitted.
\nDonnarumma, 26, was allowed to leave after PSG signed French goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier this summer.
\nDonnarumma added he was now settled at City, where he has signed a five-year contract, with British media reporting that City paid 30 million pounds ($40.54 million) for the keeper.
\n"But, the truth is that I have found an extraordinary club (City), with extraordinary players, and they welcomed me like a big family, and that is important for me," he said.
\n"Change is difficult, but at (PSG) I had found really extraordinary supporters, extraordinary players, the staff, the coach, the sporting director, the president. That is why I had wanted to stay."
\nDonnarumma won the Yashin trophy for the second time on Monday and thanked his former PSG teammates for their part in his brilliant season.
\n"This is wonderful, congratulations to the whole team, without them I wouldn't be here, it was the whole team," he said.
\nHe also won the award in 2021 after Italy won the COVID-delayed 2020 European Championship.
\nSilva fumes
\nMeanwhile, Donnarumma's captain at Manchester City, Bernardo Silva, slammed soccer's schedule makers for lacking respect and fairness after his side was given little time to prepare for its clash with Arsenal.
\nCity kicked off its 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday just 66 hours after the final whistle in its Champions League home win over Italian side Napoli.
\nWhile Pep Guardiola's team had virtually no time to rest and recover from the Napoli game before the crucial Premier League showdown in north London, Arsenal had played its Champions League opener at Athletic Bilbao 48 hours earlier than City on Tuesday.
\nSilva felt City's tiredness was decisive as Arsenal dominated after Erling Haaland's early strike, before snatching a stoppage-time equalizer through Gabriel Martinelli.
\nGuardiola had named an unchanged side against Arsenal rather than rotating his players, but Silva is convinced it was the pressure of the fixture list that was to blame for City's late frustration.
\n"The reality is we cannot come into one of the most important games of the season with such a disadvantage, in terms of rest. It is not fair to play one of these games like this. It is just not right," he said.
\n"They had five days and we had two-and-a-half days. In one of the most important games, this cannot happen. It is just not enough.
\n"I wasn't feeling in a perfect condition to play like this, and people who have not played at the highest level don't know how it feels to play a game like this. You need to be at your best.
\n"We saw (Abdukodir) Khusanov getting injured because these games demand a lot. I feel it is just frustrating that we couldn't be at our best level, simply because of the decision of someone that thinks it is fair to come away after two-and-a-half fewer days rest than Arsenal."
\nEchoing the complaints of many of his peers as the demands on players grow, Silva believes such a quick turnaround is too much of a burden to shoulder.
\n"Look, the schedule is the schedule, and I understand you have different competitions, and UEFA, the Premier League, and the broadcasters want to make their money," he said.
\n"What we ask for is common sense, because this is one of the biggest games of the season. The players need to be in the same physical condition, otherwise I don't think it is fair."
\n", @@ -11775,28 +11533,6 @@ "hash": "39d0ca452a4aeedf54fc4d5be57286d7", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "021SPREAD - Rural school's decade of advancements uplifts town", - "description": "Every morning at the central primary school in Tokkuzak township of Shufu county in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the first rays of sunlight are accompanied by the sound of students reading aloud, creating an invigorating start to the day.
\nHowever, that seemingly ordinary school scene was a far cry from reality more than 10 years ago.
\n"When I first arrived at the school, the classrooms were in one-story buildings and the roads were dirt paths. After the 'gratitude building' was completed in 2014,410 children from 12 classes moved from the low-rise buildings into spacious and bright new facilities," said Mirsa Sabir, the academic director who has worked at the school for nearly 30 years.
\nOver the past decade, under the guidance of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and with the support of the Party committee of the autonomous region and aid from provinces and cities, the school has undergone a tremendous transformation.
\nThe school now boasts modern teaching buildings, dormitories, libraries, science and technology centers, sports fields and integrated drinking water purification equipment. All necessary educational facilities are fully equipped, with an additional 6,970 square meters of campus area.
\n"The school has completely transformed its appearance," said Patigul Yasen, principal of the school.
\n"Our school is now the most prominent landmark in the town, with hardware facilities comparable to those of urban schools," said Patigul.
\nEvery teacher at the school is equipped with a computer, enabling both teachers and students to access various online educational resources during class, according to the principal.
\nTo date, the number of classes at the school has grown from the original 12 to 27, and the student population has increased from 410 to 1,255. The school now offers comprehensive instruction in the national common language across all grade levels, with many students becoming little teachers, helping their parents learn the language.
\nWith the school's expansion and increased student enrollment, the focus on holistic development has intensified. Since 2015, the school has annually hosted "gratitude themed class meetings" and flag-raising ceremonies, among other themed educational activities.
\nAdditionally, the school has established 26 diverse club courses such as paper-cutting, calligraphy, Peking Opera, clapper talk, embroidery, dynamic lion dancing, and recitation and writing of Chinese classics, allowing students to experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture on campus.
\nTo date, the school has educated 1,688 primary graduates, with 199 of them being admitted to universities. They have each excelled in their careers, becoming doctors and teachers or pursuing higher education at universities.
\nMehrigul Yusan, one of the outstanding graduates, was a fourth-grade student at the school in 2014. Today, she is a general practitioner at the health clinic in Tokkuzak town, providing quality medical care to her fellow townspeople.
\n"I am deeply proud of the rapid development in my hometown. Serving the people of my hometown feels incredibly meaningful," Mehrigul said.
\nThe school integrates fostering a sense of community among the Chinese nation into every aspect of its daily operations, continuously improving the quality and reputation of education, said Sun Tao, Party secretary of the school.
\nBy doing so, it aims to let the flowers of ethnic unity bloom throughout the campus and cultivate students into qualified builders and successors of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Sun said.
\n", - "content": "Every morning at the central primary school in Tokkuzak township of Shufu county in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the first rays of sunlight are accompanied by the sound of students reading aloud, creating an invigorating start to the day.
\nHowever, that seemingly ordinary school scene was a far cry from reality more than 10 years ago.
\n"When I first arrived at the school, the classrooms were in one-story buildings and the roads were dirt paths. After the 'gratitude building' was completed in 2014,410 children from 12 classes moved from the low-rise buildings into spacious and bright new facilities," said Mirsa Sabir, the academic director who has worked at the school for nearly 30 years.
\nOver the past decade, under the guidance of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and with the support of the Party committee of the autonomous region and aid from provinces and cities, the school has undergone a tremendous transformation.
\nThe school now boasts modern teaching buildings, dormitories, libraries, science and technology centers, sports fields and integrated drinking water purification equipment. All necessary educational facilities are fully equipped, with an additional 6,970 square meters of campus area.
\n"The school has completely transformed its appearance," said Patigul Yasen, principal of the school.
\n"Our school is now the most prominent landmark in the town, with hardware facilities comparable to those of urban schools," said Patigul.
\nEvery teacher at the school is equipped with a computer, enabling both teachers and students to access various online educational resources during class, according to the principal.
\nTo date, the number of classes at the school has grown from the original 12 to 27, and the student population has increased from 410 to 1,255. The school now offers comprehensive instruction in the national common language across all grade levels, with many students becoming little teachers, helping their parents learn the language.
\nWith the school's expansion and increased student enrollment, the focus on holistic development has intensified. Since 2015, the school has annually hosted "gratitude themed class meetings" and flag-raising ceremonies, among other themed educational activities.
\nAdditionally, the school has established 26 diverse club courses such as paper-cutting, calligraphy, Peking Opera, clapper talk, embroidery, dynamic lion dancing, and recitation and writing of Chinese classics, allowing students to experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture on campus.
\nTo date, the school has educated 1,688 primary graduates, with 199 of them being admitted to universities. They have each excelled in their careers, becoming doctors and teachers or pursuing higher education at universities.
\nMehrigul Yusan, one of the outstanding graduates, was a fourth-grade student at the school in 2014. Today, she is a general practitioner at the health clinic in Tokkuzak town, providing quality medical care to her fellow townspeople.
\n"I am deeply proud of the rapid development in my hometown. Serving the people of my hometown feels incredibly meaningful," Mehrigul said.
\nThe school integrates fostering a sense of community among the Chinese nation into every aspect of its daily operations, continuously improving the quality and reputation of education, said Sun Tao, Party secretary of the school.
\nBy doing so, it aims to let the flowers of ethnic unity bloom throughout the campus and cultivate students into qualified builders and successors of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Sun said.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/24/content_021_68d31cebed50ccabe151a0dc.htm#021SPREAD", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "e3845d63535a4309faafcd3af19498cd", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "022SPREAD - XINJIANG MARKS 70 YEARS OF PROGRESS: Economic, social and tech transformation", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/022/20250924_021_01_1128374.png\")
YEARS OF ACHIVEMENTS
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/022/20250924_021_01_1127374.png\")
\nThis year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Reflecting on past decades, Xinjiang, with its unique geographical advantages and diverse cultural heritage, has not only served as a robust frontier for China but also experienced significant economic and social development.
\nEconomically, the region has displayed remarkable vitality. From energy and chemical industries to modern manufacturing, Xinjiang has continuously advanced supply-side structural reforms, driven the transformation of traditional and new growth drivers, and developed a comprehensive industrial system.
\nAs a crucial node on the overland Silk Road, Xinjiang plays an irreplaceable strategic role in the Belt and Road Initiative. Large-scale industrial parks and economic cooperation zones are rapidly emerging, attracting substantial domestic and international investment and invigorating local small and medium-sized enterprises.
\nThe enhancement of the business environment has been a pivotal factor in Xinjiang's high-quality economic development. For instance, in a tempered glass company's production workshop in Yining city, advanced technologies like intelligent manipulators and 3D inkjet glass machines are in operation.
\n"The company's annual output value has surged from 7 million yuan ($980,098) in 2019 to nearly 20 million yuan in 2024," said Ma Ximing, the company's sales manager, attributing this growth to Xinjiang's continually improving business environment.
\nOver the past 70 years, Xinjiang's economic development has undergone a historic transformation, evolving from a predominantly public-owned economy to a diverse and dynamic landscape of business entities.
\nBefore the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xinjiang's economy was mainly agricultural and pastoral, with only 363 private workshops producing limited industrial goods such as raw coal, coke, bricks, leather, grain and oil.
\nWith the establishment of a market economy, pioneering entrepreneurs spurred the growth of the private sector, and by the end of 2012, the region boasted 582,800 registered individual industrial and commercial households. Private enterprises have emerged in various fields, including manufacturing and transportation, injecting new vitality into the local economy.
\nIn the new era, Xinjiang has made bold strides in optimizing its business environment. The region has refined its enterprise-related business licensing and established unique mechanisms within the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, effectively lowering institutional transaction costs for enterprises.
\nAdditionally, improvements in intelligent online services have streamlined enterprise registration, making the process more convenient and more efficient. By the end of May, the number of registered business entities in Xinjiang exceeded 2.67 million, according to the region's Market Supervision and Administration Bureau.
\nForeign-funded enterprises have played a significant role in this growth.
\nSince the first foreign-funded enterprise was established in 1984, Xinjiang has become home to nearly 2,500 registered foreign-invested enterprises, which have brought capital, technology, and advanced management practices, facilitating Xinjiang's integration with the international market and driving industry upgrades.
\nIn the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, foreign-funded enterprises benefit from lower investment thresholds, streamlined cross-border trade, financial service innovations, and efficient government services. While the economy is developing vigorously, Xinjiang has also made remarkable strides in culture, ecological civilization, and ethnic unity.
\nKnown as the "hometown of singing and dancing", Xinjiang's traditional arts have gained national and international recognition through modern media platforms.
\nThe region's vibrant dance culture, characterized by natural and powerful movements, reflects a deep love for life and showcases the enduring charm of Chinese culture. A young local dancer noted that performing on stage connects him to his ancestors' legacy, highlighting the cultural confidence and innovative spirit that continue to invigorate Xinjiang's artistic scene.
\nIn terms of ecological civilization, Xinjiang has always adhered to the principle that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets". The region has made great efforts in ecological protection and ecological civilization construction in recent years, formulating strict management measures and long-term mechanisms for desert governance, water protection, and grassland restoration.
\nThe rapid development of the local new energy industry and the launch of clean energy projects have infused the regional economy with continuous green momentum.
\nXinjiang is an important part of the Chinese nation, where diverse ethnic groups coexist and learn from one another. Over the past 70 years, these groups have collaborated to advance regional development, fostering deep friendships through shared historical and cultural experiences. Ethnic unity remains a cornerstone of governance, with initiatives spanning schools, communities, and governments at all levels.
\nAs the Belt and Road Initiative progresses, Horgos Port has become a critical hub for international logistics. This year, the number of China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains supervised by Horgos Customs surpassed 5,000 on July 2, 42 days earlier than the previous year.
\nSince the first China-Europe freight train passed through in 2016, the port has operated 87 routes to 46 cities and regions abroad, solidifying its role as a core hub of BRI land transportation. To enhance the efficiency of international logistics for opening up to the West, Horgos Customs has established a special service window and a green channel for China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains, streamlining processes like customs clearance, inspection, and transshipment.
\nAdditionally, the implementation of digital and intelligent empowerment initiatives, including the "smart railway port plus local rapid customs clearance" reform, has significantly increased operational efficiency.
\nOn July 1, the train operation status detection and identification system began trial operation at Horgos Port, marking new progress in the "smart port" program.
\nThis system employs advanced technologies such as linear array high-definition image scanning, dynamic exposure, and image segmentation, enhancement, encoding, and decoding. It scans moving trains in real time, identifies potential risk points within the images, collects data, and performs corresponding functions efficiently.
\n"As we enter a new era and embark on a new journey, people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are confident and determined to progress steadily on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, contributing to national development and rejuvenation," said Chen Xueliang, deputy head of the Publicity Department of Xinjiang.
\nhaonan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/022/20250924_021_03_1125374.png\")
\nLiuxing Street, a historical area nestled in Yining city in the Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, stands out with its distinctive hexagonal layout.
\nThis vibrant area, where various ethnic groups live in harmony amid an array of colorful courtyards, is a testament to the region's rich diversity and integrated development. Yet, this historical street is not just a residential area for people of diverse backgrounds; it also doubles as a vibrant attraction, blending tourism, cultural exhibitions, specialty restaurants and craft workshops.
\nIn recent years, the Liuxing Street community has focused on strengthening the sense of a shared Chinese national identity. By capitalizing on its rich historical and cultural resources, it has become a central hub for promoting interaction and integration among residents of various ethnic groups.
\nHome to more than 3,600 permanent residents, the community is a melting pot, encompassing Han, Kazak, Hui, Uygur, Russian, and Tatar ethnic groups among others. This diverse enclave exemplifies harmonious coexistence among multiple ethnicities.
\nBuilding on its commitment to ethnic unity, the Party branch of the Liuxing Street community has been exploring new methods in its ethnic work. It has established a five-tier linkage system, integrating the Party branch, community center, grid management, Party members with household connections, and residents. This approach has fostered a "six-heart" community, which consists of a safe living environment, comfortable surroundings, neighborly support, love of reading, enjoyment of cultural activities, and shared prosperity.
\nOn Liuxing Street, the Alexander Accordion Museum, a heritage site dedicated to the preservation of the Bayan accordion art of the Russian ethnic group, houses over 800 different types of the instrument. The museum is often alive with the sounds of accordion bands performing within its halls.
\n"Our band members come from different ethnic backgrounds and various professions, but we have all come together through our love of the accordion. We share a very strong bond," said Hajatola Anniwar, a member of the Liuxing Street Ethnic Unity Accordion Band.
\nAccording to Hajatola, the band has collaborated with relevant partners in Nanjing of East China's Jiangsu province to create the radio drama dubbed The Everlasting Sound of the Accordion, which has received widespread acclaim. Today, the sound of accordions from Liuxing Street has resonated beyond Ili prefecture, echoing the song of ethnic unity and progress across the nation.
\nIn recent years, the Liuxing Street community has organized 13 art troupes to perform at various events, including village Spring Festival galas and weekend stages, during traditional Chinese festivals such as Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival.
\nAdditionally, the community hosts more than 280 ethnic unity and progress activities annually, utilizing the Ili writers' creation base, reading sharing points, and cultural courtyards. Among merchants, residents and tourists, they widely conduct Liuxing book clubs, classic reading sessions, and Red song sing-alongs, strengthening the sense of a shared Chinese national identity.
\nAlongside its rich cultural atmosphere, Liuxing Street's commercial sector has thrived with the continuous growth of tourism.
\nFor instance, Margaret guesthouse has been operating for three years and enjoys good business, particularly in the summer when tourist numbers peak. "Our staff are like family, which is why the business has continued to improve," said Zhang Xinyu, manager of the guesthouse.
\nOver the past five years, the Liuxing community has focused on developing three key sectors: guesthouses, dining and cultural innovation. This initiative has fostered and supported 428 new businesses that blend local cultural characteristics with modern trends. Cultural markets such as "f lower town" and "music town" have been established, transforming Liuxing Street into a "national nighttime cultural and tourism consumption cluster".
\nIn 2023, Liuxing Street received more than 4.6 million domestic and international visits. The business-friendly environment and family-like atmosphere led 78 tourists to settle and start businesses there.
\nFollowing the approach of "strengthening the foundation, improving facilities, creating high-quality offerings and promoting integrated development", the Liuxing Street community has undertaken comprehensive upgrades to the architectural landscape, ecological environment and business operations in the neighborhood.
\n"Renovation is not about demolishing and rebuilding, but about allowing history to continue and be preserved in the present," said Didar Konay, Party chief of the Liuxing Street community.
\nUnder the support and guidance of the community, 243 households have launched their own businesses, leading to an average annual income increase of 43,000 yuan ($6,050) per person, allowing more residents to start a business on their doorstep.
\n"Mutual respect, appreciation, learning and sharing among different ethnic groups ensure that the flower of ethnic unity and progress continues to bloom. This will make the story of our unity and progress even more compelling," Didar said.
\n", - "content": "\nLiuxing Street, a historical area nestled in Yining city in the Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, stands out with its distinctive hexagonal layout.
\nThis vibrant area, where various ethnic groups live in harmony amid an array of colorful courtyards, is a testament to the region's rich diversity and integrated development. Yet, this historical street is not just a residential area for people of diverse backgrounds; it also doubles as a vibrant attraction, blending tourism, cultural exhibitions, specialty restaurants and craft workshops.
\nIn recent years, the Liuxing Street community has focused on strengthening the sense of a shared Chinese national identity. By capitalizing on its rich historical and cultural resources, it has become a central hub for promoting interaction and integration among residents of various ethnic groups.
\nHome to more than 3,600 permanent residents, the community is a melting pot, encompassing Han, Kazak, Hui, Uygur, Russian, and Tatar ethnic groups among others. This diverse enclave exemplifies harmonious coexistence among multiple ethnicities.
\nBuilding on its commitment to ethnic unity, the Party branch of the Liuxing Street community has been exploring new methods in its ethnic work. It has established a five-tier linkage system, integrating the Party branch, community center, grid management, Party members with household connections, and residents. This approach has fostered a "six-heart" community, which consists of a safe living environment, comfortable surroundings, neighborly support, love of reading, enjoyment of cultural activities, and shared prosperity.
\nOn Liuxing Street, the Alexander Accordion Museum, a heritage site dedicated to the preservation of the Bayan accordion art of the Russian ethnic group, houses over 800 different types of the instrument. The museum is often alive with the sounds of accordion bands performing within its halls.
\n"Our band members come from different ethnic backgrounds and various professions, but we have all come together through our love of the accordion. We share a very strong bond," said Hajatola Anniwar, a member of the Liuxing Street Ethnic Unity Accordion Band.
\nAccording to Hajatola, the band has collaborated with relevant partners in Nanjing of East China's Jiangsu province to create the radio drama dubbed The Everlasting Sound of the Accordion, which has received widespread acclaim. Today, the sound of accordions from Liuxing Street has resonated beyond Ili prefecture, echoing the song of ethnic unity and progress across the nation.
\nIn recent years, the Liuxing Street community has organized 13 art troupes to perform at various events, including village Spring Festival galas and weekend stages, during traditional Chinese festivals such as Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival.
\nAdditionally, the community hosts more than 280 ethnic unity and progress activities annually, utilizing the Ili writers' creation base, reading sharing points, and cultural courtyards. Among merchants, residents and tourists, they widely conduct Liuxing book clubs, classic reading sessions, and Red song sing-alongs, strengthening the sense of a shared Chinese national identity.
\nAlongside its rich cultural atmosphere, Liuxing Street's commercial sector has thrived with the continuous growth of tourism.
\nFor instance, Margaret guesthouse has been operating for three years and enjoys good business, particularly in the summer when tourist numbers peak. "Our staff are like family, which is why the business has continued to improve," said Zhang Xinyu, manager of the guesthouse.
\nOver the past five years, the Liuxing community has focused on developing three key sectors: guesthouses, dining and cultural innovation. This initiative has fostered and supported 428 new businesses that blend local cultural characteristics with modern trends. Cultural markets such as "f lower town" and "music town" have been established, transforming Liuxing Street into a "national nighttime cultural and tourism consumption cluster".
\nIn 2023, Liuxing Street received more than 4.6 million domestic and international visits. The business-friendly environment and family-like atmosphere led 78 tourists to settle and start businesses there.
\nFollowing the approach of "strengthening the foundation, improving facilities, creating high-quality offerings and promoting integrated development", the Liuxing Street community has undertaken comprehensive upgrades to the architectural landscape, ecological environment and business operations in the neighborhood.
\n"Renovation is not about demolishing and rebuilding, but about allowing history to continue and be preserved in the present," said Didar Konay, Party chief of the Liuxing Street community.
\nUnder the support and guidance of the community, 243 households have launched their own businesses, leading to an average annual income increase of 43,000 yuan ($6,050) per person, allowing more residents to start a business on their doorstep.
\n"Mutual respect, appreciation, learning and sharing among different ethnic groups ensure that the flower of ethnic unity and progress continues to bloom. This will make the story of our unity and progress even more compelling," Didar said.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/24/content_022_68d31cf0ed50ccabe151a0e0.htm#022SPREAD", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:21:04 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "7e35b79fa964e64af4fe499fcc8d91a1", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "023SPREAD - Rural school's decade of advancements uplifts town", "description": "Every morning at the central primary school in Tokkuzak township of Shufu county in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the first rays of sunlight are accompanied by the sound of students reading aloud, creating an invigorating start to the day.
\nHowever, that seemingly ordinary school scene was a far cry from reality more than 10 years ago.
\n"When I first arrived at the school, the classrooms were in one-story buildings and the roads were dirt paths. After the 'gratitude building' was completed in 2014,410 children from 12 classes moved from the low-rise buildings into spacious and bright new facilities," said Mirsa Sabir, the academic director who has worked at the school for nearly 30 years.
\nOver the past decade, under the guidance of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and with the support of the Party committee of the autonomous region and aid from provinces and cities, the school has undergone a tremendous transformation.
\nThe school now boasts modern teaching buildings, dormitories, libraries, science and technology centers, sports fields and integrated drinking water purification equipment. All necessary educational facilities are fully equipped, with an additional 6,970 square meters of campus area.
\n"The school has completely transformed its appearance," said Patigul Yasen, principal of the school.
\n"Our school is now the most prominent landmark in the town, with hardware facilities comparable to those of urban schools," said Patigul.
\nEvery teacher at the school is equipped with a computer, enabling both teachers and students to access various online educational resources during class, according to the principal.
\nTo date, the number of classes at the school has grown from the original 12 to 27, and the student population has increased from 410 to 1,255. The school now offers comprehensive instruction in the national common language across all grade levels, with many students becoming little teachers, helping their parents learn the language.
\nWith the school's expansion and increased student enrollment, the focus on holistic development has intensified. Since 2015, the school has annually hosted "gratitude themed class meetings" and flag-raising ceremonies, among other themed educational activities.
\nAdditionally, the school has established 26 diverse club courses such as paper-cutting, calligraphy, Peking Opera, clapper talk, embroidery, dynamic lion dancing, and recitation and writing of Chinese classics, allowing students to experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture on campus.
\nTo date, the school has educated 1,688 primary graduates, with 199 of them being admitted to universities. They have each excelled in their careers, becoming doctors and teachers or pursuing higher education at universities.
\nMehrigul Yusan, one of the outstanding graduates, was a fourth-grade student at the school in 2014. Today, she is a general practitioner at the health clinic in Tokkuzak town, providing quality medical care to her fellow townspeople.
\n"I am deeply proud of the rapid development in my hometown. Serving the people of my hometown feels incredibly meaningful," Mehrigul said.
\nThe school integrates fostering a sense of community among the Chinese nation into every aspect of its daily operations, continuously improving the quality and reputation of education, said Sun Tao, Party secretary of the school.
\nBy doing so, it aims to let the flowers of ethnic unity bloom throughout the campus and cultivate students into qualified builders and successors of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Sun said.
\n", @@ -11863,28 +11577,6 @@ "hash": "1bdf3cdb70ef779f2b5fa70c13f38b2e", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "024SPREAD - XINJIANG MARKS 70 YEARS OF PROGRESS: Economic, social and tech transformation", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/024/20250924_021_01_1128374.png\")
YEARS OF ACHIVEMENTS
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/024/20250924_021_01_1127374.png\")
\nThis year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Reflecting on past decades, Xinjiang, with its unique geographical advantages and diverse cultural heritage, has not only served as a robust frontier for China but also experienced significant economic and social development.
\nEconomically, the region has displayed remarkable vitality. From energy and chemical industries to modern manufacturing, Xinjiang has continuously advanced supply-side structural reforms, driven the transformation of traditional and new growth drivers, and developed a comprehensive industrial system.
\nAs a crucial node on the overland Silk Road, Xinjiang plays an irreplaceable strategic role in the Belt and Road Initiative. Large-scale industrial parks and economic cooperation zones are rapidly emerging, attracting substantial domestic and international investment and invigorating local small and medium-sized enterprises.
\nThe enhancement of the business environment has been a pivotal factor in Xinjiang's high-quality economic development. For instance, in a tempered glass company's production workshop in Yining city, advanced technologies like intelligent manipulators and 3D inkjet glass machines are in operation.
\n"The company's annual output value has surged from 7 million yuan ($980,098) in 2019 to nearly 20 million yuan in 2024," said Ma Ximing, the company's sales manager, attributing this growth to Xinjiang's continually improving business environment.
\nOver the past 70 years, Xinjiang's economic development has undergone a historic transformation, evolving from a predominantly public-owned economy to a diverse and dynamic landscape of business entities.
\nBefore the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xinjiang's economy was mainly agricultural and pastoral, with only 363 private workshops producing limited industrial goods such as raw coal, coke, bricks, leather, grain and oil.
\nWith the establishment of a market economy, pioneering entrepreneurs spurred the growth of the private sector, and by the end of 2012, the region boasted 582,800 registered individual industrial and commercial households. Private enterprises have emerged in various fields, including manufacturing and transportation, injecting new vitality into the local economy.
\nIn the new era, Xinjiang has made bold strides in optimizing its business environment. The region has refined its enterprise-related business licensing and established unique mechanisms within the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, effectively lowering institutional transaction costs for enterprises.
\nAdditionally, improvements in intelligent online services have streamlined enterprise registration, making the process more convenient and more efficient. By the end of May, the number of registered business entities in Xinjiang exceeded 2.67 million, according to the region's Market Supervision and Administration Bureau.
\nForeign-funded enterprises have played a significant role in this growth.
\nSince the first foreign-funded enterprise was established in 1984, Xinjiang has become home to nearly 2,500 registered foreign-invested enterprises, which have brought capital, technology, and advanced management practices, facilitating Xinjiang's integration with the international market and driving industry upgrades.
\nIn the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, foreign-funded enterprises benefit from lower investment thresholds, streamlined cross-border trade, financial service innovations, and efficient government services. While the economy is developing vigorously, Xinjiang has also made remarkable strides in culture, ecological civilization, and ethnic unity.
\nKnown as the "hometown of singing and dancing", Xinjiang's traditional arts have gained national and international recognition through modern media platforms.
\nThe region's vibrant dance culture, characterized by natural and powerful movements, reflects a deep love for life and showcases the enduring charm of Chinese culture. A young local dancer noted that performing on stage connects him to his ancestors' legacy, highlighting the cultural confidence and innovative spirit that continue to invigorate Xinjiang's artistic scene.
\nIn terms of ecological civilization, Xinjiang has always adhered to the principle that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets". The region has made great efforts in ecological protection and ecological civilization construction in recent years, formulating strict management measures and long-term mechanisms for desert governance, water protection, and grassland restoration.
\nThe rapid development of the local new energy industry and the launch of clean energy projects have infused the regional economy with continuous green momentum.
\nXinjiang is an important part of the Chinese nation, where diverse ethnic groups coexist and learn from one another. Over the past 70 years, these groups have collaborated to advance regional development, fostering deep friendships through shared historical and cultural experiences. Ethnic unity remains a cornerstone of governance, with initiatives spanning schools, communities, and governments at all levels.
\nAs the Belt and Road Initiative progresses, Horgos Port has become a critical hub for international logistics. This year, the number of China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains supervised by Horgos Customs surpassed 5,000 on July 2, 42 days earlier than the previous year.
\nSince the first China-Europe freight train passed through in 2016, the port has operated 87 routes to 46 cities and regions abroad, solidifying its role as a core hub of BRI land transportation. To enhance the efficiency of international logistics for opening up to the West, Horgos Customs has established a special service window and a green channel for China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains, streamlining processes like customs clearance, inspection, and transshipment.
\nAdditionally, the implementation of digital and intelligent empowerment initiatives, including the "smart railway port plus local rapid customs clearance" reform, has significantly increased operational efficiency.
\nOn July 1, the train operation status detection and identification system began trial operation at Horgos Port, marking new progress in the "smart port" program.
\nThis system employs advanced technologies such as linear array high-definition image scanning, dynamic exposure, and image segmentation, enhancement, encoding, and decoding. It scans moving trains in real time, identifies potential risk points within the images, collects data, and performs corresponding functions efficiently.
\n"As we enter a new era and embark on a new journey, people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are confident and determined to progress steadily on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, contributing to national development and rejuvenation," said Chen Xueliang, deputy head of the Publicity Department of Xinjiang.
\nhaonan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "content": "YEARS OF ACHIVEMENTS
\n\nThis year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Reflecting on past decades, Xinjiang, with its unique geographical advantages and diverse cultural heritage, has not only served as a robust frontier for China but also experienced significant economic and social development.
\nEconomically, the region has displayed remarkable vitality. From energy and chemical industries to modern manufacturing, Xinjiang has continuously advanced supply-side structural reforms, driven the transformation of traditional and new growth drivers, and developed a comprehensive industrial system.
\nAs a crucial node on the overland Silk Road, Xinjiang plays an irreplaceable strategic role in the Belt and Road Initiative. Large-scale industrial parks and economic cooperation zones are rapidly emerging, attracting substantial domestic and international investment and invigorating local small and medium-sized enterprises.
\nThe enhancement of the business environment has been a pivotal factor in Xinjiang's high-quality economic development. For instance, in a tempered glass company's production workshop in Yining city, advanced technologies like intelligent manipulators and 3D inkjet glass machines are in operation.
\n"The company's annual output value has surged from 7 million yuan ($980,098) in 2019 to nearly 20 million yuan in 2024," said Ma Ximing, the company's sales manager, attributing this growth to Xinjiang's continually improving business environment.
\nOver the past 70 years, Xinjiang's economic development has undergone a historic transformation, evolving from a predominantly public-owned economy to a diverse and dynamic landscape of business entities.
\nBefore the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xinjiang's economy was mainly agricultural and pastoral, with only 363 private workshops producing limited industrial goods such as raw coal, coke, bricks, leather, grain and oil.
\nWith the establishment of a market economy, pioneering entrepreneurs spurred the growth of the private sector, and by the end of 2012, the region boasted 582,800 registered individual industrial and commercial households. Private enterprises have emerged in various fields, including manufacturing and transportation, injecting new vitality into the local economy.
\nIn the new era, Xinjiang has made bold strides in optimizing its business environment. The region has refined its enterprise-related business licensing and established unique mechanisms within the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, effectively lowering institutional transaction costs for enterprises.
\nAdditionally, improvements in intelligent online services have streamlined enterprise registration, making the process more convenient and more efficient. By the end of May, the number of registered business entities in Xinjiang exceeded 2.67 million, according to the region's Market Supervision and Administration Bureau.
\nForeign-funded enterprises have played a significant role in this growth.
\nSince the first foreign-funded enterprise was established in 1984, Xinjiang has become home to nearly 2,500 registered foreign-invested enterprises, which have brought capital, technology, and advanced management practices, facilitating Xinjiang's integration with the international market and driving industry upgrades.
\nIn the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone, foreign-funded enterprises benefit from lower investment thresholds, streamlined cross-border trade, financial service innovations, and efficient government services. While the economy is developing vigorously, Xinjiang has also made remarkable strides in culture, ecological civilization, and ethnic unity.
\nKnown as the "hometown of singing and dancing", Xinjiang's traditional arts have gained national and international recognition through modern media platforms.
\nThe region's vibrant dance culture, characterized by natural and powerful movements, reflects a deep love for life and showcases the enduring charm of Chinese culture. A young local dancer noted that performing on stage connects him to his ancestors' legacy, highlighting the cultural confidence and innovative spirit that continue to invigorate Xinjiang's artistic scene.
\nIn terms of ecological civilization, Xinjiang has always adhered to the principle that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets". The region has made great efforts in ecological protection and ecological civilization construction in recent years, formulating strict management measures and long-term mechanisms for desert governance, water protection, and grassland restoration.
\nThe rapid development of the local new energy industry and the launch of clean energy projects have infused the regional economy with continuous green momentum.
\nXinjiang is an important part of the Chinese nation, where diverse ethnic groups coexist and learn from one another. Over the past 70 years, these groups have collaborated to advance regional development, fostering deep friendships through shared historical and cultural experiences. Ethnic unity remains a cornerstone of governance, with initiatives spanning schools, communities, and governments at all levels.
\nAs the Belt and Road Initiative progresses, Horgos Port has become a critical hub for international logistics. This year, the number of China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains supervised by Horgos Customs surpassed 5,000 on July 2, 42 days earlier than the previous year.
\nSince the first China-Europe freight train passed through in 2016, the port has operated 87 routes to 46 cities and regions abroad, solidifying its role as a core hub of BRI land transportation. To enhance the efficiency of international logistics for opening up to the West, Horgos Customs has established a special service window and a green channel for China-Europe (Central Asia) freight trains, streamlining processes like customs clearance, inspection, and transshipment.
\nAdditionally, the implementation of digital and intelligent empowerment initiatives, including the "smart railway port plus local rapid customs clearance" reform, has significantly increased operational efficiency.
\nOn July 1, the train operation status detection and identification system began trial operation at Horgos Port, marking new progress in the "smart port" program.
\nThis system employs advanced technologies such as linear array high-definition image scanning, dynamic exposure, and image segmentation, enhancement, encoding, and decoding. It scans moving trains in real time, identifies potential risk points within the images, collects data, and performs corresponding functions efficiently.
\n"As we enter a new era and embark on a new journey, people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are confident and determined to progress steadily on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, contributing to national development and rejuvenation," said Chen Xueliang, deputy head of the Publicity Department of Xinjiang.
\nhaonan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/24/content_024_68d31cf0ed50ccabe151a0e4.htm#024SPREAD", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:21:04 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "6e715e480a3769e0a21681e254f8dcb3", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "024SPREAD - HISTORICAL STREET FOSTERS UNITY THROUGH HERITAGE AND COMMERCE", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/024/20250924_021_03_1125374.png\")
\nLiuxing Street, a historical area nestled in Yining city in the Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, stands out with its distinctive hexagonal layout.
\nThis vibrant area, where various ethnic groups live in harmony amid an array of colorful courtyards, is a testament to the region's rich diversity and integrated development. Yet, this historical street is not just a residential area for people of diverse backgrounds; it also doubles as a vibrant attraction, blending tourism, cultural exhibitions, specialty restaurants and craft workshops.
\nIn recent years, the Liuxing Street community has focused on strengthening the sense of a shared Chinese national identity. By capitalizing on its rich historical and cultural resources, it has become a central hub for promoting interaction and integration among residents of various ethnic groups.
\nHome to more than 3,600 permanent residents, the community is a melting pot, encompassing Han, Kazak, Hui, Uygur, Russian, and Tatar ethnic groups among others. This diverse enclave exemplifies harmonious coexistence among multiple ethnicities.
\nBuilding on its commitment to ethnic unity, the Party branch of the Liuxing Street community has been exploring new methods in its ethnic work. It has established a five-tier linkage system, integrating the Party branch, community center, grid management, Party members with household connections, and residents. This approach has fostered a "six-heart" community, which consists of a safe living environment, comfortable surroundings, neighborly support, love of reading, enjoyment of cultural activities, and shared prosperity.
\nOn Liuxing Street, the Alexander Accordion Museum, a heritage site dedicated to the preservation of the Bayan accordion art of the Russian ethnic group, houses over 800 different types of the instrument. The museum is often alive with the sounds of accordion bands performing within its halls.
\n"Our band members come from different ethnic backgrounds and various professions, but we have all come together through our love of the accordion. We share a very strong bond," said Hajatola Anniwar, a member of the Liuxing Street Ethnic Unity Accordion Band.
\nAccording to Hajatola, the band has collaborated with relevant partners in Nanjing of East China's Jiangsu province to create the radio drama dubbed The Everlasting Sound of the Accordion, which has received widespread acclaim. Today, the sound of accordions from Liuxing Street has resonated beyond Ili prefecture, echoing the song of ethnic unity and progress across the nation.
\nIn recent years, the Liuxing Street community has organized 13 art troupes to perform at various events, including village Spring Festival galas and weekend stages, during traditional Chinese festivals such as Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival.
\nAdditionally, the community hosts more than 280 ethnic unity and progress activities annually, utilizing the Ili writers' creation base, reading sharing points, and cultural courtyards. Among merchants, residents and tourists, they widely conduct Liuxing book clubs, classic reading sessions, and Red song sing-alongs, strengthening the sense of a shared Chinese national identity.
\nAlongside its rich cultural atmosphere, Liuxing Street's commercial sector has thrived with the continuous growth of tourism.
\nFor instance, Margaret guesthouse has been operating for three years and enjoys good business, particularly in the summer when tourist numbers peak. "Our staff are like family, which is why the business has continued to improve," said Zhang Xinyu, manager of the guesthouse.
\nOver the past five years, the Liuxing community has focused on developing three key sectors: guesthouses, dining and cultural innovation. This initiative has fostered and supported 428 new businesses that blend local cultural characteristics with modern trends. Cultural markets such as "f lower town" and "music town" have been established, transforming Liuxing Street into a "national nighttime cultural and tourism consumption cluster".
\nIn 2023, Liuxing Street received more than 4.6 million domestic and international visits. The business-friendly environment and family-like atmosphere led 78 tourists to settle and start businesses there.
\nFollowing the approach of "strengthening the foundation, improving facilities, creating high-quality offerings and promoting integrated development", the Liuxing Street community has undertaken comprehensive upgrades to the architectural landscape, ecological environment and business operations in the neighborhood.
\n"Renovation is not about demolishing and rebuilding, but about allowing history to continue and be preserved in the present," said Didar Konay, Party chief of the Liuxing Street community.
\nUnder the support and guidance of the community, 243 households have launched their own businesses, leading to an average annual income increase of 43,000 yuan ($6,050) per person, allowing more residents to start a business on their doorstep.
\n"Mutual respect, appreciation, learning and sharing among different ethnic groups ensure that the flower of ethnic unity and progress continues to bloom. This will make the story of our unity and progress even more compelling," Didar said.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/025/20250924_025_02_74406.png\")
\nFrom snow-capped mountains to expansive grasslands, and from pristine lakes to desolate deserts, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has become a premier tourist destination with its stunning landscapes.
\nIn the 1950s, however, Xinjiang was a distant dream for most people, limited by its remote location and poor transportation. The region's vast distance and challenging travel conditions made it difficult for many to experience its natural beauty and rich culture firsthand.
\nOver the past 70 years, Xinjiang has undergone remarkable transformations, particularly in its cultural and tourism sectors, which have become strategic pillars for boosting local well-being and happiness.
\nThe development of Xinjiang's tourism industry has been closely linked with China's reform and opening-up policies. In 1978, the Xinjiang tourism bureau was established, and the region received fewer than 100 visitors that year — all of them international. It was not until the 1990s that domestic tourism began to steadily increase.
\nWu Feng, president of the Xinjiang Travel Agency Association, has been involved in the region's tourism industry for 38 years.
\nAt that time, Xinjiang had few tourist attractions and weak infrastructure, Wu recalled. There were primarily two routes: one covering Tianchi Lake, Nanshan Pasture and Turpan, and the other known as the "southern Xinjiang tour", which included Urumqi, Turpan, Kuqa, Korla, Aksu and Kashgar.
\n"In the 1990s, it would take at least an hour and a half to travel one way to Nanshan. Now, the same amount of time is enough for a round trip," Wu said.
\nBack then, it took three and a half hours to drive to Turpan, so all tour groups had to stay overnight. This changed in the early 2000s with the opening of the highway, which paved the way for more tourism routes, according to Wu.
\nIn recent years, Xinjiang has expanded its service facilities, including transportation, accommodation and dining. With more direct flight routes, interconnected highways, high-speed rail lines and dedicated tourist trains, an increasingly convenient transportation network has spurred rapid development in Urumqi and across the region.
\nOfficial data show that in 2024, Xinjiang received more than 300 million visits, with visitor spending reaching 359.54 billion yuan ($50.4 billion), marking year-on-year increases of 14 percent and 21 percent, respectively. In the first quarter of 2025, visits grew by 9.08 percent and spending by 12.58 percent year-on-year.
\nWith the implementation of a tourism-driven strategy, Xinjiang's cultural and tourism industries have flourished. Using the region's landscapes as a canvas and integrating culture with tourism, these industries have become key drivers of growth, ranking among Xinjiang's top 10 industrial clusters.
\n"The beauty, vastness, harmony, richness, flavor and progress of Xinjiang constitute the core attraction of its cultural and tourism industry cluster," said Xu Ruijun, Party secretary of the region's department of culture and tourism.
\nToday, Xinjiang boasts 18 national 5A-rated tourist sites, ranking third nationwide, and 776 A-rated scenic spots, ranking fourth. It has also established numerous national-level cultural trade hubs, scenic areas, ski resorts, leisure streets, nighttime tourism zones, and demonstration areas for culture-tourism integration. New tourism products and business models are continuing to emerge.
\nWang Xiaoping, head of the Dolan Tribe Scenic Area in Awati county, invested in the development of the site 20 years ago and has overseen its construction and operation ever since.
\nThe Dolan Tribe Scenic Area, themed around Dolan folk culture and set against vast poplar forests, is a national 4A-rated site. Covering 553 hectares, it includes more than 333 hectares of representative poplar forests. With investments of 180 million yuan over the years, the area has become a key venue for showcasing Dolan culture and preserving intangible heritage through deep integration of culture and tourism.
\nThe "Dolan ancient village", crafted by Wang himself, features workshops for woodcraft, blacksmithing and pottery, preserving traditional skills while creating jobs for local residents. Today, the area employs more than 130 workers and hosts over 100 vendors selling handmade crafts and agricultural products, all benefiting from the booming tourism industry.
\nOfficial data show that in 2024, Xinjiang had more than 510,000 enterprises engaged in cultural, tourism and related industries, driving high-quality economic and social development.
\nXinjiang is not only an attractive destination for Chinese travelers but also an admired stop for international visitors.
\nRiding the wave of Belt and Road Initiative development, Xinjiang carried out 80 international cultural exchange and tourism promotion activities between 2022 and 2024, involving 1,906 participants.
\nThrough these efforts, Xinjiang showcased Chinese culture on the global stage while embracing international cultural elements. Events such as the China Xinjiang International Dance Festival and the China Xinjiang International Art Biennial were held, fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange.
\nIn 2024, Xinjiang welcomed 5.15 million international tourists, a year-on-year increase of 46 percent, generating $4.48 billion in revenue, up 174 percent. From January to April 2025, the region received 1.12 million international visits, a 7.67 percent increase year-on-year, with international tourism revenue reaching $1.07 billion, up 13.18 percent, according to official data.
\nliangkaiyan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n\nFrom snow-capped mountains to expansive grasslands, and from pristine lakes to desolate deserts, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has become a premier tourist destination with its stunning landscapes.
\nIn the 1950s, however, Xinjiang was a distant dream for most people, limited by its remote location and poor transportation. The region's vast distance and challenging travel conditions made it difficult for many to experience its natural beauty and rich culture firsthand.
\nOver the past 70 years, Xinjiang has undergone remarkable transformations, particularly in its cultural and tourism sectors, which have become strategic pillars for boosting local well-being and happiness.
\nThe development of Xinjiang's tourism industry has been closely linked with China's reform and opening-up policies. In 1978, the Xinjiang tourism bureau was established, and the region received fewer than 100 visitors that year — all of them international. It was not until the 1990s that domestic tourism began to steadily increase.
\nWu Feng, president of the Xinjiang Travel Agency Association, has been involved in the region's tourism industry for 38 years.
\nAt that time, Xinjiang had few tourist attractions and weak infrastructure, Wu recalled. There were primarily two routes: one covering Tianchi Lake, Nanshan Pasture and Turpan, and the other known as the "southern Xinjiang tour", which included Urumqi, Turpan, Kuqa, Korla, Aksu and Kashgar.
\n"In the 1990s, it would take at least an hour and a half to travel one way to Nanshan. Now, the same amount of time is enough for a round trip," Wu said.
\nBack then, it took three and a half hours to drive to Turpan, so all tour groups had to stay overnight. This changed in the early 2000s with the opening of the highway, which paved the way for more tourism routes, according to Wu.
\nIn recent years, Xinjiang has expanded its service facilities, including transportation, accommodation and dining. With more direct flight routes, interconnected highways, high-speed rail lines and dedicated tourist trains, an increasingly convenient transportation network has spurred rapid development in Urumqi and across the region.
\nOfficial data show that in 2024, Xinjiang received more than 300 million visits, with visitor spending reaching 359.54 billion yuan ($50.4 billion), marking year-on-year increases of 14 percent and 21 percent, respectively. In the first quarter of 2025, visits grew by 9.08 percent and spending by 12.58 percent year-on-year.
\nWith the implementation of a tourism-driven strategy, Xinjiang's cultural and tourism industries have flourished. Using the region's landscapes as a canvas and integrating culture with tourism, these industries have become key drivers of growth, ranking among Xinjiang's top 10 industrial clusters.
\n"The beauty, vastness, harmony, richness, flavor and progress of Xinjiang constitute the core attraction of its cultural and tourism industry cluster," said Xu Ruijun, Party secretary of the region's department of culture and tourism.
\nToday, Xinjiang boasts 18 national 5A-rated tourist sites, ranking third nationwide, and 776 A-rated scenic spots, ranking fourth. It has also established numerous national-level cultural trade hubs, scenic areas, ski resorts, leisure streets, nighttime tourism zones, and demonstration areas for culture-tourism integration. New tourism products and business models are continuing to emerge.
\nWang Xiaoping, head of the Dolan Tribe Scenic Area in Awati county, invested in the development of the site 20 years ago and has overseen its construction and operation ever since.
\nThe Dolan Tribe Scenic Area, themed around Dolan folk culture and set against vast poplar forests, is a national 4A-rated site. Covering 553 hectares, it includes more than 333 hectares of representative poplar forests. With investments of 180 million yuan over the years, the area has become a key venue for showcasing Dolan culture and preserving intangible heritage through deep integration of culture and tourism.
\nThe "Dolan ancient village", crafted by Wang himself, features workshops for woodcraft, blacksmithing and pottery, preserving traditional skills while creating jobs for local residents. Today, the area employs more than 130 workers and hosts over 100 vendors selling handmade crafts and agricultural products, all benefiting from the booming tourism industry.
\nOfficial data show that in 2024, Xinjiang had more than 510,000 enterprises engaged in cultural, tourism and related industries, driving high-quality economic and social development.
\nXinjiang is not only an attractive destination for Chinese travelers but also an admired stop for international visitors.
\nRiding the wave of Belt and Road Initiative development, Xinjiang carried out 80 international cultural exchange and tourism promotion activities between 2022 and 2024, involving 1,906 participants.
\nThrough these efforts, Xinjiang showcased Chinese culture on the global stage while embracing international cultural elements. Events such as the China Xinjiang International Dance Festival and the China Xinjiang International Art Biennial were held, fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange.
\nIn 2024, Xinjiang welcomed 5.15 million international tourists, a year-on-year increase of 46 percent, generating $4.48 billion in revenue, up 174 percent. From January to April 2025, the region received 1.12 million international visits, a 7.67 percent increase year-on-year, with international tourism revenue reaching $1.07 billion, up 13.18 percent, according to official data.
\nliangkaiyan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/026/20250924_025_02_74406.png\")
\nFrom snow-capped mountains to expansive grasslands, and from pristine lakes to desolate deserts, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has become a premier tourist destination with its stunning landscapes.
\nIn the 1950s, however, Xinjiang was a distant dream for most people, limited by its remote location and poor transportation. The region's vast distance and challenging travel conditions made it difficult for many to experience its natural beauty and rich culture firsthand.
\nOver the past 70 years, Xinjiang has undergone remarkable transformations, particularly in its cultural and tourism sectors, which have become strategic pillars for boosting local well-being and happiness.
\nThe development of Xinjiang's tourism industry has been closely linked with China's reform and opening-up policies. In 1978, the Xinjiang tourism bureau was established, and the region received fewer than 100 visitors that year — all of them international. It was not until the 1990s that domestic tourism began to steadily increase.
\nWu Feng, president of the Xinjiang Travel Agency Association, has been involved in the region's tourism industry for 38 years.
\nAt that time, Xinjiang had few tourist attractions and weak infrastructure, Wu recalled. There were primarily two routes: one covering Tianchi Lake, Nanshan Pasture and Turpan, and the other known as the "southern Xinjiang tour", which included Urumqi, Turpan, Kuqa, Korla, Aksu and Kashgar.
\n"In the 1990s, it would take at least an hour and a half to travel one way to Nanshan. Now, the same amount of time is enough for a round trip," Wu said.
\nBack then, it took three and a half hours to drive to Turpan, so all tour groups had to stay overnight. This changed in the early 2000s with the opening of the highway, which paved the way for more tourism routes, according to Wu.
\nIn recent years, Xinjiang has expanded its service facilities, including transportation, accommodation and dining. With more direct flight routes, interconnected highways, high-speed rail lines and dedicated tourist trains, an increasingly convenient transportation network has spurred rapid development in Urumqi and across the region.
\nOfficial data show that in 2024, Xinjiang received more than 300 million visits, with visitor spending reaching 359.54 billion yuan ($50.4 billion), marking year-on-year increases of 14 percent and 21 percent, respectively. In the first quarter of 2025, visits grew by 9.08 percent and spending by 12.58 percent year-on-year.
\nWith the implementation of a tourism-driven strategy, Xinjiang's cultural and tourism industries have flourished. Using the region's landscapes as a canvas and integrating culture with tourism, these industries have become key drivers of growth, ranking among Xinjiang's top 10 industrial clusters.
\n"The beauty, vastness, harmony, richness, flavor and progress of Xinjiang constitute the core attraction of its cultural and tourism industry cluster," said Xu Ruijun, Party secretary of the region's department of culture and tourism.
\nToday, Xinjiang boasts 18 national 5A-rated tourist sites, ranking third nationwide, and 776 A-rated scenic spots, ranking fourth. It has also established numerous national-level cultural trade hubs, scenic areas, ski resorts, leisure streets, nighttime tourism zones, and demonstration areas for culture-tourism integration. New tourism products and business models are continuing to emerge.
\nWang Xiaoping, head of the Dolan Tribe Scenic Area in Awati county, invested in the development of the site 20 years ago and has overseen its construction and operation ever since.
\nThe Dolan Tribe Scenic Area, themed around Dolan folk culture and set against vast poplar forests, is a national 4A-rated site. Covering 553 hectares, it includes more than 333 hectares of representative poplar forests. With investments of 180 million yuan over the years, the area has become a key venue for showcasing Dolan culture and preserving intangible heritage through deep integration of culture and tourism.
\nThe "Dolan ancient village", crafted by Wang himself, features workshops for woodcraft, blacksmithing and pottery, preserving traditional skills while creating jobs for local residents. Today, the area employs more than 130 workers and hosts over 100 vendors selling handmade crafts and agricultural products, all benefiting from the booming tourism industry.
\nOfficial data show that in 2024, Xinjiang had more than 510,000 enterprises engaged in cultural, tourism and related industries, driving high-quality economic and social development.
\nXinjiang is not only an attractive destination for Chinese travelers but also an admired stop for international visitors.
\nRiding the wave of Belt and Road Initiative development, Xinjiang carried out 80 international cultural exchange and tourism promotion activities between 2022 and 2024, involving 1,906 participants.
\nThrough these efforts, Xinjiang showcased Chinese culture on the global stage while embracing international cultural elements. Events such as the China Xinjiang International Dance Festival and the China Xinjiang International Art Biennial were held, fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange.
\nIn 2024, Xinjiang welcomed 5.15 million international tourists, a year-on-year increase of 46 percent, generating $4.48 billion in revenue, up 174 percent. From January to April 2025, the region received 1.12 million international visits, a 7.67 percent increase year-on-year, with international tourism revenue reaching $1.07 billion, up 13.18 percent, according to official data.
\nliangkaiyan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", @@ -11951,28 +11621,6 @@ "hash": "bb4f1b76cb019e4c15b8b79f4347d2da", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "027SPREAD - XINJIANG'S HORIZONS OPEN WIDE AS TOURISM GROWS AND DEVELOPMENT SURGES", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/027/20250924_025_02_74406.png\")
\nFrom snow-capped mountains to expansive grasslands, and from pristine lakes to desolate deserts, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has become a premier tourist destination with its stunning landscapes.
\nIn the 1950s, however, Xinjiang was a distant dream for most people, limited by its remote location and poor transportation. The region's vast distance and challenging travel conditions made it difficult for many to experience its natural beauty and rich culture firsthand.
\nOver the past 70 years, Xinjiang has undergone remarkable transformations, particularly in its cultural and tourism sectors, which have become strategic pillars for boosting local well-being and happiness.
\nThe development of Xinjiang's tourism industry has been closely linked with China's reform and opening-up policies. In 1978, the Xinjiang tourism bureau was established, and the region received fewer than 100 visitors that year — all of them international. It was not until the 1990s that domestic tourism began to steadily increase.
\nWu Feng, president of the Xinjiang Travel Agency Association, has been involved in the region's tourism industry for 38 years.
\nAt that time, Xinjiang had few tourist attractions and weak infrastructure, Wu recalled. There were primarily two routes: one covering Tianchi Lake, Nanshan Pasture and Turpan, and the other known as the "southern Xinjiang tour", which included Urumqi, Turpan, Kuqa, Korla, Aksu and Kashgar.
\n"In the 1990s, it would take at least an hour and a half to travel one way to Nanshan. Now, the same amount of time is enough for a round trip," Wu said.
\nBack then, it took three and a half hours to drive to Turpan, so all tour groups had to stay overnight. This changed in the early 2000s with the opening of the highway, which paved the way for more tourism routes, according to Wu.
\nIn recent years, Xinjiang has expanded its service facilities, including transportation, accommodation and dining. With more direct flight routes, interconnected highways, high-speed rail lines and dedicated tourist trains, an increasingly convenient transportation network has spurred rapid development in Urumqi and across the region.
\nOfficial data show that in 2024, Xinjiang received more than 300 million visits, with visitor spending reaching 359.54 billion yuan ($50.4 billion), marking year-on-year increases of 14 percent and 21 percent, respectively. In the first quarter of 2025, visits grew by 9.08 percent and spending by 12.58 percent year-on-year.
\nWith the implementation of a tourism-driven strategy, Xinjiang's cultural and tourism industries have flourished. Using the region's landscapes as a canvas and integrating culture with tourism, these industries have become key drivers of growth, ranking among Xinjiang's top 10 industrial clusters.
\n"The beauty, vastness, harmony, richness, flavor and progress of Xinjiang constitute the core attraction of its cultural and tourism industry cluster," said Xu Ruijun, Party secretary of the region's department of culture and tourism.
\nToday, Xinjiang boasts 18 national 5A-rated tourist sites, ranking third nationwide, and 776 A-rated scenic spots, ranking fourth. It has also established numerous national-level cultural trade hubs, scenic areas, ski resorts, leisure streets, nighttime tourism zones, and demonstration areas for culture-tourism integration. New tourism products and business models are continuing to emerge.
\nWang Xiaoping, head of the Dolan Tribe Scenic Area in Awati county, invested in the development of the site 20 years ago and has overseen its construction and operation ever since.
\nThe Dolan Tribe Scenic Area, themed around Dolan folk culture and set against vast poplar forests, is a national 4A-rated site. Covering 553 hectares, it includes more than 333 hectares of representative poplar forests. With investments of 180 million yuan over the years, the area has become a key venue for showcasing Dolan culture and preserving intangible heritage through deep integration of culture and tourism.
\nThe "Dolan ancient village", crafted by Wang himself, features workshops for woodcraft, blacksmithing and pottery, preserving traditional skills while creating jobs for local residents. Today, the area employs more than 130 workers and hosts over 100 vendors selling handmade crafts and agricultural products, all benefiting from the booming tourism industry.
\nOfficial data show that in 2024, Xinjiang had more than 510,000 enterprises engaged in cultural, tourism and related industries, driving high-quality economic and social development.
\nXinjiang is not only an attractive destination for Chinese travelers but also an admired stop for international visitors.
\nRiding the wave of Belt and Road Initiative development, Xinjiang carried out 80 international cultural exchange and tourism promotion activities between 2022 and 2024, involving 1,906 participants.
\nThrough these efforts, Xinjiang showcased Chinese culture on the global stage while embracing international cultural elements. Events such as the China Xinjiang International Dance Festival and the China Xinjiang International Art Biennial were held, fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange.
\nIn 2024, Xinjiang welcomed 5.15 million international tourists, a year-on-year increase of 46 percent, generating $4.48 billion in revenue, up 174 percent. From January to April 2025, the region received 1.12 million international visits, a 7.67 percent increase year-on-year, with international tourism revenue reaching $1.07 billion, up 13.18 percent, according to official data.
\nliangkaiyan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "content": "\nFrom snow-capped mountains to expansive grasslands, and from pristine lakes to desolate deserts, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has become a premier tourist destination with its stunning landscapes.
\nIn the 1950s, however, Xinjiang was a distant dream for most people, limited by its remote location and poor transportation. The region's vast distance and challenging travel conditions made it difficult for many to experience its natural beauty and rich culture firsthand.
\nOver the past 70 years, Xinjiang has undergone remarkable transformations, particularly in its cultural and tourism sectors, which have become strategic pillars for boosting local well-being and happiness.
\nThe development of Xinjiang's tourism industry has been closely linked with China's reform and opening-up policies. In 1978, the Xinjiang tourism bureau was established, and the region received fewer than 100 visitors that year — all of them international. It was not until the 1990s that domestic tourism began to steadily increase.
\nWu Feng, president of the Xinjiang Travel Agency Association, has been involved in the region's tourism industry for 38 years.
\nAt that time, Xinjiang had few tourist attractions and weak infrastructure, Wu recalled. There were primarily two routes: one covering Tianchi Lake, Nanshan Pasture and Turpan, and the other known as the "southern Xinjiang tour", which included Urumqi, Turpan, Kuqa, Korla, Aksu and Kashgar.
\n"In the 1990s, it would take at least an hour and a half to travel one way to Nanshan. Now, the same amount of time is enough for a round trip," Wu said.
\nBack then, it took three and a half hours to drive to Turpan, so all tour groups had to stay overnight. This changed in the early 2000s with the opening of the highway, which paved the way for more tourism routes, according to Wu.
\nIn recent years, Xinjiang has expanded its service facilities, including transportation, accommodation and dining. With more direct flight routes, interconnected highways, high-speed rail lines and dedicated tourist trains, an increasingly convenient transportation network has spurred rapid development in Urumqi and across the region.
\nOfficial data show that in 2024, Xinjiang received more than 300 million visits, with visitor spending reaching 359.54 billion yuan ($50.4 billion), marking year-on-year increases of 14 percent and 21 percent, respectively. In the first quarter of 2025, visits grew by 9.08 percent and spending by 12.58 percent year-on-year.
\nWith the implementation of a tourism-driven strategy, Xinjiang's cultural and tourism industries have flourished. Using the region's landscapes as a canvas and integrating culture with tourism, these industries have become key drivers of growth, ranking among Xinjiang's top 10 industrial clusters.
\n"The beauty, vastness, harmony, richness, flavor and progress of Xinjiang constitute the core attraction of its cultural and tourism industry cluster," said Xu Ruijun, Party secretary of the region's department of culture and tourism.
\nToday, Xinjiang boasts 18 national 5A-rated tourist sites, ranking third nationwide, and 776 A-rated scenic spots, ranking fourth. It has also established numerous national-level cultural trade hubs, scenic areas, ski resorts, leisure streets, nighttime tourism zones, and demonstration areas for culture-tourism integration. New tourism products and business models are continuing to emerge.
\nWang Xiaoping, head of the Dolan Tribe Scenic Area in Awati county, invested in the development of the site 20 years ago and has overseen its construction and operation ever since.
\nThe Dolan Tribe Scenic Area, themed around Dolan folk culture and set against vast poplar forests, is a national 4A-rated site. Covering 553 hectares, it includes more than 333 hectares of representative poplar forests. With investments of 180 million yuan over the years, the area has become a key venue for showcasing Dolan culture and preserving intangible heritage through deep integration of culture and tourism.
\nThe "Dolan ancient village", crafted by Wang himself, features workshops for woodcraft, blacksmithing and pottery, preserving traditional skills while creating jobs for local residents. Today, the area employs more than 130 workers and hosts over 100 vendors selling handmade crafts and agricultural products, all benefiting from the booming tourism industry.
\nOfficial data show that in 2024, Xinjiang had more than 510,000 enterprises engaged in cultural, tourism and related industries, driving high-quality economic and social development.
\nXinjiang is not only an attractive destination for Chinese travelers but also an admired stop for international visitors.
\nRiding the wave of Belt and Road Initiative development, Xinjiang carried out 80 international cultural exchange and tourism promotion activities between 2022 and 2024, involving 1,906 participants.
\nThrough these efforts, Xinjiang showcased Chinese culture on the global stage while embracing international cultural elements. Events such as the China Xinjiang International Dance Festival and the China Xinjiang International Art Biennial were held, fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange.
\nIn 2024, Xinjiang welcomed 5.15 million international tourists, a year-on-year increase of 46 percent, generating $4.48 billion in revenue, up 174 percent. From January to April 2025, the region received 1.12 million international visits, a 7.67 percent increase year-on-year, with international tourism revenue reaching $1.07 billion, up 13.18 percent, according to official data.
\nliangkaiyan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/24/content_027_68d31cf9ed50ccabe151a0ec.htm#027SPREAD", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:21:04 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "d2af62a01e7aff3c981bdebc6071b3e3", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "028SPREAD - XINJIANG'S HORIZONS OPEN WIDE AS TOURISM GROWS AND DEVELOPMENT SURGES", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-24/028/20250924_025_02_74406.png\")
\nFrom snow-capped mountains to expansive grasslands, and from pristine lakes to desolate deserts, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has become a premier tourist destination with its stunning landscapes.
\nIn the 1950s, however, Xinjiang was a distant dream for most people, limited by its remote location and poor transportation. The region's vast distance and challenging travel conditions made it difficult for many to experience its natural beauty and rich culture firsthand.
\nOver the past 70 years, Xinjiang has undergone remarkable transformations, particularly in its cultural and tourism sectors, which have become strategic pillars for boosting local well-being and happiness.
\nThe development of Xinjiang's tourism industry has been closely linked with China's reform and opening-up policies. In 1978, the Xinjiang tourism bureau was established, and the region received fewer than 100 visitors that year — all of them international. It was not until the 1990s that domestic tourism began to steadily increase.
\nWu Feng, president of the Xinjiang Travel Agency Association, has been involved in the region's tourism industry for 38 years.
\nAt that time, Xinjiang had few tourist attractions and weak infrastructure, Wu recalled. There were primarily two routes: one covering Tianchi Lake, Nanshan Pasture and Turpan, and the other known as the "southern Xinjiang tour", which included Urumqi, Turpan, Kuqa, Korla, Aksu and Kashgar.
\n"In the 1990s, it would take at least an hour and a half to travel one way to Nanshan. Now, the same amount of time is enough for a round trip," Wu said.
\nBack then, it took three and a half hours to drive to Turpan, so all tour groups had to stay overnight. This changed in the early 2000s with the opening of the highway, which paved the way for more tourism routes, according to Wu.
\nIn recent years, Xinjiang has expanded its service facilities, including transportation, accommodation and dining. With more direct flight routes, interconnected highways, high-speed rail lines and dedicated tourist trains, an increasingly convenient transportation network has spurred rapid development in Urumqi and across the region.
\nOfficial data show that in 2024, Xinjiang received more than 300 million visits, with visitor spending reaching 359.54 billion yuan ($50.4 billion), marking year-on-year increases of 14 percent and 21 percent, respectively. In the first quarter of 2025, visits grew by 9.08 percent and spending by 12.58 percent year-on-year.
\nWith the implementation of a tourism-driven strategy, Xinjiang's cultural and tourism industries have flourished. Using the region's landscapes as a canvas and integrating culture with tourism, these industries have become key drivers of growth, ranking among Xinjiang's top 10 industrial clusters.
\n"The beauty, vastness, harmony, richness, flavor and progress of Xinjiang constitute the core attraction of its cultural and tourism industry cluster," said Xu Ruijun, Party secretary of the region's department of culture and tourism.
\nToday, Xinjiang boasts 18 national 5A-rated tourist sites, ranking third nationwide, and 776 A-rated scenic spots, ranking fourth. It has also established numerous national-level cultural trade hubs, scenic areas, ski resorts, leisure streets, nighttime tourism zones, and demonstration areas for culture-tourism integration. New tourism products and business models are continuing to emerge.
\nWang Xiaoping, head of the Dolan Tribe Scenic Area in Awati county, invested in the development of the site 20 years ago and has overseen its construction and operation ever since.
\nThe Dolan Tribe Scenic Area, themed around Dolan folk culture and set against vast poplar forests, is a national 4A-rated site. Covering 553 hectares, it includes more than 333 hectares of representative poplar forests. With investments of 180 million yuan over the years, the area has become a key venue for showcasing Dolan culture and preserving intangible heritage through deep integration of culture and tourism.
\nThe "Dolan ancient village", crafted by Wang himself, features workshops for woodcraft, blacksmithing and pottery, preserving traditional skills while creating jobs for local residents. Today, the area employs more than 130 workers and hosts over 100 vendors selling handmade crafts and agricultural products, all benefiting from the booming tourism industry.
\nOfficial data show that in 2024, Xinjiang had more than 510,000 enterprises engaged in cultural, tourism and related industries, driving high-quality economic and social development.
\nXinjiang is not only an attractive destination for Chinese travelers but also an admired stop for international visitors.
\nRiding the wave of Belt and Road Initiative development, Xinjiang carried out 80 international cultural exchange and tourism promotion activities between 2022 and 2024, involving 1,906 participants.
\nThrough these efforts, Xinjiang showcased Chinese culture on the global stage while embracing international cultural elements. Events such as the China Xinjiang International Dance Festival and the China Xinjiang International Art Biennial were held, fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchange.
\nIn 2024, Xinjiang welcomed 5.15 million international tourists, a year-on-year increase of 46 percent, generating $4.48 billion in revenue, up 174 percent. From January to April 2025, the region received 1.12 million international visits, a 7.67 percent increase year-on-year, with international tourism revenue reaching $1.07 billion, up 13.18 percent, according to official data.
\nliangkaiyan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", @@ -11995,28 +11643,6 @@ "hash": "94fead887d2ca234a0320473c204881b", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "001FRONT - PREMIUM COTTON CROPS, PRICES UNRAVEL FALSE CLAIMS", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-23/001/20250923_002_01_12730.png\")
A cotton-harvesting machine operates in a field in Awat county, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, in October last year.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-23/001/20250923_002_01_47730.png\")
Farmers plant cotton in Awat in April.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-23/001/20250923_002_01_16730.png\")
Farmers plant cotton using a sowing machine in Awat county in April.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-23/001/20250923_002_01_27730.png\")
A truck is loaded with harvested cotton at a farm of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in September 2024.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-23/001/20250923_002_01_20730.png\")
A worker operates a highly-automated production line at a spinning company in Awat county in April.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-23/001/20250923_002_01_34730.png\")
A farmer uses a forklift to load harvested cotton in Aksu, Xinjiang, on Sept 18.
\nLi Fugang, a cotton farmer in Awat county, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, is looking forward to harvesting the crop he planted in April in about a month.
\nHe owns a 26.67-hectare plot in the county — renowned as the homeland of long-staple cotton — in southern Xinjiang's Aksu prefecture.
\n"It's going to be another bumper cotton harvest this year," the 50-year-old said. "Besides continuing to push for cotton yields, cotton farmers are more competitive in producing premium cotton as, since last year, we can receive extra incentives for producing premium cotton."
\nThe production of premium cotton will further enhance Xinjiang cotton's irreplaceable role in domestic and global textile markets, he added.
\n"Compared with cotton from top cotton-producing countries such as the United States and India, I am proud to say that China's cotton, especially that produced in Xinjiang, is the best in the world," Li said.
\nSince 2014, China has implemented a cotton target price subsidy policy in Xinjiang, which helps ensure stable incomes for growers even when cotton prices fluctuate. And as cotton yields have steadily increased in recent years, so have farmers' incomes, said Li.
\nWhen he started planting cotton in 2012, the yield was only about 300 kilograms per mu (0.067 hectare), he said. Last year, it reached around 450 to 500 kg per mu.
\nMeanwhile, with greater mechanization and the adoption of smart agricultural technologies, labor needs have been greatly reduced and the production cost has significantly dropped, he said.
\nLi started to use large-scale agricultural machinery in 2018, and mechanization had been fully adopted by cotton farmers around Xinjiang by about 2020, he said.
\n"With no exception, all farmers in Xinjiang now use autonomous agricultural machineries equipped with the Beidou satellite system to plant and harvest cotton. In fact, automated management covers the entire cotton growing cycle: from sowing and seedling monitoring to irrigation and plant protection," Li said.
\nGetting stronger
\nXinjiang produced about 5.69 million metric tons of cotton in 2024, representing 92.3 percent of the country's total output and securing its leading position as China's largest cotton producer for the 32nd year in a row, according to a white paper released on Friday by the State Council Information Office.
\nThe mechanization rate in plowing, planting and harvesting has reached 97 percent, said the document titled "CPC Guidelines for Governing Xinjiang in the New Era: Practice and Achievements".
\nXinjiang's cotton-growing area is projected to increase slightly from the 2.45 million hectares recorded last year, according to the regional government, reflecting the strong commitment of local farmers to the crop.
\nBut since 2021, some Western countries, especially the US, have been smearing Xinjiang's cotton industry with baseless claims on matters such as "forced labor". The US has even tried to crack down on businesses that source cotton products from Xinjiang by imposing a series of sanctions.
\nThese sanctions, however, have not dampened farmers' enthusiasm for cotton, which remains profitable, Li said.
\n"They've targeted Xinjiang's cotton industry just because it has become too strong as its output accounts for over one-fifth of the world's total. And the funny thing is the cotton price reached a record high in 2021, when the industry was first targeted because of the global market's high demand for Xinjiang cotton.
\n"You can barely see people in the fields during cultivation and harvesting anymore. So where do the claims of 'forced labor' come from?" Li said.
\nWang Tongren, director of the Agricultural Technology Promotion Center at the Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Awat county, said the county will ensure Xinjiang's cotton production remains strong by securing the size of the planting area of 93,333 hectares, which is particularly important when it is being targeted by the US.
\n"What makes us more confident is that Xinjiang's cotton industry has achieved full self-sufficiency and control, from planting to processing through technological innovation and industrial chain upgrades, particularly breaking foreign monopolies in cotton seed varieties and key equipment such as cotton pickers," Wang said. "The industry is only getting stronger."
\nImproved varieties
\nAt the laboratory of a seed company in Awat, Zhang Yuping was busy testing a new variety of cotton seeds developed for mechanized harvesting.
\n"The cotton farming mechanization process starts at the very beginning, namely with the development of seeds. Cotton grown from those seeds can reach just the right height, making it convenient for the machinery to pick," she said.
\n"You can see farmers use cotton seeds developed by different companies during sowing season. The competition is fierce, but it's good for Xinjiang's cotton industry."
\nThrough the wide uptake of large machines and by leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence-assisted breeding, biotechnology-based breeding and gene editing, agronomists and scientists are continuously developing and selecting more high-quality cotton seed varieties suitable for mechanical harvesting, Zhang said.
\nShe added that the challenges posed by traditional cotton varieties in mechanical harvesting include poor adaptability, fiber fragility and incompatible field management.
\n"We've achieved a technological breakthrough in mechanical harvesting varieties. After all, seeds are the 'microchips' of the modern agricultural industry," Zhang said.
\n"We've developed new varieties with compact plant structures, concentrated boll (capsule) opening and easy detachment of boll stalks, using molecular breeding and gene editing. These new varieties have significantly improved the efficiency of cotton pickers, with the one-time harvest rate surpassing 90 percent. And the new variety that I am working on can even perform better."
\nLuo Cheng, head of the research and development center at another seed company in Xinjiang, said the company sold more than 2,200 tons of cotton seeds domestically in 2024, all for mechanical harvesting, covering an area of 81,333.33 hectares.
\nThe company has developed six cotton varieties, all designed for mechanical harvesting. "Our seeds are also very popular abroad. Last year, our overseas sales reached 930 tons," Luo added.
\nHigher yields
\nTahir Peyzulla, a cotton farmer in Luntai county, Bayingolin Mongolian autonomous prefecture, said the impact of these new seeds is significant.
\n"Older varieties had loose plant structures and uneven maturity, making mechanical harvesting inefficient. But since we started using the new variety in 2016, the efficiency of mechanical harvesting has improved significantly," he said, adding that he expects a bumper cotton harvest of around 500 kg per mu this year.
\nNotably, traditional cotton seeds have not only seen technological breakthroughs, but the mechanized harvesting of long-staple cotton has also made great progress.
\nLong-staple cotton, highly valued for its longer fibers, is one of the world's finest cottons, with a silk-like luster and a cashmere-like feel. But mechanical harvesting of long-staple cotton used to be inefficient due to the low position of fruiting branches, necessitating manual picking.
\nMechanical harvesting requires at least a 15-cm node height of the first fruiting branch above the ground. The height of previous long-staple cotton varieties was only about 9 cm, explained Tian Liwen, a researcher at the Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
\nAfter nearly a decade of research by the academy's institute of economic crops, the "Xin 78" variety, developed for mechanized harvesting, achieved full mechanized harvesting in 2021 with a yield of 511.5 kg per mu. It has since become the leading variety of long-staple cotton in Xinjiang.
\nThe new variety has not only extended the node height to 17 cm, but also addressed other issues associated with old varieties — such as small cotton bolls, large leaves and poor response to defoliant sprays, that may affect output, Tian added.
\nTextile hub emerges
\nThe cotton industry has emerged as a pivotal cornerstone in elevating the livelihoods of local communities in Xinjiang. The region's cotton and textile industry generated an output value of 220 billion yuan ($30.93 billion) last year and provided employment for more than 1 million people, despite market disruptions caused by Western sanctions.
\nThanks to government efforts to leverage regional advantages and extend industrial chains, Xinjiang is rapidly emerging as a textile manufacturing hub. By the end of 2024, the region was home to 3,848 registered textile and garment companies, employing 970,000 people. The number of spindles rose from 7 million in early 2014 to 29.1 million in late 2024, and the local processing rate for cotton climbed from 11 percent to 42 percent.
\nGulgena Aniwar, a member of a human resources team of a company producing high-quality cotton yarn in Awat, said the company, which sources cotton locally, has expanded its manufacturing capacity by adding more production lines this year to meet surging market demand.
\n"Installing more production lines means we need to recruit more workers. And for the local people, it means more job opportunities and income at their doorstep," he said. "To compete with other textile companies, we have offered better pay and welfare packages to the workers."
\nGulgena laughed at the accusation of "forced labor" in Xinjiang's textile industry. "If any of that was true, then why do I have to keep posting recruitment advertisements online and on social media?"
\nMeanwhile, railway authorities in Xinjiang have increased transport capacity and launched dedicated cotton yarn train services this year.
\nAccording to China Railway Urumqi Group Co, to ensure efficient transportation of cotton textiles, two fixed train routes have been established in southern Xinjiang. One links Aksu and the Yangtze River Delta region on the eastern coast while the other connects Aksu and Kashgar with the Pearl River Delta region in the south.
\n"Through close cooperation with the Urumqi Railway Logistics Center, dedicated trains will further enhance the market competitiveness of Xinjiang's cotton textile products," said Li He, general manager of a supply chain management company.
\nXinhua contributed to this story.
\ncuijia@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "content": "A cotton-harvesting machine operates in a field in Awat county, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, in October last year.
\nFarmers plant cotton in Awat in April.
\nFarmers plant cotton using a sowing machine in Awat county in April.
\nA truck is loaded with harvested cotton at a farm of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in September 2024.
\nA worker operates a highly-automated production line at a spinning company in Awat county in April.
\nA farmer uses a forklift to load harvested cotton in Aksu, Xinjiang, on Sept 18.
\nLi Fugang, a cotton farmer in Awat county, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, is looking forward to harvesting the crop he planted in April in about a month.
\nHe owns a 26.67-hectare plot in the county — renowned as the homeland of long-staple cotton — in southern Xinjiang's Aksu prefecture.
\n"It's going to be another bumper cotton harvest this year," the 50-year-old said. "Besides continuing to push for cotton yields, cotton farmers are more competitive in producing premium cotton as, since last year, we can receive extra incentives for producing premium cotton."
\nThe production of premium cotton will further enhance Xinjiang cotton's irreplaceable role in domestic and global textile markets, he added.
\n"Compared with cotton from top cotton-producing countries such as the United States and India, I am proud to say that China's cotton, especially that produced in Xinjiang, is the best in the world," Li said.
\nSince 2014, China has implemented a cotton target price subsidy policy in Xinjiang, which helps ensure stable incomes for growers even when cotton prices fluctuate. And as cotton yields have steadily increased in recent years, so have farmers' incomes, said Li.
\nWhen he started planting cotton in 2012, the yield was only about 300 kilograms per mu (0.067 hectare), he said. Last year, it reached around 450 to 500 kg per mu.
\nMeanwhile, with greater mechanization and the adoption of smart agricultural technologies, labor needs have been greatly reduced and the production cost has significantly dropped, he said.
\nLi started to use large-scale agricultural machinery in 2018, and mechanization had been fully adopted by cotton farmers around Xinjiang by about 2020, he said.
\n"With no exception, all farmers in Xinjiang now use autonomous agricultural machineries equipped with the Beidou satellite system to plant and harvest cotton. In fact, automated management covers the entire cotton growing cycle: from sowing and seedling monitoring to irrigation and plant protection," Li said.
\nGetting stronger
\nXinjiang produced about 5.69 million metric tons of cotton in 2024, representing 92.3 percent of the country's total output and securing its leading position as China's largest cotton producer for the 32nd year in a row, according to a white paper released on Friday by the State Council Information Office.
\nThe mechanization rate in plowing, planting and harvesting has reached 97 percent, said the document titled "CPC Guidelines for Governing Xinjiang in the New Era: Practice and Achievements".
\nXinjiang's cotton-growing area is projected to increase slightly from the 2.45 million hectares recorded last year, according to the regional government, reflecting the strong commitment of local farmers to the crop.
\nBut since 2021, some Western countries, especially the US, have been smearing Xinjiang's cotton industry with baseless claims on matters such as "forced labor". The US has even tried to crack down on businesses that source cotton products from Xinjiang by imposing a series of sanctions.
\nThese sanctions, however, have not dampened farmers' enthusiasm for cotton, which remains profitable, Li said.
\n"They've targeted Xinjiang's cotton industry just because it has become too strong as its output accounts for over one-fifth of the world's total. And the funny thing is the cotton price reached a record high in 2021, when the industry was first targeted because of the global market's high demand for Xinjiang cotton.
\n"You can barely see people in the fields during cultivation and harvesting anymore. So where do the claims of 'forced labor' come from?" Li said.
\nWang Tongren, director of the Agricultural Technology Promotion Center at the Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Awat county, said the county will ensure Xinjiang's cotton production remains strong by securing the size of the planting area of 93,333 hectares, which is particularly important when it is being targeted by the US.
\n"What makes us more confident is that Xinjiang's cotton industry has achieved full self-sufficiency and control, from planting to processing through technological innovation and industrial chain upgrades, particularly breaking foreign monopolies in cotton seed varieties and key equipment such as cotton pickers," Wang said. "The industry is only getting stronger."
\nImproved varieties
\nAt the laboratory of a seed company in Awat, Zhang Yuping was busy testing a new variety of cotton seeds developed for mechanized harvesting.
\n"The cotton farming mechanization process starts at the very beginning, namely with the development of seeds. Cotton grown from those seeds can reach just the right height, making it convenient for the machinery to pick," she said.
\n"You can see farmers use cotton seeds developed by different companies during sowing season. The competition is fierce, but it's good for Xinjiang's cotton industry."
\nThrough the wide uptake of large machines and by leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence-assisted breeding, biotechnology-based breeding and gene editing, agronomists and scientists are continuously developing and selecting more high-quality cotton seed varieties suitable for mechanical harvesting, Zhang said.
\nShe added that the challenges posed by traditional cotton varieties in mechanical harvesting include poor adaptability, fiber fragility and incompatible field management.
\n"We've achieved a technological breakthrough in mechanical harvesting varieties. After all, seeds are the 'microchips' of the modern agricultural industry," Zhang said.
\n"We've developed new varieties with compact plant structures, concentrated boll (capsule) opening and easy detachment of boll stalks, using molecular breeding and gene editing. These new varieties have significantly improved the efficiency of cotton pickers, with the one-time harvest rate surpassing 90 percent. And the new variety that I am working on can even perform better."
\nLuo Cheng, head of the research and development center at another seed company in Xinjiang, said the company sold more than 2,200 tons of cotton seeds domestically in 2024, all for mechanical harvesting, covering an area of 81,333.33 hectares.
\nThe company has developed six cotton varieties, all designed for mechanical harvesting. "Our seeds are also very popular abroad. Last year, our overseas sales reached 930 tons," Luo added.
\nHigher yields
\nTahir Peyzulla, a cotton farmer in Luntai county, Bayingolin Mongolian autonomous prefecture, said the impact of these new seeds is significant.
\n"Older varieties had loose plant structures and uneven maturity, making mechanical harvesting inefficient. But since we started using the new variety in 2016, the efficiency of mechanical harvesting has improved significantly," he said, adding that he expects a bumper cotton harvest of around 500 kg per mu this year.
\nNotably, traditional cotton seeds have not only seen technological breakthroughs, but the mechanized harvesting of long-staple cotton has also made great progress.
\nLong-staple cotton, highly valued for its longer fibers, is one of the world's finest cottons, with a silk-like luster and a cashmere-like feel. But mechanical harvesting of long-staple cotton used to be inefficient due to the low position of fruiting branches, necessitating manual picking.
\nMechanical harvesting requires at least a 15-cm node height of the first fruiting branch above the ground. The height of previous long-staple cotton varieties was only about 9 cm, explained Tian Liwen, a researcher at the Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
\nAfter nearly a decade of research by the academy's institute of economic crops, the "Xin 78" variety, developed for mechanized harvesting, achieved full mechanized harvesting in 2021 with a yield of 511.5 kg per mu. It has since become the leading variety of long-staple cotton in Xinjiang.
\nThe new variety has not only extended the node height to 17 cm, but also addressed other issues associated with old varieties — such as small cotton bolls, large leaves and poor response to defoliant sprays, that may affect output, Tian added.
\nTextile hub emerges
\nThe cotton industry has emerged as a pivotal cornerstone in elevating the livelihoods of local communities in Xinjiang. The region's cotton and textile industry generated an output value of 220 billion yuan ($30.93 billion) last year and provided employment for more than 1 million people, despite market disruptions caused by Western sanctions.
\nThanks to government efforts to leverage regional advantages and extend industrial chains, Xinjiang is rapidly emerging as a textile manufacturing hub. By the end of 2024, the region was home to 3,848 registered textile and garment companies, employing 970,000 people. The number of spindles rose from 7 million in early 2014 to 29.1 million in late 2024, and the local processing rate for cotton climbed from 11 percent to 42 percent.
\nGulgena Aniwar, a member of a human resources team of a company producing high-quality cotton yarn in Awat, said the company, which sources cotton locally, has expanded its manufacturing capacity by adding more production lines this year to meet surging market demand.
\n"Installing more production lines means we need to recruit more workers. And for the local people, it means more job opportunities and income at their doorstep," he said. "To compete with other textile companies, we have offered better pay and welfare packages to the workers."
\nGulgena laughed at the accusation of "forced labor" in Xinjiang's textile industry. "If any of that was true, then why do I have to keep posting recruitment advertisements online and on social media?"
\nMeanwhile, railway authorities in Xinjiang have increased transport capacity and launched dedicated cotton yarn train services this year.
\nAccording to China Railway Urumqi Group Co, to ensure efficient transportation of cotton textiles, two fixed train routes have been established in southern Xinjiang. One links Aksu and the Yangtze River Delta region on the eastern coast while the other connects Aksu and Kashgar with the Pearl River Delta region in the south.
\n"Through close cooperation with the Urumqi Railway Logistics Center, dedicated trains will further enhance the market competitiveness of Xinjiang's cotton textile products," said Li He, general manager of a supply chain management company.
\nXinhua contributed to this story.
\ncuijia@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/23/content_001_68d1baf0ed50ccabe1519fbb.htm#001FRONT", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:21:06 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "1f2d46b73ce713da12ccea80adfe8364", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "001FRONT - Catapulting to success", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-23/001/20250923_001_04_111398.png\")
A J-35 fighter jet (top) completes an electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoff from aircraft carrier CNS Fujian, while a J-15T fighter jet (above) and a KJ-600 early-warning and control plane (left) make arrested landings on the same vessel. The Fujian is China's first domestically built aircraft carrier capable of using electromagnetic catapult and recovery systems. See story, page 3
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-23/004/20250923_004_01_64032.png\")
\nAs Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches, public transportation in Guangdong province — particularly train services — will be heavily disrupted starting on Tuesday, while most coastal cities in the province have suspended school, work, production and business operations.
\nRagasa, the 18th typhoon of 2025, was upgraded to a super typhoon by China's National Meteorological Center on Sunday morning, with the maximum wind force near the center reaching above level 17.
\nHigh-speed and regular trains within Guangdong will gradually be suspended from noon on Tuesday, with the range of suspensions adjusted systematically according to the storm's impact, China Railway Guangzhou Group said on Monday. All train services in the province will be suspended on Wednesday, it added. Services are expected to resume once the typhoon weakens, with schedules updated accordingly.
\nThe typhoon is forecast to make landfall along the coast from Huizhou in Guangdong to Wenchang in Hainan province between the early morning and afternoon on Wednesday. At that time, it is expected to be a strong typhoon or super typhoon, with winds of level 14 to 16, said Wang Haiping, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center.
\n"One of the main reasons for the high intensity of Typhoon Ragasa is that the ocean has been continuously heated throughout the summer, resulting in relatively high sea temperatures after autumn," Wang said. He added that typhoons in autumn often interact with cold air masses moving south, a process that lifts warm, moist air and can trigger extreme rainfall.
\n"The strong typhoon will bring heavy to torrential rainfall in South China's coastal area," Wang said at a Monday news conference.
\nAuthorities in Guangdong on Monday morning raised the province's wind emergency response to Level II, the second-highest in China's four-tier warning system.
\nLocal railway operators have adjusted train operations based on the storm's expected path. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport said it would adjust or cancel flights depending on conditions, while ferry service to Chuanshan Islands in Jiangmen will be suspended from Tuesday as nearby sea winds are expected to reach about 72 kilometers per hour.
\nAs of 10 am Monday, Guangdong's Maritime Safety Administration had relocated more than 10,000 coastal vessels to safe waters.
\nBy Monday afternoon, authorities in Zhuhai, Dongguan, Shanwei, Shenzhen, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Yangjiang and Huizhou had announced suspensions of classes, work, production, public transport and business operations on Tuesday and Wednesday.
\nIn Hong Kong, education officials said classes at all schools — including secondary schools, primary schools, special schools, kindergartens, kindergarten-cum-child care centers and evening schools — would be suspended for both days.
\nHong Kong International Airport will remain open during the storm, but a substantial number of flights are expected to be grounded, Airport Authority Hong Kong said. Wing Yeung Tak-wing, the authority's service delivery director, told reporters the airport would see a significant reduction in flights after 6 pm on Tuesday and a full-day impact on Wednesday. Passengers are urged to confirm flight statuses with airlines before heading to the airport.
\nIn Hainan, the Haikou Transportation and Port & Shipping Administration announced that Xinhai Port, Xiuying Port and Railway South Port will suspend operations beginning at 6 pm on Tuesday. The closures are expected to last until Thursday evening, depending on weather conditions.
\nAlthough the typhoon's eye may not make direct landfall on Hainan, the island's northern and western coasts are forecast to see winds of level 10 to 12, with torrential rain expected in Haikou and other regions.
\nWang Changxiao, director of the disaster prevention and mitigation department at the Emergency Management Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, urged residents to prepare sufficient emergency supplies such as bread and medicine.
\n"The super typhoon will become one of the most significant storms to hit the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area since 2018," Wang said. "While staying at home, residents should secure doors and windows and have sufficient emergency supplies ready."
\nqiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn
\n\nAs Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches, public transportation in Guangdong province — particularly train services — will be heavily disrupted starting on Tuesday, while most coastal cities in the province have suspended school, work, production and business operations.
\nRagasa, the 18th typhoon of 2025, was upgraded to a super typhoon by China's National Meteorological Center on Sunday morning, with the maximum wind force near the center reaching above level 17.
\nHigh-speed and regular trains within Guangdong will gradually be suspended from noon on Tuesday, with the range of suspensions adjusted systematically according to the storm's impact, China Railway Guangzhou Group said on Monday. All train services in the province will be suspended on Wednesday, it added. Services are expected to resume once the typhoon weakens, with schedules updated accordingly.
\nThe typhoon is forecast to make landfall along the coast from Huizhou in Guangdong to Wenchang in Hainan province between the early morning and afternoon on Wednesday. At that time, it is expected to be a strong typhoon or super typhoon, with winds of level 14 to 16, said Wang Haiping, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center.
\n"One of the main reasons for the high intensity of Typhoon Ragasa is that the ocean has been continuously heated throughout the summer, resulting in relatively high sea temperatures after autumn," Wang said. He added that typhoons in autumn often interact with cold air masses moving south, a process that lifts warm, moist air and can trigger extreme rainfall.
\n"The strong typhoon will bring heavy to torrential rainfall in South China's coastal area," Wang said at a Monday news conference.
\nAuthorities in Guangdong on Monday morning raised the province's wind emergency response to Level II, the second-highest in China's four-tier warning system.
\nLocal railway operators have adjusted train operations based on the storm's expected path. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport said it would adjust or cancel flights depending on conditions, while ferry service to Chuanshan Islands in Jiangmen will be suspended from Tuesday as nearby sea winds are expected to reach about 72 kilometers per hour.
\nAs of 10 am Monday, Guangdong's Maritime Safety Administration had relocated more than 10,000 coastal vessels to safe waters.
\nBy Monday afternoon, authorities in Zhuhai, Dongguan, Shanwei, Shenzhen, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Yangjiang and Huizhou had announced suspensions of classes, work, production, public transport and business operations on Tuesday and Wednesday.
\nIn Hong Kong, education officials said classes at all schools — including secondary schools, primary schools, special schools, kindergartens, kindergarten-cum-child care centers and evening schools — would be suspended for both days.
\nHong Kong International Airport will remain open during the storm, but a substantial number of flights are expected to be grounded, Airport Authority Hong Kong said. Wing Yeung Tak-wing, the authority's service delivery director, told reporters the airport would see a significant reduction in flights after 6 pm on Tuesday and a full-day impact on Wednesday. Passengers are urged to confirm flight statuses with airlines before heading to the airport.
\nIn Hainan, the Haikou Transportation and Port & Shipping Administration announced that Xinhai Port, Xiuying Port and Railway South Port will suspend operations beginning at 6 pm on Tuesday. The closures are expected to last until Thursday evening, depending on weather conditions.
\nAlthough the typhoon's eye may not make direct landfall on Hainan, the island's northern and western coasts are forecast to see winds of level 10 to 12, with torrential rain expected in Haikou and other regions.
\nWang Changxiao, director of the disaster prevention and mitigation department at the Emergency Management Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, urged residents to prepare sufficient emergency supplies such as bread and medicine.
\n"The super typhoon will become one of the most significant storms to hit the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area since 2018," Wang said. "While staying at home, residents should secure doors and windows and have sufficient emergency supplies ready."
\nqiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-23/004/20250923_004_03_16032.png\")
Chang Wei-yin (right) provides professional guidance to a local farmer.
\nFujian province, with its geographical proximity and similar climate to Taiwan, has become a magnet for individuals from the island seeking opportunities in the agriculture and forestry sectors. The region's progressive policies and expansive market further enhance its appeal.
\nUnder policies promoting cross-Strait integration, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University has taken a pioneering step by opening full-time faculty positions to Taiwan professionals. Among those who have embraced this opportunity is Chang Wei-yin, who moved from Taiwan to the provincial capital of Fuzhou in 2018. He now serves as an associate professor and the director of the Cross-Strait Research Center for Forest Therapy and Environmental Education at the university.
\nChang has introduced Taiwan's well-developed forest therapy concepts to the university in Fujian, integrating forestry, psychology, health and physical education into the curriculum. This initiative led to the creation of the mainland's first undergraduate class in forest therapy. Additionally, he has established research and teaching practice bases in the province's grassroots areas of Fuzhou and Sanming.
\nChang said that his initial attraction to the job was not only its proximity to Taiwan; more importantly, the mainland's supportive policies for natural education industries offered promising prospects.
\n"As the living standards of mainland residents improve, they yearn for a higher quality of life and a closer connection to nature," he said. "Natural education guides people to adopt lifestyles and concepts that are more environmentally friendly and ecologically sustainable."
\nChen Xuanyang, director of the Cross-Strait Agricultural Technology Cooperation Center in FAFU, said the university plays a pioneering role in cross-Strait agricultural cooperation, and the center has become a crucial platform for early exchanges since its establishment in 2008.
\nThe center has hosted nearly 100 experts from 32 Taiwan institutions. It has introduced more than 40 high-quality new varieties of grains and vegetables, as well as five breakthrough technologies, fostering cross-Strait agricultural industry integration.
\n"Popular fruits such as mangoes, wax apples and guavas now available on the market are mainly varieties introduced from Taiwan and adapted to thrive in Fujian," Chen said. "Taiwan's head start in new variety research, combined with the similar ecological environments across the Strait, allows these seeds to take root in Fujian's soil."
\nCross-Strait cooperation in agricultural and forestry academic exchanges and talent cultivation remains robust, including conferences and publications, he said.
\n"With the mainland's vast market in mind, Fujian has become a frontier for Taiwan farmers venturing into entrepreneurship," Chen added.
\nIn Fujian, various Taiwan farmer entrepreneurship parks are flourishing, introducing Taiwan specialty agricultural products and processing management techniques in areas including orchids, tea and fruits.
\nIn December, Fujian was approved to establish eight additional entrepreneurship parks, further solidifying its role as a hub for cross-Strait agricultural collaboration.
\nContact the writers at zhangyi1@chinadaily.com.cn
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-23/004/20250923_004_05_39032.png\")
Visitors pose for photos in front of the giant flower basket themed "Blessings to the Motherland", at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, on Monday. Standing 18 meters tall, the installation contains flowers and peace doves to express hopes for national prosperity and world peace.
\n", - "content": "Visitors pose for photos in front of the giant flower basket themed "Blessings to the Motherland", at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, on Monday. Standing 18 meters tall, the installation contains flowers and peace doves to express hopes for national prosperity and world peace.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/23/content_004_68d1bb27ed50ccabe1519fca.htm#004CHINA", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:21:06 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "3956b3f6dc214faab00a1db6b263c68a", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "005CHINA - AVIC alters drone to aid sea rescues", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-23/005/20250923_005_01_38256.png\")
A mockup of Wing Loong 10H is on display.
\nAviation Industry Corp of China, the nation's dominant aircraft maker, has modified one of its unmanned aircraft models into a platform capable of facilitating maritime search and rescue operations.
\nThe Wing Loong 10H — developed based on the Wing Loong 10 high-altitude, high-speed reconnaissance drone — is capable of conducting rapid search missions over coastal waters, according to designers at AVIC Chengdu Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System.
\nPowered by two turbofan engines, the unmanned jet can quickly reach designated areas.
\nDesigners said it is equipped with a high-definition electro-optical pod, a communication signal relay pod, a signal search and positioning pod, and a meteorological sonde pod. It can also be fitted with other rescue equipment in accordance with customer needs.
\nThe high-definition electro-optical pod can detect targets in distress at sea from a long distance in the air, and transmit real-time images back to ground controllers, providing additional information for decision-making. The signal search and positioning pod can quickly determine the location of stranded personnel and ships, while the communication signal relay pod can continuously provide high-bandwidth communication for stranded personnel and ships. The meteorological sonde pod can accurately detect and analyze the weather above sea surfaces, providing meteorological support for rescue operations.
\nIn addition, the Wing Loong 10H can carry an emergency rescue airdrop buoyant pod to deliver and retrieve urgently needed materials and equipment for those in distress, providing valuable time for subsequent rescue operations.
\nA large mockup of the pilotless jet has been on display at the AVIC hall at the 2025 aviation open-day activities of the People's Liberation Army Air Force, which began on Friday and concludes on Tuesday in Changchun, capital of Jilin province.
\nAccording to specs provided by AVIC, the Wing Loong 10H is 9.9 meters long and 3.7 meters tall, with a wingspan of 17.8 meters.
\nThe drone has a maximum takeoff weight of 3.5 metric tons and a top speed of 550 kilometers per hour. It has a maximum operational altitude of 11 km and can carry up to 400 kilograms of mission payloads.
\nWu Peixin, an aviation industry observer, said the advantages of drones in maritime search and rescue tasks include short preparation time, long stays over designated places, no pilot-safety concerns and good cost-effectiveness.
\n"Compared with manned planes, drones are cheaper and expendable, and don't need rest time, which means you can deploy them in bad weather or tough environments without having to worry about operators' safety. They are more suitable for operations such as signal relays and meteorological measurements," he explained.
\nBefore the Wing Loong 10H, AVIC had built several civilian models based on the Wing Loong series armed drones to serve emergency-response, communication relay, weather forecasting and other public service operations.
\nContact the writers at zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-09-23/005/20250923_005_03_18256.png\")
People view audiovisual materials of flora and fauna at an exhibition during the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Monday.
\nAmid increasing global challenges, experts from around the world gathered on Monday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, to discuss environmental and biodiversity conservation, highlighting the key roles of international cooperation and technological innovation.
\nAddressing the opening ceremony of the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang called for strengthened global cooperation on biosphere conservation.
\nSince the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, Ding said, China has achieved "remarkable progress" in ecological protection and green development. China has also actively contributed to global environmental and climate governance, playing a key role as a participant, contributor and leader in international ecological efforts.
\nTo address global environmental challenges, Ding urged countries to strengthen coordination and cooperation, increase investment and encourage participation from governments, enterprises and the public. He also called for enhanced scientific and technological support, the sharing of research outcomes, and efforts to bridge knowledge gaps between countries and regions.
\nDing highlighted the importance of biosphere reserves in promoting harmony between humans and nature and fostering coordinated progress between economic growth and environmental protection.
\nThe congress, which is convened by UNESCO every 10 years, aims to evaluate progress, share experiences, and set future directions for the Man and the Biosphere Programme.
\nLatifa Yaakoubi, chair of the International Coordinating Council of the MAB Programme, said countries around the world are now facing a series of interconnected crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. The impacts of these crises are intensifying, affecting everyone and threatening the foundations of socioeconomic systems.
\nYaakoubi said the goal of the MAB Programme, established in 1971, is to enhance understanding of the connections between humanity and nature. This understanding is crucial for changing behaviors and building a more sustainable future.
\nThe program can bridge global ideals with local and regional actions, align national agendas with international ones, and fulfill sustainability commitments at local, national and international levels, she said.
\nAudrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, echoed Yaakoubi's comments, adding that ecological multilateralism is central to UNESCO's work.
\nThe World Network of Biosphere Reserves now includes 759 biosphere reserves across 136 countries, which Azoulay said demonstrates "concrete multilateralism".
\nAzoulay also highlighted an island watch program in Mauritius, where local communities are becoming observers and actively involved in monitoring environmental changes.
\n"Gaining a better understanding of the living world also means raising awareness of indigenous knowledge and integrating it better into our management policies," Azoulay said, stressing the importance of open science and international cooperation.
\nHou Jianguo, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said new technologies, including artificial intelligence and biotechnology, have created favorable conditions for collective efforts to tackle global ecological and environmental challenges.
\n"The establishment and development of biosphere reserves not only provide important application scenarios for the practical implementation of new theories, technologies and products, but also serve as an important platform for countries to jointly strengthen ecological conservation efforts and cooperation, thereby achieving common sustainable development," Hou said.
\nHe emphasized the importance of deepening technological communication and cooperation to empower the construction of biosphere reserves by leveraging the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, universities and research institutions. This collaboration should focus on key areas such as ecological restoration, biodiversity protection, and green and low-carbon development, providing more effective solutions.
\n"We should strengthen the co-construction and sharing of foundational capability building," he said, adding that a big data platform should be built to enhance exchanges and cooperation in data sharing and talent cultivation, thereby establishing an intelligent, integrated ecosystem research and monitoring network.
\nHe also called for greater attention to the challenges faced by developing countries in balancing socioeconomic development with ecological and environmental protection, emphasizing the need to provide them with tailored solutions.
\nlimenghan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "content": "People view audiovisual materials of flora and fauna at an exhibition during the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Monday.
\nAmid increasing global challenges, experts from around the world gathered on Monday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, to discuss environmental and biodiversity conservation, highlighting the key roles of international cooperation and technological innovation.
\nAddressing the opening ceremony of the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang called for strengthened global cooperation on biosphere conservation.
\nSince the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, Ding said, China has achieved "remarkable progress" in ecological protection and green development. China has also actively contributed to global environmental and climate governance, playing a key role as a participant, contributor and leader in international ecological efforts.
\nTo address global environmental challenges, Ding urged countries to strengthen coordination and cooperation, increase investment and encourage participation from governments, enterprises and the public. He also called for enhanced scientific and technological support, the sharing of research outcomes, and efforts to bridge knowledge gaps between countries and regions.
\nDing highlighted the importance of biosphere reserves in promoting harmony between humans and nature and fostering coordinated progress between economic growth and environmental protection.
\nThe congress, which is convened by UNESCO every 10 years, aims to evaluate progress, share experiences, and set future directions for the Man and the Biosphere Programme.
\nLatifa Yaakoubi, chair of the International Coordinating Council of the MAB Programme, said countries around the world are now facing a series of interconnected crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. The impacts of these crises are intensifying, affecting everyone and threatening the foundations of socioeconomic systems.
\nYaakoubi said the goal of the MAB Programme, established in 1971, is to enhance understanding of the connections between humanity and nature. This understanding is crucial for changing behaviors and building a more sustainable future.
\nThe program can bridge global ideals with local and regional actions, align national agendas with international ones, and fulfill sustainability commitments at local, national and international levels, she said.
\nAudrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, echoed Yaakoubi's comments, adding that ecological multilateralism is central to UNESCO's work.
\nThe World Network of Biosphere Reserves now includes 759 biosphere reserves across 136 countries, which Azoulay said demonstrates "concrete multilateralism".
\nAzoulay also highlighted an island watch program in Mauritius, where local communities are becoming observers and actively involved in monitoring environmental changes.
\n"Gaining a better understanding of the living world also means raising awareness of indigenous knowledge and integrating it better into our management policies," Azoulay said, stressing the importance of open science and international cooperation.
\nHou Jianguo, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said new technologies, including artificial intelligence and biotechnology, have created favorable conditions for collective efforts to tackle global ecological and environmental challenges.
\n"The establishment and development of biosphere reserves not only provide important application scenarios for the practical implementation of new theories, technologies and products, but also serve as an important platform for countries to jointly strengthen ecological conservation efforts and cooperation, thereby achieving common sustainable development," Hou said.
\nHe emphasized the importance of deepening technological communication and cooperation to empower the construction of biosphere reserves by leveraging the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, universities and research institutions. This collaboration should focus on key areas such as ecological restoration, biodiversity protection, and green and low-carbon development, providing more effective solutions.
\n"We should strengthen the co-construction and sharing of foundational capability building," he said, adding that a big data platform should be built to enhance exchanges and cooperation in data sharing and talent cultivation, thereby establishing an intelligent, integrated ecosystem research and monitoring network.
\nHe also called for greater attention to the challenges faced by developing countries in balancing socioeconomic development with ecological and environmental protection, emphasizing the need to provide them with tailored solutions.
\nlimenghan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-09/23/content_005_68d1bb39ed50ccabe1519fce.htm#005CHINA", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Tue, 23 Sep 2025 00:21:06 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "003c0c25ce0220a5412d6df0158f7cb8", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "005CHINA - UNESCO institute inaugurated in Shanghai", "description": "The UNESCO International Institute for STEM Education was officially inaugurated in Shanghai on Sunday, marking the first establishment of a UNESCO Category 1 Institute in China.
\nIn November 2023, the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference unanimously adopted a resolution to establish the Shanghai institute. It is the 10th Category 1 Institute globally and the first outside Europe and North America.
\nThe institute's functions include promoting education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics across all stages from early childhood to adulthood, with a focus on providing inclusive, equitable, relevant and high-quality STEM education for all.
\nMinister of Education Huai Jinpeng welcomed the official establishment of the institute. He said it is the first Category 1 Institute jointly established by China and UNESCO, calling it a major milestone in cooperation and the result of joint efforts between China and UNESCO member states.
\nChina is committed to fulfilling its promises to the international community, Huai said, adding that the country will work with others to foster innovation and support the institute as a source of advanced STEM concepts, a testing ground for educational ideas and an international platform for promoting educational transformation, technological innovation and sustainable development.
\nShanghai Mayor Gong Zheng said the city will take the establishment of the institute as an opportunity to strengthen the cultivation of sci-tech talent, enhance public scientific literacy, advance high-level opening-up in education and accelerate efforts to build Shanghai into a hub for international STEM education development.
\nShanghai will fully support the institute and contribute to global educational reform, innovation and the realization of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, he said.
\nUNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said Shanghai, with its concentration of knowledge, scientific innovation and historical heritage, provides a first-class venue for the institute.
\nAzoulay said the establishment of a Category 1 Institute in Shanghai carries a broad vision and extraordinary significance. She said the institute will promote STEM fields, advance global educational equity and help countries address shared challenges.
\nEven before the resolution for the new institute, the UNESCO Teacher Education Center, a Category 2 Institute at Shanghai Normal University since 2021, has been supporting global STEM education.
\nIn 2022, the university and UNESCO launched the "Go to Global South: Shanghai International STEM Education Volunteer Project", which aims to address urgent educational challenges in the Global South by offering training to teachers. It has trained more than 600 potential and current teachers so far.
\nContact the writers at zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",