1993 年牛津大学通过 DNA 比对，确认全球栽培苹果（Malus domestica）60%以上基因来自天山野苹果（Malus sieversii，或称中亚野苹果），其余来自欧洲野苹果（Malus sylvestris）和中亚其他野生种(主要是 Malus orientalis 东方苹果，或称高加索野苹果)。
1993 年牛津大学通过 DNA 比对，确认全球栽培苹果（Malus domestica）60%以上基因来自天山野苹果（Malus sieversii，或称中亚野苹果），其余来自欧洲野苹果（Malus sylvestris）和中亚其他野生种(主要是 Malus orientalis 东方苹果，或称高加索野苹果)。
2Scaling and mechanics of carnivoran footpads reveal the principles of footpad design,\" Kai-Jung Chi and V. Louise Roth, Journal of the Royal Society Interface.
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3Humphries, Stuart; Bonser, Richard H. C.; Witton, Mark P; Martill, David M (2007). Did pterosaurs feed by skimming? Physical modelling and anatomical evaluation of an unusual feeding method
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4Witton, Mark P.; Naish, Darren (2008). A Reappraisal of azhdarchid pterosaur functional morphology and paleoecology
A worker uses equipment at the workshop of Anhui Shengfang Machinery Manufacturing Co in Huaibei, Anhui province, on Monday. China's manufacturing sector softened slightly in July due to seasonal factors, but underlying growth momentum remained resilient, with emerging industries gaining traction and business confidence continuing to improve. See story, page 3
A worker uses equipment at the workshop of Anhui Shengfang Machinery Manufacturing Co in Huaibei, Anhui province, on Monday. China's manufacturing sector softened slightly in July due to seasonal factors, but underlying growth momentum remained resilient, with emerging industries gaining traction and business confidence continuing to improve. See story, page 3
Rescuers transport supplies to villages where roads were damaged by recent downpours in Beijing's Miyun district on Wednesday.
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Torrential rainfall in Beijing and its neighboring areas since last week resulted in more than 60 deaths, including 31 residents of an elderly care center in the capital's Miyun district, while over 30 were missing as of Thursday, according to local authorities.
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Intensive relief efforts are underway in affected districts of Beijing and Tianjin and in Hebei province, with the maximum focus on repairing damaged infrastructure, strengthening flood defenses and enhancing disaster preparedness.
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Flash floods triggered by the Qingshui River early on Monday sent water gushing into Taishitun town in Miyun, trapping residents and attendants at the elderly care center, according to officials who held a news briefing on Thursday.
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The water in the river surged, reaching a maximum flow rate of 2,800 cubic meters per second, which was 1,500 times the usual flow rate. As the level of floodwaters quickly rose, rescue teams couldn't access the elderly care facility until late morning on Monday.
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Of the 69 residents and eight staff members trapped inside, multiple fatalities were later confirmed, said Yu Weiguo, Party secretary of Miyun.
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While more than 16,000 people from 205 high-risk villages were promptly evacuated in response to weather alerts, the area where the elderly care center is located was considered safe and not included in the evacuation plan, Yu said at the briefing.
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"This shows there were gaps in our preparedness," he said. "These elderly people were around the same age as my parents. We are very saddened and deeply grieved."
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Yu added that disaster response will be further strengthened in the future, especially in cases involving vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and individuals with disabilities.
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Officials and attendees at the news conference observed a moment of silence to mourn the flood victims.
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Over 300,000 people have been affected and more than 24,000 homes damaged in Beijing since heavy rains started on July 23, with Miyun, Yanqing, Huairou and Pinggu districts among the hardest hit. The death toll in the city reached 44, while nine people were missing as of Thursday.
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Xia Linmao, executive vice-mayor of Beijing, said at the news conference that more than 104,000 people were evacuated and over 5,400 who were trapped or missing rescued.
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Military and emergency response forces were swiftly mobilized under a joint central-local coordination mechanism, he said, adding that more than 6,000 soldiers and firefighters, as well as personnel from State-owned enterprises, were deployed alongside heavy machinery to assist in rescue and relief efforts.
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Authorities have prioritized the safety of key infrastructure, ramping up inspections of dams and river embankments.
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In Miyun, police have been stationed at both ends of 64 bridges along the Miyun Reservoir's discharge channel. Controlled water discharge from the reservoir continued on Thursday, with real-time monitoring and adjustments made to manage upstream inflows and protect downstream communities.
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Rescue operations are underway, while officials are assessing further risks and strengthening flood defenses, Xia said.
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"This disaster has caused many casualties and heavy losses, and we feel deep sorrow and a strong sense of responsibility," he said, adding that authorities will learn from the experience and improve disaster prevention, mitigation and relief efforts to better protect the people. "We must speed up repairing damaged houses to ensure people can return home soon."
\n
Beijing is also accelerating the restoration of damaged roads, power and water supplies, and communication infrastructure, aiming to complete all work by Saturday, Xia said.
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Of the 424 rural roads cut off due to the rains, 364 have been reopened. "We aim to restore all main roads by Thursday. All affected villages now have emergency water supplies," he added.
\n
To prevent secondary disasters, Beijing plans to conduct thorough inspections of affected mountainous areas and other critical sites. The environmental clean-up will be strengthened to prevent outbreaks of diseases in the aftermath of the floods.
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In neighboring Hebei province, which was also hit by severe downpours, flash floods and landslides, resulting in 18 deaths and 24 people unaccounted for as of Thursday, all-out relief and rescue efforts are underway.
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Across Hebei, 406 blocked road sections have been cleared to facilitate rescue and relief operations. In places that were hardest hit, such as Xinglong county in Chengde, roads to affected villages were reopened by Thursday, as emergency responders cleared debris overnight.
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In Luanping county, also in Chengde, all four bridges leading to landslide-hit Nantaizi Xigou village were repaired and reopened by Wednesday night. Additionally, all telecom services within 3 kilometers of Liudaogou village in Xinglong were resumed.
China's marriage rate continued to decline last year, reflecting both a shrinking pool of eligible partners and changing views on marriage, an expert said, calling for stronger measures to encourage unions.
\n
Registrations of married couples fell to about 6.11 million in 2024, a drop of 20.5 percent from the previous year, according to the 2024 Statistical Bulletin on the Development of Civil Affairs, released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The figure is less than half the number recorded in 2014.
\n
The bulletin also said the marriage rate stood at 4.3 per 1,000 people in 2024, down 1.1 points year-on-year and marking the lowest since 2020.
\n
Jiang Quanbao, a professor at the School of Labor Economics at the Capital University of Economics and Business, said the decline in the overall population is contributing to a smaller marriage-age demographic.
\n
"Also, today, the idea of marrying late or not marrying at all is becoming more accepted among young people," he said. "The trend of delaying marriage is on the rise, resulting in a lower marriage rate."
\n
About 4.29 million people age 25 to 29 registered marriages last year, a sharp decrease from the 5.83 million in 2023.
\n
"As the Chinese hold the belief of establishing a career before starting a family, economic pressure on young people is hindering the prospect of marriage," Jiang said. "They face both academic pressure — especially as more young women attain higher levels of education — and challenges securing employment."
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Local governments have introduced a range of measures to promote marriage, including extended marriage leave and financial incentives.
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Since 2021, for example, Henan province has allowed newlyweds an additional 18 days of marriage leave on top of the three-day national allowance. In Lyuliang, Shanxi province, first-time couples in which the woman is 35 or younger have been eligible for a 1,500 yuan ($208) cash reward since Jan 1.
\n
In March, Zhejiang province issued a notice encouraging local authorities to offer incentives such as red packets and shopping vouchers to eligible couples.
\n
Authorities have also moved to streamline the registration process. Revised marriage registration regulations that took effect on May 10 removed the requirement for household registration books and eliminated fees for marriage certificates.
\n
Jiang said further relief from economic burdens is needed, particularly for young people who want to buy property before getting married.
\n
"It is good to see that the government has taken seriously the need to reduce costs associated with marriage, such as traditional practices like dowries in some regions," he added.
\n
lihongyang@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
China's marriage rate continued to decline last year, reflecting both a shrinking pool of eligible partners and changing views on marriage, an expert said, calling for stronger measures to encourage unions.
\n
Registrations of married couples fell to about 6.11 million in 2024, a drop of 20.5 percent from the previous year, according to the 2024 Statistical Bulletin on the Development of Civil Affairs, released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The figure is less than half the number recorded in 2014.
\n
The bulletin also said the marriage rate stood at 4.3 per 1,000 people in 2024, down 1.1 points year-on-year and marking the lowest since 2020.
\n
Jiang Quanbao, a professor at the School of Labor Economics at the Capital University of Economics and Business, said the decline in the overall population is contributing to a smaller marriage-age demographic.
\n
"Also, today, the idea of marrying late or not marrying at all is becoming more accepted among young people," he said. "The trend of delaying marriage is on the rise, resulting in a lower marriage rate."
\n
About 4.29 million people age 25 to 29 registered marriages last year, a sharp decrease from the 5.83 million in 2023.
\n
"As the Chinese hold the belief of establishing a career before starting a family, economic pressure on young people is hindering the prospect of marriage," Jiang said. "They face both academic pressure — especially as more young women attain higher levels of education — and challenges securing employment."
\n
Local governments have introduced a range of measures to promote marriage, including extended marriage leave and financial incentives.
\n
Since 2021, for example, Henan province has allowed newlyweds an additional 18 days of marriage leave on top of the three-day national allowance. In Lyuliang, Shanxi province, first-time couples in which the woman is 35 or younger have been eligible for a 1,500 yuan ($208) cash reward since Jan 1.
\n
In March, Zhejiang province issued a notice encouraging local authorities to offer incentives such as red packets and shopping vouchers to eligible couples.
\n
Authorities have also moved to streamline the registration process. Revised marriage registration regulations that took effect on May 10 removed the requirement for household registration books and eliminated fees for marriage certificates.
\n
Jiang said further relief from economic burdens is needed, particularly for young people who want to buy property before getting married.
\n
"It is good to see that the government has taken seriously the need to reduce costs associated with marriage, such as traditional practices like dowries in some regions," he added.
A leading private Chinese healthcare provider has filed a defamation lawsuit against a customer for spreading allegations about flaws in its health checkup services, stressing that routine annual examinations cannot replace clinical diagnoses for specific diseases such as cancer.
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IKang Healthcare Group, which provides annual checkups for more than 8 million people each year, held a news conference on Wednesday in response to widely circulated social media posts from a Beijing lawyer questioning the effectiveness of its services.
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The lawyer, surnamed Zhang, wrote in mid-July that she was diagnosed with late-stage kidney cancer that had spread to her spine in October, despite undergoing health checkups for 10 consecutive years at the company since 2013.
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Zhang said her 2023 health check report noted kidney calcification, but company personnel reassured her at the time that the condition was normal and required no intervention. She also said her carcinoembryonic antigen test results — a marker sometimes elevated in people with certain cancers — had shown normal readings for years.
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Zhang said she has sent a legal letter to the company, demanding it turn over her blood samples and testing data over the past decade, as well as certificates of its carcinoembryonic antigen test equipment and information about the laboratory workers who conducted the tests.
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Zhang said she underwent nine months of treatment overseas, lost a kidney and now has lifelong spinal problems.
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IKang said internal and external reviews found no medical oversights, diagnostic errors or fraudulent testing as claimed by Zhang.
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"Zhang shifted her personal accountability for failing to undergo timely follow-up examinations into a systematic critique targeting the company," it said in a statement.
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Li Xiuchi, a senior manager at the company and former physician at China-Japan Friendship Hospital, said Zhang's 2023 medical report had flagged a potential kidney tumor and recommended further tests.
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Wang Zhaohui, iKang's vice-president and a medical expert, said that early detection of kidney tumors relies primarily on imaging rather than blood tests. He noted that CEA testing is mainly used to evaluate the risk of digestive cancers, such as colorectal cancer, and that there is currently no widely accepted blood-based biomarker for kidney cancer.
\n
China reports more than 4.5 million new cancer cases annually, with lung, colorectal, gastric, liver and breast cancers being the most common. About 70,000 new cases of kidney cancer are reported each year, according to official data.
\n
Zhang Ligang, chairman of iKang, said the company identifies about 15,000 cancer cases annually through routine health checks. However, he emphasized that basic physical examinations, which typically cost several hundred to a few thousand yuan, are fundamentally different from clinical diagnostics that can cost tens of thousands.
\n
"The purpose of routine checkups is to detect early warning signs so that individuals can then seek specialized care," Zhang said. "This model applies to both private health centers and public hospitals."
Tourists crowd the peak of Taishan Mountain to enjoy the spectacular view of the sunrise in Tai'an, Shandong province, on Thursday. During the summer, the scenic area experiences a surge of tourists.
\n",
- "content": "
Tourists crowd the peak of Taishan Mountain to enjoy the spectacular view of the sunrise in Tai'an, Shandong province, on Thursday. During the summer, the scenic area experiences a surge of tourists.
The Commercial Aircraft Corp of China, the country's dominant passenger jetliner manufacturer, has developed a medical variant of its C909 airliner, aiming to bolster the nation's air medical services.
\n
The C909 air ambulance features a modular cabin design, enabling customized layouts based on patient needs and mission requirements. It can be used for both emergency first-aid missions and patient transport, said Chen Yong, chief designer of the C909 family.
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He said that the cabin of a typical C909 medical configuration consists of three distinct functional sections: a medical expert zone, a support crew zone and an intensive care unit zone.
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The expert area is equipped with height-adjustable and foldable tables, allowing medical specialists to use computers and related equipment. The ICU zone accommodates two critical-care stretchers, each capable of being equipped with devices such as defibrillator monitors, ventilators, infusion pumps and suction units, depending on the patients' condition.
\n
Moreover, the seats in both the expert and support crew zones can be temporarily converted into six sets of double-tiered lightweight stretchers to accommodate increased capacity.
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The air ambulance also has an electric-powered lift system at the rear door, allowing for the convenient loading and unloading of patients in a lying position, Chen explained.
\n
He said that the C909 is characterized by its high safety rating and operational reliability.
\n
"It has a large inner space, which means we can offer different layouts to users in accordance with their needs. For instance, we can replace the ICU section with other equipment and carry more patients with mild symptoms," the designer said. "Moreover, we have given the air ambulance an additional fuel tank, which enables the jet to fly farther."
\n
The company worked with Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University's School of Medicine to build the air ambulance. Modified last year, it was used in a charitable medical tour in Yunnan province in December.
\n
Formerly known as ARJ21, the C909 regional jetliner entered the market in November 2015 and made its first commercial flight in June 2016.
\n
Since the C909's debut, 166 have been delivered to 13 customers in China and abroad. The aircraft operate on 721 routes and have facilitated more than 25 million passenger trips.
\n
Internationally, C909 aircraft have been delivered to airlines in Indonesia, Laos and Vietnam, serving routes across Southeast Asia.
\n
Besides the passenger and air ambulance aircraft, the C909 has three other models: a freighter, an emergency response command plane and an executive jet.
A herder falls off his horse while participating in the Daye Verse horse racing cultural tourism season event in Litang county, Sichuan province, on Wednesday.
\n",
- "content": "
A herder falls off his horse while participating in the Daye Verse horse racing cultural tourism season event in Litang county, Sichuan province, on Wednesday.
China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for veteran services and support is progressing smoothly, with all key targets met, according to the Minister of Veterans Affairs.
\n
"The overall level of services and support for veterans has been significantly enhanced during this period," Minister Pei Jinjia said at a news conference on Thursday.
\n
Pei highlighted strengthened efforts in searching for, excavating, identifying and protecting the remains of martyrs, as well as locating their relatives.
\n
From 2021 to 2025, the remains of 265 soldiers with the Chinese People's Volunteers who died in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53) were repatriated and laid to rest in China, said Chen Erwei, director of the ministry's department of ideology and rights protection.
\n
"So far, we have collected DNA data for the remains of 981 martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers returned from South Korea, along with samples from more than 1,300 related family members, establishing a comprehensive and dynamic DNA database," Pei said. He added that a national martyrs' remains search team and a national martyrs' remains DNA identification laboratory have been established.
\n
A public government service platform has also been launched to help trace the relatives of martyrs and encourage civil society participation. To date, the burial sites or relatives of nearly 7,000 martyrs have been identified, according to Pei.
\n
Vice-Minister of Veterans Affairs Xu Yao stated that the ministry has defended the honor of martyrs through legal measures to crack down on unlawful acts harming their reputation, fostering a strong social atmosphere of honoring and remembering them.
\n
Pei noted that all binding indicators of the plan, such as the job placement rate of veterans, have been achieved on schedule. Other indicators, including the establishment of veteran service stations and martyrs' memorial facilities, have progressed steadily, with some even surpassing targets.
\n
"More than 8 million entitled recipients of preferential treatment have been included in the national compensation and subsidy system," Xu said. These recipients include active-duty military personnel and their families, veterans and the families of those who died in the line of duty or from illness.
\n
"In addition, over 610,000 veteran service stations have been established at the village and community levels, bringing services directly to veterans and turning respect for them into concrete action," Xu added.
\n
Throughout the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the consistent goal of transfer and placement efforts has been to ensure veterans are properly received, effectively placed and able to contribute meaningfully to society, Xu said.
\n
"To date, we have placed more than 250,000 demobilized officers and veterans into work positions," he stated. "Veterans are playing an increasingly important role in China's socioeconomic development."
\n
lishangyi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -4087,28 +4043,6 @@
"hash": "fc87c888686f5ad8dda85f5f7ab0c624",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "006CHINA - Placing trust in children to forge their own path",
- "description": "\n
Zhang Rong, 48, government worker in Beijing
\n
My son has just finished the college entrance exam and is researching which university and what major he wants to study, all by himself.
\n
At the age of 18, he is able to choose his own path and take responsibility for his life. We respect his opinions and only provide him with some guidance. We tell him about which majors would be good for his future career. He wants to work in research and technology, and prefers college majors related to science and engineering.
\n
His father wanted him to study medicine, which he was not interested in. I discussed with him about the possibility of doctors being replaced by artificial intelligence and he shared his views. He said that doctors need to build trust with patients through face-to-face interactions, which is something AI may not be able to achieve. Without trust, one may not endorse the treatment plan. I think my son is insightful.
\n
His father tends to be stricter with him. Sometimes, when it comes to studying, his dad feels he isn't putting in enough effort. But I think that our son has his own pace. His father simply aims to toughen him up, believing it will lead to certain outcomes. From what I've observed, that is partly because my son's grandfather is strict with his father. I believe my son is a relaxed child. I emphasize the importance of respecting his individuality and what he values.
\n
I would like to seek my son's advice and opinions, as he is good at independent thinking. We don't have strict rules in our interactions. I'm amazed by his unique insights that are often beyond my expectations. I find myself often praising him, acknowledging his brilliance.
\n
He is indeed an easygoing boy. For example, when he played the board game Go, he would calmly explain his moves to his opponents. He has a gentle personality and we have never pressured him to achieve specific goals. We don't force him, but we encourage him to strive for excellence.
\n
He has many friends, some of whom are outstanding students. He may learn from some of his classmates' strengths but still maintains his own unique qualities. He may have classmates who don't perform as well academically, but he believes in their capabilities and thinks they will excel in the future. He is a child with great potential and sincerely appreciates the strengths of others. He acknowledges his own limitations, such as not delving as deeply into subjects as some of his peers. He has a good understanding of himself and his abilities.
\n
Although we didn't push him excessively, the pressure from the surrounding parents and institutions was significant. While many families enrolled their children in extra classes, we did too, but not to the extreme levels of intensity. Not every child is suited for tutorial classes like Olympiad math. But if my child wasn't part of it, I felt like he would fall behind, leading to a culture of intense competition. However, we don't specifically push him to excel academically. Some parents went all out, enrolling their child in multiple classes across different levels, like advanced math classes.
\n
In primary school, we focused on cultivating his interests and hobbies. He enjoyed playing Go, rugby, learning the piano and playing the trombone. These activities have helped him cope with stress and improve his mood.
\n
During kindergarten and primary school, I would often take him on trips to explore and play with friends. When we went out, we visited various places, including remote and challenging locations. For example, we once traveled to Guizhou province, where we experienced activities like harvesting corn to understand different aspects of life. I also took him to rural areas to observe the countryside lifestyle. When we went abroad, I made sure to expose him to different cultures and experiences. That helped him relax and get his own insights and reflections.
\n
Zhang Rong spoke with Li Hongyang.
\n",
- "content": "\n
Zhang Rong, 48, government worker in Beijing
\n
My son has just finished the college entrance exam and is researching which university and what major he wants to study, all by himself.
\n
At the age of 18, he is able to choose his own path and take responsibility for his life. We respect his opinions and only provide him with some guidance. We tell him about which majors would be good for his future career. He wants to work in research and technology, and prefers college majors related to science and engineering.
\n
His father wanted him to study medicine, which he was not interested in. I discussed with him about the possibility of doctors being replaced by artificial intelligence and he shared his views. He said that doctors need to build trust with patients through face-to-face interactions, which is something AI may not be able to achieve. Without trust, one may not endorse the treatment plan. I think my son is insightful.
\n
His father tends to be stricter with him. Sometimes, when it comes to studying, his dad feels he isn't putting in enough effort. But I think that our son has his own pace. His father simply aims to toughen him up, believing it will lead to certain outcomes. From what I've observed, that is partly because my son's grandfather is strict with his father. I believe my son is a relaxed child. I emphasize the importance of respecting his individuality and what he values.
\n
I would like to seek my son's advice and opinions, as he is good at independent thinking. We don't have strict rules in our interactions. I'm amazed by his unique insights that are often beyond my expectations. I find myself often praising him, acknowledging his brilliance.
\n
He is indeed an easygoing boy. For example, when he played the board game Go, he would calmly explain his moves to his opponents. He has a gentle personality and we have never pressured him to achieve specific goals. We don't force him, but we encourage him to strive for excellence.
\n
He has many friends, some of whom are outstanding students. He may learn from some of his classmates' strengths but still maintains his own unique qualities. He may have classmates who don't perform as well academically, but he believes in their capabilities and thinks they will excel in the future. He is a child with great potential and sincerely appreciates the strengths of others. He acknowledges his own limitations, such as not delving as deeply into subjects as some of his peers. He has a good understanding of himself and his abilities.
\n
Although we didn't push him excessively, the pressure from the surrounding parents and institutions was significant. While many families enrolled their children in extra classes, we did too, but not to the extreme levels of intensity. Not every child is suited for tutorial classes like Olympiad math. But if my child wasn't part of it, I felt like he would fall behind, leading to a culture of intense competition. However, we don't specifically push him to excel academically. Some parents went all out, enrolling their child in multiple classes across different levels, like advanced math classes.
\n
In primary school, we focused on cultivating his interests and hobbies. He enjoyed playing Go, rugby, learning the piano and playing the trombone. These activities have helped him cope with stress and improve his mood.
\n
During kindergarten and primary school, I would often take him on trips to explore and play with friends. When we went out, we visited various places, including remote and challenging locations. For example, we once traveled to Guizhou province, where we experienced activities like harvesting corn to understand different aspects of life. I also took him to rural areas to observe the countryside lifestyle. When we went abroad, I made sure to expose him to different cultures and experiences. That helped him relax and get his own insights and reflections.
A historical photo shows people carrying saplings to plant in Youyu county, Shanxi province, in the 1970s.
\n
Wang Zhanfeng checks the growth of apricots at his family's orchard in Laoqiangkuang village in Youyu on July 5.
\n
Tourists visit the Youyu Spirit Exhibition Hall in the county on July 5.
\n
An aerial photo shows part of a forest park in Youyu, which has been transformed from a barren area through decades of afforestation.
\n
For over 40 years, Wang Zhanfeng had rooted himself in the barren mountains of Youyu county in the northern province of Shanxi. Starting from the challenging task of planting the first sapling amid swirling yellow sands, he has now transformed over 200 hectares of land into lush woodland, significantly altering the local ecosystem.
\n
Wang, 74, a villager from Laoqiangkuang village, bears calloused hands as evidence of his decades-long dedication.
\n
"In my childhood, we had to cover our bowls while eating, otherwise they would be filled with sand," Wang told China Daily. Villagers had to wear windproof goggles and sand masks when venturing outside. During the worst winds, they had to light lamps indoors during the day.
\n
Youyu is situated less than 100 kilometers from the Mu Us Desert spreading between the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Shaanxi province, positioned in a natural wind corridor where the Siberian cold air moves southward.
\n
In the early years of New China, the county faced severe environmental conditions with extensive land desertification and extremely low plant survival rates. It was once deemed by international environmental experts as one of the "least suitable areas for human habitation", prompting suggestions for the relocation of the entire county.
\n
However, the locals were determined to make a change.
\n
Wang's grandfather and father had shouldered shovels to plant trees voluntarily. In the 1980s, upon hearing that his hometown was still battling sandstorms, he closed his hotel business and returned to the village, determined to protect the land and turn the barren slopes green.
\n
His tree-planting endeavors faced three major challenges.
\n
Acquiring seedlings was difficult, requiring arduous journeys over mountains to fetch them. Planting was challenging due to the semi-desert soil's inability to retain water, necessitating the laying of river mud at the bottom of pits. Survival was tough for seedlings, with an average annual precipitation of fewer than 400 millimeters, prompting the innovation of "fish-scale pits" to collect rainwater on the mountainside.
\n
Even then, during droughts, manual watering was necessary. Local women organized water-carrying teams, joining men in hauling water from the valleys to irrigate the saplings.
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Equipped with his "three treasures" — a shovel for digging holes, dried bread as food on mountains, and frostbite ointment for cracked hands — Wang would dig and plant trees in up to 50 pits a day at his peak, often leaving him too exhausted to stand straight.
\n
"I've thought about giving up, it's too tough," Wang said. Yet, seeing newly planted saplings partially buried by sand, he couldn't help but brush off the soil and prop them upright again.
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"One must not abandon halfway; trees are no different."
\n
After numerous failed attempts, he gradually mastered the art of tree planting. After 2000, the survival rates of his trees reached 80-90 percent and now, it's close to a perfect score.
\n
Today, green grass, Mongolian pine, pitch pine, and larch trees cover the Shipaogou area — what was once a barren ravine had transformed into his daily "green sanctuary".
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Carrying scissors during his mountain patrols, he prunes crooked branches as if he is tending to his own children. "While the green hills and clear waters have taken shape, the transformation is not yet complete," he said.
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Throughout history, Youyu had been a meeting point of agricultural and grassland civilizations, as well as a crucial passage for Shanxi merchants traveling to Mongolia. However, continuous wars had ravaged its ecology.
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For over 70 years, Youyu had relentlessly pursued tree planting and afforestation to improve the environment. With nearly 130 million trees planted across almost 113,333 hectares, the county's forest cover surged from less than 0.3 percent to 57 percent. What was once a "barren land" had metamorphosed into a "green oasis".
\n
In October 2024, the 19th annual session of the Global Forum on Human Settlements and the New Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards ceremony took place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
\n
The submission from Youyu county, detailing the "70-year practice of desert control, afforestation, and ecological restoration", clinched the New Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Award.
\n
Ma Zhanwen, Party secretary of Youyu, said, "Over the 70 years, Youyu's ecological civilization practice, through the diligent efforts of several generations, vividly exemplifies the 'lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets' concept of green development, paving a viable path for ecological restoration and sustainable development in desertified regions."
\n
To further promote the enduring spirit, the Youyu Spirit Exhibition Hall was established in 2013, covering an area of nearly 1,600 square meters.
\n
Centered on the theme of transforming Youyu's landscape through afforestation, the exhibition employs various forms of media such as graphics, videos, physical displays and a 4D cinema, attracting over 500,000 visitors.
\n
One of the most poignant items in the exhibition hall is an oil lamp shaped like an ink bottle. Next to it, photos on display showcase the stark contrast between the past scenes of yellow sandstorms and the present lush forests.
\n
The exhibition hall's curator, Li Gongyuan, explained, "The ink bottle-shaped oil lamp and matches were essential items for children studying back then. They relied on these oil lamps for reading and learning. That scene is now a thing of the past."
\n
Today, Youyu is vigorously nurturing forest tourism and forest health industries, establishing the largest domestic horse breeding base in operation and the largest youth football training base in North China.
\n
Besides, they are actively developing a 1 billion yuan ($140 million) sheep industry and a 500 million yuan sea buckthorn industry chain.
\n
Last year, the county welcomed 6.22 million visitors from home and abroad, generating tourism revenue of 3.58 billion yuan.
\n
Wang Zhanfeng's unwavering efforts have garnered recognition from various quarters, earning him honors such as the "Shanxi Province Watershed Governance Model" and the "Shanxi Province May 1 Labor Medal" in recent years.
\n
"Youyu people understand trees. Without afforestation, this place would have long succumbed to sandstorms," Wang said. "To me, the Youyu spirit means afforestation, and it must continue steadfastly."
\n
Contact the writers at zhuxingxin@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -4131,28 +4065,6 @@
"hash": "cad5b30b16543922edb4bce05d1bb35c",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "007CHINA - Gut microbiota help blue sheep adapt to local diets",
- "description": "
XINING — Chinese researchers have recently revealed that the plasticity of gut microbiota is a key factor assisting ungulates in better adapting to different regions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in western China.
\n
This study has provided insights into understanding how gut microbiota helps hosts adapt to local diets during the adaptation of ungulates to different areas on "the roof of the world", according to the Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
\n
Conducted by a research team from the NWIPB, the study also unveiled the host-microbiota synergy mechanism of plateau wildlife, thereby providing a scientific basis for formulating targeted protection strategies. These findings have been published in the journal mSystems.
\n
"Revealing how wildlife adapts to different regions has always been one of the goals of conservation biology, especially given the background of accelerating loss of global biodiversity," said Zhang Tongzuo, leader of the study and a researcher at the NWIPB.
\n
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the world's highest-altitude ecosystem and one of the global hot spots in the field of conservation biology studies. It boasts diverse habitats and a rich variety of wild animals, including blue sheep, which is one of the ungulates with the widest distribution and the largest population in this region.
\n
"Blue sheep are widely distributed in various habitats, such as shrub-lands, grasslands and deserts — forming a complex regional dietary differentiation pattern. It provides an ideal model for studying host-microorganism co-adaptation in extreme environments," Zhang said.
\n
The researchers used blue sheep as the focus of the study, adopting high-throughput sequencing techniques and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to investigate their diets and the composition and functioning of their gut microbiota.
\n
The team collected and tested the composition of gut microbial metabolites in three regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau — namely the Qinghai Lake basin, the Kunlun Mountains and the Sanjiangyuan area.
\n
The team explored their different diets and the composition and functional characteristics of their gut microbiota, as well as differences in their metabolites. Compared with their peers living in the other two regions, blue sheep in the Qinghai Lake basin possess gut microbiota with a greater capacity to digest seemingly indigestible substances — thus significantly enhancing their energy conversion efficiency, according to the research findings.
\n
This study for the first time reveals an adaptive strategy for efficient energy acquisition in plateau blue sheep via a low crude fiber dietary mode, Zhang said.
\n",
- "content": "
XINING — Chinese researchers have recently revealed that the plasticity of gut microbiota is a key factor assisting ungulates in better adapting to different regions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in western China.
\n
This study has provided insights into understanding how gut microbiota helps hosts adapt to local diets during the adaptation of ungulates to different areas on "the roof of the world", according to the Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
\n
Conducted by a research team from the NWIPB, the study also unveiled the host-microbiota synergy mechanism of plateau wildlife, thereby providing a scientific basis for formulating targeted protection strategies. These findings have been published in the journal mSystems.
\n
"Revealing how wildlife adapts to different regions has always been one of the goals of conservation biology, especially given the background of accelerating loss of global biodiversity," said Zhang Tongzuo, leader of the study and a researcher at the NWIPB.
\n
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the world's highest-altitude ecosystem and one of the global hot spots in the field of conservation biology studies. It boasts diverse habitats and a rich variety of wild animals, including blue sheep, which is one of the ungulates with the widest distribution and the largest population in this region.
\n
"Blue sheep are widely distributed in various habitats, such as shrub-lands, grasslands and deserts — forming a complex regional dietary differentiation pattern. It provides an ideal model for studying host-microorganism co-adaptation in extreme environments," Zhang said.
\n
The researchers used blue sheep as the focus of the study, adopting high-throughput sequencing techniques and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to investigate their diets and the composition and functioning of their gut microbiota.
\n
The team collected and tested the composition of gut microbial metabolites in three regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau — namely the Qinghai Lake basin, the Kunlun Mountains and the Sanjiangyuan area.
\n
The team explored their different diets and the composition and functional characteristics of their gut microbiota, as well as differences in their metabolites. Compared with their peers living in the other two regions, blue sheep in the Qinghai Lake basin possess gut microbiota with a greater capacity to digest seemingly indigestible substances — thus significantly enhancing their energy conversion efficiency, according to the research findings.
\n
This study for the first time reveals an adaptive strategy for efficient energy acquisition in plateau blue sheep via a low crude fiber dietary mode, Zhang said.
In a major backtracking move, the United States government has fired the last of the staff members at the State Department's Office of Global Change, which oversees the country's international climate change negotiations. This means the world's largest historical polluter will possibly have no official presence at the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP30, scheduled to be held in Belem, Brazil, in November.
\n
The event will provide representatives from 190 countries with a platform to try to foster consensus on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions between now and 2035. It is considered to be one of the most consequential climate summits with a large bearing on the future of humanity. The absence of the US at the meeting will compromise the global efforts to address climate change.
\n
A direct outcome of the US' withdrawal could be a shortage of the vital funding that spurs emissions reductions in other countries, and helps the most vulnerable communities to adapt to the mounting impacts of climate change. In 2023, the US announced a $3 billion pledge to the Green Climate Fund. And, given that the US is a high-tech superpower capable of providing solutions based on technology and innovation, its reversal on the climate agenda will make it more difficult for countries to try to slow the rising temperatures and deal with increasing extreme weather events.
\n
The US' withdrawal also marks a major step back from the leading role it once played on climate change. The US is abandoning its responsibilities in the midst of a planetary emergency, as some observers said.
\n
The US first committed to the Paris Agreement in a joint announcement with China in 2015. The legally binding international treaty, which entered into force in November 2016, aims to hold "the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 C above preindustrial levels".
\n
Yet just one year later, the US withdrew from the treaty. The US rejoined the pact in 2021 and set the goal of cutting carbon emissions by at least half by 2030. But with the US pulling out of the Paris pact again and taking steps to boost fossil fuels and slow the growth of clean energy under the US leader's pro-drilling energy policy, the world again stands at a critical juncture as to how to work together to ramp up renewable energy and curb planet-warming gases in the face of the harsh reality of global warming.
\n
Despite the challenges, China has remained steadfast in its commitment to green development and emerged as a major contributor to the global transition to renewable energy and the global fight against climate change. The country has been taking concrete steps toward its commitment to peak carbon emissions before 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Statistics show that China's energy consumption per unit of GDP decreased by 11.6 percent in the first four years of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period. A reduction that is equivalent to cutting 1.1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, nearly 50 percent of the European Union's total carbon emissions in 2024.
\n
This attests to China's commitment to climate action. Despite the absence of robust US climate moves, China is determined to continue to work with other countries and international organizations to address the shared existential threat they confront. In a joint statement on climate change issued by China and the EU after their meeting in Beijing last week, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement and called for strong action at the upcoming COP30. "In the fluid and turbulent international situation today, it is crucial that all countries, notably the major economies, maintain policy continuity and stability and step up efforts to address climate change," it said.
\n
The US' withdrawal from the global climate agenda does not mean the end of the international community's endeavor to combat global warming. Rather, the global efforts aimed at creating a sustainable, resilient and low-carbon future that safeguards the planet that we call home will never cease.
\n
The Paris Agreement demonstrates that countries with divergent interests can come together to address shared concerns that will affect them all. It survived the first US withdrawal eight years ago, and it will survive its second one.
Israel has rejected Hamas' proposed changes to the Gaza ceasefire deal, Egyptian sources said on Wednesday.
\n
Tel Aviv refused to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the remains of Israeli captives held by Hamas, rejected a Hamas-proposed map for the redeployment of Israeli forces in Gaza, and declined to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, a key border strip between Gaza and Egypt. Besides, Israel's continued military offensive in Gaza and its closure of border crossings have led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave, with the United Nations saying that a widespread famine was unfolding in Gaza.
\n
Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip since Hamas' attacks on Oct 7, 2023, has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, injured over 146,000 others, and caused massive destruction, according to an update by Gaza's health authorities on Wednesday.
\n
With no sign of an end to the conflict, the immediate priority is to achieve a full ceasefire in Gaza and alleviate the humanitarian crisis, creating the necessary conditions for realizing a "two-state solution".
\n
That's also the central message that Chinese envoy Zhai Jun delivered at the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution held at the UN Headquarters in New York from Monday to Wednesday.
\n
It is clear for a long time now that Tel Aviv's objective is neither a ceasefire nor the release of hostages — it is the annexation of the Gaza Strip.
\n
"We warn of the dangers of the occupation's plans for the gradual annexation of the Gaza Strip," the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday. The ministry considers Israel's move "a conspiracy to forcibly displace the population of the Strip and undermine the opportunity to establish a Palestinian state on the ground".
\n
Israel, as well as its major backer the United States, should realize that any attempt to forcibly alter Gaza's status or encroach upon West Bank territory will not bring peace. Such actions will only ignite further instability and undermine the prospects for the "two-state solution", which remains the only viable path for resolving the Palestinian question.
\n
China strongly supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, enjoying full sovereignty, Zhai said at the UN conference.
\n
All countries that strive for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestine question oppose any actions that violate international law and seek to undermine the "two-state solution". The UN should play a leading role in prompting relevant stakeholders to come up with a clear timeline and a roadmap for its implementation. China calls for a ceasefire with maximum urgency and for de-escalation of the humanitarian crisis; upholding the principle of "Palestinians governing Palestine" to advance governance in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank; supporting Palestinian internal unity and assisting Palestine with its capacity-building in governance and improvement of economic resilience.
\n
The security of Israel can only be based on the security of its neighbors and regional reconciliation. If it continues to use force to annex its neighboring regions to build a so-called buffer zone for its own security, the "security" it is fighting for will only be a castle built on sand.
\n
The security of all countries in the region is interconnected, and a unilateral approach to security will not work; only collective security can pave the way for lasting peace.
\n
Tel Aviv needs to demonstrate the flexibility, political wisdom and strategic foresight to replace its unilateral approach with a comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security approach for long-term peace in the Middle East. Also, it shouldn't take more lives and another humanitarian crisis for the Israeli people to realize that they have only become more insecure compared with the situation before Oct 7, 2023. Israel's military operations have far exceeded retaliation, instead becoming maneuvers of some politicians for their own narrow ends.
\n
The question is for how long Israelis will continue to allow themselves to be hoodwinked for a "security" based on fighting, hatred and manipulation.
\n",
- "content": "
Israel has rejected Hamas' proposed changes to the Gaza ceasefire deal, Egyptian sources said on Wednesday.
\n
Tel Aviv refused to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the remains of Israeli captives held by Hamas, rejected a Hamas-proposed map for the redeployment of Israeli forces in Gaza, and declined to withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor, a key border strip between Gaza and Egypt. Besides, Israel's continued military offensive in Gaza and its closure of border crossings have led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave, with the United Nations saying that a widespread famine was unfolding in Gaza.
\n
Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip since Hamas' attacks on Oct 7, 2023, has killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, injured over 146,000 others, and caused massive destruction, according to an update by Gaza's health authorities on Wednesday.
\n
With no sign of an end to the conflict, the immediate priority is to achieve a full ceasefire in Gaza and alleviate the humanitarian crisis, creating the necessary conditions for realizing a "two-state solution".
\n
That's also the central message that Chinese envoy Zhai Jun delivered at the High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution held at the UN Headquarters in New York from Monday to Wednesday.
\n
It is clear for a long time now that Tel Aviv's objective is neither a ceasefire nor the release of hostages — it is the annexation of the Gaza Strip.
\n
"We warn of the dangers of the occupation's plans for the gradual annexation of the Gaza Strip," the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday. The ministry considers Israel's move "a conspiracy to forcibly displace the population of the Strip and undermine the opportunity to establish a Palestinian state on the ground".
\n
Israel, as well as its major backer the United States, should realize that any attempt to forcibly alter Gaza's status or encroach upon West Bank territory will not bring peace. Such actions will only ignite further instability and undermine the prospects for the "two-state solution", which remains the only viable path for resolving the Palestinian question.
\n
China strongly supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, enjoying full sovereignty, Zhai said at the UN conference.
\n
All countries that strive for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestine question oppose any actions that violate international law and seek to undermine the "two-state solution". The UN should play a leading role in prompting relevant stakeholders to come up with a clear timeline and a roadmap for its implementation. China calls for a ceasefire with maximum urgency and for de-escalation of the humanitarian crisis; upholding the principle of "Palestinians governing Palestine" to advance governance in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank; supporting Palestinian internal unity and assisting Palestine with its capacity-building in governance and improvement of economic resilience.
\n
The security of Israel can only be based on the security of its neighbors and regional reconciliation. If it continues to use force to annex its neighboring regions to build a so-called buffer zone for its own security, the "security" it is fighting for will only be a castle built on sand.
\n
The security of all countries in the region is interconnected, and a unilateral approach to security will not work; only collective security can pave the way for lasting peace.
\n
Tel Aviv needs to demonstrate the flexibility, political wisdom and strategic foresight to replace its unilateral approach with a comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security approach for long-term peace in the Middle East. Also, it shouldn't take more lives and another humanitarian crisis for the Israeli people to realize that they have only become more insecure compared with the situation before Oct 7, 2023. Israel's military operations have far exceeded retaliation, instead becoming maneuvers of some politicians for their own narrow ends.
\n
The question is for how long Israelis will continue to allow themselves to be hoodwinked for a "security" based on fighting, hatred and manipulation.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War. The year also marks the final phase of the journey toward achieving the centenary goals of the People's Liberation Army in 2027, making it necessary to stay on track, harness the core strengths of a "people's war" and mobilize the people for just causes.
\n
Marxism holds that what is called history is nothing but the creation of man by human labor. In other words, people are the decisive force behind progress. The theory of people's war is rooted in this principle, and emphasizes that people, not weapons, ultimately determine the outcome of war.
\n
The legacy of people's war has been evolving over the past 80 years. In today's era of multi-domain competition, victory depends on maintaining a strong bond with the people, adapting to technological and tactical changes, and mobilizing the people.
\n
During the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Communist Party of China mobilized the people, established base areas behind enemy lines, and gained support from a cross-section of society. By organizing guerrilla forces and militias, the Party developed a combat system integrating trained troops, armed civilians and local forces to counter the enemy.
\n
The Party-led people's war is the foundation of the PLA's combat effectiveness and its key strategic advantage. At its core lies the truth that people are the real source of military strength. Guided by this principle, the people's armed forces have, from their modest beginnings, transformed into a major military force. As Chairman Mao Zedong emphasized in On Protracted War, mobilizing the people compensates for inferior equipment and brings victory despite adverse conditions.
\n
On the open plains of North China, where natural cover was limited, the Party-led troops and civilians built hidden tunnels, planted landmines, and used "sparrow warfare" (hit-and-run) tactics to immobilize the Japanese forces, thwarting the enemy's "mopping-up" operations. The campaign demonstrated the creativity and decisive role of the people in the war.
\n
Adhering to the philosophy of people's war, the Party developed a complete system of strategies and tactics based on actual conditions. From the guerrilla warfare of the Red Army and immobilizing of the Japanese forces to the strategic adjustments during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53) and the post-1949 military reforms, the PLA has been learning from its experiences.
\n
By advancing the concept of people's war in line with the evolving times, the PLA has made remarkable achievements, including defeating stronger enemies in war and safeguarding national interests during peacetime.
\n
Today, technological advancement in fields such as information networks, artificial intelligence, and multi-domain battlefields has transformed the nature of warfare, with joint operations becoming the core of modern combat and creating new opportunities for people's participation in national defense.
\n
Yet victory in warfare still stems from the people. To ensure the PLA achieves its centenary goals and becomes a world-class defense force, China must combine the principle of people's war and advanced technologies to work out its future defense strategy.
\n
People's expertise in information and communications technology, data and innovation is a vital strategic resource and a decisive advantage in modern warfare. As such, China needs to leverage digital tools such as big data, AI and cloud computing to enhance cyber intelligence and improve communication mechanisms that help build public consensus on national defense.
\n
Therefore, it is necessary to reinforce unity between the PLA, the government and the people, and promote a strong social ethos to boost national defense.
\n
History tells us that the people are the foundation of military success. In the pursuit of its centenary goals despite facing new technological challenges, the PLA should continue to rely on the people, leveraging their combined strength and protecting their interests. By adhering to the people's war principle, developing new strategies, and integrating advanced technologies into its military modernization plan, China can strengthen its armed forces and ensure they deter aggression, prevent conflict, and maintain peace.
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
",
@@ -4219,28 +4109,6 @@
"hash": "cd9c912c276bba98c2e127c2431316ec",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "009VIEWS - Belgium's rich beer culture is intoxicating, to say the least",
- "description": "
Chen Weihua
\n\n
I know I might invite criticism if I promote alcohol, but I also believe it would be a dereliction of duty on my part to bid farewell to Belgium after nearly seven years without writing about its beer culture.
\n
I remember well when the Belgian embassy official who interviewed me in Beijing seven years ago for issuing a journalist visa asked me how long I would be stationed in Brussels, I told him in a lighter vein, "Until I finish all the Belgian beers".
\n
His response was prompt: "That's impossible."
\n
I knew that Belgium brews about 1,600 types of beer, so it would take a little more than four years to taste all of them even if you try a different beer every day. But the fact that a lot of new varieties enter the market every year makes it almost impossible for someone like me to taste all of them.
\n
The official then asked me what I would write about during my posting in Belgium. I said that "my job is to cover the European Union but I might also write about Belgian beer if there is not much news". He got quite excited, saying that I must send him a copy if I write a column on Belgian beer.
\n
I did try different beer brands during my initial days in Belgium in late 2018. I love those Trappist beers brewed by monks in monasteries and the Abbey beers, known for their rigid brewing styles. But they are strong. In fact, Belgian beers are known to be strong, often with 6 to 12 percent ABV(alcohol by volume), compared with German beers, which often have 4-5 percent alcohol.
\n
I have to admit that I was deterred by some beers, especially some Lambic and Gueuze beers. They tasted weird to me.
\n
I have taken friends visiting from China to the Delirium Café in Brussels, which boasts 2,000 beers from around the world and holds the Guinness World Records for the number of beers available for tasting. The mood inside the cafe and the decoration, with many old advertising plates and glasses, are as impressive as the beers.
\n
The Bier Central, where I had dinner on Monday, serves 300 different types of beer. The Belgian beer culture was included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2016. Beer is like a religion in Belgium. Drinking beer is a social event. People meet in bars, cafes and restaurants over a beer. The same is true for the gatherings in parks, such as in the Parc du Cinquantenaire near my apartment.
\n
The country of 11 million people, half of my hometown Shanghai's population, had 417 breweries at the end of 2023, most of them micro-breweries, with 73 percent of beer produced in Belgium being exported, mostly to neighboring countries such as France and the Netherlands, but also, increasingly, to new markets like China.
\n
Belgian beers Hoegaarden and Vedett are now being brewed in China to meet the growing demand in Chinese and other Asian markets. A Belgian friend who visited China for the first time last month sent me a photo of him drinking Duvel in a Beijing bar.
\n
Belgian company AB InBev is the world's largest producer of beer, brewing 49.5 billion liters of beer in 2024, which accounted for more than a quarter of the global production.
\n
An amazing thing about Belgium is that a brand of beer is always served in a glass with the beer brand's logo, unlike in most other countries. And pouring beer is often like an art, not to mention the annual competition of so-called draught masters.
\n
I gave up the mission impossible of sampling all the Belgian beers long ago. But I have been fascinated by the country's beer culture.
\n
While writing this column, I realized that this year, International Beer Day happens to fall on Aug 1 — the first Friday of August. The timing couldn't have been better for my last column from Brussels.
\n
chenweihua@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Chen Weihua
\n\n
I know I might invite criticism if I promote alcohol, but I also believe it would be a dereliction of duty on my part to bid farewell to Belgium after nearly seven years without writing about its beer culture.
\n
I remember well when the Belgian embassy official who interviewed me in Beijing seven years ago for issuing a journalist visa asked me how long I would be stationed in Brussels, I told him in a lighter vein, "Until I finish all the Belgian beers".
\n
His response was prompt: "That's impossible."
\n
I knew that Belgium brews about 1,600 types of beer, so it would take a little more than four years to taste all of them even if you try a different beer every day. But the fact that a lot of new varieties enter the market every year makes it almost impossible for someone like me to taste all of them.
\n
The official then asked me what I would write about during my posting in Belgium. I said that "my job is to cover the European Union but I might also write about Belgian beer if there is not much news". He got quite excited, saying that I must send him a copy if I write a column on Belgian beer.
\n
I did try different beer brands during my initial days in Belgium in late 2018. I love those Trappist beers brewed by monks in monasteries and the Abbey beers, known for their rigid brewing styles. But they are strong. In fact, Belgian beers are known to be strong, often with 6 to 12 percent ABV(alcohol by volume), compared with German beers, which often have 4-5 percent alcohol.
\n
I have to admit that I was deterred by some beers, especially some Lambic and Gueuze beers. They tasted weird to me.
\n
I have taken friends visiting from China to the Delirium Café in Brussels, which boasts 2,000 beers from around the world and holds the Guinness World Records for the number of beers available for tasting. The mood inside the cafe and the decoration, with many old advertising plates and glasses, are as impressive as the beers.
\n
The Bier Central, where I had dinner on Monday, serves 300 different types of beer. The Belgian beer culture was included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in 2016. Beer is like a religion in Belgium. Drinking beer is a social event. People meet in bars, cafes and restaurants over a beer. The same is true for the gatherings in parks, such as in the Parc du Cinquantenaire near my apartment.
\n
The country of 11 million people, half of my hometown Shanghai's population, had 417 breweries at the end of 2023, most of them micro-breweries, with 73 percent of beer produced in Belgium being exported, mostly to neighboring countries such as France and the Netherlands, but also, increasingly, to new markets like China.
\n
Belgian beers Hoegaarden and Vedett are now being brewed in China to meet the growing demand in Chinese and other Asian markets. A Belgian friend who visited China for the first time last month sent me a photo of him drinking Duvel in a Beijing bar.
\n
Belgian company AB InBev is the world's largest producer of beer, brewing 49.5 billion liters of beer in 2024, which accounted for more than a quarter of the global production.
\n
An amazing thing about Belgium is that a brand of beer is always served in a glass with the beer brand's logo, unlike in most other countries. And pouring beer is often like an art, not to mention the annual competition of so-called draught masters.
\n
I gave up the mission impossible of sampling all the Belgian beers long ago. But I have been fascinated by the country's beer culture.
\n
While writing this column, I realized that this year, International Beer Day happens to fall on Aug 1 — the first Friday of August. The timing couldn't have been better for my last column from Brussels.
People gather on a beach in Antibes, southern France, on Wednesday.
\n
PARIS — A heat wave scorching Europe had barely subsided in early July when scientists published estimates that 2,300 people may have died across a dozen major cities during the extreme, climate-fueled episode.
\n
The figure was supposed to "grab some attention" and sound a timely warning in the hope of avoiding more needless deaths, said Friederike Otto, one of the scientists involved in the research.
\n
"We are still relatively early in the summer, so this will not have been the last heat wave. There is a lot that people and communities can do to save lives," Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London, told AFP.
\n
Heat can claim tens of thousands of lives during European summers, but it usually takes months, even years, to count the cost of this "silent killer".
\n
Otto and colleagues published their partial estimate just a week after temperatures peaked in western Europe.
\n
While the underlying methods were not new, the scientists said it was the first study to link heat wave deaths to climate change so soon after the event in question.
\n
Early mortality estimates could be misunderstood as official statistics, but "from a public health perspective, the benefits of providing timely evidence outweigh these risks", Raquel Nunes from the University of Warwick told AFP.
\n
"This approach could have transformative potential for both public understanding and policy prioritization" of heat waves, said Nunes, an expert on global warming and health who was not involved in the study.
\n
Science can show, with increasing speed and confidence, that human-caused climate change is making heat waves hotter and more frequent.
\n
Unlike floods and fires, heat kills quietly, with prolonged exposure causing heat stroke, organ failure and death.
\n
The sick and elderly are particularly vulnerable, but so are younger people exercising or toiling outdoors.
\n
But every summer, heat kills and Otto — a pioneer in the field of attribution science — started wondering if the message was getting through.
\n
'Big deal'
\n
"We have done attribution studies of extreme weather events and attribution studies of heat waves for a decade … but as a society, we are not prepared for these heat waves," she said.
\n
"People think it's 30(C) instead of 27, what's the big deal? And we know it's a big deal."
\n
When the mercury started climbing in Europe earlier this summer, scientists tweaked their approach.
\n
Joining forces, Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene& Tropical Medicine chose to spotlight the lethality — not just the intensity — of the heat between June 23 and July 2.
\n
Combining historic weather and published mortality data, they assessed that climate change made the heat wave between 1 and 4 degrees hotter across 12 cities, depending on location, and that 2,300 people had likely perished.
\n
But in a notable first, they estimated that 65 percent of these deaths — around 1,500 people across cities including London, Paris and Athens — would not have occurred in a world without global warming.
\n
"That's a much stronger message," said Otto.
\n
"It brings it much closer to home what climate change actually means and makes it much more real and human than when you say this heat wave would have been two degrees colder."
\n
The study was just a snapshot of the wider heat wave that hit western Europe during the hottest month of June on record and sent temperatures soaring to 46 C in Spain and Portugal.
\n
The true toll was likely much higher, the authors said, noting that heat deaths are widely undercounted.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas on Thursday announced his resignation as the country's head of government and chairman of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party. Paluckas' departure from office comes amid investigations into his financial dealings and allegedly inappropriate involvement in business, ties to certain businesspeople and failure to pay damages owed to the Vilnius municipality. Under the Constitution of Lithuania, the entire cabinet will resign along with the prime minister.
\n
SOUTH KOREA
\n
Warrant issued again for ex-president Yoon
\n
A South Korean court on Thursday issued a fresh arrest warrant for former president Yoon Suk-yeol, enabling prosecutors to forcibly bring him in for questioning after he refused to appear for questioning multiple times. The warrant, which was issued by the Seoul Central District Court, had been requested by a team leading an investigation into corruption allegations that involve Yoon's wife, Kim Keon-hee. Yoon defied the special counsel's summons to appear for questioning twice.
\n",
- "content": "
LITHUANIA
\n
PM resigns amid graft charges investigation
\n
Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas on Thursday announced his resignation as the country's head of government and chairman of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party. Paluckas' departure from office comes amid investigations into his financial dealings and allegedly inappropriate involvement in business, ties to certain businesspeople and failure to pay damages owed to the Vilnius municipality. Under the Constitution of Lithuania, the entire cabinet will resign along with the prime minister.
\n
SOUTH KOREA
\n
Warrant issued again for ex-president Yoon
\n
A South Korean court on Thursday issued a fresh arrest warrant for former president Yoon Suk-yeol, enabling prosecutors to forcibly bring him in for questioning after he refused to appear for questioning multiple times. The warrant, which was issued by the Seoul Central District Court, had been requested by a team leading an investigation into corruption allegations that involve Yoon's wife, Kim Keon-hee. Yoon defied the special counsel's summons to appear for questioning twice.
People grieve during a funeral of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire while trying to receive aid and in overnight Israeli airstrikes on tents, at a hospital in southern Gaza on Thursday.
\n
A three-day high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question and the implementation of the two-state solution, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, concluded on Wednesday at the United Nations headquarters in New York, with China and many other countries calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
\n
In remarks at the conference, China's Special Envoy on the Middle East Issue Zhai Jun said on Tuesday that the conflict in Gaza is still raging, an unprecedented humanitarian crisis is unfolding, and the foundation for implementing the two-state solution continues to be eroded.
\n
Zhai outlined China's five-point proposal, urging efforts to promote an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, and to ease the humanitarian catastrophe. He called for advancing governance in Gaza and the West Bank under the principle of "the Palestinians governing Palestine", and for supporting Palestinian efforts to strengthen internal unity.
\n
He emphasized the need to assist Palestine in enhancing governance capacity and economic resilience, to preserve the momentum for peace and the implementation of the two-state solution, and to uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, with the goal of achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.
\n
Zhai said China will continue to work with the international community to promote a ceasefire in Gaza and push for an early, comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Palestinian question.
\n
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has reached "a breaking point", and that the two-state solution is "farther than ever before".
\n
Despite the worsening situation, Guterres stressed that the conflict "can be resolved", but doing so requires "political will and courageous leadership". He said the high-level conference was a "rare and indispensable opportunity" and urged participants to go beyond "well-meaning rhetoric".
\n
"This conference can and must serve as a decisive turning point — one that catalyzes irreversible progress toward ending the occupation and realizing our shared aspiration for a viable two-state solution," he said.
\n
Guterres reaffirmed the two-state solution remains the only framework rooted in international law, endorsed by the General Assembly, and backed by the international community.
\n
Representatives of more than 120 countries attended the conference. As of Wednesday, 147 of the 193 UN member states have recognized the State of Palestine as a sovereign country.
\n
On Wednesday, Canada and Malta said they intended to recognize the State of Palestine in September.
\n
Singapore, addressing the conference on Tuesday, said it is prepared in principle to do the same, emphasizing that such a recognition should contribute to peace and support a negotiated two-state solution.
\n
'Appalling' situation
\n
Also on Tuesday, the United Kingdom urged Israel to take substantive steps to end what it called "the appalling situation in Gaza" and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace. The British government warned that in the absence of meaningful progress, it would recognize the State of Palestine in September to "protect the viability of the two-state solution".
\n
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on July 24 that France will formally recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming 80th session of the UN General Assembly in September.
\n
On Nov 20, 1988, the Chinese government officially recognized the State of Palestine — one of the first to do so — and established diplomatic relations with it.
\n
In northern Gaza, Israeli forces killed at least 30 people when they opened fire on Wednesday on a crowd waiting for humanitarian aid, the territory's civil defense agency said.
\n
The Israeli military said it had no knowledge of casualties in the incident north of Gaza City.
Facing a weakening currency and a slump in global diamond demand, Botswana is signaling a strategic pivot to diversify its economy.
\n
The timing of China's recent decision to eliminate tariffs on products from 53 African countries — including Botswana — is seen as critical for the southern African country as it seeks to reduce its dependence on a single export.
\n
In an interview with the correspondent, Botswana's minister of trade and entrepreneurship, Tiroeaone Ntsima, said the announcement "opens doors for Botswana to export a wider array of products".
\n
The country's economy is under growing pressure, with its diamond sector struck by reduced global demand. In addition, Botswana recently devalued its currency by 2.76 percent, a move aimed at boosting export competitiveness and preserving foreign exchange reserves.
\n
In this context, China's zero-tariff initiative is seen not merely as welcome support, but as a lifeline — a timely opportunity for Botswana to break free from its historical reliance on a narrow basket of exports.
\n
"Export diversification has been a priority for the government for many years, and these efforts are being intensified in the face of a subdued global economy, which has adversely affected our traditional export — diamonds," Ntsima said.
\n
While copper ore slag and diamonds remain Botswana's major exports, he said the country is now prioritizing beef, horticultural produce, leather, and processed agricultural goods in a renewed push for economic resilience.
\n
A recently signed beef protocol with China allows for duty-free access to the Chinese market, which is "a significant boost" for the beef industry, he said.
\n
Botswana's ties with China have evolved significantly in recent years. Although they have yet to formalize a bilateral trade agreement, both trade volumes and investment flows have grown rapidly, he said.
\n
"Elimination of tariffs by China for African countries will enhance market access and competitiveness. China's importance as a trading partner is likely to increase."
\n
Mmantlha Sankoloba, CEO of the Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association, described China's zero-tariff move as a rare opportunity for local exporters to access new markets, build long-term partnerships and move away from dependence on raw commodity exports.
\n
"Duty-free access to such a large and diverse market offers Botswana exporters the chance to increase their competitiveness through lower landed costs," she said. "It allows us to diversify export markets and reduce overdependence on southern African or Western markets."
\n
Amid mounting economic pressures at home, Sankoloba said she believes Botswana's private sector is well-positioned to turn crisis into opportunity. From the perspective of her association, China's initiative "aligns well with our mission to facilitate greater market access and support Botswana's industrial development agenda", she said.
\n
Niche markets
\n
While Botswana's beef and mineral exports are already well established, Sankoloba is looking ahead to products such as morula oil, baobab-based health supplements, and locally made leather goods that appeal to eco-conscious and health-focused consumers in China.
\n
"Botswana's beef, sorghum, morula-based products, and other indigenous foods already have appeal in niche and health-conscious markets," she said. "We also see potential in textiles and garments."
\n
Crafts and cultural products stand out, too. Sankoloba said handcrafted goods made from local raw materials, particularly those with sustainable or cultural value, are being repositioned for export.
\n
Despite the enthusiasm, Sankoloba remains clear-eyed about the barriers ahead. For many of Botswana's exporters, especially small- and medium-sized companies, entering the Chinese market is no easy feat.
\n
"Logistical costs and complexities remain significant due to our landlocked geography, lack of direct shipping lines, and absence of on-the-ground representation in China," she said.
\n
"There are also language barriers and limited market intelligence. Our exporters struggle with stringent certification standards in the food, health and cosmetics sectors."
\n
According to the Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association, overcoming these barriers will require a holistic support system, involving not only the government but also international partners and private sector players.
\n
To maximize the benefits of the zero-tariff policy, Sankoloba outlined critical areas where Botswana's exporters need support, such as training, research of the Chinese market, and government support.
\n
"We are engaging with the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship to align trade policy and export promotion efforts with this opportunity," she said. "We're also advocating for a Botswana-China Export Growth Strategy, possibly within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation."
\n
The association is exploring partnerships with Chinese business chambers, trade expos and e-commerce platforms to enhance visibility for Botswana-made goods, she said.
\n",
- "content": "
Facing a weakening currency and a slump in global diamond demand, Botswana is signaling a strategic pivot to diversify its economy.
\n
The timing of China's recent decision to eliminate tariffs on products from 53 African countries — including Botswana — is seen as critical for the southern African country as it seeks to reduce its dependence on a single export.
\n
In an interview with the correspondent, Botswana's minister of trade and entrepreneurship, Tiroeaone Ntsima, said the announcement "opens doors for Botswana to export a wider array of products".
\n
The country's economy is under growing pressure, with its diamond sector struck by reduced global demand. In addition, Botswana recently devalued its currency by 2.76 percent, a move aimed at boosting export competitiveness and preserving foreign exchange reserves.
\n
In this context, China's zero-tariff initiative is seen not merely as welcome support, but as a lifeline — a timely opportunity for Botswana to break free from its historical reliance on a narrow basket of exports.
\n
"Export diversification has been a priority for the government for many years, and these efforts are being intensified in the face of a subdued global economy, which has adversely affected our traditional export — diamonds," Ntsima said.
\n
While copper ore slag and diamonds remain Botswana's major exports, he said the country is now prioritizing beef, horticultural produce, leather, and processed agricultural goods in a renewed push for economic resilience.
\n
A recently signed beef protocol with China allows for duty-free access to the Chinese market, which is "a significant boost" for the beef industry, he said.
\n
Botswana's ties with China have evolved significantly in recent years. Although they have yet to formalize a bilateral trade agreement, both trade volumes and investment flows have grown rapidly, he said.
\n
"Elimination of tariffs by China for African countries will enhance market access and competitiveness. China's importance as a trading partner is likely to increase."
\n
Mmantlha Sankoloba, CEO of the Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association, described China's zero-tariff move as a rare opportunity for local exporters to access new markets, build long-term partnerships and move away from dependence on raw commodity exports.
\n
"Duty-free access to such a large and diverse market offers Botswana exporters the chance to increase their competitiveness through lower landed costs," she said. "It allows us to diversify export markets and reduce overdependence on southern African or Western markets."
\n
Amid mounting economic pressures at home, Sankoloba said she believes Botswana's private sector is well-positioned to turn crisis into opportunity. From the perspective of her association, China's initiative "aligns well with our mission to facilitate greater market access and support Botswana's industrial development agenda", she said.
\n
Niche markets
\n
While Botswana's beef and mineral exports are already well established, Sankoloba is looking ahead to products such as morula oil, baobab-based health supplements, and locally made leather goods that appeal to eco-conscious and health-focused consumers in China.
\n
"Botswana's beef, sorghum, morula-based products, and other indigenous foods already have appeal in niche and health-conscious markets," she said. "We also see potential in textiles and garments."
\n
Crafts and cultural products stand out, too. Sankoloba said handcrafted goods made from local raw materials, particularly those with sustainable or cultural value, are being repositioned for export.
\n
Despite the enthusiasm, Sankoloba remains clear-eyed about the barriers ahead. For many of Botswana's exporters, especially small- and medium-sized companies, entering the Chinese market is no easy feat.
\n
"Logistical costs and complexities remain significant due to our landlocked geography, lack of direct shipping lines, and absence of on-the-ground representation in China," she said.
\n
"There are also language barriers and limited market intelligence. Our exporters struggle with stringent certification standards in the food, health and cosmetics sectors."
\n
According to the Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association, overcoming these barriers will require a holistic support system, involving not only the government but also international partners and private sector players.
\n
To maximize the benefits of the zero-tariff policy, Sankoloba outlined critical areas where Botswana's exporters need support, such as training, research of the Chinese market, and government support.
\n
"We are engaging with the Ministry of Trade and Entrepreneurship to align trade policy and export promotion efforts with this opportunity," she said. "We're also advocating for a Botswana-China Export Growth Strategy, possibly within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation."
\n
The association is exploring partnerships with Chinese business chambers, trade expos and e-commerce platforms to enhance visibility for Botswana-made goods, she said.
A toxic algal bloom covering more than 4,400 square kilometers of South Australia's coastline is being labeled an ecological catastrophe, as dead fish, stingrays and dolphins wash up on beaches.
\n
"This is a natural disaster," South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas told ABC's News Breakfast on July 22.
\n
First detected off the Fleurieu Peninsula in March, the bloom has spread north into Spencer Gulf, south into the Coorong wetlands, and along Adelaide's coastline into the Port River.
\n
The brownish foam has devastated marine life and disrupted tourism and commercial fishing. The state and federal governments have announced a A$28 million ($18 million) relief package for cleanup efforts. However, the long-term cost to affected industries remains uncertain.
\n
"It could take years before everything returns to normal," Perran Cook, a professor in the School of Chemistry at Melbourne's Monash University, told China Daily.
\n
Algal blooms are a naturally occurring phenomenon, he said, but what made this one so unusual were several events — a warm summer, a marine heat wave and major flooding.
\n
Martina Doblin, CEO and director of the Sydney Institute of Marine Science, said algal blooms do not start as big as the one in South Australia, the scale and duration of which are unprecedented.
\n
"We cannot just treat this as a one-off event that should be monitored," she said. "This is a complex problem, and we need a coordinated science-industry-governance response to be more strategically positioned for such events in the future."
\n
How Australia prepares for future algal blooms is a "big question", Doblin said, one that scientists and an advisory committee will be addressing in the coming weeks.
\n
She emphasized the need for accurate real-time ocean models, good spatial data on tourism and fishing activity, and a better understanding of harmful algae and prevention methods.
\n
Adriana Verges, a marine ecologist at the University of New South Wales, described the crisis as extremely severe, with widespread deaths of nearly 500 marine species — including habitat-forming sponges and other invertebrates — along more than 500 kilometers of coastline.
\n
"It's completely devastating," she said.
\n
Lucille Chapuis of the School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment at La Trobe University in Melbourne said, "We can expect more algal blooms as our climate continues to warm."
\n
karlwilson@chinadailyapac.com
\n",
@@ -4351,28 +4175,6 @@
"hash": "0f4440e19b31e91265abf863f2607298",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "012WORLD - Trump sets 15% tariff for South Korea goods",
- "description": "
Vehicles for export are parked at a port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on Thursday. Shares of South Korean automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia fell on Thursday after US President Donald Trump said the US will charge a 15 percent tariff on imports from South Korea, including cars.
\n
The United States has agreed to impose 15 percent tariffs on imports from South Korea under a trade deal announced on Wednesday, easing earlier concerns over a potential 25 percent rate.
\n
Analysts have noted that while the outcome is not a worst-case scenario, it is still economically damaging for both South Korea and the US, and the impact on specific industries will depend on the detailed provisions of the agreement.
\n
US President Donald Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social that South Korea "will give to the United States 350 billion dollars for investments owned and controlled by the US, and selected by myself, as president". He also said South Korea has agreed to purchase $100 billion worth of liquefied natural gas and other energy products.
\n
South Korea's President Lee Jaemyung said the $350 billion investment pledged by South Korea will solidify the foundation for bilateral cooperation in strategic industries, such as shipbuilding, semiconductors, secondary batteries, biotechnology and energy.
\n
In particular, $150 billion will be committed exclusively for supporting the entry of South Korean shipbuilders into the US shipbuilding industry, Lee said.
\n
Yang Jun-sok, an economics professor at the Catholic University of Korea, told China Daily that the new deal was probably "the best" for South Korea from a diplomatic or negotiating perspective, but still "a bad agreement for both the US and South Korea "when considered from an economic perspective.
\n
"Since it will raise general tariffs from the current 10 percent to 15 percent, and from 0 percent to 15 percent if we consider the US-(South) Korea Free Trade Agreement," Yang said.
\n
He also cited a February study by the Industrial Bank of Korea, which estimated that for each one percentage point increase in tariffs imposed by the US, South Korea's exports to the US would fall by 0.45 percent, and exports to other countries would fall by 0.15 percent.
\n
Based on that projection, a 15 percent tariff could reduce exports to the US by 6.8 percent and to other markets by 2.25 percent — translating into a potential 0.7-0.8 percent decline in South Korea's GDP, he said.
\n
Lee Dong-won, an official at the bank, told Yonhap News Agency that "starting from the third quarter, the impact of US tariffs is likely to become more pronounced. Economic growth may slow further under the 15 percent tariff scheme".
\n
Uncertain prospects
\n
Yang noted that in the longer term, the direction of the US tariff policy remains uncertain and will depend on the trajectory of the US economy over the next two to three years. He suggested that South Korea needs to strengthen its domestic demand rather than rely on exports as the main engine of growth.
\n
South Korea's new tariff deal with the US, considered favorable as those achieved by other major trading partners, is likely to offer short-term relief for its export-dependent economy.
\n
The South Korean industrial community on Thursday welcomed the new trade agreement, which lowered Washington's "reciprocal" tariff on South Korean goods to 15 percent, though businesses remained wary about the deal's details and its potential impact on specific sectors.
\n
"I consider the 15 percent automobile tariff rate to be a considerable success in the negotiations. However, on steel-related goods, it is not yet clear whether they will be covered by 50 percent steel tariffs or 15 percent general tariffs, since home appliances are one of (South) Korea's major export items," Yang said.
\n
Yang also said that despite Seoul's pledge of a $350 billion investment package in the US, key details remain unclear — and interpretations appear to diverge between the two countries.
\n
Most of the money is expected to come from private firms, with the South Korean government providing guarantees and incentives. However, it's difficult to see how such a large sum can be achieved without affecting domestic investment, even if the government insists it will be done by readjusting overseas plans, Yang said.
\n
Yang noted that domestic labor unions could push back against large-scale overseas investments.
\n
"In the past, major (South) Korean unions have opposed foreign investment, fearing long-term job losses. And with the Yellow Envelope Act under review, it may become easier for them to protest," he added.
\n
Contact the writers at houjunjie@chinadaily.com.cn.
\n",
- "content": "
Vehicles for export are parked at a port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on Thursday. Shares of South Korean automakers Hyundai Motor and Kia fell on Thursday after US President Donald Trump said the US will charge a 15 percent tariff on imports from South Korea, including cars.
\n
The United States has agreed to impose 15 percent tariffs on imports from South Korea under a trade deal announced on Wednesday, easing earlier concerns over a potential 25 percent rate.
\n
Analysts have noted that while the outcome is not a worst-case scenario, it is still economically damaging for both South Korea and the US, and the impact on specific industries will depend on the detailed provisions of the agreement.
\n
US President Donald Trump said in a post on his social media platform Truth Social that South Korea "will give to the United States 350 billion dollars for investments owned and controlled by the US, and selected by myself, as president". He also said South Korea has agreed to purchase $100 billion worth of liquefied natural gas and other energy products.
\n
South Korea's President Lee Jaemyung said the $350 billion investment pledged by South Korea will solidify the foundation for bilateral cooperation in strategic industries, such as shipbuilding, semiconductors, secondary batteries, biotechnology and energy.
\n
In particular, $150 billion will be committed exclusively for supporting the entry of South Korean shipbuilders into the US shipbuilding industry, Lee said.
\n
Yang Jun-sok, an economics professor at the Catholic University of Korea, told China Daily that the new deal was probably "the best" for South Korea from a diplomatic or negotiating perspective, but still "a bad agreement for both the US and South Korea "when considered from an economic perspective.
\n
"Since it will raise general tariffs from the current 10 percent to 15 percent, and from 0 percent to 15 percent if we consider the US-(South) Korea Free Trade Agreement," Yang said.
\n
He also cited a February study by the Industrial Bank of Korea, which estimated that for each one percentage point increase in tariffs imposed by the US, South Korea's exports to the US would fall by 0.45 percent, and exports to other countries would fall by 0.15 percent.
\n
Based on that projection, a 15 percent tariff could reduce exports to the US by 6.8 percent and to other markets by 2.25 percent — translating into a potential 0.7-0.8 percent decline in South Korea's GDP, he said.
\n
Lee Dong-won, an official at the bank, told Yonhap News Agency that "starting from the third quarter, the impact of US tariffs is likely to become more pronounced. Economic growth may slow further under the 15 percent tariff scheme".
\n
Uncertain prospects
\n
Yang noted that in the longer term, the direction of the US tariff policy remains uncertain and will depend on the trajectory of the US economy over the next two to three years. He suggested that South Korea needs to strengthen its domestic demand rather than rely on exports as the main engine of growth.
\n
South Korea's new tariff deal with the US, considered favorable as those achieved by other major trading partners, is likely to offer short-term relief for its export-dependent economy.
\n
The South Korean industrial community on Thursday welcomed the new trade agreement, which lowered Washington's "reciprocal" tariff on South Korean goods to 15 percent, though businesses remained wary about the deal's details and its potential impact on specific sectors.
\n
"I consider the 15 percent automobile tariff rate to be a considerable success in the negotiations. However, on steel-related goods, it is not yet clear whether they will be covered by 50 percent steel tariffs or 15 percent general tariffs, since home appliances are one of (South) Korea's major export items," Yang said.
\n
Yang also said that despite Seoul's pledge of a $350 billion investment package in the US, key details remain unclear — and interpretations appear to diverge between the two countries.
\n
Most of the money is expected to come from private firms, with the South Korean government providing guarantees and incentives. However, it's difficult to see how such a large sum can be achieved without affecting domestic investment, even if the government insists it will be done by readjusting overseas plans, Yang said.
\n
Yang noted that domestic labor unions could push back against large-scale overseas investments.
\n
"In the past, major (South) Korean unions have opposed foreign investment, fearing long-term job losses. And with the Yellow Envelope Act under review, it may become easier for them to protest," he added.
\n
Contact the writers at houjunjie@chinadaily.com.cn.
An employee walks past oak barrels at a cooperage in Cognac, France, on April 3. European wine and spirit industries are alarmed by the trade deal between the United States and the European Commission.
\n
HOUSTON/SANTIAGO, Chile — US President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a blitz of tariff announcements ranging from changes to previously threatened levies on imports of copper, and goods from Brazil.
\n
The wave of announcements came as the clock ticked down toward an Aug 1 deadline for higher US tariff rates, as Trump pressed on with his bid to reshape global trade.
\n
Trump said a 50 percent tariff on copper pipes and wiring would kick in on Friday. Details of the copper levy fell short of the sweeping restrictions expected and left out copper input materials such as ores, concentrates and cathodes. The surprise move dragged down US copper prices more than 17 percent on the Comex exchange and unwound a premium over the London global benchmark that had grown in recent weeks, with shipments diverted there in anticipation of higher domestic prices.
\n
"Markets are now busily repricing refined copper much lower after Trump's epic backflip on his own import tariff policy," said Tom Price, an analyst at the London brokerage Panmure Liberum. "Someone must have finally got through to (Trump) that the US economy simply can't afford this new trade hit." Trump first teased the copper tariff in early July, implying that it would apply to all types of the red metal, ranging from cathodes produced by mines and smelters to wiring and other finished products.
\n
Yet the proclamation released by the White House said the tariff will apply only to pipes, tubes and other semifinished copper products, as well as products that copper is heavily used to manufacture, including cable and electrical components.
\n
Also on Wednesday, Trump slapped a 50 percent tariff on most Brazilian goods to fight what he has called a "witch hunt" against former president Jair Bolsonaro, but softened the blow by excluding sectors such as aircraft, energy and orange juice from the heavier levies.
\n
"We're not facing the worst-case scenario," Brazil's Treasury Secretary Rogerio Ceron told reporters. "It's a more benign outcome than it could have been." Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he would defend "the sovereignty of the Brazilian people in the face of measures announced by the president of the United States".
\n
The White House also said the United States is suspending the "de minimis" exemption that allowed low-value commercial shipments to be shipped to the US without tariffs.
\n
Under Trump's order, packages valued at or under $800 sent to the US outside of the international postal network will now face "all applicable duties" starting Aug 29, the White House said. The tax and spending bill recently signed by Trump repealed the legal basis for the "de minimis" exemption worldwide starting July 1, 2027.
\n
The US and Pakistan said they had clinched a deal that Islamabad described as leading to lower tariffs on its exports. Neither mentioned the agreed tariff rate.
\n
"We have just concluded a deal with the country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive oil reserves," Trump wrote on social media.
\n
In Europe, the European Central Bank has identified US tariff policies as one of the most significant challenges facing the eurozone economy.
\n
At a news conference last week, ECB President Christine Lagarde confirmed that front-loaded exports had helped boost euro area growth in the first quarter. But in the second quarter, countries heavily dependent on exports were hit hard by the US tariffs.
\n
The Trump administration announced in March that imports of steel and aluminum products from the EU would face a 25 percent tariff, which was raised to 50 percent by the end of May.
Closer engagement between Chinese and US business communities is likely to mitigate the risk of economic decoupling and reinforce the enduring appeal of the Chinese market to global investors, said government officials and business leaders on Thursday.
\n
They made the remarks following the latest round of China-US economic and trade talks held in Stockholm earlier this week. The two sides engaged in candid, in-depth and constructive discussions on key issues of mutual concern.
\n
Building on the consensus reached at the meeting, both sides will continue pushing for a continued extension by 90 days of the pause on 24 percent tariffs from the United States, as well as countermeasures by China, said the Ministry of Commerce.
\n
Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Wang Linjie, a spokeswoman for the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said that at the invitation of the CCPIT, a delegation of the US-China Business Council board of directors visited China from Monday to Wednesday.
\n
The delegation included senior executives from leading US enterprises such as Apple, Goldman Sachs and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
\n
During their visit to Beijing, the delegation held meetings with several Chinese government officials and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a strong presence in China and deepening their local engagement, vowing to promote the development of China-US economic and trade relations through tangible actions, said Wang.
\n
"Over the years, the business communities of both countries have formed a mutually beneficial community of shared interests and have been strong advocates for the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-US business ties," she added.
\n
Echoing these sentiments, Wang Wen, dean of Renmin University of China's Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, said that the talks in Sweden sent a clear signal that the world's two largest economies remain committed to dialogue, managing differences and promoting global stability.
\n
According to a report released by the US-China Business Council in mid-July, about 82 percent of surveyed companies reported profitable operations in China in 2024, an improvement compared to the past two years.
\n
Also on Thursday, He Yadong, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said that in the wake of the latest round of economic and trade talks between China and the US in Stockholm, China looks forward to working with the US to fully leverage the role of the bilateral economic and trade consultation mechanism, and strive for more win-win outcomes.
\n
He also said the ministry will collaborate with the European Union to ensure the effective implementation of follow-up measures stemming from the 25th China-EU Summit held in Beijing last week.
\n
Stressing that the foundation of Sino-EU economic and trade ties lies in complementarity and mutual benefit, the spokesman urged the EU to keep its market open and address the concerns of Chinese businesses.
\n
He also called on the bloc to exercise caution in deploying restrictive trade and economic measures to ensure a fair, transparent and nondiscriminatory business environment for Chinese companies operating in the EU market.
\n
China welcomes more European companies to invest, deepen their footprint and seize the vast opportunities presented by the country's growth, he added.
\n
Hu Xiaofeng, president of Ningbo Jidian Health Technology Co Ltd, a candy maker in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, said his company hopes for greater stability and predictability in China-US and China-EU trade relations to ensure long-term business stability and growth.
\n
"Stable economic and trade ties not only help reduce trade barriers and boost cooperation, but also facilitate smoother market access and improve the well-being of the people," he said.
\n
The company, with major export markets including the US and Europe, exported 419 metric tons of candy with a total value of 33.67 million yuan ($4.68 million) in the first half, representing year-on-year increases of 51.36 percent and 21.06 percent, respectively, said Ningbo Customs.
\n
zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Closer engagement between Chinese and US business communities is likely to mitigate the risk of economic decoupling and reinforce the enduring appeal of the Chinese market to global investors, said government officials and business leaders on Thursday.
\n
They made the remarks following the latest round of China-US economic and trade talks held in Stockholm earlier this week. The two sides engaged in candid, in-depth and constructive discussions on key issues of mutual concern.
\n
Building on the consensus reached at the meeting, both sides will continue pushing for a continued extension by 90 days of the pause on 24 percent tariffs from the United States, as well as countermeasures by China, said the Ministry of Commerce.
\n
Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Wang Linjie, a spokeswoman for the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said that at the invitation of the CCPIT, a delegation of the US-China Business Council board of directors visited China from Monday to Wednesday.
\n
The delegation included senior executives from leading US enterprises such as Apple, Goldman Sachs and Thermo Fisher Scientific.
\n
During their visit to Beijing, the delegation held meetings with several Chinese government officials and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a strong presence in China and deepening their local engagement, vowing to promote the development of China-US economic and trade relations through tangible actions, said Wang.
\n
"Over the years, the business communities of both countries have formed a mutually beneficial community of shared interests and have been strong advocates for the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-US business ties," she added.
\n
Echoing these sentiments, Wang Wen, dean of Renmin University of China's Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, said that the talks in Sweden sent a clear signal that the world's two largest economies remain committed to dialogue, managing differences and promoting global stability.
\n
According to a report released by the US-China Business Council in mid-July, about 82 percent of surveyed companies reported profitable operations in China in 2024, an improvement compared to the past two years.
\n
Also on Thursday, He Yadong, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said that in the wake of the latest round of economic and trade talks between China and the US in Stockholm, China looks forward to working with the US to fully leverage the role of the bilateral economic and trade consultation mechanism, and strive for more win-win outcomes.
\n
He also said the ministry will collaborate with the European Union to ensure the effective implementation of follow-up measures stemming from the 25th China-EU Summit held in Beijing last week.
\n
Stressing that the foundation of Sino-EU economic and trade ties lies in complementarity and mutual benefit, the spokesman urged the EU to keep its market open and address the concerns of Chinese businesses.
\n
He also called on the bloc to exercise caution in deploying restrictive trade and economic measures to ensure a fair, transparent and nondiscriminatory business environment for Chinese companies operating in the EU market.
\n
China welcomes more European companies to invest, deepen their footprint and seize the vast opportunities presented by the country's growth, he added.
\n
Hu Xiaofeng, president of Ningbo Jidian Health Technology Co Ltd, a candy maker in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, said his company hopes for greater stability and predictability in China-US and China-EU trade relations to ensure long-term business stability and growth.
\n
"Stable economic and trade ties not only help reduce trade barriers and boost cooperation, but also facilitate smoother market access and improve the well-being of the people," he said.
\n
The company, with major export markets including the US and Europe, exported 419 metric tons of candy with a total value of 33.67 million yuan ($4.68 million) in the first half, representing year-on-year increases of 51.36 percent and 21.06 percent, respectively, said Ningbo Customs.
AgiBot robots act as cheerleaders during a recent expo in Shanghai.
\n
AgiBot, China's most-valued embodied intelligence startup, is ramping up efforts to explore overseas markets, a senior executive said.
\n
The company is actively establishing a presence across key global regions, according to Yao Maoqing, a partner at AgiBot and president of its embodied intelligence business unit.
\n
AgiBot is valued at 15 billion yuan ($2.1 billion) and operates Shanghai's first dedicated mass-production facility for humanoid robots.
\n
"We are now deploying strategically in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia," Yao said: "Our strategy relies on localization through deep partnerships with local players, enabling us to achieve genuine globalization."
\n
Yao said AgiBot began product deliveries to overseas customers earlier this year.
\n
Drawing a parallel with historical industry trends, he said: "We've consistently observed across numerous sectors that products which successfully emerge from China's intensely competitive domestic environment often achieve rapid expansion internationally. This proven dynamic is a key strategic focus area for AgiBot."
\n
Yao was, however, candid in addressing the distinctive challenges facing AgiBot in commercializing its robots overseas compared to the domestic market.
\n
He said European and North American markets appear initially less captivated by novel interactive applications.
\n
"Instead, the primary focus falls squarely on industrial and practical use cases. Potential customers rigorously examine whether the technology possesses genuine deployment readiness, demonstrable return on investment, and clear pathways to cost reduction and efficiency gains," Yao added.
\n
Drawing upon his prior experience at companies like electric vehicle maker Nio, Yao expressed measured optimism regarding the timeline for robots to significantly impact factory operations.
\n
"We hold a relatively optimistic outlook," he said. "AgiBot secured contracts for deploying our robots in flexible manufacturing scenarios during the first half. We anticipate more tangible case studies demonstrating practical value emerging within approximately the next year."
\n
He said AgiBot systems have already achieved sequences of 10,000 consecutive operations with zero errors, nearing human-level reliability in controlled environments.
\n
Yao also disclosed some features of its next-generation product.
\n
"Our upcoming models will support hot-swapping batteries without requiring system shutdown and incorporate autonomous recharging capabilities — that function much like advanced home robot vacuums — to ensure continuous uptime."
\n
A major validation of AgiBot's technology and strategy came in early July with the announcement of a substantial 78 million yuan order from telecommunications giant China Mobile.
\n
"This contract involves the development and deployment of a custom bipedal humanoid robot specifically designed for China Mobile. Its primary function will be to perform customer-facing roles, including reception duties and interactive explanation tasks, within the operator's extensive network of service centers and retail stores," Yao said.
\n
This significant win underscores the immediate practical application of AgiBot's humanoid robots in real-world service environments.
\n
According to a guideline by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China aims to build an innovation system for humanoid robots by 2025, with breakthroughs in key technologies to ensure the safe and effective supply of core components.
\n
By 2027, China will see a secure and reliable industrial and supply chain system of humanoid robots, and related products will be deeply integrated into the real economy, the guideline added.
\n
China has made rapid progress in robotics and artificial intelligence, said Qiao Hong, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the State key laboratory of multimodal artificial intelligence systems.
\n
"Over the past three years, China has accounted for more than half of the global installations of industrial robots, and its lunar exploration robots have successfully returned with lunar soil samples," she said.
\n
Qiao pointed to the development of humanoid robots as a particularly promising area, with China establishing a core foundation of technology for large-scale, cost-effective production of high-performance robotic systems.
Domestic airlines are either introducing or expanding services that allow flyers to take their pets along with them in cabin, as demand for such travel surges, with industry observers saying that the trend could satisfy the emotional needs of passengers as well as help the carriers garner more revenue.
\n
So far this year, domestic air carriers such as China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Juneyao Air and Spring Airlines have expanded or piloted such services to cater to growing demand.
\n
More pets are now allowed to be brought into the cabin and placed under the seat in front or on an adjacent seat, with the price of a one-way ticket for a pet reaching as high as 2,000 yuan ($278).
\n
"The service can satisfy the personalized travel demand of passengers, and help airlines increase revenue by selling extra flight tickets. Introducing such as service is a way for airlines to increase profits," said Lin Zhijie, an aviation industry analyst.
\n
Since July 1, Guangzhou-based State-owned carrier China Southern has included 10 more domestic airports in the service, besides the existing nine airports.
\n
At present, the total number of pet-friendly routes has exceeded 200, after it first introduced the service in December.
\n
In addition, the carrier has raised the number of pets allowed in each flight from two to four. It has also lifted a ban on short-nosed dogs and cats. Muzzles are only required for dogs, and they must wear them during the entire duration of the journey.
\n
Meanwhile, Shanghai-based China Eastern has also added 16 additional routes since July 1, allowing passengers to fly with pets. The total number of such routes has reached 17, after the airline first launched the service in May.
\n
China Eastern said, as more people regard pets as important family members, the pain point of separation between owners and pets in air travel is becoming increasingly prominent.
\n
Earlier, services related to pet transportation in the country's civil aviation sector were pet consignment. Pets were placed in boxes and transported in the aircraft's cargo hold with oxygen supply, according to regulations.
\n
Separating owners and pets may cause pets to suffer from stress and the owners to feel anxious. Some pets were unable to be consigned due to restrictions on rules such as size and variety.
\n
"The extension of the service indicates that airlines have expanded their service models from transportation to satisfying the emotional demands of passengers. The upgrade of the service serves as an effective way for carriers to cope with homogeneous competition and increase revenues," said Chen Zhanming, deputy dean of the School of Applied Economics at Renmin University of China.
\n
Industry observers added that the service has also promoted the extension of the industry chain to upstream and downstream areas such as quarantine, insurance and tourism. The operation of pet-friendly flights may become the norm, while the improvement and implementation of relevant policies remain the key.
\n
Last year, the number of dogs and cats kept as pets in urban areas in China exceeded 120 million, and the size of their consumer market topped 300 billion yuan, according to domestic pet industry data platform petdata.cn.
\n
zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Domestic airlines are either introducing or expanding services that allow flyers to take their pets along with them in cabin, as demand for such travel surges, with industry observers saying that the trend could satisfy the emotional needs of passengers as well as help the carriers garner more revenue.
\n
So far this year, domestic air carriers such as China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Juneyao Air and Spring Airlines have expanded or piloted such services to cater to growing demand.
\n
More pets are now allowed to be brought into the cabin and placed under the seat in front or on an adjacent seat, with the price of a one-way ticket for a pet reaching as high as 2,000 yuan ($278).
\n
"The service can satisfy the personalized travel demand of passengers, and help airlines increase revenue by selling extra flight tickets. Introducing such as service is a way for airlines to increase profits," said Lin Zhijie, an aviation industry analyst.
\n
Since July 1, Guangzhou-based State-owned carrier China Southern has included 10 more domestic airports in the service, besides the existing nine airports.
\n
At present, the total number of pet-friendly routes has exceeded 200, after it first introduced the service in December.
\n
In addition, the carrier has raised the number of pets allowed in each flight from two to four. It has also lifted a ban on short-nosed dogs and cats. Muzzles are only required for dogs, and they must wear them during the entire duration of the journey.
\n
Meanwhile, Shanghai-based China Eastern has also added 16 additional routes since July 1, allowing passengers to fly with pets. The total number of such routes has reached 17, after the airline first launched the service in May.
\n
China Eastern said, as more people regard pets as important family members, the pain point of separation between owners and pets in air travel is becoming increasingly prominent.
\n
Earlier, services related to pet transportation in the country's civil aviation sector were pet consignment. Pets were placed in boxes and transported in the aircraft's cargo hold with oxygen supply, according to regulations.
\n
Separating owners and pets may cause pets to suffer from stress and the owners to feel anxious. Some pets were unable to be consigned due to restrictions on rules such as size and variety.
\n
"The extension of the service indicates that airlines have expanded their service models from transportation to satisfying the emotional demands of passengers. The upgrade of the service serves as an effective way for carriers to cope with homogeneous competition and increase revenues," said Chen Zhanming, deputy dean of the School of Applied Economics at Renmin University of China.
\n
Industry observers added that the service has also promoted the extension of the industry chain to upstream and downstream areas such as quarantine, insurance and tourism. The operation of pet-friendly flights may become the norm, while the improvement and implementation of relevant policies remain the key.
\n
Last year, the number of dogs and cats kept as pets in urban areas in China exceeded 120 million, and the size of their consumer market topped 300 billion yuan, according to domestic pet industry data platform petdata.cn.
As humanoid robots transition from product development to real-world commercialization and deployment, Beijing Galbot Co Ltd is working to crack the code to achieve scalable automation through a radical synthetic data approach.
\n
In a recent exclusive interview with China Daily, Zhang Zhizheng, co-founder of Galbot, detailed how the company's simulation-to-reality, or Sim2Real, methodology is overcoming a critical industry barrier — the prohibitively high cost of real-world data collection.
\n
The heart of Galbot's breakthrough lies in its pioneering technical paradigm — massive pre-training on a large scale and high-quality synthetic datasets followed by surgical fine-tuning with minimal real-world data. This innovative framework has drastically reduced reliance on real-world data collection.
\n
Zhang said, "We've enabled skills mastered in virtual environments to seamlessly transfer into novel real-world contexts with minimal semantic relabeling."
\n
This approach resolves the sector's persistent data scarcity crisis while dramatically enhancing training efficiency and generalization capabilities — establishing the essential groundwork for autonomous, general-purpose robots.
\n
Founded in 2023, Galbot has already raised 2.4 billion yuan ($334.8 million) from big-name investors such as battery-making giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd.
\n
Today, Galbot's humanoid robots are already operating autonomously in over 10 pharmacies in Beijing, performing complex tasks like retrieving medicines from crowded shelves and delivering orders to night-shift couriers — all without human intervention.
\n
"We plan to open 100 such stores nationwide by the end of this year," Zhang said.
\n
At the same time, the company's industrial expansion is being accelerated through its joint venture with a Bosch unit.
\n
"Galbot's systems are engineered to meet stringent industrial requirements where failure is not an option. Factories demand unwavering accuracy between 99.9 percent and 99.99 percent," he said, adding that this necessitates billions of data points to achieve robust generalization.
\n
The company is partnering with Germany's Bosch to deploy humanoid robots in factories. The JV will focus on applying embodied AI in high-precision manufacturing, such as complex assembly, aiming to drive large-scale industrial deployment of embodied AI.
\n
"I believe a commercial rollout of humanoid robots in factories is achievable within two years," Zhang said.
\n
At the 2025 World AI Conference in Shanghai in July, Galbot's robots performed live demonstrations, proving their operational maturity beyond the conceptual stage. Within a reconstructed supermarket environment designed to replicate real-world complexity, a robot executed unified cross-category handling, grasping diverse items such as soft potato chip bags and rigid bottles among cluttered shelves without preprogrammed pathways.
\n
China's humanoid robot market is expected to grow into a more than 100 billion yuan ($13.6 billion) market by 2030, up from 2.76 billion yuan in 2024, according to a report from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.
\n
Goldman Sachs Research predicts the global humanoid robot market could hit $154 billion by 2035, with optimistic projections reaching $205 billion.
\n
Xie Shaofeng, chief engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said at a news conference that the ministry has also coordinated with provincial governments to develop 11 national AI innovation pilot zones.
\n
Meanwhile, central and local authorities have jointly built specialized manufacturing innovation centers for embodied AI robots, humanoid robots and other next-generation technologies to drive the development of industrial clusters, Xie said.
",
@@ -4483,28 +4241,6 @@
"hash": "6969214dfb088e85b3ebce3f3956607f",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "014BUSINESS - AI talent mobility seen in high gear",
- "description": "
As the domestic artificial intelligence market draws increasing capital inflow and gains more support as a key innovation driver, talent in the sector has shown signs of heightened mobility this year, according to data released by Maimai, a domestic recruitment platform.
\n
As of July, 41.1 percent of employees at top AI companies in China had set their job status on the platform as "open to opportunities", indicating a strong willingness to switch jobs, said Maimai.
\n
"February marked a pivotal turning point," said Yang Ying, director of business operations at Maimai. "Since then, the number of AI professionals who switched their status to 'open to opportunities' has surged noticeably."
\n
Yang added that about 10,000 AI professionals are newly marking themselves as open to job opportunities each month, while over 1,000 companies had posted AI-related openings on the platform by the end of July.
\n
The platform categorizes job status into three types: "open to opportunities", "watching the market" and "not looking for jobs for the next six months", designed to serve as indicators of talent mobility in different industries.
\n
In contrast, professionals in the broader internet industry show significantly less job-hopping intent, with only 14.7 percent marking themselves as actively seeking new roles, as of July.
\n
"The talent supply-demand ratio in the AI sector last year was roughly one-to-one — one candidate for each job opening. But in the first half of this year, the ratio has shifted to four candidates competing for three positions," said Lin Fan, founder and CEO of Maimai. Lin also noted a 30 percent jump in the volume of AI job applications submitted in the first half of this year alone.
\n
Zhou Jian, a data analyst at the International Finance Forum, said the emerging rise of large language models such as ChatGPT was likely a watershed moment that accelerated AI development.
\n
"Landmark technological breakthroughs can draw heightened market attention, drive capital into AI-related sectors and serve as powerful catalysts for growth," Zhou said.
\n
This week, the IFF released its report on the AI sector, which identifies talent shortages as one of the major roadblocks facing the AI industry. Still, the report remains optimistic about long-term talent growth, projecting a global increase of 2.85 million AI professionals over the next five years, bringing the total to approximately 5.85 million.
\n
It also showed that currently, there are about 3 million AI professionals worldwide, with 32.6 percent based in the United States and 24.4 percent in China.
\n
The report revealed that nearly 50 percent of AI professionals are engaged in core areas like research and development (32.6 percent) and data analytics (16.2 percent), with a dominance of R&D-related hiring across major AI companies.
\n
"This situation suggests that the industry is still in an early development phase," Zhou noted.
\n
Campus recruitment data from Maimai showed that a significant portion of entry-level AI salaries still fall in the lower end. Positions offering monthly salaries under 20,000 yuan ($2,781) account for 32.5 percent, while those exceeding 50,000 yuan make up only 18.2 percent. More than 55 percent of roles offer salaries below 30,000 yuan.
\n
However, Yang from Maimai added that the recruitment platform has observed rising demand for AI talent beyond core technical roles as the country's new economy sectors accelerate AI adoption.
\n
"Opportunities are increasingly emerging in non-tech functions such as product management, HR business partnering, branding and operations," Yang said, adding that candidates with AI project experience often see a notable uptick in profile views after updating their resumes.
\n
lijiaying@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
As the domestic artificial intelligence market draws increasing capital inflow and gains more support as a key innovation driver, talent in the sector has shown signs of heightened mobility this year, according to data released by Maimai, a domestic recruitment platform.
\n
As of July, 41.1 percent of employees at top AI companies in China had set their job status on the platform as "open to opportunities", indicating a strong willingness to switch jobs, said Maimai.
\n
"February marked a pivotal turning point," said Yang Ying, director of business operations at Maimai. "Since then, the number of AI professionals who switched their status to 'open to opportunities' has surged noticeably."
\n
Yang added that about 10,000 AI professionals are newly marking themselves as open to job opportunities each month, while over 1,000 companies had posted AI-related openings on the platform by the end of July.
\n
The platform categorizes job status into three types: "open to opportunities", "watching the market" and "not looking for jobs for the next six months", designed to serve as indicators of talent mobility in different industries.
\n
In contrast, professionals in the broader internet industry show significantly less job-hopping intent, with only 14.7 percent marking themselves as actively seeking new roles, as of July.
\n
"The talent supply-demand ratio in the AI sector last year was roughly one-to-one — one candidate for each job opening. But in the first half of this year, the ratio has shifted to four candidates competing for three positions," said Lin Fan, founder and CEO of Maimai. Lin also noted a 30 percent jump in the volume of AI job applications submitted in the first half of this year alone.
\n
Zhou Jian, a data analyst at the International Finance Forum, said the emerging rise of large language models such as ChatGPT was likely a watershed moment that accelerated AI development.
\n
"Landmark technological breakthroughs can draw heightened market attention, drive capital into AI-related sectors and serve as powerful catalysts for growth," Zhou said.
\n
This week, the IFF released its report on the AI sector, which identifies talent shortages as one of the major roadblocks facing the AI industry. Still, the report remains optimistic about long-term talent growth, projecting a global increase of 2.85 million AI professionals over the next five years, bringing the total to approximately 5.85 million.
\n
It also showed that currently, there are about 3 million AI professionals worldwide, with 32.6 percent based in the United States and 24.4 percent in China.
\n
The report revealed that nearly 50 percent of AI professionals are engaged in core areas like research and development (32.6 percent) and data analytics (16.2 percent), with a dominance of R&D-related hiring across major AI companies.
\n
"This situation suggests that the industry is still in an early development phase," Zhou noted.
\n
Campus recruitment data from Maimai showed that a significant portion of entry-level AI salaries still fall in the lower end. Positions offering monthly salaries under 20,000 yuan ($2,781) account for 32.5 percent, while those exceeding 50,000 yuan make up only 18.2 percent. More than 55 percent of roles offer salaries below 30,000 yuan.
\n
However, Yang from Maimai added that the recruitment platform has observed rising demand for AI talent beyond core technical roles as the country's new economy sectors accelerate AI adoption.
\n
"Opportunities are increasingly emerging in non-tech functions such as product management, HR business partnering, branding and operations," Yang said, adding that candidates with AI project experience often see a notable uptick in profile views after updating their resumes.
Practicing calligraphy and seal engraving has long been essential to the self-cultivation of Chinese artists and scholars. Technical mastery ultimately serves the deeper purpose of achieving cultural refinement. Diligent Study on Calligraphy, an ongoing exhibition at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing until Aug 12, unveils the spiritual world of Zhao Yanguo, an artist based in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. The show features more than 30 sets of his calligraphic scrolls and engraved seals.
\n
Zhao's works invite audiences into a scholarly atmosphere, reflecting his years of pursuit in building a spiritual link with the masters of ancient times and to form his own style to carry on China's cultural lineage.
Although lesser known today, Hu Gentian (1892-1985) played a crucial role in promoting modern art and fine art education in 20th-century Guangdong province.
\n
Hu Gentian and the Western Art Development in 20th Century Guangdong, an ongoing exhibition at the Art Museum of Beijing Fine Art Academy, sheds light on this pioneering figure of art development and education in Guangdong, where he hailed from, lived and worked for the most of his life. The exhibition runs through Aug 24.
\n
Once trained in Japan, Hu introduced Western artistic techniques and educational concepts to China, planting the seeds of modernism. He mentored young homegrown artists, some of whom later joined him in reshaping the art education system. Together, they transformed the modern art landscape of Guangdong and southern China in the 20th century.
\n
9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 12 Chaoyang Gongyuan (Park) Nan Lu, Beijing.010-6502-5171.
\n
Spiritual realm
\n
Eight Great Prose Masters of Tang and Song, now open in the gallery of the China National Academy of Painting, is an exhibition that pays tribute to eight outstanding writers of the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, including the "three Sus" — Su Xun and his equally renowned sons, Su Shi and Su Zhe.
\n
Their eloquent prose left a lasting impact on Chinese literature and culture, with their works still included in school curricula and dramatized in historical television series. The paintings are on show until next Thursday. They visualize the scenes, poetic atmosphere and spiritual realms that were described by the masters, marking their intellectual heights and humanism. The exhibition invites audiences to experience the timeless beauty and humanism of classic Chinese literature.
\n",
@@ -4527,28 +4263,6 @@
"hash": "3c486524aa4bb5b5bf5c5687c528d75b",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "017LIFE - Museum opens doors for 168 hours to catch last glimpse of ancient Egypt",
- "description": "
A cruise along the Huangpu River in Shanghai shows an advertisement for the Egypt exhibition.
\n
Exhibition dolls are placed in tourist hotspots.
\n
The Shanghai Museum's gate will be open for 168 hours straight from Aug 11 to 17 during the final week of its largest exhibition, On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt, it announced on Tuesday.
\n
Hailed as the largest exhibition of ancient Egyptian artifacts ever held outside their native country, On Top of the Pyramid represents a pioneering collaboration between an official Chinese museum and the Egyptian government. Nearly 95 percent of the 780 artifacts on display are making their debut appearance in Asia. After opening on July 19, 2024, its 13-month run at the Shanghai Museum on People's Square will soon come to an end.
\n
The exhibition has set one of the highest attendance records worldwide for a single-ticket museum exhibition of cultural relics. As of Monday, it received nearly 2.6 million visitors, and it is expected that the total number of visitors will exceed 2.7 million by the time it closes. Nearly 70 percent of the attendees have come from outside Shanghai, according to Chu Xiaobo, director of the Shanghai Museum.
\n
Thanks to the exhibition, the museum achieved revenue of more than 400 million yuan ($55.74 million) from 449 cultural activities and derivative product sales. According to the museum, the exhibition has increased comprehensive consumption by over 20 billion yuan in Shanghai.
\n
As the exhibition comes to a close, the museum has found that many people have difficulty booking a reservation to visit. "We decided to keep the exhibition open for 168 hours nonstop to allow as many people as possible a final opportunity to see the Egyptian artifacts," Chu says.
\n
On Aug 11 and 17, two grand carnival events will take place, with interactive games, live Egyptian drum performances, Egyptian-themed cosplay parades, acrobatics, and magic shows.
\n
Participants will be able to enter lucky draws to win round-trip tickets from Shanghai to Cairo and an eight-day all-inclusive travel experience in Egypt.
\n
Most of the museum merchandise featuring Egyptian culture will be sold at half price during the final week.
\n
Marketplace events will be held each day from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm in the public square in front of the Shanghai Museum's south gate, featuring renowned Shanghai brands that will showcase 200 types of snacks and other products.
\n
The museum has introduced half-price tickets for late-night visitors during the final week. A total of 3,000 tickets priced at 74 yuan will be available each night. Visitors can enter the museum anytime from midnight to 6 am with a purchased ticket and stay for unlimited hours, according to Huang He, deputy director of the museum.
\n
On Aug 11, the Shanghai Museum will launch a new book, Pyramids in China: Behind the Scenes of the Ancient Egyptian Civilization Exhibition. Compiled by the Shanghai Museum and published by Yilin Press, the book will reveal the challenges that were faced behind the phenomenal exhibition. The book will debut at the Shanghai Book Fair on Aug 13, and an electronic edition will also be launched.
\n
"We have arranged the shift schedules for our staff and recruited volunteers to make sure no one will be overworked," Chu says. The museum will also arrange medical staff on duty throughout the 168 hours. "We will do everything we can to ensure the safety of our visitors and staff," he says.
\n",
- "content": "
A cruise along the Huangpu River in Shanghai shows an advertisement for the Egypt exhibition.
\n
Exhibition dolls are placed in tourist hotspots.
\n
The Shanghai Museum's gate will be open for 168 hours straight from Aug 11 to 17 during the final week of its largest exhibition, On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt, it announced on Tuesday.
\n
Hailed as the largest exhibition of ancient Egyptian artifacts ever held outside their native country, On Top of the Pyramid represents a pioneering collaboration between an official Chinese museum and the Egyptian government. Nearly 95 percent of the 780 artifacts on display are making their debut appearance in Asia. After opening on July 19, 2024, its 13-month run at the Shanghai Museum on People's Square will soon come to an end.
\n
The exhibition has set one of the highest attendance records worldwide for a single-ticket museum exhibition of cultural relics. As of Monday, it received nearly 2.6 million visitors, and it is expected that the total number of visitors will exceed 2.7 million by the time it closes. Nearly 70 percent of the attendees have come from outside Shanghai, according to Chu Xiaobo, director of the Shanghai Museum.
\n
Thanks to the exhibition, the museum achieved revenue of more than 400 million yuan ($55.74 million) from 449 cultural activities and derivative product sales. According to the museum, the exhibition has increased comprehensive consumption by over 20 billion yuan in Shanghai.
\n
As the exhibition comes to a close, the museum has found that many people have difficulty booking a reservation to visit. "We decided to keep the exhibition open for 168 hours nonstop to allow as many people as possible a final opportunity to see the Egyptian artifacts," Chu says.
\n
On Aug 11 and 17, two grand carnival events will take place, with interactive games, live Egyptian drum performances, Egyptian-themed cosplay parades, acrobatics, and magic shows.
\n
Participants will be able to enter lucky draws to win round-trip tickets from Shanghai to Cairo and an eight-day all-inclusive travel experience in Egypt.
\n
Most of the museum merchandise featuring Egyptian culture will be sold at half price during the final week.
\n
Marketplace events will be held each day from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm in the public square in front of the Shanghai Museum's south gate, featuring renowned Shanghai brands that will showcase 200 types of snacks and other products.
\n
The museum has introduced half-price tickets for late-night visitors during the final week. A total of 3,000 tickets priced at 74 yuan will be available each night. Visitors can enter the museum anytime from midnight to 6 am with a purchased ticket and stay for unlimited hours, according to Huang He, deputy director of the museum.
\n
On Aug 11, the Shanghai Museum will launch a new book, Pyramids in China: Behind the Scenes of the Ancient Egyptian Civilization Exhibition. Compiled by the Shanghai Museum and published by Yilin Press, the book will reveal the challenges that were faced behind the phenomenal exhibition. The book will debut at the Shanghai Book Fair on Aug 13, and an electronic edition will also be launched.
\n
"We have arranged the shift schedules for our staff and recruited volunteers to make sure no one will be overworked," Chu says. The museum will also arrange medical staff on duty throughout the 168 hours. "We will do everything we can to ensure the safety of our visitors and staff," he says.
Luis Diaz in action for Liverpool during an English Premier League match in April. Bayern Munich on Wednesday completed the signing of the Colombian winger for a fee, including add-ons, that could reportedly reach 75 million euros ($86.5 million).
\n\n
MUNICH — Bayern Munich on Wednesday signed forward Luis Diaz from Premier League champion Liverpool for a fee that could reportedly rise to 75 million euros ($86.5 million).
\n
The Colombian winger, who won the Premier League, FA Cup and two League Cups during his three-and-a-half years at Anfield, has signed a contract with the Bundesliga champion until 2029.
\n
The fee paid for Diaz, which includes add-ons, is the third-highest in Bayern's history.
\n
Diaz, 28, said in a statement on the club's website that he was "very happy" to be joining the 34-time German champion.
\n
"It means a lot to me to be part of FC Bayern. They're one of the biggest clubs in the world," he said.
\n
"I want to help my new team with my way of playing football and my character.
\n
"My goal is to win every possible title, and that's what we'll work for every day as a team."
\n
Writing on Instagram, Diaz said he would "treasure forever" his time at Liverpool, adding that he was "proud of everything we achieved together".
\n
He mentioned his late teammate Diogo Jota, who died in a car accident in Spain last month.
\n
"I carry everyone with me in my heart, but one of them in particular: Diogo (Jota). I will never forget him. We will never forget him. Thank you for everything."
\n
Portugal forward Jota showed his support for Diaz when the Colombian's father was kidnapped in October 2023, holding up a shirt bearing his teammate's name after scoring a goal.
\n
Diaz's father was snatched by rebels in his hometown of Barrancas and held hostage for 12 days, before being released unharmed.
\n
The winger made 50 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool last season, scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists, as Arne Slot's team clinched the English league title for a record-equaling 20th time.
\n
Diaz, who arrived at Anfield from Porto in January 2022, was the club's second-leading goalscorer in the Premier League behind Mohamed Salah, scoring 13 times.
\n
His arrival gives Bayern a quality replacement for Germany forward Jamal Musiala, who has been ruled out for a "long period" after suffering a broken leg at the recent Club World Cup.
\n
Bayern needed extra firepower after veteran Thomas Muller left the club, and Leroy Sane moved to Turkish giant Galatasaray.
\n
"Luis creates a real goal threat and is a scorer, who, at the same time, works incredibly hard for his team," said Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund.
\n
"He's a quick, versatile footballer, and brings an intense style of play to the game. He's also gained a lot of experience at the top level with Liverpool and the Colombian national team. Luis Diaz represents a complete package that will thrill our fans."
\n
The only two bigger transfer fees paid by Bayern were 95 million euros for England captain Harry Kane in 2023 and 80 million for French international Lucas Hernandez in 2019.
\n
Diaz trained with his new teammates and coach Vincent Kompany for the first time in Munich on Wednesday and could face French side Lyon in a friendly this weekend.
\n
Sunderland signs Xhaka
\n
Premier League newcomer Sunderland on Wednesday announced the signing of midfielder Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported fee of 17.3 million pounds ($23 million).
\n
The 32-year-old Swiss international, who previously captained Arsenal, has signed a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light.
\n
Xhaka left the Gunners in 2023 and won the Bundesliga and German Cup with Leverkusen during his spell at the club.
\n
"I'm very proud to be here," he said. "When I spoke to the club, I was excited, and I felt the energy and the mentality that all the people and players have.
\n
"It's exactly what I wanted, and I have a very good feeling. We are back to where this club needs to be, and we want to stay here to write our own history."
\n
Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman said he was delighted that Xhaka had joined.
\n
"His arrival is a significant endorsement of our ambition and our desire to build a team that our supporters can be proud of in the Premier League," he said.
\n
"His accomplishments and quality need little introduction — he's a player of the highest caliber, on and off the field, who we feel is perfect to match the profile required by our team."
\n
Xhaka's switch to Sunderland is the latest signing in a busy transfer window for the club, promoted to the Premier League in May via the Championship play-offs.
\n
Sunderland opens its Premier League campaign on Aug 16 at home against West Ham.
Kolton Miller, one of the NFL's leading left tackles, signed a three-year, $66 million extension with the Las Vegas Raiders, with $42.5 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the contract said Wednesday.
\n
That person spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity because the terms have not yet been announced. The Raiders confirmed that only an extension has been signed.
\n
Miller, the 15th overall pick of the 2018 draft out of UCLA, has been one of the NFL's leading left tackles. He started all 17 games last season, allowing quarterback pressures on 9.8 percent of passing plays, ninth lowest among tackles with at least 600 snaps. He also has been penalized on just 2.8 percent of all snaps since 2018, second lowest among all tackles over that time.
\n
Miller entered training camp with just one year left on his contract, but decided to practice rather than hold out.
\n
"I want to be a Raider for life," Miller said last month during mini-camp. "I love it here. I don't want to go anywhere else. I only know one way to do it, and that's showing up getting better each day."
\n",
- "content": "
Kolton Miller, one of the NFL's leading left tackles, signed a three-year, $66 million extension with the Las Vegas Raiders, with $42.5 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the contract said Wednesday.
\n
That person spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity because the terms have not yet been announced. The Raiders confirmed that only an extension has been signed.
\n
Miller, the 15th overall pick of the 2018 draft out of UCLA, has been one of the NFL's leading left tackles. He started all 17 games last season, allowing quarterback pressures on 9.8 percent of passing plays, ninth lowest among tackles with at least 600 snaps. He also has been penalized on just 2.8 percent of all snaps since 2018, second lowest among all tackles over that time.
\n
Miller entered training camp with just one year left on his contract, but decided to practice rather than hold out.
\n
"I want to be a Raider for life," Miller said last month during mini-camp. "I love it here. I don't want to go anywhere else. I only know one way to do it, and that's showing up getting better each day."
Coached by former Chinese national forward Abdusalam Abdurexit (top), 12-year-old Memettursunjan Erkin plays in a national youth league competition organized by the Yao Foundation, launched by Chinese basketball icon Yao Ming.
\n
Memettursunjan grew up withdrawn, watching other kids run and play from the window. Then, at six years old, he saw a video of NBA star Stephen Curry — not the tallest, not the strongest, but fearless and skillful — and something clicked. "Basketball looked fun," he said. "It felt like someone like me could belong."
\n
With the sun high over the basketball court, Meme ttursunjan Erkin darted past his defender, pivoted and zipped a perfect bounce pass to a teammate. He clapped his hands, calling for a huddle.
\n
Small in stature, he does not stand out at first glance — until one notices the gleaming prosthetic attached to his right leg.
\n
"I just want to play like everyone else," the 12-year-old said. "When I'm on the court, I forget about my leg."
\n
Born in 2013 in Shufu county, on the western edge of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Memettursunjan came into the world missing part of his right leg. His parents, farmers with limited schooling, were overwhelmed and unsure how to raise a child with a disability.
\n
Memettursunjan grew up withdrawn, watching other children run and play from the window. "Walking with a prosthetic was hard. So I stayed home," he said.
\n
Then, at six years old, he saw a video of NBA star Stephen Curry — not the tallest, not the strongest, but fearless and skillful. Something clicked.
\n
"Basketball looked fun," he said. "It felt like someone like me could belong."
\n
His father scraped together enough to buy a used basketball. The court, however, was unforgiving. The prosthetic chafed, his balance wobbled, and other boys ran circles around him. "I couldn't beat anyone," he said. "I wanted to give up."
\n
But he did not.
\n
"I cried at night," Memettursunjan recalled. "But, in the morning, I told myself: 'Real men don't quit.'"
\n
'Pushing forward'
\n
Outside his home, Memettursunjan tied a bent wire hoop to a tree and practiced for hours — shooting, chasing rebounds on one good leg, falling and getting back up. He learned to play smarter. If he could not outrun opponents, he could outthink them. If he could not jump, he could pass.
\n
The work paid off. He made the school team, not as a special case, but through grit and skill.
\n
Coach Hu Deliang still remembers a warm-up session when Memettursunjan's prosthetic leg detached in front of everyone. "He calmly picked it up, reattached it, and said, 'I'm fine, coach,'" Hu said. "He was more afraid I'd stop him from training."
\n
Memettursunjan had found confidence. "Now I joke with my teammates, help with drills. Basketball gave me something more than a game. It gave me myself."
\n
That confidence took him this summer to a national youth league organized by the Yao Foundation, launched by Chinese basketball icon Yao Ming. For the first time, he traveled beyond his hometown — and played in front of his basketball idols.
\n
Former Chinese national forward Abdusalam Abdurexit, a Xinjiang native who returned from a career-threatening ACL injury to win CBA MVP, served as guest coach. "He's not waiting to be carried — he's pushing forward," Abdusalam said. "I see a bit of myself in him."
\n
Former CBA guard Han Delong agreed: "He's tough, patient, joyful — and still just a boy. Basketball might stay with him forever, or maybe it will open other doors. Either way, he's going far."
\n
More than 400 kilometers away in Atush, 12-year-old Kawsar Hasmjan sprints down a soccer pitch. He lost his left arm in a car accident, but his speed and field vision command attention. "Sports showed me I'm stronger than my body," Kawsar said. "It taught me I can still lead."
\n
"What we see in Xinjiang today is hunger, energy, and talent," said Jiang Ying, a trustee of the Yao Foundation. "No child should be left behind — not by geography, not by circumstance."
\n
Growing momentum
\n
The journeys of Memettursunjan and Kawsar are more than personal triumphs, they are part of a broader transformation in southern Xinjiang, where grassroots and school sports are gaining momentum.
\n
In Yecheng county, nestled between the Taklamakan Desert and the Kunlun Mountains, a basketball team composed of farmers, teachers and township workers recently made national headlines. Last year, they traveled to Guizhou province and won China's "Village BA" championship, sparking a local sports frenzy.
\n
This April, Yecheng hosted its own invitational tournament in a packed gymnasium, backed not by major sponsors, but by local pilaf restaurants and walnut growers. The enthusiasm is built on a decade of grassroots investment.
\n
Since 2012, Yecheng has distributed more than 300,000 basketballs to rural youths and built more than 765 courts, servicing 26 townships, 317 villages and 52 communities. In 2024 alone, it held more than 100 village-level tournaments.
\n
In Bachu county, students at No 3 Middle School no longer chase balls on dusty fields. The school recently added more than 20,000 square meters of new sports grounds, including a seven-a-side soccer pitch.
\n
It now employs 13 soccer coaches, five with certification from either the Chinese Football Association or the Asian Football Confederation.
\n
In 2025, the school joined the youth training system of Shanghai Port FC, offering a professional pathway for talented players from the region.
\n
"My dream isn't just to be great," Memettursunjan said.
\n
"It's to keep playing, keep growing, and, maybe, help someone else do the same."
",
@@ -4615,28 +4307,6 @@
"hash": "df07655e24b33311d54f18fd17c41fe3",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "001FRONT - CPC plenum to focus on next five-year plan",
- "description": "
The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China will hold its fourth plenary session in October in Beijing, with a focus on deliberating the next five-year plan for the country's social and economic development.
\n
The announcement came on Wednesday after a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, which was presided over by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
\n
According to the main agenda of the upcoming session, the Political Bureau will report its work to the CPC Central Committee and study the proposals for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, China's strategic road map for national economic and social development between 2026 and 2030, according to a statement issued after Wednesday's meeting.
\n
It was noted at the meeting that the next five years is a crucial period for consolidating the foundation and making comprehensive efforts to basically realize socialist modernization.
\n
As China is facing profound and complex changes in its development environment, with strategic opportunities, risks and challenges coexisting and uncertainties and unforeseen factors growing, it is essential to maintain strategic focus, strengthen confidence in certain victory, actively adapt to the changes, secure strategic initiative in fierce international competitions, and make significant breakthroughs in the strategic task of promoting Chinese modernization, the statement said.
\n
It is important to accelerate the building of a new development paradigm, consider both domestic and international situations in a coordinated way, and balance development and security, in order to promote the economy's effective upgrade in terms of quality and facilitate its appropriate growth in terms of quantity, the statement added.
\n
The meeting's participants highlighted the need to promote the overall well-being of the people, make solid strides toward common prosperity for all, and ensure that decisive progress is made in realizing socialist modernization.
\n
Five-year plans serve as comprehensive blueprints for China's economic and social advancement, outlining the goals, strategies and priorities across various sectors for each period.
\n
Featuring continuity, forward-looking strategic planning and effective implementation, the five-year plans have been instrumental in pushing forward the country's development in all sectors over the past decades since the launch of the first Five-Year Plan (1953-57).
\n
At the Political Bureau meeting on Wednesday, the current economic situation was analyzed and arrangements for economic work in the second half of the year were made.
\n
The meeting's participants emphasized the need to give full play to macroeconomic policies, strive to expand domestic demand on all fronts, steadfastly deepen reform and opening-up, promote the deep integration of technological and industrial innovations, and make solid steps to ensure people's livelihoods.
\n
In exercising monetary policy, they emphasized the need to maintain ample liquidity to help reduce overall social financing cost. It is necessary to effectively utilize various structural monetary policy tools to support technological innovation, boost consumption, assist small and micro-sized enterprises, and stabilize foreign trade, they said.
\n
It was noted at the meeting that efforts should be made to stimulate the vitality of private capital and expand effective investment, address production capacity issues in key industries, and energize the vitality of various types of market entities.
\n
While highlighting the need to stabilize the fundamentals of foreign trade and foreign investment, the meeting's participants called for assisting foreign trade enterprises facing significant shocks, optimizing export tax rebate policies, and building high-level pilot free trade zones and other platforms for opening-up.
\n
They also underlined the need to actively and prudently resolve local government debt risks, enhance the attractiveness and inclusiveness of the domestic capital market, and consolidate the momentum of the upturn in the country's capital market.
\n
Further efforts should be made to manage flood response and ensure energy supply in summer, they added.
\n
Prior to Wednesday's Political Bureau meeting, the CPC Central Committee held a symposium on July 23 with non-CPC personages to solicit opinions and suggestions on the current economic situation and the economic work for the second half of this year.
\n
While presiding over the symposium, Xi said that in the first half of the year, China's economy made steady progress while maintaining stability, and it also helped maintain overall social stability.
\n
This demonstrates that China's economic foundation is solid and has multiple strengths, strong resilience and great potential, and that the positive factors supporting high-quality development are continuously accumulating, he said.
\n
Noting that the country's economy still faces many risks and challenges, Xi underscored the need to properly understand the situation, enhance the awareness of potential dangers, think about the worst-case scenario, and make good use of development opportunities, potential and advantages to consolidate and expand the positive momentum of economic recovery and improvement.
\n
In terms of economic work in the second half, Xi emphasized the importance of maintaining the consistency and stability of policies and enhancing their flexibility and foreseeability, as well as stabilizing employment, enterprises, the market and expectations.
\n
He underscored the need to vigorously boost consumption, address "rat race" competition, facilitate domestic circulation while reinforcing the dual circulation of domestic and international markets, and strive to meet the economic and social development goals for the year.
\n
It has been a long-held practice for the CPC to solicit suggestions and opinions on major policies and decisions of the CPC and the country from non-Communist parties, leading figures of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and those with no party affiliation.
The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China will hold its fourth plenary session in October in Beijing, with a focus on deliberating the next five-year plan for the country's social and economic development.
\n
The announcement came on Wednesday after a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, which was presided over by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
\n
According to the main agenda of the upcoming session, the Political Bureau will report its work to the CPC Central Committee and study the proposals for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, China's strategic road map for national economic and social development between 2026 and 2030, according to a statement issued after Wednesday's meeting.
\n
It was noted at the meeting that the next five years is a crucial period for consolidating the foundation and making comprehensive efforts to basically realize socialist modernization.
\n
As China is facing profound and complex changes in its development environment, with strategic opportunities, risks and challenges coexisting and uncertainties and unforeseen factors growing, it is essential to maintain strategic focus, strengthen confidence in certain victory, actively adapt to the changes, secure strategic initiative in fierce international competitions, and make significant breakthroughs in the strategic task of promoting Chinese modernization, the statement said.
\n
It is important to accelerate the building of a new development paradigm, consider both domestic and international situations in a coordinated way, and balance development and security, in order to promote the economy's effective upgrade in terms of quality and facilitate its appropriate growth in terms of quantity, the statement added.
\n
The meeting's participants highlighted the need to promote the overall well-being of the people, make solid strides toward common prosperity for all, and ensure that decisive progress is made in realizing socialist modernization.
\n
Five-year plans serve as comprehensive blueprints for China's economic and social advancement, outlining the goals, strategies and priorities across various sectors for each period.
\n
Featuring continuity, forward-looking strategic planning and effective implementation, the five-year plans have been instrumental in pushing forward the country's development in all sectors over the past decades since the launch of the first Five-Year Plan (1953-57).
\n
At the Political Bureau meeting on Wednesday, the current economic situation was analyzed and arrangements for economic work in the second half of the year were made.
\n
The meeting's participants emphasized the need to give full play to macroeconomic policies, strive to expand domestic demand on all fronts, steadfastly deepen reform and opening-up, promote the deep integration of technological and industrial innovations, and make solid steps to ensure people's livelihoods.
\n
In exercising monetary policy, they emphasized the need to maintain ample liquidity to help reduce overall social financing cost. It is necessary to effectively utilize various structural monetary policy tools to support technological innovation, boost consumption, assist small and micro-sized enterprises, and stabilize foreign trade, they said.
\n
It was noted at the meeting that efforts should be made to stimulate the vitality of private capital and expand effective investment, address production capacity issues in key industries, and energize the vitality of various types of market entities.
\n
While highlighting the need to stabilize the fundamentals of foreign trade and foreign investment, the meeting's participants called for assisting foreign trade enterprises facing significant shocks, optimizing export tax rebate policies, and building high-level pilot free trade zones and other platforms for opening-up.
\n
They also underlined the need to actively and prudently resolve local government debt risks, enhance the attractiveness and inclusiveness of the domestic capital market, and consolidate the momentum of the upturn in the country's capital market.
\n
Further efforts should be made to manage flood response and ensure energy supply in summer, they added.
\n
Prior to Wednesday's Political Bureau meeting, the CPC Central Committee held a symposium on July 23 with non-CPC personages to solicit opinions and suggestions on the current economic situation and the economic work for the second half of this year.
\n
While presiding over the symposium, Xi said that in the first half of the year, China's economy made steady progress while maintaining stability, and it also helped maintain overall social stability.
\n
This demonstrates that China's economic foundation is solid and has multiple strengths, strong resilience and great potential, and that the positive factors supporting high-quality development are continuously accumulating, he said.
\n
Noting that the country's economy still faces many risks and challenges, Xi underscored the need to properly understand the situation, enhance the awareness of potential dangers, think about the worst-case scenario, and make good use of development opportunities, potential and advantages to consolidate and expand the positive momentum of economic recovery and improvement.
\n
In terms of economic work in the second half, Xi emphasized the importance of maintaining the consistency and stability of policies and enhancing their flexibility and foreseeability, as well as stabilizing employment, enterprises, the market and expectations.
\n
He underscored the need to vigorously boost consumption, address "rat race" competition, facilitate domestic circulation while reinforcing the dual circulation of domestic and international markets, and strive to meet the economic and social development goals for the year.
\n
It has been a long-held practice for the CPC to solicit suggestions and opinions on major policies and decisions of the CPC and the country from non-Communist parties, leading figures of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and those with no party affiliation.
Participants in a naval study camp line up and salute on a decommissioned missile frigate at the Qingdao Marine Military Exhibition Hall in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Wednesday. With Army Day, which falls on Friday, approaching, the exhibition hall welcomed students from across China for the camp. They toured patriotic education bases, inspected retired military equipment and listened to heroic stories, learning basic military knowledge and cultivating a strong sense of national defense through red-themed educational programs.
Li Chenggang, China's international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice-minister of commerce, briefs the media on Tuesday following the new round of economic and trade talks between China and the United States in Stockholm, Sweden.
\n
The United States should work with China to continue to enhance consensus, reduce misunderstandings, strengthen cooperation, further deepen dialogue and consultations, and strive for more win-win outcomes, Vice-Premier He Lifeng said in Sweden late on Tuesday.
\n
A stable, healthy and sustainable China-US economic and trade relationship serves not only the two countries' respective development goals, but also contributes to global economic growth and stability, he emphasized.
\n
The vice-premier made the remarks during the new round of China-US economic and trade consultations in Stockholm, which were held on Monday and Tuesday with US lead negotiator Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
\n
Based on the meeting consensus, both sides will continue pushing for a continued extension by 90 days of the pause on 24 percent reciprocal tariffs of the US, as well as countermeasures by China.
\n
Li Chenggang, China's international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice-minister of commerce, said at a news briefing after two days of consultations that both sides were fully aware of the importance of safeguarding stable and sound China-US trade and economic relations, and the teams from both sides agreed to continue to maintain close contact on key issues of mutual interest.
\n
US Treasury Secretary Bessent described the talks in Stockholm as "constructive".
\n
The latest round of economic and trade talks between the world's two largest economies was the third in recent months. All have been aimed at smoothing frayed trade relations and easing the triple-digit levies placed on each other's goods earlier this year.
\n
In May, the two sides agreed during talks in Geneva to a 90-day pause of the sky-high levels previously set for tariffs. US levies were then set at 30 percent on Chinese imports to the US, while US products to China were given a 10 percent tariff. As of Tuesday evening, those rates remained in place.
\n
In another development, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on Wednesday with a delegation of the board of directors of the US-China Business Council in Beijing.
\n
China hopes to strengthen contacts with the US to avoid misjudgment and manage their differences, Wang said, adding that China will handle and develop its ties with the US following the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.
\n
China's policy toward the US has been continuous and stable, and China stands ready to implement the common understandings reached by the two countries' heads of state to promote the steady, sound and sustainable development of bilateral relations, he said.
\n
More channels for communication and consultation should be set up between the two countries, the foreign minister said.
\n
Commerce Minister Wang Wentao also met on Wednesday with the delegation. Wang said that opening-up is China's fundamental national policy, and the country's door will only open wider.
\n
"With one of the largest consumer markets in the world, China offers tremendous growth potential and innovation vitality," said Wang, adding that China welcomes companies from all countries, including the US, to invest in its market.
\n
Rajesh Subramaniam, board chair of the US-China Business Council, said the council welcomes the continued dialogue and positive outcomes achieved by the economic and trade teams of both sides.
\n
China has sent a strong signal to the world of its commitment to further reform and continued opening-up, which has helped boost market confidence, he said.
\n
Deeply intertwined
\n
Despite trade tensions between China and the US, the two economies remain deeply intertwined, with the US market exhibiting a strong dependence on China's manufacturing sector that would be extremely costly for Washington to unwind, said Chen Wenling, former chief economist at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.
\n
The new extension of the tariff truce will give the world's two largest economies more time to seek more substantive and mutually beneficial solutions, Chen said.
\n
Economists and business leaders around the world are closely watching the next steps, as tariffs have caused widespread uncertainty in most industries.
\n
David A. Gantz, an economist at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in the US, said he believes that the specific tariffs will have a big effect on the global economy.
\n
The increased US tariffs on steel, aluminum, copper and automotive goods, and on other goods imported from virtually all US trading partners, will have a negative impact on the US economy, Gantz told China Daily.
\n
Liu Min, president of Yuyao Huanchain Electric Co, a Ningbo, Zhejiang province-based manufacturer of electrical wires and cables, said his company hopes for further stability and predictability in China-US trade ties to sustain its business growth.
\n
"By continuously analyzing and responding to customer needs, we have developed new products for container trucks with strong customer loyalty in the US market, helping us mitigate the impact of additional US tariffs," said Liu.
\n
The Chinese company recorded over $10 million in exports to the US in the first half of 2025, marking a 28.25 percent year-on-year increase, according to Ningbo Customs.
\n
Li Yong, a senior fellow at the China Association of International Trade in Beijing, said that cooperation based on rules and consensus can help prevent the harm caused by unilateral sanctions and confrontation. Dialogue is the only right way forward, he emphasized.
\n
Liu Ying, a researcher at Renmin University of China's Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, said stable China-US business ties can help companies on both sides stabilize expectations and better navigate uncertainties in the global market.
\n
Wang Lingjun, vice-minister of the General Administration of Customs, said that the essence of China-US economic and trade cooperation lies in mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
\n
Contact the writers at zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Li Chenggang, China's international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice-minister of commerce, briefs the media on Tuesday following the new round of economic and trade talks between China and the United States in Stockholm, Sweden.
\n
The United States should work with China to continue to enhance consensus, reduce misunderstandings, strengthen cooperation, further deepen dialogue and consultations, and strive for more win-win outcomes, Vice-Premier He Lifeng said in Sweden late on Tuesday.
\n
A stable, healthy and sustainable China-US economic and trade relationship serves not only the two countries' respective development goals, but also contributes to global economic growth and stability, he emphasized.
\n
The vice-premier made the remarks during the new round of China-US economic and trade consultations in Stockholm, which were held on Monday and Tuesday with US lead negotiator Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
\n
Based on the meeting consensus, both sides will continue pushing for a continued extension by 90 days of the pause on 24 percent reciprocal tariffs of the US, as well as countermeasures by China.
\n
Li Chenggang, China's international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice-minister of commerce, said at a news briefing after two days of consultations that both sides were fully aware of the importance of safeguarding stable and sound China-US trade and economic relations, and the teams from both sides agreed to continue to maintain close contact on key issues of mutual interest.
\n
US Treasury Secretary Bessent described the talks in Stockholm as "constructive".
\n
The latest round of economic and trade talks between the world's two largest economies was the third in recent months. All have been aimed at smoothing frayed trade relations and easing the triple-digit levies placed on each other's goods earlier this year.
\n
In May, the two sides agreed during talks in Geneva to a 90-day pause of the sky-high levels previously set for tariffs. US levies were then set at 30 percent on Chinese imports to the US, while US products to China were given a 10 percent tariff. As of Tuesday evening, those rates remained in place.
\n
In another development, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on Wednesday with a delegation of the board of directors of the US-China Business Council in Beijing.
\n
China hopes to strengthen contacts with the US to avoid misjudgment and manage their differences, Wang said, adding that China will handle and develop its ties with the US following the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.
\n
China's policy toward the US has been continuous and stable, and China stands ready to implement the common understandings reached by the two countries' heads of state to promote the steady, sound and sustainable development of bilateral relations, he said.
\n
More channels for communication and consultation should be set up between the two countries, the foreign minister said.
\n
Commerce Minister Wang Wentao also met on Wednesday with the delegation. Wang said that opening-up is China's fundamental national policy, and the country's door will only open wider.
\n
"With one of the largest consumer markets in the world, China offers tremendous growth potential and innovation vitality," said Wang, adding that China welcomes companies from all countries, including the US, to invest in its market.
\n
Rajesh Subramaniam, board chair of the US-China Business Council, said the council welcomes the continued dialogue and positive outcomes achieved by the economic and trade teams of both sides.
\n
China has sent a strong signal to the world of its commitment to further reform and continued opening-up, which has helped boost market confidence, he said.
\n
Deeply intertwined
\n
Despite trade tensions between China and the US, the two economies remain deeply intertwined, with the US market exhibiting a strong dependence on China's manufacturing sector that would be extremely costly for Washington to unwind, said Chen Wenling, former chief economist at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.
\n
The new extension of the tariff truce will give the world's two largest economies more time to seek more substantive and mutually beneficial solutions, Chen said.
\n
Economists and business leaders around the world are closely watching the next steps, as tariffs have caused widespread uncertainty in most industries.
\n
David A. Gantz, an economist at the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in the US, said he believes that the specific tariffs will have a big effect on the global economy.
\n
The increased US tariffs on steel, aluminum, copper and automotive goods, and on other goods imported from virtually all US trading partners, will have a negative impact on the US economy, Gantz told China Daily.
\n
Liu Min, president of Yuyao Huanchain Electric Co, a Ningbo, Zhejiang province-based manufacturer of electrical wires and cables, said his company hopes for further stability and predictability in China-US trade ties to sustain its business growth.
\n
"By continuously analyzing and responding to customer needs, we have developed new products for container trucks with strong customer loyalty in the US market, helping us mitigate the impact of additional US tariffs," said Liu.
\n
The Chinese company recorded over $10 million in exports to the US in the first half of 2025, marking a 28.25 percent year-on-year increase, according to Ningbo Customs.
\n
Li Yong, a senior fellow at the China Association of International Trade in Beijing, said that cooperation based on rules and consensus can help prevent the harm caused by unilateral sanctions and confrontation. Dialogue is the only right way forward, he emphasized.
\n
Liu Ying, a researcher at Renmin University of China's Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, said stable China-US business ties can help companies on both sides stabilize expectations and better navigate uncertainties in the global market.
\n
Wang Lingjun, vice-minister of the General Administration of Customs, said that the essence of China-US economic and trade cooperation lies in mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
Typhoon Co-may made landfall on Wednesday morning, bringing torrential rains and strong winds to eastern China and prompting evacuations and major transportation disruptions in Shanghai and the provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu, which bore the brunt of the storm's impact.
\n
Co-may, the eighth typhoon of the year, hit Zhoushan in Zhejiang province, at 4:30 am, with maximum sustained winds of 82.8 kilometers per hour near its center and a minimum central pressure of 975 hectopascals, according to the National Meteorological Center. It made a second landfall in the coastal area of Shanghai's Fengxian district at 4:30 pm, becoming the 13th typhoon to make landfall in the city since 1949.
\n
Shanghai raised its rainstorm warning to orange by noon on Wednesday and activated Level II emergency response protocols. By 10 am, heavy rainfall had been reported in half the city's districts. China uses a four-tier weather warning system, with red the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue. It also has a four-level emergency response system, with Level I the most severe.
\n
A total of 283,000 residents in Shanghai's waterfront areas were evacuated, and more than 1,900 settlement points were set up across the city. Construction was suspended at 4,628 sites.
\n
Shanghai Airport (Group) Co said around 30 percent of flights were expected to be affected, with about 640 flights scheduled for cancellation, including 410 at Pudong International Airport and 230 at Hongqiao International Airport.
\n
China Railway Shanghai Group imposed speed restrictions on affected rail lines, while some trains were temporarily suspended or had their operating sections curtailed.
\n
Although the city's metro system maintained normal operations, all inner-city ferry services were suspended starting at 7 am, and highway speed limits were reduced to 60 km/h.
\n
The 632-meter-tall Shanghai Tower, China's tallest building, temporarily closed its observation deck and related facilities due to safety concerns. Waterfront platforms along the Huangpu River were cordoned off because of the combined effects of high tides and the typhoon.
\n
Chen Tao, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center, told China Meteorological News that although Co-may was not particularly strong in terms of intensity, its slow movement and prolonged effects posed significant risks.
\n
"The typhoon's weak steering flow after landfall results in prolonged precipitation periods with high-intensity short-term rainfall, leading to substantial accumulated rainfall," Chen said.
\n
Zhejiang issued a red alert for geological disaster risks. Hangzhou International Airport canceled eight flights as a precaution. As of 12:30 pm, it had handled 342 flights with a departure punctuality rate of 76.1 percent.
\n
The province's water resources department reported the first numbered flood event of the year in the Yongjiang River basin. In Ningbo, all summer school activities and off-campus training programs were suspended.
\n
Jiangsu province upgraded its heavy rain warning to yellow. A Level III typhoon emergency response was activated on Wednesday, leading to school closures in several cities.
\n
The tsunami warning center under the Ministry of Natural Resources detected tsunami waves triggered by an earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and issued a yellow tsunami warning Wednesday.
\n
Despite the combined impact of tsunami waves and Typhoon Co-may, water levels at Shanghai's coastal monitoring stations were not expected to exceed warning thresholds, the Shanghai marine monitoring and forecast center said. The yellow tsunami warning for Zhejiang and Shanghai was lifted around 3:30 pm.
\n
Authorities have issued broader warnings for secondary disasters such as geological hazards, flash floods and urban waterlogging in affected areas over the next three days. The public is advised to avoid mountainous areas and riverbanks, as geological disasters can occur even after rainfall has temporarily subsided.
\n
As Typhoon Co-may moves northwestward, authorities remain on high alert and urge residents to stay informed and follow safety guidelines.
Typhoon Co-may made landfall on Wednesday morning, bringing torrential rains and strong winds to eastern China and prompting evacuations and major transportation disruptions in Shanghai and the provinces of Zhejiang and Jiangsu, which bore the brunt of the storm's impact.
\n
Co-may, the eighth typhoon of the year, hit Zhoushan in Zhejiang province, at 4:30 am, with maximum sustained winds of 82.8 kilometers per hour near its center and a minimum central pressure of 975 hectopascals, according to the National Meteorological Center. It made a second landfall in the coastal area of Shanghai's Fengxian district at 4:30 pm, becoming the 13th typhoon to make landfall in the city since 1949.
\n
Shanghai raised its rainstorm warning to orange by noon on Wednesday and activated Level II emergency response protocols. By 10 am, heavy rainfall had been reported in half the city's districts. China uses a four-tier weather warning system, with red the most severe, followed by orange, yellow and blue. It also has a four-level emergency response system, with Level I the most severe.
\n
A total of 283,000 residents in Shanghai's waterfront areas were evacuated, and more than 1,900 settlement points were set up across the city. Construction was suspended at 4,628 sites.
\n
Shanghai Airport (Group) Co said around 30 percent of flights were expected to be affected, with about 640 flights scheduled for cancellation, including 410 at Pudong International Airport and 230 at Hongqiao International Airport.
\n
China Railway Shanghai Group imposed speed restrictions on affected rail lines, while some trains were temporarily suspended or had their operating sections curtailed.
\n
Although the city's metro system maintained normal operations, all inner-city ferry services were suspended starting at 7 am, and highway speed limits were reduced to 60 km/h.
\n
The 632-meter-tall Shanghai Tower, China's tallest building, temporarily closed its observation deck and related facilities due to safety concerns. Waterfront platforms along the Huangpu River were cordoned off because of the combined effects of high tides and the typhoon.
\n
Chen Tao, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center, told China Meteorological News that although Co-may was not particularly strong in terms of intensity, its slow movement and prolonged effects posed significant risks.
\n
"The typhoon's weak steering flow after landfall results in prolonged precipitation periods with high-intensity short-term rainfall, leading to substantial accumulated rainfall," Chen said.
\n
Zhejiang issued a red alert for geological disaster risks. Hangzhou International Airport canceled eight flights as a precaution. As of 12:30 pm, it had handled 342 flights with a departure punctuality rate of 76.1 percent.
\n
The province's water resources department reported the first numbered flood event of the year in the Yongjiang River basin. In Ningbo, all summer school activities and off-campus training programs were suspended.
\n
Jiangsu province upgraded its heavy rain warning to yellow. A Level III typhoon emergency response was activated on Wednesday, leading to school closures in several cities.
\n
The tsunami warning center under the Ministry of Natural Resources detected tsunami waves triggered by an earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and issued a yellow tsunami warning Wednesday.
\n
Despite the combined impact of tsunami waves and Typhoon Co-may, water levels at Shanghai's coastal monitoring stations were not expected to exceed warning thresholds, the Shanghai marine monitoring and forecast center said. The yellow tsunami warning for Zhejiang and Shanghai was lifted around 3:30 pm.
\n
Authorities have issued broader warnings for secondary disasters such as geological hazards, flash floods and urban waterlogging in affected areas over the next three days. The public is advised to avoid mountainous areas and riverbanks, as geological disasters can occur even after rainfall has temporarily subsided.
\n
As Typhoon Co-may moves northwestward, authorities remain on high alert and urge residents to stay informed and follow safety guidelines.
China's newly launched subsidies for families with newborns mark the country's first large-scale, inclusive and direct cash initiative to improve livelihoods, senior officials said on Wednesday.
\n
Approximately 90 billion yuan ($12.5 billion) will be allocated for the program this year.
\n
Unveiled on Monday, the national program provides 3,600 yuan annually for each legitimate child under age 3, effective retroactively from Jan 1, 2025.
\n
For couples who are welcoming newborns this year, that translates to up to 10,800 yuan per eligible child.
\n
During a news conference held by the State Council Information Office, National Health Commission Vice-Minister Guo Yanhong said the policy delivers tangible benefits by easing child-rearing costs, ensuring universal eligibility and aligning with China's development level, fiscal capacity and policy sustainability.
\n
The subsidies are expected to work in tandem with existing policies in child care, education, tax relief and housing to help foster a more pro-birth society, she said. They will also inject fresh momentum into healthy and sustainable economic development, she added.
\n
Wang Haidong, director of the commission's Department of Population Surveillance and Family Development, said the country has shifted from a stage of net population growth to one of decline. Lower birth rates, an aging population and regional demographic disparities are becoming increasingly prominent, he said.
\n
To respond to the changing demographic landscape, China is stepping up efforts to improve childbirth support policies, reduce childbearing and child-rearing costs, promote a birth-friendly environment, and maintain moderate fertility levels and population size, Wang said.
\n
All provincial-level regions are expected to implement the subsidies by the end of August, he added. The effectiveness of fertility support measures — including cash assistance for families — will require long-term observation, continuous monitoring and comprehensive evaluation.
\n
Guo Yang, director of the Department of Social Security at the Ministry of Finance, said the central government will cover 90 percent of the subsidy costs, with the remainder paid by local governments.
\n
Regions with existing child subsidies that exceed national standards may continue offering higher payments, Guo Yanhong said.
\n
Wang said including firstborn children in the program — a departure from earlier local policies that targeted only second or third children — is critical, as firstborns make up about half of all children in the country.
\n
Supporting families from the start of child-rearing could help ease pressure and encourage them to have more children, he said.
\n
Guo Yanhong noted that by the end of last year, China's maternal mortality ratio had declined to 14.3 per 100,000 live births, and the infant mortality rate fell to 4 per 1,000 live births — both record lows.
\n
These achievements earned China a place among the World Health Organization's top 10 high performers in maternal and child health.
\n
All provincial-level regions have extended maternity leave to at least 158 days, established about 15 days of paternity leave, and implemented parental leave ranging from five to 20 days, she said.
\n
Beijing resident Wu Yanmei, a mother of a son born in June, welcomed the subsidy.
\n
"The extra 10,000 yuan is a needed help," she said, noting the high cost of baby essentials such as the 2,400-yuan stroller she bought, the 1,000 yuan she spends each month on formula and the 900 yuan she spends monthly to buy diapers.
Agriculture ministers from Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states gathered on Wednesday in Kunming, Yunnan province, for the 10th Meeting of Agriculture Ministers, pledging to deepen agricultural cooperation and policy coordination across the region.
\n
Under the theme "Robust Policy Exchange for a Closer SCO Family of Agriculture", the meeting focused on advancing rural development, enhancing technological exchange and strengthening collaboration in poverty alleviation efforts.
\n
China remains committed to high-level agricultural opening-up and will work with SCO partners to expand trade and investment, strengthen scientific collaboration and deepen exchanges in agricultural talent, said Chinese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Jun.
\n
He emphasized the country's willingness to jointly develop open markets, improve policy dialogue and enhance food security cooperation across SCO states.
\n
China proposed priorities for future SCO agricultural collaboration, including advancing agricultural technology cooperation through shared platforms and talent exchanges, and enhancing trade channels to ease the flow of agricultural products across borders.
\n
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint statement, underscoring the need for greater cooperation and timely action in addressing regional agricultural challenges.
\n
Iranian Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh regarded the meeting as a vital step toward unlocking the region's vast agricultural potential.
\n
"We have strong partnerships with most SCO members, particularly China. Our agricultural trade with China has reached $1 billion, and we hope to double that figure in the coming years," he said.
\n
Ghezeljeh also emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation in the sectors of agricultural education, technology research and logistics.
\n
Participants at the meeting highlighted opportunities in areas such as agricultural machinery, processing, irrigation, disaster prevention and crop breeding.
\n
Jiang Xingming, deputy head of Yunnan's agriculture and rural affairs department, noted the province's exports of flowers, fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee and traditional Chinese medicine to over 40 countries and regions, including many SCO member states.
\n
"Yunnan has strong foundations for modern agriculture," Jiang said at a policy dialogue during the meeting.
\n
There is huge potential for cooperation in areas such as agricultural equipment, irrigation, and low-carbon development, he added.
\n
Contact the writers at zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Agriculture ministers from Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states gathered on Wednesday in Kunming, Yunnan province, for the 10th Meeting of Agriculture Ministers, pledging to deepen agricultural cooperation and policy coordination across the region.
\n
Under the theme "Robust Policy Exchange for a Closer SCO Family of Agriculture", the meeting focused on advancing rural development, enhancing technological exchange and strengthening collaboration in poverty alleviation efforts.
\n
China remains committed to high-level agricultural opening-up and will work with SCO partners to expand trade and investment, strengthen scientific collaboration and deepen exchanges in agricultural talent, said Chinese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Jun.
\n
He emphasized the country's willingness to jointly develop open markets, improve policy dialogue and enhance food security cooperation across SCO states.
\n
China proposed priorities for future SCO agricultural collaboration, including advancing agricultural technology cooperation through shared platforms and talent exchanges, and enhancing trade channels to ease the flow of agricultural products across borders.
\n
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint statement, underscoring the need for greater cooperation and timely action in addressing regional agricultural challenges.
\n
Iranian Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri Ghezeljeh regarded the meeting as a vital step toward unlocking the region's vast agricultural potential.
\n
"We have strong partnerships with most SCO members, particularly China. Our agricultural trade with China has reached $1 billion, and we hope to double that figure in the coming years," he said.
\n
Ghezeljeh also emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation in the sectors of agricultural education, technology research and logistics.
\n
Participants at the meeting highlighted opportunities in areas such as agricultural machinery, processing, irrigation, disaster prevention and crop breeding.
\n
Jiang Xingming, deputy head of Yunnan's agriculture and rural affairs department, noted the province's exports of flowers, fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee and traditional Chinese medicine to over 40 countries and regions, including many SCO member states.
\n
"Yunnan has strong foundations for modern agriculture," Jiang said at a policy dialogue during the meeting.
\n
There is huge potential for cooperation in areas such as agricultural equipment, irrigation, and low-carbon development, he added.
\n
Contact the writers at zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn
The recently concluded TV drama Legend of Zang Hai sparked a binge-watching frenzy upon its release in China, and its popularity quickly spread abroad after its broadcast in 190 countries and regions.
\n
Across various international social media platforms, phrases such as "Chinese Aesthetics" and "Xia Culture" frequently appeared in comment sections. This reflects not only the Zhejiang television industry's unique vision in theme selection, but also serves as a microcosm of the province's ongoing cultural system reform.
\n
According to Ding Lili, a professor at the School of Television and Audiovisual Arts at the Communication University of Zhejiang and deputy secretary-general of the Zhejiang Literature and Art Critics Association, the province has long led the country in TV drama development — from productions such as Family on the Go and Feather Flies to the Sky to more recent works.
\n
"The success of Zhejiang-produced dramas in capturing the spirit of the times and staying ahead of cultural trends stems from the provincial Party committee and government's unwavering commitment to cultural development, as well as Zhejiang's deep cultural roots and sustained strengths in the creative sector," Ding said.
\n
The eighth plenary session of the 11th Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, which was held on July 28-29 in 2005, reviewed and approved the decision by the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee to accelerate the construction of a culturally strong province.
\n
It laid out the "Eight Projects" of cultural construction, which span eight major areas: civic quality, cultural excellence, cultural research, cultural preservation, cultural industry promotion, cultural infrastructure, cultural communication and cultural talent development. These initiatives have continuously injected momentum into Zhejiang's cultural growth.
\n
In the 20 years that the initiatives have been in place, Zhejiang-produced dramas — rich in ideological depth, artistic value and audience appeal — have formed a diverse and innovative creative landscape. These works have achieved socioeconomic success, becoming a formidable force in China's domestic drama market.
\n
In the first half of this year, 21 Zhejiang-produced quality dramas premiered, a 50 percent increase compared with the same period last year. Upcoming releases such as Swords into Ploughshares and Ball Lightning are also generating anticipation among fans.
\n
Zhejiang has also had a strong year on the awards front. At the 34th Flying Apsaras Awards, the country's top honor for television dramas, four Zhejiang-produced titles received the "Outstanding Television Drama Award" — tying with Shanghai for the highest number of accolades, a historic first. The "Made in Zhejiang" label has become a hallmark for quality television productions.
\n
Zhejiang Huace Film & TV Co, a leading enterprise in the province's film and television sector, continues to take a forward-looking and pioneering approach.
\n
Fu Binxing, president of Huace Group, said, "For themes already common in the market, we explore new angles for adaptation. For groundbreaking and uncertain topics, we're willing to conduct in-depth research and carefully refine them to open new creative fields for the industry."
\n
In the 1990s, China's TV drama industry underwent a difficult transformation. As private film and television companies emerged, questions were raised about whether non-State entities could play a meaningful role in the cultural sector. But Zhejiang's 2005 strategy to build a culturally strong province sent a clear signal to private producers that opportunity had arrived.
\n
Since then, the province has rolled out a series of supportive, guiding and regulatory policies to help elevate Zhejiang-produced content to new heights.
\n
Launched in 2020, the Zhejiang Cultural and Arts Development Fund allocates 130 million yuan ($18.1 million) annually, with up to 10 million yuan available per project. Notable projects such as The Knockout and Legend of Zang Hai have benefited from the fund.
\n
The "Zhijiang Tide" Cultural Awards Program, which will be held every three years beginning this year, recognizes achievements in theory, literature, film and television that feature innovations and breakthroughs. Additional support mechanisms include full-process content management such as specialized promotion teams, script review and guidance, production supervision, pre-broadcast review and expert training.
\n
From humble beginnings as a small workshop to its emergence as a major company, Huace Group Chairman Zhao Yifang credited the province's creative ecosystem for its success.
\n
"Huace's development is inseparable from the fertile ground of Zhejiang," Zhao said. "Zhejiang will always be Huace's main base."
\n
Today, Zhejiang is one of China's most dynamic film and TV production hubs, home to more than 4,000 production entities. It ranks first in the country in both the number and scale of its film and television bases.
\n
Zheng Zeng, manager of the film and television services department at Xiangshan Film and Television City Cultural Industry Group, said the site already includes real-world sets such as Xiangyang City and Tang City, along with over 30 professional studios. Plans are underway to expand its scale with actor and screenwriter villages, as well as high-tech studios.
\n
"To be considered a true masterpiece today, a drama must excel not only in storytelling, but also in costumes, makeup and props," said Gu Xiaoyan, an associate professor at Zhejiang University's College of Media and International Culture. "Zhejiang people are bold and action-oriented. We have professional production hubs such as Hengdian and Xiangshan, along with full-cycle service systems from project approval to broadcast. All of this demonstrates our capability and confidence in producing great dramas."
\n
These combined strengths have helped elevate the brand of "Zhejiang-produced quality dramas", allowing more critically acclaimed and commercially successful works such as Legend of Zang Hai to emerge.
\n
On Monday afternoon, a provincial symposium was held in Hangzhou to mark the 20th anniversary of the Eight Projects.
\n
Wang Hao, Zhejiang's Party secretary, noted that the province has followed a consistent development blueprint over the past two decades, using culture as a key engine of high-quality growth and a pillar in building a demonstration zone for common prosperity.
\n
"Culture," he said, "has become a shining hallmark of Zhejiang and a distinctive foundation for advancing Chinese modernization at the provincial level."
China's latest efforts to promote large-scale commercial application of artificial intelligence will bolster industrial upgrades and inject strong momentum into high-quality economic growth, creating immense business opportunities for investors amid external uncertainties, said experts and company executives.
\n
Emphasizing that AI has become an important driving force for a new round of scientific and technological revolution, they said the country's superlarge market, technological prowess and thriving innovation ecosystem underpin its capacity to drive the fast-evolving technologies from research labs into the industrial arena.
\n
Their comments came after a State Council executive meeting on Thursday approved a guideline on implementing the "AI Plus" initiative, calling for vigorously advancing the large-scale commercial application of AI and boosting its accelerated popularization and deep integration across various fields of economic and social development.
\n
Su Jian, a professor of the School of Economics at Peking University, said that as a "disruptive" technology, AI will not only reshape production and people's lifestyles, but also serve as the main battlefield for technological competition among the world's major economies.
\n
"AI will penetrate into a wide range of sectors, such as manufacturing and services, restructure production processes and improve efficiency," Su said, highlighting that China's emphasis on the implementation of the "AI Plus" initiative complies with the trend of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and will help the country gain a competitive edge in strategic emerging industries.
\n
He noted that the core of the "AI Plus" initiative lies in integrating technological innovation with large-scale application, while calling for efforts to step up investment in fundamental research, make breakthroughs in crucial technologies, such as core algorithms and high-end computing power, and have a bigger say in formulating global AI governance rules.
\n
"Deeply implementing the 'AI Plus' initiative and strengthening the extensive and in-depth integration of AI with various fields will facilitate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, help foster strategic emerging industries and future-oriented industries, and enable all humanity to share the dividends of AI development," said Xu Zhaoyuan, a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council.
\n
Xu said the guideline has clarified the future development path of the AI industry and accurately responded to market concerns, as the country has recognized AI as essential to fostering new quality productive forces and activating new growth drivers.
\n
The State Council meeting also stressed the need to optimize the innovation ecosystem of AI, strengthen the supply of computing power, algorithms and data, increase policy support, reinforce the construction of talent teams and build an open-source system to provide strong support for the AI industry's development.
\n
China's AI sector will make big strides in the next 10 to 15 years, with its market size reaching 1.73 trillion yuan ($239.9 billion) by 2035, accounting for 30.6 percent of the global total, according to market research company CCID Consulting.
\n
Noting that AI technology is witnessing rapid iteration and explosive growth, Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute of New Economy, said it is of vital significance to boost its application in diversified scenarios and fields, and accelerate the integration of AI with the real economy.
\n
Zhu emphasized that China's complete industrial system, vast consumer market and abundant industrial application scenarios present unique advantages for the development of AI, a tech frontier in which all major economies are scrambling to establish a beachhead.
\n
"The adoption of AI can reduce production costs, improve the quality of products and optimize resource allocation, thus bringing about huge economic benefits. For instance, AI-assisted diagnosis and treatment technology can elevate the accuracy of diagnosis," he said.
\n
Zhou Hongyi, founder of Chinese internet enterprise 360 Security Group, said he was very inspired by the guideline on boosting the large-scale commercial application of AI. "The move has demonstrated that the country attaches great importance to AI development, and set a clear direction for the AI industry."
\n
The launch of the guideline will promote the adoption and innovation of AI agent technology across a diverse range of sectors, and provide a strong boost to digital transformation across various industries, Zhou said, expecting that more enterprises will engage in the research and development and use of AI agents.
\n
The application of AI in the high-tech manufacturing sector will bring about greater value than its use in terminal products, as AI will significantly enhance the production efficiency and competitiveness of manufacturing, said Li Dongsheng, founder and chairman of Chinese consumer electronics maker TCL Technology Group Corp.
\n
Zhu Minghao, executive director of the high-end manufacturing research center at Beijing Jiaotong University, said the implementation of the "AI Plus" initiative will bolster the development of large language models, AI agents, intelligent robots and AI chips, propel the high-level application of data and enhance the country's competitiveness in the global AI domain.
\n
fanfeifei@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "\n
China's latest efforts to promote large-scale commercial application of artificial intelligence will bolster industrial upgrades and inject strong momentum into high-quality economic growth, creating immense business opportunities for investors amid external uncertainties, said experts and company executives.
\n
Emphasizing that AI has become an important driving force for a new round of scientific and technological revolution, they said the country's superlarge market, technological prowess and thriving innovation ecosystem underpin its capacity to drive the fast-evolving technologies from research labs into the industrial arena.
\n
Their comments came after a State Council executive meeting on Thursday approved a guideline on implementing the "AI Plus" initiative, calling for vigorously advancing the large-scale commercial application of AI and boosting its accelerated popularization and deep integration across various fields of economic and social development.
\n
Su Jian, a professor of the School of Economics at Peking University, said that as a "disruptive" technology, AI will not only reshape production and people's lifestyles, but also serve as the main battlefield for technological competition among the world's major economies.
\n
"AI will penetrate into a wide range of sectors, such as manufacturing and services, restructure production processes and improve efficiency," Su said, highlighting that China's emphasis on the implementation of the "AI Plus" initiative complies with the trend of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and will help the country gain a competitive edge in strategic emerging industries.
\n
He noted that the core of the "AI Plus" initiative lies in integrating technological innovation with large-scale application, while calling for efforts to step up investment in fundamental research, make breakthroughs in crucial technologies, such as core algorithms and high-end computing power, and have a bigger say in formulating global AI governance rules.
\n
"Deeply implementing the 'AI Plus' initiative and strengthening the extensive and in-depth integration of AI with various fields will facilitate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, help foster strategic emerging industries and future-oriented industries, and enable all humanity to share the dividends of AI development," said Xu Zhaoyuan, a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council.
\n
Xu said the guideline has clarified the future development path of the AI industry and accurately responded to market concerns, as the country has recognized AI as essential to fostering new quality productive forces and activating new growth drivers.
\n
The State Council meeting also stressed the need to optimize the innovation ecosystem of AI, strengthen the supply of computing power, algorithms and data, increase policy support, reinforce the construction of talent teams and build an open-source system to provide strong support for the AI industry's development.
\n
China's AI sector will make big strides in the next 10 to 15 years, with its market size reaching 1.73 trillion yuan ($239.9 billion) by 2035, accounting for 30.6 percent of the global total, according to market research company CCID Consulting.
\n
Noting that AI technology is witnessing rapid iteration and explosive growth, Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute of New Economy, said it is of vital significance to boost its application in diversified scenarios and fields, and accelerate the integration of AI with the real economy.
\n
Zhu emphasized that China's complete industrial system, vast consumer market and abundant industrial application scenarios present unique advantages for the development of AI, a tech frontier in which all major economies are scrambling to establish a beachhead.
\n
"The adoption of AI can reduce production costs, improve the quality of products and optimize resource allocation, thus bringing about huge economic benefits. For instance, AI-assisted diagnosis and treatment technology can elevate the accuracy of diagnosis," he said.
\n
Zhou Hongyi, founder of Chinese internet enterprise 360 Security Group, said he was very inspired by the guideline on boosting the large-scale commercial application of AI. "The move has demonstrated that the country attaches great importance to AI development, and set a clear direction for the AI industry."
\n
The launch of the guideline will promote the adoption and innovation of AI agent technology across a diverse range of sectors, and provide a strong boost to digital transformation across various industries, Zhou said, expecting that more enterprises will engage in the research and development and use of AI agents.
\n
The application of AI in the high-tech manufacturing sector will bring about greater value than its use in terminal products, as AI will significantly enhance the production efficiency and competitiveness of manufacturing, said Li Dongsheng, founder and chairman of Chinese consumer electronics maker TCL Technology Group Corp.
\n
Zhu Minghao, executive director of the high-end manufacturing research center at Beijing Jiaotong University, said the implementation of the "AI Plus" initiative will bolster the development of large language models, AI agents, intelligent robots and AI chips, propel the high-level application of data and enhance the country's competitiveness in the global AI domain.
Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy forces attend the opening ceremony of the China-Russia "Joint Sea-2025" naval exercise in the Russian port city of Vladivostok on Friday. See story, page 2
\n",
+ "content": "
Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy forces attend the opening ceremony of the China-Russia "Joint Sea-2025" naval exercise in the Russian port city of Vladivostok on Friday. See story, page 2
China's military industrial sectors have become primary targets of United States intelligence agencies for online attacks and espionage, as disclosed by a Chinese cybersecurity association on Friday, citing specific cases.
\n
In response, the Foreign Ministry highlighted these findings as the latest evidence of the US government's malicious cyberattacks on China, once again showing that the US is the top cyber threat faced by China.
\n
With details of two recent cyberattacks released, the Cyber Security Association of China noted that US intelligence agencies, in recent years, have targeted Chinese high-tech military industrial universities, research institutes and enterprises for cyberattacks and espionage, attempting to steal research data and sensitive information related to military design, development and manufacturing.
\n
One disclosed case, for example, showed how US intelligence agencies exploited a vulnerability in the Microsoft Exchange email system to attack and control the email servers of a major Chinese defense enterprise.
\n
From July 2022 to July 2023, the attackers maintained control over the company's domain controller server, using it as a pivot to commandeer over 50 critical internal devices. They planted data-stealing malware on the enterprise's outward-facing servers, with the aim of securing persistent control. Furthermore, they established multiple covert channels within the enterprise network for data exfiltration.
\n
During the period, the attackers also launched over 40 network assaults against the enterprise by employing IP addresses originating from various countries such as Germany, Finland, South Korea and Singapore. Subsequently, they stole emails that contained sensitive information pertaining to military industrial product design plans and core system parameters from 11 individuals, including senior management members and employees.
\n
Another case occurred from July to November 2024, in which US intelligence agencies conducted cyberattacks on a Chinese military industrial enterprise in the communication and satellite internet sector by exploiting vulnerabilities in its electronic file systems.
\n
In this instance, the attackers utilized IP addresses from countries including Romania and the Netherlands as pivots to obfuscate their attacking identity and true intentions.
\n
"The attackers from the US exhibit a highly targeted approach with more covert methods, posing significant threats to the research, production safety and even national security of China's defense and military industrial sectors," the association said.
\n
It also revealed that in 2024 alone, foreign state-sponsored advanced persistent threat groups launched more than 600 cyberattacks on vital Chinese institutions, with a particular focus on the defense and military industries.
\n
Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday that the US used its allies in Europe and in China's neighboring region to launch the cyberattacks, exposing its hypocrisy on the issue of cybersecurity — claiming itself to be the victim while it's the other way around.
\n
"China always believes that cybersecurity is a common challenge faced by all countries and requires a joint response through dialogue and cooperation," he said, adding that China will continue to take necessary measures to safeguard its own cybersecurity.
\n
caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
China's military industrial sectors have become primary targets of United States intelligence agencies for online attacks and espionage, as disclosed by a Chinese cybersecurity association on Friday, citing specific cases.
\n
In response, the Foreign Ministry highlighted these findings as the latest evidence of the US government's malicious cyberattacks on China, once again showing that the US is the top cyber threat faced by China.
\n
With details of two recent cyberattacks released, the Cyber Security Association of China noted that US intelligence agencies, in recent years, have targeted Chinese high-tech military industrial universities, research institutes and enterprises for cyberattacks and espionage, attempting to steal research data and sensitive information related to military design, development and manufacturing.
\n
One disclosed case, for example, showed how US intelligence agencies exploited a vulnerability in the Microsoft Exchange email system to attack and control the email servers of a major Chinese defense enterprise.
\n
From July 2022 to July 2023, the attackers maintained control over the company's domain controller server, using it as a pivot to commandeer over 50 critical internal devices. They planted data-stealing malware on the enterprise's outward-facing servers, with the aim of securing persistent control. Furthermore, they established multiple covert channels within the enterprise network for data exfiltration.
\n
During the period, the attackers also launched over 40 network assaults against the enterprise by employing IP addresses originating from various countries such as Germany, Finland, South Korea and Singapore. Subsequently, they stole emails that contained sensitive information pertaining to military industrial product design plans and core system parameters from 11 individuals, including senior management members and employees.
\n
Another case occurred from July to November 2024, in which US intelligence agencies conducted cyberattacks on a Chinese military industrial enterprise in the communication and satellite internet sector by exploiting vulnerabilities in its electronic file systems.
\n
In this instance, the attackers utilized IP addresses from countries including Romania and the Netherlands as pivots to obfuscate their attacking identity and true intentions.
\n
"The attackers from the US exhibit a highly targeted approach with more covert methods, posing significant threats to the research, production safety and even national security of China's defense and military industrial sectors," the association said.
\n
It also revealed that in 2024 alone, foreign state-sponsored advanced persistent threat groups launched more than 600 cyberattacks on vital Chinese institutions, with a particular focus on the defense and military industries.
\n
Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday that the US used its allies in Europe and in China's neighboring region to launch the cyberattacks, exposing its hypocrisy on the issue of cybersecurity — claiming itself to be the victim while it's the other way around.
\n
"China always believes that cybersecurity is a common challenge faced by all countries and requires a joint response through dialogue and cooperation," he said, adding that China will continue to take necessary measures to safeguard its own cybersecurity.
President Xi Jinping and Nepalese President Ram Chandra Poudel exchanged congratulations on Friday on the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, with both leaders pledging to boost the countries' partnership.
\n
In his congratulatory message to Poudel, Xi noted that China and Nepal are connected by mountains and rivers, with a long history of friendly exchanges.
\n
Over the 70 years, the two countries have always upheld mutual respect, equality and win-win cooperation, no matter how the international and regional landscapes evolve, setting an example for friendly coexistence between countries with different social systems and of different sizes, he said.
\n
Xi noted that in recent years, China-Nepal relations have developed healthily and steadily, with their political mutual trust continuously enhanced and cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road and various fields expanding.
\n
Saying that he highly values the development of China-Nepal ties, Xi emphasized that he is willing to work with Poudel to take the 70th anniversary as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, in order to promote bilateral ties to better benefit the two peoples and contribute to regional peace and development.
\n
Poudel said that over the past 70 years, Nepal-China friendship has stood the test of time. He described China as a trustworthy neighbor and development partner for Nepal, and expressed his appreciation for China's long-term support for Nepal's development and its respect for Nepal's sovereignty and independence.
\n
Nepal firmly adheres to the one-China principle and looks forward to joining hands with China to further deepen cooperation in various fields and realize the common vision of peace, progress and prosperity, Poudel said.
\n
Also on Friday, Premier Li Qiang exchanged congratulatory messages with Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on the 70th anniversary, with both prime ministers committed to promoting bilateral ties.
\n
caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
President Xi Jinping and Nepalese President Ram Chandra Poudel exchanged congratulations on Friday on the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, with both leaders pledging to boost the countries' partnership.
\n
In his congratulatory message to Poudel, Xi noted that China and Nepal are connected by mountains and rivers, with a long history of friendly exchanges.
\n
Over the 70 years, the two countries have always upheld mutual respect, equality and win-win cooperation, no matter how the international and regional landscapes evolve, setting an example for friendly coexistence between countries with different social systems and of different sizes, he said.
\n
Xi noted that in recent years, China-Nepal relations have developed healthily and steadily, with their political mutual trust continuously enhanced and cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road and various fields expanding.
\n
Saying that he highly values the development of China-Nepal ties, Xi emphasized that he is willing to work with Poudel to take the 70th anniversary as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship between the two countries and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, in order to promote bilateral ties to better benefit the two peoples and contribute to regional peace and development.
\n
Poudel said that over the past 70 years, Nepal-China friendship has stood the test of time. He described China as a trustworthy neighbor and development partner for Nepal, and expressed his appreciation for China's long-term support for Nepal's development and its respect for Nepal's sovereignty and independence.
\n
Nepal firmly adheres to the one-China principle and looks forward to joining hands with China to further deepen cooperation in various fields and realize the common vision of peace, progress and prosperity, Poudel said.
\n
Also on Friday, Premier Li Qiang exchanged congratulatory messages with Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on the 70th anniversary, with both prime ministers committed to promoting bilateral ties.
People attend an exhibition commemorating British journalist and educator George Hogg in Harpenden, a town in Hertfordshire county of England, on July 22. Hogg dedicated his life to supporting China's war against Japanese aggression 80 years ago.
\n
Editor's note: This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War. This series of special reports by China Daily presents how and why China cherishes and keeps revisiting the wartime friendship with its foreign friends.
\n
Eighty years ago, 30-year-old British journalist and educator George Hogg actively engaged in China's fight against Japanese invaders and gave his young life when leading a transfer of Chinese students to a safer place in northwestern China's Gansu province in 1945.
\n
His sacrifice was not long before the surrender of the Japanese army and the end of World War II that year.
\n
In 1938, Hogg arrived in China and first worked as a journalist for media outlets amid the heat of the war.
\n
During President Xi Jinping's state visit to the United Kingdom in 2015, he mentioned the story of Hogg when addressing a grand welcoming banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.
\n
Xi praised Hogg for earnestly devoting himself to the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), noting that Hogg wrote articles unveiling Japanese invaders' atrocities.
\n
As allies in World War II, China and the UK saw their peoples exchanging support and sharing weal and woe, which wrote a wonderful chapter in the history of China-UK friendship, Xi said.
\n
Hogg's book, I See a New China, was well received overseas for featuring what he saw and heard about all walks of life in the nation, many being homeless.
\n
"I See a New China is the story of the Chinese common man, hungry and oppressed … and yet ever patient, hardworking and ingenious," said a book review by Mark Gayn in the New York Times on July 2, 1944.
\n
Hogg's footprints covered many parts of China, including war-torn frontlines and Shaanxi province's Yan'an, which was a revolutionary base of the Communist Party of China.
\n
He joined the Chinese Industrial Cooperatives and later became headmaster of the Bailie School in Shuangshipu in Shaanxi, a school focused on vocational education for young people to help build sectors such as textiles and machinery.
\n
The rising tension of war forced the school to relocate, and Hogg oversaw and escorted the relocation of the students and essential machinery to Shandan in Gansu province in 1944. They trekked on the slopes of the mountainous terrain while enduring snow and storms.
\n
Calling Hogg "an old friend of the Chinese people", Jiang Jiang, vice-president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said, "Hogg's footsteps serve as a vivid testament to the friendship between the Chinese and British people, as well as a profound interpretation of a shared future for humanity."
\n
During a visit to China earlier this year, Mark Aylwin Thomas, a nephew of Hogg and author of the biography Blades of Grass: The Story of George Aylwin Hogg, tried trekking like his uncle did more than 80 years ago.
\n
"We were walking freely, with all of our baggage in the cars accompanying us, but they were hauling wheelbarrows, and helping the little horses and mules pulling these huge carts with 20 tons of essential machinery. They were pushing through very steep slopes. It was a very arduous time," he said.
\n
Contribution honored
\n
An exhibition commemorating Hogg kicked off last week in his hometown of Harpenden, a town in Hertfordshire, an English county neighboring London.
\n
David Richard Kendall, a trustee of the Harpenden & District Local History Society, said the key of such exhibitions is to educate people about what Hogg achieved, as Hogg "is not well-known in England but is very well-known in China".
\n
"We cover what he did as a journalist, in helping establish cooperative factories, and in educating and rescuing Chinese orphans from the Japanese invaders," Kendall said.
\n
Hogg's contribution as a volunteer "is inspirational for younger people, as they can see that you can contribute to the lives of others in such a big way even though you are only in your twenties, which is what George Hogg was," he added.
\n
Speaking about why Hogg's story endures over time, Kendall said, "In very, very hard circumstances, he achieved a great deal. The thing that has moved me is when they interviewed his students — men who are now in their 70s, 80s or 90s — (the students said) how much he contributed to their lives as an educator."
\n
When asked about how to better engage young people to carry forward the friendship, Zoe Reed, former chair of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding, or SACU, said, "Young people who joined SACU said the China portrayed in Western media is not the China they experienced when they came and lived or studied here for a year."
\n
She noted that engaging the youth is quite complicated and said, "Formal occasions would not particularly attract young students, but showing the fun times people have in Beijing, the good stuff in Shanghai — this will attract and encourage people to want to come."
\n
Reed said, "The world may get more complicated politically, but we can always build bridges of understanding at the people-to-people level."
\n
In a social media post last week, Zheng Zeguang, Chinese ambassador to the UK, wrote, "As the 80th anniversary of WWII approaches, George Hogg's legacy reminds us: true friendship knows no borders — and history still speaks."
\n
Contact the writers at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
People attend an exhibition commemorating British journalist and educator George Hogg in Harpenden, a town in Hertfordshire county of England, on July 22. Hogg dedicated his life to supporting China's war against Japanese aggression 80 years ago.
\n
Editor's note: This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War. This series of special reports by China Daily presents how and why China cherishes and keeps revisiting the wartime friendship with its foreign friends.
\n
Eighty years ago, 30-year-old British journalist and educator George Hogg actively engaged in China's fight against Japanese invaders and gave his young life when leading a transfer of Chinese students to a safer place in northwestern China's Gansu province in 1945.
\n
His sacrifice was not long before the surrender of the Japanese army and the end of World War II that year.
\n
In 1938, Hogg arrived in China and first worked as a journalist for media outlets amid the heat of the war.
\n
During President Xi Jinping's state visit to the United Kingdom in 2015, he mentioned the story of Hogg when addressing a grand welcoming banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II.
\n
Xi praised Hogg for earnestly devoting himself to the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), noting that Hogg wrote articles unveiling Japanese invaders' atrocities.
\n
As allies in World War II, China and the UK saw their peoples exchanging support and sharing weal and woe, which wrote a wonderful chapter in the history of China-UK friendship, Xi said.
\n
Hogg's book, I See a New China, was well received overseas for featuring what he saw and heard about all walks of life in the nation, many being homeless.
\n
"I See a New China is the story of the Chinese common man, hungry and oppressed … and yet ever patient, hardworking and ingenious," said a book review by Mark Gayn in the New York Times on July 2, 1944.
\n
Hogg's footprints covered many parts of China, including war-torn frontlines and Shaanxi province's Yan'an, which was a revolutionary base of the Communist Party of China.
\n
He joined the Chinese Industrial Cooperatives and later became headmaster of the Bailie School in Shuangshipu in Shaanxi, a school focused on vocational education for young people to help build sectors such as textiles and machinery.
\n
The rising tension of war forced the school to relocate, and Hogg oversaw and escorted the relocation of the students and essential machinery to Shandan in Gansu province in 1944. They trekked on the slopes of the mountainous terrain while enduring snow and storms.
\n
Calling Hogg "an old friend of the Chinese people", Jiang Jiang, vice-president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said, "Hogg's footsteps serve as a vivid testament to the friendship between the Chinese and British people, as well as a profound interpretation of a shared future for humanity."
\n
During a visit to China earlier this year, Mark Aylwin Thomas, a nephew of Hogg and author of the biography Blades of Grass: The Story of George Aylwin Hogg, tried trekking like his uncle did more than 80 years ago.
\n
"We were walking freely, with all of our baggage in the cars accompanying us, but they were hauling wheelbarrows, and helping the little horses and mules pulling these huge carts with 20 tons of essential machinery. They were pushing through very steep slopes. It was a very arduous time," he said.
\n
Contribution honored
\n
An exhibition commemorating Hogg kicked off last week in his hometown of Harpenden, a town in Hertfordshire, an English county neighboring London.
\n
David Richard Kendall, a trustee of the Harpenden & District Local History Society, said the key of such exhibitions is to educate people about what Hogg achieved, as Hogg "is not well-known in England but is very well-known in China".
\n
"We cover what he did as a journalist, in helping establish cooperative factories, and in educating and rescuing Chinese orphans from the Japanese invaders," Kendall said.
\n
Hogg's contribution as a volunteer "is inspirational for younger people, as they can see that you can contribute to the lives of others in such a big way even though you are only in your twenties, which is what George Hogg was," he added.
\n
Speaking about why Hogg's story endures over time, Kendall said, "In very, very hard circumstances, he achieved a great deal. The thing that has moved me is when they interviewed his students — men who are now in their 70s, 80s or 90s — (the students said) how much he contributed to their lives as an educator."
\n
When asked about how to better engage young people to carry forward the friendship, Zoe Reed, former chair of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding, or SACU, said, "Young people who joined SACU said the China portrayed in Western media is not the China they experienced when they came and lived or studied here for a year."
\n
She noted that engaging the youth is quite complicated and said, "Formal occasions would not particularly attract young students, but showing the fun times people have in Beijing, the good stuff in Shanghai — this will attract and encourage people to want to come."
\n
Reed said, "The world may get more complicated politically, but we can always build bridges of understanding at the people-to-people level."
\n
In a social media post last week, Zheng Zeguang, Chinese ambassador to the UK, wrote, "As the 80th anniversary of WWII approaches, George Hogg's legacy reminds us: true friendship knows no borders — and history still speaks."
\n
Contact the writers at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn
Rescuers from the People's Liberation Army help evacuate a wounded local in Xiangshuihu village in Liudaohe town, Hebei province, on Thursday.
\n
A drone is poised to deliver food and medicine to the flood-affected areas in Liudaohe town on Thursday.
\n
Amid ongoing recovery endeavors in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region following extensive flooding, Communist Party of China members have been actively engaged in rescue and relief operations, with some unaccounted for after bravely risking their lives.
\n
In Beijing's Huairou district alone, more than 15,000 members of the Party from over 1,100 grassroots organizations have mobilized for flood response, according to Zhang Qiang, Party secretary of Huairou.
\n
Among the members, Yin Chunyan, the Party secretary of Sunhugou village, and her husband Cai Yongzhang, also a Party member, disappeared while assisting in the evacuation of residents, swept away by floodwaters.
\n
"We are deeply grieved and are continuing full-scale search operations," Zhang said at a press conference on Thursday.
\n
Four of the city's nine missing persons are village-level Party secretaries who were engaged in frontline rescue work, according to Xia Linmao, executive vice-mayor. The city's death toll stood at 44 as of Thursday noon.
\n
In Beijing's hardest-hit northern mountains, critical road repairs concluded on Thursday when the final damaged section of Xihuo Road in Miyun district was restored, reopening a key route for rescue and supply delivery.
\n
The floods had damaged 72 road sections across the districts of Miyun, Huairou, Yanqing and Pinggu, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport.
\n
"This road was one I helped build 10 years ago," said Zheng Mingming, a road engineer with Beijing Construction Engineering Group, choking back emotion.
\n
"The repair machinery didn't stop once it arrived on site, and fuel was continuously transported in," Zheng was quoted as saying by Beijing Daily.
\n
Crews battled landslides and collapsed bridges, even turning riverbeds into temporary roads. Thanks to their efforts, all 29 county-level and higher roads in Beijing are now cleared, and access has been restored to affected communities.
\n
In neighbouring Hebei province, search operations have expanded in Xinglong county, where 18 people remain missing after floods left eight dead in Liudaohe township.
\n
"We've formed a 181-member search-and-rescue team and are conducting systematic downstream searches from the collapsed buildings," said Jiang Feng, deputy commander of the Chengde fire and rescue brigade, in an interview with China Central Television.
\n
Acts of solidarity have also emerged. In Zhujiagou village, homestay owner Xie Changcai sheltered 24 neighbors after their homes were destroyed.
\n
"People were worried about using up my supplies," he said, "But the government has started sending supplies. Let's help each other. Together, we can get through this."
\n
In Tianjin, over 140 Party members from Jizhou branch of the State Grid Tianjin Electric Power were deployed to restore electricity. Working in five teams, they carried out door-to-door safety inspections and replaced damaged infrastructure.
\n
In one of the more challenging missions, Yang Yang, head of the company's operation and maintenance department, led his team through muddy mountain paths in Xiaoping'an village, transporting 200-kilogram generators on foot.
\n
With support from drone inspections and satellite communications, electricity was restored to all affected villages by Wednesday, officials said.
\n
By early Thursday, 23 of the 29 damaged telecommunications facilities in Tianjin had been restored. In Jizhou district, homestays and hotels have begun reopening, and 19 scenic sites including Panshan Mountain, reopened on Friday morning.
\n
The local government said that while some roads remain under repair, the main routes have been temporarily cleared and weather alerts for heavy rain and geological disasters have been lifted.
Rescuers from the People's Liberation Army help evacuate a wounded local in Xiangshuihu village in Liudaohe town, Hebei province, on Thursday.
\n
A drone is poised to deliver food and medicine to the flood-affected areas in Liudaohe town on Thursday.
\n
Amid ongoing recovery endeavors in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region following extensive flooding, Communist Party of China members have been actively engaged in rescue and relief operations, with some unaccounted for after bravely risking their lives.
\n
In Beijing's Huairou district alone, more than 15,000 members of the Party from over 1,100 grassroots organizations have mobilized for flood response, according to Zhang Qiang, Party secretary of Huairou.
\n
Among the members, Yin Chunyan, the Party secretary of Sunhugou village, and her husband Cai Yongzhang, also a Party member, disappeared while assisting in the evacuation of residents, swept away by floodwaters.
\n
"We are deeply grieved and are continuing full-scale search operations," Zhang said at a press conference on Thursday.
\n
Four of the city's nine missing persons are village-level Party secretaries who were engaged in frontline rescue work, according to Xia Linmao, executive vice-mayor. The city's death toll stood at 44 as of Thursday noon.
\n
In Beijing's hardest-hit northern mountains, critical road repairs concluded on Thursday when the final damaged section of Xihuo Road in Miyun district was restored, reopening a key route for rescue and supply delivery.
\n
The floods had damaged 72 road sections across the districts of Miyun, Huairou, Yanqing and Pinggu, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport.
\n
"This road was one I helped build 10 years ago," said Zheng Mingming, a road engineer with Beijing Construction Engineering Group, choking back emotion.
\n
"The repair machinery didn't stop once it arrived on site, and fuel was continuously transported in," Zheng was quoted as saying by Beijing Daily.
\n
Crews battled landslides and collapsed bridges, even turning riverbeds into temporary roads. Thanks to their efforts, all 29 county-level and higher roads in Beijing are now cleared, and access has been restored to affected communities.
\n
In neighbouring Hebei province, search operations have expanded in Xinglong county, where 18 people remain missing after floods left eight dead in Liudaohe township.
\n
"We've formed a 181-member search-and-rescue team and are conducting systematic downstream searches from the collapsed buildings," said Jiang Feng, deputy commander of the Chengde fire and rescue brigade, in an interview with China Central Television.
\n
Acts of solidarity have also emerged. In Zhujiagou village, homestay owner Xie Changcai sheltered 24 neighbors after their homes were destroyed.
\n
"People were worried about using up my supplies," he said, "But the government has started sending supplies. Let's help each other. Together, we can get through this."
\n
In Tianjin, over 140 Party members from Jizhou branch of the State Grid Tianjin Electric Power were deployed to restore electricity. Working in five teams, they carried out door-to-door safety inspections and replaced damaged infrastructure.
\n
In one of the more challenging missions, Yang Yang, head of the company's operation and maintenance department, led his team through muddy mountain paths in Xiaoping'an village, transporting 200-kilogram generators on foot.
\n
With support from drone inspections and satellite communications, electricity was restored to all affected villages by Wednesday, officials said.
\n
By early Thursday, 23 of the 29 damaged telecommunications facilities in Tianjin had been restored. In Jizhou district, homestays and hotels have begun reopening, and 19 scenic sites including Panshan Mountain, reopened on Friday morning.
\n
The local government said that while some roads remain under repair, the main routes have been temporarily cleared and weather alerts for heavy rain and geological disasters have been lifted.
Wuhan University announced on Friday it would reinvestigate a punishment it handed out to a male student two years ago over alleged sexual harassment allegations, after a court recently ruled that the allegations were invalid.
\n
The university in Central China's Hubei province said in a statement that it fully respects the court ruling, and has established a working team to conduct the reinvestigation.
\n
In July 2023, a female student surnamed Yang accused a male student surnamed Xiao of sexual harassment after she said the student masturbated in her direction in the school library.
\n
Yang used her phone to film Xiao's acts and asked him to write her an apology letter, which the male student did. She also requested the university to punish the young man.
\n
On Oct 11, 2023, Yang published details of the incident through a WeChat account, which drew widespread public attention.
\n
Two days later, the university issued a statement saying it had given a demerit to the male student, without mentioning the reason for the punishment.
\n
In February 2024, Xiao's mother revealed in a Weibo post that her son suffered from atopic dermatitis, a chronic skin condition that causes inflammation and itching and was scratching himself at the school library.
\n
The mother also said that Xiao suffered from severe PTSD from the incident and cyberbullying, and even had suicidal thoughts. She denied any sexual allegations against her son and published medical records of seeking treatment at hospitals for his skin condition.
\n
She added that her son wrote the apology letter to avoid a public confrontation and that her parenting had made her son "timid and weak".
\n
In June 2024, Yang filed a civil lawsuit against Xiao, accusing him of masturbating in public and sought a public apology by him for 15 days in a newspaper apart from a compensation of 5,000 yuan ($693).
\n
The People's Court of Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone ruled against Yang recently, and she published screenshots of the verdict on different social media platforms on July 25.
\n
According to the verdict, the court said Xiao's actions could not be determined as masturbating and it was highly likely that he was scratching. The two people had no interaction for two hours in the library, during which they had both left and returned to their seats, the court said.
\n
The videos presented by Yang showed Xiao putting his left hand between his thighs, with a slight and irregular movement. From the videos, it cannot be concluded that the defendant was "masturbating", the court added.
\n
The incident garnered huge public attention in recent days, with some netizens starting to uncover mistakes and malpractices in Yang's graduation thesis.
\n
In Friday's statement, the university also pledged to conduct a full investigation into Yang's graduation thesis, and will handle the case based on facts, school rules and academic code of conduct.
Wuhan University announced on Friday it would reinvestigate a punishment it handed out to a male student two years ago over alleged sexual harassment allegations, after a court recently ruled that the allegations were invalid.
\n
The university in Central China's Hubei province said in a statement that it fully respects the court ruling, and has established a working team to conduct the reinvestigation.
\n
In July 2023, a female student surnamed Yang accused a male student surnamed Xiao of sexual harassment after she said the student masturbated in her direction in the school library.
\n
Yang used her phone to film Xiao's acts and asked him to write her an apology letter, which the male student did. She also requested the university to punish the young man.
\n
On Oct 11, 2023, Yang published details of the incident through a WeChat account, which drew widespread public attention.
\n
Two days later, the university issued a statement saying it had given a demerit to the male student, without mentioning the reason for the punishment.
\n
In February 2024, Xiao's mother revealed in a Weibo post that her son suffered from atopic dermatitis, a chronic skin condition that causes inflammation and itching and was scratching himself at the school library.
\n
The mother also said that Xiao suffered from severe PTSD from the incident and cyberbullying, and even had suicidal thoughts. She denied any sexual allegations against her son and published medical records of seeking treatment at hospitals for his skin condition.
\n
She added that her son wrote the apology letter to avoid a public confrontation and that her parenting had made her son "timid and weak".
\n
In June 2024, Yang filed a civil lawsuit against Xiao, accusing him of masturbating in public and sought a public apology by him for 15 days in a newspaper apart from a compensation of 5,000 yuan ($693).
\n
The People's Court of Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone ruled against Yang recently, and she published screenshots of the verdict on different social media platforms on July 25.
\n
According to the verdict, the court said Xiao's actions could not be determined as masturbating and it was highly likely that he was scratching. The two people had no interaction for two hours in the library, during which they had both left and returned to their seats, the court said.
\n
The videos presented by Yang showed Xiao putting his left hand between his thighs, with a slight and irregular movement. From the videos, it cannot be concluded that the defendant was "masturbating", the court added.
\n
The incident garnered huge public attention in recent days, with some netizens starting to uncover mistakes and malpractices in Yang's graduation thesis.
\n
In Friday's statement, the university also pledged to conduct a full investigation into Yang's graduation thesis, and will handle the case based on facts, school rules and academic code of conduct.
China will further tighten the working rights protection of people past retirement age who have returned or want to return to the job market, according to a draft regulation.
\n
Five central departments including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the National Health Commission and the Ministry of Emergency Management jointly released the draft regulation on Thursday.
\n
It is the nation's first document focusing on people past retirement age and their working benefits, as reported by the Xinhua News Agency, and is currently soliciting public opinion till Aug 31.
\n
Under the proposed regulation, employers are encouraged to offer appropriate positions to individuals beyond retirement age, considering their expertise, skills and background. They should establish written agreements outlining job responsibilities, work location, hours, breaks, holidays, compensation, social insurance and workplace protections.
\n
The draft stipulates that older workers in regular jobs need to be paid at least the local minimum wage, while prohibiting employers from assigning these workers roles that harm their physical or mental well-being.
\n
Also, it requires employers to give the workers training and education in occupational safety to reduce or avoid accidents and harm during work, adding that the workers will enjoy job-related injury insurance that will also cover occupational diseases.
\n
Yao Junchang, cofounder of W&H Law Firm in Beijing, praised the draft regulation, saying, "It shows China's stronger intensity in protecting people's working rights."
\n
In his view, the written agreement between employers and post-retirement age workers has nearly the same legal validity as standard labor contracts, meaning these older workers enjoy roughly the same working rights and benefits as regular workers.
\n
In recent years, the population of workers beyond retirement age has been increasing due to the shrinking working-age labor force, enhanced education and health conditions among the elderly, and their eagerness to re-enter the job market, according to Li Chang'an, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics.
\n
He said that as the current labor law is not suitable for workers past retirement age, they may face many challenges in gaining working rights or benefits after rejoining the job market. He added that the draft regulation will fill the gap in the law.
\n
Fan Wei, a professor from the School of Labor Economics at the Capital University of Economics and Business, told Xinhua News Agency that the proposed regulation is a necessary step to positively cope with the nation's aging problem, which will support the elderly willing to work by giving them a chance to fulfill their potential without worries.
\n
From Jan 1, China has started to progressively raise the statutory retirement age of male workers from 60 to 63 and for female workers from 50 or 55 to 55 or 58, depending on their jobs or occupations in the last 15 years. The move aims to better use human resources based on scientific analysis of the aging problem.
\n
chengsi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
China will further tighten the working rights protection of people past retirement age who have returned or want to return to the job market, according to a draft regulation.
\n
Five central departments including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the National Health Commission and the Ministry of Emergency Management jointly released the draft regulation on Thursday.
\n
It is the nation's first document focusing on people past retirement age and their working benefits, as reported by the Xinhua News Agency, and is currently soliciting public opinion till Aug 31.
\n
Under the proposed regulation, employers are encouraged to offer appropriate positions to individuals beyond retirement age, considering their expertise, skills and background. They should establish written agreements outlining job responsibilities, work location, hours, breaks, holidays, compensation, social insurance and workplace protections.
\n
The draft stipulates that older workers in regular jobs need to be paid at least the local minimum wage, while prohibiting employers from assigning these workers roles that harm their physical or mental well-being.
\n
Also, it requires employers to give the workers training and education in occupational safety to reduce or avoid accidents and harm during work, adding that the workers will enjoy job-related injury insurance that will also cover occupational diseases.
\n
Yao Junchang, cofounder of W&H Law Firm in Beijing, praised the draft regulation, saying, "It shows China's stronger intensity in protecting people's working rights."
\n
In his view, the written agreement between employers and post-retirement age workers has nearly the same legal validity as standard labor contracts, meaning these older workers enjoy roughly the same working rights and benefits as regular workers.
\n
In recent years, the population of workers beyond retirement age has been increasing due to the shrinking working-age labor force, enhanced education and health conditions among the elderly, and their eagerness to re-enter the job market, according to Li Chang'an, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics.
\n
He said that as the current labor law is not suitable for workers past retirement age, they may face many challenges in gaining working rights or benefits after rejoining the job market. He added that the draft regulation will fill the gap in the law.
\n
Fan Wei, a professor from the School of Labor Economics at the Capital University of Economics and Business, told Xinhua News Agency that the proposed regulation is a necessary step to positively cope with the nation's aging problem, which will support the elderly willing to work by giving them a chance to fulfill their potential without worries.
\n
From Jan 1, China has started to progressively raise the statutory retirement age of male workers from 60 to 63 and for female workers from 50 or 55 to 55 or 58, depending on their jobs or occupations in the last 15 years. The move aims to better use human resources based on scientific analysis of the aging problem.
A flotilla sent by the People's Liberation Army Navy for the China-Russia "Joint Sea-2025" naval exercise arrived in Vladivostok on Thursday, according to the PLA Navy.
\n
The Navy said in a news release on Friday that commanders of the Chinese and Russian forces involved in the multiday event, whose names were not disclosed, took part in a welcome ceremony at a naval port in Vladivostok and addressed attendees.
\n
The Russian officer said that there is a deep-seated friendship between the Chinese and Russian peoples. With the continuous deepening and expansion of China-Russia joint exercises and training, the mutual trust between the two sides has been continuously enhanced, and the friendship has been constantly consolidated.
\n
"We will continue to carry out joint operations and friendly visits, and jointly safeguard the tranquility and security of the seas in the Asia-Pacific region," the Russian commander was quoted by the release as saying.
\n
The Chinese commander stated that holding the "Joint Sea" series of exercises is a practical measure to implement the strategic consensus of the two nations' presidents, an important manifestation of deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era, and a firm practice of jointly defending international fairness and justice and maintaining regional peace and stability.
\n
According to the PLA Navy, the Chinese flotilla consists of CNS Shaoxing and CNS Urumqi, two Type 052D guided missile destroyers, CNS Qiandao Lake, a Type 903 supply ship, and CNS Xihu, a comprehensive rescue ship. Aircraft sent by China's naval aviation force and troops from the PLA Navy's Marine Corps will also take part in the bilateral exercise.
\n
During the port visit, the Chinese and Russian sides are scheduled to hold seminars, and open house activities, ball games, deck receptions and other exchange activities.
\n
In the naval exercise stage, the two sides will carry out submarine support and rescue, air-defense, and anti-missile and anti-ship combat drills, according to the PLA Navy.
\n
Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, said the bilateral exercise is part of the annual cooperation plan between the two militaries, and is not directed against any third party.
\n
zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
A flotilla sent by the People's Liberation Army Navy for the China-Russia "Joint Sea-2025" naval exercise arrived in Vladivostok on Thursday, according to the PLA Navy.
\n
The Navy said in a news release on Friday that commanders of the Chinese and Russian forces involved in the multiday event, whose names were not disclosed, took part in a welcome ceremony at a naval port in Vladivostok and addressed attendees.
\n
The Russian officer said that there is a deep-seated friendship between the Chinese and Russian peoples. With the continuous deepening and expansion of China-Russia joint exercises and training, the mutual trust between the two sides has been continuously enhanced, and the friendship has been constantly consolidated.
\n
"We will continue to carry out joint operations and friendly visits, and jointly safeguard the tranquility and security of the seas in the Asia-Pacific region," the Russian commander was quoted by the release as saying.
\n
The Chinese commander stated that holding the "Joint Sea" series of exercises is a practical measure to implement the strategic consensus of the two nations' presidents, an important manifestation of deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era, and a firm practice of jointly defending international fairness and justice and maintaining regional peace and stability.
\n
According to the PLA Navy, the Chinese flotilla consists of CNS Shaoxing and CNS Urumqi, two Type 052D guided missile destroyers, CNS Qiandao Lake, a Type 903 supply ship, and CNS Xihu, a comprehensive rescue ship. Aircraft sent by China's naval aviation force and troops from the PLA Navy's Marine Corps will also take part in the bilateral exercise.
\n
During the port visit, the Chinese and Russian sides are scheduled to hold seminars, and open house activities, ball games, deck receptions and other exchange activities.
\n
In the naval exercise stage, the two sides will carry out submarine support and rescue, air-defense, and anti-missile and anti-ship combat drills, according to the PLA Navy.
\n
Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, said the bilateral exercise is part of the annual cooperation plan between the two militaries, and is not directed against any third party.
The Hong Kong High Court has frozen a bank account containing $1.8 billion amid a legal battle over the inheritance of the Zong Qinghou, late founder of China's leading beverage giant Hangzhou Wahaha Group.
\n
The defendant in the case is Zong's daughter and current Wahaha CEO Kelly Zong Fuli, who has been sued by Zong's three other children.
\n
The 42-page written judgment, delivered by Deputy High Court Judge Gary Lam Chin-ching on Friday, rules that Kelly Zong is prohibited from "withdrawing or encumbering" any asset from a Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) account owned by Jian Hao Ventures Limited, a company incorporated under British Virgin Islands law, pending the conclusion of a parallel lawsuit in a Hangzhou court or until further court orders.
\n
She is also required to disclose the latest balance of the HSBC account, the movements of assets inside, and a full account of receipts and disbursements of the HSBC account.
\n
The case has drawn significant public attention, with dozens of spectators, including journalists, law students and members of the public gathering outside the courtroom ahead of the scheduled public hearing. However, the proceeding lasted only a few minutes and was not open to the public, with just one party's representatives present to collect the court's decision.
\n
The plaintiffs — Jacky Zong, Jessie Zong Jieli and Jerry Zong Jisheng — allege that Kelly Zong breached a family agreement by failing to establish offshore trusts worth $2.1 billion for them after their father's death in February last year.
\n
They also claimed that at least $6 million for unknown purposes was transferred out of the HSBC account.
\n
Zong Qinghou was the sole director of Jian Hao Ventures Limited during his lifetime, with Kelly Zong succeeding him after his death. As of May 31, 2024, the company's HSBC Hong Kong account held $1.799 billion, consisting primarily of bonds and other fixed-income assets, along with some cash and term deposits.
\n
The trio therefore filed a lawsuit in the Hong Kong High Court last year seeking a court order banning Kelly Zong from disposing of or transferring assets held in the account.
\n
Wahaha stated on July 14 that the lawsuits do not affect its operations. The company reported a 40 percent surge in revenue last year under Kelly Zong's leadership, reaching 70 billion yuan ($9.7 billion).
\n
Born in 1945, Zong Qinghou founded Wahaha in 1987, a Hangzhou-based beverage company later grown into a commercial empire.
\n
Once the wealthiest individual on the Chinese mainland, Zong was long seen as a symbol of traditional family values. Kelly Zong, previously believed to be his only child, took over Wahaha after his death but briefly resigned five months later due to disagreements with shareholders. She later resumed her role as CEO following negotiations.
\n
stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com
\n",
+ "content": "
The Hong Kong High Court has frozen a bank account containing $1.8 billion amid a legal battle over the inheritance of the Zong Qinghou, late founder of China's leading beverage giant Hangzhou Wahaha Group.
\n
The defendant in the case is Zong's daughter and current Wahaha CEO Kelly Zong Fuli, who has been sued by Zong's three other children.
\n
The 42-page written judgment, delivered by Deputy High Court Judge Gary Lam Chin-ching on Friday, rules that Kelly Zong is prohibited from "withdrawing or encumbering" any asset from a Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) account owned by Jian Hao Ventures Limited, a company incorporated under British Virgin Islands law, pending the conclusion of a parallel lawsuit in a Hangzhou court or until further court orders.
\n
She is also required to disclose the latest balance of the HSBC account, the movements of assets inside, and a full account of receipts and disbursements of the HSBC account.
\n
The case has drawn significant public attention, with dozens of spectators, including journalists, law students and members of the public gathering outside the courtroom ahead of the scheduled public hearing. However, the proceeding lasted only a few minutes and was not open to the public, with just one party's representatives present to collect the court's decision.
\n
The plaintiffs — Jacky Zong, Jessie Zong Jieli and Jerry Zong Jisheng — allege that Kelly Zong breached a family agreement by failing to establish offshore trusts worth $2.1 billion for them after their father's death in February last year.
\n
They also claimed that at least $6 million for unknown purposes was transferred out of the HSBC account.
\n
Zong Qinghou was the sole director of Jian Hao Ventures Limited during his lifetime, with Kelly Zong succeeding him after his death. As of May 31, 2024, the company's HSBC Hong Kong account held $1.799 billion, consisting primarily of bonds and other fixed-income assets, along with some cash and term deposits.
\n
The trio therefore filed a lawsuit in the Hong Kong High Court last year seeking a court order banning Kelly Zong from disposing of or transferring assets held in the account.
\n
Wahaha stated on July 14 that the lawsuits do not affect its operations. The company reported a 40 percent surge in revenue last year under Kelly Zong's leadership, reaching 70 billion yuan ($9.7 billion).
\n
Born in 1945, Zong Qinghou founded Wahaha in 1987, a Hangzhou-based beverage company later grown into a commercial empire.
\n
Once the wealthiest individual on the Chinese mainland, Zong was long seen as a symbol of traditional family values. Kelly Zong, previously believed to be his only child, took over Wahaha after his death but briefly resigned five months later due to disagreements with shareholders. She later resumed her role as CEO following negotiations.
Workers rescue a Chinese white dolphin that had strayed into the city stretch of the Pearl River in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Thursday. The dolphin had been trapped in the stretch for seven days.
\n",
+ "content": "
Workers rescue a Chinese white dolphin that had strayed into the city stretch of the Pearl River in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Thursday. The dolphin had been trapped in the stretch for seven days.
US President Donald Trump announced the conclusion of a trade agreement between the United States and Japan on July 22, which signaled a temporary easing of trade frictions between the two sides. Under the deal, the additional 25 percent tariff imposed on Japan's core products — automobiles and auto parts — since April will be halved, reducing the total tariff to 15 percent.
\n
Japan is one of the major economies with a trade surplus with the US to be subjected to 15 percent tariffs, which appears to be a concession from Washington. But the fact is, Japan "exchanged" $550 billion worth of investment, market access and profit transfer to get the tariffs reduced from 25 percent to 15 percent, a cost far greater than the apparent benefit. Strategically speaking, Japan's economy is set to feel the long-term impact of the US shock.
\n
However, the $550 billion investment, market access and profit transfer in exchange for the 15 percent tariff agreement is not the end of the US administration's "transactional diplomacy".
\n
The trade deal may increase the structural asymmetry in the US-Japan alliance. In international relations, the term "alliance" is often associated with shared security, aligned values and strategic coordination. But amid escalating global trade tensions and conflicting national interests, even the supposedly "unbreakable" US-Japan alliance is struggling to maintain economic harmony.
\n
The US leader began his second term by imposing a series of "reciprocal tariffs" on imports from the US' major trading partners, underscoring a critical reality: even allies can't escape the US' interest-driven geopolitical competition and the "America first" strategy.
\n
For the US administration, "America first" is not just a political slogan but a substantive foreign economic strategy. Its core objective is to rewrite global trade rules through bilateral negotiations that prioritize industrial security, boost exports and reduce trade deficits of the US.
\n
Despite their strong and stable military alliance, economic relations between the US and Japan are marked by inequality and intense competition. Washington has long been wary of Tokyo's trade surplus, while the latter, heavily dependent on the US market, continuously tries to strike a "strategic passive balance" between its interests and US demands.
\n
According to the July 22 trade deal, Japan will invest $550 billion in the US, with the US pocketing 90 percent of the profits the investment generates, and further open up its market to American automobiles, trucks, rice and other products. In return, Washington will impose 15 percent tariffs on Japanese imports — an additional 12.5 percent tariffs on Japanese cars, down from 25 percent — on top of the existing 2.5 percent base rate. This is a major concession by Japan, not the other way around, in order to protect its auto industry.
\n
The auto sector is a key area of US-Japan competition. Washington has long criticized Tokyo for maintaining market barriers against American vehicles. Although Japan denies building any overt tariff barriers, the US claims there exist "technical trade barriers", including emission standards, driving habits, and a closed sales network, all of which "hinder the US' full access" to the Japanese market. What appears to be a technical issue is, in fact, a reflection of the US' structural anxiety over its weakening industrial competitiveness.
\n
The US' weakening competitiveness is especially reflected in the US administration's decision to impose tariffs on Japanese steel and aluminum. Like the European Union and the Republic of Korea, Japan is also a long-standing US ally. Yet on the pretext of safeguarding "national security", the US has been pressuring Japan to agree to its unfair trade terms. This shows the US' growing tendency to label economic issues as security concerns, and suggests there is no institutional exemption even for US allies when it comes to tariffs.
\n
The US-Japan tariff dispute may appear to be about sectoral or product-specific disagreements, but below the surface, it's about a broader structural recalibration of the alliance. Washington has been undermining the traditional "security for market access" norm to safeguard its narrow interests, in the case of not only Japan but also its other allies — the EU, the ROK and Canada.
\n
The tariff friction between the US and Japan is more than a trade dispute, for it symbolizes a change in the global power structure and the nature of alliances. As economic nationalism, strategic competition, and prioritization of national interests dominate foreign policy, even long-standing alliances are prone to breaking up due to unbalanced benefit-sharing.
\n
Japan's restrained and conciliatory response has helped it to mitigate short-term risks, but it has also exposed its vulnerability in the ongoing reconfiguration of global trade rules. For US-Japan relations, the core challenge is not only the wrangling over tariffs. It is also the redefining of the meaning of "alliance", and the search for a new equilibrium between strategic security and economic cooperation. This is a challenge for not only Japan but also for all US allies navigating the realities of a new geopolitical order.
\n
<span class="epaper-status">The author is deputy director of the Institute of American and European Studies at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.</span>
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
US President Donald Trump announced the conclusion of a trade agreement between the United States and Japan on July 22, which signaled a temporary easing of trade frictions between the two sides. Under the deal, the additional 25 percent tariff imposed on Japan's core products — automobiles and auto parts — since April will be halved, reducing the total tariff to 15 percent.
\n
Japan is one of the major economies with a trade surplus with the US to be subjected to 15 percent tariffs, which appears to be a concession from Washington. But the fact is, Japan "exchanged" $550 billion worth of investment, market access and profit transfer to get the tariffs reduced from 25 percent to 15 percent, a cost far greater than the apparent benefit. Strategically speaking, Japan's economy is set to feel the long-term impact of the US shock.
\n
However, the $550 billion investment, market access and profit transfer in exchange for the 15 percent tariff agreement is not the end of the US administration's "transactional diplomacy".
\n
The trade deal may increase the structural asymmetry in the US-Japan alliance. In international relations, the term "alliance" is often associated with shared security, aligned values and strategic coordination. But amid escalating global trade tensions and conflicting national interests, even the supposedly "unbreakable" US-Japan alliance is struggling to maintain economic harmony.
\n
The US leader began his second term by imposing a series of "reciprocal tariffs" on imports from the US' major trading partners, underscoring a critical reality: even allies can't escape the US' interest-driven geopolitical competition and the "America first" strategy.
\n
For the US administration, "America first" is not just a political slogan but a substantive foreign economic strategy. Its core objective is to rewrite global trade rules through bilateral negotiations that prioritize industrial security, boost exports and reduce trade deficits of the US.
\n
Despite their strong and stable military alliance, economic relations between the US and Japan are marked by inequality and intense competition. Washington has long been wary of Tokyo's trade surplus, while the latter, heavily dependent on the US market, continuously tries to strike a "strategic passive balance" between its interests and US demands.
\n
According to the July 22 trade deal, Japan will invest $550 billion in the US, with the US pocketing 90 percent of the profits the investment generates, and further open up its market to American automobiles, trucks, rice and other products. In return, Washington will impose 15 percent tariffs on Japanese imports — an additional 12.5 percent tariffs on Japanese cars, down from 25 percent — on top of the existing 2.5 percent base rate. This is a major concession by Japan, not the other way around, in order to protect its auto industry.
\n
The auto sector is a key area of US-Japan competition. Washington has long criticized Tokyo for maintaining market barriers against American vehicles. Although Japan denies building any overt tariff barriers, the US claims there exist "technical trade barriers", including emission standards, driving habits, and a closed sales network, all of which "hinder the US' full access" to the Japanese market. What appears to be a technical issue is, in fact, a reflection of the US' structural anxiety over its weakening industrial competitiveness.
\n
The US' weakening competitiveness is especially reflected in the US administration's decision to impose tariffs on Japanese steel and aluminum. Like the European Union and the Republic of Korea, Japan is also a long-standing US ally. Yet on the pretext of safeguarding "national security", the US has been pressuring Japan to agree to its unfair trade terms. This shows the US' growing tendency to label economic issues as security concerns, and suggests there is no institutional exemption even for US allies when it comes to tariffs.
\n
The US-Japan tariff dispute may appear to be about sectoral or product-specific disagreements, but below the surface, it's about a broader structural recalibration of the alliance. Washington has been undermining the traditional "security for market access" norm to safeguard its narrow interests, in the case of not only Japan but also its other allies — the EU, the ROK and Canada.
\n
The tariff friction between the US and Japan is more than a trade dispute, for it symbolizes a change in the global power structure and the nature of alliances. As economic nationalism, strategic competition, and prioritization of national interests dominate foreign policy, even long-standing alliances are prone to breaking up due to unbalanced benefit-sharing.
\n
Japan's restrained and conciliatory response has helped it to mitigate short-term risks, but it has also exposed its vulnerability in the ongoing reconfiguration of global trade rules. For US-Japan relations, the core challenge is not only the wrangling over tariffs. It is also the redefining of the meaning of "alliance", and the search for a new equilibrium between strategic security and economic cooperation. This is a challenge for not only Japan but also for all US allies navigating the realities of a new geopolitical order.
\n
<span class="epaper-status">The author is deputy director of the Institute of American and European Studies at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.</span>
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
China now accounts for some 30 percent of global manufacturing output, almost equal to the entire G7 member states' combined share. And its share is still growing.
\n
To truly understand this shift, though, we have to leave behind old stereotypes. The image of China as merely the "world's factory" churning out inexpensive toys and knockoff electronics is outdated. Today's China has an industrial system that is expansive, deep and remarkably adaptive.
\n
China has an advantage in not just one thing. It enjoys advantages in raw materials, advanced manufacturing, scale, speed and integration — and its manufacturing prowess rests on a foundation that is both broad and deep.
\n
From steel, cement and aluminum to rare earth elements, China enjoys unmatched scale and cost efficiency, ensuring stable supplies that underpin industrial security. In sectors such as solar photovoltaic panels, lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicles (EVs) and consumer electronics, China has advanced beyond mere participation in to shaping global supply chains and export markets. Even in traditional, labor-intensive industries — clothing, toys, home appliances, furniture — it has managed to keep its production costs competitive because of its expanding automation and production capacities.
\n
More important, China is rapidly moving up the value chain in equipment manufacturing, from high-speed railways and EVs to industrial robots and advanced machinery, transforming itself from a mid-tier manufacturing powerhouse to a serious player in high-end equipment.
\n
Sure, there are still areas such as advanced chips, aircraft engines and high-end medical devices in which the United States continues to enjoy an edge. But China is closing the gap thanks to its increased investment in R&D and intensive high-tech development. This isn't about confrontation or replacement, but about resilience and standing on one's own feet.
\n
China's journey has been far from easy. Decades ago, its steel production targets were met with skepticism. Yet today, China produces more than 1 billion tons of steel a year, with Hebei province alone producing more steel than many countries due to the country's steely resolve.
\n
China's industrial strength is not only about numbers. It's about security and stability too. In this information age, manufacturing remains a major source of national power, with recent conflicts underscoring the fact that whether a country produces jet fighters, artillery shells or drones, industrial capacity matters.
\n
China's industrial base supports its defense capabilities, with new-generation products like the J-20 fighter jet demonstrating how its homegrown technology has advanced to boost its ability to safeguard national security.
\n
China leads by a wide margin in terms of production of civilian drones, with Guangdong province alone producing about 7 million such drones in 2024.
\n
Even among observers with reservations about China, there's growing recognition that there are development lessons to be learned from China.
\n
In a recent article in The New York Times, Jacob Dreyer, a US writer who's spent nearly two decades in Shanghai, praises China's "far-sighted industrial policy", noting how AI isn't just strengthening the country's defense or high-tech sector, but also improving its education and healthcare systems. Dreyer has also highlighted China's massive investments in clean energy and the fact that its carbon emissions may be peaking.
\n
Dreyer has described Chinese cities as clean, safe and well-connected, with gleaming highways and high-speed railways. His message is clear: don't dismiss China; instead, study it, and learn from its commitment to improve its infrastructure, education, and other systems.
\n
Besides, an article in Foreign Affairs magazine recently said that if the US wants to achieve similar results, it needs to devise a clear-cut industrial strategy. The article cited how Hefei, Anhui province, once underdeveloped, has now become an EV production hub — and even called it "the Detroit of the 21st century".
\n
These aren't small shifts in tone. For years, many in the West viewed China's development model with skepticism, or dismissed it outright by calling it "authoritarian" or "unsustainable". The West's broader narrative often frames things as an ideological rivalry between "democracy" and "authoritarianism", which is incorrect and reflects the West's shortsightedness.
\n
Political systems may differ and their values may be different, but the results are hard to ignore. Whether in EVs, batteries, solar power or shipbuilding, China isn't merely catching up; it's leading.
\n
This shift in perception echoes history. In the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), China underestimated the power of foreign technology and paid a steep price for it. Reformers then argued that "Western learning is necessary for practical use".
\n
Today, the same humility to learn from others is emerging globally. Some Americans suggest combining "American essence and Chinese learning" to derive more mutual benefit, instead of ignoring each other and not capitalizing on the two economies' complementarity.
\n
Of course, China has its own challenges. Issues such as uneven regional development and social pressures aren't going away. But these aren't signs of stagnation. Instead, these are development opportunities.
\n
China's industrial rise is not just China's story. It's a global story that demands global reflection. In a world of shared challenges, openness to learning from one another may be the most important lesson of all.
\n
<span class="epaper-status">The author is an independent content creator who operates the account "Ming Shu Za Tan" across multiple social media platforms.</span>
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
\n",
+ "content": "
China now accounts for some 30 percent of global manufacturing output, almost equal to the entire G7 member states' combined share. And its share is still growing.
\n
To truly understand this shift, though, we have to leave behind old stereotypes. The image of China as merely the "world's factory" churning out inexpensive toys and knockoff electronics is outdated. Today's China has an industrial system that is expansive, deep and remarkably adaptive.
\n
China has an advantage in not just one thing. It enjoys advantages in raw materials, advanced manufacturing, scale, speed and integration — and its manufacturing prowess rests on a foundation that is both broad and deep.
\n
From steel, cement and aluminum to rare earth elements, China enjoys unmatched scale and cost efficiency, ensuring stable supplies that underpin industrial security. In sectors such as solar photovoltaic panels, lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicles (EVs) and consumer electronics, China has advanced beyond mere participation in to shaping global supply chains and export markets. Even in traditional, labor-intensive industries — clothing, toys, home appliances, furniture — it has managed to keep its production costs competitive because of its expanding automation and production capacities.
\n
More important, China is rapidly moving up the value chain in equipment manufacturing, from high-speed railways and EVs to industrial robots and advanced machinery, transforming itself from a mid-tier manufacturing powerhouse to a serious player in high-end equipment.
\n
Sure, there are still areas such as advanced chips, aircraft engines and high-end medical devices in which the United States continues to enjoy an edge. But China is closing the gap thanks to its increased investment in R&D and intensive high-tech development. This isn't about confrontation or replacement, but about resilience and standing on one's own feet.
\n
China's journey has been far from easy. Decades ago, its steel production targets were met with skepticism. Yet today, China produces more than 1 billion tons of steel a year, with Hebei province alone producing more steel than many countries due to the country's steely resolve.
\n
China's industrial strength is not only about numbers. It's about security and stability too. In this information age, manufacturing remains a major source of national power, with recent conflicts underscoring the fact that whether a country produces jet fighters, artillery shells or drones, industrial capacity matters.
\n
China's industrial base supports its defense capabilities, with new-generation products like the J-20 fighter jet demonstrating how its homegrown technology has advanced to boost its ability to safeguard national security.
\n
China leads by a wide margin in terms of production of civilian drones, with Guangdong province alone producing about 7 million such drones in 2024.
\n
Even among observers with reservations about China, there's growing recognition that there are development lessons to be learned from China.
\n
In a recent article in The New York Times, Jacob Dreyer, a US writer who's spent nearly two decades in Shanghai, praises China's "far-sighted industrial policy", noting how AI isn't just strengthening the country's defense or high-tech sector, but also improving its education and healthcare systems. Dreyer has also highlighted China's massive investments in clean energy and the fact that its carbon emissions may be peaking.
\n
Dreyer has described Chinese cities as clean, safe and well-connected, with gleaming highways and high-speed railways. His message is clear: don't dismiss China; instead, study it, and learn from its commitment to improve its infrastructure, education, and other systems.
\n
Besides, an article in Foreign Affairs magazine recently said that if the US wants to achieve similar results, it needs to devise a clear-cut industrial strategy. The article cited how Hefei, Anhui province, once underdeveloped, has now become an EV production hub — and even called it "the Detroit of the 21st century".
\n
These aren't small shifts in tone. For years, many in the West viewed China's development model with skepticism, or dismissed it outright by calling it "authoritarian" or "unsustainable". The West's broader narrative often frames things as an ideological rivalry between "democracy" and "authoritarianism", which is incorrect and reflects the West's shortsightedness.
\n
Political systems may differ and their values may be different, but the results are hard to ignore. Whether in EVs, batteries, solar power or shipbuilding, China isn't merely catching up; it's leading.
\n
This shift in perception echoes history. In the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), China underestimated the power of foreign technology and paid a steep price for it. Reformers then argued that "Western learning is necessary for practical use".
\n
Today, the same humility to learn from others is emerging globally. Some Americans suggest combining "American essence and Chinese learning" to derive more mutual benefit, instead of ignoring each other and not capitalizing on the two economies' complementarity.
\n
Of course, China has its own challenges. Issues such as uneven regional development and social pressures aren't going away. But these aren't signs of stagnation. Instead, these are development opportunities.
\n
China's industrial rise is not just China's story. It's a global story that demands global reflection. In a world of shared challenges, openness to learning from one another may be the most important lesson of all.
\n
<span class="epaper-status">The author is an independent content creator who operates the account "Ming Shu Za Tan" across multiple social media platforms.</span>
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
What defines the world's largest economies is the integration of different systems and sectors. Accordingly, China has been taking measures to create an integrated national market to ensure companies and consumers feel as if provincial borders don't exist. The move is not only to align policies but also to fuel new growth points at home and beyond.
\n
Imagine a small manufacturer in Xiamen, Fujian province, selling its products in Beijing without having to negotiate local rules or other barriers. That is what a unified system with common standards, streamlined approvals and a single nationwide regulatory rulebook is going to do. It will also lower costs, boost competition and promote innovation.
\n
A key goal of the move is to ensure fair, high-quality competition by reducing barriers for non-local enterprises. In the past, the preference for local businesses could, at times, limit broader participation. Today, cities like Guangzhou, Guangdong province, are setting a new tone. A company based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, recently won a 3-million-yuan ($417,020) bid for the city's promotional film through an open, competitive process, thanks to a level playing field. This shift toward greater institutional fairness will positively impact the economy.
\n
Another goal of the move is to reduce red tape. Earlier, establishing a company used to take several weeks in some cities. But because of reforms like the July 2024 "efficient one-stop business process", businesses in Guangzhou can now complete the entire process in a single day. While Guangzhou's Haizhu district has merged multiple approval requirements into a single form, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, has simplified the registration and capital requirements. In fact, most new registrations can now be completed online, as the focus is on making government services more efficient, transparent and conducive to businesses' growth.
\n
But China isn't stopping at registration reforms. It is advancing "Internet-Plus government services", rolling out cross-provincial licensing, and standardizing the company migration procedure. Pilot projects in 10 provinces and municipalities show what a truly nationwide market would look like: companies shifting operations or opening branches without encountering local red tape. Even branches can now share the parent company's license, which would relieve them of unnecessary paperwork.
\n
A unified national market doesn't mean isolating the Chinese market; instead, it means aligning domestic and international standards and rules. For example, the central authorities have reduced the foreign investment "negative list" from 31 to 29 items and fully opened up the manufacturing sector. Also, the government is further opening up the telecom, internet, healthcare, educational, cultural and some other sectors, signaling that foreign investors are welcome to invest in China as long as they meet the unified standards. China is also inviting international certification bodies to make compliance easier for foreign players.
\n
This is not only about saying "we're open" but also about making sure companies around the world can operate in the Chinese market without having to navigate a regulatory labyrinth.
\n
The Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs' meeting in July emphasized the importance of "five unifications and one opening-up" for promoting high-level and effective opening-up. The first priority of the exercise is to harmonize fundamental market institutions so that rules are consistent nationwide, and the second is to standardize government practices to promote fair competition and create a level playing field.
\n
This approach suggests China recognizes that its greatest economic assets are scale and its ability to act at scale. With more than 100 million market entities and the world's most comprehensive industrial system, China can marshal resources like any other large, efficient economy. As always, ensuring consistent national standards and reducing local variations are key to realizing success.
\n
A unified market does not only help domestic companies; it also promotes healthy competition, better resource allocation and industrial upgrading. By guiding capital and talents toward globally competitive industries, China is trying to build a more resilient and innovation-oriented economy, and making sure Chinese companies become prominent global players by adapting to changes and improving their performance.
\n
Digital platforms are also breaking down geographical barriers, which previously hampered the flow of goods, services and information, and facilitating real-time data sharing by taking advantage of cross-border e-commerce and supply chains to meet consumers' demand in real-time with uniformly priced goods.
\n
China's endeavor to build a unified national market is a strategic initiative to boost high-level opening-up. For domestic entrepreneurs, it means fewer barriers and more opportunities, and for global investors, it promises clearer rules and easier entry into the Chinese market.
\n
In short, China is building a level playing field for both domestic and foreign business, which in turn will facilitate the development of a unified national market, because it is the best way to strengthen the domestic economy.
\n
<span class="epaper-status">The author is a research fellow at the National Academy of Economic Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.</span>
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
What defines the world's largest economies is the integration of different systems and sectors. Accordingly, China has been taking measures to create an integrated national market to ensure companies and consumers feel as if provincial borders don't exist. The move is not only to align policies but also to fuel new growth points at home and beyond.
\n
Imagine a small manufacturer in Xiamen, Fujian province, selling its products in Beijing without having to negotiate local rules or other barriers. That is what a unified system with common standards, streamlined approvals and a single nationwide regulatory rulebook is going to do. It will also lower costs, boost competition and promote innovation.
\n
A key goal of the move is to ensure fair, high-quality competition by reducing barriers for non-local enterprises. In the past, the preference for local businesses could, at times, limit broader participation. Today, cities like Guangzhou, Guangdong province, are setting a new tone. A company based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, recently won a 3-million-yuan ($417,020) bid for the city's promotional film through an open, competitive process, thanks to a level playing field. This shift toward greater institutional fairness will positively impact the economy.
\n
Another goal of the move is to reduce red tape. Earlier, establishing a company used to take several weeks in some cities. But because of reforms like the July 2024 "efficient one-stop business process", businesses in Guangzhou can now complete the entire process in a single day. While Guangzhou's Haizhu district has merged multiple approval requirements into a single form, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, has simplified the registration and capital requirements. In fact, most new registrations can now be completed online, as the focus is on making government services more efficient, transparent and conducive to businesses' growth.
\n
But China isn't stopping at registration reforms. It is advancing "Internet-Plus government services", rolling out cross-provincial licensing, and standardizing the company migration procedure. Pilot projects in 10 provinces and municipalities show what a truly nationwide market would look like: companies shifting operations or opening branches without encountering local red tape. Even branches can now share the parent company's license, which would relieve them of unnecessary paperwork.
\n
A unified national market doesn't mean isolating the Chinese market; instead, it means aligning domestic and international standards and rules. For example, the central authorities have reduced the foreign investment "negative list" from 31 to 29 items and fully opened up the manufacturing sector. Also, the government is further opening up the telecom, internet, healthcare, educational, cultural and some other sectors, signaling that foreign investors are welcome to invest in China as long as they meet the unified standards. China is also inviting international certification bodies to make compliance easier for foreign players.
\n
This is not only about saying "we're open" but also about making sure companies around the world can operate in the Chinese market without having to navigate a regulatory labyrinth.
\n
The Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs' meeting in July emphasized the importance of "five unifications and one opening-up" for promoting high-level and effective opening-up. The first priority of the exercise is to harmonize fundamental market institutions so that rules are consistent nationwide, and the second is to standardize government practices to promote fair competition and create a level playing field.
\n
This approach suggests China recognizes that its greatest economic assets are scale and its ability to act at scale. With more than 100 million market entities and the world's most comprehensive industrial system, China can marshal resources like any other large, efficient economy. As always, ensuring consistent national standards and reducing local variations are key to realizing success.
\n
A unified market does not only help domestic companies; it also promotes healthy competition, better resource allocation and industrial upgrading. By guiding capital and talents toward globally competitive industries, China is trying to build a more resilient and innovation-oriented economy, and making sure Chinese companies become prominent global players by adapting to changes and improving their performance.
\n
Digital platforms are also breaking down geographical barriers, which previously hampered the flow of goods, services and information, and facilitating real-time data sharing by taking advantage of cross-border e-commerce and supply chains to meet consumers' demand in real-time with uniformly priced goods.
\n
China's endeavor to build a unified national market is a strategic initiative to boost high-level opening-up. For domestic entrepreneurs, it means fewer barriers and more opportunities, and for global investors, it promises clearer rules and easier entry into the Chinese market.
\n
In short, China is building a level playing field for both domestic and foreign business, which in turn will facilitate the development of a unified national market, because it is the best way to strengthen the domestic economy.
\n
<span class="epaper-status">The author is a research fellow at the National Academy of Economic Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.</span>
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
China-made chips on display during an expo in Shanghai.
\n
China's summons to Nvidia over the alleged cybersecurity threat posed by the US company's H20 artificial intelligence chips sold to the country showcases Beijing's zero tolerance toward chips with "backdoor" security risks, experts said on Friday.
\n
Such risks, if validated, will also deal a huge blow to the AI chipmaker's global business, they added.
\n
Their comments came after the Cyberspace Administration of China summoned the company on Thursday over the issue.
\n
Pan Helin, a member of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Expert Committee for Information and Communication Economy, said China's decision to summon any company over security concerns is in line with international practices.
\n
"If Nvidia's chips really have backdoor risks, that will become its 'self-dug grave'. Users, not only companies in China, but also clients across the world, may abandon its chips over fears of remote shutdowns or data theft," Pan said.
\n
According to him, Nvidia's dominance in the global AI chip market relies not only on chip performance, but also on its entrenched CUDA ecosystem — a 20-year-old framework for GPU compatibility. While Chinese chips such as Huawei's Ascend series may rival H20 technically, they lack CUDA's universal adaptability for AI models.
\n
"However, if security concerns drive global users toward Chinese chips, developers could shift focus to compatibility layers for domestic alternatives, eroding Nvidia's ecosystem advantage," Pan said.
\n
"Such concerns will accelerate the adoption of Chinese chips. Though ecosystem shifts take time, this could ultimately dismantle Nvidia's business," said Xiang Ligang, director-general of the Zhongguancun Modern Information Consumer Application Industry Technology Alliance, a telecom industry association.
\n
Nvidia's AI chips have recently faced allegations about serious security risks. Some US lawmakers have also called for advanced chips exported abroad to be equipped with "tracking and positioning" functions.
\n
According to Xiang, it is technically possible for companies to have "tracking and positioning" functions on chips. But if Nvidia has really done so, its business will be dismantled, he said.
\n
Nvidia said in a statement to China Daily on Friday that cybersecurity is critically important to it and that the company does not have "backdoors" in its chips that would give anyone a way to remotely access or control them.
\n
Last year, the Cyber Security Association of China urged a comprehensive review of products from US tech company Intel, citing recurring cybersecurity vulnerabilities and high failure rates, in order to safeguard the country's national security and protect the rights of Chinese consumers.
\n
On July 26, 2023, Wuhan's municipal emergency management bureau published a statement that Qihoo 360 detected a cyberattack from an overseas organization on its earthquake monitoring center. Some front-end station collection points of earthquake reporting data had been implanted with backdoor programs, the statement said.
\n
masi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
China-made chips on display during an expo in Shanghai.
\n
China's summons to Nvidia over the alleged cybersecurity threat posed by the US company's H20 artificial intelligence chips sold to the country showcases Beijing's zero tolerance toward chips with "backdoor" security risks, experts said on Friday.
\n
Such risks, if validated, will also deal a huge blow to the AI chipmaker's global business, they added.
\n
Their comments came after the Cyberspace Administration of China summoned the company on Thursday over the issue.
\n
Pan Helin, a member of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Expert Committee for Information and Communication Economy, said China's decision to summon any company over security concerns is in line with international practices.
\n
"If Nvidia's chips really have backdoor risks, that will become its 'self-dug grave'. Users, not only companies in China, but also clients across the world, may abandon its chips over fears of remote shutdowns or data theft," Pan said.
\n
According to him, Nvidia's dominance in the global AI chip market relies not only on chip performance, but also on its entrenched CUDA ecosystem — a 20-year-old framework for GPU compatibility. While Chinese chips such as Huawei's Ascend series may rival H20 technically, they lack CUDA's universal adaptability for AI models.
\n
"However, if security concerns drive global users toward Chinese chips, developers could shift focus to compatibility layers for domestic alternatives, eroding Nvidia's ecosystem advantage," Pan said.
\n
"Such concerns will accelerate the adoption of Chinese chips. Though ecosystem shifts take time, this could ultimately dismantle Nvidia's business," said Xiang Ligang, director-general of the Zhongguancun Modern Information Consumer Application Industry Technology Alliance, a telecom industry association.
\n
Nvidia's AI chips have recently faced allegations about serious security risks. Some US lawmakers have also called for advanced chips exported abroad to be equipped with "tracking and positioning" functions.
\n
According to Xiang, it is technically possible for companies to have "tracking and positioning" functions on chips. But if Nvidia has really done so, its business will be dismantled, he said.
\n
Nvidia said in a statement to China Daily on Friday that cybersecurity is critically important to it and that the company does not have "backdoors" in its chips that would give anyone a way to remotely access or control them.
\n
Last year, the Cyber Security Association of China urged a comprehensive review of products from US tech company Intel, citing recurring cybersecurity vulnerabilities and high failure rates, in order to safeguard the country's national security and protect the rights of Chinese consumers.
\n
On July 26, 2023, Wuhan's municipal emergency management bureau published a statement that Qihoo 360 detected a cyberattack from an overseas organization on its earthquake monitoring center. Some front-end station collection points of earthquake reporting data had been implanted with backdoor programs, the statement said.
China's leading e-commerce and food delivery platforms including Meituan, Taobao, Ele.me and JD have pledged to rein in aggressive discounting practices, in a coordinated response to foster fairer competition and a more sustainable digital economy.
\n
The four firms released statements on Friday outlining a range of commitments, including better planning of subsidies, refraining from irrational promotional campaigns, and avoiding selling goods and services significantly below cost.
\n
The moves come just weeks after China's top market regulator summoned major platforms over concerns about cutthroat competition in the sector.
\n
Meituan published an open letter titled Prospering the Industry Ecosystem, Resisting Disorderly Competition via its official WeChat account, saying it would "firmly regulate promotional activities and eliminate unfair competition."
\n
The company emphasized that all subsidies must comply with antitrust laws and must not involve pricing far below cost. It also committed to transparent disclosure of subsidy amounts, avoiding exaggerated marketing, and ensuring that merchants retain the right to set prices independently.
\n
Meituan said it would protect the interests of small and medium-sized businesses, apply subsidies without discrimination, and aim to build a multi-stakeholder ecosystem that benefits consumers, vendors, delivery workers and the platform alike.
\n
JD made similar pledges via its internal bulletin, stating that it would "resist vicious competition" and focus instead on differentiated offerings and quality service. The company said it would rely on technological innovation and supply chain upgrades to build long-term competitiveness and consumer trust.
\n
"Subsidies should not be a race to the bottom. We believe in winning users through quality, price and service — not by burning cash," the company said.
\n
Taobao's flash sales subsidiary and Ele.me issued a joint statement, pledging to "resolutely oppose malicious competition and jointly foster a win-win ecosystem."
\n
The two Alibaba-owned platforms said they would better tailor subsidies to the needs of both consumers and merchants, avoid irrational large-scale giveaways such as "0-yuan purchases", and uphold merchants' rights to be informed, to choose and to set prices.
\n
The flurry of statements followed a July 18 announcement from the State Administration for Market Regulation, which said it had summoned several platforms and ordered them to curb improper promotional conduct and to participate in competition rationally.
\n
The regulator urged platforms to take primary responsibility for industry standards and "correct irregular promotional activities" to support the healthy development of the catering and delivery sectors.
\n
The move also aligns with broader policy goals set during the Central Economic Work Conference in December, which called for greater oversight of monopolistic behavior and disorderly competition in the digital economy.
\n
Those priorities were further reinforced in the 2025 Government Work Report, which advocated eliminating market entry and exit barriers and creating a unified national market.
\n
Li Mingtao, chief e-commerce analyst at the China International Electronic Commerce Center, said the coordinated pledges marked a "proactive" shift by platforms to address early signs of violations and unfair competition in the food delivery sector.
\n
"All these efforts sent a clear signal on regulating market behavior and set an example for fostering a healthier, more orderly platform economy," Li said.
\n
chengyu@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
China's leading e-commerce and food delivery platforms including Meituan, Taobao, Ele.me and JD have pledged to rein in aggressive discounting practices, in a coordinated response to foster fairer competition and a more sustainable digital economy.
\n
The four firms released statements on Friday outlining a range of commitments, including better planning of subsidies, refraining from irrational promotional campaigns, and avoiding selling goods and services significantly below cost.
\n
The moves come just weeks after China's top market regulator summoned major platforms over concerns about cutthroat competition in the sector.
\n
Meituan published an open letter titled Prospering the Industry Ecosystem, Resisting Disorderly Competition via its official WeChat account, saying it would "firmly regulate promotional activities and eliminate unfair competition."
\n
The company emphasized that all subsidies must comply with antitrust laws and must not involve pricing far below cost. It also committed to transparent disclosure of subsidy amounts, avoiding exaggerated marketing, and ensuring that merchants retain the right to set prices independently.
\n
Meituan said it would protect the interests of small and medium-sized businesses, apply subsidies without discrimination, and aim to build a multi-stakeholder ecosystem that benefits consumers, vendors, delivery workers and the platform alike.
\n
JD made similar pledges via its internal bulletin, stating that it would "resist vicious competition" and focus instead on differentiated offerings and quality service. The company said it would rely on technological innovation and supply chain upgrades to build long-term competitiveness and consumer trust.
\n
"Subsidies should not be a race to the bottom. We believe in winning users through quality, price and service — not by burning cash," the company said.
\n
Taobao's flash sales subsidiary and Ele.me issued a joint statement, pledging to "resolutely oppose malicious competition and jointly foster a win-win ecosystem."
\n
The two Alibaba-owned platforms said they would better tailor subsidies to the needs of both consumers and merchants, avoid irrational large-scale giveaways such as "0-yuan purchases", and uphold merchants' rights to be informed, to choose and to set prices.
\n
The flurry of statements followed a July 18 announcement from the State Administration for Market Regulation, which said it had summoned several platforms and ordered them to curb improper promotional conduct and to participate in competition rationally.
\n
The regulator urged platforms to take primary responsibility for industry standards and "correct irregular promotional activities" to support the healthy development of the catering and delivery sectors.
\n
The move also aligns with broader policy goals set during the Central Economic Work Conference in December, which called for greater oversight of monopolistic behavior and disorderly competition in the digital economy.
\n
Those priorities were further reinforced in the 2025 Government Work Report, which advocated eliminating market entry and exit barriers and creating a unified national market.
\n
Li Mingtao, chief e-commerce analyst at the China International Electronic Commerce Center, said the coordinated pledges marked a "proactive" shift by platforms to address early signs of violations and unfair competition in the food delivery sector.
\n
"All these efforts sent a clear signal on regulating market behavior and set an example for fostering a healthier, more orderly platform economy," Li said.
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, weakened 2 pips to 7.1496 against the US dollar on Friday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System. In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day. The central parity rate of the yuan against the US dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day.
\n
Shipping route boosts China-Peru trade
\n
In the first half of 2025, cargo volume on the Chancay-Shanghai shipping route reached 78,000 metric tons, worth 1.72 billion yuan ($240.76 million), according to Shanghai Customs. After this route was set up, the total value of imports and exports between Shanghai and Peru increased by 34.9 percent compared with the same period last year. Since the launch of the Chancay-Shanghai shipping route in December 2024, the shipping time between Peru and China has been reduced to around 23 days, significantly cutting logistics costs by over 20 percent. As a result, more and more fresh fruits such as avocados, mangoes, and blueberries are being directly transported from Peru to China via this route.
\n
Chinese mainland shares close lower
\n
Chinese mainland stocks closed lower on Friday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.37 percent to 3559.95 points. The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.17 percent lower at 10991.32 points.
\n",
+ "content": "
Yuan weakens against greenback
\n
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, weakened 2 pips to 7.1496 against the US dollar on Friday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System. In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day. The central parity rate of the yuan against the US dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day.
\n
Shipping route boosts China-Peru trade
\n
In the first half of 2025, cargo volume on the Chancay-Shanghai shipping route reached 78,000 metric tons, worth 1.72 billion yuan ($240.76 million), according to Shanghai Customs. After this route was set up, the total value of imports and exports between Shanghai and Peru increased by 34.9 percent compared with the same period last year. Since the launch of the Chancay-Shanghai shipping route in December 2024, the shipping time between Peru and China has been reduced to around 23 days, significantly cutting logistics costs by over 20 percent. As a result, more and more fresh fruits such as avocados, mangoes, and blueberries are being directly transported from Peru to China via this route.
\n
Chinese mainland shares close lower
\n
Chinese mainland stocks closed lower on Friday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index down 0.37 percent to 3559.95 points. The Shenzhen Component Index closed 0.17 percent lower at 10991.32 points.
Volunteers from Taiyuan North Railway Station in Shanxi province conduct a free medical checkup for local people who live close to the railway line. The effort is part of a campaign by the railway authorities to promote awareness of rail safety among residents.
\n",
+ "content": "
Volunteers from Taiyuan North Railway Station in Shanxi province conduct a free medical checkup for local people who live close to the railway line. The effort is part of a campaign by the railway authorities to promote awareness of rail safety among residents.
China is poised to introduce additional macroeconomic policies as necessary to further stabilize employment and boost domestic demand, while stepping up reforms to build a unified national market, the country's top economic regulator said on Friday.
\n
Experts said the move underscores a continued policy commitment on both the macro and structural fronts, aimed at sustaining domestic demand and laying a solid foundation for steady economic growth in the second half of the year.
\n
Zhou Chen, head of the department of national economy at the National Development and Reform Commission, said the country will conduct policy research and strengthen reserves of potential measures on a regular basis, continuing to refine the policy toolkit aimed at stabilizing employment and expanding domestic demand.
\n
"In response to changes in the external environment, we will introduce policy measures in a timely manner and coordinate this year's and next year's policy and work priorities, focusing on stabilizing jobs, businesses, markets and expectations," Zhou said at a news conference on Friday.
\n
Speaking at the conference, Wang Renfei, head of the department of comprehensive system reform at the NDRC, said the country will also deepen reforms with a focus on expanding domestic demand and stabilizing the economy.
\n
Drawing on experience gained from introducing private capital into the nuclear power sector, Wang said the commission will step up efforts to promote private investment in areas such as transportation, energy and water conservancy, in a bid to support the growth of the private economy.
\n
According to Wang, the commission will define clearer boundaries for the conduct of government bodies by formulating a list of practices to be prevented that may hinder a unified national market and fair competition.
\n
Efforts will also be made to improve market access in emerging sectors as a set of special measures aimed at easing market entry will be introduced at a faster pace, Wang said.
\n
Zhang Ning, senior China economist at UBS Investment Bank, said future policy stimulus may be data dependent, while the timing of new fiscal support may be around the end of the third quarter or the fourth quarter, if growth momentum slows notably.
\n
Zhang added that he expects the government to roll out a toplevel guideline in the next two to three quarters to navigate the initiative to curb involution-style competition.
\n
Xiong Yi, Deutsche Bank's chief economist for China, said he anticipates that the Chinese economy will grow 4.8 percent this year, with services consumption expected to become a new driver of economic growth and employment in the second half.
\n
Zhou, the NDRC official, said that efforts will be made to boost services consumption — in areas such as culture, tourism, sports events, elderly care, healthcare and child care — and encourage local authorities to reduce consumption restrictions.
\n
According to the commission, the third tranche of the ultra-long-term special treasury bonds designated to support trade-in program for consumer goods — worth 69 billion yuan ($9.6 billion) — has been fully allocated.
\n
The fourth tranche, also worth 69 billion yuan, is scheduled for disbursement in October, which will complete the planned allocation of 300 billion yuan for the year.
\n
This year's project list for major national strategies and security capacity building in key areas, totaling 800 billion yuan, has been fully issued, while 735 billion yuan in central budgetary investment has been largely disbursed, the commission added.
\n
zhoulanxv@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
China is poised to introduce additional macroeconomic policies as necessary to further stabilize employment and boost domestic demand, while stepping up reforms to build a unified national market, the country's top economic regulator said on Friday.
\n
Experts said the move underscores a continued policy commitment on both the macro and structural fronts, aimed at sustaining domestic demand and laying a solid foundation for steady economic growth in the second half of the year.
\n
Zhou Chen, head of the department of national economy at the National Development and Reform Commission, said the country will conduct policy research and strengthen reserves of potential measures on a regular basis, continuing to refine the policy toolkit aimed at stabilizing employment and expanding domestic demand.
\n
"In response to changes in the external environment, we will introduce policy measures in a timely manner and coordinate this year's and next year's policy and work priorities, focusing on stabilizing jobs, businesses, markets and expectations," Zhou said at a news conference on Friday.
\n
Speaking at the conference, Wang Renfei, head of the department of comprehensive system reform at the NDRC, said the country will also deepen reforms with a focus on expanding domestic demand and stabilizing the economy.
\n
Drawing on experience gained from introducing private capital into the nuclear power sector, Wang said the commission will step up efforts to promote private investment in areas such as transportation, energy and water conservancy, in a bid to support the growth of the private economy.
\n
According to Wang, the commission will define clearer boundaries for the conduct of government bodies by formulating a list of practices to be prevented that may hinder a unified national market and fair competition.
\n
Efforts will also be made to improve market access in emerging sectors as a set of special measures aimed at easing market entry will be introduced at a faster pace, Wang said.
\n
Zhang Ning, senior China economist at UBS Investment Bank, said future policy stimulus may be data dependent, while the timing of new fiscal support may be around the end of the third quarter or the fourth quarter, if growth momentum slows notably.
\n
Zhang added that he expects the government to roll out a toplevel guideline in the next two to three quarters to navigate the initiative to curb involution-style competition.
\n
Xiong Yi, Deutsche Bank's chief economist for China, said he anticipates that the Chinese economy will grow 4.8 percent this year, with services consumption expected to become a new driver of economic growth and employment in the second half.
\n
Zhou, the NDRC official, said that efforts will be made to boost services consumption — in areas such as culture, tourism, sports events, elderly care, healthcare and child care — and encourage local authorities to reduce consumption restrictions.
\n
According to the commission, the third tranche of the ultra-long-term special treasury bonds designated to support trade-in program for consumer goods — worth 69 billion yuan ($9.6 billion) — has been fully allocated.
\n
The fourth tranche, also worth 69 billion yuan, is scheduled for disbursement in October, which will complete the planned allocation of 300 billion yuan for the year.
\n
This year's project list for major national strategies and security capacity building in key areas, totaling 800 billion yuan, has been fully issued, while 735 billion yuan in central budgetary investment has been largely disbursed, the commission added.
The total number of foreign-funded business entities in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, officially surpassed 10,000 on Thursday, making it the first county-level city in China to achieve this feat.
\n
Pakistani entrepreneur Ali Kamran received the business license for his new company in Yiwu, marking a major milestone.
\n
Since the establishment of its first foreign-funded enterprise in 1989, Yiwu has remained committed to reform-driven development and service-oriented governance.
\n
China's accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001 further accelerated Yiwu's economic opening. "In 2005, the city's foreign trade volume exceeded its domestic trade for the first time, signaling a rapid growth phase for foreign-funded businesses," said Lou Xiaodong, director of the Yiwu Market Supervision Administration.
\n
According to Lou, representative offices, foreign-invested partnerships, and foreign-invested enterprises are the three main types of foreign business entities, each contributing to Yiwu's robust foreign trade at various stages.
\n
Today, investors from 165 countries and regions across six continents have established businesses in Yiwu. Among these, 133 are from countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, accounting for 81 percent of the total.
\n
In May 2024, Yiwu launched "YiJing", the province's first online service platform for foreign residents. The app offers integrated support covering daily life, business activities, and government services. It enables online consultation and processing for over 120 administrative items across more than 10 departments, including accommodation registration, visa applications, and work permits. Seventeen of these services can be booked and completed entirely online.
\n
"We've pioneered a series of forward-looking and replicable reforms in foreign business registration," Lou said. "Yiwu is now authorized to register all types of foreign-funded business entities. Since 2019, the registration process for all entities has been shortened from the legal maximum of 15 days to just one."
\n
Yiwu has also led the nation in piloting a commitment-based registration system for foreign businesses. In March this year, Yiwu issued Zhejiang's first business licenses processed entirely with foreign passports, enabling expatriates to complete company registration fully online.
\n
According to Chen Jianwei, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies at the University of International Business and Economics, Yiwu's dynamic business environment and vibrant market demonstrate that "investing in China is investing in the future." He noted that China is not only an ideal destination for global business, but also an increasingly attractive place to live and work, underscoring the country's firm commitment and tangible progress in advancing high-level opening-up.
\n
chenye@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "\n
The total number of foreign-funded business entities in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, officially surpassed 10,000 on Thursday, making it the first county-level city in China to achieve this feat.
\n
Pakistani entrepreneur Ali Kamran received the business license for his new company in Yiwu, marking a major milestone.
\n
Since the establishment of its first foreign-funded enterprise in 1989, Yiwu has remained committed to reform-driven development and service-oriented governance.
\n
China's accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001 further accelerated Yiwu's economic opening. "In 2005, the city's foreign trade volume exceeded its domestic trade for the first time, signaling a rapid growth phase for foreign-funded businesses," said Lou Xiaodong, director of the Yiwu Market Supervision Administration.
\n
According to Lou, representative offices, foreign-invested partnerships, and foreign-invested enterprises are the three main types of foreign business entities, each contributing to Yiwu's robust foreign trade at various stages.
\n
Today, investors from 165 countries and regions across six continents have established businesses in Yiwu. Among these, 133 are from countries and regions participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, accounting for 81 percent of the total.
\n
In May 2024, Yiwu launched "YiJing", the province's first online service platform for foreign residents. The app offers integrated support covering daily life, business activities, and government services. It enables online consultation and processing for over 120 administrative items across more than 10 departments, including accommodation registration, visa applications, and work permits. Seventeen of these services can be booked and completed entirely online.
\n
"We've pioneered a series of forward-looking and replicable reforms in foreign business registration," Lou said. "Yiwu is now authorized to register all types of foreign-funded business entities. Since 2019, the registration process for all entities has been shortened from the legal maximum of 15 days to just one."
\n
Yiwu has also led the nation in piloting a commitment-based registration system for foreign businesses. In March this year, Yiwu issued Zhejiang's first business licenses processed entirely with foreign passports, enabling expatriates to complete company registration fully online.
\n
According to Chen Jianwei, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies at the University of International Business and Economics, Yiwu's dynamic business environment and vibrant market demonstrate that "investing in China is investing in the future." He noted that China is not only an ideal destination for global business, but also an increasingly attractive place to live and work, underscoring the country's firm commitment and tangible progress in advancing high-level opening-up.
MOSCOW/KYIV — Russia said it had captured a strategic town in the Donetsk region after nearly 16 months of fighting, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the claim as "disinformation".
\n
Russia's Defense Ministry said on Thursday that its forces took full control of the strategically important city of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region.
\n
However, Victor Tregubov, a Ukrainian military spokesman, told The Associated Press that Russia's claim was untrue. "Just a fabrication, there wasn't even a change in the situation," he said.
\n
A report on Thursday from Ukraine's Army General Staff said there were seven clashes in Chasiv Yar in the past 24 hours. An attached map showed most of the town as being under Russian control.
\n
"Ukrainian units are holding our positions," Zelensky said in his daily video address on Thursday evening. "It is not easy, but it is the defense of Ukrainians' very right to life."
\n
Russian and Ukrainian troops have battled for control of Chasiv Yar for nearly 18 months. It includes a hilltop from which troops can attack other key points in the region that form the backbone of Ukraine's eastern defenses.
\n
Meanwhile, in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital city observed a day of mourning after the deadliest attack in the city this year ripped open a nine-story residential building, wounding 159 people and killing 31 people in all.
\n
The latest developments on the battlefield come as a top Ukrainian official said that Kyiv's partners had "confirmed positive signals" about imminent White House pressure on Moscow.
\n
"Our partners confirmed positive signals from the White House regarding firm actions against the Russian Federation — particularly on sanctions targeting Russian oil and secondary tariffs following the end of the 10-day deadline set by President Donald Trump," Andriy Yermak wrote on X.
\n
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump made clear that he wants a deal to end the fighting in Ukraine by Aug 8, the United States told the United Nations Security Council.
\n
"Both Russia and Ukraine must negotiate a ceasefire and a durable peace. It is time to make a deal. President Trump has made clear that this must be done by Aug 8. The United States is prepared to implement additional measures to secure peace," senior US diplomat John Kelley told the 15-member council.
\n
Trump said on Tuesday that the United States would start imposing tariffs and other measures on Russia"10 days from today" if Moscow showed no progress.
\n
US special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Russia after his current trip to Israel, Trump said on Thursday.
\n
Talking about prospects of negotiations with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he hoped peace talks between Russia and Ukraine would continue and that working groups could discuss potential compromises, but said Moscow's goals remained unchanged.
\n
Putin, who was talking alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, said talks should be conducted "without cameras and in a calm atmosphere".
\n
"As for any disappointments on the part of anyone, all disappointments arise from inflated expectations," he said.
\n
Kyiv and Moscow have held three rounds of talks in Istanbul this year that yielded exchanges of prisoners and bodies, but no breakthrough to defuse the more than three-year conflict.
\n
In Europe, Germany said on Friday that it will deliver two Patriot systems to Ukraine after reaching an agreement with the US that Berlin will be first in line to receive the latest systems in return.
\n
The Bundeswehr army will initially deliver additional Patriot launchers to Ukraine in the coming days, followed by additional system components to be handed over in two or three months.
\n",
+ "content": "
MOSCOW/KYIV — Russia said it had captured a strategic town in the Donetsk region after nearly 16 months of fighting, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the claim as "disinformation".
\n
Russia's Defense Ministry said on Thursday that its forces took full control of the strategically important city of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region.
\n
However, Victor Tregubov, a Ukrainian military spokesman, told The Associated Press that Russia's claim was untrue. "Just a fabrication, there wasn't even a change in the situation," he said.
\n
A report on Thursday from Ukraine's Army General Staff said there were seven clashes in Chasiv Yar in the past 24 hours. An attached map showed most of the town as being under Russian control.
\n
"Ukrainian units are holding our positions," Zelensky said in his daily video address on Thursday evening. "It is not easy, but it is the defense of Ukrainians' very right to life."
\n
Russian and Ukrainian troops have battled for control of Chasiv Yar for nearly 18 months. It includes a hilltop from which troops can attack other key points in the region that form the backbone of Ukraine's eastern defenses.
\n
Meanwhile, in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital city observed a day of mourning after the deadliest attack in the city this year ripped open a nine-story residential building, wounding 159 people and killing 31 people in all.
\n
The latest developments on the battlefield come as a top Ukrainian official said that Kyiv's partners had "confirmed positive signals" about imminent White House pressure on Moscow.
\n
"Our partners confirmed positive signals from the White House regarding firm actions against the Russian Federation — particularly on sanctions targeting Russian oil and secondary tariffs following the end of the 10-day deadline set by President Donald Trump," Andriy Yermak wrote on X.
\n
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump made clear that he wants a deal to end the fighting in Ukraine by Aug 8, the United States told the United Nations Security Council.
\n
"Both Russia and Ukraine must negotiate a ceasefire and a durable peace. It is time to make a deal. President Trump has made clear that this must be done by Aug 8. The United States is prepared to implement additional measures to secure peace," senior US diplomat John Kelley told the 15-member council.
\n
Trump said on Tuesday that the United States would start imposing tariffs and other measures on Russia"10 days from today" if Moscow showed no progress.
\n
US special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Russia after his current trip to Israel, Trump said on Thursday.
\n
Talking about prospects of negotiations with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he hoped peace talks between Russia and Ukraine would continue and that working groups could discuss potential compromises, but said Moscow's goals remained unchanged.
\n
Putin, who was talking alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, said talks should be conducted "without cameras and in a calm atmosphere".
\n
"As for any disappointments on the part of anyone, all disappointments arise from inflated expectations," he said.
\n
Kyiv and Moscow have held three rounds of talks in Istanbul this year that yielded exchanges of prisoners and bodies, but no breakthrough to defuse the more than three-year conflict.
\n
In Europe, Germany said on Friday that it will deliver two Patriot systems to Ukraine after reaching an agreement with the US that Berlin will be first in line to receive the latest systems in return.
\n
The Bundeswehr army will initially deliver additional Patriot launchers to Ukraine in the coming days, followed by additional system components to be handed over in two or three months.
Palestinians collect aid parcels amid a hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip on Thursday.
\n
China expressed strong opposition on Friday to the United States' decision to impose sanctions on officials from the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, calling the move "shocking" and counterproductive to international peace efforts.
\n
Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular news briefing in Beijing, responding to the US State Department's announcement on Thursday that it would impose visa bans on certain Palestinian officials.
\n
"It is in our national security interests to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace," the US announcement read.
\n
"China is shocked by the US sanctions against officials of the PA and the PLO, and is deeply disappointed and puzzled by the US' disregard for international efforts to promote peace," Guo said.
\n
He stressed that the Palestinian question is at the heart of the Middle East issue and is a matter of international fairness and justice.
\n
"At a time when the Palestinian question stands at a critical historical juncture, the international community, especially the US, should adopt a fair, just and responsible attitude," Guo said.
\n
The spokesman urged Washington to earnestly implement relevant United Nations resolutions and to work actively in facilitating a proper resolution of the Palestinian question, rather than doing the opposite.
\n
"China firmly supports the Palestinian people's just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights and supports the PA's effective jurisdiction over all of Palestine's territory, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank," Guo said.
\n
He also reiterated Beijing's support for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question based on the two-state solution as well as its willingness to work with the international community to make relentless efforts to this end.
\n
Washington's sanctions came as many of the US allies have vowed to recognize Palestinian statehood ahead of September's UN General Assembly meeting in New York.
\n
Following France and the United Kingdom, Canada announced on Wednesday that it plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September, in a move to preserve hopes for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the two-state solution.
Palestinians collect aid parcels amid a hunger crisis in the Gaza Strip on Thursday.
\n
China expressed strong opposition on Friday to the United States' decision to impose sanctions on officials from the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, calling the move "shocking" and counterproductive to international peace efforts.
\n
Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular news briefing in Beijing, responding to the US State Department's announcement on Thursday that it would impose visa bans on certain Palestinian officials.
\n
"It is in our national security interests to impose consequences and hold the PLO and PA accountable for not complying with their commitments and undermining the prospects for peace," the US announcement read.
\n
"China is shocked by the US sanctions against officials of the PA and the PLO, and is deeply disappointed and puzzled by the US' disregard for international efforts to promote peace," Guo said.
\n
He stressed that the Palestinian question is at the heart of the Middle East issue and is a matter of international fairness and justice.
\n
"At a time when the Palestinian question stands at a critical historical juncture, the international community, especially the US, should adopt a fair, just and responsible attitude," Guo said.
\n
The spokesman urged Washington to earnestly implement relevant United Nations resolutions and to work actively in facilitating a proper resolution of the Palestinian question, rather than doing the opposite.
\n
"China firmly supports the Palestinian people's just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights and supports the PA's effective jurisdiction over all of Palestine's territory, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank," Guo said.
\n
He also reiterated Beijing's support for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question based on the two-state solution as well as its willingness to work with the international community to make relentless efforts to this end.
\n
Washington's sanctions came as many of the US allies have vowed to recognize Palestinian statehood ahead of September's UN General Assembly meeting in New York.
\n
Following France and the United Kingdom, Canada announced on Wednesday that it plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September, in a move to preserve hopes for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the two-state solution.
During a one-week trip to China in June, a group of about 20 college students from 15 universities in 15 states opened their eyes to a different culture and China's advanced AI technology. They were also surprised to find how similar Chinese people are to US people.
\n
The trip was organized by the US Heartland China Association with support from the US Soybean Export Council. Students visited Beijing and China's breadbasket, Henan province.
\n
Sharing their experiences at an online meeting on Tuesday night, Imani Murphy, a graduate student of animal science at Tuskegee University, said the biggest shock of the trip for her was how Chinese culture and rural communities seem so similar to the rural South.
\n
"That was shocking to me because I thought it would be completely different, but human beings are human beings. So, we all will have the same sort of characteristics, if that makes sense."
\n
Murphy said there are a lot more similarities than differences between people of the two countries.
\n
"I think we should really hone in on both of our similarities and differences and how we can come together and communicate well to become better (agriculture) leaders in China and in the United States," she said. "We're two of the, probably, top producers in our respective fields, and why not work together."
\n
Samuel Martin from Iowa State University was struck by how agriculture was handled differently in some ways, and how Chinese cuisine uses different parts of animals and cooks them differently.
\n
He courageously tried fish bladder and was surprised to see Palmer amaranth on the menu at one banquet. "We didn't even know you can eat it. We just wanted to kill it in the fields. That was kind of a neat thing to see."
\n
Martin said the trip led him to realize there is a desire in China for quality US food products.
\n
Largest trading partners
\n
"It's nice to hear from one of our largest trading partners that they do desire our products. We want to trade with them. They want to trade with us. If we can make sure that we keep those goals, I think we'll see a lot of success in the next 20, 25 years," Martin said. "I look forward to hopefully being a part of that going forward."
\n
Morgan Barba from Kansas University was impressed by China's vertical integration. "The vertical integration that we saw within all the cities that we visited was just so impressive," Barba said.
\n
Barba was also quite impressed by the integration of AI in China's meat production system.
\n
"They are using AI to improve processing cleanliness, reduce bacterial exposure, and enhance meat quality, specifically when it comes to grading carcasses. I'm going to be really curious when we'll have that integration here in the United States," said Barba.
\n
Lauren Thornhill from Ohio State University was impressed by how China controlled the smell from the poultry and meat facilities. "We walked right up to those barns in some places in China and had no idea it was a pig or poultry operation."
\n
She said this trip shifted her perspective on relations between China and the US: "By yourself, you can do a lot, but with other people, you can do a lot more."
\n
Parker Havard from Michigan State University was struck by the massiveness of Chinese infrastructure. "It was just insane to see all of that infrastructure. It was absolutely wild. But when we went even into the mountains, it was just completely open," Havard said.
\n
Seeing things with his own eyes, he gained a better understanding of China's infrastructure and technology, which "really helped to gain a big insight into how we could foster a better relationship between the two and learn from each other", Havard said.
\n
mayzhou@chinadailyusa.com
\n",
+ "content": "
During a one-week trip to China in June, a group of about 20 college students from 15 universities in 15 states opened their eyes to a different culture and China's advanced AI technology. They were also surprised to find how similar Chinese people are to US people.
\n
The trip was organized by the US Heartland China Association with support from the US Soybean Export Council. Students visited Beijing and China's breadbasket, Henan province.
\n
Sharing their experiences at an online meeting on Tuesday night, Imani Murphy, a graduate student of animal science at Tuskegee University, said the biggest shock of the trip for her was how Chinese culture and rural communities seem so similar to the rural South.
\n
"That was shocking to me because I thought it would be completely different, but human beings are human beings. So, we all will have the same sort of characteristics, if that makes sense."
\n
Murphy said there are a lot more similarities than differences between people of the two countries.
\n
"I think we should really hone in on both of our similarities and differences and how we can come together and communicate well to become better (agriculture) leaders in China and in the United States," she said. "We're two of the, probably, top producers in our respective fields, and why not work together."
\n
Samuel Martin from Iowa State University was struck by how agriculture was handled differently in some ways, and how Chinese cuisine uses different parts of animals and cooks them differently.
\n
He courageously tried fish bladder and was surprised to see Palmer amaranth on the menu at one banquet. "We didn't even know you can eat it. We just wanted to kill it in the fields. That was kind of a neat thing to see."
\n
Martin said the trip led him to realize there is a desire in China for quality US food products.
\n
Largest trading partners
\n
"It's nice to hear from one of our largest trading partners that they do desire our products. We want to trade with them. They want to trade with us. If we can make sure that we keep those goals, I think we'll see a lot of success in the next 20, 25 years," Martin said. "I look forward to hopefully being a part of that going forward."
\n
Morgan Barba from Kansas University was impressed by China's vertical integration. "The vertical integration that we saw within all the cities that we visited was just so impressive," Barba said.
\n
Barba was also quite impressed by the integration of AI in China's meat production system.
\n
"They are using AI to improve processing cleanliness, reduce bacterial exposure, and enhance meat quality, specifically when it comes to grading carcasses. I'm going to be really curious when we'll have that integration here in the United States," said Barba.
\n
Lauren Thornhill from Ohio State University was impressed by how China controlled the smell from the poultry and meat facilities. "We walked right up to those barns in some places in China and had no idea it was a pig or poultry operation."
\n
She said this trip shifted her perspective on relations between China and the US: "By yourself, you can do a lot, but with other people, you can do a lot more."
\n
Parker Havard from Michigan State University was struck by the massiveness of Chinese infrastructure. "It was just insane to see all of that infrastructure. It was absolutely wild. But when we went even into the mountains, it was just completely open," Havard said.
\n
Seeing things with his own eyes, he gained a better understanding of China's infrastructure and technology, which "really helped to gain a big insight into how we could foster a better relationship between the two and learn from each other", Havard said.
NASA's new temporary administrator on Thursday held a rare face-to-face meeting in Florida with Russia's space agency chief, where they discussed cooperation on the moon and maintaining the space powers' long-standing relationship on the International Space Station, Roscosmos said. The talks between Sean Duffy and Dmitry Bakanov at the US space agency's Kennedy Space Center represented the first in-person meeting between the heads of NASA and Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, since 2018.
\n
SOUTH KOREA
\n
Jailed ex-leader Yoon resists questioning
\n
South Korea's impeached former president Yoon Suk-yeol lay on his prison cell floor in his underwear to resist attempts to interrogate him, prosecutors said on Friday. Prosecutors obtained a fresh arrest warrant on Thursday to forcibly bring the former leader in for questioning over allegations of election tampering. However, they were "unable to do so due to his strong refusal", prosecutor Oh Jeong-hee told reporters. Yoon was wearing "a sleeveless top and prison-issued briefs," prosecutors said.
\n",
+ "content": "
UNITED STATES
\n
NASA, Roscosmos chiefs hold rare talks
\n
NASA's new temporary administrator on Thursday held a rare face-to-face meeting in Florida with Russia's space agency chief, where they discussed cooperation on the moon and maintaining the space powers' long-standing relationship on the International Space Station, Roscosmos said. The talks between Sean Duffy and Dmitry Bakanov at the US space agency's Kennedy Space Center represented the first in-person meeting between the heads of NASA and Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, since 2018.
\n
SOUTH KOREA
\n
Jailed ex-leader Yoon resists questioning
\n
South Korea's impeached former president Yoon Suk-yeol lay on his prison cell floor in his underwear to resist attempts to interrogate him, prosecutors said on Friday. Prosecutors obtained a fresh arrest warrant on Thursday to forcibly bring the former leader in for questioning over allegations of election tampering. However, they were "unable to do so due to his strong refusal", prosecutor Oh Jeong-hee told reporters. Yoon was wearing "a sleeveless top and prison-issued briefs," prosecutors said.
Hong Kong Ballet dancers perform during The Butterfly Lovers, one of China's four great folktales and is often referred to as the Chinese version of Romeo and Juliet.
\n
This August, experience a breathtaking fusion of East and West as the Hong Kong Ballet premieres its award-winning The Butterfly Lovers in New York. This ballet redefines classical storytelling with innovative choreography, all brought to life by the live accompaniment of the New York City Ballet Orchestra.
\n
Originating from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), The Butterfly Lovers has been around for over 1,700 years. It is recognized as one of China's four great folktales and is often referred to as the Chinese version of Romeo and Juliet.
\n
Zhu Yingtai, a young woman from a wealthy family, disguises herself as a man so she can attend school, where she meets Liang Shanbo, a fellow student from a humble background. Zhu falls in love with Liang over time. During a visit, Liang discovers Zhu's true identity. He hopes to propose to her, but her parents have already arranged for her to marry a wealthy man.
\n
Liang eventually dies from grief. On Zhu's wedding day, her bridal procession passes Liang's grave, and a storm stops them from passing. Zhu runs to the grave, and it miraculously opens. She jumps in, and moments later, two butterflies rise from the grave together, representing a symbol of their eternal love.
\n
The ballet show made its debut in Hong Kong on Oct 18, 2024, and received several major awards at the 26th Hong Kong Dance Awards 2025, including Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer (Xuan Cheng as Zhu Yingtai), Outstanding Music Composition, and Outstanding Ensemble Performance.
\n
The performance was envisioned by Hong Kong Ballet artistic director Septime Webre, a Cuban-American who previously worked with The Washington Ballet.
\n
Webre said he wanted to serve the audience with tailored content that reflects the ballet company's roots.
\n
Webre said that The Butterfly Lovers sparked his interest as it explores a remarkably progressive theme — a woman seeking education in a time when it was forbidden for females. Webre described it as "a compelling contemporary theme in many parts of the world", which deeply resonated with him. He stated that the elements of modernity and themes of gender and class are still important today.
\n
Written by the lead choreographers, the couple duo Songwei Hu and Jingwen Mai, they said the piece not only highlights the great love story at its core, but also weaves in themes such as the oppression of the old feudal system and patriarchal society.
\n
This ballet blends contemporary and traditional styles in a unique and expressive way. Drawing from their deep experience in Chinese classical dance, choreographers Hu and Mai said they brought in traditional movement elements to challenge and contrast with the upright, structured posture of ballet.
\n
"We incorporated more Chinese dance into the upper body," Mai explained.
\n
The dance and story were backed by Academy Award winner Tim Yip, who designed both the costumes and the stage. He is known for his art directing work on Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon.
\n
For this performance, Yip designed 12 moving screen panels. He said those 12 screens help to slow down certain elements of ballet, pushing them into a more ethereal, virtual state.
\n
Idea of fluidity
\n
Yip said he wanted to emphasize the idea of "fluidity". He said that, unlike Western art, Chinese art emphasizes atmosphere and poetic resonance. Instead of laying everything out, it sets a mood that pulls the audience into the feel and flow of the Chinese aesthetic and way of thinking," Yi said.
\n
In partnership with China Arts and Entertainment Group and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in New York, the Hong Kong Ballet will present The Butterfly Lovers for the first time from Aug 22 to 24 at Lincoln Center in New York.
\n
"As a Chinese myself, it brings me great joy to share our unique perspective on love. I hope audiences in New York can see that China, too, has its own version of Romeo and Juliet, and feel how Zhu Yingtai, even in that era, was willing to defy her family and fight for love and freedom," Hu said.
\n
For his next "ambitious" project, Webre said he has spent years researching and making. It will be a ballet based on the life of Hong Kong's legendary martial artist Bruce Lee. Mixing kung fu and ballet, Webre hopes the performance will premiere in 2027.
\n
bilinlin@chinadailyusa.com
\n",
+ "content": "
Hong Kong Ballet dancers perform during The Butterfly Lovers, one of China's four great folktales and is often referred to as the Chinese version of Romeo and Juliet.
\n
This August, experience a breathtaking fusion of East and West as the Hong Kong Ballet premieres its award-winning The Butterfly Lovers in New York. This ballet redefines classical storytelling with innovative choreography, all brought to life by the live accompaniment of the New York City Ballet Orchestra.
\n
Originating from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), The Butterfly Lovers has been around for over 1,700 years. It is recognized as one of China's four great folktales and is often referred to as the Chinese version of Romeo and Juliet.
\n
Zhu Yingtai, a young woman from a wealthy family, disguises herself as a man so she can attend school, where she meets Liang Shanbo, a fellow student from a humble background. Zhu falls in love with Liang over time. During a visit, Liang discovers Zhu's true identity. He hopes to propose to her, but her parents have already arranged for her to marry a wealthy man.
\n
Liang eventually dies from grief. On Zhu's wedding day, her bridal procession passes Liang's grave, and a storm stops them from passing. Zhu runs to the grave, and it miraculously opens. She jumps in, and moments later, two butterflies rise from the grave together, representing a symbol of their eternal love.
\n
The ballet show made its debut in Hong Kong on Oct 18, 2024, and received several major awards at the 26th Hong Kong Dance Awards 2025, including Outstanding Choreography, Outstanding Performance by a Female Dancer (Xuan Cheng as Zhu Yingtai), Outstanding Music Composition, and Outstanding Ensemble Performance.
\n
The performance was envisioned by Hong Kong Ballet artistic director Septime Webre, a Cuban-American who previously worked with The Washington Ballet.
\n
Webre said he wanted to serve the audience with tailored content that reflects the ballet company's roots.
\n
Webre said that The Butterfly Lovers sparked his interest as it explores a remarkably progressive theme — a woman seeking education in a time when it was forbidden for females. Webre described it as "a compelling contemporary theme in many parts of the world", which deeply resonated with him. He stated that the elements of modernity and themes of gender and class are still important today.
\n
Written by the lead choreographers, the couple duo Songwei Hu and Jingwen Mai, they said the piece not only highlights the great love story at its core, but also weaves in themes such as the oppression of the old feudal system and patriarchal society.
\n
This ballet blends contemporary and traditional styles in a unique and expressive way. Drawing from their deep experience in Chinese classical dance, choreographers Hu and Mai said they brought in traditional movement elements to challenge and contrast with the upright, structured posture of ballet.
\n
"We incorporated more Chinese dance into the upper body," Mai explained.
\n
The dance and story were backed by Academy Award winner Tim Yip, who designed both the costumes and the stage. He is known for his art directing work on Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon.
\n
For this performance, Yip designed 12 moving screen panels. He said those 12 screens help to slow down certain elements of ballet, pushing them into a more ethereal, virtual state.
\n
Idea of fluidity
\n
Yip said he wanted to emphasize the idea of "fluidity". He said that, unlike Western art, Chinese art emphasizes atmosphere and poetic resonance. Instead of laying everything out, it sets a mood that pulls the audience into the feel and flow of the Chinese aesthetic and way of thinking," Yi said.
\n
In partnership with China Arts and Entertainment Group and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in New York, the Hong Kong Ballet will present The Butterfly Lovers for the first time from Aug 22 to 24 at Lincoln Center in New York.
\n
"As a Chinese myself, it brings me great joy to share our unique perspective on love. I hope audiences in New York can see that China, too, has its own version of Romeo and Juliet, and feel how Zhu Yingtai, even in that era, was willing to defy her family and fight for love and freedom," Hu said.
\n
For his next "ambitious" project, Webre said he has spent years researching and making. It will be a ballet based on the life of Hong Kong's legendary martial artist Bruce Lee. Mixing kung fu and ballet, Webre hopes the performance will premiere in 2027.
Torrential rain causes flooding in several New York City subway stations, particularly affecting parts of the 6 line in New York City, United States, on Thursday.
\n",
+ "content": "
Torrential rain causes flooding in several New York City subway stations, particularly affecting parts of the 6 line in New York City, United States, on Thursday.
A worker waits for customers at Roopam Sarees, which sells clothing imported from India, in Berkeley, California, on Thursday.
\n
US President Donald Trump's latest tariffs announcement has sent shockwaves across the Asian region, with the imposition of 10 to 41 percent "reciprocal tariffs" against nearly 70 trading partners signaling a fresh tide of protectionism that will hurt developing economies around the world, analysts said.
\n
Noting the "very high tariffs" unveiled by Washington on Asian exporters, observers said the levies are unfair as several trading partners in the region had offered many concessions — including duty-free access to their domestic markets, and agreeing to purchase US energy and aircraft — in the hope of getting more favorable treatment.
\n
Trump issued an executive order on Thursday imposing "additional ad valorem duties on goods of certain trading partners". The new duties will take effect from Aug 7.
\n
Japan and South Korea were slapped with 15 percent tariffs. India is facing a 25 percent duty, while Syria was hit with the highest rate of 41 percent. Laos and Myanmar are slapped with 40 percent levies. Bangladesh and Vietnam face 20 percent duties, while Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Pakistan face 19 percent duties.
\n
"Because the tariff rates are unilateral and arbitrarily linked to Washington's definition of US national security, the rates can hardly be described as fair," Elina Noor, a senior fellow in the Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said.
\n
Elina said the different unilateral rates have accelerated competition among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as each country seeks a bilateral deal with the US.
\n
"This pits ASEAN countries against each other in a way that's reminiscent of colonial divide and rule, and detracts from any effort by ASEAN member-states to coordinate positions with each other," she said.
\n
Elina said there is "a lot of uncertainty" as to whether the latest announcement leaves much scope for further negotiations.
\n
How transshipment will be determined, for example, and whether or not countries in the Southeast Asian region will be subjected to the higher 40 percent rate for it, "will remain a complicated issue since global supply chains can be extensively and intricately networked", she said.
\n
The US tariffs announcement is "very bad news generally for Asia", said Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for Asia-Pacific at Natixis.
\n
Garcia-Herrero cited the "very high tariffs" that Trump imposed on Asia and how this will hurt the export-dependent region.
\n
Prasad Wijesuriya, general secretary of the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association, noted that the 20 percent tariff on imports from Sri Lanka is lower than the initial 40 percent that Trump announced in April. But it still represents "a dramatic increase" from the Most Favored Nation rate of around 2 percent that prevailed before, he said.
\n
"This sharp escalation in tariffs is likely to trigger significant economic challenges for Sri Lanka," Wijesuriya said.
\n
But it is not just Asia that will be penalized by tariffs. As Garcia-Herrero of Natixis noted, "If everybody has tariffs, there's no escape." She noted that inflation in the US will increase due to higher prices of imported goods.
\n
Tahir Farooq, editor-in-chief at Daily Ittehad Media Group and Pakistan Economic Net, said the global economy is "now even more interconnected", and nations that "weaponize tariffs to pressure others ultimately hurt their own industries, damage their reputations, and estrange themselves from global economic cooperation".
\n
Some Asian ministers welcomed Trump's announcement, noting that the tariffs are lower than what Trump had earlier announced in April and July.
\n
Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Malaysia's minister of investment, trade and industry, said that the US has agreed to reduce the tariffs on Malaysian exports from 25 percent to 19 percent.
\n
Khalilur Rahman, Bangladesh's National Security Advisor and lead negotiator, told the local media that the South Asian nation has "successfully avoided a potential 35 percent reciprocal tariff".
\n
Contact the writers at prime@chinadailyapac.com.
\n",
+ "content": "\n
A worker waits for customers at Roopam Sarees, which sells clothing imported from India, in Berkeley, California, on Thursday.
\n
US President Donald Trump's latest tariffs announcement has sent shockwaves across the Asian region, with the imposition of 10 to 41 percent "reciprocal tariffs" against nearly 70 trading partners signaling a fresh tide of protectionism that will hurt developing economies around the world, analysts said.
\n
Noting the "very high tariffs" unveiled by Washington on Asian exporters, observers said the levies are unfair as several trading partners in the region had offered many concessions — including duty-free access to their domestic markets, and agreeing to purchase US energy and aircraft — in the hope of getting more favorable treatment.
\n
Trump issued an executive order on Thursday imposing "additional ad valorem duties on goods of certain trading partners". The new duties will take effect from Aug 7.
\n
Japan and South Korea were slapped with 15 percent tariffs. India is facing a 25 percent duty, while Syria was hit with the highest rate of 41 percent. Laos and Myanmar are slapped with 40 percent levies. Bangladesh and Vietnam face 20 percent duties, while Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand and Pakistan face 19 percent duties.
\n
"Because the tariff rates are unilateral and arbitrarily linked to Washington's definition of US national security, the rates can hardly be described as fair," Elina Noor, a senior fellow in the Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said.
\n
Elina said the different unilateral rates have accelerated competition among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as each country seeks a bilateral deal with the US.
\n
"This pits ASEAN countries against each other in a way that's reminiscent of colonial divide and rule, and detracts from any effort by ASEAN member-states to coordinate positions with each other," she said.
\n
Elina said there is "a lot of uncertainty" as to whether the latest announcement leaves much scope for further negotiations.
\n
How transshipment will be determined, for example, and whether or not countries in the Southeast Asian region will be subjected to the higher 40 percent rate for it, "will remain a complicated issue since global supply chains can be extensively and intricately networked", she said.
\n
The US tariffs announcement is "very bad news generally for Asia", said Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for Asia-Pacific at Natixis.
\n
Garcia-Herrero cited the "very high tariffs" that Trump imposed on Asia and how this will hurt the export-dependent region.
\n
Prasad Wijesuriya, general secretary of the Sri Lanka-China Friendship Association, noted that the 20 percent tariff on imports from Sri Lanka is lower than the initial 40 percent that Trump announced in April. But it still represents "a dramatic increase" from the Most Favored Nation rate of around 2 percent that prevailed before, he said.
\n
"This sharp escalation in tariffs is likely to trigger significant economic challenges for Sri Lanka," Wijesuriya said.
\n
But it is not just Asia that will be penalized by tariffs. As Garcia-Herrero of Natixis noted, "If everybody has tariffs, there's no escape." She noted that inflation in the US will increase due to higher prices of imported goods.
\n
Tahir Farooq, editor-in-chief at Daily Ittehad Media Group and Pakistan Economic Net, said the global economy is "now even more interconnected", and nations that "weaponize tariffs to pressure others ultimately hurt their own industries, damage their reputations, and estrange themselves from global economic cooperation".
\n
Some Asian ministers welcomed Trump's announcement, noting that the tariffs are lower than what Trump had earlier announced in April and July.
\n
Tengku Zafrul Aziz, Malaysia's minister of investment, trade and industry, said that the US has agreed to reduce the tariffs on Malaysian exports from 25 percent to 19 percent.
\n
Khalilur Rahman, Bangladesh's National Security Advisor and lead negotiator, told the local media that the South Asian nation has "successfully avoided a potential 35 percent reciprocal tariff".
US shoppers who buy low-cost items from overseas will face higher fees from the end of August after President Donald Trump announced the end of a practice that had allowed goods under $800 to bypass US duties.
\n
The change to the "de minimis" exemption was first implemented on goods from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong in May, as China is the largest source of these shipments.
\n
Low-cost online stores like Shein and Temu, both extremely popular with shoppers in the US and worldwide, were among those that would likely be directly affected, warned Z. John Zhang, a professor of marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
\n
But Zhang told China Daily that the recent rule change will also hit many other businesses in China that do business with the US, as it's "not just fast fashion in this case, it's really all kinds of goods under the value of $800".
\n
In fiscal year 2024, $64.6 billion worth of goods in over 1.36 billion small shipments were utilized de minimis, according to Yale University and US Customs and Border Protection.
\n
Now, all countries that send items to US customers or businesses outside of the international postal network will be subject to the rule change starting on Aug 29, Trump's executive order stated on Wednesday.
\n
Any country that sends a low-value shipment to the US through the postal system will face one of two tariffs: either an "ad valorem duty" equal to the effective tariff rate of the package's country of origin. Or, for six months, a specific tariff of $80 to $200, depending on the country of origin's tariff rate, Reuters reported.
\n
At least 75 percent of all the packages that came to the US under de minimis in 2018 were from China, estimates by Baird Equity Research suggested.
\n
George S. Yip, an emeritus professor at Imperial College London and distinguished visiting professor at Northeastern University in Boston, explained that Chinese fast fashion brands have widely adopted this rule and are so popular with a global base because of their efficiency.
\n
"The essence of fast fashion is to see what the trend is, then respond to it very quickly in terms of manufacturing, and in terms of getting the distribution out. So Chinese companies excel at that," Yip told China Daily.
\n
US Customs processes 4 million de minimis shipments per day, the Trump administration said.
\n
Fewer shipments
\n
But delivery companies FedEx and UPS reported that they picked up many fewer shipments from China after the exemption ended, The New York Times reported.
\n
UPS's chief executive, Carol Tome, said during an earnings call on Tuesday that the result of the escalating tariffs and the end of de minimis led their daily volume of shipments from China to the US to fall by 35 percent in May and June this year compared to the same period in 2024, much more than expected.
\n
"There's uncertainty around tariffs and then that means there's uncertainty around consumer demand," she said.
\n
On Tuesday, UPS announced its second quarter sales declined 2.7 percent to $21.2 billion, with net income of $1.3 billion.
\n
Meanwhile, general air cargo volume from Asia declined by 10.7 percent in July after the US canceled the exemption for packages from China, Reuters reported.
\n
The initial aim of the de minimis exemption, enacted in 1938, was to allow US citizens to bring back souvenirs from abroad.
\n
belindarobinson@chinadailyusa.com
\n",
+ "content": "
US shoppers who buy low-cost items from overseas will face higher fees from the end of August after President Donald Trump announced the end of a practice that had allowed goods under $800 to bypass US duties.
\n
The change to the "de minimis" exemption was first implemented on goods from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong in May, as China is the largest source of these shipments.
\n
Low-cost online stores like Shein and Temu, both extremely popular with shoppers in the US and worldwide, were among those that would likely be directly affected, warned Z. John Zhang, a professor of marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
\n
But Zhang told China Daily that the recent rule change will also hit many other businesses in China that do business with the US, as it's "not just fast fashion in this case, it's really all kinds of goods under the value of $800".
\n
In fiscal year 2024, $64.6 billion worth of goods in over 1.36 billion small shipments were utilized de minimis, according to Yale University and US Customs and Border Protection.
\n
Now, all countries that send items to US customers or businesses outside of the international postal network will be subject to the rule change starting on Aug 29, Trump's executive order stated on Wednesday.
\n
Any country that sends a low-value shipment to the US through the postal system will face one of two tariffs: either an "ad valorem duty" equal to the effective tariff rate of the package's country of origin. Or, for six months, a specific tariff of $80 to $200, depending on the country of origin's tariff rate, Reuters reported.
\n
At least 75 percent of all the packages that came to the US under de minimis in 2018 were from China, estimates by Baird Equity Research suggested.
\n
George S. Yip, an emeritus professor at Imperial College London and distinguished visiting professor at Northeastern University in Boston, explained that Chinese fast fashion brands have widely adopted this rule and are so popular with a global base because of their efficiency.
\n
"The essence of fast fashion is to see what the trend is, then respond to it very quickly in terms of manufacturing, and in terms of getting the distribution out. So Chinese companies excel at that," Yip told China Daily.
\n
US Customs processes 4 million de minimis shipments per day, the Trump administration said.
\n
Fewer shipments
\n
But delivery companies FedEx and UPS reported that they picked up many fewer shipments from China after the exemption ended, The New York Times reported.
\n
UPS's chief executive, Carol Tome, said during an earnings call on Tuesday that the result of the escalating tariffs and the end of de minimis led their daily volume of shipments from China to the US to fall by 35 percent in May and June this year compared to the same period in 2024, much more than expected.
\n
"There's uncertainty around tariffs and then that means there's uncertainty around consumer demand," she said.
\n
On Tuesday, UPS announced its second quarter sales declined 2.7 percent to $21.2 billion, with net income of $1.3 billion.
\n
Meanwhile, general air cargo volume from Asia declined by 10.7 percent in July after the US canceled the exemption for packages from China, Reuters reported.
\n
The initial aim of the de minimis exemption, enacted in 1938, was to allow US citizens to bring back souvenirs from abroad.
Lumber bound for export at the CentrePort terminal in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 10.
\n
Australia escaped the latest increases in global tariffs announced by the United States, but neighboring New Zealand was hit with a 15 percent levy, up from the 10 percent baseline rate that was proposed earlier.
\n
The White House, in a statement on Thursday, put out a list of modified tariff rates for affected countries, just before a pause on the tariffs it had unveiled globally in April was set to expire.
\n
In its statement on Thursday, the White House listed New Zealand under a "reciprocal tariff, adjusted" of 15 percent, from the previous 10 percent baseline rate.
\n
The increased tariffs on New Zealand exports will take effect from Aug 7, placing the country "alongside other key US trading partners including Japan and South Korea", New Zealand's Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay noted in a statement on Friday.
\n
The US was the second-largest export destination for New Zealand goods in 2024, with a total value of NZ$9 billion ($5.28 billion), according to figures from New Zealand's official data agency.
\n
Major exports
\n
The value of exports to the US nearly doubled over the past decade, driven by purchases of New Zealand meat like beef and sheep, it said, with other major exports including dairy and wine products.
\n
The latest tariff decision "appears to be based on a calculation of trade deficits, with countries running a surplus with the US moved to the higher rate. In New Zealand's case, the surplus is modest, around $500 million, and is not overly significant in the context of the US economy", McClay said.
\n
"I am seeking an urgent call with the US Trade Representative to make New Zealand's position clear: this increase risks harming exporters and consumers of both countries. The US currently faces an average tariff of just 0.8 percent when exporting to New Zealand, far lower than what we face into their market," the minister said.
\n
"Our focus now moves to engaging directly with the US on this current announcement to seek changes to this decision," he said.
\n
"New Zealand has always stood for open, rules-based trade. We will continue to advocate strongly for a resolution that supports our exporters and maintains the strength of our trading relationship with the United States," McClay added in the statement.
\n
Meanwhile, most Australian goods to the US are subject to the baseline 10 percent tariff, according to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
\n
The Australian government has called for zero US tariffs in line with a free trade agreement between the two countries.
\n
The country avoided a tariff increase that many had feared it would face on Friday, said Ben Udy, lead economist for economic advisory Oxford Economics Australia.
\n
Australian beef producers could stand to gain, with the pillar exports in high demand in recent months due to weather limiting herd numbers in the US, he said.
\n
"With Australian tariffs set to remain at 10 percent, and other exporters of high-quality beef like New Zealand and Japan facing higher tariffs, the industry should remain in high demand in the coming months," Udy said.
\n
"On that basis, Australian businesses can probably afford to leave prices unchanged, forcing US consumers or retailers to bear the brunt of the tariff increase without seeing a decline in demand."
\n
Contact the writers at xinxin@chinadaily.com.cn.
\n",
+ "content": "
Lumber bound for export at the CentrePort terminal in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 10.
\n
Australia escaped the latest increases in global tariffs announced by the United States, but neighboring New Zealand was hit with a 15 percent levy, up from the 10 percent baseline rate that was proposed earlier.
\n
The White House, in a statement on Thursday, put out a list of modified tariff rates for affected countries, just before a pause on the tariffs it had unveiled globally in April was set to expire.
\n
In its statement on Thursday, the White House listed New Zealand under a "reciprocal tariff, adjusted" of 15 percent, from the previous 10 percent baseline rate.
\n
The increased tariffs on New Zealand exports will take effect from Aug 7, placing the country "alongside other key US trading partners including Japan and South Korea", New Zealand's Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay noted in a statement on Friday.
\n
The US was the second-largest export destination for New Zealand goods in 2024, with a total value of NZ$9 billion ($5.28 billion), according to figures from New Zealand's official data agency.
\n
Major exports
\n
The value of exports to the US nearly doubled over the past decade, driven by purchases of New Zealand meat like beef and sheep, it said, with other major exports including dairy and wine products.
\n
The latest tariff decision "appears to be based on a calculation of trade deficits, with countries running a surplus with the US moved to the higher rate. In New Zealand's case, the surplus is modest, around $500 million, and is not overly significant in the context of the US economy", McClay said.
\n
"I am seeking an urgent call with the US Trade Representative to make New Zealand's position clear: this increase risks harming exporters and consumers of both countries. The US currently faces an average tariff of just 0.8 percent when exporting to New Zealand, far lower than what we face into their market," the minister said.
\n
"Our focus now moves to engaging directly with the US on this current announcement to seek changes to this decision," he said.
\n
"New Zealand has always stood for open, rules-based trade. We will continue to advocate strongly for a resolution that supports our exporters and maintains the strength of our trading relationship with the United States," McClay added in the statement.
\n
Meanwhile, most Australian goods to the US are subject to the baseline 10 percent tariff, according to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
\n
The Australian government has called for zero US tariffs in line with a free trade agreement between the two countries.
\n
The country avoided a tariff increase that many had feared it would face on Friday, said Ben Udy, lead economist for economic advisory Oxford Economics Australia.
\n
Australian beef producers could stand to gain, with the pillar exports in high demand in recent months due to weather limiting herd numbers in the US, he said.
\n
"With Australian tariffs set to remain at 10 percent, and other exporters of high-quality beef like New Zealand and Japan facing higher tariffs, the industry should remain in high demand in the coming months," Udy said.
\n
"On that basis, Australian businesses can probably afford to leave prices unchanged, forcing US consumers or retailers to bear the brunt of the tariff increase without seeing a decline in demand."
A human-shaped pottery jar (left) from the transitional period of the Xia (c.21st century-16th century BC) and Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) dynasties; a portrait brick (middle) showing an ancient delivery man dating back to time between the Three Kingdoms (220-280) period to the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420); and a human face pattern on the Houmuwu ding cauldron (right) from the Shang Dynasty are all discussed in the new book Chinese Faces: Reflections and Memories of the Chinese Nation in Cultural Relics.
\n
A meeting introducing the book was held in Beijing in July.
\n
The cover of the book that discusses the human faces found on cultural relics across the country.
\n
Delivery people have become part of everybody's day-to-day lives. However, from a portrait brick unearthed from a tomb dating back to some time between the Three Kingdoms (220-280) period to the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420) in Jiayuguan, Gansu province, visitors can catch a rare glimpse into the images and lives of their counterparts from ancient China.
\n
On the brick, a man is galloping on a horse, his right hand holding the reins while his left hand raising the letter he was transporting. He wears the postman's uniform, and the flesh on his face appears to tremble with the rhythm of the galloping steed.
\n
The man was painted without a mouth, which scholars believe may symbolize the privacy and security of the ancient postal service. On the back of the brick is evidence of the developed postal system of that time.
\n
Historical records indicate that the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24) government established more than 80 courier stations on the ancient Silk Road from its capital, Chang'an (now Xi'an, Shaanxi province), to present-day Dunhuang, Gansu. With one station established about every 20 kilometers, men would transport official documents and receive envoys, and some stations continued to function during the period when the brick was made.
\n
Chinese Faces: Reflections and Memories of the Chinese Nation in Cultural Relics is a new book that explores these stories. It centers on the human faces found on cultural relics discovered across the country from the Paleolithic era to modern times.
\n
The cultural relics introduced in the book were unearthed and discovered to be from different eras, places and ethnic groups. They include pottery figurines, human-shaped ceramic and jade vessels, and human patterns in paintings, murals and stone carvings.
\n
Weng Huainan, the author of the book and the director of the Books and Materials Department of the National Museum of China in Beijing, chose 50 remarkable artifacts from various museums nationwide that he has visited to unveil the diverse faces that represent the emotions and values of the Chinese nation.
\n
Weng says he gained inspiration from writer Shen Congwen (1902-1988), who worked in the same department as Weng at the museum for nearly three decades.
\n
"Shen wrote novels that show the diverse faces of the Chinese people. He also researched ancient Chinese costumes, from which I see the portraits of countless Chinese people. Therefore, I believe the human face is a good perspective from which I can decode cultural relics," said Weng at a book sharing meeting in Beijing in July.
\n
Liu Shuguang, director of the Chinese Museums Association, says he is impressed by Weng's depiction of a face pattern on the Houmuwu ding cauldron from the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC), which is stored at the National Museum of China.
\n
"Although we are all very familiar with this symbolic ding from the Shang era, we often talk about its imposing manner and how it was made. I didn't notice it has such a human face on its body," says Liu.
\n
According to Weng, the face is in the open mouths of two opposite tigers, and displays the dynamic movement of a person being devoured by tigers, but the face appears to be fearlessly calm.
\n
Some people believe the human must possess some magic powers, and is negotiating with nature through the power of tigers. Others believe the image symbolizes the resolute belief that the person wishes to sacrifice himself for the stability of his clan.
\n
"Whatever it is, it carries rich cultural information from more than 3,000 years ago," Weng says.
\n
Liu highlights the angle of the book: "Sharing stories about cultural relics from the perspective of human faces is a good idea. Faces are not only about individuals but also represent a group, even the features of a civilization. When telling stories about civilization and culture, human faces are the most impressive."
\n
He also mentions that the book is the result of museum research, which is gaining momentum with the museum-going trend.
\n
"In recent years, the museum-going craze in China has become a remarkable phenomenon. Many people focus on the popularity of the museum exhibitions, but at the same time, museum research has also changed," says Liu.
\n
"In the past, researchers studied the artifacts from the perspectives they were interested in. Now, they are paying increasing attention to the discoveries and unearthing of the relics and introducing them to the public, thus sharing the spirit and culture behind them," he adds.
\n
"This book is a representative work of museum professionals' efforts in the new era."
A human-shaped pottery jar (left) from the transitional period of the Xia (c.21st century-16th century BC) and Shang (c.16th century-11th century BC) dynasties; a portrait brick (middle) showing an ancient delivery man dating back to time between the Three Kingdoms (220-280) period to the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420); and a human face pattern on the Houmuwu ding cauldron (right) from the Shang Dynasty are all discussed in the new book Chinese Faces: Reflections and Memories of the Chinese Nation in Cultural Relics.
\n
A meeting introducing the book was held in Beijing in July.
\n
The cover of the book that discusses the human faces found on cultural relics across the country.
\n
Delivery people have become part of everybody's day-to-day lives. However, from a portrait brick unearthed from a tomb dating back to some time between the Three Kingdoms (220-280) period to the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420) in Jiayuguan, Gansu province, visitors can catch a rare glimpse into the images and lives of their counterparts from ancient China.
\n
On the brick, a man is galloping on a horse, his right hand holding the reins while his left hand raising the letter he was transporting. He wears the postman's uniform, and the flesh on his face appears to tremble with the rhythm of the galloping steed.
\n
The man was painted without a mouth, which scholars believe may symbolize the privacy and security of the ancient postal service. On the back of the brick is evidence of the developed postal system of that time.
\n
Historical records indicate that the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24) government established more than 80 courier stations on the ancient Silk Road from its capital, Chang'an (now Xi'an, Shaanxi province), to present-day Dunhuang, Gansu. With one station established about every 20 kilometers, men would transport official documents and receive envoys, and some stations continued to function during the period when the brick was made.
\n
Chinese Faces: Reflections and Memories of the Chinese Nation in Cultural Relics is a new book that explores these stories. It centers on the human faces found on cultural relics discovered across the country from the Paleolithic era to modern times.
\n
The cultural relics introduced in the book were unearthed and discovered to be from different eras, places and ethnic groups. They include pottery figurines, human-shaped ceramic and jade vessels, and human patterns in paintings, murals and stone carvings.
\n
Weng Huainan, the author of the book and the director of the Books and Materials Department of the National Museum of China in Beijing, chose 50 remarkable artifacts from various museums nationwide that he has visited to unveil the diverse faces that represent the emotions and values of the Chinese nation.
\n
Weng says he gained inspiration from writer Shen Congwen (1902-1988), who worked in the same department as Weng at the museum for nearly three decades.
\n
"Shen wrote novels that show the diverse faces of the Chinese people. He also researched ancient Chinese costumes, from which I see the portraits of countless Chinese people. Therefore, I believe the human face is a good perspective from which I can decode cultural relics," said Weng at a book sharing meeting in Beijing in July.
\n
Liu Shuguang, director of the Chinese Museums Association, says he is impressed by Weng's depiction of a face pattern on the Houmuwu ding cauldron from the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC), which is stored at the National Museum of China.
\n
"Although we are all very familiar with this symbolic ding from the Shang era, we often talk about its imposing manner and how it was made. I didn't notice it has such a human face on its body," says Liu.
\n
According to Weng, the face is in the open mouths of two opposite tigers, and displays the dynamic movement of a person being devoured by tigers, but the face appears to be fearlessly calm.
\n
Some people believe the human must possess some magic powers, and is negotiating with nature through the power of tigers. Others believe the image symbolizes the resolute belief that the person wishes to sacrifice himself for the stability of his clan.
\n
"Whatever it is, it carries rich cultural information from more than 3,000 years ago," Weng says.
\n
Liu highlights the angle of the book: "Sharing stories about cultural relics from the perspective of human faces is a good idea. Faces are not only about individuals but also represent a group, even the features of a civilization. When telling stories about civilization and culture, human faces are the most impressive."
\n
He also mentions that the book is the result of museum research, which is gaining momentum with the museum-going trend.
\n
"In recent years, the museum-going craze in China has become a remarkable phenomenon. Many people focus on the popularity of the museum exhibitions, but at the same time, museum research has also changed," says Liu.
\n
"In the past, researchers studied the artifacts from the perspectives they were interested in. Now, they are paying increasing attention to the discoveries and unearthing of the relics and introducing them to the public, thus sharing the spirit and culture behind them," he adds.
\n
"This book is a representative work of museum professionals' efforts in the new era."
Kenyan acrobat Mathias Kavita (with a hat) instructs children to practice acrobatics in Thika, Kenya, on July 11.
\n
NAIROBI — Having trained over 1,000 youths, Kenyan acrobat Mathias Kavita beams with pride when recalling his 41-year bond with China, which has transcended time and geography to flourish into a successful career.
\n
In 1983, just before his 12th birthday, Kavita's journey to China to study acrobatics, which focuses on group performance rather than individual routines like gymnastics, under a government scholarship marked a turning point in his life, ushering him into a "brave new world" of cross-cultural interactions and enduring friendships.
\n
For two years, Kavita and 23 of his compatriots lived together at the Guangzhou Acrobatic Troupe in Guangdong province, where they underwent rigorous training that culminated in mastering the difficult yet revered sport.
\n
Shortly after completing the program, Kavita returned to his homeland and worked as an acrobat coach for a private company. He later founded his own company in the mid-1990s, with the aim of nurturing and encouraging the next generation of acrobats.
\n
In a gated, leafy neighborhood in central Kenya's industrial town of Thika, the bubbly acrobat coach was in his element when he assembled a group of children for a one-hour training session that focused on jumps and rope-climbing.
\n
"I have been in this field ever since I learned acrobatics from the Chinese," says Kavita, dressed in traditional Chinese soft-soled black shoes, commonly worn by the elderly. His two assistants wore uniforms with "Hebei Wuqiao Acrobatic Art School" patches on them.
\n
In July 2024, Kavita visited Wuqiao county, located in North China's Hebei province, to participate in a two-month acrobatics training and exchange program funded by the Chinese government.
\n
"When I set foot on this land after 41 years, I truly felt like I had returned home. For over 40 years, I have cherished my memories of China," says Kavita.
\n
Kavita has preserved a "treasure trove" of mementos from his connection with China, including a graduation certificate from the Guangzhou Acrobatic Troupe, a visa from his first trip to China, and group photos taken during past training sessions.
\n
In June, Kenya marked 40 years of acrobatic exchange and cultural cooperation with China at a gala event where Kavita chaperoned youngsters who showcased their prowess in the time-honored sport.
\n
Over the years, Kavita has witnessed the popularity of acrobatics in Kenya growing tremendously, fueled by children and youth eager to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture.
\n
"Acrobatics has evolved since I came back from China 40 years ago. What I learned last year in China is what I want to implement in our acrobatics training in Kenya," says Kavita. "With all these exchanges, it is really giving us hope in our acrobatics and athletes that we might train and compete internationally."
\n
Kavita's mastery of acrobatics has not only provided him with a steady income as a coach but also inspired young people to embrace the sport.
\n
Eric Musyoka, a young, Nairobi-based talent, has become an accomplished acrobat thanks to Kavita's training and mentorship since 2017. He proudly demonstrated his expertise during a home-based training session for multiracial children in a gated community.
\n
Musyoka, one of Kavita's assistants, also took part in the exchange program with Hebei Wuqiao Acrobatic Art School, where he immersed himself in tai chi and Chinese martial arts while enjoying the scenic beauty of the countryside.
\n
According to Kavita, an increasing number of Kenyan youth and their parents have embraced acrobatics for its physical and mental well-being benefits.
\n
Tafari, a 10-year-old boy and one of Kavita's trainees in the gated community outside Thika town, says his health has improved tremendously since he started acrobatics lessons.
\n
"I feel like acrobatics is a good sport because it keeps you fit and helps you in life. Children should do it more so that when they grow up, they will have more opportunities to keep improving themselves in the sport," Tafari says.
\n
Madeline Herschdorfer, Tafari's mother, says the boy began practicing three years ago, while her daughter Ngina, aged 12, ventured into the sport when the family was living in Britain.
\n
"We came to Kenya and found that they train children much better here. This is the first sport that they started doing seriously every week," says Herschdorfer.
\n
"I think it is important to connect with different cultures and take home some of the good points," she adds.
\n",
+ "content": "
Kenyan acrobat Mathias Kavita (with a hat) instructs children to practice acrobatics in Thika, Kenya, on July 11.
\n
NAIROBI — Having trained over 1,000 youths, Kenyan acrobat Mathias Kavita beams with pride when recalling his 41-year bond with China, which has transcended time and geography to flourish into a successful career.
\n
In 1983, just before his 12th birthday, Kavita's journey to China to study acrobatics, which focuses on group performance rather than individual routines like gymnastics, under a government scholarship marked a turning point in his life, ushering him into a "brave new world" of cross-cultural interactions and enduring friendships.
\n
For two years, Kavita and 23 of his compatriots lived together at the Guangzhou Acrobatic Troupe in Guangdong province, where they underwent rigorous training that culminated in mastering the difficult yet revered sport.
\n
Shortly after completing the program, Kavita returned to his homeland and worked as an acrobat coach for a private company. He later founded his own company in the mid-1990s, with the aim of nurturing and encouraging the next generation of acrobats.
\n
In a gated, leafy neighborhood in central Kenya's industrial town of Thika, the bubbly acrobat coach was in his element when he assembled a group of children for a one-hour training session that focused on jumps and rope-climbing.
\n
"I have been in this field ever since I learned acrobatics from the Chinese," says Kavita, dressed in traditional Chinese soft-soled black shoes, commonly worn by the elderly. His two assistants wore uniforms with "Hebei Wuqiao Acrobatic Art School" patches on them.
\n
In July 2024, Kavita visited Wuqiao county, located in North China's Hebei province, to participate in a two-month acrobatics training and exchange program funded by the Chinese government.
\n
"When I set foot on this land after 41 years, I truly felt like I had returned home. For over 40 years, I have cherished my memories of China," says Kavita.
\n
Kavita has preserved a "treasure trove" of mementos from his connection with China, including a graduation certificate from the Guangzhou Acrobatic Troupe, a visa from his first trip to China, and group photos taken during past training sessions.
\n
In June, Kenya marked 40 years of acrobatic exchange and cultural cooperation with China at a gala event where Kavita chaperoned youngsters who showcased their prowess in the time-honored sport.
\n
Over the years, Kavita has witnessed the popularity of acrobatics in Kenya growing tremendously, fueled by children and youth eager to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture.
\n
"Acrobatics has evolved since I came back from China 40 years ago. What I learned last year in China is what I want to implement in our acrobatics training in Kenya," says Kavita. "With all these exchanges, it is really giving us hope in our acrobatics and athletes that we might train and compete internationally."
\n
Kavita's mastery of acrobatics has not only provided him with a steady income as a coach but also inspired young people to embrace the sport.
\n
Eric Musyoka, a young, Nairobi-based talent, has become an accomplished acrobat thanks to Kavita's training and mentorship since 2017. He proudly demonstrated his expertise during a home-based training session for multiracial children in a gated community.
\n
Musyoka, one of Kavita's assistants, also took part in the exchange program with Hebei Wuqiao Acrobatic Art School, where he immersed himself in tai chi and Chinese martial arts while enjoying the scenic beauty of the countryside.
\n
According to Kavita, an increasing number of Kenyan youth and their parents have embraced acrobatics for its physical and mental well-being benefits.
\n
Tafari, a 10-year-old boy and one of Kavita's trainees in the gated community outside Thika town, says his health has improved tremendously since he started acrobatics lessons.
\n
"I feel like acrobatics is a good sport because it keeps you fit and helps you in life. Children should do it more so that when they grow up, they will have more opportunities to keep improving themselves in the sport," Tafari says.
\n
Madeline Herschdorfer, Tafari's mother, says the boy began practicing three years ago, while her daughter Ngina, aged 12, ventured into the sport when the family was living in Britain.
\n
"We came to Kenya and found that they train children much better here. This is the first sport that they started doing seriously every week," says Herschdorfer.
\n
"I think it is important to connect with different cultures and take home some of the good points," she adds.
Xiao He (left) talks with residents in his quest for nursery rhymes.
\n
His band and residents perform nursery rhymes at a show in Chengdu, Sichuan province.
\n
He (right) sets up a roadside booth at a local market to collect nursery rhymes with the offer of two eggs for each piece.
\n
A group photo of the Nursery Rhyme Program Band.
\n
Xiao He performs with other musicians and a children's choir at a show presented on Children's Day in Shanghai.
\n
The new album of Xiao He and the Nursery Rhyme Program Band, Rowing on the Wind: Two Eggs for a Nursery Rhyme, was released in May.
\n
Joshua Dunlop, a 35-year-old oral English teacher from the United States currently working at the Foreign Languages College of Shanghai Normal University, is a loyal fan of Chinese musician Xiao He, who, together with the Nursery Rhyme Program Band, connected him to lullabies, nursery rhymes and folk songs born decades and even centuries ago in China.
\n
Always standing front and center at the show, Dunlop and his wife have been showing their support to He, the band and their project, the Nursery Rhyme Program, which helps preserve and share the valuable bits and pieces in local folk cultures that most people probably never heard of or knew about.
\n
Xiao He, a 50-year-old singer-songwriter whose real name is He Guofeng, has been working on this project since 2018. With the aim of saving old nursery rhymes and folk songs from extinction, He and the band members have been searching for elders across China, listening to their life stories, and discovering faded, old melodies.
\n
By 2024, they had visited 24 cities nationwide, meeting more than 750 elders and recording nearly 1,200 pieces of original soundtracks. More than 90 songs have been revitalized at these musicians' hands, among which 15 pieces are recorded in their new album Rowing on the Wind: Two Eggs for a Nursery Rhyme, released in May.
\n
"The project was initiated as a 'public art' in Beijing in 2018", but it was broader than just saving nursery rhymes, recalls He.
\n
"We were invited by a gallery to present a show. We noticed many elders were leaving the city center that used to be their home and then becoming less seen, along with their lives and voices. We hope to bring those people and things back into public view with music."
\n
This led to the unexpected unearthing of nursery rhymes. Motivated by the experience, the team embarked on a nationwide journey of discovery in 2018 to find more rhymes in different cities and villages, presenting around 30 music shows along the way.
\n
"This project was never about profit or basking in the attention. One big motivation that keeps our members going is the 'childlike innocence' rooted in our hearts," says He.
\n
He indicated that the name of the album, Rowing on the Wind, was inspired by Yang Wanli, a poet during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Yang's poem depicts a vivid scene where two children enjoy trying to capture the wind with umbrellas and using it to propel their boat, which He felt was similar to what they were doing with the project.
\n
Two Eggs for a Nursery Rhyme refers to the team's true story during the journey. They had an unusual but highly effective idea. He would go to the local markets, buy eggs and set up a roadside stall with a sign that said, "Two eggs for a nursery rhyme".
\n
"There are countless stories behind the 15 tracks on the album. We hope the songs, along with the pure innocence they represent, can breathe fresh air into the world we are living in," He says.
\n
Nursery rhymes have diverse categories, He adds, such as games, educational messages and lullabies. The album includes four lullabies: Changsha Lullaby from Hunan province, Pudong Lullaby from Shanghai, the Cantonese Child, Sleep Well from Guangdong province, and Walk Softly from Fujian province.
\n
He notes that they do not care too much about the "function" or "sense of purpose" of these nursery rhymes.
\n
Instead, they treat the songs more as good "natural" music, which they hope better connects them with audiences.
\n
"Although some of the tracks were born more than 100 years ago, such as Autumn Willows and Row Your Boat, the lyrics and melodies are still beautiful with high standards. Many nursery rhymes were born naturally in local cultures and in the interactions between the parent and child, with distinct features but no commercial intention at all. It is especially precious in the current context," He says.
\n
Following the album release, He and the band presented two shows on Children's Day in Shanghai — one in the afternoon for the children and the other in the evening for adults and kids.
\n
Unlike the stereotype that nursery rhymes are designed for children, hundreds of adults in the audience also enjoyed the performances — including Dunlop.
\n
Dunlop shared with China Daily that he liked the final song Row Your Boat and enjoyed hearing all the different children's choirs singing with He and the band onstage.
\n
"It is a wonderful experience for the children and a great way to share this culture with the younger generations. Hopefully they'll remember this moment forever. And it's a downright entertaining show for the children and the adults alike," says Dunlop.
\n
In particular, he points out that the album includes an English version of the story behind the songs, which helps foreign audiences understand the project and the team's efforts.
\n
"Music is something beyond materialism, and it can connect people to all kinds of information. When you immerse yourself in a new place and culture, you will be naturally infected by their emotions and fit into their world without the need to understand their languages. That is the most important and beautiful part of music," says He.
\n
"This is also a critical motivation that drives us consistently on the project. We believe music has the power to positively expand our limited reality and thinking, making us go farther and easier," he adds.
\n
Contact the writer at wangxin2@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Xiao He (left) talks with residents in his quest for nursery rhymes.
\n
His band and residents perform nursery rhymes at a show in Chengdu, Sichuan province.
\n
He (right) sets up a roadside booth at a local market to collect nursery rhymes with the offer of two eggs for each piece.
\n
A group photo of the Nursery Rhyme Program Band.
\n
Xiao He performs with other musicians and a children's choir at a show presented on Children's Day in Shanghai.
\n
The new album of Xiao He and the Nursery Rhyme Program Band, Rowing on the Wind: Two Eggs for a Nursery Rhyme, was released in May.
\n
Joshua Dunlop, a 35-year-old oral English teacher from the United States currently working at the Foreign Languages College of Shanghai Normal University, is a loyal fan of Chinese musician Xiao He, who, together with the Nursery Rhyme Program Band, connected him to lullabies, nursery rhymes and folk songs born decades and even centuries ago in China.
\n
Always standing front and center at the show, Dunlop and his wife have been showing their support to He, the band and their project, the Nursery Rhyme Program, which helps preserve and share the valuable bits and pieces in local folk cultures that most people probably never heard of or knew about.
\n
Xiao He, a 50-year-old singer-songwriter whose real name is He Guofeng, has been working on this project since 2018. With the aim of saving old nursery rhymes and folk songs from extinction, He and the band members have been searching for elders across China, listening to their life stories, and discovering faded, old melodies.
\n
By 2024, they had visited 24 cities nationwide, meeting more than 750 elders and recording nearly 1,200 pieces of original soundtracks. More than 90 songs have been revitalized at these musicians' hands, among which 15 pieces are recorded in their new album Rowing on the Wind: Two Eggs for a Nursery Rhyme, released in May.
\n
"The project was initiated as a 'public art' in Beijing in 2018", but it was broader than just saving nursery rhymes, recalls He.
\n
"We were invited by a gallery to present a show. We noticed many elders were leaving the city center that used to be their home and then becoming less seen, along with their lives and voices. We hope to bring those people and things back into public view with music."
\n
This led to the unexpected unearthing of nursery rhymes. Motivated by the experience, the team embarked on a nationwide journey of discovery in 2018 to find more rhymes in different cities and villages, presenting around 30 music shows along the way.
\n
"This project was never about profit or basking in the attention. One big motivation that keeps our members going is the 'childlike innocence' rooted in our hearts," says He.
\n
He indicated that the name of the album, Rowing on the Wind, was inspired by Yang Wanli, a poet during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Yang's poem depicts a vivid scene where two children enjoy trying to capture the wind with umbrellas and using it to propel their boat, which He felt was similar to what they were doing with the project.
\n
Two Eggs for a Nursery Rhyme refers to the team's true story during the journey. They had an unusual but highly effective idea. He would go to the local markets, buy eggs and set up a roadside stall with a sign that said, "Two eggs for a nursery rhyme".
\n
"There are countless stories behind the 15 tracks on the album. We hope the songs, along with the pure innocence they represent, can breathe fresh air into the world we are living in," He says.
\n
Nursery rhymes have diverse categories, He adds, such as games, educational messages and lullabies. The album includes four lullabies: Changsha Lullaby from Hunan province, Pudong Lullaby from Shanghai, the Cantonese Child, Sleep Well from Guangdong province, and Walk Softly from Fujian province.
\n
He notes that they do not care too much about the "function" or "sense of purpose" of these nursery rhymes.
\n
Instead, they treat the songs more as good "natural" music, which they hope better connects them with audiences.
\n
"Although some of the tracks were born more than 100 years ago, such as Autumn Willows and Row Your Boat, the lyrics and melodies are still beautiful with high standards. Many nursery rhymes were born naturally in local cultures and in the interactions between the parent and child, with distinct features but no commercial intention at all. It is especially precious in the current context," He says.
\n
Following the album release, He and the band presented two shows on Children's Day in Shanghai — one in the afternoon for the children and the other in the evening for adults and kids.
\n
Unlike the stereotype that nursery rhymes are designed for children, hundreds of adults in the audience also enjoyed the performances — including Dunlop.
\n
Dunlop shared with China Daily that he liked the final song Row Your Boat and enjoyed hearing all the different children's choirs singing with He and the band onstage.
\n
"It is a wonderful experience for the children and a great way to share this culture with the younger generations. Hopefully they'll remember this moment forever. And it's a downright entertaining show for the children and the adults alike," says Dunlop.
\n
In particular, he points out that the album includes an English version of the story behind the songs, which helps foreign audiences understand the project and the team's efforts.
\n
"Music is something beyond materialism, and it can connect people to all kinds of information. When you immerse yourself in a new place and culture, you will be naturally infected by their emotions and fit into their world without the need to understand their languages. That is the most important and beautiful part of music," says He.
\n
"This is also a critical motivation that drives us consistently on the project. We believe music has the power to positively expand our limited reality and thinking, making us go farther and easier," he adds.
An iconic rock carving of the sun god on Helan Mountain.
\n
Workers with the Helan Mountain rock art administration conduct a field survey.
\n
YINCHUAN — Under the scorching sun, Xu Xiaolong and his colleagues trudged through wild grass in the Gobi Desert, scanning the rocky foothills of Helan Mountain in Yinchuan, Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, in search of ancient carvings.
\n
Upon finding a pattern on a rock, the team immediately photographed and recorded its location.
\n
"This field survey not only assesses the preservation status of previously discovered rock carvings but also helps identify and document new ones," says Xu, 36, who works with the city's Helan Mountain rock art administration. He explains that the work lays the groundwork for subsequent digital archiving and protection efforts.
\n
Stretching 250 kilometers, Helan Mountain is home to more than 20,000 ancient rock carvings created by early inhabitants with stones, metal tools or mineral pigments. Dating back approximately 10,000 to 3,000 years, the carvings depict diverse subjects ranging from natural images like human faces, animals and handprints, to ancient life scenes such as herding, hunting and rituals.
\n
Launched in 2020 as a follow-up to the 2000-2003 census, the administration has surveyed over 12 sq km in and around the Helan Mountain rock art ruins park. The fieldwork is set to continue through the end of this year.
\n
Among the carvings, one features two handprints — one large and the other small. "The handprints likely signify 'me' and 'you', carved into the rock to seal an agreement," says Zhang Jianguo, deputy director of the administration.
\n
He adds that affixing a handprint to documents such as deeds and contracts was a traditional practice in China, and this rock carving reflects that enduring cultural continuity.
\n
Within the park, the deepest carving reaches 1.5 centimeters, a depth that has survived millennia of weathering. Via an experiment, the administration found that even three people carving throughout an entire day left only faint marks, indicating that a single work likely took multiple generations of prehistoric people to complete.
\n
"We assume that it was the tribal leaders or shamans who designed the patterns, and others might have carved and deepened the grooves in the following centuries as a way of expressing faith," he says.
\n
Guided tours, cultural events and creative products have boosted public engagement, with the park drawing 900,000 visitors last year.
\n
Despite their historic significance, the rock carvings face preservation challenges like any other outdoor ancient rock art elsewhere in the world. Weathering has faded or erased many images, while freeze-thaw cycles caused by rainwater have led to cracking and peeling.
\n
As part of efforts to strengthen protection, China's State Council designated the site as a major national cultural heritage unit in 1996, followed by the establishment of the administration in 2002. In 2003, the citylevel Helan Mountain rock art protection regulation became China's first dedicated legislation for the preservation of rock art.
\n
Zhang, who has witnessed and been involved throughout the entire conservation journey, recalls that concrete efforts included extensive field surveys, the construction of flood-prevention dams and protective fencing, and the development of protection plans to balance tourism with preservation.
\n
In cooperation with other institutions, the administration reinforced 20 rock faces with carvings and cracks, injecting organic materials into fissures to prevent surface peeling from 2012 to 2017. A nanomaterial coating is sprayed onto surfaces for water — and sun-proofing protection, and monitors have been installed to collect data to guide future protection work.
\n",
+ "content": "
An iconic rock carving of the sun god on Helan Mountain.
\n
Workers with the Helan Mountain rock art administration conduct a field survey.
\n
YINCHUAN — Under the scorching sun, Xu Xiaolong and his colleagues trudged through wild grass in the Gobi Desert, scanning the rocky foothills of Helan Mountain in Yinchuan, Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, in search of ancient carvings.
\n
Upon finding a pattern on a rock, the team immediately photographed and recorded its location.
\n
"This field survey not only assesses the preservation status of previously discovered rock carvings but also helps identify and document new ones," says Xu, 36, who works with the city's Helan Mountain rock art administration. He explains that the work lays the groundwork for subsequent digital archiving and protection efforts.
\n
Stretching 250 kilometers, Helan Mountain is home to more than 20,000 ancient rock carvings created by early inhabitants with stones, metal tools or mineral pigments. Dating back approximately 10,000 to 3,000 years, the carvings depict diverse subjects ranging from natural images like human faces, animals and handprints, to ancient life scenes such as herding, hunting and rituals.
\n
Launched in 2020 as a follow-up to the 2000-2003 census, the administration has surveyed over 12 sq km in and around the Helan Mountain rock art ruins park. The fieldwork is set to continue through the end of this year.
\n
Among the carvings, one features two handprints — one large and the other small. "The handprints likely signify 'me' and 'you', carved into the rock to seal an agreement," says Zhang Jianguo, deputy director of the administration.
\n
He adds that affixing a handprint to documents such as deeds and contracts was a traditional practice in China, and this rock carving reflects that enduring cultural continuity.
\n
Within the park, the deepest carving reaches 1.5 centimeters, a depth that has survived millennia of weathering. Via an experiment, the administration found that even three people carving throughout an entire day left only faint marks, indicating that a single work likely took multiple generations of prehistoric people to complete.
\n
"We assume that it was the tribal leaders or shamans who designed the patterns, and others might have carved and deepened the grooves in the following centuries as a way of expressing faith," he says.
\n
Guided tours, cultural events and creative products have boosted public engagement, with the park drawing 900,000 visitors last year.
\n
Despite their historic significance, the rock carvings face preservation challenges like any other outdoor ancient rock art elsewhere in the world. Weathering has faded or erased many images, while freeze-thaw cycles caused by rainwater have led to cracking and peeling.
\n
As part of efforts to strengthen protection, China's State Council designated the site as a major national cultural heritage unit in 1996, followed by the establishment of the administration in 2002. In 2003, the citylevel Helan Mountain rock art protection regulation became China's first dedicated legislation for the preservation of rock art.
\n
Zhang, who has witnessed and been involved throughout the entire conservation journey, recalls that concrete efforts included extensive field surveys, the construction of flood-prevention dams and protective fencing, and the development of protection plans to balance tourism with preservation.
\n
In cooperation with other institutions, the administration reinforced 20 rock faces with carvings and cracks, injecting organic materials into fissures to prevent surface peeling from 2012 to 2017. A nanomaterial coating is sprayed onto surfaces for water — and sun-proofing protection, and monitors have been installed to collect data to guide future protection work.
An immersive dining experience in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, transports guests back to the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), featuring music and dance inspired by that era.
\n
Diners are seated at long tables arranged in two rows on each side, while performances unfold on the walkway in between.
\n
The exquisite dishes offer a feast for both the palate and the eyes.
\n
What makes a perfect banquet an unforgettable evening? One might find the answer in the poems of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), which depict the nightlife of Chang'an, the imperial city in modern-day Xi'an of Shaanxi province, providing rich details and rhetoric beauty.
\n
For example, in Liren Xing (Fair Ladies on Outing) composed by Du Fu, elite diners "are served with arrays of delicate plates of fresh white fish"; in Preface for a Spring Night Banquet with Cousins in the Orchard, Li Bai described a joyful gathering in such verses as "begins the banquet by sitting among flowers, be drunk by beverages and intoxicating scenes of the moon".
\n
Surrounded by dancing, singing, and poem-chanting and served good food and drinks, these great poets not only celebrated the pleasures of life but they also expressed a concern for the deep malaise in society beneath the extravagance of Chang'an and the Tang empire.
\n
Be it prosperous, romantic, sorrowful, or complicated, Chang'an is poised as a fantasy worth a visit.
\n
Now, for visitors to Xi'an, that fantasy has become a reality with an extravagant dinner at the Fu Rong Yan Restaurant: A Seasonal Aesthetic Dining Show.
\n
The newly unveiled show at the Xi'an Qu Jiang Fu Rong Ge Hotel brings diners an immersive 90-minute "bite" of Chang'an with an engaging evening party that replicates the dinners that intellectuals, musicians and dancers of Tang once enjoyed.
\n
Directed by Sun Ting and Liu Xiaozhou, the dinner show allows people to feast on a carefully designed culinary set while their eyes and ears feast on a show that reenacts the many social aspects of the Tang Dynasty at its aesthetic heights.
\n
The dining hall is refurnished to resemble a fashion showroom, and diners sit at long tables with two rows on each side while performances are staged on the walkway in the middle.
\n
If they like, guests can wear Tang attire and makeup with the help of hotel staff members before attending the banquet.
\n
"A primary challenge for this project is that, while we want to unveil a flourishing Chang'an and its diverse aspects of life, the show mustn't be dramatic — we don't want people to feel uncomfortable or too emotional when they eat," Liu says.
\n
"There is no plot or story to compete for people's attention or disrupt their gastronomic experiences.
\n
"Every scenario reveals a dimension of Tang society, culture and art, and reflects its varied seasonal customs. They can be performed as a stand-alone piece, so we can make improvements to the content and actions."
\n
Sun choreographed several important galas, including a group dance at the opening of the 2023 China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an.
\n
She says when tourists want to feel the city's historic depth, they visit the Shaanxi History Museum, Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, or other similar destinations. The dinner show adds another dimension to tourists' appreciation of Xi'an by making these figures and objects from the past come alive.
\n
A dance in the show is inspired by a Tang sancai (three-color glaze) pottery figurine of a band of musicians performing on the back of a howling camel.
\n
A celebrated collection in the Shaanxi History Museum, the figurine was excavated from a tomb on the western outskirts of Xi'an in 1959, which shows the city's pivotal role in trade and cultural exchanges between ancient China and other civilizations along the Silk Road. The band reflects the foreign musical instruments that were introduced to China and integrated into classical Chinese music.
\n
During the show, musicians are ushered onto the stage one by one as the band's conductor introduces the instruments that will be played. They gather and play instruments, such as the flute, the pear-shaped, four-stringed pipa, the plucked zither guzheng, and the konghou, a multi-stringed member of the harp family.
\n
Sun says the archetype of the band leader is Li Guinian, a reputed musician who performed at royal soirees during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong when the Tang Dynasty achieved its height of prosperity.
\n
The pairing of every scenario and each dish poses another challenge for the show's production team.
\n
"We work shoulder to shoulder with the chefs," Sun says.
\n
"One day at the hotel, we were offered a fungus soup for a taste test. It would be presented as the first dish at the show. The first sip of the yummy soup evoked a pleasant spring scene in my mind."
\n
That inspired her to create a group dance for the first scene — young women on an outing collecting fungus. As they dance, the fungus soup is presented.
\n
Sun Yanbin, general manager of the Qu Jiang Fu Rong Ge Hotel, says that although Xi'an is known for its variety of wheat-based food and barbecue culture, the show is suited for diners' varied diet and preferences.
\n
"There is sweet-and-sour fish and simple sauteed vegetables, which satisfy those who don't eat much wheat-based food and favor a light diet. Meanwhile, we celebrate Shaanxi's culinary traditions by offering Qishan Noodles to bring an end to the course," he says.
\n
What impressed Ma Ke, one of the first diners at the show, was a "lotus flower" floating in the fungus soup.
\n
Ma, who heads an art theater company in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, says he ate the flower and thought it was made of wheat. Later, the staff told him it was made of fish.
\n
"No wonder the texture was so smooth," he says.
\n
Sun Yanbin says a mood of auspiciousness and blooming Hibiscus flowers are two of the dinner show's keynotes that convey good hospitality and accentuate Xi'an's cultural accumulations over time.
\n
The hotel's neighbor, Tang Paradise, is a tourist complex that was once an imperial garden where Hibiscus flowers were believed to grow in large quantities.
\n
The dinner show addresses the city's intensified integration of tourism experiences and creative cultural products.
\n
Figures released by Shaanxi's culture and tourism bureau earlier this year show that in 2024, the province received 817 million domestic visits and 467,700 inbound visits.
\n
Sun Yanbin says that to better cater to people's ever-changing needs, they will continue to upgrade the content and dishes for the dinner show "about two to three times a year".
\n
He adds that foreign language subtitles are also in the making and will be added soon.
\n
Contact the writer at linqi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Online Scan the code to watch the video.
\n
An immersive dining experience in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, transports guests back to the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), featuring music and dance inspired by that era.
\n
Diners are seated at long tables arranged in two rows on each side, while performances unfold on the walkway in between.
\n
The exquisite dishes offer a feast for both the palate and the eyes.
\n
What makes a perfect banquet an unforgettable evening? One might find the answer in the poems of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), which depict the nightlife of Chang'an, the imperial city in modern-day Xi'an of Shaanxi province, providing rich details and rhetoric beauty.
\n
For example, in Liren Xing (Fair Ladies on Outing) composed by Du Fu, elite diners "are served with arrays of delicate plates of fresh white fish"; in Preface for a Spring Night Banquet with Cousins in the Orchard, Li Bai described a joyful gathering in such verses as "begins the banquet by sitting among flowers, be drunk by beverages and intoxicating scenes of the moon".
\n
Surrounded by dancing, singing, and poem-chanting and served good food and drinks, these great poets not only celebrated the pleasures of life but they also expressed a concern for the deep malaise in society beneath the extravagance of Chang'an and the Tang empire.
\n
Be it prosperous, romantic, sorrowful, or complicated, Chang'an is poised as a fantasy worth a visit.
\n
Now, for visitors to Xi'an, that fantasy has become a reality with an extravagant dinner at the Fu Rong Yan Restaurant: A Seasonal Aesthetic Dining Show.
\n
The newly unveiled show at the Xi'an Qu Jiang Fu Rong Ge Hotel brings diners an immersive 90-minute "bite" of Chang'an with an engaging evening party that replicates the dinners that intellectuals, musicians and dancers of Tang once enjoyed.
\n
Directed by Sun Ting and Liu Xiaozhou, the dinner show allows people to feast on a carefully designed culinary set while their eyes and ears feast on a show that reenacts the many social aspects of the Tang Dynasty at its aesthetic heights.
\n
The dining hall is refurnished to resemble a fashion showroom, and diners sit at long tables with two rows on each side while performances are staged on the walkway in the middle.
\n
If they like, guests can wear Tang attire and makeup with the help of hotel staff members before attending the banquet.
\n
"A primary challenge for this project is that, while we want to unveil a flourishing Chang'an and its diverse aspects of life, the show mustn't be dramatic — we don't want people to feel uncomfortable or too emotional when they eat," Liu says.
\n
"There is no plot or story to compete for people's attention or disrupt their gastronomic experiences.
\n
"Every scenario reveals a dimension of Tang society, culture and art, and reflects its varied seasonal customs. They can be performed as a stand-alone piece, so we can make improvements to the content and actions."
\n
Sun choreographed several important galas, including a group dance at the opening of the 2023 China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an.
\n
She says when tourists want to feel the city's historic depth, they visit the Shaanxi History Museum, Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, or other similar destinations. The dinner show adds another dimension to tourists' appreciation of Xi'an by making these figures and objects from the past come alive.
\n
A dance in the show is inspired by a Tang sancai (three-color glaze) pottery figurine of a band of musicians performing on the back of a howling camel.
\n
A celebrated collection in the Shaanxi History Museum, the figurine was excavated from a tomb on the western outskirts of Xi'an in 1959, which shows the city's pivotal role in trade and cultural exchanges between ancient China and other civilizations along the Silk Road. The band reflects the foreign musical instruments that were introduced to China and integrated into classical Chinese music.
\n
During the show, musicians are ushered onto the stage one by one as the band's conductor introduces the instruments that will be played. They gather and play instruments, such as the flute, the pear-shaped, four-stringed pipa, the plucked zither guzheng, and the konghou, a multi-stringed member of the harp family.
\n
Sun says the archetype of the band leader is Li Guinian, a reputed musician who performed at royal soirees during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong when the Tang Dynasty achieved its height of prosperity.
\n
The pairing of every scenario and each dish poses another challenge for the show's production team.
\n
"We work shoulder to shoulder with the chefs," Sun says.
\n
"One day at the hotel, we were offered a fungus soup for a taste test. It would be presented as the first dish at the show. The first sip of the yummy soup evoked a pleasant spring scene in my mind."
\n
That inspired her to create a group dance for the first scene — young women on an outing collecting fungus. As they dance, the fungus soup is presented.
\n
Sun Yanbin, general manager of the Qu Jiang Fu Rong Ge Hotel, says that although Xi'an is known for its variety of wheat-based food and barbecue culture, the show is suited for diners' varied diet and preferences.
\n
"There is sweet-and-sour fish and simple sauteed vegetables, which satisfy those who don't eat much wheat-based food and favor a light diet. Meanwhile, we celebrate Shaanxi's culinary traditions by offering Qishan Noodles to bring an end to the course," he says.
\n
What impressed Ma Ke, one of the first diners at the show, was a "lotus flower" floating in the fungus soup.
\n
Ma, who heads an art theater company in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, says he ate the flower and thought it was made of wheat. Later, the staff told him it was made of fish.
\n
"No wonder the texture was so smooth," he says.
\n
Sun Yanbin says a mood of auspiciousness and blooming Hibiscus flowers are two of the dinner show's keynotes that convey good hospitality and accentuate Xi'an's cultural accumulations over time.
\n
The hotel's neighbor, Tang Paradise, is a tourist complex that was once an imperial garden where Hibiscus flowers were believed to grow in large quantities.
\n
The dinner show addresses the city's intensified integration of tourism experiences and creative cultural products.
\n
Figures released by Shaanxi's culture and tourism bureau earlier this year show that in 2024, the province received 817 million domestic visits and 467,700 inbound visits.
\n
Sun Yanbin says that to better cater to people's ever-changing needs, they will continue to upgrade the content and dishes for the dinner show "about two to three times a year".
\n
He adds that foreign language subtitles are also in the making and will be added soon.
Young visitors participate in a music festival at Kaisen (Happy) Tribe, a popular rural retreat in Wangjiangjing town, Jiaxing city, Zhejiang province.
\n
On a summer morning, the light cuts softly across grasslands intersected by stone paths, and the scent of lotus rises from the waterlogged fields at Kaisen (Happy) Tribe in Wangjiangjing town.
\n
This rural retreat in Xiuzhou district, Jiaxing in East China's Zhejiang province, has become a popular escape for urban travelers from the Yangtze River Delta region, especially those from Shanghai, since opening in October last year.
\n
The site blends natural village landscapes with children's play facilities, parent-child camping, agricultural exploration, and environmental education.
\n
The Grand Canal, threading through the heart of the town, has long shaped its identity — a slow, powerful artery that once carried grain, people and stories.
\n
In recent decades, as freight routes shift and industries modernize, old warehouses stand silent, bridges gather moss, and the stories of boatmen and local crafts fade into the background.
\n
As the country places renewed emphasis on the preservation and revitalization of the Grand Canal, local efforts have gone into repurposing the idling resources.
\n
Popular attractions now include a reptile museum, unique accommodations like cylindrical concrete pipe rooms, and interactive activities such as rice field tours and animal encounters, says Mo Xiaohua, who is in charge of the operations of Kaisen (Happy) Tribe.
\n
"The core philosophy of our entire tribe is to create a boundless classroom in nature," Mo explains.
\n
He emphasizes the concept of forest-style education and community growth, aligning with Wangjiangjing's broader vision to vigorously develop canal-themed experiential education and leverage nature-based learning and canal cultural tourism to create a new family vacation destination in the region.
\n
From its early planning stages, the project was guided by principles of green development and low-impact construction.
\n
Its goal is to revitalize an abandoned village on the original site by utilizing the area's natural landscape of forests, rice fields and ponds, and transform what was once a single-function space into an ecologically rich environment.
\n
During construction, the designers also took great care to seamlessly integrate diverse areas — playgrounds, fishponds, farms and rice paddies — through thoughtful details and facilities, Mo says.
\n
The effort has paid off, as the tribe manages to attract up to 10,000 visitors on peak days, with high occupancy rates.
\n
It is working to build more hotel rooms featuring distinctive local elements, Mo adds.
\n
The project is the latest addition to the Jiaxing canal culture and tourism resort in Wangjiangjing.
\n
The goal is to make the area feel alive — not an open-air museum or a scenic spot where visitors are not allowed to touch anything, says Shen Tao, an official with the canal resort's administration.
\n
Since its launch in 2018, the resort has pursued a "heritage-first" development model, he notes.
\n
The resort's identity is deeply rooted in its UNESCO-recognized heritage.
\n
The Changhong Bridge, a magnificent stone arch structure dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), is part of the Grand Canal's UNESCO World Heritage site designation in 2014.
\n
Complementing this historical backbone are the region's abundant water resources — 11 lakes, each spanning over 66.7 hectares — that epitomize the classic water town landscape in the regions south of the Yangtze River.
\n
This aquatic environment has shaped local traditions, from lotus cultivation to the unique ancient fishermen's celebration.
\n
For instance, a granary complex from the 1960s has been turned into a vibrant cultural space with a speciality cafe, while preserving its distinctive architecture of the '60s. Another granary conversion highlights a digital culture hub featuring VR theaters and avant-garde performances.
\n
A meticulously reconstructed steam locomotive based on relics from the Suzhou-Jiaxing Railway stands as both a visitor center and a patriotic education site, complete with preserved wartime bunkers bearing visible bullet holes.
\n
The railway connected Suzhou of Jiangsu province and Jiaxing for about eight years since its opening in 1936, before being largely dismantled during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
\n
Those sites have proved especially appealing to younger travelers looking for perfect social media moments, Shen says.
\n
Future plans include expanding night tourism options, enhancing digital integration, and developing a youth soccer training base for regional sports tourism, he adds.
Young visitors participate in a music festival at Kaisen (Happy) Tribe, a popular rural retreat in Wangjiangjing town, Jiaxing city, Zhejiang province.
\n
On a summer morning, the light cuts softly across grasslands intersected by stone paths, and the scent of lotus rises from the waterlogged fields at Kaisen (Happy) Tribe in Wangjiangjing town.
\n
This rural retreat in Xiuzhou district, Jiaxing in East China's Zhejiang province, has become a popular escape for urban travelers from the Yangtze River Delta region, especially those from Shanghai, since opening in October last year.
\n
The site blends natural village landscapes with children's play facilities, parent-child camping, agricultural exploration, and environmental education.
\n
The Grand Canal, threading through the heart of the town, has long shaped its identity — a slow, powerful artery that once carried grain, people and stories.
\n
In recent decades, as freight routes shift and industries modernize, old warehouses stand silent, bridges gather moss, and the stories of boatmen and local crafts fade into the background.
\n
As the country places renewed emphasis on the preservation and revitalization of the Grand Canal, local efforts have gone into repurposing the idling resources.
\n
Popular attractions now include a reptile museum, unique accommodations like cylindrical concrete pipe rooms, and interactive activities such as rice field tours and animal encounters, says Mo Xiaohua, who is in charge of the operations of Kaisen (Happy) Tribe.
\n
"The core philosophy of our entire tribe is to create a boundless classroom in nature," Mo explains.
\n
He emphasizes the concept of forest-style education and community growth, aligning with Wangjiangjing's broader vision to vigorously develop canal-themed experiential education and leverage nature-based learning and canal cultural tourism to create a new family vacation destination in the region.
\n
From its early planning stages, the project was guided by principles of green development and low-impact construction.
\n
Its goal is to revitalize an abandoned village on the original site by utilizing the area's natural landscape of forests, rice fields and ponds, and transform what was once a single-function space into an ecologically rich environment.
\n
During construction, the designers also took great care to seamlessly integrate diverse areas — playgrounds, fishponds, farms and rice paddies — through thoughtful details and facilities, Mo says.
\n
The effort has paid off, as the tribe manages to attract up to 10,000 visitors on peak days, with high occupancy rates.
\n
It is working to build more hotel rooms featuring distinctive local elements, Mo adds.
\n
The project is the latest addition to the Jiaxing canal culture and tourism resort in Wangjiangjing.
\n
The goal is to make the area feel alive — not an open-air museum or a scenic spot where visitors are not allowed to touch anything, says Shen Tao, an official with the canal resort's administration.
\n
Since its launch in 2018, the resort has pursued a "heritage-first" development model, he notes.
\n
The resort's identity is deeply rooted in its UNESCO-recognized heritage.
\n
The Changhong Bridge, a magnificent stone arch structure dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), is part of the Grand Canal's UNESCO World Heritage site designation in 2014.
\n
Complementing this historical backbone are the region's abundant water resources — 11 lakes, each spanning over 66.7 hectares — that epitomize the classic water town landscape in the regions south of the Yangtze River.
\n
This aquatic environment has shaped local traditions, from lotus cultivation to the unique ancient fishermen's celebration.
\n
For instance, a granary complex from the 1960s has been turned into a vibrant cultural space with a speciality cafe, while preserving its distinctive architecture of the '60s. Another granary conversion highlights a digital culture hub featuring VR theaters and avant-garde performances.
\n
A meticulously reconstructed steam locomotive based on relics from the Suzhou-Jiaxing Railway stands as both a visitor center and a patriotic education site, complete with preserved wartime bunkers bearing visible bullet holes.
\n
The railway connected Suzhou of Jiangsu province and Jiaxing for about eight years since its opening in 1936, before being largely dismantled during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
\n
Those sites have proved especially appealing to younger travelers looking for perfect social media moments, Shen says.
\n
Future plans include expanding night tourism options, enhancing digital integration, and developing a youth soccer training base for regional sports tourism, he adds.
Conductor Myung-Whun Chung will lead the China NCPA Orchestra as they perform at Europe's leading festivals from Wednesday to Aug 15. The festivals will feature western classical and Chinese music.
\n
On July 26, the China NCPA Orchestra performed under the baton of Korean conductor Myung-Whun Chung, giving a preview of the pieces they will play on the upcoming European tour.
\n\n
Conductor Myung-Whun Chung, who has collaborated with many of the world's leading orchestras during his decades-long career, prefers to focus on building long-term, deep relationships with a small selection of orchestras.
\n
Since first collaborating with the China NCPA Orchestra in 2014, the conductor says he has developed a strong and harmonious connection with the Chinese orchestra, describing it as a "good friend who understands me".
\n
This mutual understanding is not just reflected in technical precision but also in the emotional resonance of their combined musical expression.
\n
The China NCPA Orchestra is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year and will tour Europe with Chung.
\n
From Wednesday to Aug 15, they will tour some of Europe's leading festivals, including the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland, the Santander International Festival in Spain, and the International Music festival Koblenz and Elbphilharmonie Summer festival in Germany.
\n
Under Chung's direction, the orchestra will perform a selection of classical Western music pieces, including Maurice Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major, Camille Saint-Saens' Third Symphony, and Sergei Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet suites.
\n
Chen Qigang's Wu Xing (The Five Elements), a 10-minute work comprising five short portrayals of metal, wood, water, fire and earth will also be performed on the tour.
\n
Pianist Bruce Liu, the first-prize winner at the 18th Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, will join the tour.
\n
"Normally, Western orchestras come to Asia. But now, it's a worldwide sharing of music, which shows the growth and quality of the musicians (from Asia). The orchestra has made great achievements in a short time. We have completed eight rehearsals and they understand me. It's a very warm collaboration," says Chung at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on July 25.
\n
On July 26 and 27, the conductor led the China NCPA Orchestra in two European tour preview concerts at the NCPA.
\n
In 2023, Chung conducted the China NCPA Orchestra, featuring Liu on Chopin's Piano Concerto No 1 in E Minor, Op 11, in which Liu performed during the final round of the Chopin competition.
\n
In June, Chung invited musicians from the China NCPA Orchestra to join the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra he founded in 1995 to perform the opening concert for the Busan Concert Hall, where he is the artistic director.
\n
"I am glad to see that music development has come to a point where China can partner with the Western world," he adds.
\n
"Music can bring people together; that is important. We have no language barrier, and the world can share this music as one family," the conductor notes. "Music is free, warm, and equally shared."
\n
When asked about the music pieces chosen for the tour, he says he doesn't have a particular reason to choose the pieces because "we have such a wealth of repertoire" and "it depends on the feeling at that moment".
\n
He chose Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet suites because he considers it to be "maybe his greatest work".
\n
"The contrast of the pieces shows many aspects of the orchestra. I think they do particularly well with these music pieces," says the conductor, adding that pianist Liu wanted to play Maurice Ravel, and that's why Saint-Saens' Third Symphony was selected.
\n
According to Chung, the mission of the orchestra is to serve the composer and to understand and convey the essence of the work, rather than getting caught up in regional or stylistic differences.
\n
"When I was young, people asked why a pianist from Asia played music pieces from the West. But now there are no such questions," he says. "Music is a result of collaborations between the orchestra and the conductor, which cannot be defined by where the orchestra comes from — China, Spain or America."
\n
Born in Seoul in 1953, Chung began his career as a pianist, taking the second prize at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1974. He moved to the United States to study conducting at the Juilliard School in 1978. Throughout his career as a conductor, he has led many of the world's most renowned orchestras across Europe, Asia and the US. Milan's La Scala announced in May that Chung will take the post of music director in 2027. Chung will be the first Asian conductor and the second non-Italian musician to hold the position.
\n
The China NCPA Orchestra is the resident orchestra of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Since its founding in 2010, it has established itself as one of the most adventurous and dynamic orchestras in the country and has earned an international reputation through extensive touring and recordings.
\n
Through its demanding schedule of concerts and opera performances, the orchestra serves as a major cultural powerhouse, propelling China's musical landscape forward. In this capacity, the orchestra has performed in over 70 opera productions by the NCPA, making it one of the few leading orchestras alongside the Vienna Philharmonic and the Staatskapelle Dresden to regularly perform in the concert hall and the opera pit.
\n
The orchestra presents over 100 concerts a year to a live audience of nearly 200,000 and an online concert series drawing an audience of 20 million viewers on average.
\n
"Based in the capital city of a country often regarded as the future of classical music, the China NCPA Orchestra is committed to reshaping China's entertainment industry as well as bringing the power of classical music to audiences across the world," says Ren Xiaolong, the China NCPA Orchestra's CEO.
\n
"Therefore, our first European tour is the perfect way to celebrate our 15th anniversary. With maestro Chung and Bruce Liu, our musicians are bringing a distinctively creative program that combines romantic French works and contemporary Chinese music. We look forward to meeting our audiences across Europe in August."
\n
Chung agrees. "It's very heartwarming to see the orchestra's growth in the past 10 years. I have worked with La Scala for over 34 years. The orchestra (China NCPA Orchestra) and our friendship are still young."
Conductor Myung-Whun Chung will lead the China NCPA Orchestra as they perform at Europe's leading festivals from Wednesday to Aug 15. The festivals will feature western classical and Chinese music.
\n
On July 26, the China NCPA Orchestra performed under the baton of Korean conductor Myung-Whun Chung, giving a preview of the pieces they will play on the upcoming European tour.
\n\n
Conductor Myung-Whun Chung, who has collaborated with many of the world's leading orchestras during his decades-long career, prefers to focus on building long-term, deep relationships with a small selection of orchestras.
\n
Since first collaborating with the China NCPA Orchestra in 2014, the conductor says he has developed a strong and harmonious connection with the Chinese orchestra, describing it as a "good friend who understands me".
\n
This mutual understanding is not just reflected in technical precision but also in the emotional resonance of their combined musical expression.
\n
The China NCPA Orchestra is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year and will tour Europe with Chung.
\n
From Wednesday to Aug 15, they will tour some of Europe's leading festivals, including the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland, the Santander International Festival in Spain, and the International Music festival Koblenz and Elbphilharmonie Summer festival in Germany.
\n
Under Chung's direction, the orchestra will perform a selection of classical Western music pieces, including Maurice Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major, Camille Saint-Saens' Third Symphony, and Sergei Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet suites.
\n
Chen Qigang's Wu Xing (The Five Elements), a 10-minute work comprising five short portrayals of metal, wood, water, fire and earth will also be performed on the tour.
\n
Pianist Bruce Liu, the first-prize winner at the 18th Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, will join the tour.
\n
"Normally, Western orchestras come to Asia. But now, it's a worldwide sharing of music, which shows the growth and quality of the musicians (from Asia). The orchestra has made great achievements in a short time. We have completed eight rehearsals and they understand me. It's a very warm collaboration," says Chung at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on July 25.
\n
On July 26 and 27, the conductor led the China NCPA Orchestra in two European tour preview concerts at the NCPA.
\n
In 2023, Chung conducted the China NCPA Orchestra, featuring Liu on Chopin's Piano Concerto No 1 in E Minor, Op 11, in which Liu performed during the final round of the Chopin competition.
\n
In June, Chung invited musicians from the China NCPA Orchestra to join the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra he founded in 1995 to perform the opening concert for the Busan Concert Hall, where he is the artistic director.
\n
"I am glad to see that music development has come to a point where China can partner with the Western world," he adds.
\n
"Music can bring people together; that is important. We have no language barrier, and the world can share this music as one family," the conductor notes. "Music is free, warm, and equally shared."
\n
When asked about the music pieces chosen for the tour, he says he doesn't have a particular reason to choose the pieces because "we have such a wealth of repertoire" and "it depends on the feeling at that moment".
\n
He chose Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet suites because he considers it to be "maybe his greatest work".
\n
"The contrast of the pieces shows many aspects of the orchestra. I think they do particularly well with these music pieces," says the conductor, adding that pianist Liu wanted to play Maurice Ravel, and that's why Saint-Saens' Third Symphony was selected.
\n
According to Chung, the mission of the orchestra is to serve the composer and to understand and convey the essence of the work, rather than getting caught up in regional or stylistic differences.
\n
"When I was young, people asked why a pianist from Asia played music pieces from the West. But now there are no such questions," he says. "Music is a result of collaborations between the orchestra and the conductor, which cannot be defined by where the orchestra comes from — China, Spain or America."
\n
Born in Seoul in 1953, Chung began his career as a pianist, taking the second prize at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1974. He moved to the United States to study conducting at the Juilliard School in 1978. Throughout his career as a conductor, he has led many of the world's most renowned orchestras across Europe, Asia and the US. Milan's La Scala announced in May that Chung will take the post of music director in 2027. Chung will be the first Asian conductor and the second non-Italian musician to hold the position.
\n
The China NCPA Orchestra is the resident orchestra of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Since its founding in 2010, it has established itself as one of the most adventurous and dynamic orchestras in the country and has earned an international reputation through extensive touring and recordings.
\n
Through its demanding schedule of concerts and opera performances, the orchestra serves as a major cultural powerhouse, propelling China's musical landscape forward. In this capacity, the orchestra has performed in over 70 opera productions by the NCPA, making it one of the few leading orchestras alongside the Vienna Philharmonic and the Staatskapelle Dresden to regularly perform in the concert hall and the opera pit.
\n
The orchestra presents over 100 concerts a year to a live audience of nearly 200,000 and an online concert series drawing an audience of 20 million viewers on average.
\n
"Based in the capital city of a country often regarded as the future of classical music, the China NCPA Orchestra is committed to reshaping China's entertainment industry as well as bringing the power of classical music to audiences across the world," says Ren Xiaolong, the China NCPA Orchestra's CEO.
\n
"Therefore, our first European tour is the perfect way to celebrate our 15th anniversary. With maestro Chung and Bruce Liu, our musicians are bringing a distinctively creative program that combines romantic French works and contemporary Chinese music. We look forward to meeting our audiences across Europe in August."
\n
Chung agrees. "It's very heartwarming to see the orchestra's growth in the past 10 years. I have worked with La Scala for over 34 years. The orchestra (China NCPA Orchestra) and our friendship are still young."
In Daofu, a quaint county in Southwest China's Sichuan province, traditional Tibetan homes have been beautifully transformed into cafes, seamlessly blending international favorites like butter tea and highland barley.
\n
"Sipping a highland latte while listening to Tibetan folk songs and learning thangka painting — what a perfect way to unwind!" says tourist Xu Xiaomei.
\n
In this county filled with Tibetan heritage, cafes don't just serve drinks — they offer local culture. "Even our coffee cups are custom-made from Daofu's black pottery," says Gao Yaojun, a manager at the hotel's cafe.
\n
Daofu now welcomes more than 1.5 million coffee-related tourist visits each year, reflecting the wider boom of cafe culture in China's countryside. As of 2024, over 44,000 countryside coffee shops have sprung up nationwide.
\n
To stand out in an increasingly crowded space, many rural cafes are turning to a "coffee+" model, which pairs coffee with experiences like hiking, handicrafts, or farm visits. It's not just about sipping a latte — it's about discovering what makes each place special.
\n
In Southwest China's Guizhou province, for example, a cafe perched on a 200-meter-high cliff has gone viral online. Adventurous visitors embark on a challenging trek through the forest and climb the cliffs to reach it, with the entire experience costing nearly 400 yuan ($55.73) per person. Similar adrenaline-fueled cafes have also emerged in provinces like Zhejiang and Fujian.
\n
In Yunnan province, one of the country's key habitats for wild Asian elephants, guests at a cafe in Pu'er can sip freshly brewed coffee while watching elephants roam and forage in the distant forests.
\n
Some cafes have chosen to tap into their agricultural roots. As China's primary coffee-producing region, Yunnan offers visitors the chance to sip locally grown brews while exploring plantations and roasteries.
\n
In Wanning, on island province of Hainan, coffee farm cafes let visitors roast their own beans, blending agritourism with beverage culture. Leftover coffee grounds are transformed into eco-friendly crafts, such as sand paintings, murals and scented accessories.
\n
This rural cafe boom is largely fueled by urbanites seeking weekend escapes into nature. In the first quarter, rural tourism welcomed 707 million visitors, an 8.9 percent year-on-year increase. Revenue reached 412 billion yuan, up 5.6 percent.
\n
The cafe boom is also energizing local economies. In Anji county, Zhejiang, a rural region with under 600,000 residents, more than 300 countryside cafes have opened in recent years. Cafes here often operate on a co-op model: villagers and collectives invest in land or resources, management teams handle operations, and profits are shared through rent, wages and dividends.
\n
Deep Blue, one of Anji's most popular cafes, returns nearly half of its sales revenue to its local shareholders. "You've got to admire how brilliantly resourceful these young people are," says a villager.
\n
The rise of rural cafes is also reversing urban migration. Many young entrepreneurs are returning to their hometowns, drawn by the potential of rural development. Among them is Wang Han, 27, from Xinzhai village in Yunnan. After working in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, and Kunming, Yunnan, Wang returned in 2020 to open a cafe and an online coffee business. "There's something worth coming back for. Now visitors from across China come to tour our coffee fields and taste our brews," he says.
\n
At Deep Blue, its 127 staff members average an age of 25, and their backgrounds range from medicine to shipbuilding, according to founder Cheng Shuoqin, who grew up in Anji and launched his business in 2022 with six partners.
\n
Cheng believes concerns about market saturation are premature. More well-educated young talent is still on the way to the countryside, he says. "The more young people return, the brighter the future is for the countryside."
\n",
+ "content": "\n
In Daofu, a quaint county in Southwest China's Sichuan province, traditional Tibetan homes have been beautifully transformed into cafes, seamlessly blending international favorites like butter tea and highland barley.
\n
"Sipping a highland latte while listening to Tibetan folk songs and learning thangka painting — what a perfect way to unwind!" says tourist Xu Xiaomei.
\n
In this county filled with Tibetan heritage, cafes don't just serve drinks — they offer local culture. "Even our coffee cups are custom-made from Daofu's black pottery," says Gao Yaojun, a manager at the hotel's cafe.
\n
Daofu now welcomes more than 1.5 million coffee-related tourist visits each year, reflecting the wider boom of cafe culture in China's countryside. As of 2024, over 44,000 countryside coffee shops have sprung up nationwide.
\n
To stand out in an increasingly crowded space, many rural cafes are turning to a "coffee+" model, which pairs coffee with experiences like hiking, handicrafts, or farm visits. It's not just about sipping a latte — it's about discovering what makes each place special.
\n
In Southwest China's Guizhou province, for example, a cafe perched on a 200-meter-high cliff has gone viral online. Adventurous visitors embark on a challenging trek through the forest and climb the cliffs to reach it, with the entire experience costing nearly 400 yuan ($55.73) per person. Similar adrenaline-fueled cafes have also emerged in provinces like Zhejiang and Fujian.
\n
In Yunnan province, one of the country's key habitats for wild Asian elephants, guests at a cafe in Pu'er can sip freshly brewed coffee while watching elephants roam and forage in the distant forests.
\n
Some cafes have chosen to tap into their agricultural roots. As China's primary coffee-producing region, Yunnan offers visitors the chance to sip locally grown brews while exploring plantations and roasteries.
\n
In Wanning, on island province of Hainan, coffee farm cafes let visitors roast their own beans, blending agritourism with beverage culture. Leftover coffee grounds are transformed into eco-friendly crafts, such as sand paintings, murals and scented accessories.
\n
This rural cafe boom is largely fueled by urbanites seeking weekend escapes into nature. In the first quarter, rural tourism welcomed 707 million visitors, an 8.9 percent year-on-year increase. Revenue reached 412 billion yuan, up 5.6 percent.
\n
The cafe boom is also energizing local economies. In Anji county, Zhejiang, a rural region with under 600,000 residents, more than 300 countryside cafes have opened in recent years. Cafes here often operate on a co-op model: villagers and collectives invest in land or resources, management teams handle operations, and profits are shared through rent, wages and dividends.
\n
Deep Blue, one of Anji's most popular cafes, returns nearly half of its sales revenue to its local shareholders. "You've got to admire how brilliantly resourceful these young people are," says a villager.
\n
The rise of rural cafes is also reversing urban migration. Many young entrepreneurs are returning to their hometowns, drawn by the potential of rural development. Among them is Wang Han, 27, from Xinzhai village in Yunnan. After working in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, and Kunming, Yunnan, Wang returned in 2020 to open a cafe and an online coffee business. "There's something worth coming back for. Now visitors from across China come to tour our coffee fields and taste our brews," he says.
\n
At Deep Blue, its 127 staff members average an age of 25, and their backgrounds range from medicine to shipbuilding, according to founder Cheng Shuoqin, who grew up in Anji and launched his business in 2022 with six partners.
\n
Cheng believes concerns about market saturation are premature. More well-educated young talent is still on the way to the countryside, he says. "The more young people return, the brighter the future is for the countryside."
1. Members of the Milano Ballet from Italy display their techniques at the grand bazaar in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. They are participating in the 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival, which opened in Urumqi and runs until Tuesday.
\n
2. In Peking Opera costumes, members of the troupe learn hand gestures and body movements from the ancient art form in the Urumqi Peking Opera House.
\n
3. Under the guidance of a Peking Opera performer, an Italian dancer tests his agility in the ancient opera form in the Urumqi Peking Opera House.
\n
4. A performer demonstrates rod-controlled puppetry, a national intangible cultural heritage, backstage in Urumqi.
\n
5. Members from a Kazakhstan song and dance ensemble pose for a group photo with Chinese dancers upon their arrival in Urumqi.
\n
6. With help from several hands, a dancer with the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, who is a specialist in Khmer classical dance, adjusts her delicate headdress before performing in Karamay, an oil-rich city in northern Xinjiang.
\n
A scene from Carmen, performed by the Milano Ballet from Italy.
\n
The original Chinese dance drama, In the Distance, Here, which incorporates eye-catching elements from various ethnic dances, officially kicked off the 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival on July 20.
\n
Playing the character A Bing, a visually impaired musician in the opera dance Erquan, Wang Hongwei has to change his makeup backstage with the help of many hands within a few minutes to show the character's aging process.
\n
Italian ballet performers rehearse their roles and interactions before going onstage.
\n
The 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival hit the stage in spectacular style on July 20, as the dance drama In the Distance, Here, made a stunning debut at the Xinjiang People's Hall in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
\n
Under the theme — Let's Dance Together, this year's festival brings together 24 distinguished art troupes from home and abroad, including groups from eight countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, the United States, Italy and Cambodia.
\n
Each production will captivate audiences across the region until Tuesday.
\n
On stage, dancers move with ethereal grace — each leap electrifying, each turn fluid as water. Yet behind the curtain, a different rhythm pulses: the relentless beat of preparation.
\n
As the dance festival unfolds, China Daily reporters step beyond the footlights to witness artistry forged in the shadows.
\n
From every sequin to every stretched muscle and every split-second transition, it proves the old saying, "A minute on stage demands a decade of practice". Between performances, dancers bridge languages through interactive activities and shared applause.
\n
With Urumqi serving as the main venue, the festival has regional sub-venues in Ili, Hotan, Aksu, Karamay, Hami and Ala'er. Accompanying activities include the 2025 Xinjiang Silk Road Street Dance Show, village dance community performances, an international dance carnival, and a traditional opera week.
\n
Hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the State Council Information Office, and the Xinjiang regional government, the event has been held since 2008, attracting 138 art groups from more than 70 countries and regions during its previous six sessions.
\n",
+ "content": "
1. Members of the Milano Ballet from Italy display their techniques at the grand bazaar in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. They are participating in the 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival, which opened in Urumqi and runs until Tuesday.
\n
2. In Peking Opera costumes, members of the troupe learn hand gestures and body movements from the ancient art form in the Urumqi Peking Opera House.
\n
3. Under the guidance of a Peking Opera performer, an Italian dancer tests his agility in the ancient opera form in the Urumqi Peking Opera House.
\n
4. A performer demonstrates rod-controlled puppetry, a national intangible cultural heritage, backstage in Urumqi.
\n
5. Members from a Kazakhstan song and dance ensemble pose for a group photo with Chinese dancers upon their arrival in Urumqi.
\n
6. With help from several hands, a dancer with the Royal Ballet of Cambodia, who is a specialist in Khmer classical dance, adjusts her delicate headdress before performing in Karamay, an oil-rich city in northern Xinjiang.
\n
A scene from Carmen, performed by the Milano Ballet from Italy.
\n
The original Chinese dance drama, In the Distance, Here, which incorporates eye-catching elements from various ethnic dances, officially kicked off the 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival on July 20.
\n
Playing the character A Bing, a visually impaired musician in the opera dance Erquan, Wang Hongwei has to change his makeup backstage with the help of many hands within a few minutes to show the character's aging process.
\n
Italian ballet performers rehearse their roles and interactions before going onstage.
\n
The 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival hit the stage in spectacular style on July 20, as the dance drama In the Distance, Here, made a stunning debut at the Xinjiang People's Hall in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
\n
Under the theme — Let's Dance Together, this year's festival brings together 24 distinguished art troupes from home and abroad, including groups from eight countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, the United States, Italy and Cambodia.
\n
Each production will captivate audiences across the region until Tuesday.
\n
On stage, dancers move with ethereal grace — each leap electrifying, each turn fluid as water. Yet behind the curtain, a different rhythm pulses: the relentless beat of preparation.
\n
As the dance festival unfolds, China Daily reporters step beyond the footlights to witness artistry forged in the shadows.
\n
From every sequin to every stretched muscle and every split-second transition, it proves the old saying, "A minute on stage demands a decade of practice". Between performances, dancers bridge languages through interactive activities and shared applause.
\n
With Urumqi serving as the main venue, the festival has regional sub-venues in Ili, Hotan, Aksu, Karamay, Hami and Ala'er. Accompanying activities include the 2025 Xinjiang Silk Road Street Dance Show, village dance community performances, an international dance carnival, and a traditional opera week.
\n
Hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the State Council Information Office, and the Xinjiang regional government, the event has been held since 2008, attracting 138 art groups from more than 70 countries and regions during its previous six sessions.
In the early 2000s, Shaoxing, a centuries-old city in Zhejiang province, faced a dilemma familiar to many urbanized regions in China: whether to preserve historical neighborhoods or clear the way for modern construction.
\n
Cangqiao Zhijie, a historical street in Shaoxing dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and featuring narrow alleyways, traditional homes and crisscrossing waterways, stood at the heart of a preservation standoff. As redevelopment plans loomed elsewhere, residents feared displacement and officials hesitated.
\n
The impasse ended in January 2003, when Xi Jinping, then secretary of the Communist Party of China Zhejiang Provincial Committee, visited the neighborhood and gave a clear directive: It must be preserved in its original form and essence.
\n
He also instructed local officials to prioritize preserving historical authenticity, maintaining the integrity of the landscape and ensuring the continuity of people's lives in restoration and protection efforts — principles that would later point the way for preserving historical and cultural sites throughout Zhejiang.
\n
Ultimately, over 840 households continued to live in their old residences at the ancient site, earning the site recognition from UNESCO as a "living showcase of Chinese heritage".
\n
By the end of 2024, Zhejiang boasted 20 historic cultural cities and 11,126 historical buildings, placing it at the forefront of the nation in terms of cultural heritage preservation.
\n
The practices provided insight into Xi's vision for balancing cultural heritage preservation and urban development, which was reaffirmed at the Central Urban Work Conference held on July 14 and 15 in Beijing.
\n
During the meeting, President Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, listed priorities for urban development, including preserving historical and cultural heritage alongside refined urban landscape governance, with a focus on protecting cities' unique historical legacies, cultural geography and natural landscapes.
\n
This policy priority aligns with Xi's consistent approach to integrating cultural preservation into the shaping of urban landscapes, analysts said.
\n
Liu Guiru, an associate researcher at the Fujian Academy of Social Sciences, said that Xi, who worked in Fujian for more than 17 years, made "historic contributions" to the preservation of cultural heritage in the province.
\n
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, parts of revolutionary hero Lin Juemin's residence faced demolition due to urban development in Sanfang Qixiang, also known as the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, a 40-hectare cultural and historical neighborhood.
\n
Upon learning of the situation, Xi, who was then the Party secretary of Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian, visited the neighborhood. During an on-site meeting that focused on the preservation of cultural heritage, Xi said, "We must ensure the comprehensive protection, restoration and utilization of cultural relics in the city — not only safeguarding them from damage but also enhancing their splendor to pass them on to future generations."
\n
Therefore, Xi ordered a halt to the demolition and called for the restoration of Lin's residence. Later, other old houses in the historical neighborhood were gradually restored and brought under protection.
\n
Liu said that "during his tenure in Fujian, Xi placed a high emphasis on cultural heritage protection, introduced many forward-thinking ideas and spearheaded a series of pioneering explorations and practices, ensuring the preservation of cultural heritage and historical cities".
\n
"This is in line with the philosophy and practices regarding cultural heritage protection that Xi has advocated since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012," she added.
\n
"Cultural heritage protection requires efforts to strike a balance between urban development and the preservation of cultural legacy, ensuring that history, culture and modern life are seamlessly integrated," Liu said. "Xi's philosophy allows cities to grow and modernize while still preserving and celebrating their unique historical and cultural identities."
\n
For the Chinese president, preserving cultural relics is not just about honoring the past, but also about shaping the future for cities and their residents.
\n
During an inspection of Suzhou, Jiangsu province, in July 2023, Xi called for efforts to better protect, develop and leverage the Pingjiang Historic and Cultural Block, a site with a rich history spanning over 2,500 years.
\n
Xi said that Suzhou has excelled in blending tradition with modernity, simultaneously promoting historical and cultural inheritance and boosting high-tech innovation and high-quality development.
\n
This approach represents the future of development, he added.
\n
Xu Yunhe, an official in charge of cultural heritage protection in Suzhou's Gusu district, said that "Gusu has successfully integrated the cultural, commercial, tourism and public service industries, while prioritizing cultural heritage protection, achieving a synergy between preservation and development".
\n
"On the one hand, this approach promotes local economic growth. On the other, the restoration of ancient buildings enhances their potential for upgrading and reclassification, increasing the number of heritage buildings and reinforcing the profound historical legacy of the ancient city," Xu added.
\n
In June 2023, Suzhou launched an initiative aimed at promoting the preservation of the ancient city while infusing it with new vibrancy.
\n
The focus is on revitalizing historical residences within the 19.2 square kilometers of its ancient city area through inviting enterprises and individuals to participate in the revitalization and utilization of these historic buildings.
\n
By June 2025, the program included 80 historical residences, with 36 of them now being utilized.
\n
Thanks to such revitalization efforts, more historical and cultural areas are thriving in Suzhou. For example, the Pingjiang Historic and Cultural Block received 15.06 million visits in the first half of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 11.73 percent.
\n
As the Central Urban Work Conference set clear goals and directions for more systematic and scientific urban cultural heritage protection efforts in the years ahead, greater policy emphasis is being given to integrate cultural heritage into everyday life to ensure sustainable development.
\n
Liu, the associate researcher, said urban cultural heritage protection should be treated as a comprehensive project, promoting the systematic integration and deepening of cultural heritage protection.
\n
She noted that Xi's vision for cultural heritage protection has always emphasized maintaining the unique historical and cultural character of cities throughout the course of modernization.
\n
"This vision also emphasizes that in the new era, the preservation of traditional cultural districts must always uphold a people-centered approach, ensuring that the value of preservation is genuinely realized," she added.
\n
Zhejiang Daily contributed to this story.
\n
Contact the writers at jihaisheng@chinadaily.com.cn
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