China is glad to see Russia and the United States maintaining contact, improving their bilateral relations and advancing the political settlement process of the Ukraine crisis, President Xi Jinping said.
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Xi made the remark during a phone conversation on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
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Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said on Thursday that Russia and the US had reached an agreement on a meeting between the two countries' presidents in the coming days.
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During the phone talks on Friday, Putin briefed Xi on Russia's views on the current situation of the Ukraine crisis and the recent contacts and communications between Russia and the US.
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Putin said that Russia highly appreciates the constructive role China has played in the political settlement of the crisis.
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Noting that "there are no simple solutions to complex issues", Xi elaborated on China's principled position.
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No matter how the situation changes, China will stick to its consistent position and keep promoting peace and talks, Xi said.
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Putin said the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination will not change under any circumstances, and Moscow is willing to maintain close communication with Beijing.
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During the call, the two leaders spoke highly of the high-level political mutual trust and strategic cooperation between China and Russia.
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They agreed to work together to promote greater development in bilateral relations.
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During the phone conversation, the two leaders spoke about the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as China will host the SCO summit in North China's Tianjin from Aug 31 to Sept 1.
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Xi and Putin agreed that both sides will collaborate closely to ensure the successful preparation of the SCO Tianjin Summit, making it a summit of friendship, unity with fruitful outcomes, and to advance the high-quality development of the SCO.
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Leaders of more than 20 countries, including all the 10 member countries of the SCO, will attend the SCO Tianjin Summit, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday.
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The summit will also bring together heads of 10 international organizations. This will be the largest SCO summit since the organization's founding in 2001, Guo said.
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According to recent media reports, Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are planning to attend the summit.
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"We believe that with the concerted effort of all parties, the Tianjin summit will be a gathering of solidarity, friendship and fruitful results, and the SCO will enter a new stage of high-quality development featuring greater solidarity, coordination, dynamism and productiveness," Guo said.
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Contact the writers at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
China is glad to see Russia and the United States maintaining contact, improving their bilateral relations and advancing the political settlement process of the Ukraine crisis, President Xi Jinping said.
\n
Xi made the remark during a phone conversation on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
\n
Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said on Thursday that Russia and the US had reached an agreement on a meeting between the two countries' presidents in the coming days.
\n
During the phone talks on Friday, Putin briefed Xi on Russia's views on the current situation of the Ukraine crisis and the recent contacts and communications between Russia and the US.
\n
Putin said that Russia highly appreciates the constructive role China has played in the political settlement of the crisis.
\n
Noting that "there are no simple solutions to complex issues", Xi elaborated on China's principled position.
\n
No matter how the situation changes, China will stick to its consistent position and keep promoting peace and talks, Xi said.
\n
Putin said the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination will not change under any circumstances, and Moscow is willing to maintain close communication with Beijing.
\n
During the call, the two leaders spoke highly of the high-level political mutual trust and strategic cooperation between China and Russia.
\n
They agreed to work together to promote greater development in bilateral relations.
\n
During the phone conversation, the two leaders spoke about the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as China will host the SCO summit in North China's Tianjin from Aug 31 to Sept 1.
\n
Xi and Putin agreed that both sides will collaborate closely to ensure the successful preparation of the SCO Tianjin Summit, making it a summit of friendship, unity with fruitful outcomes, and to advance the high-quality development of the SCO.
\n
Leaders of more than 20 countries, including all the 10 member countries of the SCO, will attend the SCO Tianjin Summit, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday.
\n
The summit will also bring together heads of 10 international organizations. This will be the largest SCO summit since the organization's founding in 2001, Guo said.
\n
According to recent media reports, Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are planning to attend the summit.
\n
"We believe that with the concerted effort of all parties, the Tianjin summit will be a gathering of solidarity, friendship and fruitful results, and the SCO will enter a new stage of high-quality development featuring greater solidarity, coordination, dynamism and productiveness," Guo said.
\n
Contact the writers at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn
Emergency responders conduct search and rescue operations at a residential area in Jiuzhuanggou village, Yuzhong county, Lanzhou, Gansu province, on Friday, after heavy rainfall triggered deadly flash floods. As of Friday afternoon, 10 people were confirmed dead and 33 were reported missing.
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Militia members evacuate a local resident in Jiuzhuanggou village, Gansu province, on Friday.
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President Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts to search for and rescue the missing, relocate and resettle those at risk, minimize casualties, and swiftly restore communications and transportation following flash floods that killed 10 people and left 33 missing in Northwest China's Gansu province.
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Starting on Thursday, Gansu experienced heavy downpours, leading to flash floods in Yuzhong county in Lanzhou, the provincial capital, which blocked roads and left more than 4,000 people stranded, China Central Television reported.
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In an instruction given on the disaster, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said local governments and relevant departments must not succumb to complacency and carelessness in light of the recent occurrence of extreme weather.
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He called for strengthened forecasting and early warning systems, intensified efforts to identify and eliminate hidden risks, heightened vigilance during emergency duty shifts, and targeted flood control and disaster relief measures to ensure the safety of the public throughout the flood season.
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Premier Li Qiang also issued an instruction demanding a thorough search and rescue operation for those missing or trapped.
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Highlighting that China remains in the critical period for flood control spanning late July to early August, Li urged the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters to direct local authorities to raise alert levels, enhance monitoring and warning systems, and make every effort to reduce casualties.
\n
This year's peak flood season has seen notable regional variations, with pronounced droughts and floods. Flooding has been more severe in northern China than in the south, while drought conditions have intensified in central and northwestern regions.
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Late last month, Beijing experienced extreme downpours resulting in 44 deaths, nine people missing, and significant property damage.
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In an instruction last week, Xi stressed the importance of planning for worst-case and extreme scenarios during this critical flood season, urging local governments and departments to fully assume political responsibility, implement comprehensive flood control measures, and spare no effort to protect people's lives and property.
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According to local authorities in Lanzhou, the road to Maliantan village, where many of the missing are from, has been cleared. Loaders are transporting stranded residents, and medical personnel and rescue teams have begun entering the village on foot.
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The National Development and Reform Commission said on Friday that it has allocated 100 million yuan ($13.92 million) from the central budget to support rescue and recovery efforts in Gansu.
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The funding will prioritize repairing damaged roads, bridges, water conservancy dikes, and other infrastructure and public service facilities, aiming to help disaster-hit areas resume normal production and daily life as soon as possible.
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The National Meteorological Center has forecast heavy rainfall in northern and northwestern China, as well as regions along the Yellow, Yangtze and Huaihe rivers from Friday to Saturday. Parts of Hebei and Shandong provinces are expected to be hit by torrential rain, with some areas forecast to witness thunderstorms, strong winds and hail.
\n
Chen Tao, chief forecaster at the center, said that the latest bout of heavy rain in northern China is closely linked to atmospheric circulation. A stronger than usual western Pacific subtropical high, positioned farther north than normal, has provided water vapor to fuel the rains since July.
\n
Contact the writers at mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Emergency responders conduct search and rescue operations at a residential area in Jiuzhuanggou village, Yuzhong county, Lanzhou, Gansu province, on Friday, after heavy rainfall triggered deadly flash floods. As of Friday afternoon, 10 people were confirmed dead and 33 were reported missing.
\n
Militia members evacuate a local resident in Jiuzhuanggou village, Gansu province, on Friday.
\n
President Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts to search for and rescue the missing, relocate and resettle those at risk, minimize casualties, and swiftly restore communications and transportation following flash floods that killed 10 people and left 33 missing in Northwest China's Gansu province.
\n
Starting on Thursday, Gansu experienced heavy downpours, leading to flash floods in Yuzhong county in Lanzhou, the provincial capital, which blocked roads and left more than 4,000 people stranded, China Central Television reported.
\n
In an instruction given on the disaster, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said local governments and relevant departments must not succumb to complacency and carelessness in light of the recent occurrence of extreme weather.
\n
He called for strengthened forecasting and early warning systems, intensified efforts to identify and eliminate hidden risks, heightened vigilance during emergency duty shifts, and targeted flood control and disaster relief measures to ensure the safety of the public throughout the flood season.
\n
Premier Li Qiang also issued an instruction demanding a thorough search and rescue operation for those missing or trapped.
\n
Highlighting that China remains in the critical period for flood control spanning late July to early August, Li urged the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters to direct local authorities to raise alert levels, enhance monitoring and warning systems, and make every effort to reduce casualties.
\n
This year's peak flood season has seen notable regional variations, with pronounced droughts and floods. Flooding has been more severe in northern China than in the south, while drought conditions have intensified in central and northwestern regions.
\n
Late last month, Beijing experienced extreme downpours resulting in 44 deaths, nine people missing, and significant property damage.
\n
In an instruction last week, Xi stressed the importance of planning for worst-case and extreme scenarios during this critical flood season, urging local governments and departments to fully assume political responsibility, implement comprehensive flood control measures, and spare no effort to protect people's lives and property.
\n
According to local authorities in Lanzhou, the road to Maliantan village, where many of the missing are from, has been cleared. Loaders are transporting stranded residents, and medical personnel and rescue teams have begun entering the village on foot.
\n
The National Development and Reform Commission said on Friday that it has allocated 100 million yuan ($13.92 million) from the central budget to support rescue and recovery efforts in Gansu.
\n
The funding will prioritize repairing damaged roads, bridges, water conservancy dikes, and other infrastructure and public service facilities, aiming to help disaster-hit areas resume normal production and daily life as soon as possible.
\n
The National Meteorological Center has forecast heavy rainfall in northern and northwestern China, as well as regions along the Yellow, Yangtze and Huaihe rivers from Friday to Saturday. Parts of Hebei and Shandong provinces are expected to be hit by torrential rain, with some areas forecast to witness thunderstorms, strong winds and hail.
\n
Chen Tao, chief forecaster at the center, said that the latest bout of heavy rain in northern China is closely linked to atmospheric circulation. A stronger than usual western Pacific subtropical high, positioned farther north than normal, has provided water vapor to fuel the rains since July.
Visitors interact in front of artworks highlighting Tang Dynasty (618-907) glazed ceramics at a cultural park in Luoyang, Henan province, on July 19.
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Educational tours and leisure vacations are closely matched in winning the hearts of Chinese families this summer as the tourism market enters its peak period, which coincides with a two-month holiday for students.
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Figures from travel portal Ly.com show that as of early July, educational tour bookings doubled year-on-year on the platform.
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Leisure vacation destinations and amusement parks have also witnessed remarkable interest. According to online travel agency Tuniu, destinations such as Haikou in Hainan province, Xiamen in Fujian province, and Qingdao and Weihai in Shandong province have all registered impressive growth in July on its platform, with Haikou seeing tourist numbers surge 127 percent yearon-year in the month.
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Qunar, also a travel portal, said its online bookings for leisure getaways such as hotels with water parks on-site or nearby have increased 30 percent on average since the start of the summer holiday.
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"My daughter's wish is now the most important — whether it's taking a purely leisure trip or joining an educational tour with opportunities to explore top universities," said Wang Youli, 38, a resident of Beijing, who took her 10-year-old daughter to visit the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in July.
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The mother said she used to be torn between the two tourism options that are poles apart, as she had wanted her daughter not to waste a minute of her summer holiday — usually July and August — and gain some new knowledge rather than just indulging in recreation.
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"But I've changed my mind since last year, as my daughter complained that she wished to take a break from her studies and the very thought of acquiring knowledge during an outing made her stressful. She is still a little girl, so just having fun during summer time without learning any knowledge is no big deal," Wang said.
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Qi Chunguang, vice-president of Tuniu, noted that many parents wish that their children could gain some knowledge or be inspired by educational tours. They want them to get involved in experience events rather than just getting a cursory glimpse of the destination.
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He said the company's educational tours are mainly targeted at children in primary and middle schools, and that parents prefer those focused on Chinese traditional culture, nature, science and megastructures.
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"For families seeking purely leisure vacations, the parents usually attach more importance to the traveling experience, relaxation and convenience during the trip. They may avoid red-eye flights for more comfortable and less hectic schedules," he said.
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Qi added that educational tours to overseas destinations have shown muted growth this summer, which he attributed to safety concerns in some Southeast Asian countries and visa challenges in the United States.
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Zhu Kezhao, 16, from Chengdu in Sichuan province, went on an educational tour to Hong Kong in June last year and a leisure family trip to Greece in July this year.
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His mother, surnamed Wang, said these trips helped Zhu improve his English-speaking skills besides strengthening family relations. "We've always had the idea of trying our best to let the kids see the world — be it an educational tour or a trip just for leisure," said Wang.
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Wei Changren, founder of btiii.com, a tourism-related financial news website, said the rising popularity of the two different tourism products — educational and leisure tours — shows parents' increasingly diversified traveling preferences for their children in recent years.
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"Both ways of traveling show parents' wish to let the kids broaden their horizons and gain a fresh understanding of the world," Wei said, adding that travel agencies can keep enhancing their products to meet the needs of adults and children alike.
Innovators from China's private sector will benefit from stronger judicial protection, especially those working in new technologies and emerging businesses, under a guideline issued on Friday by the country's top court.
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Reiterating the private sector's important role in the Chinese socialist market economy, the Supreme People's Court released a 25-article guideline requiring courts nationwide to focus more on intellectual property cases involving high-tech fields and to strengthen legal protection for key areas and core technological innovations.
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The guideline also encourages judges to use punitive damages in IP cases to effectively combat violators and provide incentives for innovators.
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Additionally, it allows courts across the country to foster the healthy development of the artificial intelligence industry, and conduct more research on safeguarding data rights while facilitating efficient data circulation.
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The court said the guideline aims to ensure the accurate implementation of the Private Sector Promotion Law, which took effect on May 20. It is the country's first fundamental law in this regard, marking a milestone in bolstering private sector development and boosting entrepreneurs' confidence.
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"Ensuring the equal protection of the legitimate rights and interests of private entities and their operators through adjudication is better to promote the sustainable, healthy and high-quality growth of the private economy," the court said.
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While optimizing the rule of law environment for the private sector, the guideline also emphasizes the need to strengthen internal management within private enterprises.
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For example, Chinese courts are mandated to tackle corruption within private companies with the same rigor as graft within state-owned enterprises. Judges are also tasked with providing stronger legal education and training for entrepreneurs to deter offenses such as bid rigging.
\n
In shareholder disputes at private companies, courts at each level should patiently explain the laws and actively steer the parties toward a substantive resolution of business standstills through measures such as equity transfers, share repurchases, capital reductions and divisions. The goal is to prevent disruptions in corporate governance that could impede production and operations.
\n
Before releasing the guideline, the top court disclosed several concluded cases to show judicial efforts to protect the legitimate rights of private firms and regulate the sector's development.
\n
Earlier this month, it highlighted the successful mediation of several disputes involving three technological researchers, saying that resolving their problems at one time allowed them to focus on innovation rather than litigation.
\n
It also mentioned a contract dispute between a company in Zhejiang province and a Spanish firm to show how Chinese courts have provided legal aid for domestic enterprises going global in line with the law.
\n
The guideline also calls for the timely disclosure of such cases to help regulate private enterprise activities.
Innovators from China's private sector will benefit from stronger judicial protection, especially those working in new technologies and emerging businesses, under a guideline issued on Friday by the country's top court.
\n
Reiterating the private sector's important role in the Chinese socialist market economy, the Supreme People's Court released a 25-article guideline requiring courts nationwide to focus more on intellectual property cases involving high-tech fields and to strengthen legal protection for key areas and core technological innovations.
\n
The guideline also encourages judges to use punitive damages in IP cases to effectively combat violators and provide incentives for innovators.
\n
Additionally, it allows courts across the country to foster the healthy development of the artificial intelligence industry, and conduct more research on safeguarding data rights while facilitating efficient data circulation.
\n
The court said the guideline aims to ensure the accurate implementation of the Private Sector Promotion Law, which took effect on May 20. It is the country's first fundamental law in this regard, marking a milestone in bolstering private sector development and boosting entrepreneurs' confidence.
\n
"Ensuring the equal protection of the legitimate rights and interests of private entities and their operators through adjudication is better to promote the sustainable, healthy and high-quality growth of the private economy," the court said.
\n
While optimizing the rule of law environment for the private sector, the guideline also emphasizes the need to strengthen internal management within private enterprises.
\n
For example, Chinese courts are mandated to tackle corruption within private companies with the same rigor as graft within state-owned enterprises. Judges are also tasked with providing stronger legal education and training for entrepreneurs to deter offenses such as bid rigging.
\n
In shareholder disputes at private companies, courts at each level should patiently explain the laws and actively steer the parties toward a substantive resolution of business standstills through measures such as equity transfers, share repurchases, capital reductions and divisions. The goal is to prevent disruptions in corporate governance that could impede production and operations.
\n
Before releasing the guideline, the top court disclosed several concluded cases to show judicial efforts to protect the legitimate rights of private firms and regulate the sector's development.
\n
Earlier this month, it highlighted the successful mediation of several disputes involving three technological researchers, saying that resolving their problems at one time allowed them to focus on innovation rather than litigation.
\n
It also mentioned a contract dispute between a company in Zhejiang province and a Spanish firm to show how Chinese courts have provided legal aid for domestic enterprises going global in line with the law.
\n
The guideline also calls for the timely disclosure of such cases to help regulate private enterprise activities.
Drones transported about 1.5 metric tons of lychees out of Taolian village in Guangzhou's Conghua district on Thursday morning after continuous heavy rainfall blocked the mountainous village's only road, local officials said.
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The drones played an important role in safeguarding the income of local farmers, said Li Xihuan, Party secretary of Taolian.
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While the village's lychees had already been picked, the rainfall cut off road access, causing distress among residents. Lychee is the most important economic crop for the village, Li said. There are about 25 tons of lychees waiting to be transported out of the village for sale.
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"After receiving reports from villagers, we immediately organized Party members to go to the scene to assess the situation, and sought help from relevant departments and units," Li said.
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Wang Lele, who is in charge of engineering construction at the Conghua power supply bureau, said his department sent personnel to investigate whether conditions were suitable for drone operations.
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"We then verified the amount of lychees picked by the villagers and decided to coordinate five heavy-load drones to help transport the fruit out of the village for sale," Wang said.
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The drones, with load-bearing capacities of 40 to 170 kilograms, were originally designed to transport power equipment. They could handle the weight of the lychee shipments and meet the farmers' urgent needs, Wang said.
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In Guangdong province, a major lychee production base, drones, robots and AI technologies have been introduced to monitor and manage orchards, pick fruit and transport harvests.
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While a drone flies above an orchard, air-ground monitoring data is transmitted in real time to a smart management system via 5G networks, said Deng Xiaoling, a professor with South China Agricultural University.
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"The system employs AI for growth monitoring, pest and disease diagnosis and early warning, while providing farming operation recommendations," Deng said.
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A harvesting robot developed by the university uses a six-degree-of-freedom robotic arm and a bionic compliant gripper, or "claw", to pick lychees.
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Xiong Juntao, the robot's lead developer and also a professor at the university, said the machine can operate continuously and can also pick kiwi, guava and other fruits if the claw is changed.
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Conghua has a lychee planting area of 195.87 square kilometers, representing 53 percent of Guangzhou's total. This year, Conghua's lychee output is expected to exceed 70,000 metric tons.
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In Gaozhou city in western Guangdong, drones have gradually replaced traditional bamboo rafts for transporting lychees.
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The city has more than 20 million square meters of lychee groves scattered across islands in Kuqu and Pingshan townships.
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Previously, growers faced losses due to damage caused by jolting when fruit was ferried by bamboo raft.
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Now, drones can deliver fresh lychees directly from the islands to distribution centers.
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Cao Zhugang, secretary of the Communist Youth League of Gaozhou committee, said drone transportation costs about 0.3 yuan (4 cents) per kilogram, a 62.5 percent reduction.
Staff members from the Harbin Forestry and Grassland Bureau release seven rescued wild birds, including two Oriental White Storks, a national first-class protected species, back into the wild at Jinhewan Wetland Park in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, on Friday.
Staff members from the Harbin Forestry and Grassland Bureau release seven rescued wild birds, including two Oriental White Storks, a national first-class protected species, back into the wild at Jinhewan Wetland Park in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, on Friday.
China aims to achieve breakthroughs in key brain-computer interface technologies and accelerate their application in industrial manufacturing, healthcare and consumer spending by 2027, according to a guideline released this week.
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By 2030, the nation seeks to establish a safe and reliable industrial ecosystem and cultivate two or three globally influential enterprises, positioning itself among the world leaders in the field, said the guideline released on Thursday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and six other government departments.
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Brain-computer interface, or BCI, creates a communication pathway between the brain's electrical signals and external devices. Among the technology's most visible outcomes in recent years is the brain implant that enables paralyzed patients to regain control of their body parts.
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The guideline lays out a road map for developing the technology, which merges life sciences and information sciences, as related innovations are burgeoning and "disruptive breakthroughs" are in the pipeline, authorities said.
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Among an array of key tasks is boosting basic hardware and software research, including striving for breakthroughs in making BCI chips used to collect and process neural signals, as well as ultralow-power and high-performance communications chips to enhance the transmission of brain signals and reject interference.
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The guideline also calls for research into novel products such as ultralow-power implantable chips, while improving the performance of well-established products such as deep brain stimulators and cochlear implants.
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Efforts will be made to upgrade nonimplantable devices, such as forehead-mounted, ear-worn, in-ear and hairclip-style products, as well as integrate BCI systems with helmets, headsets, glasses, headphones and other electronics.
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The guideline pledges to nurture enterprises of different sizes in the field, establish industrial parks and clusters, and promote cooperation with companies specializing in artificial intelligence, new materials and robotics.
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Authorities will also accelerate the formulation of BCI standards and regulate the collection, storage and use of brain-related information.
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National funds and other investments will be encouraged in the field, while medical implants and other key products will receive favorable policies in the market approval process.
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"Foreign enterprises and institutions are encouraged to set up research and development centers or manufacturing facilities in the nation… domestic institutions are supported to participate in international conferences to contribute Chinese strategies and wisdom," the guideline said.
\n
According to a report released in 2023 by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology and the Brain Computer Interface Industrial Alliance, there are at least 30 application directions for BCI, with the healthcare industry accounting for over 55 percent and the rest comprising the sectors of consumption, manufacturing and education.
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Globally, there are about 200 healthcare companies tapping into BCI technology and researching its role in treating epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, cognitive impairment and other neurological diseases, as well as restoring or enhancing motor and sensory function.
\n
In China, several hospitals have rolled out clinical trials involving the use of BCI technologies to help patients who have suffered severe spine injuries or epilepsy recover motor skills.
\n
In May, Beijing Tiantan Hospital launched the nation's first BCI clinical application center.
\n
Zhao Jizong, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a senior neurosurgeon at the hospital, said domestically developed BCI implants have been used in a number of clinical cases.
\n
"The center will offer whole-chain management of patients, from screening and surgery to rehabilitation, and we aim to address challenges in rolling out clinical trials and assessing outcomes so as to speed up the technology's clinical use," he said in an interview with China Central Television.
A customer interacts with a robot bartender at Beijing's first robotthemed restaurant, which opened on Friday in E-Town.
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A primary school student visiting Beijing's latest attraction — a robot-themed restaurant in the capital's E-Town technology hub — was amazed to see a humanoid robot slice a cake with perfect precision, leaving not a single crumb behind.
\n
"It's incredible to watch them perform such delicate tasks with such smooth operation," said Ma Yuqian, who eagerly visited the new venue on Friday.
\n
The robot-themed restaurant, alongside the world's first humanoid smart robot 4S store, officially opened on Friday in Beijing E-Town, an economic and technological development zone in the southeast of the capital. Since opening, it has attracted thousands of visitors.
\n
A 4S store is a retail concept that originated in China and is a one-stop shop for a particular product. The "4S" stands for sales, service, spare parts and customer surveys.
\n
Billed as a "fantasy experience", the restaurant offers visitors the chance to dine and shop in a fully automated, AI-driven environment.
\n
Upon entering, guests are greeted by humanoid robot bartenders, entertained by a robot band and treated to stand-up comedy performed by robots styled after the classic Chinese poets Li Bai and Su Shi.
\n
The restaurant serves Western-style dishes, including hamburgers and spaghetti. During meals, diners can interact with dinosaur robots, while delivery and recycling robots move efficiently throughout the space. Robots also prepare pancakes, coffee and milk tea on demand.
\n
Reservations are available on the Dianping and Meituan apps, with many people waiting outside to try the latest dining experience.
\n
"Interacting with a robot dinosaur while eating is both novel and a little creepy. Maybe as we get used to these embodied robots around us, it will feel more natural," said a diner who declined to give her name.
\n
"As a cutting-edge, robot-themed restaurant, we aim to create an immersive dining experience blending taste, culture and technology," said Sun Ling, deputy general manager of Beijing E-Town Robot Technology Industry Development and head of the restaurant. "We are collaborating with our 4S store to expedite the commercial release of advanced robot products."
\n
The same day the stores opened, the 2025 World Robot Conference was launched in E-Town. As part of the event, a robot control competition for lower primary school students took place, which Ma and her mother attended.
\n
Wu Jie, Ma's mother, praised the event. "The exceptional skills demonstrated by these young contestants in robot creation and operation are truly remarkable. These technological advances are opening up a whole new world for the younger generation."
\n
Along with the restaurant and 4S shop, Beijing plans to enhance the robotic experience by establishing the world's premier robot-themed theater during the conference in E-Town.
\n
Further competitive events are planned to showcase and advance humanoid robots. The 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games will be held from Aug 14 to 17 at the National Speed Skating Oval in Chaoyang district.
\n
Around 280 teams from 16 countries across five continents, featuring more than 500 humanoid robots, will compete in 26 events and 538 matches, according to Jiang Guangzhi, head of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, at a press conference on Friday.
\n
Among these, the groundbreaking 5-on-5 formation football match — entirely controlled by AI algorithms without human intervention — will make its debut at the World Humanoid Robot Games.
\n
yangcheng@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "\n
A customer interacts with a robot bartender at Beijing's first robotthemed restaurant, which opened on Friday in E-Town.
\n
A primary school student visiting Beijing's latest attraction — a robot-themed restaurant in the capital's E-Town technology hub — was amazed to see a humanoid robot slice a cake with perfect precision, leaving not a single crumb behind.
\n
"It's incredible to watch them perform such delicate tasks with such smooth operation," said Ma Yuqian, who eagerly visited the new venue on Friday.
\n
The robot-themed restaurant, alongside the world's first humanoid smart robot 4S store, officially opened on Friday in Beijing E-Town, an economic and technological development zone in the southeast of the capital. Since opening, it has attracted thousands of visitors.
\n
A 4S store is a retail concept that originated in China and is a one-stop shop for a particular product. The "4S" stands for sales, service, spare parts and customer surveys.
\n
Billed as a "fantasy experience", the restaurant offers visitors the chance to dine and shop in a fully automated, AI-driven environment.
\n
Upon entering, guests are greeted by humanoid robot bartenders, entertained by a robot band and treated to stand-up comedy performed by robots styled after the classic Chinese poets Li Bai and Su Shi.
\n
The restaurant serves Western-style dishes, including hamburgers and spaghetti. During meals, diners can interact with dinosaur robots, while delivery and recycling robots move efficiently throughout the space. Robots also prepare pancakes, coffee and milk tea on demand.
\n
Reservations are available on the Dianping and Meituan apps, with many people waiting outside to try the latest dining experience.
\n
"Interacting with a robot dinosaur while eating is both novel and a little creepy. Maybe as we get used to these embodied robots around us, it will feel more natural," said a diner who declined to give her name.
\n
"As a cutting-edge, robot-themed restaurant, we aim to create an immersive dining experience blending taste, culture and technology," said Sun Ling, deputy general manager of Beijing E-Town Robot Technology Industry Development and head of the restaurant. "We are collaborating with our 4S store to expedite the commercial release of advanced robot products."
\n
The same day the stores opened, the 2025 World Robot Conference was launched in E-Town. As part of the event, a robot control competition for lower primary school students took place, which Ma and her mother attended.
\n
Wu Jie, Ma's mother, praised the event. "The exceptional skills demonstrated by these young contestants in robot creation and operation are truly remarkable. These technological advances are opening up a whole new world for the younger generation."
\n
Along with the restaurant and 4S shop, Beijing plans to enhance the robotic experience by establishing the world's premier robot-themed theater during the conference in E-Town.
\n
Further competitive events are planned to showcase and advance humanoid robots. The 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games will be held from Aug 14 to 17 at the National Speed Skating Oval in Chaoyang district.
\n
Around 280 teams from 16 countries across five continents, featuring more than 500 humanoid robots, will compete in 26 events and 538 matches, according to Jiang Guangzhi, head of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, at a press conference on Friday.
\n
Among these, the groundbreaking 5-on-5 formation football match — entirely controlled by AI algorithms without human intervention — will make its debut at the World Humanoid Robot Games.
China and the rest of the world have been presented with an enormous economic opportunity by the United States' so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act. US tariffs have already increased the costs of many imported low-carbon goods in the US. Now, the new act, signed into law on US Independence Day on July 4, will further harm the market for many clean energy goods by removing tax credits, most likely leading to greater dependence on fossil fuels and increased damage to the climate.
\n
This will create more challenges for clean energy producers and consumers in the US, likely affecting exporters, particularly those that export their products.
\n
But more interestingly, the new act is likely to put China further ahead of the US in the global race to capitalize on the rapidly growing market for clean energy technologies. Strategically, the task ahead is to identify how this shift can be used to triple the production of renewable energy the world needs by 2030, one of the key climate goals we need to achieve this decade.
\n
China and the US are the biggest investors in large-scale electricity storage, with the two sides, along with Europe, accounting for more than 90 percent of global spending on electricity storage. But the new act may signal a cooling off for electricity storage companies in the US, giving China a decisive edge in the field.
\n
Any reduction in the export of clean energy technologies from China to the US is likely to be offset by the increase in exports to other countries. China already exports more solar photovoltaic panels to developing countries than to advanced economies.
\n
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, too, are looking at international markets, where they can offer a clean, competitive alternative to cars powered by gasoline. Chinese EV and battery manufacturers have announced they would invest huge amounts to establish and expand their manufacturing capacities in major foreign markets, including Indonesia, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico and Turkiye.
\n
Besides, more than 17 million EVs were sold worldwide last year, meaning more than one in every five new vehicles sold worldwide was an EV. China accounts for more than 70 percent of the global EV production, primarily meeting the demand at home. Also, the global market for EVs increased by 20 percent last year, with China exporting almost 1.25 million EVs, or about 40 percent of the global total, in 2024.
\n
The production of solar panels in China reached a record high in March 2025. Measured by value, 44 percent of Chinese-made solar panel exports were destined for emerging market economies and developing countries in 2023. Many emerging market economies and developing countries imported record levels of Chinese solar power technology in 2024.
\n
This gives rise to a burning question: How do governments and businesses across the world benefit from China's advancement in clean energy?
\n
This is an acute issue for strategic sectors, from EVs to renewables. To resolve it, a new generation of joint ventures is needed, joint ventures that are mutually beneficial to manufacturers in China and those across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America.
\n
There is now a major opportunity to deconcentrate clean energy supply chains, which will attract more investments, make them more resilient and strengthen economic security.
\n
Moreover, global partnerships are needed to strengthen environmental and social safeguards in clean energy goods trade. In this regard, the Solar Stewardship Initiative, which has several leading Chinese producers as members, recently released a list of comprehensive standards to address environmental, social and governance issues.
\n
Furthermore, the huge decline in the prices of Chinese-made solar panels and wind turbines since 2022 could especially benefit African countries. Africa currently accounts for just 2 percent of the global investment in clean energy, with countries like Nigeria witnessing a significant increase in imports of clean energy tools from China over the past few years, albeit the increase is on a low base.
\n
As the world looks forward to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil, in November, a major challenge the international community faces is to show how China's leading position in the global clean energy market can contribute to Africa's green industrialization, and create new jobs and business opportunities across the globe.
\n
Indeed, the spectacular growth of the global clean energy technology market because of China's massive investments in the sector can help erase the gloom arising from the abandonment of climate leadership by the US.
\n
<span class="epaper-status">Nick Robins is chair of the Just Transition Finance Lab at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science; and Bob Ward is policy and communications director of the same institute.</span>
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
\n",
@@ -4422,28 +5153,6 @@
"hash": "7260a7f9d3bb6132241918a532122ca7",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "004COMMENT - When snail soup becomes a cultural power move",
- "description": "
There's something delightfully absurd about the fact that one of China's most talked-about culinary exports today smells like gym socks but tastes like heaven. Enter luosifen, a rice noodle dish made with a pungent snail broth. Once a humble street food in Liuzhou, luosifen is now a social media sensation and global supermarket fixture.
\n
What began as a simple dish made with simple ingredients for factory workers has set an example of how regional foods can reflect broader trends in industrial development, cultural confidence, and evolving manufacturing capabilities.
\n
The origin of luosifen is both incredible and instructive. In the 1970s, workers in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, combined leftover pickled bamboo shoots, tofu skin and river snail soup to make a sour-spicy bowl of soup that quickly caught the fancy of street food enthusiasts. Its contrasting elements became its brand: the smell repels, the flavor converts.
\n
The viral luosifen craze on TikTok has deep roots in the region's history — with 26,000-year-old snail shell mounds unearthed nearby showing early humans were already eating river snails.
\n
But the dish's cultural importance goes far beyond its recent popularity. It is deeply rooted in a local food ecosystem shaped by the region's multi-ethnic heritage. The rice noodle base reflects the meeting point of northern Han Chinese flour tradition and the rice-farming culture of the Zhuang people, while their love for sour foods — fermented bamboo shoots, pickled beans, and sour meat and fish — draws from the culinary legacies of the Yao, Miao and Dong ethnic minority groups.
\n
In 2018, the importance of luosifen was recognized by a national geographical indication. In 2021, it was formally listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. The dish, once a grassroots food, has become a symbol of traditional culinary art and cultural continuity.
\n
Yet luosifen's rise is about more than adventurous eating. It reflects a deeper shift: how China's regional cultures, long overshadowed in global markets, are now going mainstream — with help from high-tech manufacturing and digitally savvy branding.
\n
The technical innovation behind luosifen's global success is often overlooked. At first, the dish's bold flavor was too volatile for long-distance shipping. That changed when China's food tech sector developed sterilization and vacuum-packaging techniques that stretched luosifen's life from 30 to 180 days. What once could be eaten only fresh at roadside stalls is now produced on standardized, industrial scale — and shipped globally. From 2015 to 2024, the luosifen supply chain grew from a niche 500 million yuan ($69.91 million) operation to a 75-billion-yuan juggernaut, with more than 100 million packages shipped per year.
\n
Equally important is the logistical transformation. The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, which connects western China to 555 ports worldwide, reduced shipping time by up to 20 days. Using rail-sea intermodal transport, packaged luosifen now travels from Liuzhou to the Beibu Gulf and on to Southeast Asia, Europe and North America, bypassing the seasonal constraints of traditional river-ocean routes and slashing costs in the process. This improvement in inland connectivity marks a subtle but significant development in China's international trade logistics, with the rise of luosifen setting an example of how local products can enter global circulation.
\n
But what makes luosifen a phenomenon isn't just efficiency; it's also storytelling. Social media turned this odorous noodle soup into a sensation thanks to the cinematic storytelling of influencers like Li Ziqi. In her videos, luosifen isn't just food but an ode to Chinese pastoral life, which has turned a steaming bowl of noodle soup into a cultural icon.
\n
Luosifen's global popularity is not a fluke, but an example of cultural confidence. It represents a form of aesthetic diplomacy, where smell and flavor translate what numbers cannot. When a bowl of noodles soup becomes a cross-border craving, it signals something deeper: a world increasingly open to cultural specificity over generic global sameness.
\n
This is what sets today's Chinese brands apart. They're not just selling goods, but also sharing aspects of cultural aesthetics, identity, and narrative. In New York, "Oriental Leaf" tea is touted as a clean-living tonic; in London, HeyTea has built a tea house near the British Museum, marrying modern design with Chinese ink wash aesthetics. In student apartments and dormitories across Europe, Lao Gan Ma chili sauce is an essential pantry item, drizzled over spaghetti or ramen noodles.
\n
More than showing changing tastes, such developments portray China's transition from the "world's factory" to a global tastemaker. The age of low-cost, no-brand exports is fading, being gradually replaced by high-value, culturally-infused products that blend functionality with interesting tales.
\n
China's manufacturing is no longer just about scale; it's also about synergy. When food processing, logistics innovation, digital marketing, and heritage protection intersect, the result is a product that transcends borders. Luosifen offers a case study in how cultural appeal can build gradually and gain wide recognition over time.
\n
Luosifen's improbable journey, from a factory town snack to global comfort food, captures this shift. It's a dish that is too smelly to love, too delicious to ignore. It's winning hearts not because it was designed for export, but because it is unapologetically Chinese.
\n
In a world awash with homogenized products and flat global brands, this kind of cultural specificity is starting to matter again. And for China, that may prove to be its greatest competitive advantage, not only in trade, but also in taste, and in how the world sees it.
\n
<span class="epaper-status">The author is an associate researcher at the Institute of Finance and Banking of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and a senior research fellow at the National Institution for Finance and Development.</span>
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
\n",
- "content": "
There's something delightfully absurd about the fact that one of China's most talked-about culinary exports today smells like gym socks but tastes like heaven. Enter luosifen, a rice noodle dish made with a pungent snail broth. Once a humble street food in Liuzhou, luosifen is now a social media sensation and global supermarket fixture.
\n
What began as a simple dish made with simple ingredients for factory workers has set an example of how regional foods can reflect broader trends in industrial development, cultural confidence, and evolving manufacturing capabilities.
\n
The origin of luosifen is both incredible and instructive. In the 1970s, workers in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, combined leftover pickled bamboo shoots, tofu skin and river snail soup to make a sour-spicy bowl of soup that quickly caught the fancy of street food enthusiasts. Its contrasting elements became its brand: the smell repels, the flavor converts.
\n
The viral luosifen craze on TikTok has deep roots in the region's history — with 26,000-year-old snail shell mounds unearthed nearby showing early humans were already eating river snails.
\n
But the dish's cultural importance goes far beyond its recent popularity. It is deeply rooted in a local food ecosystem shaped by the region's multi-ethnic heritage. The rice noodle base reflects the meeting point of northern Han Chinese flour tradition and the rice-farming culture of the Zhuang people, while their love for sour foods — fermented bamboo shoots, pickled beans, and sour meat and fish — draws from the culinary legacies of the Yao, Miao and Dong ethnic minority groups.
\n
In 2018, the importance of luosifen was recognized by a national geographical indication. In 2021, it was formally listed as a national intangible cultural heritage. The dish, once a grassroots food, has become a symbol of traditional culinary art and cultural continuity.
\n
Yet luosifen's rise is about more than adventurous eating. It reflects a deeper shift: how China's regional cultures, long overshadowed in global markets, are now going mainstream — with help from high-tech manufacturing and digitally savvy branding.
\n
The technical innovation behind luosifen's global success is often overlooked. At first, the dish's bold flavor was too volatile for long-distance shipping. That changed when China's food tech sector developed sterilization and vacuum-packaging techniques that stretched luosifen's life from 30 to 180 days. What once could be eaten only fresh at roadside stalls is now produced on standardized, industrial scale — and shipped globally. From 2015 to 2024, the luosifen supply chain grew from a niche 500 million yuan ($69.91 million) operation to a 75-billion-yuan juggernaut, with more than 100 million packages shipped per year.
\n
Equally important is the logistical transformation. The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, which connects western China to 555 ports worldwide, reduced shipping time by up to 20 days. Using rail-sea intermodal transport, packaged luosifen now travels from Liuzhou to the Beibu Gulf and on to Southeast Asia, Europe and North America, bypassing the seasonal constraints of traditional river-ocean routes and slashing costs in the process. This improvement in inland connectivity marks a subtle but significant development in China's international trade logistics, with the rise of luosifen setting an example of how local products can enter global circulation.
\n
But what makes luosifen a phenomenon isn't just efficiency; it's also storytelling. Social media turned this odorous noodle soup into a sensation thanks to the cinematic storytelling of influencers like Li Ziqi. In her videos, luosifen isn't just food but an ode to Chinese pastoral life, which has turned a steaming bowl of noodle soup into a cultural icon.
\n
Luosifen's global popularity is not a fluke, but an example of cultural confidence. It represents a form of aesthetic diplomacy, where smell and flavor translate what numbers cannot. When a bowl of noodles soup becomes a cross-border craving, it signals something deeper: a world increasingly open to cultural specificity over generic global sameness.
\n
This is what sets today's Chinese brands apart. They're not just selling goods, but also sharing aspects of cultural aesthetics, identity, and narrative. In New York, "Oriental Leaf" tea is touted as a clean-living tonic; in London, HeyTea has built a tea house near the British Museum, marrying modern design with Chinese ink wash aesthetics. In student apartments and dormitories across Europe, Lao Gan Ma chili sauce is an essential pantry item, drizzled over spaghetti or ramen noodles.
\n
More than showing changing tastes, such developments portray China's transition from the "world's factory" to a global tastemaker. The age of low-cost, no-brand exports is fading, being gradually replaced by high-value, culturally-infused products that blend functionality with interesting tales.
\n
China's manufacturing is no longer just about scale; it's also about synergy. When food processing, logistics innovation, digital marketing, and heritage protection intersect, the result is a product that transcends borders. Luosifen offers a case study in how cultural appeal can build gradually and gain wide recognition over time.
\n
Luosifen's improbable journey, from a factory town snack to global comfort food, captures this shift. It's a dish that is too smelly to love, too delicious to ignore. It's winning hearts not because it was designed for export, but because it is unapologetically Chinese.
\n
In a world awash with homogenized products and flat global brands, this kind of cultural specificity is starting to matter again. And for China, that may prove to be its greatest competitive advantage, not only in trade, but also in taste, and in how the world sees it.
\n
<span class="epaper-status">The author is an associate researcher at the Institute of Finance and Banking of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and a senior research fellow at the National Institution for Finance and Development.</span>
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
In the AI realm in China, the chaotic "model wars" which once saw hundreds of large language models (LLMs) vying for attention have given way to a more consolidated, mature ecosystem. Six major players — Alibaba, DeepSeek, Byte-Dance, Tencent, StepFun and Zhipu AI — now dominate the AI field, and their focus has shifted from "will it work?" to "will it work well?"
\n
This change signals not only a technological transformation but also a strategic shift. China's AI sector is no longer content with scaling models; it is now scaling utility. The four core trends shaping China's AI trajectory in 2025 highlight the country's move beyond theoretical potential to practical, world-changing applications.
\n
Forget the chatbots of yesteryear. The future of China's artificial intelligence sector is all about AI agents — AI systems that plan, execute and deliver. These are not just tools of conversation, but also virtual employees in the digital world. One prominent example is Manus, a Chinese general-purpose agent making waves because of its ability to plan trips, code websites, and give presentations, the outcome is clear: AI is getting things done.
\n
AI agents are replacing apps as the new interface. Rather than toggling between dozens of programs, users are increasingly relying on a single AI interface that delegates tasks, retrieves data and adapts to context. Chinese tech giants like ByteDance and Baidu are making huge investments into this ecosystem to stake early claims on what could be the next great traffic distribution hub.
\n
AI is no longer about lines of code, it is also about machines that can see, move and act. Also, embodied AI — intelligence built into physical forms — is gaining ground in China at a much faster pace than forecast. For example, smart driving has reached a tipping point, with BYD equipping entry-level cars with high-level autonomous driving features.
\n
Besides, humanoid robots are no longer a novelty, but a necessity in structured industrial settings. They're assembling car parts, moving inventory and taking the first steps toward broader commercial viability. China's robust manufacturing ecosystem and rapidly developing innovation cycles give its firms a potential edge, especially as countries look to diversify global supply chains.
\n
Even AI glasses, previously considered a fringe concept, are getting a second life. Powered by multimodal LLMs, these devices now offer realtime translation, object recognition and seamless navigation. With domestic consumer interest high and a leading hardware supply chain, Chinese firms could leapfrog their competitors in the new market.
\n
The pre-training scaling laws, which once supercharged model performance, are hitting their limits, data are running dry, and hardware gains are slowing. Against this backdrop, posttraining is fine-tuning models with targeted tasks and reinforcement learning to make them not just smarter but also more useful.
\n
DeepSeek's latest R1-0528 model exemplifies this trend. By investing heavily in post-training scaling laws, it has achieved results on par with global frontrunners such as GPT-o1 and Gemini 2.5 Pro. Across industries, post-training models are unlocking special capabilities, from diagnosing diseases in medical models to evaluating risk in financial models.
\n
At the same time, the demand for inference — the process of running models in real time — is exploding. With more than 1 billion daily active users projected by 2026, AI's computational needs are shifting from model training to inference, potentially surpassing training compute by a factor of 4.5.
\n
Underpinning all this progress is infrastructure. But here, China faces headwinds. The United States' restrictions on the export of advanced GPUs to China have created a challenge for the domestic AI sector. In response, firms such as Huawei are expediting R&D in chips, with Ascend 910C's performance now approaching world-class levels.
\n
While short-term workarounds exist — such as stockpiling foreign chips — the long-term solution is to ensure China becomes self-reliant in chips. China is investing heavily to promote GPU innovation, and more broadly, compute infrastructure that can sustain AI growth.
\n
High-quality training data are becoming scarce globally, with projections suggesting exhaustion by 2028. Hence, to stay competitive, China must adopt a new approach to data synthesis and management. This is a challenge that demands not just technical ingenuity, but also robust governance to overcome.
\n
To international observers, this may look like a subtler evolution than a bold announcement, but its impact will last longer. China's AI development is not about chasing headline metrics, but about weaving intelligence seamlessly into daily life — shaping everything, from our morning commutes to our factory floors, from office suites to intelligent eyewear. By prioritizing "good use" over "big use", China is staking its claim as the world's most practical, pervasive and people-friendly AI powerhouse.
\n
<span class="epaper-status">The author is a Chinese economist and founder of Zeping Macro.</span>
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
As global currency competition intensifies in the digital space, Chinese economists are urging a dual-track approach to strengthen China's monetary position — leveraging both central bank digital currency innovation and stablecoin development, with a clear eye on the future of cross-border payments and digital asset ecosystems.
\n
They have pointed to the need to break a structural limitation of China's CBDC, or the digital yuan — its monetary classification as M0 or essentially cash equivalents — to expand its usage scenarios, especially in cross-border business-to-business transactions.
\n
Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency pegged to fiat currencies or other real-world assets at a designated exchange rate to maintain a stable value.
\n
Zhang Ming, deputy director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China could take a "two-pronged approach" in response to the potential impact of US dollar stablecoins on the international monetary system — advancing the digital yuan, also known as the e-CNY, while developing offshore renminbipegged stablecoins.
\n
According to Zhang, the biggest constraint on the digital renminbi is that it has been designed to function only as M0 to limit the impact on the banking system, meaning it can substitute cash and is mostly used in merchant-to-individual transactions, with limited application in business-to-business or interbank dealings.
\n
"To accelerate the development of the digital renminbi, its substitution level should be raised from replacing M0 to M1 or even M2, which would broaden its application scenarios, especially overseas," he said.
\n
In general, M0 refers to currency in circulation, M1 includes M0 plus demand deposits, and M2 includes M1 plus time deposits. The higher the category, the broader the range of funds covered and the more diverse the potential use cases.
\n
Zhang suggested piloting offshore renminbi stablecoins in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Shanghai's Lin-gang Special Area, using them to facilitate overseas trade and investment settlements for Chinese companies and to act as a bridge connecting on-chain and off-chain financial transactions, paving the way for real-world asset development.
\n
To maintain the effectiveness of China's cross-border capital movement, any move to develop the onshore renminbi stablecoin market should be considered cautiously, while the offshore market can take the lead, he added.
\n
Major economies are accelerating their frameworks for stablecoin oversight, with the Stablecoins Ordinance having commenced operation in the Hong Kong SAR on Aug 1, introducing a high-threshold licensing regime.
\n
The United States, through the GENIUS Act, has established a dual federal-state regulatory system, while the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation has set regional entry thresholds.
\n
Echoing Zhang's views, Li Lihui, former president of the Bank of China and a leading expert on digital finance, suggested expanding the digital yuan from mainly retail payment use to wholesale transactions serving corporate clients.
\n
Moving further from retail to wholesale could offer much greater market potential and would require evolving the digital yuan from M0 toward M1 and even M2, said Li, who also underscored the importance of facilitating the cross-border development of the digital yuan, highlighting the central bank's plan to set up a digital yuan international operations center.
\n
At the 2025 Lujiazui Forum in June, China unveiled a raft of new opening-up measures, including setting up an international operation center for the e-CNY and the development of offshore bonds in Shanghai.
\n
"China's demand for cross-border payments is growing rapidly, and many of our cross-border platforms such as JD and Ant Group have been successful. Further advancing the global application of the digital yuan will be critical to enhancing the renminbi's international influence," Li said.
\n
Contact the writers at zhoulanxv@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
As global currency competition intensifies in the digital space, Chinese economists are urging a dual-track approach to strengthen China's monetary position — leveraging both central bank digital currency innovation and stablecoin development, with a clear eye on the future of cross-border payments and digital asset ecosystems.
\n
They have pointed to the need to break a structural limitation of China's CBDC, or the digital yuan — its monetary classification as M0 or essentially cash equivalents — to expand its usage scenarios, especially in cross-border business-to-business transactions.
\n
Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency pegged to fiat currencies or other real-world assets at a designated exchange rate to maintain a stable value.
\n
Zhang Ming, deputy director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China could take a "two-pronged approach" in response to the potential impact of US dollar stablecoins on the international monetary system — advancing the digital yuan, also known as the e-CNY, while developing offshore renminbipegged stablecoins.
\n
According to Zhang, the biggest constraint on the digital renminbi is that it has been designed to function only as M0 to limit the impact on the banking system, meaning it can substitute cash and is mostly used in merchant-to-individual transactions, with limited application in business-to-business or interbank dealings.
\n
"To accelerate the development of the digital renminbi, its substitution level should be raised from replacing M0 to M1 or even M2, which would broaden its application scenarios, especially overseas," he said.
\n
In general, M0 refers to currency in circulation, M1 includes M0 plus demand deposits, and M2 includes M1 plus time deposits. The higher the category, the broader the range of funds covered and the more diverse the potential use cases.
\n
Zhang suggested piloting offshore renminbi stablecoins in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Shanghai's Lin-gang Special Area, using them to facilitate overseas trade and investment settlements for Chinese companies and to act as a bridge connecting on-chain and off-chain financial transactions, paving the way for real-world asset development.
\n
To maintain the effectiveness of China's cross-border capital movement, any move to develop the onshore renminbi stablecoin market should be considered cautiously, while the offshore market can take the lead, he added.
\n
Major economies are accelerating their frameworks for stablecoin oversight, with the Stablecoins Ordinance having commenced operation in the Hong Kong SAR on Aug 1, introducing a high-threshold licensing regime.
\n
The United States, through the GENIUS Act, has established a dual federal-state regulatory system, while the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation has set regional entry thresholds.
\n
Echoing Zhang's views, Li Lihui, former president of the Bank of China and a leading expert on digital finance, suggested expanding the digital yuan from mainly retail payment use to wholesale transactions serving corporate clients.
\n
Moving further from retail to wholesale could offer much greater market potential and would require evolving the digital yuan from M0 toward M1 and even M2, said Li, who also underscored the importance of facilitating the cross-border development of the digital yuan, highlighting the central bank's plan to set up a digital yuan international operations center.
\n
At the 2025 Lujiazui Forum in June, China unveiled a raft of new opening-up measures, including setting up an international operation center for the e-CNY and the development of offshore bonds in Shanghai.
\n
"China's demand for cross-border payments is growing rapidly, and many of our cross-border platforms such as JD and Ant Group have been successful. Further advancing the global application of the digital yuan will be critical to enhancing the renminbi's international influence," Li said.
\n
Contact the writers at zhoulanxv@chinadaily.com.cn
Chinese tech giant Huawei has announced the full open-source release of its Ascend chip software ecosystem, aiming to support users in exploring its deep potential and to undertake customized development independently. Known as CANN (compute architecture for neural networks), the software serves as a bridge between high-level AI training frameworks and Ascend chips, allowing users to access computing power without dealing with chip-level complexities.
\n
Yuan weakens against greenback
\n
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, weakened 37 pips to 7.1382 against the US dollar on Friday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.
Crew members take a group photo on Friday as Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp, delivered the GRANDE TIANJIN, the first 9,000 CEU (car equivalent units) PCTC (pure car and truck carrier).
\n",
- "content": "
Crew members take a group photo on Friday as Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp, delivered the GRANDE TIANJIN, the first 9,000 CEU (car equivalent units) PCTC (pure car and truck carrier).
Hong Kong's economy demonstrated strong resilience in the second quarter of this year, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of positive growth, with experts anticipating the upward trajectory to persist well into the second half and positioning the city to meet the Special Administrative Region's projected growth target.
\n
The SAR's gross domestic product increased by 3.1 percent in real terms year-on-year in the second quarter, according to the Census and Statistics Department.
\n
On a seasonally adjusted quarterly basis, GDP expanded by 0.4 percent in real terms compared to the first quarter.
\n
"This pattern of growth, even in a challenging external environment, highlights Hong Kong's economic resilience — anchored in its open market structure, sound financial infrastructure, and strategic role in connecting the Chinese mainland with the outside world," said Edward Au Chunhing, southern region managing partner of Deloitte China.
\n
Au said the robust rebound in exports is "the most significant contributor" to the remarkable economic growth in the second quarter, driven by "rushed shipments" by traders ahead of anticipated tariff policy changes in the United States, alongside Hong Kong's deepening trade ties with the Chinese mainland and other Asian markets.
\n
Tang Heiwai, associate dean of the University of Hong Kong's business school, said, apart from exports, another significant driver has been the robust financial sector.
\n
According to government data, this sector — a major component of the city's economy — directly contributed nearly 25 percent to Hong Kong's GDP in 2023.
\n
Tang highlighted a few favorable circumstances boosting the local stock market, including encouragement by the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, to expand the southbound investment channel, and international capital inflows prompted by concerns over US tariff policies.
\n
He further pointed out that these dynamics have benefited several other industries, especially business services, thereby improving the overall market condition.
\n
Tang forecasts Hong Kong's financial sector to propel economic growth in the second half as well, buoyed by the substantial pipeline of enterprises preparing to list on the stock market.
\n
He said the overall yearly growth will align with the SAR government's target range of between 2 percent and 3 percent. In June, Carlson Tong Ka-shing, chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, said the market had 190 businesses waiting to list in the city.
\n
"With the boost from exports and the financial industry, the two pillars of Hong Kong's economy, I expect the annual growth will approach or even surpass 3 percent. I remain optimistic about the short-term economic growth," Tang said.
\n
However, Au cautioned about the risk of an export slowdown, noting that despite a solid recovery, Hong Kong's economy may encounter challenges in the second half and well into 2026.
\n
"The recent export boost from front-loaded shipments may not be sustained, especially amid rising global trade tensions and the potential impact of new US tariffs on major markets," Au explained.
\n
Despite geopolitical tensions, Billy Mak Sui-choi, associate professor in the department of accountancy, economics and finance at Hong Kong Baptist University, remains optimistic that the export momentum will be sustained in the third quarter, if the United States continues to postpone tariff moves against China.
\n
He pointed out that August and September are peak shipment months to Western countries ahead of holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, which will typically bolster the export and transshipment volumes.
\n
Meanwhile, an improved tourism sector and stabilizing retail market, coupled with a growing influx of overseas tourists, are expected to boost the broader economy, he added.
\n
Mak said he is "cautiously optimistic" about economic growth in the coming months, while emphasizing the necessity of creating new growth points.
An employee of Taiyuan West Station in Shanxi province transports boxes of Snow Beer, a well-known brand of China Resources Breweries. As a key distribution hub offering seamless logistics services in Taiyuan, the station has developed a highly efficient, tailor-made logistics chain to ensure that the beer remains fresh.
\n",
- "content": "
An employee of Taiyuan West Station in Shanxi province transports boxes of Snow Beer, a well-known brand of China Resources Breweries. As a key distribution hub offering seamless logistics services in Taiyuan, the station has developed a highly efficient, tailor-made logistics chain to ensure that the beer remains fresh.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is still some time away, but for merchants in Yiwu, a city in East China's Zhejiang province, often called the "world's supermarket", the business season is already in full swing.
\n
According to local Customs, the city's exports of sporting goods and equipment reached 5.86 billion yuan ($815.8 million) in the first half of 2025, a 16.8 percent year-on-year increase. Exports to the three World Cup host nations — the United States, Canada and Mexico — grew by 12 percent.
\n
Yiwu's ability to anticipate and act on future demand is a direct result of its agile supply chain, which can respond swiftly from design to production. This dynamic capability is a vivid example of how China's foreign trade is navigating global headwinds and turning challenges into opportunities.
\n
The trade challenges of recent years cannot be understated. Amid rising unilateralism and protectionism, the external environment for Chinese businesses has grown more complex, severe and uncertain. Despite this, China's foreign trade has achieved remarkable growth.
\n
This resilience is built on strong performance. Compared to 2020, China's total trade in goods had grown by 32.4 percent by 2024, with trade in knowledge-intensive services rising by 38 percent, and digitally deliverable services expanding by nearly 40 percent.
\n
National Customs data released Thursday show that China's total imports and exports of goods in yuan-denominated terms rose to 25.7 trillion yuan in the first seven months of 2025, up 3.5 percent year-on-year and accelerating on the increase of 2.9 percent registered in the first half of the year.
\n
The path of foreign trade is challenging, but by no means impossible, said Zhu Xiaojun, a director at the global lithium battery company EVE Energy Co Ltd. "We prepared our technology in advance, proactively extended our industrial chain and continuously improved our global manufacturing, service and cooperation capabilities."
\n
This shift from competing on price to competing on innovation is not an isolated trend. In East China's Jiangsu province, a company making high-end outdoor umbrellas with smart electric rotation and lighting has seen its exports grow by over 50 percent this year, reaching over 50 countries and regions.
\n
Official data clearly confirm this trend. In the first half of 2025, exports of high-technology products climbed 9.2 percent year-on-year, marking nine consecutive months of growth. Notably, the share of indigenous brands within these high-tech exports has risen to 32.4 percent, a testament to growing domestic innovation.
\n
"China's manufacturing is overcoming key technological hurdles and making a significant leap up the global value chain," said Liu Xiangdong, a researcher with the China Center for International Economic Exchanges. Liu noted that the rise of products like electric vehicles, advanced ships and industrial robots has reshaped the country's export competitiveness.
\n
Companies are also actively charting new courses to navigate challenges. "Waiting is not an option. We have to proactively find new shipping lanes," said Niu Liqun, chairman of a robotics company in North China's Shanxi province. Faced with external pressures, Niu's firm has successfully expanded into European and emerging markets, with orders now booked through the fourth quarter.
Chinese consumers will experience greater access to newer and more breakthrough smart driving technology as a leading local manufacturer of intelligent driving solutions accelerates innovation and the availability of novel features in mass-market vehicles.
\n
"As both domestic and international automakers place growing emphasis on intelligent driving systems, advanced features are increasingly making their way into mass-market models," said Zhang Lin, chairman and CEO of domestic smart driving tech company Freetech.
\n
"This trend is enabling more consumers to access a richer array of smart functionalities," Zhang said.
\n
The executive added that the company is leveraging economies of scale through mass production to bring products to market that strike a better balance between performance and affordability.
\n
"Products refined through mass production tend to bring higher levels of efficiency, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness," he said.
\n
According to data from China Insights Consultancy, Freetech, based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, ranked second among domestic suppliers in China's L2 and L2+ smart driving solution installation volume in 2024, holding a 17.7 percent market share.
\n
From Zhang's view, it is important and rather practical for emerging driving tech companies to follow a step-by-step technological roadmap, evolving gradually from Level 2 to Level 4 autonomous driving.
\n
"This incremental approach allows industry players to align with real-world market demand, commercialize cutting-edge technologies, and build a sustainable business foundation for scaling into higher-level autonomous driving," he said.
\n
The view is echoed by Zhang Xiang, secretary-general of the International Intelligent Vehicle Engineering Association. "Although advanced products above L2+ may offer higher prices and better margins, they also come with significant development costs and risks. If the investment fails, it could all go to waste."
\n
Zhang added that this is why companies need to control the scale of investment, continuing to grow their L2 business while allocating a portion of resources each year to L2+ and higher-level development, ensuring more stable and sustainable growth.
\n
In the second quarter of this year, Freetech secured over 40 new projects from both Chinese and international automakers, with a focus on its newly launched urban NOA (navigate on autopilot) offering.
\n
According to the company, requiring only 128 TOPS (trillion operations per second), the system delivers end-to-end NOA functionality across urban roads and highways, along with memory-based automated parking in complex environments.
\n
The product is built upon Freetech's recently unveiled ODIN 3.0 platform — a full-stack, in-house-developed solution that is designed around artificial intelligence and integrates hardware and software across controllers, sensors, and algorithms.
\n
By combining hardware and software into a unified system, the platform is expected to improve production efficiency and shorten time-to-market in a significant manner.
\n
"Our delivery cycle for intelligent driving solutions can be as short as eight months, well below the industry average of 15 to 30 months," Zhang said.
\n
As of the end of 2024, Freetech had established partnerships with 49 OEMs and secured over 330 program nominations and more than 260 mass production projects, he added.
\n
lijiaying@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Chinese consumers will experience greater access to newer and more breakthrough smart driving technology as a leading local manufacturer of intelligent driving solutions accelerates innovation and the availability of novel features in mass-market vehicles.
\n
"As both domestic and international automakers place growing emphasis on intelligent driving systems, advanced features are increasingly making their way into mass-market models," said Zhang Lin, chairman and CEO of domestic smart driving tech company Freetech.
\n
"This trend is enabling more consumers to access a richer array of smart functionalities," Zhang said.
\n
The executive added that the company is leveraging economies of scale through mass production to bring products to market that strike a better balance between performance and affordability.
\n
"Products refined through mass production tend to bring higher levels of efficiency, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness," he said.
\n
According to data from China Insights Consultancy, Freetech, based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, ranked second among domestic suppliers in China's L2 and L2+ smart driving solution installation volume in 2024, holding a 17.7 percent market share.
\n
From Zhang's view, it is important and rather practical for emerging driving tech companies to follow a step-by-step technological roadmap, evolving gradually from Level 2 to Level 4 autonomous driving.
\n
"This incremental approach allows industry players to align with real-world market demand, commercialize cutting-edge technologies, and build a sustainable business foundation for scaling into higher-level autonomous driving," he said.
\n
The view is echoed by Zhang Xiang, secretary-general of the International Intelligent Vehicle Engineering Association. "Although advanced products above L2+ may offer higher prices and better margins, they also come with significant development costs and risks. If the investment fails, it could all go to waste."
\n
Zhang added that this is why companies need to control the scale of investment, continuing to grow their L2 business while allocating a portion of resources each year to L2+ and higher-level development, ensuring more stable and sustainable growth.
\n
In the second quarter of this year, Freetech secured over 40 new projects from both Chinese and international automakers, with a focus on its newly launched urban NOA (navigate on autopilot) offering.
\n
According to the company, requiring only 128 TOPS (trillion operations per second), the system delivers end-to-end NOA functionality across urban roads and highways, along with memory-based automated parking in complex environments.
\n
The product is built upon Freetech's recently unveiled ODIN 3.0 platform — a full-stack, in-house-developed solution that is designed around artificial intelligence and integrates hardware and software across controllers, sensors, and algorithms.
\n
By combining hardware and software into a unified system, the platform is expected to improve production efficiency and shorten time-to-market in a significant manner.
\n
"Our delivery cycle for intelligent driving solutions can be as short as eight months, well below the industry average of 15 to 30 months," Zhang said.
\n
As of the end of 2024, Freetech had established partnerships with 49 OEMs and secured over 330 program nominations and more than 260 mass production projects, he added.
Palestinian students hold placards protesting against its demolition by Israeli forces in the village of Aqaba in the West Bank, on Thursday. Israel's security cabinet on Friday approved a plan to take control of Gaza City, drawing criticisms from home and abroad.
\n
Israel's security cabinet on Friday approved a plan to take control of Gaza City, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel intended to take military control of the entire strip. It marked another escalation of a 22-month offensive, despite Palestinian rejection and intensifying criticism at home and abroad.
\n
"The IDF will prepare to take control of Gaza City while providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population outside the combat zones," Netanyahu's office said in a statement, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.
\n
Two Israeli officials told Reuters that any resolution by the security cabinet would need to be approved by the whole government cabinet, which may not meet until Sunday.
\n
Gaza City is the largest city in the enclave. It was unclear whether Netanyahu was foreseeing a prolonged takeover or a short-term operation. Israel has repeatedly said it aims to dismantle Hamas and free Israeli hostages.
\n
In response, Hamas called Netanyahu's comments "a blatant coup" against the negotiation process. "Netanyahu's plans to expand the aggression confirm beyond any doubt that he seeks to get rid of his captives and sacrifice them," Hamas said in a statement.
\n
Arab countries would "only support what Palestinians agree and decide on", a Jordanian official told Reuters, adding that security in Gaza should be handled through "legitimate Palestinian institutions".
\n
Netanyahu on Thursday said in an interview, "we intend to", when asked if Israel would take over the entire coastal territory. He added that Israel did not want "to keep" the Gaza Strip, which Israel occupied in 1967 but withdrew troops and settlers from in 2005.
\n
He said Israel wanted to hand over the territory to Arab forces that would govern it. He did not elaborate on the governance arrangements or which Arab countries could be involved.
\n
But many Israelis believe that Netanyahu is prolonging the conflict to guarantee the survival of his coalition, which relies on the support of ultranationalist ministers who have threatened to quit the government if there is any deal with Hamas.
\n
The plans to expand the conflict have sparked growing concern in Israel about what it means for the remaining hostages. Opinion polls show most Israelis want the fighting to end in a deal that would see the release of the remaining hostages.
\n
According to the Maariv newspaper, the "prevailing assessment is that most and possibly all of the living hostages (will) die" during an expanded offensive, either killed by their captors or accidentally by Israeli soldiers.
\n
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid denounced the cabinet's move on Friday, calling it "a disaster that will lead to many other disasters".
\n
He said on X that the plan would result in "the death of the hostages, the killing of many soldiers, cost Israeli taxpayers tens of billions, and lead to diplomatic bankruptcy".
\n
Outside the prime minister's office in Jerusalem on Thursday evening, hundreds of demonstrators protested against an expanded offensive, demanding an immediate end to the campaign in return for the release of all hostages.
\n
Deep frustration
\n
Protesters held signs bearing the faces of hostages still held in Gaza and voiced deep frustration with the government's handling of the crisis.
\n
"I'm here because I am sick and tired of this government. It ruined our life," said 55-year-old Noa Starkman, a Jerusalem resident.
\n
On Friday, UN human rights chief Volker Turk said that "the Israeli government's plan for a complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip must be immediately halted".
\n
Also on the day, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Israel "not to go down this path".
\n
Australia has not yet joined Western allies such as the United Kingdom, Canada and France in announcing it would recognize Palestinian statehood, but has said it would make a decision "at an appropriate time" while escalating its criticism of Israel's actions.
\n
Miatta Fahnbulleh, the UK's junior energy minister, said on Friday that Britain hopes Israel will reconsider its decision to take control of Gaza City.
\n
"We think that decision is the wrong decision, and we hope that the Israeli government will reconsider it," she said on Times Radio.
\n
Reacting to Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that Germany will halt the export of military equipment to Israel which could be used in the Gaza Strip.
Workers collect coconuts that have been separated from their husks into a cart after harvesting in a village in Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, on Oct 12, 2022.
\n
JAKARTA — Several Chinese companies have begun investing in coconut derivative processing plants in Indonesia, opening a new chapter of economic cooperation between the two countries in the coconut downstream sector.
\n
Earlier, Indonesian Minister of Investment and Downstream Industry Rosan Roeslani announced that a Chinese company plans to build a number of coconut processing facilities in several Indonesian cities, with a total investment of $100 million.
\n
"We previously exported unprocessed coconuts to China, but now they will be processed here," Roeslani said.
\n
Eliza Mardian, an agricultural researcher at the Center of Reform on Economics Indonesia, told Xinhua that investment in Indonesia's coconut downstream industry remains relatively low. At present, the country still relies heavily on exporting whole coconuts or shredded and dried coconuts.
\n
Data from Statistics Indonesia showed that Indonesia exported 204,400 metric tons of coconuts to China between January and May 2025, up 47 percent from the same period last year. Shipments include whole round coconuts as well as dried and shredded coconuts.
\n
Coconut-based processed products have been gaining popularity in China, particularly as ingredients for beverages. This trend may be one reason Chinese companies are increasingly interested in investing in Indonesia's coconut industry.
\n
One example is Luckin Coffee, a leading Chinese coffee chain known for its popular coconut-infused latte. As demand surged, Luckin Coffee in March formed an exclusive partnership with the Banggai Kepulauan regency government in Central Sulawesi to secure coconut supplies.
\n
Earlier, another Chinese company from Zhejiang province invested in coconut plantations in Banggai Kepulauan regency through a strategic partnership with the local government established in late December 2024.
\n
Mardian said that Chinese investment could significantly boost the growth of Indonesia's domestic coconut industry, especially if processing plants focus on producing a wide range of derivative products such as coconut milk, coconut oil, and coconut flour.
\n
"If this investment creates strong downstream linkages, it will generate a substantial multiplier effect for the Indonesian economy, including job creation," Mardian said.
Workers collect coconuts that have been separated from their husks into a cart after harvesting in a village in Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, on Oct 12, 2022.
\n
JAKARTA — Several Chinese companies have begun investing in coconut derivative processing plants in Indonesia, opening a new chapter of economic cooperation between the two countries in the coconut downstream sector.
\n
Earlier, Indonesian Minister of Investment and Downstream Industry Rosan Roeslani announced that a Chinese company plans to build a number of coconut processing facilities in several Indonesian cities, with a total investment of $100 million.
\n
"We previously exported unprocessed coconuts to China, but now they will be processed here," Roeslani said.
\n
Eliza Mardian, an agricultural researcher at the Center of Reform on Economics Indonesia, told Xinhua that investment in Indonesia's coconut downstream industry remains relatively low. At present, the country still relies heavily on exporting whole coconuts or shredded and dried coconuts.
\n
Data from Statistics Indonesia showed that Indonesia exported 204,400 metric tons of coconuts to China between January and May 2025, up 47 percent from the same period last year. Shipments include whole round coconuts as well as dried and shredded coconuts.
\n
Coconut-based processed products have been gaining popularity in China, particularly as ingredients for beverages. This trend may be one reason Chinese companies are increasingly interested in investing in Indonesia's coconut industry.
\n
One example is Luckin Coffee, a leading Chinese coffee chain known for its popular coconut-infused latte. As demand surged, Luckin Coffee in March formed an exclusive partnership with the Banggai Kepulauan regency government in Central Sulawesi to secure coconut supplies.
\n
Earlier, another Chinese company from Zhejiang province invested in coconut plantations in Banggai Kepulauan regency through a strategic partnership with the local government established in late December 2024.
\n
Mardian said that Chinese investment could significantly boost the growth of Indonesia's domestic coconut industry, especially if processing plants focus on producing a wide range of derivative products such as coconut milk, coconut oil, and coconut flour.
\n
"If this investment creates strong downstream linkages, it will generate a substantial multiplier effect for the Indonesian economy, including job creation," Mardian said.
The "Yunnan Enterprises Going Global" trade mission was launched in San Francisco on Wednesday, aiming to deepen commercial ties and introduce Yunnan's unique offerings beyond its famed biodiversity, tourism and ethnic culture.
\n
"Yunnan has much more to offer," said Zhao Junmin, executive vice-governor of Yunnan province, who was leading a 37-member delegation of enterprises and specialty products.
\n
Zhao emphasized the province's emerging role in international trade, particularly within the framework of China's Belt and Road Initiative. In recent years, Yunnan has become a crucial gateway connecting China to Southeast Asia. A prime example is the China-Laos Railway, a flagship BRI project that has bolstered trade, tourism and cultural exchanges across borders.
\n
Addressing hundreds of attendees from diverse sectors, Zhao expressed optimism about the potential for collaboration.
\n
"We are here in the hope that across oceans, talents can mingle and ideas can click," he said. He also invoked the shared history between China and the US, recalling the Flying Tigers' alliance with Chinese forces during World War II. "We have a long history of friendship since the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45)."
\n
Zhao highlighted the ongoing strength of US-China economic ties.
\n
"Over the years, our trade and economic relations with the United States have been robust," adding that Yunnan's resources are abundant and preferential investment policies are welcoming.
\n
According to the Yunnan Department of Commerce, by the end of last year, 585 US companies had invested a cumulative $42 billion in Yunnan, across sectors including agriculture, machinery and tourism. In return, 43 Yunnan-based enterprises have established offices and factories in the US, investing more than $20 billion.
\n
'Fruitful, pragmatic'
\n
Describing the bilateral trade relationship as "fruitful and pragmatic", Zhao added, "What flows both ways are not only commodities and products, but mutual trust that both markets have placed in each other."
\n
One notable success story is California-based berry giant Driscoll's. The company began operations in Yunnan's Honghe prefecture in 2013, becoming the first multinational to establish a local berry cultivation base in China. "So far, Driscoll's and our partner growers have developed more than 50,000 mu (3,300 hectares) of modern farms in Yunnan," said Jenet DeCosta, former chief of staff at Driscoll's.
\n
By 2022, Driscoll's and its partners had invested about $290 million, completing a full agricultural value chain in Yunnan — from plantations to logistics. "There is a good fit between our practices of conservation and green development in Yunnan and America's innovation and market needs," Zhao said.
\n
Among the delegates was Li Sheng, president of Yun Tea Space, who brought 10 varieties of Yunnan tea to introduce to the US market. "We're confident in both the variety and heritage of our teas," Li said. "Our traditional tea processing techniques were recognized by UNESCO in 2022 as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity."
\n
However, Li acknowledged gaps in understanding US consumer preferences. "Traditionally, Pu'er tea is pressed into round cakes, but we've learned that American consumers prefer convenient tea bags," he noted. "There are many such details we need to explore and adapt to."
\n
junechang@chinadailyusa.com
\n",
@@ -4686,28 +5285,6 @@
"hash": "1acaa0dba53126ac8f5814b47aa22b69",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "006WORLD - One in five UK doctors weighs leaving profession",
- "description": "
One in five doctors in the United Kingdom is considering abandoning the profession, the sector's watchdog has warned, as it urged the government to enhance career pathways for medical staff.
\n
Nineteen percent of physicians are contemplating leaving their positions, the General Medical Council, or GMC, revealed on Thursday. In comparison, another 12 percent may seek opportunities abroad for career advancement or better compensation, reported the Financial Times.
\n
The GMC urged improvements to training and career development to stem the exodus.
\n
Almost one-third of doctors at all levels felt "unable to advance (their) education, training or career", according to the report by the GMC, which is the independent regulator of doctors in the UK.
\n
The survey found 43 percent of physicians had actively explored positions overseas, with 15 percent pursuing international opportunities or engaging with recruiters.
\n
A previous report from the FT highlighted how doctors face delays in progressing in their careers to become specialist consultants due to limited training capacity.
\n
The report emerged a day after the British Medical Association, or BMA, announced a pause in strike action to open a "window for negotiations" with Health Secretary Wes Streeting during its push for a pay settlement.
\n
Streeting was critical of last month's five-day stoppage by resident doctors and is opposed to an additional pay increase. But the BMA, which is England's main medical union, says doctors' pay has fallen 21 percent in real terms since 2008.
\n
Streeting is exploring ways to enhance working conditions, including covering examination costs and expanding training positions to improve career progression.
\n
The UK has more than 328,000 registered doctors, according to the GMC, which polled almost 5,000 medical professionals.
\n
While the survey included doctors in private practice, the vast majority of participants worked within the National Health Service.
\n
The Times newspaper quoted GMC Chief Executive Charlie Massey as saying: "Like any profession, doctors who are disillusioned with their careers will start looking elsewhere."
\n
The newspaper also quoted the report warning that "we must be alive to the ongoing risks to retention of doctors and the impact of losing talented staff. This could threaten government ambitions to reduce waiting times and deliver better care to patients".
\n
Commenting in the article, Billy Palmer, a senior fellow at Nuffield Trust, said: "Pay and industrial action have been a lightning rod for dissatisfaction among doctors, but this survey puts a spotlight on the wider difficulties facing the medical profession. Job guarantees, better rotas and placements, and protection of training time need to be on the table."
\n
jonathan@mail.chinadailyuk.com
\n",
- "content": "
One in five doctors in the United Kingdom is considering abandoning the profession, the sector's watchdog has warned, as it urged the government to enhance career pathways for medical staff.
\n
Nineteen percent of physicians are contemplating leaving their positions, the General Medical Council, or GMC, revealed on Thursday. In comparison, another 12 percent may seek opportunities abroad for career advancement or better compensation, reported the Financial Times.
\n
The GMC urged improvements to training and career development to stem the exodus.
\n
Almost one-third of doctors at all levels felt "unable to advance (their) education, training or career", according to the report by the GMC, which is the independent regulator of doctors in the UK.
\n
The survey found 43 percent of physicians had actively explored positions overseas, with 15 percent pursuing international opportunities or engaging with recruiters.
\n
A previous report from the FT highlighted how doctors face delays in progressing in their careers to become specialist consultants due to limited training capacity.
\n
The report emerged a day after the British Medical Association, or BMA, announced a pause in strike action to open a "window for negotiations" with Health Secretary Wes Streeting during its push for a pay settlement.
\n
Streeting was critical of last month's five-day stoppage by resident doctors and is opposed to an additional pay increase. But the BMA, which is England's main medical union, says doctors' pay has fallen 21 percent in real terms since 2008.
\n
Streeting is exploring ways to enhance working conditions, including covering examination costs and expanding training positions to improve career progression.
\n
The UK has more than 328,000 registered doctors, according to the GMC, which polled almost 5,000 medical professionals.
\n
While the survey included doctors in private practice, the vast majority of participants worked within the National Health Service.
\n
The Times newspaper quoted GMC Chief Executive Charlie Massey as saying: "Like any profession, doctors who are disillusioned with their careers will start looking elsewhere."
\n
The newspaper also quoted the report warning that "we must be alive to the ongoing risks to retention of doctors and the impact of losing talented staff. This could threaten government ambitions to reduce waiting times and deliver better care to patients".
\n
Commenting in the article, Billy Palmer, a senior fellow at Nuffield Trust, said: "Pay and industrial action have been a lightning rod for dissatisfaction among doctors, but this survey puts a spotlight on the wider difficulties facing the medical profession. Job guarantees, better rotas and placements, and protection of training time need to be on the table."
US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday he had chosen Stephen Miran, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, to serve in the just vacated seat on the Federal Reserve Board until Jan 31, 2026. Meanwhile, the Trump administration will continue to search for a permanent replacement for the vacancy left by Fed Governor Adriana Kugler, whose resignation was due to be effective on Friday. He served as an adviser on economic policy for the US Department of the Treasury from 2020 to 2021. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is designed to have seven members, who are nominated by the US president and confirmed by the Senate.
\n
VENEZUELA
\n
Washington's bounty for Maduro condemned
\n
The Venezuelan government on Thursday condemned the announcement made by US Attorney General Pam Bondi to offer a reward of $50 million for information leading to the arrest of President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil described the action as a "crude political propaganda operation". The minister denounced that the offer lacked legal and moral support, serving the political interests of the extreme right in the US and Venezuela. He recalled that Venezuela has condemned covert operations and destabilizing plots by the US, many of which have been foiled by the security agencies.
Rescuers walk past wreckage at the site where a Kenyan medical plane crashed near Nairobi on Thursday. A local official said the small medical aircraft hit a residential area close to Kenya's capital, killing at least six people and seriously injuring two others.
\n",
- "content": "
Rescuers walk past wreckage at the site where a Kenyan medical plane crashed near Nairobi on Thursday. A local official said the small medical aircraft hit a residential area close to Kenya's capital, killing at least six people and seriously injuring two others.
The Japanese government on Thursday revised downward its forecast for real Gross Domestic Product growth for fiscal year 2025 from an earlier projection of 1.2 percent to 0.7 percent, citing the impact of increased US tariffs as one of the primary factors.
\n
Japanese analysts warn that the newly imposed US tariffs will cause significant wastage of resources and capital in Japan, inevitably exerting a negative effect on its economy and industrial sectors.
\n
Japan's Cabinet Office cited US tariff policies and ongoing inflation as combined risks contributing to downward pressure on the Japanese economy on Thursday.
\n
It also lowered its 2025 export growth forecast from 3.6 percent to 1.2 percent. Corporate investment growth outlook was reduced from 3.0 percent to 1.8 percent, considering the tariffs' impact on Japan's automotive and other key export industries, as well as businesses' more cautious stance on capital expenditure, according to Jiji Press.
\n
Japan's GDP shrank by 0.2 percent on an annualized basis in the first quarter.
\n
The new US tariffs and related policies took effect on Wednesday. Japan's trade envoy Ryosei Akazawa confirmed on Friday that a flat rate of 15 percent will be applied from now on for items previously charged less than 15 percent, following repeated discussions with US officials.
\n
Akazawa also said the US will issue a new presidential order implementing the agreed-upon tariff rates on autos and auto parts, according to the Nikkei Asia. Under the July trade agreement, the US agreed to reduce auto tariffs from 27.5 percent to 15 percent.
\n
Policy analyst Shigeaki Koga, a former official at Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, said, "If the 15 percent tariff is maintained, its impact is unavoidable." He explained that such tariffs will weaken Japanese exporters' competitiveness in the US market, forcing companies either to lower prices or face declining sales as Japanese products become comparatively more expensive in the US market.
\n
He likened the additional cost burden roughly to a currency appreciation from the current 147 yen per dollar to between 120 and 130 yen, levels Japan has experienced before. "Thus, the export industry will not face a crisis, but sales and profits will likely decline," he added.
\n
All sectors to suffer
\n
Hidetoshi Tashiro, chief economist at Japanese consultancy Infinity LLC, highlighted that the fiscal issues in the US are also an important factor to consider. He predicted that almost all Japanese industries would suffer to some extent.
\n
"Japan's supply chains are deeply interconnected across borders. Trump's tariffs disrupt and sever these chains," he said.
\n
He also noted a complex financial impact: rising US long-term rates amid fiscal stress would widen the Japan-US interest rate gap, increasing Japan's interest income from US loans if the yen remains stable. However, a contraction in Japan's domestic credit could slow overall economic growth, meaning banks might profit even as the economy weakens.
\n
Describing the US fiscal situation as dire, Tashiro said government debt interest payments now exceed military spending, and US Treasury bonds have lost their top credit rating.
\n
Complicating matters, the practical implementation of the tariffs remains uncertain.
\n
On July 22, Akazawa reached an agreement with the US administration in the Oval Office, under which the US pledged to reduce tariffs from a threatened 25 percent to 15 percent, while Japan committed to providing $550 billion in financing, loans, or loan guarantees for US projects. However, a presidential executive order published this Wednesday in the Federal Register gave special treatment to EU goods but excluded Japanese products.
\n
Akazawa quickly stated on Thursday that the US would correct the order and refund any excess tariffs collected. He called the initial order "deeply regrettable" and described it as an administrative procedural issue.
\n
Koga warned that the White House could rescind the agreement and threaten to reinstate the 25 percent auto tariffs if dissatisfied.
\n
He added that this volatility applies to all countries. Fundamentally, Japan was forced to accept demands that violate international law and lack legitimacy.
\n
"It's like having your child kidnapped and paying ransom to save them," Koga concluded.
The University of California has confirmed that the Trump administration's suspension of federal research funding to the University of California, Los Angeles, totals $584 million, a move UC President James Milliken warned would be a "death knell" for critical medical, scientific and energy research.
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The suspension, which affects at least 800 grants from agencies including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy, represents more than half of UCLA's annual federal research funding. It is more than twice the amount initially estimated when news of the freezes emerged last week.
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UC has agreed to enter negotiations with the federal administration after the US Department of Justice accused UCLA of violating Title VI and Title VII of federal civil rights law by failing to adequately address antisemitism and bias on campus, according to Milliken, who took up the top UC post on Aug 1.
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"These cuts do nothing to address antisemitism," Milliken said. "Moreover, the extensive work that UCLA and the entire University of California have taken to combat antisemitism has apparently been ignored. The announced cuts would be a death knell for innovative work that saves lives, grows our economy, and fortifies our national security. It is in our country's best interest that funding be restored."
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UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk echoed the alarm, calling the suspensions "devastating for UCLA and for Americans across the nation whose work, health and future depend on our groundbreaking research and scholarship".
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"We are doing everything we can to protect the interests of faculty, students and staff — and to defend our values and principles," Frenk said.
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The Justice Department's action follows campus protests in 2024 related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with federal officials alleging that UCLA showed "deliberate indifference" to the civil rights of Jewish and Israeli students. Additional allegations include unlawful use of race in admissions and allowing transgender athletes to compete on teams matching their gender identity.
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Similar federal investigations have targeted elite institutions such as Harvard, Brown and Columbia. Brown University agreed to restore funding by committing to new anti-bias measures and paying $50 million to the state for workforce development, while Columbia University agreed to pay over $200 million to the federal government and to share admissions data with Washington. Both universities regained access to hundreds of millions in research funds under the settlements.
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Observers warn that these escalating funding freezes could disrupt not only US domestic research but also international scientific cooperation, particularly in areas such as clean energy, neuroscience and global health.
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On Thursday, Trump signed a memorandum that requires universities to collect admissions data to prove they are not engaged in efforts to shape their student bodies along racial lines, according to the White House.
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But the largest higher education policy and lobbying organization in the US said the wording of the memo was vague. The American Council on Education also said it may be illegal for schools to collect the data on race that the White House seeks.
An employee works at a pharmacy in Bengaluru, India, on Wednesday.
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Industry representatives warn that US President Donald Trump's decision to impose additional duties on India for importing Russian oil could significantly disrupt multiple sectors.
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Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 percent tariff on imports from India, raising the total tariffs to 50 percent. India has described Trump's substantial tariffs as "unfair and extremely unfortunate".
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Industry experts warn that key Indian export sectors such as textiles, generic drugs, leather, chemicals, footwear, gems and jewelry, and seafood will suffer serious setbacks.
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Expressing deep concern over the potential negative impact, the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry referred to it as a major blow to the industry.
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"The US tariff announcement of Aug 6 is a huge setback for India's textile and apparel exporters as it has further complicated the challenging situation we were already grappling with and will significantly weaken our ability to compete effectively vis-a-vis many other countries for a larger share of the US market," CITI Chairman Shri Rakesh Mehra said in a statement.
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Mehra has sought government help to overcome the situation.
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"We request immediate government intervention to offset this huge setback. Exporters have their backs against the wall and will have to sell below cost to keep their factories running and avoid mass layoffs," Sudhir Sekhri, chairman of Apparel Export Promotion Council, said.
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The US is a key market for Indian ready-made garments exports, with India holding a 33 percent share in the country's total garment exports in 2024, AEPC said.
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Representatives of the Indian domestic pharmaceutical industry are also apprehensive in the wake of the US tariffs.
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Indian pharma exports to the US are about $9-10 billion, which is approximately 6 to 7 percent of their total pharma imports by value, while supplying about 40 percent of generics by volume, said Viranchi Shah, former president and current spokesman of the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association.
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India's exports of pharmaceutical products to the US were $8.72 billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.
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Significant disadvantage
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The additional 25 percent taking effect on Aug 27 is seen to put Indian exporters at a significant disadvantage compared to countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam, which face tariffs of 19-20 percent.
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"The new tariffs are likely to make Indian products substantially more expensive in the US market, with the potential to slash exports to the US by 40 to 50 percent," reported Global Trade Research Initiative, a Delhi-based think tank.
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Pawan Kumar, president of the Seafood Exporters Association of India, said, "This is a doomsday for the seafood industry. It will have an effect on the farmers, too."
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Kirit Bhansali, chairman of India's Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, said, "The entire industry is in trauma. … The 50 percent tariff will kill the entire industry. We have to find alternate ways to do business with the US."
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The US is the largest market for the Indian gems and jewelry sector, accounting for over $10 billion in exports in the last financial year, nearly 30 percent of the industry's total global trade, according to Bhansali.
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"Main impact (of the tariffs) will be on labor-intensive products like textiles and garments, gems and jewelry and leather goods," said Manoj Pant, former director of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and currently a visiting professor at Shiv Nadar University, New Delhi.
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India still has time to negotiate, Pant said.
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New Delhi has put on hold its plans to procure new US weapons and aircraft, in India's first concrete sign of discontent after the additional US tariffs, Reuters reported on Friday, citing Indian officials familiar with the matter.
\n",
- "content": "
An employee works at a pharmacy in Bengaluru, India, on Wednesday.
\n
Industry representatives warn that US President Donald Trump's decision to impose additional duties on India for importing Russian oil could significantly disrupt multiple sectors.
\n
Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 percent tariff on imports from India, raising the total tariffs to 50 percent. India has described Trump's substantial tariffs as "unfair and extremely unfortunate".
\n
Industry experts warn that key Indian export sectors such as textiles, generic drugs, leather, chemicals, footwear, gems and jewelry, and seafood will suffer serious setbacks.
\n
Expressing deep concern over the potential negative impact, the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry referred to it as a major blow to the industry.
\n
"The US tariff announcement of Aug 6 is a huge setback for India's textile and apparel exporters as it has further complicated the challenging situation we were already grappling with and will significantly weaken our ability to compete effectively vis-a-vis many other countries for a larger share of the US market," CITI Chairman Shri Rakesh Mehra said in a statement.
\n
Mehra has sought government help to overcome the situation.
\n
"We request immediate government intervention to offset this huge setback. Exporters have their backs against the wall and will have to sell below cost to keep their factories running and avoid mass layoffs," Sudhir Sekhri, chairman of Apparel Export Promotion Council, said.
\n
The US is a key market for Indian ready-made garments exports, with India holding a 33 percent share in the country's total garment exports in 2024, AEPC said.
\n
Representatives of the Indian domestic pharmaceutical industry are also apprehensive in the wake of the US tariffs.
\n
Indian pharma exports to the US are about $9-10 billion, which is approximately 6 to 7 percent of their total pharma imports by value, while supplying about 40 percent of generics by volume, said Viranchi Shah, former president and current spokesman of the Indian Drug Manufacturers Association.
\n
India's exports of pharmaceutical products to the US were $8.72 billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.
\n
Significant disadvantage
\n
The additional 25 percent taking effect on Aug 27 is seen to put Indian exporters at a significant disadvantage compared to countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam, which face tariffs of 19-20 percent.
\n
"The new tariffs are likely to make Indian products substantially more expensive in the US market, with the potential to slash exports to the US by 40 to 50 percent," reported Global Trade Research Initiative, a Delhi-based think tank.
\n
Pawan Kumar, president of the Seafood Exporters Association of India, said, "This is a doomsday for the seafood industry. It will have an effect on the farmers, too."
\n
Kirit Bhansali, chairman of India's Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, said, "The entire industry is in trauma. … The 50 percent tariff will kill the entire industry. We have to find alternate ways to do business with the US."
\n
The US is the largest market for the Indian gems and jewelry sector, accounting for over $10 billion in exports in the last financial year, nearly 30 percent of the industry's total global trade, according to Bhansali.
\n
"Main impact (of the tariffs) will be on labor-intensive products like textiles and garments, gems and jewelry and leather goods," said Manoj Pant, former director of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade and currently a visiting professor at Shiv Nadar University, New Delhi.
\n
India still has time to negotiate, Pant said.
\n
New Delhi has put on hold its plans to procure new US weapons and aircraft, in India's first concrete sign of discontent after the additional US tariffs, Reuters reported on Friday, citing Indian officials familiar with the matter.
Qian Sijin signs a copy of his new book What Is the Nature of the Material World.
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A photo of Qian early in his career.
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Qian attends a book event in Shenyang, Liaoning province.
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Qian has been involved in experiments at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) for over 30 years.
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The Lumibay team's first visit to CERN in 2019, with Qian Sijin (right) leading a guided tour.
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Qian explains particle physics during a recent book event in Shenyang, Liaoning.
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The covers of Qian's publications.
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The covers of Qian's publications.
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At 74, Qian Sijin still walks the long corridors of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) with the curiosity of a young scientist and the quiet dedication of a lifelong teacher.
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Most days, his schedule is filled with research, meetings and data collected from one of the world's most complex scientific machines. But beyond his work as a nuclear physicist at the CERN, the world's largest particle physics lab located at the border of Switzerland and France, Qian has embraced another calling: sharing the wonder of physics with the world.
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He does this in person, leading tour groups through CERN's sprawling underground tunnels and control rooms, pausing to explain the universe's most fundamental particles in words even high school students can understand. And now, he does it in print, with a new book designed to bring the mysteries of the material world within reach of Chinese readers.
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What Is the Nature of the Material World, co-written with team from Lumibay online education platform, is Qian's newest attempt to make particle physics, quantum theory, and high-energy research accessible.
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Written in clear, engaging language, the book traces the arc from ancient Greek atomic theory to today's Standard Model of particle physics. It's part physics textbook, part history of science, and part personal manifesto — a reminder that even if final answers remain out of reach, the search must continue.
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For Qian, science has never been just a career; it is a lifelong pursuit of wonder. Through his latest endeavor, he invites the next generation to share in that sense of awe, to follow curiosity wherever it leads.
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Through his writing and daily work, he invites a new generation to join in that pursuit. His quiet perseverance and passion reflect the soul of a scientist: the road may be long, and the answers elusive, but the search never stops.
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Song Tianliang, the book's editor, describes it as deceptively accessible. "At first glance, it might appear dense or daunting, but in fact, it reads lightly and easily," Song says.
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"Its structure mirrors the arc of humanity's pursuit to understand the essence of the world, from atoms to quarks. The book is not only a guide to physics knowledge, but also a history of science. One by one, the great scientists appear, connecting threads of discovery in a lively and engaging way."
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How the book came to be
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The idea took root in 2019, when Lumibay invited Qian to develop a general education physics course. As the content expanded, it naturally evolved into a book, complete with chapters, exercises, and recommended reading.
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The process took six years. Throughout, Qian remained uncompromising about quality, recalls Chen Lin, founder of Lumibay's Master Class.
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"Professor Qian's profound sense of mission deeply touched us. He hoped that more young Chinese people would engage in scientific research, so he invited us to shoot a documentary about scientific exploration and research at CERN. This way, young viewers can stay connected to the frontiers of global science," Chen says.
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In 2019, Chen's team traveled to CERN, where Qian personally guided them through the collider and the scientists' workspaces.
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The scale of the experiments, as well as Qian's quiet passion, left a lasting impression.
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Qian also hopes the film will inspire more young people to visit CERN one day, or even join its work themselves.
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Transforming a physics course into a book was no simple task. Summarizing the vast history of physics in plain language required immense effort from Qian and the Lumibay team.
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Chen describes Qian as meticulous. "He annotated every page by hand, editing word by word, even down to punctuation and tone marks," she says.
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Qian's curiosity remains boundless, though he admits he doesn't always follow internet. "If we used any buzzwords or memes in the book, we had to explain them to him."
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One chapter in the book is devoted specifically to women in science, and their stories are also woven into the broader historical narrative. Qian says this decision stems in part from his earlier work translating Who Cares About Particle Physics? Making Sense of the Higgs Boson, the Large Hadron Collider and CERN by Canadian physicist Pauline Gagnon.
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"While translating that book," he explains, "I first learned that Einstein's first wife, Mileva Maric, made significant contributions to the theory of relativity. I felt it was important to share those stories with Chinese readers."
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A career shaped
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Qian's own journey into science was inspired by his upbringing. Both parents were nuclear research pioneers in China. Surrounded by physics books, he was drawn early on to the big questions about matter.
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"Particle physics is about uncovering the smallest building blocks of matter," he says. "No one knows exactly what those are yet, but it's our curiosity about the unknown that keeps driving the research forward."
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That curiosity, Qian emphasizes, often leads to unexpected breakthroughs. "This kind of research may not yet have immediate practical use in everyday life," he says, "but it sometimes can bring huge economic and technological benefits. When Madame Curie and my parents' generation studied nuclear energy, they had no idea what it could do. Yet it changed the world, from nuclear weapons to civilian power."
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Working in a field that demands extraordinary tools and computing power, Qian notes that the World Wide Web itself was first developed at CERN to support global collaboration, "and later, CERN released it to the world without ever patenting it", he says.
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Qian joined CERN in 1988 and became a professor in 2003 at Peking University, specializing in experimental high-energy physics and grid computing. Although he retired from teaching in 2014, his research never stopped. He has been involved in experiments at CERN for more than 30 years, where he remains actively engaged in the lab's global collaborations.
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In 2012, those collaborations led to one of the 21st century's most significant scientific breakthroughs: the discovery of the Higgs boson at CERN's Large Hadron Collider, nearly 50 years after it was first theorized. The finding confirmed a key part of the Standard Model and paved the way for the 2013 Nobel Prize in physics, awarded to Professor Peter Higgs and Francois Englert.
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Qian's team contributed through the CMS collaboration with over 2,000 members from hundreds of institutes in over 30 countries, which — alongside the ATLAS Collaboration — helped make the discovery possible. "I feel incredibly fortunate to have been part of such a major scientific journey," he says. "This kind of science only works through global cooperation that is across nationalities, languages, religions and genders."
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Such cooperation is vital in a field that demands decades of effort. "But we still push forward, to explore the unknown. In this field, it often feels like there's always more to do."
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Now, CERN is preparing for the next era: a next-generation collider planned for completion by 2070. "If I joined now, I'd be 120 when it's finished," Qian says. "We may never see it completed, but that doesn't mean we stop trying."
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Even today, scientists only understand 5 percent of the universe. "The remaining 95 percent, dark matter and dark energy included, is still a mystery," he says. "What we don't know far exceeds what we do. That's what keeps us going."
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But his message goes beyond physics. "Every field has its own unknowns," Qian says. "Find your passion. Follow your curiosity and use it to make the world a little better."
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Because, he adds, "Human curiosity will always drive us forward."
One brain-computer interface operation in process at Huashan Hospital in Shanghai.
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The home-developed implant is coin-sized.
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SHANGHAI — A group of Chinese researchers and clinical neurologists has made a new breakthrough in brain-computer interface technology, enabling 10 individuals to communicate complex Chinese sentences through their thoughts alone.
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The technology, currently in clinical trials, offers new hope for patients with speech loss due to conditions such as stroke.
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Collaborating scientists from Shanghai-based startup INSIDE and Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University implanted electrodes into participants with epilepsy.
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After an average of just 100 minutes of training, their custom-built intelligent system decoded brain activities associated with the intended speech of 54 Chinese characters in real time.
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Training on those characters then enabled the system to interpret 1,951 common words correctly and generate complete Chinese sentences in under half a second, with virtually no length limit.
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"Unlike English's basic phonemes, Mandarin involves over 400 nuanced syllables," explains Li Meng, INSIDE's chief scientist.
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The team trained on data from the world's largest human brainwave database built by Huashan Hospital, and the AI identified phonetic components with over 83 percent accuracy, according to Li.
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Looking ahead, researchers envision the decoded text allowing users to control smart environments, or even generate expressive artworks through generative AI systems.
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Huashan Hospital has played a key role in brain-computer interface clinical trials. In August 2024, neurosurgeons at the Hospital implanted a 256-channel flexible BCI device designed by the Shanghai-based NeuroXess into a 21-year-old female patient with epilepsy. Within the 48 hours, the patient successfully engaged in table tennis and snake computer games through brain control.
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In June 2025, a Chinese man who had lost all four limbs in a high-voltage accident 13 years ago was shown playing chess and racing games using only his mind. This followed the implantation of a BCI device developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
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Recognizing BCI as a strategic future industry, Shanghai is building BCI incubators and fostering an innovation ecosystem. The city aims to achieve high-quality brain control and fully integrate BCI products into clinical applications by 2030.
\n",
- "content": "
One brain-computer interface operation in process at Huashan Hospital in Shanghai.
\n
The home-developed implant is coin-sized.
\n
SHANGHAI — A group of Chinese researchers and clinical neurologists has made a new breakthrough in brain-computer interface technology, enabling 10 individuals to communicate complex Chinese sentences through their thoughts alone.
\n
The technology, currently in clinical trials, offers new hope for patients with speech loss due to conditions such as stroke.
\n
Collaborating scientists from Shanghai-based startup INSIDE and Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University implanted electrodes into participants with epilepsy.
\n
After an average of just 100 minutes of training, their custom-built intelligent system decoded brain activities associated with the intended speech of 54 Chinese characters in real time.
\n
Training on those characters then enabled the system to interpret 1,951 common words correctly and generate complete Chinese sentences in under half a second, with virtually no length limit.
\n
"Unlike English's basic phonemes, Mandarin involves over 400 nuanced syllables," explains Li Meng, INSIDE's chief scientist.
\n
The team trained on data from the world's largest human brainwave database built by Huashan Hospital, and the AI identified phonetic components with over 83 percent accuracy, according to Li.
\n
Looking ahead, researchers envision the decoded text allowing users to control smart environments, or even generate expressive artworks through generative AI systems.
\n
Huashan Hospital has played a key role in brain-computer interface clinical trials. In August 2024, neurosurgeons at the Hospital implanted a 256-channel flexible BCI device designed by the Shanghai-based NeuroXess into a 21-year-old female patient with epilepsy. Within the 48 hours, the patient successfully engaged in table tennis and snake computer games through brain control.
\n
In June 2025, a Chinese man who had lost all four limbs in a high-voltage accident 13 years ago was shown playing chess and racing games using only his mind. This followed the implantation of a BCI device developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
\n
Recognizing BCI as a strategic future industry, Shanghai is building BCI incubators and fostering an innovation ecosystem. The city aims to achieve high-quality brain control and fully integrate BCI products into clinical applications by 2030.
Sinologists visiting a museum of autographed editions of literary works by contemporary Chinese writers in Qingxi village, Yiyang city, Hunan province.
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Signed translated editions of Chinese literature were donated by Sinologists at the launch ceremony of the Literary Shelf of Global Sinologists initiative in Qingxi village.
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The inauguration ceremony of the Hunan Writers Association's Qingxi Reading Room.
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Sinologists attend the roundtable discussion held at the Yuelu Academy.
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Zhou Libo's former residence in Qingxi village hosted the Sinologists.
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Twelve Sinologists from various countries including Spain, Serbia and Iran recently visited Qingxi village in China's Hunan province, to retrace the footsteps of modern Chinese novelist Zhou Libo (1908-79) and explore how local literature resonates on a global scale.
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On a project titled Discovering Qingxi on the World Literature Map, the three-day journey brought the Sinologists and Hunan writers together to explore the province's literary roots and discuss the intersection of locality and universality of literature.
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Qingxi village is the birthplace of Zhou and the settings of his classic novel, Shanxiang Jubian (Great Changes in a Mountain Village). Today, it has become a popular cultural destination to millions of visitors.
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The village features Zhou's renovated former residence, a museum of signed works by contemporary Chinese writers, and 22 reading rooms converted from village homes and operated by local residents. The reading rooms honor various writers, publishers and genres with artifacts and copies of their works. They are popular with both residents and visitors.
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Participants described the visit as an experience that brought literature to life.
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"I felt I was stepping into the pages of novels I had read years ago," said Ana Jovanovic, a Serbian scholar who started reading Chinese literature at 15 and was captivated by depictions of rural life. "The surroundings in Qingxi resembled the landscapes I had imagined while reading the books."
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During their journey, the Sinologists contributed signed translated editions of Chinese literary works to the newly launched Literary Shelf of Global Sinologists initiative in Qingxi. It adds to Qingxi's growing reputation as a literary village with international ties.
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Zombory Klara, a Hungarian scholar, donated a 1951 Hungarian edition of Zhou's Baofeng Zhouyu (Mighty Storm), published in Budapest.
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A recipient of the Special Book Award of China, she has spent over two decades studying and translating Chinese literature, including Mo Yan's Frog and Yu Hua's To Live.
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According to Klara, waves of Chinese-to-Hungarian literary translations began in the 1950s, when the first Hungarian exchange students arrived in China and learned about the country. Her teacher was among them and fostered cultural exchanges between the two countries.
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At a roundtable held at Yuelu Academy — one of China's oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher education in Hunan province — the scholars shared their insights into how local literature can transcend borders.
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Hunan's literary spirit traces its roots from both ancient thinkers and poets to modern reformers. Hunan's culture carries the essence of Confucian culture and integrates global wisdom, says Chinese scholar Tang Haoming.
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Spanish Sinologist Gabriel Garcia-Noblejas, a veteran translator of Chinese literature for three decades, highlighted the long-standing cultural ties between China and his country.
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"In 1650, Confucian classics were translated into Spanish and treasured by the emperor," he says.
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"I have been fascinated by Chinese culture since I was young," he says. "Through translation, I feel connected with people of other cultures."
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Chinese literature is thriving internationally through growing translation efforts, he adds.
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For some participants, the visit underscored how deeply rooted stories often carry universal truth.
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"Good literature is an art of empathy," says Egyptian Sinologist Ahmed Sayed, who holds a PhD in ethnology from China's Ningxia University. "The more rooted a story is in its own soil, the more likely it is to resonate with the globe."
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In Arabic-speaking countries, the connection between the local and the global is increasingly reflected, according to Tunisian scholar Khaled Elhaj Ahmed. "Villages surrounded by fields and history reveal the essence of literature. Stories that seem local often hold universal truths," he says.
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Wang Yuewen, former president of the Hunan Writers Association, notes that vivid stories about China's rural transformation capture a shared human experience with universal appeal.
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"From poverty to prosperity, from backwardness to progress — this is a path shared by all humanity," Wang says.
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Zhang Hongbin, director of the International Department of the China Writers Association, emphasizes that literature's global reach stems from the continual discoveries of local stories. It's a process that depends on collaborative reinterpretation.
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"Translation is more than repackaging," he says. "It is a re-creation and a joint effort in meaning-making."
Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, addresses a meeting at the former residence of Li Xiannian, China's president from 1983-88. Li served as the leader of the Fifth Division of China's New Fourth Army in 1943.
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Students line up to pay homage to Glen Beneda, a US Flying Tigers' pilot who was dispatched to China in 1943, and was rescued by Chinese farmers after his plane was shot down.
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Members of a Flying Tigers summer camp delegation from the US visit the Hubei Humanoid Robot Innovation Center on July 29.
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WUHAN — As Max Rasilla wheeled his suitcase through the bustling halls of Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Central China earlier this week, the Alfred University student felt a reluctant tug at the thought of ending his two-week journey in China.
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"I don't want to leave China," says Rasilla, 22. "I have a 10-year visa, so I'll be able to come back. Next year, when I come back, I'll be a little bit more fluent (in Chinese)."
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Rasilla fell in love with pandas in his childhood and once dreamed of becoming a panda keeper. That innocent fascination sparked his interest in learning Chinese, a journey that has since grown into something far more enduring. Now, majoring in ceramic art, Rasilla feels Chinese philosophy and culture are inspirational for his artworks.
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He was among nearly 100 participants — mostly US students along with a few entrepreneurs — who traveled across China from July 17 to 30 to honor the legacy of the Flying Tigers, the American volunteer pilots who fought alongside Chinese forces against Japanese invaders during World War II.
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As 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, Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, led the delegation to retrace the footsteps of the Flying Tigers through Beijing, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Shaanxi and Hubei provinces.
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The participants, hailing from over 10 US high schools and universities, not only revisited a pivotal chapter in Sino-American history but also began forging new people-to-people bonds.
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"During the war, the Flying Tigers came to China and fought bravely alongside the Chinese people," says Catherine Greene, Jeffrey's wife, in fluent Mandarin. "Now, as US-China relations face many challenges, we, the younger generation, must be the new Flying Tigers of our time and contribute positively to bilateral relations."
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Remembering sacrifices
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"I didn't know about the Flying Tigers before I came here," says Rasilla. "Now I think their mission is really important. The connection between the Chinese and American people is so important. For our generation, as we grow older and take on leadership roles, maintaining a good relationship is essential."
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The Flying Tigers, officially known as the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, was formed in 1941 by US General Claire Lee Chennault to help China in its fight against invading Japanese forces.
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The story of Glen Beneda left a deep impression on many participants. In 1943, Beneda, then 19, was dispatched to China as a fighter pilot in the 14th US Air Force. During an attack on a large Japanese army base in Central China's Hankou the following year, the tail of Beneda's plane was hit, and the aircraft crashed into Xiafeng Lake in Jianli county, Hubei province. Beneda survived by parachuting into a nearby rice paddy, but he was severely wounded and could barely move.
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Realizing he was an American soldier, farmers and soldiers risked their lives to transfer him on a stretcher across Japanese-controlled areas under the cover of night.
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After 23 grueling days, Beneda finally arrived at the Fifth Division of China's New Fourth Army led by Li Xiannian, who later served as China's president from 1983 to 1988. There, the US pilot gradually recovered and formed deep friendships with the Chinese soldiers, even playing games of ping pong.
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The veteran later returned to China several times with his family. "I owe a debt to the Chinese people, who have been so good to me," he said in a documentary. When he passed away in 2010, part of his ashes were buried in the memorial park of the former residence of Li in Hubei's Hong'an county.
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The sacrifices of the Flying Tigers were profound. A total of 2,193 members of the Flying Tigers lost their lives while supporting China and Myanmar during World War II. During battles, more than 200 downed pilots were rescued by Chinese civilians, and thousands of Chinese people died aiding them.
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While visiting Hong'an, the student delegation laid chrysanthemums at the memorial site. Some were moved to tears while watching Touching the Tigers, a documentary about Beneda's story.
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Among the students was Lili Li, visiting China for the first time with her mother Anna Li, who is the daughter of Lieutenant Kuo Ching Li, the only Chinese-American Flying Tiger.
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"I feel that the bond between the United States and China has been so strong these past decades," Lili Li says. "For me, being able to carry that connection forward, especially in today's world, is one of the most important things."
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During their visit to Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the delegation learned about the heroic "Hump Route" over the Himalayas, which was used to deliver vital supplies to Chinese troops fighting Japanese invaders.
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"We learned about how they supported China and how the Chinese supported the Americans during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression," says Giacomo Weil, a student from Central High School in Philadelphia.
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"The Chinese made a ton of sacrifices and gave up their food so that the Flying Tigers could fly and make missions against the Japanese. It was really awesome to see that beautiful link between China and the United States," says Weil, 18.
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Forging new bonds
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While paying tribute to wartime heroes, the members of the delegation also immersed themselves in rich and diverse cultures, experiencing a different side of the US-China relationship, one defined by youth dialogue, shared interests, and mutual curiosity.
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In Beijing, the students visited the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall. In Turpan, Xinjiang, they explored the Jiaohe Ruins, one of the world's best-preserved, longest-lasting and largest clay-built city relics, as well as the Karez wells, witnessing the resilience and ingenuity of ancient Chinese civilization.
\n
"Very eye-opening. I didn't know that China had a Wild West, too. We don't learn much about Xinjiang or any of China's western regions, which is very interesting to me," says Sarah Destiny Golovey, a junior student at California State University, Sacramento.
\n
They also visited Yan'an, a historically significant city in Northwest China's Shaanxi province. "It was really cool, really beautiful," Weil says. "China is so vast. In contrast to the desert in Xinjiang, Yan'an has green hills, and we saw the Yellow River. I even got to visit the Hukou Waterfall. But in every city I visited, the hospitality was absolutely amazing."
\n
In Wuhan, cultural exchanges came alive on the students' first evening during a welcome cruise, where local university students performed traditional dances, played the guzheng (Chinese zither), and sang English pop songs.
\n
For Vrishab Kaushik, Weil's schoolmate, the surprise came when he first downloaded WeChat. "I didn't expect it to handle payments, travel arrangements, and everything else in one app. Pretty cool," Kaushik says.
\n
Rasilla says this trip is just the beginning. "My goal is to pass the Chinese proficiency test level five and come back to pursue a master's degree in Jingdezhen next year," he says. "And I'll probably go back to America to teach Chinese language and culture to more American students."
\n",
- "content": "
Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, addresses a meeting at the former residence of Li Xiannian, China's president from 1983-88. Li served as the leader of the Fifth Division of China's New Fourth Army in 1943.
\n
Students line up to pay homage to Glen Beneda, a US Flying Tigers' pilot who was dispatched to China in 1943, and was rescued by Chinese farmers after his plane was shot down.
\n
Members of a Flying Tigers summer camp delegation from the US visit the Hubei Humanoid Robot Innovation Center on July 29.
\n
WUHAN — As Max Rasilla wheeled his suitcase through the bustling halls of Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Central China earlier this week, the Alfred University student felt a reluctant tug at the thought of ending his two-week journey in China.
\n
"I don't want to leave China," says Rasilla, 22. "I have a 10-year visa, so I'll be able to come back. Next year, when I come back, I'll be a little bit more fluent (in Chinese)."
\n
Rasilla fell in love with pandas in his childhood and once dreamed of becoming a panda keeper. That innocent fascination sparked his interest in learning Chinese, a journey that has since grown into something far more enduring. Now, majoring in ceramic art, Rasilla feels Chinese philosophy and culture are inspirational for his artworks.
\n
He was among nearly 100 participants — mostly US students along with a few entrepreneurs — who traveled across China from July 17 to 30 to honor the legacy of the Flying Tigers, the American volunteer pilots who fought alongside Chinese forces against Japanese invaders during World War II.
\n
As 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, Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, led the delegation to retrace the footsteps of the Flying Tigers through Beijing, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Shaanxi and Hubei provinces.
\n
The participants, hailing from over 10 US high schools and universities, not only revisited a pivotal chapter in Sino-American history but also began forging new people-to-people bonds.
\n
"During the war, the Flying Tigers came to China and fought bravely alongside the Chinese people," says Catherine Greene, Jeffrey's wife, in fluent Mandarin. "Now, as US-China relations face many challenges, we, the younger generation, must be the new Flying Tigers of our time and contribute positively to bilateral relations."
\n
Remembering sacrifices
\n
"I didn't know about the Flying Tigers before I came here," says Rasilla. "Now I think their mission is really important. The connection between the Chinese and American people is so important. For our generation, as we grow older and take on leadership roles, maintaining a good relationship is essential."
\n
The Flying Tigers, officially known as the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, was formed in 1941 by US General Claire Lee Chennault to help China in its fight against invading Japanese forces.
\n
The story of Glen Beneda left a deep impression on many participants. In 1943, Beneda, then 19, was dispatched to China as a fighter pilot in the 14th US Air Force. During an attack on a large Japanese army base in Central China's Hankou the following year, the tail of Beneda's plane was hit, and the aircraft crashed into Xiafeng Lake in Jianli county, Hubei province. Beneda survived by parachuting into a nearby rice paddy, but he was severely wounded and could barely move.
\n
Realizing he was an American soldier, farmers and soldiers risked their lives to transfer him on a stretcher across Japanese-controlled areas under the cover of night.
\n
After 23 grueling days, Beneda finally arrived at the Fifth Division of China's New Fourth Army led by Li Xiannian, who later served as China's president from 1983 to 1988. There, the US pilot gradually recovered and formed deep friendships with the Chinese soldiers, even playing games of ping pong.
\n
The veteran later returned to China several times with his family. "I owe a debt to the Chinese people, who have been so good to me," he said in a documentary. When he passed away in 2010, part of his ashes were buried in the memorial park of the former residence of Li in Hubei's Hong'an county.
\n
The sacrifices of the Flying Tigers were profound. A total of 2,193 members of the Flying Tigers lost their lives while supporting China and Myanmar during World War II. During battles, more than 200 downed pilots were rescued by Chinese civilians, and thousands of Chinese people died aiding them.
\n
While visiting Hong'an, the student delegation laid chrysanthemums at the memorial site. Some were moved to tears while watching Touching the Tigers, a documentary about Beneda's story.
\n
Among the students was Lili Li, visiting China for the first time with her mother Anna Li, who is the daughter of Lieutenant Kuo Ching Li, the only Chinese-American Flying Tiger.
\n
"I feel that the bond between the United States and China has been so strong these past decades," Lili Li says. "For me, being able to carry that connection forward, especially in today's world, is one of the most important things."
\n
During their visit to Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the delegation learned about the heroic "Hump Route" over the Himalayas, which was used to deliver vital supplies to Chinese troops fighting Japanese invaders.
\n
"We learned about how they supported China and how the Chinese supported the Americans during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression," says Giacomo Weil, a student from Central High School in Philadelphia.
\n
"The Chinese made a ton of sacrifices and gave up their food so that the Flying Tigers could fly and make missions against the Japanese. It was really awesome to see that beautiful link between China and the United States," says Weil, 18.
\n
Forging new bonds
\n
While paying tribute to wartime heroes, the members of the delegation also immersed themselves in rich and diverse cultures, experiencing a different side of the US-China relationship, one defined by youth dialogue, shared interests, and mutual curiosity.
\n
In Beijing, the students visited the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall. In Turpan, Xinjiang, they explored the Jiaohe Ruins, one of the world's best-preserved, longest-lasting and largest clay-built city relics, as well as the Karez wells, witnessing the resilience and ingenuity of ancient Chinese civilization.
\n
"Very eye-opening. I didn't know that China had a Wild West, too. We don't learn much about Xinjiang or any of China's western regions, which is very interesting to me," says Sarah Destiny Golovey, a junior student at California State University, Sacramento.
\n
They also visited Yan'an, a historically significant city in Northwest China's Shaanxi province. "It was really cool, really beautiful," Weil says. "China is so vast. In contrast to the desert in Xinjiang, Yan'an has green hills, and we saw the Yellow River. I even got to visit the Hukou Waterfall. But in every city I visited, the hospitality was absolutely amazing."
\n
In Wuhan, cultural exchanges came alive on the students' first evening during a welcome cruise, where local university students performed traditional dances, played the guzheng (Chinese zither), and sang English pop songs.
\n
For Vrishab Kaushik, Weil's schoolmate, the surprise came when he first downloaded WeChat. "I didn't expect it to handle payments, travel arrangements, and everything else in one app. Pretty cool," Kaushik says.
\n
Rasilla says this trip is just the beginning. "My goal is to pass the Chinese proficiency test level five and come back to pursue a master's degree in Jingdezhen next year," he says. "And I'll probably go back to America to teach Chinese language and culture to more American students."
A dancer warms up backstage before the Beijing performance of Odes to Heroes.
\n
Dancers wear opera-style facial makeup in different colors and patterns.
\n\n
Odes to Heroes captivates audiences with its touching storyline and dynamic movements. The traditional yingge dance, which originated during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), takes on a new look to attract younger generations while remaining deeply rooted in the rich heritage of the Lingnan region in southern China.
\n
In a striking fusion of tradition and innovation, Odes to Heroes, a Chinese dance drama by the Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre, brings to the stage a heartfelt narrative that merges two iconic elements of Lingnan culture: the historical art of qiaopi letter-writing and the captivating yingge dance.
\n
Rooted in the rich heritage of the Lingnan region in southern China, particularly Guangdong province, these traditions intertwine to tell a timeless story of love, separation and reconnection.
\n
Since its premiere last year, Odes to Heroes has been staged 38 times across China, including a series of performances at the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center from July 31 to Aug 2, following its debut at the 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival in Urumqi, capital of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
\n
The production will continue its nationwide tour through the end of this year, with upcoming shows in cities including Lanzhou in Gansu province, Shanghai, and Nanjing in Jiangsu province.
\n
The drama is a blend of movement and emotion, with the dancers' graceful yet powerful gestures telling a story that transcends words.
\n
Co-directed by Qian Xin, the production not only celebrates the aesthetic beauty of traditional dance but also delves into themes of identity, loss and the longing for reconnection. The emotional weight of qiaopi — letters sent by overseas Chinese migrants to their families — intertwines seamlessly with the dynamic energy of yingge dance, evoking a poignant exploration of personal and collective memory.
\n
The qiaopi tradition emerged in the 19th and 20th centuries, when emigrants from Guangdong and Fujian sent these letters, along with remittances, to their families back home. The letters were not just messages, but emotional lifelines that conveyed both financial support and a profound yearning to reunite.
\n
Set in the late 1930s, the drama follows a moving family story. A father leaves his home to seek work in Southeast Asia, only to vanish without a trace. The mother, resolute but heartbroken, raises their son, with tireless love and sacrifice.
\n
One night, during Lantern Festival, the son strikes the yingge mallet — a relic left behind by his father. This act transports him into a surreal, dreamlike world, where chaotic sights and sounds overwhelm him. Amid the turmoil, the son begins to understand the struggles and unspoken sacrifices of his father, while also embarking on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth.
\n
"At its core, the dance drama is a tale of generational memory, loss and the longing for reunification," director Qian says.
\n
"From the moment the stage lights flicker on, the audience is transported into the world of Lingnan region, where the artistry of the yingge dance is elevated to new heights."
\n
The yingge dance, or "dance to the hero's song", is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, mostly popular in southern China. The dance form dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and merges traditional opera, dance and martial arts.
\n
Performers wear opera-style facial makeup in different colors and patterns that reveal the personalities of the characters they are portraying. With a pair of short mallets in hand, they jump, swing, and hit the mallets together while walking and dancing, all to the resounding beat of drums, gongs and shouts.
\n
In recent years, the old dance form has become a viral hit and attracted lots of tourists to cities of southern China to experience the unique culture.
\n
In the dance drama, traditional moves, like the graceful hand gestures and sharp footwork, seamlessly intertwine with the beats produced by the mallets, captivating the audience with the blending of cultural history, personal memory, and the evolving nature of tradition.
\n
A principal dancer of Guangzhou Song and Dance Theatre, Iiiwan Umar, 30, plays the role of the son in the dance drama.
\n
"I've always felt that dance should not just be a display of technique, but a form of storytelling. I was inspired by the qiaopi letters that have been passed down through generations. These letters are more than just words on paper — they are a bridge between worlds," he said in Beijing on July 31.
\n
"When I learned yingge dance with senior performers from the Lingnan region, I admired their passion and respect for the old dance form, each step symbolizing an emotion."
\n
Liang Qiqi, a native of Guangdong, plays the role of the mother in the dance drama.
\n
"I wanted to honor my heritage while also finding a way to bring something new to the table. Yingge dance is such a powerful, dynamic art form, but it can sometimes feel like it's locked in the past. I am very excited that the creative team has reimagined it, making it relevant for younger generations while still respecting its origins," she says.
\n
According to Wang Sisi, co-director of the dance drama, Odes to Heroes is the last production of the trilogy produced by the Guangzhou theater company, highlighting traditional culture of the Lingnan region.
\n
In 2018, the theater company premiered its dance drama Awakening Lion, which brings the traditional lion dancing into the limelight.
\n
In 2021, it brought out Dragon Boat, which highlights the vibrant and deeply rooted traditional dragon boat racing culture tied to both history and local customs.
Students showcase their creativity at the 2025 China-US Young Maker Competition in Beijing.
\n
Yu Zeng (left), 19, and Jesse Garcia, 29, speak about their project at the competition.
\n
Jacob Thoensen, a 21-year-old student of the University of Nevada, Reno, in the United States, made his very first visit to China this summer. Despite the long flight, he was excited, curious and full of wonder.
\n
From the moment he arrived in Beijing, he felt like he had "stepped into a place where every corner tells a story, particularly through food", he says.
\n
Every meal has been a new experience, from savory street food to carefully sliced Peking duck. He has gotten to know the city, where food isn't just about taste but also about connection, bringing people together across languages and cultures.
\n
In addition to touring the city and visiting iconic places, such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and Zhongshan Park, he made new friends through the 2025 China-US Young Maker Competition. The final event took place in the capital from Aug 2 to 3.
\n
Along with his three team members, who are also students from the US, Thoensen worked on a project called Fursphere, an AI-powered pet management platform.
\n
By combining their computer vision with psychological modeling, the project assists pet owners in better understanding their furry companions — turning technology into a bridge for deeper human-animal connections.
\n
"We tried to make AI a personal service. We've worked on the project for months. When we came to China to compete in the final, we were very excited to meet the other teams which, despite being from a different culture, share the same questions and dream the same kind of future," he says.
\n
"I had the chance to talk, debate and create alongside some of the brightest, most passionate young innovators I've ever met. It didn't matter where we came from. We were all speaking the same languages — curiosity, creativity and courage."
\n
He adds that the same spirit of blending tradition and innovation was alive in the finals.
\n
Many teams from China reimagined tradition through technology — honoring the past while building something new.
\n
According to Wang Daquan, director-general of the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, the co-organizer of the competition, this year's event was held simultaneously in 13 subregions in China and two subregions in the US, attracting over 23,500 participants in more than 4,900 teams. Altogether, 103 teams gathered in Beijing for exchange and competition, with 11 teams from the US.
\n
The competition featured an increasing number of innovative projects in fields like AI, green energy and healthcare, reflecting the youth's attention and concern for today's interconnected issues.
\n
Launched in 2014, the China-US Young Maker Competition has attracted nearly 80,000 participants.
\n
Wang notes that online collaboration between the US and Chinese and students resulted in 14 joint teams. Through teamwork and creative exchanges, the participants not only showcased outstanding technological innovation capabilities but also, by overcoming challenges together, built bridges of friendship across continents.
\n
Yu Zeng, a 19-year-old student from Hangzhou Wanxiang Polytechnic in the provincial capital of Zhejiang, worked on one of these joint teams.
\n
"Our team made continuous progress from the initial idea to each subsequent step, constantly improving and correcting mistakes," says Yu.
\n
"We overcame time zone differences and communication barriers, working together to solve multiple challenges and ensuring the product development met the expectations of both sides."
\n
The efforts paid off — their project was awarded first prize in the competition. The team designed a product that generates electricity through the water-activated chemical magnesium-aluminum alloy, which eliminates the need for traditional batteries.
\n
The product lights up in 10 seconds and provides continuous illumination for a week with a single water refill, embodying an eco-friendly concept of technology coexisting harmoniously with nature.
\n
"The competition not only embodies the friendship between the two countries' inventors, but also paves the way in fostering collaboration among youth from both nations in areas such as technological innovation and cultural exchange," says Yu.
\n
Hu Chuxiong, a professor and PhD supervisor at the Institute of Mechatronic Engineering, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tsinghua University, served as the chairman of the jury panel for the competition.
\n
"One of the most significant points of the competition is the opportunity for young participants to exhibit their creativity and problem-solving skills," he says.
\n
"The competition allows them to see their creations come to life, which is an exciting and rewarding experience.
\n
"Meanwhile, working with like-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds allows them to learn, exchange ideas, and form valuable connections. It's not just about winning — it's about growing as a team and expanding one's network.
\n
"The challenge of solving problems, learning technologies, and overcoming obstacles in a competitive setting pushes young makers to expand their skills and knowledge."
\n",
- "content": "\n
Students showcase their creativity at the 2025 China-US Young Maker Competition in Beijing.
\n
Yu Zeng (left), 19, and Jesse Garcia, 29, speak about their project at the competition.
\n
Jacob Thoensen, a 21-year-old student of the University of Nevada, Reno, in the United States, made his very first visit to China this summer. Despite the long flight, he was excited, curious and full of wonder.
\n
From the moment he arrived in Beijing, he felt like he had "stepped into a place where every corner tells a story, particularly through food", he says.
\n
Every meal has been a new experience, from savory street food to carefully sliced Peking duck. He has gotten to know the city, where food isn't just about taste but also about connection, bringing people together across languages and cultures.
\n
In addition to touring the city and visiting iconic places, such as the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and Zhongshan Park, he made new friends through the 2025 China-US Young Maker Competition. The final event took place in the capital from Aug 2 to 3.
\n
Along with his three team members, who are also students from the US, Thoensen worked on a project called Fursphere, an AI-powered pet management platform.
\n
By combining their computer vision with psychological modeling, the project assists pet owners in better understanding their furry companions — turning technology into a bridge for deeper human-animal connections.
\n
"We tried to make AI a personal service. We've worked on the project for months. When we came to China to compete in the final, we were very excited to meet the other teams which, despite being from a different culture, share the same questions and dream the same kind of future," he says.
\n
"I had the chance to talk, debate and create alongside some of the brightest, most passionate young innovators I've ever met. It didn't matter where we came from. We were all speaking the same languages — curiosity, creativity and courage."
\n
He adds that the same spirit of blending tradition and innovation was alive in the finals.
\n
Many teams from China reimagined tradition through technology — honoring the past while building something new.
\n
According to Wang Daquan, director-general of the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, the co-organizer of the competition, this year's event was held simultaneously in 13 subregions in China and two subregions in the US, attracting over 23,500 participants in more than 4,900 teams. Altogether, 103 teams gathered in Beijing for exchange and competition, with 11 teams from the US.
\n
The competition featured an increasing number of innovative projects in fields like AI, green energy and healthcare, reflecting the youth's attention and concern for today's interconnected issues.
\n
Launched in 2014, the China-US Young Maker Competition has attracted nearly 80,000 participants.
\n
Wang notes that online collaboration between the US and Chinese and students resulted in 14 joint teams. Through teamwork and creative exchanges, the participants not only showcased outstanding technological innovation capabilities but also, by overcoming challenges together, built bridges of friendship across continents.
\n
Yu Zeng, a 19-year-old student from Hangzhou Wanxiang Polytechnic in the provincial capital of Zhejiang, worked on one of these joint teams.
\n
"Our team made continuous progress from the initial idea to each subsequent step, constantly improving and correcting mistakes," says Yu.
\n
"We overcame time zone differences and communication barriers, working together to solve multiple challenges and ensuring the product development met the expectations of both sides."
\n
The efforts paid off — their project was awarded first prize in the competition. The team designed a product that generates electricity through the water-activated chemical magnesium-aluminum alloy, which eliminates the need for traditional batteries.
\n
The product lights up in 10 seconds and provides continuous illumination for a week with a single water refill, embodying an eco-friendly concept of technology coexisting harmoniously with nature.
\n
"The competition not only embodies the friendship between the two countries' inventors, but also paves the way in fostering collaboration among youth from both nations in areas such as technological innovation and cultural exchange," says Yu.
\n
Hu Chuxiong, a professor and PhD supervisor at the Institute of Mechatronic Engineering, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tsinghua University, served as the chairman of the jury panel for the competition.
\n
"One of the most significant points of the competition is the opportunity for young participants to exhibit their creativity and problem-solving skills," he says.
\n
"The competition allows them to see their creations come to life, which is an exciting and rewarding experience.
\n
"Meanwhile, working with like-minded individuals from diverse backgrounds allows them to learn, exchange ideas, and form valuable connections. It's not just about winning — it's about growing as a team and expanding one's network.
\n
"The challenge of solving problems, learning technologies, and overcoming obstacles in a competitive setting pushes young makers to expand their skills and knowledge."
Chen Yeliang's I'm No Literary Giant won second prize in the 9th Writing Competition for Online Literature with Realistic Themes held in Shanghai on Aug 2.
\n
Hosted by online publishing company Yuewen Group, this year's event had more than 57,000 reality web novels submitted by about 54,000 writers.
\n
From left: Covers of the nominated books for the online literature awards: The God of Promotion, Mountains Turn to Paintings as Clouds Fade, I'm No Literary Giant, Lucky Mom-to-be Mee Sua and Insider and Outsider Border.
\n
Chen Yeliang, a 32-year-old web novelist, did not expect to win an award for his work before fictional character Wang Zixu, the protagonist in his latest novel, won the Nobel Prize in literature in his novel.
\n
But truth, they say, can be stranger than fiction. On Aug 2, Chen won second prize in the 9th Writing Competition for Online Literature with Realistic Themes. The event was hosted by online publishing company Yuewen Group.
\n
Wang, from Chen's prizewinning web novel I'm No Literary Giant, is a literary man in his 30s living an unremarkable life while staying true to his love for literature and boldly pursuing his dream of winning a Nobel Prize in literature.
\n
This semi-autobiographical web novel has been described as "a love letter for creators" as it delves into the complex literary scene and directly addresses the struggles of literary enthusiasts.
\n
With humor and wit, it portrays the clash between the chaotic realities of life and personal aspirations.
\n
It is Chen's third web novel. Chen started initial work on the novel a decade ago. He graduated from university with big dreams but had to put aside his literary aspirations as he struggled to make ends meet.
\n
"My biggest preparation for writing this novel was to live to the age of 30," says Chen with a laugh at the award ceremony.
\n
Over the past 10 years, he read a large number of books, went through various challenges, gained life and working experiences, and eventually found himself getting close to the life of the protagonist he wrote about in his 20s.
\n
Beyond Chen's personal growth, he was also propelled to do his best by his mother who passed away during the past decade. She was proud of Chen's work and believed in his future as a writer. While she was fighting a brain tumor, she encouraged him at every opportunity.
\n
After losing his mother, Chen understood life's priorities.
\n
A successful life, he realized, is not about "cost-effectiveness", but about "love".
\n
Chen picked up his writing again.
\n
The success of I'm No Literary Giant came unexpectedly to Chen.
\n
"It surprised many people when it topped the charts on reading platforms, as they never imagined that online literature could be so literary," recalls Chen.
\n
"I am not aiming to convey any particular ideas or values, but would simply like to present the confusion, perseverance, struggles, and other emotions of many ordinary people. The readers will connect the story with themselves," he adds.
\n
Actually, such "surprises" and unexpected popular appeal are seen in many other reality web novels, too.
\n
"Over the past decade, online literature with realistic themes has seen rapid development and grown from a niche genre to a new mainstream category," Hou Xiaonan, chief executive officer and president of Yuewen Group, said at the ceremony.
\n
About 54,000 writers submitted more than 57,000 reality web novels to this year's competition, a tenfold increase compared with 10 years ago. About 300,000 writers are chronicling the struggles and dreams of ordinary people on Yuewen's platforms.
\n
More than 100 outstanding web novels were listed in the nation's major awards.
\n
Some are collected in libraries, such as the National Library of China and The British Museum, according to Hou.
\n
"A good reality novel should serve as a 'thermometer' of the times, capable of touching the pulse of society and sensing the joys and sorrows of the people. We are glad to see many writers exploring the contemporary value of traditional culture in realistic themes, which infuses new expressions into traditional Chinese culture," Hou adds.
\n
The special prizewinner, Zhang Mei, a writer known by her pen name Mei Shiniang, took a unique perspective and approach into wartime stories.
\n
Set in the background of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), her awarded work Mountains Turn to Paintings as Clouds Fade delves deeply into the commitment of ordinary people to art, cultural heritage, and their love for the nation.
\n
Cui Chenge, a 36-year-old writer under the pen name Yangguang Caihong Xiaoxigua won first prize at this year's competition. Her awarded web novel Lucky Mom-to-be Mee Sua integrates local cultural elements in Fujian province with the story about the lives and self-growth of modern women.
\n
The other first prizewinner, Claudia (the name she prefers to be called) with the pen name of Renjian Xuyao Qingxu Wending, won three awards in the competition for three reality web novels over the past decade.
\n
As a senior corporate management executive engaged in a high-tech export business, she started writing web novels in 2019, with motivation triggered by the real challenges she faces in her industry. Her first web novel Era of Wave Breaking focuses on the rise of Chinese manufacturing.
\n
The second, Way to the North, tells a story about the development of the Beidou 3 navigation satellite system.
\n
Her winning work this time, Insider and Outsider Border, sheds light on people's lives from the 1980s to the early 2000s, reflecting the dramatically rapid changes in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.
\n
Residing in the city for more than 10 years, she saw it as "a city of miracles and epic chapters".
\n
"I have been hoping for a long time to write about Shenzhen. I have been on overseas business trips a lot. Compared with other cities staying unchanged for decades, Shenzhen is changing with each passing day," says the author.
\n
The metropolis transformed from a small fishing village to a cosmopolitan city in just several decades.
\n
Claudia notes that Shenzhen is essentially an open city, where both residents and migrants are pleased to share stories about their families, life, work and love. "I greatly appreciate the ordinary people who stopped by and shared their stories with me. They might be someone unknown, but their lives and stories are brilliant," she says.
\n
"This novel pays tribute not only to Shenzhen, but also to millions of people like its residents," she adds.
\n
"I am also grateful for such a platform to share stories of ordinary people. Miracles are undoubtedly great, but the individuals behind them — with their joys and sorrows, ups and downs — are also worth remembering."
\n
Contact the writer at wangxin2@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -4994,28 +5439,6 @@
"hash": "001c81f4343679f4e31d02e828ca6e67",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "011LIFE - British travelers see a land of charm beyond imagination",
- "description": "\n
LONDON — John Coles, managing director of a London-based travel agency, says he had heard a lot about China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region before he set foot on the land for the first time. "One of the great thrills of traveling is to go and see things with my own eyes."
\n
From vast grasslands to snowcapped mountains and sweeping deserts, Xinjiang's landscapes left Coles deeply impressed. "The real surprise was the alpine scenery. It looked like something from Switzerland or the Canadian Rockies," he says.
\n
As his journey continues, Coles finds himself drawn not only to the scenery but to the deep historical resonance of the Silk Road. "Many European and Western tourists are fascinated by the Silk Road, and its history and romance as a trading route," he says. "But it carried more than goods. It carried ideas."
\n
In remote corners of the region, he has encountered crumbling ancient cities, their ruins still whispering stories of the past.
\n
Yet what has surprised him most is the pace of contemporary change. From cutting-edge infrastructure to enormous wind farms stretching across the landscape, Coles has been struck by the scale and speed of development. "The size of the wind turbines was almost unbelievable. The transformation is happening so fast."
\n
He also speaks of the openness he has experienced. "I wandered freely through neighborhoods. That was one of the most delightful parts of the trip — I could actually see and feel the place for myself."
\n
Coles has been to China before. Two decades ago, when he was based in Singapore and working in the aviation sector, he visited China frequently. At the time, he said, "leaving Singapore to go to China felt like going back in time". But things have changed. "The infrastructure is astonishing."
\n
Coles shared these reflections at a travel experience sharing session held in London earlier this month, hosted by the China National Tourist Office London. Nearly 20 British travelers gathered to exchange stories about the surprises and discoveries they found in China.
\n
Alex Outhwaite visited China's Guizhou province and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in May. She says it was her first time in China, and an unforgettable one.
\n
"We visited many traditional Miao and Dong villages, and what stood out most is the pride people have in their culture and how generously they shared it with us," she says.
\n
The group explored local music and cuisine, and even joined a friendly football match with villagers. "We saw domestic and international tourists learning together about music, dancing, art and traditional dress. It was a real cultural immersion," Outhwaite says.
\n
Photographer Anok Deb shows a video from Guizhou that has since gained more than 500,000 views online. "I often explored on my own and met so many local people," he says. "In a way, I fell in love with China. It's strange — I didn't speak the language, didn't grow up in the culture, but I felt completely at home. I can't wait to go back."
\n
For some, the experience had a more personal meaning. Hari Krishna Daggubaty brought home a traditional doll of the Miao ethnic group for his niece, thinking it was simply an exotic souvenir. "But she immediately told me it was a Miao doll." Daggubaty later found she learned it from TikTok.
\n
For Emily Grace Lymath, now a senior Asia specialist at a bespoke travel company, returning to China's Guangxi was a journey down memory lane.
\n
From 2012 to 2014, she taught English at a local university. She was even invited to a traditional wedding by one of her former students. "Everyone was so excited."
\n",
- "content": "\n
LONDON — John Coles, managing director of a London-based travel agency, says he had heard a lot about China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region before he set foot on the land for the first time. "One of the great thrills of traveling is to go and see things with my own eyes."
\n
From vast grasslands to snowcapped mountains and sweeping deserts, Xinjiang's landscapes left Coles deeply impressed. "The real surprise was the alpine scenery. It looked like something from Switzerland or the Canadian Rockies," he says.
\n
As his journey continues, Coles finds himself drawn not only to the scenery but to the deep historical resonance of the Silk Road. "Many European and Western tourists are fascinated by the Silk Road, and its history and romance as a trading route," he says. "But it carried more than goods. It carried ideas."
\n
In remote corners of the region, he has encountered crumbling ancient cities, their ruins still whispering stories of the past.
\n
Yet what has surprised him most is the pace of contemporary change. From cutting-edge infrastructure to enormous wind farms stretching across the landscape, Coles has been struck by the scale and speed of development. "The size of the wind turbines was almost unbelievable. The transformation is happening so fast."
\n
He also speaks of the openness he has experienced. "I wandered freely through neighborhoods. That was one of the most delightful parts of the trip — I could actually see and feel the place for myself."
\n
Coles has been to China before. Two decades ago, when he was based in Singapore and working in the aviation sector, he visited China frequently. At the time, he said, "leaving Singapore to go to China felt like going back in time". But things have changed. "The infrastructure is astonishing."
\n
Coles shared these reflections at a travel experience sharing session held in London earlier this month, hosted by the China National Tourist Office London. Nearly 20 British travelers gathered to exchange stories about the surprises and discoveries they found in China.
\n
Alex Outhwaite visited China's Guizhou province and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in May. She says it was her first time in China, and an unforgettable one.
\n
"We visited many traditional Miao and Dong villages, and what stood out most is the pride people have in their culture and how generously they shared it with us," she says.
\n
The group explored local music and cuisine, and even joined a friendly football match with villagers. "We saw domestic and international tourists learning together about music, dancing, art and traditional dress. It was a real cultural immersion," Outhwaite says.
\n
Photographer Anok Deb shows a video from Guizhou that has since gained more than 500,000 views online. "I often explored on my own and met so many local people," he says. "In a way, I fell in love with China. It's strange — I didn't speak the language, didn't grow up in the culture, but I felt completely at home. I can't wait to go back."
\n
For some, the experience had a more personal meaning. Hari Krishna Daggubaty brought home a traditional doll of the Miao ethnic group for his niece, thinking it was simply an exotic souvenir. "But she immediately told me it was a Miao doll." Daggubaty later found she learned it from TikTok.
\n
For Emily Grace Lymath, now a senior Asia specialist at a bespoke travel company, returning to China's Guangxi was a journey down memory lane.
\n
From 2012 to 2014, she taught English at a local university. She was even invited to a traditional wedding by one of her former students. "Everyone was so excited."
A concert at the Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River in Jixian county, Linfen, Shanxi province, commemorates the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). It was held, fittingly, at a site where the Yellow River's majesty is on full display.
\n
Premiered early last month, the performance transformed the spectacular waterfall area into a dramatic open-air stage, fusing natural grandeur with sweeping musical expression.
\n
Sun Jing (left), a concertmaster with the Shanxi Symphony Orchestra, rehearses before the performance early this month.
\n
Powerful classics like the Yellow River Piano Concerto and the Yellow River Cantata were performed at the concert.
\n
Performers celebrate the concert's success.
\n
For three consecutive years, the concert at the waterfall has drawn audiences from home and abroad.
\n
Pianist Lang Lang performs the Yellow River Piano Concerto, a significant classical music piece that was arranged from the Yellow River Cantata by Xian Xinghai.
\n
Li Xincao, president of the China Conservatory of Music, conducting the monumental performance.
\n
Beneath the thunderous roar of the Hukou Waterfall, where the Yellow River narrows and plunges with primal force, a powerful symphony of history, unity and enduring spirit resonates this summer.
\n
Echoing the legacy of the country's iconic wartime musical piece the Yellow River Cantata, the concerts by the Shanxi Symphony Orchestra have brought together artists and audiences to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
\n
Composed by Xian Xinghai with lyrics adapted from a poem by Guang Weiran, the cantata was completed in 1939, telling the story of the indomitable spirit of the Chinese people.
\n
Along with the popular cantata, the Yellow River Piano Concerto is performed by pianist Lang Lang at the Huang He (Yellow River) concert held early last month in Jixian county of Linfen, Shanxi province.
\n
"Performing the piano concerto always evokes an immense response. It has been a companion throughout my life, like a dear friend accompanying me across the globe," Lang says.
\n
He hopes that this music, while embodying the Chinese spirit, reaches wider global audiences to foster understanding of China and its unique cultural charm through melody.
\n
Conducting this monumental performance is Li Xincao, president of the China Conservatory of Music. "Though I've conducted these pieces countless times, performing at the roaring Hukou Waterfall on this significant 80th anniversary is a first in my artistic career. It's profoundly meaningful and unforgettable."
\n
Building on this resonance, the orchestra performed at the magnificent setting in early July and this month. It is the third consecutive year that such a concert is held at the waterfall.
\n
"The waterfall's mighty roar interweaves with our symphony, creating not just art, but a profound historical echo," says Sun Jing, a concertmaster with the Shanxi Symphony Orchestra. "The Yellow River is our mother river. Performing here, we commemorate history and inherit a spirit — unity, resilience, and relentless perseverance."
\n
The performance featured powerful moments like a suona (double-reed horn) solo by virtuoso Feng Miaomiao. "The instrument's voice matches the waterfall's grandeur," Feng says. "As an artist, my heart swelled with pride. The audience's enthusiastic response was deeply moving — a genuine emotional connection. Their standing ovation was incredibly inspiring. We will continue to share beauty through music, letting more people experience the charm of the symphony and the depth of our national music."
\n
The concerts this year also mark the 80th anniversary of retrocession of Taiwan, featuring a collaboration between musicians across the Taiwan Strait.
\n
They were more than performances; they were vibrant acts of remembrance, powerful affirmations of shared cultural roots, and resonant declarations that the spirit of resilience symbolized by the Yellow River continues to flow strong through the heart of the Chinese nation.
\n
As conductor Li emphasizes, it is a spirit worth inheriting for generations to come.
China's foreign trade will remain resilient in the second half of 2025, fueled by strong growth in high-tech exports, vibrant private sector activity and closer ties with emerging markets, government officials and exporters said on Thursday.
\n
They noted that China's steady export performance, particularly driven by private companies, underscores robust global demand for the country's high-tech mechanical and electrical products, and facilitates its deeper integration into regional and global industrial chains.
\n
China's foreign trade grew 3.5 percent year-on-year to 25.7 trillion yuan ($3.6 trillion) in the first seven months of 2025, while its exports rose 7.3 percent year-on-year to 15.31 trillion yuan, data released on Thursday by the General Administration of Customs shows. In July alone, the country's trade value grew 6.7 percent to 3.91 trillion yuan.
\n
Lyu Daliang, director of the GAC's department of statistics and analysis, said that amid a complex external environment, China's foreign trade has maintained steady growth momentum, while its trade structure has continued to optimize, with high-tech products playing an increasingly key role in supporting overall expansion.
\n
China's trade of high-tech products, including high-end machine tools and electric vehicles, reached 5.1 trillion yuan from January to July, up 8.4 percent year-on-year, contributing 45.4 percent to the overall growth of foreign trade during this period.
\n
"Since the beginning of the year, private businesses have actively responded to changes and continued to serve as a stabilizing force in China's foreign trade," Lyu said.
\n
Specifically, the foreign trade value of China's private companies amounted to 14.68 trillion yuan over the past seven months, up 7.4 percent year-on-year, accounting for 57.1 percent of the nation's total foreign trade value, an increase of 2.1 percentage points compared with the same period last year.
\n
Chen Bin, deputy director of the expert committee of the Beijing-based China Machinery Industry Federation, said these trends "have not only laid a solid foundation for China's foreign trade to continue on a stable growth trajectory in the second half, but also reflect a deeper structural realignment".
\n
Driven by industrial upgrading and the rapid growth of the digital economy, new opportunities are emerging in sectors such as energy storage, industrial robotics and artificial intelligence-enabled manufacturing tools, Chen said, adding that these sectors are fast emerging as new engines of trade growth.
\n
Zhou Mi, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing, said that on the demand side, China's strong global product presence and long-standing commitment to free trade are key factors supporting the competitiveness of its foreign trade.
\n
Ahmed bin Sulayem, executive chairman of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre in the United Arab Emirates, said the steady growth of the Chinese economy will encourage economic and trade cooperation with Arab nations and other countries of the world in the long run.
\n
Zhao Ping, head of the academy of the Beijing-based China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said the projected robust growth in foreign trade during the second half of the year will provide vital support for China's broader economic stability and expansion, reinforcing its resilience amid global uncertainties.
\n
Also on Thursday, the Ministry of Finance said the government will explore and adjust policy tools to ensure the Chinese economy maintains a stable and positive trajectory, thereby contributing to global economic development.
\n
The ministry's statement followed S&P Global Ratings' affirmation of its unsolicited 'A+' long-term and 'A-1' short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on China, with a stable outlook for the long-term rating.
\n
Zhang Yuxian, director of the department of economic forecasting at the State Information Center, warned that China-United States economic and trade frictions will continue to test the resilience of Chinese exports and the adaptability of Chinese exporters in the second half.
\n
Despite these challenges, China retains substantial potential for optimizing its product mix and enhancing policy support, Zhang said. The country's imports are also expected to become more diversified, providing consumers with a broader range of choices, he added.
\n
At the company level, Chinese exporters have already taken proactive steps to adapt to external challenges.
\n
Wang Lilong, president of Ningbo Winner Electric Appliances Co, a garden tools manufacturer based in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, said his company has enhanced product adaptability and upgraded noise-reduction solutions this year to help offset the impact of the US tariff pressures.
\n
Data from Ningbo Customs shows that in addition to expanding business presence in emerging markets this year, the company saw the export of its products to the US, including lawn mowers and branch shredders, reach 32 million yuan between January and July, surging more than 90 percent year-on-year.
\n
With many emerging economies accelerating their industrialization, green and digitally driven modernization, Jiangsu Shangshang Cable Group, a cable manufacturer based in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, exported products worth 420 million yuan during the January-July period, a year-on-year increase of 13.2 percent, according to Nanjing Customs.
\n
Liu Cunyong, head of the company's foreign trade unit, said the robust growth was mainly driven by rising demand in overseas infrastructure projects, especially in economies participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.
\n
"We have been refining our product offerings to better align with the technical and regulatory frameworks of key markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa," Liu said.
\n
Contact the writers at zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
China's foreign trade will remain resilient in the second half of 2025, fueled by strong growth in high-tech exports, vibrant private sector activity and closer ties with emerging markets, government officials and exporters said on Thursday.
\n
They noted that China's steady export performance, particularly driven by private companies, underscores robust global demand for the country's high-tech mechanical and electrical products, and facilitates its deeper integration into regional and global industrial chains.
\n
China's foreign trade grew 3.5 percent year-on-year to 25.7 trillion yuan ($3.6 trillion) in the first seven months of 2025, while its exports rose 7.3 percent year-on-year to 15.31 trillion yuan, data released on Thursday by the General Administration of Customs shows. In July alone, the country's trade value grew 6.7 percent to 3.91 trillion yuan.
\n
Lyu Daliang, director of the GAC's department of statistics and analysis, said that amid a complex external environment, China's foreign trade has maintained steady growth momentum, while its trade structure has continued to optimize, with high-tech products playing an increasingly key role in supporting overall expansion.
\n
China's trade of high-tech products, including high-end machine tools and electric vehicles, reached 5.1 trillion yuan from January to July, up 8.4 percent year-on-year, contributing 45.4 percent to the overall growth of foreign trade during this period.
\n
"Since the beginning of the year, private businesses have actively responded to changes and continued to serve as a stabilizing force in China's foreign trade," Lyu said.
\n
Specifically, the foreign trade value of China's private companies amounted to 14.68 trillion yuan over the past seven months, up 7.4 percent year-on-year, accounting for 57.1 percent of the nation's total foreign trade value, an increase of 2.1 percentage points compared with the same period last year.
\n
Chen Bin, deputy director of the expert committee of the Beijing-based China Machinery Industry Federation, said these trends "have not only laid a solid foundation for China's foreign trade to continue on a stable growth trajectory in the second half, but also reflect a deeper structural realignment".
\n
Driven by industrial upgrading and the rapid growth of the digital economy, new opportunities are emerging in sectors such as energy storage, industrial robotics and artificial intelligence-enabled manufacturing tools, Chen said, adding that these sectors are fast emerging as new engines of trade growth.
\n
Zhou Mi, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing, said that on the demand side, China's strong global product presence and long-standing commitment to free trade are key factors supporting the competitiveness of its foreign trade.
\n
Ahmed bin Sulayem, executive chairman of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre in the United Arab Emirates, said the steady growth of the Chinese economy will encourage economic and trade cooperation with Arab nations and other countries of the world in the long run.
\n
Zhao Ping, head of the academy of the Beijing-based China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said the projected robust growth in foreign trade during the second half of the year will provide vital support for China's broader economic stability and expansion, reinforcing its resilience amid global uncertainties.
\n
Also on Thursday, the Ministry of Finance said the government will explore and adjust policy tools to ensure the Chinese economy maintains a stable and positive trajectory, thereby contributing to global economic development.
\n
The ministry's statement followed S&P Global Ratings' affirmation of its unsolicited 'A+' long-term and 'A-1' short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on China, with a stable outlook for the long-term rating.
\n
Zhang Yuxian, director of the department of economic forecasting at the State Information Center, warned that China-United States economic and trade frictions will continue to test the resilience of Chinese exports and the adaptability of Chinese exporters in the second half.
\n
Despite these challenges, China retains substantial potential for optimizing its product mix and enhancing policy support, Zhang said. The country's imports are also expected to become more diversified, providing consumers with a broader range of choices, he added.
\n
At the company level, Chinese exporters have already taken proactive steps to adapt to external challenges.
\n
Wang Lilong, president of Ningbo Winner Electric Appliances Co, a garden tools manufacturer based in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, said his company has enhanced product adaptability and upgraded noise-reduction solutions this year to help offset the impact of the US tariff pressures.
\n
Data from Ningbo Customs shows that in addition to expanding business presence in emerging markets this year, the company saw the export of its products to the US, including lawn mowers and branch shredders, reach 32 million yuan between January and July, surging more than 90 percent year-on-year.
\n
With many emerging economies accelerating their industrialization, green and digitally driven modernization, Jiangsu Shangshang Cable Group, a cable manufacturer based in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, exported products worth 420 million yuan during the January-July period, a year-on-year increase of 13.2 percent, according to Nanjing Customs.
\n
Liu Cunyong, head of the company's foreign trade unit, said the robust growth was mainly driven by rising demand in overseas infrastructure projects, especially in economies participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.
\n
"We have been refining our product offerings to better align with the technical and regulatory frameworks of key markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa," Liu said.
Xie Xie is one of the youngest rising comedy stars. His material about high school propelled him to fame.
\n
Tang Xiangyu made her debut in 2021, and is now one of the most popular comedians in China.
\n
Audience members enjoy a live performance at an intimate venue on April 13. The China Association of Performing Arts says comedy performances are seeing the largest attendance growth at smaller venues nationwide.
\n
Xi Ha, a former athlete and flight attendant, now uses comedy to critique unrealistic social norms.
\n
Wang Xinbo believes comedy routines must have an internal logic in order to work.
\n
Audience members watch a show on April 13. Comedy performances are booming across the country, led by a new wave of stand-up comedians holding a mirror to society.
\n
On a cold winter night, Tang Xiangyu was cycling through the streets of Beijing, heading home after work. The winter chill had numbed her fingers, but her mind raced with ideas for new jokes. She couldn't ignore the sudden burst of inspiration.
\n
Despite the freezing temperatures, she stopped pedaling and pulled over. Her frozen hands struggled to take notes on her phone, but she was determined not to let the moment slip away.
\n
That spark of creativity in the middle of the frigid night was a turning point.
\n
At that moment, Tang realized comedy wasn't just something she was doing for fun. Her desire to make people laugh was so strong that she would put up with freezing hands just to capture a flicker of inspiration.
\n
Nearly four years later, she is one of the most popular stand-up comedians in China, touring the country and appearing in popular internet comedy shows.
\n
Stand-up comedy is gaining traction across China, a country where this particular art form is still relatively new.
\n
Major platforms, such as iQIYI and Tencent Video, have helped comedians like Tang bring their craft to millions, reaching a far wider audience than anyone had previously imagined.
\n
Express yourself
\n
As China's younger generation embraces diverse global entertainment forms, comedy has become a vehicle for expressing individuality, challenging social norms, and poking fun at the pressure of modern life.
\n
"I remember the first time I got on stage and saw people in the crowd laughing," 31-year-old Tang recalled. "It wasn't just about the jokes anymore. It was about us, together, laughing at the things and experiences we have shared but never spoke about."
\n
Tang, who was born and raised in a rural area of Shandong province, graduated from a top Chinese university. She wrote articles for an online education platform, and was later promoted to manage online educational products.
\n
"I've always enjoyed creating and writing," Tang said. "I knew I had the ability to tell jokes and make my colleagues laugh. Even when I wrote stories about education, they always had a dash of humor."
\n
She had no idea what stand-up comedy was about until she attended a show in Beijing with friends.
\n
"What fascinated me was how performers could share funny yet insightful observations about the world without being offensive. It seemed like you could speak honestly, blending humor with social commentary, and make people laugh," Tang said. "That was the job I was dreaming about."
\n
On Dec 6, 2021, Tang made her debut as a stand-up comedian. The audience laughed along and she sensed a genuine connection with them. Her first taste of performing and being accepted was exhilarating.
\n
As she performed more open mics, however, she realized stand-up wasn't just about making people laugh — it was about sharing honest, personal stories. Her material began to explore societal pressures, the expectations placed on women, and the family dynamics she had always wanted to talk about.
\n
Her family didn't understand her desire to leave a stable career for something so uncertain. But for Tang, something inside her had changed — she was ready to take the leap.
\n
"It's an art form that allows you to speak your truth," she said. "The audience can tell when something is fake, and when it's real, they respond."
\n
As her career progressed, many fans began sharing their personal stories with her, sometimes treating her like a confidant. "It's the ultimate honor when someone tells me they trust me with their story," she said. "It makes me realize that stand-up can create a space where people feel safe enough to be themselves."
\n
Brave enough to try
\n
Comedy also takes topics once hidden in the shadows into the open and sparking public conversations.
\n
Fang Zhuren is a housewife who quietly endured an abusive marriage for 30 years before walking away and rebuilding her life through comedy. She infuses her performances with biting black humor and a distinct personal voice.
\n
"Domestic violence is such a heavy topic. Only someone who lived through it could make you laugh and ache at the same time. That's Fang Zhuren's gift — she makes the unbearable speakable," commented one of her fans on social media.
\n
Xi Ha, a former national-level athlete who later became a flight attendant, now uses her comedy to critique unrealistic beauty standards and public expectations. With sharp wit, she jokes about uncomfortable uniforms — short skirts, stockings, and high heels — and air passengers' unreasonable demands.
\n
"She's not just funny, she's fearless. She'll talk about beauty standards, the workplace revolution, and passengers' sense of entitlement — all while wearing heels and making you choke on your drink," wrote a fan.
\n
Xi said she chose to talk about these things because she thought they were funny. "I chose comedy because they (the subjects) really are funny, in a dark way," said Xi, who logged over 10,000 hours as a flight attendant, and participated in special aid missions like post-earthquake relief in Kathmandu, Nepal.
\n
"I don't think there's anything particularly special about what I do. I don't call it a 'female perspective'. What I observe isn't about gender — it's about society," she said, adding that it's not just the stereotype of flight attendants she wants to challenge.
\n
At 21, Xie Xie is one of the youngest rising comedy stars. He gained a loyal fan base after appearing on the second season of The King of Stand-up Comedy, which premiered on July 11 on iQIYI.
\n
His material about high school life — including strict rules, stern teachers, and awkward moments — instantly struck a chord.
\n
"I was overwhelmed by the audience response. After the show, I got more chances to perform not just in Beijing, but in cities across the country. It felt like a dream," said Xie, a second-year journalism student at Peking University, where he also heads the campus stand-up comedy club.
\n
The routine, written a year ago, won him first prize in a stand-up comedy competition.
\n
Xie was first introduced to comedy watching the 2012 TV program Tonight 80's Talk Show, which focused on the lives of young Chinese people. Later, he watched stand-up shows online, which inspired him to try performing himself.
\n
"Stand-up isn't just a performance, it becomes a way of life. The more you do it, the more your thinking changes. When something bad happens, my first thought is: 'Can I turn this into a joke?' That mindset helps me stay positive."
\n
Social observation
\n
Wang Xinbo, 32, also made his debut on the second season of The King of Stand-up Comedy, which helped him reach a wider audience.
\n
With a degree in applied mathematics and a job in cybersecurity sales, the performer, who goes by the stage name Xinbo, tried stand-up for the first time at an open mic in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, in 2022. Motivated by online and live shows — and the stress of his sales job — he wasn't looking for fame, just to release.
\n
"My first set was about the stereotypes my family had about sales jobs," he said. "It didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I realized quickly that this is harder than it looks."
\n
That humbling experience didn't stop him. Two and a half years later, Xinbo launched his first stand-up special. His understanding of comedy had transformed.
\n
"I used to think comedy was just about being funny. But it's a structured, logical system. Humor has its own internal logic," he said.
\n
"The most important thing is having a clear premise. Without that, no technique can save a joke. Creating punchlines depends on talent — but raising your hit rate takes constant practice."
\n
His material evolved from personal reflection to sharp social observation. His style today is known for its narrative voice and observational insight.
\n
"I mix storytelling with commentary," he said. "It gives the material more emotional weight."
\n
By 2023, Xinbo was performing regularly, and by May 2025, he was a full-time stand-up comedian.
\n
He believes comedy is everywhere, if you're paying attention.
\n
He once noticed shared bikes had cooling seat pads in summer. "But only the seat! As if your butt is the only thing that gets hot in July!" That absurd detail became a punchline.
\n
He has since performed across China, from big cities like Beijing and Shanghai to second-tier towns.
\n
Wang Jianguo, a veteran stand-up comedian and scriptwriter for The King of Stand-up Comedy, said the audience response since the show started has been overwhelming.
\n
"If we can spark even a flicker of shared reflection on something people are confronting or avoiding, then that's enough. That's the joy," he said.
\n
Wang said comedy is more than a joke; it's a lens and a mirror of society that acts as a pressure valve.
\n
"We all wake up and put on armor to face the world," he said. "It protects us, but it's uncomfortable. Sometimes we want to take it off and breathe — but even that can be hard. We may not be able to take it off for you — but maybe, just maybe, we can help soften it a little."
\n
Today's Chinese audiences are increasingly discerning. They want more than punchlines and slapstick. This growing demand has pushed comedians toward deeper storytelling and honest portrayals of personal and social dilemmas.
\n
"If we can help people feel a little less alone, a little more understood through laughter — then we've done our job," Wang said.
\n
Packed venues
\n
In 2024, among performances in smaller theaters, stand-up comedy saw the largest increases in both the number of performances and box office revenue, rising by 53 percent and 48 percent, respectively, according to a report by China Association of Performing Arts.
\n
In Shanghai, the number of stand-up comedy performances soared to 15,000 in 2024, a report released in May by major online ticket selling platform Damai found.
\n
Across the country in first-tier cities like Beijing, and Guangdong's Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as well as in emerging first-tier cities such as Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Nanjing in Jiangsu province, and Xi'an in Shaanxi province, stand-up comedy shows in small theaters have been springing up. The number of performances continues to rise, and the audience base is steadily expanding, industry figures said.
\n
"People gathering together to joke with each other, turning both happy and unhappy moments into laughter, has become a common part of modern life," said Yin Hong, a professor at Tsinghua University's School of Journalism and Communication.
\n
"This is one of the key reasons why stand-up comedy shows have gained popularity in recent years," he said.
\n
"Unlike in the past, Chinese people now have more space and confidence, embracing humor that is kind, sarcastic, and playful. This shift is especially evident among the younger generation," he added.
\n
The professor said another reason for the surge in popularity of stand-up comedy shows is their focus on the lives of young people. Some of the current popular programs have not only featured professional comedians but also people from various fields, making the content more relatable, Yin said. They have "localized" the comedy themes, closely aligning them with relatable real-life topics and addressing social issues.
\n
chennan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -5082,28 +5483,6 @@
"hash": "ac9a0a290e44cdcebafc5ed85a0fb235",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "001FRONT - World Games dazzle spectators in Chengdu",
- "description": "
Members of the Chinese delegation parade on Thursday at the Tianfu International Conference Center during the opening ceremony of the 12th World Games in Chengdu, Sichuan province.
\n
The 12th World Games burst onto the global stage on Thursday night with an opening ceremony that artfully married host city Chengdu's rich cultural legacy with stunning firework displays, as State Councilor Shen Yiqin declared the event open before global audiences.
\n
Dazzling fireworks lit up the sky at moments throughout the opening ceremony, amplifying the energy and excitement of the spectacle. The pyrotechnics incorporated meaningful symbols, including a luminous rainbow bridge arching across the night, ancient Chinese seal characters for "Chengdu" — replicating inscriptions first found on a bronze weapon dating back over 2,000 years — and 12 floral fireworks symbolizing all the host cities of The World Games.
\n
Cai Canhuang, chief designer of the fireworks display, said, "These elements represent Chengdu's warm welcome to all guests and athletes, while showcasing the host city's perfect blend of ancient heritage and modern openness."
\n
The ceremony unfolded beneath Asia's largest freestanding wooden structure — the 460-meter front hall canopy of Tianfu International Conference Center. Spectators enjoyed a unique lawn seating experience on the waterfront, where the show presented urban sports culture through breakdancing, frisbee and rollerskating performances, alongside a 50-minute parade of athletes.
\n
Xu Xingguo, vice-mayor of Chengdu, described the ceremony as "a dynamic, multicultural celebration that brought together sport lovers, children's enchanting voices, a creatively crafted flame-lighting ritual and breathtaking fireworks — all merging into a spectacular audiovisual experience".
\n
Against the picturesque setting of lakes, greenery, dusk and starlight, it became "a globally shared celebration of culture and sports," according to Xu. "Honoring the true spirit of athletics, the ceremony beautifully captured both the thrill of competition and the joy of public engagement," he said.
\n
A record 3,942 athletes from 116 countries and regions will participate in the sporting gala in 256 events across 34 sports including floorball, cheerleading, flying disc, powerlifting, archery, sport climbing, fistball and squash. The athlete roster spans generations, featuring a 68-year-old archer and a 13-yearold squash prodigy — a testament to the event's inclusive spirit.
\n
Tom Dielen, vice-president of the International World Games Association, said: "The number reflects not only the growth of our games, but also the incredible diversity and talent that defines The World Games family."
\n
Dielen said the Chengdu games have achieved many "firsts", noting that Chengdu organized the first-ever torch relay in the history of The World Games on July 26.
\n
The 11-kilometer relay route spanned six cultural landmarks across the cities of Chengdu, Deyang and Meishan, connecting major cultural landmarks including the Sanxingdui and Jinsha ruins, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Meishan San Su Shrine Museum.
\n
Dielen added that the Chengdu games stand out as the most sustainable edition, making use of 27 existing and renovated venues, both indoor and outdoor. "Chengdu has set a new standard in hosting the games," he said.
\n
Jose Perurena, president of the IWGA, said that Chengdu was selected as host city due to its organizational capabilities including top-tier venues and efficient transportation systems. He noted that the city's preparations have surpassed all expectations and are poised to make history.
\n
"Chengdu is really ready now to organize the best games," he said.
\n
China's B-girl Liu Qingyi, who clinched bronze in breakdancing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, served as one of the IWGA flag bearers for the Chengdu games' opening ceremony.
\n
Liu will also compete in the breaking event of the Chengdu games. She expressed enthusiasm about her participation in the event. "This high-profile competition, which gathers top B-boys and B-girls from all over the world, offers a perfect opportunity to promote breaking," Liu said.
\n
"I aim to demonstrate the sport's skill, power and creativity to inspire more Chinese youth to dive into it," she added.
\n
The athlete, known for her dynamic performances, emphasized the unique competitive nature of breaking. "The battle aspect of breaking constantly drives dancers to improve," Liu said. "Cultural exchanges through competitions help our sport progress."
\n
Contact the writers at xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Members of the Chinese delegation parade on Thursday at the Tianfu International Conference Center during the opening ceremony of the 12th World Games in Chengdu, Sichuan province.
\n
The 12th World Games burst onto the global stage on Thursday night with an opening ceremony that artfully married host city Chengdu's rich cultural legacy with stunning firework displays, as State Councilor Shen Yiqin declared the event open before global audiences.
\n
Dazzling fireworks lit up the sky at moments throughout the opening ceremony, amplifying the energy and excitement of the spectacle. The pyrotechnics incorporated meaningful symbols, including a luminous rainbow bridge arching across the night, ancient Chinese seal characters for "Chengdu" — replicating inscriptions first found on a bronze weapon dating back over 2,000 years — and 12 floral fireworks symbolizing all the host cities of The World Games.
\n
Cai Canhuang, chief designer of the fireworks display, said, "These elements represent Chengdu's warm welcome to all guests and athletes, while showcasing the host city's perfect blend of ancient heritage and modern openness."
\n
The ceremony unfolded beneath Asia's largest freestanding wooden structure — the 460-meter front hall canopy of Tianfu International Conference Center. Spectators enjoyed a unique lawn seating experience on the waterfront, where the show presented urban sports culture through breakdancing, frisbee and rollerskating performances, alongside a 50-minute parade of athletes.
\n
Xu Xingguo, vice-mayor of Chengdu, described the ceremony as "a dynamic, multicultural celebration that brought together sport lovers, children's enchanting voices, a creatively crafted flame-lighting ritual and breathtaking fireworks — all merging into a spectacular audiovisual experience".
\n
Against the picturesque setting of lakes, greenery, dusk and starlight, it became "a globally shared celebration of culture and sports," according to Xu. "Honoring the true spirit of athletics, the ceremony beautifully captured both the thrill of competition and the joy of public engagement," he said.
\n
A record 3,942 athletes from 116 countries and regions will participate in the sporting gala in 256 events across 34 sports including floorball, cheerleading, flying disc, powerlifting, archery, sport climbing, fistball and squash. The athlete roster spans generations, featuring a 68-year-old archer and a 13-yearold squash prodigy — a testament to the event's inclusive spirit.
\n
Tom Dielen, vice-president of the International World Games Association, said: "The number reflects not only the growth of our games, but also the incredible diversity and talent that defines The World Games family."
\n
Dielen said the Chengdu games have achieved many "firsts", noting that Chengdu organized the first-ever torch relay in the history of The World Games on July 26.
\n
The 11-kilometer relay route spanned six cultural landmarks across the cities of Chengdu, Deyang and Meishan, connecting major cultural landmarks including the Sanxingdui and Jinsha ruins, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and Meishan San Su Shrine Museum.
\n
Dielen added that the Chengdu games stand out as the most sustainable edition, making use of 27 existing and renovated venues, both indoor and outdoor. "Chengdu has set a new standard in hosting the games," he said.
\n
Jose Perurena, president of the IWGA, said that Chengdu was selected as host city due to its organizational capabilities including top-tier venues and efficient transportation systems. He noted that the city's preparations have surpassed all expectations and are poised to make history.
\n
"Chengdu is really ready now to organize the best games," he said.
\n
China's B-girl Liu Qingyi, who clinched bronze in breakdancing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, served as one of the IWGA flag bearers for the Chengdu games' opening ceremony.
\n
Liu will also compete in the breaking event of the Chengdu games. She expressed enthusiasm about her participation in the event. "This high-profile competition, which gathers top B-boys and B-girls from all over the world, offers a perfect opportunity to promote breaking," Liu said.
\n
"I aim to demonstrate the sport's skill, power and creativity to inspire more Chinese youth to dive into it," she added.
\n
The athlete, known for her dynamic performances, emphasized the unique competitive nature of breaking. "The battle aspect of breaking constantly drives dancers to improve," Liu said. "Cultural exchanges through competitions help our sport progress."
Ren Dong, head of the Datong Red Culture Museum in Datong, Shanxi province, shows visitors on May 13 a wartime photo of Norman Bethune conducting surgery during the Chinese people's fight against Japanese invaders in Shanxi.
\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
The risk of infection from battlefield wounds was so perilous that Norman Bethune, the legendary Canadian surgeon who saved many lives during the Chinese people's fight against Japanese invaders, made the prevention of such infections a top priority.
\n
The danger was so high, in fact, that Bethune himself died of sepsis in 1939 after he cut his finger while operating on a wounded soldier and the cut became infected.
\n
So visitors to the site of the Bethune Model Ward, a wartime hospital in Wutai county of northern China's Shanxi province, gain even greater respect for Bethune when they realize how, despite a highly challenging situation and heavy workload, the Canadian doctor was able to minimize infections among the wounded while also making strides in medical staff training and the building of medical facilities.
\n
In 1938, Bethune, who was also a member of the Communist Party of Canada, lived and worked in Wutai county, where he led efforts to convert a local temple into the ward for treating soldiers of the Eighth Route Army and cultivating medical staff.
\n
Due to a daunting lack of medical and sterilization supplies, "making do with everything available" became a necessary strategy, said Bai Xue, a gallery guide at a memorial exhibition hall dedicated to Bethune in Wutai county.
\n
Many visitors to the hall were intrigued by a steel food box displayed in the sterilization room at the ward.
\n
"They put tools including scissors in such a steel container after an operation, put the lid on, and then placed it into a steamer to sterilize," she said.
\n
Through details regarding his stay of around three months in the neighboring county of Lingqiu, in what today is the city of Datong, Shanxi province, people can gain an appreciation of Bethune's great workload and the achievements he made regarding medical facilities and surgical staff training.
\n
During his stay in Lingqiu, Bethune performed more than 700 surgeries and treated over 1,000 individuals, said Ren Dong, head of the Datong Red Culture Museum.
\n
"He also trained dozens of surgical staff members for the front lines and led efforts in founding a series of operating rooms and first aid rooms," Ren added.
\n
After Bethune's passing, Comrade Mao Zedong wrote an essay titled "In Memory of Norman Bethune", which was dated Dec 21, 1939. The article became more popular after its inclusion in many Chinese textbooks.
\n
"We must all learn the spirit of absolute selflessness from him," Mao wrote of Bethune.
\n
In 2013, while meeting with David Johnston, then Canada's governor general, President Xi Jinping said the Chinese people have profound, friendly feelings toward the Canadian people, and Norman Bethune is a household name in China because of his deeds in supporting the Chinese people's fight against fascism.
\n
At a ceremony held in September 2015 in Beijing, Xi presented a medal to Bethune's grandson Mark William Bethune to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The grandson was present as the representative of Dr Bethune's descendants.
\n
Diana Tan, counsellor for public diplomacy at the Canadian embassy in China, said the spirit of Bethune "remains strong today", and he was "a figure of historical importance to both Chinese and Canadian people".
\n
Starting well over a hundred years ago, many Canadians came to China before Bethune, and they founded schools and spread Western medical and health knowledge, Tan told a symposium about Bethune held in Beijing in November.
\n
"They also remind us of the lasting impacts of people-to-people connections for both of our countries," she said.
\n
Stephen Chappell, an executive member of the Canada-China Friendship Society in Ottawa, became interested in Bethune after he came to China for the first time 20 years ago to teach English courses in Anqing, Anhui province. There, he recalled, a local old man "passionately recounted the story of Dr Norman Bethune" after learning that Chappell was from Canada.
\n
Chappell traced the footsteps of Bethune in China, visiting many relevant sites, including the Bethune Model Ward.
\n
He found that there are a number of memorial facilities built in memory of Bethune in the country, and many hospitals have been named after Bethune or have installed statues of him.
\n
"The legacy of Dr Bethune fills me, as a Canadian, with pride," he wrote last year in an article that was cited by many news outlets worldwide.
\n
Consistent dedication
\n
Tang Jinhui, Party secretary of Shanxi Bethune Hospital in Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi province, said that he and his fellow staff members are proud of the name of their hospital. Tang and his colleagues believe that the facility's name reminds people that Bethune stayed in China for nearly two years, with a significant portion of that time spent working and living in Shanxi.
\n
Having long been inspired by Bethune's spirit, the hospital continues to provide medical support to China's remote areas and has joined the nation's medical assistance missions to countries including the African nation of Togo.
\n
Tang summed up the many aspects of Bethune's contributions and legacy: He treated wounded soldiers under extremely harsh conditions, trained a number of Chinese medical personnel, invented a mobile battlefield surgery tool kit suited to local conditions, and helped to significantly reduce the mortality rate among the wounded.
\n
"Such achievements illustrate the profound blend of Bethune's dedication to his profession and his devotion to medical science innovation," he added.
\n
The love and respect for Bethune's consistent dedication to internationalism and his profession have lasted for decades, not only among ordinary people, but also among medical professionals from many countries outside China, including his motherland of Canada.
\n
The Norman Bethune Symposium, organized by the Centre for Blood Research of The University of British Columbia in Canada, called Bethune "a Canadian physician who in the 1930s spearheaded the implementation of the first practical mobile blood collection and distribution system".
\n
"His approaches were novel and entirely without precedent, and shaped blood transfusion practices throughout the world," according to the symposium's website.
\n
Andrew Beckett, a professor at the University of Toronto and lieutenant colonel of the Royal Canadian Medical Service, noted that Bethune served in the Canadian military in World War I, and "that profoundly affected him".
\n
When addressing the 13th Annual Norman Bethune Symposium in Vancouver in April, Beckett quoted Bethune as saying, "I see little of war's glory and most of war's waste."
\n
Beckett, who calls himself "a big Bethune amateur historian", has lived in Montreal, where Bethune worked at the research center of Royal Victoria Hospital, and has visited many sites in Canada where Bethune had stayed.
\n
"He experienced the horror and the suffering of war," Beckett said.
\n
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
\n
Tang, Party secretary of Shanxi Bethune Hospital, said, "We revisit the influence of Bethune's spirit on China's medical sector because its value is not just about saving lives during wartime — it has deeply shaped the direction of modern medicine's evolution in China."
\n
Douglas Prescott, superintendent of the Canadian International School of Beijing, praised doctors and educators like Bethune who dedicated themselves to keeping the world safe and making it a better place.
\n
"We wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for people like them," he said. "Dr Bethune's legacy left a lasting impression, not a last impression.... So we remember him today for a lasting impression of compassion, of kindness, of humility."
\n
Contact the writers at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn
China has unveiled a new national plan to build and upgrade 300,000 kilometers of rural roads by 2027, aiming to boost connectivity, improve road safety and support rural vitalization, according to a policy document released on Wednesday.
\n
The New Round of Rural Road Improvement Action Plan, jointly published by the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Natural Resources, aims to build a convenient, efficient, inclusive and equitable transportation network across rural areas in China.
\n
In addition to building new roads, another 300,000 km of rural roads will undergo restorative maintenance, with the proportion of roads in good technical condition expected to remain above 70 percent. China also plans to implement 150,000 km of safety improvement projects and renovate about 9,000 hazardous rural bridges, including flood-prone or outdated structures.
\n
The plan also targets enhanced mobility services. By 2027, more than 55 percent of administrative villages are expected to have access to public bus services. Counties with suitable conditions are encouraged to integrate rural passenger, freight and postal services.
\n
The initiative is part of China's broader goal to build a modern rural transportation system that is well-structured, high-quality, efficiently managed and provides strong support for rural development by 2035.
\n
Rural roads are a vital component of China's vast highway system. By the end of 2024, the country's total road coverage reached 5.49 million km, with rural roads accounting for 4.64 million km — nearly 85 percent of the total.
\n
"The national campaign to improve rural roads is not just an infrastructure project — it's a people-centered program that directly improves livelihoods," said Minister of Transport Liu Wei at a news conference last month in Beijing.
\n
Since 2012, China has invested more than 4.9 trillion yuan ($682 billion) in rural road infrastructure and over 1.2 trillion yuan in maintenance. The extensive rural road network now links townships and villages across the country, forming a backbone for rural connectivity.
\n
To date, all of China's over 30,000 townships and 500,000 administrative villages are connected by paved roads. About 97.3 percent of rural roads meet classified technical standards, and 94.8 percent are in good or fair condition.
\n
"The days when villagers had to endure 'muddy roads in rain and dusty roads in sunshine' are long gone. Private cars can now reach even the most remote corners of the countryside, making travel easier for migrant workers and family visits — and spurring the rise of rural tourism and self-driving vacations," Liu said.
\n
"Our countryside is becoming more beautiful," the minister added. "In recent years, we've turned many of our rural roads into popular tourist destinations. For example, Shanxi's tourist highways — along the Yellow River, the Great Wall and the Taihang Mountains — now connect 5,630 villages and showcase the province's stunning landscapes. These roads have boosted the two-way flow of people, goods and information between cities and villages, transforming rural areas and supporting the creation of livable and vibrant communities."
\n
China is also leveraging rural roads to drive economic growth in the countryside. The country is developing roads that directly support industries, tourism and resource development.
\n
New forms of rural business — such as agritourism, fruit picking and livestream e-commerce — are thriving along these improved roads.
\n
"We've seen a surge in roadside businesses that bring prosperity to entire communities," Liu said.
\n
In addition, local governments are creating rural road maintenance jobs, enabling villagers to earn incomes close to home while helping to maintain local infrastructure.
\n
Even in remote areas, residents are now experiencing the benefits of better transportation as a result of upgraded rural roads.
\n
In Songde village, perched at an altitude of 3,150 meters in the mountainous Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture of Sichuan province, the benefits of rural road improvements are tangible.
\n
"At one time, hardly anyone left the village because it was just too remote. There were no proper roads — only dirt tracks that became dangerously slippery when it rained," said Lopin, a local resident who goes by only one name.
\n
The real change came in 2019, when a 4.2-km paved road linked the village directly to National Highway G227. Since then, more villagers have ventured out to work in nearby towns, investing in motorcycles, tractors and cars. The average annual income in the village has risen from 6,000 yuan in 2016 to more than 16,000 yuan today, according to local officials.
China has unveiled a new national plan to build and upgrade 300,000 kilometers of rural roads by 2027, aiming to boost connectivity, improve road safety and support rural vitalization, according to a policy document released on Wednesday.
\n
The New Round of Rural Road Improvement Action Plan, jointly published by the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Natural Resources, aims to build a convenient, efficient, inclusive and equitable transportation network across rural areas in China.
\n
In addition to building new roads, another 300,000 km of rural roads will undergo restorative maintenance, with the proportion of roads in good technical condition expected to remain above 70 percent. China also plans to implement 150,000 km of safety improvement projects and renovate about 9,000 hazardous rural bridges, including flood-prone or outdated structures.
\n
The plan also targets enhanced mobility services. By 2027, more than 55 percent of administrative villages are expected to have access to public bus services. Counties with suitable conditions are encouraged to integrate rural passenger, freight and postal services.
\n
The initiative is part of China's broader goal to build a modern rural transportation system that is well-structured, high-quality, efficiently managed and provides strong support for rural development by 2035.
\n
Rural roads are a vital component of China's vast highway system. By the end of 2024, the country's total road coverage reached 5.49 million km, with rural roads accounting for 4.64 million km — nearly 85 percent of the total.
\n
"The national campaign to improve rural roads is not just an infrastructure project — it's a people-centered program that directly improves livelihoods," said Minister of Transport Liu Wei at a news conference last month in Beijing.
\n
Since 2012, China has invested more than 4.9 trillion yuan ($682 billion) in rural road infrastructure and over 1.2 trillion yuan in maintenance. The extensive rural road network now links townships and villages across the country, forming a backbone for rural connectivity.
\n
To date, all of China's over 30,000 townships and 500,000 administrative villages are connected by paved roads. About 97.3 percent of rural roads meet classified technical standards, and 94.8 percent are in good or fair condition.
\n
"The days when villagers had to endure 'muddy roads in rain and dusty roads in sunshine' are long gone. Private cars can now reach even the most remote corners of the countryside, making travel easier for migrant workers and family visits — and spurring the rise of rural tourism and self-driving vacations," Liu said.
\n
"Our countryside is becoming more beautiful," the minister added. "In recent years, we've turned many of our rural roads into popular tourist destinations. For example, Shanxi's tourist highways — along the Yellow River, the Great Wall and the Taihang Mountains — now connect 5,630 villages and showcase the province's stunning landscapes. These roads have boosted the two-way flow of people, goods and information between cities and villages, transforming rural areas and supporting the creation of livable and vibrant communities."
\n
China is also leveraging rural roads to drive economic growth in the countryside. The country is developing roads that directly support industries, tourism and resource development.
\n
New forms of rural business — such as agritourism, fruit picking and livestream e-commerce — are thriving along these improved roads.
\n
"We've seen a surge in roadside businesses that bring prosperity to entire communities," Liu said.
\n
In addition, local governments are creating rural road maintenance jobs, enabling villagers to earn incomes close to home while helping to maintain local infrastructure.
\n
Even in remote areas, residents are now experiencing the benefits of better transportation as a result of upgraded rural roads.
\n
In Songde village, perched at an altitude of 3,150 meters in the mountainous Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture of Sichuan province, the benefits of rural road improvements are tangible.
\n
"At one time, hardly anyone left the village because it was just too remote. There were no proper roads — only dirt tracks that became dangerously slippery when it rained," said Lopin, a local resident who goes by only one name.
\n
The real change came in 2019, when a 4.2-km paved road linked the village directly to National Highway G227. Since then, more villagers have ventured out to work in nearby towns, investing in motorcycles, tractors and cars. The average annual income in the village has risen from 6,000 yuan in 2016 to more than 16,000 yuan today, according to local officials.
Citizens travel in heavy rain on Changjiang Road in Zhengzhou, Henan province, on Thursday. The city implemented mandatory measures such as halting production, business operations, classes, transportation, and suspending group outdoor activities on that day.
\n
Rescue workers search for missing individuals at the scene of a landslide in Dayuan village, Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Thursday.
\n
Search and rescue efforts for people trapped following a landslide at a village in Baiyun district in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, are still underway despite heavy rainfall affecting the area.
\n
The landslide occurred at around 8:30 am in Dayuan village, in the northern mountainous area of Guangzhou. As of Thursday evening, 10 out of 14 people trapped in the landslide had been recovered.
\n
Among those recovered, at least two were confirmed dead and seven were injured, with the injured reportedly in stable condition, according to local emergency management authorities.
\n
The landslide occurred after days of unrelenting heavy rainfall, damaging several houses in the village, said authorities.
\n
On Thursday, excavators were seen lifting cars from the rubble at the site. By around 2 pm, the Baiyun district had issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms and strong winds.
\n
Despite the heavy rainfall, rescue and disaster relief efforts continued with mechanical equipment and firefighters working in shifts while rescue workers demolished damaged houses at the site.
\n
"It was raining heavily at the time, and we were asked to evacuate immediately," a resident surnamed He recalled.
\n
She described how, at around 8:30 am on Wednesday, she and her husband held the difficult discussion of evacuating their home, only to witness the collapse of the building on the right side of their house shortly afterward.
\n
"The house collapsed quickly — unlike earthquakes, landslides don't make much noise," He said in an interview with Guangzhou Daily.
\n
After the landslide, village committee workers went door-to-door to check on residents who might have missed the evacuation notices, according to He.
\n
Prior to the landslide, workers from the village committee had noticed a significant amount of yellow muddy water overflowing on the hill behind houses, indicating something was wrong.
\n
They immediately organized an emergency evacuation, banging drums and knocking on doors to ask residents to leave their houses.
\n
"The landslide happened in a very short time, and houses collapsed very suddenly," He said.
\n
After the landslide, Dayuan subdistrict authorities immediately activated their emergency response mechanism, evacuating nearby residents.
\n
As of Wednesday evening, 3,371 people had been evacuated, according to emergency management authorities.
\n
Heavy rainfall experienced between Saturday and Wednesday also affected the rail network in the area. The China Railway Guangzhou Group promptly initiated emergency plans that included suspending some trains when required and initiating speed restrictions to maintain transportation safety. The railway group also operated 20 additional high-speed special trains and assisted 32,715 passengers stranded by the heavy rainfall. By Thursday, affected railway lines in Guangdong had been fully restored.
\n
In Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, the local government raised a flood control alert on Thursday and ordered a citywide suspension of production, business operations and school programs as heavy rain continued to batter the region.
\n
At 1:20 pm on Thursday, the Zhengzhou Meteorological Service issued a red rainstorm warning, the highest in the system, reporting that some districts had already received more than 100 millimeters of rain.
\n
The city's flood control authority upgraded its response from Level IV to Level III at 1 pm and imposed mandatory suspensions of urban activities, including outdoor events.
\n
By 2:15 pm, local traffic police had set up roadblocks and traffic controls along the hardest-hit intersections, deploying additional officers to manage hazards and guide motorists.
\n
Contact the writers at qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn
Chen Dong, minister at the Chinese embassy in France, presents a donation certificate and a letter of thanks to Marcus Detrez at the embassy in Paris, France, on Monday.
\n
After arriving in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Wednesday evening, Frenchman Marcus Detrez and two companions took the first opportunity to visit the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army.
\n
He had a special connection: In a ceremony held earlier in the week at the Chinese embassy in France, Detrez donated 618 historical photographs that had belonged to his grandfather, Roger Pierre Laurence, who lived in Shanghai in the 1930s.
\n
The collection of gelatin silver prints dating from the 1930s to 1950s will be added to the permanent collection of the Shanghai Songhu Memorial Hall for the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
\n
On Thursday morning, Detrez and his friends walked slowly and solemnly into the hall in Harbin, surrounded by a large number of artifacts, text documents and photographs that silently recounted the numerous crimes of Japanese Unit 731, the notorious germ and chemical warfare detachment of the Japanese army during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
\n
He felt the weight of the moment.
\n
"I was deeply shocked to see all these atrocities that were committed by alleged regular army troops, and even more shocked by the medical specialists involved — people who were supposed to use their skills to heal," Detrez said after the visit. "It's really a shame that they studied so much for the sake of committing crimes against humanity."
\n
Unit 731 was the earliest and largest Japanese special force dedicated mainly to researching and conducting biological warfare. It was staffed by many experts and was well-equipped.
\n
Consisting of a headquarters, four detachments and a health research institute, the unit was at the center of Japanese biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia. It victimized at least 3,000 people in human experiments. More than 300,000 people across China died from Japanese chemical and biological weapons during the war.
\n
The photo collection that Detrez donated through the Chinese embassy in France included images of daily life in Shanghai and many photos from the Battle of Songhu, also known as the Battle of Shanghai. They offer diverse perspectives on the battle, including evidence of atrocities committed by Japanese forces.
\n
"Compared with what the Chinese people lived and experienced, the donation is a small gesture," Detrez said. "It's only one tiny part of what we have to do now. We need to talk to the world. We need to advocate for peace."
\n
Detrez and his friends wrote the words "Peace and Justice" in Chinese, English and French on the electronic message board in the Harbin exhibition hall. "We will continue to try to be as brave as the Chinese people," Detrez said.
\n
Zhong Haosong, who accompanied Detrez, added: "We need to learn more, not just about the Battle of Shanghai, but also about the entire history of the Japanese invasion of China. The evidence of crimes committed by Unit 731 is an extremely important part of that history."
\n
This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Detrez expressed hope that he could attend the upcoming military parade scheduled for Sept 3 in Beijing to commemorate the victory.
\n
zhouhuiying@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Chen Dong, minister at the Chinese embassy in France, presents a donation certificate and a letter of thanks to Marcus Detrez at the embassy in Paris, France, on Monday.
\n
After arriving in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Wednesday evening, Frenchman Marcus Detrez and two companions took the first opportunity to visit the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army.
\n
He had a special connection: In a ceremony held earlier in the week at the Chinese embassy in France, Detrez donated 618 historical photographs that had belonged to his grandfather, Roger Pierre Laurence, who lived in Shanghai in the 1930s.
\n
The collection of gelatin silver prints dating from the 1930s to 1950s will be added to the permanent collection of the Shanghai Songhu Memorial Hall for the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
\n
On Thursday morning, Detrez and his friends walked slowly and solemnly into the hall in Harbin, surrounded by a large number of artifacts, text documents and photographs that silently recounted the numerous crimes of Japanese Unit 731, the notorious germ and chemical warfare detachment of the Japanese army during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
\n
He felt the weight of the moment.
\n
"I was deeply shocked to see all these atrocities that were committed by alleged regular army troops, and even more shocked by the medical specialists involved — people who were supposed to use their skills to heal," Detrez said after the visit. "It's really a shame that they studied so much for the sake of committing crimes against humanity."
\n
Unit 731 was the earliest and largest Japanese special force dedicated mainly to researching and conducting biological warfare. It was staffed by many experts and was well-equipped.
\n
Consisting of a headquarters, four detachments and a health research institute, the unit was at the center of Japanese biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia. It victimized at least 3,000 people in human experiments. More than 300,000 people across China died from Japanese chemical and biological weapons during the war.
\n
The photo collection that Detrez donated through the Chinese embassy in France included images of daily life in Shanghai and many photos from the Battle of Songhu, also known as the Battle of Shanghai. They offer diverse perspectives on the battle, including evidence of atrocities committed by Japanese forces.
\n
"Compared with what the Chinese people lived and experienced, the donation is a small gesture," Detrez said. "It's only one tiny part of what we have to do now. We need to talk to the world. We need to advocate for peace."
\n
Detrez and his friends wrote the words "Peace and Justice" in Chinese, English and French on the electronic message board in the Harbin exhibition hall. "We will continue to try to be as brave as the Chinese people," Detrez said.
\n
Zhong Haosong, who accompanied Detrez, added: "We need to learn more, not just about the Battle of Shanghai, but also about the entire history of the Japanese invasion of China. The evidence of crimes committed by Unit 731 is an extremely important part of that history."
\n
This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Detrez expressed hope that he could attend the upcoming military parade scheduled for Sept 3 in Beijing to commemorate the victory.
Consumer complaints about problems related to concerts have surged in the first half of this year, with refund issues taking center stage, according to an analysis released on Wednesday by the China Consumers Association.
\n
As the offline concert market continues to heat up, complaints have increased significantly, with refund-related issues accounting for more than 90 percent of the total complaints received, the analysis said.
\n
Consumers reported that refund policies were often unreasonable. Some ticketing platforms enforced strict rules: some prohibited refunds even a month ahead of a concert, while others had strict "no refund" policies. In cases where refunds were approved, platforms sometimes charged excessively high processing fees.
\n
Organizers were also criticized for unilaterally canceling concerts without taking responsibility for breaching contracts.
\n
In one case cited in the analysis, a consumer surnamed Bi complained that a cultural media company in Beijing charged a 30 percent processing fee — 948 yuan ($132) — for a ticket refund.
\n
Bi said she and a friend had both tried to purchase tickets at the same time and accidentally ended up with duplicates. She applied for a refund within minutes of the purchase and before the tickets were assigned, but was still charged the hefty fee.
\n
She argued the charge was unreasonably high and did not follow the platform's tiered refund policy, especially considering the event was still 27 days away. Tiered refund policies generally reduce the fee when cancellations are made well in advance.
\n
Bi also said the platform failed to identify the duplicate purchase and lacked clear prompts during the buying process, pointing to a lack of transparency and an apparent shifting of responsibility onto the consumer. She demanded a full refund and called for improvements in refund policy and system functions to better protect consumer rights.
\n
In another case, a consumer surnamed Wang was denied a refund for presale electronic tickets. Although the concert was more than a month away and the tickets had not yet generated QR codes, both the platform and the organizer refused to issue a refund, citing a "no refund" policy. Wang called the practice an unfair contract term and requested a full refund.
\n
The China Consumers Association urged regulators to establish clear rules for refund management, require ticket platforms to display refund policies prominently at the point of purchase and set standards for tiered processing fees. It also called for a ban on unreasonable terms such as blanket "no refund" policies.
\n
The association said consumer satisfaction should be a priority. It advised concertgoers to read refund terms carefully and understand potential risks before buying tickets.
\n
In the first half of this year, consumer affairs departments nationwide accepted more than 995,000 complaints — a 27.23 percent increase compared with the same period in 2024. Over half the cases were resolved, resulting in the recovery of 452 million yuan in economic losses, the analysis said.
\n
After-sales service issues accounted for the largest share of complaints at 26.47 percent. Other common concerns included contract disputes, product quality, safety issues and false advertising.
China is intensifying its fight against red tape with a series of targeted measures aimed at freeing grassroots officials from unnecessary meetings and tedious reports.
\n
To curb formalism and bureaucracy, the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council have issued a regulation calling for the refinement of a long-term mechanism to reduce burdens at the primary level.
\n
The 21-article regulation, which was made public on Wednesday, sets specific requirements for streamlining workflows and improving efficiency, with the goal of allowing grassroots officials to devote more time and energy to practical work.
\n
Among its provisions, the regulation mandates strict control over the number of documents generated and meetings held, with content required to be concise and to the point. It also favors virtual meetings via teleconferencing or video link over in-person gatherings.
\n
In addition, the regulation stresses the need to efficiently use digital platforms and mobile applications in handling administrative affairs. It states that grassroots officials should not be unduly burdened with excessive data collection or redundant reporting requirements.
\n
Zhang Zhongjun, an official at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said in an article posted on the school's WeChat account that streamlining red tape through systematic measures enables grassroots workers to focus on real issues and better serve the public.
\n
"It's crucial to implement the regulation and optimize a long-term mechanism for reducing burdens at the grassroots level," Zhang said. "Measures such as streamlining documents and meetings, and effectively using government service apps also help free them from formality and bureaucratic routines."
\n
While building a system to reduce red tape, China is also urging departments to remain vigilant and has exposed cases of formalism and bureaucracy.
\n
In July, the Suihua city government in Heilongjiang province was called out for its burdensome assessment criteria and increased workload for grassroots officials.
\n
Investigators found that local public security departments had created a complex assessment system with numerous and sometimes unreasonable indicators. As a result, police officers were required to submit large volumes of materials — including photos, articles and screenshots from meetings — which made it difficult for them to focus on their core duties.
\n
Authorities have ordered the city to rectify the system and address the underlying bureaucratic and formalistic problems to improve the work conduct of local police.
\n
Other cities are also taking steps to reduce administrative burdens. In Chongqing, for example, grassroots workers are now able to spend more time engaging with residents and addressing their concerns in person, thanks to an intelligent system.
\n
The system consolidates data from various departments, standardizes it and updates it in real time. This enables seamless information sharing across different levels of government — from municipal agencies to districts and villages — and reduces the time grassroots workers spend on data collection and form-filling.
\n
caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "\n
China is intensifying its fight against red tape with a series of targeted measures aimed at freeing grassroots officials from unnecessary meetings and tedious reports.
\n
To curb formalism and bureaucracy, the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council have issued a regulation calling for the refinement of a long-term mechanism to reduce burdens at the primary level.
\n
The 21-article regulation, which was made public on Wednesday, sets specific requirements for streamlining workflows and improving efficiency, with the goal of allowing grassroots officials to devote more time and energy to practical work.
\n
Among its provisions, the regulation mandates strict control over the number of documents generated and meetings held, with content required to be concise and to the point. It also favors virtual meetings via teleconferencing or video link over in-person gatherings.
\n
In addition, the regulation stresses the need to efficiently use digital platforms and mobile applications in handling administrative affairs. It states that grassroots officials should not be unduly burdened with excessive data collection or redundant reporting requirements.
\n
Zhang Zhongjun, an official at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said in an article posted on the school's WeChat account that streamlining red tape through systematic measures enables grassroots workers to focus on real issues and better serve the public.
\n
"It's crucial to implement the regulation and optimize a long-term mechanism for reducing burdens at the grassroots level," Zhang said. "Measures such as streamlining documents and meetings, and effectively using government service apps also help free them from formality and bureaucratic routines."
\n
While building a system to reduce red tape, China is also urging departments to remain vigilant and has exposed cases of formalism and bureaucracy.
\n
In July, the Suihua city government in Heilongjiang province was called out for its burdensome assessment criteria and increased workload for grassroots officials.
\n
Investigators found that local public security departments had created a complex assessment system with numerous and sometimes unreasonable indicators. As a result, police officers were required to submit large volumes of materials — including photos, articles and screenshots from meetings — which made it difficult for them to focus on their core duties.
\n
Authorities have ordered the city to rectify the system and address the underlying bureaucratic and formalistic problems to improve the work conduct of local police.
\n
Other cities are also taking steps to reduce administrative burdens. In Chongqing, for example, grassroots workers are now able to spend more time engaging with residents and addressing their concerns in person, thanks to an intelligent system.
\n
The system consolidates data from various departments, standardizes it and updates it in real time. This enables seamless information sharing across different levels of government — from municipal agencies to districts and villages — and reduces the time grassroots workers spend on data collection and form-filling.
An audience watches a scientific knowledge promotion film at the dome theater inside the Hunan Science and Technology Museum in Changsha, Hunan province, on Wednesday. The cinema, which opened that day, features a dome screen with a diameter of 18 meters, making it the largest dome theater in Hunan. It aims to create a more immersive experience, fostering a deeper interest in science among the local community.
\n",
@@ -5258,28 +5571,6 @@
"hash": "87903fa3f07686bf4b2575febcb5c4e1",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "005CHINA - Major test brings lunar mission closer to reality",
- "description": "\n
A manned lunar lander is tested at the extraterrestrial landing test site in Huailai county, Hebei province.
\n
China has successfully completed a major test of its manned lunar lander, marking a significant breakthrough in its lunar exploration program, the China Manned Space Agency announced on Thursday.
\n
The comprehensive landing and takeoff test was conducted at the extraterrestrial landing test site in Huailai county, Hebei province, on Wednesday. It was the first time China tested the landing and ascent capabilities of a manned spacecraft designed to travel to extraterrestrial bodies.
\n
The successful trial represents a critical step in China's manned lunar exploration project, laying the technical foundation for future moon landings. The test involved complex working conditions, a long preparation cycle and great technical challenges, the CMSA said.
\n
In China's manned lunar mission, the lander — named Lanyue — is responsible for transporting astronauts and supplies between lunar orbit and the surface. It also supports astronauts' stay and activities on the moon. The vehicle has been designed with an emphasis on safety, comfort and smart technologies, officials said.
\n
Newly developed for China's first crewed moon mission, Lanyue consists of two parts: a landing cabin and a propulsion cabin. It can carry two astronauts and transport them between orbit and the lunar surface. The vehicle is also capable of carrying a lunar rover and scientific payloads, as well as serving as the astronauts' base for life support, energy supply and data processing during their stay on the moon.
\n
The integrated test verified key systems, including the lander's flight control strategies, landing shutdown mechanism, guidance-navigation-control systems and interface coordination between various subsystems.
\n
"Safety is always the top priority in manned spaceflight," Huang Zhen, a senior official at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, told China Central Television. "We've designed the lander with engine redundancy, meaning even if one engine fails, the crew can still be brought back safely to lunar orbit and ultimately home."
\n
The trial run included emergency condition simulations, designed to test whether astronauts could be safely returned to orbit in the event of an in-flight malfunction.
\n
"To ensure a smooth and comfortable landing on the lunar surface, we've imposed strict requirements on cushioning and descent performance," Huang said. "Each of the four landing legs provides critical shock absorption."
\n
In addition to carrying out transportation between orbit and the lunar surface, the lander also needs to support the astronauts' living conditions while orbiting the moon.
\n
"The lander shoulders a variety of missions, and the design challenges are immense," Huang noted. "Every gram of weight is carefully calculated and used to its maximum potential. The integrated structure looks robust, but in fact, some parts are no thicker than a soda can. We've pushed lightweight design and structural integration to the limit, achieving a highly sophisticated system with minimal launch weight."
\n
China aims to land its astronauts on the moon by around 2030, with the Lanyue lander playing a central role in the mission.
\n
The latest test underscores the nation's growing ambitions in deep space exploration and brings its manned lunar goals a step closer to reality.
\n",
- "content": "\n
A manned lunar lander is tested at the extraterrestrial landing test site in Huailai county, Hebei province.
\n
China has successfully completed a major test of its manned lunar lander, marking a significant breakthrough in its lunar exploration program, the China Manned Space Agency announced on Thursday.
\n
The comprehensive landing and takeoff test was conducted at the extraterrestrial landing test site in Huailai county, Hebei province, on Wednesday. It was the first time China tested the landing and ascent capabilities of a manned spacecraft designed to travel to extraterrestrial bodies.
\n
The successful trial represents a critical step in China's manned lunar exploration project, laying the technical foundation for future moon landings. The test involved complex working conditions, a long preparation cycle and great technical challenges, the CMSA said.
\n
In China's manned lunar mission, the lander — named Lanyue — is responsible for transporting astronauts and supplies between lunar orbit and the surface. It also supports astronauts' stay and activities on the moon. The vehicle has been designed with an emphasis on safety, comfort and smart technologies, officials said.
\n
Newly developed for China's first crewed moon mission, Lanyue consists of two parts: a landing cabin and a propulsion cabin. It can carry two astronauts and transport them between orbit and the lunar surface. The vehicle is also capable of carrying a lunar rover and scientific payloads, as well as serving as the astronauts' base for life support, energy supply and data processing during their stay on the moon.
\n
The integrated test verified key systems, including the lander's flight control strategies, landing shutdown mechanism, guidance-navigation-control systems and interface coordination between various subsystems.
\n
"Safety is always the top priority in manned spaceflight," Huang Zhen, a senior official at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, told China Central Television. "We've designed the lander with engine redundancy, meaning even if one engine fails, the crew can still be brought back safely to lunar orbit and ultimately home."
\n
The trial run included emergency condition simulations, designed to test whether astronauts could be safely returned to orbit in the event of an in-flight malfunction.
\n
"To ensure a smooth and comfortable landing on the lunar surface, we've imposed strict requirements on cushioning and descent performance," Huang said. "Each of the four landing legs provides critical shock absorption."
\n
In addition to carrying out transportation between orbit and the lunar surface, the lander also needs to support the astronauts' living conditions while orbiting the moon.
\n
"The lander shoulders a variety of missions, and the design challenges are immense," Huang noted. "Every gram of weight is carefully calculated and used to its maximum potential. The integrated structure looks robust, but in fact, some parts are no thicker than a soda can. We've pushed lightweight design and structural integration to the limit, achieving a highly sophisticated system with minimal launch weight."
\n
China aims to land its astronauts on the moon by around 2030, with the Lanyue lander playing a central role in the mission.
\n
The latest test underscores the nation's growing ambitions in deep space exploration and brings its manned lunar goals a step closer to reality.
The People's Liberation Army has, for the first time, recently published footage of its unmanned reconnaissance planes' hunt for foreign warships, highlighting collaboration between drone operators and intelligence officers.
\n
Video clips included in Gong Jian, or Forging Ahead, the Chinese military's latest documentary, showed a WZ-7 and a WZ-10 take off from an air base owned by a PLA Air Force drone brigade to undergo regular training.
\n
The WZ-7 and WZ-10 are high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles designed and built by the Aviation Industry Corp of China for the PLA's reconnaissance missions.
\n
Shortly after the drones took off, the clip showed the brigade troops receive a call from a higher authority ordering the unit to deploy its drones to search for a "hostile warship" in a designated area because a Chinese reconnaissance satellite was having trouble continuously tracking the vessel.
\n
Immediately upon receiving the order, the WZ-10 transmitted the data and images it collected back to the brigade's intelligence center for sorting and analysis by an automatic identification system, which soon informed officers there that an object photographed by the drone was likely to be the foreign ship.
\n
Intelligence officers then asked ground controllers to send the WZ-7 to comb the waters and crosscheck the target.
\n
After a detailed search, the robotic scout spotted two suspicious objects and obtained their geographical coordinates before sending the information back to ground control.
\n
After a short while, the drone received an order to conduct closer reconnaissance over the suspected targets, and it then collected specific data.
\n
As a result of real time information gathered and a highly intelligent target identification system, intelligence officers concluded that one object was the foreign warship they were ordered to locate and track, and they soon reported the ship to an interservice intelligence platform.
\n
In the last scene in this "drone hunt" portion of the video, a CJ-10A cruise missile launch vehicle opened the cover of one of its firing tubes, and a PLA Rocket Force operator can be heard saying that the "target's coordinates have been uploaded; missile is ready for launch".
\n
According to the documentary, the drone brigade has often flown its aircraft over the western Pacific Ocean to improve battlefield reconnaissance and intelligence analysis capabilities.
\n
It is not common for the PLA to publish scenes of actual operations by its drones, especially the highly sensitive WZ-7, which is probably the best reconnaissance drone the Chinese military has ever used.
\n
Previously called Xianglong, or Soaring Dragon, before it was commissioned into the military, the WZ-7 is an unusually shaped drone and is regarded as China's answer to the United States' Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk, a high-altitude, long-endurance craft with surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
\n
Featuring an innovative "joined tandem wing" design, the WZ-7's aerodynamic configuration is different from all other Chinese manned and unmanned planes. It has a main conventional swept wing joined with a smaller forward swept wing, which makes it look like a traditional Chinese kite.
\n
The drone is 14 meters long, 3.9 meters tall and has a long wingspan of 22.8 meters, according to designers.
\n
Equipped with infrared and optical imagers and advanced radar, the WZ-7 is tasked with providing imagery intelligence to the PLA for both strategic and tactical reconnaissance, AVIC has said, noting it is only the second unmanned aircraft in the world that is able to "freely fly across all airways used by passenger airliners".
\n
Fu Qianshao, a retired equipment researcher with the PLA Air Force, said WZ-7 is one of the largest unmanned reconnaissance drones in the world and can fly higher and faster than the US' RQ-4 Global Hawk.
\n
Wu Peixin, a defense industry observer, said that considering the WZ-10 is mainly responsible for electronic reconnaissance, it is an ideal partner to the WZ-7 because the pair can scan a large area and then conduct close-in photography and identification of suspected targets.
\n
"Publishing the scenes (of the drones' operations) means that such tasks have become regular in the military, and that we now have a powerful, reliable combination of strategic and tactical reconnaissance tools including satellites, drones and long-range radars. Our adversaries must think twice about trying to avoid our detection the next time they want to send ships to sneak into our waters and airspace," he said.
At 61, a retinitis pigmentosa patient surnamed Zhao has regained her independence after losing her vision, thanks to a groundbreaking gene therapy injection that, within months, restored her ability to cook, clean and take walks with ease.
\n
Before the treatment, the RP patient had severely limited sight due to her minimal perception of light and had to rely mainly on touch to navigate her surroundings.
\n
But a breakthrough by a team led by Luo Minmin, a professor at the Beijing-based Chinese Institute for Brain Research, has changed Zhao's life.
\n
In 2022, the team serendipitously discovered the remarkable potential of opsin 5, or cOpn5, a unique photosensitive protein derived from chickens. The protein exhibited exceptional sensitivity to visible light, especially within the blue-green spectrum.
\n
Capitalizing on this discovery, Luo's team developed an injectable solution using a recombinant adeno-associated virus as a vector to carry the gene encoding the light-sensitive protein.
\n
A single injection into the eye's vitreous cavity triggers the expression of the protein in retinal ganglion cells, restoring their light sensitivity and partially returning vision to patients.
\n
"Preclinical studies revealed that ganglion cells expressing this novel photosensitive protein could be effectively activated by natural light," said Weng Danwei, research and development director at GenAns Biotech, the company that transformed Luo's research into the gene therapy drug GA001.
\n
"This significantly reduces the need for assistive devices and lowers phototoxicity risks, providing a safer, more convenient treatment that helps patients reconnect with the world," Weng said.
\n
In collaboration with GenAns Biotech, Beijing Tiantan Hospital recruited 15 volunteer patients, including Zhao, who joined the trial in May 2024.
\n
The treatment is simple and straightforward. Doctors use a fine needle to inject the drug into the eye's vitreous cavity. The entire process takes less than half an hour, requiring no invasive surgery or implanted devices.
\n
According to Zhao, her ability to perceive light significantly improved within a month, allowing her to distinguish larger objects such as door frames and windows. By the second month, she could see smaller objects such as fruit within a meter. Between three to six months, she had regained enough vision to live independently.
\n
RP is a debilitating and hereditary condition that causes the gradual deterioration of retinal photoreceptor cells, leading to vision loss and, ultimately, blindness.
\n
Weng noted that the condition affects approximately 1 in 4,000 people, indicating a significant market demand for GA001.
\n
According to the China Association of Persons with Visual Disabilities, over 17 million people in China are visually impaired. As the population ages, the need for elderly care among blind individuals is becoming increasingly urgent.
\n
At the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference, GA001 was recognized as one of the 10 major scientific and technological achievements in 2024 and is expected to progress to Phase I/II clinical trials by the end of this year.
\n
Scientists have long sought ways to restore vision. In 2017, Luxturna, the world's first gene therapy for inherited retinal disease, marked a major milestone in ophthalmic treatment. Its use has been approved in the United States.
\n
However, Weng said that Luxturna only targets one of the over 80 known gene mutations that cause RP, covering a mere 1 percent to 6 percent of RP patients, and only those in the early stages.
\n
In contrast, GA001 stands out as a broad-spectrum therapy that is effective across various mutations and even for patients in late stages of the disease, she added.
\n",
- "content": "
At 61, a retinitis pigmentosa patient surnamed Zhao has regained her independence after losing her vision, thanks to a groundbreaking gene therapy injection that, within months, restored her ability to cook, clean and take walks with ease.
\n
Before the treatment, the RP patient had severely limited sight due to her minimal perception of light and had to rely mainly on touch to navigate her surroundings.
\n
But a breakthrough by a team led by Luo Minmin, a professor at the Beijing-based Chinese Institute for Brain Research, has changed Zhao's life.
\n
In 2022, the team serendipitously discovered the remarkable potential of opsin 5, or cOpn5, a unique photosensitive protein derived from chickens. The protein exhibited exceptional sensitivity to visible light, especially within the blue-green spectrum.
\n
Capitalizing on this discovery, Luo's team developed an injectable solution using a recombinant adeno-associated virus as a vector to carry the gene encoding the light-sensitive protein.
\n
A single injection into the eye's vitreous cavity triggers the expression of the protein in retinal ganglion cells, restoring their light sensitivity and partially returning vision to patients.
\n
"Preclinical studies revealed that ganglion cells expressing this novel photosensitive protein could be effectively activated by natural light," said Weng Danwei, research and development director at GenAns Biotech, the company that transformed Luo's research into the gene therapy drug GA001.
\n
"This significantly reduces the need for assistive devices and lowers phototoxicity risks, providing a safer, more convenient treatment that helps patients reconnect with the world," Weng said.
\n
In collaboration with GenAns Biotech, Beijing Tiantan Hospital recruited 15 volunteer patients, including Zhao, who joined the trial in May 2024.
\n
The treatment is simple and straightforward. Doctors use a fine needle to inject the drug into the eye's vitreous cavity. The entire process takes less than half an hour, requiring no invasive surgery or implanted devices.
\n
According to Zhao, her ability to perceive light significantly improved within a month, allowing her to distinguish larger objects such as door frames and windows. By the second month, she could see smaller objects such as fruit within a meter. Between three to six months, she had regained enough vision to live independently.
\n
RP is a debilitating and hereditary condition that causes the gradual deterioration of retinal photoreceptor cells, leading to vision loss and, ultimately, blindness.
\n
Weng noted that the condition affects approximately 1 in 4,000 people, indicating a significant market demand for GA001.
\n
According to the China Association of Persons with Visual Disabilities, over 17 million people in China are visually impaired. As the population ages, the need for elderly care among blind individuals is becoming increasingly urgent.
\n
At the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference, GA001 was recognized as one of the 10 major scientific and technological achievements in 2024 and is expected to progress to Phase I/II clinical trials by the end of this year.
\n
Scientists have long sought ways to restore vision. In 2017, Luxturna, the world's first gene therapy for inherited retinal disease, marked a major milestone in ophthalmic treatment. Its use has been approved in the United States.
\n
However, Weng said that Luxturna only targets one of the over 80 known gene mutations that cause RP, covering a mere 1 percent to 6 percent of RP patients, and only those in the early stages.
\n
In contrast, GA001 stands out as a broad-spectrum therapy that is effective across various mutations and even for patients in late stages of the disease, she added.
From left: A resident runs in front of a big screen during the opening ceremony of the 14th Beijing Olympic City Sports Culture Festival at the Juyongguan Great Wall scenic area on Aug 16, 2023. Runners compete in the running event, Chongli 168 Ultra Trail Race, in Chongli, Hebei province, on July 13, 2024. Runners participate in the Wuxi Marathon in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, on March 23.
\n
Athletes compete in the Women's Marathon event at the 14th National Games in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, on Sept 26, 2021.
\n
From left: A jogger passes cows while running on a mountain road in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, on June 27, 2024. A robot takes part in the Humanoid Robot Half-Marathon held in Beijing on April 19.
\n
A blind runner jogs with his guide at the Olympic Green in Beijing on Sept 22, 2022.
\n
Nearly 20,000 people participate in the Beijing Half-Marathon on April 20.
\n
The popularization of national fitness is an important sign of a country's modernization level. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party with Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to building a sports power, elevating national fitness to a national strategy, and promoting the deep integration of national fitness and national health.
\n
From the bustling Beijing Marathon, where thousands participate, to the spontaneous health runs organized in rural fields; from urban white-collar workers jogging through mountain trails to schoolchildren enjoying physical education classes. Through the lens, runners of different ages and professions sweat it out, challenging themselves on smart tracks and relishing the joy of movement.
\n
Guided by the "Healthy China 2030" and "The Year of Weight Management" campaigns, marathons have become the new calling card for showcasing urban images. The deep integration of technology and sports has made national fitness smarter and more scientific.
\n
The rise of the running economy is activating new consumption dynamics — sports app users surpassing 300 million and sports tourism driving rural industry revitalization — all highlighting the upgrade in industry vitality driven by the demands of the people.
\n
These dynamic images not only reflect people's pursuit of a healthy lifestyle but also serve as a vivid microcosm of China's modernization. Today marks China's 17th "National Fitness Day", while the country is striding with a vigorous pace, accelerating economic, technological, sports, and livelihood development in unison, and racing toward a healthier future.
\n
Contact the writers at weixiaohao@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -5346,28 +5615,6 @@
"hash": "a00be016cc5ec885ad2447a88a674828",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "007ADVERTORIAL - China Development Bank dedicated to green growth",
- "description": "
From left: A comprehensive management project at the Danjiangkou Reservoir financed by the China Development Bank. A rural ecological protection and sewage treatment project along the Fenghe River financed by the CDB.
\n
An eco-environment-oriented development project in Dongtou district, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, financed by the CDB.
\n\n
The Longyangxia Hydro-Solar Hybrid Power Station financed by the CDB.
\n
Creating an oasis in a desert, beautifying urban and rural environments, and protecting the ecology of waterways, the China Development Bank has been quietly greening China's industry and wider society by supporting decarbonization efforts.
\n
Directly overseen by China's State Council, the bank is dedicated to supporting the development of key industries and underdeveloped sectors, as well as the country's goal to peak carbon emissions before 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
\n
Embracing the national development philosophy of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets", the CDB offers stable, medium- and long-term financial support for green development, with a focus on green infrastructure, clean energy, ecological protection, and pollution prevention and control.
\n
These endeavors align with the "Beautiful China" initiative, which prioritizes ecological and environmental protection in the country's social and economic development pursuits.
\n
New path
\n
At the new energy logistics base of Caofeidian Port IoT Technology in Tangshan, Hebei province, North China, new energy heavy-duty trucks are lining up for battery charging and swapping. The Hebei branch of the CDB has financed Tangshan's heavy-duty truck battery-swapping project, issuing an inaugural loan of 88.05 million yuan ($12.27 million).
\n
The project will establish 90 battery-swapping stations and supporting facilities in Tangshan, meeting the needs of 20,000 electric vehicles, which will aid in pollution control and carbon emission reduction.
\n
A heavy-duty truck driver surnamed Liu, who has been in the trade for 15 years, transitioned from operating an internal combustion engine truck to driving a battery-swappable truck in 2022. His personal experience demonstrates the benefits of the change.
\n
"The fuel cost per kilometer was around 2.8 yuan. Now, driving an electric heavy-duty truck, the electricity cost per km is approximately 1.8 yuan, and the time that battery-swapping takes is similar to that of refueling. This way, I now earn tens of thousands of yuan more annually than before," said Liu.
\n
Despite the prospects, large-scale adoption faces certain challenges. Nationwide, the heavy-duty truck battery-swapping model is still in the exploratory phase. It faces problems like battery asset management complexities, high battery procurement costs, and non-interoperable swapping stations and batteries.
\n
To build a sustainable operational model, the Hebei branch of the CDB has conducted extensive research on multiple battery-swapping stations and assisted clients in establishing a "battery bank" operational model, according to Shi Guangyuan, an employee of the Hebei branch.
\n
A "battery bank" involves the operator of swapping stations setting up a subsidiary to manage battery assets. The subsidiary will be responsible for leasing batteries to downstream users, ensuring the compatibility of batteries and reducing project financing costs by converting battery purchases into rentals.
\n
An executive of Tangshan New Energy Group said: "The CDB's tailored financial services for us have provided practical solutions for project financing and market promotion. This has significantly alleviated the funding pressure during the initial phase of the project."
\n
Harnessing energy
\n
In the Gonghe Photovoltaic Industry Park in Talatan, Gonghe county, Hainan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Northwest China's Qinghai province, a herder drives his sheep through rows of neatly arranged photovoltaic panels. The soft, moist grassland is a stark contrast to the barren landscape it was a decade ago.
\n
Talatan, meaning Tala sand land, at nearly 3,000 meters above sea level, used to have a desertification rate of up to 98.5 percent. The photovoltaic panels reduce wind erosion on vegetation and the temperature of the land beneath them. Photovoltaic power generation also produces condensation, while the water from the regular cleaning of the panels infiltrates the desert below, irrigating the plants.
\n
However, the grass grew haphazardly, blocking the photovoltaic panels and reducing their effectiveness. In response, the park invited nearby herders to raise their sheep there. As a result, grass now carpets the area, with sheep grazing under the panels.
\n
Financed by the CDB's Qinghai branch, the Longyangxia Hydro-Solar Hybrid Power Station in the Gonghe Photovoltaic Industry Park stands as a testament to sustainable energy practices, cutting the use of standard coal by around 460,000 metric tons annually.
\n
Li Honglei, a client manager, said: "During the project's initial phase, the Qinghai branch conducted thorough investigations and had discussions with the client to explore business models and green channels, providing a total of 4.2 billion yuan in loans to ensure the project proceeded smoothly."
\n
This "solar-powered sheep" model, which enhances both ecological preservation and economic development, is being replicated across the country.
\n
On Southwest China's Western Sichuan Plateau, the Sichuan branch of the CDB financed the first phase of the Hongyuan Anqu Photovoltaic Power Project, which reduces carbon emissions by 400,000 tons annually. The project also boosts the incomes of local herders by enabling them to graze yaks beneath the panels.
\n
Combating pollution
\n
The Fenghe River is a main tributary of the Weihe River, which in turn is the largest tributary of the Yellow River. There was a time when the direct discharge of sewage along the Fenghe River compromised its ecological health. Another branch of the CDB, located in Northwest China's Shaanxi province, has issued loans totaling 270 million yuan to bolster local infrastructure, including the construction of six sewage treatment stations and approximately 246 km of sewage collection pipelines.
\n
The project, now over halfway complete, is designed to treat 2,500 cubic meters of domestic sewage daily, curbing pollution at its source while enhancing the efficiency of sewage collection and treatment.
\n
"We focus on resolving prominent water environment challenges in rural areas and enhancing sewage treatment capabilities of villages along the Fenghe River to lay a robust ecological foundation for high-quality economic development," said Yuan Lin, an executive from Xi'an High-Tech Zone Municipal Infrastructure Construction.
\n
"The Shaanxi branch of the CDB has provided the project with efficient, long-term financial support, ensuring its steady progression and aiding the restoration of the Fenghe River's natural beauty," Yuan noted.
\n
Dongtou district, located at the mouth of the Oujiang River on the southeast coast of East China's Zhejiang province, is known as the "maritime gateway" to southern Zhejiang. In recent years, the district has been carrying out an eco-environment-oriented development project. The project strengthens the foundation for industrial development through ecological management and restoration, and reinvests profits from local industries into ecological governance to promote common prosperity.
\n
The Zhejiang branch of the CDB has been efficiently processing credit approvals, contract signings and loan issuances. Currently, projects such as the ecological restoration of mines are progressing as planned. The coastal marine environment in Dongtou district also continues to improve.
\n
Furthermore, through the construction of marine farms and other infrastructure, traditional aquaculture practices have been upgraded, fostering the development of mechanized seaweed cultivation and tech-aided breeding of large yellow croakers, increasing the incomes of local residents.
\n
From the foothills of the Tianshan Mountains to the Jialing River's banks, and from the Loess Plateau to the southeastern coast, green finance has breathed new life into sustainable development in China.
\n
Moving forward, the CDB will continue to fulfill its mission by enhancing financial support for key areas of green, low-carbon and circular development, further enriching its green finance products and services. These efforts aim to provide robust financial backing for the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development and the "Beautiful China" initiative.
From left: A comprehensive management project at the Danjiangkou Reservoir financed by the China Development Bank. A rural ecological protection and sewage treatment project along the Fenghe River financed by the CDB.
\n
An eco-environment-oriented development project in Dongtou district, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, financed by the CDB.
\n\n
The Longyangxia Hydro-Solar Hybrid Power Station financed by the CDB.
\n
Creating an oasis in a desert, beautifying urban and rural environments, and protecting the ecology of waterways, the China Development Bank has been quietly greening China's industry and wider society by supporting decarbonization efforts.
\n
Directly overseen by China's State Council, the bank is dedicated to supporting the development of key industries and underdeveloped sectors, as well as the country's goal to peak carbon emissions before 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
\n
Embracing the national development philosophy of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets", the CDB offers stable, medium- and long-term financial support for green development, with a focus on green infrastructure, clean energy, ecological protection, and pollution prevention and control.
\n
These endeavors align with the "Beautiful China" initiative, which prioritizes ecological and environmental protection in the country's social and economic development pursuits.
\n
New path
\n
At the new energy logistics base of Caofeidian Port IoT Technology in Tangshan, Hebei province, North China, new energy heavy-duty trucks are lining up for battery charging and swapping. The Hebei branch of the CDB has financed Tangshan's heavy-duty truck battery-swapping project, issuing an inaugural loan of 88.05 million yuan ($12.27 million).
\n
The project will establish 90 battery-swapping stations and supporting facilities in Tangshan, meeting the needs of 20,000 electric vehicles, which will aid in pollution control and carbon emission reduction.
\n
A heavy-duty truck driver surnamed Liu, who has been in the trade for 15 years, transitioned from operating an internal combustion engine truck to driving a battery-swappable truck in 2022. His personal experience demonstrates the benefits of the change.
\n
"The fuel cost per kilometer was around 2.8 yuan. Now, driving an electric heavy-duty truck, the electricity cost per km is approximately 1.8 yuan, and the time that battery-swapping takes is similar to that of refueling. This way, I now earn tens of thousands of yuan more annually than before," said Liu.
\n
Despite the prospects, large-scale adoption faces certain challenges. Nationwide, the heavy-duty truck battery-swapping model is still in the exploratory phase. It faces problems like battery asset management complexities, high battery procurement costs, and non-interoperable swapping stations and batteries.
\n
To build a sustainable operational model, the Hebei branch of the CDB has conducted extensive research on multiple battery-swapping stations and assisted clients in establishing a "battery bank" operational model, according to Shi Guangyuan, an employee of the Hebei branch.
\n
A "battery bank" involves the operator of swapping stations setting up a subsidiary to manage battery assets. The subsidiary will be responsible for leasing batteries to downstream users, ensuring the compatibility of batteries and reducing project financing costs by converting battery purchases into rentals.
\n
An executive of Tangshan New Energy Group said: "The CDB's tailored financial services for us have provided practical solutions for project financing and market promotion. This has significantly alleviated the funding pressure during the initial phase of the project."
\n
Harnessing energy
\n
In the Gonghe Photovoltaic Industry Park in Talatan, Gonghe county, Hainan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Northwest China's Qinghai province, a herder drives his sheep through rows of neatly arranged photovoltaic panels. The soft, moist grassland is a stark contrast to the barren landscape it was a decade ago.
\n
Talatan, meaning Tala sand land, at nearly 3,000 meters above sea level, used to have a desertification rate of up to 98.5 percent. The photovoltaic panels reduce wind erosion on vegetation and the temperature of the land beneath them. Photovoltaic power generation also produces condensation, while the water from the regular cleaning of the panels infiltrates the desert below, irrigating the plants.
\n
However, the grass grew haphazardly, blocking the photovoltaic panels and reducing their effectiveness. In response, the park invited nearby herders to raise their sheep there. As a result, grass now carpets the area, with sheep grazing under the panels.
\n
Financed by the CDB's Qinghai branch, the Longyangxia Hydro-Solar Hybrid Power Station in the Gonghe Photovoltaic Industry Park stands as a testament to sustainable energy practices, cutting the use of standard coal by around 460,000 metric tons annually.
\n
Li Honglei, a client manager, said: "During the project's initial phase, the Qinghai branch conducted thorough investigations and had discussions with the client to explore business models and green channels, providing a total of 4.2 billion yuan in loans to ensure the project proceeded smoothly."
\n
This "solar-powered sheep" model, which enhances both ecological preservation and economic development, is being replicated across the country.
\n
On Southwest China's Western Sichuan Plateau, the Sichuan branch of the CDB financed the first phase of the Hongyuan Anqu Photovoltaic Power Project, which reduces carbon emissions by 400,000 tons annually. The project also boosts the incomes of local herders by enabling them to graze yaks beneath the panels.
\n
Combating pollution
\n
The Fenghe River is a main tributary of the Weihe River, which in turn is the largest tributary of the Yellow River. There was a time when the direct discharge of sewage along the Fenghe River compromised its ecological health. Another branch of the CDB, located in Northwest China's Shaanxi province, has issued loans totaling 270 million yuan to bolster local infrastructure, including the construction of six sewage treatment stations and approximately 246 km of sewage collection pipelines.
\n
The project, now over halfway complete, is designed to treat 2,500 cubic meters of domestic sewage daily, curbing pollution at its source while enhancing the efficiency of sewage collection and treatment.
\n
"We focus on resolving prominent water environment challenges in rural areas and enhancing sewage treatment capabilities of villages along the Fenghe River to lay a robust ecological foundation for high-quality economic development," said Yuan Lin, an executive from Xi'an High-Tech Zone Municipal Infrastructure Construction.
\n
"The Shaanxi branch of the CDB has provided the project with efficient, long-term financial support, ensuring its steady progression and aiding the restoration of the Fenghe River's natural beauty," Yuan noted.
\n
Dongtou district, located at the mouth of the Oujiang River on the southeast coast of East China's Zhejiang province, is known as the "maritime gateway" to southern Zhejiang. In recent years, the district has been carrying out an eco-environment-oriented development project. The project strengthens the foundation for industrial development through ecological management and restoration, and reinvests profits from local industries into ecological governance to promote common prosperity.
\n
The Zhejiang branch of the CDB has been efficiently processing credit approvals, contract signings and loan issuances. Currently, projects such as the ecological restoration of mines are progressing as planned. The coastal marine environment in Dongtou district also continues to improve.
\n
Furthermore, through the construction of marine farms and other infrastructure, traditional aquaculture practices have been upgraded, fostering the development of mechanized seaweed cultivation and tech-aided breeding of large yellow croakers, increasing the incomes of local residents.
\n
From the foothills of the Tianshan Mountains to the Jialing River's banks, and from the Loess Plateau to the southeastern coast, green finance has breathed new life into sustainable development in China.
\n
Moving forward, the CDB will continue to fulfill its mission by enhancing financial support for key areas of green, low-carbon and circular development, further enriching its green finance products and services. These efforts aim to provide robust financial backing for the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development and the "Beautiful China" initiative.
Confucius said: "Isn't it a pleasure to have friends come from afar?" That is certainly a sentiment the Chinese government agrees with. To boost inbound travel, the government has been continually easing and optimizing the visa policy to make it easier for foreigners to visit China.
\n
As a result, the number of countries covered by the country's visa-free transit policy has so far expanded to 55, the number of entry ports has increased to 60, and the length of transit stay in China has been extended to 240 hours. That has greatly facilitated foreign nationals' visits to the country, either for tourism or for doing business.
\n
The implementation of the visa-free policy has proved to be a game-changer for China's tourism industry, which saw 20.1 million foreign travelers enter the country visa-free last year, surging by 112.3 percent from the previous year, according to the National Immigration Administration. The momentum continued in the first quarter of this year, with the number of foreign visitors to China increasing by 33.4 percent year-on-year.
\n
As foreign visitors experience China's rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes and vibrant cities, they are also lured by the competitive prices, high-quality goods, and diverse shopping options available in the country, which make them indulge in shopping sprees for a wide range of items ranging from traditional Chinese clothing to high-tech products such as smart wearables and drones. "Be sure to bring an empty suitcase" has become the tongue-in-cheek travel advice on overseas social media platforms for those planning China trips.
\n
The rise of the tourist shopping trend has been facilitated by a slew of supportive policies the government has rolled out, most notably reform of the departure tax refund policy. The State Taxation Administration announced in April a shift from a refund-upon-departure model to a refund-upon-purchase model, enabling foreign visitors to instantly claim tax rebates at tax-free stores across the country.
\n
Moreover, the minimum purchase threshold for tax refunds has been reduced from 500 yuan ($69.6) to 200 yuan, and the cash refund cap doubled from 10,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan. All this underscores the government's resolve to facilitate inbound consumption and make shopping in China a memorable experience for foreigners.
\n
The "China shopping" boom has had a profound impact on domestic consumption, driving robust growth in retail sales and stimulating demand for a wide range of products and services. The increase in foreign spending has not only benefited retailers and businesses, but has also created a multiplier effect for the broader economy by creating more job opportunities and boosting investment in tourism-related industries. This has fueled economic growth in regions that rely on tourism and consumer spending.
\n
Since China's inbound consumption currently accounts for only 0.5 percent of its GDP, compared with 1 to 3 percent in other major countries, there is still significant potential for growth as far as foreign tourists' spending in China is concerned.
\n
Amid rising global economic uncertainty, China's continuous drive to attract foreign visitors, as well as businesses, reflects its determination to push ahead with high-standard opening-up. The country has become a magnet for global brands seeking to tap into its lucrative domestic market, as international retailers and luxury brands continue setting up flagship stores and boutique outlets in Chinese cities, capitalizing on the growing demand from consumers.
\n
By attracting foreign visitors, stimulating demand for goods and services, and fostering more business opportunities, China has leveraged its visa-free policy to drive prosperity and showcase its vibrant culture and dynamic economy to the world. It is also part of the government's efforts to boost spending and expand domestic demand.
\n
That the country's retail sales of consumer goods — a major indicator of consumption strength — increased by 4.6 percent year-on-year to reach 12.47 trillion yuan in the first quarter indicates the measures adopted so far are having the desired effect.
\n
As the country keeps opening its doors to visitors and business people from around the globe, the "China shopping" trend reflects the openness and resilience of an economy that continues to serve as a major engine of global growth.
\n",
@@ -5390,28 +5637,6 @@
"hash": "65f635deb86dedf027994e94fee8c258",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "008COMMENT - New tariff threat to ensure the chips fall to US",
- "description": "
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States will impose a tariff of about 100 percent on imports of semiconductors, but he offered a big exemption — it will not apply to companies that are manufacturing in the US or have committed to do so.
\n
Although he has not clarified the terms, the mixed performances of tech companies in the stock market following the announcement clearly indicate which of them the market thinks will benefit from the exemption — mainly the big players such as Nvidia, Apple, Intel, Samsung and TSMC all of whose share price saw a marked rise — and those that will not, such as Tokyo Electron and Renesas Electronics.
\n
The rates on semiconductors and other key tech goods have been subject to a US national security probe, the results of which are expected to be announced by mid-August. By choosing to jump the gun by making public the 100 percent tariff threat, the US administration is obviously intent on goading the tech companies that have not yet made a commitment to invest in the US into doing so.
\n
Grabbing the initiative in market expectation management has always been a key part of the US president's "art of the deal".
\n
Notably, the US president also warned that companies should not try to wrangle out of pledges to build US factories, exposing the coercive nature of the new tariff threat. "If, for some reason, you say you're building and you don't build, then we go back and we add it up, it accumulates, and we charge you at a later date, you have to pay, and that's a guarantee," Trump stressed.
\n
Last year, the US produced about 12 percent of semiconductor chips globally, down from 40 percent in 1990, according to the US Commerce Department. But that's because US companies have relocated their factories to economies with lower production costs. The major semiconductor exporters to the US include China's Taiwan island, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Ireland and Israel.
\n
Despite this, the US had a reported $11 billion trade surplus in semiconductors in 2024. If the profits US tech companies make from their localized productions for the US market in other economies are taken into account, the US actually benefits tremendously from the growing global manufacturing network its tech companies have built. It enables them to benefit from cheap labor price, low taxes, rich raw material reserves and closeness to the emerging markets.
\n
This process also helps lower the price of semiconductors, expands their application, and enables the companies to increase their input in R&D.Demand for computer chips has been climbing worldwide for years, with sales increasing 19.6 percent year-on-year for the year ended in June, thanks to the globalized manufacturing and R&D operations of the industry, according to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization.
\n
Compared with its predecessor's approach, which relied on subsidies and tax cuts that proved hard to apply for, the US administration's tariff threat has reaped some immediate effects. Some big-name companies have invested or have promised to invest tens of billion or even hundreds of billion dollars in the US. This has left the smaller companies scrambling to please the administration for a favorable rate with the best they can offer.
\n
But the problem is such compelled reshoring will push up the prices of not only chips but also those of electronics, autos, household appliances and other essential products dependent on the processors powering the digital age, as the Associated Press has noted.
\n
A key reason why the US leader emphasized the investment commitments must be realized is that he is well aware the higher production costs in the US mean some of the investment promises might not be delivered on, as the rising cost will necessarily eat into the narrow margins that smaller tech companies in the industry survive on.
\n
Such a US-centered, big company-favoring reshuffle of the semiconductor sector looks set to widen the tech gap between the US-led club and the rest of the world, as well as those between different groups of companies, enabling the former to better exploit the latter by taking advantage of their increasingly obvious technological dominance.
\n
That will make the whole business unsustainable in the long run. The tariff threat will spur companies, big and small, to reassess their global production and supply strategies and seek more resilient diversified layouts so as to better manage the uncertainty brought about by US policies.
\n",
- "content": "
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States will impose a tariff of about 100 percent on imports of semiconductors, but he offered a big exemption — it will not apply to companies that are manufacturing in the US or have committed to do so.
\n
Although he has not clarified the terms, the mixed performances of tech companies in the stock market following the announcement clearly indicate which of them the market thinks will benefit from the exemption — mainly the big players such as Nvidia, Apple, Intel, Samsung and TSMC all of whose share price saw a marked rise — and those that will not, such as Tokyo Electron and Renesas Electronics.
\n
The rates on semiconductors and other key tech goods have been subject to a US national security probe, the results of which are expected to be announced by mid-August. By choosing to jump the gun by making public the 100 percent tariff threat, the US administration is obviously intent on goading the tech companies that have not yet made a commitment to invest in the US into doing so.
\n
Grabbing the initiative in market expectation management has always been a key part of the US president's "art of the deal".
\n
Notably, the US president also warned that companies should not try to wrangle out of pledges to build US factories, exposing the coercive nature of the new tariff threat. "If, for some reason, you say you're building and you don't build, then we go back and we add it up, it accumulates, and we charge you at a later date, you have to pay, and that's a guarantee," Trump stressed.
\n
Last year, the US produced about 12 percent of semiconductor chips globally, down from 40 percent in 1990, according to the US Commerce Department. But that's because US companies have relocated their factories to economies with lower production costs. The major semiconductor exporters to the US include China's Taiwan island, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Ireland and Israel.
\n
Despite this, the US had a reported $11 billion trade surplus in semiconductors in 2024. If the profits US tech companies make from their localized productions for the US market in other economies are taken into account, the US actually benefits tremendously from the growing global manufacturing network its tech companies have built. It enables them to benefit from cheap labor price, low taxes, rich raw material reserves and closeness to the emerging markets.
\n
This process also helps lower the price of semiconductors, expands their application, and enables the companies to increase their input in R&D.Demand for computer chips has been climbing worldwide for years, with sales increasing 19.6 percent year-on-year for the year ended in June, thanks to the globalized manufacturing and R&D operations of the industry, according to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization.
\n
Compared with its predecessor's approach, which relied on subsidies and tax cuts that proved hard to apply for, the US administration's tariff threat has reaped some immediate effects. Some big-name companies have invested or have promised to invest tens of billion or even hundreds of billion dollars in the US. This has left the smaller companies scrambling to please the administration for a favorable rate with the best they can offer.
\n
But the problem is such compelled reshoring will push up the prices of not only chips but also those of electronics, autos, household appliances and other essential products dependent on the processors powering the digital age, as the Associated Press has noted.
\n
A key reason why the US leader emphasized the investment commitments must be realized is that he is well aware the higher production costs in the US mean some of the investment promises might not be delivered on, as the rising cost will necessarily eat into the narrow margins that smaller tech companies in the industry survive on.
\n
Such a US-centered, big company-favoring reshuffle of the semiconductor sector looks set to widen the tech gap between the US-led club and the rest of the world, as well as those between different groups of companies, enabling the former to better exploit the latter by taking advantage of their increasingly obvious technological dominance.
\n
That will make the whole business unsustainable in the long run. The tariff threat will spur companies, big and small, to reassess their global production and supply strategies and seek more resilient diversified layouts so as to better manage the uncertainty brought about by US policies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukrainian soldiers have noticed mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and some African countries joining the conflict on Russia's side in the Kharkiv region.
\n
When asked about this at a news conference on Wednesday, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said "China has issued multiple security alerts to ask Chinese nationals to stay away from areas of armed conflict, avoid any form of involvement in armed conflict, and in particular avoid participation in any party's military operations."
\n
He also reiterated that China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. The country remains committed to promoting talks for peace and the end to the fighting.
\n
When another ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, was asked a similar question four months ago, he gave a similar answer.
\n
Clearly, the Chinese side has exercised considerable restraint despite Kyiv's remarks not reflecting the responsible role China has been playing throughout the Ukraine crisis. China is neither the instigator of nor a party to the Ukrainian crisis, but a staunch supporter and active backer of a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
\n
It has initiated the "Friends of Peace" group with Brazil and other Global South countries at the United Nations, mobilizing greater efforts to secure a ceasefire and an ending of the conflict. China's objective and fair position has been widely recognized by the international community.
\n
Kyiv should realize that China is a party it cannot ignore if it wants peace. It should refrain from making irresponsible remarks.
\n
Notably, it was also at a regular news conference on July 28 — a day after Zelensky approved a new sanctions package, which included sanctions against 53 individuals and entities from China and other countries — that Guo urged the Ukrainian side to stop wrongly sanctioning Chinese entities, adding that China will firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.
\n
Ukraine is in a better position than its allies and partners, which slap sanctions on entities of different countries, citing their "support" for Russia, despite knowing that such sanctions, which have no legitimacy according to international law, cannot help put an end to the crisis. Rather they tend to expand the conflict and hit the global industry and supply chains, affecting even those of the country that imposed the sanctions.
\n
The reason why some Western countries resort to unilateral sanctions to resolve geopolitical tensions is because they have their own hidden agenda. Without directly involving themselves, they want to take advantage of the burning issues such as the Ukraine crisis to serve their own geopolitical games with other parties.
\n
The United States is trying to contain China by imposing multiple baseless sanctions on Chinese entities in the high-tech, financial and trade sectors citing the Ukraine crisis.
\n
In fact, the US even cited the Ukraine crisis to browbeat the European Union into making concessions in tariff talks, by threatening to stop military support, which is actually paid for primarily by the EU.
\n
Ridiculously, even the EU has followed suit in imposing unilateral sanctions on Chinese entities over the Ukraine crisis, overlooking which party is the actual beneficiary and enabler of the crisis, and which party is trying to bring peace to Europe.
\n
That's why China opposes unilateral sanctions, which have no basis in international law or the authorization of the United Nations Security Council, though the US, the EU and Ukraine continue to impose them.
\n
After dealing with the US for so long, especially after the US-Ukraine mineral resource deal was signed, the Zelensky government should see clearly which parties truly stand for peace, and which parties just seek to maximize their own gains by prolonging the conflict while vying for the credit for peace if it comes in the future.
\n
The White House said on Wednesday the US president could meet his Russian counterpart as early as next week to help broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It is hoped such a meeting is a step in that direction.
\n",
- "content": "
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukrainian soldiers have noticed mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and some African countries joining the conflict on Russia's side in the Kharkiv region.
\n
When asked about this at a news conference on Wednesday, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said "China has issued multiple security alerts to ask Chinese nationals to stay away from areas of armed conflict, avoid any form of involvement in armed conflict, and in particular avoid participation in any party's military operations."
\n
He also reiterated that China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. The country remains committed to promoting talks for peace and the end to the fighting.
\n
When another ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, was asked a similar question four months ago, he gave a similar answer.
\n
Clearly, the Chinese side has exercised considerable restraint despite Kyiv's remarks not reflecting the responsible role China has been playing throughout the Ukraine crisis. China is neither the instigator of nor a party to the Ukrainian crisis, but a staunch supporter and active backer of a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
\n
It has initiated the "Friends of Peace" group with Brazil and other Global South countries at the United Nations, mobilizing greater efforts to secure a ceasefire and an ending of the conflict. China's objective and fair position has been widely recognized by the international community.
\n
Kyiv should realize that China is a party it cannot ignore if it wants peace. It should refrain from making irresponsible remarks.
\n
Notably, it was also at a regular news conference on July 28 — a day after Zelensky approved a new sanctions package, which included sanctions against 53 individuals and entities from China and other countries — that Guo urged the Ukrainian side to stop wrongly sanctioning Chinese entities, adding that China will firmly safeguard the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies.
\n
Ukraine is in a better position than its allies and partners, which slap sanctions on entities of different countries, citing their "support" for Russia, despite knowing that such sanctions, which have no legitimacy according to international law, cannot help put an end to the crisis. Rather they tend to expand the conflict and hit the global industry and supply chains, affecting even those of the country that imposed the sanctions.
\n
The reason why some Western countries resort to unilateral sanctions to resolve geopolitical tensions is because they have their own hidden agenda. Without directly involving themselves, they want to take advantage of the burning issues such as the Ukraine crisis to serve their own geopolitical games with other parties.
\n
The United States is trying to contain China by imposing multiple baseless sanctions on Chinese entities in the high-tech, financial and trade sectors citing the Ukraine crisis.
\n
In fact, the US even cited the Ukraine crisis to browbeat the European Union into making concessions in tariff talks, by threatening to stop military support, which is actually paid for primarily by the EU.
\n
Ridiculously, even the EU has followed suit in imposing unilateral sanctions on Chinese entities over the Ukraine crisis, overlooking which party is the actual beneficiary and enabler of the crisis, and which party is trying to bring peace to Europe.
\n
That's why China opposes unilateral sanctions, which have no basis in international law or the authorization of the United Nations Security Council, though the US, the EU and Ukraine continue to impose them.
\n
After dealing with the US for so long, especially after the US-Ukraine mineral resource deal was signed, the Zelensky government should see clearly which parties truly stand for peace, and which parties just seek to maximize their own gains by prolonging the conflict while vying for the credit for peace if it comes in the future.
\n
The White House said on Wednesday the US president could meet his Russian counterpart as early as next week to help broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It is hoped such a meeting is a step in that direction.
Editor's Note: An honest understanding of World War II is essential to preserve peace today and shape a more stable future. In an article in People's Daily, Zhu Chengshan, a professor at Changzhou University and former curator of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, explores this idea through the lens of Dead to Rights, a movie about the Nanjing Massacre which has become a box office hit in China. Below are excerpts from the article. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\n
Major historical events have a penetrating power and influence that transcends their time. The film Dead to Rights is based on real events. Luo Jin, a 15-year-old apprentice working in a photo studio in Nanjing, after Japanese troops captured the city on Dec 13, 1937, was shocked to see images of Japanese troops killing, raping and brutalizing Chinese civilians when he developed a film handed in by a Japanese officer.
\n
Risking his life, he secretly made copies of the photographs and compiled some of them in an album to preserve the evidence of these crimes. The album later came into the hands of a young man in Nanjing, Wu Xuan, who guarded it at great personal risk. The album ultimately became key evidence in the war crimes trial of Hisao Tani, a Class-B war criminal. It proves that no matter how hard Japanese right-wing forces or historical nihilists try to distort it, the historical truth will not be denied.
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The Nanjing Massacre is a well-documented historical fact recognized by the international community.
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The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) was the longest and costliest national liberation struggle of the Chinese people against foreign invaders in modern history. During the war, over 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed or injured. Based on 1937 conversion rates, China also suffered over $100 billion in direct economic losses and more than $500 billion in indirect losses.
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Victory in the war belongs to the Chinese people as well as people around the world.
\n
This painful chapter of history is significant today because patriotic education remains an enduring theme. The massacre by the Japanese invaders was a shocking crime against humanity and a very dark page in human history. Written in blood and tears, it sent a powerful message: if a nation is weak, the right to life of its people cannot be guaranteed. This lesson must never be forgotten and the tragedies of the past must never be allowed to be repeated.
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A correct understanding of World War II history is the cornerstone for building peace in today's world and in the future. By opening up the main Eastern front in the global battlefield, Chinese soldiers and civilians made an immeasurable contribution to the victory in the war against fascism. Their prolonged and determined resistance forced the Japanese military into a strategically passive position, delaying and disrupting Japan's plans to attack, and ultimately shattering its strategy of joining forces with German and Italian fascists to dominate the world. Then US president Franklin D Roosevelt remarked that if China had fallen to Japan, numerous Japanese divisions would have been available to fight elsewhere.
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Today, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, with rising hegemonism, power politics and the resurgence of Cold War mentality. Now more than ever, China must confidently expound on its victory against the Japanese invaders and highlight the decisive role the Chinese people played in the global war against fascism.
As China commemorates 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 (World War II) this year, Dead to Rights, a film on the Nanjing Massacre released in July, has stirred emotions and called for reflection on Japan's atrocities before and during World War II and China's contributions to the victory in the war.
\n
Dead to Rights is a powerful reminder of the need to revisit Chinese people's wartime suffering and resistance, and realize that they remain underrepresented in global cinema, especially those centered on World War II.
\n
Movies are one of the most influential vehicles for shaping people's historical memory. Yet in foreign films, Chinese people's resistance against fascist forces has found little or no mention. While the Chinese people's war of resistance played a key role in achieving victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, that reality is often lost on the Western audience, and absent in the Western narrative, which focuses on the European battlefronts.
\n
The Chinese people's war of resistance began in 1931 with the Japanese invasion of Northeast China and continued through a brutal 14-year conflict, costing millions of lives. The fascist brutality in events such as the Nanjing Massacre, in which the Imperial Japanese Army slaughtered more than 300,000 Chinese people, rank among the gravest atrocities of the 20th century. And yet at international film awards, festivals, and even in public discourse, the Chinese people's wartime suffering and heroic resistance have remained marginalized, often overshadowed by Western-centric retelling of World War II.
\n
Why does this historical amnesia persist worldwide?
\n
One reason for that is the dominant Western narrative on World War II. The European theater, marked by Hitler's military aggression and the Holocaust, understandably occupies the central place in Western retellings. The West does acknowledge the Pacific War, but often presents it through the American lens. More often than not, it is centered on Pearl Harbor, the island-hopping campaign, and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Chinese people's 14-year valiant resistance is relegated to the sidelines, despite its significant role in tying down a sizable part of the Japanese army, which helped determine the broader outcome of the war.
\n
But the Western perception is not the only problem. Even Chinese films' portrayal of the war is far from consistent. As a result, the global audience, served by the Western narrative, is largely unaware of reality.
\n
During the early decades of the People's Republic of China, war films' focus was on strengthening the new republic and criticizing Kuomintang, rather than on offering a broader view on the Chinese people's war of resistance. Movies such as Tunnel Warfare and Railway Guerrilla focused on Chinese people's heroism but their canvas was rather small, often depicting the enemy as weak and cartoonish. While they served a purpose, shaping China's and Chinese people's identity, they lacked the nuance and complexity to resonate with the global audience.
\n
Some sincere attempts were made, after the launch of reform and opening-up, to broaden the scope of the war films. Productions such as The Battle of Taierzhuang did try to realistically portray war history, but such efforts were few and far between. More recent movies such as The Eight Hundred and documentaries like The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru signal a promising turn toward more sophisticated and realistic war narratives.
\n
However, for every serious war film there used to be many more dramas with absurd plots and historical inaccuracies. These dramas, in which actors performed feats like "tearing enemies in half with their bare hands", seriously damaged the credibility of the genre.
\n
Globally, these flaws are amplified, because Western audiences and critics, not familiar with China's wartime history, are unlikely to appreciate movies that lack historical depth and cinematic excellence. The result is a feedback loop: fewer high-quality films, lower global recognition, and continued global ignorance about China's wartime history.
\n
This matters, not just for historical justice but also for the preservation of collective memory. The history of Chinese people's resistance against Japanese militarism deserves global recognition. In particular, movies offer greater visibility and attract wider audiences, if done right.
\n
That's why movies such as Dead to Rights are vital. Together with the commemoration of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and World War II, such movies have the power to reclaim the narrative space. By telling emotionally resonant, historically sound, and artistically compelling stories, Chinese filmmakers can reshape global understanding of and narrative on the World Anti-Fascist War.
\n
China's wartime legacy isn't just its own; it's a shared legacy of humankind's struggle against fascism. It's time the world saw history in all its reality.
\n
The author is former dean at the School of Arts and Communication, Beijing Normal University, and the vice-president of the China Film Critics Association.
\n
The views don't necessarily present those of China Daily.
\n",
- "content": "\n\n
As China commemorates 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 (World War II) this year, Dead to Rights, a film on the Nanjing Massacre released in July, has stirred emotions and called for reflection on Japan's atrocities before and during World War II and China's contributions to the victory in the war.
\n
Dead to Rights is a powerful reminder of the need to revisit Chinese people's wartime suffering and resistance, and realize that they remain underrepresented in global cinema, especially those centered on World War II.
\n
Movies are one of the most influential vehicles for shaping people's historical memory. Yet in foreign films, Chinese people's resistance against fascist forces has found little or no mention. While the Chinese people's war of resistance played a key role in achieving victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, that reality is often lost on the Western audience, and absent in the Western narrative, which focuses on the European battlefronts.
\n
The Chinese people's war of resistance began in 1931 with the Japanese invasion of Northeast China and continued through a brutal 14-year conflict, costing millions of lives. The fascist brutality in events such as the Nanjing Massacre, in which the Imperial Japanese Army slaughtered more than 300,000 Chinese people, rank among the gravest atrocities of the 20th century. And yet at international film awards, festivals, and even in public discourse, the Chinese people's wartime suffering and heroic resistance have remained marginalized, often overshadowed by Western-centric retelling of World War II.
\n
Why does this historical amnesia persist worldwide?
\n
One reason for that is the dominant Western narrative on World War II. The European theater, marked by Hitler's military aggression and the Holocaust, understandably occupies the central place in Western retellings. The West does acknowledge the Pacific War, but often presents it through the American lens. More often than not, it is centered on Pearl Harbor, the island-hopping campaign, and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Chinese people's 14-year valiant resistance is relegated to the sidelines, despite its significant role in tying down a sizable part of the Japanese army, which helped determine the broader outcome of the war.
\n
But the Western perception is not the only problem. Even Chinese films' portrayal of the war is far from consistent. As a result, the global audience, served by the Western narrative, is largely unaware of reality.
\n
During the early decades of the People's Republic of China, war films' focus was on strengthening the new republic and criticizing Kuomintang, rather than on offering a broader view on the Chinese people's war of resistance. Movies such as Tunnel Warfare and Railway Guerrilla focused on Chinese people's heroism but their canvas was rather small, often depicting the enemy as weak and cartoonish. While they served a purpose, shaping China's and Chinese people's identity, they lacked the nuance and complexity to resonate with the global audience.
\n
Some sincere attempts were made, after the launch of reform and opening-up, to broaden the scope of the war films. Productions such as The Battle of Taierzhuang did try to realistically portray war history, but such efforts were few and far between. More recent movies such as The Eight Hundred and documentaries like The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru signal a promising turn toward more sophisticated and realistic war narratives.
\n
However, for every serious war film there used to be many more dramas with absurd plots and historical inaccuracies. These dramas, in which actors performed feats like "tearing enemies in half with their bare hands", seriously damaged the credibility of the genre.
\n
Globally, these flaws are amplified, because Western audiences and critics, not familiar with China's wartime history, are unlikely to appreciate movies that lack historical depth and cinematic excellence. The result is a feedback loop: fewer high-quality films, lower global recognition, and continued global ignorance about China's wartime history.
\n
This matters, not just for historical justice but also for the preservation of collective memory. The history of Chinese people's resistance against Japanese militarism deserves global recognition. In particular, movies offer greater visibility and attract wider audiences, if done right.
\n
That's why movies such as Dead to Rights are vital. Together with the commemoration of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and World War II, such movies have the power to reclaim the narrative space. By telling emotionally resonant, historically sound, and artistically compelling stories, Chinese filmmakers can reshape global understanding of and narrative on the World Anti-Fascist War.
\n
China's wartime legacy isn't just its own; it's a shared legacy of humankind's struggle against fascism. It's time the world saw history in all its reality.
\n
The author is former dean at the School of Arts and Communication, Beijing Normal University, and the vice-president of the China Film Critics Association.
\n
The views don't necessarily present those of China Daily.
To its faithful supporters, the US administration's 2025 tariff policy — a sweeping 15-35 percent duty on all imports with additional tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper — is a bold economic maneuver aimed at reviving US manufacturing. In reality, it's less policy and more pageantry. A theatrical drama steeped in nostalgia for a bygone industrial age. The Quixotic US administration is jousting at windmills, mistaking them as economic demons — growing trade deficits, other countries' manufacturing efficiency, and the erosion of the "American dream".
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Like Miguel de Cervantes' misguided hero, the US administration is tilting at illusions, clinging to the belief that tariffs can resurrect factories, restore jobs and bring back the "golden era" of US manufacturing. But this quest, weighed down by sentiment and devoid of strategy, will ruin, not revive, the US economy.
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Tariffs are often used as a defense, an economic shield. For developing countries desperate to protect nascent industries, they can help boost their economies, as China has demonstrated. But for developed countries reliant on global supply chains, tariffs are a blunt instrument, a regressive tax that eviscerates household budgets and disrupts trade.
\n
When the US unilaterally imposes 15-50 percent tariffs on imports, other countries don't foot the bill; US consumers do. According to the Yale Budget Lab, the US' 2025 tariffs will inflate consumer prices by 2.3 percent, hitting families with an average income of $3,800 in added costs per year, a crushing burden amid record defaults on credit cards, student loans, and mortgages.
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For low-income US nationals, the consequences could be catastrophic. Apparel prices have already surged by 17 percent (only 2 percent of US clothing is made domestically), food prices by 2.8 percent, squeezing decimated grocery budgets, and new car prices by 8.4 percent, adding $2,000-$15,000 to sticker prices, while those for imported repair parts rose by 10-35 percent.
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These aren't symbolic sacrifices; they're debilitating attacks on the US administration's voter base: rural voters, Rust Belt communities, and blue-collar workers who believed in its promises to control prices and build a "new golden age".
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The White House claims tariffs will "bring jobs back" but the math doesn't add up. US manufacturing isn't a faucet you can turn on whenever — it's a neglected ecosystem that would require almost $3 trillion and 20+ years to revive.
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For example, 41 percent tariffs might revive the textile sector, but US labor cost is five times that in China and almost 29 times that in Bangladesh. And consumers will have to pay 17 percent more for clothing with no net job gain. More importantly, reviving the industry would require millions of low-wage workers, which the US lacks. As for the US steel and aluminum sectors: 50 percent tariffs on imported steel and aluminum would protect 1,800 jobs but cost consumers $815,000 per job. Incidentally, the last aluminum plant was built in the US 40 years ago.
\n
Also, 25 percent tariffs on Mexican-made cars could boost automobile assembly in the US but raise input costs, crippling export competitiveness, while in the agriculture sector, subsidies could delay farm bankruptcies but shrink export markets, and the dearth of labor, as immigrants are hounded out of the US, will raise consumer prices. In electronics, reshoring $140 billion in computer imports would require at least $500 billion investment in semiconductor plants, which at best is a decade-long endeavor.
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On the other hand, the US' CHIPS and Science Act would spur fabrication plant construction, but delay the implementation and completion of projects.
\n
The US administration's claims remind us of reverse economic alchemy — turning gold into lead, with short-term gains (jobs, production) obscuring long-term losses from higher prices, inefficiency and retaliation. As the American Tax Foundation, an independent non-aligned tax policy institute, said, tariffs reallocate resources to less productive sectors, dragging down wages and GDP.
\n
The claim of factories being reborn collides with logistical realities. For instance, factory wages in the US are five times that in China, 6.6 times that in Russia, 19.2 times that in India and 68.7 times that in Bangladesh. And competing with other leading countries in automation would require the US to develop and install robots, a race China is already leading. Worse, Apple's 1,200 foreign suppliers cannot be repatriated even in a couple of decades, and thus the US cannot control the entire global supply chain.
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A genuine reindustrialization of the US would require more than $10 trillion in subsidies over 20 years and a labor force that is willing to accept lower wages amid growing automation, which the US is not in position to fulfill. This will give rise to more economic uncertainties that are already reducing private business investment, and increase the US' already growing debt pile.
\n
In its crusade, the US administration has forgotten that manufacturing jobs in the country peaked in 1979, and was sacrificed in exchange for strengthening the dollar and boosting Wall Street profits, and that tariffs don't shrink imports; they shift them, for example, from China to Vietnam. The result? Higher costs for Walmart shoppers, not Chinese consumers.
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The US administration is taking aim at the windmills — the global economic engines of trade and development — because it believes they are the evil giants posing a threat to the US. The US administration believes that it is "making America great again" by imposing tariffs on imports from its trade partners, but in reality, it is championing the wealthy at the expense of ordinary Americans.
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Don Quixote is charging at windmills believing he is saving America, without realizing that factories won't return to the US, and the economic windmills across the world will keep turning.
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
The World Games 2025 in Chengdu from Aug 7 to 17 has once again ignited the passion of sports fans. Sports have increasingly become an integral part of Chinese people's lives, with many engaging in regular fitness activities. While elite sports events like the Olympics and World Championships have always captivated the nation, a new trend is emerging where grassroots sports tournaments are taking center stage.
\n
This year, a series of local basketball and soccer leagues, such as a soccer city league in Jiangsu province and a basketball tournament in Zhejiang province, have attracted national attention and excitement. Prior to these, a village basketball league in Guizhou province went viral and became a national sensation in 2022.
\n
Instead of focusing on elite sports competitions, people are now turning toward grassroots initiatives that promote a sense of community and friendship, and generate lots of fun. This shift toward "happy sports" is reshaping the way the Chinese people perceive and experience sports, with an emphasis on accessibility for all.
\n
One of the key elements driving this trend is people's desire to be more personally involved in playing sports or organizing/watching sports competitions. Initiatives like village — and provincial-level sports tournaments give individuals the opportunity to not only watch games but also to take part in them as athletes. This hands-on approach to sports promotes physical activity and helps develop among people a sense of ownership and pride in their sporting achievements.
\n
I once watched a village basketball game in Guizhou's Taipan village, the birthplace of amateur basketball leagues. The atmosphere was lively, with mostly villagers watching the game for fun during a break in the plowing-sowing-harvesting season. There were no professional security personnel in or around the basketball court. Instead, during the breaks in the game, the spectators, including many children, lined up to try their hand at shooting. When the referee's whistle signaled the resumption of the game, everyone immediately returned to their seats, without disrupting the game.
\n
The scene was quite novel for someone like me, who has been covering elite sports for decades. But for the village crowd it was a common sight. Participating in sports in this manner has become a part of their daily life.
\n
Moreover, the rise of grassroots sports tournaments is promoting a culture of health and wellness in China. By encouraging regular physical activity and participation in sports at the community level, these initiatives are helping combat sedentary lifestyle and promoting people's healthy development. The focus on "sport for all" has prompted individuals of all ages and backgrounds to lead healthier, more physically active lifestyles, thereby contributing to the nation's health and fitness goals.
\n
In addition to the physical benefits, the growing popularity of grassroots sports is also fostering social cohesion within communities. By bringing people together through sports, these initiatives are creating platforms for interaction, friendship and mutual support. Whether on the basketball court or the soccer field, individuals are bonding over their shared love for sports, transcending social barriers and fostering a sense of togetherness and solidarity.
\n
The economic benefits brought about by local mass sports events are not to be underestimated. The first six rounds of the soccer city league in Jiangsu from May to July this year raised the province's service revenue to nearly 38 billion yuan ($5.3 billion) by boosting the tourism, transportation, dining and hotel sectors.
\n
What's more, the thriving mass sports events are getting more policy support. In 2024, the Communist Party of China Central Committee's No 1 Document emphasized the importance of upholding the leading role of farmers, promoting the healthy development of mass cultural and sports activities such as village basketball tournaments. It was the first time that such activities were included in the national policy for rural vitalization.
\n
In June 2024, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and eight other government departments jointly issued a guideline on promoting the high-quality development of tourism services by, among other things, encouraging activities such as square dancing, village talent shows, and village basketball tournaments in tourist spots.
\n
As such, more and more villages, cities and provinces are seeing an increase in amateur sports leagues. The era of "happy sports" and widespread sports participation is here to stay. Grassroots sports events reflect a broader societal shift toward active engagement and community building.
\n
By embracing this new paradigm, the Chinese people are not only redefining the way they perceive sports but also enriching their lives through physical activity, social interactions and a shared passion for sports. In this evolving landscape, the spirit of sportsmanship, friendship and joy is flourishing, inspiring a new generation of athletes and sports enthusiasts across the country.
\n",
- "content": "\n
The World Games 2025 in Chengdu from Aug 7 to 17 has once again ignited the passion of sports fans. Sports have increasingly become an integral part of Chinese people's lives, with many engaging in regular fitness activities. While elite sports events like the Olympics and World Championships have always captivated the nation, a new trend is emerging where grassroots sports tournaments are taking center stage.
\n
This year, a series of local basketball and soccer leagues, such as a soccer city league in Jiangsu province and a basketball tournament in Zhejiang province, have attracted national attention and excitement. Prior to these, a village basketball league in Guizhou province went viral and became a national sensation in 2022.
\n
Instead of focusing on elite sports competitions, people are now turning toward grassroots initiatives that promote a sense of community and friendship, and generate lots of fun. This shift toward "happy sports" is reshaping the way the Chinese people perceive and experience sports, with an emphasis on accessibility for all.
\n
One of the key elements driving this trend is people's desire to be more personally involved in playing sports or organizing/watching sports competitions. Initiatives like village — and provincial-level sports tournaments give individuals the opportunity to not only watch games but also to take part in them as athletes. This hands-on approach to sports promotes physical activity and helps develop among people a sense of ownership and pride in their sporting achievements.
\n
I once watched a village basketball game in Guizhou's Taipan village, the birthplace of amateur basketball leagues. The atmosphere was lively, with mostly villagers watching the game for fun during a break in the plowing-sowing-harvesting season. There were no professional security personnel in or around the basketball court. Instead, during the breaks in the game, the spectators, including many children, lined up to try their hand at shooting. When the referee's whistle signaled the resumption of the game, everyone immediately returned to their seats, without disrupting the game.
\n
The scene was quite novel for someone like me, who has been covering elite sports for decades. But for the village crowd it was a common sight. Participating in sports in this manner has become a part of their daily life.
\n
Moreover, the rise of grassroots sports tournaments is promoting a culture of health and wellness in China. By encouraging regular physical activity and participation in sports at the community level, these initiatives are helping combat sedentary lifestyle and promoting people's healthy development. The focus on "sport for all" has prompted individuals of all ages and backgrounds to lead healthier, more physically active lifestyles, thereby contributing to the nation's health and fitness goals.
\n
In addition to the physical benefits, the growing popularity of grassroots sports is also fostering social cohesion within communities. By bringing people together through sports, these initiatives are creating platforms for interaction, friendship and mutual support. Whether on the basketball court or the soccer field, individuals are bonding over their shared love for sports, transcending social barriers and fostering a sense of togetherness and solidarity.
\n
The economic benefits brought about by local mass sports events are not to be underestimated. The first six rounds of the soccer city league in Jiangsu from May to July this year raised the province's service revenue to nearly 38 billion yuan ($5.3 billion) by boosting the tourism, transportation, dining and hotel sectors.
\n
What's more, the thriving mass sports events are getting more policy support. In 2024, the Communist Party of China Central Committee's No 1 Document emphasized the importance of upholding the leading role of farmers, promoting the healthy development of mass cultural and sports activities such as village basketball tournaments. It was the first time that such activities were included in the national policy for rural vitalization.
\n
In June 2024, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and eight other government departments jointly issued a guideline on promoting the high-quality development of tourism services by, among other things, encouraging activities such as square dancing, village talent shows, and village basketball tournaments in tourist spots.
\n
As such, more and more villages, cities and provinces are seeing an increase in amateur sports leagues. The era of "happy sports" and widespread sports participation is here to stay. Grassroots sports events reflect a broader societal shift toward active engagement and community building.
\n
By embracing this new paradigm, the Chinese people are not only redefining the way they perceive sports but also enriching their lives through physical activity, social interactions and a shared passion for sports. In this evolving landscape, the spirit of sportsmanship, friendship and joy is flourishing, inspiring a new generation of athletes and sports enthusiasts across the country.
Economists in the United States are closely watching the health of the country's economy through a series of key gauges amid the global rollout of President Donald Trump's latest round of tariffs, a weak July jobs report and stubborn inflation.
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Trump promised to usher the US into a "golden age" once he got back into office for his second term, as he vowed to transform manufacturing, boost factory work, lower taxes and put tariffs on foreign trade partners.
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However, more than six months down the line, inflation remains high and more worryingly, growth has decelerated. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics' July jobs report, released on Aug 1, revealed that the economy only added 73,000 nonfarm jobs, much lower than what economists had anticipated, prompting scrutiny.
\n
The sour news led Trump to fire the agency's commissioner. On social media, he accused the report of being "manipulated for political purposes", adding, "The economy is booming."
\n
Joao F. Gomes, the Howard Butcher III professor of finance and senior vice-dean of research, centers, and academic initiatives at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, said the economy is decelerating after the growth experienced in late 2023 and 2024.
\n
"The slowdown might be driven by some nervousness about hiring and investing by businesses in response to the new administration's changing policies, the spillover from some DOGE-related budget cuts and a lack of workers due to an increase in immigration crackdowns," Gomes said.
\n
The Associated Press reported that US employers have shed 37,000 manufacturing jobs since April, when Trump launched the so-called reciprocal tariff policy.
\n
Data released by the US Census Bureau on Monday revealed that new orders for manufactured goods in June decreased by $30.9 billion, or 4.8 percent, to $611.7 billion, marking a decline in two out of the last three months. Meanwhile, net job hiring dropped to 14,000 in June and 19,000 in May.
\n
However, the White House remains optimistic and resolute about its successes, pointing to a US Bureau of Economic Analysis finding that GDP grew at an annualized 3 percent in the second quarter.
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'Sharp slowdown'
\n
Goldman Sachs has forecast that growth in the final two quarters will be just 1 percent, as consumers rein in spending. It also expected "a sharp slowdown in real income growth that reflects weaker job growth and higher tariff-driven inflation".
\n
Experts warned that globally, most trading partners are encountering tariffs on copper, steel and aluminum, a situation that is likely to have a negative effect on the economy in the long run.
\n
David A. Gantz, the Will Clayton fellow in trade and international economics of the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in Houston, said, "The increased tariffs on steel, aluminum, copper and automotive goods, and other goods imports from virtually all US trading partners, will have a… negative impact on the US economy."
\n
Ahead of Thursday, when most of the "reciprocal" tariff rates fully kicked in, the Trump administration had negotiated trade agreements with the European Union, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia and other countries that the White House has not disclosed.
\n
Economists have long cautioned that the burden of tariffs would initially affect US businesses, before eventually affecting consumers. The US economy could also see a fallout.
\n
Gomes said, "Tariffs will likely slow down the economy further and, perhaps most importantly, have encouraged the Federal Reserve to hold interest rates higher than (it) should or would otherwise do."
\n
Trump has repeatedly urged Fed Chair Jerome Powell to cut benchmark interest rates, but Powell has adopted a wait-and-see attitude to assess how the economy responds to tariffs.
\n
On Tuesday, Trump said he would decide on a nominee to fill a coming vacancy on the Fed's Board of Governors by the end of the week, and had separately narrowed the possible replacements for Powell to a short list of four, Reuters reported.
\n
Trump believes that lower rates will make mortgages more affordable and increase homebuying, which is another important economic indicator. However, there are fewer homebuyers around, higher prices and high mortgage rates, the National Association of Realtors said.
\n
Thomas Fullerton, a professor of economics and finance at the University of Texas at El Paso, said, "High tariffs are needlessly raising the costs of raw and intermediate inputs that contain steel, aluminum, copper and lumber, raising the cost of residential construction precisely at a juncture when housing shortages exist in many regions."
Travelers wait for their delayed luggage after United Airlines grounded flights because of a tech outage at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, US state of New Jersey, on Wednesday. More than 1,000 United Airlines flights were delayed because of a technology problem. The airline resumed operations late on Wednesday.
\n",
- "content": "
Travelers wait for their delayed luggage after United Airlines grounded flights because of a tech outage at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, US state of New Jersey, on Wednesday. More than 1,000 United Airlines flights were delayed because of a technology problem. The airline resumed operations late on Wednesday.
Myanmar's acting President U Myint Swe died on Thursday at the age of 74, the National Defense and Security Council said. His funeral will be held at the state level, but the date has not been disclosed, the council said. Earlier this week, the council said U Myint Swe had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and other related neurological conditions. Since July 24, he had been receiving intensive care at No 2 Defence Services General Hospital in the capital, Nay Pyi Daw, it said. The acting president had been on medical leave since July last year, and transferred duties to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing since then.
\n
MALAYSIA
\n
Thailand-Cambodia peace pact extended
\n
Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Thursday to extend a ceasefire deal that followed five days of deadly hostilities along their border last month. The deal dictated a ceasefire, followed by a meeting of rival regional commanders, before defense officials held three days of talks in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur that concluded with a joint statement on Thursday. "Both sides agree to a ceasefire involving all types of weapons, including attacks on civilians and civilian objects and military objectives of either side, in all cases and all areas," the statement said. "This agreement must not be violated under any circumstances."
\n
POLAND
\n
Karol Nawrocki sworn in as president
\n
Karol Nawrocki was sworn in as president of the Republic of Poland on Wednesday after delivering his inaugural address, formally beginning his five-year term. In the address, Nawrocki announced that his administration would focus on a program of balanced and sustainable development for Poland, known as Plan 21. He pledged to make Poland a country of transformative projects, including advancing the Central Communication Port, which involves building a new international airport, as well as the development of national highways and ports.
Representatives from organizations recognized as exemplary pilot scientific and technological innovation areas for international talent receive the awards at the 26th Annual Conference of the National Network of Overseas Students' Pioneer Parks.
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A view of the Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province.
\n
The Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park was recognized as an exemplary pilot scientific and technological innovation area for international talent at the recently concluded 26th Annual Conference of the National Network of Overseas Students' Pioneer Parks, adding another prestigious national-level accolade to its list of achievements.
\n
The park plans to offer an incubation space of more than 1.2 million square meters, focusing on emerging industries such as semiconductors, biomedicine, new materials and new energy. It will cater to the needs of its occupants by establishing dedicated zones for business incubation, acceleration, industry support and daily life services, creating a comprehensive service system for overseas Chinese, returned Chinese students and foreign entrepreneurs.
\n
During the conference, an international scientific and technological innovation talent collaboration network was also established. This initiative was jointly launched by the China Overseas Scholars Pioneer Park Alliance along with over 20 other organizations, including the Xiamen Torch Development Zone for High Technology Industries in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province. The network aims to foster an innovation ecosystem by facilitating policy dialogues, hosting events, and sharing information and experiences.
\n
High-caliber global talent is one of the key forces driving high-quality development and Chinese modernization. The Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park has, over nearly three decades, evolved into a major platform for attracting international talent and integrating with the global innovation network. In the 2024 report on the competitiveness of China's incubators for overseas-educated Chinese, the park ranked first in regional contribution for the third consecutive year, second in attracting international talent, and fourth in overall competitiveness.
\n
Becoming a model
\n
The Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park provides fertile ground for talent growth. It has established a BRICS talent base and developed various platforms such as professional incubators and human resources industrial parks, forming an "incubation-conversion-commercialization" system that supports enterprises at every stage of their life cycle. Furthermore, the park leverages events like overseas entrepreneurship competitions to attract outstanding individuals.
\n
The quality of the business environment is best judged by the companies operating within it. In 2022, Wang Jiafu, an expert in polymer materials, chose to base his company at the Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park. "This place not only has complete physical infrastructure like public technical service platforms and entrepreneurship stations, but the staff is also very aware of the needs of 'returnee' entrepreneurs, providing practical and efficient services," Wang said.
\n
Having over two decades of overseas work experience, Wang joined a high-tech startup in the park upon his return to China in 2014. "I noticed immediately back then that the park had a vibrant atmosphere full of overseas returnees keen to innovate and start new ventures," he said.
\n
Wang's company, Xiamen Wangwang Technology, focuses on addressing car window fogging by applying a self-developed film material to glass surfaces for a lasting anti-fog effect. Unlike traditional in-car defogging devices, this technology significantly reduces vehicle energy consumption, promoting eco-friendly travel. Wang fondly recalled how the park's staff proactively assisted with policy consultation and finding suitable locations during his company's early days.
\n
For years, the Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park has been a magnet for talent from diverse international backgrounds. To date, the park has attracted more than 1,000 entrepreneurs and incubated nearly 800 companies, including six listed ones.
\n
"Our anti-fogging material is currently in the validation stage," Wang explained. "The next step is to solidify partnerships with car manufacturers and gradually extend to the aftermarket," he said. Looking to the future, Wang is brimming with confidence.
\n
Future plans
\n
A representative of the Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park said, "We will enhance both our soft and hard infrastructure, attract more high-end international talent to innovate and start businesses here, and convert technological achievements into tangible productivity."
\n
Specifically, the park will implement global talent attraction initiatives, including international entrepreneurship competitions, Xiamen tours for students from prestigious overseas universities and the Xiamen University Torch Entrepreneurship Camp, casting a wide net to invite top talent from around the world.
\n
Meanwhile, the park will set up talent liaison offices in BRICS countries and those involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, and cooperate with universities to facilitate exchange and cooperation through salons and roadshows.
\n
The park will also experiment with a "talent enclave" model, which supports offshore research and operations, and encourages international talent to register their businesses in the park while operating globally.
\n
To address financing concerns, the park will utilize self-managed and co-invested funds to create a fund pool of no less than 3 billion yuan ($418 million) to support businesses' financing needs throughout their life cycle.
\n
The park will also push the application of research findings through creating a technology transfer center. The center will provide technology services for vaccine development, medical devices, new materials and other areas to support the utilization of international talent's innovations in Xiamen.
\n
Moreover, the park will offer courses on cross-border commerce to its resident businesses, covering subjects like intellectual property protection and cross-cultural business negotiations, tailored to meet the needs of entrepreneurs.
\n
In the meantime, the park will support its tenants in professional skill evaluation, housing, healthcare, children's education and spouse employment. It will also establish an international community, which will organize events like company open days to enhance communication among the international entrepreneurs.
\n
huyuyan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Representatives from organizations recognized as exemplary pilot scientific and technological innovation areas for international talent receive the awards at the 26th Annual Conference of the National Network of Overseas Students' Pioneer Parks.
\n
A view of the Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province.
\n
The Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park was recognized as an exemplary pilot scientific and technological innovation area for international talent at the recently concluded 26th Annual Conference of the National Network of Overseas Students' Pioneer Parks, adding another prestigious national-level accolade to its list of achievements.
\n
The park plans to offer an incubation space of more than 1.2 million square meters, focusing on emerging industries such as semiconductors, biomedicine, new materials and new energy. It will cater to the needs of its occupants by establishing dedicated zones for business incubation, acceleration, industry support and daily life services, creating a comprehensive service system for overseas Chinese, returned Chinese students and foreign entrepreneurs.
\n
During the conference, an international scientific and technological innovation talent collaboration network was also established. This initiative was jointly launched by the China Overseas Scholars Pioneer Park Alliance along with over 20 other organizations, including the Xiamen Torch Development Zone for High Technology Industries in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province. The network aims to foster an innovation ecosystem by facilitating policy dialogues, hosting events, and sharing information and experiences.
\n
High-caliber global talent is one of the key forces driving high-quality development and Chinese modernization. The Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park has, over nearly three decades, evolved into a major platform for attracting international talent and integrating with the global innovation network. In the 2024 report on the competitiveness of China's incubators for overseas-educated Chinese, the park ranked first in regional contribution for the third consecutive year, second in attracting international talent, and fourth in overall competitiveness.
\n
Becoming a model
\n
The Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park provides fertile ground for talent growth. It has established a BRICS talent base and developed various platforms such as professional incubators and human resources industrial parks, forming an "incubation-conversion-commercialization" system that supports enterprises at every stage of their life cycle. Furthermore, the park leverages events like overseas entrepreneurship competitions to attract outstanding individuals.
\n
The quality of the business environment is best judged by the companies operating within it. In 2022, Wang Jiafu, an expert in polymer materials, chose to base his company at the Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park. "This place not only has complete physical infrastructure like public technical service platforms and entrepreneurship stations, but the staff is also very aware of the needs of 'returnee' entrepreneurs, providing practical and efficient services," Wang said.
\n
Having over two decades of overseas work experience, Wang joined a high-tech startup in the park upon his return to China in 2014. "I noticed immediately back then that the park had a vibrant atmosphere full of overseas returnees keen to innovate and start new ventures," he said.
\n
Wang's company, Xiamen Wangwang Technology, focuses on addressing car window fogging by applying a self-developed film material to glass surfaces for a lasting anti-fog effect. Unlike traditional in-car defogging devices, this technology significantly reduces vehicle energy consumption, promoting eco-friendly travel. Wang fondly recalled how the park's staff proactively assisted with policy consultation and finding suitable locations during his company's early days.
\n
For years, the Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park has been a magnet for talent from diverse international backgrounds. To date, the park has attracted more than 1,000 entrepreneurs and incubated nearly 800 companies, including six listed ones.
\n
"Our anti-fogging material is currently in the validation stage," Wang explained. "The next step is to solidify partnerships with car manufacturers and gradually extend to the aftermarket," he said. Looking to the future, Wang is brimming with confidence.
\n
Future plans
\n
A representative of the Xiamen Overseas Talent Pioneer Park said, "We will enhance both our soft and hard infrastructure, attract more high-end international talent to innovate and start businesses here, and convert technological achievements into tangible productivity."
\n
Specifically, the park will implement global talent attraction initiatives, including international entrepreneurship competitions, Xiamen tours for students from prestigious overseas universities and the Xiamen University Torch Entrepreneurship Camp, casting a wide net to invite top talent from around the world.
\n
Meanwhile, the park will set up talent liaison offices in BRICS countries and those involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, and cooperate with universities to facilitate exchange and cooperation through salons and roadshows.
\n
The park will also experiment with a "talent enclave" model, which supports offshore research and operations, and encourages international talent to register their businesses in the park while operating globally.
\n
To address financing concerns, the park will utilize self-managed and co-invested funds to create a fund pool of no less than 3 billion yuan ($418 million) to support businesses' financing needs throughout their life cycle.
\n
The park will also push the application of research findings through creating a technology transfer center. The center will provide technology services for vaccine development, medical devices, new materials and other areas to support the utilization of international talent's innovations in Xiamen.
\n
Moreover, the park will offer courses on cross-border commerce to its resident businesses, covering subjects like intellectual property protection and cross-cultural business negotiations, tailored to meet the needs of entrepreneurs.
\n
In the meantime, the park will support its tenants in professional skill evaluation, housing, healthcare, children's education and spouse employment. It will also establish an international community, which will organize events like company open days to enhance communication among the international entrepreneurs.
Customers check out at Pioneer Cash and Carry in Little India on Aug 1, in Artesia, California. Little India in Artesia serves as a cultural and economic hub for the Indian-American community in Southern California. Recent changes in US import tariffs have raised costs for many local businesses that rely on goods imported from India.
\n
Rejecting the US administration's additional 25 percent tariff levy on Indian goods as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable", India vowed to protect its national interests on Thursday despite gloomy prospects for some sectors.
\n
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a conference in New Delhi on Thursday, was cited by Press Trust of India as saying: "India will never compromise on the interests of its farmers, dairy farmers and fishermen."
\n
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order to impose an additional 25 percent trade tariff on India. The addition takes the total levy to 50 percent, one of the highest among all trade partners. The additional tariffs would be effective 21 days after announcement.
\n
Apart from accusing India of buying Russian crude oil, the United States has demanded greater access to India's agricultural and dairy market in trade talks, according to PTI. Modi declared he was prepared to bear a significant personal cost if necessary.
\n
India's External Affairs Ministry on Wednesday called the US administration's additional levy on Indian goods "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable".
\n
"It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest," said an official statement from the ministry.
\n
"India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests," it said.
\n
After showing a lot of restraint, India had issued a rebuttal citing examples of the US and European trade with Russia, showcasing how Trump's tirades against India are unreasonable and unjustified, Swaran Singh, a professor of international relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University, told China Daily.
\n
'Unfair deal'
\n
Congress Party leader Rahul Gandhi called the additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods an "economic blackmail". "Trump's 50 percent tariff is economic blackmail — an attempt to bully India into an unfair trade deal," Gandhi said on X.
\n
Another Indian lawmaker Shashi Tharoor said the move could severely impact India's exports to the US market. India must now urgently and seriously diversify "to other countries and other markets that may be interested in what we have to offer", he said.
\n
"We now have an FTA with the UK," he said: "We are talking to the EU. There are many countries in which hopefully we would be able to, but in the short term, it is definitely a blow," he added.
\n
Indian economist Lekha Chakraborty said India will now "follow 'gravity models of trade', by gravitating its trade away from big partners to 'near shoring' or 'friend shoring'".
\n
Protecting energy security is a priority for India and India will play ahead, projecting her "national interests", said Chakraborty, a professor of the New Delhi-based National Institute of Public Finance and Policy. "The adverse impacts on trade will be short-term."
\n
Expressing deep concern over the potential negative impact, the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry called it a major blow to the industry and sought the government's help in overcoming the current situation.
\n
"We request immediate government intervention to offset this huge setback. Exporters have their backs against the wall and will have to sell below cost to keep their factories running and avoid mass layoffs," Sudhir Sekhri, chairman of Apparel Export Promotion Council, said.
\n
Abhirup Sarkar, a professor of economics at Kolkata-based Indian Statistical Institute, said with the US being the largest export partner, Trump's announcement would not only hit Indian exporters, but also impact US citizens. "Because they have to cough up extra cost for Indian goods as a result of these abnormally high tariffs," he said.
\n
"Given that Trump is always unpredictable, anything can happen in the next three weeks. You never know," he said. "However, I think it is high time India looked for new export partners."
\n
Contact the writers at vivienxu@chinadailyapac.com.
\n",
@@ -5654,28 +5769,6 @@
"hash": "b9c85ddf09d75c7cc96e02862683449a",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "011WORLD - Putin-Trump meeting set for next week",
- "description": "
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are poised to hold a high-stakes bilateral meeting as early as next week, with the location already mutually agreed upon, White House and Kremlin officials confirmed on Wednesday.
\n
The breakthrough follows a three-hour Moscow meeting between Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, which Trump hailed as "highly productive" and marked by "great progress" toward ending Ukraine conflict.
\n
According to Russia Today, the Kremlin confirmed that a specific venue has been secured for the Trump-Putin meeting. CNN reported that two senior White House officials stated that Trump agreed to the summit after Witkoff relayed Putin's invitation during a post-mission briefing.
\n
Putin said on Thursday that the United Arab Emirates is a possible site for the meeting.
\n
Trump conditioned his participation on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's inclusion in subsequent talks, potentially setting the stage for an unprecedented trilateral summit. Putin said that he was not "on the whole" against meeting Zelensky, adding that "certain conditions should be created "for such a meeting.
\n
RT reported that Putin and Witkoff's extended talks on Wednesday focused on exchanging "signals "regarding Ukraine and broader US-Russia strategic relations, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. Within hours, Trump announced on Truth Social that the discussions had achieved "great progress" and that European allies universally endorsed ending the conflict. Notably, Zelensky acknowledged after a call with Trump, "It seems Russia is now more inclined to a ceasefire. The pressure on them works."
\n
Despite the diplomatic optimism, the White House reiterated that secondary sanctions targeting Russian oil buyers will proceed on Friday, as previously threatened.
\n
In a parallel move, Trump escalated pressure by imposing a 25 percent tariff hike on Indian goods, raising total duties to 50 percent, citing India's continued import of Russian energy. Additional measures against Moscow's "shadow oil tanker fleet "are also under consideration.
\n
The potential summit would represent the first face-to-face meeting between a sitting US president and Putin since June 2021. Its timing is strategically critical. Trump faces domestic pressure to fulfill his campaign pledge to end Ukraine conflict, while Putin navigates between battlefield gains and escalating economic constraints. European leaders, briefed by Trump on Wednesday, expressed tacit support but are excluded from the proposed talks, a signal of Washington's unilateral diplomatic push, analysts said.
\n
liuhongjie@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are poised to hold a high-stakes bilateral meeting as early as next week, with the location already mutually agreed upon, White House and Kremlin officials confirmed on Wednesday.
\n
The breakthrough follows a three-hour Moscow meeting between Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, which Trump hailed as "highly productive" and marked by "great progress" toward ending Ukraine conflict.
\n
According to Russia Today, the Kremlin confirmed that a specific venue has been secured for the Trump-Putin meeting. CNN reported that two senior White House officials stated that Trump agreed to the summit after Witkoff relayed Putin's invitation during a post-mission briefing.
\n
Putin said on Thursday that the United Arab Emirates is a possible site for the meeting.
\n
Trump conditioned his participation on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's inclusion in subsequent talks, potentially setting the stage for an unprecedented trilateral summit. Putin said that he was not "on the whole" against meeting Zelensky, adding that "certain conditions should be created "for such a meeting.
\n
RT reported that Putin and Witkoff's extended talks on Wednesday focused on exchanging "signals "regarding Ukraine and broader US-Russia strategic relations, according to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov. Within hours, Trump announced on Truth Social that the discussions had achieved "great progress" and that European allies universally endorsed ending the conflict. Notably, Zelensky acknowledged after a call with Trump, "It seems Russia is now more inclined to a ceasefire. The pressure on them works."
\n
Despite the diplomatic optimism, the White House reiterated that secondary sanctions targeting Russian oil buyers will proceed on Friday, as previously threatened.
\n
In a parallel move, Trump escalated pressure by imposing a 25 percent tariff hike on Indian goods, raising total duties to 50 percent, citing India's continued import of Russian energy. Additional measures against Moscow's "shadow oil tanker fleet "are also under consideration.
\n
The potential summit would represent the first face-to-face meeting between a sitting US president and Putin since June 2021. Its timing is strategically critical. Trump faces domestic pressure to fulfill his campaign pledge to end Ukraine conflict, while Putin navigates between battlefield gains and escalating economic constraints. European leaders, briefed by Trump on Wednesday, expressed tacit support but are excluded from the proposed talks, a signal of Washington's unilateral diplomatic push, analysts said.
In this photo released on Thursday, Palestinian girl Huda Abu Al-Naja lies on a bed receiving treatment at the malnutrition ward as her mother shows an image of Huda when she was healthier, in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, on Tuesday.
\n
Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir vowed on Thursday to continue expressing the military's position "without fear" ahead of an expected security cabinet meeting where occupation plans for Gaza were expected to be discussed.
\n
In the run-up to the meeting, rumors have been rife in the Israeli media about disagreements between the cabinet and Zamir over the way forward in the Palestinian territory.
\n
"We will continue to express our position without fear, in a pragmatic, independent, and professional manner," Zamir said.
\n
The Israeli security cabinet was due to discuss phased plans to conquer vast new areas of the Gaza Strip for full takeover during a meeting on Thursday night. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed for a full occupation of Gaza.
\n
The Gaza takeover plan is said to last four to five months, and begin with the takeover of Gaza City and camps in the central strip, driving around half of the enclave's population southward toward the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone.
\n
Media outlets in Israel said the plan for full military occupation of Gaza allegedly sparked dissent from Zamir.
\n
Defense Minister Israel Katz, however, wrote on X on Wednesday: "Once decisions are made by the political echelon, the IDF will execute them with determination and professionalism."
\n
On Tuesday, Netanyahu held a three-hour meeting with the security chiefs, including Zamir, to discuss options for the new phase in the offensive. At the meeting, Zamir warned that a full occupation would be like "walking into a trap", public broadcaster Kan reported.
\n
Channel 12 television said the armed forces chief suggested three alternatives, including encircling specific areas where Hamas militants are believed to be hiding.
\n
Recent polls showed a clear majority of Israelis now favor a deal with Hamas and an end to the conflict. Many believe Netanyahu is delaying a resolution to keep his far-right coalition intact, as ultranationalist ministers have threatened to withdraw support if any deal is made.
\n
Israel's assault on Gaza continued early on Thursday, with at least 23 people killed in attacks across the enclave since dawn, medical sources told Al Jazeera.
\n
Meanwhile, international criticism has surged over the suffering of the more than 2 million Palestinian inhabitants of Gaza after the United Nations warned that famine is unfolding in the territory. Al Jazeera said the number of people who have died from starvation and malnutrition has risen to 193.
\n
According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, just 1.5 percent of Gaza's farmland is accessible and undamaged, less than 3 square kilometers, according to the latest satellite survey published on Wednesday.
\n
Talking about Gaza's famine, FAO's Director-General Qu Dongyu said: "People are starving not because food is unavailable, but because access is blocked, local agri-food systems have collapsed and families can no longer sustain even the most basic livelihoods."
\n
Agencies and Xinhua contributed to this story.
\n
cuihaipei@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -5698,28 +5791,6 @@
"hash": "5ab0959d00d477dee31cbe6b5e0083f5",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "011WORLD - Why are air conditioners rare in European nations?",
- "description": "
Zhang Zhouxiang
\n\n
When I first arrived in Brussels trying to rent an apartment, I had an amusing exchange with a local real estate agent while touring a property built in the 1960s:
\n
Me: "Don't you think this place is a bit too old? It's more than 20 years older than I am!"
\n
Agent: "In Belgium, your definition of an 'old building' may need some adjustment … The next place I'm going to show you is over 200 years old, built during the Napoleonic Wars. You'll be living inside history!"
\n
Me: "Thanks, but no thanks. I'd prefer something from my own or my daddy's generation — grandpa's at most."
\n
That wasn't an unreasonable request. Not only in Brussels, but across the whole Europe, many of the homes for rent or sale are far older than one might expect. One of the properties the agent showed me had been built in 1874 — just a year after Napoleon III died. Another little white house didn't have a precise construction date, but a plaque by the door revealed that Karl Marx once lived there.
\n
Aged houses are one key to understanding why many Europeans complain about one distinctly modern inconvenience: the scarcity of air conditioning. In China, it's hard to find a residential building without air conditioners mounted all over the exterior walls. According to the International Energy Agency, over 90 percent of US homes had air conditioning by 2022, while in Europe, that number hovers between 20 and 30 percent.
\n
Why are air conditioners so rare in Europe, even as summers are growing hotter and unbearable?
\n
One key reason is the age of the buildings themselves. Many homes were built long before air conditioning — or even modern electricity system — existed, and they, standing for two or more centuries, were designed with defense in mind. These buildings typically have thick walls, high ceilings, and small windows. The goal wasn't comfort, but security — making them hard to invade and easy to defend.
\n
A high ceiling may look grand for this purpose, but in winter it's a nightmare. Middle school physics tells us that warm air rises, so even when you crank up the heat, the warmth floats uselessly above your head. Most of these homes receive poor energy-efficiency ratings for good reason.
\n
Adding modern systems to these structures is a logistical headache. There were no electrical grids or plumbing systems when they were built, so there's no room to run modern wiring, pipes, or HVAC ducts. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Drilling through walls built from fortress-grade stone isn't easy. These are materials designed to withstand cannonballs, not accommodate coolant lines or mounting brackets for outdoor compressor units. Belgian law — like that in many European Union countries — requires homes to have safe electrical wiring, heating, plumbing, and basic fire protection before they're considered habitable. That seems reasonable, but getting a 200-year-old home to meet even those basic standards is often difficult and expensive. When you can barely get the power and water systems working, installing an air conditioner becomes a luxury that few landlords prioritize.
\n
Even if the building starts to crumble, you can't just tear it down and rebuild. Many old structures are legally protected, classified as historical or cultural heritage. In such cases, the law often forbids complete demolition and requires that the original facade be preserved, even if everything else needs to go.
\n
So, in a uniquely European work-around, developers often strip the interior bare, gutting everything down to the last beam, while leaving one lonely wall standing. That way, the project is still technically a "renovation", not a rebuild, and the law is satisfied.
\n
Of course, old buildings aren't the only reason air conditioning is rare. Geography also plays a role. Many of Europe's major cities are located at high latitudes. Paris sits at 48 degrees, 48 minutes north latitude, Brussels at 50 degrees, 48 minutes north latitude, and Berlin at 52 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude — the same latitude as Mohe, the northernmost town in China. Go not much farther north and you're in Siberia. At these latitudes, summer isn't traditionally hot enough to make air conditioning essential. Berlin's average daily temperature in August barely climbs above 20 C. In that context, an air conditioner doesn't feel necessary most of the year.
\n
Shaped by climate
\n
Even Southern Europe isn't all that south. Rome, for instance, is at 41 degrees, 54 minutes north latitude — still farther north than Beijing. For centuries, most of Europe simply didn't need artificial cooling. The architecture, habits, and expectations were shaped by a different climate.
\n
But global warming is rapidly changing that equation. Over the past decade, summer heat waves have become more frequent and more intense. Countries like France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands — once considered comfortably temperate — have seen record-breaking temperatures. Even in Brussels, where one might expect a mild July, the mercury has occasionally soared to nearly 40 C, making the inside of a stone house feel more like a kiln.
\n
Energy costs are another major barrier. In Belgium, for example, the average electricity price for residential consumers is around 0.40 euros ($0.47) per kilowatt-hour. That's nearly seven times the average price in China. And European homes already consume a lot of electricity: cooking is often done with electric ovens and induction stoves, and heating in winter may involve electric radiators. Add in a few weeks of air conditioning, and monthly power bills can become hard to manage.
\n
That's why fireplaces remain a practical solution for many. In fact, European supermarkets sell firewood as a household staple — something rarely seen in modern Chinese or East Asian cities. When heating a home means lighting a fire, and cooling it means opening the window, it's easy to see why the economics of air conditioning don't make much sense for many households.
\n
There's also a cultural element at play. In countries like the US or China, air conditioning is taken for granted, even expected. In Europe, it's still viewed as something excessive, or even slightly decadent. Many Europeans grew up without it and simply accept sweating through the summer as part of the seasonal rhythm. Open the shutters in the morning, close them before noon, and drink plenty of cold water — that's the traditional way.
\n
The IEA and other experts predict that air conditioning will become more common in Europe over the coming decades, especially as climate change continues to push summer temperatures to dangerous levels. But legal constraints, high costs, and architectural limitations will continue to slow its spread.
\n
So for now, when you step into a charming old townhouse in Paris or Brussels during the summer, don't be surprised if you feel like you've entered a pizza oven. Because while Europeans love their history — and are determined to preserve it — it often comes at the cost of modern comfort. Air conditioning, like many other modern conveniences, still struggles to fit inside the stone walls of the past.
\n
Contact the writer at zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn.
\n",
- "content": "
Zhang Zhouxiang
\n\n
When I first arrived in Brussels trying to rent an apartment, I had an amusing exchange with a local real estate agent while touring a property built in the 1960s:
\n
Me: "Don't you think this place is a bit too old? It's more than 20 years older than I am!"
\n
Agent: "In Belgium, your definition of an 'old building' may need some adjustment … The next place I'm going to show you is over 200 years old, built during the Napoleonic Wars. You'll be living inside history!"
\n
Me: "Thanks, but no thanks. I'd prefer something from my own or my daddy's generation — grandpa's at most."
\n
That wasn't an unreasonable request. Not only in Brussels, but across the whole Europe, many of the homes for rent or sale are far older than one might expect. One of the properties the agent showed me had been built in 1874 — just a year after Napoleon III died. Another little white house didn't have a precise construction date, but a plaque by the door revealed that Karl Marx once lived there.
\n
Aged houses are one key to understanding why many Europeans complain about one distinctly modern inconvenience: the scarcity of air conditioning. In China, it's hard to find a residential building without air conditioners mounted all over the exterior walls. According to the International Energy Agency, over 90 percent of US homes had air conditioning by 2022, while in Europe, that number hovers between 20 and 30 percent.
\n
Why are air conditioners so rare in Europe, even as summers are growing hotter and unbearable?
\n
One key reason is the age of the buildings themselves. Many homes were built long before air conditioning — or even modern electricity system — existed, and they, standing for two or more centuries, were designed with defense in mind. These buildings typically have thick walls, high ceilings, and small windows. The goal wasn't comfort, but security — making them hard to invade and easy to defend.
\n
A high ceiling may look grand for this purpose, but in winter it's a nightmare. Middle school physics tells us that warm air rises, so even when you crank up the heat, the warmth floats uselessly above your head. Most of these homes receive poor energy-efficiency ratings for good reason.
\n
Adding modern systems to these structures is a logistical headache. There were no electrical grids or plumbing systems when they were built, so there's no room to run modern wiring, pipes, or HVAC ducts. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Drilling through walls built from fortress-grade stone isn't easy. These are materials designed to withstand cannonballs, not accommodate coolant lines or mounting brackets for outdoor compressor units. Belgian law — like that in many European Union countries — requires homes to have safe electrical wiring, heating, plumbing, and basic fire protection before they're considered habitable. That seems reasonable, but getting a 200-year-old home to meet even those basic standards is often difficult and expensive. When you can barely get the power and water systems working, installing an air conditioner becomes a luxury that few landlords prioritize.
\n
Even if the building starts to crumble, you can't just tear it down and rebuild. Many old structures are legally protected, classified as historical or cultural heritage. In such cases, the law often forbids complete demolition and requires that the original facade be preserved, even if everything else needs to go.
\n
So, in a uniquely European work-around, developers often strip the interior bare, gutting everything down to the last beam, while leaving one lonely wall standing. That way, the project is still technically a "renovation", not a rebuild, and the law is satisfied.
\n
Of course, old buildings aren't the only reason air conditioning is rare. Geography also plays a role. Many of Europe's major cities are located at high latitudes. Paris sits at 48 degrees, 48 minutes north latitude, Brussels at 50 degrees, 48 minutes north latitude, and Berlin at 52 degrees, 30 minutes north latitude — the same latitude as Mohe, the northernmost town in China. Go not much farther north and you're in Siberia. At these latitudes, summer isn't traditionally hot enough to make air conditioning essential. Berlin's average daily temperature in August barely climbs above 20 C. In that context, an air conditioner doesn't feel necessary most of the year.
\n
Shaped by climate
\n
Even Southern Europe isn't all that south. Rome, for instance, is at 41 degrees, 54 minutes north latitude — still farther north than Beijing. For centuries, most of Europe simply didn't need artificial cooling. The architecture, habits, and expectations were shaped by a different climate.
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But global warming is rapidly changing that equation. Over the past decade, summer heat waves have become more frequent and more intense. Countries like France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands — once considered comfortably temperate — have seen record-breaking temperatures. Even in Brussels, where one might expect a mild July, the mercury has occasionally soared to nearly 40 C, making the inside of a stone house feel more like a kiln.
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Energy costs are another major barrier. In Belgium, for example, the average electricity price for residential consumers is around 0.40 euros ($0.47) per kilowatt-hour. That's nearly seven times the average price in China. And European homes already consume a lot of electricity: cooking is often done with electric ovens and induction stoves, and heating in winter may involve electric radiators. Add in a few weeks of air conditioning, and monthly power bills can become hard to manage.
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That's why fireplaces remain a practical solution for many. In fact, European supermarkets sell firewood as a household staple — something rarely seen in modern Chinese or East Asian cities. When heating a home means lighting a fire, and cooling it means opening the window, it's easy to see why the economics of air conditioning don't make much sense for many households.
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There's also a cultural element at play. In countries like the US or China, air conditioning is taken for granted, even expected. In Europe, it's still viewed as something excessive, or even slightly decadent. Many Europeans grew up without it and simply accept sweating through the summer as part of the seasonal rhythm. Open the shutters in the morning, close them before noon, and drink plenty of cold water — that's the traditional way.
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The IEA and other experts predict that air conditioning will become more common in Europe over the coming decades, especially as climate change continues to push summer temperatures to dangerous levels. But legal constraints, high costs, and architectural limitations will continue to slow its spread.
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So for now, when you step into a charming old townhouse in Paris or Brussels during the summer, don't be surprised if you feel like you've entered a pizza oven. Because while Europeans love their history — and are determined to preserve it — it often comes at the cost of modern comfort. Air conditioning, like many other modern conveniences, still struggles to fit inside the stone walls of the past.
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Contact the writer at zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn.
Featuring Huawei tech, the cabin offers an immersive digital experience backed up by German engineering.
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Featuring Huawei tech, the cabin offers an immersive digital experience backed up by German engineering.
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In the history of automotive joint ventures, FAW-Audi shines as a pivotal chapter, witnessing the evolution of China's luxury car market while pioneering paradigms for international automotive collaboration.
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The 37-year-old joint venture kicked off its Tech Week in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Thursday, launching the Q6L e-tron and A5L sedan. This event underscores the Sino-German company's innovative prowess and reaffirms its vitality in the world's largest vehicle market.
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By inheriting the technical heritage of Germany's Audi and using local insight into the Chinese market, FAW-Audi has entered the cooperation 3.0 era with these new models, the automaker said.
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At the beginning of Audi's Chinese journey in 1988, it signed the country's first luxury car technology transfer contract, introducing premium vehicles and initiating localization.
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Then in 1999, when the FAW-Audi A6L debuted, it pioneered the long wheelbase design to meet Chinese consumers' demand for greater interior space.
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Over the past 37 years, FAW-Audi has upheld a customer-centric approach, adhering to Audi's global unified standards while tapping into local needs to develop technologies and products tailored for the Chinese market, earning the trust of nearly 10 million customers.
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The automaker projects that by 2025, it will have over 10 million cumulative users in China. This would make it the first luxury brand to hit such a milestone and solidify its status as the most market-savvy international luxury brand in the country.
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While intelligence is often considered the home turf of EV startups and a weakness for traditional brands, the FAW-Audi Q6L e-tron responds by fully embracing homegrown technology — integrating Huawei's customized Qiankun driving-assistance solution.
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To cater to China's tech-savvy consumers, Audi partnered with domestic tech giant Huawei in 2019, making it the first premium automaker to collaborate with the company.
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The newly launched Q6L e-tron, the first car from this partnership, merges German engineering excellence with Chinese innovation, positioning Audi to thrive in the country's competitive auto market.
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The electric SUV is equipped with two LiDARs, 13 cameras, 5-millimeter wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic radars for 360-degree perception. It also features automatic cleaning and heating functions, which addresses LiDAR performance limitations in rain and snow.
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Leveraging Huawei's customization, the Q6L e-tron offers map-free driving assistance on highways and urban roads, valet parking, saved parking spot information, remote parking, and automated parking.
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To resolve validation differences, the partners adopted a "dual-track validation" process. This involved 1 million kilometers of testing on Huawei's simulation platform, followed by 100,000 km on Chinese roads.
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The car is also the first built on the Premium Platform Electric, codeveloped by Audi and Porsche. As Audi's new luxury pure electric platform, the PPE boasts high scalability to meet diverse demands across premium segments, covering B — to D-class EVs and setting benchmarks for performance, range, charging speed, and driving dynamics.
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Thanks to the PPE, the Q6L e-tron features an 800-volt architecture and supports high-power fast charging of up to 270 kilowatts. This allows ultrafast charging, from 10 percent to 80 percent, in just 20 minutes.
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The model also adopts CATL's 107-kilowatt-hour ternary lithium battery, offering a maximum China Light Duty Vehicle Test Cycle range of 765 km.
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Inside the Q6L e-tron's intelligent cabin, there is an 88-inch AR-HUD, 11.9-in OLED Audi virtual cockpit, 14.5-in OLED MMI touch screen, and 10.9-inch co-pilot entertainment screen to create an immersive digital experience where luxury meets cutting-edge technology.
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Equipped with Chinese-tailored voice recognition for seamless continuous commands, plus industry-leading eye-tracking combined with voice controls, the cabin delivers smarter, more effortless journeys.
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The system has over 75 ecosystem apps and pioneers experiences like in-car karaoke and cinema, transforming the cabin into a mobile smart living space. Seamless smartphone connectivity also extends functionality.
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New production base
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The Q6L e-tron was the first model produced at the Changchun production site of Audi FAW NEV Company — the first pure electric vehicle production base that Audi has built in China.
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Designed to deliver the rigorous quality of German craftsmanship and quickly adapt to evolving Chinese customer needs, the base adheres to Audi's global standards, integrating advanced manufacturing processes and efficient production management to ensure a reliable output of cars.
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With an investment exceeding 30 billion yuan ($4.17 billion), the base has a planned annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles. Since December, it has extended to producing China-specific PPE-based models, including the Q6L Sportback e-tron SUV and A6L e-tron sedan.
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"With production starting at Audi FAW NEV Company, we are honoring our commitment to the Chinese market and taking a major step forward in our electrification strategy," said Gernot Doellner, CEO of Audi.
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"The models produced here will play a key role in our local portfolio and strengthen our position in this critical market," he said.
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Helmut Stettner, CEO of Audi FAW NEV, noted that the factory's body shop operates at 88 percent automation, with over 800 robots ensuring precision and efficiency. Every vehicle undergoes testing to German standards.
\n
The plant was also designed to be carbon-neutral from the outset, powered in part by rooftop solar panels that meet a significant portion of its energy needs, Stettner added.
China may continue increasing its official gold reserves to enhance financial security, as part of a broader trend among central banks worldwide to diversify their international reserve holdings — a development that could prop up investment demand for the precious metal, analysts said on Thursday.
\n
They commented as China's official gold reserves came in at 73.96 million ounces at the end of July, up from 73.9 million ounces a month earlier, marking the ninth consecutive month of rises, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange said on Thursday.
\n
Wang Qing, chief macroeconomic analyst at Golden Credit Rating International, attributed the gold holdings increases by the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, to the growing demand for optimizing reserve structure, given that gold prices are likely to stay on an upward trend amid a volatile global political and economic situation.
\n
"Looking ahead, we believe that continued gold purchases by China's central bank are likely to remain a strategic direction," said Wang.
\n
He estimates that gold accounted for about 7 percent of China's official international reserves — mainly consisting of foreign exchange reserves and gold holdings — as of the end of July, significantly lower than the global average of around 15 percent.
\n
The country's foreign exchange reserves, according to SAFE, came in at $3.2922 trillion as of the end of July, down 0.76 percent or $25.2 billion from the previous month, amid a rising US dollar index and a mixed performance of global financial markets.
\n
Given the need to optimize the structure of international reserves, Wang pointed to the necessity for China to keep increasing gold holdings while moderately reducing holdings of US Treasuries, as gold is widely accepted as a final means of payment.
\n
"Increasing gold reserves can strengthen the credibility of the country's sovereign currency and help create favorable conditions for advancing the internationalization of the renminbi."
\n
A recent survey conducted by the World Gold Council shows that 95 percent of central bank respondents expect global central bank gold reserves to increase over the next 12 months.
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The council said central bank gold demand remained healthy at about 166 tons in the second quarter, though down 21 percent year-on-year.
\n
Ray Jia, China research head of the WGC, said that central banks' continued interest in boosting reserves of the yellow metal is likely to be a key factor propping up gold prices going forward, a trend that could encourage retail investors' appetite for gold.
\n
"The diversification of global central banks from the US dollar, or the trend toward a multipolarization of global reserves, we believe, will continue in the coming years and will not be easily reversed or undergo significant changes," Jia said.
\n
Despite the fact that central banks worldwide have slowed their gold purchase pace in the first half, WGC's full-year projection of central banks' gold purchases remains above the five-year average, approximately at a level of 600 to 700 tons, he said.
\n
Nevertheless, Jia noted that there are still many factors that may prompt investors to choose assets other than gold. "For instance, since July, China's equity markets have generally performed well. A rise in risk appetite often weighs on investment demand for gold and for gold exchange-traded funds in particular."
\n
The council said that gold investment demand in China may remain strong in the second half amid persistent global geopolitical and economic risks and uncertainties over domestic growth, adding that the two factors are expected to sustain investor appetite for safe-haven assets such as gold bars and coins.
\n
Contact the writers at zhoulanxv@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "\n
China may continue increasing its official gold reserves to enhance financial security, as part of a broader trend among central banks worldwide to diversify their international reserve holdings — a development that could prop up investment demand for the precious metal, analysts said on Thursday.
\n
They commented as China's official gold reserves came in at 73.96 million ounces at the end of July, up from 73.9 million ounces a month earlier, marking the ninth consecutive month of rises, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange said on Thursday.
\n
Wang Qing, chief macroeconomic analyst at Golden Credit Rating International, attributed the gold holdings increases by the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, to the growing demand for optimizing reserve structure, given that gold prices are likely to stay on an upward trend amid a volatile global political and economic situation.
\n
"Looking ahead, we believe that continued gold purchases by China's central bank are likely to remain a strategic direction," said Wang.
\n
He estimates that gold accounted for about 7 percent of China's official international reserves — mainly consisting of foreign exchange reserves and gold holdings — as of the end of July, significantly lower than the global average of around 15 percent.
\n
The country's foreign exchange reserves, according to SAFE, came in at $3.2922 trillion as of the end of July, down 0.76 percent or $25.2 billion from the previous month, amid a rising US dollar index and a mixed performance of global financial markets.
\n
Given the need to optimize the structure of international reserves, Wang pointed to the necessity for China to keep increasing gold holdings while moderately reducing holdings of US Treasuries, as gold is widely accepted as a final means of payment.
\n
"Increasing gold reserves can strengthen the credibility of the country's sovereign currency and help create favorable conditions for advancing the internationalization of the renminbi."
\n
A recent survey conducted by the World Gold Council shows that 95 percent of central bank respondents expect global central bank gold reserves to increase over the next 12 months.
\n
The council said central bank gold demand remained healthy at about 166 tons in the second quarter, though down 21 percent year-on-year.
\n
Ray Jia, China research head of the WGC, said that central banks' continued interest in boosting reserves of the yellow metal is likely to be a key factor propping up gold prices going forward, a trend that could encourage retail investors' appetite for gold.
\n
"The diversification of global central banks from the US dollar, or the trend toward a multipolarization of global reserves, we believe, will continue in the coming years and will not be easily reversed or undergo significant changes," Jia said.
\n
Despite the fact that central banks worldwide have slowed their gold purchase pace in the first half, WGC's full-year projection of central banks' gold purchases remains above the five-year average, approximately at a level of 600 to 700 tons, he said.
\n
Nevertheless, Jia noted that there are still many factors that may prompt investors to choose assets other than gold. "For instance, since July, China's equity markets have generally performed well. A rise in risk appetite often weighs on investment demand for gold and for gold exchange-traded funds in particular."
\n
The council said that gold investment demand in China may remain strong in the second half amid persistent global geopolitical and economic risks and uncertainties over domestic growth, adding that the two factors are expected to sustain investor appetite for safe-haven assets such as gold bars and coins.
\n
Contact the writers at zhoulanxv@chinadaily.com.cn
An employee at Jinyuan Railway Station — one of the country's few underground transport hubs — in Shanxi province, greets the arrival of a cargo train carrying coal for generating power during the summer peak season. Fully leveraging its role as a key underground junction on the local ring line, workers meticulously analyze train-flow data and arrange timely operations.
\n",
@@ -5786,28 +5835,6 @@
"hash": "3f92825b2b133f5e6be310645d7e0caf",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "013BUSINESS - Red tourism destinations seeing more footfalls this summer",
- "description": "
A view of red tourism destination Jinggangshan in Jiangxi province.
\n
A growing trend of red tourism has emerged among young tourists or those traveling with their children this summer, as cool weather and high-quality resources at such destinations attract more visitors.
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More young Chinese are traveling to pay respects to the founding fathers of New China, as this year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War. The popularity of well-known memorial venues and related historical sites has significantly increased over the same period last year.
\n
Hotel bookings at some red tourism destinations such as Jinggangshan in Jiangxi province, Yan'an in Shaanxi province and Shaoshan in Hunan province have been higher this summer compared to the same period last year, according to Qunar, a Beijing-based online travel agency.
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In particular, booking volumes for hotels in Jinggangshan have jumped nearly 40 percent year-on-year, higher than the overall growth rate of hotel bookings in Jiangxi, Qunar found.
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"Besides being a red tourism destination, Jinggangshan is a city whose air quality is excellent and one that is suitable for travelers to escape the summer heat," said Li Lingyan, a researcher at Qunar.
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Meanwhile, the screening of some war-themed films has helped to boost the popularity of red tourism. Dead To Rights, a movie about the Nanjing Massacre, has maintained its dominance at home at the summer box office, grossing over 1.5 billion yuan ($209 million) within just 10 days of its debut on July 25.
\n
Largely driven by the film's success, visits to the Shanghai Film Studios Amusement Park, the core filming location for the movie, have continued to climb. Some immersive activities launched by the park, which allow tourists to experience history through visits to the filming locations, have been well received by many young people.
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In July, the internet search volume for the amusement park jumped more than 80 percent over June, according to Tongcheng Travel, a Suzhou, Jiangsu province-based online travel agency.
\n
With new war-themed films such as Dongji Rescue and Mountains and Rivers Bearing Witness releasing this month, red tourism is expected to peak further, according to a forecast by Tongcheng Travel.
\n
"Various advanced technologies and interactive sessions can be used to enrich the travel experience of young people and strengthen the historical allure of red scenic spots, allowing young people to have a more immersive experience of historical scenes," said Hu Yizhou, a researcher at LeadLeo Research Institute, a market research provider based in Shanghai.
\n
Eyeing the growing travel demand, more direct flights connecting major cities and red tourism destinations have been launched. Earlier this year, Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines launched a new route connecting Shanghai Pudong International Airport with Yan'an. Xiamen Airlines has also launched flights that connect Fuzhou, Fujian province with Yan'an, with a stopover in Changsha, Hunan province.
\n
zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
A view of red tourism destination Jinggangshan in Jiangxi province.
\n
A growing trend of red tourism has emerged among young tourists or those traveling with their children this summer, as cool weather and high-quality resources at such destinations attract more visitors.
\n
More young Chinese are traveling to pay respects to the founding fathers of New China, as this year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War. The popularity of well-known memorial venues and related historical sites has significantly increased over the same period last year.
\n
Hotel bookings at some red tourism destinations such as Jinggangshan in Jiangxi province, Yan'an in Shaanxi province and Shaoshan in Hunan province have been higher this summer compared to the same period last year, according to Qunar, a Beijing-based online travel agency.
\n
In particular, booking volumes for hotels in Jinggangshan have jumped nearly 40 percent year-on-year, higher than the overall growth rate of hotel bookings in Jiangxi, Qunar found.
\n
"Besides being a red tourism destination, Jinggangshan is a city whose air quality is excellent and one that is suitable for travelers to escape the summer heat," said Li Lingyan, a researcher at Qunar.
\n
Meanwhile, the screening of some war-themed films has helped to boost the popularity of red tourism. Dead To Rights, a movie about the Nanjing Massacre, has maintained its dominance at home at the summer box office, grossing over 1.5 billion yuan ($209 million) within just 10 days of its debut on July 25.
\n
Largely driven by the film's success, visits to the Shanghai Film Studios Amusement Park, the core filming location for the movie, have continued to climb. Some immersive activities launched by the park, which allow tourists to experience history through visits to the filming locations, have been well received by many young people.
\n
In July, the internet search volume for the amusement park jumped more than 80 percent over June, according to Tongcheng Travel, a Suzhou, Jiangsu province-based online travel agency.
\n
With new war-themed films such as Dongji Rescue and Mountains and Rivers Bearing Witness releasing this month, red tourism is expected to peak further, according to a forecast by Tongcheng Travel.
\n
"Various advanced technologies and interactive sessions can be used to enrich the travel experience of young people and strengthen the historical allure of red scenic spots, allowing young people to have a more immersive experience of historical scenes," said Hu Yizhou, a researcher at LeadLeo Research Institute, a market research provider based in Shanghai.
\n
Eyeing the growing travel demand, more direct flights connecting major cities and red tourism destinations have been launched. Earlier this year, Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines launched a new route connecting Shanghai Pudong International Airport with Yan'an. Xiamen Airlines has also launched flights that connect Fuzhou, Fujian province with Yan'an, with a stopover in Changsha, Hunan province.
Following a series of high-level meetings and regulatory actions aimed at curbing excessive internal competition, China's top leadership has once again underscored its commitment to promoting fair market practices.
\n
At a tone-setting meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee held recently, policymakers called for deeper efforts to build a unified national market and improve market order by tackling disorderly, excessive and cutthroat competition across key sectors.
\n
Commenting on the move, Luo Zhiheng, chief economist at Yuekai Securities, said the country's campaign against unbridled competition has now entered a phase of substantive implementation.
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"Unlike previous rounds that focused mainly on upstream sectors such as steel and coal, the current push extends into downstream emerging industries like new energy vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaics," Luo said.
\n
"These sectors have lower market concentration and a large number of private players, making top-down administrative capacity restrictions neither feasible nor aligned with pro-private sector policy direction."
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Instead, Luo said, a more targeted and nuanced approach is required, especially given the fast-paced nature of innovation in emerging sectors like NEVs, where technological iteration often leads to supply-demand mismatches.
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"To truly prevent excessive internal competition, we must focus on supporting innovation and helping companies move through technological cycles, which in turn will stimulate incremental demand," Luo said.
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Luo also suggested expanding institutional support for the commercialization of scientific research, such as encouraging universities and institutes to establish specialized technology transfer bodies and share project pipelines with private enterprises.
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Wu Songquan, senior chief expert at the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, said the country's auto sector has entered a critical phase of transformation from high-speed growth to structural competition.
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"The market is nearly saturated, effective demand is limited and brand concentration remains low. In such an environment, price wars have become a go-to tactic for certain automakers seeking short-term gains. As a result, it leads to excessive, unregulated and homogeneous competition," Wu said.
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However, improving the situation is not about banning competition or price cuts altogether, but about ensuring that competition is conducted on a fair and sustainable basis, Luo said.
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"This underscores the need to examine the underlying causes of cutthroat competition on a case-by-case basis," he said.
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For example, it is important to distinguish whether the disorderly competition stems from misaligned support distorting market entry barriers, or from the natural course of industry development, Luo added.
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The Political Bureau meeting also called for stronger oversight of local government practices in attracting investment.
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"Dominant auto enterprises may leverage their presence across multiple regions to negotiate for substantial local government support in exchange for new production lines or model launches," Wu said.
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Luo cautioned against zero-sum thinking among some local authorities, which may lead to disorderly tax incentives and policy advantages that distort cost structures and industry access.
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"At the heart of anti-involution efforts is rule-setting, which calls for long-term mechanisms to ensure fair competition. That begins with regulating local governments' investment promotion practices."
The China-Laos Railway has transported over 14 million metric tons of imported and exported goods, amounting to more than 60 billion yuan ($8.4 billion), since its opening in December 2021, according to Kunming Customs on Wednesday. The railway's cross-border freight volume exceeded 3.43 million tons with a value surpassing 15.4 billion yuan in the first seven months of this year, up 6 percent and 41 percent year-on-year, respectively, both of which are record highs for this period.
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Yuan strengthens against greenback
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The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 64 pips to 7.1345 against the US dollar on Thursday, 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 dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day.
\n",
- "content": "
China-Laos rail cargo transport hits record
\n
The China-Laos Railway has transported over 14 million metric tons of imported and exported goods, amounting to more than 60 billion yuan ($8.4 billion), since its opening in December 2021, according to Kunming Customs on Wednesday. The railway's cross-border freight volume exceeded 3.43 million tons with a value surpassing 15.4 billion yuan in the first seven months of this year, up 6 percent and 41 percent year-on-year, respectively, both of which are record highs for this period.
\n
Yuan strengthens against greenback
\n
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 64 pips to 7.1345 against the US dollar on Thursday, 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 dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day.
HARBIN — China's silver economy is shifting from basic support to quality consumption that emphasizes personal experience and attentive service, a move creating fresh opportunities for healthcare tourism, said Han Hua, vice-president of the China Association of Social Welfare and Senior Service.
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Han made the remarks at the Integrated Development of Healthcare Tourism and the Silver Economy forum during the 2025 Entrepreneurs Sun Island Annual Conference held on Monday in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province. She joined scholars, experts and senior care representatives in discussing this emerging economic sector.
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Driven by policy support, market demand and technological innovation, China's elderly care services have expanded rapidly — fueling robust growth in the silver economy, which is currently valued at approximately 7 trillion yuan ($980 billion) and is projected to reach 30 trillion yuan by 2035.
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As demand for senior-oriented services increases, healthcare tourism, positioned at the intersection of the silver economy and health industry, has become a key means to enhance elderly well-being and drive high-quality economic growth.
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Han emphasized the symbiotic relationship between healthcare tourism and the silver economy, noting that "healthcare tourism directly stimulates consumption across transportation, accommodation, catering, healthcare and cultural industries. It unlocks underutilized assets, boosts employment and generates sustained economic output".
\n
"Conversely, strengthened local economies enhance supporting infrastructure like transport, medical facilities and cultural amenities, positioning healthcare tourism as a significant contributor to regional development," she said.
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Han noted that healthcare tourism now accounts for nearly 20 percent of silver economy consumption — with annual sector growth estimated at 15 to 20 percent.
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Song Shouyi, director-general of the Kangyang Branch of the China Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, said that senior healthcare tourism is reshaping China's tourism landscape.
\n
"Senior travel has evolved from 'compensatory trips' to mainstream consumption, while projects are shifting from resource-driven to service-driven collaborative models," Song said.
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Future projects, he added, should pivot from "large-scale and all-inclusive" to "smaller, specialized offerings" targeting niche demographics — leveraging opportunities in chronic disease management, cultural engagement for educated retirees and evolving intergenerational support structures.
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Du Peng, dean of the school of population and health and director of the institute of gerontology at Renmin University of China, stressed improving conditions for healthcare tourism, including stronger market foundations, refined policies, shifting consumption patterns and growing acceptance of positive aging mindsets.
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Du stressed China's transition into a "longevity society", urging local authorities to develop big data platforms for smart elderly care services and promote urban-rural integration to bolster both social welfare and the silver economy's sustainability.
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"The silver economy encompasses three key objectives, namely well-being enhancement, economic growth and social development, and improving people's livelihoods remains fundamental," Du said.
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Group's purchase of more Boeing aircraft will help cement Hong Kong as an international aviation hub at a time when Hong Kong airport's passenger volume, flight movements and cargo traffic are expanding, analysts said.
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While delivering its 2025 interim results on Wednesday, Cathay Pacific Group said it would purchase 14 more Boeing 777-9 jets for $8.1 billion, marking its first transaction with the US aircraft manufacturer in 12 years.
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Together with the new purchase, the carrier has committed to buying 35 aircraft of this type, and also retains the option to acquire seven additional planes. The aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2034.
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With this order, the group's main carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways, has reportedly become one of the top buyers of the Boeing 777X, following Gulf carriers Emirates and Qatar Airways.
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"As an international aviation hub, the Hong Kong airport should encourage Cathay Pacific Airways and other airlines to launch more flights out of and into Hong Kong so that Hong Kong can build a huge inter-airline transfer network," said Billy Mak Sui-choi, associate professor at Hong Kong Baptist University's Department of Accountancy, Economics and Finance.
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Mak said the Three-Runway System, which commenced operations in November 2024, still has not achieved full-load utilization. The new runway, which stretches over 3,800 meters, is expected to enhance Hong Kong International Airport's (HKIA) capacity dramatically and enable it to handle up to 120 million passengers and 10 million metric tons of cargo annually by 2035.
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"This network could be facilitated when the TRS achieves full-load status — by giving more time slots for airplane takeoffs and landings. Hong Kong's inter-airline transfer network could then be more comprehensive, which is matched by more flight frequency and less time required for connecting flights," Mak said.
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Cathay Pacific Group Chairman Patrick Healy said the purchase of Boeing aircraft will support Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub.
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The announcement coincided with Cathay Pacific Group's reporting of a marginal increase in first-half profit, driven by increased passenger capacity and volumes albeit at lower yields, a resilient cargo business and lower fuel costs.
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"I think it is positive as Cathay needs to update its fleet to remain competitive. At the same time, the new planes are more fuel efficient and should help in the unit fuel cost," Lorraine Tan, director of Equity Research (Asia) at US-based investment research and investment management services firm Morningstar, told China Daily.
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Cathay Pacific Group is the flagship aviation conglomerate based in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with main carrier Cathay Pacific Airways, and subsidiaries such as HK Express and Cathay Cargo.
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In the first half of this year, passenger volume at HKIA saw a 16.5 percent year-on-year growth to 29.4 million and flight movements increased 10.1 percent to over 192,000, according to Airport Authority Hong Kong. It also said cargo traffic expanded 1.9 percent annually to 2.4 million tons in the same period.
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Group's purchase of more Boeing aircraft will help cement Hong Kong as an international aviation hub at a time when Hong Kong airport's passenger volume, flight movements and cargo traffic are expanding, analysts said.
\n
While delivering its 2025 interim results on Wednesday, Cathay Pacific Group said it would purchase 14 more Boeing 777-9 jets for $8.1 billion, marking its first transaction with the US aircraft manufacturer in 12 years.
\n
Together with the new purchase, the carrier has committed to buying 35 aircraft of this type, and also retains the option to acquire seven additional planes. The aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2034.
\n
With this order, the group's main carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways, has reportedly become one of the top buyers of the Boeing 777X, following Gulf carriers Emirates and Qatar Airways.
\n
"As an international aviation hub, the Hong Kong airport should encourage Cathay Pacific Airways and other airlines to launch more flights out of and into Hong Kong so that Hong Kong can build a huge inter-airline transfer network," said Billy Mak Sui-choi, associate professor at Hong Kong Baptist University's Department of Accountancy, Economics and Finance.
\n
Mak said the Three-Runway System, which commenced operations in November 2024, still has not achieved full-load utilization. The new runway, which stretches over 3,800 meters, is expected to enhance Hong Kong International Airport's (HKIA) capacity dramatically and enable it to handle up to 120 million passengers and 10 million metric tons of cargo annually by 2035.
\n
"This network could be facilitated when the TRS achieves full-load status — by giving more time slots for airplane takeoffs and landings. Hong Kong's inter-airline transfer network could then be more comprehensive, which is matched by more flight frequency and less time required for connecting flights," Mak said.
\n
Cathay Pacific Group Chairman Patrick Healy said the purchase of Boeing aircraft will support Hong Kong's status as an international aviation hub.
\n
The announcement coincided with Cathay Pacific Group's reporting of a marginal increase in first-half profit, driven by increased passenger capacity and volumes albeit at lower yields, a resilient cargo business and lower fuel costs.
\n
"I think it is positive as Cathay needs to update its fleet to remain competitive. At the same time, the new planes are more fuel efficient and should help in the unit fuel cost," Lorraine Tan, director of Equity Research (Asia) at US-based investment research and investment management services firm Morningstar, told China Daily.
\n
Cathay Pacific Group is the flagship aviation conglomerate based in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with main carrier Cathay Pacific Airways, and subsidiaries such as HK Express and Cathay Cargo.
\n
In the first half of this year, passenger volume at HKIA saw a 16.5 percent year-on-year growth to 29.4 million and flight movements increased 10.1 percent to over 192,000, according to Airport Authority Hong Kong. It also said cargo traffic expanded 1.9 percent annually to 2.4 million tons in the same period.
A power grid technician operates a drone to check equipment in Changji Hui autonomous prefecture in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. As Changji has issued a severe heat alert during the height of summer, local power system operator State Grid Changji arranged routine inspections in towns, such as checking towers and power equipment conditions, to safeguard power safety during scorching weather.
\n",
@@ -5918,28 +5901,6 @@
"hash": "85c2a16c6ace445a4c93cefc7c82e547",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "014BUSINESS - Ikea eyes quicker growth in China with JD store",
- "description": "
Ikea China is opening an official flagship store on JD on Friday, marking a major step in the Swedish household goods giant's continued expansion of its omnichannel ecosystem in the Chinese market.
\n
The store will offer more than 6,500 products across 168 categories, including furniture and home accessories, while integrating Ikea's logistics and membership services. It will serve as a new online touchpoint for the brand, complementing existing channels such as its official online store, Tmall flagship store, mobile app and WeChat mini programs.
\n
"This launch is another step forward under our 'growth plus' strategy," said Pontus Erntell, president and chief sustainability officer at Ikea China.
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"It will help us reach more Chinese families who value convenience, quality and service, and further enhance Ikea's omnichannel ecosystem."
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Since 2018, Ikea China has steadily expanded its digital presence. In fiscal year 2024, the brand's online platforms attracted 370 million visits, with over 70 percent initiated by consumers — underscoring strong demand for digital home shopping, said the company.
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The move to JD strengthens the Swedish firm's collaboration with third-party platforms and aligns with its strategy to integrate online and offline services.
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JD, the country's leading e-commerce platform, sees the partnership as a boost to its growing home category.
\n
"Ikea's arrival enriches JD's home furnishings portfolio and provides customers with more inspiring, high-quality options," said Yao Yanzhong, senior vice-president of JD and president of JD Electronics and Home Appliances.
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"We will leverage our strengths in supply chain management and digital operations to enhance the online home shopping experience."
\n
During the launch period, two new Ikea products — the Bastboll esports chair and Malomrade gaming desk — will debut across all Ikea channels. Certain product categories such as foodstuffs, knives and houseplants will not be available on JD for now.
\n
Ikea will use its own warehouses for inventory storage, while lastmile delivery will be handled by partners. JDLogistics will be responsible for parcel deliveries, while larger shipments will follow Ikea's existing omnichannel logistics framework. The delivery coverage is expected to reach 301 cities nationwide.
\n
The collaboration comes amid intensifying competition in China's household products and lifestyle market, with both local and foreign brands investing in digital transformation and supply chain upgrades.
\n
JD has been actively expanding its home category with a growing number of domestic and international brands. In the first half, the number of international home brands joining JD surged over 130 percent year-on-year. Recent additions include Muji, Natuzzi Italia and Hay, according to JD.
\n
The partnership with Ikea further signals the platform's ambition to "bring global design into Chinese households", while supporting Ikea's efforts to deepen localization and broaden market reach in China.
Ikea China is opening an official flagship store on JD on Friday, marking a major step in the Swedish household goods giant's continued expansion of its omnichannel ecosystem in the Chinese market.
\n
The store will offer more than 6,500 products across 168 categories, including furniture and home accessories, while integrating Ikea's logistics and membership services. It will serve as a new online touchpoint for the brand, complementing existing channels such as its official online store, Tmall flagship store, mobile app and WeChat mini programs.
\n
"This launch is another step forward under our 'growth plus' strategy," said Pontus Erntell, president and chief sustainability officer at Ikea China.
\n
"It will help us reach more Chinese families who value convenience, quality and service, and further enhance Ikea's omnichannel ecosystem."
\n
Since 2018, Ikea China has steadily expanded its digital presence. In fiscal year 2024, the brand's online platforms attracted 370 million visits, with over 70 percent initiated by consumers — underscoring strong demand for digital home shopping, said the company.
\n
The move to JD strengthens the Swedish firm's collaboration with third-party platforms and aligns with its strategy to integrate online and offline services.
\n
JD, the country's leading e-commerce platform, sees the partnership as a boost to its growing home category.
\n
"Ikea's arrival enriches JD's home furnishings portfolio and provides customers with more inspiring, high-quality options," said Yao Yanzhong, senior vice-president of JD and president of JD Electronics and Home Appliances.
\n
"We will leverage our strengths in supply chain management and digital operations to enhance the online home shopping experience."
\n
During the launch period, two new Ikea products — the Bastboll esports chair and Malomrade gaming desk — will debut across all Ikea channels. Certain product categories such as foodstuffs, knives and houseplants will not be available on JD for now.
\n
Ikea will use its own warehouses for inventory storage, while lastmile delivery will be handled by partners. JDLogistics will be responsible for parcel deliveries, while larger shipments will follow Ikea's existing omnichannel logistics framework. The delivery coverage is expected to reach 301 cities nationwide.
\n
The collaboration comes amid intensifying competition in China's household products and lifestyle market, with both local and foreign brands investing in digital transformation and supply chain upgrades.
\n
JD has been actively expanding its home category with a growing number of domestic and international brands. In the first half, the number of international home brands joining JD surged over 130 percent year-on-year. Recent additions include Muji, Natuzzi Italia and Hay, according to JD.
\n
The partnership with Ikea further signals the platform's ambition to "bring global design into Chinese households", while supporting Ikea's efforts to deepen localization and broaden market reach in China.
Chinese cybersecurity company 360 Security Group unveiled its latest AI-powered security products on Wednesday, as it looks to improve cybersecurity operations for enterprises in the age of artificial intelligence.
\n
At its product launch and partner conference held in Beijing, the company introduced a suite of intelligent security agents and its updated full-stack security operations platform driven by AI. The offering reflects 360's sharpened focus on "security-as-a-service", aiming to meet rising enterprise demands amid accelerating digital transformation and increasingly sophisticated cyber threats in the AI era.
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"AI technology is profoundly transforming all sectors. Traditional internet products and business models will be completely reshaped," said Huang Jian, vice-president at 360 Security. "360 is going all-in on AI.We were among the first to invest in foundational large models and are deploying full-stack AI applications across consumer, business, government and small-to-medium-sized businesses."
\n
Built on 360 Security's proprietary AI large models, 360 Security brain, and over two decades of real-world security expertise, the company unveiled three categories of AI agents: security, management and enterprise services. These AI agents target core enterprise scenarios — safeguarding infrastructure, improving operational efficiency and streamlining office functions.
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The company said the security agent detects three times more threats than manual systems, with a tenfold improvement in speed and a 20 percent increase in accuracy. The management agent automates event-handling at triple the previous rate, enhances post-incident reporting efficiency by 72 times, and cuts document collation time by a factor of 13. Meanwhile, the enterprise service agent is designed for plug-and-play deployment in high-frequency business domains including HR, finance, legal and marketing.
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"These AI agents are transforming the way organizations operate, from security foundations to business efficiency," said Huang. "They help public and private entities realize AI upgrades, significantly reduce the need for security manpower, and drive up productivity and operational effectiveness."
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The newly launched platform is also designed to address what the company sees as key shortcomings in traditional cybersecurity approaches — high entry costs, reliance on hardware and passive, fragmented defenses that fail to fully meet the needs of the enterprise in the AI era.
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"As digital transformation continues to deepen, cybersecurity will evolve from 'buying equipment' to 'buying services and value'," said Huang.
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The company said the new platform offers an AI-driven, standardized and visualized SaaS solutions. It enables enterprise customers to access national-grade cybersecurity protection — including defense against external attacks and internal data leaks — without upfront investments in hardware or software.
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According to 360, 98 percent of security alerts can now be automatically handled by AI agents. The platform also integrates security experts who provide 24/7 remote operations, ensuring a closed-loop cloud-based security process.
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"Together with partners, we will continue to refine products around real customer needs," said Huang. "We believe in agile, win-win and long-term collaborations — and in seizing the decade-long opportunity ahead in the digital security market."
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The company's product launch comes as the booming AI sector is reshaping the country's cybersecurity landscape with both unprecedented opportunities and complex risks.
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In a resolution adopted at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee in July last year, it was clearly stated that the country will strengthen cybersecurity and institute oversight systems to ensure the safety of AI.
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"AI is both a strategic opportunity and a disruptive challenge for cybersecurity," said Zhao Zhiguo, executive deputy director of the Expert Advisory Committee of the Internet Society of China.
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"AI amplifies threats, accelerates attacks and further deepens the asymmetry between attackers and defenders.
\n
"We must build a more flexible, intelligent and collaborative security system," Zhao said. "It's not just about breaking through, it's about reconstructing a new intelligent defense architecture."
\n
He offered three key recommendations: system-wide deployment of AI in cybersecurity infrastructure, scenario-driven innovation led by top firms, and a focus on real-world, battle-tested applications such as advanced threat detection and vulnerability analysis. "Cybersecurity is a complex engineering effort," Zhao emphasized. "It requires the joint efforts of government, enterprises, research institutions and all sectors of society."
\n \n \n Against the backdrop of Qinhuang Lake and the city skyline, the Chengdu World Games officially opened on Thursday night, themed \"Boundless Sports, Countless Wonders\".\n \n \n
\n \n \n The opening ceremony reached its climax when the final two torchbearers - Chinese waterskiers Xu Lu and Alu Xiaobo — glided across the water behind powerboats, carrying torches passed to them by snooker player Ding Junhui and Olympic and TWG trampoline champion Dong Dong. Xu and Alu then lit the main cauldron, designed as a water-shaped spout rising from the lake, as fireworks lit up the sky in a dazzling display.\n \n \n
\n \n \n As the largest-ever edition, the Chengdu World Games has attracted a record 6,679 total participants, including athletes and officials, from 116 countries and regions. The 3,942 athletes will compete in 256 events across 34 sports.\n \n \n
\n \n \n China has sent its largest-ever delegation: 489 members, including 321 athletes. The Chinese athletes, which has also included para-athletes for the first time, are competing in 152 events across 28 sports and making its debut in 12, including cheerleading, flying disc and powerboating.\n \n \n
\n \n \n A video of rabbits bouncing on a trampoline has gone viral on social media, garnering millions of views and shares over platforms. It started on July 27 when a TikTok user posted a video with the caption, \"Just checked the home security cam and… I think we've got guest performers out back!\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n First, as the video starts, pay close attention to two bunnies on the left-hand side of the trampoline. What initially looks like two grey rabbits sitting side-by-side, unnaturally warps into a single bunny, which bounds away.\n \n \n
\n \n \n A similar transformation occurs with two other rabbits around the five-second mark.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n To spot the subtle flaw, focus on the leftmost rabbit as it starts to run across the trampoline. The rabbit jumps up and obscures another rabbit sitting on the back edge, which has vanished by the time the first rabbit lands.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n A fact-checking platform Snopes stated that\n \n \n \n \n the account that posted the video previously shared at least one video (archived) generated by Google's artificial video generator \"\n \n \n \n \n \n Veo\n \n \n \n \n \", as evidenced by a watermark on the footage.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Despite the subtle hints and the account's unusual behaviour, many people still found themselves falling for the clip.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Some commenters even joked that they had thought only their parents would fall for fake AI content. One wrote: \"A few years ago I was laughing at my mother for believing AI.\" Another joked: \"I'm getting scammed when I'm older.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n Experts say there are many reasons why this was so believable\n \n \n \n \n , such as surveillance footage providing a sense of authenticity. Before AI became popular, security footage was viewed as a reliable record, according to CBS News Confirmed.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Nobody\n \n \n , the first feature-length film adapted from the hit animated series\n \n \n Yao\n \n \n \n \n \n —\n \n \n \n \n \n Chinese Folktales\n \n \n , set to premiere in Chinese theaters on Saturday.\n \n \n
\n \n \n The film, a spin-off based of one of the eight stand-alone short stories from the\n \n \n Yao — Chinese Folktales\n \n \n anthology,\n \n \n Nobody\n \n \n follows the adventures of four grassroots monsters: a pig, a toad, a chimpanzee and a mink.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Disguised as the Buddhist monk Xuanzang and his three disciples, they set out on a quest to obtain sacred Buddhist scrolls in hopes of achieving immortality. However, their quest soon takes an unexpected turn as they find themselves battling evil and saving innocent villagers.\n \n \n
\n \n \n The production took over two years and involved a team of more than 600 animators. It features over 1,800 animated shots and more than 2,000 background paintings, with an aesthetic inspired by traditional Chinese brushwork.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Chen Liaoyu, the film's executive producer and art director, shared that the visual style is rooted in traditional ink wash painting, enriched with vibrant colors, dynamic lighting, and a realistic sense of space to create a fantastical yet believable world for the audience.\n \n \n
\n \n \n The film appeals to young urban audiences by depicting workplace challenges. The characters face obstacles and misunderstandings while representing the experiences of ordinary urban employees and their efforts to maintain personal values and goals.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n On the G1546 train from Nanning East to Hangzhou West, a post-00s train attendant Qin Yunhao carries a plastic bag with him every time he works during the busy summer travel season, according to China Railway's official social media account.\n \n \n \n
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\n \n \n \n \n \n
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\n \n \n \n This \"mysterious plastic bag\" contains a stack of primary school exam papers for various grades. If children are being noisy, Qin approaches them and \"rewards\" them with a test paper.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n This summer, Qin's train has been especially crowded, popular with study tour groups and families. At times, student passengers make up half the carriage. Keeping children calm is a frequent topic discussed among the crew.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \"I noticed some parents bring their kids' summer homework on board, which keeps them busy and quiet,\" Qin said. \"So I thought, why not print simple exam papers for parents who didn't bring any?\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n He added that many of his colleagues have their own tricks, like giving out coloring books, stickers, or small toys that help improve concentration. Some trains even set up \"mobile play zones\" in dining cars for young travelers.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n \n Qin advises parents to prepare cartoons, movies, toys, or picture books to make trips more enjoyable.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n 图源：新浪微博@七三一官方微博截图\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Chinese historical drama titled\n \n \n \"731,\"\n \n \n which revisits the horrific World War II-era human experiments conducted by Japan's notorious germ warfare unit 731, is set to premiere on Sept 18, sources associated with the film have said.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n \n \n 二战期间，侵华日军第七三一部队在哈尔滨市平房区以“给水防疫”为名，秘密研制细菌武器，抓捕平民、抗日志士等进行活体实验，成为日本军国主义实施细菌战的铁证。\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Unit 731, a top-secret biological and chemical warfare research base, was established in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang province, and served as the nerve center for Japanese biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia during WWII.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 图源：\n \n \n \n \n \n 新浪微博@七三一官方微博截图\n \n \n \n \n \n \n 据新华社报道，主创团队介绍，影片讲述了当地小贩王永章等人被强行抓入“特设监狱”，侵华日军以“配合健康检查与防疫研究即可换取自由”的虚伪承诺，欺骗他们遭受冻伤实验、毒气实验、活体解剖等极端折磨的故事。\n \n \n
\n \n \n According to the film's director Zhao Linshan, it tells the story of Wang Yongzhang, a local vendor, and others who were imprisoned and lured by false promises of freedom in exchange for cooperation with health checks and disease prevention research.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Instead, they became victims of brutal medical experiments carried out by the occupying Japanese forces -- including frostbite testing, gas exposure and vivisection.\n \n \n
\n \n \n “日本侵略者给中国人民带来了沉重灾难，这是不容忘却的历史。”侵华日军第七三一部队罪证陈列馆馆长金成民说，\n \n 影片展现绝境下中国人不屈的反抗精神，警醒世人铭记历史、捍卫和平。\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"This is a history that must never be forgotten,\" said Jin Chengmin, a historical adviser for the film and head of the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"The film reveals the inhumane atrocities committed by the invading Japanese army through the eyes of ordinary civilians, while highlighting the unyielding resistance spirit of the Chinese people in the face of despair,\" Jin said. \"It serves as a powerful reminder to safeguard peace.\"\n \n \n \n \n \n 定档消息发出后\n \n \n \n \n 相关话题引发关注\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 网友：真相不能忘！\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n \n \n A master's graduate surnamed Yang in Zhengzhou, Henan province has taken social media by storm with his artistic take on\n \n shaobing\n \n (Chinese flatbread), amassing over 400,000 followers within just two months.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Yang, a young postgraduate from North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, started a\n \n shaobing\n \n business after quitting his previous job. Using just a utility knife, he sculpts the dough into elaborate shapes ranging from firearms like Desert Eagles to popular cartoon characters such as Labubu and Hello Kitty.\n \n \n
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\n \n His stall has become particularly popular among children, who jokingly refer to it as a \"flour arsenal\". Daily queues form as soon as he opens for business, with some elderly customers reportedly waiting up to two hours to buy his creations for their grandchildren.\n \n
\n \n What began as a custom request from a child has blossomed into a viral phenomenon, with each piece meticulously hand-carved using only a utility knife — a skill he attributes to the spatial imagination honed during his engineering studies.\n \n
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\n \n Remarkably, Yang prices each artistic flatbread at just 1 yuan ($0.14), despite their intricate designs. \"I initially sold them for 3 to 5 yuan but lowered the price to make them affordable for children,\" he explained.\n \n
\n \n \n His Douyin bio — \"Unemployed civil engineering grad selling\n \n shaobing\n \n \" — underscores the unconventional career pivot that has sparked heated debate online.\n \n \n
\n \n While many applaud his creativity and defiance of \"elite job\" stereotypes, critics question whether street vending justifies his education. Undeterred, Yang sees his venture as liberation. \"Traditional civil engineering didn't suit me,\" he shared, adding that livestreaming and content creation now fuel his entrepreneurial ambitions. His story resonates with a growing cohort of Chinese youth redefining success beyond conventional career tracks.\n \n
\n \n \n \n With a performance inspired by the Terracotta Warriors, the Chinese artistic swimming team concluded their World\n \n \n \n \n Aquatics\n \n \n \n \n Championships campaign in Singapore on July 25, as they secured a gold in the team acrobatic event, bringing their total medal tally to four golds and three silvers in the tournament with gold medals in all three team events.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Wearing golden headbands symbolizing the legendary Monkey King, China's artistic swimmers brought the myth to life in a powerful Wukong-inspired routine to win gold in the team technical event at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships last Tuesday. Their performance, based on the popular Chinese video game\n \n Black Myth: Wukong\n \n , earned China 307.8001 points.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Performing a routine titled \"Soul of the Terracotta Army\", the Chinese squad topped the preliminary round and carried that momentum into the team acrobatic final on Friday, where they scored 229.0186 points to secure the gold.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Dead to Rights\n \n \n \n \n \n ,\n \n \n a film set during the Nanjing Massacre,\n \n \n \n \n \n opened in domestic theaters on July 25\n \n \n \n \n \n .\n \n \n \n \n Marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), the film revisits one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II through the perspective of a group of unsung heroes.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Set against the Nanjing Massacre, the film follows a group of civilians sheltering in a photo studio.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Forced to develop a Japanese military photographer's film to survive, they accidentally uncover photographic proof of the atrocities. Initially focused on mere survival, they ultimately risk everything to preserve the evidence and expose the war crimes.\n \n \n
\n \n \n The most powerful core of this film lies in its tearing open the veil of history, allowing me an outsider to viscerally empathize wth the unimaginable suffering endured by the Chinese nation during the catastraphe. It doesn't shy away from the darkness, nor does it gloss over the pain. It confronts the nation's scars with immense artistic courage.\n \n \n
\n \n \n China's 2025 summer box office, including presales, exceeded 5 billion yuan on Sunday. Daily box office takings have remained above 100 million yuan for 10 consecutive days. On Saturday alone, ticket sales hit 293 million yuan, setting a new single-day high for this year's summer movie season.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Leading the charts is Universal's \"Jurassic World Rebirth,\" with 541 million yuan in ticket sales, followed by Chinese comedy \"The Lychee Road,\" which has grossed 468 million yuan. Other top performers include Japanese animated movie \"Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback,\" Peter Chan's crime drama \"She's Got No Name\" and the sports film \"F1 The Movie\" starring Brad Pitt.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n On Tuesday, the United States announced a decision to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) by the end of December 2026. This marks the third time Washington has exited UNESCO.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n According to a statement by the US State Department, the withdrawal was prompted by what Washington perceived as UNESCO's tendency to \"advance divisive social and cultural causes,\" particularly regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n \n The US exit will take effect at the end of December 2026.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO expressed regret over the US decision, calling it inconsistent with the fundamental principles of multilateralism.\n \n \n
\n \n \n UNESCO said the US exit was regrettable but came as no surprise. \"However regrettable, this announcement was expected, and UNESCO has prepared for it,\" Azoulay said in a statement.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n \n \"We have implemented major structural reforms and diversified our funding sources. Thanks to the efforts made by the Organization since 2018, the decline in US financial contributions has been effectively offset,\" she stated.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n Earlier Tuesday afternoon, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed on his X account France's \"unwavering support\" for UNESCO. He called UNESCO a \"universal guardian of science, the ocean, education, culture, and world heritage.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n France, as the host country and a founding member of UNESCO, regrets the US decision to quit UNESCO, the spokesperson of the country's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n S\n \n \n \n ince Donald Trump's second term in office started early this year, the Trump administration had announced its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Human Rights Council.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n \n \n The finals of the 2025 RoboCup Humanoid League\n \n \n \n \n concluded on Sunday in Brazil, with Tsinghu\n \n \n \n \n \n \n a U\n \n \n \n \n niversity's Hephaestus team beating China Agricultural University's Mountain Sea tea\n \n \n \n \n m 5:3 to clinch the title.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n China has made history by winning the gold for the first time in the 28-year history of the tournament's Humanoid AdultSize Soccer Competition.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Chinese teams showed dominant form from the group stage onward. Hephaestus, powered by the domestically developed T1 humanoid robots, overwhelmed opponents with multiple clean-sheet victories, including 16:0, 9:0, and 12:0 triumphs over UT Austin Villa from the United States.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n One highlight of the tournament came during the group stage, when a Hephaestus robot scored the tournament's \"best goal\"\n \n \n \n \n \n .\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
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\n \n \n \n In a moment reminiscent of Dutch footballer Robin van Persie's iconic diving header, the robot read the ball's trajectory at the goalmouth and launched forward to head the ball into the net. The dramatic goal was dubbed the \"robot Van Persie dive.\"\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n Other Chinese teams also delivered impressive results, with Tsinghua's TH-MOS team taking second place in the KidSize category. In the KidSize soccer competition final, both the German champions Boosted HTWK and China's TH-MOS team relied on the K1 robot.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Notably, both Chinese and international teams, including those from Germany and the US, chose to use China-made humanoid robots such as the T1 and K1, underscoring the growing global influence of Chinese robotics.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Founded in 1997, RoboCup is the world's leading robotics competition, known for its scale, prestige, and technological rigor. Among its many leagues, the Humanoid category attracts the most attention.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n \n The ultimate goal of the RoboCup Initiative is stated as,\"By the middle of the 21st century, a team of fully autonomous humanoid robot soccer players shall win a soccer game, complying with the official rules of FIFA, against the winner of the most recent World Cup,\"\n \n \n according to its official website.\n \n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Several of the teams that participated in RoboCup 2025 are also expected to compete at the upcoming first World Humanoid Sports Games to be held in August in Beijing, where the world's first 5v5 AI robotic soccer will be introduced.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n Health authorities said all affected children received treatment, with nearly all now discharged after their blood lead levels dropped by around 40 percent on average. The government is covering medical costs and has set up a monitoring program to track the children's recovery.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Seventeen officials have been placed under disciplinary investigation, and 10 others, including senior health and education officials in Tianshui city and its Maiji district, Gansu province, face formal accountability procedures, according to a report released on Sunday.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n Authorities said the kindergarten was operating without a license and that local education and market supervision departments failed to carry out oversight. Some officials are suspected of accepting bribes and favors from the kindergarten's investor. Disciplinary and criminal investigations have been launched against officials, including the head of the provincial health commission and the mayor of Tianshui.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Authorities found that the kindergarten's management had instructed staff to add brightly colored but inedible industrial pigments to foods such as corn rolls and jujube cakes (steamed buns), to make them look more appealing to children and parents.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n Two samples from Peixin — a tricolor red date sponge cake served at breakfast and a corn roll with sausage served at dinner — failed to meet food safety standards. The samples contained lead levels of 1,052 milligrams per kilogram and 1,340 milligrams per kilogram, respectively, far above the national limit of 0.5 milligram per kilogram.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n On Sunday, officials revealed in a report that six had been arrested on suspicion of producing toxic and harmful food.\n \n \n
\n \n \n AI hallucination occurs when an AI model generates false or illogical information that is not based on real data or events, but is presented as fact. Hallucinations can lead to significant consequences when people use AI for tasks with the potential for high-stakes consequences.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Launched by Fudan University and sponsored by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in China, the Youth Innovation Competition on Global Governance (YICGG) is an international competition that encourages youths from around the world to develop innovative global governance solutions.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Apart from having the required curriculum, Science and Technology Branch of\n \n \n \n \n Beijing Academy\n \n \n \n \n focus more on teaching science and technology. The school is guided jointly by the\n \n \n \n \n Beijing Academy\n \n \n \n \n Educational Group and five nearby universities.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n With the five universities giving students access to their labs and arranging for lectures by their professors, the school aims to rear talents interested in science and technology.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Faced with the challenges of the economic globalization, where cross-cultural dialogue has an important place, education is booming increasingly globalized.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n Ever since the concept of Education for International Understanding was proposed by UNESCO, this dialogue has been highlighted by the government.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n The Ministry of Education of China has repeatedly pointed out that the development of core competencies for Chinese students is required to be in line with the world education reform, and strengthens the international competitiveness of China's education.\n \n \n
\n \n \n In a small workshop in Wuhan, Hubei province, traditional Chinese elements like dragons and cranes aren't just painted on walls or silk — they're coming alive on sneakers.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n Behind these creations is Wang Qing, a 26-year-old postgraduate student at the School of Arts and Design, Wuhan University of Technology.\n \n \n
\n \n \n One of his most popular collections was inspired by the animated film\n \n \n White Snake\n \n \n (2019), a modern retelling of a classic Chinese legend. The design features a dragon that coils gently around the shoe's emblem, blending into a misty mountain background. A silhouette emerges from the clouds on the heel, adding a scent of romantic mystique.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Beyond folklore, Wang's work incorporates regional heritage. For example, his \"Waking Lion\" series pays homage to the lion dance traditions.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \"I loved reciting Chinese poems when I was little and was deeply fascinated by the artistic conception brought by the verses,\" he said. \"Even before the term 'China chic' existed, traditional culture was already influencing my imagination.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n In a spontaneous moment in 2022, he decided to repair his torn skate shoes by drawing Chinese-style cartoon patterns on them. That was when the idea of wearable culture took form.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Wang explained that government-backed innovation programs have played a crucial role in helping their team expand.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n Through Hubei's entrepreneurship fund for university students, his team secured 50,000 yuan in initial funding. Later, by participating in a youth innovation competition, they received an additional 100,000 yuan and established valuable connections with investors and policy advisers.\n \n \n
\n \n \n But for Wang, it's not just about decoration. \"It's never as easy as simply copying a symbol and printing it on a shoe,\" he said. \"We consider the shoe's silhouette, its structure, and how each design element complements the form.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n His academic background in landscape architecture gives him a unique edge. Wang believes that core design principles — structure, proportion, and harmony — are transferable across disciplines. \"When I design a 50-square-meter courtyard, I think about plant arrangement, paving patterns, water features — it's all about composition,\" he said. \"Sneakers may be a smaller canvas, but the design logic is similar.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n To maintain high standards, Wang and his team traveled to major footwear material markets in Houjie, Guangdong, and Quanzhou, Fujian, to source better materials. One result: their shoes are 30 percent more scratch-resistant than comparable handcrafted products.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n When facing color fading issues, Wang consulted a doctoral researcher in materials science at his university and developed a pigment formula that preserves color saturation while enhancing wear resistance.\n \n \n
\n \n \n The team also established its own design database and incorporated an AI color-matching system. \"This allows us to complete color matching in approximately 10 seconds,\" Wang noted. \"Designers then build on this foundation by adding elements, significantly boosting design efficiency.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n Looking ahead, Wang hopes to launch his own China chic fashion brand, expanding into clothing, accessories, and global markets. \"Being Chinese and growing up with these traditions has deeply influenced me,\" he said.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \"We want to create something that truly belongs to us and reflects our identity. Our dream is to make Chinese brands more high-end and infuse international brands with the spirit of Chinese culture.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Recently, an influencer launched a creative writing challenge where participants were randomly assigned past national college entrance exam essay prompts. A construction worker was assigned\n \n \n \n \n \"My Mother\"—the 1957 gaokao composition topic.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n He wrote:\n \n \n \n \n \"The grass on my mother's grave turns green\n \n \n \n \n ,\n \n \n \n \n then yellow\n \n \n \n \n ;\n \n \n \n \n yellow\n \n \n \n \n ,\n \n \n \n \n then green—just like my longing. Year after year, it never fades. I'\n \n \n \n \n ve become a father and then a grandfather, yet it's been over thirty years since I last called out '\n \n \n \n \n Mom'.\n \n \n \n \n I keep thinking, when the day comes that I can no longer haul cement, I'\n \n \n \n \n ll return to the village and lie down beside that mound of earth. Maybe then, if I call for my mother again, she'll hear me.\"\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n When asked about the essay, the worker\n \n \n \n \n ,\n \n \n \n \n surnamed An,\n \n \n \n \n said: \"\n \n \n \n \n This composition reflects\n \n \n \n \n my family's truth—it'\n \n \n \n \n s my own\n \n \n \n \n lived experience.\"\n \n \n \n \n He recalled how his mother cared for him and his seven siblings. \"\n \n \n \n \n The prompt '\n \n \n \n \n My Mother'\n \n \n \n \n felt deeply moving,\"\n \n \n \n \n he explained. \"\n \n \n \n \n That's what compelled me to pour my heart into this writing.\"\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n Known to some Westerners as \"century eggs\" or \"thousand-year-old eggs\" for their dark, translucent appearance and bold flavor, these traditional Chinese delicacies have long sparked mixed reactions abroad.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Once dubbed one of the world's most disgusting foods, China's preserved eggs are now flying off the shelves at Costco stores across the United States.\n \n \n
\n \n \n The buzz began on Xiaohongshu, where Chinese shoppers in the US posted photos of the eggs on display. The posts quickly drew a flood of comments asking for store locations and ZIP codes.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Then came a viral boost. US food influencer \"The Sushi Guy\" reviewed the eggs on TikTok and YouTube, drawing more than 660,000 views. Food site Tasting Table followed up with a feature exploring the eggs' cultural roots and distinctive taste.\n \n \n
\n \n \n On TikTok, adventurous eaters filmed their reactions: some recoiled at the first bite, then returned for more.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n 在线下购买皮蛋的消费者\n \n
\n
\n \n 除了华人之外\n \n
\n
\n \n 也可以看到当地人的身影\n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n 在TikTok上\n \n
\n
\n \n 皮蛋还收获了不少“回头客”\n \n
\n
\n \n 他们不少都是初尝“拒绝”\n \n
\n
\n \n 不知不觉就对皮蛋“上瘾”了\n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n On TikTok, adventurous eaters filmed their reactions: some recoiled at the first bite, then returned for more. \"I don't know what I'm doing, but it's weirdly addictive,\" said vloggers.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \"We planned enough stock for three months – some stores ran out in under three days,\" sales manager of the company behind the product said.\n \n \n
\n \n This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.\n \n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n Today, July 7, is etched in history with the Lugou Bridge Incident (1937) in Beijing, when Japanese troops attacked Lugou Bridge (Marco Polo Bridge) and the defending Chinese troops rose to fight the enemy. The event triggered China's full-scale war of resistance against Japanese aggression, also a main Eastern theater of the World Anti-Fascist War.\n \n
\n \n \n Japan has never fully reflected on its aggressive acts and war crimes before and during World War II. Right-wing forces have repeatedly downplayed or glorified this history, promoting revisionist narratives that blur public understanding of World War II.\n \n \n
China is glad to see Russia and the United States maintaining contact, improving their bilateral relations and advancing the political settlement process of the Ukraine crisis, President Xi Jinping said.
\n
Xi made the remark during a phone conversation on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
\n
Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said on Thursday that Russia and the US had reached an agreement on a meeting between the two countries' presidents in the coming days.
\n
During the phone talks on Friday, Putin briefed Xi on Russia's views on the current situation of the Ukraine crisis and the recent contacts and communications between Russia and the US.
\n
Putin said that Russia highly appreciates the constructive role China has played in the political settlement of the crisis.
\n
Noting that "there are no simple solutions to complex issues", Xi elaborated on China's principled position.
\n
No matter how the situation changes, China will stick to its consistent position and keep promoting peace and talks, Xi said.
\n
Putin said the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination will not change under any circumstances, and Moscow is willing to maintain close communication with Beijing.
\n
During the call, the two leaders spoke highly of the high-level political mutual trust and strategic cooperation between China and Russia.
\n
They agreed to work together to promote greater development in bilateral relations.
\n
During the phone conversation, the two leaders spoke about the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as China will host the SCO summit in North China's Tianjin from Aug 31 to Sept 1.
\n
Xi and Putin agreed that both sides will collaborate closely to ensure the successful preparation of the SCO Tianjin Summit, making it a summit of friendship, unity with fruitful outcomes, and to advance the high-quality development of the SCO.
\n
Leaders of more than 20 countries, including all the 10 member countries of the SCO, will attend the SCO Tianjin Summit, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday.
\n
The summit will also bring together heads of 10 international organizations. This will be the largest SCO summit since the organization's founding in 2001, Guo said.
\n
According to recent media reports, Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are planning to attend the summit.
\n
"We believe that with the concerted effort of all parties, the Tianjin summit will be a gathering of solidarity, friendship and fruitful results, and the SCO will enter a new stage of high-quality development featuring greater solidarity, coordination, dynamism and productiveness," Guo said.
\n
Contact the writers at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn
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