BEIJING, June 5 (Xinhua) -- China has urged the United States to abandon its generalized and excessive use of the national security concept, and to collaborate with all parties in maintaining a rules-based multilateral trading system, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.
At a regular press conference, He Yongqian, spokesperson for the ministry, made the remarks when asked to comment on the U.S. decision to raise tariffs on imported steel, aluminium and their derivative products from 25 percent to 50 percent.
He said that such U.S. moves not only harm others and itself, but also will severely disrupt the stability of global industrial and supply chains.
The United States should abandon the zero-sum mentality, address respective concerns through equal dialogue, and jointly maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains, He said.
\n \n \n A primary school in Shanghai has drawn widespread attention after reports revealed it has just 22 students across five classes, but 23 full-time teachers.\n \n \n
\n \n \n According to a local official bulletin published in April, Sanqiao Primary School in Pudong New Area is listed as having five classes with 22 students, giving it a teacher–student ratio of nearly one-to-one. A notice on the school's official WeChat account also stated that only one new first-grade class will be admitted in 2025.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n The figures quickly went viral, with some netizens describing the setup as a \"luxurious one-on-one tutoring arrangement\n \n \n \n \n \"\n \n \n \n \n , while others criticized it as a waste of educational resources.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n A staff member from the Pudong district government's student enrolment and examination center confirmed that the data about the school was accurate. Every school can only recruit students from their designated catchment areas, and for Sanqiao \"the number of age-appropriate children in the actual catchment area is just this many\", the staff member said.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n The decline in student numbers has been particularly dramatic in Sanqiao's case because several residential communities in the school's catchment area were recently demolished and relocated, the staff member explained.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Education expert Xiong Bingqi, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said Sanqiao's case is mainly the result of several residential communities in the school's catchment area recently undergoing relocation, which does not represent the overall situation in Shanghai.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Xiong rejected the idea that \"having more teachers than students\" means wasting resources. With primary education now expected to balance moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor education, it is unrealistic to expect one or two teachers to cover all subjects, he noted.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Looking ahead, Xiong predicted that more small-scale schools with only a few dozen or around 100 students will emerge in both cities and rural areas. Improving school standards and promoting small-class teaching, he added, should be the way forward.\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 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
Shoppers browse smart electric cookers at a store in Changzhou, Jiangsu province.
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An AI-powered air conditioner on display during an industry expo in Shanghai earlier this year.
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Air conditioners that automatically control the humidity and temperature of a room, based on artificial intelligence-powered voice interactions and machine learning ability to track consumer habits, have already become part of people's daily lives in China.
\n
Nowadays, people can play games, engage in physical exercise, make purchases online and have video chats with friends and family members via intelligent televisions.
\n
Thanks to the rapid development of AI, an increasing number of home appliances can be controlled through voice commands and facial recognition, helping to better understand and satisfy the personalized and diversified demands of users.
\n
Experts said rapidly evolving artificial intelligence is expected to create new consumption growth drivers and inject strong impetus into China's home appliance industry, as the cutting-edge digital technology spearheads a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation.
\n
AI is not only playing an increasingly pivotal role in boosting productivity and reshaping the competitive landscape in the household appliances market, but also driving the transformation and upgrade of the traditional manufacturing sector, they said.
\n
The State Council, China's Cabinet, recently issued a guideline on deeply implementing the "AI Plus" initiative. According to the guideline, the country will promote the use of AI in science and technology, industrial development, consumption, people's well-being, governance capability and global cooperation.
\n
By 2027, China will extensively and deeply integrate AI in six key sectors, with the penetration rate of new-generation intelligent terminals and AI agents surpassing 70 percent, and this figure will exceed 90 percent by 2030, the guideline said.
\n
The country has recognized AI as essential to fostering new quality productive forces and activating new growth drivers. Leading Chinese consumer electronics and home appliance makers are racing to incorporate AI technology into manufacturing, products and services.
\n
AI is reshaping the industrial landscape and will be the biggest technological revolution in the next 50 years, said Zhou Yunjie, chairman and CEO of Chinese home appliance giant Haier Group. "At present, the deployment of AI in enterprises is mainly concentrated on manufacturing, research and development, sales, procurement and services."
\n
Highlighting that every industry will integrate with AI, and any enterprise that does not embrace AI will eventually be weeded out, Zhou noted that the integration of AI models with home service robots and terminal devices will create new growth drivers for the global consumer electronics industry.
\n
The company has invested heavily in developing large language models and is promoting the adoption of AI in a wide range of fields such as household appliances and industrial internet, he said.
\n
AI models tailored for the smart home domain represent key infrastructure supporting transformation of the traditional home appliances sector, he added.
\n
Li Dongsheng, founder and chairman of Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer TCL Technology Group Corp, said, "The application of AI in the high-tech manufacturing sector will bring about greater value than its use in terminal products, as this state-of-the-art digital technology will significantly improve the production efficiency and competitiveness of China's manufacturing enterprises."
\n
Li said AI is increasingly embedded into intelligent production lines, product research and development, and terminal devices, which will further bolster the development of China's high-tech manufacturing sector.
\n
"We established an AI research and development center in Poland in 2018. Prior to that, we set up an R&D center in the United States in 2011. As a manufacturing enterprise, we will focus more on the application of AI," Li said.
\n
He said China's breakthroughs in LLMs, along with the meteoric rise of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, have enabled it to rapidly catch up with the United States in the AI segment, while surpassing most other developed economies in terms of AI application.
\n
This year's Government Work Report stated that under the "AI Plus" initiative, the nation will work to effectively combine digital technologies with its manufacturing and market strengths, support the extensive application of large-scale AI models, and vigorously develop new-generation intelligent terminals and smart manufacturing equipment.
\n
According to a report by China Merchants Securities, the market scale of the smart home devices sector in China will reach 952.3 billion yuan ($133.9 billion) in 2025, with the penetration rate of AI technology exceeding 50 percent. In the next 10 years, smart household appliances will experience explosive growth.
\n
"We are pushing forward the integration of AI with data and speeding up the industrial use of AI," said Liu Jiang, chairman of Sichuan Changhong Electronics Holding Group Co Ltd.
\n
The company is leveraging AI to inspect the quality of machines and components to facilitate the automation and intelligent upgrade of equipment and improve the efficiency of production lines, Liu said.
\n
Changhong has applied AI technology into areas such as manufacturing, operations and products. It has unveiled plans to establish 66 AI-powered intelligent factories worldwide, and has rolled out AI televisions equipped with LLMs that support multimodal interaction functions including voice, gesture and expressions.
\n
Hisense Group said its Xinghai large language model is deeply integrated with DeepSeek, and with enhanced deep thinking and reasoning abilities, its smart TVs can better understand user demands, and provide them with a more natural interaction experience.
\n
Statistics from Beijing-based consultancy All View Cloud, which focuses on the home appliances sector, showed that the sales of home appliances in China reached 907.1 billion yuan last year, up 6.4 percent year-on-year, a fresh record.
\n
China's AI sector will make big strides in the next 10 to 15 years, with its market size reaching 1.73 trillion yuan by 2035, accounting for 30.6 percent of the global total, said market research company CCID Consulting.
\n
Gree Electric Appliances, a major Chinese home appliance manufacturer based in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, has embedded its own proprietary model framework into DeepSeek R1 and plans to build an industry-specific AI model based on DeepSeek.
\n
Dong Mingzhu, chairwoman of Gree, said the company will bolster the integration of image and voice recognition and other AI technologies with home appliance products, and expects the application of AI in air conditioners to contribute to energy conservation.
\n
"The rise of AI technology will offer better human-machine interaction capacities and advance the intelligent transformation of the traditional home appliances sector, while unleashing immense consumption potential," said Liu Fei, research director of the consumer electronics department at All View Cloud.
\n
Chinese consumers have shown increased demand for high-quality and smart home equipment along with the iteration and upgrade of product functions and technologies, Liu said, adding that the accelerated adoption of AI in household appliances will further stimulate consumers' purchasing appetites, thereby expanding domestic demand and shoring up the economy.
\n
However, some challenges and difficulties have cropped up in the development of smart home devices, Liu said.
\n
AI-powered home appliance products made by different manufacturers usually cannot be connected, and they still rely on foreign suppliers for high-end smart chips, Liu said.
\n
Hong Yong, an associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said the adoption of AI can reduce production costs, improve the quality of products and optimize resource allocation, thus bringing about huge economic benefits.
\n
He added that the new type of consumption is mainly driven by technological advancements in AI, with a focus on consumers' personalized and diversified needs.
\n
Midea Group is bolstering the application of AI technology in intelligent manufacturing, smart home, robotic and healthcare segments.
\n
Zhong Zheng, vice-president of Midea, called for stepping up R&D investment in AI, especially in core technologies in key fields, establishing a data security and privacy protection system, and strengthening the training of high-caliber AI talent.
\n
Liang Zhenpeng, an independent consumer electronics analyst, said that as smart air conditioners precisely adjust room temperatures and TVs recommend and broadcast programs in accordance with the preferences of consumers, household appliances have turned into people's companions.
\n
China's smart home industry is developing by leaps and bounds, fueled by advances in cutting-edge technologies represented by AI, Liang said, adding that home appliances are creating a more comfortable and smarter home environment for residents with the help of AI.
\n
Liang noted, "The emergence of AI technology will better facilitate the conversational interaction between human beings and home appliance products. Along with people's increasing desire for a high-quality life, the AI-enabled smart home sector has a promising future."
\n
Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute of New Economy, stressed on the need for Chinese home appliance enterprises to improve computing power by establishing high-performance computing centers and elevating algorithm design to boost the utilization efficiency of computing power.
\n
fanfeifei@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "\n
Shoppers browse smart electric cookers at a store in Changzhou, Jiangsu province.
\n
An AI-powered air conditioner on display during an industry expo in Shanghai earlier this year.
\n
Air conditioners that automatically control the humidity and temperature of a room, based on artificial intelligence-powered voice interactions and machine learning ability to track consumer habits, have already become part of people's daily lives in China.
\n
Nowadays, people can play games, engage in physical exercise, make purchases online and have video chats with friends and family members via intelligent televisions.
\n
Thanks to the rapid development of AI, an increasing number of home appliances can be controlled through voice commands and facial recognition, helping to better understand and satisfy the personalized and diversified demands of users.
\n
Experts said rapidly evolving artificial intelligence is expected to create new consumption growth drivers and inject strong impetus into China's home appliance industry, as the cutting-edge digital technology spearheads a new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation.
\n
AI is not only playing an increasingly pivotal role in boosting productivity and reshaping the competitive landscape in the household appliances market, but also driving the transformation and upgrade of the traditional manufacturing sector, they said.
\n
The State Council, China's Cabinet, recently issued a guideline on deeply implementing the "AI Plus" initiative. According to the guideline, the country will promote the use of AI in science and technology, industrial development, consumption, people's well-being, governance capability and global cooperation.
\n
By 2027, China will extensively and deeply integrate AI in six key sectors, with the penetration rate of new-generation intelligent terminals and AI agents surpassing 70 percent, and this figure will exceed 90 percent by 2030, the guideline said.
\n
The country has recognized AI as essential to fostering new quality productive forces and activating new growth drivers. Leading Chinese consumer electronics and home appliance makers are racing to incorporate AI technology into manufacturing, products and services.
\n
AI is reshaping the industrial landscape and will be the biggest technological revolution in the next 50 years, said Zhou Yunjie, chairman and CEO of Chinese home appliance giant Haier Group. "At present, the deployment of AI in enterprises is mainly concentrated on manufacturing, research and development, sales, procurement and services."
\n
Highlighting that every industry will integrate with AI, and any enterprise that does not embrace AI will eventually be weeded out, Zhou noted that the integration of AI models with home service robots and terminal devices will create new growth drivers for the global consumer electronics industry.
\n
The company has invested heavily in developing large language models and is promoting the adoption of AI in a wide range of fields such as household appliances and industrial internet, he said.
\n
AI models tailored for the smart home domain represent key infrastructure supporting transformation of the traditional home appliances sector, he added.
\n
Li Dongsheng, founder and chairman of Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer TCL Technology Group Corp, said, "The application of AI in the high-tech manufacturing sector will bring about greater value than its use in terminal products, as this state-of-the-art digital technology will significantly improve the production efficiency and competitiveness of China's manufacturing enterprises."
\n
Li said AI is increasingly embedded into intelligent production lines, product research and development, and terminal devices, which will further bolster the development of China's high-tech manufacturing sector.
\n
"We established an AI research and development center in Poland in 2018. Prior to that, we set up an R&D center in the United States in 2011. As a manufacturing enterprise, we will focus more on the application of AI," Li said.
\n
He said China's breakthroughs in LLMs, along with the meteoric rise of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, have enabled it to rapidly catch up with the United States in the AI segment, while surpassing most other developed economies in terms of AI application.
\n
This year's Government Work Report stated that under the "AI Plus" initiative, the nation will work to effectively combine digital technologies with its manufacturing and market strengths, support the extensive application of large-scale AI models, and vigorously develop new-generation intelligent terminals and smart manufacturing equipment.
\n
According to a report by China Merchants Securities, the market scale of the smart home devices sector in China will reach 952.3 billion yuan ($133.9 billion) in 2025, with the penetration rate of AI technology exceeding 50 percent. In the next 10 years, smart household appliances will experience explosive growth.
\n
"We are pushing forward the integration of AI with data and speeding up the industrial use of AI," said Liu Jiang, chairman of Sichuan Changhong Electronics Holding Group Co Ltd.
\n
The company is leveraging AI to inspect the quality of machines and components to facilitate the automation and intelligent upgrade of equipment and improve the efficiency of production lines, Liu said.
\n
Changhong has applied AI technology into areas such as manufacturing, operations and products. It has unveiled plans to establish 66 AI-powered intelligent factories worldwide, and has rolled out AI televisions equipped with LLMs that support multimodal interaction functions including voice, gesture and expressions.
\n
Hisense Group said its Xinghai large language model is deeply integrated with DeepSeek, and with enhanced deep thinking and reasoning abilities, its smart TVs can better understand user demands, and provide them with a more natural interaction experience.
\n
Statistics from Beijing-based consultancy All View Cloud, which focuses on the home appliances sector, showed that the sales of home appliances in China reached 907.1 billion yuan last year, up 6.4 percent year-on-year, a fresh record.
\n
China's AI sector will make big strides in the next 10 to 15 years, with its market size reaching 1.73 trillion yuan by 2035, accounting for 30.6 percent of the global total, said market research company CCID Consulting.
\n
Gree Electric Appliances, a major Chinese home appliance manufacturer based in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, has embedded its own proprietary model framework into DeepSeek R1 and plans to build an industry-specific AI model based on DeepSeek.
\n
Dong Mingzhu, chairwoman of Gree, said the company will bolster the integration of image and voice recognition and other AI technologies with home appliance products, and expects the application of AI in air conditioners to contribute to energy conservation.
\n
"The rise of AI technology will offer better human-machine interaction capacities and advance the intelligent transformation of the traditional home appliances sector, while unleashing immense consumption potential," said Liu Fei, research director of the consumer electronics department at All View Cloud.
\n
Chinese consumers have shown increased demand for high-quality and smart home equipment along with the iteration and upgrade of product functions and technologies, Liu said, adding that the accelerated adoption of AI in household appliances will further stimulate consumers' purchasing appetites, thereby expanding domestic demand and shoring up the economy.
\n
However, some challenges and difficulties have cropped up in the development of smart home devices, Liu said.
\n
AI-powered home appliance products made by different manufacturers usually cannot be connected, and they still rely on foreign suppliers for high-end smart chips, Liu said.
\n
Hong Yong, an associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said the adoption of AI can reduce production costs, improve the quality of products and optimize resource allocation, thus bringing about huge economic benefits.
\n
He added that the new type of consumption is mainly driven by technological advancements in AI, with a focus on consumers' personalized and diversified needs.
\n
Midea Group is bolstering the application of AI technology in intelligent manufacturing, smart home, robotic and healthcare segments.
\n
Zhong Zheng, vice-president of Midea, called for stepping up R&D investment in AI, especially in core technologies in key fields, establishing a data security and privacy protection system, and strengthening the training of high-caliber AI talent.
\n
Liang Zhenpeng, an independent consumer electronics analyst, said that as smart air conditioners precisely adjust room temperatures and TVs recommend and broadcast programs in accordance with the preferences of consumers, household appliances have turned into people's companions.
\n
China's smart home industry is developing by leaps and bounds, fueled by advances in cutting-edge technologies represented by AI, Liang said, adding that home appliances are creating a more comfortable and smarter home environment for residents with the help of AI.
\n
Liang noted, "The emergence of AI technology will better facilitate the conversational interaction between human beings and home appliance products. Along with people's increasing desire for a high-quality life, the AI-enabled smart home sector has a promising future."
\n
Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute of New Economy, stressed on the need for Chinese home appliance enterprises to improve computing power by establishing high-performance computing centers and elevating algorithm design to boost the utilization efficiency of computing power.
Customers browse products at a Pop Mart store on Oxford Street in London, on May 21. Collectible toys, which go beyond the practical function of traditional toys by offering greater emotional value, collectibility, and artistic appeal, have gained popularity among overseas consumers recently.
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Customers line up at a Heytea store in Times Square, New York, on March 8, as they flock to the newly opened bubble tea brand from China.
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People walk past a Luckin Coffee store before its opening in Chelsea in New York on June 8.
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The global frenzy for the Labubu doll has shone a light on how Chinese brands are crossing borders and growing in popularity worldwide.
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Domestic toy company Pop Mart's plush toys took off in 2024 after celebrities like Blackpink's Lisa and superstar Rihanna showcased their collections on social media. People now compete fiercely to buy the popular dolls, which have seen a significant increase in resale value.
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Labubu's monster sales have helped Pop Mart, built on the concept of high-quality blind box toys, grow into a billion-dollar business. It now operates over 400 stores and 2,000 vending machines worldwide.
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Meanwhile, other Chinese brands have either already proved to be an international success or are in the process of doing so.
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Online stores Shein and Temu are both well-known for offering a vast selection of low-cost products shipped directly from China. While Shein has not publicly reported its global earnings, Reuters said the company was valued at $66 billion last year. Temu is owned by Pinduoduo, a major e-commerce platform. The company's market capitalization had reached approximately $184 billion as of Sept 19.
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While the rise of e-commerce has caused a decline in many traditional retail stores, lifestyle retailer Miniso has defied the trend.
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Miniso was founded in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, in 2016, with the philosophy of "quality, affordability and fashion".
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As of 2024, the company had more than 7,500 stores worldwide. It offers a range of products including toys, beauty products, small electronics, stationery, snacks, and household goods. There are over 200 Miniso stores across 40 US states, with membership growing by 250 percent in 2024 to 2 million people, according to the company.
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Miniso's global flagship store in New York's Times Square generated nearly $80,000 in revenue on its opening day on May 19, 2023, setting a single-day sales record among its stores globally, according to a media release.
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The company is rapidly expanding, launching flagship stores in iconic locations such as Oxford Street in London, the Champs-Elysees in Paris, Seoul's Gangnam District and Tokyo's Harajuku. In July, it opened a 500-square-meter store in Melbourne, Australia.
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The NYSE-listed company reported that its revenue last year reached $2.3 billion, a 22.8 percent increase from the previous year. Consumers say they love Miniso products for their cute designs, IP collaborations and affordable prices.
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"Brands like Pop Mart have successfully created a 'collectible culture' around their products, using the blind box to tap into psychological drivers like scarcity and the thrill of discovery," Cornell University finance professor Will Cong told China Daily.
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"They bypass traditional retail barriers by launching on e-commerce and social platforms like TikTok, building communities and generating viral, user-generated content that provides authentic marketing."
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Cong added, "This digital fluency, combined with hyper-agile supply chains that enable rapid product iteration — a 'fast fashion' DNA seen in brands like Miniso and (fashion chain) Urban Revivo — allows them to respond to trends in near real time, keeping their offerings perpetually fresh and relevant."
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Beverage bubble
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The concept of bubble tea is being taken to the next level — with Chinese beverage companies including Heytea, Chagee, Coco Fresh Tea and Juice, Molly Tea, and Auntea Jenny now operating tens of thousands of stores worldwide.
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Heytea can be seen not only in New York's Chinatown. It has outlets in other major traffic areas in the city such as Times Square, Soho, the East Village, and Herald Square, which attract a diverse range of consumers from all backgrounds.
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Founded in Guangdong in 2012 by Nie Yunchen, Heytea lays claim to creating the first "cheese tea", which has a top layer of foamy cream cheese added.
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Besides offering tea latte, Heytea created a range of beverages that mix fruit with green tea or dairy.
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The company has over 4,000 stores worldwide. Its vice-president of overseas strategy and franchising, Yujia Gu, told the Los Angeles Times he believes the US market will be even bigger than China's, due to the rising appreciation of Asian culture.
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Yang Jiawen, a professor of international business and international affairs at George Washington University, said Chinese brands are still at an early stage of recognition in the US market. Product quality, effective advertising, competitive prices, and services that emphasize health and safety features will be important for the development of markets in the US and globally, Yang added.
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These brands have had huge success in China, and now they are trying to expand their market in the US.
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Luckin Coffee is the biggest coffee shop chain in China with its 22,000 stores far surpassing the 6,500 of its US competitor Starbucks.
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The company reported that its net revenue last year exceeded $4.7 billion, representing a 38.4 percent year-on-year increase, with much of it due to its rapid expansion. It opened 6,092 new stores, including 6,071 on the Chinese mainland, 21 in Singapore, and five in Hong Kong.
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In June, Luckin Coffee ventured into the US and launched its first store in New York.
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Sean Brassil, 28, who visited China in April, said he's excited to see the Chinese company in the US, after enjoying the convenience of ordering a beverage each morning from his hotel room and picking it up. "App and pay integration just feels very seamless and the way of the future," he said.
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Cotti Coffee — founded by two former Luckin Coffee executives in 2022 — is also experiencing rapid growth with over 14,000 stores worldwide in more than 28 countries and regions.
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Unlike Luckin, which is shifting from a price war to focus on quality and brand building, Cotti offers more competitive pricing to attract customers. In China, customers can buy a Cotti beverage for 10 yuan ($1.40). Although Cotti's pricing in the US isn't that competitive, it recently opened its second store in Manhattan.
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"The success of the new wave of Chinese brands in the US is driven by a sophisticated playbook that moves beyond the old 'low-cost manufacturing' model. A primary factor is their innovative reengineering of the value proposition," Cong from Cornell University said.
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"Brands like Luckin Coffee and Cotti Coffee exemplify a model of 'tech-enabled affordable convenience', using app-based ordering and small-footprint, grab-and-go stores to offer quality products at highly competitive prices. This isn't just a price war; it's a competition of operational efficiency, where technology drastically reduces overheads like rent and labor, allowing them to sustainably offer value that combines affordability with extreme convenience."
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Popular clothing brand Urban Revivo, founded in Guangzhou in 2016, is often referred to as the Chinese version of Zara, the Spanish fashion giant.
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Urban Revivo has annual sales of around $961 million with 400 stores in China and 19 across the world, mostly in Southeast Asia, according to Forbes. As a major fast-fashion player competing with brands like Zara and H&M, the store adds hundreds of new styles every week. In late February, it entered the US market with a store opening in New York's trendy Soho neighborhood.
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Blush of success
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In China, more consumers are turning to domestic beauty brands, driving strong growth in local products. At the same time, the country's cosmetics industry is being highly influenced by social media and e-commerce platforms.
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In 2022, for example, the sales of domestic Chinese brands on Douyin grew 110 percent year-on-year, according to a Xinhua News Agency report.
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From budget-friendly names like Into You and Judydoll to premium brands such as Mao Geping and Florasis, Chinese beauty labels are gaining widespread popularity.
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In the first 11 months of 2024, the export volume of Chinese beauty products and toiletries reached 1.19 million metric tons, marking an 18.2 percent increase compared with last year, General Administration of Customs data shows. Export value was $6.53 billion, up 9.4 percent on a yearly basis.
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In addition, a growing number of Chinese beauty products have entered the US market. These brands are competing with established international names by offering special pricing while emphasizing design and quality.
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Florasis, a cosmetic brand started in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, was praised by US beauty guru and influencer Jeffree Star as "the world's most beautiful makeup" for its designs, which incorporate traditional Chinese elements.
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Now available in over 110 countries and regions, the brand earned Marie Claire's 2025 Makeup Award for "Best Luxury Powder Eyeshadow" with one of its palettes.
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Another brand, Flower Knows, recognized for its dreamy, fairy-tale-style packaging, quickly went viral in China after launching in 2016, thanks to its unique design concept as well as close collaborations with social media influencers.
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Following its success in the domestic market, the brand expanded into Japan, where the company said its products are sold in over 1,000 stores. Flower Knows has also secured a partnership with Urban Outfitters, one of the leading fashion and lifestyle retailers in the US.
\n
The brand has attracted over 2 million followers on Instagram. US pop star Sabrina Carpenter was recently seen holding one of their products on a film set.
\n
Flower Knows is in discussions with major US beauty retailers like Sephora and Ulta Beauty to showcase their products, according to the company's chief marketing officer Gong Fang.
\n
Cong, the finance professor, said the US market could prove to be more profitable than the Chinese market because of its significantly higher household spending. In addition, success in the world market would "confer a powerful 'halo effect' of global prestige" and enhance brand value everywhere, including in China.
\n
He warned, however: "This potential is tempered by significant geopolitical risks, including tariffs and regulatory scrutiny, which add direct costs and uncertainty. Thus, while the US market could become more financially profitable for certain brands, its primary value for many will likely remain strategic."
\n
After the US administration in May eliminated the "de minimis "exemption by imposing duties on packages under $800 coming from China, businesses like Shein and Temu experienced a sharp decline in sales.
\n
In the first week of May, FedEx reported a 35 percent drop in packages arriving in the US from Asia. In response to the policy change, Temu and Shein opened warehouses on US soil to facilitate domestic shipping. They also raised their prices. Shein increased prices by as much as 377 percent, according to Bloomberg.
\n
Brands like Flower Knows emphasize that marketing is more important than ever during this period.
\n
"I have a very strong belief in manufacturing power in China, and we are living proof of that as well," said Fang. "Tariffs force us to innovate and focus more on establishing unique brand positioning. C-beauty should go beyond competitiveness in pricing and agility. We'll turn constraints into chances to redefine 'Made in China'."
\n
bilinlin@chinadailyusa.com
\n",
@@ -25207,28 +24393,6 @@
"hash": "174ebfdfb1e8f40e670642b74871a5e2",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "002NATION - Newly developed 'NeuroWorm' a breakthrough for neural monitoring",
- "description": "
Chinese scientists have devised "NeuroWorm", an intelligent microfiber capable of navigating freely inside the body, demonstrated through lab tests on mice, providing insights for brain-machine interfaces and neural regulation in treating certain chronic diseases.
\n
Tests showed that the microfiber, which is about 200 micrometers in width and as thin as two strands of human hair, can monitor neural electrical signals and minute tissue deformations across large areas of the body or brain while moving, unlike similar materials from other studies, which remain fixed in one location.
\n
Such advancement could redefine treatments using brain-machine interfaces or neurological disease therapies, the researchers said.
\n
"Unlike traditional Parkinson's disease treatments that require implanting multiple electrodes in different brain regions, the 'Neuro-Worm' is implanted once and can navigate various affected areas, monitoring neural electrical signals and even alleviating symptoms through electrical stimulation," said Yan Wei, a lead scientist on the team and researcher from the College of Materials Science and Engineering at Donghua University in Shanghai.
\n
"For disabled patients who need brain-machine interfaces to help move restricted body parts, this technology is equally beneficial. With a single implantation of this fiber, it can monitor neural electrical signals across a wide range of the body."
\n
Inspired by the segmented body structure of earthworms, which allows for distributed sensory and motion control, the research team led by Liu Zhiyuan, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology and Yan developed the "NeuroWorm".
\n
The study was published on the website of the journal Nature on Wednesday.
\n
"This dynamic, soft and stretchable microfiber serves as a neural interface, offering significant advantages over traditional neural interface devices that are static and require invasive procedures for repositioning," Yan said.
\n
The "NeuroWorm" fiber has other advantages over traditional devices, the researchers said. For example, it is embedded with 60 nano-level micro sensors, 15 times the number found in traditional methods. This allows for precise multipoint monitoring of neural electrical and biomechanical signals while navigating within the body after being implanted in the muscle or navigating within the brain after being implanted in the cerebral cortex of mice, said Yan.
\n
Furthermore, the fiber possesses excellent competency in softness. Long-term experiments on mice showed high biocompatibility, with the microfiber remaining in muscles for up to 13 months without adverse reactions, the researchers said.
\n
"A key innovation lies in the fiber's ability to navigate within the body. Using an open magnetic control strategy, we achieved initial controlled movement and steering within tissues, allowing the fiber to move like an earthworm through soil and record neural signals all along the path without the need for additional surgeries," said Yan.
\n
Zhu Meifang, a strategic adviser of the study, who is also director of the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials at Donghua University, said this breakthrough aims to transition bioelectronics from fixed passive recording to mobile intelligent collaboration.
\n
"The team hopes to work with more institutions in the application field to accelerate the practical use of the technology, potentially transforming the landscape of the clinical use of brain-machine interface devices as well as neural disease treatment and monitoring," she said.
\n
zhouwenting@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Chinese scientists have devised "NeuroWorm", an intelligent microfiber capable of navigating freely inside the body, demonstrated through lab tests on mice, providing insights for brain-machine interfaces and neural regulation in treating certain chronic diseases.
\n
Tests showed that the microfiber, which is about 200 micrometers in width and as thin as two strands of human hair, can monitor neural electrical signals and minute tissue deformations across large areas of the body or brain while moving, unlike similar materials from other studies, which remain fixed in one location.
\n
Such advancement could redefine treatments using brain-machine interfaces or neurological disease therapies, the researchers said.
\n
"Unlike traditional Parkinson's disease treatments that require implanting multiple electrodes in different brain regions, the 'Neuro-Worm' is implanted once and can navigate various affected areas, monitoring neural electrical signals and even alleviating symptoms through electrical stimulation," said Yan Wei, a lead scientist on the team and researcher from the College of Materials Science and Engineering at Donghua University in Shanghai.
\n
"For disabled patients who need brain-machine interfaces to help move restricted body parts, this technology is equally beneficial. With a single implantation of this fiber, it can monitor neural electrical signals across a wide range of the body."
\n
Inspired by the segmented body structure of earthworms, which allows for distributed sensory and motion control, the research team led by Liu Zhiyuan, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology and Yan developed the "NeuroWorm".
\n
The study was published on the website of the journal Nature on Wednesday.
\n
"This dynamic, soft and stretchable microfiber serves as a neural interface, offering significant advantages over traditional neural interface devices that are static and require invasive procedures for repositioning," Yan said.
\n
The "NeuroWorm" fiber has other advantages over traditional devices, the researchers said. For example, it is embedded with 60 nano-level micro sensors, 15 times the number found in traditional methods. This allows for precise multipoint monitoring of neural electrical and biomechanical signals while navigating within the body after being implanted in the muscle or navigating within the brain after being implanted in the cerebral cortex of mice, said Yan.
\n
Furthermore, the fiber possesses excellent competency in softness. Long-term experiments on mice showed high biocompatibility, with the microfiber remaining in muscles for up to 13 months without adverse reactions, the researchers said.
\n
"A key innovation lies in the fiber's ability to navigate within the body. Using an open magnetic control strategy, we achieved initial controlled movement and steering within tissues, allowing the fiber to move like an earthworm through soil and record neural signals all along the path without the need for additional surgeries," said Yan.
\n
Zhu Meifang, a strategic adviser of the study, who is also director of the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials at Donghua University, said this breakthrough aims to transition bioelectronics from fixed passive recording to mobile intelligent collaboration.
\n
"The team hopes to work with more institutions in the application field to accelerate the practical use of the technology, potentially transforming the landscape of the clinical use of brain-machine interface devices as well as neural disease treatment and monitoring," she said.
China has condemned the United States' recent veto of the Gaza ceasefire resolution at the United Nations Security Council.
\n
Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, said at Wednesday's General Assembly — which was convened in response to the recent Security Council veto in order to address the escalating crisis in Gaza and consider the next steps for peace and accountability — that the US had abused its veto power.
\n
He said that if the US had not repeatedly abused its veto, the Security Council's response to the Gaza crisis would have been more effective, and if Washington had not offered unconditional protection to Israel, Security Council resolutions and international law would not have been violated so recklessly.
\n
On Sept 18, the US vetoed a draft resolution at the UN Security Council for the sixth time. The resolution called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza as well as the release of hostages. Although 14 of the 15 Security Council members voted in favor of the draft resolution, the measure was blocked by the US veto.
\n
The US representative said his delegation vetoed the resolution because it "failed to condemn Hamas and it failed to recognize Israel's right to defend itself, amongst other serious defects".
\n
UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock told the 193-member organ that "a raised hand", "a simple 'no'" may appear routine when a permanent member of the Security Council casts a veto, but the impact is anything but ordinary.
\n
"A veto can extinguish hope for those trapped in conflict. It falls hardest on those who turn to the United Nations for peace, for relief, for a path out of suffering, for hope. And when it results in constant blockages, it can damage the credibility of this whole institution," Baerbock said.
\n
"The veto is not a privilege. It's a responsibility, entrusted to five nations to be exercised rarely in the spirit of peace and security for all," Baerbock said.
\n
Fu said the tragedy in Gaza must not continue, and an immediate and lasting ceasefire is needed. He added that China welcomes all efforts to de-escalate the current situation.
\n
History has repeatedly shown that military means cannot resolve the conflict, and that no country's security can be built on the insecurity of others. The ongoing war has already claimed the lives of more than 66,000 people in Gaza, and prolonging the violence will only bring more deaths and hatred, Fu said.
\n
China urged Israel, as the occupying power, to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, restore full access for humanitarian aid, and support relief efforts by the UN and other agencies.
\n
Fu said the two-state solution is the only viable path, stressing that Gaza and the West Bank are integral Palestinian territory and that postwar arrangements must be "Palestinians governing Palestine". He called for concrete, irreversible steps toward this goal and opposition to unilateral measures.
\n
Meanwhile, organizers of a flotilla heading toward Gaza said on Thursday that Israeli forces had stopped 39 boats carrying foreign activists and aid.
\n
The organizers denounced Israel's action as a "war crime". They said the military used aggressive tactics, including the use of water cannon, but that no one was harmed.
\n
The flotilla's progress across the Mediterranean Sea garnered international attention as nations including Turkiye, Spain and Italy sent boats or drones in case their nationals required assistance.
\n
Italy and Greece urged Israeli authorities on Wednesday to ensure the safety of the flotilla participants.
\n
Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered the expulsion of Israel's entire diplomatic delegation on Wednesday following the detention of two Colombians in the flotilla. Israel has not had an ambassador in Colombia since last year.
\n
Spain summoned Israel's top representative in Madrid on Thursday. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said that 65 Spaniards were traveling with the flotilla.
\n
Agencies and <span class="epaper-contributor">Pan Jie</span> in Beijing contributed to this story.
Worshippers stand inside a church under construction that collapsed in Arerti, Amhara region of northern Ethiopia, on Wednesday, killing at least 36 people and injuring over 200 others. The incident occurred at around 7:45 am in the town of Arerti, roughly 70 kilometers east of the capital Addis Ababa, when a group was visiting for an annual Virgin Mary festival.
\n",
- "content": "
Worshippers stand inside a church under construction that collapsed in Arerti, Amhara region of northern Ethiopia, on Wednesday, killing at least 36 people and injuring over 200 others. The incident occurred at around 7:45 am in the town of Arerti, roughly 70 kilometers east of the capital Addis Ababa, when a group was visiting for an annual Virgin Mary festival.
Three black-headed gulls hover above Mapam Yumco Lake in Ngari prefecture in the Xizang autonomous region.
\n
A Tibetan nomad herds yaks across the grassland around the lake.
\n
Dradul is a guardian of the lake wetland and wildlife living around it.
\n
For more than a decade, Dradul has worked as a guardian of a wetland near Mapam Yumco Lake, which, nestled at an altitude of over 4,500 meters in Burang county of Ngari prefecture, Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, is the world's highest freshwater lake.
\n
By mid-morning on a typical working day, the 42-year-old will be circling the lake on his motorcycle, traversing a fixed patrol route spanning nearly 10 kilometers.
\n
"In my bag are a pair of binoculars to scan for waterbirds, a notebook to record each patrol's sightings of wildlife species and numbers, along with details such as the weather and water level, as well as garbage bags to collect litter," he said.
\n
He also carries what he jokingly calls his "life-saving kit": food, usually zanba, a traditional Tibetan staple made of roasted highland barley, along with drinking water, a thick coat, a hat, sun mask, and simple tools in case he comes across any animal in need.
\n
Referred to as the "Mother of Rivers", Mapam Yumco Lake, also known as Lake Manasarovar, feeds the headwaters of the Ganges, Indus, Sutlej, and Yarlung Zangbo, sustaining life far beyond the Himalayas.
\n
Today, Dradul is one of 90 guardians patrolling nearly 99,000 hectares of the wetland, of which the lake itself makes up about 69,000 hectares.
\n
The guardians' tasks are simple: patrol the reserve, record observations and respond to threats. Yet in a fragile ecosystem perched on the "roof of the world", even small actions carry weight.
\n
In February last year, the guardians discovered an eagle with a broken wing. They carefully transported the bird to a rescue center, feeding it and tending to its injuries until it was strong enough to fly again.
\n
This July, after villagers spotted a wild yak trapped in a mudflat, Dradul and his colleagues, together with local forestry and grassland officials, rushed to the scene but failed to directly pull the yak out. The massive animal, weighing hundreds of kilograms, struggled helplessly.
\n
Finally, by looping ropes around the yak's horns, they pulled carefully, inch by inch, until the exhausted animal was free.
\n
"The rescue process took about 20 minutes. But we stood at a distance afterward for half an hour, watching silently until the yak began to walk and graze again," he said.
\n
Changing attitudes
\n
Beyond rescues, much of a guardian's work involves people. Tourists are gently reminded not to litter, not to drive across fragile grasslands, and to carry out their waste.
\n
"In the past, there used to be a lot of trash in the wetland. Once the wind blew, it scattered everywhere, and there were fewer wild animals," Dradul said. With the guardians diligently patrolling and reminding the visitors not to litter, the wetland's ecosystem has steadily improved over the past years.
\n
Today, the wetland is home to 411 species of plants and 157 species of vertebrates, a remarkable level of biodiversity for such a high-altitude region.
\n
"Watching the prayer flags flutter by the lakeshore, bar-headed geese and ruddy shelducks playing on the water while kiangs (Tibetan wild donkeys) gallop along the shore, I know that I have made my contribution to all this and feel a sense of achievement that nothing else can match," Dradul said.
\n
Just a few years ago, his life was very different. Without steady work, he drifted between temporary jobs, uncertain about the future. That changed in 2014, when he became a guardian of the wetland.
\n
The position now provides him with a stable monthly income of 2,000 yuan ($281), and more importantly, a mission.
\n
"I feel proud to protect the holy lake," he said. "It's more than work. It's about keeping the lake alive for the future so that my children and grandchildren will one day see the same clear waters as I do."
\n
Challenges on the plateau
\n
Yet the work is far from easy. Climate change, which is melting glaciers and shifting rainfall patterns, poses the most daunting challenge.
\n
"The altering of the lake's shoreline and degradation of the grasslands, caused by climate change, are beyond the power of guardians like us," Dradul said.
\n
Human pressure is another constant concern. While most visitors respect the rules, some litter, bathe or even wash cars in the lake, forcing rangers into confrontations.
\n
And then there is the vastness of the task: with nearly 99,000 hectares of wetland and only 90 rangers, there are some remote areas that they cannot patrol every day.
\n
"I hope that in the future we can use more technologies, such as drones, to help us better fulfill our duties," Dradul said.
\n
Despite the challenges, Dradul's vision for the future is clear. He dreams of Mapam Yumco Lake remaining eternally pure, with Mount Gang Rinpoche reflected in its blue waters for centuries to come.
\n
To this end, he wishes for more young people to take up the work of protection.
\n
"This responsibility must be passed down," he said. "If our hearts are sincere and our hands are diligent, Mapam Yumco Lake will never grow old."
Saulebek Kabylbekov (right) personally escorts a patient at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, Aug 8, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov (left) eats dumplings with a companion when celebrating the Spring Festival in China in 2002.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov (second from the right) greets a patient at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 17, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov shops for potatoes at a supermarket in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 16, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov (left) examines the eyes of a patient at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 16, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov pictured at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 16, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov (centre) talks with patients at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 16, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov (left) serves Kazakh dishes he cooked to colleagues at the canteen of Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 16, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov works out at a gym of Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 17,2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov waters green plants at his apartment in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 16, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who can communicate fluently with patients in a northeastern Chinese dialect.
\n
In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies of the time.
\n
Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, Saulebek has trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
\n
This year, Saulebek was granted a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said. Determined to uphold his patients' trust, he added, "I will continue to work here as long as I can."
\n",
- "content": "
Saulebek Kabylbekov (right) personally escorts a patient at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, Aug 8, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov (left) eats dumplings with a companion when celebrating the Spring Festival in China in 2002.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov (second from the right) greets a patient at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 17, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov shops for potatoes at a supermarket in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 16, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov (left) examines the eyes of a patient at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 16, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov pictured at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 16, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov (centre) talks with patients at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 16, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov (left) serves Kazakh dishes he cooked to colleagues at the canteen of Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 16, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov works out at a gym of Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 17,2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov waters green plants at his apartment in Daqing city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, July 16, 2025.
\n
Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who can communicate fluently with patients in a northeastern Chinese dialect.
\n
In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies of the time.
\n
Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, Saulebek has trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
\n
This year, Saulebek was granted a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said. Determined to uphold his patients' trust, he added, "I will continue to work here as long as I can."
From his trademark bow-and-arrow pose, to his leisurely victory laps around the track against the backdrop of blaring reggae music, Usain Bolt elevated sprinting into a personality-driven event and gave people a reason to watch.
\n
From his trademark bow-and-arrow pose, to his leisurely victory laps around the track against the backdrop of blaring reggae music, Usain Bolt elevated sprinting into a personality-driven event and gave people a reason to watch.
\n
TOKYO — On the night athletics turned to Jamaica once again to find the world's fastest man, the greatest Jamaican sprinter was in a hospitality box in the stadium — his presence literally hovering over a sport that hasn't been the same since he left.
\n
Oblique Seville might have been crowned the new 100-meter world champion at last month's World Athletics Championships in Japan, but Usain Bolt remains the only track star this century whose fame cascades well beyond sports.
\n
Eight years since his retirement, nobody has come close to matching his times or his presence. In an interview before the final round of races at the track worlds, he said he feels great about that, because "that's what I worked for".
\n
"When I was competing, I was working to break the benchmark," he said. "Now that I've retired, it's a great feeling to know that I'm the benchmark if you want to be the best. You want to be a legend. I wanted to set high standards, and I did. I'm happy about that."
\n
The numbers tell part of this story: He has eight Olympic gold medals, 11 gold medals at world championships and three world records — 9.58 seconds in the 100m, 19.19 in the 200m and 36.84 in the 4x100m relay — that still stand.
\n
No runner has come within .12 seconds of either of his individual marks since he retired.
\n
Asked why that is, despite a world in which shoe and track technology gives runners a bigger boost than 15 years ago when Bolt was in his prime, he offered a glimpse why he remains his sport's most engaging ambassador.
\n
"Do you really want the answer? We're just more talented," he said. "I'm just saying, you can't run faster (just) with brand-new spikes."
\n
Speed, though, is only part of Bolt's story. It was his ability to use his platform to entertain and bring people together — a skill that couldn't be overlooked in an era when the Olympics needed a recharge. It made Bolt one of track's most electrifying characters.
\n
From his trademark bow-and-arrow pose, to his leisurely victory laps around the track against the backdrop of blaring reggae music — from his mile-wide smile, to the joy he so effortlessly exuded, despite the excruciating nature of his work — he elevated the sport into a personality-driven lovefest and gave people a reason to watch.
\n
"It's the personality," he said. "I think a lot of people, they try to be fun, but it comes off different. It's just having a good time. If you try too hard, it's not going to be the same. But I was just having a good time. That's how I looked at it. I tried to engage with fans and that's why they gravitated to it."
\n
Last month's world championships marked Bolt's first appearance at an Olympics or worlds since he exited the sport after the 2017 championships in London.
\n
He is now the father of a five-year-old daughter, Olympia Lightning, and four-year-old twin sons, Saint Leo and Thunder. To them, Bolt is just Dad. But the greatest sprinter of all time said their view might change at the next world championships two years from now, in the place where his career lifted off like a rocket: Beijing.
\n
"I'm excited, because I get to bring my kids and I can tell them: 'Listen, this is where it all happened,'" he said, referring, of course, to the 2008 Olympics, where he set three world records and won three gold medals.
\n
"I've shown my kids videos and stuff like that. They'll be six and seven, and they'll kind of understand the moment, and I can explain to them what their dad has done over the years."
A solemn national flag-raising ceremony is held early on Wednesday morning at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, celebrating the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
\n
Spectators cheer after the flag-raising ceremony.
\n",
- "content": "
A solemn national flag-raising ceremony is held early on Wednesday morning at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, celebrating the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
China has issued a regulation on implementing domestic product standards and related policies in government procurement, a move that experts say will help foster a first-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized.
\n
Shu Wenqi, deputy director of the China Institute for Urban Development, said building a unified, open and orderly competitive government procurement market is both an essential component and an inevitable requirement for developing a unified national market.
\n
The General Office of the State Council has newly released the Notice on Implementing Domestic Product Standards and Related Policies in Government Procurement, aiming to ensure equal participation of all types of business entities in purchasing activities.
\n
Taking effect on Jan 1, 2026, it clarifies that the domestic product standard refers to products manufactured within China, with the proportion of the cost of components produced domestically reaching a prescribed threshold. For some products, key components and critical processes must also be manufactured or completed within China.
\n
The notice prohibits designating brands, restricting the place of brand registration or ownership, and imposing differential conditions based on ownership type, organizational form, equity structure or nationality of investors. All regions and departments shall strengthen coordination and refrain from issuing measures that contravene the notice.
\n
Shu noted that the notice is a concrete expression of high-level opening-up and equal treatment of State-owned, private and foreign-invested enterprises.
\n
The standard applies to goods procured under both goods and service projects. In evaluations, a 20 percent price preference shall be granted to domestic products over nondomestic products. Supportive policies shall treat enterprises of different ownership types equally.
\n
Tao Qizhi, professor at the Institute of Chinese Financial Studies at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, said the policy continues to prioritize support for domestic products while ensuring fair participation by enterprises of all ownerships, reflecting the orientation toward a more unified and open market.
\n
This approach echoes President Xi Jinping's call at the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission meeting on July 1 to "advance the building of a unified national market in greater depth", demonstrating China's resolute resolve to promote high-quality development and deepen opening-up. It is expected to spur innovation and expand international cooperation, Tao said.
\n
The notice outlines a path for system building and adjustment. As requested by the State Council, within five years from implementation, the Ministry of Finance, together with relevant industry authorities, will extensively solicit opinions from domestic and foreign-funded enterprises and industry associations and chambers of commerce, set a three- to five-year transition period, and gradually establish a domestic product standard system and a dynamic adjustment mechanism for government procurement.
\n
Shu added that China has for years stuck to its goal of achieving unified institutions and rules for government procurement, integrated sharing of government procurement data and resources, and unified regulation and fair competition in the field of government procurement.
\n
renqi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -25383,28 +24481,6 @@
"hash": "225169f6931a1c9d99305c487edbf8a5",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "002NATION - Envoy says China and US should be partners",
- "description": "
China can purchase more American products and create more business opportunities for the United States, Beijing's top envoy in Washington said on Monday, as bilateral trade, particularly US exports to the world's second-largest economy, has fallen sharply this year.
\n
"We need to deepen the integration of interests, and be partners helping each other succeed," Ambassador Xie Feng said.
\n
"As China grows into the world's most dynamic market, we are able to buy more products we need from the US and bring more business opportunities to the US," Xie said at a reception at the Chinese embassy marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
\n
In his speech, Xie did not elaborate on the status quo of bilateral trade but cautioned that facts have proven that a tariff or trade war produces no winner.
\n
US media have in recent weeks reported how the Trump administration's trade war with China has taken a toll, including on US agricultural exports. "Each week, the Agriculture Department publishes a summary of the latest exports of American crops. Lately, they have all been missing the same thing: The sale of soybeans to China," The New York Times reported last week.
\n
The US exported just $5.5 billion worth of farm goods to China in the first six months of the year, representing a more than 50 percent drop compared to the same point last year, politicopro.com reported on Aug 5, citing statistics from the US Commerce Department.
\n
Overall, American exports to China shrank drastically in the first seven months of 2025, underscoring the continuing weakness in bilateral trade.
\n
Through July, US goods exports to China totaled $65.3 billion, down nearly 20 percent compared with the $81.8 billion recorded over the same period last year, according to data from the US Census Bureau.
\n
Xie said that China and the US have extensive common interests and vast room for cooperation, as evidenced by the fact that bilateral trade surged from less than $2.5 billion in 1979 when the two countries established diplomatic relations to$688 billion last year.
\n
In addition, areas such as illegal immigration, fentanyl, telecom fraud, financial crimes, infectious diseases and AI have the potential to become "highlights and growth points" in cooperation.
\n
On the other hand, attempts to decouple and disrupt industrial and supply chains would only destabilize the world and benefit no one in the end, he said.
\n
"The positive progress in our economic and trade talks has shown that equal-footed consultation is the right way forward," he said, referring to the de-escalation in trade tensions following four rounds of talks — in Geneva, London, Stockholm and Madrid — since May.
\n
"Our two sides need to keep to the bottom line of non-conflict and non-confrontation, and add more stability to the turbulent world," he added.
\n
In his speech, the ambassador underscored the critical importance of the Taiwan question, which he said, "bears on the political foundation of China-US relations", and if not properly handled, could cause confrontation or conflict.
China can purchase more American products and create more business opportunities for the United States, Beijing's top envoy in Washington said on Monday, as bilateral trade, particularly US exports to the world's second-largest economy, has fallen sharply this year.
\n
"We need to deepen the integration of interests, and be partners helping each other succeed," Ambassador Xie Feng said.
\n
"As China grows into the world's most dynamic market, we are able to buy more products we need from the US and bring more business opportunities to the US," Xie said at a reception at the Chinese embassy marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
\n
In his speech, Xie did not elaborate on the status quo of bilateral trade but cautioned that facts have proven that a tariff or trade war produces no winner.
\n
US media have in recent weeks reported how the Trump administration's trade war with China has taken a toll, including on US agricultural exports. "Each week, the Agriculture Department publishes a summary of the latest exports of American crops. Lately, they have all been missing the same thing: The sale of soybeans to China," The New York Times reported last week.
\n
The US exported just $5.5 billion worth of farm goods to China in the first six months of the year, representing a more than 50 percent drop compared to the same point last year, politicopro.com reported on Aug 5, citing statistics from the US Commerce Department.
\n
Overall, American exports to China shrank drastically in the first seven months of 2025, underscoring the continuing weakness in bilateral trade.
\n
Through July, US goods exports to China totaled $65.3 billion, down nearly 20 percent compared with the $81.8 billion recorded over the same period last year, according to data from the US Census Bureau.
\n
Xie said that China and the US have extensive common interests and vast room for cooperation, as evidenced by the fact that bilateral trade surged from less than $2.5 billion in 1979 when the two countries established diplomatic relations to$688 billion last year.
\n
In addition, areas such as illegal immigration, fentanyl, telecom fraud, financial crimes, infectious diseases and AI have the potential to become "highlights and growth points" in cooperation.
\n
On the other hand, attempts to decouple and disrupt industrial and supply chains would only destabilize the world and benefit no one in the end, he said.
\n
"The positive progress in our economic and trade talks has shown that equal-footed consultation is the right way forward," he said, referring to the de-escalation in trade tensions following four rounds of talks — in Geneva, London, Stockholm and Madrid — since May.
\n
"Our two sides need to keep to the bottom line of non-conflict and non-confrontation, and add more stability to the turbulent world," he added.
\n
In his speech, the ambassador underscored the critical importance of the Taiwan question, which he said, "bears on the political foundation of China-US relations", and if not properly handled, could cause confrontation or conflict.
Overseas Chinese across North America have voiced strong support for President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the reception marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on Tuesday, hailing it as a message of confidence, unity and responsibility that resonates deeply with Chinese communities abroad.
\n
At the event, he emphasized China's historic achievements, its firm commitment to national rejuvenation, the safeguarding of sovereignty and the pursuit of global cooperation. The remarks drew widespread praise from overseas Chinese, who highlighted the inspiration they drew from his call for unity and progress.
\n
Edward Cai, president of the All American Chinese Association in Southern California, said these remarks carried "patriotism and national confidence" and highlighted China's tremendous achievements.
\n
"A prosperous motherland is a strong backing for overseas Chinese," Cai told China Daily, adding that the message inspired pride and strengthened the community's resolve to contribute.
\n
Cai noted that Southern California has long served as a vital bridge in China-US exchanges. He emphasized the role of overseas Chinese in high-tech, education and healthcare, noting that China's emphasis on high-quality development aligns closely with California's innovative environment.
\n
"This creates opportunities for cooperation in areas such as new energy, artificial intelligence and biotechnology," he said.
\n
Cai also underscored the need to foster understanding amid complex China-US relations.
\n
"It is crucial to promote people-to-people exchanges and alleviate misunderstandings and barriers through community organizations, chambers of commerce and cultural exchange activities," he said, adding that the region's cultural diversity aligns with the Global Civilization Initiative.
\n
Zhang Yong, chairman of the Roundtable of Chinese American Organizations in Southern California, highlighted Xi's reaffirmation of "one country, two systems" and opposition to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.
\n
"This is the common will of all Chinese people," Zhang said. "We firmly support the resolute stance of the Chinese government and the Chinese people in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity."
\n
Proposals welcomed
\n
Zhang also welcomed China's proposals of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, describing them as contributions that "will inject more positive energy into world peace and development".
\n
Looking ahead, he pledged that Chinese American organizations will "continue to serve as a bridge, promote friendly exchanges between China and the United States, and unite the overseas Chinese community to support the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation".
\n
For Betty Yuan, a council member of Chinese for Peaceful Unification-Northern California, the speech served as a reminder of China's resilience and unity over the past 76 years. She noted that this year also marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), which Xi referenced to highlight the spirit of perseverance.
\n
"His emphasis on national unity and the need to uphold 'one country, two systems' while opposing 'Taiwan independence' and external interference is crystal clear, and I fully support this," Yuan said. She stressed that safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait remains a top priority for the Chinese both at home and abroad.
\n
Zheng Xiaofeng, secretary-general of the Canadian Chinese Entrepreneurs Council, said the address provided a roadmap that blended domestic priorities with international engagement. He pointed to four key themes: national rejuvenation, deepening reform and high-quality development, safeguarding sovereignty through "one country, two systems," and promoting global cooperation.
\n
"These messages are not only a source of cohesion domestically, but also a clear signal to the world," Zheng said. He contrasted China's vision of multilateral cooperation with what he described as the US reliance on tariffs and confrontation.
\n
He emphasized that the speech "clarified the directions of reform, development and governance, while stressing international cooperation and multilateralism, sending a signal that China is willing to participate in global affairs and take on responsibilities".
\n
For Chinese communities across North America, the address resonated as both a celebration of past progress and a call to action for the future. They expressed a common determination to strengthen ties with their ancestral homeland, support its development and contribute to the broader vision of a community with a shared future for humanity.
\n
renali@chinadailyusa.com
\n",
@@ -25427,28 +24503,6 @@
"hash": "c47c2dc182db8310749fd0b44bd5af3f",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "004WORLD - Charm of China shines at Japanese tourism expo",
- "description": "
China showcased the unique charm and vibrant vitality of its culture and tourism attractions at the Tourism EXPO Japan held in Aichi Prefecture.
\n
Tourism EXPO Japan, one of the world's largest tourism festivals, saw its latest edition run from Sept 25 to 28 at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname. The first two days were dedicated to trade and media, featuring exhibitions and business meetings among industry professionals, while the final days were open to the public.
\n
This year's China Pavilion, themed "Nihao (Hello), China", was organized by the China National Tourist Office in Tokyo. Featuring more than 60 exhibitors, including 18 regional tourism authorities and five Chinese airlines. The pavilion highlighted China's latest inbound travel services, its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the richness of its traditional culture.
\n
For the first time, the pavilion was also invited to perform on the main stage of the expo event. In a 30-minute showcase, traditional lion dance, face-changing, and ethnic songs were performed to present the distinctive charm of Chinese culture.
\n
Takaji Satomi, a member of Japan's House of Councillors, was impressed after receiving a scented sachet at the exhibition area of Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, saying, "These kinds of spices and incense products are not only popular in China, but also make excellent souvenirs for overseas visitors."
\n
Ye Yuan, representing an exhibitor from Hainan province, said that Hainan takes this expo as an important opportunity to showcase the province and introduce it to more people. "Hainan boasts mountains and rivers, along with beautiful natural scenery. Its golf courses are also excellent," she said.
\n
Haruka Nonomura, chief of the tour planning division, Chubu regional sales department, at travel agency HIS, said that China offers not only a wealth of World Cultural Heritage sites but also stunning natural landscapes.
\n
"One trip is never enough — you find new charms every time. Such variety is what makes China so special," she said.
\n
She also mentioned that since the easing of visa policies last year, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of travelers to China.
\n
Policy benefits
\n
Since Nov 30, China has implemented a visa-free policy for ordinary Japanese passport holders, allowing stays of up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, exchange programs and transit purposes.
\n
With the simplification of visa procedures, visiting China has become much more convenient for travelers, Nonomura said, adding that this has also made sales and promotional activities for travel agencies "much easier".
\n
An event aimed at enhancing awareness and promoting China's World Cultural Heritage Sites was held alongside the expo, with participants seeking to further strengthen China-Japan exchanges.
\n
Hironobu Nara, deputy commissioner for international tourism at Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, said that tourism promotions from various regions of China, along with exchange meetings between the Japanese and Chinese tourism industries, offer valuable opportunities to appreciate China's rich and diverse cultural charms.
\n
Hiroki Nakamura, director-general of Japan's Chubu District Transport Bureau, sees tourism as an "important bridge" between people and cultures. He hopes that such exchange activities will enhance mutual understanding and deepen friendship between the peoples.
\n
Nakamura also expressed hope that more Chinese tourists will not only visit major Japanese cities but also explore local regions to experience Japan's diverse charms.
\n
"China is ready to work with Japan to boost people-to-people exchanges through tourism and culture, strengthen public support, and promote healthy, stable China-Japan relations," she said.
China showcased the unique charm and vibrant vitality of its culture and tourism attractions at the Tourism EXPO Japan held in Aichi Prefecture.
\n
Tourism EXPO Japan, one of the world's largest tourism festivals, saw its latest edition run from Sept 25 to 28 at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname. The first two days were dedicated to trade and media, featuring exhibitions and business meetings among industry professionals, while the final days were open to the public.
\n
This year's China Pavilion, themed "Nihao (Hello), China", was organized by the China National Tourist Office in Tokyo. Featuring more than 60 exhibitors, including 18 regional tourism authorities and five Chinese airlines. The pavilion highlighted China's latest inbound travel services, its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the richness of its traditional culture.
\n
For the first time, the pavilion was also invited to perform on the main stage of the expo event. In a 30-minute showcase, traditional lion dance, face-changing, and ethnic songs were performed to present the distinctive charm of Chinese culture.
\n
Takaji Satomi, a member of Japan's House of Councillors, was impressed after receiving a scented sachet at the exhibition area of Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, saying, "These kinds of spices and incense products are not only popular in China, but also make excellent souvenirs for overseas visitors."
\n
Ye Yuan, representing an exhibitor from Hainan province, said that Hainan takes this expo as an important opportunity to showcase the province and introduce it to more people. "Hainan boasts mountains and rivers, along with beautiful natural scenery. Its golf courses are also excellent," she said.
\n
Haruka Nonomura, chief of the tour planning division, Chubu regional sales department, at travel agency HIS, said that China offers not only a wealth of World Cultural Heritage sites but also stunning natural landscapes.
\n
"One trip is never enough — you find new charms every time. Such variety is what makes China so special," she said.
\n
She also mentioned that since the easing of visa policies last year, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of travelers to China.
\n
Policy benefits
\n
Since Nov 30, China has implemented a visa-free policy for ordinary Japanese passport holders, allowing stays of up to 30 days for business, tourism, family visits, exchange programs and transit purposes.
\n
With the simplification of visa procedures, visiting China has become much more convenient for travelers, Nonomura said, adding that this has also made sales and promotional activities for travel agencies "much easier".
\n
An event aimed at enhancing awareness and promoting China's World Cultural Heritage Sites was held alongside the expo, with participants seeking to further strengthen China-Japan exchanges.
\n
Hironobu Nara, deputy commissioner for international tourism at Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, said that tourism promotions from various regions of China, along with exchange meetings between the Japanese and Chinese tourism industries, offer valuable opportunities to appreciate China's rich and diverse cultural charms.
\n
Hiroki Nakamura, director-general of Japan's Chubu District Transport Bureau, sees tourism as an "important bridge" between people and cultures. He hopes that such exchange activities will enhance mutual understanding and deepen friendship between the peoples.
\n
Nakamura also expressed hope that more Chinese tourists will not only visit major Japanese cities but also explore local regions to experience Japan's diverse charms.
\n
"China is ready to work with Japan to boost people-to-people exchanges through tourism and culture, strengthen public support, and promote healthy, stable China-Japan relations," she said.
Worldly Land (top) and The Age of Goodbyes (above) by Malaysian author Li Zishu.
\n
Worldly Land (top) and The Age of Goodbyes (above) by Malaysian author Li Zishu.
\n
Malaysian writer Li Zishu has had her novel Liu Su Di (Worldly Land) published on the Chinese mainland, which has sparked interest in Sinophone Malaysian literature.
\n
Recent works by Malaysian authors include A Mother with No Name (top) by Lim Suat Hong (center) and Ren Gong Shao Nyu (Artificial Girl) by Gong Wanhui.
\n
Recent works by Malaysian authors include A Mother with No Name (top) by Lim Suat Hong (center) and Ren Gong Shao Nyu (Artificial Girl) by Gong Wanhui.
\n
Recent works by Malaysian authors include A Mother with No Name (top) by Lim Suat Hong (center) and Ren Gong Shao Nyu (Artificial Girl) by Gong Wanhui.
\n
A bustling restaurant in Ipoh.
\n
Chinese temples are common in Ipoh, a Malaysian city that has inspired Li Zishu's novel Worldly Land.
\n
A long line of enthusiastic readers waits for Li Zishu's autograph during this year's Beijing International Book Fair in June.
\n\n
Four years ago, Malaysian writer Li Zishu published her full-length novel Liu Su Di (Worldly Land) on the Chinese mainland. Its ongoing popularity has sparked much interest in Sinophone Malaysian literature — literary works written in Chinese by Malaysian authors — a niche genre that offers Chinese readers an alternative perspective on their cultural roots and traditions.
\n
Although other Malaysian writers such as Ng Kim Chew and Chang Kuei-hsing have explored themes such as the trauma experienced by the Chinese diaspora, the community's Chinese identity within the multicultural society of Malaysia, and Malaysian history and politics, their works have often adopted a magic realist style, focusing on the tropical country's rainforests, rubber plantations, animals and damp weather.
\n
However, Li, who has been part of the literary circle for three decades and has won major Sinophone Malaysian literary awards, has adopted a more realistic approach that is closer to daily life to write something true to her mind and will. Liu Su Di was completed and published in 2020, a full decade after her previous full-length work, The Age of Goodbyes.
\n
According to Han Jingqun, editor-in-chief of Beijing October Arts and Literature Publishing House, the novel's publisher on the Chinese mainland, more than 250,000 copies have been sold since the release of this simplified Chinese version in 2021. More than 33,000 readers have rated the work 9.2 out of 10 on the review site Douban. Another 100,000 users have expressed their interest in reading it.
\n
Worldly Land tells the story of a visually impaired woman, Gu Yinxia, and the people around her. It is interwoven with the vicissitudes of the Chinese community in Malaysian society over the past half-century. All the characters, from different races and cultural backgrounds, live in a high-rise apartment building of some 300 households in a city called Xidu(City of Tin), modeled after Li's hometown Ipoh, a northern Malaysian mountain city.
\n
Chen Yucheng, one of the book's editors, says Li has delivered a grounded piece of writing that is sincere and authentic. The language is evocative and exudes a rare empathy for the novel's characters, settings and emotions. Half a century flows like a stream, touching the hearts of ordinary folk.
\n
"Each individual's rise and fall is infused with the author's careful reflection on history, a distanced observation of contemporary politics and a complex exploration of the ethnic identity of the overseas Chinese," he says.
\n
Unexpected popularity
\n
David Der-wei Wang, a professor of Chinese literature at Harvard University, writes in the work's preface that Ipoh, known for its tin mines, attracted waves of Chinese immigrants in the mid-19th century, and this gave birth to a rich Chinese culture.
\n
Meanwhile, the city is characterized by its multicultural society where Malays, Indians, Indonesians, Chinese and Bangladeshis live together.
\n
Wang says Li has adopted a gentler style of writing compared to her earlier works to highlight little-known aspects of inclusivity and empathy in her reflections on the Chinese community in Malaysian society.
\n
"Li has injected a rare warmth into contemporary Sinophone Malaysian literature," Wang writes.
\n
Li did not expect her Sinophone work to be so popular in China. She has been traveling frequently to the country to give lectures, attend seminars and exchange ideas with industry insiders.
\n
She serves on the jury of this year's Blancpain-Imaginist Literary Prize, co-organized by Swiss luxury watch brand Blancpain and Chinese publisher Imaginist. The annual award recognizes a Chinese writer under 45 and comes with a cash prize of 300,000 yuan ($42,000) and a Blancpain watch. The winner will be announced in October.
\n
Worldly Land has also inspired enthusiastic readers to travel to Ipoh to visit the places described in the novel and share photos and vlogs on social media platforms. Some of these posts have received thousands of likes.
\n
However, at this year's Beijing International Book Fair in June, Li said her popularity in China did not extend to her home country, where the Chinese language is seldom part of the mainstream.
\n
"If someone decides to write in Chinese in Malaysia, it is purely out of a love for writing and the Chinese language," she says.
\n
"You must write without regret or complaint. Otherwise, you will be consumed by frustration, lamenting the limited readership or the few publishers willing to release your work. We are aware of this situation."
\n
The speech she gave in June was fittingly titled "A Craft on an Ocean: Sinophone Malaysian Literature Through My Eyes", echoing Wang's view that Chinese literature has, amid the anxiety expressed by the Sinophone Malaysian community about the survival and continuity of Chinese culture, demonstrated remarkable resilience despite the impact of new media.
\n
Li says: "Although Worldly Land is not a blockbuster, it continues to sell well even today, several years after its release. This phenomenon brings me great comfort, and I hope this novel will outlast me, the author."
\n
She adds that she is touched by the recognition it has received from readers and their willingness to recommend the book to others. "As a Sinophone Malaysian writer, it often feels like being a lone craft in a vast ocean, with few to hear my calls. Yet, unexpectedly, I have encountered a large ship full of readers who are there to support me, offering (me) a place to dock and a helping hand. I believe this is just the beginning."
\n
Li says she is planning a collection of short stories about immigrant communities.
\n
Meanwhile, the wild popularity of Worldly Land has prompted Li not only to explore ways to increase the exposure of her fellow writers to potential publishers in China, but also to reflect on the literary genre from a broader perspective.
\n
Gaining ground
\n
Recently, more works of Sinophone Malaysian literature have made their way to the Chinese market. Last year, two books by Ho Sok Fong were published on the Chinese mainland.
\n
In July, Gong Wanhui's full-length novel Ren Gong Shao Nyu (Artificial Girl) was released.
\n
In 2024, this work won the grand prize of Sinophone Malaysian literature at the biennial Hua Zong (Floral Trail) Literature Award, one of Malaysia's most prestigious Chinese-language literature awards, given by Sin Chew Daily. Worldly Land was the winner of this prize in 2022.
\n
This August saw the launch of Lim Suat Hong's debut nonfiction work, A Mother with No Name, which tells the story of the arduous life of her mother Tee Kin and her reflections on the mother-daughter relationship — one of the most complex of human connections.
\n
Lim has been living in China for 20 years. After her mother passed away, Lim spent six years documenting Tee's life.
\n
She was born into a large Chinese family in Malaysia, the eldest daughter who was not favored, the mother of five children, the wife of a gambler and the sole breadwinner who kept the family going with her tailoring shop. Yet, at her funeral, she was simply referred to as the nameless "Madame Tee of the Lim Family".
\n
Wang Meng, the book's editor at Horizon Books, a branch of the Shanghai People's Publishing House, says that like Worldly Land, which is a landmark work in its genre, Lim's work focuses on ordinary people's everyday lives in a small town. It presents the experiences and secret family history of a Chinese woman from the working class. Its keenly observed and delicate portrayal of life is set amid descriptions of Southeast Asian customs.
\n
"It is precisely this writing based on real-life experiences, expressed in incredibly honest and sincere language, that I believe will resonate emotionally with Chinese readers," she adds.
\n
Li has publicly lauded the works of both Gong and Lim.
\n
At the Beijing International Book Fair, Li said that in the past Sinophone Malaysian literature may have overly emphasized its identity in an effort to stand out.
\n
"However, a truly capable writer is one who can write about universal life experiences while still conveying the distinctiveness of Sinophone Malaysian writers," she says.
\n
"When I wrote about these ordinary people and their lives in Worldly Land using a certain tone and style, I realized that I was writing about the same group of Chinese people, whether in Malaysia or on the Chinese mainland. Yet, others may not be able to create a novel like Worldly Land. Sinophone Malaysian literature will truly thrive when our writers possess this confidence."
\n
Li encourages young writers from Malaysia to read works by emerging authors from the Chinese mainland, paying particular attention to their writing style and experimental approaches that differ from those of established writers.
\n
"I would recommend that Sinophone Malaysian writers view themselves as part of the broader Chinese-speaking world, learn more about the entire Chinese community, and observe how their contemporaries are creating, both in terms of method and approach," she says.
\n
Contact the writer at fangaiqing@chinadaily.com.cn
A statue of a Buddhist guardian deity is enshrined at Tiefo Temple in Jincheng, Shanxi province. The temple has a history of more than 500 years.
\n
Tourists visit Chongqing Temple in Changzhi, Shanxi province.
\n
A poster for Nobody, the blockbuster animation that released on Aug 2.
\n
Visitors admire the spectacular Hukou Waterfall in Linfen, Shanxi, in August.
\n\n\n
The recent animated blockbuster Nobody is setting records and moving audiences to tears. Its retelling of the classic tale Journey to the West, colored with references to real-world locations, is inspiring some to make their own journey.
\n
The story follows a pig and a toad, two overlooked yaoguai(supernatural beings) who run afoul of their boss at Langlang Mountain. Escaping capture, they team up with a weasel and an ape to form a group modeled after the Monkey King and his companions.
\n
Hoping to gain immortality, the quartet sets out to obtain Buddhist scriptures. Along the way, they fight evil, save lives, and come to believe they are true Buddhists. But when unmasked as impostors, they are condemned as frauds. In the end, they sacrificed themselves to save a group of children — yet remain unnamed.
\n
"This is not a cartoon, this is me looking in the mirror," one netizen commented. The film critiques how society favors the privileged, like the heroes of Journey to the West, while marginalizing those of humble origins. It also satirizes the workplace grind and clients' demands, while probing the universal desire to become something greater.
\n
By Sept 18, the film, which premiered on Aug 2, had earned 1.61 billion yuan ($226 million), according to ticketing platform Maoyan, making it the highest-grossing domestic 2D animated film in Chinese history.
\n
Routes on a theme
\n
The film's popularity has sparked renewed interest in the depicted settings, which are based on existing locations. Li Zao, the film's chief producer, drew inspiration from around Shanxi province, including the majestic landscapes of the Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon, the murals at Yong'an Temple, and the architecture of Foguang Temple dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
\n
Recently, the province's Department of Culture and Tourism partnered with Shanghai Film Infinity, a subsidiary of Shanghai Film Group, to promote the blockbuster. The province has created two travel itineraries inspired by the film that highlight natural and historical sites across the region.
\n
With the theme "Come to Shanxi and find the version of yourself you love", the campaign links the film's IP to 10 real-life Shanxi sites. The itineraries include a three-day northern route focused on temples and grottoes and a four-day southern route highlighting nature.
\n
Tourists can pick up pocket-sized booklets that combine a "role test" with a stamp-collection game. After filling out a questionnaire about travel habits, visitors are matched with characters in the film. Collecting stamps at designated spots earns them co-branded souvenirs and limited-edition seals featuring characters.
\n
In late August, tour guide Lyu Wei from Shanxi Yaowang Travel Agency led the first group of tourists to explore the northern route.
\n
Lyu compared this campaign with traditional tours, saying that it emphasizes a more emotional connection.
\n
"I felt every tourist resonating with the characters," he said. "It's like: 'What if I were a faceless yaoguai? I'd hold my head high and march forward boldly.' Everyone dared to shed prejudices, stay true to themselves and walk their own path without worrying so much about others' opinions. That spirit showed throughout the trip."
\n
Tourist Lu Jianhong, 35, from Jinzhong, Shanxi, said he was impressed by the ancient buildings in the film, and visited Foguang Temple with "a sense of pilgrimage".
\n
"Entering the temple and standing on the central axis, I saw the East Hall towering on the high slope — majestic, ancient and grand. It was a feeling of wonder that words cannot fully capture," he said. "The real temple is even more magnificent and ancient than how it was portrayed in the film. It gave me a feeling of dreaming back to the Tang Dynasty."
\n
Built in 857, Foguang Temple preserves four Tang-era forms: architecture, sculpture, murals and calligraphy. "It is a unique treasure trove of art, history and culture unparalleled anywhere else in the country," said Wang Ning, a relics protection worker at the temple.
\n
According to Wang, it is the largest and best-preserved wooden Tang structure in China, and it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009.
\n
Visitor Li Lingxia said the animated film drew her to the Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon in Changzhi city's Huguan county.
\n
"The layered ink-painting style of the mountains and the sense of adventure in crossing mountains and ridges depicted in the animation deeply resonated with me," she said. "When I saw the serene lake at Eight Springs Gorge, the natural caves of the North Gate, and the glass viewing platform, I was captivated by the enchanting atmosphere. Nature felt alive with spirit."
\n
Another traveler, Zhang Jun, met a couple who were also fans of the film.
\n
Zhang said: "We started chatting about the scene where the yaoguai patrol the mountain along the stream, and realized we were all looking for its real-life counterpart. A passing tour guide overheard our conversation and pointed to a nearby peak that looked identical to the one in the film.
\n
"We followed his suggestion and took photos — the rocks matched perfectly. Bonding over a shared IP was far more memorable than any staged interaction."
\n
Cheng Kaixian, general manager of Shanxi Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon Tourism Development, said the site has partnered with several films and TV operas, boosting tourist numbers.
\n
"Directors often use the peril of Eight Springs Gorge's 100-foot abysses to symbolize the challenges faced by characters, and its waterfalls as metaphors for vitality and emotional flow," she said.
\n
The canyon plans to launch a themed route called Journey to the West: Eight Trials at Eight Springs, featuring eight iconic landmarks woven into challenge-based tasks, such as a kayak race.
\n
"Film and television are dynamic calling cards for scenic areas," she said. "The key is linking attractions with storylines and technology so visitors become protagonists, not just spectators."
\n
Source of inspiration
\n
At a roundtable discussion in Taiyuan, the provincial capital, Yu Shui, director of Nobody, explained why Shanxi became the setting: "Because I was born and raised here. Everything I saw, thought, and experienced as a child, including the historical sites my parents took me to, stayed with me."
\n
"Even though I might not have fully understood them back then, as I grew older, I began to feel a deep, almost instinctive resonance with this heritage," he added.
\n
Yu recalled visiting Foguang Temple for inspiration, saying that the weather had been particularly beautiful that day, with clear blue skies and white clouds. As he climbed the steps and saw the East Hall, he had been deeply moved and had truly felt like crying. He said that it gave him a sense of psychological connection, as if he could resonate with the ancient builders and artisans from more than 1,000 years ago.
\n
To forge a uniquely Chinese animation aesthetic, Yu and his team conducted extensive field research across Shanxi to translate its ancient architecture onto the big screen. They even borrowed the name of the real-life village of Beizhang.
\n
He added that integrating Shanxi landmarks and traditional architecture was primarily a narrative choice to add depth and beauty to the project.
\n
Cultural treasures
\n
Shanxi leads China with 531 State-level cultural relic protection units. Around 85 percent of the nation's existing wooden structures that were built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) or earlier are located in the province, according to the Shanxi Cultural Relics Bureau.
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"With more than 3,500 ancient villages, Shanxi preserves generations of joys and sorrows within its blue bricks and black tiles," said Wang Aiqin, head of the Shanxi Department of Culture and Tourism. "Every stone slab tells a story of the past. Detachment, tranquility, antiquity and harmony embody the unique charm of Shanxi."
\n
Shanxi has consistently inspired literary and cinematic art, from the classic 1964 animated film Havoc in Heaven to 2024's international hit video game Black Myth: Wukong, both of which similarly adapted Journey to the West.
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"The collaboration between Shanxi and Nobody could become a benchmark for integrating cultural tourism IPs in China," said Gan Lu, a researcher at the Hainan Culture and Tourism Integration Product Design and Development Base.
\n
"It merges modern animation with Shanxi's profound historical and cultural heritage," she said. "Across Shanxi, there are numerous temples and grottoes preserving a wealth of vivid and unique sculptures and murals, providing a solid historical and cultural foundation for virtual IP. The shift from sightseeing to immersive experience extends stays and boosts spending."
\n
Gan added that combining film, television and tourism marks the arrival of the experience economy era, in which providing consumers with emotional satisfaction and lasting memories is the core focus. It is a form of advanced content marketing that transforms cultural emotion into economic value, she said.
\n
According to a market report released by travel agency Ctrip in late August, searches for Nobody's featured settings surged 380 percent year-on-year, boosting tourism orders in Datong, home to many ancient temples, by 40 percent.
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"Cultural relics inspire animation, games and films, while those works add value and help sustain relics," said Zhang Jin, president of the cultural relics preservation and adaptive utilization division at the Tsinghua Tongheng Planning and Design Institute in Beijing.
\n
"With modern online cultural products being embraced by young audiences, little-known relics gain popularity," she said. "The influence of IP expands to a broader space with more potential for commercialization."
\n
Contact the writers at chenmeiling@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
A statue of a Buddhist guardian deity is enshrined at Tiefo Temple in Jincheng, Shanxi province. The temple has a history of more than 500 years.
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Tourists visit Chongqing Temple in Changzhi, Shanxi province.
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A poster for Nobody, the blockbuster animation that released on Aug 2.
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Visitors admire the spectacular Hukou Waterfall in Linfen, Shanxi, in August.
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The recent animated blockbuster Nobody is setting records and moving audiences to tears. Its retelling of the classic tale Journey to the West, colored with references to real-world locations, is inspiring some to make their own journey.
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The story follows a pig and a toad, two overlooked yaoguai(supernatural beings) who run afoul of their boss at Langlang Mountain. Escaping capture, they team up with a weasel and an ape to form a group modeled after the Monkey King and his companions.
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Hoping to gain immortality, the quartet sets out to obtain Buddhist scriptures. Along the way, they fight evil, save lives, and come to believe they are true Buddhists. But when unmasked as impostors, they are condemned as frauds. In the end, they sacrificed themselves to save a group of children — yet remain unnamed.
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"This is not a cartoon, this is me looking in the mirror," one netizen commented. The film critiques how society favors the privileged, like the heroes of Journey to the West, while marginalizing those of humble origins. It also satirizes the workplace grind and clients' demands, while probing the universal desire to become something greater.
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By Sept 18, the film, which premiered on Aug 2, had earned 1.61 billion yuan ($226 million), according to ticketing platform Maoyan, making it the highest-grossing domestic 2D animated film in Chinese history.
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Routes on a theme
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The film's popularity has sparked renewed interest in the depicted settings, which are based on existing locations. Li Zao, the film's chief producer, drew inspiration from around Shanxi province, including the majestic landscapes of the Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon, the murals at Yong'an Temple, and the architecture of Foguang Temple dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
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Recently, the province's Department of Culture and Tourism partnered with Shanghai Film Infinity, a subsidiary of Shanghai Film Group, to promote the blockbuster. The province has created two travel itineraries inspired by the film that highlight natural and historical sites across the region.
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With the theme "Come to Shanxi and find the version of yourself you love", the campaign links the film's IP to 10 real-life Shanxi sites. The itineraries include a three-day northern route focused on temples and grottoes and a four-day southern route highlighting nature.
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Tourists can pick up pocket-sized booklets that combine a "role test" with a stamp-collection game. After filling out a questionnaire about travel habits, visitors are matched with characters in the film. Collecting stamps at designated spots earns them co-branded souvenirs and limited-edition seals featuring characters.
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In late August, tour guide Lyu Wei from Shanxi Yaowang Travel Agency led the first group of tourists to explore the northern route.
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Lyu compared this campaign with traditional tours, saying that it emphasizes a more emotional connection.
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"I felt every tourist resonating with the characters," he said. "It's like: 'What if I were a faceless yaoguai? I'd hold my head high and march forward boldly.' Everyone dared to shed prejudices, stay true to themselves and walk their own path without worrying so much about others' opinions. That spirit showed throughout the trip."
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Tourist Lu Jianhong, 35, from Jinzhong, Shanxi, said he was impressed by the ancient buildings in the film, and visited Foguang Temple with "a sense of pilgrimage".
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"Entering the temple and standing on the central axis, I saw the East Hall towering on the high slope — majestic, ancient and grand. It was a feeling of wonder that words cannot fully capture," he said. "The real temple is even more magnificent and ancient than how it was portrayed in the film. It gave me a feeling of dreaming back to the Tang Dynasty."
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Built in 857, Foguang Temple preserves four Tang-era forms: architecture, sculpture, murals and calligraphy. "It is a unique treasure trove of art, history and culture unparalleled anywhere else in the country," said Wang Ning, a relics protection worker at the temple.
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According to Wang, it is the largest and best-preserved wooden Tang structure in China, and it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009.
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Visitor Li Lingxia said the animated film drew her to the Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon in Changzhi city's Huguan county.
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"The layered ink-painting style of the mountains and the sense of adventure in crossing mountains and ridges depicted in the animation deeply resonated with me," she said. "When I saw the serene lake at Eight Springs Gorge, the natural caves of the North Gate, and the glass viewing platform, I was captivated by the enchanting atmosphere. Nature felt alive with spirit."
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Another traveler, Zhang Jun, met a couple who were also fans of the film.
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Zhang said: "We started chatting about the scene where the yaoguai patrol the mountain along the stream, and realized we were all looking for its real-life counterpart. A passing tour guide overheard our conversation and pointed to a nearby peak that looked identical to the one in the film.
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"We followed his suggestion and took photos — the rocks matched perfectly. Bonding over a shared IP was far more memorable than any staged interaction."
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Cheng Kaixian, general manager of Shanxi Taihang Mountain Grand Canyon Tourism Development, said the site has partnered with several films and TV operas, boosting tourist numbers.
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"Directors often use the peril of Eight Springs Gorge's 100-foot abysses to symbolize the challenges faced by characters, and its waterfalls as metaphors for vitality and emotional flow," she said.
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The canyon plans to launch a themed route called Journey to the West: Eight Trials at Eight Springs, featuring eight iconic landmarks woven into challenge-based tasks, such as a kayak race.
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"Film and television are dynamic calling cards for scenic areas," she said. "The key is linking attractions with storylines and technology so visitors become protagonists, not just spectators."
\n
Source of inspiration
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At a roundtable discussion in Taiyuan, the provincial capital, Yu Shui, director of Nobody, explained why Shanxi became the setting: "Because I was born and raised here. Everything I saw, thought, and experienced as a child, including the historical sites my parents took me to, stayed with me."
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"Even though I might not have fully understood them back then, as I grew older, I began to feel a deep, almost instinctive resonance with this heritage," he added.
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Yu recalled visiting Foguang Temple for inspiration, saying that the weather had been particularly beautiful that day, with clear blue skies and white clouds. As he climbed the steps and saw the East Hall, he had been deeply moved and had truly felt like crying. He said that it gave him a sense of psychological connection, as if he could resonate with the ancient builders and artisans from more than 1,000 years ago.
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To forge a uniquely Chinese animation aesthetic, Yu and his team conducted extensive field research across Shanxi to translate its ancient architecture onto the big screen. They even borrowed the name of the real-life village of Beizhang.
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He added that integrating Shanxi landmarks and traditional architecture was primarily a narrative choice to add depth and beauty to the project.
\n
Cultural treasures
\n
Shanxi leads China with 531 State-level cultural relic protection units. Around 85 percent of the nation's existing wooden structures that were built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) or earlier are located in the province, according to the Shanxi Cultural Relics Bureau.
\n
"With more than 3,500 ancient villages, Shanxi preserves generations of joys and sorrows within its blue bricks and black tiles," said Wang Aiqin, head of the Shanxi Department of Culture and Tourism. "Every stone slab tells a story of the past. Detachment, tranquility, antiquity and harmony embody the unique charm of Shanxi."
\n
Shanxi has consistently inspired literary and cinematic art, from the classic 1964 animated film Havoc in Heaven to 2024's international hit video game Black Myth: Wukong, both of which similarly adapted Journey to the West.
\n
"The collaboration between Shanxi and Nobody could become a benchmark for integrating cultural tourism IPs in China," said Gan Lu, a researcher at the Hainan Culture and Tourism Integration Product Design and Development Base.
\n
"It merges modern animation with Shanxi's profound historical and cultural heritage," she said. "Across Shanxi, there are numerous temples and grottoes preserving a wealth of vivid and unique sculptures and murals, providing a solid historical and cultural foundation for virtual IP. The shift from sightseeing to immersive experience extends stays and boosts spending."
\n
Gan added that combining film, television and tourism marks the arrival of the experience economy era, in which providing consumers with emotional satisfaction and lasting memories is the core focus. It is a form of advanced content marketing that transforms cultural emotion into economic value, she said.
\n
According to a market report released by travel agency Ctrip in late August, searches for Nobody's featured settings surged 380 percent year-on-year, boosting tourism orders in Datong, home to many ancient temples, by 40 percent.
\n
"Cultural relics inspire animation, games and films, while those works add value and help sustain relics," said Zhang Jin, president of the cultural relics preservation and adaptive utilization division at the Tsinghua Tongheng Planning and Design Institute in Beijing.
\n
"With modern online cultural products being embraced by young audiences, little-known relics gain popularity," she said. "The influence of IP expands to a broader space with more potential for commercialization."
\n
Contact the writers at chenmeiling@chinadaily.com.cn
President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a reception held on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
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President Xi Jinping has called on the Chinese people to continue drawing on historical experience and forge ahead with determination in advancing Chinese modernization, as the country prepares to mark its National Day on Oct 1.
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Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing a reception held in Beijing to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
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Xi said that over the past 76 years, under the Party's leadership, the Chinese people have relied on self-reliance and unremitting struggle to achieve remarkable accomplishments that will be remembered by history.
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"Looking back, the Chinese nation has advanced from the brink of peril to the great journey of rejuvenation. The path has been arduous and filled with hardships, but it has also been full of passion and triumphant progress," he said.
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In his address, Xi recalled the grand commemorations hosted earlier in September marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.
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The events, he said, have greatly inspired the national spirit, motivated patriotic enthusiasm and forged the strength of working hard.
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"We must continue to draw on historical experience to build our country better, and to ensure that the cause pioneered by the older generations of leaders and revolutionary martyrs continues to thrive," Xi said.
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Highlighting the progress made this year in various undertakings despite complex circumstances, Xi said that China has further deepened reforms across the board, advanced high-quality development, improved people's livelihoods and made new headway in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance.
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As the 20th CPC Central Committee will convene its fourth plenary session in October to discuss major issues related to the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development, Xi called for efforts on the new journey in the new era to plan and implement the goals, tasks and strategic measures for the period and to secure decisive progress toward the basic realization of socialist modernization.
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To fully, faithfully and resolutely implement the "one country, two systems" policy, Xi stressed the importance of supporting the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in better integrating into the country's overall development, developing the economy and improving people's well-being.
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Xi also called for deepening cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, firmly opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference, and resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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Facing a rapidly evolving international landscape unseen in a century, he underlined the need to champion the shared values of humanity, practice genuine multilateralism, and advance the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative, so as to jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.
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"The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a noble cause unprecedented in human history. Both aspirations and challenges inspire us to forge ahead with a spirit of urgency and perseverance," Xi said.
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The reception, held at the Great Hall of the People, brought together dignitaries including Party and State leaders, foreign envoys and recipients of national honors.
China on Tuesday conferred the 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award on 50 foreign experts working in the country in recognition of their contributions to the nation's development.
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State Councilor Shen Yiqin presented the Friendship Award to the honorees at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
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On behalf of the Chinese government, Shen extended congratulations to the laureates and expressed sincere greetings and heartfelt thanks to all foreign experts and their families for their support.
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She noted that foreign experts, working hand in hand with the Chinese people, have made significant contributions to advancing Chinese modernization and promoting friendship and cooperation between China and the rest of the world, which will always be remembered.
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As China maps out its economic and social development plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, she said the country has firm confidence and ample capability to achieve long-term, stable growth and bring new momentum and opportunities to the world.
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Shen emphasized that China will remain committed to high-standard opening-up, actively promote innovation-driven cooperation, and deepen reforms in talent-development systems and mechanisms. More high-caliber overseas talent will be welcomed to work, innovate and start businesses in China, she added.
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Shen also expressed the hope that foreign experts would fully leverage their expertise in the great endeavor of Chinese modernization and join hands with the Chinese people to write a new chapter of mutual learning and common development between China and the world.
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James Healy, an international communication expert and a senior editor at China Daily, is among the winners of the 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award. Known for his concise yet vivid writing style, Healy offers incisive interpretations of China's proposals and wisdom.
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The Friendship Award is the highest honor to commend foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive. Since its establishment in 1991, more than 2,000 foreign experts have received the award.
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Gordon Trimble, one of the recipients of this year's award, is now a professor at Fujian Hwa Nan Women's College. From his great-grand aunt to himself, four generations of his family have devoted their efforts to promoting the development of science and education in Fujian province.
\n
Trimble's great-grand aunt Lydia Trimble founded the predecessor of Pingtan Experimental Primary School in 1908, while his grandfather Garnet Trimble practiced medicine in Nanping, Fujian, for 14 years following in his aunt's footsteps.
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Trimble recalled how his father had returned to China in 1989, carrying old photographs in search of long-lost friends. His father, who was born in China, had left for the United States in 1927 at the age of 12.
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When asked why his father still felt such a deep bond with China after so many years abroad, Trimble explained that one difference lies in language: people born in China learn Chinese as their first language, while those born in the US learn English — even if they may look very Chinese.
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Contact the writers at zhaojia@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
China on Tuesday conferred the 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award on 50 foreign experts working in the country in recognition of their contributions to the nation's development.
\n
State Councilor Shen Yiqin presented the Friendship Award to the honorees at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
\n
On behalf of the Chinese government, Shen extended congratulations to the laureates and expressed sincere greetings and heartfelt thanks to all foreign experts and their families for their support.
\n
She noted that foreign experts, working hand in hand with the Chinese people, have made significant contributions to advancing Chinese modernization and promoting friendship and cooperation between China and the rest of the world, which will always be remembered.
\n
As China maps out its economic and social development plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, she said the country has firm confidence and ample capability to achieve long-term, stable growth and bring new momentum and opportunities to the world.
\n
Shen emphasized that China will remain committed to high-standard opening-up, actively promote innovation-driven cooperation, and deepen reforms in talent-development systems and mechanisms. More high-caliber overseas talent will be welcomed to work, innovate and start businesses in China, she added.
\n
Shen also expressed the hope that foreign experts would fully leverage their expertise in the great endeavor of Chinese modernization and join hands with the Chinese people to write a new chapter of mutual learning and common development between China and the world.
\n
James Healy, an international communication expert and a senior editor at China Daily, is among the winners of the 2025 Chinese Government Friendship Award. Known for his concise yet vivid writing style, Healy offers incisive interpretations of China's proposals and wisdom.
\n
The Friendship Award is the highest honor to commend foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China's modernization drive. Since its establishment in 1991, more than 2,000 foreign experts have received the award.
\n
Gordon Trimble, one of the recipients of this year's award, is now a professor at Fujian Hwa Nan Women's College. From his great-grand aunt to himself, four generations of his family have devoted their efforts to promoting the development of science and education in Fujian province.
\n
Trimble's great-grand aunt Lydia Trimble founded the predecessor of Pingtan Experimental Primary School in 1908, while his grandfather Garnet Trimble practiced medicine in Nanping, Fujian, for 14 years following in his aunt's footsteps.
\n
Trimble recalled how his father had returned to China in 1989, carrying old photographs in search of long-lost friends. His father, who was born in China, had left for the United States in 1927 at the age of 12.
\n
When asked why his father still felt such a deep bond with China after so many years abroad, Trimble explained that one difference lies in language: people born in China learn Chinese as their first language, while those born in the US learn English — even if they may look very Chinese.
Wang Xudong (left), director of the Palace Museum in Beijing, introduces a cultural relic on Tuesday to guests at the opening ceremony of an exhibition commemorating the southward evacuation of the museum's artifacts in the 1930s.
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It was probably one of the largest wartime rescue missions of cultural relics in history.
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In 1933, when invading Japanese forces had advanced to the Great Wall, staff of the Palace Museum in Beijing soon launched a project to evacuate precious cultural relics that were housed in this former Chinese imperial palace as well as other key venues in Beijing via a southward route in case the items fell into the enemy's hands.
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Decades later, the bravery and determination of this mission was remembered on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the museum and the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
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An exhibition commemorating the southward evacuation of the artifacts opened in the museum's Shenwumen (Gate of Divine Prowess) Gallery on Tuesday. Through cultural relics that were part of that trek — including porcelain, paintings and jade as well as related old photos, documents and other exhibits — an epic effort to safeguard the lineage of a country's civilization was unveiled for visitors.
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"The arduous southward journey during the war of resistance, marked by numerous twists and turns, reflects the tumultuous national history and collective memory of the Chinese people," Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum, said at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.
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"These cultural treasures represent the preservation and continuation of the brilliant Chinese civilization," he said. "They not only embody the unity and resilience of the Chinese nation in times of crisis, but also illustrate the enduring appeal of Chinese culture."
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Wang said the museum had devoted itself to study relevant historical files and explore the value of the relocated relics, and the exhibition was the fruit of its endeavors.
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The first batch of evacuated relics set off on its journey in February 1933 from the square before Shenwumen.
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More than 13,400 crates of artifacts from the Palace Museum and around 6,000 crates from other venues, including Guozijian, the former imperial academy, were relocated.
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After the evacuation of relics from Beijing to Shanghai and Nanjing — then China's national capital and present-day capital city of Jiangsu province — the relic protectors also built warehouses in Nanjing. Even during the tough years in the 1930s, some of these artifacts were escorted to the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union for exhibitions.
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However, as the war spread to East China in 1937, these relocated treasures had to be evacuated again westward to Chongqing, as well as Hunan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces. Following China's victory in the war in 1945, the relics began traveling again on the journey home.
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"We also want to remind people how precious peace is through these relics that once endured the war and remained intact," said Xu Wanling, curator of the exhibition.
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A wooden crate that once held the relics is displayed in the center of the Shenwumen Gallery. Covered by various seals through the years of turmoil and being a crucial witness to history, it had already become a key cultural relic as well, the curator noted.
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Not a single artifact was lost in the yearslong trek, but not all relics finally returned to Beijing. For instance, about one-fifth of them were shipped to Taiwan in 1948 due to the civil war. They later became the cornerstone of the Palace Museum in Taipei.
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"Numerous cultural workers participated in the mission to safeguard national treasures, and they were fearless in the face of difficulties and continued studies of the cultural relics," said Shih Chin-wen, secretary-general of Taiwan-based Sheen Chuen-Chi Cultural & Educational Foundation, a co-organizer of the exhibition.
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"It reflected the Chinese nation's perseverance and an unstoppable cultural legacy," she said.
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wangkaihao@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -25559,28 +24569,6 @@
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- {
- "title": "003COVER - STUDENTS SING PRAISES OF WAR HEROES",
- "description": "
Students from Beihang University take a group photo after performing in a mass choir during the V-Day parade at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Sept 3.
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Students clap while listening to a speech at the semester's opening ceremony at Renmin University of China in Beijing.
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Sun Yuxuan shares his thoughts with fellow students during the semester's opening ceremony at Beihang University.
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When Sun Yuxuan, a doctoral student from the School of Transportation Science and Engineering at Beihang University in Beijing, stood before thousands of freshmen at the school's opening ceremony in early September and sang On the Songhua River, he was channeling history.
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The folk ballad recalls the suffering and resilience of Northeast China during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
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His performance, part of a broader national commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, resonated deeply.
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"My hometown is on the Songhua River in the northeast, where there are forests and coal mines, and soybeans and sorghum across mountains and fields," he sang with deep emotion.
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A video of his singing became very popular online, amassing over 3 million views.
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"This song carries the historical memory of my hometown and embodies the national spirit," said Sun, who is from Jilin city in Jilin province. "It's not just a melody — it's an emotional bridge to the past."
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With the 80th anniversary of the end of the war coinciding with the new school year, opening ceremonies have featured performances celebrating the great struggle and China's ultimate victory.
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In classrooms, auditoriums and galleries nationwide, the new academic year began not only with new knowledge, but with old memories — memories of a war that changed the world, and a spirit that continues to shape China's future.
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Sun was also a member of the mass choir that performed at the grand parade held in Beijing on Sept 3. Rehearsing through scorching summer days and chilly rainy nights, he and fellow choir members began to embody the very perseverance they sang about.
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During evening rehearsals that stretched late into the night, they worked tirelessly under the stars — an effort he described as "practicing by starlight and moonlight".
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"Through our persistence, we hope to prove to the predecessors who fought in the war of resistance that our young generation is capable and responsible," Sun said.
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Many may think Red songs are a thing of the past, and that they may not sound as diverse as modern music, he said. But the reason these songs have stood the test of time is that they carry profound historical meaning and deep emotion. Singing Red songs is not just about the melody — it's about telling the stories behind them and passing on their spiritual strength, he said.
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Under ordinary circumstances, people might not feel it deeply. But when you truly immerse yourself in the moment — whether at a grand event held at Tian'anmen Square or watching on television — they will be moved, he said. "As Chinese people, when we listen with a heart full of love for our country, we can understand why these melodies remain timeless."
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This spirit of perseverance was echoed on university campuses across the country. At Renmin University of China in Beijing, the opening ceremony held in late August served as a profound historical tribute.
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Zhang Donggang, the university's Party secretary, welcomed students by underscoring the institution's origins in the revolutionary flames of the war of resistance.
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He said RUC is a university that marches courageously on the journey toward national rejuvenation, one that inherits a glorious revolutionary tradition and flows with distinct Red genes, as well as being the first university founded by the Communist Party of China.
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He urged the class of 2025 to uphold the spirit of the Shaanbei Public School — the predecessor of the university — and embrace the core values of loyalty that reassure the Party, dedication that serves the people, truth-seeking through practical action, and pioneering through tireless endeavor.
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A particularly moving moment came when Chen Hong, a descendant of war martyr Zhao Yiman, appeared alongside a digital avatar of her grandmother to revisit the spirit of the war years in letters.
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Chen shared excerpts from her grandmother's family letter, noting that her father — the first student enrolled in the university's diplomacy department — had handwritten a copy of the letter for her.
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Chen shared: "Dear student, always remember the arduous years of the war of resistance. Remember those who fought for national survival, for rejuvenation, and for human justice."
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She encouraged students to draw strength from the deeds of heroes and grow into pillars capable of shouldering the great task of national rejuvenation.
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For Li Zhixuan, an undergraduate student at the university's business school and a former soldier, the ceremony carried deep personal resonance.
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"In the army, I learned responsibility and commitment. Today, hearing stories of heroes like Zhao Yiman, I understand that retiring from service doesn't mean retiring from spirit," Li said.
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"The war spirit, for me, is the drive to push through academic challenges, to step up as a student leader when tired, and to hold firm in my beliefs."
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Another freshman, Yu Ziran from the university's School of Public Administration, was raised on family stories of the war.
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His great-grandparents and grandfather were Party members, and tales of heroic war heroes were his childhood bedtime stories. "The seeds of history were planted in me long ago," Yu said.
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"Today, at Renmin University, they are reawakening."
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At Nanchang University in Jiangxi province, some 3,700 freshmen gathered in the indoor stadium to watch the live broadcast of the Sept 3 commemoration in Beijing.
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Among them was Liu Zhen, a postgraduate student in Marxist studies, who had proactively asked his teacher to organize a collective viewing session for his class. "In the resonance, in the veterans' firm gazes, and in the steady march of the People's Liberation Army, I saw the great spirit of the war of resistance," Liu said.
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Since arriving to study six years ago, Liu has visited all the major sites of the important revolutionary heartland such as the Nanchang August 1 Uprising Memorial Hall. He got to know how the People's Liberation Army emerged from Jiangxi.
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Last August, he became a volunteer teacher in Guizhou province. There, he took students to cinemas, cultural centers and martyrs' cemeteries, sharing stories of revolutionary heroes. In June, he led 29 students from Guizhou to Nanchang to revisit the memorial hall. "I want to pass on the Red spirit to the next generation," he said.
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"I will study hard, spread these Red stories, and turn patriotic will into action."
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At the Communication University of China, the commemoration of the end of the war took a powerful visual form through an art exhibition, which featured 124 works, including 100 traditional Chinese paintings by doctoral students and 24 oil paintings by Russian artists.
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Liao Xiangzhong, the university's Party secretary, framed the exhibition as both an artistic and political endeavor — a "comprehensive exam" evaluating students' political awareness and artistic skill.
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The event has shown that students have integrated their artistic pursuits into national cultural development, Liao said.
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"These works demonstrate the doctoral students' firm political conviction, deep national sentiment, and strong sense of mission," he added.
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Doctoral student Lu Ming presented two ink paintings: Black Mountains, White Waters — Yang Jingyu and Black Mountains, White Waters — Zhou Baozhong, portraying two legendary commanders of the northeast army unit.
\n
Lu depicted General Yang in a critical charge scene, holding a pistol, eyes filled with determination and belief, contrasting the intensity of the combat with the commander's calm decisiveness. For General Zhou, Lu set the scene in a snowy birch forest, highlighting both the harsh environment and the resilience of the troops. "I used gray tones to portray skin, reflecting both the bitter cold and the harshness of the struggle," he explained.
\n
The exhibition not only guides viewers to remember history and honor the martyrs, but also inspires patriotism on a spiritual level, providing robust support for inheriting the Chinese nation's spiritual lineage and promoting cultural development in the new era, he said.
\n
Ding Zhe, another doctoral candidate, described her work White Mountains, Black Waters, Casting Loyal Souls as a "spiritual dialogue "with the past. "Art is how we refuse to forget," she said. "Through ink, I tried to reconstruct the spiritual aura of the land — the steadfastness of the mountains, the vastness of the snow. Behind those simple brushstrokes lie countless unknown heroes who protected the motherland with their lives."
\n
Art is also a universal language for conveying the message of peace to the world. It transcends borders and cultures, directly speaking to the human heart, she said. "Through such creative expression, we are not only looking back at the past but also making a forward-looking statement: May courage be passed down, may sacrifice be remembered, and may peace become a shared vision for the global village."
Students from Beihang University take a group photo after performing in a mass choir during the V-Day parade at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Sept 3.
\n
Students clap while listening to a speech at the semester's opening ceremony at Renmin University of China in Beijing.
\n
Sun Yuxuan shares his thoughts with fellow students during the semester's opening ceremony at Beihang University.
\n
When Sun Yuxuan, a doctoral student from the School of Transportation Science and Engineering at Beihang University in Beijing, stood before thousands of freshmen at the school's opening ceremony in early September and sang On the Songhua River, he was channeling history.
\n
The folk ballad recalls the suffering and resilience of Northeast China during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
\n
His performance, part of a broader national commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, resonated deeply.
\n
"My hometown is on the Songhua River in the northeast, where there are forests and coal mines, and soybeans and sorghum across mountains and fields," he sang with deep emotion.
\n
A video of his singing became very popular online, amassing over 3 million views.
\n
"This song carries the historical memory of my hometown and embodies the national spirit," said Sun, who is from Jilin city in Jilin province. "It's not just a melody — it's an emotional bridge to the past."
\n
With the 80th anniversary of the end of the war coinciding with the new school year, opening ceremonies have featured performances celebrating the great struggle and China's ultimate victory.
\n
In classrooms, auditoriums and galleries nationwide, the new academic year began not only with new knowledge, but with old memories — memories of a war that changed the world, and a spirit that continues to shape China's future.
\n
Sun was also a member of the mass choir that performed at the grand parade held in Beijing on Sept 3. Rehearsing through scorching summer days and chilly rainy nights, he and fellow choir members began to embody the very perseverance they sang about.
\n
During evening rehearsals that stretched late into the night, they worked tirelessly under the stars — an effort he described as "practicing by starlight and moonlight".
\n
"Through our persistence, we hope to prove to the predecessors who fought in the war of resistance that our young generation is capable and responsible," Sun said.
\n
Many may think Red songs are a thing of the past, and that they may not sound as diverse as modern music, he said. But the reason these songs have stood the test of time is that they carry profound historical meaning and deep emotion. Singing Red songs is not just about the melody — it's about telling the stories behind them and passing on their spiritual strength, he said.
\n
Under ordinary circumstances, people might not feel it deeply. But when you truly immerse yourself in the moment — whether at a grand event held at Tian'anmen Square or watching on television — they will be moved, he said. "As Chinese people, when we listen with a heart full of love for our country, we can understand why these melodies remain timeless."
\n
This spirit of perseverance was echoed on university campuses across the country. At Renmin University of China in Beijing, the opening ceremony held in late August served as a profound historical tribute.
\n
Zhang Donggang, the university's Party secretary, welcomed students by underscoring the institution's origins in the revolutionary flames of the war of resistance.
\n
He said RUC is a university that marches courageously on the journey toward national rejuvenation, one that inherits a glorious revolutionary tradition and flows with distinct Red genes, as well as being the first university founded by the Communist Party of China.
\n
He urged the class of 2025 to uphold the spirit of the Shaanbei Public School — the predecessor of the university — and embrace the core values of loyalty that reassure the Party, dedication that serves the people, truth-seeking through practical action, and pioneering through tireless endeavor.
\n
A particularly moving moment came when Chen Hong, a descendant of war martyr Zhao Yiman, appeared alongside a digital avatar of her grandmother to revisit the spirit of the war years in letters.
\n
Chen shared excerpts from her grandmother's family letter, noting that her father — the first student enrolled in the university's diplomacy department — had handwritten a copy of the letter for her.
\n
Chen shared: "Dear student, always remember the arduous years of the war of resistance. Remember those who fought for national survival, for rejuvenation, and for human justice."
\n
She encouraged students to draw strength from the deeds of heroes and grow into pillars capable of shouldering the great task of national rejuvenation.
\n
For Li Zhixuan, an undergraduate student at the university's business school and a former soldier, the ceremony carried deep personal resonance.
\n
"In the army, I learned responsibility and commitment. Today, hearing stories of heroes like Zhao Yiman, I understand that retiring from service doesn't mean retiring from spirit," Li said.
\n
"The war spirit, for me, is the drive to push through academic challenges, to step up as a student leader when tired, and to hold firm in my beliefs."
\n
Another freshman, Yu Ziran from the university's School of Public Administration, was raised on family stories of the war.
\n
His great-grandparents and grandfather were Party members, and tales of heroic war heroes were his childhood bedtime stories. "The seeds of history were planted in me long ago," Yu said.
\n
"Today, at Renmin University, they are reawakening."
\n
At Nanchang University in Jiangxi province, some 3,700 freshmen gathered in the indoor stadium to watch the live broadcast of the Sept 3 commemoration in Beijing.
\n
Among them was Liu Zhen, a postgraduate student in Marxist studies, who had proactively asked his teacher to organize a collective viewing session for his class. "In the resonance, in the veterans' firm gazes, and in the steady march of the People's Liberation Army, I saw the great spirit of the war of resistance," Liu said.
\n
Since arriving to study six years ago, Liu has visited all the major sites of the important revolutionary heartland such as the Nanchang August 1 Uprising Memorial Hall. He got to know how the People's Liberation Army emerged from Jiangxi.
\n
Last August, he became a volunteer teacher in Guizhou province. There, he took students to cinemas, cultural centers and martyrs' cemeteries, sharing stories of revolutionary heroes. In June, he led 29 students from Guizhou to Nanchang to revisit the memorial hall. "I want to pass on the Red spirit to the next generation," he said.
\n
"I will study hard, spread these Red stories, and turn patriotic will into action."
\n
At the Communication University of China, the commemoration of the end of the war took a powerful visual form through an art exhibition, which featured 124 works, including 100 traditional Chinese paintings by doctoral students and 24 oil paintings by Russian artists.
\n
Liao Xiangzhong, the university's Party secretary, framed the exhibition as both an artistic and political endeavor — a "comprehensive exam" evaluating students' political awareness and artistic skill.
\n
The event has shown that students have integrated their artistic pursuits into national cultural development, Liao said.
\n
"These works demonstrate the doctoral students' firm political conviction, deep national sentiment, and strong sense of mission," he added.
\n
Doctoral student Lu Ming presented two ink paintings: Black Mountains, White Waters — Yang Jingyu and Black Mountains, White Waters — Zhou Baozhong, portraying two legendary commanders of the northeast army unit.
\n
Lu depicted General Yang in a critical charge scene, holding a pistol, eyes filled with determination and belief, contrasting the intensity of the combat with the commander's calm decisiveness. For General Zhou, Lu set the scene in a snowy birch forest, highlighting both the harsh environment and the resilience of the troops. "I used gray tones to portray skin, reflecting both the bitter cold and the harshness of the struggle," he explained.
\n
The exhibition not only guides viewers to remember history and honor the martyrs, but also inspires patriotism on a spiritual level, providing robust support for inheriting the Chinese nation's spiritual lineage and promoting cultural development in the new era, he said.
\n
Ding Zhe, another doctoral candidate, described her work White Mountains, Black Waters, Casting Loyal Souls as a "spiritual dialogue "with the past. "Art is how we refuse to forget," she said. "Through ink, I tried to reconstruct the spiritual aura of the land — the steadfastness of the mountains, the vastness of the snow. Behind those simple brushstrokes lie countless unknown heroes who protected the motherland with their lives."
\n
Art is also a universal language for conveying the message of peace to the world. It transcends borders and cultures, directly speaking to the human heart, she said. "Through such creative expression, we are not only looking back at the past but also making a forward-looking statement: May courage be passed down, may sacrifice be remembered, and may peace become a shared vision for the global village."
(From left) China Daily reporter Belinda Robinson interviews panelists Alicia Adams, Jindong Cai, Hai-Ye Ni, Beitong Liu, Xiaoyan Luo and Katherine Chernyak at the China Now Music Festival in New York on Sunday.
\n
New York's iconic Lincoln Center hosted the second day of programming for the eighth China Now Music Festival on Sunday, featuring a concert and forum presented by the US-China Music Institute of Bard College and China Daily.
\n
The groundbreaking concert, performed by The Orchestra Now in the Rose Theater at Frederick P.Rose Hall, showcased the legacy of three generations of Chinese composers, from the 1950s through the 1980s, whose seminal works bridged music, dance and opera.
\n
It was conducted by Jindong Cai, director of the US-China Music Institute and a professor at Bard College. An exploration of the China-United States relationship through art was also woven into the programming.
\n
Hai-Ye Ni, principal cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra, performed the US premiere of The Lonely Camel Calf by Chinese-Mongolian composer Yu Mengshi. She highlighted the orchestra's pivotal role in building US-China relations dating back 50 years.
\n
"The Philadelphia Orchestra was the first American orchestra to visit China in 1973. It was (conductor) Eugene Ormandy and the whole orchestra. We still have a couple of musicians in the orchestra now who were on that tour," she said.
\n
The US-China Music Forum followed the concert, with panelists delving into the value of continuing cross-cultural musical exchange between the two countries and reflecting on the impact of the Bard East/West Ensemble's first tour of China, which took place from June 7 to 21.
\n
Formed in 2022, the ensemble brings together musicians from diverse backgrounds and features performances on 14 Chinese and Western instruments.
\n
"In the past 10 to 20 years, I started to think about how we can introduce music from China to the West," said Cai, artistic director of the ensemble. "So that's how we initially started the US-China Music Institute at Bard College.
\n
"Three years ago, I came up with the idea because of an event at the Kennedy Center (in Washington) … we thought, what if we combine Chinese instruments with Western music. That's how we created the ensemble. After that performance, I thought, 'I want this to continue.'"
\n
Progress made
\n
Alicia Adams, former vice-president of international programming and dance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, reflected on the progress she helped make in US-China cultural exchange during her time at the center.
\n
"We made a lot of progress," she said.
\n
"I did a China festival at the Kennedy Center in 2005, when we brought over nearly 1,000 artists from China, ranging from the Beijing Opera to the Beijing People's Art Theatre.
\n
"It was before the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and before many of these artists had performed in the US, so there was huge interest in China at the time — and in these artists."
\n
Katherine Chernyak, a member of the Bard East/West Ensemble, described the tour — her first visit to China — as "special", adding that she felt "very lucky to visit and go there".
\n
Panelists also emphasized the importance of continuing to foster US-China ties through the arts.
\n
"Musicians like me and musicians like us love both countries," Cai said. "If you ask all the musicians in China and in America, I think we don't want to depart. We want to continue to work together."
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\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-02/010/20251002_010_01_32667.png\")
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