观察性研究能虽然能发现“某些现象经常结伴出现”，但这并不意味着一个导致另一个。这里的关系可以有很多种情况，可以是 A 引起 B 或 B 引起 A；又或者 A 和 B 都是由 C 引起的等情况。就像在小区门口蹲点，发现“拎垃圾袋的人更容易穿拖鞋”，真正的原因是“家里垃圾满 / 要去倒垃圾”，而不是垃圾袋让人换了鞋。
观察性研究能虽然能发现“某些现象经常结伴出现”，但这并不意味着一个导致另一个。这里的关系可以有很多种情况，可以是 A 引起 B 或 B 引起 A；又或者 A 和 B 都是由 C 引起的等情况。就像在小区门口蹲点，发现“拎垃圾袋的人更容易穿拖鞋”，真正的原因是“家里垃圾满 / 要去倒垃圾”，而不是垃圾袋让人换了鞋。
[1]MacLeod, C. M. (2020). Zeigarnik and von Restorff: The memory effects and the stories behind them. Memory & Cognition, 48(6), 1073–1088. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-020-01033-5 [2]Zeigarnik, B. (1938). On finished and unfinished tasks. In W. D. Ellis(Ed.), A source book of Gestalt psychology. (300–314). Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Company. https://doi.org/10.1037/11496-025 [3]Marrow, A. J. (1969). The practical theorist: The life and work of Kurt Lewin. New York : Basic Books . [4]Oyama, Y., Manalo, E., & Nakatani, Y. (2018). The Hemingway effect: How failing to finish a task can have a positive effect on motivation. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 30, 7–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2018.01.001 [5]Masicampo, E. J., & Baumeister, R. F. (2011). Consider it done! Plan making can eliminate the cognitive effects of unfulfilled goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(4), 667–683. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024192 [6]McGraw, K. O., & Fiala, J. (1982). Undermining the Zeigarnik effect: Another hidden cost of reward. Journal of Personality, 50(1), 58–66. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1982.tb00745.x
[1]MacLeod, C. M. (2020). Zeigarnik and von Restorff: The memory effects and the stories behind them. Memory & Cognition, 48(6), 1073–1088. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-020-01033-5 [2]Zeigarnik, B. (1938). On finished and unfinished tasks. In W. D. Ellis(Ed.), A source book of Gestalt psychology. (300–314). Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Company. https://doi.org/10.1037/11496-025 [3]Marrow, A. J. (1969). The practical theorist: The life and work of Kurt Lewin. New York : Basic Books . [4]Oyama, Y., Manalo, E., & Nakatani, Y. (2018). The Hemingway effect: How failing to finish a task can have a positive effect on motivation. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 30, 7–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2018.01.001 [5]Masicampo, E. J., & Baumeister, R. F. (2011). Consider it done! Plan making can eliminate the cognitive effects of unfulfilled goals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(4), 667–683. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024192 [6]McGraw, K. O., & Fiala, J. (1982). Undermining the Zeigarnik effect: Another hidden cost of reward. Journal of Personality, 50(1), 58–66. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1982.tb00745.x
\n \n \n Starting in the autumn semester, primary and middle schools across Beijing will introduce general education on artificial intelligence, with at least eight class hours per academic year, according to a document released by the Beijing Education Commission. Skills related to AI applications will be included in students' comprehensive assessments.\n \n \n
\n \n \n For the new semester, multiple regions across the country have launched special inspections on school bus safety to eliminate potential hazards and ensure the safety of student transportation.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Staff members sort out textbooks to be dispatched for the upcoming new semester at a warehouse in Zunhua City, Heibei Province, Aug. 16, 2025. Schools and bookstores across the country are getting textbooks ready for the upcoming new semester. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua)\n \n \n \n \n
\n \n \n As the new school year approaches, many parents are increasingly concerned about \"back-to-school syndrome.\"\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Heading back to school sparks an upswing in anxiety for many children. The average child's school day is packed with potential stressors: separating from parents, meeting academic expectations, managing peer groups, and navigating loud, crowded school hallways and cafeteria, to name just a few of many challenges. That's why it's typical for children to experience some anticipatory anxiety leading up to the new school year — and for parents to notice a rise in worries.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Back-to-school syndrome presents in various ways. Children may suddenly complain of stomachaches or headaches, lose their appetite or become unusually irritable. Some may have trouble sleeping at night, frequently visit the bathroom without a clear reason, or exhibit tic disorders, such as excessive blinking, throat clearing or repetitive mouth sounds.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Experts advise against scolding children when they resist going to school, as it is ineffective. \"Instead of rushing to resolve their anxiety or forcing them to cope, it's crucial to allow children to manage their feelings at their own pace,\" said Lee Moon-soo, a professor of psychiatry at Korea University Guro Hospital. \"If parents acknowledge their concerns and engage in open conversations, children will feel more emotionally secure.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n A video of rabbits bouncing on a trampoline has gone viral on social media, garnering millions of views and shares over platforms. It started on July 27 when a TikTok user posted a video with the caption, \"Just checked the home security cam and… I think we've got guest performers out back!\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n First, as the video starts, pay close attention to two bunnies on the left-hand side of the trampoline. What initially looks like two grey rabbits sitting side-by-side, unnaturally warps into a single bunny, which bounds away.\n \n \n
\n \n \n A similar transformation occurs with two other rabbits around the five-second mark.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n To spot the subtle flaw, focus on the leftmost rabbit as it starts to run across the trampoline. The rabbit jumps up and obscures another rabbit sitting on the back edge, which has vanished by the time the first rabbit lands.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n A fact-checking platform Snopes stated that\n \n \n \n \n the account that posted the video previously shared at least one video (archived) generated by Google's artificial video generator \"\n \n \n \n \n \n Veo\n \n \n \n \n \", as evidenced by a watermark on the footage.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Despite the subtle hints and the account's unusual behaviour, many people still found themselves falling for the clip.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Some commenters even joked that they had thought only their parents would fall for fake AI content. One wrote: \"A few years ago I was laughing at my mother for believing AI.\" Another joked: \"I'm getting scammed when I'm older.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n Experts say there are many reasons why this was so believable\n \n \n \n \n , such as surveillance footage providing a sense of authenticity. Before AI became popular, security footage was viewed as a reliable record, according to CBS News Confirmed.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n 图源：新浪微博@七三一官方微博截图\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Chinese historical drama titled\n \n \n \"731,\"\n \n \n which revisits the horrific World War II-era human experiments conducted by Japan's notorious germ warfare unit 731, is set to premiere on Sept 18, sources associated with the film have said.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n \n \n 二战期间，侵华日军第七三一部队在哈尔滨市平房区以“给水防疫”为名，秘密研制细菌武器，抓捕平民、抗日志士等进行活体实验，成为日本军国主义实施细菌战的铁证。\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Unit 731, a top-secret biological and chemical warfare research base, was established in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang province, and served as the nerve center for Japanese biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia during WWII.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 图源：\n \n \n \n \n \n 新浪微博@七三一官方微博截图\n \n \n \n \n \n \n 据新华社报道，主创团队介绍，影片讲述了当地小贩王永章等人被强行抓入“特设监狱”，侵华日军以“配合健康检查与防疫研究即可换取自由”的虚伪承诺，欺骗他们遭受冻伤实验、毒气实验、活体解剖等极端折磨的故事。\n \n \n
\n \n \n According to the film's director Zhao Linshan, it tells the story of Wang Yongzhang, a local vendor, and others who were imprisoned and lured by false promises of freedom in exchange for cooperation with health checks and disease prevention research.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Instead, they became victims of brutal medical experiments carried out by the occupying Japanese forces -- including frostbite testing, gas exposure and vivisection.\n \n \n
\n \n \n “日本侵略者给中国人民带来了沉重灾难，这是不容忘却的历史。”侵华日军第七三一部队罪证陈列馆馆长金成民说，\n \n 影片展现绝境下中国人不屈的反抗精神，警醒世人铭记历史、捍卫和平。\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"This is a history that must never be forgotten,\" said Jin Chengmin, a historical adviser for the film and head of the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"The film reveals the inhumane atrocities committed by the invading Japanese army through the eyes of ordinary civilians, while highlighting the unyielding resistance spirit of the Chinese people in the face of despair,\" Jin said. \"It serves as a powerful reminder to safeguard peace.\"\n \n \n \n \n \n 定档消息发出后\n \n \n \n \n 相关话题引发关注\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 网友：真相不能忘！\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Dead to Rights\n \n \n \n \n \n ,\n \n \n a film set during the Nanjing Massacre,\n \n \n \n \n \n opened in domestic theaters on July 25\n \n \n \n \n \n .\n \n \n \n \n Marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), the film revisits one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II through the perspective of a group of unsung heroes.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Set against the Nanjing Massacre, the film follows a group of civilians sheltering in a photo studio.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Forced to develop a Japanese military photographer's film to survive, they accidentally uncover photographic proof of the atrocities. Initially focused on mere survival, they ultimately risk everything to preserve the evidence and expose the war crimes.\n \n \n
\n \n \n The most powerful core of this film lies in its tearing open the veil of history, allowing me an outsider to viscerally empathize wth the unimaginable suffering endured by the Chinese nation during the catastraphe. It doesn't shy away from the darkness, nor does it gloss over the pain. It confronts the nation's scars with immense artistic courage.\n \n \n
\n \n \n China's 2025 summer box office, including presales, exceeded 5 billion yuan on Sunday. Daily box office takings have remained above 100 million yuan for 10 consecutive days. On Saturday alone, ticket sales hit 293 million yuan, setting a new single-day high for this year's summer movie season.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Leading the charts is Universal's \"Jurassic World Rebirth,\" with 541 million yuan in ticket sales, followed by Chinese comedy \"The Lychee Road,\" which has grossed 468 million yuan. Other top performers include Japanese animated movie \"Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback,\" Peter Chan's crime drama \"She's Got No Name\" and the sports film \"F1 The Movie\" starring Brad Pitt.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Health authorities said all affected children received treatment, with nearly all now discharged after their blood lead levels dropped by around 40 percent on average. The government is covering medical costs and has set up a monitoring program to track the children's recovery.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Seventeen officials have been placed under disciplinary investigation, and 10 others, including senior health and education officials in Tianshui city and its Maiji district, Gansu province, face formal accountability procedures, according to a report released on Sunday.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Authorities said the kindergarten was operating without a license and that local education and market supervision departments failed to carry out oversight. Some officials are suspected of accepting bribes and favors from the kindergarten's investor. Disciplinary and criminal investigations have been launched against officials, including the head of the provincial health commission and the mayor of Tianshui.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Authorities found that the kindergarten's management had instructed staff to add brightly colored but inedible industrial pigments to foods such as corn rolls and jujube cakes (steamed buns), to make them look more appealing to children and parents.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n Two samples from Peixin — a tricolor red date sponge cake served at breakfast and a corn roll with sausage served at dinner — failed to meet food safety standards. The samples contained lead levels of 1,052 milligrams per kilogram and 1,340 milligrams per kilogram, respectively, far above the national limit of 0.5 milligram per kilogram.\n \n \n
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\n \n \n On Sunday, officials revealed in a report that six had been arrested on suspicion of producing toxic and harmful food.\n \n \n
\n \n This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.\n \n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n Today, July 7, is etched in history with the Lugou Bridge Incident (1937) in Beijing, when Japanese troops attacked Lugou Bridge (Marco Polo Bridge) and the defending Chinese troops rose to fight the enemy. The event triggered China's full-scale war of resistance against Japanese aggression, also a main Eastern theater of the World Anti-Fascist War.\n \n
\n \n \n Japan has never fully reflected on its aggressive acts and war crimes before and during World War II. Right-wing forces have repeatedly downplayed or glorified this history, promoting revisionist narratives that blur public understanding of World War II.\n \n \n
Crew members of the Shenzhou XX mission return to the Tiangong space station at 1:35 am on Friday after conducting a spacewalk for nearly six hours outside the colossal orbital station and completing planned tasks. See story, page 2
\n",
- "content": "
Crew members of the Shenzhou XX mission return to the Tiangong space station at 1:35 am on Friday after conducting a spacewalk for nearly six hours outside the colossal orbital station and completing planned tasks. See story, page 2
The competition at the aircraft maintenance venue is in full swing at the Third Vocational Skills Competition of China in Zhengzhou, He-nan province, on Sunday. Over 50 percent of the events focus on smart manufacturing, industrial internet and artificial intelligence, while 17 new professional categories highlight the latest trends in technological and skills development. See story, page 2
The Nile River, eternal and majestic, carves its path through endless desert landscapes before surrendering to the Mediterranean in North Egypt. Along its fertile black banks, ancient Egyptian civilization blossomed, a land of awe and mystery where the world's first scripts were etched, some of the earliest cities rose, and belief in eternity gave shape to temples and tombs.
\n
Today, this river of history flows into a new chapter, as China and Egypt join hands to guard the legacies of their ancient civilizations. Together they are breathing new life into weathered stones and faded murals, through joint archaeological digs, relic restorations and cultural exhibitions.
\n
In this dialogue across time, two cradles of human wisdom affirm a shared belief that the diversity of civilizations is a treasure to be cherished, and that protecting the past is a way of inspiring the future, experts said.
\n
From the summer of 2024 to the summer of 2025, Shanghai Museum staged the landmark exhibition On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt. Showcasing 788 rare artifacts, the 13-month event drew an impressive 2.78 million visitors. The exhibition presented over 400 newly unearthed artifacts, underscoring the rich fruits of recent China-Egypt joint archaeological projects.
\n
In recent years, China and Egypt have steadily deepened archaeological cooperation. In 2018, following a protocol between Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China's first full archaeological mission in Egypt began excavations at the Montu Temple ruins in Luxor's Karnak Temple Complex.
\n
In parallel, joint efforts are underway to nominate China's Baiheliang Ancient Hydrological Inscription and Egypt's Rawda Island Nilometer as World Cultural Heritage sites of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
\n
Meanwhile, teams have begun digitally documenting thousands of ancient coffins in Saqqara — a sprawling necropolis of ancient Egyptian royalty — contributing to both preservation and scholarship.
\n
Yan Haiying, a professor of history at Peking University, said that China and Egypt, both heirs to ancient civilizations, stand as mirrors to one another. Comparative research between these two cultural giants not only deepens mutual understanding, but also enriches each side's sense of identity and historical self-awareness.
\n
"The exhibition of ancient Egyptian civilization has sparked a cultural wave in China. In the past, Egypt-themed shows here were often canned exhibitions curated in the West and staged mainly for profit. This time, however, Shanghai Museum achieved a major breakthrough, taking the lead in curating independently and working hand in hand with Egyptian counterparts. Without the joint archaeology of China and Egypt, these newly unearthed relics could never have come to China," Yan said.
\n
She said ancient China and Egypt, both nourished by great rivers, shared striking commonalities as agrarian civilizations. Each cultivated cosmologies and philosophies rooted in the idea of harmony between heaven and humanity, and in prayers for blessings in the afterlife. Both sought a unified national order and revered the ideal of living in balance with nature.
\n
"Therefore, before the relics of ancient Egypt, Chinese hearts stir with a quiet resonance: two great civilizations, though distant, recognizing one another across the span of time," Yan said.
\n
Xue Jiang, a researcher at the World Art History Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, said that ancient Egyptian and Chinese civilizations share similar characteristics, and these cultural parallels have laid a strong foundation for the two nations to deepen cooperation in preserving their rich heritage.
\n
Xue and his colleagues carried out field research in Egypt on the digitization of newly unearthed artifacts, which led to an agreement with Egyptian partners to launch a series of long-term collaborative projects. The first initiative, which focused on the investigation, cataloging, database creation and joint publication of artifacts discovered in Saqqara, was designated as a pilot, testing new methods and technologies for heritage preservation.
\n
"Following our research, we will publish findings in Arabic, Chinese and English, and establish a trilingual database. Looking ahead, we plan to set up joint laboratories and apply China's most advanced archaeological technologies to help Egypt build a modern archaeological system," he said.
\n
Both experts said strengthened cooperation between China and Egypt in heritage protection will not only deepen cultural exchanges, but also contribute to safeguarding the diversity of world civilizations.
\n
"Every civilization shines with its own brilliance, and all stand equal, and this forms the very foundation of dialogue and exchange. As heirs to these legacies, we bear the responsibility of safeguarding world heritage and preserving the shared treasures of human civilization," Xue said.
\n
Yan said that with each newly unearthed artifact, Egyptian national pride swelled and confidence soared, inspiring renewed efforts to safeguard their cultural treasures and celebrate their rich history.
\n
"Understanding one's past is key to fostering one's cultural confidence. China and Egypt should work together to safeguard their shared historical and cultural heritage, enhance the protection and transmission of cultural relics, and jointly preserve the collective memory of history," she said.
\n
Xue added: "Civilizations are neither superior nor inferior; they are united by the shared aspiration to learn from one another, collaborate and achieve mutual benefit. In reflecting on civilization, we must not only examine its authenticity, but also seek a collective human memory and empathy that transcend time and space."
\n
liujianqiao@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
The Nile River, eternal and majestic, carves its path through endless desert landscapes before surrendering to the Mediterranean in North Egypt. Along its fertile black banks, ancient Egyptian civilization blossomed, a land of awe and mystery where the world's first scripts were etched, some of the earliest cities rose, and belief in eternity gave shape to temples and tombs.
\n
Today, this river of history flows into a new chapter, as China and Egypt join hands to guard the legacies of their ancient civilizations. Together they are breathing new life into weathered stones and faded murals, through joint archaeological digs, relic restorations and cultural exhibitions.
\n
In this dialogue across time, two cradles of human wisdom affirm a shared belief that the diversity of civilizations is a treasure to be cherished, and that protecting the past is a way of inspiring the future, experts said.
\n
From the summer of 2024 to the summer of 2025, Shanghai Museum staged the landmark exhibition On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt. Showcasing 788 rare artifacts, the 13-month event drew an impressive 2.78 million visitors. The exhibition presented over 400 newly unearthed artifacts, underscoring the rich fruits of recent China-Egypt joint archaeological projects.
\n
In recent years, China and Egypt have steadily deepened archaeological cooperation. In 2018, following a protocol between Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China's first full archaeological mission in Egypt began excavations at the Montu Temple ruins in Luxor's Karnak Temple Complex.
\n
In parallel, joint efforts are underway to nominate China's Baiheliang Ancient Hydrological Inscription and Egypt's Rawda Island Nilometer as World Cultural Heritage sites of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
\n
Meanwhile, teams have begun digitally documenting thousands of ancient coffins in Saqqara — a sprawling necropolis of ancient Egyptian royalty — contributing to both preservation and scholarship.
\n
Yan Haiying, a professor of history at Peking University, said that China and Egypt, both heirs to ancient civilizations, stand as mirrors to one another. Comparative research between these two cultural giants not only deepens mutual understanding, but also enriches each side's sense of identity and historical self-awareness.
\n
"The exhibition of ancient Egyptian civilization has sparked a cultural wave in China. In the past, Egypt-themed shows here were often canned exhibitions curated in the West and staged mainly for profit. This time, however, Shanghai Museum achieved a major breakthrough, taking the lead in curating independently and working hand in hand with Egyptian counterparts. Without the joint archaeology of China and Egypt, these newly unearthed relics could never have come to China," Yan said.
\n
She said ancient China and Egypt, both nourished by great rivers, shared striking commonalities as agrarian civilizations. Each cultivated cosmologies and philosophies rooted in the idea of harmony between heaven and humanity, and in prayers for blessings in the afterlife. Both sought a unified national order and revered the ideal of living in balance with nature.
\n
"Therefore, before the relics of ancient Egypt, Chinese hearts stir with a quiet resonance: two great civilizations, though distant, recognizing one another across the span of time," Yan said.
\n
Xue Jiang, a researcher at the World Art History Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, said that ancient Egyptian and Chinese civilizations share similar characteristics, and these cultural parallels have laid a strong foundation for the two nations to deepen cooperation in preserving their rich heritage.
\n
Xue and his colleagues carried out field research in Egypt on the digitization of newly unearthed artifacts, which led to an agreement with Egyptian partners to launch a series of long-term collaborative projects. The first initiative, which focused on the investigation, cataloging, database creation and joint publication of artifacts discovered in Saqqara, was designated as a pilot, testing new methods and technologies for heritage preservation.
\n
"Following our research, we will publish findings in Arabic, Chinese and English, and establish a trilingual database. Looking ahead, we plan to set up joint laboratories and apply China's most advanced archaeological technologies to help Egypt build a modern archaeological system," he said.
\n
Both experts said strengthened cooperation between China and Egypt in heritage protection will not only deepen cultural exchanges, but also contribute to safeguarding the diversity of world civilizations.
\n
"Every civilization shines with its own brilliance, and all stand equal, and this forms the very foundation of dialogue and exchange. As heirs to these legacies, we bear the responsibility of safeguarding world heritage and preserving the shared treasures of human civilization," Xue said.
\n
Yan said that with each newly unearthed artifact, Egyptian national pride swelled and confidence soared, inspiring renewed efforts to safeguard their cultural treasures and celebrate their rich history.
\n
"Understanding one's past is key to fostering one's cultural confidence. China and Egypt should work together to safeguard their shared historical and cultural heritage, enhance the protection and transmission of cultural relics, and jointly preserve the collective memory of history," she said.
\n
Xue added: "Civilizations are neither superior nor inferior; they are united by the shared aspiration to learn from one another, collaborate and achieve mutual benefit. In reflecting on civilization, we must not only examine its authenticity, but also seek a collective human memory and empathy that transcend time and space."
Helicopter rescue personnel deploy lifting equipment to rescue a "drowning person" during a joint maritime emergency drill in the Bohai Bay waters between Hebei province and Tianjin on Friday. The drill, jointly organized by the maritime departments of Tianjin and Hebei, simulated a collision between an offshore oilfield transport ship and a passenger ship, involving 15 vessels, one helicopter and two drones.
China's 15th scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean concluded on Friday as the last members of the expedition team returned to Shanghai.
\n
Carrying the mission crew, the Xuelong 2 icebreaker arrived at its home port in Shanghai on Friday morning, marking the end of China's largest-ever scientific exploration in the Arctic Ocean, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.
\n
The expedition was jointly carried out by four vessels — Xuelong 2, Jidi, Shenhai 1 and Tansuo 3 — and further advanced China's understanding of rapid changes in the Arctic Ocean and their impact, providing crucial support for assessing and responding to global climate change, the ministry said in a statement.
\n
Xuelong 2 and Jidi completed tasks including comprehensive marine environmental surveys and manned deep-sea diving support. Significant progress was achieved in areas such as multidisciplinary surveys in the ice edge zone and three-dimensional coordinated observation of atmosphere-ice-ocean systems.
\n
With the support of Xuelong 2, the Shenhai 1, carrying the Jiaolong manned submersible, achieved China's first manned deep-sea dive in Arctic ice-covered waters — a milestone reflecting the country's growing capacity to access and explore the deep sea, according to the statement.
\n
Preliminary studies revealed major differences in benthic organism density, biodiversity and individual body size across Arctic sea areas.
\n
The findings provide support for uncovering spatial distribution patterns of polar deep-sea benthic organisms and assessing the impacts of climate change on deep-sea ecosystems, the ministry said.
\n
zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
China's 15th scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean concluded on Friday as the last members of the expedition team returned to Shanghai.
\n
Carrying the mission crew, the Xuelong 2 icebreaker arrived at its home port in Shanghai on Friday morning, marking the end of China's largest-ever scientific exploration in the Arctic Ocean, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.
\n
The expedition was jointly carried out by four vessels — Xuelong 2, Jidi, Shenhai 1 and Tansuo 3 — and further advanced China's understanding of rapid changes in the Arctic Ocean and their impact, providing crucial support for assessing and responding to global climate change, the ministry said in a statement.
\n
Xuelong 2 and Jidi completed tasks including comprehensive marine environmental surveys and manned deep-sea diving support. Significant progress was achieved in areas such as multidisciplinary surveys in the ice edge zone and three-dimensional coordinated observation of atmosphere-ice-ocean systems.
\n
With the support of Xuelong 2, the Shenhai 1, carrying the Jiaolong manned submersible, achieved China's first manned deep-sea dive in Arctic ice-covered waters — a milestone reflecting the country's growing capacity to access and explore the deep sea, according to the statement.
\n
Preliminary studies revealed major differences in benthic organism density, biodiversity and individual body size across Arctic sea areas.
\n
The findings provide support for uncovering spatial distribution patterns of polar deep-sea benthic organisms and assessing the impacts of climate change on deep-sea ecosystems, the ministry said.
Crew members of the Shenzhou XX mission have conducted their fourth spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station, completing several tasks, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
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The agency said in a news release on Friday that crew members Colonel Chen Zhongrui, 40, and Colonel Wang Jie, 36, returned to the Wentian science module at 1:35 am after floating for nearly six hours outside the colossal orbital station.
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The mission commander, Senior Colonel Chen Dong, stayed inside Tiangong to provide support, it said.
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With support from ground controllers and the use of a robotic arm, the team completed all their assigned operations, including installing space debris shields, checking the condition of extravehicular equipment and fixing broken parts, the agency said.
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The spacewalk was the 24th carried out by the Chinese astronauts, and also the first conducted by both third-generation astronauts.
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The Shenzhou XX crew is conducting China's 15th manned spaceflight and has become the ninth group of residents aboard the Tiangong, which is currently the only operational space station independently run by a single nation.
\n
By now, Chen Dong and his teammates have spent more than five months in orbit, carrying out a series of science and technology assignments. They are scheduled to return to Earth next month.
\n
Their predecessors in the Shenzhou XIX flight made three spacewalks during their six-month mission.
\n
Orbiting Earth at distance of about 400 kilometers, the Tiangong space station has three permanent parts — a core module and two science capsules — and is regularly connected to several visiting crew and cargo spaceships. It weighs about 100 metric tons and is expected to operate for at least 10 years.
\n",
@@ -26725,28 +25031,6 @@
"hash": "b093753a024c82931e9e5c7c438cbf78",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "004COMMENT - Melodies of belonging and shared heritage echo across Strait",
- "description": "
As the fall winds whisper through the bustling streets of Shanghai and the misty hills of Taipei, I find myself humming a tune that has long bridged the narrow waterway between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan: Tomorrow Will Be Better.
\n
This anthem of hope and resilience, penned by Taiwan composer Lo Tayu and first performed at a charity concert in Hong Kong, soared across the Taiwan Strait, uniting mainland schoolchildren singing in morning assemblies with Taiwan families gathered around the piano on Chinese New Year. Melodies such as this, and the cultural tapestry they weave stand as timeless testaments to the profound, inseparable bonds between the mainland and Taiwan.
\n
Let us begin with the simple power of a song. Consider The Olive Tree, Taiwan singer Chyi Yu's haunting ballad of longing and farewell. The song captured the ache of the diaspora and unfulfilled wanderlust, resonating on both sides of the Strait. I recall a rainy evening in Shanghai, years ago, when a street musician strummed the chords of his guitar, drawing a crowd of passers-by, some from Shanghai, some from other provinces, others with a familiar Taiwan accent. One listener, a Taiwan entrepreneur on a business trip, joined in, his voice cracking with emotion. At that very moment, the olive tree was not just a metaphor for elusive peace; it was us, reaching across the divide with shared yearning.
\n
These songs are more like cultural couriers. Taiwan chanteuse Teresa Teng's I Only Care About You became a beloved anthem across the Strait. By the 1990s, as reform opened doors, her concerts in Hong Kong drew tears from audiences who had waited decades to hear her live. Likewise, Childhood by Lo Tayu evokes the bittersweet innocence of growing up, uniting mainland millennials reminiscing about courtyard games with their Taiwan compatriots sharing tales of school life. The Promise by Taiwan singer Chou Huei, with its vow of enduring commitment, feels almost prophetic, a pledge whispered between estranged kin.
\n
Each of these songs carries the DNA of our common heritage: the poetic cadence of classical Chinese, the emotional depth of Confucian introspection and the innovative flair of 20th century fusion. They are not "Taiwan residents" or "mainland residents"; they are Chinese people, flowing like the Min River that once carried our ancestors from Fujian to Taiwan's shores.
\n
This musical intimacy extends to the silver screen and television. Who among us has not been captivated by the wuxia (martial hero fiction) epics of Hong Kong novelist Louis Cha Leung-yung, adapted into dramas like The Legend of the Condor Heroes that aired on both the CCTV of the mainland and TTV of Taiwan? These tales of chivalry and loyalty, drawn from shared literary roots, transported viewers from the bustling hutongs of old Beijing to the lantern-lit streets of Kaohsiung. Films such as Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a Taiwan director's global ode to wuxia aesthetics, premiered to mainland applause, proving our cinematic grammar is one and the same.
\n
Entertainment exchanges deepen this synergy. Joint variety shows, like the mainland's Happy Camp inviting Taiwan idols or Kangxi Coming of Taiwan featuring mainland comedians, spark laughter that echoes familial banter. Concerts by Jay Chou in Shanghai or Faye Wong in Taipei draw mixed crowds chanting lyrics in unison.
\n
These are lifelines, not mere spectacles. I'm reminded of a young couple I met at a cultural forum in Xiamen, Fujian province, she from Nanjing, Jiangsu province, he from Hsinchu, Taiwan, bonded over binge-watching Meteor Garden, the Taiwan drama that swept the mainland in the early 2000s. Their story, born of F4's boyish charm and shared adolescent crushes, culminated in a cross-Strait marriage. Culture, in these instances, is the thread stitching hearts together, defying any attempt to unravel it.
\n
Yet as we revel in these joys, a sobering question arises: why must we defend what is so evidently ours? The push to sever cultural ties through bans on mainland media in Taiwan or restrictions on cross-Strait artists is a betrayal of our shared soul. It severs the arteries of our identity, pretending that the Minnan dialect spoken in Quanzhou, Fujian province, is alien to Tainan, Taiwan, or that Dragon Boat Festival's rhythms do not pulse identically in both realms. Such divisions sow suspicion where familiarity once bloomed, turning neighbors into strangers. This is a true tragedy: not the Strait itself, but the invisible walls we erect around our imagination.
\n
Our cultures are tributaries of the same mighty Yangtze River of heritage, from the oracle bones of the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC) to the revolutionary fervor of the May Fourth Movement of 1919. To cut them apart is to dam a river, starving the delta of its lifeblood. Instead, let us amplify these exchanges: more co-productions, unfettered song streams, and festivals where artists from both sides jam under the same moon. Imagine a pan-Chinese music award or a film week in Fuzhou, Fujian, mirroring Cannes Film Festival, celebrating our indivisibility.
\n
As Tomorrow Will Be Better fades into the night, its promise lingers: tomorrow will definitely be better, because of our unity. Let no force, political, ideological or otherwise, silence the songs that sing our oneness. For in their harmony, we hear the heartbeat of a greater China, eternal and unbroken.
\n
<span class="epaper-status">The author is dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Sanda University in Shanghai.</span>
\n
The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
As the fall winds whisper through the bustling streets of Shanghai and the misty hills of Taipei, I find myself humming a tune that has long bridged the narrow waterway between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan: Tomorrow Will Be Better.
\n
This anthem of hope and resilience, penned by Taiwan composer Lo Tayu and first performed at a charity concert in Hong Kong, soared across the Taiwan Strait, uniting mainland schoolchildren singing in morning assemblies with Taiwan families gathered around the piano on Chinese New Year. Melodies such as this, and the cultural tapestry they weave stand as timeless testaments to the profound, inseparable bonds between the mainland and Taiwan.
\n
Let us begin with the simple power of a song. Consider The Olive Tree, Taiwan singer Chyi Yu's haunting ballad of longing and farewell. The song captured the ache of the diaspora and unfulfilled wanderlust, resonating on both sides of the Strait. I recall a rainy evening in Shanghai, years ago, when a street musician strummed the chords of his guitar, drawing a crowd of passers-by, some from Shanghai, some from other provinces, others with a familiar Taiwan accent. One listener, a Taiwan entrepreneur on a business trip, joined in, his voice cracking with emotion. At that very moment, the olive tree was not just a metaphor for elusive peace; it was us, reaching across the divide with shared yearning.
\n
These songs are more like cultural couriers. Taiwan chanteuse Teresa Teng's I Only Care About You became a beloved anthem across the Strait. By the 1990s, as reform opened doors, her concerts in Hong Kong drew tears from audiences who had waited decades to hear her live. Likewise, Childhood by Lo Tayu evokes the bittersweet innocence of growing up, uniting mainland millennials reminiscing about courtyard games with their Taiwan compatriots sharing tales of school life. The Promise by Taiwan singer Chou Huei, with its vow of enduring commitment, feels almost prophetic, a pledge whispered between estranged kin.
\n
Each of these songs carries the DNA of our common heritage: the poetic cadence of classical Chinese, the emotional depth of Confucian introspection and the innovative flair of 20th century fusion. They are not "Taiwan residents" or "mainland residents"; they are Chinese people, flowing like the Min River that once carried our ancestors from Fujian to Taiwan's shores.
\n
This musical intimacy extends to the silver screen and television. Who among us has not been captivated by the wuxia (martial hero fiction) epics of Hong Kong novelist Louis Cha Leung-yung, adapted into dramas like The Legend of the Condor Heroes that aired on both the CCTV of the mainland and TTV of Taiwan? These tales of chivalry and loyalty, drawn from shared literary roots, transported viewers from the bustling hutongs of old Beijing to the lantern-lit streets of Kaohsiung. Films such as Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a Taiwan director's global ode to wuxia aesthetics, premiered to mainland applause, proving our cinematic grammar is one and the same.
\n
Entertainment exchanges deepen this synergy. Joint variety shows, like the mainland's Happy Camp inviting Taiwan idols or Kangxi Coming of Taiwan featuring mainland comedians, spark laughter that echoes familial banter. Concerts by Jay Chou in Shanghai or Faye Wong in Taipei draw mixed crowds chanting lyrics in unison.
\n
These are lifelines, not mere spectacles. I'm reminded of a young couple I met at a cultural forum in Xiamen, Fujian province, she from Nanjing, Jiangsu province, he from Hsinchu, Taiwan, bonded over binge-watching Meteor Garden, the Taiwan drama that swept the mainland in the early 2000s. Their story, born of F4's boyish charm and shared adolescent crushes, culminated in a cross-Strait marriage. Culture, in these instances, is the thread stitching hearts together, defying any attempt to unravel it.
\n
Yet as we revel in these joys, a sobering question arises: why must we defend what is so evidently ours? The push to sever cultural ties through bans on mainland media in Taiwan or restrictions on cross-Strait artists is a betrayal of our shared soul. It severs the arteries of our identity, pretending that the Minnan dialect spoken in Quanzhou, Fujian province, is alien to Tainan, Taiwan, or that Dragon Boat Festival's rhythms do not pulse identically in both realms. Such divisions sow suspicion where familiarity once bloomed, turning neighbors into strangers. This is a true tragedy: not the Strait itself, but the invisible walls we erect around our imagination.
\n
Our cultures are tributaries of the same mighty Yangtze River of heritage, from the oracle bones of the Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC) to the revolutionary fervor of the May Fourth Movement of 1919. To cut them apart is to dam a river, starving the delta of its lifeblood. Instead, let us amplify these exchanges: more co-productions, unfettered song streams, and festivals where artists from both sides jam under the same moon. Imagine a pan-Chinese music award or a film week in Fuzhou, Fujian, mirroring Cannes Film Festival, celebrating our indivisibility.
\n
As Tomorrow Will Be Better fades into the night, its promise lingers: tomorrow will definitely be better, because of our unity. Let no force, political, ideological or otherwise, silence the songs that sing our oneness. For in their harmony, we hear the heartbeat of a greater China, eternal and unbroken.
\n
<span class="epaper-status">The author is dean of the School of Foreign Languages at Sanda University in Shanghai.</span>
\n
The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
China has initiated an anti-dumping probe into pecans imported from the United States and Mexico, and has also launched a separate investigation into Mexico's restrictive measures against the nation.
\n
These moves signal Beijing's determination to safeguard its national interests and global trading system, analysts said.
\n
This follows a proposal by Mexico to increase tariffs on Chinese textiles, steel and automotive goods, and comes at a time when China and the United States are eyeing further talks to resolve their trade dispute.
\n
The anti-dumping probe, announced on Thursday, is scheduled to conclude by Sept 25, 2026, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement, noting that it could be prolonged by six months if needed.
\n
There is evidence that pecans from these two countries "are being sold in China at artificially low prices", inflicting substantial harm on the domestic industry, the ministry said.
\n
The ministry also announced on Thursday that it is initiating a separate investigation into Mexico's restrictive measures that constitute trade and investment barriers against China.
\n
"In the current context of the US' abuse of tariff hikes, all countries should jointly oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, and must not sacrifice the interests of third parties under the coercion of others," a spokesperson for the ministry said.
\n
Earlier this month, the Mexican government proposed significant tariff increases on over 1,400 products, including Chinese textiles, steel, and automotive goods, as part of its 2026 budget package.
\n
Analysts view Mexico's recent restrictive measures as a move to protect domestic industries, and more importantly, appease Washington amid trade tensions and a review of the United States — Mexico-Canada Agreement trade pact.
\n
"If Mexico's unilateral tariff hike measures are implemented, even within the framework of the WTO, it will harm the interests of related trading partners, including China, and seriously impact the certainty of the business environment in Mexico, undermining the confidence of enterprises in investing in the country," the spokesperson added.
\n
China is Mexico's second largest trading partner globally, after the United States, while Mexico is China's second largest trading partner in Latin America. In 2024, the total trade value between China and Mexico reached $109.4 billion, data from the ministry showed.
\n
"What we are seeing is not a trade policy rooted in Mexico's market conditions, but a geopolitical one driven by Washington's agenda," said Cui Fan, a professor of international trade at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.
\n
The move risks drawing Mexico deeper into a confrontational approach that could destabilize regional supply chains and undermine the stability of the global trading system. It also raises questions about the sustainability of Mexico's trade environment where economic decisions are increasingly made under coercion rather than through rules-based mechanisms, Cui added.
\n
Earlier on Thursday, the ministry also placed six US firms on its export control and unreliable entity lists.
\n
"The biggest obstacle currently affecting the normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the US is the unilateral restrictive measures taken by the US," He Yadong, spokesman for the ministry, said at a news conference on Thursday.
\n
Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said despite progress made in the four rounds of China-US trade talks, there are still significant differences between the two countries on major economic and trade issues such as tariffs and technology restrictions.
\n
This will require the United States to abandon its erroneous practices of resorting to unilateral sanctions and coercion through long-arm jurisdiction, Zhou said.
Driven by the economic rebound, net absorption in Beijing's Grade-A office market reached 125,000 square meters in the third quarter, a record high thus far in 2025, said a report by Colliers International, a global real estate service provider. The rise of tech companies has led to more market demand in the Zhongguancun area, known as "China's Silicon Valley".
\n
Repair jobs to bolster safe rail transport
\n
Chinese railway operators have intensified efforts to better safeguard smooth and safe rail transport. At Taiyuan South railway hub in Shanxi province, over 200 high-speed trains stop and pass it every day, as it is the intersection of three HSRs. To enhance the quality of line equipment, China Railway Taiyuan Group asked Taiyuan High-speed Railway Engineering Section to conduct centralized repairs to bolster safe rail transport. As the nine-day repair operation started on Sept 18, a total of 16 flash welding, 8.448 kilometers of large machine tamping work, six sets of turnout compliance rectification and seven sets of turnout polishing are expected to be completed.
\n",
- "content": "
Net absorption in office market increases
\n
Driven by the economic rebound, net absorption in Beijing's Grade-A office market reached 125,000 square meters in the third quarter, a record high thus far in 2025, said a report by Colliers International, a global real estate service provider. The rise of tech companies has led to more market demand in the Zhongguancun area, known as "China's Silicon Valley".
\n
Repair jobs to bolster safe rail transport
\n
Chinese railway operators have intensified efforts to better safeguard smooth and safe rail transport. At Taiyuan South railway hub in Shanxi province, over 200 high-speed trains stop and pass it every day, as it is the intersection of three HSRs. To enhance the quality of line equipment, China Railway Taiyuan Group asked Taiyuan High-speed Railway Engineering Section to conduct centralized repairs to bolster safe rail transport. As the nine-day repair operation started on Sept 18, a total of 16 flash welding, 8.448 kilometers of large machine tamping work, six sets of turnout compliance rectification and seven sets of turnout polishing are expected to be completed.
Investor confidence in China strengthened in the third quarter, driven by a rebound in A shares and steady growth of Chinese technology firms, a survey by Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business showed.
\n
The poll launched in July, which surveyed around 1,300 investors and 800 financial professionals, found investor sentiment had improved, with 63.1 percent of respondents expecting A-share gains. This proportion is 1.6 percentage points higher than the investor sentiment survey in April and 15.6 percentage points higher than the one in July 2024.
\n
Over a one-year period until August, the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index had climbed 35.7 percent, and the Shenzhen Composite Index surged 58.2 percent.
\n
The survey, led by Liu Jing, professor of accounting and finance at CKGSB, found that the current rally in A shares has been driven primarily by valuation expansion rather than improved fundamentals of listed companies.
\n
"The year-long A-share rally shows at least partial recovery of investor confidence. The survey reflects both optimism and caution; while investor confidence is rebounding, sustainable growth will require deeper structural reforms," Liu said.
\n
Valuation recovery has been mainly driven by three factors, including policy support rolled out since late last year and technological breakthroughs achieved by several Chinese technology companies. The breakthroughs have spurred gains in A-share sectors such as semiconductors, automation and industrial metals.
\n
Besides, China's forward-looking, systematic and targeted response strategies adopted amid this round of Sino-US trade frictions have significantly boosted market confidence in the nation's economic resilience and independent technological development capabilities.
\n
"A sustained bull market hinges on robust fundamentals. Critical to shoring up these fundamentals are structural re-balancing from investment to consumption, technological innovation, industrial upgrading, and dynamic private-sector activity," Liu said.
\n
He added that the proportion of service consumption in China is poised to keep expanding, and this segment calls for further stimulation, given its substantial growth potential.
\n
China unveiled a new policy package recently to further boost the growth of service consumption. The guideline, jointly issued by the Ministry of Commerce and eight other entities earlier this month, listed 19 measures to propel the expansion of service consumption.
",
@@ -26813,28 +25075,6 @@
"hash": "1049d2b400144a1bfb64a9957138eaab",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "006WORLD - Trump slaps new US tariffs on broad range",
- "description": "
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled a new round of tariffs on a broad range of imported goods, including 100 percent duties on branded drugs and 25 percent levies on heavy-duty trucks, set to take effect next week.
\n
The latest salvo, which Trump said was aimed at protecting the US manufacturing industry and national security, follows sweeping duties on trading partners of up to 50 percent and other targeted levies on imported products, such as steel.
\n
The barrage has cast a pall over global growth and paralyzed business decision-making around the world, while the Federal Reserve has stated that it is also contributing to higher consumer prices in the US.
\n
Trump's latest announcements on Truth Social did not mention whether the new levies would be in addition to existing national tariffs. However, recently struck trade deals with Japan, the EU, and the United Kingdom include provisions that cap tariffs for specific products, such as pharmaceuticals.
\n
Tokyo said that it was still analyzing the potential impact of the new measures, which Canberra called "unfair" and "unjustified".
\n
Trump also followed through on a pledge to "bring back" the US furniture business, saying that he would impose a 50 percent tariff on imported kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, as well as a 30 percent tariff on upholstered furniture. All the new duties take effect from Oct 1.
\n
Stocks of pharmaceutical companies across Asia fell as investors reacted to the news, with Australia's CSL hitting a six-year low, Japan's Sumitomo Pharma tumbling more than 3 percent.
\n
The new 100 percent tariff on any branded or patented pharmaceutical product will apply to all imports unless the company has already broken ground on building a manufacturing plant in the United States, Trump said.
\n
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, an industry group, said companies continue to announce hundreds of billions in new US investments. "Tariffs risk those plans," it added.
\n
Trump has made the levies a key foreign policy tool, using them to renegotiate trade deals, extract concessions and exert political pressure on other countries.
\n
His administration has played down the impact on consumer prices and touted tariffs as a significant revenue source.
\n
Some economies have already struck deals with Washington.
\n
The European Commission said on Friday it had secured a 15 percent ceiling on US tariffs on pharmaceuticals, acting as an insurance policy for European companies.
\n
Japan has an agreement that its tariff rates will not exceed those of others, including the EU, Tokyo's trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said on Friday.
\n
More than half of the $85.6 billion in ingredients used in medicines consumed in the United States are manufactured in the US, with the remainder sourced from Europe and other US allies, according to the US pharmaceutical trade group, which stated this earlier this year.
\n
When it comes to furniture, imports to the United States reached $25.5 billion in 2024, a 7 percent increase from the previous year.
\n
"Many of our members were shocked when we heard the news. I think the decision on the additional tariff is unfair," said Nguyen Thi Thu Hoai from the Dong Nai Wood and Handicraft Association, one of Vietnam's largest furniture clusters.
\n
Higher tariffs on commercial vehicles could put pressure on transportation costs just as Trump has vowed to reduce inflation, especially on consumer goods such as groceries.
\n
The US Chamber of Commerce earlier urged the department not to impose new truck tariffs, noting the top five import sources are Mexico, Canada, Japan, Germany and Finland, "all of which are allies or close partners of the United States posing no threat to US national security".
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled a new round of tariffs on a broad range of imported goods, including 100 percent duties on branded drugs and 25 percent levies on heavy-duty trucks, set to take effect next week.
\n
The latest salvo, which Trump said was aimed at protecting the US manufacturing industry and national security, follows sweeping duties on trading partners of up to 50 percent and other targeted levies on imported products, such as steel.
\n
The barrage has cast a pall over global growth and paralyzed business decision-making around the world, while the Federal Reserve has stated that it is also contributing to higher consumer prices in the US.
\n
Trump's latest announcements on Truth Social did not mention whether the new levies would be in addition to existing national tariffs. However, recently struck trade deals with Japan, the EU, and the United Kingdom include provisions that cap tariffs for specific products, such as pharmaceuticals.
\n
Tokyo said that it was still analyzing the potential impact of the new measures, which Canberra called "unfair" and "unjustified".
\n
Trump also followed through on a pledge to "bring back" the US furniture business, saying that he would impose a 50 percent tariff on imported kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, as well as a 30 percent tariff on upholstered furniture. All the new duties take effect from Oct 1.
\n
Stocks of pharmaceutical companies across Asia fell as investors reacted to the news, with Australia's CSL hitting a six-year low, Japan's Sumitomo Pharma tumbling more than 3 percent.
\n
The new 100 percent tariff on any branded or patented pharmaceutical product will apply to all imports unless the company has already broken ground on building a manufacturing plant in the United States, Trump said.
\n
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, an industry group, said companies continue to announce hundreds of billions in new US investments. "Tariffs risk those plans," it added.
\n
Trump has made the levies a key foreign policy tool, using them to renegotiate trade deals, extract concessions and exert political pressure on other countries.
\n
His administration has played down the impact on consumer prices and touted tariffs as a significant revenue source.
\n
Some economies have already struck deals with Washington.
\n
The European Commission said on Friday it had secured a 15 percent ceiling on US tariffs on pharmaceuticals, acting as an insurance policy for European companies.
\n
Japan has an agreement that its tariff rates will not exceed those of others, including the EU, Tokyo's trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said on Friday.
\n
More than half of the $85.6 billion in ingredients used in medicines consumed in the United States are manufactured in the US, with the remainder sourced from Europe and other US allies, according to the US pharmaceutical trade group, which stated this earlier this year.
\n
When it comes to furniture, imports to the United States reached $25.5 billion in 2024, a 7 percent increase from the previous year.
\n
"Many of our members were shocked when we heard the news. I think the decision on the additional tariff is unfair," said Nguyen Thi Thu Hoai from the Dong Nai Wood and Handicraft Association, one of Vietnam's largest furniture clusters.
\n
Higher tariffs on commercial vehicles could put pressure on transportation costs just as Trump has vowed to reduce inflation, especially on consumer goods such as groceries.
\n
The US Chamber of Commerce earlier urged the department not to impose new truck tariffs, noting the top five import sources are Mexico, Canada, Japan, Germany and Finland, "all of which are allies or close partners of the United States posing no threat to US national security".
Cosplayers dressed as Deadpool perform with a visitor for a picture during the San Diego Comic-Con in Malaga, in southern Spain, on Thursday. Comic-Con began holding events in San Diego in 1970, initially as a low-key and rather niche huddle, but it has now grown to be one of the world's biggest celebrations of pop culture.
\n",
@@ -26857,28 +25097,6 @@
"hash": "8e7d4f993ff2d6e565d6931e31eaa09f",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "006WORLD - Chinese goods win Australian hearts with high quality",
- "description": "
The second China Commodity Fair Australia kicks off in Sydney on Thursday.
\n
Made-in-China consumer products have won praise at a major trade show in Australia, with importers, industry representatives and experts noting that the products are now increasingly recognized for their high quality, surpassing their previous reputation for reliable supply at low cost.
\n
"There's certainly been a great change in quality over the years. China is now the world's best producer of products of all kinds because the Chinese people are very creative, industrious and innovative," said James Huey, managing director of China Westbridge Advisory Services, a Sydney-based firm which helps connect businesses and investments between Australia and China.
\n
"We're seeing a lot of new products coming onto the market, and the quality is very good, so it's a great opportunity," Huey told China Daily, noting that importers and exporters on both sides are leveraging stable, complementary ties amid a dynamic global marketplace.
\n
Speaking on the sidelines of the China Commodity Fair Australia, or CCFA, which opened in Sydney on Thursday, the business consultant added: "Australia doesn't have a very strong manufacturing base, what we can do in Australia is probably add value to products …do some processing of them here. I don't think we can compete with the high level of technology China is using in its manufacturing."
\n
CCFA, now in its second edition after the inaugural fair last year, kicked off a three-day event in Sydney this week. The specialized consumer goods exhibition, the largest of its kind, featured more than 200 exhibitors showcasing 5,000 products, ranging from household items and home appliances to consumer electronics, sports equipment, and stationery, according to organizers.
\n
In his message for the event, Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said that with China and Australia enjoying close economic and trade relations, cooperation in consumer products "not only constitutes an important part of our bilateral trade, but also serves as a bridge that enhances exchanges and mutual trust between our peoples".
\n
The fair "provides a valuable platform for enterprises of both countries to showcase their brands, expand markets, and deepen collaboration, injecting fresh momentum into our economic ties", he said.
\n
High-quality products from China will better meet the diverse needs of Australian consumers, while also creating favorable conditions and new opportunities for Australian businesses to better understand and engage with the Chinese market, he added.
\n
Largest trading partner
\n
China is Australia's largest trading partner, and the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, effective since December 2015, has built on Australia's large and successful commercial relationship with China, according to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
\n
The elimination of tariffs on a wide range of Chinese goods entering Australia has made Chinese consumer goods more affordable and accessible to Australian consumers.
\n
Nick Barth, Australia and New Zealand representative for Messe Frankfurt, one of the world's largest trade fair organizers, which helped bring together the participants of the CCFA, told China Daily that the trade show is a "great avenue and door opener for Chinese manufacturers and suppliers to the Australian market".
\n
He called it "a wonderful showcase for Chinese companies in Australia", adding, "We welcome them with open arms."
\n
"Chinese products are fantastic, they're good quality now," he said. "The Australian buyers, the reason that they're here, is for the quality and to form good relationships."
\n
Zhang Shanshan, general manager of the houseware division at Ningbo General Union, one of the fair's Chinese exhibitors, said her company's focus has been mainly on more established markets, such as European countries, but it is now looking to tap into the potential of Australian consumers.
\n
"The scale and volume may not be as large as other Western markets, but the purchasing power here is significant," Zhang told China Daily.
\n
For Jorge Kassis, national manager, strategic sales, at Australian freight services provider Border Express, the fair offered an important opportunity to connect product suppliers with distributors in Australia.
\n
The Chinese market is extremely important amid the economic headwinds facing various sectors, Kassis said.
The second China Commodity Fair Australia kicks off in Sydney on Thursday.
\n
Made-in-China consumer products have won praise at a major trade show in Australia, with importers, industry representatives and experts noting that the products are now increasingly recognized for their high quality, surpassing their previous reputation for reliable supply at low cost.
\n
"There's certainly been a great change in quality over the years. China is now the world's best producer of products of all kinds because the Chinese people are very creative, industrious and innovative," said James Huey, managing director of China Westbridge Advisory Services, a Sydney-based firm which helps connect businesses and investments between Australia and China.
\n
"We're seeing a lot of new products coming onto the market, and the quality is very good, so it's a great opportunity," Huey told China Daily, noting that importers and exporters on both sides are leveraging stable, complementary ties amid a dynamic global marketplace.
\n
Speaking on the sidelines of the China Commodity Fair Australia, or CCFA, which opened in Sydney on Thursday, the business consultant added: "Australia doesn't have a very strong manufacturing base, what we can do in Australia is probably add value to products …do some processing of them here. I don't think we can compete with the high level of technology China is using in its manufacturing."
\n
CCFA, now in its second edition after the inaugural fair last year, kicked off a three-day event in Sydney this week. The specialized consumer goods exhibition, the largest of its kind, featured more than 200 exhibitors showcasing 5,000 products, ranging from household items and home appliances to consumer electronics, sports equipment, and stationery, according to organizers.
\n
In his message for the event, Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said that with China and Australia enjoying close economic and trade relations, cooperation in consumer products "not only constitutes an important part of our bilateral trade, but also serves as a bridge that enhances exchanges and mutual trust between our peoples".
\n
The fair "provides a valuable platform for enterprises of both countries to showcase their brands, expand markets, and deepen collaboration, injecting fresh momentum into our economic ties", he said.
\n
High-quality products from China will better meet the diverse needs of Australian consumers, while also creating favorable conditions and new opportunities for Australian businesses to better understand and engage with the Chinese market, he added.
\n
Largest trading partner
\n
China is Australia's largest trading partner, and the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, effective since December 2015, has built on Australia's large and successful commercial relationship with China, according to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
\n
The elimination of tariffs on a wide range of Chinese goods entering Australia has made Chinese consumer goods more affordable and accessible to Australian consumers.
\n
Nick Barth, Australia and New Zealand representative for Messe Frankfurt, one of the world's largest trade fair organizers, which helped bring together the participants of the CCFA, told China Daily that the trade show is a "great avenue and door opener for Chinese manufacturers and suppliers to the Australian market".
\n
He called it "a wonderful showcase for Chinese companies in Australia", adding, "We welcome them with open arms."
\n
"Chinese products are fantastic, they're good quality now," he said. "The Australian buyers, the reason that they're here, is for the quality and to form good relationships."
\n
Zhang Shanshan, general manager of the houseware division at Ningbo General Union, one of the fair's Chinese exhibitors, said her company's focus has been mainly on more established markets, such as European countries, but it is now looking to tap into the potential of Australian consumers.
\n
"The scale and volume may not be as large as other Western markets, but the purchasing power here is significant," Zhang told China Daily.
\n
For Jorge Kassis, national manager, strategic sales, at Australian freight services provider Border Express, the fair offered an important opportunity to connect product suppliers with distributors in Australia.
\n
The Chinese market is extremely important amid the economic headwinds facing various sectors, Kassis said.
Beijing has reiterated its support for efforts to reach a lawful and balanced solution over TikTok, calling on Washington to provide an open and fair environment for Chinese companies. The Chinese government respects the wishes of the company in question and would be happy to see commercial negotiations being carried out according to market rules and leading to a solution that complies with China's laws and regulations and takes into account both sides' interests, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun reiterated. Guo made the remarks after United States President Donald Trump signed an executive order enabling TikTok's continued operations in the US.
\n
CANADA
\n
Post union launches nationwide strike
\n
Canada Post workers went on a nationwide strike on Thursday after the Canadian government called for the postal company to undergo a widespread transformation to bolster its finances and modernize operations, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers said. Canada Post said that its operations will be shut down following the strike, and that its customers can expect delays.
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump warned on Thursday that a government shutdown was looming, as the White House raised the stakes in a clash with Democrats by threatening mass federal firings.
\n
Republican Trump is in a tense showdown with congressional Democrats to agree on spending plans ahead of a fiscal deadline of midnight on Sept 30, after which key services will be cut.
\n
The White House earlier ordered government agencies to prepare for layoffs that would go beyond the usual practice of temporary furloughs during government shutdowns.
\n
A shutdown would result in nonessential operations coming to a halt and hundreds of thousands of civil servants being temporarily left without pay.
\n
In a late Wednesday memo, the White House's Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, asked agencies to identify programs, projects and activities where discretionary funding will lapse on Oct 1 if the US Congress does not pass legislation to keep the federal government open.
\n
"Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown," the OMB said in the memo.
\n
The memo told agencies to submit their proposed reduction-in-force plans to the OMB and to issue notices to employees if they are ultimately shut down.
\n
The move would add to the pain of government workers after large-scale firings masterminded by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency earlier this year.
\n
Democrats have rejected Republican proposals unless some of the spending cuts are reversed and existing healthcare subsidies are extended.
\n
"We will not be intimidated," Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters, describing OMB Chief Russell Vought as "totally and completely out of control".
\n
Shutdown battles have become a regular feature of US politics under both Republican and Democratic administrations, as Washington is increasingly paralyzed by polarization.
\n
The federal government is on the brink of its 15th partial shutdown since 1981, as lawmakers have failed to agree on a plan for discretionary funding for the new fiscal year, which accounts for about one-quarter of the $7 trillion budget.
\n
Congress last faced a shutdown in March, when Republicans refused to talk with Democrats over Trump's massive budget cuts and the layoffs of thousands of federal employees.
\n
'Negotiating tactic'
\n
The shutdown was also a negotiating tactic, with six references in a short document to how Democrats voted against the Republican stopgap funding bill last week, which was hurriedly passed by the House of Representatives as it sought to avert a shutdown.
\n
Trump canceled a meeting on Tuesday with Democratic leaders in Congress, saying he would not meet with them until they "become realistic" with their demands.
\n
With both chambers on recess this week and senators returning on Monday, time is running out to keep the US government funded after the end of the fiscal year.
\n
House Republicans warned on Friday that their members will not return before the funding deadline, forcing the Senate to vote again and accept their proposal or face a shutdown.
\n
The bill, if passed, would still only be a temporary fix, funding federal agencies through Nov 21.
\n",
- "content": "
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump warned on Thursday that a government shutdown was looming, as the White House raised the stakes in a clash with Democrats by threatening mass federal firings.
\n
Republican Trump is in a tense showdown with congressional Democrats to agree on spending plans ahead of a fiscal deadline of midnight on Sept 30, after which key services will be cut.
\n
The White House earlier ordered government agencies to prepare for layoffs that would go beyond the usual practice of temporary furloughs during government shutdowns.
\n
A shutdown would result in nonessential operations coming to a halt and hundreds of thousands of civil servants being temporarily left without pay.
\n
In a late Wednesday memo, the White House's Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, asked agencies to identify programs, projects and activities where discretionary funding will lapse on Oct 1 if the US Congress does not pass legislation to keep the federal government open.
\n
"Programs that did not benefit from an infusion of mandatory appropriations will bear the brunt of a shutdown," the OMB said in the memo.
\n
The memo told agencies to submit their proposed reduction-in-force plans to the OMB and to issue notices to employees if they are ultimately shut down.
\n
The move would add to the pain of government workers after large-scale firings masterminded by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency earlier this year.
\n
Democrats have rejected Republican proposals unless some of the spending cuts are reversed and existing healthcare subsidies are extended.
\n
"We will not be intimidated," Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters, describing OMB Chief Russell Vought as "totally and completely out of control".
\n
Shutdown battles have become a regular feature of US politics under both Republican and Democratic administrations, as Washington is increasingly paralyzed by polarization.
\n
The federal government is on the brink of its 15th partial shutdown since 1981, as lawmakers have failed to agree on a plan for discretionary funding for the new fiscal year, which accounts for about one-quarter of the $7 trillion budget.
\n
Congress last faced a shutdown in March, when Republicans refused to talk with Democrats over Trump's massive budget cuts and the layoffs of thousands of federal employees.
\n
'Negotiating tactic'
\n
The shutdown was also a negotiating tactic, with six references in a short document to how Democrats voted against the Republican stopgap funding bill last week, which was hurriedly passed by the House of Representatives as it sought to avert a shutdown.
\n
Trump canceled a meeting on Tuesday with Democratic leaders in Congress, saying he would not meet with them until they "become realistic" with their demands.
\n
With both chambers on recess this week and senators returning on Monday, time is running out to keep the US government funded after the end of the fiscal year.
\n
House Republicans warned on Friday that their members will not return before the funding deadline, forcing the Senate to vote again and accept their proposal or face a shutdown.
\n
The bill, if passed, would still only be a temporary fix, funding federal agencies through Nov 21.
A doctor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy hospital ship "Silk Road Ark" conducts traditional Chinese medicine technique cupping therapy for a local in the island country Nauru on Wednesday.
The Beijing Cultural Forum on Monday highlighted how China's cultural IPs are incubated and have reached global audiences. Joy of Life, as shown in its posters, is an example.
\n
The Beijing Cultural Forum on Monday highlighted how China's cultural IPs are incubated and have reached global audiences. Joy of Life, as shown in its posters, is an example.
\n
The Beijing Cultural Forum on Monday highlighted how China's cultural IPs are incubated and have reached global audiences. Joy of Life, as shown in its posters, is an example.
\n
A session on the New Cultural Ecosystem in the Era of Digital Intelligence, held during the Beijing Cultural Forum on Monday, highlighted how China's cultural intellectual properties (IPs) are incubated and reach global audiences.
\n
For Justyna Katarzyna Szpakowska, whose nickname is Cui Hua, a Polish media worker who has lived in China for nearly two decades and labels herself a "superuser" and "observer" of China's cultural IPs, the trend is visible in everyday life.
\n
"Foreign audiences are most drawn to depictions of real Chinese life and authentic human stories," she says. "When I first came to China, many foreigners' impressions stopped at kung fu and the Great Wall. Now they talk about The Three-Body Problem, short dramas and games. That's a real change."
\n
Online literature was highlighted as one of the most mature and databacked examples of cultural IP exports. Yang Chen, vice-president and editor-in-chief of Yuewen Group, stressed the central role of online novels.
\n
"Web novels are our most valuable cultural assets," Yang says. They allow young writers to innovate at their will and, at the same time, connect with global readers, he adds.
\n
According to an online literature report released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the overseas market for Chinese web literature reached 5.07 billion yuan ($711.4 million) last year, a year-on-year increase of 16.5 percent, with overseas readership climbing to 352 million across more than 200 countries and regions.
\n
WebNovel, a Chinese platform launched by Yuewen in 2017, has published over 10,000 translated works, assisted partly by AI translation into English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, and more.
\n
By June, it hosted around 770,000 original stories, created by more than 400,000 overseas authors in their native languages, according to the group, reflecting the Chinese web novel model being localized worldwide.
\n
Adaptations have further extended the reach of these IPs. The online novel Quanzhi Gaoshou (The King's Avatar) was adapted into an animation and marked its 10th anniversary this July with events co-hosted by the Swiss tourism board. Another hit, Qing Yu Nian (Joy of Life), was adapted into a TV series. Its second season is licensed to the Disney+ streaming platform, bringing Chinese storytelling to international viewers.
\n
Influencer-driven content was also discussed as a growing cultural export. In the session, Qu Tao, vice-president of Joy Media, a multichannel network (MCN) company, says: "Our formula is uniqueness, altruism, and genuine interactions with fans." When these align, the creators established cultural IPs and attract followers.
\n
The company now manages more than 100,000 influencers. Domestically, it helped amplify Harbin's winter tourism (in Heilongjiang province) boom through influencer-driven videos. The company is now exporting the model globally.
\n
Qu tells China Daily that the company is working with influencers from Poland, Russia and Georgia to share their daily experiences in China, while also training domestic creators to bring Chinese cultural heritage to international platforms.
\n
"The overseas effect of online influencers is a significant trend. Many people abroad have a limited understanding of China," Qu says. "Influencers are now presenting China from grassroots perspectives in an authentic way."
\n
Games, another powerful cultural carrier, act as translators and amplifiers of culture, says Yu Ruichao, vice-president of Tencent Interactive Entertainment. He cites examples such as a King of Glory skin (for game characters) inspired by Dunhuang flying apsaras and the integration of Kunqu Opera and Yueju Opera into gameplay, which present traditional culture in immersive ways to global audiences.
\n
According to the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association, Chinese self-developed games generated $18.56 billion in overseas sales in 2024, up by 13.4 percent year-on-year.
\n
The session underscored that cultural IP incubation is inseparable from both digital innovation and audiences' appetite for authenticity.
\n
As Justyna Katarzyna Szpakowska put it, what resonates most with overseas viewers is not abstract symbols but real lives, daily routines, and human stories, which are reminders of why China's cultural IPs are increasingly finding resonance abroad.
\n
guoyanqi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
The Beijing Cultural Forum on Monday highlighted how China's cultural IPs are incubated and have reached global audiences. Joy of Life, as shown in its posters, is an example.
\n
The Beijing Cultural Forum on Monday highlighted how China's cultural IPs are incubated and have reached global audiences. Joy of Life, as shown in its posters, is an example.
\n
The Beijing Cultural Forum on Monday highlighted how China's cultural IPs are incubated and have reached global audiences. Joy of Life, as shown in its posters, is an example.
\n
A session on the New Cultural Ecosystem in the Era of Digital Intelligence, held during the Beijing Cultural Forum on Monday, highlighted how China's cultural intellectual properties (IPs) are incubated and reach global audiences.
\n
For Justyna Katarzyna Szpakowska, whose nickname is Cui Hua, a Polish media worker who has lived in China for nearly two decades and labels herself a "superuser" and "observer" of China's cultural IPs, the trend is visible in everyday life.
\n
"Foreign audiences are most drawn to depictions of real Chinese life and authentic human stories," she says. "When I first came to China, many foreigners' impressions stopped at kung fu and the Great Wall. Now they talk about The Three-Body Problem, short dramas and games. That's a real change."
\n
Online literature was highlighted as one of the most mature and databacked examples of cultural IP exports. Yang Chen, vice-president and editor-in-chief of Yuewen Group, stressed the central role of online novels.
\n
"Web novels are our most valuable cultural assets," Yang says. They allow young writers to innovate at their will and, at the same time, connect with global readers, he adds.
\n
According to an online literature report released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the overseas market for Chinese web literature reached 5.07 billion yuan ($711.4 million) last year, a year-on-year increase of 16.5 percent, with overseas readership climbing to 352 million across more than 200 countries and regions.
\n
WebNovel, a Chinese platform launched by Yuewen in 2017, has published over 10,000 translated works, assisted partly by AI translation into English, Spanish, Portuguese, German, French, and more.
\n
By June, it hosted around 770,000 original stories, created by more than 400,000 overseas authors in their native languages, according to the group, reflecting the Chinese web novel model being localized worldwide.
\n
Adaptations have further extended the reach of these IPs. The online novel Quanzhi Gaoshou (The King's Avatar) was adapted into an animation and marked its 10th anniversary this July with events co-hosted by the Swiss tourism board. Another hit, Qing Yu Nian (Joy of Life), was adapted into a TV series. Its second season is licensed to the Disney+ streaming platform, bringing Chinese storytelling to international viewers.
\n
Influencer-driven content was also discussed as a growing cultural export. In the session, Qu Tao, vice-president of Joy Media, a multichannel network (MCN) company, says: "Our formula is uniqueness, altruism, and genuine interactions with fans." When these align, the creators established cultural IPs and attract followers.
\n
The company now manages more than 100,000 influencers. Domestically, it helped amplify Harbin's winter tourism (in Heilongjiang province) boom through influencer-driven videos. The company is now exporting the model globally.
\n
Qu tells China Daily that the company is working with influencers from Poland, Russia and Georgia to share their daily experiences in China, while also training domestic creators to bring Chinese cultural heritage to international platforms.
\n
"The overseas effect of online influencers is a significant trend. Many people abroad have a limited understanding of China," Qu says. "Influencers are now presenting China from grassroots perspectives in an authentic way."
\n
Games, another powerful cultural carrier, act as translators and amplifiers of culture, says Yu Ruichao, vice-president of Tencent Interactive Entertainment. He cites examples such as a King of Glory skin (for game characters) inspired by Dunhuang flying apsaras and the integration of Kunqu Opera and Yueju Opera into gameplay, which present traditional culture in immersive ways to global audiences.
\n
According to the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association, Chinese self-developed games generated $18.56 billion in overseas sales in 2024, up by 13.4 percent year-on-year.
\n
The session underscored that cultural IP incubation is inseparable from both digital innovation and audiences' appetite for authenticity.
\n
As Justyna Katarzyna Szpakowska put it, what resonates most with overseas viewers is not abstract symbols but real lives, daily routines, and human stories, which are reminders of why China's cultural IPs are increasingly finding resonance abroad.
He Xiangning (1878-1972) is one of the most influential figures in shaping the revolutionary and cultural scene of 20th-century China. Born into a well-connected family, she grew up to be a revolutionary, devoted patriot and social activist who championed women's rights. She was also a noted artist who expressed her social ideals and deep concerns for the nation and its people through her own paintings and collaborative works with other leading cultural figures of her time. Witnessing a Thriving Nation, now underway at the east exhibition hall of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, surveys He's life and career as a reflection of the dramatic social changes of 20th-century China. The exhibition, running until Nov 9, is a collaboration with the He Xiangning Art Museum in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, which houses a long-term display of He's works. 9 am-5 pm, closed on Mondays. 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district, Beijing. 010-6655-0000.
\n
Picturesque Xinjiang
\n
A Place Worth Visiting, an exhibition ongoing at Xinjiang Art Museum, in Urumqi, shows oil landscapes painted by Fan Di'an in recent years, which celebrate both the natural beauty and social developments in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Fan now chairs the China Artists Association, while his devotion to promoting art and creations themed on Xinjiang, its history and culture has spanned years including those when he headed the National Art Museum of China and later the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. Recently, he has spent more time traveling and painting across the country, including in Xinjiang. Fan has also donated the 70 paintings on show to Xinjiang Art Museum and Xinjiang Academy of Painting in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the autonomous region. The exhibition runs until Oct 11. 11 am-6:30 pm, closed on Mondays. 167 Youhao Bei Lu, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. 0991-551-5752.
\n
Sparks of fusion
\n
A newly opened exhibition at the Art Museum of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, in Beijing, brings the complex subject of "controlled nuclear fusion", to life in a way that is both vivid and accessible. Artists and scientists have worked together to demonstrate how the process has played a role in social advancements, at Energy and Civilization — Science and Art Fusion Future. The exhibition through to Oct 12 is a collaboration between the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and the Institute of Energy at Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center in Hefei, Anhui province, as well as the city government of Hefei, aiming to bring the public closer to the frontiers of energy technology. 9:30 am-5:30 pm, closed on Mondays. 8 Huajiadi Nan Jie, Chaoyang district, Beijing. 010-6477-1575.
\n",
@@ -26989,28 +25163,6 @@
"hash": "24e85ad6e57b63d427c87b66b77146c1",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "011LIFE - A haven in the cloud",
- "description": "
Participants chat at a parallel event of the Beijing Culture Forum held on Tuesday.
\n
Digital technology is empowering the protection and utilization of cultural relics, while also raising new challenges for communication, according to speakers from China and abroad at a parallel panel during the 2025 Beijing Culture Forum on Tuesday.
\n
"Preservation and Inheritance: Digital Empowerment for Cultural Heritages", held as part of the two-day forum in Beijing, brought together experts and heritage professionals to explore the growing role of digital tools in cultural heritage preservation.
\n
Rao Quan, director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, notes that the current wave of digitization is merging with economic and social development at an unprecedented speed and scale. Digital technologies, he says, are not only reshaping traditional modes of production and daily life, but also accelerating shifts in human cognition. At the same time, they are opening significant new avenues for the protection of cultural heritage.
\n
He explains that digital management of relics has become increasingly widespread, allowing for more standardized, systematic and efficient collection and storage.
\n
The Palace Museum in Beijing, for instance, has created digital records for over 1 million artifacts. The Dunhuang Academy, which oversees World Heritage Site Mogao Caves, has compiled digital information on 300 caves, and Longmen Grottoes Academy has established digital protective archives for 52 of the key caves of the Longmen Grottoes, another World Heritage Site. These resources, Rao says, provide valuable references for long-term protection.
\n
Digital technologies are also enhancing how visitors engage with cultural heritage. Chu Xiaobo, director of the Shanghai Museum, highlights the success of the digital exhibition Poetic Jiangnan (referring to the southern regions of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River) organized last year.
\n
Drawing on two decades of research into ancient Chinese paintings, curators used digital tools to build an immersive environment that traced the evolution of Jiangnan landscape paintings from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-960) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
\n
"Since opening, the exhibition has been warmly received by visitors, especially families and international tourists, becoming a popular 'check-in spot' in the museum," says Chu.
\n
Last year, Beijing Central Axis, an ensemble of palaces, ceremonial and public buildings, roads and other aspects governing the overall layout of the old city area of the Chinese capital, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
\n
To bring its history closer to the public, the Beijing Central Axis Heritage Conservation Center, led by its director Jin Xibin, developed the WeChat mini program Cloud Central Axis, which uses cloud technology to let users experience the past and present of the axis from their phones.
\n
Through the app, users can have a bird's-eye view of the city's changing layouts, hear the sounds of bells and drums echoing through the old streets, or "fly" over the landscape to appreciate the ancient wisdom behind Beijing's selection as the imperial capital.
\n
This year, an English version of the program was also launched.
\n
"The program connects the axis with a wider audience and enables fine traditional Chinese culture to reach abroad in a more vivid and lively way," says Jin.
\n
Yet, alongside these advances come new challenges. Matthieu Guevel, UNESCO's director of communications, warns that the increasing sophistication of digital tools complicates the communication of academic findings. Big data, he explains, can reinforce pre-existing views rather than open new perspectives.
\n
"If in the past we were separated by physical walls, now we are overwhelmed by information. What stands before us are not towering walls, but mirrors. Our screens are no longer windows opening to the world, but mirrors that only reflect what's already in our minds.
\n
"Algorithms reinforce our viewpoints by continuously pushing content that aligns with them, and we interact only with people who share our opinions, thus narrowing our perspectives," he says.
\n
Now the challenge is, how to translate academic discoveries into proper expressions on open platforms, making them accessible to a broader audience, he adds.
\n
wangru1@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Participants chat at a parallel event of the Beijing Culture Forum held on Tuesday.
\n
Digital technology is empowering the protection and utilization of cultural relics, while also raising new challenges for communication, according to speakers from China and abroad at a parallel panel during the 2025 Beijing Culture Forum on Tuesday.
\n
"Preservation and Inheritance: Digital Empowerment for Cultural Heritages", held as part of the two-day forum in Beijing, brought together experts and heritage professionals to explore the growing role of digital tools in cultural heritage preservation.
\n
Rao Quan, director of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, notes that the current wave of digitization is merging with economic and social development at an unprecedented speed and scale. Digital technologies, he says, are not only reshaping traditional modes of production and daily life, but also accelerating shifts in human cognition. At the same time, they are opening significant new avenues for the protection of cultural heritage.
\n
He explains that digital management of relics has become increasingly widespread, allowing for more standardized, systematic and efficient collection and storage.
\n
The Palace Museum in Beijing, for instance, has created digital records for over 1 million artifacts. The Dunhuang Academy, which oversees World Heritage Site Mogao Caves, has compiled digital information on 300 caves, and Longmen Grottoes Academy has established digital protective archives for 52 of the key caves of the Longmen Grottoes, another World Heritage Site. These resources, Rao says, provide valuable references for long-term protection.
\n
Digital technologies are also enhancing how visitors engage with cultural heritage. Chu Xiaobo, director of the Shanghai Museum, highlights the success of the digital exhibition Poetic Jiangnan (referring to the southern regions of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River) organized last year.
\n
Drawing on two decades of research into ancient Chinese paintings, curators used digital tools to build an immersive environment that traced the evolution of Jiangnan landscape paintings from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-960) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
\n
"Since opening, the exhibition has been warmly received by visitors, especially families and international tourists, becoming a popular 'check-in spot' in the museum," says Chu.
\n
Last year, Beijing Central Axis, an ensemble of palaces, ceremonial and public buildings, roads and other aspects governing the overall layout of the old city area of the Chinese capital, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
\n
To bring its history closer to the public, the Beijing Central Axis Heritage Conservation Center, led by its director Jin Xibin, developed the WeChat mini program Cloud Central Axis, which uses cloud technology to let users experience the past and present of the axis from their phones.
\n
Through the app, users can have a bird's-eye view of the city's changing layouts, hear the sounds of bells and drums echoing through the old streets, or "fly" over the landscape to appreciate the ancient wisdom behind Beijing's selection as the imperial capital.
\n
This year, an English version of the program was also launched.
\n
"The program connects the axis with a wider audience and enables fine traditional Chinese culture to reach abroad in a more vivid and lively way," says Jin.
\n
Yet, alongside these advances come new challenges. Matthieu Guevel, UNESCO's director of communications, warns that the increasing sophistication of digital tools complicates the communication of academic findings. Big data, he explains, can reinforce pre-existing views rather than open new perspectives.
\n
"If in the past we were separated by physical walls, now we are overwhelmed by information. What stands before us are not towering walls, but mirrors. Our screens are no longer windows opening to the world, but mirrors that only reflect what's already in our minds.
\n
"Algorithms reinforce our viewpoints by continuously pushing content that aligns with them, and we interact only with people who share our opinions, thus narrowing our perspectives," he says.
\n
Now the challenge is, how to translate academic discoveries into proper expressions on open platforms, making them accessible to a broader audience, he adds.
Growing up as a Han girl in Central China, I rarely met anyone from Xinjiang in my hometown. To me, as a child, it was a distant place where everyone seemed to know how to sing and dance.
\n
This week, that distant place became real as I came to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, to cover events marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
\n
Since my arrival on Monday, I have been surrounded by a strong festive atmosphere in the city, which reached its climax on Thursday with a grand gathering.
\n
From early morning, when the sky was still dark, I found myself immersed in the local spirit — an Uygur song softly hummed by a taxi driver and a cheerful whistle from a pedestrian set the tone for the day.
\n
By the time I reached the venue, the light of dawn was already breaking through the wispy clouds, shining on the people gathering for the celebration.
\n
Among them, a group of men and women wearing round hats and splendid costumes — distinctly Kazakh and Uygur in style — instantly caught my eye.
\n
They turned out to be villagers from Gejiagou in Urumqi's Shuimogou district — the eldest 64 and the youngest 23. They told me that dressing in their finest clothes was their way of expressing joy and pride at being part of such a historic occasion.
\n
One of them, Sharmuha Satihaz, said that to celebrate the anniversary, the entire village had been decorated with lanterns and little red flags.
\n
"The clothes we wear today were prepared as if we were grooms and brides, to show our gratitude for the happy life we now enjoy," she said, her eyes gleaming. "And, I believe, our future will only get better if we continue to contribute in our own way."
\n
According to Sharmuha, the lives of the villagers have greatly improved over the years. They now earn more, thanks to the courtyard economy, which encourages rural families to carry out small-scale agricultural production at home, and thanks to specialty industries, such as camel milk processing plants, as well as the integration of agriculture, culture and tourism.
\n
Her words echoed a sentiment I've heard repeatedly this week, that is, over the past 70 years, people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have, with unyielding spirit, turned deserts into farmland and borderlands into cherished homes.
\n
That spirit also reflected in the voice of 14-year-old Ekda Adil, a ninth-grade student at Urumqi No 66 Middle School, who told me her story.
\n
Ekda said she left her hometown in Shache county in Xinjiang's Kashgar prefecture in 2023 to study in Urumqi under a preferential policy, and goes home once every six months. "Each time I go back, I notice new changes," she said.
\n
During her most recent visit in July, she said she witnessed fewer dust storms and saw better infrastructure in her hometown. Located near the Taklimakan Desert, Kashgar is an area prone to sand and dust storms, especially during spring and summer.
\n
Shache, often known as the "home of Chinese almonds", had once primarily depended on agriculture. Today, specialty industries are helping its residents find jobs closer to home and earn higher incomes.
\n
Ekda said her older brother, who graduated from university this year, also plans to stay in their hometown. He is now studying e-commerce, with the hope of bringing Xinjiang's local products to consumers across the country and beyond, she added.
\n
When speaking of her own future, her voice was steady and firm. "I want to use what I've learned to help build a better Xinjiang," she told me, adding, "And I also hope that more people will come to visit, enjoy our beautiful scenery, and learn about our culture and traditions."
\n
As I listened to the teenager, I had a brief flashback of my childhood idea of Xinjiang being a magical place where people always sang and danced.
\n
This week, I saw that image come alive, but along with so much more. Behind the singing, dancing and colorful costumes lie pride, hope and determination. Today, Xinjiang for me is no longer that distant place in my imagination, but a living, changing land, full of happy voices that tell its beautiful story.
\n
mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -27033,28 +25185,6 @@
"hash": "702756a44edf18b43c290a811e9428af",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "019SPORTS - A traditional approach to sports culture",
- "description": "
The 3rd Traditional Sports International Festival, featuring Go, wushu, qigong, dragon and lion dances, and kite flying, attracted participants from all over the world to not only compete, but also engage in cultural exchanges.
\n
The 3rd Traditional Sports International Festival, featuring Go, wushu, qigong, dragon and lion dances, and kite flying, attracted participants from all over the world to not only compete, but also engage in cultural exchanges.
\n
The 3rd Traditional Sports International Festival, featuring Go, wushu, qigong, dragon and lion dances, and kite flying, attracted participants from all over the world to not only compete, but also engage in cultural exchanges.
\n
The 3rd Traditional Sports International Festival, featuring Go, wushu, qigong, dragon and lion dances, and kite flying, attracted participants from all over the world to not only compete, but also engage in cultural exchanges.
\n
The 3rd Traditional Sports International Festival, featuring Go, wushu, qigong, dragon and lion dances, and kite flying, attracted participants from all over the world to not only compete, but also engage in cultural exchanges.
\n
The 3rd Traditional Sports International Festival, featuring Go, wushu, qigong, dragon and lion dances, and kite flying, attracted participants from all over the world to not only compete, but also engage in cultural exchanges.
\n
A spectacular fusion of athleticism and culture, the 3rd Traditional Sports International Festival — held last week in Jiangyin, Jiangsu province — provided a unique platform to experience China's traditional sports and cultures, as well as encourage exchanges between the nearly 800 athletes from 39 countries and regions who participated.
\n
This year's festival saw a notable increase in scale, with participants competing in five diverse disciplines: Go, wushu, qigong, dragon and lion dances, and kite flying.
\n
Sun Haoran, director of the operations and development department of the International Sports Exchange Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, explained that the featured sports are deeply influenced by Chinese philosophy and a traditional approach to health.
\n
"The festival aims to immerse participants from around the world in the essence of China's traditional culture through a range of activities, including competitions, performances and cultural workshops," Sun said.
\n
Throughout the three-day event, participants enjoyed the opportunity to engage not only in fierce competition, but also in cultural exchanges, leaving with a deeper appreciation of traditional Chinese sports and the philosophies that underpin them.
\n
One of the key highlights of this year's festival was the inclusion of kite flying, a visually spectacular addition to the competition. Traditional Chinese kites, elegantly designed with modern influences, danced in the skies above crowds of captivated spectators. Kites shaped like giant dragons, octopuses and butterflies filled the air, with participants from around the world showcasing their kite-flying skills.
\n
One competitor from the United States noted the profound history behind Chinese kites, saying that this competition opened their eyes to the art and skill involved.
\n
The kites brought by all the teams were not just designed to look good on display, but also to form intricate patterns when in flight.
\n
He Jinquan from the Jiangsu team claimed victory in the medium-sized dragon kite category with a score of 74.87, while the Tianjin team's Yu Quanshun took top honors in the rigid-winged kite category with a score of 81.35.
\n
The dragon and lion dance competitions also proved to be a major draw. Teams performed both freestyle and traditional routines, blending the ancient art of dragon and lion dancing with modern stage techniques.
\n
This year's performances saw both local and international teams pushing the boundaries of creativity, while maintaining the cultural integrity of the sport.
\n
Across the freestyle and traditional competitions in the dragon dance, the big winners were the Xiamen Institute of Technology and Pingdingshan University.
\n
The Go competition also highlighted the growing global appeal of the ancient Chinese strategy game. Featuring both open and overseas categories, the tournament attracted top players from around the world, with impressive performances showcasing the strategic depth and cultural significance of the game.
\n
One participant from Singapore, who had competed in the previous two editions of the festival, noted that the competition had grown in both scale and cultural diversity, remarking that it was clear that Go's influence is spreading globally, and that it was great to see more international players taking part.
\n
The festival also gave athletes the chance to explore Jiangyin's unique blend of modernity and tradition. Known for its deep integration of sports and tourism, Jiangyin provided a perfect backdrop for the event, allowing competitors to enjoy the local cultural heritage, while testing their competitive skills.
\n
The festival wasn't just about sports — it was a feast of cultural exchange.
\n
During the event, various cultural activities were organized, including visits to local heritage sites and performances featuring traditional Chinese folk music, dance and acrobatics. These activities helped immerse athletes in the rich cultural traditions of China, offering a memorable experience both on and off the competition floor.
\n
liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
The 3rd Traditional Sports International Festival, featuring Go, wushu, qigong, dragon and lion dances, and kite flying, attracted participants from all over the world to not only compete, but also engage in cultural exchanges.
\n
The 3rd Traditional Sports International Festival, featuring Go, wushu, qigong, dragon and lion dances, and kite flying, attracted participants from all over the world to not only compete, but also engage in cultural exchanges.
\n
The 3rd Traditional Sports International Festival, featuring Go, wushu, qigong, dragon and lion dances, and kite flying, attracted participants from all over the world to not only compete, but also engage in cultural exchanges.
\n
The 3rd Traditional Sports International Festival, featuring Go, wushu, qigong, dragon and lion dances, and kite flying, attracted participants from all over the world to not only compete, but also engage in cultural exchanges.
\n
The 3rd Traditional Sports International Festival, featuring Go, wushu, qigong, dragon and lion dances, and kite flying, attracted participants from all over the world to not only compete, but also engage in cultural exchanges.
\n
The 3rd Traditional Sports International Festival, featuring Go, wushu, qigong, dragon and lion dances, and kite flying, attracted participants from all over the world to not only compete, but also engage in cultural exchanges.
\n
A spectacular fusion of athleticism and culture, the 3rd Traditional Sports International Festival — held last week in Jiangyin, Jiangsu province — provided a unique platform to experience China's traditional sports and cultures, as well as encourage exchanges between the nearly 800 athletes from 39 countries and regions who participated.
\n
This year's festival saw a notable increase in scale, with participants competing in five diverse disciplines: Go, wushu, qigong, dragon and lion dances, and kite flying.
\n
Sun Haoran, director of the operations and development department of the International Sports Exchange Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, explained that the featured sports are deeply influenced by Chinese philosophy and a traditional approach to health.
\n
"The festival aims to immerse participants from around the world in the essence of China's traditional culture through a range of activities, including competitions, performances and cultural workshops," Sun said.
\n
Throughout the three-day event, participants enjoyed the opportunity to engage not only in fierce competition, but also in cultural exchanges, leaving with a deeper appreciation of traditional Chinese sports and the philosophies that underpin them.
\n
One of the key highlights of this year's festival was the inclusion of kite flying, a visually spectacular addition to the competition. Traditional Chinese kites, elegantly designed with modern influences, danced in the skies above crowds of captivated spectators. Kites shaped like giant dragons, octopuses and butterflies filled the air, with participants from around the world showcasing their kite-flying skills.
\n
One competitor from the United States noted the profound history behind Chinese kites, saying that this competition opened their eyes to the art and skill involved.
\n
The kites brought by all the teams were not just designed to look good on display, but also to form intricate patterns when in flight.
\n
He Jinquan from the Jiangsu team claimed victory in the medium-sized dragon kite category with a score of 74.87, while the Tianjin team's Yu Quanshun took top honors in the rigid-winged kite category with a score of 81.35.
\n
The dragon and lion dance competitions also proved to be a major draw. Teams performed both freestyle and traditional routines, blending the ancient art of dragon and lion dancing with modern stage techniques.
\n
This year's performances saw both local and international teams pushing the boundaries of creativity, while maintaining the cultural integrity of the sport.
\n
Across the freestyle and traditional competitions in the dragon dance, the big winners were the Xiamen Institute of Technology and Pingdingshan University.
\n
The Go competition also highlighted the growing global appeal of the ancient Chinese strategy game. Featuring both open and overseas categories, the tournament attracted top players from around the world, with impressive performances showcasing the strategic depth and cultural significance of the game.
\n
One participant from Singapore, who had competed in the previous two editions of the festival, noted that the competition had grown in both scale and cultural diversity, remarking that it was clear that Go's influence is spreading globally, and that it was great to see more international players taking part.
\n
The festival also gave athletes the chance to explore Jiangyin's unique blend of modernity and tradition. Known for its deep integration of sports and tourism, Jiangyin provided a perfect backdrop for the event, allowing competitors to enjoy the local cultural heritage, while testing their competitive skills.
\n
The festival wasn't just about sports — it was a feast of cultural exchange.
\n
During the event, various cultural activities were organized, including visits to local heritage sites and performances featuring traditional Chinese folk music, dance and acrobatics. These activities helped immerse athletes in the rich cultural traditions of China, offering a memorable experience both on and off the competition floor.
Growing up as a Han girl in Central China, I rarely met anyone from Xinjiang in my hometown. To me, as a child, it was a distant place where everyone seemed to know how to sing and dance.
\n
This week, that distant place became real as I came to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, to cover events marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
\n
Since my arrival on Monday, I have been surrounded by a strong festive atmosphere in the city, which reached its climax on Thursday with a grand gathering.
\n
From early morning, when the sky was still dark, I found myself immersed in the local spirit — an Uygur song softly hummed by a taxi driver and a cheerful whistle from a pedestrian set the tone for the day.
\n
By the time I reached the venue, the light of dawn was already breaking through the wispy clouds, shining on the people gathering for the celebration.
\n
Among them, a group of men and women wearing round hats and splendid costumes — distinctly Kazakh and Uygur in style — instantly caught my eye.
\n
They turned out to be villagers from Gejiagou in Urumqi's Shuimogou district — the eldest 64 and the youngest 23. They told me that dressing in their finest clothes was their way of expressing joy and pride at being part of such a historic occasion.
\n
One of them, Sharmuha Satihaz, said that to celebrate the anniversary, the entire village had been decorated with lanterns and little red flags.
\n
"The clothes we wear today were prepared as if we were grooms and brides, to show our gratitude for the happy life we now enjoy," she said, her eyes gleaming. "And, I believe, our future will only get better if we continue to contribute in our own way."
\n
According to Sharmuha, the lives of the villagers have greatly improved over the years. They now earn more, thanks to the courtyard economy, which encourages rural families to carry out small-scale agricultural production at home, and thanks to specialty industries, such as camel milk processing plants, as well as the integration of agriculture, culture and tourism.
\n
Her words echoed a sentiment I've heard repeatedly this week, that is, over the past 70 years, people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have, with unyielding spirit, turned deserts into farmland and borderlands into cherished homes.
\n
That spirit also reflected in the voice of 14-year-old Ekda Adil, a ninth-grade student at Urumqi No 66 Middle School, who told me her story.
\n
Ekda said she left her hometown in Shache county in Xinjiang's Kashgar prefecture in 2023 to study in Urumqi under a preferential policy, and goes home once every six months. "Each time I go back, I notice new changes," she said.
\n
During her most recent visit in July, she said she witnessed fewer dust storms and saw better infrastructure in her hometown. Located near the Taklimakan Desert, Kashgar is an area prone to sand and dust storms, especially during spring and summer.
\n
Shache, often known as the "home of Chinese almonds", had once primarily depended on agriculture. Today, specialty industries are helping its residents find jobs closer to home and earn higher incomes.
\n
Ekda said her older brother, who graduated from university this year, also plans to stay in their hometown. He is now studying e-commerce, with the hope of bringing Xinjiang's local products to consumers across the country and beyond, she added.
\n
When speaking of her own future, her voice was steady and firm. "I want to use what I've learned to help build a better Xinjiang," she told me, adding, "And I also hope that more people will come to visit, enjoy our beautiful scenery, and learn about our culture and traditions."
\n
As I listened to the teenager, I had a brief flashback of my childhood idea of Xinjiang being a magical place where people always sang and danced.
\n
This week, I saw that image come alive, but along with so much more. Behind the singing, dancing and colorful costumes lie pride, hope and determination. Today, Xinjiang for me is no longer that distant place in my imagination, but a living, changing land, full of happy voices that tell its beautiful story.
Domestic and foreign businesses will benefit from more standardized, efficient and accessible dispute resolution services under a new judicial document, officials from China's top court said.
\n
The Supreme People's Court on Thursday released a guideline on international commercial courts and tribunals in an effort to regulate their services, promote high-quality development and ensure high-level opening-up.
\n
The guideline, which includes 15 provisions and emphasizes advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, marks the first time the top court has systematically planned the coordinated development of its international commercial courts and local tribunals.
\n
"Our goal is to help foster a first-class business environment that is stable, fair, transparent and predictable, adhering to market-oriented, rule-of-law and international standards, thereby positioning China as a preferred venue for resolving international commercial disputes," said Wang Shumei, a standing member of the court's adjudication committee.
\n
Under the guideline, foreign business entities will be provided with standardized English versions of judicial documents and litigation procedures that are relevant while resolving disputes in Chinese international commercial courts and tribunals.
\n
Within the legal framework, judges are also permitted to use video links to transmit evidence and witness the authorization of agents by foreign parties to improve efficiency, the guideline said.
\n
It also encourages the use of advanced technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence to build a cross-border service database and assist in identifying foreign laws.
\n
Additionally, Wang said the court will amend judicial interpretations of the Civil Procedure Law and the Arbitration Law at an appropriate time to strengthen protections for cross-border transaction disputes and support the development of arbitration.
\n
"We'll also increase exchanges and cooperation with overseas colleges and international organizations to cultivate talent proficient in foreign-related legal practices and international rules," she said.
\n
The top court established its first and second international commercial courts in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, and Xi'an, Shaanxi province, in 2018. In 2020, tribunals dedicated to foreign-related commercial cases were set up in 16 intermediate courts nationwide.
\n
As of Sept 20, the two international commercial courts had heard 44 cases and concluded 37 of them. According to data released on Thursday, these cases involved parties from 21 countries and regions. Since 2020, local tribunals have dealt with 16,687 disputes and resolved more than 15,000.
\n
Wang Haifeng, deputy chief judge of the top court's Fourth Civil Division, said the international commercial judicial institutions have played a key role in offering efficient, convenient and low-cost dispute resolution services for both domestic and foreign parties.
\n
"These efforts have contributed to regional economic development and provided legal support for Chinese enterprises expanding abroad and for the protection of their overseas interests," he said.
\n
On Thursday, the court also disclosed five notable cases involving the BRI that demonstrate China's judicial commitment to ensuring high-level opening-up.
Domestic and foreign businesses will benefit from more standardized, efficient and accessible dispute resolution services under a new judicial document, officials from China's top court said.
\n
The Supreme People's Court on Thursday released a guideline on international commercial courts and tribunals in an effort to regulate their services, promote high-quality development and ensure high-level opening-up.
\n
The guideline, which includes 15 provisions and emphasizes advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, marks the first time the top court has systematically planned the coordinated development of its international commercial courts and local tribunals.
\n
"Our goal is to help foster a first-class business environment that is stable, fair, transparent and predictable, adhering to market-oriented, rule-of-law and international standards, thereby positioning China as a preferred venue for resolving international commercial disputes," said Wang Shumei, a standing member of the court's adjudication committee.
\n
Under the guideline, foreign business entities will be provided with standardized English versions of judicial documents and litigation procedures that are relevant while resolving disputes in Chinese international commercial courts and tribunals.
\n
Within the legal framework, judges are also permitted to use video links to transmit evidence and witness the authorization of agents by foreign parties to improve efficiency, the guideline said.
\n
It also encourages the use of advanced technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence to build a cross-border service database and assist in identifying foreign laws.
\n
Additionally, Wang said the court will amend judicial interpretations of the Civil Procedure Law and the Arbitration Law at an appropriate time to strengthen protections for cross-border transaction disputes and support the development of arbitration.
\n
"We'll also increase exchanges and cooperation with overseas colleges and international organizations to cultivate talent proficient in foreign-related legal practices and international rules," she said.
\n
The top court established its first and second international commercial courts in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, and Xi'an, Shaanxi province, in 2018. In 2020, tribunals dedicated to foreign-related commercial cases were set up in 16 intermediate courts nationwide.
\n
As of Sept 20, the two international commercial courts had heard 44 cases and concluded 37 of them. According to data released on Thursday, these cases involved parties from 21 countries and regions. Since 2020, local tribunals have dealt with 16,687 disputes and resolved more than 15,000.
\n
Wang Haifeng, deputy chief judge of the top court's Fourth Civil Division, said the international commercial judicial institutions have played a key role in offering efficient, convenient and low-cost dispute resolution services for both domestic and foreign parties.
\n
"These efforts have contributed to regional economic development and provided legal support for Chinese enterprises expanding abroad and for the protection of their overseas interests," he said.
\n
On Thursday, the court also disclosed five notable cases involving the BRI that demonstrate China's judicial commitment to ensuring high-level opening-up.
Two warships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, the missile destroyer Xining and the missile frigate Wuhu, are open to the public at the Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Wednesday. The exhibition is part of an open-house event organized by the naval forces of the PLA Northern Theater Command, where a total of nine active and retired vessels are accessible to visitors.
\n
A retired veteran in a wheelchair experiences the grandeur of modern warships up close.
Renowned Chinese landscape architect Yu Kongjian, champion of the "sponge city" concept, died in a plane crash in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands while making a film late Tuesday, Peking University said in an obituary Thursday.
\n
Yu, 62, was dean and founder of Peking University's College of Architecture and Landscape, as well as the visionary behind China's groundbreaking sponge city initiative. His internationally acclaimed concept calls for urban environments that absorb, clean and reuse rainwater like a sponge, providing a sustainable solution to flooding and water scarcity. His work, which offered a Chinese model for sustainable urban development, earned him various accolades, including the International Federation of Landscape Architects' highest honor — the Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award.
\n
Yu and three others — the pilot and two local filmmakers — were killed when their aircraft crashed in the Pantanal wetlands.
\n
"Professor Yu's passing is an immense loss to Peking University and to the global field of ecological landscape design. He will be profoundly missed," the obituary read. "We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and students. Our sincere sympathies are also extended to the families of the other victims in this tragedy. May they all rest in peace."
\n
Yu, whose ecological ideas were shaped by the landscapes of his childhood in Dongyu village, Zhejiang province, dedicated his life to realizing a vision of harmony between humanity and nature, the university said. A passionate advocate for ecological civilization, he worked toward the goal of a "Beautiful China" and the healing of the planet. Shortly before the crash, he was engaged in fieldwork in the Pantanal wetlands, a vital global ecosystem, reflecting on the urgent need to protect the world's remaining natural sanctuaries, it added.
\n
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed "sadness and consternation".
\n
"During times of climate change, Yu became a global reference for sponge cities, which combine quality of life and environmental protection: something we want — and need — for the future," Lula said in a statement.
\n
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun on Thursday voiced deep grief at Yu's passing and extended condolences to his family. The Chinese embassy in Brazil will continue to assist with aftermath arrangements, he said at a daily news conference.
\n
In a "message from the dean" published on the college's website, Yu wrote that the increasing tension between humans and land, the energy crisis, the deterioration of ecological environments in both urban and rural areas, the dilemmas of transportation and living conditions, and the challenges brought by global climate change require a new look at the values and methods once adopted in the education and practice of architecture, landscape architecture, and urban and rural planning.
\n
zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Renowned Chinese landscape architect Yu Kongjian, champion of the "sponge city" concept, died in a plane crash in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands while making a film late Tuesday, Peking University said in an obituary Thursday.
\n
Yu, 62, was dean and founder of Peking University's College of Architecture and Landscape, as well as the visionary behind China's groundbreaking sponge city initiative. His internationally acclaimed concept calls for urban environments that absorb, clean and reuse rainwater like a sponge, providing a sustainable solution to flooding and water scarcity. His work, which offered a Chinese model for sustainable urban development, earned him various accolades, including the International Federation of Landscape Architects' highest honor — the Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe Award.
\n
Yu and three others — the pilot and two local filmmakers — were killed when their aircraft crashed in the Pantanal wetlands.
\n
"Professor Yu's passing is an immense loss to Peking University and to the global field of ecological landscape design. He will be profoundly missed," the obituary read. "We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and students. Our sincere sympathies are also extended to the families of the other victims in this tragedy. May they all rest in peace."
\n
Yu, whose ecological ideas were shaped by the landscapes of his childhood in Dongyu village, Zhejiang province, dedicated his life to realizing a vision of harmony between humanity and nature, the university said. A passionate advocate for ecological civilization, he worked toward the goal of a "Beautiful China" and the healing of the planet. Shortly before the crash, he was engaged in fieldwork in the Pantanal wetlands, a vital global ecosystem, reflecting on the urgent need to protect the world's remaining natural sanctuaries, it added.
\n
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed "sadness and consternation".
\n
"During times of climate change, Yu became a global reference for sponge cities, which combine quality of life and environmental protection: something we want — and need — for the future," Lula said in a statement.
\n
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun on Thursday voiced deep grief at Yu's passing and extended condolences to his family. The Chinese embassy in Brazil will continue to assist with aftermath arrangements, he said at a daily news conference.
\n
In a "message from the dean" published on the college's website, Yu wrote that the increasing tension between humans and land, the energy crisis, the deterioration of ecological environments in both urban and rural areas, the dilemmas of transportation and living conditions, and the challenges brought by global climate change require a new look at the values and methods once adopted in the education and practice of architecture, landscape architecture, and urban and rural planning.
Editor's note: The Taiwan question is a key focus for China and the international community. China Daily is publishing a series of reports to track hot Taiwan-related topics and address disinformation from the Democratic Progressive Party administration.
\n
The history of Taiwan's recovery and return to the motherland shows that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one community with a shared future. The Chinese mainland and Chinese culture have always been the roots of Taiwan compatriots. Only with deep roots can the branches of a tree flourish.
\n
After coming to power, Lai Ching-te has made no mention of Taiwan's recovery. He brazenly denies the victorious accomplishments in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), including those made by Taiwan compatriots. He has falsified the notions that "The two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other" and that "The People's Republic of China has no authority to represent Taiwan" by garbling and grafting history.
\n
These fabrications aim to uproot the historical bonds between the two sides of the Strait, and promote a "Taiwan independence" narrative to the harm of the people in Taiwan. This is not only a betrayal of history, but also an insult to the painful memories of the people in Taiwan with regard to colonial rule. It fully exposes the pro-"independence" nature of Lai and the DPP authorities, yet it cannot alter the historical fact that Taiwan is part of China.
\n
Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895 as a result of the Qing Dynasty's (1644-1911) defeat in the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-95), and its forced signing of the humiliating Treaty of Shimonoseki under Japanese coercion.
\n
After the outbreak of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Communist Party of China explicitly put forward the proposition of recovering Taiwan, and supported and promoted the Taiwan recovery movement.
\n
Taiwan compatriots have a fine tradition of loving their country and hometowns, and a lofty national spirit. In the struggle against aggression, people on both sides of the Strait further strengthened their shared national spirit and national sentiments, and formed a community sharing weal and woe.
\n
The declaration issued by the Taiwan Revolutionary Alliance upon its establishment in September 1941 stated: "The fate of the motherland is the fate of Taiwan. If the motherland survives, Taiwan survives; if the motherland triumphs, Taiwan is recovered; otherwise, Taiwan is lost."
\n
On Dec 9, 1941, the Chinese government formally declared war on Japan, proclaiming the abrogation of all treaties between China and Japan, including the Treaty of Shimonoseki.
\n
As the main Eastern Theater of the World Anti-Fascist War, China contained and wore out the vast majority of Japan's military, economic and strategic resources, shaping a favorable strategic situation for final victory in the war and for Taiwan's recovery and return to the motherland.
\n
Throughout this process, Taiwan compatriots shared the same destiny with the motherland, and their fight against Japan was an integral part of the whole nation's war of resistance. During the 50 years of Japanese colonial rule, Taiwan compatriots, determined to defend the dignity of the Chinese nation, never ceased resisting, and engaged in both armed and unarmed struggles against Japanese occupation. Their courageous resistance was an indispensable force in achieving Taiwan's recovery and return to the motherland.
\n
Taiwan compatriots further supported the motherland's war of resistance in other ways. More than 50,000 young people from Taiwan returned to the mainland against all odds and joined counter-Japanese aggression groups. Under the banner of the national united front against Japanese aggression advocated by the CPC, compatriots on both sides of the Strait fought side by side, and made important contributions to victory in the war of resistance against Japanese aggression and to Taiwan's recovery.
\n
As victory in the anti-fascist war approached, the leaders of China, the United States and the United Kingdom issued the Cairo Declaration on Dec 1, 1943, which explicitly stated that territories stolen from China by Japan, such as Northeast China, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, must be restored to China. Under the Cairo Declaration, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands were recognized as "territories Japan has stolen from the Chinese".
\n
On July 26, 1945, China, the US and the UK issued the Potsdam Proclamation, urging Japan to surrender unconditionally. Article 8 of the proclamation explicitly stipulated, "The terms of the Cairo Declaration shall be carried out". On Sept 2 of the same year, Japan signed the instrument of unconditional surrender, accepting all provisions of the Potsdam Proclamation.
\n
From the perspective of international law, the instrument of surrender carried indisputable legal force. These historical documents had great legal significance, as they confirmed the post-war principle that Taiwan's sovereignty belongs to China, provided a solid legal basis for Taiwan's recovery and return to the motherland, and made Taiwan's return an unshakable part of the post-war international order.
\n
Taiwan's recovery and return to the motherland wiped out the historical humiliation the Chinese nation suffered.
\n
Since ancient times, Taiwan has been an indispensable part of China's territory. Lai's claims that "Taiwan has had an independent ecosystem since ancient times", and that Taiwan "is the birthplace of Austronesian culture" have no historical basis and run completely counter to the historical facts of exchanges and interaction between people across the Strait. As early as the Song Dynasty (960-1279) in the mid-12th century, troops had been stationed on the Penghu Islands and the area was under the administration of Jinjiang county, Quanzhou, Fujian province.
\n
Whether during the period of Japanese colonial rule or after Taiwan's recovery and return to the motherland, the cultural ties and shared values rooted in the same origin, language and ethnicity between compatriots on both sides have never changed.
\n
The Japanese colonial authorities' policy of "Japanization" failed to shake the firm commitment of Taiwan compatriots to the Chinese language and culture. They tenaciously upheld the traditions and celebrations of festivals such as Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Dragon Boat Festival. This deep sense of identification with Chinese culture is an important reflection of the fact that both sides of the Strait belong to one China, and was a major reason why the people of Taiwan quickly returned to the embrace of Chinese culture after recovery.
\n
As Taiwan's recovery and return to the motherland prove that Taiwan being part of China is an irrefutable fact, the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and the DPP authorities have seen Taiwan's recovery as a "thorn in the side" and have been keen to tamper with and try to erase this historical fact.
\n
The DPP authorities and the separatist forces on the island have been deliberately downplaying and maliciously distorting the historical facts surrounding Taiwan's recovery. They have extensively deleted content related to Taiwan's recovery from history textbooks or offered distorted interpretations of this part of history, erased the heroic deeds of the people of Taiwan in resisting colonial rule, denied the historical significance of Taiwan's recovery, and attempted to sever the historical ties between Taiwan and the mainland. The DPP authorities have canceled events commemorating anniversaries of Taiwan's recovery, and instead glorified Japan's colonial rule, even going so far as to honor the aggressors who exercised colonial rule over Taiwan.
\n
Likewise, the culture that Japanese colonialists failed to change in 50 years cannot possibly be altered today by the DPP authorities by promoting "cultural Taiwan independence". Compatriots on both sides of the Strait share the same roots, origin, language and ethnicity. No matter how the DPP authorities distort the facts, they cannot change the Chinese cultural genes flowing in the veins of Taiwan compatriots, nor can they alter the deep Chinese cultural roots embedded in Taiwan society.
\n
The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\n",
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Online Scan the code to watch the video.
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Editor's note: As China's civilization exploration project continues to deepen, stories of ordinary people discovering precious artifacts remind us that the roots of our 5,000-year civilization continue to flow through daily life. This true story from Liaoning tells us that cultural treasures may be right beside us, waiting to awaken our heartfelt dialogue with ancient civilization.
\n
In the 1970s, farmer Ma Longtu from Jianping, Liaoning province, made what seemed like an ordinary decision. While working in the fields, he unearthed a strange, dark brown object. Since it had no bottom and couldn't hold water, he had a bright idea and fashioned a base with cardboard to turn it into a penholder. For nearly a decade, this "improvised" desktop accessory quietly held writing brushes, pencils and rulers.
\n
Who could have imagined that this humble penholder was actually a 5,000-year-old jade ring from the Hongshan culture — one of China's most important Neolithic civilizations.
\n
The turning point came in 1981. When Liaoning provincial cultural relics survey expert Guo Dashun entered Ma Longtu's home, his attention was immediately drawn to the "dark brown tube" on the desk filled with brushes, ink, paper and inkstones. Without hesitation, he pulled out a magnifying glass for careful examination and asked with excitement: "Where did you get this?"
\n
"Found it in the field," Ma replied.
\n
Guo slapped his thigh with excitement: "This is a 5,000-year-old treasure, a jade ring from Hongshan culture!"
\n
Upon hearing this, Ma immediately stood up and grabbed the expert's arm: "Please take it away! This belongs to the country and should return to where it truly belongs!"
\n
This discovery triggered major archaeological excavations at the Niuheliang site. Ma also became involved in the "root-seeking" work of the 5,000-year-old civilization, becoming a guardian of Hongshan culture.
\n
The story didn't end there. In 1983, when the Niuheliang archaeological team was recruiting members, Ma's son Ma Ruicai was the first to sign up. This fortunate young man witnessed the unearthing of a goddess statue on Nov 2 that year.
\n
The transportation process was fraught with difficulties — the road to Majiagou was full of potholes, making it impossible for vehicle wheels to pass. A group of people stood around the red silk-wrapped box, wondering what to do. They finally chose a female team member, Wei Fan. She held the box tight like her own child and walked for over an hour to safely transport the goddess statue to Majiagou.
\n
Today, Ma Ruicai works as a security guard at the Niuheliang Goddess Temple. In his spare time, he always takes his grandchildren to the site museum to tell them the story of how their great-grandfather used a jade ring as a penholder.
\n
The children exclaim: "Grandpa, it turns out our ancestors' treasures were hidden in our everyday lives all along!"
\n
As experts have noted, although the Hongshan culture dates back very far, people don't feel unfamiliar with it when they encounter it, because it contains profound cultural inheritance. From a cardboard-bottomed penholder to a national treasure, from field farmer to cultural relic guardian, the 5,000-year-old Hongshan civilization comes alive in ordinary times and continues to write new chapters through generations of inheritance.
Editor's note: As China's civilization exploration project continues to deepen, stories of ordinary people discovering precious artifacts remind us that the roots of our 5,000-year civilization continue to flow through daily life. This true story from Liaoning tells us that cultural treasures may be right beside us, waiting to awaken our heartfelt dialogue with ancient civilization.
\n
In the 1970s, farmer Ma Longtu from Jianping, Liaoning province, made what seemed like an ordinary decision. While working in the fields, he unearthed a strange, dark brown object. Since it had no bottom and couldn't hold water, he had a bright idea and fashioned a base with cardboard to turn it into a penholder. For nearly a decade, this "improvised" desktop accessory quietly held writing brushes, pencils and rulers.
\n
Who could have imagined that this humble penholder was actually a 5,000-year-old jade ring from the Hongshan culture — one of China's most important Neolithic civilizations.
\n
The turning point came in 1981. When Liaoning provincial cultural relics survey expert Guo Dashun entered Ma Longtu's home, his attention was immediately drawn to the "dark brown tube" on the desk filled with brushes, ink, paper and inkstones. Without hesitation, he pulled out a magnifying glass for careful examination and asked with excitement: "Where did you get this?"
\n
"Found it in the field," Ma replied.
\n
Guo slapped his thigh with excitement: "This is a 5,000-year-old treasure, a jade ring from Hongshan culture!"
\n
Upon hearing this, Ma immediately stood up and grabbed the expert's arm: "Please take it away! This belongs to the country and should return to where it truly belongs!"
\n
This discovery triggered major archaeological excavations at the Niuheliang site. Ma also became involved in the "root-seeking" work of the 5,000-year-old civilization, becoming a guardian of Hongshan culture.
\n
The story didn't end there. In 1983, when the Niuheliang archaeological team was recruiting members, Ma's son Ma Ruicai was the first to sign up. This fortunate young man witnessed the unearthing of a goddess statue on Nov 2 that year.
\n
The transportation process was fraught with difficulties — the road to Majiagou was full of potholes, making it impossible for vehicle wheels to pass. A group of people stood around the red silk-wrapped box, wondering what to do. They finally chose a female team member, Wei Fan. She held the box tight like her own child and walked for over an hour to safely transport the goddess statue to Majiagou.
\n
Today, Ma Ruicai works as a security guard at the Niuheliang Goddess Temple. In his spare time, he always takes his grandchildren to the site museum to tell them the story of how their great-grandfather used a jade ring as a penholder.
\n
The children exclaim: "Grandpa, it turns out our ancestors' treasures were hidden in our everyday lives all along!"
\n
As experts have noted, although the Hongshan culture dates back very far, people don't feel unfamiliar with it when they encounter it, because it contains profound cultural inheritance. From a cardboard-bottomed penholder to a national treasure, from field farmer to cultural relic guardian, the 5,000-year-old Hongshan civilization comes alive in ordinary times and continues to write new chapters through generations of inheritance.
In an address to the United Nations Climate Summit in New York on Wednesday, President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China's unwavering commitment to climate action.
\n
Delivered via video, Xi's speech comes at a critical moment. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement — a crucial year for nations to update their Nationally Determined Contributions as global climate governance enters a decisive phase.
\n
Announcing China's ambitious new NDCs, Xi said that these targets represent China's best efforts based on the requirements of the Paris Agreement, and meeting these targets will require painstaking efforts by the country itself as well as a supportive and open international environment.
\n
Saying that the green and low carbon transition is "the trend of our time", he urged the international community to "stay focused in the right direction" despite some countries "acting against it".
\n
China has consistently prioritized and actively participated in global climate governance. The country has previously pledged to peak its carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. But the 2035 goals announced by Xi mark a new stage in China's climate policy. The goals include reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 7 to 10 percent from peak levels; increasing the share of nonfossil fuels in energy consumption to over 30 percent; and expanding the installed capacity of wind and solar power to over six times the 2020 levels. They represent a shift from controlling incremental increases to decreasing the existing levels of green house gas emissions. This shift is backed by other commitments such as drastically expanding forests, making new energy vehicles the mainstream in the sales of new cars, and basically establishing a climate adaptive society.
\n
As President Xi said, China has the resolve and confidence to deliver on these commitments and it will be "striving to do better".
\n
The Paris Agreement of 2015 aims to limit global warming to "well below" 2 C above preindustrial levels by the end of the century, and "pursue efforts" to keep warming within the safer limit of 1.5 C for the world to avoid the worst climate catastrophes. Under the pact, countries must update their NDCs every five years as they seek to reduce emissions.
\n
By presenting its emissions reduction target well ahead of the 30th UN climate conference, or COP30, to be held in Belem, Brazil, in November, China, as a responsible major country, has signaled its firm commitment to the international climate change control process while sending a positive message to the world about its transition to green and low-carbon development.
\n
China's stepping up its climate efforts is both timely and inspiring for the global fight against climate change, especially given the United States is in the process of withdrawing from the Paris accord for a second time. The US president went so far as to call climate change a "con job" at a recent UN meeting.
\n
Thanks largely to China's persistent efforts to promote a low-carbon economy, along with those of others, progress has been made in limiting the global temperature increase. "In the last 10 years, the projected global temperature rise has dropped from four degrees Celsius to less than three," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
\n
China has been accelerating its comprehensive green transformation and, as a result, only half of the country's electricity mix comes from coal, as compared to three-quarters a decade ago. China has also established preliminary advantages in several key green sectors, with more than 80 percent of the world's solar panels and 70 percent of wind power equipment coming from the country. Its booming exports of solar panels, batteries and electric cars are helping cut emissions in many other countries as well.
\n
Climate response is an urgent yet long-term task that all countries, both developing and developed, are facing. But the clock is relentlessly counting down the days in which meaningful action can prevent temperatures crossing critical warming limits. All members of the international community must honor the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities to fulfill their emissions reduction obligations. Only by doing so can the beautiful vision of harmony between humanity and nature be realized, and can we avoid an existential climate catastrophe.
\n
China's resolve to meet the targets it has set is clear, as is its call for global solidarity in tackling the challenge of climate change. Despite some nations acting contrary to this imperative, the international community must remain resolute, focused and committed to the climate cause, as only by acting with collective determination, as Xi said, will the world preserve our shared home and ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come.
",
@@ -27209,28 +25273,6 @@
"hash": "2c88bc9cb0201eeb5e402048461dcf60",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "008COMMENT - Growing recognition of Palestinian state shows public opinion matters",
- "description": "
With Andorra, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco formally recognizing the State of Palestine at a recent United Nations meeting, the balance in Europe has tipped irreversibly. The official mission from Palestine at the UN even posted a world map on social media, showing that an overwhelming majority of states worldwide now recognize Palestinian statehood. This is a reality Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cannot undo, no matter how hard he repeats his uncompromising line that "there will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River".
\n
Among the many causes, public opinion has perhaps had the greatest impact on international politics. On the streets of Brussels, home to the European Union's core institutions, protesters regularly gather with "Free Palestine" banners, while some demonstrators even hold cultural performances, staging dances at public squares that draw in locals and tourists alike.
\n
Gaza-related topics have consistently dominated online discussions. In June, climate activist Greta Thunberg captured global headlines when she joined a humanitarian mission attempting to deliver supplies to Gaza by boat across the Mediterranean. July and August were all about Israel's Deir al-Balah offensive in the Gaza Strip and the UN confirming famine in Gaza. By September, the Global Sumud Flotilla had sailed again to Gaza, and images of its convoy being attacked by Israeli drones and explosions circulated worldwide, further highlighting the humanitarian crisis in the region.
\n
When Hamas launched its surprise attacks on Israel in October 2023, international opinion was largely sympathetic to Israel, with governments and social organizations alike condemning the violence and affirming Israel's right to self-defense. However, as the conflict dragged on unabated, and the Netanyahu government's military response inflicted mounting casualties on women and children in Gaza, global opinion began shifting.
\n
In today's hyper-connected media environment, this switch in sentiment is such that now hardly any European politician dares to openly side with Israel for fear of alienating voters and losing political capital.
\n
The transformation is stark if one looks back at 1974 when, during a parliamentary debate in the United Kingdom, Lord Boothby thundered: "My lords, the State of Israel must be preserved. We betrayed it at one moment; we must not betray it again." There was a slight change by 2010 when then UK Prime Minister David Cameron said, "Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp."
\n
Today, the statements from European politicians and public figures have grown even sharper, reflecting how far the needle has swung.
\n
The trajectory shows that soft power is an important component of a nation's influence in the global arena. Israel's hard power, supported by its military strength and strategic alliances, remains formidable, but it cannot fully compensate for the erosion of its image and legitimacy in the eyes of the world. In the long term, the loss of soft power threatens to isolate Israel in ways that military might cannot prevent.
\n
The growing recognition of Palestine is a testament to how public opinion expressed through protests and amplified on social media can shape political outcomes. A quarter of the way through the 21st century, it's necessary for the Netanyahu government to recognize the shift.
\n
The two-state solution remains the only viable framework for lasting peace. This is a fact as well understood in Tel Aviv as it is in Brussels or Washington. Improving humanitarian conditions in Gaza, showing willingness to engage in genuine political dialogue, and easing the suffering of civilians is the only way for Israel to address international concerns and improve its standing in global public opinion.
\n",
- "content": "
With Andorra, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco formally recognizing the State of Palestine at a recent United Nations meeting, the balance in Europe has tipped irreversibly. The official mission from Palestine at the UN even posted a world map on social media, showing that an overwhelming majority of states worldwide now recognize Palestinian statehood. This is a reality Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cannot undo, no matter how hard he repeats his uncompromising line that "there will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River".
\n
Among the many causes, public opinion has perhaps had the greatest impact on international politics. On the streets of Brussels, home to the European Union's core institutions, protesters regularly gather with "Free Palestine" banners, while some demonstrators even hold cultural performances, staging dances at public squares that draw in locals and tourists alike.
\n
Gaza-related topics have consistently dominated online discussions. In June, climate activist Greta Thunberg captured global headlines when she joined a humanitarian mission attempting to deliver supplies to Gaza by boat across the Mediterranean. July and August were all about Israel's Deir al-Balah offensive in the Gaza Strip and the UN confirming famine in Gaza. By September, the Global Sumud Flotilla had sailed again to Gaza, and images of its convoy being attacked by Israeli drones and explosions circulated worldwide, further highlighting the humanitarian crisis in the region.
\n
When Hamas launched its surprise attacks on Israel in October 2023, international opinion was largely sympathetic to Israel, with governments and social organizations alike condemning the violence and affirming Israel's right to self-defense. However, as the conflict dragged on unabated, and the Netanyahu government's military response inflicted mounting casualties on women and children in Gaza, global opinion began shifting.
\n
In today's hyper-connected media environment, this switch in sentiment is such that now hardly any European politician dares to openly side with Israel for fear of alienating voters and losing political capital.
\n
The transformation is stark if one looks back at 1974 when, during a parliamentary debate in the United Kingdom, Lord Boothby thundered: "My lords, the State of Israel must be preserved. We betrayed it at one moment; we must not betray it again." There was a slight change by 2010 when then UK Prime Minister David Cameron said, "Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp."
\n
Today, the statements from European politicians and public figures have grown even sharper, reflecting how far the needle has swung.
\n
The trajectory shows that soft power is an important component of a nation's influence in the global arena. Israel's hard power, supported by its military strength and strategic alliances, remains formidable, but it cannot fully compensate for the erosion of its image and legitimacy in the eyes of the world. In the long term, the loss of soft power threatens to isolate Israel in ways that military might cannot prevent.
\n
The growing recognition of Palestine is a testament to how public opinion expressed through protests and amplified on social media can shape political outcomes. A quarter of the way through the 21st century, it's necessary for the Netanyahu government to recognize the shift.
\n
The two-state solution remains the only viable framework for lasting peace. This is a fact as well understood in Tel Aviv as it is in Brussels or Washington. Improving humanitarian conditions in Gaza, showing willingness to engage in genuine political dialogue, and easing the suffering of civilians is the only way for Israel to address international concerns and improve its standing in global public opinion.
When the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was launched in 2013 as the flagship of the Belt and Road Initiative, it was little more than a bold vision on paper. Pakistan was facing crippling energy shortages, inadequate infrastructure and stagnant growth. Few could imagine how profoundly the CPEC would transform the country's economic landscape within just a decade. Yet today, that vision has become a living reality, reshaping Pakistan's connectivity, energy security and development outlook while deepening our strategic partnership with China.
\n
The first phase of the CPEC has delivered what once seemed unimaginable. In energy, 17 major projects with a combined capacity of 8,904 megawatts were completed, supported by two coal mines and the country's first 660 kV HVDC transmission line, representing nearly $18 billion of investment. These projects helped end the crippling power shortages that had darkened homes and stifled industries. The long-overlooked coal reserves of Thar are now producing electricity, powering factories and households, and providing Pakistan with much-needed energy security. For millions of citizens, the CPEC today means light in their homes, jobs in their communities, and renewed hope in their future.
\n
Beyond energy, the CPEC's transport infrastructure has connected the country like never before. Eight major projects worth $6.7 billion have already added 888 kilometers of modern highways and motorways, while another 853 km are under construction. Among them, the Havelian — Thakot section of the Karakoram Highway stands out as a flagship, internationally recognized for its excellence and strategic significance. These highways are more than stretches of asphalt — they are arteries of commerce that reduce travel times, open new markets, and bring previously isolated regions into the fold of national development. Alongside roads, the 820-km optical fiber cable from Khunjerab Pass to Rawalpindi has given Pakistan its first land-based digital connectivity with China, while the Orange Line Metro Train has introduced modern and efficient public transport in Lahore. Step by step, the CPEC has transformed the way Pakistanis travel, trade and connect.
\n
Nowhere is this transformation more visible than in Gwadar. Once a quiet fishing town, it is steadily evolving into Pakistan's maritime gateway. The port and its surrounding infrastructure, supported by grant-based Chinese projects, are reshaping the socio-economic landscape of Balochistan. A state-of-the-art hospital, a vocational training institute, a water desalination plant, solar home systems and the new Gwadar International Airport are not just facilities — they are instruments of inclusion, improving the lives of local communities while positioning Gwadar as a hub of regional trade and connectivity. What was once a distant dream on the map is becoming a tangible reality on the ground.
\n
These achievements of the CPEC Phase-I, however, are not an end in themselves. Foundations alone do not build a house; they only prepare the ground. The next decade of the CPEC must go beyond laying infrastructure to driving industrialization, creating jobs, boosting exports and empowering people. The promise of Phase-II of the CPEC is to transform connectivity into commerce, infrastructure into opportunity, and partnership into shared prosperity.
\n
The road map for this transformation is being framed at the 14th Joint Cooperation Committee meeting of the CPEC.Pakistan and China will align the next phase with Pakistan's National Economic Transformation Plan, built on the framework of the 5Es: Exports, E-Pakistan, Energy/Environment and Equity &Empowerment. To deliver on these priorities, the CPEC Phase-II will advance through five new corridors of cooperation: growth, innovation, green, livelihood and regional connectivity. Each of these represents not just a project stream, but a vision of how Pakistan and China can shape a sustainable and inclusive future together.
\n
Already, progress is visible. Special economic zones (SEZs) are being developed, offering tax incentives, customs exemptions and modern infrastructure to attract investment. With affordable labor, a strategic location and improving energy and logistics, Pakistan is emerging as a competitive investment destination at the crossroad of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. These SEZs will not only bring in investment but also integrate Pakistani businesses into global value chains, create thousands of jobs, and expand exports.
\n
Agriculture, too, is beginning a new chapter. Pakistan has begun exporting red chillies, sesame, beef and animal skins to China, marking the rise of agriexports under the CPEC. But the real opportunity lies in modernization. By introducing advanced technologies, improving research, and applying modern farming practices, we can significantly increase yields, reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmer incomes. Collaboration with China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, where agricultural technology is highly developed, offers great promise for accelerating this transformation. A modernized agriculture sector will not only ensure food security but also open new export markets, creating opportunities for rural communities and strengthening the national economy.
\n
Technology and innovation will serve as another pillar of the next phase. Dedicated joint working groups on science and technology and information technology have been formed to drive collaboration in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, e-commerce, and digital connectivity. Investments in fiberoptic networks, digital skills training, and e-governance will build the foundations of a knowledge-based economy. For Pakistan's youth, this means not only competing globally in the industries of the future but also ensuring that the benefits of digital transformation reach every citizen.
\n
The shift from government-to-government projects to business-to-business partnerships will define the CPEC Phase-II. Private capital, entrepreneurial energy and technological innovation must now become central drivers of the corridor. This transformation is already taking shape. In the recent Pak-China B2B Investment Conference in Beijing, nearly 800 firms from both countries participated, resulting in joint ventures and MoUs worth $8.5 billion. Such partnerships demonstrate the vast opportunities for collaboration and innovation beyond traditional state-led projects.
\n
To succeed, however, inclusivity and sustainability must be at the heart of the CPEC's next phase. The benefits of this partnership must reach not just the major cities, but every province, district and household. Equity and empowerment will ensure that prosperity is shared widely, while environmental safeguards will guarantee that growth is climate-resilient and sustainable. Pakistan has also taken strong measures to ensure the security of CPEC projects and personnel, recognizing that peace and stability are the essential foundations for progress. Our commitment to providing a safe, enabling environment for investment and development remains unwavering.
\n
The first decade of the CPEC gave Pakistan new roads, new power plants and a new port. The next decade will give us new industries, new technologies, new markets, and above all, create new opportunities for our people. It will create jobs, expand exports, strengthen sustainability and deepen regional integration. As Pakistan and China enter this next chapter, the challenge is not just to build more infrastructure, but to turn infrastructure into opportunity, and opportunity into prosperity.
\n
The first decade of the CPEC changed Pakistan's landscape. The next decade can change its destiny. Together, Pakistan and China must ensure that the CPEC is not just remembered as a corridor of concrete, but celebrated as a corridor of hope, progress, and shared prosperity for our two nations and for the wider region.
\n
The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\n",
@@ -27253,28 +25295,6 @@
"hash": "27c79ebe3b53d320172cca3f0fb1598c",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "009VIEWS - Social justice key to sustainable future for all",
- "description": "\n
Thirty years ago, 186 countries met in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the first Social Summit for Social Development. The gathering was the largest meeting of world leaders ever at the time. By the end of the summit, their agenda was clear: the challenges faced by our societies are global and so are the solutions.
\n
In response, governments vowed to put people at the center of global development. They recognized that social justice must be the foundation for economic progress if progress is to be sustainable. It means ensuring that people, regardless of gender, nationality, background or place of birth, have the right to live in dignity, with equal opportunities to work, thrive and succeed. Societies built on fairness work better, trust more and grow stronger.
\n
The consensus of the summit became the cornerstone for the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Since 2015, the SDGs have been the blueprint for achieving a socially just, peaceful and sustainable world. The deadline for their realization has been set for 2030.
\n
Since that first summit, our world has changed, in many ways for the better. A new International Labour Organization report, "The State of Social Justice", shows that extreme poverty is down from 39 percent to 10 percent of the global population. Child labor for under-14-year-olds has been cut by half and, for the first time in history, more than half the world has some form of social protection, such as a pension or unemployment insurance.
\n
But despite decades of efforts, the report makes clear that major disparities remain. A person's place of birth still determines more than half of his or her lifetime's earnings. Globally, more than 800 million people survive on less than $3 a day. That is why achieving the 2030 SDG targets is in jeopardy. For example, for SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, we lag well behind, having met only two-thirds — or 66 percent — of the indicators.
\n
If we wish to improve living conditions for everyone and achieve social justice, expeditiously achieving the SDGs is crucial. Decent work is a key thread that helps to tie the SDGs together, because decent work is more than making a living: it is a barometer of how well we are doing in society as a whole, including health, education, equality, and responsible consumption and production. When work is productive, paid fairly, safe, equitable and inclusive, freely chosen and with rights, we have social justice.
\n
But decent work does not just "happen". History shows that without strong institutions productivity gains do not translate into better lives. Institutions strengthen basic human rights, such as the rights to education and to a healthy environment, and ensure equal opportunities, fair distribution, and a voice for both workers and employers. Social dialogue is the most effective way to balance the interests of workers and employers and help make growth equitable.
\n
Right now, our institutions are being tested. Three massive transitions are reshaping the world of work everywhere: the impact of a hotter planet and the move to a greener economy, the digital revolution, and demographic change. These transformations are creating new jobs and destroying old ones. They have the potential to create fresh opportunities, but they also risk deepening existing divides. How these changes will play out depends largely on the choices that societies make today.
\n
In November 2025, the second World Social Summit will be held in Doha, Qatar. This global gathering will once again bring together government representatives, workers, employers and civil society — three and a half decades after the first summit. It represents a critical moment to turn past pledges into real change.
\n
We must reaffirm the promise made in Copenhagen: that social justice and inclusive economic development are everyone's business and in everyone's interest. But above all, we must take decisive action. The ILO-led Global Coalition for Social Justice offers a platform to help move us in the right direction. Already, it is bringing together governments, employers' and workers' organizations, and other partners to accelerate action and cooperation toward achieving social justice and decent work for all.
\n
If we succeed, we can help ensure that economic productivity and social progress are linked. Because in the end, social justice is not an impossible ideal. It is the only route forward to a sustainable future for all.
\n
The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\n",
- "content": "\n
Thirty years ago, 186 countries met in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the first Social Summit for Social Development. The gathering was the largest meeting of world leaders ever at the time. By the end of the summit, their agenda was clear: the challenges faced by our societies are global and so are the solutions.
\n
In response, governments vowed to put people at the center of global development. They recognized that social justice must be the foundation for economic progress if progress is to be sustainable. It means ensuring that people, regardless of gender, nationality, background or place of birth, have the right to live in dignity, with equal opportunities to work, thrive and succeed. Societies built on fairness work better, trust more and grow stronger.
\n
The consensus of the summit became the cornerstone for the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Since 2015, the SDGs have been the blueprint for achieving a socially just, peaceful and sustainable world. The deadline for their realization has been set for 2030.
\n
Since that first summit, our world has changed, in many ways for the better. A new International Labour Organization report, "The State of Social Justice", shows that extreme poverty is down from 39 percent to 10 percent of the global population. Child labor for under-14-year-olds has been cut by half and, for the first time in history, more than half the world has some form of social protection, such as a pension or unemployment insurance.
\n
But despite decades of efforts, the report makes clear that major disparities remain. A person's place of birth still determines more than half of his or her lifetime's earnings. Globally, more than 800 million people survive on less than $3 a day. That is why achieving the 2030 SDG targets is in jeopardy. For example, for SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, we lag well behind, having met only two-thirds — or 66 percent — of the indicators.
\n
If we wish to improve living conditions for everyone and achieve social justice, expeditiously achieving the SDGs is crucial. Decent work is a key thread that helps to tie the SDGs together, because decent work is more than making a living: it is a barometer of how well we are doing in society as a whole, including health, education, equality, and responsible consumption and production. When work is productive, paid fairly, safe, equitable and inclusive, freely chosen and with rights, we have social justice.
\n
But decent work does not just "happen". History shows that without strong institutions productivity gains do not translate into better lives. Institutions strengthen basic human rights, such as the rights to education and to a healthy environment, and ensure equal opportunities, fair distribution, and a voice for both workers and employers. Social dialogue is the most effective way to balance the interests of workers and employers and help make growth equitable.
\n
Right now, our institutions are being tested. Three massive transitions are reshaping the world of work everywhere: the impact of a hotter planet and the move to a greener economy, the digital revolution, and demographic change. These transformations are creating new jobs and destroying old ones. They have the potential to create fresh opportunities, but they also risk deepening existing divides. How these changes will play out depends largely on the choices that societies make today.
\n
In November 2025, the second World Social Summit will be held in Doha, Qatar. This global gathering will once again bring together government representatives, workers, employers and civil society — three and a half decades after the first summit. It represents a critical moment to turn past pledges into real change.
\n
We must reaffirm the promise made in Copenhagen: that social justice and inclusive economic development are everyone's business and in everyone's interest. But above all, we must take decisive action. The ILO-led Global Coalition for Social Justice offers a platform to help move us in the right direction. Already, it is bringing together governments, employers' and workers' organizations, and other partners to accelerate action and cooperation toward achieving social justice and decent work for all.
\n
If we succeed, we can help ensure that economic productivity and social progress are linked. Because in the end, social justice is not an impossible ideal. It is the only route forward to a sustainable future for all.
\n
The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
Participants in Barcelona build human towers known as castells during the traditional Diada Castellera, part of the city's annual festivities and recognized by UNESCO, on Wednesday. It is one of the most significant events in Barcelona's annual calendar, bringing together people from across the city.
\n",
@@ -27297,28 +25317,6 @@
"hash": "548d646456143cf1539e3ce128d6ab0a",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "010WORLD - Consulate marks friendly ties at San Francisco event",
- "description": "
The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco hosted a photo exhibition and reception on the autumn equinox to celebrate the harvest season and mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
\n
Around 300 guests from across California, including State Treasurer Fiona Ma and San Francisco Chief of Protocol Penny Coulter, attended Tuesday's event. They expressed their strong support for deepening ties between California and China, noting that consistent exchanges and cooperation bring mutual benefits.
\n
Walking alongside guests at the exhibition, titled Seventy-Six Glorious Years, Together Towards a Shared Future, Consul General Zhang Jianmin smiled broadly as he stopped to share stories behind the photographs. The exhibition was organized into four chapters.
\n
Zhang highlighted how living standards in China have improved dramatically over the past seven decades. Life expectancy has risen from 35 years in 1949 to 79 today, while access to education and healthcare has expanded. He cited high-speed rail, 5G networks and the Beidou navigation system as examples of China's rapid innovation.
\n
"Among all these achievements, I would like to emphasize our success in poverty alleviation," Zhang said, pointing to images of rural Guizhou province. "China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty, accounting for more than 70 percent of global poverty reduction. By the end of 2020, we had eliminated absolute poverty, achieving the United Nations'2030 poverty reduction goal a full decade ahead of schedule."
\n
Zhang also underscored the history of China-US cooperation, recalling their joint fight in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the global fight against fascism.
\n
Enduring symbols
\n
"Over 80 years ago, in that epic war that determined the future of humanity, China tied down the bulk of Japanese forces, suffering more than 35 million casualties and making an indelible contribution to the Allied victory," Zhang said. He recalled the stories of the Flying Tigers, the Doolittle Raid rescue and Stilwell Road as enduring symbols of shared sacrifice.
\n
Treasurer Fiona Ma spoke personally about that history, holding a medal honoring her father. Her grandfather and his brothers were military leaders during the 1940s. "My father was nine years old and remembered the Flying Tigers flying overhead," Ma said.
\n
Ma has led numerous delegations to China over the years.
\n
"I met Consul General Zhang 25 years ago," she said, noting that many Americans have witnessed China's progress firsthand through such exchanges.
\n
Ma called on US students to visit China and see the country for themselves, while also welcoming Chinese students to study in the US.
\n
"Hopefully, it will help overcome some of the politics of the adults and allow the younger generation to carry forward a relationship that benefits both sides."
\n
junechang@chinadailyusa.com
\n",
- "content": "
The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco hosted a photo exhibition and reception on the autumn equinox to celebrate the harvest season and mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
\n
Around 300 guests from across California, including State Treasurer Fiona Ma and San Francisco Chief of Protocol Penny Coulter, attended Tuesday's event. They expressed their strong support for deepening ties between California and China, noting that consistent exchanges and cooperation bring mutual benefits.
\n
Walking alongside guests at the exhibition, titled Seventy-Six Glorious Years, Together Towards a Shared Future, Consul General Zhang Jianmin smiled broadly as he stopped to share stories behind the photographs. The exhibition was organized into four chapters.
\n
Zhang highlighted how living standards in China have improved dramatically over the past seven decades. Life expectancy has risen from 35 years in 1949 to 79 today, while access to education and healthcare has expanded. He cited high-speed rail, 5G networks and the Beidou navigation system as examples of China's rapid innovation.
\n
"Among all these achievements, I would like to emphasize our success in poverty alleviation," Zhang said, pointing to images of rural Guizhou province. "China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty, accounting for more than 70 percent of global poverty reduction. By the end of 2020, we had eliminated absolute poverty, achieving the United Nations'2030 poverty reduction goal a full decade ahead of schedule."
\n
Zhang also underscored the history of China-US cooperation, recalling their joint fight in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the global fight against fascism.
\n
Enduring symbols
\n
"Over 80 years ago, in that epic war that determined the future of humanity, China tied down the bulk of Japanese forces, suffering more than 35 million casualties and making an indelible contribution to the Allied victory," Zhang said. He recalled the stories of the Flying Tigers, the Doolittle Raid rescue and Stilwell Road as enduring symbols of shared sacrifice.
\n
Treasurer Fiona Ma spoke personally about that history, holding a medal honoring her father. Her grandfather and his brothers were military leaders during the 1940s. "My father was nine years old and remembered the Flying Tigers flying overhead," Ma said.
\n
Ma has led numerous delegations to China over the years.
\n
"I met Consul General Zhang 25 years ago," she said, noting that many Americans have witnessed China's progress firsthand through such exchanges.
\n
Ma called on US students to visit China and see the country for themselves, while also welcoming Chinese students to study in the US.
\n
"Hopefully, it will help overcome some of the politics of the adults and allow the younger generation to carry forward a relationship that benefits both sides."
The Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Choe Son-hui will pay a four-day visit to China starting on Saturday. China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun announced Choe's visit on Thursday. The visit comes less than a month after DPRK's top leader Kim Jong-un visited China to attend the commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.
\n
MALAWI
\n
Peter Mutharika wins presidential election
\n
Malawi's former President Peter Mutharika has won the presidential election with 56.8 percent of the vote, securing a decisive lead over incumbent Lazarus Chakwera, the country's electoral commission announced Wednesday. The president-elect, contesting on the Democratic Progressive Party ticket, secured nearly 3.04 million votes in the 17-candidate race on Sept 16, while Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party garnered around 1.77 million votes, Malawi Electoral Commission Chairwoman Annabel Mtalimanja announced at a news briefing in Lilongwe, the capital. The 85-year-old Mutharika obtained 56.8 percent of the valid votes cast, surpassing the 50-percent-plus-one threshold required for an outright victory, while Chakwera, 70, trailed with 33 percent of ballots, according to the MEC.
\n
UNITED NATIONS
\n
Kyiv restores ties with Damascus
\n
Ukraine and Syria formally restored diplomatic relations on Wednesday as their leaders met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Ukraine broke off relations with Syria in June 2022. "We are pleased with this important step and are ready to support the Syrian people on their path to stability," Zelensky wrote on Telegram after announcing the restoration of diplomatic relations. The Syrian leadership said it was hoping for close relations with Kyiv. On Wednesday, Zelensky told the UN General Assembly in his speech that Syria deserved stronger international support.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian shows pages of a book titled Killed by Israel as he addresses the 80th UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.
\n
Iran's president reiterated on Wednesday Tehran has "never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb" as the country is facing "snapback" sanctions on its nuclear program.
\n
Speaking at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran does not seek nuclear weapons.
\n
"This is our belief based on the edict issued by the Supreme Leader and by religious authorities. Therefore, we never sought weapons of mass destruction, nor will we ever seek them," he said.
\n
His remarks came after the United States in June carried out attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
\n
Pezeshkian said the strikes, launched "at a time when we were treading the path of diplomatic negotiations", constituted "a grave betrayal of diplomacy and a subversion of efforts toward the establishment of stability and peace".
\n
In a televised speech on Tuesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei again stressed that the country has no nuclear weapons on its agenda by any means. In 2003, he issued a religious decree, or fatwa, forbidding nuclear weapons.
\n
The bombardment of Iranian nuclear sites could not hinder Iran's uranium enrichment, Khamenei said, because producing it has become an indigenous science. He added that Iran has hundreds of experts on enrichment, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
\n
Khamenei explained that uranium enrichment is beneficial to people's lives, as it has applications in various fields, including agriculture, electricity, and the preservation of natural resources.
\n
However, talks with the US will come with harm to Iran, he said, while Washington has made excessive demands, including giving up on enrichment and missiles.
\n
The US government "is a liar and hypocritical", resorting to intimidation and threats to achieve its objectives, Khamenei said.
\n
"Iran has not given in to pressures, nor will it in the future."
\n
Pezeshkian said France, Germany and the United Kingdom — the three European signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal — had no legal basis for trying to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran.
\n
The three countries invoked the deal's "snapback" provision on Aug 28 by notifying the UN Security Council that Iran was failing to comply with its commitments.
\n
The snapback mechanism allows UN sanctions to be reimposed within 30 days if Iran is deemed in breach of the nuclear accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA.The sanctions are expected to take effect on Saturday.
\n
'Means of pressure'
\n
Pezeshkian said the three European countries, having failed to bring the Iranian people "to their knees, at the behest of" the US, last week "sought by means of pressure, coercion, imposition and manifest abuse to reinstate against Iran the Security Council resolutions that had already been terminated".
\n
"All of this was in pursuit of nothing less than the destruction of the very JCPOA which they themselves had once held as the foremost achievement of multilateral diplomacy," he added.
\n
Meanwhile, China and Russia are circulating a draft resolution at the Security Council seeking a technical extension of Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA and outlined the process for lifting UN sanctions.
\n
In a phone call with International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi on Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would not accept "political action and unfair pressure" over its nuclear program, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
\n
Pezeshkian also condemned Israel's aggression against Qatar.
\n
"True security is not achieved through force but through confidence building, mutual respect, regional convergence and multilateralism grounded in international laws," he said.
\n
Contact the writers at minluzhang@chinadailyusa.com
\n",
- "content": "
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian shows pages of a book titled Killed by Israel as he addresses the 80th UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.
\n
Iran's president reiterated on Wednesday Tehran has "never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb" as the country is facing "snapback" sanctions on its nuclear program.
\n
Speaking at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran does not seek nuclear weapons.
\n
"This is our belief based on the edict issued by the Supreme Leader and by religious authorities. Therefore, we never sought weapons of mass destruction, nor will we ever seek them," he said.
\n
His remarks came after the United States in June carried out attacks on three nuclear sites in Iran: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
\n
Pezeshkian said the strikes, launched "at a time when we were treading the path of diplomatic negotiations", constituted "a grave betrayal of diplomacy and a subversion of efforts toward the establishment of stability and peace".
\n
In a televised speech on Tuesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei again stressed that the country has no nuclear weapons on its agenda by any means. In 2003, he issued a religious decree, or fatwa, forbidding nuclear weapons.
\n
The bombardment of Iranian nuclear sites could not hinder Iran's uranium enrichment, Khamenei said, because producing it has become an indigenous science. He added that Iran has hundreds of experts on enrichment, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
\n
Khamenei explained that uranium enrichment is beneficial to people's lives, as it has applications in various fields, including agriculture, electricity, and the preservation of natural resources.
\n
However, talks with the US will come with harm to Iran, he said, while Washington has made excessive demands, including giving up on enrichment and missiles.
\n
The US government "is a liar and hypocritical", resorting to intimidation and threats to achieve its objectives, Khamenei said.
\n
"Iran has not given in to pressures, nor will it in the future."
\n
Pezeshkian said France, Germany and the United Kingdom — the three European signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal — had no legal basis for trying to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran.
\n
The three countries invoked the deal's "snapback" provision on Aug 28 by notifying the UN Security Council that Iran was failing to comply with its commitments.
\n
The snapback mechanism allows UN sanctions to be reimposed within 30 days if Iran is deemed in breach of the nuclear accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA.The sanctions are expected to take effect on Saturday.
\n
'Means of pressure'
\n
Pezeshkian said the three European countries, having failed to bring the Iranian people "to their knees, at the behest of" the US, last week "sought by means of pressure, coercion, imposition and manifest abuse to reinstate against Iran the Security Council resolutions that had already been terminated".
\n
"All of this was in pursuit of nothing less than the destruction of the very JCPOA which they themselves had once held as the foremost achievement of multilateral diplomacy," he added.
\n
Meanwhile, China and Russia are circulating a draft resolution at the Security Council seeking a technical extension of Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA and outlined the process for lifting UN sanctions.
\n
In a phone call with International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi on Friday, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would not accept "political action and unfair pressure" over its nuclear program, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
\n
Pezeshkian also condemned Israel's aggression against Qatar.
\n
"True security is not achieved through force but through confidence building, mutual respect, regional convergence and multilateralism grounded in international laws," he said.
\n
Contact the writers at minluzhang@chinadailyusa.com
The long-running dispute between the European Union and major tech companies has taken another twist after Apple demanded that the bloc scrap its Digital Markets Act.
\n
The DMA was introduced in 2022 with the specific aim of curbing the market dominance of major tech firms — many of which are from the United States — to ensure more competition for consumer benefit.
\n
It contains provision for fines of up to 10 percent of global revenue for companies that do not comply with its terms. However, several US tech firms, and also President Donald Trump, have said the act discriminates against US companies.
\n
The latest trans-Atlantic flare-up occurs in the aftermath of the tariff dispute, which has dominated world trade for most of the year and has resulted in many EU exports to the US now being subject to 15 percent tariffs.
\n
"The DMA should be repealed while a more appropriate fit for purpose legislative instrument is put in place," Apple said in a statement. Some new features on the company's products were being held up because of the need to comply with the DMA's obligation that products should be interoperable, meaning they can also work with those made by rival manufacturers, it said.
\n
"Despite our concerns with the DMA, teams across Apple are spending thousands of hours to bring new features to the European Union while meeting the law's requirements. But it's become clear that we can't solve every problem the DMA creates," it added.
\n
Heavy fines
\n
In April, Apple was fined 500 million euros ($587 million) by the EU after an inquiry into whether its rules stopped application developers from offering consumers cheaper products outside the App Store.
\n
The company later changed its rules to avoid further sanctions, while also protesting that the regulations gave consumers a worse experience, which is the opposite of the legislation's intended goal, and made doing business harder.
\n
Facebook's parent company, Meta, was also heavily fined over its data collection policy, with European Commissioner Teresa Ribera saying both companies had "fallen short of compliance with the DMA by implementing measures that reinforce the dependence of business users and consumers on their platforms".
\n
"As a result, we have taken firm but balanced enforcement action against both companies, based on clear and predictable rules," she said.
\n
Trump has already accused the EU of targeting US companies, a claim that EU tech spokesman Thomas Regnier said he could "firmly rebut".
\n
julian@mail.chinadailyuk.com
\n",
@@ -27385,28 +25361,6 @@
"hash": "391430e19a2856941d416452e4dd4b09",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "011WORLD - Foreign aid funds to go to 'America First' plans",
- "description": "
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump's administration intends to shift $1.8 billion in foreign aid funding toward "America First" initiatives, such as pursuing investments in Greenland and countering "Marxist, anti-American regimes" in Latin America, according to a document sent to Congress.
\n
"The national security interests of the United States require that the United States utilize these foreign assistance funds to meet new challenges in ways that make America safer, stronger, or more prosperous," according to the Congressional Notification reviewed by Reuters on Wednesday.
\n
The administration's plan to shift the funding from programs previously authorized by Congress was first reported by The Washington Post. A State Department spokesperson said the department looked forward to working with Congress "on America First Foreign Assistance", saying foreign assistance programs must align with administration policies.
\n
"The United States will prioritize trade over aid, opportunity over dependency, and investment over assistance," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
\n
The Trump administration has been pursuing a massive overhaul of foreign assistance since the Republican began his second term in January. The strategy is a departure from the long-held assumption that food, medical and economic assistance is an important "soft power" component of US global influence.
\n
In the notification, dated Sept 12, the administration says the $1.8 billion would be obligated for programs to "strengthen US global leadership", to focus on several areas central to Trump administration policy.
\n",
- "content": "
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump's administration intends to shift $1.8 billion in foreign aid funding toward "America First" initiatives, such as pursuing investments in Greenland and countering "Marxist, anti-American regimes" in Latin America, according to a document sent to Congress.
\n
"The national security interests of the United States require that the United States utilize these foreign assistance funds to meet new challenges in ways that make America safer, stronger, or more prosperous," according to the Congressional Notification reviewed by Reuters on Wednesday.
\n
The administration's plan to shift the funding from programs previously authorized by Congress was first reported by The Washington Post. A State Department spokesperson said the department looked forward to working with Congress "on America First Foreign Assistance", saying foreign assistance programs must align with administration policies.
\n
"The United States will prioritize trade over aid, opportunity over dependency, and investment over assistance," the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
\n
The Trump administration has been pursuing a massive overhaul of foreign assistance since the Republican began his second term in January. The strategy is a departure from the long-held assumption that food, medical and economic assistance is an important "soft power" component of US global influence.
\n
In the notification, dated Sept 12, the administration says the $1.8 billion would be obligated for programs to "strengthen US global leadership", to focus on several areas central to Trump administration policy.
Visitors try their hand at a virtual reality experience in the Grand Canal Museum of Beijing.
\n
As a key component of the 2025 Beijing Culture Forum, a salon specializing in artificial intelligence took place in the city's Haidian district earlier in September.
\n
Themed "Cultural Intelligence: AI Reshaping Digital Content Production", the event featured in-depth discussions on topics within the sector, such as innovative models, transformation pathways, challenges and opportunities.
\n
Experts in the AI field, alongside representatives from technology enterprises like the video-sharing platform Kuaishou Technology and leading content creators, gathered to share their insights.
\n
Guo Yanmin, a professor at the Communication University of China, for example, explored the efficiency gains and job restructuring that AI is driving in the audiovisual industry. He emphasized the importance of maintaining authenticity in news communication, originality in artistic creation, and avoiding homogenization in commercial entertainment.
\n
Additionally, Qin Jingyan, a professor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing, examined the role of AI technology in fostering high-level aesthetics and cultural expression, aligning with national strategies such as the dual-carbon reduction goals, sustainable development and building a beacon of cultural prowess.
\n
Cai Xiongshan, vice-president of Kuaishou, highlighted that AI-generated content is driving a new wave of technological transformation in the film and television industry, injecting vitality into its development.
\n
Notably, the China-BRICS Artificial Intelligence Development and Cooperation Center established its first global achievement transformation center at Kuaishou's Brazilian branch in May, indicating broader applications of AI technology in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, Cai said.
\n
In recent years, the global AI technology revolution has continued to advance, with Haidian at the forefront of AI development. The district currently hosts 105 registered large models, accounting for two-thirds of Beijing's total and one-fifth of China's total.
\n
Among these is Keling AI, a video-generating model developed by Kuaishou. Since its launch in June 2024, it has completed over 30 iterations, served more than 45 million global users, and generated over 200 million videos and 400 million images.
\n
It has been integrated into fields such as film and television production, advertising creativity, e-commerce marketing, and cultural tourism, with the potential to empower more industries in the future.
\n
Moreover, Haidian has nurtured leading general-purpose large models like Doubao, Ernie Bot, and ChatGLM, and has incubated significant world-class achievements.
\n
Beijing has been promoting the application of new technologies, products and scenarios to achieve digital empowerment in the cultural field these past few years.
\n
In January, several sci-tech and cultural departments in the city issued a three-year action plan for innovation and development of technology empowering culture, aiming to advance the construction of a national cultural center and an international sci-tech innovation hub.
\n
According to the plan, Beijing will focus on meeting the technological needs of the cultural sector by strengthening research on AI, internet 3.0, and high-end processing chips, enhancing the capabilities of cultural digital content generation.
\n
Technologies like AI and virtual reality will be employed to upgrade cultural infrastructure and create benchmark projects in cultural tourism, film, and cultural heritage sectors.
\n
Furthermore, the city will promote the implementation of pilot policies, establish key laboratories for the integration of culture and technology, build a sci-tech and cultural industry cluster, and explore the application of AI in the governance of cultural digital content.
\n
In August, Beijing released this year's list of technology-empowered cultural projects, including AI large model-based museum guidance and interactive theater experience systems, AI digital museums of industrial heritage, and AI-assisted music program score analysis and intelligent shooting systems.
\n
Guided by the action plan and supported by the project list, Beijing will continue to integrate science and technology with the cultural industry, and build an innovation system poised for the future.
China has unveiled an array of policies to drive digital consumption, which is now widely seen by policymakers and analysts as a critical force to unlock domestic demand and facilitate the country's transition toward a consumption-led growth model.
\n
The synergies of the digital economy and consumption upgrade will continue to drive the evolution of the supersized Chinese market, fostering a more efficient and personalized consumption ecosystem that caters to the diverse needs of the country's consumers, they added.
\n
According to a document released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Commerce and seven other government departments, China will expand the supply of diversified digital consumption, innovate and enrich digital consumption scenarios, and promote a higher-level dynamic balance between digital supply and demand.
\n
Digital consumption is the act of using digital technology to access and interact with digital products, services and content, encompassing everything from online shopping and social media engagement to streaming media and the use of mobile apps.
\n
"The core strength of this digital framework lies in its dual ability to create and connect," said Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute of New Economy.
\n
It generates entirely new consumption scenarios, from livestreamed agricultural commodity sales that connect farmers directly to urban households, to augmented reality apps that allow users to visualize furnishing in their homes before making final purchases, Zhu said, adding that simultaneously, it acts as a highly efficient matching engine, using data analytics to align production with the nuanced, fast-changing preferences of hundreds of millions of consumers.
\n
The government is taking proactive measures to encourage enterprises to enhance quality supply and release the consumption potential of products such as AI-powered smartphones, computers, smart robots, wearable devices and desktop 3D printing equipment, according to the document.
\n
The country will also accelerate the integration and connectivity of smart home appliances, smart security systems and remote healthcare, as well as promote the pilot testing of intelligent and connected vehicles, it said.
\n
In July, the added value of the large-scale digital product manufacturing sector grew 8.4 percent year-on-year, said Fu Linghui, spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics, at a news conference in mid-August.
\n
"The rapid development of artificial intelligence has led to deeper integration with the real economy, with an ever-expanding range of application scenarios and the increasing prevalence of various smart terminal products," Fu said.
\n
The document also laid out specific measures to develop smart retail and support the comprehensive digitalization of traditional brick-and-mortar commercial enterprises in terms of marketing, sales channels and business processes.
\n
Meanwhile, it is also encouraging the healthy development of new retail formats, such as instant retail, social commerce and livestreaming e-commerce.
\n
The NBS said online retail sales climbed 9.6 percent year-on-year from January to August. More significantly, the growth rate picked up by 0.4 percentage point from the January-July stretch, hitting a new high for the year.
\n
Instant retail, which delivers everything from groceries to electronics in less than an hour — as well as livestreamed e-commerce — both continued double-digit growth trajectories, the bureau said.
\n
The Chinese consumer is not retrenching but rather redirecting expenditure. The digital marketplace, with its ever-increasing efficiency and innovation, is successfully unlocking latent demand, said Zhang Jianping, deputy director of the academic committee at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing.
\n
Unleashing the full potential of digital consumption requires a comprehensive support system, including logistics, financial services and an efficient, convenient and intelligent payment infrastructure, Zhang said.
\n
"These support systems are crucial for the development and prosperity of digital consumption, and they must be effectively synchronized with the construction of digital platforms to support the growth of digital consumption," Zhang added.
\n
To this end, the document has placed high premium on the development of smart logistics infrastructure, drone-based transportation services and intelligent e-lockers, as well as the interconnectivity between bank card clearing institutions and international payment platforms, and the expansion of the acceptance coverage and application scenarios of the digital yuan.
\n
wangkeju@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
China has unveiled an array of policies to drive digital consumption, which is now widely seen by policymakers and analysts as a critical force to unlock domestic demand and facilitate the country's transition toward a consumption-led growth model.
\n
The synergies of the digital economy and consumption upgrade will continue to drive the evolution of the supersized Chinese market, fostering a more efficient and personalized consumption ecosystem that caters to the diverse needs of the country's consumers, they added.
\n
According to a document released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Commerce and seven other government departments, China will expand the supply of diversified digital consumption, innovate and enrich digital consumption scenarios, and promote a higher-level dynamic balance between digital supply and demand.
\n
Digital consumption is the act of using digital technology to access and interact with digital products, services and content, encompassing everything from online shopping and social media engagement to streaming media and the use of mobile apps.
\n
"The core strength of this digital framework lies in its dual ability to create and connect," said Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute of New Economy.
\n
It generates entirely new consumption scenarios, from livestreamed agricultural commodity sales that connect farmers directly to urban households, to augmented reality apps that allow users to visualize furnishing in their homes before making final purchases, Zhu said, adding that simultaneously, it acts as a highly efficient matching engine, using data analytics to align production with the nuanced, fast-changing preferences of hundreds of millions of consumers.
\n
The government is taking proactive measures to encourage enterprises to enhance quality supply and release the consumption potential of products such as AI-powered smartphones, computers, smart robots, wearable devices and desktop 3D printing equipment, according to the document.
\n
The country will also accelerate the integration and connectivity of smart home appliances, smart security systems and remote healthcare, as well as promote the pilot testing of intelligent and connected vehicles, it said.
\n
In July, the added value of the large-scale digital product manufacturing sector grew 8.4 percent year-on-year, said Fu Linghui, spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics, at a news conference in mid-August.
\n
"The rapid development of artificial intelligence has led to deeper integration with the real economy, with an ever-expanding range of application scenarios and the increasing prevalence of various smart terminal products," Fu said.
\n
The document also laid out specific measures to develop smart retail and support the comprehensive digitalization of traditional brick-and-mortar commercial enterprises in terms of marketing, sales channels and business processes.
\n
Meanwhile, it is also encouraging the healthy development of new retail formats, such as instant retail, social commerce and livestreaming e-commerce.
\n
The NBS said online retail sales climbed 9.6 percent year-on-year from January to August. More significantly, the growth rate picked up by 0.4 percentage point from the January-July stretch, hitting a new high for the year.
\n
Instant retail, which delivers everything from groceries to electronics in less than an hour — as well as livestreamed e-commerce — both continued double-digit growth trajectories, the bureau said.
\n
The Chinese consumer is not retrenching but rather redirecting expenditure. The digital marketplace, with its ever-increasing efficiency and innovation, is successfully unlocking latent demand, said Zhang Jianping, deputy director of the academic committee at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation in Beijing.
\n
Unleashing the full potential of digital consumption requires a comprehensive support system, including logistics, financial services and an efficient, convenient and intelligent payment infrastructure, Zhang said.
\n
"These support systems are crucial for the development and prosperity of digital consumption, and they must be effectively synchronized with the construction of digital platforms to support the growth of digital consumption," Zhang added.
\n
To this end, the document has placed high premium on the development of smart logistics infrastructure, drone-based transportation services and intelligent e-lockers, as well as the interconnectivity between bank card clearing institutions and international payment platforms, and the expansion of the acceptance coverage and application scenarios of the digital yuan.
The number of 5G base stations in China reached nearly 4.65 million by the end of August, official data showed. The figure accounted for 36.3 percent of the total number of mobile base stations nationwide, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Meanwhile, an increasing number of Chinese mobile users are adopting 5G services. As of the end of August, the number of mobile phone users of the country's three major telecommunication enterprises and China Broadnet had reached about 1.82 billion, the data showed.
\n
Track replacement to enhance safety
\n
Chinese railway operators have intensified efforts to bolster transport safety. The Taiyuan-Zhongwei railway, a quick rail corridor carrying passengers and freight, serves as a lifeline for the people of Lyuliang area in Shanxi province for transport out of the mountains. To boost rail safety, China Railway Taiyuan Group has asked Taiyuan High-speed Railway Engineering Section to replace a part of its ballast-less tracks running for 1.6 kilometers. The section dispatched 15 master staff members to replace the tracks inside the Lyuliang Mountain Tunnel, and they completed the job in three days when the trains were not operating.
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