如今4K视频已成主流，但你是否还在为手机里低画质的老录像、硬盘中模糊的老电影而烦恼？别急！最近找到一款新的视频增强软件——Aiarty Video Enhancer。它能帮你把那些渣画质视频瞬间变成电影级高清，简直是老视频的救星！而且它的AI放大功能对低分辨率的视频，像AI生成的视频来说也是很有帮助的。亲身实测，效果还是很不错的。
\n\n\n\n
Aiarty Video Enhancer究竟是什么？
\n\n\n\n
之前介绍过Aiarty的图片增强软件和抠图软件。Aiarty Video Enhancer 就是其公司新出的一款基于AI的视频增强和修复软件。可以智能地处理低画质、模糊、有噪点甚至分辨率很低的视频，通过AI算法使其更清晰、锐利、色彩更自然，甚至能放大到4K超高清分辨率。与传统软件不同，Aiarty Video Enhancer的“智能”在于它通过深度学习技术，可以识别视频中的物体、纹理和细节，进行智能细节补充。此外还支持智能插帧、音频降噪等。
Aiarty Video Enhancer基于深度学习模型，能智能降噪、补充细节、锐化边缘和增强色彩，对视频画质进行深度重建和优化，让老视频呈现出接近高清的效果。且软件提供了不同的AI优化模型，确保你在处理不同类型的视频时，都能获得最佳的增强效果，更加专业和精准。
\n\n\n\n
2. 处理速度相对来说很棒
\n\n\n\n
对于目前的所有AI工具来说，配置越高，速度越快。Aiarty Video Enhancer也不例外。当前的AI视频增强工具，在高配置电脑上，免费工具处理速度在10秒1帧左右，一般付费软件能达到1秒3-4帧，Topaz可以达到1秒10帧。但Aiarty能达到1秒20帧左右。这个速度可以在同款工具中能拔得头筹了。
如今4K视频已成主流，但你是否还在为手机里低画质的老录像、硬盘中模糊的老电影而烦恼？别急！最近找到一款新的视频增强软件——Aiarty Video Enhancer。它能帮你把那些渣画质视频瞬间变成电影级高清，简直是老视频的救星！而且它的AI放大功能对低分辨率的视频，像AI生成的视频来说也是很有帮助的。亲身实测，效果还是很不错的。
\n\n\n\n
Aiarty Video Enhancer究竟是什么？
\n\n\n\n
之前介绍过Aiarty的图片增强软件和抠图软件。Aiarty Video Enhancer 就是其公司新出的一款基于AI的视频增强和修复软件。可以智能地处理低画质、模糊、有噪点甚至分辨率很低的视频，通过AI算法使其更清晰、锐利、色彩更自然，甚至能放大到4K超高清分辨率。与传统软件不同，Aiarty Video Enhancer的“智能”在于它通过深度学习技术，可以识别视频中的物体、纹理和细节，进行智能细节补充。此外还支持智能插帧、音频降噪等。
Aiarty Video Enhancer基于深度学习模型，能智能降噪、补充细节、锐化边缘和增强色彩，对视频画质进行深度重建和优化，让老视频呈现出接近高清的效果。且软件提供了不同的AI优化模型，确保你在处理不同类型的视频时，都能获得最佳的增强效果，更加专业和精准。
\n\n\n\n
2. 处理速度相对来说很棒
\n\n\n\n
对于目前的所有AI工具来说，配置越高，速度越快。Aiarty Video Enhancer也不例外。当前的AI视频增强工具，在高配置电脑上，免费工具处理速度在10秒1帧左右，一般付费软件能达到1秒3-4帧，Topaz可以达到1秒10帧。但Aiarty能达到1秒20帧左右。这个速度可以在同款工具中能拔得头筹了。
",
"category": "Windows",
"link": "https://www.appinn.com/edge-monitor/",
"creator": "青小蛙",
@@ -3851,25 +3873,685 @@
"description": "",
"items": [
{
- "title": "001FRONT - Training helps to empower Global South",
- "description": "
An instructor guides a Pakistani student majoring in electrical automation during a training session at the Luban Workshop of Tianjin Modern Vocational Technology College on June 16.
\n
When Joseph Njane, a railway training officer from Kenya, boarded for the first time a high-speed train from Beijing to Wuhan and then Guangzhou, he was captivated by the speed, safety and technological sophistication of the country's railway network.
\n
The three-week training session in 2019, provided by Beijing Jiaotong University, allowed Njane, who works for Afristar, the company that operates the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, to learn about China's scientific approach to railway planning and construction, control and monitoring systems.
\n
"Seeing China's railway network firsthand was really eye-opening," he said, adding that the field trip ignited his desire to bring the advanced technology back to help modernize Kenya's railway systems.
\n
"The knowledge that I acquired, the scientific methods and models, can be used for our railways in Africa to improve the capacity and utilization of our lines."
\n
Three years later, Njane participated in an online course also provided by the Beijing Jiaotong University, which he said enhanced his understanding of railway systems, from the structure of the railroad to dispatching technologies.
\n
The most valuable takeaway of the training was China's emphasis on integrating technology with education, he said.
\n
"The two training courses enabled and inspired me to come up with something that can be used in Kenya to train our staff and ensure their access to railway knowledge."
\n
When he returned to Kenya, Njane established an online system where he uploaded the training materials from his visits to China and online training.
\n
Now, any employee can log in and access those training materials within minutes, even though they did not get a chance to study in China, Njane said. "This accelerates technology transfer from Chinese experts to Kenyan workers."
\n
The type of training that Njane received, as part of China's international human resources development cooperation, is seen as an important aspect of the country's foreign aid.
\n
Over the past 70 years, China has carried out nearly 15,000 training programs for over 180 countries and organizations through various forms such as short- and medium-term training programs in China, overseas expert consultations and youth volunteer services.
\n
These programs have covered 17 fields and trained more than 500,000 professionals in total, according to Li Ming, a spokesman for the China International Development Cooperation Agency.
\n
China's foreign aid training programs focus on cultivating and enhancing the recipient countries' self-development capabilities, playing a vital role in international economic and technological exchanges and cooperation, he said.
\n
Li shared examples such as a Rwandan trainee who founded a Juncao production company upon returning home, after learning about Juncao (mushroom and grass) technology in China, thereby helping to lift over 50,000 local farmers out of poverty.
\n
An Iraqi trainee brought back China's "checkerboard" sand control method to combat desertification in Iraq, Li said, adding that another trainee from Afghanistan used emergency response training to prevent an explosion in Kabul.
\n
The agency plans to launch over 2,000 training programs for more than 50,000 participants in 2025, he said, adding that China will continue to design development cooperation projects and provide 100,000 training and study opportunities to Global South countries over the next five years.
\n
Two-way exchange
\n
Jing Guoqing, a professor at the highway and railway engineering department of Beijing Jiaotong University, said that sharing China's railway development philosophy and experience allows participants to share insights into their countries' railway challenges and expectations.
\n
"Teaching is a two-way process," Jing said. During the training, the trainees share their experiences, concerns, questions and aspirations, and such feedback is valuable for Chinese companies operating overseas, helping them to navigate cultural differences and improve their projects, he said.
\n
"Foreign aid training plays a crucial role in bridging Chinese enterprises and international stakeholders, ensuring smoother cooperation," Jing said.
\n
Such training helps to enhance local engineers and officials' understanding of China's technical expertise and project management approaches, he said, adding that as the locals become more familiar with Chinese standards, they trust Chinese companies more and feel more confident in adopting those standards.
\n
"In this way, it will help China to promote its technology and standards overseas," he added.
\n
Jing said that China should focus more on vocational training such as railway technology, new energy vehicle-related skills and photovoltaic installation, areas that will efficiently boost local development while fostering long-term partnerships with developing countries.
\n
Knowledge transfer
\n
Liu Xian, a research associate at the Institute of International Development Cooperation at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, said that the fundamental mission of human resource development cooperation is to "teach people how to fish" rather than mechanically export China's model.
\n
"It is about unreservedly sharing China's experience and technology, enabling partners to grasp not only the 'how' but also the 'why' of the country's development practices through interaction," Liu said.
\n
Stephen Ndegwa, executive director of South-South Dialogues, a Nairobi-based development communication think tank, said that by providing actionable knowledge, recipient nations will be able to adapt Chinese methods to their unique contexts, focusing on long-term planning and development models.
\n
Ndegwa said that the impact of China's training programs is evident in their ability to strengthen development capacity and promote modernization in recipient nations.
\n
Through skill development, policy learning and South-South cooperation, these programs equip participants with the tools needed to enhance local industries, improve productivity and develop homegrown policies inspired by China's success, Ndegwa said.
\n
He noted that lessons from China's experience, such as prioritizing public investment in critical sectors, offer valuable insights for African countries seeking to balance tradition with innovation while pursuing their development goals.
\n
As the Global South pursues its modernization journey, cooperation with China is expected to focus on inclusive growth, technology-driven development, and resilient infrastructure, he added.
\n
Ndegwa stressed that China's approach to foreign aid training is practical and results-oriented.
\n
The training programs emphasize respect for sovereignty and noninterference in domestic affairs, offering flexible knowledge that countries can adapt to their own governance structures, he said.
\n
Participants often highlight the focus on tangible outcomes, such as improved infrastructure and poverty reduction, he added.
\n
According to a survey regarding China's foreign aid training by the Institute of International Development Cooperation at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, which was conducted among over 1,400 participants from 32 countries and regions, 75.89 percent of participants believed the training significantly improved their professional knowledge or skills.
\n
The survey found that 75.23 percent of participants feel that the training greatly enhanced their career competitiveness, while 75.38 percent find the experiences gained in China highly applicable in their home countries.
\n
zhoujin@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
An instructor guides a Pakistani student majoring in electrical automation during a training session at the Luban Workshop of Tianjin Modern Vocational Technology College on June 16.
\n
When Joseph Njane, a railway training officer from Kenya, boarded for the first time a high-speed train from Beijing to Wuhan and then Guangzhou, he was captivated by the speed, safety and technological sophistication of the country's railway network.
\n
The three-week training session in 2019, provided by Beijing Jiaotong University, allowed Njane, who works for Afristar, the company that operates the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, to learn about China's scientific approach to railway planning and construction, control and monitoring systems.
\n
"Seeing China's railway network firsthand was really eye-opening," he said, adding that the field trip ignited his desire to bring the advanced technology back to help modernize Kenya's railway systems.
\n
"The knowledge that I acquired, the scientific methods and models, can be used for our railways in Africa to improve the capacity and utilization of our lines."
\n
Three years later, Njane participated in an online course also provided by the Beijing Jiaotong University, which he said enhanced his understanding of railway systems, from the structure of the railroad to dispatching technologies.
\n
The most valuable takeaway of the training was China's emphasis on integrating technology with education, he said.
\n
"The two training courses enabled and inspired me to come up with something that can be used in Kenya to train our staff and ensure their access to railway knowledge."
\n
When he returned to Kenya, Njane established an online system where he uploaded the training materials from his visits to China and online training.
\n
Now, any employee can log in and access those training materials within minutes, even though they did not get a chance to study in China, Njane said. "This accelerates technology transfer from Chinese experts to Kenyan workers."
\n
The type of training that Njane received, as part of China's international human resources development cooperation, is seen as an important aspect of the country's foreign aid.
\n
Over the past 70 years, China has carried out nearly 15,000 training programs for over 180 countries and organizations through various forms such as short- and medium-term training programs in China, overseas expert consultations and youth volunteer services.
\n
These programs have covered 17 fields and trained more than 500,000 professionals in total, according to Li Ming, a spokesman for the China International Development Cooperation Agency.
\n
China's foreign aid training programs focus on cultivating and enhancing the recipient countries' self-development capabilities, playing a vital role in international economic and technological exchanges and cooperation, he said.
\n
Li shared examples such as a Rwandan trainee who founded a Juncao production company upon returning home, after learning about Juncao (mushroom and grass) technology in China, thereby helping to lift over 50,000 local farmers out of poverty.
\n
An Iraqi trainee brought back China's "checkerboard" sand control method to combat desertification in Iraq, Li said, adding that another trainee from Afghanistan used emergency response training to prevent an explosion in Kabul.
\n
The agency plans to launch over 2,000 training programs for more than 50,000 participants in 2025, he said, adding that China will continue to design development cooperation projects and provide 100,000 training and study opportunities to Global South countries over the next five years.
\n
Two-way exchange
\n
Jing Guoqing, a professor at the highway and railway engineering department of Beijing Jiaotong University, said that sharing China's railway development philosophy and experience allows participants to share insights into their countries' railway challenges and expectations.
\n
"Teaching is a two-way process," Jing said. During the training, the trainees share their experiences, concerns, questions and aspirations, and such feedback is valuable for Chinese companies operating overseas, helping them to navigate cultural differences and improve their projects, he said.
\n
"Foreign aid training plays a crucial role in bridging Chinese enterprises and international stakeholders, ensuring smoother cooperation," Jing said.
\n
Such training helps to enhance local engineers and officials' understanding of China's technical expertise and project management approaches, he said, adding that as the locals become more familiar with Chinese standards, they trust Chinese companies more and feel more confident in adopting those standards.
\n
"In this way, it will help China to promote its technology and standards overseas," he added.
\n
Jing said that China should focus more on vocational training such as railway technology, new energy vehicle-related skills and photovoltaic installation, areas that will efficiently boost local development while fostering long-term partnerships with developing countries.
\n
Knowledge transfer
\n
Liu Xian, a research associate at the Institute of International Development Cooperation at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, said that the fundamental mission of human resource development cooperation is to "teach people how to fish" rather than mechanically export China's model.
\n
"It is about unreservedly sharing China's experience and technology, enabling partners to grasp not only the 'how' but also the 'why' of the country's development practices through interaction," Liu said.
\n
Stephen Ndegwa, executive director of South-South Dialogues, a Nairobi-based development communication think tank, said that by providing actionable knowledge, recipient nations will be able to adapt Chinese methods to their unique contexts, focusing on long-term planning and development models.
\n
Ndegwa said that the impact of China's training programs is evident in their ability to strengthen development capacity and promote modernization in recipient nations.
\n
Through skill development, policy learning and South-South cooperation, these programs equip participants with the tools needed to enhance local industries, improve productivity and develop homegrown policies inspired by China's success, Ndegwa said.
\n
He noted that lessons from China's experience, such as prioritizing public investment in critical sectors, offer valuable insights for African countries seeking to balance tradition with innovation while pursuing their development goals.
\n
As the Global South pursues its modernization journey, cooperation with China is expected to focus on inclusive growth, technology-driven development, and resilient infrastructure, he added.
\n
Ndegwa stressed that China's approach to foreign aid training is practical and results-oriented.
\n
The training programs emphasize respect for sovereignty and noninterference in domestic affairs, offering flexible knowledge that countries can adapt to their own governance structures, he said.
\n
Participants often highlight the focus on tangible outcomes, such as improved infrastructure and poverty reduction, he added.
\n
According to a survey regarding China's foreign aid training by the Institute of International Development Cooperation at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, which was conducted among over 1,400 participants from 32 countries and regions, 75.89 percent of participants believed the training significantly improved their professional knowledge or skills.
\n
The survey found that 75.23 percent of participants feel that the training greatly enhanced their career competitiveness, while 75.38 percent find the experiences gained in China highly applicable in their home countries.
In the matter of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, the Chinese central government has unquestionable, ultimate decision-making authority, which is also a belief adhered to by the vast number of Tibetan Buddhism followers, the chairman of the Xizang autonomous region said on Tuesday.
\n
Starting from the 5th Dalai Lama (1617-1682), the title has been conferred on all successors by the central government, which is the source of the religious status and historical legitimacy of the Dalai Lama title.
\n
The reincarnation of living Buddhas follows strict religious rituals and historical conventions, and the legitimacy of the title of the Dalai Lama in fact originates from the central government, Gama Cedain, chairman of Xizang, said during a news conference held by the State Council Information Office on the region's economic and social development achievements since it was established 60 years ago.
\n
On several occasions in the past, the 14th Dalai Lama has said he might reincarnate while still alive. At other times, he has said he will personally choose his successor.
\n
In July, he released the so-called "Statement Affirming the Continuation of the Institution of Dalai Lama", personally appointing a trust to recognize the future reincarnation.
\n
"Reincarnation has never been solely determined by the Dalai Lama himself," Gama Cedain said. "The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must strictly follow the principle of 'carrying out the search domestically, drawing lots from a golden urn, and gaining approval from the central government', while complying with the country's laws and regulations."
\n
Tsering Deji, deputy director and associate researcher of the Xizang Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Religion, said the 14th Dalai Lama's multiple claims on his reincarnation all aim to bypass approval from the central government, which is in fact a crucial step in the reincarnation process of the living Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism.
\n
"Such remarks have shown that he has a nonserious attitude toward the lineage of the Dalai Lama, which has a history spanning several hundred years and holds extensive and revered authority among followers of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism," she said in Lhasa, the capital of the Xizang autonomous region. "The issue of reincarnation should not be sensationalized or used to attract public attention."
\n
She said that anyone with even a modest understanding of history knows that the Dalai Lama's reincarnation process involves a series of historical customs and religious rituals, which can only be completed after reporting to the central government and obtaining its approval.
\n
"Therefore, his claims are all attempts to challenge or deny the ultimate authority of the central government in the matter of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama," Tsering Deji said.
\n
cuijia@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
In the matter of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, the Chinese central government has unquestionable, ultimate decision-making authority, which is also a belief adhered to by the vast number of Tibetan Buddhism followers, the chairman of the Xizang autonomous region said on Tuesday.
\n
Starting from the 5th Dalai Lama (1617-1682), the title has been conferred on all successors by the central government, which is the source of the religious status and historical legitimacy of the Dalai Lama title.
\n
The reincarnation of living Buddhas follows strict religious rituals and historical conventions, and the legitimacy of the title of the Dalai Lama in fact originates from the central government, Gama Cedain, chairman of Xizang, said during a news conference held by the State Council Information Office on the region's economic and social development achievements since it was established 60 years ago.
\n
On several occasions in the past, the 14th Dalai Lama has said he might reincarnate while still alive. At other times, he has said he will personally choose his successor.
\n
In July, he released the so-called "Statement Affirming the Continuation of the Institution of Dalai Lama", personally appointing a trust to recognize the future reincarnation.
\n
"Reincarnation has never been solely determined by the Dalai Lama himself," Gama Cedain said. "The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must strictly follow the principle of 'carrying out the search domestically, drawing lots from a golden urn, and gaining approval from the central government', while complying with the country's laws and regulations."
\n
Tsering Deji, deputy director and associate researcher of the Xizang Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Religion, said the 14th Dalai Lama's multiple claims on his reincarnation all aim to bypass approval from the central government, which is in fact a crucial step in the reincarnation process of the living Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism.
\n
"Such remarks have shown that he has a nonserious attitude toward the lineage of the Dalai Lama, which has a history spanning several hundred years and holds extensive and revered authority among followers of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism," she said in Lhasa, the capital of the Xizang autonomous region. "The issue of reincarnation should not be sensationalized or used to attract public attention."
\n
She said that anyone with even a modest understanding of history knows that the Dalai Lama's reincarnation process involves a series of historical customs and religious rituals, which can only be completed after reporting to the central government and obtaining its approval.
\n
"Therefore, his claims are all attempts to challenge or deny the ultimate authority of the central government in the matter of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama," Tsering Deji said.
A traditional Pan embroidery motif known as the sunflower is seen on this rug.
\n
A Tibetan carpet is embroidered with an image of snow leopards.
\n
People demonstrate the art of Pan embroidery at an industrial base in Qinghai province.
\n
A Thangka made to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Tianjin's assistance to Qinghai province.
\n
A local woman stitches a Pan embroidery product.
\n
Would it be a surprise to learn that plush carpets underfoot at Dubai International Airport, on Carnival cruise ships, and in Las Vegas hotels often come from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau?
\n
Tibetan carpets are among the three most-famous traditional carpets in the world and have a history dating back 3,000 years. Prized for their fine wool, unique craftsmanship and exquisite designs, they enjoy global acclaim.
\n
Based in Xining, Qinghai province, Shengyuan Carpet Group is one of China's largest Tibetan carpet manufacturers, and boasts a significant market share. The company combines the advantages of handwoven and machine-woven carpets to ensure product quality and aesthetics while increasing production efficiency.
\n
Du Fei, deputy general manager of the projects department, recalls the company's humble beginnings. "Founded in 2007 with just over 20 employees, we survived fierce market competition by tackling complex craftsmanship and focusing on high-end, custom-made carpets, elevating 'Made in China' standards," he said.
\n
Today, the company's annual sales exceed 100 million yuan ($13.9 million), with products shipped to the Middle East, Europe, North America and Australia. The United States accounts for 60 to 70 percent of sales, which mainly go to high-end venues.
\n
Production methods range from machine-woven, which imitates handmade rugs, to gun-tufted, or semi-handmade, to fully handwoven, with prices increasing manyfold as craftsmanship becomes more intricate.
\n
Handwoven Tibetan carpets, most looking like vivid oil paintings, are highly prized. A 1-square-meter piece takes a craftsman roughly a year to complete, and usually fetches 50,000 yuan to 60,000 yuan for its vibrant colors and durability.
\n
With high transportation costs due to Qinghai's deep inland location, handwoven carpets barely turn a profit, Du explained. "We persist out of a mission to preserve this intangible cultural heritage — Tibetan carpet weaving is the cultural root of our enterprise," he said.
\n
In 2023, Shengyuan was designated a national demonstration base for productive protection of intangible cultural heritage, relying on the traditional Tibetan carpet-weaving technique originating from Jiaya village in Xining. Its inheritors are mainly engaged in training artisans.
\n
Of the company's 300-plus employees, over 200 are from surrounding villages, including many ethnic groups such as the Tibetan and Tu. About half of them have mastered the hand-weaving skills.
\n
"Instead of working far from home, I now earn nearly 5,000 yuan a month here and can still care for my family," said 42-year-old weaver Zhu Cunfeng, smiling.
\n
Tibetan carpets utilize premium raw materials like sheep wool and yak wool sourced in Qinghai. The designs include not only auspicious traditional Tibetan motifs, but also new artistic inspirations such as Qinghai Lake, the Kunlun Mountains, snow leopards, depictions of herders' lives, and cultural landmarks.
\n
Du said the yarn used in premium handwoven carpets is only one-eighth the thickness of traditional Tibetan carpets, making them more durable and refined. The company has also developed a color library with nearly 40,000 hues, ensuring vibrant and natural color rendering.
\n
Wedding legacy
\n
"Every young girl in the Tu ethnic group knows how to do Pan embroidery. Only by doing so can she make her wedding costume by hand when she gets married," said Zhang Zhuoma Shijie, as she explained the cultural inheritance of Pan embroidery skills.
\n
"I started learning when I was 14 or 15 years old and made my own wedding costume when I was 19," said the 58-year-old inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Pan embroidery.
\n
Zhang is also the director of the Pan Embroidery Garden in Banyan village, Huzhu Tu autonomous county in Haidong. The Tu people worship the sun and rainbows, and the county is known as the "Hometown of Rainbows". Their costumes are characterized by colorful sleeves and Pan embroidery.
\n
Pan embroidery uses two threads — one coiling, one stitching — made without a frame and relying solely on hand movements, a technique impossible to replicate by machine. Founded in 2017, the Pan Embroidery Garden employs over a dozen senior embroiderers aged 63 to 73, each earning over 10,000 yuan annually.
\n
Known for its bright colors, the classic pattern of Pan embroidery resembles sunflowers (though it is not a literal sunflower), symbolizing a peaceful, auspicious, happy and beautiful life.
\n
Today, Pan embroidery adorns scarves, laptop bags, pillows, coasters and other fashion products. It is sold domestically and abroad through the Qing embroidery — or embroidery of Qinghai — workshop network.
\n
The Pan method comes under the umbrella of Qing embroidery, which encompasses 17 categories and 29 stitching techniques, including Tibetan embroidery, and pile embroidery in Huangzhong district of Xining.
\n
It originated during the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC-AD 220) along the southern route of the Silk Road and integrates elements from the Central Plains and plateau culture.
\n
The Qing embroidery workshop network consolidates experience, displays, training, production, and sales, and serves as a vital platform for preserving ethnic embroidery, boosting employment, and linking heritage protection with rural vitalization.
\n
Youthful innovation
\n
Tongren city in the Huangnan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, 160 km southeast of Xining, is known as the "Hometown of Regong Art".
\n
Encompassing Thangka painting, murals, clay sculpture, and other aspects, Regong art was inscribed on China's national intangible heritage list in 2006.
\n
Thangka, an iconic Regong art form, uses mineral pigments like cinnabar and coral, painted on cotton cloth and mounted on silk. Traditionally depicting Tibetan Buddhist stories and history, often with peony motifs, modern Thangkas now incorporate landscapes, architecture, and daily life, with innovative techniques.
\n
Dorje Tsering, office director of Renjun Regong Art Training Institute, said its founder Xiawujiao, as a master inheritor, has trained over 560 Thangka artists from Tibetan, Tu, Han, and Mongolian backgrounds.
\n
The institute currently has 43 students and offers them free training and accommodation. It also houses Qinghai's first private Regong art museum. Built between 2009 and 2013 with a 10 million yuan investment, it draws visitors from around the world every year.
\n
In its Thangka studio, two large works stand out.
\n
"They were created to mark 15 years of Tianjin's aid to Qinghai, and timed for 2025. Each is 2.5m long and 1.5m wide," Dorje said.
\n
One of them depicts landmark landscapes and buildings, including Tianjin's Panshan Mountain and Qinghai's Sanjiangyuan National Park, as well as scenes of Tianjin's educational and medical assistance to Qinghai. The other one shows the sister regions of Qinghai's Huangnan Tibetan autonomous prefecture and Tianjin's Binhai New Area and their natural and cultural landmarks.
\n
Over 10 artists have worked on them for seven months, with completion scheduled for late August, Dorje said.
\n
"Compared with traditional Thangka, this more modern style allows for greater freedom of expression," said 23-year-old Gatso while concentrating on painting one of the Thangkas. "I have been studying here for just two years and hope to be recognized by my teacher as soon as possible."
\n
He is from the Hainan Tibetan autonomous prefecture. After graduating from high school, he stayed at home for a few years. When he heard that there were free learning opportunities at the institute, he went there.
\n
Sonam Gyaltso, 25, works alone in the studio next door, sculpting a leopard out of red clay.
\n
"I'm local. I came here as an apprentice eight years ago after graduating from high school. Now I have a monthly salary of over 4,000 yuan. Five of my 40 high school classmates now study Regong art," he said.
\n
Tongren has built a provincial-level Regong culture industrial park in Qinghai, bringing together 25 large painting academies and 356 cultural enterprises engaged in Regong art, said Geng Bin, deputy head of Qinghai's Culture and Tourism Department.
\n
The painting academies operate under the "painting academy plus farmers plus base" model, and are mainly engaged in research, creation of works, training, production, sales, exhibitions, collections, and import and export business. They offer free training, accommodation, and employment, and have boosted annual per capita income by over 60,000 yuan.
\n
To expand the market, the government of Tongren has set up over 200 sales points for Regong art in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin. Tongren has also established a center for promoting Regong art in the 798 Art Zone in Beijing to enhance the influence and popularity of the Regong art brand.
\n
The works produced there are exported to Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, France, India, Nepal and other countries.
\n
By 2024, Tongren's cultural sector employed 24,000 people — up 8,600 from 2023 — and earned 454 million yuan in revenue, Geng said.
\n
"Regong", which means "Golden Valley" and "where dreams come true" in Tibetan, lives up to its name as countless young artists chase their aspirations.
\n
wuyanbo@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -3938,28 +4598,6 @@
"hash": "39a7ad8e6900b0476590fe24f355ad30",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "001FRONT - China-US trade ties key for world economy",
- "description": "
China's economic growth is pivotal to and vital for global prosperity, and it is essential and significant for the United States and China to maintain a stable trade relationship, according to a senior business leader.
\n
Rajesh Subramaniam, CEO of US-based logistics company FedEx Corp and chair of the Board of the US-China Business Council, said that in a world defined by rapid changes and heightened geopolitical uncertainty, the council welcomes continued dialogue and the positive outcomes achieved by the US and Chinese economic and trade consultation teams.
\n
His remarks follow a recent visit by a USCBC board delegation to Beijing, during which representatives of major US companies, including Apple, Boeing, Goldman Sachs and Otis, sought to strengthen bilateral commercial ties and advocate for a stable and predictable environment for US businesses operating in China.
\n
The visit underscored a broader sentiment among global and US companies that continue to view China as a critical market because of its vast consumer base, consistent focus on high-quality growth, well-developed industrial system and supply chain networks.
\n
Amid declining global cross-border investment, a growing number of foreign businesses regard China as an ideal, secure and promising investment destination. The number of foreign-invested companies with foreign trade businesses in China reached 75,000 in the first half of 2025, the highest level for the same period since 2021, data from the General Administration of Customs shows.
\n
Emphasizing China's importance to the global competitiveness of many US companies, Subramaniam said that FedEx, which operates over 300 international weekly flights to and from China, will continue to invest in smarter supply chains through digital innovation, data-driven platforms and artificial intelligence within the country.
\n
A report released in mid-July by the USCBC showed that about 82 percent of its surveyed member companies reported profitable operations in China in 2024, an improvement compared with the previous two years. Nearly all respondents also said they cannot remain globally competitive without their operations in China.
\n
According to the Ministry of Commerce, China and the US have agreed to continue pushing for an extension of the pause on 24 percent reciprocal tariffs of the US side, as well as countermeasures of the Chinese side, following their latest round of trade talks last week in Stockholm, Sweden.
\n
He Yadong, a spokesman for the ministry, said last week that China looks forward to working with the US to fully leverage the role of the bilateral economic and trade consultation mechanism and strive for more win-win outcomes.
\n
Subramaniam said that China has sent a strong signal to the world of its commitment to further advance reform and opening-up. "This has helped boost market confidence," he added.
\n
Chen Jianwei, a researcher at the University of International Business and Economics' Academy of China Open Economy Studies in Beijing, said that China's ongoing efforts in industrial upgrading, green transformation and further opening-up are creating long-term opportunities for foreign businesses in areas such as high-end manufacturing, smart mobility and service-related sectors.
\n
"These efforts are contributing to global economic growth and supply chain stability, reinforcing China's role as a key engine of the world economy," Chen said.
\n
Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of World Economics and Politics in Beijing, said that continued dialogue between China and the US could help reduce uncertainty in global supply chains, enhance cooperation in both goods trade and trade in services, and foster innovation in emerging sectors such as green technology and digital infrastructure.
\n
"Businesses on both sides are seeking predictability and trust — key factors for the long-term planning and stability of global markets," Gao added.
\n
Nathan Stoner, chairman for China at Cummins Inc, a US-based engine manufacturer, said the company will launch next-generation products, including electric motors, electronic controls, e-driving systems and integrated controllers, as well as power electronics, in China next year.
\n
As more Chinese carmakers venture into Southeast Asia, Europe and beyond, Cummins is looking to play a key role in helping them grow their global footprint, Stoner said.
\n
zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
China's economic growth is pivotal to and vital for global prosperity, and it is essential and significant for the United States and China to maintain a stable trade relationship, according to a senior business leader.
\n
Rajesh Subramaniam, CEO of US-based logistics company FedEx Corp and chair of the Board of the US-China Business Council, said that in a world defined by rapid changes and heightened geopolitical uncertainty, the council welcomes continued dialogue and the positive outcomes achieved by the US and Chinese economic and trade consultation teams.
\n
His remarks follow a recent visit by a USCBC board delegation to Beijing, during which representatives of major US companies, including Apple, Boeing, Goldman Sachs and Otis, sought to strengthen bilateral commercial ties and advocate for a stable and predictable environment for US businesses operating in China.
\n
The visit underscored a broader sentiment among global and US companies that continue to view China as a critical market because of its vast consumer base, consistent focus on high-quality growth, well-developed industrial system and supply chain networks.
\n
Amid declining global cross-border investment, a growing number of foreign businesses regard China as an ideal, secure and promising investment destination. The number of foreign-invested companies with foreign trade businesses in China reached 75,000 in the first half of 2025, the highest level for the same period since 2021, data from the General Administration of Customs shows.
\n
Emphasizing China's importance to the global competitiveness of many US companies, Subramaniam said that FedEx, which operates over 300 international weekly flights to and from China, will continue to invest in smarter supply chains through digital innovation, data-driven platforms and artificial intelligence within the country.
\n
A report released in mid-July by the USCBC showed that about 82 percent of its surveyed member companies reported profitable operations in China in 2024, an improvement compared with the previous two years. Nearly all respondents also said they cannot remain globally competitive without their operations in China.
\n
According to the Ministry of Commerce, China and the US have agreed to continue pushing for an extension of the pause on 24 percent reciprocal tariffs of the US side, as well as countermeasures of the Chinese side, following their latest round of trade talks last week in Stockholm, Sweden.
\n
He Yadong, a spokesman for the ministry, said last week that China looks forward to working with the US to fully leverage the role of the bilateral economic and trade consultation mechanism and strive for more win-win outcomes.
\n
Subramaniam said that China has sent a strong signal to the world of its commitment to further advance reform and opening-up. "This has helped boost market confidence," he added.
\n
Chen Jianwei, a researcher at the University of International Business and Economics' Academy of China Open Economy Studies in Beijing, said that China's ongoing efforts in industrial upgrading, green transformation and further opening-up are creating long-term opportunities for foreign businesses in areas such as high-end manufacturing, smart mobility and service-related sectors.
\n
"These efforts are contributing to global economic growth and supply chain stability, reinforcing China's role as a key engine of the world economy," Chen said.
\n
Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of World Economics and Politics in Beijing, said that continued dialogue between China and the US could help reduce uncertainty in global supply chains, enhance cooperation in both goods trade and trade in services, and foster innovation in emerging sectors such as green technology and digital infrastructure.
\n
"Businesses on both sides are seeking predictability and trust — key factors for the long-term planning and stability of global markets," Gao added.
\n
Nathan Stoner, chairman for China at Cummins Inc, a US-based engine manufacturer, said the company will launch next-generation products, including electric motors, electronic controls, e-driving systems and integrated controllers, as well as power electronics, in China next year.
\n
As more Chinese carmakers venture into Southeast Asia, Europe and beyond, Cummins is looking to play a key role in helping them grow their global footprint, Stoner said.
China's top court has directed courts nationwide to intensify their crackdown on crimes related to medical insurance fraud, stressing the need to safeguard public health rights and ensure the security of the national insurance fund.
\n
In a statement released on Tuesday, alongside details of four prominent cases, the Supreme People's Court described the fund as people's "life-saving money" and emphasized the importance of protecting it.
\n
"The fund concerns the basic interests of the public and relate to the healthy and sustainable development of the medical security system. It is also crucial for the long-term stability of the country," the court said.
\n
It cited data showing that courts across China concluded 1,156 criminal cases of medical insurance fraud last year, up 131.2 percent from the previous year. Authorities recovered more than 402 million yuan ($55.9 million) in losses.
\n
The court called on judges to swiftly resolve disputes involving the national insurance fund and to place greater focus on organizers or repeat perpetrators of fraud.
\n
One of the cases involved a man surnamed Ai, a former controller of a private hospital in Datong, Shanxi province, who was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison and fined 500,000 yuan for fraud.
\n
According to the Shanxi court judgement, Ai and six others solicited patients for unnecessary hospitalizations in order to defraud the national insurance fund by inflating drug prices, increasing medication and examination fees, submitting false bed occupancy reports, fabricating medical records and data, and exaggerating medical expenses.
\n
By the end of 2020, the hospital had falsely claimed more than 9.7 million yuan from the fund. Ai received the heaviest sentence due to his role as an organizer of the scheme and the massive amount of money involved in it. The other six were sentenced to between four and 11 years and fined between 30,000 and 200,000 yuan.
\n
"Legal support should be provided for private hospitals that enrich medical resources and ensure public access to healthcare and medications," the top court said. "But for those engaging in fraudulent activities to obtain money from the national medical insurance fund for personal gain and who are seriously undermining the development of the healthcare system, harsh punishments will be imposed."
\n
The top court also noted the growing severity of offenses involving the illegal resale of drugs acquired through medical insurance and urged courts to strengthen efforts against the practice.
\n
In another case, a man surnamed Dai in Fuliang county, Jiangxi province, was sentenced to six years in prison and fined 120,000 yuan for profiting from the illegal resale of medical insurance drugs.
\n
Dai, who did not have a drug distribution license, bought drugs via WeChat and made more than 3.4 million yuan in profit by selling them to others through the platform between June 2020 and December 2021. He earned another 750,000 yuan from July 2022 until his arrest.
\n
"Dai's actions not only caused losses to the insurance fund, but also led to improper storage and wastage of drugs," the top court said. "If expired drugs re-enter the market, public health will face a threat."
\n
The top court urged judges to watch out for new fraud tactics and called on government departments to step up oversight of medical insurance funds.
\n
caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -3982,28 +4620,6 @@
"hash": "c1d194e91b80ff760898528805d67f34",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "004CHINA - Measures put in place to curb Chikungunya fever",
- "description": "
The southern city of Foshan in Guangdong province has introduced real-name registration requirements for the purchase of fever and pain relief medications in response to a growing outbreak of Chikungunya fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease. Other regions across the country are also rolling out preemptive measures in an effort to contain the spread.
\n
Customers in Foshan, who buy any of 47 designated drugs — including common analgesics such as ibuprofen — must now verify their identity by scanning a QR code, local authorities said, in a move aimed at enabling timely detection of potential infections.
\n
Bai Tao, mayor of Foshan, said at a meeting on Monday that the city would strive to contain the outbreak "in the shortest time possible". He said disinfection work will be carried out in enclosed public spaces such as corridors, garages and elevator shafts during rainfall, and that stagnant water will be cleared promptly after rain to eliminate both adult mosquitoes and mosquito breeding sites.
\n
The city reported 194 new confirmed cases on Monday, down from 216 on Sunday, according to local health authorities. Foshan remains the hardest hit city in Guangdong province with at least 12 other cities reporting cases.
\n
Officials in Foshan, Zhongshan and Maoming have stepped up the enforcement of mosquito control measures, penalizing violations that contribute to mosquito breeding. According to local media, a restaurant in Foshan was fined for illegally dumping wastewater, and a kindergarten in Zhongshan was warned after inspectors found stagnant water containing mosquito larvae. Property managers at 13 residential complexes were cited for failing to clear drains and install mosquito barriers.
\n
Outside Guangdong, several cities in Fujian province have issued health alerts for travelers returning from affected areas. Authorities in Fuzhou and Quanzhou have mandated 14-day self-monitoring for symptoms such as fever, joint pain and skin rashes. Individuals experiencing such symptoms are advised to seek medical attention and self-isolate to prevent further spread, the provincial disease control center said.
\n
In Jiangsu province, the Nanjing Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a mosquito control advisory as the city enters its peak season for mosquito-borne illnesses. With hot and wet conditions creating ideal mosquito breeding environments, health authorities warned of heightened transmission risks for both dengue and Chikungunya fevers.
\n
The advisory called for weekly household inspections, with a focus on courtyards, balconies and drainage systems. Community clean-up operations should emphasize removing waste, sealing construction sites and maintaining water infrastructure. Special attention should also be given to decorative water features and plant containers, authorities said.
\n
In Gulin county, Sichuan province, health authorities held a special training session on Thursday to improve preparedness for Chikungunya fever prevention and control. Two hospitals have been designated as county-level treatment centers, and an expert group has been established to guide clinical response. All medical institutions in the county have been instructed to set up isolation wards, stock emergency supplies and prepare for potential outbreaks.
\n
Yang Song, deputy director of the infectious diseases department at China-Japan Friendship Hospital, said the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses require special attention, though the public should not panic.
\n
"Symptoms of Chikungunya include fever, swelling and pain in the ankles and knuckles, and rash," he said. "Unlike dengue fever, general blood routine indicators do not show significant abnormalities."
\n
He advised patients to rest and maintain a nutritious diet. If fever persists for more than a week, patients should be monitored for possible complications involving the heart or nervous system.
\n
Yang added that while current control measures are appropriate, vaccines could become an option for prevention depending on the disease's spread and cost-effectiveness. China currently has no approved vaccine for Chikungunya, according to a previous briefing by the National Health Commission.
\n
wangsongsong@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
The southern city of Foshan in Guangdong province has introduced real-name registration requirements for the purchase of fever and pain relief medications in response to a growing outbreak of Chikungunya fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease. Other regions across the country are also rolling out preemptive measures in an effort to contain the spread.
\n
Customers in Foshan, who buy any of 47 designated drugs — including common analgesics such as ibuprofen — must now verify their identity by scanning a QR code, local authorities said, in a move aimed at enabling timely detection of potential infections.
\n
Bai Tao, mayor of Foshan, said at a meeting on Monday that the city would strive to contain the outbreak "in the shortest time possible". He said disinfection work will be carried out in enclosed public spaces such as corridors, garages and elevator shafts during rainfall, and that stagnant water will be cleared promptly after rain to eliminate both adult mosquitoes and mosquito breeding sites.
\n
The city reported 194 new confirmed cases on Monday, down from 216 on Sunday, according to local health authorities. Foshan remains the hardest hit city in Guangdong province with at least 12 other cities reporting cases.
\n
Officials in Foshan, Zhongshan and Maoming have stepped up the enforcement of mosquito control measures, penalizing violations that contribute to mosquito breeding. According to local media, a restaurant in Foshan was fined for illegally dumping wastewater, and a kindergarten in Zhongshan was warned after inspectors found stagnant water containing mosquito larvae. Property managers at 13 residential complexes were cited for failing to clear drains and install mosquito barriers.
\n
Outside Guangdong, several cities in Fujian province have issued health alerts for travelers returning from affected areas. Authorities in Fuzhou and Quanzhou have mandated 14-day self-monitoring for symptoms such as fever, joint pain and skin rashes. Individuals experiencing such symptoms are advised to seek medical attention and self-isolate to prevent further spread, the provincial disease control center said.
\n
In Jiangsu province, the Nanjing Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a mosquito control advisory as the city enters its peak season for mosquito-borne illnesses. With hot and wet conditions creating ideal mosquito breeding environments, health authorities warned of heightened transmission risks for both dengue and Chikungunya fevers.
\n
The advisory called for weekly household inspections, with a focus on courtyards, balconies and drainage systems. Community clean-up operations should emphasize removing waste, sealing construction sites and maintaining water infrastructure. Special attention should also be given to decorative water features and plant containers, authorities said.
\n
In Gulin county, Sichuan province, health authorities held a special training session on Thursday to improve preparedness for Chikungunya fever prevention and control. Two hospitals have been designated as county-level treatment centers, and an expert group has been established to guide clinical response. All medical institutions in the county have been instructed to set up isolation wards, stock emergency supplies and prepare for potential outbreaks.
\n
Yang Song, deputy director of the infectious diseases department at China-Japan Friendship Hospital, said the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses require special attention, though the public should not panic.
\n
"Symptoms of Chikungunya include fever, swelling and pain in the ankles and knuckles, and rash," he said. "Unlike dengue fever, general blood routine indicators do not show significant abnormalities."
\n
He advised patients to rest and maintain a nutritious diet. If fever persists for more than a week, patients should be monitored for possible complications involving the heart or nervous system.
\n
Yang added that while current control measures are appropriate, vaccines could become an option for prevention depending on the disease's spread and cost-effectiveness. China currently has no approved vaccine for Chikungunya, according to a previous briefing by the National Health Commission.
Excavators clear mud on the road in Zhaoqing, Guangdong province, on Tuesday. The city was hit by heavy rainfall on Monday, with subsequent flooding in various urban areas and instances of flash floods and landslides. No casualties have been reported.
\n\n
Some rivers in North China's Haihe River Basin and Northeast China's Songliao Basin may experience major flooding, a representative from China's top emergency response authority said on Tuesday.
\n
Shen Zhanli, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Emergency Management, said at a news conference in Beijing that all seven major river basins in China have entered their main flood season this month.
\n
"In recent years, due to global climate change, disastrous weather has become increasingly sudden, extreme and unpredictable," Shen said. "Especially during the flood season, disasters that break historical records and traditional understandings occur frequently."
\n
She emphasized that the country is now in a critical period for flood prevention — from the second half of July through the first half of August — calling it the most complex and severe stretch for flood control throughout the year.
\n
The peak of summer travel and outdoor construction further raises safety risks, she said.
\n
Shen also shared the ministry's disaster risk forecast for August, warning of high risks of flooding and hail in parts of North, Northeast, East, South and Southwest China.
\n
Two to three typhoons are expected to make landfall or affect China this month, with at least one expected to impact areas north of the Yangtze River, she said.
\n
There is also a high risk of forest fires in the Greater Hinggan Mountains and in several parts of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
\n
Geological disasters could occur in western areas of Yunnan province, while high-temperature drought risks loom over parts of the middle and lower Yangtze River region, the Jianghuai area — including parts of Jiangsu, Anhui and Henan provinces — and central and northern Xinjiang.
\n
On Monday night, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its flood emergency response level from Level IV to Level III — the third-highest in China's four-tier emergency system — for Beijing, Tianjin, and the provinces of Hebei and Guangdong.
\n
Meteorological forecasts had predicted heavy to torrential rainfall in parts of those regions from Monday evening through Tuesday.
\n
In Guangdong, the provincial hydrology department issued six red alerts for flooding and three red alerts for mountain torrents on Tuesday — the highest warning level in China's color-coded alert system.
\n
By Tuesday evening, emergency management authorities in Beijing and Hebei had either lowered or maintained their current emergency levels as rainfall lessened or stopped. In Tianjin and its upstream areas, heavy rainfall had also largely subsided.
Over 630 media organizations, ranging from central news agencies to county-level converged media centers, have recently issued their social responsibility reports for 2024-over 50 more than the previous year. The publishing of the reports is the 12th consecutive release since 2014.Eighteen provinces, including Jilin and Sichuan, expanded the coverage of their reports to include media outlets at the provincial, city and county levels. The reports elaborated on media organizations' role in upholding social responsibility in areas such as service and humanistic care, as well as promoting cultural and moral responsibility. The media social responsibility reports will be featured on the website of the All-China Journalists Association. For the first time, the China Industry Newspaper Association and journalist associations from various provinces, regions and municipalities have set up platforms to display reports from national industry media and local media organizations to boost their influence.
\n
Former oil executive gets 14-year sentence
\n
Li Yong, former general manager of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Tuesday for taking bribes. The sentence was handed down by the Intermediate People's Court of Xiangyang, Hubei province. Li was also fined 3 million yuan ($420,368), and his illegal gains will be recovered and turned over to the State treasury. According to the court, Li took advantage of his various posts from 1996 to 2023 to assist certain enterprises and individuals in matters such as agency services and product sales. In return, he accepted money and valuables totaling 67.94 million yuan. Taking into account Li's confession, remorse, his willingness to turn over his ill-gotten gains and other mitigating factors, the court handed down a lenient sentence.
\n",
- "content": "
Media issue reports on social responsibility
\n
Over 630 media organizations, ranging from central news agencies to county-level converged media centers, have recently issued their social responsibility reports for 2024-over 50 more than the previous year. The publishing of the reports is the 12th consecutive release since 2014.Eighteen provinces, including Jilin and Sichuan, expanded the coverage of their reports to include media outlets at the provincial, city and county levels. The reports elaborated on media organizations' role in upholding social responsibility in areas such as service and humanistic care, as well as promoting cultural and moral responsibility. The media social responsibility reports will be featured on the website of the All-China Journalists Association. For the first time, the China Industry Newspaper Association and journalist associations from various provinces, regions and municipalities have set up platforms to display reports from national industry media and local media organizations to boost their influence.
\n
Former oil executive gets 14-year sentence
\n
Li Yong, former general manager of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Tuesday for taking bribes. The sentence was handed down by the Intermediate People's Court of Xiangyang, Hubei province. Li was also fined 3 million yuan ($420,368), and his illegal gains will be recovered and turned over to the State treasury. According to the court, Li took advantage of his various posts from 1996 to 2023 to assist certain enterprises and individuals in matters such as agency services and product sales. In return, he accepted money and valuables totaling 67.94 million yuan. Taking into account Li's confession, remorse, his willingness to turn over his ill-gotten gains and other mitigating factors, the court handed down a lenient sentence.
Tourists look at wall bricks at the Nanjing City Wall Museum in Jiangsu province on Tuesday. Built during the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Nanjing City Wall is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient Chinese city walls.
Chinese scientists have recently discovered that forests not only sequester carbon, but also form a natural cooling barrier by releasing key substances, amplifying the climate benefits of afforestation.
\n
Led by Fu Pingqing, a professor from Tianjin University, the research highlights how China's reforestation efforts under its carbon neutrality strategy could deliver enhanced cooling effects against global warming. The findings were published in Nature Geoscience recently.
\n
Previous research established that natural vegetation areas such as forests emit volatile organic compounds. According to Zhu Jialei, a core team member at Tianjin University, these VOCs serve as raw materials for secondary organic aerosols.
\n
"SOA particles in the atmosphere effectively reflect solar radiation and modify cloud properties, functioning like a 'cooling umbrella' for Earth," Zhu explained. This dual role makes forests not just Earth's lungs for carbon absorption, but also critical natural air conditioners.
\n
Since the Industrial Revolution, global cropland area has expanded by approximately 270 percent, causing significant shrinkage of forests and grasslands. Zhu's team developed a proprietary aerosol module to upgrade Earth system models, enabling the first precise quantification of historical cropland expansion and its impact on SOAs and cooling effect.
\n
The study revealed that cropland expansion reduced global SOA levels by around 10 percent, weakening their net cooling effect by about 11 percent.
\n
"Forests act as nature's cooling barrier. Replacing them with farmland diminishes this protective function," said Zhu.
\n
This occurs because agricultural crops emit far fewer VOCs and generate less SOAs than forest trees. Consequently, cropland expansion disrupts the Earth's natural cooling mechanism, contributing significantly to global warming.
\n
This pivotal finding, based on two years of research building on a decade of SOA studies, fills critical knowledge gaps regarding land-use changes, organic aerosols and climate interactions, with profound policy implications.
\n
China has achieved remarkable progress in afforestation, boasting the world's largest artificial forest area. The Three-North Shelterbelt Program, China's flagship ecological project and the largest restoration initiative in the world, spans over 4 million square kilometers, creating ecological security barriers across North, Northeast and Northwest China.
\n
The research confirms that China's afforestation not only absorbs carbon dioxide, but also reinforces Earth's "natural cooling" capacity, delivering dual climate dividends.
\n
"It demonstrates how China's carbon neutrality strategy, especially large-scale afforestation, constitutes a major contribution to global climate action, showcasing China's responsibility for environmental protection," Zhu emphasized.
\n
The Tianjin University-led study involved collaboration with Tsinghua University and the University of Michigan in the United States. Sino-US scientific cooperation enabled breakthroughs in Earth system modeling and land-use change scenario design.
\n
"Joint research with US scientists accelerated our progress, positioning this work at the global forefront," Zhu noted.
\n
yandongjie@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Chinese scientists have recently discovered that forests not only sequester carbon, but also form a natural cooling barrier by releasing key substances, amplifying the climate benefits of afforestation.
\n
Led by Fu Pingqing, a professor from Tianjin University, the research highlights how China's reforestation efforts under its carbon neutrality strategy could deliver enhanced cooling effects against global warming. The findings were published in Nature Geoscience recently.
\n
Previous research established that natural vegetation areas such as forests emit volatile organic compounds. According to Zhu Jialei, a core team member at Tianjin University, these VOCs serve as raw materials for secondary organic aerosols.
\n
"SOA particles in the atmosphere effectively reflect solar radiation and modify cloud properties, functioning like a 'cooling umbrella' for Earth," Zhu explained. This dual role makes forests not just Earth's lungs for carbon absorption, but also critical natural air conditioners.
\n
Since the Industrial Revolution, global cropland area has expanded by approximately 270 percent, causing significant shrinkage of forests and grasslands. Zhu's team developed a proprietary aerosol module to upgrade Earth system models, enabling the first precise quantification of historical cropland expansion and its impact on SOAs and cooling effect.
\n
The study revealed that cropland expansion reduced global SOA levels by around 10 percent, weakening their net cooling effect by about 11 percent.
\n
"Forests act as nature's cooling barrier. Replacing them with farmland diminishes this protective function," said Zhu.
\n
This occurs because agricultural crops emit far fewer VOCs and generate less SOAs than forest trees. Consequently, cropland expansion disrupts the Earth's natural cooling mechanism, contributing significantly to global warming.
\n
This pivotal finding, based on two years of research building on a decade of SOA studies, fills critical knowledge gaps regarding land-use changes, organic aerosols and climate interactions, with profound policy implications.
\n
China has achieved remarkable progress in afforestation, boasting the world's largest artificial forest area. The Three-North Shelterbelt Program, China's flagship ecological project and the largest restoration initiative in the world, spans over 4 million square kilometers, creating ecological security barriers across North, Northeast and Northwest China.
\n
The research confirms that China's afforestation not only absorbs carbon dioxide, but also reinforces Earth's "natural cooling" capacity, delivering dual climate dividends.
\n
"It demonstrates how China's carbon neutrality strategy, especially large-scale afforestation, constitutes a major contribution to global climate action, showcasing China's responsibility for environmental protection," Zhu emphasized.
\n
The Tianjin University-led study involved collaboration with Tsinghua University and the University of Michigan in the United States. Sino-US scientific cooperation enabled breakthroughs in Earth system modeling and land-use change scenario design.
\n
"Joint research with US scientists accelerated our progress, positioning this work at the global forefront," Zhu noted.
China launched a group of internet satellites into orbit on Monday evening, marking the third in-orbit deployment of such spacecraft in eight days.
\n
The satellites are the seventh group of low-orbit hardware in China's State-owned internet network. They were lifted by a Long March 12 carrier rocket at 6:21 pm on Monday from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center — a coastal spaceport in Wenchang, Hainan province — and soon arrived in their orbital positions, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, maker of the Long March 12 rocket.
\n
The fifth group was launched on July 27 and the sixth on July 30.
\n
The satellites were manufactured by GalaxySpace, a Beijing-based private satellite company, at its "smart factory" in Nantong, Jiangsu province, that features highly intelligent assembly robots and automatic quality testing systems.
\n
Monday's launch was the first time that satellites designed and built by a private company were deployed as part of the national mega-constellation project.
\n
The first six groups of space-based assets in this network were made by State-owned entities such as the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China Academy of Space Technology, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.
\n
Previously, several GalaxySpace satellites were launched to take part in a technology demonstration for the State-owned internet network, but they are of an experimental nature and are not formal members in the network.
\n
Now, the private enterprise has become a leader in the domestic commercial satellite market, with 34 satellites that have been launched, ranging from China's first plate-shaped satellites equipped with foldable solar arrays to the nation's first communications satellite with a transmission capacity of 10 gigabits per second.
\n
"Next, GalaxySpace will make all-out efforts to develop core technologies that meet major needs of our nation's space industry, including cutting-edge phased array antennas, mega-constellation networking solutions, on-board large-scale energy systems and digital processing payloads," Hu Zhao, a senior satellite designer at Galaxy-Space, said on Tuesday.
\n
He said the company will also speed up the low-cost mass production of satellites and various key equipment, and continuously push the boundaries of technological capabilities, so as to contribute to forming China's independent and reliable space infrastructure.
\n
Monday's mission marked China's 43rd space launch this year and also the second flight of the Long March 12 rocket model.
\n
Designed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, the Long March 12 is the 22nd member of the Long March family, the backbone of China's space sector, and the 17th in the operating fleet.
\n
It is the first Chinese rocket to have a diameter of 3.8 meters — most Chinese rockets have a diameter of 3.35 meters, a standard width set in the 1960s considering constraining factors in rail transport.
\n
Standing 62.6 meters tall, equivalent to the height of 22 stories of a standard residential building, the two-stage model is the second highest in all Chinese rockets, only exceeded by the 62.8-meter Long March 5.
Zhang Di, a member of China's peacekeeping police contingent assigned to South Sudan, says goodbye to her child after a send-off ceremony at a training center on Tuesday. Seventeen officers are scheduled to depart early Wednesday to join the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
Zhang Di, a member of China's peacekeeping police contingent assigned to South Sudan, says goodbye to her child after a send-off ceremony at a training center on Tuesday. Seventeen officers are scheduled to depart early Wednesday to join the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
Tan Ruisong, former chairman of the State-owned defense conglomerate Aviation Industry Corp of China, has been charged with bribery, embezzlement, insider trading and the unlawful disclosure of information, the country's top procuratorate said on Tuesday.
\n
The Supreme People's Procuratorate said in a statement that an investigation into Tan's case was completed by the National Commission of Supervision and police in Chaoyang, Liaoning province, before being transferred to prosecutors in the city of Dalian for judicial proceedings.
\n
The Dalian Municipal People's Procuratorate has since indicted Tan and filed the case with the Dalian Intermediate People's Court, according to the statement.
\n
Prosecutors said Tan is accused of leveraging his various roles in the aviation industry to embezzle State funds and assets, accepting large bribes in exchange for using his position to seek illicit benefits for others, engaging in insider trading and leaking sensitive information to aid others in securities trading. The sums involved are "particularly enormous", the statement said, without disclosing specific figures.
\n
Tan, 63, is a native of Hunan province and spent his entire career in China's automobile and aviation manufacturing sectors after graduating in 1983 from the Beijing Institute of Aeronautics, now known as Beihang University. He joined the Communist Party of China in 1985.
\n
He served as chairman and Party chief of AVIC, China's dominant aircraft manufacturer, for nearly five years before being removed from his post in March 2023.
\n
In August last year, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision announced that Tan was under investigation.
\n
In February, the country's top anti-graft bodies said he had been expelled from the Communist Party of China after investigators concluded that he had accepted bribes, embezzled large amounts of public funds, engaged in extramarital affairs and abused his power to help others obtain jobs, contracts and business acquisitions.
\n
Tan is one of several senior executives at State-owned defense contractors to be rooted out by China's sweeping anti-corruption campaign over the past two years. Others include He Wenzhong, former deputy general manager of China Electronics Technology Group Corp; Liu Weidong, former deputy general manager at China South Industries Group Corp; and Hu Wenming, former chairman of China Shipbuilding Industry Corp.
Travelers browse books at the newly opened Lighthouse Reading Room at Shanghai South Railway Station on Tuesday. Jointly launched by Shanghai Railway Station and the Xuhui Library, the 400-square-meter facility is the city's first library located inside a train station, offering more than 1,000 books for passengers to read free of charge.
Travelers browse books at the newly opened Lighthouse Reading Room at Shanghai South Railway Station on Tuesday. Jointly launched by Shanghai Railway Station and the Xuhui Library, the 400-square-meter facility is the city's first library located inside a train station, offering more than 1,000 books for passengers to read free of charge.
The 2025 Chengdu World Games will begin on Thursday night by staging its opening ceremony not in a conventional stadium, but in an expansive urban space featuring a massive eaves gallery, a large lake and lakeside greenery, organizers said.
\n
Huang Peiling, deputy chief director of the Games' opening and closing ceremonies, said Monday that the Tianfu Eaves — a prominent architectural feature of the Tianfu International Convention Center in southern Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province — will serve as a key backdrop.
\n
The open space in front of it, along with a lake covering about 200,000 square meters and surrounding greenery, will jointly form a unique open-air stage.
\n
The Tianfu Eaves, a 430-meter-long wooden gallery at the convention center's front hall, is said to be the largest single wooden structure of its kind in Asia.
\n
"Hosting an opening ceremony in such a vast public space is innovative, but also extremely challenging," Huang said. "Unlike stadiums with fixed rigging points, stages, entry and exit passages, and enclosed spaces, all stage layouts for this ceremony must be redesigned."
\n
The opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8 pm, during Chengdu's twilight hours, and may feature a sunset and glowing skies. As athletes enter, a starry sky could serve as a natural backdrop, she said.
\n
Athletes will parade in a relaxed "city walk" style, allowing them to immerse themselves in Chengdu's ambience as a "park city", Huang said.
\n
About 60 percent of the directing team members are from Chengdu or elsewhere in Sichuan province, she noted.
\n
"We hope to present this opening ceremony through expressions that are closer to local people's daily lives," she said. "For example, the first-ever torch-lighting ceremony in World Games history will see Chengdu-born athletes pass the torch while riding a powerboat, followed by water skiers completing the final ignition. Both are sports beloved by Chengdu residents."
\n
The performances will also highlight local urban charm and Sichuan's cultural heritage, such as the face-changing stunts of Sichuan Opera, archaeological discoveries at the Sanxingdui ruins, and Chengdu's intangible cultural heritage, she added.
\n
Even the audience will play a role. Beyond regular seats, some spectators will watch from camping chairs along the lake shore — embodying Chengdu's famed "sense of ease".
\n
Qiao Wei, chief scriptwriter of the opening and closing ceremonies, said the Tianfu Eaves area aligns with the city's inclusive, free-spirited nature and the World Games' emphasis on entertainment.
\n
"Under the huge eaves, people from around the world who love sports and life will gather — celebrating, showcasing themselves and pursuing peace, like one big family," Qiao said.
\n
He described the ceremony as "fun-filled", saying fun is a driving force in both sports and everyday life, and helps foster unity — echoing China's vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.
\n
Hu Ruiming, a volunteer flagbearer for the ceremony, said rehearsals have been exhausting but worthwhile, as he will get the chance to showcase the spirit of unity and friendship among Chinese youth.
\n
An amateur basketball player and fan of billiards and Muay Thai, Hu said he looks forward to chatting with global athletes about their sports.
\n
pengchao@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -4202,28 +4730,6 @@
"hash": "ea31312a2f9979f51e9fec77728e4674",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "005CHINA - Polluted data poses risk to AI safety, ministry says",
- "description": "
The Ministry of State Security issued a stark warning on Tuesday about artificial intelligence security risks stemming from contaminated training data, calling it a fundamental challenge to AI safety.
\n
In an article published on its official WeChat account, the ministry said AI data sources are often polluted by mixed-quality content containing false information, fabricated narratives and biased viewpoints. As AI is increasingly integrated into China's socioeconomic sectors, such contamination poses risks to high-quality development and national security, it said.
\n
Data serves as the essential foundation for AI systems, providing the raw material for models to learn patterns, make decisions and generate content, the ministry said. It warned that compromised data quality directly undermines model reliability. Citing research, it noted that even a small contamination level — such as 0.01 percent of false text — can increase harmful outputs by 11.2 percent.
\n
The ministry also highlighted the danger of "recursive pollution", in which false content generated by AI becomes part of training datasets for future models, leading to compounding errors. Real-world risks include financial market manipulation through fabricated information, public panic triggered by misinformation and life-threatening medical misjudgments from corrupted diagnostic algorithms, it said.
\n
To counter these threats, the ministry proposed stricter source supervision under current cybersecurity and data protection laws, comprehensive risk assessments and systematic data-cleansing frameworks. It pledged to collaborate with relevant agencies to safeguard AI and data security under China's national security framework.
\n
Zhang Xi, deputy dean and professor at the School of Cyberspace Security at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, said China faces particular vulnerability due to a shortage of high-quality Chinese-language training data. Chinese data makes up only 1.3 percent of global large-model datasets, he said.
\n
This scarcity, along with copyright restrictions and inadequate data infrastructure, has forced domestic developers to rely on lower-quality sources such as machine-translated or synthetic content, which worsens data pollution and hinders progress in Chinese AI development, he said.
\n
Zhang cited the GPT-3 model, which was trained on 750 gigabytes of data, and China's DeepSeek-V3 model, trained on 14.8 trillion high-quality text fragments. These datasets are drawn from massive libraries of books, academic papers, online texts and code. But due to their scale, manual inspection is neither feasible nor cost-effective, making data contamination an increasingly serious bottleneck, he said.
\n
Polluted training data also creates unpredictable risks in high-stakes fields such as medicine, autonomous driving and national defense, Zhang said. He cited a study in which the insertion of 5,000 fabricated medical records raised misdiagnosis rates by 73 percent. In another example, inserting three manipulated image frames caused autonomous vehicles to mistake pedestrians for garbage bags, leading to 92 percent collision rates in testing.
\n
Zhang also warned of malicious data poisoning campaigns, in which adversarial actors inject content contrary to China's core socialist values. He pointed to foreign-developed models that generated separatist content related to the Xizang autonomous region as an example.
\n
To protect data sovereignty, Zhang advocated for greater investment in domestic data collection and the establishment of national public data platforms. He also called for legal mechanisms to criminalize malicious data poisoning and assign liability for data contamination caused by negligence, with responsibilities clarified for developers, data providers and operators.
\n
Shen Yang, a professor at Tsinghua University's School of Journalism and Communication and College of AI, defined AI data pollution as the inclusion of erroneous, incomplete, biased or deliberately manipulated content in training data.
\n
This fundamentally weakens AI models' comprehension, judgment and output reliability, he said.
\n
Shen compared polluted training data to "cooking with spoiled ingredients".
\n
He said malicious actors may seek to manipulate AI on sensitive topics, mislead the public, undermine competitors or probe vulnerabilities in AI systems. While such acts are usually isolated rather than coordinated conspiracies, their cumulative impact can erode public trust in AI, he said.
\n
For the general public, Shen said it is essential to understand that AI-generated content can shape — or distort — their perception of reality. "They need to see through the logic behind AI, just like identifying the motives behind people's words," he said.
The Ministry of State Security issued a stark warning on Tuesday about artificial intelligence security risks stemming from contaminated training data, calling it a fundamental challenge to AI safety.
\n
In an article published on its official WeChat account, the ministry said AI data sources are often polluted by mixed-quality content containing false information, fabricated narratives and biased viewpoints. As AI is increasingly integrated into China's socioeconomic sectors, such contamination poses risks to high-quality development and national security, it said.
\n
Data serves as the essential foundation for AI systems, providing the raw material for models to learn patterns, make decisions and generate content, the ministry said. It warned that compromised data quality directly undermines model reliability. Citing research, it noted that even a small contamination level — such as 0.01 percent of false text — can increase harmful outputs by 11.2 percent.
\n
The ministry also highlighted the danger of "recursive pollution", in which false content generated by AI becomes part of training datasets for future models, leading to compounding errors. Real-world risks include financial market manipulation through fabricated information, public panic triggered by misinformation and life-threatening medical misjudgments from corrupted diagnostic algorithms, it said.
\n
To counter these threats, the ministry proposed stricter source supervision under current cybersecurity and data protection laws, comprehensive risk assessments and systematic data-cleansing frameworks. It pledged to collaborate with relevant agencies to safeguard AI and data security under China's national security framework.
\n
Zhang Xi, deputy dean and professor at the School of Cyberspace Security at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, said China faces particular vulnerability due to a shortage of high-quality Chinese-language training data. Chinese data makes up only 1.3 percent of global large-model datasets, he said.
\n
This scarcity, along with copyright restrictions and inadequate data infrastructure, has forced domestic developers to rely on lower-quality sources such as machine-translated or synthetic content, which worsens data pollution and hinders progress in Chinese AI development, he said.
\n
Zhang cited the GPT-3 model, which was trained on 750 gigabytes of data, and China's DeepSeek-V3 model, trained on 14.8 trillion high-quality text fragments. These datasets are drawn from massive libraries of books, academic papers, online texts and code. But due to their scale, manual inspection is neither feasible nor cost-effective, making data contamination an increasingly serious bottleneck, he said.
\n
Polluted training data also creates unpredictable risks in high-stakes fields such as medicine, autonomous driving and national defense, Zhang said. He cited a study in which the insertion of 5,000 fabricated medical records raised misdiagnosis rates by 73 percent. In another example, inserting three manipulated image frames caused autonomous vehicles to mistake pedestrians for garbage bags, leading to 92 percent collision rates in testing.
\n
Zhang also warned of malicious data poisoning campaigns, in which adversarial actors inject content contrary to China's core socialist values. He pointed to foreign-developed models that generated separatist content related to the Xizang autonomous region as an example.
\n
To protect data sovereignty, Zhang advocated for greater investment in domestic data collection and the establishment of national public data platforms. He also called for legal mechanisms to criminalize malicious data poisoning and assign liability for data contamination caused by negligence, with responsibilities clarified for developers, data providers and operators.
\n
Shen Yang, a professor at Tsinghua University's School of Journalism and Communication and College of AI, defined AI data pollution as the inclusion of erroneous, incomplete, biased or deliberately manipulated content in training data.
\n
This fundamentally weakens AI models' comprehension, judgment and output reliability, he said.
\n
Shen compared polluted training data to "cooking with spoiled ingredients".
\n
He said malicious actors may seek to manipulate AI on sensitive topics, mislead the public, undermine competitors or probe vulnerabilities in AI systems. While such acts are usually isolated rather than coordinated conspiracies, their cumulative impact can erode public trust in AI, he said.
\n
For the general public, Shen said it is essential to understand that AI-generated content can shape — or distort — their perception of reality. "They need to see through the logic behind AI, just like identifying the motives behind people's words," he said.
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 failure of the recent recall vote targeting opposition lawmakers in Taiwan showed that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's separatist stance and disregard for people's livelihoods have resulted in its losing people's support, experts said.
\n
Recall votes against all of the 24 lawmakers from the main opposition Chinese Kuomintang, and the mayor of Hsinchu City, who was previously a member of the smaller opposition Taiwan People's Party, on July 26 failed to pass. Seven additional KMT lawmakers are set to face recall votes on Aug 23.
\n
The unprecedented wave of recall campaigns, initiated by civic groups backed by the DPP this year, aimed to unseat 31 of 39 directly elected KMT lawmakers, to help the DPP, which held a legislative majority from 2016 to 2024, regain control of the house.
\n
In the 113-seat local legislature in Taiwan, the opposition parties currently hold a narrow majority — 52 members from the KMT, 51 from the DPP, eight from the TPP and two independents — a key obstacle for the DPP and its leader Lai Ching-te to pass bills.
\n
Zou Zhiqiang, deputy secretary-general of the United States-based Alliance for China's Peaceful Reunification, said the DPP's rush to initiate recall campaigns to replace opposition party representatives long before their four-year terms are up shows a lack of respect for public opinion.
\n
The decision to pursue a costly recall vote that wasted public resources and divided the society, and not focusing on disaster relief efforts after a recent typhoon in southern Taiwan, has alienated some of the DPP's traditionally strong supporters, Zou said.
\n
He said the recent vote results dealt a significant blow to the DPP and indicate that Taiwan people no longer believe in the DPP's rhetoric of "confronting the mainland to protect Taiwan".
\n
Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said the DPP's crushing defeat in the vote fully demonstrated that its political manipulation and "anti-China" approach for seeking separation went against mainstream opinion and were rejected by the vast majority.
\n
The DPP authorities' indifference and a slow and inadequate response to disaster relief after the typhoon last month have once again exposed their true colors of prioritizing political interests, he said.
\n
Public dissatisfaction
\n
Taiwan residents flooded island leader Lai's Facebook page with dissatisfied comments recently after the US announced a 20 percent tariff on most of Taiwan's exports to the country.
\n
Jaw Shaw-kong, a Taiwan political commentator, asserted in a Facebook post that Taiwan's economic momentum will be greatly impeded as the tariff rate is higher than Japan's and South Korea's 15 percent, which are key competitors against Taiwan's exports.
\n
Jaw criticized the DPP authorities for selling out the island's pillar industry by allowing TSMC to invest in the US, and by making military purchases from the US, but not receiving weapons.
\n
With the new Taiwan dollar surging by 12 percent against the US dollar and the 20 percent tariff added, the overall impact will reach 32 percent, posing a significant challenge for Taiwan businesses, he said, expressing concerns over more promises the DPP authorities may make to the US.
\n
The Labor Party in Taiwan issued a statement condemning the Lai administration for sacrificing enterprises and traditional industries in order to realize its attempt of relying on the US to seek "independence", resulting in the island having to fully satisfy unreasonable demands imposed by the US.
\n
The party expressed people's concern that the DPP's approach risks Taiwan becoming a tool of US hegemony, being manipulated by US politicians and arms dealers, and ultimately leading to a dangerous situation in Taiwan.
\n
On July 31, the Formosa Publishing poll in Taiwan revealed a significant decline in Lai's trust and satisfaction ratings, marking troubling new lows for his administration. The comprehensive survey was conducted from July 28 to 30.
\n
Lai's satisfaction rating has plummeted from 44.7 percent in June to 34.6 percent, while dissatisfaction has surged dramatically from 46.8 percent to 56.6 percent. His trust rating has also suffered dramatically, falling 7.8 percentage points to 37.2 percent since June, while distrust has increased by 7 percentage points to 50.3 percent.
\n
The polling data reflects growing public skepticism about his effective leadership and political direction. The survey reveals that 54.9 percent of respondents do not support Lai's bid for reelection in 2028.
\n
Speaking of those elections on the island, Zou said there is a strong possibility of cooperation between the opposition parties of the KMT and the TPP, with better chances of winning compared to the past.
\n
The DPP has been obstructing cross-strait exchanges to prevent Taiwan residents from recognizing the Chinese mainland's progress, he said, adding that if the opposition regains power, there will be increased exchanges, fostering better understanding, ultimately benefiting peaceful reunification between the two sides.
\n
Attempts doomed to fail
\n
Officials from Beijing have issued a stern warning to the Lai administration that any attempt to solicit external support for "Taiwan independence" is doomed to fail.
\n
The comments followed a report by the Financial Times on July 29, revealing that Washington informed Lai that he would not be allowed to "transit" in New York on his way to South America, where he was reportedly planning to visit Paraguay, Guatemala and Belize in August.
\n
While Lai's office had not formally announced his trip to Latin America, it said last week that he had canceled all overseas travel plans to concentrate on tariff negotiations with the US and relief efforts following the typhoon.
\n
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Guo Jiakun underscored that China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the US and the Taiwan region and firmly opposes any trip by the leader of the Taiwan region to the US in any name or under whatever pretext.
\n
Guo said the Lai Ching-te authorities' separatist provocations will lead nowhere, still less shake the solid and strong international commitment to the one-China principle or stop the overriding historical trend toward China's reunification.
\n
Chen, from the Taiwan Affairs Office, also denounced Japan for allowing Lin Chia-lung, the head of Taiwan's so-called foreign affairs department, to make a so-called private trip to Japan and meet with Japanese politicians recently.
\n
Japan bears serious historical responsibilities to the Chinese people due to its colonial rule over Taiwan, Chen said, urging Japan to learn from historical lessons and cease erroneous actions.
\n
"Eighty years ago, we defeated Japanese invaders and restored Taiwan. Today, any attempt for 'Taiwan independence' that relies on foreign forces is pure delusion and will only end in even more failure," Chen warned the DPP authorities.
A: The real status quo of the Taiwan Strait is that both sides of the Taiwan Strait undoubtedly belong to one and the same China, although they have fallen into a long-term special situation of political confrontation left by China's civil war and interference from external forces. During the decades after 1949, the Taiwan authorities adhered to the position that Taiwan is a part of China.
\n
In 1971, the 26th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority. This resolution confirms that Taiwan is a part of China and precludes the possibility of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan". A total of 183 countries in the world have already established and developed diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. The fact that there is only one China is widely recognized by the international community as the real status quo of the Taiwan Strait, which proves that the one-China principle is an irresistible trend and is in line with the principle of righteousness and the common aspiration of the people.
\n
Q: What is the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait?
\n
A: The biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait comes from the "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and the connivance and support of external forces. Since assuming power, the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan have been pursuing the "Taiwan independence" agenda, using unscrupulous methods and seriously jeopardizing the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots. Still lost in delusions of hegemony and trapped in a Cold War mindset, certain countries do their utmost to undermine and suppress China, using the Taiwan question to contain China. This poses a significant threat to regional and global peace and is the fundamental reason for the continued tension in the Taiwan Strait and the long-standing unresolved nature of the Taiwan question.
\n
The Taiwan question is an internal affair of China, which should be resolved by the 1.4 billion Chinese people across the Taiwan Strait themselves. To support "Taiwan independence" is to interfere in China's internal affairs, and to connive at "Taiwan independence" is to undermine the stability of the Taiwan Strait. China's adherence to the one-China principle, its opposition to and containment of "Taiwan independence", and its pursuit of national reunification are the righteous moves to safeguard the post-World War II international order and defend the basic norms of international relations.
\n
These questions were answered by Xiao Junzheng, China's ambassador to Israel, initially in The Times of Israel.
\n",
- "content": "
Q: What is the status quo of the Taiwan Strait?
\n
A: The real status quo of the Taiwan Strait is that both sides of the Taiwan Strait undoubtedly belong to one and the same China, although they have fallen into a long-term special situation of political confrontation left by China's civil war and interference from external forces. During the decades after 1949, the Taiwan authorities adhered to the position that Taiwan is a part of China.
\n
In 1971, the 26th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority. This resolution confirms that Taiwan is a part of China and precludes the possibility of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan". A total of 183 countries in the world have already established and developed diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. The fact that there is only one China is widely recognized by the international community as the real status quo of the Taiwan Strait, which proves that the one-China principle is an irresistible trend and is in line with the principle of righteousness and the common aspiration of the people.
\n
Q: What is the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait?
\n
A: The biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait comes from the "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and the connivance and support of external forces. Since assuming power, the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan have been pursuing the "Taiwan independence" agenda, using unscrupulous methods and seriously jeopardizing the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots. Still lost in delusions of hegemony and trapped in a Cold War mindset, certain countries do their utmost to undermine and suppress China, using the Taiwan question to contain China. This poses a significant threat to regional and global peace and is the fundamental reason for the continued tension in the Taiwan Strait and the long-standing unresolved nature of the Taiwan question.
\n
The Taiwan question is an internal affair of China, which should be resolved by the 1.4 billion Chinese people across the Taiwan Strait themselves. To support "Taiwan independence" is to interfere in China's internal affairs, and to connive at "Taiwan independence" is to undermine the stability of the Taiwan Strait. China's adherence to the one-China principle, its opposition to and containment of "Taiwan independence", and its pursuit of national reunification are the righteous moves to safeguard the post-World War II international order and defend the basic norms of international relations.
\n
These questions were answered by Xiao Junzheng, China's ambassador to Israel, initially in The Times of Israel.
A teacher shares the history of a hutong in Beijing during an exchange event participated in by students from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
\n
From Taiwan's juancun to Beijing's hutong, the essence of human warmth in the alleyways has always been a wellspring of inspiration for Taiwan novelist and curator Bi Yi-fan, also known as Nana Bee.
\n
Born in 1970 in a juancun in Taipei, a community established to accommodate soldiers and their families from the Chinese mainland after the Chinese Kuomintang's retreat to Taiwan in 1949, Bi's upbringing was steeped in a diverse and nostalgic culture brought by residents from various mainland provinces.
\n
Her family roots also trace back to the mainland, with her father hailing from Jiangsu province, and moving to Taiwan after his father sacrificed his life during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). In Taiwan, Bi's father served in the military, and later he married her mother in Taiwan who comes from Zhejiang province. Bi spent her childhood with her maternal grandparents in the juancun in Taipei.
\n
In these alleys, every household left its doors open, fostering strong bonds among neighbors. The sense of community was palpable, with families coming together to share meals and support one another, especially showering the youngest, Bi, with love and care.
\n
The community was also rich in traditional culture, Bi said, recalling a renowned Peking Opera actor who lived across from her home. Her childhood was filled with weekends spent watching Beijing opera with her father, and she even participated in performances during her school years.
\n
Despite never having visited the mainland, Bi's elders regaled her with stories of their hometowns, bridging the geographical distance through shared experiences.
\n
"My father broke down in tears when he received a letter from his mother sent from Jiangsu," Bi recalled. Her father finally returned to the mainland after his mother had passed away.
\n
The urbanization of Taiwan in the 1980s led to the dismantling of the military dependents' community, transforming one-story houses into towering apartment complexes and dispersing neighbors far and wide.
\n
Bi's childhood, nurtured by stories, greatly influenced her writing, with many of her novels featuring protagonists resembling the women in the military dependents' community.
\n
She decided to chronicle the tales of the community in her memory, capturing the essence of daily life, the Beijing Opera actor across the street, and the delicacies from the elderly neighbors who may have passed away, with hopes of compiling these stories into a book in the future.
\n
Her passion for traditional culture drew her to live in Beijing. In the hutong of Beijing, she found the feeling of her childhood military dependents' village, with every alleyway teeming with families.
\n
In July, Bi organized a hutong-themed art exhibition in downtown Beijing, created by six Taiwan art students and their counterparts from the mainland after a three-day in-depth exploration of the alleyways.
\n
During their journey, students from both sides rode bicycles together, learning each other's dialects and sharing local delicacies. They were warmly welcomed by the hutong residents who invited them into their courtyards to have a look around.
\n
Bi said, "I hope students can experience the precious warm relationship between people in such small lanes and keep them in their creations."
\n
Participant Tseng Chun-ning from Taiwan created a painting featuring several lively orange fish swimming through the gray tiled roofs and brick walls of a hutong, symbolizing the young students exploring the alleyways.
\n
Chang Chen-yen juxtaposed modern high-rise buildings with traditional hutong houses in an ink painting, creating a sense of coexistence between history and the present.
\n
"I believe that Chinese traditional culture is ever-evolving and possesses a vitality for ongoing innovation," he said.
\n
Peng Yi-chen, a participant studying design, incorporated the intricate details of roof bricks and tiles in hutong buildings into the packaging of Beijing local snacks, hoping to allow people to experience the historical texture of the city while enjoying local food.
Huang Xin from Beijing's Attached Middle School to the Central Academy of Art & Design teaches at Lhasa-Beijing Experimental Middle School in the Xizang autonomous region.
\n
The latest Aid-Xizang program has deployed more than 2,100 cadres and professionals to the Xizang autonomous region since 2022, contributing to economic development, public services, and infrastructure improvement across the high-altitude plateau, according to the region's organization department.
\n
The latest 10th batch of participants came from 17 provinces and municipalities, 78 central and state organs, as well as 27 centrally administered financial institutions and major state-owned enterprises, according to the department.
\n
Song Liqiang, deputy head of the regional organization department and leader of the 10th group sent to aid Xizang, said the program has significantly advanced the region's development.
\n
"By firmly focusing on high-quality development, we have worked to establish Xizang as a pilot zone for high-altitude economic growth," Song said.
\n
Over the past three years, 3,200 projects have been launched with a total investment of 14.28 billion yuan ($2 billion), building internal momentum for the region's development, he said.
\n
"They have fully leveraged the advantages of Aid-Xizang personnel, extensively and comprehensively conducting investment attraction and talent introduction through various channels," said Song, adding that the initiative has attracted 62.7 billion yuan in external investment and created nearly 19,600 local jobs since 2022.
\n
The projects span a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, education, employment and infrastructure.
\n
More than 1,400 livelihood-focused projects have been implemented, with 11.6 billion yuan dedicated to improving people's wellbeing. Over 250 job fairs have been held, helping some 12,000 residents find work or start businesses outside the region.
\n
Healthcare has been a particular focus. Medical teams sent to Xizang under the "group style" assistance model have helped transform healthcare access and outcomes across the region.
\n
According to authorities, over 400 major diseases can now be treated within the region, while more than 2,000 moderate conditions are handled at the prefectural or county-level hospitals, eliminating the need for long-distance travel for many patients. Common ailments can now be effectively managed within county borders.
\n
Song said that vigorous efforts have been made to promote "smart healthcare" and "smart education" in the region, addressing the issue of medical and nursing staff at aided hospitals lacking professional qualifications.
\n
Emphasis is placed on improving the teaching quality, resulting in the improvement of educational quality and teaching standards of aided schools. People of all ethnic groups in Xizang can now enjoy high-quality medical and educational services right at their doorstep, he said.
\n
The development of "smart healthcare" systems is also gathering pace. In Ngari prefecture, a remote region in western Xizang, the local people's hospital has implemented an artificial intelligence-powered remote consultation platform. The system allows real time collaboration between local doctors and top experts in major cities.
\n
Zhang Xiaogang, a cadre from Shaanxi province serving as the deputy secretary at the Ngari Prefecture People's Hospital, still remembers the scene of a complex coronary angiography procedure conducted at the hospital on April 15. It was performed with the remote guidance of physicians from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University.
\n
The surgery was broadcast in high definition, allowing Xi'an-based specialists to guide each step live, ensuring precision and safety.
\n
"To date, five such surgeries have been successfully completed with the support of the AI platform," Zhang was quoted as saying by Xizang Daily.
\n
In the past, patients from Baga township had to travel more than three hours to reach the hospital. Now, they can consult specialists remotely in real time, according to an official who declined to be named at the center, revealing the profound changes brought about by the sinking of medical resources.
\n
Education reform is another key pillar of the Aid-Xizang effort. With "smart education" initiatives and targeted teacher support, the quality of teaching has markedly improved across aided schools.
\n
Huang Xin, a history teacher from Beijing's Attached Middle School to the Central Academy of Art & Design, began a two-year placement at Lhasa-Beijing Experimental Middle School in August 2023.
\n
"I hope to share modern teaching methods and concepts from Beijing and help students here learn history more effectively," Huang said.
\n
Students have welcomed the changes.
\n
"We enjoy the abundant teaching resources provided by the school, and we are very pleased with the excellent learning environment here," said Sonam Yangzom, a senior high school student.
\n
"Thanks to the educational aid project, we're able to learn from some of the best teachers from Beijing, who bring innovative and engaging teaching styles."
\n
Contact the writers at palden_nyima@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Huang Xin from Beijing's Attached Middle School to the Central Academy of Art & Design teaches at Lhasa-Beijing Experimental Middle School in the Xizang autonomous region.
\n
The latest Aid-Xizang program has deployed more than 2,100 cadres and professionals to the Xizang autonomous region since 2022, contributing to economic development, public services, and infrastructure improvement across the high-altitude plateau, according to the region's organization department.
\n
The latest 10th batch of participants came from 17 provinces and municipalities, 78 central and state organs, as well as 27 centrally administered financial institutions and major state-owned enterprises, according to the department.
\n
Song Liqiang, deputy head of the regional organization department and leader of the 10th group sent to aid Xizang, said the program has significantly advanced the region's development.
\n
"By firmly focusing on high-quality development, we have worked to establish Xizang as a pilot zone for high-altitude economic growth," Song said.
\n
Over the past three years, 3,200 projects have been launched with a total investment of 14.28 billion yuan ($2 billion), building internal momentum for the region's development, he said.
\n
"They have fully leveraged the advantages of Aid-Xizang personnel, extensively and comprehensively conducting investment attraction and talent introduction through various channels," said Song, adding that the initiative has attracted 62.7 billion yuan in external investment and created nearly 19,600 local jobs since 2022.
\n
The projects span a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, education, employment and infrastructure.
\n
More than 1,400 livelihood-focused projects have been implemented, with 11.6 billion yuan dedicated to improving people's wellbeing. Over 250 job fairs have been held, helping some 12,000 residents find work or start businesses outside the region.
\n
Healthcare has been a particular focus. Medical teams sent to Xizang under the "group style" assistance model have helped transform healthcare access and outcomes across the region.
\n
According to authorities, over 400 major diseases can now be treated within the region, while more than 2,000 moderate conditions are handled at the prefectural or county-level hospitals, eliminating the need for long-distance travel for many patients. Common ailments can now be effectively managed within county borders.
\n
Song said that vigorous efforts have been made to promote "smart healthcare" and "smart education" in the region, addressing the issue of medical and nursing staff at aided hospitals lacking professional qualifications.
\n
Emphasis is placed on improving the teaching quality, resulting in the improvement of educational quality and teaching standards of aided schools. People of all ethnic groups in Xizang can now enjoy high-quality medical and educational services right at their doorstep, he said.
\n
The development of "smart healthcare" systems is also gathering pace. In Ngari prefecture, a remote region in western Xizang, the local people's hospital has implemented an artificial intelligence-powered remote consultation platform. The system allows real time collaboration between local doctors and top experts in major cities.
\n
Zhang Xiaogang, a cadre from Shaanxi province serving as the deputy secretary at the Ngari Prefecture People's Hospital, still remembers the scene of a complex coronary angiography procedure conducted at the hospital on April 15. It was performed with the remote guidance of physicians from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University.
\n
The surgery was broadcast in high definition, allowing Xi'an-based specialists to guide each step live, ensuring precision and safety.
\n
"To date, five such surgeries have been successfully completed with the support of the AI platform," Zhang was quoted as saying by Xizang Daily.
\n
In the past, patients from Baga township had to travel more than three hours to reach the hospital. Now, they can consult specialists remotely in real time, according to an official who declined to be named at the center, revealing the profound changes brought about by the sinking of medical resources.
\n
Education reform is another key pillar of the Aid-Xizang effort. With "smart education" initiatives and targeted teacher support, the quality of teaching has markedly improved across aided schools.
\n
Huang Xin, a history teacher from Beijing's Attached Middle School to the Central Academy of Art & Design, began a two-year placement at Lhasa-Beijing Experimental Middle School in August 2023.
\n
"I hope to share modern teaching methods and concepts from Beijing and help students here learn history more effectively," Huang said.
\n
Students have welcomed the changes.
\n
"We enjoy the abundant teaching resources provided by the school, and we are very pleased with the excellent learning environment here," said Sonam Yangzom, a senior high school student.
\n
"Thanks to the educational aid project, we're able to learn from some of the best teachers from Beijing, who bring innovative and engaging teaching styles."
\n
Contact the writers at palden_nyima@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
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"title": "007CHINA - Private war memorial hall in Shanxi draws 3.4 million visitors in 11 years",
"description": "
From left: A machine gun is on display at Yang Jinyu's private memorial hall in Yuanqu county, Shanxi province. Visitors view exhibits in the museum.
\n
At 67, Yang Jinyu has devoted most of his retirement years to establishing the first private memorial hall on the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) in the northern province of Shanxi. It specifically commemorates the history of the war in the Zhongtiao Mountain area.
\n
"After I retired, I have been passionate about collecting. By chance, I watched a movie depicting the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, which inspired me to establish a memorial hall," said Yang, the museum's director and a resident of Yuanqu county, which is situated in the mountain area.
\n
Zhongtiao Mountain, in the southern part of Shanxi, is a strategic location north of the Yellow River, bordered by the Taihang Mountains to the northeast and the Lyuliang Mountains to the northwest.
\n
"My father was a veteran who fought in the war. He often told me stories of fighting Japanese invaders since I was young, which sparked my interest in researching the history of my hometown," Yang said.
\n
On May 7, 1941, the Japanese invaders launched a comprehensive attack on the Chinese army in the Zhongtiao Mountain area, leading to the outbreak of the battle. It became a significant losing battle for the Chinese army on the front lines during the war.
\n
The memorial hall was established in 2014 and is located in Linghui village of the county. Yang said that as of June, the museum had received a total of 3.38 million visitors from across the country over the past 11 years.
\n
It aims to comprehensively, objectively, and truthfully depict the history of the war in Zhongtiao Mountain. The museum consists of showrooms, memorial pavilions and martyr cemeteries.
\n
Yang said that the hall displays a collection of 926 items, some collected from the public and some donated by war veterans. Some bullets and bomb shells came from the old battlefield.
\n
He said that each exhibit has a touching story behind it. Since 2005, Yang has spent over a million yuan ($140,000) and traveled to 16 provinces and nearly 100 counties and cities across the country in collecting these historical materials.
\n
Yang's efforts have been recognized. In August 2024, the Chinese Museum Association announced that the memorial hall would be rated as a national third-level museum.
\n
In 2007, he also founded the Yuanqu County Revolutionary Base Area Memorial Hall. Yuanqu is a county with a revolutionary tradition, establishing the Yuanqu County Committee of the Communist Party of China in 1927.
\n
Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the war against Japanese aggression, the memorial hall has experienced a surge in visitors.
\n
It holds a special exhibition, displaying 120 relevant historical books and over 160 letters from veterans.
\n
"The museum is also exploring new 'digital' preservation methods while developing themed study courses and experiential activities related to Red culture, allowing the historical memory and spiritual wealth of the battle to shine brightly through innovative inheritance," said Wang Xuehua, deputy director of the memorial hall.
\n
Li Xin, a visitor, said: "Coming here to revisit the Red history, I find the cultural relics to be very precious, and they have great educational significance for us."
\n
Yang said, "Due to various reasons, there are relatively few records and historical materials regarding the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain. As a civilian, collecting and exhibiting these materials allows more people to understand and verify the history."
\n
Contact the writers at zhuxingxin@chinadaily.com.cn
Tibetan antelopes cross a highway in the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve in Qinghai province.
\n
XINING — In the early summer, drivers on a stretch of National Highway 109 in the Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Northwest China's Qinghai province often encounter a unique spectacle: herds of Tibetan antelopes crossing the busy road.
\n
In a display of harmony between nature and human activity, vehicles on the highway pull over and wait patiently, creating a temporary pause in traffic flow to allow the animals to pass safely.
\n
More recently, a high-tech "mobile sentry" has joined this harmonious scene. Stationed by the roadside, it is remotely controlled by dedicated staff who adjust its height and angle, zoom in and out, and meticulously record the entire process of the antelopes crossing the road.
\n
Every year from May to July, female antelopes from areas such as Sanjiangyuan in Qinghai, Changtang in Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region and the Altun Mountains in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region travel hundreds of kilometers to give birth in the heart of the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve. Many need to cross the iconic National Highway 109.
\n
The mobile devices on duty for antelope migration are part of an intelligent management platform for human-wildlife conflict mitigation, which is the result of a key national research and development project.
\n
The platform utilizes traffic signals that drivers can understand at a glance, effectively indicating when to proceed or stop, which can minimize the impact of antelope migration on highway traffic and efficiently avoid the risk of collision, said Lian Xinming, head of the project and a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology.
\n
"So far, our project has collected data on 28 groups of antelopes crossing the road during their migration from wintering grounds to breeding grounds," Lian said.
\n
Using video recordings from the mobile devices, researchers analyze the scale and speed of each antelope herd to determine the correlation between the two, providing data support for rapid traffic light response.
\n
When the platform detects antelopes approaching the road, it sends an early warning to staff at a nearby protection station, alerting them to direct traffic.
\n
Meanwhile, electronic billboards on both sides of the passage display messages such as "Tibetan antelopes are crossing ahead, please slow down". Once the last antelope has passed, the platform prompts vehicles to proceed.
\n
Lian noted that in situations where some antelopes do not cross the road, only cross halfway or turn back after crossing, the platform also relies on data analysis and artificial intelligence recognition to rapidly judge the animals' crossing intentions, and to prevent accidents between vehicles and herds.
\n
The idea to develop traffic lights for antelope migration in the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve had been brewing in the minds of scientists for two decades.
\n
Back in June 2004, thanks to the call of the Green River nongovernmental environmental organization and support from all sectors of society, China's first traffic lights for wildlife were installed on the Qinghai-Xizang Highway.
\n
Yang Xin, who initiated the project, remembers that whenever personnel at the observation point heard a command on their walkie-talkie, they would turn on the traffic lights on both sides of the highway where the antelopes were about to cross. The traffic police would then signal cars to pull over using standard road traffic gestures.
\n
Today, with China's advancements in intelligent machinery and other technological fields, those manual traffic lights have been upgraded to a more intelligent system.
\n
The management platform is expected to be put into use in 2027. By then, with the help of the smart traffic lights, this lifeline for antelopes migrating to breed and deliver their young will operate more safely and smoothly, Lian said.
\n
Under first-class state protection in China, the once endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in Xizang, Qinghai and Xinjiang. The species' population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve habitats.
\n",
- "content": "
Tibetan antelopes cross a highway in the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve in Qinghai province.
\n
XINING — In the early summer, drivers on a stretch of National Highway 109 in the Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Northwest China's Qinghai province often encounter a unique spectacle: herds of Tibetan antelopes crossing the busy road.
\n
In a display of harmony between nature and human activity, vehicles on the highway pull over and wait patiently, creating a temporary pause in traffic flow to allow the animals to pass safely.
\n
More recently, a high-tech "mobile sentry" has joined this harmonious scene. Stationed by the roadside, it is remotely controlled by dedicated staff who adjust its height and angle, zoom in and out, and meticulously record the entire process of the antelopes crossing the road.
\n
Every year from May to July, female antelopes from areas such as Sanjiangyuan in Qinghai, Changtang in Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region and the Altun Mountains in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region travel hundreds of kilometers to give birth in the heart of the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve. Many need to cross the iconic National Highway 109.
\n
The mobile devices on duty for antelope migration are part of an intelligent management platform for human-wildlife conflict mitigation, which is the result of a key national research and development project.
\n
The platform utilizes traffic signals that drivers can understand at a glance, effectively indicating when to proceed or stop, which can minimize the impact of antelope migration on highway traffic and efficiently avoid the risk of collision, said Lian Xinming, head of the project and a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology.
\n
"So far, our project has collected data on 28 groups of antelopes crossing the road during their migration from wintering grounds to breeding grounds," Lian said.
\n
Using video recordings from the mobile devices, researchers analyze the scale and speed of each antelope herd to determine the correlation between the two, providing data support for rapid traffic light response.
\n
When the platform detects antelopes approaching the road, it sends an early warning to staff at a nearby protection station, alerting them to direct traffic.
\n
Meanwhile, electronic billboards on both sides of the passage display messages such as "Tibetan antelopes are crossing ahead, please slow down". Once the last antelope has passed, the platform prompts vehicles to proceed.
\n
Lian noted that in situations where some antelopes do not cross the road, only cross halfway or turn back after crossing, the platform also relies on data analysis and artificial intelligence recognition to rapidly judge the animals' crossing intentions, and to prevent accidents between vehicles and herds.
\n
The idea to develop traffic lights for antelope migration in the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve had been brewing in the minds of scientists for two decades.
\n
Back in June 2004, thanks to the call of the Green River nongovernmental environmental organization and support from all sectors of society, China's first traffic lights for wildlife were installed on the Qinghai-Xizang Highway.
\n
Yang Xin, who initiated the project, remembers that whenever personnel at the observation point heard a command on their walkie-talkie, they would turn on the traffic lights on both sides of the highway where the antelopes were about to cross. The traffic police would then signal cars to pull over using standard road traffic gestures.
\n
Today, with China's advancements in intelligent machinery and other technological fields, those manual traffic lights have been upgraded to a more intelligent system.
\n
The management platform is expected to be put into use in 2027. By then, with the help of the smart traffic lights, this lifeline for antelopes migrating to breed and deliver their young will operate more safely and smoothly, Lian said.
\n
Under first-class state protection in China, the once endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in Xizang, Qinghai and Xinjiang. The species' population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve habitats.
The convergence of issues in different fields — some of which happen spontaneously; some of which are deliberately created — has become a trait of the times.
\n
In the latest example of that, the US administration is demonstrating an increasing zeal to try and merge its handling of economic and trade disputes with other economies with some burning issues.
\n
The US administration recently announced that it is slapping 25 percent tariffs on India as well as an unspecified penalty because of India's purchasing of Russian oil. A similar threat was also made to Brazil and other countries trading with Russia.
\n
The US is also trying to bind its trade disputes with Canada with the Palestine question.
\n
After Ottawa announced that Canada is planning to recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September if certain conditions are met, following recent announcements by France and the United Kingdom, the US president said it would be hard for Canada to reach a trade deal with the US.
\n
Though some suspect these US tariff threats citing the Ukraine crisis and the Palestine question are mere pressure tactics, the US' practices in exercising its "art of the deal" will unavoidably impact the settlement of the economic and trade disputes between it and other economies, as well as make the resolution of these burning issues more complicated. The US administration has consistently used tariffs as leverage to secure noneconomic benefits, including security and geopolitical gains, believing it to be an effective means of killing two birds with one stone.
\n
That approach has also been evident in its handling of the trade disputes with the European Union, Japan and some other Southeast Asian nations, in which the Ukraine crisis, "Indo-Pacific" strategy and the South China Sea issue are all overtly or covertly touched upon.
\n
Despite the disservice the US administration has done to the resolution of such issues by adopting its transactional, speculative and exploitative approach to both economic and trade issues, geopolitical issues and climate change, it seems increasingly confident that this coercive approach can secure wins for the US on different fronts by leveraging the US' strengths in high-tech, finance, economy and military as a whole to maximize its gains. The US' power play for short-term gains is overturning the global paradigm established since World War II without considering the long-term costs. In effect, it is demolishing the house its forerunners built so it can sell the furnishings and silverware. With the partisan divide in the US only becoming wider these years, many of the deals the administration inks today will likely bite the dust once the revolving door in the "House of Cards" turns again.
\n
Although the US has met considerable resistance to its coercive moves, there is not yet a strong united front against its ill-advised practices, resulting in the world becoming even more disorderly. Against that backdrop, geopolitical transactions triggered by the reallocation of economic and trade interests and increasingly fierce competition for high-tech dominance have the potential to alter traditional norms of international interactions.
\n
While India and Brazil are the latest countries to feel the US heat, China has been singled out for US-led sanctions, containment and coercion over the Ukraine crisis for a long time.
\n
China is also one of the few economies that has been continually targeted by the US' irrational tariff attacks since about eight years ago.
\n
Committed to upholding the international order based on international law and the UN Charter, China is well aware that the US' coercive approach of binding different issues into one bundle can shake the world's confidence in the basic norms of international relations, and thus has given a clear response to the US' bid to concentrate power in its hands. The more the US tries to muddy the waters by blurring the boundary between different issues, the more China insists the settlement of these issues should be and can only be made on separate tracks through consultation and dialogue.
\n
As for the US' latest smearing of China citing its role in the Ukraine crisis, the US should stop its pointless blame game, stop shifting its responsibilities onto others, and play a constructive role in ending the fighting and promoting peace talks, as Chinese Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang said at a UN meeting last week. "Till now, the US has maintained its trade with Russia. If the US is doing that itself, why doesn't it allow others to do the same," Geng said.
\n
Responding to the US threat of "secondary tariffs" up to 100 percent, China's Foreign Ministry posted on X last week that "Coercion and pressure will not achieve anything. China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests."
\n
In doing so, China is not only fighting for its own interests but also the common interests of the world.
That the Philippines and India have staged joint naval exercises in the South China Sea is further proof that Manila continues to draw in extra-regional countries that are not parties to the South China Sea disputes in a bid to bolster its gratuitous claims. Such solicitations pose a threat to regional peace and stability.
\n
The high-profile military drills and patrols, the first between the two countries since 2021, were conducted on Sunday and Monday in disputed waters. The Associated Press reported that Chief of Staff of the Philippine Armed Forces Romeo Brawner Jr expressed hopes that Filipino forces could conduct more joint maneuvers with India's military in the future.
\n
Manila should bear in mind the risks before inviting other countries to interfere in the South China Sea disputes. Inviting countries from outside the region to conduct patrols in disputed waters is clearly a blatant provocation that only stokes tensions in the waters.
\n
This is not the first time that Manila has enlisted support from other countries to meddle in the South China Sea issue. In recent years, it has not only intensified "defense" cooperation with its military ally the United States, serving as a bridgehead for the US' "Indo-Pacific" strategy, but also conducted military exercises with both the US and a few other Western countries.
\n
Supplementary to these incitements, Manila has also peddled a false narrative intended to mislead the international community by portraying the Philippines as a victim of China's "bullying". Its accusations against China have seriously distorted the reality of China's cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries, including the Philippines itself.
\n
But by playing such dirty tricks, Manila only exposes its true nature as a troublemaker in the region.
\n
As for India, to expand its political, economic and military presence in Southeast Asia, it is stepping up efforts to enhance cooperation in diplomatic and military areas with claimant countries such as the Philippines, a trend China will need to keep a close eye on.
\n
It should go without saying that activities conducted by countries in the South China Sea should adhere to international law and the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and must not target third countries and jeopardize regional peace and stability.
\n
Yet, what the Philippines and the external opportunists have been doing in staging frequent infringements and provocations in the waters constitutes blatant violations of both international law and the DOC. Their collusion that disrupts peace and stability in the South China Sea will ultimately backfire.
\n
Those acting as others' chess pieces are bound to be discarded when no longer considered useful.
\n
As a responsible country, China is constantly working with regional countries to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea. But it will not back off from maintaining its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. It will not be daunted by such provocative behavior, or shows of force.
\n
Forging Ahead, a five-episode documentary series on China's military development is currently airing on China Central Television. It offers a picture of the modernization journey of the People's Liberation Army, showcasing its enhanced combat capabilities.
\n
This military development is not driven by a desire for "expansion" or "confrontation" but by its commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
\n
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are quickening their steps to advance the regional consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. Manila should stop betting on the support of outsiders for its unjustified claims and join hands with countries in the region to strengthen dialogue and eliminate external interference so as to reach an early conclusion of the COC.
\n",
- "content": "
That the Philippines and India have staged joint naval exercises in the South China Sea is further proof that Manila continues to draw in extra-regional countries that are not parties to the South China Sea disputes in a bid to bolster its gratuitous claims. Such solicitations pose a threat to regional peace and stability.
\n
The high-profile military drills and patrols, the first between the two countries since 2021, were conducted on Sunday and Monday in disputed waters. The Associated Press reported that Chief of Staff of the Philippine Armed Forces Romeo Brawner Jr expressed hopes that Filipino forces could conduct more joint maneuvers with India's military in the future.
\n
Manila should bear in mind the risks before inviting other countries to interfere in the South China Sea disputes. Inviting countries from outside the region to conduct patrols in disputed waters is clearly a blatant provocation that only stokes tensions in the waters.
\n
This is not the first time that Manila has enlisted support from other countries to meddle in the South China Sea issue. In recent years, it has not only intensified "defense" cooperation with its military ally the United States, serving as a bridgehead for the US' "Indo-Pacific" strategy, but also conducted military exercises with both the US and a few other Western countries.
\n
Supplementary to these incitements, Manila has also peddled a false narrative intended to mislead the international community by portraying the Philippines as a victim of China's "bullying". Its accusations against China have seriously distorted the reality of China's cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries, including the Philippines itself.
\n
But by playing such dirty tricks, Manila only exposes its true nature as a troublemaker in the region.
\n
As for India, to expand its political, economic and military presence in Southeast Asia, it is stepping up efforts to enhance cooperation in diplomatic and military areas with claimant countries such as the Philippines, a trend China will need to keep a close eye on.
\n
It should go without saying that activities conducted by countries in the South China Sea should adhere to international law and the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and must not target third countries and jeopardize regional peace and stability.
\n
Yet, what the Philippines and the external opportunists have been doing in staging frequent infringements and provocations in the waters constitutes blatant violations of both international law and the DOC. Their collusion that disrupts peace and stability in the South China Sea will ultimately backfire.
\n
Those acting as others' chess pieces are bound to be discarded when no longer considered useful.
\n
As a responsible country, China is constantly working with regional countries to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea. But it will not back off from maintaining its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. It will not be daunted by such provocative behavior, or shows of force.
\n
Forging Ahead, a five-episode documentary series on China's military development is currently airing on China Central Television. It offers a picture of the modernization journey of the People's Liberation Army, showcasing its enhanced combat capabilities.
\n
This military development is not driven by a desire for "expansion" or "confrontation" but by its commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
\n
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are quickening their steps to advance the regional consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. Manila should stop betting on the support of outsiders for its unjustified claims and join hands with countries in the region to strengthen dialogue and eliminate external interference so as to reach an early conclusion of the COC.
In a recent comment on the United States' Big Beautiful Bill Act's possible impacts on the country's clean energy sector, The Economist warned that the Act might help China achieve an unshakable dominance in the electric vehicle market and many other renewable energy technologies.
\n
The media outlet observed there's no evidence that the US administration wants a more sustainable and efficient clean energy industry; rather, it prefers tighter restrictions on it.
\n
Such logic might appeal to those who see the EV industry through a geopolitical prism. But the Chinese EV industry's competitiveness is not because of another country's discouragement of its own EV sector. Not to mention the 100 percent tariff the US has imposed on Chinese-made EVs, which has in effect kept the latter out of the US market.
\n
It is the intense competition in China's supersized market that prompts its EV manufacturers to pursue rapid development, as only the enterprises undertaking constant tech innovation and having a well-established supply chain can survive in this market.
\n
Early industrial layout, large industrial cluster effects, high management efficiency, increased research and development investment, and consumer preference for smart features are the critical reasons for the rapid development of China's EV industry.
\n
China has been the world's top producer and seller of EVs for 10 years in a row as of last year. Its huge consumer market provides a testing environment for research and development and the upgrading of EV technology. Due to the higher level of EV acceptance among Chinese consumers, many automotive companies are prioritizing the launch of new products and technologies in the Chinese market.
\n
China's EV industry has a full industry chain covering material research and development, engineering design, manufacturing and final assembly, forming a number of auto industry clusters that conform to the country's "dual circulation" development strategy, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay while allowing domestic and international markets to reinforce each other.
\n
Globally, Chinese EV enterprises have shown advantages in mass production and upgrade speed, with faster and more efficient innovation cycles. Thanks to intelligent technology such as autonomous driving and intelligent cockpits, China's EV products have been recognized by the market.
\n
Chinese-made EVs not only provide diversified choices for global consumers, but also help more countries achieve green and low-carbon transformation and sustainable development.
\n
Rob de Jong, head of the Sustainable Mobility Unit at the United Nations Environment Programme, said that China is a leader in electrification and the promotion of EVs. He hopes that China will share its experience and technology with the world, especially the Global South, to improve the affordability of EVs around the world.
\n
Only those refusing to recognize these facts tend to smear the Chinese EV industry with "overcapacity" or "State subsidy" charges, turning a blind eye to its huge contribution to the global emissions reduction endeavor.
\n
Ironically, it's the US and some other developed countries that are now implementing robust subsidy policies in the EV domain. The US government, through the Inflation Reduction Act, is providing approximately $369 billion in tax incentives and subsidies for clean energy industries, including the EV sector.
\n
The so-called "overcapacity" and "State subsidy" claims are merely protectionism in disguise that aims to curb China's technological development and industrial upgrading.
\n
As experts at the Brookings Institution have argued, treating the EV sector as another battleground for "zero-sum competition" will disrupt global supply chains and undermine the global climate agenda.
\n
Against the backdrop of technological advancements in new energy, some in the West need to objectively view capacity and subsidy issues and have more discussions on industrial, technological and sales cooperation with China in the EV sector.
In a recent comment on the United States' Big Beautiful Bill Act's possible impacts on the country's clean energy sector, The Economist warned that the Act might help China achieve an unshakable dominance in the electric vehicle market and many other renewable energy technologies.
\n
The media outlet observed there's no evidence that the US administration wants a more sustainable and efficient clean energy industry; rather, it prefers tighter restrictions on it.
\n
Such logic might appeal to those who see the EV industry through a geopolitical prism. But the Chinese EV industry's competitiveness is not because of another country's discouragement of its own EV sector. Not to mention the 100 percent tariff the US has imposed on Chinese-made EVs, which has in effect kept the latter out of the US market.
\n
It is the intense competition in China's supersized market that prompts its EV manufacturers to pursue rapid development, as only the enterprises undertaking constant tech innovation and having a well-established supply chain can survive in this market.
\n
Early industrial layout, large industrial cluster effects, high management efficiency, increased research and development investment, and consumer preference for smart features are the critical reasons for the rapid development of China's EV industry.
\n
China has been the world's top producer and seller of EVs for 10 years in a row as of last year. Its huge consumer market provides a testing environment for research and development and the upgrading of EV technology. Due to the higher level of EV acceptance among Chinese consumers, many automotive companies are prioritizing the launch of new products and technologies in the Chinese market.
\n
China's EV industry has a full industry chain covering material research and development, engineering design, manufacturing and final assembly, forming a number of auto industry clusters that conform to the country's "dual circulation" development strategy, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay while allowing domestic and international markets to reinforce each other.
\n
Globally, Chinese EV enterprises have shown advantages in mass production and upgrade speed, with faster and more efficient innovation cycles. Thanks to intelligent technology such as autonomous driving and intelligent cockpits, China's EV products have been recognized by the market.
\n
Chinese-made EVs not only provide diversified choices for global consumers, but also help more countries achieve green and low-carbon transformation and sustainable development.
\n
Rob de Jong, head of the Sustainable Mobility Unit at the United Nations Environment Programme, said that China is a leader in electrification and the promotion of EVs. He hopes that China will share its experience and technology with the world, especially the Global South, to improve the affordability of EVs around the world.
\n
Only those refusing to recognize these facts tend to smear the Chinese EV industry with "overcapacity" or "State subsidy" charges, turning a blind eye to its huge contribution to the global emissions reduction endeavor.
\n
Ironically, it's the US and some other developed countries that are now implementing robust subsidy policies in the EV domain. The US government, through the Inflation Reduction Act, is providing approximately $369 billion in tax incentives and subsidies for clean energy industries, including the EV sector.
\n
The so-called "overcapacity" and "State subsidy" claims are merely protectionism in disguise that aims to curb China's technological development and industrial upgrading.
\n
As experts at the Brookings Institution have argued, treating the EV sector as another battleground for "zero-sum competition" will disrupt global supply chains and undermine the global climate agenda.
\n
Against the backdrop of technological advancements in new energy, some in the West need to objectively view capacity and subsidy issues and have more discussions on industrial, technological and sales cooperation with China in the EV sector.
Editor's Note: The macroeconomic data for the first half of 2025, which was released recently, shows that the country's economy has forged ahead under pressure, maintaining a steady and improving momentum. The Qiushi Journal recently interviewed Guo Chunli, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research; Chen Yanbin, director of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Industrial Economics; and Chen Binkai, vice-president of the Central University of Finance and Economics, to analyze China's economic performance in the first half of 2025 and assess the outlook for the second half. Below are excerpts from the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\n
\n
China's GDP growth rose to 5.3 percent in the first half of 2025, with the economy undergoing a transformation from factor-driven growth to innovation-driven development, and from a focus on speed and scale to one centered on quality and efficiency. The economy is likely to maintain its momentum in the second half of the year. But the challenges that lie ahead should not be underestimated.
\n
China's consumer market is showing increased vitality, driven by a series of policies aimed at expanding domestic demand and boosting consumption. The first half saw robust sales of consumer products such as home appliances and smartphones. However, this also increased the base for consumption in the first half of the year and maintaining the same pace of growth in the second half might face pressure. Also, the slowdown in the growth of private investment may weigh on investment momentum in the second half of the year.
\n
To address these challenges and ensure sound economic performance in the coming months, it is essential to strengthen macroeconomic policy measures and enhance countercyclical adjustments.
\n
Efforts should be made to implement the policy measures under the special campaign to boost consumption, promote income growth and reduce the burden on the low- and middle-income groups as well as significantly enhance the consumption capacity of both urban and rural residents. At the same time, fiscal and financial coordination should be strengthened to support major national strategies and build up security capacity in key areas. The focus should be on stimulating private investment and driving broader social investment.
\n
As for the impact of external influences, China has not only effectively responded to major challenges such as the additional tariffs imposed by the United States, but has continuously turned the conditions to its own advantage. Foreign trade grew 2.9 percent in the first half of the year despite the headwinds, becoming an important driver of China's economic growth. This also highlights the resilience of the Chinese economy.
\n
But the government needs to factor in the future impact of the US tariff hikes. The better-than-expected performance in the first half was partly driven by front-loaded exports and reexport trade ahead of actual tariff increases. The negative impact of the US move on the Chinese economy, particularly exports, is expected to show up in the second half of the year.
\n
As a result, China's export growth faces a downside risk in the coming months. The effective US tariff rate on Chinese goods remains high, and more measures are being introduced to curb reexport trade by Chinese firms through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other economies, which could pose more challenges for China's trade in the second half of 2025.
\n
Hence, the government must take a more proactive approach to stabilize foreign trade through diversified channels, expand the multilateral trade space and enhance China's influence and leadership in shaping international economic and trade rules.
\n
Tailored support measures for enterprises and industries should also be intensified to help export-oriented firms mitigate risks. Continued encouragement and support for the development of trade in services are equally essential, along with promoting comprehensive pilot programs for further opening up the services sector and enhancing the competitiveness of high-end services.
Many studies have highlighted the ongoing transformation of the global landscape toward the formation of economic macro-regions. Leading international organizations specializing in finance (such as the International Monetary Fund), fair competition and market economy development (OECD), and global trade (the World Trade Organization), too, have noted the fragmentation of the global economic system and new geopolitical centers shaping its future dynamics.
\n
Until recently, the process was assessed strictly in negative terms. According to estimates based on mathematical modeling, the emergence of new barriers (such as import tariffs, diverting of foreign direct investment, and localization of specific nodes in global supply chains) could reduce GDP of many countries by between 0.2 percent and 12 percent. The shift toward technological autarky, according to IMF forecasts, was considered a highly adverse scenario for all economies, with the scale of consequences depending on the degree of openness in each economic system.
\n
Notably, these same organizations have recently begun to offer alternative assessments. Last month, the IMF published a study analyzing the consequences of the emerging era of macro-regions, the shift in global trade toward fragmentation, and the imposition of US tariffs and sanctions on other countries. The main conclusion is no longer about defensive measures, but rather about the strategic value of reconfiguring external economic relations in favor of building regional trade groupings.
\n
Whereas the IMF previously forecast unequivocal losses from fragmentation, it now estimates that deeper regionalization could lead to a 0.3 percent increase in global GDP. Another key finding is that the damage to the US would be comparable to that suffered by China, and that retaliatory tariffs would only increase the losses. Overall, in the trade war launched by the US, the winners will not be the initiator, but those who act quickly to build new trade ties and form macro-regional groupings based on opportunities. As a result, the overall outcome can be positive for countries that benefit from timely adjustments.
\n
Should recent developments be seen as a geopolitical confrontation, or are they the natural result of earlier trends? It appears that local military conflicts and the restructuring of trade routes are more symptoms than causes. Historical data show that since the beginning of this century, both the role of the US dollar and the share of the US in the global economy have been steadily declining.
\n
Although the dollar remains the world's dominant currency, it can no longer fully support the servicing of debt because of the widening fiscal and trade deficits. Also, regional powers are strengthening their positions by establishing their own trade zones and conducting cross-border payments in national currencies.
\n
Global debt is estimated to be about $330 trillion, roughly 300 percent of global GDP. But it is the US' debt that carries the most systemic weight, as it underpins central bank reserves, debt securities and much more. Importantly, the US' federal debt has surpassed $37 trillion, or about 127 percent of its GDP, with annual interest payments now exceeding $1 trillion.
\n
In essence, the US has long been living on borrowed money, and the US Federal Reserve may soon be unable to maintain stability if the current situation continues, simply because it faces a monetary dilemma of curbing inflation while boosting economic growth. As a result, the contradiction between the global role of the dollar and the resilience of its issuer has become increasingly apparent.
\n
In this context, the laws passed by the US Congress at the end of July (the GENIUS Act, CLARITY Act and the Anti-CBDC Act), which lay the foundation for a decentralized cryptocurrency infrastructure beyond the Fed's control, represent a logical attempt to mitigate the looming debt crisis.
\n
This crisis could significantly weaken the US economy in the medium term and affect the global macroeconomic system. If the influence of the dollar-based financial system begins to decline, rapidly rather than gradually, this alternative framework may, in theory, help preserve a portion of capital. Transactions between participants would take place directly through smart contracts, and the system itself would be highly scalable. In addition, crypto assets have unlimited capitalization potential and can be used to absorb excess liquidity, effectively acting as a financial vacuum. At the same time, most cryptocurrencies are highly sensitive to information shocks and therefore tend to be extremely volatile.
\n
It is difficult to predict the exact trajectory of these processes, but the overall sequence may unfold as follows:
\n
2025-26: institutionalization of cryptocurrencies in key countries around the world;
\n
2026-27: peak debt pressure and a decline in the dollar's share of global reserves by 10-15 percentage points;
\n
2028-29: formation of macro-regional crypto zones;
\n
2030-35: reduction of the dollar's share in global reserves to about 30 percent, alongside the growing role of the yuan as a macro-regional currency in Eurasia and Africa;
\n
2040-45: end of the dollar era and the termination of its function as a global anchor currency (this corresponds with our projections based on the dynamics of the national power index, as outlined in our publication) in the South China Morning Post.
\n
What makes the steps taken by the US Congress flawed, and why are these laws unlikely to maintain the dominance of the dollar? As noted earlier, the dollar is losing its ability to fulfill its global role, while decentralized cryptocurrencies lack the most crucial attribute: broad trust among global market participants.
\n
On the contrary, as the financial center of gravity shifts toward Asia and tightly regulated digital platforms are developed in parallel, the dollar will continue to lose its unique status. A growing share of international transactions will be conducted in yuan, rubles, dirhams and rupees.
\n
Thus, financial fragmentation is bound to follow the fragmentation of global trade. The world will remain global in nature, as its informational connectivity persists and transport integration continues to grow.
\n
However, a shift toward polycentricity is underway. The era of a single hegemon is giving way to multipolarity and new growth centers, which could ultimately make the global economic system more resilient. Currency diversification and trade fragmentation encourage fair competition, broaden the range of options, and help shape a more stable and balanced global economy. Arguably, leadership will belong to whoever is first to offer a reliable digital financial platform capable of uniting economic participants, both globally and regionally.
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
\n",
- "content": "
Many studies have highlighted the ongoing transformation of the global landscape toward the formation of economic macro-regions. Leading international organizations specializing in finance (such as the International Monetary Fund), fair competition and market economy development (OECD), and global trade (the World Trade Organization), too, have noted the fragmentation of the global economic system and new geopolitical centers shaping its future dynamics.
\n
Until recently, the process was assessed strictly in negative terms. According to estimates based on mathematical modeling, the emergence of new barriers (such as import tariffs, diverting of foreign direct investment, and localization of specific nodes in global supply chains) could reduce GDP of many countries by between 0.2 percent and 12 percent. The shift toward technological autarky, according to IMF forecasts, was considered a highly adverse scenario for all economies, with the scale of consequences depending on the degree of openness in each economic system.
\n
Notably, these same organizations have recently begun to offer alternative assessments. Last month, the IMF published a study analyzing the consequences of the emerging era of macro-regions, the shift in global trade toward fragmentation, and the imposition of US tariffs and sanctions on other countries. The main conclusion is no longer about defensive measures, but rather about the strategic value of reconfiguring external economic relations in favor of building regional trade groupings.
\n
Whereas the IMF previously forecast unequivocal losses from fragmentation, it now estimates that deeper regionalization could lead to a 0.3 percent increase in global GDP. Another key finding is that the damage to the US would be comparable to that suffered by China, and that retaliatory tariffs would only increase the losses. Overall, in the trade war launched by the US, the winners will not be the initiator, but those who act quickly to build new trade ties and form macro-regional groupings based on opportunities. As a result, the overall outcome can be positive for countries that benefit from timely adjustments.
\n
Should recent developments be seen as a geopolitical confrontation, or are they the natural result of earlier trends? It appears that local military conflicts and the restructuring of trade routes are more symptoms than causes. Historical data show that since the beginning of this century, both the role of the US dollar and the share of the US in the global economy have been steadily declining.
\n
Although the dollar remains the world's dominant currency, it can no longer fully support the servicing of debt because of the widening fiscal and trade deficits. Also, regional powers are strengthening their positions by establishing their own trade zones and conducting cross-border payments in national currencies.
\n
Global debt is estimated to be about $330 trillion, roughly 300 percent of global GDP. But it is the US' debt that carries the most systemic weight, as it underpins central bank reserves, debt securities and much more. Importantly, the US' federal debt has surpassed $37 trillion, or about 127 percent of its GDP, with annual interest payments now exceeding $1 trillion.
\n
In essence, the US has long been living on borrowed money, and the US Federal Reserve may soon be unable to maintain stability if the current situation continues, simply because it faces a monetary dilemma of curbing inflation while boosting economic growth. As a result, the contradiction between the global role of the dollar and the resilience of its issuer has become increasingly apparent.
\n
In this context, the laws passed by the US Congress at the end of July (the GENIUS Act, CLARITY Act and the Anti-CBDC Act), which lay the foundation for a decentralized cryptocurrency infrastructure beyond the Fed's control, represent a logical attempt to mitigate the looming debt crisis.
\n
This crisis could significantly weaken the US economy in the medium term and affect the global macroeconomic system. If the influence of the dollar-based financial system begins to decline, rapidly rather than gradually, this alternative framework may, in theory, help preserve a portion of capital. Transactions between participants would take place directly through smart contracts, and the system itself would be highly scalable. In addition, crypto assets have unlimited capitalization potential and can be used to absorb excess liquidity, effectively acting as a financial vacuum. At the same time, most cryptocurrencies are highly sensitive to information shocks and therefore tend to be extremely volatile.
\n
It is difficult to predict the exact trajectory of these processes, but the overall sequence may unfold as follows:
\n
2025-26: institutionalization of cryptocurrencies in key countries around the world;
\n
2026-27: peak debt pressure and a decline in the dollar's share of global reserves by 10-15 percentage points;
\n
2028-29: formation of macro-regional crypto zones;
\n
2030-35: reduction of the dollar's share in global reserves to about 30 percent, alongside the growing role of the yuan as a macro-regional currency in Eurasia and Africa;
\n
2040-45: end of the dollar era and the termination of its function as a global anchor currency (this corresponds with our projections based on the dynamics of the national power index, as outlined in our publication) in the South China Morning Post.
\n
What makes the steps taken by the US Congress flawed, and why are these laws unlikely to maintain the dominance of the dollar? As noted earlier, the dollar is losing its ability to fulfill its global role, while decentralized cryptocurrencies lack the most crucial attribute: broad trust among global market participants.
\n
On the contrary, as the financial center of gravity shifts toward Asia and tightly regulated digital platforms are developed in parallel, the dollar will continue to lose its unique status. A growing share of international transactions will be conducted in yuan, rubles, dirhams and rupees.
\n
Thus, financial fragmentation is bound to follow the fragmentation of global trade. The world will remain global in nature, as its informational connectivity persists and transport integration continues to grow.
\n
However, a shift toward polycentricity is underway. The era of a single hegemon is giving way to multipolarity and new growth centers, which could ultimately make the global economic system more resilient. Currency diversification and trade fragmentation encourage fair competition, broaden the range of options, and help shape a more stable and balanced global economy. Arguably, leadership will belong to whoever is first to offer a reliable digital financial platform capable of uniting economic participants, both globally and regionally.
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
Premier Li Qiang's bold proposal at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on July 26 for establishing a global organization to promote international cooperation for guiding and regulating AI promises is a milestone in using AI for the common good of humanity. At the same time, it will help prevent AI from becoming our master.
\n
In his keynote speech, Li called for the establishment of a global framework of rules to govern AI. He emphasized that this framework be shaped by a broad international consensus and called for striking a balance between AI development and security. Also, he warned that in the absence of coordinated global governance, AI could become the exclusive domain of a few countries and companies, primarily benefiting wealthier nations while leaving others, especially countries in the Global South, behind.
\n
Throughout his address, Li reaffirmed China's commitment to multilateralism and to sharing its AI technology achievements with the broader international community, while underscoring the importance of ensuring universal access to this transformative technology, and calling for international collaboration, including joint scientific research and open-source initiatives. His address highlighted China's commitment to playing a leading role in building a fair and inclusive global AI ecosystem.
\n
Concurrently, China released its Global AI Governance Action Plan, which proposes that a United Nations-led international organization coordinate AI development and regulations and emphasizes the importance to uphold multilateralism, promote inclusivity and ensure equal participation for all countries. The plan envisions open-source cooperation, technology-sharing, and joint research, and accords priority to the bridging of digital divide through AI education, infrastructure and talent-cultivation such as those pioneered by Chinese companies like Huawei. Among the bedrock principles are responsible, people-centered AI with clearly defined and enforced ethical and legal safeguards.
\n
China's plan is in sharp contrast to the United States administration's irresponsible zero-sum "Winning the AI Race: America's AI Action Plan" released a few days earlier. It is not a win-win plan to save humanity from runaway AI, but an irresponsible political diatribe against China which would further widen global divisions. It aims to create a "US AI exports program" that bundles US chips, models and standards into full-stack packages for allies, while increasing export control against "adversaries" in a policy that could split global markets, force countries to choose sides and undermine universal safety guardrails.
\n
Not surprisingly, it even reverses the modest protections enshrined in previous US president Joe Biden's "AI Bill of Rights".
\n
To add to the urgency, Geoffrey Hinton, considered by many to be the "godfather of AI" and 2024 Nobel Physics laureate, warned the World Artificial Intelligence Conference that advanced AI could soon surpass human intelligence and become uncontrollable. He compared super-intelligent AI to a tiger cub that grows ever more dangerous as it matures, and warned that eventually even trying to shut AI off may not work.
\n
Hinton's plea brought back memories of Stanley Kubrick's 1968 classic and prescient film 2001: A Space Odyssey. In this science fiction movie, set in 2001 but which is still a must-see, the onboard AI computer, HAL 9000, kills several crew members due to a contradictory programming error the computer was unable to resolve. Now Hinton is afraid that life will soon be lethally imitating art.
\n
Hinton made a passionate plea for global cooperation to align AI with human values, proposed an international safety consortium, and urged young researchers to proceed boldly but emphasized the urgent need to ensure AI remains beneficial to humans, while warning that unchecked AI could harm or replace humans if not trained within the framework of established guardrails.
\n
It is clear to me which of the two plans Hinton thinks is urgently needed, and which one he considers an existential threat to all humanity. No wonder the 77-year-old Canadian scientist chose the WAIC for his first trip to China as the venue to emphasize the urgency of his message.
\n
In taking the more responsible approach, China is not in uncharted territory. There is a little-known precedent, similar to what China is proposing: an organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, known mostly to scientists and policy wonks, which has an unblemished record of success. It is called CERN by its French acronym, or the European Organization for Nuclear Research, founded in 1954 by 12 European countries seeking to re-establish peaceful scientific cooperation after World War II and it is where, among other technologies, the World Wide Web was spun and touch-screen technology was invented in the 1970s, decades before smartphones came in.
\n
CERN is governed by consensus among its 25 politically diverse member states. The organization's leadership rotates to avoid favoritism and it is known for its transparency and open decision-making. Knowing how thorough the Chinese government's decision-making is, it's likely that CERN was considered when Premier Li proposed at the WAIC the establishment of a global organization to promote international cooperation.
\n
I hope that for the sake of humanity this important proposal is swiftly implemented. Time is of the essence, and, once again, China is leading the way forward.
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
"Never expected to find such a perfect job so quickly at my doorstep," exclaimed a UK-returned postgraduate at a recent overseas returnee talent recruitment fair in Beijing's sub-center. In Shanghai, the overseas returnee talent innovation and entrepreneurship base — M-Speed Space — was unveiled late last month. And in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, the northwestern region's first technology incubator dedicated to serving returnees is expediting its plan to attract over 200 overseas graduates within three years. These parallel stories carry symbolic weight.
\n
Despite lingering disagreements, online discussions on haigui (returnees) in recent months have gradually coalesced into a certain consensus. The spirited debate not only reflects the diversity of contemporary Chinese public opinion but also creates an unexpected opportunity to contemplate significant issues.
\n
The issue became the topic of a major discussion on national security and development in the globalization era after a prominent entrepreneur said that "returnees are not hired because some may be spies", which left a potentially profound mark on China's internet.
\n
First, the debate itself is a social phenomenon of the digital information age. While sharing a common goal — of boosting the nation's development — different groups hold different views on whether haigui are reliable, and whether those traveling abroad for higher studies and later returning home should be encouraged.
\n
Though extremes of "exclusion" and "laissez-faire" exist, the rational mainstream views ultimately prevailed: China, to become a modern socialist power, needs to attract talents from across the world; returnees are a vital force promoting scientific and technological innovation; and the policy of "supporting study abroad and encouraging return" remains steadfast.
\n
According to reports, by 2024, more than 6.56 million Chinese students had traveled abroad for higher studies, with 79.3 percent of them acquiring master's or higher degrees. Driven by the country's high-quality development and stronger policy support, the "return tide" continues to surge. Data show over 80 percent of the 700,000 Chinese students still studying abroad prefer returning to China after graduation. In 2024, returnee job seekers increased by 20 percent year-on-year, a record high and about twice as much as the 2018 figure.
\n
Of course, today's vast cohort of returnees differs from the older generation like Qian Xuesen and Deng Jiaxian, who returned in the early days of New China and created the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" miracle. Among the 1,892 students or scholars returning between 1949 and 1965, 76 percent became pioneers in their respective fields and were hailed as strategic assets propelling the nation's rise.
\n
The contributions of returnees are evident even today. US media reported that 20 top Chinese-American scientists returned to China in the first half of 2024, with 16 of them engaged in cutting-edge fields such as quantum computing and biomedicine. According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, by 2023, over 70 percent of leaders of national key research projects, more than 70 percent of presidents of universities under the Ministry of Education, and most heads of top-tier hospitals had an overseas study background.
\n
But despite increasing openness, discrimination against returnees coexisted with blind admiration. Proportionally, the overall "gold content" of returnees' degrees may have declined. Social progress offers diverse choices, and indeed, some students go abroad partly to avoid the intensely competitive college entrance exam at home. The era when an overseas degree was considered an advantage is gone. Today, individuals from different academic backgrounds deserve equal treatment, not preferential or prejudicial consideration.
\n
National security should be the top priority. But labeling an entire group as "potential spies" and simplistically tying it to national security is neither correct nor wise. Blanket exclusion of returnees over security fears contradicts the logic of talent mobility in a globalized era.
\n
Today, China's development environment is more complex than ever. Being vigilant about security aspects when it comes to hiring returnees is reasonable. In recent years, there have been frequent espionage threats against Chinese companies and research institutions, with returnees being potential targets. The question is not whether but how, that is, how to balance openness and security.
\n
As one economist noted, choosing between an open and closed approach to talent is essentially a management challenge. Strict background check for roles involving national security or core technologies is an international norm. From multinational corporations' tiered confidentiality systems and data sandboxing to Chinese firms' "three-tier compliance reviews", "Data Security Officers", and "virtual isolated work zones", these are all safety valves within modern management systems.
\n
At a deeper level, the controversy probes what constitutes rational patriotism. Amid intensified major-power rivalry and efforts by some forces to foster hostility against China, skepticism toward returnees and studying abroad itself risks fueling extreme nationalist sentiments. Actions driven by such emotions run counter to China's broader development interests and damage its international image.
\n
History shows that great powers thrive on openness and decline when they choose to isolate themselves. Last November, the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and other departments jointly issued guidelines aimed at strengthening policy support for returnee talents, a stark contrast to the closed policies in some parts of the world. As Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei, said in a People's Daily interview: "The more open the country is, the more it will drive our progress."
\n",
- "content": "
Zhou Shuchun
\n\n
"Never expected to find such a perfect job so quickly at my doorstep," exclaimed a UK-returned postgraduate at a recent overseas returnee talent recruitment fair in Beijing's sub-center. In Shanghai, the overseas returnee talent innovation and entrepreneurship base — M-Speed Space — was unveiled late last month. And in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, the northwestern region's first technology incubator dedicated to serving returnees is expediting its plan to attract over 200 overseas graduates within three years. These parallel stories carry symbolic weight.
\n
Despite lingering disagreements, online discussions on haigui (returnees) in recent months have gradually coalesced into a certain consensus. The spirited debate not only reflects the diversity of contemporary Chinese public opinion but also creates an unexpected opportunity to contemplate significant issues.
\n
The issue became the topic of a major discussion on national security and development in the globalization era after a prominent entrepreneur said that "returnees are not hired because some may be spies", which left a potentially profound mark on China's internet.
\n
First, the debate itself is a social phenomenon of the digital information age. While sharing a common goal — of boosting the nation's development — different groups hold different views on whether haigui are reliable, and whether those traveling abroad for higher studies and later returning home should be encouraged.
\n
Though extremes of "exclusion" and "laissez-faire" exist, the rational mainstream views ultimately prevailed: China, to become a modern socialist power, needs to attract talents from across the world; returnees are a vital force promoting scientific and technological innovation; and the policy of "supporting study abroad and encouraging return" remains steadfast.
\n
According to reports, by 2024, more than 6.56 million Chinese students had traveled abroad for higher studies, with 79.3 percent of them acquiring master's or higher degrees. Driven by the country's high-quality development and stronger policy support, the "return tide" continues to surge. Data show over 80 percent of the 700,000 Chinese students still studying abroad prefer returning to China after graduation. In 2024, returnee job seekers increased by 20 percent year-on-year, a record high and about twice as much as the 2018 figure.
\n
Of course, today's vast cohort of returnees differs from the older generation like Qian Xuesen and Deng Jiaxian, who returned in the early days of New China and created the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" miracle. Among the 1,892 students or scholars returning between 1949 and 1965, 76 percent became pioneers in their respective fields and were hailed as strategic assets propelling the nation's rise.
\n
The contributions of returnees are evident even today. US media reported that 20 top Chinese-American scientists returned to China in the first half of 2024, with 16 of them engaged in cutting-edge fields such as quantum computing and biomedicine. According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, by 2023, over 70 percent of leaders of national key research projects, more than 70 percent of presidents of universities under the Ministry of Education, and most heads of top-tier hospitals had an overseas study background.
\n
But despite increasing openness, discrimination against returnees coexisted with blind admiration. Proportionally, the overall "gold content" of returnees' degrees may have declined. Social progress offers diverse choices, and indeed, some students go abroad partly to avoid the intensely competitive college entrance exam at home. The era when an overseas degree was considered an advantage is gone. Today, individuals from different academic backgrounds deserve equal treatment, not preferential or prejudicial consideration.
\n
National security should be the top priority. But labeling an entire group as "potential spies" and simplistically tying it to national security is neither correct nor wise. Blanket exclusion of returnees over security fears contradicts the logic of talent mobility in a globalized era.
\n
Today, China's development environment is more complex than ever. Being vigilant about security aspects when it comes to hiring returnees is reasonable. In recent years, there have been frequent espionage threats against Chinese companies and research institutions, with returnees being potential targets. The question is not whether but how, that is, how to balance openness and security.
\n
As one economist noted, choosing between an open and closed approach to talent is essentially a management challenge. Strict background check for roles involving national security or core technologies is an international norm. From multinational corporations' tiered confidentiality systems and data sandboxing to Chinese firms' "three-tier compliance reviews", "Data Security Officers", and "virtual isolated work zones", these are all safety valves within modern management systems.
\n
At a deeper level, the controversy probes what constitutes rational patriotism. Amid intensified major-power rivalry and efforts by some forces to foster hostility against China, skepticism toward returnees and studying abroad itself risks fueling extreme nationalist sentiments. Actions driven by such emotions run counter to China's broader development interests and damage its international image.
\n
History shows that great powers thrive on openness and decline when they choose to isolate themselves. Last November, the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and other departments jointly issued guidelines aimed at strengthening policy support for returnee talents, a stark contrast to the closed policies in some parts of the world. As Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei, said in a People's Daily interview: "The more open the country is, the more it will drive our progress."
Employees stitch clothing material for dresses at the apparel manufacturing unit in Bhiwandi, India's Maharashtra state, on July 30.
\n
India, mounting a sharp counterattack to criticism from the White House over its import of Russian crude oil, has called the US stance unjustified and unreasonable, and said it would take all necessary measures to protect its national interests and economic security.
\n
"It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement late on Monday, in response to US President Donald Trump's warning to raise tariffs on India "substantially".
\n
The ministry said the EU in 2024 had a bilateral trade of 67.5 billion euros ($78 billion) in goods with Russia. "European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5 million tons, surpassing the last record of 15.21 million tons in 2022," the statement said.
\n
"Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals," the ministry noted.
\n
India began importing oil from Russia only after "traditional supplies" were diverted to Europe following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the ministry said. "The United States, at that time, actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets' stability," the statement said.
\n
Given this background, targeting India is "unjustified and unreasonable", the ministry stated, and like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.
\n
In response to Trump's tariff threats, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck a defiant tone, urging the nation to buy local goods as his administration signaled it would continue buying Russian oil.
\n
At a rally in the state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, Modi said, "Now, whatever we buy, there should be only one scale: we will buy those things which have been made by the sweat of an Indian."
\n
Bilateral trade between New Delhi and Moscow reached a record $68.7 billion for the fiscal year ended March 2025, compared to the pre-pandemic trade of $10.1 billion, according to data from the Indian embassy in Moscow. Bloomberg reported that at least four tankers discharged millions of barrels of Russian crude oil at Indian refineries over the weekend.
\n
Global hegemon
\n
Strong India-Russia relations are a historical fact, and the US can't act like a global hegemon, going about imposing its writ on any country, not least a vast country like India, said Biswajit Dhar, a former professor at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
\n
Trump's decision to impose additional tariffs on India's exports goes completely against the spirit of the bilateral trade agreement, which the two countries are currently negotiating. The "bilateral" spirit makes it imperative for the partners to consider their mutual gains for deepening a long-term relationship, Dhar said.
\n
India doesn't have much option but to continue oil imports from Russia, said Amit K. Biswas, a professor in the Department of Economics and Politics at Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, West Bengal.
\n
The US is India's top trading partner, with a $186 billion bilateral trade in 2024-25, while a new goal for bilateral trade targets $500 billion by 2030, according to the Indian embassy in Washington.
\n
India exports a variety of goods to the US, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, petroleum products, machinery and cut diamonds.
\n
Swaran Singh, a professor of international relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said there has been no clarity on "additional penalty", though Trump continued to repeat that threat against India.
\n",
@@ -4554,28 +4906,6 @@
"hash": "a34f9c1f7aa801e96c8fbf6a1de5388c",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "010WORLD - S. Africa to offer support to companies hit by levies",
- "description": "
A worker at a cowboy boot factory prepares a shoe in Mercedes, Texas, on Thursday. Factories producing cowboy boots in the US will suffer from the 30 percent tariff targeting South Africa, which produces the overwhelming majority of the ostrich leather used for making them.
\n
The South African government will provide financial assistance to companies affected by the tariffs imposed by the United States and explore other global markets, said a government official on Monday.
\n
Ronald Lamola, minister of international relations and cooperation, briefed the media in Johannesburg about the South African government's response to the US tariffs. The US imposed 30 percent tariffs on South African goods, effective from Thursday.
\n
Lamola said the government has established an export support desk, which will provide affected companies with information about global trends on trade and where they can explore opportunities.
\n
"This support measure aims to support the diversification of export markets for increased resilience and facilitate the entry into alternative markets for affected exporters. The desk will provide updates on developments and tailored advisory services to exporters on alternative destinations, guidance on market entry processes, insights into compliance requirements, and linkages to South African embassies and high commissions abroad," he said.
\n
He also said that the government will provide working capital facilities and plant and equipment facilities to address short- to medium-term needs across all industries, thereby supporting the competitiveness of enterprises.
\n
South Africa's minimal 0.25 percent share of total US imports makes the 30 percent tariff unfair, Lamola said. He pointed out that South Africa poses no trade threat to the US economy or its national security.
\n
South Africa will continue to use diplomatic channels to engage the US to get a mutually beneficial trade deal, he said, adding South Africa is exploring ways to increase trade with countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
\n
Heavy blow
\n
The tariffs are expected to deal a heavy blow to South Africa's economy. South Africa's Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has said that about 30 percent of the jobs are likely to be lost as a result of the US trade tariffs. Some economists said the trade tariffs will shave off 0.2 percent of South Africa's economic growth.
\n
"While facing global trade challenges, South Africa is proactively building a more resilient agricultural sector," Lamola said.
\n
"We've made significant progress in opening up vast new markets like China and Thailand, securing vital protocols for products like citrus and others. With China alone being a $200 billion market, we are confidently expanding our reach and creating new opportunities for our agricultural producers."
\n
Parks Tau, minister of trade, industry and competition, said South Africa is also engaging China to implement the proposed zero-tariffs policy. China has recently promised to grant zero-tariff treatment to 53 African countries.
\n
Lamola urged South Africans in politics, civil society and business to speak with one voice on tariffs. He said the government has been handling the tariff issue with restraint, even when provoked, because they know its impact on the economy and jobs. A total of 600 US companies operate in South Africa.
\n
The US accounts for 7.5 percent of South Africa's exports, with the European Union being the first and China the second-largest trading partners. South Africa has said it will not reciprocate the tariffs imposed by the US.
\n",
- "content": "
A worker at a cowboy boot factory prepares a shoe in Mercedes, Texas, on Thursday. Factories producing cowboy boots in the US will suffer from the 30 percent tariff targeting South Africa, which produces the overwhelming majority of the ostrich leather used for making them.
\n
The South African government will provide financial assistance to companies affected by the tariffs imposed by the United States and explore other global markets, said a government official on Monday.
\n
Ronald Lamola, minister of international relations and cooperation, briefed the media in Johannesburg about the South African government's response to the US tariffs. The US imposed 30 percent tariffs on South African goods, effective from Thursday.
\n
Lamola said the government has established an export support desk, which will provide affected companies with information about global trends on trade and where they can explore opportunities.
\n
"This support measure aims to support the diversification of export markets for increased resilience and facilitate the entry into alternative markets for affected exporters. The desk will provide updates on developments and tailored advisory services to exporters on alternative destinations, guidance on market entry processes, insights into compliance requirements, and linkages to South African embassies and high commissions abroad," he said.
\n
He also said that the government will provide working capital facilities and plant and equipment facilities to address short- to medium-term needs across all industries, thereby supporting the competitiveness of enterprises.
\n
South Africa's minimal 0.25 percent share of total US imports makes the 30 percent tariff unfair, Lamola said. He pointed out that South Africa poses no trade threat to the US economy or its national security.
\n
South Africa will continue to use diplomatic channels to engage the US to get a mutually beneficial trade deal, he said, adding South Africa is exploring ways to increase trade with countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
\n
Heavy blow
\n
The tariffs are expected to deal a heavy blow to South Africa's economy. South Africa's Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has said that about 30 percent of the jobs are likely to be lost as a result of the US trade tariffs. Some economists said the trade tariffs will shave off 0.2 percent of South Africa's economic growth.
\n
"While facing global trade challenges, South Africa is proactively building a more resilient agricultural sector," Lamola said.
\n
"We've made significant progress in opening up vast new markets like China and Thailand, securing vital protocols for products like citrus and others. With China alone being a $200 billion market, we are confidently expanding our reach and creating new opportunities for our agricultural producers."
\n
Parks Tau, minister of trade, industry and competition, said South Africa is also engaging China to implement the proposed zero-tariffs policy. China has recently promised to grant zero-tariff treatment to 53 African countries.
\n
Lamola urged South Africans in politics, civil society and business to speak with one voice on tariffs. He said the government has been handling the tariff issue with restraint, even when provoked, because they know its impact on the economy and jobs. A total of 600 US companies operate in South Africa.
\n
The US accounts for 7.5 percent of South Africa's exports, with the European Union being the first and China the second-largest trading partners. South Africa has said it will not reciprocate the tariffs imposed by the US.
WASHINGTON — The monthly jobs report is already closely watched on Wall Street and in Washington but has taken on a new importance after President Donald Trump on Friday fired the official who oversees it.
\n
Trump claimed June's employment figures were "rigged" to make him and other Republicans "look bad". Yet he provided no evidence and even the official Trump had appointed in his first term to oversee the report, William Beach, condemned the firing of Erika McEntarfer, the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics appointed by former president Joe Biden.
\n
The firing followed Friday's jobs report that showed hiring was weak in July and had come to nearly a standstill in May and June, right after Trump rolled out sweeping tariffs.
\n
Economists and Wall Street investors have long considered the job figures reliable, with share prices and bond yields often reacting sharply when they are released. Yet Friday's revisions were unusually large, and the surveys used to compile the report are facing challenges from declining response rates, particularly since COVID, as fewer companies complete the surveys.
\n
Many academics, statisticians and economists have warned for some time that declining budgets were straining the government's ability to gather economic data. There were several government commissions studying ways to improve things like survey response rates, but the Trump administration disbanded them earlier this year.
\n
Heather Boushey, a top economic adviser in the Biden White House, noted that without Trump's firing of McEntarfer, there would be more focus on last week's data, which points to a slowing economy.
\n
"We're having this conversation about made-up issues to distract us from what the data is showing," Boushey said. "Revisions of this magnitude in a negative direction may indicate bad things to come for the labor market."
\n
Trump and his White House have a long track record of celebrating the jobs numbers — when they are good.
\n
However, Trump focused his attack on the revisions to the May and June data, which on Friday were revised lower, with job gains in May reduced to 19,000 from 144,000, and for June to just 14,000 from 147,000. Every month's jobs data is revised in the following two months.
\n
The monthly revisions occur because many companies that respond to the government's surveys send in their data late, or correct the figures they've already submitted. The proportion of companies sending in their data later has risen in the past decade.
\n
The revisions to May and June's job totals, which reduced hiring by a total of 258,000, were the largest — outside recessions — since 1967, according to economists at Goldman Sachs.
\n
Trump also repeated a largely inaccurate attack from the campaign about an annual revision last August, which reduced total employment in the US by 818,000, or about 0.5 percent.
\n",
@@ -4598,28 +4928,6 @@
"hash": "471f97fa82e61841a06d021d0c975bec",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "010WORLD - EU suspends retaliatory packages in deal with US",
- "description": "
People stand in a line next to the Christian Dior shop in Paris, France, on Monday. French luxury brands will have to face additional costs with 15 percent tariffs imposed on all EU products entering the US from Thursday.
\n
The European Union will pause implementing two packages of retaliatory tariffs against the United States, as part of a trade agreement made between US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
\n
Following extensive trade talks, the EU has agreed to suspend a twin set of counter-tariffs for six months, starting from Tuesday, EU officials confirmed on Monday.
\n
The delay affects two sets of reciprocal tariffs that were due to begin on Thursday: one package responding to US steel and aluminum duties, and another targeting Trump's baseline and automotive tariffs, reported Reuters.
\n
"The EU continues to work with the US to finalize a Joint Statement, as agreed on July 27," an EU spokesperson said in a statement. "With these objectives in mind, the commission will take the necessary steps to suspend by six months the EU's countermeasures against the US, which were due to enter into force on Aug 7."
\n
The agreement to delay tariffs seeks to ease transatlantic trade tensions and restore stability for businesses and citizens, stated the EU.
\n
Von der Leyen and Trump reached a tariff and trade agreement on July 27 that set a 15 percent duty on EU goods to the US. This represented a reduction from higher tariffs that would have taken effect had negotiations failed to meet an Aug 1 deadline.
\n
The European Commission, the executive body of the EU, has indicated that the US must now deliver on other elements of the deal, including on aircraft and aircraft parts, as both parties work toward finalizing their joint statement.
\n
"This includes the commitment to decrease its Section 232 tariffs on cars and car parts imported from the EU to a 15-percent ceiling rate, as well as the specific treatment agreed for certain strategic products," stated a spokesperson for the commission.
\n
According to White House officials, the July 27 agreement includes provisions where the EU "will remove significant tariffs, including the elimination of all EU tariffs on US industrial goods exported to the EU".
\n
Trump claimed the European bloc had committed to purchasing $750 billion in US energy products and pledged to increase investments by $600 billion above existing levels.
\n
Analysts have questioned the implementation mechanism for these commitments, noting the EU lacks the authority to direct private sector purchasing or investment decisions, reported CNBC.
\n
An EU statement on the July 27 deal emphasized that the agreement was a political arrangement and "not legally binding".
\n
"Beyond taking the immediate actions committed, the EU and the US will further negotiate, in line with their relevant internal procedures, to fully implement the political agreement," it said.
\n
jonathan@mail.chinadailyuk.com
\n",
- "content": "
People stand in a line next to the Christian Dior shop in Paris, France, on Monday. French luxury brands will have to face additional costs with 15 percent tariffs imposed on all EU products entering the US from Thursday.
\n
The European Union will pause implementing two packages of retaliatory tariffs against the United States, as part of a trade agreement made between US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
\n
Following extensive trade talks, the EU has agreed to suspend a twin set of counter-tariffs for six months, starting from Tuesday, EU officials confirmed on Monday.
\n
The delay affects two sets of reciprocal tariffs that were due to begin on Thursday: one package responding to US steel and aluminum duties, and another targeting Trump's baseline and automotive tariffs, reported Reuters.
\n
"The EU continues to work with the US to finalize a Joint Statement, as agreed on July 27," an EU spokesperson said in a statement. "With these objectives in mind, the commission will take the necessary steps to suspend by six months the EU's countermeasures against the US, which were due to enter into force on Aug 7."
\n
The agreement to delay tariffs seeks to ease transatlantic trade tensions and restore stability for businesses and citizens, stated the EU.
\n
Von der Leyen and Trump reached a tariff and trade agreement on July 27 that set a 15 percent duty on EU goods to the US. This represented a reduction from higher tariffs that would have taken effect had negotiations failed to meet an Aug 1 deadline.
\n
The European Commission, the executive body of the EU, has indicated that the US must now deliver on other elements of the deal, including on aircraft and aircraft parts, as both parties work toward finalizing their joint statement.
\n
"This includes the commitment to decrease its Section 232 tariffs on cars and car parts imported from the EU to a 15-percent ceiling rate, as well as the specific treatment agreed for certain strategic products," stated a spokesperson for the commission.
\n
According to White House officials, the July 27 agreement includes provisions where the EU "will remove significant tariffs, including the elimination of all EU tariffs on US industrial goods exported to the EU".
\n
Trump claimed the European bloc had committed to purchasing $750 billion in US energy products and pledged to increase investments by $600 billion above existing levels.
\n
Analysts have questioned the implementation mechanism for these commitments, noting the EU lacks the authority to direct private sector purchasing or investment decisions, reported CNBC.
\n
An EU statement on the July 27 deal emphasized that the agreement was a political arrangement and "not legally binding".
\n
"Beyond taking the immediate actions committed, the EU and the US will further negotiate, in line with their relevant internal procedures, to fully implement the political agreement," it said.
Jewish peace activists gather for a march to protest against the fighting in Gaza on Tuesday in New York City.
\n
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel must "complete" the defeat of Hamas to free hostages held in Gaza, a day after Israeli media reported the army could occupy the entire territory.
\n
The plans to fully occupy Gaza run counter to the wishes of the international community, placing obstacles to the two-state solution championed by the United Nations, experts say.
\n
"It is necessary to complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza, to free all our hostages and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel," Netanyahu said during a visit to an army training facility on Tuesday.
\n
On Monday, Netanyahu reiterated Israel's "war objectives", and said he would direct the Israel Defense Forces to achieve these objectives "without exception".
\n
His decision will see the Israeli military expand its operations across the entire Palestinian enclave, including areas where Hamas' captives are being held, The Jerusalem Post and Channel 12 reported.
\n
Ayman Yousef, a professor of international relations at the Arab American University in Jenin, West Bank, said Netanyahu is "trying to put his agenda and his propaganda in this direction" as he is "in crisis".The Israeli army failed to rescue all hostages despite destroying almost all of Gaza through military action, and the political track is also in deadlock at this stage, he said.
\n
"There is growing pressure inside Israel, not only from the families of Israeli prisoners and Israeli opposition forces, but there are some protests even from the Israeli army itself, from the security apparatus, from Israeli media," Yousef said.
\n
A group of about 600 Israeli security officials, including former intelligence agencies' heads, had earlier written to United States President Donald Trump, urging Israel to immediately end the fighting.
\n
'Professional judgment'
\n
"It is our professional judgment that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel," the officials were quoted as saying.
\n
International pressure is mounting on Israel to observe UN resolutions and end Gaza attacks, including from the European Union and within the US administration; so is "great resentment" from other parts of the world over the killing and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, a majority of whom are women and children, including civilians such as aid workers and journalists.
\n
On Tuesday, Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong told journalists that "there is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognize", while responding to questions about a mass protest in Sydney attended by about 100,000 people rallying against Israel's war on Gaza.
\n
On Australia's position regarding Palestinian statehood, Wong said: "In relation to recognition, I've said for over a year now, it's a matter of when, not if."
\n
Also on Tuesday, Israel's Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories announced that a mechanism was approved for the gradual and controlled renewal of entry of goods through the private sector in Gaza, citing the Israeli cabinet's decision to expand the scope of humanitarian aid.
\n
"This aims to increase the volume of aid entering the Gaza Strip, while reducing reliance on aid collection by the UN and international organizations," said the agency.
\n
But only 95 aid trucks entered Gaza on Monday, Hamas said in a statement, far below the minimum 600 trucks per day needed to meet the basic humanitarian needs, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
\n
The office has warned of an intensifying humanitarian catastrophe, accusing Israel of deliberately restricting aid in the territory.
\n
Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday that in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, Israeli ground operations concentrated around the eastern and central areas of Khan Younis with Palestinian factions and Israeli forces trading fire.
\n
Israel's ground campaign was accompanied by "very heavy fire "from its air force and also from Israeli artillery units that continued to pound the al-Mawasi area. At least five Palestinians were killed in the attack.
\n
jan@chinadailyapac.com
\n",
@@ -4642,28 +4950,6 @@
"hash": "31039cbba936a2f94584c6e0015fa3d9",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "011WORLD - African central banks turn to gold for stability",
- "description": "
In line with a growing trend across emerging markets, central banks in sub-Saharan Africa are accelerating gold accumulation efforts, as a hedge against perceived United States' macro instability and rising global geopolitical risks.
\n
While South Africa has historically maintained gold in its reserves, some sub-Saharan African countries are currently establishing domestic gold purchasing programs, capitalizing on abundant local gold deposits.
\n
Leading the trend is Ghana, which has launched its domestic gold purchasing program. The West African country has witnessed a surge in both the volume and the value of its gold reserves, according to BMI, a unit of Fitch Group.
\n
Between the second quarter of 2022 and the first quarter this year, Ghana's total gold holdings rose by 255 percent from 8.7 metric tons to over 31 tons.
\n
Earlier this year, Ghana reached an agreement with nine mining companies to directly purchase 20 percent of their gold output at a 1 percent discount to the London Bullion Market Association price.
\n
Orson Gard, a senior analyst in the Sub-Saharan Africa Country Risk team at BMI, said due to the surge in gold prices Ghanaian cedi has become one of the world's best performing currencies against the US dollar. "We are seeing a similar move across the region," he said. "Last year, Tanzania offered payment in local currency at a price published daily by the country's mining commission."
\n
Last year, Nigeria launched its own national gold purchase program, and legislative action has since been taken to strengthen the Central Bank of Nigeria's ability to acquire domestically produced gold, BMI figures show.
\n
"This year, several other markets have taken similar steps with Namibia and Rwanda, making concrete moves to diversify reserves through gold, while central bank governors in Kenya and Uganda have publicly floated similar ideas," he said.
\n
In Burkina Faso, the government has, alongside the nationalization of mines, established a National Gold Reserve to stockpile at least 5 percent of its domestic production.
\n
Gard said Zimbabwe recently relaunched a gold-backed currency, the Zimbabwe Gold, in a bid to stabilize its financial system.
\n
"This does point to an increased confidence across the region in the ability of the metal to underpin stability," he said.
\n
Risks exiting
\n
However, the strategy is not without risk. Gard said any sudden drop in global gold prices could have significant implications for sub-Saharan Africa markets, especially for countries that have rapidly increased gold as a share of their total reserves — many of which began accumulating at relatively high prices.
\n
Over the medium term, a gradual unwinding of gold price gains could expose these markets to long-term losses, Gard said.
\n
This would not only weaken reserve adequacy but also undermine the credibility of central bank policy.
\n
He noted that Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda are especially vulnerable in the event of a sharp drop or long-term easing in gold prices. This is because in addition to actively building up reserves, they rely heavily on gold exports for foreign exchange earnings.
\n
"A decline in gold prices would directly erode the value of their reserves while also reducing export receipts, which in turn would weaken overall foreign currency inflows," Gard said.
\n
Liquidity is another key challenge, given the difficulty of rapidly converting gold into liquid assets such as foreign exchange or short-term securities.
\n
To address these concerns, some central banks have historically held gold abroad close to major financial hubs to aid convertibility.
In line with a growing trend across emerging markets, central banks in sub-Saharan Africa are accelerating gold accumulation efforts, as a hedge against perceived United States' macro instability and rising global geopolitical risks.
\n
While South Africa has historically maintained gold in its reserves, some sub-Saharan African countries are currently establishing domestic gold purchasing programs, capitalizing on abundant local gold deposits.
\n
Leading the trend is Ghana, which has launched its domestic gold purchasing program. The West African country has witnessed a surge in both the volume and the value of its gold reserves, according to BMI, a unit of Fitch Group.
\n
Between the second quarter of 2022 and the first quarter this year, Ghana's total gold holdings rose by 255 percent from 8.7 metric tons to over 31 tons.
\n
Earlier this year, Ghana reached an agreement with nine mining companies to directly purchase 20 percent of their gold output at a 1 percent discount to the London Bullion Market Association price.
\n
Orson Gard, a senior analyst in the Sub-Saharan Africa Country Risk team at BMI, said due to the surge in gold prices Ghanaian cedi has become one of the world's best performing currencies against the US dollar. "We are seeing a similar move across the region," he said. "Last year, Tanzania offered payment in local currency at a price published daily by the country's mining commission."
\n
Last year, Nigeria launched its own national gold purchase program, and legislative action has since been taken to strengthen the Central Bank of Nigeria's ability to acquire domestically produced gold, BMI figures show.
\n
"This year, several other markets have taken similar steps with Namibia and Rwanda, making concrete moves to diversify reserves through gold, while central bank governors in Kenya and Uganda have publicly floated similar ideas," he said.
\n
In Burkina Faso, the government has, alongside the nationalization of mines, established a National Gold Reserve to stockpile at least 5 percent of its domestic production.
\n
Gard said Zimbabwe recently relaunched a gold-backed currency, the Zimbabwe Gold, in a bid to stabilize its financial system.
\n
"This does point to an increased confidence across the region in the ability of the metal to underpin stability," he said.
\n
Risks exiting
\n
However, the strategy is not without risk. Gard said any sudden drop in global gold prices could have significant implications for sub-Saharan Africa markets, especially for countries that have rapidly increased gold as a share of their total reserves — many of which began accumulating at relatively high prices.
\n
Over the medium term, a gradual unwinding of gold price gains could expose these markets to long-term losses, Gard said.
\n
This would not only weaken reserve adequacy but also undermine the credibility of central bank policy.
\n
He noted that Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda are especially vulnerable in the event of a sharp drop or long-term easing in gold prices. This is because in addition to actively building up reserves, they rely heavily on gold exports for foreign exchange earnings.
\n
"A decline in gold prices would directly erode the value of their reserves while also reducing export receipts, which in turn would weaken overall foreign currency inflows," Gard said.
\n
Liquidity is another key challenge, given the difficulty of rapidly converting gold into liquid assets such as foreign exchange or short-term securities.
\n
To address these concerns, some central banks have historically held gold abroad close to major financial hubs to aid convertibility.
Ranchers work to evacuate cattle as the Gifford Fire burns nearby on Monday, in Los Padres National Forest, California. A massive wildfire on Monday was threatening hundreds of homes in central California after injuring at least three people as it tore through Los Padres National Forest.
MOSCOW/KYIV — The Kremlin said on Monday it was anticipating "important" talks with US President Donald Trump's special envoy later this week, ahead of Trump's looming deadline to impose fresh sanctions on Moscow if it does not make progress toward a peace deal with Ukraine.
\n
Trump confirmed a day earlier that Steve Witkoff will visit Russia, likely on "Wednesday or Thursday", where he is expected to meet President Vladimir Putin.
\n
Three rounds of peace talks in Istanbul have failed to make headway on a possible ceasefire, with the two sides appearing as far apart as ever.
\n
Moscow has demanded that Ukraine cede more territory and renounce Western support.
\n
Kyiv is calling for an immediate ceasefire and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week urged his allies to pressure Moscow.
\n
Trump's deadline is set to expire on Friday.
\n
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that it considered the talks with Witkoff to be "important, substantial and helpful" and valued US efforts to end the conflict.
\n
Putin has already met Witkoff multiple times in Moscow.
\n
When reporters asked what Witkoff's message would be to Moscow, and if there was anything Russia could do to avoid the sanctions, Trump replied: "Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed."
\n
The visit comes after Trump said that two nuclear submarines he deployed following an online row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev were now "in the region".
\n
Trump has not said whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not elaborate on the exact deployment locations, which are kept secret by the US military.
\n
Caution urged
\n
Russia, in its first comments on the deployment, urged "caution".
\n
"Russia is very attentive to the topic of nuclear nonproliferation. And we believe that everyone should be very, very cautious with nuclear rhetoric," the Kremlin's Peskov said.
\n
The chief of staff to Zelensky on Monday backed Trump's actions.
\n
"The concept of peace through strength works," Andriy Yermak wrote on social media.
\n
Both sides said on Monday they had downed dozens of enemy drones overnight in the latest barrage.
\n
Separate Russian strikes on the southern Zaporizhzhia region, part of which it controls, killed four people, Ukrainian officials said on Monday.
\n
The Russian defense ministry said on Tuesday that its forces have captured the village of Sichneve in Dnipropetrovsk region.
MOSCOW/KYIV — The Kremlin said on Monday it was anticipating "important" talks with US President Donald Trump's special envoy later this week, ahead of Trump's looming deadline to impose fresh sanctions on Moscow if it does not make progress toward a peace deal with Ukraine.
\n
Trump confirmed a day earlier that Steve Witkoff will visit Russia, likely on "Wednesday or Thursday", where he is expected to meet President Vladimir Putin.
\n
Three rounds of peace talks in Istanbul have failed to make headway on a possible ceasefire, with the two sides appearing as far apart as ever.
\n
Moscow has demanded that Ukraine cede more territory and renounce Western support.
\n
Kyiv is calling for an immediate ceasefire and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week urged his allies to pressure Moscow.
\n
Trump's deadline is set to expire on Friday.
\n
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that it considered the talks with Witkoff to be "important, substantial and helpful" and valued US efforts to end the conflict.
\n
Putin has already met Witkoff multiple times in Moscow.
\n
When reporters asked what Witkoff's message would be to Moscow, and if there was anything Russia could do to avoid the sanctions, Trump replied: "Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed."
\n
The visit comes after Trump said that two nuclear submarines he deployed following an online row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev were now "in the region".
\n
Trump has not said whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not elaborate on the exact deployment locations, which are kept secret by the US military.
\n
Caution urged
\n
Russia, in its first comments on the deployment, urged "caution".
\n
"Russia is very attentive to the topic of nuclear nonproliferation. And we believe that everyone should be very, very cautious with nuclear rhetoric," the Kremlin's Peskov said.
\n
The chief of staff to Zelensky on Monday backed Trump's actions.
\n
"The concept of peace through strength works," Andriy Yermak wrote on social media.
\n
Both sides said on Monday they had downed dozens of enemy drones overnight in the latest barrage.
\n
Separate Russian strikes on the southern Zaporizhzhia region, part of which it controls, killed four people, Ukrainian officials said on Monday.
\n
The Russian defense ministry said on Tuesday that its forces have captured the village of Sichneve in Dnipropetrovsk region.
GENEVA — Hopes for a "last-chance" ambitious global treaty to curb plastic pollution have dimmed as delegates gather this week for a 10-day meeting at the United Nations in Geneva for what was intended to be the final round of negotiations.
\n
Diplomats and climate advocates warn that efforts by the European Union and small island states to cap virgin plastic production, fueled by petroleum, coal and gas, are threatened by opposition from petrochemical-producing countries and the US administration of President Donald Trump.
\n
Plastic production is set to triple by 2060 without intervention, choking oceans, harming human health and accelerating climate change, according to the OECD.
\n
"This is really our last best chance. As pollution grows, it deepens the burden for those who are least responsible and least able to adapt," said Ilana Seid, permanent representative of Palau and chair of the Alliance of Small Island States.
\n
Delegates met on Tuesday for the sixth round of talks, after a meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in South Korea late last year ended without a path forward on capping plastic pollution.
\n
The most divisive issues include capping production, managing plastic products and chemicals of concern, and financing to help developing countries implement the treaty.
\n
Delegates told Reuters that oil states plan to challenge key treaty provisions and push for voluntary or national measures, hindering progress toward a legally binding agreement to tackle the root cause of plastic pollution.
\n
Government spokespeople for Saudi Arabia and Russia were not immediately available for comment.
\n
Andres Del Castillo, senior attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law, a non-profit providing legal counsel to some countries attending the talks, said oil states were questioning even basic facts about the harm to health caused by plastics.
\n
"We are in a moment of revisionism, where even science is highly politicized," he said.
\n
A source familiar with the talks said the US seeks to limit the treaty's scope to downstream issues like waste disposal, recycling and product design.
\n
It comes as the US administration rolls back environmental policies, including a long-standing finding on greenhouse gas emissions endangering health.
\n
Over 1,000 delegates, including scientists and petrochemical lobbyists, will attend the talks, raising concerns among proponents of an ambitious agreement that industry influence may create a watered-down deal focused on waste management, instead of production limits.
\n
The petrochemical industry said it continues to support a global treaty and has been urging the US administration and Congress to "lean in" in negotiations.
\n
Stewart Harris, spokesman for the International Council of Chemical Associations, said the US in particular has an opportunity "not just at the negotiating table, but really on the implementation of the agreement" to promote the use of new technologies in mechanical recycling and advanced recycling, which turns plastic waste into fuels, plastics and other products, globally.
\n
Small island states are particularly impacted by plastic waste washing ashore, threatening their fishing and tourism economies.
About 500 civilians displaced from the city of Arbin in the Damascus countryside of Syria, are welcomed with a ceremony as they return to their homes from a refugee camp on the Turkish border on Monday. Their return was made possible with transportation support provided by government officials.
\n",
- "content": "
About 500 civilians displaced from the city of Arbin in the Damascus countryside of Syria, are welcomed with a ceremony as they return to their homes from a refugee camp on the Turkish border on Monday. Their return was made possible with transportation support provided by government officials.
Brazil's Supreme Court put former president Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest on Monday ahead of his trial for an alleged coup plot. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the arrest order. Bolsonaro is on trial before the Supreme Court on charges he conspired with allies to violently overturn his 2022 electoral loss to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Trump has referred to the case as a "witch hunt" and called it grounds for a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods, taking effect on Wednesday.
\n
YEMEN
\n
Shipwreck leaves 56 dead, 132 missing: UN
\n
A boat carrying African migrants that capsized over the weekend off the coast of Yemen left 56 dead and 132 missing, the UN immigration agency said on Tuesday. It is the latest in a series of shipwrecks off Yemen that have killed hundreds trying to reach wealthy Gulf countries. The vessel had 200 people on board when it sank early on Sunday off the coastal town of Shuqrah in Yemen's southern province of Abyan, the International Organization for Migration said.
",
@@ -4774,28 +5016,6 @@
"hash": "0dc3fe40d87661d8c9772d3d6d7b9d52",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "012ADVERTORIAL - BRI media and photographers explore Chongqing's modern development",
- "description": "
Media representatives from five countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative attend the Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station — Discover Chongqing Tour in July.
\n
Duisenova Sandugash, reporter from ORDA, a media portal in Kazakhstan, is at the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest Exhibition.
\n\n\n
The Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station — Discover Chongqing Tour, held in Southwest China's Chongqing and attended by photo contest winners and media professionals from five countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, concluded on July 30.
\n
Chongqing was awarded a Belt and Road Journalists Station during the 2024 Belt and Road Journalists Forum. Earlier this year, the Chongqing station collaborated with China Daily to organize an event sharing stories related to the BRI. It featured the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest and the Discover Chongqing tour.
\n
The delegation included Kirsanava Sviatlana, deputy editor-in-chief of Seven Days under BelTA of Belarus; Khonnazarov Gayrat Ergashevich, director of the international news department of the Uzbekistan National News Agency; S.M.T. Imalka, special correspondent of Chongqing TV in Sri Lanka; Duisenova Sandugash, reporter from ORDA, a media portal in Kazakhstan; and Goran Sivacki, photo editor from 24sedam, a Serbian news website.
\n
During their three-day tour, the delegation explored key sites, including the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park in Shapingba district, the Memorial Site of the Bombardment of Chongqing, Shibati Scenic Spot in Yuzhong district, Chongqing Nanshan Botanical Garden, Xiahao Lane in Nan'an district, and the Seres Super Factory (Longxing) in Liangjiang New Area. The visit aimed to provide insights into Chongqing's modern achievements, strengthen media cooperation with the city, and share valuable experiences related to participating in BRI construction.
\n
"I have traveled to China on several occasions and have previously shared a lot about the country on my personal Instagram account. During my first visit to Chongqing this time, I have captured a wealth of material and would love to share the stories of this wonderful city to my fans as well," said Duisenova Sandugash from Kazakhstan.
\n
The event culminated in a sharing session on the final day, bringing together the BRI delegation and media representatives from the hosts China Daily and the Western China International Communication Organization, at the WCICO park in Chongqing.
\n
During his speech at the session, Gong Zhengzheng, director of China Daily's business development department, highlighted the event's success. "These activities have drawn wide attention since their launch," he said.
\n
He added that they had received a total of 351 submissions from 12 countries — Sri Lanka, Argentina, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Peru, Namibia, South Africa, Serbia, India, and China. These submissions consist of 147 international and 204 domestic entries.
\n
"This is not only a professional gathering for media personnel but also an event for cultural exchanges and friendship," said Tang Jianping, general manager of the WCICO, at the session.
\n
She added that the Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station has established a comprehensive cooperative network with media outlets from countries involved in the BRI, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation through innovative approaches, including multilingual reporting, collaborative productions, and reciprocal visits.
\n
On the same day, the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest Exhibition took place at the WCICO park, showcasing an array of outstanding photos submitted to the contest.
\n
Chongqing, a pivotal transport hub and economic center in southwestern China, has embraced the BRI since its inception. This megacity, with a population of 32 million, boasts key geographic advantages as a connecting point for the BRI and the Yangtze River Economic Belt. It is also a strategic transportation hub within China's national development program for China's western regions and the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle.
\n
In 2017, the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Initiative launched the International Land-Sea Trade Corridor project in a bid to increase connectivity and trade between western China and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
\n
Over the past few years, the trade corridor's logistics network has expanded rapidly — it connects Europe to Southeast Asia with Chongqing as a key rail hub. Statistics show, as of 2024, the route reached 555 ports in 127 countries and regions.
\n
The city collaborates closely with participating countries and regions in infrastructure, trade, people-to-people exchanges, technology, environmental protection, agriculture, healthcare, education, and other areas. It has not only achieved significant economic progress but played a crucial role in promoting cultural exchanges and deepening mutual understanding.
\n
According to local authorities, the city's GDP exceeded 3.2 trillion yuan ($443.7 billion) in 2024, doubling from a decade ago. Between 2020 and 2024, Chongqing's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.6 percent.
\n",
- "content": "
Media representatives from five countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative attend the Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station — Discover Chongqing Tour in July.
\n
Duisenova Sandugash, reporter from ORDA, a media portal in Kazakhstan, is at the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest Exhibition.
\n\n\n
The Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station — Discover Chongqing Tour, held in Southwest China's Chongqing and attended by photo contest winners and media professionals from five countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, concluded on July 30.
\n
Chongqing was awarded a Belt and Road Journalists Station during the 2024 Belt and Road Journalists Forum. Earlier this year, the Chongqing station collaborated with China Daily to organize an event sharing stories related to the BRI. It featured the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest and the Discover Chongqing tour.
\n
The delegation included Kirsanava Sviatlana, deputy editor-in-chief of Seven Days under BelTA of Belarus; Khonnazarov Gayrat Ergashevich, director of the international news department of the Uzbekistan National News Agency; S.M.T. Imalka, special correspondent of Chongqing TV in Sri Lanka; Duisenova Sandugash, reporter from ORDA, a media portal in Kazakhstan; and Goran Sivacki, photo editor from 24sedam, a Serbian news website.
\n
During their three-day tour, the delegation explored key sites, including the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park in Shapingba district, the Memorial Site of the Bombardment of Chongqing, Shibati Scenic Spot in Yuzhong district, Chongqing Nanshan Botanical Garden, Xiahao Lane in Nan'an district, and the Seres Super Factory (Longxing) in Liangjiang New Area. The visit aimed to provide insights into Chongqing's modern achievements, strengthen media cooperation with the city, and share valuable experiences related to participating in BRI construction.
\n
"I have traveled to China on several occasions and have previously shared a lot about the country on my personal Instagram account. During my first visit to Chongqing this time, I have captured a wealth of material and would love to share the stories of this wonderful city to my fans as well," said Duisenova Sandugash from Kazakhstan.
\n
The event culminated in a sharing session on the final day, bringing together the BRI delegation and media representatives from the hosts China Daily and the Western China International Communication Organization, at the WCICO park in Chongqing.
\n
During his speech at the session, Gong Zhengzheng, director of China Daily's business development department, highlighted the event's success. "These activities have drawn wide attention since their launch," he said.
\n
He added that they had received a total of 351 submissions from 12 countries — Sri Lanka, Argentina, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Peru, Namibia, South Africa, Serbia, India, and China. These submissions consist of 147 international and 204 domestic entries.
\n
"This is not only a professional gathering for media personnel but also an event for cultural exchanges and friendship," said Tang Jianping, general manager of the WCICO, at the session.
\n
She added that the Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station has established a comprehensive cooperative network with media outlets from countries involved in the BRI, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation through innovative approaches, including multilingual reporting, collaborative productions, and reciprocal visits.
\n
On the same day, the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest Exhibition took place at the WCICO park, showcasing an array of outstanding photos submitted to the contest.
\n
Chongqing, a pivotal transport hub and economic center in southwestern China, has embraced the BRI since its inception. This megacity, with a population of 32 million, boasts key geographic advantages as a connecting point for the BRI and the Yangtze River Economic Belt. It is also a strategic transportation hub within China's national development program for China's western regions and the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle.
\n
In 2017, the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Initiative launched the International Land-Sea Trade Corridor project in a bid to increase connectivity and trade between western China and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
\n
Over the past few years, the trade corridor's logistics network has expanded rapidly — it connects Europe to Southeast Asia with Chongqing as a key rail hub. Statistics show, as of 2024, the route reached 555 ports in 127 countries and regions.
\n
The city collaborates closely with participating countries and regions in infrastructure, trade, people-to-people exchanges, technology, environmental protection, agriculture, healthcare, education, and other areas. It has not only achieved significant economic progress but played a crucial role in promoting cultural exchanges and deepening mutual understanding.
\n
According to local authorities, the city's GDP exceeded 3.2 trillion yuan ($443.7 billion) in 2024, doubling from a decade ago. Between 2020 and 2024, Chongqing's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.6 percent.
On July 30, a session bringing together photo contest winners and media professionals from five countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, along with media representatives from the hosts, China Daily and the Western China International Communication Organization, was held at the WCICO park in Southwest China's Chongqing.
\n
As an important part of the Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station — Discover Chongqing Tour held from July 28 to 30, it not only bolstered media cooperation and exchanges with Chongqing but aimed to promote the sharing of high-quality experiences in BRI participation, the organizers said.
\n
During the sharing session, three winners from the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest and two seasoned media professionals offered insights on the BRI, drawing from their unique narratives and diverse backgrounds.
\n
\n
"The Belt and Road Initiative has brought many benefits to our country, and the Colombo Port City is a testament to this. As a key project in the joint construction of the Belt and Road between China and Sri Lanka, this emerging new city in the Indian Ocean is becoming a golden link connecting Sri Lanka to the global market. Being able to witness the Colombo Port City gradually transform from a blueprint into reality, I deeply feel the enormous potential brought by the BRI. I believe this is not only a successful construction project but also a win-win path that creates prosperity for Sri Lanka and opens up new opportunities for deepening cooperation with China."
\n
S.M.T. Imalka, special correspondent of Chongqing TV in Sri Lanka
\n
\n
"When I first encountered China's Belt and Road Initiative, it resonated strongly within me. I firmly believe this is a grand path worth walking hand in hand together. As a media professional, being able to personally engage in this magnificent endeavor fills me with deep pride. In the past, trade routes were arduous and could take months to traverse; now, we can reach our destination within a day. With over 1,700 kilometers of shared border, China and Kazakhstan possess one of the world's longest land borders, serving as a vibrant lifeline. Landmark facilities such as the China-Kazakhstan Khorgos International Border Cooperation Center, the dry port located in the Khorgos-East Gate special economic zone, and the Khorgos and Kalzhat ports are modern gateways that connect Kazakhstan to China and the world."
\n
Duisenova Sandugash, reporter from ORDA, a media portal in Kazakhstan
\n
\n
"This is my second time visiting Chongqing, but it feels like the first, because this city is so beautiful and vast that I believe people who live their entire lives here cannot manage to explore and experience all its wonders. However, what everyone certainly feels and experiences in this city are the people, their kindness, smiles, and the love they extend to all others. The photos I made came about as an idea that came from the news that there is a girl working as a driver of a big dumper truck in the Zijin Copper Serbia mine, which is not a normal job for a young girl. After that, I contacted the PR of the mine and they allowed me and my colleague to come and make a report. When we went there we were pleasantly surprised with a few other things that the mine management does."
\n
Goran Sivacki, photo editor with over 25 years of professional photography experience from 24sedam, a Serbian news website
\n
\n
"This is my first visit to China, and I am delighted to witness the connectivity at play. During our first-day visit to the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park, I saw the Belt and Road route map, illustrating how logistics originate from Chongqing, pass through Central Asia, and finally reach Belarus. Our news agency covers news in seven languages, including Chinese. I aspire to portray Chongqing's economic vigor, cultural allure, the individuals propelling urban development, and the locals' zest for life through the medium of Chinese. I hope that our reports will facilitate media exchanges between China and Belarus, enabling more individuals to understand and develop an affinity for Chongqing."
\n
Kirsanava Sviatlana, deputy editor-in-chief of Seven Days under BelTA of Belarus
\n
\n
"This marks my third visit to China, having previously explored Beijing and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Of all the highlights during my time in Chongqing, the Chongqing Planning Exhibition Gallery stands out for its encapsulation of the city's rich history and vibrant present. Chongqing, with its vast urban landscape, modernity intertwined with history, and an atmosphere of limitless potential, radiates a distinct allure. As a journalist from the Uzbekistan National News Agency, my goal is to transform my firsthand experiences and observations in this city into engaging narratives for our readers."
\n
Khonnazarov Gayrat Ergashevich, director of the international news department of the Uzbekistan National News Agency
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.96 percent to close at 3617.60 points on Tuesday.
\n
Rising interest in Chinese assets both at home and abroad reflects investor confidence in the development of emerging industries and ongoing capital market reforms, said experts.
\n
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.96 percent to close at 3617.60 points on Tuesday, returning to the key 3600-point level. The Shenzhen Component Index gained 0.59 percent while the tech-heavy ChiNext in Shenzhen also added 0.39 percent. Combined trading value on the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses approached 1.6 trillion yuan ($220 billion), up 6.5 percent from the previous trading day.
\n
Telecommunication, consumer electronics, plastic products, insurance and auto parts companies led the Tuesday rally.
\n
Chinese assets also recorded a bullish performance in overseas markets. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index — a tracker of Chinese companies trading on US exchanges — at one point jumped 1.8 percent during Monday trade.
\n
The latest data from China International Capital Corp Ltd showed that actively managed capital has returned to the Hong Kong market, the first time since October last year. This may signal a subtle change in foreign investors' strategies for exposure to Chinese assets, they said.
\n
According to a recent UBS Wealth Management report, 19 percent of the global family offices, or firms managing wealth of ultra high net worth individuals plan to increase their investment in China area in 2025. Such firms based in the Middle East have shown the biggest interest.
\n
Marina Lui, China head of UBS Wealth Management, said that some institutional investors, which have had underweight Chinese assets in the past, have increased their exposure this year. A lot of capital has entered the Chinese onshore market this year via the qualified foreign institutional investors program. All these reflect strong interest in China-related investment.
\n
Chinese companies specializing in artificial intelligence, new energy and healthcare, and those generating high dividends like banks, have shown much appeal to overseas investors. The eye-catching performance of tech firms trading in Hong Kong so far this year has drawn rising attention from institutional investors, added Lui.
\n
Zhu Liang, chief investment officer for international asset manager AllianceBernstein in China, said they hold a positive outlook on Chinese assets with longer durations given the current macroeconomic landscape. Companies providing higher dividends and those specializing in new quality productive forces, especially those with intensive intangible assets, as well as consumption companies providing new types of consumer experiences — for example mini figures and collectibles — are likely to show stronger performance, Zhu said.
\n
More importantly, the long-term investment value of Chinese assets has been increasing, he said, adding that Chinese top regulators' requirements on improving listed companies' governance and market value management have led to more cases of companies' stock buybacks and dividend distribution. More support is being given to private enterprises, and foreign investors are thus drawn by these improvements.
\n
But experts from China Merchants Securities said that the A-share market may fluctuate till mid-August. Some companies which have seen their prices spike in previous months may undergo some price adjustments as their latest fiscal results will be released in the first half of this month, they said.
\n
shijing@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.96 percent to close at 3617.60 points on Tuesday.
\n
Rising interest in Chinese assets both at home and abroad reflects investor confidence in the development of emerging industries and ongoing capital market reforms, said experts.
\n
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.96 percent to close at 3617.60 points on Tuesday, returning to the key 3600-point level. The Shenzhen Component Index gained 0.59 percent while the tech-heavy ChiNext in Shenzhen also added 0.39 percent. Combined trading value on the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses approached 1.6 trillion yuan ($220 billion), up 6.5 percent from the previous trading day.
\n
Telecommunication, consumer electronics, plastic products, insurance and auto parts companies led the Tuesday rally.
\n
Chinese assets also recorded a bullish performance in overseas markets. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index — a tracker of Chinese companies trading on US exchanges — at one point jumped 1.8 percent during Monday trade.
\n
The latest data from China International Capital Corp Ltd showed that actively managed capital has returned to the Hong Kong market, the first time since October last year. This may signal a subtle change in foreign investors' strategies for exposure to Chinese assets, they said.
\n
According to a recent UBS Wealth Management report, 19 percent of the global family offices, or firms managing wealth of ultra high net worth individuals plan to increase their investment in China area in 2025. Such firms based in the Middle East have shown the biggest interest.
\n
Marina Lui, China head of UBS Wealth Management, said that some institutional investors, which have had underweight Chinese assets in the past, have increased their exposure this year. A lot of capital has entered the Chinese onshore market this year via the qualified foreign institutional investors program. All these reflect strong interest in China-related investment.
\n
Chinese companies specializing in artificial intelligence, new energy and healthcare, and those generating high dividends like banks, have shown much appeal to overseas investors. The eye-catching performance of tech firms trading in Hong Kong so far this year has drawn rising attention from institutional investors, added Lui.
\n
Zhu Liang, chief investment officer for international asset manager AllianceBernstein in China, said they hold a positive outlook on Chinese assets with longer durations given the current macroeconomic landscape. Companies providing higher dividends and those specializing in new quality productive forces, especially those with intensive intangible assets, as well as consumption companies providing new types of consumer experiences — for example mini figures and collectibles — are likely to show stronger performance, Zhu said.
\n
More importantly, the long-term investment value of Chinese assets has been increasing, he said, adding that Chinese top regulators' requirements on improving listed companies' governance and market value management have led to more cases of companies' stock buybacks and dividend distribution. More support is being given to private enterprises, and foreign investors are thus drawn by these improvements.
\n
But experts from China Merchants Securities said that the A-share market may fluctuate till mid-August. Some companies which have seen their prices spike in previous months may undergo some price adjustments as their latest fiscal results will be released in the first half of this month, they said.
A worker from Xiuwen Railway Station in Shanxi province toils amid scorching heat, which hit Yuci, soaring to over 35 C. The station's crew needs to uncouple and realign more than 600 trains each day to safeguard smooth operations.
China's services trade maintained steady growth in the first half, with total imports and exports reaching 3.89 trillion yuan ($544.9 billion), up 8 percent year-on-year, the Ministry of Commerce said. Specifically, service exports rose 15 percent to 1.69 trillion yuan, while imports increased 3.2 percent to 2.2 trillion yuan, according to the ministry's data. The services trade deficit narrowed by 152.2 billion yuan compared to the same period last year.
\n
Yuan strengthens against greenback
\n
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 29 pips to 7.1366 against the US dollar on Tuesday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System. In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day.
\n",
- "content": "
Services trade grows 8% in first half
\n
China's services trade maintained steady growth in the first half, with total imports and exports reaching 3.89 trillion yuan ($544.9 billion), up 8 percent year-on-year, the Ministry of Commerce said. Specifically, service exports rose 15 percent to 1.69 trillion yuan, while imports increased 3.2 percent to 2.2 trillion yuan, according to the ministry's data. The services trade deficit narrowed by 152.2 billion yuan compared to the same period last year.
\n
Yuan strengthens against greenback
\n
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 29 pips to 7.1366 against the US dollar on Tuesday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System. In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day.
China's childcare subsidy, set at a standard 3,600 yuan ($501) per year for each child under the age of three, is expected to provide financial relief for families, potentially boosting household consumption, analysts said.
\n
This people-centric approach to policymaking is likely to foreshadow further increases in public spending on areas that directly benefit households, such as housing and pension going forward, they added.
\n
"The childcare subsidy marks the first time since the founding of New China that the government has provided nationwide, universal, and direct cash payments to the public as a form of social welfare support," said Guo Yanhong, deputy head of the National Health Commission.
\n
The subsidy is available to all eligible children, regardless of whether they live in urban or rural areas, their ethnicity, region, or whether they are the first, second or third child in the family, Guo said.
\n
"This represents a significant policy measure designed to bring tangible benefits to the people," Guo added.
\n
Childcare subsidy applications will be gradually rolled out across the country later this month, with full access expected by Aug 31, according to the commission.
\n
Based on the 3,600 yuan annual subsidy per child and an estimated 9 million births per year, the total payout could reach over 1 trillion yuan when accounting for children up to age 3, said Luo Zhiheng, chief economist at Yuekai Securities.
\n
"As families use this additional money to purchase everything from baby formula to childcare services, it will generate substantial income for businesses and workers in those sectors," Luo said. "This creates a positive economic feedback loop."
\n
"Given the scale of these subsidies, the boost to consumer demand is likely to be in the hundreds of billions of yuan. And when you factor in the downstream impacts on employment, production, and investment, the overall economic benefits could be substantially higher," he added.
\n
According to the Ministry of Finance, the central government will establish the childcare subsidy fund, and for this year, about 90 billion yuan has been earmarked in the preliminary budget allocation.
\n
Regarding the funding required for distributing basic national standard subsidies, the central government will provide matching funds to local governments on a pro rata basis, with the central treasury bearing approximately 90 percent of the total cost.
\n
Huang Wenzheng, executive director of Beijing-based think tank Yuwa Population Research, said: "The 3,600 yuan benchmark is primarily determined by current fiscal capacity. Additionally, with the program still in its initial phase, investment will remain modest."
\n
Analysts said the childcare subsidy program is a symbolic shift toward greater investment in people and their livelihoods, signaling broader policy changes to come.
\n
"We've witnessed a strategic shift at the national level in recent years, gradually moving away from an investment model focused primarily on physical assets toward one that prioritizes human capital development," said Luo of Yuekai Securities.
\n
"Given the demographic challenges China faces, such as population aging and declining birth rates, we can expect to see an even greater emphasis on pro-family policies and initiatives that bolster human capital formation," Luo added.
\n
A State Council executive meeting on July 25 called for the gradual implementation of free preschool education.
\n
Going forward, policymakers could deliver deeper social security reforms, such as easier access to public housing and healthcare for migrant workers, which will reduce people's precautionary saving habits and unleash huge consumption potential, said Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley.
\n
"To deliver that, China needs to do huge fiscal transfer to the benefits system," Xing said. "It's probably the central government's turn to try to fill the gap by either channeling dividends from State-owned capital to the social security system, or gradually shifting China's policy focus from supporting infrastructure to spending more on social welfare."
China has unveiled detailed guidance on a new tax credit policy aimed at encouraging foreign investors to reinvest their profits in the country, as it steps up efforts to stabilize foreign capital inflows and boost long-term investment amid rising global economic uncertainties.
\n
The State Taxation Administration released a new notice clarifying how foreign investors can apply for and use tax credits when they reinvest their distributable profits into Chinese companies. The policy allows eligible investors to offset Chinese tax liabilities if they commit to keeping the investment in China for at least five years.
\n
Under the new rules, foreign companies that use profits distributed by their Chinese subsidiaries to make direct equity investments — such as capital increases or establishing new ventures — can apply for a tax credit equal to 10 percent of the reinvested amount. Alternatively, they may opt for a lower rate based on applicable bilateral tax treaties.
\n
For example, a foreign company that reinvests 10 million yuan ($1.39 million) in distributed profits can select a 10 percent credit worth 1 million yuan. If it later sells the investment after five years, it must repay the deferred withholding tax, but the credit can offset that amount.
\n
Li Xuhong, a professor at the Beijing National Accounting Institute, said: "The policy reduces the tax burden on foreign enterprises and supports the stable development of China's economy. At the same time, it sends a strong signal that China welcomes long-term investment."
\n
The guidance lays out various scenarios — from simple equity infusions to reinvestments via profit-derived cash or noncash assets like securities or equipment. It also details the process of calculating credit entitlements and managing them over time.
\n
Although the incentive is currently slated to run from Jan 1, 2025 through Dec 31,2028, companies can continue to use any unused tax credit balances after the deadline.
\n
Bai Yanfeng, a professor from the Central University of Finance and Economics, said, "Such a provision better takes into account the actual needs of foreign investors and supports them in continuing to share in the growth dividends of Chinese companies."
China has unveiled detailed guidance on a new tax credit policy aimed at encouraging foreign investors to reinvest their profits in the country, as it steps up efforts to stabilize foreign capital inflows and boost long-term investment amid rising global economic uncertainties.
\n
The State Taxation Administration released a new notice clarifying how foreign investors can apply for and use tax credits when they reinvest their distributable profits into Chinese companies. The policy allows eligible investors to offset Chinese tax liabilities if they commit to keeping the investment in China for at least five years.
\n
Under the new rules, foreign companies that use profits distributed by their Chinese subsidiaries to make direct equity investments — such as capital increases or establishing new ventures — can apply for a tax credit equal to 10 percent of the reinvested amount. Alternatively, they may opt for a lower rate based on applicable bilateral tax treaties.
\n
For example, a foreign company that reinvests 10 million yuan ($1.39 million) in distributed profits can select a 10 percent credit worth 1 million yuan. If it later sells the investment after five years, it must repay the deferred withholding tax, but the credit can offset that amount.
\n
Li Xuhong, a professor at the Beijing National Accounting Institute, said: "The policy reduces the tax burden on foreign enterprises and supports the stable development of China's economy. At the same time, it sends a strong signal that China welcomes long-term investment."
\n
The guidance lays out various scenarios — from simple equity infusions to reinvestments via profit-derived cash or noncash assets like securities or equipment. It also details the process of calculating credit entitlements and managing them over time.
\n
Although the incentive is currently slated to run from Jan 1, 2025 through Dec 31,2028, companies can continue to use any unused tax credit balances after the deadline.
\n
Bai Yanfeng, a professor from the Central University of Finance and Economics, said, "Such a provision better takes into account the actual needs of foreign investors and supports them in continuing to share in the growth dividends of Chinese companies."
The world's first cargo flight to an offshore oil platform, conducted by a domestically developed 2-metric-ton electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, demonstrates the immense potential of integrating low-altitude aviation with ocean-based industries, as well as the value of heavy-load eVTOLs in long-distance missions, experts said.
\n
To accelerate the application of eVTOLs in marine scenarios, they emphasized the necessity for design adjustments tailored to marine environments, integration with diverse engineering projects, and technology upgrades for greater performance.
\n
In a vital leap for China's low-altitude economy, the eVTOL craft, named CarryAll, recently transported fresh fruit and emergency medical supplies from Shenzhen, Guangdong province to the Huizhou 19-3 platform, located 150 kilometers off the coast of Shenzhen, slashing transport time from 10 hours to just 58 minutes.
\n
The test flight was part of a joint initiative by China National Offshore Oil Corp, Citic Offshore Helicopter Co and Autoflight. They jointly announced the breakthrough on Sunday.
\n
For decades, CNOOC relied on slow-moving vessels — a journey of 10 hours per trip — or costly helicopters to transport supplies and personnel. The eVTOL offers a third option: autonomous, fast, and scalable logistics even for platforms with limited landing space.
\n
"This successful flight breaks the traditional time constraints of offshore logistics and offers new possibilities for emergency supply and maritime engineering support," said Yang Daqing, secretary-general of the port and shipping supply chain branch of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing. "It's a major step in integrating low-altitude aviation into ocean-based industries."
\n
Wang Guowen, director of the center for logistics and supply chain management at Shenzhen-based think tank, the China Development Institute, highlighted that Carry-All's hybrid fixed-wing and rotor design enhances energy efficiency, enabling low-cost air transport and addressing traditional eVTOL limitations in range and payload.
\n
He added that this hybrid configuration is an important direction for the future development of low-altitude transportation, whether for cargo or passenger transport.
\n
Notably, CarryAll is the world's first eVTOL over 1 ton to receive a type certificate, production license, and individual airworthiness certificate. Featuring a composite wing, it boasts a range of 200 kilometers, a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour, and a payload capacity of 400 kilograms.
\n
According to Xie Jia, senior vice-president at Autoflight, the aircraft passed key reliability tests, including hovering, cross-sea navigation, and vertical takeoff and landing, so as to better adapt to the South China Sea's challenging environment, characterized by high salt spray, humidity and strong gusts.
\n
This landmark flight follows a strategic agreement signed in April between CITIC Offshore Helicopter, Citic Financial Leasing, and Autoflight, which includes an intent to purchase 100 large eVTOL aircraft, including the 2-ton CarryAll.
\n
According to estimates by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the low-altitude economy could reach 3.5 trillion yuan ($480 billion) by 2035, and innovative applications in marine environments are expected to be an important growth driver.
\n
China's 20,000-kilometer coastline and growing offshore infrastructure create strong demand for fast, flexible aerial logistics, Yang said. He believes that offshore oil and gas, marine petrochemicals, desalination and coastal mining are among the sectors that could benefit most from scaled-up eVTOL deployment.
\n
In his view, CarryAll has delivered strong performance in payload capacity, transportation timeliness, and range during this mission, extending the application of low-altitude transport into maritime scenarios and further expanding the potential of the low-altitude economy.
\n
In future maritime logistics missions, Yang said he hopes that this type of eVTOL will focus on the transportation of high-value and quickly needed items, working in synergy with unmanned vessels.
Visitors play at an indoor snow-themed entertainment zone in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on July 9.
\n
The popularity of indoor activities such as indoor skiing, surfing, fishing, rock climbing and nighttime museum visits is on the rise, as holidaymakers escape from the intense heat across the country this summer.
\n
In particular, the off-season experience of going skiing in summer, with the air conditioning blazing away, has been a big hit for those living in the southern part of the country, as the scorching temperatures continue outside and many locals have never seen snow before.
\n
Since July, booking volumes at indoor skiing venues and ice and snow parks nationwide have doubled year-on-year, according to Qunar, a Beijing-based online travel agency.
\n
"Compared with the north, indoor ski resorts have been more popular in the south. Since July, eight out of the 10 most popular domestic ice and snow worlds have been located in southern Chinese cities," said Zhang Zhongyin, a Qunar researcher.
\n
Specifically, booking volumes at Sunac Snow Park in Guangzhou, Guangdong province since July have jumped fourfold year-on-year. And the popularity of Taicang Alps Resort — a recreational area in Suzhou, Jiangsu province that includes a ski slope, a resort and shopping streets — has driven reservations at nearby hotels by 40 percent on a yearly basis, Qunar said.
\n
In addition to skiing, more indoor businesses have emerged for typically outdoor activities such as sea fishing and surfing, as consumers seek to beat the heat, test their angling acumen or hang ten.
\n
Zhang Xiaojie, a five-year-old boy, recently checked out an indoor seaside pavilion in Beijing, where he can fish just like at the seaside.
\n
"The familiar smell of the sea comes to my face. My feet are on the special sand, and I can search for different marine creatures such as starfish, hermit crabs and shells," Zhang said.
\n
His parents said they planned to bring Zhang to the seaside, but due to extremely hot weather, they chose an indoor venue instead, and their son was thrilled by the experience.
\n
In July, the searching volumes of indoor activities such as indoor seaside pavilions and indoor surfing nationwide surged tenfold over June, Qunar found.
\n
Meanwhile, the night economy has continued to heat up this summer with cooler temperatures occurring after sundown. Major scenic spots, theme parks, museums and zoos have extended their opening hours or launched special night tours — such as light shows and night performances — to attract more visitors.
\n
Hong Yong, an associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said the most active period for nighttime consumption is typically summertime, as people are more willing to go out for activities and consumption with suitable weather and longer daylight hours.
\n
"Some innovative business models such as nighttime cultural and creative markets, and 24-hour cultural and leisure spaces, can be further developed to stimulate consumption potential," Hong said.
\n
Museums have also started to embrace the darkness. For example, the National Natural History Museum of China in Beijing has extended its opening hours until 9 pm from mid-July to Aug 15. After dark, the museum fashions the facade of the building into a jumbo-sized screen and puts on a riveting light performance through 3D projections, with the show interpreting 4.6 billion years of the history of the Earth.
\n
The museum has also introduced different night sessions and events that allow museumgoers to stay overnight at exhibition halls in tents, with children able to enjoy in-depth learning experiences.
\n
The "Night at the Museum" program has been a result of integration between cultural value and the upgrading of the cultural tourism sector, Zhang of Qunar said.
\n
"With the application of artificial intelligence and light technologies, static cultural knowledge has been transformed into immersive products, providing tourists with a more in-depth experience and driving the upgrading of cultural and tourism consumption," Zhang said.
\n
zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Visitors play at an indoor snow-themed entertainment zone in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on July 9.
\n
The popularity of indoor activities such as indoor skiing, surfing, fishing, rock climbing and nighttime museum visits is on the rise, as holidaymakers escape from the intense heat across the country this summer.
\n
In particular, the off-season experience of going skiing in summer, with the air conditioning blazing away, has been a big hit for those living in the southern part of the country, as the scorching temperatures continue outside and many locals have never seen snow before.
\n
Since July, booking volumes at indoor skiing venues and ice and snow parks nationwide have doubled year-on-year, according to Qunar, a Beijing-based online travel agency.
\n
"Compared with the north, indoor ski resorts have been more popular in the south. Since July, eight out of the 10 most popular domestic ice and snow worlds have been located in southern Chinese cities," said Zhang Zhongyin, a Qunar researcher.
\n
Specifically, booking volumes at Sunac Snow Park in Guangzhou, Guangdong province since July have jumped fourfold year-on-year. And the popularity of Taicang Alps Resort — a recreational area in Suzhou, Jiangsu province that includes a ski slope, a resort and shopping streets — has driven reservations at nearby hotels by 40 percent on a yearly basis, Qunar said.
\n
In addition to skiing, more indoor businesses have emerged for typically outdoor activities such as sea fishing and surfing, as consumers seek to beat the heat, test their angling acumen or hang ten.
\n
Zhang Xiaojie, a five-year-old boy, recently checked out an indoor seaside pavilion in Beijing, where he can fish just like at the seaside.
\n
"The familiar smell of the sea comes to my face. My feet are on the special sand, and I can search for different marine creatures such as starfish, hermit crabs and shells," Zhang said.
\n
His parents said they planned to bring Zhang to the seaside, but due to extremely hot weather, they chose an indoor venue instead, and their son was thrilled by the experience.
\n
In July, the searching volumes of indoor activities such as indoor seaside pavilions and indoor surfing nationwide surged tenfold over June, Qunar found.
\n
Meanwhile, the night economy has continued to heat up this summer with cooler temperatures occurring after sundown. Major scenic spots, theme parks, museums and zoos have extended their opening hours or launched special night tours — such as light shows and night performances — to attract more visitors.
\n
Hong Yong, an associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said the most active period for nighttime consumption is typically summertime, as people are more willing to go out for activities and consumption with suitable weather and longer daylight hours.
\n
"Some innovative business models such as nighttime cultural and creative markets, and 24-hour cultural and leisure spaces, can be further developed to stimulate consumption potential," Hong said.
\n
Museums have also started to embrace the darkness. For example, the National Natural History Museum of China in Beijing has extended its opening hours until 9 pm from mid-July to Aug 15. After dark, the museum fashions the facade of the building into a jumbo-sized screen and puts on a riveting light performance through 3D projections, with the show interpreting 4.6 billion years of the history of the Earth.
\n
The museum has also introduced different night sessions and events that allow museumgoers to stay overnight at exhibition halls in tents, with children able to enjoy in-depth learning experiences.
\n
The "Night at the Museum" program has been a result of integration between cultural value and the upgrading of the cultural tourism sector, Zhang of Qunar said.
\n
"With the application of artificial intelligence and light technologies, static cultural knowledge has been transformed into immersive products, providing tourists with a more in-depth experience and driving the upgrading of cultural and tourism consumption," Zhang said.
\n
zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn
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"title": "014BUSINESS - Apollo Go teams up with Lyft for Europe launch",
"description": "
Apollo Go, Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing unit, announced a strategic partnership with Lyft, a global mobility platform, on Monday, marking a significant step in the Chinese tech giant's international expansion.
\n
According to the statement, Apollo Go will launch autonomous ride-hailing services in Europe via Lyft's vast transportation networks by 2026. Using its sixth-generation autonomous vehicles, the services will first launch in Germany and the United Kingdom.
\n
The partnership also envisions expanding the fleet to several thousand vehicles across Europe in the following years, driving large-scale commercialization of autonomous mobility in the region, the companies said.
\n
"This collaboration with Lyft to launch autonomous ride-hailing in Europe, starting with Germany and the UK, is a major milestone in Apollo Go's globalization strategy," said Robin Li, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Baidu.
\n
Li added that Baidu will continue to deepen the integration of its cutting-edge autonomous driving technology with Lyft's operational expertise, delivering safer, greener and more efficient mobility experiences to users across Europe.
\n
Lyft CEO David Risher also noted that as the Chinese tech heavyweight operates the world's largest autonomous ride-hailing platform, the cooperation is expected to bring invaluable experience to the table.
\n
"This means we can offer the benefits of autonomous mobility — safety, reliability, and privacy — to millions of users across Europe," Risher said.
\n
Apollo Go has been accelerating its global footprint through worldwide collaborations. Earlier this year, the company launched pilot services in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. More recently, it reached a separate agreement with Uber to integrate thousands of autonomous vehicles into Uber's global ride-hailing network.
\n
The tech player is also playing a growing role in advancing smart mobility and enriching cultural tourism in China.
\n
Earlier this month, the company launched Hainan province's first full-scenario autonomous ride-hailing service in the province's capital city of Haikou, with pilot routes covering major cultural and tourist landmarks such as Holiday Beach and Qilou Old Street.
\n
Local residents and tourists can conveniently hail a ride via a mobile app or WeChat mini-program and have the option of activating a Hainan-style voice assistant during the ride, according to Apollo Go.
\n
"I used to just see autonomous vehicles online, now it's actually in my city!" said a Haikou resident surnamed Yang.
\n
"The ride was incredibly smart and user-friendly. You can even recline the seat and enjoy a massage. I can see that visitors are amazed by the high-tech vibe of transportation in Hainan," Yang said.
\n
"We hope smart mobility can ease travel congestion during peak seasons while offering a unique experience that reflects both the convenience of the free trade port and the laid-back lifestyle of Hainan," said an official from the Hainan provincial department of culture, radio, film, television, publications and sports.
\n
According to Apollo Go, the company has to date deployed over 1,000 autonomous vehicles across 15 cities globally, delivering more than 11 million rides, with domestic coverage including major cities such as Beijing; Shanghai; Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province; and Haikou.
A drone image shows the construction site of the Dongtingxi Yuanshui Grand Bridge project, which is located on a section of the Zhangjiajie-Guanzhuang Expressway, in Huaihua, Hunan province, on Sunday. The expressway aims to facilitate links among three major tourism and economic regions of Hunan — Zhangjiajie, Huaihua and Xiangxi.
\n",
- "content": "
A drone image shows the construction site of the Dongtingxi Yuanshui Grand Bridge project, which is located on a section of the Zhangjiajie-Guanzhuang Expressway, in Huaihua, Hunan province, on Sunday. The expressway aims to facilitate links among three major tourism and economic regions of Hunan — Zhangjiajie, Huaihua and Xiangxi.
Customers take photos at a McDonald's restaurant in Zhengzhou, Henan province, in May.
\n
McDonald's China's plan to open 1,000 new stores annually and reach as many as 10,000 locations by 2028 is on track, boosted by innovation and localization, according to its top executive.
\n
The food service chain unveiled a report recently to mark the eighth anniversary of its transition to a developmental licensee model under the "Jin Gong Men" (golden arches) banner. McDonald's China was acquired by a consortium led by CITIC Capital in 2017.
\n
The report coincides with the company's rapid expansion, with more than 7,100 outlets across 280 cities — more than triple the number in 2017 — and over 1.3 billion annual customer visits.
\n
Phyllis Cheung, CEO of McDonald's China, said, "The 'Jin Gong Men' model — a global brand empowered by local ownership and operations — has enabled us to respond faster to market dynamics, drive innovation, and scale impact across food, sustainability, talent, and community."
\n
McDonald's China has committed to local execution across management, operations, and innovation. Cheung said the fully localized management team allows the company to stay "closer to customers" and move "faster than ever", making decisions independently and feeding successful China-born innovations, like its spicy menu series and CUBE-style restaurant design, back into McDonald's global system.
\n
"We have a Chinese team and Chinese speed. That's our local advantage," Cheung said. "Even our suppliers in China are producing to a level where their products — like pies and chicken — are being considered for global distribution."
\n
Speaking on store expansion, the CEO said the chain "has long-term confidence in the Chinese market "and is opening two to three new stores every day. "By year-end, we will expand into the Ningxia Hui autonomous region and Qinghai province, achieving 100 percent coverage of all provincial-level administrative regions on the Chinese mainland."
\n
The company also plans to penetrate further in the market to accelerate development into third and fourth-tier cities. China's consumer landscape is evolving rapidly, with a growing focus on value-for-money and a dislike of overpaying. McDonald's has responded with pricing innovations such as its 22.9 yuan ($3.18) set meal known as the "Big Bite Meal".
\n
The company considers its supply chain one of its pillars of strength. With over 90 percent of ingredients sourced locally, the company leverages its supply chain to maintain pricing power and quality. It has invested more than 12 billion yuan alongside suppliers in the past five years to build the McDonald's China supply chain ecosystem.
\n
Innovation has also propelled its communication with consumers. Its menu is continuously refreshed with offerings catering to local tastes and consumption trends, such as the breakfast combo (9.9 yuan) and protein-packed beef burger for fitness-focused consumers.
\n
Digital transformation also enhances its customer experiences. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald's China orders are placed via mobile devices or self-order kiosks. More than 6,000 stores feature smart pick-up lockers, allowing contactless retrieval through QR code scans.
\n
They are not just digitizing operations, said the CEO. "Customers can choose when and how to place and pick up their orders, giving them a sense of autonomy and control," Cheung said.
\n
Changes in consumer lifestyles are also quickly reflected in how McDonald's China innovates around consumption scenarios. The company is piloting voice-activated drive-through orders designed for new energy vehicle drivers, said the CEO.
\n
Listening to their customers is what keeps them localized and innovative. McDonald's China tracks more than 20,000 daily social media posts related to the brand.
\n
"We hold regular focus groups to go deeper into what customers love — or don't love — about our offerings," Cheung said. "Our goal is not just to grow with China, but to co-create with Chinese consumers."
\n
wangzhuoqiong@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
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- "title": "014BUSINESS - Nation scores big in green shipping",
- "description": "
China is making big strides in promoting green development of the global shipping industry, but closer international collaboration is needed to ensure the effectiveness of such a transformation, experts said.
\n
Chinese shipbuilder Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore and Engineering Co Ltd, or CIMC SOE, inked a deal with Norwegian company Amon Gas recently for the construction of two ammonia dual-fuel medium-sized liquefied petroleum gas/liquid ammonia carriers, valued at $160 million.
\n
These vessels, each with a capacity of 51,000 cubic meters, represent the world's largest medium-sized gas carriers, marking a notable advancement in China's clean-energy shipbuilding sector. The two ships are expected to be delivered in 2028.
\n
Yang Xiaohu, executive director and president of CIMC Enric, the parent company of CIMC SOE, said the deal is a testament to the fact that the company's technological strength in clean energy shipbuilding has won recognition from international shipowners.
\n
"The offshore clean energy business has become one of the important cornerstones of the company's strategy to deploy international shipping clean energy solutions and comprehensive services," Yang said.
\n
The company has established core competencies such as production capacity for biomass-based green methanol and core process solutions for green hydrogen/ammonia/methanol projects, including port bunkering, he added.
\n
This agreement comes at a time when the global shipping industry is increasingly focused on promoting sustainable practices in response to rising demand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transportation.
\n
The International Maritime Organization in 2023 set ambitious targets to achieve net-zero emissions by or around 2050. As its interim goals, 20-30 percent emissions from international shipping are targeted for reduction by 2030, and up to 80 percent to be cut by 2040, compared to the 2008 levels.
\n
Ammonia, as a clean and efficient alternative fuel, can reduce the shipping industry's reliance on traditional fossil fuels and significantly lower carbon emissions during vessel operations, making it an important option for the next generation of marine fuels.
\n
According to the Ammonia Energy Association, 130 ammonia-fueled ships had already been ordered globally as of March, with an additional 225 on reserve.
\n
Wang Guowen, senior research fellow and director of the research center for logistics and supply chain management at Shenzhen, Guangdong province-based think tank China Development Institute, said green transformation of the shipping industry is an important direction for tackling climate change and for enterprises to fulfill their social responsibilities.
\n
Following the adoption of low-sulfur fuels and liquefied natural gas, hydrogen and ammonia fuels are emerging as alternatives, which represent crucial measures to drastically reduce emissions, he noted.
\n
"In this context, China's shipbuilding industry has been making numerous innovative efforts in the decarbonization of large vessels. This is evident in the development of dual-fuel ships, with enhanced configurations to support such clean energy transitions."
\n
Ren Weimin, director of the transport division at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, stressed the importance of international cooperation in the green drive.
\n
"Achieving green transformation in the shipping industry requires close international cooperation. Countries and their governments should face up to the issues of disrupted global supply chains and blocked maritime shipping routes, and work together to create favorable conditions for green shipping."
\n
sally@chinadailyhk.com
\n",
- "content": "
China is making big strides in promoting green development of the global shipping industry, but closer international collaboration is needed to ensure the effectiveness of such a transformation, experts said.
\n
Chinese shipbuilder Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore and Engineering Co Ltd, or CIMC SOE, inked a deal with Norwegian company Amon Gas recently for the construction of two ammonia dual-fuel medium-sized liquefied petroleum gas/liquid ammonia carriers, valued at $160 million.
\n
These vessels, each with a capacity of 51,000 cubic meters, represent the world's largest medium-sized gas carriers, marking a notable advancement in China's clean-energy shipbuilding sector. The two ships are expected to be delivered in 2028.
\n
Yang Xiaohu, executive director and president of CIMC Enric, the parent company of CIMC SOE, said the deal is a testament to the fact that the company's technological strength in clean energy shipbuilding has won recognition from international shipowners.
\n
"The offshore clean energy business has become one of the important cornerstones of the company's strategy to deploy international shipping clean energy solutions and comprehensive services," Yang said.
\n
The company has established core competencies such as production capacity for biomass-based green methanol and core process solutions for green hydrogen/ammonia/methanol projects, including port bunkering, he added.
\n
This agreement comes at a time when the global shipping industry is increasingly focused on promoting sustainable practices in response to rising demand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transportation.
\n
The International Maritime Organization in 2023 set ambitious targets to achieve net-zero emissions by or around 2050. As its interim goals, 20-30 percent emissions from international shipping are targeted for reduction by 2030, and up to 80 percent to be cut by 2040, compared to the 2008 levels.
\n
Ammonia, as a clean and efficient alternative fuel, can reduce the shipping industry's reliance on traditional fossil fuels and significantly lower carbon emissions during vessel operations, making it an important option for the next generation of marine fuels.
\n
According to the Ammonia Energy Association, 130 ammonia-fueled ships had already been ordered globally as of March, with an additional 225 on reserve.
\n
Wang Guowen, senior research fellow and director of the research center for logistics and supply chain management at Shenzhen, Guangdong province-based think tank China Development Institute, said green transformation of the shipping industry is an important direction for tackling climate change and for enterprises to fulfill their social responsibilities.
\n
Following the adoption of low-sulfur fuels and liquefied natural gas, hydrogen and ammonia fuels are emerging as alternatives, which represent crucial measures to drastically reduce emissions, he noted.
\n
"In this context, China's shipbuilding industry has been making numerous innovative efforts in the decarbonization of large vessels. This is evident in the development of dual-fuel ships, with enhanced configurations to support such clean energy transitions."
\n
Ren Weimin, director of the transport division at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, stressed the importance of international cooperation in the green drive.
\n
"Achieving green transformation in the shipping industry requires close international cooperation. Countries and their governments should face up to the issues of disrupted global supply chains and blocked maritime shipping routes, and work together to create favorable conditions for green shipping."
(From left) Haas' British driver Oliver Bearman, Racing Bulls' French driver Isack Hadjar and Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen compete during the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit in Mogyorod near Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday.
\n
Photographers take aim at the podium as they snap pictures of the trophy ceremony following Sunday's race.
\n
It's time for Formula One's risk-taking drivers, overworked engineers and harried team principals to relax. At least in theory.
\n
With four weeks until the next race, including a mandatory 14-day shutdown of all racing operations from next week, the F1 season is on hold.
\n
It's what F1 calls "silly season," the time when contract talks — and rumors — fill the vacuum.
\n
It often seemed like silly season started early, with feverish speculation about a move from Red Bull to Mercedes for four-time champion Max Verstappen. Now that Verstappen has confirmed he's staying with Red Bull, other decisions — such as contract renewals at Mercedes — could speed up.
\n
Russell at Mercedes
\n
Most F1 teams saw the sweeping rule changes coming for 2026 and tied down key drivers to long contract extensions last year, or even the year before.
\n
The idea was to lock in experienced drivers who could help with development throughout 2025, so the very different 2026 cars wouldn't come as a surprise.
\n
Mercedes does things a little differently. As well as checking out a potential Verstappen move, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has waited on contract extensions for George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who aren't confirmed beyond 2025.
\n
Both went through Mercedes' young driver program, which helped them through the junior series, and seemingly gives the team more control over their careers.
\n
"Mercedes manages me as well, so it's not really a deadline in my hands as such," four-time Grand Prix winner Russell said last month, adding he'd had no talks with other teams. Antonelli started his debut F1 season strongly, but the 18-year-old driver's performances have dipped in recent months.
\n
Red Bull's other seats
\n
Verstappen's decision has taken a lot of pressure off, but the broader Red Bull organization still has three seats to fill — one at Red Bull and two at Racing Bulls. It's not clear who will take the final decision, and when, after longtime team principal Christian Horner was fired.
\n
If the logic behind dropping the underperforming Sergio Perez last year was that any Red Bull replacement would do better, it's been proved wrong.
\n
Liam Lawson lasted two races as Verstappen's teammate and Yuki Tsunoda has only scored points in three of 12 race weekends since his promotion. The team's engine partnership with Honda ends this year, which could affect Honda-backed Tsunoda's place.
\n
French rookie Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls has outscored both Tsunoda and Lawson this season, and might be the front-runner for the Red Bull seat. F1's governing body, the FIA, also made an exception to grant Red Bull-backed Formula 2 driver Arvid Lindblad a license before his 18th birthday.
\n
Cadillac is coming
\n
"That's actually a nice seat... I wouldn't mind." Valtteri Bottas' comments in a social media skit in June fawning over a Cadillac road car went viral and cemented him in many fans' minds as the front-runner to join the new General Motors-backed team for 2026.
\n
Bottas and Perez are both F1 race winners, popular with fans, but who had underwhelming seasons in 2024 and aren't racing in 2025.
\n
Other reported options include Ferrari reserve Zhou Guanyu, an ex-Sauber driver who could unlock big sponsor backing from China, or ex-Haas driver Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.
\n
The Alpine carousel
\n
Ruthless? Yes. Successful? No.
\n
Alpine benched the departing Esteban Ocon for Jack Doohan for the last race of 2024, then dropped Doohan for Franco Colapinto six races into 2025.
\n
Given that neither Doohan nor Colapinto has scored a point for Alpine, it's perhaps no wonder the team hasn't confirmed who'll partner Pierre Gasly next year.
\n
One option is Alpine reserve Paul Aron, who would be the first Estonian in F1. He's had two practice drives with Sauber this year, but was unlucky last week when his car broke down on Friday after just eight laps.
\n",
@@ -5082,28 +5170,6 @@
"hash": "e2d3c95ad5e7bc172edf605ce897adf0",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "019SPORTS - Inside linebacker Landman shaping up to be Rams' latest quality find",
- "description": "
LOS ANGELES — Nate Landman is shaping up to be exactly what the Los Angeles Rams want at inside linebacker.
\n
He has settled in well as an effective communicator and good teammate, and looks like a steady contributor on the field.
\n
The 26-year-old Landman has been one of the standouts of training camp for the Rams, after signing a one-year contract for the veteran minimum salary in March, the kind of cost-effective find at the position that has become something of a trademark during Sean McVay's tenure as head coach in Los Angeles.
\n
"I think there are some players that, maybe, the rest of the league doesn't value, that we value, and we kind of know about inside," McVay said. "I think we've had some success with guys that are unheralded."
\n
Outside of one season with sixtime All-Pro Bobby Wagner in the middle of the defense in 2022, the Rams in McVay's eight-plus years have tended to employ low-cost options, typically developed from within the organization. That was the case a year ago, when undrafted free agent Omar Speights emerged in camp, making it palatable to trade starter Ernest Jones to the Tennessee Titans in the preseason.
\n
Jones was a third-round pick by the Rams in 2021 and quickly emerged as a productive player, starting 33 games in three seasons and making 320 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss and three interceptions. But, with potential contract discontent looming for Jones last summer, and a possible replacement in Speights emerging, Los Angeles chose to move on rather than commit the money Jones was seeking.
\n
The Rams made it through last season with Speights and veterans Christian Rozeboom and Troy Reeder manning the inside linebacker spots. Rozeboom signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract to join the Carolina Panthers in free agency, after leading the Rams with 135 total tackles, which set the stage for Landman's arrival.
\n
Landman already had familiarity with some elements of the Rams' defensive structure from his time playing for the Atlanta Falcons. Landman worked last season under then-defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, who is now a senior defensive assistant for Los Angeles, and head coach Raheem Morris.
\n
"He practices the right way, a great communicator, fantastic teammate," safety Quentin Lake said of Landman. "Great addition for us, and I can't wait to see what he's going to do during the season."
\n
Landman started 23 games the past two seasons for the Falcons, making 191 tackles, three forced fumbles and one interception in that span. He will be operating behind a formidable defensive line, which includes five top-90 picks from the past three drafts and key free agent addition Poona Ford, meaning Landman should be in position to make plays.
\n
It didn't take long for Landman to make an impression, delivering several audibly impressive hits when the Rams started working in pads.
LOS ANGELES — Nate Landman is shaping up to be exactly what the Los Angeles Rams want at inside linebacker.
\n
He has settled in well as an effective communicator and good teammate, and looks like a steady contributor on the field.
\n
The 26-year-old Landman has been one of the standouts of training camp for the Rams, after signing a one-year contract for the veteran minimum salary in March, the kind of cost-effective find at the position that has become something of a trademark during Sean McVay's tenure as head coach in Los Angeles.
\n
"I think there are some players that, maybe, the rest of the league doesn't value, that we value, and we kind of know about inside," McVay said. "I think we've had some success with guys that are unheralded."
\n
Outside of one season with sixtime All-Pro Bobby Wagner in the middle of the defense in 2022, the Rams in McVay's eight-plus years have tended to employ low-cost options, typically developed from within the organization. That was the case a year ago, when undrafted free agent Omar Speights emerged in camp, making it palatable to trade starter Ernest Jones to the Tennessee Titans in the preseason.
\n
Jones was a third-round pick by the Rams in 2021 and quickly emerged as a productive player, starting 33 games in three seasons and making 320 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss and three interceptions. But, with potential contract discontent looming for Jones last summer, and a possible replacement in Speights emerging, Los Angeles chose to move on rather than commit the money Jones was seeking.
\n
The Rams made it through last season with Speights and veterans Christian Rozeboom and Troy Reeder manning the inside linebacker spots. Rozeboom signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract to join the Carolina Panthers in free agency, after leading the Rams with 135 total tackles, which set the stage for Landman's arrival.
\n
Landman already had familiarity with some elements of the Rams' defensive structure from his time playing for the Atlanta Falcons. Landman worked last season under then-defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, who is now a senior defensive assistant for Los Angeles, and head coach Raheem Morris.
\n
"He practices the right way, a great communicator, fantastic teammate," safety Quentin Lake said of Landman. "Great addition for us, and I can't wait to see what he's going to do during the season."
\n
Landman started 23 games the past two seasons for the Falcons, making 191 tackles, three forced fumbles and one interception in that span. He will be operating behind a formidable defensive line, which includes five top-90 picks from the past three drafts and key free agent addition Poona Ford, meaning Landman should be in position to make plays.
\n
It didn't take long for Landman to make an impression, delivering several audibly impressive hits when the Rams started working in pads.
Wu Ruiting in action at the national championships, where he won triple jump gold and set a new Asian record.
\n
It has been over a decade in the making, forged by sweat and pain, but Wu Ruiting can now proudly call himself an Asian record-holder.
\n
Representing his native Guangdong province, veteran triple jumper Wu drew international attention to the Chinese National Championships on Monday after, on his fourth attempt in the final, he sailed 17.68 meters to win his third national title and break the 16-year-old men's Asian record by nine centimeters.
\n
After building an early lead with a strong 17.41m effort in the second round before fouling in the third, Wu executed a near-flawless jump on his next try to secure his win, while rewriting the former continental mark of 17.59m set by his retired compatriot Li Yanxi at the 2009 Chinese National Games.
\n
Wu's leap on Monday, had it been achieved a year earlier, would've placed him third on the Olympic podium in Paris.
\n
His new Asian record distance now ranks third on this season's world list, trailing only Italian jumper Andy Diaz Hernandez's two indoor results in March — a 17.80m leap to claim the World Indoor Championships title in Nanjing, and 17.71m to win the European indoor title in the Netherlands.
\n
Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist Zhu Yaming of Liaoning province secured second place with a season-best 17.37m, while Ma Yinglong of Shandong province finished third at 16.77m.
\n
Both Wu and Zhu have met the 17.22m qualification benchmark for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, which will be held in September in Tokyo.
\n
Reflecting on his surprising feat, achieved after enduring a long injury break, the 29-year-old couldn't hold back his emotions.
\n
"I have been aiming for the Asian record for more than 10 years. Today, I finally achieved it," said an emotional Wu, with tears in his eyes, during his post-final interview at the championships in Quzhou, Zhejiang province.
\n
"If you truly understand the triple jump, you'll know how hard it is — from suffering injuries and changing my technique, to seeing my performance plunge and then fighting my way back.
\n
"I was almost ready to give up. The encouragement from my training partners with the provincial team, and the support of my coach and team officials, helped carry me to where I stand today."
\n
Gifted with athleticism from birth, Wu began junior training in 2007 at the municipal sports school in his home town of Dongguan, and soon made his presence felt on the national stage by winning the 2015 indoor national title at 19 years old.
\n
Leaning on his early sprint training, Wu broke onto the world stage in 2017 by winning his first international title with a 17.18m effort at the World Challenge tour in Kawasaki, Japan. He achieved his previous personal best of 17.47m at the national trials in Shenyang, Liaoning province, for the 2019 worlds, where he made it into the final and eventually finished 9th.
\n
His smooth progression, however, hit setbacks after suffering a disappointing Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, where he failed to reach the final, followed by injuries that sidelined him from the next two worlds in 2022 and 2023.
\n
Now, after breaking his PB, achieved on exactly the same day (Aug 4) in 2019, Wu believes the Quzhou meet bodes well for his redemption trip to the Japanese capital next month, where he expects to prove he belongs among the world's elite at the Olympic stadium.
\n
"After a solid winter training camp, I gradually built my confidence with improvements into the outdoor season. My performances became better and I am almost back at full capability," said Wu, whose win on Monday marked his first 17m-plus jump since 2021.
\n
"It was my first complete meet of the outdoor season, and I gave all I have. I didn't expect such a great result, though. I am looking forward to the worlds for sure," Wu told Xinmin Evening News, a Shanghai-based newspaper.
\n
With his sights now firmly set on the upcoming Tokyo meet, Wu will once again join forces with veteran Zhu to contend for international honors.
\n
Zhu, a consistent elite performer with a PB of 17.57m set at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where he took silver, also won bronze at the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, Oregon, and gold at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games.
\n
Earlier at the Quzhou meet, China's 17-year-old Yan Ziyi eclipsed her own U20 world record in the women's javelin by more than a meter, throwing an impressive 65.89m to clinch the national title.
\n
Yan's victory followed another new U20 world mark set by young talent Zhang Jiale, who recorded a 77.24m toss in the women's hammer throw on Saturday to win her first national title.
\n
"I feel I've always been explosive when I go hard in a competition, and I even blew myself away today. This progress was surprisingly good," said the 19-year-old Zhang, whose new youth mark was just 0.44 meters shy of the Asian record held by veteran Wang Zheng.
\n
sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -5126,28 +5192,6 @@
"hash": "409f746db623514f99fa50936444d276",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "020SPORTS - 'We will be ready', say Winter Games organizers",
- "description": "
Local residents cycle past the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Village construction site in Milan on Thursday.
\n
The medals for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on display at their unveiling in Venice, Italy, on July 15.
\n
ROME — Six months before the start of the Winter Olympics, Italian organizers say that, after years of ups and downs, they are on schedule.
\n
"Preparations are progressing steadily, and according to the timeline we have set," Andrea Varnier, the chief executive officer of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee, told reporters.
\n
The Olympic opening ceremony is on Feb 6, though curling kicks off the action two days before that. The Paralympics open a month later on March 6, with curling again breaking the ice two days earlier.
\n
"We are currently in the core phase of operational implementation," said Varnier.
\n
Simico, the public company responsible for delivering the Olympic facilities, last week promised that "all the planned sports construction projects will be completed before the start of the Olympics".
\n
Organizers have made a point of delivering a low-cost Winter Games after the extravagance of recent Games.
\n
Sochi, in Russia in 2014, cost at least $40 billion. Pyeongchang, in South Korea in 2018, came in at over $12 billion. The COVID-hit Games in Beijing in 2022 officially cost $2.24 billion in total organizational expenditure, according to the Beijing 2022 organizing committee's financial report released in May 2023.
\n
Milano-Cortina is estimating its final bill will be $6 billion. Of that, $4 billion is going toward infrastructure, with the remaining $2 billion on staging the Games.
\n
The Games are using a host of existing venues — emphasizing the point by holding the closing ceremony in the almost 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater in Verona. Organizers say that avoiding new construction reduces not only costs, but environmental impact.
\n
'Complex global event'
\n
This approach also means the Games will stretch 350 kilometers across northern Italy, from Cortina in the Dolomites in the east, to the western suburbs of Milan, with other "clusters" spread through the Alps.
\n
"As with any complex global event, challenges are part of the process," said Varnier. "We are moving forward with confidence."
\n
One of the few new venues will briefly be the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena, before assuming its intended role as the multipurpose Eventim Arena after the Games.
\n
While organizers have managed to avoid being lumbered with a little-used speed-skating track by temporarily converting two exhibition halls at the Milan fair grounds, another group of sports with few participants created a political and construction headache.
\n
Because Italy did not have a track for the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events, organizers considered using existing sites in Austria or Switzerland.
\n
Matteo Salvini, the second-in-command and Minister of Transport of Giorgia Meloni's hard-right government, insisted in late 2023 that the events be held in Italy.
\n
That meant a breakneck race to build a track in Cortina. It was completed just in time for pre-approval in March.
\n
Accommodation, which often poses a logistical and financial problem for Olympic organizers, seems to be locked up.
\n
The Milan Village, six seven-story buildings to be converted into university dorms after the Games, will be delivered in "early October", despite the recent legal troubles of its developer, the Coima group.
\n
In Cortina, 377 prefabricated modules will be installed by the end of October.
\n
Snow concern
\n
While it is not clear if Italy's ski star Federica Brignone, who won the overall World Cup and a world title last season but smashed her left leg, will be fit to compete, the organizers revealed in July the design of the medals she would be chasing.
\n
They will weigh 420 grams in bronze and 500 grams in gold and in silver.
\n
The designer promised the medals will endure better than a few of those from last year's Paris Games. Some 220 medals, which contained a small piece of scrap metal from the Eiffel Tower, had to be replaced because they quickly turned black or rusted.
\n
"We cannot allow what happened in Paris to happen again," said their designer Raffaella Panie.
\n
That leaves just one unknown. The Italian meteorological service has said it is unable to predict whether there will be enough snow next February.
\n
The organizers said they were not worried. "We'll be ready," they said.
\n",
- "content": "
Local residents cycle past the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Village construction site in Milan on Thursday.
\n
The medals for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on display at their unveiling in Venice, Italy, on July 15.
\n
ROME — Six months before the start of the Winter Olympics, Italian organizers say that, after years of ups and downs, they are on schedule.
\n
"Preparations are progressing steadily, and according to the timeline we have set," Andrea Varnier, the chief executive officer of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee, told reporters.
\n
The Olympic opening ceremony is on Feb 6, though curling kicks off the action two days before that. The Paralympics open a month later on March 6, with curling again breaking the ice two days earlier.
\n
"We are currently in the core phase of operational implementation," said Varnier.
\n
Simico, the public company responsible for delivering the Olympic facilities, last week promised that "all the planned sports construction projects will be completed before the start of the Olympics".
\n
Organizers have made a point of delivering a low-cost Winter Games after the extravagance of recent Games.
\n
Sochi, in Russia in 2014, cost at least $40 billion. Pyeongchang, in South Korea in 2018, came in at over $12 billion. The COVID-hit Games in Beijing in 2022 officially cost $2.24 billion in total organizational expenditure, according to the Beijing 2022 organizing committee's financial report released in May 2023.
\n
Milano-Cortina is estimating its final bill will be $6 billion. Of that, $4 billion is going toward infrastructure, with the remaining $2 billion on staging the Games.
\n
The Games are using a host of existing venues — emphasizing the point by holding the closing ceremony in the almost 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater in Verona. Organizers say that avoiding new construction reduces not only costs, but environmental impact.
\n
'Complex global event'
\n
This approach also means the Games will stretch 350 kilometers across northern Italy, from Cortina in the Dolomites in the east, to the western suburbs of Milan, with other "clusters" spread through the Alps.
\n
"As with any complex global event, challenges are part of the process," said Varnier. "We are moving forward with confidence."
\n
One of the few new venues will briefly be the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena, before assuming its intended role as the multipurpose Eventim Arena after the Games.
\n
While organizers have managed to avoid being lumbered with a little-used speed-skating track by temporarily converting two exhibition halls at the Milan fair grounds, another group of sports with few participants created a political and construction headache.
\n
Because Italy did not have a track for the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events, organizers considered using existing sites in Austria or Switzerland.
\n
Matteo Salvini, the second-in-command and Minister of Transport of Giorgia Meloni's hard-right government, insisted in late 2023 that the events be held in Italy.
\n
That meant a breakneck race to build a track in Cortina. It was completed just in time for pre-approval in March.
\n
Accommodation, which often poses a logistical and financial problem for Olympic organizers, seems to be locked up.
\n
The Milan Village, six seven-story buildings to be converted into university dorms after the Games, will be delivered in "early October", despite the recent legal troubles of its developer, the Coima group.
\n
In Cortina, 377 prefabricated modules will be installed by the end of October.
\n
Snow concern
\n
While it is not clear if Italy's ski star Federica Brignone, who won the overall World Cup and a world title last season but smashed her left leg, will be fit to compete, the organizers revealed in July the design of the medals she would be chasing.
\n
They will weigh 420 grams in bronze and 500 grams in gold and in silver.
\n
The designer promised the medals will endure better than a few of those from last year's Paris Games. Some 220 medals, which contained a small piece of scrap metal from the Eiffel Tower, had to be replaced because they quickly turned black or rusted.
\n
"We cannot allow what happened in Paris to happen again," said their designer Raffaella Panie.
\n
That leaves just one unknown. The Italian meteorological service has said it is unable to predict whether there will be enough snow next February.
\n
The organizers said they were not worried. "We'll be ready," they said.
LAGUNA BEACH, California — Nyjah Huston, widely regarded as the greatest street skateboarder of all time, has set his sights on Olympic gold when the sport returns to its roots at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
\n
Huston, 30, represented the United States in the sport's Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, and again at Paris 2024. He will be 33 when the Games return to Southern California, but says his drive remains undiminished.
\n
"I'm stoked for the LA Olympics. I'm definitely going to try my best to be there," Huston told reporters. "It helps, having the extra motivation that it's in Southern California, where I've lived for so long and where skateboarding really thrives."
\n
Born in Northern California, Huston first stepped on a board at the age of three, won his first competition by 10, and now boasts a trophy room bursting with awards, including multiple gold medals from the SLS World Championships and the X Games.
\n
Inspired by LA skateboarding videos, Huston moved to Southern California at 15 and remains deeply connected to the region.
\n
"There couldn't be a better time for the Olympics to be in LA. It's going to be sick," he said.
\n
Reflecting on his Olympic experiences, Huston acknowledged the unique pressures athletes face at the Games, and admitted he was unprepared for the intensity in Tokyo.
\n
"It was the first time ever that we were skating for our country, which means a lot to me, and was something that was totally new to skateboarding," he said.
\n
After a disappointing result in Tokyo, Huston adjusted his approach for Paris, where he captured a bronze medal.
\n
"I tried to go into Paris with more of an open mind, and said: 'Let's just see how it goes'," he explained.
\n
"I did mess up on my first run, but then that made me try harder tricks in my second run. I really went for it, and put it all on the line. It ended up working out."
\n
'A way of life'
\n
Despite skateboarding's growing presence in the Olympics, Huston maintains that the sport's essence is rooted in its lifestyle and community.
\n
"In my eyes, skateboarding is more of a lifestyle than it is a sport; it's more of a way of life," said Huston.
\n
"The most true and the most important side of skateboarding is going out and having fun with my buddies, skating at different spots around the city, challenging myself, learning new tricks and filming videos," he said. "And, then, big moments like the Olympics are just a plus on top of that."
\n
Huston, who has his own skateboard brand, Disorder Skateboards, has also observed the sport's global expansion. "I have noticed it a lot since the Olympics in places like Japan and China," he said.
\n
"There weren't that many skate fans out there. But now, we've had some contests there the past few years and it is growing more and more."
\n
Huston will mark his 20th year competing at the X Games next year, and was recently announced as a Founder Athlete for the X Games League (XGL), a team-based circuit set to launch next summer.
\n
"X Games League is about creating more opportunity for skateboarders and action sports athletes," he said.
\n
Looking ahead, Huston remains focused on longevity. "One of my goals in life, and in skateboarding, is to simply skate for as long as possible," he said.
\n
"I want to be out there grinding rails when I'm 60, 70 years old."
Visitors ride camels to tour the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on July 13. Since the tombs were inscribed on the World Heritage List, the scenic spot has seen a tourism boom, with tourists from across the country flocking to experience the charm of Chinese civilization and enjoy the summer holidays.
\n\n
As the largest existing ancient Chinese venue for imperial sacrificial ceremonies of agriculture, the Altar of the God of Agriculture often seemed to be neglected by bustling visitors who poured into the nearby Temple of Heaven just across Beijing's Central Axis.
\n
But when the Central Axis was inscribed on the World Heritage List in July last year, with the words "Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital", things changed dramatically.
\n
Now the sacrificial altar, as a component of the 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 — is embracing a new scenario. It has received more than 1.2 million visits between July 2024 and last month, a tenfold year-on-year increase, according to the administration of the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, which oversees the altar site.
\n
"The altar was once merely a relaxation area for residents of local communities. But when people know it provides a good angle to view the northern section of Beijing's Central Axis, tourists rush to the place now," said Lyu Zhou, director of the National Heritage Center at Tsinghua University, who participated in the axis application process. "This is the charm and influence of a World Heritage site."
\n
China has 60 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the second most among all countries. President Xi Jinping's continuous guidance in applications for World Heritage sites has helped to better unveil their outstanding universal value to the world and boost international communication.
\n
Following the inscription of the Central Axis on the list, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for further efforts to preserve the country's cultural and natural treasures and renew their glamour in the new era. He also noted that such inclusions on the list have added new luster to world civilizations.
\n
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, Xi has toured a number of World Heritage sites and made many instructions related to their significance and protection.
\n
In 2016, after receiving a letter from four archaeologists about seeking World Heritage status for the archaeological ruins of Liangzhu city in Hangzhou, the capital of East China's Zhejiang province, Xi proposed the "three-benefits "principle guiding such applications. He said the projects should be beneficial to highlighting the historical and cultural value of Chinese civilization, to demonstrating the spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation, and to showcasing for the world a comprehensive and authentic ancient and modern China.
\n
In 2003, when Xi was the Party secretary of Zhejiang, he visited the Liangzhu site, a hub for a rice-cultivating and jade-worshiping culture dating back 4,300 to 5,300 years. He called for better protection of the site, which was then facing huge pressure, as it was being disturbed by nearby quarries. Lasting comprehensive protection and studies finally brought World Heritage status in 2019 to the "Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City".
\n
"The 'three-benefits' principle proposed by President Xi is fundamental for our application work," said Zheng Jun, a researcher at the China Academy of Cultural Heritage, who is also a World Heritage consultant for the International Council on Monuments and Sites. "It gets rid of the old narrative of history that often centered on the West."
\n
For locals who live around the World Heritage sites, the legacies left by their ancestors bear new fruit. Last year, Xi called for efforts to take UNESCO inclusion as an opportunity to further strengthen the comprehensive and systematic protection of cultural and natural heritage and make good use of the sites to better meet the people's needs.
\n
"The application is essentially a process of enhancing protection of the heritage, as each site needs to be improved in legal protection, heritage management and monitoring, and its value must be explained to prepare for the application," said Zheng, adding that "World Heritage sites are key tourist brands".
\n
For example, "The Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er", in Yunnan province, was listed in 2023. This mountainous area has become a haven for an ancient planting technique, in which tea trees are cultivated under forest canopies. The method is known as the "understory" growing technique, by which sunshine is filtered and moisture ensured.
\n
"It represents a format of sustainable development," Zheng said. "Gaining World Heritage status helps to protect the local ecosystem and cultural tradition. It also greatly improves the value of local tea and thus the economy booms."
\n
Another example can be found in Fujian province, where tulou are traditional multifamily, communal living structures of mainly the Hakka people that are built in a circular or square pattern designed for defense purposes. In the past, many young people who lived in tulou migrated to other places to earn a living.
\n
In 2000, when Xi was governor of the province, he coordinated the application work and suggested using the term "Fujian Tulou" in the application process.
\n
Fujian Tulou became a World Heritage site in 2008. After that, local people who had moved away found that they could earn more from local tourism, so they returned home.
\n
"This not only increased their income, but also solved social problems like left-behind children, showing the remarkable influence of the sites in tourism," Zheng said.
\n
In July, the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, the capital of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region — currently the most intact archaeological site of the Xixia Dynasty (1038-1227) — became China's newest entry on the World Heritage List, signifying the nation's continued efforts in applying for World Heritage status for its numerous legacies of various ethnic groups.
\n
Cultural dialogue
\n
Through decades of practice, Chinese professionals have explored effective ways to prepare materials for seeking World Heritage status, enabling the value of China's sites to be understood by experts from other cultural backgrounds, according to Chen Tongbin, honorary director of the Institute of Architectural History affiliated with the China Architecture Design and Research Group.
\n
Chen has participated in World Heritage application for more than two decades. She said that each inscribed site represents an aspect of Chinese civilization, and by piecing them together, the world can gradually get a comprehensive view of China.
\n
"The key point is to view the sites from the perspective of human civilization instead of China's own, extracting the most fundamental elements of them and letting the facts speak," said Chen, who also was the main drafter of documents when seeking World Heritage status for the Xixia Imperial Tombs.
\n
"When viewing the Xixia Imperial Tombs from the global perspective, for instance, you will find that none of the existing sites on the World Heritage List had a relation to the Xixia Dynasty or the Tangut people who established it," she said, so the Xixia tombs site "fills in a blank".
\n
In a congratulatory message to the 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Fuzhou, Fujian, in 2021, President Xi said that China stands ready to work with all countries and UNESCO to strengthen exchanges, boost cooperation and enhance mutual learning to jointly preserve the cultural and natural treasures of the whole of mankind.
\n
Zheng, the researcher from the China Academy of Cultural Heritage, said, "The World Heritage system is a good platform for international communication and equal dialogue among various civilizations."
\n
A remarkable example of such communication was the successful application for inscription on the World Heritage List of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor" in 2014 by China and its Central Asian neighbors Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
\n
"The ancient Silk Road spanning across Asia, Africa and Europe is one of the world's largest heritage sites, woven together by a vast network of corridors and routes. It's impossible to apply for it all at once", so the applications are instead segmented, said Zheng.
\n
During the application process, the three countries had frequent conferences to work out details in application strategies, selection of constituting elements, extraction of value, establishment of a multinational joint management system, and preparation of documents in the bid for World Heritage status.
\n
The project proved to be a model for other sections of the Silk Road in applying for World Heritage status. Following the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor's application success, "Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor", involving Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, was inscribed on the list in 2023. Chinese experts including Lyu also contributed their ideas during the application process for that corridor.
\n
"These sites depict the scenes of communication, dialogue and growth of human civilization throughout history," Lyu said. "For today's people, they also create a space for development through cooperation."
\n
Contact the writers at wangru1@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
Visitors ride camels to tour the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on July 13. Since the tombs were inscribed on the World Heritage List, the scenic spot has seen a tourism boom, with tourists from across the country flocking to experience the charm of Chinese civilization and enjoy the summer holidays.
\n\n
As the largest existing ancient Chinese venue for imperial sacrificial ceremonies of agriculture, the Altar of the God of Agriculture often seemed to be neglected by bustling visitors who poured into the nearby Temple of Heaven just across Beijing's Central Axis.
\n
But when the Central Axis was inscribed on the World Heritage List in July last year, with the words "Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital", things changed dramatically.
\n
Now the sacrificial altar, as a component of the 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 — is embracing a new scenario. It has received more than 1.2 million visits between July 2024 and last month, a tenfold year-on-year increase, according to the administration of the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, which oversees the altar site.
\n
"The altar was once merely a relaxation area for residents of local communities. But when people know it provides a good angle to view the northern section of Beijing's Central Axis, tourists rush to the place now," said Lyu Zhou, director of the National Heritage Center at Tsinghua University, who participated in the axis application process. "This is the charm and influence of a World Heritage site."
\n
China has 60 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the second most among all countries. President Xi Jinping's continuous guidance in applications for World Heritage sites has helped to better unveil their outstanding universal value to the world and boost international communication.
\n
Following the inscription of the Central Axis on the list, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for further efforts to preserve the country's cultural and natural treasures and renew their glamour in the new era. He also noted that such inclusions on the list have added new luster to world civilizations.
\n
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, Xi has toured a number of World Heritage sites and made many instructions related to their significance and protection.
\n
In 2016, after receiving a letter from four archaeologists about seeking World Heritage status for the archaeological ruins of Liangzhu city in Hangzhou, the capital of East China's Zhejiang province, Xi proposed the "three-benefits "principle guiding such applications. He said the projects should be beneficial to highlighting the historical and cultural value of Chinese civilization, to demonstrating the spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation, and to showcasing for the world a comprehensive and authentic ancient and modern China.
\n
In 2003, when Xi was the Party secretary of Zhejiang, he visited the Liangzhu site, a hub for a rice-cultivating and jade-worshiping culture dating back 4,300 to 5,300 years. He called for better protection of the site, which was then facing huge pressure, as it was being disturbed by nearby quarries. Lasting comprehensive protection and studies finally brought World Heritage status in 2019 to the "Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City".
\n
"The 'three-benefits' principle proposed by President Xi is fundamental for our application work," said Zheng Jun, a researcher at the China Academy of Cultural Heritage, who is also a World Heritage consultant for the International Council on Monuments and Sites. "It gets rid of the old narrative of history that often centered on the West."
\n
For locals who live around the World Heritage sites, the legacies left by their ancestors bear new fruit. Last year, Xi called for efforts to take UNESCO inclusion as an opportunity to further strengthen the comprehensive and systematic protection of cultural and natural heritage and make good use of the sites to better meet the people's needs.
\n
"The application is essentially a process of enhancing protection of the heritage, as each site needs to be improved in legal protection, heritage management and monitoring, and its value must be explained to prepare for the application," said Zheng, adding that "World Heritage sites are key tourist brands".
\n
For example, "The Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er", in Yunnan province, was listed in 2023. This mountainous area has become a haven for an ancient planting technique, in which tea trees are cultivated under forest canopies. The method is known as the "understory" growing technique, by which sunshine is filtered and moisture ensured.
\n
"It represents a format of sustainable development," Zheng said. "Gaining World Heritage status helps to protect the local ecosystem and cultural tradition. It also greatly improves the value of local tea and thus the economy booms."
\n
Another example can be found in Fujian province, where tulou are traditional multifamily, communal living structures of mainly the Hakka people that are built in a circular or square pattern designed for defense purposes. In the past, many young people who lived in tulou migrated to other places to earn a living.
\n
In 2000, when Xi was governor of the province, he coordinated the application work and suggested using the term "Fujian Tulou" in the application process.
\n
Fujian Tulou became a World Heritage site in 2008. After that, local people who had moved away found that they could earn more from local tourism, so they returned home.
\n
"This not only increased their income, but also solved social problems like left-behind children, showing the remarkable influence of the sites in tourism," Zheng said.
\n
In July, the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, the capital of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region — currently the most intact archaeological site of the Xixia Dynasty (1038-1227) — became China's newest entry on the World Heritage List, signifying the nation's continued efforts in applying for World Heritage status for its numerous legacies of various ethnic groups.
\n
Cultural dialogue
\n
Through decades of practice, Chinese professionals have explored effective ways to prepare materials for seeking World Heritage status, enabling the value of China's sites to be understood by experts from other cultural backgrounds, according to Chen Tongbin, honorary director of the Institute of Architectural History affiliated with the China Architecture Design and Research Group.
\n
Chen has participated in World Heritage application for more than two decades. She said that each inscribed site represents an aspect of Chinese civilization, and by piecing them together, the world can gradually get a comprehensive view of China.
\n
"The key point is to view the sites from the perspective of human civilization instead of China's own, extracting the most fundamental elements of them and letting the facts speak," said Chen, who also was the main drafter of documents when seeking World Heritage status for the Xixia Imperial Tombs.
\n
"When viewing the Xixia Imperial Tombs from the global perspective, for instance, you will find that none of the existing sites on the World Heritage List had a relation to the Xixia Dynasty or the Tangut people who established it," she said, so the Xixia tombs site "fills in a blank".
\n
In a congratulatory message to the 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Fuzhou, Fujian, in 2021, President Xi said that China stands ready to work with all countries and UNESCO to strengthen exchanges, boost cooperation and enhance mutual learning to jointly preserve the cultural and natural treasures of the whole of mankind.
\n
Zheng, the researcher from the China Academy of Cultural Heritage, said, "The World Heritage system is a good platform for international communication and equal dialogue among various civilizations."
\n
A remarkable example of such communication was the successful application for inscription on the World Heritage List of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor" in 2014 by China and its Central Asian neighbors Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
\n
"The ancient Silk Road spanning across Asia, Africa and Europe is one of the world's largest heritage sites, woven together by a vast network of corridors and routes. It's impossible to apply for it all at once", so the applications are instead segmented, said Zheng.
\n
During the application process, the three countries had frequent conferences to work out details in application strategies, selection of constituting elements, extraction of value, establishment of a multinational joint management system, and preparation of documents in the bid for World Heritage status.
\n
The project proved to be a model for other sections of the Silk Road in applying for World Heritage status. Following the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor's application success, "Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor", involving Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, was inscribed on the list in 2023. Chinese experts including Lyu also contributed their ideas during the application process for that corridor.
\n
"These sites depict the scenes of communication, dialogue and growth of human civilization throughout history," Lyu said. "For today's people, they also create a space for development through cooperation."
Chinese policymakers are likely to maintain accommodative monetary conditions in the second half of the year, remaining prepared to step up policy support in case of any significant economic slowdown pressures or unexpected external shocks, analysts said on Monday.
\n
Soft domestic inflation and rising expectations of United States interest rate cuts have offered ample room for monetary policy continuity and flexibility, they said, with a focus on ramping up targeted support for technological innovation, industrial upgrading and internationalization of the renminbi.
\n
Lou Feipeng, a researcher at the Postal Savings Bank of China, said that the monetary authorities are likely to exert continuous support for the economy in the second half to consolidate the solid economic momentum and improved market confidence seen in the first half.
\n
While the central bank may focus on improving the effectiveness of existing monetary policy tools, additional support, such as cuts to the reserve requirement ratio and policy interest rates, cannot be ruled out, given the current need to reduce real financing costs amid low domestic inflation.
\n
"Structural monetary instruments may be scaled up if needed to support key areas such as technological innovation and industrial upgrading," he said.
\n
Lou added that a cut in the over-five-year loan prime rate — a benchmark of mortgage rates — can help stabilize the sluggish property market and boost consumption.
\n
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for efforts to maintain policy continuity and stability while presiding over a symposium on July 23 to seek advice from non-CPC personages on economic work.
\n
He also called for enhancing flexibility and foresight to keep employment, businesses, markets and expectations stable.
\n
This is in line with an idea embodied in Xi Jinping's economic thought — improving macroeconomic adjustments in accordance with changes in the principal contradiction of economic development.
\n
The People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, also sent a clear signal of monetary policy continuity, saying on Friday after a midyear work meeting that it would continue to implement a moderately loose monetary policy, keep ample liquidity and promote industrial upgrading to resolve structural issues in key industries.
\n
With the tone of a moderately loose monetary policy unchanged, Guo Yiping, an analyst at Xiangcai Securities, said that future adjustments to aggregate monetary policy will likely hinge on the impact of evolving global tariff policies and changes in market expectations for domestic demand, with a remaining possibility of interest rate cuts later this year.
\n
Yang Haiping, a nonresident research fellow with the Beijing Wealth Management Industry Association, said that if the US Federal Reserve cuts interest rates in the second half, it will create more room for China to continue with monetary policy easing. Expectations of US rate cuts have risen after the US reported disappointing job readings for July last week.
\n
Yang also highlighted the central bank's emphasis on renminbi internationalization, which reflects the growing importance of promoting the currency's global use for mitigating external financial shocks and supporting Chinese enterprises going global.
\n
The central bank pledged after the midyear work meeting to prudently and effectively advance the internationalization of the renminbi, introducing specific measures such as improving the integrated cash pool policy of domestic and foreign currencies, refining the policies governing the overseas listings of domestic enterprises, and establishing a stable liquidity supply system across a full range of maturities in offshore renminbi markets.
Field Marshal Asim Munir (second from left), Pakistan's chief of army staff, is briefed on the Chinese-made Z-10ME helicopter during a ceremony on Saturday for the induction of the chopper into the Pakistan Army Aviation Corps at the Multan Garrison in Multan, Pakistan. See story, page 5
\n",
- "content": "
Field Marshal Asim Munir (second from left), Pakistan's chief of army staff, is briefed on the Chinese-made Z-10ME helicopter during a ceremony on Saturday for the induction of the chopper into the Pakistan Army Aviation Corps at the Multan Garrison in Multan, Pakistan. See story, page 5
Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser (Right), Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, tries an autonomous driving vehicle in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on July 23.
\n
A Pony.ai robotaxi conducts road tests in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
\n
A family tries a self-driving vehicle developed by China's tech giant Baidu on June 21 in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.
\n
n autonomous vehicle carries passengers during the 2025 World AI Conference on July 28 in Shanghai.
\n
An Apollo Go autonomous vehicle runs on the Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan, Hubei province, on Feb 27, 2024.
\n
Commercial application of China's cutting-edge autonomous driving technology is spreading globally as Chinese enterprises speed up efforts to expand their presence in overseas markets and deploy robotaxi fleets.
\n
Residents in some Middle East cities, for example, will be able to hail robotaxis developed by Chinese companies via ride-hailing apps on their mobile phones before year's end.
\n
Utilizing the technology will help build safer, more efficient and convenient intelligent transport systems, industry experts said.
\n
China is at the forefront of autonomous driving development, and Chinese companies have vast experience in a wide variety of road tests and operational scenarios — ranging from densely populated urban centers to suburban areas — which has laid the foundation for their overseas expansion, they said.
\n
Traffic conditions and urban environments vary in different countries, and governments around the world are working to build road infrastructure and establish legislative and regulatory frameworks to enable the safe and stable operations of robotaxis.
\n
"Chinese self-driving enterprises are adopting different strategies based on the different regional conditions of overseas destinations," said Duan Yuwan, deputy director of the School of International Trade and Economics at the Central University of Finance and Economics.
\n
"Southeast Asia and the Middle East have become the frontiers for Chinese firms' overseas expansion due to their open policies and clear application scenarios, while European countries pay more attention to the deployment and implementation of the Level 4, or highly autonomous driving technologies," she said.
\n
Apollo Go takes off
\n
Tech heavyweight Baidu Inc has stepped up the pace of its global expansion.
\n
The company recently signed a multi-year strategic partnership with United States-based ride-hailing service Uber Technologies to deploy thousands of its Apollo Go autonomous vehicles on Uber's platform. The agreement covers multiple markets outside the US and the Chinese mainland.
\n
The collaboration focus is on increasing the supply of affordable and reliable ride-sharing options by bringing Baidu's autonomous vehicles to Uber's extensive network. The first deployments are expected in Asia and the Middle East later this year.
\n
Robin Li, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Baidu, said 2025 will be a pivotal year for the growth of its autonomous ride-hailing platform Apollo Go, with plans to expand fleet size and ride volume faster than ever.
\n
"Looking ahead, we will deepen our presence in existing markets while strategically entering new ones, capturing broader growth opportunities worldwide," Li said. He sees a clear path to profitability for robotaxis as hardware costs continue to come down, and the growth in operational scale results in greater efficiency.
\n
Currently, Apollo Go deploys a fleet of more than 1,000 fully driverless vehicles globally. Its global footprint spans 15 cities, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
\n
The company has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority to launch autonomous driving tests and services in the city. Apollo Go will deploy 100 fully autonomous vehicles in Dubai by the end of 2025, with plans to expand the fleet to no fewer than 1,000 by 2028, as the city aims to make 25 percent of all transportation trips autonomous by 2030.
\n
It has also teamed up with Auto-Go, a UAE-based autonomous mobility solutions company, with the goal of deploying the largest fully driverless fleet in Abu Dhabi. Initial trials of dozens of autonomous vehicles will be conducted in select areas of the city, with phased expansion ahead of full commercial operations by 2026.
\n
"China is taking the lead in the R&D and application of self-driving technology, and the accelerated expansion of Chinese self-driving companies abroad will propel the commercialization of the state-of-the-art technology on a global scale," said Zhang Xiang, a visiting professor at the engineering department at Huanghe Science and Technology University.
\n
Zhang said authorities in the Middle East and some European countries have a relatively open attitude toward autonomous driving and are promoting the testing and use of robotaxis thanks to technological advancements and cost reductions.
\n
"Chinese self-driving enterprises have strong technical prowess and have accumulated extensive testing and operational experience in the domestic market, so they are eager to play a bigger role in the international autonomous driving sector by leveraging their technological advantages," he said, adding there is an increasing demand for self-driving vehicles in overseas markets.
\n
Emphasizing that ensuring the safety and stability of self-driving vehicles remains a top priority, Zhang called for efforts to improve testing and application scenarios overseas, continuously optimize algorithms, strengthen road infrastructure construction, and reduce the manufacturing costs of driverless vehicle components.
\n
New frontiers
\n
Chinese self-driving company Pony.ai is poised to increase its global robotaxi fleet to thousands of vehicles over the next two years, with 2025 earmarked as the first year of large-scale commercial deployment.
\n
The company recently started road testing its robotaxis in Luxembourg in cooperation with Emile Weber, the country's leading mobility solutions provider, to deploy electric autonomous vehicles in Luxembourg, and accelerate robotaxi application in Europe.
\n
James Peng, co-founder and CEO of Pony.ai, said the testing marks the beginning of collaboration, innovation, and the advancement of autonomous mobility in both Luxembourg and the continent.
\n
Pony.ai announced in April that it had obtained a testing permit for Level 4 autonomous driving from Luxembourg authorities. The authorization expands its global testing footprint, building on existing permits in China, the United States, and South Korea.
\n
The company earlier chose Luxembourg as its European hub for research, development, and the deployment of autonomous driving technology.
\n
Autonomous driving is categorized from Level 0 to Level 5. The higher the level, the more intelligent the technology and the less the involvement of humans. Level 4 vehicles can intervene if there is a system failure and do not require human assistance in most circumstances. However, a manual override option is still available.
\n
Earlier last month, Pony.ai inked a strategic partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai, to integrate self-driving technology into Dubai's multi-modal transportation network.
\n
Autonomous driving technology will be introduced in a multi-phase rollout, with supervised robotaxi trials set to launch this year, followed by fully driverless operations in 2026.
\n
Founded in 2016, Pony.ai has amassed over 45 million kilometers in global autonomous testing, and offers fully driverless ride-hailing services in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong province's Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
\n
In South Korea, the company has set up a joint venture with a local tech company and started road testing in Seoul. It is also looking to introduce robotaxis in Singapore by starting trials with a local transport operator.
\n
The company established a strategic partnership with Uber in May. The first service is expected to be launched in a key Middle East market before deployment in other international markets.
\n
Chinese self-driving startup WeRide is another company accelerating its global expansion, with the Middle East seen as a strategic priority for autonomous driving growth and innovation.
\n
It is cooperating with Dubai authorities and Uber under an agreement, pilot operations of autonomous vehicles will commence later this year via the Uber app in Dubai. In the initial phase, the vehicles will operate with a safety driver on board, paving the way for the full-scale commercial rollout of driverless services in 2026.
\n
In May, the company and Uber further expanded their partnership to roll out robotaxis in 15 additional major global cities over the next five years, including some in Europe. It has launched fully driverless robotaxi testing in Abu Dhabi, and other cities in the Middle East are being explored for testing.
\n
The company is expanding into Saudi Arabia and has rolled out testing or deployment of its robotaxis in cities including Riyadh, setting the stage for commercial rollout and wider operations across the Middle East's largest economy.
\n
WeRide's robotaxis support Saudi Arabia's push to develop a smart, sustainable transportation infrastructure for both residents and the rising influx of visitors.
\n
Open to innovation
\n
The scale of the global robotaxi market is expected to reach $45.7 billion by 2030, rapidly expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 91.8 percent from 2023 to 2030, data from research company MarketsandMarkets shows.
\n
The growth of the robotaxi market is influenced by rising demand for ride-hailing services, high R&D investment and government focus on reducing emissions, infrastructure development, and growth of electric vehicles, according to the consultancy.
\n
The need for robotaxis is also being fueled by the growing emphasis on sustainability, requirements for effective urban transit, and increased safety as a result of the abolition of human mistakes, it added.
\n
At present, governments around the world are continuously introducing favorable policies to support the development of autonomous driving technology — including test permits and infrastructure construction — which is conducive to accelerating the application and popularization of the technology, according to WeRide.
\n
Zhu Keli, founding director of the China Institute of New Economy, said the open, innovative environment and supportive policy measures for autonomous driving technology in some countries, especially the UAE and Luxembourg, provide Chinese self-driving companies with ideal testing sites and a broad development space.
\n
"Their accelerated global expansion will bolster the maturity of autonomous driving technology, propel the deeper integration of global industrial chains, optimize resource allocation and inject fresh impetus into the development of the self-driving sector worldwide," Zhu said.
\n
The accelerated international push of Chinese self-driving companies is inevitable in the face of increasingly fierce competition, said Duan from the School of International Trade and Economics at the Central University of Finance and Economics.
\n
By cooperating with leading overseas companies, they can receive funding and policy support abroad and enhance their competitiveness in the global intelligent automotive sector. This will in turn drive the development of domestic companies involved in the autonomous driving industrial chain, she added. "Self-driving technology is expected to become an important field for China to share its development dividends with the world," Duan said.
\n
Market consulting firm McKinsey& Company has forecast that China will become the world's largest market for self-driving vehicles, with revenue from such vehicles and mobility services exceeding $500 billion by 2030.
\n
China has caught up with the US in developing autonomous driving, said Lyu Jinghong, an intelligent mobility analyst at research company BloombergNEF.
\n
Lyu said ongoing testing on public roads, regulatory backing and cost reductions in autonomous vehicle manufacturing, will help accelerate the deployment and commercialization of self-driving cars.
\n
However, Chinese self-driving companies' greater presence abroad may encounter some challenges, such as differences in culture, laws and regulations, she said. Lyu called for greater efforts to conduct testing based on different road conditions abroad, and improving knowledge about the usage habits of local consumers, as well as strengthening compliance and personal privacy protection.
\n
Li Xinbo, an automotive industry analyst at China Auto Information Technology (Tianjin) Co, said as the operating costs and compliance risks in overseas markets are relatively high, Chinese enterprises need to carefully assess and formulate strategic plans, speed up localization efforts and launch services that cater to local requirements, when carrying forward their globalization push.
\n
fanfeifei@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -5258,28 +5258,6 @@
"hash": "3c55b6ee1b9f19ac9f2e8bbd09663c10",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "001FRONT - Xi stresses key role of public opinion",
- "description": "
President Xi Jinping has stressed efforts to study and absorb netizens' opinions and suggestions in formulating China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).
\n
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark in a recent instruction published on Monday, following a monthlong online campaign to seek public opinion on the blueprint.
\n
He noted that the online solicitation of opinions and suggestions saw high participation and wide coverage, serving as a vivid example of whole-process people's democracy.
\n
The campaign, which was conducted from May 20 to June 20, gathered more than 3.11 million opinions and suggestions on China's 15th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development. These views will be compiled and reported to provide reference in the decision-making process.
\n
The general public has actively contributed opinions and suggestions, many of which are highly valuable, Xi said, urging relevant departments to thoroughly study and absorb them.
\n
Party committees and governments at all levels must always adhere to a people-centered approach, extensively and thoroughly learning about people's lives, listening to their voices and pooling their wisdom, thereby building a strong synergy for advancing Chinese modernization and continuously realizing the people's aspiration for a better life, he added.
\n
China first used online platforms to solicit public opinion on its five-year plan in 2020, during the drafting period of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).
\n
Starting in 2026, China will begin implementing its 15th Five-Year Plan. Currently, the CPC Central Committee is organizing the drafting of proposals for this plan, and relevant departments are gearing up to solicit opinions and suggestions from officials, the general public, experts and scholars through various channels.
\n
The proposals for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan will be deliberated at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which is scheduled to take place in Beijing in October.
\n
Five-year plans serve as crucial strategic documents guiding China's medium- and long-term development. They outline national goals, major tasks and policy directions in various sectors for each five-year period.
President Xi Jinping has stressed efforts to study and absorb netizens' opinions and suggestions in formulating China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).
\n
Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark in a recent instruction published on Monday, following a monthlong online campaign to seek public opinion on the blueprint.
\n
He noted that the online solicitation of opinions and suggestions saw high participation and wide coverage, serving as a vivid example of whole-process people's democracy.
\n
The campaign, which was conducted from May 20 to June 20, gathered more than 3.11 million opinions and suggestions on China's 15th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development. These views will be compiled and reported to provide reference in the decision-making process.
\n
The general public has actively contributed opinions and suggestions, many of which are highly valuable, Xi said, urging relevant departments to thoroughly study and absorb them.
\n
Party committees and governments at all levels must always adhere to a people-centered approach, extensively and thoroughly learning about people's lives, listening to their voices and pooling their wisdom, thereby building a strong synergy for advancing Chinese modernization and continuously realizing the people's aspiration for a better life, he added.
\n
China first used online platforms to solicit public opinion on its five-year plan in 2020, during the drafting period of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).
\n
Starting in 2026, China will begin implementing its 15th Five-Year Plan. Currently, the CPC Central Committee is organizing the drafting of proposals for this plan, and relevant departments are gearing up to solicit opinions and suggestions from officials, the general public, experts and scholars through various channels.
\n
The proposals for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan will be deliberated at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which is scheduled to take place in Beijing in October.
\n
Five-year plans serve as crucial strategic documents guiding China's medium- and long-term development. They outline national goals, major tasks and policy directions in various sectors for each five-year period.
Experts are calling for stronger legal, privacy and psychological protections for China's child social media influencers following renewed debate over the risks they face after a widely followed young internet star returned to the spotlight.
\n
In late June, 4-year-old "Yaoyiyao Xiaoroubao", an influencer with more than 20 million followers on short-video platform Douyin, donated 100,000 yuan ($14,000) to Rongjiang, a flood-hit county in the southwestern province of Guizhou. The gesture revived public attention to her case, months after an earlier controversy raised concerns about the well-being of children in the influencer economy.
\n
Yaoyiyao, whose real name has not been disclosed officially, is a native of Guizhou. Her Douyin account, managed by her parents, features videos of her daily life and has garnered over 610 million likes. Her chubby cheeks, playful expressions and innocent charm have won over audiences nationwide.
\n
But a video posted in February triggered backlash after showing Yaoyiyao falling to the ground while her mother continued filming and laughing instead of helping her. Many netizens questioned whether the fall had been staged for views and accused the parents of exploiting their child for profit, without regard for her privacy or dignity.
\n
Following the incident, her parents suspended the account and removed all product-related listings. Reports by media outlets, including Shanghai-based The Paper, revealed that the account charged 400,000 yuan for ads lasting from 1 to 20 seconds, and 550,000 yuan for videos over 60 seconds.
\n
In a February statement, Yaoyiyao's parents denied mistreating their daughter, barring her from school or forcing her to pose for commercial deals. They resumed posting content from mid-to-late March.
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"Children's pure, innocent behavior naturally evokes empathy, and some of their talents, like language skills, also attract followers," said Ye Mingrui, deputy dean of the Television School at the Communication University of China in Beijing.
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He said most parents begin by sharing videos for fun, but positive feedback and advertising offers may tempt them to commercialize their children's image.
\n
While China has not released official data on the number of child influencers, the growing internet use among children and the rise of short video trends such as makeup tutorials and mukbangs — videos where audiences watch people eat large quantities of food — have prompted public concern over their right to privacy, mental health and exposure to cyberbullying.
\n
Yao Junchang, from W&H Law Firm in Beijing, said using children to gain online popularity and earn income amounts to turning them into child laborers. He noted that China currently lacks specific laws targeting child influencers, though some government regulations apply.
\n
In January, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission released a draft regulation for public comment that would bar multichannel networks — companies that support content creators — from profiting off child celebrities. The draft regulation finished collecting public opinion in February.
\n
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2021 issued a guideline urging governments at all levels to prohibit the monetization of child influencers. It called for stronger oversight of children's participation in online performances and punishment for accounts that involve minors in indecent or suggestive marketing content.
\n
Experts have also expressed concern about the mental and emotional toll such exposure can take on children.
\n
"Children are still developing their sense of identity," said Wang Wenda, director of psychological health education at Xinhua College of Ningxia University. "If they are intentionally trained to become internet celebrities, they may struggle to distinguish reality from cyberspace, or develop histrionic personalities."
\n
He said that children often lack the ability to regulate emotions under online pressure, which could lead to anxiety or depression. Family dynamics may also suffer if parents shift from caregivers to business managers, prioritizing commercial opportunities over the child's wishes and privacy.
\n
Ye, from the television school, said protection efforts remain incomplete and that many parents fail to understand that a child's digital footprint is permanent — potentially resurfacing later in life with lasting consequences.
\n
"It takes effort from government, platforms, families and every adult around the child," he said. "Authorities should work closely with platforms to supervise influencer accounts and educate parents on how to protect their children effectively."
\n
He added that platforms could encourage users to report content that exploits children, and teachers should intervene when signs of distress are detected.
\n
chengsi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -5302,28 +5280,6 @@
"hash": "9dbd668071dc6f58015865bd9f2a64ef",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "004CHINA - Lunar samples to be lent for research purposes",
- "description": "
China's space agency has released the approved list for the ninth batch of lunar sample research applications, allowing successful applicants to borrow samples returned by the Chang'e 5 and Chang'e 6 missions.
\n
A total of 30,881.8 milligrams of lunar samples will be lent to 32 research groups from 25 research institutions, according to the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center under the China National Space Administration.
\n
The successful applicants include the Macao University of Science and Technology, the Chengdu University of Technology, Donghua University, the Harbin Institute of Technology, the University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
\n
This list also features institutions affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences.
\n
China's Chang'e 6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, marking the first time in human history that samples were taken from that region, and the Chang'e 5 mission retrieved about 1,731 grams of lunar samples.
\n
In July 2021, China delivered the first batch of lunar samples to research institutions. So far, the country has lent eight batches of lunar samples to institutions for research purposes.
\n
Last month, China unveiled a series of research findings by Chinese scientists following studies of the samples collected by the Chang'e 6 mission.
\n
The findings were in fields such as volcanic activity, the ancient magnetic field, water content and geochemical characteristics of the moon's mantle.
\n",
- "content": "
China's space agency has released the approved list for the ninth batch of lunar sample research applications, allowing successful applicants to borrow samples returned by the Chang'e 5 and Chang'e 6 missions.
\n
A total of 30,881.8 milligrams of lunar samples will be lent to 32 research groups from 25 research institutions, according to the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center under the China National Space Administration.
\n
The successful applicants include the Macao University of Science and Technology, the Chengdu University of Technology, Donghua University, the Harbin Institute of Technology, the University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
\n
This list also features institutions affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences.
\n
China's Chang'e 6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, marking the first time in human history that samples were taken from that region, and the Chang'e 5 mission retrieved about 1,731 grams of lunar samples.
\n
In July 2021, China delivered the first batch of lunar samples to research institutions. So far, the country has lent eight batches of lunar samples to institutions for research purposes.
\n
Last month, China unveiled a series of research findings by Chinese scientists following studies of the samples collected by the Chang'e 6 mission.
\n
The findings were in fields such as volcanic activity, the ancient magnetic field, water content and geochemical characteristics of the moon's mantle.
Residents brave high temperatures with sun protection gear while riding on the street in Fuyang, Anhui province, on Monday. The National Meteorological Center issued an orange alert for high temperatures on Monday, forecasting that areas in Shaanxi, Hubei, and Sichuan provinces may see temperatures exceeding 40 C.
\n\n
Chen Cheng runs his car's air conditioning for 10 minutes before daring to step inside, as the scorching sun generally heats his car seat and steering wheel to a "burning level".
\n
The Changsha, Hunan province, resident said the persistent high temperatures gripping the city have made functioning without AC impossible. Even when it rains, there is little relief as humidity worsens the heat.
\n
"Changsha is no stranger to extreme summer heat, but it seems increasingly unbearable and prolonged year after year," he said.
\n
Residents across central China are bracing for more bad news. The National Meteorological Center forecasts an intense heat wave will hit several regions — including Chongqing and the provinces of Shaanxi, Sichuan and Hubei — over the next 10 days, with temperatures exceeding 40 C in some areas. Driven by a stable subtropical high-pressure system, the heat is expected to peak from Sunday to Tuesday before easing around Aug 11.
\n
A joint warning from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the China Meteorological Administration highlighted high-temperature risks to rice crops in Sichuan and parts of Henan, Hubei and Anhui. The notice urged protective measures such as deep-water irrigation and foliar spraying.
\n
Liang Li, a senior engineer at the Public Meteorological Service Center, warned that road surface temperatures in Hunan province, Hubei and Chongqing could reach between 62 and 74 C, posing safety hazards that require tire checks and cautious driving.
\n
She also stressed extreme health risks, especially in eastern Sichuan and western Chongqing, and called on members of the public to take precautions against heatstroke.
\n
Luo Hui, a villager in Huaihua, Hunan, escapes the heat by swimming daily in a local river with friends. While rural residents typically turn on air conditioning around noon, this summer's heat has forced him to start cooling his home in the morning.
\n
"Without AC, the heat is unbearable even while resting at home," he said.
\n
His father, who works at a local cement factory, has stopped working for the past few days due to the extreme conditions.
\n
Meanwhile, the National Meteorological Center has warned of simultaneous heavy rainfall threatening both northern and southern regions.
\n
From Saturday to Wednesday, more heavy rainfall — ranging from 30 to 150 millimeters — is forecast for regions including Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Shanxi, parts of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Qinghai province and Gansu province. This follows the significant rainfall that has been drenching China since July 23, which has left soil saturated.
\n
Dong Quan, chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center, cautioned that additional downpours could recur, especially in areas where no clear triggering systems are present, making forecasting difficult.
\n
He urged heightened vigilance for flash floods, landslides and surging small rivers, particularly in geologically fragile regions like Qinghai and Gansu and in parts of North China where new rainfall overlaps previous zones.
\n
Authorities and residents are advised to monitor weather alerts and avoid mountainous areas and riverbanks.
\n
Simultaneously, South China — especially Guangdong province, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region and southern Guizhou province — faces heavy to torrential rain through Wednesday due to monsoon activity, with localized exceptionally heavy rainfall possible. Officials warned of mountain torrents, landslides and urban waterlogging.
\n
With torrential rain and thunderstorms forecast in parts of Guangdong from Sunday to Monday, China Railway Guangzhou Group said it would implement flood emergency measures starting Sunday on certain railway sections.
\n
Li Chengkai, a Beijing resident, said recent fatalities from heavy rain in the city have made him more alert to forecasts and flood warnings.
\n
He now uses rubber shoe covers for commuting and watches for falling branches or debris during extreme weather. He said he avoids going out during downpours unless absolutely necessary.
A public worker uses a sprayer to eradicate mosquitos in the drains under the rooftops in Haizhu district in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Wednesday in order to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
\n
Guangdong province has made progress in curbing the spread of Chikungunya fever, particularly in the city of Foshan, where a recent surge in cases has shown signs of slowing, a senior provincial disease control official said.
\n
Kang Min, director of the institute for prevention and control of infectious diseases at the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said 2,892 new local cases were reported in the week ending Saturday, a decrease of 48 cases from the previous week.
\n
In Foshan's Shunde district, the hardest-hit area, the number of new cases has declined over five consecutive days, Kang said. He added that despite the progress, both Chikungunya and dengue fever remain in their peak seasons.
\n
"Guangdong, with its high volume of international exchanges, continues to face persistent risks of imported cases," Kang said.
\n
He warned that the ongoing flood season, along with typhoons, heavy rainfall and other weather conditions, have increased mosquito activity — making the next few weeks particularly challenging for disease prevention and control.
\n
Kang urged both government departments and residents to step up efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds through effective, concrete measures.
\n
Chikungunya fever is an acute infectious disease caused by the chikungunya virus and transmitted by infected Aedes mosquitoes, commonly known as spotted mosquitoes. The disease can affect people of all ages, Kang said.
\n
Zhou Huiling, a senior infectious diseases physician at the First People's Hospital of Foshan, said patients are currently being treated in isolation wards to prevent further transmission.
\n
Patients can be discharged only after testing negative on nucleic acid tests or after receiving hospital treatment for at least a week, she said.
\n
"Most of the current patients have mild symptoms, and by the time of discharge, symptoms are mostly relieved, with only a few reporting lingering mild joint pain," Zhou said.
\n
She explained that the joint pain is caused by the virus directly invading joints, infecting osteoblasts and synovial tissues, and triggering the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines that can lead to bone damage.
\n
The pain typically affects small joints in the ankles, fingers and wrists, but can also extend to larger joints such as the knees and shoulders. Symptoms tend to worsen with physical activity, and Zhou advised patients in the acute phase to stay in bed and limit movement.
\n
"Being bitten by a mosquito doesn't necessarily lead to infection — only bites from virus-carrying mosquitoes pose a risk," she said.
\n
Although no serious cases have been reported, experts warn that high-risk groups include infants, seniors over age 65, pregnant women, patients with chronic illnesses and those on immunosuppressive treatments, such as organ transplant recipients, AIDS patients and long-term users of immunosuppressants.
\n
"There is still no vaccine available. Mosquito prevention remains the most important control measure, and early screening and isolation are key to preventing community transmission," Zhou said.
\n
Her hospital currently offers free nucleic acid testing for Chikungunya, with seven testing rounds conducted daily and results available within three to four hours.
\n
As of Monday, Foshan — located about 20 kilometers from Guangzhou, the provincial capital — has reported more than 7,000 cases of Chikungunya, the highest in Guangdong, China's most populous province with more than 127 million people.
\n
zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "
A public worker uses a sprayer to eradicate mosquitos in the drains under the rooftops in Haizhu district in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Wednesday in order to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
\n
Guangdong province has made progress in curbing the spread of Chikungunya fever, particularly in the city of Foshan, where a recent surge in cases has shown signs of slowing, a senior provincial disease control official said.
\n
Kang Min, director of the institute for prevention and control of infectious diseases at the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said 2,892 new local cases were reported in the week ending Saturday, a decrease of 48 cases from the previous week.
\n
In Foshan's Shunde district, the hardest-hit area, the number of new cases has declined over five consecutive days, Kang said. He added that despite the progress, both Chikungunya and dengue fever remain in their peak seasons.
\n
"Guangdong, with its high volume of international exchanges, continues to face persistent risks of imported cases," Kang said.
\n
He warned that the ongoing flood season, along with typhoons, heavy rainfall and other weather conditions, have increased mosquito activity — making the next few weeks particularly challenging for disease prevention and control.
\n
Kang urged both government departments and residents to step up efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds through effective, concrete measures.
\n
Chikungunya fever is an acute infectious disease caused by the chikungunya virus and transmitted by infected Aedes mosquitoes, commonly known as spotted mosquitoes. The disease can affect people of all ages, Kang said.
\n
Zhou Huiling, a senior infectious diseases physician at the First People's Hospital of Foshan, said patients are currently being treated in isolation wards to prevent further transmission.
\n
Patients can be discharged only after testing negative on nucleic acid tests or after receiving hospital treatment for at least a week, she said.
\n
"Most of the current patients have mild symptoms, and by the time of discharge, symptoms are mostly relieved, with only a few reporting lingering mild joint pain," Zhou said.
\n
She explained that the joint pain is caused by the virus directly invading joints, infecting osteoblasts and synovial tissues, and triggering the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines that can lead to bone damage.
\n
The pain typically affects small joints in the ankles, fingers and wrists, but can also extend to larger joints such as the knees and shoulders. Symptoms tend to worsen with physical activity, and Zhou advised patients in the acute phase to stay in bed and limit movement.
\n
"Being bitten by a mosquito doesn't necessarily lead to infection — only bites from virus-carrying mosquitoes pose a risk," she said.
\n
Although no serious cases have been reported, experts warn that high-risk groups include infants, seniors over age 65, pregnant women, patients with chronic illnesses and those on immunosuppressive treatments, such as organ transplant recipients, AIDS patients and long-term users of immunosuppressants.
\n
"There is still no vaccine available. Mosquito prevention remains the most important control measure, and early screening and isolation are key to preventing community transmission," Zhou said.
\n
Her hospital currently offers free nucleic acid testing for Chikungunya, with seven testing rounds conducted daily and results available within three to four hours.
\n
As of Monday, Foshan — located about 20 kilometers from Guangzhou, the provincial capital — has reported more than 7,000 cases of Chikungunya, the highest in Guangdong, China's most populous province with more than 127 million people.
Pakistan has recently commissioned its latest combat hardware — the Chinese-made Z-10ME attack helicopter, according to the Islamic republic's military publicity organ Inter Services Public Relations.
\n
According to a statement and video clip published on Saturday by the ISPR, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's chief of army staff, presided over a ceremony of the Z-10ME helicopters' induction into the Pakistan Army Aviation Corps during a recent inspection tour of the Multan Garrison.
\n
Munir personally inspected one of the newly delivered helicopters and sat inside the cockpit compartment to check flight — and weapons-control systems.
\n
Footage shows that the Z-10ME he checked had several Chinese weapons under its stub wings, including a CM-502 air-to-surface missile, a TY-90 air-to-air missile and a guided rocket launcher.
\n
Attendees at the ceremony witnessed firepower demonstration by the Z-10ME helicopters at the Muzaffargarh Field Firing Ranges, according to the statement.
\n
"This state-of-the-art, all-weather platform is capable of precision strike operations day and night. Equipped with advanced radar systems and cutting-edge electronic warfare suites, the Z-10ME significantly enhances the Army's capability to engage diverse aerial and ground threats," the ISPR said. "The induction of this potent system marks a major leap in the modernization of Army Aviation, reinforcing its integrated battlefield response and capacity to deliver decisive effects against potential adversaries."
\n
The Z-10ME's predecessor, the Z-10 medium-weight, twin-turboshaft attack helicopter was designed by the China Helicopter Research and Development Institute, a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corp of China in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, primarily for anti-tank and anti-armor missions, but it also has a secondary air-to-air capability.
\n
The helicopter made its maiden flight in April 2003 and started deliveries to the People's Liberation Army around the end of the 2000s.
\n
So far, a large number of the Z-10's baseline and upgraded models have been deployed by the PLA Ground Force and PLA Air Force.
\n
As its export variant, the Z-10ME was first shown to the public at the 14th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in November 2022, indicating that it had received government approval for export and was ready for tests and scrutiny by potential users.
\n
According to China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corp, AVIC's international trade wing, the Z-10ME is a 6-metric-ton class advanced attack helicopter that features round-the-clock combat capability. It can carry a wide variety of munitions, including air-to-air missiles, anti-tank missiles, guided rockets and a chin-mounted cannon.
\n
Before the Z-10ME, the Pakistan Army Aviation Corps deployed two types of attack helicopters: 55 Bell AH-1 Cobras bought from the United States and four Russian Mil Mi-35s.
Two female South China tiger cubs play together at a breeding base in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, on Monday. The cubs were born on April 27 and are said to be in good health.
Two female South China tiger cubs play together at a breeding base in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, on Monday. The cubs were born on April 27 and are said to be in good health.
Visitors and anime fans wait in line to participate in the China Digital Entertainment Expo and Conference, or ChinaJoy, in Shanghai on Sunday. The event, held from Friday to Monday at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, featured 743 exhibitors from 37 countries and regions.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Monday imposed new restrictive measures against 16 fugitives wanted for national security offenses, including bans on financial support and the revocation of most of their SAR passports.
\n
The 11 men and five women were among 19 fugitives originally named by police on July 25 as wanted for their alleged involvement in the "Hong Kong Parliament", which authorities have labeled a subversive organization operating outside the city. Among the 19 are Yuan Gong-yi, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-da, who had previously been placed on a wanted list.
\n
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung invoked powers under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance to impose new restrictions on 16 of the 19 individuals: Victor Ho Leung-mau, Chan Lai-chun, Feng Chongyi, Gong Sasha, Ng Man-yan, Tsang Wai-fan, Chin Po-fun, Paul Ha Hoi-chun, Hau Chung-yu, Ho Wing-yau, Keung Ka-wai, Tony Lam, Agnes Ng, Wong Chun-wah, Wong Sau-wo and Zhang Xinyan.
\n
The measures prohibit anyone from making available or handling funds for the fugitives, or engaging in specified transactions involving immovable property linked to them. Joint ventures and partnerships with them are also banned.
\n
Twelve of the individuals have had their Hong Kong SAR passports revoked, and two have been temporarily removed from their positions as directors of their respective enterprises.
\n
Four of the fugitives — Yuan, Fok, Choi and Victor Ho — were already wanted by police before the July 25 announcement, and each carries a bounty of HK$1 million (about $127,400). The other 15 fugitives are subject to HK$200,000 bounties.
\n
Tang also directed the Hong Kong Police Force to gather evidence for potentially banning the "Hong Kong Parliament" and another group, the "Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union", under the national security ordinance. Both are described by authorities as subversive organizations.
\n
A government representative said the 16 absconders are currently residing in countries and regions including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia and Thailand.
\n
"They continue to blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security. They also intended to incite hatred through smear and slander against the central authorities and the HKSAR," the representative said.
\n
The police reminded the public that providing financial or other support, including leasing or supplying property to the fugitives, without a license from the secretary for security constitutes an offense punishable by up to seven years in prison.
\n
Anyone who organizes, plans, participates in or commits acts aimed at subverting State power or the Hong Kong SAR by force, threats or other unlawful means is in breach of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
\n
As of July 25, Hong Kong police have listed 34 individuals wanted for alleged national security offenses.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Monday imposed new restrictive measures against 16 fugitives wanted for national security offenses, including bans on financial support and the revocation of most of their SAR passports.
\n
The 11 men and five women were among 19 fugitives originally named by police on July 25 as wanted for their alleged involvement in the "Hong Kong Parliament", which authorities have labeled a subversive organization operating outside the city. Among the 19 are Yuan Gong-yi, Fok Ka-chi and Choi Ming-da, who had previously been placed on a wanted list.
\n
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung invoked powers under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance to impose new restrictions on 16 of the 19 individuals: Victor Ho Leung-mau, Chan Lai-chun, Feng Chongyi, Gong Sasha, Ng Man-yan, Tsang Wai-fan, Chin Po-fun, Paul Ha Hoi-chun, Hau Chung-yu, Ho Wing-yau, Keung Ka-wai, Tony Lam, Agnes Ng, Wong Chun-wah, Wong Sau-wo and Zhang Xinyan.
\n
The measures prohibit anyone from making available or handling funds for the fugitives, or engaging in specified transactions involving immovable property linked to them. Joint ventures and partnerships with them are also banned.
\n
Twelve of the individuals have had their Hong Kong SAR passports revoked, and two have been temporarily removed from their positions as directors of their respective enterprises.
\n
Four of the fugitives — Yuan, Fok, Choi and Victor Ho — were already wanted by police before the July 25 announcement, and each carries a bounty of HK$1 million (about $127,400). The other 15 fugitives are subject to HK$200,000 bounties.
\n
Tang also directed the Hong Kong Police Force to gather evidence for potentially banning the "Hong Kong Parliament" and another group, the "Hong Kong Democratic Independence Union", under the national security ordinance. Both are described by authorities as subversive organizations.
\n
A government representative said the 16 absconders are currently residing in countries and regions including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia and Thailand.
\n
"They continue to blatantly engage in activities that endanger national security. They also intended to incite hatred through smear and slander against the central authorities and the HKSAR," the representative said.
\n
The police reminded the public that providing financial or other support, including leasing or supplying property to the fugitives, without a license from the secretary for security constitutes an offense punishable by up to seven years in prison.
\n
Anyone who organizes, plans, participates in or commits acts aimed at subverting State power or the Hong Kong SAR by force, threats or other unlawful means is in breach of the National Security Law for Hong Kong, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
\n
As of July 25, Hong Kong police have listed 34 individuals wanted for alleged national security offenses.
An embodied intelligent humanoid robot developed by the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology was recently admitted to the Shanghai Theatre Academy as a doctoral candidate in its drama, film and television program, aiming to further explore the integration of generative artificial intelligence and theatrical art creation.
\n
The admission ceremony took place at the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference that recently concluded in Shanghai, making it the first embodied intelligent robot in China to enroll as a doctoral student.
\n
Named "Xue Ba 01", the robot features excellent lightweight and endurance. Developed by a team led by Li Qingdu, a professor at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, the robot was produced by Shanghai DroidUp Co and its appearance and styling were designed by Yang Qingqing, a professor at Shanghai Theatre Academy.
\n
"The robot is essentially an AI agent with a physical entity. We are trying to make it like a 'bionic man' that has a realistic and natural humanlike appearance, expressions, body movements and interactions," said Li, who is also the founder of DroidUp.
\n
The development of the robot started in 2021 when the two institutions signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement. They jointly launched the nation's first high-level talent cultivation program focusing on integrating arts and robotics technologies. Leveraging their own expertise and disciplinary strengths, the two sides designed a growth path and competency framework for robotics doctoral programs, and established multiple training modules.
\n
According to Yang, who is also Xue Ba 01's academic adviser, the robot's curriculum in the four-year program will cover foundational, artistic, system and task modules, among others. It will receive comprehensive training in sectors such as cognitive modeling, embodied control and action expression, stage role-playing, and participate in doctoral task challenges, reports and performances.
\n
In the future, Xue Ba 01 is expected to join other doctoral students in classrooms, where it will learn theory and engage in drama practice, and further study at key laboratories featuring the integration of AI and performing arts.
\n
"We see significant meaning in the program," Li said. "If the robot could learn well to become a good 'performer', it can serve to provide emotional values for humans in the future. A human performer may get exhausted after dozens of shows, but robots won't. It can also help in longtime companionship, as well as many other scenes that require human interaction."
\n
Li pointed out that their challenges in the four-year program lie not only in the robotics technology sector, but also in acting. With joint efforts, they expect to make breakthroughs in the robot's interaction with the physical world, especially in its movements, expressions and gestures with humanlike beauty and emotions.
\n
"The doctoral program for robotics is a groundbreaking educational experiment that requires 'unity of knowledge and action'. Robots have the ability to learn fast, which will have an important impact on future education. We must train them to understand people, scenes and arts," said Zhang Jianwei, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
\n
wangxin2@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -5478,28 +5368,6 @@
"hash": "fe236def93aa425e4998556d6e616343",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "005CHINA - Chengdu eases city navigation to offer more convenience ahead of World Games",
- "description": "\n
International visitors to Chengdu, the host city of the upcoming 2025 World Games in Sichuan province, are finding it easier to navigate the city with newly introduced transit payment options that accept overseas-issued bank cards.
\n
Joshua Yeh, a Canadian student at Sichuan University who recently returned to Chengdu from Canada, said he was amazed by the option to use his Visa card to ride the metro.
\n
"No apps, no cash, just tap to travel," Yeh said. "This is perfect for first-time travelers to China, especially for those who don't have Alipay or WeChat, like my mom."
\n
A Hungarian tourist, who only identified himself as Antal, used his overseas-issued bank card to take a bus from downtown to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in the suburbs.
\n
"This makes exploring the city much easier for me," he said.
\n
Xu Jing, deputy director of Chengdu Metro's ticket data center, said more than 10,000 devices and 30 systems across the entire metro network had been upgraded to enable contactless fare payment.
\n
"As of July 28, passengers can use UnionPay cards as well as Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards issued overseas to tap at the fare gates for direct entry at all metro stations," Xu said. Chengdu is the third city on the Chinese mainland to offer the "tap and ride" service, following Beijing and Shanghai.
\n
Passengers must ensure that their bank cards have activated the small-amount password-free payment function in advance and have sufficient balance or credit available, she added.
\n
Overseas-issued bank cards can also be used to purchase single-journey tickets and day passes at metro ticket vending machines.
\n
To further improve the experience for foreign travelers, Chengdu Metro has installed bilingual Chinese-English signs throughout its network, and all trains and stations now feature bilingual announcements, according to Dong Pan, a Chengdu Metro staff member.
\n
"All 423 metro stations are now equipped with real-time translation devices supporting over 10 languages," Dong said. Bilingual volunteers are also available at key stations.
\n
Chengdu Public Transport Group Co also launched a similar "tap and ride" service for overseas-issued UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards across all its bus routes on July 28.
\n
The upgrades are part of a broader effort to position Chengdu as a global tourism destination ahead of the 12th edition of the World Games, which will take place from Thursday to Aug 17.
\n
The World Games is the highest-level international multisport event outside the Olympic Games. This year marks the first time the event will be held on the Chinese mainland.
\n
Organizers said the city is launching new inbound tourism measures, including expanding tax-refund stores and establishing duty-free shopping centers.
\n
Since June, the city's culture, radio, television and tourism bureau has rolled out or planned a wide range of themed activities, tourist routes and immersive travel experiences for international visitors.
\n
Museums, scenic spots and hotels across Chengdu will also offer additional benefits and discounts to World Games spectators, said Qiu Wei, director of the bureau.
\n
"Tourists can visit some museums for free with their ticket stubs from major sports events and enjoy additional discounts when checking into hotels," he said.
\n
Chengdu recorded 984,000 inbound visits in the first half of this year, a year-on-year increase of 51.5 percent.
\n
"We will use the World Games as an opportunity to turn visitor flow into new growth momentum for the cultural and tourism sector," Qiu said.
\n
pengchao@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
- "content": "\n
International visitors to Chengdu, the host city of the upcoming 2025 World Games in Sichuan province, are finding it easier to navigate the city with newly introduced transit payment options that accept overseas-issued bank cards.
\n
Joshua Yeh, a Canadian student at Sichuan University who recently returned to Chengdu from Canada, said he was amazed by the option to use his Visa card to ride the metro.
\n
"No apps, no cash, just tap to travel," Yeh said. "This is perfect for first-time travelers to China, especially for those who don't have Alipay or WeChat, like my mom."
\n
A Hungarian tourist, who only identified himself as Antal, used his overseas-issued bank card to take a bus from downtown to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in the suburbs.
\n
"This makes exploring the city much easier for me," he said.
\n
Xu Jing, deputy director of Chengdu Metro's ticket data center, said more than 10,000 devices and 30 systems across the entire metro network had been upgraded to enable contactless fare payment.
\n
"As of July 28, passengers can use UnionPay cards as well as Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards issued overseas to tap at the fare gates for direct entry at all metro stations," Xu said. Chengdu is the third city on the Chinese mainland to offer the "tap and ride" service, following Beijing and Shanghai.
\n
Passengers must ensure that their bank cards have activated the small-amount password-free payment function in advance and have sufficient balance or credit available, she added.
\n
Overseas-issued bank cards can also be used to purchase single-journey tickets and day passes at metro ticket vending machines.
\n
To further improve the experience for foreign travelers, Chengdu Metro has installed bilingual Chinese-English signs throughout its network, and all trains and stations now feature bilingual announcements, according to Dong Pan, a Chengdu Metro staff member.
\n
"All 423 metro stations are now equipped with real-time translation devices supporting over 10 languages," Dong said. Bilingual volunteers are also available at key stations.
\n
Chengdu Public Transport Group Co also launched a similar "tap and ride" service for overseas-issued UnionPay, Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards across all its bus routes on July 28.
\n
The upgrades are part of a broader effort to position Chengdu as a global tourism destination ahead of the 12th edition of the World Games, which will take place from Thursday to Aug 17.
\n
The World Games is the highest-level international multisport event outside the Olympic Games. This year marks the first time the event will be held on the Chinese mainland.
\n
Organizers said the city is launching new inbound tourism measures, including expanding tax-refund stores and establishing duty-free shopping centers.
\n
Since June, the city's culture, radio, television and tourism bureau has rolled out or planned a wide range of themed activities, tourist routes and immersive travel experiences for international visitors.
\n
Museums, scenic spots and hotels across Chengdu will also offer additional benefits and discounts to World Games spectators, said Qiu Wei, director of the bureau.
\n
"Tourists can visit some museums for free with their ticket stubs from major sports events and enjoy additional discounts when checking into hotels," he said.
\n
Chengdu recorded 984,000 inbound visits in the first half of this year, a year-on-year increase of 51.5 percent.
\n
"We will use the World Games as an opportunity to turn visitor flow into new growth momentum for the cultural and tourism sector," Qiu said.
Members from the United States Army Observation Group participate in the construction of an airfield in Yan'an, Shaanxi province, in 1944.
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Two members of the US observation group launch a meteorological balloon in Yan'an.
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Senior members of the Communist Party of China and CPC-led Eighth Route Army talk with a member of the US observation group in Yan'an in 1944.
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While China's meteorology is dominated by the use of satellites and computer modeling today, its modern origins can be traced back to a cave at the foot of Qingliang Mountain in Yan'an, Shaanxi province, in March 1945.
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In the cave, a group of young Chinese learned about modern meteorology and the use of wireless communication devices with meteorologists from the United States Army Observation Group, or as its members called it, the Dixie Mission.
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Using their knees as desks, stones as stools, and mixing soot with water to take notes, the trainees formed a meteorological training team, marking the beginning of meteorological undertakings led by the Communist Party of China. Six of the 21 trainees established the Party's first batch of six weather stations. Later that year, the Party's first weather observatory was put into service.
\n
In the final years of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), while bombs thundered across the skies of the Pacific and Europe burned with the fire of resistance, a quieter collaboration was taking shape in the loess hills of northwestern China.
\n
By 1944, the tide of war had turned as Allied forces were gaining ground and the Chinese battlefield had grown crucial to the Pacific theater. US bombers based in Chengdu in Sichuan province, Kunming in Yunnan province, and Hengyang in Hunan province, were launching raids deep into Japanese-held territory and over the Japanese mainland.
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Commenting on the situation 80 years ago, Yang Zengjun, an official from today's Yan'an Meteorological Bureau, said that as US aircraft often needed to land in northern China due to fuel limits, accurate meteorological data from areas controlled by the CPC became vital.
\n
That summer, the US Army Observation Group arrived in Yan'an to discuss the possibility of establishing weather observation stations across the region. They also proposed establishing weather stations in Communist-controlled areas and deploying US personnel to collect data, which raised concerns over national sovereignty, Yang said.
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Wang Zheng, then director of the Third Bureau of the Central Military Commission, refused their request. "We would rather forgo any equipment than compromise our national sovereignty. If you are sincere, offer guidance in teaching. Our weather stations will be built by our own graduates," Wang said at the time.
\n
The two sides made an agreement that the US would supply equipment and training, while the Chinese would staff and run the stations. The Qingliang Mountain Meteorological Training Team was then formed and had instructors, including US military meteorologists and Zhang Naizhao, a Tsinghua University meteorology graduate who also played the role of interpreter.
\n
During the three-month training course, the trainees studied atmospheric science, observation techniques and wireless communication. There were no desks, electricity or proper paper. Classes often took place outdoors when the weather allowed.
\n
The lecture notes were scrawled on the backs of old books or reused pamphlets. Evenings were dimly lit by makeshift lamps fashioned from used ink bottles, according to the introduction at the exhibition center of meteorological development in Yan'an.
\n
In May 1945, during the graduation ceremony of the first class, Ye Jianying, chief of staff of the Central Military Commission, who would become a marshal in 1955, addressed the new meteorologists. "You are the first generation of meteorological workers in our Party and our army. Your work marks the birth of our meteorological endeavor," Ye said.
\n
Soon after, six weather stations were established by the graduates in the CPC-led Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia area and revolutionary base areas in Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong and Henan provinces. They carried their instruments, along with portable radio sets, on muleback through forests and over mountains, setting up stations that would prove critical to both combat and flight operations.
\n
Ge Shimin, one of the 21 trainees, was dispatched to Chi'an village, Shexian county, a Communist-led base area in today's Hebei province.
\n
"I conducted observations twice a day, morning and evening, recording temperature, air pressure, and identifying cloud types with my eyes. I also visually estimated cloud height and visibility range. After compiling the data into a telegram, I sent the consolidated weather information to the Dixie Mission in Yan'an," Ge recalled in his book Days in Chi'an.
\n
At that time, the US military was bombing Japanese military targets in occupied areas. Their planes were often shot down and crash-landed in CPC-led revolutionary areas. Surviving US pilots were escorted by locals or stationed troops of the CPC, sometimes using donkeys, to the regional military headquarters, according to Ge.
\n
"When US pilots were brought in, I would send a message to Yan'an, and upon receiving a reply with timing instructions, I would go to the Changning airfield to meet the plane. I provided weather forecasts in advance and guided the landing," Ge wrote in the book.
\n
According to a collection of the US Army Observation Group, compiled by the national archives administration, US Army Colonel David D. Barrett believed the Communists greatly helped the Dixie Mission.
\n
"They collected weather forecasts for our navy and air force, which made crucial contributions. Thanks to the cooperation, many small radio stations and instruments for directing operations were sent to the remote parts of the areas under Communist control. An astonishing volume of useful weather reports came from those tiny radio posts," Barrett said.
\n
In January 1945, Major General George E. Stratemeyer, a senior commander of the US Army Air Force, sent a message to CPC leader Zhu De to express his gratitude for the Party's provision of meteorological intelligence and their assistance to the US Army Air Force in meteorological operations.
\n
"Colonel Ellsworth, inspector of the 10th weather region, recently returned from a visit to Yan'an and reported to me the excellent meteorological work carried out by the North China government and its significant contribution to our joint war effort," Stratemeyer said.
\n
Ellsworth believed that the meteorological school jointly built by the two sides and the graduates had greatly improved the efficiency of the US air force's meteorological operations, Stratemeyer added.
\n
In September 1945, following Japan's surrender, the Chinese military took over the US meteorological station in Yan'an. A group of 11 people, led by Zhang Naizhao and staffed with graduates of the training program, established the CPC's first official weather observatory.
\n
Barrett recalled that in September, after he left the mission, several well-known meteorological observers were sent to Yan'an to join this team. "These experts launched weather balloons every day, attaching them to radios so that they could automatically report weather conditions from the sky, which is a meteorological miracle," he said.
\n
In March 1947, the weather observatory was moved from Yan'an along with the Central Military Commission, and was renamed the Meteorological Team of the Third Bureau of the Central Military Commission.
Zhang Jun, a fruit farmer in Wuqi, Shaanxi province, shares his observations in his orchard in early July.
\n
A meteorological monitoring station is set up in an apple orchard in Wuqi county to better serve farmers.
\n
For experienced apple growers in Yan'an, a city in northwestern China's Shaanxi province, the toughest challenges of their jobs aren't planting techniques or irrigation systems, but the unpredictable late-spring frosts and sudden hailstorms that threaten to wipe out a year's worth of hard work in a single night.
\n
In recent years, farmers across the city's rugged apple-producing hills have increasingly turned to modern meteorological tools, including portable weather stations, artificial hail suppression systems, and weather index insurance, to protect their crops and reduce climate-related losses.
\n
At an orchard in Zhidan county in July, rows of apple trees stood lush and healthy despite enduring three recent frosts. The resilience was thanks in part to a small lantern-shaped device hanging from the branches — a "mini weather sentry" that monitors real-time temperature and humidity, local officials said.
\n
"This little gadget is a game-changer," said Zhang Hong, an official at the county's agriculture and rural affairs bureau. "In the past, farmers would tie thermometers to trees and check them with flashlights in the freezing night. Now, they can stay warm at home and monitor everything through the 'Shaanxi Weather' app or the 'Ping'an Weather' mini program."
\n
The devices are part of two-factor orchard weather stations deployed at different altitudes to offer localized data. These stations alert growers to freezing temperatures during the critical blooming season in April and May, giving them time to take preventive measures such as lighting smudge pots to create protective smoke around the trees.
\n
"Zhidan county has so far deployed 380 such stations," Zhang said.
\n
In Yan'an, 475 six-factor smart weather stations and 1,670 two-factor orchard weather sensors have been installed in recent years. According to the Yan'an Meteorological Bureau, the average distance between monitoring stations has been slashed from 23 kilometers to just 4, enhancing the accuracy of forecasts and frost warnings.
\n
While frost is a lingering threat in the spring, hailstorms pose a year-round risk, particularly in Wuqi county.
\n
"For apple farmers, hail is a nightmare," said Liu Yue, an orchard owner in Wuqi. "A flawless apple sells for up to 6 yuan per kilogram, but one hit by hail won't fetch a single yuan."
\n
To combat the risk, Wuqi launched a pilot hail suppression program in 2023. The project introduced advanced cloud-seeding equipment, automated rocket systems, and an artificial intelligence-enabled early warning command platform. The upgraded system allows for rapid detection, intelligent forecasting, and automated cloud seeding at precise locations and altitudes.
\n
"The key to successful hail suppression is to act early — when the hail is still just ice crystals," said Yang Guang, a technician with the Wuqi Meteorological Bureau. "This year, we've conducted more than 30 suppression operations, and the results have been very promising."
\n
In tandem, the Yan'an Meteorological Bureau has upgraded automated ground hail prevention equipment, enabling safer and more efficient storm mitigation efforts.
\n
However, even with cutting-edge equipment, some damage is unavoidable when extreme weather strikes.
\n
In May, Zhang Jun, a first-time apple grower in Wuqi, saw his 3-hectare orchard suffer a devastating frost. "We were expecting about 50 metric tons of apples," he said. "Now we might just get 10."
\n
Luckily, Zhang had enrolled in a pilot weather index insurance program, targeting frost in the blossom season, introduced this year in Wuqi and neighboring Luochuan county. The policy, triggered by specific temperature readings, allowed him to receive a quick payout.
\n
"That night, the orchard's temperature sensor recorded — 1.8 C," said Zhang Haihang, a representative from the People's Insurance Company of China in Wuqi. "We sent a loss adjuster the next morning. The system calculated a compensation of 6,075 yuan per hectare."
\n
Unlike traditional crop insurance, which often requires a lengthy damage assessment after harvest, the index insurance model speeds up compensation based on verified meteorological data.
\n
"This model brings insurance closer to farmers," said Sun Zhihui, chief technician at the Yan'an apple meteorological science and technology backyard. Sun and his team developed the weather index system specifically for apple farmers in the region.
\n
"Previously, growers had to wait until harvest season for any compensation, and the process was slow and uncertain," Sun said. "Now, with automatic payouts triggered by precise weather events, more insurers are willing to participate, and more farmers are covered," he added.
\n
As climate variability intensifies, the city's apple industry, which employs over one million people, is banking on meteorological innovation and public-private cooperation to protect its future.
\n
Wang Weigang, head of the Yan'an Meteorological Bureau, said the city will continue to strengthen monitoring, improve forecasting accuracy, and expand intelligent services tailored to apple growers.
\n",
- "content": "
Zhang Jun, a fruit farmer in Wuqi, Shaanxi province, shares his observations in his orchard in early July.
\n
A meteorological monitoring station is set up in an apple orchard in Wuqi county to better serve farmers.
\n
For experienced apple growers in Yan'an, a city in northwestern China's Shaanxi province, the toughest challenges of their jobs aren't planting techniques or irrigation systems, but the unpredictable late-spring frosts and sudden hailstorms that threaten to wipe out a year's worth of hard work in a single night.
\n
In recent years, farmers across the city's rugged apple-producing hills have increasingly turned to modern meteorological tools, including portable weather stations, artificial hail suppression systems, and weather index insurance, to protect their crops and reduce climate-related losses.
\n
At an orchard in Zhidan county in July, rows of apple trees stood lush and healthy despite enduring three recent frosts. The resilience was thanks in part to a small lantern-shaped device hanging from the branches — a "mini weather sentry" that monitors real-time temperature and humidity, local officials said.
\n
"This little gadget is a game-changer," said Zhang Hong, an official at the county's agriculture and rural affairs bureau. "In the past, farmers would tie thermometers to trees and check them with flashlights in the freezing night. Now, they can stay warm at home and monitor everything through the 'Shaanxi Weather' app or the 'Ping'an Weather' mini program."
\n
The devices are part of two-factor orchard weather stations deployed at different altitudes to offer localized data. These stations alert growers to freezing temperatures during the critical blooming season in April and May, giving them time to take preventive measures such as lighting smudge pots to create protective smoke around the trees.
\n
"Zhidan county has so far deployed 380 such stations," Zhang said.
\n
In Yan'an, 475 six-factor smart weather stations and 1,670 two-factor orchard weather sensors have been installed in recent years. According to the Yan'an Meteorological Bureau, the average distance between monitoring stations has been slashed from 23 kilometers to just 4, enhancing the accuracy of forecasts and frost warnings.
\n
While frost is a lingering threat in the spring, hailstorms pose a year-round risk, particularly in Wuqi county.
\n
"For apple farmers, hail is a nightmare," said Liu Yue, an orchard owner in Wuqi. "A flawless apple sells for up to 6 yuan per kilogram, but one hit by hail won't fetch a single yuan."
\n
To combat the risk, Wuqi launched a pilot hail suppression program in 2023. The project introduced advanced cloud-seeding equipment, automated rocket systems, and an artificial intelligence-enabled early warning command platform. The upgraded system allows for rapid detection, intelligent forecasting, and automated cloud seeding at precise locations and altitudes.
\n
"The key to successful hail suppression is to act early — when the hail is still just ice crystals," said Yang Guang, a technician with the Wuqi Meteorological Bureau. "This year, we've conducted more than 30 suppression operations, and the results have been very promising."
\n
In tandem, the Yan'an Meteorological Bureau has upgraded automated ground hail prevention equipment, enabling safer and more efficient storm mitigation efforts.
\n
However, even with cutting-edge equipment, some damage is unavoidable when extreme weather strikes.
\n
In May, Zhang Jun, a first-time apple grower in Wuqi, saw his 3-hectare orchard suffer a devastating frost. "We were expecting about 50 metric tons of apples," he said. "Now we might just get 10."
\n
Luckily, Zhang had enrolled in a pilot weather index insurance program, targeting frost in the blossom season, introduced this year in Wuqi and neighboring Luochuan county. The policy, triggered by specific temperature readings, allowed him to receive a quick payout.
\n
"That night, the orchard's temperature sensor recorded — 1.8 C," said Zhang Haihang, a representative from the People's Insurance Company of China in Wuqi. "We sent a loss adjuster the next morning. The system calculated a compensation of 6,075 yuan per hectare."
\n
Unlike traditional crop insurance, which often requires a lengthy damage assessment after harvest, the index insurance model speeds up compensation based on verified meteorological data.
\n
"This model brings insurance closer to farmers," said Sun Zhihui, chief technician at the Yan'an apple meteorological science and technology backyard. Sun and his team developed the weather index system specifically for apple farmers in the region.
\n
"Previously, growers had to wait until harvest season for any compensation, and the process was slow and uncertain," Sun said. "Now, with automatic payouts triggered by precise weather events, more insurers are willing to participate, and more farmers are covered," he added.
\n
As climate variability intensifies, the city's apple industry, which employs over one million people, is banking on meteorological innovation and public-private cooperation to protect its future.
\n
Wang Weigang, head of the Yan'an Meteorological Bureau, said the city will continue to strengthen monitoring, improve forecasting accuracy, and expand intelligent services tailored to apple growers.
Wan Xiangqi poses with his bicycle at a rocky shore in Sanya, Hainan province, before launching a long ride to Mohe in Heilongjiang province last year.
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Wan poses on the street of Mohe after finishing the journey from Sanya last year.
\n
At China Three Gorges University, students often spot a figure striding across campus with a weathered backpack — Wan Xiangqi, a post-1990s professor known as the "cycling scholar".
\n
Over 12 years, he has pedaled more than 10,000 kilometers across China. From the tropical shores of Sanya, Hainan province, to the frozen tundra of Mohe in Heilongjiang province, he has mapped the nation's contours with his bicycle tires while bridging the gap between academia and adventure.
\n
In 2010, as a freshman, Wan stumbled upon The Travel Diaries of Xu Xiake in the library, which struck his heart deeply. He still remembers the declaration of the explorer from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) that "a true man should gaze upon the eastern seas at dawn and the western mountains by dusk".
\n
Starting with a solo circumnavigation of Hainan island, Wan combined his wanderlust with scientific purpose. Tasked by the National Geological Exploration and Testing Center to collect sand samples for analysis of titanium — a mineral critical to China's defense industry — he spent summers traversing 18 counties, documenting coordinates and environmental conditions.
\n
"Titanium is the backbone of national security," he said, referencing dog-eared copies of China's Mineral Resources Strategy.
\n
Last summer, Wan embarked on his most grueling journey, which was a 6,500-km ride from Sanya to Mohe. He braved rainforests, 4,000-meter-high mountain passes, and the desolate expanses of the Greater Hinggan Mountains. "Every crease on the map holds unknowns," he said, "but Xu Xiake taught me that answers lie on the road," he said.
\n
"Without books, traveling 10,000 miles makes one merely a courier," Wan added, quoting philosopher Wang Yangming from the Ming Dynasty.
\n
His saddlebags always carry texts: The Silk Road guided him through the ancient trade route, while Tibetan Book of Living and Dying lent perspective during his high-altitude rides.
\n
On his Sanya-Mohe ride, historian Qian Mu's Outline of National History became a talisman. "Respect for China's past isn't locked in museums. It flows through our rivers and mountains," he said, echoing Qian's words.
\n
When asked about his toughest challenge, Wan said: "Not the mountains or isolation, but the night before departure."
\n
In June 2022, perched on Sanya's cliffs, he scribbled his fears in the margins of the China Geographic Atlas: "What if I get lost? What if my bike fails? Taking that first pedal stroke is declaring war on fear," he wrote.
\n
That resolve spills into his classrooms. As a Marxist theory lecturer, he once tossed a 200-million-year-old basalt rock which he collected in Mohe onto desks. "This stone witnessed dinosaurs and now sees poverty alleviation. That's history's depth," he told students.
\n
He pairs Ordinary World, a novel of struggle, with field trips to the Loess Plateau. "The rustle of turning pages," he said, "makes me closer to truth than the click of a 'like' button."
\n
Wan's office shelves display relics of his journeys: Hainan coral, Gobi Desert stones, birchbark from Mohe — each tagged with coordinates. His digital archives hold thousands of pages on mineral deposits, dialects and rural transformation. "These will go to the university library," he said. "Maybe a student will find their own courage here."
\n
At a campus lecture last year, he told a rapt audience: "Progress is demanding of those who carry ink-stained books into muddy fields."
\n
Afterward, a freshman clutched a China Geographic Atlas — its cover inscribed by Wan, claiming that the first mile might start with turning this page.
\n
Zhao Chunhua, director of the China Three Gorges University Library, said that Wan truly lives by the principle of "reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles".
\n
"He masters both the written word and the unwritten lessons of the world — immersing himself in books while exploring the grandeur of China's landscapes. His life is a bridge between scholarship and the soul of our land," Zhao said.
\n
"Through his reading sessions, Wan does more than sharing knowledge. He reveals the power of literature to carry the weight of Chinese culture and the awe of our natural heritage. This is not just education; it's a vivid 'gold-standard ideological lesson' that inspires students to see learning as a journey of mind and spirit," he added.
\n
Contact the writers at weiwangyu@chinadaily.com.cn
Two workers check the health of a sheep raised at the Aoqun Animal Husbandry farm in Tianjin.
\n
A sheep breeding base in Tianjin is harnessing advanced technologies to reshape livestock farming both in China and abroad. Through its collaboration with Saudi Arabia, the base has helped slash lamb mortality rates from over 20 percent to below 10 percent and assisted in building three intelligent sheep barns in the country.
\n
These achievements showcase the progress China has made in smart agriculture and its influence in the international market, said Feng Jie, deputy head of Tuanbo town in Jinghai district, Tianjin.
\n
At the Aoqun Animal Husbandry facility in Tuanbo, the latest technologies are transforming traditional farming. Intelligent systems regulate barn temperatures, while robots identify and clean manure passages before returning to their stations. A feed efficiency monitoring system tracks each animal's feed intake, weight, and feeding time, enabling precise control over nutrition and health.
\n
"In recent years, the company has established a 'Sheep Internet' platform and a national-level mutton sheep performance testing center. These scientific breeding methods have been integrated into production practices, effectively guiding the selection, breeding and promotion of breeding sheep," said Lu Xiaofang, director of the mutton sheep factory in Tuanbo.
\n
"Each sheep wears an electronic ear tag that allows automatic tracking of weight, growth and health conditions," said Lu, "Through our Sheep Internet platform, managers can design more rational and scientific breeding plans."
\n
The facility also uses CT scanning technology developed in-house, producing high-resolution 3D images of sheep muscle, fat, and bone tissues. "This makes trait data as detailed as ocular muscle area, with muscle-fat and meat-bone ratios clearly visible," Lu said.
\n
During a recent demonstration, over 200 detailed images were captured in just 100 seconds, with a precision of 0.1 millimeters, showing the distribution of muscles, fat and bones in sheep.
\n
"Our efficient breeding technologies and intelligent breeding techniques have attracted inspection delegations from countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iran and South Africa for visits on multiple occasions," said Lin Chunjian, manager of Aoqun.
\n
Beyond its global reach, Aoqun has had a major local impact. More than 80 jobs have been created in areas such as breeding, livestock care, and logistics. Over 5,000 farmers have received free training to boost their livestock-raising skills, helping lift rural communities out of poverty, according to Lu.
\n
Over 20 years ago, Chen Hua, founder of Aoqun Animal Husbandry, learned that China was heavily reliant on imported breeding sheep and decided to start his own business to cultivate breeding sheep.
\n
"Tuanbo town has abundant sunlight and geothermal resources, allowing the sheep barns to utilize geothermal energy for temperature control. Moreover, relying on the Tuanbo Lake Wetland, there is an abundance of natural forage and clean water, providing a natural grazing area for the sheep and further reducing breeding costs," Lu explained.
\n
Jinghai district has a well-developed agricultural sector, with a relatively high proportion of farmers engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. They not only have certain breeding experience but also enjoy low labor costs, creating favorable conditions for the development of breeding here, Feng said. After years of upgrading breeding technologies, in 2018, the new mutton sheep breed "Aobai Multiparous Sheep" developed by Chen's team achieved a reproduction rate of 220 percent.
\n
"We no longer import breeding sheep now. The breeding sheep we have cultivated through closed breeding surpass foreign breeds in production performance by about 10 to 15 percent," said Zhang Zhichao, breeding director of Aoqun.
\n
Tianjin will host the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit this autumn. Lu expressed hope of exchanging and learning from other international mutton sheep breeding enterprises.
\n
"Taking the opportunity of the SCO Summit, we hope to showcase the achievements in protecting the Tuanbo Lake Wetland to the world, share our breeding technologies, strive to become a pilot for ecological cooperation under the SCO, and promote cooperation between enterprises like Aoqun Animal Husbandry and SCO member states," Feng said.
Two workers check the health of a sheep raised at the Aoqun Animal Husbandry farm in Tianjin.
\n
A sheep breeding base in Tianjin is harnessing advanced technologies to reshape livestock farming both in China and abroad. Through its collaboration with Saudi Arabia, the base has helped slash lamb mortality rates from over 20 percent to below 10 percent and assisted in building three intelligent sheep barns in the country.
\n
These achievements showcase the progress China has made in smart agriculture and its influence in the international market, said Feng Jie, deputy head of Tuanbo town in Jinghai district, Tianjin.
\n
At the Aoqun Animal Husbandry facility in Tuanbo, the latest technologies are transforming traditional farming. Intelligent systems regulate barn temperatures, while robots identify and clean manure passages before returning to their stations. A feed efficiency monitoring system tracks each animal's feed intake, weight, and feeding time, enabling precise control over nutrition and health.
\n
"In recent years, the company has established a 'Sheep Internet' platform and a national-level mutton sheep performance testing center. These scientific breeding methods have been integrated into production practices, effectively guiding the selection, breeding and promotion of breeding sheep," said Lu Xiaofang, director of the mutton sheep factory in Tuanbo.
\n
"Each sheep wears an electronic ear tag that allows automatic tracking of weight, growth and health conditions," said Lu, "Through our Sheep Internet platform, managers can design more rational and scientific breeding plans."
\n
The facility also uses CT scanning technology developed in-house, producing high-resolution 3D images of sheep muscle, fat, and bone tissues. "This makes trait data as detailed as ocular muscle area, with muscle-fat and meat-bone ratios clearly visible," Lu said.
\n
During a recent demonstration, over 200 detailed images were captured in just 100 seconds, with a precision of 0.1 millimeters, showing the distribution of muscles, fat and bones in sheep.
\n
"Our efficient breeding technologies and intelligent breeding techniques have attracted inspection delegations from countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iran and South Africa for visits on multiple occasions," said Lin Chunjian, manager of Aoqun.
\n
Beyond its global reach, Aoqun has had a major local impact. More than 80 jobs have been created in areas such as breeding, livestock care, and logistics. Over 5,000 farmers have received free training to boost their livestock-raising skills, helping lift rural communities out of poverty, according to Lu.
\n
Over 20 years ago, Chen Hua, founder of Aoqun Animal Husbandry, learned that China was heavily reliant on imported breeding sheep and decided to start his own business to cultivate breeding sheep.
\n
"Tuanbo town has abundant sunlight and geothermal resources, allowing the sheep barns to utilize geothermal energy for temperature control. Moreover, relying on the Tuanbo Lake Wetland, there is an abundance of natural forage and clean water, providing a natural grazing area for the sheep and further reducing breeding costs," Lu explained.
\n
Jinghai district has a well-developed agricultural sector, with a relatively high proportion of farmers engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. They not only have certain breeding experience but also enjoy low labor costs, creating favorable conditions for the development of breeding here, Feng said. After years of upgrading breeding technologies, in 2018, the new mutton sheep breed "Aobai Multiparous Sheep" developed by Chen's team achieved a reproduction rate of 220 percent.
\n
"We no longer import breeding sheep now. The breeding sheep we have cultivated through closed breeding surpass foreign breeds in production performance by about 10 to 15 percent," said Zhang Zhichao, breeding director of Aoqun.
\n
Tianjin will host the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit this autumn. Lu expressed hope of exchanging and learning from other international mutton sheep breeding enterprises.
\n
"Taking the opportunity of the SCO Summit, we hope to showcase the achievements in protecting the Tuanbo Lake Wetland to the world, share our breeding technologies, strive to become a pilot for ecological cooperation under the SCO, and promote cooperation between enterprises like Aoqun Animal Husbandry and SCO member states," Feng said.
Several flexible workers take a break at a service station in Beijing's Dongcheng district on June 25.
\n
SHANGHAI — After a tiring journey of 600 kilometers, Liu Chunliang pulled into a logistics park and hopped out of his truck. After taking a shower in a nearby building, he enjoyed some hearty dumplings and then had a brief nap in a rest lounge while his truck was being unloaded.
\n
The building where Liu took the much-needed break is located in the Hengdi logistics park in Shanghai's Jiading district. These facilities have transformed the park from a mere transfer site for goods into a vital rest stop for long-haul drivers such as Liu.
\n
"I make round trips between Xuzhou (in Jiangsu province) and Shanghai eight to ten times a month. There used to be no place for me to get some rest along the way, but now I feel at home here in the park," said Liu.
\n
Liu has benefited from a wider array of initiatives implemented by Jiading district to support gig workers in the area. As the gig economy continues to grow across China, cities are responding by establishing rest lounges, offering affordable dining options, and providing skill training for gig workers who play a crucial role in keeping urban life moving.
\n
The number of flexible workers in China exceeded 265 million in 2024, including 175 million engaged in platform-based gig work, according to an industry report by Hangzhou-based Gongmall, a digital solutions provider for the gig sector.
\n
They typically work as ride-hailing drivers, food delivery riders and long-haul drivers, among other trades. While making life more convenient for residents, these flexible workers often scramble to find facilities to meet their own basic needs — whether it is using the bathroom, recharging their mobile phones and electric bikes, or simply taking a moment to rest.
\n
Jiading district has set up stopover hubs for both ride-hailing drivers and food delivery riders. One such hub, located in Zhaqiao village, offers catering services and rental apartments. Here, ride-hailing drivers can take naps in massage chairs while their cars charge outside. The budget-friendly cafeteria even provides meals outside regular dining hours.
\n
"For meals, I used to grab some buns or snacks in the car, eating when I could and often going hungry. Now, not only do I eat well, but I can also rest properly, so I don't feel drowsy after long hours of driving," said driver Wu Yigui, who was dining in the cafeteria.
\n
The driver from Southwest China's Guizhou province has also made this service hub his temporary home, renting a shared apartment for 650 yuan ($91) per month — an affordable option in Shanghai.
\n
Food delivery riders have their rest lounges as well. On a typical workday afternoon, Jiang Zhongqiang, a rider for the food delivery platform Ele.me, stopped outside one of these lounges in Jiading. After replacing the battery for his electric bike, he stepped into the lounge, where he refilled his water bottle and plugged in his cellphone to charge while he enjoyed his meal.
\n
In 2022, the Chinese government issued a guideline aimed at improving gig economy services to boost employment. The country has been focusing on improving welfare for this increasingly significant segment of the workforce in recent years.
\n
In June, China released guidelines aimed at safeguarding public wellbeing and addressing the most pressing concerns of the people. These guidelines emphasized the need to improve the social insurance system for flexible workers. They also called for the gradual integration of flexible workers into the housing provident fund system.
\n
Rest stops for gig workers have proliferated in major cities across China. In Beijing's Chaoyang district alone, there are 2,912 service stations where the district's 83,000 flexible workers can recharge between tasks. One such lounge, located in the bustling Shuangjing commercial district, operates around the clock, allowing delivery riders to access it even deep in the night.
\n
The lounge, run by subdistrict government offices, also organizes skill training, festival celebrations, and reading activities for gig workers to foster a sense of belonging.
\n
These efforts extend beyond prosperous metropolises. In Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, 2,077 rest stations have been established for gig workers. Their locations are conveniently integrated into navigation apps for easy access. In addition to providing free drinking water, charging and leisure facilities, and medications, the region has also organized free health check-ups for 35,000 gig workers.
\n
Talking about the rest lounges in Jiading, Zhu Xuguang, an official with the Jiading branch of the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, said that the rest stops have become a physical and spiritual harbor for gig workers.
\n",
@@ -5610,28 +5434,6 @@
"hash": "2762a882861e4553ad7cd7750e8474d5",
"highlights": []
},
- {
- "title": "019SPORTS - Lyles, Bednarek throw down at US nationals",
- "description": "
From left: In a moment of high drama, Olympic champion Noah Lyles (left) stares down rival sprinter Kenny Bednarek as Lyles passes him to win the 200m final of the US track championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday. Bednarek can then be seen shoving Lyles in the back following a verbal exchange between the pair as they crossed the finish line.
\n
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the 200m at the US Nationals on Sunday with a personal-best time of 21.84 seconds.
\n
Noah Lyles landed the day's biggest blow on the track, passing Kenny Bednarek for the win, but not before looking his way to talk some trash.
\n
Bednarek's answer was a two-handed shove in the back after the finish line, some more heated words and a challenge for a rematch that can't come soon enough.
\n
The pair's shoving and shouting match came during the US track championships at the end of a hotly contested 200m final at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday.
\n
"Like I've said before, Noah's going to be Noah," Bednarek said. "If he wants to stare me down, that's fine."
\n
Lyles reeled in Bednarek and crossed in 19.63 seconds for a 0.04-second victory that sets up a rematch at world championships on Sept 19 in Tokyo.
\n
The best action in Round 1 came after the finish line.
\n
There was jawing, the shove and, then, Lyles turning around, backpedaling, reaching his arms out and bouncing up and down like a boxer before lobbing a few more choice words at Bednarek.
\n
Their argument bled into the start of what is normally a celebratory NBC winner's interview.
\n
"I tell ya, if you've got a problem, I expect a call," Bednarek said, as the network's Lewis Johnson moved the mic between the feuding runners.
Though they shook hands during that tense post-race interview, Bednarek was fired up well after the sprinters had left the track.
\n
"The summary is, don't do that to me," he said.
\n
"I don't do any of that stuff. It's not good character right there. That's pretty much it. At the end of the day, he won the race. I've got to give him props. He was the better man today."
\n
The win itself was no big surprise for Lyles, the three-time defending world champion who will have to get past Bednarek to make it four in Tokyo. Bednarek was asked what Lyles said as he turned around and gloated after securing his fifth national title at his favorite distance.
\n
"What he said didn't matter, it's just what he did," Bednarek said. "Unsportsmanlike shit and I don't deal with that. It's a respect factor.
\n
"He's fresh. Last time we lined it up, I beat him, that's all I can say. Next time we line up, I'm going to win. That's all that matters."
\n
Asked to expand on his role in the tiff, Lyles was less forthcoming: "On coach's orders, no comment."
\n
As is common in a year after the Olympics — and in an era after Usain Bolt — track is a sport desperately in need of some energy. Who else to provide it than Lyles? On the men's side of US track, he's arguably the sport's most engaging character.
\n
Up to now, track media and the runners themselves have tried to generate rivalries between Lyles and Erriyon Knighton (who's currently appealing a doping violation), or Lyles and Botswana's Letsile Tebogo (whom Lyles beat in the Olympics last year), or even between Lyles and NFL receiver Tyreek Hill (a supposed grudge match never took place).
\n
Turns out, they probably should have looked at the lane next to him. Bednarek has won silver and beaten Lyles the last two times they've lined up in the 200m at the Olympics, even though Lyles has had issues at both — in Tokyo with his mental health, then in Paris with COVID.
\n
Bednarek referenced some long-simmering issues between the two.
\n
"Just some personal stuff we've got to handle," he said.
\n
But, when asked for something, anything, about this burgeoning rivalry, Lyles demurred, instead focusing on what a difficult year this has been for him after an injury in April kept him out of spikes until June.
\n
"If they ain't gonna beat me now, they ain't gonna beat me ever," Lyles said. Bednarek isn't so sure of that.
\n
The 200m final was Bednarek's fifth race of the week, counting the three heats of the 100m, the final of which he won on Friday.
\n
Lyles, who has an automatic spot at the worlds in that event as the defending champion, only ran one heat of the 100m.
\n
"We'll go fresh and we'll see what happens," Bednarek said. "Because I'm very confident I can beat him. That's all I can say."
\n
On the women's side, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the 200m in a personal-best time of 21.84 seconds, while Olympic champion Gabby Thomas had to wait a few anxious moments to see if she earned a spot on the worlds team. Her named popped up in third place, putting her on the plane.
\n
It was a winning weekend for Jefferson-Wooden, who also captured the 100m on Friday. She will be joined in the event at the worlds by Sha'Carri Richardson, who has an automatic spot as the defending champion. However, Richardson, who didn't advance to the 200m final, has again found herself in the headlines for her offtrack activities after being arrested on Sunday for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend.
\n
One of the afternoon's most exciting finishes was in the men's 800m, where 2019 world champion Donavan Brazier used a strong kick to hold off 16-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus and Bryce Hoppel.
\n
In the 5,000m, Shelby Houlihan held off Elise Cranny by less than a second to win the title. Houlihan returned this year after serving a four-year doping ban for testing positive after eating a burrito she claimed was tainted with a performance-enhancing drug.
\n",
- "content": "
From left: In a moment of high drama, Olympic champion Noah Lyles (left) stares down rival sprinter Kenny Bednarek as Lyles passes him to win the 200m final of the US track championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday. Bednarek can then be seen shoving Lyles in the back following a verbal exchange between the pair as they crossed the finish line.
\n
Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the 200m at the US Nationals on Sunday with a personal-best time of 21.84 seconds.
\n
Noah Lyles landed the day's biggest blow on the track, passing Kenny Bednarek for the win, but not before looking his way to talk some trash.
\n
Bednarek's answer was a two-handed shove in the back after the finish line, some more heated words and a challenge for a rematch that can't come soon enough.
\n
The pair's shoving and shouting match came during the US track championships at the end of a hotly contested 200m final at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Sunday.
\n
"Like I've said before, Noah's going to be Noah," Bednarek said. "If he wants to stare me down, that's fine."
\n
Lyles reeled in Bednarek and crossed in 19.63 seconds for a 0.04-second victory that sets up a rematch at world championships on Sept 19 in Tokyo.
\n
The best action in Round 1 came after the finish line.
\n
There was jawing, the shove and, then, Lyles turning around, backpedaling, reaching his arms out and bouncing up and down like a boxer before lobbing a few more choice words at Bednarek.
\n
Their argument bled into the start of what is normally a celebratory NBC winner's interview.
\n
"I tell ya, if you've got a problem, I expect a call," Bednarek said, as the network's Lewis Johnson moved the mic between the feuding runners.
Though they shook hands during that tense post-race interview, Bednarek was fired up well after the sprinters had left the track.
\n
"The summary is, don't do that to me," he said.
\n
"I don't do any of that stuff. It's not good character right there. That's pretty much it. At the end of the day, he won the race. I've got to give him props. He was the better man today."
\n
The win itself was no big surprise for Lyles, the three-time defending world champion who will have to get past Bednarek to make it four in Tokyo. Bednarek was asked what Lyles said as he turned around and gloated after securing his fifth national title at his favorite distance.
\n
"What he said didn't matter, it's just what he did," Bednarek said. "Unsportsmanlike shit and I don't deal with that. It's a respect factor.
\n
"He's fresh. Last time we lined it up, I beat him, that's all I can say. Next time we line up, I'm going to win. That's all that matters."
\n
Asked to expand on his role in the tiff, Lyles was less forthcoming: "On coach's orders, no comment."
\n
As is common in a year after the Olympics — and in an era after Usain Bolt — track is a sport desperately in need of some energy. Who else to provide it than Lyles? On the men's side of US track, he's arguably the sport's most engaging character.
\n
Up to now, track media and the runners themselves have tried to generate rivalries between Lyles and Erriyon Knighton (who's currently appealing a doping violation), or Lyles and Botswana's Letsile Tebogo (whom Lyles beat in the Olympics last year), or even between Lyles and NFL receiver Tyreek Hill (a supposed grudge match never took place).
\n
Turns out, they probably should have looked at the lane next to him. Bednarek has won silver and beaten Lyles the last two times they've lined up in the 200m at the Olympics, even though Lyles has had issues at both — in Tokyo with his mental health, then in Paris with COVID.
\n
Bednarek referenced some long-simmering issues between the two.
\n
"Just some personal stuff we've got to handle," he said.
\n
But, when asked for something, anything, about this burgeoning rivalry, Lyles demurred, instead focusing on what a difficult year this has been for him after an injury in April kept him out of spikes until June.
\n
"If they ain't gonna beat me now, they ain't gonna beat me ever," Lyles said. Bednarek isn't so sure of that.
\n
The 200m final was Bednarek's fifth race of the week, counting the three heats of the 100m, the final of which he won on Friday.
\n
Lyles, who has an automatic spot at the worlds in that event as the defending champion, only ran one heat of the 100m.
\n
"We'll go fresh and we'll see what happens," Bednarek said. "Because I'm very confident I can beat him. That's all I can say."
\n
On the women's side, Melissa Jefferson-Wooden won the 200m in a personal-best time of 21.84 seconds, while Olympic champion Gabby Thomas had to wait a few anxious moments to see if she earned a spot on the worlds team. Her named popped up in third place, putting her on the plane.
\n
It was a winning weekend for Jefferson-Wooden, who also captured the 100m on Friday. She will be joined in the event at the worlds by Sha'Carri Richardson, who has an automatic spot as the defending champion. However, Richardson, who didn't advance to the 200m final, has again found herself in the headlines for her offtrack activities after being arrested on Sunday for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend.
\n
One of the afternoon's most exciting finishes was in the men's 800m, where 2019 world champion Donavan Brazier used a strong kick to hold off 16-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus and Bryce Hoppel.
\n
In the 5,000m, Shelby Houlihan held off Elise Cranny by less than a second to win the title. Houlihan returned this year after serving a four-year doping ban for testing positive after eating a burrito she claimed was tainted with a performance-enhancing drug.
\n \n \n \n On the G1546 train from Nanning East to Hangzhou West, a post-00s train attendant Qin Yunhao carries a plastic bag with him every time he works during the busy summer travel season, according to China Railway's official social media account.\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n This \"mysterious plastic bag\" contains a stack of primary school exam papers for various grades. If children are being noisy, Qin approaches them and \"rewards\" them with a test paper.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n This summer, Qin's train has been especially crowded, popular with study tour groups and families. At times, student passengers make up half the carriage. Keeping children calm is a frequent topic discussed among the crew.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \"I noticed some parents bring their kids' summer homework on board, which keeps them busy and quiet,\" Qin said. \"So I thought, why not print simple exam papers for parents who didn't bring any?\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n He added that many of his colleagues have their own tricks, like giving out coloring books, stickers, or small toys that help improve concentration. Some trains even set up \"mobile play zones\" in dining cars for young travelers.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n Qin advises parents to prepare cartoons, movies, toys, or picture books to make trips more enjoyable.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n 图源：新浪微博@七三一官方微博截图\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Chinese historical drama titled\n \n \n \"731,\"\n \n \n which revisits the horrific World War II-era human experiments conducted by Japan's notorious germ warfare unit 731, is set to premiere on Sept 18, sources associated with the film have said.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n \n \n 二战期间，侵华日军第七三一部队在哈尔滨市平房区以“给水防疫”为名，秘密研制细菌武器，抓捕平民、抗日志士等进行活体实验，成为日本军国主义实施细菌战的铁证。\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Unit 731, a top-secret biological and chemical warfare research base, was established in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang province, and served as the nerve center for Japanese biological warfare in China and Southeast Asia during WWII.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 图源：\n \n \n \n \n \n 新浪微博@七三一官方微博截图\n \n \n \n \n \n \n 据新华社报道，主创团队介绍，影片讲述了当地小贩王永章等人被强行抓入“特设监狱”，侵华日军以“配合健康检查与防疫研究即可换取自由”的虚伪承诺，欺骗他们遭受冻伤实验、毒气实验、活体解剖等极端折磨的故事。\n \n \n
\n \n \n According to the film's director Zhao Linshan, it tells the story of Wang Yongzhang, a local vendor, and others who were imprisoned and lured by false promises of freedom in exchange for cooperation with health checks and disease prevention research.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n Instead, they became victims of brutal medical experiments carried out by the occupying Japanese forces -- including frostbite testing, gas exposure and vivisection.\n \n \n
\n \n \n “日本侵略者给中国人民带来了沉重灾难，这是不容忘却的历史。”侵华日军第七三一部队罪证陈列馆馆长金成民说，\n \n 影片展现绝境下中国人不屈的反抗精神，警醒世人铭记历史、捍卫和平。\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"This is a history that must never be forgotten,\" said Jin Chengmin, a historical adviser for the film and head of the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \"The film reveals the inhumane atrocities committed by the invading Japanese army through the eyes of ordinary civilians, while highlighting the unyielding resistance spirit of the Chinese people in the face of despair,\" Jin said. \"It serves as a powerful reminder to safeguard peace.\"\n \n \n \n \n \n 定档消息发出后\n \n \n \n \n 相关话题引发关注\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n 网友：真相不能忘！\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n \n \n A master's graduate surnamed Yang in Zhengzhou, Henan province has taken social media by storm with his artistic take on\n \n shaobing\n \n (Chinese flatbread), amassing over 400,000 followers within just two months.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Yang, a young postgraduate from North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, started a\n \n shaobing\n \n business after quitting his previous job. Using just a utility knife, he sculpts the dough into elaborate shapes ranging from firearms like Desert Eagles to popular cartoon characters such as Labubu and Hello Kitty.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n His stall has become particularly popular among children, who jokingly refer to it as a \"flour arsenal\". Daily queues form as soon as he opens for business, with some elderly customers reportedly waiting up to two hours to buy his creations for their grandchildren.\n \n
\n \n What began as a custom request from a child has blossomed into a viral phenomenon, with each piece meticulously hand-carved using only a utility knife — a skill he attributes to the spatial imagination honed during his engineering studies.\n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n Remarkably, Yang prices each artistic flatbread at just 1 yuan ($0.14), despite their intricate designs. \"I initially sold them for 3 to 5 yuan but lowered the price to make them affordable for children,\" he explained.\n \n
\n \n \n His Douyin bio — \"Unemployed civil engineering grad selling\n \n shaobing\n \n \" — underscores the unconventional career pivot that has sparked heated debate online.\n \n \n
\n \n While many applaud his creativity and defiance of \"elite job\" stereotypes, critics question whether street vending justifies his education. Undeterred, Yang sees his venture as liberation. \"Traditional civil engineering didn't suit me,\" he shared, adding that livestreaming and content creation now fuel his entrepreneurial ambitions. His story resonates with a growing cohort of Chinese youth redefining success beyond conventional career tracks.\n \n
\n \n \n \n With a performance inspired by the Terracotta Warriors, the Chinese artistic swimming team concluded their World\n \n \n \n \n Aquatics\n \n \n \n \n Championships campaign in Singapore on July 25, as they secured a gold in the team acrobatic event, bringing their total medal tally to four golds and three silvers in the tournament with gold medals in all three team events.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Wearing golden headbands symbolizing the legendary Monkey King, China's artistic swimmers brought the myth to life in a powerful Wukong-inspired routine to win gold in the team technical event at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships last Tuesday. Their performance, based on the popular Chinese video game\n \n Black Myth: Wukong\n \n , earned China 307.8001 points.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Performing a routine titled \"Soul of the Terracotta Army\", the Chinese squad topped the preliminary round and carried that momentum into the team acrobatic final on Friday, where they scored 229.0186 points to secure the gold.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Dead to Rights\n \n \n \n \n \n ,\n \n \n a film set during the Nanjing Massacre,\n \n \n \n \n \n opened in domestic theaters on July 25\n \n \n \n \n \n .\n \n \n \n \n Marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), the film revisits one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II through the perspective of a group of unsung heroes.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Set against the Nanjing Massacre, the film follows a group of civilians sheltering in a photo studio.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n Forced to develop a Japanese military photographer's film to survive, they accidentally uncover photographic proof of the atrocities. Initially focused on mere survival, they ultimately risk everything to preserve the evidence and expose the war crimes.\n \n \n
\n \n \n The most powerful core of this film lies in its tearing open the veil of history, allowing me an outsider to viscerally empathize wth the unimaginable suffering endured by the Chinese nation during the catastraphe. It doesn't shy away from the darkness, nor does it gloss over the pain. It confronts the nation's scars with immense artistic courage.\n \n \n
\n \n \n China's 2025 summer box office, including presales, exceeded 5 billion yuan on Sunday. Daily box office takings have remained above 100 million yuan for 10 consecutive days. On Saturday alone, ticket sales hit 293 million yuan, setting a new single-day high for this year's summer movie season.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Leading the charts is Universal's \"Jurassic World Rebirth,\" with 541 million yuan in ticket sales, followed by Chinese comedy \"The Lychee Road,\" which has grossed 468 million yuan. Other top performers include Japanese animated movie \"Detective Conan: One-eyed Flashback,\" Peter Chan's crime drama \"She's Got No Name\" and the sports film \"F1 The Movie\" starring Brad Pitt.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n On Tuesday, the United States announced a decision to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) by the end of December 2026. This marks the third time Washington has exited UNESCO.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n According to a statement by the US State Department, the withdrawal was prompted by what Washington perceived as UNESCO's tendency to \"advance divisive social and cultural causes,\" particularly regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n The US exit will take effect at the end of December 2026.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO expressed regret over the US decision, calling it inconsistent with the fundamental principles of multilateralism.\n \n \n
\n \n \n UNESCO said the US exit was regrettable but came as no surprise. \"However regrettable, this announcement was expected, and UNESCO has prepared for it,\" Azoulay said in a statement.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n \"We have implemented major structural reforms and diversified our funding sources. Thanks to the efforts made by the Organization since 2018, the decline in US financial contributions has been effectively offset,\" she stated.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n Earlier Tuesday afternoon, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed on his X account France's \"unwavering support\" for UNESCO. He called UNESCO a \"universal guardian of science, the ocean, education, culture, and world heritage.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n France, as the host country and a founding member of UNESCO, regrets the US decision to quit UNESCO, the spokesperson of the country's foreign ministry said on Tuesday.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n S\n \n \n \n ince Donald Trump's second term in office started early this year, the Trump administration had announced its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Human Rights Council.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n \n \n The finals of the 2025 RoboCup Humanoid League\n \n \n \n \n concluded on Sunday in Brazil, with Tsinghu\n \n \n \n \n \n \n a U\n \n \n \n \n niversity's Hephaestus team beating China Agricultural University's Mountain Sea tea\n \n \n \n \n m 5:3 to clinch the title.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n China has made history by winning the gold for the first time in the 28-year history of the tournament's Humanoid AdultSize Soccer Competition.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Chinese teams showed dominant form from the group stage onward. Hephaestus, powered by the domestically developed T1 humanoid robots, overwhelmed opponents with multiple clean-sheet victories, including 16:0, 9:0, and 12:0 triumphs over UT Austin Villa from the United States.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n One highlight of the tournament came during the group stage, when a Hephaestus robot scored the tournament's \"best goal\"\n \n \n \n \n \n .\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n In a moment reminiscent of Dutch footballer Robin van Persie's iconic diving header, the robot read the ball's trajectory at the goalmouth and launched forward to head the ball into the net. The dramatic goal was dubbed the \"robot Van Persie dive.\"\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n Other Chinese teams also delivered impressive results, with Tsinghua's TH-MOS team taking second place in the KidSize category. In the KidSize soccer competition final, both the German champions Boosted HTWK and China's TH-MOS team relied on the K1 robot.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Notably, both Chinese and international teams, including those from Germany and the US, chose to use China-made humanoid robots such as the T1 and K1, underscoring the growing global influence of Chinese robotics.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Founded in 1997, RoboCup is the world's leading robotics competition, known for its scale, prestige, and technological rigor. Among its many leagues, the Humanoid category attracts the most attention.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n \n The ultimate goal of the RoboCup Initiative is stated as,\"By the middle of the 21st century, a team of fully autonomous humanoid robot soccer players shall win a soccer game, complying with the official rules of FIFA, against the winner of the most recent World Cup,\"\n \n \n according to its official website.\n \n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Several of the teams that participated in RoboCup 2025 are also expected to compete at the upcoming first World Humanoid Sports Games to be held in August in Beijing, where the world's first 5v5 AI robotic soccer will be introduced.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n Health authorities said all affected children received treatment, with nearly all now discharged after their blood lead levels dropped by around 40 percent on average. The government is covering medical costs and has set up a monitoring program to track the children's recovery.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Seventeen officials have been placed under disciplinary investigation, and 10 others, including senior health and education officials in Tianshui city and its Maiji district, Gansu province, face formal accountability procedures, according to a report released on Sunday.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n Authorities said the kindergarten was operating without a license and that local education and market supervision departments failed to carry out oversight. Some officials are suspected of accepting bribes and favors from the kindergarten's investor. Disciplinary and criminal investigations have been launched against officials, including the head of the provincial health commission and the mayor of Tianshui.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Authorities found that the kindergarten's management had instructed staff to add brightly colored but inedible industrial pigments to foods such as corn rolls and jujube cakes (steamed buns), to make them look more appealing to children and parents.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n Two samples from Peixin — a tricolor red date sponge cake served at breakfast and a corn roll with sausage served at dinner — failed to meet food safety standards. The samples contained lead levels of 1,052 milligrams per kilogram and 1,340 milligrams per kilogram, respectively, far above the national limit of 0.5 milligram per kilogram.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n On Sunday, officials revealed in a report that six had been arrested on suspicion of producing toxic and harmful food.\n \n \n
\n \n \n AI hallucination occurs when an AI model generates false or illogical information that is not based on real data or events, but is presented as fact. Hallucinations can lead to significant consequences when people use AI for tasks with the potential for high-stakes consequences.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Launched by Fudan University and sponsored by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in China, the Youth Innovation Competition on Global Governance (YICGG) is an international competition that encourages youths from around the world to develop innovative global governance solutions.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Apart from having the required curriculum, Science and Technology Branch of\n \n \n \n \n Beijing Academy\n \n \n \n \n focus more on teaching science and technology. The school is guided jointly by the\n \n \n \n \n Beijing Academy\n \n \n \n \n Educational Group and five nearby universities.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n With the five universities giving students access to their labs and arranging for lectures by their professors, the school aims to rear talents interested in science and technology.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Faced with the challenges of the economic globalization, where cross-cultural dialogue has an important place, education is booming increasingly globalized.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n Ever since the concept of Education for International Understanding was proposed by UNESCO, this dialogue has been highlighted by the government.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n The Ministry of Education of China has repeatedly pointed out that the development of core competencies for Chinese students is required to be in line with the world education reform, and strengthens the international competitiveness of China's education.\n \n \n
\n \n \n In a small workshop in Wuhan, Hubei province, traditional Chinese elements like dragons and cranes aren't just painted on walls or silk — they're coming alive on sneakers.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n Behind these creations is Wang Qing, a 26-year-old postgraduate student at the School of Arts and Design, Wuhan University of Technology.\n \n \n
\n \n \n One of his most popular collections was inspired by the animated film\n \n \n White Snake\n \n \n (2019), a modern retelling of a classic Chinese legend. The design features a dragon that coils gently around the shoe's emblem, blending into a misty mountain background. A silhouette emerges from the clouds on the heel, adding a scent of romantic mystique.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Beyond folklore, Wang's work incorporates regional heritage. For example, his \"Waking Lion\" series pays homage to the lion dance traditions.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \"I loved reciting Chinese poems when I was little and was deeply fascinated by the artistic conception brought by the verses,\" he said. \"Even before the term 'China chic' existed, traditional culture was already influencing my imagination.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n In a spontaneous moment in 2022, he decided to repair his torn skate shoes by drawing Chinese-style cartoon patterns on them. That was when the idea of wearable culture took form.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Wang explained that government-backed innovation programs have played a crucial role in helping their team expand.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n Through Hubei's entrepreneurship fund for university students, his team secured 50,000 yuan in initial funding. Later, by participating in a youth innovation competition, they received an additional 100,000 yuan and established valuable connections with investors and policy advisers.\n \n \n
\n \n \n But for Wang, it's not just about decoration. \"It's never as easy as simply copying a symbol and printing it on a shoe,\" he said. \"We consider the shoe's silhouette, its structure, and how each design element complements the form.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n His academic background in landscape architecture gives him a unique edge. Wang believes that core design principles — structure, proportion, and harmony — are transferable across disciplines. \"When I design a 50-square-meter courtyard, I think about plant arrangement, paving patterns, water features — it's all about composition,\" he said. \"Sneakers may be a smaller canvas, but the design logic is similar.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n To maintain high standards, Wang and his team traveled to major footwear material markets in Houjie, Guangdong, and Quanzhou, Fujian, to source better materials. One result: their shoes are 30 percent more scratch-resistant than comparable handcrafted products.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n When facing color fading issues, Wang consulted a doctoral researcher in materials science at his university and developed a pigment formula that preserves color saturation while enhancing wear resistance.\n \n \n
\n \n \n The team also established its own design database and incorporated an AI color-matching system. \"This allows us to complete color matching in approximately 10 seconds,\" Wang noted. \"Designers then build on this foundation by adding elements, significantly boosting design efficiency.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n Looking ahead, Wang hopes to launch his own China chic fashion brand, expanding into clothing, accessories, and global markets. \"Being Chinese and growing up with these traditions has deeply influenced me,\" he said.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \"We want to create something that truly belongs to us and reflects our identity. Our dream is to make Chinese brands more high-end and infuse international brands with the spirit of Chinese culture.\"\n \n \n
\n \n \n \n Recently, an influencer launched a creative writing challenge where participants were randomly assigned past national college entrance exam essay prompts. A construction worker was assigned\n \n \n \n \n \"My Mother\"—the 1957 gaokao composition topic.\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n He wrote:\n \n \n \n \n \"The grass on my mother's grave turns green\n \n \n \n \n ,\n \n \n \n \n then yellow\n \n \n \n \n ;\n \n \n \n \n yellow\n \n \n \n \n ,\n \n \n \n \n then green—just like my longing. Year after year, it never fades. I'\n \n \n \n \n ve become a father and then a grandfather, yet it's been over thirty years since I last called out '\n \n \n \n \n Mom'.\n \n \n \n \n I keep thinking, when the day comes that I can no longer haul cement, I'\n \n \n \n \n ll return to the village and lie down beside that mound of earth. Maybe then, if I call for my mother again, she'll hear me.\"\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n When asked about the essay, the worker\n \n \n \n \n ,\n \n \n \n \n surnamed An,\n \n \n \n \n said: \"\n \n \n \n \n This composition reflects\n \n \n \n \n my family's truth—it'\n \n \n \n \n s my own\n \n \n \n \n lived experience.\"\n \n \n \n \n He recalled how his mother cared for him and his seven siblings. \"\n \n \n \n \n The prompt '\n \n \n \n \n My Mother'\n \n \n \n \n felt deeply moving,\"\n \n \n \n \n he explained. \"\n \n \n \n \n That's what compelled me to pour my heart into this writing.\"\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n Known to some Westerners as \"century eggs\" or \"thousand-year-old eggs\" for their dark, translucent appearance and bold flavor, these traditional Chinese delicacies have long sparked mixed reactions abroad.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Once dubbed one of the world's most disgusting foods, China's preserved eggs are now flying off the shelves at Costco stores across the United States.\n \n \n
\n \n \n The buzz began on Xiaohongshu, where Chinese shoppers in the US posted photos of the eggs on display. The posts quickly drew a flood of comments asking for store locations and ZIP codes.\n \n \n
\n \n \n Then came a viral boost. US food influencer \"The Sushi Guy\" reviewed the eggs on TikTok and YouTube, drawing more than 660,000 views. Food site Tasting Table followed up with a feature exploring the eggs' cultural roots and distinctive taste.\n \n \n
\n \n \n On TikTok, adventurous eaters filmed their reactions: some recoiled at the first bite, then returned for more.\n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n 在线下购买皮蛋的消费者\n \n
\n
\n \n 除了华人之外\n \n
\n
\n \n 也可以看到当地人的身影\n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n 在TikTok上\n \n
\n
\n \n 皮蛋还收获了不少“回头客”\n \n
\n
\n \n 他们不少都是初尝“拒绝”\n \n
\n
\n \n 不知不觉就对皮蛋“上瘾”了\n \n
\n
\n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n \n On TikTok, adventurous eaters filmed their reactions: some recoiled at the first bite, then returned for more. \"I don't know what I'm doing, but it's weirdly addictive,\" said vloggers.\n \n \n
\n \n \n \"We planned enough stock for three months – some stores ran out in under three days,\" sales manager of the company behind the product said.\n \n \n
\n \n This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.\n \n \n \n \n
\n
\n \n Today, July 7, is etched in history with the Lugou Bridge Incident (1937) in Beijing, when Japanese troops attacked Lugou Bridge (Marco Polo Bridge) and the defending Chinese troops rose to fight the enemy. The event triggered China's full-scale war of resistance against Japanese aggression, also a main Eastern theater of the World Anti-Fascist War.\n \n
\n \n \n Japan has never fully reflected on its aggressive acts and war crimes before and during World War II. Right-wing forces have repeatedly downplayed or glorified this history, promoting revisionist narratives that blur public understanding of World War II.\n \n \n
Visitors ride camels to tour the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on July 13. Since the tombs were inscribed on the World Heritage List, the scenic spot has seen a tourism boom, with tourists from across the country flocking to experience the charm of Chinese civilization and enjoy the summer holidays.
\n\n
As the largest existing ancient Chinese venue for imperial sacrificial ceremonies of agriculture, the Altar of the God of Agriculture often seemed to be neglected by bustling visitors who poured into the nearby Temple of Heaven just across Beijing's Central Axis.
\n
But when the Central Axis was inscribed on the World Heritage List in July last year, with the words "Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital", things changed dramatically.
\n
Now the sacrificial altar, as a component of the 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 — is embracing a new scenario. It has received more than 1.2 million visits between July 2024 and last month, a tenfold year-on-year increase, according to the administration of the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, which oversees the altar site.
\n
"The altar was once merely a relaxation area for residents of local communities. But when people know it provides a good angle to view the northern section of Beijing's Central Axis, tourists rush to the place now," said Lyu Zhou, director of the National Heritage Center at Tsinghua University, who participated in the axis application process. "This is the charm and influence of a World Heritage site."
\n
China has 60 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the second most among all countries. President Xi Jinping's continuous guidance in applications for World Heritage sites has helped to better unveil their outstanding universal value to the world and boost international communication.
\n
Following the inscription of the Central Axis on the list, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for further efforts to preserve the country's cultural and natural treasures and renew their glamour in the new era. He also noted that such inclusions on the list have added new luster to world civilizations.
\n
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, Xi has toured a number of World Heritage sites and made many instructions related to their significance and protection.
\n
In 2016, after receiving a letter from four archaeologists about seeking World Heritage status for the archaeological ruins of Liangzhu city in Hangzhou, the capital of East China's Zhejiang province, Xi proposed the "three-benefits "principle guiding such applications. He said the projects should be beneficial to highlighting the historical and cultural value of Chinese civilization, to demonstrating the spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation, and to showcasing for the world a comprehensive and authentic ancient and modern China.
\n
In 2003, when Xi was the Party secretary of Zhejiang, he visited the Liangzhu site, a hub for a rice-cultivating and jade-worshiping culture dating back 4,300 to 5,300 years. He called for better protection of the site, which was then facing huge pressure, as it was being disturbed by nearby quarries. Lasting comprehensive protection and studies finally brought World Heritage status in 2019 to the "Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City".
\n
"The 'three-benefits' principle proposed by President Xi is fundamental for our application work," said Zheng Jun, a researcher at the China Academy of Cultural Heritage, who is also a World Heritage consultant for the International Council on Monuments and Sites. "It gets rid of the old narrative of history that often centered on the West."
\n
For locals who live around the World Heritage sites, the legacies left by their ancestors bear new fruit. Last year, Xi called for efforts to take UNESCO inclusion as an opportunity to further strengthen the comprehensive and systematic protection of cultural and natural heritage and make good use of the sites to better meet the people's needs.
\n
"The application is essentially a process of enhancing protection of the heritage, as each site needs to be improved in legal protection, heritage management and monitoring, and its value must be explained to prepare for the application," said Zheng, adding that "World Heritage sites are key tourist brands".
\n
For example, "The Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er", in Yunnan province, was listed in 2023. This mountainous area has become a haven for an ancient planting technique, in which tea trees are cultivated under forest canopies. The method is known as the "understory" growing technique, by which sunshine is filtered and moisture ensured.
\n
"It represents a format of sustainable development," Zheng said. "Gaining World Heritage status helps to protect the local ecosystem and cultural tradition. It also greatly improves the value of local tea and thus the economy booms."
\n
Another example can be found in Fujian province, where tulou are traditional multifamily, communal living structures of mainly the Hakka people that are built in a circular or square pattern designed for defense purposes. In the past, many young people who lived in tulou migrated to other places to earn a living.
\n
In 2000, when Xi was governor of the province, he coordinated the application work and suggested using the term "Fujian Tulou" in the application process.
\n
Fujian Tulou became a World Heritage site in 2008. After that, local people who had moved away found that they could earn more from local tourism, so they returned home.
\n
"This not only increased their income, but also solved social problems like left-behind children, showing the remarkable influence of the sites in tourism," Zheng said.
\n
In July, the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, the capital of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region — currently the most intact archaeological site of the Xixia Dynasty (1038-1227) — became China's newest entry on the World Heritage List, signifying the nation's continued efforts in applying for World Heritage status for its numerous legacies of various ethnic groups.
\n
Cultural dialogue
\n
Through decades of practice, Chinese professionals have explored effective ways to prepare materials for seeking World Heritage status, enabling the value of China's sites to be understood by experts from other cultural backgrounds, according to Chen Tongbin, honorary director of the Institute of Architectural History affiliated with the China Architecture Design and Research Group.
\n
Chen has participated in World Heritage application for more than two decades. She said that each inscribed site represents an aspect of Chinese civilization, and by piecing them together, the world can gradually get a comprehensive view of China.
\n
"The key point is to view the sites from the perspective of human civilization instead of China's own, extracting the most fundamental elements of them and letting the facts speak," said Chen, who also was the main drafter of documents when seeking World Heritage status for the Xixia Imperial Tombs.
\n
"When viewing the Xixia Imperial Tombs from the global perspective, for instance, you will find that none of the existing sites on the World Heritage List had a relation to the Xixia Dynasty or the Tangut people who established it," she said, so the Xixia tombs site "fills in a blank".
\n
In a congratulatory message to the 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Fuzhou, Fujian, in 2021, President Xi said that China stands ready to work with all countries and UNESCO to strengthen exchanges, boost cooperation and enhance mutual learning to jointly preserve the cultural and natural treasures of the whole of mankind.
\n
Zheng, the researcher from the China Academy of Cultural Heritage, said, "The World Heritage system is a good platform for international communication and equal dialogue among various civilizations."
\n
A remarkable example of such communication was the successful application for inscription on the World Heritage List of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor" in 2014 by China and its Central Asian neighbors Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
\n
"The ancient Silk Road spanning across Asia, Africa and Europe is one of the world's largest heritage sites, woven together by a vast network of corridors and routes. It's impossible to apply for it all at once", so the applications are instead segmented, said Zheng.
\n
During the application process, the three countries had frequent conferences to work out details in application strategies, selection of constituting elements, extraction of value, establishment of a multinational joint management system, and preparation of documents in the bid for World Heritage status.
\n
The project proved to be a model for other sections of the Silk Road in applying for World Heritage status. Following the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor's application success, "Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor", involving Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, was inscribed on the list in 2023. Chinese experts including Lyu also contributed their ideas during the application process for that corridor.
\n
"These sites depict the scenes of communication, dialogue and growth of human civilization throughout history," Lyu said. "For today's people, they also create a space for development through cooperation."
\n
Contact the writers at wangru1@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
@@ -13441,6 +15839,1326 @@
"image": null,
"description": "China Daily全文RSS。获取更多全文RSS：https://feedx.net",
"items": [
+ {
+ "title": "001FRONT - Training helps to empower Global South",
+ "description": "
An instructor guides a Pakistani student majoring in electrical automation during a training session at the Luban Workshop of Tianjin Modern Vocational Technology College on June 16.
\n
When Joseph Njane, a railway training officer from Kenya, boarded for the first time a high-speed train from Beijing to Wuhan and then Guangzhou, he was captivated by the speed, safety and technological sophistication of the country's railway network.
\n
The three-week training session in 2019, provided by Beijing Jiaotong University, allowed Njane, who works for Afristar, the company that operates the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, to learn about China's scientific approach to railway planning and construction, control and monitoring systems.
\n
"Seeing China's railway network firsthand was really eye-opening," he said, adding that the field trip ignited his desire to bring the advanced technology back to help modernize Kenya's railway systems.
\n
"The knowledge that I acquired, the scientific methods and models, can be used for our railways in Africa to improve the capacity and utilization of our lines."
\n
Three years later, Njane participated in an online course also provided by the Beijing Jiaotong University, which he said enhanced his understanding of railway systems, from the structure of the railroad to dispatching technologies.
\n
The most valuable takeaway of the training was China's emphasis on integrating technology with education, he said.
\n
"The two training courses enabled and inspired me to come up with something that can be used in Kenya to train our staff and ensure their access to railway knowledge."
\n
When he returned to Kenya, Njane established an online system where he uploaded the training materials from his visits to China and online training.
\n
Now, any employee can log in and access those training materials within minutes, even though they did not get a chance to study in China, Njane said. "This accelerates technology transfer from Chinese experts to Kenyan workers."
\n
The type of training that Njane received, as part of China's international human resources development cooperation, is seen as an important aspect of the country's foreign aid.
\n
Over the past 70 years, China has carried out nearly 15,000 training programs for over 180 countries and organizations through various forms such as short- and medium-term training programs in China, overseas expert consultations and youth volunteer services.
\n
These programs have covered 17 fields and trained more than 500,000 professionals in total, according to Li Ming, a spokesman for the China International Development Cooperation Agency.
\n
China's foreign aid training programs focus on cultivating and enhancing the recipient countries' self-development capabilities, playing a vital role in international economic and technological exchanges and cooperation, he said.
\n
Li shared examples such as a Rwandan trainee who founded a Juncao production company upon returning home, after learning about Juncao (mushroom and grass) technology in China, thereby helping to lift over 50,000 local farmers out of poverty.
\n
An Iraqi trainee brought back China's "checkerboard" sand control method to combat desertification in Iraq, Li said, adding that another trainee from Afghanistan used emergency response training to prevent an explosion in Kabul.
\n
The agency plans to launch over 2,000 training programs for more than 50,000 participants in 2025, he said, adding that China will continue to design development cooperation projects and provide 100,000 training and study opportunities to Global South countries over the next five years.
\n
Two-way exchange
\n
Jing Guoqing, a professor at the highway and railway engineering department of Beijing Jiaotong University, said that sharing China's railway development philosophy and experience allows participants to share insights into their countries' railway challenges and expectations.
\n
"Teaching is a two-way process," Jing said. During the training, the trainees share their experiences, concerns, questions and aspirations, and such feedback is valuable for Chinese companies operating overseas, helping them to navigate cultural differences and improve their projects, he said.
\n
"Foreign aid training plays a crucial role in bridging Chinese enterprises and international stakeholders, ensuring smoother cooperation," Jing said.
\n
Such training helps to enhance local engineers and officials' understanding of China's technical expertise and project management approaches, he said, adding that as the locals become more familiar with Chinese standards, they trust Chinese companies more and feel more confident in adopting those standards.
\n
"In this way, it will help China to promote its technology and standards overseas," he added.
\n
Jing said that China should focus more on vocational training such as railway technology, new energy vehicle-related skills and photovoltaic installation, areas that will efficiently boost local development while fostering long-term partnerships with developing countries.
\n
Knowledge transfer
\n
Liu Xian, a research associate at the Institute of International Development Cooperation at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, said that the fundamental mission of human resource development cooperation is to "teach people how to fish" rather than mechanically export China's model.
\n
"It is about unreservedly sharing China's experience and technology, enabling partners to grasp not only the 'how' but also the 'why' of the country's development practices through interaction," Liu said.
\n
Stephen Ndegwa, executive director of South-South Dialogues, a Nairobi-based development communication think tank, said that by providing actionable knowledge, recipient nations will be able to adapt Chinese methods to their unique contexts, focusing on long-term planning and development models.
\n
Ndegwa said that the impact of China's training programs is evident in their ability to strengthen development capacity and promote modernization in recipient nations.
\n
Through skill development, policy learning and South-South cooperation, these programs equip participants with the tools needed to enhance local industries, improve productivity and develop homegrown policies inspired by China's success, Ndegwa said.
\n
He noted that lessons from China's experience, such as prioritizing public investment in critical sectors, offer valuable insights for African countries seeking to balance tradition with innovation while pursuing their development goals.
\n
As the Global South pursues its modernization journey, cooperation with China is expected to focus on inclusive growth, technology-driven development, and resilient infrastructure, he added.
\n
Ndegwa stressed that China's approach to foreign aid training is practical and results-oriented.
\n
The training programs emphasize respect for sovereignty and noninterference in domestic affairs, offering flexible knowledge that countries can adapt to their own governance structures, he said.
\n
Participants often highlight the focus on tangible outcomes, such as improved infrastructure and poverty reduction, he added.
\n
According to a survey regarding China's foreign aid training by the Institute of International Development Cooperation at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, which was conducted among over 1,400 participants from 32 countries and regions, 75.89 percent of participants believed the training significantly improved their professional knowledge or skills.
\n
The survey found that 75.23 percent of participants feel that the training greatly enhanced their career competitiveness, while 75.38 percent find the experiences gained in China highly applicable in their home countries.
\n
zhoujin@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
An instructor guides a Pakistani student majoring in electrical automation during a training session at the Luban Workshop of Tianjin Modern Vocational Technology College on June 16.
\n
When Joseph Njane, a railway training officer from Kenya, boarded for the first time a high-speed train from Beijing to Wuhan and then Guangzhou, he was captivated by the speed, safety and technological sophistication of the country's railway network.
\n
The three-week training session in 2019, provided by Beijing Jiaotong University, allowed Njane, who works for Afristar, the company that operates the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, to learn about China's scientific approach to railway planning and construction, control and monitoring systems.
\n
"Seeing China's railway network firsthand was really eye-opening," he said, adding that the field trip ignited his desire to bring the advanced technology back to help modernize Kenya's railway systems.
\n
"The knowledge that I acquired, the scientific methods and models, can be used for our railways in Africa to improve the capacity and utilization of our lines."
\n
Three years later, Njane participated in an online course also provided by the Beijing Jiaotong University, which he said enhanced his understanding of railway systems, from the structure of the railroad to dispatching technologies.
\n
The most valuable takeaway of the training was China's emphasis on integrating technology with education, he said.
\n
"The two training courses enabled and inspired me to come up with something that can be used in Kenya to train our staff and ensure their access to railway knowledge."
\n
When he returned to Kenya, Njane established an online system where he uploaded the training materials from his visits to China and online training.
\n
Now, any employee can log in and access those training materials within minutes, even though they did not get a chance to study in China, Njane said. "This accelerates technology transfer from Chinese experts to Kenyan workers."
\n
The type of training that Njane received, as part of China's international human resources development cooperation, is seen as an important aspect of the country's foreign aid.
\n
Over the past 70 years, China has carried out nearly 15,000 training programs for over 180 countries and organizations through various forms such as short- and medium-term training programs in China, overseas expert consultations and youth volunteer services.
\n
These programs have covered 17 fields and trained more than 500,000 professionals in total, according to Li Ming, a spokesman for the China International Development Cooperation Agency.
\n
China's foreign aid training programs focus on cultivating and enhancing the recipient countries' self-development capabilities, playing a vital role in international economic and technological exchanges and cooperation, he said.
\n
Li shared examples such as a Rwandan trainee who founded a Juncao production company upon returning home, after learning about Juncao (mushroom and grass) technology in China, thereby helping to lift over 50,000 local farmers out of poverty.
\n
An Iraqi trainee brought back China's "checkerboard" sand control method to combat desertification in Iraq, Li said, adding that another trainee from Afghanistan used emergency response training to prevent an explosion in Kabul.
\n
The agency plans to launch over 2,000 training programs for more than 50,000 participants in 2025, he said, adding that China will continue to design development cooperation projects and provide 100,000 training and study opportunities to Global South countries over the next five years.
\n
Two-way exchange
\n
Jing Guoqing, a professor at the highway and railway engineering department of Beijing Jiaotong University, said that sharing China's railway development philosophy and experience allows participants to share insights into their countries' railway challenges and expectations.
\n
"Teaching is a two-way process," Jing said. During the training, the trainees share their experiences, concerns, questions and aspirations, and such feedback is valuable for Chinese companies operating overseas, helping them to navigate cultural differences and improve their projects, he said.
\n
"Foreign aid training plays a crucial role in bridging Chinese enterprises and international stakeholders, ensuring smoother cooperation," Jing said.
\n
Such training helps to enhance local engineers and officials' understanding of China's technical expertise and project management approaches, he said, adding that as the locals become more familiar with Chinese standards, they trust Chinese companies more and feel more confident in adopting those standards.
\n
"In this way, it will help China to promote its technology and standards overseas," he added.
\n
Jing said that China should focus more on vocational training such as railway technology, new energy vehicle-related skills and photovoltaic installation, areas that will efficiently boost local development while fostering long-term partnerships with developing countries.
\n
Knowledge transfer
\n
Liu Xian, a research associate at the Institute of International Development Cooperation at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, said that the fundamental mission of human resource development cooperation is to "teach people how to fish" rather than mechanically export China's model.
\n
"It is about unreservedly sharing China's experience and technology, enabling partners to grasp not only the 'how' but also the 'why' of the country's development practices through interaction," Liu said.
\n
Stephen Ndegwa, executive director of South-South Dialogues, a Nairobi-based development communication think tank, said that by providing actionable knowledge, recipient nations will be able to adapt Chinese methods to their unique contexts, focusing on long-term planning and development models.
\n
Ndegwa said that the impact of China's training programs is evident in their ability to strengthen development capacity and promote modernization in recipient nations.
\n
Through skill development, policy learning and South-South cooperation, these programs equip participants with the tools needed to enhance local industries, improve productivity and develop homegrown policies inspired by China's success, Ndegwa said.
\n
He noted that lessons from China's experience, such as prioritizing public investment in critical sectors, offer valuable insights for African countries seeking to balance tradition with innovation while pursuing their development goals.
\n
As the Global South pursues its modernization journey, cooperation with China is expected to focus on inclusive growth, technology-driven development, and resilient infrastructure, he added.
\n
Ndegwa stressed that China's approach to foreign aid training is practical and results-oriented.
\n
The training programs emphasize respect for sovereignty and noninterference in domestic affairs, offering flexible knowledge that countries can adapt to their own governance structures, he said.
\n
Participants often highlight the focus on tangible outcomes, such as improved infrastructure and poverty reduction, he added.
\n
According to a survey regarding China's foreign aid training by the Institute of International Development Cooperation at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, which was conducted among over 1,400 participants from 32 countries and regions, 75.89 percent of participants believed the training significantly improved their professional knowledge or skills.
\n
The survey found that 75.23 percent of participants feel that the training greatly enhanced their career competitiveness, while 75.38 percent find the experiences gained in China highly applicable in their home countries.
Local artistes perform Dabu Axie, a traditional Tibetan dance inscribed on the national intangible cultural heritage list, at Sapu Snow Mountain Scenic Area in Nagchu, Xizang autonomous region, on July 19. The city integrates cultural preservation with tourism, sharing Tibetan traditions with visitors during peak seasons. See story, page 3
\n",
+ "content": "
Local artistes perform Dabu Axie, a traditional Tibetan dance inscribed on the national intangible cultural heritage list, at Sapu Snow Mountain Scenic Area in Nagchu, Xizang autonomous region, on July 19. The city integrates cultural preservation with tourism, sharing Tibetan traditions with visitors during peak seasons. See story, page 3
In the matter of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, the Chinese central government has unquestionable, ultimate decision-making authority, which is also a belief adhered to by the vast number of Tibetan Buddhism followers, the chairman of the Xizang autonomous region said on Tuesday.
\n
Starting from the 5th Dalai Lama (1617-1682), the title has been conferred on all successors by the central government, which is the source of the religious status and historical legitimacy of the Dalai Lama title.
\n
The reincarnation of living Buddhas follows strict religious rituals and historical conventions, and the legitimacy of the title of the Dalai Lama in fact originates from the central government, Gama Cedain, chairman of Xizang, said during a news conference held by the State Council Information Office on the region's economic and social development achievements since it was established 60 years ago.
\n
On several occasions in the past, the 14th Dalai Lama has said he might reincarnate while still alive. At other times, he has said he will personally choose his successor.
\n
In July, he released the so-called "Statement Affirming the Continuation of the Institution of Dalai Lama", personally appointing a trust to recognize the future reincarnation.
\n
"Reincarnation has never been solely determined by the Dalai Lama himself," Gama Cedain said. "The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must strictly follow the principle of 'carrying out the search domestically, drawing lots from a golden urn, and gaining approval from the central government', while complying with the country's laws and regulations."
\n
Tsering Deji, deputy director and associate researcher of the Xizang Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Religion, said the 14th Dalai Lama's multiple claims on his reincarnation all aim to bypass approval from the central government, which is in fact a crucial step in the reincarnation process of the living Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism.
\n
"Such remarks have shown that he has a nonserious attitude toward the lineage of the Dalai Lama, which has a history spanning several hundred years and holds extensive and revered authority among followers of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism," she said in Lhasa, the capital of the Xizang autonomous region. "The issue of reincarnation should not be sensationalized or used to attract public attention."
\n
She said that anyone with even a modest understanding of history knows that the Dalai Lama's reincarnation process involves a series of historical customs and religious rituals, which can only be completed after reporting to the central government and obtaining its approval.
\n
"Therefore, his claims are all attempts to challenge or deny the ultimate authority of the central government in the matter of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama," Tsering Deji said.
\n
cuijia@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
In the matter of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, the Chinese central government has unquestionable, ultimate decision-making authority, which is also a belief adhered to by the vast number of Tibetan Buddhism followers, the chairman of the Xizang autonomous region said on Tuesday.
\n
Starting from the 5th Dalai Lama (1617-1682), the title has been conferred on all successors by the central government, which is the source of the religious status and historical legitimacy of the Dalai Lama title.
\n
The reincarnation of living Buddhas follows strict religious rituals and historical conventions, and the legitimacy of the title of the Dalai Lama in fact originates from the central government, Gama Cedain, chairman of Xizang, said during a news conference held by the State Council Information Office on the region's economic and social development achievements since it was established 60 years ago.
\n
On several occasions in the past, the 14th Dalai Lama has said he might reincarnate while still alive. At other times, he has said he will personally choose his successor.
\n
In July, he released the so-called "Statement Affirming the Continuation of the Institution of Dalai Lama", personally appointing a trust to recognize the future reincarnation.
\n
"Reincarnation has never been solely determined by the Dalai Lama himself," Gama Cedain said. "The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must strictly follow the principle of 'carrying out the search domestically, drawing lots from a golden urn, and gaining approval from the central government', while complying with the country's laws and regulations."
\n
Tsering Deji, deputy director and associate researcher of the Xizang Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Religion, said the 14th Dalai Lama's multiple claims on his reincarnation all aim to bypass approval from the central government, which is in fact a crucial step in the reincarnation process of the living Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism.
\n
"Such remarks have shown that he has a nonserious attitude toward the lineage of the Dalai Lama, which has a history spanning several hundred years and holds extensive and revered authority among followers of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism," she said in Lhasa, the capital of the Xizang autonomous region. "The issue of reincarnation should not be sensationalized or used to attract public attention."
\n
She said that anyone with even a modest understanding of history knows that the Dalai Lama's reincarnation process involves a series of historical customs and religious rituals, which can only be completed after reporting to the central government and obtaining its approval.
\n
"Therefore, his claims are all attempts to challenge or deny the ultimate authority of the central government in the matter of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama," Tsering Deji said.
A traditional Pan embroidery motif known as the sunflower is seen on this rug.
\n
A Tibetan carpet is embroidered with an image of snow leopards.
\n
People demonstrate the art of Pan embroidery at an industrial base in Qinghai province.
\n
A Thangka made to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Tianjin's assistance to Qinghai province.
\n
A local woman stitches a Pan embroidery product.
\n
Would it be a surprise to learn that plush carpets underfoot at Dubai International Airport, on Carnival cruise ships, and in Las Vegas hotels often come from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau?
\n
Tibetan carpets are among the three most-famous traditional carpets in the world and have a history dating back 3,000 years. Prized for their fine wool, unique craftsmanship and exquisite designs, they enjoy global acclaim.
\n
Based in Xining, Qinghai province, Shengyuan Carpet Group is one of China's largest Tibetan carpet manufacturers, and boasts a significant market share. The company combines the advantages of handwoven and machine-woven carpets to ensure product quality and aesthetics while increasing production efficiency.
\n
Du Fei, deputy general manager of the projects department, recalls the company's humble beginnings. "Founded in 2007 with just over 20 employees, we survived fierce market competition by tackling complex craftsmanship and focusing on high-end, custom-made carpets, elevating 'Made in China' standards," he said.
\n
Today, the company's annual sales exceed 100 million yuan ($13.9 million), with products shipped to the Middle East, Europe, North America and Australia. The United States accounts for 60 to 70 percent of sales, which mainly go to high-end venues.
\n
Production methods range from machine-woven, which imitates handmade rugs, to gun-tufted, or semi-handmade, to fully handwoven, with prices increasing manyfold as craftsmanship becomes more intricate.
\n
Handwoven Tibetan carpets, most looking like vivid oil paintings, are highly prized. A 1-square-meter piece takes a craftsman roughly a year to complete, and usually fetches 50,000 yuan to 60,000 yuan for its vibrant colors and durability.
\n
With high transportation costs due to Qinghai's deep inland location, handwoven carpets barely turn a profit, Du explained. "We persist out of a mission to preserve this intangible cultural heritage — Tibetan carpet weaving is the cultural root of our enterprise," he said.
\n
In 2023, Shengyuan was designated a national demonstration base for productive protection of intangible cultural heritage, relying on the traditional Tibetan carpet-weaving technique originating from Jiaya village in Xining. Its inheritors are mainly engaged in training artisans.
\n
Of the company's 300-plus employees, over 200 are from surrounding villages, including many ethnic groups such as the Tibetan and Tu. About half of them have mastered the hand-weaving skills.
\n
"Instead of working far from home, I now earn nearly 5,000 yuan a month here and can still care for my family," said 42-year-old weaver Zhu Cunfeng, smiling.
\n
Tibetan carpets utilize premium raw materials like sheep wool and yak wool sourced in Qinghai. The designs include not only auspicious traditional Tibetan motifs, but also new artistic inspirations such as Qinghai Lake, the Kunlun Mountains, snow leopards, depictions of herders' lives, and cultural landmarks.
\n
Du said the yarn used in premium handwoven carpets is only one-eighth the thickness of traditional Tibetan carpets, making them more durable and refined. The company has also developed a color library with nearly 40,000 hues, ensuring vibrant and natural color rendering.
\n
Wedding legacy
\n
"Every young girl in the Tu ethnic group knows how to do Pan embroidery. Only by doing so can she make her wedding costume by hand when she gets married," said Zhang Zhuoma Shijie, as she explained the cultural inheritance of Pan embroidery skills.
\n
"I started learning when I was 14 or 15 years old and made my own wedding costume when I was 19," said the 58-year-old inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Pan embroidery.
\n
Zhang is also the director of the Pan Embroidery Garden in Banyan village, Huzhu Tu autonomous county in Haidong. The Tu people worship the sun and rainbows, and the county is known as the "Hometown of Rainbows". Their costumes are characterized by colorful sleeves and Pan embroidery.
\n
Pan embroidery uses two threads — one coiling, one stitching — made without a frame and relying solely on hand movements, a technique impossible to replicate by machine. Founded in 2017, the Pan Embroidery Garden employs over a dozen senior embroiderers aged 63 to 73, each earning over 10,000 yuan annually.
\n
Known for its bright colors, the classic pattern of Pan embroidery resembles sunflowers (though it is not a literal sunflower), symbolizing a peaceful, auspicious, happy and beautiful life.
\n
Today, Pan embroidery adorns scarves, laptop bags, pillows, coasters and other fashion products. It is sold domestically and abroad through the Qing embroidery — or embroidery of Qinghai — workshop network.
\n
The Pan method comes under the umbrella of Qing embroidery, which encompasses 17 categories and 29 stitching techniques, including Tibetan embroidery, and pile embroidery in Huangzhong district of Xining.
\n
It originated during the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC-AD 220) along the southern route of the Silk Road and integrates elements from the Central Plains and plateau culture.
\n
The Qing embroidery workshop network consolidates experience, displays, training, production, and sales, and serves as a vital platform for preserving ethnic embroidery, boosting employment, and linking heritage protection with rural vitalization.
\n
Youthful innovation
\n
Tongren city in the Huangnan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, 160 km southeast of Xining, is known as the "Hometown of Regong Art".
\n
Encompassing Thangka painting, murals, clay sculpture, and other aspects, Regong art was inscribed on China's national intangible heritage list in 2006.
\n
Thangka, an iconic Regong art form, uses mineral pigments like cinnabar and coral, painted on cotton cloth and mounted on silk. Traditionally depicting Tibetan Buddhist stories and history, often with peony motifs, modern Thangkas now incorporate landscapes, architecture, and daily life, with innovative techniques.
\n
Dorje Tsering, office director of Renjun Regong Art Training Institute, said its founder Xiawujiao, as a master inheritor, has trained over 560 Thangka artists from Tibetan, Tu, Han, and Mongolian backgrounds.
\n
The institute currently has 43 students and offers them free training and accommodation. It also houses Qinghai's first private Regong art museum. Built between 2009 and 2013 with a 10 million yuan investment, it draws visitors from around the world every year.
\n
In its Thangka studio, two large works stand out.
\n
"They were created to mark 15 years of Tianjin's aid to Qinghai, and timed for 2025. Each is 2.5m long and 1.5m wide," Dorje said.
\n
One of them depicts landmark landscapes and buildings, including Tianjin's Panshan Mountain and Qinghai's Sanjiangyuan National Park, as well as scenes of Tianjin's educational and medical assistance to Qinghai. The other one shows the sister regions of Qinghai's Huangnan Tibetan autonomous prefecture and Tianjin's Binhai New Area and their natural and cultural landmarks.
\n
Over 10 artists have worked on them for seven months, with completion scheduled for late August, Dorje said.
\n
"Compared with traditional Thangka, this more modern style allows for greater freedom of expression," said 23-year-old Gatso while concentrating on painting one of the Thangkas. "I have been studying here for just two years and hope to be recognized by my teacher as soon as possible."
\n
He is from the Hainan Tibetan autonomous prefecture. After graduating from high school, he stayed at home for a few years. When he heard that there were free learning opportunities at the institute, he went there.
\n
Sonam Gyaltso, 25, works alone in the studio next door, sculpting a leopard out of red clay.
\n
"I'm local. I came here as an apprentice eight years ago after graduating from high school. Now I have a monthly salary of over 4,000 yuan. Five of my 40 high school classmates now study Regong art," he said.
\n
Tongren has built a provincial-level Regong culture industrial park in Qinghai, bringing together 25 large painting academies and 356 cultural enterprises engaged in Regong art, said Geng Bin, deputy head of Qinghai's Culture and Tourism Department.
\n
The painting academies operate under the "painting academy plus farmers plus base" model, and are mainly engaged in research, creation of works, training, production, sales, exhibitions, collections, and import and export business. They offer free training, accommodation, and employment, and have boosted annual per capita income by over 60,000 yuan.
\n
To expand the market, the government of Tongren has set up over 200 sales points for Regong art in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin. Tongren has also established a center for promoting Regong art in the 798 Art Zone in Beijing to enhance the influence and popularity of the Regong art brand.
\n
The works produced there are exported to Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, France, India, Nepal and other countries.
\n
By 2024, Tongren's cultural sector employed 24,000 people — up 8,600 from 2023 — and earned 454 million yuan in revenue, Geng said.
\n
"Regong", which means "Golden Valley" and "where dreams come true" in Tibetan, lives up to its name as countless young artists chase their aspirations.
\n
wuyanbo@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
A traditional Pan embroidery motif known as the sunflower is seen on this rug.
\n
A Tibetan carpet is embroidered with an image of snow leopards.
\n
People demonstrate the art of Pan embroidery at an industrial base in Qinghai province.
\n
A Thangka made to commemorate the 15th anniversary of Tianjin's assistance to Qinghai province.
\n
A local woman stitches a Pan embroidery product.
\n
Would it be a surprise to learn that plush carpets underfoot at Dubai International Airport, on Carnival cruise ships, and in Las Vegas hotels often come from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau?
\n
Tibetan carpets are among the three most-famous traditional carpets in the world and have a history dating back 3,000 years. Prized for their fine wool, unique craftsmanship and exquisite designs, they enjoy global acclaim.
\n
Based in Xining, Qinghai province, Shengyuan Carpet Group is one of China's largest Tibetan carpet manufacturers, and boasts a significant market share. The company combines the advantages of handwoven and machine-woven carpets to ensure product quality and aesthetics while increasing production efficiency.
\n
Du Fei, deputy general manager of the projects department, recalls the company's humble beginnings. "Founded in 2007 with just over 20 employees, we survived fierce market competition by tackling complex craftsmanship and focusing on high-end, custom-made carpets, elevating 'Made in China' standards," he said.
\n
Today, the company's annual sales exceed 100 million yuan ($13.9 million), with products shipped to the Middle East, Europe, North America and Australia. The United States accounts for 60 to 70 percent of sales, which mainly go to high-end venues.
\n
Production methods range from machine-woven, which imitates handmade rugs, to gun-tufted, or semi-handmade, to fully handwoven, with prices increasing manyfold as craftsmanship becomes more intricate.
\n
Handwoven Tibetan carpets, most looking like vivid oil paintings, are highly prized. A 1-square-meter piece takes a craftsman roughly a year to complete, and usually fetches 50,000 yuan to 60,000 yuan for its vibrant colors and durability.
\n
With high transportation costs due to Qinghai's deep inland location, handwoven carpets barely turn a profit, Du explained. "We persist out of a mission to preserve this intangible cultural heritage — Tibetan carpet weaving is the cultural root of our enterprise," he said.
\n
In 2023, Shengyuan was designated a national demonstration base for productive protection of intangible cultural heritage, relying on the traditional Tibetan carpet-weaving technique originating from Jiaya village in Xining. Its inheritors are mainly engaged in training artisans.
\n
Of the company's 300-plus employees, over 200 are from surrounding villages, including many ethnic groups such as the Tibetan and Tu. About half of them have mastered the hand-weaving skills.
\n
"Instead of working far from home, I now earn nearly 5,000 yuan a month here and can still care for my family," said 42-year-old weaver Zhu Cunfeng, smiling.
\n
Tibetan carpets utilize premium raw materials like sheep wool and yak wool sourced in Qinghai. The designs include not only auspicious traditional Tibetan motifs, but also new artistic inspirations such as Qinghai Lake, the Kunlun Mountains, snow leopards, depictions of herders' lives, and cultural landmarks.
\n
Du said the yarn used in premium handwoven carpets is only one-eighth the thickness of traditional Tibetan carpets, making them more durable and refined. The company has also developed a color library with nearly 40,000 hues, ensuring vibrant and natural color rendering.
\n
Wedding legacy
\n
"Every young girl in the Tu ethnic group knows how to do Pan embroidery. Only by doing so can she make her wedding costume by hand when she gets married," said Zhang Zhuoma Shijie, as she explained the cultural inheritance of Pan embroidery skills.
\n
"I started learning when I was 14 or 15 years old and made my own wedding costume when I was 19," said the 58-year-old inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Pan embroidery.
\n
Zhang is also the director of the Pan Embroidery Garden in Banyan village, Huzhu Tu autonomous county in Haidong. The Tu people worship the sun and rainbows, and the county is known as the "Hometown of Rainbows". Their costumes are characterized by colorful sleeves and Pan embroidery.
\n
Pan embroidery uses two threads — one coiling, one stitching — made without a frame and relying solely on hand movements, a technique impossible to replicate by machine. Founded in 2017, the Pan Embroidery Garden employs over a dozen senior embroiderers aged 63 to 73, each earning over 10,000 yuan annually.
\n
Known for its bright colors, the classic pattern of Pan embroidery resembles sunflowers (though it is not a literal sunflower), symbolizing a peaceful, auspicious, happy and beautiful life.
\n
Today, Pan embroidery adorns scarves, laptop bags, pillows, coasters and other fashion products. It is sold domestically and abroad through the Qing embroidery — or embroidery of Qinghai — workshop network.
\n
The Pan method comes under the umbrella of Qing embroidery, which encompasses 17 categories and 29 stitching techniques, including Tibetan embroidery, and pile embroidery in Huangzhong district of Xining.
\n
It originated during the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC-AD 220) along the southern route of the Silk Road and integrates elements from the Central Plains and plateau culture.
\n
The Qing embroidery workshop network consolidates experience, displays, training, production, and sales, and serves as a vital platform for preserving ethnic embroidery, boosting employment, and linking heritage protection with rural vitalization.
\n
Youthful innovation
\n
Tongren city in the Huangnan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, 160 km southeast of Xining, is known as the "Hometown of Regong Art".
\n
Encompassing Thangka painting, murals, clay sculpture, and other aspects, Regong art was inscribed on China's national intangible heritage list in 2006.
\n
Thangka, an iconic Regong art form, uses mineral pigments like cinnabar and coral, painted on cotton cloth and mounted on silk. Traditionally depicting Tibetan Buddhist stories and history, often with peony motifs, modern Thangkas now incorporate landscapes, architecture, and daily life, with innovative techniques.
\n
Dorje Tsering, office director of Renjun Regong Art Training Institute, said its founder Xiawujiao, as a master inheritor, has trained over 560 Thangka artists from Tibetan, Tu, Han, and Mongolian backgrounds.
\n
The institute currently has 43 students and offers them free training and accommodation. It also houses Qinghai's first private Regong art museum. Built between 2009 and 2013 with a 10 million yuan investment, it draws visitors from around the world every year.
\n
In its Thangka studio, two large works stand out.
\n
"They were created to mark 15 years of Tianjin's aid to Qinghai, and timed for 2025. Each is 2.5m long and 1.5m wide," Dorje said.
\n
One of them depicts landmark landscapes and buildings, including Tianjin's Panshan Mountain and Qinghai's Sanjiangyuan National Park, as well as scenes of Tianjin's educational and medical assistance to Qinghai. The other one shows the sister regions of Qinghai's Huangnan Tibetan autonomous prefecture and Tianjin's Binhai New Area and their natural and cultural landmarks.
\n
Over 10 artists have worked on them for seven months, with completion scheduled for late August, Dorje said.
\n
"Compared with traditional Thangka, this more modern style allows for greater freedom of expression," said 23-year-old Gatso while concentrating on painting one of the Thangkas. "I have been studying here for just two years and hope to be recognized by my teacher as soon as possible."
\n
He is from the Hainan Tibetan autonomous prefecture. After graduating from high school, he stayed at home for a few years. When he heard that there were free learning opportunities at the institute, he went there.
\n
Sonam Gyaltso, 25, works alone in the studio next door, sculpting a leopard out of red clay.
\n
"I'm local. I came here as an apprentice eight years ago after graduating from high school. Now I have a monthly salary of over 4,000 yuan. Five of my 40 high school classmates now study Regong art," he said.
\n
Tongren has built a provincial-level Regong culture industrial park in Qinghai, bringing together 25 large painting academies and 356 cultural enterprises engaged in Regong art, said Geng Bin, deputy head of Qinghai's Culture and Tourism Department.
\n
The painting academies operate under the "painting academy plus farmers plus base" model, and are mainly engaged in research, creation of works, training, production, sales, exhibitions, collections, and import and export business. They offer free training, accommodation, and employment, and have boosted annual per capita income by over 60,000 yuan.
\n
To expand the market, the government of Tongren has set up over 200 sales points for Regong art in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin. Tongren has also established a center for promoting Regong art in the 798 Art Zone in Beijing to enhance the influence and popularity of the Regong art brand.
\n
The works produced there are exported to Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Malaysia, France, India, Nepal and other countries.
\n
By 2024, Tongren's cultural sector employed 24,000 people — up 8,600 from 2023 — and earned 454 million yuan in revenue, Geng said.
\n
"Regong", which means "Golden Valley" and "where dreams come true" in Tibetan, lives up to its name as countless young artists chase their aspirations.
China's economic growth is pivotal to and vital for global prosperity, and it is essential and significant for the United States and China to maintain a stable trade relationship, according to a senior business leader.
\n
Rajesh Subramaniam, CEO of US-based logistics company FedEx Corp and chair of the Board of the US-China Business Council, said that in a world defined by rapid changes and heightened geopolitical uncertainty, the council welcomes continued dialogue and the positive outcomes achieved by the US and Chinese economic and trade consultation teams.
\n
His remarks follow a recent visit by a USCBC board delegation to Beijing, during which representatives of major US companies, including Apple, Boeing, Goldman Sachs and Otis, sought to strengthen bilateral commercial ties and advocate for a stable and predictable environment for US businesses operating in China.
\n
The visit underscored a broader sentiment among global and US companies that continue to view China as a critical market because of its vast consumer base, consistent focus on high-quality growth, well-developed industrial system and supply chain networks.
\n
Amid declining global cross-border investment, a growing number of foreign businesses regard China as an ideal, secure and promising investment destination. The number of foreign-invested companies with foreign trade businesses in China reached 75,000 in the first half of 2025, the highest level for the same period since 2021, data from the General Administration of Customs shows.
\n
Emphasizing China's importance to the global competitiveness of many US companies, Subramaniam said that FedEx, which operates over 300 international weekly flights to and from China, will continue to invest in smarter supply chains through digital innovation, data-driven platforms and artificial intelligence within the country.
\n
A report released in mid-July by the USCBC showed that about 82 percent of its surveyed member companies reported profitable operations in China in 2024, an improvement compared with the previous two years. Nearly all respondents also said they cannot remain globally competitive without their operations in China.
\n
According to the Ministry of Commerce, China and the US have agreed to continue pushing for an extension of the pause on 24 percent reciprocal tariffs of the US side, as well as countermeasures of the Chinese side, following their latest round of trade talks last week in Stockholm, Sweden.
\n
He Yadong, a spokesman for the ministry, said last week that China looks forward to working with the US to fully leverage the role of the bilateral economic and trade consultation mechanism and strive for more win-win outcomes.
\n
Subramaniam said that China has sent a strong signal to the world of its commitment to further advance reform and opening-up. "This has helped boost market confidence," he added.
\n
Chen Jianwei, a researcher at the University of International Business and Economics' Academy of China Open Economy Studies in Beijing, said that China's ongoing efforts in industrial upgrading, green transformation and further opening-up are creating long-term opportunities for foreign businesses in areas such as high-end manufacturing, smart mobility and service-related sectors.
\n
"These efforts are contributing to global economic growth and supply chain stability, reinforcing China's role as a key engine of the world economy," Chen said.
\n
Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of World Economics and Politics in Beijing, said that continued dialogue between China and the US could help reduce uncertainty in global supply chains, enhance cooperation in both goods trade and trade in services, and foster innovation in emerging sectors such as green technology and digital infrastructure.
\n
"Businesses on both sides are seeking predictability and trust — key factors for the long-term planning and stability of global markets," Gao added.
\n
Nathan Stoner, chairman for China at Cummins Inc, a US-based engine manufacturer, said the company will launch next-generation products, including electric motors, electronic controls, e-driving systems and integrated controllers, as well as power electronics, in China next year.
\n
As more Chinese carmakers venture into Southeast Asia, Europe and beyond, Cummins is looking to play a key role in helping them grow their global footprint, Stoner said.
\n
zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
China's economic growth is pivotal to and vital for global prosperity, and it is essential and significant for the United States and China to maintain a stable trade relationship, according to a senior business leader.
\n
Rajesh Subramaniam, CEO of US-based logistics company FedEx Corp and chair of the Board of the US-China Business Council, said that in a world defined by rapid changes and heightened geopolitical uncertainty, the council welcomes continued dialogue and the positive outcomes achieved by the US and Chinese economic and trade consultation teams.
\n
His remarks follow a recent visit by a USCBC board delegation to Beijing, during which representatives of major US companies, including Apple, Boeing, Goldman Sachs and Otis, sought to strengthen bilateral commercial ties and advocate for a stable and predictable environment for US businesses operating in China.
\n
The visit underscored a broader sentiment among global and US companies that continue to view China as a critical market because of its vast consumer base, consistent focus on high-quality growth, well-developed industrial system and supply chain networks.
\n
Amid declining global cross-border investment, a growing number of foreign businesses regard China as an ideal, secure and promising investment destination. The number of foreign-invested companies with foreign trade businesses in China reached 75,000 in the first half of 2025, the highest level for the same period since 2021, data from the General Administration of Customs shows.
\n
Emphasizing China's importance to the global competitiveness of many US companies, Subramaniam said that FedEx, which operates over 300 international weekly flights to and from China, will continue to invest in smarter supply chains through digital innovation, data-driven platforms and artificial intelligence within the country.
\n
A report released in mid-July by the USCBC showed that about 82 percent of its surveyed member companies reported profitable operations in China in 2024, an improvement compared with the previous two years. Nearly all respondents also said they cannot remain globally competitive without their operations in China.
\n
According to the Ministry of Commerce, China and the US have agreed to continue pushing for an extension of the pause on 24 percent reciprocal tariffs of the US side, as well as countermeasures of the Chinese side, following their latest round of trade talks last week in Stockholm, Sweden.
\n
He Yadong, a spokesman for the ministry, said last week that China looks forward to working with the US to fully leverage the role of the bilateral economic and trade consultation mechanism and strive for more win-win outcomes.
\n
Subramaniam said that China has sent a strong signal to the world of its commitment to further advance reform and opening-up. "This has helped boost market confidence," he added.
\n
Chen Jianwei, a researcher at the University of International Business and Economics' Academy of China Open Economy Studies in Beijing, said that China's ongoing efforts in industrial upgrading, green transformation and further opening-up are creating long-term opportunities for foreign businesses in areas such as high-end manufacturing, smart mobility and service-related sectors.
\n
"These efforts are contributing to global economic growth and supply chain stability, reinforcing China's role as a key engine of the world economy," Chen said.
\n
Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of World Economics and Politics in Beijing, said that continued dialogue between China and the US could help reduce uncertainty in global supply chains, enhance cooperation in both goods trade and trade in services, and foster innovation in emerging sectors such as green technology and digital infrastructure.
\n
"Businesses on both sides are seeking predictability and trust — key factors for the long-term planning and stability of global markets," Gao added.
\n
Nathan Stoner, chairman for China at Cummins Inc, a US-based engine manufacturer, said the company will launch next-generation products, including electric motors, electronic controls, e-driving systems and integrated controllers, as well as power electronics, in China next year.
\n
As more Chinese carmakers venture into Southeast Asia, Europe and beyond, Cummins is looking to play a key role in helping them grow their global footprint, Stoner said.
China's top court has directed courts nationwide to intensify their crackdown on crimes related to medical insurance fraud, stressing the need to safeguard public health rights and ensure the security of the national insurance fund.
\n
In a statement released on Tuesday, alongside details of four prominent cases, the Supreme People's Court described the fund as people's "life-saving money" and emphasized the importance of protecting it.
\n
"The fund concerns the basic interests of the public and relate to the healthy and sustainable development of the medical security system. It is also crucial for the long-term stability of the country," the court said.
\n
It cited data showing that courts across China concluded 1,156 criminal cases of medical insurance fraud last year, up 131.2 percent from the previous year. Authorities recovered more than 402 million yuan ($55.9 million) in losses.
\n
The court called on judges to swiftly resolve disputes involving the national insurance fund and to place greater focus on organizers or repeat perpetrators of fraud.
\n
One of the cases involved a man surnamed Ai, a former controller of a private hospital in Datong, Shanxi province, who was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison and fined 500,000 yuan for fraud.
\n
According to the Shanxi court judgement, Ai and six others solicited patients for unnecessary hospitalizations in order to defraud the national insurance fund by inflating drug prices, increasing medication and examination fees, submitting false bed occupancy reports, fabricating medical records and data, and exaggerating medical expenses.
\n
By the end of 2020, the hospital had falsely claimed more than 9.7 million yuan from the fund. Ai received the heaviest sentence due to his role as an organizer of the scheme and the massive amount of money involved in it. The other six were sentenced to between four and 11 years and fined between 30,000 and 200,000 yuan.
\n
"Legal support should be provided for private hospitals that enrich medical resources and ensure public access to healthcare and medications," the top court said. "But for those engaging in fraudulent activities to obtain money from the national medical insurance fund for personal gain and who are seriously undermining the development of the healthcare system, harsh punishments will be imposed."
\n
The top court also noted the growing severity of offenses involving the illegal resale of drugs acquired through medical insurance and urged courts to strengthen efforts against the practice.
\n
In another case, a man surnamed Dai in Fuliang county, Jiangxi province, was sentenced to six years in prison and fined 120,000 yuan for profiting from the illegal resale of medical insurance drugs.
\n
Dai, who did not have a drug distribution license, bought drugs via WeChat and made more than 3.4 million yuan in profit by selling them to others through the platform between June 2020 and December 2021. He earned another 750,000 yuan from July 2022 until his arrest.
\n
"Dai's actions not only caused losses to the insurance fund, but also led to improper storage and wastage of drugs," the top court said. "If expired drugs re-enter the market, public health will face a threat."
\n
The top court urged judges to watch out for new fraud tactics and called on government departments to step up oversight of medical insurance funds.
\n
caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
China's top court has directed courts nationwide to intensify their crackdown on crimes related to medical insurance fraud, stressing the need to safeguard public health rights and ensure the security of the national insurance fund.
\n
In a statement released on Tuesday, alongside details of four prominent cases, the Supreme People's Court described the fund as people's "life-saving money" and emphasized the importance of protecting it.
\n
"The fund concerns the basic interests of the public and relate to the healthy and sustainable development of the medical security system. It is also crucial for the long-term stability of the country," the court said.
\n
It cited data showing that courts across China concluded 1,156 criminal cases of medical insurance fraud last year, up 131.2 percent from the previous year. Authorities recovered more than 402 million yuan ($55.9 million) in losses.
\n
The court called on judges to swiftly resolve disputes involving the national insurance fund and to place greater focus on organizers or repeat perpetrators of fraud.
\n
One of the cases involved a man surnamed Ai, a former controller of a private hospital in Datong, Shanxi province, who was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison and fined 500,000 yuan for fraud.
\n
According to the Shanxi court judgement, Ai and six others solicited patients for unnecessary hospitalizations in order to defraud the national insurance fund by inflating drug prices, increasing medication and examination fees, submitting false bed occupancy reports, fabricating medical records and data, and exaggerating medical expenses.
\n
By the end of 2020, the hospital had falsely claimed more than 9.7 million yuan from the fund. Ai received the heaviest sentence due to his role as an organizer of the scheme and the massive amount of money involved in it. The other six were sentenced to between four and 11 years and fined between 30,000 and 200,000 yuan.
\n
"Legal support should be provided for private hospitals that enrich medical resources and ensure public access to healthcare and medications," the top court said. "But for those engaging in fraudulent activities to obtain money from the national medical insurance fund for personal gain and who are seriously undermining the development of the healthcare system, harsh punishments will be imposed."
\n
The top court also noted the growing severity of offenses involving the illegal resale of drugs acquired through medical insurance and urged courts to strengthen efforts against the practice.
\n
In another case, a man surnamed Dai in Fuliang county, Jiangxi province, was sentenced to six years in prison and fined 120,000 yuan for profiting from the illegal resale of medical insurance drugs.
\n
Dai, who did not have a drug distribution license, bought drugs via WeChat and made more than 3.4 million yuan in profit by selling them to others through the platform between June 2020 and December 2021. He earned another 750,000 yuan from July 2022 until his arrest.
\n
"Dai's actions not only caused losses to the insurance fund, but also led to improper storage and wastage of drugs," the top court said. "If expired drugs re-enter the market, public health will face a threat."
\n
The top court urged judges to watch out for new fraud tactics and called on government departments to step up oversight of medical insurance funds.
The southern city of Foshan in Guangdong province has introduced real-name registration requirements for the purchase of fever and pain relief medications in response to a growing outbreak of Chikungunya fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease. Other regions across the country are also rolling out preemptive measures in an effort to contain the spread.
\n
Customers in Foshan, who buy any of 47 designated drugs — including common analgesics such as ibuprofen — must now verify their identity by scanning a QR code, local authorities said, in a move aimed at enabling timely detection of potential infections.
\n
Bai Tao, mayor of Foshan, said at a meeting on Monday that the city would strive to contain the outbreak "in the shortest time possible". He said disinfection work will be carried out in enclosed public spaces such as corridors, garages and elevator shafts during rainfall, and that stagnant water will be cleared promptly after rain to eliminate both adult mosquitoes and mosquito breeding sites.
\n
The city reported 194 new confirmed cases on Monday, down from 216 on Sunday, according to local health authorities. Foshan remains the hardest hit city in Guangdong province with at least 12 other cities reporting cases.
\n
Officials in Foshan, Zhongshan and Maoming have stepped up the enforcement of mosquito control measures, penalizing violations that contribute to mosquito breeding. According to local media, a restaurant in Foshan was fined for illegally dumping wastewater, and a kindergarten in Zhongshan was warned after inspectors found stagnant water containing mosquito larvae. Property managers at 13 residential complexes were cited for failing to clear drains and install mosquito barriers.
\n
Outside Guangdong, several cities in Fujian province have issued health alerts for travelers returning from affected areas. Authorities in Fuzhou and Quanzhou have mandated 14-day self-monitoring for symptoms such as fever, joint pain and skin rashes. Individuals experiencing such symptoms are advised to seek medical attention and self-isolate to prevent further spread, the provincial disease control center said.
\n
In Jiangsu province, the Nanjing Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a mosquito control advisory as the city enters its peak season for mosquito-borne illnesses. With hot and wet conditions creating ideal mosquito breeding environments, health authorities warned of heightened transmission risks for both dengue and Chikungunya fevers.
\n
The advisory called for weekly household inspections, with a focus on courtyards, balconies and drainage systems. Community clean-up operations should emphasize removing waste, sealing construction sites and maintaining water infrastructure. Special attention should also be given to decorative water features and plant containers, authorities said.
\n
In Gulin county, Sichuan province, health authorities held a special training session on Thursday to improve preparedness for Chikungunya fever prevention and control. Two hospitals have been designated as county-level treatment centers, and an expert group has been established to guide clinical response. All medical institutions in the county have been instructed to set up isolation wards, stock emergency supplies and prepare for potential outbreaks.
\n
Yang Song, deputy director of the infectious diseases department at China-Japan Friendship Hospital, said the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses require special attention, though the public should not panic.
\n
"Symptoms of Chikungunya include fever, swelling and pain in the ankles and knuckles, and rash," he said. "Unlike dengue fever, general blood routine indicators do not show significant abnormalities."
\n
He advised patients to rest and maintain a nutritious diet. If fever persists for more than a week, patients should be monitored for possible complications involving the heart or nervous system.
\n
Yang added that while current control measures are appropriate, vaccines could become an option for prevention depending on the disease's spread and cost-effectiveness. China currently has no approved vaccine for Chikungunya, according to a previous briefing by the National Health Commission.
\n
wangsongsong@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
The southern city of Foshan in Guangdong province has introduced real-name registration requirements for the purchase of fever and pain relief medications in response to a growing outbreak of Chikungunya fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease. Other regions across the country are also rolling out preemptive measures in an effort to contain the spread.
\n
Customers in Foshan, who buy any of 47 designated drugs — including common analgesics such as ibuprofen — must now verify their identity by scanning a QR code, local authorities said, in a move aimed at enabling timely detection of potential infections.
\n
Bai Tao, mayor of Foshan, said at a meeting on Monday that the city would strive to contain the outbreak "in the shortest time possible". He said disinfection work will be carried out in enclosed public spaces such as corridors, garages and elevator shafts during rainfall, and that stagnant water will be cleared promptly after rain to eliminate both adult mosquitoes and mosquito breeding sites.
\n
The city reported 194 new confirmed cases on Monday, down from 216 on Sunday, according to local health authorities. Foshan remains the hardest hit city in Guangdong province with at least 12 other cities reporting cases.
\n
Officials in Foshan, Zhongshan and Maoming have stepped up the enforcement of mosquito control measures, penalizing violations that contribute to mosquito breeding. According to local media, a restaurant in Foshan was fined for illegally dumping wastewater, and a kindergarten in Zhongshan was warned after inspectors found stagnant water containing mosquito larvae. Property managers at 13 residential complexes were cited for failing to clear drains and install mosquito barriers.
\n
Outside Guangdong, several cities in Fujian province have issued health alerts for travelers returning from affected areas. Authorities in Fuzhou and Quanzhou have mandated 14-day self-monitoring for symptoms such as fever, joint pain and skin rashes. Individuals experiencing such symptoms are advised to seek medical attention and self-isolate to prevent further spread, the provincial disease control center said.
\n
In Jiangsu province, the Nanjing Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a mosquito control advisory as the city enters its peak season for mosquito-borne illnesses. With hot and wet conditions creating ideal mosquito breeding environments, health authorities warned of heightened transmission risks for both dengue and Chikungunya fevers.
\n
The advisory called for weekly household inspections, with a focus on courtyards, balconies and drainage systems. Community clean-up operations should emphasize removing waste, sealing construction sites and maintaining water infrastructure. Special attention should also be given to decorative water features and plant containers, authorities said.
\n
In Gulin county, Sichuan province, health authorities held a special training session on Thursday to improve preparedness for Chikungunya fever prevention and control. Two hospitals have been designated as county-level treatment centers, and an expert group has been established to guide clinical response. All medical institutions in the county have been instructed to set up isolation wards, stock emergency supplies and prepare for potential outbreaks.
\n
Yang Song, deputy director of the infectious diseases department at China-Japan Friendship Hospital, said the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses require special attention, though the public should not panic.
\n
"Symptoms of Chikungunya include fever, swelling and pain in the ankles and knuckles, and rash," he said. "Unlike dengue fever, general blood routine indicators do not show significant abnormalities."
\n
He advised patients to rest and maintain a nutritious diet. If fever persists for more than a week, patients should be monitored for possible complications involving the heart or nervous system.
\n
Yang added that while current control measures are appropriate, vaccines could become an option for prevention depending on the disease's spread and cost-effectiveness. China currently has no approved vaccine for Chikungunya, according to a previous briefing by the National Health Commission.
Excavators clear mud on the road in Zhaoqing, Guangdong province, on Tuesday. The city was hit by heavy rainfall on Monday, with subsequent flooding in various urban areas and instances of flash floods and landslides. No casualties have been reported.
\n\n
Some rivers in North China's Haihe River Basin and Northeast China's Songliao Basin may experience major flooding, a representative from China's top emergency response authority said on Tuesday.
\n
Shen Zhanli, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Emergency Management, said at a news conference in Beijing that all seven major river basins in China have entered their main flood season this month.
\n
"In recent years, due to global climate change, disastrous weather has become increasingly sudden, extreme and unpredictable," Shen said. "Especially during the flood season, disasters that break historical records and traditional understandings occur frequently."
\n
She emphasized that the country is now in a critical period for flood prevention — from the second half of July through the first half of August — calling it the most complex and severe stretch for flood control throughout the year.
\n
The peak of summer travel and outdoor construction further raises safety risks, she said.
\n
Shen also shared the ministry's disaster risk forecast for August, warning of high risks of flooding and hail in parts of North, Northeast, East, South and Southwest China.
\n
Two to three typhoons are expected to make landfall or affect China this month, with at least one expected to impact areas north of the Yangtze River, she said.
\n
There is also a high risk of forest fires in the Greater Hinggan Mountains and in several parts of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
\n
Geological disasters could occur in western areas of Yunnan province, while high-temperature drought risks loom over parts of the middle and lower Yangtze River region, the Jianghuai area — including parts of Jiangsu, Anhui and Henan provinces — and central and northern Xinjiang.
\n
On Monday night, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its flood emergency response level from Level IV to Level III — the third-highest in China's four-tier emergency system — for Beijing, Tianjin, and the provinces of Hebei and Guangdong.
\n
Meteorological forecasts had predicted heavy to torrential rainfall in parts of those regions from Monday evening through Tuesday.
\n
In Guangdong, the provincial hydrology department issued six red alerts for flooding and three red alerts for mountain torrents on Tuesday — the highest warning level in China's color-coded alert system.
\n
By Tuesday evening, emergency management authorities in Beijing and Hebei had either lowered or maintained their current emergency levels as rainfall lessened or stopped. In Tianjin and its upstream areas, heavy rainfall had also largely subsided.
\n
jiangchenglong@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Excavators clear mud on the road in Zhaoqing, Guangdong province, on Tuesday. The city was hit by heavy rainfall on Monday, with subsequent flooding in various urban areas and instances of flash floods and landslides. No casualties have been reported.
\n\n
Some rivers in North China's Haihe River Basin and Northeast China's Songliao Basin may experience major flooding, a representative from China's top emergency response authority said on Tuesday.
\n
Shen Zhanli, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Emergency Management, said at a news conference in Beijing that all seven major river basins in China have entered their main flood season this month.
\n
"In recent years, due to global climate change, disastrous weather has become increasingly sudden, extreme and unpredictable," Shen said. "Especially during the flood season, disasters that break historical records and traditional understandings occur frequently."
\n
She emphasized that the country is now in a critical period for flood prevention — from the second half of July through the first half of August — calling it the most complex and severe stretch for flood control throughout the year.
\n
The peak of summer travel and outdoor construction further raises safety risks, she said.
\n
Shen also shared the ministry's disaster risk forecast for August, warning of high risks of flooding and hail in parts of North, Northeast, East, South and Southwest China.
\n
Two to three typhoons are expected to make landfall or affect China this month, with at least one expected to impact areas north of the Yangtze River, she said.
\n
There is also a high risk of forest fires in the Greater Hinggan Mountains and in several parts of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
\n
Geological disasters could occur in western areas of Yunnan province, while high-temperature drought risks loom over parts of the middle and lower Yangtze River region, the Jianghuai area — including parts of Jiangsu, Anhui and Henan provinces — and central and northern Xinjiang.
\n
On Monday night, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters raised its flood emergency response level from Level IV to Level III — the third-highest in China's four-tier emergency system — for Beijing, Tianjin, and the provinces of Hebei and Guangdong.
\n
Meteorological forecasts had predicted heavy to torrential rainfall in parts of those regions from Monday evening through Tuesday.
\n
In Guangdong, the provincial hydrology department issued six red alerts for flooding and three red alerts for mountain torrents on Tuesday — the highest warning level in China's color-coded alert system.
\n
By Tuesday evening, emergency management authorities in Beijing and Hebei had either lowered or maintained their current emergency levels as rainfall lessened or stopped. In Tianjin and its upstream areas, heavy rainfall had also largely subsided.
Over 630 media organizations, ranging from central news agencies to county-level converged media centers, have recently issued their social responsibility reports for 2024-over 50 more than the previous year. The publishing of the reports is the 12th consecutive release since 2014.Eighteen provinces, including Jilin and Sichuan, expanded the coverage of their reports to include media outlets at the provincial, city and county levels. The reports elaborated on media organizations' role in upholding social responsibility in areas such as service and humanistic care, as well as promoting cultural and moral responsibility. The media social responsibility reports will be featured on the website of the All-China Journalists Association. For the first time, the China Industry Newspaper Association and journalist associations from various provinces, regions and municipalities have set up platforms to display reports from national industry media and local media organizations to boost their influence.
\n
Former oil executive gets 14-year sentence
\n
Li Yong, former general manager of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Tuesday for taking bribes. The sentence was handed down by the Intermediate People's Court of Xiangyang, Hubei province. Li was also fined 3 million yuan ($420,368), and his illegal gains will be recovered and turned over to the State treasury. According to the court, Li took advantage of his various posts from 1996 to 2023 to assist certain enterprises and individuals in matters such as agency services and product sales. In return, he accepted money and valuables totaling 67.94 million yuan. Taking into account Li's confession, remorse, his willingness to turn over his ill-gotten gains and other mitigating factors, the court handed down a lenient sentence.
\n",
+ "content": "
Media issue reports on social responsibility
\n
Over 630 media organizations, ranging from central news agencies to county-level converged media centers, have recently issued their social responsibility reports for 2024-over 50 more than the previous year. The publishing of the reports is the 12th consecutive release since 2014.Eighteen provinces, including Jilin and Sichuan, expanded the coverage of their reports to include media outlets at the provincial, city and county levels. The reports elaborated on media organizations' role in upholding social responsibility in areas such as service and humanistic care, as well as promoting cultural and moral responsibility. The media social responsibility reports will be featured on the website of the All-China Journalists Association. For the first time, the China Industry Newspaper Association and journalist associations from various provinces, regions and municipalities have set up platforms to display reports from national industry media and local media organizations to boost their influence.
\n
Former oil executive gets 14-year sentence
\n
Li Yong, former general manager of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on Tuesday for taking bribes. The sentence was handed down by the Intermediate People's Court of Xiangyang, Hubei province. Li was also fined 3 million yuan ($420,368), and his illegal gains will be recovered and turned over to the State treasury. According to the court, Li took advantage of his various posts from 1996 to 2023 to assist certain enterprises and individuals in matters such as agency services and product sales. In return, he accepted money and valuables totaling 67.94 million yuan. Taking into account Li's confession, remorse, his willingness to turn over his ill-gotten gains and other mitigating factors, the court handed down a lenient sentence.
Tourists look at wall bricks at the Nanjing City Wall Museum in Jiangsu province on Tuesday. Built during the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Nanjing City Wall is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient Chinese city walls.
\n",
+ "content": "
Tourists look at wall bricks at the Nanjing City Wall Museum in Jiangsu province on Tuesday. Built during the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Nanjing City Wall is one of the best-preserved examples of ancient Chinese city walls.
Chinese scientists have recently discovered that forests not only sequester carbon, but also form a natural cooling barrier by releasing key substances, amplifying the climate benefits of afforestation.
\n
Led by Fu Pingqing, a professor from Tianjin University, the research highlights how China's reforestation efforts under its carbon neutrality strategy could deliver enhanced cooling effects against global warming. The findings were published in Nature Geoscience recently.
\n
Previous research established that natural vegetation areas such as forests emit volatile organic compounds. According to Zhu Jialei, a core team member at Tianjin University, these VOCs serve as raw materials for secondary organic aerosols.
\n
"SOA particles in the atmosphere effectively reflect solar radiation and modify cloud properties, functioning like a 'cooling umbrella' for Earth," Zhu explained. This dual role makes forests not just Earth's lungs for carbon absorption, but also critical natural air conditioners.
\n
Since the Industrial Revolution, global cropland area has expanded by approximately 270 percent, causing significant shrinkage of forests and grasslands. Zhu's team developed a proprietary aerosol module to upgrade Earth system models, enabling the first precise quantification of historical cropland expansion and its impact on SOAs and cooling effect.
\n
The study revealed that cropland expansion reduced global SOA levels by around 10 percent, weakening their net cooling effect by about 11 percent.
\n
"Forests act as nature's cooling barrier. Replacing them with farmland diminishes this protective function," said Zhu.
\n
This occurs because agricultural crops emit far fewer VOCs and generate less SOAs than forest trees. Consequently, cropland expansion disrupts the Earth's natural cooling mechanism, contributing significantly to global warming.
\n
This pivotal finding, based on two years of research building on a decade of SOA studies, fills critical knowledge gaps regarding land-use changes, organic aerosols and climate interactions, with profound policy implications.
\n
China has achieved remarkable progress in afforestation, boasting the world's largest artificial forest area. The Three-North Shelterbelt Program, China's flagship ecological project and the largest restoration initiative in the world, spans over 4 million square kilometers, creating ecological security barriers across North, Northeast and Northwest China.
\n
The research confirms that China's afforestation not only absorbs carbon dioxide, but also reinforces Earth's "natural cooling" capacity, delivering dual climate dividends.
\n
"It demonstrates how China's carbon neutrality strategy, especially large-scale afforestation, constitutes a major contribution to global climate action, showcasing China's responsibility for environmental protection," Zhu emphasized.
\n
The Tianjin University-led study involved collaboration with Tsinghua University and the University of Michigan in the United States. Sino-US scientific cooperation enabled breakthroughs in Earth system modeling and land-use change scenario design.
\n
"Joint research with US scientists accelerated our progress, positioning this work at the global forefront," Zhu noted.
\n
yandongjie@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Chinese scientists have recently discovered that forests not only sequester carbon, but also form a natural cooling barrier by releasing key substances, amplifying the climate benefits of afforestation.
\n
Led by Fu Pingqing, a professor from Tianjin University, the research highlights how China's reforestation efforts under its carbon neutrality strategy could deliver enhanced cooling effects against global warming. The findings were published in Nature Geoscience recently.
\n
Previous research established that natural vegetation areas such as forests emit volatile organic compounds. According to Zhu Jialei, a core team member at Tianjin University, these VOCs serve as raw materials for secondary organic aerosols.
\n
"SOA particles in the atmosphere effectively reflect solar radiation and modify cloud properties, functioning like a 'cooling umbrella' for Earth," Zhu explained. This dual role makes forests not just Earth's lungs for carbon absorption, but also critical natural air conditioners.
\n
Since the Industrial Revolution, global cropland area has expanded by approximately 270 percent, causing significant shrinkage of forests and grasslands. Zhu's team developed a proprietary aerosol module to upgrade Earth system models, enabling the first precise quantification of historical cropland expansion and its impact on SOAs and cooling effect.
\n
The study revealed that cropland expansion reduced global SOA levels by around 10 percent, weakening their net cooling effect by about 11 percent.
\n
"Forests act as nature's cooling barrier. Replacing them with farmland diminishes this protective function," said Zhu.
\n
This occurs because agricultural crops emit far fewer VOCs and generate less SOAs than forest trees. Consequently, cropland expansion disrupts the Earth's natural cooling mechanism, contributing significantly to global warming.
\n
This pivotal finding, based on two years of research building on a decade of SOA studies, fills critical knowledge gaps regarding land-use changes, organic aerosols and climate interactions, with profound policy implications.
\n
China has achieved remarkable progress in afforestation, boasting the world's largest artificial forest area. The Three-North Shelterbelt Program, China's flagship ecological project and the largest restoration initiative in the world, spans over 4 million square kilometers, creating ecological security barriers across North, Northeast and Northwest China.
\n
The research confirms that China's afforestation not only absorbs carbon dioxide, but also reinforces Earth's "natural cooling" capacity, delivering dual climate dividends.
\n
"It demonstrates how China's carbon neutrality strategy, especially large-scale afforestation, constitutes a major contribution to global climate action, showcasing China's responsibility for environmental protection," Zhu emphasized.
\n
The Tianjin University-led study involved collaboration with Tsinghua University and the University of Michigan in the United States. Sino-US scientific cooperation enabled breakthroughs in Earth system modeling and land-use change scenario design.
\n
"Joint research with US scientists accelerated our progress, positioning this work at the global forefront," Zhu noted.
China launched a group of internet satellites into orbit on Monday evening, marking the third in-orbit deployment of such spacecraft in eight days.
\n
The satellites are the seventh group of low-orbit hardware in China's State-owned internet network. They were lifted by a Long March 12 carrier rocket at 6:21 pm on Monday from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center — a coastal spaceport in Wenchang, Hainan province — and soon arrived in their orbital positions, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, maker of the Long March 12 rocket.
\n
The fifth group was launched on July 27 and the sixth on July 30.
\n
The satellites were manufactured by GalaxySpace, a Beijing-based private satellite company, at its "smart factory" in Nantong, Jiangsu province, that features highly intelligent assembly robots and automatic quality testing systems.
\n
Monday's launch was the first time that satellites designed and built by a private company were deployed as part of the national mega-constellation project.
\n
The first six groups of space-based assets in this network were made by State-owned entities such as the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China Academy of Space Technology, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.
\n
Previously, several GalaxySpace satellites were launched to take part in a technology demonstration for the State-owned internet network, but they are of an experimental nature and are not formal members in the network.
\n
Now, the private enterprise has become a leader in the domestic commercial satellite market, with 34 satellites that have been launched, ranging from China's first plate-shaped satellites equipped with foldable solar arrays to the nation's first communications satellite with a transmission capacity of 10 gigabits per second.
\n
"Next, GalaxySpace will make all-out efforts to develop core technologies that meet major needs of our nation's space industry, including cutting-edge phased array antennas, mega-constellation networking solutions, on-board large-scale energy systems and digital processing payloads," Hu Zhao, a senior satellite designer at Galaxy-Space, said on Tuesday.
\n
He said the company will also speed up the low-cost mass production of satellites and various key equipment, and continuously push the boundaries of technological capabilities, so as to contribute to forming China's independent and reliable space infrastructure.
\n
Monday's mission marked China's 43rd space launch this year and also the second flight of the Long March 12 rocket model.
\n
Designed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, the Long March 12 is the 22nd member of the Long March family, the backbone of China's space sector, and the 17th in the operating fleet.
\n
It is the first Chinese rocket to have a diameter of 3.8 meters — most Chinese rockets have a diameter of 3.35 meters, a standard width set in the 1960s considering constraining factors in rail transport.
\n
Standing 62.6 meters tall, equivalent to the height of 22 stories of a standard residential building, the two-stage model is the second highest in all Chinese rockets, only exceeded by the 62.8-meter Long March 5.
\n
zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
China launched a group of internet satellites into orbit on Monday evening, marking the third in-orbit deployment of such spacecraft in eight days.
\n
The satellites are the seventh group of low-orbit hardware in China's State-owned internet network. They were lifted by a Long March 12 carrier rocket at 6:21 pm on Monday from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center — a coastal spaceport in Wenchang, Hainan province — and soon arrived in their orbital positions, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, maker of the Long March 12 rocket.
\n
The fifth group was launched on July 27 and the sixth on July 30.
\n
The satellites were manufactured by GalaxySpace, a Beijing-based private satellite company, at its "smart factory" in Nantong, Jiangsu province, that features highly intelligent assembly robots and automatic quality testing systems.
\n
Monday's launch was the first time that satellites designed and built by a private company were deployed as part of the national mega-constellation project.
\n
The first six groups of space-based assets in this network were made by State-owned entities such as the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China Academy of Space Technology, a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.
\n
Previously, several GalaxySpace satellites were launched to take part in a technology demonstration for the State-owned internet network, but they are of an experimental nature and are not formal members in the network.
\n
Now, the private enterprise has become a leader in the domestic commercial satellite market, with 34 satellites that have been launched, ranging from China's first plate-shaped satellites equipped with foldable solar arrays to the nation's first communications satellite with a transmission capacity of 10 gigabits per second.
\n
"Next, GalaxySpace will make all-out efforts to develop core technologies that meet major needs of our nation's space industry, including cutting-edge phased array antennas, mega-constellation networking solutions, on-board large-scale energy systems and digital processing payloads," Hu Zhao, a senior satellite designer at Galaxy-Space, said on Tuesday.
\n
He said the company will also speed up the low-cost mass production of satellites and various key equipment, and continuously push the boundaries of technological capabilities, so as to contribute to forming China's independent and reliable space infrastructure.
\n
Monday's mission marked China's 43rd space launch this year and also the second flight of the Long March 12 rocket model.
\n
Designed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, the Long March 12 is the 22nd member of the Long March family, the backbone of China's space sector, and the 17th in the operating fleet.
\n
It is the first Chinese rocket to have a diameter of 3.8 meters — most Chinese rockets have a diameter of 3.35 meters, a standard width set in the 1960s considering constraining factors in rail transport.
\n
Standing 62.6 meters tall, equivalent to the height of 22 stories of a standard residential building, the two-stage model is the second highest in all Chinese rockets, only exceeded by the 62.8-meter Long March 5.
Zhang Di, a member of China's peacekeeping police contingent assigned to South Sudan, says goodbye to her child after a send-off ceremony at a training center on Tuesday. Seventeen officers are scheduled to depart early Wednesday to join the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
Zhang Di, a member of China's peacekeeping police contingent assigned to South Sudan, says goodbye to her child after a send-off ceremony at a training center on Tuesday. Seventeen officers are scheduled to depart early Wednesday to join the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
Tan Ruisong, former chairman of the State-owned defense conglomerate Aviation Industry Corp of China, has been charged with bribery, embezzlement, insider trading and the unlawful disclosure of information, the country's top procuratorate said on Tuesday.
\n
The Supreme People's Procuratorate said in a statement that an investigation into Tan's case was completed by the National Commission of Supervision and police in Chaoyang, Liaoning province, before being transferred to prosecutors in the city of Dalian for judicial proceedings.
\n
The Dalian Municipal People's Procuratorate has since indicted Tan and filed the case with the Dalian Intermediate People's Court, according to the statement.
\n
Prosecutors said Tan is accused of leveraging his various roles in the aviation industry to embezzle State funds and assets, accepting large bribes in exchange for using his position to seek illicit benefits for others, engaging in insider trading and leaking sensitive information to aid others in securities trading. The sums involved are "particularly enormous", the statement said, without disclosing specific figures.
\n
Tan, 63, is a native of Hunan province and spent his entire career in China's automobile and aviation manufacturing sectors after graduating in 1983 from the Beijing Institute of Aeronautics, now known as Beihang University. He joined the Communist Party of China in 1985.
\n
He served as chairman and Party chief of AVIC, China's dominant aircraft manufacturer, for nearly five years before being removed from his post in March 2023.
\n
In August last year, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision announced that Tan was under investigation.
\n
In February, the country's top anti-graft bodies said he had been expelled from the Communist Party of China after investigators concluded that he had accepted bribes, embezzled large amounts of public funds, engaged in extramarital affairs and abused his power to help others obtain jobs, contracts and business acquisitions.
\n
Tan is one of several senior executives at State-owned defense contractors to be rooted out by China's sweeping anti-corruption campaign over the past two years. Others include He Wenzhong, former deputy general manager of China Electronics Technology Group Corp; Liu Weidong, former deputy general manager at China South Industries Group Corp; and Hu Wenming, former chairman of China Shipbuilding Industry Corp.
\n
zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Tan Ruisong, former chairman of the State-owned defense conglomerate Aviation Industry Corp of China, has been charged with bribery, embezzlement, insider trading and the unlawful disclosure of information, the country's top procuratorate said on Tuesday.
\n
The Supreme People's Procuratorate said in a statement that an investigation into Tan's case was completed by the National Commission of Supervision and police in Chaoyang, Liaoning province, before being transferred to prosecutors in the city of Dalian for judicial proceedings.
\n
The Dalian Municipal People's Procuratorate has since indicted Tan and filed the case with the Dalian Intermediate People's Court, according to the statement.
\n
Prosecutors said Tan is accused of leveraging his various roles in the aviation industry to embezzle State funds and assets, accepting large bribes in exchange for using his position to seek illicit benefits for others, engaging in insider trading and leaking sensitive information to aid others in securities trading. The sums involved are "particularly enormous", the statement said, without disclosing specific figures.
\n
Tan, 63, is a native of Hunan province and spent his entire career in China's automobile and aviation manufacturing sectors after graduating in 1983 from the Beijing Institute of Aeronautics, now known as Beihang University. He joined the Communist Party of China in 1985.
\n
He served as chairman and Party chief of AVIC, China's dominant aircraft manufacturer, for nearly five years before being removed from his post in March 2023.
\n
In August last year, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision announced that Tan was under investigation.
\n
In February, the country's top anti-graft bodies said he had been expelled from the Communist Party of China after investigators concluded that he had accepted bribes, embezzled large amounts of public funds, engaged in extramarital affairs and abused his power to help others obtain jobs, contracts and business acquisitions.
\n
Tan is one of several senior executives at State-owned defense contractors to be rooted out by China's sweeping anti-corruption campaign over the past two years. Others include He Wenzhong, former deputy general manager of China Electronics Technology Group Corp; Liu Weidong, former deputy general manager at China South Industries Group Corp; and Hu Wenming, former chairman of China Shipbuilding Industry Corp.
Travelers browse books at the newly opened Lighthouse Reading Room at Shanghai South Railway Station on Tuesday. Jointly launched by Shanghai Railway Station and the Xuhui Library, the 400-square-meter facility is the city's first library located inside a train station, offering more than 1,000 books for passengers to read free of charge.
Travelers browse books at the newly opened Lighthouse Reading Room at Shanghai South Railway Station on Tuesday. Jointly launched by Shanghai Railway Station and the Xuhui Library, the 400-square-meter facility is the city's first library located inside a train station, offering more than 1,000 books for passengers to read free of charge.
The 2025 Chengdu World Games will begin on Thursday night by staging its opening ceremony not in a conventional stadium, but in an expansive urban space featuring a massive eaves gallery, a large lake and lakeside greenery, organizers said.
\n
Huang Peiling, deputy chief director of the Games' opening and closing ceremonies, said Monday that the Tianfu Eaves — a prominent architectural feature of the Tianfu International Convention Center in southern Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province — will serve as a key backdrop.
\n
The open space in front of it, along with a lake covering about 200,000 square meters and surrounding greenery, will jointly form a unique open-air stage.
\n
The Tianfu Eaves, a 430-meter-long wooden gallery at the convention center's front hall, is said to be the largest single wooden structure of its kind in Asia.
\n
"Hosting an opening ceremony in such a vast public space is innovative, but also extremely challenging," Huang said. "Unlike stadiums with fixed rigging points, stages, entry and exit passages, and enclosed spaces, all stage layouts for this ceremony must be redesigned."
\n
The opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8 pm, during Chengdu's twilight hours, and may feature a sunset and glowing skies. As athletes enter, a starry sky could serve as a natural backdrop, she said.
\n
Athletes will parade in a relaxed "city walk" style, allowing them to immerse themselves in Chengdu's ambience as a "park city", Huang said.
\n
About 60 percent of the directing team members are from Chengdu or elsewhere in Sichuan province, she noted.
\n
"We hope to present this opening ceremony through expressions that are closer to local people's daily lives," she said. "For example, the first-ever torch-lighting ceremony in World Games history will see Chengdu-born athletes pass the torch while riding a powerboat, followed by water skiers completing the final ignition. Both are sports beloved by Chengdu residents."
\n
The performances will also highlight local urban charm and Sichuan's cultural heritage, such as the face-changing stunts of Sichuan Opera, archaeological discoveries at the Sanxingdui ruins, and Chengdu's intangible cultural heritage, she added.
\n
Even the audience will play a role. Beyond regular seats, some spectators will watch from camping chairs along the lake shore — embodying Chengdu's famed "sense of ease".
\n
Qiao Wei, chief scriptwriter of the opening and closing ceremonies, said the Tianfu Eaves area aligns with the city's inclusive, free-spirited nature and the World Games' emphasis on entertainment.
\n
"Under the huge eaves, people from around the world who love sports and life will gather — celebrating, showcasing themselves and pursuing peace, like one big family," Qiao said.
\n
He described the ceremony as "fun-filled", saying fun is a driving force in both sports and everyday life, and helps foster unity — echoing China's vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.
\n
Hu Ruiming, a volunteer flagbearer for the ceremony, said rehearsals have been exhausting but worthwhile, as he will get the chance to showcase the spirit of unity and friendship among Chinese youth.
\n
An amateur basketball player and fan of billiards and Muay Thai, Hu said he looks forward to chatting with global athletes about their sports.
\n
pengchao@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
The 2025 Chengdu World Games will begin on Thursday night by staging its opening ceremony not in a conventional stadium, but in an expansive urban space featuring a massive eaves gallery, a large lake and lakeside greenery, organizers said.
\n
Huang Peiling, deputy chief director of the Games' opening and closing ceremonies, said Monday that the Tianfu Eaves — a prominent architectural feature of the Tianfu International Convention Center in southern Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province — will serve as a key backdrop.
\n
The open space in front of it, along with a lake covering about 200,000 square meters and surrounding greenery, will jointly form a unique open-air stage.
\n
The Tianfu Eaves, a 430-meter-long wooden gallery at the convention center's front hall, is said to be the largest single wooden structure of its kind in Asia.
\n
"Hosting an opening ceremony in such a vast public space is innovative, but also extremely challenging," Huang said. "Unlike stadiums with fixed rigging points, stages, entry and exit passages, and enclosed spaces, all stage layouts for this ceremony must be redesigned."
\n
The opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8 pm, during Chengdu's twilight hours, and may feature a sunset and glowing skies. As athletes enter, a starry sky could serve as a natural backdrop, she said.
\n
Athletes will parade in a relaxed "city walk" style, allowing them to immerse themselves in Chengdu's ambience as a "park city", Huang said.
\n
About 60 percent of the directing team members are from Chengdu or elsewhere in Sichuan province, she noted.
\n
"We hope to present this opening ceremony through expressions that are closer to local people's daily lives," she said. "For example, the first-ever torch-lighting ceremony in World Games history will see Chengdu-born athletes pass the torch while riding a powerboat, followed by water skiers completing the final ignition. Both are sports beloved by Chengdu residents."
\n
The performances will also highlight local urban charm and Sichuan's cultural heritage, such as the face-changing stunts of Sichuan Opera, archaeological discoveries at the Sanxingdui ruins, and Chengdu's intangible cultural heritage, she added.
\n
Even the audience will play a role. Beyond regular seats, some spectators will watch from camping chairs along the lake shore — embodying Chengdu's famed "sense of ease".
\n
Qiao Wei, chief scriptwriter of the opening and closing ceremonies, said the Tianfu Eaves area aligns with the city's inclusive, free-spirited nature and the World Games' emphasis on entertainment.
\n
"Under the huge eaves, people from around the world who love sports and life will gather — celebrating, showcasing themselves and pursuing peace, like one big family," Qiao said.
\n
He described the ceremony as "fun-filled", saying fun is a driving force in both sports and everyday life, and helps foster unity — echoing China's vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.
\n
Hu Ruiming, a volunteer flagbearer for the ceremony, said rehearsals have been exhausting but worthwhile, as he will get the chance to showcase the spirit of unity and friendship among Chinese youth.
\n
An amateur basketball player and fan of billiards and Muay Thai, Hu said he looks forward to chatting with global athletes about their sports.
The Ministry of State Security issued a stark warning on Tuesday about artificial intelligence security risks stemming from contaminated training data, calling it a fundamental challenge to AI safety.
\n
In an article published on its official WeChat account, the ministry said AI data sources are often polluted by mixed-quality content containing false information, fabricated narratives and biased viewpoints. As AI is increasingly integrated into China's socioeconomic sectors, such contamination poses risks to high-quality development and national security, it said.
\n
Data serves as the essential foundation for AI systems, providing the raw material for models to learn patterns, make decisions and generate content, the ministry said. It warned that compromised data quality directly undermines model reliability. Citing research, it noted that even a small contamination level — such as 0.01 percent of false text — can increase harmful outputs by 11.2 percent.
\n
The ministry also highlighted the danger of "recursive pollution", in which false content generated by AI becomes part of training datasets for future models, leading to compounding errors. Real-world risks include financial market manipulation through fabricated information, public panic triggered by misinformation and life-threatening medical misjudgments from corrupted diagnostic algorithms, it said.
\n
To counter these threats, the ministry proposed stricter source supervision under current cybersecurity and data protection laws, comprehensive risk assessments and systematic data-cleansing frameworks. It pledged to collaborate with relevant agencies to safeguard AI and data security under China's national security framework.
\n
Zhang Xi, deputy dean and professor at the School of Cyberspace Security at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, said China faces particular vulnerability due to a shortage of high-quality Chinese-language training data. Chinese data makes up only 1.3 percent of global large-model datasets, he said.
\n
This scarcity, along with copyright restrictions and inadequate data infrastructure, has forced domestic developers to rely on lower-quality sources such as machine-translated or synthetic content, which worsens data pollution and hinders progress in Chinese AI development, he said.
\n
Zhang cited the GPT-3 model, which was trained on 750 gigabytes of data, and China's DeepSeek-V3 model, trained on 14.8 trillion high-quality text fragments. These datasets are drawn from massive libraries of books, academic papers, online texts and code. But due to their scale, manual inspection is neither feasible nor cost-effective, making data contamination an increasingly serious bottleneck, he said.
\n
Polluted training data also creates unpredictable risks in high-stakes fields such as medicine, autonomous driving and national defense, Zhang said. He cited a study in which the insertion of 5,000 fabricated medical records raised misdiagnosis rates by 73 percent. In another example, inserting three manipulated image frames caused autonomous vehicles to mistake pedestrians for garbage bags, leading to 92 percent collision rates in testing.
\n
Zhang also warned of malicious data poisoning campaigns, in which adversarial actors inject content contrary to China's core socialist values. He pointed to foreign-developed models that generated separatist content related to the Xizang autonomous region as an example.
\n
To protect data sovereignty, Zhang advocated for greater investment in domestic data collection and the establishment of national public data platforms. He also called for legal mechanisms to criminalize malicious data poisoning and assign liability for data contamination caused by negligence, with responsibilities clarified for developers, data providers and operators.
\n
Shen Yang, a professor at Tsinghua University's School of Journalism and Communication and College of AI, defined AI data pollution as the inclusion of erroneous, incomplete, biased or deliberately manipulated content in training data.
\n
This fundamentally weakens AI models' comprehension, judgment and output reliability, he said.
\n
Shen compared polluted training data to "cooking with spoiled ingredients".
\n
He said malicious actors may seek to manipulate AI on sensitive topics, mislead the public, undermine competitors or probe vulnerabilities in AI systems. While such acts are usually isolated rather than coordinated conspiracies, their cumulative impact can erode public trust in AI, he said.
\n
For the general public, Shen said it is essential to understand that AI-generated content can shape — or distort — their perception of reality. "They need to see through the logic behind AI, just like identifying the motives behind people's words," he said.
The Ministry of State Security issued a stark warning on Tuesday about artificial intelligence security risks stemming from contaminated training data, calling it a fundamental challenge to AI safety.
\n
In an article published on its official WeChat account, the ministry said AI data sources are often polluted by mixed-quality content containing false information, fabricated narratives and biased viewpoints. As AI is increasingly integrated into China's socioeconomic sectors, such contamination poses risks to high-quality development and national security, it said.
\n
Data serves as the essential foundation for AI systems, providing the raw material for models to learn patterns, make decisions and generate content, the ministry said. It warned that compromised data quality directly undermines model reliability. Citing research, it noted that even a small contamination level — such as 0.01 percent of false text — can increase harmful outputs by 11.2 percent.
\n
The ministry also highlighted the danger of "recursive pollution", in which false content generated by AI becomes part of training datasets for future models, leading to compounding errors. Real-world risks include financial market manipulation through fabricated information, public panic triggered by misinformation and life-threatening medical misjudgments from corrupted diagnostic algorithms, it said.
\n
To counter these threats, the ministry proposed stricter source supervision under current cybersecurity and data protection laws, comprehensive risk assessments and systematic data-cleansing frameworks. It pledged to collaborate with relevant agencies to safeguard AI and data security under China's national security framework.
\n
Zhang Xi, deputy dean and professor at the School of Cyberspace Security at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, said China faces particular vulnerability due to a shortage of high-quality Chinese-language training data. Chinese data makes up only 1.3 percent of global large-model datasets, he said.
\n
This scarcity, along with copyright restrictions and inadequate data infrastructure, has forced domestic developers to rely on lower-quality sources such as machine-translated or synthetic content, which worsens data pollution and hinders progress in Chinese AI development, he said.
\n
Zhang cited the GPT-3 model, which was trained on 750 gigabytes of data, and China's DeepSeek-V3 model, trained on 14.8 trillion high-quality text fragments. These datasets are drawn from massive libraries of books, academic papers, online texts and code. But due to their scale, manual inspection is neither feasible nor cost-effective, making data contamination an increasingly serious bottleneck, he said.
\n
Polluted training data also creates unpredictable risks in high-stakes fields such as medicine, autonomous driving and national defense, Zhang said. He cited a study in which the insertion of 5,000 fabricated medical records raised misdiagnosis rates by 73 percent. In another example, inserting three manipulated image frames caused autonomous vehicles to mistake pedestrians for garbage bags, leading to 92 percent collision rates in testing.
\n
Zhang also warned of malicious data poisoning campaigns, in which adversarial actors inject content contrary to China's core socialist values. He pointed to foreign-developed models that generated separatist content related to the Xizang autonomous region as an example.
\n
To protect data sovereignty, Zhang advocated for greater investment in domestic data collection and the establishment of national public data platforms. He also called for legal mechanisms to criminalize malicious data poisoning and assign liability for data contamination caused by negligence, with responsibilities clarified for developers, data providers and operators.
\n
Shen Yang, a professor at Tsinghua University's School of Journalism and Communication and College of AI, defined AI data pollution as the inclusion of erroneous, incomplete, biased or deliberately manipulated content in training data.
\n
This fundamentally weakens AI models' comprehension, judgment and output reliability, he said.
\n
Shen compared polluted training data to "cooking with spoiled ingredients".
\n
He said malicious actors may seek to manipulate AI on sensitive topics, mislead the public, undermine competitors or probe vulnerabilities in AI systems. While such acts are usually isolated rather than coordinated conspiracies, their cumulative impact can erode public trust in AI, he said.
\n
For the general public, Shen said it is essential to understand that AI-generated content can shape — or distort — their perception of reality. "They need to see through the logic behind AI, just like identifying the motives behind people's words," he said.
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 failure of the recent recall vote targeting opposition lawmakers in Taiwan showed that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's separatist stance and disregard for people's livelihoods have resulted in its losing people's support, experts said.
\n
Recall votes against all of the 24 lawmakers from the main opposition Chinese Kuomintang, and the mayor of Hsinchu City, who was previously a member of the smaller opposition Taiwan People's Party, on July 26 failed to pass. Seven additional KMT lawmakers are set to face recall votes on Aug 23.
\n
The unprecedented wave of recall campaigns, initiated by civic groups backed by the DPP this year, aimed to unseat 31 of 39 directly elected KMT lawmakers, to help the DPP, which held a legislative majority from 2016 to 2024, regain control of the house.
\n
In the 113-seat local legislature in Taiwan, the opposition parties currently hold a narrow majority — 52 members from the KMT, 51 from the DPP, eight from the TPP and two independents — a key obstacle for the DPP and its leader Lai Ching-te to pass bills.
\n
Zou Zhiqiang, deputy secretary-general of the United States-based Alliance for China's Peaceful Reunification, said the DPP's rush to initiate recall campaigns to replace opposition party representatives long before their four-year terms are up shows a lack of respect for public opinion.
\n
The decision to pursue a costly recall vote that wasted public resources and divided the society, and not focusing on disaster relief efforts after a recent typhoon in southern Taiwan, has alienated some of the DPP's traditionally strong supporters, Zou said.
\n
He said the recent vote results dealt a significant blow to the DPP and indicate that Taiwan people no longer believe in the DPP's rhetoric of "confronting the mainland to protect Taiwan".
\n
Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said the DPP's crushing defeat in the vote fully demonstrated that its political manipulation and "anti-China" approach for seeking separation went against mainstream opinion and were rejected by the vast majority.
\n
The DPP authorities' indifference and a slow and inadequate response to disaster relief after the typhoon last month have once again exposed their true colors of prioritizing political interests, he said.
\n
Public dissatisfaction
\n
Taiwan residents flooded island leader Lai's Facebook page with dissatisfied comments recently after the US announced a 20 percent tariff on most of Taiwan's exports to the country.
\n
Jaw Shaw-kong, a Taiwan political commentator, asserted in a Facebook post that Taiwan's economic momentum will be greatly impeded as the tariff rate is higher than Japan's and South Korea's 15 percent, which are key competitors against Taiwan's exports.
\n
Jaw criticized the DPP authorities for selling out the island's pillar industry by allowing TSMC to invest in the US, and by making military purchases from the US, but not receiving weapons.
\n
With the new Taiwan dollar surging by 12 percent against the US dollar and the 20 percent tariff added, the overall impact will reach 32 percent, posing a significant challenge for Taiwan businesses, he said, expressing concerns over more promises the DPP authorities may make to the US.
\n
The Labor Party in Taiwan issued a statement condemning the Lai administration for sacrificing enterprises and traditional industries in order to realize its attempt of relying on the US to seek "independence", resulting in the island having to fully satisfy unreasonable demands imposed by the US.
\n
The party expressed people's concern that the DPP's approach risks Taiwan becoming a tool of US hegemony, being manipulated by US politicians and arms dealers, and ultimately leading to a dangerous situation in Taiwan.
\n
On July 31, the Formosa Publishing poll in Taiwan revealed a significant decline in Lai's trust and satisfaction ratings, marking troubling new lows for his administration. The comprehensive survey was conducted from July 28 to 30.
\n
Lai's satisfaction rating has plummeted from 44.7 percent in June to 34.6 percent, while dissatisfaction has surged dramatically from 46.8 percent to 56.6 percent. His trust rating has also suffered dramatically, falling 7.8 percentage points to 37.2 percent since June, while distrust has increased by 7 percentage points to 50.3 percent.
\n
The polling data reflects growing public skepticism about his effective leadership and political direction. The survey reveals that 54.9 percent of respondents do not support Lai's bid for reelection in 2028.
\n
Speaking of those elections on the island, Zou said there is a strong possibility of cooperation between the opposition parties of the KMT and the TPP, with better chances of winning compared to the past.
\n
The DPP has been obstructing cross-strait exchanges to prevent Taiwan residents from recognizing the Chinese mainland's progress, he said, adding that if the opposition regains power, there will be increased exchanges, fostering better understanding, ultimately benefiting peaceful reunification between the two sides.
\n
Attempts doomed to fail
\n
Officials from Beijing have issued a stern warning to the Lai administration that any attempt to solicit external support for "Taiwan independence" is doomed to fail.
\n
The comments followed a report by the Financial Times on July 29, revealing that Washington informed Lai that he would not be allowed to "transit" in New York on his way to South America, where he was reportedly planning to visit Paraguay, Guatemala and Belize in August.
\n
While Lai's office had not formally announced his trip to Latin America, it said last week that he had canceled all overseas travel plans to concentrate on tariff negotiations with the US and relief efforts following the typhoon.
\n
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Guo Jiakun underscored that China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the US and the Taiwan region and firmly opposes any trip by the leader of the Taiwan region to the US in any name or under whatever pretext.
\n
Guo said the Lai Ching-te authorities' separatist provocations will lead nowhere, still less shake the solid and strong international commitment to the one-China principle or stop the overriding historical trend toward China's reunification.
\n
Chen, from the Taiwan Affairs Office, also denounced Japan for allowing Lin Chia-lung, the head of Taiwan's so-called foreign affairs department, to make a so-called private trip to Japan and meet with Japanese politicians recently.
\n
Japan bears serious historical responsibilities to the Chinese people due to its colonial rule over Taiwan, Chen said, urging Japan to learn from historical lessons and cease erroneous actions.
\n
"Eighty years ago, we defeated Japanese invaders and restored Taiwan. Today, any attempt for 'Taiwan independence' that relies on foreign forces is pure delusion and will only end in even more failure," Chen warned the DPP authorities.
\n
zhangyi1@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "\n
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 failure of the recent recall vote targeting opposition lawmakers in Taiwan showed that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's separatist stance and disregard for people's livelihoods have resulted in its losing people's support, experts said.
\n
Recall votes against all of the 24 lawmakers from the main opposition Chinese Kuomintang, and the mayor of Hsinchu City, who was previously a member of the smaller opposition Taiwan People's Party, on July 26 failed to pass. Seven additional KMT lawmakers are set to face recall votes on Aug 23.
\n
The unprecedented wave of recall campaigns, initiated by civic groups backed by the DPP this year, aimed to unseat 31 of 39 directly elected KMT lawmakers, to help the DPP, which held a legislative majority from 2016 to 2024, regain control of the house.
\n
In the 113-seat local legislature in Taiwan, the opposition parties currently hold a narrow majority — 52 members from the KMT, 51 from the DPP, eight from the TPP and two independents — a key obstacle for the DPP and its leader Lai Ching-te to pass bills.
\n
Zou Zhiqiang, deputy secretary-general of the United States-based Alliance for China's Peaceful Reunification, said the DPP's rush to initiate recall campaigns to replace opposition party representatives long before their four-year terms are up shows a lack of respect for public opinion.
\n
The decision to pursue a costly recall vote that wasted public resources and divided the society, and not focusing on disaster relief efforts after a recent typhoon in southern Taiwan, has alienated some of the DPP's traditionally strong supporters, Zou said.
\n
He said the recent vote results dealt a significant blow to the DPP and indicate that Taiwan people no longer believe in the DPP's rhetoric of "confronting the mainland to protect Taiwan".
\n
Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said the DPP's crushing defeat in the vote fully demonstrated that its political manipulation and "anti-China" approach for seeking separation went against mainstream opinion and were rejected by the vast majority.
\n
The DPP authorities' indifference and a slow and inadequate response to disaster relief after the typhoon last month have once again exposed their true colors of prioritizing political interests, he said.
\n
Public dissatisfaction
\n
Taiwan residents flooded island leader Lai's Facebook page with dissatisfied comments recently after the US announced a 20 percent tariff on most of Taiwan's exports to the country.
\n
Jaw Shaw-kong, a Taiwan political commentator, asserted in a Facebook post that Taiwan's economic momentum will be greatly impeded as the tariff rate is higher than Japan's and South Korea's 15 percent, which are key competitors against Taiwan's exports.
\n
Jaw criticized the DPP authorities for selling out the island's pillar industry by allowing TSMC to invest in the US, and by making military purchases from the US, but not receiving weapons.
\n
With the new Taiwan dollar surging by 12 percent against the US dollar and the 20 percent tariff added, the overall impact will reach 32 percent, posing a significant challenge for Taiwan businesses, he said, expressing concerns over more promises the DPP authorities may make to the US.
\n
The Labor Party in Taiwan issued a statement condemning the Lai administration for sacrificing enterprises and traditional industries in order to realize its attempt of relying on the US to seek "independence", resulting in the island having to fully satisfy unreasonable demands imposed by the US.
\n
The party expressed people's concern that the DPP's approach risks Taiwan becoming a tool of US hegemony, being manipulated by US politicians and arms dealers, and ultimately leading to a dangerous situation in Taiwan.
\n
On July 31, the Formosa Publishing poll in Taiwan revealed a significant decline in Lai's trust and satisfaction ratings, marking troubling new lows for his administration. The comprehensive survey was conducted from July 28 to 30.
\n
Lai's satisfaction rating has plummeted from 44.7 percent in June to 34.6 percent, while dissatisfaction has surged dramatically from 46.8 percent to 56.6 percent. His trust rating has also suffered dramatically, falling 7.8 percentage points to 37.2 percent since June, while distrust has increased by 7 percentage points to 50.3 percent.
\n
The polling data reflects growing public skepticism about his effective leadership and political direction. The survey reveals that 54.9 percent of respondents do not support Lai's bid for reelection in 2028.
\n
Speaking of those elections on the island, Zou said there is a strong possibility of cooperation between the opposition parties of the KMT and the TPP, with better chances of winning compared to the past.
\n
The DPP has been obstructing cross-strait exchanges to prevent Taiwan residents from recognizing the Chinese mainland's progress, he said, adding that if the opposition regains power, there will be increased exchanges, fostering better understanding, ultimately benefiting peaceful reunification between the two sides.
\n
Attempts doomed to fail
\n
Officials from Beijing have issued a stern warning to the Lai administration that any attempt to solicit external support for "Taiwan independence" is doomed to fail.
\n
The comments followed a report by the Financial Times on July 29, revealing that Washington informed Lai that he would not be allowed to "transit" in New York on his way to South America, where he was reportedly planning to visit Paraguay, Guatemala and Belize in August.
\n
While Lai's office had not formally announced his trip to Latin America, it said last week that he had canceled all overseas travel plans to concentrate on tariff negotiations with the US and relief efforts following the typhoon.
\n
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Guo Jiakun underscored that China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the US and the Taiwan region and firmly opposes any trip by the leader of the Taiwan region to the US in any name or under whatever pretext.
\n
Guo said the Lai Ching-te authorities' separatist provocations will lead nowhere, still less shake the solid and strong international commitment to the one-China principle or stop the overriding historical trend toward China's reunification.
\n
Chen, from the Taiwan Affairs Office, also denounced Japan for allowing Lin Chia-lung, the head of Taiwan's so-called foreign affairs department, to make a so-called private trip to Japan and meet with Japanese politicians recently.
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Japan bears serious historical responsibilities to the Chinese people due to its colonial rule over Taiwan, Chen said, urging Japan to learn from historical lessons and cease erroneous actions.
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"Eighty years ago, we defeated Japanese invaders and restored Taiwan. Today, any attempt for 'Taiwan independence' that relies on foreign forces is pure delusion and will only end in even more failure," Chen warned the DPP authorities.
A: The real status quo of the Taiwan Strait is that both sides of the Taiwan Strait undoubtedly belong to one and the same China, although they have fallen into a long-term special situation of political confrontation left by China's civil war and interference from external forces. During the decades after 1949, the Taiwan authorities adhered to the position that Taiwan is a part of China.
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In 1971, the 26th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority. This resolution confirms that Taiwan is a part of China and precludes the possibility of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan". A total of 183 countries in the world have already established and developed diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. The fact that there is only one China is widely recognized by the international community as the real status quo of the Taiwan Strait, which proves that the one-China principle is an irresistible trend and is in line with the principle of righteousness and the common aspiration of the people.
\n
Q: What is the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait?
\n
A: The biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait comes from the "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and the connivance and support of external forces. Since assuming power, the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan have been pursuing the "Taiwan independence" agenda, using unscrupulous methods and seriously jeopardizing the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots. Still lost in delusions of hegemony and trapped in a Cold War mindset, certain countries do their utmost to undermine and suppress China, using the Taiwan question to contain China. This poses a significant threat to regional and global peace and is the fundamental reason for the continued tension in the Taiwan Strait and the long-standing unresolved nature of the Taiwan question.
\n
The Taiwan question is an internal affair of China, which should be resolved by the 1.4 billion Chinese people across the Taiwan Strait themselves. To support "Taiwan independence" is to interfere in China's internal affairs, and to connive at "Taiwan independence" is to undermine the stability of the Taiwan Strait. China's adherence to the one-China principle, its opposition to and containment of "Taiwan independence", and its pursuit of national reunification are the righteous moves to safeguard the post-World War II international order and defend the basic norms of international relations.
\n
These questions were answered by Xiao Junzheng, China's ambassador to Israel, initially in The Times of Israel.
\n",
+ "content": "
Q: What is the status quo of the Taiwan Strait?
\n
A: The real status quo of the Taiwan Strait is that both sides of the Taiwan Strait undoubtedly belong to one and the same China, although they have fallen into a long-term special situation of political confrontation left by China's civil war and interference from external forces. During the decades after 1949, the Taiwan authorities adhered to the position that Taiwan is a part of China.
\n
In 1971, the 26th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority. This resolution confirms that Taiwan is a part of China and precludes the possibility of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan". A total of 183 countries in the world have already established and developed diplomatic relations with China on the basis of the one-China principle. The fact that there is only one China is widely recognized by the international community as the real status quo of the Taiwan Strait, which proves that the one-China principle is an irresistible trend and is in line with the principle of righteousness and the common aspiration of the people.
\n
Q: What is the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait?
\n
A: The biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait comes from the "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and the connivance and support of external forces. Since assuming power, the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan have been pursuing the "Taiwan independence" agenda, using unscrupulous methods and seriously jeopardizing the interests and well-being of Taiwan compatriots. Still lost in delusions of hegemony and trapped in a Cold War mindset, certain countries do their utmost to undermine and suppress China, using the Taiwan question to contain China. This poses a significant threat to regional and global peace and is the fundamental reason for the continued tension in the Taiwan Strait and the long-standing unresolved nature of the Taiwan question.
\n
The Taiwan question is an internal affair of China, which should be resolved by the 1.4 billion Chinese people across the Taiwan Strait themselves. To support "Taiwan independence" is to interfere in China's internal affairs, and to connive at "Taiwan independence" is to undermine the stability of the Taiwan Strait. China's adherence to the one-China principle, its opposition to and containment of "Taiwan independence", and its pursuit of national reunification are the righteous moves to safeguard the post-World War II international order and defend the basic norms of international relations.
\n
These questions were answered by Xiao Junzheng, China's ambassador to Israel, initially in The Times of Israel.
A teacher shares the history of a hutong in Beijing during an exchange event participated in by students from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
\n
From Taiwan's juancun to Beijing's hutong, the essence of human warmth in the alleyways has always been a wellspring of inspiration for Taiwan novelist and curator Bi Yi-fan, also known as Nana Bee.
\n
Born in 1970 in a juancun in Taipei, a community established to accommodate soldiers and their families from the Chinese mainland after the Chinese Kuomintang's retreat to Taiwan in 1949, Bi's upbringing was steeped in a diverse and nostalgic culture brought by residents from various mainland provinces.
\n
Her family roots also trace back to the mainland, with her father hailing from Jiangsu province, and moving to Taiwan after his father sacrificed his life during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). In Taiwan, Bi's father served in the military, and later he married her mother in Taiwan who comes from Zhejiang province. Bi spent her childhood with her maternal grandparents in the juancun in Taipei.
\n
In these alleys, every household left its doors open, fostering strong bonds among neighbors. The sense of community was palpable, with families coming together to share meals and support one another, especially showering the youngest, Bi, with love and care.
\n
The community was also rich in traditional culture, Bi said, recalling a renowned Peking Opera actor who lived across from her home. Her childhood was filled with weekends spent watching Beijing opera with her father, and she even participated in performances during her school years.
\n
Despite never having visited the mainland, Bi's elders regaled her with stories of their hometowns, bridging the geographical distance through shared experiences.
\n
"My father broke down in tears when he received a letter from his mother sent from Jiangsu," Bi recalled. Her father finally returned to the mainland after his mother had passed away.
\n
The urbanization of Taiwan in the 1980s led to the dismantling of the military dependents' community, transforming one-story houses into towering apartment complexes and dispersing neighbors far and wide.
\n
Bi's childhood, nurtured by stories, greatly influenced her writing, with many of her novels featuring protagonists resembling the women in the military dependents' community.
\n
She decided to chronicle the tales of the community in her memory, capturing the essence of daily life, the Beijing Opera actor across the street, and the delicacies from the elderly neighbors who may have passed away, with hopes of compiling these stories into a book in the future.
\n
Her passion for traditional culture drew her to live in Beijing. In the hutong of Beijing, she found the feeling of her childhood military dependents' village, with every alleyway teeming with families.
\n
In July, Bi organized a hutong-themed art exhibition in downtown Beijing, created by six Taiwan art students and their counterparts from the mainland after a three-day in-depth exploration of the alleyways.
\n
During their journey, students from both sides rode bicycles together, learning each other's dialects and sharing local delicacies. They were warmly welcomed by the hutong residents who invited them into their courtyards to have a look around.
\n
Bi said, "I hope students can experience the precious warm relationship between people in such small lanes and keep them in their creations."
\n
Participant Tseng Chun-ning from Taiwan created a painting featuring several lively orange fish swimming through the gray tiled roofs and brick walls of a hutong, symbolizing the young students exploring the alleyways.
\n
Chang Chen-yen juxtaposed modern high-rise buildings with traditional hutong houses in an ink painting, creating a sense of coexistence between history and the present.
\n
"I believe that Chinese traditional culture is ever-evolving and possesses a vitality for ongoing innovation," he said.
\n
Peng Yi-chen, a participant studying design, incorporated the intricate details of roof bricks and tiles in hutong buildings into the packaging of Beijing local snacks, hoping to allow people to experience the historical texture of the city while enjoying local food.
\n",
+ "content": "
Bi Yi-fan
\n
A teacher shares the history of a hutong in Beijing during an exchange event participated in by students from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
\n
From Taiwan's juancun to Beijing's hutong, the essence of human warmth in the alleyways has always been a wellspring of inspiration for Taiwan novelist and curator Bi Yi-fan, also known as Nana Bee.
\n
Born in 1970 in a juancun in Taipei, a community established to accommodate soldiers and their families from the Chinese mainland after the Chinese Kuomintang's retreat to Taiwan in 1949, Bi's upbringing was steeped in a diverse and nostalgic culture brought by residents from various mainland provinces.
\n
Her family roots also trace back to the mainland, with her father hailing from Jiangsu province, and moving to Taiwan after his father sacrificed his life during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). In Taiwan, Bi's father served in the military, and later he married her mother in Taiwan who comes from Zhejiang province. Bi spent her childhood with her maternal grandparents in the juancun in Taipei.
\n
In these alleys, every household left its doors open, fostering strong bonds among neighbors. The sense of community was palpable, with families coming together to share meals and support one another, especially showering the youngest, Bi, with love and care.
\n
The community was also rich in traditional culture, Bi said, recalling a renowned Peking Opera actor who lived across from her home. Her childhood was filled with weekends spent watching Beijing opera with her father, and she even participated in performances during her school years.
\n
Despite never having visited the mainland, Bi's elders regaled her with stories of their hometowns, bridging the geographical distance through shared experiences.
\n
"My father broke down in tears when he received a letter from his mother sent from Jiangsu," Bi recalled. Her father finally returned to the mainland after his mother had passed away.
\n
The urbanization of Taiwan in the 1980s led to the dismantling of the military dependents' community, transforming one-story houses into towering apartment complexes and dispersing neighbors far and wide.
\n
Bi's childhood, nurtured by stories, greatly influenced her writing, with many of her novels featuring protagonists resembling the women in the military dependents' community.
\n
She decided to chronicle the tales of the community in her memory, capturing the essence of daily life, the Beijing Opera actor across the street, and the delicacies from the elderly neighbors who may have passed away, with hopes of compiling these stories into a book in the future.
\n
Her passion for traditional culture drew her to live in Beijing. In the hutong of Beijing, she found the feeling of her childhood military dependents' village, with every alleyway teeming with families.
\n
In July, Bi organized a hutong-themed art exhibition in downtown Beijing, created by six Taiwan art students and their counterparts from the mainland after a three-day in-depth exploration of the alleyways.
\n
During their journey, students from both sides rode bicycles together, learning each other's dialects and sharing local delicacies. They were warmly welcomed by the hutong residents who invited them into their courtyards to have a look around.
\n
Bi said, "I hope students can experience the precious warm relationship between people in such small lanes and keep them in their creations."
\n
Participant Tseng Chun-ning from Taiwan created a painting featuring several lively orange fish swimming through the gray tiled roofs and brick walls of a hutong, symbolizing the young students exploring the alleyways.
\n
Chang Chen-yen juxtaposed modern high-rise buildings with traditional hutong houses in an ink painting, creating a sense of coexistence between history and the present.
\n
"I believe that Chinese traditional culture is ever-evolving and possesses a vitality for ongoing innovation," he said.
\n
Peng Yi-chen, a participant studying design, incorporated the intricate details of roof bricks and tiles in hutong buildings into the packaging of Beijing local snacks, hoping to allow people to experience the historical texture of the city while enjoying local food.
Huang Xin from Beijing's Attached Middle School to the Central Academy of Art & Design teaches at Lhasa-Beijing Experimental Middle School in the Xizang autonomous region.
\n
The latest Aid-Xizang program has deployed more than 2,100 cadres and professionals to the Xizang autonomous region since 2022, contributing to economic development, public services, and infrastructure improvement across the high-altitude plateau, according to the region's organization department.
\n
The latest 10th batch of participants came from 17 provinces and municipalities, 78 central and state organs, as well as 27 centrally administered financial institutions and major state-owned enterprises, according to the department.
\n
Song Liqiang, deputy head of the regional organization department and leader of the 10th group sent to aid Xizang, said the program has significantly advanced the region's development.
\n
"By firmly focusing on high-quality development, we have worked to establish Xizang as a pilot zone for high-altitude economic growth," Song said.
\n
Over the past three years, 3,200 projects have been launched with a total investment of 14.28 billion yuan ($2 billion), building internal momentum for the region's development, he said.
\n
"They have fully leveraged the advantages of Aid-Xizang personnel, extensively and comprehensively conducting investment attraction and talent introduction through various channels," said Song, adding that the initiative has attracted 62.7 billion yuan in external investment and created nearly 19,600 local jobs since 2022.
\n
The projects span a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, education, employment and infrastructure.
\n
More than 1,400 livelihood-focused projects have been implemented, with 11.6 billion yuan dedicated to improving people's wellbeing. Over 250 job fairs have been held, helping some 12,000 residents find work or start businesses outside the region.
\n
Healthcare has been a particular focus. Medical teams sent to Xizang under the "group style" assistance model have helped transform healthcare access and outcomes across the region.
\n
According to authorities, over 400 major diseases can now be treated within the region, while more than 2,000 moderate conditions are handled at the prefectural or county-level hospitals, eliminating the need for long-distance travel for many patients. Common ailments can now be effectively managed within county borders.
\n
Song said that vigorous efforts have been made to promote "smart healthcare" and "smart education" in the region, addressing the issue of medical and nursing staff at aided hospitals lacking professional qualifications.
\n
Emphasis is placed on improving the teaching quality, resulting in the improvement of educational quality and teaching standards of aided schools. People of all ethnic groups in Xizang can now enjoy high-quality medical and educational services right at their doorstep, he said.
\n
The development of "smart healthcare" systems is also gathering pace. In Ngari prefecture, a remote region in western Xizang, the local people's hospital has implemented an artificial intelligence-powered remote consultation platform. The system allows real time collaboration between local doctors and top experts in major cities.
\n
Zhang Xiaogang, a cadre from Shaanxi province serving as the deputy secretary at the Ngari Prefecture People's Hospital, still remembers the scene of a complex coronary angiography procedure conducted at the hospital on April 15. It was performed with the remote guidance of physicians from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University.
\n
The surgery was broadcast in high definition, allowing Xi'an-based specialists to guide each step live, ensuring precision and safety.
\n
"To date, five such surgeries have been successfully completed with the support of the AI platform," Zhang was quoted as saying by Xizang Daily.
\n
In the past, patients from Baga township had to travel more than three hours to reach the hospital. Now, they can consult specialists remotely in real time, according to an official who declined to be named at the center, revealing the profound changes brought about by the sinking of medical resources.
\n
Education reform is another key pillar of the Aid-Xizang effort. With "smart education" initiatives and targeted teacher support, the quality of teaching has markedly improved across aided schools.
\n
Huang Xin, a history teacher from Beijing's Attached Middle School to the Central Academy of Art & Design, began a two-year placement at Lhasa-Beijing Experimental Middle School in August 2023.
\n
"I hope to share modern teaching methods and concepts from Beijing and help students here learn history more effectively," Huang said.
\n
Students have welcomed the changes.
\n
"We enjoy the abundant teaching resources provided by the school, and we are very pleased with the excellent learning environment here," said Sonam Yangzom, a senior high school student.
\n
"Thanks to the educational aid project, we're able to learn from some of the best teachers from Beijing, who bring innovative and engaging teaching styles."
\n
Contact the writers at palden_nyima@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Huang Xin from Beijing's Attached Middle School to the Central Academy of Art & Design teaches at Lhasa-Beijing Experimental Middle School in the Xizang autonomous region.
\n
The latest Aid-Xizang program has deployed more than 2,100 cadres and professionals to the Xizang autonomous region since 2022, contributing to economic development, public services, and infrastructure improvement across the high-altitude plateau, according to the region's organization department.
\n
The latest 10th batch of participants came from 17 provinces and municipalities, 78 central and state organs, as well as 27 centrally administered financial institutions and major state-owned enterprises, according to the department.
\n
Song Liqiang, deputy head of the regional organization department and leader of the 10th group sent to aid Xizang, said the program has significantly advanced the region's development.
\n
"By firmly focusing on high-quality development, we have worked to establish Xizang as a pilot zone for high-altitude economic growth," Song said.
\n
Over the past three years, 3,200 projects have been launched with a total investment of 14.28 billion yuan ($2 billion), building internal momentum for the region's development, he said.
\n
"They have fully leveraged the advantages of Aid-Xizang personnel, extensively and comprehensively conducting investment attraction and talent introduction through various channels," said Song, adding that the initiative has attracted 62.7 billion yuan in external investment and created nearly 19,600 local jobs since 2022.
\n
The projects span a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, education, employment and infrastructure.
\n
More than 1,400 livelihood-focused projects have been implemented, with 11.6 billion yuan dedicated to improving people's wellbeing. Over 250 job fairs have been held, helping some 12,000 residents find work or start businesses outside the region.
\n
Healthcare has been a particular focus. Medical teams sent to Xizang under the "group style" assistance model have helped transform healthcare access and outcomes across the region.
\n
According to authorities, over 400 major diseases can now be treated within the region, while more than 2,000 moderate conditions are handled at the prefectural or county-level hospitals, eliminating the need for long-distance travel for many patients. Common ailments can now be effectively managed within county borders.
\n
Song said that vigorous efforts have been made to promote "smart healthcare" and "smart education" in the region, addressing the issue of medical and nursing staff at aided hospitals lacking professional qualifications.
\n
Emphasis is placed on improving the teaching quality, resulting in the improvement of educational quality and teaching standards of aided schools. People of all ethnic groups in Xizang can now enjoy high-quality medical and educational services right at their doorstep, he said.
\n
The development of "smart healthcare" systems is also gathering pace. In Ngari prefecture, a remote region in western Xizang, the local people's hospital has implemented an artificial intelligence-powered remote consultation platform. The system allows real time collaboration between local doctors and top experts in major cities.
\n
Zhang Xiaogang, a cadre from Shaanxi province serving as the deputy secretary at the Ngari Prefecture People's Hospital, still remembers the scene of a complex coronary angiography procedure conducted at the hospital on April 15. It was performed with the remote guidance of physicians from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University.
\n
The surgery was broadcast in high definition, allowing Xi'an-based specialists to guide each step live, ensuring precision and safety.
\n
"To date, five such surgeries have been successfully completed with the support of the AI platform," Zhang was quoted as saying by Xizang Daily.
\n
In the past, patients from Baga township had to travel more than three hours to reach the hospital. Now, they can consult specialists remotely in real time, according to an official who declined to be named at the center, revealing the profound changes brought about by the sinking of medical resources.
\n
Education reform is another key pillar of the Aid-Xizang effort. With "smart education" initiatives and targeted teacher support, the quality of teaching has markedly improved across aided schools.
\n
Huang Xin, a history teacher from Beijing's Attached Middle School to the Central Academy of Art & Design, began a two-year placement at Lhasa-Beijing Experimental Middle School in August 2023.
\n
"I hope to share modern teaching methods and concepts from Beijing and help students here learn history more effectively," Huang said.
\n
Students have welcomed the changes.
\n
"We enjoy the abundant teaching resources provided by the school, and we are very pleased with the excellent learning environment here," said Sonam Yangzom, a senior high school student.
\n
"Thanks to the educational aid project, we're able to learn from some of the best teachers from Beijing, who bring innovative and engaging teaching styles."
\n
Contact the writers at palden_nyima@chinadaily.com.cn
From left: A machine gun is on display at Yang Jinyu's private memorial hall in Yuanqu county, Shanxi province. Visitors view exhibits in the museum.
\n
At 67, Yang Jinyu has devoted most of his retirement years to establishing the first private memorial hall on the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) in the northern province of Shanxi. It specifically commemorates the history of the war in the Zhongtiao Mountain area.
\n
"After I retired, I have been passionate about collecting. By chance, I watched a movie depicting the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, which inspired me to establish a memorial hall," said Yang, the museum's director and a resident of Yuanqu county, which is situated in the mountain area.
\n
Zhongtiao Mountain, in the southern part of Shanxi, is a strategic location north of the Yellow River, bordered by the Taihang Mountains to the northeast and the Lyuliang Mountains to the northwest.
\n
"My father was a veteran who fought in the war. He often told me stories of fighting Japanese invaders since I was young, which sparked my interest in researching the history of my hometown," Yang said.
\n
On May 7, 1941, the Japanese invaders launched a comprehensive attack on the Chinese army in the Zhongtiao Mountain area, leading to the outbreak of the battle. It became a significant losing battle for the Chinese army on the front lines during the war.
\n
The memorial hall was established in 2014 and is located in Linghui village of the county. Yang said that as of June, the museum had received a total of 3.38 million visitors from across the country over the past 11 years.
\n
It aims to comprehensively, objectively, and truthfully depict the history of the war in Zhongtiao Mountain. The museum consists of showrooms, memorial pavilions and martyr cemeteries.
\n
Yang said that the hall displays a collection of 926 items, some collected from the public and some donated by war veterans. Some bullets and bomb shells came from the old battlefield.
\n
He said that each exhibit has a touching story behind it. Since 2005, Yang has spent over a million yuan ($140,000) and traveled to 16 provinces and nearly 100 counties and cities across the country in collecting these historical materials.
\n
Yang's efforts have been recognized. In August 2024, the Chinese Museum Association announced that the memorial hall would be rated as a national third-level museum.
\n
In 2007, he also founded the Yuanqu County Revolutionary Base Area Memorial Hall. Yuanqu is a county with a revolutionary tradition, establishing the Yuanqu County Committee of the Communist Party of China in 1927.
\n
Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the war against Japanese aggression, the memorial hall has experienced a surge in visitors.
\n
It holds a special exhibition, displaying 120 relevant historical books and over 160 letters from veterans.
\n
"The museum is also exploring new 'digital' preservation methods while developing themed study courses and experiential activities related to Red culture, allowing the historical memory and spiritual wealth of the battle to shine brightly through innovative inheritance," said Wang Xuehua, deputy director of the memorial hall.
\n
Li Xin, a visitor, said: "Coming here to revisit the Red history, I find the cultural relics to be very precious, and they have great educational significance for us."
\n
Yang said, "Due to various reasons, there are relatively few records and historical materials regarding the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain. As a civilian, collecting and exhibiting these materials allows more people to understand and verify the history."
\n
Contact the writers at zhuxingxin@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
From left: A machine gun is on display at Yang Jinyu's private memorial hall in Yuanqu county, Shanxi province. Visitors view exhibits in the museum.
\n
At 67, Yang Jinyu has devoted most of his retirement years to establishing the first private memorial hall on the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) in the northern province of Shanxi. It specifically commemorates the history of the war in the Zhongtiao Mountain area.
\n
"After I retired, I have been passionate about collecting. By chance, I watched a movie depicting the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, which inspired me to establish a memorial hall," said Yang, the museum's director and a resident of Yuanqu county, which is situated in the mountain area.
\n
Zhongtiao Mountain, in the southern part of Shanxi, is a strategic location north of the Yellow River, bordered by the Taihang Mountains to the northeast and the Lyuliang Mountains to the northwest.
\n
"My father was a veteran who fought in the war. He often told me stories of fighting Japanese invaders since I was young, which sparked my interest in researching the history of my hometown," Yang said.
\n
On May 7, 1941, the Japanese invaders launched a comprehensive attack on the Chinese army in the Zhongtiao Mountain area, leading to the outbreak of the battle. It became a significant losing battle for the Chinese army on the front lines during the war.
\n
The memorial hall was established in 2014 and is located in Linghui village of the county. Yang said that as of June, the museum had received a total of 3.38 million visitors from across the country over the past 11 years.
\n
It aims to comprehensively, objectively, and truthfully depict the history of the war in Zhongtiao Mountain. The museum consists of showrooms, memorial pavilions and martyr cemeteries.
\n
Yang said that the hall displays a collection of 926 items, some collected from the public and some donated by war veterans. Some bullets and bomb shells came from the old battlefield.
\n
He said that each exhibit has a touching story behind it. Since 2005, Yang has spent over a million yuan ($140,000) and traveled to 16 provinces and nearly 100 counties and cities across the country in collecting these historical materials.
\n
Yang's efforts have been recognized. In August 2024, the Chinese Museum Association announced that the memorial hall would be rated as a national third-level museum.
\n
In 2007, he also founded the Yuanqu County Revolutionary Base Area Memorial Hall. Yuanqu is a county with a revolutionary tradition, establishing the Yuanqu County Committee of the Communist Party of China in 1927.
\n
Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the war against Japanese aggression, the memorial hall has experienced a surge in visitors.
\n
It holds a special exhibition, displaying 120 relevant historical books and over 160 letters from veterans.
\n
"The museum is also exploring new 'digital' preservation methods while developing themed study courses and experiential activities related to Red culture, allowing the historical memory and spiritual wealth of the battle to shine brightly through innovative inheritance," said Wang Xuehua, deputy director of the memorial hall.
\n
Li Xin, a visitor, said: "Coming here to revisit the Red history, I find the cultural relics to be very precious, and they have great educational significance for us."
\n
Yang said, "Due to various reasons, there are relatively few records and historical materials regarding the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain. As a civilian, collecting and exhibiting these materials allows more people to understand and verify the history."
\n
Contact the writers at zhuxingxin@chinadaily.com.cn
Tibetan antelopes cross a highway in the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve in Qinghai province.
\n
XINING — In the early summer, drivers on a stretch of National Highway 109 in the Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Northwest China's Qinghai province often encounter a unique spectacle: herds of Tibetan antelopes crossing the busy road.
\n
In a display of harmony between nature and human activity, vehicles on the highway pull over and wait patiently, creating a temporary pause in traffic flow to allow the animals to pass safely.
\n
More recently, a high-tech "mobile sentry" has joined this harmonious scene. Stationed by the roadside, it is remotely controlled by dedicated staff who adjust its height and angle, zoom in and out, and meticulously record the entire process of the antelopes crossing the road.
\n
Every year from May to July, female antelopes from areas such as Sanjiangyuan in Qinghai, Changtang in Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region and the Altun Mountains in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region travel hundreds of kilometers to give birth in the heart of the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve. Many need to cross the iconic National Highway 109.
\n
The mobile devices on duty for antelope migration are part of an intelligent management platform for human-wildlife conflict mitigation, which is the result of a key national research and development project.
\n
The platform utilizes traffic signals that drivers can understand at a glance, effectively indicating when to proceed or stop, which can minimize the impact of antelope migration on highway traffic and efficiently avoid the risk of collision, said Lian Xinming, head of the project and a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology.
\n
"So far, our project has collected data on 28 groups of antelopes crossing the road during their migration from wintering grounds to breeding grounds," Lian said.
\n
Using video recordings from the mobile devices, researchers analyze the scale and speed of each antelope herd to determine the correlation between the two, providing data support for rapid traffic light response.
\n
When the platform detects antelopes approaching the road, it sends an early warning to staff at a nearby protection station, alerting them to direct traffic.
\n
Meanwhile, electronic billboards on both sides of the passage display messages such as "Tibetan antelopes are crossing ahead, please slow down". Once the last antelope has passed, the platform prompts vehicles to proceed.
\n
Lian noted that in situations where some antelopes do not cross the road, only cross halfway or turn back after crossing, the platform also relies on data analysis and artificial intelligence recognition to rapidly judge the animals' crossing intentions, and to prevent accidents between vehicles and herds.
\n
The idea to develop traffic lights for antelope migration in the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve had been brewing in the minds of scientists for two decades.
\n
Back in June 2004, thanks to the call of the Green River nongovernmental environmental organization and support from all sectors of society, China's first traffic lights for wildlife were installed on the Qinghai-Xizang Highway.
\n
Yang Xin, who initiated the project, remembers that whenever personnel at the observation point heard a command on their walkie-talkie, they would turn on the traffic lights on both sides of the highway where the antelopes were about to cross. The traffic police would then signal cars to pull over using standard road traffic gestures.
\n
Today, with China's advancements in intelligent machinery and other technological fields, those manual traffic lights have been upgraded to a more intelligent system.
\n
The management platform is expected to be put into use in 2027. By then, with the help of the smart traffic lights, this lifeline for antelopes migrating to breed and deliver their young will operate more safely and smoothly, Lian said.
\n
Under first-class state protection in China, the once endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in Xizang, Qinghai and Xinjiang. The species' population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve habitats.
\n",
+ "content": "
Tibetan antelopes cross a highway in the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve in Qinghai province.
\n
XINING — In the early summer, drivers on a stretch of National Highway 109 in the Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Northwest China's Qinghai province often encounter a unique spectacle: herds of Tibetan antelopes crossing the busy road.
\n
In a display of harmony between nature and human activity, vehicles on the highway pull over and wait patiently, creating a temporary pause in traffic flow to allow the animals to pass safely.
\n
More recently, a high-tech "mobile sentry" has joined this harmonious scene. Stationed by the roadside, it is remotely controlled by dedicated staff who adjust its height and angle, zoom in and out, and meticulously record the entire process of the antelopes crossing the road.
\n
Every year from May to July, female antelopes from areas such as Sanjiangyuan in Qinghai, Changtang in Southwest China's Xizang autonomous region and the Altun Mountains in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region travel hundreds of kilometers to give birth in the heart of the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve. Many need to cross the iconic National Highway 109.
\n
The mobile devices on duty for antelope migration are part of an intelligent management platform for human-wildlife conflict mitigation, which is the result of a key national research and development project.
\n
The platform utilizes traffic signals that drivers can understand at a glance, effectively indicating when to proceed or stop, which can minimize the impact of antelope migration on highway traffic and efficiently avoid the risk of collision, said Lian Xinming, head of the project and a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology.
\n
"So far, our project has collected data on 28 groups of antelopes crossing the road during their migration from wintering grounds to breeding grounds," Lian said.
\n
Using video recordings from the mobile devices, researchers analyze the scale and speed of each antelope herd to determine the correlation between the two, providing data support for rapid traffic light response.
\n
When the platform detects antelopes approaching the road, it sends an early warning to staff at a nearby protection station, alerting them to direct traffic.
\n
Meanwhile, electronic billboards on both sides of the passage display messages such as "Tibetan antelopes are crossing ahead, please slow down". Once the last antelope has passed, the platform prompts vehicles to proceed.
\n
Lian noted that in situations where some antelopes do not cross the road, only cross halfway or turn back after crossing, the platform also relies on data analysis and artificial intelligence recognition to rapidly judge the animals' crossing intentions, and to prevent accidents between vehicles and herds.
\n
The idea to develop traffic lights for antelope migration in the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve had been brewing in the minds of scientists for two decades.
\n
Back in June 2004, thanks to the call of the Green River nongovernmental environmental organization and support from all sectors of society, China's first traffic lights for wildlife were installed on the Qinghai-Xizang Highway.
\n
Yang Xin, who initiated the project, remembers that whenever personnel at the observation point heard a command on their walkie-talkie, they would turn on the traffic lights on both sides of the highway where the antelopes were about to cross. The traffic police would then signal cars to pull over using standard road traffic gestures.
\n
Today, with China's advancements in intelligent machinery and other technological fields, those manual traffic lights have been upgraded to a more intelligent system.
\n
The management platform is expected to be put into use in 2027. By then, with the help of the smart traffic lights, this lifeline for antelopes migrating to breed and deliver their young will operate more safely and smoothly, Lian said.
\n
Under first-class state protection in China, the once endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in Xizang, Qinghai and Xinjiang. The species' population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve habitats.
The convergence of issues in different fields — some of which happen spontaneously; some of which are deliberately created — has become a trait of the times.
\n
In the latest example of that, the US administration is demonstrating an increasing zeal to try and merge its handling of economic and trade disputes with other economies with some burning issues.
\n
The US administration recently announced that it is slapping 25 percent tariffs on India as well as an unspecified penalty because of India's purchasing of Russian oil. A similar threat was also made to Brazil and other countries trading with Russia.
\n
The US is also trying to bind its trade disputes with Canada with the Palestine question.
\n
After Ottawa announced that Canada is planning to recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September if certain conditions are met, following recent announcements by France and the United Kingdom, the US president said it would be hard for Canada to reach a trade deal with the US.
\n
Though some suspect these US tariff threats citing the Ukraine crisis and the Palestine question are mere pressure tactics, the US' practices in exercising its "art of the deal" will unavoidably impact the settlement of the economic and trade disputes between it and other economies, as well as make the resolution of these burning issues more complicated. The US administration has consistently used tariffs as leverage to secure noneconomic benefits, including security and geopolitical gains, believing it to be an effective means of killing two birds with one stone.
\n
That approach has also been evident in its handling of the trade disputes with the European Union, Japan and some other Southeast Asian nations, in which the Ukraine crisis, "Indo-Pacific" strategy and the South China Sea issue are all overtly or covertly touched upon.
\n
Despite the disservice the US administration has done to the resolution of such issues by adopting its transactional, speculative and exploitative approach to both economic and trade issues, geopolitical issues and climate change, it seems increasingly confident that this coercive approach can secure wins for the US on different fronts by leveraging the US' strengths in high-tech, finance, economy and military as a whole to maximize its gains. The US' power play for short-term gains is overturning the global paradigm established since World War II without considering the long-term costs. In effect, it is demolishing the house its forerunners built so it can sell the furnishings and silverware. With the partisan divide in the US only becoming wider these years, many of the deals the administration inks today will likely bite the dust once the revolving door in the "House of Cards" turns again.
\n
Although the US has met considerable resistance to its coercive moves, there is not yet a strong united front against its ill-advised practices, resulting in the world becoming even more disorderly. Against that backdrop, geopolitical transactions triggered by the reallocation of economic and trade interests and increasingly fierce competition for high-tech dominance have the potential to alter traditional norms of international interactions.
\n
While India and Brazil are the latest countries to feel the US heat, China has been singled out for US-led sanctions, containment and coercion over the Ukraine crisis for a long time.
\n
China is also one of the few economies that has been continually targeted by the US' irrational tariff attacks since about eight years ago.
\n
Committed to upholding the international order based on international law and the UN Charter, China is well aware that the US' coercive approach of binding different issues into one bundle can shake the world's confidence in the basic norms of international relations, and thus has given a clear response to the US' bid to concentrate power in its hands. The more the US tries to muddy the waters by blurring the boundary between different issues, the more China insists the settlement of these issues should be and can only be made on separate tracks through consultation and dialogue.
\n
As for the US' latest smearing of China citing its role in the Ukraine crisis, the US should stop its pointless blame game, stop shifting its responsibilities onto others, and play a constructive role in ending the fighting and promoting peace talks, as Chinese Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang said at a UN meeting last week. "Till now, the US has maintained its trade with Russia. If the US is doing that itself, why doesn't it allow others to do the same," Geng said.
\n
Responding to the US threat of "secondary tariffs" up to 100 percent, China's Foreign Ministry posted on X last week that "Coercion and pressure will not achieve anything. China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests."
\n
In doing so, China is not only fighting for its own interests but also the common interests of the world.
The convergence of issues in different fields — some of which happen spontaneously; some of which are deliberately created — has become a trait of the times.
\n
In the latest example of that, the US administration is demonstrating an increasing zeal to try and merge its handling of economic and trade disputes with other economies with some burning issues.
\n
The US administration recently announced that it is slapping 25 percent tariffs on India as well as an unspecified penalty because of India's purchasing of Russian oil. A similar threat was also made to Brazil and other countries trading with Russia.
\n
The US is also trying to bind its trade disputes with Canada with the Palestine question.
\n
After Ottawa announced that Canada is planning to recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September if certain conditions are met, following recent announcements by France and the United Kingdom, the US president said it would be hard for Canada to reach a trade deal with the US.
\n
Though some suspect these US tariff threats citing the Ukraine crisis and the Palestine question are mere pressure tactics, the US' practices in exercising its "art of the deal" will unavoidably impact the settlement of the economic and trade disputes between it and other economies, as well as make the resolution of these burning issues more complicated. The US administration has consistently used tariffs as leverage to secure noneconomic benefits, including security and geopolitical gains, believing it to be an effective means of killing two birds with one stone.
\n
That approach has also been evident in its handling of the trade disputes with the European Union, Japan and some other Southeast Asian nations, in which the Ukraine crisis, "Indo-Pacific" strategy and the South China Sea issue are all overtly or covertly touched upon.
\n
Despite the disservice the US administration has done to the resolution of such issues by adopting its transactional, speculative and exploitative approach to both economic and trade issues, geopolitical issues and climate change, it seems increasingly confident that this coercive approach can secure wins for the US on different fronts by leveraging the US' strengths in high-tech, finance, economy and military as a whole to maximize its gains. The US' power play for short-term gains is overturning the global paradigm established since World War II without considering the long-term costs. In effect, it is demolishing the house its forerunners built so it can sell the furnishings and silverware. With the partisan divide in the US only becoming wider these years, many of the deals the administration inks today will likely bite the dust once the revolving door in the "House of Cards" turns again.
\n
Although the US has met considerable resistance to its coercive moves, there is not yet a strong united front against its ill-advised practices, resulting in the world becoming even more disorderly. Against that backdrop, geopolitical transactions triggered by the reallocation of economic and trade interests and increasingly fierce competition for high-tech dominance have the potential to alter traditional norms of international interactions.
\n
While India and Brazil are the latest countries to feel the US heat, China has been singled out for US-led sanctions, containment and coercion over the Ukraine crisis for a long time.
\n
China is also one of the few economies that has been continually targeted by the US' irrational tariff attacks since about eight years ago.
\n
Committed to upholding the international order based on international law and the UN Charter, China is well aware that the US' coercive approach of binding different issues into one bundle can shake the world's confidence in the basic norms of international relations, and thus has given a clear response to the US' bid to concentrate power in its hands. The more the US tries to muddy the waters by blurring the boundary between different issues, the more China insists the settlement of these issues should be and can only be made on separate tracks through consultation and dialogue.
\n
As for the US' latest smearing of China citing its role in the Ukraine crisis, the US should stop its pointless blame game, stop shifting its responsibilities onto others, and play a constructive role in ending the fighting and promoting peace talks, as Chinese Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang said at a UN meeting last week. "Till now, the US has maintained its trade with Russia. If the US is doing that itself, why doesn't it allow others to do the same," Geng said.
\n
Responding to the US threat of "secondary tariffs" up to 100 percent, China's Foreign Ministry posted on X last week that "Coercion and pressure will not achieve anything. China will firmly defend its sovereignty, security and development interests."
\n
In doing so, China is not only fighting for its own interests but also the common interests of the world.
That the Philippines and India have staged joint naval exercises in the South China Sea is further proof that Manila continues to draw in extra-regional countries that are not parties to the South China Sea disputes in a bid to bolster its gratuitous claims. Such solicitations pose a threat to regional peace and stability.
\n
The high-profile military drills and patrols, the first between the two countries since 2021, were conducted on Sunday and Monday in disputed waters. The Associated Press reported that Chief of Staff of the Philippine Armed Forces Romeo Brawner Jr expressed hopes that Filipino forces could conduct more joint maneuvers with India's military in the future.
\n
Manila should bear in mind the risks before inviting other countries to interfere in the South China Sea disputes. Inviting countries from outside the region to conduct patrols in disputed waters is clearly a blatant provocation that only stokes tensions in the waters.
\n
This is not the first time that Manila has enlisted support from other countries to meddle in the South China Sea issue. In recent years, it has not only intensified "defense" cooperation with its military ally the United States, serving as a bridgehead for the US' "Indo-Pacific" strategy, but also conducted military exercises with both the US and a few other Western countries.
\n
Supplementary to these incitements, Manila has also peddled a false narrative intended to mislead the international community by portraying the Philippines as a victim of China's "bullying". Its accusations against China have seriously distorted the reality of China's cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries, including the Philippines itself.
\n
But by playing such dirty tricks, Manila only exposes its true nature as a troublemaker in the region.
\n
As for India, to expand its political, economic and military presence in Southeast Asia, it is stepping up efforts to enhance cooperation in diplomatic and military areas with claimant countries such as the Philippines, a trend China will need to keep a close eye on.
\n
It should go without saying that activities conducted by countries in the South China Sea should adhere to international law and the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and must not target third countries and jeopardize regional peace and stability.
\n
Yet, what the Philippines and the external opportunists have been doing in staging frequent infringements and provocations in the waters constitutes blatant violations of both international law and the DOC. Their collusion that disrupts peace and stability in the South China Sea will ultimately backfire.
\n
Those acting as others' chess pieces are bound to be discarded when no longer considered useful.
\n
As a responsible country, China is constantly working with regional countries to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea. But it will not back off from maintaining its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. It will not be daunted by such provocative behavior, or shows of force.
\n
Forging Ahead, a five-episode documentary series on China's military development is currently airing on China Central Television. It offers a picture of the modernization journey of the People's Liberation Army, showcasing its enhanced combat capabilities.
\n
This military development is not driven by a desire for "expansion" or "confrontation" but by its commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
\n
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are quickening their steps to advance the regional consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. Manila should stop betting on the support of outsiders for its unjustified claims and join hands with countries in the region to strengthen dialogue and eliminate external interference so as to reach an early conclusion of the COC.
\n",
+ "content": "
That the Philippines and India have staged joint naval exercises in the South China Sea is further proof that Manila continues to draw in extra-regional countries that are not parties to the South China Sea disputes in a bid to bolster its gratuitous claims. Such solicitations pose a threat to regional peace and stability.
\n
The high-profile military drills and patrols, the first between the two countries since 2021, were conducted on Sunday and Monday in disputed waters. The Associated Press reported that Chief of Staff of the Philippine Armed Forces Romeo Brawner Jr expressed hopes that Filipino forces could conduct more joint maneuvers with India's military in the future.
\n
Manila should bear in mind the risks before inviting other countries to interfere in the South China Sea disputes. Inviting countries from outside the region to conduct patrols in disputed waters is clearly a blatant provocation that only stokes tensions in the waters.
\n
This is not the first time that Manila has enlisted support from other countries to meddle in the South China Sea issue. In recent years, it has not only intensified "defense" cooperation with its military ally the United States, serving as a bridgehead for the US' "Indo-Pacific" strategy, but also conducted military exercises with both the US and a few other Western countries.
\n
Supplementary to these incitements, Manila has also peddled a false narrative intended to mislead the international community by portraying the Philippines as a victim of China's "bullying". Its accusations against China have seriously distorted the reality of China's cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries, including the Philippines itself.
\n
But by playing such dirty tricks, Manila only exposes its true nature as a troublemaker in the region.
\n
As for India, to expand its political, economic and military presence in Southeast Asia, it is stepping up efforts to enhance cooperation in diplomatic and military areas with claimant countries such as the Philippines, a trend China will need to keep a close eye on.
\n
It should go without saying that activities conducted by countries in the South China Sea should adhere to international law and the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and must not target third countries and jeopardize regional peace and stability.
\n
Yet, what the Philippines and the external opportunists have been doing in staging frequent infringements and provocations in the waters constitutes blatant violations of both international law and the DOC. Their collusion that disrupts peace and stability in the South China Sea will ultimately backfire.
\n
Those acting as others' chess pieces are bound to be discarded when no longer considered useful.
\n
As a responsible country, China is constantly working with regional countries to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea. But it will not back off from maintaining its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. It will not be daunted by such provocative behavior, or shows of force.
\n
Forging Ahead, a five-episode documentary series on China's military development is currently airing on China Central Television. It offers a picture of the modernization journey of the People's Liberation Army, showcasing its enhanced combat capabilities.
\n
This military development is not driven by a desire for "expansion" or "confrontation" but by its commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
\n
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are quickening their steps to advance the regional consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. Manila should stop betting on the support of outsiders for its unjustified claims and join hands with countries in the region to strengthen dialogue and eliminate external interference so as to reach an early conclusion of the COC.
In a recent comment on the United States' Big Beautiful Bill Act's possible impacts on the country's clean energy sector, The Economist warned that the Act might help China achieve an unshakable dominance in the electric vehicle market and many other renewable energy technologies.
\n
The media outlet observed there's no evidence that the US administration wants a more sustainable and efficient clean energy industry; rather, it prefers tighter restrictions on it.
\n
Such logic might appeal to those who see the EV industry through a geopolitical prism. But the Chinese EV industry's competitiveness is not because of another country's discouragement of its own EV sector. Not to mention the 100 percent tariff the US has imposed on Chinese-made EVs, which has in effect kept the latter out of the US market.
\n
It is the intense competition in China's supersized market that prompts its EV manufacturers to pursue rapid development, as only the enterprises undertaking constant tech innovation and having a well-established supply chain can survive in this market.
\n
Early industrial layout, large industrial cluster effects, high management efficiency, increased research and development investment, and consumer preference for smart features are the critical reasons for the rapid development of China's EV industry.
\n
China has been the world's top producer and seller of EVs for 10 years in a row as of last year. Its huge consumer market provides a testing environment for research and development and the upgrading of EV technology. Due to the higher level of EV acceptance among Chinese consumers, many automotive companies are prioritizing the launch of new products and technologies in the Chinese market.
\n
China's EV industry has a full industry chain covering material research and development, engineering design, manufacturing and final assembly, forming a number of auto industry clusters that conform to the country's "dual circulation" development strategy, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay while allowing domestic and international markets to reinforce each other.
\n
Globally, Chinese EV enterprises have shown advantages in mass production and upgrade speed, with faster and more efficient innovation cycles. Thanks to intelligent technology such as autonomous driving and intelligent cockpits, China's EV products have been recognized by the market.
\n
Chinese-made EVs not only provide diversified choices for global consumers, but also help more countries achieve green and low-carbon transformation and sustainable development.
\n
Rob de Jong, head of the Sustainable Mobility Unit at the United Nations Environment Programme, said that China is a leader in electrification and the promotion of EVs. He hopes that China will share its experience and technology with the world, especially the Global South, to improve the affordability of EVs around the world.
\n
Only those refusing to recognize these facts tend to smear the Chinese EV industry with "overcapacity" or "State subsidy" charges, turning a blind eye to its huge contribution to the global emissions reduction endeavor.
\n
Ironically, it's the US and some other developed countries that are now implementing robust subsidy policies in the EV domain. The US government, through the Inflation Reduction Act, is providing approximately $369 billion in tax incentives and subsidies for clean energy industries, including the EV sector.
\n
The so-called "overcapacity" and "State subsidy" claims are merely protectionism in disguise that aims to curb China's technological development and industrial upgrading.
\n
As experts at the Brookings Institution have argued, treating the EV sector as another battleground for "zero-sum competition" will disrupt global supply chains and undermine the global climate agenda.
\n
Against the backdrop of technological advancements in new energy, some in the West need to objectively view capacity and subsidy issues and have more discussions on industrial, technological and sales cooperation with China in the EV sector.
In a recent comment on the United States' Big Beautiful Bill Act's possible impacts on the country's clean energy sector, The Economist warned that the Act might help China achieve an unshakable dominance in the electric vehicle market and many other renewable energy technologies.
\n
The media outlet observed there's no evidence that the US administration wants a more sustainable and efficient clean energy industry; rather, it prefers tighter restrictions on it.
\n
Such logic might appeal to those who see the EV industry through a geopolitical prism. But the Chinese EV industry's competitiveness is not because of another country's discouragement of its own EV sector. Not to mention the 100 percent tariff the US has imposed on Chinese-made EVs, which has in effect kept the latter out of the US market.
\n
It is the intense competition in China's supersized market that prompts its EV manufacturers to pursue rapid development, as only the enterprises undertaking constant tech innovation and having a well-established supply chain can survive in this market.
\n
Early industrial layout, large industrial cluster effects, high management efficiency, increased research and development investment, and consumer preference for smart features are the critical reasons for the rapid development of China's EV industry.
\n
China has been the world's top producer and seller of EVs for 10 years in a row as of last year. Its huge consumer market provides a testing environment for research and development and the upgrading of EV technology. Due to the higher level of EV acceptance among Chinese consumers, many automotive companies are prioritizing the launch of new products and technologies in the Chinese market.
\n
China's EV industry has a full industry chain covering material research and development, engineering design, manufacturing and final assembly, forming a number of auto industry clusters that conform to the country's "dual circulation" development strategy, which takes the domestic market as the mainstay while allowing domestic and international markets to reinforce each other.
\n
Globally, Chinese EV enterprises have shown advantages in mass production and upgrade speed, with faster and more efficient innovation cycles. Thanks to intelligent technology such as autonomous driving and intelligent cockpits, China's EV products have been recognized by the market.
\n
Chinese-made EVs not only provide diversified choices for global consumers, but also help more countries achieve green and low-carbon transformation and sustainable development.
\n
Rob de Jong, head of the Sustainable Mobility Unit at the United Nations Environment Programme, said that China is a leader in electrification and the promotion of EVs. He hopes that China will share its experience and technology with the world, especially the Global South, to improve the affordability of EVs around the world.
\n
Only those refusing to recognize these facts tend to smear the Chinese EV industry with "overcapacity" or "State subsidy" charges, turning a blind eye to its huge contribution to the global emissions reduction endeavor.
\n
Ironically, it's the US and some other developed countries that are now implementing robust subsidy policies in the EV domain. The US government, through the Inflation Reduction Act, is providing approximately $369 billion in tax incentives and subsidies for clean energy industries, including the EV sector.
\n
The so-called "overcapacity" and "State subsidy" claims are merely protectionism in disguise that aims to curb China's technological development and industrial upgrading.
\n
As experts at the Brookings Institution have argued, treating the EV sector as another battleground for "zero-sum competition" will disrupt global supply chains and undermine the global climate agenda.
\n
Against the backdrop of technological advancements in new energy, some in the West need to objectively view capacity and subsidy issues and have more discussions on industrial, technological and sales cooperation with China in the EV sector.
Editor's Note: The macroeconomic data for the first half of 2025, which was released recently, shows that the country's economy has forged ahead under pressure, maintaining a steady and improving momentum. The Qiushi Journal recently interviewed Guo Chunli, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research; Chen Yanbin, director of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Industrial Economics; and Chen Binkai, vice-president of the Central University of Finance and Economics, to analyze China's economic performance in the first half of 2025 and assess the outlook for the second half. Below are excerpts from the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\n
\n
China's GDP growth rose to 5.3 percent in the first half of 2025, with the economy undergoing a transformation from factor-driven growth to innovation-driven development, and from a focus on speed and scale to one centered on quality and efficiency. The economy is likely to maintain its momentum in the second half of the year. But the challenges that lie ahead should not be underestimated.
\n
China's consumer market is showing increased vitality, driven by a series of policies aimed at expanding domestic demand and boosting consumption. The first half saw robust sales of consumer products such as home appliances and smartphones. However, this also increased the base for consumption in the first half of the year and maintaining the same pace of growth in the second half might face pressure. Also, the slowdown in the growth of private investment may weigh on investment momentum in the second half of the year.
\n
To address these challenges and ensure sound economic performance in the coming months, it is essential to strengthen macroeconomic policy measures and enhance countercyclical adjustments.
\n
Efforts should be made to implement the policy measures under the special campaign to boost consumption, promote income growth and reduce the burden on the low- and middle-income groups as well as significantly enhance the consumption capacity of both urban and rural residents. At the same time, fiscal and financial coordination should be strengthened to support major national strategies and build up security capacity in key areas. The focus should be on stimulating private investment and driving broader social investment.
\n
As for the impact of external influences, China has not only effectively responded to major challenges such as the additional tariffs imposed by the United States, but has continuously turned the conditions to its own advantage. Foreign trade grew 2.9 percent in the first half of the year despite the headwinds, becoming an important driver of China's economic growth. This also highlights the resilience of the Chinese economy.
\n
But the government needs to factor in the future impact of the US tariff hikes. The better-than-expected performance in the first half was partly driven by front-loaded exports and reexport trade ahead of actual tariff increases. The negative impact of the US move on the Chinese economy, particularly exports, is expected to show up in the second half of the year.
\n
As a result, China's export growth faces a downside risk in the coming months. The effective US tariff rate on Chinese goods remains high, and more measures are being introduced to curb reexport trade by Chinese firms through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other economies, which could pose more challenges for China's trade in the second half of 2025.
\n
Hence, the government must take a more proactive approach to stabilize foreign trade through diversified channels, expand the multilateral trade space and enhance China's influence and leadership in shaping international economic and trade rules.
\n
Tailored support measures for enterprises and industries should also be intensified to help export-oriented firms mitigate risks. Continued encouragement and support for the development of trade in services are equally essential, along with promoting comprehensive pilot programs for further opening up the services sector and enhancing the competitiveness of high-end services.
\n",
+ "content": "
Editor's Note: The macroeconomic data for the first half of 2025, which was released recently, shows that the country's economy has forged ahead under pressure, maintaining a steady and improving momentum. The Qiushi Journal recently interviewed Guo Chunli, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research; Chen Yanbin, director of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Industrial Economics; and Chen Binkai, vice-president of the Central University of Finance and Economics, to analyze China's economic performance in the first half of 2025 and assess the outlook for the second half. Below are excerpts from the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\n
\n
China's GDP growth rose to 5.3 percent in the first half of 2025, with the economy undergoing a transformation from factor-driven growth to innovation-driven development, and from a focus on speed and scale to one centered on quality and efficiency. The economy is likely to maintain its momentum in the second half of the year. But the challenges that lie ahead should not be underestimated.
\n
China's consumer market is showing increased vitality, driven by a series of policies aimed at expanding domestic demand and boosting consumption. The first half saw robust sales of consumer products such as home appliances and smartphones. However, this also increased the base for consumption in the first half of the year and maintaining the same pace of growth in the second half might face pressure. Also, the slowdown in the growth of private investment may weigh on investment momentum in the second half of the year.
\n
To address these challenges and ensure sound economic performance in the coming months, it is essential to strengthen macroeconomic policy measures and enhance countercyclical adjustments.
\n
Efforts should be made to implement the policy measures under the special campaign to boost consumption, promote income growth and reduce the burden on the low- and middle-income groups as well as significantly enhance the consumption capacity of both urban and rural residents. At the same time, fiscal and financial coordination should be strengthened to support major national strategies and build up security capacity in key areas. The focus should be on stimulating private investment and driving broader social investment.
\n
As for the impact of external influences, China has not only effectively responded to major challenges such as the additional tariffs imposed by the United States, but has continuously turned the conditions to its own advantage. Foreign trade grew 2.9 percent in the first half of the year despite the headwinds, becoming an important driver of China's economic growth. This also highlights the resilience of the Chinese economy.
\n
But the government needs to factor in the future impact of the US tariff hikes. The better-than-expected performance in the first half was partly driven by front-loaded exports and reexport trade ahead of actual tariff increases. The negative impact of the US move on the Chinese economy, particularly exports, is expected to show up in the second half of the year.
\n
As a result, China's export growth faces a downside risk in the coming months. The effective US tariff rate on Chinese goods remains high, and more measures are being introduced to curb reexport trade by Chinese firms through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other economies, which could pose more challenges for China's trade in the second half of 2025.
\n
Hence, the government must take a more proactive approach to stabilize foreign trade through diversified channels, expand the multilateral trade space and enhance China's influence and leadership in shaping international economic and trade rules.
\n
Tailored support measures for enterprises and industries should also be intensified to help export-oriented firms mitigate risks. Continued encouragement and support for the development of trade in services are equally essential, along with promoting comprehensive pilot programs for further opening up the services sector and enhancing the competitiveness of high-end services.
Many studies have highlighted the ongoing transformation of the global landscape toward the formation of economic macro-regions. Leading international organizations specializing in finance (such as the International Monetary Fund), fair competition and market economy development (OECD), and global trade (the World Trade Organization), too, have noted the fragmentation of the global economic system and new geopolitical centers shaping its future dynamics.
\n
Until recently, the process was assessed strictly in negative terms. According to estimates based on mathematical modeling, the emergence of new barriers (such as import tariffs, diverting of foreign direct investment, and localization of specific nodes in global supply chains) could reduce GDP of many countries by between 0.2 percent and 12 percent. The shift toward technological autarky, according to IMF forecasts, was considered a highly adverse scenario for all economies, with the scale of consequences depending on the degree of openness in each economic system.
\n
Notably, these same organizations have recently begun to offer alternative assessments. Last month, the IMF published a study analyzing the consequences of the emerging era of macro-regions, the shift in global trade toward fragmentation, and the imposition of US tariffs and sanctions on other countries. The main conclusion is no longer about defensive measures, but rather about the strategic value of reconfiguring external economic relations in favor of building regional trade groupings.
\n
Whereas the IMF previously forecast unequivocal losses from fragmentation, it now estimates that deeper regionalization could lead to a 0.3 percent increase in global GDP. Another key finding is that the damage to the US would be comparable to that suffered by China, and that retaliatory tariffs would only increase the losses. Overall, in the trade war launched by the US, the winners will not be the initiator, but those who act quickly to build new trade ties and form macro-regional groupings based on opportunities. As a result, the overall outcome can be positive for countries that benefit from timely adjustments.
\n
Should recent developments be seen as a geopolitical confrontation, or are they the natural result of earlier trends? It appears that local military conflicts and the restructuring of trade routes are more symptoms than causes. Historical data show that since the beginning of this century, both the role of the US dollar and the share of the US in the global economy have been steadily declining.
\n
Although the dollar remains the world's dominant currency, it can no longer fully support the servicing of debt because of the widening fiscal and trade deficits. Also, regional powers are strengthening their positions by establishing their own trade zones and conducting cross-border payments in national currencies.
\n
Global debt is estimated to be about $330 trillion, roughly 300 percent of global GDP. But it is the US' debt that carries the most systemic weight, as it underpins central bank reserves, debt securities and much more. Importantly, the US' federal debt has surpassed $37 trillion, or about 127 percent of its GDP, with annual interest payments now exceeding $1 trillion.
\n
In essence, the US has long been living on borrowed money, and the US Federal Reserve may soon be unable to maintain stability if the current situation continues, simply because it faces a monetary dilemma of curbing inflation while boosting economic growth. As a result, the contradiction between the global role of the dollar and the resilience of its issuer has become increasingly apparent.
\n
In this context, the laws passed by the US Congress at the end of July (the GENIUS Act, CLARITY Act and the Anti-CBDC Act), which lay the foundation for a decentralized cryptocurrency infrastructure beyond the Fed's control, represent a logical attempt to mitigate the looming debt crisis.
\n
This crisis could significantly weaken the US economy in the medium term and affect the global macroeconomic system. If the influence of the dollar-based financial system begins to decline, rapidly rather than gradually, this alternative framework may, in theory, help preserve a portion of capital. Transactions between participants would take place directly through smart contracts, and the system itself would be highly scalable. In addition, crypto assets have unlimited capitalization potential and can be used to absorb excess liquidity, effectively acting as a financial vacuum. At the same time, most cryptocurrencies are highly sensitive to information shocks and therefore tend to be extremely volatile.
\n
It is difficult to predict the exact trajectory of these processes, but the overall sequence may unfold as follows:
\n
2025-26: institutionalization of cryptocurrencies in key countries around the world;
\n
2026-27: peak debt pressure and a decline in the dollar's share of global reserves by 10-15 percentage points;
\n
2028-29: formation of macro-regional crypto zones;
\n
2030-35: reduction of the dollar's share in global reserves to about 30 percent, alongside the growing role of the yuan as a macro-regional currency in Eurasia and Africa;
\n
2040-45: end of the dollar era and the termination of its function as a global anchor currency (this corresponds with our projections based on the dynamics of the national power index, as outlined in our publication) in the South China Morning Post.
\n
What makes the steps taken by the US Congress flawed, and why are these laws unlikely to maintain the dominance of the dollar? As noted earlier, the dollar is losing its ability to fulfill its global role, while decentralized cryptocurrencies lack the most crucial attribute: broad trust among global market participants.
\n
On the contrary, as the financial center of gravity shifts toward Asia and tightly regulated digital platforms are developed in parallel, the dollar will continue to lose its unique status. A growing share of international transactions will be conducted in yuan, rubles, dirhams and rupees.
\n
Thus, financial fragmentation is bound to follow the fragmentation of global trade. The world will remain global in nature, as its informational connectivity persists and transport integration continues to grow.
\n
However, a shift toward polycentricity is underway. The era of a single hegemon is giving way to multipolarity and new growth centers, which could ultimately make the global economic system more resilient. Currency diversification and trade fragmentation encourage fair competition, broaden the range of options, and help shape a more stable and balanced global economy. Arguably, leadership will belong to whoever is first to offer a reliable digital financial platform capable of uniting economic participants, both globally and regionally.
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
\n",
+ "content": "
Many studies have highlighted the ongoing transformation of the global landscape toward the formation of economic macro-regions. Leading international organizations specializing in finance (such as the International Monetary Fund), fair competition and market economy development (OECD), and global trade (the World Trade Organization), too, have noted the fragmentation of the global economic system and new geopolitical centers shaping its future dynamics.
\n
Until recently, the process was assessed strictly in negative terms. According to estimates based on mathematical modeling, the emergence of new barriers (such as import tariffs, diverting of foreign direct investment, and localization of specific nodes in global supply chains) could reduce GDP of many countries by between 0.2 percent and 12 percent. The shift toward technological autarky, according to IMF forecasts, was considered a highly adverse scenario for all economies, with the scale of consequences depending on the degree of openness in each economic system.
\n
Notably, these same organizations have recently begun to offer alternative assessments. Last month, the IMF published a study analyzing the consequences of the emerging era of macro-regions, the shift in global trade toward fragmentation, and the imposition of US tariffs and sanctions on other countries. The main conclusion is no longer about defensive measures, but rather about the strategic value of reconfiguring external economic relations in favor of building regional trade groupings.
\n
Whereas the IMF previously forecast unequivocal losses from fragmentation, it now estimates that deeper regionalization could lead to a 0.3 percent increase in global GDP. Another key finding is that the damage to the US would be comparable to that suffered by China, and that retaliatory tariffs would only increase the losses. Overall, in the trade war launched by the US, the winners will not be the initiator, but those who act quickly to build new trade ties and form macro-regional groupings based on opportunities. As a result, the overall outcome can be positive for countries that benefit from timely adjustments.
\n
Should recent developments be seen as a geopolitical confrontation, or are they the natural result of earlier trends? It appears that local military conflicts and the restructuring of trade routes are more symptoms than causes. Historical data show that since the beginning of this century, both the role of the US dollar and the share of the US in the global economy have been steadily declining.
\n
Although the dollar remains the world's dominant currency, it can no longer fully support the servicing of debt because of the widening fiscal and trade deficits. Also, regional powers are strengthening their positions by establishing their own trade zones and conducting cross-border payments in national currencies.
\n
Global debt is estimated to be about $330 trillion, roughly 300 percent of global GDP. But it is the US' debt that carries the most systemic weight, as it underpins central bank reserves, debt securities and much more. Importantly, the US' federal debt has surpassed $37 trillion, or about 127 percent of its GDP, with annual interest payments now exceeding $1 trillion.
\n
In essence, the US has long been living on borrowed money, and the US Federal Reserve may soon be unable to maintain stability if the current situation continues, simply because it faces a monetary dilemma of curbing inflation while boosting economic growth. As a result, the contradiction between the global role of the dollar and the resilience of its issuer has become increasingly apparent.
\n
In this context, the laws passed by the US Congress at the end of July (the GENIUS Act, CLARITY Act and the Anti-CBDC Act), which lay the foundation for a decentralized cryptocurrency infrastructure beyond the Fed's control, represent a logical attempt to mitigate the looming debt crisis.
\n
This crisis could significantly weaken the US economy in the medium term and affect the global macroeconomic system. If the influence of the dollar-based financial system begins to decline, rapidly rather than gradually, this alternative framework may, in theory, help preserve a portion of capital. Transactions between participants would take place directly through smart contracts, and the system itself would be highly scalable. In addition, crypto assets have unlimited capitalization potential and can be used to absorb excess liquidity, effectively acting as a financial vacuum. At the same time, most cryptocurrencies are highly sensitive to information shocks and therefore tend to be extremely volatile.
\n
It is difficult to predict the exact trajectory of these processes, but the overall sequence may unfold as follows:
\n
2025-26: institutionalization of cryptocurrencies in key countries around the world;
\n
2026-27: peak debt pressure and a decline in the dollar's share of global reserves by 10-15 percentage points;
\n
2028-29: formation of macro-regional crypto zones;
\n
2030-35: reduction of the dollar's share in global reserves to about 30 percent, alongside the growing role of the yuan as a macro-regional currency in Eurasia and Africa;
\n
2040-45: end of the dollar era and the termination of its function as a global anchor currency (this corresponds with our projections based on the dynamics of the national power index, as outlined in our publication) in the South China Morning Post.
\n
What makes the steps taken by the US Congress flawed, and why are these laws unlikely to maintain the dominance of the dollar? As noted earlier, the dollar is losing its ability to fulfill its global role, while decentralized cryptocurrencies lack the most crucial attribute: broad trust among global market participants.
\n
On the contrary, as the financial center of gravity shifts toward Asia and tightly regulated digital platforms are developed in parallel, the dollar will continue to lose its unique status. A growing share of international transactions will be conducted in yuan, rubles, dirhams and rupees.
\n
Thus, financial fragmentation is bound to follow the fragmentation of global trade. The world will remain global in nature, as its informational connectivity persists and transport integration continues to grow.
\n
However, a shift toward polycentricity is underway. The era of a single hegemon is giving way to multipolarity and new growth centers, which could ultimately make the global economic system more resilient. Currency diversification and trade fragmentation encourage fair competition, broaden the range of options, and help shape a more stable and balanced global economy. Arguably, leadership will belong to whoever is first to offer a reliable digital financial platform capable of uniting economic participants, both globally and regionally.
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
Premier Li Qiang's bold proposal at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on July 26 for establishing a global organization to promote international cooperation for guiding and regulating AI promises is a milestone in using AI for the common good of humanity. At the same time, it will help prevent AI from becoming our master.
\n
In his keynote speech, Li called for the establishment of a global framework of rules to govern AI. He emphasized that this framework be shaped by a broad international consensus and called for striking a balance between AI development and security. Also, he warned that in the absence of coordinated global governance, AI could become the exclusive domain of a few countries and companies, primarily benefiting wealthier nations while leaving others, especially countries in the Global South, behind.
\n
Throughout his address, Li reaffirmed China's commitment to multilateralism and to sharing its AI technology achievements with the broader international community, while underscoring the importance of ensuring universal access to this transformative technology, and calling for international collaboration, including joint scientific research and open-source initiatives. His address highlighted China's commitment to playing a leading role in building a fair and inclusive global AI ecosystem.
\n
Concurrently, China released its Global AI Governance Action Plan, which proposes that a United Nations-led international organization coordinate AI development and regulations and emphasizes the importance to uphold multilateralism, promote inclusivity and ensure equal participation for all countries. The plan envisions open-source cooperation, technology-sharing, and joint research, and accords priority to the bridging of digital divide through AI education, infrastructure and talent-cultivation such as those pioneered by Chinese companies like Huawei. Among the bedrock principles are responsible, people-centered AI with clearly defined and enforced ethical and legal safeguards.
\n
China's plan is in sharp contrast to the United States administration's irresponsible zero-sum "Winning the AI Race: America's AI Action Plan" released a few days earlier. It is not a win-win plan to save humanity from runaway AI, but an irresponsible political diatribe against China which would further widen global divisions. It aims to create a "US AI exports program" that bundles US chips, models and standards into full-stack packages for allies, while increasing export control against "adversaries" in a policy that could split global markets, force countries to choose sides and undermine universal safety guardrails.
\n
Not surprisingly, it even reverses the modest protections enshrined in previous US president Joe Biden's "AI Bill of Rights".
\n
To add to the urgency, Geoffrey Hinton, considered by many to be the "godfather of AI" and 2024 Nobel Physics laureate, warned the World Artificial Intelligence Conference that advanced AI could soon surpass human intelligence and become uncontrollable. He compared super-intelligent AI to a tiger cub that grows ever more dangerous as it matures, and warned that eventually even trying to shut AI off may not work.
\n
Hinton's plea brought back memories of Stanley Kubrick's 1968 classic and prescient film 2001: A Space Odyssey. In this science fiction movie, set in 2001 but which is still a must-see, the onboard AI computer, HAL 9000, kills several crew members due to a contradictory programming error the computer was unable to resolve. Now Hinton is afraid that life will soon be lethally imitating art.
\n
Hinton made a passionate plea for global cooperation to align AI with human values, proposed an international safety consortium, and urged young researchers to proceed boldly but emphasized the urgent need to ensure AI remains beneficial to humans, while warning that unchecked AI could harm or replace humans if not trained within the framework of established guardrails.
\n
It is clear to me which of the two plans Hinton thinks is urgently needed, and which one he considers an existential threat to all humanity. No wonder the 77-year-old Canadian scientist chose the WAIC for his first trip to China as the venue to emphasize the urgency of his message.
\n
In taking the more responsible approach, China is not in uncharted territory. There is a little-known precedent, similar to what China is proposing: an organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, known mostly to scientists and policy wonks, which has an unblemished record of success. It is called CERN by its French acronym, or the European Organization for Nuclear Research, founded in 1954 by 12 European countries seeking to re-establish peaceful scientific cooperation after World War II and it is where, among other technologies, the World Wide Web was spun and touch-screen technology was invented in the 1970s, decades before smartphones came in.
\n
CERN is governed by consensus among its 25 politically diverse member states. The organization's leadership rotates to avoid favoritism and it is known for its transparency and open decision-making. Knowing how thorough the Chinese government's decision-making is, it's likely that CERN was considered when Premier Li proposed at the WAIC the establishment of a global organization to promote international cooperation.
\n
I hope that for the sake of humanity this important proposal is swiftly implemented. Time is of the essence, and, once again, China is leading the way forward.
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
\n",
+ "content": "\n\n
Premier Li Qiang's bold proposal at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on July 26 for establishing a global organization to promote international cooperation for guiding and regulating AI promises is a milestone in using AI for the common good of humanity. At the same time, it will help prevent AI from becoming our master.
\n
In his keynote speech, Li called for the establishment of a global framework of rules to govern AI. He emphasized that this framework be shaped by a broad international consensus and called for striking a balance between AI development and security. Also, he warned that in the absence of coordinated global governance, AI could become the exclusive domain of a few countries and companies, primarily benefiting wealthier nations while leaving others, especially countries in the Global South, behind.
\n
Throughout his address, Li reaffirmed China's commitment to multilateralism and to sharing its AI technology achievements with the broader international community, while underscoring the importance of ensuring universal access to this transformative technology, and calling for international collaboration, including joint scientific research and open-source initiatives. His address highlighted China's commitment to playing a leading role in building a fair and inclusive global AI ecosystem.
\n
Concurrently, China released its Global AI Governance Action Plan, which proposes that a United Nations-led international organization coordinate AI development and regulations and emphasizes the importance to uphold multilateralism, promote inclusivity and ensure equal participation for all countries. The plan envisions open-source cooperation, technology-sharing, and joint research, and accords priority to the bridging of digital divide through AI education, infrastructure and talent-cultivation such as those pioneered by Chinese companies like Huawei. Among the bedrock principles are responsible, people-centered AI with clearly defined and enforced ethical and legal safeguards.
\n
China's plan is in sharp contrast to the United States administration's irresponsible zero-sum "Winning the AI Race: America's AI Action Plan" released a few days earlier. It is not a win-win plan to save humanity from runaway AI, but an irresponsible political diatribe against China which would further widen global divisions. It aims to create a "US AI exports program" that bundles US chips, models and standards into full-stack packages for allies, while increasing export control against "adversaries" in a policy that could split global markets, force countries to choose sides and undermine universal safety guardrails.
\n
Not surprisingly, it even reverses the modest protections enshrined in previous US president Joe Biden's "AI Bill of Rights".
\n
To add to the urgency, Geoffrey Hinton, considered by many to be the "godfather of AI" and 2024 Nobel Physics laureate, warned the World Artificial Intelligence Conference that advanced AI could soon surpass human intelligence and become uncontrollable. He compared super-intelligent AI to a tiger cub that grows ever more dangerous as it matures, and warned that eventually even trying to shut AI off may not work.
\n
Hinton's plea brought back memories of Stanley Kubrick's 1968 classic and prescient film 2001: A Space Odyssey. In this science fiction movie, set in 2001 but which is still a must-see, the onboard AI computer, HAL 9000, kills several crew members due to a contradictory programming error the computer was unable to resolve. Now Hinton is afraid that life will soon be lethally imitating art.
\n
Hinton made a passionate plea for global cooperation to align AI with human values, proposed an international safety consortium, and urged young researchers to proceed boldly but emphasized the urgent need to ensure AI remains beneficial to humans, while warning that unchecked AI could harm or replace humans if not trained within the framework of established guardrails.
\n
It is clear to me which of the two plans Hinton thinks is urgently needed, and which one he considers an existential threat to all humanity. No wonder the 77-year-old Canadian scientist chose the WAIC for his first trip to China as the venue to emphasize the urgency of his message.
\n
In taking the more responsible approach, China is not in uncharted territory. There is a little-known precedent, similar to what China is proposing: an organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, known mostly to scientists and policy wonks, which has an unblemished record of success. It is called CERN by its French acronym, or the European Organization for Nuclear Research, founded in 1954 by 12 European countries seeking to re-establish peaceful scientific cooperation after World War II and it is where, among other technologies, the World Wide Web was spun and touch-screen technology was invented in the 1970s, decades before smartphones came in.
\n
CERN is governed by consensus among its 25 politically diverse member states. The organization's leadership rotates to avoid favoritism and it is known for its transparency and open decision-making. Knowing how thorough the Chinese government's decision-making is, it's likely that CERN was considered when Premier Li proposed at the WAIC the establishment of a global organization to promote international cooperation.
\n
I hope that for the sake of humanity this important proposal is swiftly implemented. Time is of the essence, and, once again, China is leading the way forward.
\n
The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
"Never expected to find such a perfect job so quickly at my doorstep," exclaimed a UK-returned postgraduate at a recent overseas returnee talent recruitment fair in Beijing's sub-center. In Shanghai, the overseas returnee talent innovation and entrepreneurship base — M-Speed Space — was unveiled late last month. And in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, the northwestern region's first technology incubator dedicated to serving returnees is expediting its plan to attract over 200 overseas graduates within three years. These parallel stories carry symbolic weight.
\n
Despite lingering disagreements, online discussions on haigui (returnees) in recent months have gradually coalesced into a certain consensus. The spirited debate not only reflects the diversity of contemporary Chinese public opinion but also creates an unexpected opportunity to contemplate significant issues.
\n
The issue became the topic of a major discussion on national security and development in the globalization era after a prominent entrepreneur said that "returnees are not hired because some may be spies", which left a potentially profound mark on China's internet.
\n
First, the debate itself is a social phenomenon of the digital information age. While sharing a common goal — of boosting the nation's development — different groups hold different views on whether haigui are reliable, and whether those traveling abroad for higher studies and later returning home should be encouraged.
\n
Though extremes of "exclusion" and "laissez-faire" exist, the rational mainstream views ultimately prevailed: China, to become a modern socialist power, needs to attract talents from across the world; returnees are a vital force promoting scientific and technological innovation; and the policy of "supporting study abroad and encouraging return" remains steadfast.
\n
According to reports, by 2024, more than 6.56 million Chinese students had traveled abroad for higher studies, with 79.3 percent of them acquiring master's or higher degrees. Driven by the country's high-quality development and stronger policy support, the "return tide" continues to surge. Data show over 80 percent of the 700,000 Chinese students still studying abroad prefer returning to China after graduation. In 2024, returnee job seekers increased by 20 percent year-on-year, a record high and about twice as much as the 2018 figure.
\n
Of course, today's vast cohort of returnees differs from the older generation like Qian Xuesen and Deng Jiaxian, who returned in the early days of New China and created the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" miracle. Among the 1,892 students or scholars returning between 1949 and 1965, 76 percent became pioneers in their respective fields and were hailed as strategic assets propelling the nation's rise.
\n
The contributions of returnees are evident even today. US media reported that 20 top Chinese-American scientists returned to China in the first half of 2024, with 16 of them engaged in cutting-edge fields such as quantum computing and biomedicine. According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, by 2023, over 70 percent of leaders of national key research projects, more than 70 percent of presidents of universities under the Ministry of Education, and most heads of top-tier hospitals had an overseas study background.
\n
But despite increasing openness, discrimination against returnees coexisted with blind admiration. Proportionally, the overall "gold content" of returnees' degrees may have declined. Social progress offers diverse choices, and indeed, some students go abroad partly to avoid the intensely competitive college entrance exam at home. The era when an overseas degree was considered an advantage is gone. Today, individuals from different academic backgrounds deserve equal treatment, not preferential or prejudicial consideration.
\n
National security should be the top priority. But labeling an entire group as "potential spies" and simplistically tying it to national security is neither correct nor wise. Blanket exclusion of returnees over security fears contradicts the logic of talent mobility in a globalized era.
\n
Today, China's development environment is more complex than ever. Being vigilant about security aspects when it comes to hiring returnees is reasonable. In recent years, there have been frequent espionage threats against Chinese companies and research institutions, with returnees being potential targets. The question is not whether but how, that is, how to balance openness and security.
\n
As one economist noted, choosing between an open and closed approach to talent is essentially a management challenge. Strict background check for roles involving national security or core technologies is an international norm. From multinational corporations' tiered confidentiality systems and data sandboxing to Chinese firms' "three-tier compliance reviews", "Data Security Officers", and "virtual isolated work zones", these are all safety valves within modern management systems.
\n
At a deeper level, the controversy probes what constitutes rational patriotism. Amid intensified major-power rivalry and efforts by some forces to foster hostility against China, skepticism toward returnees and studying abroad itself risks fueling extreme nationalist sentiments. Actions driven by such emotions run counter to China's broader development interests and damage its international image.
\n
History shows that great powers thrive on openness and decline when they choose to isolate themselves. Last November, the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and other departments jointly issued guidelines aimed at strengthening policy support for returnee talents, a stark contrast to the closed policies in some parts of the world. As Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei, said in a People's Daily interview: "The more open the country is, the more it will drive our progress."
\n",
+ "content": "
Zhou Shuchun
\n\n
"Never expected to find such a perfect job so quickly at my doorstep," exclaimed a UK-returned postgraduate at a recent overseas returnee talent recruitment fair in Beijing's sub-center. In Shanghai, the overseas returnee talent innovation and entrepreneurship base — M-Speed Space — was unveiled late last month. And in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, the northwestern region's first technology incubator dedicated to serving returnees is expediting its plan to attract over 200 overseas graduates within three years. These parallel stories carry symbolic weight.
\n
Despite lingering disagreements, online discussions on haigui (returnees) in recent months have gradually coalesced into a certain consensus. The spirited debate not only reflects the diversity of contemporary Chinese public opinion but also creates an unexpected opportunity to contemplate significant issues.
\n
The issue became the topic of a major discussion on national security and development in the globalization era after a prominent entrepreneur said that "returnees are not hired because some may be spies", which left a potentially profound mark on China's internet.
\n
First, the debate itself is a social phenomenon of the digital information age. While sharing a common goal — of boosting the nation's development — different groups hold different views on whether haigui are reliable, and whether those traveling abroad for higher studies and later returning home should be encouraged.
\n
Though extremes of "exclusion" and "laissez-faire" exist, the rational mainstream views ultimately prevailed: China, to become a modern socialist power, needs to attract talents from across the world; returnees are a vital force promoting scientific and technological innovation; and the policy of "supporting study abroad and encouraging return" remains steadfast.
\n
According to reports, by 2024, more than 6.56 million Chinese students had traveled abroad for higher studies, with 79.3 percent of them acquiring master's or higher degrees. Driven by the country's high-quality development and stronger policy support, the "return tide" continues to surge. Data show over 80 percent of the 700,000 Chinese students still studying abroad prefer returning to China after graduation. In 2024, returnee job seekers increased by 20 percent year-on-year, a record high and about twice as much as the 2018 figure.
\n
Of course, today's vast cohort of returnees differs from the older generation like Qian Xuesen and Deng Jiaxian, who returned in the early days of New China and created the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" miracle. Among the 1,892 students or scholars returning between 1949 and 1965, 76 percent became pioneers in their respective fields and were hailed as strategic assets propelling the nation's rise.
\n
The contributions of returnees are evident even today. US media reported that 20 top Chinese-American scientists returned to China in the first half of 2024, with 16 of them engaged in cutting-edge fields such as quantum computing and biomedicine. According to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, by 2023, over 70 percent of leaders of national key research projects, more than 70 percent of presidents of universities under the Ministry of Education, and most heads of top-tier hospitals had an overseas study background.
\n
But despite increasing openness, discrimination against returnees coexisted with blind admiration. Proportionally, the overall "gold content" of returnees' degrees may have declined. Social progress offers diverse choices, and indeed, some students go abroad partly to avoid the intensely competitive college entrance exam at home. The era when an overseas degree was considered an advantage is gone. Today, individuals from different academic backgrounds deserve equal treatment, not preferential or prejudicial consideration.
\n
National security should be the top priority. But labeling an entire group as "potential spies" and simplistically tying it to national security is neither correct nor wise. Blanket exclusion of returnees over security fears contradicts the logic of talent mobility in a globalized era.
\n
Today, China's development environment is more complex than ever. Being vigilant about security aspects when it comes to hiring returnees is reasonable. In recent years, there have been frequent espionage threats against Chinese companies and research institutions, with returnees being potential targets. The question is not whether but how, that is, how to balance openness and security.
\n
As one economist noted, choosing between an open and closed approach to talent is essentially a management challenge. Strict background check for roles involving national security or core technologies is an international norm. From multinational corporations' tiered confidentiality systems and data sandboxing to Chinese firms' "three-tier compliance reviews", "Data Security Officers", and "virtual isolated work zones", these are all safety valves within modern management systems.
\n
At a deeper level, the controversy probes what constitutes rational patriotism. Amid intensified major-power rivalry and efforts by some forces to foster hostility against China, skepticism toward returnees and studying abroad itself risks fueling extreme nationalist sentiments. Actions driven by such emotions run counter to China's broader development interests and damage its international image.
\n
History shows that great powers thrive on openness and decline when they choose to isolate themselves. Last November, the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and other departments jointly issued guidelines aimed at strengthening policy support for returnee talents, a stark contrast to the closed policies in some parts of the world. As Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei, said in a People's Daily interview: "The more open the country is, the more it will drive our progress."
Employees stitch clothing material for dresses at the apparel manufacturing unit in Bhiwandi, India's Maharashtra state, on July 30.
\n
India, mounting a sharp counterattack to criticism from the White House over its import of Russian crude oil, has called the US stance unjustified and unreasonable, and said it would take all necessary measures to protect its national interests and economic security.
\n
"It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement late on Monday, in response to US President Donald Trump's warning to raise tariffs on India "substantially".
\n
The ministry said the EU in 2024 had a bilateral trade of 67.5 billion euros ($78 billion) in goods with Russia. "European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5 million tons, surpassing the last record of 15.21 million tons in 2022," the statement said.
\n
"Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals," the ministry noted.
\n
India began importing oil from Russia only after "traditional supplies" were diverted to Europe following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the ministry said. "The United States, at that time, actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets' stability," the statement said.
\n
Given this background, targeting India is "unjustified and unreasonable", the ministry stated, and like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.
\n
In response to Trump's tariff threats, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck a defiant tone, urging the nation to buy local goods as his administration signaled it would continue buying Russian oil.
\n
At a rally in the state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, Modi said, "Now, whatever we buy, there should be only one scale: we will buy those things which have been made by the sweat of an Indian."
\n
Bilateral trade between New Delhi and Moscow reached a record $68.7 billion for the fiscal year ended March 2025, compared to the pre-pandemic trade of $10.1 billion, according to data from the Indian embassy in Moscow. Bloomberg reported that at least four tankers discharged millions of barrels of Russian crude oil at Indian refineries over the weekend.
\n
Global hegemon
\n
Strong India-Russia relations are a historical fact, and the US can't act like a global hegemon, going about imposing its writ on any country, not least a vast country like India, said Biswajit Dhar, a former professor at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
\n
Trump's decision to impose additional tariffs on India's exports goes completely against the spirit of the bilateral trade agreement, which the two countries are currently negotiating. The "bilateral" spirit makes it imperative for the partners to consider their mutual gains for deepening a long-term relationship, Dhar said.
\n
India doesn't have much option but to continue oil imports from Russia, said Amit K. Biswas, a professor in the Department of Economics and Politics at Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, West Bengal.
\n
The US is India's top trading partner, with a $186 billion bilateral trade in 2024-25, while a new goal for bilateral trade targets $500 billion by 2030, according to the Indian embassy in Washington.
\n
India exports a variety of goods to the US, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, petroleum products, machinery and cut diamonds.
\n
Swaran Singh, a professor of international relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said there has been no clarity on "additional penalty", though Trump continued to repeat that threat against India.
\n",
+ "content": "
Employees stitch clothing material for dresses at the apparel manufacturing unit in Bhiwandi, India's Maharashtra state, on July 30.
\n
India, mounting a sharp counterattack to criticism from the White House over its import of Russian crude oil, has called the US stance unjustified and unreasonable, and said it would take all necessary measures to protect its national interests and economic security.
\n
"It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement late on Monday, in response to US President Donald Trump's warning to raise tariffs on India "substantially".
\n
The ministry said the EU in 2024 had a bilateral trade of 67.5 billion euros ($78 billion) in goods with Russia. "European imports of LNG in 2024, in fact, reached a record 16.5 million tons, surpassing the last record of 15.21 million tons in 2022," the statement said.
\n
"Where the United States is concerned, it continues to import from Russia uranium hexafluoride for its nuclear industry, palladium for its EV industry, fertilizers as well as chemicals," the ministry noted.
\n
India began importing oil from Russia only after "traditional supplies" were diverted to Europe following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, the ministry said. "The United States, at that time, actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets' stability," the statement said.
\n
Given this background, targeting India is "unjustified and unreasonable", the ministry stated, and like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security.
\n
In response to Trump's tariff threats, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck a defiant tone, urging the nation to buy local goods as his administration signaled it would continue buying Russian oil.
\n
At a rally in the state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, Modi said, "Now, whatever we buy, there should be only one scale: we will buy those things which have been made by the sweat of an Indian."
\n
Bilateral trade between New Delhi and Moscow reached a record $68.7 billion for the fiscal year ended March 2025, compared to the pre-pandemic trade of $10.1 billion, according to data from the Indian embassy in Moscow. Bloomberg reported that at least four tankers discharged millions of barrels of Russian crude oil at Indian refineries over the weekend.
\n
Global hegemon
\n
Strong India-Russia relations are a historical fact, and the US can't act like a global hegemon, going about imposing its writ on any country, not least a vast country like India, said Biswajit Dhar, a former professor at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
\n
Trump's decision to impose additional tariffs on India's exports goes completely against the spirit of the bilateral trade agreement, which the two countries are currently negotiating. The "bilateral" spirit makes it imperative for the partners to consider their mutual gains for deepening a long-term relationship, Dhar said.
\n
India doesn't have much option but to continue oil imports from Russia, said Amit K. Biswas, a professor in the Department of Economics and Politics at Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, West Bengal.
\n
The US is India's top trading partner, with a $186 billion bilateral trade in 2024-25, while a new goal for bilateral trade targets $500 billion by 2030, according to the Indian embassy in Washington.
\n
India exports a variety of goods to the US, including textiles, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, petroleum products, machinery and cut diamonds.
\n
Swaran Singh, a professor of international relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said there has been no clarity on "additional penalty", though Trump continued to repeat that threat against India.
\n",
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+ "title": "010WORLD - S. Africa to offer support to companies hit by levies",
+ "description": "
A worker at a cowboy boot factory prepares a shoe in Mercedes, Texas, on Thursday. Factories producing cowboy boots in the US will suffer from the 30 percent tariff targeting South Africa, which produces the overwhelming majority of the ostrich leather used for making them.
\n
The South African government will provide financial assistance to companies affected by the tariffs imposed by the United States and explore other global markets, said a government official on Monday.
\n
Ronald Lamola, minister of international relations and cooperation, briefed the media in Johannesburg about the South African government's response to the US tariffs. The US imposed 30 percent tariffs on South African goods, effective from Thursday.
\n
Lamola said the government has established an export support desk, which will provide affected companies with information about global trends on trade and where they can explore opportunities.
\n
"This support measure aims to support the diversification of export markets for increased resilience and facilitate the entry into alternative markets for affected exporters. The desk will provide updates on developments and tailored advisory services to exporters on alternative destinations, guidance on market entry processes, insights into compliance requirements, and linkages to South African embassies and high commissions abroad," he said.
\n
He also said that the government will provide working capital facilities and plant and equipment facilities to address short- to medium-term needs across all industries, thereby supporting the competitiveness of enterprises.
\n
South Africa's minimal 0.25 percent share of total US imports makes the 30 percent tariff unfair, Lamola said. He pointed out that South Africa poses no trade threat to the US economy or its national security.
\n
South Africa will continue to use diplomatic channels to engage the US to get a mutually beneficial trade deal, he said, adding South Africa is exploring ways to increase trade with countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
\n
Heavy blow
\n
The tariffs are expected to deal a heavy blow to South Africa's economy. South Africa's Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has said that about 30 percent of the jobs are likely to be lost as a result of the US trade tariffs. Some economists said the trade tariffs will shave off 0.2 percent of South Africa's economic growth.
\n
"While facing global trade challenges, South Africa is proactively building a more resilient agricultural sector," Lamola said.
\n
"We've made significant progress in opening up vast new markets like China and Thailand, securing vital protocols for products like citrus and others. With China alone being a $200 billion market, we are confidently expanding our reach and creating new opportunities for our agricultural producers."
\n
Parks Tau, minister of trade, industry and competition, said South Africa is also engaging China to implement the proposed zero-tariffs policy. China has recently promised to grant zero-tariff treatment to 53 African countries.
\n
Lamola urged South Africans in politics, civil society and business to speak with one voice on tariffs. He said the government has been handling the tariff issue with restraint, even when provoked, because they know its impact on the economy and jobs. A total of 600 US companies operate in South Africa.
\n
The US accounts for 7.5 percent of South Africa's exports, with the European Union being the first and China the second-largest trading partners. South Africa has said it will not reciprocate the tariffs imposed by the US.
\n",
+ "content": "
A worker at a cowboy boot factory prepares a shoe in Mercedes, Texas, on Thursday. Factories producing cowboy boots in the US will suffer from the 30 percent tariff targeting South Africa, which produces the overwhelming majority of the ostrich leather used for making them.
\n
The South African government will provide financial assistance to companies affected by the tariffs imposed by the United States and explore other global markets, said a government official on Monday.
\n
Ronald Lamola, minister of international relations and cooperation, briefed the media in Johannesburg about the South African government's response to the US tariffs. The US imposed 30 percent tariffs on South African goods, effective from Thursday.
\n
Lamola said the government has established an export support desk, which will provide affected companies with information about global trends on trade and where they can explore opportunities.
\n
"This support measure aims to support the diversification of export markets for increased resilience and facilitate the entry into alternative markets for affected exporters. The desk will provide updates on developments and tailored advisory services to exporters on alternative destinations, guidance on market entry processes, insights into compliance requirements, and linkages to South African embassies and high commissions abroad," he said.
\n
He also said that the government will provide working capital facilities and plant and equipment facilities to address short- to medium-term needs across all industries, thereby supporting the competitiveness of enterprises.
\n
South Africa's minimal 0.25 percent share of total US imports makes the 30 percent tariff unfair, Lamola said. He pointed out that South Africa poses no trade threat to the US economy or its national security.
\n
South Africa will continue to use diplomatic channels to engage the US to get a mutually beneficial trade deal, he said, adding South Africa is exploring ways to increase trade with countries in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
\n
Heavy blow
\n
The tariffs are expected to deal a heavy blow to South Africa's economy. South Africa's Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has said that about 30 percent of the jobs are likely to be lost as a result of the US trade tariffs. Some economists said the trade tariffs will shave off 0.2 percent of South Africa's economic growth.
\n
"While facing global trade challenges, South Africa is proactively building a more resilient agricultural sector," Lamola said.
\n
"We've made significant progress in opening up vast new markets like China and Thailand, securing vital protocols for products like citrus and others. With China alone being a $200 billion market, we are confidently expanding our reach and creating new opportunities for our agricultural producers."
\n
Parks Tau, minister of trade, industry and competition, said South Africa is also engaging China to implement the proposed zero-tariffs policy. China has recently promised to grant zero-tariff treatment to 53 African countries.
\n
Lamola urged South Africans in politics, civil society and business to speak with one voice on tariffs. He said the government has been handling the tariff issue with restraint, even when provoked, because they know its impact on the economy and jobs. A total of 600 US companies operate in South Africa.
\n
The US accounts for 7.5 percent of South Africa's exports, with the European Union being the first and China the second-largest trading partners. South Africa has said it will not reciprocate the tariffs imposed by the US.
WASHINGTON — The monthly jobs report is already closely watched on Wall Street and in Washington but has taken on a new importance after President Donald Trump on Friday fired the official who oversees it.
\n
Trump claimed June's employment figures were "rigged" to make him and other Republicans "look bad". Yet he provided no evidence and even the official Trump had appointed in his first term to oversee the report, William Beach, condemned the firing of Erika McEntarfer, the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics appointed by former president Joe Biden.
\n
The firing followed Friday's jobs report that showed hiring was weak in July and had come to nearly a standstill in May and June, right after Trump rolled out sweeping tariffs.
\n
Economists and Wall Street investors have long considered the job figures reliable, with share prices and bond yields often reacting sharply when they are released. Yet Friday's revisions were unusually large, and the surveys used to compile the report are facing challenges from declining response rates, particularly since COVID, as fewer companies complete the surveys.
\n
Many academics, statisticians and economists have warned for some time that declining budgets were straining the government's ability to gather economic data. There were several government commissions studying ways to improve things like survey response rates, but the Trump administration disbanded them earlier this year.
\n
Heather Boushey, a top economic adviser in the Biden White House, noted that without Trump's firing of McEntarfer, there would be more focus on last week's data, which points to a slowing economy.
\n
"We're having this conversation about made-up issues to distract us from what the data is showing," Boushey said. "Revisions of this magnitude in a negative direction may indicate bad things to come for the labor market."
\n
Trump and his White House have a long track record of celebrating the jobs numbers — when they are good.
\n
However, Trump focused his attack on the revisions to the May and June data, which on Friday were revised lower, with job gains in May reduced to 19,000 from 144,000, and for June to just 14,000 from 147,000. Every month's jobs data is revised in the following two months.
\n
The monthly revisions occur because many companies that respond to the government's surveys send in their data late, or correct the figures they've already submitted. The proportion of companies sending in their data later has risen in the past decade.
\n
The revisions to May and June's job totals, which reduced hiring by a total of 258,000, were the largest — outside recessions — since 1967, according to economists at Goldman Sachs.
\n
Trump also repeated a largely inaccurate attack from the campaign about an annual revision last August, which reduced total employment in the US by 818,000, or about 0.5 percent.
\n",
+ "content": "
WASHINGTON — The monthly jobs report is already closely watched on Wall Street and in Washington but has taken on a new importance after President Donald Trump on Friday fired the official who oversees it.
\n
Trump claimed June's employment figures were "rigged" to make him and other Republicans "look bad". Yet he provided no evidence and even the official Trump had appointed in his first term to oversee the report, William Beach, condemned the firing of Erika McEntarfer, the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics appointed by former president Joe Biden.
\n
The firing followed Friday's jobs report that showed hiring was weak in July and had come to nearly a standstill in May and June, right after Trump rolled out sweeping tariffs.
\n
Economists and Wall Street investors have long considered the job figures reliable, with share prices and bond yields often reacting sharply when they are released. Yet Friday's revisions were unusually large, and the surveys used to compile the report are facing challenges from declining response rates, particularly since COVID, as fewer companies complete the surveys.
\n
Many academics, statisticians and economists have warned for some time that declining budgets were straining the government's ability to gather economic data. There were several government commissions studying ways to improve things like survey response rates, but the Trump administration disbanded them earlier this year.
\n
Heather Boushey, a top economic adviser in the Biden White House, noted that without Trump's firing of McEntarfer, there would be more focus on last week's data, which points to a slowing economy.
\n
"We're having this conversation about made-up issues to distract us from what the data is showing," Boushey said. "Revisions of this magnitude in a negative direction may indicate bad things to come for the labor market."
\n
Trump and his White House have a long track record of celebrating the jobs numbers — when they are good.
\n
However, Trump focused his attack on the revisions to the May and June data, which on Friday were revised lower, with job gains in May reduced to 19,000 from 144,000, and for June to just 14,000 from 147,000. Every month's jobs data is revised in the following two months.
\n
The monthly revisions occur because many companies that respond to the government's surveys send in their data late, or correct the figures they've already submitted. The proportion of companies sending in their data later has risen in the past decade.
\n
The revisions to May and June's job totals, which reduced hiring by a total of 258,000, were the largest — outside recessions — since 1967, according to economists at Goldman Sachs.
\n
Trump also repeated a largely inaccurate attack from the campaign about an annual revision last August, which reduced total employment in the US by 818,000, or about 0.5 percent.
People stand in a line next to the Christian Dior shop in Paris, France, on Monday. French luxury brands will have to face additional costs with 15 percent tariffs imposed on all EU products entering the US from Thursday.
\n
The European Union will pause implementing two packages of retaliatory tariffs against the United States, as part of a trade agreement made between US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
\n
Following extensive trade talks, the EU has agreed to suspend a twin set of counter-tariffs for six months, starting from Tuesday, EU officials confirmed on Monday.
\n
The delay affects two sets of reciprocal tariffs that were due to begin on Thursday: one package responding to US steel and aluminum duties, and another targeting Trump's baseline and automotive tariffs, reported Reuters.
\n
"The EU continues to work with the US to finalize a Joint Statement, as agreed on July 27," an EU spokesperson said in a statement. "With these objectives in mind, the commission will take the necessary steps to suspend by six months the EU's countermeasures against the US, which were due to enter into force on Aug 7."
\n
The agreement to delay tariffs seeks to ease transatlantic trade tensions and restore stability for businesses and citizens, stated the EU.
\n
Von der Leyen and Trump reached a tariff and trade agreement on July 27 that set a 15 percent duty on EU goods to the US. This represented a reduction from higher tariffs that would have taken effect had negotiations failed to meet an Aug 1 deadline.
\n
The European Commission, the executive body of the EU, has indicated that the US must now deliver on other elements of the deal, including on aircraft and aircraft parts, as both parties work toward finalizing their joint statement.
\n
"This includes the commitment to decrease its Section 232 tariffs on cars and car parts imported from the EU to a 15-percent ceiling rate, as well as the specific treatment agreed for certain strategic products," stated a spokesperson for the commission.
\n
According to White House officials, the July 27 agreement includes provisions where the EU "will remove significant tariffs, including the elimination of all EU tariffs on US industrial goods exported to the EU".
\n
Trump claimed the European bloc had committed to purchasing $750 billion in US energy products and pledged to increase investments by $600 billion above existing levels.
\n
Analysts have questioned the implementation mechanism for these commitments, noting the EU lacks the authority to direct private sector purchasing or investment decisions, reported CNBC.
\n
An EU statement on the July 27 deal emphasized that the agreement was a political arrangement and "not legally binding".
\n
"Beyond taking the immediate actions committed, the EU and the US will further negotiate, in line with their relevant internal procedures, to fully implement the political agreement," it said.
\n
jonathan@mail.chinadailyuk.com
\n",
+ "content": "
People stand in a line next to the Christian Dior shop in Paris, France, on Monday. French luxury brands will have to face additional costs with 15 percent tariffs imposed on all EU products entering the US from Thursday.
\n
The European Union will pause implementing two packages of retaliatory tariffs against the United States, as part of a trade agreement made between US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
\n
Following extensive trade talks, the EU has agreed to suspend a twin set of counter-tariffs for six months, starting from Tuesday, EU officials confirmed on Monday.
\n
The delay affects two sets of reciprocal tariffs that were due to begin on Thursday: one package responding to US steel and aluminum duties, and another targeting Trump's baseline and automotive tariffs, reported Reuters.
\n
"The EU continues to work with the US to finalize a Joint Statement, as agreed on July 27," an EU spokesperson said in a statement. "With these objectives in mind, the commission will take the necessary steps to suspend by six months the EU's countermeasures against the US, which were due to enter into force on Aug 7."
\n
The agreement to delay tariffs seeks to ease transatlantic trade tensions and restore stability for businesses and citizens, stated the EU.
\n
Von der Leyen and Trump reached a tariff and trade agreement on July 27 that set a 15 percent duty on EU goods to the US. This represented a reduction from higher tariffs that would have taken effect had negotiations failed to meet an Aug 1 deadline.
\n
The European Commission, the executive body of the EU, has indicated that the US must now deliver on other elements of the deal, including on aircraft and aircraft parts, as both parties work toward finalizing their joint statement.
\n
"This includes the commitment to decrease its Section 232 tariffs on cars and car parts imported from the EU to a 15-percent ceiling rate, as well as the specific treatment agreed for certain strategic products," stated a spokesperson for the commission.
\n
According to White House officials, the July 27 agreement includes provisions where the EU "will remove significant tariffs, including the elimination of all EU tariffs on US industrial goods exported to the EU".
\n
Trump claimed the European bloc had committed to purchasing $750 billion in US energy products and pledged to increase investments by $600 billion above existing levels.
\n
Analysts have questioned the implementation mechanism for these commitments, noting the EU lacks the authority to direct private sector purchasing or investment decisions, reported CNBC.
\n
An EU statement on the July 27 deal emphasized that the agreement was a political arrangement and "not legally binding".
\n
"Beyond taking the immediate actions committed, the EU and the US will further negotiate, in line with their relevant internal procedures, to fully implement the political agreement," it said.
Jewish peace activists gather for a march to protest against the fighting in Gaza on Tuesday in New York City.
\n
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel must "complete" the defeat of Hamas to free hostages held in Gaza, a day after Israeli media reported the army could occupy the entire territory.
\n
The plans to fully occupy Gaza run counter to the wishes of the international community, placing obstacles to the two-state solution championed by the United Nations, experts say.
\n
"It is necessary to complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza, to free all our hostages and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel," Netanyahu said during a visit to an army training facility on Tuesday.
\n
On Monday, Netanyahu reiterated Israel's "war objectives", and said he would direct the Israel Defense Forces to achieve these objectives "without exception".
\n
His decision will see the Israeli military expand its operations across the entire Palestinian enclave, including areas where Hamas' captives are being held, The Jerusalem Post and Channel 12 reported.
\n
Ayman Yousef, a professor of international relations at the Arab American University in Jenin, West Bank, said Netanyahu is "trying to put his agenda and his propaganda in this direction" as he is "in crisis".The Israeli army failed to rescue all hostages despite destroying almost all of Gaza through military action, and the political track is also in deadlock at this stage, he said.
\n
"There is growing pressure inside Israel, not only from the families of Israeli prisoners and Israeli opposition forces, but there are some protests even from the Israeli army itself, from the security apparatus, from Israeli media," Yousef said.
\n
A group of about 600 Israeli security officials, including former intelligence agencies' heads, had earlier written to United States President Donald Trump, urging Israel to immediately end the fighting.
\n
'Professional judgment'
\n
"It is our professional judgment that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel," the officials were quoted as saying.
\n
International pressure is mounting on Israel to observe UN resolutions and end Gaza attacks, including from the European Union and within the US administration; so is "great resentment" from other parts of the world over the killing and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, a majority of whom are women and children, including civilians such as aid workers and journalists.
\n
On Tuesday, Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong told journalists that "there is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognize", while responding to questions about a mass protest in Sydney attended by about 100,000 people rallying against Israel's war on Gaza.
\n
On Australia's position regarding Palestinian statehood, Wong said: "In relation to recognition, I've said for over a year now, it's a matter of when, not if."
\n
Also on Tuesday, Israel's Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories announced that a mechanism was approved for the gradual and controlled renewal of entry of goods through the private sector in Gaza, citing the Israeli cabinet's decision to expand the scope of humanitarian aid.
\n
"This aims to increase the volume of aid entering the Gaza Strip, while reducing reliance on aid collection by the UN and international organizations," said the agency.
\n
But only 95 aid trucks entered Gaza on Monday, Hamas said in a statement, far below the minimum 600 trucks per day needed to meet the basic humanitarian needs, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
\n
The office has warned of an intensifying humanitarian catastrophe, accusing Israel of deliberately restricting aid in the territory.
\n
Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday that in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, Israeli ground operations concentrated around the eastern and central areas of Khan Younis with Palestinian factions and Israeli forces trading fire.
\n
Israel's ground campaign was accompanied by "very heavy fire "from its air force and also from Israeli artillery units that continued to pound the al-Mawasi area. At least five Palestinians were killed in the attack.
\n
jan@chinadailyapac.com
\n",
+ "content": "
Jewish peace activists gather for a march to protest against the fighting in Gaza on Tuesday in New York City.
\n
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel must "complete" the defeat of Hamas to free hostages held in Gaza, a day after Israeli media reported the army could occupy the entire territory.
\n
The plans to fully occupy Gaza run counter to the wishes of the international community, placing obstacles to the two-state solution championed by the United Nations, experts say.
\n
"It is necessary to complete the defeat of the enemy in Gaza, to free all our hostages and to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel," Netanyahu said during a visit to an army training facility on Tuesday.
\n
On Monday, Netanyahu reiterated Israel's "war objectives", and said he would direct the Israel Defense Forces to achieve these objectives "without exception".
\n
His decision will see the Israeli military expand its operations across the entire Palestinian enclave, including areas where Hamas' captives are being held, The Jerusalem Post and Channel 12 reported.
\n
Ayman Yousef, a professor of international relations at the Arab American University in Jenin, West Bank, said Netanyahu is "trying to put his agenda and his propaganda in this direction" as he is "in crisis".The Israeli army failed to rescue all hostages despite destroying almost all of Gaza through military action, and the political track is also in deadlock at this stage, he said.
\n
"There is growing pressure inside Israel, not only from the families of Israeli prisoners and Israeli opposition forces, but there are some protests even from the Israeli army itself, from the security apparatus, from Israeli media," Yousef said.
\n
A group of about 600 Israeli security officials, including former intelligence agencies' heads, had earlier written to United States President Donald Trump, urging Israel to immediately end the fighting.
\n
'Professional judgment'
\n
"It is our professional judgment that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel," the officials were quoted as saying.
\n
International pressure is mounting on Israel to observe UN resolutions and end Gaza attacks, including from the European Union and within the US administration; so is "great resentment" from other parts of the world over the killing and starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, a majority of whom are women and children, including civilians such as aid workers and journalists.
\n
On Tuesday, Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong told journalists that "there is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognize", while responding to questions about a mass protest in Sydney attended by about 100,000 people rallying against Israel's war on Gaza.
\n
On Australia's position regarding Palestinian statehood, Wong said: "In relation to recognition, I've said for over a year now, it's a matter of when, not if."
\n
Also on Tuesday, Israel's Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories announced that a mechanism was approved for the gradual and controlled renewal of entry of goods through the private sector in Gaza, citing the Israeli cabinet's decision to expand the scope of humanitarian aid.
\n
"This aims to increase the volume of aid entering the Gaza Strip, while reducing reliance on aid collection by the UN and international organizations," said the agency.
\n
But only 95 aid trucks entered Gaza on Monday, Hamas said in a statement, far below the minimum 600 trucks per day needed to meet the basic humanitarian needs, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
\n
The office has warned of an intensifying humanitarian catastrophe, accusing Israel of deliberately restricting aid in the territory.
\n
Al Jazeera reported on Tuesday that in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, Israeli ground operations concentrated around the eastern and central areas of Khan Younis with Palestinian factions and Israeli forces trading fire.
\n
Israel's ground campaign was accompanied by "very heavy fire "from its air force and also from Israeli artillery units that continued to pound the al-Mawasi area. At least five Palestinians were killed in the attack.
In line with a growing trend across emerging markets, central banks in sub-Saharan Africa are accelerating gold accumulation efforts, as a hedge against perceived United States' macro instability and rising global geopolitical risks.
\n
While South Africa has historically maintained gold in its reserves, some sub-Saharan African countries are currently establishing domestic gold purchasing programs, capitalizing on abundant local gold deposits.
\n
Leading the trend is Ghana, which has launched its domestic gold purchasing program. The West African country has witnessed a surge in both the volume and the value of its gold reserves, according to BMI, a unit of Fitch Group.
\n
Between the second quarter of 2022 and the first quarter this year, Ghana's total gold holdings rose by 255 percent from 8.7 metric tons to over 31 tons.
\n
Earlier this year, Ghana reached an agreement with nine mining companies to directly purchase 20 percent of their gold output at a 1 percent discount to the London Bullion Market Association price.
\n
Orson Gard, a senior analyst in the Sub-Saharan Africa Country Risk team at BMI, said due to the surge in gold prices Ghanaian cedi has become one of the world's best performing currencies against the US dollar. "We are seeing a similar move across the region," he said. "Last year, Tanzania offered payment in local currency at a price published daily by the country's mining commission."
\n
Last year, Nigeria launched its own national gold purchase program, and legislative action has since been taken to strengthen the Central Bank of Nigeria's ability to acquire domestically produced gold, BMI figures show.
\n
"This year, several other markets have taken similar steps with Namibia and Rwanda, making concrete moves to diversify reserves through gold, while central bank governors in Kenya and Uganda have publicly floated similar ideas," he said.
\n
In Burkina Faso, the government has, alongside the nationalization of mines, established a National Gold Reserve to stockpile at least 5 percent of its domestic production.
\n
Gard said Zimbabwe recently relaunched a gold-backed currency, the Zimbabwe Gold, in a bid to stabilize its financial system.
\n
"This does point to an increased confidence across the region in the ability of the metal to underpin stability," he said.
\n
Risks exiting
\n
However, the strategy is not without risk. Gard said any sudden drop in global gold prices could have significant implications for sub-Saharan Africa markets, especially for countries that have rapidly increased gold as a share of their total reserves — many of which began accumulating at relatively high prices.
\n
Over the medium term, a gradual unwinding of gold price gains could expose these markets to long-term losses, Gard said.
\n
This would not only weaken reserve adequacy but also undermine the credibility of central bank policy.
\n
He noted that Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda are especially vulnerable in the event of a sharp drop or long-term easing in gold prices. This is because in addition to actively building up reserves, they rely heavily on gold exports for foreign exchange earnings.
\n
"A decline in gold prices would directly erode the value of their reserves while also reducing export receipts, which in turn would weaken overall foreign currency inflows," Gard said.
\n
Liquidity is another key challenge, given the difficulty of rapidly converting gold into liquid assets such as foreign exchange or short-term securities.
\n
To address these concerns, some central banks have historically held gold abroad close to major financial hubs to aid convertibility.
In line with a growing trend across emerging markets, central banks in sub-Saharan Africa are accelerating gold accumulation efforts, as a hedge against perceived United States' macro instability and rising global geopolitical risks.
\n
While South Africa has historically maintained gold in its reserves, some sub-Saharan African countries are currently establishing domestic gold purchasing programs, capitalizing on abundant local gold deposits.
\n
Leading the trend is Ghana, which has launched its domestic gold purchasing program. The West African country has witnessed a surge in both the volume and the value of its gold reserves, according to BMI, a unit of Fitch Group.
\n
Between the second quarter of 2022 and the first quarter this year, Ghana's total gold holdings rose by 255 percent from 8.7 metric tons to over 31 tons.
\n
Earlier this year, Ghana reached an agreement with nine mining companies to directly purchase 20 percent of their gold output at a 1 percent discount to the London Bullion Market Association price.
\n
Orson Gard, a senior analyst in the Sub-Saharan Africa Country Risk team at BMI, said due to the surge in gold prices Ghanaian cedi has become one of the world's best performing currencies against the US dollar. "We are seeing a similar move across the region," he said. "Last year, Tanzania offered payment in local currency at a price published daily by the country's mining commission."
\n
Last year, Nigeria launched its own national gold purchase program, and legislative action has since been taken to strengthen the Central Bank of Nigeria's ability to acquire domestically produced gold, BMI figures show.
\n
"This year, several other markets have taken similar steps with Namibia and Rwanda, making concrete moves to diversify reserves through gold, while central bank governors in Kenya and Uganda have publicly floated similar ideas," he said.
\n
In Burkina Faso, the government has, alongside the nationalization of mines, established a National Gold Reserve to stockpile at least 5 percent of its domestic production.
\n
Gard said Zimbabwe recently relaunched a gold-backed currency, the Zimbabwe Gold, in a bid to stabilize its financial system.
\n
"This does point to an increased confidence across the region in the ability of the metal to underpin stability," he said.
\n
Risks exiting
\n
However, the strategy is not without risk. Gard said any sudden drop in global gold prices could have significant implications for sub-Saharan Africa markets, especially for countries that have rapidly increased gold as a share of their total reserves — many of which began accumulating at relatively high prices.
\n
Over the medium term, a gradual unwinding of gold price gains could expose these markets to long-term losses, Gard said.
\n
This would not only weaken reserve adequacy but also undermine the credibility of central bank policy.
\n
He noted that Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda are especially vulnerable in the event of a sharp drop or long-term easing in gold prices. This is because in addition to actively building up reserves, they rely heavily on gold exports for foreign exchange earnings.
\n
"A decline in gold prices would directly erode the value of their reserves while also reducing export receipts, which in turn would weaken overall foreign currency inflows," Gard said.
\n
Liquidity is another key challenge, given the difficulty of rapidly converting gold into liquid assets such as foreign exchange or short-term securities.
\n
To address these concerns, some central banks have historically held gold abroad close to major financial hubs to aid convertibility.
Ranchers work to evacuate cattle as the Gifford Fire burns nearby on Monday, in Los Padres National Forest, California. A massive wildfire on Monday was threatening hundreds of homes in central California after injuring at least three people as it tore through Los Padres National Forest.
\n",
+ "content": "
Ranchers work to evacuate cattle as the Gifford Fire burns nearby on Monday, in Los Padres National Forest, California. A massive wildfire on Monday was threatening hundreds of homes in central California after injuring at least three people as it tore through Los Padres National Forest.
MOSCOW/KYIV — The Kremlin said on Monday it was anticipating "important" talks with US President Donald Trump's special envoy later this week, ahead of Trump's looming deadline to impose fresh sanctions on Moscow if it does not make progress toward a peace deal with Ukraine.
\n
Trump confirmed a day earlier that Steve Witkoff will visit Russia, likely on "Wednesday or Thursday", where he is expected to meet President Vladimir Putin.
\n
Three rounds of peace talks in Istanbul have failed to make headway on a possible ceasefire, with the two sides appearing as far apart as ever.
\n
Moscow has demanded that Ukraine cede more territory and renounce Western support.
\n
Kyiv is calling for an immediate ceasefire and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week urged his allies to pressure Moscow.
\n
Trump's deadline is set to expire on Friday.
\n
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that it considered the talks with Witkoff to be "important, substantial and helpful" and valued US efforts to end the conflict.
\n
Putin has already met Witkoff multiple times in Moscow.
\n
When reporters asked what Witkoff's message would be to Moscow, and if there was anything Russia could do to avoid the sanctions, Trump replied: "Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed."
\n
The visit comes after Trump said that two nuclear submarines he deployed following an online row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev were now "in the region".
\n
Trump has not said whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not elaborate on the exact deployment locations, which are kept secret by the US military.
\n
Caution urged
\n
Russia, in its first comments on the deployment, urged "caution".
\n
"Russia is very attentive to the topic of nuclear nonproliferation. And we believe that everyone should be very, very cautious with nuclear rhetoric," the Kremlin's Peskov said.
\n
The chief of staff to Zelensky on Monday backed Trump's actions.
\n
"The concept of peace through strength works," Andriy Yermak wrote on social media.
\n
Both sides said on Monday they had downed dozens of enemy drones overnight in the latest barrage.
\n
Separate Russian strikes on the southern Zaporizhzhia region, part of which it controls, killed four people, Ukrainian officials said on Monday.
\n
The Russian defense ministry said on Tuesday that its forces have captured the village of Sichneve in Dnipropetrovsk region.
MOSCOW/KYIV — The Kremlin said on Monday it was anticipating "important" talks with US President Donald Trump's special envoy later this week, ahead of Trump's looming deadline to impose fresh sanctions on Moscow if it does not make progress toward a peace deal with Ukraine.
\n
Trump confirmed a day earlier that Steve Witkoff will visit Russia, likely on "Wednesday or Thursday", where he is expected to meet President Vladimir Putin.
\n
Three rounds of peace talks in Istanbul have failed to make headway on a possible ceasefire, with the two sides appearing as far apart as ever.
\n
Moscow has demanded that Ukraine cede more territory and renounce Western support.
\n
Kyiv is calling for an immediate ceasefire and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week urged his allies to pressure Moscow.
\n
Trump's deadline is set to expire on Friday.
\n
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that it considered the talks with Witkoff to be "important, substantial and helpful" and valued US efforts to end the conflict.
\n
Putin has already met Witkoff multiple times in Moscow.
\n
When reporters asked what Witkoff's message would be to Moscow, and if there was anything Russia could do to avoid the sanctions, Trump replied: "Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed."
\n
The visit comes after Trump said that two nuclear submarines he deployed following an online row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev were now "in the region".
\n
Trump has not said whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not elaborate on the exact deployment locations, which are kept secret by the US military.
\n
Caution urged
\n
Russia, in its first comments on the deployment, urged "caution".
\n
"Russia is very attentive to the topic of nuclear nonproliferation. And we believe that everyone should be very, very cautious with nuclear rhetoric," the Kremlin's Peskov said.
\n
The chief of staff to Zelensky on Monday backed Trump's actions.
\n
"The concept of peace through strength works," Andriy Yermak wrote on social media.
\n
Both sides said on Monday they had downed dozens of enemy drones overnight in the latest barrage.
\n
Separate Russian strikes on the southern Zaporizhzhia region, part of which it controls, killed four people, Ukrainian officials said on Monday.
\n
The Russian defense ministry said on Tuesday that its forces have captured the village of Sichneve in Dnipropetrovsk region.
GENEVA — Hopes for a "last-chance" ambitious global treaty to curb plastic pollution have dimmed as delegates gather this week for a 10-day meeting at the United Nations in Geneva for what was intended to be the final round of negotiations.
\n
Diplomats and climate advocates warn that efforts by the European Union and small island states to cap virgin plastic production, fueled by petroleum, coal and gas, are threatened by opposition from petrochemical-producing countries and the US administration of President Donald Trump.
\n
Plastic production is set to triple by 2060 without intervention, choking oceans, harming human health and accelerating climate change, according to the OECD.
\n
"This is really our last best chance. As pollution grows, it deepens the burden for those who are least responsible and least able to adapt," said Ilana Seid, permanent representative of Palau and chair of the Alliance of Small Island States.
\n
Delegates met on Tuesday for the sixth round of talks, after a meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in South Korea late last year ended without a path forward on capping plastic pollution.
\n
The most divisive issues include capping production, managing plastic products and chemicals of concern, and financing to help developing countries implement the treaty.
\n
Delegates told Reuters that oil states plan to challenge key treaty provisions and push for voluntary or national measures, hindering progress toward a legally binding agreement to tackle the root cause of plastic pollution.
\n
Government spokespeople for Saudi Arabia and Russia were not immediately available for comment.
\n
Andres Del Castillo, senior attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law, a non-profit providing legal counsel to some countries attending the talks, said oil states were questioning even basic facts about the harm to health caused by plastics.
\n
"We are in a moment of revisionism, where even science is highly politicized," he said.
\n
A source familiar with the talks said the US seeks to limit the treaty's scope to downstream issues like waste disposal, recycling and product design.
\n
It comes as the US administration rolls back environmental policies, including a long-standing finding on greenhouse gas emissions endangering health.
\n
Over 1,000 delegates, including scientists and petrochemical lobbyists, will attend the talks, raising concerns among proponents of an ambitious agreement that industry influence may create a watered-down deal focused on waste management, instead of production limits.
\n
The petrochemical industry said it continues to support a global treaty and has been urging the US administration and Congress to "lean in" in negotiations.
\n
Stewart Harris, spokesman for the International Council of Chemical Associations, said the US in particular has an opportunity "not just at the negotiating table, but really on the implementation of the agreement" to promote the use of new technologies in mechanical recycling and advanced recycling, which turns plastic waste into fuels, plastics and other products, globally.
\n
Small island states are particularly impacted by plastic waste washing ashore, threatening their fishing and tourism economies.
\n",
+ "content": "
GENEVA — Hopes for a "last-chance" ambitious global treaty to curb plastic pollution have dimmed as delegates gather this week for a 10-day meeting at the United Nations in Geneva for what was intended to be the final round of negotiations.
\n
Diplomats and climate advocates warn that efforts by the European Union and small island states to cap virgin plastic production, fueled by petroleum, coal and gas, are threatened by opposition from petrochemical-producing countries and the US administration of President Donald Trump.
\n
Plastic production is set to triple by 2060 without intervention, choking oceans, harming human health and accelerating climate change, according to the OECD.
\n
"This is really our last best chance. As pollution grows, it deepens the burden for those who are least responsible and least able to adapt," said Ilana Seid, permanent representative of Palau and chair of the Alliance of Small Island States.
\n
Delegates met on Tuesday for the sixth round of talks, after a meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in South Korea late last year ended without a path forward on capping plastic pollution.
\n
The most divisive issues include capping production, managing plastic products and chemicals of concern, and financing to help developing countries implement the treaty.
\n
Delegates told Reuters that oil states plan to challenge key treaty provisions and push for voluntary or national measures, hindering progress toward a legally binding agreement to tackle the root cause of plastic pollution.
\n
Government spokespeople for Saudi Arabia and Russia were not immediately available for comment.
\n
Andres Del Castillo, senior attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law, a non-profit providing legal counsel to some countries attending the talks, said oil states were questioning even basic facts about the harm to health caused by plastics.
\n
"We are in a moment of revisionism, where even science is highly politicized," he said.
\n
A source familiar with the talks said the US seeks to limit the treaty's scope to downstream issues like waste disposal, recycling and product design.
\n
It comes as the US administration rolls back environmental policies, including a long-standing finding on greenhouse gas emissions endangering health.
\n
Over 1,000 delegates, including scientists and petrochemical lobbyists, will attend the talks, raising concerns among proponents of an ambitious agreement that industry influence may create a watered-down deal focused on waste management, instead of production limits.
\n
The petrochemical industry said it continues to support a global treaty and has been urging the US administration and Congress to "lean in" in negotiations.
\n
Stewart Harris, spokesman for the International Council of Chemical Associations, said the US in particular has an opportunity "not just at the negotiating table, but really on the implementation of the agreement" to promote the use of new technologies in mechanical recycling and advanced recycling, which turns plastic waste into fuels, plastics and other products, globally.
\n
Small island states are particularly impacted by plastic waste washing ashore, threatening their fishing and tourism economies.
About 500 civilians displaced from the city of Arbin in the Damascus countryside of Syria, are welcomed with a ceremony as they return to their homes from a refugee camp on the Turkish border on Monday. Their return was made possible with transportation support provided by government officials.
\n",
+ "content": "
About 500 civilians displaced from the city of Arbin in the Damascus countryside of Syria, are welcomed with a ceremony as they return to their homes from a refugee camp on the Turkish border on Monday. Their return was made possible with transportation support provided by government officials.
Brazil's Supreme Court put former president Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest on Monday ahead of his trial for an alleged coup plot. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the arrest order. Bolsonaro is on trial before the Supreme Court on charges he conspired with allies to violently overturn his 2022 electoral loss to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Trump has referred to the case as a "witch hunt" and called it grounds for a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods, taking effect on Wednesday.
\n
YEMEN
\n
Shipwreck leaves 56 dead, 132 missing: UN
\n
A boat carrying African migrants that capsized over the weekend off the coast of Yemen left 56 dead and 132 missing, the UN immigration agency said on Tuesday. It is the latest in a series of shipwrecks off Yemen that have killed hundreds trying to reach wealthy Gulf countries. The vessel had 200 people on board when it sank early on Sunday off the coastal town of Shuqrah in Yemen's southern province of Abyan, the International Organization for Migration said.
Brazil's Supreme Court put former president Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest on Monday ahead of his trial for an alleged coup plot. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the arrest order. Bolsonaro is on trial before the Supreme Court on charges he conspired with allies to violently overturn his 2022 electoral loss to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Trump has referred to the case as a "witch hunt" and called it grounds for a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods, taking effect on Wednesday.
\n
YEMEN
\n
Shipwreck leaves 56 dead, 132 missing: UN
\n
A boat carrying African migrants that capsized over the weekend off the coast of Yemen left 56 dead and 132 missing, the UN immigration agency said on Tuesday. It is the latest in a series of shipwrecks off Yemen that have killed hundreds trying to reach wealthy Gulf countries. The vessel had 200 people on board when it sank early on Sunday off the coastal town of Shuqrah in Yemen's southern province of Abyan, the International Organization for Migration said.
Media representatives from five countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative attend the Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station — Discover Chongqing Tour in July.
\n
Duisenova Sandugash, reporter from ORDA, a media portal in Kazakhstan, is at the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest Exhibition.
\n\n\n
The Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station — Discover Chongqing Tour, held in Southwest China's Chongqing and attended by photo contest winners and media professionals from five countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, concluded on July 30.
\n
Chongqing was awarded a Belt and Road Journalists Station during the 2024 Belt and Road Journalists Forum. Earlier this year, the Chongqing station collaborated with China Daily to organize an event sharing stories related to the BRI. It featured the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest and the Discover Chongqing tour.
\n
The delegation included Kirsanava Sviatlana, deputy editor-in-chief of Seven Days under BelTA of Belarus; Khonnazarov Gayrat Ergashevich, director of the international news department of the Uzbekistan National News Agency; S.M.T. Imalka, special correspondent of Chongqing TV in Sri Lanka; Duisenova Sandugash, reporter from ORDA, a media portal in Kazakhstan; and Goran Sivacki, photo editor from 24sedam, a Serbian news website.
\n
During their three-day tour, the delegation explored key sites, including the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park in Shapingba district, the Memorial Site of the Bombardment of Chongqing, Shibati Scenic Spot in Yuzhong district, Chongqing Nanshan Botanical Garden, Xiahao Lane in Nan'an district, and the Seres Super Factory (Longxing) in Liangjiang New Area. The visit aimed to provide insights into Chongqing's modern achievements, strengthen media cooperation with the city, and share valuable experiences related to participating in BRI construction.
\n
"I have traveled to China on several occasions and have previously shared a lot about the country on my personal Instagram account. During my first visit to Chongqing this time, I have captured a wealth of material and would love to share the stories of this wonderful city to my fans as well," said Duisenova Sandugash from Kazakhstan.
\n
The event culminated in a sharing session on the final day, bringing together the BRI delegation and media representatives from the hosts China Daily and the Western China International Communication Organization, at the WCICO park in Chongqing.
\n
During his speech at the session, Gong Zhengzheng, director of China Daily's business development department, highlighted the event's success. "These activities have drawn wide attention since their launch," he said.
\n
He added that they had received a total of 351 submissions from 12 countries — Sri Lanka, Argentina, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Peru, Namibia, South Africa, Serbia, India, and China. These submissions consist of 147 international and 204 domestic entries.
\n
"This is not only a professional gathering for media personnel but also an event for cultural exchanges and friendship," said Tang Jianping, general manager of the WCICO, at the session.
\n
She added that the Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station has established a comprehensive cooperative network with media outlets from countries involved in the BRI, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation through innovative approaches, including multilingual reporting, collaborative productions, and reciprocal visits.
\n
On the same day, the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest Exhibition took place at the WCICO park, showcasing an array of outstanding photos submitted to the contest.
\n
Chongqing, a pivotal transport hub and economic center in southwestern China, has embraced the BRI since its inception. This megacity, with a population of 32 million, boasts key geographic advantages as a connecting point for the BRI and the Yangtze River Economic Belt. It is also a strategic transportation hub within China's national development program for China's western regions and the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle.
\n
In 2017, the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Initiative launched the International Land-Sea Trade Corridor project in a bid to increase connectivity and trade between western China and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
\n
Over the past few years, the trade corridor's logistics network has expanded rapidly — it connects Europe to Southeast Asia with Chongqing as a key rail hub. Statistics show, as of 2024, the route reached 555 ports in 127 countries and regions.
\n
The city collaborates closely with participating countries and regions in infrastructure, trade, people-to-people exchanges, technology, environmental protection, agriculture, healthcare, education, and other areas. It has not only achieved significant economic progress but played a crucial role in promoting cultural exchanges and deepening mutual understanding.
\n
According to local authorities, the city's GDP exceeded 3.2 trillion yuan ($443.7 billion) in 2024, doubling from a decade ago. Between 2020 and 2024, Chongqing's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.6 percent.
\n",
+ "content": "
Media representatives from five countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative attend the Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station — Discover Chongqing Tour in July.
\n
Duisenova Sandugash, reporter from ORDA, a media portal in Kazakhstan, is at the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest Exhibition.
\n\n\n
The Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station — Discover Chongqing Tour, held in Southwest China's Chongqing and attended by photo contest winners and media professionals from five countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, concluded on July 30.
\n
Chongqing was awarded a Belt and Road Journalists Station during the 2024 Belt and Road Journalists Forum. Earlier this year, the Chongqing station collaborated with China Daily to organize an event sharing stories related to the BRI. It featured the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest and the Discover Chongqing tour.
\n
The delegation included Kirsanava Sviatlana, deputy editor-in-chief of Seven Days under BelTA of Belarus; Khonnazarov Gayrat Ergashevich, director of the international news department of the Uzbekistan National News Agency; S.M.T. Imalka, special correspondent of Chongqing TV in Sri Lanka; Duisenova Sandugash, reporter from ORDA, a media portal in Kazakhstan; and Goran Sivacki, photo editor from 24sedam, a Serbian news website.
\n
During their three-day tour, the delegation explored key sites, including the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park in Shapingba district, the Memorial Site of the Bombardment of Chongqing, Shibati Scenic Spot in Yuzhong district, Chongqing Nanshan Botanical Garden, Xiahao Lane in Nan'an district, and the Seres Super Factory (Longxing) in Liangjiang New Area. The visit aimed to provide insights into Chongqing's modern achievements, strengthen media cooperation with the city, and share valuable experiences related to participating in BRI construction.
\n
"I have traveled to China on several occasions and have previously shared a lot about the country on my personal Instagram account. During my first visit to Chongqing this time, I have captured a wealth of material and would love to share the stories of this wonderful city to my fans as well," said Duisenova Sandugash from Kazakhstan.
\n
The event culminated in a sharing session on the final day, bringing together the BRI delegation and media representatives from the hosts China Daily and the Western China International Communication Organization, at the WCICO park in Chongqing.
\n
During his speech at the session, Gong Zhengzheng, director of China Daily's business development department, highlighted the event's success. "These activities have drawn wide attention since their launch," he said.
\n
He added that they had received a total of 351 submissions from 12 countries — Sri Lanka, Argentina, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Peru, Namibia, South Africa, Serbia, India, and China. These submissions consist of 147 international and 204 domestic entries.
\n
"This is not only a professional gathering for media personnel but also an event for cultural exchanges and friendship," said Tang Jianping, general manager of the WCICO, at the session.
\n
She added that the Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station has established a comprehensive cooperative network with media outlets from countries involved in the BRI, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation through innovative approaches, including multilingual reporting, collaborative productions, and reciprocal visits.
\n
On the same day, the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest Exhibition took place at the WCICO park, showcasing an array of outstanding photos submitted to the contest.
\n
Chongqing, a pivotal transport hub and economic center in southwestern China, has embraced the BRI since its inception. This megacity, with a population of 32 million, boasts key geographic advantages as a connecting point for the BRI and the Yangtze River Economic Belt. It is also a strategic transportation hub within China's national development program for China's western regions and the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle.
\n
In 2017, the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Connectivity Initiative launched the International Land-Sea Trade Corridor project in a bid to increase connectivity and trade between western China and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
\n
Over the past few years, the trade corridor's logistics network has expanded rapidly — it connects Europe to Southeast Asia with Chongqing as a key rail hub. Statistics show, as of 2024, the route reached 555 ports in 127 countries and regions.
\n
The city collaborates closely with participating countries and regions in infrastructure, trade, people-to-people exchanges, technology, environmental protection, agriculture, healthcare, education, and other areas. It has not only achieved significant economic progress but played a crucial role in promoting cultural exchanges and deepening mutual understanding.
\n
According to local authorities, the city's GDP exceeded 3.2 trillion yuan ($443.7 billion) in 2024, doubling from a decade ago. Between 2020 and 2024, Chongqing's GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.6 percent.
On July 30, a session bringing together photo contest winners and media professionals from five countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, along with media representatives from the hosts, China Daily and the Western China International Communication Organization, was held at the WCICO park in Southwest China's Chongqing.
\n
As an important part of the Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station — Discover Chongqing Tour held from July 28 to 30, it not only bolstered media cooperation and exchanges with Chongqing but aimed to promote the sharing of high-quality experiences in BRI participation, the organizers said.
\n
During the sharing session, three winners from the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest and two seasoned media professionals offered insights on the BRI, drawing from their unique narratives and diverse backgrounds.
\n
\n
"The Belt and Road Initiative has brought many benefits to our country, and the Colombo Port City is a testament to this. As a key project in the joint construction of the Belt and Road between China and Sri Lanka, this emerging new city in the Indian Ocean is becoming a golden link connecting Sri Lanka to the global market. Being able to witness the Colombo Port City gradually transform from a blueprint into reality, I deeply feel the enormous potential brought by the BRI. I believe this is not only a successful construction project but also a win-win path that creates prosperity for Sri Lanka and opens up new opportunities for deepening cooperation with China."
\n
S.M.T. Imalka, special correspondent of Chongqing TV in Sri Lanka
\n
\n
"When I first encountered China's Belt and Road Initiative, it resonated strongly within me. I firmly believe this is a grand path worth walking hand in hand together. As a media professional, being able to personally engage in this magnificent endeavor fills me with deep pride. In the past, trade routes were arduous and could take months to traverse; now, we can reach our destination within a day. With over 1,700 kilometers of shared border, China and Kazakhstan possess one of the world's longest land borders, serving as a vibrant lifeline. Landmark facilities such as the China-Kazakhstan Khorgos International Border Cooperation Center, the dry port located in the Khorgos-East Gate special economic zone, and the Khorgos and Kalzhat ports are modern gateways that connect Kazakhstan to China and the world."
\n
Duisenova Sandugash, reporter from ORDA, a media portal in Kazakhstan
\n
\n
"This is my second time visiting Chongqing, but it feels like the first, because this city is so beautiful and vast that I believe people who live their entire lives here cannot manage to explore and experience all its wonders. However, what everyone certainly feels and experiences in this city are the people, their kindness, smiles, and the love they extend to all others. The photos I made came about as an idea that came from the news that there is a girl working as a driver of a big dumper truck in the Zijin Copper Serbia mine, which is not a normal job for a young girl. After that, I contacted the PR of the mine and they allowed me and my colleague to come and make a report. When we went there we were pleasantly surprised with a few other things that the mine management does."
\n
Goran Sivacki, photo editor with over 25 years of professional photography experience from 24sedam, a Serbian news website
\n
\n
"This is my first visit to China, and I am delighted to witness the connectivity at play. During our first-day visit to the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park, I saw the Belt and Road route map, illustrating how logistics originate from Chongqing, pass through Central Asia, and finally reach Belarus. Our news agency covers news in seven languages, including Chinese. I aspire to portray Chongqing's economic vigor, cultural allure, the individuals propelling urban development, and the locals' zest for life through the medium of Chinese. I hope that our reports will facilitate media exchanges between China and Belarus, enabling more individuals to understand and develop an affinity for Chongqing."
\n
Kirsanava Sviatlana, deputy editor-in-chief of Seven Days under BelTA of Belarus
\n
\n
"This marks my third visit to China, having previously explored Beijing and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Of all the highlights during my time in Chongqing, the Chongqing Planning Exhibition Gallery stands out for its encapsulation of the city's rich history and vibrant present. Chongqing, with its vast urban landscape, modernity intertwined with history, and an atmosphere of limitless potential, radiates a distinct allure. As a journalist from the Uzbekistan National News Agency, my goal is to transform my firsthand experiences and observations in this city into engaging narratives for our readers."
\n
Khonnazarov Gayrat Ergashevich, director of the international news department of the Uzbekistan National News Agency
\n",
+ "content": "\n\n\n\n\n
On July 30, a session bringing together photo contest winners and media professionals from five countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, along with media representatives from the hosts, China Daily and the Western China International Communication Organization, was held at the WCICO park in Southwest China's Chongqing.
\n
As an important part of the Chongqing Belt and Road Journalists Station — Discover Chongqing Tour held from July 28 to 30, it not only bolstered media cooperation and exchanges with Chongqing but aimed to promote the sharing of high-quality experiences in BRI participation, the organizers said.
\n
During the sharing session, three winners from the "Chongqing's Footprint on Silk Road" Photo Contest and two seasoned media professionals offered insights on the BRI, drawing from their unique narratives and diverse backgrounds.
\n
\n
"The Belt and Road Initiative has brought many benefits to our country, and the Colombo Port City is a testament to this. As a key project in the joint construction of the Belt and Road between China and Sri Lanka, this emerging new city in the Indian Ocean is becoming a golden link connecting Sri Lanka to the global market. Being able to witness the Colombo Port City gradually transform from a blueprint into reality, I deeply feel the enormous potential brought by the BRI. I believe this is not only a successful construction project but also a win-win path that creates prosperity for Sri Lanka and opens up new opportunities for deepening cooperation with China."
\n
S.M.T. Imalka, special correspondent of Chongqing TV in Sri Lanka
\n
\n
"When I first encountered China's Belt and Road Initiative, it resonated strongly within me. I firmly believe this is a grand path worth walking hand in hand together. As a media professional, being able to personally engage in this magnificent endeavor fills me with deep pride. In the past, trade routes were arduous and could take months to traverse; now, we can reach our destination within a day. With over 1,700 kilometers of shared border, China and Kazakhstan possess one of the world's longest land borders, serving as a vibrant lifeline. Landmark facilities such as the China-Kazakhstan Khorgos International Border Cooperation Center, the dry port located in the Khorgos-East Gate special economic zone, and the Khorgos and Kalzhat ports are modern gateways that connect Kazakhstan to China and the world."
\n
Duisenova Sandugash, reporter from ORDA, a media portal in Kazakhstan
\n
\n
"This is my second time visiting Chongqing, but it feels like the first, because this city is so beautiful and vast that I believe people who live their entire lives here cannot manage to explore and experience all its wonders. However, what everyone certainly feels and experiences in this city are the people, their kindness, smiles, and the love they extend to all others. The photos I made came about as an idea that came from the news that there is a girl working as a driver of a big dumper truck in the Zijin Copper Serbia mine, which is not a normal job for a young girl. After that, I contacted the PR of the mine and they allowed me and my colleague to come and make a report. When we went there we were pleasantly surprised with a few other things that the mine management does."
\n
Goran Sivacki, photo editor with over 25 years of professional photography experience from 24sedam, a Serbian news website
\n
\n
"This is my first visit to China, and I am delighted to witness the connectivity at play. During our first-day visit to the Chongqing International Logistics Hub Park, I saw the Belt and Road route map, illustrating how logistics originate from Chongqing, pass through Central Asia, and finally reach Belarus. Our news agency covers news in seven languages, including Chinese. I aspire to portray Chongqing's economic vigor, cultural allure, the individuals propelling urban development, and the locals' zest for life through the medium of Chinese. I hope that our reports will facilitate media exchanges between China and Belarus, enabling more individuals to understand and develop an affinity for Chongqing."
\n
Kirsanava Sviatlana, deputy editor-in-chief of Seven Days under BelTA of Belarus
\n
\n
"This marks my third visit to China, having previously explored Beijing and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Of all the highlights during my time in Chongqing, the Chongqing Planning Exhibition Gallery stands out for its encapsulation of the city's rich history and vibrant present. Chongqing, with its vast urban landscape, modernity intertwined with history, and an atmosphere of limitless potential, radiates a distinct allure. As a journalist from the Uzbekistan National News Agency, my goal is to transform my firsthand experiences and observations in this city into engaging narratives for our readers."
\n
Khonnazarov Gayrat Ergashevich, director of the international news department of the Uzbekistan National News Agency
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.96 percent to close at 3617.60 points on Tuesday.
\n
Rising interest in Chinese assets both at home and abroad reflects investor confidence in the development of emerging industries and ongoing capital market reforms, said experts.
\n
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.96 percent to close at 3617.60 points on Tuesday, returning to the key 3600-point level. The Shenzhen Component Index gained 0.59 percent while the tech-heavy ChiNext in Shenzhen also added 0.39 percent. Combined trading value on the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses approached 1.6 trillion yuan ($220 billion), up 6.5 percent from the previous trading day.
\n
Telecommunication, consumer electronics, plastic products, insurance and auto parts companies led the Tuesday rally.
\n
Chinese assets also recorded a bullish performance in overseas markets. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index — a tracker of Chinese companies trading on US exchanges — at one point jumped 1.8 percent during Monday trade.
\n
The latest data from China International Capital Corp Ltd showed that actively managed capital has returned to the Hong Kong market, the first time since October last year. This may signal a subtle change in foreign investors' strategies for exposure to Chinese assets, they said.
\n
According to a recent UBS Wealth Management report, 19 percent of the global family offices, or firms managing wealth of ultra high net worth individuals plan to increase their investment in China area in 2025. Such firms based in the Middle East have shown the biggest interest.
\n
Marina Lui, China head of UBS Wealth Management, said that some institutional investors, which have had underweight Chinese assets in the past, have increased their exposure this year. A lot of capital has entered the Chinese onshore market this year via the qualified foreign institutional investors program. All these reflect strong interest in China-related investment.
\n
Chinese companies specializing in artificial intelligence, new energy and healthcare, and those generating high dividends like banks, have shown much appeal to overseas investors. The eye-catching performance of tech firms trading in Hong Kong so far this year has drawn rising attention from institutional investors, added Lui.
\n
Zhu Liang, chief investment officer for international asset manager AllianceBernstein in China, said they hold a positive outlook on Chinese assets with longer durations given the current macroeconomic landscape. Companies providing higher dividends and those specializing in new quality productive forces, especially those with intensive intangible assets, as well as consumption companies providing new types of consumer experiences — for example mini figures and collectibles — are likely to show stronger performance, Zhu said.
\n
More importantly, the long-term investment value of Chinese assets has been increasing, he said, adding that Chinese top regulators' requirements on improving listed companies' governance and market value management have led to more cases of companies' stock buybacks and dividend distribution. More support is being given to private enterprises, and foreign investors are thus drawn by these improvements.
\n
But experts from China Merchants Securities said that the A-share market may fluctuate till mid-August. Some companies which have seen their prices spike in previous months may undergo some price adjustments as their latest fiscal results will be released in the first half of this month, they said.
\n
shijing@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.96 percent to close at 3617.60 points on Tuesday.
\n
Rising interest in Chinese assets both at home and abroad reflects investor confidence in the development of emerging industries and ongoing capital market reforms, said experts.
\n
The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index gained 0.96 percent to close at 3617.60 points on Tuesday, returning to the key 3600-point level. The Shenzhen Component Index gained 0.59 percent while the tech-heavy ChiNext in Shenzhen also added 0.39 percent. Combined trading value on the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses approached 1.6 trillion yuan ($220 billion), up 6.5 percent from the previous trading day.
\n
Telecommunication, consumer electronics, plastic products, insurance and auto parts companies led the Tuesday rally.
\n
Chinese assets also recorded a bullish performance in overseas markets. The Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index — a tracker of Chinese companies trading on US exchanges — at one point jumped 1.8 percent during Monday trade.
\n
The latest data from China International Capital Corp Ltd showed that actively managed capital has returned to the Hong Kong market, the first time since October last year. This may signal a subtle change in foreign investors' strategies for exposure to Chinese assets, they said.
\n
According to a recent UBS Wealth Management report, 19 percent of the global family offices, or firms managing wealth of ultra high net worth individuals plan to increase their investment in China area in 2025. Such firms based in the Middle East have shown the biggest interest.
\n
Marina Lui, China head of UBS Wealth Management, said that some institutional investors, which have had underweight Chinese assets in the past, have increased their exposure this year. A lot of capital has entered the Chinese onshore market this year via the qualified foreign institutional investors program. All these reflect strong interest in China-related investment.
\n
Chinese companies specializing in artificial intelligence, new energy and healthcare, and those generating high dividends like banks, have shown much appeal to overseas investors. The eye-catching performance of tech firms trading in Hong Kong so far this year has drawn rising attention from institutional investors, added Lui.
\n
Zhu Liang, chief investment officer for international asset manager AllianceBernstein in China, said they hold a positive outlook on Chinese assets with longer durations given the current macroeconomic landscape. Companies providing higher dividends and those specializing in new quality productive forces, especially those with intensive intangible assets, as well as consumption companies providing new types of consumer experiences — for example mini figures and collectibles — are likely to show stronger performance, Zhu said.
\n
More importantly, the long-term investment value of Chinese assets has been increasing, he said, adding that Chinese top regulators' requirements on improving listed companies' governance and market value management have led to more cases of companies' stock buybacks and dividend distribution. More support is being given to private enterprises, and foreign investors are thus drawn by these improvements.
\n
But experts from China Merchants Securities said that the A-share market may fluctuate till mid-August. Some companies which have seen their prices spike in previous months may undergo some price adjustments as their latest fiscal results will be released in the first half of this month, they said.
A worker from Xiuwen Railway Station in Shanxi province toils amid scorching heat, which hit Yuci, soaring to over 35 C. The station's crew needs to uncouple and realign more than 600 trains each day to safeguard smooth operations.
A worker from Xiuwen Railway Station in Shanxi province toils amid scorching heat, which hit Yuci, soaring to over 35 C. The station's crew needs to uncouple and realign more than 600 trains each day to safeguard smooth operations.
China's services trade maintained steady growth in the first half, with total imports and exports reaching 3.89 trillion yuan ($544.9 billion), up 8 percent year-on-year, the Ministry of Commerce said. Specifically, service exports rose 15 percent to 1.69 trillion yuan, while imports increased 3.2 percent to 2.2 trillion yuan, according to the ministry's data. The services trade deficit narrowed by 152.2 billion yuan compared to the same period last year.
\n
Yuan strengthens against greenback
\n
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 29 pips to 7.1366 against the US dollar on Tuesday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System. In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day.
\n",
+ "content": "
Services trade grows 8% in first half
\n
China's services trade maintained steady growth in the first half, with total imports and exports reaching 3.89 trillion yuan ($544.9 billion), up 8 percent year-on-year, the Ministry of Commerce said. Specifically, service exports rose 15 percent to 1.69 trillion yuan, while imports increased 3.2 percent to 2.2 trillion yuan, according to the ministry's data. The services trade deficit narrowed by 152.2 billion yuan compared to the same period last year.
\n
Yuan strengthens against greenback
\n
The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 29 pips to 7.1366 against the US dollar on Tuesday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System. In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day.
China's childcare subsidy, set at a standard 3,600 yuan ($501) per year for each child under the age of three, is expected to provide financial relief for families, potentially boosting household consumption, analysts said.
\n
This people-centric approach to policymaking is likely to foreshadow further increases in public spending on areas that directly benefit households, such as housing and pension going forward, they added.
\n
"The childcare subsidy marks the first time since the founding of New China that the government has provided nationwide, universal, and direct cash payments to the public as a form of social welfare support," said Guo Yanhong, deputy head of the National Health Commission.
\n
The subsidy is available to all eligible children, regardless of whether they live in urban or rural areas, their ethnicity, region, or whether they are the first, second or third child in the family, Guo said.
\n
"This represents a significant policy measure designed to bring tangible benefits to the people," Guo added.
\n
Childcare subsidy applications will be gradually rolled out across the country later this month, with full access expected by Aug 31, according to the commission.
\n
Based on the 3,600 yuan annual subsidy per child and an estimated 9 million births per year, the total payout could reach over 1 trillion yuan when accounting for children up to age 3, said Luo Zhiheng, chief economist at Yuekai Securities.
\n
"As families use this additional money to purchase everything from baby formula to childcare services, it will generate substantial income for businesses and workers in those sectors," Luo said. "This creates a positive economic feedback loop."
\n
"Given the scale of these subsidies, the boost to consumer demand is likely to be in the hundreds of billions of yuan. And when you factor in the downstream impacts on employment, production, and investment, the overall economic benefits could be substantially higher," he added.
\n
According to the Ministry of Finance, the central government will establish the childcare subsidy fund, and for this year, about 90 billion yuan has been earmarked in the preliminary budget allocation.
\n
Regarding the funding required for distributing basic national standard subsidies, the central government will provide matching funds to local governments on a pro rata basis, with the central treasury bearing approximately 90 percent of the total cost.
\n
Huang Wenzheng, executive director of Beijing-based think tank Yuwa Population Research, said: "The 3,600 yuan benchmark is primarily determined by current fiscal capacity. Additionally, with the program still in its initial phase, investment will remain modest."
\n
Analysts said the childcare subsidy program is a symbolic shift toward greater investment in people and their livelihoods, signaling broader policy changes to come.
\n
"We've witnessed a strategic shift at the national level in recent years, gradually moving away from an investment model focused primarily on physical assets toward one that prioritizes human capital development," said Luo of Yuekai Securities.
\n
"Given the demographic challenges China faces, such as population aging and declining birth rates, we can expect to see an even greater emphasis on pro-family policies and initiatives that bolster human capital formation," Luo added.
\n
A State Council executive meeting on July 25 called for the gradual implementation of free preschool education.
\n
Going forward, policymakers could deliver deeper social security reforms, such as easier access to public housing and healthcare for migrant workers, which will reduce people's precautionary saving habits and unleash huge consumption potential, said Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley.
\n
"To deliver that, China needs to do huge fiscal transfer to the benefits system," Xing said. "It's probably the central government's turn to try to fill the gap by either channeling dividends from State-owned capital to the social security system, or gradually shifting China's policy focus from supporting infrastructure to spending more on social welfare."
China's childcare subsidy, set at a standard 3,600 yuan ($501) per year for each child under the age of three, is expected to provide financial relief for families, potentially boosting household consumption, analysts said.
\n
This people-centric approach to policymaking is likely to foreshadow further increases in public spending on areas that directly benefit households, such as housing and pension going forward, they added.
\n
"The childcare subsidy marks the first time since the founding of New China that the government has provided nationwide, universal, and direct cash payments to the public as a form of social welfare support," said Guo Yanhong, deputy head of the National Health Commission.
\n
The subsidy is available to all eligible children, regardless of whether they live in urban or rural areas, their ethnicity, region, or whether they are the first, second or third child in the family, Guo said.
\n
"This represents a significant policy measure designed to bring tangible benefits to the people," Guo added.
\n
Childcare subsidy applications will be gradually rolled out across the country later this month, with full access expected by Aug 31, according to the commission.
\n
Based on the 3,600 yuan annual subsidy per child and an estimated 9 million births per year, the total payout could reach over 1 trillion yuan when accounting for children up to age 3, said Luo Zhiheng, chief economist at Yuekai Securities.
\n
"As families use this additional money to purchase everything from baby formula to childcare services, it will generate substantial income for businesses and workers in those sectors," Luo said. "This creates a positive economic feedback loop."
\n
"Given the scale of these subsidies, the boost to consumer demand is likely to be in the hundreds of billions of yuan. And when you factor in the downstream impacts on employment, production, and investment, the overall economic benefits could be substantially higher," he added.
\n
According to the Ministry of Finance, the central government will establish the childcare subsidy fund, and for this year, about 90 billion yuan has been earmarked in the preliminary budget allocation.
\n
Regarding the funding required for distributing basic national standard subsidies, the central government will provide matching funds to local governments on a pro rata basis, with the central treasury bearing approximately 90 percent of the total cost.
\n
Huang Wenzheng, executive director of Beijing-based think tank Yuwa Population Research, said: "The 3,600 yuan benchmark is primarily determined by current fiscal capacity. Additionally, with the program still in its initial phase, investment will remain modest."
\n
Analysts said the childcare subsidy program is a symbolic shift toward greater investment in people and their livelihoods, signaling broader policy changes to come.
\n
"We've witnessed a strategic shift at the national level in recent years, gradually moving away from an investment model focused primarily on physical assets toward one that prioritizes human capital development," said Luo of Yuekai Securities.
\n
"Given the demographic challenges China faces, such as population aging and declining birth rates, we can expect to see an even greater emphasis on pro-family policies and initiatives that bolster human capital formation," Luo added.
\n
A State Council executive meeting on July 25 called for the gradual implementation of free preschool education.
\n
Going forward, policymakers could deliver deeper social security reforms, such as easier access to public housing and healthcare for migrant workers, which will reduce people's precautionary saving habits and unleash huge consumption potential, said Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley.
\n
"To deliver that, China needs to do huge fiscal transfer to the benefits system," Xing said. "It's probably the central government's turn to try to fill the gap by either channeling dividends from State-owned capital to the social security system, or gradually shifting China's policy focus from supporting infrastructure to spending more on social welfare."
China has unveiled detailed guidance on a new tax credit policy aimed at encouraging foreign investors to reinvest their profits in the country, as it steps up efforts to stabilize foreign capital inflows and boost long-term investment amid rising global economic uncertainties.
\n
The State Taxation Administration released a new notice clarifying how foreign investors can apply for and use tax credits when they reinvest their distributable profits into Chinese companies. The policy allows eligible investors to offset Chinese tax liabilities if they commit to keeping the investment in China for at least five years.
\n
Under the new rules, foreign companies that use profits distributed by their Chinese subsidiaries to make direct equity investments — such as capital increases or establishing new ventures — can apply for a tax credit equal to 10 percent of the reinvested amount. Alternatively, they may opt for a lower rate based on applicable bilateral tax treaties.
\n
For example, a foreign company that reinvests 10 million yuan ($1.39 million) in distributed profits can select a 10 percent credit worth 1 million yuan. If it later sells the investment after five years, it must repay the deferred withholding tax, but the credit can offset that amount.
\n
Li Xuhong, a professor at the Beijing National Accounting Institute, said: "The policy reduces the tax burden on foreign enterprises and supports the stable development of China's economy. At the same time, it sends a strong signal that China welcomes long-term investment."
\n
The guidance lays out various scenarios — from simple equity infusions to reinvestments via profit-derived cash or noncash assets like securities or equipment. It also details the process of calculating credit entitlements and managing them over time.
\n
Although the incentive is currently slated to run from Jan 1, 2025 through Dec 31,2028, companies can continue to use any unused tax credit balances after the deadline.
\n
Bai Yanfeng, a professor from the Central University of Finance and Economics, said, "Such a provision better takes into account the actual needs of foreign investors and supports them in continuing to share in the growth dividends of Chinese companies."
China has unveiled detailed guidance on a new tax credit policy aimed at encouraging foreign investors to reinvest their profits in the country, as it steps up efforts to stabilize foreign capital inflows and boost long-term investment amid rising global economic uncertainties.
\n
The State Taxation Administration released a new notice clarifying how foreign investors can apply for and use tax credits when they reinvest their distributable profits into Chinese companies. The policy allows eligible investors to offset Chinese tax liabilities if they commit to keeping the investment in China for at least five years.
\n
Under the new rules, foreign companies that use profits distributed by their Chinese subsidiaries to make direct equity investments — such as capital increases or establishing new ventures — can apply for a tax credit equal to 10 percent of the reinvested amount. Alternatively, they may opt for a lower rate based on applicable bilateral tax treaties.
\n
For example, a foreign company that reinvests 10 million yuan ($1.39 million) in distributed profits can select a 10 percent credit worth 1 million yuan. If it later sells the investment after five years, it must repay the deferred withholding tax, but the credit can offset that amount.
\n
Li Xuhong, a professor at the Beijing National Accounting Institute, said: "The policy reduces the tax burden on foreign enterprises and supports the stable development of China's economy. At the same time, it sends a strong signal that China welcomes long-term investment."
\n
The guidance lays out various scenarios — from simple equity infusions to reinvestments via profit-derived cash or noncash assets like securities or equipment. It also details the process of calculating credit entitlements and managing them over time.
\n
Although the incentive is currently slated to run from Jan 1, 2025 through Dec 31,2028, companies can continue to use any unused tax credit balances after the deadline.
\n
Bai Yanfeng, a professor from the Central University of Finance and Economics, said, "Such a provision better takes into account the actual needs of foreign investors and supports them in continuing to share in the growth dividends of Chinese companies."
The world's first cargo flight to an offshore oil platform, conducted by a domestically developed 2-metric-ton electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, demonstrates the immense potential of integrating low-altitude aviation with ocean-based industries, as well as the value of heavy-load eVTOLs in long-distance missions, experts said.
\n
To accelerate the application of eVTOLs in marine scenarios, they emphasized the necessity for design adjustments tailored to marine environments, integration with diverse engineering projects, and technology upgrades for greater performance.
\n
In a vital leap for China's low-altitude economy, the eVTOL craft, named CarryAll, recently transported fresh fruit and emergency medical supplies from Shenzhen, Guangdong province to the Huizhou 19-3 platform, located 150 kilometers off the coast of Shenzhen, slashing transport time from 10 hours to just 58 minutes.
\n
The test flight was part of a joint initiative by China National Offshore Oil Corp, Citic Offshore Helicopter Co and Autoflight. They jointly announced the breakthrough on Sunday.
\n
For decades, CNOOC relied on slow-moving vessels — a journey of 10 hours per trip — or costly helicopters to transport supplies and personnel. The eVTOL offers a third option: autonomous, fast, and scalable logistics even for platforms with limited landing space.
\n
"This successful flight breaks the traditional time constraints of offshore logistics and offers new possibilities for emergency supply and maritime engineering support," said Yang Daqing, secretary-general of the port and shipping supply chain branch of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing. "It's a major step in integrating low-altitude aviation into ocean-based industries."
\n
Wang Guowen, director of the center for logistics and supply chain management at Shenzhen-based think tank, the China Development Institute, highlighted that Carry-All's hybrid fixed-wing and rotor design enhances energy efficiency, enabling low-cost air transport and addressing traditional eVTOL limitations in range and payload.
\n
He added that this hybrid configuration is an important direction for the future development of low-altitude transportation, whether for cargo or passenger transport.
\n
Notably, CarryAll is the world's first eVTOL over 1 ton to receive a type certificate, production license, and individual airworthiness certificate. Featuring a composite wing, it boasts a range of 200 kilometers, a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour, and a payload capacity of 400 kilograms.
\n
According to Xie Jia, senior vice-president at Autoflight, the aircraft passed key reliability tests, including hovering, cross-sea navigation, and vertical takeoff and landing, so as to better adapt to the South China Sea's challenging environment, characterized by high salt spray, humidity and strong gusts.
\n
This landmark flight follows a strategic agreement signed in April between CITIC Offshore Helicopter, Citic Financial Leasing, and Autoflight, which includes an intent to purchase 100 large eVTOL aircraft, including the 2-ton CarryAll.
\n
According to estimates by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the low-altitude economy could reach 3.5 trillion yuan ($480 billion) by 2035, and innovative applications in marine environments are expected to be an important growth driver.
\n
China's 20,000-kilometer coastline and growing offshore infrastructure create strong demand for fast, flexible aerial logistics, Yang said. He believes that offshore oil and gas, marine petrochemicals, desalination and coastal mining are among the sectors that could benefit most from scaled-up eVTOL deployment.
\n
In his view, CarryAll has delivered strong performance in payload capacity, transportation timeliness, and range during this mission, extending the application of low-altitude transport into maritime scenarios and further expanding the potential of the low-altitude economy.
\n
In future maritime logistics missions, Yang said he hopes that this type of eVTOL will focus on the transportation of high-value and quickly needed items, working in synergy with unmanned vessels.
\n
bingcun@chinadailyhk.com
\n",
+ "content": "
The world's first cargo flight to an offshore oil platform, conducted by a domestically developed 2-metric-ton electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, demonstrates the immense potential of integrating low-altitude aviation with ocean-based industries, as well as the value of heavy-load eVTOLs in long-distance missions, experts said.
\n
To accelerate the application of eVTOLs in marine scenarios, they emphasized the necessity for design adjustments tailored to marine environments, integration with diverse engineering projects, and technology upgrades for greater performance.
\n
In a vital leap for China's low-altitude economy, the eVTOL craft, named CarryAll, recently transported fresh fruit and emergency medical supplies from Shenzhen, Guangdong province to the Huizhou 19-3 platform, located 150 kilometers off the coast of Shenzhen, slashing transport time from 10 hours to just 58 minutes.
\n
The test flight was part of a joint initiative by China National Offshore Oil Corp, Citic Offshore Helicopter Co and Autoflight. They jointly announced the breakthrough on Sunday.
\n
For decades, CNOOC relied on slow-moving vessels — a journey of 10 hours per trip — or costly helicopters to transport supplies and personnel. The eVTOL offers a third option: autonomous, fast, and scalable logistics even for platforms with limited landing space.
\n
"This successful flight breaks the traditional time constraints of offshore logistics and offers new possibilities for emergency supply and maritime engineering support," said Yang Daqing, secretary-general of the port and shipping supply chain branch of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing. "It's a major step in integrating low-altitude aviation into ocean-based industries."
\n
Wang Guowen, director of the center for logistics and supply chain management at Shenzhen-based think tank, the China Development Institute, highlighted that Carry-All's hybrid fixed-wing and rotor design enhances energy efficiency, enabling low-cost air transport and addressing traditional eVTOL limitations in range and payload.
\n
He added that this hybrid configuration is an important direction for the future development of low-altitude transportation, whether for cargo or passenger transport.
\n
Notably, CarryAll is the world's first eVTOL over 1 ton to receive a type certificate, production license, and individual airworthiness certificate. Featuring a composite wing, it boasts a range of 200 kilometers, a top speed of 200 kilometers per hour, and a payload capacity of 400 kilograms.
\n
According to Xie Jia, senior vice-president at Autoflight, the aircraft passed key reliability tests, including hovering, cross-sea navigation, and vertical takeoff and landing, so as to better adapt to the South China Sea's challenging environment, characterized by high salt spray, humidity and strong gusts.
\n
This landmark flight follows a strategic agreement signed in April between CITIC Offshore Helicopter, Citic Financial Leasing, and Autoflight, which includes an intent to purchase 100 large eVTOL aircraft, including the 2-ton CarryAll.
\n
According to estimates by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, the low-altitude economy could reach 3.5 trillion yuan ($480 billion) by 2035, and innovative applications in marine environments are expected to be an important growth driver.
\n
China's 20,000-kilometer coastline and growing offshore infrastructure create strong demand for fast, flexible aerial logistics, Yang said. He believes that offshore oil and gas, marine petrochemicals, desalination and coastal mining are among the sectors that could benefit most from scaled-up eVTOL deployment.
\n
In his view, CarryAll has delivered strong performance in payload capacity, transportation timeliness, and range during this mission, extending the application of low-altitude transport into maritime scenarios and further expanding the potential of the low-altitude economy.
\n
In future maritime logistics missions, Yang said he hopes that this type of eVTOL will focus on the transportation of high-value and quickly needed items, working in synergy with unmanned vessels.
Visitors play at an indoor snow-themed entertainment zone in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on July 9.
\n
The popularity of indoor activities such as indoor skiing, surfing, fishing, rock climbing and nighttime museum visits is on the rise, as holidaymakers escape from the intense heat across the country this summer.
\n
In particular, the off-season experience of going skiing in summer, with the air conditioning blazing away, has been a big hit for those living in the southern part of the country, as the scorching temperatures continue outside and many locals have never seen snow before.
\n
Since July, booking volumes at indoor skiing venues and ice and snow parks nationwide have doubled year-on-year, according to Qunar, a Beijing-based online travel agency.
\n
"Compared with the north, indoor ski resorts have been more popular in the south. Since July, eight out of the 10 most popular domestic ice and snow worlds have been located in southern Chinese cities," said Zhang Zhongyin, a Qunar researcher.
\n
Specifically, booking volumes at Sunac Snow Park in Guangzhou, Guangdong province since July have jumped fourfold year-on-year. And the popularity of Taicang Alps Resort — a recreational area in Suzhou, Jiangsu province that includes a ski slope, a resort and shopping streets — has driven reservations at nearby hotels by 40 percent on a yearly basis, Qunar said.
\n
In addition to skiing, more indoor businesses have emerged for typically outdoor activities such as sea fishing and surfing, as consumers seek to beat the heat, test their angling acumen or hang ten.
\n
Zhang Xiaojie, a five-year-old boy, recently checked out an indoor seaside pavilion in Beijing, where he can fish just like at the seaside.
\n
"The familiar smell of the sea comes to my face. My feet are on the special sand, and I can search for different marine creatures such as starfish, hermit crabs and shells," Zhang said.
\n
His parents said they planned to bring Zhang to the seaside, but due to extremely hot weather, they chose an indoor venue instead, and their son was thrilled by the experience.
\n
In July, the searching volumes of indoor activities such as indoor seaside pavilions and indoor surfing nationwide surged tenfold over June, Qunar found.
\n
Meanwhile, the night economy has continued to heat up this summer with cooler temperatures occurring after sundown. Major scenic spots, theme parks, museums and zoos have extended their opening hours or launched special night tours — such as light shows and night performances — to attract more visitors.
\n
Hong Yong, an associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said the most active period for nighttime consumption is typically summertime, as people are more willing to go out for activities and consumption with suitable weather and longer daylight hours.
\n
"Some innovative business models such as nighttime cultural and creative markets, and 24-hour cultural and leisure spaces, can be further developed to stimulate consumption potential," Hong said.
\n
Museums have also started to embrace the darkness. For example, the National Natural History Museum of China in Beijing has extended its opening hours until 9 pm from mid-July to Aug 15. After dark, the museum fashions the facade of the building into a jumbo-sized screen and puts on a riveting light performance through 3D projections, with the show interpreting 4.6 billion years of the history of the Earth.
\n
The museum has also introduced different night sessions and events that allow museumgoers to stay overnight at exhibition halls in tents, with children able to enjoy in-depth learning experiences.
\n
The "Night at the Museum" program has been a result of integration between cultural value and the upgrading of the cultural tourism sector, Zhang of Qunar said.
\n
"With the application of artificial intelligence and light technologies, static cultural knowledge has been transformed into immersive products, providing tourists with a more in-depth experience and driving the upgrading of cultural and tourism consumption," Zhang said.
\n
zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Visitors play at an indoor snow-themed entertainment zone in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on July 9.
\n
The popularity of indoor activities such as indoor skiing, surfing, fishing, rock climbing and nighttime museum visits is on the rise, as holidaymakers escape from the intense heat across the country this summer.
\n
In particular, the off-season experience of going skiing in summer, with the air conditioning blazing away, has been a big hit for those living in the southern part of the country, as the scorching temperatures continue outside and many locals have never seen snow before.
\n
Since July, booking volumes at indoor skiing venues and ice and snow parks nationwide have doubled year-on-year, according to Qunar, a Beijing-based online travel agency.
\n
"Compared with the north, indoor ski resorts have been more popular in the south. Since July, eight out of the 10 most popular domestic ice and snow worlds have been located in southern Chinese cities," said Zhang Zhongyin, a Qunar researcher.
\n
Specifically, booking volumes at Sunac Snow Park in Guangzhou, Guangdong province since July have jumped fourfold year-on-year. And the popularity of Taicang Alps Resort — a recreational area in Suzhou, Jiangsu province that includes a ski slope, a resort and shopping streets — has driven reservations at nearby hotels by 40 percent on a yearly basis, Qunar said.
\n
In addition to skiing, more indoor businesses have emerged for typically outdoor activities such as sea fishing and surfing, as consumers seek to beat the heat, test their angling acumen or hang ten.
\n
Zhang Xiaojie, a five-year-old boy, recently checked out an indoor seaside pavilion in Beijing, where he can fish just like at the seaside.
\n
"The familiar smell of the sea comes to my face. My feet are on the special sand, and I can search for different marine creatures such as starfish, hermit crabs and shells," Zhang said.
\n
His parents said they planned to bring Zhang to the seaside, but due to extremely hot weather, they chose an indoor venue instead, and their son was thrilled by the experience.
\n
In July, the searching volumes of indoor activities such as indoor seaside pavilions and indoor surfing nationwide surged tenfold over June, Qunar found.
\n
Meanwhile, the night economy has continued to heat up this summer with cooler temperatures occurring after sundown. Major scenic spots, theme parks, museums and zoos have extended their opening hours or launched special night tours — such as light shows and night performances — to attract more visitors.
\n
Hong Yong, an associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said the most active period for nighttime consumption is typically summertime, as people are more willing to go out for activities and consumption with suitable weather and longer daylight hours.
\n
"Some innovative business models such as nighttime cultural and creative markets, and 24-hour cultural and leisure spaces, can be further developed to stimulate consumption potential," Hong said.
\n
Museums have also started to embrace the darkness. For example, the National Natural History Museum of China in Beijing has extended its opening hours until 9 pm from mid-July to Aug 15. After dark, the museum fashions the facade of the building into a jumbo-sized screen and puts on a riveting light performance through 3D projections, with the show interpreting 4.6 billion years of the history of the Earth.
\n
The museum has also introduced different night sessions and events that allow museumgoers to stay overnight at exhibition halls in tents, with children able to enjoy in-depth learning experiences.
\n
The "Night at the Museum" program has been a result of integration between cultural value and the upgrading of the cultural tourism sector, Zhang of Qunar said.
\n
"With the application of artificial intelligence and light technologies, static cultural knowledge has been transformed into immersive products, providing tourists with a more in-depth experience and driving the upgrading of cultural and tourism consumption," Zhang said.
\n
zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
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+ "creator": "",
+ "pubDate": "Wed, 06 Aug 2025 00:21:04 +0000",
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+ {
+ "title": "014BUSINESS - Apollo Go teams up with Lyft for Europe launch",
+ "description": "
Apollo Go, Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing unit, announced a strategic partnership with Lyft, a global mobility platform, on Monday, marking a significant step in the Chinese tech giant's international expansion.
\n
According to the statement, Apollo Go will launch autonomous ride-hailing services in Europe via Lyft's vast transportation networks by 2026. Using its sixth-generation autonomous vehicles, the services will first launch in Germany and the United Kingdom.
\n
The partnership also envisions expanding the fleet to several thousand vehicles across Europe in the following years, driving large-scale commercialization of autonomous mobility in the region, the companies said.
\n
"This collaboration with Lyft to launch autonomous ride-hailing in Europe, starting with Germany and the UK, is a major milestone in Apollo Go's globalization strategy," said Robin Li, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Baidu.
\n
Li added that Baidu will continue to deepen the integration of its cutting-edge autonomous driving technology with Lyft's operational expertise, delivering safer, greener and more efficient mobility experiences to users across Europe.
\n
Lyft CEO David Risher also noted that as the Chinese tech heavyweight operates the world's largest autonomous ride-hailing platform, the cooperation is expected to bring invaluable experience to the table.
\n
"This means we can offer the benefits of autonomous mobility — safety, reliability, and privacy — to millions of users across Europe," Risher said.
\n
Apollo Go has been accelerating its global footprint through worldwide collaborations. Earlier this year, the company launched pilot services in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. More recently, it reached a separate agreement with Uber to integrate thousands of autonomous vehicles into Uber's global ride-hailing network.
\n
The tech player is also playing a growing role in advancing smart mobility and enriching cultural tourism in China.
\n
Earlier this month, the company launched Hainan province's first full-scenario autonomous ride-hailing service in the province's capital city of Haikou, with pilot routes covering major cultural and tourist landmarks such as Holiday Beach and Qilou Old Street.
\n
Local residents and tourists can conveniently hail a ride via a mobile app or WeChat mini-program and have the option of activating a Hainan-style voice assistant during the ride, according to Apollo Go.
\n
"I used to just see autonomous vehicles online, now it's actually in my city!" said a Haikou resident surnamed Yang.
\n
"The ride was incredibly smart and user-friendly. You can even recline the seat and enjoy a massage. I can see that visitors are amazed by the high-tech vibe of transportation in Hainan," Yang said.
\n
"We hope smart mobility can ease travel congestion during peak seasons while offering a unique experience that reflects both the convenience of the free trade port and the laid-back lifestyle of Hainan," said an official from the Hainan provincial department of culture, radio, film, television, publications and sports.
\n
According to Apollo Go, the company has to date deployed over 1,000 autonomous vehicles across 15 cities globally, delivering more than 11 million rides, with domestic coverage including major cities such as Beijing; Shanghai; Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province; and Haikou.
Apollo Go, Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing unit, announced a strategic partnership with Lyft, a global mobility platform, on Monday, marking a significant step in the Chinese tech giant's international expansion.
\n
According to the statement, Apollo Go will launch autonomous ride-hailing services in Europe via Lyft's vast transportation networks by 2026. Using its sixth-generation autonomous vehicles, the services will first launch in Germany and the United Kingdom.
\n
The partnership also envisions expanding the fleet to several thousand vehicles across Europe in the following years, driving large-scale commercialization of autonomous mobility in the region, the companies said.
\n
"This collaboration with Lyft to launch autonomous ride-hailing in Europe, starting with Germany and the UK, is a major milestone in Apollo Go's globalization strategy," said Robin Li, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Baidu.
\n
Li added that Baidu will continue to deepen the integration of its cutting-edge autonomous driving technology with Lyft's operational expertise, delivering safer, greener and more efficient mobility experiences to users across Europe.
\n
Lyft CEO David Risher also noted that as the Chinese tech heavyweight operates the world's largest autonomous ride-hailing platform, the cooperation is expected to bring invaluable experience to the table.
\n
"This means we can offer the benefits of autonomous mobility — safety, reliability, and privacy — to millions of users across Europe," Risher said.
\n
Apollo Go has been accelerating its global footprint through worldwide collaborations. Earlier this year, the company launched pilot services in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. More recently, it reached a separate agreement with Uber to integrate thousands of autonomous vehicles into Uber's global ride-hailing network.
\n
The tech player is also playing a growing role in advancing smart mobility and enriching cultural tourism in China.
\n
Earlier this month, the company launched Hainan province's first full-scenario autonomous ride-hailing service in the province's capital city of Haikou, with pilot routes covering major cultural and tourist landmarks such as Holiday Beach and Qilou Old Street.
\n
Local residents and tourists can conveniently hail a ride via a mobile app or WeChat mini-program and have the option of activating a Hainan-style voice assistant during the ride, according to Apollo Go.
\n
"I used to just see autonomous vehicles online, now it's actually in my city!" said a Haikou resident surnamed Yang.
\n
"The ride was incredibly smart and user-friendly. You can even recline the seat and enjoy a massage. I can see that visitors are amazed by the high-tech vibe of transportation in Hainan," Yang said.
\n
"We hope smart mobility can ease travel congestion during peak seasons while offering a unique experience that reflects both the convenience of the free trade port and the laid-back lifestyle of Hainan," said an official from the Hainan provincial department of culture, radio, film, television, publications and sports.
\n
According to Apollo Go, the company has to date deployed over 1,000 autonomous vehicles across 15 cities globally, delivering more than 11 million rides, with domestic coverage including major cities such as Beijing; Shanghai; Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province; and Haikou.
A drone image shows the construction site of the Dongtingxi Yuanshui Grand Bridge project, which is located on a section of the Zhangjiajie-Guanzhuang Expressway, in Huaihua, Hunan province, on Sunday. The expressway aims to facilitate links among three major tourism and economic regions of Hunan — Zhangjiajie, Huaihua and Xiangxi.
\n",
+ "content": "
A drone image shows the construction site of the Dongtingxi Yuanshui Grand Bridge project, which is located on a section of the Zhangjiajie-Guanzhuang Expressway, in Huaihua, Hunan province, on Sunday. The expressway aims to facilitate links among three major tourism and economic regions of Hunan — Zhangjiajie, Huaihua and Xiangxi.
Customers take photos at a McDonald's restaurant in Zhengzhou, Henan province, in May.
\n
McDonald's China's plan to open 1,000 new stores annually and reach as many as 10,000 locations by 2028 is on track, boosted by innovation and localization, according to its top executive.
\n
The food service chain unveiled a report recently to mark the eighth anniversary of its transition to a developmental licensee model under the "Jin Gong Men" (golden arches) banner. McDonald's China was acquired by a consortium led by CITIC Capital in 2017.
\n
The report coincides with the company's rapid expansion, with more than 7,100 outlets across 280 cities — more than triple the number in 2017 — and over 1.3 billion annual customer visits.
\n
Phyllis Cheung, CEO of McDonald's China, said, "The 'Jin Gong Men' model — a global brand empowered by local ownership and operations — has enabled us to respond faster to market dynamics, drive innovation, and scale impact across food, sustainability, talent, and community."
\n
McDonald's China has committed to local execution across management, operations, and innovation. Cheung said the fully localized management team allows the company to stay "closer to customers" and move "faster than ever", making decisions independently and feeding successful China-born innovations, like its spicy menu series and CUBE-style restaurant design, back into McDonald's global system.
\n
"We have a Chinese team and Chinese speed. That's our local advantage," Cheung said. "Even our suppliers in China are producing to a level where their products — like pies and chicken — are being considered for global distribution."
\n
Speaking on store expansion, the CEO said the chain "has long-term confidence in the Chinese market "and is opening two to three new stores every day. "By year-end, we will expand into the Ningxia Hui autonomous region and Qinghai province, achieving 100 percent coverage of all provincial-level administrative regions on the Chinese mainland."
\n
The company also plans to penetrate further in the market to accelerate development into third and fourth-tier cities. China's consumer landscape is evolving rapidly, with a growing focus on value-for-money and a dislike of overpaying. McDonald's has responded with pricing innovations such as its 22.9 yuan ($3.18) set meal known as the "Big Bite Meal".
\n
The company considers its supply chain one of its pillars of strength. With over 90 percent of ingredients sourced locally, the company leverages its supply chain to maintain pricing power and quality. It has invested more than 12 billion yuan alongside suppliers in the past five years to build the McDonald's China supply chain ecosystem.
\n
Innovation has also propelled its communication with consumers. Its menu is continuously refreshed with offerings catering to local tastes and consumption trends, such as the breakfast combo (9.9 yuan) and protein-packed beef burger for fitness-focused consumers.
\n
Digital transformation also enhances its customer experiences. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald's China orders are placed via mobile devices or self-order kiosks. More than 6,000 stores feature smart pick-up lockers, allowing contactless retrieval through QR code scans.
\n
They are not just digitizing operations, said the CEO. "Customers can choose when and how to place and pick up their orders, giving them a sense of autonomy and control," Cheung said.
\n
Changes in consumer lifestyles are also quickly reflected in how McDonald's China innovates around consumption scenarios. The company is piloting voice-activated drive-through orders designed for new energy vehicle drivers, said the CEO.
\n
Listening to their customers is what keeps them localized and innovative. McDonald's China tracks more than 20,000 daily social media posts related to the brand.
\n
"We hold regular focus groups to go deeper into what customers love — or don't love — about our offerings," Cheung said. "Our goal is not just to grow with China, but to co-create with Chinese consumers."
\n
wangzhuoqiong@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "\n
Customers take photos at a McDonald's restaurant in Zhengzhou, Henan province, in May.
\n
McDonald's China's plan to open 1,000 new stores annually and reach as many as 10,000 locations by 2028 is on track, boosted by innovation and localization, according to its top executive.
\n
The food service chain unveiled a report recently to mark the eighth anniversary of its transition to a developmental licensee model under the "Jin Gong Men" (golden arches) banner. McDonald's China was acquired by a consortium led by CITIC Capital in 2017.
\n
The report coincides with the company's rapid expansion, with more than 7,100 outlets across 280 cities — more than triple the number in 2017 — and over 1.3 billion annual customer visits.
\n
Phyllis Cheung, CEO of McDonald's China, said, "The 'Jin Gong Men' model — a global brand empowered by local ownership and operations — has enabled us to respond faster to market dynamics, drive innovation, and scale impact across food, sustainability, talent, and community."
\n
McDonald's China has committed to local execution across management, operations, and innovation. Cheung said the fully localized management team allows the company to stay "closer to customers" and move "faster than ever", making decisions independently and feeding successful China-born innovations, like its spicy menu series and CUBE-style restaurant design, back into McDonald's global system.
\n
"We have a Chinese team and Chinese speed. That's our local advantage," Cheung said. "Even our suppliers in China are producing to a level where their products — like pies and chicken — are being considered for global distribution."
\n
Speaking on store expansion, the CEO said the chain "has long-term confidence in the Chinese market "and is opening two to three new stores every day. "By year-end, we will expand into the Ningxia Hui autonomous region and Qinghai province, achieving 100 percent coverage of all provincial-level administrative regions on the Chinese mainland."
\n
The company also plans to penetrate further in the market to accelerate development into third and fourth-tier cities. China's consumer landscape is evolving rapidly, with a growing focus on value-for-money and a dislike of overpaying. McDonald's has responded with pricing innovations such as its 22.9 yuan ($3.18) set meal known as the "Big Bite Meal".
\n
The company considers its supply chain one of its pillars of strength. With over 90 percent of ingredients sourced locally, the company leverages its supply chain to maintain pricing power and quality. It has invested more than 12 billion yuan alongside suppliers in the past five years to build the McDonald's China supply chain ecosystem.
\n
Innovation has also propelled its communication with consumers. Its menu is continuously refreshed with offerings catering to local tastes and consumption trends, such as the breakfast combo (9.9 yuan) and protein-packed beef burger for fitness-focused consumers.
\n
Digital transformation also enhances its customer experiences. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald's China orders are placed via mobile devices or self-order kiosks. More than 6,000 stores feature smart pick-up lockers, allowing contactless retrieval through QR code scans.
\n
They are not just digitizing operations, said the CEO. "Customers can choose when and how to place and pick up their orders, giving them a sense of autonomy and control," Cheung said.
\n
Changes in consumer lifestyles are also quickly reflected in how McDonald's China innovates around consumption scenarios. The company is piloting voice-activated drive-through orders designed for new energy vehicle drivers, said the CEO.
\n
Listening to their customers is what keeps them localized and innovative. McDonald's China tracks more than 20,000 daily social media posts related to the brand.
\n
"We hold regular focus groups to go deeper into what customers love — or don't love — about our offerings," Cheung said. "Our goal is not just to grow with China, but to co-create with Chinese consumers."
China is making big strides in promoting green development of the global shipping industry, but closer international collaboration is needed to ensure the effectiveness of such a transformation, experts said.
\n
Chinese shipbuilder Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore and Engineering Co Ltd, or CIMC SOE, inked a deal with Norwegian company Amon Gas recently for the construction of two ammonia dual-fuel medium-sized liquefied petroleum gas/liquid ammonia carriers, valued at $160 million.
\n
These vessels, each with a capacity of 51,000 cubic meters, represent the world's largest medium-sized gas carriers, marking a notable advancement in China's clean-energy shipbuilding sector. The two ships are expected to be delivered in 2028.
\n
Yang Xiaohu, executive director and president of CIMC Enric, the parent company of CIMC SOE, said the deal is a testament to the fact that the company's technological strength in clean energy shipbuilding has won recognition from international shipowners.
\n
"The offshore clean energy business has become one of the important cornerstones of the company's strategy to deploy international shipping clean energy solutions and comprehensive services," Yang said.
\n
The company has established core competencies such as production capacity for biomass-based green methanol and core process solutions for green hydrogen/ammonia/methanol projects, including port bunkering, he added.
\n
This agreement comes at a time when the global shipping industry is increasingly focused on promoting sustainable practices in response to rising demand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transportation.
\n
The International Maritime Organization in 2023 set ambitious targets to achieve net-zero emissions by or around 2050. As its interim goals, 20-30 percent emissions from international shipping are targeted for reduction by 2030, and up to 80 percent to be cut by 2040, compared to the 2008 levels.
\n
Ammonia, as a clean and efficient alternative fuel, can reduce the shipping industry's reliance on traditional fossil fuels and significantly lower carbon emissions during vessel operations, making it an important option for the next generation of marine fuels.
\n
According to the Ammonia Energy Association, 130 ammonia-fueled ships had already been ordered globally as of March, with an additional 225 on reserve.
\n
Wang Guowen, senior research fellow and director of the research center for logistics and supply chain management at Shenzhen, Guangdong province-based think tank China Development Institute, said green transformation of the shipping industry is an important direction for tackling climate change and for enterprises to fulfill their social responsibilities.
\n
Following the adoption of low-sulfur fuels and liquefied natural gas, hydrogen and ammonia fuels are emerging as alternatives, which represent crucial measures to drastically reduce emissions, he noted.
\n
"In this context, China's shipbuilding industry has been making numerous innovative efforts in the decarbonization of large vessels. This is evident in the development of dual-fuel ships, with enhanced configurations to support such clean energy transitions."
\n
Ren Weimin, director of the transport division at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, stressed the importance of international cooperation in the green drive.
\n
"Achieving green transformation in the shipping industry requires close international cooperation. Countries and their governments should face up to the issues of disrupted global supply chains and blocked maritime shipping routes, and work together to create favorable conditions for green shipping."
\n
sally@chinadailyhk.com
\n",
+ "content": "
China is making big strides in promoting green development of the global shipping industry, but closer international collaboration is needed to ensure the effectiveness of such a transformation, experts said.
\n
Chinese shipbuilder Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore and Engineering Co Ltd, or CIMC SOE, inked a deal with Norwegian company Amon Gas recently for the construction of two ammonia dual-fuel medium-sized liquefied petroleum gas/liquid ammonia carriers, valued at $160 million.
\n
These vessels, each with a capacity of 51,000 cubic meters, represent the world's largest medium-sized gas carriers, marking a notable advancement in China's clean-energy shipbuilding sector. The two ships are expected to be delivered in 2028.
\n
Yang Xiaohu, executive director and president of CIMC Enric, the parent company of CIMC SOE, said the deal is a testament to the fact that the company's technological strength in clean energy shipbuilding has won recognition from international shipowners.
\n
"The offshore clean energy business has become one of the important cornerstones of the company's strategy to deploy international shipping clean energy solutions and comprehensive services," Yang said.
\n
The company has established core competencies such as production capacity for biomass-based green methanol and core process solutions for green hydrogen/ammonia/methanol projects, including port bunkering, he added.
\n
This agreement comes at a time when the global shipping industry is increasingly focused on promoting sustainable practices in response to rising demand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transportation.
\n
The International Maritime Organization in 2023 set ambitious targets to achieve net-zero emissions by or around 2050. As its interim goals, 20-30 percent emissions from international shipping are targeted for reduction by 2030, and up to 80 percent to be cut by 2040, compared to the 2008 levels.
\n
Ammonia, as a clean and efficient alternative fuel, can reduce the shipping industry's reliance on traditional fossil fuels and significantly lower carbon emissions during vessel operations, making it an important option for the next generation of marine fuels.
\n
According to the Ammonia Energy Association, 130 ammonia-fueled ships had already been ordered globally as of March, with an additional 225 on reserve.
\n
Wang Guowen, senior research fellow and director of the research center for logistics and supply chain management at Shenzhen, Guangdong province-based think tank China Development Institute, said green transformation of the shipping industry is an important direction for tackling climate change and for enterprises to fulfill their social responsibilities.
\n
Following the adoption of low-sulfur fuels and liquefied natural gas, hydrogen and ammonia fuels are emerging as alternatives, which represent crucial measures to drastically reduce emissions, he noted.
\n
"In this context, China's shipbuilding industry has been making numerous innovative efforts in the decarbonization of large vessels. This is evident in the development of dual-fuel ships, with enhanced configurations to support such clean energy transitions."
\n
Ren Weimin, director of the transport division at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, stressed the importance of international cooperation in the green drive.
\n
"Achieving green transformation in the shipping industry requires close international cooperation. Countries and their governments should face up to the issues of disrupted global supply chains and blocked maritime shipping routes, and work together to create favorable conditions for green shipping."
(From left) Haas' British driver Oliver Bearman, Racing Bulls' French driver Isack Hadjar and Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen compete during the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit in Mogyorod near Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday.
\n
Photographers take aim at the podium as they snap pictures of the trophy ceremony following Sunday's race.
\n
It's time for Formula One's risk-taking drivers, overworked engineers and harried team principals to relax. At least in theory.
\n
With four weeks until the next race, including a mandatory 14-day shutdown of all racing operations from next week, the F1 season is on hold.
\n
It's what F1 calls "silly season," the time when contract talks — and rumors — fill the vacuum.
\n
It often seemed like silly season started early, with feverish speculation about a move from Red Bull to Mercedes for four-time champion Max Verstappen. Now that Verstappen has confirmed he's staying with Red Bull, other decisions — such as contract renewals at Mercedes — could speed up.
\n
Russell at Mercedes
\n
Most F1 teams saw the sweeping rule changes coming for 2026 and tied down key drivers to long contract extensions last year, or even the year before.
\n
The idea was to lock in experienced drivers who could help with development throughout 2025, so the very different 2026 cars wouldn't come as a surprise.
\n
Mercedes does things a little differently. As well as checking out a potential Verstappen move, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has waited on contract extensions for George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who aren't confirmed beyond 2025.
\n
Both went through Mercedes' young driver program, which helped them through the junior series, and seemingly gives the team more control over their careers.
\n
"Mercedes manages me as well, so it's not really a deadline in my hands as such," four-time Grand Prix winner Russell said last month, adding he'd had no talks with other teams. Antonelli started his debut F1 season strongly, but the 18-year-old driver's performances have dipped in recent months.
\n
Red Bull's other seats
\n
Verstappen's decision has taken a lot of pressure off, but the broader Red Bull organization still has three seats to fill — one at Red Bull and two at Racing Bulls. It's not clear who will take the final decision, and when, after longtime team principal Christian Horner was fired.
\n
If the logic behind dropping the underperforming Sergio Perez last year was that any Red Bull replacement would do better, it's been proved wrong.
\n
Liam Lawson lasted two races as Verstappen's teammate and Yuki Tsunoda has only scored points in three of 12 race weekends since his promotion. The team's engine partnership with Honda ends this year, which could affect Honda-backed Tsunoda's place.
\n
French rookie Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls has outscored both Tsunoda and Lawson this season, and might be the front-runner for the Red Bull seat. F1's governing body, the FIA, also made an exception to grant Red Bull-backed Formula 2 driver Arvid Lindblad a license before his 18th birthday.
\n
Cadillac is coming
\n
"That's actually a nice seat... I wouldn't mind." Valtteri Bottas' comments in a social media skit in June fawning over a Cadillac road car went viral and cemented him in many fans' minds as the front-runner to join the new General Motors-backed team for 2026.
\n
Bottas and Perez are both F1 race winners, popular with fans, but who had underwhelming seasons in 2024 and aren't racing in 2025.
\n
Other reported options include Ferrari reserve Zhou Guanyu, an ex-Sauber driver who could unlock big sponsor backing from China, or ex-Haas driver Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.
\n
The Alpine carousel
\n
Ruthless? Yes. Successful? No.
\n
Alpine benched the departing Esteban Ocon for Jack Doohan for the last race of 2024, then dropped Doohan for Franco Colapinto six races into 2025.
\n
Given that neither Doohan nor Colapinto has scored a point for Alpine, it's perhaps no wonder the team hasn't confirmed who'll partner Pierre Gasly next year.
\n
One option is Alpine reserve Paul Aron, who would be the first Estonian in F1. He's had two practice drives with Sauber this year, but was unlucky last week when his car broke down on Friday after just eight laps.
\n",
+ "content": "
(From left) Haas' British driver Oliver Bearman, Racing Bulls' French driver Isack Hadjar and Red Bull's Dutch driver Max Verstappen compete during the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit in Mogyorod near Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday.
\n
Photographers take aim at the podium as they snap pictures of the trophy ceremony following Sunday's race.
\n
It's time for Formula One's risk-taking drivers, overworked engineers and harried team principals to relax. At least in theory.
\n
With four weeks until the next race, including a mandatory 14-day shutdown of all racing operations from next week, the F1 season is on hold.
\n
It's what F1 calls "silly season," the time when contract talks — and rumors — fill the vacuum.
\n
It often seemed like silly season started early, with feverish speculation about a move from Red Bull to Mercedes for four-time champion Max Verstappen. Now that Verstappen has confirmed he's staying with Red Bull, other decisions — such as contract renewals at Mercedes — could speed up.
\n
Russell at Mercedes
\n
Most F1 teams saw the sweeping rule changes coming for 2026 and tied down key drivers to long contract extensions last year, or even the year before.
\n
The idea was to lock in experienced drivers who could help with development throughout 2025, so the very different 2026 cars wouldn't come as a surprise.
\n
Mercedes does things a little differently. As well as checking out a potential Verstappen move, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has waited on contract extensions for George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who aren't confirmed beyond 2025.
\n
Both went through Mercedes' young driver program, which helped them through the junior series, and seemingly gives the team more control over their careers.
\n
"Mercedes manages me as well, so it's not really a deadline in my hands as such," four-time Grand Prix winner Russell said last month, adding he'd had no talks with other teams. Antonelli started his debut F1 season strongly, but the 18-year-old driver's performances have dipped in recent months.
\n
Red Bull's other seats
\n
Verstappen's decision has taken a lot of pressure off, but the broader Red Bull organization still has three seats to fill — one at Red Bull and two at Racing Bulls. It's not clear who will take the final decision, and when, after longtime team principal Christian Horner was fired.
\n
If the logic behind dropping the underperforming Sergio Perez last year was that any Red Bull replacement would do better, it's been proved wrong.
\n
Liam Lawson lasted two races as Verstappen's teammate and Yuki Tsunoda has only scored points in three of 12 race weekends since his promotion. The team's engine partnership with Honda ends this year, which could affect Honda-backed Tsunoda's place.
\n
French rookie Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls has outscored both Tsunoda and Lawson this season, and might be the front-runner for the Red Bull seat. F1's governing body, the FIA, also made an exception to grant Red Bull-backed Formula 2 driver Arvid Lindblad a license before his 18th birthday.
\n
Cadillac is coming
\n
"That's actually a nice seat... I wouldn't mind." Valtteri Bottas' comments in a social media skit in June fawning over a Cadillac road car went viral and cemented him in many fans' minds as the front-runner to join the new General Motors-backed team for 2026.
\n
Bottas and Perez are both F1 race winners, popular with fans, but who had underwhelming seasons in 2024 and aren't racing in 2025.
\n
Other reported options include Ferrari reserve Zhou Guanyu, an ex-Sauber driver who could unlock big sponsor backing from China, or ex-Haas driver Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.
\n
The Alpine carousel
\n
Ruthless? Yes. Successful? No.
\n
Alpine benched the departing Esteban Ocon for Jack Doohan for the last race of 2024, then dropped Doohan for Franco Colapinto six races into 2025.
\n
Given that neither Doohan nor Colapinto has scored a point for Alpine, it's perhaps no wonder the team hasn't confirmed who'll partner Pierre Gasly next year.
\n
One option is Alpine reserve Paul Aron, who would be the first Estonian in F1. He's had two practice drives with Sauber this year, but was unlucky last week when his car broke down on Friday after just eight laps.
LOS ANGELES — Nate Landman is shaping up to be exactly what the Los Angeles Rams want at inside linebacker.
\n
He has settled in well as an effective communicator and good teammate, and looks like a steady contributor on the field.
\n
The 26-year-old Landman has been one of the standouts of training camp for the Rams, after signing a one-year contract for the veteran minimum salary in March, the kind of cost-effective find at the position that has become something of a trademark during Sean McVay's tenure as head coach in Los Angeles.
\n
"I think there are some players that, maybe, the rest of the league doesn't value, that we value, and we kind of know about inside," McVay said. "I think we've had some success with guys that are unheralded."
\n
Outside of one season with sixtime All-Pro Bobby Wagner in the middle of the defense in 2022, the Rams in McVay's eight-plus years have tended to employ low-cost options, typically developed from within the organization. That was the case a year ago, when undrafted free agent Omar Speights emerged in camp, making it palatable to trade starter Ernest Jones to the Tennessee Titans in the preseason.
\n
Jones was a third-round pick by the Rams in 2021 and quickly emerged as a productive player, starting 33 games in three seasons and making 320 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss and three interceptions. But, with potential contract discontent looming for Jones last summer, and a possible replacement in Speights emerging, Los Angeles chose to move on rather than commit the money Jones was seeking.
\n
The Rams made it through last season with Speights and veterans Christian Rozeboom and Troy Reeder manning the inside linebacker spots. Rozeboom signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract to join the Carolina Panthers in free agency, after leading the Rams with 135 total tackles, which set the stage for Landman's arrival.
\n
Landman already had familiarity with some elements of the Rams' defensive structure from his time playing for the Atlanta Falcons. Landman worked last season under then-defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, who is now a senior defensive assistant for Los Angeles, and head coach Raheem Morris.
\n
"He practices the right way, a great communicator, fantastic teammate," safety Quentin Lake said of Landman. "Great addition for us, and I can't wait to see what he's going to do during the season."
\n
Landman started 23 games the past two seasons for the Falcons, making 191 tackles, three forced fumbles and one interception in that span. He will be operating behind a formidable defensive line, which includes five top-90 picks from the past three drafts and key free agent addition Poona Ford, meaning Landman should be in position to make plays.
\n
It didn't take long for Landman to make an impression, delivering several audibly impressive hits when the Rams started working in pads.
LOS ANGELES — Nate Landman is shaping up to be exactly what the Los Angeles Rams want at inside linebacker.
\n
He has settled in well as an effective communicator and good teammate, and looks like a steady contributor on the field.
\n
The 26-year-old Landman has been one of the standouts of training camp for the Rams, after signing a one-year contract for the veteran minimum salary in March, the kind of cost-effective find at the position that has become something of a trademark during Sean McVay's tenure as head coach in Los Angeles.
\n
"I think there are some players that, maybe, the rest of the league doesn't value, that we value, and we kind of know about inside," McVay said. "I think we've had some success with guys that are unheralded."
\n
Outside of one season with sixtime All-Pro Bobby Wagner in the middle of the defense in 2022, the Rams in McVay's eight-plus years have tended to employ low-cost options, typically developed from within the organization. That was the case a year ago, when undrafted free agent Omar Speights emerged in camp, making it palatable to trade starter Ernest Jones to the Tennessee Titans in the preseason.
\n
Jones was a third-round pick by the Rams in 2021 and quickly emerged as a productive player, starting 33 games in three seasons and making 320 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss and three interceptions. But, with potential contract discontent looming for Jones last summer, and a possible replacement in Speights emerging, Los Angeles chose to move on rather than commit the money Jones was seeking.
\n
The Rams made it through last season with Speights and veterans Christian Rozeboom and Troy Reeder manning the inside linebacker spots. Rozeboom signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract to join the Carolina Panthers in free agency, after leading the Rams with 135 total tackles, which set the stage for Landman's arrival.
\n
Landman already had familiarity with some elements of the Rams' defensive structure from his time playing for the Atlanta Falcons. Landman worked last season under then-defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, who is now a senior defensive assistant for Los Angeles, and head coach Raheem Morris.
\n
"He practices the right way, a great communicator, fantastic teammate," safety Quentin Lake said of Landman. "Great addition for us, and I can't wait to see what he's going to do during the season."
\n
Landman started 23 games the past two seasons for the Falcons, making 191 tackles, three forced fumbles and one interception in that span. He will be operating behind a formidable defensive line, which includes five top-90 picks from the past three drafts and key free agent addition Poona Ford, meaning Landman should be in position to make plays.
\n
It didn't take long for Landman to make an impression, delivering several audibly impressive hits when the Rams started working in pads.
Wu Ruiting in action at the national championships, where he won triple jump gold and set a new Asian record.
\n
It has been over a decade in the making, forged by sweat and pain, but Wu Ruiting can now proudly call himself an Asian record-holder.
\n
Representing his native Guangdong province, veteran triple jumper Wu drew international attention to the Chinese National Championships on Monday after, on his fourth attempt in the final, he sailed 17.68 meters to win his third national title and break the 16-year-old men's Asian record by nine centimeters.
\n
After building an early lead with a strong 17.41m effort in the second round before fouling in the third, Wu executed a near-flawless jump on his next try to secure his win, while rewriting the former continental mark of 17.59m set by his retired compatriot Li Yanxi at the 2009 Chinese National Games.
\n
Wu's leap on Monday, had it been achieved a year earlier, would've placed him third on the Olympic podium in Paris.
\n
His new Asian record distance now ranks third on this season's world list, trailing only Italian jumper Andy Diaz Hernandez's two indoor results in March — a 17.80m leap to claim the World Indoor Championships title in Nanjing, and 17.71m to win the European indoor title in the Netherlands.
\n
Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist Zhu Yaming of Liaoning province secured second place with a season-best 17.37m, while Ma Yinglong of Shandong province finished third at 16.77m.
\n
Both Wu and Zhu have met the 17.22m qualification benchmark for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, which will be held in September in Tokyo.
\n
Reflecting on his surprising feat, achieved after enduring a long injury break, the 29-year-old couldn't hold back his emotions.
\n
"I have been aiming for the Asian record for more than 10 years. Today, I finally achieved it," said an emotional Wu, with tears in his eyes, during his post-final interview at the championships in Quzhou, Zhejiang province.
\n
"If you truly understand the triple jump, you'll know how hard it is — from suffering injuries and changing my technique, to seeing my performance plunge and then fighting my way back.
\n
"I was almost ready to give up. The encouragement from my training partners with the provincial team, and the support of my coach and team officials, helped carry me to where I stand today."
\n
Gifted with athleticism from birth, Wu began junior training in 2007 at the municipal sports school in his home town of Dongguan, and soon made his presence felt on the national stage by winning the 2015 indoor national title at 19 years old.
\n
Leaning on his early sprint training, Wu broke onto the world stage in 2017 by winning his first international title with a 17.18m effort at the World Challenge tour in Kawasaki, Japan. He achieved his previous personal best of 17.47m at the national trials in Shenyang, Liaoning province, for the 2019 worlds, where he made it into the final and eventually finished 9th.
\n
His smooth progression, however, hit setbacks after suffering a disappointing Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, where he failed to reach the final, followed by injuries that sidelined him from the next two worlds in 2022 and 2023.
\n
Now, after breaking his PB, achieved on exactly the same day (Aug 4) in 2019, Wu believes the Quzhou meet bodes well for his redemption trip to the Japanese capital next month, where he expects to prove he belongs among the world's elite at the Olympic stadium.
\n
"After a solid winter training camp, I gradually built my confidence with improvements into the outdoor season. My performances became better and I am almost back at full capability," said Wu, whose win on Monday marked his first 17m-plus jump since 2021.
\n
"It was my first complete meet of the outdoor season, and I gave all I have. I didn't expect such a great result, though. I am looking forward to the worlds for sure," Wu told Xinmin Evening News, a Shanghai-based newspaper.
\n
With his sights now firmly set on the upcoming Tokyo meet, Wu will once again join forces with veteran Zhu to contend for international honors.
\n
Zhu, a consistent elite performer with a PB of 17.57m set at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where he took silver, also won bronze at the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, Oregon, and gold at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games.
\n
Earlier at the Quzhou meet, China's 17-year-old Yan Ziyi eclipsed her own U20 world record in the women's javelin by more than a meter, throwing an impressive 65.89m to clinch the national title.
\n
Yan's victory followed another new U20 world mark set by young talent Zhang Jiale, who recorded a 77.24m toss in the women's hammer throw on Saturday to win her first national title.
\n
"I feel I've always been explosive when I go hard in a competition, and I even blew myself away today. This progress was surprisingly good," said the 19-year-old Zhang, whose new youth mark was just 0.44 meters shy of the Asian record held by veteran Wang Zheng.
\n
sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn
\n",
+ "content": "
Wu Ruiting in action at the national championships, where he won triple jump gold and set a new Asian record.
\n
It has been over a decade in the making, forged by sweat and pain, but Wu Ruiting can now proudly call himself an Asian record-holder.
\n
Representing his native Guangdong province, veteran triple jumper Wu drew international attention to the Chinese National Championships on Monday after, on his fourth attempt in the final, he sailed 17.68 meters to win his third national title and break the 16-year-old men's Asian record by nine centimeters.
\n
After building an early lead with a strong 17.41m effort in the second round before fouling in the third, Wu executed a near-flawless jump on his next try to secure his win, while rewriting the former continental mark of 17.59m set by his retired compatriot Li Yanxi at the 2009 Chinese National Games.
\n
Wu's leap on Monday, had it been achieved a year earlier, would've placed him third on the Olympic podium in Paris.
\n
His new Asian record distance now ranks third on this season's world list, trailing only Italian jumper Andy Diaz Hernandez's two indoor results in March — a 17.80m leap to claim the World Indoor Championships title in Nanjing, and 17.71m to win the European indoor title in the Netherlands.
\n
Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist Zhu Yaming of Liaoning province secured second place with a season-best 17.37m, while Ma Yinglong of Shandong province finished third at 16.77m.
\n
Both Wu and Zhu have met the 17.22m qualification benchmark for the 2025 World Athletics Championships, which will be held in September in Tokyo.
\n
Reflecting on his surprising feat, achieved after enduring a long injury break, the 29-year-old couldn't hold back his emotions.
\n
"I have been aiming for the Asian record for more than 10 years. Today, I finally achieved it," said an emotional Wu, with tears in his eyes, during his post-final interview at the championships in Quzhou, Zhejiang province.
\n
"If you truly understand the triple jump, you'll know how hard it is — from suffering injuries and changing my technique, to seeing my performance plunge and then fighting my way back.
\n
"I was almost ready to give up. The encouragement from my training partners with the provincial team, and the support of my coach and team officials, helped carry me to where I stand today."
\n
Gifted with athleticism from birth, Wu began junior training in 2007 at the municipal sports school in his home town of Dongguan, and soon made his presence felt on the national stage by winning the 2015 indoor national title at 19 years old.
\n
Leaning on his early sprint training, Wu broke onto the world stage in 2017 by winning his first international title with a 17.18m effort at the World Challenge tour in Kawasaki, Japan. He achieved his previous personal best of 17.47m at the national trials in Shenyang, Liaoning province, for the 2019 worlds, where he made it into the final and eventually finished 9th.
\n
His smooth progression, however, hit setbacks after suffering a disappointing Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, where he failed to reach the final, followed by injuries that sidelined him from the next two worlds in 2022 and 2023.
\n
Now, after breaking his PB, achieved on exactly the same day (Aug 4) in 2019, Wu believes the Quzhou meet bodes well for his redemption trip to the Japanese capital next month, where he expects to prove he belongs among the world's elite at the Olympic stadium.
\n
"After a solid winter training camp, I gradually built my confidence with improvements into the outdoor season. My performances became better and I am almost back at full capability," said Wu, whose win on Monday marked his first 17m-plus jump since 2021.
\n
"It was my first complete meet of the outdoor season, and I gave all I have. I didn't expect such a great result, though. I am looking forward to the worlds for sure," Wu told Xinmin Evening News, a Shanghai-based newspaper.
\n
With his sights now firmly set on the upcoming Tokyo meet, Wu will once again join forces with veteran Zhu to contend for international honors.
\n
Zhu, a consistent elite performer with a PB of 17.57m set at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where he took silver, also won bronze at the 2022 Worlds in Eugene, Oregon, and gold at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games.
\n
Earlier at the Quzhou meet, China's 17-year-old Yan Ziyi eclipsed her own U20 world record in the women's javelin by more than a meter, throwing an impressive 65.89m to clinch the national title.
\n
Yan's victory followed another new U20 world mark set by young talent Zhang Jiale, who recorded a 77.24m toss in the women's hammer throw on Saturday to win her first national title.
\n
"I feel I've always been explosive when I go hard in a competition, and I even blew myself away today. This progress was surprisingly good," said the 19-year-old Zhang, whose new youth mark was just 0.44 meters shy of the Asian record held by veteran Wang Zheng.
Local residents cycle past the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Village construction site in Milan on Thursday.
\n
The medals for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on display at their unveiling in Venice, Italy, on July 15.
\n
ROME — Six months before the start of the Winter Olympics, Italian organizers say that, after years of ups and downs, they are on schedule.
\n
"Preparations are progressing steadily, and according to the timeline we have set," Andrea Varnier, the chief executive officer of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee, told reporters.
\n
The Olympic opening ceremony is on Feb 6, though curling kicks off the action two days before that. The Paralympics open a month later on March 6, with curling again breaking the ice two days earlier.
\n
"We are currently in the core phase of operational implementation," said Varnier.
\n
Simico, the public company responsible for delivering the Olympic facilities, last week promised that "all the planned sports construction projects will be completed before the start of the Olympics".
\n
Organizers have made a point of delivering a low-cost Winter Games after the extravagance of recent Games.
\n
Sochi, in Russia in 2014, cost at least $40 billion. Pyeongchang, in South Korea in 2018, came in at over $12 billion. The COVID-hit Games in Beijing in 2022 officially cost $2.24 billion in total organizational expenditure, according to the Beijing 2022 organizing committee's financial report released in May 2023.
\n
Milano-Cortina is estimating its final bill will be $6 billion. Of that, $4 billion is going toward infrastructure, with the remaining $2 billion on staging the Games.
\n
The Games are using a host of existing venues — emphasizing the point by holding the closing ceremony in the almost 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater in Verona. Organizers say that avoiding new construction reduces not only costs, but environmental impact.
\n
'Complex global event'
\n
This approach also means the Games will stretch 350 kilometers across northern Italy, from Cortina in the Dolomites in the east, to the western suburbs of Milan, with other "clusters" spread through the Alps.
\n
"As with any complex global event, challenges are part of the process," said Varnier. "We are moving forward with confidence."
\n
One of the few new venues will briefly be the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena, before assuming its intended role as the multipurpose Eventim Arena after the Games.
\n
While organizers have managed to avoid being lumbered with a little-used speed-skating track by temporarily converting two exhibition halls at the Milan fair grounds, another group of sports with few participants created a political and construction headache.
\n
Because Italy did not have a track for the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events, organizers considered using existing sites in Austria or Switzerland.
\n
Matteo Salvini, the second-in-command and Minister of Transport of Giorgia Meloni's hard-right government, insisted in late 2023 that the events be held in Italy.
\n
That meant a breakneck race to build a track in Cortina. It was completed just in time for pre-approval in March.
\n
Accommodation, which often poses a logistical and financial problem for Olympic organizers, seems to be locked up.
\n
The Milan Village, six seven-story buildings to be converted into university dorms after the Games, will be delivered in "early October", despite the recent legal troubles of its developer, the Coima group.
\n
In Cortina, 377 prefabricated modules will be installed by the end of October.
\n
Snow concern
\n
While it is not clear if Italy's ski star Federica Brignone, who won the overall World Cup and a world title last season but smashed her left leg, will be fit to compete, the organizers revealed in July the design of the medals she would be chasing.
\n
They will weigh 420 grams in bronze and 500 grams in gold and in silver.
\n
The designer promised the medals will endure better than a few of those from last year's Paris Games. Some 220 medals, which contained a small piece of scrap metal from the Eiffel Tower, had to be replaced because they quickly turned black or rusted.
\n
"We cannot allow what happened in Paris to happen again," said their designer Raffaella Panie.
\n
That leaves just one unknown. The Italian meteorological service has said it is unable to predict whether there will be enough snow next February.
\n
The organizers said they were not worried. "We'll be ready," they said.
\n",
+ "content": "
Local residents cycle past the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Village construction site in Milan on Thursday.
\n
The medals for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on display at their unveiling in Venice, Italy, on July 15.
\n
ROME — Six months before the start of the Winter Olympics, Italian organizers say that, after years of ups and downs, they are on schedule.
\n
"Preparations are progressing steadily, and according to the timeline we have set," Andrea Varnier, the chief executive officer of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee, told reporters.
\n
The Olympic opening ceremony is on Feb 6, though curling kicks off the action two days before that. The Paralympics open a month later on March 6, with curling again breaking the ice two days earlier.
\n
"We are currently in the core phase of operational implementation," said Varnier.
\n
Simico, the public company responsible for delivering the Olympic facilities, last week promised that "all the planned sports construction projects will be completed before the start of the Olympics".
\n
Organizers have made a point of delivering a low-cost Winter Games after the extravagance of recent Games.
\n
Sochi, in Russia in 2014, cost at least $40 billion. Pyeongchang, in South Korea in 2018, came in at over $12 billion. The COVID-hit Games in Beijing in 2022 officially cost $2.24 billion in total organizational expenditure, according to the Beijing 2022 organizing committee's financial report released in May 2023.
\n
Milano-Cortina is estimating its final bill will be $6 billion. Of that, $4 billion is going toward infrastructure, with the remaining $2 billion on staging the Games.
\n
The Games are using a host of existing venues — emphasizing the point by holding the closing ceremony in the almost 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheater in Verona. Organizers say that avoiding new construction reduces not only costs, but environmental impact.
\n
'Complex global event'
\n
This approach also means the Games will stretch 350 kilometers across northern Italy, from Cortina in the Dolomites in the east, to the western suburbs of Milan, with other "clusters" spread through the Alps.
\n
"As with any complex global event, challenges are part of the process," said Varnier. "We are moving forward with confidence."
\n
One of the few new venues will briefly be the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena, before assuming its intended role as the multipurpose Eventim Arena after the Games.
\n
While organizers have managed to avoid being lumbered with a little-used speed-skating track by temporarily converting two exhibition halls at the Milan fair grounds, another group of sports with few participants created a political and construction headache.
\n
Because Italy did not have a track for the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events, organizers considered using existing sites in Austria or Switzerland.
\n
Matteo Salvini, the second-in-command and Minister of Transport of Giorgia Meloni's hard-right government, insisted in late 2023 that the events be held in Italy.
\n
That meant a breakneck race to build a track in Cortina. It was completed just in time for pre-approval in March.
\n
Accommodation, which often poses a logistical and financial problem for Olympic organizers, seems to be locked up.
\n
The Milan Village, six seven-story buildings to be converted into university dorms after the Games, will be delivered in "early October", despite the recent legal troubles of its developer, the Coima group.
\n
In Cortina, 377 prefabricated modules will be installed by the end of October.
\n
Snow concern
\n
While it is not clear if Italy's ski star Federica Brignone, who won the overall World Cup and a world title last season but smashed her left leg, will be fit to compete, the organizers revealed in July the design of the medals she would be chasing.
\n
They will weigh 420 grams in bronze and 500 grams in gold and in silver.
\n
The designer promised the medals will endure better than a few of those from last year's Paris Games. Some 220 medals, which contained a small piece of scrap metal from the Eiffel Tower, had to be replaced because they quickly turned black or rusted.
\n
"We cannot allow what happened in Paris to happen again," said their designer Raffaella Panie.
\n
That leaves just one unknown. The Italian meteorological service has said it is unable to predict whether there will be enough snow next February.
\n
The organizers said they were not worried. "We'll be ready," they said.
LAGUNA BEACH, California — Nyjah Huston, widely regarded as the greatest street skateboarder of all time, has set his sights on Olympic gold when the sport returns to its roots at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
\n
Huston, 30, represented the United States in the sport's Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, and again at Paris 2024. He will be 33 when the Games return to Southern California, but says his drive remains undiminished.
\n
"I'm stoked for the LA Olympics. I'm definitely going to try my best to be there," Huston told reporters. "It helps, having the extra motivation that it's in Southern California, where I've lived for so long and where skateboarding really thrives."
\n
Born in Northern California, Huston first stepped on a board at the age of three, won his first competition by 10, and now boasts a trophy room bursting with awards, including multiple gold medals from the SLS World Championships and the X Games.
\n
Inspired by LA skateboarding videos, Huston moved to Southern California at 15 and remains deeply connected to the region.
\n
"There couldn't be a better time for the Olympics to be in LA. It's going to be sick," he said.
\n
Reflecting on his Olympic experiences, Huston acknowledged the unique pressures athletes face at the Games, and admitted he was unprepared for the intensity in Tokyo.
\n
"It was the first time ever that we were skating for our country, which means a lot to me, and was something that was totally new to skateboarding," he said.
\n
After a disappointing result in Tokyo, Huston adjusted his approach for Paris, where he captured a bronze medal.
\n
"I tried to go into Paris with more of an open mind, and said: 'Let's just see how it goes'," he explained.
\n
"I did mess up on my first run, but then that made me try harder tricks in my second run. I really went for it, and put it all on the line. It ended up working out."
\n
'A way of life'
\n
Despite skateboarding's growing presence in the Olympics, Huston maintains that the sport's essence is rooted in its lifestyle and community.
\n
"In my eyes, skateboarding is more of a lifestyle than it is a sport; it's more of a way of life," said Huston.
\n
"The most true and the most important side of skateboarding is going out and having fun with my buddies, skating at different spots around the city, challenging myself, learning new tricks and filming videos," he said. "And, then, big moments like the Olympics are just a plus on top of that."
\n
Huston, who has his own skateboard brand, Disorder Skateboards, has also observed the sport's global expansion. "I have noticed it a lot since the Olympics in places like Japan and China," he said.
\n
"There weren't that many skate fans out there. But now, we've had some contests there the past few years and it is growing more and more."
\n
Huston will mark his 20th year competing at the X Games next year, and was recently announced as a Founder Athlete for the X Games League (XGL), a team-based circuit set to launch next summer.
\n
"X Games League is about creating more opportunity for skateboarders and action sports athletes," he said.
\n
Looking ahead, Huston remains focused on longevity. "One of my goals in life, and in skateboarding, is to simply skate for as long as possible," he said.
\n
"I want to be out there grinding rails when I'm 60, 70 years old."
\n",
+ "content": "
LAGUNA BEACH, California — Nyjah Huston, widely regarded as the greatest street skateboarder of all time, has set his sights on Olympic gold when the sport returns to its roots at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
\n
Huston, 30, represented the United States in the sport's Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, and again at Paris 2024. He will be 33 when the Games return to Southern California, but says his drive remains undiminished.
\n
"I'm stoked for the LA Olympics. I'm definitely going to try my best to be there," Huston told reporters. "It helps, having the extra motivation that it's in Southern California, where I've lived for so long and where skateboarding really thrives."
\n
Born in Northern California, Huston first stepped on a board at the age of three, won his first competition by 10, and now boasts a trophy room bursting with awards, including multiple gold medals from the SLS World Championships and the X Games.
\n
Inspired by LA skateboarding videos, Huston moved to Southern California at 15 and remains deeply connected to the region.
\n
"There couldn't be a better time for the Olympics to be in LA. It's going to be sick," he said.
\n
Reflecting on his Olympic experiences, Huston acknowledged the unique pressures athletes face at the Games, and admitted he was unprepared for the intensity in Tokyo.
\n
"It was the first time ever that we were skating for our country, which means a lot to me, and was something that was totally new to skateboarding," he said.
\n
After a disappointing result in Tokyo, Huston adjusted his approach for Paris, where he captured a bronze medal.
\n
"I tried to go into Paris with more of an open mind, and said: 'Let's just see how it goes'," he explained.
\n
"I did mess up on my first run, but then that made me try harder tricks in my second run. I really went for it, and put it all on the line. It ended up working out."
\n
'A way of life'
\n
Despite skateboarding's growing presence in the Olympics, Huston maintains that the sport's essence is rooted in its lifestyle and community.
\n
"In my eyes, skateboarding is more of a lifestyle than it is a sport; it's more of a way of life," said Huston.
\n
"The most true and the most important side of skateboarding is going out and having fun with my buddies, skating at different spots around the city, challenging myself, learning new tricks and filming videos," he said. "And, then, big moments like the Olympics are just a plus on top of that."
\n
Huston, who has his own skateboard brand, Disorder Skateboards, has also observed the sport's global expansion. "I have noticed it a lot since the Olympics in places like Japan and China," he said.
\n
"There weren't that many skate fans out there. But now, we've had some contests there the past few years and it is growing more and more."
\n
Huston will mark his 20th year competing at the X Games next year, and was recently announced as a Founder Athlete for the X Games League (XGL), a team-based circuit set to launch next summer.
\n
"X Games League is about creating more opportunity for skateboarders and action sports athletes," he said.
\n
Looking ahead, Huston remains focused on longevity. "One of my goals in life, and in skateboarding, is to simply skate for as long as possible," he said.
\n
"I want to be out there grinding rails when I'm 60, 70 years old."
Visitors ride camels to tour the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on July 13. Since the tombs were inscribed on the World Heritage List, the scenic spot has seen a tourism boom, with tourists from across the country flocking to experience the charm of Chinese civilization and enjoy the summer holidays.
\n\n
As the largest existing ancient Chinese venue for imperial sacrificial ceremonies of agriculture, the Altar of the God of Agriculture often seemed to be neglected by bustling visitors who poured into the nearby Temple of Heaven just across Beijing's Central Axis.
\n
But when the Central Axis was inscribed on the World Heritage List in July last year, with the words "Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital", things changed dramatically.
\n
Now the sacrificial altar, as a component of the 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 — is embracing a new scenario. It has received more than 1.2 million visits between July 2024 and last month, a tenfold year-on-year increase, according to the administration of the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, which oversees the altar site.
\n
"The altar was once merely a relaxation area for residents of local communities. But when people know it provides a good angle to view the northern section of Beijing's Central Axis, tourists rush to the place now," said Lyu Zhou, director of the National Heritage Center at Tsinghua University, who participated in the axis application process. "This is the charm and influence of a World Heritage site."
\n
China has 60 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the second most among all countries. President Xi Jinping's continuous guidance in applications for World Heritage sites has helped to better unveil their outstanding universal value to the world and boost international communication.
\n
Following the inscription of the Central Axis on the list, Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called for further efforts to preserve the country's cultural and natural treasures and renew their glamour in the new era. He also noted that such inclusions on the list have added new luster to world civilizations.
\n
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, Xi has toured a number of World Heritage sites and made many instructions related to their significance and protection.
\n
In 2016, after receiving a letter from four archaeologists about seeking World Heritage status for the archaeological ruins of Liangzhu city in Hangzhou, the capital of East China's Zhejiang province, Xi proposed the "three-benefits "principle guiding such applications. He said the projects should be beneficial to highlighting the historical and cultural value of Chinese civilization, to demonstrating the spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation, and to showcasing for the world a comprehensive and authentic ancient and modern China.
\n
In 2003, when Xi was the Party secretary of Zhejiang, he visited the Liangzhu site, a hub for a rice-cultivating and jade-worshiping culture dating back 4,300 to 5,300 years. He called for better protection of the site, which was then facing huge pressure, as it was being disturbed by nearby quarries. Lasting comprehensive protection and studies finally brought World Heritage status in 2019 to the "Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City".
\n
"The 'three-benefits' principle proposed by President Xi is fundamental for our application work," said Zheng Jun, a researcher at the China Academy of Cultural Heritage, who is also a World Heritage consultant for the International Council on Monuments and Sites. "It gets rid of the old narrative of history that often centered on the West."
\n
For locals who live around the World Heritage sites, the legacies left by their ancestors bear new fruit. Last year, Xi called for efforts to take UNESCO inclusion as an opportunity to further strengthen the comprehensive and systematic protection of cultural and natural heritage and make good use of the sites to better meet the people's needs.
\n
"The application is essentially a process of enhancing protection of the heritage, as each site needs to be improved in legal protection, heritage management and monitoring, and its value must be explained to prepare for the application," said Zheng, adding that "World Heritage sites are key tourist brands".
\n
For example, "The Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er", in Yunnan province, was listed in 2023. This mountainous area has become a haven for an ancient planting technique, in which tea trees are cultivated under forest canopies. The method is known as the "understory" growing technique, by which sunshine is filtered and moisture ensured.
\n
"It represents a format of sustainable development," Zheng said. "Gaining World Heritage status helps to protect the local ecosystem and cultural tradition. It also greatly improves the value of local tea and thus the economy booms."
\n
Another example can be found in Fujian province, where tulou are traditional multifamily, communal living structures of mainly the Hakka people that are built in a circular or square pattern designed for defense purposes. In the past, many young people who lived in tulou migrated to other places to earn a living.
\n
In 2000, when Xi was governor of the province, he coordinated the application work and suggested using the term "Fujian Tulou" in the application process.
\n
Fujian Tulou became a World Heritage site in 2008. After that, local people who had moved away found that they could earn more from local tourism, so they returned home.
\n
"This not only increased their income, but also solved social problems like left-behind children, showing the remarkable influence of the sites in tourism," Zheng said.
\n
In July, the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, the capital of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region — currently the most intact archaeological site of the Xixia Dynasty (1038-1227) — became China's newest entry on the World Heritage List, signifying the nation's continued efforts in applying for World Heritage status for its numerous legacies of various ethnic groups.
\n
Cultural dialogue
\n
Through decades of practice, Chinese professionals have explored effective ways to prepare materials for seeking World Heritage status, enabling the value of China's sites to be understood by experts from other cultural backgrounds, according to Chen Tongbin, honorary director of the Institute of Architectural History affiliated with the China Architecture Design and Research Group.
\n
Chen has participated in World Heritage application for more than two decades. She said that each inscribed site represents an aspect of Chinese civilization, and by piecing them together, the world can gradually get a comprehensive view of China.
\n
"The key point is to view the sites from the perspective of human civilization instead of China's own, extracting the most fundamental elements of them and letting the facts speak," said Chen, who also was the main drafter of documents when seeking World Heritage status for the Xixia Imperial Tombs.
\n
"When viewing the Xixia Imperial Tombs from the global perspective, for instance, you will find that none of the existing sites on the World Heritage List had a relation to the Xixia Dynasty or the Tangut people who established it," she said, so the Xixia tombs site "fills in a blank".
\n
In a congratulatory message to the 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Fuzhou, Fujian, in 2021, President Xi said that China stands ready to work with all countries and UNESCO to strengthen exchanges, boost cooperation and enhance mutual learning to jointly preserve the cultural and natural treasures of the whole of mankind.
\n
Zheng, the researcher from the China Academy of Cultural Heritage, said, "The World Heritage system is a good platform for international communication and equal dialogue among various civilizations."
\n
A remarkable example of such communication was the successful application for inscription on the World Heritage List of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor" in 2014 by China and its Central Asian neighbors Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
\n
"The ancient Silk Road spanning across Asia, Africa and Europe is one of the world's largest heritage sites, woven together by a vast network of corridors and routes. It's impossible to apply for it all at once", so the applications are instead segmented, said Zheng.
\n
During the application process, the three countries had frequent conferences to work out details in application strategies, selection of constituting elements, extraction of value, establishment of a multinational joint management system, and preparation of documents in the bid for World Heritage status.
\n
The project proved to be a model for other sections of the Silk Road in applying for World Heritage status. Following the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor's application success, "Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor", involving Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, was inscribed on the list in 2023. Chinese experts including Lyu also contributed their ideas during the application process for that corridor.
\n
"These sites depict the scenes of communication, dialogue and growth of human civilization throughout history," Lyu said. "For today's people, they also create a space for development through cooperation."
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![\"Sun](\"https://do-cdn.appinn.com/static3/images/2025/08/Copy-of-appinn-homework-2025-08-05T161516.653.jpg\" "\\"Sun")
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![\"阿里小号用户注意：请及时开具「阿里小号入网证明」](\"https://do-cdn.appinn.com/static3/images/2025/08/IMG_7158.avif\" "\\"阿里小号用户注意：请及时开具「阿里小号入网证明」")
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![\"Edge](\"https://do-cdn.appinn.com/static3/images/2025/07/Copy-of-appinn-homework-2025-07-31T172009.450.jpg\" "\\"Edge")
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的推荐。![\"Edge](\"https://do-cdn.appinn.com/static3/images/2025/07/Screen-20250731170229@2x.avif\" "\\"Edge")
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@@ -4422,28 +4840,6 @@
"hash": "736c831fc80415b5b5b9f7a5b8fec5f6",
"highlights": []
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- "title": "008COMMENT - Chinese EV industry thrives on its endogenous advantages",
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