![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/001/20251023_001_02_28857.png\")
Airbus' second final assembly line for the A320 aircraft is inaugurated in Tianjin on Wednesday. The new facility — the second of its kind in both China and Asia as a whole — is expected to double the A320 family's final assembly capacity in China. Here, the A320 planes will be assembled from large components such as fuselage sections and wings, painted, tested and delivered to customers in China and beyond. See story, page 3; Editorial, page 9
\n", - "content": "Airbus' second final assembly line for the A320 aircraft is inaugurated in Tianjin on Wednesday. The new facility — the second of its kind in both China and Asia as a whole — is expected to double the A320 family's final assembly capacity in China. Here, the A320 planes will be assembled from large components such as fuselage sections and wings, painted, tested and delivered to customers in China and beyond. See story, page 3; Editorial, page 9
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-10/23/content_001_68f9496fed50ccabe151b93b.htm#001FRONT", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:21:04 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "96602680be72b67b032bf24b0c2d3fff", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "001FRONT - 80 years of the UN", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/001/20251023_001_04_42857.png\")
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (front) visits a global exhibition titled Shared Lives, Shared Future on Monday at the United Nations headquarters in New York to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the international organization. The exhibition features more than 200 stories from 193 countries, highlighting how the UN impacts people's lives.
\n", @@ -12721,28 +12699,6 @@ "hash": "7d0b09aa0aab4219599df8b6b310fe2f", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "001FRONT - North of country sees rapid shift in seasons", - "description": "The mystery of the disappearing autumn has people living in northern China baffled. Only days ago, they were happily wearing T-shirts and skirts; but now, thick coats and down jackets are out in force. Fall was just a fleeting feeling, and indications are that this weather pattern could become the norm in the future.
\nAccording to available meteorological data, the transitional period between summer and winter is shrinking in China, with autumn arriving later than usual and ending sooner.
\nDelayed autumn
\nWhile southwestern cities such as Guiyang in Guizhou province, Chengdu in Sichuan province, and Chongqing still enjoy around 70 to 80 days of cool autumn weather — with Guiyang topping the list at 79 days — people living in the north barely experience 50 days of autumn, said Weather China, a website under the China Meteorological Administration.
\nAn analysis of long-term weather data from the website reveals that since 1991, autumn has been delayed across much of the country. Cities such as Zhengzhou in Henan province, Ningbo in Zhejiang province, and Shenzhen in Guangdong province now see autumn arrive more than 10 days late on average, while Nanjing in Jiangsu province, Fuzhou in Fujian province, and other places have recorded delays of five to nine days.
\nStudies show that across China, the duration of winter, spring and autumn is shrinking, and these shifts are more prominent in northern and eastern regions, the website said.
\n"Maybe there will be only three seasons in the future," a netizen said on social media platform Sina Weibo. "A trench coat feels like the most impractical outfit in Beijing, "another said, indicating the sharp transition from cool to cold weather in the capital.
\nWang Weiyue, a meteorologist at Weather China, said that given global climate change, rising temperatures across various regions have become an indisputable fact, and this delays the onset of autumn, affecting agricultural production and people's daily lives.
\nSudden chill
\nThis year's northern chill has arrived abruptly.
\nLi Duo, a senior engineer at the National Climate Center, said that since October, several regions, including parts of Heilongjiang province, the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Hebei province, and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, were 1 C to 2 C colder than usual.
\nThe recent temperature drop in northern China was mainly due to two major cold-air events between Oct 9 and 10 and Oct 18 and 19, Li said.
\nThe China Meteorological Administration forecasts that much of northern China will remain colder than average through Friday, while southern regions will also see temperatures drop by up to 5 C by the end of the month.
\nExperts advised residents to dress warmly, stay alert to weather changes, and ventilate indoor spaces when using heating to avoid carbon monoxide-related risks.
\nzhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "content": "The mystery of the disappearing autumn has people living in northern China baffled. Only days ago, they were happily wearing T-shirts and skirts; but now, thick coats and down jackets are out in force. Fall was just a fleeting feeling, and indications are that this weather pattern could become the norm in the future.
\nAccording to available meteorological data, the transitional period between summer and winter is shrinking in China, with autumn arriving later than usual and ending sooner.
\nDelayed autumn
\nWhile southwestern cities such as Guiyang in Guizhou province, Chengdu in Sichuan province, and Chongqing still enjoy around 70 to 80 days of cool autumn weather — with Guiyang topping the list at 79 days — people living in the north barely experience 50 days of autumn, said Weather China, a website under the China Meteorological Administration.
\nAn analysis of long-term weather data from the website reveals that since 1991, autumn has been delayed across much of the country. Cities such as Zhengzhou in Henan province, Ningbo in Zhejiang province, and Shenzhen in Guangdong province now see autumn arrive more than 10 days late on average, while Nanjing in Jiangsu province, Fuzhou in Fujian province, and other places have recorded delays of five to nine days.
\nStudies show that across China, the duration of winter, spring and autumn is shrinking, and these shifts are more prominent in northern and eastern regions, the website said.
\n"Maybe there will be only three seasons in the future," a netizen said on social media platform Sina Weibo. "A trench coat feels like the most impractical outfit in Beijing, "another said, indicating the sharp transition from cool to cold weather in the capital.
\nWang Weiyue, a meteorologist at Weather China, said that given global climate change, rising temperatures across various regions have become an indisputable fact, and this delays the onset of autumn, affecting agricultural production and people's daily lives.
\nSudden chill
\nThis year's northern chill has arrived abruptly.
\nLi Duo, a senior engineer at the National Climate Center, said that since October, several regions, including parts of Heilongjiang province, the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Hebei province, and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, were 1 C to 2 C colder than usual.
\nThe recent temperature drop in northern China was mainly due to two major cold-air events between Oct 9 and 10 and Oct 18 and 19, Li said.
\nThe China Meteorological Administration forecasts that much of northern China will remain colder than average through Friday, while southern regions will also see temperatures drop by up to 5 C by the end of the month.
\nExperts advised residents to dress warmly, stay alert to weather changes, and ventilate indoor spaces when using heating to avoid carbon monoxide-related risks.
\nzhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-10/23/content_001_68f94980ed50ccabe151b93f.htm#001FRONT", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:21:04 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "f0cb7e00a4d51461abb19cc05d32f9c9", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "004CHINA - Harvest hustle", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/004/20251023_004_02_30589.png\")
Villagers harvest lotus roots to meet market demand in Huai'an, Jiangsu province, on Wednesday, as Frost's Descent, the 18th solar term of the year, approaches.
\n", @@ -12765,28 +12721,6 @@ "hash": "356513e411f919ee589617a56043bbed", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "004CHINA - Tying the knot", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/004/20251023_004_04_18589.png\")
Newlyweds capture happy moments with their phones at a collective wedding for military personnel in Chaoyang district, Beijing, on Wednesday. Held by a mobile unit of the Beijing Armed Police Corps, the ceremony combined traditional wedding rituals with military features, providing unique experiences for 30 couples.
\n", - "content": "Newlyweds capture happy moments with their phones at a collective wedding for military personnel in Chaoyang district, Beijing, on Wednesday. Held by a mobile unit of the Beijing Armed Police Corps, the ceremony combined traditional wedding rituals with military features, providing unique experiences for 30 couples.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-10/23/content_004_68f949a3ed50ccabe151b94a.htm#004CHINA", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:21:04 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "ccb4ece8176f27aa06d78ac14a872e0b", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "004CHINA - Revised policies boost Guangdong women's rights in digital era", "description": "Guangdong province has taken a pioneering step in ensuring gender equality in the digital field with the recent adoption of revised measures for women's rights protection.
\nThe Standing Committee of the 14th Guangdong Provincial People's Congress voted on Oct 11 to adopt the revised Measures for the Implementation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests in Guangdong Province, which will take effect on Jan 1.
\nThe revised measures have been expanded from the original nine chapters and 46 articles to nine chapters and 59 articles. They focus on key and challenging issues in protecting women's rights and interests, improving relevant systems and transforming effective provincial practices into institutional norms.
\nIn safeguarding women's equal rights and interests in the digital era, Article 30 of the measures stipulates that women's digital literacy education will be strengthened, enhancing their ability to select, evaluate and effectively utilize media information.
\nThe article requires State departments, enterprises, public institutions and mass organizations to promote gender equality in digital fields such as data and personal information processing, automated decision-making and algorithmic recommendation services.
\nThis represents the country's first legal provision to systematically regulate gender equality in the digital sphere within women's rights protection legislation.
\nThe measures specify requirements for internet platforms to eliminate gender bias in algorithm designs for tasks such as order distribution and compensation calculations. They also require platforms to conduct digital skills training to help women bridge the "digital divide", which is a proactive response to challenges posed by technological development to women's rights protection.
\nThe measures further state that no organization or individual may use the internet to infringe upon women's legitimate rights and interests. Women who suffer from online infringement have the right to demand that internet product and service providers cease the infringing acts.
\nGuangdong is a major hub for the internet industry, with a large number of web-related enterprises and a substantial workforce, said Wang Biaochen, deputy director of the rights and interests department with the Guangdong Women's Federation.
\n"Emerging fields, including algorithmic technology, may impact both industry practitioners and service users, even potentially infringing upon their rights and interests, "she said. "Therefore, we aim to establish proactive provisions through legislation to address these challenges."
\nWang cited a case about "algorithmic discrimination" last year. In Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, a 26-year-old female programmer surnamed Lin sued a tech company for emotional distress after failing three consecutive interviews.
\nLin said she discovered the company's system automatically flagged female resumes with "emotional instability risk". The company had developed an AI interview system in which male executives comprised 87 percent of the training data, and female candidates had a 42 percent lower pass rate than males.
\nAlthough the company argued that "the algorithm had no subjective malice", the court invoked China's Personal Information Protection Law and ruled that biased training data resulted in a discriminatory result. The company was ordered to remove gender-related parameters, retrain the model and issue a public apology.
\nWang Tianyu, head of the social law office with the Institute of Law, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that relevant platforms should recognize women as a distinct group with specific protection needs and increase investment in areas such as child care and welfare.
\nEfforts should be made to guide technology toward having a positive social impact, transforming women's unique characteristics into competitive advantages on platforms.
\n"For instance, some ride-hailing platforms prioritize matching female passengers with female drivers during nighttime hours — a case that demonstrates how gender-specific considerations can be leveraged as operational strengths, "Wang said. "We need to make algorithms more humane, and the content used to 'feed' them is crucial. In the development of artificial intelligence, technical parameters should be adjusted to provide precise work arrangements for women as a distinct group."
\nThe measures also highlight institutional innovation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. They stipulate the enhancement of cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao in the field of women's rights protection, promote exchanges between women's organizations and groups in the three regions, and facilitate the integrated development of women's affairs in GBA.
\nzhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", @@ -12809,28 +12743,6 @@ "hash": "e9a9ad9da4f0965cd9069dbacf19b876", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "005CHINA - Support bases make life easier for field geophysical workers", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/005/20251023_005_02_30360.png\")
Hadamengou field support station in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/005/20251023_005_02_42360.png\")
Geological workers have meals at the Xining field support base in Qinghai province.
\nThe working and living conditions for geological field operations in China have significantly improved in recent years, transforming what was once a "helpless" situation for many geological workers in remote areas.
\n"After long days in the field, we can now take hot showers, completely shedding the dusty and grimy image once associated with geophysical fieldwork," said Wang Kai, deputy project leader of the geophysical survey in the salt lake area of the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai province.
\nSince 2012, Wang has participated in over 10 geological survey projects, spending nearly 25 months on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. When he first worked in the uninhabited areas of the Xizang autonomous region, the team lived in tents that often collapsed under heavy snow and leaked from all sides, as Wang recalled. "Even indoors, we had to sleep in sleeping bags and be covered with heavy quilts," he said.
\n"Our faces and bodies were covered in dust when we woke up in the morning," Wang added.
\nGeological survey work is often carried out in remote and harsh environments such as plateaus, high mountains, permafrost zones, and deserts.
\n"In the past, geological workers conducting field surveys in these areas had to fend for themselves, often without proper protection, which put their health and safety at risk," said Huang Chengwei, deputy director of the China Geological Survey's field base support program.
\nTo address these challenges, the China Geological Survey has, in recent years, established comprehensive field support bases in locations such as Lhasa in Xizang, Xining in Qinghai province, and Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
\nDifferent models, including container camps, vehicle-mounted camps, fixed camps and tent camps, have been introduced to set up field support stations and units tailored to diverse regional environments and operational needs, Huang said.
\nAccording to Huang, workers stationed at these bases now have access to reliable oxygen supplies, warm and comfortable living quarters, clean drinking water, and specialized safety training and monitoring. "The one-stop support service has ended the era when geological workers had to 'work alone with no support' in the field," Huang said. "It has improved both work efficiency and safety."
\nDuring a geophysical survey project earlier this year, Wang's team of more than 60 members was stationed at the Dalangtan field support base in Qinghai, which features accommodation areas, offices, a cafeteria, showers and storage facilities.
\n"The base is well-organized and spacious," Wang said, noting that dedicated chefs and maintenance staff provide daily logistical support. "With such comprehensive support, we can focus entirely on our fieldwork without worries."
\nBack in 2023, while working in the Qarhan zone in Qinghai, Wang's team lived in simple containers that swayed in strong winds and had poor insulation. "Now, in the modernized camp, I can shower and rest well after a long day's work, which helps me start the next day refreshed," he said.
\nZhang Xiaoxing, who is leading a gold mine survey project in Xinjiang from 2023 to 2025, shared similar experiences. Before 2024, his team relied on tents in the field. "Because of the poor living conditions, once temperatures soared in July and August, it became impossible to continue operations, and the project had to be suspended," Zhang said.
\nThis year, Zhang's team moved into mobile prefab houses at the Turpan field support camp in Xinjiang. The new units are equipped with air coolers, office furniture, and other facilities, greatly improving both comfort and work efficiency. "Monitoring equipment installed on the prefab houses also helps ensure the safety of our supplies and equipment, especially with wildlife roaming nearby," he added.
\nThanks to the improved support in the field, geological workers have gained a greater sense of honor and fulfillment, Huang said.
\nlishangyi@chinadaily.com.cn
\nHadamengou field support station in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region.
\nGeological workers have meals at the Xining field support base in Qinghai province.
\nThe working and living conditions for geological field operations in China have significantly improved in recent years, transforming what was once a "helpless" situation for many geological workers in remote areas.
\n"After long days in the field, we can now take hot showers, completely shedding the dusty and grimy image once associated with geophysical fieldwork," said Wang Kai, deputy project leader of the geophysical survey in the salt lake area of the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai province.
\nSince 2012, Wang has participated in over 10 geological survey projects, spending nearly 25 months on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. When he first worked in the uninhabited areas of the Xizang autonomous region, the team lived in tents that often collapsed under heavy snow and leaked from all sides, as Wang recalled. "Even indoors, we had to sleep in sleeping bags and be covered with heavy quilts," he said.
\n"Our faces and bodies were covered in dust when we woke up in the morning," Wang added.
\nGeological survey work is often carried out in remote and harsh environments such as plateaus, high mountains, permafrost zones, and deserts.
\n"In the past, geological workers conducting field surveys in these areas had to fend for themselves, often without proper protection, which put their health and safety at risk," said Huang Chengwei, deputy director of the China Geological Survey's field base support program.
\nTo address these challenges, the China Geological Survey has, in recent years, established comprehensive field support bases in locations such as Lhasa in Xizang, Xining in Qinghai province, and Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
\nDifferent models, including container camps, vehicle-mounted camps, fixed camps and tent camps, have been introduced to set up field support stations and units tailored to diverse regional environments and operational needs, Huang said.
\nAccording to Huang, workers stationed at these bases now have access to reliable oxygen supplies, warm and comfortable living quarters, clean drinking water, and specialized safety training and monitoring. "The one-stop support service has ended the era when geological workers had to 'work alone with no support' in the field," Huang said. "It has improved both work efficiency and safety."
\nDuring a geophysical survey project earlier this year, Wang's team of more than 60 members was stationed at the Dalangtan field support base in Qinghai, which features accommodation areas, offices, a cafeteria, showers and storage facilities.
\n"The base is well-organized and spacious," Wang said, noting that dedicated chefs and maintenance staff provide daily logistical support. "With such comprehensive support, we can focus entirely on our fieldwork without worries."
\nBack in 2023, while working in the Qarhan zone in Qinghai, Wang's team lived in simple containers that swayed in strong winds and had poor insulation. "Now, in the modernized camp, I can shower and rest well after a long day's work, which helps me start the next day refreshed," he said.
\nZhang Xiaoxing, who is leading a gold mine survey project in Xinjiang from 2023 to 2025, shared similar experiences. Before 2024, his team relied on tents in the field. "Because of the poor living conditions, once temperatures soared in July and August, it became impossible to continue operations, and the project had to be suspended," Zhang said.
\nThis year, Zhang's team moved into mobile prefab houses at the Turpan field support camp in Xinjiang. The new units are equipped with air coolers, office furniture, and other facilities, greatly improving both comfort and work efficiency. "Monitoring equipment installed on the prefab houses also helps ensure the safety of our supplies and equipment, especially with wildlife roaming nearby," he added.
\nThanks to the improved support in the field, geological workers have gained a greater sense of honor and fulfillment, Huang said.
\nlishangyi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/006/20251023_006_01_15.png\")
\nEditor's note: A series of breakthroughs have been achieved in geological and marine exploration technologies, strengthening the nation's capacity for resource discovery, environmental monitoring and scientific research both on land and at sea.
\n5,000-meter Intelligent Geological Drilling Equipment
\nChina's 5,000-meter intelligent geological drilling technology and equipment represent a major advance in deep-Earth exploration. Breakthroughs in intelligent control, automation, lightweight design and modular construction have enabled automated control of drilling and 90 percent automation at the wellhead. The technology has reached an internationally advanced level, with several features leading globally. It supports industrial upgrading and provides essential technical capacity for deep resource exploration.
\nGeology 1 Hyperspectral Small Satellite
\nLaunched on May 17, the Geology 1 Hyperspectral Small Satellite is China's first satellite dedicated to geological research. Using advanced hyperspectral imaging, it can detect and identify geological resources and environmental elements with high precision. Weighing 83 kilograms, the satellite orbits 520 kilometers above Earth in a sun-synchronous path. It provides high-resolution, wide-spectrum imaging that greatly enhances the country's ability to conduct independent remote sensing for resource exploration, mineral monitoring and natural resource surveys.
\nLightweight Airborne Gravimeter
\nThe GIPS-1A is a compact airborne gravimeter that can be mounted on various platforms, including unmanned aircraft, survey ships and submersibles. It measures local gravity anomalies in motion, supporting fields such as resource exploration, geodesy, geophysics, marine science, defense and space research. Sharing a similar design with the internationally recognized AIRGrav, the GIPS-1A stands out for its small size, light weight, high precision, strong environmental adaptability and reliability.
\nGround-airborne Transient Electromagnetic System
\nDeveloped to tackle challenges in rough terrains, the ground-airborne transient electromagnetic system integrates unmanned and intelligent technologies. Drones are used for data collection, removing the constraints of difficult environments such as deserts, forests and wetlands. The system has shown outstanding performance in mineral exploration and geological hazard surveys in complex regions, including Guizhou province and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Developers are working with industry partners to advance commercialization and expand its applications.
\nMultiband Intelligent Ocean-bottom Seismometer
\nDeveloped by the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey in 2017, the multiband intelligent ocean-bottom seismometer is a key tool for marine geophysical research. Deployed on the seafloor, it records seismic wave signals to create detailed images of subsea geological structures. The device is widely used in marine resource exploration, geophysical studies, earthquake monitoring, microseismic observation and subsea carbon sequestration projects.
\nField Rapid Analysis and Testing Platform
\nThe field rapid analysis and testing platform enables on-site testing for geological surveys, mineral exploration and environmental monitoring. Mounted on a vehicle, it can analyze 69 major and trace elements using portable hyperspectral instruments and other devices. Delivering lab-quality results in the field, the platform offers environmentally friendly and efficient analysis. Since 2023, it has been deployed in 12 projects across a variety of terrains, including mountains, plateaus, grasslands, deserts and tropical rainforests, significantly shortening the time needed for mineral exploration.
\nDeep-ocean Drilling Vessel Meng Xiang
\nThe Meng Xiang, China's first domestically designed and built deep-ocean drilling vessel, marks a major step forward in oceanic research. Measuring 179.8 meters long and 32.8 meters wide, it has a displacement of 42,600 metric tons and a range of 15,000 nautical miles. Capable of sustaining operations for up to 120 days and accommodating 180 crew members, the vessel can withstand typhoons up to level 16, with wind speeds at around 200 km/h. Equipped with an advanced hydraulic lifting rig that can drill as deep as 11,000 meters, the Meng Xiang integrates oceanic scientific drilling, deep-sea oil and gas exploration, and gas hydrate testing — supporting China's exploration of the Earth's deep structures.
\nSOURCE: CHINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
\n", @@ -12853,28 +12765,6 @@ "hash": "2d34594bd1b4f928600045b4ac55a881", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "008CHINA - Global geopark in Tanzania revived with Chinese aid", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/008/20251023_008_01_20.png\")
The Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano looms in the Ngorongoro-Lengai Global Geopark in Arusha, Tanzania.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/008/20251023_008_01_46.png\")
Chinese engineers from the Tianjin Center of the China Geological Survey make a field survey in the geopark.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/008/20251023_008_01_37.png\")
Members of the Chinese survey team check a stone sample at the geopark.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/008/20251023_008_01_57.png\")
Giraffes wander in the Ngorongoro-Lengai Global Geopark.
\nOne day at 3 am in September 2023, over 50 people, out of breath, gathered at the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano in the northern part of the Ngorongoro-Lengai Global Geopark in Arusha, Tanzania, to witness a marvel — molten lava, as clear as melted gold, flowing through cracks in the crater. Steam mixed with the orange-red lava and the black volcanic ash, creating a thick "river of fire".
\nThese Chinese and Tanzanian nationals, feeling the scorching heat and smelling the strong sulfur in the air, had been climbing for more than seven hours. The climb, with an altitude gain of nearly 3,000 meters and a 45-degree incline, had pushed them to their physical limits.
\nTheir work, the geoheritage survey of the volcano crater, as part of the reconstruction project undertaken by the Chinese government to assist in the development of Tanzania's first and only global geopark, had to be done before dawn. Once sunlight hits, the lava in the crater gradually turns gray, resembling an ordinary muddy river.
\nAnd for this route alone, the geological workers had climbed four times to obtain data on the geological heritage sites and plan sightseeing and scientific expedition routes for the area.
\nFrom nearly being excluded from the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network to having its construction progress fully recognized, the revival of the Ngorongoro-Lengai Global Geopark — the first geopark built with China's foreign aid — has fully demonstrated China's wisdom of empowerment through green development and technology, as well as its philosophy of harmony between humans and nature.
\nLocated in northeastern Tanzania, it is the only global geopark in Sub-Saharan Africa with internationally significant geological features. It is renowned for the Ngorongoro Crater, the active Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano and the paleontological sites of the Olduvai Gorge, opening the doors to tourism, conservation, education and research.
\nIn 2018, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization endorsed it as a global geopark, covering around 12,000 square kilometers across the Arusha districts of Ngorongoro, Karatu and Monduli. However, due to problems such as poor fundamental infrastructure, inadequate visitor information and insufficient scientific interpretation content, the geopark received a yellow warning from UNESCO in 2022 and was given a two-year period for corrections and reevaluation.
\nChina stepped in to assist at that critical moment. During Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's visit to China in November that same year, she and Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the signing ceremony for a China-aided project aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the geopark. Supported by the Agency for International Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania and the China Geological Survey, the project has included both technical assistance from the Tianjin Center of the China Geological Survey and physical infrastructure handled by the China Railway 25th Bureau Group.
\n"As the inaugural China aid geopark project, all the people are 'crossing the river by feeling the stones'," said Ren Junping, director of the Southern Africa Geological Survey Cooperation Center of Tianjin Center, who led the project.
\n"We are responsible for the entire workflow, from planning and implementation to construction," Ren said, adding that there were challenges in balancing the local needs with respect for nature in the planning process, as well as the necessity to work together to address logistical problems and deal with the frequent downpours.
\nRen considered the investigation of geological heritage resources as the foundation of the project, with the purpose of determining the distribution and availability of resources within the area. This could provide essential data for spatial planning, scientific expedition route design, and the establishment of a database encompassing geological heritage as well as natural and cultural resources.
\nOver a period of more than a year, the team completed a thorough investigation of the geopark, which included examining geological heritage sites, shallow groundwater sources and volcanic structure rock strata characteristics, as well as the interpretation of remote sensing geological data.
\nSun Kai, a project member from the Tianjin Center, also emphasized the complexity of the project.
\n"This project demands more comprehensive capabilities than conducting domestic geological heritage work," Sun said. "It involves not only geological surveys but also visitor information for public outreach and digitalization."
\nIn addition to essential tools like geological hammers, team members need to carry photographic equipment such as cameras and drones when conducting geological surveys to help produce scientific materials and exhibit designs, he said.
\nLi Lei, a project member from the Tianjin Center, said that China's information technology has been exported to develop a tourist-oriented service platform centered around the geopark's resource data, supported by interpretation and information systems.
\nCurrently, nearly 300 signs, including interpretive, directional and safety warning ones, have been erected in the geopark — all in English, Swahili and Chinese. A field interpretation system is also in place, offering interpretive scripts for key locations in seven languages of English, Swahili, Chinese, French, German, Spanish and Arabic.
\nWhile designing the landmark building of the new geological museum — a requisite for a global geopark — the team chose not to employ complex artificial intelligence technologies considering the frequent power outages in the local area. Instead, they installed solar panels on the exterior walls and used simple electrical systems to power interactive exhibits, such as animal racing and volcanic eruption simulations.
\nThe museum's design draws inspiration from the style of Tanzanian thatched huts, conveying to visitors the story of volcanic activities in the East African Highlands and human evolution, while promoting the ideals of respecting, conforming to and protecting nature.
\n"It was a novel experience for everyone," said Wu Xingyuan, a project member from the Tianjin Center.
\nThe geopark provides a lush habitat with abundant water and grass for 300,000 wild animals, including wildebeest, zebras, lions, rhinoceroses and elephants, creating a self-sustaining tropical savanna ecosystem.
\n"Once, while sitting in the vehicle, we saw a lion lying right by the car window," Wu recalled. "Thus, we have to hire armed security personnel to manage the dangers posed by wildlife."
\nTo protect these animals, primitive dirt paths are maintained to prevent damage to their hooves. Additionally, work must cease, and everyone must leave by 5 pm, returning the area to the wildlife, Wu said.
\n"Another distinctive feature of the geopark is that it is home to nearly 400,000 residents, with the vast majority being Maasai," Wu added.
\nTo honor these indigenous people who have lived here for generations, the team has organized tours where visitors can immerse themselves in the Maasai way of life, sample their traditional food and dance alongside them.
\nAdditionally, the team has implemented a one-month talent training program for local residents, providing them with comprehensive knowledge about the geopark. This includes basic geological knowledge, the formation mechanisms of significant geological heritage sites, as well as training in the use of geological disaster monitor equipment.
\nThe hard work bore fruit when UNESCO successfully revalidated the geopark in December last year, and the project is on track for completion by November.
\nZhang Jianping, vice-president of the Global Geoparks Network and a professor at China University of Geosciences (Beijing), emphasized the "extreme importance" of China's foreign-aid project for the geopark. He noted that it has enhanced local infrastructure and economic opportunities while boosting cultural exchanges and ecological protection.
\n"As one of the only two global geoparks in Africa — the other is in Morocco — the Ngorongoro-Lengai Global Geopark is rich in geological, biological and cultural resources. Its conservation is quite good, but the geopark management is relatively weak," Zhang said.
\n"The authorities and staff members need to fully understand the philosophy of UNESCO Global Geoparks. Therefore, capacity building is very important for them, as it can lead them to pay more attention to considering local residents' needs and aspirations. It is greatly appreciated that this project included the training courses," he added.
\nZhang Zhonghui, a senior engineer and a member of the Geological Society of China, described the foreign-aid project as "a paragon of international cooperation".
\n"The project has not only helped Tanzania create a batch of distinctive cultural and tourism products and activities but also achieved long-term empowerment through personnel training and improvements in local livelihoods," Zhang Zhonghui said.
\nlimenghan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "content": "The Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano looms in the Ngorongoro-Lengai Global Geopark in Arusha, Tanzania.
\nChinese engineers from the Tianjin Center of the China Geological Survey make a field survey in the geopark.
\nMembers of the Chinese survey team check a stone sample at the geopark.
\nGiraffes wander in the Ngorongoro-Lengai Global Geopark.
\nOne day at 3 am in September 2023, over 50 people, out of breath, gathered at the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano in the northern part of the Ngorongoro-Lengai Global Geopark in Arusha, Tanzania, to witness a marvel — molten lava, as clear as melted gold, flowing through cracks in the crater. Steam mixed with the orange-red lava and the black volcanic ash, creating a thick "river of fire".
\nThese Chinese and Tanzanian nationals, feeling the scorching heat and smelling the strong sulfur in the air, had been climbing for more than seven hours. The climb, with an altitude gain of nearly 3,000 meters and a 45-degree incline, had pushed them to their physical limits.
\nTheir work, the geoheritage survey of the volcano crater, as part of the reconstruction project undertaken by the Chinese government to assist in the development of Tanzania's first and only global geopark, had to be done before dawn. Once sunlight hits, the lava in the crater gradually turns gray, resembling an ordinary muddy river.
\nAnd for this route alone, the geological workers had climbed four times to obtain data on the geological heritage sites and plan sightseeing and scientific expedition routes for the area.
\nFrom nearly being excluded from the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network to having its construction progress fully recognized, the revival of the Ngorongoro-Lengai Global Geopark — the first geopark built with China's foreign aid — has fully demonstrated China's wisdom of empowerment through green development and technology, as well as its philosophy of harmony between humans and nature.
\nLocated in northeastern Tanzania, it is the only global geopark in Sub-Saharan Africa with internationally significant geological features. It is renowned for the Ngorongoro Crater, the active Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano and the paleontological sites of the Olduvai Gorge, opening the doors to tourism, conservation, education and research.
\nIn 2018, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization endorsed it as a global geopark, covering around 12,000 square kilometers across the Arusha districts of Ngorongoro, Karatu and Monduli. However, due to problems such as poor fundamental infrastructure, inadequate visitor information and insufficient scientific interpretation content, the geopark received a yellow warning from UNESCO in 2022 and was given a two-year period for corrections and reevaluation.
\nChina stepped in to assist at that critical moment. During Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's visit to China in November that same year, she and Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the signing ceremony for a China-aided project aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the geopark. Supported by the Agency for International Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania and the China Geological Survey, the project has included both technical assistance from the Tianjin Center of the China Geological Survey and physical infrastructure handled by the China Railway 25th Bureau Group.
\n"As the inaugural China aid geopark project, all the people are 'crossing the river by feeling the stones'," said Ren Junping, director of the Southern Africa Geological Survey Cooperation Center of Tianjin Center, who led the project.
\n"We are responsible for the entire workflow, from planning and implementation to construction," Ren said, adding that there were challenges in balancing the local needs with respect for nature in the planning process, as well as the necessity to work together to address logistical problems and deal with the frequent downpours.
\nRen considered the investigation of geological heritage resources as the foundation of the project, with the purpose of determining the distribution and availability of resources within the area. This could provide essential data for spatial planning, scientific expedition route design, and the establishment of a database encompassing geological heritage as well as natural and cultural resources.
\nOver a period of more than a year, the team completed a thorough investigation of the geopark, which included examining geological heritage sites, shallow groundwater sources and volcanic structure rock strata characteristics, as well as the interpretation of remote sensing geological data.
\nSun Kai, a project member from the Tianjin Center, also emphasized the complexity of the project.
\n"This project demands more comprehensive capabilities than conducting domestic geological heritage work," Sun said. "It involves not only geological surveys but also visitor information for public outreach and digitalization."
\nIn addition to essential tools like geological hammers, team members need to carry photographic equipment such as cameras and drones when conducting geological surveys to help produce scientific materials and exhibit designs, he said.
\nLi Lei, a project member from the Tianjin Center, said that China's information technology has been exported to develop a tourist-oriented service platform centered around the geopark's resource data, supported by interpretation and information systems.
\nCurrently, nearly 300 signs, including interpretive, directional and safety warning ones, have been erected in the geopark — all in English, Swahili and Chinese. A field interpretation system is also in place, offering interpretive scripts for key locations in seven languages of English, Swahili, Chinese, French, German, Spanish and Arabic.
\nWhile designing the landmark building of the new geological museum — a requisite for a global geopark — the team chose not to employ complex artificial intelligence technologies considering the frequent power outages in the local area. Instead, they installed solar panels on the exterior walls and used simple electrical systems to power interactive exhibits, such as animal racing and volcanic eruption simulations.
\nThe museum's design draws inspiration from the style of Tanzanian thatched huts, conveying to visitors the story of volcanic activities in the East African Highlands and human evolution, while promoting the ideals of respecting, conforming to and protecting nature.
\n"It was a novel experience for everyone," said Wu Xingyuan, a project member from the Tianjin Center.
\nThe geopark provides a lush habitat with abundant water and grass for 300,000 wild animals, including wildebeest, zebras, lions, rhinoceroses and elephants, creating a self-sustaining tropical savanna ecosystem.
\n"Once, while sitting in the vehicle, we saw a lion lying right by the car window," Wu recalled. "Thus, we have to hire armed security personnel to manage the dangers posed by wildlife."
\nTo protect these animals, primitive dirt paths are maintained to prevent damage to their hooves. Additionally, work must cease, and everyone must leave by 5 pm, returning the area to the wildlife, Wu said.
\n"Another distinctive feature of the geopark is that it is home to nearly 400,000 residents, with the vast majority being Maasai," Wu added.
\nTo honor these indigenous people who have lived here for generations, the team has organized tours where visitors can immerse themselves in the Maasai way of life, sample their traditional food and dance alongside them.
\nAdditionally, the team has implemented a one-month talent training program for local residents, providing them with comprehensive knowledge about the geopark. This includes basic geological knowledge, the formation mechanisms of significant geological heritage sites, as well as training in the use of geological disaster monitor equipment.
\nThe hard work bore fruit when UNESCO successfully revalidated the geopark in December last year, and the project is on track for completion by November.
\nZhang Jianping, vice-president of the Global Geoparks Network and a professor at China University of Geosciences (Beijing), emphasized the "extreme importance" of China's foreign-aid project for the geopark. He noted that it has enhanced local infrastructure and economic opportunities while boosting cultural exchanges and ecological protection.
\n"As one of the only two global geoparks in Africa — the other is in Morocco — the Ngorongoro-Lengai Global Geopark is rich in geological, biological and cultural resources. Its conservation is quite good, but the geopark management is relatively weak," Zhang said.
\n"The authorities and staff members need to fully understand the philosophy of UNESCO Global Geoparks. Therefore, capacity building is very important for them, as it can lead them to pay more attention to considering local residents' needs and aspirations. It is greatly appreciated that this project included the training courses," he added.
\nZhang Zhonghui, a senior engineer and a member of the Geological Society of China, described the foreign-aid project as "a paragon of international cooperation".
\n"The project has not only helped Tanzania create a batch of distinctive cultural and tourism products and activities but also achieved long-term empowerment through personnel training and improvements in local livelihoods," Zhang Zhonghui said.
\nlimenghan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-10/23/content_008_68f949c5ed50ccabe151b952.htm#008CHINA", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:21:04 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "cabcbefb4aba11deab6594a8e79c9d0b", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "009COMMENT - Plenum doubles down on opening-up to deepen engagement with the world", "description": "A major task on the agenda of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in Beijing this week is to discuss the draft proposals for the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development. High-standard opening-up in the next five years is a key part of the new plan and how it will be carried out is one of the reasons why the session is being closely followed by the world.
\nOpenness remains China's defining strength and a key driver of Chinese modernization. Amid the rise of protectionism and unilateralism, high-standard opening-up is not merely about expanding trade or investment; it is about optimizing China's system to further integrate its economy into the world system. The meeting will provide strategic guidance for advancing the transition of China's opening-up from the traditional "factor flow" model to a new stage of institutional opening-up based on rules, regulations, management and standards. This transformation marks China's determination to align with high-standard international economic and trade rules and to accelerate the improvement of its institutional mechanisms.
\nAt a time when the global economy faces headwinds from trade fragmentation and the weaponization of tariffs and sanctions, China's firm commitment to opening its doors wider is a vote of confidence for multilateral cooperation.
\nA key move will be to continue to upgrade the country's pilot free trade zones. In recent years, the FTZs and the Hainan Free Trade Port have played a pioneering role in stress-testing institutional reforms in areas such as cross-border data flow, intellectual property rights protection, financial liberalization and green trade. The plan will look to build these into high-standard platforms that can generate replicable experiences for the rest of the country — new highlands of reform that radiate benefits both domestically and internationally.
\nChina's opening-up will continue to be both a driver of domestic growth and a public good for the world economy. For China, deepening openness promotes industrial upgrading, stimulates innovation and enhances productivity. Its openness injects certainty into the world economy, stability into the global supply chains and vitality into international efforts to combat climate change.
\nChina's contribution to global growth has remained around 30 percent in recent years — a figure that speaks of its indispensable role in the global economy. China's commitment to keeping its market open and sharing development opportunities has continually provided certainty, stability and predictability in turbulent times.
\nMoreover, China's Belt and Road Initiative has turned openness into an engine for shared development. By combining "hard connectivity", in the form of infrastructure and industries, with "soft connectivity", in the form of rules and standards, and by strengthening people-to-people ties, the initiative has not only brought tangible benefits to the participants but also promoted the openness of the world system.
\nStill, the path ahead will not be without challenges. External uncertainties are mounting as trade barriers rise and global economic rules are being reshaped around emerging domains such as artificial intelligence and the green transition. In this environment, deepening institutional opening-up is both a proactive adaptation and a strategic necessity. To that end, China will continue to enhance its risk prevention and regulatory capabilities, strike a balance between openness and security and ensure that reform and opening-up proceed steadily in a coordinated manner.
\nUltimately, high-standard opening-up is a vital component of China's broader modernization drive. It will help China harness the forces of innovation and global cooperation to advance high-quality development at home while contributing to a fairer, more inclusive world economy. By turning openness into a pathway for mutual benefit, China is demonstrating that its modernization is also about engaging with the world in deeper, more rules-based and mutually beneficial ways.
\nThe more some economies are turning inward and erecting walls, the more China is resolved to increase its openness and share opportunities. This stands as an affirmation of its vision — that the future of economic globalization must be open, balanced and beneficial to all. This vision will guide China's actions through the next five years and beyond, contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/009/20251023_009_03_33.png\")
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{
"title": "009COMMENT - AI integration improving productivity across sectors",
"description": "Editor's note: How can China further advance the "intelligent transformation of industries" in the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period? Why is there a big difference in artificial intelligence penetration across various sectors? Sun Xin, deputy chief engineer of the AI research center at the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), spoke to the 21st Century Business Herald on these issues. Below are excerpts from the interview. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\nAI is being advanced as a powerful new driver of productivity, with equal emphasis on technological innovation and application-driven development through integrated planning. Over the past year, several important trends have emerged in the AI field.
\nFirst, the iteration of foundation models has accelerated and new innovation pathways are taking shape. According to data from CAICT, the pace of global large model iteration continues to increase. Since last year, the overall comprehension capability of multimodal models has improved by 90 percent and the iteration cycle of certain models has shortened from several months to just a few weeks.
\nSecond, deep collaboration between software and hardware and efficient integration have become the new paradigm for the development of large AI models. Cutting-edge AI innovation depends on the computing foundation, and requires close coordination across models, chips, frameworks, servers and networks. As model training and inference workloads continue to grow rapidly, the demand for intelligent computing is rising sharply. Improvements in AI chips alone won't be enough to sustain this rapid growth because it is also constrained by energy consumption. In the future, software-hardware co-optimization will be the key to support rapid model iteration.
\nThird, intelligent agents have emerged as the main form of large model application, giving rise to an emerging AI agent economy. A growing number of industries are developing intelligent agents as their primary application strategy and the intelligent agent industry chain has become a vital pillar of the AI agent economy.
\nFourth, open source has fostered "collective evolution" and the inclusive development of AI. The growth of open-source models has stimulated the creation of public clouds and all-in-one machines. Derivative models based on open-source frameworks are flourishing, greatly lowering the threshold for large model adoption and creating new opportunities for AI development.
\nThe integration of AI in industries follows the same pattern as the adoption of digital technologies. It tends to begin in sectors with higher levels of digital maturity and gradually expands to others. But there are variations in the depth of AI penetration across industries. Industries differ in the level of digitalization, resource availability and understanding of AI, which inevitably affects their adoption speed.
\nAI is being deployed at scale in digital-native sectors, which have high data availability, the necessary infrastructure and large user bases. These industries are the first to realize large-scale AI applications across search, social media, e-commerce, content creation and programming. Such applications not only enhance service efficiency but also offer users new interactive experiences.
\nKey applications have achieved notable results in industries with a higher degree of digitalization, such as finance, healthcare and transportation. These early applications are built on the existing digital foundations within each industry, accelerating the transformation from digitalization to intelligence. For instance, the integration of AI in autonomous driving is making new breakthroughs alongside advances in large models. As AI becomes more widely accessible and digital transformation deepens across sectors, AI will penetrate further in manufacturing, energy and other real economy fields, combining with core production processes to improve productivity.
\nEfforts should focus on high-value scenarios with solid foundations and strong demand, overcoming barriers in resources, technology, governance and institutional mechanisms. Successful demonstration cases can be scaled up to accelerate the overall process of intelligent transformation.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/010/20251023_010_02_40.png\")
The author is chief China economist at Nomura.
\nThe fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, being held from Monday to Thursday, will review the proposal for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), the blueprint that will guide China's economic and social development during the next five years.
\nGiven China's growing global role and the domestic challenges that have emerged since 2021 — most notably the mounting challenges triggered by the property downturn since 2021, the 15th Five-Year Plan will matter more than the last plan, because it is intended to steady the ship, set strategic signposts and address structural issues that have emerged recently.
\nFive-year plans remain a core instrument of governance in China. They allow the leadership to take stock, examine challenges and tasks, set signposts and forge ahead. They embody China's strategic thinking and provide a long-term policy framework that markets and international observers are likely to scrutinize. The 15th Five-Year Plan, in particular, will draw attention given China's global weight: China is the second-largest economy by nominal GDP, the largest economy by purchasing power parity, the largest contributor to global growth, and the top consumer of most major commodities, from grain to electricity.
\nMany remarkable achievements were made during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25). China strengthened its industrial and technological capabilities, scaled up its innovation ecosystems and continued to build comprehensive supply chains and infrastructure. These achievements have reinforced competitiveness in advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and life sciences. The issues identified in the 2021-25 period — the property sector's ongoing strains, youth unemployment concerns, and social mobility challenges — underscore the need to take new measures to address them.
\nThese vulnerabilities are likely to shape the 15th Five-Year Plan, which is expected to build resilience, safeguard security and promote inclusivity. There is also a need to focus on advancing tech self-sufficiency through significant investment and industrial policy, particularly in semiconductors, AI and biotechnology.
\nGeopolitical tensions and export controls have raised the stakes for technological independence. And to promote inclusivity, there is a need to reduce inequality, expand the social safety net and boost households' confidence so that consumption can help increase overall growth.
\nConcurrently, continued support for technological development — from AI and semiconductors to biotechnology and greener energy systems — is critical to sharpen long-term competitiveness. And focused industrial policy and targeted investment are needed to strengthen capabilities.
\nAddressing the property sector's weakening will be another priority. The housing market's prolonged correction — since 2021 — has strained the balance sheets of developers, financial institutions and households alike.
\nDuring this transition to the new economy, the old economy will remain a pillar of growth. Beijing may increase its efforts to resolve the debt issues in the property market, end deflation and improve its fiscal system. To support consumption, Beijing may make substantial efforts to revamp the social welfare system, especially pensions, to redistribute economic gains.
\nPension reform will be key to inclusive growth. Reforms to the social-security system — including large increases in basic pension payments to low-income households and increased subsidies for basic medical insurance — would be the most effective long-term policies to bolster consumption and reduce inequality. Narrowing inequality could also deliver social stability, which is important for steady economic growth.
\nThe authorities will need to assess trade-offs realistically: Beijing is likely to press ahead with tech self-sufficiency and measures to safeguard national security, even though this focus on self-sufficiency may impact efficiency to some degree.
\nExternally, the plan will be watched closely as it frames China's strategic thinking at a time of rising geopolitical tensions; domestically, the 15th Five-Year Plan will need to reconcile the property sector repercussions and other structural challenges with the aim of delivering resilient, stable and inclusive growth.
\nIn short, the 15th Five-Year Plan is likely to be less about headline growth and more about pursuing resilience, security and inclusivity.
\nThe views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\nThe author is chief China economist at Nomura.
\nThe fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, being held from Monday to Thursday, will review the proposal for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), the blueprint that will guide China's economic and social development during the next five years.
\nGiven China's growing global role and the domestic challenges that have emerged since 2021 — most notably the mounting challenges triggered by the property downturn since 2021, the 15th Five-Year Plan will matter more than the last plan, because it is intended to steady the ship, set strategic signposts and address structural issues that have emerged recently.
\nFive-year plans remain a core instrument of governance in China. They allow the leadership to take stock, examine challenges and tasks, set signposts and forge ahead. They embody China's strategic thinking and provide a long-term policy framework that markets and international observers are likely to scrutinize. The 15th Five-Year Plan, in particular, will draw attention given China's global weight: China is the second-largest economy by nominal GDP, the largest economy by purchasing power parity, the largest contributor to global growth, and the top consumer of most major commodities, from grain to electricity.
\nMany remarkable achievements were made during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25). China strengthened its industrial and technological capabilities, scaled up its innovation ecosystems and continued to build comprehensive supply chains and infrastructure. These achievements have reinforced competitiveness in advanced manufacturing, digital technologies and life sciences. The issues identified in the 2021-25 period — the property sector's ongoing strains, youth unemployment concerns, and social mobility challenges — underscore the need to take new measures to address them.
\nThese vulnerabilities are likely to shape the 15th Five-Year Plan, which is expected to build resilience, safeguard security and promote inclusivity. There is also a need to focus on advancing tech self-sufficiency through significant investment and industrial policy, particularly in semiconductors, AI and biotechnology.
\nGeopolitical tensions and export controls have raised the stakes for technological independence. And to promote inclusivity, there is a need to reduce inequality, expand the social safety net and boost households' confidence so that consumption can help increase overall growth.
\nConcurrently, continued support for technological development — from AI and semiconductors to biotechnology and greener energy systems — is critical to sharpen long-term competitiveness. And focused industrial policy and targeted investment are needed to strengthen capabilities.
\nAddressing the property sector's weakening will be another priority. The housing market's prolonged correction — since 2021 — has strained the balance sheets of developers, financial institutions and households alike.
\nDuring this transition to the new economy, the old economy will remain a pillar of growth. Beijing may increase its efforts to resolve the debt issues in the property market, end deflation and improve its fiscal system. To support consumption, Beijing may make substantial efforts to revamp the social welfare system, especially pensions, to redistribute economic gains.
\nPension reform will be key to inclusive growth. Reforms to the social-security system — including large increases in basic pension payments to low-income households and increased subsidies for basic medical insurance — would be the most effective long-term policies to bolster consumption and reduce inequality. Narrowing inequality could also deliver social stability, which is important for steady economic growth.
\nThe authorities will need to assess trade-offs realistically: Beijing is likely to press ahead with tech self-sufficiency and measures to safeguard national security, even though this focus on self-sufficiency may impact efficiency to some degree.
\nExternally, the plan will be watched closely as it frames China's strategic thinking at a time of rising geopolitical tensions; domestically, the 15th Five-Year Plan will need to reconcile the property sector repercussions and other structural challenges with the aim of delivering resilient, stable and inclusive growth.
\nIn short, the 15th Five-Year Plan is likely to be less about headline growth and more about pursuing resilience, security and inclusivity.
\nThe views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/011/20251023_011_01_17595.png\")
Cabinet members of Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front center) pose for a photo in Tokyo on Tuesday.
\nBoth the Cabinet of Japan's new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, reflect a distinctly conservative orientation with a focus on economic and security priorities, experts say.
\nAt her inaugural news conference on Tuesday, Takaichi said her Liberal Democratic Party and the JIP would work "hand in hand" on key policy areas outlined in their coalition agreement, including cost-of-living measures, a backup system for the capital's functions, social security reform, and constitutional revision.
\nKumiko Haba, a professor at Josai International University in Togane, Japan, said the LDP-JIP alliance is more right-leaning and conservative than the LDP's previous coalition with the Komeito party.
\nThe current partnership stems largely from their aligned policy orientations, Haba said. By endorsing the JIP's proposals, such as the "sub-capital concept" centered on Osaka and the "anti-espionage bill", Takaichi can more easily advance conservative policies, she added.
\nEarlier this month, the Komeito withdrew from the ruling coalition, citing the LDP's "insufficient" response to a high-profile political funding scandal. Before the split, the two parties had also clashed over policies related to foreigners and visits to the Yasukuni Shrine, which glorifies Japan's wartime militarism by honoring 14 convicted Class-A World War II criminals.
\nHaba said these issues have long been points of public concern and areas of weakness for the LDP.
\nHad the LDP-Komeito coalition continued, Takaichi would have been forced to maintain a centrist stance on such matters under Komeito's influence. Now her administration has greater freedom to advance right-leaning policies, and communication channels with China have been weakened, Haba said.
\nIf Takaichi adopts a hard-line stance on historical recognition, Japan's China policy could shift "further to the right" than it did under former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba, she added.
\nNoriyuki Kawamura, an emeritus professor at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, said the JIP, which advocates constitutional revision and stronger defense capabilities, could become an "accelerator", pushing the government further to the right following its alliance with the LDP.
\nAlthough the Komeito holds a limited number of parliamentary seats, it has long served as a "brake "on security policies, restraining the LDP and keeping Japan aligned with the constitutionally established principle of "exclusive defense", Kawamura said.
\nAfter her election, Takaichi quickly unveiled her new Cabinet, assigning key posts to the four rivals she faced in the LDP leadership contest. Shinjiro Koizumi was appointed defense minister, and Toshimitsu Motegi returns as foreign minister.
\nThe other two appointments are Yoshimasa Hayashi as minister of internal affairs and communications, and Takayuki Kobayashi, who continues to serve as the LDP's policy chief. Another notable pick is former defense minister Minoru Kihara, who takes on the role of chief cabinet secretary.
\nConsolidating power
\nHaba said the appointments demonstrate a deliberate effort to consolidate power by maintaining a "balance of personnel".
\nWithin the LDP, Takaichi initially drew criticism for appointing numerous members from the Taro Aso faction. However, by assigning key positions to all her former leadership rivals, she signaled an intention to foster party unity, Haba said.
\nAt the news conference, Takaichi characterized her Cabinet as one of "decisiveness and progress".
\nKawamura said that among all LDP administrations, Takaichi's Cabinet is the most conservative and hard-line — or hawkish and right-leaning — with a noticeably clearer policy orientation.
\nA cause for concern is that the new administration may actively pursue constitutional revision and military expansion — objectives that even the late prime minister Shinzo Abe's government failed to realize, he said. Takaichi has described herself as an inheritor of Abe's legacy.
\nNone of the JIP members were included in the new Cabinet, in line with the agreement reached when the two parties formed their coalition.
\nThe LDP-JIP partnership is considered an extra-cabinet arrangement rather than a formal coalition government. As a result, the JIP cannot be expected to support all government legislation. Haba said the party's position may vary depending on the issue, which means the alliance carries inherent uncertainties.
\nThe move is widely seen as a "disengagement strategy" by the JIP, allowing it to maintain distance from the LDP and withdraw if policy differences emerge or public opinion shifts, Xinhua News Agency said.
\nhoujunjie@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", @@ -12985,28 +12831,6 @@ "hash": "54d634e555d29658107da36ba9db65e0", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "011WORLD - Putin-Trump summit on hold, says White House", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/011/20251023_011_03_28595.png\")
People charge their phones at a heated tent during a total blackout following Russian air attacks on energy facilities in Chernihiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday.
\nWASHINGTON — A planned summit between United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was put on hold on Tuesday, as Moscow's rejection of an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine cast a cloud over attempts at negotiations.
\nA senior White House official told Reuters, "there are no plans for President Trump to meet with President Putin in the immediate future", after Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a "productive call" but opted against an in-person meeting.
\nTrump had announced last week that he and Putin would meet soon in Hungary to try to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. However, Putin has been unwilling to consider concessions. Moscow has long demanded that Ukraine agree to cede more territory before any ceasefire.
\nTrump, asked by reporters about the prospect for a summit, said he did not want to have a "wasted meeting" but suggested there could be more developments and that "we'll be notifying you over the next two days" about them.
\nThe Kremlin said on Tuesday it was unclear when a summit between Trump and Putin would take place, and that no dates had been mentioned by anyone.
\n"Listen, we have an understanding of the presidents, but we cannot postpone what has not been finalized, "Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "Neither President Trump nor President Putin gave exact dates."
\nAsked if Moscow had an understanding of a possible date for the summit, Peskov said, "No, there is no understanding."
\nRussia reiterated its long-standing terms for a peace deal in a private communique known as a "non paper" that it sent to the US on the weekend, according to two US officials and two people familiar with the situation.
\nThe communique reaffirmed Russia's demand for full control of the eastern Donbas region, according to one official, effectively rejecting Trump's call for a ceasefire to commence with a freeze of the front lines at their prevailing locations, which was backed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
\nTrump "proposed 'Stay where we stay and begin conversation'", Zelensky told reporters on Wednesday during a brief visit to Oslo. "I think that was a good compromise, but I'm not sure that Putin will support it, and I said it to the president."
\nEuropean leaders urged Washington on Tuesday to hold firm in demanding an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, with the present battle lines to serve as the basis for any future talks.
\nNATO said Secretary-General Mark Rutte traveled to Washington on Tuesday for talks with Trump that two sources familiar with the matter said would take place on Wednesday.
\nA Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Rutte planned to present to Trump the European views on a ceasefire and any subsequent peace negotiations.
\nEuropean Union leaders are then set to close ranks in support of Ukraine at a Brussels summit on Thursday, followed a day later by a "coalition of the willing" meeting of European leaders in London to discuss the next steps to help Kyiv.
\n", - "content": "People charge their phones at a heated tent during a total blackout following Russian air attacks on energy facilities in Chernihiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday.
\nWASHINGTON — A planned summit between United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was put on hold on Tuesday, as Moscow's rejection of an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine cast a cloud over attempts at negotiations.
\nA senior White House official told Reuters, "there are no plans for President Trump to meet with President Putin in the immediate future", after Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a "productive call" but opted against an in-person meeting.
\nTrump had announced last week that he and Putin would meet soon in Hungary to try to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. However, Putin has been unwilling to consider concessions. Moscow has long demanded that Ukraine agree to cede more territory before any ceasefire.
\nTrump, asked by reporters about the prospect for a summit, said he did not want to have a "wasted meeting" but suggested there could be more developments and that "we'll be notifying you over the next two days" about them.
\nThe Kremlin said on Tuesday it was unclear when a summit between Trump and Putin would take place, and that no dates had been mentioned by anyone.
\n"Listen, we have an understanding of the presidents, but we cannot postpone what has not been finalized, "Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "Neither President Trump nor President Putin gave exact dates."
\nAsked if Moscow had an understanding of a possible date for the summit, Peskov said, "No, there is no understanding."
\nRussia reiterated its long-standing terms for a peace deal in a private communique known as a "non paper" that it sent to the US on the weekend, according to two US officials and two people familiar with the situation.
\nThe communique reaffirmed Russia's demand for full control of the eastern Donbas region, according to one official, effectively rejecting Trump's call for a ceasefire to commence with a freeze of the front lines at their prevailing locations, which was backed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
\nTrump "proposed 'Stay where we stay and begin conversation'", Zelensky told reporters on Wednesday during a brief visit to Oslo. "I think that was a good compromise, but I'm not sure that Putin will support it, and I said it to the president."
\nEuropean leaders urged Washington on Tuesday to hold firm in demanding an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine, with the present battle lines to serve as the basis for any future talks.
\nNATO said Secretary-General Mark Rutte traveled to Washington on Tuesday for talks with Trump that two sources familiar with the matter said would take place on Wednesday.
\nA Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Rutte planned to present to Trump the European views on a ceasefire and any subsequent peace negotiations.
\nEuropean Union leaders are then set to close ranks in support of Ukraine at a Brussels summit on Thursday, followed a day later by a "coalition of the willing" meeting of European leaders in London to discuss the next steps to help Kyiv.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-10/23/content_011_68f949f8ed50ccabe151b95e.htm#011WORLD", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:21:04 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "968e8a0f4d122bf7b74363fce3b91e9f", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "012WORLD - Plans to impose tariffs on medical imports opposed", "description": "Major US hospital, manufacturing and trade groups are urging the Trump administration to back away from possible tariffs or broad trade restrictions in its latest national-security review of medical imports, arguing that new curbs would raise costs, disrupt supplies and undermine innovation.
\nThe review, under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 investigation, covers personal protective equipment, or PPE, medical consumables and medical equipment, including devices, according to a Federal Register notice released on Sept 26.
\nStakeholders like the American Association for Homecare say the process could produce tariffs, quotas or other limits as early as 2026.
\nThe National Foreign Trade Council, or NFTC, urged the administration to avoid tariffs altogether, arguing that actions on PPE, medical consumables and devices "risk profound negative impacts and costs" for US industry and would strain "a US healthcare system that is already burdened".
\n"For this reason, it is imperative that extreme caution be exercised, and we urge against the use of any tariffs and that the administration consider nontariff responses that support industry competitiveness, "the NFTC said in response to the US Commerce Department probe, posted on its website on Tuesday.
\nEarlier this month, the lobbying group, whose board includes US firms like Oracle, Amazon and Exxon Mobil, urged the Trump administration to immediately suspend a rule it says halted billions of dollars' worth of US exports and will prompt China and other countries to drop US firms from their supply chains, Reuters reported on Monday.
\nIn a letter to US President Donald Trump, NFTC President Jake Colvin wrote that the Affiliates Rule, which bars US companies from shipping goods and technology to companies part-owned by sanctioned firms, "has resulted in an immediate pause of billions in US exports, which is contrary to your desire to reduce the trade deficit and increase US exports globally", according to the report.
\nThe NFTC's comment on the Section 232 probe was one of the more than 800 responses the Commerce Department received from industry stakeholders following a 21-day comment period that ended on Friday.
\nIn its response, the American Hospital Association, or AHA, which represents nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other healthcare organizations in the US, noted that the supply chains for the targeted goods are highly complex, bringing together domestic and international sources.
\nIn 2024 alone, the US imported over $75 billion in medical devices and supplies. Around 30 percent of the medical technology market in the US is imported, while much higher percentages of PPE are sourced internationally, according to an AHA analysis of Census Bureau data.
\n"Hospitals are especially reliant on international sources for PPE to protect both caregivers and patients," Akinluwa A. Demehin, vice-president of quality and safety policy with the AHA, said in a letter to the Commerce Department.
\nThe AHA noted that in 2023, Chinese manufacturers supplied the majority of N95 and other respirators used in healthcare, and additionally, China was the source for one-third of disposable face masks, two-thirds of non-disposable face masks and 94 percent of the plastic gloves used in healthcare settings.
\n"The low-margin nature of these products makes them difficult to produce sustainably within the US.At the same time, disruption in the availability of these devices would curtail hospitals' ability to perform life-saving surgeries and keep patients safe from contagion, as well as hinder providers' ability to effectively diagnose, monitor and treat patients," Demehin said.
\nBalanced approach urged
\nThe AHA urged a "balanced approach" that includes a tariff-exception process for products in short supply.
\nIt said that medical device tariff exemptions were established in the earlier China trade actions, recognizing the critical role medical equipment plays in the safety and wellbeing of Americans.
\nBusiness Roundtable, an association of more than 200 chief executive officers of leading US companies, also cautioned that imposition of Section 232 tariffs "runs a serious risk of threatening American health security, undermining innovation and raising healthcare costs".
\nMeanwhile, manufacturers echoed concerns over cost and disruption. For example, the National Association of Manufacturers, or NAM, said it supported the goal of stronger domestic capacity but warned tariffs are "likely to have unintended consequences, including increased costs for patients and hospitals, and supply chain disruptions".
\n"While R&D expenditures would not be subject to a tariff, tariffs on medical technology devices would necessarily increase the cost of research materials and production, which reduces funds available for increased R&D spend in the US, "Andrea Durkin, vice-president of international policy with the NAM, said in the organization's response.
\nSince early 2025, the White House has increasingly invoked Section 232, not just for the traditional domains of steel, aluminum and autos, but across a wide array of sectors viewed as critical to supply chains and economic resilience, such as semiconductors and technology hardware, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals and aerospace components.
\nhuanxinzhao@chinadailyusa.com
\n", @@ -13029,28 +12853,6 @@ "hash": "c7691ea5d5fb015f2667280619198d38", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "012WORLD - Women's empowerment takes center stage at consulate event in New York", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/012/20251023_012_03_50271.png\")
\nA panel of women from different backgrounds gathered at the Chinese consulate in New York City on Monday to discuss women's empowerment, work-life balance and the current state of gender relations worldwide alongside Chen Li, consul general of China in New York.
\nThe event, dubbed "Honoring Her Strength, Supporting Her Dreams", was held in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women held in China.
\nFeatured guest speakers included Jessica Bissett, senior director of government engagement for the National Committee on US-China Relations; Belinda Robinson, a journalist for China Daily newspaper; and Fang Zhongjing, a ballerina and choreographer for American Ballet Theatre.
\nA short video showed the tremendous progress made in women's equality in China and the work still to be done.
\n"We've hosted many events here in this hall, but a woman-focused one, this might be a first," Chen said in an introductory speech. "Thirty years ago, China hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women, which adopted the landmark declaration, and that call for action made gender equality an agenda of the times.
\n"Last week, China held the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing, where President Xi Jinping proposed new measures to promote women's all-round development. There couldn't be a better time to bring together inspiring women leaders from our consulate district to explore how women's causes are advancing in both China and the US," he added.
\nThe panel, led by a moderator, tackled a myriad of topics and spoke of the progress, challenges and growth they had personally experienced. Two participants recalled how their industries had been very male-dominated when they began, but they'd later seen more women break through. They also highlighted the value of female mentorship in their lives.
\nValue of mentorship
\n"In the early years of my career, the giants in the field were all older white men, which is fine. At the time, the China specialists, who are today in their 80s, started out in their fields in the 1960s, a different time," Bissett said.
\n"The women's liberation movement was just starting. But I can heavily report that as I've gone through my career, I've seen more and more women rise in terms of academia in US-China relations and also leadership positions.
\n"I'm very lucky within my own career. The vice-president of the National Committee is a woman named Jan Berris, who's been at the National Committee for over 50 years. I call her the first lady of US-China relations. So, I had an amazing mentor in her," she said.
\n"Women supporting women is wonderful because it enhances your career and your life and it's something that I take great pleasure participating in. I think that it's so important for women to have mentors and to have goals and to dream as big as they can," Robinson said.
\nFang, who began ballet dancing at the tender age of 9, described her brave, solo journey to the United States after receiving an offer from American Ballet Theatre to join the company.
\n"When I turned 18, I came to America by myself," she told the audience. "At the time, I didn't speak any (English), with two suitcases, just myself and full of dreams. Fast forward now, 20-something years later, I'm a soloist with American Ballet Theatre, I have a beautiful family and I just had my second daughter.
\n"And, coming back to the center of this theme tonight, so many mentors and so many women in my life have paved the way. If it wasn't for those women, I wouldn't be here today. I continue to grow as a mentor, a mother and a wife, and a daughter to continue to help the people around me, help the younger generation and help my daughters to grow."
\nAshley Brown, director of the Martha Graham School in New York and a member of the audience, praised the event for bringing women's key issues to the fore.
\n"I think (we need) more women conferences, more opportunities for women to come together, more opportunities for women to find camaraderie, to support each other."
\nJessica Chen, a lawyer and an audience member, told China Daily: "I have different positions with the New York State Bar Association and I'm very active with all the bar activities. A lot of the time, when I've entered into a forum, it is male-dominated.
\n"Sometimes when I enter the room, it's like, 'oh, I'm the only Asian, or, I'm the only female, or, I'm the only Chinese.' Originally, I felt like, 'that's a little weird, but later on, I feel like I'm proud of it. I think it's a privilege and I can send out my voice because my voice matters … We girls are capable … So, dream big!"
\nshiguang@chinadailyusa.com
\n", - "content": "\nA panel of women from different backgrounds gathered at the Chinese consulate in New York City on Monday to discuss women's empowerment, work-life balance and the current state of gender relations worldwide alongside Chen Li, consul general of China in New York.
\nThe event, dubbed "Honoring Her Strength, Supporting Her Dreams", was held in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women held in China.
\nFeatured guest speakers included Jessica Bissett, senior director of government engagement for the National Committee on US-China Relations; Belinda Robinson, a journalist for China Daily newspaper; and Fang Zhongjing, a ballerina and choreographer for American Ballet Theatre.
\nA short video showed the tremendous progress made in women's equality in China and the work still to be done.
\n"We've hosted many events here in this hall, but a woman-focused one, this might be a first," Chen said in an introductory speech. "Thirty years ago, China hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women, which adopted the landmark declaration, and that call for action made gender equality an agenda of the times.
\n"Last week, China held the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing, where President Xi Jinping proposed new measures to promote women's all-round development. There couldn't be a better time to bring together inspiring women leaders from our consulate district to explore how women's causes are advancing in both China and the US," he added.
\nThe panel, led by a moderator, tackled a myriad of topics and spoke of the progress, challenges and growth they had personally experienced. Two participants recalled how their industries had been very male-dominated when they began, but they'd later seen more women break through. They also highlighted the value of female mentorship in their lives.
\nValue of mentorship
\n"In the early years of my career, the giants in the field were all older white men, which is fine. At the time, the China specialists, who are today in their 80s, started out in their fields in the 1960s, a different time," Bissett said.
\n"The women's liberation movement was just starting. But I can heavily report that as I've gone through my career, I've seen more and more women rise in terms of academia in US-China relations and also leadership positions.
\n"I'm very lucky within my own career. The vice-president of the National Committee is a woman named Jan Berris, who's been at the National Committee for over 50 years. I call her the first lady of US-China relations. So, I had an amazing mentor in her," she said.
\n"Women supporting women is wonderful because it enhances your career and your life and it's something that I take great pleasure participating in. I think that it's so important for women to have mentors and to have goals and to dream as big as they can," Robinson said.
\nFang, who began ballet dancing at the tender age of 9, described her brave, solo journey to the United States after receiving an offer from American Ballet Theatre to join the company.
\n"When I turned 18, I came to America by myself," she told the audience. "At the time, I didn't speak any (English), with two suitcases, just myself and full of dreams. Fast forward now, 20-something years later, I'm a soloist with American Ballet Theatre, I have a beautiful family and I just had my second daughter.
\n"And, coming back to the center of this theme tonight, so many mentors and so many women in my life have paved the way. If it wasn't for those women, I wouldn't be here today. I continue to grow as a mentor, a mother and a wife, and a daughter to continue to help the people around me, help the younger generation and help my daughters to grow."
\nAshley Brown, director of the Martha Graham School in New York and a member of the audience, praised the event for bringing women's key issues to the fore.
\n"I think (we need) more women conferences, more opportunities for women to come together, more opportunities for women to find camaraderie, to support each other."
\nJessica Chen, a lawyer and an audience member, told China Daily: "I have different positions with the New York State Bar Association and I'm very active with all the bar activities. A lot of the time, when I've entered into a forum, it is male-dominated.
\n"Sometimes when I enter the room, it's like, 'oh, I'm the only Asian, or, I'm the only female, or, I'm the only Chinese.' Originally, I felt like, 'that's a little weird, but later on, I feel like I'm proud of it. I think it's a privilege and I can send out my voice because my voice matters … We girls are capable … So, dream big!"
\nshiguang@chinadailyusa.com
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-10/23/content_012_68f94a09ed50ccabe151b962.htm#012WORLD", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:21:04 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "0d4bd45216be8652617a78412918c47d", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "012WORLD - AI and fintech to drive next digital leap of Africa", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/012/20251023_012_05_29271.png\")
A 5G-enabled robotic dog at a booth during the Mobile World Congress in Kigali, Rwanda, on Tuesday.
\nAs Africa's mobile revolution enters a new phase, policymakers and industry leaders gathering in Kigali, Rwanda, said artificial intelligence and fintech hold the key to unlocking inclusive growth — if the continent can close its digital and energy gaps.
\nAt this year's Mobile World Congress, or MWC Africa, being held in Rwanda's capital, Kigali, leaders have called for greater investment in infrastructure, energy, and human capital to turn connectivity into tangible economic opportunity.
\nRwandan President Paul Kagame, during the opening ceremony on Tuesday, said the continent's rapid digital transformation demonstrates how innovation can emerge anywhere, provided enabling policies and partnerships are in place.
\n"In just a few years, Africa has gone from limited connectivity to a mobile-driven economy. Broadband and smartphones have become tools of daily life, transforming commerce, education, finance, and other key sectors," Kagame said.
\nHe highlighted mobile money as a global model for financial inclusion. "It has empowered small businesses and women entrepreneurs by linking their potential to the broader economy," he said.
\nDespite progress, Kagame cautioned that Africa must act urgently to bridge the digital divide, noting that only a small fraction of Africans are connected compared to the global average.
\n"If this gap persists, technology meant to expand opportunity could instead widen inequality," he said.
\nThe president stressed integrating AI into planning and public service delivery, as well as harmonizing policies to foster innovation.
\n"The challenges Africa faces are significant, but they also present great growth potential," he added.
\nCall for collaboration
\nRwanda's Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, said hosting MWC Africa reinforces the country's ambition to lead Africa's digital transformation.
\n"The future of digital Africa will be defined by collaboration. We must converge across governments, industries, and innovators to make Africa not just a market for innovation, but a home of digital leadership," she added.
\nDoreen Bogdan-Martin, secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union, said AI could help generate about $2.9 trillion for the African economy.
\n"We have to work together across sectors and governments to solve this. A digital future requires access for all," she said.
\nVivek Badrinath, director general of Global System for Mobile Communications Association, said Africa's mobile industry is now one of the largest infrastructures on the planet, covering 91 percent of the population and connecting over 710 million people, adding that the next leap will be powered by "intelligence, investment and inclusion".
\n"Africa has more than 2,000 languages, yet they make up only 0.02 percent of online content," he said. He called for partnerships with necessary stakeholders in different countries to develop inclusive AI models for African languages and ensure AI benefits all citizens.
\nHe said regulatory reforms, fair competition, and streamlined land and permitting processes are critical enablers of investment.
\n"If we close the usage gap, we can add $625 billion to Africa's GDP by 2030. Connectivity is not just about technology; it's about empowering people, building resilience, and driving sustainable growth," Badrinath said.
\nsharon@chinadailyafrica.com
\n", @@ -13073,28 +12875,6 @@ "hash": "c987d589f0a3ceea74adba25db55ae60", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "013BUSINESS - Being prepared", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/013/20251023_013_02_17975.png\")
Employees from State Grid Changji in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region visit the electric-boiler house of CHD Hutubi Energy, inquiring about its power needs during the upcoming heating season in Changji Hui autonomous prefecture.
\n", - "content": "Employees from State Grid Changji in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region visit the electric-boiler house of CHD Hutubi Energy, inquiring about its power needs during the upcoming heating season in Changji Hui autonomous prefecture.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-10/23/content_013_68f94a1aed50ccabe151b966.htm#013BUSINESS", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:21:04 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "ba5b863646fbb1243f66641c96676605", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "013BUSINESS - Momenta gears up to expand overseas", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/013/20251023_013_04_24975.png\")
A view of the booth of Momenta during an auto expo in Shanghai earlier this year.
\nAutonomous driving firm Momenta is stepping up its push to go global, as intelligent transportation solutions offered by Chinese companies turn pivotal for global automakers navigating the industry's shift toward smart driving, its chief executive said.
\nThrough deep collaborations with overseas automotive companies, Chinese smart driving companies are not only introducing advanced technologies to more countries and regions, but are also refining their offerings through localization and customized solutions, Cao Xudong, CEO of Momenta, said in an interview with China Daily.
\n"This global deployment allows Chinese firms to apply their technological advantages across diverse scenarios, simultaneously driving technological upgrades and standardization within the global automotive industry," Cao said.
\nMomenta stands as an example of this successful expansion. The company has demonstrated impressive growth in the number of vehicle models it has partnered on.
\nTo date, Momenta's intelligent driving solutions have been selected for over 160 vehicle models, partnering with many leading global automakers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and General Motors.
\n"It takes five to seven years to win the trust of major foreign carmakers," Cao said, referring to the stringent, multiphase validation process employed by multinational car companies. This process, encompassing technical module verification, prototype testing, and final mass production solution implementation, involves extremely rigorous standards, particularly for functional safety.
\nThis international recognition, Cao noted, is built upon years of honing their skills in the demanding domestic market. Successfully serving major local automakers like SAIC and GAC, while tackling China's complex road conditions and massive data streams, has provided a solid foundation for subsequently meeting international standards.
\nFeng Xingya, chairman of GAC, said: "Safety is the bottom line for auto enterprises, and this bottom line cannot be compromised. In the next three to five years, I believe we are likely to witness a tipping point for rapid growth in the development of autonomous and intelligent vehicles."
\nXin Guobin, vice-minister of industry and information technology, said at the 2025 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference, which concluded in Beijing last week, that his ministry will formulate a new development plan for the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), covering intelligent connected and new energy vehicles.
\n"We will support technological innovation, promote the deep integration of artificial intelligence and the automotive industry, and accelerate breakthroughs in next-generation architectures and high-performance chips," Xin said. "We will also push forward standard-setting for combined driver-assist and autonomous driving systems, improve vehicle production access and regulate market competition."
\nChina has already built a comprehensive ecosystem spanning smart cockpits, autonomous driving, and cloud connectivity, with more than 60 percent of new passenger cars now equipped with combined driver-assist functions.
\n"More efforts will be made to accelerate breakthroughs in high-level autonomous driving technologies," Xin said.
\nCompanies are moving fast in this direction.
\nMomenta, for instance, champions a mass production-oriented approach, diverging from traditional Robotaxi companies that rely on costly retrofitted vehicles, sensors, and computing power, Cao said.
\nAccording to him, this involves leveraging mass production sensors to gather vast amounts of data to identify high-level autonomous driving cases, and utilizing mass production chips to reduce the cost of large-scale deployment.
\nCao expressed confidence that Momenta holds a first-mover advantage and rapid scaling speed. "Among industry suppliers, we are likely to be the earliest enterprise to reach a scale of tens of millions of units."
\n", @@ -13117,28 +12897,6 @@ "hash": "a3aa90fd73e24df95b23efdc53efb1f1", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "013BUSINESS - Cement overcapacity high on agenda", - "description": "China is stepping up capacity management in the cement sector to address oversupply and stabilize sustainable growth, with moves intensified to align actual production with approved capacity levels and curb unregulated expansion.
\nThe Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently convened a meeting on stabilizing growth in the cement industry, calling on suppliers to adhere to market-oriented and law-based principles while strictly prohibiting new capacity, regulating existing production and phasing out outdated facilities.
\nA key emphasis was placed on major producers taking the lead in implementing capacity replacement and compliance policies.
\nBy the end of 2025, all suppliers are required to formulate adjustment plans to align actual production with registered capacity — a move consistent with the work plan for stabilizing growth in the building materials industry (2025-26) issued in August.
\n"We will restructure existing capacity, accelerate the phaseout of inefficient production and increase the share of advanced capacity to achieve value-added growth through optimizing existing assets," said a representative from the strategic planning department of Beijing-based BBMG Corp, a major cement producer.
\n"The root cause of the cement sector's current difficulties lies in the long-standing problem of overcapacity, which has now been amplified by weaker market demand," said an expert from the China Building Materials Federation (CBMF). "Excessive clinker production beyond registered capacity has made it difficult to resolve this issue effectively."
\nIn response, authorities have called for real-time monitoring of clinker output to ensure that daily and annual production aligns with approved capacity levels. And the CBMF said it has completed a standard for cement clinker output monitoring and accounting, and will assist regulators in applying the standard to strengthen capacity management and improve the industry's ability to adjust supply and demand.
\nThrough rectifying overproduction and applying comprehensive standards in quality, environmental protection, energy efficiency and safety, China is expected to cut annual clinker capacity by more than 500 million metric tons, significantly easing the current imbalance in the sector, according to preliminary CBMF calculations.
\nThe federation also plans to establish an information disclosure and supervision platform for capacity management, incorporating mechanisms to combat monopolistic practices, dumping and counterfeit products.
\nCement demand has weakened sharply since 2021 due to declining property investment and a slowdown in infrastructure construction, resulting in a 23 percent drop in national cement output from 2021 to 2024, CBMF data showed.
\nAs one of China's major industrial carbon emitters, the cement sector is also expected to benefit from ongoing capacity governance.
\n"Improved production discipline will not only stabilize the cement market, but also accelerate carbon reduction and support China's dual-carbon goals on schedule," the CBMF expert said.
\nlijiaying@chinadaily.com.cn
\nChina is stepping up capacity management in the cement sector to address oversupply and stabilize sustainable growth, with moves intensified to align actual production with approved capacity levels and curb unregulated expansion.
\nThe Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently convened a meeting on stabilizing growth in the cement industry, calling on suppliers to adhere to market-oriented and law-based principles while strictly prohibiting new capacity, regulating existing production and phasing out outdated facilities.
\nA key emphasis was placed on major producers taking the lead in implementing capacity replacement and compliance policies.
\nBy the end of 2025, all suppliers are required to formulate adjustment plans to align actual production with registered capacity — a move consistent with the work plan for stabilizing growth in the building materials industry (2025-26) issued in August.
\n"We will restructure existing capacity, accelerate the phaseout of inefficient production and increase the share of advanced capacity to achieve value-added growth through optimizing existing assets," said a representative from the strategic planning department of Beijing-based BBMG Corp, a major cement producer.
\n"The root cause of the cement sector's current difficulties lies in the long-standing problem of overcapacity, which has now been amplified by weaker market demand," said an expert from the China Building Materials Federation (CBMF). "Excessive clinker production beyond registered capacity has made it difficult to resolve this issue effectively."
\nIn response, authorities have called for real-time monitoring of clinker output to ensure that daily and annual production aligns with approved capacity levels. And the CBMF said it has completed a standard for cement clinker output monitoring and accounting, and will assist regulators in applying the standard to strengthen capacity management and improve the industry's ability to adjust supply and demand.
\nThrough rectifying overproduction and applying comprehensive standards in quality, environmental protection, energy efficiency and safety, China is expected to cut annual clinker capacity by more than 500 million metric tons, significantly easing the current imbalance in the sector, according to preliminary CBMF calculations.
\nThe federation also plans to establish an information disclosure and supervision platform for capacity management, incorporating mechanisms to combat monopolistic practices, dumping and counterfeit products.
\nCement demand has weakened sharply since 2021 due to declining property investment and a slowdown in infrastructure construction, resulting in a 23 percent drop in national cement output from 2021 to 2024, CBMF data showed.
\nAs one of China's major industrial carbon emitters, the cement sector is also expected to benefit from ongoing capacity governance.
\n"Improved production discipline will not only stabilize the cement market, but also accelerate carbon reduction and support China's dual-carbon goals on schedule," the CBMF expert said.
\nlijiaying@chinadaily.com.cn
\nThe next decade will be a critical period for China's insurance and reinsurance industry to address existing gaps, making the acceleration of reinsurance development a fundamental logic and strategic choice for financial reform and development, officials and senior executives in the insurance industry said.
\nZhuang Qianzhi, Party head of China Reinsurance (Group) Corp, said that as the process of Chinese modernization accelerates, high-quality development is propelling China's economy toward a more advanced stage, creating unprecedented and multi-layered risk management demands across society.
\nIn the first half, China's property insurance industry recorded a premium growth rate of 4.2 percent year-on-year, slightly lower than the growth rate during the same period last year. However, under strict regulatory policies, the industry's combined cost ratio continued to improve, significantly enhancing underwriting profitability. Underwriting profits reached 26 billion yuan ($3.7 billion), marking a record high for the same period.
\nFor the first time, over half of the companies achieved underwriting profitability, signaling a trend toward high-quality development within the industry. The property reinsurance market has been experiencing steady growth in recent years, with ceded premiums exceeding 100 billion yuan for the first time in the first half of the year.
\nFurthermore, with climate change bringing up more challenges, the industry's exposure to catastrophic risks continued to grow. Risk accumulation has evolved into new forms, including industrial clustering and overlapping insured assets. Reinsurance losses remain elevated, prompting most reinsurance companies to maintain strict underwriting discipline.
\nTo meet the growing demands of the market, Zhuang emphasized the need for a more resilient and efficient financial risk management system, which must be firmly supported by a modern and high-level reinsurance system.
\nZhuang explained that catastrophes are natural or man-made disasters that cause significant losses to the economy and society, characterized by low frequency, high severity and geographical concentration. The key criterion for identifying catastrophes lies in the scale of losses, and internationally, events with losses exceeding $25 million are typically defined as catastrophic risk events.
\nHe highlighted that reinsurance companies, leveraging their capital, technology and global operations, play a critical role in dispersing and transferring risks, making them one of the primary channels for managing catastrophic risks.
\nZhuang made these remarks at the Shanghai International Reinsurance Conference. Under the theme of "Walking in Tandem, Talking to the Globe", the event, held in the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, gathered numerous reinsurance companies from both domestic and international markets.
\nQi Xiang, director-general of the National Financial Regulatory Administration's Shanghai bureau, pointed out that reinsurance institutions are not required to hold local licenses and can underwrite global risks offshore, underscoring their distinctive international operations.
\nCurrently, more than 3,300 global institutions are engaged in China's reinsurance business, with overseas entities accounting for 75 percent, Qi said.
\nShi De, director of the corporate business group at Ping An Property and Casualty Insurance, stated, "Looking at the development of China's insurance industry today, we see that globalization and internationalization are irreversible trends."
\nShi emphasized that today's reinsurance must not only cater to the "local characteristics" of the Chinese market but also possess the vision and capability to connect globally — by assuming international risks to integrate into the global network and ceding domestic risks to alleviate domestic pressure. Through this two-way interaction, the global resilience of China's insurance industry can be enhanced, Shi said.
\nIn February, the Commission on Comprehensively Deepening Reform of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, identified the construction of the Shanghai International Reinsurance Registration and Trading Center as a key breakthrough and lever for advancing Shanghai's development as an international financial center and enhancing the internationalization of financial markets. This further underscored its importance and clarified its development path, Qi added.
\nThe construction of the center is expected to benchmark against the highest international standards and best practices, focusing on serving the needs of both domestic and international institutions.
\nEfforts should be made to establish a regulatory and business environment policy system that aligns with these goals, Qi said. This includes differentiated solvency systems, credit evaluation and guarantee mechanisms, the introduction of internationally mature risk transfer products, facilitation of cross-border business income and investment, and streamlined processes for personnel entry and exit to conduct business. Qi stressed that this initiative aims to create a demonstration model for high-level financial sector openness in China.
\nrenqi@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", @@ -13161,28 +12919,6 @@ "hash": "23f720c27618a6314cba9284d7bdf241", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "015BUSINESS - AI ushers in friendlier appliances", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/015/20251023_015_01_12552.png\")
A visitor checks out an advanced cooling product at Hisense's exhibition stand during the China Refrigeration Expo in Shanghai on April 29.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/015/20251023_015_01_32552.png\")
A worker checks TCL's air conditioning production line at an intelligent manufacturing industrial park in Wuhan, Hubei province, on April 9, 2024.
\nSmart air conditioners that can automatically adjust room temperature and artificial intelligence-powered televisions capable of broadcasting health information are increasingly penetrating into people's daily lives and becoming emotional companions for senior citizens in China.
\nAs China's silver economy is witnessing robust growth, leading Chinese home appliance makers are stepping up efforts to launch products suitable for seniors — a demographic that has shown increasing demand for diversified, easy-to-use and health-oriented household appliances.
\nExperts said AI technologies are increasingly integrated into senior-friendly home appliances. With features such as intelligent voice interaction and health monitoring having been introduced, it will be more convenient for seniors to use these intelligent and innovative products, creating new consumption growth drivers.
\nChinese home appliance giant Haier Group has developed AI-driven rehabilitation robots, which can provide personalized rehab plans based on the physical conditions of the elderly.
\nIts AI-powered TVs featuring an eye protection function can dynamically enhance image contrast, allowing elderly to see TV programs more clearly and comfortably. These products are equipped with medical large models to provide online consultation services, and can also automatically generate monthly health reports and send them to the smartphones of users.
\nHaier has rolled out toilets designed for seniors who have mobility issues, as well as showers and bathrooms with constant temperature control systems and voice recognition functionality.
\nHisense Group has launched TVs integrating medical-level vision protection technology that aligns with the viewing habits and preferences of the elderly. Seniors can play games, engage in physical exercise, make purchases online and have video chats with their friends and family members via the intelligent TVs.
\nIts air conditioners combine the multiple functions of an air purifier, disinfection machine, dehumidifier, and humidity controller to provide a comprehensive solution for indoor air quality. In addition, elderly users can easily control air conditioners through simple voice commands through the advanced AI voice control system that can recognize dialects in different regions.
\nThe company is also collaborating with top-tier hospitals across the nation to develop healthcare management platforms to monitor the health conditions of senior citizens.
\nSichuan Changhong Electronics Holding Group Co Ltd has developed a smart eldercare system, enabling interconnections of home appliances, medical devices and security systems, and its AI-powered TV sets can understand the needs of seniors and remind them to take medications on time.
\nData from Beijing-based market consultancy All View Cloud showed that the scale of China's senior-friendly home appliance market will exceed 100 billion yuan ($14.01 billion) in 2025 and is expected to reach 1 trillion yuan in 2030.
\nAccording to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China's elderly population is projected to grow by more than 10 million annually over the next decade. By 2035, the silver economy is expected to account for 9 percent of China's GDP.
\nChina's silver economy is expected to grow from 7 trillion yuan in 2024 to 30 trillion yuan in 2035, said the China Research Center on Aging. However, the elderly care products and services currently available in the market are not practical enough for senior citizens.
\nThe country has released a guideline aimed at building a solid service system for the elderly by 2029, as part of a broader push to address the challenges of an aging population and improve the quality of life for seniors. The guideline said that services will be better matched with the needs of seniors by 2035.
\nAccording to the guideline, the central authorities encourage companies to develop and promote products for the elderly — either high-tech electrical appliances or tourism products — and enrich services for them, aiming for a prosperous silver economy.
\nIn addition, the country will channel resources and investment into technological programs for elderly care services, such as humanoid robots and AI.
\nJiang Feng, executive director of the China Household Electrical Appliances Association, said eyeing the immense business opportunities from China's silver economy and a rapidly aging population, major home appliance makers are pouring more resources into research and development and bolstering technological innovation of senior-friendly products, so as to satisfy the diversified demands of the expanding demographic.
\nJiang said traditional home appliance products are highly homogenized, while the niche market targeting seniors is still in its initial stages, which will create immense business opportunities for home appliance companies. She highlighted that new-generation information technologies, such as 5G, AI and big data, are becoming increasingly integrated with elderly care products.
\n"Currently, most home appliance products are designed for ordinary consumers, without giving sufficient consideration to the needs of special user groups such as the elderly," said Guo Lizhen, a senior engineer of the China Household Electric Appliance Research Institute.
\nShe noted that as China's aging population is rising rapidly, it is essential that product design and standards formulation should fully take into account the needs of the elderly, thus leading to the emergence of elderly friendly goods.
\nNowadays, smart home appliances boast diverse functions, such as remote app control, voice interaction and touch screens, Guo said, emphasizing that no matter how advanced technologies have been deployed, elderly friendly appliances should give top priority to safety, followed by accessibility. Other factors like reliability and convenience should also be carefully considered.
\nShe called for efforts to establish technical guidelines for the design, development and testing of the elderly friendly appliances and smart systems. The move will help break down barriers across different appliance brands, expand the effective supply of such products, and better meet the unique needs of elderly users, she added.
\n"With the help of AI, senior-friendly home appliances are creating safer, more comfortable and smarter home environments for silver-haired residents," said Liang Zhenpeng, an independent consumer electronics analyst.
\nLiang noted that as the elderly have increasing willingness and ability to consume products and services, household appliances should cater to their fundamental needs, while home appliance makers need to further expand application scenarios, striking a balance between technological iteration and user education.
\nChina's smart home industry is developing by leaps and bounds, fueled by advances in cutting-edge technologies represented by AI, Liang said, adding that the integration of AI models with terminal devices and household appliances will create new growth drivers for the global consumer electronics industry, and advance the intelligent transformation of the traditional home appliances sector.
\nIn order to meet the older generation's personalized needs and rising willingness and ability to spend on high-quality goods, he stressed the need to establish standards for senior-oriented home appliances and launch more intelligent home products containing innovative technologies, such as nursing and housekeeping robots for senior citizens.
\nTo better cope with the aging population, the State Administration for Market Regulation has formulated and released a series of national standards for senior-friendly home appliances in recent years, including product operation methods, function settings, human-machine interaction interfaces and product safety.
\nExperts said these targeted measures basically establish the foundational framework of a national standard system for elderly friendly home appliances and intelligent systems.
\n"Younger consumers pay more attention to the abundant functionalities and personalized and customized products, while elderly users prefer simpler and more intuitive interfaces and function designs of household appliances, attaching great importance to the safety and convenience of such products," said Guo Jinyong, who is in charge of the smart home experience center at China's leading home furnishings retailer Easyhome.
\nIn addition, seniors have a stronger need for health management features, such as health monitoring, smart reminders and emergency assistance. They also tend to buy products that can offer tailor-made health services in accordance with their physical conditions, Guo added.
\nZhang Subing, chief expert at the China Electronics Standardization Institute, said more efforts should be made to establish comprehensive solutions covering demands, technology and application scenarios of household appliances for the elderly.
\nIt is of vital importance to strengthen technological innovation, improve product design and enhance after-sales support for the elderly, with a key focus on integrating more AI-powered and health-oriented functions into intelligent terminal devices, he added.
\nfanfeifei@chinadaily.com.cn
\nA visitor checks out an advanced cooling product at Hisense's exhibition stand during the China Refrigeration Expo in Shanghai on April 29.
\nA worker checks TCL's air conditioning production line at an intelligent manufacturing industrial park in Wuhan, Hubei province, on April 9, 2024.
\nSmart air conditioners that can automatically adjust room temperature and artificial intelligence-powered televisions capable of broadcasting health information are increasingly penetrating into people's daily lives and becoming emotional companions for senior citizens in China.
\nAs China's silver economy is witnessing robust growth, leading Chinese home appliance makers are stepping up efforts to launch products suitable for seniors — a demographic that has shown increasing demand for diversified, easy-to-use and health-oriented household appliances.
\nExperts said AI technologies are increasingly integrated into senior-friendly home appliances. With features such as intelligent voice interaction and health monitoring having been introduced, it will be more convenient for seniors to use these intelligent and innovative products, creating new consumption growth drivers.
\nChinese home appliance giant Haier Group has developed AI-driven rehabilitation robots, which can provide personalized rehab plans based on the physical conditions of the elderly.
\nIts AI-powered TVs featuring an eye protection function can dynamically enhance image contrast, allowing elderly to see TV programs more clearly and comfortably. These products are equipped with medical large models to provide online consultation services, and can also automatically generate monthly health reports and send them to the smartphones of users.
\nHaier has rolled out toilets designed for seniors who have mobility issues, as well as showers and bathrooms with constant temperature control systems and voice recognition functionality.
\nHisense Group has launched TVs integrating medical-level vision protection technology that aligns with the viewing habits and preferences of the elderly. Seniors can play games, engage in physical exercise, make purchases online and have video chats with their friends and family members via the intelligent TVs.
\nIts air conditioners combine the multiple functions of an air purifier, disinfection machine, dehumidifier, and humidity controller to provide a comprehensive solution for indoor air quality. In addition, elderly users can easily control air conditioners through simple voice commands through the advanced AI voice control system that can recognize dialects in different regions.
\nThe company is also collaborating with top-tier hospitals across the nation to develop healthcare management platforms to monitor the health conditions of senior citizens.
\nSichuan Changhong Electronics Holding Group Co Ltd has developed a smart eldercare system, enabling interconnections of home appliances, medical devices and security systems, and its AI-powered TV sets can understand the needs of seniors and remind them to take medications on time.
\nData from Beijing-based market consultancy All View Cloud showed that the scale of China's senior-friendly home appliance market will exceed 100 billion yuan ($14.01 billion) in 2025 and is expected to reach 1 trillion yuan in 2030.
\nAccording to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China's elderly population is projected to grow by more than 10 million annually over the next decade. By 2035, the silver economy is expected to account for 9 percent of China's GDP.
\nChina's silver economy is expected to grow from 7 trillion yuan in 2024 to 30 trillion yuan in 2035, said the China Research Center on Aging. However, the elderly care products and services currently available in the market are not practical enough for senior citizens.
\nThe country has released a guideline aimed at building a solid service system for the elderly by 2029, as part of a broader push to address the challenges of an aging population and improve the quality of life for seniors. The guideline said that services will be better matched with the needs of seniors by 2035.
\nAccording to the guideline, the central authorities encourage companies to develop and promote products for the elderly — either high-tech electrical appliances or tourism products — and enrich services for them, aiming for a prosperous silver economy.
\nIn addition, the country will channel resources and investment into technological programs for elderly care services, such as humanoid robots and AI.
\nJiang Feng, executive director of the China Household Electrical Appliances Association, said eyeing the immense business opportunities from China's silver economy and a rapidly aging population, major home appliance makers are pouring more resources into research and development and bolstering technological innovation of senior-friendly products, so as to satisfy the diversified demands of the expanding demographic.
\nJiang said traditional home appliance products are highly homogenized, while the niche market targeting seniors is still in its initial stages, which will create immense business opportunities for home appliance companies. She highlighted that new-generation information technologies, such as 5G, AI and big data, are becoming increasingly integrated with elderly care products.
\n"Currently, most home appliance products are designed for ordinary consumers, without giving sufficient consideration to the needs of special user groups such as the elderly," said Guo Lizhen, a senior engineer of the China Household Electric Appliance Research Institute.
\nShe noted that as China's aging population is rising rapidly, it is essential that product design and standards formulation should fully take into account the needs of the elderly, thus leading to the emergence of elderly friendly goods.
\nNowadays, smart home appliances boast diverse functions, such as remote app control, voice interaction and touch screens, Guo said, emphasizing that no matter how advanced technologies have been deployed, elderly friendly appliances should give top priority to safety, followed by accessibility. Other factors like reliability and convenience should also be carefully considered.
\nShe called for efforts to establish technical guidelines for the design, development and testing of the elderly friendly appliances and smart systems. The move will help break down barriers across different appliance brands, expand the effective supply of such products, and better meet the unique needs of elderly users, she added.
\n"With the help of AI, senior-friendly home appliances are creating safer, more comfortable and smarter home environments for silver-haired residents," said Liang Zhenpeng, an independent consumer electronics analyst.
\nLiang noted that as the elderly have increasing willingness and ability to consume products and services, household appliances should cater to their fundamental needs, while home appliance makers need to further expand application scenarios, striking a balance between technological iteration and user education.
\nChina's smart home industry is developing by leaps and bounds, fueled by advances in cutting-edge technologies represented by AI, Liang said, adding that the integration of AI models with terminal devices and household appliances will create new growth drivers for the global consumer electronics industry, and advance the intelligent transformation of the traditional home appliances sector.
\nIn order to meet the older generation's personalized needs and rising willingness and ability to spend on high-quality goods, he stressed the need to establish standards for senior-oriented home appliances and launch more intelligent home products containing innovative technologies, such as nursing and housekeeping robots for senior citizens.
\nTo better cope with the aging population, the State Administration for Market Regulation has formulated and released a series of national standards for senior-friendly home appliances in recent years, including product operation methods, function settings, human-machine interaction interfaces and product safety.
\nExperts said these targeted measures basically establish the foundational framework of a national standard system for elderly friendly home appliances and intelligent systems.
\n"Younger consumers pay more attention to the abundant functionalities and personalized and customized products, while elderly users prefer simpler and more intuitive interfaces and function designs of household appliances, attaching great importance to the safety and convenience of such products," said Guo Jinyong, who is in charge of the smart home experience center at China's leading home furnishings retailer Easyhome.
\nIn addition, seniors have a stronger need for health management features, such as health monitoring, smart reminders and emergency assistance. They also tend to buy products that can offer tailor-made health services in accordance with their physical conditions, Guo added.
\nZhang Subing, chief expert at the China Electronics Standardization Institute, said more efforts should be made to establish comprehensive solutions covering demands, technology and application scenarios of household appliances for the elderly.
\nIt is of vital importance to strengthen technological innovation, improve product design and enhance after-sales support for the elderly, with a key focus on integrating more AI-powered and health-oriented functions into intelligent terminal devices, he added.
\nfanfeifei@chinadaily.com.cn
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/017/20251023_017_01_35115.png\")
Delicacies inspired by depictions in the Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber and the life of Cao Yin, the grandfather of the novel's author, Cao Xueqin. From left to right are, respectively: reeves shad fish, fried rice wrapped in a lotus leaf, Chinese yam cake, and a steamed bun wrapped in tofu skin.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/017/20251023_017_01_37115.png\")
Delicacies inspired by depictions in the Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber and the life of Cao Yin, the grandfather of the novel's author, Cao Xueqin. From left to right are, respectively: reeves shad fish, fried rice wrapped in a lotus leaf, Chinese yam cake, and a steamed bun wrapped in tofu skin.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/017/20251023_017_01_39115.png\")
Delicacies inspired by depictions in the Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber and the life of Cao Yin, the grandfather of the novel's author, Cao Xueqin. From left to right are, respectively: reeves shad fish, fried rice wrapped in a lotus leaf, Chinese yam cake, and a steamed bun wrapped in tofu skin.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/017/20251023_017_01_41115.png\")
Delicacies inspired by depictions in the Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber and the life of Cao Yin, the grandfather of the novel's author, Cao Xueqin. From left to right are, respectively: reeves shad fish, fried rice wrapped in a lotus leaf, Chinese yam cake, and a steamed bun wrapped in tofu skin.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/017/20251023_017_01_51115.png\")
A dancer performs to a live pipa (a four-stringed Chinese lute) melody, enriching the cultural atmosphere of the banquet full of delicacies inspired by Dream of the Red Chamber and the life of the Cao family.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/017/20251023_017_01_42115.png\")
Lu Ran, a food historian and cultural scholar, shares his ideas on how to re-create delicacies from the Chinese classic.
\nFor diehard fans of the household classic Dream of the Red Chamber, the lavish world of the Jia family offers more than just drama — it stirs culinary curiosity. Among the many delicacies described by novelist Cao Xueqin (1715-63), one stands out: qiexiang, a refined, preserved eggplant relish.
\nIn the 41st of its 100 chapters, the sharp-witted noblewoman Wang Xifeng offers some qiexiang to Liu Laolao (granny), a poor, distant, elderly relative from the countryside.
\nWang's description is both vivid and daunting: "Peel fresh eggplants, dice the flesh, and fry in chicken fat. Add finely chopped chicken breast, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, truffles, spiced tofu, and dried fruits. Simmer in chicken broth until dry, season with sesame and pickled sauce, then seal in a porcelain jar. To serve, mix with stir-fried diced chicken."
\nLiu is astounded and sticks out her tongue. "Heavens, it must take a dozen chickens just to make this — no wonder it tastes so extraordinary!"
\nYet, it is precisely this extravagance that has made readers crave qiexiang. Recently, the dish was brought to life by food historian and cultural scholar Lu Ran as part of the Ideas project, an initiative launched by Tencent News to help aspiring individuals bring their good ideas to fruition.
\nLu first conceived the idea of re-creating the delicacies from the classic novel in 2019 while working on a research program about the seasonal food traditions of the Cao family. The family's rise began with the author's great-grandfather, Cao Xi, and peaked with his grandfather, Cao Yin, whose mother served as the wet nurse of Emperor Kangxi during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and who was a study companion to the emperor.
\nSurprisingly, one of Lu's most important reference texts is not the novel itself, but Lian Ting Ji, a collection of Cao Yin's literary works, including 730 poems and 23 essays, some of which offer glimpses into his personal life, social circles, and culinary tastes.
\n"Cao Yin was a close childhood friend of Kangxi. As the emperor's study companion in the palace, he received a rigorous literary education. That training allowed him to capture the nuances of fine food in his poetry," Lu explains to China Daily.
\nA known bibliophile, Cao Yin befriended many scholars and copied valuable texts from their collections. Among them were the culinary techniques from earlier dynasties, which he compiled into a book titled Ju Chang Yin Zhuan Lu. It preserved the ancient recipes and cooking methods for various dishes, such as porridges, rock candies, preserved meats, and fermented fish.
\nBeginning with the death of his grandfather and followed by that of his father, Cao Xueqin's family fell from grace. This was caused by Emperor Yongzheng, Kangxi's successor, who confiscated the family's property due to complicated reasons involving corruption and their closeness to his former political rivals.
\nWhen misfortune struck, Cao Xueqin was just 13 years old. Around seven years later, he began writing Dream of the Red Chamber.
\nWhen Lu delved into the history of the Cao family and attempted to re-create the delicacies described in the novel, he discovered an intriguing fact — the dishes cooked according to Cao Xueqin's instructions did not turn out very well, nor did they taste good.
\n"After all, Cao Xueqin was the young master of the Cao family, not its chef. The eggplant relish that Granny Liu enjoyed was a literary embellishment by Cao Xueqin. If one were to strictly follow the description in the book, the flavors would fail to penetrate the eggplant, and the result would likely be bland and unappetizing," explains Lu.
\nYet, this is also the most meticulously described dish in the novel, which has "misled" the fans who attempt to re-create it.
\nLu's approach was more academic. He discovered a recipe collection created during the era of Emperor Qianlong, grandson of Kangxi, which contains instructions for making eggplant relish. Although the method differed from the description in Cao Xueqin's novel, the taste was much better.
\nBy cross-referencing historical texts with the help of a renowned Hangzhou chef, in Zhejiang province, Lu and his team from Tencent News' Ideas program successfully re-created nine dishes, debuting them at a late-September banquet in the Unique Dream of Red Mansion theatrical complex in Langfang, Hebei province. A dancer wearing ancient Chinese attire performed a graceful routine to a live pipa (four-stringed Chinese lute) melody, enriching the cultural atmosphere of the banquet.
\nThe recreated dishes are mostly sourced from pivotal or cozy scenes from the novel. For example, the protagonist, Jia Baoyu, craves one dish while recuperating from a severe beating by his father — a delicate soup made of water shield and lotus leaf-shaped dough slices simmered in chicken broth. Another was a simple snack he was longing for during a conversation with his maid, Qingwen — steamed buns wrapped in tofu skin. The menu also features a hearty dish of ham-stewed pork hock, given by the character of Wang to her husband Jia Lian's wet nurse.
\nThere is one dish, however, that is unrelated to the novel but rooted in Cao Yin's real-life experience: pickled reeves shad fish (also known as shiyu). As an official responsible for procuring items for the imperial palace, Cao was tasked with transporting reeves shad fish to Emperor Kangxi.
\nAlthough the fish's flesh is exceptionally tender and delicious, it dies almost immediately after leaving the water. Therefore, it either had to be preserved before being shipped to Beijing or sealed in water-filled containers and rushed along the Grand Canal to the capital within a week.
\n"Reeves shad is delicious, but it has many bones. When we prepare the dish, we take special care to remove all visible bones and pour hot oil over the scales to soften them. Being able to enjoy fresh shad in the northern regions today is, in a way, a modern luxury that lets us share in the delight Emperor Kangxi once experienced," Lu remarks humorously.
\nFor Lu, a 44-year-old scholar previously focused on the Song Dynasty (960-1279) food culture, re-creating dishes from Dream of the Red Chamber is about more than cuisine. It is an experiment in using banquet as a "language" to express his unique understanding of the classic novel and the food culture of the early Qing Dynasty, from the Kangxi to the Qianlong eras.
\nAccording to Tencent News, they have encouraged Lu to expand his re-creations into a full banquet, hoping it will provide a model for a modern approach to studying classics, connecting contemporary readers with the past to help preserve traditional culture.
\nContact the writer at xufan@chinadaily.com.cn
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/018/20251023_018_01_24029.png\")
A view of the rooftops from the Sage Mother Hall at Jinci Temple.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/018/20251023_018_01_30029.png\")
Visitors read a stele inscription at Shuanglin Temple.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/018/20251023_018_01_32029.png\")
The Lifetime Stupa of Relics at Jinci Temple.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/018/20251023_018_01_34029.png\")
The Nanlao Spring at Jinci Temple offers "eternal youth" to those who drink from it.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/018/20251023_018_01_36029.png\")
A performer in Song Dynasty clothing dances at Jinci Temple.
\nFor five years, I've lived in Beijing, photographing its temples, courtyards and the impressive details of its imperial architecture. I thought I had come to understand the language of Chinese design — the colors, proportions and symmetry that express the nation's sense of harmony.
\nShanxi, an important birthplace of Chinese civilization, revealed its power to me during my recent journey. History in this province feels physical — built into the grain of wood, the curve of the tiles, and the dust that clings to breathtaking statues. What I found there was not just ancient architecture, but the living roots of Chinese culture itself, and a renewed understanding of how the past continues to shape modern China.
\nA cradle of continuity
\nTucked between the Taihang and Lyuliang mountains, Shanxi has quietly preserved the architectural DNA of China. While the Forbidden City and Summer Palace dominate public imagination, and with good reason, Shanxi's buildings reveal something more intimate and enduring.
\nThe province's wooden halls have stood strong for nearly a millennium, their surfaces softened by centuries of wind and incense smoke. Rather than restoration that erases age, Shanxi allows its architecture to show its years, offering an unvarnished connection to the past.
\nAt Jinci Temple, near Taiyuan, the Sage Mother Hall rises from a grove of ancient cypress trees. Built during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), its dougong — the interlocking wooden brackets that define traditional Chinese architecture — shows a subtle grace and fluidity, precursors to the heavier and more codified forms of later dynasties. Standing there, it's easy to see how architectural ideas evolved, like language shifting through time, adapting yet holding on to core principles.
\nArchitecture in Shanxi does more than display artistry; it conveys philosophy. The great compounds, temples and banks of the region form a moral landscape, one built on Confucian ideals that still resonate today.
\nAt the Wang Family Compound, for example, morality is literally built into the walls. Stone carvings and murals depict scenes of filial piety and virtue. These visual lessons align with the Confucian belief that a family's home reflects its ethics — that structure and morality are one and the same.
\nThe Rishengchang Draft Bank, in nearby Pingyao, embodies a different virtue: honesty. Founded during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it was China's first modern financial institution, pioneering a nationwide remittance system that relied on trust as much as capital. Its unadorned courtyards, built for function rather than display, speak to a pragmatic integrity that helped shape Chinese commerce.
\nAcross Shanxi, this connection between design and ethics is clear. Buildings were not only homes or workplaces but frameworks for living — architecture as education.
\nIf one place captures Shanxi's spirit, it is Pingyao Ancient City. Unlike so many ancient sites where only fragments remain, Pingyao has survived whole — a complete Ming (1368-1644) and Qing city enclosed by 6-kilometer-long walls.
\nWalking through its gates feels like entering a living archive. Brick lanes curve between gray-tiled roofs, where families still run noodle shops and guesthouses within centuries-old courtyards. Lanterns hang from eaves, and the hum of daily life continues amid stone, wood and history.
\nFrom the city walls, Pingyao's grid unfurls in perfect symmetry, embodying the same cosmological order that guided imperial planning in Beijing — only here, it remains human-scaled. It's not a monument to power, but a model of community.
\nWhat struck me most was how restoration here differs from the capital. In Beijing, palaces gleam with renewed paint and gold leaf; every inch restored to imperial perfection. In Shanxi, age is allowed to show. Cracks in the beams, fading murals, weathered tiles — all remain visible, reminders that endurance is a form of beauty.
\nPingyao's preservation feels less like reconstruction and more like stewardship. The passage of time becomes part of the story.
\nArtistry of devotion
\nAcross the province, the artistry of Shanxi's temples testifies to the sophistication of its early builders.
\nAt Yongle Palace, walls burst with Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) murals — vast, fluid depictions of Taoist deities that move with an almost cinematic energy. The colors, though centuries old, retain a pulse of life, tracing the arc of faith and imagination across plaster.
\nAt Shuanglin Temple, near Pingyao, more than 2,000 clay statues fill the halls, each one hand-molded, expressive and utterly human. Their poses, gestures and facial expressions convey not distant divinity but empathy.
\nCompared to Beijing's bold reds and golds, Shanxi's palette is subdued: earthy browns, faded blues and traces of green. The restraint draws attention not to grandeur, but to detail — to the line of a carved robe, the curvature of a roof tile, the grain of aged timber. This subtlety reveals another kind of power, one rooted in craft and continuity.
\nAt the Taosi Site Museum, the timeline stretches back even further — to the late Neolithic period, more than 4,000 years ago. Excavations here have uncovered one of China's earliest examples of urban planning, with clear distinctions between ceremonial and domestic spaces.
\nThe same organizational principles that would later guide Tang (618-907) and Ming architecture — hierarchy, symmetry, orientation — are already visible in these prehistoric foundations. It's a reminder that Chinese architecture is not just an art of construction, but a long conversation between generations about order, balance and meaning.
\nIn Shanxi, that conversation continues across time. From Taosi's earthworks to Jinci's timber halls, the province offers a continuous narrative of Chinese thought rendered in wood, brick and stone.
\nTimeless culture
\nArchitecture, at its best, is a reflection of the society that builds it. Shanxi's temples, compounds and city walls reveal more than design; they embody the moral and social frameworks that have shaped China's identity.
\nFilial piety, loyalty, honesty, respect for order — these are not abstract virtues here. They are visible, tangible, inscribed into the very fabric of daily life. Even as China modernizes at remarkable speed, these principles persist, informing relationships, work ethics and the rhythm of community.
\nShanxi offers a key to understanding this continuity. To study its architecture is to study the foundations of Chinese culture itself.
\nIn recent years, Shanxi has quietly stepped into the cultural spotlight. The province's temples and landscapes inspired elements of the acclaimed video game Black Myth: Wukong, sparking a wave of renewed interest among younger travelers. Yet, even with rising tourism, Shanxi remains a hidden gem — one that rewards those who seek depth over spectacle.
\nIts charm lies in authenticity. To walk its courtyards, to see murals untouched for centuries, to share noodles with locals in a family-run courtyard — these moments reveal a China often overlooked.
\nAnd the cuisine itself deserves mention: hearty, handmade noodles in countless forms, vinegar aged in old earthen jars, and simple, bold flavors that reflect the region's resilience. Like its architecture, Shanxi's food tells a story of endurance and craft.
\nWhile much of China looks forward, Shanxi invites us to look back — not out of nostalgia, but to understand continuity. Its ancient architecture is more than a relic; it's a living embodiment of the values and aesthetics that still define Chinese culture today.
\nShanxi reminds us that architecture is not static — it is dialogue, memory and aspiration combined. These buildings are windows into the origins of a civilization, but also mirror its present.
\nAs China continues to evolve, Shanxi stands as a foundation — a province that preserves not just structures, but spirit. It deserves more than a passing glance. It deserves recognition as a vital chapter in the story of China, a place where the nation's cultural puzzle first began to take shape — and still quietly holds its center.
\nContact the writer at michaelrhyscard@chinadaily.com.cn
\nA view of the rooftops from the Sage Mother Hall at Jinci Temple.
\nVisitors read a stele inscription at Shuanglin Temple.
\nThe Lifetime Stupa of Relics at Jinci Temple.
\nThe Nanlao Spring at Jinci Temple offers "eternal youth" to those who drink from it.
\nA performer in Song Dynasty clothing dances at Jinci Temple.
\nFor five years, I've lived in Beijing, photographing its temples, courtyards and the impressive details of its imperial architecture. I thought I had come to understand the language of Chinese design — the colors, proportions and symmetry that express the nation's sense of harmony.
\nShanxi, an important birthplace of Chinese civilization, revealed its power to me during my recent journey. History in this province feels physical — built into the grain of wood, the curve of the tiles, and the dust that clings to breathtaking statues. What I found there was not just ancient architecture, but the living roots of Chinese culture itself, and a renewed understanding of how the past continues to shape modern China.
\nA cradle of continuity
\nTucked between the Taihang and Lyuliang mountains, Shanxi has quietly preserved the architectural DNA of China. While the Forbidden City and Summer Palace dominate public imagination, and with good reason, Shanxi's buildings reveal something more intimate and enduring.
\nThe province's wooden halls have stood strong for nearly a millennium, their surfaces softened by centuries of wind and incense smoke. Rather than restoration that erases age, Shanxi allows its architecture to show its years, offering an unvarnished connection to the past.
\nAt Jinci Temple, near Taiyuan, the Sage Mother Hall rises from a grove of ancient cypress trees. Built during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), its dougong — the interlocking wooden brackets that define traditional Chinese architecture — shows a subtle grace and fluidity, precursors to the heavier and more codified forms of later dynasties. Standing there, it's easy to see how architectural ideas evolved, like language shifting through time, adapting yet holding on to core principles.
\nArchitecture in Shanxi does more than display artistry; it conveys philosophy. The great compounds, temples and banks of the region form a moral landscape, one built on Confucian ideals that still resonate today.
\nAt the Wang Family Compound, for example, morality is literally built into the walls. Stone carvings and murals depict scenes of filial piety and virtue. These visual lessons align with the Confucian belief that a family's home reflects its ethics — that structure and morality are one and the same.
\nThe Rishengchang Draft Bank, in nearby Pingyao, embodies a different virtue: honesty. Founded during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), it was China's first modern financial institution, pioneering a nationwide remittance system that relied on trust as much as capital. Its unadorned courtyards, built for function rather than display, speak to a pragmatic integrity that helped shape Chinese commerce.
\nAcross Shanxi, this connection between design and ethics is clear. Buildings were not only homes or workplaces but frameworks for living — architecture as education.
\nIf one place captures Shanxi's spirit, it is Pingyao Ancient City. Unlike so many ancient sites where only fragments remain, Pingyao has survived whole — a complete Ming (1368-1644) and Qing city enclosed by 6-kilometer-long walls.
\nWalking through its gates feels like entering a living archive. Brick lanes curve between gray-tiled roofs, where families still run noodle shops and guesthouses within centuries-old courtyards. Lanterns hang from eaves, and the hum of daily life continues amid stone, wood and history.
\nFrom the city walls, Pingyao's grid unfurls in perfect symmetry, embodying the same cosmological order that guided imperial planning in Beijing — only here, it remains human-scaled. It's not a monument to power, but a model of community.
\nWhat struck me most was how restoration here differs from the capital. In Beijing, palaces gleam with renewed paint and gold leaf; every inch restored to imperial perfection. In Shanxi, age is allowed to show. Cracks in the beams, fading murals, weathered tiles — all remain visible, reminders that endurance is a form of beauty.
\nPingyao's preservation feels less like reconstruction and more like stewardship. The passage of time becomes part of the story.
\nArtistry of devotion
\nAcross the province, the artistry of Shanxi's temples testifies to the sophistication of its early builders.
\nAt Yongle Palace, walls burst with Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) murals — vast, fluid depictions of Taoist deities that move with an almost cinematic energy. The colors, though centuries old, retain a pulse of life, tracing the arc of faith and imagination across plaster.
\nAt Shuanglin Temple, near Pingyao, more than 2,000 clay statues fill the halls, each one hand-molded, expressive and utterly human. Their poses, gestures and facial expressions convey not distant divinity but empathy.
\nCompared to Beijing's bold reds and golds, Shanxi's palette is subdued: earthy browns, faded blues and traces of green. The restraint draws attention not to grandeur, but to detail — to the line of a carved robe, the curvature of a roof tile, the grain of aged timber. This subtlety reveals another kind of power, one rooted in craft and continuity.
\nAt the Taosi Site Museum, the timeline stretches back even further — to the late Neolithic period, more than 4,000 years ago. Excavations here have uncovered one of China's earliest examples of urban planning, with clear distinctions between ceremonial and domestic spaces.
\nThe same organizational principles that would later guide Tang (618-907) and Ming architecture — hierarchy, symmetry, orientation — are already visible in these prehistoric foundations. It's a reminder that Chinese architecture is not just an art of construction, but a long conversation between generations about order, balance and meaning.
\nIn Shanxi, that conversation continues across time. From Taosi's earthworks to Jinci's timber halls, the province offers a continuous narrative of Chinese thought rendered in wood, brick and stone.
\nTimeless culture
\nArchitecture, at its best, is a reflection of the society that builds it. Shanxi's temples, compounds and city walls reveal more than design; they embody the moral and social frameworks that have shaped China's identity.
\nFilial piety, loyalty, honesty, respect for order — these are not abstract virtues here. They are visible, tangible, inscribed into the very fabric of daily life. Even as China modernizes at remarkable speed, these principles persist, informing relationships, work ethics and the rhythm of community.
\nShanxi offers a key to understanding this continuity. To study its architecture is to study the foundations of Chinese culture itself.
\nIn recent years, Shanxi has quietly stepped into the cultural spotlight. The province's temples and landscapes inspired elements of the acclaimed video game Black Myth: Wukong, sparking a wave of renewed interest among younger travelers. Yet, even with rising tourism, Shanxi remains a hidden gem — one that rewards those who seek depth over spectacle.
\nIts charm lies in authenticity. To walk its courtyards, to see murals untouched for centuries, to share noodles with locals in a family-run courtyard — these moments reveal a China often overlooked.
\nAnd the cuisine itself deserves mention: hearty, handmade noodles in countless forms, vinegar aged in old earthen jars, and simple, bold flavors that reflect the region's resilience. Like its architecture, Shanxi's food tells a story of endurance and craft.
\nWhile much of China looks forward, Shanxi invites us to look back — not out of nostalgia, but to understand continuity. Its ancient architecture is more than a relic; it's a living embodiment of the values and aesthetics that still define Chinese culture today.
\nShanxi reminds us that architecture is not static — it is dialogue, memory and aspiration combined. These buildings are windows into the origins of a civilization, but also mirror its present.
\nAs China continues to evolve, Shanxi stands as a foundation — a province that preserves not just structures, but spirit. It deserves more than a passing glance. It deserves recognition as a vital chapter in the story of China, a place where the nation's cultural puzzle first began to take shape — and still quietly holds its center.
\nContact the writer at michaelrhyscard@chinadaily.com.cn
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/018/20251023_018_03_47029.png\")
Online See more by scanning the code.
\nThis is your chance to get published! "My China Moments" — an international collection of essays, videos and visual works compiled by China Daily — is now open for submissions. The initiative seeks diverse stories and insights from foreigners in China.
\nWritten articles, videos and other visual works in English can be submitted for consideration. Selected pieces will be published, with attribution, on platforms such as the China Daily website and China Daily app along with digital platforms and social media accounts. A number of articles will also be published, with attribution, in China Daily.
\nCulturally themed gifts will be offered and contributors may be invited to attend offline events organized by China Daily.
\n", @@ -13249,28 +12963,6 @@ "hash": "7bb82a166d550e7a481c085e6822b44e", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "019SPORTS - Comeback pair to lead national charge at Cup of China", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/019/20251023_019_02_32066.png\")
Olympic champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong are set to make their first competitive appearance in more than three years.
\nThe 2025 ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China, the second event in the ISU Grand Prix series, will begin in Chongqing on Friday.
\nServing as a warm-up event for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, the competition will feature top skaters from around the world.
\nIt will also mark the return of China's pairs stars Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, who will make their first competitive appearance in more than three years. The event has added importance for Chinese skaters, with Olympic selection on the line.
\nSui and Han, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic pairs champions, announced their comeback in June and the Cup of China will be their first competitive test.
\nWhile Sui and Han, aged 30 and 33, respectively, were once renowned for their synchronization, questions remain about how close to their top form they can get. They will perform two new programs in Chongqing.
\nFollowing the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Sui never fully left the sport, resuming formal training at the end of last year with the goal of featuring at the Milan Games. Han had previously announced in 2023 that he would withdraw from all competitions during the 2026 Olympic cycle due to injury.
\nSince the Beijing Olympics, China's dominance in pairs skating has diminished, making the veteran pair's comeback particularly significant. Recent videos shared by Sui showed the duo training intensively during China's National Day holiday.
\nAdditionally, Zhang Jiaxuan and Huang Yihang, who secured China's Olympic spot in pairs, will also compete in Chongqing.
\nAs the second stop in the ISU Grand Prix series, the Cup of China attracts elite skaters from around the world. The event features 60 skaters from 14 countries and regions.
\nThe United States team has sent its top competitors in both women's singles and ice dance. The field includes 2025 world champion Alysa Liu in women's singles and three-time world ice dance champion duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates. Another notable US entry is defending women's singles champion Amber Glenn, who also won the 2024 Grand Prix Final and placed fifth at the 2025 World Championships.
\nIn women's singles, South Korea's Shin Ji-a, considered the successor to Kim Yu-na, and Lee Hae-in, the 2023 world silver medalist, are among the favorites. While Japan's top skater Kaori Sakamoto is not competing, other strong contenders like Hana Yoshida will feature. The 2023 European champion, Anastasiia Gubanova of Georgia, will also compete. China's women's singles will feature Zhu Yi and young skater Zhang Ruiyang.
\nThe men's singles competition will be equally competitive, featuring defending champion Shun Sato of Japan, South Korea's Cha Junhwan and Kazakhstan's Mikhail Shaidorov, the 2025 world silver medalist. China's veteran Jin Bo-yang will also make his season debut at the event.
\nIn pairs, Sui and Han will face defending champions Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii of Italy.
\nRace to Milan
\nThe combined results of the Cup of China and this year's National Championships will determine Team China's Olympic roster. The skater with the highest total score in each discipline will make the team.
\nChina has secured one Olympic spot each in men's singles, women's singles, ice dance and pairs.
\nThe returning Sui and Han will compete against the young pair of Zhang Jiaxuan and Huang for the Olympic spot.
\nZhang Jiaxuan and Huang, who recently moved up to the senior level, earned China's Olympic spot in pairs at the September qualification event and were last season's ISU Junior Grand Prix Final champions.
\nIn ice dance, veteran pair Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu will face challenges from the younger teams of Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing, and Xiao Zixi and He Linghao.
\nIn women's singles, Zhu and Zhang Ruiyang will compete for the Olympic spot, with 17-year-old Zhang Ruiyang having secured China's Olympic berth at the qualification event. In men's singles, Jin Boyang, Dai Dawei and Peng Zhi-ming will vie for the ticket to Milan.
\nThe Cup of China will take place from Oct 24-26, with Sui and Han performing their short program on the competition's first evening. This marks the fifth time Chongqing has hosted the event.
\nOlympic champions Sui Wenjing and Han Cong are set to make their first competitive appearance in more than three years.
\nThe 2025 ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China, the second event in the ISU Grand Prix series, will begin in Chongqing on Friday.
\nServing as a warm-up event for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, the competition will feature top skaters from around the world.
\nIt will also mark the return of China's pairs stars Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, who will make their first competitive appearance in more than three years. The event has added importance for Chinese skaters, with Olympic selection on the line.
\nSui and Han, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic pairs champions, announced their comeback in June and the Cup of China will be their first competitive test.
\nWhile Sui and Han, aged 30 and 33, respectively, were once renowned for their synchronization, questions remain about how close to their top form they can get. They will perform two new programs in Chongqing.
\nFollowing the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Sui never fully left the sport, resuming formal training at the end of last year with the goal of featuring at the Milan Games. Han had previously announced in 2023 that he would withdraw from all competitions during the 2026 Olympic cycle due to injury.
\nSince the Beijing Olympics, China's dominance in pairs skating has diminished, making the veteran pair's comeback particularly significant. Recent videos shared by Sui showed the duo training intensively during China's National Day holiday.
\nAdditionally, Zhang Jiaxuan and Huang Yihang, who secured China's Olympic spot in pairs, will also compete in Chongqing.
\nAs the second stop in the ISU Grand Prix series, the Cup of China attracts elite skaters from around the world. The event features 60 skaters from 14 countries and regions.
\nThe United States team has sent its top competitors in both women's singles and ice dance. The field includes 2025 world champion Alysa Liu in women's singles and three-time world ice dance champion duo Madison Chock and Evan Bates. Another notable US entry is defending women's singles champion Amber Glenn, who also won the 2024 Grand Prix Final and placed fifth at the 2025 World Championships.
\nIn women's singles, South Korea's Shin Ji-a, considered the successor to Kim Yu-na, and Lee Hae-in, the 2023 world silver medalist, are among the favorites. While Japan's top skater Kaori Sakamoto is not competing, other strong contenders like Hana Yoshida will feature. The 2023 European champion, Anastasiia Gubanova of Georgia, will also compete. China's women's singles will feature Zhu Yi and young skater Zhang Ruiyang.
\nThe men's singles competition will be equally competitive, featuring defending champion Shun Sato of Japan, South Korea's Cha Junhwan and Kazakhstan's Mikhail Shaidorov, the 2025 world silver medalist. China's veteran Jin Bo-yang will also make his season debut at the event.
\nIn pairs, Sui and Han will face defending champions Sara Conti and Niccolo Macii of Italy.
\nRace to Milan
\nThe combined results of the Cup of China and this year's National Championships will determine Team China's Olympic roster. The skater with the highest total score in each discipline will make the team.
\nChina has secured one Olympic spot each in men's singles, women's singles, ice dance and pairs.
\nThe returning Sui and Han will compete against the young pair of Zhang Jiaxuan and Huang for the Olympic spot.
\nZhang Jiaxuan and Huang, who recently moved up to the senior level, earned China's Olympic spot in pairs at the September qualification event and were last season's ISU Junior Grand Prix Final champions.
\nIn ice dance, veteran pair Wang Shiyue and Liu Xinyu will face challenges from the younger teams of Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing, and Xiao Zixi and He Linghao.
\nIn women's singles, Zhu and Zhang Ruiyang will compete for the Olympic spot, with 17-year-old Zhang Ruiyang having secured China's Olympic berth at the qualification event. In men's singles, Jin Boyang, Dai Dawei and Peng Zhi-ming will vie for the ticket to Milan.
\nThe Cup of China will take place from Oct 24-26, with Sui and Han performing their short program on the competition's first evening. This marks the fifth time Chongqing has hosted the event.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/020/20251023_020_01_22502.png\")
Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander collides with Houston's Reed Sheppard during an NBA game on Tuesday in Oklahoma City. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points as the Thunder launched the defense of its NBA crown with a 125-124 double-overtime victory.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/020/20251023_020_01_36502.png\")
Oklahoma City Thunder players pose with their rings in front of the championship banner before tip-off in their season opener against the Houston Rockets at Paycom Center on Tuesday in Oklahoma.
\nShai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 35 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder launched the defense of its NBA crown with a thrilling season-opening 125-124 double-overtime victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.
\nGilgeous-Alexander, the reigning NBA and NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, drew a crucial foul with 2.3 seconds remaining before nailing two free throws to settle an epic duel with a new-look Rockets side spearheaded by Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun.
\nGilgeous-Alexander's winning free throws settled a triumphant occasion for the Thunder, which had earlier seen its players and staff presented with diamond-encrusted championship rings to mark last season's NBA Finals victory.
\nHowever after watching Oklahoma City hoist the franchise's first ever championship banner, the Rockets had threatened to spoil the party for long periods, with Sengun and Durant combining superbly to keep Houston in front for much of the game.
\n"Grit, determination and defense," Gilgeous-Alexander said when asked to sum up the Thunder's nail-biting win.
\n"We know that when we do it (on defense) we give ourselves a chance no matter what's going on — makes, misses, good luck or bad luck. We did enough defense tonight to get the win. We're pretty rusty, but it's a good start."
\nGilgeous-Alexander was backed by 28 points from Chet Holmgren, while Ajay Mitchell caught the eye with 16 points off the bench that included a trio of three-pointers.
\nTurkish star Sengun led the Houston scoring with 39 points that included five three-pointers, while Durant, who joined from the Phoenix Suns in the close season, added 23 points.
\nThe Rockets had led by 12 points in the third quarter, but Oklahoma City came roaring back to edge ahead late in the fourth quarter.
\nDurant put the Rockets back in front 104-102, but Gilgeous-Alexander's pull-up with three seconds remaining knotted the score once more and took it to overtime.
\nThe back and forth nature of the contest — which saw no fewer than 22 lead changes — continued in overtime, before Gilgeous-Alexander cleverly drew what turned out to be the decisive foul from Durant to secure the pair of free throws that settled the game.
\nGilgeous-Alexander had earlier been front and center of the festivities as Oklahoma City's players were presented with their 2024-25 championship rings.
\n"On behalf of the organization, myself and my teammates, we just want to say thank you," Gilgeous-Alexander said in remarks to the home crowd.
\n"From the moment we stepped here, the love has been unconditional. Whether we were losing by 40 or winning by 40, you guys never wavered, and we will never forget that. This ring is just as much yours as it is ours."
\nOklahoma City beat the Indiana Pacers in the Finals last season to win its first title since the franchise moved from Seattle in 2008. The Thunder won it all after a 68-14 regular season that earned it home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
\nCommissioner Adam Silver addressed the crowd before awarding rings to Thunder chairman Clay Bennett and team president Sam Presti. After that, the players came through a tunnel one by one, first hugging Silver, then Presti before receiving their rings from Bennett.
\nLeague MVP Gilgeous-Alexander was the last to receive his ring. He received "M-V-P" chants as he stood in the tunnel in the moments before he stepped onto the court. After he received his box, he opened it, looked at the ring and shimmied before joining his teammates.
\n"It was surreal," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "I don't know how to describe it besides that. It was super fun, though. Seeing the banner raised was cool, too, knowing that it'll be up there forever. And we're the first group to bring the city a championship. It's a pretty special feeling."
\nThe rings, designed by jewelery specialist Jostens, are set in 14-karat gold with more than 800 custom-cut, hand-set gemstones.
\n", @@ -13293,28 +12985,6 @@ "hash": "f14662dfc58c94e305c63e5fc7d2869d", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "020SPORTS - Russian, Belarusian 'neutral' skiers barred from 2026 Olympics", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-23/020/20251023_020_03_12502.png\")
A section of the Tofana Schuss at the Olimpia delle Tofane alpine ski venue for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
\nThe International Ski and Snowboard Federation says its council has voted against allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in qualifiers for the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
\nThe decision Tuesday by the council of the governing body, known as FIS, effectively blocks Russian skiers and snowboarders from dozens of events at February's Games.
\nThe International Olympic Committee allows athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus to compete as "Individual Neutral Athletes", as they did at last year's summer Games in Paris.
\nHowever, the IOC allows the international federations that run each sport to decide whether to use the system in their qualifiers. FIS, which has barred the Russia and Belarus national teams since 2022, has opted against allowing neutral athletes.
\nFIS said the decision also applies to Paralympic events it oversees. The International Paralympic Committee restored Russia and Belarus to full membership last month.
\nRussia's national ski association expressed "deep disappointment "following the FIS council vote, which it called discriminatory.
\n"We will continue to actively pursue all available avenues to ensure that athletes are not penalized for political circumstances beyond their control, including through legal action," it said.
\nThe decision comes four days before the first Alpine skiing World Cup event of the season, a women's giant slalom in Austria.
\nRussia isn't a major power in the marquee Alpine skiing events, but is one of the strongest nations in cross-country and a repeat medalist in snowboard slalom, ski jumping and freestyle.
\nAllowing Russians to compete as neutral athletes could have caused friction between FIS and the mainly northern European countries that host its World Cup events.
\nOne day after Russia's conflict with Ukraine began in February 2022, FIS declared that Russian skiers could keep competing, but without their national flag or anthem. A day later, Norway pledged to bar the Russians from upcoming competitions it was hosting. FIS swiftly backtracked on its policy and excluded Russian skiers altogether.
\nFIS is by far the biggest of the nine international sports federations which oversee sports on the Olympic program. Its events will make up almost half of the total medals awarded at Milano-Cortina 2026.
\nWithout Russian representation in ski events, the number of "neutral athletes" at the Games could be as low as single figures, depending on how qualifiers go in other sports.
\nSo far, only the governing bodies for ice skating and the new sport of ski mountaineering have opened up paths for Russians to qualify.
\nSports like hockey and biathlon have kept bans in place, but there could soon be Russians back on the track in qualifiers for bobsled and skeleton.
\nThe International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation said Monday its appeals tribunal had partly overturned a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes that was imposed in 2022. The tribunal ruled that the IBSF had to allow athletes who are deemed to meet IOC regulations for neutrals.
\nThe IBSF was due to hold a meeting Tuesday "to analyze the order and discuss the next steps", it said. World Cup events begin next month and offer Olympic qualification ranking points.
\nTwo Russian figure skaters and one from Belarus qualified as neutrals last month, and more could follow in speed skating via upcoming qualifiers. One Russian has qualified for a spot in ski mountaineering, the only confirmed neutral athlete in a snow sport.
\nBy contrast, there were 206 athletes on the Russian Olympic Committee team at Beijing 2022, while 24 competed for Belarus.
\n", - "content": "A section of the Tofana Schuss at the Olimpia delle Tofane alpine ski venue for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
\nThe International Ski and Snowboard Federation says its council has voted against allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in qualifiers for the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.
\nThe decision Tuesday by the council of the governing body, known as FIS, effectively blocks Russian skiers and snowboarders from dozens of events at February's Games.
\nThe International Olympic Committee allows athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus to compete as "Individual Neutral Athletes", as they did at last year's summer Games in Paris.
\nHowever, the IOC allows the international federations that run each sport to decide whether to use the system in their qualifiers. FIS, which has barred the Russia and Belarus national teams since 2022, has opted against allowing neutral athletes.
\nFIS said the decision also applies to Paralympic events it oversees. The International Paralympic Committee restored Russia and Belarus to full membership last month.
\nRussia's national ski association expressed "deep disappointment "following the FIS council vote, which it called discriminatory.
\n"We will continue to actively pursue all available avenues to ensure that athletes are not penalized for political circumstances beyond their control, including through legal action," it said.
\nThe decision comes four days before the first Alpine skiing World Cup event of the season, a women's giant slalom in Austria.
\nRussia isn't a major power in the marquee Alpine skiing events, but is one of the strongest nations in cross-country and a repeat medalist in snowboard slalom, ski jumping and freestyle.
\nAllowing Russians to compete as neutral athletes could have caused friction between FIS and the mainly northern European countries that host its World Cup events.
\nOne day after Russia's conflict with Ukraine began in February 2022, FIS declared that Russian skiers could keep competing, but without their national flag or anthem. A day later, Norway pledged to bar the Russians from upcoming competitions it was hosting. FIS swiftly backtracked on its policy and excluded Russian skiers altogether.
\nFIS is by far the biggest of the nine international sports federations which oversee sports on the Olympic program. Its events will make up almost half of the total medals awarded at Milano-Cortina 2026.
\nWithout Russian representation in ski events, the number of "neutral athletes" at the Games could be as low as single figures, depending on how qualifiers go in other sports.
\nSo far, only the governing bodies for ice skating and the new sport of ski mountaineering have opened up paths for Russians to qualify.
\nSports like hockey and biathlon have kept bans in place, but there could soon be Russians back on the track in qualifiers for bobsled and skeleton.
\nThe International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation said Monday its appeals tribunal had partly overturned a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes that was imposed in 2022. The tribunal ruled that the IBSF had to allow athletes who are deemed to meet IOC regulations for neutrals.
\nThe IBSF was due to hold a meeting Tuesday "to analyze the order and discuss the next steps", it said. World Cup events begin next month and offer Olympic qualification ranking points.
\nTwo Russian figure skaters and one from Belarus qualified as neutrals last month, and more could follow in speed skating via upcoming qualifiers. One Russian has qualified for a spot in ski mountaineering, the only confirmed neutral athlete in a snow sport.
\nBy contrast, there were 206 athletes on the Russian Olympic Committee team at Beijing 2022, while 24 competed for Belarus.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-10/23/content_020_68f94a79ed50ccabe151b97c.htm#020SPORTS", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:21:04 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "87ee1cdd59b720e7a2bf0c789eef2eb1", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "001FRONT - Chinese culture in Cairo", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/001/20251022_001_02_59700.png\")
A student tries her hand at calligraphy during a Chinese culture festival held at Badr University in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday. The festival featured Chinese calligraphy and paper-cutting workshops, martial arts performances, an ethnic costumes show, and booths serving traditional snacks such as dumplings and steamed buns, attracting numerous students and teachers.
\n", @@ -13337,28 +13007,6 @@ "hash": "68782e4f6cc7947b18f1f35d866e94b7", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "001FRONT - Takaichi elected Japan's first female PM, unveils cabinet lineup", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/001/20251022_001_04_66700.png\")
People scan a newspaper report about Sanae Takaichi, leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, being officially elected the country's prime minister, in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday. Takaichi won in both houses of parliament, becoming the country's first female prime minister.
\nSanae Takaichi, who was elected Japan's first female prime minister on Tuesday by both houses of the nation's parliament, is expected to bring new life to scandal-hit politics and a struggling economy with a fresh cabinet lineup.
\nTakaichi, president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, garnered 237 votes against Yoshihiko Noda, head of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, who won 149 votes in the first round of the lower house election.
\nTo win this election, Japanese law requires at least 233 votes in the first round in the 465-seat lower house of the Diet. If no candidate receives the required votes, the candidate with the higher number of votes in the runoff election between the top two candidates from the first round will win.
\nThe House of Councillors, the upper house of the Diet, also held its vote, but no candidate secured a majority in the first round. Takaichi led with 123 votes, followed by Noda with 44. An unprecedented runoff for the upper chamber, the first in 13 years, was triggered between Takaichi and Noda, with Takaichi ultimately winning the race, Xinhua News Agency reported.
\nBy winning in both chambers, Takaichi was officially named Japan's 104th prime minister.
\nResponding to a related question on Tuesday afternoon at a regular news conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said that China noted the result of the vote and considers it Japan's internal affair.
\nGuo said Beijing hopes that Japan will work with China to uphold the political foundation of bilateral ties and fully advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit.
\nIn Takaichi's new cabinet lineup, which is a bid to build party unity and ensure policy stability, Minoru Kihara will serve as chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi will become internal affairs minister, Shinjiro Koizumi will take the post of defense minister, and Toshimitsu Motegi will return as foreign minister.
\nTakaichi, 64, an ultraconservative politician, was elected president of the ruling LDP on Oct 4, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba, who stepped down midway through his term to take responsibility for the party's two consecutive losses in national elections.
\nThe defeats left the LDP in the minority in both the lower and upper houses. Ishiba and his cabinet collectively resigned on Tuesday morning to clear road for the election.
\nTakaichi will now lead a minority government with a new coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party. The JIP's 35 votes in the lower house contributed significantly to her success after the LDP ended its 26-year coalition with Komeito earlier this month.
\nThe new LDP-JIP coalition will "aim to revive Japan" by creating a "self-sustaining nation" in the region, according to their agreement.
\nHiroshi Shiratori, a political science professor at Hosei University in Tokyo, said the LDP has kept a "certain distance" from the JIP, unlike its full-fledged coalition with Komeito.
\nShiratori said the LDP-Komeito coalition was formed by sending a full lineup of ministers, making it a comprehensive form of alliance, whereas the LDP and JIP adopt an "extra-cabinet" approach.
\nKomeito leader Tetsuo Saito also celebrated "the birth of Japan's first female prime minister", saying that his party will now monitor the government and engage in constructive debate from the opposition.
\nShiratori also noted that the cabinet features a "Trump-experience "lineup, with former tariff negotiators Ryosei Akazawa and Motegi, who have experience negotiating with United States President Donald Trump, joining the cabinet.
\nWith conservative Kihara as chief cabinet secretary, the government is expected to pursue a more conservative policy agenda, he added.
\nAccording to Japanese media reports, Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, congratulated Takaichi and expressed hopes for bold measures to tackle Japan's economic stagnation.
\nTomoko Tamura, head of the Japanese Communist Party, criticized the new administration for "shelving key policies". She said on social media that there is no doubt a head-on confrontation will occur, because "this new administration has the potential to become the worst among postwar LDP administrations".
\nThe current extraordinary Diet session is expected to last 58 days until Dec 17. The LDP has proposed to the opposition parties that Takaichi should deliver her policy address on Friday, The Japan News reported.
\nContact the writers at houjunjie@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "content": "People scan a newspaper report about Sanae Takaichi, leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, being officially elected the country's prime minister, in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday. Takaichi won in both houses of parliament, becoming the country's first female prime minister.
\nSanae Takaichi, who was elected Japan's first female prime minister on Tuesday by both houses of the nation's parliament, is expected to bring new life to scandal-hit politics and a struggling economy with a fresh cabinet lineup.
\nTakaichi, president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, garnered 237 votes against Yoshihiko Noda, head of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, who won 149 votes in the first round of the lower house election.
\nTo win this election, Japanese law requires at least 233 votes in the first round in the 465-seat lower house of the Diet. If no candidate receives the required votes, the candidate with the higher number of votes in the runoff election between the top two candidates from the first round will win.
\nThe House of Councillors, the upper house of the Diet, also held its vote, but no candidate secured a majority in the first round. Takaichi led with 123 votes, followed by Noda with 44. An unprecedented runoff for the upper chamber, the first in 13 years, was triggered between Takaichi and Noda, with Takaichi ultimately winning the race, Xinhua News Agency reported.
\nBy winning in both chambers, Takaichi was officially named Japan's 104th prime minister.
\nResponding to a related question on Tuesday afternoon at a regular news conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said that China noted the result of the vote and considers it Japan's internal affair.
\nGuo said Beijing hopes that Japan will work with China to uphold the political foundation of bilateral ties and fully advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit.
\nIn Takaichi's new cabinet lineup, which is a bid to build party unity and ensure policy stability, Minoru Kihara will serve as chief cabinet secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi will become internal affairs minister, Shinjiro Koizumi will take the post of defense minister, and Toshimitsu Motegi will return as foreign minister.
\nTakaichi, 64, an ultraconservative politician, was elected president of the ruling LDP on Oct 4, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba, who stepped down midway through his term to take responsibility for the party's two consecutive losses in national elections.
\nThe defeats left the LDP in the minority in both the lower and upper houses. Ishiba and his cabinet collectively resigned on Tuesday morning to clear road for the election.
\nTakaichi will now lead a minority government with a new coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party. The JIP's 35 votes in the lower house contributed significantly to her success after the LDP ended its 26-year coalition with Komeito earlier this month.
\nThe new LDP-JIP coalition will "aim to revive Japan" by creating a "self-sustaining nation" in the region, according to their agreement.
\nHiroshi Shiratori, a political science professor at Hosei University in Tokyo, said the LDP has kept a "certain distance" from the JIP, unlike its full-fledged coalition with Komeito.
\nShiratori said the LDP-Komeito coalition was formed by sending a full lineup of ministers, making it a comprehensive form of alliance, whereas the LDP and JIP adopt an "extra-cabinet" approach.
\nKomeito leader Tetsuo Saito also celebrated "the birth of Japan's first female prime minister", saying that his party will now monitor the government and engage in constructive debate from the opposition.
\nShiratori also noted that the cabinet features a "Trump-experience "lineup, with former tariff negotiators Ryosei Akazawa and Motegi, who have experience negotiating with United States President Donald Trump, joining the cabinet.
\nWith conservative Kihara as chief cabinet secretary, the government is expected to pursue a more conservative policy agenda, he added.
\nAccording to Japanese media reports, Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, congratulated Takaichi and expressed hopes for bold measures to tackle Japan's economic stagnation.
\nTomoko Tamura, head of the Japanese Communist Party, criticized the new administration for "shelving key policies". She said on social media that there is no doubt a head-on confrontation will occur, because "this new administration has the potential to become the worst among postwar LDP administrations".
\nThe current extraordinary Diet session is expected to last 58 days until Dec 17. The LDP has proposed to the opposition parties that Takaichi should deliver her policy address on Friday, The Japan News reported.
\nContact the writers at houjunjie@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-10/22/content_001_68f7ed03ed50ccabe151b857.htm#001FRONT", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "0ad0616880ae340f50026ac4ca90c0b5", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "004CHINA - Early winter flu surge predicted", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/004/20251022_004_01_47274.png\")
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/004/20251022_004_01_39274.png\")
A medical worker administers a flu vaccine to a child at a community health service center in Haizhou district, Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, on Sept 20.
\nChina is likely to face an earlier-than-usual flu season this winter, dominated by a strain different from last year's, health experts said as they urged the public, especially high-risk groups, to promptly get vaccinated.
\nThe latest data from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that flu activity is increasing in southern China, but levels in the north remain low.
\nWhile the typical peak season for influenza in much of China spans from late November through February, experts said this year's outbreak may arrive earlier — a trend that has already been observed in several Asian and European countries.
\n"Following a significant increase in cases in Japan, the nation's health authorities announced the start of this year's flu season on Oct 3, which is about five weeks earlier than the usual start in November or December," said Li Tongzeng, chief physician of the infectious disease department at Beijing You'an Hospital.
\nSimilarly, South Korea's disease control agency issued a nationwide flu advisory on Oct 17, which was two months earlier than last year's, according to a report by The Chosun Daily.
\nLi added that a similar trend is emerging in Europe, with the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany recently reporting a marked increase in flu patients.
\n"Many experts predict that flu cases will rise earlier this year and reach higher numbers than in the previous season in China," he added.
\nData from the China CDC also shows that for the week from Oct 6 to 12, more than 90 percent of flu samples tested nationwide were identified as the H3N2 strain of influenza A.
\nLi said that the H3N2 strain also dominated the past flu season in Australia and New Zealand in summer, as well as the recent surge in cases in Europe.
\n"Since last year's primary circulating strain was the H1N1 subtype of influenza A, the public may have lower immunity against H3N2 this year, making heightened precautions necessary," he said.
\nThe H1N1, H3N2, and influenza B are the three main strains responsible for seasonal flu epidemics worldwide. They cause similar symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue and headache.
\nGiven the likelihood of an early flu season, Li suggests that the public get vaccinated as soon as possible and prepare essential medications in advance. Those who suspect they have the flu should get tested and begin antiviral treatment early to prevent spreading the virus to family members and reduce the risk of severe illness.
\nJiang Jianmin, a researcher at the Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said during a recent news conference that individuals age 60 and above, those with chronic diseases, and infants and children over 6 months old are key groups for flu vaccination.
\n"Healthcare workers, staff workers at nursing homes, child care centers and social welfare institutions, as well as people living with infants under 6 months old, are also among the priority groups for vaccination," she added.
\nwangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", @@ -13381,28 +13029,6 @@ "hash": "97097a19738fb9bb92c7c0a06bcad9cb", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "004CHINA - New chip sharpens, widens views of the universe", - "description": "Chinese researchers have developed a spectroscopic chip with a novel technique that offers an unprecedented combination of exceptional resolution and a panoramic view, unlocking the potential for sharper, faster and wider scans of the universe.
\nWhile conventional high-resolution spectrometers are often bulky and heavy, the chip, named RAFAEL in English and Yuheng in Chinese, is the size of a mobile phone SIM card, researchers from Tsinghua University said. The study was published in the international journal Nature on Oct 15.
\nTaking the technology's application in astronomy as an example, Fang Lu, research leader and professor at Tsinghua University's Department of Electrical Engineering, said the chip is capable of capturing full spectral data with sub-angstrom resolution for about 10,000 stars per second.
\n"Using traditional scanning methods, compiling complete spectra for all stars in the Milky Way would take thousands of years," Fang said. "This chip could potentially reduce that time to under a decade."
\nMoreover, its miniaturized design also allows it to be mounted on satellites or deep-space probes, bringing hope for charting unprecedented spectral maps of the universe in the coming years, she added.
\nThe core innovation embedded in the spectroscopic imager resolves a long-standing challenge in spectral imaging — the trade-off between resolution and field breadth, which means that extreme clarity and fine details can only be achieved at the expense of a broad field of view, and vice versa.
\nFang and her team overcame this dilemma by employing advanced computational imaging methods and reconfigurable integrated photonics based on lithium niobate.
\n"The result is a snapshot spectroscopy with 10-megapixel-level spatial resolution and a sub-angstrom spectral resolution across visible and near-infrared wavelengths," she said.
\nIt gives spectrometers the capability to discern light wavelengths down to ten-millionths of a millimeter and detect the slightest energy variations while simultaneously capturing wide-field scenes in high detail, according to Fang.
\n"This new technique significantly surpasses existing international counterparts in snapshot spectroscopy, improving the spectral resolution by two orders of magnitude," Fang said.
\nShe added that an on-chip prototype of the technology measures 2 centimeters in length and width, with a depth of 0.5 centimeters, making it highly portable and adaptable for future space and astronomical applications.
\nAccording to the research paper, experimental results have shown the technique's promising practical applications for material identification, plant health, autonomous driving, atomic spectroscopy, astronomical observation and other fields.
\nFang said operations are underway to put the technique into use on large-aperture telescopes at observatories in Xinglong county in Hebei province, Lijiang in Yunnan province and the Canary Islands of Spain.
\n"The study marks not an endpoint, but a beginning, showing how intelligent photonics can keep pushing the boundaries of what light can reveal," she said.
\nwangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "content": "Chinese researchers have developed a spectroscopic chip with a novel technique that offers an unprecedented combination of exceptional resolution and a panoramic view, unlocking the potential for sharper, faster and wider scans of the universe.
\nWhile conventional high-resolution spectrometers are often bulky and heavy, the chip, named RAFAEL in English and Yuheng in Chinese, is the size of a mobile phone SIM card, researchers from Tsinghua University said. The study was published in the international journal Nature on Oct 15.
\nTaking the technology's application in astronomy as an example, Fang Lu, research leader and professor at Tsinghua University's Department of Electrical Engineering, said the chip is capable of capturing full spectral data with sub-angstrom resolution for about 10,000 stars per second.
\n"Using traditional scanning methods, compiling complete spectra for all stars in the Milky Way would take thousands of years," Fang said. "This chip could potentially reduce that time to under a decade."
\nMoreover, its miniaturized design also allows it to be mounted on satellites or deep-space probes, bringing hope for charting unprecedented spectral maps of the universe in the coming years, she added.
\nThe core innovation embedded in the spectroscopic imager resolves a long-standing challenge in spectral imaging — the trade-off between resolution and field breadth, which means that extreme clarity and fine details can only be achieved at the expense of a broad field of view, and vice versa.
\nFang and her team overcame this dilemma by employing advanced computational imaging methods and reconfigurable integrated photonics based on lithium niobate.
\n"The result is a snapshot spectroscopy with 10-megapixel-level spatial resolution and a sub-angstrom spectral resolution across visible and near-infrared wavelengths," she said.
\nIt gives spectrometers the capability to discern light wavelengths down to ten-millionths of a millimeter and detect the slightest energy variations while simultaneously capturing wide-field scenes in high detail, according to Fang.
\n"This new technique significantly surpasses existing international counterparts in snapshot spectroscopy, improving the spectral resolution by two orders of magnitude," Fang said.
\nShe added that an on-chip prototype of the technology measures 2 centimeters in length and width, with a depth of 0.5 centimeters, making it highly portable and adaptable for future space and astronomical applications.
\nAccording to the research paper, experimental results have shown the technique's promising practical applications for material identification, plant health, autonomous driving, atomic spectroscopy, astronomical observation and other fields.
\nFang said operations are underway to put the technique into use on large-aperture telescopes at observatories in Xinglong county in Hebei province, Lijiang in Yunnan province and the Canary Islands of Spain.
\n"The study marks not an endpoint, but a beginning, showing how intelligent photonics can keep pushing the boundaries of what light can reveal," she said.
\nwangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-10/22/content_004_68f7ed25ed50ccabe151b862.htm#004CHINA", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "6780d03528af0bbfaf9622a0905fa372", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "004CHINA - Rapid advancement in scientific literacy transforms Xizang", "description": "Public scientific literacy in the Xizang autonomous region has risen sharply over the past 60 years, transforming from a very uninformed base into a key driver of social stability and high-quality development, officials said Monday.
\nZhang Hongwei, vice-chairman of the regional association for science and technology, outlined the transformation at a news conference on Monday. He said the region's efforts to popularize science began shortly after Xizang's peaceful liberation, when simple science boards were first set up in towns.
\n"Through 60 years of continuous effort, especially systematic promotion in recent years, the proportion of residents with scientific literacy has surged from just 0.1 percent in 2010 to 7.6 percent in 2023 — an increase of more than 75 times," Zhang said.
\nThe improvement is particularly notable among young people ages 18 to 39, as well as among farmers and herders.
\nOfficial statistics show that Xizang has one regional natural science museum and 14 sets of mobile science museum exhibits, covering every prefecture and city. More than 300 science museums have been built in rural primary and secondary schools, ensuring full county-level coverage.
\nAdditionally, 86 science popularization caravans now traverse the region, forming part of a modern science promotion network that also includes mobile science museums, community science venues and school-based facilities, Zhang said.
\nTo serve Xizang's multiethnic and multilingual population, more than 40 types of Tibetan-Chinese bilingual science books and over 10,000 sets of posters have been produced. The Xizang Science and Technology News now reaches all towns, while Science Xizang, a weekly TV program jointly produced with Xizang Radio and Television, airs 52 episodes each year alongside 160 radio broadcasts.
\n"This ensures that scientific knowledge is both understandable and practical," Zhang said.
\nScience outreach activities have also been extended to monks, nuns, the elderly and grassroots officials through health lectures and temple-based campaigns, achieving full coverage across social groups, he said.
\nChen Houping, another official from the association, said the region has stepped up efforts in border areas, equipping 164 border primary schools with science facilities and organizing study tours for more than 300 students to Beijing, where they can "see the wider world, learn science and build love for the motherland".
\n"Rural libraries and smart science communities have also been established in border villages, where activities focus on topics such as water resource protection and disaster prevention," Chen said.
\nDuring the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), more than 100 science caravan tours have been held, reaching all border counties and engaging more than 20,000 border residents, students, monks and nuns, she said.
\nGiven Xizang's vast territory and the challenges of transportation in farming, pastoral and border regions, regional authorities have prioritized digital and information-based approaches to overcome the "last mile" problem in science education.
\nChen Xiaoming, another vice-chairman of the association, said localized digital platforms, online events and new media channels have expanded access and improved the precision of science outreach efforts.
\n"Digital technology has broken geographical barriers, allowing young people in remote areas such as Ngari and Nagchu to explore advanced fields such as astronomy and artificial intelligence," Chen said. "This has inspired their curiosity and strengthened efforts to improve scientific literacy among citizens in border and pastoral areas."
\nTian Miao, a science teacher at Jebungang Primary School in Lhasa, said science lessons have become an important way to spark curiosity among students.
\n"We make full use of class time to introduce scientific knowledge in an engaging way," Tian said. "In our moral education classes, students create handmade posters each week, and during science experiments, teachers demonstrate the process step by step to help them understand scientific concepts more intuitively."
\nTsering Yudron, a fourth grader at the school, said the classes had opened up a new world of discovery.
\n"Through science lessons, I've learned about how plants and animals grow, how weather works, and even basic facts about the universe," she said. "By watching science programs on television, I've also begun to understand principles such as buoyancy, friction and electric circuits."
\nContact the writers at palden_nyima@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", @@ -13425,28 +13051,6 @@ "hash": "a346d75589a86b0c418b099247666e11", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "005CHINA - Shanghai exhibition tells vivid stories of war heroes", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/005/20251022_005_02_28262.png\")
An exhibition honoring war heroes opens to the public at the Memorial Hall of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai on Monday.
\nAn exhibition featuring 362 artifacts unearthed from three provinces, shedding light on the life trajectories of war heroes through technological archaeology opened at the Memorial Hall of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai on Monday.
\nTo commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the exhibition brings to life three war stories from battles that took place in Fangshan county in Lyuliang city, Shanxi province; Suning county in Cangzhou city, Hebei province; and Quanjiao county in Chuzhou city, Anhui province, highlighting the profound spirit and contemporary relevance of the great wartime efforts, according to the memorial.
\n"This exhibition is unique as we chose a very small narrative angle to tell the stories, using ordinary yet great individuals to reflect the CPC's pivotal role as a cornerstone in the national resistance," said Qu Yutong, who works for the memorial's research department.
\n"Through technological archaeology, history acquires depth and technology gains warmth, allowing the great wartime spirit to be presented in a more tangible way," said Qu, who is also curator of the exhibition.
\nIn a valley in Fangshan, the remains of 49 martyrs were uncovered. Evidence of bullet wounds, amputations and severe infections were found, revealing the brutal conditions and sacrifices of that time.
\nIn the exhibition hall, the excavation site of the martyrs' graves has been recreated to scale using sand table models, complemented by technologies, such as holographic imaging and 3D printing, to witness the powerful process of the martyrs' stories coming to light.
\nIn addition, modern technology has enabled some of these once-anonymous heroes to be identified. In 2022, a family member named Cui Yuqi traveled to Fangshan, fulfilling the wishes of his late grandmother and father to find his uncle, martyr Cui Haizhi. Ultimately, the remains labeled M19 at the village site were confirmed to be Cui Haizhi, and he was finally "reunited" with his family after decades.
\nArtifacts such as buttons, bullets, belts, bowls, iron spoons and toothbrushes were found in the graves. The deeds of Cui Haizhi after joining the army were also brought to light in a long poem penned by another martyr. The poem told the story of Cui's transformation on the battlefield from a new recruit who was frequently absent-minded to a strong revolutionary soldier.
\nAnother part of the exhibition showcased artifacts from a battle in a village in Suning, where hundreds of soldiers and villagers were killed in 1942.
\n"After the war, villagers didn't bury the bodies of the martyrs, but instead laid them on door panels and reed mats. The mats and panels decayed over the more than 80 years, but the iron nails remained, weighing more than 15 kilograms," Qu said.
\nOne martyr clutched a small round mirror with a photo of a young woman at the time of his death. The exhibition features both the original and color-restored images of the photo, which will assist in identifying the martyr and locating his family, the exhibition's organizers said.
\nIn the immersive tribute space of the exhibition, which will run until December, a chestnut tree from the archaeological site in Quanjiao was used as a design reference.
\n"Through the 'tree of life' and the big numbers showing the military and civilian casualties during the war, the exhibition conveys the theme of the undying spirit, guiding visitors to reflect, remember and carry on the legacy," Qu said. "The earth beneath the tree comes from the three locations involved in the exhibition's stories."
\nThe technological archaeology techniques employed come from Fudan University's molecular archaeology lab. Since 2015, a team led by Wen Shaoqing from the lab has dedicated its efforts to identifying the remains of martyrs and reuniting them with their families. The team has completed DNA tests on more than 1,600 suspected martyr remains and over 100 of their relatives.
\n"With the help of cutting-edge techniques, visitors to the exhibition can see how DNA identification gives names back to some nameless martyrs, how strontium isotope analysis traces their origins and journeys, how pathological trauma analysis reconstructs the brutality at the battlefields, and how craniofacial reconstruction brings their faces back across time," Wen said.
\nzhouwenting@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "content": "An exhibition honoring war heroes opens to the public at the Memorial Hall of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai on Monday.
\nAn exhibition featuring 362 artifacts unearthed from three provinces, shedding light on the life trajectories of war heroes through technological archaeology opened at the Memorial Hall of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai on Monday.
\nTo commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the exhibition brings to life three war stories from battles that took place in Fangshan county in Lyuliang city, Shanxi province; Suning county in Cangzhou city, Hebei province; and Quanjiao county in Chuzhou city, Anhui province, highlighting the profound spirit and contemporary relevance of the great wartime efforts, according to the memorial.
\n"This exhibition is unique as we chose a very small narrative angle to tell the stories, using ordinary yet great individuals to reflect the CPC's pivotal role as a cornerstone in the national resistance," said Qu Yutong, who works for the memorial's research department.
\n"Through technological archaeology, history acquires depth and technology gains warmth, allowing the great wartime spirit to be presented in a more tangible way," said Qu, who is also curator of the exhibition.
\nIn a valley in Fangshan, the remains of 49 martyrs were uncovered. Evidence of bullet wounds, amputations and severe infections were found, revealing the brutal conditions and sacrifices of that time.
\nIn the exhibition hall, the excavation site of the martyrs' graves has been recreated to scale using sand table models, complemented by technologies, such as holographic imaging and 3D printing, to witness the powerful process of the martyrs' stories coming to light.
\nIn addition, modern technology has enabled some of these once-anonymous heroes to be identified. In 2022, a family member named Cui Yuqi traveled to Fangshan, fulfilling the wishes of his late grandmother and father to find his uncle, martyr Cui Haizhi. Ultimately, the remains labeled M19 at the village site were confirmed to be Cui Haizhi, and he was finally "reunited" with his family after decades.
\nArtifacts such as buttons, bullets, belts, bowls, iron spoons and toothbrushes were found in the graves. The deeds of Cui Haizhi after joining the army were also brought to light in a long poem penned by another martyr. The poem told the story of Cui's transformation on the battlefield from a new recruit who was frequently absent-minded to a strong revolutionary soldier.
\nAnother part of the exhibition showcased artifacts from a battle in a village in Suning, where hundreds of soldiers and villagers were killed in 1942.
\n"After the war, villagers didn't bury the bodies of the martyrs, but instead laid them on door panels and reed mats. The mats and panels decayed over the more than 80 years, but the iron nails remained, weighing more than 15 kilograms," Qu said.
\nOne martyr clutched a small round mirror with a photo of a young woman at the time of his death. The exhibition features both the original and color-restored images of the photo, which will assist in identifying the martyr and locating his family, the exhibition's organizers said.
\nIn the immersive tribute space of the exhibition, which will run until December, a chestnut tree from the archaeological site in Quanjiao was used as a design reference.
\n"Through the 'tree of life' and the big numbers showing the military and civilian casualties during the war, the exhibition conveys the theme of the undying spirit, guiding visitors to reflect, remember and carry on the legacy," Qu said. "The earth beneath the tree comes from the three locations involved in the exhibition's stories."
\nThe technological archaeology techniques employed come from Fudan University's molecular archaeology lab. Since 2015, a team led by Wen Shaoqing from the lab has dedicated its efforts to identifying the remains of martyrs and reuniting them with their families. The team has completed DNA tests on more than 1,600 suspected martyr remains and over 100 of their relatives.
\n"With the help of cutting-edge techniques, visitors to the exhibition can see how DNA identification gives names back to some nameless martyrs, how strontium isotope analysis traces their origins and journeys, how pathological trauma analysis reconstructs the brutality at the battlefields, and how craniofacial reconstruction brings their faces back across time," Wen said.
\nzhouwenting@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-10/22/content_005_68f7ed36ed50ccabe151b866.htm#005CHINA", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "e31782c13e09b902cb671829cd14fb22", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "005CHINA - Floating bridge", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/005/20251022_005_04_16262.png\")
Tourists visit the recently reopened Dianchi Lake sailboat floating bridge in Kunming, Yunnan province, on Monday. The bridge, supported by 24 sailboats and suspended only dozens of centimeters above the water, spans 260 meters and offers an immersive "walking on the water "experience. The bridge reopened this month after renovations.
\n", @@ -13469,28 +13073,6 @@ "hash": "06d12cb298b7592e30a3f904bc8f6959", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "005CHINA - Prosecutors target data crimes driven by black market", - "description": "China's top procuratorate has warned that tailored data crimes designed to meet black market demands for personal information are emerging as a major threat to privacy and cybersecurity.
\nAccording to a statement released by the Supreme People's Procuratorate on Tuesday, prosecutors across the country filed more than 2,100 cases and charged over 4,400 suspects with crimes related to the infringement of citizens' personal information during the first three quarters of 2025.The statement noted that these crimes are showing new features and evolving patterns that merit closer attention.
\nProsecutors said that some criminal groups are closely tracking the needs of the underground data-trading market, targeting, organizing and analyzing citizens' information to provide customized "raw data" services to downstream offenders.
\nIn one case, a man surnamed Han and several co-defendants are being prosecuted for running an illegal "car-tracking" business that spanned multiple provinces. The group allegedly hacked parking-platform software systems to steal vehicle entry and exit data, installed hidden GPS trackers without owners' consent and sold drivers' route information to paying clients.
\nOther offenders have used web crawlers, Trojan viruses and penetration tools to infiltrate systems containing personal data, the statement said.
\nOnce obtained, the information was sold in bulk for profit — some of it later used in telecom fraud and other illegal activities.
\nThe statement also highlighted the rise of doxing, the public exposure of personal information. Doxing occurs when offenders obtain victims' private data from databases built on illegally collected personal information and publish or spread it online to incite harassment and abuse, fueling cyberbullying.
\nThe Supreme People's Procuratorate said it will intensify enforcement against personal-information crimes, enhance coordination between administrative and criminal investigations, and crack down on every step and link involved in such offenses.
\nProsecutors will also leverage public-interest litigation to protect citizens' private information, promote joint governance and strengthen legal education to raise public awareness.
\nThe goal, the statement said, is to foster a shared social consensus on protecting personal data and maintaining information security.
\nyangzekun@chinadaily.com.cn
\nChina's top procuratorate has warned that tailored data crimes designed to meet black market demands for personal information are emerging as a major threat to privacy and cybersecurity.
\nAccording to a statement released by the Supreme People's Procuratorate on Tuesday, prosecutors across the country filed more than 2,100 cases and charged over 4,400 suspects with crimes related to the infringement of citizens' personal information during the first three quarters of 2025.The statement noted that these crimes are showing new features and evolving patterns that merit closer attention.
\nProsecutors said that some criminal groups are closely tracking the needs of the underground data-trading market, targeting, organizing and analyzing citizens' information to provide customized "raw data" services to downstream offenders.
\nIn one case, a man surnamed Han and several co-defendants are being prosecuted for running an illegal "car-tracking" business that spanned multiple provinces. The group allegedly hacked parking-platform software systems to steal vehicle entry and exit data, installed hidden GPS trackers without owners' consent and sold drivers' route information to paying clients.
\nOther offenders have used web crawlers, Trojan viruses and penetration tools to infiltrate systems containing personal data, the statement said.
\nOnce obtained, the information was sold in bulk for profit — some of it later used in telecom fraud and other illegal activities.
\nThe statement also highlighted the rise of doxing, the public exposure of personal information. Doxing occurs when offenders obtain victims' private data from databases built on illegally collected personal information and publish or spread it online to incite harassment and abuse, fueling cyberbullying.
\nThe Supreme People's Procuratorate said it will intensify enforcement against personal-information crimes, enhance coordination between administrative and criminal investigations, and crack down on every step and link involved in such offenses.
\nProsecutors will also leverage public-interest litigation to protect citizens' private information, promote joint governance and strengthen legal education to raise public awareness.
\nThe goal, the statement said, is to foster a shared social consensus on protecting personal data and maintaining information security.
\nyangzekun@chinadaily.com.cn
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/007/20251022_007_01_41.png\")
Baiyangdian Lake, located in Xiong'an New Area, Hebei province, is known for its abundant reed growth.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/007/20251022_007_01_48.png\")
A foreign client (second from right) checks the reed panels at the factory of the Renqiu Zhaolong Reed Specialty Cooperative in Xiong'an.
\nIn Xiong'an New Area, Hebei province, a farmer is redefining a symbol of his homeland — the humble reed of Baiyangdian Lake.
\nLi Jianguang, 49, has transformed the reed, once used for simple woven mats or other ordinary items, into the core of high-strength, fire-resistant building panels now exported globally. His innovation showcases the green ethos central to the area's development.
\n"I never imagined the reeds I grew up with would one day build walls applied at both home and abroad," said Li, a resident of a lakeside village in Xiong'an and chairman of the Renqiu Zhaolong Reed Specialty Cooperative.
\nHis works, the "Wei Zhu Xin Sheng" (Reed Architecture Rebirth) ecological building system, recently earned recognition at the Hebei International Industrial Design Week, receiving an award in the 2025 Goldreed Industrial Design Award competition — an initiative that underscores the new area's focus on sustainable innovation.
\nHeritage to innovation
\nLi's connection to reeds has deep roots. "My grandparents and parents used to weave reeds to make simple products like mats for supporting the family," he recalled.
\nAfter earlier business ventures failed in 2008, he returned to the material he knew best, determined to revive its value.
\n"Traditional reed products no longer meet modern construction needs," Li said, noting issues like susceptibility to insects in traditional uses.
\nWitnessing a decline of the local reed application, he was driven to innovate. "My goal was to blend the heritage with high performance, creating durable building materials from a renewable resource," he said.
\nThe path was not straightforward.
\n"We started almost from scratch," Li said, adding that his early attempts involved adapting bamboo-weaving machinery and developing automated processes to replace handweaving, a labor-intensive method.
\nAfter several years of prototyping, his team achieved a critical breakthrough in 2020 — a patented structural technique that compresses reeds into a steel-wire framework, giving the panels exceptional strength.
\nThe resulting material defies conventional expectations. According to technical specifications of the Hebei International Industrial Design Week, the panels can resist winds equivalent to a Category 12 typhoon and perform well in seismic tests.
\nA specially developed nanosilicon coating provides a B-grade fire-resistance rating, overcoming a major barrier to reed-based construction, it added. Moreover, the natural hollow structure of the reeds is preserved, allowing the material to "breathe" and naturally regulate indoor humidity and temperature.
\n"Through these innovations, we addressed the key limitations — combustibility, perishability and low strength," Li said. The system now achieves moisture resistance, weather durability, and allows for rapid modular installation, meeting modern construction needs.
\nHe added that it has been applied in a range of settings, from temporary shade structures to permanent building interiors, and has even been applied by luxury brands for high-end retail spaces seeking eco-friendly aesthetics.
\nHis cooperative began exporting as early as 2009, and today its products reach 17 countries across the globe. Applications range from ecological villas at the 2024 Chengdu International Horticultural Exhibition to interior decoration for international brands.
\n"Reed has moved from being seen as outdated to a novel, eco-conscious material," Li said.
\nGreen gains
\nThe reason for the popularity is because environmentally, the reed-based system functions as a "zero-carbon building material". The entire life-cycle of the reed panels — from cultivation and production to installation and demolition — results in carbon sequestration of at least 35 kilograms per square meter, according to the organizing committee of the Hebei International Industrial Design Week.
\nEconomically, the impact is equally meaningful. Raw reeds, once sold for 1,200-2,000 yuan ($168-281) per metric ton, now see their value increase up to twenty-fold when processed into midrange building panels, Li said.
\nHis cooperative provides stable employment to around 40 people year-round, with seasonal harvesting and processing work supporting around 200 workers in the surrounding villages.
\n"It gives many older villagers a reliable source of extra income," Li added.
\nEach October, the reed harvest begins. Baiyangdian's vast 8,000 hectares of reed beds provide an abundant, renewable supply.
\n"With our current capacity, we have more than enough," Li said.
\nHe added that the reed is an annual plant that regrows after cutting — it's a truly renewable resource. The harvested reeds are dried, sorted by thickness and length, and processed with a combination of mechanized weaving and manual finishing.
\nWaste from production is repurposed as windbreak and sand-stabilization material along highways in arid regions in some northwestern regions of the country, ensuring full resource utilization, Li said.
\nFor Li, the effort is about more than business.
\n"We wanted to start from Baiyangdian and show the world the beauty of harmony between humans and nature," he said.
\nzhangyu1@chinadaily.com.cn
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/007/20251022_007_03_69.png\")
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/007/20251022_007_03_23.png\")
Parents and their autistic children play a game in Hui'ai Farm in Tianjin's Xiqing district on June 1.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/007/20251022_007_03_28.png\")
A child and his parents work together in the field of the farm on June 1.
\nTIANJIN — On a sunny autumn day, teenagers and their parents were busy harvesting corn and sweet potatoes on a piece of farmland in North China's Tianjin municipality.
\n"We ate the corn we grew ourselves. It's very yummy," said Yunyao — a pseudonym for a 17-year-old autistic youth, smiling shyly as he shucked corn.
\nLocated in Tianjin's Xiqing district, Hui'ai Farm, which translates to a farm that collects love, was established by eight families with autistic or intellectually disabled children.
\nYunyao's father, Zhu Xijun, is one of the founders of the farm. Since leasing this land in October 2024, the once formally dressed lawyer has been wearing simple clothes and spending his days working in the fields.
\n"I don't expect the farm to make money. The children are past school age, so they need something to do," he explained.
\nAutism spectrum disorder involves challenges with social communication, repetitive behaviors and emotional abnormalities. The China Disabled Persons' Federation said in 2023 that the country had 13 million people diagnosed with ASD.
\nGuan Xiaoyan, another founder of the farm, had to quit her job as a software operations engineer to take care of her son, who was diagnosed with autism at age three. Guan noticed that, after the boy stayed home following junior high graduation, the life skills and behavioral abilities he had worked hard to learn had begun to regress.
\n"I felt I could neither care for him properly nor take care of myself," Guan, 50, recalled.
\nGuan's 17-year-old son, once withdrawn and burdened by family tensions, has begun opening up through his work on the farm. "Through chores, he has learned cooperation, built healthy habits and is now more willing to play with others," she said.
\nStressing the importance of socialization and life skills for these young people, Zhu explained that they run the farm together to harness the proven value of work in autism rehabilitation.
\n"Developing work habits is vital for fostering self-care abilities. Through labor, the youths interact with friends and family using language, actions and emotions. This process keeps them happy while improving their life skills," he said.
\nThe farm has received support from enterprises. Liu Zhiqiang, a 60-year-old villager with limb disability from a nearby disability assistance base, goes to the farm to assist with weeding and thinning of seedlings.
\nDuring the just concluded National Day holiday, he and several others from the base came daily to help.
\n"In the past, we were always the ones receiving help. Now, we can use our strengths to help these children, and it feels truly wonderful," Liu said.
\nIn recent years, China has continuously improved early screening, diagnosis and rehabilitation for ASD. Support services like inclusive education and rehabilitation therapy have seen progress, offering more help to children with autism.
\nAt the same time, the government and other organizations are supporting families with autistic children to pool resources to create job opportunities for this disabled group. A national policy, launched in February 2024, encourages HR agencies to provide disabled employment services.
\nUnder the support of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, Xihaner car wash, a project initiated in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen in which employees with autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy are hired, has been promoted nationwide — with dozens of car wash centers opened and hundreds of mentally disabled people employed in many cities, including Nanjing and Hefei in East China, and Chifeng in North China.
\nIn Tianjin's Baodi district, an employment base for people with disabilities, including a laundry business, has helped 68 disabled individuals gain both income and self-confidence.
\nThis year, Hui'ai Farm yielded over 500 kg of corn and more than 15,000 kg of sweet potatoes — a harvest that has brought immense joy to the autistic youths, as they have witnessed the fruits of their own labor.
\n"We hope to develop some high-value-added agricultural products here in the future. This will allow the youths to enhance their skills while also improving the farm's self-sustainability, ultimately helping more people with mental challenges," Zhu said.
\n", - "content": "\nParents and their autistic children play a game in Hui'ai Farm in Tianjin's Xiqing district on June 1.
\nA child and his parents work together in the field of the farm on June 1.
\nTIANJIN — On a sunny autumn day, teenagers and their parents were busy harvesting corn and sweet potatoes on a piece of farmland in North China's Tianjin municipality.
\n"We ate the corn we grew ourselves. It's very yummy," said Yunyao — a pseudonym for a 17-year-old autistic youth, smiling shyly as he shucked corn.
\nLocated in Tianjin's Xiqing district, Hui'ai Farm, which translates to a farm that collects love, was established by eight families with autistic or intellectually disabled children.
\nYunyao's father, Zhu Xijun, is one of the founders of the farm. Since leasing this land in October 2024, the once formally dressed lawyer has been wearing simple clothes and spending his days working in the fields.
\n"I don't expect the farm to make money. The children are past school age, so they need something to do," he explained.
\nAutism spectrum disorder involves challenges with social communication, repetitive behaviors and emotional abnormalities. The China Disabled Persons' Federation said in 2023 that the country had 13 million people diagnosed with ASD.
\nGuan Xiaoyan, another founder of the farm, had to quit her job as a software operations engineer to take care of her son, who was diagnosed with autism at age three. Guan noticed that, after the boy stayed home following junior high graduation, the life skills and behavioral abilities he had worked hard to learn had begun to regress.
\n"I felt I could neither care for him properly nor take care of myself," Guan, 50, recalled.
\nGuan's 17-year-old son, once withdrawn and burdened by family tensions, has begun opening up through his work on the farm. "Through chores, he has learned cooperation, built healthy habits and is now more willing to play with others," she said.
\nStressing the importance of socialization and life skills for these young people, Zhu explained that they run the farm together to harness the proven value of work in autism rehabilitation.
\n"Developing work habits is vital for fostering self-care abilities. Through labor, the youths interact with friends and family using language, actions and emotions. This process keeps them happy while improving their life skills," he said.
\nThe farm has received support from enterprises. Liu Zhiqiang, a 60-year-old villager with limb disability from a nearby disability assistance base, goes to the farm to assist with weeding and thinning of seedlings.
\nDuring the just concluded National Day holiday, he and several others from the base came daily to help.
\n"In the past, we were always the ones receiving help. Now, we can use our strengths to help these children, and it feels truly wonderful," Liu said.
\nIn recent years, China has continuously improved early screening, diagnosis and rehabilitation for ASD. Support services like inclusive education and rehabilitation therapy have seen progress, offering more help to children with autism.
\nAt the same time, the government and other organizations are supporting families with autistic children to pool resources to create job opportunities for this disabled group. A national policy, launched in February 2024, encourages HR agencies to provide disabled employment services.
\nUnder the support of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, Xihaner car wash, a project initiated in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen in which employees with autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy are hired, has been promoted nationwide — with dozens of car wash centers opened and hundreds of mentally disabled people employed in many cities, including Nanjing and Hefei in East China, and Chifeng in North China.
\nIn Tianjin's Baodi district, an employment base for people with disabilities, including a laundry business, has helped 68 disabled individuals gain both income and self-confidence.
\nThis year, Hui'ai Farm yielded over 500 kg of corn and more than 15,000 kg of sweet potatoes — a harvest that has brought immense joy to the autistic youths, as they have witnessed the fruits of their own labor.
\n"We hope to develop some high-value-added agricultural products here in the future. This will allow the youths to enhance their skills while also improving the farm's self-sustainability, ultimately helping more people with mental challenges," Zhu said.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-10/22/content_007_68f7ed59ed50ccabe151b86e.htm#007CHINA", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:21:05 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "c9067993958a774fbc23cad17959b042", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "008COMMENT - Four documents key to China-Japan ties", "description": "The election of Sanae Takaichi as Japan's first female prime minister on Tuesday holds significant implications not only for the social and economic development of the nation itself but also for regional stability and prosperity.
\nChina and Japan, as close neighbors and influential players in Asia and the world, share a relationship that extends beyond bilateral concerns.
\nWhen Takaichi takes office, the principles outlined in the four important political documents between China and Japan — the 1972 Joint Communique, the 1978 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, the 1998 Joint Declaration, and the 2008 Joint Statement — should serve as crucial guides for her handling of bilateral relations. These four documents lay the political and legal foundation for developing a stable and mutually beneficial relationship.
\nGiven Japan's wartime history, it is essential that the Japanese leader appreciate the sensitivity surrounding Japan's militarization. It is important to uphold the spirit of Japan's pacifist Constitution rather than seeking to expand the country's military capabilities, which could harm relations with neighboring countries. Japan must also faithfully honor its political commitments on historical issues. Taking history as a mirror it should look toward the future and keep the big picture in mind. It should avoid any actions that damage mutual trust.
\nOn the Taiwan question, Japan must strictly abide by the principles of the four political documents and its own commitments, refrain from interfering in China's internal affairs, and handle all relevant issues prudently. Japan should also act cautiously on matters concerning the South China Sea and East China Sea, which touch upon China's core interests.
\nTakaichi should be mindful that the trade war initiated by the US targets not just China but also Japan and a large number of countries worldwide. It won't serve its own interests for Japan to ingratiate itself with Washington. Japan needs to have an independent stance rather than serving as a pawn in others' geopolitical games.
\nChina's development presents opportunities not only for the world but particularly for its neighbors, including Japan. Frictions between the two countries have frayed bilateral ties over the past more than a decade. It is important the two sides work together to manage their differences.
\nChina's position on its relations with Japan has been consistent and clear — it hopes Japan will move in the same direction as China and work to maintain the political foundation of bilateral ties.
\nEconomic interdependence between China and Japan is a critical aspect of their relationship. The two countries have deeply intertwined economic interests and supply chains, which necessitate a commitment to cooperation and mutual benefit.
\nAs Takaichi takes office, it is crucial that she resist any pressure to pursue economic "decoupling" and instead focus on enhancing economic exchanges, promoting trade and ensuring the stability of supply chains. Such cooperation will be beneficial not only for China and Japan but also for the broader international community.
\nStrengthening cultural and people-to-people exchanges, particularly among the younger generation, would help foster mutual understanding and trust and create a foundation for long-term friendship and cooperation.
\nIt is hoped that under Takaichi's leadership, Japan will work with China in the same direction, strictly observe the principles of the four political documents, and uphold its commitments on major issues such as history and Taiwan. By engaging in candid dialogue and fostering mutual understanding, Japan should advance mutually beneficial ties with China and pave the way for a future characterized by stability and cooperation.
\n",