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": "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
\nGoing by Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau's description, the thieves that broke into the Louvre Museum on Sunday morning stole jewelry that has "sentimental value and is priceless". The perpetrators of the crime used an angle grinder to force open a window of the museum and then used the same tool to threaten security guards.
\nIn an interview with France Inter radio, French Interior Minister Laurent Nu�0�9ez said, "Individuals entered the Louvre Museum …using an external freight elevator that was positioned on a truck."
\nPhotographs taken shortly after the incident showed the police sealing off the area near the Seine where the perpetrators had erected the freight elevator. This shows that those who carried out the crime were not ordinary burglars, but highly organized criminals who understood both the strengths as well as the blind spots of one of the most secure institutions in Europe.
\nBy installing a freight elevator on a public street, they exploited a simple loophole: the disconnect between internal museum security and external municipal surveillance. Inside the Louvre security is tight — there are metal detectors, and limits on the bag size visitors can carry inside. However, a freight elevator on a truck bed parked outside the museum would not draw anybody's attention; even patrolling police, if there were any, would mistake it for a moving company or construction company's vehicle and equipment.
\nThe last recorded theft at the Louvre dates back to 1998, when a painting by French painter Camille Corot was stolen in broad daylight and has never been recovered. Over the years, the Louvre's security system has improved; entry protocols have become more complex. Yet the criminals, too, have equipped themselves with more sophisticated tools and become more daring.
\nThe latest heist sends a warning that no system is ever foolproof. What is especially troubling is not merely the loss of valuables, but also the precedent it sets.
\nIf criminals can break into one of the most protected museums in the world, what stops others from doing the same elsewhere? The technique could, in theory, be replicated at other museums, government offices, corporate archives, or even private residences.
\nWhat needs to be improved is coordination between institutions and city authorities. Museums might be equipped with the best internal security system, but if the city-level surveillance system fails to flag suspicious activity outside the museum walls, the system remains incomplete. Urban safety demands integration between private and public monitoring, between human vigilance and automated intelligence.
\nParis, like many European capitals, has invested heavily in security infrastructure since the mid-2010s, when terrorist attacks transformed public safety priorities. Yet the Louvre heist shows that such security infrastructure can be circumvented.
\nIt's time the whole security environment underwent a thorough review to prevent similar crimes from happening again. The Louvre incident tells us that safety cannot be taken for granted, even in the heart of civilization's greatest cities. Paris now faces the task of not only finding those behind the theft but also closing the security gaps, the latter being a task many other European cities need to undertake.
\nWe hope this case is cracked at the earliest and that it serves as a wakeup call that security in modern metropolises should never be taken lightly.
\n", - "content": "Going by Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau's description, the thieves that broke into the Louvre Museum on Sunday morning stole jewelry that has "sentimental value and is priceless". The perpetrators of the crime used an angle grinder to force open a window of the museum and then used the same tool to threaten security guards.
\nIn an interview with France Inter radio, French Interior Minister Laurent Nu�0�9ez said, "Individuals entered the Louvre Museum …using an external freight elevator that was positioned on a truck."
\nPhotographs taken shortly after the incident showed the police sealing off the area near the Seine where the perpetrators had erected the freight elevator. This shows that those who carried out the crime were not ordinary burglars, but highly organized criminals who understood both the strengths as well as the blind spots of one of the most secure institutions in Europe.
\nBy installing a freight elevator on a public street, they exploited a simple loophole: the disconnect between internal museum security and external municipal surveillance. Inside the Louvre security is tight — there are metal detectors, and limits on the bag size visitors can carry inside. However, a freight elevator on a truck bed parked outside the museum would not draw anybody's attention; even patrolling police, if there were any, would mistake it for a moving company or construction company's vehicle and equipment.
\nThe last recorded theft at the Louvre dates back to 1998, when a painting by French painter Camille Corot was stolen in broad daylight and has never been recovered. Over the years, the Louvre's security system has improved; entry protocols have become more complex. Yet the criminals, too, have equipped themselves with more sophisticated tools and become more daring.
\nThe latest heist sends a warning that no system is ever foolproof. What is especially troubling is not merely the loss of valuables, but also the precedent it sets.
\nIf criminals can break into one of the most protected museums in the world, what stops others from doing the same elsewhere? The technique could, in theory, be replicated at other museums, government offices, corporate archives, or even private residences.
\nWhat needs to be improved is coordination between institutions and city authorities. Museums might be equipped with the best internal security system, but if the city-level surveillance system fails to flag suspicious activity outside the museum walls, the system remains incomplete. Urban safety demands integration between private and public monitoring, between human vigilance and automated intelligence.
\nParis, like many European capitals, has invested heavily in security infrastructure since the mid-2010s, when terrorist attacks transformed public safety priorities. Yet the Louvre heist shows that such security infrastructure can be circumvented.
\nIt's time the whole security environment underwent a thorough review to prevent similar crimes from happening again. The Louvre incident tells us that safety cannot be taken for granted, even in the heart of civilization's greatest cities. Paris now faces the task of not only finding those behind the theft but also closing the security gaps, the latter being a task many other European cities need to undertake.
\nWe hope this case is cracked at the earliest and that it serves as a wakeup call that security in modern metropolises should never be taken lightly.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-10/22/content_008_68f7ed6aed50ccabe151b872.htm#008COMMENT", - "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": "adb57a9e57b4b139071099d3363de1df", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "010WORLD - Future vision set out at Sinotruk Global Partners Conference", "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/010/20251022_010_04_43.png\")
The Sinotruk Global Partners Conference is held on Saturday in Qingdao, Shandong province.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/010/20251022_010_04_50.png\")
Sinotruk's flagship truck products are showcased during the conference.
\nThemed We leap We link We lead, the Sinotruk Global Partners Conference opened on Saturday in Qingdao, Shandong province, revealed the trends and opportunities in the commercial vehicle sector and showcased the reasons behind the outstanding market performance of the Chinese heavy-duty truck manufacturer based in Jinan, Shandong province.
\nFocusing on key topics such as global development and win-win industry chain cooperation, the event attracted 620 Sinotruk partners from 97 countries and regions to share new initiatives for the industry's future development.
\nCentering on seven core application scenarios, the vehicles on display presented innovations across the full industry chain and displayed Sinotruk's strong product range.
\nScenario-driven innovation
\nAs the core area of the event, the new energy exhibition sector was represented by four flagship products. The SITRAK G7H pure electric tractor was launched to meet the high-efficiency needs of trunk line logistics; the HOWO TS7 range-extended heavy-duty truck and SITRAK C3H range-extended light truck provide hybrid technology to reduce a driver's range anxiety; and the S6 EV pickup, with flexible energy replenishment and stable range, suits the needs of multiple scenarios and is aimed at promoting the large-scale application of zero-carbon transportation.
\nIn the transportation scenario exhibition area for modern logistics hubs, the SITRAK C9H 4x2 tractor and SITRAK C3 pure electric light truck were the focus, representing the connection between efficiency and value. As a model of high-end heavy-duty trucks, the SITRAK C9H tractor is equipped with a high thermal efficiency engine and comprehensive intelligent safety configurations. The SITRAK C3 pure electric light truck focuses on modern logistics. With a maximum range of over 400 kilometers, it is becoming an ideal choice for high-density urban distribution.
\nThe end-to-end operation scenario exhibition area for large-scale infrastructure construction launched two "infrastructure pioneers": the HOWO TX PRO 6x4 dump truck and SITRAK G7S 8x4 concrete mixter. These vehicles have been optimized for infrastructure scenarios, with improved load-bearing capacity of the frame system and overall stiffness of the rear suspension. They can handle extreme working conditions and high-intensity operation cycles with ease, becoming important tools to improve project quality and ensure schedules.
\nThe mining scenario exhibition area focused on the full-chain needs. The Yellow River 135 mining vehicle adopts a three-layer reinforced frame. Equipped with hardcore configurations, it ensures stable attendance rates under long-term high-intensity operations. The new generation of SITRAK heavy-duty new energy dump trucks was made to reshape the value of mine transportation with zero emission and super-lifting capacity. The S6 commercial pickup, with high-efficiency power train and flexible mobility, becomes an efficient partner for full-scenario operations in mines.
\nThe exhibition vehicles in the comprehensive logistics scenario exhibition area showed the company's effort in meeting the diversified and energy-saving needs of scenarios such as industrial raw material transportation and supply chain transportation. As customized equipment for cold-chain logistics, the HOWO T3H refrigerated truck saves more than 11.8 percent of fuel, becoming an ideal choice for coldchain practitioners to achieve low consumption and high efficiency. The HOWO TH7-N and HOWO TS7 achieved systematic energy saving from the power source to detailed design.
\nIn the comfortable living scenario exhibition area, the VAN's business travel version was upgraded with more space and high-quality performance. The S9 off-road pickup meets the needs of outdoor enthusiasts.
\nIn the all-rounder scenario exhibition area for professional transportation and special operations, two special vehicles — the SITRAK 6X6 all-wheel drive tractor and HOWO TX all-wheel drive dump truck — have broken through many limitations. The HOWO TX all-wheel drive dump truck is equipped with a full-time drive system and its four sets of differential locks can achieve 100 percent locking according to road conditions. Its overall stiffness is increased by 25 percent, making it more reliable under extreme working conditions.
\nStrategic upgrading
\nSinotruk is among the pioneers of China's heavy-duty automobile industry, as it manufactured China's first heavy-duty automobile in 1960. In recent years, it has become a prominent player in the global market and achieved brilliant results. From January to September, the production and sales volume of Sinotruk's heavy-duty trucks ranked first in the world, creating a milestone in the global commercial vehicle industry, said Liu Wei, the company's general manager.
\nIn 2025, Sinotruk's export business achieved high-level growth and the annual export sales volume of heavy-duty trucks is expected to exceed 150,000 units, five times that of 2020, Liu said. From January to September, Sinotruk exported 111,000 heavy-duty trucks, a year-on-year increase of 24.5 percent. Sales in the African and Southeast Asian markets increased by 37.4 and 41.5 percent year-on-year respectively, and sales in the Middle East market increased by 28.7 percent year-on-year.
\n"In the next five years, we predict that the global commercial vehicle market will still maintain strong resilience. By 2030, the capacity of the global heavy-duty truck market and light truck market will be 1.4 million units and 700,000 units respectively. Compared with Sinotruk's export of more than 150,000 heavy-duty trucks and 10,000 light trucks this year, there is still huge potential for market growth. The global market capacity of pickups and vans will reach 6.5 million units and 1.6 million units respectively," Liu said.
\nLiu Zhengtao, chairman of Sinotruk, said that by 2030, Sinotruk will celebrate its 100th birthday. To this end, the company will continue to promote transformations in green development, digital intelligence, the after-sales market, international performance, and diversification in products.
\nCurrently, Sinotruk has established 10 complete vehicle production bases in China, with a maximum monthly production capacity of 30,000 heavy-duty trucks. With the in-depth application of big data and artificial intelligence, the automation rate of key processes has reached more than 60 percent.
\nIn the next five years, Sinotruk plans to invest a total of more than $4 billion in research and development and build a professional R&D team with more than 8,000 people. Additionally, it has set up an independent overseas product R&D institution to develop customized products for overseas markets.
\n", @@ -12765,28 +12721,6 @@ "hash": "d8c9190e92ba93fd276a9c11fc33b51b", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "012ADVERTORIAL - City leads nation in sci-tech innovation", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/012/20251022_012_03_31012.png\")
The exhibition stand of Beijing Huairou National Comprehensive Science Center at the 27th China Beijing International High-Tech Expo in May.
\nDuring the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), Beijing has significantly bolstered its innovation capabilities, competitiveness, and influence as an international sci-tech hub, becoming key in the global innovation network.
\nZhang Jihong, director of the Beijing Science and Technology Commission and the Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park, said that the city, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology, has developed and executed a series of policies to advance its status as an international innovation center. These efforts have resulted in the initiation of 1,105 key projects and major tasks.
\nThe city has made remarkable strides in various fields, consistently achieving top rankings. For example, it has held the top spot worldwide in the "Nature Index — Science Cities" for eight consecutive years and ranked third globally in the "International Science and Technology Innovation Index" for three consecutive years. Additionally, its research and development investment intensity has consistently remained around 6 percent, placing it among the leading innovative cities worldwide.
\nIn 2024, Beijing led the nation in several metrics, including the number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 people; the transaction volume of technology contracts; and the number of national high-tech companies and specialized, sophisticated small and medium-sized enterprises.
\nIt has focused on developing a robust innovation platform and resource layout, establishing itself as a key source of independent and original innovation in China. The city has built 145 national key laboratories, and the Beijing Huairou National Comprehensive Science Center hosts 37 sci-tech facility platforms, with 29 in the research phase.
\nThe "three cities and one area "strategy, which includes the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area and the science cities of Zhongguancun, Huairou and Changping, has fostered enhanced coordination and integration over the past five years. These areas collectively account for nearly 30 percent of Beijing's enterprises and 60 percent of its R&D personnel and funding.
\nZhongguancun continues to serve as a "test field" for reform, with all 24 major pilot reform measures fully implemented and innovative policies such as "paying after using sci-tech achievements" being adopted nationwide.
\nIn terms of systemic reform and talent cultivation, Beijing has established a leading group to enhance educational support for science, technology, and talent development.
\nLeveraging high-quality resources, including 92 universities, 34"Double First-Class" universities, and 185 first-class disciplines, Beijing has optimized its academic and specialty layout, fostered topnotch innovative talent, strengthened organized scientific research, and accelerated the transformation of sci-tech achievements.
\nTo support young talents, over 80 percent of the Beijing Natural Science Foundation projects are taken on by individuals under the age of 45.
\n"A positive cycle of 'education cultivates talent — talent leads innovation — innovation drives development' has initially taken shape," said Zhang Yaotian, deputy director of the Beijing Education Commission.
\nThe exhibition stand of Beijing Huairou National Comprehensive Science Center at the 27th China Beijing International High-Tech Expo in May.
\nDuring the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), Beijing has significantly bolstered its innovation capabilities, competitiveness, and influence as an international sci-tech hub, becoming key in the global innovation network.
\nZhang Jihong, director of the Beijing Science and Technology Commission and the Administrative Commission of Zhongguancun Science Park, said that the city, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology, has developed and executed a series of policies to advance its status as an international innovation center. These efforts have resulted in the initiation of 1,105 key projects and major tasks.
\nThe city has made remarkable strides in various fields, consistently achieving top rankings. For example, it has held the top spot worldwide in the "Nature Index — Science Cities" for eight consecutive years and ranked third globally in the "International Science and Technology Innovation Index" for three consecutive years. Additionally, its research and development investment intensity has consistently remained around 6 percent, placing it among the leading innovative cities worldwide.
\nIn 2024, Beijing led the nation in several metrics, including the number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 people; the transaction volume of technology contracts; and the number of national high-tech companies and specialized, sophisticated small and medium-sized enterprises.
\nIt has focused on developing a robust innovation platform and resource layout, establishing itself as a key source of independent and original innovation in China. The city has built 145 national key laboratories, and the Beijing Huairou National Comprehensive Science Center hosts 37 sci-tech facility platforms, with 29 in the research phase.
\nThe "three cities and one area "strategy, which includes the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area and the science cities of Zhongguancun, Huairou and Changping, has fostered enhanced coordination and integration over the past five years. These areas collectively account for nearly 30 percent of Beijing's enterprises and 60 percent of its R&D personnel and funding.
\nZhongguancun continues to serve as a "test field" for reform, with all 24 major pilot reform measures fully implemented and innovative policies such as "paying after using sci-tech achievements" being adopted nationwide.
\nIn terms of systemic reform and talent cultivation, Beijing has established a leading group to enhance educational support for science, technology, and talent development.
\nLeveraging high-quality resources, including 92 universities, 34"Double First-Class" universities, and 185 first-class disciplines, Beijing has optimized its academic and specialty layout, fostered topnotch innovative talent, strengthened organized scientific research, and accelerated the transformation of sci-tech achievements.
\nTo support young talents, over 80 percent of the Beijing Natural Science Foundation projects are taken on by individuals under the age of 45.
\n"A positive cycle of 'education cultivates talent — talent leads innovation — innovation drives development' has initially taken shape," said Zhang Yaotian, deputy director of the Beijing Education Commission.
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/014/20251022_014_01_52999.png\")
\nWith mechanization rates for key staple crops reaching near-saturation levels, China's agricultural machinery market is undergoing a key shift, moving from volume-driven growth to a new phase marked by the replacement of existing fleets with more sophisticated technology, senior executives said.
\nAccording to figures from global agricultural machinery and construction equipment manufacturer Case New Holland (CNH), the mechanization rate in China for corn has hit 90.6 percent, while wheat comes in at 97.6 percent. The rates for rice and soybeans stand at 86.9 percent and 87.9 percent, respectively.
\nThe mature state of mechanization for China's major crops, according to industry insiders, provides a strong foundation for the agricultural machinery industry to move beyond simply expanding mechanization and instead focus on enhancing the quality and capabilities of its equipment.
\n"It is a stage of quantitative change to qualitative change, a process of replacing the old with high-end, large-scale, high-efficiency and intelligent equipment," said Li Kang, manager for CNH China and Mongolia. "For agricultural machinery manufacturers, this means substantial market opportunity."
\nTaking the tractor market as an example, while overall sales have declined year-to-date compared to last year, the segment above 200 horsepower has seen growth. The same holds true for combine harvesters, where models with feeding capacities exceeding 10 kilograms per second have also achieved growth over the previous year, Li said.
\n"We have tractors over 200 horsepower and combine harvesters with feeding capacities over 10 kg per second — these are product lines where we hold a competitive advantage," Li added.
\nGoing forward, Li said that the company will continue to deepen its focus in these areas of expertise and introduce designs that are better tailored to the needs and development of Chinese agriculture.
\nIn April last year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Finance issued a guideline, making it clear to direct greater subsidy support toward high-end products, including intelligent tractors, smart combine harvesters, high-performance planters and intelligent navigation terminals.
\nConcurrently, the policy mandates a gradual reduction and eventual elimination of subsidies for traditional agricultural machinery deemed high in energy consumption, low in efficiency and technologically obsolete.
\nLuca Mainardi, president of CNH Asia-Pacific, said that considering the recent policy changes in China's agricultural machinery subsidies, the government's clear preference for supporting high-efficiency, large-scale equipment has had a positive impact on the company.
\nA survey conducted by the China Agricultural Machinery Distribution Association showed in 2024 that the value of agricultural machinery that is updated and replaced nationwide each year is estimated to be around 300 billion yuan ($42.14 billion).
\nChina has expanded the scope of subsidies for replacing old and worn-out agricultural machinery and raised subsidy levels this year, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in February.
\n"Considering the current complex situation with tariffs and so on, as well as China's advantages in supply chains, we believe we should keep increasing our level of localization," said Mainardi.
\n"This not only meets domestic product demand and enhances our competitiveness in China, but also leverages the advantages of China's supply chain to allow CNH products made in China to be exported," Mainardi added.
\nwangkeju@chinadaily.com.cn
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-22/019/20251022_019_02_11230.png\")
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant attempts a shot against the New Orleans Pelicans during an NBA preseason game on Oct 14 in Birmingham, Alabama.
\nHOUSTON — Kevin Durant said Monday that signing an extension with the Houston Rockets was a "no brainer".
\nDurant spoke of the deal a day after he signed the two-year extension that could keep the superstar with the Rockets through the 2027-28 season, and a day before playing his first game with the team after a blockbuster summer trade.
\n"I'm excited," he said after practice. "That's what the intent was when I came here — to try to build with this group as long as possible. So, it was a no brainer to sign on that line."
\nThe second year of the extension is at Durant's option. ESPN, which first reported the agreement, cited Durant's business partner Rich Kleiman and said it could be worth $90 million. If Durant plays both seasons as planned, that $90 million would push his career on-court earnings to nearly $600 million — which could be an NBA record, depending on how long LeBron James continues to play.
\nDurant — a 15-time All-Star, one of only seven players in NBA history with that many selections — was eligible for an extension that could have been worth $122 million. He opted for less, a move that will provide the Rockets plenty of flexibility for other deals going forward.
\nDurant said discussions with general manager Rafael Stone and coach Ime Udoka made him feel good about the deal they agreed to.
\n"Talking to Rafael and Ime, how they wanted to build the team and how I see myself in this organization, I just thought it was a perfect contract for us," he said. "So, I'm glad we could get that out of the way. We won't have to worry about external noise throughout the season ifididn't have the contract signed. So (now we can) just worry about basketball and focus on the season."
\nThe Rockets open the season Tuesday night against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
\nTeammate Alperen Sengun was thrilled to learn that Durant would be staying with the Rockets beyond this season and said it meant a lot to see him take less money to remain in Houston.
\n"We see how bad he wants to play, how bad he wants to win," Sengun said. "I saw he took a pay cut, too, and that's important. We already know how much he cares about the team, how much he helps everybody. So happy to see that."
\nDurant joined the Rockets from Phoenix in July as part of a seven-team trade that sent Jalen Green, the second overall pick in the 2021 draft, and Dillon Brooks to the Suns. With Durant on the team, and point guard Fred VanVleet out for the season with a knee injury, the Rockets plan to employ a jumbo starting lineup to start the season.
\nUdoka said Monday that Durant, Sengun and Steven Adams, who are all 6-foot-11 (2.11-meter), and the 6-foot-10 Jabari Smith Jr will start against the Thunder, with Amen Thompson, a 6-foot-7 forward, moving to point guard.
\nDurant admired the Rockets leadership from afar before joining the team, and was impressed with how Houston climbed out of the NBA's basement in the last two seasons under Udoka after being among the league's worst teams in the three seasons before his arrival.
\nHouston finished second in the Western Conference last season before losing to the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.
\n"Just how dedicated they were to turning this around and making Houston a contender again," he said. "Very dedicated to the city of Houston and the franchise. I could feel that as an opponent. To walk in here every day, you see the attention on detail from everybody. Not just the leadership of Rafael, Ime and (owner) Tilman Fertitta, but everybody who works here has the level of detail that it takes to become a successful team and franchise."
\n"So, I'm happy I'm a part of that," he continued. "I'm going to keep working and building, and show my worth here."
\nUdoka has already seen Durant have an impact on his team this preseason and believes his decision to sign the extension could be a boost for his young players.
\n"You see a guy that's as accomplished as he is, and he sees the talent and the potential that we have and … the young guys being around that only brings more confidence for sure," Udoka said. "A guy that's been around as much, and played in different systems, just to be that complimentary of these young guys — yeah I think it rubs off on them."
\nHouston is the fifth franchise the 37-year-old Durant has played for, and Tuesday will mark the beginning of his 18th NBA season, after he missed the entire 2019-20 season due to injury. He's been impressed with the team's young core since his arrival and is eager to see what they can do this season.
\n"They seem very experienced and professional, and that just is a testament to the organization and those guys as individuals that they care about their craft," he said. "So it made it easy just to come in here and fit in. Everybody has been incredible thus far, and I'm looking forward to the start of the season."
\nHouston Rockets forward Kevin Durant attempts a shot against the New Orleans Pelicans during an NBA preseason game on Oct 14 in Birmingham, Alabama.
\nHOUSTON — Kevin Durant said Monday that signing an extension with the Houston Rockets was a "no brainer".
\nDurant spoke of the deal a day after he signed the two-year extension that could keep the superstar with the Rockets through the 2027-28 season, and a day before playing his first game with the team after a blockbuster summer trade.
\n"I'm excited," he said after practice. "That's what the intent was when I came here — to try to build with this group as long as possible. So, it was a no brainer to sign on that line."
\nThe second year of the extension is at Durant's option. ESPN, which first reported the agreement, cited Durant's business partner Rich Kleiman and said it could be worth $90 million. If Durant plays both seasons as planned, that $90 million would push his career on-court earnings to nearly $600 million — which could be an NBA record, depending on how long LeBron James continues to play.
\nDurant — a 15-time All-Star, one of only seven players in NBA history with that many selections — was eligible for an extension that could have been worth $122 million. He opted for less, a move that will provide the Rockets plenty of flexibility for other deals going forward.
\nDurant said discussions with general manager Rafael Stone and coach Ime Udoka made him feel good about the deal they agreed to.
\n"Talking to Rafael and Ime, how they wanted to build the team and how I see myself in this organization, I just thought it was a perfect contract for us," he said. "So, I'm glad we could get that out of the way. We won't have to worry about external noise throughout the season ifididn't have the contract signed. So (now we can) just worry about basketball and focus on the season."
\nThe Rockets open the season Tuesday night against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
\nTeammate Alperen Sengun was thrilled to learn that Durant would be staying with the Rockets beyond this season and said it meant a lot to see him take less money to remain in Houston.
\n"We see how bad he wants to play, how bad he wants to win," Sengun said. "I saw he took a pay cut, too, and that's important. We already know how much he cares about the team, how much he helps everybody. So happy to see that."
\nDurant joined the Rockets from Phoenix in July as part of a seven-team trade that sent Jalen Green, the second overall pick in the 2021 draft, and Dillon Brooks to the Suns. With Durant on the team, and point guard Fred VanVleet out for the season with a knee injury, the Rockets plan to employ a jumbo starting lineup to start the season.
\nUdoka said Monday that Durant, Sengun and Steven Adams, who are all 6-foot-11 (2.11-meter), and the 6-foot-10 Jabari Smith Jr will start against the Thunder, with Amen Thompson, a 6-foot-7 forward, moving to point guard.
\nDurant admired the Rockets leadership from afar before joining the team, and was impressed with how Houston climbed out of the NBA's basement in the last two seasons under Udoka after being among the league's worst teams in the three seasons before his arrival.
\nHouston finished second in the Western Conference last season before losing to the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.
\n"Just how dedicated they were to turning this around and making Houston a contender again," he said. "Very dedicated to the city of Houston and the franchise. I could feel that as an opponent. To walk in here every day, you see the attention on detail from everybody. Not just the leadership of Rafael, Ime and (owner) Tilman Fertitta, but everybody who works here has the level of detail that it takes to become a successful team and franchise."
\n"So, I'm happy I'm a part of that," he continued. "I'm going to keep working and building, and show my worth here."
\nUdoka has already seen Durant have an impact on his team this preseason and believes his decision to sign the extension could be a boost for his young players.
\n"You see a guy that's as accomplished as he is, and he sees the talent and the potential that we have and … the young guys being around that only brings more confidence for sure," Udoka said. "A guy that's been around as much, and played in different systems, just to be that complimentary of these young guys — yeah I think it rubs off on them."
\nHouston is the fifth franchise the 37-year-old Durant has played for, and Tuesday will mark the beginning of his 18th NBA season, after he missed the entire 2019-20 season due to injury. He's been impressed with the team's young core since his arrival and is eager to see what they can do this season.
\n"They seem very experienced and professional, and that just is a testament to the organization and those guys as individuals that they care about their craft," he said. "So it made it easy just to come in here and fit in. Everybody has been incredible thus far, and I'm looking forward to the start of the season."
\n![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-21/001/20251021_001_05_64001.png\")
Isabelle Hannedouche, managing director of Sodexo Greater China, speaks along with four other panelists during the "CEO: Grow with China" Roundtable in Shanghai on Monday.
\nAt the forefront of China's reform and opening-up, Shanghai is spearheading the world's second-largest economy's push for high-quality development, forging a path built on international collaboration and inclusive innovation, economists and executives said.
\nThey made the remarks on Monday in Shanghai during the "CEO: Grow with China" Roundtable, which was jointly organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government and China Daily.
\nMarc Horn, president of Merck China, said that Shanghai is really open for cooperation, which goes beyond business. "We always say, 'You need to be in Shanghai to not fall behind'," he added.
\nThe company has been strengthening its global portfolios by utilizing Shanghai's innovation, talent and manufacturing capacity. Horn said the city has become a key manufacturing and R&D hub for the company.
\nMerck's presence in Shanghai is not an isolated phenomenon, but a deliberate outcome of the city's policy and positioning.
\nAccording to economist David Blair, Shanghai keeps the prices of operation low while linking to the real economy. "That's the key for Shanghai's growth and for China's growth — emphasizing new technologies linked with real production."
\nToshinobu Umetsu, CEO of Shiseido China and Travel Retail, noted that the company has two R&D centers in Shanghai. "The Chinese market gathers very savvy and forward-looking consumers, providing us with profound market insights," Umetsu said.
\n"Shanghai is an ecosystem builder," he said, adding, "We are accelerating cooperation with local partners. China gives us inspirations."
\nJean-Paul Agon, chairman of L'Oreal Group, said in a written address at the event that Shanghai is the company's heart in China and North Asia, serving as a strategic engine in terms of innovation, operation, talents and sustainability, among other heads.
\nIsabelle Hannedouche, managing director of Sodexo Greater China, said the "trustful environment" in Shanghai — a good-faith confidence between local government and enterprises — has emerged as a critical competitive edge for the city for multinational companies to thrive.
\n"Shanghai offers a fair and balanced ecosystem to enable companies to provide the right service with the right standard in a very compliant way. It showcases the inclusiveness of the city," Hannedouche said. "We have people with very different backgrounds, here, we are able to attract them, retain them and give them opportunities to grow."
\nBuoyed by the optimism widely shared by global businesses, Shanghai approved the establishment of 4,223 new foreign-funded enterprises between January and August, a 3.9 percent increase compared with the same period last year.
\nShanghai's opening-up and innovation-centered policies provide a powerful counter-narrative to claims of a China turning inward. For global executives, watching Shanghai is about observing the future of China's engagement with the world taking shape.
\nRani Jarkas, chairman of Cedrus Group, said the Chinese government is building a unique global ecosystem, with the country taking on a greater role in global investment. He added that innovations in areas such as artificial intelligence and battery technology provide other countries with more alternatives.
\nPanelists also spoke highly of International Services Shanghai, a multilingual portal launched last year by the Shanghai municipal government.
\nContact the writers at wangkeju@chinadaily.com.cn
\n", @@ -12853,28 +12765,6 @@ "hash": "3b2d18a8efb2589b356739b05f90dc57", "highlights": [] }, - { - "title": "005CHINA - Culturally creative", - "description": "![](\"https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/resfile/2025-10-21/005/20251021_005_03_18612.png\")
Visitors wearing virtual reality headsets experience a virtual reality exhibition of Liangzhu ancient city at the Yuhang pavilion during the 19th Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sunday. Held from Friday to Monday, the expo brought together over 5,800 creative brands from 66 countries and regions, serving as a significant platform for showcasing the achievements of global cultural and creative industries.
\n", - "content": "Visitors wearing virtual reality headsets experience a virtual reality exhibition of Liangzhu ancient city at the Yuhang pavilion during the 19th Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sunday. Held from Friday to Monday, the expo brought together over 5,800 creative brands from 66 countries and regions, serving as a significant platform for showcasing the achievements of global cultural and creative industries.
\n", - "category": "", - "link": "https://mobile.chinadaily.com.cn/cn/html5/2025-10/21/content_005_68f6a2e1ed50ccabe151b748.htm#005CHINA", - "creator": "", - "pubDate": "Tue, 21 Oct 2025 00:21:04 +0000", - "enclosure": "", - "enclosureType": "", - "image": "", - "id": "", - "language": "", - "folder": "双语", - "feed": "ChinaDaily", - "read": false, - "favorite": false, - "created": false, - "tags": [], - "hash": "b5d97fd4938a0da41697b098d405b42d", - "highlights": [] - }, { "title": "008COMMENT - Meeting will draw critical blueprint to build the next stage of country's modernization", "description": "The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China began its fourth plenary session in Beijing on Monday. Running till Thursday, the session has far-reaching significance for China and beyond.
\nAs the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) nears its conclusion, China stands at a crucial juncture. It is important to understand the position of the country in the current situation, analyze the profound changes facing its development in the coming five years, and lay out the top-level design and strategic blueprint for the next stage of the country's modernization journey, which features the coexistence of opportunities and challenges.
\nThe strategic foresight of the CPC Central Committee and its ability to unite and lead the nation in writing new chapters in China's national rejuvenation journey will help chart the course of the world's second-largest economy in the period of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development.
\nThe blueprint for the next stage of China's modernization is taking shape. It aims to enable the country to basically realize socialist modernization by 2035, laying a solid foundation for building China into a modern socialist country in all respects by the middle of this century, promising a future of greater vitality and progress.
\nThe scientific formulation and consistent implementation of five-year plans have long been a hallmark of China's governance and a key advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
\nOver the past five years, global turbulence and uncertainty have intensified, and the tasks of promoting reform, development and innovation have remained arduous. Yet China has still managed to make new breakthroughs and achievements.
\nThat the country's gross domestic product grew 5.2 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters, as the National Bureau of Statistics announced on Monday, testifies to the Chinese economy's solid fundamentals and resilience. China's economic output is expected to reach about 140 trillion yuan ($19.66 trillion) this year and its average annual contribution to global growth is projected to remain near 30 percent.
\nThe nation has also advanced steadily in the Global Innovation Index, becoming one of the fastest-growing innovation economies over the past decade.
\nSince the nation's economic fundamentals remain sound — it has a complete industrial base, a vast market, a sizable talent pool and immense potential — the long-term trend of steady development through reform and opening-up remains unchanged.
\nDuring the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will unswervingly pursue high-quality development guided by its new development philosophy — innovation, coordination, green growth, openness and inclusiveness. It will continue to accelerate the establishment of its new development paradigm, give greater strategic importance to cultivating new quality productive forces and foster scientific and technological innovation rooted in the real economy.
\nTo that end, more down-to-earth efforts should be made to upgrade traditional industries, develop emerging sectors and plan for future industries to build a robust modern industrial system that sustains long-term prosperity. The aim is to complete the over 300 key reform tasks outlined at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.
\nIn the process, the country's high-level opening-up will be expanded by promoting trade facilitation, strengthening international economic cooperation and enhancing its position in the global industry and supply chains. That will bring new opportunities to the world.
\nBut all these endeavors are meaningful only when they ultimately serve the people. Improving livelihoods and enhancing well-being must remain the starting and end points of all development efforts, which depend, as always, on the Party's leadership.
\nUpholding the CPC Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership is the fundamental guarantee to address pressing public concerns, ensure that the fruits of modernization are shared more equitably, increasing people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security.
\nFrom the first five-year plan to the 15th, the consistent goal has been to build China into a modern socialist country. For that, China must coordinate development and security, strengthen risk prevention and maintain the interaction between high-quality development and high-level security.
\nDevelopment and security are two wings of one body that must be properly coordinated. Only by safeguarding its security can the nation ensure it continues to make progress on the path to modernization.
\n",