China is where the certainty lies in an uncertain world and China's stability is the anchor of stability for the world; the better China develops and the stronger it becomes, the more stable the world will be, Jin Canrong, professor of school of international studies at Renmin University of China, said at the Global Times Annual Conference 2025, themed "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World," which was held in Beijing on Saturday.
Jin said in the last month of 2024, many events have occurred around the world, including the six-hour martial law farce in South Korea on December 3; on the evening of December 4, the French government collapsed; and on December 8, the Bashar al-Assad's government in Syria fell. "In the face of such chaos, the changes unseen in a century have entered a deep-water zone," said Jin.
China is where the certainty lies in an uncertain world, serving as the stabilizing force for the globe. The better China develops and the stronger it becomes, the more stable the world will be; China's stability is a contribution to the world, said the expert.
"The key right now is for China to focus on its own affairs, with economic development being the most crucial aspect. We can see that the annual Central Economic Work Conference has set the tone for next year's economy and introduced a series of new measures to provide momentum for the sustained recovery and improvement of the economy," according to Jin.
In the Macao-Hengqin Youth Entrepreneurship Valley, a space where many young entrepreneurs from Macao chase their dreams, the aroma of coffee mingles with the smell of rain-kissed grass.
From Lei Zhen's office at Nanometals Technology, the view stretches from Hengqin's landmarks to Macao's glittering skyline. Lei founded Nanometals in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, in 2014, focusing on innovative applications of new materials, with nano silver wire as the core product.
Hengqin, located just across the river from Macao, is home to the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone, which was established in 2021 by the Chinese central government to foster closer integration between the two regions. The zone has become a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, hosting nearly 6,500 Macao-invested enterprises and providing a platform for new industries.
In 2018, Lei's project won global acclaim, taking first place in a prestigious startup contest. Three years later, Nanometals relocated to Hengqin, seizing opportunities in the cooperation zone.
"Moving our headquarters to Hengqin made connecting with Macao much easier and significantly improved our operational efficiency," Lei said. With support from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's manufacturing ecosystem, his company scaled up the production of flexible touch-screen materials -- breaking foreign monopolies in this field.
Macao will soon mark the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland. Since its return, the central government's strong support, coupled with active integration into the Chinese mainland, has transformed Macao into a modern, international metropolis, achieving remarkable progress in both economic development and people's livelihoods.
In tandem with this transformation, Macao has deepened its exchanges and cooperation with the mainland, becoming an integral part of China's broader development agenda and contributing to the cause of Chinese modernization.
Just over two months ago, the Macao Bridge, a new eight-lane bridge connecting the Macao Peninsula to Taipa, officially opened to traffic. This is the fourth cross-sea bridge to connect the two districts and it has greatly improved the flow of people and goods, enhancing the region's economic vitality.
Before its return to China, Macao's infrastructure was relatively underdeveloped. However, iconic city landmarks such as light rail systems and cross-sea bridges have since become symbols of its modernization. In 1999, Macao's GDP stood at MOP 51.9 billion (about 6.23 billion U.S. dollars). By 2023, it had skyrocketed to nearly MOP 379.5 billion. Meanwhile, by the end of last year, the total savings of Macao residents had surpassed MOP 700 billion -- an eightfold increase compared to 1999. Over the past 25 years, Macao has become one of Asia's wealthiest cities.
While its economy has grown steadily, Macao has also gradually diversified its industries, moving beyond its reliance on the casino sector. With the central government's support, Macao has embraced a more diversified, balanced and sustainable economic structure.
"During the past 25 years, Macao has made remarkable strides under the 'one country, two systems' framework," said Ho Iat Seng, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), noting that the proportion of key industries contributing to economic diversification has steadily increased -- making the economy more resilient and diversified.
Notably, Macao's tourism sector has played a considerable role in its economic transformation. With its rich blend of Chinese and Western cultures, a diverse culinary scene, and unique architectural styles, tourism has become a vital part of Macao's economic diversification. The SAR government has been working to showcase Macao's appeal, attracting tourists from around the world to experience the city's significant cultural heritage.
In 1999, Macao received only 7 million visitors. By Dec. 7, 2024, the annual visitor number had surged to 32.5 million. Macao is now one of the cities with the highest concentration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites globally and is working to establish itself as a world tourism and leisure center. According to a survey by China Tourism Academy, Macao was ranked as the most satisfactory outbound destination for mainland tourists in the first quarter of 2024.
The city has also witnessed a boom in its entertainment industry over the years, with many performance events being held including large-scale concerts.
"Whether in terms of cultural events or infrastructure, Macao is an ideal venue for shows," said Macao tenor Liu Naiqi. "Now, many mainland and overseas tourists come to Macao specifically to attend concerts."
In 2023, cultural and artistic events attracted nearly 20 million participants, with large-scale concerts drawing around 1 million attendees and generating approximately MOP 1.1 billion in box office sales. Non-gaming sectors now contribute to more than 60 percent of Macao's GDP, a steady increase from previous years.
"Macao's efforts to accelerate the diversification of its economy not only strengthen its economic power and competitiveness but also enable it to play a more significant role in supporting the national strategy and the country's high-level opening up to the outside world," said Ip Kuai Peng, vice rector of City University of Macao.
Macao's participation in Greater Bay Area development and its active contribution to the Belt and Road Initiative have provided new opportunities for the city's growth. To further integrate into national development, Macao has established a Working Committee for Integrating into National Development, which promotes deeper economic, cultural and social cooperation with the mainland.
Macao is also collaborating with Hong Kong and the mainland to develop "one trip, multiple destinations" premium tourism routes, promoting business cooperation with Portuguese-speaking countries, and fostering cultural exchanges with nations around the world.
For many Macao residents, integrating their personal development with national growth has become a common goal. Huang Yin, founder of Macao-based Trendyi Health Technology, recalled how aligning her business objectives with China's national development plan had prompted her to expand the business to Hengqin.
"We've built a bridge to connect Macao with excellent pharmaceutical resources from the mainland. Using Macao's platform for trade between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, we're promoting traditional Chinese medicine and culture to Portuguese-speaking countries," Huang said, noting that her business has rapidly grown by seizing such opportunities.
Macao has become an ideal place for entrepreneurs -- via its open business environment and the unprecedented opportunities provided by the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone.
Cheong Chok Man, director of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau under the Macao SAR government, highlighted that the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee had outlined plans to deepen cooperation within the Greater Bay Area and strengthen rules and mechanisms for greater synergy. "We believe that Macao's cooperation with other cities in the Greater Bay Area will become even closer, and its integration with the region will deepen," Cheong said.
Luo Weijian, a law professor at University of Macao, emphasized that the development of the Greater Bay Area provides a platform for all cities to leverage their strengths. "For Macao, it's crucial to further capitalize on the advantages of 'one country, two systems' to better serve national modernization and regional cooperation," he said.
According to Sputnik News on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Chinese manufacturers on their remarkable achievements in the automotive industry at the 15th VTB “Russia Calling!” investment forum. Some Russian people and Chinese businesspeople told the Global Times that Chinese products have achieved both strong sales and a good reputation in Russia.
The Sputnik News wrote a report on Thursday titled "President Putin talks about the popularity of Chinese cars in Russia: Chinese products have become higher quality".
A study by Yandex Market, the e-commerce platform of Russia's largest search engine, shows that about 70 percent of Russian customers are willing to purchase products from China, according to a Russian financial media outlet on November 29, 2024.
According to the study participants, high-quality products from China include electronics and appliances, clothing and footwear, as well as household items. Some emphasized the quality of Chinese automobiles.
A recent survey by RIA Novosti also shows that Russians' impressions of Chinese products are increasingly positive.
“I still remember when I first came to Moscow to expand the Russian market, local people didn’t like Chinese products. I used to stand on the street in the cold, introducing our products to people one by one,” a Chinese clothing vendor surnamed Chen told Global Times.
“At that time, they thought Chinese products were of poor quality and lacked novelty,” Chen added.
This view was echoed by Kolosovskii Ian, a Russian student currently studying at Shandong University. He said that in the past, his family wouldn’t consider buying Chinese products, but now, "I think if you ask a Russian person about this, they might even forget that the furniture in their home is made in China, or that the clothes they’re wearing are also from China. Chinese products have become a part of daily life for Russians."
A similar sentiment is shared by Hou Jinlong, Executive Vice President of China’s Hebei Chamber of Commerce in Russia. He told Global Times: "A few years ago, we actively invited some domestic companies to participate in trade fairs in Russia, but we almost hit a wall everywhere. People were not confident in their products and thought it was difficult to break the stereotypes Russians had about Chinese goods, so they were unwilling to come."
Now, things are completely different. He said, "The Russian market has responded very well to Chinese products, and more people are willing to do business here. The most obvious sign of this change is that in recent years, the number of our members has been continuously increasing, with members covering various fields such as automobiles, auto parts, hardware, clothing, and household goods."
“From the initial lack of attention at trade fairs to now, some products no longer need promotion and are already sold out online,” he said with a smile.
In recent years, economic and trade relations between the BRICS countries have become increasingly close. Among them, e-commerce trade between China and Russia has developed rapidly and become an important area of economic cooperation between the two countries, according to CCTV.
Russian industry experts said that by 2027, e-commerce trade between China and Russia could increase sixfold, reaching $12 billion, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in the BRICS countries. Through e-commerce platforms, the distinctive products of both countries are easily accessible, and businesses in both countries are embracing new opportunities.
“In Russia, there are also e-commerce platforms for trade, similar to Taobao, and they are now very popular. Most of the products on these platforms are from China,” Kolosovskii said.
A few months ago, Chinese cars also started to be sold in the Russian market through e-commerce platforms, and their sales have been steadily increasing, CCTV reported.
Shakhnoza Azimova, a PhD student at the Institute of Scientific Information on Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, told Global Times that she recently bought a Chinese car.
"My choice of a Chinese brand is related to the fact that it is the newest brand compared with European brands in the Russian market," she said. "The appearance of the car is also attractive, which is one of the preferences of women. Compared to other brands, Chinese cars are both innovative and price-competitive."
Creativity has become a new "tag" for Chinese products.
Veronika Manakova, a second-year student at MGIMO University (Moscow State Institute of International Relations), told Global Times, "What I find most crucial is the fact that Chinese sellers are more creative and tend to come up with extraordinary solutions even for basic products, such as bright outfits, cute accessories, and stationery goods."
“It wouldn’t be erroneous to mention that my impression of Chinese products has improved incredibly and now I regard buying these goods as the most sagacious option in many cases,” she said.
Shakhnoza mentioned that when purchasing her car, the sales staff provided her with very detailed information about it, from manufacturing to delivery. Chinese companies have been continuously improving in terms of service, she added.
Veronika also said, "Purchasing Chinese goods was once challenging, but companies have now improved product variety, quality, and delivery systems. As a result, Chinese products have become popular in Russia, with some sectors even leading the market due to their affordable prices and good quality."
Kolosovskii, who uses a Vivo phone, summarized Chinese products as being affordable, of good quality, and having modern design. He said that his whole family in Russia uses Chinese brand phones and computers. Recently, his father has also decided to buy a Chinese brand electric vehicle.
"Now, Chinese goods are the leaders of the market in Russia. I hope and am confident that Chinese products will soon prove their reliability in various categories and become indispensable," Shakhnoza said with certainty.
In response to a question regarding to Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez arrived in Beijing on Wednesday and plans to meet with several Chinese officials, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian responded on Thursday that China welcomes Rodríguez's visit and looks forward to advancing the important consensus reached by head of state of both countries through this visit.
China and Venezuela are all-weather strategic partners. In September, 2023, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro made a state visit to China, during which Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Maduro held fruitful talks, providing direction for the development of China-Venezuela relations, Lin said on Thursday at a regular press briefing.
It is hoped Rodríguez's visit will carry on the traditional friendship between China and Venezuela, deepen practical cooperation across various fields, and inject new momentum into the China-Venezuela all-weather strategic partnership, better benefiting the peoples of both countries, Lin noted.
"We will release information about the visit at the appropriate time," Lin said.
The US military has recently announced its support for Philippine operations in the South China Sea through task force Ayungin, named after the Philippine term for China's Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef). This initiative, according to Manila, will involve collaboration in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance efforts. What additional, lesser-known details exist about this task force? Why was its launch timed during such a sensitive period? To what extent can it bolster the Philippines' provocations in the South China Sea? The Global Times conducted interviews with a Chinese expert who has engaged with high-level sources in the Philippines, as well as a former deputy national security advisor of the Philippines, to uncover deeper insights on the task force.
The announcement represents the latest example of the US "fanning the flames" in the South China Sea. It also underscores the current Philippine government's dedication to strengthening its strategic partnership with the US, according to Ding Duo, a deputy director at the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the China Institute for South China Sea Studies, who recently concluded a visit to the Philippines, where he engaged with local sources familiar with the matter.
"The US task force will only hinder the peaceful resolution of disputes that require direct dialogue, consultations, and negotiations between the Philippines and China," stated Rommel C. Banlaoi, Chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence, and Terrorism Research, in an interview with the Global Times on Monday.
As the former director of the Center for Intelligence and National Security Studies in the Philippines, Banlaoi previously told the Global Times that he is dismayed by the current government's decision to increase American military presence, which he believes undermines the balance in the Philippines' relationship with China and promotes a markedly pro-Americanism in foreign policy.
He pointed out that the Marcos administration is complicating efforts to improve Philippines-China relations and that these unilateral actions are counterproductive to peacefully resolving disputes with China.
What is the US task force?
According to Ding, local sources revealed the concept of the US task force began to take shape in July 2024.
The idea for forming the US task force emerged after the direct serious clash between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea on June 17 when a Philippine supply boat ignored warnings from the Chinese side and charged into waters off China's Ren'ai Jiao.
The US brought out the idea of founding a task force to the Philippines following the incident, which was then accepted by the Philippine side.
Ding deems that the formation of the US task force likely stemmed from concerns over the July 21 agreement between China and the Philippines regarding maritime disputes following the clash. The temporary agreement established arrangements for humanitarian supplies of essential goods for the Philippine warship stranded at the Ren'ai Jiao. Both parties agree to jointly manage maritime disputes and promote the easing of tensions in the South China Sea.
The US task force was established around the same time as the temporary agreement, suggesting that the US is concerned the agreement may hinder its strategic goals in the South China Sea, according to the expert.
The task force comprises approximately 15 US military personnel stationed on Palawan Island in the Philippines, who regularly engage in training exercises with the Western Command (WesCom) under the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). These exercises primarily focus on providing personnel rotation and logistical support to the Philippine military vessel that is illegally stranded at China's Renai Jiao, Ding revealed to the Global Times.
Following US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's high-profile introduction of the US task force, both military and political officials from the US and the Philippines released statements. US embassy spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay stated, "Task Force Ayungin enhances US-Philippine alliance coordination and interoperability, enabling US forces to support the Armed Forces of the Philippines in the South China Sea," according to Reuters.
Philippines National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, however, stressed that the US task force Ayungin "will not directly participate in missions in the West Philippine Sea [South China Sea]," as reported by Filipino GMA.
Ding revealed that specific tasks provided by the US task force include improving the coordination capabilities of both manned and unmanned military equipment and providing personnel training to the Philippines. The instructors for the so-called "small vessel defensive tactics course," conducted by the US military for the Philippines in October of this year, were selected from this task force, Ding said.
The Philippine media Inquirer reported that Philippine coast guardsmen (PCG) trained with US special forces over nearly three weeks in Palawan on how to respond to "noncompliant vessels" as part of the course.
Banlaoi said that the US established the US task force to support Philippine forces not only in rotation and reprovisioning missions, but also in protecting Philippine presence in Ayungin Shoal (Ren'ai Jiao). "The US provides operational training, intelligence information sharing and threat assessment of situation around the shoal, almost the same kind of support that the US has provided the Philippines during the siege of Marawi in 2017 and the Global War on Terrorism from 2001-2010 through the Joint Special Operations Task Force - Philippines."
Ding further noted that the unmanned equipment currently provided by the US task force to the Philippines includes at least four unmanned surface vessels MANTAS T-12 and at least one T-38 Devil Ray, both of which are from Australian company Maritime Tactical Systems (MARTAC) USA Division.
According to a piece on an online news platform Straight Arrow News, Devil Rays can be used as a mother ship of sorts to help relay signals to the T-12s. They can also be used as a weapons platform.
How much can it support Manila?
The maritime situational awareness capabilities of the Philippines remain relatively underdeveloped, a longstanding concern held by the Philippine military. An article from the US think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative in December 2023 pointed out that "the Philippines faces substantial maritime governance capacity gaps, with shortfalls in maritime domain awareness standing out as a primary concern."
The US has provided substantial support to the Philippines in areas such as information sharing, situational awareness, and engagement tactics to bolster its capabilities.
Since 2021, the Philippines has been utilizing the SeaVision program, a maritime situational awareness tool, led by the US Department of Transportation, at no cost. Currently, this system is being employed by the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Navy, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the National Coast Watch Center, as observed by Beijing-based think tank South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI).
In May, the US and the Philippines issued a joint statement on space dialogue, announcing an enhancement of cooperation in leveraging space for both maritime and space situational awareness. Moreover, within the framework of the US-Japan-India-Australia "Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness Partnership," the US is coordinating resource support from Japan, India, and Australia for the Philippines, according to SCSPI.
Many Filipino scholars contend that the security cooperation between the Philippines and the US is designed to strengthen the asymmetric advantage over China, enabling the execution of surveillance missions focused on China's maritime activities, Ding noted.
The Ayunjin task force has been interpreted by Philippine media as a direct indication of US military assistance to the Philippines.
Banlaoi believes that the US task will benefit the Philippine military for operational support, intelligence gathering and tactical capacity building, but it politically hinders peaceful dispute resolution between the Philippines and China.
By establishing the task force, the US has sought to gain direct insights into the operational patterns of China Coast Guard vessels, thereby enhancing its situational awareness and battlefield readiness. This move can be interpreted as a concealed intention of the US, Ding noted.
"It remains unclear whether the US task force will expand in personnel and scope. The US may also use this opportunity to encourage the Philippines to provoke incidents at sea, such as conducting 'freedom of navigation operations' against China or providing 'escort' services for Philippine supply ships in contested areas. US military personnel might observe aboard these vessels under the guise of journalists or offer guidance for Philippine maritime operations," he told the Global Times.
If the Philippines continues to provoke incidents through its strengthened alliance and external support, engaging in "gray zone" tactics and challenging China's South China Sea policies with misleading narratives, it risks undermining constructive resolutions and managing differences, Ding stressed.
The remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) soldiers who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were returned to China on Thursday from the Republic of Korea (ROK).
The remains will be laid to rest in a martyrs' cemetery in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.
Since 2014, the remains of 981 CPV martyrs have been handed over to China, their home country.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged supply and marketing cooperatives to act as bridges for the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the government to maintain close ties with farmers, and strive to write a new chapter in the high-quality development of the supply and marketing cooperative cause.
Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction on the occasion of the 70th founding anniversary of the All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives.
The federation, founded in 1954, is a national economic organization responsible for organizing, coordinating and managing the operation of important agricultural means of production, as well as agricultural and sideline products.
Over the past seven decades, the country's supply and marketing cooperatives have played a positive role in serving rural and urban residents, boosting rural economy, helping eradicate absolute poverty, raising farmers' incomes and promoting rural revitalization, Xi said.
He asked Party committees and governments at all levels to further strengthen their leadership over and support for the work of supply and marketing cooperatives.
Xi urged the cooperatives to build integrated platforms that serve the production and lives of farmers and help promote the development of modern agriculture.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, gave an instruction regarding supply and marketing cooperatives.
Li urged the cooperatives to further promote the high-quality development of agricultural supplies, distribution of agricultural products, as well as recycling and utilization of renewable resources.
A meeting was held in Beijing on Thursday to mark the federation's 70th founding anniversary.
At the meeting, Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, called on supply and marketing cooperatives to help promote the integrated development of urban and rural areas and advance all-around rural revitalization.
China firmly opposes official interaction between the US and Taiwan region, firmly opposes leader of the Taiwan region making "stopover" in the US in any name or under whatever pretext, a long-standing and clear position, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said on Sunday.
Spokesperson Chen Binhua made the remarks in response to a media question on Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's "stopover" in Hawaii in his trip to so-called "diplomatic allies" in the Pacific.
Chen noted that the Chinese Foreign Ministry has lodged serious protests with the US.
Since Lai took office, his authorities have stubbornly adhered to a separatist stance of "Taiwan independence," continuously sought "independence" and made provocations, escalating cross-Straits confrontation, threatening peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and severely harming the safety and well-being of the Taiwan compatriots, Chen said.
No matter what tricks the Lai authorities adopt to manipulate in the pursuit of "Taiwan independence," they cannot shake the basic pattern of the international community's adherence to the one-China principle, nor can they obstruct the historical trend of China's eventual reunification, the spokesperson said.
"We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, fully see the separatist nature and damage of Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities, handle the Taiwan question with prudence," Chen said.
A stampede occurred on Monday afternoon at a middle school in Kashgar, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, leaving three students seriously injured and 11 others with minor injuries, according to Xinjiang Daily.
At about 3:25 pm on Monday, a student accidentally fell at the entrance of a dormitory at No. 8 Middle School in Kashgar Prefecture, as students were heading to the classrooms, triggering a stampede, Xinjiang Daily reported.
Following the incident, emergency response plans were immediately activated, and relevant departments quickly arrived at the scene to manage the situation.
Treatment for the injured is ongoing, and a further investigation into the cause of the accident is underway, according to Xinjiang Daily.
China's human rights stories are unfolding in a new era of comprehensive deepening reform and historic changes. It is a key component of China's poverty alleviation and whole-process people's democracy, a thorough reformation in judicial, medical insurance and other key sectors related to the national economy and people's livelihood, as well as a combination of numerous impressive and inspiring individual stories.
To be nurtured in youth, be educated, secure gainful employment, receive medical care when ill, be cared for in old age, have a place to live, and be supported when weak... these are the concrete embodiment of human rights, which explains that the greatest human right is the right to the happiness of the people.
For a long time, politicians and media outlets in a handful of countries have remained hostile and prejudiced toward China, leading to a lack of understanding among foreign audiences when it comes to the concepts and achievements of China's human rights development. But what is revealed in the daily lives of the Chinese people speaks to the most basic truth: Rights to survival and development are fundamental human rights.
The Global Times is launching a series of articles, telling the vivid stories about upholding human rights in the new era. We expect the series to become a window through which more foreign readers will understand how Chinese people recognize human rights and what efforts they have made to fight for and fully enjoy human rights in their daily lives.
After a long day at work, Ni Beiyue sits in front of his computer at home, eagerly immersing himself in the world of creating short videos with AI (artificial intelligence) tools. For nearly three hours, he brainstorms video content, generates mental images using AI, and makes the necessary revisions. It is late in the night when he finally uploads the finished video to an online platform, but Ni Beiyue feels quite happy and fulfilled.
It's hard to imagine that just a few months ago, the 45-year-old was a patient struggling with severe depression. With the help of AI tools, Ni Beiyue gradually channeled his heavy sadness into video creation, and eventually freed himself from hospitalization and medication - a miracle in the eyes of his doctor.
Mental health is a topic that the Chinese government and society have long cared about, and an important factor related to people's well-being. With the rapid development of AI technology in China, various AI companies, hospitals, regional governments, and social organizations are creatively applying AI to improve mental health and treat psychological disorders.
From using AI algorithms and large models for assessment, monitoring, and rehabilitation training, to employing AI-generated tech - which includes AI-generated image, music, and video creation - for supportive psychological healing, these initiatives have, to some extent, shown promising results, the Global Times learned. They showcase the warmth of human compassion shining through the rapid advancements in China's AI technology.
"I am grateful to have encountered AI during my darkest days," Ni Beiyue told the Global Times. "It saved me."
An outlet and bridge of emotion
In early 2023, Ni Beiyue was introduced to AI generative tools through a friend's recommendation, at a time when his mental health was poor.
Ni Beiyue works in the transportation system in Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province. He recalled that due to immense work pressure and other factors, he was diagnosed with severe depression and spent six months in the hospital, taking medication with no improvement.
To help Ni Beiyue overcome his struggles with depression, his friend Ni Kaomeng, a seasoned generative AI enthusiast, shared some text-to-video tools with him. Ni Beiyue was quickly captivated.
"I graduated from an art school, and my passion for artistic creation has never faded, although my job is unrelated to that," said Ni Beiyue. He said that the first time he used these AI tools, he felt his previous state of emptiness and confusion dissipate. "I seemed to see a glimmer of hope, as I could finally pick up art again."
Despite having little knowledge of this new field, Ni Beiyue's background in art, and the low entry barrier of generative AI tools, allowed him to quickly master the creation of AI videos. His creative enthusiasm then surged. Over the next four months, Ni Beiyue created and uploaded more than 120 self-made short AI videos, many of which featured lighthearted themes like cute animals. These videos garnered him a total of 30 million views, along with unprecedented confidence and joy.
AI video creation serves as an excellent outlet for Ni Beiyue's negative emotions. He said that thanks to AI, now he has largely recovered, no longer needing medication for his depression. "Even my doctor was amazed," he added.
Ni Kaomeng was pleased with his friend's improvement in mental health. As the initiator of the China AIGC (AI-generated content) Industrial Alliance, a nationwide civil group of China's AIGC industry insiders, Ni Beiyue's experience has also inspired him to explore using AI tools to assist other groups facing psychological issues. He believes that AI tools can serve as an outlet for individuals with depression like Ni Beiyue to express their emotions, and can also act as a new bridge for patients with other mental health conditions - such as autism - to further connect with the world.
Ni Kaomeng said that in 2024, the alliance organized two public benefit activities related to children with autism, in collaboration with charitable groups. During these events, the artwork created by some autistic children was re-created and enriched using AI tools. The alliance also created an AI music video from their artwork, attracting tens of millions of views online.
"In my understanding, children with autism may have a lot to say internally, but find it difficult to express themselves through conventional means like language," Ni Kaomeng told the Global Times. "The low entry barrier of generative AI tools can help them present their inner thoughts and bridge the gap with the world." He said that the alliance members plan to hold more activities to support children with autism, including attempts to teach them how to create music using AI.
"If language limits some autistic children's expression, then we will use AI tools to break through that limitation," he noted.
In September, Ni Kaomeng's alliance held an online exhibition focused on supporting children with autism. In about two months, it gathered 537 pieces of themed drawings, many of which were also reinterpreted with AI tools. The artworks from these "children from the stars" became even more interesting and imaginative under the interpretation of AI.
"The combination of my child's drawings with AI has turned his dreams into reality," said the parent of a participating child with autism surnamed Ma. "He felt an immense joy."
More objective, quantifiable
There are over 10 million individuals with autism in China, with a conservative estimate of around 2 million children aged 0-14, according to the fifth report on the Development of Autism Education and Rehabilitation Industry in China released in April 2024. "Autism is the leading mental disability among children in our country," Feng Rui, director of the Chengdu Frontier Brain AI Innovation Center in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, told the media in April.
Diagnosing autism in young children has been challenging. Due to their age, very young children often struggle to express themselves fully and cannot undergo assessments effectively, making it difficult to distinguish autism from other developmental disorders, said Lü Zhuhai, a chief neurosurgeon at Nanjing Brain Hospital in East China's Jiangsu Province. Similarly, the diagnosis of adolescent mental health issues such as ADHD and depression may not be sufficient if it relies solely on the work of psychiatrists, as it lacks objective and quantifiable assessments, Lü added.
"In clinical practice, we often encounter parents of children with depression asking if their child can stop medication. However, the criteria for determining whether a child's depression has improved are usually quite vague, such as when a doctor asks the patient, 'Do you feel better?'" Lü told the Global Times. "We need more objective data to assess whether the situation has improved."
Interested in the potential of AI technology for diagnosing and rehabilitating mental health issues, Lü and his team have developed their own algorithm platform and database in recent years. They collected and analyzed various characteristic signals of mental disorders, such as neural networks, hormone levels, and brain waves, to assist in diagnosing children's mental health issues.
At Feng's innovation center, AI technology is also bringing about positive developments. For instance, a research team at the center has reportedly established an early diagnosis and identification system for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) based on AI technologies, such as deep learning, transfer learning, and manifold learning. This system fills a gap in the Chinese domestic field, "achieving a diagnostic accuracy rate of 91.67 percent," said Sichuan-based Fengmian News in April.
Lü said that most of these AI devices and technologies have not yet been applied at the hospital level, but this is a promising start. "In the future, we will collaborate with special education schools, rehabilitation institutions, and research institutes, to ensure that AI technology benefits more people with mental health issues, especially children and teenagers," he told the Global Times.
Government support
In July, the Chinese government released the "Implementation Plan for the Care and Promotion of Autistic Children (2024-2028)," which outlines a five-year initiative to improve the care service mechanisms and systems for children with autism. Notably, the plan includes the integration of 29 medical rehabilitation projects for children with autism into the national health insurance system, aimed at alleviating the medical and rehabilitation burdens on involved families.
Ni Kaomeng expressed his enthusiasm for this plan, saying that it signifies a commitment from the government and society to allocate more resources to support children with autism. Ni Kaomeng, who is also the deputy head of the Wenzhou Federation of Social Science, shared that the federation regularly organizes activities to care for children with autism and other mental health issues.
On a broader scale, the State Council of China in 2022 issued a plan to improve policies on national health during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), which places greater emphasis on mental health. The plan stated the goal of slowing the rising trend of mental health disorders and effectively controlling severe mental illnesses and occupational diseases by 2025.
With national support, AI has significant potential in the detection and intervention of mental health issues, said Ni Kaomeng. He envisioned several possible applications of AI technology in this field, such as "AI psychologists" based on large language models, and an "AI network manager" that can monitor the depressive and suicidal tendencies of underage users through their posts.
"In the future, the government will encourage AI companies and institutions to participate more actively in serving patients with mental health issues, through ways such as policy subsidies and service purchases," he said. "It will be a 'two-way effort.'"
