China will as always respect Panama's sovereignty over the Canal and recognize the Canal as a permanently neutral international waterway, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Friday, in response to a question about US president-elect Donald Trump's claim that there are Chinese soldiers stationed at the Panama Canal.
In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump claimed that Chinese soldiers are "operating the Panama Canal," the latest in a series of statements from the president-elect about the Canal following his December 22 threat to reassert US control over it, which the US handed over to Panama in 1999.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino refuted Trump's claim, saying it is "nonsense" and asserting that there is "absolutely no Chinese interference," according to the BBC. "There is not a single Chinese soldier in the canal," he told reporters in Panama City.
Mulino also rejected the possibility of reducing tolls for US ships or ceding control of the Canal, the BBC report said. "The Canal is Panamanian and belongs to Panamanians. There's no possibility of opening any kind of conversation around this reality," he said.
Chinese FM spokesperson Mao said at the Friday press conference that Panama's President Mulino stressed that the Canal has no control, direct or indirect, from any power.
The claim that China has military personnel in Panama is entirely baseless, and fundamentally incorrect. Such remarks appear to be aimed at generating media attention and imposing pressure on Panama to make concessions regarding toll charges for US vessels, in order to secure special privileges and preferential pricing, Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.
Panama's position is unequivocal and issues of sovereignty are non-negotiable and cannot be overturned, said Lü, noting that any attempt to create instability in the canal area would severely disrupt global trade, including US domestic trade, as the US itself depends heavily on the Canal for maritime transport between its East and West coasts.
Wang Youming, director of the Institute of Developing Countries at the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, said that in recent years, the US has been increasingly concerned about China's influence in Latin America, particularly in large infrastructure projects.
With the Belt and Road Initiative advancing, the US views China's growing presence in the Western Hemisphere as a threat to its regional interests, leading to increasing smear campaigns and attacks against China, said Wang.
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Panama, their relationship has grown rapidly, marked by increased political trust, trade, and cultural exchanges. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, China has made notable progress in infrastructure projects in Panama and Latin America, which deserves recognition, Wang told the Global Times.
However, China has never interfered in the operation, pricing, or internal affairs of the Panama Canal, respecting Panama's sovereignty over this neutral international passage, said the expert.
In contrast to US concerns about China's strategic influence, China's cooperation with Panama and other Latin American countries is driven by mutual interests and local needs, fostering regional development and deeper people-to-people ties, Wang said.
December 20, 2024, marks the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. It not only signifies the ended centuries of Portuguese occupation, but also heralds the beginning of a new chapter for Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).
On this momentous day, those who witnessed this grand event 25 years ago are filled with emotions. With excitement, they shared their memories with the Global Times, recounting the development and changes in Macao since its return and highlighting precious historical details. Their experiences serve as a testament to the enduring emotional connection and consistent, firm direction of development between Macao and the mainland.
This story is also part of the Global Times' "Witness to History" series, which features first-hand accounts from individuals who were at the forefront of historic moments. From scholars, politicians, and diplomats, to ordinary citizens, their authentic reflections on the impact of historical moments help reveal a sound future for humanity through the solid forward steps taken in the past and the present. Luo Weijian, a law professor at the University of Macau, views the return of Macao to the motherland and the successful implementation of "one country, two systems" in the city as defining chapters in his life.
His involvement - as a member of the secretariat of Drafting Committee for the Basic Law of the Macao SAR, the Chinese representative of Sino-Portuguese Joint Liaison Group, and a member of the Preparatory Committee of the Macao SAR of the National People's Congress - has placed him at the heart of this transformative journey.
From conception to completion
Reflecting on the historic moment of Macao's return 25 years ago, Luo was struck by a poignant photo album. Among the images, one stood out: Macao residents brandishing a vast banner adorned with a single, powerful phrase in Chinese - "Returned."
"The image was stark yet profound, devoid of flamboyant eloquence, yet brimming with raw sentiment. It resonated with the simplicity of a child, long separated from his mother, on the verge of reunion; not articulating flowery expressions of enduring love, but rather, crying out with unadorned emotion," Luo remarked,
Luo recalled the trepidation that gripped through the people of Macao before the handover. "Macao faced twin challenges: A precipitous decline in public security, with crime syndicates brazenly enacting violence and arson in broad daylight, as the Portuguese authorities' departure loomed and their governance waned. Concurrently, the economy was in a tailspin, with a downward spiral since 1996 that persisted until the return."
Despite these concerns, Luo highlighted the enduring faith of citizens in Macao toward their motherland.
"The Macao compatriots harbored a steadfast belief that with the advent of a special administrative region government of their own, they were poised to surmount these adversities."
"There was no wave of emigration after Macao's return, indicating that the people in the SAR have confidence in the country," Luo stressed.
In the summer of 1988, as Luo stepped onto Macao's soil for the first time, he embarked on a historic mission: To craft the Basic Law of the Macao SAR. "The Basic Law was not just a legal document; it was the blueprint for Macao's future and the safeguard of its people's interests," Luo reflected. "We were committed to including the voices and insights of the Macao community in this foundational process."
"The journey from conception to completion of the Basic Law spanned 4 years and 5 months, and throughout this period, we engaged in three extensive public consultations, ensuring that the Basic Law resonated with the will of the people across the nation," Luo detailed.
With the Macao's Basic Law passed on March 31, 1993, Macao entered a critical post-transition phase. Luo highlighted the challenges of this period, particularly in building a civil service team that reflected Macao's demographic reality. "Initially, Macao's mid-to-senior civil service positions were predominantly occupied by Portuguese officials. Through concerted efforts, by the time of the 1999 handover, 90 percent of these roles were staffed by local Chinese residents who were deeply invested in Macao's progress. The judiciary also saw the rise of locally trained officials since 1988, the Faculty of Law of the University of Macau has been established to offer localized legal courses."
Luo pointed out that Sam Hou Fai, the Chief Executive-elect of the Macao SAR, who had joined Macao's first cohort of judicial auditors in 1995 and later presided over the Court of Final Appeal before his election campaign, was shaped by such a judicial training system.
The local legislature's unwavering dedication to national security and the well-being of Macao's residents since the city's return to China in 1999 has ensured social stability in Macao over the past 25 years, he said.
A demonstrative role
Luo considers himself both a practitioner and a beneficiary of the "one country, two systems" practice.
"Macao's implementation of 'one country, two systems' has not only been a success story but also a model for others to follow," he said.
In his daily interactions with students and residents, Luo has witnessed a profound respect for the policy that underpins Macao's governance.
"There's a clear understanding that the concept of 'one country' serves as the bedrock, supporting two social systems. This principle is not just acknowledged but deeply ingrained in Macao's society," he observed.
The past quarter-century has seen Macao flourish, thanks to the support of the motherland. Once stereotyped as a "casino city" and a setting for gangster films, Macao has reinvented itself as a dynamic economic hub. It is now lauded for its robust economic growth, low crime rates, and its commitment to public welfare, garnering global recognition.
"Macao's development has been a success story of 'one country, two systems' and such success withstood the test of history," Luo emphasizes.
Staple foods in iron pot stews styled to resemble plush toys have become a new social media buzz in Shanghai, with many netizens praising its appeal.
The most recent week, according to figures provided by e-commerce platform Meituan.com, the search volume of this form of cuisine rose over 970 percent week-on-week.
In Northeast China, iron pot stew is a popular dish for social gatherings. The staple foods are typically corn cakes and steamed buns, stewed together in the iron pot.
Many shops are now fashioning the staple food into plush toy designs with decorative eyes and mouths, resembling the British brand Jellycat, a favorite soft toy in China.
The number of restaurants that have listed “steamed buns styled like plush toys” on Meituan.com doubled in two months.
During the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) held in October 2024 in Milan, Italy, a remarkable exhibit of "extraterrestrial material" caught the eyes of international attendees - a grayish, seemingly unattractive piece of dirt, yet it marked the first global display of the first sample collected from the far side of the moon.
Guests gathered around the display case, some leaning in for a closer look and others taking photos to commemorate the moment when they were finally able to see the true appearance of lunar regolith.
This remarkable feat was accomplished by China's Chang'e-6 mission in June 2024, showcasing the country's steadily advancing aerospace capabilities that earned international recognition. Yet, this is just one of many significant accomplishments China's space sector has delivered this year.
In 2024, driven by the "dual engine" of its "national team" and the booming commercial space sector, China has excelled in the number of rocket launches, satellite networking, technological innovation, commercial space development and international cooperation, Tan Yonghua, a senior expert of China's Academy of Aerospace Liquid Propulsion Technology, told the Global Times.
On December 18, the Chinese Academy of Engineering released the "Global Engineering Frontiers 2024" report. Among them, the Chang'e-6 mission and China's progress in its low Earth orbit communication satellite constellation were selected as two of the "Top Ten Global Engineering Achievements in 2024" in the aerospace field.
Embracing the future, Tan highlighted the potential of deeper collaboration between the state and private sector, citing the recent adoption of a cargo spacecraft design that was for the first time selected from non-traditional state aerospace entities. "This innovative competitive mechanism not only opens a new chapter in China's aerospace history but also lays the foundation for future low-cost space exploration. At the same time, fully leveraging the potential of private aerospace and integrating it with national capabilities will inject more vitality into China's aerospace endeavors," Tan said.
Highlights of the year
Since the Tiangong Space Station entered its normalized application and operation phase, it welcomed four missions in 2024 - two crewed missions and two cargo supplies - while seeing two crew rotations of some of the youngest faces of the post-90s generation, one of them being China's first female spaceflight engineer.
Most recently, Cai Xuzhe and Song Lingdong, part of the three-person Shenzhou-19 crew, spent more than nine hours spacewalking outside Tiangong on Tuesday, proudly leaving their names in human spaceflight history as they broke the previous duration record for a single extravehicular activity, which was set by NASA astronauts in March 2001, according to a report by space.com.
As for moon exploration and related works, apart from the globally acclaimed Chang'e-6 mission, studies related to Chang'e-5 also saw new advances and breakthroughs in 2024, including the discovery of the sixth new lunar mineral, named Changesite-(Y), which makes China the third country in the world to have identified a new mineral on the lunar surface, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
In the advancement of new rockets, China in December witnessed the maiden flight of the Long March-12, China's most powerful single-core rocket to date. It has potential for reusability and can effectively enhance China's capability to place satellites into sun-synchronous orbits and improve the networking capabilities of low Earth orbit constellations, Kang Guohua, a senior member of the Chinese Society of Astronautics and a professor of Aerospace Engineering at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, told the Global Times.
In 2024, China actively carried out international cooperation. Dedicated to building an open and shared scientific platform for joint construction, the International Lunar Research Station initiated by China further expanded its "friend circle," so far attracting more than 10 countries and over 40 international institutions to sign cooperation agreements.
A more vibrant commercial space sector
During this year's "Double-11" shopping spree, two tickets for commercial space tourism scheduled for 2027 sold rapidly during a livestream event on China's e-commerce giant Taobao at the end of October. With a price of 1 million yuan ($137 thousand) each, the suborbital manned spacecraft will be launched with reusable carrier rocket Nebula-1 to be developed by private space firm Deep Blue Aerospace.
The event triggered intense discussions across Chinese social media platforms, reflecting an ever-strong passion and expectation that people hold toward the development of the country's commercial space industry.
With the inauguration of the Hainan commercial space launch site, China's first of its kind, the "last piece of the commercial space puzzle" has finally come together - the five essential elements, namely satellite manufacturing, launch services, satellite measurement, satellite utilization and launch facilities, Kang said.
Meanwhile, China's low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet constellation was officially unveiled with the Qianfan project taking the lead. Independently developed by Shanghai-based company Spacesail, it aims to establish a network of over 15,000 LEO wide-screen multimedia satellites to provide broadband communication and internet access services, the company said.
On December 5, 2024, the third batch of Qianfan constellation networking satellites was sent into orbit. With a single launch comprising 18 satellites, the total number of the "Chinese version of Starlink" has reached 54 satellites.
Moreover, the technology for reusable rockets continues to advance, as several commercial space companies have successfully completed rocket recovery tests.
However, highlights exist side by side with lessons learned. In July, Tianlong-3, also known as the Chinese "Falcon 9 equivalent," accidentally detached from its launch pad during its static fire test due to structural failure, resulting in an unintended launch. It landed in a hilly area in Central China's Henan Province and caused a fire, Xinhua reported.
"The incident serves as a wake-up call for commercial aerospace, prompting the industry to strengthen the formulation and implementation of regulations and standards," Tan told the Global Times.
Aiming for the moon, Mars, and farther
The China Manned Space Agency in October announced the 2030 target for China's grand lunar crewed landing. In order to achieve this goal, China's crewed lunar rover entered the initial prototype R&D stage in November this year. Other relevant work for the manned lunar landing is progressing smoothly, with the Long March-10 carrier rocket, the Mengzhou manned spacecraft, the Lanyue lunar lander and the lunar landing spacesuit all in the initial sample production and ground testing phases as planned.
Apart from putting humans on the moon, China is planning to build the International Lunar Research Station by around 2035, according to the China National Space Administration. Two missions are expected to lay the groundwork, with the Chang'e-7 mission scheduled in 2026 and the Chang'e-8 mission around 2028.
Not only will there be wireless networks and energy on the moon, but growing vegetables may become feasible, scientists said. With simulated lunar soil bricks sent to space for verification, the development team disclosed that they are considering shaping the base into an egg-shaped habitat on the Earth's neighbor, the Global Times has learned.
Next year, China plans to send a probe to a near-Earth asteroid to retrieve samples as part of the Tianwen-2 mission, with the aim of revealing the formation and evolution process of asteroids and the early history of the solar system.
The Tianwen-3 mission is expected to launch around 2030 to collect Martian samples to study the planet's environment. For the Tianwen-4 mission also scheduled for 2030, China eyes exploring the Jovian system to study the evolutionary history of Jupiter and its moons, and unravel the mysteries of Jupiter's space environment and internal structure, Xinhua reported.
Two travelers concealing luxury goods and jewelry in their luggage, carrying a yellow paper with the words "Customs all blind talisman" in the hope of evading customs inspection, were recently seized by customs officers in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, China's General Administration of Customs reported.
Customs officers at Hangzhou International Airport recorded anomalies in the baggage screening images of the two travelers who chose the green channel to enter the country.
Officers then found an excessive amount of luxury handbags, scarves and clothing in the luggage. Several pieces of jewelry were concealed on their pants pockets.
The two travelers admitted that all items were branded goods, which were purchased abroad and would be resold at a profit in China.
They posed as strangers and used separate packages, and created a yellow paper writing "Customs all blind talisman," with the words "frequent sales and safe clearance," in hopes of earning more money and avoiding detection.
China's consumption market has shown multiple positive signs as the week-long National Day holiday period is about to start on Tuesday, with industry insiders expecting to see bustling scenes across different sectors, ranging from tourism, transport, movie-going and catering.
As consumption during Golden Week traditionally serves as a barometer for the economy, observers said that the spending surge is likely to send an upbeat signal on the potential of China's consumption market, which remains a key economic driver.
The consumption rebound, coupled with a slew of pro-growth policies released in recent days, would also inject new impetus to consolidate the recovery of the world's second-largest economy in the fourth quarter, according to analysts.
Travel boom
Nationwide, Chinese tourists have been in "countdown" mode, eagerly packing their bags in anticipation of the week-long travel adventure during the holiday period. A Beijing-based tour guide surnamed Zhao told the Global Times that reservations for hotels and tickets of popular tourist sites for the upcoming Golden Week has soared significantly. "Tickets for iconic tourist sites in Beijing such as the Forbidden City sold out a week ago," Zhao added.
In addition to traditional popular tourism destinations like Beijing and Shanghai, some third- and fourth-tier cities have also been gaining popularity among tourists for their iconic cultural and culinary attractions. For example, the hit game Black Myth: Wukong has led to more than 30-percent growth in tourism bookings for cities in North China's Shanxi Province, which is rich in cultural legacies, media reported.
Outbound tourism is also foreseen to continue rebounding during Golden Week. Many of the popular travel products involving destinations in Europe and Africa sold out more than a month before the holidays, data from travel platform Fliggy shows, while flight bookings to destinations such as Egypt, Turkey, Hungary, and Kenya have increased more than threefold compared to the same period in 2023.
Transportation networks of Chinese expressways, railways and civil aviation are also expected to embrace a surge during the holidays.
It is forecasted that the country's railway will handle 175 million passenger trips during the travel rush period starting from Sunday and lasting until October 8.
During the holidays, the Beijing Capital International Airport is expected to handle 1.32 million passenger trips, while the annual passenger throughput should exceed 50 million during this National Day holiday period. The number of inbound and outbound passengers at the Beijing Daxing International Airport is expected to reach 105,000, an increase of nearly 60 percent compared with the same period in 2023, the Global Times learned from the airports' operators.
The transport sector overall is expected to handle 1.94 billion passenger trips nationwide during the holidays, with a daily average of 277 million trips. The daily average is expected to rise 0.7 percent year-on-year.
"The average payment price for domestic flights has been reduced by 20 percent compared with last year, while the average price of mid-to-high end hotels also dropped by 20 percent year-on-year," which also helped fuel the Golden Week travel rush, according to a report qunar.com.
Economic gauge
With regards to the movie market, the total pre-sale box office for new releases during the holidays had reached over 100 million yuan ($14.26 million) as of 2:38 pm on Sunday, indicating a potential box-office rebound following a weaker-than-expected summer season.
Meanwhile, multiple localities have been rolling out cultural and tourism activities, among other measures, to further spur a consumption boom during the holidays.
On Saturday, Shanghai began distributing consumption coupons worth of 500 million yuan, offering residents discounts on a wide range of purchases, from hotels and movies to restaurants and sporting events.
"Ahead of the National Day holidays, the Chinese government released a bunch of supportive policies that have largely stabilized and lifted up social expectations," said Tian Yun, an economist based in Beijing.
The strength of China's holiday consumption rebound may also shed light on the potential and resilience of the country's consumption, which is a key engine driving economic recovery momentum, analysts said.
They believed the fourth quarter is also a peak season for domestic consumption, with major consumption events like the Double 11 online shopping festival in November set to further ignite a new wave of shopping enthusiasm.
In honor of Liu Hui, a prominent figure in ancient Chinese mathematics, a series of global activities kicked off on Tuesday local time in Paris, marking the beginning of a year-long commemoration of Liu, whose contributions had a profound influence on ancient Chinese mathematics, and continue to inspire today’s scientific progress and civilization exchanges.
The commemorations were co-hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), and the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization).
The series of events are expected to show the world the remarkable scientific achievements, exceptional ideas, and significant contributions to human civilization made by ancient Chinese scholars like Liu, said He Junke, executive president of the CAST, in a speech he delivered at a launch ceremony of the commemoration on Tuesday, at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris.
In November 2023, UNESCO held the 42nd session of the General Conference and approved the proposal made by the CAST to celebrate the anniversary of Liu’s birth. It was reportedly the first time China had successfully applied for a birthday anniversary event for a scientist at UNESCO.
This celebration was not only a tribute to Liu’s legacy, but a reminder of the immense value of mathematical sciences in shaping our future, said Lidia Arthur Brito, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, in a speech she delivered at the launch ceremony.
“This memorial is a tribute to his lasting impact - a recognition that mathematics, as Liu Hui demonstrated, is not just a theoretical pursuit, but also a vital tool for solving practical problems and advancing societies,” Brito remarked.
Living in the 3rd century, Liu was one of the founders of classical Chinese mathematical theory. He made great contributions to the history of Chinese mathematics and also gained an important position in the history of mathematics globally.
Liu’s commentary in the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art had a great influence on a large number of mathematicians and mathematical works in later generations.
Liu also made many great mathematical creations. He created the theory of lü (ratio) about quantitative relationships, first proposed the concept of decimal fractions, and was the first to introduce the idea of limit and infinite division methods into mathematical proofs. He established a unique mathematical theory of measurement (surveying).
Liu had a direct impact on mathematics in ancient China and the entire East Asia, and indirectly influenced other regions as well, said Zou Dahai, a research fellow at the Institute for History of Natural Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in a speech he delivered online at Tuesday’s launch ceremony as an expert representative.
“As a representative of outstanding ancient Chinese scientists, Liu is not only a figure of China but also of the world,” Zou told the Global Times.
Following the launch ceremony, an international symposium on Liu’s academic thought was held at the headquarters of UNESCO on Tuesday afternoon, where global experts in the history of science and technology and the history of mathematics, gave multi-dimensional interpretations of and held discussions about Liu’s academic contributions and scientific heritage, as well as their modern value.
Furthermore, they delved into the global dissemination of Liu’s mathematical ideas, and proposed suggestions for the further promotion of China’s classical mathematical heritage.
Andrea Bréard, a professor and the vice president of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, gave a keynote speech at the symposium titled “Incognito: The Secret Lives of Liu Hui in the 19th Century.” She mentioned that the name of Liu Hui is rarely seen in late imperial Chinese mathematical sources, but it doesn’t imply that Liu had little influence on mathematical practices in the 19th century and beyond.
Instead, it is possible to uncover the lasting influence of Liu’s thought and writings in the context of a rapidly changing scientific landscape, at a time when China became globally more entangled, Bréard noted.
Zhou Xiaohan, an associate research fellow at the Institute for History of Natural Sciences, CAS, shared his thoughts on the multi-language translations of some terms and arguments in Liu’s commentary on Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art in his keynote speech at the symposium.
“Liu’s achievements are not only a treasure to China, but also a great legacy of human thought for the world,” Zhou told the Global Times. “His mathematical achievements reflect the diversity of mathematical thought and practice, which requires the free and deep cooperation of scholars around the world to reveal and interpret.”
As another highlight of the commemoration, a themed exhibition featuring Liu’s achievements in mathematics kicked off at Réfectoire des Cordeliers in Paris on Monday, so as to showcase Liu’s mathematical achievements, and to deepen the civilization exchanges and mutual understanding between China and the world, says the exhibition’s foreword.
Yang Xinyu, the Chinese Ambassador and permanent delegate to UNESCO, said in the speech she delivered at the launch ceremony that the International Astronomical Union named a new feature on the moon “Liu Hui” in 2021, in honor of Liu’s accomplishments.
“Today, whenever we look at the moon from afar, we would think of Liu Hui, think of his groundbreaking work, as well as his scientific spirit,” Yang said. “Spirit that is marked by rigorousness, innovation, dedication, and open-mindedness. Spirit that is highly consistent with the general trend of international scientific cooperation.”
China is making significant strides in utilizing big data and artificial intelligence (AI) in the ocean industry, particularly in marine spatial planning. These technologies are significantly enhancing accuracy and efficiency, and are expected to revolutionize deep-sea exploration and the broader marine industry, the Global Times learned at an event held in Beijing on Thursday.
Marine Spatial Planning Cooperation Workshop of Maritime Silk Road Partner Countries kicked off in Beijing on Thursday, hosted by China Oceanic Development Foundation (CODF).
Representatives from the Belt & Road countries attending the event praised China's efforts in helping them build their marine spatial planning capabilities, while calling for deeper cooperation in developing the blue economy.
Pan Xinchun, Vice President and Secretary General of CODF, told the Global Times that they have employed big data to collect and sort out available information, especially historical records, to analyze the long-term patterns in specific marine areas using AI models. These tools have greatly improved the accuracy and efficiency of studying marine environments, Pan said.
Drones are used to monitor real-time changes in the ocean. Data collected by the drones is processed using big data, enabling precise assessments of marine conditions. This technology has played a crucial role in the drafting and implementation of marine spatial planning, as the effectiveness of the plan and any potential violations can be evaluated, allowing for more scientific and efficient supervision throughout the process, he said.
"For instance, in marine aquaculture, traditional methods would generally waste about one-third of the feed, which sinks to the seabed, resulting in both wasted resources and environmental pollution. Now, with the AI monitoring, the amount of feed can be adjusted accordingly, and intelligent technology can retrieve any leftover feed from the seabed," Pan noted.
China is currently engaged in the R&D of AI-controlled deep-sea robots and is studying the feasibility of deploying them as deep as 10,000 meters below the surface, where the pressure equals 1,000 atmospheres. This would also enable scientists to explore the microorganisms there without having to dive themselves, a task that would be extremely dangerous for humans.
"The development of AI-controlled unmanned underwater vehicles is expected to revolutionize deep-sea exploration and the broader marine industry, achieving goals that were previously unattainable," Pan told the Global Times. "China is making rapid progress in this area, with immense potential for growth."
At Thursday's event, the Global Times learned that the CODF has helped 19 countries form their marine spatial plans, providing assistance in allocating ocean zones based on functions, resources, location, and environment, designating areas for protection or development and ensuring sustainable resource use through policy measures. Among the 19 countries, Cambodia and Thailand have officially implemented their plans as government documents.
Through such collaboration, the foundation has shared over 40 years of China's marine spatial planning expertise, helping these countries create tailored plans that balance resource development, environmental protection, and economic growth. China's endeavor has been warmly welcomed and highly valued by these countries, who expressed their heartfelt gratitude at the workshop.
Representatives from the partner countries also sought China's expertise in developing the blue economy. China was one of the first countries to implement the concept of the blue economy and has since developed a comprehensive framework of policies, standards, and implementation plans.
China is eyeing to help developing countries develop their blue economies including deep-sea aquaculture, offshore wind energy, bio-products, modern fisheries, green ports, high-end shipbuilding, desalination, and tourism. These sectors are largely zero-emission, making them highly efficient and sustainable.
The event was attended both online and in person by some 300 government officials, scholars and experts from nearly 60 countries along the Belt & Road, including 19 that have partnered with the foundation on marine spatial planning and 49 involved in coastal sustainable development capacity-building projects.
The event witnessed the launching of the Marine Spatial Planning Alliance, as well as the release of an initiative for promoting sustainable ocean development of B&R countries.
The third Global Digital Trade Expo (GDTE) kicked off on Wednesday in Hangzhou, capital city of East China's Zhejiang Province, the nation's innovation and trade hub, showcasing China's significant new opportunities and latest solutions in the digital economy.
Global digital trade is thriving, becoming an important trend in international trade development and new growth point for the world economy. Meanwhile, China has become one of the most dynamic regions for digital trade, Chinese and foreign officials and business representatives said at the expo.
This event, themed "Digital Trade and Global Access," serves as an important platform for exchanging ideas and sharing the benefits of China's digital development, industry insiders said.
This year's edition has attracted more than 1,500 enterprises from home and abroad, among which over 300 are international companies. A total of 446 new products and technologies will be featured at the five-day expo, which runs from Wednesday to Sunday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Over 30,000 purchasers have signed up for the event, with more than 6,000 of them based in foreign countries and regions, Xinhua reported.
Co-hosted by the Zhejiang provincial government and China's Ministry of Commerce, the event is currently China's only digital trade-themed expo at the national level.
This year, special exhibition areas have been dedicated to robots featuring artificial intelligence innovations and smart traffic solutions. Chinese companies have been the highlight in the expo, thanks to their advanced solutions in digitalization.
"At this expo, we are primarily showcasing gene sequencing solutions developed by our company," Charles Lu, director of public affairs at BGI Group, told the Global Times at the event. "They can be provided to our partners in various countries for scientific research, offering them Chinese technologies," Lu noted.
Beyond scientific research, BGI Group has observed a growing trend in the use of these technologies in agriculture. BGI's services cover more than 100 countries and regions, and there has been a steady growth in overseas demand.
"By participating in this expo, we hope to promote these advanced technologies to even more countries worldwide," Lu said. China's digital industry has seen a robust growth in recent years, notching total revenue of 32.5 trillion yuan ($4.62 trillion) in 2023. Against this backdrop of vast opportunities in digital trade, foreign businesses are also eager to capitalize on the potential of China's digital market.
Speaking with the Global Times at the event, Cheng Fang, head of the regional sales division at Japanese technology firm Yokogawa China Co, said that the world is currently undergoing a wave of digitalization, and China is actively leading the way in this field.
"We are focused on integrating our business with China's digital transformation, and this event represents a great opportunity for us," Cheng said.
Yokogawa China Co has a wide range of business sectors, including energy materials, life sciences, and pharmaceuticals. In recent years, the company's branch in China has consistently ranked as one of the top units in the global group, Cheng said, indicating the importance of the Chinese market to the Japanese company.
Cheng noted that their overall global strategy is increasingly oriented toward the Chinese market, and they will continue to invest and expand their presence in China.
"Over the past 40 years of reform and opening-up, China has attracted significant investment, positioning itself as the world's manufacturing hub. Now, with its consumer market size nearing that of the US, China presents enormous investment opportunities for both itself and the global market," said Wu Yabin, head of Investment and Technology Promotion Office Beijing of United Nations Industrial Development Organization. Wu made these remarks during a roundtable dialogue on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Digital Transformation held in conjunction with the GDTE, highlighting the vast opportunities presented by the digitalization trend in China.
Based on the voluminous imperial archives in its collection, a new exhibition shedding light on the lives of princesses in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) opened at the Taipei Palace Museum, the island of Taiwan on Saturday.
The exhibition consists of five sections: The Emperor's Daughters, Royal Treasures Unveiled, The Marriage Mission, Fleeting Royalty, and In Closing: Princess Reflections. These detail the life journeys of Qing princesses from birth and marriage to their funerals. The exhibition is set to run until December 1.
"History is full of 'unheard voices.' Individuals who, though scarcely mentioned in official records, lived rich lives and shaped their times in unique ways," noted Su Feng-nan, curator of the exhibition. "Women are among those people whose stories often went untold in the male-dominated societies of the past."
Drawing primarily on the museum's collection of Qing imperial archives, the exhibition explores the status, relationships and life stories of these imperial women, examining their roles and significance within the political landscape of the Qing Empire, said the curator.
Some documents are being exhibited for the first time, such as "The List of Dowries for the Marriage of Gulun Princess," which records more than 300 articles ranging from jewelry to toothbrushes. Some historical facts are revealed as well, such as the fact that the average life-span of a Qing princesses was 26 years.
"When I was younger, I thought princesses lived carefree lives. Today, I see a more nuanced and complex picture of their existence, and it leaves me with deeper feelings," said a visitor from Taipei surnamed Lin, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
In preparing for the exhibition, the museum collaborated with several schools in Taiwan to gather insights from younger generations about their perceptions of princesses.
"I hope the exhibition not only presents a diverse and compelling portrayal of history, but also encourages visitors to reflect on contemporary life and societal issues," Su said.
