China's elderly care sector is ushering in an era of accelerated development  empowered by artificial intelligence (AI) innovations, with a variety of "AI + elderly care" solutions such as nursing robots, smartphones for seniors and other assisting digital technologies being increasingly adopted to provide better services at affordable prices for seniors.

China's aging population now represents a growing challenge, and government officials at all levels are making policy adjustments and adopting accommodative measures to deal with a constantly changing demographic structure. 

The Third Plenum of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee held in July vowed to ramp up efforts to refine the policies and mechanisms for developing elderly care programs and related industries, which is expected to create new opportunities for domestic and foreign enterprises, analysts said.

Developing the silver economy plays an important role in the country's active response to the aging population, expanding domestic demand and achieving high-quality development. Analysts predict that the number of people aged 60 and above will reach 500 million by 2050, which will unleash vast potential for a wide array of emerging industries and services.

Innovative services

During the World Artificial Intelligence Conference held in Shanghai in July, Shanghai-based Dataa Robotics unveiled its advanced humanoid robot - the XR4. The 5.5-foot, 75-kilogram robot can handle delicate tasks like baking bread, becoming a highlight at the event. 

"The application of AI in the field of elderly care is a long-term development process. The XR4 is a 'robot nanny' that is suitable for elderly care," Wang Bin, vice president of Dataa, told the Global Times. 

Wang said the company's robots have been deployed in a number of nursing homes in cities including Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, and Wuhan in Central China's Hubei Province.

No matter it is long-distance inquiry or guardian service or call service, Dataa robots provided outstanding performance, Wang said, noting that the combination of new technology and elderly care service could offer a new window for the development of the elderly care sector in China. With a rapidly aging population, there is a burgeoning demand in China for innovative and comprehensive elderly care services.

Recently, Shanghai launched a comprehensive action plan to revolutionize elderly care services in the city, aiming to harness cutting-edge technology to enhance the quality of life for seniors and emerge as a global leader in technological innovation and industrial advancement in elderly care by 2027.

Specifically, the plan highlights the integration of AI, calling for the development of AI models and algorithms for voice, facial, emotion and motion recognition and environmental perception.

"The overall development of the silver economy in China remains in its infancy. The silver economy involves all industries, and the scale, structure and quality of eldercare products and services must be transformed and improved to be suitable for the aged," Yuan Xin, deputy head of the China Population Association and a demographist from Nankai University in North China's Tianjin, told the Global Times.

The integrated development of AI in eldercare industry will bridge the digital divide for the elderly, Yuan said.

According to a report released by the China Research Center on Aging, the country's elderly care services have growing market demand, involving healthcare management, technology aid for the elderly, and financial support for the industry.

Market potential

"The development of silver economy has become an important task for China to actively deal with the aging population problem, expand domestic demand, and strive for high-quality development," Yuan said.

Yuan projected that people aged 60 and above in China will likely reach 520 million by 2050, accounting for over 40 percent of the country's population. He called for a scientific decision-making process based on real demographic structural changes, when formulating new policies.

In January, the State Council, the country's cabinet, published a document on the development of the silver economy - the first use of the term in the central government document - as the country aims to unlock rapid development of potential in the silver economy, will draw investment from foreign enterprises.

It said that efforts should also focus on nurturing new business models to govern smart health and elderly care, as exemplified by the development of nursing and housekeeping robots, along with biotech solutions that help alleviate age-related illnesses. Meanwhile, financial institutions are encouraged to launch more products to aid the elderly.

"Due to drastic demographic changes, it is urgent and strategically important for China to actively promote the development of the silver economy," said Zhou Maohua, an economist from China Everbright Bank.

Zhou said there are shortages in the supply of high-quality elderly care services, and filling up for the shortages will help improve the well-being and unlocking vast domestic market potential. As a result, developing the silver economy will help accelerate China's economic recovery and the economy's long-term sustainable development.

According to a study report provided by market consultancy iiMedia Research to the Global Times, China's elderly care market grew by 16.5 percent to reach 12 trillion yuan in 2023, and could reach 13.9 trillion yuan in 2024 and more than 20 trillion yuan by 2027.

With China's silver economy is becoming increasingly digital and intelligent, a growing number of foreign enterprises have recently increased their investment in the sector. For example, Chinese pension insurer Guomin Pension & Insurance Co announced in June that German investment firm Allianz Global Investors GmbH will become a strategic investor in Guomin, pending approval by the National Financial Regulatory Administration.

"Allianz Global Investors is committed to the growth in China, we are dedicated to exploring suitable business opportunities and partnerships in this important market," the company told the Global Times in an interview.

After well-known Chinese woman swimmer Zhang Yufei expressed her craving on Monday for Luosifen, or river snail rice noodles, a beloved street food in Liuzhou city, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, local officials wasted no time in making her wish a reality.

Zhang clinched one silver and five bronze medals at the Paris Olympic Games, totaling six medals. In an interview after a pool competition in Paris, she expressed her strong desire to savor the delicious flavors of Luosifen. 

Director of the Liuzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Yang Zhigang, who learnt of the news, said he would "arrange it right away."

The bureau then organized a shipment of Luosifen, which was sealed and sent to Zhang's hometown in East China's Jiangsu Province. On the sealed side of the express delivery receipt, in addition to the printed address and name, there is a special inscription that reads "Bringing glory to the country. You have worked hard!" paying tribute to Zhang ad other Olympic athletes, as reported by local media.

This shipment of Luosifen, representing the sentiments of the people of Liuzhou, is expected to be delivered on Thursday, according to media reports, as Zhang will be able to enjoy the delicious Luosifen as soon as she returns home.

According to media reports, five vehicles carrying 125 boxes totaling 1,000 bags of Luosifen also set off from Liuzhou on Tuesday, and will be delivered to Beijing in three days.

Chinese athletes' outstanding performance at the Paris Olympics has become a hot topic of discussion among the public, and it has also boosted sales of equipment such as tennis rackets and swimming goggles.

More than 2 million people searched for equipment related to sports such as tennis, table tennis and badminton from Saturday to Monday, data from Tmall showed on Tuesday, with the search volume for tennis-related equipment increasing by 300 percent year-on-year, followed by a 234 percent rise in searches for table tennis-related equipment, and 98 percent for badminton-related equipment.

At the same time, the year-on-year transaction growth rate of the three types of such products exceeded 100 percent.

The search fever came after tennis player Zheng Qinwen defeated Donna Vekic of Croatia 6-2, 6-3 to win women's singles gold at the Paris Olympics on Saturday. It was China's first ever tennis singles gold medal at the Olympics.

China's Fan Zhendong won the table tennis men's singles gold medal on Sunday. Earlier, swimmer Pan Zhanle set a new world record as he stormed to victory in the men's 100m freestyle final on Wednesday.

On Tmall, Wilson's official flagship store is selling "Zheng Qinwen same style" professional tennis racket, the V14, which received more than 40,000 inquiries within 48 hours, and the transaction volume soared by more than 2,000 percent year-on-year.

Even the cheering uniform worn by the coach of Zheng Qinwen also became popular, as netizens jokingly called it "gold medal T-shirt." Within 48 hours, more than 20,000 people inquired about this T-shirt at the Tmall Nike flagship store, and more than 4,000 people purchased it.

On Speedo's official flagship store on Tmall, the number of views of Pan Zhanle's same style of swimming goggles increased by more than 100 percent, and the transaction volume increased by nearly 150 percent.

Study tours have gained popularity in China in recent years as Chinese parents invest more in the well-rounded education of their children. But the industry encountered controversies this year due to reports of overly high cost and disappointing arrangements. Given expanding market and following chaos, more parents and experts are calling for rational choices to avoid being caught up by comparing mentality.

When visiting Tsinghua University on August 1, the Global Times reporter found that dozens of elementary school students dressed in graduation gowns were lining up at the front gate of the university, one of China's most internationally famous universities, to take pictures.

Inside the Tsinghua campus, teenage students were everywhere taking pictures, walking or bicycling among the buildings.

The scene echoed media reports and data from travel platforms, demonstrating that study tour, or educational tour, has become a main part of this summer's tourism market in China.

According to a report from Ctrip, a major Chinese online travel booking platform, orders of parent-child educational products for summer holidays via the platform increased by 70 percent year-on-year. Data from another travel platform Fliggy also showed that, after the summer holiday of Chinese schools kicked off in early July, the search popularity for "educational travel" on the platform has increased by over 60 percent compared to last year.

Historical and cultural cities are the first choice for parent-child educational trips in the summer, with Beijing and Xi'an topping the popularity list. Landmark scenic spots that have appeared in the textbooks of Chinese elementary and middle schools are favored by these groups, according to data from Tongcheng Travel.

Museums, nature and rural areas are also among the most popular destinations, people.cn reported citing Tongcheng Travel.

A notable trend in this year's educational tour market is the tour to some famous Chinese hi-tech companies like new-energy vehicle (NEV) maker NIO and artificial intelligence company iFlytek. Such tours could provide students an opportunity to get a direct and deep sight into companies and the process of scientific research and development, which will not only help popularize science, but inspire these students in career choice, according to experts.

Some parents send their children to educational tours as they need some people to take care of their children while ensuring their safety. "My son can travel with many peers of his age, and at the same time, he can learn something," a mother in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, told the Global Times.

Others choose education tours as they want their children to get a deeper understanding of their interests. A mother in Shenzhen calling herself Xi Xi told the Global Times that she once sent her son to a dragon boat educational tour and her son learned a lot about the history and culture of dragon boats. "This made me feel that educational tours are really helpful for my children," Xi Xi said.

According Xi Xi, she and her husband used to take their son on their own to go travel, driving to Xizang, walking through deserts and rain forests, in order to widen their son's horizon. But when it comes to knowledge, especially cultural and historical knowledge, she and her husband felt helpless as they did not how to teach their son. This is when they turned to educational tours.

This summer, Xi Xi sent her 8-year-old son to an educational tour to Beijing. According to her, there were professional guides in the tour to explain cultural and historical knowledge during the tour. "They also invite a professor from Peking University to deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of the tour."

The six-day-five-night tour in Beijing cost Xi Xi about 7,000 yuan ($981.8), excluding transportation cost. This package includes a visit to the Universal Beijing Resort. The package excludes the Universal Beijing Resort is 2,000 yuan cheaper.

The price of a standard day ticket to the Universal Beijing Resort is less than 500 yuan. The Global Times found on Tongcheng Travel that a normal six-day-five-night group tour, including visit to the National Museum, the Forbidden City and the Universal Resort, is priced 4,015 yuan.

For Xi Xi, the extra money for her son's educational tour is worth as it did play an educational role. "It is an independent tour. My son also learned how to take care of himself like washing clothes this time. So, overall, it met my expectations," Xi Xi said.

Some parents got disappointed when they found the tour was not as educational as they expected. According to media reports, some educational tours would only take students to the outside of Tsinghua University to take pictures as they, in fact, did not have official cooperation with the university and were not able to take so many students into the campus all at once. Tsinghua requires real-name reservation for entry and only opens 12,000 reservation vacancies per day for the public from July 15 to August 11.

The Global Times learned from some Tsinghua students that some education tour organizers have tried to find Tsinghua students to help them take tour attendants into the campus. Tsinghua students would get punished once being found doing so.

The quality of some so-called professional teachers in educational tours organized by tour agencies are also questionable as media revealed that the certificate for a professional educational tour guide can be bought at about 1,000 yuan.

Chaos arose along with the rapid expansion of the market.

According to media reports, there were more than 29,000 existing educational tour-related enterprises in China in 2023, with 49.4 percent of them established within the past 1 to 5 years. a Report of market consultancy iiMedia Research said that educational tour market has reached 146.9 billion yuan in 2023, and is expected to reach 242.2 billion yuan by 2026.

More and more Chinese schools and other educational bases like museums are also organizing educational campuses as, in December 2016, Chinese authorities issued guidelines to encourage educational tour activities in the county as a bid to promote well-rounded education of Chinese students.

Educational travel itself is a new way of learning, an important component of quality education, and complementary to school learning. It can help students to develop potential in various aspects, Chu Zhaohui, a research fellow at the National Institute of Education Sciences, told the Global Times.

Chu suggests parents choose educational tour based on children's interests rather thanfollowing other parents, avoiding getting trapped by unnecessary anxiety caused by comparing mentality.

"Parents need to choose educational trips that suit children's interests and hobbies, as well as the growth goals you want your children to achieve. After making a choice, parents and children also need to prepare for safety, travel knowledge, and so on. For parents, don't just follow the trend, but consult your children's opinions at first," Chu noted.

Experts also stressed that educational tours should focus on providing high-quality and enriching experiences for participants. This can be achieved through collaboration with reputable institutions and the implementation of strict regulations to ensure the safety and educational value of these tours.

By emphasizing the importance of education and cultural exchange, these tours can have a lasting impact on individuals and contribute to the overall development of society in a long run, they said.

Editor's Note:

The escalation of recent tensions between China and the Philippines raises concerns among neighboring countries in the South China Sea. How will the Philippines' provocations, instigated and supported by the US, affect the situation in the South China Sea in the rest of 2024? Why does ASEAN hope that the situation will be contained?

In the "ASEAN Perspective on the South China Sea" series, we collect wisdom and insights from former diplomats and scholars from ASEAN member countries. In an interview with Global Times (GT) reporter Wang Wenwen, University of Philippines Professor Roland Simbulan (Simbulan) criticized the Philippines' Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US and argued that the EDCA sites undermine the Philippines' sovereignty and expose the country to potential attacks from America's geopolitical rivals.

The third edition of his book The Bases of Our Insecurity, which was first published in 1983, was launched recently. The book delves into the ramifications of foreign military bases in the Philippines. 

GT: Why are you critical of US military bases in the Philippines?

Simbulan: I've always been critical of foreign military presence in our territory. I feel that it is not the right policy to invite a foreign power to deploy bases and troops in one's territory for external defense because they are far from being able to secure your national security. This actually endangers the country's security and its people as the foreign power putting their troops and bases in your territory has enemies, which will soon become your enemies. 

For example, in the case of the US, especially now in the new era, what are the current enemies of the US which it could possibly go to war against? In addition to China, there is Russia and also North Korea. And the foreign bases in our territory, in fact, would even endanger our security as we would become some kind of a magnet of attack. 

Military-to-military agreements that we have in the Philippines, like the EDCA for example, can only be useful if they are used to strengthen local defense and security forces. We must develop our own capability, maybe with the help of our friends and allies, with whom we have some agreements, either bilateral or multilateral.

But what I'm critical about is the fact that we depend on a foreign power to take care of our external defense. I'm not against having agreements with other countries. What I'd like to see is that these agreements would be able to be used to strengthen our own capability, so that we will have our own modern external defense capability to defend ourselves and not depend on another country, which makes us very vulnerable. It compromises our diplomacy.

Former leaders of Vietnam who led their liberation struggle against the US said that if they only had the capability during the Vietnam War, they would have attacked and struck at the US military bases in the Philippines because they knew that these were being used to bomb their country. The Clark Air Base and Subic Bay Naval Base were actively used as the launching pads and spring boards for American forces to attack Vietnam. It compromised our foreign policy and our relations with Vietnam. We had nothing against the Vietnamese people, but our territory was being used against them. According to these former Vietnamese leaders, they would have hit back if they had the capability then, but at that time they did not.

Now, the situation is different with the enemies of the US which have modern capabilities of striking back if they are attacked.

GT: Several military bases under EDCA are located very close to Taiwan island. The Philippine Ambassador to the US stated in late June that if a conflict breaks out in the Taiwan Straits, Manila may allow the US to use its military bases. How do you evaluate the Philippines' assertive stance on the Taiwan question, and what consequences could it bring to the Philippines?

Simbulan: I don't think the Philippines is in a position to leverage the Taiwan question. But right now, as I see it, it is actually helping the US because, through the EDCA, it has allowed the US to use our territory to set up its bases and install its troops. That already compromises our territory and security. I think even the Philippine government is aware that the US has the intention of using these EDCA bases in the Philippines to interfere should there be a conflict over Taiwan question with China, or should there be a conflict between the US and China in the South China Sea. In fact, we are already allowing our territory to be used as a launching pad and springboard for a foreign country against another country and against a neighbor. This has compromised our national security and even our diplomacy.

I also believe that is what complicates our bilateral ties with China today.

GT: There are some comparisons between the tensions in the South China Sea and the Ukraine crisis, with the fear that the Philippines could become the next Ukraine. What is your view on this? How should the Philippines avoid such a scenario?

Simbulan: As you can see, the policy of the current Philippine government is much different from that of the former administration of president Rodrigo Duterte, who at first was even planning to abrogate some of our military agreements with the US like the Visiting Forces Agreement. There have been high-profile reports about what is happening in the South China Sea, not just in the Western media, but also in the Philippine media. 

There is a lot of pressure on the Philippine government to respond to this. And the easiest way is to have this high-profile shift in our policy, which is to invite the US back to the Philippines, through installing military bases and troops, and also engage in regular and frequent joint military exercises.

The Philippine government, in the case of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., needs the US support as insurance for the internal politics in the Philippines. The US is very influential in the armed forces of the Philippines as it provides weapons and training for our armed forces.

In my book, I made the point that we thought deployment of foreign troops was good for us, but in the long run, it's going to influence and even compromise our internal stability as well as external capability. That's why a few years ago during the time of president Duterte, to help solve our problem in the South China Sea, I was proposing during the talks in ASEAN, that there should be a collective agreement that no ASEAN country could allow foreign troops to be deployed in their territory or no foreign military bases or facilities are to be used or directed against another neighbor because that will compromise the ASEAN countries' interests, and even make them possible targets in the conflict between the two big powers, the US and China. 

GT: Do you think the Philippines' high-profile stance in the South China Sea will affect ASEAN as a whole?

Simbulan: Among the 10 member countries of ASEAN, there are disagreements. Many of these ASEAN countries do not want to openly disagree with China because they are trading heavily with China. They receive many tourists from China or their economy is very much dependent on China. However, some other countries don't want to antagonize the US. 

Everybody has a stake here in what's happening in the South China Sea. This must be resolved peacefully through negotiations and diplomacy because if something happens here and gets out of control, everybody will be affected. For me, personally, I would prefer that we just have competition through business, trade and markets. It is better to compete that way or negotiate and talk. Sometimes we may say harsh words against each other, but it is important to remember that our disagreements should not escalate to violence. If that happens, it will be too late. Look at what's happening in Ukraine. It's getting out of control, and it's the Ukrainian people and the countries around Ukraine who are suffering as the conflict is affecting their economies, and the livelihood of their people.

There is still a lot of time for dialogue and negotiation. I want to mention to you a model that I wrote recently, a model for ASEAN. I wrote an article recently regarding Vietnam's foreign policy, which I believe should be a good model for ASEAN countries to follow. This is with regards to the foreign policy of Vietnam that they refer to as the "four nos." One, no foreign military agreements with one country against another. Second, no foreign military bases and troops by one power against another. Third, no use of their territory to attack another country. Lastly, no use of force, and instead, diplomacy and negotiation should be employed in the conduct of international relations. We should use that as a model in order to maintain peace and security in our region.

A delegation from the non-governmental organization China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS) concluded a seven-day exchange with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on Thursday. During the visit, representatives from various sectors in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan praised China's commitment to, and experience on human rights and expressed a willingness to enhance human rights exchanges and jointly promote global human rights governance. 

A delegation led by Jiang Jianguo, executive vice-president of the CSHRS, visited Tajikistan and Uzbekistan from July 25 to August 1, conducted exchanges on human rights with officials, scholars and representatives from different sectors in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. 

During these exchanges, the Chinese delegation elaborated China's achievements and experience in the field of human rights, and reaffirmed and actively coordinated with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in maintaining their positions and actions in line with China's in the international battle for human rights.

Representatives from all walks of life in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan praised China's remarkable achievements in improving living standards and deepening reforms in the new era, emphasizing China's path and experience in human rights progress.

Both countries added that they shared similarities with China in terms of human rights philosophies, and would be ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China to jointly improve global human rights governance.

During the exchanges with the Chinese delegation, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Farrukh Sharifzoda expressed opposition to the politicization and use of double standards on human rights issues. Akmal Saidov, director of the National Center for Human Rights of Uzbekistan noted that China's progress in poverty reduction and its human rights experience had made a great contribution to global progress in poverty reduction and advancing human rights.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said on Thursday that in the first half of 2024, 41 provincial- and ministerial-level officials were investigated and 25 provincial- and ministerial-level officials were punished.

In the first half of 2024, the national discipline inspection and supervision organs received a total of 1.754 million petitions and reports, including 477,000 tipoffs and accusations. 

Among the 405,000 cases filed 41 officials were at the provincial- and ministerial-level, 2,127 at the department- and bureau-level, 17,000 at the county-level, in addition to 56,000 township-level officials. 

In addition, 47,000 current or former village Party branch secretaries and village committee directors were investigated.

Among the 332,000 individuals disciplined, 266,000 were related to violations of Party disciplinary actions and 93,000 were involved in administrative disciplinary actions.

Noticeably, among the people being punished, a majority, 229,000 people in total, were from rural areas or enterprises.

Other punished include 25 provincial- and ministerial-level officials, 1,806 department- and bureau-level officials, 13,000 county-level officials, 43,000 township-level officials and 46,000 general officials.

The Party's discipline inspection and supervision was one of the highlights at the just-concluded third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

The Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization adopted at the CPC plenum will provide a strong impetus and institutional guarantee for Chinese modernization, Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CCDI said. 

Li urged discipline inspection and supervision agencies to focus on facilitating their endeavors to further deepen reform across the board and fulfill their duties in exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance and the Party's internal reform to provide a strong underpinning for the efforts to build a great country and move toward national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.

Zhuang Deshui, deputy director of the Research Center for Government Integrity Building at Peking University, told the Global Times on Thursday that to further deepen comprehensive reform, the resolution especially added one sentence highlighting the behaviors of proposing false accusations. 

On one hand, in recent years bureaucracy has constrained many grassroots officials, who are constantly occupied with meetings, inspections, and preparing materials, rather than focusing on their efforts to promote Chinese modernization. On the other hand, Zhuang emphasized that institutional support is now being provided to reformist officials who actively work toward reform in their daily tasks by addressing false accusations.

The Party has upheld the principles that Party discipline should be even more stringent than the law and that discipline and law enforcement efforts should go hand in hand. It has conducted four distinct forms of oversight covering disciplinary compliance, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

The four forms are: 1) criticism and self-criticism activities and oral and written inquiries, which are to be conducted regularly to ensure that those who have committed minor misconduct are made to "redden and sweat"; 2) light penalties and minor organizational adjustments to official positions, which are to be applied in the majority of cases; 3) heavy penalties and major adjustments to official positions, which are to be applied in a small number of cases; and 4) investigation and prosecution, which are to be undertaken in a very small number of cases involving serious violations of discipline and suspected criminal activity. 

Disciplinary inspection authorities also announced that in the past six months, 542,000 people were criticized and educated using the first form, accounting for 61.6 percent of the total number, and 271,000 people were handled using the second form, accounting for 30.8 percent.  

Investigation also showed 12,000 people were investigated because of bribery, and 1,941 people were transferred to the procuratorial organs, according to the watchdog.

Editor's Note:

At the core of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)'s success around the world are talented individuals who dedicate their skills to the betterment of humanity. Among this talented pool is Chinese engineer Cao Fengze, who works for a Chinese state-owned company investing infrastructure projects in Africa and holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from Tsinghua University.

Cao has been involved in multiple crucial hydropower projects in Zambia, Lesotho, and Tanzania. Through his first-hand observations and long-term interactions with local people, Cao keenly points out that many African nations are currently trapped in a development dilemma, primarily due to a lack of systematic public resources to serve rapidly growing populations and underpin development. China's efforts in African countries through the BRI aim to offer support that enables them to overcome the Malthusian trap by providing sustainable public goods.

This story is a part of the Global Times' series of "Witness to history," which features firsthand accounts from witnesses at the forefront of historic moments. From scholars to 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 steps forward taken in the past and the present.

When Cao Fengze received a phone call from the Global Times reporters, he was on site at the bustling and dusty construction site by the Kafue River, the longest river located entirely within the African nation measuring an impressive 1,576 kilometers. About 90 kilometers south of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, along the Kafue River, Cao is stationed at the Kafue Gorge Lower (KGL) hydroelectric power station, which is considered Zambia's Three Gorges Project and the first large-scale hydroelectric power station developed in the country in the last 40 years.

With steely determination, a hard hat and safety gear to boot, one would be hard pressed to imagine that Cao is indeed a graduate from China's prestigious Tsinghua University with a doctorate degree. His working environment is a marked departure from that chosen by his former classmates.

Witnessing and participating in a country's industrial transition and modernization efforts has reaffirmed Cao's faith in choosing an extraordinary path. As millennial, he did not get a chance to see China's transformation into an industrialized powerhouse, but thanks to Belt and Road projects in Africa, he has a front row seat to the transformational process in the continent.

BRI projects across Africa have wide-reaching effects for common citizens and entire countries alike. As the assistant director at the African branch of Power China's subsidiary Sinohydro Bureau 11 Co, he has witnessed not only how a Chinese-funded hydropower plant has benefited a small merchant, a village, but also how China empowers African countries with robust and sustainable development systems by providing them with accessible and affordable public goods.

Escape development dilemma

The story of a small trader in the Zambian capital of Lusaka highlight's Cao's own journey along with the BRI in Africa. Thompson, the owner of a grocery store in Lusaka, makes a living by producing and selling grain products and condiments like peanut butter and hazelnut spread. Before the completion of the KGL hydroelectric power station, exorbitant electricity prices and an unstable voltage coupled with frequent power outages meant that small business owners like Thomson suffered greatly.

Apart from the high cost of electricity being passed on to his customers therefore limiting his sales, small businesses like Thomson's would often be disconnected from the power grid, as they were believed to not have an emergent need for electricity. In March this year, however, things changed for the better after the completion of the KGL hydroelectric power station, which, at full capacity, increased Zambia's overall power generation by 38 percent. The increase means that nearly four out of every 10 people now have access to electricity thanks to the KGL station, and power outages in the capital are increasingly rare.

Cheap and stable electricity has reduced Thompson's overhead costs, which means cheaper product prices, increased sales, and a fuller wallet. Thompson regularly donates his food to needy children in Lusaka. The donated cereal is pre-cooked and specially crushed into fine powder, which can be brewed and consumed by adding clean water, considering that even a kettle is a luxury for the needy children in Zambia.

Thompson believes that food donation cannot fundamentally solve the root problem in his country because the local food production will likely never catch up with the rate of population growth - a typical manifestation of the Malthusian trap.

Thompson's story strengthened Cao's resolve to devote himself to breaking the Malthusian trap in Africa. "You could say Malthusianism is outdated in Western countries, but it is still an obvious problem in most African countries. Their population growth outpaces agricultural production and economic development, causing poverty and depopulation," Cao told the Global Times.
"The fertility rate in some major African countries is above 5, and a lack of female empowerment. If the effects of Malthusianism spill over, developed countries in the world could even be profoundly affected by this massive population change," Cao warned.

"The underlying logic of what we are fighting for here is to support their economic development to outpace the population growth, and we hope to accelerate this process. We can achieve this by supporting basic infrastructure development. As we all know, electricity is the cornerstone of modern life, as it is essential for the development of industries and communication services. Only then can private enterprises, local entrepreneurs, and traders come alive and fully contribute to a revitalized economy. Otherwise, the chances of breaking the cycle of poverty are very slim," Cao explained.

Zambia is far from the only African country faced with a power supply deficit. Cao recalled witnessing power outages in the East African country of Tanzania while working on another hydroelectric project. Comically, Cao was midway through a shower when the power went out, turning off the water, leaving the engineer lathered confusion. Though this is a funny personal memory, the experience encapsulates the challenges faced by ordinary people across the continent.

Currently, the total installed capacity of the KGL station project is 750 megawatts. According to an evaluation by Zambia's state-owned electricity company, ZESCO Limited, which commissioned the construction of the plant, the station can support Zambia's industrial development for the next 70, 80, or even 100 years.

Providing more opportunities

In Zambia, highly skilled technicians and workers are in extreme short supply. To cultivate qualified personnel to support the projects, the Chinese contractor has established a government-approved training school in Zambia. Students can receive free education and accommodation complete with a living allowance. The school offers six sorted professional training courses such as civil engineering, mechanical maintenance, welding, and surveying. At least 300 skilled talents in the field of infrastructure construction have successfully graduated from training center, and a large number of them chose to join Chinese-built hydroelectric power stations.

"If we truly bring tangible benefits to the local people and empower them in development, why would they be in opposition?" Cao questioned when he was asked about his take on baseless accusations made by some foreign media sources about local people protesting against Chinese BRI projects.

He noted that Chinese contractors also build schools, hospitals, and training centers near and around the projects to fulfill their social responsibilities as contractually agreed upon.

"But it's not like we are building charity or aid projects as many people image. On the contrary, these are standard profit-making projects based on the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation," Cao stressed.

He believes the so-called claims of the Chinese debt trap and neocolonialism are "ridiculous," because "there are no creditors who don't want their debts to be paid on time."

Devoted in a foreign land
Engineer's passion and zeal were evident when he mentioned the progress that he has made each day. He said he felt a great sense of fulfillment when he knew his expertise was contributing to the development of a faraway land. But "extraordinary romance often implies extraordinary hardships," as he said. While working in remote locations is particularly challenging for his counterparts, the strict control of engineering quality is often the most challenging for him.

Along with major work-related concerns come more trivial administrative concerns for a senior engineer like Cao, including cleanliness in the warehouse, dealing with blocked drainage pipes, reprimanding a drunken night-shift driver, and week-long debates on matters as small yet important as the thickness of a concrete reinforcement cover. In the face of the completed dam and the future promise it holds, Cao often thinks back to his hometown, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the industrial cradle of new China.

Decades ago, the vast black soil in northeast China turned into the "granary of the north" because of countless idealistic young people who migrated there to reclaim the northern wilderness. Cao, who grew up there, understands that industrialization is a difficult process, and what is most needed in this process is people with steely determination.

"I hope I am also one of these people with determination and resilience," Cao said.

As African people in countries like Tanzania and Zambia enjoy clean energy, many may never know of the devotion of one young Chinese engineer, whose goal was to help in the revolutionary transformation of the continent. However, hydropower projects across Africa, while heralding the new era of growth and development of the continent, will stand as mute testament to the resilience of those who worked tirelessly to actualize their construction.

China’s securities regulator vows to protect small investors' interests, strengthen market regulation

China released the 2023 Report on Xinjiang's Human Rights and Legal Protections, which is Xinjiang's first blue book of its kind, on Wednesday in Urumqi, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, comprehensively demonstrating the efforts and achievements of promoting high-quality development of human rights cause in Xinjiang in Chinese modernization drive.

The newly released blue book is the first book led by scholars that examines Xinjiang's human rights and legal protections as well as future directions of the people in Xinjiang from an academic perspective, which is groundbreaking, Chang Jian, director of the Human Rights Research Center at Nankai University, told the Global Times on Wednesday at the 2023 Idea and Story Sharing Conference: Promoting High-Quality Development of Human Rights Cause in Xinjiang in Chinese Modernization Drive, where the blue book was published.

Erkin Tuniyaz, chairman of the people's government of Xinjiang region, revealed at the event that currently the overall social situation in Xinjiang remains stable, and there have been no incidents of violent terrorism for nearly seven years. The public's sense of security has reached an unprecedented level. In the eyes of tourists, Xinjiang has become "a place with the best public security management, the safest social environment and the most secure stability." The number of tourists to Xinjiang has increased from 48.6 million in 2012 to 260 million this year, reaching a historic high.

Over the past decade, Xinjiang's GDP has increased from 0.84 trillion yuan ($0.12 trillion) in 2013 to 1.77 trillion yuan in 2022, doubling in size. Per capita disposable income has increased from 13,700 yuan in 2013 to 27,000 yuan in 2022, with an average annual growth rate of over 8 percent. Many economic indicators have outperformed the national average, and the people of all ethnic groups are richer with more development opportunities.

For many years, more than 70 percent of the local fiscal expenditure has been used to guarantee and improve people's livelihoods. The average life expectancy has increased from over 30 years at the establishment of the autonomous region to 75.65 years today, according to a senior official.

The official added that Xinjiang attaches great importance to the excavation, inheritance, and protection of the excellent traditional cultures of all ethnic groups. For example, Uygur Muqam art, Uygur Meshrep and the Kirgiz epic Manas have been included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The promotion and standardized use of the national common language has been vigorously promoted in Xinjiang, and the languages and scripts of all ethnic groups have been widely used in education, judiciary, administration and social public affairs.

According to Erkin, in recent years, Xinjiang has actively expanded the ways for people of all ethnic groups to acquire religious knowledge and translated and published religious scriptures in multiple languages. Xinjiang has built a new campus for Islamic theological colleges and established eight branch campuses in Ili, Hotan, Kashi, and other areas, cultivating a group of high-quality Islamic talents. In particular, for religious activity venues such as mosques, Taoist temples, and Buddhist temples that have been in disrepair for a long time, Xinjiang has effectively improved their conditions by respecting the wishes of religious believers. This has been achieved through new construction, renovation, and expansion, ensuring the unhindered continuation of regular religious activities.

Practice has shown that the development of human rights in Xinjiang is in line with China's national conditions and the reality of Xinjiang, meeting the expectations of people of all ethnic groups, as well as the basic spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Erkin said.

However, some countries turn a blind eye to the increasingly prominent human rights issues in their own countries, and wear colored glasses to criticize the human rights situation in Xinjiang, using human rights issues to interfere in China's domestic affairs, Erkin noted.

The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are the ones who know best whether the path of human rights in Xinjiang is right or not. The people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have the most say in whether the human rights situation in Xinjiang is good or not, the regional senior official remarked.

Chang stated that some countries in the international community have weaponized human rights issues to strategically contain China, desperately smearing China's human rights situation. Xinjiang, as a focus of attention, has been falsely portrayed as a region with "forced labor," despite the fact that cotton harvests are good, mechanization levels are high, and efforts have been made to improve the employment rights of the people.

In this context, we have proactively released the blue book to show the outside world and help them understand, how the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang live, showing them experiences of individuals and personal stories. This can clarify the facts and enable the international community to see the true situation of human rights protection in Xinjiang, Chang stressed.

About 200 experts and scholars in the field of human rights from universities and research institutions inside and outside Xinjiang, media journalists, representatives of relevant departments and people sharing their personal stories attended the event on Wednesday.

By sharing touching stories and personal experiences, 10 representatives from various industries and fields in Xinjiang truly demonstrated the development and progress of Xinjiang's human rights cause.