As spring arrives in March, bringing warmer weather and blossoming flowers, people across China step outside to fulfill a civic duty - planting trees.

March 12 marked China's 46th Arbor Day, a national day dedicated to tree planting and environmental protection.

The practice of afforestation and greening the nation is a duty for all citizens.

In Guangzhou, capital city of South China's Guangdong Province, more than 73,000 saplings have been planted through voluntary tree planting activities as of March 12, 2024, with 465 events organized. People from various sectors joined forces to plant native species such as camphor, yew, Chinese tallow, and high mountain fig trees.

On Tuesday, in Yutian county of Hotan Prefecture, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, an area near the desert and often afflicted by sandstorms, over 1,500 residents, including local officials, planted 36,000 red willow saplings during a spring tree planting event that was part of a desertification control project. Xinjiang plans to complete afforestation of 500,000 mu (202,354 hectares) this spring, according to local media reports.

The Three Gorges area of the Yangtze River also hosted an event on March 12 to reintroduce rare and endangered plants back into the wild. A total of 3,000 artificially bred specimens of two rare plants native to the Yangtze River, the Myricaria laxiflora and Plantago fengdouensis, were returned to their historical distribution areas, the Global Times learned from the China Three Gorges Corporation.

Notably, the Plantago fengdouensis is exceedingly rare. In 2022, 4,000 seeds of this plant traveled to space aboard the Shenzhou-13 manned spacecraft, spending 183 days in orbit before returning to Earth for cultivation trials. This reintroduction included 500 plants bred from these space-mutated seeds.

Besides planting new trees, residents are also engaging in tree care. The Beijing News reported that nearly 190,000 Beijing residents ventured outdoors to participate in garden city construction by cleaning up dead branches, leaves, and litter in local green spaces, parks, and gardening stations, fulfilling their tree planting duties.

The National Greening Commission revealed through a report that in 2023, China completed afforestation of nearly 4 million hectares, effectively protected 172 million hectares of natural forests, accomplished forest tending tasks over an area of 1.059 million hectares, piloted sustainable forest management in 181,000 hectares, initiated forestry carbon sink projects, established a national forest reserve of 564,000 hectares, and enhanced the quality and efficiency of returning farmland to forests and grasslands.

China's online greening platforms also published more than 24,000 activities last year, which attracted nearly 440 million visits, and promoted the establishment of over 1,500 tree-planting bases.

It highlighted a decade-long increase of 274 million mu in man-made forest area, accounting for a quarter of the global increase in forest resources, positioning China as the fastest-growing country in terms of forest resources.

Satellite-based vegetation index data over the past 40 years shows that China's average vegetation index has risen by 9.2 percent, double the global growth rate, significantly contributing to global greening, particularly through large-scale land greening projects in deserts, the northwest arid regions, and some eastern areas.

Thick forests provided a substantial source of revenue. Last year, the output value of China's forestry and grassland industry reached 9.28 trillion yuan (about $1.31 trillion), up 2.3 percent year on year, and more than 2.531 billion trips were recorded in ecotourism, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.

Amid global climate change challenges, forests play a critical role in reducing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and mitigating global warming.

Editor's Note:

The world recently celebrated a splendid Chinese New Year, welcoming the Year of the Dragon.

During the holidays, Global Times reporters returned to their hometowns where they were reacquainted with old traditions and introduced to new post-pandemic experiences. To share their experience, we have launched the "Hometown Diary" series. Spanning from north to south, east to west, six articles will focus on different provinces, exploring the development and evolution from traditional to modern, and from economic to cultural dimensions.

This series is not only a comprehensive review of China's vast territory and diverse regional cultures but also a profound reflection of how different areas across the country maintain their identity and embrace changes.

Through the lens of hometown observations, we hope to touch the hearts of our readers, allowing everyone to find resonance in these stories and feel the warmth and vitality that hometowns provide, regardless of changes brought about by time.

This is the third installment in the series, in which we gain a fresh perspective into understanding how Fuzhou has transformed to become a bridgehead for the integrated development of both sides of the Taiwan Straits, and how Shanghai serves as an attractive opening-up portal to the outside world.
Every morning at the crack of dawn, Lin Fa-wei and his wife Wei Jinyan, kick off their day with a flurry of activity: Steaming sticky rice, prepping fillings, and wrapping mochi… And even during the 2024 Spring Festival holidays, there's no rest for the couple.

This is the 10th Spring Festival they have spent in Fuzhou, capital city of East China's Fujian Province.

Since the resumption of civil exchanges between the two sides of Straits in 1987, Fujian, which is connected to the island of Taiwan by a single waterway, has become the province with the largest and most concentrated number of cross-Straits marriages on the Chinese mainland.

As of September 2023, Fujian has registered 119,000 cross-Straits marriages, accounting for nearly one-third of the total. Over the last 30 years, cross-Straits couples, especially those between Fujian and Taiwan island, have provided countless examples of increasing unity between the peoples across the Straits.

Over the Spring Festival holidays, I had the heartwarming opportunity to visit a cross-Straits couple in my hometown. Together, we rolled up our sleeves and made mochi with a delightful Taiwan flavor. The experience reiterated that in Fujian, the Spring Festival is a time filled with a deep yearning for reunion, evoking a nostalgia that highlights the strong sense of belonging shared by Chinese people and reflecting a "one family" consensus across the Straits.

Same Spring Festival spirit

On the morning of February 11, the second day of the Lunar New Year, I arrived at Shangxiahang at 10 am to find the New Year goods exhibition in full swing. In a matter of minutes, a snaking line had formed in front of the two stalls of "Guangtou Mochi."

In the Minnan dialect, Mochi means friend.

"I couldn't be more thrilled to have been invited by the Fuzhou City Federation of Industry and Commerce to showcase our mochi at the cross-Straits New Year goods exhibition at the historic Shangxiahang traditional block," Lin shared with me.

Sporting a bald head, Lin named his mochi brand "Guangtou (Bald in English) Mochi."

As Lin engaged with customers, the fact that he hailed from Taiwan island only seemed to endear him further to the crowd.

"You are a Taiwan compatriot! The Chinese mainland welcomes you!" said an elderly couple passing by, with their faces beaming with excitement.

In 2002, Wei embarked on a journey from Fuzhou to Taipei to visit her relatives, but little did she know that this trip would change her life forever. It was in Taipei where she met Lin, a charming young man who worked at a pastry shop. Their love story started. In 2008, they decided to settle down in Taiwan island.

Every Chinese New Year, Lin and Wei would make the journey back to Fuzhou to visit Wei's family. They would always bring with them handmade mochi, a delicacy that never failed to impress their loved ones. The positive feedback they received sparked an idea in their minds - why not start a business in Fuzhou by selling their beloved mochi?

In 2014, they took a leap of faith and rented a small 22-square-meter storefront in Fuzhou to kickstart their business.

"It wasn't easy in the beginning," Lin reminisced. Determined to maintain the authentic Taiwan flavor, Lin insisted on sourcing all the ingredients from Taiwan island, despite the long and costly logistics involved.

Fortunately, help came in the form of friends who had also moved to the mainland to pursue business opportunities. With their assistance and the support of the Taiwan Affairs Office of Fuzhou Municipal People's Government, Lin's ingredient supply dilemma was finally resolved in 2016.

"The transportation time was cut down from weeks to just days, and the shipping costs were significantly reduced. The positive changes also motivated me to move on firmly," Lin beamed.
Time together across Straits

Lin believes that the mochi he makes is a sweet symbol of reunion.

The Taiwan bakery, nestled in the heart of Fuzhou for the last decade, has garnered a loyal following for its authentic ingredients and rich flavors.

One particular encounter left a lasting impression on Lin - a pregnant customer braved the scorching heat and endured a grueling journey of four buses just to satisfy her craving for pastries. "It touched me deeply to see her determination," Lin shared.

"Many of our customers have transformed into dear friends over the years. We share endless conversations and some have even welcomed us into their homes," he said.

As Lin prepared to celebrate his 10th Spring Festival in Fuzhou, a mere strait away from his hometown of Taipei, he skillfully prepared for the holidays by buying festive goods and visiting relatives and friends in this bustling city.

"Fuzhou has truly become my husband's hometown," Wei remarked with a smile.

Wei will never forget that on January 2, 2001, 507 Matsu residents traveled directly from Matsu to Fuzhou, marking the beginning of direct exchanges between Fujian and Taiwan island. This pivotal moment opened the door for Wei to later explore Taiwan herself, which was a dream come true.

Fast forward to the present day, the Taiwan Straits are now connected by a growing number of cross-Straits routes. The recent Spring Festival holidays saw a remarkable 169 total safe operations of the four cross-Straits "mini three links" routes, carrying a total of 27,000 passengers, according to the Fujian Maritime Bureau.

People on both sides of the Taiwan Straits share the same ancestors with blood ties and cultural connections. Elderly Taiwan residents have followed their family roots back to Fujian, while many young people from Taiwan island are now flocking to the mainland in search of new opportunities.

Lin, who has been shuttling between Fuzhou and Taipei for over a decade, has marveled at the rapid development in Fuzhou, where new technologies like mobile payment and shared transportation have transformed the city. "Taipei may not have changed much, but Fuzhou is like a different world altogether," he said.

Lin considers himself lucky to have arrived on the mainland early and witnessed the benefits of its rapid development firsthand.

He told me that what truly moved the couple was the warm and welcoming embrace of the Chinese mainland, in stark contrast to the strict and guarded stance of the Taiwan authorities.

Fujian's services for marriages and families of residents from Fujian and Taiwan island have become increasingly professional. In May 2012, the Fujian Home Service Association established the cross-Straits marriage committee, the first provincial-level organization in the Chinese mainland dedicated to providing services for cross-Straits marriages and families. The committee aims to address practical challenges faced by Fujian and Taiwan couples and protect their legal rights.

Additionally, cross-Straits marriage and family service centers have been set up in Fuzhou, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, and other locations in the province to offer expert advice on cross-Straits marriage policies and assist with marriage registrations.

Moreover, in 2023, Fuzhou offered 5,000 high-quality job opportunities to young people from Taiwan, while also creating spaces for them to explore entrepreneurship. Throughout the year, 160 vibrant exchange activities with Taiwan were held in Fuzhou, allowing Taiwan residents to connect with their compatriots across the Straits, delving into the shared history and immersing themselves in fascinating traditional Chinese culture.

"Despite the frigid weather and extremely low temperatures today, we donned our red volunteer vests and were delighted to see our Taiwan compatriots showing great interest in traditional Chinese medicine," wrote Lin Runli, representative inheritor of traditional Chinese medicine (internal medicine) at Hosham Lams, an intangible cultural heritage of Fujian Province, on his WeChat moments.

On January 23, Lin Runli led the staff of Hosham Lams Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic to participate in the themed "One Family, One Heart" Fuzhou Taiwan integration community's New Year event. The event's display wall featured the inscriptions "I love Fuzhou," "I love Taipei," and "The sunshine will eventually shine on you."

"In our lives, we do not differentiate between Taipei and Fuzhou, as both sides of the Straits are one family," said Wei.

The Chinese mainland has provided a platform for young talents from Taiwan, and Wei hopes to visit her hometown more in the future.

"The brighter sunshine will eventually shine on us," she said, with confident smiles.

Editor's Note:
Sixty years ago, on January 27, 1964, the Xinhua News Agency and Agence France-Presse simultaneously issued a joint statement, making France the first major Western power to establish diplomatic relations with People's Republic of China. Looking back, what lessons can the development of China-France relations offer to Western countries in their relations with China? Looking forward, in a world of intense geopolitical turmoil, how can China and France cooperate to jointly maintain global security?

Global Times reporters Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi (GT) recently interviewed Lu Shaye (Lu), the Chinese Ambassador to France, on these questions. The ambassador said that over the last 60 years, China-France relations have consistently led the relations between China and major Western powers because both sides have an independent and autonomous initial intention, an enterprising ambition, and a heart for equality and mutual learning. He also stated that France is a core country in the European Union, and China-France relations are an important part and a powerful engine of China-Europe relations. If China and Europe join hands, a "new Cold War" will not materialize.

GT: January 27, 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and France. What significant achievements do you think have been made in China-France relations over the last 60 years? What are your expectations for the future development of the relationship?

Lu: Sixty years ago, China and France made a historic decision to establish diplomatic relations, breaking through the barriers of the Cold War. Over the last six decades, mutual political trust between the two sides has continuously been strengthened, and practical cooperation in economic, technological, and cultural fields has yielded fruitful results. Communication and coordination in international affairs have become more effective, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries and injecting continuous stability and positive energy into the world.

At present, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France adheres to the broad direction of stability, mutual benefit, exploration, and upward progress. Since the transition of China's pandemic prevention and control measures, the momentum has been strong, with high-level exchanges highlighting various achievements, and continuous dialogues in various fields, leading to a comprehensive restart of interactions across all areas.

As China-France relations approach their 60th anniversary, we stand at a new historical starting point. China is willing to continue the tradition with France, looking toward the future. We aim to seize the opportunity of the 60th anniversary and the Cultural and Tourism Year series of events to intensify high-level interactions, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and infuse China-France relations with richer contemporary significance.

GT: What insights do you think the development of China-France relations can offer to other Western countries in developing their relations with China?

Lu: Over the last 60 years, China-France relations have been distinctive for their strategic, global, and contemporary significance, consistently leading the way in China's relations with Western powers, meriting reflection and summary.

First is the original intention of independence and autonomy. Whether it was breaking through the ice of the Cold War 60 years ago or staunchly opposing unilateralism, bloc politics, and the "decoupling and supply chain disruption" trend 60 years later, the traditions of the Chinese and French nations in pursuing independence and autonomy have remained unchanged.

Second is the ambitious pioneering and enterprising spirit. From being the first to establish a comprehensive partnership to initiating strategic dialogues; from being the first to set up cultural centers reciprocally to organizing cultural years; from opening the first civil aviation route between the East and West, to being the earliest in civilian nuclear energy cooperation and joint exploration of third-party markets, China and France have been at the forefront, creating many "firsts" worthy of being recorded in history.

Third is the inclusive spirit of equality and mutual learning. The different social systems, development stages, and historical cultures of China and France have not hindered mutual understanding and exchanges. Instead, these differences have become an important driving force for mutual respect, mutual learning, and mutually beneficial cooperation, aligning with the contemporary trend of multilateralism and a multipolar world.

GT: What role do you think China-France relations play in the context of China-Europe relations? How do you view the role of China and France in strengthening China-Europe cooperation?

Lu: France is a core major country in the European Union, and China-France relations are a crucial link and a powerful engine in China-Europe relations. A robust China-France relationship can play a pivotal guiding role in the broader China-Europe relationship.

China and Europe share extensive common interests, where cooperation outweighs competition, and consensus exceeds divergence.

China-Europe relations are not targeted at, dependent on, or constrained by any third party. If China and Europe join hands, a "new Cold War" will not materialize.

China's policy toward Europe remains stable and consistent. We always regard Europe as a significant force in a multipolar world and hope that France can continue to play a positive role within the EU, promoting a more independent and objective perception of China.

By adopting a pragmatic and proactive policy toward China, expanding the scope of cooperation with China, and resisting the negative tendencies of "de-risking" and "reducing dependence," we can ensure the healthy and stable development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Europe.

GT: In the face of increasingly prominent global security and development challenges, in which areas can China and France further strengthen cooperation and coordination?

Lu: China and France should adhere to a global governance approach of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits. Together, we should safeguard the international system centered on the United Nations, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

We should practice genuine multilateralism and guide the world toward equal, orderly, and multipolar development. We should adhere to a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept, explicitly opposing hegemonism and unilateralism, and explore the promotion of political solutions to regional hotspots such as the Ukrainian crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

We should push economic globalization toward a more open, inclusive, balanced, and universally beneficial direction, expand trilateral and multilateral cooperation, and maintain the stability and resilience of the industrial and supply chains of China, France, Europe, and the world at large.

GT: Between December 27 and 28, 2023, the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs was held in Beijing. As a diplomat who has been devotedly working on the front lines of foreign affairs, what important signals do you think this conference sends about the future direction of China's foreign affairs?

Lu: The conference was recently held successfully, where Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), was in attendance and delivered an important address.

He comprehensively summarized the ten historical achievements of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, systematically outlined six valuable experiences, profoundly expounded on the international environment and historical mission of foreign affairs work in the new era, and made comprehensive arrangements for foreign affairs work for the future. The conference not only reflected the glory of major-country diplomacy over the last decade but also sounded the clarion call for a renewed start on a new journey.

In this new journey, major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics will enter a new stage with even greater promise. The general direction of human development and progress will not change; the overall logic of the world's historical progression will not change; and the global trend of shared destiny will not change.

GT: The conference also emphasized that we have both pursued development and safeguarded security, and effectively upheld China's sovereignty, security, and development interests with a firm will and an indomitable fighting spirit. And it is imperative to carry forward our fighting spirit. How do you understand the importance of maintaining a "fighting spirit" in foreign affairs work?

Lu: "Fighting bravely without fear of sacrifice" is an important part of the great spirit of the founding of the Party, and the term "fighting" was mentioned 22 times in the 20th Party Congress report. This conference summarized the valuable experiences accumulated in the practice of diplomacy in the new era. One of the key lessons is the necessity to foster a spirit of struggle, to resolutely oppose all forms of power politics and bullying, and to robustly defend national interests and national dignity.

Daring to struggle and being adept in struggle has been a fine tradition in China's diplomacy since the founding of New China in 1949. From the early days of New China, fighting in the Korean War to safeguard the nation, to withstanding so-called "sanctions" by the West during the dramatic changes in Eastern Europe in the 1980s and 1990s to ensure the flag of socialism with Chinese characteristics remained unfurled, to actively dealing with the NATO bombing of our embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, handling China-US trade frictions, and comprehensively conducting anti-interference struggles on Hong Kong-related issues, Chinese diplomacy has always staunchly protected national interests and national dignity.

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, facing the drastic changes in the international situation, especially against external extortion, containment, blockade, and extreme pressure, we have maintained strategic focus, fostered a spirit of struggle, defended national dignity and core interests in the struggle, and firmly held the initiative in our country's development and security.

Xi recently emphasized at the conference with Chinese diplomats stationed abroad the necessity of daring to struggle and being good at it, to be defenders of national interests. As embassies and consulates are at the forefront of foreign exchanges and struggle, we must remember Xi's earnest instructions, strengthen our confidence and resolve, maintain strategic clarity, firmly establish bottom-line thinking, and with the readiness of "an arrow on the bow" and a resolve that does not fear power, resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and developmental interests.

In the middle of severe winter, the well-being of border Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers stationed at high-altitude areas in China, and especially their access to sufficient food and warm clothing, have always been a matter of concern.

Recently, Global Times reporters went on a special trip to the "Model Border Battalion on the Plateau" located in Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region and visited the "5592" watchpoint, the PLA's highest post at which soldiers are stationed. While there, the Global Times learned about special winter preparations made by the PLA border troops.

In the season of heavy snow and freezing cold, the soldiers at the border frontlines remain steadfast while on duty in the snowy mountains, a testament not only to their spirit of sacrifice and dedication but also to the strong logistical support provided by the military. The widespread use of new-quality logistical support equipment demonstrates the care of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee for the soldiers at the border and reflects the PLA's determination to defend China's territory.

'Fruit freedom'

Stationed in Gamba County, Xigaze, Xizang, the "Model Border Battalion on the Plateau" (often referred to as the "Gamba Battalion") is located at an average altitude of 4,810 meters, with the highest patrol point exceeding 6,000 meters. Many observation posts are located on high points in the mountains above 5,000 meters.

Due to the high altitude, many border lines patrolled by the battalion are above the snow line, with the lowest temperature in the area reaching -40 C with level-8 winds or higher lasting for more than 200 days a year, and an average oxygen level of about 30 percent.

It is said that the area experiences only two seasons - winter and blistering winter.

In this extremely harsh natural environment, border outposts at the top of snowy mountains have been transformed into warm havens for the soldiers.

Excellent heating and fresh fruits and vegetables are standard provisions at the "5592" Gamba Battalion watchpoint, the Global Times witnessed. Difficulties in battling the elements in winter have been effectively tackled, with outstanding logistical support effectively mitigating the effects of adverse weather conditions faced by the frontline border soldiers.
"Winter brings the greatest challenge of ensuring a steady supply of heating and food after heavy snow seals off the mountains," said Pan Hongshuai, a company commander of a border regiment in Xizang stationed at the "5592" watchpoint. Now, whether it is heating facilities or food supplies, the "5592" watchpoint is fully equipped, he said.

What warms Pan's heart is several tons of coal stockpiled at the post before proper winter sets in, along with coal stoves and electric heaters to meet the daily heating and emergency energy needs for the entire winter at the "5592" watchpoint.

The neatly arranged shelves in the storage room, filled with vegetables, potatoes, eggs, fruits, canned goods, ensure the daily nutritional needs of frontline soldiers. The bi-weekly deliveries made by the "snowfield delivery" distribution service ensure the regular supply of requisitioned foods to the observation post.

At the "5592" watchpoint, Global Times reporters saw that, in addition to seasonal fruits like apples, off-season fruits including watermelon and dragon fruit are also continuously delivered to the soldiers' tables, allowing them to enjoy "fruit freedom" atop the snowy mountains.

"We have a soldier from Southwest China's Guizhou Province who particularly likes watermelon. Every time we collect meal preferences, he requests that the kitchen staff and logistics officer include some watermelons, so we always order a few in our purchases. I personally advise him not to eat too much, as I worry about his health in the cold winter, but we still try to respect and satisfy his tastes," said Pan.

In addition to fresh and abundant ingredients, the "5592" watchpoint is also equipped with a variety of modern cooking facilities. In the observation post kitchen, the Global Times reporters noted that, besides professional kitchen equipment for the preparation of three meals a day, there were ovens, ice cream machines, popcorn makers, coffee machines, and Kantodaki machines. "In the summer, we make our own ice cream. When watching movies together, we make our own popcorn. The coffee machine and Kantodaki machine are also frequently used," said Pan.

The secure food and heating situation at the "5592" watchpoint is a microcosm of the frontline border defense of the Xigaze Military Sub-district of the Xizang Military Command. Yin Qidong, department head of the Xigaze Military Sub-district, said in an interview with the Global Times that this winter, in addition to reinforcing barracks and repairing heating boilers, the military sub-district has also provided new electric heaters to the frontline outposts, transitioning the energy source from coal to electricity, making it more efficient and safer, and enabling the outposts to withstand winter storms.

Moreover, all frontline outposts in the military sub-district have completed their winter provisioning. This winter's supplies not only include essential living necessities like grain, oil, and bottled drinking water, but also increased allocations of antifreeze medicines and high-altitude specialty medicines.

"Our military sub-district has also actively liaised with 'snowfield delivery' service merchants to increase the supply of fresh vegetables and meat to the frontline outposts. We also arranged for skilled technicians to inspect and repair the ropeways at the outposts to ensure smooth delivery of supplies during the winter closure," Yin said.

Stabilized border defense

In the winter, when heavy snow isolates the highland border outposts, turning them into "islands" in the vast snowy expanse, how do the border soldiers stationed atop the snowy mountains take care of their health and alleviate loneliness after completing their border duties?

While on the special visit, Global Times reporters saw that various entertainment and wellness facilities have also been included in frontline border outposts in recent years, creating a warm and vibrant atmosphere amid the ice and snow.

Despite low oxygen levels at such high altitudes, soldiers at the Gamba Battalion's "5371" post can "breathe oxygen on demand." Diffusion-type oxygen supply machines, individual oxygen inhalation equipment, and hyperbaric oxygen chambers, specifically provided for highland border defense, ensure the health of the soldiers living and patrolling in high altitudes.
Shen Jie, a Xizang Military Command border regiment platoon leader, told the Global Times that the hyperbaric oxygen chamber at the "5371" post not only provides sufficient oxygen but can also be set to mimic the oxygen concentration and partial pressure of the soldiers' hometowns or favorite cities.

"For example, my hometown Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan Province has an average altitude of 500 meters, so I can choose an oxygen supply level corresponding to an altitude of 500 meters, allowing me to breathe air with the same pressure and concentration as my hometown while at the highland border," said Shen.

Growing vegetables is considered a special skill among the soldiers at the border, and at the "5371" post, not only have the soldiers honed their gardening skills, but they have also achieved a high degree of automation.

In the "plant factory" at the "5371" post, also known as the comprehensive green energy supply cabin, the Global Times saw vegetables like chili, leafy greens, cucumbers, and lettuce being grown hydroponically. This "plant factory" can accommodate 1,628 seedlings and offers advantages over traditional greenhouses, such as higher yield, shorter growth cycles, and a sterile pesticide-free environment. Soldiers can control the gardening process in the cabin's production room, such as operating intelligent drip irrigation for automatic watering, setting the right temperature for automatic temperature control, and using intelligent facilities for automatic fertilization after apportioning the nutrient solution.

"We also invite agricultural experts to teach us how to properly proportion the nutrient solution and improve our gardening skills. Each squad has its own planting area, and we organize gardening competitions. The fruits and vegetables we grow not only ensure some of our daily supplies but also bring a lot of joy to our daily lives. Seeing the fresh greenery in the desolate highlands also lifts our spirits," said Shen.

Additionally, the "5371" post is equipped with a mini cinema and two air conditioners, ensuring that soldiers can enjoy movies and other entertainment activities during their leisure time, such as at weekends. "Almost every Friday night, we make dumplings and watch movies. Popular movies like No More Bets are available to us as soon as they are released," said Shen.

In the common area of the "5371" post, Global Times reporters also saw a unique painting corner, featuring numerous artworks created by soldiers on stones. "Every soldier has a special connection with stones, as they embody our unique feelings for the border. Sometimes we send the painted stones back home to convey our thoughts to our families," Shen said.
"The stronger the support, the more stable the border defense," said Yin.

"We have also coordinated with local telecommunications departments to extend military WIFI directly to squads and platoons, and conducted inspections and maintenance of communication base stations at frontline outposts, ensuring smooth network signal transmission during the winter closure so that soldiers can video call their families at any time. Although the mountains are sealed, the bond with loved ones remains unbroken," said Yin.

Strengthened capabilities

Harsh winter conditions and inconvenient transportation have created significant difficulties for border soldiers' patrolling tasks, especially evident in the Xigaze Military Sub-district of the Xizang Military Command defense area.

Yin explained that the border defense lines in the Xigaze Military Sub-district are long and patrol routes are generally at high altitudes, often requiring the crossing of several snow-capped mountains. After the snow season starts, the heavy snowfall makes vehicle passage impossible, forcing soldiers to patrol on foot.

"Due to the thick snow covering many ice caves and holes, there is a risk of falling into these hidden dangers while conducting foot patrols. If cliffs or steep slopes are encountered, avalanches and other dangers are also possible. Moreover, after patrolling, soldiers' shoes are filled with ice, and trousers are soaked with ice water. It is estimated that winter patrols generally take 2-3 times longer than they would in the summer," Yin noted.

This challenging situation has now greatly improved. The Global Times learned that this winter, the Xigaze Military Sub-district has received a batch of new patrol vehicles with good snow traversal capabilities, effectively alleviating the pressure of winter patrols.
Before patrolling, units require soldiers to take personal protective measures; apply sunscreen, and wear sunglasses, gloves, and scarves. During foot patrols, leaders and key personnel take the lead, avoiding dangerous areas to ensure safety. After returning from patrols, soldiers are required to change clothes immediately and drink hot ginger soup. During the winter closure, border soldiers will continue to strengthen border management and control capabilities through regular patrols, daily observation, and high-tech border surveillance methods, ensuring no gaps are left unsealed during the "closure period."

"With the care of the Party, our frontline outposts are getting better and better. Not only have barracks been built and roads constructed, but also leisure and entertainment facilities like karaoke rooms, billiard rooms, and movie theaters have been set up in the outposts, increasing the soldiers' sense of happiness and fulfillment," Yin said.

"Everyone is filled with a sincere love for the motherland and the people, vowing to forge strong political loyalty, hone combat-ready skills, and faithfully fulfill the sacred duty of defending the country and guarding the border," he noted.

The on-going COP28 in Dubai, the UAE, a conference dedicated to green and low-carbon practices, has also showcased Chinese brands' efforts in global environmental conservation.

Since the start of the conference, Chinese brands such as Higer and BYD have provided electric shuttle bus services to ferry attendees, with about 50 electric vehicles from South China's Guangdong Province offering shuttle services in the conference's "Green Zone," which is open to the public.

This is just a microcosm of the vigorous development of China's new-energy industry on display in the UAE.

The UAE Energy Strategy 2050 aims to increase the share of clean energy projects to 50 percent of its overall energy mix by 2050. Moreover, countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt have similar goals and visions.

In September 2020, China proposed its goals to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, with top-down societal involvement.

The development of Chinese industries around new energy, including new-energy vehicle (NEV) and photovoltaic unit manufacture, ranks highly in the world and aligns with the transformational development path of the Middle East.

During COP28 in Dubai, the Global Times visited and interviewed some Chinese new-energy enterprises operating in the UAE to understand cooperation efforts in the new-energy field between China and the UAE and how Chinese technologies and products are driving the carbon reduction process in the Middle East.

Rising star

In October 2022, Dubai police held a grand induction ceremony to welcome the new Hongqi E-HS9 police cars from China as additions to the existing police car fleet. Not only were leaders from both Dubai police and Hongqi in attendance at the ceremony, but a ceremonial guard on horseback was also held.

Dubai boasts an all-star police car fleet almost entirely comprised of super sports and luxury vehicle brands, from Ferrari and Lamborghini, to Bentley, and now a Chinese brand.

More notably, Hongqi's high-level debut marks the first independent automotive Chinese brand to join the Dubai police fleet and also the first NEV brand globally to do so.

Dubai also awarded the first Hongqi (EHS9) the prestigious number plate "8," as a sign of respect and recognition.

Local police leadership praised Hongqi's local development and expressed high appreciation for the partnership, wishing the development of Hongqi cars in the UAE and the world well. They said the entry of Hongqi into the Dubai police car fleet is a manifestation of the friendly development of relations between the two countries, with an anticipation for a longer and deeper relationship between China and the Arab world.

It was Oneroad Group Dubai, a Chinese company, that introduced the Hongqi brand to the UAE.

"We decided to introduce Hongqi cars not only because we saw the continuous improvement in independent Chinese-brand car technology but also recognized the reliable strength of China in making electric cars," said Zhang Chenling, Acting Chief Executive Officer at the Oneroad Group Dubai, to the Global Times at the company's offices at the Burj Khalifa.

"We have been making deep inroads in the UAE for more than a decade and believe that we have the capability to introduce Chinese-brand cars into the UAE market," Zhang explained.

Hongqi is a well-known automotive brand in China with a long and glorious history. It was the first high-end sedan to be manufactured in-country since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Hongqi, meaning "red flag" in Chinese, used to be served as the ride of top government leaders, which also had been used as parade cars during National Day parades.

According to Xie Qiyi, General Manager of Oneroad, the group doesn't only represent the Hongqi brand in the UAE. Following the commencement of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the company also focuses on the overseas services offered by other Chinese automotive brands, such as Dongfeng Forthing and Great Wall Motors in the UAE, Oman, as well as in other countries and regions.
At an automotive sales center near Dubai's Business Bay, the Global Times saw Hongqi and Forthing NEVs on prominent display.

Karam, a local resident, had his eye on a new arrival - a Forthing Friday EV. "The car is spacious, the interior is luxurious, and it has a sense of technology," Karam told the Global Times.

Pan Kuibai, a manager at the sales center, told the Global Times that Chinese NEVs have certain market potential in the Middle East, not only because Chinese technologies and products have received increased recognition in recent years, but also because the Middle Eastern market is not prejudicial against Chinese products or prone to imposing political restrictions as is the case with some Western countries.

"Overall, even though these cars are not cheap due to their high configurations, they are still favored by the locals," he said.

According to China Energy News, China's NEV industry chain is attracting the attention of Middle Eastern oil giants. Preliminary statistics show that since the beginning of 2023, NEV industry chain companies such as NIO, HiPhi, and Pony.ai have successively gained the attention of Middle Eastern capital.

Industry insiders believe that as the world's largest NEV market, China's advantages in product technology and industry chain completeness have attracted considerable investments from Middle Eastern capital. Combined with the energy transformation needs of Middle Eastern countries, cooperation and exchanges between Chinese enterprises and Middle Eastern countries in the high-quality NEV sector will deepen and broaden further in the future.

Zhang from Oneroad also stated that as the UAE continues to vigorously and rapidly promote energy transformation and carbon reduction, 50 percent of the country's official and public vehicles will also be replaced with NEVs, which will bring opportunities for Chinese enterprises. "Although local supporting facilities still have much room for development, significant changes will be seen within a few years," she said.

Sharing sunshine

In recent years, the Middle East has witnessed increased advocacy in the diversified development of energy, utilizing its unique sunlight conditions to vigorously develop photovoltaic projects and optimize the electricity energy structure. Against this backdrop, China's leading photovoltaic industry enterprises have targeted local opportunities here and hope to seize the development initiative.

A large-scale Chinese-built photovoltaic power station, which looks particularly spectacular from the air, calls the desert suburbs of Dubai home.

The synchronization of Shuaa Energy 3 900MW PV project is a recent representative project of China's leading photovoltaic enterprise Sungrow in Dubai. According to Thompson Meng, Vice President of Sungrow PV & BESS BG, Sungrow has large landmark projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, in the UAE, as well as in Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, radiating into North Africa's Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria.

Observers noted that in some countries participating in the BRI, green infrastructure such as new-energy and information networks will see rapid growth in the future. Among them, the photovoltaic industry chain will become the most developmentally advantageous sub-sector of China's new-energy cooperation abroad.

In terms of the region, the Middle East has the greatest potential for photovoltaic demand, and it is expected that by 2025, the export of photovoltaic components to the Middle East may account for more than 10 percent of China's total export volume of photovoltaic components, Yicai reported.
According to the Securities Times, many Chinese photovoltaic enterprises are also actively taking root in Saudi Arabia and other countries.

Meng introduced that in addition to abundant light energy and vast land, the policies of governments in the Middle East are also relatively supportive. "They are thinking about transitioning from traditional fossil energy resources to new-energy and future technology manufacturing, so these policies and strategies are very supportive of this industry."

As a leading enterprise in the industry, Meng noted that Sungrow has a 26-year history, with dynamic technology, having undertaken the long arduous journey of development, surmounting challenges, and achieving great results, which now allows the company to export its expertise overseas. In addition, the enterprise has always been forward-looking, engaging in long term planning, and insists on sustainable development amid intense global competition.

Against the backdrop of China striving to achieve its dual-carbon goals and the global response to climate change, Meng also believes that Chinese enterprises, especially those leading the new-energy industry, are taking on their social responsibilities.

"For energy transformation, you need to play a leading role, not just focus on short-term interests. This industry is one that benefits humanity. Whether from the perspective of pollution reduction or carbon reduction, it has a positive significance," he said. "Also, our enterprise needs to focus on cultivating talents with such a vision and mindset, which I think is also a great contribution to society."

Chinese power

During the first days of the COP28, Sultan al-Jaber, the COP28 President, as well as the UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology announced that more than 110 governments have pledged to triple the world's renewable energy capacity by 2030 at the COP28 climate summit. It also included a target to double the global rate of energy efficiency by 2030.

This year's COP has attracted more than 80,000 participants, making it the largest UN climate summit in history. In addition to the Chinese delegation, many institutions, enterprises, and observers from China participated in the conference and set up pavilions, holding related events to provide a platform for participants from various countries to engage in exchanges and understand China's carbon reduction measures and achievements.

For instance, the All-China Environmental Protection Federation also set up the Solar+ Pavilion (Photovoltaic Corner) in the Blue Zone of COP28 with LONGi Green Energy, showcasing the development and innovation of the photovoltaic industry and providing a platform for people of different identities to discuss and achieve energy equity.

Additionally, research institutions such as the China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co Ltd, also held a side event on NEVs and low-carbon transportation at the China Pavilion during COP28, inviting guests from the UN, the UAE, and China to learn about possible cooperation between China and the UAE in new-energy industries.

Analysts said that investments in China's NEV technology by Middle Eastern countries signify a strategic shift toward energy transformation and the finding of new competitive edges in emerging industries. Meanwhile, they emphasized the importance of market-specific adaptations and risk management for Chinese automakers exporting to the Middle East, and the consideration of local climate and consumer preferences.

Georgian Ambassador to China Archil Kalandia participated in the 5th China-CEEC SME Cooperation Forum held in Cangzhou, North China's Hebei Province on Monday, with a total of more than 600 Chinese and Central and Eastern European enterprises participating in the forum. During the meeting, Ambassador Kalandia met with China's Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li. 

Ambassador Kalandia reiterated his desire for the Georgian side to be granted the status of observer state in the mechanism of cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). Deng expressed his support for the ambassador's cause. The two sides will continue to hold consultations with the countries of Eastern and Central Europe on the above-mentioned issues.

Deng said that the strengthening of cooperation between small and medium-size enterprises (SME) in China and Central and Eastern European countries is of great practical significance. We should further buttress our development strategies, expand cooperation in areas such as green development and digital transformation, and create new growth points through innovative ways of cooperation, he said at the forum. 

Launched in 2012, the China-CEEC Cooperation Mechanism is a platform for cross-regional cooperation between China and European countries to promote the deepening of economic and trade cooperation between China and Europe.

In the science fiction movie "The Wandering Earth," artificial intelligence system "Moss" is able to explore all solutions to save the Earth in just a few seconds.

This miraculous scene is gradually transitioning from science fiction to reality. The ultra-high-performance optoelectronic chip proposed by the research team at Tsinghua University adopts a new architecture of optoelectronic fusion, which is disruptive to existing chip technologies, the team told the Global Times on Wednesday.

The technology not only opens up a new path for this future technology to become part of daily life, but also provides inspiration for the integration of other future high-performance technologies such as quantum computing and in-memory computing with current electronic information systems.

The results, titled "Purely Analog Optoelectronic Chips for High-Speed Visual Tasks," had been published in the recent issue of the journal "Nature."

In 1965, Gordon Moore, one of the founders of Intel, proposed "Moore's Law," which has influenced the chip industry for over half a century. It predicts that the number of transistors on integrated circuits will double approximately every two years.

The semiconductor field has prospered for decades based on Moore's Law, and "chips" have become an important engine for humanity's entry into the era of digital intelligence. However, as transistor sizes approach their physical limits, Moore's Law has slowed down or even faced failure in the past decade. How to build a new generation of computing architecture and establish a "new" order of chips in the era of artificial intelligence has been a frontier hotspot of international concern.

To address this challenge, a joint research team from Tsinghua University, including Academician Dai Qionghai from the Department of Automation, Assistant Professor Wu Jiamin, Associate Professor Fang Lu from the Department of Electronic Engineering, and Associate Researcher Qiao Fei, proposed a new computing architecture that "breaks free" from Moore's Law: optoelectronic analog chips. In practical tests for visual tasks, the computing power of these chips reached over 3,000 times that of current high-performance commercial chips.

From a physical perspective, optoelectronic chips are based on a disruptive technology that is different from existing chip technologies, the research team explained in an interview with the Global Times on Wednesday. They noted that, at current stage, their work is focused on intelligent visual tasks, and they are also conducting further exploration to see if the new technology can achieve tasks of the same or even higher complexity as current chips, such as large language models.

In this small chip, the Tsinghua University research team creatively proposed an optoelectronic deep fusion computing framework. Starting from the most fundamental physical principles, it combines optical computing based on electromagnetic wave propagation in space with pure analog electronic computing based on Kirchhoff's law. It "breaks free" from the physical bottlenecks of data conversion speed, accuracy, and power consumption that constrain traditional chip architectures, and overcomes three international challenges: large-scale computing unit integration, efficient nonlinearity, and high-speed optoelectronic interfaces.

In the demonstrated intelligent visual scene tests in the paper, the system-level computing power of the optoelectronic fusion chip was thousands of times higher than that of existing high-performance chip architectures. However, such astonishing computing power is just one of the many advantages of this chip. In the intelligent visual tasks and traffic scene calculations demonstrated by the research team, the system-level energy efficiency (the number of operations that can be performed per unit of energy) of the optoelectronic fusion chip reached 74.8 Peta-OPS/W, which is over 4 million times that of current high-performance chips. In other words, the amount of electricity that can power existing chips for one hour can power this chip for over 500 years.

One key factor currently limiting chip integration limits is the heat dissipation problem caused by high density. The optoelectronic fusion chip, which operates at ultra-low power consumption, will greatly improve the chip's heat dissipation problem and bring all-round breakthroughs to the future chip design. Furthermore, the minimum linewidth of the chip's optical part is only in the hundreds of nanometers, while the circuit part uses 180 nanometers Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology, achieving a performance improvement of multiple orders of magnitude compared to 7 nanometers process high-performance chips. At the same time, the materials used are simple and easily obtainable, and the cost is only a fraction of the latter.

Will the emergence of this cutting-edge chip technology help China achieve a "overtaking on the curve" in chip research and development? In response to this question, the research team told the Global Times that the research and development competition in the traditional chip technology field is becoming increasingly fierce, and facing international challenges such as the slowing down of Moore's Law, the world is seeking new computing architectures. It can indeed be understood as a kind of "curve" opportunity. Whether we can achieve "curve overtaking" depends on the joint efforts and ecological construction of all sectors. We are also working towards this goal.

A special review of this research, invited by the journal Nature, pointed out that the appearance of this chip may allow the new generation of computing architecture which will be integrated into daily life much earlier than expected. Academician Dai Qionghai, one of the corresponding authors of the paper, stated, "Developing a new computing architecture for the era of artificial intelligence is a summit, but truly implementing the new architecture in real life to solve major national and livelihood needs is a more important challenge and our responsibility."

North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has a border line that stretches more than 4,200 kilometers, accounting for about one fifth of the national land border. It is the "northern gateway" and the "moat" of the capital city Beijing. However, in recent years, many areas in Inner Mongolia have reported issues which have attracted wide attention such as many young people of working age choosing to leave the border areas.

Recently, the Inner Mongolia delegation to the 14th National People's Congress held a plenary meeting which was open to domestic and foreign media outlets. During the meeting, chairman of the autonomous region Wang Lixia introduced that Inner Mongolia spans the northwest, north and northeast regions, has external relations with Russia and Mongolia, and surrounds Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It shoulders a major political responsibility in safeguarding national security and border stability. 

Wang also stressed that in 2024, the autonomous region will focus on addressing the issue of "hollowing out" in border areas, implementing comprehensive measures to attract more people to settle and live in border areas, and ensure national unity and border security. 

In recent years, the permanent population in border areas of Inner Mongolia has been seriously flowing out, with the remaining residents being senior citizens, and the problem of population "hollowing out" becoming increasingly prominent.

As a result, the local government has been studying and formulating differentiated and precise policies, which include promoting the development of border areas, enriching people's lives, stabilizing the borders, and striving to improve the level of industrial development, basic public services, and infrastructure guarantee in border areas. This will attract more people to settle and live in border areas, and guard the borders, as learned by the Global Times from the Standing Committee of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Congress.

Population decrease

Taking Siziwang Banner of Ulanqab city as an example, the banner is one of the 19 border banners and counties in Inner Mongolia, with a total area of 25,500 square kilometers and a border length of 104 kilometers. Due to production, living conditions, especially education and medical conditions, most school-age children and senior citizens in the banner have moved to Ulan Huacheng town. 

The border population has been decreasing year by year. The total registered population of the three border regions is 8,714 people in 4,664 households, with 2,844 households and 4,260 people living outside the border area, accounting for 50.9 percent of the registered population. The long-term residents on the border are almost all senior citizens, over 60 years old, according to local officials.

Official data show that as of December 2022, the actual population in the border area is 3,340, a decrease of 5,344 people compared to 2010, with a decrease rate of up to 56 percent. 

Meanwhile, a public report in September 2023 indicated that due to various factors, in recent years, the internal migration of border residents in the Alashan League border area has weakened the grassroots defense and control forces, leading to an increasingly severe border security situation.

Due to education being limited in the border cities of Inner Mongolia, many families choose to send their children to neighboring cities to study. Yang Te, a PhD student who left the Alashan League after entering university, shared his story with the Global Times.

"Almost all of my classmates in high school moved to Beijing or Tianjin. Only a few students who needed to help their families stayed in Inner Mongolia, Yang said. "Now that herding is no longer the main way to survive, more people choose to strive for a better standard of living in the big cities. Living in the border areas can be quite tough."

Seeking a way out

In order to address the issue, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has formulated a series of differentiated and precise subsidy policies. These policies are aimed at guiding and supporting residents in border areas to participate in local economic development, thereby reducing the phenomenon of population hollowing out. 

These policies include tax incentives and financial support for enterprises in border areas. At the same time, technical support is provided for industries such as agriculture and animal husbandry in border areas to improve industry efficiency and promote employment, according to local officials.

In response to the prominent issue of "hollowing out" of the population in border areas, with a high average age of left-behind personnel and a significant decrease in permanent residents and serious outflow in Alashan League, the local government has coordinated resources from all parties to jointly build and share. The strengthening of the construction of various infrastructure projects in border areas is the main focus, to continuously increase the construction efforts of border defense infrastructure. 

In recent years, the league has renovated and maintained over 2,500 kilometers of patrol routes for frontline border guards, built four duty rooms and seven watchtowers, constructed over 160 kilometers of barrier facilities such as iron fences and wire fences in key areas, built and maintained nine monitoring centers and 39 sets of intelligent monitoring front ends, installed 32 sets of water purification equipment, effectively improving the working conditions of frontline military and police units.

These efforts have not been in vain. Many young people like Li Hao, now a special police officer in the Xilin Gol League, have begun to consider the option of returning home to defend the border after graduating from college.

Now the environment for garrison defense has been greatly improved, and many young people are tired of the pressure of living in a big city, they choose to return to their hometowns. But this process of a change in attitudes will take some time, Li said. 

For Li, who idolized his father as a forest ranger since he was a child, being able to use his own power to maintain peace and prosperity in the border region has brought him a great sense of honor. "Compared with the pressure and competition of big cities, life here is self-sufficient, and the infrastructure, education, ecology and tourism environment are rapidly improving, I believe that more young people will choose to stay and feel this call of duty," Li noted.

The 2,000th rail-sea intermodal train of 2024, running along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, departed from Qinzhou, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to Chengxiang, Southwest China's Sichuan Province on Sunday.

The trip marked a 16.8 percent year-on-year rise in the number of combined trains year-to-date and indicated that the 2024 first-quarter goals were achieved 14 days ahead of schedule, two facts that signal a successful start to the year, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Sunday.

The train, with 108 containers, carried black sesame from Myanmar, coconut juice from South China's Hainan Province and sugar from Guangxi, among other goods.

As of Friday, the land-sea corridor's extensive network had reached 149 stations in 18 provincial-level regions across China, five more than in January.

The rapid development of the corridor, a trade and logistics passage launched in 2017 and jointly built by provincial-level regions in western China and ASEAN members, shows the growth potential of provinces in the Chinese hinterland and reflects China's robust foreign trade growth in the first two months of the year, despite the complex international situation and rising protectionist headwinds, analysts noted.

The increase in the freight volume of the trade corridor reflects the prosperous trend of economic development in western China, said Bai Ming, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Bai said that the result shows that trade between Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) members and China has become more optimized, and the China-Laos Railway is also boosting trade cooperation between China and RCEP members.

The trade corridor has continuously optimized its supply structure and service scope this year, bringing many opportunities to regions along the route and driving their economic development, Bai noted.

In terms of seaborne trade under the corridor, 20,539 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods were transported from the Beibu Gulf Port in Guangxi, a surge of 36 percent year-on-year. RCEP member countries shipped 11,023 TEUs via the corridor from January 1 to March 10, increasing 35 percent year-on-year.

ASEAN remained China's largest trading partner in the first two months of 2024, with bilateral trade of 993.24 billion yuan ($139.88 billion), up 8.1 percent year-on-year, customs data showed on March 7.

The Chinese embassy in the Philippines criticized the US for voicing further restrictions on chip exports to China on Thursday, saying the act violates market norms and disrupts global supply chains.

The implementation of semiconductor export restrictions by US not only contravenes the most-favored-nation treatment principle outlined in Article 1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, but also goes against market laws, disrupts normal trade order, impacts the international production and supply chain stability, and constitutes blatant economic bullying, a spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in the Philippines said on Thursday. 

The US justifies restricting chip exports to China on the grounds of "national security," but those measures overstretch the scope of national security, obstruct trade of civilian-use chips, the spokesperson said.

The criticism comes in the wake of a visit by a US delegation to the Philippines, led by the US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, during which, “security issues were prominently discussed over pragmatic cooperation between the Philippines and the US,” the spokesperson said, accusing the US of coaxing and misleading allies into opposing China's technological progress, questioning the sincerity of the US in addressing the Philippines' development challenges.

China urges the US to cease politicizing and weaponising economic, trade, and technological issues, and discourages its allies from decoupling and disrupting supply chains with China. China has vowed to take necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests, said the spokesperson.

During her visit, Raimondo announced more than $1 billion in investments by American companies in the Philippines, while saying that the US "will do whatever it takes" to limit China's technological capabilities, Bloomberg reported on Monday.