The China-Europe Railway Express has seen a significant uptick in operations, with nearly 3,000 trains dispatched in the first two months of 2024. The expansion underscores the service's growing role in facilitating faster and safer freight services for China-EU trade amid changing global logistics dynamics.

According to China Railway, the China-Europe Railway Express operated 2,928 trains in January and February, carrying 317,000 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers of goods, marking rises of 9 percent and 10 percent year-on-year, respectively. The network has expanded to cover 120 cities in China, and it reaches 219 cities in 25 European countries. 

The trend has been partly driven by the rising demand from European countries in the wake of the Red Sea crisis, as businesses seek reliable alternatives to sea transport. Yuan Xiaojun, a manager at China-Europe Chang'an, which operates freight trains, said there has been a significant uptick in inquiries and bookings for the trains, with February seeing a 20 percent to 30 percent increase in operations. 

Lu Zhao, head of a Chengdu-based freight forwarding company, highlighted the China-Europe Railway Express' ability to provide stability and predictability for international supply chains, with its consistent transit times proving a crucial factor for industries that are reliant on timely deliveries. 

The growing preference for rail transport among China-Europe traders has also led to a diversified range of goods being transported, with specialized trains now carrying equipment and vehicles from major Chinese manufacturers to Europe. 

In the first two months of 2024, the China-Europe Railway Express operated over 30 customized trains for companies such as Zoomlion Heavy Industry, Sany Heavy Industry, Geely, and Foton Motor. Throughout 2023, more than four provinces introduced specialized trains for new energy vehicles (NEVs), amid rising demand for NEVs in Europe. 

Moreover, the service is diversifying beyond just rail, with integrated sea-rail transport routes enriching the connectivity. A recent shipment of electric water heaters from Thailand to Germany, passing through Laos, Vietnam, and China, exemplifies the logistical achievements possible with this multimodal approach. 

Since its launch in 2011, the China-Europe Railway Express has become a cornerstone of Eurasian trade, as a reliable, efficient, and safe freight option. With over 85,000 trains operated by the end of February, the service not only signifies a pivotal shift in trade dynamics but also highlights the potential for continued growth in global logistics and supply chain resilience.

Chinese researchers have successfully developed a 65,000-channel bidirectional brain-computer interface(BCI) chip, believed to be " far ahead" in terms of innovation of ultra-high-density implanted BCI system in the world, said Huang Li, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC) and chairman of Wuhan Guide Infrared Co -- a high-tech firm specializing in infrared thermal imaging technology. 

The technological breakthrough has made China a world leader in BCI chip development, Huang said during the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on Friday.

Huang detailed that the company has developed a two-way BCI technology with 65,000 channels, while foreign counterparts have developed 3,000 channels in one-way, Huang said in a note sent to the Global Times on Sunday.

"This kind of BCI chips can be used in many areas of new medical applications, including controlling prosthesis through human thoughts and treating nervous system diseases such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, depression, and Parkinson's disease," Huang noted.

BCI is basically a technology that enables a person to control an external device using brain signals. It is a cutting-edge new technology that previously appeared in only science fiction, but it is moving from academic exploration to practical use." 

China has already made solid progress in the field. In the latest major development, a research team at Tsinghua University recently published the details of cases in which two paralyzed patients regained a degree of movement through wireless, minimally invasive BCIs. One of the patients, paralyzed for 14 years, drank water from a bottle using robotic hands for the first time.

As an entrepreneur in the high-tech sector, Huang recently submitted a motion that focuses on supporting research and development in the BCI field at the ongoing NPC session in Beijing, with the aims of promoting the country's capability to produce fully domestically made BCI systems and related products.

"We should seize the opportunities of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, actively leverage our own strengths and strive to achieve growth in the fields of low-altitude economy and BCI innovation," Huang told the Global Times.

Still, many companies have found navigating the approval process for a commercial medical BCI device a challenge, and Huang said the authorities should establish a green channel for registration and the market approval of BCI products.

China has highlighted the development of "future industries" as a key part of its development plan for the next few years, and frontier technologies including BCI may grow to be one of the new quality productive forces. 

Huang said China should develop its own and controllable BCI system and enhance the innovation ability of core technologies and products in key sectors including BCI innovation to propel China's economy in the coming years. 

To achieve this goal, the Government Work Report, which was delivered to the NPC on Tuesday, stated that China will vigorously advance new industrialization, make more breakthroughs in core technologies, and promote the cultivation of emerging industries and future-oriented strategic industries such as hydrogen power, new materials, bio-manufacturing, commercial spaceflight, quantum computing and life sciences.

Dubbed as the "Silicon Valley of China", Wuhan, capital city of Central China's Hubei Province, where Guide Infrared is based, Wuhan Guide Infrared Co has enjoyed ample supply of talent and policy support to promote industrial innovation, especially cutting-edge technologies to develop strategic emerging industries.

"In our next step, the company will establish a globally influential brain science research and treatment center and introduce advanced global BCI teams to settle in Wuhan, helping the city's BCI-related industries to lead the world," Huang said.

China should ramp up efforts to promote independent scientific exploration and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI), as the country seeks to pursue a unique path of AI innovation with Chinese characteristics, Xu Jiuping, a member of the CPPCC National Committee and a professor at Sichuan University, told the Global Times. 

"We should give full play to the spirit of Chinese people who always dare to explore and innovate," Xu said.

AI has become a heated topic in this year's two sessions of the NPC and the CPPCC, and the investment and application of AI technology would assist industries and businesses to achieve speedy digital transformation and nurture new quality productive forces for economic growth.

Chinese authorities have always actively supported the development of AI and have been striving to achieve greater self-reliance in technology advances. And AI is deemed as an important engine in driving the nation's economic transformation and upgrading, Xu said.

China is home to a huge market and talent reserve, and the population base and sound software and hardware infrastructure also provide a good foundation for data collection, Xu told the Global Times.

According to Xu, to seek ingenuity in developing more advanced AI innovations means finding a unique way that suits China's actual conditions and industrial development situation, and to better serve new needs and promote China's international competitiveness.

The US investments in exploration of AI in 2023 accounted for 60 percent of the global total investments, followed by China with 12 percent, Xu told the Global Times, adding that China is relatively weak in terms of "AI literacy, talent and research." 

According to information released by the White House, the US government has laid out an ambitious agenda for the country to lead on AI research and development. The Biden administration has been funding groundbreaking research to promote trustworthy AI through America's National AI Research Institutes. 

And, the emergence of ChatGPT and Sora, a large number of AI talent have allowed the US to lead in cutting-edge AI innovation.

To fill those gaps, Xu said Chinese enterprises can learn from the experience and practices of AI pioneers such as US-based OpenAI, while finding its own distinct way to promote AI innovation.

China should advocate independent homegrown innovation, Xu noted. 

"This kind of originality does not mean being complacent or rest on our laurels, but rather adhering to independent innovation, to better serve our development needs and promote our international competitiveness in advanced technologies," Xu said.

More importance should be attached to cultivating Chinese talent in mathematics, computing and algorithm, he added.

China's investment in AI is forecast to reach $38.1 billion in 2027, accounting for 9 percent of the world's total, according to a report released by market consultancy IDC.

"The Chinese market has the world's largest number of users and active data-producing entities, helpful for reshape many new and complex businesses and services," Xu said.

US Congressional negotiators on Sunday unveiled a bill to fund key parts of the government through the rest of the fiscal year that began in October 2023, narrowly averting another partial government shutdown by Friday, Reuters reported on Monday. Part of the package includes funding to counter China in the Pacific region, US media outlet VOA claimed.

As part of this agreement, the US hastily announced the allocation of funds to counter China in the Pacific region, indicating how frantic the US has become in its efforts to suppress China. Yet, efforts by the US to disrupt economic and trade cooperation between China and the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are doomed to be counterproductive.

Under so-called Compacts of Free Association, Washington provides economic assistance to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau, while gaining exclusive military access to strategic areas of the Pacific, according to Reuters.

It's questionable if this funding will actually be delivered. The US, however, is seeking to increase its military presence in the region. Its geopolitical calculations are evident for all to see. These actions of the US will only disrupt the peace and stability of the region, thereby harming its economic growth.

In recent years, China's economic and trade cooperation with the PICs has continuously expanded, bringing tangible benefits to the region. However, this has triggered strategic anxiety in the US. Driven by a zero-sum game mind-set, the US has shifted from its previous arrogance toward the region, with frequent visits by high-ranking officials. 

During a visit to the Pacific island country of Tonga in July 2023, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized China's investment in the region, claiming that as China's engagement in the region had grown, there had been some, from his perspective, increasingly "problematic behavior."

However, rhetoric from US officials like Blinken attempting to discredit China's investments in the PICs cannot fool anyone. The attempts by the US to interfere with the PICs' legitimate rights to freely choose to expand economic and trade cooperation with China are futile.

First, no matter how many tricks the US plays to lure the PICs into its selfish geopolitical game, it cannot undermine the long-standing equal, mutually respectful and mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation between China and the PICs.

For a long time, China's economic and trade cooperation with the PICs has been closely aligned with the actual needs of local economic development and improvement of living standards of local residents. China is committed to improving local infrastructure, healthcare, education and other development needs, gradually gaining recognition from local residents.

In stark contrast, assistance promises by the US are often accompanied by numerous political conditions, with promised investment frequently being delayed or never materializing. The US consistently chooses to overlook the needs of local residents for improved access to water, electricity, basic healthcare, education and other essential services, instead only focusing on expanding its military presence in the region.

Second, China's economic and trade cooperation with the PICs has become a model of South-South cooperation. Situated in the southern extension of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the PICs are important economic and trade partners for China. 

Through mutual efforts, China's cooperation with the PICs under the BRI now encompasses more than 20 areas including trade and investment, the marine environment, disaster mitigation, poverty alleviation and healthcare, among others, bringing tangible benefits to the people in the region.

Third, China's economic and trade cooperation with these countries is complementary, based on the economic laws of free trade to develop economic and trade cooperation, rather than being politically driven. According to data from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from 1992 to 2021, total trade between China and the PICs that have diplomatic ties with it increased from $153 million to $5.3 billion, with an average annual growth rate of 13 percent, expanding over 30 times in the span of 30 years. As of the end of 2021, China's direct investment in the PICs amounted to $2.72 billion.

The PICs are not geopolitical chess pieces of the US. If the US genuinely wishes to support the development and prosperity of this region, then it should fulfill its economic aid and cooperation commitments. If engagements can bring tangible benefits to the local economies, they should be welcomed.

The US is only making empty promises, while imposing political conditions on these countries and forcing them to pick sides between the US and China. Its geopolitical games harm others while not benefiting itself, and this will provoke a backlash among local economies.

A group of CPPCC members are putting forth a proposal, recommending the inclusion of nuclear-generated electricity into the country's green electricity certification, as the country's expanding fleet of nuclear generators are capable of providing over 160 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year now.

Proposed by Yang Changli, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and chairman of Chinese nuclear giant CGN, and 13 other CPPCC members, the proposal noted that nuclear electricity hasn't been included into the national green electricity certification, which impeded efforts in realizing the country's carbon neutrality goals and the long-term development of the country's nuclear industry.

China's top political advisory body, the CPPCC National Committee, opened its annual session in Beijing on Monday.

China established a green electricity certification system in 2017 and electricity generated from wind and solar sources are awarded with certification and gain a premium at electricity market trading.

The proposal noted that electricity generated from nuclear power stations has the lowest carbon emissions among renewable energy sources, citing data from the International Atomic Energy Agency. 

One kilowatt hour of nuclear-generated electricity only emits 5.7 grams of carbon emission, compared with 74.6 grams from solar, 64.4 grams from hydropower and 13.3 grams from wind.

To date, total installed capacity of nuclear power generations in operation and under construction in China has exceeded 100 million kilowatts, accounting for 21.2 percent of the world's total with first-rated safety record, according to Yang.

The fact that nuclear power companies do not have access to official green electricity certification has prevented them from meeting the rising market demand for green electricity and curbed the supply of green power.

In the face of the sector's steady expansion, China's nuclear power generation capacity is set to reach 10 percent of the nation's total power generation capacity by 2035, according to estimates.

As of the end of 2023, China had 55 nuclear power generators in operation, generating 4.86 percent of all power generated in the year, which helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 323.3 million tons, according to China Nuclear Energy Association.

China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) told the Global Times that the voting outcome of Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) on February 28 is perceived as a response to the apprehensions widely shared by the business communities. It addresses worries regarding burdensome compliance and excessive administrative costs that could potentially result from the proposed CSDDD rules.

The response came after the EU failed to pass a law in favor of the CSDDD on February 28.

Reuters reported that not enough envoys from the 27 EU members backed the law for it to proceed, with opposition led by Germany's pro-business Free Democrats, part of the three-party governing coalition, who argued it would burden business with excessive bureaucracy.

The rules did not name China directly, but the rules would have required EU firms with more than 500 employees and €150 million ($162.7 million) net turnover worldwide to conduct detailed audits of their suppliers and partners.

China is the EU's second largest trading partner, largest source of imports and third largest export destination. If the bill is passed, it is widely believed that Chinese companies will become important targets of its supervision.

Chinese experts also said the legislation itself lacks credibility and appears to be an attempt to use human rights and environmental issues to suppress China, which is doomed to fail.

In a written submission to the European Commission back in May 2022, the chamber expressed concerns regarding the proposed CSDDD rules, citing potential unbalanced, disproportionate, and ambiguous obligations for all business operators.

Our members also voiced apprehensions that CSDDD might necessitate subject companies undertaking due diligence along their entire value chains, both directly and indirectly, at a level surpassing their control and capabilities, CCCEU said.

The CCCEU and its members reaffirm they are supportive of international and multilateral initiatives when it comes to respecting human rights and environmental protection.

Chinese authorities have been rejecting EU accusations of so-called human rights violation. The groundless accusation on China's human rights conditions, spreads disinformation, tarnishes China's image and gravely violates China's internal affairs, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a press conference in December.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), the country's top securities regulator, on Tuesday pledged to further strengthen the rule of law in the capital market to support its high-quality development, consolidate the market's fundamentals, stabilize expectations and benefit it in the long term.

Experts noted that the CSRC statement came ahead of the annual two sessions, where the stabilization of the capital market is expected to be in the spotlight. It also highlights the country's determination to promote the healthy development of the capital market and protect investors' rights and interests, they said.

The CSRC held a symposium on Tuesday, listening to opinions and suggestions on improving the basic system of the capital market and strengthening the protection of the rule of law.

Participants recognized the breakthroughs in recent years in building the rule of law in the capital market, noting that it is necessary to adhere to the direction of market-oriented and law-based reforms.

Participants stressed the need to accelerate legislation in various fields, such as the regulation of listed companies, securities firms and investment funds.

Related departments should implement civil compensation remedies, and also formulate judicial interpretations related to civil compensation for insider trading and market manipulation, to protect the legitimate rights and interests of investors, especially small and medium-sized investors.

The participants also suggested further improving the securities and futures law enforcement and judicial systems with Chinese characteristics, and strengthening efficient coordination between law enforcement and the judiciary, in order to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement on a "zero-tolerance" basis.

"The rule of law in the capital market will be the focus of the upcoming two sessions, and related proposals are expected to be put forward to correct some blind spots in the legal system," Dong Shaopeng, a senior research fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Dong noted that this meeting is also of great significance to legal action in the capital market that has been carried out since the end of last year, and it also reflects the attitude of the relevant authorities to resolutely deal with illegal acts.

CSRC chairman Wu Qing said during the meeting that the CSRC will carefully study the opinions and suggestions put forward by the participants, and work together with the relevant parties to improve the legal system, enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement and strengthen judicial protection.

In the first press briefing in the Year of the Dragon held on Friday, the CSRC vowed that it will adhere to an investor-centered approach, scrutinize enterprises that are to be listed, and severely punish those who violate the law and infringe upon the interests of investors, so as to improve the quality of listed companies.

The regulator vowed to build a "penetrating" screening system to identify and crack down on market manipulation and insider trading. Penalties for such practices will increase, and the cost of breaking the law will also be higher, it said.

At the second anniversary of the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, it is both disheartening and worrying for the global economy to witness the West once more intensifying sanctions against Russia and even extending them to third countries, rather than reflecting on and acknowledging the past mistakes and economic perils associated with the indiscriminate use of sanctions. 

The EU last week agreed on a new package of sanctions against Russia that for the first time targets Chinese and Indian companies accused of "supporting Moscow's war efforts," the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

The measures of the EU, which will be its 13th package of sanctions imposed in response to Russia's military operation against Ukraine, were followed by the UK and the US. Britain announced a new package of sanctions against Russia that includes three electronics companies in China, Reuters reported on Friday.

Then, the Biden administration announced on Friday more than 500 new sanctions against targets in Russia, which reportedly include measures against Russia's main card payment system, financial and military institutions and entities outside of Russia.

It may be disappointing for the US and its European allies to find that financial and trade restrictions have failed to lead to the collapse of the Russian economy as anticipated. 

Two years after the outbreak of the conflict, Russia's economy is even forecast to grow more rapidly this year than previously expected, surpassing that of the US, Germany, France and the UK. Last month, the IMF raised Russia's GDP growth to 2.6 percent for 2024, with that of the US estimated to reach 2.1 percent.

If anything, such economic prospects should have made it clear that sanctions do not solve any of the problems since the conflict started, but have brought more serious economic consequences. The failure of the sanctions approach is not a reason for the West to escalate sanctions or include companies from third countries as targets. Such actions are unreasonable and ignorant and will not help when it comes to achieving their goals of containing Russia's military or economic strength.

When it comes to the Ukraine crisis, China's position has always been consistent. China is not a party directly involved, and it did not choose to be a bystander or add fuel to the fire. China will continue to play a constructive role in bringing an early end to the conflict and restoring peace in Ukraine. 

There is nothing to criticize regarding the pursuit of peace, and it is believed that this thinking is shared by many other emerging countries.

Fundamentally speaking, Western sanctions against Russia are actually illegal and unilateral actions, which have not been approved by the UN. The US and its European allies, regardless of how powerful they are, do not represent the entire international community. It makes no sense for them to escalate sanctions and exert pressure on other countries by targeting normal economic exchanges between Russia and other countries.

What Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said recently on the sidelines of the Munich conference may just show the view of all those who have not participated in Western sanctions against Russia. 

Jaishankar said, "If I am smart enough to have multiple options, you should be admiring me." He said that India should not be criticized for having multiple options and reaffirmed its stand and commitment to buying Russian oil.

The world is not ruled by the US and its European allies only. Their goal of containing Russia is their own business, and they have no right to demand other countries sacrifice their development opportunities to serve Western strategies. When it comes to how to deal with Russia, emerging economies should have the right to consider and choose from their own interests.

What has happened over the past two years has proved that unilateral sanctions and extreme pressure have not only done great harm to the global economy, but have also disrupted the international order the West has been trying to maintain. Eventually, it is the West itself that pays the price of sowing the seeds of disorder in its own energy sector and supply chains. 

Thus, it is advised that the West reflect on the consequences of sanctions and seek to resolve the dilemma so as to avoid further complicating the global political and economic situation with "long-arm jurisdiction" means.

Multinational companies remain optimistic about the development opportunities in the Chinese market, evident in their great enthusiasm in investing more in China, an official from China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Friday, as the nation welcomes a good start to the Year of the Dragon.

Despite the skepticism in the West over China's market attractiveness to foreign capital, the number of newly established foreign-invested enterprises has increased significantly in the first month of 2024, against the background of continuous growth last year.

Data from MOFCOM on Friday shows that in January, there were 4,588 newly established foreign-funded enterprises in China, a year-on-year increase of 74.4 percent.

China attracted 127.69 billion yuan ($17.74 billion) in foreign investment last January. Due to factors such as a high base, the data of this January showed a slight decline, but there was a 20.4 percent increase month-on-month, the ministry's official said.

The strong foreign investment was reflected in the robust stock market on Friday, an indication that foreign investment continues to enter the Chinese market.

The structures of foreign investment have continued to improve in terms of industries.

Investment in high-tech manufacturing increased by 40.6 percent in January, of which the medical equipment and instrumentation manufacturing industry jumped by a whopping 558.8 percent, continuing the trend of industrial structure optimization and manufacturing recovery growth since last year.

The robust growth stands as strong evidence of how foreign enterprises are involved in industrial transition and upgrade in China against the backdrop of the nation's continuous promotion of high quality development of the economy, the MOFCOM official said.

In a notable trend, the investment growth from some developed countries has shown a faster pace, despite the intensified hype by some Western media and politicians over "foreign capital leaving China."

Specifically, investment in China from countries including Germany, Australia and Singapore saw big growth. Germany's investment grew by 211.8 percent year-on-year, followed by a 186 percent increase from Australia and 77.1 percent from Singapore, according to the data from MOFCOM.

Generally speaking, the investment situation in January continued the characteristics of last year's scale fluctuation and structural optimization, the official said.

In 2024, the ministry will continue to increase its efforts to promote foreign investment. The ministry will make good use of the foreign-funded enterprise roundtable and problem and appeal collection and management system for foreign-funded enterprise in China to further deepen communication with foreign-funded enterprises and help solve difficult problems, the official said.

The remarks came as the A-share market saw robust growth on Friday, closing at 3,000 points, the first time returning to this level since December last year. The active influx of foreign investors is considered one of the driving factors.

On Wednesday, the net inflow of northbound funds was approximately 13.6 billion yuan, reaching a new high since 2024, and continued the net inflow trend on Thursday, according to media reports.

The Chinese government's efforts to improve the market situation for foreign investors have been intensified.

From Thursday to Friday, the 2024 national foreign investment work conference, chaired by China's Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy International Trade Representative Ling Ji, was held in Beijing. The meeting noted that attracting and utilizing foreign investment is of great significance to building a new development pattern, promoting high-quality development, and achieving Chinese modernization.

Commerce units of all levels are urged to fully implement the opinions on further optimizing the foreign investment environment and increasing efforts to attract foreign investment.

The meeting calls for the further strengthening of service guarantees for foreign-invested enterprises and projects and continuing to optimize the foreign investment environment.