To further combat cross-border telecom fraud in northern Myanmar, police from China and Myanmar conducted a joint operation for the first time in northern Myanmar's Muse, transferring a total of 352 Chinese suspects, including key figures and masterminds, along with 51 fugitives to China.
Recently, Chinese and Myanmar police cooperated internationally, arresting 807 suspects involved in cross-border telecom fraud in the Muse area. Among them, 455 were Myanmar nationals and 352 were Chinese nationals. All Chinese suspects were transferred to China as of March 31, state broadcaster China Central Television reported on Monday.
A large number of computers, mobile phones, and fraud scripts were seized at the scene. All Chinese suspects and evidence were transferred to China through the Ruili border port in Southwest China's Yunnan Province. Law enforcement departments in Anhui, Jiangsu, and other places have been tasked with bringing back the suspects and conducting further investigations, according to the report.
This operation represents a significant achievement in police cooperation between China and Myanmar, highlighting the two sides' determination to combat cross-border telecom fraud, according to the report.
Since 2023, China's Ministry of Public Security has been deepening international law enforcement cooperation with Myanmar in response to serious telecom fraud originating from northern Myanmar, carrying out a series of joint actions that have seen 48,000 Chinese fraud suspects transferred to China.
However, some fraud groups in the Muse area continue to operate, posing a serious threat. After multiple rounds of talks and consultations between China and Myanmar, the two sides agreed to launch the joint operation. Based on information provided by Chinese law enforcement departments, the Myanmar police dispatched personnel to the area to coordinate local law enforcement efforts.
Officials from the Ministry of Public Security said that telecom fraud has become a global challenge, and strengthening international law enforcement cooperation is imperative.
Chinese authorities will continue to deepen cooperation with relevant countries and regions, conduct joint operations, eradicate fraud activities, and safeguard the security of people's lives and property, said the officials, warning fraudsters that regions overseas are not beyond the reach of the law and urging them to surrender voluntarily and face justice as soon as possible.
The Philippines should not abuse China's restraint or underestimate China's determination and ability to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Chinese analysts warned on Friday, after Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr vowed to take countermeasures against China Coast Guard (CCG), continuing to play the trick of being a victim and further escalating tensions in the South China Sea.
Analysts also called the US the "biggest external disturbance" to peace and stability in the South China Sea, saying that the Philippines' approach of putting pressure on China by relying on the US is actually "inviting a wolf into the house," and will not be welcomed by regional countries.
The Philippines will implement countermeasures that are proportionate and reasonable against "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks" by CCG, Marcos said in a statement posted on Thursday on X, formerly Twitter.
The "attacks" Marcos referred to are CCG ships intercepting and firing water cannons at a Philippine supply vessel, which illegally and forcibly intruded into waters near China's Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef), ignoring repeated warnings from the Chinese side.
Marcos did not specify what the countermeasures would include. Citing two Philippine officials, Associated Press reported that Marcos' statement was made after meeting top Philippine defense and national security officials, who submitted their recommendations, which include the use of faster military vessels instead of chartered civilian boats when the Philippine navy delivers a new batch of personnel and supplies to Ren'ai Jiao.
"We seek no conflict with any nation," Marcos wrote on social media, but noted that the Philippines "will not be cowed into silence, submission, or subservience."
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said on Thursday that the Philippines' harassment and provocations are the direct cause of the recent escalation of the South China Sea issue, and China will not allow the Philippines to act willfully.
"As the head of state, it is inappropriate and unfriendly for Marcos to speak out tough words in person, which may cause huge damage to bilateral relations. And his words will reduce, to a certain degree, the flexibility for executive departments to operate," Wu Shicun, president of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Friday.
On Friday, Philippines' Department of National Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong repeated Marcos' claim that "Filipinos do not yield," and accused China of "intimidating smaller countries," ABS-CBN NEWS reported.
According to Ding Duo, deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the China Institute for South China Sea Studies, the Philippines may continue its trick of "playing victim" to the global audience, and thus smear and attack China through "cognitive warfare."
Manila may arrange for another group of reporters from the West in their provocative missions of "sending supplies," and make their voices louder through "experts" and hawkish former officials, Ding said.
Manila may also strengthen the joint activities in these hotspots and key waters such as Huangyan Dao and Ren'ai Jiao, and carry out provocations, said Ding.
The Philippines has abused China's restraint and goodwill, underestimating China's determination and ability to safeguard our territory and sovereignty, Wu said.
Ding said China has a rich toolkit for responding to the Philippines' further provocations. "Whether it is the Philippines itself or colluding with countries outside the region, the waves they raise in the South China Sea are within our ability to respond."
Meanwhile, we will act in line with the principle of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, said Ding.
US instigation
According to experts, Marcos' tough words serve domestic political purposes when he needs to shift Filipinos' discontent over his administration's performance on livelihood and the economy, and are also a response to the "support" from countries outside the region, including the US.
In a telephone call with Philippine defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated a warning that it is obligated to come to the aid of the Philippines under a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty if Philippine forces, aircraft and ships come under armed attack, including anywhere in the South China Sea, according to AP.
Furthermore, leaders of the US, Philippines and Japan will meet for their first trilateral summit at the White House in April, according to a US official statement. Analysts believe that Washington is getting involved in the Asia-Pacific with increasing strength and resources.
"The US is the biggest external disturbance to peace and stability in the South China Sea," Ding said, "without instigation from US, it is more likely that China and the Philippines would manage their differences through negotiation and consultation."
The US is trying to reshape the strategic environment around China by strengthening its military alliance with the Philippines to intervene in the South China Sea issue, but it is useless and may even backfire when they use their "mutual defense treaty" to threaten China, said Ding.
Experts said that given the pro-US stance of Marcos' cabinet members and the military, the possibility for Beijing-Manila ties to return to the Duterte era is very slim, however, a large-scale military clash at sea is also unlikely.
China's ability to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, as well as its ability to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, are constantly improving, Ding said.
In addition, regional countries are well aware of the Philippines' behavior as a troublemaker that "leads the wolf into the house," Ding said. "The majority of ASEAN members do not want the South China Sea issue to affect their normal cooperation with China. And if the Philippines insists on provocations, it is believed that Manila will not be welcomed within ASEAN, and some restraints may be carried out against the Philippines."
The Philippine side should learn from the past conflicts on Meiji Jiao of the Nansha Islands. If repeated, normal ministerial exchanges, high-level visits and personnel exchanges between China and the Philippines will be affected, Wu warned.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) on Monday local time approved a resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, after the US abstained from the vote, leaving Israel to face further presure from the international community.
The historic passing marks the first time that the UNSC has successfully voted to demand an immediate cease-fire in Gaza since the start of the new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023. Several previous attempts have failed due to US' repeated block.
Analysts said the newly adopted resolution shows the common aspiration of the international community for a cease-fire, and also creates conditions for humanitarian aid and further mediation.
However, the implementation of the resolution may still face setbacks regarding Israel's reactions. But if Israel chooses to deviate from the common expectations on the global stage, then it will face deeper diplomatic isolation, which may eventually lead to its domestic political instability.
The US' decision to abstain, which was made under both domestic and international pressures, does not represent a fundamental change in the Washington's policy toward Israel and its position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Common aspiration
According to the UN, the resolution was tabled by 10 non-permanent members of the UNSC, and the remaining 14 council members voted in favor of the resolution.
The resolution demanded "an immediate cease-fire for the month of Ramadan leading to a lasting sustainable cease-fire." It also demands the release of all hostages seized in the Hamas-led attack.
There was a round of applause in the council chamber after the vote on Monday, according to an Aljazeera report.
Zhang Jun, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of China to the UN, said on Monday that "all harm to civilians must cease immediately" and the offensive must end.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU welcomed the passing of the resolution, noting that implementation of the resolution is vital for the protection of all civilians.
Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the resolution reflects the common aspiration of the international community. "The mainstream international voice is a cease-fire and a two-state solution."
According to Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, the resolution has restored the previously damaged UN authority, and led to greater and more authoritative international pressure on Israel.
This is a victory of morality and justice for the international community through unremitting efforts, Liu said.
The adoption of the resolution has created conditions for further relief of humanitarian disasters and for further mediation by the international community, Liu said.
However, Israel has shown no signs of backing off. Israel's envoy to the UN Gilad Erdan, claimed that the UN resolution "undermines the efforts to secure" the Israeli hostages' release from Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that his country would not abide by the resolution. "The State of Israel will not cease fire. We will destroy Hamas, and will continue to fight until the return of all hostages to home," Katz said on X (previously Twitter).
The US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield has termed the resolution as "nonbinding," according to a media release from US mission to the UN.
A smooth implementation of the resolution will not be easy, Liu said. In the best-case scenario, the ceasefire holds during the remaining two weeks of Ramadan. But after that, given Israel's behavior and strategic choices, as well as US' two-faced approach, the humanitarian disaster in Gaza is likely to continue, the expert said.
In a post on X, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the resolution must be implemented, and "failure would be unforgivable."
If Israel ignores the resolution and continues its brutal war in the Gaza Strip and continues to create a humanitarian disaster, then the international community, with the UN as the most authoritative coordinating and empowering body, may come up with follow-up resolutions, which will make Israel isolated in the international community, Li said.
Lin Jian, a spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, expressed support and welcome toward the UNSC resolution at a press briefing Tuesday. He said it's "in line with the right direction of action and responds to the extensive aspiration of the international community."
Lin said that the UNSC resolutions are binding. "We call on the parties concerned to fulfill their obligations under the UN Charter and take due action according to the requirements of the resolution. We expect countries with important influence to play a positive role on the parties concerned, including taking all necessary and effective means to support the implementation of the resolution."
Growing rifts and divergence
The resolution has also caused rising tensions between Israel and the US. According to Israeli officials, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has cancelled a delegation visit to Washington for talks on Israel's planned military operation in Rafah, as Washington "withdraws from its principled position," the new outlet NPR reported.
In response, US National Security spokesperson John Kirby said on Monday that the US was disappointed by the Israeli decision to cancel the trip. He stressed that the US vote "does not represent a shift in our policy."
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called the cancelation "surprising and unfortunate." Some officials even said Israel overreacted, according to CNN.
Despite UNSC resolution, Israel did not stop its killing. Eighteen people have been killed in an overnight Israeli bombing of a house in Rafah, where more than 1.4 million Palestinians are displaced, Aljazeera said on Tuesday. The health ministry in Gaza said Monday that at least 32,333 people have been killed in the territory.
Invading and striking Rafah has been the key divergence between the US and Israel, with Pentagon spokesperson previously warning that invading Rafah would be a mistake.
Even the US, Israel's staunch ally, does not like what Israel is doing, Li said. "The US does not want to sacrifice all its reputation and interests in supporting Israel's brutal attacks."
Experts also pointed to electoral factors behind the fine-tuning of the US approach.
However, there will be no fundamental change in US policy toward Israel, nor in its position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Li said.
The US will still support Israel, but it wants Israel's leaders to be more flexible in pursuing its Gaza policy, rather than the current obstinacy, which is also causing problems for the US, Li said. According to the expert, rifts between the US and Israel have always existed.
The US also wants to put pressure on Israel by not blocking the resolution, said Li. ''If Israel fails to change its policy on the Gaza war, the likelihood of domestic political chaos in Israel under the pressure of such a resolution will increase."
Parents should pay attention to acts of domestic violence and prioritize the mental health education of their children, the Education Bureau of Songyuan, Northeast China's Jilin Province, said in an open letter as a number of educational authorities nationwide have been enhancing prevention of campus bullying after a string of recent cases.
Parents are encouraged to regularly contact teachers to understand their children's situation at school and cooperate with schools and teachers to educate children on preventing bullying. The open letter also stated that if bullying incidents are discovered, they should be promptly stopped, reported to the school, or reported to the police.
There have been many similar open letters recently from local education bureaus to parents. The education and sports bureau of the Linchuan district in the city of Fuzhou, East China's Jiangxi Province, also wrote an open letter to parents. "In recent years, we have often seen reports of campus bullying incidents through the internet, media, and other channels. Campus bullying incidents have been occurring frequently, with increasing severity, frequency, and a hidden nature, attracting high attention from society," said the letter.
At the same time, various cities across the country are intensively carrying out education on "preventing campus bullying."
On Thursday, in Zhaoyuan, East China's Shandong Province, various departments jointly held a legal lecture titled "Say No to Campus Bullying" for minors at a school. During the event, volunteers played animated videos and explained cases to help teenagers better understand the irreversible impact of campus bullying. Lawyers explained relevant articles of the Law on the Protection of Minors, and informed them of assistance hotlines and channels to protect their rights.
In Ya'an, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, schools in the Yucheng district have carried out various education activities on preventing campus bullying, further strengthening prevention efforts.
Recently, a series of campus bullying incidents across the country have sparked widespread public outrage after being exposed by the media. In particular, the case of three classmates who allegedly killed and buried a 13-year-old boy in Handan, North China's Hebei Province, on March 10 has triggered a new round of discussion on punishments for juvenile offenders.
On Saturday, the police in Yingshan county, Sichuan, reported that on March 14, six students had a conflict with one of their classmates, and violently attacked her in the school's female restroom by kicking and slapping her. Three of the perpetrators, who are above 14 years old, have been detained.
On March 18, a video showed a male student being beaten by two classmates in the restroom of a school in Jinan, East China's Shandong Province. Local authorities responding to the case stated that the victim was a seventh-grade student, while the perpetrators were ninth-grade students.
Another video showed a girl being brutally beaten and humiliated by multiple people in a hotel, including being forced to kneel, have a trash can placed over her head and being stripped off all her clothes. After the video sparked widespread attention, on Tuesday, the police in Xining, Northwest China's Qinghai Province, stated that they are investigating the incident.
On Wednesday, education authorities in Chengdu, Sichuan, published a new regulation on high school admissions. In this regulation, it is explicitly stated that students who have engaged in campus bullying or other misconduct during junior high school will not be recommended as target students for admission, and will be placed at the bottom of the admission sequence during enrollment.
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.
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.
