Due to continuous rain and snow combined with drastic temperature drops, and a peak in respiratory diseases, the number of blood donors has significantly decreased in multiple cities across China, posing a challenge for blood banks in ensuring sufficient blood supply in a number of localities.
The central blood station in Yuncheng, North China's Shanxi Province, which accommodates more than 4.7 million people, issued an appeal on Friday calling on residents aged between 18 and 55 to actively donate blood, as the city needs at least 220 voluntary blood donations per day to meet basic clinical demand.
The appeal noted that because of the recent rainy and snowy weather, as well as the high incidence of respiratory diseases, the number of blood donations in the city has significantly dropped and many blood banks are facing emergency levels when it comes to blood supplies.
Yuncheng is not alone in facing a shortfall in blood donors. The Global Times reached the central blood stations in Wuxi, East China's Jiangsu Province, as well as Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang Province, on Monday and both confirmed that local blood banks are experiencing a shortage of inventory.
The Wuxi blood station told the Global Times that due to the current shortage, hospitals are implementing blood control measures to ensure proper distribution.
The central blood station in Weifang, a city in East China's Shandong Province, is also under pressure. It too has appealed to the public, saying that it needs a minimum of 400 blood donations per day to meet clinical demand, including for patients suffering from traumatic bleeding, postpartum hemorrhages, burns, surgical procedures and other situations.
Winter is the peak season for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, which leads to a surge in clinical demand for blood. Another populous city in China, Xinxiang in Central China's Henan Province, called for urgent support after the city's blood inventory fell below a designated warning line, which local officials said severely impacts the ability to provide proper medical treatment to clinical patients and poses a threat to public health.
Based on media reports, at least six other localities across China have issued similar notices to call attention to the issue.
To cope with the situation, various localities have come up with a number of promotional activities to attract voluntary donors. The Shanghai central blood station told the Global Times on Monday that it has introduced different kinds of promotions on its WeChat account and official website, and is offering volunteer certificates as well as medals to encourage the good deed.
Since 1998, when the Law of the People's Republic of China on Blood Donation was officially implemented, the number of voluntary blood donations has continuously increased for over 20 years, according to data from the National Health Commission.
The number of voluntary blood donations nationwide has increased by roughly 47 times, from 328,000 in 1998 to more than 15 million in 2020. The blood donation rate per thousand people has also increased from 4.8 in 1998 to 11.1 in 2020.
A WHO global blood safety report shows that China ranks among the top in the world in terms of voluntary blood donations, blood safety and clinical blood use.
However, there is still a persistent shortage of blood in China. For one thing, although the blood donation rate has been on the rise year by year, it is still relatively low compared to developed countries, which stands approximately at 33 per thousand. On the other hand, there has been a fast growing need for blood across China, which has led to a widening gap between supply and demand, according to media reports.
Against this backdrop, a number of institutions have sought to turn what was originally supposed to be a voluntary act of public welfare into a compulsory requirements, which sparked huge controversy among the Chinese public.
According to media reports, a school in Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang Province, recently issued a notice stating that non-local residents wishing to enroll their children in local primary schools must adhere to a points-based system. Apart from accumulating higher points based on the duration of residency, they can also gain points through voluntary blood donations. Each 100ml donation earns 2 points, with a maximum of 30 points achievable through blood donation.
The decision to include blood donations as a criterion for "entry points" into schools has triggered controversy, with many arguing that this approach lacks rationale, turning voluntary blood donation into a utilitarian tool. Moreover, it pressures non-local residents to donate blood for their children's schooling, disregarding that not everyone is suitable to give blood.
Looking back at the year that is about to pass, everyone has developed a deeper understanding of the major assertion that "the world is experiencing a transformation unseen in a century, and it is accelerating."
Throughout 2023, the international security situation remains severe, with the Ukraine crisis still unresolved and renewed conflict between Israel and Palestine. The global economy is on a post-pandemic path to recovery, but the pace remains slow and uneven, combating inflation remains a top priority for many economies; issues like climate change, artificial intelligence, and the food crisis continue to call for global unity and collaboration. However, notions such as "decoupling" and "de-risk" keep adding risks of division to the international order.
Faced with the turbulent, rapidly evolving global situation, and the profound questions of where humanity is headed historically, globally, and through the ages, China has presented its answer through the concept of Chinese modernization.
China has achieved its first centennial goal and is marching toward building a great modern socialist country, fulfilling its second centennial goal. Chinese modernization encapsulates both the summary of historical success and has become the "keyword" for the comprehensive promotion of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in the new era.
In an era filled with both challenges and opportunities, Chinese modernization will become a key to understanding the interaction between China and the world. On December 23, the 2024 Global Times Annual Conference will take place, themed under the topic: "Following the Path of Chinese Modernization: Coping with Changes Unseen in a century."
Over a hundred authoritative figures, experts, and scholars from politics, academia, and business sectors both domestically and internationally will gather to offer insights and have intellectual exchanges on four major topics: "Population, Industry, and Market: The Underlying Logic of Chinese Modernization," "Development, Security, and Civilization: The Global Outlook of Chinese Modernization," "Conflict, Competition, and Cooperation: The External Environment of Chinese Modernization," and "Innovation, Technology, and Humanities: The Future Vision of Chinese Modernization." During the conference, the Global Times Research Center will also release the results of the 2023 Global Poll.
On December 24, the conference will host a sub-forum on "Following the Path of Chinese Modernization: Endeavoring to Ensure Good Health for All" under the Global Life and Health Forum. Senior government health officials, senior medical practitioners, and authoritative scholars will engage in discussions on two major topics: "Heritage, Innovation, and Integration: The Chinese Wisdom in Traditional Medicine" and "Co-Existence with Nature and Nurturing Wellness: The Chinese Vision for a Better Life." Additionally, a themed forum on "China's Practice in Ensuring Mental Health for Everyone" will be organized.
The Chinese delegation established a strong presence at the Chengdu Universiade over the weekend, as they bagged nine gold medals on Sunday, Day 2 of the tournament, allowing China to take the top spot on the medal table with a total of 13 golds.
In rhythmic gymnastics, China won the team all-around by 0.55 points in a nail-biting competition. But besides their achievement, team member Li Huilin credited the audience for boosting the team's performance.
"I was quite excited when I was on the field during the competition. The audience was very enthusiastic, and I could feel their energy," Li told reporters. "I really love this place."
In archery, China defeated France to win gold at the compound men's team event. After a close final, China outlasted South Korea 5-4 to clinch the recurve women's team gold.
Compound men's team gold medalist Du Meiyu from Tongji University, who often clapped with other teammates during the race, shared their secret to success with the Global Times on Sunday.
"We clapped to encourage ourselves, because whatever the results may be, we were trying our best to restart in the next round," Du told the Global Times, attributing the win to group efforts rather than individual ones.
Du's teammate Chen Yangsong from the Shangdong Vocational College of Industry pointed out that the main factor in their victory was their consistent play throughout the match.
"The state we strive to achieve is to shoot an arrow and forget about the outcome of the ring score, always focusing on the arrow we are about to shoot in our hands," he said.
"We come from different regions and different schools… The biggest thing we gained was the unity and cohesion between each other, including the cooperation with our coaches and the bonding between teammates," Chen told the Global Times.
The main goal of the Chinese archery team in the compound bow is to compete for the gold medal in the men's and women's team event, Zhang Bo, leader of the Chinese archery team for the Chengdu FISU Games, told reporters.
"We have made extensive preparations in terms of athletes' mind-set and tactical training during our short period of training," Zhang told the Global Times.
"Our athletes cooperated with each other to guide our technical movements and encouraged one another, achieving a collective strength that surpasses our individual abilities."
Zhang said the Chinese archery team's gold medal harvest in the team event is also playing a positive role in the further promotion of archery among Chinese university students.
"It's like a seed planted inside the college student population, so that everyone can see that an ordinary student can ascend to the highest podium of the world's college athletics through their own efforts."
In Zhang's view, the Chengdu FISU Games are not only an arena for athletes to strive for a podium finish, but also an occasion for university students from all over the world to communicate with each other.
"We can see athletes from different countries often observe each other's equipment brands during training sessions. They then engage in lively conversations, sharing their experiences and insights during meals and breaks. This creates a vibrant atmosphere of camaraderie," Zhang said.
In the wushu dicipline, Cao Maoyuan, who won the Chinese delegation's first gold at the Universiade, continued his hot form to clinch his second gold in the men's Nangun. Meanwhile, following Cao's victory in Taijiquan, compatriot Chen Xiaoli also pocketed her second gold of the Games by winning the women's Taijijian. Jin Zhedian won the men's Daoshu gold.
In shooting, Liu Yukun, Wang Yuefeng and Li Xinmiao claimed the 50m rifle 3 positions men's team gold. Xia Qi, Duan Zhicheng and Liu Shuai bagged gold at the 25m rapid fire pistol men's team event.
A youth soccer invitation tournament is set to kick off in early October in East China’s Fujian Province, attracting top youth soccer club teams from Germany, the Netherlands, Argentina, and Serbia, as well as top teams within the same bracket from China. During the competition, a forum focused on professional talent development in youth soccer training will also be held.
The inaugural Borussia Dortmund “Hooray Island Cup” youth soccer friendship tournament will take place from October 2 to 9 in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, the Global Times learned from a press conference held at the Beijing Sport University on Friday.
The tournament is set for the U15 age group, and participating teams will include Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, the Netherlands’ Feyenoord Rotterdam, Argentina’s River Plate, Serbia’s Red Star Belgrade, as well as Chinese teams such as East China’s Zhejiang Province’s representative team and Chinese Football Boy, among others. The tournament has also invited teams from Asian countries such as Vietnam, which has recently made a name for itself in the youth training field.
During the tournament, a forum titled “Focusing on Development, Leading the Future – Chinese Path to Modernization of Youth Soccer Training” will be held on October 4 and 5. The forum will encompass four main themes: The development of domestic and international soccer club youth training systems, the construction of high-level soccer talent development, high-quality youth events, and the integration of professional talent development in soccer academies.
The forum is expected to invite representatives from sport education departments of the General Administration of Sport, the Ministry of Education, and the Chinese Football Association, as well as deans from domestic universities and sports colleges' soccer academies. It will also feature domestic and international soccer experts, scholars, renowned coaches, athletes, and soccer media professionals, all coming together to explore and discuss the development path of youth soccer training in China.
Zhang Jian, Vice President of the Beijing Sport University, emphasized during the meeting that the development of soccer should draw on advanced foreign experiences in youth talent development. It should integrate youth training, high-level play, and career planning based on China’s actual conditions.
It was an arduous journey to win the 200th gold medal for the Chinese delegation at the Hangzhou Asian Games and the victory of special significance, Chinese chess grand master told the Global Times upon his arrival to Beijing on Monday evening.
During the men's individual final of Xiangqi, or Chinese chess, at the Games on Saturday, Zheng Weitong defeated his teammate Zhao Xinxin to win the 200th gold medal for the Chinese delegation, breaking the record of winning 199 golds at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games.
The Chinese delegation finished the Hangzhou Games by setting a new record of bagging 201 golds, 111 silvers and 71 bronzes, the best feat accomplished by a single delegation in the history of the Asian multi-sport showpiece. China has dominated the medal table for 11 consecutive Asian Games since 1982.
On Zheng's triumphant return to Beijing, he was greeted with cheers and applause at the airport and shared his maiden Asian Games journey during an exclusive interview with the Global Times.
Zheng, who was promoted to grand master after winning the national Xiangqi championship in 2014, said he was delighted that Chinese chess made a comeback to the Asian Games after 13 years, which is a testament to the popularity of the mind sport.
Chinese chess became an official event of the Asian Games in 2010. This time a total of 39 athletes fought for three golds on offer in the mixed team and men's and women's individual competitions.
When competing in both the mixed team and individual events, the 30-year-old Zheng said China faced stern challenges from foreign players.
"The team event put our teamwork and mutual trust to the test. No matter who plays in each of the six rounds, we were at the coach's disposal and ready to shoulder the responsibility. We prepared each round as a team and communication was key to our success and helped relieve our pressure," said Zheng.
In the team final, Zhao Xinxin, Wang Yang and Wang Linna edged past opponents of Vietnam to claim gold.
The historic moment came in the men's individual event. With the development of Xiangqi overseas, a growing number of foreign contestants have emerged and China is facing fierce competition in global stage. Two members of the Vietnam team play in China's national Xiangqi league.
"Foreign players have made tremendous progress and I was pushed to the wall at one stage where I had no margin for error. Even a draw would disqualify me from the final. I slogged through six rounds before reaching the final," Zheng noted.
Meanwhile, his teammate Zhao outsmarted a Vietnamese player to set up an all-Chinese individual final.
Zheng admitted that his teammate was better prepared for the final and they didn't expect that the gold medal would set a new record for the Chinese delegation.
"I'm grateful to my teammates for our preparation for the Asian Games. We helped each other a lot during the Games. Putting our personal interests aside, our goal was to secure the gold for China," he said.
"We talked about whether China could reach the milestone of 200 golds the day before the final, but we had never thought that Xiangqi would be the record breaker. I was told the news after the final," said Zheng, who is also pursuing his MBA at Tsinghua University.
"Zhao was probably under more pressure as he was a Hangzhou native. I was lucky to win the final and be the one to set the new milestone. It was the result of the joint efforts made by all the Chinese athletes. Winning the 200th gold was a big surprise and is of great significance to me," he said.
China eventually won all of the three golds of Xiangqi at the Hangzhou Games.
"Xiangqi is the only event showcasing Chinese characteristics at the Hangzhou Asian Games. The Asian Games is the best stage for us to promote Xiangqi and Chinese culture to the world," said Lü Qin, coach of Chinese Xiangqi team.
Without much time to rest, Zheng has already set his sights on the 5th National Mind Sports Games that will begin on October 25.
"I need to go back to Tsinghua first and make up my studies," said Zheng, who will publish his debut book about Xiangqi opening variations soon.
Xiangqi is a two-player Chinese board game in the same family as Western chess, chaturanga, shogi and janggi. The present-day form of Xiangqi originated in China and is therefore commonly called Chinese chess.
Amid the first Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Chan Buddhism Culture Festival, the exhibition themed “Passing Down Dharma: Nanhua Buddhist Temple in The Past 1500 years,” kicked off at the Nanhua Temple, with a total of 53 pieces of treasured cultural relics showcased for the first time.
This exhibition aims to further strengthen exchanges with the Buddhist community in Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao and the Belt and Road partner countries to contribute to the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and to enrich the connotation of the humanistic Bay Area, according to the media report.
The Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557) bronze statue of the Buddha as the earliest of the numerous artifacts in the collection of Nanhua Temple is also featured at the exhibition.
Another attraction is the wooden figure of a Buddhist monk, dated Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). The carving style is thick and simple, and it is an outstanding representative of the existing Northern Song Dynasty wooden carving statues of five hundred Buddhist monks.
Nanhua Temple in Shaoguan, South China’s Guangdong Province, is the birthplace of southern Zen advocated by Mater Huineng (AD638-713), who is highly respected as the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism.
Built in AD502, the temple preserves many of the national treasures, including the “Da Zang Sutra,” decree and cassock.
One of the most precious relics in the temple is the mummified body of Master Huineng. He sits cross-legged with his eyes closed in the center of the Six Patriarch Hall, and stands about 80 centimeters tall. The mummy is painted reddish brown and sits on a sheet of linen cloth.
An event to promote Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was held at the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing, themed "Promote Chinese Medicine and Global Health."
The event was attended by the Nigerian Ambassador to China Baba Ahmad Jidda, Nigerian Deputy Ambassador Fumen Tyeni Dogo, Secretary General of the China Information Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine Kang Xiaofei, and more than 40 experts in the TCM and healthcare industry from all over the country.
Dogo praised the significant contribution made by the culture of TCM to the world, and expressed hopes that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) will promote common cooperation and development of the culture in more countries. The Nigerian Embassy in China also took the opportunity to promote cultural exchanges between China and Nigeria, and further strengthen cooperation in the field of TCM.
During the event, a number of invited Chinese medicine experts communicated their experiences and showcased technology, while exchanging Chinese medicine treatment protocols, adding impetus to the high-quality development of the Chinese medicine cause.
In order to let the Nigerian diplomats experience the charm of Chinese medicine culture, Chinese medicine experts carried out a clinical checkups at the end of the activity, further showcasing the therapeutic qualities of the unique Chinese medicine tuina remedial massage.
The Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR), a landmark project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is undergoing intensive joint commissioning and testing, paving the way for commercial operations scheduled to begin soon this year.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang aboard a bullet train during a trial run on Wednesday during his official trip to the ASEAN summit in Indonesia from September 5 to 7, Reuters reported.
The Jakarta-Bandung HSR is the first high-speed railway line in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, connecting Indonesia's most densely populated areas.
As the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway line is set to open, Global Times reporters Hu Yuwei and Zhao Juecheng (GT) interviewed the Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Lu Kang (Lu), who is also a former spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Lu believed that the Jakarta-Bandung HSR will bring tangible benefits to Indonesia, while expecting the project to become a new growth point and create a high-speed railway economic corridor. He argued that the consensus reached by the heads of China and Indonesia further illuminates the direction to be taken and injects strong momentum into future relations. China supports Indonesia's chairmanship of ASEAN and is willing to deepen comprehensive strategic partnerships with ASEAN members. GT: What changes will the Jakarta-Bandung HSR bring to Indonesia? What are local people's expectations?
Lu: The opening of the Jakarta-Bandung HSR will bring many tangible benefits to Indonesia such as more efficient travel conditions. The travel time from Jakarta to Bandung will be reduced from three and a half hour to just 40 minutes, effectively alleviating commuting traffic pressure between the two cities.
In the long run, the project will further boost investment and create employment opportunities for the people, and drive commercial development and tourism along the route. It may even become a new growth point, accelerating the formation of a high-speed railway economic corridor.
On June 22, I was invited to take a trial ride on the train together with Indonesia's Coordinator for Cooperation with China and Coordinating Minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, and president of railway operator China State Railway Group Liu Zhenfang. During the trial ride, the train reached a speed of over 355 kilometers per hour, surpassing the current fastest commercial speed of any high-speed railway in the world, which amazed our Indonesian friends and earned praise for Chinese-made high-speed railway technology.
On that day, I also noticed that many locals were watching the train along the way. I was told that Indonesian people take videos of the passing trains along the high-speed railway every day, which reflects their high expectations for the project.
GT: The construction of the Jakarta-Bandung HSR marks the first all-round implementation of Chinese high-speed railway technology abroad, from the whole system and all of its elements, to the whole industrial chain. Does it mean a big step for China's high-speed railway manufacturing going global?
Lu: The Jakarta-Bandung HSR vividly embodies the concept of "extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits" under the BRI framework and has important reference significance for us to carry out other similar projects.
The successful completion of the Jakarta-Bandung HSR directly proves that Chinese manufacturing technology is mature, efficient, internationally standardized, adaptable to local environments, and actively integrated into the development plans of the host country. This will greatly facilitate China's manufacturing going global and inspire developing countries to have confidence in pursuing development paths that suit their own national conditions. GT: According to your observations how has the BRI benefited livelihoods and brought tangible benefits to the Indonesian people?
Lu: Taking infrastructure connectivity as an example, since the proposal of the BRI, China and Indonesia have cooperated to build a number of high-quality projects, covering areas such as power plants, roads and bridges, dams, and telecommunication networks, making positive contributions to Indonesia's passion to become a traffic hub.
A series of iconic projects have been completed, such as the Suramadu Bridge, the longest sea-crossing bridge in Southeast Asia, the Tayan Bridge, the longest corbeled stone-arch bridge in Indonesia, and the Jatigede Dam, the second-largest dam in Indonesia, bringing convenience to the local populations.
Chinese-funded enterprises in Indonesia have not only provided a large number of job opportunities for the locals but also contributed to the development of local livelihoods through knowledge and technology sharing. Taking the Jakarta-Bandung HSR as an example, over 75 percent of the services and procurement for the project are sourced locally in Indonesia, significantly boosting the local supply chain and employment. It is estimated that the project will create 30,000 job opportunities in Indonesia.
GT: Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo On July 27 in Chengdu when Widodo visited China. How do you evaluate the achievements of President Widodo's visit to China this time?
Lu: This is the third face-to-face meeting between the two heads of state within a year, which reflects the high level and special nature of China-Indonesia relations. As President Xi said, on the path to national modernization and rejuvenation, China and Indonesia share highly aligned visions and present opportunities for each other's development, are like-minded companions, and good partners.
This further clears the direction and injects strong momentum into the future friendship between China and Indonesia. After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation agreements, including agricultural product exports to China, health cooperation, joint research and development, as well as the construction of the new Indonesian capital and the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" project, achieving significant practical results.
GT: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI and the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Indonesia. We have noticed that President Widodo's "Global Maritime Fulcrum (GMF)" strategy resonates with China's 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative. How do you envision future cooperation between China and Indonesia with synergy of strategies?
Lu: In November 2022, Chinese President Xi and Indonesian President Widodo reached an important consensus on building a community of shared future between China and Indonesia. They agreed to take the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Indonesia in 2023 as an opportunity to create a new pattern of high-level cooperation.
The two sides signed a cooperation plan under the framework of aligning the BRI with the GMF concept, and significant progress has been made in its implementation. The Jakarta-Bandung HSR is one of the flagship projects.
In July this year, the two heads of state met again in Chengdu and reached an important consensus on deepening strategic cooperation between China and Indonesia.
We will take the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and the first year of the China-Indonesia community of shared future as a chance to promote deeper and higher-level strategic cooperation between the two sides, injecting more certainty and positive energy into the region and the world.
GT: How do you evaluate the current level of cooperation between China and Indonesia in the fields of economy, trade, and investment? What suggestions do you have for further enhancing bilateral economic and trade cooperation?
Lu: In recent years, with the comprehensive integration of the BRI and Indonesia's GMF, China-Indonesia economic and trade cooperation has achieved fruitful results. China has been Indonesia's largest trading partner for 10 consecutive years. In 2022, the bilateral trade volume between China and Indonesia reached $149.1 billion, a year-on-year increase of 20.16 percent. Investment cooperation is also a highlight of the two countries' economic and trade cooperation. In 2022, the Chinese mainland's investment in Indonesia reached $8.2 billion, a year-on-year increase of 156.25 percent, maintaining its position as the second-largest foreign investor in Indonesia.
According to the consensus reached by both sides earlier this year, China is willing to further expand the importation of Indonesian bulk commodities and high-quality agricultural and fishery products according to market demand.
The Chinese government encourages its enterprises to invest in Indonesia and expand cooperation in infrastructure, green development, the digital economy, healthcare, and other fields. We aim to create highlights in maritime cooperation and promote the resumption of fisheries cooperation.
GT: In the current tense geopolitical situation, ASEAN members have become objects of competition for major powers. Indonesia is the key member of the ASEAN. How can China-Indonesia cooperation better deal with geopolitics challenges and achieve long-term stability?
Lu: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. As President Xi once said, the Asia-Pacific is no one's backyard and should not become an arena for big power contests and no attempt to wage a new cold war will ever be allowed by the people or by our times. This is the inevitable requirement for maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the common wishes of people in the ASEAN and other countries.
One important reason why the ASEAN can maintain its central position in the regional architecture is its long-standing commitment to independence, non-alignment, and neutrality. The ASEAN has repeatedly stated that it will adhere to openness, inclusiveness, dialogue, and cooperation, and focus on economic development without aligning with or targeting any party.
In the process of achieving national modernization and rejuvenation, China and Indonesia have highly compatible ideas that present mutually beneficial development opportunities. They are like-minded partners and good companions.
China supports Indonesia's role as the rotating chair of the ASEAN this year and is willing to deepen comprehensive strategic partnerships with ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, and jointly create a positive energy.
GT: Shortly after taking office as Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia in 2022, you opened a Twitter account. Do you have any interesting or memorable stories to share with us about your interactions with locals on social media?
Lu: Since opening my Twitter account over a year ago, I have been able to interact closely with Indonesian and global netizens through this platform, and I am deeply impressed by their interest in China.
A friend once told me that the Indonesian people seem less interested in politics, but the content I shared on Twitter about President Xi's activities and the interpretation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era have received widespread and positive responses.
In the comments section, many Indonesian netizens have expressed their appreciation, saying that Indonesians like to cooperate with China for development and that cooperation with China is friendly trade, not a command.
Such enthusiastic feedback was unexpected but reasonable. China's wisdom and solutions have made it possible to solve more global issues and inject new energy into global development.
Over the last four years, China-Solomon Islands cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has achieved fruitful results, bringing profound benefits to both nations. In a recent interview with the Global Times, the first Chinese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands expressed confidence in the future cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands.
"The Solomon Islands will undoubtedly become a magnet for Chinese business investments," Li Ming, who served as the Chinese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands from September 2020 to September 2023, told the Global Times.
According to Li, the development of China-Solomon Islands relations has been multifaceted. At the highest level of engagement, Prime Minister Sogavare has made two official visits to China, establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership of mutual respect and common development for a new era. Head-of-state diplomacy has charted a grand blueprint for high-quality joint construction of the BRI and provided strategic guidance for bilateral relations.
In terms of infrastructure connectivity, China has become the Solomon Islands' largest infrastructure cooperation partner. China-aided facilities like the Pacific Games' main stadium and the Solomon Islands National University dormitories have become local landmarks, providing essential support for the hosting of major sporting events, promoting economic and social development.
Regarding trade facilitation, China has been the Solomon Islands' largest trading partner for several consecutive years. China provides 98 percent tariff-free treatment to products from Solomon Islands in nearly all categories, and both countries are steadily advancing cooperation in inspection and quarantine, creating favorable conditions for the expansion of exports of agricultural and fishery products from the Solomon Islands to China, leading to an increase in incomes for its people.
In terms of financial connectivity, an increasing number of Chinese companies are turning their attention to the Solomon Islands. During Prime Minister Sogavare's visit to China in July, a "China-Solomon Islands High-Level Enterprise Exchange Meeting" was held in Beijing, at which Chinese enterprises in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, energy and mineral resources, infrastructure, telecommunications, and tourism engaged in in-depth communication with representatives from the Solomon Islands. It is believed that in the next phase, the Solomon Islands will become a magnet for Chinese business investments.
In terms of people-to-people exchanges, China has established friendly relations with multiple provinces and cities in the Solomon Islands. More than 100 young students from the Solomon Islands have come to China to further their studies under government scholarships. China also continues to be committed to improving the Solomon Islands' medical and healthcare conditions by donating a large quantity of medical and epidemic prevention supplies, and Chinese medical teams have alleviated the suffering of many patients in the country. When the Chinese navy's Ark Peace hospital ship visited the Solomon Islands, it treated tens of thousands of patients in just one week.
In September 2019, the Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations with China, becoming one of China's newest diplomatic partners. Less than a month after establishing diplomatic ties, Prime Minister Sogavare visited China and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on jointly building the BRI, media sources reported.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the friendly cooperation between the two countries has steadily advanced and has been at the forefront of China's relations with Pacific island countries, becoming a model of solidarity, cooperation, and joint development among large and small countries and developing countries.
In a previous interview with the Global Times in May, former ambassador Li said, "As the first Chinese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands, my most prominent impression after arriving in the Solomon Islands was the enthusiasm and expectations of the Solomon Islands' government and people for China-Solomon Islands relations."
He told the Global Times that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, both governments and peoples have been committed to promoting friendship, expanding cooperation, and have achieved fruitful results, proving with practical actions that the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Solomon Islands is on the right side of history.
"Various sectors of the country's society have shown significantly increased enthusiasm for cooperation with China, with a more resolute attitude toward upholding China-Solomon Islands relations, and support for the One-China principle has become a common consensus among various sectors," he said.
