As the G7 summit and a key EU leaders' meeting draw near, a series of communication signals has emerged in China-EU economic relations, even as Brussels weighs tougher trade tools against China and some European politicians sharpen their rhetoric on the bloc's second largest trade partner.

The European Commission said on Thursday that contacts with Beijing "continue at various levels", while making clear that securing results from dialogue with the Chinese government remains its "priority", according to media outlet EFE, citing Olof Gill, deputy chief spokesperson of the commission.

Gill's remarks were made in response to a Financial Times (FT) report claiming that China had recently canceled two planned high-level diplomatic meetings with the EU in Beijing this month in protest against measures being considered by Brussels.

The same week, Chinese and German officials met in Berlin to discuss China-Germany and China-EU economic and trade relations, while Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, addressing a France-hosted video summit, called for economic cooperation, inclusive growth and a free and open trade environment.

Analysts said the mixed signals show that dialogue is a practical need for both sides. If the EU wants results from engagement with China, they said, it should not allow new protectionist tools and negative political rhetoric to erode the trust needed for those results to emerge.

Channels remain open

In response to a question regarding the cancellations reported by FT, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a press briefing on Thursday that "as we've learned, China and the EU are in communication on relevant dialogue."  

China's Vice Minister of Commerce Ling Ji, also the deputy China international trade representative, met with Ditte Juul Jorgensen, director-general of the Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security of the European Commission on Tuesday. The two sides held in-depth and comprehensive discussions regarding the preparations for the establishment of a China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism, according to a statement on China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) website on Wednesday.

The statement came after the Global Times learned from a source who is familiar with the situation, Ling is visiting the EU headquarters from June 9 to 14 to discuss with European officials the relevant arrangements for establishing the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism.

This move demonstrates China's willingness in implementing the consensus of China-EU leaders and properly handling differences and frictions through dialogue and consultation, according to the source, who declined to be named.

Ling also held talks in Berlin on Thursday with senior German officials on economic and trade issues, MOFCOM said on Friday. Ling said China has consistently advocated resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, and urged the German government to play a constructive role within the EU.

The German side said it opposes trade wars and supports China-EU dialogue and consultations to properly address each other's concerns and prevent an escalation of economic and trade frictions, while expressing willingness to strengthen communication with China on economic and trade policies.

Jian Junbo, director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Friday that the recent communication signals are important because they show that both China and pragmatic voices in Europe still see dialogue as necessary, even as Brussels hardens its trade and economic-security approach toward China.

"The bloc faces internal divergence, declining industrial competitiveness and weakening growth momentum. Turning such anxieties into restrictive tools will not solve Europe's structural problems but could instead add uncertainty to China-EU cooperation," Jian said.

In an exclusive video interview with the Global Times on Thursday, Esko Aho, former Finnish prime minister and chairman of the board at the China Office of Finnish Industries, said Europe's challenges are linked to its capacity to create competitiveness and to invest in science, technology and innovation, while stressing that Europe also needs to create a better-functioning internal market, where weaknesses still remain.

Against the backdrop of Europe's internal challenges and growing global fragmentation, Aho said the EU and China share an interest in ensuring "a rules-based economic and political system," adding that challenges and risks also present opportunities.

Complexity remains

The recent pragmatic signals are unfolding at a difficult and complex moment for China-EU economic ties, as Europe ramps up pressure to impose trade restrictions, and weighs broader "economic security" tools seen as directly affecting China.

Reuters has reported that Brussels is weighing rules to cut reliance on single suppliers - notably in China - as part of a broader review of trade-defense tools.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday that the EU must defend itself against unfair trade practices, signaling greater openness to recent European Commission proposals for a tougher approach to China, Politico reported. 

Without mentioning China specifically, Merz said EU leaders meeting next week in Brussels will discuss ways to better equip the bloc's trade "toolkit" as it looks to reset its trade relationship with China, according to Bloomberg.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, described by news website Euractiv as being "at the forefront of the debate about China's impact on the European economy", has urged European leaders to develop a "serious strategy" against what he claimed was China's drive for economic domination, Euractiv reported on Tuesday.

Industry insiders warned that the EU's "economic security" toolbox targeting China is gradually moving from concept to implementation, with related policy frameworks taking shape at a faster pace, from supply-chain diversification to upgraded trade-defense measures.

Chinese authorities have repeatedly made clear their firm position on the EU's moves. After the European Commission's May 29 discussion on relations with China, MOFCOM said that "if the bloc insists on unilaterally introducing new trade tools and adopting discriminatory restrictions, China will firmly counteract them and take effective measures to safeguard its legitimate interests."

Aho said Europe has realized the need to avoid excessive dependence in critical areas, but the real challenge is where to draw the line between legitimate national interests and limits on global trade. "There are many areas where we can work together without feeling restricted," he added.

As generative artificial intelligence technology moves further into education, the annual gaokao season, China's college entrance examination period, which will kick off on Sunday, is also seeing new changes.

For some students and teachers, AI may have begun to move beyond the role of a simple answer-finding tool. In certain study scenarios, it can be used to help students review mistakes, understand knowledge points, polish essays or receive revision suggestions. But this may also raise new questions for schools during the exam preparation period.

On Friday, the Ministry of Public Security's cyber police bureau said in a WeChat post that police in Yichun, Jiangxi Province, had handled a case in which a suspect used videos of so-called "gaokao exam paper bags" to claim he had access to "leaked 2026 gaokao questions and answers." The suspect allegedly attempted to sell the fake papers for 2,000 yuan ($281) each, and the account was shut down, according to the post.

China's Ministry of Education issued a warning on June 2, reminding students and parents to be alert to false advertising such as "famous teacher predicted exam questions" and "AI predicted exam questions," the China News Agency reported.

At the same time, several AI platforms in China have announced or indicated corresponding adjustments during the gaokao period to prevent the technology from being used for exam cheating, media reports said.

The discussion around AI and the gaokao has just begun.

AI use on campus

In daily exam preparation and classroom tutoring, some teachers and students in China have already begun exploring how AI technology can be used in practice.

In Shanghai, where educational resources are highly developed, frontline teachers are beginning to test the practical boundaries of AI in language teaching, while also seeing its limitations.

Wu Xinyi, an English teacher at a high school in Shanghai, told the Global Times that AI can be used to revise essays.

"I think it is acceptable to use AI to polish an essay. You can input a specific prompt, and it can make the language sound more advanced. In fact, some teachers now also use AI to assist with essay grading," Wu told the Global Times.

"Sometimes, we deliberately compare essays written by AI tools with those written by students. You can see that it does have some very good, even impressive parts, but many parts appear rigid and formulaic," she said.

Compared with discussions in more developed regions over AI-generated text, compliance and depth of thinking, the application of such technology in less-resourced grassroots schools faces more basic thresholds.

Xiao, a teacher at a county-level high school in East China's Shandong Province, told the Global Times that AI has been included in some teaching-related tasks, and relevant departments have been actively advocating its use. But in actual grassroots teaching, implementation remains difficult.

A document Xiao showed the Global Times about an AI competition organized by local education authorities suggested that local schools are being encouraged to explore AI-related teaching practices.

"Every step is a hard threshold, from improving teachers' understanding and changing their mindset to upgrading the school's overall hardware facilities, especially for rural county-level schools with limited resources like ours," Xiao said.

Meanwhile, overreliance on AI in relation to gaokao has also drawn warnings.

China's Ministry of Education issued a warning on June 2 for the 2026 gaokao, reminding students and parents to be alert to false advertising such as "famous teacher predicted exam questions" and "AI predicted exam questions," to take the exam with integrity and strictly observe legal boundaries, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The ministry said gaokao questions have continued to undergo reform in recent years, with directions and exam content constantly changing and innovating. Relying on AI or "experts" to predict questions in order to obtain high scores is unrealistic, the ministry said.

Fairness in the exam room
As AI is increasingly used in daily learning, how to prevent it from being used to cheat in a gaokao exam has become a matter of public concern.

Sichuan-based Red Star News recently reached out to several AI platforms in China. For instance, Doubao customer service said that Doubao could be used normally during the gaokao period, but photo-based question answering and similar functions would be unavailable, with specific arrangements subject to the actual page display during the exam.

A Tencent staff member said that, during last year's gaokao, Tencent's Yuanbao had made clear that it would not answer exam-related questions. An iFlytek staff member also said there was no definite information yet, but that large models would likely have their limits. Baidu's relevant business department said it had not yet received notice of restrictions on some Wenxin functions during the gaokao period, the report said.

According to a report by Xiaoxiang Morning Herald based in Central China's Hunan Province, in 2025, some users posted online that Tencent Yuanbao could not be used normally during the gaokao period.

After users sent image-recognition summary requests, Yuanbao replied that "this function is unavailable during gaokao hours." Other common AI tools such as Kimi, DeepSeek and Doubao also had related arrangements during the gaokao period.

The Ministry of Education reminded candidates that bringing a mobile phone, smart watch or bracelet, smart glasses and any other banned device into an exam room constitutes cheating, even if the device is switched off.

In April, the "AI + Education" action plan was issued by the Ministry of Education and other government departments, requiring in particular that AI applications be safe, trustworthy and controllable, the Beijing Youth Daily reported.

The report quoted Xie Yongjiang, director of the Institute of Internet Governance and Law at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, as saying, "If there is even the smallest loophole in the organization of the exam, AI tools could magnify it infinitely and cause incalculable negative consequences. Restricting AI answering functions is meant to block the possibility of AI-assisted exam-taking and ensure absolute fairness in the exam."

From the perspective of international comparison and academic ethics, Estelle Qiu, a young scholar based in Australia, said AI is challenging intellectual property and human thinking while offering convenience.

Qiu told the Global Times that at the Australian university where she works, undergraduate students are allowed to use AI. In principle, the school allows them to first complete their own writing and then use AI for polishing, but students must clearly declare such use.

"However, there are two major pain points in AI use. First, it may undermine confidentiality to some extent. Second, when it comes to deeper academic papers, AI still cannot really get how the human mind works," she said.

The Beijing News said in a recent commentary that AI is evolving rapidly, with computing power and algorithms constantly improving and technological dividends being released. "But the faster it develops, the more necessary it is to respect rules and uphold bottom lines," the commentary said.

A viral stress-relief toy known as "Natasha" has sparked widespread controversy in China after videos showing users smashing, stomping on, piercing and otherwise "abusing" the baby-shaped toy spread across social media platforms.

According to the China Youth Daily, a growing number of primary and secondary schools across the country have issued notices banning the toy from campuses. As of Saturday, several major e-commerce platforms had removed promotional videos that marketed the product with violent content. However, some sellers were still using images of clenched fists and violence-oriented slogans to advertise the toy.

Sun Hongyan, a researcher at the China Youth & Children Research Center, a national institution specializing in youth and adolescent work research, warned that based on observational learning theory, children and adolescents could internalize behaviors by observing and imitating others. Violent ways of playing with the toy may be perceived by youth as entertaining and could normalize aggressive behaviors among young people, Sun said.

Sun noted that the toy's baby-like appearance amplifies its potential negative impact. Baby dolls symbolize vulnerable lives that deserve care and protection. As minors are still developing moral judgment, marketing messages such as "the harder you throw it, the more stress you relieve," combined with social media algorithms rewarding increasingly extreme content, may lead some young people to believe that bullying the weak is acceptable, gradually blurring their moral boundaries, according to Sun.

Yu Xukun, Executive Director of Beijing Children's Legal Aid and Research Center, also cautioned that repeated exposure to simulated violence in interaction with such toys could become psychological preparation for real-world aggression under certain circumstances.

"In cases we have handled, some children who suffered domestic violence came to believe that violence could solve problems and later directed such violence toward others, eventually facing legal consequences," Yu said.

Fang Zengquan, professor at School of Journalism and Communication at Beijing Normal University and director of the Center for Minors' Digital Literacy, criticized the marketing strategy behind the toy.

"Linking a baby-shaped toy directly to stress relief and promoting it with slogans such as 'Squeezing a baby is more stress-relieving than raising one' essentially turns the image of an infant into a gimmick," Fang said. "It encourages users, particularly adolescents, to derive pleasure from physically squeezing, pinching and deforming the toy, treating babies as objects for emotional release or entertainment."

Fang warned that repeatedly associating infant imagery with destructive behavior could weaken young people's empathy and protective instincts toward real babies and, in extreme cases, foster unconscious aggressive impulses toward living beings.

On June 1, the China Consumers Association (CCA) stated that violent and sexually suggestive marketing videos related to the toy may violate the law. According to the association, some sellers have posed the toy in sexually suggestive positions and paired it with ambiguous captions or adult-themed props, while others have used violent treatment of the toy to attract traffic and attention.

The CCA said such practices use vulgarity and violence as marketing gimmicks, run counter to core socialist values, violate the principles of common moral code, and can breach laws and regulations including the Cybersecurity Law and the Advertising Law.

The CCA urged businesses, platforms, schools and families not to allow "stress relief" to become a cover for violence or permit internet traffic to reward vulgar content.

Stress-relief toys are fundamentally products for emotional and self-oriented consumption, the CCA said, adding that all parties should work together to foster healthy and sustainable emotional-consumption environments. Online platforms should fulfill their gatekeeping responsibilities by removing and banning content involving violence, pornography and other materials that violate public morality. Manufacturers and sellers should abide by laws and regulations, ensure their products are both entertaining and safe. Meanwhile, families and schools should help minors develop healthy ways to manage stress and identify harmful online content.

The waters slated for "delimitation" by Japan and the Philippines lie east of China's Taiwan island. Their proposed so-called "delimitation negotiations" gravely infringe on China's maritime rights and interests, run counter to international law and the basic norms governing international relations, and are entirely illegal, null and void, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office said on Wednesday. 

Zhu noted that compatriots across the Taiwan Straits belong to the Chinese nation. They must uphold their national stance, stand for the fundamental interests of the nation, and jointly safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the overall interests of the Chinese nation. 

Should the DPP authorities collude with external forces to betray national interests, they will surely be spurned by compatriots on both sides of the Straits and punished by history, the spokesperson said. 

64 Chinese nationals who had been detained by Philippine authorities were released on Thursday evening, with embassy staff dispatched to the scene to provide assistance and care, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines announced in a statement on Friday. Another six Chinese nationals are currently undergoing procedures for their release.

These Chinese nationals had been working at a steel plant in Misamis Oriental Province of the Philippines and were detained by Philippine law enforcement authorities on May 15.

According to the Chinese Embassy, the Philippine Department of Justice recently ruled that evidence was insufficient to support allegations that the Chinese nationals had violated the country's nuclear safety law, immigration regulations and labor laws, and therefore ordered their release.

The Chinese Embassy and consulates in the Philippines attached great importance to the case and repeatedly lodged solemn representations with senior Philippine officials and relevant government agencies, urging the Philippine side to handle the matter in a lawful, fair and expeditious manner and to refrain from infringing upon the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens, according to the statement by the Chinese Embassy.

During the detention period, Chinese diplomatic missions in the Philippines conducted multiple consular visits to the detained nationals and continued to provide them with assistance and support. The embassy said it will continue to make every effort to safeguard the safety, lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and institutions in the Philippines, while once again reminding Chinese nationals in the country to strictly comply with local laws and regulations.

On Wednesday, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng expressed China's position regarding the frequent detention of Chinese citizens by Philippine law enforcement agencies in recent months.

Ji said China highly values the protection of the personal safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the Philippines and has serious concerns over the recent actions taken by Philippine military and law enforcement authorities against Chinese nationals.

For every case involving detained Chinese citizens, Chinese diplomatic missions in the Philippines have lodged immediate representations with the Philippine side, urging authorities to notify Chinese diplomatic and consular missions within four days of any detention, arrest or other deprivation of liberty involving Chinese citizens and to clearly explain the reasons for such actions, Ji said.

He also called on the Philippine side to handle relevant cases in accordance with the law, ensure the personal safety, lawful rights, humanitarian treatment and due process rights of the individuals concerned, and promptly release those found not to have violated Philippine laws, rather than subjecting them to unlawful or prolonged detention.

As long as China and the US adhere to the correct direction, bilateral ties can continue to move forward, veteran Chinese diplomat and former Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai told Global Times (GT) on Friday, after the opening dinner of the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) 2026 in Singapore.

Cui first attended the SLD in 2005. The question he raised to then US secretary of defense that year remains widely remembered even decades later. 21 years on, if given the opportunity, he said he is prepared to ask three separate questions to the US, Japan, and Europe. These three major concerns directly address China-US relations, the direction of Japan’s development, and the question of who holds dominance over Asia-Pacific security – issues that are also currently the focus of broad international attention.

Question for US secretary of defense: What specific measures will the US take to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state?

In 2005, Cui, then director-general of Department of Asian Affairs of China’s Foreign Ministry, made his debut at the SLD. He engaged in a sharp exchange with former US secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld on the topic of “China’s rise,” a moment that became a classic in the history of the forum.

At the 2022 SLD, John Chipman, Executive Chairman of The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), which organizes the event, specifically referenced that past encounter: “You asked a very tough question of Secretary Don Rumsfeld. Here you are again 18 years later after having served your country as US Ambassador to China. The floor is yours, Cui.”
This year, when asked by GT reporters what question he would raise to the US secretary of defense if given the chance, Cui replied directly: “If the moderator gives me the opportunity, I would ask: Regarding the consensus reached by the Chinese and US heads of state in Beijing on building a ‘constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability,’ what specific measures does the US prepare to take to promote its implementation?”

This question is also a focal point of concern for China and the international community. During the dinner, Cui sat next to a US deputy assistant secretary of defense. The American official asked him whether he was optimistic or pessimistic about the future of China-US relations. GT reporters had previously posed the same question to Cui.

In his view, judging China-US relations simply as “optimistic” or “pessimistic” is overly simplistic.

“I have always maintained confidence in China-US relations. This confidence stems first and foremost from the strategic guidance of the two countries’ heads of state, which is irreplaceable. The two sides have reached important consensus on a new positioning for bilateral relations and on building a constructive and strategically stable relationship. As long as all parties make every effort to implement this consensus, the prospects for China-US relations are optimistic, and the people of both countries will ultimately make the right choice,” Cui said. From a long-term perspective, he believes this goal will eventually be realized.

At the same time, Cui is soberly aware that the path ahead for China-US relations will not be smooth. It will inevitably encounter ups and downs and even serious challenges. “The future is bright, but the road is tortuous. Without confidence in the prospects, all efforts lose meaning. It is precisely because we firmly believe the future is promising that we are willing to work tirelessly for it. And precisely because we know the road ahead is full of challenges, we must redouble our efforts and advance steadily.”

The veteran diplomat emphasized that as long as China and the US adhere to the correct direction, bilateral relations will surely continue to develop forward.

The Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive core question in China-US relations. During his recent visit to China, US President Donald Trump stated in an interview that “I'm not looking to have somebody go independent. And, you know, we're supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war. I'm not looking for that.”

“Compared to the past, President Trump’s statement represents some positive progress. Of course, the road ahead is long, and everything must be done step by step,” Cui noted.
Ultimately, all US judgments and decisions are based on its own interests. Being separated from the region by vast oceans, the US should not get involved in this unnecessary conflict to begin with.

Question for the Japanese minister of defense: Can Japan remain committed to the path of peaceful development?

Cui previously served as director-general of Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ambassador to Japan, and ambassador to the US, giving him a deep understanding of the Asian situation as well as Japan and the US.

When asked about the question he intends to pose to Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Cui said: “In the past, I always believed that Japan’s post-war choice of peaceful development would not be reversed. But now, I am no longer so certain. I want to ask: Can Japan confirm that it will consistently adhere to the path of peaceful development? This commitment must not remain merely rhetorical – it must be demonstrated through concrete actions.”

Japan’s recent series of actions of militarization have drawn widespread international attention. Cui acknowledged that in today’s turbulent world, it is understandable for countries to strengthen their defense capabilities. However, the core issue lies in what worldview they hold and what methods they employ to truly safeguard national security. If a country insists on forming exclusive blocs, creating confrontation, and promoting a new Cold War mentality, it will only find itself in greater difficulty, with its security environment deteriorating further.

Cui added that the world is currently undergoing changes unseen in a century. Against this backdrop, how countries perceive their own interests, position themselves internationally, and handle external relations is of critical importance. “We hope all countries can see the trend of history clearly and make the right choices. However, at present, Japan appears unable to recognize the broader trends and may even make misjudgments, which will seriously harm its own interests. During World War II, Japan suffered greatly due to wrong choices. Repeating historical mistakes will bring no benefit to Japan.”

China remains committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind and actively promotes the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and Global Governance Initiative. “Across these four major initiatives, the high-frequency keywords are ‘shared interests,’ ‘cooperation,’ ‘mutual benefit,’ and ‘coordination.’ We never advocate confrontation or seek hegemony. We always call on all countries to work together and pursue common development,” Cui said.

“We never force countries to take sides between China and the US, nor do we wish to see conflict and confrontation. We hope that all countries, including China and the US, will stand on the right side of history. The most critical task at present is to recognize historical trends and grasp the momentum of the times,” Cui said.

Question for Europe: Should Europe learn from Asia?

This is Cui’s fifth time attending the SLD. Over the more than 20 years since his first participation in 2005, he has clearly witnessed profound changes in the forum: China’s international discourse power has continued to rise, and the voices of Global South countries have become increasingly prominent.

What impressed him most was that several ASEAN defense ministers publicly stated at the meeting that Asian issues should be resolved by Asian countries using Asian methods. “Such voices were almost unheard of in the early years of the SLD. Now they have become consensus – a very positive change.”

However, one long-standing issue has yet to be fundamentally resolved: The forum is organized by the London-based IISS. This indicates that, from 2002 to the present, security affairs in the Asia-Pacific region have long been dominated by European countries. Europe not only takes the lead in building dialogue platforms and setting agendas but sometimes also adopts a condescending, lecturing attitude toward Asia-Pacific affairs.

“In fact, Europe itself still faces many unresolved problems. In contrast, although the Asia-Pacific has some local hotspots, the region as a whole has maintained peace and stability, with various contradictions kept under control. This fully demonstrates that Asia’s governance concepts and solutions are effective. Europe should abandon any sense of superiority. Although such lecturing rhetoric has decreased, this mindset still exists,” Cui said.

He has also had candid exchanges with European counterparts: In the past, Asia took Europe as a benchmark when developing regional cooperation. In the future, we will continue to learn from Europe – drawing on successful experiences while also learning from failures. At the same time, I would like to ask our European colleagues: Shouldn’t you now also learn from Asia?

Cui believes that even as China and Global South countries gain increasing influence, discussions on Asia-Pacific security issues remain confined within Western discourse systems. “When discourse systems are incompatible, communication naturally fails to address the essence of the issues. From this perspective, China’s decision this time to send a delegation of experts and scholars is a pragmatic and reasonable choice.”

“We do not undervalue the SDL. Rather, we have chosen a participation method that best fits the nature of the platform,” Cui emphasized. The value of participation should not be measured solely by the rank of officials. Multiple voices from military, academic, and think-tank experts, engaging in multiple sessions, can generate equally strong collective impact. In the past, high-level officials often only participated in a single dedicated session. Now, with multiple participants attending the full session and conveying China’s positions across various forums, the Chinese voice has become more multidimensional and carries greater weight.

On a recent summer afternoon in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, there were very few people on the streets, and traffic was relatively light. Such a sight hardly showed any sign of a rapidly shifting global geo-economic landscape.

Yet, a closer look revealed a very interesting dynamic: While a vast majority of the cars on the streets are older sedans carrying the golden cross logo of US carmaker Chevrolet, newer, futuristic ones are often new-energy vehicles (NEVs) produced by Chinese carmaker BYD. The slogan - Build Your Dream - was a distinctive feature on the back of each BYD cars.  

Such a dynamic is expected to become even more significant not just on the streets of Tashkent, but also those of other cities around the world. Last month, BYD and Uzbekistan signed an investment agreement to build a factory for NEVs in the country. Globally, China has become the world's biggest auto exporter and 60 percent of the world's total NEVs are produced and sold in China. 

The rapid rise of China's NEV sector globally is a microcosm of the success of China's industrial upgrade and high-quality development. Recently, as some indicators fell short of sky-high expectations for China's economic recovery this year, some Western officials and media outlets continue to relentlessly hype up the short-term fluctuations in an attempt to smear the Chinese economy. However, such smear completely ignores the achievement of China's industrial upgrade and its pursuit of high-quality development - which has not only seen major progress but also shown vast potential for long-term, sustainable growth that will contribute greatly for the world economy, Chinese officials and economists said. 

Still, China's NEV industry did not rise to its global leading position without a lot of hard work and focus. Industrial transformation and upgrade often come with pain. At a ceremony marking the production of the 5 millionth NEV, Wang Chuanfu, founder of BYD, choked up a few times, as he recalled the hardships the company has faced over the years, including facing bankruptcy at one point. BYD is hardly the only Chinese company that has faced and ultimately overcome such hardships. 

SAIC Volkswagen, a Chinese-German joint venture, represents a typical case. The company had been the industry leader for years in the field of fossil fuel cars. But in 2018, as sales of traditional fossil fuel cars plunged, China's auto industry saw its first ever negative growth, and SAIC also saw major drops in sales and profits. The company started its transition toward NEVs.

"Market choice has pointed toward a clear path. Even if there will be pain, we must closely follow the NEV trend," an executive from SAIC was quoted as saying by the People's Daily.

With that, the company shut down a 40-year-old factory, and invested 17 billion yuan in building a new plant that can produce 300,000 NEVs annually. The company also stepped up spending in research and development (R&D), with industry leading investment despite financial challenges. The result: Starting in July, sales of the company's ID NEVs surpassed 10,000 units for two consecutive months, leading sales of other NEVs produced by joint ventures. And the company continues to invest heavily in NEVs in the second half of 2023. 

Such successful stories of transformation are shared by many other Chinese carmakers. Together, they represent the rise of China's auto industry, with leading production, sales as well as innovations. And the rise of China's industry also reflects China's overall industrial transformation and upgrade, which often encounters challenges but ultimately translates into high-quality development - the central goal of the Chinese economy. 

In a speech at a reception to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on September 28, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that to achieve high-quality development, the country must fully and faithfully implement the new development philosophy in all aspects, and accelerate the development of a new development paradigm. Xi also pointed out that the economic recovery is picking up pace, contributing to the steady advancement of high-quality development, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Comprehensive view on GDP 

In the first half of 2023, China's GDP grew by 5.5 percent, prompting many speculations and even dire predictions about the Chinese economy.

Is such a growth rate high or low? To answer this question, a comprehensive look at the new addition and the quality of growth, instead of just speed, is necessary. 

"As the world's second-largest economy, a 1 percent growth today is vastly different from that of the past in terms of absolute increment," said Wang Xiaosong, a professor of economics at Renmin University of China in Beijing. In 2022, China's GDP stood at about $18 trillion, the increment from a 1 percent growth rate is equivalent to that of 2.1 percent growth rate 10 years ago - and that of 5.3 percent growth rate in India. 

Moreover, a 5.5 percent growth rate is faster the 3 percent growth rate in 2022 and the 4.5 percent growth rate in the first quarter of 2023 and is the fastest growth rate among major economies. The growth rate is also in line with China's official growth target of about 5 percent in 2023. While many had expected a restorative economic recovery in China, the fact is that over the past three years, the global economy has been deeply troubled by the COVID-19 pandemic and the still ongoing Ukraine crisis. Like the world economy, China's economy also goes through a recovery process and a 5.5 percent growth rate is hard-won.

"You can't expect an athlete to break the 100-meter sprint record, while his body is still recovering," said Wang Changlin, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the People's Daily.

In terms of quality, the 5.5 percent growth rate in the first half of 2023 was led by consumption and investment, instead of investment and exports in 2022. It was also driven by innovation and new growth models. In the first half of the year, the added value of information transmission, software and information technology services jumped by 12.9 percent, while online retail sales of physical goods grew by 10.8 percent. The real growth rate of per capita disposable income of residents across the country was 5.8 percent, significantly faster than that of 2022. China has not just achieved stable growth but also ensured the security of food, energy and industrial and supply chains. 

"One of the highlights of China's economy this year is that the security and sustainability of economic development have been significantly enhanced," Wang Xiaosong said, noting that China's economy is currently very resilient and will continue to maintain the healthy and stable growth.

While some headline figures for areas such as exports, investment, employment and corporate profits were less than impressive, there are also many highlights. In the first half of the year, China's exports to countries participating in the joint construction of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative saw a double-digit growth, combined exports of NEVs, lithium batteries and solar cells jumped by 61.6 percent. In the first eight months, China's auto exports soared 104.4 percent, and ship exports increased by 28 percent. 

"With the continued effect of a series of policy measures, we have the confidence, foundation and conditions to achieve the goal of promoting stability and improving the quality of imports and exports," said Lü Daliang, a spokesperson with the General Administration of Customs, during a press conference in July. 

In terms of investment, in the first half of the year, total fixed-asset investment increased by 3.8 percent year-on-year, with private investment dropping 0.2 percent. However, excluding real estate investment, private investment jumped by 9.4 percent during the same period. China has also taken a slew of measures to stabilize the real estate market. 

Vast potential

"Based on international experience, after an economy reaches a certain scale, industrial upgrading and transformation and development are generally accompanied by short-term slowdown. While accelerating structural adjustment, transformation and upgrading, China's economy has achieved effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth, which is extremely difficult," Yang Changyong, a senior researcher from the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, told the People's Daily. 

Yang said that the Chinese economy can make new breakthroughs and reach new heights if the advantages of the vast domestic consumption are fully leveraged, greater efforts are made in adjusting growth models and structures and boosting growth engines, and a powerful and resilient domestic economy is established. 

China also has the institutional advantage of being a socialist market economy, sufficient macro policy tools and adjustment room, and abundant means and measures to prevent and tackle risks, which ensures long-term stability of the Chinese economy despite challenges, according to Wang Changlin.

The bright prospect of China's high-quality development is also reflected in the steadfast efforts by companies such as BYD and SAIC Volkswagen to transform and innovate. With their advanced technologies and high-quality products reaching every corner of the globe, the world will feel and benefit from China's high-quality development. 

Wu Qiuyu, Zhao Zhanhui and Liu Shiyao are People's Daily reporters; Wang Cong is a Global Times reporter.

China successfully launched the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft into designated orbit on Wednesday, achieving a key victory of the first launch mission to the China Space Station since the Chinese crewed space outpost entered a normal operation and development phase at the end of 2022.

Carrying the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft, China's Long March-7 Y7 carrier rocket took off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in South China's Hainan Province on Wednesday at around 9:22 pm. After a flight lasting 10 minutes, the flagship spacecraft for the China Space Station new phase entered its preset orbit, which, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), marked the success of the launch mission.

The launcher's developer, the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), under the state-owned space giant China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), told the Global Times that Long March-7 has executed five Tianzhou cargo spacecraft launches since its maiden flight in 2016, with a perfect success rate.

The CALT also disclosed that following the Wednesday mission, another two orbital launches for the China Space Station would be carried out in 2023.

Wang Ran, chief designer of the cargo spacecraft system with China Academy of Spacecraft Technology (CAST) under the CASC, revealed that the new series of the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft, starting from Tianzhou-6 to Tianzhou-11, would be further upgraded compared to its predecessors, as its cargo capacity has been increased from the previous 6.9 tons to 7.4 tons, which makes the new Tianzhou spacecraft one of the strongest cargo spacecraft in the world. 

It was the first time that Tianzhou spacecraft possesses the cargo capacity exceeding 7 tons, which would reduce the frequency of cargo mission to the space station to three times in two years from four times in two years, boosting the comprehensive efficiency of the space station project. 

According to the CAST, the Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft is tasked with ferrying essential supplies for taikonauts that can sustain a three-strong crew's 280 days in space, around 260 different goods weighing some 5.8 tons as well as multiple payloads for scientific experiment and technology verification, to the China Space Station. 

Lü Congmin, deputy chief designer of the space application system and research fellow with the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told the Global Times that Tianzhou-6 will upload 98 pieces of payload and experiment materials weighing some 714 kilograms to the China Space Station. 

They will be used to carry out 29 scientific and application experiments in four domains - space life science and biotechnology, microgravity fluid physics and combustion science, space material science, and space application of new technology - according to Lü. 

According to developers with the CAST, starting with the Tianzhou-6, the technology team has upgraded the spacecraft system, including making improvement to the cargo cabin of the spacecraft and boosting the airtight cabin's cargo transport capability, which would provide more goods to the taikonauts to sustain a longer stay in space. 

The CAST stressed that through the implementation of comprehensive guarantee measures, 100 percent localization of key components has been realized.

The Tianzhou-6 cargo spacecraft is also the most versatile of its kind in terms of supporting capability in orbit; it is tasked to not only deliver supplies to the China Space Station, complete the attitude control of the space station combination, but also carry out space scientific and technological experiment. It will also unload waste from the China Space Station before falling back with control, the CAST told the Global Times in a statement. 

The stowage of the airtight cabin of the Tianzhou-6, according to the CAST insiders, has increased from 18.1 cubic meters to 22.5 cubic meters, an increase of 20 percent. The cargo capacity of the airtight cabin increased by 22 percent to 6.7 tons after upgrade, and that for the whole craft has been increased from 6.9 tons to 7.4 tons.

The Tianzhou-6 spacecraft will also deliver some 70 kilograms of fresh fruit for the crew to enjoy, which is twice the weight of fruit carried by the Tianzhou-5, according to Wang. 

"We used to be unsure about how long will such fresh fruit can be preserved in space. However, after learning from the past year, we are now sure about that we have the capability to upload more fruit at a time," Wang noted. 

Tianzhou-6 also delivered 1.75 tons of propellant, of which 700 kilograms will be provided to the space station.

Construction on China's first deep-sea multi-functional scientific investigation and cultural relic archaeological vessel officially began in Nansha, Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province on Sunday. The ship is expected to be completed and put into operation in 2025, CCTV reported on Monday.

According to the report, the ship has a total design length of approximately 103 meters, a designed displacement of approximately 9,200 tons, a maximum speed of 29.63 kilometers per hour, a reach of 15,000 nautical miles, and can accommodate up to 80 crew members. 

The vessel is a new type of multi-functional scientific research vessel capable of conducting deep-sea scientific investigations and cultural relic excavations, as well as polar sea area investigations in summer. 

The ship has a number of iconic features, including unrestricted waterway navigation, manned diving, deep-sea detection and heavy-duty safety payload capabilities, providing the necessary sample and environmental data for forefront geological, environmental, and biological sciences research in the deep and remote ocean. 

It also provides related discipline guidance and underwater operations support for deep-sea archaeology, while supporting sea trial and use of core deep-sea equipment.

In the future, the vessel will become an open and shared maritime platform for multi-system integration, interdisciplinary crossover, and collaborative innovation in China, which is of great significance for strengthening China's substantial presence in the global deep-sea research, enhancing China's deep-sea archaeological capabilities, and realizing full-scale access to the global deep sea.

Song Jianzhong, a researcher at the National Centre for Archaeology, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the ship would provide solid support for Chinese deep-sea archaeology.

Two ancient ships carrying numerous cultural relics were discovered in October 2022 in the South China Sea at a depth of about 1,500 meters, and are currently undergoing excavation work. 

He Guangwei, deputy chief engineer at the Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited, stated that there is currently no ship in China capable of conducting manned deep-sea scientific investigations in polar regions. The construction of this vessel will fill this gap.

This ship is designed to conduct manned deep-sea scientific investigations in polar regions while also being able to carry out cultural relic archaeology and operations in the South China Sea. The ship has many key technologies, including icebreaking capabilities and anti-freezing materials for polar environments, and related operating and detecting equipment for scientific investigations in polar regions.

Twenty-one people have died and another six are missing as of Sunday evening after heavy rainfall hit Xi’an, Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, and caused mountain floods and mudslides on Friday evening. 

Due to the impact of short-duration heavy rain, mountain floods and mudslides struck a village in Chang’an district in Xi’an around 6 pm on Friday. The disaster has damaged two houses occupying a total area of 300 square meters, destroyed three sections and slightly damaged 21 sections on the National Highway 210, damaged three electric power supply infrastructures and left 900 households out of power, according to Xi’an Bureau of Emergency Management. 

Xi’an city immediately set up an on-site command center, organized a total of 14 rescue teams including firefighting and police departments with more than 980 personnel, and deployed over 1,100 units of equipment and tools including life detectors, satellite phones, excavators, and search and rescue dogs, working around the clock to carry out search and rescue as well as disaster relief operations.

As of Sunday evening, 186 residents have been relocated and resettled, three severely damaged sections of the National Highway 210 have been restored, 21 slightly damaged road sections are under reinforcement, communication services have been restored in 49 affected areas, and power supply has been restored to 855 households.

The city is making every effort to seize the critical period for rescue operations, continuing to search for missing individuals restlessly, as well as remove risks to prevent the occurrence of secondary disasters.  

Preliminary investigations showed that two houses in the village were washed away, a with nearby roads, bridges, power supplies and other infrastructures damaged, leaving local residents partially cut off with the outside world. 

Local media reported that as of Sunday Morning, four people had been confirmed dead, while 14 others remain missing. 

The Xi'an detachment of the armed police force in Shaanxi deployed more than 100 personnel to the impacted area. Preliminary search and rescue operations remain underway. 

As of Sunday morning, rescue forces have transferred 81 residents and 11 vehicles to safe locations, and are assisting with the search and recovery of four deceased villagers, with emergency workers scanning an area 65 kilometers in length along a nearby river.  

According to a local villager surnamed Li (pseudonym), flooding and mudslides began following one or two hours of heavy rain on Friday afternoon. Two dwellings swept away by flood waters operated agritourism business, but there was yet to be confirmation whether guests were inside during flooding. 

Local fire department, police and emergency management authorities are working to coordinate rescue efforts. 

Upon receiving the report, China's Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched a working group to the disaster site to assist with rescue and response efforts and have also mobilized a local fire and rescue team consisting of 207 personnel to carry out rescue operations.