development – भारतीय रोज़ नई ख़बरें

102 newly revealed architectural heritage projects aim for better protection

Pingyao Ancient City, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in Northwest China’s Shanxi Province Photo: VCG

A total of 102 architectural heritage projects have been included in the 9th Batch of China’s 20th Century Architectural Heritage Projects for the better protection of the heritage in Chinese architecture in the 20th century. Experts said China has transitioned from “cultural relic protection” to “cultural heritage protection,” and this awareness will provide new possibilities for urban development and cultural preservation, according to the report of China News on Sunday.

The list of projects in the 9th batch of China’s 20th century architectural heritage is revealed at the “Public Vision of 20th Century Heritage – Introduction of the 9th Batch of China’s 20th Century Architectural Heritage Projects and Seminar” held in Tianjin on Saturday, which included Tianjin Ancient Culture Street, the people’s congress hall in Ningbo, East China’s Zhejiang Province, Jiangxi Provincial Art Museum in East China’s Jiangxi Province among others, China News reported.

An academic highlight of the event was the release of the China 20th Century Architectural Heritage Annual Report (2014-24) blue book.

According to reports, the significance and value of the blue book publication lie in summarizing the development process of China’s 20th century architectural heritage over the past decade, praising the achievements of China’s 20th century architectural heritage over the past decade, and proposing the future development vision of China’s 20th century architectural heritage.

Industry insiders delivered keynote speeches, examining the concept of 20th-century architectural heritage from different perspectives. They also provided attendees with a new perspective on the activation and utilization of architectural heritage from an international standpoint. Other participating experts shared their design experiences, insights, and feelings in heritage preservation and development.

Shan Jixiang, chairman of the China Cultural Relics Academy and director of the Academic Committee of the Palace Museum, said that “activation” is the focus of the protection of these buildings. “20th century architectural heritage is not ‘frozen,’ but changes with the times. A historical building or zone must be given today’s functions, used correctly, and utilized reasonably.”

“Compared with traditional wooden ancient buildings, industrial heritage has a wider range of uses.” Taking Beijing’s Shougang Park as an example, Shan introduced the importance of “activation.”

“Shougang Park used to be a steel production base, but has now become an industrial heritage park after ceasing production. Many large-scale cultural, tourism, and sports activities are taking place in Shougang Park, and its functions are constantly expanding,” Shan said.

He added that protecting 20th-century architectural heritage is not just the task of the government or cultural departments but the responsibility of all people.

Only when the general public understands the value of these heritage sites and their significance for future generations will they be carefully preserved, gain “dignity,” and become a positive force for economic and social development, benefiting the daily and cultural lives of more people.

Regarding the current situation of the protection of Chinese cultural heritage, Shan told the Global Times that China has transitioned from “cultural relic protection” to “cultural heritage protection”; from only protecting ancient cultural relics to protecting contemporary and 20th-century cultural heritage; and from only protecting “a bridge or a tower” to protecting corridors for commodity trade and cultural exchange.

“The activation of buildings” not only continues the value of historical heritage but also provides new possibilities for urban development.

“The 20th century architectural heritage builds a bridge between the past and the future. We should balance the relationship between protection and activation, paving the way for future urban construction and cultural preservation,” Shan said.

Beijing’s Fengtai district unveils first private tech innovation center

Beijing’s first private enterprise technology innovation center was unveiled on Tuesday in Fengtai district. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Beijing’s first private enterprise technology innovation center was unveiled on Tuesday in Fengtai district. The center provides a 100,000-square-meter industrial and service space for private technology enterprises, aiming to foster the development of new quality productive forces and nurture cutting-edge industries.

In recent years, Fengtai has engaged with partners in fields such as rail transportation, aerospace and the digital economy, attracting 600 enterprises to its fold, according to the district government.

Wang Shaofeng, Party secretary of the Fengtai district, expressed the district’s commitment to serving the capital’s functions and promoting integrated urban-industrial development.

He stated that Fengtai will continue to make progress in various sectors to accelerate high-quality development.

Future and modern industries are two key areas on which the district focuses. The satellite internet industry park, located in the Fengtai Science and Technology Park, spans approximately 100,000 square meters and focuses on the development of satellite application industries, including communication, navigation and remote sensing.

The industrial park aims to attract more partners and establish a new commercial aerospace industry hub.

Meanwhile, the Beigong low-altitude economic industrial park in Fengtai’s Beigong Town is set to release around 2 million square meters of industrial space gradually.

Leveraging Fengtai’s aerospace and rail transportation industry clusters, the park will prioritize the top-level design, research and manufacturing of products such as drones and flying cars.

As one of Fengtai district’s nine key signed projects, the largest JD home appliance mall in the country, invested by JD Group, is poised to settle in the district.

Spanning around 70,000 square meters of retail space, it will include trendy home appliances, home decor, entertainment and outdoor sports, offering consumers a comprehensive “one-stop home” shopping experience.

According to district government data, in 2023, Fengtai’s regional GDP was 218.75 billion yuan ($30.18 billion), a 6.5 percent increase from the previous year.

Fixed asset investment reached 78.49 billion yuan, marking a 19.6 percent year-on-year growth. The district’s market vitality continued to surge, with 21,300 new market entities established, a 32.2 percent year-on-year increase.

Azerbaijan hoping to attract more Chinese investors amid closer economic relations

Azerbaijani people gather to celebrate Nowruz in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, March 19, 2023.(Photo: Xinhua)

Azerbaijan hopes to attract more Chinese investors as the country is pursuing sustainable development and green transformation, as well as greater transport connectivity and other economic goals under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), officials from Azerbaijan said at the Azerbaijan Investment and Trade Promotion Conference held at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Beijing on Tuesday.

Over a hundred representatives from relevant departments, enterprises, and industry groups from both China and Azerbaijan attended Tuesday’s promotional event, focusing on areas including mining, agriculture, tourism, logistics and transportation, showing the diverse bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking at the event, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to China Bunyad Huseynov said that Azerbaijan is China’s biggest trading partner in the South Caucasus and his country attaches great importance to the expansion of economic and trade relations with China.

The two countries are diversifying economic cooperation to various sectors including transport and logistics, agriculture, and other areas. “China’s advanced experience and technologies in the field of alternative energy are of particular interest to our country,” the ambassador said.

Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to support the BRI, which has become a key driver of economic and trade development not just with China but beyond. This joint initiative is not only an economic and communication project, but also stimulates the global economy by expanding relations between peoples, improving infrastructure, deepening trade relations, and strengthening transport and infrastructure projects, the ambassador said at the event.

Azerbaijan, located at the vibrant crossroads of Europe and Asia, offers numerous investment opportunities across various sectors, Zohrab Gadirov, deputy executive director of the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of Azerbaijan (AZPROMO), said at the event. More Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest in Azerbaijan for a win-win outcome, Gadirov said.

During his trip to China, Gadirov is hoping to build closer ties with Chinese businesses, as they are becoming increasingly important in the country’s economic development.

According to data from Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee, China-Azerbaijan bilateral trade reached $3.1 billion in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 43.5 percent, with both imports and exports seeing double-digit growth. China remained Azerbaijan’s fourth largest trading partner.

China also became Azerbaijan’s second-largest source of imports for the first time, ahead of Turkey, and accounting for 17.5 percent of the country’s total imports.

In addition to the surging demand for goods between China and Azerbaijan, the country’s strategic geographical location also positions it as a critical transportation hub for the China-Europe freight train. The demand for the cargo train has seen a significant increase thanks to its competitive advantages as a reliable transportation tool, particularly following the Red Sea crisis, which resulted in a substantial extension of transportation time and costs for sea voyages.

Azerbaijan plays a crucial role in the trans-Caspian international transportation corridor, serving as a dynamic new market at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. It’s not only a vital node in the BRI but also a significant gateway for Chinese enterprises to access the markets of the Caucasus and the EU, said He Zhenwei, head of the China Overseas Development Association.

Since the beginning of this year, China has been the largest source of imports for Azerbaijan for two consecutive months, reflecting strong development momentum, according to He.

There is still room for further growth in trade between the two countries, He said.

Chinese Premier urges accelerated construction of resilient capital market, to boost sound development

stock market Photo:VCG

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday called for accelerating the construction of a secure, regulated, transparent, open, dynamic and resilient capital market, so as to support the country’s effort to build itself into a financial powerhouse and pursue Chinese modernization.

Li made the remarks while chairing a study session of the State Council, the cabinet, that focused on further deepening capital market reforms and promoting the stable and sound development of the capital market, underscoring China’s intensifying efforts to boost the stock market.

The efforts, which include a slew of measures aimed at tackling risks, tightening regulations and improving the protection of investors, have helped lift the sentiment of investors and will ensure the stable and sound development of the capital market in the long run, analysts said.

At the study session on Monday, Li stressed the importance of the capital market in the country’s economic and social development and called for continuously deepening reforms in the securities market. Specifically, Li called for accelerating the improvement of the basic institutional system of the capital market, improving key systems such as listing, trading and delisting, and promoting a virtuous cycle of investment and financing and a dynamic balance of listing and delisting.

Also, efforts will be made to improve the quality of listed companies, improve and strengthen capital market supervision and increase punishment for violations of laws and regulations, and effectively strengthen the protection of the rights and interests of small and medium-sized investors and create an open, fair and just market environment, Li said.

Promoting the stable and healthy development of the capital market is an important manifestation of economic development and governance capability, Li stressed.

The study session further underscored increasing efforts to boost China’s capital market. On April 12, the State Council released a sweeping guideline to strengthen regulation, forestall risks and promote the high-quality development of the stock market. Widely known as the State Council Nine-Point Guideline, the document, only the third of its kind, mapped out plans to boost the capital market through 2035.

Cao Heping, an economist at Peking University, said that following the release of the guideline, concrete actions are needed to implement it and the study sessions are likely focused on the progress of the implementation of the guideline.

“It is crucial to evaluate the implementation process and continue to make necessary adjustments so as to promote the sound development of the capital market,” Cao told the Global Times on Monday.

Following the release of the guideline, Chinese securities regulators and stock exchanges also issued multiple notices related to regulations in various areas such as listing applications, delisting of unqualified companies and high-frequency trading.

Also on Monday, in an article published in the People’s Daily, the Party committee of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) vowed to take concrete measures to boost the market, so as to support the development of the new quality productive forces, better protect investors, and improve mechanisms to monitor and tackle risks.

Cong Yi, a professor at the Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, said that China has in recent months drawn a clear direction for the sound development of the country’s stock market, which focuses on tackling existing issues such as speculation and illegal activities.

“In terms of the development room of the capital market, we actually have a very huge potential,” Cong told the Global Times on Monday, pointing to China’s massive savings and the need to guide more capital to help boost the real economy.

Advanced manufacturing magnet for foreign firms amid upgrades

Daimler trucks are displayed during the 6th China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November. PHOTO/CHINA DAILY

BEIJING — China’s advanced manufacturing is attracting the attention of foreign-invested companies amid an innovation-led upgrade of the nation’s industrial chain.

“We see booming innovations in areas including new energy vehicles, and connected and automated driving trucks in China, and we consider China a place to pursue the development and application of such future-oriented products,” said Holger Scherr, president and CEO of Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co Ltd, and head of the Mercedes-Benz business unit.

David Fan, executive vice-president and China president of Japan-based auto parts supplier Marelli, also pointed to the growing innovation capabilities of the Chinese market as one of the important reasons for the country’s market and supply chain having an irreplaceable role for Marelli.

China’s manufacturing sector has remained a land of opportunity for foreign-invested companies over the years for its manufacturing prowess and the most comprehensive industrial chain in the world. In 2023, foreign investment into the sector accounted for 27.9 percent of the total, up 1.6 percentage points from the previous year, official data showed.

This year, the country has put developing new quality productive forces — featuring high-tech, high efficiency and high quality — atop its agenda.

The upgrade of industrial and supply chains is among the three aspects, that the development of new quality productive forces will cover, said Zhang Qingjie, head of digital enablement and head of AI at KPMG China.

Some foreign-invested companies have already noticed the gradual repositioning of China’s industrial chain, and are adopting a preemptive strategy to tap into the shift.

“We plan to promote a model of inverter compressors for heat pumps this year in Europe. The model is developed through a technology platform that we built in China, reflecting the change of the Chinese market’s core competitiveness from a comprehensive supply chain to an innovation-oriented one,” said Xu Yang, president of the China unit at Danfoss, a Denmark-based energy efficiency solutions company.

Xu said the company has been actively leveraging China’s innovation capability and improving its smart manufacturing. In April, Danfoss will launch construction of the second phase of its Haiyan campus in Zhejiang province, which is its largest manufacturing base in China, according to Xu.

Businesses embrace opportunities for innovation at Canton Fair as China pursues new quality productive forces despite Western protectionism

A visitor takes photos of an automated production line on display at the 135th session of the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong Province, on April 16, 2024. Photo: Chi Jingyi/GT

Companies from both the domestic and overseas markets are flocking to the China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, held in Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong Province, with their latest fashions on display to tap into the new opportunities for innovation as the world’s second-largest economy pursues industry upgrading for high-quality development in the new era.

While the US-led West pushes for protectionism by building a “small yard, high fence” around technologies and industry and supply chains, China’s open and cooperative stance in its development, as reflected at the Canton Fair, aligns with the world trend of globalization, experts and industry insiders said.

The Canton Fair should play a bigger role in expanding China’s high-level opening-up and promoting the building of an open world economy, Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday. He made the remarks when visiting an exhibition on the history of the Canton Fair, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.

Li Qiang also toured the booths of multiple enterprises at the venue of the 135th session of the Canton Fair, which kicked off on Monday. The Chinese premier encouraged enterprises to continuously improve their research and development capabilities, and strive for digital, intelligent and green transformation, according to Xinhua.

On Wednesday, Premier Li held a symposium with overseas buyers attending the 135th session of the Canton Fair, during which overseas buyer representatives spoke about their experience in strengthening cooperation with China through the Canton Fair, noting that the fair has long played an important role in promoting trade exchanges and friendly relations between China and other countries, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Chinese experts said that the presence of Premier Li at the event sent a very important message to the world that China is always and will continue to stay open for global cooperation as the country is pursuing industrial transformation and upgrading.

The nation’s efforts on striving for industrial upgrades reflect on the proliferation of high-tech products showcased at the Canton Fair as the country is shifting from a labor-intensive manufacturer to a significant technology-driven industrial powerhouse, Li Youhuan, a research fellow at the Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, told the Global Times on Thursday.

“This transition signifies China’s capacity to offer a greater array of high-quality products with robust competitiveness and reliable supply chains to the global market,” the expert said.

Businesses have also captured the opportunities under this industry transformation.

“The Canton Fair was originally a place to source finished products and key components. But now it has become a dynamic platform for product development and innovation,” Talip Murat Kolbaşi, chairman of Arzum, Turkey’s leading electrical home appliances brand, said on Sunday during an opening reception for the 135th session of the Canton Fair.

“Most of our company’s most innovative products and best-selling goods are derived from the Canton Fair. We hope to further explore the international market through the Canton Fair platform,” said Murat Kolbaşi.

Intelligent and green products are playing leading roles at the Canton Fair. There are more than 8,700 exhibition booths set up by about 3,600 exhibitors related to electronics and home appliances, new energy, new-energy vehicles, smart mobility, industrial automation and intelligent manufacturing, the Global Times learned.

Behind the appearance of more and more intelligent sci-tech innovation products at the Canton Fair is that Chinese enterprises have gradually established the foundation and advantages to support the development of new quality productive forces.

Embracing global markets and establishing a more stable industrial chain and supply chain have become the direction of Chinese manufacturing enterprises doing foreign trade, industry insiders said.

“It’s important to come to the Canton Fair to get deals done, but it’s more important to look at industry trends. Chinese products and technologies are being updated and iterated very fast and are now leading the world,” Zhu Qiucheng, CEO of Ningbo New Oriental Electric Industrial Development, an exporter of pet furniture and home furnishing products, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Innovative pet products have always seen an increase in exports, said Zhu, adding that the company releases new products every two months to meet market needs.

“Productivity upgrading promotes the transformation and upgrading of China’s foreign trade, and the more difficult the external environment is, the more high-tech products can seize the foreign trade market,” said Zhu.

In recent years, the proportion of intermediate and capital goods on display has increased significantly. In the machinery exhibition area where capital goods are concentrated, the number of booths has increased by more than 50 percent in the past five years, the Global Times reporter learned.

China’s open stance on sharing opportunities arising from its industrial transformation sharply contrasts with the intensified actions taken by some Western countries, led by the US, which have implemented regressive and even negative measures in international trade, said Li Youhuan.

“As China continues to pursue opening up to the outside world, the role of the Canton Fair as a platform for global cooperation will only be strengthened. This will enable both domestic and overseas businesses to share greater benefits of joint development,” the expert added.

ICRC welcomes support from China, to take cooperation in humanitarian areas to new level: ICRC vice president

Editor’s Note:

After seven months of conflict in Gaza, a cease-fire still seems distant. Meanwhile, the Palestine-Israel conflict is causing ripple effects across the region, and has led to major humanitarian crises. The international community, including China, is making efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crises.

What’s the situation on the ground in Gaza? How does the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) view the humanitarian efforts that China has made on the global stage? Global Times reporters Xie Wenting, Zhao Juecheng, and Liu Caiyu (GT) spoke with ICRC’s vice-president Gilles Carbonnier (Carbonnier) about these issues and more.

A woman and child walk past tents at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on April 14, 2024. Photo: VCG

Gilles Carbonnier, vice-president of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Photo: Zhao Juecheng/Global Times

GT: What’s the work the ICRC has conducted in the Gaza Strip? What are the major challenges facing the ICRC?

Carbonnier: We reminded the parties to the conflict of their obligations under the Geneva Conventions and stressed the importance of adhering to international humanitarian laws. Next to that, we provide assistance in Gaza and we do our utmost to provide food assistance, especially at present. We have set up kitchens in the refugee camps in Gaza to provide food to the most vulnerable people. We also provide water through water tracking and support the water board and water utility in repairing wells, water pumping stations, and restoring water and wastewater treatment to prevent epidemics. Finally, we support hospitals and medical centers with drugs and medicines among others in Gaza.

The first issue, which we have mentioned again and again, is that it is key to reduce civilian losses and civilian suffering by abiding by and respecting international humanitarian law. Under international humanitarian law, civilians and essential goods and services must be protected. Another priority for us is to bring enough support to help avert major health issues, so that people can access healthcare, injured individuals can be treated, and epidemics can be averted, ensuring sick people have access to medical assistance.

However, there is a challenge as most of the health system in Gaza is not functioning or has been impaired, making it difficult to bring drugs into Gaza and distribute them to the different health centers that are still operational due to security concerns and logistical hurdles.

Food security is also a major concern. Currently, it is a struggle to bring enough food into Gaza, and the production of vegetables, poultry, and other food items has been partially destroyed.

We welcome the repeated support of China for the respect of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law. We also welcome China’s support to help provide life-saving assistance, including medicines and other life-saving assistance in Gaza for those most in need. China has a very important role to play, all the way from being a member of the UN Security Council down to the provision of and support for medical assistance.

GT: How do you see the ongoing conflicts affecting the world? And personally do you think there is any solution to these conflicts?

Carbonnier: First, conflicts are becoming increasingly protracted, spanning generations. It is clear that there are no humanitarian solutions to these crises, only political ones. Therefore, we must identify the necessary political steps toward conflict resolution. However, peace and security are becoming more elusive as finding a solution becomes increasingly difficult.

Interestingly, the initial steps often involve humanitarian efforts, such as attempting to establish a humanitarian cease-fire. The ICRC serves as a neutral intermediary, able to communicate with all parties involved. It is crucial to maintain this space for neutral and impartial humanitarian actors like the ICRC, as they can facilitate dialogue with various parties in conflicts.

Sometimes the parties agree that they want to start a discussion between themselves and they ask us as a neutral intermediary to ensure the safe passage of, for instance, one party to the conflict, to be able to go to a place where they can meet and discuss. We provide this neutral intermediation. Sometimes this neutral intermediation that we do is the first step that provides an enabling environment for peace conversations.

The problem nowadays is that we see a lot of attacks against neutral humanitarian actors. Some people say, if you are not with us, you are against us. We say we are not against anyone, but we have to maintain a neutral role. And we will not publicly denounce this party to the conflict or that party to the conflict because if we publicly denounce different parties to the conflict every day, then we would be kicked out. And the international community would be left without a neutral intermediary on the ground. It is in the interest of major powers and the international community to preserve that space.

GT: Could you introduce some of the major cooperation between China and the ICRC?

Carbonnier: We have been present in China and have been cooperating with key stakeholders in China for many years. I believe we want to take this cooperation to a new level following the discussions and visit that President of the ICRC Mirjana Spoljaric had in September, 2023.

I believe that we can further our cooperation by engaging with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Chinese government on international humanitarian law, as well as by working more practically with Chinese foreign aid, particularly in the medical sector.

We had conversations with the National Health Commission recently. We also had a meeting with the China medical teams which have been sent to African countries. We engaged with them to share our expertise and experiences in the humanitarian sector. We have also started conversations with the China International Development Cooperation Agency to explore opportunities for better cooperation in the future. We welcome Chinese humanitarian workers who are interested in working with us. We are currently working closely with the Red Cross Society of China.

What I see and am really glad about is that our own delegations, present in about 100 situations of conflict, engage with the Chinese embassies on the ground to have a dialogue on the humanitarian situation. This interaction is much more fluid now. We also have regular discussions with foreign affairs officials, where we can share our assessment of the situation in Africa and in approximately 60 countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) where we are active.

A United Nations team inspects the grounds of Al-Shifa hospital, Gaza’s largest hospital, on April 8, 2024. The hospital was reduced to ashes during a two-week Israeli raid. Photo: VCG

GT: What’s your take on the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI)?

Carbonnier: I think with the GSI and the GDI provides clear guidance and perspectives that are of great interest to us. It also helps us to have a better understanding of foreign policy priorities for China.

Our understanding is indeed that China recognizes the interactions between security, development, and peace. I see common interests in that we work in protracted conflict situations. We aim to stop providing aid as soon as possible and instead provide sustainable humanitarian solutions. This includes providing people with seed capital and access to tools so they can generate income and regain dignity. We also aim to stop water trucking and repair wells and water pumping stations quickly so that major urban systems can function again, providing services to schools, hospitals, and other essential facilities.

I think we see an interaction between preserving development gains, even in conflict, and restoring them in order to provide people with opportunities as soon as possible. Once they have opportunities and income, the prospects for reconciliation and stability improve. The last point is that by promoting respect for international humanitarian law, we prevent the worst from happening. If we prevent the worst, people will reconcile more easily. If the worst has happened to your family, then hatred can pass from generation to generation.

The goal of the GSI and GDI is to preserve and promote sustainable development as a way to provide greater stability. In fragile situations, our efforts aim to restore livelihoods, preserve development gains, and prevent distractions and violations of international humanitarian law that could sow the seeds of further conflicts.

GT: I noticed that the ICRC is paying attention to the impact of AI in the military domain. What suggestions do you have to strengthen global governance cooperation on AI?

Carbonnier: For us, it’s important to recognize that in situations of armed conflict, the potential of AI is like a magnifying glass. It can save lives and achieve great things, but the risks are also heightened, as it can lead to tragic humanitarian consequences. Therefore, we believe it is crucial to harness scientific and technological advances to provide a more impactful and effective response.

Currently, humanitarian needs are increasing while funding is decreasing, making it necessary to find ways to be more effective. Utilizing digital transformation through technology is a key part of achieving this impact.

However, the use of AI, especially in weapons and machine learning, raises significant concerns. We have called for the regulation of autonomous weapon systems to address these concerns swiftly, as technological advancements are outpacing the government’s ability to regulate and govern these developments. We are worried that autonomous weapon systems powered by AI and machine learning could make life and death decisions without human control.

For us, it is critical to maintain human control over these decisions and human responsibility in accountability. We are also concerned about autonomous weapons, which have unpredictable consequences that even the designers and developers of the algorithm and products cannot anticipate. This is something that is unacceptable from an ethical standpoint, a legal standpoint, and a humanitarian standpoint. It is urgent. There are intergovernmental reflections on the global framework to govern AI at large, but also on the specificity of using AI in new warfare means and methods. This is a pressing issue that must be addressed by the international community.

GT: How do you view China’s role in gathering representatives from regional countries and international organizations to promote prosperity and economic development in Asia?

Carbonnier: It is important to recognize the critical importance of China in the region. China has been booming for many years and has greatly contributed to reducing overall poverty rates and addressing development issues. The region has seen significant progress in economic development, science and technology, and diplomacy. It is crucial to have opportunities like the Boao Forum for Asia to engage in diplomatic discussions with political leaders on fundamental issues such as development, security, and stability that have global implications.

I have been coming regularly to China. I hope to come back to Boao certainly in 2025 and the years after that.

Unity for humanity

Why I confidently believe China can deal with every challenge it faces

Illustration: Xia Qing/Global Times

Among the books predicting that China has reached its peak and is in a period of upcoming decline, the first one I remember was by Gordon Chang. This goes back probably over 20 years, and the book was titled
The Coming Collapse of China. He was even quite specific, saying that by 2011, China would have collapsed. Obviously, that turned out to be dead wrong.

The most recent book is
Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China. It basically says that China is facing a number of very difficult challenges, such as lack of consumer confidence, issues with neighbors, an aging population, property problems, underperforming state-owned enterprises and others that China may struggle to address.

Let’s start with why I’m confident that China can and will deal with these challenges. First, China’s track record speaks for itself when it comes to overcoming challenges. China has lifted 850 million people out of poverty without engaging in any external wars, which is quite impressive.

Anyone who questions China’s ability to meet the challenges they face is not looking at history. There isn’t any major country on the globe today that has faced the challenges that China has faced from 1949 up until the present and delivered more effectively. Moreover, over the same period, China has been able to grow its GDP to a level significantly higher than any other major country.

If you look at the underlying assumption between the books that are critical of China, they assert that China’s leadership is not going to be flexible, talented or courageous enough to deal with these changes.

However, if you tear apart the way China governs itself, it’s like a very successful corporation. China has a strong leader, and an equivalent of a board of directors to provide oversight. China has people who have advanced meritocratically, based on their education and accomplishments in the outside world. China has a long-term strategic view that gets converted into industrial policy. China has been very effective at prioritizing resources and initiatives that are most successful in the marketplace.

Another advantage that China has is that the best and brightest in China aspire to government service. The people who hold senior positions in government are highly educated, have been tested in various professional settings, and have been successful.

Moreover, from the 24-point action plan that came out of the State Council to the commitment President Xi Jinping has made to a number of visiting CEOs, it’s evident that China is serious about opening up its market and reforming.

In addition, the people are behind the Chinese government, and Confucian values provide a level of identity and cohesion to the Chinese people.

While some Westerners say Confucian values are a thing of the past, my experience with young Chinese people in America and China shows that these values are very much alive. Delving deeper into Confucian values, my favorite is “work hard to get ahead.” Self-improvement through hard work and education is prioritized not for individual benefit, but for the betterment of family and society.

In conclusion, China is the country with a proven track record of achieving goals, governance led by high-quality leaders and strategic decision-making that yields results through effective execution. Additionally, China boasts a cohesive, large population that is supportive of national goals. The reality is that the domestic market in China consists of 1.4 billion people. China does not necessarily rely on the rest of the world to develop a strong economy; rather, it needs to boost consumer confidence so that people spend more in China and save less. This is a much easier challenge than attempting to change fundamental behaviors.

The author is a speaker on China-US relations and author of the book Powerful, Different, Equal: Overcoming the misconceptions and differences between China and the US. [email protected]

Forward-thinking strategies proposed at two sessions as China-proposed BRI embarks on high-quality development for next decade

Cargo ships dock at and leave the Taicang Port in East China’s Jiangsu Province on January 24, 2024. Photo: VCG

At the ongoing two sessions, the annual meetings of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, hot topics that relate to both China and the world have been proposed and discussed. One particular highlight is the discussions over the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has just marked its decade of anniversary last year and is now embarking on the next decade of a new journey for high-quality development.

Over the past decade, the joint construction of the BRI has delivered prosperous results for participating countries. Thanks to the joint initiative, many developing countries have gained increasing access to global markets, eased their financing problems for much-needed infrastructure projects, filled an “infrastructure deficit,” strengthened their comparative advantages, and boosted their capacity for independent economic development, according to a report by the Xinhua News Agency.

Members and deputies of the two sessions, many of whom have direct experience and participation in BRI projects have noted how the initiative has brought about changes to participating countries over the past decade.

On this special occasion, they have also proposed strategies across various sectors, spanning from personnel training to connectivity and green development, while vowing to embrace high-quality development, which aligns with the future trajectory of the initiative.

Talent matters

In addition to daily lectures, one of the most important works for Zhang Shuibo, a professor of the College of Management and Economics of Tianjin University, was to lead his team to carry out major research projects to serve domestic enterprises engaged in the BRI, covering investment and financing, operations, logistics, international engineering contracting among other aspects, based on cultivating high-end talent ahead of “going global.”

Over the past two years, Zhang has held training courses for dozens of enterprises and trained thousands of international engineering management talents.

As a deputy to the 14th NPC, one very important subject for Zhang this year relates to the joint construction of the BRI, he told the Global Times during the two sessions.

As the initiative pursues high-quality development in the next decade, one key aspect needs to be strengthened is the personnel training, with Luban Workshop program being a core.

The workshop, named after Lu Ban, an ancient Chinese woodcraft master, is a Chinese vocational workshop program aims to promote vocational education exchanges and cooperation between China and the rest of the world committed to developing urgently needed technical talents.

The joint construction of the BRI is shifting from scale-oriented development to high-quality development, which poses higher demands on talent, Zhang said.

“To address this, we have introduced a series of policies to promote the cultivation of local talent, aiming to better benefit local development and ensure the efficient operation of projects,” Zhang said.

Luban Workshop Research and Promotion Centers are established in local technical colleges or other educational institutions, and local enterprises are also involved and receive certain subsidies from the government for the training. Currently, there are approximately 200 Luban Workshops worldwide, according to Zhang.

“The standardization and high quality of the curriculum is needed for the next stage of development,” Zhang said.

Specifically, when collaborating with schools in various countries, our curriculum design should be adjusted and optimized according to the industrial development of each country and the needs of Chinese enterprises in countries of the joint construction of the BRI, Zhang said.

However, other challenges persist against the backdrop of the growing complexity of the international situation, with rising geopolitical tensions and a slow economic recovery worldwide.

To address these difficulties, Zhang proposed to ramp up support the BRI by increasing the loans of Chinese yuan in better response to the fiscal difficulties faced by many countries and their insufficient foreign exchange reserves.

“By doing so, it will not only help the countries’ development but also promoting the internationalization of the yuan,” the NPC deputy said.

Stronger connectivity

In jointly building the BRI, connectivity is crucial. Among key projects, railways, as the backbone of integrated transportation systems, are an important component of infrastructure connectivity, as the initiative is deepening its high-quality development, said Liu Zhenfang, chairman of the board of the China State Railway Group Co, who is also a deputy to the 14th NPC, in its proposal read by the Global Times.

The 142.3-kilometer-long high-speed line, connecting Indonesia’s capital city Jakarta and the fourth largest city Bandung, serves as a flagship project and successful example of developing countries in the region working together toward modernization.

Meanwhile, the China-Laos Railway, another iconic project, has become a game changer for the Southeast Asian country, opening it up to greater economic opportunities.

Few transportation networks rival the cross-continental China-Europe freight train in terms of its significant transportation capacity and its contribution to economic and trade growth, bridging the East and the West.

As of the end of January, the China-Europe freight train had operated over 84,000 trips cumulatively, reaching 219 cities in 25 countries across Europe, according to media reports, highlighting its role as a stabilizer of the global supply chain, particularly amid the Red Sea crisis.

Liu said in his proposal that in 2024 that China Railway will fully leverage a coordination mechanism linked to the China-Europe freight train, continuously enhance the transportation capacity of key ports and corridors, expand the operation of scheduled freight trains along the entire route, and promote the cross-continental cargo train to develop toward higher quality, better efficiency, and increased safety.

Moreover, Liu pledged to intensify exchanges this year with international cooperation organizations and foreign railway institutions to promote the internationalization of Chinese railway standards.

In addition to connectivity, green is also an important part of the high-quality development for the BRI. Wang Tongzhou, a member of the CPPCC National Committee and chairman of China Communications Construction Co, proposed to further support and encourage research and development and the widespread application of green technologies in order to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption across the entire industry chain under the BRI. “That includes creating a number of exemplary green projects in promoting green development in the joint construction of the BRI,” Wang said.

The achievements under the BRI have provided clear evidence, paving an auspicious path toward the high-quality development of the initiative.

Over the past decade, the Chinese government has signed over 240 cooperation agreements promoting the joint construction of the BRI with more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations. This has resulted in a multitude of cooperative projects, establishing the broadest and largest international cooperation platform in the world, said Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, said at a press conference on March 3.

Looking ahead, the prospects for the high-quality construction of the BRI are promising, said Liu.

China has not collapsed in past because of ‘China collapse’ theory; it will not peak now because of ‘Peak China’ rhetoric: Xi

A view of Shanghai’s Lujiazui area, a major financial zone in China Photo: VCG

China’s development has gone through all sorts of difficulties and challenges to get to where it is today. It has not collapsed in the past because of the “China collapse” theory, and it will not peak now because of the “Peak China” rhetoric, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday.

Xi made the remarks when he met with representatives of the American business, strategic and academic communities in Beijing on the day.

The meeting came amid a series of high-level events, including the just-concluded China Development Forum 2024 in Beijing and the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia in South China’s Hainan Province, all of which demonstrate the country’s commitment to expanding high-level opening-up and its willingness to enhance cooperation, in contrast to the unilateral moves taken by the Biden administration under the call to “decouple.”

“China’s economy is healthy and sustainable,” Xi said, noting that China’s growth rate was one of the fastest among major economies last year.

Xi said China is planning and implementing a series of major measures to comprehensively deepen reform, foster a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized, and provide broader development space for international businesses, including US companies.

In the current situation, the common interests of China and the US are not diminishing, but increasing. Whether in traditional areas such as trade and agriculture or emerging areas such as climate change and artificial intelligence, China and the US should be boosters of each other’s development, not drags on the process.

Promoting the recovery of the world economy and resolving international and regional hotspot issues requires China and the US to coordinate and cooperate, show the mind-set of great powers and take up the roles of great powers, Xi said.

Chairman of the National Committee on US-China Relations Evan G. Greenberg; Craig Allen, president of the US-China Business Council; Stephen Schwarzman, co-founder and CEO of private equity firm Blackstone, and Cristiano Amon, CEO of Qualcomm, were among the US business executives attending the meeting.

The US companies appreciated China’s recent introduction of a series of important initiatives to further reform and opening-up, expressing their optimism about the prospects for the country’s economic development. They said that they will unswervingly continue to explore the Chinese market, and develop a long-term close cooperative relationship with China.

Global Times