The Maldives, an active partner of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has significantly benefited from infrastructure development, trade growth and other bilateral cooperation projects, and the nation is "grateful" for the support from the Chinese government, Fazeel Najeeb, the newly-appointed Maldives Ambassador to China, said in an exclusive interview with the Global Times, as this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Maldives' participation in the joint construction of the BRI.

Numerous BRI projects have already been completed and are operational in the Maldives. One landmark project is the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, which the ambassador called a transformative project that greatly improves travel conditions between islands.

The bridge is the first cross-sea bridge in the Maldives built by a Chinese company - connecting Male, the Maldivian capital city, with neighboring Hulhule Island, enabling locals and tourists to travel between the two islands in five minutes.

The friendship bridge is just the epitome of China-Maldives close cooperation, which spans infrastructure, trade, and people-to-people exchanges.

Currently, both countries are speeding up the implementation of an important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, advancing projects like the municipal roads in Male and Velana in the Maldives, according to information from the Chinese Embassy in the Maldives.

Both sides are now actively expanding cooperation in tourism, agriculture, fisheries, trade, and investment.

The ambassador said: "We are benefiting from BRI cooperation and look forward to deepening our ties under the initiative," emphasizing the potential for expanding collaboration.

Free trade deal

A key avenue for enhancing bilateral economic ties is the free trade agreement (FTA) reached between the two countries, which is expected to be implemented soon, according to Fazeel.

China-Maldives FTA negotiations started in December 2015 and ended in September 2017. The agreement covers trade in goods, trade in services, investment, and economic and technical cooperation, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.

In 2023, their bilateral trade reached $758.33 million, representing a 75.8-percent year-on-year increase, data from China's General Administration of Customs showed.

The ambassador said that the bilateral economic and trade ties will be significantly strengthened under the FTA, "which has already been signed and is expected to take effect by the end of this year or early next year."

"I believe that with the imminent enactment of the FTA, we will see more Chinese enterprises doing business in the Maldives," he said. 

Fazeel also noted that once the FTA takes effect, the volume of Chinese products entering the Maldives could significantly increase.

In addition to trade, Fazeel also mentioned tourism, a key pillar of people-to-people exchanges. 

Since the beginning of this year, with the restoration and launch of multiple flight routes between the two countries, travel and cultural exchanges have become easier, resulting in a steady rise in the number of Chinese tourists visiting the Maldives. 

According to the Maldives Embassy in Beijing, by the end of August this year, more than 200,000 Chinese tourists visited the Maldives, making China one of the largest sources of foreign tourists to the Maldives.

'Debt trap' rebutted

Like many strong relationships established under the BRI, close China-Maldives ties have faced unfriendly assaults from some Western media, alleging that China's BRI has created the so-called "debt trap" for the island nation and that China is "exerting influence" through the program. 

The ambassador firmly rebutted these baseless as well as malicious accusations. 

"We do not view it in that way… We see it as an extension of China's support for the development of the Maldives," Fazeel said, noting that it is the BRI that has greatly benefited local development in infrastructure, trade and many other fields.

Responding to the "debt trap" accusation, Fazeel said: "We are getting funds not only from China but other countries and international organizations… In fact, some countries currently owe more debt to others than we do to China."

Regarding claims about China imposing influence over the Maldives, the ambassador emphasized that "influence is a subjective term, and every country has some degree of influence on another, whether economically, financially, culturally, or traditionally." 

"We are impressed by China's technological capabilities and economic strength... As the second-largest economy in the world and a leading technological innovator, China offers significant benefits to us," Fazeel noted.

The ambassador said: "We see nothing wrong with collaborating with any country that offers us trade and support. We are not concerned about criticisms - there will always be criticisms of various kinds."

Looking ahead, he stated that the Maldives will continue to work and cooperate with any country that extends a helping hand to the Maldives, emphasizing that "China is always at the forefront of that support."

China's A-share market saw another significant surge on Tuesday, the first trading day following the week-long National Day holidays, fueled by a range of recent stimulus measures.

The ChiNext Index recorded its largest single-day gain on record, while total trading volume on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges reached 3.45 trillion yuan ($488.9 billion), up 860 billion yuan from the previous trading day, a record high.

At Tuesday's close, the Shanghai Composite Index was up by 4.59 percent, the Shenzhen Component Index had shot up by 9.17 percent, and the ChiNext Index had skyrocketed by 17.25 percent.

Financial stocks remained robust with 48 brokerage stocks hitting their daily price ceilings. The semiconductor sector saw a strong opening, with more than 200 stocks hitting their daily limits.

The Shanghai Composite Index opened up by a breath-taking 10.13 percent, the Shenzhen Component Index was up by 12.67 percent, and the ChiNext Index surged 18.44 percent at the opening.

Just 20 minutes after the market opened on Tuesday, trading volume on the Shanghai and Shenzhen bourses surpassed 1 trillion yuan, the fastest time ever to reach this amount.

The enthusiasm for the stock markets overwhelmed the trading systems, leading to some trading hiccups and delays, which were reported in multiple trading platforms.
"Significant policies have lifted investor expectations. The intensified efforts in monetary and fiscal policy to promote sustained economic recovery are further lifting market confidence," Yang Delong, chief economist at Shenzhen-based First Seafront Fund, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Xi Junyang, a professor at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the rally is being supported by a rebound in the prices of previously undervalued assets and pro-growth macro policies.

"The surge in trading volume and strong market sentiment indicate an improvement in investor confidence," he added.
During a press conference on Tuesday, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said that the country will accelerate the implementation of incremental pro-growth policies.

With the economy facing downward pressure, the country will focus on counter-cyclical policy adjustment, and ramp up efforts to boost domestic consumption and improve people's livelihoods.

It will give more support to businesses having operational difficulties, and try to stabilize the real estate market and shore up the capital market, the NDRC said.

Addressing the capital market, the NDRC said that pro-growth economic policies are being fast-tracked for implementation.

Efforts are underway to attract long-term investment, support mergers and acquisitions, and protect individual investors.

In late September, China's central bank announced a new package of monetary stimulus measures to support property sales and shore up the capital market, and to create better conditions for China's high-quality economic development, which have significantly boosted investor sentiment.

During the Golden Week holidays, investors in the Chinese mainland were seen lining up to open new stock accounts, while employees from some securities companies returned to work early in preparation for the market opening.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the 27th China-ASEAN Summit, the 27th ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit to be held in Vientiane, Laos from October 9 to 12, and pay an official visit to Laos.

Li's visit is at the invitation of Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the current ASEAN chair, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Tuesday. Li will also pay an official visit to Vietnam from October 12 to 14, at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam.

The 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits will convene in Vientiane, Lao from October 8 to11, according to official information.

The theme for Lao PDR's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024 is "ASEAN: Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience." Enhancing connectivity and resilience is of utmost importance to ensure ASEAN collective efforts in the strengthening of the ASEAN Community to seize opportunities and address present and emerging challenges effectively, according to ASEAN website.

At a regular press conference on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao said that China looks forward to working with ASEAN and other regional countries to build consensus, deepen mutual trust, strengthen cooperation, and inject new impetus into peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the world at large, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Chinese experts noted that despite the regional challenges ASEAN is facing right now, such as the South China Sea dispute, this year's ASEAN summits will first prioritize the region's development.

ASEAN is keen to seize the opportunity for technological innovation to advance its digitalization efforts. The group hopes that this year's summits will foster cooperation with countries such as China and Japan, Peng Nian, director of the Hong Kong Research Center for Asian Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Connectivity is another priority, as enhanced connectivity with neighboring countries like China, Japan, and South Korea can stimulate trade and attract greater investment to the region, Peng noted.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will reportedly assert the Philippines' sovereignty over its territorial waters at the ASEAN summits, the Department of Foreign Affairs of Philippines said last week, according to Manila Times.

Marcos is likely to stage a monodrama if he takes advantage of the event to hype the South China Sea issue, as regional countries are more prone to cool down the situation instead of adding fuel to the fire, Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times.

Moreover, this year's ASEAN summits emphasize cooperation and development among its member states. If the Philippines attempts to hype the South China Sea issue, it could dilute other important topics, said Chen, noting that such a move may not be well received by other regional countries.

In June, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for diplomatic engagement to resolve the South China Sea disputes, stressing that interference from external parties will only make things worse, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Disruptive voices

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has an opening during this week's summits with regional leaders in Laos to step up Canada's efforts to help Southeast Asian countries facing so-called "escalating threats from China," Canadian media CBC quoted experts as saying.

Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will also hold talks this week on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, a top official told the AFP. Ishiba has once raised the notion of an "Asian NATO."

These voices from forces outside the region want to instigate and hype up problems and interrupt prosperity and development in Southeast Asia, a region built on win-win and pragmatic cooperation between China and regional countries, observers said, noting ASEAN members won't be distracted by these disruptions.

On October 5, Indonesia's largest English-language newspaper, The Jakarta Post, published an editorial entitled "No to Asia's NATO," directly advising Ishiba to "refrain from promoting his grand idea to establish an Asian version of NATO in order to avoid self-humiliation."

ASEAN countries are seeking cooperation with various nations; however, the bloc is increasingly wary of extraterritorial powers that may incite conflicts and introduce disruptive ideas. Such notions not only undermine ASEAN's centrality but also pose challenges to Southeast Asia's geopolitical security, Chen noted.

As ASEAN countries are also watching the rising tension in the Middle East and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the summit provides an opportunity to discuss managing crisis. Southeast Asia, currently a region of peace, is also worried that if the US triggers conflict in this region, it could become the second Middle East, said Chen.

The opening exhibition of the new Moganshan Art Museum in East China's Zhejiang Province presents an artistic dialogue between humanity and nature, the traditional and modern, individuals and society through a variety of artworks. 

The exhibits in More than Symbiosis include paintings, photographs, installations and sculptures from China, Japan, France and Italy.  

Shan Feida, one of the participating artists, said that through this unique exhibition, the museum not only adds a cultural highlight to the city, but also provides a platform for art lovers to communicate, learn and enjoy art.

Visitors can not only appreciate high-level artworks, but also gain an in-depth understanding of the artist's creative ideas and the stories behind their artworks.

As the Mid-Autumn Festival concluded and the National Day holidays approach, more and more travelers have chosen mountain hikes as a ­favorite pastime. The rise of "hiking companion" services, which, while not a formal profession, has gained significant attention due to increasing demand, particularly on social media platforms.

Sun Menglei, a college student from Zhengzhou, Central China's Henan Province, told the Global Times that he began offering hiking companion services because of his passion for outdoor activities. 

Over the just-concluded Mid-Autumn holidays, Sun received numerous requests, especially for popular routes like Mount Songshan's Luya Waterfall and Taishi Mountain, a peak of Mount Songshan. On Monday, he had even seven bookings.

Just like Sun, most hiking companions are current or recent university graduates who are enthusiastic about outdoor sports and possess in-depth knowledge of local mountain ranges. 

Zhang Yuliang, a graduate from Tai'an, East China's Shandong Province, told the Global Times that as a local resident, he is ­well-acquainted with Mount Taishan. 

His primary clients are first-time visitors to the area, and he often assists by carrying their bags, allowing them to focus on the challenges of reaching the summit.

It is reported that more than 300 university students are working part-time as hiking companions in the area of Mount Taishan, charging between 100 to 300 yuan ($14-$42) per service. Social media platforms have seen a surge in posts sharing experiences and tips about using these services.

Apart from providing hiking assistance, some companions offer additional services. Sun, for instance, provides photography services alongside hiking assistance. 

"Some of my clients are white-collar workers who don't have time to plan their trips or might lack the willpower to finish the climb. My companionship and encouragement help them overcome difficulties and isolation, making the journey to the top more enjoyable," he said.

Many hiking companions have some level of professional sports training, which enables them to offer expert guidance. Their familiarity with the terrain and weather conditions allows them to tailor routes based on clients' physical abilities, minimizing risks such as injury or getting lost.

While the service is gaining popularity, there are potential challenges. To address safety concerns, Sun has implemented a reservation and deposit system, ensuring a structured and safe experience for his clients. 

According to the Xinhua News Agency, hiking companion services are part of a trust-based ­economy. Tourists should negotiate key aspects of the service, such as fees and liability, with their companions. Tourism and market regulators could develop model contracts for hiking companion services to provide standardized references and guidance for both tourists and service providers.

Despite potential legal and trust issues, Sun values the emotional fulfillment he gains from this work. 

"Helping clients reach the summit and seeing their joy and pride when they take in the view gives me a real sense of accomplishment," he said.

If some stellar Chinese Science Fiction (sci-fi) films were to be named, The Wandering Earth film series, would likely be the top choice of many fans.

The series' two episodes were released in 2019 and 2023, respectively. They are both highly popular films on the silver screen, and yet their backstage stories have rarely been shown to audiences.

Revealing details such as how the film's "Black Hawk" helicopter was created, a recently released documentary Inside the Wandering Earth II, for the first time, shares many behind-the-scenes stories.

It also introduces audiences to the rapidly developing landscape of the Chinese sci-fi culture.

Behind-the-scenes story

Most of the stories in Inside the Wandering Earth II are only now being told for the first time. The film crew, for instance, captured how the scene of the wreckage of the "Black Hawk" helicopter was produced.

Led by veteran prop designer Zhong Jianwei and his team, the helicopter prop was first built as a full-scale model, and the crew would create prototypes and assemble them piece by piece.

The model was then manually "damaged" by designers to achieve the appearance of a wreckage. The helicopter scene was only a couple of shots, but it took the prop team several months to set up the scene.

Other than the helicopter, there were several similar instances such as the door-frame robots and the moon rover props that show just how deeply embedded handmade prop-making is in Chinese sci-fi production.

"A top-notch visual presentation of a sci-fi production is often achieved by experts tweaking minute details meticulously countless times, including the prop's size, color, and patterns," Fang Muting, an industry insider, told the Global Times.

The documentary has also shown how the film's depiction of the "United Earth Government" headquarters was painstakingly crafted.

The film's overseas production team obtained a special permission to visit the inside of the United Nations headquarters in New York and combined these insights with the construction plans of the UN's iconic Golden Hall sourced by the art ­department, anchoring elements of the film in reality.

Beyond revealing the The Wandering Earth secrets was the documentary team's goal of showing audiences about Chinese sci-fi's profound cultural roots.

After consulting experts in various fields like literature and history, ­several milestones in Chinese sci-fi history were revealed in the documentary.

They include the early literary inspiration of The Future of New China, a book that was written by pioneer intellectual Liang Qichao, and the Science Fiction World magazine.

Founded in 1979, the magazine was a cradle for notable Chinese writers like Liu Cixin, Wang Jinkang and He Xi.

"Reflecting on the development of Chinese sci-fi literature, Chinese people have never stopped imagining and pursuing the future and technology­," Guo Siwen, the director of the documentary, told the Global Times.

The director added that the charm of films like The ­Wandering Earth series lies in their portrayal of "the ­history of the future."

"[Such films] are not just about visual imaginations, but also about attempts to explore scientific and social topics in reality," Guo emphasized.

The Wandering Earth 3 is expected to be released in China on February 6, 2027.

Expansive landscape

Noting that Chinese sci-fi does not lack quality IPs, Chen Fusi, a cultural industry expert, told the Global Times that Chinese sci-fi culture is ­expanding its "multi-domain" landscape in collaborating with not only the film sector, but also other sectors such as gaming and art.

Taking the Chinese game Honkai: Star Rail as an example, it is a strategic game that invites players to go on an adventure across the galaxy.

While maintaining its sci-fi theme, the visual aesthetics of the game engage Chinese cultural elements like traditional ­architectural designs unique to East China's Anhui Province.

The game has been popular among overseas players. Chen, the expert, told the Global Times that the new "sci-fi and gaming" design helps overseas young people "experience Chinese culture in effortless ways."

In the recent past, sci-fi has grown to be a popular theme for curated art exhibitions. Featuring new technologies like 3D mapping and virtue reality, a visual exhibition in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province has interpreted the historical ancient Silk Road story featuring sci-fi visual presentations.

"Sci-fi is like a medium for cultural expression. It can be embedded in different fields to help promote Chinese values," Lü Yingying, the documentary's producer, told the Global Times.

"Compared to many Western countries, the start of China's sci-fi culture was relatively recent, but we have developed fast relying on our profound history and also the country's innovative technologies," Chen told the Global Times.

Following Israel's ground military operations in southern Lebanon and Iran's ballistic missile strikes on Israel, Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, urges immediate de-escalation of the Lebanese-Israeli situation, warning that any further provocations could easily cause the situation, which is now "hanging by a thread," to spiral out of control.

Over the past two weeks, the situation in the Middle East, especially in Lebanon, has rapidly deteriorated. China is deeply concerned about the severe situation and the outlook for future developments, Fu said at a UN Security Council emergency session on Wednesday.

We call for the respect of the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of all countries, Fu noted, reiterating China's opposition to any action that violates the basic principles of international relations and condemning all violent attacks targeting civilians.

China supports the position of the UN, emphasizing that any Israeli incursions into Lebanon violate the latter's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and are in breach of the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, Fu said.

Under the current circumstances, the Chinese envoy said the UN Security Council must take urgent actions and be united in making clear and unequivocal demands: An immediate ceasefire must be established in Gaza; the deescalation of the Lebanese-Israeli situation must be advanced to stop the cycle of violence; every effort must be made to prevent the spread of the fighting; and the parties concerned must return to the track of political and diplomatic solutions.

"Since October of last year, cycles of violent conflict have repeatedly occurred in the Middle East. Israel has disregarded the international community's calls for an immediate ceasefire and has insisted on advancing military actions, leading to the prolongation and escalation of the conflict. A full-scale war could break out at any moment," Fu warned.

At this critical juncture, any inflammatory rhetoric or provocative actions are extremely dangerous and could easily lead to misjudgments, trigger chain reactions, and cause the situation to spiral out of control. "China urges all parties, especially Israel, to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that could further escalate the situation," Fu noted.

Fu said the conflict has caused an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, Gaza has become "a hell on Earth," and massive destruction of civilian facilities, thousands of casualties, and more than 1 million people displaced in Lebanon.

The ambassador called on all parties to respect the red lines of international humanitarian law and to ensure the protection of civilians.

Warning that the current situation is "hanging by a thread," Fu said any procrastination would be irresponsible, and any rhetoric of condoning further military adventurism would send a wrong message and could cause serious consequences.

"We hope major countries with influence will adopt a sincere and responsible attitude and earnestly play a constructive role to avoid further escalation of the situation," he stressed.

Fu reiterated the importance of respecting the neutrality of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon and ensuring the safety and security of the UN peacekeepers. "UN assets and personnel should not be the target of armed attacks," he said.

Israel pressed forward on Wednesday with a ground incursion into Lebanon against Hezbollah, leaving eight Israeli soldiers dead, and conducted strikes in Gaza that killed dozens, including children, AP reported on Thursday.

Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday in what Tehran said was retaliation for the recent killings of top Hezbollah and Hamas officials. Meanwhile, 55 people were killed and 156 were injured in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon in the past 24 hours, according to the Lebanese health ministry on early Wednesday.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed deep concerns on Wednesday over the turmoil in the Middle East, stressing that China opposes the violation of Lebanon's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity and opposes moves that fuel antagonism and escalate tensions. China calls on the international community, especially major countries with influence, to play a constructive role and avoid further turmoil.

China has filed a complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over Canada's unilateralism and trade protectionism practices, according to a spokesperson of the Chinese Commerce Ministry (MOFCOM) on Wednesday.

The ministry said it has also initiated an anti-discrimination probe into Canada's restrictive measures targeting certain imports from China.

The Canadian government announced on Tuesday the final list of Chinese-made steel and aluminum subject to a 25 percent tariff, along with a 100 percent tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs), effective immediately.

These moves were made despite opposition and warnings from multiple sources.

Commenting on the announcement made by the Canadian side, MOFCOM spokesperson said that Canada's measures violate the principles of market economy and fair competition, severely damaging normal economic and trade cooperation between Chinese and Canadian enterprises, significantly impacting bilateral economic and trade relations, and disrupting and distorting global industrial and supply chains. China firmly opposes these actions by the Canadian side, according to the spokesperson.

The MOFCOM spokesperson urged Canada to view bilateral economic and trade cooperation rationally and objectively, respect the facts, adhere to WTO rules, and not stray further down the wrong path.

China will take all necessary steps to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, the spokesperson emphasized.

Canada's action is a blind follow-up to the US approach without carefully assessing its own market conditions, Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Despite considerable opposition, Canada insists on implementing its protectionist measures, which will directly impact its industrial development and green transition, Zhou said.

"Furthermore, it will affect Canada's role in the multilateral economic and trade system and increase trade friction and economic costs. The related industrial chains will also face further restrictions, which will weaken Canada's ties to currently leading global green development technologies," Zhou further noted.

On September 11, China requested WTO dispute consultations with Canada regarding surtax measures imposed on certain Chinese products, including EVs and steel and aluminum products, according to the WTO.

The MOFCOM announced that it commenced from September 26 an anti-discrimination probe into Canada's tariff hikes on EVs as well as steel and aluminum products imported from China, after initial results have unveiled such discriminatory approach.

According to Xinhua News Agency, it is the first such investigation initiated by China and also the first of its kind in the world.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders attended a ceremony to present flower baskets to fallen heroes at Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing on Monday.

The event was held to commemorate China's Martyrs' Day, which annually falls on September 30, a day ahead of China's National Day.

Representatives from all walks of life and the relatives of fallen heroes, as well as Chinese Young Pioneers, offered flower baskets and bouquets in front of the Monument to the People's Heroes, in tribute to the martyrs.

China's top legislature approved September 30 as Martyrs' Day in 2014 to commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for national independence and prosperity.

Also on Monday, multiple cities across China held various memorial activities to commemorate the martyrs, with many people visiting war memorial museums to lay bouquets and pay tribute.

In recent days, multiple public security organs in Hubei, Guangdong, Shanghai and other parts of China organized memorial activities at the local martyrs' memorial parks, inspiring participants to inherit and carry forward the spirit of heroes in the new era.

According to cpd.com affiliated with Ministry of Public Security, police are the most sacrificed group during peace time. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, more than 17,000 police officers have died in the line of duty, with over 3,700 honored as martyrs.

Some theater commands also organized soldiers to participate in memorial activities and learn about heroic and patriotic deeds of martyrs.

Some compatriots from Taiwan island also laid flowers for fallen heroes at the Unknown Heroes Memorial Square in Xishan National Forest Park in Beijing on Sunday.

To commemorate the Martyrs' Day, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the State Post Bureau jointly designed and released commemorative stamps, with the Monument to the People's Heroes as the main picture. 

China has a long tradition of commemorating and honoring martyrs and other heroes who contributed greatly to the nation's development. Incomplete statistics suggest China has about 20 million martyrs. However, as many of them did not leave their names in times of war, only about 1.96 million martyrs have been enlisted in the government's directory, according to public information.

The country has about a million burial sites dedicated to martyrs. According to Ministry of Veterans Affairs, about 150,000 martyr memorial facilities and more than 730,000 martyrs' burial sites have been recorded in the information system, and 250,000 martyrs' tombs and memorial sites have been repaired, according to media reports in September.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New York on Friday, during which Wang emphasized the US should not always approach China with two faces. Instead of having it both ways by seeking containment on one hand and requesting cooperation on the other, the US should derive its China policy from a rational perception about China, Wang told Blinken.

Experts said the meeting, as both sides agreed to be "candid and substantive," indicates that both two countries want to maintain communication to manage their relationship, but experts also pointed out that the US should take concrete actions to further stabilize bilateral ties, given its hypocrisy to create differences itself while at the same time try to manage them.

"The US should not always approach China with two faces: On the one hand encircling and suppressing China brazenly, and on the other hand, having dialogue and cooperation with China as if nothing is wrong," said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

"Since the US has expressed multiple times that it has no intention to have conflict with China, then fundamentally, it needs to establish a rational perception of China, and find the right way to get along with it," said the Chinese top diplomat, according to the Xinhua News Agency on Saturday.

Li Haidong, a professor from the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Saturday that the latest meeting indicates that both China and the US want to maintain communication and dialogue to manage their relationship. In other words, stabilizing the bilateral relations aligns with the common needs of both sides, which is one of the important reasons why, despite existing differences, the two sides continue to strengthen their exchanges.

Pointing out US' "two faces" approach toward China clearly indicates China's awareness of the underlying nature of US diplomacy, Li said. "The double standards and hypocrisy in US foreign policy toward China cannot conceal the cognitive errors and obsession with competition inherent in its China policy." 

The Friday meeting between Wang and Blinken marks the fourth one they had this year, following their previous face-to-face talks in February, April, and July.

"The US needs to carry out dialogue with respect, advance cooperation in the spirit of reciprocity, and address differences with great prudence, rather than act willfully as it sees fit from a position of strength or use previous mistakes as excuses to make more mistakes," Wang said on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

On the Taiwan question, Wang said that "if the US truly hopes to see peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, it should abide by the one-China principle, implement the three China-US Joint Communiqués, stop arming Taiwan, publicly oppose 'Taiwan independence,' and support the peaceful reunification of China."

Wang articulated China's firm position on the South China Sea issue. He said China remains committed to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation with countries directly concerned. The US should not stir up trouble in the South China Sea, or undermine regional countries' efforts to safeguard peace and stability there, Wang added.

On the Ukraine issue, Wang said China's position is aboveboard. China has been committed to promoting talks for peace and has been making its efforts toward peaceful settlement, he said.

Lü Xiang, an expert on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that Washington's "two faces" approach is a serious obstacle to building a stable and constructive relationship between China and the US. "Therefore, pointing this out indicates China's emphasis on its long-term commitment to establishing a constructive and stable bilateral relation, while the US side is continuously undermining this goal through its dualistic actions," Lü told the Global Times on Saturday.

Following talks that lasted more than an hour, Blinken told reporters at a news conference that China's words and actions regarding Russia-Ukraine conflict do not "add up," as Beijing continues to allow Chinese companies to "fuel Russia's war machine," VOA reported.

Blinken's remarks are still an old trick of marginalizing and stigmatizing China on the global stage, attempting to mislead the international community and shift the blame onto China, Li said, noting that this reflects a strong lack of sincerity in US diplomacy and again reveals its hypocrisy.

Different approach

In the global context, especially given the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and increasing tensions in the Middle East, China-US face-to-face communications are pivotal not only for bilateral relations, but also for global peace, analysts said.

China has always emphasized seeking common interests and does not wish to see the bilateral relation turn into a state of conflict, analysts said. The US also understands that crossing the bottom line of the Chinese side could lead to a serious deterioration in relations, which the US cannot afford, Lü said, noting that this serves as a fundamental motivation for communications between both parties.

Experts said the US should take concrete actions to further stabilize bilateral relations. "The differences that need to be managed are caused by the US itself. On one hand, the US creates differences, while on the other hand, it tries to manage them. This is the biggest divergence between China and the US," Lü said.

Analysts also noted that the recent high-level interactions between China and the US demonstrated significant differences in their approaches in solving regional hotspot issues. The US exhibits a strong bloc mentality, while China, in contrast, genuinely promotes the resolution of regional crises and the elimination of turmoil from the perspective of a global community of shared future, Li said.

According to a readout from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the two sides agreed that the meeting was candid and substantive, and that China and the US need to find a way to live alongside one another in peace in the indefinite future. Besides, the two sides agreed to maintain communication on international and regional hotspot issues, and hold a new round of consultations on Asia-Pacific affairs in due course. 

A readout from the US Department of State also read "The two sides held candid, substantive, and productive discussions on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. They emphasized the need to maintain open lines of communication," and that "Both sides agreed to maintain contact, including on regional and global issues."