What is the similarity between a trotting horse lamp and an aero engine? Who helped transform Beijing's air quality and sky from hazy to crystal blue? How would AI change the way we live?... Answers to these questions and more were found at a New Year's Eve Event hosted by the Beijing Association for Science and Technology (BAST) as part of the association's New Year of Science project to welcome 2024.

The BAST has hosted the New Year of Science Eve Event for several consecutive years. The event integrates science communication into festive culture to help enhance public confidence in technological self-reliance and self-improvement while creating a social atmosphere that advocates for science, Chen Weicheng, vice president of BAST, told the Global Times.

The event combines science popularization with traditional festivals, showcasing China's achievements in technological innovation and providing the public with a deep understanding of these accomplishments. In particular, it aims to captivate and engage young people by revealing the charm and mysteries of science, according to Chen.

In recent years, the BAST has been dedicated to the development of the Beijing International Science and Technology Innovation Center. It actively organizes scientific popularization activities in the capital to enhance public scientific awareness. It also strengthens collaboration with international organizations and institutes.

Chen mentioned that the association has already identified 100 science education experience bases and introduced 30 scientific-themed tourist routes in Beijing. Additionally, the BAST extensively mobilizes various social forces to participate in large-scale science popularization events such as Science and Technology Week, Science Fiction Conference, Science Popularization Day, New Year of Science Eve, and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Citizen Science Literacy Competition.

According to Chen, the Beijing Science Carnival alone attracted over 1,200 organizations to host more than 2,000 activities, reaching a total audience of 22.6 million people. Additionally, there was a total reading volume of 1.73 billion relevant reports and materials. In 2022, Beijing ranked first in the country in terms of citizen science literacy.

Regarding international exchanges and cooperation in science communication, the BAST has established a well-developed working mechanism and organized a series of influential international science and technology communication activities.

Since 2019, the BAST has initiated the "Beijing International Science Communication Week," which has become a significant platform for inspiring new ideas, proposing new concepts, and exploring new paths in science communication both in China and abroad. For instance, the 2023 Beijing International Science Communication Week took place in September at Shougang Park. Over 600 representatives from the global scientific community, science communication field, and science education field collaborated to share stories of global technological innovation and scientific culture.

The event is aimed to promote experience and resource sharing in science communication and unite global efforts to enhance public scientific literacy, Chen said.

Looking ahead, the BAST will prioritize the development of the Beijing International Science and Technology Innovation Center. It will foster exchanges and cooperation among science communication institutions and engage in cross-cultural science communication to effectively promote the global dissemination and advancement of science and technology, Chen noted.

In April, Cona, located in the southeastern part of Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, upgraded from a county to a city, attracting domestic and international attention.

This strategically important city, bordering Bhutan to the west and India to the south, once witnessed great battles to protect the homeland. Today, the spirit of defending the border and the land is carried forward through consolidation and development.

Global Times reporters recently visited the upgraded Cona city, experiencing the vigorous vitality of border construction and the peaceful atmosphere brought by enriching and securing the border area.

In conversations with locals, Global Times reporters deeply felt that under the guidance of the important strategic measures for governing and stabilizing Xizang, Cona is not only the frontline in the fight against encroachment, but also the main battlefield for rural revitalization. "Strive to be the guardians of this sacred territory and builders of a happy homeland" is the common line of thought of the more than 15,000 people of various ethnic groups who live here.

Enhanced border-area consolidation

Lebugou, located in the southern part of Cona city, was the main battlefield of China's defensive counterattack against India in 1962. The site of the frontline command post of General Zhang Guohua, the then-commander of the Xizang Military Command, is still preserved here. In 2021, this site was included among the national "red tourism" routes and named as a patriotic education base in southeastern Xizang region.

Today, the Monpa ethnic group living here continues to uphold this red spirit through their actions.

"The land under our feet was secured by the blood of our soldiers, and I will guard it during my border patrols," 52-year-old Kelzang Tenzin firmly stated.

Kelzang Tenzin has been guarding the border for over 30 years. Now, he also serves as the deputy secretary of the Le Monpa Ethnic Township Party Committee and chairman of the local People's Congress.

He recalled that patrolling and guarding the border has been a tradition passed down through generations among the Monpa people of Lebugou, a major habitation for people of Monpa ethnic group.

He started patrolling the border due to the influence of his father, Tsering Tenzin, who was one of the first border guards in Lebugou after the founding of New China.

"I began to learn border patrolling skills and knowledge while herding with my father at the age of 13. 'You must guard every inch of the motherland!' This was what my father repeatedly emphasized," he said.

"Under his influence, I realized that I not only needed to know the names of the mountains and rivers here, but also had to pass this knowledge to the younger generation," he noted.

He mentioned that during routine patrols, apart from encountering wild beasts and snakes, they also found tree branches or stones painted with foreign flags in the jungle.

"Whenever we see these signs of infringement on our sovereignty, we scrape off the tree bark or paint over the stones, then redraw the Chinese flag on them. This is our territory, and we do not allow others to leave any marks," he said.

Kelzang Tenzin proudly stated that Lebugou's border patrols would carve "China" into cliffs and boulders, paint the map of the motherland, depict the pattern of the five-starred red flag in the dense forests, or place stones in the shape of the national flag. "This is how we measure and mark the motherland's territory."
Kelzang Tenzin's daughter, Tsering Wangmo, returned to Lebugou after graduating from university in recent years, joining the border patrols out of her deep affection for her hometown.

Inspired by three generations of her family's dedication to border patrols, more and more locals in Lebugou have responded to the call, joining the patrols and sharing the sacred mission of protecting their homes and defending China's territory.

Apart from the locals of Lebugou, more and more people from other areas are also choosing to come to Cona to undertake the important task of the consolidation of border areas. Tenzin Ngodrup, a 29-year-old "new resident" of Cona city, moved here not long ago with his family of six from Naixi town, Comai county of Shannan Prefecture, where the average altitude is above 4,200 meters and natural conditions are relatively harsh.

"Before coming here, I sold all our cattle and sheep at home, but I am not worried about life here," Tenzin Ngodrup told the Global Times. In Cona, he and his family have a place to live, his children have schools to attend, and he receives subsidies, all of which reaffirm his determination to settle in the border area.

"We are here to guard the border," he said.

What inspires Kelzang Tenzin not only is the growth of Cona's border patrol team, but also the significant investments made by the Party and the government in border area infrastructure in recent years.

According to Kelzang Tenzin, years ago, patrolling was extremely difficult. A single patrol mission could take an entire week, and they had to endure the elements outdoors, with encounters with wild animals like wild boars, leopards, bears, and snakes being common.

However, with the development of the times, technological progress, and government investment, the conditions for border patrols have significantly improved.

"Currently, nearly half of the patrolling routes are connected by roads, and even in the vast forests, mobile phone signals are available. All these changes have brought great convenience and safety to our border patrol tasks," said Kelzang Tenzin.

The transformation of Lebugou is a microcosm of the Xizang region's efforts to strengthen border infrastructure.

At the press conference for China's newly released white paper titled CPC Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era: Approach and Achievements held on November 10, Chairman of the government of Xizang Autonomous Region Yan Jinhai introduced that since the New Era, Xizang has adhered to the strategic concept of "To govern the country, one must govern the borders; to stabilize the borders, one must first stabilize Xizang," presenting a new look for fortified borders and peaceful frontiers.

"All border counties in Xizang are connected by asphalt roads, all border townships and administrative villages by main power grids, and the coverage rates of broadband and 4G signals in administrative villages have reached 100 percent. People of all ethnic groups are rooted in the snow-covered border areas like vibrant Gesang flowers," Yan said.

Broader prospects for development

In April, after the upgrade, the seat of the Cona city government was moved from the original Cona county town southward to Mama Monpa Ethnic Township. Half a year since this decision, surveying, planning, construction, and relocation efforts have been put on the agenda. Local people are full of expectations for the accelerated construction of the new Cona.

"On the south side of the Mama township government building, there is a flat wasteland where the new government building of Cona city will be constructed," Thubten Tsering, head of Mama township, told the Global Times. "The township's hospital, school, kindergarten, and other infrastructure projects are already in the planning and construction stages. And the best land will be reserved for the students."

According to the overall plan of Mama township, like the other 20 border counties (cities) in Xizang, it will be equipped with cultural and sports venues, standardized water supply plants and landfill sites that will provide hardware support for border development.

The upgrade will inevitably elevate the overall development of Cona city, which has been seen as a great business opportunity by those engaged in commerce here.

"Before the upgrade, business in Mama town was good, with customers every day, and even more tourists during the summer and National Day holidays," said Zeng Yan, the owner of a Sichuan restaurant in Mama town. She said that business in Mama town will be even better after the upgrade.

Currently, the township has only about 300 permanent residents, but in the future, tens of thousands of people may pour in.
The anticipated influx of people has led to a surge in rent prices in Mama town. Some shops in the township have seen rent double since the upgrade from county to city status.

Zeng stated that even with the increased rent, she does not plan to give up her business here and even plans to relocate her initially remote store to a more populous area. In her view, Cona has rich tourism resources.

"In the long term, this place is suitable for long-term development, not only for its beautiful scenery but also for its ample oxygen. The local residents are very simple, and we have become friends in the process of interacting with the villagers. I have been here for two years and plan to stay for the foreseeable future," Zeng told the Global Times.

Cona city is indeed renowned for its beautiful scenery and abundant tourism resources. The journey from Shannan to Cona, increasingly popular for self-driving tours, offers visitors picturesque landscapes. Along the way, one may encounter attractions like the Tombs of Tibetan King, the Drigu Grasslands, Nariyongcuo Lake, and wild animals like kiangs, or the Tibetan wild ass.

Since 2011, Cona has prioritized tourism as its pillar industry, investing heavily in developing tourist resources within Lebugou. With the support of the border development strategy, Cona city has almost completed its road network to major scenic areas, with complete basic facilities like water, electricity, roads, telecommunications, and the internet meeting tourists' basic needs and transforming tourism resources into economic advantages.

"Lots of tourism resources in Cona city, especially in Lebugou and Quchomo townships, are distributed along the Niangmu River. They have great potential and high development," Liu Jie, Head of Cona Tourism Development Bureau, told the Global Times.

Cona is actively responding to Xizang's series of plans for border development, integrating Cona into national and regional major tourism circuits. The city is collaborating with border counties and cities like Lhunze for collective development and planning border tourism circuits, allowing visitors to experience the spirit of border defense and patriotism, according to Liu.

Maintaining and energizing border areas and developing unique industries like cultural tourism in these areas are crucial steps in Xizang's efforts to create a national model region for border development, and they have seen significant results.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, the economic growth rate of Xizang's border counties has exceeded the regional average.

In the past five years, the registered population of the border areas in Xizang has increased by 10.5 percent, according to the government work report of Xizang region in 2023.

The report also proposed prioritizing policies, projects, and funds for the border frontlines to achieve stability, prosperity, and wealth for border residents and to advance Xizang's border development efforts to the forefront nationwide.

Promising life in frontier

With the completion of the well-off village construction, Cona, known for its rich tourism resources and beautiful scenery, has developed farmhouse B&B industry. The enthusiasm of Cona city residents for participating in the tourism industry has further increased, highlighting the impact of the increasing wealth brought by the rapid development of border areas.

Lebugou, with its low altitude, rich vegetation, and warm and humid climate, has been designated as "China's Natural Oxygen Bar" by the China Meteorological Service Association, attracting many tourists in Xizang and other parts of China.

Thanks to policy and financial support from the central and local governments of Xizang for border village construction in recent years, Mama township began building new houses with modern facilities in 2014.

Besides residences, many villagers are providing farmhouse B&B service. Thubten Tsering introduced that there are currently 105 households with 315 people in Mama town and farmhouse B&B has become one of their main sources of income. Currently, there are about 86 farmhouses with 667 beds in the township, typically priced at 150 yuan ($20) one day per bed.

"During holidays, beds involved in Lebugou farmhouse B&B become particularly scarce, sometimes forcing tourists to sleep on sofas in the living room," Thubten Tsering said.

Sonam Yangjen, a resident of Mama town, is one of these residents that provide farmhouse B&B service. Her home not only had ethnic charm but also thoughtful service: The living room was furnished with exquisitely carved Tibetan wooden furniture, and shelves displayed Monpa wooden bowls made by her father, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor. The table was set with candy and various drinks for guests.

"In 2015, our family moved into this new two-story house funded by the government. Like others, we also started to provide farmhouse B&B service. If a tour group comes to Lebugou, the tourism department arranges for them to stay with us. We earn 2,000 to 3,000 yuan a year from the service," Sonam Yangjen told the Global Times.

In addition, Sonam Yangjen also joins in tea planting, processing, and sales. The rapid development of the border area has also brought job opportunities to her husband in the construction industry. Like others, Sonam Yangjen's family enjoys various government subsidies such as border resident subsidies, border guard subsidies, and grassland subsidies.

"When I was young, there was nothing here, and the houses were empty. I never thought my hometown could develop like this. Now, my husband and I each have a car," Sonam Yangjen said with a smile.

Currently, the per capita income of residents in Mama town has reached over 24,000 yuan, and the stable and substantial income has further strengthened the local people's determination and efforts in border maintenance.

"Patrolling and guarding the border is our sacred mission and duty. The care and support from the government have made our lives more prosperous and everyone's enthusiasm for patrolling and guarding the border is higher, and their vigor is stronger," Kelzang Tenzin told the Global Times.

In addition to leading villagers in border patrolling and guarding, Kelzang Tenzin also pays special attention to the industrial development of his township, exploring ways to increase villagers' income through rural economic development, providing them opportunities to become wealthy at their doorstep.

"Our town's natural conditions are suitable for growing high-altitude tea. Under the guidance and support of the government, we established a tea cooperative, and have already built an industry chain of planting, processing, and sales. This industry has brought significant income growth to villagers, with the tea industry alone increasing their income by more than 10,000 yuan annually. In addition, we have developed the tourism industry. By 2021, the per capita income of farmers in the township reached 26,000 yuan," Kelzang Tenzin said.

Despite being on the frontlines of border defense, local residents are generally very optimistic about the development prospects of Cona city. The upgrade from county to city is seen as further aiding Cona's strategy of border development and wealth creation.

"The upgrade from county to city makes me feel that the country values our hometown's development more. I hope more people can come to Cona," Sonam Yangjen told the Global Times. "People say life in remote border areas is hard, but I do not feel hard. I feel very happy."

Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque inaugurated the Pakistan National Pavilion and attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Sichuan Agricultural Expo in Chengdu on October 28. Hu Yun, vice governor of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, presided over the opening ceremony.

The exhibition hall introduced famous tourist attractions in Pakistan and more than 10 Pakistani companies showcased some agricultural products. The exhibition hall attracted great interest from participants.

Pakistan is the guest of honor of this expo. The ambassador emphasized in his speech that Pakistan and China have established a solid bilateral relationship based on political mutual trust, strategic communication and practical cooperation. He also stressed the close cooperation between Pakistan and Sichuan, including through their sister cities.

Pakistan's participation in the 2023 CIIE will inject new impetus into the ongoing agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and China. Recently, the two sides reached five important agricultural agreement on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, granting Pakistan access to the $30 billion market for cooked beef, dairy products, chili peppers, cherries and other livestock products, which will help Pakistan expand its exports to China.

For many years, free trade and unfettered globalization have acted as the locomotive raising economic growth rates and helping pull tens of millions of people out of poverty in the world. But things seem to change fast. The "decoupling" and economic fragmentation orchestrated by the US government is rapidly chipping away at the fruitful results of globalization. 

The path back to robust global growth is getting rough and looks increasingly foggy. The ropes that once held the world together are weakened compared with a decade ago, thanks to the US-led protectionism.

To make things worse, the current economic weakness facing major Western economies including the US will inevitably be aggravated by this protectionism and technology "demarcation" attempt aimed at suppressing China's growth.

However, China's development is all-around and inclusive on a global level, with its trade with many Global South developing economies steadily rising, making up a significant part of China's foreign trade, which reinforces both China and its partners. Despite the "decoupling" push by the US, China's exports of goods still recorded 10.3 percent growth in the first two months this year. 

The reason why China's manufactured goods is popular among consumers around the world is because their affordability and high quality too. Chinese enterprises have put a lot of money and effort into innovation and they also developed highly efficient manufacturing procedures and highly skilled workers as well. The consumers around the world will love to buy good-quality products at low prices made by China.

Instead of trying to compete, the US response to China's manufacturing rise is to try to restrict China so they can't produce these things, which will inevitably cause China to develop those components and technologies in-house. The strategies employed by China to enhance its manufacturing capabilities are commendable rather than condemnable.

The imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods by Washington merely escalates the cost of those goods, challenging the affordability of America's middle-class workers and hurting the poor. Though exploiting xenophobia for political ends by Washington is easy, figuring out how to effectively cooperate and compete with China is much harder.

While the economic relations have cooled between the two countries, due in large part to the trade tariffs and the Biden administration's restless and endless suppression of Chinese high-tech companies, they still remain two of the largest trading partners, with a significant interdependence in many areas. 

Above all, the basics of trade still reigns. There is a fundamental concept in global economics - you focus on what you are good at, and other countries do the same, and you trade and reap due benefits from trade. The problem facing America is how to increase the skills of its manufacturing workers and improve its industrial competitiveness. 

Better American leaders would be looking carefully at the truly stunning manufacturing accomplishments China has made in the past years in industrial digitalization, in high-end home appliances, electronics, machinery and electric vehicles, high-speed train and subway and port infrastructure that China has completed in the last 30 years country-wide, and how these infrastructure investments are now powering Chinese efficiency and innovation.

And, China's high-level opening-up and mutually beneficial global cooperation are based on three factors: high-quality development of the new economy, high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and improvement of its economic governance system.

For the two heavyweight economies like China and the US, turning their back on each other is not an option, and for the sake of sustaining peace and nurturing better growth in the world, the two countries should get on pragmatic and down-to-earth terms and must avoid seeing one another as adversaries. Fair, open and ethical competition is good for both economies. 

For some time, the world has been earful of the sensational narrative trumpeted by a few anti-China politicians in the West who yearned for "decoupling" or "de-risking" from China, which embodies those politicians' ill-intended geopolitical game to suppress Chinese economy and strangulate the country's rise on the global stage. 

It is of great importance for the two countries to speak out loudly against economic disintegration or "decoupling," which runs counter to global development trend and lead to a retrieve in productivity and living standards. 

China and the US just need to find the right way to get along with each other. For Beijing and Washington maintaining a pragmatic and non-confrontational working relationship is significant for regional and global economic development. In the Asia-Pacific region, which represents a substantial 62 percent of global GDP and nearly half of global trade, the US and China, the two largest economies, are able to create plenty of commerce and investment opportunities for all regional economies if they choose to cooperate on pragmatic terms. 

It's time to tear down the trade tariffs and get back to the business of making money. The global economy is recovering, but its momentum remains sluggish; industrial and supply chains are still under the threat of interruption. 

The divide between the two nations, however, is not as large as people might have been led to believe by reports in the media. Since 2002, when China joined the World Trade Organization, the two countries have brought less than 40 cases against each other. It's a remarkably low number considering the amount of trade carried out between the two countries.

China's new 24-point policy to attract foreign investment is another note-worthy move, aiming to improve investment opportunities for foreign companies, including American businesses, and eliminate all perceived barriers and restrictions and fostering quick economic growth.

The business community would welcome immediate steps, including the removal of tariffs and addressing all trade barriers. It would be in the best interest of both nations to take positive steps toward future cooperation in other areas of mutual interest, such as data security, environmental protection and international health cooperation.

The two countries are fortunate to have been successful in the past to create a robust trade relationship that benefits both peoples, and now there is no room for further tit-for-tat in tariffs. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen once suggested the two governments remove reciprocal tariffs imposed on respective imports, which, if implemented, can address a significant trade dispute.

The Chinese Embassy in the UK on Monday slammed foreign media reports claiming that foreign direct investment (FDI) to China has fallen to a 30-year low, noting relevant reports are biased, misleading and unprofessional.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the embassy also highlighted record levels of FDI to China despite short-term fluctuations and China's increasingly prominent advantages in attracting foreign investment, while stressing China's door will open wider for foreign businesses.

Citing a recent indicator from China's State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), many foreign media outlets have hyped the claim that FDI to China has slumped to a 30-year low. The Financial Times, for example, said that the SAFE's direct investment liabilities figure is a gauge of foreign capital flowing into the country and, at about $33 billion in 2023, is the lowest since 1993.

"The UK media reported a one-sided interpretation of relevant Chinese statistics, seriously misleading readers, and exposing the relevant media's unprofessional and inaccurate reporting on China-related economic news," the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the UK said in the statement.

The spokesperson noted that increases and declines in global FDI is normal, and fluctuations in global FDI has intensified in recent years due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sudden shifts in monetary policies of developed economies, and the increasingly complex global political situation. The spokesperson singled out the US' high interests, which added to financing costs and declining investments among multinationals.

"China's FDI is basically in line with global trends. Interpretation of relevant data requires comprehensive consideration of its historical base and fluctuations. A decline in data in a certain year cannot simply lead to the conclusion that 'foreign capital has fled China,'" the spokesperson said.

In fact, foreign investment into China has remained on historical high levels. According to data from the Chinese Commerce Ministry, FDI to China in actual use stood at $163.3 billion in 2023, which is the third-highest on record, after the levels in 2021 and 2022. The number of newly established foreign-funded entities surged by 39.7 percent year-on-year to 53,766. Investments from France jumped 84.1 percent, from the UK 81 percent, and from the Netherlands 31.5 percent.

The spokesperson also noted that China's advantages in attracting foreign investment are becoming more prominent, including its economic recovery, improving business environment, solid industrial foundation, and a vast consumer market.

"Generally speaking, the fundamentals of China's long-term economic growth have not changed. China is accelerating the development of new quality productive forces. China's door is opening wider and wider. The quality of its high-level and institutional openness is getting higher and higher. China will definitely remain a hot spot for foreign investments," the spokesperson said.

Such a sentiment is also shared by many global multinational companies, including those from Europe and the US, which are stepping up investment in the Chinese market, despite foreign media slanders against the Chinese economy.

In interviews with more than half a dozen foreign companies and business groups, the Global Times found that many multinational companies operating in China have drawn great confidence in their prospects in the Chinese market from the two sessions, where top officials put a heavy emphasis on greater efforts to attract foreign investment. More than just growing optimism, many global businesses are actually increasing investments and expanding in the Chinese market.

The Chinese economy has shifted toward a stage of high-quality development and is currently at a critical period of transforming its economic development model, optimizing its economic structure, and changing its growth momentum.

As the world's second-largest economy and the largest manufacturing country, China's economy is undergoing transformation, surmounting obstacles and navigating waves to form sustainable endogenous growth momentum and forge strong resilience.

The extraordinary resilience of the Chinese economy is not only reflected in its ability to withstand shocks, but also in its capacity for regeneration. While achieving reasonable growth, the economy also ensures improvement in quality.

Sustained resilience

In terms of size, after experiencing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the growth of the Chinese economy has shown a strong recovery, with the economic aggregate growing from 98.65 trillion yuan ($13.9 trillion) in 2019 to over 126 trillion yuan in 2023. In 2020, China became the only major economy in the world to achieve positive economic growth, making a significant contribution to the stability and growth of the global economy amid the pandemic.

Regarding quality, China's digital economy is flourishing, with new industries, new forms, and new models reshaping the core of the Chinese economy. From "Made in China" to "China Innovation" and now to "China Intelligent Manufacturing," it has become a shining symbol of high-quality development in the Chinese economy.

From a demand perspective, consumption has become the main engine driving economic growth, with its contribution to economic growth continuously increasing. Although the contribution of investment has seen some decline, the direction and structure of expenditure are constantly being optimized, with a focus on key areas related to national welfare and long-term development. This not only plays a role in countercyclical adjustment, but also realizes the significant positive effects on the macroeconomic balance.

From the supply side, through deepening structural reforms, China is gradually transitioning from traditional manufacturing to high value-added, high-tech industries. Key areas such as the digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI) are growing rapidly, with increasing investments in green and low-carbon initiatives leading to the rise of green industries. In 2023, driven by new-energy vehicles, China surpassed Japan for the first time to become the world's largest exporter of automobiles.

China's economy is undergoing a transition from old to new growth drivers. Guided by the principle of establishing the new before abolishing the old, China persists in using development as a means to solve emerging issues through the process. This has led to a revival of traditional industries under the traction of new industries and technologies. 

In 2022, the value added by China's "three new" economy, a collection of economic activities with new industries, new business formats, and new business models as the core content, exceeded 21 trillion yuan, indicating that China's economy has embarked on a path of replacing traditional factor-driven and investment-driven growth with innovation-driven development.

Sources of new strength

Facing the unprecedented major changes in the world and the accelerated evolution, the Chinese economy still possesses strong development potential with the super-large scale of domestic market built on a-1.4 billion strong population. In the face of numerous risks and challenges, the Chinese economy can continuously unlock its potential as long as it remains committed to promoting high-quality transformation and leverages the advantages of its vast population in terms of market and innovation.

The new momentum of development stems from the urgent needs to drive high-quality development. The increasing demands of the people for a better life are leading to the emergence of new personalized, diversified, and customized needs. China leverages the diverse and original advantages of technological innovation to overcome the limitations of decline in returns from traditional factors like population and capital. By maximizing the potential of traditional elements, broadening their scope, and integrating innovative elements, the Chinese economy can adeptly navigate challenges with confidence.

The development of new momentum stems from the enormous power gathered by millions of business entities. Whether in terms of market size or human resource stock, whether large enterprises or tens of millions of small and micro-enterprises, they are all important driving forces for the advancement of the Chinese economy. Both original innovation and integrated innovation cannot do without China's massive market scale, vast human capital, and rich application scenarios.

The development of new momentum stems from the innovative drive generated by the new industrialization. The new industrialization incorporates requirements such as informatization, digitalization, and better utilization of human resources. The innovative drive that the new industrialization can foster is significant. By categorizing data as a production factor and the continuous emergence of high-quality labor force, it has propelled a series of changes in production organization, employment patterns, business models, among others. This is conducive to nurturing emerging industries and future industries, providing strategic support for China's economic advancement.

The development of new momentum stems from the powerful synergy formed by macroeconomic policies. China adheres to creating a top-notch business environment, treating all types of business entities equally, fostering a fair competitive market environment, and promoting the growth of the private economy. With the strong magnetic force of the market and the warm influence of policies boosting market confidence, supported by tangible good policies and excellent services, China's private economy is embracing new development opportunities.

Continuous driving force

The Chinese economy's new momentum has strong potential and driving force, specifically manifested in seeking opportunities in opening-up, leveraging human resources for dividends, exploring new opportunities in new industrialization, and gaining momentum in technological innovation.

In recent years, there has been a rise in anti-globalization sentiment in the West. However, China still steadfastly advocates comprehensive, multi-level, and wide-ranging opening-up, deeply engaging in international scientific and economic cooperation and competition. China consistently strengthens its capacity to coordinate and effectively utilize a wide range of international and domestic resources. By embracing high-level openness, China is able to broaden its economic development horizons.

Although the aging population poses challenges, the vast human resource base is a significant advantage, with each individual serving as a source of innovation. By continuously increasing investment in education and seizing the opportunities presented by the new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation, China can continue to create demographic dividends by effectively utilizing its human resources.

The new industrialization is key to accelerating the construction of an innovative country and forming new quality productive forces, as well as an important lever for China to seize the technological high ground in the competition of the new round of technological revolution. With digital technology applied across various production and every day settings, digitization has reshaped the intrinsic logic of China's industrial development. The new opportunities brought about by the initiation of new industrialization not only help to comprehensively enhance the modernization level of the industrial system, but also ensure that high-quality supply always remains at the forefront of the world.

After years of exploration, China has established an innovative system that combines government-led initiatives from the top down and enterprise-driven efforts from the bottom up. The government plays a crucial role from the top down by increasing support for basic research, applied basic research, and cutting-edge research. Enterprises play an important role from the bottom up by strengthening their position in technological innovation. As key players in technological innovation, enterprises collaborate with universities, research institutes, and other entities to form industry-academia-research innovation alliances and establish open innovation platforms, which help maximize innovation vitality across society.

In order to facilitate travel between China and other countries and regions, China has introduced the “three reductions and three exemptions” policy, such as unilaterally implementing visa exemptions for citizens from certain countries. China welcomes more foreign visitors and will continue to provide a safe, comfortable, and convenient travel environment for them, Mao Ning, a spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Monday.

The policy includes reducing the amount of information required in visa application forms, gradually reducing visa fees, simplifying the approval process for studying in China, exempting certain applicants from providing fingerprints, exempting the need for visa appointments, and unilaterally implementing visa exemptions for citizens of countries like France and Germany on trial basis, Mao introduced at a press briefing.

To address the issue of difficulty in mobile payments for foreigners, the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank, has guided payment institutions to improve the efficiency of bank card binding, simplify identity verification arrangements, and raise the single transaction limit for mobile payments, she said.

Beijing has been promoting the upgrade and renovation of key commercial districts, scenic spots, parks, and hotels. It is also upgrading the acceptance capabilities for foreign cards and establishing demonstration zones for payment services for overseas visitors at Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport.

Shanghai has introduced foreign card POS machines in hotels rated three stars and above, as well as in tourist attractions rated 3A and above. Additionally, major telecom operators have added multiple service points at airports and ports in major cities to facilitate foreign travelers in obtaining mobile phone numbers upon entry, Mao said.

China’s continuous extension of visa-free entry has attracted a significant influx of tourists.

During the Spring Festival holidays (February 10-17), the Chinese mainland received about 3.23 million visits from overseas destinations. There was a noticeable increase in tourists from countries newly added to the visa-free entry list for China, such as France, Germany, Malaysia, and Singapore. The total number of inbound travel orders from these countries during the holiday doubled compared to the same period in 2019, Mao said.

Thailand is one of the countries to sign a mutual visa exemption agreement with China recently. On March 1, the visa exemption agreement between the two countries for ordinary passport holders officially came into effect. The number of orders for Thai travelers coming to China increased threefold compared to the same period last year, according to data sent to the Global Times by online travel agency Trip.com Group.

During the Spring Festival holiday, the number of inbound tourists booking tickets for scenic spots increased by over 10 times compared to 2019. The main source countries were Japan, the US, South Korea, Australia, the UK, Malaysia, Vietnam, Canada, Thailand and Germany, Trip.com data showed.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has stressed vigorously promoting the high-quality development of new energy in China to make greater contributions to building a clean and beautiful world.

Xi made the remarks on Thursday while presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Noting that energy security impacts a country's overall economic and social development, Xi said developing clean energy and promoting green and low-carbon transformation have become the consensus of the international community to cope with global climate change.

China's energy development still faces a series of challenges, such as huge demand pressure, supply constraints, and the arduous tasks of green and low-carbon transition, he said.

"To meet these challenges, the way out is to vigorously develop new energy," Xi said.

Rich in wind power, photovoltaic and other resources, China shows huge development potential in new energy, Xi said. He noted that China has now built the world's largest clean power supply system, and its new energy vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products are also highly competitive in the global market.

The financial chief of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Wednesday unveiled the budget plan for 2024-25, outlining concrete measures to bolster confidence and create favorable conditions for the regional economy amid a complex global geo-economic situation. 

The plan, which emphasizes attracting strategic enterprises and supporting the property and stock markets, among other goals, aims to leverage the HKSAR's greatest advantage with the solid backing of the central government and its connectivity to the world. Such an advantage means a bright outlook for the city in the long run, experts said. 

When introducing the budget, HKSAR Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po noted a difficult economic environment amid intensifying geopolitical tensions and the rise of unilateralism and protectionism as well as fierce competition, but he also painted a bright picture for the region's development. 

"Hong Kong's economic outlook is bright. Despite a host of prevailing challenges, we will find infinite opportunities ahead, as long as we stay on top of global trends and dare to explore," Chan said, while focusing the budget on bolstering confidence and supporting people and enterprises, among other priorities. 

To boost confidence, Chan announced plans to attract enterprises, capital and talent on all fronts. He revealed that more than 10 strategic enterprises are expected to sign a partnership agreement with the HKSAR to set up or expand their businesses in the region. Together with the 30 companies from the first batch, they would bring about $40 billion of investment to Hong Kong, creating about 13,000 jobs over the next few years. 

These moves reflect the importance the HKSAR attaches to attracting major businesses and talents, which are crucial for the region's development, said Liang Haiming, chairman of the China Silk Road iValley Research Institute. 

"The efforts and measures in the budget show that the HKSAR government deeply understands that attracting enterprises to settle in Hong Kong is an important factor in promoting economic growth and increasing employment opportunities," Liang told the Global Times on Wednesday, adding that the HKSAR has significant advantages in the technological and financial sectors to attract businesses.

Another major takeaway from the budget plan was concrete moves to boost the region's property and stock markets. The budget announced the immediate cancellation of all demand-side management measures for residential properties, including the Special Stamp Duty, the Buyer Stamp Duty and the New Residential Stamp Duty. It also pledged to explore measures to enhance the listing regime, improve transaction mechanisms, boost investor services, step up market promotion and so on.

The budget also puts heavy emphasis on tapping opportunities from the solid backing of the central government and its connectivity with the rest of the world. 

"By leveraging Hong Kong's institutional advantages and our connectivity with the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world under the 'one country, two systems' principle, we will certainly be able to seize the opportunities coming our way," Chan said. "More importantly, our country's focus on promoting high-quality development will provide Hong Kong with ample room to grow."

Notably, the budget forecasts that the HKSAR economy will grow by an average of 3.2 percent a year in real terms from 2025 to 2028, with the underlying inflation rate expected to average 2.5 percent. The region's economy grew by 3.2 percent in 2023, with the inflation rate coming in at 1.7 percent.

"Hong Kong's space for development and advantages are very significant with the support from the development of the motherland and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)," Cong Yi, a professor at the Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

Cong said that the GBA development plan has enabled the hinterland to be better used to support the development of Hong Kong, while allowing Hong Kong to support the national coordinated development strategy.

The national 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), which positions the HKSAR as "eight centers" in the fields of finance, trade, shipping, aviation, legal and dispute resolution, innovation, intellectual property trading and artistic and cultural exchanges, also helps the region's international competitiveness, he said.

France-based aircraft manufacturer Airbus said on Sunday night it was sorry about an incident at the Singapore Airshow, as some Chinese visitors said that they were banned from visiting an A400M transport aircraft.

"We are aware that during the Public Day of the 2024 Singapore Airshow, some visitors raised questions about access to an A400M transport aircraft. We immediately communicated and coordinated with the customer and our Airbus teams at the show to ensure that the aircraft was open to all visitors for the remainder of the airshow," Airbus said in a statement to the Global Times.

"We are sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused," Airbus added.

Airbus told the Global Times that Chinese visitors could board and visit the aircraft freely from Saturday afternoon.

The remark was made via Airbus' official account on Chinese Sina Weibo, an X-like social media, in regard to some netizens saying that an Airbus-built military transport plane affiliated with the German air force was displayed at the Singapore Airshow and Chinese attendees were banned pay on-board visits.

A Chinese netizen named "Qianzhan Qifei" posted on Sina Weibo on Saturday that stationed in front of the A400M transport plane were soldiers from the German army and Airbus staff. They asked the passengers who were queuing up for the tour about their nationality and said that "Chinese and Russian nationals are not allowed to board the plane."

Another Sina Weibo user named "PLAN-DDG172" also posted about a similar situation, and said the German soldiers on board physically attacked him. He sent a letter of complaint to the organizer of the Singapore Airshow.

The Chinese netizen named "Qianzhan Qifei" said that he captured footage of Airbus staff violently driving him away in front of the camera.

There was also a video clip that went viral on WeChat, which was about an attendee asking the staff member whether Chinese nationals could go on board the aircraft, and the staff member said no.

A Sina Weibo user named "Tianhuile Qing Biyan 128" said the move made Chinese aviation fans feel regret and disgust.

Some netizens commented under the video clips that orders for the Airbus aircraft should be canceled and China should instead foster homegrown aircraft.

Two C919 and three ARJ 21 jets, which were developed by Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), debuted at the Singapore Airshow.

Chinese experts said that the large-scale participation showcased China's strong confidence in its commercial aircraft. China is able to manufacture and start the market operation of domestic commercial aircraft.

A total of four C919 jets have been delivered and safely carried more than 110,000 passengers since the plane made its maiden commercial flight on May 28, 2023. Mass production and the development of the series are both going smoothly, per the COMAC statement.

Chinese experts also said that this year will be a key period to speed up mass production and deliveries of the C919, and for COMAC to integrate the industry, supply and innovation chains for the airliner while expanding in the overseas market.

Airbus has always been committed to being a long-term reliable partner of the Chinese aviation industry, the company said in a statement to the Global Times, adding that its expanding industrial footprint around the country fully demonstrates its respect and commitment to China.

"We commit to win-win cooperation with China's aviation industry and will continue to work with its Chinese partners to promote the high-quality development of China's aviation industry, meanwhile setting a role model for economic and trade exchanges between China and Europe while building bridges of communication between the two sides," it noted.