President Xi Jinping on Friday met here with Sam Hou Fai, who was newly elected as the chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region and recently appointed by the central government.

China announced Tuesday it will launch the Shenzhou-19 manned spaceflight mission at 4:27 am on Wednesday, unveiling the crew lineup. Leading the mission will be Commander Cai Xuzhe, a veteran taikonaut who previously flew on the Shenzhou-14 mission in 2022. Joining him are two astronauts making their first journey into space - Song Lingdong and female astronaut Wang Haoze. 

Lin Xiqiang, a CMSA spokesperson, shared the news at a Tuesday press conference.

Born in 1976, Cai was selected as part of China's second batch of astronauts in 2010.

Commander Cai is set to return to the China Space Station on the Shenzhou-19 manned mission 22 months after his last flight on Shenzhou-14, setting a record for the shortest interval between missions in the history of Chinese astronauts, Global Times has learned.

Song was born in 1990 and joined the third astronaut cohort in September 2020. The Shenzhou-19 mission is Song's debut in space.

Wang, also born in 1990, was a former senior engineer at the country's leading space contractor China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC), and became part of China's third batch of astronauts in 2020. Wang is also the country's first female spaceflight engineer, according to the China Manned Space Agency on Tuesday.

Global Times learned from the Sixth Academy of the CASC, Wang, after graduating with a Master's degree in 2015, joined Beijing Institute 11 of the Sixth Academy, taking on the overall design task of engines. 

The Sixth Academy provided 58 main propulsion and attitude-orbit control engines, along with critical equipment like the thermal control subsystem and life support system pumps and valves. The Sixth Academy will escort astronauts with its top-quality engine products, ensuring the mission's complete success. 

In a press briefing on Tuesday in Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Cai told Global Times that China's manned space program is like a relay race, with countless aerospace professionals participating, building, and carrying on the legacy. "Astronauts are part of this endeavor. Both of my teammates were born in the 1990s, and we share a common goal to represent our country with pride. Together, we strive, we run forward."

"Today, I can share that we have been training together for over a year, consistently maintaining peak readiness and adhering to the highest standards. After such a long time working side by side, we've become a united team. My two teammates are courageous, confident, positive, and have a strong sense of responsibility and mission. They are quick learners, adaptable, and being with them makes me feel younger and more confident," Cai remarked.

Lin, during the Tuesday press conference, also revealed that the fourth batch of Chinese astronauts will not only execute China Space Station missions but also the country's manned lunar missions in the future. And therefore, their training subjects emphasize essential skills such as living, working and maintaining health in a weightless environment.

The selection of the fourth batch Chinese astronauts has concluded in May and total of 10 astronaut candidates made to the final list, with eight of them to be space pilot and two as payload experts. Their training started in August, according to Lin.

Subsequently, based on the training outline and overall plan, training tasks will be conducted in an orderly manner, covering over 200 subjects in eight major categories, following a step-by-step approach from basic to advanced levels, he said. 

Astronauts will master specialized skills including extravehicular activities, equipment maintenance, and space science experiments. Additionally, in preparation for future manned lunar missions, training will further develop astronauts' capabilities in spacecraft operation, lunar rover driving, celestial navigation, geological fieldwork, as well as adapting from weightlessness in space to walking with loads on the lunar surface, the spokesperson revealed.

Two payload experts selected in the fourth batch astronauts are from China's Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, and they joined the team on August 8. "We believe that the fourth batch of astronauts, including those from Hong Kong and Macau, will complete each training task on schedule and with high quality, gradually becoming the backbone of future manned space missions," Lin said on Tuesday. 

Lin also said that the lunar rover proposal underwent two selection rounds. Ultimately, the teams from the CASC's Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology and the China Academy of Spacecraft Technology won the top two spots. 

Each team demonstrated unique strengths in innovation and advancement, and both received contracts to develop a prototype of the lunar rover, progressing in parallel. Following the completion of the prototype phase, a comparative assessment will be conducted to determine the final team responsible for developing the lunar rover for China's first manned lunar mission.

Commenting on the situation of two NASA astronauts stranded in the International Space Station, Lin remarked that "human spaceflight activities are always accompanied by risks and challenges, and the safety of astronauts is a top priority for governments worldwide and for people around the globe. As industry peers, we are closely following the developments regarding the delayed return of the US astronauts. Reflecting on the sequence of events, we commend NASA for prioritizing astronaut safety, and we wish the two astronauts a safe return."

China's manned space program always prioritizes quality and safety, placing astronaut safety above all. Since entering the application and development phase of the China Space Station, the program has fully implemented a quality assurance system covering every stage — from individual component production to final assembly and testing at the launch site — conducting regular reviews and rechecks to ensure that no issues go unresolved before launch. 

To address potential threats like space debris collisions that could cause leaks in the space station, the program has continuously optimized its emergency response plans. Compared to the early operational phase of the space station, the time available for astronauts to handle emergencies has increased fivefold, significantly enhancing the safety of both the space station and its crew. In extreme situations, astronauts can either return early aboard an in-orbit spacecraft or rely on a standby emergency spacecraft for rescue, he said.

"Currently, a Long March-2F Y20 rocket and Shenzhou-20 spacecraft stand by in the Jiuquan assembly building, ready to quickly transition into launch mode if necessary to execute an emergency rescue mission for the space station, ensuring the safety of the astronauts," Lin stated.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for pooling strength to advance reform in a steady and sustained manner, as he addressed senior officials attending a central Party school study session.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the opening of the study session at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) for principal officials at the provincial and ministerial level.

The session is themed on implementing the guiding principles of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, which rolled out a new package of comprehensive reforms for the country.

Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has signed a decree to promulgate a set of interim regulations on the management of reserve personnel.

The regulations aim to facilitate the implementation of China's law on reservists.

The regulations focus on establishing a systematic management structure for reserve personnel in the new era, detailing processes for their selection, rank promotion, role assignments, training, assessments, benefits and retirement from reserve service.

An important outcome of China's military human resource reform, the promulgation of the regulations marks a key step to improve the legal, standardized and scientific management of reservists and develop a high-caliber, professional reserve force.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met Wednesday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit. Chinese analysts said the meeting has strategic significance as the recovery of China-India relations serves not only the interests of both countries, but also the multi-polarization of the world order.

During his meeting with Modi in Kazan, Russia, Xi urged China and India to facilitate each other's pursuit of development aspirations. Xi said the two sides should strengthen communication and cooperation, properly manage differences and disagreements, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

This is the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders since 2019, when they met bilaterally in the southern Indian city of Chennai at the second informal India-China summit. The first informal meeting between the two leaders took place in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, in April 2018. In 2023, Xi also had talks with Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in South Africa at the latter's request.

Lin Minwang, a deputy director of the Center for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the meeting shows that China-India relations are now on the track of recovery, as the two sides have reached resolutions on issues concerning the border area, so the obstacle that has blocked the recovery of bilateral ties has been removed.

"Over a recent period of time, China and India have reached resolutions on issues concerning the border area following close communication through diplomatic and military channels. China commends the progress made and will continue working with India for the sound implementation of these resolutions," said Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a regular press conference on Tuesday.

Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the meeting proves that this international organization formed by emerging economies is an important platform and channel for major countries to coordinate with each other on sensitive issues with diplomacy, to fix damaged ties and to reach consensus.

The world is entering a period of multi-polarization, and emerging economies like China and India are crucial players in this process, so if they can properly manage differences and boost mutual trust and unity, they could bring significant changes to improve or reform the international order that is facing the impact of Western-dominated unilateralism and US hegemony, Li noted.

Lin Minwang said that Indian policymakers and decision-makers have realized that they had made a mistake in the past four years in decoupling from China and trying to get support from the US, and now they need to correct this mistake.

"India's policy that aims at decoupling from China has failed to attract meaningful support from the US-led West to help 'Made in India' and the country's modernization and industrialization. This proves that India can't profit from being hostile to or decoupling from China, and it is even making it difficult for India to realize its own development," Lin Minwang said.

But this is just the economic reason, a key reason is that the Modi administration may have found that the US is very uncertain and unreliable, as US foreign policy may see a U-turn after the presidential election in November, so India must take action first to minimize the risks, experts said.

Li echoed that India's concerns are not just caused by the US election, but also by the unhappy memories between India and the West in recent years. The Modi administration has found that the US and its allies cannot offer India much meaningful support, so now that India has tension with Canada, Washington will not side with New Delhi. This means that Modi may finally realize that it is unwise for India to completely side with the US in this game of great powers.

Hu Zhiyong, a research fellow with the Institute of International Relations at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday that Modi is signaling that he wishes to stabilize and normalize India's ties with China, but apart from issues over the border, there are still many uncertainties, challenges and problems.

Chinese experts are calling for India to facilitate people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and fix other relevant policies, so the Indian government can instill confidence and trust among Chinese firms and people that they can invest in India.

A customer in East China's Zhejiang Province spent 18,888 yuan ($2,654) on a poodle, only to find that the adorable pup came with unexpected cropped ears and eyeliner.

Cai from Jiaxing city, purchased the dog from a popular kennel boasting 5 million followers online, but her excitement quickly turned to disappointment upon receiving the animal, Hongxing News reported. 

Upon arrival, Cai discovered that the poodle's ears had been cropped and its eyes had been outlined with eyeliner, leaving behind scabbing and scars.

The unsettling revelation raised questions about the seller's transparency, leading Cai to suspect that the seller had intentionally concealed information to justify the high price. In a conversation shared by Cai, the seller defended their actions, stating, "The customer didn't ask, so I didn't say." 

They claimed that the makeup was merely to enhance the dog's appearance for photos and that the ear cropping was a trendy style known as "Mickey ears." However, Cai felt misled, as she had not been informed of these alterations prior to her purchase, media reported.

Now seeking a resolution, Cai has expressed her desire for a refund and a public apology from the seller. However, the seller's policy clearly states, "Buyers cannot return or exchange for any reason." As of now, the seller has agreed to Cai's request to keep the dog without returning it.

After a three-and-a-half-month fishing moratorium and a super typhoon in early September, fishermen in the Xisha district of China's southernmost island city of Sansha, have resumed production. Global Times reporter visited Yongxing, Jinqing and Zhaoshu islands of the Xisha Islands and talked with local fishermen and community staff. 

From the stories shared by local fishermen, one can easily see how China's new fishery-related policies have greatly benefited their lives and significantly contributed to the ecological protection and sustainable development of fishery resources in the South China Sea.

Great changes

After landing on Yongxing Island, home to the Sansha city government, the reporter was marveled at a breathtaking view of emerald waters glistening under the sun, lush tropical flora and modern amenities. Although small, Yongxing does not lack any modern conveniences, providing visitors and residents full Wi-Fi coverage, stores, clinics, schools, basketball courts, and even hot pot restaurants, cafes and movie theaters. 

Li Wangsan, 66, is a veteran fisherman who has been fishing with his father since he was 20, and has traveled all over the South China Sea. Now his three sons are fishermen too. 

Like most fishermen in Xisha, Li's ancestors came from the town of Tanmen, Hainan Island, and have been fishing and living in Xisha for several generations. 

Li told reporters that the city government has built and gifted houses to the local fishermen. Just about two decades ago, fishermen were crammed into shabby wooden felt houses, with only loose underwear or a towel to cover their tanned bodies.

On the Zhaoshu Island, the local government also helps fishermen improve their living conditions. Local community staff Cai Lihong told the Global Times that they provide fishermen with 15 tons of fresh water and 300 kilowatt hours of electricity per month for free. Given a hot weather, each house of fishermen is equipped with two air conditioners.

Moreover, the reporter was told that the fishermen who stay long-term on the islands of Xisha can receive a subsidy of 35-45 yuan ($4-5.7) per person per day.

Wang Long, a local official on Jinqing Island, the administration center of Yongle Islands, told the reporter that new fishermen who came to Yongle can get a daily subsidy of 230 yuan per person.

To ensure the safety of fishermen, all fishing boats are now equipped with the BeiDou Navigation System, with local weather station offering timely weather forecasts to fishermen.

More sustainable

At the dock on Yongxing Island, fishermen were getting ready to set out to sea, some repainting their boats and some checking and cleaning their engines. The reporter noticed that their fishing equipment consisted of just a few fishing rods, diving suits, small nets, and pails.

The fishermen said that most of them work on the reef, within a distance of 10 nautical miles and Chinese fishermen mainly practice pole fishing and snorkeling. The reporter noticed that the size of Chinese fishing boats is usually small, meaning they cause minimal damage to the coral on the seafloor.

Fishermen said that the use of explosives, poisons, electricity and any other means in fishing that deplete fishery resources is strictly prohibited by law, and local staff regularly educate fishermen about these regulations.

"We don't hunt turtles and giant clams and we know it's illegal… now they are often seen in our nearby waters, demonstrating the effectiveness of our protection effort," a fisherman surnamed Xie on Zhaoshu Island said. 

"We take pictures and tell fishermen what they can catch, and what they are not allowed to do... and we also specify size requirements, for example some fish can only be caught if they are more than four or five fingers wide," said Cai from the Zhaoshu Island.  

Since 1995, China has implemented a summer fishing moratorium policy. So far, it has covered four sea areas: the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea. The South China Sea, north of 12 degrees north latitude, ended its three-and-a-half-month fishing moratorium on August 16 this year.

In addition, an independent fishing moratorium has been implemented in the high seas where no international regional fishery organization have yet managed, making an important contribution to the sustainable development of international fishery resources.

The reporter learned that at the beginning of the fishing moratorium, many fishermen complained about the policy. But now, the fishermen have shown full understanding and support.

Fu Mingyou, a fisherman on Zhaoshu Island, said that during China's fishing ban period, fishermen from other countries used to trespass into the waters under China's jurisdiction using illegal methods such as explosives and electric shocks to fish. "Everyone else goes fishing except for us, and that really felt quite unfair."

Fishermen from other islands told the reporter that they all shared similar feeling in the past decade. However, thanks to the strict law enforcement by the China Coast Guard, such incidents have significantly decreased in the past two years.

"Fish need to grow too, and the fishing moratorium prevents unregulated fishing, which really matters for our next generations," Fu said. 

As he grew older, Fu found himself fishing less frequently. In 2017, he became a reef ranger on Zhaoshu Island and member of the greening team.

In terms of ecological protection, the Xisha Islands have made great efforts in the greening of islands, the cleaning of reefs and floating wastes. Fishermen told the reporter that 20 years ago, the Xisha Islands were far less clean and tidy. Nowadays, fishermen are more and more involved in the protection of the ecological environment.

"We go to check our reef's changes weekly, to protect sea turtles and migratory birds spawning, and to help treat injured animals. In addition, we also engage in daily cleaning of sea floating garbage, picking up the trash and sorting it at the cleaning station," Fu said.

While some islands in Sansha have provided economic incentives for islanders to participate in the cleanup efforts, Fu said that protecting the environment and ecology is a responsibility for the people of Sansha. "It's not about the money."

'Guarding South Gate'

As China's southernmost island city, Sansha is adjacent to several southeast Asia countries. 

Recalling his experiences of dealing with fishermen from other countries three decades ago, Li Wangsan said that before the South China Sea dispute heated up, the fishermen were on good terms and there were few frictions.

"We fished together and helped each other… We didn't speak the same language, but we communicated through gestures to exchange any goods needed," Li recalled.

"The fishermen all live a hard life, earning a small income to support their families… We often visited their boats and they visited ours and we offered each other our best cigarettes, treating each other like relatives and friends," Li said. 

After the South China Sea disputes heated up in the last decade, Li said fishermen from different countries have not been on each other's ships any more. 

"But the ocean is so large and the resources are so rich, if we can jointly develop it, it will be very beneficial, as long as it is not destructive," Li added. 

Despite the maritime delimitation disputes and geopolitical games in the South China Sea, China has been actively engaged in fishery cooperation with Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and other neighboring countries, focusing on breeding and releasing, fishing technology training and other means to seek the sustainable development in the fishery sector.

Fu Mingyou explained that the beautiful Xisha is a "sea inherited from ancestors." 

"My ancestors have been catching fish here since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Protecting the islands and reefs is the common responsibility and mission of every generation of our fishermen."

"We used to fish to feed our families, but now we gradually realize that we come to fish, but also to protect the islands, and safeguard the south gate of our motherland, and this makes me feel very proud," Fu said. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, from Oct. 22 to 24 at the invitation of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced here on Friday.

Zhang Ming, secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), on Friday condemned the terrorist attack in Pakistan's Sindh Province, which caused casualties to both Chinese and Pakistani people.

The SCO is shocked by the terrorist attack, strongly condemns this terrorist act, and expresses deep condolences to the victims and sincere sympathy to their families, Zhang said.

The SCO supports Pakistan in bringing the terrorists to justice, Zhang noted.

Terrorism is the common enemy of all mankind. The SCO will, as always, resolutely fight against terrorism and safeguard regional security and stability, Zhang said.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, met with Luong Cuong, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and permanent member of the CPV Central Committee Secretariat, in Beijing on Friday.

Xi pointed out that adhering to the leadership of the communist party and the socialist system constitutes the most essential feature of China and Vietnam, and serves as the most solid political foundation for developing bilateral relations.

Noting that China takes Vietnam as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, Xi said China is ready to work with Vietnam to take the lead in deepening high-level mutually beneficial cooperation, safeguarding international fairness and justice, and promoting the cause of human progress, and jointly foster a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

Xi stressed that as changes unseen in a century are unfolding at an accelerated pace, China and Vietnam should adhere to the correct political direction, view China-Vietnam relations from a strategic height, and ensure the sustained, correctly oriented development of bilateral ties.

He urged China and Vietnam to strengthen their exchange of thoughts and ideas, make better use of institutionalized platforms such as theoretical discussions and cadre training, and enhance communication and the exchange of party and state governance experience. The two countries should also tap into cooperation potential further, and spare no effort to promote the synergy of development strategies and interconnectivity, he added.

On fostering friendship between peoples, Xi called on the two sides to take full advantage of the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations and the China-Vietnam Year of People-to-People Exchanges next year to bring greater recognition to the traditional friendship between the two countries and do more to improve their guidance of public opinion, so as to consolidate public support for the long-term development of bilateral relations.

Xi went on to say that China's efforts to further deepen reforms and promote a high-level opening-up will not only open up broader prospects for its own development, but also bring new impetus and opportunities to the development of Vietnam and other countries around the world.

China is ready to enhance cooperation with Vietnam to be good companions and partners on the path of reform and modernization, Xi said, expressing the belief that under the leadership of the CPV Central Committee headed by General Secretary To Lam, Vietnam will successfully complete the goals and tasks set by the 13th National Congress of the CPV.

Noting that Vietnam and China are socialist neighbors linked by the same mountains and rivers, Luong Cuong said that developing relations with China has always been the objective need, strategic choice and a top priority of Vietnam's overall diplomacy.

He said that Vietnam is willing to continue working with China to fully deliver on the important consensus reached in recent years by the two countries' top leaders, cement relations between the two parties and two countries, push for the further development of exchange and cooperation in various fields, better manage and resolve differences, and strive for new achievements in promoting the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and the construction of a Vietnam-China community with a shared future.