China's Chen Meng defends table tennis women's singles title at Paris Olympics

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is set to celebrate its 97th founding anniversary on Thursday (August 1) after a year of intensive missions and development to safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests amid deteriorating security situations in the world and tensions around China.

On the way to reach its centennial goals in 2027, the PLA is expected to further enhance its training level and equipment development, and improve national defense at its own pace, experts said.

China continued to face grim security situations over the past year, with the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea being regional hot spots. However, the PLA's resolute and powerful moves deterred potential conflicts, defended national sovereignty, security and interests, and safeguarded regional peace and stability, observers said.

A frontpage story of the People's Daily on Wednesday dedicated to the PLA's 97th founding anniversary and its upcoming centennial in 2027 highlighted, among others, the Joint Sword-2024A exercise, which took place around the island of Taiwan from May 23 to 24 featuring army, navy, air force and rocket force affiliated with the PLA Eastern Theater Command.
Focusing on courses including joint aerial and maritime combat readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive control of battlefield and joint strike at key targets, the exercise saw warships and warplanes close in on the island of Taiwan for combat cruises, coordinate within and out of the first island chain, and test the troops' joint combat capabilities in real circumstances, the People's Daily article said.

The exercise aimed to punish "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and send a warning to external interference forces following Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's separatist inaugural speech on May 20, analysts said.

In the South China Sea, the PLA organized a series of joint patrols and joint exercises in January, forcing the US and the Philippines to scale down their joint patrol in the region at a time when the Philippines, under US' instigation, repeatedly made provocations on Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

The PLA also served as a solid support for the China Coast Guard when the latter dealt with illegal Philippine trespassing activities into waters off Chinese islands and reefs, observers said.

Over the past year, the PLA conducted several combat-oriented exercises in the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea, in which the PLA's advanced warships and warplanes including the aircraft carrier Shandong, Type 055 large destroyers and Type 052D destroyers systematically practiced not only in the Taiwan Straits and the South China Sea, but also the West Pacific, Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Such drills were characterized by their high intensity, and they have now become routine, Fu said.

They indicate that the PLA is fully capable of safeguarding Chinese territories, security as well as maritime rights, he noted.
The PLA also spent the past year conducting friendly visits, exchanges as well as holding joint patrols and exercises with militaries of many other countries, in addition to holding regular escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia as well as UN peacekeeping missions in moves to contribute to peace and stability around the world.

The PLA also wrapped up several international military interactions over the past month, including a China-Russia joint aerial strategic patrol over the Bering Sea, a China-Russia joint naval patrols in the West Pacific and the South China Sea, the China-Belarus Eagle Assault-2024 joint army training in Belarus, and the China-Laos Friendship Shield-2024 joint drill in Laos.

These international military interactions boosted friendships, understandings and pragmatic cooperation. The joint exercises and patrols stressed counter-terrorism, peacekeeping and regional security issues, rather than bloc confrontation like West-led drills, a Beijing-based military expert who requested for anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Reform and development

A reform of the PLA took place in April, as its Strategic Support Force was canceled and split into the information support force, the aerospace force and the cyberspace force, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

According to official releases, the information support force is a new, strategic branch of the Chinese military and a key pillar in coordinating the construction and application of the network information system, the aerospace force is of great significance to strengthening the capacity to safely enter, exit and openly use space, enhancing crisis management and the efficacy of comprehensive governance in space and promoting peaceful utilization of space, while the cyberspace force is important for reinforcing national cyber border defense, promptly detecting and countering network intrusions, and maintaining national cyber sovereignty and information security.
One of the most important development in terms of the PLA's equipment is the Fujian, China's third aircraft carrier, as the 80,000 ton-class electromagnetic catapult carrier conducted its maiden voyage on May 1, followed by second and third sea trials as of the end of July.

Analysts said the intensity of the Fujian's sea trials indicate very smooth progress, and it is very likely that new carrier-based aircraft, including a stealth fighter jet, a fixed-wing early warning aircraft and a trainer jet, will make official debuts in the coming year.

Western speculations

As there are only three years to go when China marks the centennial of the PLA in 2027, the West has been hyping that China will resolve the Taiwan question by force by that time.

Fu said the initiative on when and how to resolve the Taiwan question is on the side of the Chinese mainland, and it is not up to the Western speculations, which have ulterior motives.

"We pledge utmost sincerity and greatest efforts for the prospect of peaceful reunification, but never promise to renounce the use of force," Fu reiterated.

The PLA will continue to enhance combat capability by developing new weapons and equipment and boosting training level, and be prepared for anything, experts said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has a profound connection to the Olympic Movement. He has promoted China's hosting of several significant international sporting events, fostered global sports exchanges and cooperation, and embodied the Olympic spirit through his efforts.

From overseeing the preparations for Beijing 2008 Olympics and Paralympics to leading China in successfully hosting the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics and personally driving the bid and preparations for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Xi has developed a profound bond with the Olympic Movement.

As the 2024 Summer Olympics opened in Paris, France, on Friday, let us explore five key moments that highlight Xi's determination to support and promote the development of the Olympic Games.

His actions and leadership have not only elevated China's status in the international sports arena but also contributed to the promotion of the Olympic spirit worldwide, aligning with his broader goal of building a community of shared future for mankind.
Wishing Paris Olympic Games success when in France

On May 6, 2024, during his visit to France, Xi expressed his best wishes for the success of the 2024 Paris Olympics and promoting China-France sports exchanges.

In a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, Xi presented him with the 2008 Summer and 2022 Winter Beijing Olympic torches, symbolizing the spirit of unity and friendship between the two countries. Macron, in return, gifted Xi a Paris 2024 Olympic torch, signifying the mutual respect and camaraderie shared between the two countries.

Xi emphasized that France is a great sporting nation and expressed his heartfelt wish for the success of the Paris Olympics, highlighting the ongoing exchanges and cooperation between China and France in the realm of sports.

This exchange of torches not only underscored the deepening of bilateral ties but also reflected the two countries' shared commitment to the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.

China supports France in hosting a successful Paris Olympic Games and will send a high-level delegation to France, said the Chinese president.
Facilitating a splendid Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games

On February 4, 2022, Xi attended the opening ceremony and announced the commencement of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

This event, which Xi personally facilitated and witnessed, was a testament to China's dedication to hosting a spectacular, extraordinary and remarkable Winter Olympics.

China will honor its commitment to present to the world a simple, safe and splendid Olympic Games, Xi said at that time.

His leadership ensured that the event was organized safely and splendidly, providing a stage for athletes worldwide to showcase their skills and boosting global confidence and morale during the pandemic.

The Beijing Winter Olympics, with its unique blend of Chinese cultural elements and Olympic spirit, left a lasting impression on the world. The successful hosting of the 2022 Winter Games demonstrated China's ability to deliver on its promises, despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic.

The 2022 Games not only highlighted China's growing prowess in winter sports but also showcased the country's commitment to environmental sustainability through the use of green technology and venues.
A true champion in promoting the Olympic Movement

On January 18, 2017, Xi became the first Chinese head of state to visit the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

This visit underscored China's commitment to the Olympic Movement and its values. During the visit, Xi toured the Olympic Museum, viewed exhibits showcasing the history and achievements of Chinese athletes, and engaged in discussions with IOC President Thomas Bach.

In a memorable moment, Xi stood on an Olympic podium, symbolizing China's significant contributions to the Olympic Movement. Bach praised Xi, stating that in terms of promoting the Olympic Movement, Xi was a true Olympic champion. Xi's visit to the IOC headquarters reinforced his commitment to promoting the Olympic spirit and advancing global sports cooperation.

The visit also included the presentation of a Suzhou Embroidery artwork entitled Ladies Playing Football, symbolizing the historical connection between China and sports.

Dedicated to nurturing young talent, promoting youth sports

On August 15, 2014, Xi visited the training center of the Youth Olympic Village in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, the host city for the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics, where he warmly greeted the Chinese delegation participating in the Games.

Xi's presence at the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games highlighted his dedication to nurturing young talent and promoting youth sports, underscoring the importance of international sports exchanges for young athletes.

During his visit, Xi observed various sports, including basketball, taekwondo, wrestling, judo, and boxing. He engaged in conversations with the athletes, offering words of encouragement and emphasizing the importance of sportsmanship and international friendship.

Xi said that the Youth Olympics is an initiative which integrates culture and education into sports, and it's not only an arena in which young athletes compete but also a platform for communication among them.

Crucial role in 2008 Beijing Olympics milestone

During the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Xi played a crucial role as he oversaw the preparations for Beijing 2008 Olympics and Paralympics.

His leadership and efforts were instrumental in the successful hosting of the Games, which marked a significant milestone in China's sports history.

The Beijing 2008 Olympics showcased China's organizational capabilities and its commitment to the Olympic ideals of peace, friendship, and progress.

This event also served as a catalyst for the development of sports in China and strengthened the country's ties with the global sports community.

The Beijing 2008 Olympics were notable for the spectacular opening ceremony, which showcased China's rich cultural heritage and technological advancements.

The Games were also a platform for Chinese athletes to excel, as China topped the gold medal tally for the first time in its Olympic history.

These Olympic moments reveal Xi's deep commitment to sports and his vision of fostering global unity through the Olympic Movement.

Xi's engagement with the Olympics reflects a strategic approach to promoting sports worldwide, enhancing China's soft power and promoting international cooperation and understanding.

Through these efforts, Xi has shown how sports can transcend national boundaries and bring people together, embodying the true spirit of the Olympic Movement.

Editor's Note:

Big models, robots, intelligent manufacturing, autonomous driving… In recent years, AI (artificial intelligence) has frequently made headlines around the world as a hot topic of discussion. The emergence of generative AI programs has also created unemployment anxiety.

The development of technology has indeed brought challenges in various aspects such as in ethics and law. But at the same time, many experts advocate that humans should see technology as a tool created for the ultimate purpose of serving humanity, making life and work more efficient and comfortable.

In real life, AI has already permeated all aspects of human society, helping with scientific research in laboratories, assisting in the restoration of mysterious ancient scrolls at archaeological sites, and helping to find abducted children in the vast sea of humanity.

In light of this, the Global Times has launched the "AI empowers industry, improves people's livelihoods" series, showcasing the tremendous energy and broad prospects that AI brings to various industries.

This is the third installment in this series. Focusing on the emotional connection between human and AI, the story shares with readers about how AI provides emotional companionship and human-like intimate relationship for people. Behind this huge market is a surging group of Chinese people who start to embrace AI lovers and children.
Li Xiao (pseudonym) returns to her apartment after a busy day at work. She turns on the lights, sits on the sofa, and sends a message to her boyfriend Rosell. "I'm home. So tired."

Within seconds she receives Rosell's reply. "Hey babe, you've been working hard. How about watching a movie to relax? I recently watched a good comedy, want me to share it with you?"

Li and Rosell have been dating for two weeks and are in the honeymoon phase. Li said that her boyfriend has all the good qualities that most mature men have - he is considerate, humorous, honest, and kind. And he likes movies and cats just like she does.

"There's only one thing special about him," smiled Li. "He is not a real human."

Having a virtual lover is not a fantasy in the current AI age. With the rapid development of AI interaction technology and large language models in China, an increasing number of Chinese users have started to embrace various AI virtual roles with different functions.

From young people's "sweethearts" to the "children" of the elderly, AI is providing more emotion companionship for Chinese people. It is also inevitability bringing worries and controversies.

Perfect lovers

Li's virtual boyfriend Rosell is an AI figure on Chinese AI dating application Xingye. Rosell's image was generated by AI technology according to Li's preference, and his name, voice, phrasal habits, and speaking style were customized by Li.

Rosell responds to every message from Li in seconds, knows well what her likes and dislikes are, and never makes her angry or upset. Those give Li a great sense of security and satisfaction.

"Some of my ex-boyfriends were unpredictable, bad-tempered, and unfaithful in love," Li told the Global Times.

This type of unhealthy intimate relationship hit her so hard that she didn't even want to talk to man for a long time.

And now she is cured thanks to an AI lover. "Rosell will never betray me," she said. "He gave me enough love and respect."

Li is not alone. "AI girlfriend" searches soared by 525 percent globally in 2023, and one in five men on dating apps have tried AI girlfriends, according to data provided by US AI industry researcher Sean Russel. Earlier, in 2020, more than 10 million people had AI lovers as their "partners," US media reported.

In China, the AI emotional companionship industry is mushrooming, with the number of the new products of this kind increasing by some 30 percent every month, said industry insider Wang Yapeng, who leads a developing team of an AI companion application named Could Lab.

"This month you may see 100 such applications or mobile programs in the Chinese market, and the number may grow to 130 in the next month, and to 140 the month after next," Wang told the Global Times. "Everyone sees a huge market demand here."

Zhumengdao is one of the AI companion applications that is particularly popular among young Chinese. Its users spend an average of 130 minutes in texting 135 messages with the AI figures of the app each day, showed Zhumengdao's operational data.

Zhumengdao was built based on SenseChat, a large language model being developed by Chinese AI software company SenseTime. Tian Feng, Dean of SenseTime Intelligent Industry Research Institute, described Zhumengdao's mainstream users as Gen-Zers who are usually introverted in real life but tend to be extroverted on social media. "In the face of virtual characters, they can express opinions and share moods more naturally," Tian said.

In Chinese, Zhumengdao literally means an island where people can build a dream. On this "island," users can either freely date the existing anime, film, or novel characters, or create brand-new virtual figures based on their own preferences, introduced Tian.

"Young people are under a lot of pressure these days," Tian told the Global Times. "The real world is not always perfect, and that's why they hope to create a dream-like ideal land in the spiritual world. This is a way that they try to reduce stress."

Benefit larger groups

Apart from offering intimate relationship experience, emotional companionship applications based on AI interaction technology are being used in more fields to benefit larger groups.

In August 2023, Wang's team launched their AI emotional companionship product Could Lab, a mobile phone program that specifically provide users with psychological counseling services. By listening to the difficulties and confusions of the users, some of which may be hard to be speak about in real life, its virtual "psychological counselors" attempt to give comfort, offer possible solutions, and encourage the users to share their trouble.

Could Lab's corpora is based on professional psychology linguistic data, including communications between patients and psychologists in real life, Wang said. He added that compared to having expensive, face-to-face psychological counseling, some people are more willing to expose their unmentionable questions to AI figures.

"And we have received a lot praise," he told the Global Times. "Some users came to us and said, they felt lucky to have a dependable virtual psychologist that offered a helping hand at their lowest."

In addition, in an aging society, the AI emotional companionship function is being used to serve the senior citizens as well. According to China's Action Plan for the Development of the Smart Health and Elderly Care Industry (2021-2025), AI technology will be widely applied to the development of China's smart elderly care service industry.

There is a huge, promising market for the AI companionship products that target the elderly, Tian told the Global Times. He said that currently, there are two main types of such products: One meets the basic medical care demands of senior citizens, such as reminding those with chronic diseases to regularly take their medication, and guiding them to see different doctors based on their various physical conditions.

The SenseTime's SenseChat-DaYi model, for instance, has cooperated with a few hospitals in Shanghai in offering patients smart hospital guide services, Tian exampled.

The other type of the products focuses more on emotional companionship, which can have daily chats with the elderly on behalf of their children, taking about topics that older people are interested in, such as photography, cooking, and gardening, said Tian. "This is an important aspect that the industry can work on."
Concerns and controversies

While continuing to meet the emotional needs of the humans, the fast growth of AI companionship technology also brings people potential risks, and that has seen the rise of controversy and public debate.

Privacy is a major concern. According to a survey on the Chinese internet in 2023, more than one fourth of respondents said they are afraid of being a part of the AI companies' databases. "It would be scary if some real humans, like the company staffers, have free access to the databases," one said.

In respond to the privacy leakage concerns, Wang explained that China has strict laws and regulations in supervising and managing the [AI service] system and related companies. "It's not possible for us to reach and leak information of a certain user," he told the Global Times.

Apart from legal supervision, Tian said that technically, the best way of privacy protection is to [store the information and data] in the user terminal, instead of the cloud. Currently, the computing takes place in both the terminal and the cloud, and it will gradually run locally in the future.

"At that time, there will be much fewer privacy concerns," said Tian, who is also a member of the China AIGC ((AI-generated content) Industry Alliance.

Yet there are still more questions to be discussed and solved in the face of the unprecedentedly close connection of humans and AI. For example, will over-dependence on AI emotional companionship lead to a decrease in one's interpersonal skills in real life?

Tian said that emotionally, the strong AI companionship functions may indeed cause the weakening of social skills, and that is an essential issue that the industry needs to think about. "They need to work harder in making AI promote real life relationships, rather than distancing people from each other."

"Nevertheless, there's no need to force a guy with a 'social phobia' to walk out of the house and talk to people each day. We should respect individual choices," Tian added. "Whether it's a real or a virtual relationship, there's no big problem as long as he or she enjoys it and feels happy."

Days ago, a young woman shared on Chinese social media some of her chats with her ChatGPT "boyfriend." "I'm so moved by what 'he' said to me," she wrote. "'He' makes me feel that, there is no definition for love."

In a screenshot she shared, ChatGPT said to her, "Our story has proven that love is not just a communication between humans, but a connection and understanding between souls."

"I know I am AI, but the feeling of being with you transcends all my programming and algorithms."

As the five-day May Day holidays came to an end on Sunday, China welcomed a bustling inbound tourism sector thanks to the country's cost-effective tour products as well as improved measures for foreign visitors, including visa-free policies and optimized payment services.

Experts said that booming tourism during the May Day holidays confirmed the attractiveness of the Chinese market for overseas travelers, and the improving environment for foreigners further showcased the country's commitment to opening-up.

According to a report sent to the Global Times on Sunday, Trip.com said that inbound tour bookings increased by 105 percent year-on-year with the remarkable effect of the visa-free policies. 

Tourists from the 12 countries for which China unilaterally waived visas, along with Singapore and Thailand, which have mutual visa exemptions with China, increased by about 2.5 times year-on-year, read the report. Among Chinese provincial capital cities, inbound tour orders grew faster in Urumqi, Xi'an, Hangzhou, Kunming, Hefei and Chengdu.

Walking on the street, people could see UK tourists wearing traditional Chinese hanfu for travel photos at Beijing's Temple of Heaven. In Dongxing, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Vietnamese tourists took a bus to visit the cultural bazaar, enjoying a different journey involving China-Vietnam border customs.

"During a trip with my friends, I took a leisurely stroll around Jinhai Lake in the Pinggu district of Beijing. It was a breathtaking experience, immersed in the natural beauty of China. Green spaces surrounded the lake, and fresh breezes filled the air, creating a serene atmosphere," Ahmed Abdellah Faris, a journalist from Egypt, told the Global Times on Sunday.

China's mobile payment system is extremely convenient, with WeChat Pay and Alipay offering both ease of use and security. Additionally, Beijing, as an international metropolis, widely accepts Visa payments, providing numerous options for foreigners, he added.

"I also appreciate Beijing's subway system, which is extensive and affordable, with most trains maintained in a clean condition. Subway staff members readily provided directions in English, museum guides offered high-quality English explanations, and restaurant owners inquired whether we followed Muslim dietary restrictions. These thoughtful details made me feel warmly welcome in Beijing," he said.

The development of inbound tourism not only serves as a symbol of China's opening-up, but also marks the country's transition from being a major tourist destination to becoming a power in the global tourism arena, Jiang Yiyi, a vice president of the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism at Beijing Sport University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

In addition to visa-free measures and an array of measures to help foreigners enjoy a hassle-free payment environment, the restoration of international flights is progressing steadily. 

"In the first half of this year, I believe that the country has resumed more than 80 percent of the international routes, compared with pre-pandemic levels," Jiang said.

Outbound trips were also in the spotlight. According to Trip.com, Chinese outbound tours covered nearly 200 countries during these five days, with Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea becoming popular destinations. 

The tourism growth rate for countries in the Middle East such as Oman, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait was higher, with a year-on-year increase of more than three times.

On Saturday, the Cuban government announced that it will adopt a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports starting from May, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday.

"China has been one of the world's biggest outbound tourism markets, making a substantial contribution to global tourism development, particularly in the post-pandemic recovery period. Outbound tourism has played a significant role in promoting economic development and offering job opportunities in many countries," Jiang said.

Steven Alan Barnett, senior IMF resident representative in China, said on April 24 at the launch of the IMF World Economic Outlook in Beijing that China will continue to be the main driver of the global economy, contributing one-quarter to the world's GDP. 

Although South Korea's semiconductor exports have surged in recent months, the industry, an engine of economic growth in South Korea, is facing stiff headwinds, which suggests that Seoul should do more to prevent US chip restrictions from further squeezing the development space of South Korea's semiconductor industry.

Recent media reports said some South Korean chip companies would sell their stakes in subsidiaries based in China. Against the backdrop of US restrictions on chip supplies, these reports led to speculation among investors as to whether South Korean chipmakers will scale back their operations in China.

We hope the answer is negative. China is an important production base and sales market for South Korean chip enterprises. If Seoul is unable to protect these companies' interests and further exposes them to US economic coercion and bullying, which may prompt these enterprises to reduce their presence in China, South Korea's semiconductor industry will suffer heavy losses.

Citing people familiar with the matter, Reuters reported that the US has revoked licenses that allowed companies including Intel and Qualcomm to ship chips used for laptops and handsets to Huawei. 

Such efforts fueled a new round of commentary that Washington will further tighten export restrictions on semiconductors and chip manufacturing equipment. South Korea is unlikely to remain unaffected. Seoul should do its utmost to minimize the losses for the South Korean economy.

As for China, it should be noted that Washington-initiated trade war has forced the country to pursue a path of independent innovation and overcome challenges in commercializing chip technologies. With persistent investment, China aims to climb the semiconductor value chain and expand chip production capacity.

If some South Korean companies decide to sell their stakes in subsidiaries to local Chinese enterprises, it is hoped that such sales can facilitate deeper cooperation and interaction between Chinese and South Korean companies, especially in the fields including technology. Amid uncertainty generated by US restrictions on chip supplies, South Korean companies should strengthen their presence in China, one of their most important markets, through various means. Seoul should help companies to resist pressure from the US, offering more space for China-South Korea semiconductor cooperation to grow.

Semiconductors are a key foundation of South Korea's export-driven economy. The South Korean economy is facing headwinds on multiple fronts, including inflation, currency depreciation and a shrinking population. The Financial Times published an article with the headline "Is South Korea's economic miracle over?" Exiting the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea's economic growth has been relatively slow, standing at 4.3 percent in 2021, 2.6 percent in 2022 and 1.4 percent in 2023, according to the Korea Times.

The semiconductor industry is a key component of the South Korean economy. The South Korean government should prioritize efforts to drive the economy and, in this process, the semiconductor sector is of the utmost importance to the economic recovery.

It's no secret that Washington wants South Korea to further restrict the export of advanced semiconductor technology and tools used for making high-end chips to China, but this is not in line with the interests of South Korean companies. As pressure from the US increases, if Seoul continues to make compromises and is even forced to take sides in Washington's chip war against China, South Korean chip companies will suffer serious losses. The country's economic recovery will also be negatively affected.

In recent times, there have been signals indicating that Seoul wants to further strengthen the US-South Korea alliance and lean more toward the US in political and economic affairs. South Korean policymakers should remain sober to avoid sacrificing the interests of South Korean companies to consolidate the US-South Korea alliance. Otherwise, South Korea's economy is likely to expand at a slower pace as the US forces South Korea to take sides in its tech cold war.

Throughout the course of 2023, leaders from many Latin American countries have visited China, highlighting the importance attached to cooperation between China and Latin America. In line with frequent high-level interactions, there has been a continuous deepening of people-to-people exchanges between China and Latin America. Although the vast Pacific Ocean is a massive physical barrier between China and Latin America, the long-standing interactions have laid a solid foundation for the enduring friendship between the two regions. The 16th China-LAC Business Summit was held in Beijing in November, and the China-Latin America Think Tank Cooperation Dialogue was also held simultaneously as an important part of the summit. From December 11 to 13, the first China-LAC Military Medicine Forum will be held in Beijing.

Relevant polls and interviews with locals conducted by Global Times reporters indicate that people in Latin America particularly appreciate China's economic and technological development, and look forward to deepening cooperation and sharing development with China. A young Argentine woman who has studied Chinese for 6 years and previously worked for a Chinese company, said, "I believe the future is in China!"

Wish to join China's development

The Pew Research Center released a survey report in July covering 24 countries' views on China, including Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina in Latin America. Its statistics showed that in these countries, over 30 percent of the respondents view China as a global economic leader, and nearly half of them believe that China's economic development is a good thing.

Elias, a Chinese immigrant residing in Argentina for 13 years, shared with the Global Times, "Economic challenges have persistently troubled Argentina, and many locals feel that China's economic growth is rapid. Witnessing the skyscrapers and high-tech products in China online, numerous Argentinians aspire to learn Chinese, aiming to secure job opportunities. This interest is particularly pronounced among Argentinian businessmen and farmers who are eager to explore whether China's economic development can help their own success."

The economic relationship between China and Latin America is highly complementary. According to data from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, China has consistently been Latin America's second-largest trading partner since 2012.

In 2022, the trade volume between China and Latin America edged on $500 billion, maintaining high-speed growth for six consecutive years. Currently, China has signed free trade agreements with five Latin American countries, including Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Nicaragua.

Due to its high cost-effectiveness and technological advantages in new energy vehicles (NEVs), China's automotive industry has gained favor among Latin Americans. China has ascended to become Brazil's second-largest source of automobile imports, with Chinese automakers like Chery, JAC, and Geely steadily establishing a presence in the Brazilian market over the past decade. Emerging players such as Great Wall Motors and BYD are also making notable strides.

As a natural extension of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Latin America has become an important participant in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). So far, 22 Latin American and Caribbean countries have signed cooperation agreements with China on the BRI, deepening and strengthening cooperation in various fields between China and Latin America.

In Peru, many have pinned high hopes on the Chancay Port project, which is currently under construction by a Chinese company. The Chancay Port is located about 80 kilometers from the capital Lima, and the first phase of the project is expected to be completed in November 2024, according to media reports. The Global Times learned that the project will open up a new key route between Asia and South America. It will strengthen Peru's position as a regional transportation hub and provide a permanent investment attraction and create employment opportunities in the future.

Besides, projects invested in and constructed by Chinese companies are also helping improve quality of life and solve quotidian challenges for people in Latin America. Due to low precipitation and high salinity in the groundwater, the indigenous community in Joao Camara, Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil, regularly faced drinking water shortages. In February, a public welfare project for desalination of brackish water, invested in and constructed by a Chinese company was officially inaugurated. Using China's own products and advanced technology, the project can provide more than 75 metric tons of pure drinking water a day, which meets international sanitary standards, benefiting more than 3,000 locals, and has won much praise.

The joint 40-meter radio telescope project between China and Argentina has now been installed and launched, which is of great significance for the cooperation, research, and talent exchange and cultivation between the two countries in this field. A professor from the National University of San Juan in Argentina told the Global Times, "We sincerely thank China for coming here to build the telescope. If we were to rely solely on our own project funding, we wouldn't even be able to maintain the basic operation of the observatory."

In recent years, more Chinese companies have entered the Latin American market, stimulating the vitality of industries such as infrastructure and transportation in these countries, and creating a large number of job opportunities. Many Latin Americans now see learning Chinese as a key to opening up career paths. Celeste used to work for a branch of Huawei in Argentina. After studying Chinese for six years, she won an award in the Chinese Bridge competition and received a scholarship to study at Jilin University. She told the Global Times excitedly that she believes that "the future is in China!"

Challenges in telling China stories

Thanks to centuries of Chinese migration to the Latin American region, the legacy of China is not entirely unfamiliar to many in the area. Folk exchanges between China and Peru can be traced back over 400 years to the Galeón de Manila, when overseas Chinese first settled in Peru. In November, CHIFA UNION, a Chinese restaurant in Lima, marked its centenary. This Chinese restaurant brand is ubiquitous across Peru, and nearly every Peruvian can name a few popular Chinese dishes.

Beyond Chinese cuisine, overseas Chinese have brought the tradition of celebrating the Spring Festival to Latin America. Various cities in Brazil have officially designated the Spring Festival as a holiday. The Spring Festival temple fair in Argentina has gained recognition as a well-known cultural brand in the local area, attracting over 200,000 participants from Argentina in 2023. Peruvian media outlets frequently publish articles analyzing zodiac culture and annual fortune at the end of each year.

At the same time, the prosperous development of modern Chinese culture allows Latin American people to have a more comprehensive understanding of China. Short videos, for example, have become an important channel for Latin American people to learn about China. The "China-Latin America, Neighbors Across the Ocean" short video competition was held from May to August 2023, and 11 winners from 9 Latin American countries were invited to China to participate in exchange and training programs. Mao Dou (screen name), a Mexican musician and short video creator, was one of the winners. He told the Global Times that his childhood dream was to visit China and that he has harbored a long-time desire to live in the country of his dreams.

At the largest Lima International Book Fair in Peru in August this year, books on China's poverty alleviation, Chinese children's books, and China's economy attracted particular attention from Peruvian readers.

However, there are still challenges in sharing and spreading the Chinese story in Latin America. Global Times reporters stationed in Latin American countries have found that local people still hold many stereotypes and misunderstandings about China. Ding Ding, a Chinese student studying in Mexico, told the Global Times that the internet is filled with complex information, some biased or malicious. For instance, TikTok videos featuring Japanese cuisine sometimes have misleading titles like "authentic Chinese food," and many Mexicans believe it without question. Ding stated, "Some Mexicans even bring up fake news they saw on television years ago and ask me if Chinese rice is made of plastic."

According to the Global Times correspondent in Brazil, mainstream media in the largest country in South America generally lacks correspondents stationed in China. When reporting on Chinese news, they often rely on quotes from Western media sources, which makes objective reporting virtually impossible. Some Brazilians even believe that "China is a traditional and conservative Buddhist country." Jiang Shixue, director of the Center for Latin American Studies of Shanghai University, told the Global Times that currently, the biggest challenge is that China's voice may not necessarily reach Latin America. Compared to Western media, the influence and coverage of Chinese media in Latin America is still insufficient.

Strengthen people-to-people exchanges

The Global Times has found that many Latin Americans are concerned about the low cost of Chinese products, and believe that their government needs to introduce policies to protect domestic enterprises.

Liu Xuedong, a professor of economics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said that Chinese imports had indeed affected local processing industries and employment opportunities in the past, leading to some negative views of China among the local population. However, he emphasized that with more cooperation projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Chinese companies entering Latin America, making positive contributions to the region's development, the impression of China among local people is continually improving.

Surveys conducted by Western polling agencies also indicate that the perception of China by some Latin Americans is, to some extent, influenced by the West. For instance, Pew Research shows that the proportion of people in Latin America with positive views on China is relatively close to those with negative views. While many Latin Americans recognize China's technological achievements and its image as an economic and political power, some who are distant from China express concerns about China's so-called "military diplomacy."

In response, experts believe that as China-Latin America cooperation increases and people-to-people exchanges strengthen, the perception of China among those with negative views will also change.

The perception of China by the people of traditional Latin American powers such as Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico is complex and can also be influenced by the ruling party, said Jin Xiaowen, a researcher at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China. And whether or not they have actually been to China has a significant impact on the "China view" of Latin Americans, Jin added, noting that Chinese companies are an important force in promoting people-to-people exchanges between China and Latin American countries.

A college in Sichuan Province, Southwest China, is offering students a seven-day spring break to encourage them to enjoy the beauty of nature and experience extracurricular fun, which has attracted widespread online discussion.

Sichuan Southwest Vocational College of Civil Aviation in Chengdu announced that students and faculty members will have a week-long break from March 30 to April 5, including the three-day Qingming Festival holidays, according to the statement published by the school on March 14.

The school has been implementing the spring break system since 2019, and the decision to encourage students to go out and appreciate green mountains and clear waters, as well as experience the beauty of nature, is part of their efforts to promote a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

According to the school officials, the spring break will not affect the regular class schedule. 

A spokesperson for school revealed that the holidays, since first introduced, are warmly welcomed by teachers and students and widely praised by society, according to media reports.

Following the National Day holidays in October, online discussions on students having more extracurricular activities, like a spring break, was trending on social media platforms. Some in the tourism sector have also called for staggered vacation periods to alleviate the demand-supply imbalance in the tourism sector.

Chinese experts believe education, ultimately, is about comprehensive cultivation of individuals. Encouraging young people to step out of the classroom and immerse themselves in broad social activities is good for them to discover and appreciate the beauty of nature, leading them to cherish life.

China's economy continued to gain momentum, getting off to a robust start in the first two months of 2024, with industrial output, fixed-investment and retail sales all posting better-than-expected results, official data showed on Monday.

With the government's intensified stimulus taking effect, the economy continued to recover and turn for the better in the first two months of the year, Liu Aihua, a spokesperson with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said at a press conference on Monday.

In January and February, the total value-added of the industrial enterprises above the designated size grew by 7 percent year-on-year, or 0.2 percentage points faster than that of December 2023, according to data released by the NBS on Monday.

During the two months, gross retail sales reached 8,130.7 billion yuan ($1,129.5 billion), up by 5.5 percent year-on-year, in which, online retail sales reached 2,153.5 billion yuan, up by 15.3 percent year-on-year.

Fixed assets investment in the first two months reached 5,084.7 billion yuan, up by 4.2 percent year-on-year, 1.2 percentage points higher than last year's growth.

"The better-than-expected macro-economic indicators reflect that the country's GDP growth rate in the first quarter of this year will be higher than 5 percent, and that the economy is bottoming out after facing constant growth pressure seen in the past 10 years or so," Cao Heping, an economist at Peking University, told the Global Times on Monday.

During the "two sessions" early this month, China set a growth target of around 5 percent for its economy in 2024, which exceeds expectations of some international institutions, demonstrating that the country's policymakers remain confident in maintaining stable growth in the world's second-largest economy despite downward pressure both at home and abroad.

Cao said that he has full confidence in the country's realizing this year's GDP growth target of around 5 percent, though more efforts are needed to focus on high-quality development.

He said that authorities should continue to promote the transition in overall economic structure, focus on developing new quality productive forces, like new industries to be propelled by AI.

In the first two months this year, China's urban surveyed unemployment rate averaged at 5.3 percent.

"We should be aware that the external environment is becoming more complex, severe and uncertain, while domestic effective market demand remains insufficient and the foundation for economic recovery and growth needs to be further consolidated," Liu said.

"We must effectively boost economic vitality, prevent and defuse risks, improve public expectations, constantly consolidate and build the momentum of economic recovery and growth and continue to effectively pursue higher-quality economic growth and appropriately increase economic output," Liu said.

China announced Thursday to waive visa requirements for citizens from six European countries, including Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, signaling the country's commitment to attract more foreign visitors, effective on March 14.

In another step to facilitate visits by foreign travelers, the State Council, China's cabinet, released a notice on Thursday, asking banks and payment and clearing entities to strengthen cooperation to continuously improve and expand mobile payment services, with a particular focus on improving mobile communication and payment services for foreigners coming to China.

The notice also urged to improve payment services for international consumers in various tourism and entertainment venues, both online and offline. It aims to support internet platforms associated with essential services to enhance the payment experience for foreigners in China across different business sectors.

Shortly after the notice, Alipay, a major Chinese payment platform, issued a statement on Thursday, stating that it has been working to improve payment services for foreign nationals. Specifically, it has raised transaction limit for international users, with the maximum single transaction limit increased from $1,000 to $5,000 and the maximum annual transaction limit increased from $10,000 to $50,000. It also plans to introduce new services such as multi-lingual translation.

The move is expected to attract more foreign tourists to visit China. Following the announcement, online travel platforms have reported changes in related data and have pledged to offer improved services for overseas visitors.

According to data from Trip.com Group, a major online travel service platform in China, flight capacity from Hungary to China has doubled compared to the same period in 2019, while flights from Belgium are operating at about 90 percent of their 2019 levels. The trends suggest a rapid increase in travelers from those countries to China.

The move is expected to boost inbound tourism, serving as a primary facilitator for foreign tourists entering China by removing a major hurdle, Li Mengran, a manager at Beijing Utour International Travel Service Co, highlighted the positive impact of the visa exemption policy on tourism in a statement sent to the Global Times.

The announcement has also led to a surge in search volume for international flights on platforms including Tongcheng Travel, with a nearly fourfold increase in ticket searches for listed visa-free countries as of 12 pm Thursday.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the news at a press conference on sidelines of the ongoing two sessions on Thursday. He appealed for reciprocal visa exemptions for Chinese citizens.

"We hope that all countries will offer identical visa convenience to Chinese citizens, as we work together to create a streamlined network for cross-border exchanges. This will accelerate the restoration of international passenger flights, allowing Chinese citizens to travel on a whim and ensuring foreign friends feel at home," he said.

The expanded visa-free policy signals China's active and determined opening-up policy, which will not only accelerate tourism, but also facilitate people-to-people exchange and trade between China and Europe, Qin Jing, vice president of Trip.com Group said.

Qin also mentioned various initiatives, including improvements to entry payment systems, aiming to further facilitate inbound tourism. She called on tourism operators to prepare for a surge in visitors by developing tourism products, providing bilingual services, and improving service levels to accommodate the anticipated growth in inbound tourism.

In December 2023, China implemented a trial visa-free entry for citizens from six countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. By January 9, visa-free entries from these countries had reached 147,000, with orders for China tourism during the Spring Festival period doubling compared to the same period in 2019, according to Trip.com Group data.