China’s consumption growth delivers tangible benefits to people’s lives

By Wang Ke, People’s Daily

China has released its consumer market data for January through July of this year. Since the beginning of this year, China’s consumption market has continued to gain momentum and improve in quality, with steady expansion in scale and continuous upgrading of goods and services.

From January to July, total retail sales of consumer goods and services grew 2.6 percent year on year, while retail sales of services rose by 5 percent, once again outpacing the growth in goods sales. Beyond these figures, what stands out most is the increasingly important role consumption plays in improving people’s well-being.

This role is evident in the expanding range of services enriching people’s daily lives. 

From crowded travel destinations during holidays to busy community fitness facilities, from  steady visitor flows at museums and galleries to inclusive childcare and home-based elderly care reaching more households, service consumption has flourished in diverse ways. These trends show that people’s needs are extending beyond material satisfaction toward greater enjoyment, enrichment, and fulfillment. 

Between January and July, retail sales of travel consulting and rental services, as well as cultural, sports, and leisure services, all grew by more than 10 percent. In July alone, box office revenue increased by more than 20 percent year on year. More and more families are choosing to spend on leisure, health, culture, and education.

The benefits of consumption are also reflected in the upgrading of goods and improvements in everyday living. 

An energy-efficient refrigerator lowers electricity bills; smart home appliances free up time spent on chores; and new energy vehicles make travel more economical and environmentally friendly. Driven by the consumer goods trade-in program, more green and smart products are entering households across China. 

In July, retail sales of communication equipment and cultural and office supplies by businesses above designated size grew 20.4 percent and 7.4 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, the retail penetration rate of new energy passenger vehicles reached a new record high of 65.1 percent. As high-quality goods become more affordable and accessible, the gains from consumption are becoming increasingly tangible in people’s daily lives.

The benefits are also visible in a more balanced urban-rural consumption structure and broader access to quality products and services. 

As efforts to develop county-level commercial systems advance, residents in counties and rural areas are gaining access to a wider range of quality goods and services, regardless of where they live. 

From January to July, retail sales of consumer goods in rural areas grew 2.4 percent year on year, 1.3 percentage points faster than in urban areas. E-commerce platforms have facilitated two-way flows, bringing agricultural products to wider markets while making industrial goods more accessible in rural areas. 

Meanwhile, township commercial centers and local markets are taking on new vitality. Growth in lower-tier markets is not just about higher figures; it also shows that the gap in consumption experiences between urban and rural areas is narrowing, offering a vivid example of development gains being shared more broadly and equitably.

The broader shift is from securing basic access to pursuing better quality, and from “good-enough functionality” to greener, smarter products and services. This transformation reflects the people-centered nature of China’s development and aligns closely with the policy direction of integrating improved livelihoods with consumption growth.

Consumption-boosting policies are no longer focused merely on expanding volume. Upholding a people-centered philosophy, these policies tie domestic demand expansion and consumption stimulation directly to better living standards.

Practical measures span a wide range of areas. Trade-in subsidies deliver real savings to consumers while bringing green and smart products into households. The country is building 15-minute community life circles, alongside affordable childcare and elderly care services. It is also upgrading social security and medical insurance, advancing equitable public services and easing household financial concerns.

Policy measures have repeatedly demonstrated that improving people’s well-being provides the foundation for boosting consumption, while stronger consumption is an important means of improving people’s well-being. The virtuous cycle between the two makes economic growth more people-centered and more sustainable.

The ultimate purpose of consumption is not the figures in statistical reports, but the better lives people can actually enjoy. For now, the fundamentals underpinning China’s consumption market– its strong resilience, enormous potential and abundant vitality — remain unchanged. 

As a range of policies continue to take effect and the supply of goods and services continues to improve, the benefits that consumption brings to people’s well-being are expected to grow further, providing deeper and more sustained momentum for China’s high-quality economic development.

China’s A+ sovereign rating signals confidence in economic resilience 

By Luo Shanshan, People’s Daily

On Aug. 28, S&P Global Ratings affirmed China’s sovereign credit rating at A+ with a stable outlook.

The decision reflects an objective assessment of China’s economic resilience, fiscal strength, and capacity for risk management. More importantly, it signals sustained global confidence in China’s pursuit of high-quality development. 

The rating itself is significant, but the message behind it carries even greater weight: a stable Chinese economy benefits not only China but also reinforces global industrial and supply chains, injecting a much-needed sense of certainty in an otherwise turbulent world.

The A+ rating is grounded in the confidence surrounding China’s steady economic development as it enters the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030). 

Since the beginning of this year, the country has faced a series of overlapping challenges—geopolitical tensions, extreme weather events, and other domestic and external pressures. Despite these overlapping pressures, China’s economy has remained stable while continuing to improve in both quality and efficiency.

From January to July, the value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size grew by 5.3 percent year on year. The services production index rose by 4.7 percent, and total foreign trade in goods exceeded 30 trillion yuan ($4.46 trillion). These figures underscore the strong resilience and ample policy space of a super large economy.

As the 15th Five-Year Plan gets off to a strong start, 109 major projects are progressing at full speed, translating national strategies into tangible drivers of growth and unleashing industrial vitality. 

A series of national development plans have also been launched, covering areas including urban renewal, consumption expansion, education, public health, and the development of a new energy system. 

With clearer development direction and more defined pathways, both domestic businesses and  overseas investors can move forward with greater confidence.

The A+ rating benefits not only China but the world at large. China continues to expand imports, keeping its markets open to global goods and services while creating substantial new opportunities for businesses abroad. 

High-standard opening-up is advancing steadily, alongside high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. China’s comprehensive manufacturing system also helps ensure stable supplies of key products amid fluctuations in global demand and supply.

By broadening common interests, China is leveraging its own growth to provide stronger support for the global economy. 

As the blueprint for the 15th Five-Year Plan unfolds, the dividends of reform, innovation and opening-up will continue to emerge. 

By steadily pursuing high-quality development, China will not only maintain sound and sustainable economic growth at home but also continue to offer the global economy a valuable source of stability — ensuring that the opportunities created by its development are shared by more countries and peoples.

China achieves first two-way high-speed laser communication link between Earth and Moon 

By Wu Yuehui, People’s Daily

After more than a year of in-orbit testing, China has achieved a major breakthrough in its laser communication test between Earth and the Moon. 

Researchers have successfully established a two-way laser link across the roughly 400,000-kilometer distance between Earth and the Moon, marking the first time such high-speed laser communication has been conducted between the two celestial bodies. 

The breakthrough marks a significant step forward for China’s space laser communications, extending their application from near-Earth orbit into deep space.

Space laser communication transmits information using laser beams. Compared with conventional microwave communication, it offers several advantages, including greater bandwidth, higher data rates, improved pointing accuracy, and enhanced security. 

The equipment is also more compact and lighter, supporting high-speed two-way communication with flexible transmission and reception. However, longer transmission distances introduce considerable technical difficulties.

“Deep-space communication can span hundreds of thousands of kilometers, placing extremely stringent demands on beam-pointing accuracy. By the time a laser signal travels such a long distance to reach the ground, it has undergone severe attenuation, becoming extremely weak and difficult to detect. At the same time, high-speed transmission technologies face constraints, making it difficult to achieve higher transmission rates,” said Yang Lei, a researcher at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and head of the laser communication experiment team.

Achieving precise pointing over an ultra-long distance was the first major hurdle. Communication between Earth and the Moon has been likened to “threading a needle across thousands of miles”: it requires directing an extremely narrow beam of light toward a rapidly moving target some 400,000 kilometers away. Even a tiny angular deviation at the transmitting end can result in a positional error of several kilometers by the time the beam reaches the vicinity of its intended receiver.

To address this challenge, the research team developed an innovative two-way acquisition and tracking approach designed for ultra-long distances and extremely weak signals. By calculating and systematically calibrating a range of factors — including satellite orbits, telescope mounting and deformation errors, atmospheric refraction, and laser propagation time — the team has enabled both orbiting satellites and ground-based telescopes to remain precisely aligned while in motion, ensuring the laser beam accurately reached its target.

Once the pointing problem was solved, the team faced another hurdle: detecting and identifying extremely weak signals. By the time the laser traveled some 400,000 kilometers to reach the ground, its signal had attenuated to just a few photons, leaving the ground-based telescope with very little signal to detect. At the same time, interference from moonlight, starlight and city lights made it even more difficult to distinguish the useful signal — akin to trying to hear a needle drop in the middle of a bustling city thousands of miles away. 

To tackle this, the research team deployed ultra-sensitive detectors capable of detecting individual photons and developed sophisticated signal-processing algorithms. These technologies allowed the team to filter through vast amounts of noise and accurately extract useful signal.

Transmission speeds also needed to keep pace. After achieving stable signal reception, the team continued to improve data-processing efficiency. The experiment initially achieved an uplink rate of 1.25 Mbps (megabits per second) and a downlink rate of 100 Mbps. “Take an 8K high-definition image of the lunar surface, for example. Transmitting it down using a conventional 5 Mbps microwave link would take four to five minutes. With 100 Mbps laser communication, it takes only about 12 seconds,” Yang said.

The experiment was led by the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization, with participation from Zhejiang Lab, the Yunnan Observatories under the CAS, and the Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology under the CAS.

“An Earth‑Moon ‘information superhighway’ is now up and running. Going forward, we will be able to secure more scientifically original datasets,” Yang said. He added that the lightweight, compact, low-power and high-speed information transmission capabilities enabled by the technologies developed through the experiment will also provide a new means of high-speed information transmission for China’s manned lunar missions, the development of a lunar research station and deep-space exploration, supporting more and better original scientific achievements in China’s space science and applications.

China offers a viable path out of the Middle East’s security predicament 

By He Yin, People’s Daily

In recent talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China supports countries in the region in developing good-neighborly and friendly relations, exploring the building of a new security architecture in the Middle East via upholding a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security.

With a focus on long-term peace and stability in the region, Xi raised a four-point proposal on building a new security architecture in the Middle East. 

He said that efforts should be made to foster the internal driving force for common security in the region; a comprehensive approach should be adopted to advance common security in the region; the foundation for common security should be strengthened through development; international coordination for common security in the region should be strengthened.

This proposal offers a Chinese approach to achieving lasting peace in the Middle East and reflects the sense of responsibility of a major country willing to share its insights with the region.

Building a new security architecture in the Middle East requires fostering the internal driving force for common security in the region. People in the Middle East should remain masters of their own affairs, and regional countries themselves should hold the lead in handling their own security affairs. 

In recent years, from the wave of reconciliation across the Middle East to institutionalized consultations among Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Pakistan, and Egypt, regional countries have shown an increasingly strong desire to pursue independence and self-reliance through solidarity. 

China supports these efforts, encouraging Middle East countries to strengthen peace and security dialogue on their own terms and to build a security framework that reflects regional realities and accommodates the interests of all parties, so that they can firmly keep their future in their own hands.

Building a new security architecture in the Middle East requires adopting a comprehensive approach to advance common security in the region. The Middle East is home to multiple hotspots that are closely interconnected. Resolving one issue in isolation can often have repercussions across the region, making comprehensive solutions essential. 

The Palestinian issue remains at the core of the Middle East question and bears directly on international fairness and justice. It should never be overlooked or marginalized. Territorial disputes, sectarian differences, and competition over energy are intertwined, while traditional and nontraditional security challenges are becoming increasingly complex. 

Piecemeal measures cannot address the root causes. Only by upholding a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security — and taking into account the legitimate security concerns of all parties — can the region gradually break free from its security predicament. 

The immediate priority is to advance the implementation of the two-state solution and promote a just settlement of the Palestinian question, as the international community expects.

Building a new security architecture in the Middle East requires strengthening the foundation for common security through development. Security is the prerequisite for development, and development provides the foundation for security. Coordinating the two is the fundamental way to  lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. 

Rich in resources and strategically located, the region has enormous development potential and should play a positive role in global prosperity and stability. The safety and free passage of international shipping lanes serve the common interests of both regional countries and the wider international community. 

China stands ready to work with regional countries to safeguard these lanes, advance development cooperation, promote greater convergence of interests, build mutual trust, and gradually eliminate the conditions that give rise to conflict. 

Promoting peace through development and pursuing security through cooperation will provide an enduring internal driving force for regional stability.

Building a new security architecture in the Middle East requires strengthening international coordination for common security in the region. 

The UN Charter and international law provide the fundamental framework for addressing Middle East affairs. The international community, particularly major countries from outside the region, should reject double standards and genuinely respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional countries. 

Support should be given to the UN in playing its due role in regional affairs, implementing UN Security Council resolutions on resolving Middle East hotspots, particularly the Palestinian question, and backing UN mediation efforts. 

History has repeatedly shown that unilateral sanctions and “long-arm jurisdiction” imposed without UN authorization cannot achieve their intended objectives, and that the path of hegemony and bullying will lead nowhere. 

In the face of current difficulties and challenges, the international community should build consensus and work in concert to contribute positive energy to peace and stability in the region, rather than create new confrontation and division.

An unstable Middle East means an unsettled world. International public opinion believes that China, seeking no geopolitical advantage and pursuing no bloc confrontation, has put the fundamental interests of the people of the region at the center, balanced security and development, and taken into account the legitimate security concerns of all countries. In doing so, China has offered a viable path out of the Middle East’s security predicament and provided a clear direction for resolving it. 

China will always stand on the side of peace, on the side of dialogue, and on the right side of history. It will continue to work with Middle Eastern countries and the international community to build a new security architecture for the region and make unremitting efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability.

Tackling climate disasters together, safeguarding our shared future 

By Feng Chaoyang

On Aug. 26, a devastating mudslide in Nepal caused heavy casualties and left people missing at the Gyirong port in Gyirong county, Xigaze, southwest China’s Xizang autonomous region. 

The disaster originated on the Nepali side of a river along the China-Nepal border. At an altitude of about 5,200 meters on the northern slope of Mount Langtang Lirung, a glacier broke apart, triggering an ice-rock avalanche. The avalanche swept up debris and raced roughly 22 kilometers down the mountain, eventually reaching the Gyirong port in China at an altitude of about 1,800 meters. 

The entire event unfolded in just six to seven minutes, destroying 27 buildings and associated facilities across an area of about 0.7 square kilometers. The sudden natural disaster caused heavy losses of life and property, drawing deep sorrow from people around the world.

From the perspective of hazard formation, the Gyirong mudslide was a typical cascading disaster driven by climate change. A glacier calving event triggered a debris flow. As it raced downhill at high speed, the flow entrained massive volumes of rock and soil, evolving into a mudslide that rushed into the river valley. The debris dammed the watercourse, forming a barrier lake. At each link in the chain, the destructive force increased progressively.

This disaster stands out for its transboundary hazard sources, marked by abrupt onset, high concealment, and an extremely narrow early warning window. Accelerated glacier melting caused by global warming, combined with complex geological and geomorphic conditions, were key triggers. Persistent anomalies in the climate system are producing far‑reaching cascading impacts, and global climate risks are rapidly materializing into real‑world catastrophes.

In recent years, climate-related disasters have become increasingly frequent around the world. In 2021, an ice-rock avalanche and debris flow in a mountainous region of India left more than 200 people dead or missing. In 2022, prolonged monsoon rains in Pakistan triggered widespread flash floods and landslides. In 2023, Canada experienced a severe wildfire season that lasted more than five months, burning a cumulative area of about 173,000 square kilometers. In 2026, record-breaking heatwaves occurred with increasing frequency in many parts of the world. 

Climate disasters have long transcended national borders and become a systemic risk that confronts all of humanity. According to the United Nations Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025, various disasters cause direct losses of about $202 billion worldwide each year. When broader economic impacts are taken into account, the estimated losses rise as high as $2.3 trillion.

No country can insulate itself from extreme weather events, catastrophic disasters, or transboundary disasters. Joint action on climate change is vital to the survival and well-being of humanity, making international cooperation an urgent necessity. Yet international mechanisms and capacities for disaster risk reduction still lag far behind the growing frequency and complexity of disasters. All parties therefore need to work together in the following areas.

First, countries should jointly build cross-border disaster-chain monitoring and early warning systems. As glacier melt accelerates — increasing the number of glacial lakes and the risk of outburst floods, countries need to collaborate on integrated space-, air-, and ground-based monitoring of glacier-related hazards that span national boundaries. This would enhance early detection and warning capabilities for glacial changes and associated secondary disasters. At the same time, countries should jointly conduct comprehensive surveys of glacier-related risks, shifting from reactive disaster relief to proactive risk management at the source.

Second, countries should deepen information sharing and make advanced technologies more widely accessible. Currently, international assistance is largely limited to bilateral relief efforts after disasters occur. There is an urgent need to establish a regular and institutionalized framework for multilateral coordination. Cutting-edge technologies such as satellite remote sensing, artificial intelligence-powered forecasting and digital twins, along with capacity-building resources including equipment, funding and experience sharing, should be made more accessible to developing countries. This would help enhance risk monitoring, early warning, and emergency response capabilities in cross-border regions.

Third, countries should pursue climate mitigation and adaptation in a coordinated manner. All countries must earnestly shoulder their responsibilities in global climate governance, uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and champion true multilateralism by taking stronger actions to curb global warming. At the same time, greater efforts are needed to build disaster preparedness and resilience in different regions. Full consideration should be given to the compounding impacts of cascading disasters, while disaster-resistance standards and protection levels for infrastructure should be systematically raised to strengthen overall capacity to withstand extreme climate events and secondary disasters.

Climate change is a common challenge facing all humanity. Only by sharing responsibilities and working together across borders, with early warning in place and risk management focused at the source, can the world work hand in hand to safeguard a safer and more sustainable future for generations to come.

(Feng Chaoyang is a senior researcher at the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences.)

LEADERSHIP IMPACT: TRANSFORMING NIGERIA’S APEX CAPITAL MARKET REGULATOR.

Since assuming office as the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigeria, Dr. Emomotimi John Agama has brought visionary, reform-driven, and transformational leadership to the nation’s apex capital market regulator. His leadership philosophy is anchored on integrity, innovation, transparency, investor protection, market inclusiveness, and regulatory excellence.

As the chief regulator of Nigeria’s capital market, Dr. Agama has reaffirmed the Commission’s strategic role as the guardian of market integrity and the principal institution responsible for ensuring that the capital market remains a reliable engine for economic growth, wealth creation, and sustainable national development. Under his stewardship, the SEC has continued to strengthen its reputation as a progressive and proactive regulatory institution, fostering confidence among domestic and international investors.

One of his most significant achievements has been his unwavering commitment to restoring and strengthening investor confidence. Recognising that confidence is the lifeblood of every successful capital market, he has championed reforms that promote transparency, accountability, corporate governance, and strict compliance with securities laws. Through enhanced market surveillance, robust enforcement mechanisms, and proactive stakeholder engagement, the Commission has intensified its efforts to safeguard investors against fraud, market abuse, insider dealing, and unethical practices.

Dr. Agama has also positioned innovation at the heart of the Commission’s regulatory agenda. Appreciating the rapid transformation of global finance, he has led efforts to establish progressive regulatory frameworks for financial technology (FinTech), digital assets, virtual asset service providers, crowdfunding, blockchain technology, and other emerging financial innovations. His approach reflects a careful balance between encouraging innovation and maintaining market integrity, financial stability, and investor protection.

His leadership has equally focused on deepening Nigeria’s capital market by broadening investment opportunities and expanding access to long-term finance. Through initiatives that promote the growth of the commodities market, derivatives market, infrastructure finance, green finance, Islamic finance, private equity, venture capital, and collective investment schemes, he is laying the foundation for a more diversified, resilient, and globally competitive capital market.

Dr. Agama has consistently advocated for the capital market to become the preferred platform for financing Nigeria’s development aspirations. He has encouraged governments at all levels, development finance institutions, and private enterprises to leverage the capital market as a sustainable source of long-term funding for infrastructure, housing, energy, transportation, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and industrial expansion.

A passionate advocate of investor education and financial literacy, Dr. Agama believes that an informed investor is the strongest defence against financial fraud and poor investment decisions. Under his leadership, the Commission has intensified nationwide investor education programmes aimed at improving financial inclusion, expanding retail investor participation, and empowering Nigerians with the knowledge required to make informed investment decisions.

On the international stage, Dr. Agama has continued to strengthen Nigeria’s reputation within the global financial community. Through active engagement with international regulatory organisations, multilateral financial institutions, foreign investors, and development partners, he has projected Nigeria as an investment destination committed to global best practices, regulatory excellence, transparency, and market integrity. His leadership has further aligned Nigeria’s capital market with internationally accepted principles of securities regulation, enhancing its competitiveness within Africa and the global financial ecosystem.

Internally, Dr. Agama has fostered a culture of professionalism, teamwork, innovation, accountability, and continuous capacity development. By investing in human capital and institutional efficiency, he has strengthened the Commission’s capacity to respond proactively to emerging market risks, technological disruption, and the evolving dynamics of the global financial system.

His collaborative leadership style has strengthened strategic partnerships with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Exchange Group, the Investments and Securities Tribunal, self-regulatory organisations, market operators, institutional investors, international development partners, and other critical stakeholders. These partnerships continue to build a stable, efficient, transparent, and innovative financial ecosystem capable of supporting Nigeria’s long-term economic transformation.

Beyond regulation, Dr. Agama sees the Nigerian capital market as a strategic instrument for accelerating economic diversification, reducing dependence on oil revenues, mobilising domestic savings, supporting entrepreneurship, creating employment opportunities, and positioning Nigeria as one of Africa’s leading investment destinations.

His administration is also spearheading the implementation of the Investments and Securities Act, 2025, which provides a modern legal framework for regulating an increasingly sophisticated capital market. The Act strengthens the Commission’s regulatory powers while enhancing investor protection, market transparency, and the development of innovative investment products and services.

Today, under Dr. Emomotimi Agama’s stewardship, the Securities and Exchange Commission continues to evolve as a forward-looking, technology-driven, and internationally respected regulator. His commitment to excellence, sound governance, innovation, and investor protection is reinforcing the Commission’s standing among Africa’s leading securities regulators and positioning Nigeria’s capital market to play an even greater role in driving inclusive economic growth, sustainable investment, and long-term national prosperity.
One of the landmark achievements of Dr. Agama’s administration has been the successful transition of the Nigerian capital market’s trade settlement cycle from T+3 to T+1. This reform represents a defining milestone in the modernisation of Nigeria’s securities market. By reducing the settlement period from three business days to one, the Securities and Exchange Commission has significantly improved market liquidity, enabling investors to access their funds more quickly, redeploy capital efficiently, and execute investment decisions with greater flexibility. More importantly, the transition aligns Nigeria’s capital market with international best practices, reduces settlement risk, enhances market efficiency, and further strengthens investor confidence in the integrity, transparency, and competitiveness of the Nigerian capital market.
Another defining reform under Dr. Agama’s leadership is the recapitalisation of capital market operators. Recognising the changing realities of the global financial landscape and the increasing complexity of market risks, he initiated a bold review of the minimum capital requirements for operators across the capital market. This strategic policy is designed to strengthen the financial resilience of market intermediaries, enhance their operational capacity, improve risk management, support technological advancement, and ensure that operators possess the financial strength required to meet the demands of a modern capital market. The recapitalisation programme is expected to create stronger institutions, reinforce investor confidence, and position the Nigerian capital market for sustainable long-term growth.
These landmark reforms underscore Dr. Agama’s commitment to building a capital market that is not only responsive to present-day realities but also well-positioned to meet future challenges. Through forward-looking policies that promote efficiency, resilience, innovation, and global competitiveness, he continues to position Nigeria’s capital market among Africa’s most dynamic and rapidly evolving financial markets.
Dr. Agama’s legacy is steadily being shaped not only by effective regulatory oversight but also by his vision of a transparent, resilient, innovative, and globally competitive Nigerian capital market. Through purposeful leadership, strategic reforms, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, he is laying the foundation for a capital market that can serve as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic transformation and a benchmark for regulatory excellence across Africa.

— Alabo Diepiribo O. B. Briggs
Writes from Abuja.

China works to build a more just and equitable global governance system

By Wang Xinping, Gong Ming, Jiang Bo, Liu Lingling, People’s Daily

As unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism continue to gain ground, geopolitical conflicts flare up in different parts of the world and global challenges keep emerging, the international community is increasingly asking an urgent question: Where is global governance headed?

A year ago, at a pivotal historical juncture marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the UN, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus” Meeting in Tianjin. The initiative offered a Chinese solution to the two pressing questions of the era: what kind of global governance system should be established, and how global governance can be reformed and improved.

Over the past year, the GGI has evolved from a Chinese proposal into international practice, increasingly demonstrating its vitality and appeal.

The GGI has been included in joint statements issued by China and countries including Cuba, Canada, Uruguay, Vietnam, Russia, and Serbia. Nearly 160 countries and international organizations have welcomed and supported it, while more than 60 countries have joined the Group of Friends of Global Governance, creating an important multilateral platform for putting the initiative into practice.

China has also released the Concept Paper on the GGI and the white paper titled “More Just and Equitable Global Governance: China’s Principles, Proposals and Actions”, elaborating on China’s vision, goals, and practical actions for global governance and building broader international consensus.

Why has such broad consensus emerged? The key lies in the GGI’s five core concepts: sovereign equality, the international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach, and real actions. These principles uphold fairness and justice in deciding who governs, respond to the fundamental question of whom governance should serve, and demonstrate a pragmatic approach to how governance should be carried out.

Following the principle that world affairs should be handled through extensive consultation, the Group of Friends of Global Governance has been established in New York, Geneva, and Vienna. Its members have held intensive consultations on major issues, including UN reform, opposition to unilateral sanctions, improving dispute settlement mechanisms, and digital and climate governance. They have also voiced common positions in multilateral settings at the UN and reached a series of consensus agreements.

The GGI puts people’s well-being at the center of global governance, taking the real concerns of people in different countries as the starting point for reform and ensuring that the people of every nation are the actors in and beneficiaries of global governance. 

To address the challenge of poverty reduction, China, in collaboration with 53 countries and nine international organizations, jointly launched the Global Partnership for Poverty Alleviation and Development, turning China’s experience in poverty reduction into global public good.

The GGI also emphasizes concrete action and problem-solving. China has led by example, coordinating global efforts, mobilizing resources from various stakeholders, and actively advancing practical outcomes under the initiative.

The International Organization for Mediation has begun operations in Hong Kong. China has proposed the establishment of an International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations to promote good governance through civilizational harmony. The World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization has been established, and China has announced a series of measures to further support global AI development and advance global AI capacity-building.

Top-level design, institutional innovation, and concrete action together demonstrate China’s commitment to improving global governance through practical efforts.

An era of great development is also one of profound transformation. The global governance system must evolve with the times.

Looking to the present, China seeks to address governance gaps through development.

To implement the GGI, it is essential to firmly uphold the international system with the UN at its core, safeguard the international order based on international law, and uphold the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We should effectively implement the UN80 Initiative, improve the quality and efficiency of the UN, and enhance the authority and capacity of the UN Security Council.

Looking to the future, China seeks to respond to the call of the times with a forward-looking vision.

In response to new challenges in emerging areas, China has actively provided international public goods and explored innovative governance mechanisms. 

For example, it led the effort to establish the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, promoting global biodiversity governance. Through South-South cooperation, China has helped other developing countries strengthen their capacity to address climate change and has promoted the establishment of a fair, equitable, cooperative, and mutually beneficial global climate governance system. 

China has also proposed the Global Initiative on Data Security and the Global Cross-Border Data Flow Cooperation Initiative, supported the establishment of the World Data Organization in Beijing, and worked with other countries to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

The year 2026 marks three important milestones: the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the People’s Republic of China’s lawful seat in the UN, and the first year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

The 15th Five-Year Plan outline calls for actively participating in and leading global economic governance, promoting the building of a new type of international relations and providing more international public goods. This autumn, China will host a forum on global governance in the Xiong’an New Area in north China’s Hebei Province, bringing together all parties to discuss ways to reform and improve global governance.

Guided by the goal of building a community with a shared future for humanity, China will continue to champion multilateralism, uphold justice and shoulder its responsibilities. It will work to translate the GGI into concrete outcomes and steadily make global governance more just and equitable, injecting valuable stability and positive energy into a turbulent world.

TINUBU, TUNJI-OJO, OJULARI, GOVERNORS, OTHERS MAKE ALJAZIRAH 2025 HONOURS LIST

AljazirahNigeria/London Newspapers is set to unveil the highly anticipated Aljazirah Personality of the Year Awards 2025, continuing its longstanding tradition of recognising and celebrating individuals whose leadership, public service, entrepreneurship and contributions to national development have distinguished them in their respective fields.

In a statement by By Hon. Ibrahim Abubakar on behalf the newspapers noted that over the years, the Aljazirah Personality of the Year Awards have established themselves as a platform for recognising excellence in leadership, integrity, innovation, public service and visionary governance. By celebrating individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their responsibilities, the awards seek to encourage leaders whose contributions inspire progress and promote the broader interests of society.

The 2025 edition recognises an outstanding group of leaders and public figures whose achievements have made a notable impact across Nigeria and beyond.

Top on the list on the Minister Of The Year category is Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior. Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is being recognised for his transformative leadership at the Ministry of Interior. Under his leadership, the ministry has pursued significant reforms aimed at improving service delivery, strengthening institutional efficiency and deploying digital innovation across key areas of its operations.

His efforts have particularly impacted passport processing, border surveillance, identity verification and correctional administration, contributing to improved efficiency, enhanced national security and strengthened public confidence in government services.

DISTINGUISHED HUMANITARIAN SERVICE/ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Barrister Seyi Tinubu

Despite being born into a family with a prominent place in Nigeria’s political history, Barrister Oluwaseyi Abiodun Tinubu has continued to establish an independent identity through entrepreneurship, philanthropy and youth advocacy.

He is recognised for his commitment to youth-focused humanitarian initiatives, including educational support, community outreach and interventions designed to empower young Nigerians.

His emphasis on supporting Nigeria’s large youth population reflects a broader belief in the importance of equipping young people with the opportunities and resources required to become self-reliant, productive and active contributors to national development.

GOVERNMENT AGENCY/PUBLIC SERVANT OF THE YEAR

Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, Raw Materials Research and Development Council

Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso is being honoured for his leadership of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and his contribution to advancing Nigeria’s raw materials development agenda.

At a critical period in the country’s industrial development, his leadership has focused on promoting innovation, value addition and greater economic opportunities within Nigeria’s raw materials sector.

His efforts are recognised as contributing to the broader objective of strengthening local production, industrial development and economic transformation.

AFRICA’S CEO OF THE YEAR

Engr. Bashir Ojulari, NNPC Limited

With more than three decades of technocratic experience, Engr. Bashir Ojulari is being recognised for his leadership and contribution to the transformation of NNPC Limited.

His administration has placed emphasis on commercial discipline, the restoration of joint-venture operations and major investments in deep-water projects, with the objective of strengthening operational performance and increasing crude oil production.

He is also recognised for his role in advancing Nigeria’s “Decade of Gas” ambitions through strategic infrastructure development, including the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline.

GOVERNORS OF THE YEAR

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Delta State

Through his M.O.R.E. Agenda, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is recognised for advancing infrastructure development, strengthening state institutions and improving governance processes across Delta State.

His administration’s emphasis on inclusive development, infrastructure renewal and sustainable economic growth continues to position Delta State as a notable example of people-oriented governance.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers State

Governor Siminalayi Fubara is recognised for his administration’s emphasis on prudent fiscal management, infrastructure development and institutional reforms.

His commitment to people-centred governance, alongside investments in critical infrastructure and public services, has contributed to efforts aimed at improving the socio-economic landscape of Rivers State.

Governor Uba Sani, Kaduna State

Governor Uba Sani is being recognised for promoting stability, justice, equity and peaceful coexistence in Kaduna State.

His administration’s development strategy places significant emphasis on capital expenditure, with investments targeted at key sectors including education, healthcare and rural infrastructure. These efforts reflect a commitment to expanding development opportunities and improving living conditions across the state.

Governor Agbu Kefas, Taraba State

Governor Agbu Kefas is recognised for a range of initiatives undertaken by his administration to advance development in Taraba State.

These include measures to curb illegal mining, the introduction of free and compulsory basic education, the provision of more than 950 tractors to support agricultural development and the engagement of 10,000 citizens in sanitation-related activities.

His security-focused approach, informed in part by his military background, has also contributed to efforts aimed at strengthening the state’s security architecture.

Governor Douye Diri, Bayelsa State

Governor Douye Diri is recognised for his administration’s efforts to advance infrastructure development, human capital investment and socio-economic growth across Bayelsa State.

His leadership has placed emphasis on strengthening public institutions, expanding development initiatives and improving the delivery of essential services to residents of the state.

Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, Niger State

Governor Mohammed Umar Bago is recognised for his administration’s focus on agricultural transformation, infrastructure development, economic expansion and human capital development.

His government’s emphasis on agriculture and large-scale investment reflects an effort to position Niger State as a major contributor to Nigeria’s food security and broader economic development.

ABOUT ALJAZIRAH NIGERIA/LONDON NEWSPAPERS

AljazirahNigeria/London Newspapers is an international news organisation committed to delivering balanced, insightful and authoritative journalism.

With audiences across Africa, the United Kingdom, the Arab world and beyond, the publication remains committed to highlighting progress, promoting accountability and providing informed perspectives on issues shaping Nigeria, Africa and the international community.

The Aljazirah Personality of the Year Awards 2025 represent another chapter in the organisation’s commitment to recognising individuals whose work and contributions continue to influence society and advance the cause of national development.

Third batch of Chinese emergency relief arrives in Nepal 

By Li Mo, People’s Daily

On the afternoon of Sept. 3, the third batch of emergency relief supplies from China arrived at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal. The shipment was delivered aboard a Y-20 large transport aircraft of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, accompanied by 10 Chinese forensic experts who will assist with victim identification.

Zhang Maoming, Chinese ambassador to Nepal, and Mahabir Pun, Nepal’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, attended a handover ceremony to welcome the supplies and the Chinese experts.

The latest consignment includes urgently needed items such as refrigerated body storage units, epidemic prevention materials, and daily necessities. The forensic experts are expected to begin their work promptly, supporting Nepali authorities in identifying victims of the disaster.

The shipment also includes Bailey bridges, which are urgently required for ongoing disaster relief efforts. The first batch of Bailey bridge components has already been transported by road to the Lizi port on the China-Nepal border in southwest China’s Xizang autonomous region for separate delivery.

Following the disaster, the China Foundation for Rural Development activated its emergency response mechanism and began preparing relief supplies for Nepal. With donations and support from Chinese companies and individuals, the foundation has raised more than 9,000 relief items, including tents, emergency rescue kits, quilts, and cotton-padded coats. On the evening of Sept. 3 local time, the first batch of these supplies arrived in Kathmandu on a China Southern Airlines flight.

On Sept. 3, Nepali Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal met with Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming and expressed the Nepali government’s sincere gratitude for China’s generous assistance during Nepal’s time of need.

Zhang said that since the severe mudslide occurred, China has supported Nepal’s disaster relief efforts through various forms of aid. He expressed confidence that, through solidarity and joint efforts, the people of both countries will overcome the disaster and tide over the difficulties together.

Grassroots football league energizes the Greater Bay Area

By Li Gang, People’s Daily

On August 23, the final of the 20th Foshan Xijia Football League drew a roaring crowd of 20,000 spectators to Yunxiu Mountain Stadium in Sanshui District, Foshan, Guangdong Province. In a thrilling match, Tanwan Youxi defeated Budweiser-Huaxing 4-2 to claim the championship trophy.

The tournament spanned 45 days and featured 104 matches, involving 1,056 players from 48 elite teams across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).

First held in 2002, the Foshan Xijia Football League has run for 24 years and grown into a signature sporting event in the region. What explains the enduring appeal of this amateur league? People’s Daily spoke with organizers, players, and fans to find out.

Foshan is a typical manufacturing city, home to 10,600 industrial enterprises above the designated size and more than 3 million industrial workers. 

The Foshan Xijia Football League originated in Xinan subdistrict, Sanshui district, as a grassroots tournament created by local factory workers and residents from neighboring communities. 

Its Chinese name, “Xijia,” is short for “Xinan Subdistrict First Division.” Coincidentally, the pronunciation is identical to the Chinese name for Spain’s top-flight football league, known internationally as La Liga. Hoping their own neighborhood tournament would become just as popular, local fans jokingly dubbed it “Xijia,” and the name stuck.

As early as the 1950s and 1960s, Xinan township, now Xinan subdistrict, was known for a familiar scene: “a farmers’ market in the morning, a football pitch in the afternoon.” Once vendors had packed up for the day, people would move a few bricks into place as goalposts, turning the market into a football field.

In 2002, the first Foshan Xijia match kicked off at Yunxiu Mountain Stadium. From a humble farmers’ market to a stadium packed with tens of thousands of spectators, the league has now reached its 20th edition.

“About 1/3 of our players work in sales or on the production lines of the two companies,” said Feng Bingjin, news officer for Budweiser-Huaxing and marketing director of Huaxing Glass. 

Budweiser APAC and Huaxing Glass have been strategic partners for 20 years. One makes beer, and the other makes bottles. This year, the two companies formed a joint football team. In its debut appearance, the team, made up largely of industrial workers, narrowly advanced from the group stage in third place and went on to reach the final. 

“During the day, the players are production-line operators and salespeople. At night, they put on their jerseys and become stars on the pitch, enjoying the games,” Feng said.

Every ordinary person’s football dream has a place to take root. That, perhaps, is the most moving aspect of Foshan Xijia.

The league has earned the nickname “GBA World Cup.” This year, for the first time, the tournament covered all 11 cities in the GBA. A total of 125 foreign players from more than 10 countries and regions, including Brazil, France and Greece, took to the pitch alongside their Chinese counterparts. People of different skin colors, accents, and professions came together through football, competing across 104 matches.

Among the 48 teams this year, six were youth teams, with the youngest player just 15 years old. Many of these young players had watched Foshan Xijia matches at the stadium with their parents when they were children. Now, they have taken up the baton from an earlier generation of grassroots players, making the journey from the stands to the pitch.

The tournament has also spurred the development of local sports facilities. By 2025, Sanshui had 159 football fields, or 1.8 fields per 10,000 people, well above the national average. The district has also become one of the winter training bases for professional football clubs from across China, attracting about 70 teams each year.

One of the biggest talking points surrounding this year’s Foshan Xijia has been the “ticket-stub economy.” A single digital ticket can unlock discounts and special offers at 1,400 businesses across the city, covering dining, accommodation, and tourist attractions. 

The tournament has drawn 2 million visits from fans and tourists and generated more than 250 million yuan ($37.25 million) in additional consumption. Spending at the Jiangbiancang night market near the stadium rose 187 percent month on month, while the occupancy rate of accommodation businesses across the district increased by 8 percentage points.

“This tournament has set the city buzzing,” said Deng Yanyan, deputy director of the Sanshui district bureau of culture, radio, television, tourism and sports. “Culture and tourism provide the platform, while the economy takes center stage, creating a close connection between the tournament and the city’s development.”

The excitement goes well beyond the pitch. Twenty-one Xijia-themed events have brought distinctive local products such as Xuwen pineapples and Gaozhou longans into the spotlight. Matches were livestreamed at more than 20 off-site viewing venues, bringing the excitement of the tournament to shopping districts and neighborhood streets.

Lu Yongxian, 50, has run a Cantonese restaurant in Sanshui for 28 years. In 2011, a group of students from a sports school could not afford to enter the tournament. Lu not only sponsored them financially but also took on the roles of coach and team manager, becoming the team’s all-around support. In 2019, the team he formed, Leminxing, finished as runner-up in its first Foshan Xijia appearance. Today, his son, Lu Yongquan, takes to the pitch wearing the Leminxing jersey. The joy and passion for football have quietly passed from father to son.

There are no strict restrictions on venues or scheduling for the games, and the spectators are simply neighbors and friends from the community. Stepping onto the pitch means following what they love. This football celebration for ordinary people is far from over.