Nigeria Times

By Zhang Mengxu, People’s Daily

A recent video titled “China Quietly Saved the World Last Month,” published by former New York Times columnist Max Fisher, has resonated widely on international social media.  

In the video, Fisher points to a map of global tanker routes and notes that the most striking development is not which countries are rushing to buy oil, but which are holding back. The video has been viewed more than 6 million times, with thousands of comments describing China’s response as “clear-headed” and “prudent.”

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy transportation, has faced sustained pressure in recent weeks, driving up the risk premium on international crude oil. 

Under conventional market logic, when geopolitical tensions heighten supply concerns, major consuming countries tend to accelerate purchases and build inventories. A widening supply-demand gap then pushes oil prices higher, with rising energy costs contributing to global inflation. 

Following the latest escalation of tensions in the Middle East, fears mounted that a rebound in energy prices could undermine the global economic recovery. Expectations of a race to secure oil supplies briefly swept through commodity markets.

China’s market, however, has offered a different response. Domestic refiners adjusted their production schedules in line with market conditions, slowing new purchases of high-priced crude in an orderly and flexible manner and thereby easing the pace of import growth from the demand side. 

In a remarkably measured approach, China effectively acted as a “buffer” for strained global supply and demand. The Wall Street Journal noted that China’s reduced oil imports have provided important support for an already pressured global economy. France’s Le Figaro said this marked the second time since the 2008 global financial crisis that China played a key role in supporting global economic stability.

For years, efforts to cope with oil crises have focused primarily on the supply side, leaving major consuming countries vulnerable to price volatility. This latest experience, however, shows that a huge consumer market can also serve as a buffer by adjusting production capacity and managing inventories, becoming an important force in maintaining market balance. 

Reuters reported that China’s reduced crude purchases since the escalation of tensions in the Middle East have, to a considerable extent, offset the impact of supply disruptions. The Financial Times likewise commented that China is becoming a key variable influencing the balance of the global oil market.

What enabled China to take a different path? The answer lies in strategic foresight.

During previous periods of prolonged low international oil prices, China steadily advanced its commercial inventory system, gradually building substantial reserves. 

As oil prices rose in the current cycle, the domestic market slowed its usual pace of adding to commercial inventories, drawing on stocks accumulated earlier to replace some high-priced imports. 

This approach ensured the basic operational needs of domestic refineries while avoiding further tightening of supply and demand through competition for oil at elevated prices.

Sufficient reserves provides a direct foundation for China to adjust the pace of its imports with flexibility.

Through years of sustained effort, China has developed an efficient system for the turnover of commercial inventories and has continued to diversify its sources of crude oil imports, including from countries and regions such as Brazil and Africa. This has reduced its reliance on any single transportation route. 

More importantly, its market-oriented refining and petrochemical sector has become increasingly mature, enabling companies to respond quickly to price and risk signals and adjust procurement and production plans accordingly. 

This diversified and resilient energy supply system gives China greater room to maneuver when geopolitical disruptions occur.

From a longer-term perspective, what is truly reshaping the logic of energy is the green transition now advancing in greater depth. According to the International Energy Agency, electric vehicles alone helped China displace the equivalent of 1.5 million barrels of crude oil per day in the second quarter of this year, far exceeding the market’s previous expectations. China’s rapid development of new energy is not only reshaping its own energy mix, but also quietly changing the underlying dynamics of the global energy market.

China has evolved from a passive recipient of global energy price fluctuations into a more proactive stabilizing force in the global market. Behind this transformation lies a consistent and prudent approach to energy development: keeping China’s energy supply firmly in its own hands and using the certainty of its own development to cope with uncertainties in the external environment. 

That, in itself, is one of the most concrete and lasting contributions China can make to global market stability.

By Liu Quan, Zhu Jiaqi, Liang Nan, People’s Daily

The Pinglu Canal, the first major river-to-sea canal project planned and coordinated at the national level since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, is scheduled to open to navigation on September 16, 2026. Construction began on Aug. 28, 2022, with a total investment of about 72.7 billion yuan (about $10.83 billion).

Stretching 134.2 kilometers, the canal starts at the mouth of the Pingtang River in the Xijin Reservoir area of Hengzhou, Nanning, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. It runs south through Luwu town in Lingshan county, Qinzhou, before connecting with the Qinjiang River and flowing into the Beibu Gulf. Designed to Class I inland waterway standards, it is China’s highest-grade navigable canal, capable of accommodating vessels of up to 5,000 tonnes.

Once operational, the canal will shorten the inland waterway route for cargo from southwest China to the sea by more than 560 kilometers compared to traditional routes. It will also significantly reduce shipping distances to major ASEAN ports, lower overall logistics costs by 18 to 30 percent, and save more than 5 billion yuan in transportation costs each year.

The Pinglu Canal features 104 bridges along its route, including 27 crossing the canal itself, as well as numerous supporting structures such as trestle bridges, temporary bridges, and pedestrian bridges that have been rebuilt or newly constructed. This extensive network has earned the project the nickname “Hundred-Bridge Project.” These bridges do more than connect the two banks of the canal; they also reflect the region’s cultural heritage, improve local livelihoods, and demonstrate a commitment to harmony between people and nature.

In Qinzhou, where the canal meets the sea, the Zicai Bridge officially opened to traffic on April 28.

“The original Zicai Bridge lacked the navigational clearance required for 5,000-tonne vessels on the canal and had to be removed,” said Yuan Mingyang, deputy director of the engineering management department at Guangxi Pinglu Canal Construction Co., Ltd., the builder of the canal under Pinglu Canal Group. “However, as a self-anchored suspension bridge with a complex load-bearing structure, improper demolition could have caused it to collapse.”

To dismantle the bridge safely, the project team invited experts to conduct simulations using digital twin and BIM (Building Information Modeling) technologies. They ultimately adopted a reverse dismantling method. “Taking the bridge apart in the reverse order of its construction. The demolition alone took more than half a year,” Yuan said.

Another notable structure, the Qinjiang Bridge on the G75 Lanhai Expressway, is the world’s largest-span and heaviest concrete-filled steel tube arch bridge to be lifted as a single unit. At peak times, it previously handled more than 100,000 vehicle trips per day. To minimize disruption, the construction team used the old bridge as a platform for transporting construction materials.

“Half of the bridge was enclosed with scaffolding and protective nets for construction, while the other half remained open to traffic — a rare approach in conventional bridge construction,” said Kuang Zhiqiang, a person in charge of the bridge’s construction. The team also employed an overall lifting technique: assembling bridge components on the ground before lifting them into place. Installation was completed in just 16 hours.

“The Pinglu Canal is a complex, integrated project involving multiple disciplines, including waterways, hubs, slopes, bridges, and ecology. The entire project was divided into more than 180 construction sections, with over 20,000 workers involved at peak periods. It posed major challenges in organization and coordination,” said Cheng Yaofei, chairman of Guangxi Pinglu Canal Construction Co., Ltd.

As China’s first smart canal featuring full life-cycle management, the Pinglu Canal’s digital twin platform integrates multidimensional data on weather, hydrology, construction schedules to simulate operations in advance and automatically generate optimal construction plans. For example, one side of the waterway is drained for earth excavation and foundation work. Once that side is completed, work shifts to the other. This carefully staggered approach, both in time and space, has helped minimize interference between construction activities.

The project stands as a testament to development driven by a deep commitment to people’s well-being.

The site of Qinjiang Bridge was once home to the Qinjiang No. 1 Bridge, built in 1958 as Qinzhou’s first urban bridge. Local residents had deep emotional ties to it. To preserve the city’s collective memory, the proposal to retain the old bridge piers was adopted. Today, the new bridge incorporates the preserved piers and provides space for public activities beneath it. A miniature replica of the old bridge has also been rebuilt upstream.

From Qinzhou Oyster Plaza, visitors can see a graceful white bridge spanning the Pinglu Canal: the Beibu Gulf Bridge, voted by the public as the “most beautiful bridge” along the canal. Traffic flows across the bridge, while mangroves thrive beneath it. As a vital coastal wetland ecosystem, mangroves serve as an important barrier for coastal ecological protection.

During construction, the project team adjusted the location of the temporary traffic bridge for the Beibu Gulf Bridge based on recommendations from forestry authorities, avoiding areas with concentrated mangrove growth. Protective measures, including the installation of barriers, were also taken to prevent industrial wastewater and construction waste from entering the mangrove areas, safeguarding the coastal ecosystem.

From the planning stage, the Pinglu Canal embraced the concept of a “green canal,” integrating environmental protection throughout the entire project. Efforts have been made to preserve ecosystems along the canal and protect biodiversity.

No asphalt, no road markings — just a thick layer of soil covering the bridge deck. This is the most distinctive bridge along the Pinglu Canal: an ecological corridor bridge. It is China’s first bridge built exclusively as a wildlife crossing over a canal.

The bridge deck recreates the original forest environment, providing shade, food and shelter for wildlife. It allows native species such as spotted linsangs, leopard cats and Pallas’s squirrels to move safely through the area, striking a balance between infrastructure development and ecological conservation.

By Chen Yixian, People’s Daily

This summer, a residential community in Xuzhou, east China’s Jiangsu province, drew attention for its innovative approach to cooling. Even when outdoor temperatures exceed 35 degrees Celsius, residents can keep their air conditioners off while maintaining indoor temperatures of around 25 degrees Celsius. 

The secret lies beneath their feet.

China University of Mining and Technology, in collaboration with a local company, has tapped into a “natural cooling source” hidden in nearby abandoned mines. The water in these mines remains at around 19 degrees Celsius year-round. It is pumped into residents’ homes through  existing heating pipes, providing cooling through radiant floor systems.

China’s action plan for achieving peak carbon emissions during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030) calls for accelerating the green and low-carbon transformation of heating and cooling systems. Cities across the country are now exploring district cooling as part of this effort.

District cooling works much like district heating, except that chilled water circulates through the pipes instead of hot water. In some district cooling systems, chilled water produced at a central cooling plant is delivered through underground pipe networks to buildings, where fan-coil units distribute cool air indoors.

Compared with conventional air conditioning, district cooling offers several clear advantages. It improves cooling efficiency, reduces costs, and saves valuable building space. It also eliminates the noise generated by outdoor air conditioning units and, in some cases, avoids the discomfort of  cold air blowing directly onto people, making it more comfortable for users.

However, whether district cooling can be adopted more widely depends on one key principle: solutions must be tailored to local conditions.

In Xuzhou, mine water provides a ready-made cooling source, eliminating the need to consume additional electricity to produce chilled water. The existing pipes can also be used for both heating and cooling, so there is no need for extensive renovation or new wiring and piping. This saves time, effort, and money.

Such natural cooling sources, however, are not available everywhere. Where the available source is too limited, it may not be able to meet substantial cooling demand. In Wuhan, Hubei province, and Nanjing, Jiangsu province, two district cooling projects have helped reduce carbon emissions and improve people’s well-being. Their smart solution lies in using the Yangtze River as a “natural air conditioner.”

The concept of “resources,” of course, is not fixed. In Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, reclaimed water from a wastewater treatment plant provides continuous cooling for about 300,000 square meters of buildings in an industrial park. By improving technology and rethinking how resources are used, more resources that once were idle can be put to work.

The availability of resources is not the only consideration. Environmental sustainability and economic viability are equally important when developing district cooling systems.

Delivering cooling is far more challenging than delivering heat. District heating systems can generally cover a radius of more than 20 kilometers, while district cooling usually works within a radius of no more than 1.5 kilometers, beyond which energy losses rise sharply.

The world’s largest district cooling system is located in Qianhai, Shenzhen, in south China’s Guangdong province. Six cooling plants are already in operation. Once operating at full capacity, the system is expected to reduce refrigerant use by 13.74 tons, with contracted cooling coverage exceeding 5.78 million square meters.

Why is such a huge district cooling system located in Qianhai? Its average annual temperature is above 23 degrees Celsius, and the area is home to a large number of office buildings, major commercial complexes and hotels — all steady and substantial consumers of cooling.

Thanks to economies of scale, district cooling can deliver significant energy savings and carbon reductions, and it has enormous potential. However, if equipment sits idle after a system is built, it can also result in substantial waste. This makes careful assessment and sound decision-making essential. Planning should take all relevant factors into account from the outset.

In the first half of this year, China’s exports of air conditioners to the European Union reached a record high, with export value up 43.2 percent year on year.

European cities have many historical buildings and complex installation conditions. To meet these needs, Chinese companies have developed energy-efficient, low-noise portable split air conditioners that can be plugged in and used immediately. The products have proved highly popular.

The localization embedded in these products and services reflects the wisdom of respecting both the laws of nature and the needs of users. It’s just another example of tailoring solutions to local conditions.

The carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals are China’s solemn commitment to the international community. Why can China be trusted to deliver on its words and fulfill its commitments?

The answer lies in the many pieces of the green development puzzle — from green buildings and low-carbon energy to smarter ways of using resources — all built on the principles of taking realities into account, pursuing steady progress and finding innovative solutions.

By Shang Rongzheng, People’s Daily

“Go! Go!” 

At the 2026 national ethnic unity friendship football tournament, a group of girls aged 12 to 14 from northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, dressed in red jerseys, formed a circle and shouted in unison. Energized and determined, they then took to the pitch.

Twelve-year-old Sayipjamal Khasim, from Akto county in the Kizilsu Kirgiz autonomous prefecture, first discovered her passion for football at the age of nine. At that time, her school lacked a proper football field, so the children set up two makeshift goals on a dirt playground. Watching her friends play with such enthusiasm inspired her to give the sport a try.

“I wanted to learn too, but hardly any girls at school played football, so I could only watch the boys from the sidelines,” she recalled. Later, the school built a proper football field and hired a professional coach. When the coach announced plans to form a girls’ team, more than 30 girls, including Sayipjamal Khasim, signed up right away.

The girls started with the fundamentals: passing, receiving, shooting, and football theory. The demanding training proved too much for some, who considered quitting. “Football can help you kick your worries away,” the coach encouraged them.

The coach then organized a fitness test, after which Sayipjamal Khasim was chosen as team captain. “Our coach is very strict, but his meticulous approach has helped us improve quickly,” she said. Her father initially did not support her playing football, believing girls would not achieve much in the sport. “I quietly made up my mind to prove him wrong.”

From county-level competitions to those held at the autonomous-region level, Sayipjamal Khasim has consistently performed well. A wall at home is covered with her medals and certificates. Though still young, she has already set her sights high: “I hope to make the national team one day and play in the (FIFA Women’s) World Cup.”

On the pitch, 12-year-old goalkeeper Aysma Askar, who stands 173 centimeters tall, immediately caught the eye. She only started playing football early last year. “At first, I wanted to play forward because I liked explosive moves. But the coach suggested I become a goalkeeper based on my strengths,” Aysma Askar said.

Her transformation began with overcoming her fear. At first, whenever the ball came flying toward her, Aysma Askar would instinctively flinch. When the ball approached the goal, she would simply close her eyes and dive for it, often losing control of her movements. The coach put her through intensive training until she learned to face every shot head-on and make the save.

Aysma Askar sets high standards for herself and wants to stop every shot on goal. “Whenever the other team scores, I feel terrible. I blame myself for making a mistake, and I feel guilty for costing the team a goal,” she said.

“Relax. Don’t get nervous. A goalkeeper needs to have a strong mentality,” her coach told her. He encouraged her not to lose heart after conceding a goal, but to think about what she could do better and how to defend more effectively next time. During subsequent training sessions and matches, Aysma Askar would silently repeat her coach’s words to herself, quickly regain her composure and grow more confident with every game.

At the 2026 national ethnic unity friendship football tournament, Aysma Askar was named an outstanding player. Holding her trophy, she beamed with joy.

Today, more and more Xinjiang girls like Sayipjamal Khasim and Aysma Askar are discovering football and falling in love with the sport. A relevant official from the Xinjiang regional women’s federation said the federation is working to make women’s football competitions more regular and systematic, while strengthening four key functions: competitive matches, cross-regional exchanges, cultural study tours and public-interest programs.

Over the past two years, the number of women’s football teams in Xinjiang has risen from 268 to 822, while the number of registered female players participating in training has increased from 4,177 to 12,958. Girls from all ethnic groups across Xinjiang are showing growing enthusiasm for football.

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.

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.

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.