Nigeria Times

By He Yin, People’s Daily

“Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.”

“Wetlands and humanity are interdependent.”

Several bilingual banners in Chinese and Spanish are prominently displayed at the construction site of the Chinese-built Chancay Port in Peru.

They demonstrate that China not only pursues harmony between humanity and nature in its own development, but actively joins hands with other countries to build a clean and beautiful world.

Chinese modernization is the modernization of harmony between humanity and nature. While continuously accomplishing wonders in green development, China has also contributed wisdom and solutions to global environmental governance with its profound philosophy of ecological civilization.

The Chinese people have always revered and loved nature, and China’s 5000-year-long civilization embodies a rich ecological cultural component.The belief that humans are an integral part of nature and need to follow nature’s course is a distinctive feature of traditional Chinese culture.

Over 2,000 years ago, ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius told King Hui of Liang (the state of Wei, whose capital was at Liang) during China’s Warring States Period (475-221 BC), “If the seasons of husbandry be not interfered with, the grain will be more than can be eaten. If chosen nets are not allowed to enter the pools and ponds, fish and turtles will be more than can be consumed. Ifthe axes and bills enter the hills and forests only at the proper time, the woods will be more than can be used.”

As times change and the world evolves, the ancient Chinese wisdom has taken ona new connotationin the modern era.

Laying green foundation of Chinese modernization

Guided by the philosophy that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, China has persisted with a holistic and systematic approach to conserving and improving mountain, water, forest, farmland, grassland, and desert ecosystems. It has ensured stronger ecological conservation and environmental protection across the board, in all regions, and at all times, which has led to historic, transformative, and comprehensive changes in ecological and environmental protection.

For instance, the Taklimakan Desert, the largest desert in China, has been completely encircled with asand-blocking green belt stretching3,046kilometers, which is the world’slongest ecological shield around a desert.

Thanks to three generations of dedicated foresters, Saihanba, located in the northern reaches of China’s Hebei province, has turned from a barren wilderness into the world’s largest man-made forest.

Launched in east China’s Zhejiang province, the Green Rural Revival Programhas received the Champions of the Earth award, the United Nation’s highest environmental honor, as it has shown the transformative power of economic and environmental development together.

As China embraces a green and beautiful future, a magnificent green picture is unfolding across the country, laying the green foundation of Chinese modernization.In recent years, the “green quotient” in China’s economic and social development has continued to rise. China has become the first country around the world with “zero increase” in land degradation, and its newly-added area of afforestation accounts for a quarter of the global total.

Joining hands to push forward global green development

As the world’s largest developing country, China has been actively working with other countries to pursue green development and push forward global environmental protection.

At the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China announced that it is ready to help Africa build “green growth engines,” narrow the gap in energy accessibility, adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and jointly push for the global transition to green and low-carbon development.

At the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting held in Peru, China proposed to prioritize ecological protection, promote resources conservation and their efficient use as well as green and low-carbon development, and engineer an all-round green transition in economic and social development, so as to build a clean and beautiful Asia-Pacific.

At the Session II of the 19th G20 Summit held in Brazil, China called for efforts to improve global ecological governance and build a world economy characterized by eco-friendliness, saying that it stands ready to continue to deepen international cooperation with all sides on green infrastructure, green energy, green mining and green transport, and will provide support to developing countries to the best of its ability.

China is actively working for global cooperation on ecological conservation, whichdemonstrates its commitment to building a community of life for humankind and nature as a responsible major country.

Promoting global environmental governance for win-win cooperation

As a participant, contributor and trailblazer in global ecological conservation, China is firmly committed to putting multilateralism into action and promoting a fair and equitable system of global environmental governance for win-win cooperation, making contributions to protecting the shared home planet of humanity.

China has actively worked for the adoption, ratification, entry into force and implementation of the Paris Agreement, successfully hosted the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), and initiated the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition.

So far, it has signed 53 memoranda of understanding on South-South climate cooperation with 42 developing countries, startednearly 100 mitigation and adaptation programs, and hosted over 300 capacity-building workshops related to climate change.

While keeping in mind that humanity lives in a community with a shared future, China has made significant contributions to building a clean and beautiful world.

Sebastien Perimony, a researcher with the Schiller Institute, believes that China’s proactive efforts and extensive cooperation have injected positive energy into the global fight against climate change.

As a Chinese poem reads, “Heaven does not speak and it alternates the four seasons; Earth does not speak and it nurtures all things.”Earth is humanity’s only and shared home, and protecting the environment is a common challenge and shared responsibility of the whole international community.

China remainsunwaveringly committed to advancing Chinese modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature, and fostering global exchanges and cooperation in ecological conservation, so as to let the torch of respecting and protecting nature light up humanity’s way forward.

By Wang Weijian, People’s Daily

Suzhou Museum, which sits on Dongbei Street, Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu province, is always seeing a constant stream of visitors.

The museum covers a construction area of 19,000 square meters and houses over 25,000 pieces and sets of cultural relics. It receives more than 2.5 million visits on average each year. The museum was designed by renowned architect Ieoh Ming Pei and has maintained high popularity since it was opened in 2006.

However, to the surprise of many, this structure surrounded by lush bamboos and lucid waters was once challenged by high energy consumption, high operational cost and high carbon emissions.

Director of Suzhou Museum, Xie Xiaoting, told People’s Daily that the museum has to be kept at a constant temperature and humidity level year-round with exceptionally high air quality, in order to maintain a comfortable environment for the numerous visitors it receives every day and ensure optimal conditions for the preservation of cultural relics. This, however, consumes a significant amount of energy.

To address this challenge, Suzhou Museum decided to build itself into a carbon-neutral facility in 2021.

Promoting low-carbon operations starts with accurately measuring energy consumption of the museum. Therefore, the museum invited a team led by Professor Wei Qingpeng from Tsinghua University’s Building Energy Conservation Research Center to conduct a comprehensive “diagnosis” of the facility.

“It was an incredibly challenging task,” Wei recalled. The museum’s equipment cannot be shut down, as that could jeopardize the cultural relics. Consequently, much of the work had to be carried out during brief, carefully timed intervals.

Additionally, many of the museum’s systems and pipelines were concealed within narrow spaces between floors, requiring staff to crawl into tight areas with instruments to collect data.

After more than two years of effort, the team completed an extensive analysis of the museum’s structures, materials, and equipment. They presented a “diagnostic” report along with a tailored implementation plan to achieve carbon-neutral operations.

Maintaining a constant temperature of around 21 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity of approximately 50 percent is crucial for the preservation of the museum’s collections. But how does the museum ensure such precise climate control?

“By mixing cold and hot air in precise proportions, we can achieve the desired temperature and humidity levels,” explained Wang Jian, head of the museum’s engineering and equipment department.

Standing in a basement mechanical room and pointing to rows of chillers and boilers, he noted that the performance of these machines directly impacts the museum’s energy efficiency.

Wang added that many of the museum’s systems have become outdated after nearly 20 years of use, which not only were energy-intensive but also required substantial maintenance costs each year.

To address this, the museum replaced its aging screw chillers with state-of-the-art magnetic levitation variable-speed centrifugal chillers. This upgrade has reduced electricity consumption by more than 50 percent.

Looking toward the northwest corner of the museum on the roof of it, one can see two massive turbines rotating slowly. “These are two high-efficiency coolers with variable flow rates, custom-designed for the museum,” said Sun Jie, a technical lead from a Suzhou-based technology company.

Previously, six coolers were needed to meet the museum’s demands. The company’s research and development team re-engineered the internal structure of the coolers, reducing the requirement to just two. The freed-up space has been repurposed to house four air-source heat pumps. In the past, heating water relied on gas boilers, but now the heat pumps can absorb heat from the air, significantly reducing carbon emissions.

With each piece of equipment being upgraded, a new energy ecosystem has gradually taken shape within the museum.

“Even though the new equipment is state-of-the-art, if each system operates independently without coordination, overall energy consumption won’t improve much,” said Wei. To address this, he developed a “digital brain” tailored for Suzhou Museum. This system creates a miniature internet of Things network within the museum, connecting all devices.

Wei told People’s Daily that his team is currently working on upgrading this “digital brain.” In the future, it will precisely manage energy allocation, determining, for example, how much energy each artifact requires or how much cool air needs to be supplied to individual display cases daily. Suzhou Museum aims to transform itself into a secure, collaborative, green, and intelligent smart museum by 2025.

By Xiong Jian

This year marks the 30th anniversary of China’s implementation of paired-up assistance in Xizang autonomous region.

Over the past three decades,numerous medical professionals from different regions across the country have come to Xizang, providing targeted, systematic and long-term assistance for the region while also building local capacities for self-sustaining development.This paired-up assistance system has significantly boosted Xizang’s medical and healthcare sector and steadily improved local people’s wellbeing.

In 2016, Hou Xinlin, chief physician at the Department of Pediatrics of Peking University First Hospital in Beijing, joined a paired-up assistanceprogram and started working at the Xizang Autonomous Region People’s Hospital.

“At that time, the hospital’spediatrics department was already the largest in Xizang. However, it could mainly deal with common and prevalent diseases, lacking the ability to treat patients in severe conditions,” she said.

“Given this situation, our primary focus was to increase the number of diseases that could be treated here so as to ensure that every child could receive proper medical treatment and healthcare,” Hou added.

Upon her arrival in Xizang, Hou encountered a 3-year-old child who was suffering from continuous bleeding due to a lip injury. Local doctors were unable to determine the disease.

“The medical professionals of our team quickly identified it as hemophilia, a rare blood disorder. It marked the first time that the disease was diagnosed in Xizang,”Hou recalled.

According to Hou, thanks toyears of medical assistance, the Xizang Autonomous Region People’s Hospitalhas become a hemophilia treatment center of China Alliance for Rare Diseases. All hemophilia-affectedchildren in the region can now receive standardized, effective, systematic, long-term, and high-quality medical services,Hou said.

Thirty years on, tens of thousands of Chinese medical workers like Hou have come to Xizang, providing services with superb medical skills, alleviating local patients’ suffering, and safeguarding people’shealth.

Thanks to the coordination of China’s National Health Commission (NHC), the paired-up assistance program has seen the participation of 17 Chinese provinces and municipalities.

China’s NHC has also worked with dozens of Chinese ministries and state-owned enterprises to jointly roll out a variety of medical aid programs, including assistance by medical professionals in groups to Xizang,building partnerships between Xizang and other more developed regions in China, and sending doctors from major hospitals to grassroots institutions, especially those in the country’s rural areas. All these efforts have significantly advancedmedical assistance for Xizang.

Since 2012, more than 30 billion yuan ($4.11 billion) from Chinese central funds or funds from regions that have partnered with Xizang have been invested in boosting the region’s healthcare development. At present, Xizang has established a relatively comprehensive and well-structured healthcare service system that covers both urban and rural areas.

Tibetan medicine plays an essential role in this process. Xizang has many specialized Tibetan medicine hospitals, and some general hospitals have also set up departments to provide Tibetan medicine services, said Liu Kui, head of the Department of Finance of China’s NHC.

“Wehave fully leveraged the advantages of Chinese ethnic medicine in medical treatment, prevention, healthcare, rehabilitation, and nursing to further enhance people’s wellbeing,” Liu said.

Thanks to the assistance from Chinese central and local governments, public health services for various ethnic groups in Xizang have been elevated to a higher level.Key health indicators such as the mortality rates for pregnant women and infants and toddlers have dropped precipitously, and theaverage life expectancy has increased by nearly six years over the past decade.

Human resourcesare the key to enhancing medical services. In recent years, medical professionals from 182 hospitals across 12 Chinese provinces have provided medical assistance to 21 hospitals in Xizang, including the Xizang Autonomous Region People’s Hospital, seven hospitals at the prefectural level, and 13 at the county level.

Additionally, a range of mentoring programs have been implemented to ensure that Xizang’s medical services can meet the needs of people at all ages. Statistics show that since 2015, over 4400 new diagnostic and treatment projects and technologies have been introduced in Xizang with assistance from different regions in China.

Over the past 30 years, Xizang has seen significant advances in healthcare, thanks to the paired-up assistance program. The region now has over 1,800 medical institutions with 22,000 hospital beds, compared with less than 1,200 hospitals with 5,600 beds about three decades ago. The number of physicians per 1,000 people has also increased from 1.9 to 3.3.

Local medical capabilities have also improved gradually as remote diagnosis and treatment platforms now cover all rural clinics. As a result, more than 400 types of major illnesses,including giant intracranial aneurysms and pediatric leukemia, can be treated within Xizang, and more than 2,000 types of severe conditions such as heart attacks and strokes can be treated locally.

“Through relentless efforts, all key health indicators for residents in Xizang have reached a record high, and the proportion of out-of-pocket health expenditures to total expenses has fallen below 10 percent,” said Guo Luo, deputy head of Xizang’s health commission.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

An ancient Chinese sage observed, “A man of virtue, while establishing himself and pursuing success, also works to help others establish themselves and succeed.” There is a similar saying in Latin America which goes, “The only way to be profitably national is to be generously universal.”

These two ancient sayings were quoted by Chinese President Xi Jinping when addressing the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. He reaffirmed China’s commitment to the common development of all countries. China welcomes all parties to continue riding the “express train” of its development and grow together with the Chinese economy.

Throughout the ages, to live a better life has always been the longing of humanity. At the midpoint of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,the progress on most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remains alarmingly insufficient. The global development gap is widening, with a staggering 733 million people facing hunger.

Against this backdrop, it is necessary to adopt apeople-centered development philosophy, promotea universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, createenabling conditions for the common development of all humanity, andensure that more development gains will be shared more fairly by people across the world. These efforts are essential for all people in the worldto lead decent lives.

To achieve common progress, it is important to adopt a people-centered development approach.

“Bringing benefit to the people is the fundamental principle of governance.” This ancient Chinese saying profoundly reveals the dialectical relationship between national governance and benefiting the people.

In its fight against poverty in the new era, China always places the people front and center and solemnly declares that “not a single poor region or person should be left behind.” With the strenuous, unified efforts of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese people, China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty, and met the poverty reduction target of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Developmentahead of schedule, securing a victory in its anti-poverty battle.

If China can make it, other developing countries can make it too.China’s success in poverty alleviation epitomizes the people-centered philosophy of the Chinese government.

To achieve common progress, it is important to help others succeed while seeking one’s own success for the wellbeing of all humanity.

An ancient Chinese philosopher observed, “The benevolent treat others with love, and the wise share with others benefits.” Thesevalues of mutual benefit and common prosperity are deeply rooted in the DNA of the Chinese nation.

Based on the values of fine traditional Chinese culture, China has always placed its own development within the larger context of human development, aligned the interests of the Chinese people with the common interests of all peoples around the world, and aligned its development with global development.

While joining hands with all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind, China is committed to win-win cooperation and building a world of common prosperity.

Former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome said that in response to the needs of people around the world, Xi has put forth important initiatives and visions, such as building a community with a shared future for mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilizations Initiative, to share the dividends of China’s development with the rest of the world.

To achieve common progress, it is important to take concrete actions while considering the shared interests of all countries to support other countries in their development.

China not only pursues its own development, but also firmly supports and assists other developing countries to achieve common development.

“China has been advocating a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and endeavoring to deliver on the Global Development Initiative. Our goal is to benefit all with the opportunity of development, to diversify development paths, to help all nations share development fruits, to encourage common development and prosperity for all countries in the global village, and to turn win-win into a solid consensus,” Xi said at the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in June this year.

China has taken tangible actions to promote the common development of the Global South.At the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, China proposed to work with Arab countries to put in place the “five cooperation frameworks.”At the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China announced ten partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation.At Session I of the 19th G20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, China outlined eight actions for global development.

These concrete actions demonstrate that China is always a doer and go-getter working for the cause of global development.

In July this year, the CPC held the third Plenary Session of its 20th Central Committee, and adopted a comprehensive plan for further deepening reform across the board to advance Chinese modernization. More than300 important reform measures were introduced at the meeting, providing strong impetus for China’s economic and social development, and opening up broad prospects for the common development of countries worldwide.

China has lifted all restrictions on foreign investment in manufacturing, and established for the first time a nationwide negative-list system for cross-border trade in services. It has taken systematic steps to further open the telecom, Internet, education, culture, medical service and other sectors. It has also taken the initiative to apply high international standards of economic and trade rules, as part of its plan to steadily enhance institutional opening up.

On the road to the wellbeing of all mankind, no country or nation should be left behind.China remains committed to win-win cooperation and providing new opportunities for world development with its modernization achievements.

China stands ready to work with other countries to facilitate the modernization of all countries featuring peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity, in a bid to write a new chapter in building a community with a shared future for mankind.

By Liu Leyi, Wang Cong

Intelligent technology is playing an increasingly vital role in enhancing competitive sports, enriching fitness products for the public, and accelerating sports-education integration.

For instance, AI models were employed by athletes in their preparation for the Olympic Games, and big data technology is used togain deeper insights into athletes’ performance in routine training.

Additionally, smart and convenient fitness equipment has become increasingly prevalent, while advanced physical education analysis systems are widely adopted to optimize training programs.

These innovations are propelling China’s sports industry into a new era marked by intelligent development.

In a 50-meter-long swimming pool, 16 underwater cameras are placed every three meters from start to finish. The moment an athlete enters the water, the cameras automatically capture every movement the athlete performs, recording detailed progress by the second.

Then, AI technology seamlessly stitches the frames together, creating a comprehensive image of the swimmer’s trajectory.

Behind this innovative “panorama” lies the technological support of asports large model developed by a collaboration between Shanghai University of Sport, tech firm Baidu, and Shanghai University. The largemodel is the first one in China tailored to the sports industry.

“This large model was developed with motion recognition and analysis as the basis,”said Professor Li Yongming from Shanghai University of Sport. According to Li, the large model has been adopted by multiple national teams, such as diving, swimming, track and field, gymnastics, trampolining, and climbing.

The national swimming team has built an AI-assisted training system powered by the large model, which functions like an “intelligent coach.”By capturing intricate details of athletes’ movements, the system identifies aspects for improvement. Using feedback data from the system, coaches can adjust training strategies, while athletes gain a clearer understanding of their progress.

“Starting with competitive sports, we’ve accumulated extensive algorithms and techniques related to human movement,” said Li, addingthis large model will expand its applications beyond competitive sports to areas like public fitness and sports rehabilitation.

In Beijing’s Haidian Park, runners can be seen dashing along a red smart track, while nearby intelligent screens display real-time updates of their fitness data, including calories burned, speed, and stride frequency – all at a glance.

A local resident surnamed Wang said that the track, powered by facial recognition technology, is like a “smart companion” that records his workout data in real time.

“Running has become more purposeful for me now – I look forward to seeing my progress every day,” he said.

Over at Ritan Park, or Temple of the Sun Park, sports facilities have been transformed into a fully equipped “outdoor smart gym.””These machines come with exercise guides and workout recommendations. The electronic screens show details like exercise duration and calories burned, which is incredibly helpful for fitness enthusiasts like me,” said Chen, a “devoted fan” of smart fitness equipment.

In recent years, smart sports parks have been established in a number of cities across China, making fitness activities more and more intelligent.

Huo Bo, director of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence in Sports at Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, said: “By using smart devices to monitor exercise data in real time and provide personalized suggestions, citizens can make fitness activities more efficient. This not only enhances the effectiveness of public fitness programs but also improves overall quality of life. The integration of smart technology with sports represents both technological progress and a critical step toward promoting public health.”

Today, some primary and secondary schools are integrating smart technologies into physical education classes, infusing new momentum into campus sports education through the power of technology.

At Beijing No. 18 Middle School, students lined up on an AI-equipped track. At the sound of the starting signal, they sprinted off the line, while sensors precisely captured their speed and stride frequency. The data was displayed on an electronic screen, alongside their previous records for comparison. This allows each student to quickly understand their progress while helping teachers better analyze their performance and predict their developmental trends.

By Huan Yuping, People’s Daily

The situation in Syria has undergone dramatic changes in recent days, bringing more uncertainty to the already fragile security landscape in the Middle East. This once again reminds the international community that the security disorder in the Middle East should not continue indefinitely, and it is imperative to de-escalate tensions in the region.

Over the past 13 years, the people in Syria have endured endless wars and conflicts. Now, the Syrian situation stands at a new crossroads, and the path forward depends on the choices of all parties involved.

To stabilize the situation in Syria, the international community should effectively uphold Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, support Syria in realizing peace at the earliest, implement Security Council Resolution 2254, advance its domestic political process in line with the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned principle, and find a rebuilding plan that meets the wishes of the Syrian people through inclusive dialogue.

The international community should earnestly respect the choice of the Syrian people and create conditions for restoring peace and order in Syria. Those parties that have long been deeply involved in the Syrian situation should stop interfering in Syria’s internal affairs and abandon any schemes to exploit chaos for selfish gains.

To lift the Syrian people from the difficult situation, all countries should work together to extend a helping hand to Syria, push for the lifting of the illegal unilateral sanctions imposed on the country over the years, ease its grave humanitarian situation, and prevent the resurgence of a Syrian refugee crisis.

The international community should pay sufficient attention to the chaos and threats posed by terrorism and extremist forces after the dramatic changes in the Syrian situation. The future Syria should firmly oppose all forms of terrorism and extremist forces.

The instability and frequent conflicts in the Middle East have seriously affected international peace and security. Since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza, the Middle East has been plagued by mounting crises, including Israel’s conflicts with Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, as well as tensions in the Red Sea and the recent upheavals in Syria.

According to a report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a British think tank, this year was marked by a significant escalation in armed conflict in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with fatalitiesfrom violent events skyrocketing by 315%.

The Middle East, once a pinnacle of civilization in human history, should by no means become a place where peace is missing in the present era. It is imperative to take practical measures to de-escalate tensions in the region.

To resolve the chaos in the Middle East, the pressing task is to immediately cease fire, stop violence, and ease the humanitarian crisis.

Security cannot be achieved by force, and using violence to end violence begets more problems. All relevant parties shall abide by the resolutions of the UN Security Council, cease actions that stimulate the escalation of regional tensions, and avoid setting up new obstacles for the realization of ceasefire.

Countries with significant influence on the security of the Middle East must act responsibly, refrain from dangerous maneuvers that exacerbate the situation, and play a constructive role in quelling the flames of war.

Humanitarian issues in conflict zones must not be politicized, and civilian lives should not be used as bargaining chips. All parties involvedshall fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law, assist in improving the humanitarian situation, and alleviate the suffering of the people in the region.

To resolve the chaos in the Middle East, the fundamental way out is toadhere to political settlement and resume dialogue and negotiations.

The UN Security Council should shoulder the responsibility of maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East, and allUN Security Council members should make active contributions to this end, rather than stirring up trouble.

They should continue their efforts for dialogue and consultation,maintain the momentum of regional reconciliation driven by the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, resolve differences through inclusiveness, enhance mutual trust through cooperation, and build a new sustainable security architecture in the Middle East on the basis of accommodating each other’s concerns.

The two-state solution should be implemented as soon as possible to prevent the Palestinian question from being marginalized again.

To resolve the chaos in the Middle East, the basic principle is to support self-determination and avoid external interference.

The Middle East belongs to the people of the Middle East, while the future and destiny of the countries in the Middle East should have long been in the hands of the local people themselves. The region has long suffered from the scourge of war, with external interference being a significant root cause. From Iraq and Libya to Syria, the intervention of external powers in Middle Eastern affairs has left the region in ruins. This historical injustice must not continue.

The international community should earnestly respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the region, truly proceed according to the merits of the matters themselves and international fairness and justice, and assist rather than replace regional countries in findingsolutions to conflicts.

Peaceful relations come from mutual respect, and lasting security is built on fairness and justice. As highlighted in an article published on Ahram Online, the English-language news website of Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram, the support for justice, diplomacy, and human rights can pave the way for a more stable and equitable Middle East. The true test now lies in whether the international community is willing to act upon these lessons, advancing a future rooted in mutual respect, coexistence, and an unwavering commitment to peace.

The international community should work together to encourage all countries in the Middle East to put aside their past feuds and resolve their grudges. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a responsible major country, China will always stand on the side of peace, fairness and justice. It will continue to play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation in the Middle East and maintaining regional peace and stability.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

“The Vision of Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind carries forward the same spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Both are rooted in traditional Chinese values such as ‘Be kind to your neighbor,’ ‘Seek amity through integrity,’ and ‘Promote harmony among all nations.'”

These are the remarks made by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistenceon June 28. In his speech,Xi expounded on the essence of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and their relevance for the times, charting the course forward for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

He also noted that all countries must shoulder their common responsibility for peace, and commit to a path of peaceful development, and work together to seek peace, safeguard peace, and enjoy peace.

Throughout the centuries, humanity has been dreaming of keeping war as far away as possible from mankind so that children across the world can grow up happily under the sunshine of peace.The baton of history is passed from generation to generation, and the cause of human progress moves forward from one era to another as humanity seek answers to the questions of the times.

The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistenceinitiated seventy years ago provided a historic answer to the significant question of how to handle state-to-state relations. Seventy years later today, challenged by the historic question of “what kind of world to build and how to build it,” Xi has answered the call of the times by proposing the community with a shared future for mankind. Both manifest China’s firm resolve to follow the path of peaceful development.

The Chinese civilization, with a history of over 5,000 years, has always cherished peace. The pursuit of peace, amity and harmony is an integral part of the Chinese character which runs deep in the blood of the Chinese people.

According to British scholar Martin Jacques,the values of “pursuing the common good for all” and “promoting harmony among all nations”embodied in traditional Chinese culture reflect the profound inclusiveness of Chinese civilization, whichhave influenced China’s policiesand proposals.

China was long one of the most powerful countries in the world. Yet it never engaged in colonialism or aggression. Over the past 70-plus years since its founding, the People’s Republic of China never provoked a war or occupied an inch of foreign land.

China stands against isolation and in favor of interaction, advocates coexistence and shared progress while opposing coercion, and advocates peace through harmony and rejects the law of the jungle.The intrinsic peacefulness of Chinese civilization determines that China will always work to safeguard world peace, contribute to global development, and uphold international order.

China remains committed to the path of peaceful development and will always be a practitioner of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

This year, Xi proposed to build a common home of peace and tranquility at the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus” Meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, announced to jointly advance modernization underpinned by peace and security at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and promised to build a BRICS committed to peace, and called on all BRICS members to act as defenders of common securityat the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.

These important proposals represent China’s commitment to practicing common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and China’s determination to implement the Global Security Initiative, creating strong momentum for world peace and development.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Xi has set an example for the world by working for people’s wellbeing, upholding social fairness and justice, and advocating for peace over war, cooperation over confrontation, and creation over destruction.

The intrinsic peacefulness of Chinese civilization determines that Chinese modernization is the modernization of peaceful development.A modernized China will strengthen the force for world peace and development.The modernization China pursues is not for the country alone. The country will stay committed to peaceful development, the policy of forging friendships and partnerships with neighbors, and the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.It is ready to share more of the benefits of Chinese modernization with its neighbors.

China’s peaceful development is always closely connected with that of the world. It remains committed to seeking common security through solidarity and cooperation, and working with all countries to build a beautiful world of lasting peace and universal security.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said China’s peaceful development is a noble cause in the history of mankind and is conducive to the peace and progress of all humanity.

Drawing wisdom from the profound history of Chinese civilization, China is fulfilling its responsibility as a major country in the new era. It will never take the trodden path of colonial plundering, or the wrong path of seeking hegemony when one becomes strong. Instead, it will stay on the right path of peaceful development. Moving forward, China will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, makingnew contributions to promoting world peace and stability, as well as the common progress of humanity.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

“As an old Chinese saying goes, ‘Passengers in the same boat should help each other.’ Today, dwellers of the same planet should help each other,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping when attending the China International Friendship Conference and conference marking the 70th founding anniversary of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries on October 11.

This year, Xi reiterated “promoting global solidarity” on many diplomatic occasions, demonstrating China’s firm determination to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Over the past year, China has responded to the fast-changing global landscape with composure and confidence. In pursuing major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, the country has viewed the future of humanity with a broad humanistic value, transcended barriers and conflicts with an open and inclusive mindset, and pooled collective strength for development with a vision of harmonious coexistence, forging widespread consensus and strong synergy for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The most profound pursuit of a nation has its origin in the national character formed through generations.”The Chinese civilization is the only one that has continued uninterrupted for more than 5,000 years,” said Xi when meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in France this year. They discussedhow different civilizations could coexist in harmony without seeking uniformity.

The prominent continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness, and peaceful nature of the Chinese civilization serve as the basis for the distinctive characteristics, style, and demeanor of Chinese diplomacy, which facilitate the understanding of the international influence, appeal, and shaping capacity of the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The vision of building a community with a shared future for mankindhas deep roots in China’s profound cultural heritage andrepresents an innovative transformation and development of fine traditional Chinese culture.

The Chinese nation believes all nations together are one community, advocates fraternity among all peoples and peace for all countries, and pursues a world of fairness and justice for the common good.

To address the vital question of”what kind of world we need and how to build such a world,” Xi proposedtobuilda community with a shared future for mankind. This vision integrates Marxism’s mission of advancing human progress with the virtues of harmony and unity embodied in fine traditional Chinese culture, enriching and expanding China’sphilosophy of peaceful development.

Itenvisions a historic progress in state-to-state relations from the pursuit of peaceful coexistence to that of a future shared by all. It shows the world a bright prospect of peace, security, prosperity, and progress. Humanity can only create a brighter future by working together in solidarity and harmony, and moving toward a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xi has put forth the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilizations Initiative, outlining a path for human progress through the three dimensions of development, security, and civilization. These initiatives provide strategic guidance for building a community with a shared future for mankind, which demonstrates that China is not only committed to its own development but also contributes to the wellbeing of all humanity.

The vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind has been steadily enriched, with steady progress made in practical actions. China has made efforts to build communities with a shared future with particular regions, including with Central Asia, ASEAN, countries in the Lancang-Mekong river basin, Arab states, and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. These efforts are opening up new vistas of harmonious coexistence between different civilizations.

In May this year, Xi paid a state visit to Serbia, during which the two countries jointly announced the decision to builda China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era, the first of its kind in China’s relations with European countries.

In July, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit held in Astana, Kazakhstan, SCO member states reaffirmed their commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind and a new type of international relations based on mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation.

In September, at the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the overall characterization of China-Africa relations was elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

In November, during Xi’s visit to Brazil, he and his Brazilian counterpart announced an elevation of bilateral ties to a community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet.

These milestones mark breakthroughs made in building a community with a shared future for mankind, which has shaped the historical trend toward a shared future and greater solidarity in our global village.

As the world is faced with accelerating changes unseen in a century, human society is again standing at a crossroads in history.Only by drawing wisdom from ancient civilizations and maintaining a far-sighted vision can the world avoid losing its way amid transformations and ensure that the ship of humanity is always sailing in the right direction.

At this critical juncture, it is more important than ever for humanity to uphold the visionof building a community with a shared future for mankind, and let the beacon of civilization illuminate the right path forward for humanity.

By Zhao Shan

In 2024, Chinese tourists have ventured further afield to explore more destinations and embark on exciting journeys.

Countries such as Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia, which offer visa-free entry to Chinese citizens, have become popular destinations. Belt and Road partner countries have also been popular among Chinese tourists.

Chinese travelers are placing greater emphasis on the quality of their travel experiences and personalized needs, seeking to immerse themselves in the local lifestyles of their destinations.

According to information gathered from various travel agencies and online platforms, visa-free countries for Chinese citizens were among the top choices for outbound travel this year, allowing travelers to embark on spontaneous trips.

Since December 2023, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand have successively implemented visa-free policies for Chinese citizens, prompting many Chinese tourists to choose these three countries as their preferred outbound travel destinations.

Statistics show that as of Dec. 1, Thailand has received a total of 6.21 million Chinese tourists this year. This had made China the largest source of tourists for Thailand. In the first half of this year, 1.45 million Chinese tourists visited Singapore, more than those from any other countries. From January to September this year, over 2.5 million Chinese tourists visited Malaysia, surpassing those in the same period in 2019, and the whole-year figure is expected to reach 5 million.

“Outbound tourism in 2024 continues to recover and is approaching the levels of 2019,”said Yang Jinsong, director of the Institute of International Research at the China Tourism Academy.

According to him, the standout trends in outbound tourism this year include a growing demand for high-quality travel experiences among tourists and a corresponding push from market players for premium product development and supply chain optimization.

Improved facilitation, such as smoother visa processes and flight options, is also fueling the rise in outbound travel, Yang noted, adding that popular short-haul destinations in Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia continue to attract visitors, while Belt and Road partner countries are increasingly drawing Chinese tourists to explore their offerings.

According to China CYTS Tours, the outbound tourism market has seen a strong recovery this year, with significant increases in both the number of outbound travelers and overseas travel spending.

Data from Chinese online travel services provider Qunar showed a 50 percent increase in hotel bookings in popular outbound travel cities, and it is expected that the total outbound travel bookings for the year will surpass those of 2019.

Statistics from travel service platform Fliggy indicate that a batch of niche destinations with unique natural and cultural landscapes and distinctive experiences have emerged as “dark horses” in outbound travel this year. Countries such as Nigeria, Zambia, Chile, Turkiye, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Belgium, among others, have seen rapid growth in tourism bookings.

Recently, Marija Labovic, director of the Tourism Organization of Serbia, stated that the number of Chinese tourists visiting Serbia from January to September this year increased by 71 percent compared to that during the same period last year.

Belt and Road partner countries have seen an increase in their share of the Chinese outbound tourism market this year. An executive with Chinese travel operator UTour Groupsaid that countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and others are actively targeting the Chinese tourism market by offering more convenient services to attract more Chinese tourists.

According to an executive with online travel services provider Mafengwo, Central Asia has become a popular destination for young travelers seeking novelty. The popular TV series “To the Wonder” not only boosted tourism in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regionbut also brought attention to Kazakhstan, which shares similar landscapes. Almaty has become a popular tourist city in Central Asia.

Additionally, Uzbekistan, boasting a number of World Heritage sites, has seen a significant increase in tourism interest. Samarkand, Tashkent, and the ancient city of Khiva have garnered the highest attention.

Following the visa exemption agreement signed between China and Uzbekistan in early December, searches for Uzbekistan tourism have increased by 97 percent compared to the previous month.

Dai Bin, director of the China Tourism Academy, said an increasing number of Chinese tourists are now willing to invest in enhancing their quality of life while traveling, which includes choosing upscale accommodations, indulging in superior dining experiences, exploring museums and art galleries, and attending top-notch cultural performances. They hope to discover small, exquisite, and warm life scenes for a deep experience, Dai added.

An executive with China CYTS Tours said that the consumption habits of Chinese outbound tourists have changed, and they now place greater emphasis on the quality of tourism and immersive experiences.

“They are willing to spend on experiential activities, seeking personalized and high-quality travel services,” the executive added.

“Chinese travelers are increasingly drawn to immersive outbound travel experiences that offer unique and authentic encounters, such as local trains, ferries, river cruises, and hot air balloons. Cultural experiences, such as hands-on cooking of local cuisine, touring ancient cities by horse-drawn carriage, and visiting local homes, are also popular,” said an executive from UTour Group.