Nigeria Times

By Li Ya’nan, People’s Daily

Leveraging its abundant ice-and-snow resources, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in northwest China has developed new business forms and products, and fostered new advantages of its ice-snow industry in recent years. More and more people to experience the charm of the ice and snow leisure tourism.

At the Jiangjun Mountain ski resort in Altay, Xinjiang, Huang Jianzhong and his family from Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province, put on skiing equipment and got ready to go on the slopes with their coach.

“In previous winters, we came here for only sightseeing. This year we specifically hired a coach to teach my children how to ski,” Huang told People’s Daily. Nowadays, more and more tourists, like Huang and his family, would visit Xinjiang to experience the joy of winter sports.

Lyu Yaoping, a coach from a skiing training center at the Jiangjun Mountain ski resort, told People’s Daily that the training center had only about 50 coaches when she joined it four years ago, and the number today has exceeded 180.

Besides, the number of relevant venues has also increased year by year. Today, Xinjiang is home to 101 ski resorts, 27 indoor ice rinks and 60 ice-snow amusement parks.

In addition to winter sports, Xinjiang fully utilizes its resources such as scenic spots, parks, ice and snow venues, and themed towns to host events such as ice and snow photography exhibitions, ice sculpture exhibitions, and snow sculpture exhibitions. The public’s enthusiasm for ice and snow continues to rise.

Chi Shaoquan, deputy governor of Fuhai county in Altay, noted that the county was preparing to host a winter fishing festival that would take place soon. So far, Fuhai county has held 16 sessions of the festival, benefiting both the aquaculture and tourism industries.

In a workshop in Altay, Kuanishbek Slanbek, a master craftsman of ancient fur skis production, was busy making his products. Altay is the birthplace of skiing, and fur skis were an important tool for winter production and daily life in ancient times. Today, the craft of fur ski-making has regained vitality thanks to winter sports.

According to Kuanishbek Slanbek, those who purchase the fur skis are mainly skiing enthusiasts. They use the skis to experience local-style skiing, and some buy the products as souvenirs.

It takes about 15 days to make a pair of fur skis, which are priced at around 1,000 yuan ($140). Since the beginning of this winter, Kuanishbek Slanbek has already made 60 pairs and still has pending orders.

“I have trained a group of young people to make fur skis. This has not only increased our income, but also ensured the inheritance of this craft,” Kuanishbek Slanbek said.

Dozens of workers from a bedding company in Habahe county, which is over 100 kilometers away from Kuanishbek Slanbek’s workshop, were also rushing to fulfill orders. The company just finished producing 5,000 pieces of ski suits lately, and now they have received a new order for 12,000 pieces more.

A ski equipment company in Urumqi was also ramping up production. The company had to deliver three “magic carpets” to Kyrgyzstan in January next year.

“We mainly produce ski lifts, ‘magic carpets,’ snowmaking equipment, and snowboards. Our products not only meet the needs of local ski resorts but also sell to other regions,” said Liao Yuan, the company’s manager. According to him, the sales volume of the company has been increasing at an average of 30 percent per year.

Xinjiang enterprises have made inroads into ice and snow equipment manufacturing, covering personal equipment such as skiing suits, gloves, and snowboards, as well as specialized equipment for ski resorts like tow ropes, magic carpets, and ski lifts. This development has become an important part of the ice and snow industry in Xinjiang.

Helatibek Musai, a villager from Fuyun county, Altay, has been working at the international ski resort in Koktokay for five years. Every winter, he and his wife head to work early at the resort.

“There’s no more leisure time now, as we are all busy making money! I’m the snowmaking supervisor and my wife is the guest room supervisor. Together, we earn over 10,000 yuan per month,” the man told People’s Daily.

In 2018, the construction of the international ski resort commenced, and the facility officially opened for business in 2020. Since then, it has received over 1 million tourists.

Currently, the ski resort provides stable employment for more than 210 local farmers and herdsmen, with an average annual income of 32,000 yuan per person. Additionally, it has also created flexible job opportunities for over 7,000 people in the surrounding area.

With the increasing number of tourists, more and more local specialty products in Xinjiang have found a market. For instance, a cultural and creative park in Shuixigou township, Urumqi county, has built “bubble houses” that come with heating facilities, so that tourists can get a view of the beautiful sceneries outside these transparent “bubbles” in winter. The park also provides free stalls for local villagers to sell agricultural and sideline products, as well as handicrafts.

“These camel ornaments, felt purses, and felt jewelry boxes were all handmade by female members of our cooperative. Through selling these handicrafts, each of us earns around 4,500 yuan per month,” said Hatima Ened, president of the cooperative in Urumqi county.

Hatima Ened, also an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage item of Kazakh embroidery, told People’s Daily that the booming tourism at the cultural and creative park has enabled many local families to increase their income.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a New Year message via China Media Group and the Internet Sunday evening in Beijing to ring in 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

On New Year’s Eve, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his 2024 New Year message via China Media Group and the Internet. The following is the full text of the message:

Greetings to you all! As energy rises after the Winter Solstice, we are about to bid farewell to the old year and usher in the new. From Beijing, I extend my best New Year wishes to each and every one of you!

In 2023, we have continued to forge ahead with resolve and tenacity. We have gone through the test of winds and rains, have seen beautiful scenes unfolding on the way, and have made plenty real achievements. We will remember this year as one of hard work and perseverance. Going forward, we have full confidence in the future.

This year, we have marched forward with solid steps. We achieved a smooth transition in our COVID-19 response efforts. The Chinese economy has sustained the momentum of recovery. Steady progress has been made in pursuing high-quality development. Our modernized industrial system has been further upgraded. A number of advanced, smart and green industries are rapidly emerging as new pillars of the economy. We have secured a bumper harvest for the 20th year in a row. Waters have become clearer and mountains greener. New advances have been made in pursuing rural revitalization. New progress has been made in fully revitalizing northeast China. The Xiong’an New Area is growing fast, the Yangtze River Economic Belt is full of vitality, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is embracing new development opportunities. Having weathered the storm, the Chinese economy is more resilient and dynamic than before.

This year, we have marched forward with robust steps. Thanks to years of dedicated efforts, China’s innovation-driven development is full of energy. The C919 large passenger airliner entered commercial service. The Chinese-built large cruise ship completed its trial voyage. The Shenzhou spaceships are continuing their missions in space. The deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe reached the deepest ocean trench. Products designed and made in China, especially trendy brands, are highly popular with consumers. The latest models of Chinese-made mobile phones are an instant market success. New energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products are a new testimony to China’s manufacturing prowess. Everywhere across our country, new heights are being scaled with dogged determination, and new creations and innovations are emerging every day.

This year, we have marched forward in high spirits. The Chengdu FISU World University Games and the Hangzhou Asian Games presented spectacular sports scenes, and Chinese athletes excelled in their competitions. Tourist destinations are full of visitors on holidays, and the film market is booming. The “village super league” football games and “village spring festival gala” are immensely popular. More people are embracing low-carbon lifestyles. All these exhilarating activities have made our lives richer and more colorful, and they mark the return of bustling life across the country. They embody people’s pursuit of a beautiful life, and present a vibrant and flourishing China to the world.

This year, we have marched forward with great confidence. China is a great country with a great civilization. Across this vast expanse of land, wisps of smoke in deserts of the north and drizzles in the south invoke our fond memory of many millennium-old stories. The mighty Yellow River and Yangtze River never fail to inspire us. Discoveries at the archeological sites of Liangzhu and Erlitou tell us much about the dawn of Chinese civilization. The ancient Chinese characters inscribed on oracle bones of the Yin Ruins, the cultural treasures of the Sanxingdui Site, and the collections of the National Archives of Publications and Culture bear witness to the evolution of Chinese culture. All this stands as testament to the time-honored history of China and its splendid civilization. And all this is the source from which our confidence and strength are derived.

While pursuing its development, China has also embraced the world and fulfilled its responsibility as a major country. We held the China-Central Asia Summit and the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and hosted leaders from across the world at many diplomatic events held in China. I also paid visits to a number of countries, attended international conferences, and met many friends, both old and new. I shared China’s vision and enhanced common understandings with them. No matter how the global landscape may evolve, peace and development remain the underlying trend, and only cooperation for mutual benefit can deliver.

Along the way, we are bound to encounter headwinds. Some enterprises had a tough time. Some people had difficulty finding jobs and meeting basic needs. Some places were hit by floods, typhoons, earthquakes or other natural disasters. All these remain at the forefront of my mind. When I see people rising to the occasion, reaching out to each other in adversity, meeting challenges head-on and overcoming difficulties, I am deeply moved. All of you, from farmers in the fields to workers on factory floors, from entrepreneurs blazing the trail to service members guarding our country — indeed, people from all walks of life — have done your very best. Each and every ordinary Chinese has made an extraordinary contribution! You, the people, are the ones we look to when we fight to prevail over all difficulties or challenges.

Next year will mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. We will steadfastly advance Chinese modernization, fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, speed up building the new development paradigm, promote high-quality development, and both pursue development and safeguard security. We will continue to act on the principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, promoting stability through progress, and establishing the new before abolishing the old. We will consolidate and strengthen the momentum of economic recovery, and work to achieve steady and long-term economic development. We will deepen reform and opening up across the board, further enhance people’s confidence in development, promote vibrant development of the economy, and redouble efforts to boost education, advance science and technology and cultivate talents. We will continue to support Hong Kong and Macao in harnessing their distinctive strengths, better integrating themselves into China’s overall development, and securing long-term prosperity and stability. China will surely be reunified, and all Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be bound by a common sense of purpose and share in the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Our goal is both inspiring and simple. Ultimately, it is about delivering a better life for the people. Our children should be well taken care of and receive good education. Our young people should have the opportunities to pursue their careers and succeed. And our elderly people should have adequate access to medical services and elderly care. These issues matter to every family, and they are also a top priority of the government. We must work together to deliver on these issues. Today, in our fast-paced society, people are all busy and face a lot of pressure in work and life. We should foster a warm and harmonious atmosphere in our society, expand the inclusive and dynamic environment for innovation, and create convenient and good living conditions, so that the people can live happy lives, bring out their best, and realize their dreams.

As I speak to you, conflicts are still raging in some parts of the world. We Chinese are keenly aware of what peace means. We will work closely with the international community for the common good of humanity, build a community with a shared future for mankind, and make the world a better place for all.

Right at this moment, when the lights in millions of homes light up the evening sky, let us all wish our great country prosperity, and let us all wish the world peace and tranquility! I wish you happiness in all the four seasons and success and good health in the year ahead!

Thank you!

By Liao Ruiling

In 2023, China continued to advance high-level opening up, injecting impetus into global cooperation and win-win outcomes. The following eight keywords bear witness to China’s new initiatives and achievements in opening up.

Keyword: Exhibition

Following the Ministry of Commerce’s announcement to fully resume offline trade fairs and expos domestically in February 2023, a series of major exhibitions were hosted as scheduled in the country, attracting exhibitors from all over the world.

According to statistics, a total of 3,248 exhibitions were held in professional venues across the country in the first nine months of this year, increasing 1.8 times year-on-year and 32.4 percent over the same period in 2019.

Various types of exhibitions have achieved fruitful results.

The 3rd China International Consumer Products Expo was attended by 3,382 consumer brands from 65 countries and regions. The 134th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, concluded with an offline export turnover of $22.3 billion in total.

The 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services yielded more than 1,100 outcomes. The 6th China International Import Expo saw a total of $78.41 billion worth of tentative deals reached for one-year purchases of goods and services, representing a 6.7 percent increase from that of last year, and setting a record high.

Keyword: Manufacturing

China announced the removal of all restrictive measures on foreign investment in manufacturing at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

It both demonstrated China’s determination to advance high-level opening up, and marked an important measure of the country to build new systems for a higher-level open economy, said Li Dawei, a researcher at the Institute for International Economy, Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research.

In the first 10 months of 2023, foreign direct investment into China’s manufacturing industry reached 283.44 billion yuan ($39.65 billion), maintaining year-on-year growth. In particular, the high-tech manufacturing sector saw a growth of 9.5 percent in the utilization of foreign investment.

Keyword: Service industry

In the Shanghai Hongqiao International Central Business District, cross-border bond issuance, cross-border mergers and acquisitions and other services have brought great convenience to enterprises.

In Beijing’s Shunyi district, the first foreign entertainment agency to establish a branch in Beijing is located in the Tianzhu comprehensive bonded zone, marking further opening up in the cultural sector.

Since 2015, China has implemented comprehensive pilot programs for opening up the services sector in 11 selected cities and provinces.

In the first three quarters of 2023, the added value of the service industry in these 11 regions reached 13.2 trillion yuan, accounting for 69.7 percent of the local GDP. The actual use of foreign capital in the service industry amounted to $50.85 billion in these regions, accounting for 55.6 percent of the total foreign investment in the industry nationwide.

Keyword: BRI

The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Over the past decade, the BRI has become the most popular international public good and the largest international cooperation platform in today’s world.

According to statistics, more than 421,000 local jobs were created globally in overseas economic and trade cooperation zones built by Chinese enterprises under Belt and Road cooperation.

It is estimated that by 2030, Belt and Road cooperation could help lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty, and raise global real income by 0.7 to 2.9 percent.

Keyword: Free trade zone

The Kashgar Area of China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone was inaugurated on Nov. 11, 2023. It is the 22nd pilot free trade zone established in China.

The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China’s first pilot free trade zone. China remains committed to comprehensive opening up, promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. It will take the lead in establishing institutional systems that align with international investment and trade rules.

Over the past decade, China’s pilot free trade zones have played a pioneering role, yielding a series of outstanding innovative achievements. Covering less than 0.4 percent of the nation’s land area, China’s pilot free trade zones attracted 18.4 percent of foreign investment in China and accounted for 18.6 percent of the country’s foreign trade in the first half of 2023.

Keyword: New “three major ones”

Solar batteries, lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles are the new “three major ones” underpinning China’s exports.

China’s production and sales of new energy vehicles have topped the global market for eight years in a row, with a global market share of over 60 percent. From January to September, China’s lithium-ion battery exports totaled $48.605 billion, a year-on-year increase of over 30 percent.

China’s photovoltaic module production has ranked first in the world for 16 consecutive years. Besides, the country holds more than 80 percent of the world’s polysilicon, silicon wafers, cells, and modules manufacturing capacity.

The structure transition of trade in goods from clothing, household appliances and furniture to the new “three major ones” mirrors the outstanding performance of China’s foreign trade upgrading.

Keyword: Digital trade

China’s self-developed games have generated over 10 billion yuan in overseas revenue, and the overseas market for Chinese online literature has surpassed 3 billion yuan with over 150 million n overseas users.

Currently, the overall size of China’s digital trade is expanding. From January to August 2023, China’s digitally-delivered service trade rose 10.4 percent year-on-year to 1.81 trillion yuan.

From January to September, the import and export volume of cross-border e-commerce reached 1.7 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.4 percent. China’s cross-border e-commerce trade partners have covered the globe, and China is one of the countries with the most complete cross-border e-commerce ecosystem in the world.

Keyword: Renminbi internationalization

Statistics released by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) in September 2023 revealed that the Chinese yuan achieved a record increase in its global payment share. Its share rose from 3.9 percent at the beginning of the year to 5.8 percent, surpassing the euro for the first time.

So far, the People’s Bank of China, China’s central bank, has authorized 31 yuan clearing banks in 29 countries and regions, covering major international financial centers.

In 2023, the international currency functions of the Chinese yuan continued to strengthen, achieving fruitful results in expanding its applications in settlement, transactions, and value storage. Insiders pointed out that the enormous size and stable growth of the Chinese economy have laid a solid foundation for the internationalization of the Chinese yuan.

By Wang Lingxi

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is one of the most open and economically vibrant regions in China. Covering an area of 56,000 square kilometers, it is home to more than 80 million people. Its GDP exceeded 13 trillion yuan ($1.82 trillion) in 2022.

On Dec. 21, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued a plan for the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, Zhuhai and another plan for the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone in Shenzhen. These two documents are expected to accelerate the development and opening up of major cooperation platforms in the GBA.

As the GBA sees a better foundation of transportation and logistics, its steps of high-quality development have become more solid, which unleashes tremendous vitality for development.

This October, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge marked its 5th anniversary. As a “golden channel” enhancing the GBA’s connectivity, the bridge has facilitated trips of 36 million cross-border passengers and 7.5 million vehicles over the past 5 years. The total import and export volume through the Zhuhai land port of the bridge amounted to 718.75 billion yuan.

Infrastructure projects such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, Nansha Bridge and Guangzhou-Shanwei high-speed railway, have further strengthened the connectivity in the GBA.

Besides, thanks to a new policy that took effect on Dec. 12, travelers arriving at Zhuhai Jinwan Airport on the Chinese mainland are allowed to reach the Hong Kong International Airport via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to fly to overseas destinations without going through immigration in Hong Kong. The convenient and developed transport network is an accelerator for the integrated development of the GBA.

While improving hard connectivity on transportation, the GBA is also improving rules and mechanisms. In April this year, a total of 110 “GBA Standards” were announced in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, covering 25 fields including food, Cantonese cuisine, traditional Chinese medicine, transportation, elderly care, and logistics.

Under the joint efforts of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, residents from Hong Kong and Macao have been enjoying increasingly high-quality and convenient public services in the GBA mainland cities since this year.

For instance, the Guangdong-Macao social security one-stop service counters have enabled Macao residents to handle Macao social security matters in Hengqin.

Guangdong and Hong Kong have set up cross-boundary public service counters to strengthen the convenience for businesses and individuals in handling relevant matters. So far, the first batch of more than 50 services has been made available.

“These measures have allowed residents and businesses in Guangdong and Hong Kong to bid farewell to the hassle of running back and forth for government services, and we have all benefited from it,” said Chen Chi Ming from Hong Kong who currently works in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province. These convenient services, which are accessible to the people, have made the GBA better connected, Chen added.

Thanks to the “soft connectivity,” the investment and development of Hong Kong and Macao enterprises in mainland cities of the GBA have been further facilitated.

The sound business and living environment are attracting more and more people to study, work, live, and start their businesses in the GBA, which effectively promotes the high-quality development of the area.

Huang King Hei from Macao works at a law firm headquartered in Hengqin. He calls himself the “new-gen youth of Hengqin and Macao.”

Huang was born into a family of lawyers. He has passed the lawyer qualification examination of the GBA, obtained a lawyer’s license in the Chinese mainland, and become one of the first qualified arbitrators from Macao in the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone.

“Among the some 50 lawyers in my law firm, more than 10 are from Macao,” said Huang. According to him, it takes only a half-hour drive for him to go home from his office, and this has greatly facilitated Macao lawyers to work in Hengqin.

According to statistics, more than 3,200 professionals from Hong Kong and Macao are currently working in the GBA mainland cities in various sectors such as law, healthcare, and urban planning, and over 3,500 individuals have obtained skills certificates that are recognized by all GBA cities.

Guangdong province has established 237 counters to meet the social security needs of individuals and businesses from Hong Kong and Macao. The number of Hong Kong and Macao residents participating in social insurance in the province has reached 346,700. Efforts have also been made to ensure that Hong Kong and Macao residents enjoy equal treatment in terms of employment and entrepreneurship in Guangdong.

From the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub to the Guangdong, Hong Kong & Macao (International) Youth Entrepreneur Hub, and from the Hengqin-Macao Youth Entrepreneurship Valley to the Foshan-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Entrepreneurship Center, a number of innovation and entrepreneurship bases are nurturing the dreams of countless young entrepreneurs in the GBA.

According to statistics, the Hong Kong-Macao youth innovation and entrepreneurship bases in the Pearl River Delta have incubated around 4,000 projects from Hong Kong and Macao, providing employment opportunities for approximately 5,500 young people from the two regions. The GBA has become a fertile ground of innovation and entrepreneurship for young people from Hong Kong and Macao.

Nowadays, an increasing number of young people from Hong Kong and Macao have come to realize the tremendous potential for development in the GBA. They believe this region can bring them better prospects for their careers. According to a survey conducted by the Hong Kong United Youth Association this year, 65.5 percent of respondents agreed that the GBA created opportunities for their career development, and 71.3 percent were willing to work or pursue their careers in the Chinese mainland.

By Huan Yuping, People’s Daily

Many international media, in their year-end reviews or next-year forecasts, listed artificial intelligence (AI) as a keyword.

They said AI has transformed from a synonym for science fiction to a tool used by millions of people, seeping into people’s daily lives and driving industries toward the future. They believe that as 2024 approaches, AI innovations that break traditional boundaries will grow in strength.

However, along with the immense application and commercial value AI has brought, there were also unpredictable risks and challenges in 2023. At this critical juncture of AI’s rapid development, strengthening AI governance becomes an urgent task that the international community must tackle together.

U.S. leading reference books publisher Merriam-Webster announced that the word “authentic” has been chosen as its Word of the Year for 2023. This decision was made due to the significant increase in the demand for authenticity caused by the rapid advancement of AI technology.

The global community has been paying unprecedented attention to preventing AI from spreading false information, infringing on personal rights and interests, posing security risks, and widening the technological divide.

It is widely recognized that there is a risk of misuse and abuse of AI due to the lack of effective safeguards.

With the accelerating AI application around the world, it is necessary for governments and organizations to consider how to leverage this technology for the benefit of humanity and the planet, said John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd. He emphasized the need to jointly establish a trustworthy environment for AI.

Good governance is essential for the healthy development of AI. The impact of AI on human society depends on whether the international community can seek benefits and avoid harm through effective governance.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pointed out the need to approach this technology with a sense of urgency, a global lens, and a learner’s mindset. Countries should engage in coordination, set boundaries, and work tirelessly to ensure that AI benefits humanity.

China has released an interim regulation on the management of generative AI services; the UN has established the High-level Advisory Body on AI; the AI Safety Summit has issued the Bletchley Declaration; the EU has reached an agreement on the Artificial Intelligence Act.

Over the past year, there has been a deepening understanding of the urgency of AI governance, and related actions have been accelerating.

However, in the face of such a disruptive technology that may profoundly impact the trajectory of human civilization, governance challenges still exist widely. It is crucial to enhance global coordination and cooperation.

As a responsible AI powerhouse, China has always attached great importance to AI governance. While gradually establishing and improving relevant laws, regulations, and institutional systems at home, China actively contributes its wisdom to strengthening global AI governance.

China has put forward the Global AI Governance Initiative, which systematically elaborates on China’s approach to AI governance in terms of development, security, and governance.

The initiative adheres to the systematic thinking that puts equal emphasis on development and security, upholds a people-centered approach in developing AI, adheres to the principle of developing AI for good, and upholds the principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit in AI development.

It provides constructive solutions to the development and governance of AI that are of common concern to all parties, and serves as a blueprint for international discussions and rule-making in this field.

China has also actively engaged in communication, exchanges, and pragmatic cooperation with all parties on global AI governance. During the meeting between the Chinese and U.S. heads of state in San Francisco, both sides agreed to promote government talks on AI, injecting new impetus into strengthening global AI governance and inspiring the international community.

AI marks a new field of human development, and effective governance is essential for its healthy development and for the benefit of humanity.

Facing diverse challenges to world peace and development, countries must uphold a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. They should pay equal importance to development and security, consolidate consensus through dialogue and cooperation, and build an open, fair, and effective governance mechanism.

Only by doing so can they jointly promote the healthy, orderly, and secure development of AI, and ensure that AI always progresses in a direction that is conducive to the advancement of human civilization.

By Zhang Zhiwen, Ren Haoyu, People’s Daily

The 15th China Trade Fair Dubai 2023 recently concluded in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Lasting three days, the trade fair covered an exhibition area of 70,000 square meters and was joined by nearly 2,500 Chinese foreign trade companies.

The event focused on eight major areas including building materials and home furnishings, textiles and clothing, household appliances and consumer electronics, industrial equipment and components, and power and new energy.

Business representatives from various countries gathered at the event, which reflected the continuous warming of China’s economic and trade relations with Middle Eastern countries.

In recent years, Middle Eastern countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been vigorously developing renewable energy. At the trade fair, energy-saving and environmentally friendly products and technologies showcased by Chinese companies were highly welcomed.

For instance, in the power and new energy exhibition area, Chinese products such as electric vehicle charging poles, outdoor portable power sources, and solar charging devices attracted numerous buyers.

“Middle Eastern countries are actively promoting the development of the electric vehicle industry, and charging stations are essential supporting facilities,” said Li Xiaoping, general manager of Chargeland, a new energy tech firm based in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province.

The company has brought AC charging stations, integrated DC charging stations, and supercharging stations to the trade fair, providing clients with personalized and customized charging stations and multilingual charging platforms that meet various demands in different scenarios.

At the booth of Guangdong O’DAS Household Technology Co., Ltd., visitors experienced the energy-saving and environmentally friendly doors and windows produced by the Chinese firm.

“They have a strong will to cooperate. We have received many inquiries every day,” said Tu Yaxiang, who’s in charge of the company’s overseas business.

Lyrasom,a battery energy storage companies located in Huizhou, Guangdong province, showcased lithium-ion batteries, home energy storage systems, and integrated power solutions at the exhibition.

“By participating in the trade show, we have exchanged contact information with many buyers, and some have even placed orders. We look forward to contributing to the green and low-carbon development in the region,” said He Chunmei, head of the company.

At the home textile exhibition area, gel pillows and mattresses exhibited by Chinese companies attracted the attention of many buyers, who eagerly learned about the raw materials and performance of these products and expressed their willingness to cooperate with their Chinese counterparts.

“My factory uses a lot of Chinese equipment and raw materials,” said a buyer from Egypt. He hoped to find more high-quality raw materials at the trade show and discover new business opportunities in the baby products industry.

He noted, “In the Middle East, many products, from daily necessities to industrial production, come from China. China’s reliable supply channels have made significant contributions to maintaining the stability of the global industrial and supply chains.”

“From smart homes to children’s toys, and to textile products, Chinese companies have brought more new products and technologies that meet the demands of each market,” said Sachu Manwani, general secretary of the Textile Merchants Group, the apex body of Dubai-based wholesale textile merchants.”

Through the exhibition, many companies have engaged in in-depth discussions and negotiations, leading to the continuous expansion of business opportunities between Middle Eastern countries and China, he added.

Bahri, a buyer from Oman, told People’s Daily that China’s manufacturing industry has a solid foundation, and many products have been advancing technology-wise.

When doing business with the Middle East, Chinese companies would optimize their products according to customers’ needs, resulting in continuously improving market acceptance, Bahri said.

Another buyer from the UAE noted that in recent years, Chinese foreign trade companies have grown rapidly. They have not only improved the quality of their products and diversified the styles, but also strengthened their capabilities in communicating with foreign partners, the buyer added.

Pan Jianjun, chairman of Meorient           , the organizer of the event, noted that after years of development, the China Trade Fair Dubai has become an effective platform for deepening economic and trade cooperation between China and Middle Eastern countries.

“China plays a crucial role in global trade,” said Sadiq, a researcher at Saudi Arabia’s Center for Research and Intercommunication Knowledge. He emphasized that China attaches great importance to technological innovation, leading to the continuous emergence of new products and technologies. This not only drives the country’s own economic development but also provides assistance to the global economic recovery, the researcher added.

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

China and the U.S. should faithfully implement the consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden in San Francisco, and promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of their bilateral ties with a sense of responsibility for history, for the people and for the world.

In December 1978, China and the U.S. issued the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, announcing both countries’ decision to recognize each other and to establish diplomatic relations as of January 1, 1979..

2024 will mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

At this key juncture linking the past and future, it’s important that the two countries look back on their history of bilateral relations over the past decades to seek inspiration and guidance, which is of great significance for improving and developing their relations.

In the 1970s, the leaders of China and the U.S., with the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples at heart, made a historic decision with farsighted strategic vision and extraordinary political wisdom to break the ice that caused mutual isolation between China and the U.S.

After that, they continued to normalize the China-U.S. relations through unremitting efforts, opening a new chapter in the development of China-U.S. relations.

Over the past decades, China-U.S. relations have made historic progress despite twists and turns, bringing tremendous benefits to the two peoples and making important contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity.

History has fully proven that for two large countries like China and the U.S., turning their back on each other is not an option, it is unrealistic for one side to remodel the other, and conflict and confrontation have unbearable consequences for both sides.

The two countries must recognize the irrefutable truth that China and the U.S. both gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation.

Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation are the lessons learned from 50 years of China-U.S. relations and the conflicts between major countries in history, which should be the direction of joint efforts between the two countries.

About a month ago, Xi and Biden held a historic meeting in San Francisco to explore the right way for the two major countries to get along in the new era, establishing the “San Francisco vision” oriented toward the future.

From an overall and strategic perspective, Xi pointed out at the meeting that China and the U.S. should jointly develop a right perception, jointly manage disagreements effectively, jointly advance mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly shoulder responsibilities as major countries and jointly promote people-to-people exchanges. These are the five pillars that have laid out a roadmap for the sound, steady and sustained growth of China-US relations.

The Xi-Biden meeting has consolidated the momentum of stabilizing China-U.S. relations and injected much-needed certainty and stability into the world of changes and chaos, therefore receiving widespread applause in both countries and the international community.

In recent years, China-U.S. relations have encountered serious difficulties. The root cause of that is the serious misperceptions some people in the U.S. have regarding China and the China-U.S. relations.

China and the U.S. are two major countries with different histories, cultures, social systems and development paths, and there have been and will continue to be differences between the two countries. However, such differences should not become an obstacle to growing China-U.S. relations. The two sides should look for ways to build bridges to help them walk toward each other.

The two sides must appreciate each other’s principles and red lines, and refrain from flip-flopping, being provocative, and crossing the lines. They should have more communication, more dialogues and more consultations, and calmly handle their differences as well as accidents.

Win-win cooperation is the trend of the times and should also be an inherent property of China-U.S. relations.

China maintains that the common interests of the two countries far outweigh their differences, and the respective success of China and the U.S. is an opportunity, rather than a challenge, to each other.

The economic and trade ties between China and the U.S., as an important part of China-U.S. relations, have delivered many tangible benefits to the two peoples.

Over the past 45 years since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and the U.S., the annual bilateral trade between the two countries has grown to $760 billion and the two countries’ two-way investment reached a cumulative total of over $260 billion.

China and the U.S. share broad common interests across many areas. They should work together to make the list of cooperation longer and the “cake” of cooperation bigger.

The foundation of China-U.S. relations is in the societies of the two countries, its hope lies in the two peoples, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels.

During his visit to the U.S. in November 2023, Xi fondly recounted his friendship with the American people at a welcome dinner hosted by friendly organizations in the U.S.

In his speech delivered at the dinner, Xi emphasized that the foundation of China-U.S. relations was laid by the two peoples, the door of China-U.S. relations was opened by the two peoples, the stories of China-U.S. relations are written by the two peoples, and the future of China-U.S. relations will be created by the two peoples. His remarks deeply resonated with both Chinese and Americans.

The China-U.S. relations are steeped in history and built on solid popular support. It is the reaching out to each other by the two peoples that has time and again brought China-U.S. relations from a low ebb back onto the right track.

The two sides should build more bridges and pave more roads for people-to-people exchanges, promote people-to-people bonds, and jointly write new stories of friendship in the new era.

China-U.S. relations are the most important bilateral relations in the world today. Whether China and the U.S. can work hand in hand to meet challenges together concerns the interests of the two peoples and the future of humanity.

The only right choice that serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples and meets the common expectation of the international community is to faithfully implement the consensus reached by their heads of state in San Francisco and promote the healthy, stable and sustainable growth of the China-U.S. relations.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)

By Peng Xunwen

If plastic waste is dumped into the sea, it will gradually break down into microplastics, exerting continuous and permanent adverse impacts on the environment. How can plastic waste be recycled and turned into useful resources?

The Blue Circle environmental initiative, a marine plastic waste program launched in east China’s Zhejiang province, has given the answer to the question.

The program uses blockchain technology and the Internet of Things to comprehensively monitor the entire lifecycle of plastic waste, encompassing collection, regeneration, re-manufacturing and re-sale.

This year, the program was honored with the 2023 Champions of the Earth award – the United Nations’ most prestigious environmental recognition – by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), from a pool of 2,500 nominations.

During the twilight hours, fishing boats returned from the sea and docked on a beach of Huangjiao Island of Taizhou, Zhejiang province. A captain surnamed Chen, while unloading the catch, instructed his crew to empty the used fishing nets, foam plastics, plastic bottles, plastic bags, and marine debris collected along with the fish out of the boat, and send them to a nearby place called Xiaolan Zhijia, which literally means little blue house.

Xiaolan Zhijia is a collection and storage site for marine debris. It collects, sorts and compacts waste materials collected from the sea. To encourage wider participation, Xiaolan Zhijia offers much higher prices for marine debris compared to regular waste.

At the port of Jiaojiang district, Taizhou, there is a facility in the shape of a box. It is called  “Ocean Cloud Warehouse” and is an intelligent processing system that can sort, temporarily store, purify, and pre-process waste. The volume of marine debris is compressed by up to 90 percent in the warehouse after crushing, which significantly lowers transportation costs.

The collected marine waste will be sent to Veolia Huafei Polymer Technology (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd. located in Anji county, Huzhou, Zhejiang province. The company is a member of a non-profit organization called “Blue Alliance” and has been awarded the certification for marine plastic recycling by an international accreditation body.

According to Fu Xianwei, the company’s operations director, the company has basically achieved automated production, and its products are standardized and high-quality.

Taking plastic bottles as an example, Fu told People’s Daily that the bottles are sorted, thoroughly cleaned, melted and reshaped into plastic pellets, so that they can be recycled.

So far, Veolia Huafei Polymer Technology (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd. has processed over 10 million of plastic bottles collected from the ocean. By adjusting the granulation technique, the company is able to produce recycled plastic particles of various grades, including those suitable for food contact.

Products made from marine plastic waste have higher added value. Hangzhou Xinsheng Printing and Dyeing Co., Ltd., also a member of the “Blue Alliance”, transforms marine plastic particles into various fabrics.

Fu Xiaoling, marketing director of the company, said, “Thanks to the technological breakthroughs we have made, these fabrics and garments made from marine plastic are no inferior to other recycled clothing in terms of quality and performance, and they are highly sought after in the international market.”

Products made from marine plastic are stamped with a unique QR code bearing the words “Produced by Blue Alliance” before leaving the factory. This serves as an exclusive identification for each product.

After a People’s Daily reporter scanned the QR code on a document bag made from marine debris, a picture popped up on the phone, which said the document bag contained 6.5 grams of marine plastic and the purchase of it would reduce the production of 0.32 plastic bottles and 8.45 grams of carbon emission. The entire process of how the raw material of the bag was collected and made into a commodity was shown on the phone, too.

Chen Guanghui, co-founder of Zhejiang-based technology company VisionBlue and one of the initiators of the Blue Circle initiative, noted that many domestic and international companies are willing to purchase higher-priced marine plastic recycled particles and products in order to fulfill their social responsibilities.

However, it is difficult to determine whether these plastic particles actually come from marine plastic waste with traditional methods. Therefore, the company has developed a blockchain-based visual traceability system to solve this problem.

So far, 237 industrial enterprises and 10,200 ships in Zhejiang have joined the Blue Circle initiative. The program has also been participated by 61,800 people living along the coast, including seniors, fishermen, and volunteers.

The program has collected and processed 10,900 tons of marine waste, including 2,254 tons of plastic waste, resulting in a reduction of approximately 2,930 tons of carbon emissions.

Frontline collectors have increased their annual income by about 13,000 yuan ($1,845.81) thanks to the program, and fishermen have obtained over 100 million yuan in low-interest green loans through their green credits of waste collection.