China’s solar capacity surpasses coal, reshaping the nation’s energy mix

By Liu Zhiqiang, People’s Daily

As of late July this year, China’s installed solar power capacity officially surpassed that of coal-fired generation for the first time, establishing solar as the country’s largest source of electricity-generating infrastructure. 

This milestone stands in stark contrast to the industry’s struggles just over a decade ago. At that time, many small and medium-sized manufacturers were fighting for survival, while even leading firms reported substantial losses — forcing some to shutter operations entirely.

Today, however, China not only holds the world’s largest installed solar capacity year after year but has also cultivated the most comprehensive and globally competitive solar value chain.

How was such a dramatic transformation achieved in little more than ten years?

The journey began in the first decade of this century, when China’s fledgling solar sector experienced explosive growth. By the end of 2010, China’s output of solar cells had climbed to 8,000 megawatts, accounting for about half of the global total.

Yet rapid expansion masked deeper structural vulnerabilities.

First, the industry relied on overseas suppliers for raw materials and equipment, while its main markets were abroad: more than 90 percent of polysilicon was imported, more than 70 percent of products were exported to Europe and the United States, and foreign brands dominated production lines. 

Second, the industry remained stuck at a relatively low level of development, relying largely on imitation, replication, and processing materials supplied by others, with excessive duplication of investment and limited technological capabilities. 

These weaknesses were exposed starting in 2011, when several Western countries launched anti-dumping and countervailing investigations against Chinese solar products, dealing a major blow to the industry. Markets contracted sharply, and the industry entered a downturn.

Ultimately, overreliance on external inputs and downstream markets eroded industrial autonomy, while confinement to low-margin activities stifled competitiveness — the twin roots of the crisis.

Recognizing these challenges, Chinese policymakers responded with coordinated, forward-looking interventions. Beginning in 2012, central and local authorities rolled out a comprehensive policy framework spanning manufacturing standards, market deployment, fiscal incentives, and tax reforms. 

Designed to accelerate the transition toward a modern energy system, these measures revitalized the sector and ushered in what industry observers have called a “second spring. ” On the demand side, the government deliberately expanded domestic consumption to absorb excess capacity.  

In 2013, the State Council issued guidelines on promoting the sound development of the solar industry, calling for the wider application of distributed solar power and the development of solar power plants. 

Starting in 2015, China launched a “top runner” program for solar power generation, accelerating the commercialization and wider application of technological advances. From 2021, large-scale renewable energy bases were developed in deserts and other arid areas, creating vast expanses of solar panels across the country’s deserts and wastelands. 

These efforts supported the green transition while tapping domestic demand, leading solar power plants to spring up across the country and driving demand for solar equipment. 

International markets broadened in parallel. Moving beyond traditional exports to Europe and North America, Chinese solar firms increasingly engaged in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, shifting from simple product sales to integrated solutions encompassing project financing, engineering management, brand development, and long-term operations. This evolution has steadily expanded China’s network of global partners in the clean energy sector.

Simultaneously, the supply side underwent a rigorous push for technological self-reliance. Breakthroughs emerged across multiple areas of solar module manufacturing technology. The conversion efficiency of crystalline silicon solar cells has set new world records time and again. Research and development of next-generation technologies such as perovskite solar cells has accelerated. Technologies including new-type energy storage and ultra-high-voltage power transmission gradually matured, helping address the intermittency and volatility of solar power generation. 

Joint efforts by enterprises, universities, research institutes and the user end have driven continuous upgrades in China’s solar products and power generation technologies.

Backed by a complete industrial system and massive application scenarios, it fostered a virtuous cycle between supply and demand. The sector effectively reduced its heavy reliance on imported raw materials and equipment as well as overseas end markets, and its competitiveness grew steadily.

Today, China accounts for more than 90 percent of global polysilicon, wafer and solar cell production capacity and more than 80 percent of global module production capacity, while domestically made equipment has become the backbone of solar production lines. The average cost of solar power generation has fallen sharply.

Clean, cost-effective and reliable, solar power has built its competitiveness on solid technological and industrial capabilities. Its share of China’s total installed power capacity has risen from less than 0.2 percent in 2011 to 31.5 percent today.

Looking back at the development of China’s solar industry, one can see a clear path and valuable lessons for nurturing and growing emerging industries. It was the unwavering pursuit of high-quality development, the full and accurate implementation of the new development philosophy, and accelerated efforts to foster a new development paradigm that enabled China’s solar industry to turn challenges into opportunities and build up strength for sustained growth.

China is now at a critical stage of shifting from old growth drivers to new ones and upgrading its industrial structure, with businesses in some sectors facing new circumstances and challenges. The development of China’s solar industry shows that the challenges confronting an industry can also provide a valuable opportunity for adjustment and upgrading. As long as development continues to move toward higher quality and greater value, industries can weather cycles and keep moving forward under pressure.

China advances coordinated development of intelligent computing, advanced storage capacity

By Wang Junling, People’s Daily

Driven by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), computing power has evolved into indispensable new digital infrastructure. It enables a wide range of real-world applications: AI systems can now estimate caloric content from a simple photograph; massive traffic datasets are processed in real time to optimize urban mobility; production workflows are dynamically scheduled to enhance factory efficiency; and highly realistic visuals are generated for creative media production.

According to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, national intelligent computing capacity reached 2,185 exaflops (EFLOPS) by the end of June 2026. To support this expansion, over 70 major computing corridors have been established, linking key national data hubs across the country.

In August 2026, China unveiled its development blueprint for the information and communications sector covering the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). The plan sets ambitious targets: by 2030, intelligent computing capacity is expected to reach 9,800 EFLOPS, and advanced storage capacity to hit 1,700 exabytes (EB) — representing increases of more than fivefold and twofold, respectively, compared to 2025 baselines. 

But what exactly is the relationship between computing power and storage? And what do these rapid expansion goals signify? To answer these questions, People’s Daily consulted leading experts in the field.

“Computing power primarily handles data processing, model training, and inference, while storage capacity manages data collection, governance, hosting, and distribution,” said Guo Liang, chief engineer at the Cloud Computing and Big Data Research Institute under the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. 

In practice, AI training checkpoints, intermediate states during AI-agent inference, and contextual memory buffers are distributed across tiered high-performance storage systems. By synchronizing compute and storage resources, developers can significantly accelerate AI model training, improve inference speed, and enhance output quality. 

As of June 2026, the nationwide utilization rate of computing facilities stood at 71.4 percent, while total storage capacity reached about 2,021 EB, with advanced storage accounting for around 32 percent.

Large language models are rapidly scaling from hundreds of billions to trillions of parameters, making the compute capacity of individual clusters a decisive factor in training efficiency. 

To address this, the new plan mandates a multi-tiered infrastructure spanning national hubs, regional centers, and edge nodes. It calls for the phased deployment of intelligent computing clusters ranging from 10,000 to over 100,000 GPUs, better accommodating the growing demand for ultra-scale parallel training as model complexity continues to rise. 

According to the plan, China will deploy high-speed transmission technologies of 400G and above, aiming at improving the major computing-power corridors connecting national computing hubs and providing high-quality network support for cross-regional coordination of computing resources.

Concurrently, the plan promotes the integrated development of computing and energy systems, aiming to build green, low-carbon infrastructure that reduces operational costs while supporting national decarbonization goals.

“Efficient coordination” is a key focus of China’s development of computing infrastructure during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

According to a 2026 analysis on China’s comprehensive computing power landscape, Hebei, Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces, along with Shanghai and Beijing, rank among the top regions nationwide in overall computing capacity. 

Overall, regional development remains markedly uneven, while deeper integration of computing power with industry-specific applications is still needed. Cross-regional allocation of computing resources also faces multiple constraints in practice.

Over the next five years, China will build a multi-level computing infrastructure system covering hubs, regions and the edge, improve the interconnected network architecture linking computing facilities, enhance the efficiency of long-distance, cross-regional lossless network transmission between hubs, and fully connect computing platforms across the country. Several experts interviewed said these efforts will significantly improve the efficiency with which data resources are utilized.

The plan sets targets for intelligent computing capacity and advanced storage capacity to grow by more than fivefold and more than twofold, respectively. Guo said the key purpose of setting such ambitious growth targets is to meet the medium- and long-term development needs of China’s AI models and digital industries, while taking into account multiple considerations including industrial development, technological competition and security.

As of June this year, China had completed the filing process for 988 generative AI services, 686 more than at the end of 2024 and 240 more than at the end of 2025. With the number of large AI models rising year by year, demand for computing power is steadily being released, creating a need for a sufficiently robust computing foundation to support the development and industrial application of various models.

Meanwhile, data volumes across industries continue to grow, driving rising demand for data storage, governance and circulation. Intelligent applications are placing higher demands on the supply, processing, governance and security of data, making it necessary to take a coordinated approach to the scale, structure and performance of advanced storage capacity.

“The global expansion of intelligent computing is proceeding rapidly, and high-end intelligent computing has become a critical foundation for competition in the digital sector. Setting a relatively high target will help stimulate innovation throughout the industrial chain, promote coordinated breakthroughs in areas such as intelligent computing clusters, chips and interconnectivity, address shortcomings in computing infrastructure, and gradually narrow the gap with the international advanced level,” Guo said.

Building bridges in porcelain: how one artist is welcoming the world to Jingdezhen

By Zhou Huan, People’s Daily 

Golden afternoon light spills into the studio of Philip Read, a 76-year-old Canadian artist, nestled in Taoxichuan, a vibrant cultural hub in Jingdezhen, widely celebrated as China’s “porcelain capital” in east China’s Jiangxi province. 

With a paintbrush in hand, Read carefully applies pigment to a porcelain panel. Beside him rests a blue certificate naming him lead coordinator of the “Yang Jingpiao” volunteer service team, a grassroots network dedicated to supporting international artists and expatriates who have made Jingdezhen their home.

After more than 30 years of living and working in Jingdezhen, Read sums up his life there in one sentence: “I find joy in creating art and warmth in helping others. I feel very fulfilled.”

Over the past few years, Jingdezhen has grown into a magnet for global talent. By the end of 2025, more than 5,000 foreign artists and international residents had settled in the city. Yet many face hurdles — from navigating unfamiliar local regulations to overcoming language and cultural gaps that can hinder daily life and professional collaboration.

“Many newcomers face similar challenges, notes Yu Huiyao, suggested Yu Huiyao, director of the Zhushan branch of the Jingdezhen Public Security Bureau. “What if we gathered experienced foreign residents who already know the city well and formed a volunteer network to guide them?”

Read was among the first to volunteer. He still recalls his initial visit 37 years ago, when he was instantly mesmerized by Jingdezhen’s masterful ceramics. That early fascination eventually led to an invitation as a visiting scholar at Jingdezhen Ceramic University.

“Early mentors and friends helped me understand the nuances of porcelain-panel painting and adjust to life here,” he says. “The kindness I received planted a lasting commitment: to pay forward the support I once needed.”

To launch the initiative, Read reached out to American ceramic artist Michael May, whose own exhibition nearly collapsed due to language barriers until local officials intervened. “He knows exactly how vital timely, cross-cultural support can be,” Read explains. He also recruited colleagues and alumni from Jingdezhen Ceramic University who shared his vision.

On July 16, 2025, the “Yang Jingpiao” volunteer team officially launched, with Read unanimously chosen as its coordinator. Starting with nine members from seven countries, it marked Jiangxi province’s first dedicated support network for foreign residents.

Partnering with the Zhushan public security branch, Read helped design a three-tier service model. First, they integrated the team into a digital police-citizen platform, enabling foreigners to submit requests for real-time assistance. Second, dedicated service desks were opened in high-traffic expat neighborhoods like Taoyuan Valley. Finally, volunteers began offering outreach directly in universities, residential communities, and creative markets.

“We’re not just solving paperwork problems,” Read says. “We’re building bridges — helping people understand each other and truly belong.””Formal presentations rarely resonate with artists,” he notes. “They learn best through conversation, in informal settings where ideas can flow freely.”

Each weekend, at the bustling creative markets, Read sets up a modest booth he affectionately calls his “policy counter.” There, he and fellow volunteers break down residency, visa, and business regulations into plain, accessible advice.

Over time, Read realized translation alone wasn’t enough. Regulations often felt abstract or intimidating. The solution? Frame legal requirements through lived experience — turning bureaucratic language into actionable, story-driven guidance.

More recently, he’s taken things a step further: staging short plays to demystify local policies.

At the Taoxichuan Art Center, Read, May, and several other team members performed a short play titled “Yang Jingpiao” Adventures in the Millennium Porcelain Capital. Blending humor with practical tips on housing, permits, and daily logistics, the sketch drew laughs — and nods of recognition — from more than 30 attending foreign artists.

“Everything clicked,” says Malaysian ceramist Goh Zhenxi. “Visa steps, rental advice, mentorship contacts — it all made sense in a way a government brochure never could.”

Beyond administrative support, the team has stepped into community mediation. 

Read frequently serves as a cultural liaison during minor disputes, helping parties navigate differing expectations with patience and clarity.

In August 2025, for example, a minor traffic collision between two foreign residents sparked confusion over liability. Police and Read arrived promptly.

“Read explained China’s traffic regulations in English, while gently highlighting how cultural norms shape our understanding of responsibility. In less than half an hour, they’d shaken hands and moved on,” said police officer Li Yuchen.

“Most friction stems not from malice, but from miscommunication,” Read observes. “That’s why I train our volunteers to listen actively, translate contextually, and bridge cultural assumptions,” Read said.

Appointed a cultural tourism ambassador for Jingdezhen, Read now leads regular “ceramic salons” that connect newcomers with masters of Jingdezhen’s intangible cultural heritage. Volunteers also organize guided tours through historic kiln ruins, repurposed industrial zones, and active studios, giving international artists hands-on exposure to centuries-old craftsmanship.

In just over a year, the team has hosted nine major outreach events, delivered more than 150 consultations and translation sessions, and assisted over 500 individuals.

Ultimately, Read envisions a community where foreign creatives and local residents don’t just coexist — they collaborate, support one another, and enrich each other’s lives through shared curiosity and respect.

The team organizes joint creative projects involving Chinese and foreign artists, sets up stalls for Chinese-foreign artist collaborations at ceramic markets, and organizes community open days that invite local residents into the studios of foreign artists. Through these exchanges, people get to know each other, share warmth, and inspire new ideas.

Read’s studio is filled with numerous unnamed porcelain-panel paintings. “These paintings record how Jingdezhen has changed over the past 30-plus years. They also record my deep love for this city and its ceramic culture,” Read said.

He incorporates elements of Chinese kung fu, dance, and landscapes into his ceramic works. When these pieces featuring Chinese elements have been exhibited around the world, they have received widespread acclaim.

“Viewers tell me my art offers a more nuanced portrait of China — one seen through lived experience rather than stereotypes,” Read said.

Gazing out from his sunlit studio, Read reflects on the parallels between craft and community: “In this millennium-old porcelain capital, raw clay is shaped, fired, and transformed into porcelain.  So too can human connection — forged through empathy, cooperation, and shared purpose — to create something enduring that crosses every border.”

Two French travelers walk all the way to China in 518 days 

By Shang Kaiyuan, People’s Daily

“We’ve finally made it to our destination. We walked all the way to Shanghai, China — and we did it!” French traveler Loic Voisot could barely contain his excitement as he and his friend Benjamin Humblot arrived at Shanghai’s Bund early this year. 

His voice was hoarse after the long journey, but his excitement was unmistakable. Across the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl Tower, a landmark of Shanghai’s financial hub of Lujiazui, glittered against the night sky.

Over the course of 518 days, the two men walked from the foothills of the French Alps to the banks of the Huangpu River, crossing 16 countries across Eurasia and following the ancient Silk Road eastward. Along the way, they engaged in a remarkable dialogue with both ancient civilizations and contemporary China.

Before setting out, Voisot and Humblot led stable, predictable lives in Paris. Voisot worked in corporate sustainability, while Humblot was a software product manager. Having grown up near the Alps, both have loved nature and hiking since childhood.

Their knowledge of China had previously come mainly from textbooks, news reports and a handful of cultural images. “We really wanted to see what China was like up close,” Voisot said.

“Why don’t we just walk there, step by step?” Humblot asked one day. What initially sounded like a crazy idea gradually took root in both their minds. 

“Walking is a great way to take the time to immerse yourself in local cultures and meet new people,” they said. They quickly reached an agreement: why not just go? Three months before departure, they quit their jobs and prepared for the journey.

In September 2024, they set off on the adventure they had dreamed of.

“Day XX of walking to China!” That was how they began every video posted on the social media account they ran together. China was not only a clearly defined destination on the map, but also a kind of beacon that guided them through their long journey.

The physical demands of such a journey were immense. According to their plan, they had to walk an average of 45 kilometers per day. By evening, their feet were often so painful that they could barely stand.

“But we never seriously thought about giving up, because we were making our dream come true!” they said.

One year and one week after setting off, they finally reached the Horgos Port in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, beginning more than four months of walking across China.

“Just moments earlier, we were looking at a vast, quiet desert. Then, after crossing the border, we saw high-rise buildings, busy streets and robots working in hotels.” The striking contrast left a deep impression on them.

It was not only the urban landscape that surprised them. They also encountered an unfamiliar digital way of life in China. With help from local residents, they quickly downloaded WeChat, Alipay and map apps, learned to make QR-code payments, navigate their way around, and book hotels, and picked up a few of the most useful Chinese phrases.

Many people cross Eurasia by various means these days, but few have completed such a long journey relying almost entirely on their own feet.

Along the way, they were often struck by how time and space seemed to converge. As they crossed Eurasia, they felt as though they were walking into the long history of the ancient Silk Road. In Venice, Italy, they visited the former residence of Marco Polo. After reaching Zhangye in northwest China’s Gansu province, they visited a statue of Marco Polo and paid tribute to the “pioneer” who helped foster exchanges between Eastern and Western civilizations.

From Georgia and Türkiye to Central Asia, many of the places they passed through had once been important nodes along the ancient Eurasian transportation and trade networks.

“The ancient Silk Road has not disappeared. Its form has simply changed,” Humblot said. “The camel caravans are long gone, but we saw trucks streaming along the highways and freight trains constantly rushing past. The flow of goods and connections between regions never stopped. If anything, they have become even more active and closely linked.”

Walking from Xinjiang to Shanghai allowed the two to experience China’s vast geographical and cultural diversity firsthand. Traveling on foot also took them to places rarely visited by ordinary foreign tourists.

“We passed through villages and townships and saw farmers working in the fields, grain drying in courtyards and the bustle of roadside stalls. We also saw flat roads, well-developed lighting and stretches of solar panels in remote areas.” In their eyes, the combination of traditional rural life and modern infrastructure formed a series of vivid, tangible images of China.

More memorable than the scenery were the people they met along the way.

Some villages may not have seen a foreign visitor in years. When children spotted the two travelers, they would gather around curiously. Speaking a mix of hesitant English and broken Chinese, they would chat with the pair happily. Villagers along the route often offered them water and snacks and repeatedly asked whether they needed any help.

Being invited to meals was also common, giving the two a firsthand taste of the “sweet burden” that cultural differences can bring.

“In France, finishing everything on your plate is a way of showing respect to your host. But here, every time we finished eating, our hosts thought we were still hungry and brought us more food. Eventually, we learned that we had to tell them clearly that we were really full,” Humblot said with a laugh.

Throughout the journey, the two shared their experiences on Chinese platforms such as Xiaohongshu and Douyin. Their courageous adventure quickly attracted a large following. More and more users offered advice on routes, weather and supplies, while some even traveled to meet the pair along the way.

On the final day, about 70 Chinese and foreign followers spontaneously joined them for the last 10 kilometers. Some had traveled from other cities specifically to Shanghai to take part.

“That moment, when we completed the journey together with everyone, is something we will never forget. We walked and talked together, and the atmosphere was incredibly warm,” the two said.

“This trip changed our one-dimensional impression of China,” Humblot said. “China is so vast, and there are so many wonderful things waiting for us to discover.”

For the two travelers, arriving in Shanghai was not really the end of the journey. It felt more like opening the door to a new beginning.

“On the map, China and France are very far apart,” Humblot said. “But in our hearts, the distance between China and France has become much shorter, and we feel much closer to the Chinese people.”

Chinese innovation and engineering take center stage at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games

By People’s Daily reporters

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games came to a close on Oct. 4 after a two-week competition, with China topping the gold medal table for the 12th consecutive edition. 

From the opening ceremony’s grand staging to athletes’ uniforms and competition venues, Chinese technological innovation and design excellence played a pivotal role across the Games. Several Chinese brands and their engineering delivered integrated solutions that highlighted the strength and adaptability of China’s manufacturing and creative industries.

Following the lighting of the main cauldron, the opening ceremony featured a sequence of choreographed performances and visual spectacles. The stage engineering, design, and development of the main cauldron tower, digital content, and on-site implementation for the grand ceremony were all carried out by a project team from Dafeng Industry, a Chinese provider of integrated solutions for cultural, sports, and tourism industries based in east China’s Zhejiang province. 

Working closely with organizers, the team managed everything from creative direction and production to system integration and operational management. Powered by proprietary Chinese software and hardware, the unified platform guaranteed seamless coordination of all critical ceremony elements.

Nagoya’s coastal location presented significant environmental challenges. Prone to typhoons and seasonal downpours, the region requires outdoor structures to meet rigorous standards for wind resistance, seismic safety, waterproofing, and structural redundancy.

“The real challenge wasn’t any single piece of equipment; it was integrating dozens of interdependent subsystems. Even a millisecond-level delay in lighting, stage machinery, projection, or audio could cascade into a major disruption,” said Xu Huiwen, technical director of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 20th Asian Games and technical director of the stage design institute of Dafeng Industry.

Multiple challenges of the project have been resolved through a two-site coordination model. 

A team in Zhejiang province’s Hangzhou was responsible for refining the technical plans and developing digital content. Using digital twin technology, it simulated wind patterns and lighting effects around the main cauldron tower at the Nagoya site, assessed the potential risks posed by typhoons and heavy rain in advance, and carried out coordinated testing of stage-design subsystems as well as cross-border reviews online. 

Meanwhile, the company’s smart manufacturing base in Yuyao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, was responsible for equipment manufacturing. The entire main cauldron tower was produced there, underwent multiple rounds of stress tests and extreme-condition testing, and was packed and shipped to Japan in August 2026. By completing extensive debugging and testing in China ahead of time, the team significantly reduced the workload of on-site construction in Japan.

This is not the first time the team has worked on an international multi-sport event. Dafeng Industry’s technical solutions have previously been used at major events including the Jakarta Asian Games, Beijing Winter Olympics and Hangzhou Asian Games. 

The company also provided stage support for the G20 Hangzhou Summit, building extensive experience in delivering large-scale engineering projects across the entire process and across national borders. 

The company is now continuing to explore ways to take its equipment, creative solutions, and technical standards overseas. Its technologies and services have been deployed in more than 100 countries and regions around the world.

Around the Asian Games venues, volunteer Makino moved through the stands in a forest-green uniform, helping guide spectators.

“It’s incredibly lightweight and breathable. It wicks moisture efficiently and dries quickly, which makes a huge difference in humid conditions,” Makino said.

The uniform is made by Chinese sportswear brand 361 Degrees. As an official partner of the Games, 361 Degrees has provided official sportswear for torchbearers, torch relay runners, volunteers, and technical officials. The garments utilize advanced quick-dry, ultra-light fabrics engineered to withstand repeated laundering without losing performance. Each cut was optimized through biomechanical modeling and motion-simulation studies, ensuring athletes and staff remain agile and comfortable during prolonged outdoor activity.

Design details also feature in the uniforms of several national and regional delegations. The uniform for the Cambodian delegation draws inspiration from the architectural contours of Angkor Wat, while the uniform for the Mongolian delegation incorporates imagery of the grasslands. 

For this Asian Games, 361 Degrees customized competition uniforms for six national and regional delegations and provided competition and training equipment for the Olympic Council of Asia Refugee Team. This is reportedly the fifth consecutive Asian Games that 361 Degrees has served, with more than 5.4 million pieces of sportswear supplied in total.

Inside the gymnastics venue, a technical support team from Taishan Sports, a Chinese supplier of sports equipment and services based in east China’s Shandong province, was carefully inspecting the equipment. Half a month before the opening, members of the team arrived in Japan in batches and began installing equipment at the competition, warm-up, and training venues.

Athletes and coaches are familiar with their technical routines, but may not necessarily know the ins and outs of competition equipment. Taishan’s specialists remain on-site throughout the Games to monitor performance and coordinate rapid responses.

“Our protocols leave no room for deviation,” noted Wang Wei, chief engineer of the support team. “We conduct a full systems check exactly one hour before every session — a non-negotiable standard.”

In addition to gymnastics, Taishan Sports is providing complete sets of competition equipment and one-stop event support for 16 sports at these Asian Games, including wushu, wrestling, and cycling.

Since equipping the 1990 Beijing Asian Games, the company has maintained an unblemished record: zero malfunctions, zero safety incidents, and zero formal complaints.

“From products to services and standards, and from elite competition venues to the mass market, we have always forged ahead with the mindset of climbers, reaching for greater heights,” Wang said. “We aim to see Chinese sports brands shine even more brightly on the world stage.”

2027: Tinubu Campaign Council Creates New Directorate, Names Aliyu, Olawande, Idele to Key Positions

The PBAT/APC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council has created a new Directorate of Stage Organisation and Management and adjusted the leadership of its Youth Mobilisation and Women Mobilisation directorates as preparations intensify for the 2027 presidential election.

The decision, announced in a press statement signed by the Secretary of the Council, His Excellency, Hope Uzodimma, follows the inauguration of the Presidential Campaign Council and is aimed at strengthening its organisational structure, enhancing coordination and improving operational efficiency.

Under the new arrangement, Dr. Farouk Adamu Aliyu has been appointed Director of the newly created Directorate of Stage Organisation and Management, while Rt. Hon. Adejare Bello will serve as Co-Director.

The Council also announced changes in the leadership of its Youth Mobilisation Directorate, appointing Mr. Ayo Olawande as Director and Dr. Dayo Israel as Deputy Director.

Similarly, Dr. Mary Aille Idele has been appointed Director of the Women Mobilisation Directorate, with Dr. Betta Edu named Deputy Director and Hon. Imaan Suleman appointed Secretary.

The appointments place new leadership teams in key areas of the campaign’s organisational and mobilisation efforts, particularly in coordinating activities and engaging critical constituencies ahead of the 2027 presidential poll.

According to the statement, the adjustments reflect the Council’s commitment to building a well-coordinated, inclusive and results-driven campaign structure capable of effectively mobilising Nigerians, particularly young people and women, in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The Council expressed confidence that the appointees would bring their experience, commitment and organisational capabilities to bear on their respective responsibilities as preparations for the election gather momentum.

It further charged all appointees to work collaboratively with other directorates and relevant campaign structures to advance the Council’s objectives and ensure the effective implementation of its mobilisation and campaign strategies.

AREWA GROUP TO BABA AHMED: YOU ARE PART OF THE ROT IN OUR COUNTRY, YOUR RICKETY GANG-UP WILL FAIL IN 2027

…You have become a northern liability since you came to limelight using all available means to butter your bread.

The recent political activities and stories credited to Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed did not come as a surprise to many Nigerians and Northern elites. This is because Baba Ahmed, a desperate politician from the North, tends to look for scapegoats to blame instead of looking inwards since he became a lame duck used by a disgruntled few.

We at the Arewa Voters Assembly (AVA) are aware that Baba Ahmed is addicted to making sensational stories and fabricated narratives against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose only crime is contesting for the presidency of Nigeria in 2023, which he won fair and square. In every rhetoric made by this self-appointed Nigerian patriot and bootlicker, there is nothing of substance except outrageous insinuations against President Tinubu and nothing more.

The lies alluded to by Baba Ahmed that the late President Buhari, of blessed memory, accused PBAT of being bad news is a lie from the pit of hell, and we have it on good authority that he fabricated the story for cheap political score. We can authoritatively say that he was never that close to the General when he was alive, and this can be attested to by very close aides and associates of the former leader. In fact, the likes of Baba Ahmed and his ilk are bad news for our country because he is always looking for who to butter his bread and rehabilitate him as a lame duck.

You have conceived a personal hatred for President Tinubu who is trying to give Nigerians a country that works for all. But because of your preconceived agenda against any non-Hausa/Fulani leader, you will do anything to bring down any Nigerian President outside your borrowed identity.

Baba Ahmed is outstanding for only one thing: trying to brainwash ordinary people, the Talakawas, as a tool in his manipulative therapy for a narrow-minded political agenda because he is aware that they are gullible. The hallmark of his bitter political campaign against President Tinubu is a product of his pathetic mischief, mudslinging, casting of aspersions and doing anything possible to denigrate, disparage and malign the President at any given opportunity, just to show his disdain and lack of character and intellectual maturity.

You were an INEC Secretary appointed during the PDP era. What was the outcome of the elections conducted under your watch? You are only shedding crocodile tears for all the atrocities you and your gang of Northern political elites committed against the ordinary Talakawas in our region at large and Nigeria in general.

Your sudden leadership maneuvering of the PRP for your political aggrandizement is part of a grand illusionary chase and fantasy to impose a dark agenda on our people, which will be resisted by well-meaning Nigerians and the entire North because of your self-serving agenda and inordinate ambition of always plotting against a change agent and an advocate for good governance. Indeed, the country’s trajectory is gradually turning around in all ramifications, be it the economy, infrastructure, education, security and in all facets of our national life. What a big shame to narrow-minded people like you who allow your parochial minds to becloud your judgement just for a morsel of porridge and cheap publicity.

You were never associated with the PRP. Balarabe Musa, Malam Lawal Dambazau, Ammani Inuwa, Halle Jani and several other PRP bigwigs during their days were the active members and leaders.

You are an ideological pretender. Your mindset is anti-Talakawa, completely detached from their daily realities and activities. Therefore, you cannot deceive Nigerians that you are sympathetic to the plight of the Talakawas. We all know those that were truly our leaders and pillars, not interlopers and hirelings like you.

As Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you were part of the cabal under Yar’Adua. You saw nothing wrong when cabal members were playing hide and seek with Nigerians over his ill health, neither did you come to tell Nigerians the truth then because for you, it is all about self and not for the collective good. May Almighty Allah rest his soul and grant him paradise.

We challenge Baba Ahmed to mention what the ordinary Talakawas and Northern Nigeria benefited from his being in government all these years.

We are aware of the position held by his younger brother in the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA). He was in charge of the finances of the power company, but Baba Ahmed is yet to utter a word on the circumstances surrounding the failure of NEPA and the characters that looted its coffers dry.

Baba Ahmed, you served as Secretary to the Government of Kaduna State under an Idi Amin-like, brazen military Governor who arbitrarily sacked workers without regard to due process. He was unapologetically arresting and detaining citizens without trial whatsoever, including Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, without compensation. The poor workers and civil servants were obnoxiously thrown out from the state workforce without compensation, and they were ordinary people without visible means of subsistence outside the service. What a shame!

During the high-handed era of the State Governor, you never blinked an eyelid against his dictatorial leadership and remained in a juicy government position completely detached from the Talakawas. You spoke from both sides of the mouth and were completely drunk with power, not minding whose ox is gored, and today you have the temerity to speak? Go and hide your head in shame, you bootlicker!

We must state, with a fair amount of certainty too, that you are an ethnic champion and a sinew collaborating with retrogressive forces and bigots to stir up crisis in our multi-ethnic and multi-religious society before, during or after the 2027 general elections.

We make bold to state that Baba Ahmed suddenly found a voice to criticize the government because he could not find direct access to PBAT to misguide him. Baba Ahmed categorically said his grouse was that throughout the period he served as Political Adviser in the Office of the Vice President, he never met the President one-on-one.

This brings us to the task of analyzing the motive of Baba Ahmed’s rantings. To us in AVA, there is no meaning to his infamous activities other than working to install a visionless regime so that he can once again be part of the cabal to hold Nigeria hostage for their own selfish agenda. He and his minions should expect imminent defeat at the polls come 2027 general elections.

It is also noteworthy that throughout the years he has been in the corridors of power, Baba Ahmed never championed any coalition for the emergence of a single candidate either in his ward, local government or at the state level. However, because of his hatred and disdain for President Tinubu, he is hypocritically doing so against him just to supplant him with the most unpatriotic Northern Nigerian politician who promised to make Nigeria ungovernable if he did not get the presidency in 2011. Nigeria is still suffering from that statement credited to his leader in the form of banditry, killings, kidnappings and terrorism since he made that treasonable statement till date.

The most absurd and theatrical commentary is the golden silence of Baba Ahmed on the evil activities of Atiku using his hired goons in Washington DC in a desperate bid to stop the sale of arms to the Nigerian military. It is a sad commentary that they want to thwart the sale of arms by the American government to Nigeria. This unconscionable plan is to allow bandits and terrorists to kill more Nigerian citizens and security personnel in order to give President Tinubu a bad name, for the sponsors of terrorism to gain advantage.

Let it be known that as far as Arewa Voters Assembly is concerned, the only area sponsors of bandits have a pass mark is in sentiments, lies and evil plots against political opponents. We shall use everything in collaboration with other patriots to ensure that men of evil machinations against the progress and development of our country can never succeed in their warped obsession with power grab at all cost in 2027. And we will not allow them to get away with their obvious threat to the collective well-being of citizens, both Northerners and Southerners alike.

Signed:

Comrade Iliasu Musa
National Coordinator, AVA.

Comrade Paul Katuka
Secretary, AVA.

“WIKE CANNOT CHOOSE A GOVERNOR FOR US!” — Group Rejects Alleged Rainbow Coalition Plot in Benue

The Benue Alliance for Good Governance and Accountability (BAGA) alleges secret political negotiations involving Wike, Akume and Ortom; insists Governor Alia should be allowed to complete two terms if re-elected.

BAGA has raised concerns over an alleged political arrangement involving prominent political figures, warning against any attempt to influence the outcome of the 2027 Benue State governorship election without the consent of voters.

In a statement signed by its President, Chief John Terfa, the group alleged that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, was involved in discussions with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom over a proposed political alliance reportedly known as the “Rainbow Coalition”.

BAGA further alleged that Wike was seeking political control over five states under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as part of the proposed arrangement to deliver President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, with Benue reportedly among the states being considered to hand over to Wike through the Rainbow Coalition.

The group also claimed that the alleged discussions were aimed at securing the emergence of former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Mike Aondoakaa, as a preferred governorship candidate in Benue under the proposed coalition, despite Aondoakaa being banned from holding any political office for life by Supreme Court, due to unprecedented corruption and abuse of office when he was the Attorney General.

BAGA questioned why political actors from outside Benue should have a decisive influence over who governs the state, arguing that the choice of governor must remain with the electorate.

“Benue is not a political commodity to be traded behind closed doors in Abuja. The people of the state must have the final say on who governs them and the direction their state takes,” the group said.

The organisation alleged that Wike had held a series of meetings with Akume and Ortom in recent weeks to discuss the reported arrangement.

It further claimed that tensions arose during one of the alleged meetings at Akume’s residence in Abuja recently, where Wike was said to have questioned why Akume had allowed Governor Hyacinth Alia to become so politically powerful.

It was alleged that Wike demanded that Akume should make sure Governor Alia is not re-elected or declared winner in 2027 whether he wins or not and boast of having the judiciary under his control.

BAGA rejected what it described as an attempt to determine Benue’s political leadership through negotiations among powerful individuals, insisting that Governor Hyacinth Alia should be allowed to complete his constitutionally permitted tenure, if re-elected in 2027.

The group said it believed Alia’s administration was performing well in governance and development, adding that political alliances should not be used to undermine the democratic choices of the electorate.

It also criticised the record of Ortom’s administration and expressed concern about what it described as divisions within Benue’s political space arising from the influence of powerful political interests within and outside the state.

BAGA argued that any coalition seeking to influence the 2027 election should be based on transparent principles, competence, accountability and the interests of the people, rather than personal ambition or political bargaining in Abuja.

The group also challenged political actors seeking the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pursue their ambitions without attaching conditions that could compromise the democratic choices of the voters.

“Benue people are politically conscious. They will not surrender their future to a coalition of political interests formed without their consent,” the statement said.

The organisation called on voters, civil society groups and political stakeholders to remain vigilant and defend the state’s democratic rights ahead of the 2027 elections.

“Whatever colour it is given; Rainbow, PDP or otherwise, the people will reject any arrangement that threatens their collective interests and development,” BAGA said.

“Benue is not Rivers and we will not allow Wike from Rivers State to choose a governor for us in Benue State,” the group added.

According to BAGA, the central issue is whether political negotiations in Abuja will respect the right of Benue voters to determine their own leadership.

The group maintains that the state’s governorship should not be decided through private agreements among political power brokers, but through a democratic process in which the people have the final say.

Intelligentsia Machinery Celebrates Seyi Tinubu, Hails Contributions to Enterprise, Philanthropy, Youth Empowerment

The Intelligentsia Machinery (IM) has congratulated Seyi Tinubu on his birthday, celebrating his contributions to enterprise development, humanitarian service, youth empowerment and national engagement.

The organisation, in a congratulatory message signed by Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele and Com Umar Farouk on behalf of its resource persons, members and senior executives, described the birthday as an opportunity to reflect on Tinubu’s personal journey, professional accomplishments, philanthropic engagements and responsibilities associated with influence and public visibility.

The organisation celebrated Tinubu as an entrepreneur, philanthropist and advocate of youth empowerment, noting that his public profile encompasses private-sector enterprise, legal training, humanitarian interventions and initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for young Nigerians.

According to the statement, the birthday provides an appropriate moment to acknowledge the different dimensions of his public profile while encouraging the continued expansion of programmes capable of delivering measurable and sustainable benefits to Nigerians.

“Today, we celebrate not merely another year in your life but also an opportunity to reflect on your personal journey, professional accomplishments, humanitarian engagements, and the responsibilities that accompany influence, privilege, and public visibility in a developing nation such as Nigeria,” the statement said.

Education, Enterprise and Personal Development

The organisation highlighted Tinubu’s educational background, noting that he studied Business Administration at the University of Maryland in the United States and Law at the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom before being called to the Nigerian Bar in 2013.

It said the educational experiences provided an important context for understanding his subsequent involvement in business, entrepreneurship and public engagement, adding that his professional journey reflected the intersection of business knowledge, legal training, strategic thinking and opportunities within Nigeria’s evolving private sector.

The statement also recognised his role as Chief Executive of Loatsad Promomedia, where he has been associated with Nigeria’s out-of-home advertising industry.

According to IM, the sector connects businesses, brands, consumers and the wider commercial environment, while private enterprise remains important to Nigeria’s economic development.

It noted that businesses could contribute to employment, innovation, professional development and opportunities for young people through investments in talent, new ideas and sustainable operations.

The organisation therefore encouraged Tinubu to continue pursuing enterprise that advances commercial objectives while contributing to skills development, responsible business practices and the growth of Nigeria’s creative and entrepreneurial economy.

Philanthropy and the Responsibility to Give Back

On philanthropy, the organisation acknowledged Tinubu’s association with the Noella Foundation and other humanitarian engagements, noting that publicly reported activities linked to his philanthropic work had included healthcare support, assistance to vulnerable communities and initiatives intended to improve access to opportunities for young Nigerians.

It said the interventions underscored the importance of social responsibility and demonstrated how influence could be used to address the practical needs of individuals and communities.

The statement observed that Nigeria continued to face challenges relating to poverty, access to healthcare, educational opportunities and economic inclusion.

It added that partnerships among philanthropic organisations, businesses, community groups and public institutions could complement wider development efforts.

IM specifically acknowledged reports of healthcare interventions associated with Tinubu’s philanthropic activities, including the Drug Banks for Indigent Patients initiative launched at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Kaduna State in August 2024.

It also recognised public accounts of humanitarian assistance provided to communities affected by flooding in Borno State in 2024.

According to the organisation, such interventions demonstrated the importance of responding to the needs of vulnerable people, particularly during periods of displacement, hardship and uncertainty.

The organisation encouraged the continued strengthening of these humanitarian efforts through transparent implementation, broad access, measurable outcomes and sustained attention to community development.

It stated that the true significance of philanthropy lay not simply in the resources committed but also in the dignity restored, opportunities created and improvements sustained in the lives of beneficiaries.

The statement added that these outcomes reflected the importance of maintaining a commitment to the common good.

Youth Empowerment and the Future of Nigeria

The organisation also identified Tinubu’s engagements with youth-focused initiatives as an important dimension of his public profile.

It noted that Nigeria had an energetic and ambitious young population whose potential could be strengthened through quality education, vocational training, mentorship, entrepreneurship, digital skills and access to productive opportunities.

However, it stressed that ambition alone was insufficient, explaining that young people also needed supportive institutions, access to finance, professional guidance, practical experience and an economic environment in which hard work and creativity could translate into meaningful progress.

The statement highlighted Tinubu’s association and initiative with the Seyi Tinubu Empowerment Project (STEP), describing it as part of the focus on youth empowerment and entrepreneurial development.

IM expressed the belief that initiatives of this nature could make a more enduring contribution through structured programmes that equip beneficiaries with practical skills, business knowledge, mentorship and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.

The organisation encouraged the continued expansion of youth-centred programmes capable of reaching young Nigerians across different regions, backgrounds and economic circumstances.

It said its aspiration was to see a generation of young Nigerians who were not merely beneficiaries of assistance but also employers, innovators, responsible citizens, community leaders and contributors to national development.

The statement further attributed Tinubu’s public profile to various initiatives and philanthropic activities which, according to the organisation, had impacted lives and created far-reaching and enduring legacies.

Leadership, Influence and Public Responsibility

On leadership and public responsibility, IM noted that public visibility brought both opportunities and responsibilities, particularly for individuals whose activities attracted national attention.

It said the challenge was to ensure that influence contributed constructively to society and that public engagements remained connected to the expectations and concerns of ordinary citizens.

The organisation observed that Tinubu’s public profile had developed within the context of business, philanthropy, family prominence and increasing public interest in the role of young Nigerians in national affairs.

It also credited him with supporting and promoting youth participation in governance under the present administration, describing the development as significant in the country’s political history.

The statement, however, acknowledged that public assessments of influential figures could differ, stressing that meaningful public confidence was strengthened through openness, accountability, constructive engagement and demonstrable results.

IM therefore regarded the birthday as an opportunity to encourage continued investment in programmes that promote social inclusion, entrepreneurship, humanitarian assistance and the participation of young people in addressing Nigeria’s development challenges.

It expressed the hope that Tinubu would continue to demonstrate the enduring value of these commitments through initiatives whose outcomes could be assessed by the people and communities they were intended to serve.

The organisation wished him more glorious days ahead in his service to the nation and humanity.

Bridging Opportunities and Social Impact

The statement emphasised that Nigeria’s development required collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations, philanthropists, professional bodies and young people.

It noted that no single individual or institution could resolve the country’s numerous social and economic challenges alone, adding that progress depended on partnerships that combined resources, expertise, innovation and a shared commitment to the public good.

According to IM, the relationship between entrepreneurship and social impact remained important because commercial success could create opportunities, while responsible philanthropy could help address urgent social needs.

It added that when these efforts were supported by transparent processes and a commitment to measurable results, their benefits could extend beyond individual beneficiaries to families and communities.

The organisation also acknowledged what it described as the present administration’s commitment to such processes, while encouraging Tinubu to continue building partnerships that strengthen educational opportunities, improve access to healthcare, support emerging entrepreneurs and promote constructive engagement among young Nigerians.

It further expressed the hope that his future engagements would reflect an appreciation of Nigeria’s diversity and the importance of extending opportunities fairly across geographical, social and economic boundaries.

The statement described this as a key focus and direction of his engagements.

Birthday Wishes and Renewed Purpose

As Tinubu marks another year, the organisation said birthdays provided opportunities for celebration, gratitude, reflection and renewed purpose.

It expressed the hope that the new year would bring him good health, wisdom, peace, renewed determination and greater opportunities to contribute positively to society.

The organisation also wished that his professional pursuits would continue to create value, his humanitarian engagements would reach more people in need, and his youth-focused initiatives would help more Nigerians develop the skills and confidence required to build productive futures.

It encouraged him to remain open to constructive dialogue, embrace accountability and sustain a commitment to initiatives whose benefits could be clearly demonstrated in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

For the Intelligentsia Machinery, the statement said, the birthday celebration was an occasion to extend goodwill and reaffirm the importance of enterprise, humanitarian service, youth development and responsible public engagement in building a more inclusive and prosperous Nigeria where every life matters.

Describing Tinubu as a leader and mentor, the organisation characterised him as an audacious and kind-hearted individual whose love for humanity knew no bounds.

It wished him a fulfilling new year of life marked by good health, sound judgement, personal happiness, professional progress and meaningful accomplishments.

The organisation further expressed the hope that the years ahead would provide greater opportunities for him to expand his contributions to healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, youth empowerment and community development.

It also prayed that his journey would continue to be guided by a commitment to service, a willingness to learn and a determination to translate opportunities into lasting value for society.

The statement concluded with birthday wishes to Tinubu, expressing hopes for long life, good health, greater wisdom and many more years of purposeful achievement.

“Once again, the Resource Persons, Members, and Senior Executives of the Intelligentsia Machinery (IM) warmly congratulate you on your birthday anniversary,” the statement said.

The message was signed by Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele and Com Umar Farouk on behalf of the resource persons, members and senior executives of the Intelligentsia Machinery.