By He Yin, People’s Daily

China will achieve key energy development targets for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) on schedule, which include overall energy production capacity and the share of non-fossil energy, according to a recent press conference held by China’s State Council Information Office on the achievements in high-quality energy development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

The country holds over 40 percent of the world’s new energy patents, and its exports of wind power and photovoltaic products have helped other countries cut carbon emissions by around 4.1 billion tons.

The press conference highlighted that China is making remarkable strides in green and low-carbon development, emerging as an important force in the global shift toward clean energy. Its efforts have not only advanced domestic green growth but also earned widespread recognition for its contribution to the world’s low-carbon transformation.

Charting a distinctive path to green transition

In recent years, China has charted an energy transition path tailored to its national conditions, aligned with global development trends, and responsive to the imperatives of the times. 

At Tianjin Port, the world’s first intelligent zero-carbon terminal has achieved record-breaking productivity. At Meizhou Bay coal terminal in southeast China’s Fujian province, oil-powered equipment has been converted to electricity-driven ones, berths now run on green power, and bulk cargo handling has shifted to containerized operations. 

In northwest China’s Qinghai province, the Longyangxia hydro-solar hybrid power station reduces annual carbon emissions by about 1.23 million tons through its clean energy output. 

From hydrogen-powered ports to high-altitude power projects, China’s clean energy development is rapidly expanding. Today, China has established the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging network, with two charging posts for every five vehicles. It has built the world’s largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system, with the share of renewable energy in its total installed power generation capacity rising from 40 percent to roughly 60 percent. 

Gim Huay Neo, managing director of the World Economic Forum, observed that China has made remarkable progress in its domestic energy transition and is set to play an even greater role in shaping a sustainable, secure, and inclusive energy future.

Global leadership in clean energy

China’s green transformation is accelerating the global energy transition. The country has ranked first worldwide in wind power installation for 15 consecutive years and in solar installation for 10 years in a row. In May this year, China became the first country to surpass one terawatt in cumulative photovoltaic capacity, marking a new milestone in global new energy development and earning broad international acclaim. 

China’s growing green capacity is also driving global energy cooperation. In Thailand, Chinese inverter technology has helped Mahidol University build a nearly zero-carbon campus. In Ghana, the agro-photovoltaic model introduced by China is promoting the integration of solar power and agriculture. In Kiribati, Chinese-invested solar-powered water farms are improving local livelihoods while advancing clean energy adoption.

By continuously upgrading technology and expanding applications, China is making green energy more accessible worldwide and delivering tangible benefits to other countries.

A global endeavor shared by all

Green transformation is a path humanity must walk together. It should not be framed as a zero-sum competition. China’s green development is not the outcome of an “energy race,” but an inclusive effort that emphasizes cooperation over competition and empowerment over suppression. 

As the world’s largest exporter of clean energy technologies, China’s wind and photovoltaic products have reached over 200 countries and regions. The country has partnered with over 100 countries and regions in green energy projects and steadily advanced cooperation in fields such as clean energy, infrastructure upgrading and transformation, and power interconnection, creating 46 percent of renewable energy jobs worldwide. 

According to the UK-based website Carbon Brief, China’s exports of solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicle batteries in 2024 alone reduced carbon emissions abroad by 1 percent. 

Over the past decade, China has helped reduce global average costs of wind power by 60 percent and solar power by 80 percent, making clean energy more affordable for all.

Attempts to politicize clean energy and suppress China’s green industries will only raise costs globally, particularly for developing countries, and hinder global progress in low-carbon development.

Building a clean and beautiful world is a shared responsibility of all nations. China stands ready to work with the international community to develop innovative low-carbon solutions, create favorable conditions for global green cooperation, and chart a greener course for the planet toward a cleaner and more sustainable future for all humanity.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 will be held in Tianjin from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1. This will be the fifth time China hosts the gathering and the largest summit in the organization’s history.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will join leaders from more than 20 countries and heads of 10 international organizations on the banks of the Haihe River to review the SCO’s achievements, chart its future course, build consensus among member states, and steer the organization toward the goal of building a closer SCO community with a shared future.

The SCO has become a model of new international relations and regional cooperation, and a constructive force of global significance. Since its founding 24 years ago, the organization has adhered to the Shanghai Spirit, which is founded on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations, and the pursuit of common development. 

Since its inception in China’s Shanghai in 2001, the SCO has expanded from a regional organization with six members into a trans-regional organization with 10 full members, two observer countries, and 14 dialogue partners. Over the years, it has deepened solidarity and mutual trust, strengthened security cooperation with tangible results, advanced integrated development to the benefit of all parties, enhanced cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and expanded its influence and appeal.

At a time of turbulence and uncertainty in the international landscape, the SCO has remained confident and taken practical steps to advance cooperation. It serves as the torchbearer of the Shanghai Spirit, a practitioner of deeper collaboration, and a  contributor to building a community with a shared future for humanity, providing more stability and positive momentum to the world.

As a founding member, China has always prioritized the SCO in its neighborhood diplomacy. Since China took over the SCO rotating chairmanship in July last year, China has acted on the slogan “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move,” and made solid progress in its work as the SCO chair.

It has hosted over 100 events, and worked with all member states to advance reform and innovation in various aspects such as the deliberation mechanism, cooperation pattern and permanent bodies, to ensure smoother and more efficient operation of the organization. Together with SCO member states, it has actively carried out exchanges and dialogues among political parties, media and think tanks, giving people a better understanding of the “Shanghai Spirit” and bringing the big family of the SCO closer.

Modernization is the common aspiration of SCO members. This year, Pakistan’s New Gwadar International Airport, built with China’s support, welcomed its inaugural commercial flight. The mainline construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway entered the substantive construction phase, accelerating the development of a multidimensional regional connectivity network. In Nepal, the Sanjen Khola hydropower station, built by a Chinese company, has been put into operation and connected to the national grid, contributing to efforts in alleviating local power shortage.

Through active participation in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and alignment with the Global Development Initiative, the SCO is steadily evolving into a reliable strategic backbone for common prosperity and vitalization of its member states.

Today’s world remains overshadowed by power politics, unilateral bullying, and persistent conflicts, underscoring the urgent need for fairness and justice. By standing firmly on the right side of history, the SCO is redoubling efforts to safeguard peace, fairness, and justice in global affairs.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Against this historical backdrop, the SCO has amplified the collective voice of its member states on major international and regional issues, made the system of global governance fairer and more equitable, and united and guided the Global South in building a community with a shared future for humanity.

The upcoming SCO Tianjin Summit is expected to be an event of friendship, solidarity, and tangible achievements, highlighting the SCO’s resilience and stability amid global uncertainties. 

Together with all member states, China will remain committed to the SCO’s founding mission, fulfill its responsibilities through concrete actions, and seek common prosperity through cooperation. By leading the organization into a new stage of stronger unity, deeper collaboration, greater vitality, and broader achievements, China and its partners will contribute more “SCO strength” to lasting world peace and shared development.

By Dou Hao, People’s Daily

Decades ago, the notion of performing major surgery across continents seemed nearly impossible. Yet on July 19 in Strasbourg, France, during the Society of Robotic Surgery 2025 Annual Meeting, a Chinese-developed surgical robot turned this vision into reality.

Professor Liang Xiao of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital affiliated with Zhejiang University School of Medicine, who was attending an academic conference abroad, sat in front of a control console, his hands precisely moving the control rods. 

More than 10,000 kilometers away in Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province, an 80-year-old patient laid on an operating table. Under the close supervision of an on-site surgical team, the robotic arms mirrored Professor Liang’s every movement, performing a delicate liver resection with exceptional accuracy.

The patient, surnamed Wu, had been hospitalized for a scheduled procedure. However, his conditions deteriorated when Professor Liang was joining the academic conference abroad, immediate surgery became necessary. To ensure timely treatment and with full trust in his attending physician, the patient agreed to undergo the operation using the hospital’s most advanced cross-border remote robotic surgery technology.

Supported by the Chinese domestically developed surgical robot, the entire procedure was completed in just 50 minutes. Professor Liang successfully performed a robot-assisted remote left hepatic lobectomy for liver cancer. The patient is currently in stable condition and recovering well.

“Given Wu’s complicated liver condition, the surgery was particularly challenging,” Liang explained. Before the operation, the surgical team conducted a thorough assessment of his liver reserve function, meticulously mapped the resection area, and obtained informed consent for the remote procedure. They closely monitored the surgery in real time and stood ready to respond to any contingencies, ensuring absolute safety.

Liver resection is inherently technically challenging. Performing it remotely over a distance of more than 10,000 kilometers required exceptional stability of the robot, flawless network transmission, and outstanding surgical skill and judgment from the lead surgeon.

Throughout the surgery, the robot operated steadily, with clear real-time image transmission and uninterrupted voice interaction. Through seamless collaboration between Chinese and French experts, all surgical objectives were successfully accomplished.

Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital leads in developing domestic surgical robots and routinely conducts cross-campus remote procedures. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), the hospital has established innovative remote healthcare partnerships with medical institutions in Aral, Xinjiang, and Jiangshan, Zhejiang. These include remote robotic surgeries, joint consultations, and AI-assisted ultrasound examinations, effectively connecting leading hospitals with grassroots medical institutions, and mitigating regional disparities in medical resources, particularly in border, mountainous, and island areas.

Professor Liang’s team previously achieved a milestone in 2023, performing China’s first 5,000-km remote cholecystectomy using domestic robotics on a patient in Aral. Just days before his departure to France, he conducted another pioneering remote liver cancer surgery for a patient in the mountainous region of Jiangshan.

“Remote robotic surgery imposes extremely high requirements on the speed and stability of long-distance data transmission. With its high speed, large bandwidth, and low latency, 5G technology has brought a transformative breakthrough to remote healthcare, especially robotic surgery,” Liang said. 

The ongoing innovation in remote surgery, he added, is advancing surgical robots from “operational tools” to comprehensive “medical platforms,” extending the benefits of advanced minimally invasive medicine to more patients in more places.

By Lyu Zhongzheng, People’s Daily

Recently, the WIPO Global Awards 2025 were held in Geneva, Switzerland. Chinese tech firm Unitree Robotics stood out as one of the winners among more than 780 companies from 95 countries, showcasing the growing global presence of Chinese innovation.

With around 200 granted patents worldwide and nearly 50 international applications filed via the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), Unitree has combined technological advances with intellectual property protection to expand its overseas footprint. Its strong technological capabilities in robotics have earned it broad recognition on the world stage.

This success reflects a broader trend. Amid global economic transformation, Chinese enterprises are venturing abroad with robust intellectual property portfolios. In 2024, China ranked first globally in both PCT international patent applications and applications under the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs, marking a historic shift from “world factory” to engine of global innovation.

Why do Chinese enterprises pursue patents abroad?

“Securing intellectual property overseas is essential for accessing international markets,” said Li Wenyu, director of the Intellectual Property and Innovation Development Center, the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. “Patents are territorial in nature. Exporting products requires forward planning in intellectual property to mitigate risks.”

For Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motor (GMW), this planning is highly structured. “We need to complete the layout of core intellectual property 18 to 24 months before entering target overseas markets,” said Rong Xuedong, deputy general manager of the company’s technology center. GMW has filed nearly 3,000 overseas patent applications, establishing an intellectual property-driven global strategy that both prevents infringement risks and builds competitive advantages.

IP protection also shields brand equity. “Chinese companies have suffered losses overseas, particularly from trademark squatting and brand imitation,” noted Ma Yide, a professor at the School of Intellectual Property under the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Years ago, Hisense, a Chinese multinational major appliance and electronics manufacturer, found its trademarks squatted in Germany, with the registrant later demanding an exorbitant price for its return. Similarly, Chinese coffee giant Luckin Coffee faced a prolonged legal battle after its trademark was preemptively registered in Thailand. Such cases have hindered global expansion and tarnished brand image.

“Amid the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, intellectual property work now carries the historical mission of fostering new quality productive forces and supporting high-level opening up,” said Ma.

Rising strength in intellectual property

The momentum is evident in recent data. In the first half of this year, PCT international patent applications and design filings through the Hague System filed by Chinese applicants grew by 12.7 percent and 23.2 percent year on year, respectively. Meanwhile, the combined value of Chinese brands among the world’s top 5,000 brands reached $1.76 trillion, ranking second globally.

China has also developed a significant base of high-value patents in emerging industries such as 5G, artificial intelligence, aerospace, new energy vehicles, biomedicine, and quantum information. Many Chinese multinationals increasingly leverage these patents to secure market share and consolidate their global competitiveness.

This progression marks China’s decisive shift from intellectual property importer to creator. “The export of intellectual property is primarily driven by technology-intensive enterprises,” said Li Huiying, head of the Intellectual Property Institute under China’s National Industrial Information Security Development Research Center. “These companies invest heavily in research and development, generate abundant innovation outcomes, and pursue broader overseas strategies in intellectual property.”

Chinese enterprises are also becoming more adept at handling disputes abroad. An industry insider said that since 2024, the success rate of Chinese companies in overseas intellectual property litigation has exceeded 70 percent.

Building a global intellectual property framework

China is actively promoting the establishment of patent pools, which allow cross-licensing and one-stop licensing services. For example, Chinese tech giant Huawei has licensed its patents to hundreds of companies through bilateral agreements or patent pools. This approach integrates patent resources, reduces licensing transaction costs, accelerates industrial applications, and strengthens compliance and risk management.

China’s engagement in the global intellectual property system has deep roots. After joining the WIPO in June 1980, it has acceded to nearly all major international intellectual property conventions and consistently fulfilled its obligations, becoming a staunch defender, active participant, and important contributor to the development of global intellectual property rules.

By September 2024, China had established partnerships with over 80 countries and regions in intellectual property cooperation, with over 200 ongoing intellectual property cooperation agreements. From 2020 to 2024, China’s annual imports and exports of intellectual property royalties rose from 319.44 billion yuan ($44.57 billion) to 398.71 billion yuan, an average annual growth of 5.7 percent.

Looking ahead, with its innovation capacity and economic dynamism continuing to rise, China is poised to make even greater contributions to global innovation and development. Strengthened patent protection and growing international intellectual property engagement are not only fueling Chinese enterprises’ confidence abroad but also reinforcing their role as key drivers of technological progress worldwide.

By Fan Wei, Jiang Bo

After entering China through the Erenhot Port in Xilingol league, north China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, many Mongolian tourists make their way directly to Ulanqab. There, they find a welcoming stopover – a place to unwind and begin a journey of leisure and discovery.

Centuries ago, Ulanqab thrived as a trading hub along the grasslands Silk Road and the “Tea Road of the North.” Along the historic Zhangku Avenue – from Zhangjiakou on China’s northern frontier to Kulun (present-day Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia) – a continuous stream of merchants once traveled, facilitating trade and cultural exchanges.

Today, Ulanqab remains a vital gateway linking China with Mongolia, Russia, and beyond. With six railways, seven expressways, and eight national highways converging here, the city has evolved into a major transportation hub. It serves as a crucial non-provincial capital node for both the Belt and Road Initiative and China-Europe freight train routes.

From the iconic Phoenix Tower, visitors are treated to panoramic views of verdant boulevards and meandering rivers. Hot spring resorts in the area offer a full suite of amenities – from therapeutic baths to wellness spas. “I came for the long history and incredible cuisine,” said 80-year-old Mongolian tourist Dabuge Sumberel.

“Many Mongolian travelers make Ulanqab their first destination in China,” said local tour guide Husileng. “Thanks to its excellent connectivity and diverse attractions, the city has become an ideal gateway for cross-border tourism.”

Ulanqab’s Jining district is home to the largest leather goods distribution center in northern China. The bustling scene of customers selecting fur and leather products evokes memories of the city’s commercial prosperity in centuries past. “Jining’s fur trade has a long and well-established history, attracting many Mongolian visitors,” said Yang Jun, who manages tourism operations at the center.

Seventeen-year-old Mongolian girl Hulan, visiting Ulanqab for the first time, was captivated by the city’s offerings. After buying leather boots for herself and her parents, she continued browsing. “The craftsmanship is excellent, the designs are beautiful, and the prices are affordable. It’s hard not to fall in love with the place.”

At the core of Ulanqab’s cultural appeal lies Qahar culture, a distinct and vital strand of the grassland civilization that remains deeply embedded in local life and plays an important role in fostering people-to-people exchanges.

“‘Qahar’ refers to a Mongolian tribe originally formed as a guard unit during the reign of Genghis Khan,” explained Ou Jun, a professor with Jining Normal University. “Its cultural essence is defined by openness, inclusiveness, kindness, and integrity.” As one of the earliest Mongolian tribal cultures to blend with agrarian traditions, Qahar heritage has flourished in Ulanqab, a major center of its development.

“Ulanqab rapid development and tourism growth reflect the local character,” observed 37-year-old Mongolian visitor Uyuntsetseg. “The people here embody hard work, sincerity, and warm hospitality.”

On the grasslands of Qahar Right Wing Rear Banner, rows of modern yurts rise gracefully above the prairie, resembling clouds suspended above the earth. “These yurts are slightly elevated from the ground, and from a distance, they look like floating clouds,” said Tonrig, an inheritor of Mongolian yurt craftsmanship. “That’s why I named them Ulunggeri, meaning ‘cloud houses’ in Mongolian.”

Traditional Mongolian yurts, though iconic, are typically small, lack privacy, and have no built-in sanitation facilities. To adapt the tradition to contemporary life, Tonrig has reimagined the structure, integrating modern design and digital technology with traditional techniques. 

While preserving the circular silhouette of the classic yurt, he reconstructed its framework using Russian Scotch pine and added modern polyurethane insulation to enhance thermal performance. Solar panels now crown the roofs, and each yurt is equipped with an integrated mobile biological wastewater treatment system, combining ecological preservation with modern convenience. 

Ulunggeri yurts are now crossing borders. In 2024, a 30-meter-diameter yurt covering nearly 1,000 square meters was completed at a resort in Ulaanbaatar. That same year, Tonrig shipped a computer numerical control (CNC) machine from Shandong, China, to Mongolia and sent a technician to facilitate local production of Ulunggeri yurts.

At the manufacturing facility, components like central skylights and roof beams, adorned with auspicious Mongolian motifs, are precisely carved by the CNC machine. Tonrig now simply sketches the design on paper, and the machine faithfully replicates the intricate beauty of traditional craftsmanship. 

In Ulanqab, inclusiveness continues to weave a new tapestry of cultural exchanges and mutual learning – stitch by stitch, across time and space.

By Zhang Wenhao, Dong Zeyang, People’s Daily

Wellness tourism – combining healthy lifestyles with extended stays in destinations renowned for pristine nature, scenic landscapes, therapeutic hot springs, or advanced medical services – represents an evolving global trend.

In recent years, many parts of China have developed wellness tourism and other emerging tourism industries tailored to local conditions. This has not only offered travelers fresh cultural and travel experiences, but also created new drivers of growth for local economies. 

According to forecasts, by 2025, China’s wellness tourism market is expected to reach 9.5 trillion yuan ($1.32 trillion), while the overall health services industry will exceed 11.5 trillion yuan.

On a rain-washed morning, Tangyun Wellness Town in Yanling county, Xuchang, central China’s Henan province, awakened to the sound of birdsong.

“I never expected such a hidden paradise in a small county,” said Zhang Ruijun, a tourist from Wuhan, central China’s Hubei province. Encouraged by friends, her family came to Yanling and were instantly captivated by its natural beauty and classical charm. “My parents are delighted, and we’ve decided to extend our stay here,” she added.

Known as the “Hometown of Chinese Floriculture,” Yangling has long been famed for its abundant flowers and trees. “Located on the plains, Yanling’s flourishing flower and tree industry laid the foundation for its forest wellness sector,” said Wang Haijun, head of the county’s wellness development office. 

Yanling has over 520,000 mu (about 34,700 hectares) of flower and tree plantations, with its main production area boasting 80 percent forest coverage. The air is rich in negative oxygen ions, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s clean air standards.

The county has sought to transform these ecological advantages into industrial strength through wellness tourism.

“We’ve transformed from selling plants to selling wellbeing,” said Zheng Hongwei, head of Tangyun Wellness Town. Formerly engaged in the flower, seedling, and bonsai cultivation and sales, Zheng switched into wellness tourism eight years ago. Last year, the town welcomed over 500,000 visitors.

In addition to flowers and trees, hot springs have become another signature attraction. On weekends and holidays, visitors from near and far flock to Yangling to soak in the mineral-rich springs and admire the blossoms.

By enhancing ecology through horticulture, building tourism upon ecology, and promoting wellness through tourism, Yanling’s forest wellness industry reported an output value of 15.61 billion yuan last year, accounting for 38.8 percent of the county’s GDP.

In southern China’s tropical Hainan province, Boao township emerges as a coastal wellness destination where turquoise waters meet lush landscapes and modern medical facilities.

“I came here for a medical check-up, and the service truly puts me at ease,” said Ms. Dong, a tourist from Qinhuangdao, north China’s Hebei province, who chose a medical-and-wellness package for her trip. Guided through a streamlined process at the Mellsser International Medical Center, she completed her check-up efficiently.

“We provide specialist consultations for result interpretation, personalized health planning, and continuous support from lifestyle managers and nutritionists – both during and after hospital stays,” explained Yang Zhenhuan, manager of the hospital’s client services department.

Boao’s mountainous and island scenery is complemented by exceptional environmental metrics:. 99.3 annual days with excellent air quality and a year-round average temperature of 24.6 degrees Celsius. These conditions have established Boao as an ideal wellness destination where travelers increasingly combine relaxation with advanced medical services.

In the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, favorable policies allow medical services to stay on the cutting edge of technology, equipment, and pharmaceuticals. The zone has early access to innovative drugs, devices, and specialty foods unavailable elsewhere in China. So far, it has introduced more than 470 innovative medicines and devices from abroad. Its 36 medical institutions cover seven major specialties, including medical aesthetics, featuring top Chinese public hospitals as well as leading international and domestic specialty brands. Experiencing specialty healthcare has become a highlight for wellness tourists.

The pilot zone has also attracted overseas visitors. Tourists from Russia, Spain, and other countries have come for health management, anti-aging treatments, praising the efficiency of medical services. Thanks to relaxed visa-free entry policies, an Indonesian international medical tourism group recently visited the pilot zone, enjoying local cuisine, hot springs, and comprehensive health screenings.

Statistics show that in the first quarter of this year, medical institutions in the pilot zone received 111,500 medical tourists, up 29.8 percent year on year. The number of visits for special licensed drugs and devices reached 16,000, a year-on-year increase of 44.14 percent.