Nigeria Times

By He Yin, People’s Daily

On April 19, China’s domestically developed C909 passenger jet began commercial operation in Vietnam, with tickets selling out quickly on the first day.

On April 15, Malaysian mobile data service company U Mobile signed a 5G cooperation agreement with Chinese tech companies to bolster Malaysia’sdigital economy.

On April 17, China and Cambodia agreed to jointly build a secure and stable industrial and supply chain, helping transform Cambodia into a modern industrial hub.

These vivid examples reflect a broader trend: China is steadily expanding mutually beneficial cooperation with its neighboring countries, fostering a closer pattern of coordinated development. To build a better future with its neighbors, China remains committed to fostering an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood, guided by the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, inclusiveness in its neighborhood diplomacy, advocating for the building of a community with a shared future with neighboring countries.

As a member of the big Asian family and a responsible major country, China has long attached importance to its relations with its neighboring countries. It consistently follows the policy of developing friendship and partnership with its neighbors, and works to foster an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood, and promote regional peace, stability, development and prosperity – securing historic achievements and transformations in neighborhood work.

China’s approach to neighborhood diplomacy is rooted in ancient wisdom, which holds that “amity and good neighborliness are invaluable to a country” and that “good neighbors wish each other well.”In the modern context, that translates into the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness, which emphasize treating neighbors with sincerity and good faith, pursuing common development, expanding cooperation, and sharing the benefits of growth.

This philosophy, deeply embedded in China’s diplomatic tradition, also aligns with broader global trends and regional dynamics, demonstrating the cultural depth and distinctive character of Chinese diplomacy.Over the past decade, China has enriched and deepened these principles through practice, expanding friendly cooperation with neighboring countries and forging stronger bonds.

To date, China has reached a common understanding on building a community with a shared future with 17 neighboring countries, forming “two clusters” in the Indochina Peninsula and Central Asia respectively.

From accelerating the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, to building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with shared future, and to building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Southeast Asia yielded over 100 cooperation outcomes, charting a new blueprint for China’sneighborhood diplomacy and opening a new chapter in building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries.

The art of good-neighborliness lies in building trust and fostering mutual understanding. Guided by head-of-state diplomacy, China has prioritized mutual respect for each nation’sdevelopment paths, support for each other’s core interests, and cultivation of strategic mutual trust. China and its neighbors have stood together through challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and terrorism, and jointly responded to natural disasters like earthquakes and floods, forging enduring stories of solidarity and mutual support.

The foundation of regional peace lies in shared security and collective responsibility. China upholds the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. As the first ASEAN dialogue partner to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, the country has worked closely with regional countries to establish multi-level security dialogue and cooperation mechanisms.It has resolved historical boundary issues with 12 neighboring countries through negotiations and signed treaties of good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation with nine.

In the consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, China has been properly managing and settling differences through friendly negotiations, working with its neighbors to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. It also plays an active role in bringing regional hotspot issues under control, contributing wisdom and strength to the political settlement.

The path to prosperity lies in shared opportunities and mutual benefit. By deepening development integration with its neighbors, building a high-level connectivity network, and intensifying mutually beneficial cooperation on trade and investment, China is advancing integrated development with neighboring countries.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has become the world’s largest regional organization in terms of geographical scale and population. The China-Central Asia Mechanism has become an important platform for deepening cooperation between China and Central Asian countries. Meanwhile, the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation mechanism has played a key role in invigorating the development of the Lancang-MekongEconomic Development Belt.

Freight trains now crisscross Eurasia more efficiently via newChina-Europe freight train routes. The construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is well underway, whilethe annual train volume on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor has surpassed 10,000. Additionally, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership has further boosted regional economic integration. Through these projects, China has consistently propelled regional cooperation to deeper and more concrete levels.

China was, is, and will always be a good neighbor, good friend, and good partner to countries in the region. It will continue to cherish good-neighborly relations, working with its neighbors to create an even brighter future in line with the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, inclusiveness, and building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries.

By Liu Shi’an, Shen Wenmin, People’s Daily

Inside a circular synchrotron over seven meters in diameter, proton beams raced around the track at increasing speeds. After millions of revolutions, reaching about 2/3 the speed of light, the beam was channeled through a high-energy transport line into a treatment room, precisely targeting a patient’s tumor for a focused, “surgical strike” on cancer cells. This is a glimpse inside the assembly and testing operations at Shanghai APACTRON Particle Equipment Co., Ltd. (APACTRON) in Shanghai’s Jiading district.

“A proton therapy system consists of 27 subsystems and spans fields from accelerator physics to electronics, electrical engineering, control systems, mechanics, and software. It is one of the largest and most sophisticated medical devices in the world,” said Zhang Manzhou, chief engineer of APACTRON.

Following a decade of dedicated R&D, the company’s project team has mastered the full technology chain from design and key components to system integration and debugging, and has secured 62 authorized patents. Over 85 percent of components of China’s first domestically produced proton therapy system were locally manufactured, and this number is expected to reach 100 for the second one.

In 2025, Shanghai makes the cultivation of new quality productive forces its core development strategy. The city will simultaneously advance three key fronts: nurturing and expanding leading-edge industries, upgrading traditional sectors, and laying the groundwork for future industries. The focus will be on achieving high-end, intelligent, green, and integrated development to drive a comprehensive transformation and modernization of the industrial landscape.

According to Zhang Ying, director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, the city will implementpolicy measures this year to reform the innovation ecosystem for industry, expand the supply of high-quality industrial technologies, and launch a new industrial standards initiative.

Efforts will also be made to cultivate a diverse range of innovation-driven enterprises and develop future industrial tracks, aiming to create competitive, next-generation products such as low-altitude intelligent equipment, humanoid robots, and 6G technologies.

On February 6, at the embodied artificial intelligence training ground of the National and Local Co-Built Humanoid Robotics Innovation Center in Zhangjiang, Shanghai, over 100 heterogeneous humanoid robots were being trained in a variety of technical applications, including 3C electronics manufacturing and automotive inspection.

Xu Bin, the center’s general manager, said the training facility is expected to build an embodied artificial intelligence corpus of over 10 million high-quality physical data entries by the end of this year, laying the foundation for a robust embodied intelligence platform.

Since the beginning of 2025, Shanghai has been intensifying efforts under its “artificial intelligence +” initiative to promote the application of the technology across key sectors, providing accessible, high-quality, and inclusive public services for all types of innovators.

To promote sustainable and more integrated industrial development, Shanghai is accelerating the construction of green factories and zero-carbon industrial parks, while fostering specialized clusters of production-oriented service industries.

Recently, Toyota announced the establishment of a new company in Shanghai’s Jinshan district to develop and manufacture Lexus-branded electric vehicles and batteries. It marked the first time Lexus vehicles will be produced locally in China, further strengthens Shanghai’s position as a leading hub for new energy vehicles.

To address the growing demand for green development from enterprises, Shanghai has completed 6.68 billion kilowatt-hours of interprovincial and intra-city green electricity transactions this year, setting a new record and continuing a four-year streak of rapid growth.

By Aerdake, People’s Daily

On April 15, in the desert control area of Aral township, Yutian county, located along the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert in Hotan prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, rows of rose seedlings were planted into grid-like sand barriers. What was once a sea of grayish-yellow dunes now shows signs of life, with small, green patches of hope.

“Can roses really grow in the desert?” This question, often posed by curious visitors, is no longer met with skepticism. The answer is now a resounding yes. Yutian, nestled on the northern slopes of the Kunlun Mountains, is known for its harsh and arid climate, extreme temperature fluctuations, and abundant sunlight. These conditions make it surprisingly suitable for cultivating certain varieties of roses.

The region has a deep-rooted history of rose cultivation. In the past, these flowers were primarily used for ornamental purposes or transformed into fragrant rose jam.But in recent years, the focus has shifted to their much more practical role in combating desertification.

“We locals have always known that roses help stabilize the sand,” said Maitusun Yibulayimu, a resident of Wanfang village in Aral township. As he crouched down and brushed aside the loose sand to revealthe deep roots of a rose bush, he proudly explained,”See, the roots go down over three meters deep. They grip the sand so tightly that they form small mounds around the plants.”

Known as the “Yutian desert rose,”this special variety is uniquely adapted to thrive in the harsh conditions of the desert’s edges. Resistant to both drought and salinity, it boasts a robust root system and dense foliage. In just two to three years, a single rose bush can grow into a hedge up to two to three meters wide, stabilizing sand dunes and preventing soil erosion.

According to the local forestry and grassland bureau, Yutian has established extensive rose shelterbelts in areas most affected by sandstorms. These closely planted roses reduce wind speeds,helping to mitigate the amount of wind-blown sand that reaches inland areas.

Yetgrowing roses in the desert is not without its challenges. With water scarce and rainfall minimal, the plants face the constant threat of being buried by the ever-present sand. To address these difficulties, local authorities have collaborated with researchers to develop science-based planting strategies tailored to the area’s unique conditions – including sand distribution, wind patterns, and hydrological factors.

In addition to these research-driven approaches, Yutian has pioneered a new planting model that combines trees and shrubs. In this system, tall trees create a protective wind barrier at the desert’s edge, shielding the roses from the worst of the sandstorms. Meanwhile, the intertwined roots of shrubs and roses help to stabilize the soil and improve its structure, creating a more favorable environment for the roses and significantly increasing their survival rate.

For Maitusun Yibulayimu, the financial benefits of rose cultivation are tangible. “Last year, my family earned an extra 63,000 yuan ($8,634)just from growing roses,” he said. “Plus, the government provides subsidies to growers.”

Encouraged by the greening of the surrounding desert, his family has since leased 50 mu (about 3.33 hectares) of land for expanded rose production. “It brings in income and helps fight desertification. That’s something to be proud of,” he added.

Today, Yutian’s rose industry has blossomed into a thriving economic sector, forming a more diverse and integrated industrial chain.Freshly harvested roses are processed within 12 hours into essential oils, which are highly coveted by consumers. Over 30 rose-based products, including hydrosol, rose tea, and cosmetics, are now sold across China, and e-commerce and livestreaming platforms have helped fuel year-on-year sales growth. The roses from this arid land are now reaching markets far and wide.

The county has also capitalized on the rise of eco-tourism, incorporating rose cultivation into its rural landscaping efforts, creating a more visually appealing countryside and several new eco-tourism attractions.

The scale of rose cultivation in Yutian has grown steadily, with nearly 80,000 mu (about 5,333 hectares) under cultivation today. In 2024, the county produced more than 12,000 tons of roses, with an average yield value of 3,975 yuan per mu. The burgeoning industry has lifted the incomes of 4,238 households.

“Growing roses in the desert has brought real benefits to the people,” said Jia Cunpeng, Party head of the forestry and grassland bureau of Yutian county. “As more residents see the rewards, everyone is motivated to join the efforts against desertification,”he added.

By Liu Shiyao, Chen Shihan, People’s Daily

On April 24, 1970, China’s first man-made satellite, Dongfanghong-1, was successfully launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, marking the beginning of the Chinese people’s exploration of outer space.

Fifty-five years later, on the same day, the Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft, atopa Long March-2F carrier rocket, sent three astronauts to its orbiting space station for a six-month mission. The spaceflight has performed a fast, automated rendezvous, docked with the Tiangong space station complex, and successfully conducted an in-orbit handover with the Shenzhou-19 crew.

This flight is the fifth manned mission during the application and development phase of China’s space station, and the 35th flight mission of China’s manned space program. Theastronauts will undertake a range of tasks, including space science experiments,application tests, extravehicular activities, and cargo handling.

Their mission also involves installing protective devices against space debris, and deploying and retrieving extravehicular payloads and equipment. They will also participate in science education, public outreach, and other onboard experimental activities. Besides,space payload experiments will be conducted to enhance the comprehensive benefits of the space station.

To support the ongoing operations of the space station, the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft has undergone substantial optimization in itsorbital module layout. By refining equipment arrangements and introducing innovative solutions for securing cargo, the spacecraft has increased the available capacity for outbound cargo by 20 percent while maintaining structural integrity. This enhancement further boosts the spacecraft’s uplink capability, allowing for the delivery of more critical supplies to the space station.

China has successfully carried out 20 astronaut extravehicular activities (EVAs) over the course of its space program, with its EVA technology among the most advanced worldwide, said Lin Xiqiang, spokesperson for the China Manned Space Agency.

It is reported that the longest single EVA by Chinese astronauts reached nine hours, setting a world record. The extravehicular spacesuits, Feitian,meaning flying into space, have supported 19 spacewalks since the Shenzhou-12 mission, maintaining good performance and stable conditions. The highest usage of a single spacesuit has reached 17 times, exceeding its original design life of “15 uses within 3 years.”

The space station’s robotic arms, which can be connected and “crawl” on the exterior of the space cabins due to their unique designs, enable astronauts to access all EVA areas. Additionally, the coordination support system between space and ground has been refined to provide robust professional backing for EVA planning, real-time control, cross-system collaboration, and emergency response.

Overall, China’s EVAs have evolved from technical verification and basic operations to complex mission execution, and will play an increasingly vital role in the long-term operation of the space station.

Lin also revealed that the new life science experiments to be carried out involve zebrafish, planarians and streptomyces. The biological and life science experiment samples transported by the spacecraft have been successfully transferred to China’s space station. The astronauts have completed the in-orbit installation of the samples and started science experiments, having already obtained experimental data along with imaging and video records. All experimental subjects are in good condition.

In addition to the three biological experiments, the crew will also conduct 59 space science experiments and technology tests, covering fields such as space life science, microgravity physical science, and new space technologies. Breakthroughs are expected in areas like the cultivation of vascularized brain organoid chips, the non-equilibrium dynamics of soft matter, and the study of preparing high-temperature superconducting materials in space.

China is currently conducting space science experiments according to plan, with all projects progressingsmoothly. China’s space station has now hosted over 200 scientific projects, with nearly 2 tons of scientific materials and applied equipment sent to orbit.

In late February this year, China and Pakistan signed a cooperation agreementon spaceflight of a Pakistani astronaut on Chinese space station, and the selection process for Pakistani astronauts is underway. Meanwhile, China is in discussions with other countries regarding their potential foreign astronaut participation in the country’s future space station missions.

Lin said that China’s crewed moon landing mission is progressing soundly, and multiple tests on related spacecraft will be conducted soon. Major lunar landing-related equipment, such as the Long March-10 carrier rocket, the manned spacecraft Mengzhou (Dream Vessel), the lunar lander Lanyue (Embracing the Moon), the moon-landing spacesuit Wangyu (Gazing into the Cosmos) and the manned lunar rover Tansuo (To Explore the Unknown), are all undergoing initial prototype research and development testing as planned.

Notably, the lunar remote sensing satellite project has completed its approval and competitive selection processes. The development and construction of ground systems — including the launch site, the measurement and control communication system, and the landing site, are also advancing in order.

By Hu Jian, Cheng Yuanzhou, People’s Daily

Standing 1.72 meters tall in sleek silver shells, humanoid robots now execute precision tasks on production lines, sorting materials, carrying crates, assembling components. This technological leap transforms once-futuristic visions into industrial reality.

These advanced machines, known as Walker S1 industrial humanoids, are developed by UBTECH Robotics headquartered in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province. A full fleet has now officially commenced operational deployment at a 5G smart factory of Zeekr, a brand under Chinese carmaker Geely, in Qianwan New Area, Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang province.

“The Walker S series is currently undergoing trials at facilities of Geely, BYD, Foxconn, and SF Express,” said UBTECH founder Zhou Jian. “After more than a decade of exploration, we’re entering a new phase of development, with over 500 units in the pipeline as intended orders.”

While robotic arms and automated machinery on assembly lines have long been labeled “robots,” Zhou believes humanoid robots represent the paradigm of the truest form of robotics – the ultimate realization of embodied intelligence.

On April 19, the world’s first half-marathon for humanoid robots was held in Beijing. The Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid RobotInnovation Center, which was initiated by UBTECH, crossed the finish line first and claimed the championship.

In July 2024, UBTECH’s industrial humanoid robot, the Walker S Lite, started a 21-day operational trial at the Zeekr smart factory, designated for autonomous material transportation tasks. Unfortunately, its performance fell short. Its speed was slow, and its efficiency reached only about 20 percent of human labor equivalency.

Three months later, after significant technical improvements, the upgraded Walker S1 debuted. Roughly the size of an average adult, it operated within a 30%expanded workspace. With in-house developed technology, the robot’s walking stability and manual dexterity were significantly enhanced.

Beyond basic material handling, Walker S1, equipped with intelligent cameras and deep learning models, can also perform precise, non-destructive inspections of car logos and headlights, with an accuracy rate exceeding 99 percent.

To achieve true human-like functionality, humanoid robots must extend beyond task executiontoincorporate interactive and collaborative capabilities. According to Jiao Jichao, vice president of UBTECH and executive dean of UBTECH Research Institute, developing swarm intelligence for humanoid robots represents a critical pathway to achieving scalable industrial applications.

In March this year, UBTECH launched its first multi-robotcollaborative trial involving coordinated operations across diversescenarios and task sets.

In one test, two Walker S1 units walked steadily to a crate, lifted it together in perfect sync, then followed a self-planned delivery route, navigating around other moving robots along the way.

How do they coordinate?

“Similar to humans, we’ve given robots a ‘cerebrum’ and a ‘cerebellum.'” Jiao explained. The “cerebrum,” powered by a multimodal embodied reasoning model based on DeepSeek-R1, enables common-sense inference. The “‘cerebellum,” integrating perception and distributed control technologies, allows parallel distributed learning, speeding up skill development and transfer.

During cooperative tasks, the “cerebrum” handles route planning, process breakdown, and on-site coordination, while the “cerebrum” manages limb movements, posture adjustments, and grip strength. Each robot’s brain system interfaces with a centralized humanoid intelligent network, which enables synchronized swarm behavior rather than fragmented individual action.

When processing mixed-sizes crates, the robots rely on the cloud-based brain to divide tasks. Each unit adapts workflows in real time while executing millisecond-level command responses.

At BYD’s facility, the Walker S1’s work efficiency has doubled, and the robot is scheduled for scaled deployment in the second quarter. At Foxconn’s Longhua facility in Shenzhen, its application in logistics has been successfully validated. At the Audi-FAW production base in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin province, the Walker S1 is undergoing pilot trials for air-conditioning leak detection. These trials represent significant breakthroughs in the industrial adoption of humanoid robots.

“For widespread integration into production lines, robots must evolve from ‘functional’ to ‘highly practical’, and the cost must come down,” said Zhou.

According to him, UBTECHallocates nearly 50% of its revenue to R&D investment. As of the end of 2024, the company holds 2,680 valid patents worldwide and has led or participated in the formulation of nearly 40 global standards related to intelligent robotics, ranking among the global leaders in humanoid robot patent filings.

How close are we to mass production?

“We’ve already entered the stage of small-scale pilot production, but it will take another one to two years to reach full industrial-grade mass production capacity,” Jiao said. He noted that the industry is now at a crucial turning point, with intelligent manufacturing poised to become the first major application field for humanoid robots.

By Zhou Shanshan, People’s Daily

It is reported that IShowSpeed is already missing China and wants to book a ticket back to the country.

What makes this American influencer yearn for China so much? The answer lies in the country’s ultra-modern lifestyle and dazzling equipment. In his livestream, bullet trains zoom through tunnels without disrupting HD broadcasts, drones deliver piping-hot takeaways, and new energy vehicles showcase “geek-chic” features such as in-place U-turns and automatic parking. This vibrant”live” China he has presented is endlessly fascinating.

China’s sustained economic momentumis firmly rooted in constant industrial restructuring. First-quarter economic data revealed robust growth: value-added output of high-tech manufacturing enterprises above the designated size rose by 9.7 percent year on year, while that of the information transmission, software, and information technology services sector expanded by 10.3 percent.

China’s push for supply-side structural reform and accelerated development of new quality productive forces are injecting potent momentum into high-quality development.

Supply and demand, dual engines of market economy, reinforce each other. Supply-side improvements catalyze consumption expansion, with their synergistic interaction fueling growth. At the fifth China International Consumer Products Expo, Chinese home appliance manufacturer Haier’s innovative triple-drum washer became an instant hit. This crowd-sourced product – conceived from netizens’ suggestions and realized through green manufacturing – exemplifies the virtuous cycle: upgraded supply sparks demand evolution, which in turn drives smarter production.

From emerging business models fostering new ecosystems, to trailblazing industries generating new opportunities, pursuing innovation means leading trends. The key lies in deepening the integration between scientific advancement and industrial transformation. Through supply-side reforms, China is reshapingits development logic with industrial upgrades while unleashing demand potential.

Traditional industries are experiencing revitalization through productivity leaps. In a welding workshop of the Laiwu facility of China National Heavy Duty Truck Group Co., Ltd., or Sinotruk, two flexible automated body welding production lines complete 38 processes in just 2.5 hourswith superior precision. The transformation of traditional industries extends beyond upgrading equipment, it is about achieving a leap in total factor productivity through technological integration and management restructuring.

By strengthening scientific and technological innovation and improving the supply system, providing independent, controllable, and high-quality supply to meet existing demand and create new demand, China can fully leverage the potential of its ultra-large domestic market and transform it into sustained momentum for high-quality development.

Emerging industries are sprinting ahead through ecosystem reshaping. Pioneered by China’s leading battery maker CATL, the city of Ningde in southeast China’s Fujian province has actively developed and clustered lithium battery and new energy enterprises, intergrating over 80 upstream and downstream companiesinto a comprehensive industrial supply chain. Around 80 percent of core components forleading manufacturersare procured locally, providing growth opportunities for businesses across the chain. The rise of these emerging industries not only generates new supply but also strengthens Chinese manufacturing’s global supply chain competitiveness.

Future industries are taking root in scientific frontiers. This year, many regions in China have significantly increased R&D expenditure, accelerating forward-looking plans for future industries and fostering deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation. Shanghai has launched the construction of a future industries cluster for brain-inspired intelligence. Jiangxi province has issued an action plan for cultivating and developing future industries. Guangdong province continues to implement a flagship program centering on new-generation artificial intelligence. These frontier-focused developments are transforming today’s “unchartered territories”into tomorrow’s new growth poles.

By Liu Shi’an, Shen Wenmin, People’s Daily

On April 23, the 21st Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, also known as Auto Shanghai 2025, kicked off, showcasing over 100 new vehicles and cutting-edge technologies from nearly 1,000 companies across 26 countries and regions.

Despite the increasingly complex global trade environment, multinational carmakers and supply chain giants including BMW, Audi, Aptiv, and Continental,reinforced their commitment to the Chinese market by unveiling localized products and announcing major investment initiatives, sending a strong message of deep engagement and long-term confidence.

Auto Shanghai 2025 emerged as a key platform for global players to showcase their latest achievements in electrification and smart mobility solutions. Continental introduced an advanced driver assistance system tailored for the Chinese market, integrating locally optimized algorithms to address the complex driving scenarios in China. Aptiv debuted its Wind River real-time operating system and virtualization platform – developed by its China-based team – which serve as a reliable digital foundation for smart vehicles.

Meanwhile, global automakers are making real investments in the Chinese market. Aptiv announced that its new connector plant in Wuhan and automation facility in Shanghai will begin operations later this year, further strengthening its localized supply chain capabilities. Volkswagen strengthened its partnership with Chinese tech firm Horizon Robotics by establishing a joint venture to develop L2++ driver assistance systems specifically for China.

The sustainedenthusiasm of foreign companies for Auto Shanghai, and their increased investment in China reflect unique strengths of the Chinese market. China has maintained its position as the world’s largest auto maker and seller for 16 consecutive years. New energy vehicles (NEVs) now account for over 40% of all new car sales in the country, and consumers have shown strong demand for smart, connected features.

China’s rapid development in NEVs and intelligent connected vehicles, combined with a complete industrial ecosystem, a robust talent pool, and an active innovation environment, continues to draw in global partners for joint R&D and innovation.

According to Gu Chunting, vice chairman of the Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanghai, the Auto Shanghai has become a vital barometer of global automotive development. The strong engagement of foreign companies reflects the enormous appeal of the Chinese market and will help further integrate China’s automotive industry into the global landscape.

Fu Bingfeng, executive vice president of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, noted that collaboration between global and domestic firms will accelerate technological innovation and industrial upgrading, pushing the global industry toward a smarter, greener future.

“China serves not only as the world’s largest single auto market, but also a major hub of innovation,” said Simon Yang, president of Aptiv for China and the Asia Pacific region. He added that the company is working to strengthen its localized supply chain capabilities while supporting Chinese automakers in expanding abroad.

A Volkswagen executive echoed this perspective: “China is leading the transformation toward intelligent vehicles. Our R&D, manufacturing, and ecosystem strategies must evolve in step with China.”

Auto Shanghai 2025 delivered a clear message: international automakers are reshaping their approach to China through a strategy of “comprehensive localization.”Shifting from merely exporting technology, they are collaborating with Chinese partners to co-develop the standards for next-generation intelligent vehicles.

This two-way engagement is not only helping China’s automotive industry move up the global value chain but also unlocking new avenues for growth for multinational firms. Gong Min, head of automotive research at UBS China noted, “The scale and innovation momentum of the Chinese market will be a decisive factor in determining the global competitiveness of automakers in the coming decade.”

With its openness and inclusiveness, Auto Shanghai 2025 has written a new chapter for the global auto industry. The enthusiastic participation of foreign companies is both anacknowledge of China’s vast market potential and a reflection of their belief in the promise of mutually beneficial cooperation.

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

When a U.S. mayor recently floated the outrageous idea of “giving free fentanyl” to homeless people, the public backlash was swift and fierce. The episode once again exposed the severity of America’sfentanyl crisis. Yet rather than confronting its domestic failures, Washington has repeatedly turned to scapegoating – citing the fentanyl issue as a pretext to impose additional tariffs on imports from China.

This pattern of deflection does nothing to resolve America’s own problems and instead risks jeopardizing the foundation for China-U.S. cooperation on drug control.

Eventoday, the U.S. has yet to fully and permanently regulate fentanyl-related substances, and its sluggish regulatory response has only worsened drug abuse and the proliferation of narcotics.

Despite being home to just 5 percent of the world’s population, the country accounts for 80 percent of global opioid use – a veritable black hole in global drug control efforts.

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were an estimated 74,702 overdose deaths from synthetic opioids – primarily fentanyl – in the U.S. during 2023, accounting for nearly 70 percent of all drug overdose fatalities. For Americans aged 18 to 45, the leading cause of death is fentanyl.

Confronted with what has been described as “the singledeadliest drug threat America has ever encountered,” the U.S. government has yet to deliver a coherent or effective response. It has failed to reduce domestic demand, strengthen oversight of prescription medications, or enhance public awareness of the harms associated with drug abuse. To this day, a comprehensive anti-drug policy remains elusive.

According to a survey commissioned by PAX sapiens, when asked to select a single group most responsible for the opioid crisis, criminal cartels were most frequently identified followed by the pharmaceutical companies and the U.S. federal government. As the Atlantic has noted, addressing the fentanyl crisis in the U.S. requiressweeping reforms across public policy, law enforcement, and the legal system.

As one of the countries with the strictest anti-drug policies and the most rigorous enforcement in the world, China maintains a zero-tolerance attitude towarddrugs, including fentanyl-related substances, and rigorously meets its international drug control obligations.

In March this year, China released a white paper titled “Controlling Fentanyl-Related Substances — China’s Contribution,” highlighting its rigorous control over the chemicals. China has exercised strict supervision over fentanyl-related medications, struck hard against fentanyl-related crimes, enforced strict control over precursors of fentanyl-related substances, accelerated technology research, development and application, adopted comprehensive measures for more efficient drug control, and promoted global governance.

Despite the absence of widespread fentanyl abuse domestically, Chinabecame the first country in the world to officially schedule fentanyl-related substances as a class in 2019 out of humanitarian goodwill and at the request of the U.S. side. Since China’s regulation, there have been no cases of fentanyl-related substances being smuggled and trafficked from China to other countries – and no reports from the U.S. of seizures of such substances originating from China.

Even the U.S. Department of State, in its International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, acknowledged that America had detected or seized almost no shipments of fentanyl or fentanyl analogues coming from China since 2019, when China implemented class-wide controls of all forms of fentanyl.

In recent years, the precursors of fentanyl-related substances have constantly changed, and the number of variations soared. China has consistently strengthened precursor control, adopted multi-level and category-specific supervision, strictly supervised exports, and curbed the diversion of precursor chemicals. It has also carried out sustained and in-depth cooperation with relevant countries, including the U.S. and Mexico, yielding notable results in addressing the cross-border diversion of fentanyl precursors.

Drug law enforcement is a central focus of cooperation between China and the United States. The China-U.S. Counternarcotics Working Group, established in 2024, provides an important platform for the two sides to jointly address global drug challenges.

In July 2024, an interdepartmentalChinese delegation visited the U.S. to attend the first senior official meeting of the working group. The drug control authorities of the two countries also maintain daily hotline communication and host regular exchange meetings. The two sides have been working pragmatically to promote dialogue and cooperation in drug control and law enforcement.Since 2024, multiple exchangeshave been conducted to promote technical cooperation and strengthen technical support in addressing the fentanyl issue.

As reported by the Diplomat, China-U.S. cooperation on fentanyl can save lives, protect societies, and punish drug traffickers.

The unilateral imposition of tariffs by the U.S. on goods imported from China under the pretext of the fentanyl issue severely violates the rules of the World Trade Organization. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes the action, and has taken necessary countermeasures to firmly safeguard its own rights and interests.

China upholds a clear and principled position on its cooperation with the U.S. on drug control: It is committed to dialogue and cooperation based on equality and mutual respect. The U.S. should respect the facts, confront its own problems, and make choicesthat truly serve the interests of its own people. It must stop using the fentanyl crisis as a pretext topressure, threaten, or blackmail China.

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

By Han Chunyao, Luo Shanshan, People’s Daily

The second phase of the 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, kicked off in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong province, on April 23.

The first phase, held from April 15 to 19 with the theme of advanced manufacturing, concluded here successfully, drawing 148,585 overseas buyers from 216 countries and regions in attendance, an increase of 20.2 percent compared to the same period of the fair’s 135th edition.

Widely regarded as a barometer of China’s foreign trade and a key indicator of the country’s commitment to opening up, the Canton Fair continues to serve as a pivotal platform for international commerce. On the exhibition floor, the resilience of Chinese manufacturing and the sustained vitality of China’s foreign trade were clearly on display.

Inside the exhibition halls, amid the steady buzz of business and the flow of international visitors, a novel sight has become surprisingly routine: overseas buyers gliding past rideable electric suitcases.These multifunctional devices, designed for both storage and short-distance transportation, are products of Changzhou Airwheel Technology Co., Ltd., a firm based in Changzhou, east China’s Jiangsu province.

With the press of a button, the suitcase shifts between storage and rideable modes, a clever design feature that has drawn significant interest from global buyers. The first phase’s expansive layout – spanning 520,000 square meters with more than 25,000 booths and over 11,000 exhibitors – proved a real-world testing ground. For many visitors, the long walks between booths prompted not just curiosity, but purchases. Airwheel sold more than 600 demonstration units per day during the first phase this year.

According to the company, the suitcase is equipped with a removable lithium battery and engineered to meet air and rail travel regulations in terms of battery capacity and luggage size. Its speed is capped to ensure stable operation in crowded spaces.

“It’s easy to use and holds plenty of luggage,” said a Brazilian couple who ordered two right on the spot. “Very convenient.”

The product’s appeal extends beyond its novelty. On April 18, a buyer from New York expressed interest in becoming a distributor. Sun Guo, Airwheel’s sales director, welcomed the enthusiasm but noted a familiar complication:”We’re delighted,” Sun said, “but the product is manufactured in China, and exporting it to the U.S. comes with tariff-related challenges.”

The American buyer acknowledged the concern but remained optimistic: “There’s strong potential for this product in the U.S. market,” he said. “I’ll take it back to my team – we’re hopeful we can work something out.”While no agreement was reached on the spot, the two exchanged contact information, leaving the door open for future negotiations.

“The Canton Fair is an exceptional venue for showcasing innovation and forging international partnerships,” said Sun. “Exports of our electric suitcase exports have been growing at over 40 percent annually. Just in the past few days, we’ve received intended orders totaling $5 million.”

At the booth of iFLYTEK, China’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent speech company, longtime trader Zhang Mingyuewas carefully testing a dual-screen translation device – an AI-powered assistant designed for real-time, multilingual communication. After two decades of attending the Canton Fair, Zhang knew what he was looking for. He bought one.

“I’m expanding into the Middle East, South America, and Africa,” he said.”Communicatingin customers’ native languageshelps build trust more quickly.”

The compact translator supports online translation in 85 languages and offline translation in 17, making it especially appealing to buyers navigating China’s global trade ecosystem. “This is the 15th iFLYTEK translator I’ve bought,” said a gardening equipment supplier from Türkiye. “I’m making more and more Chinese friends.”

To support this global reach, the Canton Fair has upgraded its digital tools. The official app now enables instant inquiries, multimedia chats, and even voice or video calls – all enhanced by AI-driven multilingual translation.

Zhang has observed a noticeable shift over the years: a more diverse array of international buyers including many from countries where less widely spoken languages dominate.”That’s not just a new business opportunity,” he said. “It’s also how Chinese foreign trade is adapting to risks and uncertainty.”

The data bears this out. During the fair’sfirst phase, the number of buyers from Belt and Road partner countries grew by 20.2 percent. Attendance from BRICS countries increased by 23.9 percent, while buyers from RCEP member countries rose by 4.1 percent. Many overseas buyers shared a common sentiment: despite global headwinds, confidence in China – and in the quality and competitiveness of Chinese products – remains strong.At this year’s Canton Fair, they came not just to browse, but to do business