Nigeria Times

By Cui Yan, People’s Daily

Traveling along China’s coastal highways today, one frequently encounters vast stretches of wind farms, their towering turbines steadily spinning under the open sky – a striking emblem of the country’s accelerating energy transition.
In the first quarter of this year, the country’s installed capacity of wind and photovoltaic power reached 1.482 billion kilowatts, exceeding that of thermal power for the first time in history.
With the rapid expansion of renewable installations, wind and solar power are set to continue leading China’s energy mix in the years ahead, reflecting a profound adjustment of the country’s energy structure.
Once niche industries, China’s wind and solar sectors have grown into global frontrunners in both innovation and manufacturing, progressing from reliance on foreign core technologies to becoming the world’s largest exporter of wind and solar equipment.
Perseverance and practical action
China’s energy transition is above all a story of steady determination and pragmatic policymaking. Over time, the country has pursued a carefully structured approach to advancing its energy revolution. Central to this revolution is the development of a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system.
Step by step, China has implemented tangible measures: building pilot zones for photovoltaic development and large-scale renewable energy bases, fostering rapid innovation through demonstration projects, and refining regulatory frameworks for renewable energy pricing, consumption guarantees, and market mechanisms. These sustained efforts have laid the groundwork for renewables to become a new pillar of the country’s modern industrial system.
Innovation as driving force
At the core of this energy transformation lies a relentless pursuit of innovation. Technological advancement has propelled China to the forefront of global renewable energy development, with breakthroughs spanning materials, design, and technology.
The country has developed a 26-megawatt offshore wind turbine, the largest of its kind in the world, with all 30,000 components produced domestically and key technologies leading the world. It has also developed the longest wind turbine blades, supporting onshore turbines as tall as 60-story skyscrapers. In photovoltaics, China’s all-perovskite tandem solar cells have achieved a record-setting 28.2 percent photoelectric conversion efficiency. These accomplishments underscore a broader ecosystem of innovation that continues to fuel progress in clean energy technologies.
Global vision for sustainable development
China actively contributes its green development achievements to global progress. Acknowledging energy security and climate change as shared global challenges, the country accelerates its green, low-carbon transition while promoting sustainable development worldwide.
China has built the world’s largest and most complete new energy industrial chain and expanded the global reach of its photovoltaic and wind power equipment. China has always prioritized practical cooperation through technology transfer and supply chain integration, serving as a committed advocate and contributor to global green and low-carbon development.
Today, China is collaborating on green energy projects with over 100 countries and regions, launching a large number of signature projects and “small yet smart” people-centered programs. The success of China’s wind and solar industries is not only a testament to the country’s own unwavering energy transition, but reflects its outward-looking vision to foster global green transformation.
China’s progress in wind and solar energy reflects its commitment to achieving domestic development while enabling global sustainability. As Jack Perry, chairman of Britain’s 48 Group Club, has observed, China’s renewable energy expertise serves as a source of hope for other developing countries pursuing modernization. The U.S. Brookings Institution has described China as a global leader in non-fossil energy, clean transportation and green finance – “the world’s greatest hope” in these fields.
This hope is carried forward with every turn of a Chinese turbine blade, delivering not only a strong current of electric power, but also a brighter, more sustainable future for all.

By Che Bin, Li Yanan, People’s Daily

Located in the southwestern part of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Kashgar sits on a lush oasis nourished by the Yarkant River, which flows from the Karakoram Mountains. Since ancient times, traders and travelers crossing the Pamir Plateau have stopped here to rest, trade, and connect. This made Kashgar a key hub along the ancient Silk Road and one of Xinjiang’s earliest international trading posts. Historical figures such as Zhang Qian, Xuanzang, Faxian, and Marco Polo all left their footprints in this storied land.
Today, Kashgar stands as China’s gateway to the west, an international corridor leading to Central, West, and South Asia, and the starting point of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Departing from downtown Kashgar and heading south along the Karakoram Highway, known as the “China-Pakistan Friendship Road,” one can reach Taxkorgan Tajik autonomous county after a 300-kilometer drive.
Just north of Taxkorgan lies the Ruins of Stone City, a site with more than 2,000 years of history. When Buddhist monk Xuanzang in Tang Dynasty (618-907) returned from his journey to India, he passed through the site and later described the ancient stronghold in his travelogue “The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions.” Weathered by time, the ruins still stands with quiet grandeur.
In downtown Kashgar lies the ancient city of Kashgar, which dates back over 2,100 years. Known as a “living city of antiquity,” it begins each day with a ceremonial opening: at sunrise, dancers emerge from its streets, greeting visitors with cheerful music and vibrant performances.
Wandering through the ancient city, one encounters 99 alleys that twist and turn, lined with earth-toned buildings decorated with flower pots, intricate wood carvings, colorful domes, and overhanging eaves. As families expand, new generations add floors to their homes, creating a unique and compact architectural landscape with hanging houses and enclosed passageways. Over time, more than 20,000 residences have formed a dense, labyrinthine urban layout – one of the largest inhabited clusters of earthen buildings in the world.
In the early Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Italian traveler Marco Polo described Kashgar in his travel notes as a city with beautiful gardens, orchards, vineyards, and merchants from every corner of the world.
In August last year, Italian hiking enthusiast Vienna Cammarota visited Kashgar. Before her trip to China, she had read about the city in The Travels of Marco Polo. Upon arrival, she was thrilled to discover that Kashgar was not only a vital hub on the ancient Silk Road but also a place brimming with vitality today.
“The streets are lively by day and poetic at night,” she said. “There’s a constant hum of voices and the air is filled with the aromas of spices, freshly baked bread, and sizzling barbecue.”
In the ancient city of Kashgar, there is a cafe named Dili & Diya, run by a young local man, Dilxat Tursun, and his Tanzanian wife Hadiya.
Hadiya attributed her opportunity to live and study in China to the Belt and Road Initiative. She met Dilxat Tursun while both were students in Fuzhou, southeast China’s Fujian province. In May 2020, the couple returned to Dilxat Tursun’s hometown Kashgar.
“The moment I arrived in Kashgar, I fell in love with it,” Hadiya said. “The city has a rich history, and the people are warm and hospitable. In my hometown of Zanzibar, there’s also a Stone City, which feels quite similar to Kashgar. That connection made me feel even closer to this place.”
Their cafe features hand-crafted pottery cups from Kashgar and wall decorations from Africa. “Tanzanian coffee beans are well-known in the Chinese market,” said Dilxat Tursun. “So in March 2023, we opened this cafe together. Hadiya taught me how to grind beans and brew rich, flavorful coffee. Our lattes are made with local milk and Tanzanian coffee beans, a fusion that reflects the East-meets-West charm of Kashgar ancient city.”
“With China’s visa-free policy expanding its coverage, we’re seeing more and more international visitors at our cafe,” he added.
As the business grows, securing a steady supply of coffee beans has become a top priority. “When we first started, we would bring beans back with us during family visits to Tanzania. Now, they’re shipped via a more stable route – from Africa to Europe, then to Kashgar by China-Europe freight trains,” he explained.
At the end of last year, construction began on the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway. Dilxat Tursun was among the first to celebrate the news. “This railway starts in Kashgar. We hope for its swift completion and operation, which would make coffee bean transport even easier. More importantly, I believe this project will open up more trade opportunities and improve daily life for people in the countries along the route,” he said.

By Wang Weijian, People’s Daily

Early in the morning, Mei Hong, a senior engineer at the administration office of Lingering Garden in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu province, logged into a digital platform for garden conservation and monitoring, uploaded the latest data collected over the previous few days.
Gesturing to rows of real-time data flashing on his screen, he explained, “From towering ancient trees and entire structures to individual tile or a trailing vine, every element in the garden is safeguarded by an invisible ‘digital guardian.’ With digital technology, we can continuously monitor all living organisms and structural components within the garden.”
Since 9 classical Suzhou gardens, including the Humble Administrator’s Garden, Lingering Garden, and Master-of-Nets Garden, were added to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, Suzhou has established a comprehensive monitoring system for its heritage sites. The city has systematically digitized distinctive features such as lattice windows, paved paths, decorative furnishings, brick carvings, and archways, achieving millimeter-level accuracy. Detailed electronic records have been created for every component of these classical gardens, with data regularly measured and updated to maintain a dynamic database.
Why is such a meticulous database necessary?
At 59, Mei has dedicated over two decades to garden monitoring and conservation. He recalled that in earlier years, without digital tools, maintenance relied entirely on visual inspections and the subjective judgment of seasoned craftsmen. Questions like “Should this pillar be repainted?” or “Does this window lattice need repair?” were decided based on intuition. Over time, repeated restorations gradually eroding the original character of these classical gardens.
Digital technology has revolutionized heritage conservation, making it more precise and science-based. “Thanks to this database,” Mei said, “even centuries from now, no matter how many repairs or restorations occur, we will preserve the authentic essence of Suzhou’s classical gardens for generations to come.”
Digitalization is also breathing new life into these ancient spaces, offering visitors richer and more engaging experiences.
At 9 pm in the Humble Administrator’s Garden, located in Suzhou’s Gusu district, an enchanting “digital spectacle” unfolded amid the moonlit rocks and waters.
Holding a small lantern, 68-year-old Suzhou native Pan Meilan ascended to the Jianshan Pavilion in the garden. Peering down, she saw a digitally rendered “fawn” stroll gracefully through bamboos. Simulated birdsong and insect chirps, paired with the lilting melodies of Kunqu Opera, filled the air. Above the pavilion, a luminous “digital moon” slowly rose.
In recent years, while safeguarding cultural relics, the Humble Administrator’s Garden has embraced modern technologies such as digital projection to create immersive experiences. The Jianshan Pavilion serves as a highlight on the garden’s nighttime tour route.
Xue Zhijian, director of the garden’s administration office, explained that digital elements now permeate the 70-plus-mu (about 4.67 hectares) site. In addition to enhancing the nighttime experience, the garden has launched digital products inspired by Jianshan Pavilion and created its virtual replica. Through a mobile app, visitors can access a high-resolution, 720-degree 3D panoramic view of the pavilion.
The digital transformation exemplifies Suzhou’s broader initiative to preserve and showcase classical gardens through technology. In recent years, a host of new digital cultural products and experiences have emerged, giving these ancient gardens fresh appeal. Lingering Garden, for example, has developed a metaverse project, which uses 3D modeling to vividly recreate its major structures. The Lion Grove Garden has also introduced metaverse experience, featuring immersive 5G-enabled virtual reality tours.
Experts noted that Suzhou’s digital garden projects not only provide richer spatial data for conservation mapping, but also break the limitations of time and space. They offer new ideas and approaches for both protecting and revitalizing these cultural treasures.

By Hu Jian, He Linping, People’s Daily

One in five smart phones, one in four anime merchandise items, and one in five sweaters worldwide are made in Dongguan, a manufacturing hub in south China’s Guangdong province.
The economic pulse of Dongguan has long been synchronized with global industrial and supply chain dynamics.
In the first four months of this year, Dongguan recorded 486.35 billion yuan ($67.73 billion) in foreign trade, up 19.4% year on year. Exports alone reached 291.6 billion yuan, an 11.9% increase.
Dongguan has demonstrated notable resilience in navigating global market challenges, as evidenced by the performance of its manufacturing sector and companies like VIVO.
At VIVO’s quality testing laboratory in Dongguan, every new smartphone model undergoes a comprehensive series of rigorous assessments before move into mass production. Devices endure repeated 1-meter drop tests from 26 angles, undergo 150,000 power button actuations, and withstand 1,000 compression cycles under simulated real-world conditions.
In 2024, VIVO achieved global shipments exceeding over 97 million units, securing fourth position in worldwide market share by Q1 2025. The company maintains robust market resilience despite external challenges.
Vivo collaborates with nearly 400 supply chain partners across display, imaging, electronics, structural components, and semiconductors, with 25%of these partnerships have endured for over a decade. Multiple suppliers have achieved public listings during their collaboration with VIVO. This ecosystem reflects mutually beneficial growth between the manufacturer and its partners.
Currently serving over 500 million users across more than 60 countries and regions, VIVO emphasizes users-centric innovation. “Our commitment to customer-focused R&D investment provides the foundation to navigate market uncertainties, both domestically and internationally,” said the company’s executive vice president and chief operating officer Hu Baishan.
VIVO’s story reflects the evolution of Dongguan’s mobile phone and electronics industry. Since the city produced its first mobile phone in 1995, it has grown into a global production center, now accounting for 1/5 of the world’s total output.
In Dongguan’s Binhaiwan New Area, construction is in full swing on an “AI Island,” which will integrate technology R&D, product manufacturing, and data services. “We aim to establish a national AI application demonstration zone within 6 years, generating an industrial output of 60 billion yuan,” said Luo Bin, an official with Binhaiwan New Area.
“In an uncertain global market, the key lies in focusing on making great products,” said an official with Dongguan’s bureau of industry and information technology. According to the official, the city is selecting key sectors with strong foundations and broad applications to systematically promote initiatives ranging from robotics product development to technological innovation and market integration.
But resilience doesn’t mean there’s no challenge. “Unilateral tariff hikes imposed by the United States led to the sudden cancellation of over 1,000 of our overseas orders. Now that tariffs have been adjusted, customers are resuming shipments, but costs remain high,” said Wang Zhen, chairman of a Dongguan-based toy and baby product manufacturer.
“Trade with the United States used to account for 20% of our exports, so we seized this opportunity to accelerate our transformation,” Wang said, holding up a toy resembling a mythical Baku – a dream-eating creature with a short trunk and a horn. “We’ve developed a full line of Baku-themed toys, with over 150 products now exported to Southeast Asia, Europe, and Japan, generating annual export sales of more than 10 million yuan.”
Adaptability has been critical. The company has enhanced its brand identity with culturally creative products and refined its marketing strategies by exploring integrated domestic and foreign sales. When Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com launched a 200-billion-yuan program this April to help exporters pivot to the domestic market, the company secured a 50-million-yuan domestic sales contract through the initiative.
Diversifying international markets is a shared priority among Dongguan enterprises. In the first 4 months of this year, Dongguan’s trade with Belt and Road partner countries grew 28.8% year on year, trade with ASEAN nations 45.4%, and trade with the five Central Asian countries 56.3%.
In March, in Dongguan’s Chashan township, where a toy and baby product manufacturer is based, the local government signed a strategic cooperation agreement with technology firms and industry associations to build an intelligent industry cluster that combines AI and toys. Just a month later, the first batch of locally developed AI-powered toys hit the market.
According to an official with Chashan township, no matter how global markets shift, Dongguan will remain committed to moving its industries up the value chain, thus enhancing technology, branding, and service capabilities to drive high-quality growth.

By Tian Xianjin, You Yi, Song Zhaojun, People’s Daily

From cranberries grown in northeast China’s Heilongjiang province to caviar produced in Sichuan province in the southwest, and from Australian red claw crayfish bred in southwest China’s Chongqing to king prawn cultivated in northwest China’s Gansu province, an increasing number of high-end ingredients originally from the West are now evolving into new specialties of Chinese counties.
These former imports are not only capturing local appetites, but also becoming full-fledged industries that are revitalizing regional economies and shaping new agricultural identities.
French foie gras finds a foothold in Anhui
At Anhui Renjun Poultry Farming Co., Ltd., the air is thick with the honking of geese – hundreds of them clustered inside bustling workshops.
“Every part of the Landes goose is valuable, but the liver is especially prized as a gourmet ingredient in French cuisine,” said Zhu Renjun, the company’s manager.
Native to the Landes region in southwestern France, the Landes goose now thrives in Huoqiu county, east China’s Anhui province. Home to over 140 foie gras producers, Huoqiu produces over 5 million geese annually and more than 5,000 tons of foie gras.
Huoqiu has a long tradition of goose farming, particularly the local Wanxi white goose. With the growing demand for foie gras, local farmers introduced the Landes goose for breeding, and the industry expanded rapidly. Today, foie gras has become a regional hallmark.
Zhu is now focused on expanding the market share of Huoqiu’s foie gras. “Right now, we mainly sell to hotels and online consumers. To reach a broader customer base and boost market presence, we need to break into brick-and-mortar supermarket chains,” he said.
To meet that goal, the company is upgrading its production lines. “Supermarkets demand strict quality assurance. We’re planning to install more surveillance cameras and digitize our operations for real-time monitoring. Cold storage will also need a major upgrade,” Zhu explained. “The total investment will likely run into several million yuan (1 million yuan is approximately $139,400.70), but it’s well worth for access to a much larger market.”
Caviar from the mountains of Sichuan
Nestled at the foot of snow-capped Erlang Mountain, more than 100 circular fish ponds glint in the sunlight – each home to sturgeons bred in Ya’an, Sichuan province. Spring-fed streams and clean, cold water make the area ideal for cultivating this ancient fish.
“Sturgeons thrive in water temperatures between 12 and 20 degrees Celsius. Ya’an offers abundant cold-water resources with excellent water quality and high oxygen content, making it perfect for caviar farming,” said Li Jun, chairman of Sichuan Runzhao Fisheries Co., Ltd.
After learning sturgeon farming techniques, Li established his aquaculture base in a modern agricultural park of Tianquan county in Ya’an in 2012. But it takes patience: a sturgeon requires at least eight years to mature from fry to an egg-bearing adult, and harvesting its roe involves 17 meticulous steps – all completed within 15 minutes.
To acquire processing expertise, Li invited foreign specialists for hands-on training. Local experts from research institutes and universities also lent their support.
Over a decade later, Ya’an’s caviar industry has carved out a solid reputation. Exports now reach more than 30 countries and regions, with strong brand recognition abroad.
Li still vividly recalls the early setbacks, when foreign buyers turned away from his product. But through relentless quality improvements, in-person outreach, technical certifications, site visits, and even blind taste tests, his company gradually won over European customers. So far, the company has registered caviar trademarks in 17 countries and regions.
King prawns in China’s northwest
In Greenhouse No. 4 of Fengsen New Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd. in Yanuan township, Linze county, Gansu province, deputy general manager Ma Guibin inspects rows of aquaculture tanks. In a few days, a new batch of king prawn larvae will arrive from the hatchery and begin their months-long journey to market size.
Popular for their delicate texture, mild flavor, and high market appeal, king prawns have traditionally been farmed along China’s coastal regions, where cultivation techniques are developed. However, they can only survive minutes out of water, and even with cold chain logistics, they typically remain viable for no more than five hours. This made it difficult for consumers in China’s western regions to enjoy them fresh – until recently.
Linze county sits in the heart of the Hexi Corridor, part of the ancient Silk Road and stretching over a distance of nearly 1,000 kilometers in Gansu. Yanuan township offers favorable conditions for prawn farming: low-lying terrain, ample groundwater, and extensive saline-alkali land unsuitable for crops but ideal for aquaculture.
In 2022, thanks to local investment incentives, Ma and his partners launched the first phase of a land-based, recirculating aquaculture system. Last year, the company introduced digital technology to further boost efficiency.
Today, the company runs eight greenhouse facilities and produces 60 tons of king prawns annually, along with another 10 tons of high-value aquatic species. The venture generates four million yuan in economic benefits.
Building on that success, Yanuan township has recently launched a fishery-tourism complex that combines aquaculture, tourism, and ecological sustainability. Visitors now flock to the facility not only to learn about the prawn-farming process, but also to enjoy the taste of prawns harvested just minutes before.