Nigeria Times

By He Yin, People’s Daily

How a major country interacts with its neighbors is a key topic in international relations. It reflects the country’s worldview, perception of order, and values.

The world today is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century andfinds itself in a new period of turbulence and transformation. As China’s relations with itsneighboring countries are currently at their best in modern times and are also entering a critical phase where regional dynamics and global transformations are deeply intertwined, the question arises: How can China strengthen these ties and shape a more stable regional futureby improving its neighborhood diplomacy?

The recent central conference on work related to neighboring countries offered a clear direction and roadmap.

At the conference, China stressed the importance to build a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home, and foster an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood in line with the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness as well as a shared future for humanity. It emphasized the need touphold the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, use high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as the main platform, and pursue the Asian security model that features sharing weal and woe, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and prioritizing dialogue and consultation.

It underscored China’s firm commitment to remaining deeply rooted in its neighborhood, contributing to its development, and working with neighboring countries to build a community with a shared future.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent state visits to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia gave a strong boost to the country’s relations with these countries. Xi viewed neighboring countriesthrough a global perspective, injecting new momentum for peace and development in the region and the world at large. His visits vividly illustrate the core principles set out at the central conference on work related to neighboring countries, representing an innovative and concrete step toward building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home.

A peaceful home is the bedrock of regional security and stability. The people of Asia, having experienced colonization, war and invasion, deeply cherish peace. From the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, to the Global Security Initiative, China’s ideas and proposals respond to the trend of the times and align with the region’s expectations for greater security cooperation.

China remains committed to peaceful development, advocates peaceful coexistence and harmony among nations, and upholds the bottom line of peace and stability. Itrespects the legitimate security concerns of all countries, and stands firmly with neighboring countriesagainst threats to peace.

A safe and secure home is essential to achieving lasting peace and stability. At the central conference on work related to neighboring countries, China for the first time proposed the Asian security model that features sharing weal and woe, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and prioritizing dialogue and consultation.

Drawing from its own experience in working with neighboring countries to uphold security, China’sapproach brings fresh substance to the concept of Asian security and provides an innovative path toward the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security in Asia.

China has fully and effectively implemented the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and actively advancedthe consultation on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. By properly managing sensitive issues in relations with neighboring countries and addressing regional hotspots, the country has taken concrete steps to maintain regional peace and stability.

A prosperous home creates fertile ground to pursue modernization. China is committed to fostering an amicable, secure and prosperous neighborhood in line with the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.

By expanding high-level opening up and deepening cooperation with its neighbors, China is working to ensure that its own development delivers broader regional benefits. As a key trading partner and a major source of investment for many Asian countries, China is advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and fully implementing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, working to make Asia a vibrant hub of global development.

A beautiful home paves the way for sustainable development. China has hosted events such as the ASEAN-China Dialogue on Climate Change and Environment and ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Forum, whilecooperating with Central Asian countries on salt-alkali land restoration, water-saving irrigation and dryland agriculture laboratories.

Working together with regional countries, China is committed to pursuing green development, accelerating the transition to low-carbon growth, striving to balance economic progress with emission reductions, and working toward a future whereprosperity and environmental protection go hand in hand across Asia.

An amicable home strengthensthe bonds between people. On the China-Laos Railway, passengers cross borders with the ease and warmth of visiting family. In Central Asia, over ten Confucius Institutes have turned Chinese language education into a growing bridge between cultures.

Through these regular exchanges and mutual support, China and its neighbors have built deep friendships and co-created a shared home. These people-to-people connections breathe life into the Global Civilizations Initiative and help promote humanity’s shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom -laying a strong foundation for mutual understanding and long-lasting friendship. Guided by the shared vision of building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home, China will continue walking on the path of good-neighborly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation.It will work closely with neighboring countries to build a community with a shared future.

By Chang Jin, People’s Daily

What began as a curiosity has quickly become a global obsession. China’s wildly popular online microdramas – typically consisting of dozens of minute-long episodes – are gaining traction in international markets.

“This is seriously addictive!” reads a top-rated comment on ReelShort, a short-form video streaming app designed to serve international viewers. A 31-year-old American viewer, hooked on microdramas, ended up shelling out $200 for an annual subscription.

In recent years, Chinese digital works, particularly microdramas, video games, and online literature – often called the “new three hits” – have become part of the daily entertainment for many international audiences. Chinese micro-drama platforms have achieved considerable reach, with over 300 apps accumulating more than 470 million downloads worldwide across more than 200 countries and regions. In 2024, China’s gaming industry reported overseas revenue of$18.56 billion. Meanwhile, WebNovel, an online reading platform in China, has attracted nearly 300 million international visitors.

Theglobal rise of Chinese microdramas, video games, and online literature has not only enriched the variety of cultural exports but propelled a new kind of barrier-breaking cultural transmission.

No longer confined to traditional cultural exports like dumpling-making, Tai Chi, or Chinese language learning – what some have dubbed the “old three hits” – China’s digital content now speaks to a far broader audience. The “new three hits”are crafted in universal languages of storytelling, integrating into the entertainment routines of global consumers.

These digital exports have broken down cultural barriers and created new pathways for cultural exchanges. International audiences not only encounter Chinese cultural motifs and historical symbols, but also, perhaps more importantly, gain a deeper understanding of China’s ethos, its cultural essence, and the creative strength fueling such high-quality productions.

Take ReelShort as an example. In its early days, the platform simply translated Chinese microdramas into English and launched them overseas. However, this strategy met with limited success. The breakthrough came when the platform pivoted – casting local actors, incorporating local settings, and tailoring scripts to align with overseas preferences. This shift worked: the platform quickly went viral, now attracting 10 million daily active users worldwide.

It turned out that emotional resonance and cultural localization were the key. By making stories feel familiar and relatable, cultural exchangesoccur more naturally and effectively, bridging gaps and sparking deeper connections across borders.

With a market-oriented approach, China’s cultural industries are now expanding globally, covering the full spectrum from concept development and content production to international broadcasting. This trend is fostering deeper cross-cultural understanding and mutual learning. At the same time, China’s creative industries are increasingly focused on quality, aiming to captivate global audiences with more nuancedthemes, sophisticated storytelling, and elevated production standards.

Cultural products such as the video game “Black Myth: Wukong” and the live-action streaming television series The King’s Avatar are offering international audiences a glimpse into contemporary China. Through captivating narratives, cutting-edge technology, and innovative formats, these works showcase the creative dynamism and modern appeal of Chinese culture today.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

“Resilient,””optimistic,””encouraging”—these are among the most frequently used descriptors in global media analysesof China’s first-quartereconomic performance.

Amid severe disruptions to global trade and widespread pessimism permeating market expectations, the Chinese economy has delivered a robust start to 2025. It has maintained steady momentum amid signs of recovery, signaling a commitment to high-quality developmentwhile injecting much-needed confidence into a world economy fraught with uncertainty.

Despite rising unilateralism and protectionismworldwide, China’s economy continues to forge ahead, remaining a key engine of global growth. Official data released by the National Bureau of Statistics shows that China’s gross domestic product (GDP) reached 31.8758 trillion yuan ($4.36 trillion) in the first quarter of 2025, an increase of 5.4 percent year on year at constant prices, and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 1.2 percent. This signals the strong resilience and momentum of the Chinese economy.

Notably, the 5.4 percent growth outperformedboth 2024’s annual growth of 5% and first quarter of 2024’s growth of 5.3%, cementing China’sposition asone of the best-performing major economies.

Bernd Einmeier, Chairman of the German-Chinese Association for Economy, Education and Culture, noted that China’s relatively stable growth amid a complex external environment represents an important global public good, effectively counteringuncertainties in global markets.

By actively expanding and diversifying its markets and deepening cooperation on industrial and supply chains, China has not only strengthened its own economic resilience, but also enabled its trading partners to pursue common development.

In the first quarter, China’s total imports and exports of goods reached 10.3 trillion yuan, making a year-on-year increase of 1.3% andestablishing a new benchmark for the same period. China’s exports to over 170 countries and regions recorded growth, with exports to Asian and African marketsexceeding the global average pace. Trade volumeswith Belt and Road partner countries grew 2.2 percent year on year, constituting 51.1 percent of China’s total trade volume. Exports of sporting goods to the EU and cosmetics to Southeast Asia both posted double-digit growth.

Domestic trade firmsare swiftly adaptingto evolving international demand, launching more high-quality, innovative, and trendy products, fosteringa more balanced and diversified trade structure with stronger resilience.

The economy is accelerating its transition toward greener, innovation-driven, and smart manufacturing systems, with new growth drivers gaining momentum. French newspaper Le Monde described the 137th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) a “barometer” of China’s trade with the world, noting that buyers from all over the globe continued sourcing goods from China, which reinforced the country’s reputation as the “world’s factory.”

From small appliances like coffee machines and robotic vacuum cleaners to large-scale marine engineering equipment, Chinese manufacturing is accelerating its transition to advanced, intelligent, and eco-friendly production. Having dominated global manufacturing output for 15 consecutive years, China has maintained its unparalleledposition as the world’s largest manufacturing powerhouse through a fully integrated industrial system and unmatched supporting capabilities.

Analysts emphasized that China’s robust industrial capacity, seamless global supply chainintegration, and rising technological competitiveness have underpinned itsresilience amid global headwinds.

As macroeconomic policies continue to gain traction and innovation-driven growth continue to accelerate, a new development model driven by both domestic demand and innovation is taking shape.

In the first quarter, China’s total retail sales of consumer goods rose by 4.6 percent year on year, marking a 1.1 percentage pointsacceleration compared to 2024. The value-added of high-tech manufacturing enterprises above the designated size grew by 9.7 percent, while that of the information transmission, software, and information technology services sector expanded by 10.3 percent.

This upward trajectory has been reinforced by targeted policy support and accelerating industrial innovation.For example, the launch of a direct shipping route between Zhuhai in south China’s Guangdong province and Brazil has opened a new maritime corridor linking the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area with Santana Port in Brazil. Multiple e-commerce platforms have pledged investments to help foreign trade enterprises explore the domestic market, while leading supermarket chains have opened “green channels” to streamline access topremium export products.

These measures are gradually unlocking the potential of China’s super-sized market while advancing high-level opening up, fostering positive interaction and shared growth between China and the world.

China’s economy has a stable foundation, numerous strengths, remarkable resilience and vast potential. The dominating trend of a sound Chinese economy for the long term and the elements supporting it have not changed.

By focusing on doing its own works well, China will continue pursuing high-quality development and expanding high-level opening up. In doing so, it will share development opportunities with the world and inject greater stability and certainty to the global economy.

By Ouyang Jie, Ke Zhongjia, Liu Junguo, People’s Daily

On an ordinary afternoon at the Yiwu International Trade Market, the world’s largest wholesale hub for small commodities, business is anything but ordinary. The corridors bustle with buyers from across the globe, and vendors – some 75,000 of them – field inquiries from customers both online and off.

Dubbed “world’ssupermarket,”this sprawling market in east China’s Zhejiang province sees more than 220,000 visitors a day. While global trade faces rising uncertainty, Yiwu remains a hive of activity and resilience.”There are always more solutions than problems,” a vendor remarked to People’s Daily reporters on a recent visit – a sentiment echoing through the halls of the market. It reflects the quiet confidence of a marketplace that, even as supply chains realign and geopolitics shift, continues to find new ways to keep business moving.

At 3 p.m., on the fifth floor of District 2 of the market, Wang Nan, general manager of a hardware store, had not yet paused for lunch. “These are already the fourth group of clients I’ve met today,” he said, motioning toward a pile of pending online orders. Since the beginning of the year, sales have increased by around 20 percent, he added.

His store offers more than 1,000 varieties of hand and power tools, exporting to over 100 countries through a network of long-term partnerships with manufacturers in industrial hubs such as Danyang in east China’s Jiangsu province, and distributors worldwide.

With abroad selection, polished packaging, and reliable quality, the products have gained popularity among consumers across the world.”Our trade with the U.S. makes up about 10 percent of our business,” Wang said. “Even when U.S. shipments face delays, it doesn’t rattle us. When you have good products, the customers keep coming.”

Yiwu’s strength lies in volume, variety, and velocity. The market offers more than 2.1 million stock keeping units (SKUs), forming the backbone of everyday global consumption. These unassuming, everyday goods – what merchants call “hardcore” products – have reinforced local merchants’ confidence to weather global shocks and keep commerce moving forward.

“In recent years, we’ve worked to expand into African markets, and we are now seeing growth of over 20 percent in those countries,” said Liu Jianhao, sales director of Zhejiang Rifeshow Cosmetics Co., Ltd.

The company has sharply scaled back its dependence on the U.S. market, slashing the share of exports bound for the U.S. from 60 percent in 2018 to just 5 percent today – a shift that has helped insulate it from the fallout of unpredictable U.S. tariffs.

Last October, the company rolled out a new line of perfumes targeting African and Middle Eastern markets. The initial plan called for 30 products, but by the time the line launched in February this year, demand had already surged beyond expectations.In response, the company quickly added 36 more fragrances, each tailored to regional preferences.

“In just over two months, we sold more than 5 million bottles,” Liu said. “From concept to shelf, we move fast and deliver quality. That’s the strength of China’s supply chain, and it’s what allows Yiwu merchants to thrive in an increasingly diversified global market.”

The Yiwu International Trade Market operates like a global expo, open year-round to foreign buyers around the world. According to Yiwu Customs, in the first quarter of this year, the city’s total trade with Belt and Road partner countries reached 111.85 billion yuan ($15.32 billion), up 11.7 percent year on year, accounting for 66.8 percent of the city’s total foreign trade.

During the same period, the market saw significant growth in trade with other regions: trade with ASEAN and the European Unionrecorded increases of 16.1 percent and 16.5 percent, respectively; while that with Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East grew by 3.9 percent, 14.1 percent and 13.7 percent, respectively.

For traders in Yiwu, markets in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and other Belt and Road partner countries, represent not just opportunity, but stability. Tapping into this broad network of emerging demand has become a strategic buffer – with a growing “circle of friends”now central to weathering uncertainty and building long-term resilience.

According to statistics from China’s General Administration of Customs(GAC), China’s global trade cooperation continued expanding in the first quarter. The country’s foreign trade with Belt and Road partner countries rose 2.2 percent to 5.26 trillion yuan, 0.9 percentage points higher than the overall growth rate, accounting for 51.1 percent of China’s total foreign trade. In particular, trade between China and ASEAN grew by 7.1 percent from one year earlier, and that with the five Central Asian countries by 6.9 percent.

“Expanding into diversified markets and deepening cooperation across industrial and supply chains will further reinforce the resilience of China’s foreign trade,” said an official with China’s GAC.

In addition, as China steps up the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade, its vast domestic market has become a powerful anchor for foreign trade enterprises.

On April 13, China’s Ministry of Commerce launched “Premium Exports Homebound,”a campaign aiming at helping foreign trade companies pivot inward, promoting their export-ready products at home. Targeting provinces with strong foreign trade and consumer bases, the event features a range of themed matchmaking activities to open new sales channels and cushion the blow of global volatility. Industry associations, e-commerce platforms, and major retailers have thrown their weight behind the effort with a flurry of supportive measures.

“We will focus on managing its affairs well and use its ‘certainty’ to hedge against the ‘uncertainty’ of the external environment,” said an official with China’s Ministry of Commerce.

As China continues to unleash its vast market potential,supported by policies aimed at stabilizing the economy and foreign trade, its foreign trade is well-prepared to face various risks and challenges, the official said.

By Dai Linfeng, People’s Daily

For most diners, seafood is simply a delicacy. But on Changdao Island in east China’s Shandong province, it represents something more: a climate asset.

For instance, for local fisherman Wang Delian, the briny bounty of the sea comes with a new calculation: carbon offsets.”Each square ofsilky kelp fixesaround 0.2 kilograms of carbon annually,” he explained. “One mu of plump oysters – about 667 square meters – absorbs around 1.4 tons of carbon dioxideeach year. And a single ton of scallops? That’s worth 0.25 tons of carbon dioxide, or the equivalent of planting 16 trees.”

Not long ago, Wang’scompany earned him a one-million-yuan ($136,544) blue ocean loan – not backed by property or equipment, but bythe 20,900 tons of carbon dioxide his oyster farm has absorbed. Here, fresh air has become collateral, and the ocean – a ledger of ecological credit.

Wang is just one of many riding this blue-green wave. Daqianshan Island, under Changdao’s jurisdiction, has taken the concept of sustainability a step further, becoming China’sfirst island to record over 2,000 tons of negative carbon emissions – meaning the island now captures more carbon than it emits.

A decade ago, such achievements were unimaginable. In winter, the island’s500 coal-fired boilers consumed over 50,000 tons of coal annually to heat aquaculture ponds. Poorly managed nearshore fish farming worsened water quality, leading to severe algal blooms and ecological stress.

In recent years, Changdao Island has reclaimed 18,000 mu of nearshore aquaculture zones and dismantled 860,000 square meters of shoreline hatcheries. As a result, greenhouse gas emissions plummeted nearly 50 percentbetween 2016 and 2023. As carbon-intensive practices receded, ecosystems began to recover. The skies brightened, the waters cleared, and the air grew cleaner.

This campaign to “retreat aquaculture and restore the sea” has replaced the short-term focus on harvest yields with a longer-term vision – one that values carbon sinks. It marks a fundamental recalibration of the region’s development model, where ecological restoration and economic planning now move in tandem.

However, scaling back traditional aquaculture raised hard questions about livelihoods. Yet for those like Wang, it also created new opportunities. Today, Wangoversees 150,000 oyster cages, more than triple his 2023 count, as the industry shifts toward deep-sea ranching – a more sustainable, carbon-absorbing alternative.

As fishery resources are reimagined as carbon sink assets, Changdao’sfishermen – once guardians of ecology – are becoming primary beneficiaries of sustainable development. By aligning emission reductions with economic growth, the island is not only preserving its beautiful shores, but also unlocking powerful momentum for ocean-driven prosperity.

That transition is being powered, in part, by green innovation. Take the artificial reefsdotting Changdao’s seabed for example: built from durable basalt, these reefs are equipped with underwater cameras and wireless sensorsto track ocean currents and marine life in real time. More than 1.3 million cubic meters of these reefs have been deployed, spurring nutrient upwelling and creating fertile habitat for carbon-sequestering shellfish and algae. So far, these “underwater carbon vaults” have offset over 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents – each seaweed strand and oyster shell playing its part in a vast, living carbon factory.

Changdao’sstory is no longer unique.Across China’s vast maritime territory, island communities are embracing a similar blueprint: reviving ecosystems, enhancing coastal living environments,leveraging unique marine resources, and integrating cultural tourism into the fabric of local economies.

With a focus on greener islands, cleaner beaches, clearer waters, and more vibrant biodiversity, many regions in China are exploring new ways to understand, manage, and benefit from the ocean. By cherishing its blue skies and seas as it would cherish life itself, the country is steering its marine economy toward higher quality and greater efficiency- ensuring that the ocean remains a source of sustainable well-being for generations to come.

By Song Haoxin, You Yi, People’s Daily

The Sanxingdui Ruins, a monumental archaeological treasure, continue to unravel the mysteries of the ancient Shu civilization. Recently, the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics and Archaeology Research Institute kicked off the second phase of the conservation and inheritance project of Ancient Shu Civilization. With the rise of new technologies, the excavation, restoration, and exhibition of ancient artifacts are undergoing a revolutionary transformation, offering the public new ways to connect with relics that have remained silent for millennia.

At the latest archaeological excavation site in the sacrificial area of the Sanxingdui Ruins, high-tech tools are being deployed.In the 1980s, archaeologists worked under open skies with rudimentary equipment, excavating the No. 1 and No. 2 sacrificial pits. Now, over 30 years later, the world’s first fully enclosed excavation shelter covers Pits No. 3 through No. 8, where advanced archaeological modules have revolutionized the process.

Artifacts, once hidden in the earth in a relatively stable environment, are highly vulnerable once unearthed. Without immediate preservation, these fragile items can suffer discoloration or even carbonization of organic materials. The newly designed sealed modules maintain precise temperature and humidity controlwhile blocking dust, bacteria, and contaminants, providing the critical protection necessary for preserving these ancient relics.

Inside the transparent excavation modules, archaeologists, clad in full protective gear, work on suspended platforms within the pits, delicately cleaning the fragile items. “Each module is equipped with an integrated excavation platform and a multifunctional operating system,” explained Chen Xiandan, lead archaeologist behind the excavation of the No. 1 and No. 2 pits. “This basket-like platform helps prevent contamination of both artifacts and soil during the excavation.”

To date, over 17,000 cataloged artifacts have been unearthed in this new round of excavations, prompting archaeologists to embrace AI-powered, human-machine systems to streamline the restoration process.

One of the most impressive examples of this is the reconstruction of a bronze statue depicting a kneeling figure atop a beast, balancing a sacred vessel on its head. The statue’s fragments, scattered across various excavation sites over the past 37 years, were painstakingly reassembled using AI technology.

According to Yu Jian, vice curator of the Sanxingdui Museum, archaeologists scanned the fragments to create detailed 3D models, then used AI to extract and analyze geometric features, matched fragments based on probability, and tested structural integrity to confirm the statue’s reconstruction. With the aid of AI, the statue’s full form has now been largely restored.

For relics too fragile to restore physically, AI offers a “digital rebirth.”

In the cultural relic conservation and restoration hall of the Sanxingdui Museum,visitors can peer through glass walls to observe conservators as they examine fragments with specialized equipment. On nearby screens, scattered bronze shards digitally come together. Over 30 fragments have been virtually joined to create a complete 3D model of a 2.88-meter-tall bronze sacred tree.

Yu explained that traditional physical restoration would have been too risky. “We opted for a digital reconstruction first, as it offered a more precise and less damaging solution,” he said. For him, restoring these relics is like solving an intricate puzzle of civilization. “Each completed piece brings us closer to understanding Sanxingdui’s rich history,” he noted.

Technology has also enhanced the museum’s ability to bring the story of the ancient Shu people to life. Using mixed-reality headsets, visitors can activate vivid digital scenes that immerse them in ancient life. They can stand before sacred trees, watch ancient priests perform rituals, or witness golden, three-legged crows soaring across the sky.

“Here, visitors can experience the attire, headgear, and natural environment of the Sanxingdui people,” said Luo Hong, a researcher at the museum. “They can even try their hands at activities like bronze and jade crafting, house construction, and ritual ceremonies.”

To further satisfy public curiosity, the museum offers virtual reality experiences that allow visitors to explore Pits No. 3 through No. 8 in stunning 1:1 scale digital recreations. These virtual environments – spanning sacrificial pits, excavation modules, laboratories, an ivory storage room, the Bronze Hall, and the new museum building – create a fully immersive space for archaeological exploration.

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

Mounting global criticism is coalescing around a familiar concern: the United States is once again weaponizing tariffs as a tool of economic coercion. Experts warn that sweeping U.S. tariffs will deal a heavy blow to African economies, while ASEAN nations have openly denounced America’s unilateral tariff escalations.

Equally troubling, observers argue that these arbitrary tariffs not only threaten global economic stability but also signal a deliberate attempt of the U.S. to reassert its old hegemonic influence in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Among the countries on Washington’s “tariff coercion list” are some of the world’s most vulnerable economiessuch as Lesotho, recognized by the United Nations as one of the least developed nations, and Fiji, a Pacific island country with a fragile, narrowly based economy. This reckless move is sending shockwaves across the Global South.

In a bid to preserve its economic dominance, the U.S. has wielded the tariff stick, infringing upon and undermining other countries’ development rights and interests. This approach reveals its troubling indifference to international morality and responsibilities,exposing the underlying selfishness and hypocrisy of U.S. hegemony.

Driven by the belief in”might makes right,” the U.S. continues to pursue economic unilateralism – seeking gains at the expense of less developed countries. Such action not only erodes the development rights and interests of Global South countries but also undermines the efforts to build a more inclusive global economy.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that trade wars are extremely negative, especially for the poorest people in the world. Data analysis from the World Trade Organization indicates that, amid economic disparities and unequal power dynamics, U.S. tariff policies will exacerbate the wealth gap among nations, with less developed countries facing particularly severe repercussions. This trend poses a significant threat to the efforts intended to achieve the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The U.S. deliberately ignores the true development conditions of developing countries, distorting the causes behind trade deficits to justify its sweeping, unilateral tariffs. Its irresponsible action strips other countries, particularly those of the Global South, of their development rights and interests.

As the world’s largest economy, the U.S. has reaped immense profits from the global division of labor. Yet even as it benefits from globalization, it brazenly undermines very rules that make it work – flouting international trade norms, disregarding the intricate web of global industrial and supply chains, and casting aside the principles and purposes of the multilateral trading system. This behavior has inflicted deep and lasting harm to the economies and livelihoods of countries in the Global South.

An onslaught of tariffs by the U.S. will send “shock waves” through African economies, Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank, recently said, warning of reduced trade and higher debt-servicing costs.

The international community must not remain silent in the face of economic bullying and coercion. As the largest developing country and a responsible member of the international community, China has taken legitimate countermeasures to defend its sovereignty, security, and development interests. These actions are not only about protecting China’s own rights and interests – they are about standing up for the integrity of international trade rules, and for international fairness and justice. That stance has resonated across the Global South, where support for a more equitable global trading order continues to grow.

At the second meeting of the BRICS Contact Group on Economic and Trade Issues, participants expressed serious concerns over the trade tensions triggered by U.S. measures, and jointly called for opposition to unilateralism and trade protectionism. Reaffirming their commitment to the rules-based multilateral trading system, they emphasized the need for collective action to address the pressing challenges facing global trade today.

China stands firmly against trade protectionism and advocates a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. It is committed to advancing global development through trade, narrowing the development gap between the North and the South, and supporting the industrialization of other developing nations through tangible actions. For instance, it has given all the least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, expanding unilateral openingto the least developed countries to achieve common development.

China will continue to advance high-level opening up, steadily expanding institutional opening up with regard to rules, regulations, management, and standards. By sharing development opportunities with the rest of the world, the country aims to create win-win outcomes and achieve common development.

In its recently released Trade and Development Foresights 2025 report, UNCTAD underlined the growth of South-South trade, which accounts for about one third of global trade, as a source of resilience and a buffer against uncertainty. The development of China has been promoting “a steady growth of South-South trade,” the report said, adding that the potential of South-South economic integration offers opportunities for many developing countries.

History must not be reversed, and humanity must never return to a world where the strong prey on the weak. In today’s era of deepened economic globalization and interconnected international production networks, countries of the Global South are not only important contributors to the global economy but also crucial defenders of international economic and trade rules as well as the multilateral trading system. Any attempt to reverse this progress is doomed to fail.

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

By Ji Juesu, People’s Daily

In early March 2024, Mr. Zhou, a 63-year-old resident of Shanghai,returned to a hospital for what would become his third fight against diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. But this time, he was not relying on the chemotherapy and targeted therapy that had defined his previous treatments. Instead, he placed his hopes in a new frontier of precision treatment: CAR-T cell therapy.

Short for chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy, CAR-T is a rapidly evolving form of immunotherapy that reimagines cancer treatment – not by attacking tumors directly, but by supercharging the body’s own immune defenses.

At the heart of this approach are T cells – the immune system’s frontline soldiers. These white blood cells spring into action when the body encounters infections or tumors, working to defend against threats. CAR-T therapy takes that natural defense and amplifies it, genetically reprogramming the T cells into precision-targeting cancer killers. The secret lies in the “CAR,” or chimeric antigen receptor – a custom-built molecule added to the T cells that enables them to recognize and lock onto cancer cells with uncanny accuracy.

In Zhou’s case, his blood was drawn and sent to a manufacturing facility operated by JW Therapeuticsin Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu province. There, his T cells underwent a series of complex steps designed to turn them into cancer-fighting powerhouses.

The process began with isolating and cryopreserving the T cellsat temperatures below minus 130 degrees Celsius to preserve their original activity. When ready, the frozen cells were thawed and genetically modified using a viral vector that introduced the CAR – a molecular homing device for cancer. But a single engineered cell isn’t enough. These modified cells were expanded into bioreactors to create an army of at least 100 million. After rigorous purification, concentration, and quality control, Zhou’s customized therapy was complete and ready for delivery.

Three weeks later, he received a call: the infusionwas ready. Transported under strict temperature control, the CAR-T cellswere thawed and delivered back into Zhou’s bloodstream.

The results were almost immediate. Zhou developed a mild fever – a common side effect of the immune response triggered by the therapy – and soon noticed his swollen lymph nodes shrinking. A month later, follow-up scans brought good news: complete remission. The engineered T cells had not only cleared cancer, but were now standing sentry within his immume system, guarding against its return.

“We’re continuing to push our research forward so more patients can access and benefit from this treatment,” said Xia Zhen, executive director of clinical development at JW Therapeutics.

Globally, more than a dozen CAR-T therapies have received regulatory approval. In patients with relapsed or refractorylarge B-cell lymphoma, responses rate hover around 80 percent. Of those, 40 percent to 60 percent have gone on to survive five years or more – offering real hope for a potential cure.

Shanghai, meanwhile, is positioning itself as a hub for next-generation biotechnologies. With supportive policies and investment in life sciences, the city is unlocking innovation in cell therapy and aims to make breakthroughs like CAR-T more accessible to the patients who need them most.