China’s export controls on rare earths serve global security, trade stability

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

Recent concerns have been raised by certain nations regardingChina’s export control measures on certain rare earth-related items. It is important to clarify that all parties should approach these measureswith reason and objectivity, respect China’s legitimate rights in managing its national resources, and work together to uphold the international economic and trade order, as well as international peace and security.

The primary objective of these measures is to safeguard national security and fulfill China’sinternational non-proliferation obligations. Rare earth-related items have dual-use attributes for both military and civilian purposes, and imposing export controls on such items is in line with international practice, with the aim to better safeguard national security and interests and fulfill non-proliferation and other international obligations. The move reflects China’s commitment to world peace and regional stability.

Natural resources are the basis of human survival and development, also critical in maintaining peace and stability among nations. As a non-renewable strategic resource, rare earth elementsare often referred to as the “vitamins” of modern industry. Their exceptional physical and chemical properties – such as magnetism, luminescence, electrical conductivity, and catalytic functions – make them indispensable for enhancing the performance of advanced materials in areas such as light, heat, electricity, and magnetism. They serve as critical raw materials for strategic industries, including advanced weaponry, aerospace components, wind power, new energy vehicles, robotics, and intelligent manufacturing. It is an indisputable right and responsibility of all countries to protect, utilize, and manage their own natural resources in a rational manner.

China has consistently upheld the principles of openness, coordination, and shared development in its rare earth industry. Beyondfulfilling domestic demands for economic and social development,China has activelycontributed to reliable global rare earth supplies and world economic growth by forging robust international partnerships.

In recent years, China has introduced a range of policy measures to promote sustainable and sound development of its rare earth industry, including the establishment of market access standards, industry consolidation, and environmental protection. The regulations on rare earth administration, which took effect in October 2024, are designed to promote the high-quality development of the rare earth industry while ensuring high-level security.

China has always rigorously fulfilled its international non-proliferationobligations and responsibilities and remains committed to safeguarding international peace and security. The fundamental purpose of China’s export control measures on certain rare earth-related itemsis to ensure that such resources are used for legitimate and peaceful purposes, without targeting specific countries.

By ensuring that relevant items are not used for military purposes or in sensitive fields, China demonstrates its strong commitment to safeguarding world peace and securityas a responsible major country, serving the common interests of international security governance.

China remains committed to high-level opening-up and attaches great importance to economic and trade cooperation with countries and regions around the world. It recognizes the rising global demand for medium and heavy rare earth elements in civilian sectors driven by industries such as robotics and new energy vehicles. Taking into account the legitimate needs and concerns of all parties in civilian applications, China reviews export applications for rare earth-related items in accordance with law and is ready to enhance communication and dialogue on export controls with relevant countries and regions to facilitate compliant trade.

China has approved a certain number of export license applicationsfor rare earth-related itemsin accordance with law and will continue enhancing the approval process. Experience has shown that as long as companies comply with legal requirements and are not engaged in activities that undermine China’s national sovereignty, security, or development interests, export control measures will not affect their normal business operations and trade activities, let alone the stability and security of international industrial and supply chains.

China’s export control measuresshould not be mischaracterized as a “blockade” or an act of “confrontation.” Rather, they are intended to ensure the effective protection and rational utilization of rare earth resources.

China stands ready to work with all parties, on the basis of mutual respect for core interests and adherence to international rules, to build a global industrial and supply chain system that is secure and stable, smooth,efficient, open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial. Such collaboration will inject greater certainty and positive momentum into world peace and prosperity.

Building upon mutual respect for core interests and adherence to international rules, China is prepared to collaborate with all parties to construct a global industrial and supply chain system that is secure, stable, smooth, efficient, open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial. Such cooperation will inject certainty and momentum into fostering global peace and shared prosperity.

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

China-U.S. economic, trade relations complementary, mutually beneficial

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

The first meeting of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism is currently taking place in London, providing an important new opportunity for both sides to resolve differences through equal dialogue and consultation.

People from different walks of life in China and the U.S. as well as the international community expectthe two countries to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state during their recent phone call,so as to inject more certainty and stability into their respective development and the world economic recovery.

Promoting dialogue and consultation requires a rational and objective understanding of China-U.S. economic and trade relations. Over the past decades, China and the U.S. haveformed a complementary and mutually beneficial economic and trade structure. The sound development of bilateral economic and trade relations has not only delivered tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries, but also made important contributions to world economic growth.

An objective analysis of data reveals that gains fromeconomic and trade relations between China and the U.S. are generally balanced. The trade balance in goods between China and the U.S. is both an inevitable result of the structural issues in the U.S. economy and a consequence of the comparative advantages and international division of labor between the two countries.

In service trade and multinational operations, the U.S. enjoys a notable advantage. In 2024, the U.S.registered a surplus of $27.3 billion in service trade with China. In 2022, the sales revenue of the U.S.-owned enterprises in China reached $490.5 billion, significantly exceeding the $78.6 billion in sales revenue generated by Chinese-ownedenterprises in the U.S. – a gap of over $400 billion. When the three factors of trade in goods, trade in services, and the local sales of domestic enterprises’ branches in the other country are taken into full account, it becomes evident that neither side is at a disadvantage,nor is one exploiting the other in the bilateral economic and trade relationship.

Meanwhile, a significant portion of Chinese exports to the U.S. includes value generated through global value chains. However, current trade statistics methods calculate China’s exports based on their gross value (the full value of goods exported by China to the U.S.). Calculated by the trade in value-added method, the U.S. trade deficit with China would substantially decrease.

China does not deliberately pursue a trade surplus. As a matter of fact, the ratio of China’s current account surplus to GDP has decreased from 9.9 percent in 2007 to 2.2 percent in 2024. In recent years, China’s share of the total U.S. deficit of trade in goods has fallen from 47.5 percent in 2018 to 24.6 percent in 2024, while the U.S. trade deficit with other countries and regions has increased substantially in the same period. In 2024, the U.S. international deficit of trade in goods reached$1.2 trillion. This once again proves that the root cause of the U.S. goods trade deficit lies in its own economic structure.

The potential for U.S. exports to China remains untapped, largely due to U.S. domestic policies. The U.S. holds a comparative advantage in high-tech industries, yet in recent years it has overstretched the concept of national security and politicized economic and trade issues. Following the China-U.S. economic and trade talks in Geneva, the U.S. introduced multiple discriminatory restrictive measures against China. These measures included issuing guidance on AI chip export controls and halting sales of chip design software to China.

These persistent restrictive measures have caused U.S. businesses to miss valuable opportunities in the Chinese market. Time and again, it has been shown that “high fences and small yards” and decoupling and supply chains disruption run counter to economic principles and hinder normal business interactions between the two countries.

China remains committed to pursuing high-level opening-up and import expansion, providing more opportunities to countries around the world, including the United States. China continues to use the major platforms such as the China International Import Expo, the Canton Fair, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, and the China International Consumer Products Expo to boost imports. It also develops national-level demonstration zones for the creative promotion of imports, steadily facilitates growth in imports, and explores more potential. The goal is to transform China’s vast market into a shared global market, injecting new impetus into the world economy.

The China-U.S. economic and trade relationship is fundamentally rooted in complementarity and mutual benefits. The steady and sound development of bilateral ties hinges on dismantling man-made barriers and facilitating unimpeded, reciprocal flows in trade and economic cooperation. As the world’s two largest economies, China and the U.S. can not only advance their own  development through strengthened economic and trade cooperation but also play an essential role in ensuring the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

It is believed that China and the U.S. can findmutually beneficial and win-win solutionsthrough equal dialogue and practical cooperation. It is hoped that both sides will work together to foster an enabling environment for enterprises to conduct normal business activities, thereby delivering greater benefits to the peoples of both nations and contributing more to world economic recovery and growth.

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

June 12: Recognise unsung heroes, activists, Coalition urges Tinubu

In commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to recognise ‘Activists and Martyrs’, and others who fought and lost their lives in the struggle to sustain the nation’s democracy.

This year’s Democracy Day celebration makes it the 32nd year after the then military government annulled the historic June 12, 1993, Presidential election won by late Chief MKO Abiola, hence prominent civil society organisations have stressed the need for Tinubu to accord due recognition to so many unsung heroes who fought for the actualization of democracy in Nigeria.

The duo of Defend Nigeria Movement (DNM) and Nigeria’s Unite for Democracy (NUD)  made the call at a world press conference held on Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Lagos, noting that while some prominent activists were given the desired honor, too many ordinary people are forgotten.

The Convener of the coalition, Comrade Razaq Olokooba said the conference was in commemoration of Nigeria’s Democracy Day and the 32nd year anniversary of the historic June 12 1993 presidential election won by late Chief MKO Abiola.

Olokooba in his word stated: “I welcome you all with profound gratitude, particularly to our falling fighters in the anti-military struggles, who were murdered or martyred across the streets of our beloved country with the hope that the survivors will keep the dream alive so that our struggle and efforts shall not be in vain and the surviving June 12 activists with tremendous nostalgia, because in retrospect we have been on a journey of no return most especially when we are yet to reach our destination, in other words, our dream remains a dream.

“That historic election, which has been variously adjudged as the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history, was sadly and treasonably annulled by the General Ibrahim Babangida military junta for his interest of self-perpetuation in power.

“However, Nigerians in unison with a common destiny, rose in stout defiance of the guns and bullets to insist on the de-annulment of the election at great cost of loss of human lives, limbs, property and freedom which culminated in the forced retreat of the military from Nigeria’s political life and birth the current democratic dispensation on May 29, 1999.

The groups noted that June 12 has become a symbol of national unity and consciousness, showcasing Nigerians’ ability to unite around an ideology despite our differences.

They added, “The annulment of the June 12 election didn’t just mark a turning point in Nigeria’s democratic journey, it is also a symbol of our democratic culture, resilience, and self-awareness. This event has inspired a bibliography of its own, highlighting its significance in Nigeria’s history.

“The declaration of June 12 as a national public holiday by President Muhammadu Buhari has given the epoch its pride of place in Nigeria’s socio-political calendar. This move has helped to promote the value and symbolism of June 12. However, we need to deepen the gains of the lessons of June 12.

“We must use this medium to congratulate Nigerians for keeping faith with democracy despite the challenges that confront us as a people with 26 years of an unprecedented and unbroken democratic system and like the saying goes, a people united, can never be defeated.

“While acknowledging the initial pains and inconvenience, we congratulate and commend President Bola Tinubu for his bold and daring economic reforms, which have extinguished the hemorrhaging of our economy through the termination of the fuel subsidy regime and the unification of the foreign exchange system. By these two critical policies, the President Tinubu administration has saved the country the loss of about $10bn annually in the last two years and the result is that the three tiers of government now receive almost triple their allocations from the federation account to enable them to provide the dividends of democracy to the citizenry,” the Convener stated.

Olokooba further stated: “We can all see the gains of the economic re-engineering of the President Bola Tinubu administration begin to manifest in infrastructural renewal as well as other policies which are making positive impacts in every other sector of the Nigerian economy, for example, Lagos Calabar Coastal highway, Lagos Sokoto highway, naira for crude, NELFUND, tax reforms bills, etc.

“However, as much as we are holding the federal government accountable for its account of stewardship in the last two years of the President Bola Tinubu administration, it is very important for us to demand the same from our states and local government councils administration who are beneficiaries of this unprecedented largesse from the federation account now.”

While reiterating the foundation laid by the President in Lagos State, the groups stated, “Importantly, special mention must be made of Mr. Babajide Sanwo Olu the executive governor of Lagos State who has continued on the templates for political, economic and infrastructural development of the state as laid down in the state by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the then governor of the state. Without a blink of an eye, Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu has not only sustained the developmental architecture of the state, but he continues to sustain the progressive legacies left behind by President Tinubu’s administration in the state.

“This notwithstanding, there is a compelling need to deepen the gains of the lessons of June 12.

“There is no administration since 1999 that can be acknowledged as the Baby of the June 12 struggle than the present administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is not only because the President was a key player among those who made sacrifices in those days and who, later as governor of Lagos State was adept at innovations towards development and defiance of authoritarian central government, but also because of its richness in progressive elements and democrats.

“It is therefore not surprising that alongside policies geared towards economic and socio-political transformation, the government has also not forgotten the heroes of the past. This cannot be denied and we are not about to do that.

“However, we make bold to state that this recognition appears to have been one-sided. The heroic deeds of the grassroots people defined that struggle. Their resilience bore the banner forward and their sweet and blood watered the flowers of struggle. Too many unsung heroes. Too many forgotten ordinary people. President Tinubu, himself
a player in the board room and in the street of struggle, need to pay attention to this.

“Therefore, we demand that the President give due recognition to the Coalition of June 12 Activists and Martyrs.
“There should also be a monument to the unsung heroes of June 12. They are our own unknown soldiers.

“The government at all levels needs to urgently address security issues by leveraging technology and community participation. State police and community policing have become a matter of urgency, beyond rhetorics and sentimental considerations. Security in the real sense should be the duty of the people, not as empty declarations but with indigenous and innovative inputs.

High-quality supply winning hearts of Chinese consumers

By Han Chunyao, People’s Daily

From multilingual smart home ecosystems to AI-powered thermal-regulating down jackets and robotic exoskeletons that make climbing easier – China’s consumer market is undergoing a wave of positive transformation.

A growing preference for personalized, high-quality, and experience-driven consumption is becoming pronounced. In 2024 alone, over 21 million types of new consumer products were launched across the country, with many high-quality offerings becoming the new favorites of discerning shoppers.

But what constitutes “high-quality supply” in today’s China? It could be an exhilarating concert, an immersive countryside retreat, or a hands-free robotic vacuum cleaner.

Far from being confined to luxury, high-quality supply refers to products and services that resonate deeply with consumers, align with smart, green, and healthy development, improve quality of life, and enhance overall wellbeing.

Fueling this shift is a robust and increasingly sophisticated supply system. China is now home to more than 180,000 consumer goods enterprises above the designated size, or those with annual main business revenue of over 20 million yuan ($2.79 million), which account for 38 percent of all industrial enterprises nationwide.

Much of this momentum originates in laboratories.Take a triple-drum washing machine developed by Chinese home appliance manufacturer Haier for example, which resembles the face of Mickey Mouse and allows separate washing for socks, underwear, and outerwear. Users have lauded the machine as evidence that the company “listens to consumers,”turning an everyday pain point into a touchpoint of satisfaction.

Behind this responsiveness lie technological breakthroughs such as triple-drum independent drive systems and AI-based fabric recognition, demonstrating how technological ingenuity is now being steered by market insight.

China is the world’s largest source of home appliance technology, accounting for 67.34 percent of global patent applications in the sector. In new energy vehicles (NEVs), China leads the world in core technologies related to batteries, motors, and electronic control systems. Innovations developed in laboratories are rapidly transforming into smart products for everyday life, continuously enhancing the quality of life for millions of households.

This transformation is not limited to products alone. Digitalization is remaking the industrial process. In a leading Chinese automaker’s factory, an NEV rolls off the production line every minute – a testament to the remarkable speed and efficiency enabled by automated assembly lines. Such seamless production would be impossible without the highly collaborative and digitally integrated NEV industrial chain.

New digital models such as networked collaboration and personalized customization are emerging rapidly. AI now assists research and design engineers, while reverse customization brings high-end bespoke services to consumers. Currently, over 80 percent of light industry enterprises use digital design tools, and nearly half have achieved networked collaboration.

Thanks to 5G and industrial Internet technologies, flexible manufacturing, smart inventory management, and collaborative design are being rapidly adopted across industries such as automobiles, home appliances, and fashion.

High-quality supply is further reinforced by more thoughtful service experiences. At grocery chain storePangdonglai, services like free trouser hemming, power banks, and pet-sitting have elevated routine shopping into an engaging and enjoyable experience. Consumers refer to the chain, often half-jokingly, as a “5A-rated tourist attraction.”The 84 warm service details provided by the chain contribute significantly to enhancing customer satisfaction and infusing joy into the shopping experience.

Meanwhile, in e-commerce, faster deliveries and broader free-shipping zones are becoming standard expectations. Today, superior servicesare becoming an integral part of superior products, helping businesses forge stronger emotional connections with consumers.

Cultural innovation is also adding momentum.When contemporary toy brand POP MART partnered with Chinese painter Chang Shana to produce Dunhuang-themed collectible blind boxes, ancient culture met pop aesthetics, quickly turning the product into a sought-after item.

Similar collaborations are on the rise in China: New-style tea brands are partnering with popular animation IPs, while immersive dance performances inspired by Tang Dynasty (618-907) court life now light up urban commercial centers. As consumption continues to upgrade, the integration of diverse business models is expanding the boundaries of high-quality supply and creating an ever-growing array of delightful new products and experiences for consumers.

The shift from quantity to quality is not only diversifying China’s consumer landscape – it is also propelling the collective rise of Chinese brands. Once associated with labels such as “low-end” or “low-cost original equipment manufacturer (OEM),”Chinese firms are now climbing into the high-value segments of the global value chain.

As effective demand and high-quality supply continue to reinforce one another in a virtuous cycle, Chinese manufacturing is increasingly seizing the opportunities presented by consumption upgrading, responding to people’s growing aspirations for a better life and creating infinite possibilities for future development.

Dialogue, cooperation only right choice for China, U.S.

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

On the evening of June 5, Chinese President Xi Jinpingtook a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump. This was the first conversation between the two heads of state since the current U.S. administration took office.

The two presidents agreed that their respective teams should continue to make good on the agreement reached in Geneva and hold a new round of talks as soon as possible.

At a time when China-U.S. relations face multiple challenges, this strategic communication between the two leaders has provided crucial guidance for overcoming disruptions and difficulties. It has also injected much-needed stability and positive energy into an increasingly turbulent world.

Xi pointed out that recalibrating the direction of the giant ship of China-U.S. relations requires the two sides to take the helm and set the right course. It is particularly important to steer clear of the various disturbances and disruptions. This is an important lesson drawn from the history of China-U.S. relations, and it is of even greater significance today as the two sides work to properly manage differences and strengthen cooperation. This statement reflects China’s consistent sense of responsibility in handling its relations with the United States.

The phone call has drawn close attention from various sectors in both countries and the wider international community. Many believe that it sent a positive signal of enhanced communication and dialogue between China and the United States. There is widespread expectation that both sides will effectively implement their consensus and take concrete actions to improve and develop China-U.S. relations, thereby contributing greater stability and positive momentum to the world.

China-U.S. economic and trade relations matter not only to both countries but also to global economic stability and growth. At the suggestion of the U.S. side, the two countries’ lead officials recently held an economic and trade meeting in Geneva. It marked an important step forward in resolving the relevant issues through dialogue and consultation, and was welcomed by both societies and the international community. It proved that dialogue and cooperation is the only right choice.

The Chinese always honor and deliver what has been promised. China has approached the Geneva consensus with a high sense of responsibility and has been seriously and earnestly executing the agreement. In contrast, following the Geneva talks, the U.S. side has introduced a series of additional discriminatory and restrictive measures against China. These actions have severely undermined the existing consensus, seriously infringed upon China’s legitimate rights and interests, and damaged the credibility of the U.S. side.

The Chinese side is sincere about resolving economic and trade issues through dialogue and consultation, and at the same time has its principles. Since consensus has been reached, both sides must seek win-win results in the spirit of equality and respect for each other’s concerns. The U.S. side should acknowledge the progress already made in an objective and fact-based manner and remove its negative measures taken against China.

The Taiwan question concerns China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and is at the very core of China’s core interests. It is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. China’s resolve to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering. The United States must handle the Taiwan question with prudence, so that the fringe separatists bent on “Taiwan independence” will not be able to drag China and America into the dangerous terrain of confrontation and even conflict. The U.S. side should strictly adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, stop sending any wrong signals to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces, and cease creating factors that heighten tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

History and reality have repeatedly proven that China and the United States both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. China has always viewed and handled its relations with the United States in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. China remains committed to enhancing dialogue and communication with the U.S. side, properly managing differences, and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation.

Following the adjustment of tariff measures in line with the Geneva consensus, there has been a surge in demand in the China-U.S. shipping market, with shipping capacity falling short of demand – underscoring the strong need for business cooperation between the two countries and once again demonstrating that mutual benefit and win-win outcomes are the essence of China-U.S. economic and trade relations.

Whether it is promoting respective development, facilitating global economic recovery, or addressing international and regional hotspot issues, China-U.S. coordination and cooperation are indispensable. The two sides should enhance exchanges in diplomacy, economy and trade, the military, and law enforcement, increase mutual understanding, reduce misperceptions, and strengthen cooperation.

Calling the U.S.-China relationship very important, Trump said the United States wants the Chinese economy to do very well. He noted the United States and China working together can get a lot of great things done, and the United States will honor the one-China policy and work with China to execute the deal reached in Geneva. The U.S. loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America, he added. It is hoped that the U.S. side will translate these statements into concrete actions.

To keep China-U.S. relations on a steady course, it is essential to adjust direction and stay anchored – so that this giant ship can navigate past hidden reefs and rough seas. Both sides should make good use of the economic and trade consultation mechanism already in place, continue to deliver on the Geneva consensus, and hold another round of meeting as soon as possible.

The peoples of both countries and the international community look forward to a stable, sound, and sustainable China-U.S. relationship that will enable both countries to fulfill their responsibilities as major countries and contribute to world peace and development.

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

Desert transformation: county in Xinjiang finds prosperity in sands

By Jiang Yunlong, People’s Daily

“As a child, my dream was to escape Makit and distance myself from the Taklimakan Desert,”recalled Reyhan Ehmet.

Born in 2001 in Makit county, Kashgar prefecture in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Reyhan remembers a childhood dominated by sandy landscapes.”Spring rarely brought greenery—instead, everything indoors and outdoors was shrouded in a yellow haze, with the acrid taste of sand lingering in the air,” she added.

Makit county,surrounded by the Taklimakan Deserton three sides, spans an area where 90% of its land is desert.

After graduating from university, Reyhan worked in Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang province. In February 2024, she returned to her hometown and was stunned by its transformation, prompting her to settle there permanently.

“Coming back, I now realize that we can manage, develop, and make good use of the Taklimakan Desert,” she said.

Along the roadfrom the county seat into the desert, a vast greenbelt of thriving trees extends for dozens of kilometers. This constitutes part of a 3,046-kilometersand-blocking barrier encircling the Taklimakan, which Makit county has cultivated as its primary ecological defense system.

Since 2012, over 3 million residents have participated inMakit’sdesertification controlinitiatives,resulting in the creation of 1.176 million mu (approximately 78,400 hectares) of desert reclamation projects, including 460,000 mu of shelterbelt forests. To date, more than 260 million trees have been planted, including diversiform-leaved poplars, Xanthoceras sorbifolium, Euphrates poplars, Russian olives, tamarisks, and saxauls.

“The Taklimakan Desert I see today is unrecognizable from the desert of my childhood,” Reyhan said.The shift extends beyond environmental recovery to a broader cultural shift in how locals perceive development, prioritizing sustainability over exploitation.

“Many tourists from outside want to experience the desert up close,” said Wang Jiangpeng, deputy director of the Makit county bureau of culture, sports, radio, television and tourism. While some visitors did come in the past,inadequate tourism facilities meant most only snapped photos at the desert’s edge before leaving. In recent years, however, the county has revitalized its infrastructure and visitor services thanks to strong support from local governments, enterprises, and community stakeholders. This has boosted both its reputation and capacity to accommodate growing numbers of tourists.

“Last yearalone, we received 400,000 tourists, and we anticipate surpassing 500,000 this year. Desert tourism is becoming a key driver of the county’s economic growth,” said Wang.

Encouraged by the boom in desert tourism, Reyhan decided to stay in Makit and joined a tourism development company. She now leads tourists on in-depth desert excursions deep into the Taklimakan.

Though she grew up on the desert’s fringes, Reyhan never imagined it could evolve into such a lively destination.

During peak season, most tourists arrive around sunset. After trying out desert off-road driving and other activities, they return to the campsite to enjoy local song and dance performances and experience traditional flatbread-making. By night, they gaze at the desert’s star-strewn sky, and at dawn, they climb towering dunes to witness the sunrise.

Even in the off-season, the camp is far from quiet. Tender green branches sprout from desert poplars, and Reyhan has “hosted” visits from curious jerboas and fluffy little foxes. One time, a colleague excitedly told her that a rareyellow sheep had appeared near the campsite.

The desert tourism area sits next to a populus euphratica forest park and the Tangwang Lake National Wetland Park in Makit.

“Tourism development must not compromise the desert’s ecosystem, so we incorporated protective measures from the very beginning,” Reyhan said. Alongside expending water, electricity, and internet infrastructure to the campsite, they also built nearby facilities for wastewater treatment and waste managementfacilities to ensure no waste is left in the desert.

Grabbing a handful of fine sand, she let it fall onto her pants, then gave them a shake – the sand was so clean that her pants were spotless again. “The sand here is very clean, and we must take good care of it,” Reyhan said.

“For Makit, desert tourism brings jobs and increases incomes. By balancing desert conservation, ecological restoration, and sustainable development,we’ve forged a model that harmonizes environmental protection with economic progress,” said Wang Faqiang, deputyhead of Makit county.

“Desert tourism is a rich resource. As China’s largest desert, the Taklimakan is expected to draw more and more visitors through the integrated model of ‘desert control + industry + employment + tourism,'” Wang Faqiang added.

Why does China, a developing country, remain committed to carbon reduction?

By Cheng Chen, People’s Daily

At a time when some developed countries are retreating from their climate commitments, why does China, as a developing country, remain steadfast in pursuing carbon reduction?

The most immediate answer lies in the growing threat global warming poses to human survival and the future of human civilization.

Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are primary culprits of climate change. In this context, “carbon” refers broadly to these greenhouse gases.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned that there is a direct link between increasing emissions and increasingly frequent and intense climate disasters.

The planet is warming at an alarming pace. The World Meteorological Organization has confirmed that 2024 is the warmest year on record, marked by a surge in extreme weather events. Record-high monthly precipitation values were 27 percent higher than for the baseline period, while daily precipitation extremes were 52 percent more common in 2024 than during 1995-2005.

No country can remain immune to the impacts of global warming. According to China’s National Climate Center, the Chinese national average reading in 2024 stood at 10.9 degrees Celsius, the highest since 1951. The average temperature in China that year was the highest since 1961, when the country began compiling complete meteorological observation records. Meanwhile, average precipitation across the country reached 697.7 mm, 9 percent more than the annual average. These climate anomalies have disrupted agricultural production, endangered lives, and caused property losses.

Beyond these immediate concerns, China’s commitment to carbon reduction is also driven by deeper international and domestic considerations.

On the international front, China’s carbon reductioncommitment reflects both its responsibility as a major country and the pressing need to build a community with a shared future for mankind.China’s experience and practices in carbon reduction can help other developing countries enhance their capacity to address climate change, thereby contributing to the global transition toward a sustainable future.

As an important participant, contributor, and leader in global ecological progress, China is deeply engaged in global environmental governance and continues to increase its influence and voice in the global environmental governance system. The country has built the world’s largest and most complete new energy industrial chain. In 2023 alone, its export of wind and photovoltaic products helped reduce carbon emissions by around 810 million tons in recipient countries.

On the domestic front, carbon reduction contributes to China’s green, low-carbon transformation and sustainable development.It helps improve China’s ecological environment and promotes the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

China has made significant adjustments to its energy mix, with robust growth in hydropower, nuclear, wind and solar power.These shifts have reduced emissions of both greenhouse gases and pollutants including PM2.5. Between 2015 and 2023, the average PM2.5 concentration in Chinese cities at the prefecture level and above dropped by more than 30 percent. From 2013 to 2022, while GDP in China’s Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region grew by 60 percent, PM2.5 concentrations fell by more than 60 percent.

Carbon reduction also helps address resource and environmental constraints, enabling sustainable development. China now leads the world in installed capacities for wind, photovoltaic, hydro, and biomass power. Over the past decade, the share of coal in China’s energy consumption has dropped by 12.6 percentage points. Between 2013 and 2023, China has supported average annual economic growth of 6.1 percent with a 3.3 percent increase in energy consumption. In 2023, renewable energy accounted for roughly one third of China’s total electricity consumption.

In line with the trend of technological development, carbon reduction helps drive economic structure transformation and upgrading. China has phased out over 150 million tons of outdated steel production capacity and completed ultra-low emission upgrades for 134 million tons of steel capacity. The country boasts the world’s largest, most comprehensive and most competitive clean energy industrial chain, accounting for over 80 percent of global output in polysilicon, wafers, solar cells and modules, as well as 60 percent of global wind turbine manufacturing capacity.

At its core, the question of why China continues to reduce carbon emissions is inseparable from the broader question of how it defines development.

Even as some countries waver in their climate commitments, China remains resolute, as the development path it pursues is one that truly responds to people’sgrowing aspirations for a better life and is underpinned by the new development philosophy.

Green development is the defining feature of China’s high-quality development, and carbon reduction is essential to achieving it. In advancing carbon reduction, China is also transforming its development model.

China-SCO AI forum charts path toward inclusive digital development

By He Yin, People’s Daily

Themed “Intelligence Converges in China, Wisdom Benefits SCO,” the China-SCO AI Cooperation Forum was held in north China’s Tianjinrecently.

The event aimed to strengthen cooperation between China and SCO member states in technological research, talent development, and industrial applications. It encouraged joint efforts to tackle key technological challenges, accelerate the industrialization of AI technologies, and share the benefits of AI development, so as to inject fresh momentum into regional prosperity and development.

Advancing economic transformation through AI aligns with the shared aspirations of SCO countries. China has actively embraced the wave of intelligent transformation, vigorously promoting innovation in AI science and technology, fostering industrial growth, and accelerating the integration of AI across a wide range of sectors.

At the same time, it has worked to establish a sound regulatory framework and has built a relatively complete AI industrial ecosystem.

As of April 2025, China’s AI patent applications had surpassed 1.5 million in number, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the global total, ranking first worldwide.

The AI-driven large models developed by Chinese companies – characterized by open-source access,cost-effectiveness, and high efficiency – are offeringSCO countries new paradigms and perspectives for advancing their own AI capabilities.

Experts from SCO member states noted that China has demonstrated strong innovation capacity and enormous growth potential by applying AI broadly in both commercial and scientific fields, while also cultivating a large pool of highly skilled professionals.

As the world’s largest and most populous regional organization, the SCO holds extensive data resources and diverse application scenarios. Enhanced AI cooperation presents new development opportunities among member states.

China has joined hands with fellow SCO countries to address key technological challenges, foster continuous innovation in AI, expand the scope of real-world applications, and steadily unlockthe benefits of intelligence.

Concrete examples of such cooperation are already visible. At a photovoltaic power facility in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, a Chinese enterprise has introduced intelligent cleaning robots to safeguard solar panels around the clock, significantly improving their efficiency and longevity. In the wheat-growing regions of Punjab, Pakistan, a China-Pakistan smart agricultural project now enables local farmers to precisely manage irrigation and fertilization through smartphone-based systems.

At the forum, China proposed a four-point plan to enhance policy coordination, expand technological cooperation, promote application empowerment, and strengthen AI security governance. It also released a plan to build an AI application center and extended an open invitation for joint participation, underscoring its commitment to openness, multilateral cooperation, and shared scientific and technological advancement.

China is a strong advocate for the fair and inclusive development of AI on a global scale and a strong proponent, facilitator, and pioneer in strengthening international cooperation on AI capacity building.

In 2024, the 78th UN General Assembly adopted a China-led resolution on enhancing international AI cooperation. China also launched the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for Al and initiated the Group of Friends for International Cooperation on AI Capacity-Building. These efforts are aimed at fostering broad partnerships so as to make sure that the benefits of digital transformation are enjoyed by all, and that no country and no one is left behind.

Recently, the second AI Capacity Building Workshop was held in Beijing, drawing participants from nearly 40 countries and international organizations, including multiple SCO member states.

The fair and inclusive development of AI can illuminate the path of technological progress and contribute to a brighter future for humanity. Guided by the Shanghai Spirit, China will continue to work together with other SCO member states to deepen exchanges and cooperation, share the dividends of AI, and ensure that the benefits of AI better serve global development.

China always committed to safeguarding peace, security in Asia-Pacific

By He Yin, People’s Daily

At the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue held recently, China reaffirmed its commitment to upholding common security and shared prosperity in the Asia-Pacific together with regional countries, injecting strong momentum into the long-term stability in the region.

This constructive approach has been widely recognized and strongly endorsed by countries in the region. Many noted that China’s vision of security, rooted in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and its longstanding commitment to mutually beneficial cooperation, openness, and inclusiveness have contributed positively to regional peace, stability and shared development.

The world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, with multiple crises compounding one another. The basic norms governing international relations are being eroded, and the UN-centered international system faces mounting challenges. Geopolitical tensions are intensifying, economic globalization is encountering headwinds, and non-traditional security threats are growing in complexity.

Facing a fluid and turbulent world, the international community is calling more urgently than ever for solutions to global security dilemma, with a growing consensus on the need for dialogue and cooperation.

Improving global security governance and addressing security challenges require the guidance of sound and forward-looking concepts. China advocates the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, firmly supports the central role of the UN in safeguarding global peace and security, makes unremitting efforts to build a world of universal security, and contributes constructively to the political settlement of international and regional hotspot issues.

China is deeply engaged in global security governance and actively advances security cooperation in emerging fields. TheGlobal Security Initiative (GSI) proposed by China has become an international consensus and a platform for win-win cooperation. As of the end of 2024, the GSI had received support and appreciation from 119 countries and international organizations and had been incorporated into 123 bilateral and multilateral political documents.

Many participants at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue observed that in a world undergoing an accelerating transformation unseen in a century, the security public goods that China provides, including the GSI, help the international community respond to challenges through unity and coordination, build trust and cohesion, and improve the global security governance system.

As a region of vital strategic importance in the global landscape and a major driver for global economic prosperity, the Asia-Pacific has long cherished peace, stability, and development. Dialogue and consultation remain the preferred means of resolving differences and disputes.

However, regional security is increasingly threatened by the actions of a few countries seeking hegemony and advancingthe so-called “Indo-Pacific strategy” that stokes tensions and disrupts regional harmony. Such behaviors have drawn sustained concern from many countries in the region.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said at the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue, “The more we act together, the harder it becomes to be pulled apart by external gravity.” His words echoed the common desire among Asia-Pacific countries to strengthen solidarity in the face of external interference.

The facts speak for themselves: attempts to create division by inflating perceived “threats” and reshaping the regional security order through bloc confrontation are doomed to fail.

China’sdevelopment began in the Asia-Pacific, was enabled by the Asia-Pacific, and contributes to the Asia-Pacific.Regardless of how the international landscape evolves, China remains committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind. Guided by the three global initiatives, China will continue upholding the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness, and inclusiveness, practicing true multilateralism, and advocating sincere dialogue and consultation.

It is working to pursue the Asian security model that features sharing weal and woe, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and prioritizing dialogue and consultation. Through concrete actions, it has been actively promoting regional security, properly managing and resolvingconflicts and disputes, working to de-escalate regional tensions, and joining hands withother countries to maintain peace and stability.

As AristyoRizka Darmawan, a lecturer in international law at the Faculty of Law UniversitasIndonesia, noted, China’s call to abandon Cold War mentality, power politics, and bloc confrontation, and to reject seeking one’s own security at the expense of others, provides a constructive path for Asiato address regional security challenges through cooperation and to advance inclusive development. At this historic moment when mankind have to choose between peace and war, prosperity and recession, unity and confrontation, China will, as always, stand on the right side of history and on the side of human progress. It will continue pursuing peaceful development, shouldering its responsibility as a major country, and working with all parties to safeguard peace and tranquility, so as to inject more certainty and stability to the world

Okpella Kingship: Ukhomunyio Leaders Storm Government House, Benin Palace, Reject Sado as Okuokpellagbe

In a powerful show of unity and resistance, traditional leaders, youths, women, and persons living with disabilities from the Ukhomunyio village in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, staged a major protest today against what they described as an illegal and undemocratic imposition of Michael Sado as the Okuokpellagbe (traditional ruler) of Okpella.

The demonstrators first marched to the Edo State Government House in Benin City, where they submitted a strongly worded petition to Governor Monday Okpebholo, before proceeding to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, where they sought the monarch’s intervention in the unfolding traditional leadership crisis.

Holding placards with inscriptions such as “Okpella Tradition Must Be Respected”, “No to Illegal Installation”, and “Ukhomunyio Demands Justice”, the protesters condemned what they called the “kangaroo process” that led to the purported selection and presentation of the staff of office to Mr. Michael Sado.

The group, speaking under the banner of the Concerned Citizens of Ukhomunyio, described Sado’s emergence as Okuokpellagbe as a “travesty and a blatant violation of both the traditional selection process and the extant customary laws governing succession in Okpella.”

In their official statement titled “Re: Position of Ukhomunyio Concerned Citizens on the Selection of the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella”, the group expressed deep disappointment over what they described as the state government’s failure to uphold the law despite earlier assurances.

“The Okpella community received the Governor’s April 30, 2025 press release with joy and hope. It promised a credible process anchored on the extant law. Yet, a select few ignored this directive and unlawfully installed Michael Sado,” the statement read.

They cited specific violations of the Declaration of Customary Law Regulating Succession to the Traditional Title of Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, particularly the failure to allow the Ukhomunyio branch of the Oteku Ruling House, whose turn it is to produce the next Okuokpellagbe, to properly nominate a candidate.

According to the protesters, “No meeting of adult males of the appropriate branch was convened. No Kingmakers were involved. Instead, a theatrical selection process led by a non-existent electoral body allocated scores arbitrarily, with Mr. Sado reportedly awarded 16 points and other so-called candidates given none.”

They also reminded the Governor that any action contrary to the Declaration of Customary Law and the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict of 1979 is unlawful and void, emphasizing that “the issuance of staff of office to Michael Sado constitutes a breach of both law and tradition.”

The group urged Governor Okpebholo to immediately:

  1. Cancel the appointment of Michael Sado.
  2. Direct the Ukhomunyio branch of the Oteku Ruling House to begin a proper, lawful selection process.
  3. Uphold justice and the rule of law to restore faith in government and traditional institutions.

The delegation also made an emotional appeal to the Oba of Benin, describing him as the custodian of Edo traditions and a father figure whose moral authority could help guide the resolution of the crisis.

“We are not against the institution of the Okuokpellagbe,” one of the leaders High Chief Julius Ederefo, said. “We are fighting for the sanctity of our culture and the rule of law. A traditional ruler imposed without due process cannot command the respect or loyalty of the people.”

As the protest ended peacefully, the community said it awaits official response from the state government and the Oba’s palace.