Nigeria Times

By Wang Zhe, People’s Daily

In a production workshop of Qingdao Fit Garment Co., Ltd., located in the Xiajin Economic Development Zone in east China’s Shandong province, workers move swiftly and with purpose.

A skilled cutter guides a machine with practiced ease, as fabric pieces drop precisely into place. Nearby, sewing machine operators turn cloth into polished garments, their stitches nimble andexact.

After clearing quality inspections, these garments were folded, packed, and labeled-bound for countries including Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

“Since the release of the Joint Statement on China-U.S. Economic and Trade Meeting in Geneva, we were reached by American clients,” said Tian Chunli, head of the company.

“Right now, we’re exporting to more than 10 countries, and our order book is full through September. With firm orders in hand, we’re calm and confident. We’ll keep moving forward at our own pace, focusing on doing our work well,” she added.

Compared with several years ago, Fit Garment is better equipped to navigate the uncertainty of U.S. tariff policies. Tian attributed this confidence to two key factors.

Expanding beyond the U.S. market

Specializing in knitted apparel, primarily baby and children’s clothing, Fit Garment once relied heavily on the U.S. market. “For a long time, more than 95 percent of our exports went to the U.S.,” Tian said. “We partnered with a number of American brands, many of which maintained offices here in China.”

That changed in 2018 as China-U.S. trade tensions escalated. American clients began scaling back orders from China, with some shutting down their China-based offices altogether. Export volumes dropped abruptly. Faced with this disruption, Fit Garment took action rather than wait for conditions to improve.

“We couldn’t afford to put all our eggs in one basket,” Tian explained. “We shifted resources to other markets, aiming to diversify and stabilize our trade channels.”

Starting in 2019, the company participated in textile expos in Germany, France, Japan, and other countries. “Sometimes language was a hurdle. We had to use translation apps. But good products and sinceritystill helped us land new orders,” Tian recalled.

Their efforts paid off. By 2023, more than half of Fit Garment’s exports were heading to markets outside the United States. In the first two months of this year, U.S.-bound shipments accounted for less than 10 percent of the company’s total export value– just 340,000 yuan ($47,350).

Driving innovation and efficiency

A second pillar of the company’s success is innovation and operational efficiency.

Only high quality can ensure a product’s success in a new market. In recent years, the company has ramped up itsresearch and development efforts and developed new manufacturing techniques. On notable achievement is the creation of a babywear fabric made from traditional polyester, which offers antibacterial, odor-resistant, and stain-repellent properties. These improvements significantly increased the product’s added value and market competitiveness.

The company also underwent a smart manufacturing upgrade. Through digital transformation, it established an agile, flexible production system. Orders are now automatically divided and scheduled across different stages, with real-time monitoring of equipment status, capacity loads, and process parameters, resulting in a production efficiency gain of over 20 percent.

Looking ahead, Tian has set her sights on two major goals.

“First, I hope to expand further into the domestic market,” she said. Not long ago, local authorities in the Xiajin Economic Development Zone organized a group of textile companies to attend the Yarn Expo Spring in Shanghai, where Tian met prospective domestic partners and began planning follow-up cooperation.

“Second, I want to explore Belt and Road markets,” she added. “We’re targeting a breakthrough in countries like Pakistan and Malaysia. In the second half of this year, I plan to travel more, visit more markets, and close more deals.”

As one of China’s key provinces for textile and apparel exports, Shandong is home to many companies like Fit Garment that are retooling to meet a changing global trade landscape.

Zhang Linchen, associate professor at the School of Economics, Shandong University of Technology, noted that companies must deepen their presence in global markets, diversify their export portfolios, embrace new business models like cross-border e-commerce, and build robust international marketing systems.

“They also need to foster new quality productive forces and move up the global value chain,” Zhang said.

By Wang Zheng, People’s Daily

In Jingzhou, central China’s Hubei province, humanoid robots developed by Chinese home appliance manufacturer Midea Group have joined the workforce at the company’s washing machine factory, performing inspection, equipment operation, and maintenance.

At the Hannover Messe, Germany’s leading industrial trade fair,collaborative robots developed by Shanghai-based JAKA Robotics were exhibited, demonstrating their ultra-precise control capability so delicate that they can gently grasp a potato chip.

Today, Chinese industrial robots are being applied across a wide range of industries with rapidly advancing capability. Driven by technological innovation, scenario-based applications, and artificial intelligence (AI), these machines are evolving from traditional mechanical arms into “all-rounders” capable of coordination, intelligent decision-making, full-process autonomy, and cross-industry adaptability.

At Midea’s Lyceem Lab – a Chinese national key lab for high-end heavy-duty robots – rows of orange KUKA six-axis industrial robots swing weights of various sizes as part of rigorous durability and lifespan testing.

“This is a comprehensive test ofrobotic endurance and reliability,” said Tuo Liheng, assistant director of the lab.

Since acquiring Germany’s robot manufacturerKUKA in 2017, Midea has ramped up research and development (R&D) investment in core technologies and critical components for heavy-duty robots, achieving many breakthroughs.

“Robot technology is now moving beyond traditional industrial applications and expanding into broader markets,” said Chen Feng, general manager of KUKA China’s enterprise business division. “In strategic industries such as high-end manufacturing, aerospace, energy, and healthcare, heavy-duty robots with high rigidity, precision, and reliability are becoming increasingly vital.”

Chinese companies are making significant strides in the heavy-duty robot sector. Estun Automation, an intelligent equipment manufacturer, has launched a 700-kilogram-payload industrial robot for use in heavy machinery, automotive, and construction materials sectors. The latest heavy-duty model launched by Chinese echelon industrial robot company EFORT Intelligent Robot Co., Ltd., another leading robotics firm, sold over 100 units in 2024. Meanwhile, Inovance, a Chinese provider of industrial automation components and solutions, has developed a six-axis robot capable of handling up to 220 kilograms of weight.

In a welding workshop of a heavy truck manufacturing base of Chinese automaker Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd (GAC Group), six yellow Estun spot-welding robots operate in perfect coordination. Thanks to an optimized design and automated tool-switching system, each robot can seamlessly alternate between welding and handling, dramatically boosting efficiency while maintaining a 100 percent pass rate.

As one of the few Chinese companies with fully self-developed core components, Estun also provides customized solutions tailored to specific application scenarios. “Estun even granted us access to parts of its core control software,” said Du Shibin, head of the GAC facility. “We jointly developed optimization programs for the cabin welding line and shared intellectual property rights.”

In recent years, the application of industrial robots in China has continued to expand. Statistics show that China produced 556,400 industrial robots in 2024, up 14.2 percent year on year. According to the International Federation of Robotics, China installed over 276,000 new industrial robots in 2023, accounting for 51 percent of the global installations.

Following their widespread use in the automotive and electronics sectors, industrial robots are now gaining traction in emerging sectors such as new energy, sanitary ceramics, metal processing, and furniture and home appliance manufacturing, becoming key growth drivers for general-purpose industries.

Moreover, the deep integration of industrial robots with AI is further accelerating this transformation. Modern robots are increasingly capable of perceiving their environment, learning from real-time data, and making autonomous decisions. This has paved the way for flexible manufacturing and intelligent collaboration, significantly enhancing production efficiency and adaptability.

In a large overseas warehouse covering 20,000 square meters, 700 autonomous mobile robots developed by Geekplus, a Beijing-based global leader in mobile robotics technologies, zip across at speeds of two meters per second. Working in sync with 40 multifunctional workstations, they have completely disrupted the traditional “man-to-goods” logistics model. Shelves now move autonomously to workstations, where robotic arms accurately pick goods, and autonomous mobile robots(AMRs) deliver them along dynamically optimized routes. The warehouse processes over 350,000 items per day, with each workstation capable of handling up to 500 items per hour.

Geekplushas achieved significant breakthroughs in swarm intelligence control and dynamic path planning, enabling the simultaneous deployment of over 5,000 robots through a single system. It has also established more than 10 smart warehouse demonstration projects worldwide, each deployed with over 1,000 robots. The company is also collaborating with global manufacturing leaders like Siemens and CATL to advance intelligent logistics.

Looking ahead to the integration of AI and industrial robots, Chen Feng observed that China’s current industrial robot market sees annual sales of around 300,000 units. “Today’s commercial model still relies on customized development, professional installation, commissioning, and even on-site support,” he said. “But in the future, industrial robots will come equipped with built-in AI, ready to use straight out of the box. One-click installation and predictive maintenance will no longer just be market expectations – they will become standard features,” Chen explained

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

Following tangible progress made in the China-U.S. high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs, merchants at the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang province, dubbed “world’s supermarket,” are busy reconnecting with U.S. buyers, while freight forwarders and logistics firms are seeing a surge in activity.

And Wang Nan, general manager of Kenan Hardware Tools Store, is among the many merchants preparing shipments for the United States.

“We used to send one container each month to our American client, but shipments were put on hold in April,” Wang explained. “The day the joint statement from the China-U.S. talks was released, our client immediately reestablished contact. They not only resumed previous orders but also placed an additional order.”

According to Wang, the client had planned to open a franchise store in New York in July, but the plan was suspended in April. “Now they’ve confirmed the store will open as scheduled,”he added.

While U.S. orders are bouncing back, businesses in Yiwu are simultaneously diversifying their global portfolios.

Liu Jianhao, head of sales at Zhejiang Rifeshow Cosmetics Co., Ltd., has been visiting several African countries in recent days to broaden the company’s market presence.

“After the joint statement was issued, our American clients promptly reached out. We’re now fulfilling previously postponed orders,” Liu said. “And we’re working hard to recoup the performance losses from April.”

In recent years, Rifeshow has steadily diversified its overseas footprint. “This trip focuses on expanding into Tanzania, Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana,” Liu said.

“Chinese-made perfumes are very popular in Africa, and we’re developing products tailored specifically to local preferences. When you have a strong and stable supply chain, good quality and a large market mean solid sales,” Liu added.

Similar dynamics are playing out at Linhai Sirou Clothing Manufacturing Co., Ltd., based in Linhai, Zhejiang. The company has recently ramped up production to meet surging U.S. orders. “Our American clients have quickly increased their order volumes, often with tight delivery deadlines. Our workers are working overtime to meet the demand,” said Shao Jingfeng, general manager of the company. “They’ve come back to us multiple times over the past month, which shows our products are still highly competitive.”

Shao has also been thinking seriously about the company’s transformation, with a strategic focus on reducing dependence on a single client or market. This year, Sirou plans to expand into South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe, while also deepening their presence in the Chinese domestic market.

The ripple effects of increased trade activity are also being felt among logistics service providers. Yinghe Express, the largest cross-border e-commerce logistics company in Yiwu serving U.S. exports, has reported a sharp uptick in business.

“Since the joint statement was released, shipments to the U.S. have jumped by nearly 30 percent,” said Cheng Hongrui, head of sales at the company.

Freight rates have risen in tandem with demand.”Shipping a 40-foot-high cube container has gone up from about $2,500 to over $3,000 last week. In the secondary market, buyers are even paying premiums just to secure containers,”said Cheng.

Cheng believes the recent spike reflects a release of backlogged demand. “What we’re witnessing is a wave of delayed orders being cleared. Things are expected to stabilize in a little while,” Cheng added. “For businesses, growth comes through navigating both challenges and opportunities.”

By He Yin, People’s Daily

In today’s world, the international landscape is undergoing profound changes, and the resurgence of unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying practices is posing formidable challenges to global development.

Amid such uncertainty, one question looms large: how can countries chart a course toward greater stability? The answer, now as ever,lies in embracing openness as the key to solution and reaffirming cooperation as the only viable path forward.

This conviction was underscored at the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2025, held in Beijing on May 22. Focusing on the themes of embracing the era of digital intelligence and working together for common development, the summit convened nearly 400 guests from 48 countries and regions for dialogue and exchanges on development and cooperation.

The event reaffirmed China’s firm commitment to high-level opening up and highlighted the international community’sstrong expectations for the opportunities that China continues to offer.

Believing in China is believing in a better tomorrow, and investing in China is investing in the future. This year’s summit saw a record in participation, with executives from 70 foreign-invested enterprises operating in China – 29 of which are among the Fortune Global 500 – attending the event. All 16 foreign chambers of commerce in China were represented, with seven sending their presidents to lead the delegations.

As participants remarked,”Embracing China means embracing opportunities” and “Continuing to invest in China means participating in its growth and innovation.” The vibrancy of these discussions demonstrated not only the Chinese market’s enduring appeal, but also the growing role China plays in shaping international cooperation as it continues to open up and develop.

First held in 2022, the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit has come to reflect the prevailing trends in the global economy. This year’s emphasis on digital intelligence corresponds with the ongoing wave of technological advancement – ranging from artificial intelligence and quantum computing to big data and blockchain.

As a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is gaining momentum, technological innovation has become essential to the development agendas of nations around the world. To this end, a Beijing Initiative was launched during the event, calling on further cooperation in the digital era to drive global growth and shared prosperity.

China’s pursuit of high-quality development is creating fresh opportunities for international cooperation. As countries strive to embrace the digital and intelligent era, China’s development philosophy and practices are gaining increasing global recognition. The country’s digital economy is booming, giving rise to new technologies, models, and business forms, some of which are globally competitive.

This commitment to innovation is already yielding results. From joint efforts between Chinese and Thai companies to build a 5G factory, to China and Peru working together to construct South America’s first smart port of Chancay, China is joining hands with a growing number of global partners in collaborative digital innovation, exploring the frontier of emerging industries.

Both history and practice have proven time and again that the more the world economy is confronted with uncertainty and risks, the greater the need for openness to break through bottlenecks and for cooperation to pool strength.

This year, trade volatility has persisted, and the global economic recovery remains difficult, exacerbated by the unilateral and protectionist policies of certain countries. At such a critical juncture, wisdom and responsibility are urgently needed. As the world’s second-largest economy, China has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding high-standard opening up, and is widely regarded as a vital force for promoting global openness and cooperation.

As Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, remarked, China’s belief in open trade and in the contributions of trade and investment to development makes it “a very important example of development in the 20th and 21st century.”

The steady progress in building the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) offers a compelling example. The recent announcement of the full completion of negotiations on the Version 3.0 CAFTA marks a crucial step toward formally signing an upgraded protocol by the end of this year. As major developing economies with global influence, China and ASEAN are taking resolute steps toward greater trade liberalization. This bolsters their own development while also reinforcing global confidence in building a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

China stands ready to work with all countries inupholding true multilateralism, safeguarding the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, firmly opposing unilateralism, protectionism, and economic coercion, and building an open world economy. Through these efforts, China will continue to serve as a stabilizing force and a source of predictability in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

By Wu Qiuyu, People’s Daily

On May 19, China released its economic data for April, surpassing market expectations and prompting significant attention both domestically and internationally. Some foreign media outlets remarked that, despite trade tensions, China has successfully avoided an economic slowdown.

What underpins the sustained resilience of the Chinese economy in the face of mounting external uncertainties? Two recent developments offer insight into the underlying drivers.

On the same day the economic figures were made public, Chinese tech giant Huawei unveiled two laptops powered by HarmonyOS, marking the debut of its self-developed operating system on personal computers. Shortly thereafter, Chinese tech firm Xiaomi officially released its first self-developed 3-nanometer mobile chip, Xring O1.

These developments underscore a fundamental truth: no form of external containment or suppression has impeded — and none can impede — China’s pursuit of independent innovation and sustained development.It was this confidence and self-reliance that underpinned China’s stronger-than-expected performance in April.

In early April, in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang province, the world’s largest small commodity market, merchants were actively engaged in brand-building and quality enhancement efforts.

Moving beyondtraditional contract manufacturing, businesses there are increasingly shifted their focus toward developing their own brands. Since the beginning of this year, the Yiwu Selection project, which literally means “Yiwu quality goods,” has been establishing franchisestores overseas.

Its first global store,launched in January,generated 120 million yuan (about $16.66 million) in orders on its opening day. The brand’s first European store followed in February, opening in Venice, Italy. In just a few months, over 190 Yiwu-based brands have collectively increased sales by over 100 million yuan across 11 countries, underscoring the advantages of a diversified global presence amid rising unilateralism.

Many foreign trade companies in Yiwu are also moving up the value chain through innovation. As one merchant succinctly put it,”With good products and strong demand, we don’t fear change.” This internal drive is emblematic of the broader vitality that fuels China’s economic resilience.

In April, China’s total goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms expanded 5.6 percent year on year, with exports up 9.3 percent.

On the product side, exports of high-tech and high-value-added goods continue to rise. In the first four months of 2025, exports of mechanical and electrical products increased by 9.5 percent from a year ago.

On the business side, private enterprises have effectively mitigated external risks through market diversification strategies. In the first four months, private enterprises saw a year-on-year increase of 6.8 percent in imports and exports.

Yet, trade performance alone does not capture the full picture. The rapid export growth in April reflects the deeper structural strengths underpinning China’s high-quality development.

China’s manufacturing industry maintained the top global position in terms of overall scale for a 15th consecutive year in 2024, and the country remains one of the world’s largest consumer markets. These fundamentals continue to bolster its strong resilience amid external shocks.

Moreover, China is vigorously advancing economic restructuring, cultivating new drivers of growth, developing new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions, and accelerating the development of a modern industrial system. Byforging a new development paradigm that strengthens domestic demand while opening up further to the outside world, China is laying the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable development trajectory.

Supportive macroeconomic policies are also playing a critical role. From cutting interest rates and reserve requirement ratios to integrating domestic and foreign trade and expanding pilot programs to accelerate the opening up the service sector, a new round of pro-growth policies is gradually taking effect. These measures provide China with the resources, capacity, and confidence to address emerging challenges with composure.

It is often in times of adversity that a country’s true economic strength becomes most evident. Such moments not only test resilience but also reinforce long-term confidence in development prospects.

Since the second quarter, several international organizations and institutions have revised their forecasts for China’s economic growth this year upwards. Executives from multinational companies increasingly describe China as a “beacon of certainty” in an uncertain world.

China’s economy has always grown stronger through storms and setbacks. Amid global instability and uncertainty, China continues to demonstrate that its recovery is grounded in robust fundamentals, guided by prudent policymaking, propelled by domestic consumption, and sustained by a relentless commitment to innovation.

By Wang Guan, People’s Daily

WhenAzim, a tourist from Pakistan, visited Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong province, with his friends, he was impressed not only by the iconic Canton Tower and other city landmarks, but also by how easy it was to shop and save.

“With the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, traveling to Guangzhou has become incredibly convenient,”he said.

Beyond sightseeing, Azim and his friends also made their way to the bustling Tianhe Road Business Circle for shopping.

“I didn’t expect to receive a tax refund on a pair of shoes, and to get the money back right there in the store!” At a Chinese sportswear shop, Azim purchased a pair of sneakers priced at around 300 yuan ($41.79). With assistance from store staff, he uploaded his passport details via an app, linked his credit card, and submitted the tax refund form and receipt. Moments later, he received a refund of over 30 yuan.

Recently, China unveiled a set of measures to further optimize its departure tax refund policy to meet overseas tourists’ needs better and expand inbound consumption.

The minimum purchase threshold for departure tax refunds has been lowered, allowing overseas travelers to apply for a refund if they spend at least 200 yuan at the same store on the same day and meet other relevant requirements, according to a circular jointly issued by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and five other government departments.

These new policies have already been implemented in multiple regions, generating enthusiasm for consumption among foreign visitors.

During the recent May Day holiday, China UnionPay and NetsUnion Clearing Corporation reported that the number of payments made by overseas visitors to China jumped 244.86 percent year on year, with the total value of these transactions rising 128.04 percent.

“These measures have encouraged overseas travelers to buy lower-priced goods like local specialties, cultural and creative products, and souvenirs, expanding the scope of eligible purchases and promoting small-ticket consumption and shopping frequency,” explained Wang Tingting, associate professor with the Economic Law School of Southwest University of Political Science and Law.

At the same time, the upper limit for cash refund has been raised to 20,000 yuan, providing travelers with greater liquidity. While ensuring proper risk management, refunds will be made available through multiple channels, including mobile payments, bank cards and cash, to better accommodate the diverse payment preferences of overseas travelers.

In early April, China’s State Taxation Administration rolled out a “refund-upon-purchase” policy. Under the new policy, foreign visitors can instantly claim value-added tax (VAT) rebates at tax-free stores, enabling them to reuse the refunded amount in real time for further shopping. Previously, VAT rebates were only available for withdrawal upon departure.

“Lowering the refund threshold stimulates small and mid-sized purchases, while the refund-upon-purchase policy shortens the refund cycle. This creates a virtuous loop of ‘spend-refund-spend again,’ encouraging repeatedconsumption and delivering tangible benefits to overseas travelers,” said Wang.

At a store in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality, a tourist from the Philippines purchased a smartphone manufactured by Chinese tech giant Huawei. “I’ve always been interested in tech products, and Chinese electronics are both high-quality and very popular back home,” he said.

From iconic Chinese goods like tea, silk, and traditional clothing to high-tech items like smartwatches, cameras, and smartphones, the growing diversity of products is attracting more international shoppers and expanding the global presence of Chinese brands.

The Sundan store MixC shopping mall in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, which sells home appliances, is among the first in the city eligible for departure tax refund. “In the first four months of this year, we saw a 500 percent year-on-year increase in tax refund transactions. Thanks to continuous improvement of the departure tax refund policy, our overseas customers have benefited a lot,” said store manager Wang Yali.

In the first quarter of this year, departure tax refunds issued in Shenzhen grew by nearly 150 percent compared to the same period last year, accounting for 40 percent of the city’s full-year total in 2024.

“It was incredibly fast!” said a tourist from Singapore, who bought a 200-yuan UV-protective jacket at the Parkson Shopping Center on Chunxi Road in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan province.

“After a customer pays, we issue a value-added tax invoice, then log into the departure tax refund information system. The invoice information is automatically populated, so there’s no need for manual entry. After the details are confirmed, we print out the refund application form,” explained Xiao Chunmei, a store manager at the Parkson Shopping Center. “The upgraded system has made things easier for both shoppers and retailers.”

Under the refund-upon-purchase model, overseas travelers can receive their refunds during the shopping process. Enhanced tax refund management systems have acceleratedprocessing and reduced wait times. Every step — from payment and invoicing to refund application and verification — has become more efficient and convenient.

According to China UnionPay, three tax refund options are currently available: via UnionPay card, through the UnionPay mobile app, or by manually entering card information. These services are available at both airports and in-city retail outlets participating in the refund-upon-purchase program. Refunds can be credited directly to UnionPay cards issued overseas, often within seconds.

In addition, China UnionPay is working to expand QR code-based tax refund services byenabling more of its international wallet partners to offer the option, further simplifying the process for global users.

By Ma Ruishan, People’s Daily

Liang Pingping, a resident of Hanzhuang village, Fangshan county, north China’s Shanxi province, laid pale-faced on herbed. Village doctor Chen Yan took out an electrocardiogram device from his diagnostic kit to examine her. Through real-time data transmitted to a remote screen, Beijing-based specialist Feng Pu quickly advised: “Get to a major hospital for a cardiac enzyme test immediately!” Thanks to the timely diagnosis, the patient made a full recovery.

This diagnosis was facilitated by a “Mobile Hospital” initiative, jointly launched by Fangshan county and the China Primary Health Care Foundation. The project equips every rural doctor in the county with a diagnostic kit, enabling remote expert consultations and comprehensive checkups. It supports early disease detection and remote guidance for emergency care.

So far, all 90 village clinics in Fangshan have conducted more than 16,000 remote consultations, serving over 370,000 patients, covering 53% of the county’s permanent population. The initiative has saved patients nearly 10 million yuan in medical and travel expenses.

Since its launch in 2018, the “Mobile Hospital” has been rolled out across multiple provinces, benefiting more than 20 million people.

How does this initiative bring about a big leap in primary healthcare in Fangshan?

It offers good experience by setting up a dispatch platform. When patients scan a code to request medical service, the platform assigns the closest village doctor based on location, ensuring full coverage for every village.

It mobilizes resources from all sides. The program provides free access to remote consultation with top-tier specialists from renowned hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai and other cities. Village doctors can initiate video consultations, significantly lowering both time and cost for patients.

It comes with robust incentive mechanisms. The local government has created a special fund to reward village doctors who detect early signs of serious illness. This encourages them to conduct proactive home visits, reinforcing village clinics as the frontline of rural health protection.

Healthcare is a fundamental pillar of people’s well-being, and having quality care available close to home is a basic yet important wish for millions of patients.

In recent years, China has worked to reorient the focus of its healthcare system toward the grassroots level through policies like hierarchical diagnosis and treatment system and the development of medical consortium. These efforts have helped ease problems such as uneven distribution of medical resources and weak primary care capacity.

Leveraging telemedicine partnerships and digital technologies to deliver embedded services has increasingly proven to be both effective and practical for expanding access to quality care.

The benefits of data integration and resource sharing go well beyond healthcare.

At Shihezi University in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, students conduct analog electronics experimentsthrough remote laboratory accesswith Xidian University in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi province. At Henan Agricultural University in central China’s Henan province, an online collaboration platform links experts, provides training, and connects farmers to markets—allowing growers hundreds of kilometers away to receive customized technical advice through “screen-to-screen” interaction.

Whether it’s access to education, elder care, early childhood development, or medical treatment, China’s digital and intelligent technologies are bearing fruit, broadening the reach and equity of quality public services.

By Kuang Xixi, People’s Daily

On May 19, Chinese President Xi Jinping toured the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, central China’s Henan province, to learn about local efforts to enhance the protection and utilization of historical and cultural heritage and promote the high-quality development of the cultural and tourism sector.

The Longmen Grottoes trace their origins to the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), when Emperor Xiaowen relocated the capital to Luoyang. Excavation continued through successive dynasties — including the Eastern Wei Dynasty (534-550), the Western Wei Dynasty (535-556), the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-557), the Sui Dynasty (581-618), the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

The grottoesstand as a testament to the craftsmanship and devotion of countless artisans. Today, the site encompasses more than 2,300 caves and niches, over 2,800 inscriptions, and nearly 110,000 Buddhist statues — bearing witness to a profoundcultural legacy.

Drawing on the artistic traditions of Indian cave temples and building upon the elegance of the Yungang Grottoes in north China’s Shanxi province, the Longmen Grottoes bring together the style of Northern Wei sculptures and the majestic aesthetic of TangDynasty carvings. The result is a harmonious convergence of artistic traditions — a brillant expression of Eastern aesthetics that continues to captivate global audiences.

In recent years, China has made significant strides in preserving and revitalizing grotto temples. From structural reinforcement and environmental management to digital preservation and monitoring, a range of innovative practices have been made.

At the Longmen Grottoes, high-resolution 3D scanning and printing techniques are being used to virtually reconstruct scattered artifacts and restore damaged sculptures, seamlessly integrating fragments through digital technology. A smart digital twin platform brings cultural relics to life online, allows visitors to interact with virtual replicas. The focus has expanded beyond preservation — heritage is being reimagined as a dynamic narrative, shared through immersive storytelling and innoavtion.

The grottoes, however, are just one piece of Luoyang’s broader cultural preservation. Renowned for its rich history and cultural heritage, the city is captivating global visitors with its history and creative approaches to cultural expression. Ithas made great strides in transforming the deep historical legacy into a vibrant contemporary experience.

Drawing from over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, 4,000 years of urban history, and 1,500 years as an imperial capital, Luoyang is positioning itself as a “City of Museums in the East,”with more than 100 museums and memorial halls chronicling its evolution.

Digital technology is reviving the past in vivid detail. Scenes of ancient canal transport along a grand canal built during the Sui and Tang dynasties are being reimagined through interactive digital displays. Mobile applicationsallow users around the world to virtually explore the Longmen Grottoes, while technologies like virtual reality bring Buddhist niches back to life. Meanwhile, creative experiences such as overnight stays in museums that combine immersive role-play with cutting-edge technology are redefining how people engage with cultural heritage. In Luoyang, cultural tourism has become not just popular, but fashionable.

Ancient cities and historic streets, long viewed as vessels of history, are increasingly recognized as valuable resources in the cultural economy. Across China, cultural tourism is becoming a powerful driver of economic growth. In Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu province, the integration of industry, urban lifestyles, and traditional culture is producing tangible results. In Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province, a modern identity has taken root — where centuries-old charm meets digital-age influencers and innovation.

By enriching cultural offerings and reimagining the tourism experience, Chinese cities are composing modern chapters in the grand narrative of their historical legacies. The story of Luoyang — and of many ancient capitals — is far from over. It is being told anew, with creativity, technology, and a renewed sense of purpose.