Nigeria Times

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.)

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.)

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.

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.)

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.