Nigeria Times

By Bao Han, People’s Daily

Recently, a trend dubbed “Chinamaxxing” has been gaining traction on overseas social media. How this phenomenon is interpreted reflects differing attitudes toward cross-cultural exchange.

A growing number of overseas netizens describe themselves as being in a “Chinamaxxing” phase — embracing Chinese ways of living. One original video tagged “becoming Chinese” has garnered over a million views, as practices like brewing wellness tea and practicing traditional Chinese health exercise Baduanjin(traditional Chinese health exercises) become symbols of a “cool” lifestyle among young people abroad.

And the trend is now moving offline. At markets in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, mamianqun, which literally translates into “horse-face skirts,” a traditional Chinese costume, has become top sellers. In Italy, Spring Festival items such as couplets, paper-cuttings and zodiac-themed cultural products are enjoying brisk sales. 

More people now believe that the best way to experience Chinamaxxing is to visit China in person. Data shows that during the Spring Festival holiday this year, inbound tourist visits to China doubled year on year.

Some media outlets have interpreted the Chinamaxxing trend not as cultural “role-playing,” but as a form of “subconscious identification.” Chinese culture is fully capable of inspiring such resonance. 

By blending history with modernity, and tradition with fashion, China offers a uniquely rich cultural experience.

In today’s China, one can enjoy the convenience of “doing it all with one smartphone.” At the same time, traditional ways of living endure — imbued with a sense of mindfulness, where everyday moments are approached with care and intention. Modern infrastructure like high-speed rail and 5G connects the country, while lesser-known “hidden gem” cities invite leisurely exploration. Cutting-edge technological innovation thrives alongside the unhurried craftsmanship of intangible cultural heritage.

As international visitors engage with and experience Chinese culture, what begins as a “cool” encounter often evolves into deeper reflection on ways of life, revealing the true essence and appeal of cross-cultural exchange.

The rise of the Chinamaxxing trend offers a fresh lens through which to understand China. There was a time when misconceptions and biases about the country circulated widely in some Western societies, shaping a distorted image of China. Today, however, China’s continued development, expanding opening up and technological advances have paved the way for this Chinamaxxing phenomenon. 

As more people engage with China firsthand, their understanding of the country deepens — moving beyond traditional cultural symbols to shape a more nuanced view of the country. This shift, subtle yet profound, is reshaping global perceptions of China. 

As some international observers noted: “What people see on TikTok is not a static, traditional China, but a modern and confident one.” It offers, in their words, “a powerful correction to the image many grew up with.”

That said, overcoming entrenched biases takes time. While more young people abroad are embracing habits like drinking warm lemon honey water, some in Western societies react with unease even anxiety. 

They frame the Chinamaxxing trend as a form of “cultural shock,” claiming that young people are “betraying” their own societies on aesthetic, moral, or even political grounds. Casting normal cultural exchange as “cultural infiltration” or “ideological invasion”, or forcing it into a geopolitical narrative, says more about their own mindset than about the trend itself. Such thinking is increasingly out of step with the interconnected world, where exchanges among civilizations are constant.

As The Guardian, UK aptly observed, if embracing elements of other cultures, from Chinese aesthetics to French country kitchens, qualifies as “betrayal,” then such “traitors” are everywhere.

Cultural exchange and mutual learning among civilizations is not a zero-sum game. The global spread of Chinese culture does not rely on imposition or indoctrination, but on sharing rooted in equality, respect and voluntary participation. 

As more people around the world are naturally drawn to Chinese culture, rather than reacting with unnecessary anxiety, it may be wiser — as one commentator suggested — to pause, relax, and enjoy a cup of tea.

By Fang Yuan, People’s Daily

Within the Harbin Science and Technology Innovation City in Harbin, capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang province, stands a cluster of white buildings, covering an area roughly the size of 50 football fields. 

The complex houses one of China’s key national science and technology infrastructure projects in the aerospace sector: the Space Environment Simulation and Research Infrastructure (SESRI), often referred to as the “ground-based space station,” it was jointly developed by Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The project took nearly two decades of research and engineering before achieving national acceptance in 2024. 

SESRI has the unique capability to replicate nine major types of extreme space conditions — including vacuum, radiation, weak magnetic fields and plasma — bringing the harsh cosmic environment down to Earth to provide indispensable ground verification for a range of major space missions.

“While most ground-based simulation facilities in the world focus on a single factor, but the real environment of outer space usually involves the coupling of multiple factors,” said Li Liyi, director of the SESRI at HIT. “The purpose of building the ‘ground-based space station’ is to simulate the real conditions of space as closely as possible.”

Rather than being a simple collection of separate laboratories, the facility can reproduce complex interactions — such as the coupling of radiation and ultra-low temperatures, or interactions among different radiation sources — within the same physical space, creating a more realistic simulation of the space environment.

The facility supports a wide spectrum of scientific research. It can simulate space dust impacts at speeds of up to 70 kilometers per second to help design protective shielding for spacecraft. Inside a massive vacuum chamber, engineers can overcome atmospheric pressure differences approaching 10 tons per square meter while maintaining millimeter-level positioning accuracy for key equipment. The system can also recreate charged lunar dust environments to test the durability of spacesuit materials.

The research team overcame 15 key technological challenges during development. The facility has already supported the development of more than 2,000 aerospace components and helped validate and certify over 10 major space mission models.

Since becoming operational, the “ground-based space station” has attracted scientists from China and abroad thanks to its powerful simulation capabilities and has become an important platform for cutting-edge research.

“In the past, we could only conduct experiments with devices measuring a few dozen centimeters. Here, the equipment is dozens of times larger, enabling us to investigate far more complex physical processes,” said Lu Quanming, a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China.

In March 2025, Lu’s team worked with researchers at HIT to achieve the first laboratory-based simulation and confirmation of magnetic reconnection processes in the Earth’s magnetopause configuration.

Activity at SESRI has also surged alongside China’s rapidly growing commercial space sector. “In 2023, commercial spaceflight experiments accounted for only 36 percent of all missions conducted here. By the second half of 2025, that share had risen to 67 percent,” Li said. The facility now provides ground testing and verification for electronic systems used in most satellites across several Chinese satellite constellations, helping accelerate the deployment of China’s low-Earth-orbit constellation networks.

SESRI is open not only to domestic users but also to international partners. Through initiatives such as the Global Open Program released via the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, the facility has established partnerships with eight countries and 15 research institutions, promoting joint research, data sharing and talent training. Scientific cooperation in multiple key fields is helping build bridges for cross-border collaboration through technological exchange.

Since its acceptance, the facility has supported major strategic missions and frontier scientific exploration across fields such as human spaceflight, commercial spaceflight, deep-space exploration, health care, agricultural breeding, new materials and new energy. It has served more than 200 user organizations — including the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation — and over 400 research teams, delivering more than 60,000 hours of testing services.

“Looking ahead, the development of the ‘ground-based space station’ will move toward greater precision, broader applications and deeper research,” Li said.

Technologically, SESRI will continue advancing higher-precision environmental simulation capabilities to meet the needs of sectors such as aerospace, semiconductor chips and advanced materials. In terms of services, it will extend support to emerging and future industries including deep-space exploration, quantum technology and new energy. In international cooperation, it will provide unique testing conditions for global research teams, particularly in areas such as radiation-resistant materials for deep-space missions and spacecraft reliability verification.

“We will use this facility to accelerate the implementation of the Global Open Program,” Li said. “By bringing together leading universities, research institutions and top scientists worldwide, we aim to jointly launch major international scientific programs and conduct frontier exploration.”

More than a major scientific facility for China, the “ground-based space station” is also a frontier outpost for humanity’s exploration of the universe. Looking ahead, it will continue to provide essential ground support for future missions, including crewed lunar landings, Mars sample returns and exploration of the outer solar system.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

Since the start of this year, diverse cultural exchange activities have been bringing people worldwide closer, fostering mutual understanding and shared values. They are sending a warm current of trust and friendship across the world, showcasing the vitality of the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI).

From film festivals to singing competitions, cultural exchanges between China and Africa have flourished this year, designated as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Around the world, more people are embracing Chinese New Year traditions and making the Chinese festival a truly global celebration. Wellness tea and traditional Baduanjin exercise are going viral overseas, while the cultural phenomenon of “becoming Chinese” is capturing hearts and minds. 

On March 15, 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the GCI at the Communist Party (CPC) of China in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting. The initiative advocates the respect for the diversity of civilizations, the common values of humanity, the importance of inheritance and innovation of civilizations and robust international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

Rooted in the rich heritage of Chinese civilization, the initiative advocates seeking common ground while respecting differences and promoting harmonious coexistence, principles that resonate with the multicultural diversity and concepts of coexistence found in many countries. 

Over the past three years, the GCI has fostered global consensus in cultural and civilizational spheres. It has been translated into vibrant exchanges and cooperation, gathering momentum to bridge misunderstandings, enhance mutual understanding among peoples, and inject positive energy into the joint effort to address global challenges.

How civilizations are viewed has a profound bearing on human progress as well as world peace and security. Today’s world is facing multiple challenges and crises, and one of the important reasons for current conflicts and disputes is a few countries’ advocacy of notions such as the “clash of civilizations” and “civilizational superiority,” which equate cultural differences with confrontation and further widens the development gap and governance imbalances.

At this new crossroads in human history, it is increasingly urgent to transcend estrangement through civilizational exchange and overcome conflicts through mutual learning among civilizations.

The GCI emphasizes that civilizations are diverse, advocating harmony in diversity and mutual appreciation for common progress; that civilizations are interconnected, promoting shared commitment and advancing along the path of common development; that civilizations are evolving, encouraging people to understand where they come from and chart a course for the future; and that civilizations are inclusive, advocating dialogue, cooperation, mutual understanding, and affinity.

The values and approaches embedded in the initiative point the way forward for strengthening civilizational exchanges and for advancing human civilization.

Focusing on the reality of diverse world civilizations and addressing the urgent need to move beyond civilizational confrontation, the GCI has received broad recognition from the international community. It has been incorporated into multiple United Nations resolutions as well as various bilateral and multilateral documents. 

The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly designated June 10 as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, incorporating civilizational dialogue into global institutional arrangements. 

In June 2025, a world-wide event marking the first International Day for Dialogue Among Civilizations was held. The following month, the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting convened in Beijing and issued the Beijing Declaration along with a list of action plans, providing a clear roadmap for turning the idea of civilizational dialogue into institutionalized practice.

China has helped build a range of international platforms at different levels, including the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations, the Liangzhu Forum, the World Conference of Classics and the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting. 

It has signed cooperation agreements in fields such as culture, cultural heritage and tourism with more than 100 countries, while deepening cooperation in areas such as joint archaeological research, world heritage protection and the mutual translation of classic works. 

Through these efforts, China and its partners are working together to safeguard the cultural treasures of humanity and promote global dialogue among civilizations through concrete actions.

Humanity’s exploration of modernization involves civilizational inheritance, innovation and mutual learning. As a new form of human advancement, Chinese modernization draws inspiration from other civilizations while contributing its own experiences to the global community, enriching the diversity of world civilizations and offering insights for addressing global challenges. 

China has hosted forums like the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting and the High-level Dialogue on Global Development, and taken the lead in establishing the Global South Think Tanks Alliance. It is also working with its African partners to jointly advance 10 partnership action plans and build platforms for sharing governance experience between China and Africa.

Exchanges on governance and development practices have become an important part of implementing the GCI, offering valuable lessons for countries pursuing their own paths to modernization.

Resolving humanity’s conflicts and challenges requires sincerity and the power of shared values. China is ready to work with all parties to put the GCI into action. Through this effort, the light of civilization can guide development and renewal; its strength can enrich humanity’s pursuit of modernization; and its wisdom can advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. China hopes to contribute even more to building a better world.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

International attention on China’s “two sessions” — the annual meetings of the country’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress, and top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference — has brought the concept of “understanding of governance performance” into frequent global discourse.

As China enters the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), the Communist Party of China (CPC) has emphasized establishing and practicing a correct understanding of governance performance. 

This focus highlights China’s consistent approach: unwavering stability in policy continuity and people-centered commitment, and steady progress through concrete actions and sustained efforts — building small wins into major victories and opening up new horizons for development.

A look at this year’s government work report and the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan reveals a strong problem-oriented approach and a pragmatic spirit. Balancing needs with feasibility, the plan proposes keeping GDP growth within a reasonable range, with annual targets to be determined according to circumstances. 

It sets five binding indicators related to green and low-carbon development. It also calls for closely integrating efforts to improve people’s well-being with measures to boost consumption, and for combining investment in physical assets and human capital. The CPC’s emphasis on earnest and practical work reflects a conscious commitment to continuing China’s development miracle.

Every achievement made during the previous 14th Five-Year Plan period is the result of hard work and perseverance. Despite a complex global environment, China’s GDP achieved four consecutive leaps, growing at an average annual rate of 5.4 percent, while contributing around 30 percent to global economic growth. 

How did China maintain such forward momentum under pressure? The answer lies in the CPC’s commitment to reality-based policymaking guided by objective development laws — systematically implementing tasks and transforming plans into tangible outcomes. 

China’s experience shows that with steady and sustained efforts, new breakthroughs can be achieved even in the face of challenges, and the certainty of domestic development can help offset uncertainties in the external environment.

The understanding of governance performance is closely intertwined with the philosophy of development. One shapes and is shaped by the other. The overarching requirements — serving the public good, benefiting the people, making reasonable decisions and delivering concrete results — uncover an action logic centered on the people and aimed at high-quality development. 

They demonstrate a policy patience balancing near-term needs with long-term goals. They also embody a governance wisdom that coordinates visible achievements with long-term gains, harmonizes local interests with the bigger picture, and balances development imperatives with improvements in people’s well-being.

Emphasizing the establishment and practice of a correct understanding of governance performance at the outset of the 15th Five-Year Plan period demonstrates a people-centered, truth-seeking and pragmatic approach to development. It also shows the determination to translate blueprints into reality through sustained efforts. 

As Pakistan’s Minute Mirror observed, in an era marked by geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, China’s stability provides a solid foundation for sustained development and sends a message of stability and forward-looking optimism.

The governing principles embedded in a correct understanding of governance performance — seeking truth from facts, putting the people first and planning for the long term — have strengthened international confidence in China’s role.

Take climate governance as an example. Last year, China announced its nationally determined contribution targets for 2035 under the Paris Agreement. The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan also clearly states that China will actively and prudently advance efforts to reach peak carbon emissions, setting out a clear roadmap. Such pragmatic and concrete policy design injects positive energy into global climate governance.

China’s opening up provides another example. The new visions adopted in the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period have further enriched China’s high-level opening up. China will continue to advance voluntary and unilateral opening up, stabilize the scale of foreign trade while optimizing its structure, expand two-way investment cooperation, and promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. 

Through concrete actions that advance international openness and cooperation, China will inject stronger momentum into building an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

By Ding Yiting, People’s Daily

Transformers, seemingly unremarkable devices, have recently become highly sought-after products worldwide. 

According to China’s General Administration of Customs, China’s transformer exports exceeded 64.6 billion yuan ($9.29 billion) in 2025, up nearly 36 percent year on year. The average export price per unit reached about 205,000 yuan, roughly 1/3 higher than the previous year. 

Many transformer manufacturers already have full order books, with some orders for data-center applications scheduled to run through 2027.

What drives this strong global demand for Chinese transformers? The most immediate factor is surging international need. 

Developed economies such as Europe and the United States are upgrading aging power grids. Meanwhile, emerging markets face rising electricity consumption and increasing shares of clean energy, accelerating investment in grid infrastructure. Concurrently, the rapid expansion of overseas computing infrastructure, including data centers, further fuels demand. These converging trends propel the growth of China’s transformer exports.

With numerous companies worldwide competing in this expanding market, why has China emerged as the world’s top transformer producer? Three key words hold the answer. Together, they explain not only why Chinese transformers are selling well, but also the deeper logic behind the global competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing sector.

First, “speed” — made possible by a highly integrated industrial chain.

The competitiveness of a product depends not only on the product itself but also on the industrial ecosystem behind it. China has established the world’s most comprehensive transformer manufacturing system, encompassing everything from raw materials like copper and aluminum to critical components such as transformer cores and on-load tap changers. This system accounts for roughly 60% of global production capacity. 

Close coordination between upstream and downstream industries, together with a highly controllable supply chain, allows Chinese companies to respond rapidly to changes in demand. Their delivery times are often far shorter than those of European and American manufacturers, whose lead times typically range from 18 months to two years.

The advantages of a complete industrial system extend beyond transformers. In robotics, for example, China has steadily developed a comprehensive supporting ecosystem, from high-precision reducers and high-performance servo systems to intelligent controllers. In the Yangtze River Delta, some robots now use 100 percent domestic core components, reducing costs by about 40 percent. In 2025, China’s exports of industrial robots exceeded imports for the first time.

Industrial competition cannot rely on isolated efforts. By leveraging its industrial scale and well-established supporting industries, China has built secure and efficient industrial and supply chains, enabling its enterprises to thrive in the global market and securing the strong foundation of Chinese manufacturing.

Second, “adaptability” — the ability to accurately identify and respond to market demand.

Innovation is reflected not only in technological upgrades but also in products that dynamically adapt to market needs. To satisfy environmental standards in European and American markets, Chinese companies have developed vegetable-oil transformers. For data center applications, they have designed solid-state transformers that occupy less space while offering higher efficiency. By focusing on market requirements and addressing specific customer needs through specialized and customized production, China’s transformer industry has grown rapidly.

Some foreign businesspeople remark that Chinese entrepreneurs have an exceptionally sharp eye for market opportunities: wherever demand appears, Chinese suppliers are often among the first to respond. 

In the small appliance sector, multifunctional heaters, capable of warming a room on all sides while heating tea on top, have become popular in Japan and South Korea. In heavy machinery, cranes equipped with desert tires and special fire-extinguishing systems have gained popularity in Middle Eastern markets. These examples illustrate a simple principle: following the market and responding to demand can open wider global opportunities for Chinese manufacturers.

Third, “reliability” — supported by the vast and diverse application scenarios of Chinese market.

Application scenarios are valuable and often scarce resources for innovation. China’s domestic projects, from power grid upgrades to the construction of computing infrastructure, have provided transformer companies with real-world testing grounds to overcome technological challenges. Over the past five years, the State Grid Corporation of China has completed and put into operation multiple ultra-high-voltage (UHV) transmission projects, helping the country secure technological leadership in UHV transmission and intelligent transformers.

Diverse domestic scenarios, ranging from urban governance to logistics networks, are spurring the rapid development of low-altitude economy. Challenging environments such as high-altitude regions, deserts and Gobi areas, and low-wind-speed zones have pushed wind power companies to develop customized technological solutions. 

China’s enormous market size and rich application scenarios allow products to be tested extensively at home before entering international markets, ensuring both reliability and practicality.

Amid the uncertainties of a rapid changing external environment, it is precisely these strengths —  solid industrial foundations, strong innovation momentum and scenario-based advantages — that give Chinese companies the confidence to compete on the global stage. 

They also highlight an important lesson: regardless of shifting market trends, companies that strengthen their capabilities, sharpen their competitiveness and continuously drive industrial upgrading will be well positioned to succeed in the long run.

By People’s Daily reporters

This year’s government work report of China for the first time proposed creating new forms of smart economy. According to the report, China will launch new infrastructure projects on hyper-scale intelligent computing clusters and coordinated development of computing capacity and electricity supply.

These policies are expected to provide strong support and vast possibilities for the next leap forward in economic and social development.

China’s advantages become clearer when the policy directions outlined in the report are viewed alongside two recent developments.

The first concerns power equipment manufacturers in provinces such as Guangdong and Jiangsu, whose production lines are operating at full capacity. As global demand for computing power surges and countries accelerate the construction of data centers, overseas orders for Chinese power equipment have soared. This trend aligns with a popular saying in investment circles: “The end of AI is electricity.”

The second development occurred between Feb. 9 and Feb. 15 this year, when the number of  tokens processed by Chinese AI models reached 4.12 trillion, surpassing U.S. AI models for the first time. Developers worldwide have discovered that running tasks on Chinese models is often far more cost-effective than using American alternatives.

The AI revolution is driving an anticipated explosive growth in global electricity demand. The global expansion in token usage essentially reflects a process where electricity is tansformed into computing power, and computing power into intelligence. In the AI era, countries that can provide lower-cost, more reliable electricity and more responsive power grids will hold a decisive cost advantage. This is why another saying has circulated online: “If the end of AI is electricity, then the end of electricity is China.”

In fact, the United States lags behind China in several foundational aspects crucial for AI development. A key constraint lies in its power infrastructure. The U.S. grid is fragmented into three largely isolated systems — the Eastern Interconnection, Western Interconnection, and Texas Interconnection. This fragmentation leads to chronic inefficiencies: surplus power cannot be readily transmitted to regions in need. Grid stability, load capacity, and infrastructure expansion are all struggling to keep pace with suring demand.

In a recent interview, Wang Jian, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, noted that if the United States wants to build new power plants, it must start with basic equipment such as transformers. “Transformer manufacturing is largely concentrated in China,” he said.

Faced with power supply constraints, some major U.S. tech companies have begun seeking their own solutions. Microsoft has resorted to build gas-turbine generators due to delays in grid connection, while Google has signed large power purchase agreements with nuclear energy companies. 

If electricity shortage persist, the burden could ultimately shift to consumers. Regional grid operators in states including Michigan and Virginia have announced that electricity rates for 67 million residents in their service areas are expected to rise by 20 to 30 percent in 2026.

In an energy system driven primarily by financial returns, sustaining long-term investment is often hard to sustain. When electricity becomes scarce, prices rise until demand declines. This purely market-driven approach can produce outcomes that are unfavorable to ordinary consumers.

China has chosen a different path. 

Consider one key figure: in 2025, China’s total electricity consumption exceeded 10 trillion kilowatt-hours, the largest in the world and more than double that of the United States. In July and August 2025, monthly electricity consumption each surpassed 1 trillion kilowatt-hours, setting a global record, yet there were no widespread power shortages and no price increases.

How has China achieved this? 

A key factor is treating electricity as a public good and prioritizing universal access. Forty-six ultra-high-voltage (UHV) transmission projects form major corridors that carry electricity from west to east and from north to south across the country. 

Meanwhile, China’s “East Data, West Computing” strategy places data centers in regions rich in renewable energy resources, allowing wind and solar power from western China to be converted into computing power and transmitted through fiber-optic networks to users across the country and around the world.

At the same time, breakthroughs in large-scale hydropower stations, advanced nuclear power units and heavy-duty gas turbines have steadily strengthened China’s power generation capacity.

What truly distinguishes China is not just individual transmission line or power plant, but a system capable of mobilizing resources to deliver major projects. In the United States, while the need to upgrade the power grid is widely recognized, market participants are often reluctant to invest in infrastructure with long payback periods.

China, by contrast, emphasizes a moderately proactive development approach. Even before power shortages arise, transmission lines and power plants are planned and built in advance to ensure future supply. The country also takes a nationwide approach to optimizing resource allocation.

Last month, the State Grid Corporation of China announced that its fixed-asset investment during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) is expected to reach about 4 trillion yuan ($580 billion), a 40 percent increase from the 14th Five-Year Plan period. 

While others are still preoccupied with immediate electricity supply challenges, China is already acting early, laying a solid foundation for the high-quality development of its energy system and providing stronger support for the future intelligent economy.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

At the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Spain, Chinese companies captured global attention with a wave of cutting-edge innovations. From the world’s first robot phone and lip-reading AI glasses to adorable AI companions for emotional support, these bold and futuristic products left global media calling them game-changing.

Connecting China’s “two sessions,” the annual meetings of China’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC), and top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, with the international stage in Barcelona, these concurrent events vividly illustrate the vibrant dynamism of an innovative China. 

The Economist Intelligence Unit, affiliated with the The Economist, noted in its analysis that China’s new five-year plan is more proactive, focusing on breakthroughs in key technologies and accelerating the deep integration of science, technology, and industry.

Why do international observers perceive China’s pace of technological innovation as “proactive”?

From the perspective of modernization, scientific and technological innovation provides crucial support for China’s advancement. China consistently holds that science and technology are the primary productive forces and innovation the primary driving force. By fostering the development of new quality productive forces, the country has effectively enhanced overall social productivity.

A key driver of China’s rapid technological advancement is its approach of promoting innovation through practical application and nurturing momentum via real-world scenarios. 

During the “two sessions” meetings, foreign journalists utilized Chinese AI glasses for tasks such as translation and photography, praising the technology for making communication more efficient. 

Examples abound: robots automating tasks in factories, robotic dogs aiding agricultural work in rural areas, brain-computer interface technologies offering “digital hands” to paralyzed patients, and AI-powered cognitive screening protecting the cognitive health of the elderly. China’s vast “innovation testing ground” allows frontier technologies to be repeatedly tested and refined in real-world settings, continuously transforming them into powerful momentum for high-quality development.

The draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) provides a new blueprint for scientific and technological innovation. 

It proposes that nationwide spending on research and development should grow by more than 7 percent annually. It also outlines 28 major initiatives focused on enhancing the foundations and competitiveness of industry, fostering emerging industries and new development tracks, advancing frontier technologies, and strengthening the fundamental capacity for innovation. 

With forward-looking strategic planning and seamless alignment between the innovation chain and the industrial chain, China’s blueprint for driving the development of new quality productive forces through technological innovation is clear and full of promise.

From the perspective of the two overall domestic and international situations, responding to risks and challenges also requires technological innovation. 

Today, the international landscape is undergoing changes of a depth rarely seen in history, and the intensity of turbulence has become more pronounced. China’s development stands at a stage where strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, while uncertainties and unpredictable factors are increasing. Only by taking the lead in scientific and technological innovation can the country firmly grasp the initiative in development.

Over the past year, China has made new breakthroughs in independent chip development; the country’s first asteroid sample-return mission Tianwen‑2 has begun its work to explore asteroids; the large-scale application of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System has been comprehensively expanded; construction has begun on the hydropower project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River; and the domestically built electromagnetic catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian, has officially entered service. 

These achievements demonstrate that enhanced science and technology capabilities strengthen China’s resilience under pressure, while vibrant innovation bolsters the country’s adaptability. Scientific and technological innovation has become a powerful source of China’s resilience.

In the world today, coping with uncertainty and strengthening development resilience is a shared task for all. China’s continuous progress in scientific and technological innovation is creating new space for international cooperation. 

Recently, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Chinese technology companies during his visit to China and remarked that China has once again proved itself indispensable. This is also the shared judgment of businesses around the world. 

German manufacturer of rolling element bearings Schaeffler Group recently announced an additional investment of 1 billion yuan (nearly $145 million) in Taicang, east China’s Jiangsu province, to build a digital and intelligent factory for humanoid robots, targeting the wave of intelligent transformation in the automotive industry.

Meanwhile, science-led biopharmaceutical business AstraZeneca from the UK has announced cooperation with Chinese partners to develop new treatments for metabolic diseases using AI technology. 

Each story of such “two-way engagement” nurtures new solutions for global industrial upgrading. A report by NBC News concluded that China’s innovation and development will be a blessing for the world.

From China’s pace of scientific and technological progress, the world senses the firm confidence of the Chinese economy as it moves forward through challenges and sees broad opportunities for upgrading mutually beneficial cooperation. 

As the 15th Five-Year Plan period begins, China will continue to join hands with countries around the world in pursuing scientific and technological progress, using innovation-driven cooperation to bring greater certainty and positive energy to global development.

By Li Xinping, People’s Daily

The year 2026 marks the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

China targets an economic growth of 4.5-5 percent this year and will strive for better in practice, according to the country’s government work report. 

Main targets for development this year also include: a surveyed urban unemployment rate around 5.5 percent; over 12 million new urban jobs; an increase in consumer price index of around 2 percent; growth in personal income in step with economic growth; a basic equilibrium in the balance of payments; grain output of around 700 million tons; and a drop of around 3.8 percent in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP.

These core indicators collectively signal a clear national priority: the unwavering pursuit of high-quality development. This strategy focuses on achieving substantive qualitative improvements alongside reasonable quantitative growth.

The targets embody a balance of “change” and “continuity,” reflecting a policy methodology that emphasizes progress while ensuring stability. Despite external uncertainties, China remains focused on managing its domestic affairs effectively, leveraging the certainty derived from high-quality development to navigate external challenges.

Setting the economic growth target at around 4.5-5 percent demonstrates a pragmatic approach. This realistic assessment acknowledges current economic headwinds while providing necessary flexibility for structural adjustments, risk mitigation, and reforms.

Furthermore, the target also aligns with the long-range objectives through the year 2035 and reflects the requirement of laying a solid foundation and making comprehensive efforts during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, balancing both present needs and long-term goals.

By committing to striving for better in practice, China demonstrates a resolve for action, dedication, and tenacity in overcoming difficulties. This consistent approach embodies the historical initiative of the Communist Party of China — the courage to face severe tests head-on and the determination to surmount challenges, mitigate risks, and tackle difficulties.

A closer look at the three major indicators — prices, employment, and the balance of payments — offers further insight. Together with economic growth, these indicators are often referred to as the “four pillars” of macroeconomic performance. This year, the targets for employment, prices, and international payments remain unchanged from last year. This demonstrates that, on the basis of maintaining stability and safeguarding the fundamentals, China will continue consolidating and strengthening the momentum of economic recovery and growth. 

Regarding income, the report states that personal incomes rise in step with economic growth. This goal may sound simple, but behind it lies a policy orientation that places people’s well-being above all else. Measures such as improving policies for free preschool education and increasing minimum basic old-age benefits for rural and non-working urban residents by 20 yuan ($2.9) highlight a stronger commitment to delivering tangible benefits for the people.

Another point worth noting is the grain output target. The government work report proposes a grain output of around 700 million metric tons. While this figure appears unchanged from last year, it carries deeper significance. 

It represents both a firm commitment to the bottom line that “China’s food supply remains firmly in its own hands” and a solid step toward the goal of reaching around 725 trillion metric tons in overall grain production capacity during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Achieving stability at the 700 million metric ton level for two consecutive years demonstrates strategic patience, providing a solid platform for reaching even higher production levels.

Finally, the target to reduce carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by about 3.8% balances the needs of economic and social development, green and low-carbon transition, and national energy security. This measured reduction supports the orderly achievement of China’s goal to peak carbon emissions before 2030.

Recent years have seen China refine its climate approach, shifting from a system focused primarily on controlling total energy consumption to a “dual control” mechanism targeting both the total volume and intensity of carbon emissions. This evolution represents a move from regulating energy inputs to managing carbon outputs, and from indirect carbon control towards more targeted carbon governance. Consequently, the orientation toward green development is clearer, market-based incentives are stronger, and alignment with global climate governance efforts is closer.

This year’s government work report continues to prioritize people’s well-being. Initiatives range from enhanced fiscal support for public services and plans to boost urban and rural incomes, to increasing the proportion of government investment allocated to livelihood projects. These efforts underscore the government’s commitment to delivering concrete improvements that enhance citizens’ sense of fulfillment.

From the 1st Five-Year Plan to the 14th Five-Year Plan, China’s original aspiration and mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation has remained unchanged. The country’s major undertakings are always rooted in the need and concerns of the people. 

Chinese modernization is not an abstract concept; it is manifested in rising incomes, improved surroundings, growing hope among the people, and the warmth of policies that touch every aspect of people’s lives.

Looking forward, China’s development targets form a coherent progression: annual objectives feed into Five-Year Plans, which in turn advance the long-range vision for 2035. This interlocking strategic framework ensures the national blueprint is implemented consistently. By steadfastly focusing on managing its own affairs effectively and making solid, incremental progress, China advances steadily towards its goals.