Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday extended festive greetings to people from non-CPC political parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), personages without party affiliation, and other members of the united front ahead of the Spring Festival.
Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent the greetings when he took part in an annual gathering with non-CPC personages at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Jan. 29 this year.
Reviewing the achievements of 2024, Xi said that China had overcome difficulties to forge ahead, accomplishing the year's major objectives and tasks for economic and social development.
"We have guided all sectors at all levels to correctly grasp favorable conditions and handle unfavorable factors, maintained strategic resolve, and strengthened our confidence in victory," he said.
Xi noted that China had effectively implemented various policies, introduced a package of incremental measures, and steadily promoted high-quality development.
The economy has shown signs of recovery, achieving a 5-percent GDP growth, he added.
A series of new breakthroughs have been made at the forefront of science and technology, significantly driving the development of new quality productive forces, Xi observed.
He highlighted efforts in further comprehensively deepening reform, maintaining world peace and stability, promoting human development and progress, and improving Party and government conduct.
Xi also emphasized the robust development of the cause of multiparty cooperation.
Xi said China will implement more proactive and impactful macro policies, focus on high-quality development and promote greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology to maintain sound momentum for social and economic development in 2025.
Xi called on non-CPC political parties, the ACFIC, and personages without party affiliation to focus on the central tasks, serve the overall interests of the country, and leverage their respective strengths to more broadly rally support, build consensus, and pool wisdom and strength.
He stressed that efforts should be made in 2025 to successfully accomplish the targets set in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and lay a solid foundation for the next five years.
Xi expressed the expectation that non-CPC personages will pool all positive elements to advance development, and actively contribute to further deepening reform comprehensively, promoting high-quality development and formulating the proposal on the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).
He also emphasized focusing on critical and difficult problems when engaging in the supervision of the protection of the Yangtze River ecosystem.
The ACFIC should guide the private sector to maintain their enthusiasm for entrepreneurship, bolster confidence in development, and establish and improve the modern corporate system with distinctive Chinese features, Xi said.
The event was also attended by Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Cai Qi, director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee. Both are also members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
A senior officials' meeting on Lancang-Mekong law enforcement cooperation was held on Tuesday in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province with representatives from the six countries - Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China - participating. During the meeting, senior officials from China, Myanmar and Thailand exchanged views on cooperation aimed at eliminating the telecom fraud base in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
They unanimously agreed to deepen practical cooperation under the framework of the Lancang-Mekong law enforcement and security cooperation mechanism, which includes strengthening intelligence sharing, joint operations, capacity building, and emergency coordination and communication in response to public security incidents, working together to combat prominent cross-border crimes.
The meeting highlighted the occurrence of a slew of serious online gambling and telecom fraud cases along the Thai-Myanmar border, which threaten and harm the vital interests of citizens from various countries, drawing significant attention from all parties.
Representatives from the six countries unanimously agreed to strengthen comprehensive cooperation, launch targeted operations, and adopt strong measures to resolutely combat telecom fraud and its derivative crimes. Efforts will be made to fully coordinate the rescue of trapped individuals, apprehend the leaders of criminal groups, and dismantle telecom fraud dens, in a bid to provide a safe environment for the people of the Lancang-Mekong region and to uphold the good order of exchanges and cooperation among Lancang-Mekong countries.
During the meeting, senior officials from China, Myanmar and Thailand held a special session to exchange views on cooperation in eliminating the telecom fraud base in Myawaddy in Myanmar, reaching a positive consensus.
Separately, the Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center (LMLECC) announced on Tuesday that a total of 70,000 suspects involved in telecom fraud cases were arrested, and more than 160 victims were rescued during a joint law enforcement operation by six countries including Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam between August and December 2024.
The LMLECC is the first international intergovernmental organization in the field of political security in the Lancang-Mekong region under the framework of the Lancang-Mekong cooperation mechanism.
On Tuesday, the center held a debriefing meeting in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province on the "Operation SEAGULL," the sub-operation of Joint Operation "Safe Lancang-Mekong" focusing on cracking down on telecom fraud and its related crimes, and firearms smuggling.
This operation, conducted between August and December of 2024, brought together law enforcement agencies from Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam to jointly combat regional telecom and online fraud, its related crimes, and the smuggling of firearms and ammunition, yielding significant results. According to preliminary statistics, during the operation, over 160 cases, with most involving telecom fraud, were solved. More than 70,000 suspects were arrested, and over 160 victims were rescued.
Delegations from the Ministry of the Interior of Cambodia, the Ministry of Public Security of China, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Defense of Laos, the Ministry of Home Affairs of Myanmar, the Royal Thai Police, and the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam participated in the meeting. Representatives from international organizations, such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the ASEAN Chiefs of Police, were invited to join the discussions.
Several Chinese nationals, including actor Wang Xing, were lured to the Thailand-Myanmar border and held captive, sparking public concern. Wang returned to China on January 10 and thanked the Chinese government, the Chinese embassies in Thailand and Myanmar, the Chinese and Thai police, and various other law enforcement agencies.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China is prepared to collaborate with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to combat cross-border online gambling and telecom fraud effectively when meeting with diplomatic envoys from 10 ASEAN countries in Beijing on Thursday.
Peng Nian, director of the Hong Kong Research Center for Asian Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday that as a regional cooperation mechanism with broader law enforcement scope, "Operation SEAGULL" has proven more effective in combating crime compared to bilateral mechanisms. This effectiveness, as demonstrated by the data, highlights the operation's greater success over sporadic rescue efforts in the past.
Peng noted that while the first phase of the operation has yielded significant results in rescuing hostages, cracking down on telecom fraud, and deterring related activities, telecom fraud has not been completely eradicated.
For the second phase, Peng emphasized the need to rescue more individuals trapped in telecom scams to address public concerns. He also stressed the importance of establishing an information exchange mechanism among relevant countries to enable precise targeting of telecom fraud gangs. Additionally, Peng called for a normalized mechanism for combating telecom fraud among the Lancang-Mekong countries to ensure a long-term deterrent against criminal activities.
China’s total expenditure on research and experimental development (R&D) exceeded 3.6 trillion yuan ($494.69 billion) in 2024, marking an 8.3 percent year-on-year increase, China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced on Thursday.
The R&D expenditure recorded a steady growth, ranking as the second-largest globally last year, the Beijing Daily reported on Thursday.
According to the latest data from the NBS, China’s expenditure on R&D has steadily increased, with China’s total expenditure on R&D surpassing 3.6 trillion yuan in 2024, an increase of 8.3 percent compared with the previous year, realizing a stable growth. The total investment remained the second-highest in the world.
The results have been achieved due to China’s continuously improving policy system supporting scientific and technological innovations, the rapid establishment of a diversified investment framework, and the strengthened role of enterprises as key drivers of innovation, which collectively bolstered sustained R&D expenditure growth, according to the report.
Besides, the intensity of R&D investment continues to increase. Preliminary estimates show that in 2024, China’s R&D investment intensity (the ratio of R&D expenditure to GDP) reached 2.68 percent, a 0.10 percentage point rise from the previous year. This growth rate is slightly higher than the average annual increase since China’s 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), continuing its consistent upward trajectory.
Large-scale R&D investment forms a crucial foundation for driving invention, and achieving significant scientific and technological breakthroughs, while the growing intensity of R&D investment reflects China’s enhanced capacity to support technological innovations at its source, Xuan Zhaohui, director of the Institute of Science and Technology Foresight and Statistics at the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development, told the Global Times on Thursday.
From the perspective of international comparison, China’s R&D investment intensity ranks 12th among the major countries worldwide, surpassing the average level of 2.11 percent in EU countries, and further approaching the average level of 2.73 percent for OECD countries.
In addition, China’s investment in basic research has grown rapidly last year. In 2024, China’s expenditure on basic research totaled 249.7 billion yuan, growing 10.5 percent year-on-year. This growth exceeded the overall R&D expenditure growth rate by 2.2 percentage points.
In recent years, China has attached great importance to basic research, achieving significant progress in the construction of major scientific facilities and large-scale scientific infrastructure. A number of groundbreaking achievements have been made in fields such as quantum science, life sciences, material sciences and space science.
The rapid growth of funding for basic research lays a strong foundation for generating high-quality, original and groundbreaking scientific and technological breakthroughs, Xuan said.
China’s global innovation index rose to 11th place globally in 2024, cementing its position as one of the fastest-growing innovation-driven economies in the past decade, according to a report by gmw.cn.
In 2024, China issued 1.045 million new invention patents, up 13.5 percent year-on-year, and recorded 4.781 million trademark registrations, representing a 9.1 percent year-on-year growth. By the end of 2024, China had 14 high-value invention patents per 10,000 people, with the number of valid domestic invention patents totaling 4.756 million, becoming the first nation in the world to exceed 4 million, said the Xinhua News Agency, citing statistics released by the China National Intellectual Property Administration on January 15.
In 2024, China’s R&D expenditure continued increases in investment intensity and the proportion allocated to basic research. This has laid a solid foundation for the development of a strong science and technology nation, the Beijing Daily reported.
In the next step, the country will foster the integration of technological and industrial innovations, encourage and guide all parties to continue increasing R&D investment, improve the multi-level funding system, enhance the efficiency of R&D fund utilization, and provide strong support for accelerating high-level technological self-reliance and self-strengthening.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted the Chinese Foreign Ministry's 2024 New Year reception at the Beijing Performing Arts Center on Friday.
The event was attended by Yin Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, along with diplomatic envoys from various countries, representatives of international organizations in China, and representatives of Chinese government departments. Around 400 people attended the event in total.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that China's foreign service has held high the banner of building a community with a shared future for mankind, strived for peace, and fulfilled its responsibility for development. China's diplomatic efforts have brought more stability and positive energy to a turbulent world, he added.
Wang noted that in the past year, diplomatic envoys and representatives of international organizations have visited different parts of China to build bridges of friendship between the peoples, and devoted and contributed their strength to the friendship and cooperation between China and the countries they represent.
China will work with all countries to bear in mind the well-being of the entire world and rise above estrangement and conflict. "Together, let us promote friendship and cooperation, enhance mutual learning among different cultures, and build a community with a shared future for mankind," he said.
Martin Mpana, dean of the foreign diplomatic corps in China and Cameroon's ambassador to China, sent best wishes to the Chinese people for a happy New Year on behalf of the diplomatic corps. He said that China's diplomacy demonstrates its responsibility as a major country and makes important contributions to addressing the growing uncertainties and challenges in the world. Countries around the world are willing to deepen friendship, intensify exchanges and strengthen cooperation with China to build a community with a shared future for mankind, he said.
There's no new infectious disease emerged in China recently; and overall positive rate for human metapneumovirus (HMPV) testing is rising but fluctuating near a plateau, with a decline observed in northern China, said Chinese health officials on Sunday. They also dismissed claims of medical resource strain due to recent spike of respiratory infectious diseases, said medicines are in adequate supply.
Currently, China is suffering from peak season for respiratory infectious diseases, and various pathogens can cause respiratory infections.
Wang Liping, a research fellow at the China CDC said at a news briefing that monitoring shows that influenza is the primary disease leading to visits by patients with acute respiratory infections in medical institutions.
According to monitoring data, influenza is currently in a seasonal epidemic phase, with the intensity of the outbreak at a moderate level in most provinces, Wang said. At present, the upward trend in the influenza positivity rate has begun to slow down. As primary and secondary schools across the country gradually enter their winter break, it is expected that the level of influenza activity may decline in the latter half of this month.
The influenza virus positivity rate among China's outpatient and emergency influenza drug cases increased by 3.8 percent compared with two weeks ago but remained below the level of the same period last year, said Gao Xinqiang, an official from China's National Health Commission (NHC), at the conference.
In recent days, some foreign media including CNN, BBC and the Washington Post have reported a spike in HMPV cases in China, alleging that it has overwhelmed hospitals, with some attempting to draw parallels to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wang said that HMPV is not a new variant and has coexisted with humans for several decades, and the recent increase in reports of HMPV is due to advancements in detection methods.
She said that currently, the overall positive rate for HMPV testing is rising but fluctuating near a plateau, with a decline observed in northern China. Moreover, the positive rate among patients under 14 years old has begun to decrease.
Overall, the levels of coronavirus and other pathogens remain relatively low in terms of prevalence, said Wang, noting that currently, various respiratory infectious diseases in China are known, and no new infectious diseases have emerged.
To better meet the medical needs of the public, Gao said both the NHC and CDC have been proactively planning and implementing measures since October of last year, including daily monitoring, continuous coordination and the strengthening of nationwide initiatives while providing targeted guidance for key provinces and cities, to ensure that medical services remain stable and orderly.
Gao said that the incidence of flu is relatively high recently, but it has not exceeded the level of the previous year's epidemic season. The number of patients in fever clinics and emergency departments nationwide has shown a certain upward trend, but overall, it remains below the level of the same period last year, and there has been no significant strain on medical resources.
Wang Xiaoyang, an official from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, assured the public that, at present, a wide variety of drugs for respiratory diseases are available, and the production capacity and output are substantial, and these are sufficient to meet public demand.
For example, the daily production capacity of oseltamivir, a widely used antiviral medication for the flu, is 1.56 million doses, with inventory exceeding 47 million doses, including more than 16 million doses of pediatric granules; the daily production of Lianhua Qingwen -- a widely used traditional Chinese medicine for treating COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses -- is 120 million capsules, with inventory exceeding 86 million boxes; and the daily production capacity of Ibuprofen has reached 150 million tablets, with plans in place to scale up production if needed, Wang explained.
Wang from the CDC noted that H1N1 is the dominant flu strain in China. The NHC and CDC conducted antigenic analysis on the recently isolated H1N1 influenza viruses, showing a strong match with this year's flu vaccine, confirming its effectiveness. Resistance analysis shows that the currently circulating influenza viruses are sensitive to antiviral medications, ensuring the effectiveness of drug treatments.
A delegation of Japan's ruling coalition kicked off its visit to China from Monday to Wednesday, marking the first China-Japan ruling parties exchange since 2018, according to an announcement made by the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. Also on Monday, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced that a delegation from the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will visit Japan in mid-January under a mutual agreement.
Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, met in Beijing on Monday with a delegation of Japan's ruling coalition, led by Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama of the Liberal Democratic Party and Secretary General Makoto Nishida of the Komeito Party.
Li welcomed the Japanese delegation to China to attend the meeting of the China-Japan ruling party talks.
The previous meeting of China-Japan ruling parties exchange mechanism was held in Japan in October 2018.
The CPC is willing to work with the ruling coalition of Japan to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen political dialogue, promote people-to-people exchanges and create a healthy and rational public opinion environment for China-Japan relations, said Li.
The Japanese side expressed its willingness to give full play to the role of the ruling coalition in accordance with the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, face up to problems and challenges, and promote cultural exchanges between the two countries, especially youth exchanges.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had a meeting with the secretaries-general of the ruling parties last week. During the meeting, Ishiba expressed eagerness to visit China as soon as possible, and he told Moriyama and Nishida that he hopes Japan and China will continue dialogue at various levels, according to the Japan Times.
Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeshi Iwaya's visit to China last month can be seen as an initial exploration to improve relations between the two countries; whilst the ruling party delegation's visit is expected to focus on substantive issues with the Chinese side and may become an important step for Japan in promoting Ishiba's visit to China, Lü Chao, an expert on the Korean Peninsula at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.
If this ruling party delegation's trip to China yields positive results, it will also promote cooperation between China and Japan in various areas such as politics and economics, Lü said.
Delegation of Japan's ruling parties' China trip came less than a month after Iwaya's visit to China. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Iwaya held talks in Beijing on December 25, 2024, when Wang expressed hope that Japan will work with China to uphold the correct orientation of the strategic relationship of mutual benefit, abide by the important consensus that "the two countries are cooperative partners, not a threat to each other," and jointly advance the sound and stable development of bilateral relations.
A delegation from the Eastern Theater Command of the PLA will visit Japan in mid-January under a mutual agreement. The delegation will meet with leaders of Japan's Ministry of Defense and the Joint Staff of the Self-Defense Force, and visit related military units, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced on Monday.
The ministry said the visit is conducive to boosting mutual understanding and mutual trust, and promoting China-Japan defense exchanges.
PLA Eastern Theater Command delegation's visit to Japan marks the second exchange between the militaries of China and Japan within two months. A delegation of Japanese young and middle-aged military officers visited China from November 26 to December 4 last year.
Since Ishiba took office, China-Japan ties have begun to show signs of easing and stability, Lian Degui, director of Center for Japanese Studies at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times. He noted that defense exchange plays an important role in this process, carrying positive significance and laying a solid foundation for the future development of bilateral ties.
Considering that the PLA Eastern Theater Command's jurisdiction includes the East China Sea and the Diaoyu Dao, frontline troops in the theater have many opportunities to interact with Japanese maritime and air forces, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times, noting that the Chinese delegation's visit to Japan is of great significance for the defense departments of both countries, especially for the frontline naval and air forces in the East China Sea.
Zhang said this helps to eliminate misunderstandings and misjudgments between the two sides, reduces the likelihood of unexpected incidents, and maintains regional peace and stability.
Complicated mentality
US President Joe Biden on Sunday met virtually with his counterparts from Japan and the Philippines to advance cooperation among the three countries, the White House said. The three leaders discussed trilateral maritime security and economic cooperation, and China's "dangerous and unlawful behavior in the South China Sea," according to a White House statement, Reuters reported.
Last week, Japan linked more than 200 cyberattacks over the past five years targeting the country's national security and high technology data to a Chinese hacking group, MirrorFace, detailing their tactics and calling on government agencies and businesses to reinforce preventive measures, according to the Associated Press.
In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Thursday that China firmly opposes and fights all forms of hacker attacks in accordance with law, and opposes politicizing cybersecurity issues.
"Some allies of the US have recently started to assist the US in spreading disinformation about China. We hope that all parties will approach cybersecurity issues on the basis of facts, guided by international rules, and with objectivity, fairness, and professionalism rather than playing supporting roles in political stunts," Guo added.
Tokyo's China policy is fraught with complications stemming from both historical grievances and contemporary issues, such as Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated wastewater. Additionally, the influence of Japan's hawkish factions and pressure from a third country have further complicated the situation, Lü Chao said.
China's policy toward Japan has remained consistent and stable. The crucial question now is whether Japan can effectively implement its current pragmatic approach to China and take advantage of this opportunity to foster warmer ties. By building mutual trust, both nations can bring much-needed warmth to their frosty relationship, according to Lü Chao.
Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake kicked off a four-day state visit to China on Tuesday, according to Sri Lanka local media Sunday Times. This marks the leader's first visit to China after taking office.
Upon his arrival, the President was accorded a ceremonial welcome by the Chinese military, and he was formally received by Chen Xiaodong, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President's Media Division said.
During this state visit, Dissanayake is scheduled to participate in several key engagements, including field visits focused on technological and agricultural development, as well as initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation. The visit also includes high-level business meetings and discussions, Sunday Times reported on Tuesday.
China and Sri Lanka have long been each other's friend and close neighbor. Since our two countries established diplomatic ties in 1957, the bilateral relationship has stood the test of the changing international landscape, always maintained sound and steady growth, and set up a fine example of friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries different in size, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on January 10.
China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka through the upcoming visit to carry forward our time-honored friendship, deepen political mutual trust, and expand high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and practical cooperation in various fields for continuous new progress in advancing the China-Sri Lanka strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincerity, mutual support and ever-lasting friendship as well as more benefits for the two peoples, Guo said.
Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that Dissanayake is seeking more development opportunities through his visit to China.
China and Sri Lanka are promoting traditional cooperation in infrastructure construction and agriculture, but there is also great room for cooperation in tourism, port city development under the Belt and Road Initiative and fisheries, Qian said.
The agenda includes key focus areas such as technology, agriculture and poverty alleviation. President Dissanayake is also scheduled to visit strategic facilities and participate in high-level business forums aimed at enhancing economic collaboration and investment opportunities, according to a notice released by Sri Lanka's Presidential Office on Monday.
Dissanayake's visit to China demonstrates a firm "Rubber-Rice" friendship between China and Sri Lanka, Liu Zongyi, director of the Center for South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Dissanayake's visit to China is being closely watched by Indian media.
"After India, Sri Lanka's president heads to China for key diplomatic talks," according to a video segment on Indian TV station NDTV's website.
During the visit of the Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to India in December 2024, some Indian media outlets diverted attention from India-Sri Lanka relations and instead sought to sow discord between China and Sri Lanka.
Experts suggest that, as an independent sovereign state, maintaining its own interests is paramount for the Sri Lankan government, which is expected to continue a balanced diplomatic approach.
China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has made a breakthrough in mineral exploration. Since the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), more than 20 million tons of new copper resources have been discovered, with the total resource potential reaching 150 million tons, the Global Times learned from the China Geological Survey on Monday.
Four major copper resource bases: Yulong, Duolong, Julong-Jiama, and Xiongcun-Zhunuo, have emerged on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The region is poised to develop into a world-class copper resource hub, changing the landscape of copper mine exploration and development in China, according to the China Geological Survey.
Tang Juxing, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, highlighted the significance of copper as a critical metal, particularly in green energy development and applications. For instance, solar energy, onshore wind energy, offshore wind energy, and new-energy vehicles all depend heavily on copper, Tang was quoted by the China Central Television as saying on Monday.
Tang said the exploration is crucial for building key resource bases in China and securing the stability of the copper industrial and supply chains.
In addition, the Duobao Mountain copper mine located in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has added 3.65 million tons of copper resources, consolidating the resource foundation of China's eastern copper resource base, according to the China Geological Survey.
The Mount Qomolangma scenic area was temporarily closed, and tourists and staff were in safe condition after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in the Xizang Autonomous Region Tuesday morning, according to local authorities.
Dingri is home to the base camp of the world's highest peak. Fifty-three people have been confirmed dead and 62 injured during the earthquake, according to the regional disaster relief headquarters.
The hotel buildings and surrounding areas in the scenic area have remained intact, and tourists and staff are safe, according to the Dingri Culture and Tourism Bureau.
The Qomolangma Station for Atmospheric and Environmental Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, located in Dingri, is experiencing a power outage. However, the facilities have remained in good condition.
Located at the China-Nepal border, Mount Qomolangma reaches an altitude of more than 8,840 meters, with its northern section located in Xizang.
The weather forecast showed that Dingri's temperature ranged from minus 18 degrees Celsius to zero.
The Chinese side of Mount Qomolangma received 13,764 overseas tourists in 2024, more than twice the number recorded in 2023. This is a notable sign of booming international tourism following China's relaxation of its visa policies.
According to the County Bureau of Culture and Tourism, these tourists are mainly from countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Germany and France.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday that the Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of workers and has always required Chinese-funded enterprises to operate in accordance with laws and regulations.
Guo made the remarks as Reuters reported that Chinese eelectric vehicle producer BYD brought hundreds of Chinese workers on irregular visas to build a factory in Brazil, adding the company has pledged to comply with local labor laws for the workers remaining in the country.
Guo also stated that China is willing to continue working with Brazil to strengthen cooperation in all fields based on the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation.
