The commander of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command attended a defense chiefs conference in Hawaii last week, meeting with representatives from the US and the Philippines, among other countries.
Experts said on Monday that the move is conducive to reducing risks of a conflict with the US or the Philippines amid tensions in the South China Sea.
At the invitation from the US, Wu Ya'nan, commander of the PLA Southern Theater Command, led a delegation to attend the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference in Hawaii from September 18 to 20, where he engaged in bilateral meetings and interactions with representatives from Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, the UK, France and the US, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a press release on Monday.
During his meeting with Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, Wu exchanged candid and in-depth views on implementing consensus reached by the two heads of state and on issues of mutual concern, according to the press release.
It marked the second exchange between Wu and Paparo this month, and the first face-to-face meeting. On September 10, they had a video teleconference in which they exchanged views on issues of mutual concern.
The face-to-face meeting by senior officers in charge of two major Chinese and US theaters is conducive to reducing misunderstandings and misjudgments of the frontline forces at sea and in the air in the South China Sea as well as risks of maritime and aerial accidents, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Monday.
It will also help the healthy and stable development of China-US military ties, Zhang said.
The meeting between Chinese and Philippine military officers showed that the two sides are willing to maintain communication channels, which can also prevent misunderstandings and misjudgments amid the ongoing tensions between the two countries in the South China Sea, Zhang said.
Another Chinese military expert, who requested anonymity, told the Global Times that a senior Chinese officer's attendance in a conference organized by the US showed China's sincerity in managing and controlling differences through talks, and the US' invitation showed that the US does not want to have unintended military frictions with China either.
While there remains issues and differences to be worked out, having talks is better than not having talks, the expert said.
Grammy Award-winning rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, performed a sold-out show in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province, on Sunday. Just one day later, an encore performance set for September 21 was announced by the Bureau of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports of Haikou City, extending the festivities.
Prior to the show, Ye met with fans in Haikou restaurants. Before the show, he also shared on social media a childhood photo of himself in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, with the caption: "BACK."
A 24-year-old Singaporean fan named Alex told the Global Times that he was surprised by "how good the overall effects of the show" were since he knew that the show had almost been canceled due to Typhoon Yagi.
He noted that the young "globally connected and open-minded" Chinese fans that he met made him want to visit China again and make some friends.
On the stage, Ye interacted with Chinese fans saying "I Love Haikou." Ye once lived in China at the age of 10. His mother was an English professor and worked as a visiting scholar at the Nanjing University in 1987.
Besides Ye, pop icon Mariah Carey, called "Niujie" (Awesome Sister) in China, also finished her two-day show The Celebration of Mimi in Beijing on Monday.
Carey journeyed to the Great Wall during her visit - and featuring her own style, she did it while wearing heels. Dressed in a chic black dress, black shades, immaculate makeup, and a blow-dried ponytail, she shared a picture of the hike on her X page.
"At the Great Wall of China!" she wrote. "Someone should've warned me about heels (not that I would've listened)."
Many netizens reported running into Ye in Haikou, while others spotted Carey, in high heels, during her climb up the Great Wall in Beijing.
Since the introduction of the 144-hour visa-free policy, the topic of "China Travel" has been trending.
"The 144-hour visa-free policy has not only attracted international tourists to come over to China but also encouraged international icons to consider performing here," Bruce Xu, a researcher and student mentor in the field of international relations at a US university, told the Global Times.
Xu said that the booming tourism market and increasing global appeal have significantly attracted international performers to perform and travel in China at the same time.
"The growing interest in China as both a tourist and entertainment hub has created unique opportunities for global artists to connect with local audiences and explore the country's diverse attractions. For many artists and performers, this presents a chance to expand their reach and tap into one of the world's largest and most dynamic markets," he noted.
Kathryn, a Mariah Carey fan from Shanghai, told the Global Times that she saw many foreign tourists attending the show.
"I saw four foreign fans just seated in a row in front of me, and many audiences members from different places went to visit Beijing while enjoy the show. I personally went to the Temple of Heaven with some of these fans," Kathryn told the Global Times.
"Music is like a vessel that carries many expressions and culture is one of them," says Azora Chin, a Malaysian singer, describing his musical journey in China. "Chinese culture is vast and profound, and I love every bit of it here," adds Caelan Moriarty, a Cuban-born artist, reflecting on his experiences in the country.
Both artists have built their careers in China, using music as a bridge to transcend cultural and linguistic barriers.
Recently, the Global Times interviewed the two foreign musicians to learn more about their journeys in China and how they have grown both personally and professionally through their art. For them, music serves as a universal language that nurtures cross-cultural connections, and China is a land to explore their musical dreams.
A land of dreams
For Chin, often mistaken for a Chinese national, the connection with China feels almost fated. A Malaysian national of Chinese descent, he grew up immersed in Chinese culture.
"My ancestral home is Fujian Province, and I have been influenced by Chinese culture since childhood. My parents insisted that I attend Chinese-language schools from elementary to high school," Chin told the Global Times.
Chin came to China after graduating from high school to study music at university. "The first time I landed in China, I felt at home," he recalled. "Hearing people speak Putonghua everywhere, I thought of the phrase 'cultural resonance.'"
While studying in Malaysia, he watched numerous Chinese TV shows, which he thought provided a platform for people passionate about music to showcase their talents, skills, and ideas. "I thought it was a fantastic environment," said Chin.
Drawn to the open and creative atmosphere of China's music scene, Chin made the leap to pursue his career in the country. He debuted as part of a music group in China in 2018; and after the group disbanded in 2019, he continued his career as a solo artist. For the last six years, he has been pursuing his musical dreams in China.
"China offers a platform where different forms of expression and musical styles collide. It's exactly what I've always wanted to do," he said.
Similarly, Moriarty, debuted in 2018 at the age of 18 as part of a boy group. His first visit to China was paid during a performance with the group. In 2021, he came to China to participate in the reality show CHUANG 2021, where his stage performances won the audience's affection, leading him to establish his career roots in China to pursue his musical dreams.
"It's China that gave me the opportunity to fulfill my dreams, have joyful experiences, and make lifelong friends," said Moriarty.
Speaking about his decision to come to China, Moriarty said, "I'm glad I took that brave step." The "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" his friends called allowed him to meet more fans and friends, and to experience the beauty of Chinese culture.
"China has so many places worth exploring, and I love every bit of it. Each city has its own unique style and charm." He speaks fondly of his love for the local cuisine, especially the spicy dishes of Changsha, Central China's Hunan Province, and expresses a desire to explore places like Chongqing and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
"If I have the chance, I want to explore China fully. I'd like to visit Chongqing and Xinjiang. I heard that Xinjiang is especially beautiful," said Moriarty. Cultural messenger
BothChin and Moriarty are participants in the fourth season of the Chinese singing reality show Call Me by Fire. On the show, 34 participants from various countries compete in various performing art forms including singing, dancing, and rapping.
Having been influenced by Chinese culture from an early age, Chin views music as a powerful way to connect people.
"Although there are language barriers between us, when we work together to create a piece, we realize that language is not an obstacle. Good work transcends words," he said.
In Chin's view, culture can awaken people's senses, and music brings people closer together. "We can't remember all cultures in our lifetime, but music is like a vessel that can carry many expressions, and culture is one of them."
For Moriarty, growing up in a multicultural family gave him a natural appreciation for diversity.
Working with other members, each from different cultural background, he has learned to embrace differences as a source of inspiration. "Cultural differences open up new conversations," said Moriarty. "There's so much to share, and we could talk about culture for a long time."
Moriarty's immersion into Chinese culture has been transformative. Once unfamiliar with the country, he can now undertake interviews in fluent Putonghua. "I feel comfortable speaking this way, and I want to showcase my Putonghua."
He also enjoys embracing diverse traditional Chinese cultural practices, from writing Spring Festival couplets to celebrating Spring Festival with friends. "Chinese New Year has such a significant meaning in this culture. It's a time of pride and joy for every Chinese person, and I'm lucky to experience it as a foreigner."
Both artists have ambitious plans for the future. Chin is gearing up to release his second album and can't wait to reunite with fans on his next tour. Moriarty, too, is excited to continue his journey in China, "creating more unforgettable memories in this land of opportunity."
"I'll keep being myself," said Moriarty. "And I hope you will too."
As one of the official events of 2024 New York Fashion Week, a T-stage gala made its debut in Puyuan Town in East China's Zhejiang Province on Saturday. Known as the "hometown of knitted clothing" in China, Puyuan became a sensation when its sweater market turnover reached 130.4 billion yuan ($18.3 billion) in 2023.
The show was called the NYFW Shang Discovered: Global Design & Model Competition. A total of 18 emerging designers and 60 models debuted at the town's Puyuan Fashion Resort, a cultural touristic landmark known for its antique-looking architecture in Tongxiang, East China's Zhejiang Province.
The gala featured garments made from the local intangible cultural heritage known as "Pu silk." Ma Jianrong, the chairman of the event's organizing committee, told the Global Times that the gala not only exhibits the "indigenous yet inclusive Chinese aesthetics to the world," but also shows how Puyuan is using "fashion" as a strategy for its modern development.
"At this show, we want people to see how fashion has boosted the region's industrial growth as well as nurtured opportunities in sectors like cultural tourism," Ma emphasized. Puyuan's sweater manufacturing tradition emerged during the 1970s with only a few hand-operated flat knitting machines and a few merchants. Now, the 60.5-square-kilometer town has more than 13,000 business units. Its all-round and modernized industrial chain makes it China's largest production base for knitted clothing.
Over 40 years of development, the local knitting industry, especially its cashmere and sweater sectors, has blossomed. Around 700 million sweaters made in Puyuan Town are sold annually worldwide. Such a record is still expecting new growth due to the nearby Jiaxing Nanhu Airport that is under construction.
"We have a powerful and well-established manufacturing base here, and now we are looking to transform it into 'Puyuan Fashion' through a pan-fashion strategy," Zhou Yan, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Tongxiang committee and the Party secretary of Puyuan Town of the People's Government of Tongxiang, told the Global Times. Taking the NYFW Shang Discovered show as an example, the pan-fashion strategy suggests "broadening the concept of fashion" and combining it with cultural creative industries, tourism, the fashion industry and also the younger generation's preferred sectors like esports.
The Puyuan Fashion Resort is where this pan-fashion blueprint is being fulfilled.
The resort, which carries South China's typical above-water gardening and architectural aesthetics, has brought in more than 1 million tourists since it was opened in 2023. It is now a Puyuan landmark that hosts fashion shows every year. It also has events dedicated to esports and the streaming industry planned for the latter half of the year. Yao Jie, a representative who is in charge of the resort's management sector, told the Global Times that in the future a Coca-Cola experiential center is planned for the resort with the aim of attracting young visitors. Also, the resort is planning to dedicate a block to incorporate cultural and creative commercial units with original designs.
"Our target consumers are young people of course, but also people pursuing fashionable lifestyles regardless of their age," Yao remarked. She also emphasized that tourists make huge contributions to the local clothing retail market. The approach of using the increasing number of tourists to promote itself while boosting sales is just one goal of its development plan for the next five years.
Giving his insight, Zhou told the Global Times that "Puyuan Fashion" will aim to go abroad by "bringing in overseas design brands while encouraging local brands to join international exhibitions."
"Our aim is to make the world know that any knitted product with a Puyuan tag is one of the top-notch products in the world," Zhou remarked.
"Bailu," or White Dew, the 15th of the 24 solar terms in the traditional Chinese calendar, falls on September 7 this year.
Ancient Chinese usually described the seasons with the five elements. According to the Chinese calendar, Bailu takes place in autumn, which is golden. In the Chinese color system, a golden color is close to white, the color associated with the element of metal, so their conclusion was that this is the time of year when yin energy grows heavier, leading to white dew to condense on the ground, according to the Collective Interpretation of the Seventy-two Phenological Terms, compiled by Yuan Dynasty scholar Wu Cheng.
After Bailu, the temperature declines gradually and the moisture in the air often condenses into white dew on the grass and trees at night.
Ancient Chinese divided the Bailu period into three pentads. The first pentad starts when the swans and wild geese start to fly south. The second sees the southward migration of birds such as swallows to the south for the winter. The third pentad starts when birds begin to stock up on food for the winter.
During the Bailu period, the human body often experiences dryness, so it is best to consume nutritious and easily digestible food to stay fit.
This is also the solar term for the harvest as it is the time when the northeast region in China begins to harvest millet, sorghum and soybeans. Farmers are also busy planting wheat. In northern China, the autumn harvest has begun, and preparations for sowing wheat are being carried out as early as possible. Meanwhile, Northwest China is starting to plant winter wheat and Southwest China is harvesting rice and millet. In Central China, farmers are harvesting rice and summer corn and collecting cotton. They also need to level the land in preparation for sowing wheat.
During this season, people start to enjoy White Dew Tea, which has survived the hot summer and is now at the best stage of its growth. Different from tea collected at any other time of the year, White Dew Tea has a sweet refreshing taste and aroma. If you take a closer look at the tea leaves, you might see that they look like they've just been touched by the morning dew. Usually, by the end of summer, the stock of fresh spring tea is running out, so White Dew Tea comes just in time to hit the market.
In addition to tea, this solar term also offers White Dew Wine. People in the south prepare a homemade sweet wine from cereals like polished glutinous rice and sorghum during this season.
In planting areas for hickory in Lin'an, in the western part of East China's Zhejiang Province, Bailu marks the start of harvest season for hickory nuts. Before harvest, farmers will put fine nets under each hickory tree. On this day, before dawn, people with bamboo poles and bamboo baskets on their backs head up into the mountains and forests filled with morning mist. By sunset, these people return with heavy baskets containing hickory nuts. Starting from Bailu, the harvest for hickory nuts can take about half a month.
Since the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Chinese people have been enjoying crickets fighting as part of the autumn fun. The hobby got even more popular through the Ming and Qing dynasties. The fun could last until after the Chongyang Festival, or the ninth day of the ninth Chinese lunar month.
During the season of White Dew, Chinese have the folk custom of collecting clear dew. The dew collected in the morning during this season can be used to clean one's eyes and make tea and wine. Ancient Chinese believed that dew could be nourishing as it contained different characteristics from various plants. For instance, the dew from flowers could be good for skin care, dew from herbs could quench one's thirst and cypress leaf dew can brighten the eyes.
The latest pet craze sweeping the younger generation in China is different from what people expected, as stones become the beloved companions of the Generation Z. The topic of “pet stones” has amassed up to 2.4 million online views across Chinese social media platforms.
Youngsters are not just adopting stones as pets, but are also dressing them up and applying cream to them, which also become a popular topic on China’s X-like platform Sina Weibo. Many netizens are showcasing their creativity by naming their pet stones, some even adorning them with eye stickers, outfits, and even glasses.
Some netizens commented that stones are low-maintenance companions that never cause trouble, require no care or feeding, and silently “listen” to all your secrets, making them a good choice for pets, though some of the young claim stones cannot provide emotional comfort.
In August, the sales of pet stones in China’s e-commerce platform Taobao.com increased by 246 percent compared with a month ago, according to media reports, with the target group mainly younger people. In addition to the pet stones, related clothing, containers and other peripheral commodities are also selling well on the market.
China welcomes the US department of defense delegation to attend the ongoing Beijing Xiangshan Forum, and it's significant for the two militaries to maintain communication in order to avoid misjudgments and to better manage differences and risks, Lieutenant General He Lei, former vice president of the Academy of Military Sciences of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), told the Global Times on Thursday on the sidelines of the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.
According to earlier foreign media reports, the US Pentagon was sending Michael Chase, the deputy assistant secretary of defense, to attend the Beijing Xiangshan Forum. Chase is more senior than the US representative who attended last year’s security sforum, according to the reports. When asked about the possible interactions with US military officers, He told reporters that China welcomes their visits and looks forward to conducting positive exchanges.
“The military-to-military relationship between China and the US is a stabilizer of bilateral relations,” said He. “And exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries are constructive for strengthening strategic communication, avoiding miscalculations, and managing divergences and risks.”
“Any communication is better than no communication,” He noted.
Ahead of the ongoing Beijing Xiangshan Forum, the theater commanders of the Chinese and US militaries on Tuesday had a video teleconference, marking the resumption of all military communication mechanisms agreed by the two heads of state at the San Francisco meeting in November 2023.
Earlier this year, high-level communication between the two militaries took place on May 31 when Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun met with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. The 17th China-US Defense Policy Coordination Talks convened in January in Washington, DC, and a China-US Military Maritime Consultative Agreement work group meeting took place in April in Hawaii.
“Currently, the relationship between Chinese and US militaries is developing in a positive way,” He said, “To some extent, it is the stabilizer and the ballast stone of bilateral ties.”
According to He, a meeting between the Pentagon delegation and the Chinese military at an equivalent level is likely to occur. “During the possible talks, Chinese side may further clarify its firm position and principles on China’s core interests.”
However, the lieutenant general also noted that with repetitive hyping of the “China threat” rhetoric, the US still holds misconceptions about China's development.
To properly handle the relationship between the two militaries, we must solve the issue of strategic perception, just like the first button of a shirt that must be put right, said He.
“Do the Chinese and American militaries perceive each other as friends, partners, or rivals? Is cooperation or competition the mainstream? A clear understanding of these issues is the most fundamental prerequisite for the correct handling of military-to-military relations,” said He.
In addition, the two sides should implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state. “We should do what we say and do without empty promises. We should never say one thing and do another,” He said, alluding to America's record of not keeping its promises.
China follows a path of peaceful development, and upholds the principle that all countries, big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, should be treated equally. “China respects the international order based on the UN Charter, while the US thinks Washington dominates the world, and it wants to keep its hegemony forever,” He said.
“In fact, with its rapid development, China is by no means to become the hegemon of the world. The purpose of China's development is ensure a happier and better life for the Chinese people,” He stated. We will not engage in the so-called competition with any other country.”
China's development represents a force for world peace, and the strength of China's military is the growth of the force for resolutely defending national interests and safeguarding world peace, the lieutenant general said, adding that the Beijing Xiangshan Forum has highlighted peace or security for four consecutive sessions in its theme.
We hope that the US delegation can enjoy themselves during the forum and make a contribution to the development of friendly relations between the two militaries, He said.
As the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) is set to commence on Thursday, attending companies and exhibitors expressed optimism about leveraging China's rapidly growing services sector and benefiting from the country's innovation-driven growth.
On Wednesday, the China National Convention Center was decorated for China's upcoming international services trade fair, featuring exhibits ranging from artificial intelligence (AI)-powered surgical robots to hydrogen fuel motorbikes, giving the event a tech-driven, futuristic feel, the Global Times observed.
"For the 2024 CIFTIS, we have high-tech products on display, including AI, modern logistics, state-of-the-art equipment, and digital culture and sports. These reflect the integration of technology and industry, showcasing the latest achievements in new-quality productive forces," Wang Yudong, a staff member in charge of arranging part of the exhibits, told the Global Times on Wednesday. "All high-tech products are organically integrated with the concept of services trade serving the world."
A total of 85 countries and international organizations have confirmed that their attendance at the 2024 CIFTIS, which will showcase key trends in the world's second-largest economy, focusing on the development of new-quality productive forces, as well as tech and innovation-driven growth.
At the UAE booth, a representative told the Global Times, "On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between our two countries, we want to showcase that the oil industry is not the only highlight of our diversified economy. We also excel in tourism, finance, and aviation."
A number of Global 500 firms, including Siemens and Amazon, will attend the event which runs from September 12 to 16 in Beijing.
French industrial giant Schneider Electric will set up a booth at the CIFTIS and showcase itself in the national pavilion of France, the Guest of Honor at the 2024 CIFTIS.
China is the second largest market for the company, the company said, noting that it will continue increasing innovation and development in China.
At the 2024 CIFTIS, the Schneider Electric will formally establish a service business China hub. The hub will support Chinese users by focusing on talent, research and development, supply chain, and ecosystem pillars, aiming to further boost China's industrial transformation and enterprise development, according to the company.
The services industry in China has enjoyed a greater level of openness, setting a new record for services trade volume, Jack Chan, EY China chairman, told the Global Times on Wednesday. Chan predicted that China's services sector and services trade are expected to maintain upward momentum across the second half of the year.
China's services trade saw rapid growth in the first half of 2024, with total trade in services reached 3.59 trillion yuan ($501 billion), up by 14 percent year-on-year, data from China's Ministry of Commerce showed in August.
The CIFTIS is an international, comprehensive large-scale exhibition and trading platform for services trade. It underlines China's commitment to opening up its services sector and sharing vast market potential with the world, analysts said.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia to chair the Fourth Meeting of the High-Level Chinese-Saudi Joint Committee and visit Saudi Arabia and the UAE from Tuesday to Friday. Analysts anticipate the trip will further promote cooperation between China and the two countries, particularly in the fields of energy, finance and high-tech, and provide positive impetus for regional development.
The China-Saudi Arabia High-Level Joint Committee was established in 2016. The third meeting was held in February 2019, co-chaired by then Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng and Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
The China-Saudi Arabia High-Level Joint Committee and Premier Li's visits to Saudi Arabia and the UAE are expected to further promote pragmatic cooperation in energy, which is the main field of bilateral cooperation, seek deeper collaboration on high-tech exchanges, enhance financial cooperation to drive economic stability, and expand infrastructure projects, Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
The expert noted that China and Saudi Arabia may also achieve some breakthroughs in cross-border crude oil transaction settlements.
According to a report from the South China Morning Post, Bandar Al-khorayef, Saudi minister of industry and mineral resources, said that Saudi Arabia is "open to new ideas," including use of the yuan for crude settlements.
In recent years, China has become the primary trading partner for many Arab states and as many countries increasingly seek to reduce reliance on the US dollar, diversifying the payment system is a natural progression. This shift is not intended to undermine the dollar but reflects evolving trade dynamics and practical cooperation needs between China and Arab nations. Such diversification also aligns with the interests of both sides and broader global economic trends, Sun noted.
While China and Arab countries staying committed to building of a community with a shared future, this endeavor demands ongoing innovation and expansion in both the scope and level of their cooperation. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as China's two most important trading partners in the Middle East and key hubs for innovation, will play a pivotal role in China-Arab cooperation, analysts said.
China's focus on resolving disputes through economic cooperation and mutual benefit not only helps ease tensions in the Middle East, but also paves the way for long-term stability and prosperity in the region, Sun added.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, hosted a banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday evening, welcoming African and international guests attending the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and posted for a group photo with the guests. In his toast at the welcoming banquet, President Xi frequently mentioned the China-Africa community with a shared future, emphasizing that it is built on a strong foundation, has been blessed with a good start, and enjoys broad prospects. He noted that it sets a stellar example for building a community with a shared future for mankind. There is no doubt that this summit will be another historic event witnessing and developing the China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
Over the past few days, heads of state, government leaders and representatives from over 50 FOCAC members, along with the chairperson of the African Union Commission, the secretary-general of the UN and several heads of international organizations, have gathered in Beijing. This has not only set a new record for the scale of diplomatic events that China has hosted in recent years and the number of attending leaders, but it has also become a significant milestone in the history of China-Africa relations and interactions among "Global South" countries. Meanwhile, enthusiasm for the 2024 Beijing Summit of FOCAC continues to rise on multiple levels. According to statistics, the summit has attracted over 3,000 registered journalists from China and abroad, setting a new record for FOCAC. An important supporting event, the Eighth Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs, is also expected to reach a scale of 1,000 participants this year. Enthusiastic registration far exceeded expectations, with 408 representatives from 48 African countries signing up to participate.
Matching the rising momentum, the content of China-Africa cooperation is also continuously being updated and elevated. This summit is expected to achieve three "new" outcomes: embarking on a new journey toward building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, gathering new momentum for deepening cooperation across various sectors between China and Africa, and writing a new chapter in the friendship between the people of China and Africa. China-Africa cooperation, while is being strengthened in traditional industries such as agriculture, infrastructure, and manufacturing, is also expanding to include more emerging sectors and new elements like green development, healthcare, finance, and digital innovation.
For example, at the Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs, corporate representatives will mainly discuss about and share experiences on the two topics of "promoting the integration of industrial and supply chains" and "driving the development of emerging industries." Cooperation in the field of new energy vehicles has also become a highlight of the summit. The strong complementarity between China and Africa, along with China's massive production capacity and Africa's high expectations for cooperation with China, provides powerful support for the joint pursuit of modernization between China and Africa.
The deepening of China-Africa cooperation and the enduring spirit of China-Africa friendship are rooted in the shared destiny that has been evident at every stage of the development of China-Africa relations. Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China, China's first-generation leaders, together with the older generation of African politicians, pioneered a new era of China-Africa relations. Since the 21st century, especially in the new era, China and Africa have continuously strengthened their comprehensive, multi-dimensional cooperation across various fields, including trade, agriculture, education, science and technology, and healthcare, yielding fruitful results. In 2023, China-Africa trade reached $282.1 billion, with China maintaining its position as Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years.
"We have been fighting shoulder to shoulder imperialism, colonialism, and hegemonism, and advancing hand in hand along the path of development, revitalization, and modernization." This is the most direct, accurate and vivid summary of China-Africa relations.
In recent years, driven by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation, Africa's industrialization and various infrastructure capabilities have seen significant improvements. The previous sessions of the FOCAC have consistently emphasized "industrial integration" and "industrialization" in their action plans. To date, 52 African countries and the African Union Commission have signed BRI Cooperation Documents with China. China will also sign new cooperation plans with some African countries to promote the continued deepening of the China-Africa cooperation in building the "Belt and Road." In recent years, China and Africa have collaborated to build and upgrade nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads, over 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly a thousand bridges, and close to a hundred ports. This has greatly improved Africa's transportation network, significantly enhancing logistics efficiency and market access, and playing a significant role in promoting the economic development of African countries.
In the coverage of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, Western media outlets that were critical of China and China-Africa cooperation have changed their tone. Aside from the usual repetition of clichés like "debt traps," which have been repeatedly debunked by facts, some outlets have shifted to explore why China has such strong appeal in Africa and has gained support from African countries. Some media outlets that have long bad-mouthed China-Africa cooperation have to admit that African countries have benefited greatly from their engagement with China. In fact, at a time when economic globalization is facing a severe "trust crisis," the collaboration between China and Africa to expand the economic development "cake" provides insights and direction for global economic development. China and Africa have also been actively practicing their commitment to the pursuit of universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization through concrete actions.
There is a proverb in Africa: "You can never tie a knot with one hand." Similarly, there is a Chinese proverb: "A single strand does not make a thread. nor can one hand clap." In the journey of development and revitalization, China and Africa have achieved fruitful results through mutually beneficial cooperation and exchanges. In the future, the 2.8 billion people of China and Africa will strengthen their unity and cooperation, which will surely inject new momentum into cooperation among the "Global South" and open up new horizons for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
