Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday morning attended a meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, is present at the Macao East Asian Games Dome, where the events are being held.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam met with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Hanoi on Thursday. Dong and his delegation attended a grand gathering marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Since the beginning of this year, there have been frequent high-level exchanges between the military forces of China and Vietnam. An analyst reached by the Global Times said that the positive interactions between the two militaries show a high level of political mutual trust, which has positive significance for jointly maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Lam said that Vietnam and China are socialist neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. Vietnam cherishes China's valuable support in the cause of national liberation, national independence and socialist construction in Vietnam, and takes developing friendly relations with China as a strategic choice and top priority in its foreign policy.
Lam expressed the hope that the two militaries will strengthen practical cooperation and inject new vitality into the development of bilateral relations.
The Chinese side cherishes the traditional friendship between the two parties, the two countries and the two militaries, and stands ready to follow the guidance of the consensus reached by top leaders of both parties and countries, deepen practical cooperation with the Vietnamese side in various areas including maritime security, enhance strategic mutual trust between both militaries, promote the constant development of bilateral relations and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, Dong said.
Since the beginning of this year, there have been frequent high-level exchanges between the Chinese and Vietnamese militaries. From October 24 to 26, Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited Vietnam at the invitation of the Vietnamese side, where he held talks with Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang. They conducted in-depth exchanges of views on international and regional situations as well as bilateral military relations, and witnessed the signing of relevant agreements to strengthen defense cooperation.
On August 20, China's Minister of National Defense Dong Jun met with his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Giang in Beijing.
From April 11 to 12, China and Vietnam held the eighth border defense friendship exchange in Hekou county, Yunnan Province in Southwest China, and Lao Cai of Vietnam, as well as relevant port areas. Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Giang led delegations attending the event and held talks. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a hotline between the Chinese People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command and the Vietnamese navy, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Lam highly praised Dong Jun's visit with the delegation, emphasizing that strengthening defense and security cooperation is one of the cornerstones of the bilateral relationship and a concrete manifestation of the consensus at the leadership level of both countries.
Ding Duo, a deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the China Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times that since the beginning of this year, the positive interactions between the two militaries have demonstrated a high level of political mutual trust, and have shown the regional and international community that China and Vietnam are capable of effectively managing and addressing maritime differences, jointly maintaining regional peace and stability.
"In the current international environment of increasing uncertainty, China-Vietnam cooperation serves as a stabilizer. The military and security cooperation between China and Vietnam is not aimed at any third party," Ding Duo said.
China's first Institute of Weather Modification has been officially established in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province. The new institution aims to cultivate high-level professionals to enhance the role of weather modification amid climate change, the director of the institute told the Global Times on Thursday.
The institute, established at Chengdu University of Information Technology, is dedicated to talent cultivation for weather modification, said Yang Dingyu, the director of the institute, adding that this will enhance the role of weather modification in addressing climate change, ensuring national food security, improving the environment, and promoting socioeconomic development.
This bachelor's degree program in meteorological technology and engineering, with a specialization in weather modification, is the first undergraduate program in China to focus on talent development in this field, Yang introduced.
Yang added that the major was established in 2023 with an intake of 80 students. The program offers courses in subjects such as meteorological physics, cloud precipitation physics, and meteorological big data and artificial intelligence.
In recent years, with the increasing impact of meteorology on transportation, agriculture, tourism, energy, and ecosystems, the role of weather modification has become more prominent, Yang added.
Under reasonable conditions, weather modification can fully utilize climate resources to achieve goals such as increasing rainfall and snowfall, preventing hail, dispersing rain, dissipating fog, and preventing frost, Yang said, adding that it is an effective means for disaster prevention and reduction, as well as for the development of aerial cloud water resources.
Currently, the weather modification industry still needs to further improve in terms of operational accuracy, efficiency, and scientific management, and there is a clear lack of technological talent, so it is necessary to strengthen basic scientific research and talent cultivation in areas such as cloud microphysics, new catalysts, and operational equipment technology, Yang said.
The institute has established a faculty team with impressive research and teaching capabilities, including over 10 experts from the China Meteorological Administration and various provincial meteorological bureaus serving as adjunct professors, according to media outlet Sichuan Guancha.
In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events worldwide, leading to significant repercussions for both human society and ecosystems, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
According to a report from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification on Monday, some 77.6 percent of Earth's land experienced drier conditions during the three decades leading up to 2020 compared to the previous 30-year period.
At 10:00 am on Friday, the people of Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, observed a moment of silence, and sirens were heard across the city as China held a memorial ceremony to mourn the 300,000 victims of the Nanjing Massacre. This is the 11th national memorial ceremony for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre.
China's national flag was flown at half-mast in front of the crowd, which included survivors of the massacre, local students and international friends. As the sirens began to blare, drivers in the downtown area stopped their vehicles and honked in unison, while pedestrians paused to observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims.
Over 80 young people recited a declaration of peace, and citizen representatives struck the Bell of Peace. In a poignant symbol of hope, white doves were released, soaring over the square of the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
In 2014, China's top legislature designated December 13 as the national memorial day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, which took place during Japanese occupation on December 13, 1937. The Japanese invaders brutally killed approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in over six weeks, marking one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II.
Since last year's national memorial day, six survivors of the massacre have passed away, leaving only 32 registered survivors still alive today.
The Chinese government has preserved the testimonies of these survivors through written documents and video recordings. In 2015, these records were inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World Register, ensuring that this harrowing chapter of history is remembered by future generations, as reported by Xinhua.
The national commemoration for Nanjing Massacre victims serves to remind us to not forget history and to pass on the message of peace to future generations, Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.
It is essential to convey an accurate historical narrative to ensure that the facts are recognized in the international community, Da said. This is particularly important in light of certain ultra-right wing factions in Japan, who deny the massacre ever happened, Da added.
The purpose of remembering history is not to perpetuate hatred. Rather, our aim is to learn from history, and such an approach contributes to an objective understanding of history, promotes education for peace and ensures that the right narratives are passed on, Da added.
The former site of the headquarters of Unit 731, the notorious Japanese germ-warfare detachment during World War II in Northeast China's Harbin, was reopened to the public on Friday, and a special exhibition of historical artifacts and documents on the bacterial warfare of the Japanese army was also launched. Since the winter of 2023, the exhibition hall of Evidences of Crimes Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army has received more than 3.5 million visitor trips, according to Xinhua.
On September 26, the finals of the Global Agrilnno Challenge began. Nine international teams and dozens of young entrepreneurs showcased their artificial intelligence-empowered solutions to address the challenging issues in the global agrifood system transformation.
After nearly three hours of intense on-site competition, the "Identity" team from Peru won gold medal, the team from Tanzania took silver medal for their Climate Smart Irrigator, and the "Smart Tomato" project from China earned bronze. The Global Agricultural Maker Competition was jointly initiated by Zhejiang University and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and was successfully founded in 2020. This competition is jointly hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Zhejiang University, and supported by the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the People's Government of Binjiang District, Hangzhou, and Pinduoduo. This is also Pinduoduo's fourth consecutive support for this competition.
Since the global recruitment notice was released on the FAO's official website in late June, the competition received over 200 applications, with 155 teams entering the preliminary round. After selection, 9 teams advanced, including 3 teams from China. It is reported that representatives of the gold and silver teams in this competition will have the opportunity to travel to Rome in October to showcase their innovative solutions to global agricultural technology entrepreneurs and investors at the 2024 FAO Science and Innovation Forum.
The Global Agrilnno Challenge is a global competition brand aimed at young agricultural entrepreneurs. It aims to unleash the innovation potential in the agricultural field by widely soliciting innovative business models and digital solutions, helping transform the agrifood system, and achieving the "Four Better" goals proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, namely: better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life.
The competition showcased numerous digital agriculture solutions, innovative concepts, and technologies that are transforming the global agricultural food system. Our innovation and dedication today will become the seeds of changing the future of the agricultural food system, making the global agricultural food system more sustainable and resilient, Wei Longbao, chairman of the judging panel of this competition. Wei is a distinguished professor at Zhejiang University, and the director of the Institute of Food Economy and Agricultural Business Management.
The Chinese "Smart Tomato" team won bronze, while seawater rice is being sold nationwide with the help of Pinduoduo
Since 2020, the Global Agricultural Maker Competition has been held four times. The previous three competitions attracted active participation from 1,044 young agricultural technology entrepreneurs from 65 countries as well as 427 teams, attracting widespread attention worldwide.
At this year's competition, AI technology became the focus of agricultural research innovation for participating teams. Nine teams showcased their solutions for applying artificial intelligence to transform traditional agricultural production systems, covering breeding, planting, management, and sales. The Peruvian team leading the competition launched a "decentralized interactive protocol system" to address the widespread "digital divide" problem among farmers. It is reported that farmers can synchronize various demands in agricultural production in real time to the system, and accurately match relevant entities such as government, purchasers, and nongovernmental organizations under the recommendation of the system to solve problems faced in the process of production, sales, and other links.
The "Climate Intelligent Irrigation Device" solution of the Tanzanian team won the silver award. Team members introduced that in 2021, the severe drought in East Africa exacerbated the local food shortage, and the cost of using traditional diesel engines for water diversion irrigation was high. In this context, the team developed the "Climate Intelligent Irrigation Device," which uses sensors and other real-time analysis of soil and water conditions, combined with AI and big data technology, to accurately and efficiently irrigate farmland and prevent waste of water resource. The irrigator is powered by solar energy, significantly reducing carbon emissions compared to traditional diesel engines, and promoting environmental sustainability.
The "Smart Tomato" project from China won the bronze award. The team from Guangzhou Guangxin Technology Co Ltd in Guangdong integrated spectral imaging and artificial intelligence technology to monitor the full-cycle growth of tomatoes during the planting process, resulting in higher tomato yields and higher levels of nutrients such as lycopene. "Food safety concerns in underdeveloped regions are significant, and we hope to help farmers around the world grow high-quality tomatoes without posing higher environmental challenges, "said the project members. It is reported that the cost of this equipment has been significantly reduced, and the mature technology has reduced the cost to one-tenth of what it was a few years ago.
In addition to the winning team, other finalists presented innovative plans. A team from Uganda innovatively proposed to turn kitchen waste into treasure by incubating black soldier flies and other tools to address issues such as food waste. The team from Guangdong Haidaohong Agricultural Technology Co Ltd in China, based on the reality of 1.5 billion acres of saline alkali land in China, efficiently selected and bred a salt tolerant variety ̶ seawater rice using artificial intelligence technology. This not only effectively utilizes saline alkali land but also promotes increased grain production. It is reported that the seawater rice developed by the team has been sold to the national market through Pinduoduo, with nearly 100,000 bags sold by merchants. induoduo continually supports agricultural research and technology to enhance agriculture
In her speech at the competition, Hou Kaidi, Vice President of Pinduoduo, mentioned her renewed support for the Global Agricultural Maker Competition, stating that the development of AI will inject new vitality into traditional agricultural production. Pinduoduo hopes to build a platform for young agricultural technology entrepreneurs around the world to exchange ideas and explore the possibility of "AI+agriculture" landing together, so that more emerging technologies in the agricultural field can be explored and popularized.
Besides the Global Agricultural Maker Competition, Pinduoduo has been continuously increasing its investment in agricultural research and technology. In 2022, Pinduoduo was awarded the 2022 Innovation Award by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, becoming the only global enterprise winner of the award that year.
In 2023, Pinduoduo donated 100 million yuan to China Agricultural University to establish the "Pinduoduo China Agricultural University Research Fund," supporting China Agricultural University to actively explore the strengthening of basic research and key core agricultural technologies around major national strategic needs, based on the forefront of global agricultural science and technology. Among the 50 ongoing research projects supported by the research fund so far, multiple projects have achieved important interim results, and some of the results have been published in authoritative international academic journals such as Cell and Nature.
In addition to supporting basic agricultural research and tackling bottleneck technologies, exploring the application of emerging technologies such as AI in agriculture has also been a key focus of Pinduoduo in recent years. In the finals of the "4th Duoduo Agricultural Research Technology Competition" that recently kicked off, six teams from enterprises, agricultural research institutes, and universities used AI to subvert traditional agricultural production methods. One team customized a "smart brain" for a container plant factory, allowing operators to complete tasks such as watering, fertilizing, dimming, and warming the entire space with just a few clicks of their fingers; Some teams have also designed and adopted a combination of large and small models to monitor various environmental indicators inside the container in real time and adjust the planting plan in a timely manner.
In addition, Pinduoduo also leverages its platform advantages to bridge the "last mile" of agricultural research commercialization, using market sales to support agricultural research innovation. On September 19, before the opening of China's Harvest Festival, Pinduoduo teamed up with representatives from 17 science and technology schools in Lankao, Henan Province and other places to showcase nearly 20 new agricultural research achievements, including Northeast Sea Buckthorn Health Tea, Guangxi Beihai Fresh Shrimp Crisp, Sichuan Ebian Fresh Bamboo Shoots, and Yunnan Erhai Fragrant Rice, to the on-site audience. Under Pinduoduo's concentrated exposure, the live broadcast attracted a total of 18.5 million netizens to watch and purchase on the spot.
"Pinduoduo is one of the representatives of Chinese e-commerce platforms. We would like to thank Pinduoduo for its support of the Global Agricultural Maker Competition. The future food security and sustainable development depend on our breakthroughs and innovations today. We anticipate these innovations will have a sustainable impact on the global agricultural food system in the future, "Wei Longbao said in his concluding speech.
Hou Kaidi stated that the future of agriculture is promising, and AI will provide greater opportunities for growth. "Pinduoduo will continue to work with young scientific and technological innovators and ambitious individuals from around the world to join this promising cause and bring new vitality to agriculture."
China completed a trial operation of an unmanned heavy-haul train on the railway connecting North China's Hebei and East China's Shandong provinces, marking a key milestone in advancing from automated to unmanned heavy-haul railway technology.
The test train, comprising108 cars with a total length of nearly 1,300 meters and a total weight of 10,800 tons, travelled from Huanghua city in Hebei to Dongying city in Shandong in two and a half hours on Thursday, according to China Media Group (CMG). The test route is primarily used for coal transport.
Once unmanned driving is widely adopted, the average operation speed of nation's trains will be increased by 1.7 kilometers per hour, while the average traction energy consumption will decrease by 2.9 percent, significantly boosting transportation efficiency of China's west-to-east coal transportation, CMG reported.
Previously, the unmanned train technology was primarily used in urban rail systems both in China and abroad, and has not yet been applied on a large scale on heavy-haul transport railways.
The test train was independently produced and controlled, from key technologies to management models, according to the Economic Information Daily. The research team created China's first smart heavy-haul railway transportation paradigm featuring a centralized station control system and intelligent train driving system.
Three key technologies of the test train - comprehensive support and simulation, remote control and autonomous driving, and integrated safety monitoring from air, space, and ground - fill critical manufacturing gaps in China.
The Line 27 phase I of the subway system in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, commenced no-load trial operation on September 19, 2024. It will be the city's second fully automated subway line, after Line 9, which launched in December 2020, China News Service reported.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for consolidating and developing the unity of the Chinese nation.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the call at a grand meeting held in Beijing to honor role models for ethnic unity and progress.
He urged efforts to advance the building of the community for the Chinese nation.
Shenhai Yihao, or Deep Sea No. 1, China's first homegrown ultra-deepwater gas field project, was completed on Thursday after the construction of its second phase came to an end. The achievement sets a major milestone for the country's self-reliance in accessing deep-sea resources and shows its commitment to securing a sustainable energy supply, China Media Group (CMG) reported.
This breakthrough followed the successful launch of the first phase in June 2021. Operating at a maximum depth of nearly 1,000 meters, the latest development features the deployment of 13 world-leading technological facilities, the CMG reported.
It introduces an innovative development model combining a subsea production system, a shallow-water conductor platform for processing, and a remotely operated deep-water semi-submersible platform, which is designed to facilitate more efficient deep-sea exploitation, according to the producer, China National Offshore Oil Corporation.
In addition to the newly constructed subsea production system and the comprehensive processing platform weighing more than 14,000 tons, the project includes 12 state-of-the-art development wells and five subsea pipelines that stretch around 250 kilometers.
All offshore drilling and completion operations for the project were wrapped up by the end of August, with production testing exceeding expectations, highlighting China's global leadership in deep-water high-pressure drilling technology.
The project also includes the world's first 1,000-meter-deep water manifold constructed by China, along with other key facilities, including the country's longest deep-water oil and gas pipeline, setting multiple industry records in deep-water operations.
These milestones were made possible by the development team's targeted efforts to overcome deep-water construction challenges in the complex, high-temperature, and high-pressure marine environment, according to the producer.
The second phase of Deep Sea No. 1 has revealed more than 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves. When fully operational, it is set to increase peak annual output from 3 billion to 4.5 billion cubic meters, significantly bolstering China's energy security, according to CMG.
Launched in June 2021 in the Lingshui waters off South China's Hainan Province, the initial phase of the Deep Sea No. 1 project has confirmed geological reserves surpassing 100 billion cubic meters, making it the deepest and most challenging offshore gas field currently in operation in China.
In recent years, China has made notable strides in oil and gas resource extraction, transitioning swiftly from shallow to ultra-deepwater operations while developing a series of cutting-edge production equipment, reflecting the country's enhanced self-sufficiency in the sector.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) renewed its call for comprehensive reforms in the US anti-doping system, citing growing concerns about American athletes participating in major international competitions without undergoing adequate testing.
On Monday the WADA published on its official X account a recent letter to Tobie Smith, board chair of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), in which the WADA revealed that 90 percent of American athletes, particularly those in professional leagues and college sports, compete outside the jurisdiction of the World Anti-Doping Code. WADA vowed in the letter that it will continue applying the World Anti-Doping Code without fear or favor "in the face of ongoing geopolitical interference."
James Fitzgerald, head of media relations with the WADA, told the Global Times on Wednesday that USADA's CEO Travis Tygart seems to recognize that anti-doping in college sports is a joke and has even said that he wonders if foreign athletes are coming to US universities to enjoy a "doping vacation" in America.
"This is a shocking admission and it is strange that Tygart does not seem in a hurry to improve things. We feel the USADA board should lead the way and push for reforms within its anti-doping system," said Fitzgerald.
"Of primary concern is the matter of college sports, which account for so many athletes who go on to compete at the very highest levels, including the Olympic Games," the WADA said in the letter.
"75 percent of US athletes competing in Paris came through the collegiate system. That is three-quarters of American Olympians who were at one time part of an elite system that operates far below the globally recognized clean sport standard."
WADA also published a reply letter in response to a letter sent in July from the Central European Anti-Doping Organization, representing 32 National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations from Europe, Asia, and Africa. The letter requested clarification regarding the worldwide enforcement of the World Anti-Doping Code.
In the letter to Smith, WADA reproached USADA's testing efforts as insufficient, pointing out that in 2023, USADA collected only 7,773 samples from 3,011 athletes, based on its own data. WADA deemed this figure "disappointing," considering the US population, its vast athlete base, and the size of its Olympic team.
"The French National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) collects significantly more samples than USADA, despite having a budget that is just a little more than one-third of USADA's. USADA also collected fewer samples than the NADOs in China, Russia, Italy, and Great Britain," WADA noted.
In August, the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) called for an independent investigation into USADA's misconduct and for intensified testing on US track and field athletes to rebuild global trust in fair competition, after the USADA allowed American sprinter Erriyon Knighton to compete in the Paris Olympic Games without suspension, despite him having tested positive for banned steroid trenbolone in March.
WADA also expressed concern about the wider implications, emphasizing that the issue affects more than just US athletes. Media reports indicated that National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) schools sent over 1,000 former, current, and incoming student-athletes, representing more than 100 countries and regions, to the Paris Olympic Games. Among them, 272 athletes secured 330 medals for 26 different countries and regions.
"We are sure it horrifies you to know that top overseas athletes may be taking 'doping vacations' on US soil," said WADA in the letter to Smith.
WADA also criticized USADA for allegedly operating a scheme that permitted athletes guilty of serious doping violations to go undercover and continue competing for several years. WADA viewed this practice as unfair to clean athletes.
WADA emphasized that "In the face of ongoing geopolitical interference, WADA will continue applying the World Anti-Doping Code without fear or favor, working with athletes, the sport movement, national and regional anti-doping organizations, and governments."
"The completion of the supercharging station has brought great convenience to the surrounding residents. It used to take three hours to fully charge my car at home, but now it only takes five minutes," Liu Wei, a new energy vehicle owner from Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province, said with surprise at the New Energy Theme Pocket Park in Jiangyan District on September 10.
In March 2024, while continuously following up on the construction needs of the New Energy Theme Pocket Park, State Grid Taizhou Electric Power Supply Company constructively proposed the idea of building an integrated demonstration station for photovoltaic storage supercharging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) interaction.
In response, State Grid Taizhou Electric Power Supply Company arranged personnel to actively visit several new station-grid interaction demonstration centers in the power system across various locations, strengthened communication with designers from Jiangzheng Jinjiao Company, fully considered the characteristics and needs of each subsystem during the design phase, and formulated a scientific and reasonable system design plan. Meanwhile, the company continuously invested in research and development resources, paid attention to the latest advancements in photovoltaic storage charging and discharging technology, introduced advanced technology and equipment, and improved the overall integrity and stability of the system. The final design was finalized in April 2024. The new installation includes a distributed photovoltaic capacity of 45.25kW and one 100kW/215kWh energy storage device. The modern, intelligent, and new charging station, integrating photovoltaic storage, charging, discharging, advanced charging technology, and smart energy control, was completed and put into operation on August 28, 2024.
"The construction of the integrated 'photovoltaic storage, charging, and discharging' demonstration station helps reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and the emission of vehicle exhaust, which is of great significance for improving urban air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the promotion of V2G technology will also facilitate the utilization of renewable energy and enhance the scheduling flexibility and stability of the power grid," introduced the relevant person in charge of the company's marketing department.
