Although it is only 2.5 centimeters in length, a recently discovered artifact made of dried mud at the Jizhong archaeological site in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang Province, comes as a striking revelation since it indicates the location of a local government center during the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220).
The Chinese characters "Shanyin Chengyin," which means "seal of the magistrate of Shanyin county," were inscribed on the mud object.
The relics was identified as a "mud seal." Historian Fang Gang told the Global Times that the seal was used on "authoritative documents and confidential letters." The tradition was popularized during the Qin (221BC-206BC) and Han dynasties. Mud seals also "represented one's power and were commonly used as burial objects."
"Shanyin was the ancient county name representing Shaoxing. We discovered that the mud seal belonged to the 'deputy head' of the county," said Li Longbin, director of the Shaoxing Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology.
Prior to the new discovery, high-level architectural remains dating to the periods of the Han and the Warring States Period (475BC-221BC) had been excavated at the Jizhong site in Shaoxing.
The mud seal was found from the Han Dynasty stratum of the dig, which helped date it.
"The unearthed high-level architectural remains are even more convincing indicators that show that the Jizhong site and its surrounding areas were used as the then government's offices," He Jierao, an archaeological researcher specializing in the Han to Sui (581-618) dynasties, told the Global Times.
In July, after more than five months of excavation, the large foundation of a 2,500-year-old wooden building was uncovered at the site. Covered 3,000 square meters, the building was identified as once belonging to the ancient state of Yue, represented by the "king of resilience" - King Goujian.
Numerous Han wooden slips with ink writing were also found, adding to the total of 850 artifacts discovered at the site. Among them are some artistically designed objects such as a crystal ring and a bronze jug.
"The Jizhong site is the first to establish that Yue State architecture existed within the historic Shaoxing city, offering crucial hints for researching the Yue State capital," Li remarked.
China's first triple-A video game Black Myth: Wukong has not only made waves in the global gaming industry, but has also brought the allure of Chinese culture to the world stage. Such a cross-industry breakthrough, combining gaming and cultural tourism, showcases the profound richness of traditional Chinese culture and paves the way for a new cultural tourism trend in the digital age.
A released list of filming locations shows that Black Myth: Wukong selected 36 sites across China as in-game backdrops. Notably, North China's Shanxi Province stands out with 27 of its locations featured in the game.
The cultural impact of the game caused local tourism searches on Chinese tourism site Ctrip to spike by three times on launch day, August 20, compared to the previous day.
Zhang Qing, director of promotion and publicity at the Culture and Tourism Department of Shanxi Province, told the Global Times that they established contact with the game's creators years ago during the development stage and held numerous exchanges.
"The game uses a format beloved by modern youth to pass on historical culture, tell Chinese stories and truly bring cultural heritage to life. This collaboration not only showcases Shanxi's rich cultural heritage, but also presents a golden opportunity to promote Shanxi's tourism," Zhang noted.
Zhang emphasized the importance of respecting history and striving for the utmost expression of Chinese aesthetics in presenting Shanxi's cultural heritage to the younger generation through the game. For Generation Zers, this form of cultural communication has genuinely resonated with their preferred lifestyle and interests.
Starting in September, Shanxi will launch official tour routes for visitors eager to explore the game's scenery, and will host a series of related activities, including the release of a "travel pass" and the opening of a Black Myth: Wukong "offline quest."
Multiple national heritage sites will be opened to the public, showcasing Shanxi's rich cultural legacy.
By integrating these cultural assets with the game, Shanxi can both enhance the visibility of its heritage and raise public awareness of cultural preservation.
Provinces and cities like Beijing, East China's Zhejiang Province, and Southwest China's Chongqing have responded by releasing promotional videos, launching themed routes, and inviting influencers to visit to boost their local tourism industries.
These transitions from virtual to real-world cultural communication highlight the powerful influence of digital culture on local tourism and provide new approaches for the preservation as well as use of traditional cultural heritage.
Yang Jie, a tourism planner at the Shanxi Cultural Tourism Digital Experience Museum, told the Global Times that transforming the iconic locations featured in popular IPs like Black Myth: Wukong into tourist attractions, and developing game-themed cultural routes, exhibitions, and interactive experiences, are the right directions for modern cultural tourism development.
She said she is confident that this crossover can leverage the "long-tail effect" of the game, driving the long-term development of cultural tourism in Shanxi and across China.
Yang further noted that integrating various forms of media, such as films and documentaries, can enhance the connection between popular IPs and local culture. By deeply merging the classic game scenes from Black Myth: Wukong with real-world landscapes, a "game + culture + tourism" composite product can be created.
This not only boosts the appeal of cultural heritage, but also allows visitors to experience a rich cultural atmosphere while enjoying entertainment, thus continuously attracting tourists, and promoting sustainable local tourism development.
The trend of game IPs promoting cultural tourism has already been seen abroad. For example, Grand Theft Auto V, the 2013 Game Awards' Game of the Year, features landmarks from Los Angeles.
Additionally, a netizen shared online that her husband, who had never been to Paris, became familiar with its streets and architecture through the video game series Assassin's Creed, which has a game set in Paris.
By developing tourism strategies based on games, Shanxi's rich cultural heritage is being revitalized, attracting attention and exploration from both domestic and international tourists.
This blend of virtual and real-world cultural promotion can not only infuse traditional culture with new vitality, but also make China's historical legacies shine even brighter.
The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a meeting on Friday to review policies and measures to open up a new vista in the large-scale development of the western region. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, chaired the meeting. Efforts should be made to "deepen reform comprehensively and blaze a path of Chinese modernization that suits the realities of the region," the meeting said, while identifying work priorities in a number of fields, including promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, advancing green and low-carbon development as well as enhancing the openness of the economy.
The list shed light on the blueprint of the next stage of the western region's development, which is to ramp up the engines of technology, opening-up and new quality productive forces - among other areas, analysts said, noting that those fields are quite different from the emphasis on basic infrastructure construction when the regional strategy was kickstarted two decades ago.
The western region's catch-up effect is also conducive to expanding domestic demand and facilitating balanced development, paving the way for the economy to maintain stable and progressive growth this year, observers noted.
Tian Yun, a veteran economist based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Friday that the meeting sent an important signal that the new round of western region's development would be "quite different" from 20 years ago, as the gap between the region and its eastern peers has been shrinking, and the western region has built up a number of advantageous industries, some of which are even at the country's forefront.
In the past two decades, the southwestern region has developed into an industry base for new-energy vehicle manufacturing. And certain cities in the northwestern region also have become key transit hubs for China-Europe freight trains and played a vital role in the country's westward opening-up.
"Standing on those remarkable developments, it is the right time to further upgrade existing industries, expand opening-up and channel new vigor to the regional economy," Tian said.
The meeting also urged the western region to strengthen the guarantee capacity of energy and resources. It also noted that measures will be taken to advance the new urbanization in accordance with local conditions, consolidate the poverty alleviation achievements, and make sure that there will be no relapsing into poverty on a large scale in rural areas.
Amid China's stepped-up efforts to comprehensively deepen reforms and open up, fostering a new pattern in the western region carries great significance for the country's overall growth both in the short and long term, observers said.
According to Tian, western development could further release the potential of internal demand, offering a catalyst to stabilizing economic growth in the second half in the face of multiple downward pressures.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi began a three-day visit to China on Thursday, following numerous high-level interactions between the two nations.
Chines Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday that "under the strategic guidance of the presidents of the two countries, China-Indonesia relations have maintained a momentum of robust growth, with close high-level exchanges, deepening strategic mutual trust."
"Next year marks the 80th anniversary of Indonesia's independence and the 75th anniversary of China-Indonesia diplomatic ties. This presents important opportunities for our two countries' respective growth and bilateral relations," Mao said.
"China stands ready to work with Indonesia, follow the strategic guidance of the two presidents, focus on building a community with a shared future, and keep deepening strategic cooperation on all fronts," Mao said.
Retno's visit follows the first Senior Officials' Meeting of the China-Indonesia Joint Foreign and Defense Ministerial Dialogue in Jakarta on August 13. It also continues recent high-level interactions between the two countries aimed at enhancing coordination, boosting political and security trust, and advancing a China-Indonesia community with a shared future, analysts said.
Ge Hongliang, vice dean of the ASEAN College at the Guangxi Minzu University, said while ASEAN prioritizes infrastructure connectivity and economic recovery this year, Indonesia, as a leading ASEAN member and one that supports China-ASEAN cooperation, will also address industrial chain stability and regional security.
China and Indonesia have established a comprehensive high-level mechanism covering various areas, including people-to-people exchanges, economy, politics, defense, and security, said Ge, stressing that this framework deepens understanding and strengthens their bilateral relations, ensuring stable and long-term development.
Few people had foreseen a Chinese athlete could finish in the top three in an Ironman Triathlon European Championship. However, 36-year-old Miao Hao has proved it is possible.
The final moments of the race on June 2 in Hamburg, Germany saw Miao collapse from sheer exhaustion before crawling across the finish line. Despite the grueling conclusion, Miao's achievement was nothing short of spectacular.
With a time of 7 hours, 58 minutes and 4 seconds, he not only claimed third place overall but also became the first Asian to break the eight-hour barrier in an Ironman Triathlon race, improving his personal best by a remarkable 20 minutes.
Reflecting on his experience, Miao spoke modestly about his achievement.
"At the 16-kilometer mark of the marathon, I reached my physical limit as my vision blurred, my face and hands went numb, and I couldn't focus on running or the race anymore," Miao told the Global Times.
It was the words of his coach, reminding him that it was possible to break the 8-hour mark that pushed him forward under such conditions.
"I have tried countless times… I do not want to waste an opportunity when it emerges," Miao said.
Enduring 'Ironman'
The Ironman Triathlon, often referred to as the ultimate test of human endurance, consists of a 3.8-kilometer swim in open water, a 180-kilometer bike ride and a full marathon of 42.195 kilometers.
It is a grueling event that pushes athletes to their physical and mental limits as it is far beyond the requirements of an Olympic triathlon distance which consists of 1.5 kilometers' swim, 40 kilometers' cycling and 10 kilometers' running.
A year earlier, Miao had set his personal best and Chinese Ironman record at the same course, finishing in 8 hours, 19 minutes and 12 seconds. This familiarity with the course and a newfound confidence were crucial advantages.
But believing that the familiarity with the race course is the main reason for his achievement ignores his meticulous preparations for the achievement.
Although Miao excelled in swimming thanks to his past experience as a swimming athlete before taking on triathlon, his cycling ability lagged behind his European counterparts', and his lower body strength needed improvement.
"My swimming experience helps me save the stamina for the rest of the race as swimming remains the minor part of the 226 kilometers race," Miao said.
"Though I think my cycling is among the top level domestically, other international triathletes are far better than us!"
To address these weaknesses, Miao dedicated his winter training to enhancing his cycling endurance, extending his sessions from two to four hours while adjusting his mechanics for a better performance.
Miao's determination stemmed from the Ironman World Championship in Nice, France, where a result was far from satisfying. He said he just does not want to have the same feeling again.
"I used to dodge issues when they emerged, which often created extra mental pressure for me," Miao said of his mind-set change. "Instead of internalizing negative emotions, I channel my energy into training and improvement."
Dang Qi, a Chinese triathlon pioneer, said there are around 20 athletes worldwide who could finish an Ironman Triathlon in under 8 hours, thus Miao's breakthrough is phenomenal.
"Finishing an Ironman race is already a big challenge," Dang said. "Miao's achievement is quite an inspiring story for Chinese triathlon." Balancing training and life
Miao's story is not just one of athletic achievement but also of balancing personal and family life.
He once tried to work in an office but the stint, as he calls it, was not what he genuinely liked. Thus, he decided to pursue a career as a professional triathlete in 2019.
"I felt I hadn't reached my limit," he explained.
Transitioning from a regular triathlete to a much-enduring professional triathlete is no easy feat.
It requires Miao to independently manage his training schedules diet, and the delicate balance between family time and training.
"There is no precedent standard, no reference in China. It was quite difficult in the beginning," he admitted.
Juggling the demands of training with family responsibilities, especially with a new born kid at the time, added to the complexity.
"Being a professional triathlete forces me to balance work and life as I have to allocate time to manage different things," he said.
Reading training-related books during his rest time helps Miao better understand his body and improve his performance as he emphasizes the importance of understanding one's body and ensuring proper recovery.
Inspiring future generations
Miao's passion for Ironman extends beyond personal achievement, as he is committed to promoting and spreading the sport in China.
His transition from an amateur athlete to a professional triathlete has been inspiring, and he said he hopes to inspire others to embrace the sport.
"The sport is gaining recognition, and its development in China is promising," he said.
Miao hopes to continue competing and improving, aiming for better results at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. "Seven hours and 58 minutes is just the beginning. I believe it will get better," he affirmed.
For those aspiring to follow in his footsteps, Miao encourages them joining local clubs to benefit from collective activities, reducing the risk of injury and ensuring safety, especially during open water swims.
"This is a humble community," he said, emphasizing the importance of humility and mutual support.
"There is nothing insurmountable in life. If you persevere, things will get better," he said.
Around 200 exquisitely dressed pet cats accompanied by their owners paid their first ever visits to an exhibition on ancient Egyptian civilization held in Shanghai on Saturday evening, a pioneering practice among comprehensive museums worldwide.
The exhibition named On Top of the Pyramid: The Civilization of Ancient Egypt, co-hosted by the Shanghai Museum and the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) of Egypt was opened at the Shanghai Museum on July 19, offering visitors an artistic feast from the ancient Egyptian civilization with 788 precious artifacts from Egypt to promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and Egypt. The exhibition will run through August of 2025.
In ancient Egypt, the best-known revered feline goddess Bastet with the head of a cat and the body of a woman, was regarded as a symbol of protection and spirituality. The ancient Egyptians’ worship of the cat goddess aligns with modern society’s love for cats.
Starting from July 27, the Shanghai Museum will host 10 special cat-friendly sessions, titled “Fantastic Night,” on Saturday nights, allowing visitors to bring their pet cats along, a pioneering practice among comprehensive museums worldwide. The 200 tickets of the first exhibition for visitors with pets were sold out in one second and all the tickets for a total of 10 cat-friendly exhibitions were sold out in one hour. Visitors from across the country with their fashionably outfitted pet cats gathered together at the Shanghai Museum to participate in the party thrown specially for cats, with over 400 newly unearthed artifacts from Saqqara, an important burial site in ancient Egypt, being exhibited for the first time worldwide.
The exhibition on ancient Egyptian civilization is divided into three sections, “The Land of the Pharaohs,” “The Secrets of Saqqara” and “The Age of Tutankhamun.” Cats are the highlight of “The Secrets of Saqqara” section presented at the second hall.
In 2020, groundbreaking archaeological findings at Saqqara, including the unearthed ruins of a temple dedicated to the revered cat goddess Bastet dating back to 600 BC and well-preserved relics from the subterranean tomb of the cat goddess priests, came among the top 10 archaeological discoveries in the world for the year 2020.
In addition to the cat goddess sculptures and other exhibits, the exhibition area also features a unique atmosphere created by cat-themed images projected on screens surrounding the walls. Visitors can take photos with their pet cats at a designated photo-taking area. A variety of cat-themed interactive devices are also provided at the exhibition section. Chu Xiaobo, head of the Shanghai Museum, said that since the exhibition features many artifacts related to the cat goddess, the museum took this opportunity to create various conditions to host the cat-themed activities. Chu said that the investment in labor, material and financial resources is worthwhile as long as visitors can experience a new way of visiting the museum, reported by the Shanghai Morning Post.
Chu added that the museum encourages more people to raise pets with civilized habits and advocate for a more inclusive mindset that embraces peaceful coexistence between pets and humans, working together to create a pet-friendly city.
Before the event, many people were concerned that cats might experience stress in public places and that various incidents might occur with so many cats in one space. However, almost all the cats were well-trained and are “social butterflies” in the feline world. They were not startled by large crowds and handled the bustling scenes with ease. According to the requirements of the museum, visitors with pets must obtain an immunization certificate for their cats from a certified veterinary hospital and present it upon entry. They should also bring their own cat carriers or pet strollers, as well as leashes and harnesses.
To ensure the event runs smoothly, the museum invited veterinarians, pet ambulances, surgeons and a pet management team to stand by on site. Museum staff have also received professional training related to cats.
Incomplete statistics show that Shanghai is home to over 1 million pet dogs and more than 1.2 million pet cats. As more and more pets enter urban public spaces, many public places have gradually become pet-friendly venues.
A domestically produced large aircraft C919 joins China Eastern Airlines' fleet in Shanghai on July 29, 2024. This is the third C919 aircraft that China Eastern Airlines received this year. The carrier now operates a fleet of seven C919 aircraft, making it the largest global operator of the plane. Photo: Courtesy of China Eastern Airlines
In the Arctic, where no trouble exists, the US busies itself with imagined concerns. The US' most skilled trick is to "cry wolf" in peaceful regions, especially when promoting the "China threat theory." The US' ultimate goal is to become the hegemonic power in every region of the world.
The 2024 Arctic Strategy released by the US Department of Defense states that "The People's Republic of China (PRC), which remains DOD's pacing challenge, seeks increasing access and influence in the Arctic." The cooperation between China and another "threat" - Russia - has "implications for the security of the US and our allies and partners." Therefore, the US believes that Finland and Sweden joining NATO is historic, bringing all like-minded Arctic states into NATO and providing and presenting new opportunities for collaboration and cooperation. In short, the US is demonizing China and Russia, forming alliances to dominate the Arctic.
"The Arctic will become one of the most important global energy channels in the future," said Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University. The 2024 Arctic Strategy mentions that "the Arctic may experience its first practically ice-free summer by 2030, and the loss of sea ice will increase the viability of Arctic maritime transit routes and access to undersea resources."
The warning issued by the US about the China and Russia threat in the Arctic is also because it fears that China and Russia will completely control the Arctic, a key future global energy channel, weakening the US' hegemonic position in the overall global strategy. The Arctic region is also an important area for the US to strengthen alliances through creating crises and chaos, which it cannot overlook, Li added.
From the perspective of energy development, and military strategy, the Arctic has a fatal attraction for the US, and its hegemonic power cannot ignore the Arctic.
The US, plagued by internal problems, does not have enough energy to face several global challenges, including the Arctic. Therefore, the US chooses to seek more allies who can "work" for its hegemonic power. Since Finland and Sweden joined NATO, except for Russia, the other seven countries of the Arctic Council are all NATO members. "The US wants to confront Russia through the other seven Arctic Council member countries, so the US is worried that China will help Russia confront them," a military expert told the Global Times. The US wants to share responsibility and risks, and ultimately achieve global hegemony.
However, this global hegemon shamelessly hides its selfish motives behind a seemingly "noble" purpose.
The US Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hick said, "Our Arctic strategy will guide the Department's efforts to ensure that the Arctic remains a secure and stable region." The Pentagon's report also states that US forces "must be ready and equipped to mitigate the risks associated with potential contingencies in the Arctic."
In fact, the US' increasing presence in the Arctic is strengthening the likelihood of conflicts in the region. This is a form of rhetoric used to reduce the likelihood of conflict through words but enhance its presence in the region. For the US, the more conflicts there are, the stronger its alliance system. Regional competition crises are in line with the US hegemonic strategic needs. The US has always prioritized its hegemonic demands over the security interests of other countries and regions, a stance it has never changed.
China's research in the Arctic and cooperation with Russia have never had any exclusive arrangements with undisclosed purposes, nor have they been linked to military security. Currently, Chinese companies have become important shareholders in Russian Arctic energy and infrastructure construction, waterway development and utilization, scientific research, and exploration. Looking at the initial achievements of China-Russia Arctic cooperation, both sides have been promoting it according to market-oriented and transparent standards. China's Arctic Policy in 2018 has long been clear, emphasizing that "China's policy goals on the Arctic are: to understand, protect, develop and participate in the governance of the Arctic, so as to safeguard the common interests of all countries and the international community in the Arctic, and promote sustainable development of the Arctic."
China and Russia's cooperation should not and will not be affected by the hysteria of hegemonic countries. Instead, all reasonable cooperation between China and Russia will be viewed by the US as a "threat."
The Arctic's climate, environment, and ecosystem are ultimately challenges faced by all countries in the world, and the global challenges will not slow down or weaken due to geopolitical struggles in some countries. Instead of fabricating a "China and Russia threat in the Arctic," it is better to focus on how to govern the Arctic. The Arctic belongs to the whole world, not to any one or a few countries as a private garden.
SAIC Anji Splendor, a second world's largest clean energy-powered ro-ro vessel built by the China State Shipbuilding Group, was handed over to SAIC Motor Corp on Tuesday, forming a dual-vessel fleet in promoting China's cars exports.
The vessel will reportedly set sail on Thursday to Europe by stopping at Lianyungang in East China's Jiangsu Province carrying China-made cars, and forming a regular dual-vessel fleet with its operating sister vessel SAIC Anji Sincerity on the China-Europe shipment route, the China News Agency reported.
The newly delivered ro-ro vessel has total length of 200 meters, width of 38 meters and height as 13-floor-building. It has 7,600 parking slots and over 40,000 tons of displacement, said the company on Wednesday.
From January to June this year, China's car exports totaled 2.793 million units, increased by 30.5 percent year-on-year. Among them, new-energy vehicle exports reached 605,000 units, an increase of 13.2 percent year-on-year, data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers revealed.
Multiple Chinese automakers are mapping out their own plans for global car transporting networks to meet the rising demand.
The SAIC Anji Logistics has formed a global fleet comprising with 32 car carriers and is operating seven international routes to Southeast Asia, Mexico, west coast of South America and Europe, the company said.
On July 10, 2024, COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers CO's first batch of LNG dual-fuel powered ro-ro vessel set sail from Xiamen in East China's Fujian Province, transporting about 4,800 cars produced by BAIC Group, BYD and Chery to Europe, empowering global green transition, according to the China Media Group.
Despite Western attempts to downplay China's economic prospects, the country is resolutely forging ahead with its ambitious reform agenda, following the just-concluded third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. The plenum outlined a detailed roadmap for China's economic trajectory over the next decade, aiming to further deepen reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization and counter biased narratives through substantial achievements.
In an exclusive interview with Global Times reporter Ma Tong (GT), Alexander Lomanov (Lomanov), deputy director for scientific work at Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations, Russian Academy of Sciences, emphasized the resilience of the Chinese economy despite increasing external pressures and underscored the crucial role of CPC leadership in ensuring the success of the country's reforms.
GT: According to your observations on China, how do you assess the significance of the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee for China's economic development and reform over the next decade, particularly amid increasing global uncertainty and China's ongoing economic transformation and upgrades?
Lomanov: The plenum was held against the background of a positive economic outlook. China's economy will grow by at least 5 percent this year. The problem is how to extend this favorable trend of sustainable growth for a long period. The key topic of the plenum was the discussion of the main economic policies that can lead China to build a high-standard socialist market economy by 2035.
The external environment for China's economic development has deteriorated. The outside pressure is increasing. This is an unfavorable situation that cannot be ignored. It is necessary to acknowledge that the Western developed countries will continue the policy of protectionism, destruction of production chains, and creation of technological barriers. The causes of decline in the inflow of foreign investment are rooted not so much in the economy as in the West's policy of unhealthy competition and containment.
In the forthcoming decade, China will have to combine the policy of protection of national economic security with maintaining a high degree of openness to the outside world. It is obvious that China will have to develop key advanced industries and scientific innovations on its own without relying too much on foreign resources, but also without refusing to use them. China will have to improve its global competitiveness. For this purpose, it will be necessary to create new technologies and new production facilities, and to ensure the inflow of investment.
GT: How do you evaluate the role of CPC's leadership and institutional advantages in China's economic achievements and their contribution to further development?
Lomanov: The CPC's policies have ensured the success of economic reforms. Now this success must be protected from unfavorable external influences. The CPC's ability to correctly assess the situation in the economy, proceed from the interests of the people and defend these interests with all its strength is particularly important. Only a unified centralized leadership of the CPC will make it possible to organically combine national security and economic development without mutual conflict between these goals.
There is a lot of talk in the West about how to reduce the "overcapacity" of the Chinese economy. In fact, it is a question of how to stop China's development and limit the presence of Chinese products in world markets in order to protect the West's economic dominance. Some foreign experts frankly say that the more success China achieves in mastering new technologies and creating new industries, the more pressure the West will apply.
The West is misguided and will ultimately harm its own economy. However, it should be assumed that this policy toward China will not change in the coming years. Rather, it is likely to continue with modifications over the coming decade. China has no unlimited resources and no margin for strategic error. Therefore, the top-level design in economic policy, which only the CPC leadership can provide, is very important.
GT: What is your take on the plenum's role in advancing Chinese modernization and reinforcing confidence in its economic development?
Lomanov: To formulate updated priorities for economic development, new breakthroughs in reform theory will be required. To guarantee the successful advancement of Chinese modernization, the legal institutions of the market economy will need to be strengthened. They are the key source of business confidence and activity.
The main aspects of Chinese modernization remain unchanged. These are ensuring material prosperity and cultural advancement for a huge population, and maintaining a reasonable balance between economic development and environmental priorities. Despite growing pressure from the West, we can be sure that China will never use war and neocolonial plunder as instruments of its development. However, if China wants to modernize, it will need to increase its willingness to fight for its legitimate national interests.
The long-term success of Chinese modernization is linked to the trend of multipolarization of the world. China's economic development creates favorable prerequisites for the creation of a new type of international relations based on the principles of equality and mutual respect, free from intimidation and pressure. China needs to expand the circle of new partners that are ready to cooperate under these principles.
It will not be easy to remain committed to a policy of openness to the outside world in a situation where other countries are "decoupling" from China behind high fences. China needs to continue to move forward on the path of reform to address this challenge.
