"A bridge will fly to span the north and south, turning a deep chasm into a thoroughfare."
Since ancient times, bridges have had a profound significance for Chinese people.
Today, China's bridge construction technology is bolstered by independent core technologies and advanced equipment, making these bridges not only dazzling landmarks of national infrastructure but also representatives of the economic leap and technological confidence of the Chinese path to modernization.
Recently, the "Traditional design and practices for building Chinese wooden arch bridges" was inscribed onto the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. China's ancient bridge building wisdom of "bridges over water, corridors on bridges, and an integration of the two" has astonished the world.
After years of learning, innovation, and practice, China has developed a complete set of technology and domestically produced equipment to meet the design, construction, and manufacturing needs for crossing mountains, seas, and entering cities. The scale and technical level of these projects are world-leading, signifying China's advancement in bridge construction.
On Wednesday, after more than four years of construction, the Huangmaohai Cross-Sea Passage opened to traffic. With a length of 31 kilometers, it ranks among China's 10 longest cross-sea passages, linking Zhuhai City and Jiangmen City in South China's Guangdong Province.
In the Yangtze River Delta, the cross-sea connectivity has hit the "accelerate" button for development. A bridge connecting eight islands of the Zhoushan Islands in East China's Zhejiang Province was fully completed and opened in 2021.
Meanwhile, the 29.2-kilometer-long Hangzhou Bay Cross-Sea Railway Bridge is under construction and will be the world's longest cross-sea high-speed railway bridge upon completion.
These bridges have also driven the rise of previously economically weaker regions, greatly improving people's quality of life.
Guizhou Province, the only province in China without a plain, has broken through the transportation bottlenecks constraining its economic and social development in recent years by building roads over mountains and bridges over waters, constructing a "high-speed plain" among its lofty mountains and ridges.
Currently, Guizhou boasts over 30,000 bridges, both completed and under construction, encompassing nearly every bridge type. It is known as the "World's Bridge Museum." Among the world's 100 tallest bridges, 51 are in Guizhou, including four in the top 10, according to Xinhua News Agency.
For example, after the completion of the Zangke River Bridge that straddles the Zangke River in April 2024, the travel time between its two banks will be reduced from one hour to one minute.
In addition, the magnificent scenery of these bridges has boosted tourism. Some areas have developed a series of activities around their bridges, such as high-altitude swings, rapid descent experiences, and skywalks, attracting a large number of tourists and enabling locals to benefit from tourism.
Global South countries are no longer marginalized "poor partners," but have emerged as major forces in global development and reliable partners for China, Tang Xiaoyang, a professor in the Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University, spoke during a session on "The Resurgence of the Awakening of the Global South: Mutual Learning and Resonance" of the Global Times Annual Conference 2025, themed "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World," held in Beijing on Saturday.
The scholar emphasized that in the past two years, the rise of Global South countries marks a turning point in world history. According to statistical data, the combined GDP of the original five BRICS nations, when calculated based on purchasing power parity, exceeded that of the Group of Seven (G7).
In 2023, China's total exports to ASEAN, Africa, BRICS nations, and Central Asian countries surpassed its exports to traditional developed nations such as the US, Japan and in Europe. This indicates that Global South countries have transitioned from being marginalized "poor partners" to becoming major players in global development and reliable partners for China.
Looking ahead to 2025, Tang believes that the development trajectory of Global South countries will primarily focus on economic growth while also emphasizing political and cultural advancement.
He pointed out that the reason Global South countries have come to be recognized as such is due to the tension between promoting globalization and maintaining an autonomous political concept. This autonomy underscores the importance of preserving independence and self-determination within global connections, thereby achieving genuine self-development against the backdrop of globalization.
Tang emphasized that China's economy not only serves as a model for development experiences globally, but also acts as a stabilizer and engine for the world economy. The new task lies in how China can drive the development of Global South countries and foster shared ideals amid the political diversification within the Global South.
In response to an inquiry regarding claim by the Taiwan island's "defense ministry" that it had received 38 advanced Abrams battle tanks from the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday that there is no such a thing as the so-called "defense ministry" in Taiwan. Lin added that China firmly opposes military ties between the US and the Taiwan island, opposes US arms sales to the island, stressing that China's position on this remains consistent and clear.
in also urged the US to adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, especially the August 17 Communique, and to stop arming the Taiwan island or supporting "Taiwan independence" forces in their attempts to seek independence through military means.
Lin pointed out that the island of Taiwan authorities' attempts to "seek independence through military means" and "rely on foreign forces for independence" are doomed to fail. He emphasized that China will firmly safeguard its national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
The first batch of US-made M1A2T tanks sold to the Taiwan island reportedly arrived in Taipei on Sunday following the arrival of accessory equipment of the tanks in Kaohsiung on Friday, but a military expert from Chinese mainland said the tanks, trumpeted by media on the island as "the most powerful combat vehicle on the ground," are too bulky and heavy for island combat and will only serve as easy targets for drones and attack helicopters.
China's new-generation manned launch vehicle, the Long March-10 carrier rocket, will enhance the country's lunar transfer orbit payload capacity from 8.2 tonnes to 27 tonnes, according to Long Lehao, a rocket designer at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).
Long March-10 is being developed to launch new-generation manned spacecraft and landers for China's lunar landing program, said Long, who is also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
Its development is progressing in an orderly manner, and it has completed its first-stage power system tests, he noted.
Based on the Long March-10, a series of derived configurations for manned and cargo missions to the country's space station can be developed for the station's operational tasks and to meet the launch requirements of various satellites, he said.
He also revealed that the Long March-9 carrier rocket, a future heavy-lift launch vehicle, will have a diameter of 10.6 meters and a height of approximately 114 meters. It will have a lunar transfer orbit payload capacity of 50 tonnes.
Powered by liquid oxygen and methane as cryogenic propellants, the Long March-9 can be used to launch manned Mars missions in the future, Long said.
He noted that both stages of the Long March-9 will be fully reusable, and have been designed to be recovered at sea.
An animated CALT video screened at the recent 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition shows the reusable rocket's first stage deploying grid fins during its descent, which then allow the structure to be captured by moving rails on an offshore platform. It also shows the second stage performing a powered vertical landing.
The development of the heavy-lift carrier rocket will provide strong impetus for the progress of related basic industries, including advanced design, high-end manufacturing, raw materials and components, Long said.
Harmony, or "He," lies at the heart of the Chinese civilization, representing a core spiritual value that has shaped the ethos of the Chinese nation.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, has repeatedly emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting China's outstanding traditional culture, with harmony as one of its most essential elements. At the BRICS Summit held in Kazan in late October, he extended this philosophy on the global stage, calling for harmonious coexistence among civilizations and closer cultural exchanges between nations.
In China, the value of "He" is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture, guiding the country through a complex, interconnected world. The Global Times is launching a series "He Culture in Xi Jinping's Quotes of Classics." Drawing upon ancient Chinese literature and illuminating examples from President Xi's speeches, the series delves into the essence of "He" through five interconnected dimensions: Self-cultivation, family management, state governance, bringing peace to all under heaven, and reverence for nature. By highlighting these core aspects of "He" culture, the series aims to share China's unique cultural wisdom with the world, promoting values of peaceful coexistence, mutual prosperity, and harmonious living.
The first installment reveals how grass-roots Party members in Henan practice the wisdom of "He" culture, which emphasizes the importance of self-cultivation and self-improvement.
Every time Meng Fanyu, a teacher at the Jiao Yulu Executive Leadership Academy (Jiao Yulu Academy) in Lankao county, Central China's Henan Province, strolls past a paulownia tree called "Jiao Tong," planted by Jiao, she recalls President Xi's thought-provoking words: "jian xian si qi," an ancient Chinese idiom from The Analects of Confucius.
In 2014, during his inspection tour to Lankao, the president visited a memorial dedicated to Jiao Yulu (1922-64), a revered figure in Chinese history who served as the Party chief of Lankao county in the early 1960s, where he devoted his life to improving environment and uplifting the lives of local residents despite great physical suffering from illness, leaving an indelible mark on the community before his passing due to live cancer at just 42.
When speaking at a symposium with local officials, Xi urged Party members and officials to use Jiao's spirit as a mirror to examine their problems and shortcomings, and called on them to emulate Jiao's unwavering dedication, citing the Chinese idiom - "jian xian si qi," which means "When you see a person of virtue and capability, you should think of emulating and equaling the person; when you see a person of low caliber, you should reflect on your own weak points."
This idiom reflects the philosophy of China's "He" culture, emphasizing the importance of self-cultivation and self-improvement and the harmonious unity between the individual and the self.
The idiom's lesson resonates deeply within Meng, reminding her to inherit the spirit of Jiao Yulu, which involves loving people, working hard, selflessness, empiricism, and resilience.
Here, at the Jiao Yulu Academy, more and more people like Meng, are striving to inherit Jiao's spirit, consolidate their ideals and convictions, gain wisdom, improve conduct, and be more motivated to work even harder.
The spirit of Jiao
Meng was first greatly moved by the deeds and spirit of Jiao during her university years, when her broadcasting teacher asked her to study and read a long-form feature about Jiao, along with a poem written by Xi, then secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, in 1990 to commemorate him.
Under the silvery moonlight of a summer night in 1990, Xi, felt emotional. "Who, among the common folks, does not appreciate a good public servant?" Xi then penned a heartfelt poem dedicated to the official. It was carried on a local newspaper the next day, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Meng immersed herself into reading the piece and was struck by Jiao's noble spirit as a grass-roots CPC member, who led the locals to overcome various natural disasters, all while enduring his own suffering from illness. After that, Meng did not hesitate to choose to intern at the Jiao Yulu Academy, and later formally became a teacher at the academy after graduation.
For the Lankao natives, Jiao is not only a respected role model, but also a beloved figure.
Zhang Jing, who has been working at the academy for over 10 years, was born and raised in Lankao. Zhang's early impressions of Jiao came from the stories her grandmother told her when she was a child. During heavy rain, while others rushed indoors to seek shelter, Jiao would go outside, wade through the water to check on each household, to see if their roofs were leaking or if their homes had collapsed.
"My grandmother always told me that Lankao had a good official named Jiao Yulu," Zhang said.
As a main platform for researching and promoting the spirit of Jiao Yulu nationwide, the Jiao Yulu Academy primarily offers Party spirit education courses for CPC officials at all levels, managers of enterprises and institutions, and professional technical personnel, according to Wen Baisong, deputy secretary of the Party committee and executive vice president of the academy.
With an important education mission, the academy has a group of young teaching staff. Nearly 95 percent of its current body of 115 teaching staffers are aged 35 and below, said Wen. Many of the young teachers chose to leave behind opportunities in big cities after graduation to come to Lankao county, dedicating themselves to promoting Jiao's spirit.
"The young teachers are the fresh blood of our academy - enthusiastic, creative, and hardworking," Wen told Global Times. "They have been deeply influenced by the spirit of Jiao Yulu since childhood, and most of them possess high academic qualifications and a solid knowledge base, enabling them to passionately and effectively convey the essence of Jiao's spirit," he praised.
Mirror for endeavors "Jiao built a lasting monument in local people's hearts although he only worked in the county for over a year," Xi told local officials at the symposium.
"A question to be pondered is what we can leave for future generations," Xi said.
Since its establishment in 2013, young teachers at the academy have made great contributions to the innovation and diversity of the courses. Meng, for instance, teaches "Remembering Jiao Yulu," during which students take on various roles related to Jiao, such as his colleagues, family members, and the local people of Lankao, to recreate his image from different perspectives.
Zhang Hong, 35, is a developer of themed lectures at the academy. One day, Zhang Hong brought a group of students to Jiao's memorial park in Lankao to pay their respects to Jiao. Before they returned to the bus, Zhang noticed that one student had turned back to Jiao's tomb, bowing deeply three times and placing flowers from a paulownia tree - now widely regarded as a symbol of the spirit of Jiao Yulu - at the grave.
"She said she wanted to bring this spirit back into her life and work, making it a mirror for her professional endeavors, and a powerful motivation for her to strive for self-cultivation," Zhang told the Global Times.
Serve the people
For the young teachers at Jiao Yulu Academy, Jiao serves as a mirror of self-examination in their work and life. He not only inspires them to wholeheartedly engage in Party spirit education, but also encourages them to continue to draw motivation from the spirit of hard work and selfless dedication after class, enabling them to better serve the people.
In 2022, Zhang Jing voluntarily signed up for a program, which required grass-roots officials to live in rural areas and work on local poverty alleviation efforts. Reflecting on a family in the village she then worked at, which had two senior members with disabilities living in poor conditions, brought Zhang Jing to tears.
"At that moment, I truly felt the profound impact of the spirit of Jiao Yulu on me," she said, her voice trembling. "I thought to myself, if I don't do something for them, I would feel extremely guilty." Later, with the support of the academy, Zhang Jing and other members of the program gifted the family a television, as well as food items like rice, oil, meat, and eggs. They also purchased a batch of wireless radios for the village, trying hard to offer a helping hand.
"The essence of the spirit of Jiao Yulu is to serve the people wholeheartedly. It embodies a sense of responsibility and a deep emotional commitment," Zhang Jing told the Global Times. "It has been deeply engraved in my heart."
For years, the paulownia tree that Jiao Yulu planted, located right across from the Jiao Yulu Academy, has witnessed countless visitors, who come with admiration or curiosity for the exemplary qualities of the CPC and its members.
Standing under this "Jiao Tong," Meng feels that she and some other young teachers at the academy are just like the trumpet-shaped flowers of the tree. "We are like the little 'trumpets' on the tree, spreading the story of Jiao, and the story of the CPC, to the world," she told the Global Times.
Year after year, countless Party members and officials gather with reverence beneath the paulownia tree to honor Jiao, drawing inspiration from this exemplary figure to enhance their own self-cultivation. The wisdom of emulating the virtuous, a key element of China's "He" Culture, is also deeply embedded in the soil of Lankao, much like the robust and flourishing "Jiao Tong" that stands tall.
China on Tuesday urged the US not to take China's goodwill for granted and work to ensure that the hard-won positive dynamics will stay in the China-US counternarcotics cooperation, noting that China remains ready to continue counternarcotics cooperation with the US on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect.
The remarks by a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry were made in response to a query for comments on claims by US President-elect Donald Trump on social media that he "had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States—But to no avail… and drugs are pouring into our country." The US will be charging China an additional 10 percent tariff on all Chinese imports.
The spokesperson noted that China is one of the world's toughest countries on counternarcotics both in terms of policy and its implementation. Fentanyl is an issue for the US. In the spirit of humanity, China has given support to the US's response to this issue. As early as in 2019, China officially scheduled all fentanyl-related substances and is the first country in the world ever to do so.
China has carried out extensive and in-depth counternarcotics cooperation with the US, which has been highly productive. This is a clear fact for all to see, the spokesperson stressed.
President-elect Donald Trump threatened on Monday to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. He said he would impose a 25 percent tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10 percent tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders, the Associated Press reported.
"Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America," he wrote on his Truth Social site.
In response to the remarks, a Chinese embassy spokesperson in Washington told the Global Times in an emailed reply that "About the issue of US tariffs on China, China believes that China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature. No one will win a trade war or a tariff war."
The counternarcotics authorities of China and the US have resumed regular communication since the San Francisco Summit. The Chinese side has notified the US side of the progress made in US-related law enforcement operations against narcotics. China has responded to US request for verifying clues on certain cases and taken action, the spokesperson told the Global Times.
All these prove that the idea of China knowingly allowing fentanyl precursors to flow into the US runs completely counter to facts and reality, the spokesperson noted.
'Threat to all'
After Trump's remarks, officials from Mexico and Canada expressed concerns about the potential 25 percent tariff.
According to a report by The Canadian Press on Tuesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford posted on social media that a 25-percent tariff would be devastating to workers and jobs in both Canada and the US.
Earlier on Monday, Canada's premiers called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to hold an urgent first ministers' meeting ahead of Trump's return to office, the report said.
Ricardo Monreal, a member of Mexico's Chamber of Deputies, or the lower house, said on X in Spanish that the imposition of a possible tariff on Mexican products goes against the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement and does not solve the common problems of the US-Mexico border. We urge the use of bilateral institutional mechanisms to combat human, drug and arms trafficking, he said.
An escalation of trade retaliation would only hurt people's wallets, far from solving fundamental problems. This measure would cause severe damage to the economy and people of North America, he added.
"US' 'tariff stick' doesn't distinguish between allies or non-allies, and the US government uses tariffs as a bargaining chip or as a means to get the results it wanted," Gao Lingyun, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Moreover, using counternarcotics issues to increase tariffs on Chinese goods is untenable and unpersuasive, as China has the best control against narcotics in the world, and it has been working closely with the US on this issue, Gao added.
"As long as there is a [trade] deficit with the US, the country will raise tariffs, regardless of alliances or trade agreements," He Weiwen, a senior fellow from the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Tuesday, noting that solving trade problems through tariffs is a wrong proposition.
According to a Reuters report, US shoppers could lose up to $78 billion in annual spending power annually if Trump's new tariffs proposal on imports is implemented, a study from the National Retail Federation showed.
He Weiwen said the US' protectionist move will pose a great threat to the global normal trade, and will also undermine the rules of multilateral free trade in the world.
In addition, it will lead to the rise of global trade protectionism, disrupting the normal functioning of industrial and supply chains, Gao said.
"We can wait and see what policies the incoming US administration will adopt," He Weiwen said.
China's resilience
"China already has a template for dealing with the previous US tariff policy. The Chinese government has ample and targeted policy tools to deal with external shocks," Gao said, noting that China's stable economic development provides a solid foundation.
China's economy has demonstrated strong resilience, great potential and vitality. China is building the new economic development pattern of "dual circulation" with the domestic market as the mainstay and the domestic and overseas markets reinforcing each other. We are capable of resolving and withstanding the impact of external shocks, Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen said at a press conference on Friday in response to a question regarding the impact of US' potential 60 percent tariff hit on Chinese imports.
Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, said that China's foreign trade and economy have significant advantages and new dynamics, including tech innovation, digital economy and green economy.
He Weiwen noted that as globalization is irreversible, China has systematically reduced its vulnerability to US' pressure through a comprehensive trade diversification strategy and domestic market development. Moreover, despite the US government's suppression, China-US supply chain is interdependent, and the market will decide.
Wang Shouwen, the Chinese commerce official, also said that history has shown that raising tariffs on Chinese goods cannot resolve the tariff-imposing country's trade deficit; instead, it leads to higher prices for imported products and inflation, with the burden ultimately falling on consumers.
The Chinese and US economies are highly complementary, Wang Shouwen said, emphasizing the critical importance of their relations. Maintaining balanced, healthy and sustainable economic and trade relations would benefit not only people of both sides but also people from all countries around the world, he said, adding this is in line with the expectations of the international community.
In response to a question on reports that China and the US have mutually released several individuals who were serving sentences, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday that with the persistent efforts of the Chinese government, the three Chinese citizens, who were wrongfully detained by the US, have safely returned to their homeland.
"This once again proves that China will never abandon its citizens. China will always be their strong support," Mao said at a routine press briefing.
Mao emphasized that China has always firmly opposed the US government's political persecution of Chinese citizens, and will continue to take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens.
Mao also noted that a fugitive who had been on the run in the US for many years has been sent back to China. "This shows that no one can escape justice forever and there is no safe haven."
The Chinese government will continue its efforts to pursue fugitives and recover stolen assets, and will never stop until fugitives are brought to justice, said Mao.
China's State Council Information Office on Friday released a white paper titled "China's Rural Roads in the New Era" to introduce the achievements and vision of rural road development in the new era and to share China's experience.
The total length of rural roads reached 4.6 million km by the end of 2023, an increase of 21.7 percent over 2013, enough to circle the equator 115 times, the white paper said.
So far, the country has put in place a rural transport infrastructure network in which county roads connect rural and urban areas, township roads crisscross, and village roads facilitate travel between households and farmland, it said.
According to the white paper, the construction and development of rural roads provides strong support for the comprehensive development of the rural economy and society in China.
Better transport has cleared bottlenecks that had long delayed economic and social development in poor areas, and has laid a solid foundation for rural people to realize moderate prosperity in all respects, it said.
China has shared its development experience and helped construct rural road infrastructure in other developing countries over the years, contributing substantially to poverty reduction, people's wellbeing and sustainable global development, the white paper noted.
Since 2018, China has supported 24 developing countries including Cambodia, Serbia, Rwanda, Namibia, Vanuatu and Niger in highway and bridge construction and maintenance, helping them improve transport infrastructure, according to the white paper.
The Fifth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers' Meeting, chaired by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, was held on Sunday in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province. Together with the foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries, he reviewed the implementation of the outcomes of the inaugural China-Central Asia Summit and conducted in-depth discussions on preparations for the second summit, scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan next year. The meeting enhanced mutual trust and friendship and clarified the direction for future work.
After the meeting, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, together with the foreign ministers of the five countries, summarized the outcomes and consensus of the discussions during a joint press conference.
Wang emphasized maintaining leadership by heads of state to strengthen the China-Central Asia mechanism. This involves continuing to implement the consensus reached at the China-Central Asia Summit held in Xi'an and advancing China-Central Asia cooperation. They expressed support for Kazakhstan in hosting the summit next year and agreed to begin the process of signing a joint declaration, action plan for high-quality joint construction of Belt and Road initiative, a Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation among China and Central Asian countries, and other key cooperation documents. The meeting also aimed to shape a "China-Central Asia Spirit" based on the shared ideas and values developed during long-term cooperation.
Wang also stressed the importance of modernization goals and deepening comprehensive cooperation. This includes strengthening development strategy alignment, prioritizing trade, industrial investment, connectivity, green minerals, agricultural modernization, and people-to-people exchanges. Cooperation in areas such as application of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, poverty alleviation, desertification management, and higher education will also be expanded. China is committed to increasing cooperation with Central Asian countries and establishing platforms for exchange.
The ministers also agreed on shared security responsibilities to maintain regional peace and stability. The parties will implement the Global Security Initiative, jointly combat the "three forces" - terrorism, separatism and extremism, oppose external forces interfering in the internal affairs of Central Asian countries, oppose creating chaos and instability in Central Asia, and support peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan.
In addition, the ministers emphasized cultural exchange and fostering lasting friendship between generations. They will continue to implement the Global Civilization Initiative, enhance exchanges on governance, accelerate the construction of cultural centers and Luban workshops, and expand cooperation in education, local governance, healthcare, and personnel training. In the next three years, China will provide 1,500 training slots and 600 additional scholarships to Central Asian countries.
Moreover, they reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and defending international fairness and justice. The parties will continue to strengthen coordination in international and regional affairs, promote solidarity among the Global South, oppose decoupling and "small yard, high fences" in any form, and support an equal, orderly, multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization.
They also pledged full support for China's chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and its efforts to promote new developments within the organization. They also agreed to jointly promote the correct historical view of World War II and safeguard its outcomes to protect hard-won peace and security.
The China-Central Asia Summit was held in May, 2023 in the city of Xi'an, in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province. It was the first in-person gathering among the heads of state of China and the five Central Asian countries since China established diplomatic ties with them 31 years ago.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday said that China is ready to work with all parties to build a just world of common development, and outlined China's eight actions for global development.
Xi made the remarks at Session I of the 19th G20 Summit on Fight Against Hunger and Poverty.
In his speech entitled "Building a Just World of Common Development," Xi pointed out that transformation of a scale not seen in a century is accelerating across the world today, and humanity faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges.
As leaders of major countries, G20 leaders should not let their vision be blocked by fleeting clouds. Rather, they must see the world as one community with a shared future, and shoulder their responsibility for history, take historical initiative and move history forward, Xi said.
Xi noted that at the Hangzhou Summit, China placed development at the center of the G20's macroeconomic policy coordination for the first time, and the Rio Summit this year has chosen the theme "Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet," and decides to establish a Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.
From Hangzhou to Rio, G20 leaders have been working for one and the same goal, that is, to build a just world of common development, he added.
To build such a world, Xi said, it is important to channel more resources to such fields as trade, investment and development cooperation, and strengthen development institutions, and there should be more bridges of cooperation, and less "small yard, high fences," so that more and more developing countries will be better off and achieve modernization.
He said that it is important to support developing countries in adopting sustainable production and lifestyle, properly responding to challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution, enhancing ecological conservation, and achieving harmony between man and nature.
It is important to foster an open, inclusive and nondiscriminatory environment for international economic cooperation, promote a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, energize sustainable development with new technologies, new industries and new business forms, and support developing countries in better integrating in digital, smart and green development to bridge the North-South gap, he said.
It is also important to stay committed to multilateralism, and uphold the UN-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Xi added.
Xi underscored that China's development is an important part of the common development of the world.
China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty, and met the poverty reduction target of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ahead of schedule, he said, adding that these achievements are the fruit of the strenuous, unified efforts of the Chinese government and people.
Noting that China always places the people front and center, and solemnly declares that "not a single poor region or person should be left behind," Xi said China tackles poverty by making targeted policies, facilitating growth, fostering industries with distinctive features in various localities, and promoting common prosperity.
China's story is proof that developing countries can eliminate poverty, that a weaker bird can start early and fly high, when there is the endurance, perseverance, and striving spirit that enables water drops to penetrate rocks over time and turns blueprints into reality, he said.
If China can make it, other developing countries can make it too, and this is what China's battle against poverty says to the world, he added.
Xi stressed that China will always be a member of the Global South, a reliable long-term partner of fellow developing countries, and a doer and go-getter working for the cause of global development. China will go hand in hand with fellow developing countries toward modernization, he said.
Xi presented eight actions by China to support global development.
First, pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. China is moving ahead with the development of the multidimensional Belt and Road connectivity network, one that is led by the building of a green Silk Road and will empower a digital Silk Road.
Second, implementing the Global Development Initiative. China will make sure the Global South research center that is being built is fit for purpose, continue to support developing countries, and deepen practical cooperation in areas such as poverty reduction, food security and the digital economy.
Third, supporting development in Africa. At the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, China unveiled ten partnership actions on joining hands with Africa to advance modernization over the next three years and committed financial support in this connection.
Fourth, supporting international cooperation on poverty reduction and food security. China has decided to join the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. China supports the G20 in continuing to convene the Development Ministerial Meeting, and will stay a committed host of the International Conference on Food Loss and Waste.
Fifth, China, alongside Brazil, South Africa and the African Union, is proposing an Initiative on International Cooperation in Open Science to help the Global South gain better access to global advances in science, technology and innovation.
Sixth, supporting the G20 in carrying out practical cooperation for the benefit of the Global South. China supports the work of the Entrepreneurship Research Center on G20 Economies based in Beijing, and supports cooperation on digital education and the digitization of museums and ancient archives.
Seventh, implementing the G20 Anti-Corruption Action Plan. China is strengthening cooperation with fellow developing countries in fugitive repatriation and asset recovery, denial of safe haven, and anti-corruption capacity building.
Eighth, China is pursuing high-standard opening up, and unilaterally opening its doors wider to the least developed countries (LDCs). China has announced the decision to give all LDCs having diplomatic relations with China zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines.
In conclusion, Xi stated that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. China is ready to take steps together with all parties to build a just world of common development, leave poverty in the past, and turn vision into reality.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva chaired the meeting.
Before the start of the summit, Xi, together with other participating leaders, attended the launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty initiated by Brazil.
