The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the China Film Group Corporation jointly launched the 2024 Netherlands Film Festival in Beijing on September 12.
The film festival selected 10 high-quality Dutch films in recent years to show Chinese audiences the real and vivid social landscape of contemporary Netherlands and the unique Dutch customs and practices. All of these films are premiered in China.
The 10 films screened are from various genres, covering a wide range of topics including the inspirational growth of teenagers, the emotional expression of senior citizens, the social concern of vulnerable groups, and family education. The movies interpret the true meaning of "love" from multiple emotional aspects such as family, love, and friendship.
Arriving at the ceremony by bike, André Haspels, the Netherlands Ambassador to China, said that in both China and the Netherlands, bicycles are far more than just a means of transportation. They also symbolize sustainability, health, team spirit, and a common commitment to building an inclusive society.
After the opening film was screened, director Camiel Schouwenaar and screenwriter Job Tichelman also visited the scene to share wonderful behind-the-scenes stories. Many audiences expressed their love for the film and were touched by the real power of persisting in dreams.
The Film Festival will run until October 31 and will be screened in seven major cities in China including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Chengdu, and Nanjing.
In commemoration of the National Day of Mexican Cinema 2024, the Embassy of Mexico in China will screen Cronos, a movie directed by Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro at the Beijing Yuan Museum on August 31.
In 1536, during the Inquisition, an alchemist builds a mysterious and sophisticated device named Cronos to provide eternal life to the owner in Veracruz, Mexico.
In the present day, antiques dealer Jesus Gris finds Cronos hidden inside an ancient statue while cleaning it with his granddaughter Aurora.
He accidentally triggers the device and soon his wife Mercedes and he note that he has a younger appearance.
Out of the blue, the stranger Angel de la Guardia visits Gris' shop and buys the old statue. On the next day, Gris finds his shop trashed and Angel's card on the floor.
He pays a visit to Angel who introduces him to the eccentric millionaire De la Guardia that explains the healing power and the eternal life bestowed by Cronos.
Angel is sent by De la Guardia to hunt down Gris to get Cronos no matter the costs.
The UAE Embassy in China hosted the first UAE-China Think Tank Forum with more than 100 experts and think tank leaders in Beijing from August 29 to 30, marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the UAE and China.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to China Hussain bin Ibrahim al Hammadi said that UAE-China relations, under the leadership of the state leaders, are witnessing remarkable progress across economic, trade, cultural, political, and diplomatic spheres.
Themed "Together to build a shared, sustainable, and ambitious future," the event aimed to bring together the wisdom of the academic and research communities, and build a platform to promote cooperation and dialogue between UAE and Chinese think tanks. The forum also explored potential opportunities for cooperation between the two countries' leading think tanks.
Nearly half of surveyed US firms have called for Washington to lower tariffs on Chinese goods, according to a latest business environment report on Thursday.
Chinese experts noted that the US government’s actions have persistently undermined fair and free trade, forcing American companies to adopt less-than-optimal growth strategies in an atmosphere of cascading uncertainty, while businesses are inclined to operate in stability.
“When asked how the US government could support foreign firms in China, 48 percent [of US firms] suggested it reduce tariffs on Chinese goods,” read the 2024 China Business Report released by American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham Shanghai) on Thursday.
“Our member companies have acknowledged [Chinese] government efforts to improve the regulatory environment,” Eric Zheng, president of AmCham Shanghai, said in the report, noting that geopolitical uncertainties are weighing more than ever.
“We respectfully encourage both governments to continue to engage in bilateral talks so as to stabilize the relationship,” Zheng said.
Tariffs have indeed become a major disruptive factor in China-US economic and trade cooperation, Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Thursday.
The US government has continued to undermine fair and free trade, including the repeated imposition of additional high tariffs on Chinese goods, which has had a significant impact on American businesses, Zhou said.
The lack of stability in trade is affecting corporate decision-making. In this climate of uncertainty, businesses are more inclined to seek stability in China, Zhou noted.
Exactly half of respondents saw higher business revenues in 2023 than in 2022, with the rate highest for the retail sector and lowest for the manufacturing sector, the survey with 306 respondents showed.
Revenue expectations for this year are cheerier, with 54 percent of members expecting revenues to rise compared with last year, though only 37 percent expect China revenue growth to outpace global growth in the next three to five years, the report said.
A higher rate of the members this year noted improvements in government policies and regulations toward foreign companies and more transparency in the regulatory environment. Meanwhile, nearly one-third said that China’s enforcement of IP rights has improved, read the report.
Data from Chinese Ministry of Commerce showed that China saw the establishment of nearly 32,000 new foreign-invested enterprises from January to July, an increase of 11.4 percent year-on-year. This indicates that foreign investors remain largely optimistic about the long-term prospects of investing in China, the ministry said.
US electric car producer Tesla broke ground on another mega factory in Shanghai in May, marking the company’s first energy storage factory outside the US to manufacture its energy storage batteries known as Megapacks.
At the ongoing 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) held in Beijing, a total of 85 countries and international organizations set up exhibits and hosting events. Over 450 Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders participate in-person, with more than 100 activities scheduled and over 200 integrated innovation results to be announced. Tesla has participated in the CIFTIS for eight consecutive years.
China’s policies on openness and efforts to enhance regulatory transparency are boosting foreign companies’ confidence in their future development in the country. The continuous recovery of China's economy is providing businesses with higher profits, which is also a key reason why many are expanding their investments in China, Zhou said.
Recently, the "US-Philippines+N" has become an important form of interaction for the US and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region. This includes hosting the US-Japan-Philippines trilateral summit and conducting joint military exercises involving the US, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. Some even suggested replacing India in the Quad with the Philippines to form a "Squad." This approach is a key strategy for the Biden administration to strengthen relationships with allies, aiming to advance its "Indo-Pacific Strategy" and "shape the strategic environment" around China. Noticeably, the "US-Philippines+N" serves the US policy goal of containing and restricting China's rapid development, which will inevitably worsen the security, political and economic environment in the Asia-Pacific region.
The US and its allies are accelerating the militarization of the South China Sea, worsening the security environment in the region. First, the US is expanding its military presence in the Philippines. It is continuously encouraging and supporting the Philippines in illegally occupying territory in the South China Sea and creating friction with China. Second, the US and the Philippines, among other countries, frequently conduct military exercises in the South China Sea. The US hopes to strengthen the military capabilities of the Philippines and enhance its ability to provoke China. Third, the US supports allies in strengthening military cooperation with the Philippines. This year, the Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation with Canada and signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan. Fourth, the US is deploying midrange missiles in the Philippines. Involving countries outside the region, such as the US, in South China Sea affairs has heightened tensions in the region, increasing the risk of military conflict in the South China Sea.
Furthermore, the US has deliberately smeared China, worsening the political environment in the Asia-Pacific region. American senior officials and government departments have offered "support" to the Philippines while repeatedly accusing China. By leveraging its dominance in international discourse, the US has fostered unfounded doubts and fears about China in the Asia-Pacific region, undermining China's efforts to peacefully resolve disputes in the South China Sea based on the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
The US and its allies have been intensifying their presence in the South China Sea, promoting "values diplomacy" under the guise of "freedom of navigation," while undermining genuine freedom of navigation and maritime security. They invoke a "rules-based international order" to disrupt global stability and pressure regional countries into picking sides, which further destabilizes the political environment in the Asia-Pacific region.
Together with its allies, the US has pushed for a "decoupling" from China, worsening the economic climate in the Asia-Pacific. Furthermore, it frequently accuses China of "economic coercion" while integrating the Philippines into its Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. In addition, the US aims to reduce the Philippines' economic dependency on China, realign its semiconductor supply chains and counter the BRI. Finally, the US has connived the illegal grounding of Philippine military ships, causing severe damage to the ecological environment of the South China Sea. The South China Sea Ecological Center and the South China Sea Development Research Institute of China's Ministry of Natural Resources published A Survey Report on the Damage to Coral Reef Ecosystem by Illegally Grounded Military Vessel at Ren'ai Jiao on July 8. The survey found that the grounding process has inflicted fatal damage on the coral reef ecosystem, and its prolonged grounding state has greatly inhibited the growth and recovery of corals in the surrounding area.
The US and its Asia-Pacific allies are establishing various bilateral and mini-multilateral cooperation mechanisms primarily to serve US national interests. However, these countries possess different capabilities and varying levels of willingness to confront China. More importantly, these US allies and partners have their own national interests, and their cooperation with the US is largely about leveraging American power to maximize their benefits. Meanwhile, China's commitment to regional peace and stability, combined with its growing strength and influence, effectively counters the strategic pressure from the US and discourages more Asia-Pacific countries from taking sides. As a result, the US struggles to fully integrate its allies and partners, complicating its efforts to achieve its policy goals regarding China.
A technician is busy at a factory in the Luyang Economic Development Zone, in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui Province, on September 10, 2024. The factory is developing precision quick-return mirrors for aerospace laser communications. Since the beginning of this year, the economic zone, together with some key universities in Hefei such as the University of Science and Technology of China and Hefei University of Technology, has seized opportunities to build industrial clusters around intelligent sensors. Photo: VCG
Chinese companies have made marked progress in designing and producing high-performance, energy-efficient chips, as part of the nation's ongoing efforts to bolster its semiconductor sector, industry experts told the Global Times recently.
Although there has been a noticeable rise in the use of home-made chips by Chinese businesses, domestically produced AI chips still need further improvement in technology sophistication, market share, and brand recognition.
“The AI chip market is in the midst of intense competition with domestic manufacturers trying to find ways to keep up with top industry players. It is not easy for latecomers to integrate into the supply chain, but we are moving toward technological self-sufficiency,” an industry representative surnamed Yang told the Global Times on Friday at the Global AI Chip Summit 2024 held in Beijing.
Lately, China has ramped up investment in home-grown AI chips. Lead companies like Huawei, Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent have accelerated efforts in AI chip research and development, while a growing number of AI chip start-ups continue to emerge.
Some of these firms are now able to design and produce chips that deliver high performance and become more power efficient -- a development that is essential for boosting the core competitiveness of China’s semiconductor industry, the Global Times learned at the summit.
Chips play a vital role in handling a large number of computing tasks in various AI applications and are commonly known as AI accelerators.
The advancements made by Chinese technology companies are vital for improving the country’s computational technology and reflect the expanding market for domestic AI computing chips.
Data from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics showed that year-on-year growth of the global semiconductor market is projected to be 16 percent in 2024, with market scale estimated at $611 billion.
While leading AI chip companies like Nvidia, ADM and Intel will continue benefiting from this trend, Chinese AI chipmakers have the opportunity to narrow the gap, Yang noted.
Industry experts said that China, with its vast data resource and diverse application scenarios for AI chips, has positioned itself as a new pace-setter and an innovation hub.
Leading Chinese startups such as Cambricon Technologies Co, Enflame Technology, and Moore Threads Technology Co, have shown impressive performance, approaching the level of their overseas counterparts and gradually closing the gap, Chinese media reported.
Chinese experts noted that the indigenous innovations by Chinese companies are starting to overcome the difficulties caused by the US' unilateral technological blockade in the past few years. And, Chinese companies are poised to continue to enhance their resilience and strengthen their research and development capability, analysts said.
In the first half of 2024, Chinese companies spent $25 billion on semiconductor related equipment, surpassing the combined spending of the US and South Korean companies, Nikkei Asia reported last week, citing a report released by industry association SEMI.
The Chinese government has recently adjusted its cross-border adoption policy. Henceafter, apart from the adoption of a child or stepchild from one's collateral relatives by blood of the same generation and up to the third degree of kinship by foreigners coming to China, China will not send children abroad for adoption. This adjustment not only respects the spirit of relevant international covenants, but is also an inevitable advance in China's social security system.
Children in difficult circumstances are one of the most vulnerable social groups in need of care and protection. The adjustment of adoption policies reflects the Chinese government's commitment to protecting children's rights. The principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption emphasize ensuring the best interests of children, which aligns completely with China's commitment to developing children's services. Any policy adjustments regarding child rights protection are made with the utmost consideration of children's best interests, following thorough research, and will help better protect orphans' legal rights under new circumstances.
During the early period of reform and opening-up, China's economy was weak, with an annual per capita GDP of only a few hundred dollars. The living conditions of ordinary families were significantly behind those in Western countries, and the social welfare system was insufficient to support all orphans with the care and environment needed for their growth. Cross-border adoption provided a practical solution for some orphans to change their living conditions. For decades, cross-border adoption has generally provided many orphaned children with the warmth of a family in a foreign country. However, at the same time, some international adoption cases have unfortunately involved abuse, exploitation, and violence, which is deeply troubling.
Today, international adoption has fulfilled its mission in China. In recent years, China has adhered to the principle of "the best interests of the child" as outlined in intercountry adoption conventions and the principle of "the best interests of the adoptee" in the Civil Code of the country, while maintaining the practice of "domestic adoption as a priority."
Currently, domestic adoptions account for nearly 90 percent of the total number of adoptions. This means that even before the introduction of the new policy adjustment, cross-border adoptions had already been significantly declining. This is also consistent with the development trend of cross-border adoption in various countries. This decline is primarily due to the profound changes China has undergone over the past few decades. Rapid economic development has led to continuous improvements in the social welfare system.
Increased government investment in education, healthcare, and social security has made significant progress in maintaining social fairness and justice, eliminating extreme poverty, and ensuring the wellbeing of the people, thereby laying a solid foundation for the shift in orphan adoption policies.
An undeniable fact is that comprehensive economic and social progress has significantly reduced the number of orphans in China. Statistics show that in 2013, there were 549,000 orphans nationwide. By the end of 2023, this number had dropped to 144,000. Consequently, the number of orphanages and other child welfare institutions has also decreased substantially.
Today, with China having comprehensively built a moderately prosperous society and with per capita GDP exceeding $10,000, improvements in healthcare have greatly reduced the incidence of newborn disabilities, and attitudes toward gender discrimination have also improved significantly.
With the significant improvement in people's living standards and the continuous improvement of the social security system, Chinese people are increasingly willing to adopt orphans. Under such circumstances, it is logical to adjust the policy of cross-border adoption and cease the practice of sending children abroad for adoption.
In recent years, as China has made continuous progress in economic and social development, it has also increasingly explored a comprehensive social security system for orphans, significantly improving the living conditions of orphans, including disabled children. The average support standard for domestically raised orphans' basic living standards has reached 1,885.4 yuan per person per month.
Local governments have also established a natural growth mechanism for the basic living guarantee of orphans based on their actual economic and social development. The country has strengthened the professional level of child welfare institutions, and continuously improved the integrated development of orphan care, medical care, rehabilitation, education, and social work. Some healthy orphans with mild disabilities have returned to their families and integrated into society through domestic adoption, family foster care, and "family-like" care. Some severely disabled orphans who are not suitable for family adoption can receive specialized medical rehabilitation within child welfare institutions.
In order to promote the return of disabled orphans to their families, the Chinese government introduced support service policies to encourage domestic families to adopt disabled orphans.
In regions like Shandong, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Yunnan, Anhui, Guangdong, and Liaoning, mechanisms have been established to encourage adoptions, and activities such as the "Tomorrow Plan on Surgical Rehabilitation for Orphans with Disabilities," orphan education assistance, have reduced the burden on families adopting disabled children in terms of raising, medical rehabilitation, etc., so that disabled children can receive rehabilitation assistance and regain family warmth.
It can be said that with the solid advances of child welfare in China, adjustments to China's cross-border adoption policies have naturally followed. As long as one has some understanding of the relevant situation in China, he or she will not be surprised by the adjustment of the intercountry adoption policy, and there is no need to over-interpret it. Adjusting cross-border adoption policies is a reflection of China's overall development and progress, and also a reflection of China's continuous exploration of the protection and safeguarding of children's rights. We also hope that the international community will continue to work with China to advance global child welfare efforts, ensuring that every child can grow up in an environment of love and care.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, who is here for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The eighth Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs was held on Friday as part of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Delegates told the Global Times that the forum presents new opportunities for China-Africa industrial chains to further integrate, with significant potential to be unlocked in areas such as digital infrastructure, data centers, and smart cities.
A diverse range of companies participated, representing both traditional industries such as energy, mining, infrastructure, and financial trade, as well as emerging sectors like electronics, technology, communication satellites, and biomedicine. This conference has received significant attention from African countries, with around 1,000 participants, official data showed.
Phuti Jackson Mampa, chief executive officer of a South Africa-based security company who traveled to Beijing for the first time, told the Global Times he was excited about the increase in Chinese investment in Africa, particularly in key areas such as infrastructure, information technology, communications, and agriculture, as it is extremely important for a continent that needs long-term, sustainable development.
Mampa said that Africa is rich in resources with abundant arable land, and a growing population, as well as mineral resources, but many are unemployed and living in poverty. The collaboration between China and Africa will bring even greater benefits to Africa.
"[There is] great collaboration potential between China and African countries in digital technology waiting to be unlocked," Didier Nkurikiyimfura, chief strategy and growth officer from Rwanda-based Smart Africa Alliance, told the Global Times.
The use of technology is essential to accelerate the stalled transformation and the internal modernization of Africa, which is an area where China has a competitive advantages, Nkurikiyimfura said.
Many African countries are seeking digital solutions such as digital infrastructure, data centers, smart city solutions, e-agriculture and financial payment solutions - more specific collaborations with China can be discussed based on the needs of each African country, Nkurikiyimfura said.
Echoing Nkurikiyimfura, a spokesperson from China-based AI company 4Paradigm, a firm which assisted in building a smart hydropower system for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, told the Global Times that his company eyes to empower more industries in Africa with AI technology thus contributing to the upgrade of infrastructure and the modernization of industries.
Another delegate from Tanzania, Joseph Kahama, secretary general of Tanzania-China Friendship Promotion Association, told the Global Times that infrastructure is an area where the two sides can further integrate.
China has been great in terms of financing, funding, infrastructure, while Africa has an infrastructure gap. With the building of ports, roads, modern railways, movement of products would be easier, faster and cheaper for Africans, he said.
The business community has always been an important link in the friendly cooperation between China and Africa. China has remained Africa's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with trade volume between the two steadily increasing.
