UNESCO added on Thursday Qiang New Year festival, celebrated in China's Sichuan province, to its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The festival was included in 2009 in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
A Y-20 transport aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force on Tuesday set out for South Korea to retrieve remains of 43 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53).
The Y-20 with the number 20048 took off from an airport in Central China on Tuesday afternoon to carry out the mission of retrieving the 11th batch of the remains of CPV martyrs from South Korea, the PLA Air Force announced in a post on its official WeChat account on Tuesday.
Recently, China's Ministry of Veterans Affairs and South Korea's Ministry of National Defense reached an agreement on the handover of the 11th batch of remains of CPV martyrs in South Korea. The South Korean side will hand over the remains of 43 CPV martyrs and related belongings to the Chinese side on Thursday, according to the PLA Air Force.
For this mission, the troops have prepared the cabin layout of the aircraft to ensure that the repatriation mission meets the highest standards, the PLA Air Force said.
"In order to welcome the heroic CPV martyrs back to their homeland with the utmost solemnity, we installed a coffin support frame on the aircraft, applied anti-collision rubber strips, hung the national flag inside the cabin, laid down a military green carpet and conducted a thorough cleaning of the entire cabin before the mission departure," said Zhang Dapeng, a member of the air force of the PLA Central Theater Command, in the PLA Air Force release.
The PLA Air Force also announced that it will deploy two J-20 stealth fighter jets to escort the remains of the CPV martyrs upon their return to Chinese airspace.
Since 2015, the PLA Air Force has dispatched aircraft annually to South Korea to carry out repatriation missions. Starting in 2020, the PLA Air Force has sent domestically developed large transport aircraft, the Y-20, for this task for five consecutive years. This year marks the PLA Air Force's 10th mission to retrieve the remains of CPV martyrs who fell in South Korea back to their homeland, the PLA Air Force said.
Xi extends congratulations to Uruguayan president-elect Yamandu Orsi
There is no so-called Chinese police service stations overseas at all, and relevant people in the US should stop smearing and making groundless accusations against China. Instead, they need to do more to facilitate cooperation between China and the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a press briefing on Friday in response to an inquiry on reports over Texas Governor Greg Abbott's recently issuing three executive orders aimed at preventing Chinese overseas "police stations."
On November 18, Abbott issued an executive order, directing the Texas Department of Public Safety to target and arrest people trying to "execute influence operations on behalf of the Chinese government to return dissidents to China." The executive order also claimed that the Chinese government has set up "police service stations" across the world, according to the Associated Press.
Mao said that China's law enforcement agencies carry out cooperation in international law enforcement in strict accordance with international law, fully respects other countries' laws and judicial sovereignty and safeguard the lawful rights and interests of the suspects.
The economic ties and trade between China and the US are win-win in nature. Over the years, Chinese companies' investments have made important contributions to boosting employment and economic growth in the US, Mao said.
To politicize the issue of trade and investment and overstretch the concept of security runs contrary to the principle of market economy and international trade rules, undermines international confidence in the US market and does no good to the US's economic growth, said Mao, urging relevant people in the US to stop smearing and making groundless accusations against China. Instead, they need to do more to facilitate cooperation between China and the US.
One year ago, China started implementing a landmark trial policy, offering unilateral visa exemptions for more countries, among a variety of measures to welcome international visitors. Data from various entry-exit stations across China indicate a significant increase in international arrivals since the policy was adopted last year.
On December 1, 2023, China began implementing unilateral visa-free entry trials for ordinary passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. The policies were later expanded several times to more countries.
Since the end of last year, China has implemented visa exemption policies for 38 countries. The easing of visa policies has facilitated travel to China and enhanced international exchange as foreign visitors are flocking to China to explore business and experience the country's rich history and attractive views.
Mohan's entry-exit frontier inspection station on the China-Laos border reported over 5,500 tourist entries and exits from the above mentioned six countries this year as of Saturday, representing a year-on-year increase of 294.28 percent. Among these, 2,300 were visa-free arrivals, making up 77.24 percent of total arrivals.
Malaysia, France and Germany topped the list of nationalities, with tourism and family visits cited as the primary reasons for travel, according to the inspection station.
The entry-exit border inspection station in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, announced on Sunday that it has seen over 300,000 foreign arrivals through the port so far this year, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 84.8 percent. Notably, more than 94,000 of these arrivals were visa-free entrants, accounting for over 31.3 percent of all foreign arrivals - a growth of more than 15 times compared with the previous year.
In Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, over 480,000 foreign arrivals were recorded through the Shenzhen airport as of Friday this year, marking a 123 percent increase. More than 180,000 of these visitors benefited from the visa-free policy - six times more than last year's figures. Travelers from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea and Germany were the most represented nationalities.
As of Saturday, the number of travelers entering and exiting through Shanghai's Pudong International Airport has more than doubled compared with the previous year, with nearly 29 million trips recorded, including over 9 million trips made by foreign travelers. This represents a year-on-year increase of 100 percent and 170 percent, respectively.
Since November, ports in Beijing have averaged over 7,000 foreign arrivals daily, with 43 percent of these entrants coming visa-free.
The surge in foreign tourist arrivals came after Chinese authorities have been expanding the scope of the nation's visa-free policy.
In a latest development, China has decided to expand its visa-free arrangement to include nine more countries, applying to ordinary passport holders from Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia and Japan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on November 22.
In addition, Lin said China has decided to further optimize its visa-free policy, and will include exchanges and visit purposes into the visa-free entry scope, and extend the period of visa-free stays allowed from the current 15 days to 30 days.
Starting from November 30, 2024, ordinary passport holders from the 38 countries within its visa-free arrangement, including the aforementioned newly added nine countries, can enter China without a need to apply for a visa for the purposes of business, tourism, family visits, exchanges and visits and transit, with stays of no more than 30 days, Lin added.
"The implementation of visa-free policies has significantly boosted the inbound tourism market, further demonstrating that China's doors to the world are opening wider," Jiang Yiyi, dean of the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism at Beijing Sport University, told the Global Times on Sunday.
Through traveling in China, international visitors can genuinely experience China's development, witness not only the country's natural landscapes and historical culture but also personally engage with its modern achievements. This approach allows for a more concrete, comprehensive, and in-depth understanding of China on the global stage, Jiang said.
China Travel booms
As China's visa-free travel policy continues to expand and facilitate easier exchanges between people, the allure of "China Travel" becomes stronger.
Francisco Lopez, a tourist from Spain, shared his experiences with the Global Times on Sunday, highlighting the ease of his trip to China made possible by the country's visa-free policy and other supporting measures.
During this trip, he visited Beijing, Xi'an in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Guilin in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Shanghai. Among these destinations, Guilin stood out as his favorite due to its stunning natural beauty. "We rented bikes and explored the countryside, which was enjoyable," he said. "This trip helped me understand Chinese culture and history better.''
Lopez decided to visit China after his mother traveled here in June. "The visa-free policy is very good and convenient for us. A lot of people were taking photos with us. It was nice," he said.
During his trip Lopez also experienced the convenience of China's e-payment system. "We didn't have cash and didn't exchange any money. We used Alipay everywhere, and it worked perfectly," he said.
To meet the needs of foreign tourists, various regions and tourist destinations in China are enhancing the tourism experience.
A worker from the Wulingyuan scenic area in Zhangjiajie of central China's Hunan Province told the Global Times on Sunday that the visa-free policy has significantly boosted the tourism market, with a notable increase in the number of foreign visitors.
"There is a shift in tourists, with more coming from Southeast Asia and Europe thanks to the implementation of visa-free policies," the employee, surnamed Zhang, said.
In the first three quarters of this year, Zhangjiajie city received over 1.29 million inbound tourists, a year-on-year increase of 255.47 percent. The city achieved inbound tourism revenue of $358.54 million, marking a year-on-year growth of 307.61 percent, according to official data.
An employee at the ticket office of the Yuntai Mountain scenic spot in Jiaozuo, central China's Henan Province, also noted an increase in foreign visitors this year, most of whom are independent travelers. "The scenic area accommodates bilingual standards in its supporting facilities," the staffer told the Global Times on Sunday.
China has also taken measures to improve services such as easing the use of mobile payment for foreigners, implementing reservation-free entry policies at scenic spots, and offering multiple languages and payment methods to assist international travelers in purchasing tickets effortlessly, Xinhua News Agency reported.
International arrivals have surged with the support of these measures. In the third quarter of 2024, China logged nearly 8.2 million inbound trips made by foreigners, up 48.8 percent year on year. Among these, about 4.9 million entered visa-free, a remarkable rise of 78.6 percent from the same period last year.
International business people are seeing more opportunities in China. From January to September, 42,000 foreign-funded companies were established in the country, an increase of 11.4 percent year-on-year.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday delivered an important speech at the Session II of the 19th G20 Summit under the title "Working Together for a Fair and Equitable Global Governance System."
Following is the English version of the full text of the speech:
Working Together for a Fair and Equitable Global Governance System
Remarks by H.E. Xi Jinping
President of the People's Republic of China
On Reform of the Institutions of Global Governance
At Session II of the 19th G20 Summit
Rio de Janeiro, November 18, 2024
Your Excellency President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva,
Colleagues,
It has been 16 years since the G20 Summit was launched. Over the years, we have worked in solidarity to tackle the global financial crisis, promoted cooperation on global economy, finance and trade, and steered the world economy onto the track of recovery. We have worked in concert to face global challenges head-on, be it climate change or the COVID-19 pandemic, spearheaded technological transformation, and kept renewing the G20's responsibilities and missions. We have worked in unison to improve global governance, strengthened macroeconomic policy coordination, pressed ahead with reforming the international financial institutions, and championed international cooperation in the spirit of equal consultation and mutual benefit.
Proceeding from a new starting point, the G20 needs to build on its past achievements and continue to act as a force to improve global governance and move history forward. We should keep in mind that mankind lives in a community with a shared future, see each other's development as opportunities rather than challenges, and view each other as partners rather than rivals. We should observe the basic norms of international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and defend the international order based on international law. In light of the G20's mandate, we could build greater international consensus in the economic, financial, trade, digital and eco-environmental fields, among others, to improve global governance and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
First, we need to improve global economic governance and build a world economy characterized by cooperation. We have developed the G20 comprehensive growth strategies and established a framework for strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth. We should stay committed to strengthening global economic partnerships, reinforcing macro policy coordination in fiscal, financial, monetary and structural reform policies, cultivating new quality productive forces, and raising total factor productivity, in a bid to open up more possibilities for the global economy. It is important to make good use of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meetings, let them serve as a ballast for macro policy coordination, and foster an open, inclusive, and nondiscriminatory environment for international economic cooperation. As main creditors, international financial institutions and commercial creditors need to take part in debt reduction and suspension for developing countries. It is also important to create a clean business environment by upholding a zero-tolerance stance against corruption, stepping up international cooperation on fugitive repatriation and asset recovery, and denying safe haven to corrupt officials and their assets.
Second, we need to improve global financial governance and build a world economy characterized by stability. To increase the voice and representation of developing countries, the World Bank should carry out shareholding review and the International Monetary Fund should carry out quota share realignment in line with the agreed timeframe and roadmap. Joint efforts are needed to keep the international financial market stable and prevent negative spillover of domestic monetary policy adjustments. Developed countries should fulfill their responsibilities in this regard. It is important to enhance the systems for financial risks monitoring, early warning and handling, reinforce cooperation in such areas as digital currency and taxation, and strengthen the global financial safety net. The G20 Sustainable Finance Roadmap should be implemented at a faster pace to better meet the green financing needs of developing countries.
Third, we need to improve global trade governance and build a world economy characterized by openness. We should place development at the center of the international economic and trade agenda, and steadily advance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. We should press ahead with reforming the World Trade Organization (WTO), oppose unilateralism and protectionism, restore the normal functioning of the dispute settlement mechanism as soon as possible, include the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement into the WTO legal framework, and reach early consensus on the e-commerce agreement. We should work actively to keep the WTO rules relevant, both addressing long-pending issues and exploring the formulation of new, future-oriented rules, to enhance the authority, efficacy and relevance of the multilateral trading system. It is important to avoid politicizing economic issues, avoid fragmenting the global market, and avoid taking protectionist moves in the name of green and low-carbon development. Two years ago, China and Indonesia, together with some other countries, launched the Initiative of International Cooperation on Resilient and Stable Industrial and Supply Chains, calling for industrial and supply chain partnerships that are more equal, inclusive and constructive. We stand ready for closer cooperation with all sides on this initiative.
Fourth, we need to improve global digital governance and build a world economy characterized by innovation. We should strengthen the function of the G20 Digital Economy Ministers' Meeting, and let it play a leading role in digital transition, the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy, and rules-making in emerging areas. We should step up international governance and cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI), to make sure that AI is for good and for all, not a game of the rich countries and the wealthy. China hosted the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, and issued the Shanghai Declaration on Global AI Governance. Together with other parties, China promoted the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution on enhancing international cooperation on AI capacity-building. China will hold another world AI conference in 2025 and welcomes the participation of fellow G20 members.
Fifth, we need to improve global ecological governance and build a world economy characterized by eco-friendliness. We should honor the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and fully and effectively implement the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework for the sake of man's harmonious coexistence with nature. Developed countries should provide developing countries with the necessary funding, technology and capacity-building support. The recently concluded UN Biodiversity Conference produced important consensus. We should jointly support the ongoing and upcoming UN conferences on climate change and desertification in achieving positive outcomes. Energy transition and energy security is a major issue. We should follow the approach of "establishing the new before abolishing the old," and replace traditional energy with clean energy in a stable and well-ordered way, as we expedite the green and low-carbon transition of the world economy. China stands ready to continue to deepen international cooperation with all sides on green infrastructure, green energy, green mining and green transport, and will provide support to developing countries to the best of its ability.
Global security governance is part and parcel of global governance. The G20 should support the UN and its Security Council in playing a greater role, and support all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of crises. To deescalate the Ukraine crisis and seek a political settlement, we should follow the principles of no expansion of the battlefields, no escalation of hostilities and no fanning flames. China and Brazil, together with some other Global South countries, launched the group of "friends for peace" on the Ukraine crisis, with the goal of bringing together more voices for peace. The fighting in Gaza has inflicted deep suffering on the people. It is urgent for all sides to stop fighting, end the war, and provide support for easing the humanitarian crisis in the region and for postwar reconstruction. The fundamental way out of the cycle of Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the implementation of the two-State solution, the restoration of Palestine's legitimate national rights, and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine.
Colleagues,
Let us renew our commitment to the founding mission of the G20, and make a fresh start from Rio de Janeiro. Let us carry forward partnership, practice true multilateralism, and usher in a better future of common development and prosperity.
China will align Belt and Road cooperation with Bolivia's 2025 development plan, and expand cooperation in multiple areas, Chinese President Xi Jinping said when meeting Bolivian President Luis Arce on the sidelines of the G20 summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Tuesday.
China is ready to join hands with Brazil in a spirit of perseverance and dedication to build a China-Brazil community with a shared future and usher in the next "Golden 50 Years" of China-Brazil relations, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.
Addressing a grand welcome banquet hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia, Xi thanked him and the Brazilian people for their warm and friendly reception and congratulated Brazil on achieving remarkable development under President Lula's leadership.
Noting that the vast oceans separating the two countries have never hindered their mutual understanding and friendship, Xi said that the two nations have distinctive characteristics while blending harmoniously with openness, innovation, diversity and unity as their shared traits and common aspirations.
Xi added that he and President Lula had announced to elevate the bilateral relationship to the China-Brazil community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet and witnessed the signing of cooperation documents aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with Brazil's development strategies.
Looking back, the two sides have every reason to be proud of the achievements in their relations, and looking ahead, they are confident and full of anticipation for the bright future of their bilateral ties, he said.
For his part, Lula said that President Xi and he lead the two largest developing countries in the Eastern and Western hemispheres respectively, noting that both are keenly aware of the people's struggles and are committed to improving livelihoods and eradicating poverty.
Lula expressed deep admiration for China's development achievements under President Xi's leadership, particularly the accomplishment of lifting 100 million people out of poverty.
He pointed out that President Xi has set an example for the world by working for people's well-being, upholding social fairness and justice, and advocating for peace over war, cooperation over confrontation, and creation over destruction.
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties half a century ago, Brazil-China relations have become a model of solidarity, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results among Global South countries, Lula said.
The alignment of development strategies between Brazil and China will contribute to the common prosperity of both countries and demonstrate to the world that they can achieve development, revitalization, and justice through their own paths, he said.
Both Brazil and China uphold multilateralism and advocate for the peaceful settlement of disputes, said Lula, adding that their cooperation will have a significant and far-reaching impact on the world.
Brazil looks forward to working closely with China to build a Brazil-China community with a shared future, he said.
China on Friday called on all parties related to the Ukraine crisis to remain calm, exercise restraint, work for deescalation through dialogue and consultation, and accumulate conditions for an early ceasefire and political settlement of the crisis after reports that Russia fired a hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine in response to the US and UK's allowing Kiev to strike Russian territory with advanced Western weapons.
As the Russia-Ukraine conflict risked further escalation and growing complexity, with potential retaliatory attacks from both sides, and the US pledged to continue to provide new arms packages to Ukraine, Chinese experts criticized Washington for its irresponsible move, warning that such actions could prolong the conflict, deepen regional instability, and increase suffering for local populations and the global community.
In response to a question regarding the latest development of the Ukraine crisis, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Friday that China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear. China advocates settling the crisis through political means and avoiding escalation of the situation.
Russia launched an experimental hypersonic ballistic missile at Ukraine overnight in response to Kiev being given permission to strike Russia with US and British long-range missiles, President Vladimir Putin said Thursday, vowing to respond to further "escalation," Russian media reported.
"Among the operations carried out was the testing of one of Russia's latest medium-range missile systems. In this case, a ballistic missile equipped with a non-nuclear hypersonic warhead was used," said Putin, noting that the system was named "Oreshnik" and the tests were deemed successful, with the target being hit as intended, according to the report.
Putin also said that Russia would warn Ukrainian "civilians and citizens of friendly nations present in those areas to evacuate" if Russian armed forces were again to deploy Oreshnik missiles in the future, according to the report.
Ukraine initially claimed that Russia had fired an intercontinental ballistic missile, a weapon designed for long-distance nuclear strikes and never before used in war, according to Reuters. However, Putin clarified that it was an intermediate-range missile.
Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, noted that the intermediate-range missile, capable of reaching distances of 6,000 kilometers - placing much of the West within its range - was used to strike a target more than 700 kilometers away. This action was primarily intended to send a clear message to the US and the UK that Russia is capable of responding to any retaliatory move.
A hypersonic ballistic missile can achieve speeds exceeding Mach 5 during its terminal phase. It is equipped with a conventional hypersonic warhead, highlighting its capability to deliver hypersonic payloads, said Song, noting that stressing a non-nuclear hypersonic configuration on this missile is also a message to the US and the West.
In response to Putin's remarks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a post on X that the use of the new missile amounted to "a clear and severe escalation" in the war and called for strong worldwide condemnation.
A US official said Russia notified Washington shortly before its strike, while another official said the US had briefed Kiev and allies to prepare for the possible use of such a weapon, Reuters reported.
NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said that "Deploying this capability will neither change the course of the conflict nor deter NATO allies from supporting Ukraine," according to the report.
Further escalation
Putin's remarks on Thursday appear designed to reassure the Russian public while signaling to the West that Russia continues to exercise strategic restraint regarding nuclear conflict. While Russia has no intention of initiating a nuclear war, the threshold for such a conflict has been lowered, Zhang Hong, a research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday.
The situation, particularly in southern Russia, could become increasingly complex as Ukraine potentially deploys long-range weapons supplied by the West. Ukraine's expanding capabilities, including domestically produced cruise and ballistic missiles, could also provoke a heightened retaliation from Russia, said the expert.
While Russia is likely to remain cautious about using nuclear weapons, it may escalate in terms of conventional retaliatory strikes. This could result in a harsh winter for Ukraine, with intensified attacks targeting military installations and critical infrastructure, leading to energy shortages and power disruptions, said Zhang.
The US said that it "will not be deterred" and would continue to provide new arms packages to Ukraine and work to speed up their delivery amid Russia's attack with the intermediate-range ballistic missile, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a briefing on Thursday.
Zhang said that US President Joe Biden's decision to intensify support for Ukraine in the final months of his administration, ahead of Donald Trump's anticipated return to power in January, reflects a last-ditch and reckless approach.
This move not only aggravates Russia but will also frustrate Trump and his team, potentially complicating Trump's reported plans to quickly end the war. It also highlights the deep, irreconcilable divide between Trump and the Democratic Party's establishment faction on the Ukraine issue, said Zhang.
The US' irresponsible approval of advanced arms transfers to Ukraine could prolong the conflict, deepen regional instability, and increase suffering for local populations and the global community, said the expert.
The evolving situation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has raised worries of further escalation. Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN secretary general António Guterres, was cited by The Guardian on Friday as saying that "All of this [is] going in the wrong direction," and he called on all parties to de-escalate the conflict and "to protect civilians, not hit civilian targets or critical civilian infrastructure."
With China's approval, the Philippines on Thursday sent a civilian vessel to deliver supplies to its illegally grounded warship on Ren'ai Jiao. China Coast Guard (CCG) conducted inquiries and monitored the Philippine vessel throughout the process, Liu Dejun, a spokesperson for the China Coast Guard, said in a statement released on Friday.
Liu emphasized that China hopes the Philippines will honor its commitments and work with China to jointly manage and control the maritime situation. CCG will continue to carry out law enforcement activities in the Nansha Qundao, including Ren'ai Jiao, and surrounding waters in accordance with the law.