Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Spring farming, irrigation start in China’s Henan as Rain Water arrives
As the gentle rhythm of spring rain awakens the earth, we welcome the Rain Water, or Yushui, the second solar term of the year.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Chinese consumers have indicated a growing interest in taking dedicated tourist trains, with rising search volumes related to the sector seen, following the country’s plan to retrofit tourist trains to make them more senior-friendly.
Specifically, the country plans to launch more green and comfortable travel products and develop more themed routes for the trains, according to a guideline issued on Feb 11 by nine entities, including the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and China State Railway Group Co Ltd.
On Wednesday and Thursday, search volume for travel products related to such tourist trains more than tripled over the same period in January, said Tongcheng Travel, a Suzhou, Jiangsu province-based online travel agency.
Tourist trains have been one of the most popular travel products among seniors in China. In 2024, nearly 80 percent of consumers who booked tourist trains were aged 60 and above, Tongcheng said.
Tourist trains connecting Gansu province and the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region; Heilongjiang province and the Inner Mongolia autonomous region; as well as the China-Laos Railway, have been quite popular among senior travelers, Tongcheng said.
China has the world’s largest passenger railway network, while the operation of tourist trains in the country is still in its development stage. In 2024, China operated a total of 1,860 tourist trains nationwide, a record high, and the number jumped nearly 50 percent over the pre-pandemic period in 2019, said China Railway.
“Compared with traditional modes of travel, tourist trains are more comfortable and they satisfy traveler demand for catering, accommodation, transportation and sightseeing, making them more friendly to senior travelers,” said Li Zhun, a senior researcher at the Tongcheng Research Institute.
“In the next three to five years, demand for cultural and tourism products suitable for senior travelers will further grow in China. Besides raising the supply of tourist train products, there is still room for improvement in the quality of service and operation,” Li said.
He added that in the next step, tourist trains may be envisioned as a peer to mature business models like luxury cruise ships. More tourist train products suitable for different types of consumers and a new marketing system should be promoted.
Meanwhile, the domestic tourism market has gradually returned to normalcy after the Spring Festival holiday, and prices of flight tickets and hotels have declined, making it friendly for senior travelers who seek to travel during off-peak periods.
Tongcheng Travel said after the Spring Festival break, the company has received an increasing number of travel inquiries from senior travelers aged between 55 and 70. Compared with office employees and students, older travelers have more flexible schedules, and they are able to opt for off-peak travel periods to avoid crowds, the company said.
During off-peak periods, some popular outbound destinations for Chinese travelers include Tokyo, Osaka and Sapporo in Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore; New Zealand; and Bali, Indonesia. In addition, cruise tourism products to Japan and South Korea, as well as Mediterranean cruises, have been sought after by consumers, the online travel agency found.
Source: Peoples Bank of China
Announcement on Open Market Operations No.32 [2025]
(Open Market Operations Office, February 18, 2025)
In order to keep the liquidity adequate in the banking system, the People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB489.2 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on February 18, 2025.
Details of the Reverse Repo Operations
|
Maturity |
Volume |
Rate |
|
7 days |
RMB489.2 billion |
1.50% |
Date of last update Nov. 29 2018
2025年02月18日
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
China’s first large-scale intelligent forest fire rescue training facility has been delivered recently to the National Southwest Regional Emergency Rescue Center, marking a breakthrough in China’s capabilities for simulating and combating forest fires.
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced on its WeChat account on Monday that the advanced system, developed by a research institute under the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), a CASC subsidiary, passed final acceptance tests and was put into use in the emergency rescue center, based in Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
It addresses a critical gap in intelligent emergency training equipment while elevating the country’s technological prowess in forest fire prevention and control, CASC said.
Designed for China’s fire-prone southwestern regions, which are rich in forest resources, the facility integrates cutting-edge aerospace technologies developed by CALT to replicate complex fire scenarios with high fidelity. It enables comprehensive, multi-angle drills for rescue teams, enhancing their preparedness for real-world operations.
Since 2000, CALT has pioneered emergency simulation technologies, with earlier systems deployed at over 100 training bases of emergency response departments across 15 provinces and municipalities.
The new facility will significantly boost rescue capabilities in southwestern regions and beyond, said CASC.
Moving forward, CALT, while deepening technological innovation in the field of simulation training equipment, will leverage its success of the Chengdu facility to promote tailored solutions for high-risk areas and drive large-scale adoption of smart training equipment among local emergency agencies, added CASC.
Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
Issued by: on
SINGAPORE (Jan. 23, 2025) Capt. James Bach, right, Chief of Staff, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, delivers a command capabilities brief to staff and personnel assigned to Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/ Task Force 73 (COMLOGWESTPAC/CTF 73), during a scheduled visit to Sembawang Naval Installation, Jan. 23, 2025. COMLOG WESTPAC supports deployed surface units and aircraft carriers, along with regional Allies and partners, to facilitate patrols in the South China Sea, participation in naval exercises and responses to natural disasters. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/Released)
| Date Taken: | 01.23.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 01.23.2025 22:49 |
| Photo ID: | 8840611 |
| VIRIN: | 250123-N-ED646-1059 |
| Resolution: | 7706×5504 |
| Size: | 4.07 MB |
| Location: | SG |
| Web Views: | 10 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
Issued by: on
SINGAPORE (Feb. 3, 2025) – Capt. Antonio J. Milord, left, ground ammunition officer assigned to Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 (COMLOG WESTPAC/ CTF 73), provides closing remarks during his promotion ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore, February 3, 2025. COMLOG WESTPAC supports deployed surface units and aircraft carriers, along with regional Allies and partners, to facilitate patrols in the South China Sea, participation in naval exercises and responses to natural disasters. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jomark A. Almazan/Released)
| Date Taken: | 02.02.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.18.2025 00:36 |
| Photo ID: | 8874304 |
| VIRIN: | 250203-N-DB724-1082 |
| Resolution: | 6030×4307 |
| Size: | 2.23 MB |
| Location: | SG |
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Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
Issued by: on
SINGAPORE (Feb. 3, 2025) – Capt. Antonio J. Milord, right, ground ammunition officer assigned to Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 (COMLOG WESTPAC/ CTF 73), shakes hands with Lt. Col. Jennifer F. Giles, Marine Attache, U.S. Embassy Singapore, during his promotion ceremony in Singapore, February 3, 2025. COMLOG WESTPAC supports deployed surface units and aircraft carriers, along with regional Allies and partners, to facilitate patrols in the South China Sea, participation in naval exercises and responses to natural disasters. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jomark A. Almazan/Released)
| Date Taken: | 02.02.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.18.2025 00:36 |
| Photo ID: | 8874307 |
| VIRIN: | 250203-N-DB724-1065 |
| Resolution: | 5824×4160 |
| Size: | 2.48 MB |
| Location: | SG |
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This work, USMC Capt. Antonio Milord’s Promotion Ceremony, February 3, 2025 [Image 8 of 8], by PO1 Jomark Almazan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)
Issued by: on
SINGAPORE (Feb. 3, 2025) – Master Sgt. Philip Harp, center left, aviation ordnance chief assigned to Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73 (COMLOG WESTPAC/ CTF 73), reads Chief Warrant Officer Antonio J. Milord’s, right, ground ammunition officer assigned to COMLOG WESTPAC/CTF 73, promotion warrant during his promotion ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Singapore, February 3, 2025. COMLOG WESTPAC supports deployed surface units and aircraft carriers, along with regional Allies and partners, to facilitate patrols in the South China Sea, participation in naval exercises and responses to natural disasters. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jomark A. Almazan/Released)
| Date Taken: | 02.02.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.18.2025 00:36 |
| Photo ID: | 8874306 |
| VIRIN: | 250203-N-DB724-1021 |
| Resolution: | 8256×5504 |
| Size: | 4.34 MB |
| Location: | SG |
| Web Views: | 0 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University
Last week in Europe, the United States sent some very strong messages it is prepared to upend the established global order.
US Vice President JD Vance warned a stunned Munich Security Conference that Europe has an “enemy within”, referring to leaders who ignore their citizens’ concerns and values. He also advocated for right-wing political groups to be brought into the mainstream.
Meanwhile, at a meeting of NATO defence ministers, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth talked about hard power, the warrior ethos and the need for NATO members to spend up to 5% of their GDPs on defence. Most have only just climbed to about 2%, the longstanding NATO guideline.
In Poland, he reaffirmed the US commitment to the defence of Poland (and NATO) and committed to bolstering the US military presence there. So, despite the mixed messaging, the United States is not leaving Europe anytime soon.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is reportedly demanding a significant levy from Ukraine as payback for US protection and support.
The combination of remarks has left pundits and policymakers wondering – is the US-led international order, with its multilateral institutions, nearing its end?
The United States played a leading role in establishing the rules-based international order from the ashes of the second world war.
Critics have decried the UN-related institutions that arose at this time. But the rules-based order is perhaps best viewed as Voltaire saw the Holy Roman Empire: “no way holy, nor Roman, nor an empire”. Those proclaiming the demise of the rules-based order should be careful what they wish for.
Such a system of trusted international exchanges barely existed prior to 1945. And while superpowers have carved out many exceptions for themselves, the rules-based order has nonetheless resulted in a time of remarkable stability and prosperity for the world.
So, why would the United States now appear to be retreating from this arrangement? The declining centrality of US influence goes some way to explain this.
To place the current events in proper context, we need to go back 25 years, when China joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
This move was supported by and facilitated by then US President Bill Clinton in a belief that market liberalisation would eventually lead to political liberalisation.
Since then, China’s growth has skyrocketed thanks to its ready access to global markets. But it’s retained a strong mercantilist approach, counter to the spirit of the WTO. This has generated much resentment and nervousness among Western powers about the changing global power balance.
Since Xi Jinping’s rise to power in 2012, in particular, China has taken on an adversarial position to the rules-based order, following its own set of rules.
In effect, the world got neither the political nor the trade liberalisation that it once sought from China. Rather, the rules as they applied in China (and to an extent in Russia) allowed state-owned enterprises to co-opt – if not outright steal – technology shared by their international industry partners.
Foreign companies were squeezed out of China and had difficulty competing with lower-priced Chinese products at home.
Trump’s rise is, in part, a reaction to these developments. During his first term from 2017–20, Trump fitfully attempted to take a retaliatory, transactional approach to international relations. Now, as he begins his second term, he has a much more clear-eyed plan of action.
What became startlingly clear at the Munich Security Conference was Trump’s new vision of transactional alliances with America’s traditional partners.
In his view, the United States is not so much retreating into isolationism as much as it’s acting as a great power with its own economic interests at heart. Trump is eager for the US to assert its place in a world where spheres of influence matter as much – if not more – than any particular set of rules.
Evidently, the US is no longer advocating for multilateralism, in which states cooperate as equals. Now, it’s focused more on multi-polarity – a world with several great powers, in which the US puts its own interests first. As Trump frequently reminds us, “America First”.
According to this world view, allies and adversaries have equally been taking unfair advantage of:
Its allies have also taken advantage of the generosity of its security umbrella, leading to their cavalier approach to security.
The Trump administration’s remedy to all of this involves doling out sanctimonious advice. An example of this: Vance telling European allies they should unwind their relaxed immigration policies.
It’s also doling out some tough medicine, apparently trying to provoke a reaction in European capitals so they significantly increase their defence spending. This would enable the US to step back from being Europe’s security guarantor and finally undertake its long-talked-about pivot to Asia and focus on its main adversary: China.
Russia evidently features as part of this plan. Trump appears intent to try to cleave Russia from its Chinese embrace in order to either isolate or weaken China. A hard-nosed deal with Russia over Ukraine may well be the price he’s willing to pay to make that happen.
For America’s close security and economic partners, this presents an unprecedented challenge. The old preconceptions and expectations no longer seem to apply. What’s important now is not so much America’s shared values with Europe, it’s their overlapping interests.
For America’s allies, as well as its adversaries, this is going to require some hard thinking and new strategies, both economically and militarily.
John Blaxland does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Trump’s view of the world is becoming clear: America’s interests matter more than any set of rules – https://theconversation.com/trumps-view-of-the-world-is-becoming-clear-americas-interests-matter-more-than-any-set-of-rules-250144
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Feb. 17 — China will launch a nationwide initiative to tag and protect ancient and notable trees, reinforcing their status as “green national treasures” and “living cultural relics,” a senior official of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA) has said.
The move follows the enactment of China’s first national-level regulations to protect ancient and notable trees, which will come into effect on March 15, Zhang Liming, director of the NFGA’s ecological protection and restoration department, was quoted as saying by a report in the Science and Technology Daily on Monday.
Zhang said the regulations align with China’s broader goals of building an “ecological civilization” and preserving cultural identity.
The regulations establish legal frameworks for resource surveys, conservation, and cultural preservation, as well as penalties for damaging these natural assets, addressing gaps in existing laws.
According to the regulations, ancient trees are those that are over 100 years old. Notable trees, which hold historical or cultural importance, play a crucial role in biodiversity, cultural heritage, and ecological sustainability.
A national survey conducted from 2015 to 2021 identified 5.08 million ancient and notable trees in China, 246,600 of which were in urban areas.
The survey results showed that the majority of China’s solitary ancient trees are aged between 100 and 299 years, totaling 987,500. There are 160,300 trees aged between 300 and 499 years and 68,200 trees are over 500 years old, which includes 10,745 trees over 1,000 years and notably, five trees over 5,000 years.
Regarding the trees’ vitality, slightly over one million trees are considered normal, 157,700 are weak, and 26,300 are endangered, according to the survey.
The regulations permit limited scientific and cultural utilization of these resources, such as genetic studies and eco-tourism, provided the trees’ health is not compromised.
Despite progress made to protect the ancient and notable trees over the past decade, illegal logging and transplantation, irregular enforcement, regional disparities in protection standards, and occasional vandalism necessitate stronger safeguards, according to Zhang.
Next, authorities will conduct another national survey to update tree databases, implement a smart management system for “one-tree-one-file” monitoring, and mandate uniform tagging and tailored protective measures, said Zhang.
In addition, efforts should also be made to explore funding mechanisms, including insurance schemes and central fiscal support, while advancing research on conservation technologies.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Global financial institutions are increasingly bullish on China’s economic development, with multiple 2025 outlook reports highlighting the nation’s accelerating transition to high-quality growth driven by a stronger consumer sector and service industry.
During the recent Spring Festival, China witnessed a burgeoning consumption market, marked by record-setting sales revenues in “Guochao” — or trendy merchandise inspired by traditional Chinese culture — along with new records in intangible cultural heritage experiences, the ice and snow economy, and consumer goods trade-in programs. Driven by digital transition and technological development, new consumption models have continued to emerge.
Analysts noted that emerging consumption trends — from product launches to winter sports and silver-haired consumer markets — demonstrate China’s evolving consumer landscape and its potential for sustained growth.
Trendsetters Trade up
Shanghai’s debut economy is transforming the city’s retail landscape, increasingly led by homegrown brands launching global flagship stores. A notable example is SHUSHU/TONG, a local designer label that chose Shanghai’s Jing’an District for its first global store. The store has since become a magnet for international visitors, especially from the Republic of Korea (ROK).
The store has evolved into a social media hotspot, where Korean visitors frequently create content for platforms like rednote, sharing their shopping experiences and fashion discoveries. This organic promotion has significantly boosted the store’s international profile.
“New customers now make up half of our foot traffic, with ROK visitors accounting for 80 percent of first-time shoppers,” says Yu Yaqi, head of SHUSHU/TONG’s offline operations. “To better serve our international clientele, we’re streamlining membership registration for foreign customers and optimizing our product display and inventory to match visitor preferences.”
China’s policymakers have identified the debut economy as a key driver of growth, making it a 2025 priority at December’s Central Economic Work Conference. This strategic focus aims to upgrade consumption quality and accelerate industrial transformation, with regional governments already implementing supportive measures.
Positioned as a global hub for product debuts, flagship store launches and exclusive exhibitions, Shanghai is leveraging this innovative model. The policy blueprint includes an annual “FIRST in Shanghai” flagship event from March to May, designed to attract global attention as a premier platform for product launches.
Looking ahead to 2025, the city’s government work report prioritizes scaling up the debut economy, along with emerging consumption sectors such as automobiles and green consumption.
Frost to Fortune
“Endless snow slopes stretch before my eyes, with the howling wind echoing in my ears: That feeling of free flight delivers a unique thrill,” said 28-year-old Sun Hong, an avid skier who travels to different resorts each winter to seek fresh experiences.
Winter tourism has become a major driver of China’s economy, sparking nationwide interest in cold-weather activities.
Different regions have developed distinctive winter tourism offerings: Southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality focuses on themed events and travel routes, southern Guangdong Province provides year-round indoor snow activities, while Xinjiang’s Altay region features unique ethnic winter experiences.
Dai Bin, president of the China Tourism Academy, highlighted the role of technology and investment in promoting winter sports, with artificial snow and ice facilities making winter sports accessible even in the warmest regions.
A survey from the academy showed more than 70 percent of the respondents are willing to engage in winter leisure activities, with over 60 percent planning to maintain or increase their spending on winter tourism. The 2024-2025 winter season is expected to attract some 520 million trips, generating over 630 billion yuan (about 87.86 billion U.S. dollars) in tourism revenue.
Winter has evolved from a season of dormancy to one of vibrant activities, Dai noted. “In the past, winter meant freezing temperatures and a pause in daily life. Now, people embrace the cold and explore northern regions.”
Silver is the New Gold
Local governments have prioritized expanding elderly care products and services in their 2025 agendas. Guangdong plans to enhance research and development (R&D) and promotion of senior-friendly products while accelerating the rehabilitation assistive devices industry.
Heilongjiang aims to boost service-oriented consumption in digital, elderly care and childcare sectors, with a focus on developing traditional Chinese medicine-based wellness and smart elderly care. Shanghai will deepen the application of technologies like smart nursing homes in elderly care scenarios.
The economic potential is substantial. According to a recent blue paper on China’s silver economy, the sector is currently valued at 7 trillion yuan, with tourism being a key growth area.
Elderly adults in China had amassed wealth totaling 78.4 trillion yuan by 2023, according to the China National Committee on Ageing. The silver economy is projected to reach 30 trillion yuan by 2035.
The silver economy is creating new growth opportunities across multiple industries. “A growing number of seniors are demanding higher quality of life, prioritizing health and fashion, making the anti-aging industry particularly promising,” said Chen Juanling, a Shanghai municipal lawmaker and public affairs general manager of cosmetics brand Chando Group.
Source: China State Council Information Office
China firmly opposes relevant countries’ attempts to put together small circles to interfere in China’s internal affairs, attack and smear China, and stoke confrontation and antagonism, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday.
Spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on a joint statement made by the Republic of Korea, the United States and Japan in Munich, Germany, which contains negative comments regarding China’s Taiwan and the South China Sea issue.
“We’ve lodged serious representations with relevant countries,” Guo said.
Noting Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, Guo said the Taiwan question is purely an internal affair of China, which brooks no external interference.
The key to upholding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait lies in abiding by the one-China principle, and firmly opposing “Taiwan independence” separatism, said Guo, adding the Taiwan region’s participation in the activities of international organizations must and can only be handled in line with the one-China principle.
The spokesperson stressed that the Asia-Pacific is a stellar example of peace and development, not a chessboard for geopolitical contests. “We call on relevant parties to earnestly respect regional countries’ effort for peace and stability, abandon the Cold War mentality, stop creating bloc confrontation and stop fueling tensions in the region,” he said.
“China will firmly safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and meanwhile, stays committed to properly handling differences through dialogue and consultation with countries concerned,” Guo said.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Journalists work at the media center of the 61st Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, Feb. 16, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
China firmly promotes a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and supports an equal and orderly multipolar world that “is becoming a reality,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in Beijing on Monday.
China will be a factor of certainty in this multipolar system and strive to be a steadfast constructive force in a changing world, Guo told a daily news briefing, citing Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s keynote speech at the 61st Munich Security Conference.
Guo said “equal” means equal rights, opportunities and rules, and that all countries, big or small, are equal.
Instead of having international affairs dominated by a few countries or such countries conducting hegemonism and power politics, each country or country group should have its place in the globalized system, he said.
“An orderly world ensures stable progress toward greater multipolarity instead of leading to turbulence,” the spokesperson said.
To this end, all countries need to respect international rule of law, practice multilateralism, pursue openness and mutual benefit, jointly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, preserve the central role of the United Nations in the international system, and promote the common development of every country, he added.
China has firmly upheld the authority and stature of the United Nations, called for increasing the representation and say of developing countries in the international system, resolutely safeguarded the authority of international rule of law, and upheld true multilateralism, he said.
“We stay committed to sharing development opportunities with all countries, and promote a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization and support an equal and orderly multipolar world through our own high-quality development and high-standard opening up,” he added.
Source: China State Council Information Office
The so-called “update” to the Taiwan fact sheet displayed on the U.S. State Department website is another example of the U.S. side using the Taiwan question to contain China, and China urges the United States to immediately correct its mistakes, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Monday.
It was reported that the U.S. State Department had made an “update” to the Taiwan fact sheet displayed on its website, which has removed its previous wording saying it did not support Taiwan’s independence.
Guo reiterated that there is only one China and Taiwan is part of China, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the only legal government representing the whole of China, adding that it is a prevailing international consensus and basic norm governing international relations, and also a solemn commitment the U.S. has made in the three China-U.S. joint communiqués.
Guo stressed that the revision made by the U.S. Department of State on its Taiwan fact sheet gravely backpedaled on its position on Taiwan-related issues, and has sent a severely wrong signal to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.
“We urge the U.S. to immediately correct its wrongdoings, abide by the one-China principle and three China-U.S. joint communiqués,” Guo said, urging the U.S. side to stop upgrading substantive relations with Taiwan, refrain from assisting Taiwan in expanding its international space, and stop emboldening and supporting “Taiwan independence,” and avoid further severe damage to China-U.S. relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Source: China State Council Information Office
This photo taken on Feb. 27, 2022 shows smoke rising in the sky in Kiev, Ukraine. [Photo/Xinhua]
China welcomes all efforts dedicated to peace in Ukraine, including the recent agreement reached by the United States and Russia to start peace talks, Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Monday.
In remarks at the UN Security Council briefing on Ukraine, Fu said China has consistently advocated for settling global disputes and conflicts peacefully through dialogue and consultation in accordance with the UN Charter, and this applies equally to the Ukraine issue.
He recalled that 10 years ago, the parties concerned with the Ukraine issue reached the Minsk Agreements through negotiations, and that the agreements were subsequently endorsed by the Security Council in its Resolution 2202, which “represents the right direction of resolving differences and disputes through dialogue and negotiation.”
“Regrettably, after the conclusion of the agreements, most of the provisions were not fully and effectively implemented,” the ambassador said, adding that the situation that should have gradually deescalated has instead become even more tense, ultimately leading to the full escalation of the crisis and a large-scale conflict that continues to this day.
“The failure of the Minsk Agreements is deplorable, and its historical lessons warrant deep reflection,” Fu said.
He stressed that from the day after the crisis broke out, China has called for a political solution through dialogue and consultation, noting that the four-point proposal — the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries given due regard, and all efforts conducive to the peaceful settlement of the crisis supported — is China’s fundamental guidance on the Ukraine issue.
China has been actively engaged in diplomatic mediation and maintains contact with relevant parties, including Russia and Ukraine, has had in-depth participation in the consideration of the Ukraine issue under the framework of the United Nations and its Security Council, and plays a constructive role in promoting ceasefire and political settlement, Fu said.
China has also partnered with Brazil and other countries in creating the Group of Friends for Peace to garner the collective wisdom of the countries of the Global South and form an important force for peace, said the ambassador. “The evolving situation has proven that China’s proposal is objective, fair, rational, and pragmatic, reflecting the broad consensus of the international community.”
Fu pointed out that at present, the Ukraine issue is about to reach a critical moment for a negotiated settlement, and “the ultimate resolution of any conflict lies at the negotiation table, and history will undoubtedly deliver a just outcome.”
He expressed the hope that all relevant parties and stakeholders involved in the Ukraine crisis will engage in the peace talks process, and reach a fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement acceptable to all parties.
“As the conflict has been unfolding on European soil, it is imperative for Europe to work for peace,” Fu said.
“We hope the parties will jointly address the root causes of the crisis through negotiation and find a balanced, effective, and sustainable security framework for lasting stability in the region,” he said.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin meets with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, in Dublin, Ireland, Feb. 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
China is ready to work with Ireland to enhance their mutually beneficial cooperation, making it bigger, stronger, deeper and more concrete, in order to achieve shared development and prosperity, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Dublin on Monday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin.
He said China-Ireland relations have continuously developed alongside China’s reform and opening-up process. The development of the Shannon Free Zone has served as a valuable reference for China, while China’s development has also, in return, brought benefits to Ireland, he stressed.
The minister said the facts have proved that the mutually beneficial strategic partnership between China and Ireland serves both countries’ interests and brings benefits to their people.
At present, China is committed to promoting broader and deeper reform across the board, advancing Chinese modernization, and building a higher-standard open economy, which will bring new opportunities to all countries, including Ireland, Wang said.
China appreciates Ireland’s positive, pragmatic, and friendly policy towards China and stands ready to work with Ireland to implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, consolidate high-level mutual trust, and expand high-level cooperation, he said.
Wang stated that both China and Ireland are strong advocates of multilateralism and free trade. Under the current situation, China is ready to work with Ireland and the European Union (EU) in the spirit of equality and mutual respect, upholding the principles of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation, he noted.
China seeks to strengthen dialogue, enhance mutual trust, and properly manage differences with Ireland, Wang said, adding that both sides can serve as a constructive force in the process of global multi-polarization, making joint efforts to safeguard global peace, stability, and development.
Martin, for his part, stated that Ireland and China enjoy a long-standing tradition of friendship, mutual respect and trust, and strong bilateral relations. He noted that Chinese Premier Li Qiang paid a successful visit to Ireland last year.
China’s modernization and accelerated green transformation have brought significant opportunities to the world, he said, adding that Ireland attaches great importance to and cherishes its relations with China, and is willing to develop a closer partnership while continuing to adhere to the one-China policy.
At a time when unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, Ireland is willing to work with China to uphold multilateralism, support free trade, safeguard the stability of industrial and supply chains, and commit to resolving differences and disputes through dialogue, Martin said.
He noted that Ireland is willing to play a constructive role in promoting dialogue and cooperation between the EU and China.
During his visit, Wang also held talks with Tánaiste and Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
“Ne Zha 2,” the animated blockbuster that has dominated China’s box office, is igniting a global frenzy with its seamless fusion of traditional Chinese mythology and innovative animation storytelling.
Children look at a poster for “Ne Zha 2” in a theater in Los Angeles County, the United States, Feb. 14, 2025. (Photo by Qiu Chen/Xinhua)
The film was officially released in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea on Thursday and hit the big screen in North America the next day, sparking much demand. Additional releases are planned in other countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Egypt, South Africa, Pakistan, Japan and South Korea.
On social media, #NeZha2 is trending, with fans calling it “visually stunning” and “emotionally powerful.” The film’s IMDb rating stands at 8.3 to date, reflecting its universal appeal.
How did the animated movie, based on ancient Chinese mythology, become an international box office sensation?
EXQUISITE ANIMATION PRODUCTION
“Ne Zha 2” has captivated audiences with its state-of-the-art visual effects — an area once dominated by Hollywood productions.
By leveraging advanced technologies, such as GPU rendering and artificial intelligence, the film achieves a level of visual sophistication that rivals that of Hollywood films.
With around 2,000 special effects shots and 10,000 special effects elements, the film’s visual grandeur has blended with traditional Chinese aesthetics, like misty landscapes inspired by traditional ink paintings, creating a visually immersive experience that resonates globally.
The film’s technical brilliance, as seen in breathtaking sequences, such as the climactic battle at Tianyuan Ding and the transformation of Ne Zha’s physical form, exemplifies the significant advancement of China’s animation industry through the marriage of artistry and technology.
With contributions from 138 animation studios, “the film showcases the collaborative power of China’s creative ecosystem and heralds an upgrade in both the film industry and its aesthetic standards,” noted Chen Xuguang, director of the Institute of Film, Television and Theatre at Peking University.
People pose for photos in front of the poster of the Chinese animated feature “Ne Zha 2” at IMAX Sydney in Sydney, Australia, Feb. 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
GLOBAL APPEAL
Inspired by the 16th-century Chinese mythological novel, “The Investiture of the Gods,” “Ne Zha 2” portrays its protagonist as a rebellious boy-god blending contemporary themes of identity, resilience and social justice, a narrative that has struck a chord with global audiences.
Emotional appeal is a critical factor. The film’s emotional core — family bonds, friendship, and societal marginalization — transcends cultural barriers. As one U.S. viewer noted, “Ne Zha’s struggle mirrors my own battles against prejudice.”
Director Yang Yu, known as Jiaozi, has emphasized that the international success of Chinese cinema hinges on the intrinsic charm of the works themselves. “It’s about whether a script, a story and its characters can move audiences worldwide,” he said.
“Ne Zha 2,” with its universal themes and emotional depth, is a compelling example of how Chinese cinema can achieve this.
Robert King, a Hollywood producer, praised the film’s success in China and its cultural significance. He said “Ne Zha 2” could become a contender for international awards in multiple categories, including foreign film and animation. “This little rascal Ne Zha will resonate with Hollywood,” he said.
This photo taken on Feb. 13, 2025 shows a projected poster for the Chinese fantasy feature “Ne Zha 2” at a shopping mall in Sydney, Australia. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
WIDE AUDIENCE SUPPORT
The film, with English subtitles, has been well-received by overseas Chinese communities, whose overwhelming support — evidenced by positive social media comments and demands for more screenings — has been pivotal to its global momentum.
For many overseas Chinese viewers, “Ne Zha 2” offers a sense of cultural pride and nostalgia, resonating deeply with their cultural identity.
Angela Yu, from northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province and living in the U.S. for nearly 18 years, said the production was top-notch and the story captivated her every second, noting that “this is the best cure I’ve had in recent years.”
A lady, who gave her surname as Lai, said that she was deeply moved by the film, crying and laughing while watching it.
“Compared with the century-old Hollywood, Chinese films started late but have made rapid progress in recent years,” she said.
It is clear that in many ways, “Ne Zha 2” is more than just a film; it’s a cultural milestone. Its success reflects the dynamism of China’s creative industries, the enduring appeal of its cultural heritage, and the potential for Chinese stories to captivate audiences all over the world.
Having amassed over 10 billion yuan (about 1.39 billion U.S. dollars) in global total earnings, including presales, “Ne Zha 2” is the first film to gross 1 billion U.S. dollars in a single market and the first non-Hollywood title to join the coveted billion-dollar club.
With domestic earnings projected to surge past 15 billion yuan, the film stands poised to become the highest-grossing animated movie of all time and one of the five top-grossing films globally.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
African leaders attending the 38th African Union (AU) Summit have urged immediate withdrawal of the March 23 Movement (M23) armed group from the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In a press conference on the sidelines of the AU Summit on Sunday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye said African leaders called for the preservation and total respect of the sovereignty, political unity and territorial integrity of the DRC.
“We are clearly expressing great concern, and what leaders did too, in the situation in the eastern DRC, calling for immediate withdrawal of the M23 and their supporters from all occupied towns and cities, including Goma airport in the eastern DRC,” Adeoye said.
The commissioner noted that the continental bloc is closely following the crisis and pushing forward effective implementation of the Luanda and Nairobi processes.
“It is also important to emphasize that leaders even at the assembly and the level of the peace and security council also agreed to ensure that the two processes, popularly called Luanda and Nairobi processes, remain the best form of dialogue framework for all parties,” he said.
According to Adeoye, the continental bloc condemned illegal mineral exploitation and other natural resources in the region, which complicated the crisis. The AU called on all parties to the conflict in the eastern DRC to embrace reconciliation and dialogue.
The M23 rebels entered Bukavu, a major city in the region, on Sunday. The armed group has been advancing since seizing the region’s largest city, Goma, in late January.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that Kiev would not participate in the upcoming U.S.-Russia negotiations set to take place in Saudi Arabia this week, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.
“Ukraine will not take part. Ukraine knew nothing about this,” Zelensky was quoted as saying, emphasizing that Kiev will not accept the results of the negotiations that do not involve Ukraine.
“We cannot recognize anything or any agreements about us without us. And we will not recognize such agreements,” he emphasized.
Zelensky added that his official visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday “has no connection with the things that are happening in Saudi Arabia at the level of representatives of the United States and Russia.”
The U.S. and Russian delegations are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss a possible solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to local media reports.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
Russian and U.S. envoys will prepare possible talks on Ukrainian settlement and organize a meeting of their presidents during a Tuesday meeting in Saudi Arabia, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in Moscow on Monday.
Peskov said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Aide to the President of Russia Yuri Ushakov on Monday were flying to Riyadh on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that they will meet with U.S. representatives on Tuesday.
Lavrov and Ushakov will report to Putin on the results of the talks there, he said.
The representatives from the U.S. side will be Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, NBC News reported.
Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump held a telephone conversation on Feb. 12, during which the two leaders agreed to keep personal contacts, including arranging a meeting in the future.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
Palestinians are seen living among the rubble of destroyed houses in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, Feb. 16, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
The needs in Gaza, where the ceasefire is holding, are overwhelming, humanitarians said on Monday, adding that continuing Israeli operations in the West Bank are still producing casualties.
“As the UN and its humanitarian partners continue to deliver life-saving assistance across the Gaza Strip, the scale of needs remains overwhelming, requiring urgent and sustained support,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.
OCHA said the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that oxygen supplies are critically needed to keep emergency, surgical and intensive care services running at hospitals throughout Gaza, including Al Shifa and Al Rantisi in Gaza City. Health partners are engaging with the authorities to bring in generators, spare parts and equipment required to produce oxygen locally.
The office said that shelter partners distributed tarpaulins to more than 11,000 families in northern Gaza over the weekend. In Khan Younis, some 450 families received sealing-off kits, kitchen sets and hygiene kits at a displacement site in Al Mawasi.
OCHA said education activities are expanding, with its partners reporting that more than 250,000 people are enrolled in a distance learning program produced by the UN’s relief agency for Palestinian refugees. Humanitarian partners reported that 95 percent of school buildings were damaged during the hostilities, forcing many students into makeshift tents and open spaces in winter temperatures.
In the West Bank, OCHA said that since the Israeli military operations began on Jan. 21, the most extensive in two decades, 36 Palestinians reportedly were killed, 25 in Jenin and nearly a dozen in Tulkarm. The operation is causing high casualties and significant displacement, especially in refugee camps. Critical infrastructure has also been severely damaged, driving humanitarian needs even higher.
The office repeated that the use of lethal, war-like tactics during these operations raises concerns over the use of force that exceeds law enforcement standards.
OCHA also said that over the weekend, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian residents in several villages in the West Bank’s Nablus governorates, setting a house on fire during one of the attacks. Humanitarian partners are mobilizing resources to support affected communities.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
China is actively engaging in bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Thailand, Myanmar and other countries to effectively prevent lawbreakers from crossing borders to commit crimes and end the scourge of online gambling and telecom fraud, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Monday.
The recent string of online gambling, telecom fraud and other vicious cases along the Thailand-Myanmar border has threatened the safety of people’s lives and property from relevant countries, including China and Thailand, and disrupted the normal exchange and cooperation between regional countries, Guo said, adding that cracking down on such crimes is a clear demonstration of how China implements its people-centered philosophy, and a must choice to safeguard the common interests of regional countries.
“China is actively working with countries like Thailand and Myanmar to actively conduct bilateral and multilateral cooperation, adopt a series of policies, address symptoms and root causes of the issue, prevent lawbreakers from crossing borders to commit crimes, and end the scourge of online gambling and telecom fraud to protect the safety of people’s lives and property and keep the exchange and cooperation between regional countries in order,” Guo said.
He added that the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to work with relevant departments to guide embassies and consulates abroad in appropriately handling related consular assistance cases and make joint efforts to ensure the safety and legal rights of Chinese citizens overseas.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Israeli forces killed a Hamas military official in an airstrike in Lebanon, Israeli security officials said on Monday.
In a joint statement, the Israeli military and Shin Bet domestic security agency said warplanes “struck and eliminated” Mohammad Shaheen in Sidon, a coastal city in southern Lebanon.
The statement identified Shaheen as “the head of Hamas’ Operations Department in Lebanon” and accused him of recently planning attacks against Israeli civilians from Lebanon under Iranian direction and funding. It also described him as a “significant source of knowledge” for rocket attacks from Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen, a Lebanon-based pro-Hezbollah broadcaster, reported that an Israeli drone strike targeted a car at the entrance to Sidon.
Video footage circulating on social media showed a vehicle on fire on a highway, with a black cloud of smoke rising from it.
The strike comes a day before Israel is scheduled to complete its full withdrawal of troops from Lebanon under a ceasefire agreement that ended 14 months of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The Feb. 18 deadline was set after Israel and Lebanon agreed to postpone the original late-January deadline. However, Israel now insists on maintaining troops in five positions in southern Lebanon beyond the new deadline.
Source: China State Council Information Office
The Canadian government is ready to retaliate against U.S. tariffs, the nation’s trade minister told Australian media on Monday.
Mary Ng, Canada’s minister of export promotion, international trade and economic development, said during an official visit to Australia that the U.S. government’s promised tariffs will “simply create costs for Americans.”
U.S. President Donald Trump earlier in February agreed to pause a 25 percent tariff on all goods imported to the United States from Canada and Mexico except for energy products, which will face 10 percent tariffs, for 30 days.
Ng told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television on Monday night that Canada is ready to retaliate if the tariffs are implemented.
“Should Canada get tariffs that are punishing, tariffs that will hurt our economy, everything will be on the table,” she said. “We will respond, and we will respond with impact.”
The Australian government has said it is working on an exemption from U.S. 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports.
Ng, who is in Australia leading a delegation of 140 Canadian companies aiming to boost the trade relationship between the countries, told the ABC that the two countries have not yet discussed a joint response to U.S. tariffs.
In a separate interview with Nine Entertainment newspapers, she said that Australia and Canada should continue to promote open and free trade under a system “that is underpinned by a rules-based order.”
Ng met with Don Farrell, Australia’s minister for trade and tourism, over the weekend.
Farrell on Thursday rejected a claim from Peter Navarro, Trump’s senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, that aluminum imported from Australia is “killing” the U.S. market.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
A mainland spokesperson on Monday urged the United States to handle the Taiwan question with the “greatest prudence” and stop sending any wrong signals that condone or abet “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.
Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks after the U.S. State Department removed a line on its website stating that it does not support “Taiwan independence.”
The removal was a “severe regression” regarding the U.S. stance on the Taiwan question, Zhu said, adding that it severely violated the one-China principle and the three joint communiques between China and the United States.
She reiterated that Taiwan is China’s Taiwan, stressing that no matter how Taiwan and the United States collude, it will not change the fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China, nor will it change the irreversible trend of China’s reunification.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
China and Myanmar have held talks on strengthening law enforcement and security cooperation, including establishing a regular mechanism to combat cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud, according to a statement from the Chinese embassy in Myanmar.
The Myanmar government said it is committed to cracking down on such crimes, the statement said. Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia and Chinese Assistant Minister of Public Security Liu Zhongyi met on Friday with Myanmar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe and Union Minister for Home Affairs Lieutenant-General Tun Tun Naung.
During the talks, the Myanmar officials outlined steps the government will take to combat online gambling and telecom fraud, and pledged to strengthen coordination with China and neighboring countries to promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation, the statement said.
Chinese officials praised Myanmar’s commitment to protecting Chinese citizens, emphasizing that online gambling and telecom fraud pose serious threats to lives and property.
According to Myanmar News Agency, discussions focused on efforts to crack down on online scams and gambling operations in Myawaddy, a known hub for scam networks on the Myanmar border with Thailand. The two sides also discussed measures to rescue and repatriate Chinese nationals and improve information-sharing regarding legal action and the expulsion of foreigners who enter Myanmar illegally.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a regular news conference on Monday that China is working closely with Myanmar, Thailand and other countries to adopt comprehensive measures to tackle the root causes of online crime and prevent criminals from exploiting regional borders.
“The recent surge in online gambling and telecom fraud in the Thailand-Myanmar border areas has endangered the lives and property of citizens in several countries, including China and Thailand, while disrupting normal exchanges and cooperation in the region,” Guo said.
“Resolutely combating these crimes is necessary to protect the common interests of regional nations and reflects the shared aspirations of their people.”
According to the Bangkok Post, Liu visited Mae Sot in Thailand, across from Myawaddy, on Sunday. Myanmar has transferred 261 victims rescued from the KK Park and Shwe Kokko scam hubs in Myawaddy to Thai authorities for repatriation.
Liu previously visited Thailand two weeks ago, urging authorities there to take decisive action against scam networks in Myanmar, which he said pose a major threat to both China and Thailand.
On Feb 5, Thailand cut electricity, internet services and fuel supplies to five areas of Myanmar, including Myawaddy, as part of its efforts to cripple the scam operations.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Local governments in China are racing to embrace cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence and intelligent robots, to facilitate decision-making and industrial innovation, after Chinese AI startup DeepSeek recently sparked a new wave of global discussions on technology.
The municipal government of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, recently deployed DeepSeek’s open-source model on its government extranet, a private network for sharing information with selected external users, thereby pioneering the application of the model in fields such as government administration, urban management and public services.
Chen Geng, head of the infrastructure division at the Guangzhou Municipal Government Affairs Data Administration, said on Monday that the integration of the DeepSeek AI model can improve local residents’ access to policy information and boost the efficiency of document processing.
Chen said the open-source ecosystem of DeepSeek lowers the threshold for AI applications, benefiting intelligent administrative operations in government institutions at the provincial, municipal and county levels.
Guangzhou has upgraded its hotline services for handling complaints and suggestions from local residents by integrating with the DeepSeek AI model and other new technologies. This has reduced the average waiting time for calls from the public by 43 percent and increased the accuracy of directing the calls to 97 percent, according to the city government.
In addition, the government of Hohhot, the capital of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, has also completed the deployment of the DeepSeek-R1 model on its government extranet.
Li Haigang, director of the service center of Hohhot’s big data management bureau, said on Monday, “We will promote the application of the DeepSeek model across various departments, starting with providing immediate response and intelligent Q&A for the complaint hotline, and gradually expanding to accommodate more departmental business scenarios.”
Li added that the bureau plans to leverage advanced technologies such as big data and AI to analyze multimodal data, such as texts, images and videos, in order to support the aggregation and sharing of public data.
As of Monday, at least eight cities in China had announced integration with the DeepSeek AI model to empower local government services.
Moreover, some local governments have organized learning sessions to help officials and business professionals understand the development and application of DeepSeek and other AI technologies.
On Saturday, officials of Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, participated in a collective learning session on DeepSeek, during which Shen Yang, a professor at Tsinghua University’s College of AI, provided insights into domestic and international AI models, the use of DeepSeek, and AI-generated content and applications in various industries, according to Zhengzhou Daily.
An Wei, secretary of the Communist Party of China Zhengzhou committee, called for all officials in the city to master the use of AI models like DeepSeek, in order to fully leverage AI to assist in decision-making and improve work efficiency.
He also emphasized the need to align with the demands of Zhengzhou’s industrial transformation, promoting the integration of AI technology with strategic emerging industries, advantageous traditional industries, and new business formats such as the use of short videos, livestreaming and cultural creativity.
In the Jinpu New Area of Dalian, Liaoning province, a training session on applications of the DeepSeek AI model was held on Friday for more than 1,300 participants, including key government officials and representatives from over 500 enterprises, according to Li Yan, chief of the Jinpu New Area’s data bureau.
She said on Monday that the bureau will use AI models to empower government services by continuously improving the efficiency of government work, facilitating the transformation and upgrading of emerging industries, reducing the costs and increasing the efficiency of enterprises, and driving the high-quality development of the new area.
In addition to the application of the DeepSeek AI model in government services, the use of AI technology is also being encouraged in other fields, such as the new energy industry.
In December, a three-year action plan for technological innovation in the new energy industry was jointly released by 11 departments in Shandong province. It aims to establish an intelligent power management platform integrated with AI, achieving large-scale application by 2027.
According to People’s Daily Online, State Grid Shandong Electric Power Co has developed an AI-assisted intelligent power regulation model, achieving real-time control of various segments of the power industry chain.
Besides AI, senior officials across the country are also focusing on other technologies in emerging and future industries.
Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong visited the high-tech hub of Shenzhen last week to inspect the development of intelligent robots, AI, autonomous driving and quantum technology, according to Guangdong TV.
Wang emphasized the need to accelerate breakthroughs in key components such as machine brains, limbs and bodies, and to promote the innovative application of intelligent robots in scenarios such as elderly care and public services.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Zou Jiahua, a former vice premier of China’s State Council, died of illness at the age of 99 in Beijing at 11:42 p.m. Sunday, an official statement said.
Zou had also once served as a member of the Political Bureau of the 14th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Ninth National People’s Congress.
In the statement, Zou was extolled as an excellent CPC member, a time-tested and loyal communist soldier, proletarian revolutionist, and an outstanding leader in boosting China’s economic development and national defense industry, and advancing the socialist legal system.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
Chinese animated film “Ne Zha 2” has entered the top three at Australia’s weekend box office in its debut, according to data from box office reporting company Numero on Monday.
“Ne Zha 2” took the third spot with 2.35 million Australian dollars (1.50 million U.S. dollars) in the Weekend Total Box Office from Thursday through Sunday, the data showed.
“Captain America: Brave New World” made it to the top spot, earning 5.31 million Australian dollars in its debut. “Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy” secured the second position with 4.45 million Australian dollars in opening weekend earnings.
“Ne Zha 2” was screened in 91 cinemas in its opening weekend in Australia, the largest scale for a Chinese film in the local market in nearly two decades, David Duan, associate director of CMC Pictures, which is the distributor for the film’s overseas release, told Xinhua.
Currently, in terms of per-screen earnings and occupancy rates, “Ne Zha 2” is outperforming “Captain America: Brave New World,” he said.
“Ne Zha 2” is the sequel to the 2019 animated blockbuster “Ne Zha.” Both films were inspired by the 16th-century Chinese mythological novel “The Investiture of the Gods.”
The Chinese animated blockbuster has surpassed Disney’s 2019 “The Lion King” to claim a spot among the 10 highest-grossing films of all time, with global earnings, including presales, exceeding 12.05 billion Chinese yuan (about 1.67 billion U.S. dollars), according to data from Chinese ticketing platform Maoyan as of Monday afternoon.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
Having broken the Hollywood monopoly in the global list of 10 highest-grossing films, the animated feature “Ne Zha 2” is generating ripple effects beyond cinemas, showcasing China’s vibrant consumption and dynamic economy.
Less than three weeks since its premiere, the global earnings, including presales, of “Ne Zha 2” have exceeded 12.05 billion yuan (about 1.68 billion U.S. dollars).
Drawing inspiration from a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) mythological tale, much like the globally acclaimed 3A video game “Black Myth: Wukong,” “Ne Zha 2” reimagines the story of Nezha, a legendary boy with extraordinary powers, for today’s audience. He is also a character in the classic novel “Journey to the West,” which features the Monkey King, or Sun Wukong.
The film’s success extends to catering, retail, tourism, and capital markets.
Inspired by the film, a restaurant in north China’s Tianjin Municipality has creatively incorporated the film’s characters and cuisines into its menu, with dishes like “stir-fried squid tentacles” recalling a humorous scene from the movie.
Traditional specialties, such as lotus root powder — used in the film to remake Ne Zha’s flesh — have seen a resurgence in popularity.
Additionally, a Ne Zha-themed hot pot restaurant in Yibin, Sichuan Province, has become a popular spot for photos due to its interior design inspired by the film’s elements, like the Red Armillary Sash.
Craze for IP derivatives
The craze for IP derivatives is evident, with Ne Zha-themed merchandise selling out rapidly. In Shanghai, movie theater operators reported that popcorn tubs and drink packages featuring Ne Zha sold out within days of the film’s release. In Beijing, action figures of Ne Zha are in high demand, with shipments scheduled as far out as July.
“I really like Ao Bing (a dragon prince and friend of Ne Zha in the film). I ordered six blind boxes from Pop Mart as soon as the products were released, hoping to get a toy of Ao Bing,” said Dekyi Yangzom, a movie enthusiast from southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, who was deeply impressed by the story and visual effects of the film.
Online sales of “Ne Zha 2” merchandise have surged, with sales reportedly exceeding 50 million yuan on Taobao, a leading e-commerce platform in China.
Zhang Zizhong, an assistant professor at Zhejiang University, highlighted the evolving revenue models in China’s film industry.
“In the past, films mainly relied on box office to generate revenues. However, today, IP derivatives have become a significant source of profits,” said Zhang, adding that the audiences are willing to pay for content beyond the movie itself.
A boost for local tourism
The film’s use of various Chinese dialects has entertained audiences and highlighted the unique charm of local cultures, boosting cultural tourism in regions like Tianjin and Sichuan.
Locations like Chentangzhuang in Tianjin, linked by some people to Chentang Pass in the film, are seeing increased visitors. Capitalizing on the opportunity, Tianjin’s cultural and tourism sector has introduced several Ne Zha-themed experiential routes, resulting in a nearly 30 percent surge in visitor traffic.
In the Cuiping district of Yibin, known for ancient temples honoring Nezha, newly launched attractions and themed events have drawn crowds, leading to a 34 percent increase in hotel booking.
In Xixia County, Henan Province, the Nezha Temple attracts global visitors annually. Following the movie’s release, the local cultural and tourism department reported a year-on-year rise in visitor numbers at the county’s major scenic spots, accompanied by a 13.2 percent increase in overall revenue.
Stock price rise
As “Ne Zha 2” continues to dominate the box office, the stock prices of the companies involved in its production, including Beijing Enlight Media Co., Ltd., the main producer, have seen a significant uptick.
Within seven trading days after the Spring Festival holiday, Enlight Media’s stock price hit the upper limit five times, with its market value soaring from approximately 28 billion yuan on Jan. 27 to 101.9 billion yuan on Feb. 14.
Wang Changtian, the company’s chairman, said that such performance is a direct market response to the box office success of “Ne Zha 2.”
Zhu Yuqing, vice chairman of the industry review committee of the China Film Critics Association, said that amidst the global sensation of “Ne Zha 2,” investors previously skeptical about the Chinese film market have shifted their stance and are now paying attention to Chinese animated films.
“The investment rationale for animated films extends beyond box office revenue; their industrial chain is extensive. Derivative products, real-world scenery development, souvenirs, and games can all generate a long-tail effect,” Zhu explained, adding that the capital market is generally optimistic about animated films this year, which marks the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema and the 130th anniversary of world cinema.
“The strong start of ‘Ne Zha 2’ is just the beginning. The vast potential for consumption in China’s film market, the broad development space for the film industry, and the growing enthusiasm for domestic blockbusters will drive Chinese filmmakers to create more outstanding domestic animations that will shine on the global stage,” said Zhao Xinli, dean of the Advertising School at the Communication University of China.