Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
“We are very delighted to be here, to see such a vibrant and prosperous and important city and region.” Diplomats from six countries recently gathered in the eastern Chinese city of Quanzhou to mark the Lantern Festival and experience the city’s rich cultural heritage.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 15 — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged to enhance exchanges, dialogue and cooperation with China during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Saturday.
Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, conveyed cordial greetings from the Chinese leadership to Scholz.
Wang said that high-level interactions between China and Germany have been frequent and bilateral pragmatic cooperation has maintained good momentum and yielded positive results, which served the fundamental and long-term interests of both peoples.
He stressed that as strategic partners, China and Germany, as well as China and the European Union (EU), should further strengthen unity, coordination and cooperation to uphold free trade, practice multilateralism, and safeguard the authority of the United Nations.
China is pleased to see Germany playing a significant role in a multipolar world and is willing to deepen comprehensive cooperation with Germany to advance bilateral relations in a positive direction, safeguard global peace and stability, and provide greater certainty to an increasingly turbulent world, he added.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties, Wang said, adding that the two sides should enhance complementary advantages and deepen pragmatic cooperation to jointly usher in the next 50 years of even stronger China-EU relations.
Wang said that China appreciates Germany’s rational and pragmatic stance on the EU’s tariff issue concerning Chinese electric vehicles and hopes Germany to continue to play a constructive role in promptly resolving China-EU trade frictions at an early date.
Scholz asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to the Chinese leadership, stating that Germany highly values its relations with China. He said Germany is willing to enhance exchanges and dialogue at all levels with China and deepen bilateral and multilateral strategic cooperation with China.
Germany opposes protectionism and does not support a tariff war, he said, calling on the EU and China to take a constructive approach to promptly and properly resolve frictions as soon as possible, including those related to electric vehicles, and jointly uphold the free trade system.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis.
During his visit to Germany, Wang also met with Friedrich Merz, chairman of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union, among others.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Comprehensive park transformed from railway remains in Xi’an, China’s Shaanxi
By ,
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark maintains that Cook Islands, a realm of New Zealand, should have consulted Wellington before signing a “partnership” deal with China.
“[Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown] seems to have signed behind the backs of his own people as well as of New Zealand,” Clark told RNZ Pacific.
Brown said the deal with China complements, not replaces, the relationship with New Zealand.
The contents of the deal have not yet been made public.
“The Cook Islands public need to see the agreement — does it open the way to Chinese entry to deep sea mining in pristine Cook Islands waters with huge potential for environmental damage?” Clark asked.
“Does it open the way to unsustainable borrowing? What are the governance safeguards? Why has the prime minister damaged the relationship with New Zealand by acting in this clandestine way?”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Clark went into detail about the declaration she signed with Cook Islands Prime Minister Terepai Maoate in 2001.
“There is no doubt in my mind that under the terms of the Joint Centenary Declaration of 2001 that Cook Islands should have been upfront with New Zealand on the agreement it was considering signing with China,” Clark said.
“Cook Islands has opted in the past for a status which is not independent of New Zealand, as signified by its people carrying New Zealand passports. Cook Islands is free to change that status, but has not.”
Missing the mark
A Pacific law expert said there was a clear misunderstanding on what the 2001 agreement legally required New Zealand and Cook Islands to consult on.
Brown has argued that New Zealand does not need to be consulted with to the level they want, something Foreign Minister Winston Peters disagrees with.
AUT senior law lecturer and former Pacific Islands Forum policy advisor Sione Tekiteki told RNZ Pacific the word “consultation” had become somewhat of a sticking point:
“From a legal perspective, there’s an ambiguity of what the word consultation means. Does it mean you have to share the agreement before it’s signed, or does it mean that you broadly just consult with New Zealand regarding what are some of the things that, broadly speaking, are some of the things that are in the agreement?
“That’s one avenue where there’s a bit of misunderstanding and an interpretation issue that’s different between Cook Islands as well as New Zealand.”
Unlike a treaty, the 2001 declaration is not “legally binding” per se but serves more to express the intentions, principles and commitments of the parties to work together in “recognition of the close traditional, cultural and social ties that have existed between the two countries for many hundreds of years”, he added.
Tekiteki said that the declaration made it explicitly clear that Cook Islands had full conduct of its foreign affairs, capacity to enter treaties and international agreements in its own right and full competence of its defence and security.
There was, however, a commitment of the parties to “consult regularly”, he said.
For Clark, the one who signed the all-important agreement all those years ago, this is where Brown had misstepped.
Pacific nations played off against each other
Tekiteki said it was not just the Joint Centenary Declaration causing contention. The “China threat” narrative and the “intensifying geopolitics” playing out in the Pacific was another intergrated issue.
An analysis in mid-2024 found that there were more than 60 security, defence and policing agreements and initiatives with the 10 largest Pacific countries.
Australia was the dominant partner, followed by New Zealand, the US and China.
A host of other agreements and “big money” announcements have followed, including the regional Pacific Policing Initiative and Australia’s arrangements with Nauru and PNG.
“It would be advantageous if Pacific nations were able to engage on security related matters as a bloc rather than at the bilateral level,” Tekiteki said.
“Not only will this give them greater political agency and leverage, but it would allow them to better coordinate and integrate support as well as avoid duplications. Entering these arrangements at the bilateral level opens Pacific nations to being played off against each other.
“This is the most worrying aspect of what I am currently seeing.
“This matter has greater implications for Cook Islands and New Zealand diplomatic relations moving forward.”
Protecting Pacific sovereignty
The word sovereignty is thrown around a lot. In this instance Tekiteki does not think “there is any dispute that Cook Islands maintains sovereignty to enter international arrangements and to conduct its affairs as it determines”.
But he did point out the difference between “sovereignty — the rhetoric” that we hear all the time, and “real sovereignty”.
“For example, sovereignty is commonly used as a rebuttal to other countries to mind their own business and not to meddle in the affairs of another country.
“At the regional level is tied to the projection of collective Pacific agency, and the ‘Blue Pacific’ narrative.
“However, real sovereignty is more nuanced. In the context of New Zealand and Cook Islands, both countries retain their sovereignty, but they have both made commitments to “consult” and “cooperate”.
Now, they can always decide to break that, but that in itself would have implications on their respective sovereignty moving forward.
“In an era of intensifying geopolitics, militarisation, and power posturing — this becomes very concerning for vulnerable but large Ocean Pacific nations without the defence capabilities to protect their sovereignty.”
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Feb. 15 — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a message to the 38th African Union (AU) Summit, extending warm congratulations to African countries and people.
In the face of the current complex and intertwined international situation, the Global South, represented by China and Africa, has grown significantly, Xi noted.
Over the past year, the AU has united and led African countries in vigorously advancing integration, actively responding to regional and global challenges, and speaking in unison as the “voice of Africa,” Xi said.
Noting that these efforts have led to a continuous boost in Africa’s international status and influence, he sincerely wishes African countries and people even greater success on the path of independence, self-reliance and development.
Xi said that the year 2024 saw vigorous development of China-Africa relations.
With the successful Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, China and Africa have embarked on a new stage of jointly building an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era, and stayed at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi noted.
He expressed readiness to work with African leaders to promote the implementation of the six proposals for jointly advancing modernization and 10 partnership actions, so as to bring more tangible results to benefit over 2.8 billion Chinese and African peoples.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
XIAMEN, Feb. 15 — Flight 8G881, from Timor-Leste’s capital Dili, landed in Xiamen at 10:40 p.m. local time on Friday, marking the official opening of the first direct passenger flight route between China and Timor-Leste.
Passenger routes between the eastern Chinese city of Xiamen and Dili will be operated by Dili Air, with two round-trip flights per month during the trial operation period from February to April this year. The one-way flight duration is about 5.5 hours.
Starting May, there will be a weekly round-trip flight connecting the two destinations.
Previously, Chinese passengers traveling to Timor-Leste tended to select transit travel via Indonesia or Singapore. This option took 10 hours or more, and sometimes as much as two days.
Experts believe the opening of this direct passenger air route will boost economic and trade exchanges, as well as tourism ties, between the two cities.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HARBIN, Feb. 15 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday stressed stepping up the development of winter sports and related industries to create new opportunities for service consumption and a new growth driver for the economy.
Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during his inspection tour to northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province.
He highlighted the need to utilize distinctive advantageous resources, enrich the supply of quality products, stimulate the vitality of the winter economy, and continuously improve the well-being of the people.
While visiting the Harbin Songhua River Ice and Snow Carnival, Li said it was necessary to further tap into local resources to build snow and ice venues accessible to the public and create more engaging and entertaining winter activities.
He urged the province to continue to develop new consumption scenarios and new forms of business, expand and improve service consumption, and leverage its distinctive advantages to strengthen development.
The premier then visited a local ice sports center. Noting that the recently concluded 9th Asian Winter Games has further fueled public enthusiasm for winter sports, he called for efforts to leverage this opportunity to further promote mass participation in winter activities and develop industries related to winter sports equipment.
While talking with designers at a local company engaged in culture and tourism, Li said more work should be done to continuously increase the appeal of ice and snow cultural products, reinforce the principal role of enterprises in innovation to create more products and services, and strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in the sector.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Researcher strives to cultivate saline-alkali tolerant rice in S China’s Hainan
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers on the margins of the Munich Security Conference, 15 February 2025.
The G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, met on the margins of the Munich Security Conference for the first time under Canada’s 2025 Presidency.
The G7 members discussed Russia’s devasting war in Ukraine. They underscored their commitment to work together to help to achieve a durable peace and a strong and prosperous Ukraine and reaffirmed the need to develop robust security guarantees to ensure the war will not begin again.
The G7 members welcomed their discussion today with Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. They recalled the G7’s important contribution towards ending the war in Ukraine, including through measures pursuant to the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine, by supporting Ukraine financially through the use of extraordinary revenues stemming from Russian Sovereign Assets, by imposing further cost on Russia, if they do not negotiate in good faith, through caps on oil and gas prices, and by making sanctions against Russia more effective. Any new, additional sanctions after February should be linked to whether the Russian Federation enters into real, good-faith efforts to bring an enduring end to the war against Ukraine that provides Ukraine with long-term security and stability as a sovereign, independent country. The G7 members reaffirmed their unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
The G7 members discussed the provision to Russia of dual-use assistance by China and of military assistance by DPRK and Iran. They condemned all such support.
The G7 members discussed political, security and humanitarian issues in the Middle East, including in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Iran, and their commitment to advancing regional peace and stability. They underscored the importance of a durable, Israeli-Palestinian peace. They reaffirmed their support for the full implementation of the ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas, including for the release of all hostages and the expansion of humanitarian aid in Gaza. The G7 members stand behind the ongoing efforts of Egypt, Qatar and the United States in continuing to work towards a permanent ceasefire. They reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of Hamas and the need to ensure that Hamas neither reconstitutes militarily nor participates in governance. They recognized Israel’s inherent right to self-defence, consistent with international law.
The G7 members welcomed the outcomes of the International Conference on Syria, hosted by France on February 13, 2025. They reiterated their shared commitment to the people of Syria and their support for an inclusive political transition process, in the spirit of UN Security Council Resolution 2254. They welcomed, as well, positive developments in Lebanon, including the recent election of President Joseph Aoun, the designation of Nawaf Salam as Prime Minister, and the formation of a new government. The G7 members reaffirmed their commitment to both countries’ stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
The G7 members unequivocally condemned Iran’s destabilizing actions, including its rapid advancement of uranium enrichment without credible civil justification, its facilitation of terrorism organizations and armed groups across the Middle East and Red Sea, its proliferation of ballistic missiles and drones, and its transnational repression and violation of fundamental human rights.
The G7 members reiterated their commitment to a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific region, grounded in respect for the rule of law and sovereignty. They strongly opposed any attempts to change unilaterally the status quo using force and underscored the importance of resolving disputes peacefully. They strongly opposed China’s attempts to restrict freedom of navigation through militarization and coercive activities in the East and South China Sea.
The G7 members expressed serious concern over the DPRK’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. They demanded that the DPRK abandon all its nuclear weapons, existing nuclear programs, and any other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner in accordance with all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). They underscored that direct DPRK support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine marks a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific security. They urged the DPRK to cease immediately all assistance for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including by withdrawing its troops. The called upon DPRK to resolve the abductions issue immediately.
The G7 members also discussed urgent situations of conflict and instability elsewhere in the world, including in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan, and in Haiti and Venezuela.
The G7 Foreign Ministers looked forward to their meeting in Canada in Charlevoix, Quebec on March 12-14.
Published 15 February 2025
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
The Foreign and Defence Secretaries have written a joint Op-Ed in the Daily Telegraph on how to reach a strong and durable peace in Ukraine.
For 20 years, Vladimir Putin has been repeating the mistakes of Russia’s past: by seeking to recreate the Russian empire and suffocate the countries around its borders.
Too often in the past, the West has let him. We did too little in 2008, when he invaded Georgia, and in 2014, when he first went into Ukraine.
When he launched his full-scale attack almost three years ago, he thought it would be more of the same. Putin believed that he would win his war in three days. Yet the Ukrainians continue to fight with huge courage and the support of their friends.
Putin only responds to strength. Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky have both spoken of their desire to achieve “peace through strength”. And the support we give to Ukraine provides the strength to achieve that peace. Ukraine, Britain, Europe and the US all agree.
In Brussels this week, at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group – which we as the UK chaired for the first time – Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, confirmed that, like us, the US wants to see a sovereign, prosperous Ukraine.
Like us, the US wants a lasting peace, after almost three years of war.
Like us, the US recognises the failure of Minsk agreements, deals made from a position of division and weakness.
At the Munich Security Conference this weekend, our message to our allies is the need for us all to continue to unite and show strength.
The Prime Minister has signed a 100-year partnership with Ukraine – a testament to our long-term commitment and confidence in the country’s future. Including the new loans we are giving, which will be repaid using the windfall profits from frozen Russian assets, our support extends to £15 billion.
And we are going farther still: this week, we announced an additional £150 million military package, part of the record £4.5 billion in support we are providing this coming year.
A year on from the death of Alexei Navalny, we are also putting new sanctions on Putin’s inner circle, adding to 2,000 sanctions Britain has already put on Russia.
From opposition and in government, we have been clear that Europe and the UK must do more together to share the burden of our continent’s security.
[POLITICAL CONTENT REDACTED]
We were clear we need our friends in Europe to invest more in defence and seize the opportunities of closer UK-EU cooperation.
This has already begun. Europe is united on the need to step up. We are – and we will.
Europe has now committed almost two thirds of all aid to Ukraine, and well over half the military aid. In 2021, the UK and US were two of only six allies meeting Nato’s 2 per cent defence spending target. That number is now 23.
And we all need to turn up the pressure on Russia. Putin’s economy is struggling. Last year, the Kremlin spent more on military aid than social welfare for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Sanctions on energy are a particular priority: the UK has sanctioned more than 100 ships, as well as Gazprom Neft and PJSC Surgutneftegas, two of Russia’s big four oil companies.
While Russia is weakened, it remains undeniably dangerous. Just this weekend, our Royal Navy will track Russian warships passing close to British waters. These ships are retreating from Syria after Putin abandoned his ally Bashar al-Assad, yet they remain armed and full of ammunition. We will be watching their every move.
Ultimately, we need a strong peace. A durable peace. A peace that allows Ukrainians a secure future and deters any future Russian aggression. That is why there must be no talks about Ukraine without Ukraine, and we must give Mr Zelensky the strongest possible hand in those talks.
A bad peace would not only harm our security, but our economies, too: Putin’s 2022 invasion took 1.5 per cent off global GDP and added 3 per cent to European inflation. China, Iran and North Korea are all watching.
A durable peace must be based on new security arrangements: Europe doubling down to do more on our own continent’s security; a continuing, long-term US commitment to its allies through Nato; and British support to the US and allies in the Indo-Pacific – such as through the Aukus security partnership. That is the way to make us all stronger.
On Feb 24, we will mark a grim milestone – three years since Putin’s full-scale invasion. Yet despite all the challenges, Ukrainians are showing astonishing tenacity. Now is the time to turn up the pressure on the Kremlin. With strength and unity, we will prevail.
Published 14 February 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says the deal with China “complements, not replaces” the relationship with New Zealand after signing it yesterday.
Brown said “The Action Plan for Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) 2025-2030” provides a structured framework for engagement between the Cook Islands and China.
“Our relationship and engagement with China complements, not replaces, our long-standing relationships with New Zealand and our various other bilateral, regional and multilateral partners — in the same way that China, New Zealand and all other states cultivate relations with a wide range of partners,” Brown said in a statement.
The statement said the agreement would be made available “in the coming days” on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration online platforms.
Brown said his government continued to make strategic decisions in the best long-term interests of the country.
He said China had been “steadfast in its support” for the past 28 years.
“It has been respectful of Cook Islands sovereignty and supportive of our sustained and concerted efforts to secure economic resilience for our people amidst our various vulnerabilities and the many global challenges of our time including climate change and access to development finance.”
Priority areas
The statement said priority areas of the agreement include trade and investment, tourism, ocean science, aquaculture, agriculture, infrastructure including transport, climate resilience, disaster preparedness, creative industries, technology and innovation, education and scholarships, and people-to-people exchanges.
At the signing was China’s Premier Li Qiang and the minister of Natural Resources Guan Zhi’ou.
On the Cook Islands side, was Prime Minister Mark Brown and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tukaka Ama.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for New Zealand Minister for Foreign Affairs Winston Peters released a statement earlier on Saturday, saying New Zealand would consider the agreements closely, in light of New Zealand and the Cook Islands’ mutual constitutional responsibilities.
“We know that the content of these agreements will be of keen interest to the people of the Cook Islands,” the statement said.
“We note that Prime Minister Mark Brown has publicly committed to publishing the text of the agreements that he agrees in China.
“We are unable to respond until Prime Minister Brown releases them upon his return to the Cook Islands.”
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Chief Executive John Lee and his wife Janet Lee today attended the Giant Panda Twin Cubs Greeting Ceremony at Ocean Park.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lee said the China Conservation & Research Centre for the Giant Panda and the park’s animal care team have taken excellent care of the giant panda twin cubs and provide professional postnatal care to Ying Ying after she gave birth to the cubs.
He added that the birth of the twin cubs not only solidifies the outstanding achievements of the country in giant panda conservation, but also demonstrates Ocean Park’s leading position as an important conservation and education base in Hong Kong.
Mr Lee noted that with the country’s efforts over the years, giant pandas have been downgraded from “Endangered” to “Vulnerable” on the global list of species at risk of extinction, representing the success of its conservation work.
“Together with our country, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to advance and promote conservation of giant pandas and thereby tell the good stories of our country, Hong Kong and the giant pandas.”
The giant panda cubs were born on August 15 last year and their parents – Ying Ying and Le Le – were gifted by the central government to Hong Kong in 2007. The first pair of giant pandas born in the city, they have grown healthily at their habitat in Ocean Park.
The Chief Executive also announced at the ceremony the launch of the Giant Panda Twin Cubs Naming Competition.
Organised by the Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau and co-organised by Ocean Park Corporation, the competition is open for entries until March 7. The competition results will be announced in the first half of this year.
Starting from tomorrow, the public can visit the twin cubs at Ocean Park as well as the other four members of the Hong Kong giant panda family.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
An article by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on improving the systems for exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance will be published on Sunday.
The article by Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will be published in this year’s fourth issue of the Qiushi Journal, a flagship magazine of the CPC Central Committee.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
Chinese box office hit “Ne Zha 2” was screened on Friday in a limited theatrical release in North America.
The highly-anticipated film is being released by CMC Pictures in Mandarin with English subtitles in about 750 selected theaters in North American cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, New York, Boston, Atlanta, Toronto, Vancouver and a few other cities with a large overseas Chinese population.
The animated epic fantasy film’s North American pre-sale box office alone has exceeded the opening weekend box office record in North America for any Chinese-language film in the past 20 years.
The animated film has captivated Chinese audiences with its exquisite animation production, grand visual imagination and rich cultural expression. After opening on Jan. 29, the Chinese New Year, the film swiftly smashed box office records, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time in China.
The blockbuster became the first Chinese film to gross 10 billion yuan (about 1.39 billion U.S. dollars) when its total global earnings, including presales, reached the mark on Thursday evening, according to data from ticketing platform Maoyan. It’s also the first non-Hollywood film to cross the billion-USD benchmark.
“Ne Zha 2” is a sequel to the 2019 animated blockbuster “Ne Zha.” Both films were inspired by China’s 16th-century classic novel “The Investiture of the Gods.”
The film has already sparked a wave of enthusiasm in North America with a high attendance rate in some theaters, especially theaters in cities with big Chinese communities.
A lady, who gave her surname as Lai, told Xinhua 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.
“Ne Zha 2” boasts a positive 8.3 out of 10 rating from over 2,800 users on the international review platform IMDb to date, with 60 percent of them giving the film a perfect 10.
Source: China State Council Information Office
China aims to push the international order toward a more just and reasonable direction in line with the wishes of the majority of countries, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.
China has developed within the current international order and has benefited from it, Wang said when answering questions at the “China in the World” session of the ongoing Munich Security Conference.
Addressing concerns about the crises facing the international order, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that over the years, some have claimed that China seeks to change the current order and starts a new one; however, the country that is truly challenging the order, breaking agreements, and withdrawing from international organizations is making Europe feel the chill every day.
In response to a question regarding how to avoid double standards in applying international rules, Wang said that while different parties may have varying understandings of international rules, there should be one fundamental shared perception, which is to uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and adhere to the basic principles of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
This should be the highest common denominator for the international community, Wang said, adding that as long as everyone agrees on this point, there will be no room for double standards to exist.
The Chinese top diplomat also stressed that China is aware of its international responsibilities and stands ready to provide more public goods for the international community.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has put forward a series of important initiatives, including the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, to urge the international community to take action and work together to address the increasingly severe deficits in development, security and governance, Wang noted.
President Xi has also proposed the lofty goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind, calling on countries to transcend differences in history, culture, social systems and ideologies to protect the only planet that humanity shares and build a global village with a shared future, the foreign minister said.
This vision not only reflects the internationalist ideals of the CPC members, but also embodies the traditional Chinese concept of “all under heaven belongs to the people,” and this has garnered increasing understanding, recognition and support from many countries, Wang said.
China will continue to contribute to the implementation of these important initiatives and concepts, he added.
Source: China State Council Information Office
China maintains a stable and consistent policy toward the United States and does not easily flip-flop or reverse the policy, demonstrating its strategic resolve as well as international credibility as a major country, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during the Munich Security Conference on Friday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks when delivering a speech at the “China in the World” session and answering questions from the host.
China and the United States have different social systems, which are choices made by their people, so it is unrealistic to attempt to change or even upend the other party’s system, Wang noted.
Wang said that global challenges need to be jointly addressed by China and the United States and this is also an international responsibility that both sides should shoulder.
China is ready to build a stable, healthy and sustainable bilateral relationship with the United States based on the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and to find the right way for the two major countries to get along with each other on this planet, Wang noted, expressing hope that the United States will move in the same direction as China.
If the U.S. insists on suppressing and containing China, the Chinese side will play along to the end, firmly counter any unilateral bullying actions by the United States, and resolutely defend its national sovereignty, dignity and legitimate right to development, Wang said.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is working with President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to hold the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) accountable for stonewalling her investigations and hiding how they spent tax dollars.
She recounted her experience in a Wall Street Journal op-ed here:
“After keeping its spending records hidden from Congress and taxpayers, USAID employees are now protesting the review of the agency’s records by President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. It’s no surprise that Washington insiders are more upset at DOGE for trying to stop wasteful spending than at USAID for misusing tax dollars.”
This week, Senator Ernst joined Fox News to discuss her work with DOGE:
“I was privileged to meet with Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk just after the fall election and gave them an eight-page memo that outlined a number of the ‘squeal’ initiatives that I have had over the last ten years. It outlined a blueprint to save $2 trillion within our federal government, and we have seen them act on those initiatives already.”
“There are so many ways that we can save money. We’ve seen the fraud, waste, and abuse – the telework abuse that has happened in DC…We have to be able to do a deep dive and provide our taxpayers with good reasons why we are spending their money the way we do. Unfortunately, for many of these agencies, they cannot come up with a good reason why we are spending money the way we do.”
View more coverage of Ernst exposing the rogue agency:
RADIO IOWA | Iowa Senator Ernst says USAID shutdown the right move
“Last summer, Ernst accused USAID of payroll fraud. On Sunday on the X Spaces broadcast, Ernst said Musk, with President Trump’s blessing, has made the right move in shutting down USAID, so ‘every dollar’ can be scrutinized.”
DAILY CALLER | Joni Ernst Says USAID ‘Abused The System,’ Agency Threatened Her For Seeking Transparency
“‘We need to know that those dollars are doing it and not going to fund terrorist organizations, not going to support a gender ideology in certain regions. We have to know that it’s going for a specific goal that is approved by Congress and, unfortunately, USAID has abused this system,’ Ernst said.”
THE FEDERALIST | Ernst’s struggle to hold USAID accountable frustrated Musk who called the agency’s obstruction of her attempts to investigate ‘outrageous.’
“Ernst first pressed USAID on how it used its tax dollars to pay the facilities and administrative costs outlined in Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements (NICRAs) in November 2022… Months later in November 2023, Ernst demanded that USAID Administrator Samantha Powers hand over crucial information about her agency’s spending — including sending billions of American tax dollars to fund pet projects and small businesses in Ukraine — but, as Ernst noted Sunday, was again ignored… Ernst’s struggle to hold USAID accountable frustrated Musk, who called the agency’s obstruction of her repeated attempts to investigate ‘outrageous.’”
NY POST | Sen. Joni Ernst warns of ‘willful sabotage’ at USAID, cites millions in funding for Wuhan lab, terrorists and more
“The Republican Hawkeye State senator and Senate DOGE Caucus chair, listed a slew of examples on social media this week on why ‘USAID is one of the worst offenders of waste in Washington’… In one example she highlighted, an inspector general discovered that Chemonics, a USAID contractor, overbilled the feds by ‘as much as $270 million through fiscal year 2019’ and was caught ‘possibly offering kickbacks to terrorist groups.’”
FOX NEWS | USAID has ‘demonstrated pattern of obstructionism,’ claims top DOGE Republican in letter to Rubio
“The Senate chair of the DOGE Caucus is exposing a ‘demonstrated pattern of obstructionism’ at the U.S.’ top aid agency in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, outlined how the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been ‘stonewalling’ her office for years as she sought documents to ensure taxpayer dollars weren’t wasted at the agency, which is now under the microscope of billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).”
RED STATE | Joni Ernst Drops Devastating USAID Thread, and You Won’t Believe Where Your Money Has Been Going
“Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) put out a thread on Tuesday and you won’t believe what your money has been going to.”
DAILY MAIL | Congresswoman reveals ‘crazy’ USAID threatened her when she tried to curb its spending last year
“The Iowa Republican tore into the agency…’They were trying to scare us away from continuing to dig into this,’ she added. Ernst wanted to know how much USAID was spending on administrative costs versus aid.”
NATIONAL REVIEW | USAID’s Long Track Record of Wasteful, Left-Wing Spending Made It an Obvious First Target for Musk
“Senator Joni Ernst (R., Iowa) pushed to suspend the flow of American taxpayer dollars to EcoHealth. ‘From funneling tax dollars for batty studies with the Wuhan Institute in China, to sending Ukrainians to Paris Fashion Week, USAID has been one of the worst offenders of waste in Washington.’”
DAILY WIRE | ‘Beyond Repair’: Musk Says Trump Has Given The Go-Ahead To ‘Get Rid Of’ USAID
“Musk made the comments during a discussion on X with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) as they talked about the work of what Trump has called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Ernst said that any program administered by USAID that may actually benefit America should be moved under the jurisdiction of the State Department.”
FOX DIGITAL | Senator sends message to Dems upset over Elon Musk’s DOGE team: ‘Get used to this’
“We are going to find ways to focus our American taxpayer dollars on the things that they should be spent on, which is the American people and our interests… There are important [USAID] projects, we acknowledge that, but we have to disrupt the system, ferret out the waste and get back to what we should be doing. And that’s making sure that American interests are represented and supporting our allies and partners.”
WASHINGTON EXAMINER | Joni Ernst spotlights ‘obstruction and lies’ by USAID’s wasteful spending
“But what we found was extreme expenditures on the part of USAID with very little data-driven results. We have seen money funded in the Wuhan Institute of Virology through dollars steered by USAID on dangerous Coronaviruses. We saw how that turned out. We’ve seen funding going to Morocco for pottery classes, tourism in Lebanon of all places, even when the State Department was advising against travel.”
FOX NEWS | ‘Sesame Street in Iraq’: USAID’s ‘wasteful and dangerous’ spending exposed by senator
“Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, published a list of projects and programs she says the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has helped fund across the years, highlighting it as ‘wasteful and dangerous’ spending that has gripped taxpayers until the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) stepped in… Ernst highlighted that the agency ‘authorized a whopping $20 million to create a Sesame Street in Iraq.’”
WASHINGTON EXAMINER | Joni Ernst backs Trump’s gutting of USAID
“Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) is backing President Donald Trump in his effort to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development… Ernst outlined problems with the agency that she discovered in previous investigations. In addition to waste, corruption, and inefficiency, she also alleged a ‘demonstrated pattern of obstructionism’ in its dealings with the Senate… The Iowa senator went into detail regarding some of the excesses of USAID in an X thread, including a reported $2 million for pottery classes in Morocco, an undisclosed sum for Ukrainian models to attend fashion shows abroad, $2 million for tourism in Lebanon, $20 million for a Sesame Street in Iraq, and $9 million in humanitarian assistance for Syria that ended up in the hands of terrorists.”
WASHINGTON TIMES | Sen. Joni Ernst applauds Secretary of State Rubio’s push to overhaul USAID and review its spending
“Ms. Ernst has prided herself as a taxpayer advocate and authored the ‘Make ’Em Squeal’ awards targeting wasteful government spending. She is now heading up the Senate DOGE caucus, working with the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency. In a live X session with Mr. Musk this week, Ms. Ernst said a large chunk of the USAID money is spent on overhead costs and things not associated with its humanitarian mission… In the wake of this series of significant misjudgments and oversight obstruction by the USAID, it is of the utmost importance to conduct a full and independent analysis of the recipients of USAID assistance.”
BREITBART | Sen. Joni Ernst Details USAID’s ‘Anti-American Agenda’ in Letter to Secretary of State Rubio
“Ernst said that, through her oversight efforts, she discovered that USAID has signed onto agreements with grant recipients allowing the recipients to spend more than 25 percent of the total award on indirect costs of the grant, including ‘rent for a partner’s corporate headquarters, advocacy costs, and other miscellaneous expenses.’”
KWQC | Ernst blasts USAID for obstructing investigations
“In November 2023, Ernst began investigating USAID’s assistance to small businesses in Ukraine. Ernst wrote to Powers that she was steadfast in her support for weapons and munitions on the battlefields, but wanted accountability for the billions in non-military aid. In March 2024 she led a bipartisan effort to eliminate waste at the agency. In May 2024, USAID’s obstruction of her oversight efforts led Ernst to call for a probe of the agency’s implementing partners and recipients of aid by the Inspector General.”
TV coverage of Senator Ernst’s efforts here:
Watch Fox News’s full coverage of Ernst’s work here.
“We got all kinds of threats from USAID because I was trying to exercise my oversight capacity in Congress. My staff and I had estimated was that 30 to 40% of the USAID’s awards would go to indirect costs. So their overhead, their rent, employees.”
Watch Ernst’s full Fox News interview here.
“I have been on USAID’s case for years now, going back several years where I was trying to investigate the expenditures for humanitarian aid, primarily when it came to the war in Ukraine. And what my team and I encountered was absolute obstruction and lies coming out of USAID. They did everything possible to stop me from accessing their records, to understand where our taxpayer money was going… We are going to find ways to focus our American taxpayer dollars on the things that they should be spent on, which is the American people and our interests.”
Watch Ernst’s full Fox Business interview here.
“However, we have seen such complacency with oversight and direction from USAID. Sometimes it takes a sledgehammer. And that’s exactly what Elon Musk is doing. He is going and he is dismantling it. It will be scrutinized. But I can guarantee you, if there are worthy projects that really benefit Americans and our objectives, that those programs, will be rebuilt, but they will have proper oversight within the State Department and in Congress.”
Watch KCCI’s coverage of Ernst’s efforts here.
“USAID is culpable for decades of unchecked, outlandish expenditures and that behavior must end now.”
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
Chinese pop icon Jackson Wang released “High Alone,” a brooding new single and music video, on Feb. 13, drawing immediate fan acclaim and offering a glimpse of his upcoming album.
A behind-the-scenes photo from Jackson Wang’s “High Alone” music video. [Photo courtesy of Team Wang Records]
Wang penned “High Alone” alongside collaborators Andre Wollrabe, Charles Martin and Dwayne Fleming. After its debut, the single quickly claimed the No. 1 spot on iTunes charts across more than a dozen countries and regions. Wang said the song reflects his belief that “the deepest wounds are not from your enemies, but possibly from those you trust the most.”
The song, serving as an introduction to his new album, captures the pop star’s journey through vulnerability, loneliness and heartbreak. It reveals a different facet of Wang while exploring the complex relationship between himself and his “Magic Man” persona, which will unfold throughout the album.
The forthcoming album “Magic Man 2,” a follow-up to his smash-hit 2022 solo debut “Magic Man,” is slated for release later this year. During a Thursday afternoon Weibo Q&A with fans, Wang announced the album will comprise four chapters: “Manic Highs,” “Losing Control,” “Realizations” and “Acceptance.”
Each chapter will explore Wang’s emotional world, with themes of loneliness and self-doubt woven throughout the album, while examining questions of identity, betrayal and self-acceptance. Additionally, the highly anticipated album will depict Wang’s growth more deeply and authentically, showcasing his evolution as an artist and musician.
“All my life, I never really told you who I truly am, how I really feel. Maybe it’s not something people want to listen to. Maybe it’s not something people even care about. I’ve spent the last year understanding the Jackson I have always been avoiding. Let me tell you the truth I see. It’s all in this album. Let the story begin,” he wrote on his Weibo account.
In the cinematic music video for “High Alone,” Wang portrays two versions of himself: an imprisoned man and an alter-ego magician attempting to escape from a glass water tank while being watched by callous spectators. The haunting imagery shows Wang confronting his own manipulation by others, trapped and mocked with no escape, as his resilient spirit slowly erodes. Dark synth sounds complement the compelling visual storytelling, leaving a strong impression of Wang’s past depression and struggle.
Originally, Wang created “Magic Man” to process his pain, using it as a mask for his darkest emotions. When that chapter concluded, he faced harsh realities that led to a mentally and physically challenging period. Writing in his diary became his outlet, and for the first time, he channeled his personal experiences into his music. After a yearlong break, he realized his previous work hadn’t represented his authentic self.
“It felt like I had never written songs for myself or expressed what I truly wanted to say. So I chose to stop and face myself, to write down all my feelings and turn them into new music,” Wang said.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
This photo taken on Feb. 13, 2025 shows a poster for the Chinese animated film “Ne Zha 2” at a cinema in Chaoyang District of Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]
As the credits rolled on “Ne Zha 2” in a packed cinema, Zhou Jianmin, CEO of Zhejiang Huaguoshan Cultural Media, felt a surge of pride, perfectly articulating it with, “Seeing our team’s names on the screen made every hardship of the past year worthwhile.”
“This film proves that China’s animation industry can rival global giants in both storytelling and technical prowess,” Zhou added.
The Chinese New Year blockbuster reached a milestone on Thursday, with ticket sales hitting 10 billion yuan (about 1.39 billion U.S. dollars), making it the first animated film in global cinema history to achieve this in a single market.
Beyond its cinematic success, the film’s ripple effects on tourism, retail, and capital markets provide a glimpse into China’s evolving economic dynamism.
SMALL PLAYERS POWERING A BLOCKBUSTER
According to data provided by the film’s creative team, “Ne Zha 2” featured nearly 2,000 visual effect shots, an impossible scale for a single studio to handle.
This herculean task was achieved through a production network comprising 138 companies, with over 80 percent, or 115 firms, being small and medium enterprises (SMEs) scattered across tech hubs like Beijing, Chengdu, Suzhou, and Shenzhen.
These firms handled multiple production stages including animation development, visual effects compositing, and art design — tasks that are often outsourced overseas by Hollywood studios.
Chengdu-based animation studio Yunhai Tianju, for instance, dedicated about 30 employees to work onsite with lead animator Chengdu Coco Cartoon Co., Ltd. for over two years. “‘Ne Zha 2’ brought together top talents from across the country, elevating the film and television industry,” said Han Yunlong, general manager of the studio.
“Through dynamic exchanges and technical collaboration among professionals, national industry standards are continuously being raised,” Han added.
Meanwhile, industry titans like Enlight Media, the film’s major producer, streamlined funding and distribution, triggering a 264 percent stock surge within just eight trading days after release.
The model mirrors China’s animation industry playbook: SMEs inject niche expertise and cost efficiency, while conglomerates scale output. “The collaboration of outstanding animation companies nationwide is like the ‘wanlinjia,’ or armor of 10,000 scales, of the animation industry,” said Shi Chaoqun, the film’s visual effects director.
FROM SILVER SCREEN TO TOURIST TRAILS
Beyond theaters, the film’s success has sent ripples through China’s cultural tourism market. Cities tied to Ne Zha’s legend are racing to transform cinematic buzz into economic gains, introducing innovative tourism products centered on the mythical figure.
Tourism platform Tongcheng reported a fivefold spike in searches for “Ne Zha-themed trips.” In Sichuan’s Yibin, home to ancient temples honoring the mythical hero, visitors flocked to newly launched attractions like the “Dragon Palace” experience and themed events, driving a 34 percent jump in hotel bookings in Yibin’s Cuiping district.
Tianjin, meanwhile, leaned into its claim as Ne Zha’s “hometown,” blending the deity’s lore with local landmarks.
“Cultural and tourism consumption is a key driver of service-based spending,” said Zeng Guang, assistant director of the Economic Research Institute at Guosen Securities.
He noted that the growth rate of service consumption, led by tourism, will likely outpace the overall economic growth rate.
MERCHANDISING GOLD RUSH
On top of tourism heat, Ne Zha merchandise, from toys to limited-edition figurines, is flying off shelves. Hunan Sunny&Sandy Toys Manufacturer Co., Ltd., holding the exclusive license of 3D plastic candy toys for the movie “Ne Zha 2,” saw its cumulative sales for Ne Zha figurines on online and offline platforms top 200 million yuan since Jan. 31.
To cater to the surge in market demand, the company had to adjust its production schedule, recalling over 500 employees to return to work during the Spring Festival, said Yang Zhenlin, assistant to the president of Sunny&Sandy.
Currently, with nearly 60 production lines operating simultaneously, the firm’s monthly production capacity for Ne Zha-themed products has reached 6 to 8 million units.
The craze reflects China’s consumption upgrade, where fans splurge beyond tickets. “Many consumers have commented on social media and livestream platforms that they loved our products,” Yang said.
The historic box office success demonstrates both the enhanced global competitiveness of China’s domestic animation industry, and the pivotal role played by the rise of China-chic cultural trends, Yang added.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
Authorities in Thailand have arrested 10 Chinese suspects in connection with the case involving Chinese actor Wang Xing and have handed them over to the immigration department for repatriation to China, the Thai police said on Friday.
According to a statement released by the Thai police, investigations found that the 10 arrested suspects belonged to a criminal gang that had long been conducting telecommunications fraud targeting Chinese citizens in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
They were suspected of pretending to be employees of an entertainment company in Thailand to defraud Wang Xing. After Wang’s rescue, they planned to flee to Cambodia via Thailand, but were arrested in various places in Thailand and accused of illegal entry.
Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, senior inspector general of the Thai police, has instructed that the 10 suspects be handed over to the Thai Immigration Bureau for repatriation to China.
Wang Xing, a Chinese actor, entered Thailand on Jan. 3 but lost contact near the Thailand-Myanmar border. The Thai police tracked his movements and successfully rescued him on Jan. 7, identifying him as a victim of human trafficking. He has departed from Thailand for China on the night of Jan. 10 following collaborative efforts from both countries, as confirmed by the Chinese embassy in Thailand.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
Up to 99.6 percent of China’s community and township-level healthcare centers are capable of providing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) services, according to the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM).
There are approximately 42,000 TCM clinics at primary-level medical facilities nationwide, the NATCM told a press conference on Friday.
China has made significant strides in advancing appropriate skills related to TCM services, with the proportion of community and township-level healthcare centers equipped with such skills rising to 98 percent, according to the NATCM.
The accessibility, equity, and sustainability of grassroots TCM services in China have been consistently enhanced through targeted, extensive, direct and effective measures aimed at developing TCM clinics, said Xing Chao, an NATCM official.
Source: China State Council Information Office
China’s machinery industry is expected to post stable export growth in 2025 despite challenges posed by aggressive tariff policies by the United States and geopolitical tensions in other parts of the world, leaders from the China Machinery Industry Federation (CMIF) said on Friday.
This resilience is backed by the robust industrial chain advantages of domestic manufacturers, commitment to green transformation, and the integration of DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence technologies into their products and service networks.
DeepSeek is a two-year-old startup based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, that has created open-source large language models at much lower costs than its foreign peers.
The foreign trade growth of China’s machinery industry — a key economic indicator — rose 7.5 percent on a yearly basis to $1.17 trillion in 2024, maintaining the $1 trillion mark in foreign trade value for a fourth consecutive year, according to information released by the Beijing-based federation.
China’s exports of machinery products, including excavators, electric and fuel-powered vehicles, wind turbine generators and industrial parts, amounted to $869.36 billion last year, an increase of 11 percent year-on-year, accounting for 24.3 percent of the country’s total export value.
Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Chen Bin, CMIF’s deputy director of the expert committee, said the United States’ primary efforts to curb China’s growth are not focused on traditional machinery manufacturing, but rather on the electronic information industry, including sectors such as semiconductors, telecommunications, AI, cloud computing, big data, and cybersecurity.
“While we recognize that exports may face some challenges this year, we remain optimistic. Chinese companies are proactively expanding their presence in emerging markets and increasing research and development investments to enhance product competitiveness,” said Chen.
Despite an unexpectedly harsh international trade environment in 2024, he said Chinese manufacturers still achieved a historic breakthrough and that exports of China’s machinery products will see stable growth this year, especially in emerging markets and economies participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.
The export value of China’s machinery products to countries and regions involved in the BRI grew by 14 percent year-on-year in 2024, accounting for 51.5 percent of the industry’s total exports, according to CMIF data.
Meanwhile, Chinese companies’ machinery exports to markets of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Africa, and Latin America jumped by 17.7 percent, 12.9 percent and 27.1 percent, year-on-year, respectively.
Norsepower Marine Technology (Yancheng) Co Ltd, a manufacturer of ship fittings based in Yancheng, Jiangsu province, plans to export up to 50 marine rotary sails this year, according to information from Nanjing Customs.
These sails will be applied to various oceangoing vessels. It is estimated that they will reduce annual fuel consumption by 5,000 metric tons and lower carbon emissions by 15,000 tons, said Hai Yunyi, the company’s president.
“The marine rotary sails are power devices that utilize aerodynamic effects to serve as an alternative to traditional fuel,” said Hai.
As many Chinese manufacturers, particularly automakers, are keen to integrate DeepSeek’s open-source large language model into their products, Luo Junjie, CMIF’s executive vice-president, said this move will enhance the competitiveness of China’s machinery manufacturing industry.
“Even though the entire industry is likely to actively adopt this AI solution this year, the true economic benefits will need to be proven through practice,” said Luo, stressing that cutting costs and improving efficiency are key drivers for Chinese companies.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Following the Spring Festival holiday that witnessed strong consumption this year, companies took advantage of Valentine’s Day, as more foreign brands launched limited editions of their products and strengthen marketing efforts online while being bullish on the China market.
International luxury brands debuted products on e-commerce platforms ahead of Valentine’s Day to seize business opportunities arising from the peak consumption period. For instance, Cartier and Gucci launched new styles of necklaces, while Burberry debuted new earrings on Alibaba’s e-commerce platform Tmall ahead of Valentine’s Day.
Cartier said consumers could get complimentary engraving services on the boxes for purchases of rings and necklaces before Valentine’s Day. The brand also launched augmented reality tryon functions on its WeChat mini programs, which have helped increase the conversion rate from try-on to purchase by 35 percent, according to data from consultancy Frost & Sullivan.
Besides, Bottega Veneta launched new handbags and wallets online with the design elements featuring red hearts, and the brand saw quick sales of those products after launch, Tmall said.
In addition to debuting more kinds of new products online this year, major luxury brands continued to enhance their online services for gifting scenarios, indicating their increasing valuation of the China market.
“Valentine’s Day stands as one of the three major periods of luxury consumption in China besides Spring Festival and Chinese Valentine’s Day, or Qixi. Based on our data, more than 60 percent of consumers are willing to pay for extra costs for the festival limited editions,” said Li Jincan, consulting manager of Frost & Sullivan China.
“Launching limited editions on e-commerce platforms creates a kind of scarcity to help stimulate purchases, and brands can leverage the customer traffic of platforms to reach young consumers with high spending power and those who are difficult to reach at traditional offline stores, such as new middle-income consumers from second and third-tier cities,” Li said.
She added that luxury brands have been upgrading their online services in China by enhancing customer stickiness through digital tools. For instance, Dior integrates its e-commerce consumption data with the offline system to achieve cross-channel accumulation of consumption points.
Besides, luxury brands have improved their instant delivery services online. Prada recently launched a one-hour gift delivery service on e-commerce platform JD to meet the last-minute gifting demand of consumers.
China’s gifting market has picked up rapidly in the past few years, and by 2027, the size of the country’s gifting market is forecast to reach 1.62 trillion yuan ($222 billion), indicating the vitality of the gifting economy and consumers’ increased emphasis on holiday celebrations and emotional expression, according to market consultancy iiMedia Research.
Besides luxury brands, some home care brands also launched limited editions of products ahead of Valentine’s Day to cash in on demand from quality-conscious Chinese consumers. For instance, British porcelain brand Wedgwood debuted limited editions of cups on China’s e-commerce platforms.
As Chinese consumers have indicated a growing preference for improved quality of life, home care was the only segment that maintained growth among fast-moving consumer goods in China throughout the first three quarters of 2024. The category recorded the strongest volume growth compared to other sectors, according to a recent report by Bain & Company and Kantar Worldpanel.
“The Chinese government has launched more stimulus measures and issued guidance to support household consumption since late September. Although it will take patience and time for the stimulus to fully take effect, it is likely to progressively build consumer confidence, which will later translate into higher consumption,” said Bruno Lannes, senior partner at Bain & Company.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Shanghai will make continued efforts this year to further improve the consumption environment, come up with more supply-side innovation, enrich consumption scenarios and provide more incentives to consumers to further boost spending, which is integral to sustained economic growth, said officials of the municipal government during a news briefing on Friday.
Liu Min, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, said that more precise and effective policies will be rolled out to boost service consumption and new types of consumption.
The debut, silver, nighttime and ticket office economies should seek substantial development to boost consumption demand, said Liu.
Shopping carnivals will play an important role to boost consumption, according to Liu. “Shanghai Summer” International Consumption Season, which was inaugurated last year, will take place for the second time this summer to boost inbound consumption. Consumption activities related to the low-altitude economy will be held during this year’s “Shanghai Summer”, she said.
Pudong New Area in eastern Shanghai is holding a shopping carnival from Jan 24 to Feb 28. During this period, consumers with a single invoice of 1,000 yuan ($138) or more for personal offline consumption made within the area can participate in lucky draws with winners getting to use an EV produced by the local carmaker IM Motors free for a year.
Two women living in Pudong were the first two to win the lucky draw, the Pudong government said on Friday.
The lucky draw helped the number of consumers rise by 8.7 percent year-on-year to 13 million at the 15 monitored shopping malls in Pudong.
Efforts will be made to improve foreign tourists’ shopping experiences in the city, according to Ma Yinghui, deputy director of the Shanghai municipal government’s foreign affairs office.
International Services Shanghai, a multilingual portal launched by the municipal government in early 2024, will update the latest service information and activity agenda during the major shopping carnivals such as “Shanghai Summer” and the annually-held May 5 Shopping Festival. The portal will explicitly explain consumption policies such as tax refund, she said.
The International Experience Officer program which was launched by the local foreign affairs office last year will help major business districts and companies to further improve services provided to foreign tourists such as online shopping, e-maps, food delivery, courier services and online ticket booking for movies and exhibitions. About 100 foreigners from 37 countries have joined the program, said Ma.
Soliciting new foreign investment and boosting consumption will be better coordinated, said Qiu Wei, chief engineer of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization.
The local government will hold a promotion in the Japanese city of Osaka in late May, the first overseas promotion of its kind by the Chinese city. By facilitating the outbound reach of Chinese domestic brands, the event will help to demonstrate the charm of Shanghai brands while seeking more cooperation opportunities, she said.
Consumption on information services will be another focal point. By organizing activities under such themes, the local government aims to drive consumption of online games, digital gadgets, as well as online audio and video services, by integrating new technologies such as metaverse, AI large language models and smart chips, according to Qiu.
The Shanghai Legoland Resort is scheduled to open this summer, according to Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism.
Apart from helping to hold key games such as 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix and 2025 World Rowing Championships, the local administration of sports will issue 60 million yuan of sports consumption coupons, said the administration’s deputy head Xu Qi.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Relatives of a released hostage hug each other when a helicopter carrying the hostage arrives at a medical center in Ramat Gan, Israel, on Feb. 8, 2025. Israel and Hamas on Saturday (Feb. 8) completed the fifth prisoner-for-hostage swap under the first phase of the ongoing Gaza ceasefire agreement, according to Israeli and Palestinian sources. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua)
Israel confirmed Friday that it has received a list of three hostages set to be released on Saturday from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office initially stated that the list was “acceptable by Israel,” but a spokesman for Netanyahu later backtracked, clarifying that Israel had only received the list. “This is a purely factual description and does not reflect any Israeli position on the matter,” the spokesman said.
The list was delivered to Israel via Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
According to a statement from Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, the hostages are Alexander (Sasha) Troufanov, a 29-year-old Israeli-Russian civilian; Sagui Dekel-Chen, a 36-year-old Israeli-American civilian; and Yair Horn, a 46-year-old Israeli.
Meanwhile, Israeli army radio reported that 369 Palestinian prisoners will be released on Saturday. Among them, 333 will be returned to Gaza, with 10 others sent back to their homes in the West Bank and one released in East Jerusalem, while the remaining 25 of the prisoners sentenced for life will either be deported to Gaza or sent abroad via Egypt, said the report.
This will mark the sixth batch of prisoner-for-hostage exchanges between Israel and Hamas under the ceasefire agreement that took effect on Jan. 19.
The anticipated release comes amid heightened tensions after U.S. President Donald Trump warned that if “all of the hostages” in Gaza were not freed by Saturday at noon, the truce would be canceled, and he would “let hell break out.” Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed the warning, saying Israel would resume its onslaught on Gaza.
Hamas announced on Monday that it would delay the hostage release scheduled for Saturday, citing Israeli violations of the agreement and demanding Israel reaffirm its commitment to maintaining the ceasefire. On Thursday, the movement confirmed that it would continue implementing the ceasefire agreement, including the exchange of Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages as initially scheduled.
Source: The White House
LOWERING PRICES AND STRENGTHENING AMERICAN ECONOMIC SECURITY: Championing domestic energy production is vital both for mitigating price shocks to American families and de-risking the energy supply chain for our Nation as well as our allies.
RESTORING AMERICAN ENERGY DOMINANCE: President Trump has a demonstrated track record of empowering American energy production, and will return our Nation to energy dominance.
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
The giant panda Eimei, or Yong Ming in Chinese, passed away on Jan 25 due to multiple organ failure at the age of 32, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding announced on its official WeChat account on Friday. The male panda was born on Sep 14, 1992.
At age two, Eimei was sent to Adventure World, an amusement park in Shirahama of Japan’s Wakayama prefecture, as part of the long-term giant panda breeding cooperation plan between China and Japan.
During his time in Japan, Eimei mated with two female pandas, becoming the father of 16 and creating the largest giant panda family outside of China.
In February 2023, he returned to China with his twin daughters Ouhin and Touhin. He then lived at the Chengdu panda base’s hero farm, where he enjoyed a peaceful retirement, leisurely foraging in the bamboo groves, strolling through the woods and basking in the sunlight.
In January, Eimei began showing signs of lethargy, reduced appetite and prolonged inactivity, according to the announcement. Despite round-the-clock care and treatment, his condition continued to deteriorate, making eating and breathing difficult. He ultimately died from multiple organ failure.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
At the heart of the National Centre for the Performing Arts’ production of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata lies an exquisite visual element: a giant mirror that dominates the stage. This stunning set piece, 260 square meters in size, serves not just as a backdrop, but also as a metaphor for the opera’s central themes of illusion, self-deception, and the fragile line between the real and the imagined.
The mirror transforms the stage into a space where reality blurs into fantasy, mirroring the inner turmoil of Violetta, the opera’s tragic heroine, whose life is a constant negotiation between love and sacrifice.
When Russian soprano Venera Gimadieva first saw the stage set, she was impressed and had hopes of one day playing the role of Violetta in the production.
“Finally, my dream has come true,” said Gimadieva, sitting in her dressing room in Beijing on Monday. “It will be my 18th time playing the role.”
The NCPA is staging its ninth production of La Traviata in Beijing, which runs until Sunday, with Gimadieva as Violetta. The China NCPA Orchestra and China NCPA Chorus will perform onstage, conducted by Yu Long.
She says that she was also drawn to the production’s costumes, which are designed to reflect 19th-century Parisian society, adding an authentic touch to the depiction of the fashion and social norms of the time.
Verdi’s 1853 work is one of the great operas. The central character Violetta is a mid-19th-century courtesan: freewheeling, attractive, and doomed. Fatally ill, she meets the affluent Alfredo, who confesses his love for her. They embark on an affair, but Violetta reluctantly abandons him under intense pressure from Alfredo’s father. Alfredo feels betrayed but after a series of fateful twists and turns, the lovers reunite on Violetta’s deathbed, and she finally succumbs, dying in the arms of the man she loves.
According to Gimadieva, Violetta has a particular effect on sopranos due to challenges and demands. Her first encounter with the character was in a DVD of a performance at the Salzburg Festival when she was a student at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. She found her instantly compelling.
In 2011, she made her debut as Violetta in a production of La Traviata by the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Since then, it has become one of her signature roles. She has performed at prestigious opera houses and venues across Europe and the United States, including the Royal Opera House in Britain and the Opera National de Paris in France, and made her US debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
“I always find new challenges, new pleasures and new experiences in playing the role. Violetta is so complicated and charming. She loves desperately, and she is capable of self-sacrifice,” says Gimadieva.
For this run in Beijing, she is performing with longtime friend, Shi Yijie, the tenor playing Alfredo.
In an earlier interview, Shi, who graduated from the Toho College of Music in Japan, said he had been preparing for the role for over a decade.
In 2010, the NCPA premiered its production of La Traviata, with German director Henning Brockhaus and legendary French-American conductor Lorin Maazel. Known for his exceptional vocal talent — he had previously wowed audiences with his high C notes — Shi made his debut as Alfredo in 2019 for the NCPA’s fifth round of performance of its production of La Traviata.
“It was a special milestone for me when I took on the role for the first time,” Shi, 42, says. “Aging has benefited my voice. Compared to 2019, it is much more mature now. As I get older, my voice develops depth and richness.”
Shi adds that over the years, he has refined his technique through consistent practice and performance, giving him greater control.
La Traviata is significant in the context of Chinese opera history. In 1956, the China National Opera House staged an all-Chinese production at Beijing’s Tianqiao Theater, making it one of the first Western operas to be performed on a Chinese stage.
Since then, it has become one of the most beloved and familiar Western operas to Chinese audiences. Its enchanting melodies, especially the famous duet Libiamo ne’ lieti calici (“Let us drink from joyful cups”), resonate deeply with the public.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
Since 2015, the Chinese animated film industry has seen unprecedented growth, expanding its influence into the global market. The country saw its annual box-office revenue surge by 48.7 percent year-on-year in 2015, propelled by dozens of blockbusters. That year is also remembered as the start of the rise of Chinese animation, led by the dark horse hit Monkey King: Hero is Back. China Daily revisits some of the most acclaimed animated films in the last decade.
Monkey King: Hero is Back (2015)
Based on the 16th-century novel Journey to the West, Tian Xiaopeng’s directorial debut recounts a young boy’s accidental rescue of the Monkey King, imprisoned under a mountain for 500 years as punishment for his rebellion against the heavens. The film earned 956 million yuan ($130.8 million), becoming the highest-grossing animated film of 2015.
Big Fish & Begonia (2016)
Set in a mystical world parallel to the human realm, the film follows a 16-year-old girl from the mystical world who transforms into a dolphin and ventures into human society where she encounters a human boy. The movie won widespread attention mainly due to its visual beauty and lengthy production process, which took 12 years to complete.
White Snake (2019)
Loosely inspired by a famous Chinese folk story, the film recounts the love story between a white snake spirit who shape-shifts into a beautiful woman and a handsome young man. The movie garnered word-of-mouth praise online, signaling a new trend for Chinese animation targeting adults instead of solely focusing on children and families as its main audience.
Ne Zha (2019)
The directorial debut feature by Yang Yu, better known as Jiaozi, the first Ne Zha film quickly took social media by storm and earned 5 billion yuan, becoming China’s highest-grossing animated film. This record has now been broken by its sequel Ne Zha 2. The film is a subverted retelling of the conventional tale of the titular character, a mythological figure familiar to generations, whose catchphrase, “My fate is decided by myself, not by heaven” resonates deeply with fans.
Chang’an (2023)
The film chronicles the lifelong friendship between Li Bai and Gao Shi, renowned poets from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Their stories are interwoven with those of other famous poets from the era, such as Du Fu, and part of the backdrop set amid the chaotic An-Shi Rebellion (755-763) that threatened Tang rulers. Featuring 48 poems in various forms — including some recited by characters and others visualized as vivid perceptions of their imagination — the film became a massive hit, drawing some parents who brought their children in hopes of sparking an interest in Chinese culture and literature.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine stands ready to move towards peace following his meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Munich of Germany on Friday.
“We are ready to move as quickly as possible towards a real and guaranteed peace,” he said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s appreciation for U.S. President Donald Trump’s determination, which he believes can help end the Russia-Ukraine conflict and secure justice and security guarantees for Ukraine.
Zelensky also noted that Ukraine looks forward to the visit of Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, for further meetings and a deeper assessment of the situation on the ground.
Following the talks with Zelensky, Vance said that the United States aims to achieve durable and lasting peace, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.
Zelensky and Vance met on the sidelines of the 61st Munich Security Conference that kicked off earlier Friday.