NewzIntel.com

Category: China

  • MIL-OSI Economics: AI advancements to accelerate China digital health sector, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    AI advancements to accelerate China digital health sector, says GlobalData

    Posted in Medical Devices

    China’s rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), underscored by the recent launch of Qwen2.5-Max, Kimi k1.5, and DeepSeek v3, are sparking excitement among AI professionals. This progress is expected to have a considerable impact on multiple industries, including healthcare. Consequently, the Chinese digital health market is likely to see further developments, provided the data security is safeguarded, says  GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s research reveals that in 2024, China represented around 20% of the digital health market in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, reflecting the increasing demand for innovations such as DeepSeek within the healthcare sector.

    Pratibha Thammanabhatla, Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The recent launch of Qwen2.5-Max, Kimi k1.5, and Deepseek highlights China’s increasing presence in the AI sector and its dedication to achieving technological self-sufficiency. The advanced AI features they assert, including huge efficiency gains, better reasoning, and accessibility, may have considerable potential to provide enhanced diagnostic abilities, personalized recommendations, and improved communication between patients and healthcare professionals.”

    Alibaba Cloud claims that its latest Qwen2.5-Max demonstrated significant advantages over other AI models such as Llama-3.1-405B, DeepSeek V3 and Qwen2.5-72B when evaluated using benchmark tools such as Arena-Hard, LiveBench, LiveCodeBench, and GPQA-Diamond and they are expecting that advancements in post-training techniques will elevate the next version of Qwen2.5-Max to new heights.

    Thammanabhatla concludes: “Although AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by improving efficiency and patient outcomes, challenges such as data privacy, doctor-patient relationship, and lack of sufficient trained personnel must be addressed to ensure its successful implementation. A collaborative approach involving stakeholders from various countries and sectors, including healthcare professionals, regulators, and data privacy experts, is essential for overcoming these challenges, which would result in wider adoption.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Announcement on Open Market Operations No.25 [2025]

    Source: Peoples Bank of China

    Announcement on Open Market Operations No.25 [2025]

    (Open Market Operations Office, February 10, 2025)

    In order to keep liquidity adequate in the banking system, the People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB215 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on February 10, 2025.

    Details of the Reverse Repo Operations

    Maturity

    Volume

    Rate

    7 days

    RMB215 billion

    1.50%

    Date of last update Nov. 29 2018

    2025年02月10日

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: New Yorkers hold Lantern Festival parade for 2nd year

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The Chinese American community in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Sunday held a Lantern Festival parade for the second year as part of the Lunar New Year celebrations.

    The parade in Chinatown had hundreds of participants from many walks of life and thousands of revelers from Chinese communities and other areas.

    The hours-long parade featured multiple floats, God Pageant Ceremony, dragon and lion dances, big mascots, as well as traditional Chinese art and costume performances.

    In particular, the 8th Avenue in Brooklyn was filled with people setting off fireworks, firecrackers and party poppers.

    Organized by the Asian American Community Empowerment, an Asian American advocacy group, the parade also had the presence of a number of elected officials or their representatives.

    Chuck Schumer, U.S. Senator of New York and the Senate minority leader, greeted Chinese Americans in Mandarin and commended their traditional values of respect for family, love of children, law-abiding, peace and hard-working.

    Schumer vowed to fight for the community and to keep the neighborhood safe.

    “It may be a cold day, but not here in Brooklyn, Chinese American community. It is a warm and beautiful day,” added Schumer.

    “It’s important to celebrate our heritage and culture,” said Lester Chang, a Republican, representing the 49th district in the New York State Assembly.

    Chang expressed his hope that the Lunar New Year could become a holiday for all people in New York State by building on the declaration of the Lunar New Year as a public school holiday in the state in September 2023.

    Chinese Consul General in New York Chen Li called on people on the spot to light up the lanterns of auspiciousness to express good wishes for a bright future of China-U.S. relations.

    The Chinatown in Lower Manhattan also celebrated the Lantern Festival on Saturday afternoon.

    The Museum of Chinese in America is also scheduled to celebrate the Lantern Festival on Wednesday.

    Symbolizing family reunion, the Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year and wraps up celebrations of the Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – Ara and Lanzhou City University strengthen relationship

    Source: Ara Institute of Canterbury

    For many decades, Ara Institute of Canterbury has enjoyed strong connections with Lanzhou City University in Gansu province, north-west China.
    The relationship grew out of the sister-city relationship between Christchurch and Gansu Province. Lanzhou City, on the banks of the Yellow River is the capital of the province.
    During a visit to Ara amid both Chinese New Year and Waitangi Day celebrations, the leadership of both education providers expressed hopes for a new era in their relationship.
    The LCU delegation included President Mr Gaonian Han, Director of Personnel Mr Dingjun Wang, Director of International Exchange Office Ms Xiaoxia Liu, Dean of School of Economics and Management Ms Jing Li and Associate Dean of School of Environment and Urban Development Mr Chao Wang.
    Welcoming the group last Friday, Ara’s International Director Deanna Anderson was quick to honour their shared history but also expressed strong hopes for reinvigorating their close association. She said Covid had “impacted our longstanding relationship for too long”.
    “It is time to reestablish our tradition of exchanges, both for language study and research, but also to share new ideas and bring them life,” she said, particularly noting the scope for growing cultural exchanges.
    “Our sister-city relationship is strongly based on cultural exchange – we’d like to show you what Ara has to offer in this space.”
    Expressing a keen interest in hosting a return delegation from Ara, LCU President Mr Gaonian Han said the relationship between the tertiary providers was one of the closest his university enjoyed. He reflected that their frequent exchanges and collaborations dated back to the 1980s with Ara students visiting LCU to learn Chinese, and LCU staff improving their English proficiency and teaching methods through Ara.
    Mr Han said LCU was also seeking to further cultural exchanges at the tertiary level.
    “I sincerely hope that the exchanges and cooperation between us will not only promote teaching and scientific research programmes and exchanges on both sides but also deepen and consolidate the friendship between China and New Zealand.”
    His associates highlighted free study and accommodation and scholarship options on offer at LCU during their presentations.
    Members of several Ara departments including Humanities, Creative Industries and Digital Technologies as well as Architectural Studies and Interior Design, presented to the delegation highlighting study options with scope for collaboration.
    After an exchange of gifts, Ara’s International Market Sector Manager Andy Ge escorted the visitors on a tour of campus before they were formally welcomed into Te Puna Wānaka whare on campus for a hāngī lunch prepared by Level 5 cookery students. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Inside information: Nokia announces a leadership transition – Justin Hotard appointed as successor to Pekka Lundmark

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Inside information
    10 February 2025 at 08:00 EET

    Inside information: Nokia announces a leadership transition – Justin Hotard appointed as successor to Pekka Lundmark

    Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced a leadership transition. Nokia’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Pekka Lundmark, has informed the Board that he will step down. The Board has appointed Justin Hotard as the next President and Chief Executive Officer of Nokia. He will start in his new role on 1 April 2025. 

    Hotard joins Nokia with more than 25 years’ experience with global technology companies, driving innovation, technology leadership and delivering revenue growth. He currently leads the Data Center & AI Group at Intel. Prior to this role, he held several leadership roles at large technology companies, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise and NCR Corporation. He will be based at Nokia’s headquarters in Espoo, Finland.

    “I am delighted to welcome Justin to Nokia. He has a strong track record of accelerating growth in technology companies along with vast expertise in AI and data center markets, which are critical areas for Nokia’s future growth. In his previous positions, and throughout the selection process, he has demonstrated the strategic insight, vision, leadership and value creation mindset required for a CEO of Nokia,” said Sari Baldauf, Chair of Nokia’s Board of Directors.

    “I am honored by the opportunity to lead Nokia, a global leader in connectivity with a unique heritage in technology. Networks are the backbone that power society and businesses, and enable generational technology shifts like the one we are currently experiencing in AI. I am excited to get started and look forward to continuing Nokia’s transformation journey to maximize its potential for growth and value creation,” said Justin Hotard.

    After leading Nokia since 2020, Nokia’s current President and CEO, Pekka Lundmark, has decided to step down from executive roles and move on to the next phase of his career.

    “I want to thank Pekka for his significant contributions to Nokia, he will leave with our highest respect. The planning for this leadership transition was initiated when Pekka indicated to the Board that he would like to consider moving on from executive roles when the repositioning of the business was in a more advanced stage, and when the right successor had been identified. Now, both of those conditions have been met, and he has decided to step down,” said Sari Baldauf.

    She continued: “Pekka joined at a difficult time in Nokia’s history. Under his tenure, Nokia has re-established its technology leadership in 5G radio networks and built a strong position in cloud-native core networks. Network Infrastructure has delivered growth and significant profit improvement, and Nokia has secured the longevity of its patent licensing business. At the same time, Nokia has built strong foundations in new growth areas, refreshed the company’s brand and culture, transformed its operating model and rebalanced its portfolio.”

    “Leading Nokia has been a privilege. When I returned to Nokia in 2020, I called it a homecoming, and it really has felt like one. I am proud of the work our brilliant team has done in re-establishing our technology leadership and competitiveness, and positioning the company for growth in data centers, private wireless and industrial edge, and defense. This is the right time for me to move on. I have led listed companies for more than two decades and although I do not plan to stop working, I want to move on from executive roles to work in a different capacity, such as a board professional. Justin is a great choice for Nokia and I look forward to working with him on a smooth transition,” said Nokia’s President and CEO Pekka Lundmark. 

    Lundmark will step down on 31 March 2025. He will continue as an advisor to the new CEO until the end of the year. 

    An event for media and financial analysts will be held today at 10:00 EET. Link to join the webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/hjd9zmyx.

    Journalists and financial analysts, who wish to ask a question during the event, must dial-in to an audio-only conference call line. The attendees must pre-register here: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10196883/fe7f25be61.

    If you wish to ask a question on the call, you must mute the webcast and only use the participant dial-in during the Q&A session as there is a delay of approximately 15-30 seconds.

    Journalists and financial analysts can join via webcast or in person (Nokia’s Executive Experience Center at Karakaari 18, Espoo). Members of the media and analysts who want to participate in person, are kindly requested to show their press credential or valid ID on arrival.

    Justin Hotard, CV

    Born: 1974

    Nationality: US national 

    Experience:

    • Intel, Santa Clara, CA, 2024–present: Executive Vice President and General Manager, Data Center & AI Group
    • Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Houston, TX / Tokyo, Japan, 2015–2024: various leadership positions including:
      • Executive Vice President and General Manager, High Performance Computing, AI & Labs
      • President and Managing Director, Japan and China
    • NCR Corporation, Duluth, GA, 2007–2014: various leadership positions including: President and General Manager, Global Small Business Cloud Platform
    • Symbol Technologies (acquired by Motorola, Inc), Holtsville, NY, 2003–2007: Director, Product Management and Senior Manager, Corporate Development
    • Motorola, Inc, Arlington, IL, 1996–2000: Senior Systems Engineer

    Education:

    • Master of Business Administration, MIT Sloan School of Management, Cambridge, MA, 2002
    • Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 1997

    About Nokia 
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Inquiries:

    Nokia Communications
    Phone: +358 10 448 4900
    Email: press.services@nokia.com
    Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications

    Nokia
    Investor Relations
    Phone: +358 931 580 507
    Email: investor.relations@nokia.com

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect Nokia’s current expectations and views of future developments and include statements regarding: A) expectations, plans, benefits or outlook related to our strategies, projects, programs, product launches, growth management, licenses, sustainability and other ESG targets, operational key performance indicators and decisions on market exits; B) expectations, plans or benefits related to future performance of our businesses (including the expected impact, timing and duration of potential global pandemics, geopolitical conflicts and the general or regional macroeconomic conditions on our businesses, our supply chain, the timing of market changes or turning points in demand and our customers’ businesses) and any future dividends and other distributions of profit; C) expectations and targets regarding financial performance and results of operations, including market share, prices, net sales, income, margins, cash flows, cost savings, the timing of receivables, operating expenses, provisions, impairments, taxes, currency exchange rates, hedging, investment funds, inflation, product cost reductions, competitiveness, revenue generation in any specific region, and licensing income and payments; D) ability to execute, expectations, plans or benefits related to our ongoing transactions, investments and changes in organizational structure and operating model; E) impact on revenue with respect to litigation/renewal discussions; and F) any statements preceded by or including “anticipate”, “continue”, “believe”, “envisage”, “expect”, “aim”, “will”, “target”, “may”, “would”, “see”, “plan” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from such statements. These statements are based on management’s best assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to them. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and views of future events and developments and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause these differences, include those risks and uncertainties specified in our 2023 annual report on Form 20-F published on 29 February 2024 under Operating and financial review and prospects – Risk factors. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s smart robot industry sees robust growth in 2024

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    By the end of 2024, the number of enterprises in the smart robot industry in China had reached 451,700, with a total registered capital of 6.44 trillion yuan (about 880 billion U.S. dollars), according to the State Administration for Market Regulation.

    The number of such enterprises grew by 19.39 percent compared to the end of 2023, demonstrating a steady upward trend in the industry’s development in China.

    Nearly 80 percent of these enterprises were concentrated in three sectors, namely scientific research and technical services; information transmission, software and information technology services; and wholesale and retail, the administration said.

    The eastern region of the country, with its distinct geographical advantages, robust research and development strength, and well-established industrial ecosystem, has become a hub hosting about two-thirds of smart robot industry enterprises in China.

    The number of such enterprises in China’s central and northwestern regions account for 15.33 percent and 14.97 percent of the total, respectively.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump to announce 25-percent steel and aluminum tariffs

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he will announce new 25-percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States, with the official statement to be made on Monday.

    Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump also said he would announce “reciprocal tariffs” as soon as Tuesday to align with those of its trading partners.

    During his first term, Trump imposed tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum imports citing national security concerns but later allowed certain trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and Brazil, to receive duty-free quotas.

    Under former President Joe Biden, the United States continued some tariff exemptions introduced under Trump and extended new quotas for the European Union, Britain and Japan.

    On Feb. 1, Trump signed executive orders to impose 25-percent additional tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10-percent tariff hike on imports from China, drawing widespread opposition and immediate retaliations. He later paused the tariffs on Mexico and Canada for one month to allow negotiations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sales push as brands brace for tough 2025

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Right after the Spring Festival holiday, automobile markets in China have become hectic, touting new features, offering discounts and even appearing in movies to woo potential car buyers.

    Tesla announced on Wednesday, the first working day after the weeklong holiday, a time-limited discount of up to 8,000 yuan ($1,098) on its Model 3. On the same day, Xpeng unveiled five-year installment and interest-free loan offers.

    But at the head of the pack was Nio, whose offer — which includes interest-free five-year loan plans — came days before the Spring Festival holiday ended.

    Meanwhile, Great Wall Motor’s Tank, BAIC’s Arcfox and Dongfeng’s off-road brand Mengshi have either starred in Chinese New Year blockbusters including Ne Zha 2 or partnered with their producers in publicity campaigns.

    Behind the diverse tactics is the same sense of urgency: after a brutal 2024 they believe the vehicle market this year will be more cruel, despite the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers expecting the overall market size to go up 4.7 percent to 32.9 million units.

    The elimination phase has begun and many of the car manufacturers are struggling to “beat the count”, said analysts from consulting firm McKinsey in a report released on Thursday.

    “Those which cannot come up with decent electric vehicles in one or two years, and those which are deep in the red but cannot offer a convincing strategy to go green, will be forced to leave the race,” they said.

    In the bigger picture, Chinese brands, whose rise is the defining feature of the current market landscape, are relatively safe.

    Over the past five years, the number of Chinese car brands selling more than 600,000 vehicles annually jumped from 11 in 2020 to 13 in 2024, signaling a dramatic shift toward greater market concentration.

    More tellingly, for the first time, Chinese brands have broken into the ranks of those with sales exceeding 1.2 million units annually — a mark that was once the exclusive domain of foreign brands.

    In January, seven out of the 10 bestselling carmakers in the country were Chinese; Geely topped the chart, followed by BYD and Changan.

    These domestic brands have not only capitalized on China’s rapid push toward NEVs but positioned themselves as leaders in the transition to intelligent mobility.

    However, smaller Chinese brands, especially startups, are yet to gain a firm foothold. There are currently 37 active NEV brands in China. Of them, 12 are independent startups and the rest, such as Zeekr, Voyah and Avatr, are offshoots of larger traditional manufacturers.

    Now at least five of the NEV brands have become profitable. Those who cannot go green in the next 12 to 18 months, or at least come up with a feasible plan, may trigger speculation, said McKinsey.

    This is particularly true after Jidu, a partnership between Geely and Baidu, and Neta got into financial trouble in late 2024, leaving car owners and even employees nowhere to resort to.

    For foreign carmakers, the picture is far from rosy. Once the undisputed leaders of China’s car market, their position is becoming precarious.

    A combination of technology lag, reduced brand loyalty and aggressive pricing strategies from domestic players has eroded their dominance, according to McKinsey.

    It projects the market share of foreign carmakers, which once commanded over half of all car sales in China, to fall to just 30 percent by the end of this year from 40 percent now.

    The decline is a direct result of the seismic shift toward electric vehicles and smart driving technology — areas where many foreign brands have struggled to keep pace.

    The profit margins of joint-venture carmakers have taken a significant hit. McKinsey’s analysis reveals that, from 2017 to 2023, the profits of the top 10 leading Chinese joint-venture companies dropped by 34 percent in the country.

    For many foreign brands, the situation is compounded by a weakening consumer base, especially as new domestic models with cutting-edge features flood the market.

    Some foreign companies, such as Volkswagen and its premium Audi brand, have responded by forming strategic partnerships with Chinese manufacturers, seeking to import Chinese technological innovations into their own models.

    However, these collaborations, though beneficial in the short term, are unlikely to be a silver bullet, said McKinsey analysts.

    They said the strategy may help bridge the gap in the short term, but it does little to address the core issue: foreign brands are increasingly irrelevant to a generation of Chinese consumers that are growing more attached to homegrown offerings.

    New tech prospects

    Looking to the future, the next frontier in China’s automotive revolution is clear: intelligent driving and smart in-car experiences.

    In 2024, intelligent driving technologies — once seen as futuristic — have become mainstream, with major manufacturers offering vehicles equipped with features that can drive themselves on highways and in cities.

    The market for intelligent driving technology is growing at a blistering pace, and consumers are increasingly embracing these innovations.

    A McKinsey poll shows that 76 percent of respondents tried smart driving in 2024, up from 65 percent in 2023.

    Despite the rising consumer interest, however, McKinsey cautions that the industry faces challenges.

    While intelligent driving technologies are rapidly improving, they have yet to find a sustainable business model.

    The growing trend of “free” software upgrades, for example, has left carmakers struggling to monetize these features.

    More promising is the rise of the “smart cockpit”, where cars transform from mere transportation tools into living rooms.

    As intelligent driving systems become standard, the focus is shifting to in-car experiences, with carmakers investing heavily in creating more personalized, intuitive environments for consumers, said McKinsey.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘World’s supermarket’ reopens after holiday

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A merchant adorns her store with Spring Festival decorations in the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Yiwu International Trade Market, the world’s largest wholesale market for small commodities located in the city of Yiwu in east China’s Zhejiang Province, reopened on Sunday after the Spring Festival holiday, marking a vibrant start to the Year of the Snake.

    The reopening ceremony featured traditional lion dances and drum performances, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere.

    Merchants like toy shop owner Chen Meijun voiced optimism for a prosperous year ahead.

    “We received inquiries from regular customers during the holiday, and we expect sales to grow by over 10 percent this year,” Chen said, noting that she plans to expand her business internationally, with trips to Mexico and Kenya scheduled this year.

    Actresses perform at the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Dubbed “world’s supermarket,” Yiwu is an international hub for small commodity production and trade, attracting customers from around the world.

    Nepalese buyer Raj Kumar Khadka was among the first clients to arrive, planning to order ceramics, glassware and other goods worth around 1 million yuan (about 139,500 U.S. dollars).

    A frequent visitor who first came to the city for business 23 years ago, Khadka said Yiwu plays a crucial role in the international commodity trade.

    “Yiwu taught me how to do business,” he said. “Because of this city, I was able to meet people from all over the world and learn about their languages and cultures.”

    The trade market’s 75,000 shops are connected to over 2.1 million enterprises, supporting approximately 32 million jobs. Its strong purchasing demand and diverse product offerings highlight the resilience and growth potential of China’s economy.

    Many businesses are capitalizing on emerging trends, such as 3D-printed toys, which have gained popularity for their vibrant colors and intricate designs.

    “We have invested heavily in R&D and plan to expand our footprints in developed markets while tapping into domestic demand,” said Zeng Hao, manager of a toy company producing and selling 3D-printed toys.

    A dragon dance is staged at a square of the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    In late 2024, China’s State Council approved an overall plan for deepening comprehensive international trade reforms in Yiwu, which outlines a vision to promote reforms through further opening up, along with initiatives such as innovating market procurement trade mechanisms, promoting import trade development, enhancing the functionality of comprehensive bonded zones, and strengthening cross-border e-commerce regulations.

    Innovation has become a driving force behind Yiwu’s enduring success. Since 2023, the Chinagoods AI platform, launched by Zhejiang China Commodities City Group Co., Ltd., has gained attention for enabling Yiwu’s business owners to effortlessly create multilingual versions of product videos, supporting over 30 languages.

    Today, more businesses are using new technologies to expand their reach and attract customers.

    At a digital shop in the market, manager Bao Haigang demonstrated a headset that accurately translates over 100 languages via a smartphone app. He said this AI-powered headset launched in 2024 has seen strong sales in markets like Brazil.

    “We will continue integrating AI into traditional products and expect over 30 percent sales growth this year. We are very confident,” Bao said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: One dead, 28 missing after landslide in SW China

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Rescuers search for missing people in Junlian County in the city of Yibin, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    As of 11 a.m. Sunday, a landslide in southwest China’s Sichuan Province had left one person dead, 28 missing and two injured, local authorities said.
    The landslide occurred at 11:50 a.m. on Saturday in Jinping Village, which is located in Junlian County in the city of Yibin.
    The province has mobilized 949 personnel from the armed police, firefighting, emergency response, transportation, medical, telecommunication, and other forces to carry out or assist the rescue efforts.
    Over 200 rescue vehicles and equipment, including excavators, fire engines and ambulances, have been deployed for on-site rescue operations. The search and rescue efforts are being carried out in 10 grid zones.
    A total of 360 people in 95 households have been evacuated. Temporary shelters have been set up, with 162 individuals currently resettled on a household basis. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China grants visa-free entry to ASEAN tour groups visiting Xishuangbanna

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China allows tour groups from ASEAN countries to visit Xishuangbanna in southwestern Yunnan Province, free of visa, for up to six days, the National Immigration Administration announced on Monday. 
    Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.ChinaNews App Download

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Singing in a new year of musical exploration

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    This photo taken from Jingshan Park on Aug. 12, 2024 shows the National Centre for the Performing Arts on a sunny day in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

    As the new year unfolds, the China NCPA Chorus, the resident chorus of the National Centre for the Performing Arts, is set to embark on an exciting journey with a fresh, diverse season of offerings.

    Based on the core theme of “Unbounded”, the 2025 season will push the boundaries of choral art by blending classical traditions with modern interpretations and global influences, says Zhang Yao, vice-president of the NCPA.

    This includes an array of choral music, operas, symphonic choral works and concerts in approximately 30 performances running throughout the year.

    To celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Italy in 2025, the new season will explore Italian opera and folk music, blending multimedia and stage design to bring these genres to life in fresh and exciting ways under the leadership of the NCPA’s music director, Lyu Jia.

    More concerts are planned to bring the world’s musical treasures to the stage, demonstrating how choral art can break boundaries and experiment with new forms. For example, World Music Tour, China NCPA Chorus: World Famous Songs Concert, conducted by Jiao Miao, will feature famous songs from around the world, including Mexican dance music, New Zealand folk music, and French love songs. The chorus will explore ways to merge vocals with musical instruments, including the free, vigorous rhythms of Africa and South America.

    Choral Theater, a special themed series combining theater with sound, will invite audiences into the stories to experience emotional rhythms.

    The Merriment Adventure, a concert version of the operas The Merry Widow, a comic operetta in three acts by Hungarian composer Franz Lehar, and Die Fledermaus, an operetta by Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, will present the comedic characteristics of operetta through bright, lively rhythms and lighthearted, humorous content, bringing delight to the audience through the twists and turns of the plot.

    “Fifteen years ago, a group of passionate voices came together to found the China NCPA Chorus, and today, it has become a beloved pillar of the arts community in the country,” says resident conductor Jiao, who has been with the chorus since its inception. “We’ve built a large fan base over the past 15 years, and with this new Choral Theater series, we want to find a way to be innovative with contemporary Chinese choral art by telling stories with sound and cross-border collaborations.”

    Jiao adds that to appeal to younger audiences, the new series will also include Cinderella, a concert based on the classic fairy tale, and The Tale of Fuxi and Nyuwa, a concert themed around the snake zodiac sign from classical Chinese mythology. These performances will help educate Chinese culture to children through music and audiovisual experiences.

    The symphonic choral section will highlight some of the most beautiful pieces in the choral repertoire. Conducted by Li Xincao, the chorus will present a powerful rendition of the Yellow River Cantata in commemoration of the 120th anniversary of composer Xian Xinghai. It will also present Carmina Burana, a cantata for orchestra, chorus, and vocal soloists by the German composer Carl Orff, which is famous for its grandeur, in collaboration with the China Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Yu Long.

    As a versatile ensemble, the China NCPA Chorus will also take on four major opera productions in the first half of the season — the Chinese operas The Long March and Minning Town, and Verdi’s La Traviata and Il Trovatore.

    “The full version of the Yellow River Cantata, in particular, impressed me deeply. It felt like every note told the heroic story of the Chinese people. Over time, I followed the chorus’ performances, and in 2023, when they toured Shenzhen, Guangdong province, where I live, I attended the concert. I traveled to Beijing last year for their 15th anniversary concert, which remains a great memory,” says Xing Jiachuan, a concertgoer who became a fan after watching the chorus’ performances on the NCPA’s online channel.

    Famous dramatist and poet Zou Jingzhi has worked closely with the chorus. “I collaborated with the chorus on the opera Xi Shi, which I composed in 2010. Hearing them for the first time, I was deeply moved by their youthful, passionate and powerful voices. I could feel the singers’ overflowing passion for choral art,” he says.

    Zou has worked with the chorus on other operas, such as The Chinese Orphan (2011) and The Long March (2016). “Their enthusiasm is infectious, and the energy they bring to the stage is unparalleled,” he adds.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese box office hit ‘Ne Zha 2’ premieres in LA

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A poster for “Ne Zha 2.” [Image courtesy of Coloroom Pictures]

    Chinese box office hit “Ne Zha 2” made its overseas premiere Saturday night in Hollywood, Los Angeles, drawing hundreds of fans and filmmakers from both China and the United States.

    Li Zhiqiang, China’s deputy consul general in Los Angeles, highlighted the film’s strong performance in China and its growing global appeal. He said at the premiere that pre-sales for “Ne Zha 2” were booming in North America and emphasized the potential for deeper collaboration between China and the United States in the film and television industry.

    Hollywood producer Robert King praised the film’s quality and scale after watching the premiere, saying that Chinese films have made significant strides in storytelling in recent years. He expressed hope for stronger cooperation between Hollywood and the Chinese film industry in the future.

    The animated epic fantasy film has captivated Chinese audiences with its exquisite animation production, grand visual imagination and rich cultural expression. After opening on Jan. 29, the first day of Chinese New Year, the film has smashed box office records, becoming the highest-grossing film of all time in China.

    By 0220 GMT on Monday, the film had grossed over 8.15 billion yuan (about 1.15 billion U.S. dollars) in the Chinese mainland, surpassing Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the highest-grossing film ever in a single market, according to ticketing platform Maoyan.

    “Ne Zha 2” is the sequel to the 2019 animated blockbuster “Ne Zha.” Both films were inspired by the classic 16th-century novel “The Investiture of the Gods.”

    CMC Pictures is set to release “Ne Zha 2” in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand next week.

    The film, presented in Mandarin with English subtitles, will be available in around 60 IMAX theaters in 30 North American cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Toronto and Montreal, starting Wednesday.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Trump ‘determined’ to implement ‘revolutionary’ Gaza takeover plan

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, Feb. 4, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Israel is discussing U.S. President Donald Trump’s “revolutionary, creative vision” on the Gaza Strip, the one that Trump is “very determined to implement,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday.

    Trump’s plan “opens up many possibilities for us,” Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting after his return from Washington to Israel, according to a statement released by Netanyahu’s office.

    “For an entire year, we have been told that the ‘day after’ (in Gaza) must involve the PLO (the Palestine Liberation Organization), the Palestinian Authority … President Trump has presented a completely different vision, one that is much better for the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said.

    According to the statement, Netanyahu and Trump have agreed on achieving all of Israel’s war objectives, including “eliminating” Hamas, releasing all Israeli hostages, ensuring Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, and returning displaced Israeli residents.

    Another war objective of Israel is to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, Netanyahu added.

    During a joint press conference in Washington with Netanyahu on Tuesday, Trump said the United States plans to “take control of the Gaza Strip,” move Palestinians to neighboring countries, and redevelop the coastal enclave.

    On Thursday, Netanyahu suggested during an interview with Israel’s Channel 14 that “Saudis can establish a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have plenty of land there.”

    Both Trump’s and Netanyahu’s remarks have sparked regional and international outcry, with many countries voicing their rejection of displacing Palestinians from their homeland and their support for the two-state solution.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Mideast countries condemn Netanyahu’s comments

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A Palestinian child is seen on a destroyed building in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Several countries in the Middle East condemned on Sunday the remarks made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the establishment of a Palestinian state on Saudi territory.

    Netanyahu’s comments, made during an interview on Thursday with Israel’s Channel 14, suggested that “Saudis can establish a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have plenty of land there.”

    The Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the kingdom rejects such statements that aim to divert attention from the “continuous crimes” committed by Israel.

    The kingdom emphasized that the Palestinian people have a right to their land, and lasting peace can only be achieved by returning to the logic of reason and accepting the principle of peaceful coexistence through the two-state solution.

    In a statement, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said Netanyahu’s remarks constitute a blatant violation of the sovereignty of Saudi Arabia and an assault on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, in addition to their violation of the rules of international law and the UN Charter.

    The ministry expressed Iraq’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, stressing that “any violation of the national sovereignty of any country is completely unacceptable.”

    Sufian Qudah, spokesperson for Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, emphasized Jordan’s rejection of the remarks, which he said reflect an exclusionary and inciteful ideology that is hostile to peace and fuels further escalation in the region.

    Qudah reaffirmed Jordan’s full support and solidarity with Saudi Arabia, calling on the international community to condemn and denounce Netanyahu’s statements.

    Qatar’s Foreign Ministry labeled the statements as a flagrant violation of international law and “a blatant infringement of the UN Charter.”

    In a statement, it reaffirmed the country’s steadfast position on the justness of the Palestinian cause and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

    In response to the recent statements on relocating Palestinians in Gaza to other countries, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has called for holding an emergency ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

    He made the appeal in separate phone calls on Saturday night with OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha as well as his Egyptian, Tunisian, Turkish, and Pakistani counterparts, according to statements released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

    During his talks, Araghchi condemned the “dangerous and disgraceful” U.S.-Israeli plan to “forcefully” move Palestinians from Gaza to other countries, saying it was aimed at the “ethnic cleansing of Gaza and elimination of Palestine.”

    He urged that the OIC convene an extraordinary meeting to make a “decisive and effective” decision in defense of the Palestinians’ rights.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese scientists develop gene-editing method to reduce corn plant height

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese scientists have developed a gene-editing technique to reduce corn plant height, enabling the creation of compact, high-density varieties resistant to lodging, according to a study published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal.
    Corn, the world’s most-produced cereal crop, is crucial to global food security. While increasing planting density is a key strategy for boosting yields, progress in developing shorter, sturdier plants has been limited by a lack of genetic resources.
    The research was conducted by the Biotechnology Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in collaboration with Anhui Agricultural University and South China Agricultural University. It focused on modifying the Br2 gene through targeted gene editing. Researchers designed a knockout vector for the Br2 gene and identified seven transgenic lines with distinct mutations in corn inbred varieties.
    Hybridization experiments showed that all 28 hybrid offspring derived from crosses with elite inbred lines produced dwarf progeny. To accelerate breeding, the team developed a haploid inducer-mediated genome editing system, enabling the conversion of edited haploid plants into stable double-haploid lines within two generations. Three elite inbred lines treated with the system exhibited significant reductions in plant height.
    “This method allows rapid and precise modification of plant height across different genetic backgrounds,” said Wang Baobao, corresponding author of the study and a researcher at the CAAS. “It provides critical technical support for breeding corn varieties optimized for dense planting and enhanced lodging resistance.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Lenovo, Alat break ground on new manufacturing facility

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s multinational technology company Lenovo and Saudi company Alat on Sunday broke ground on a new manufacturing base in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

    According to a statement released by Lenovo, the factory will cover 200,000 square meters at the Special Integrated Logistics Zone near Riyadh’s international airport, and focus on the production of laptops, desktops, and servers, which is expected to begin in 2026.

    The partnership is projected to create up to 15,000 direct jobs and 45,000 indirect jobs, with a cumulative non-oil GDP contribution of up to 10 billion U.S. dollars by 2030, the statement said, noting that Lenovo will establish a regional Middle East and Africa (MEA) headquarters in Riyadh to serve customers in the region.

    Addressing the ground-breaking ceremony, Yang Yuanqing, chairman and CEO of Lenovo, said, “Through this powerful strategic collaboration and investment with Alat, we gain greater global presence, a strong regional foothold, and the ability to capitalize on the incredible growth momentum in Saudi Arabia and the wider MEA region.”

    “We are excited to have Alat as our long-term strategic partner, and are confident that our world-class supply chain capabilities as well as our innovation will benefit Saudi Arabia as it drives its Vision 2030 goals,” he said.

    For his part, Alat’s CEO Amit Midha said, “With the establishment of a regional headquarters in Riyadh and a world-class manufacturing hub, powered by clean energy, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we expect the Lenovo team to further their potential across the MEA region.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘World’s supermarket’ reopens after holiday, embracing innovation in Year of Snake

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A merchant adorns her store with Spring Festival decorations in the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Yiwu International Trade Market, the world’s largest wholesale market for small commodities located in the city of Yiwu in east China’s Zhejiang Province, reopened on Sunday after the Spring Festival holiday, marking a vibrant start to the Year of the Snake.

    The reopening ceremony featured traditional lion dances and drum performances, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere.

    Merchants like toy shop owner Chen Meijun voiced optimism for a prosperous year ahead.

    “We received inquiries from regular customers during the holiday, and we expect sales to grow by over 10 percent this year,” Chen said, noting that she plans to expand her business internationally, with trips to Mexico and Kenya scheduled this year.

    Actresses perform at the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Dubbed “world’s supermarket,” Yiwu is an international hub for small commodity production and trade, attracting customers from around the world.

    Nepalese buyer Raj Kumar Khadka was among the first clients to arrive, planning to order ceramics, glassware and other goods worth around 1 million yuan (about 139,500 U.S. dollars).

    A frequent visitor who first came to the city for business 23 years ago, Khadka said Yiwu plays a crucial role in the international commodity trade.

    “Yiwu taught me how to do business,” he said. “Because of this city, I was able to meet people from all over the world and learn about their languages and cultures.”

    The trade market’s 75,000 shops are connected to over 2.1 million enterprises, supporting approximately 32 million jobs. Its strong purchasing demand and diverse product offerings highlight the resilience and growth potential of China’s economy.

    Many businesses are capitalizing on emerging trends, such as 3D-printed toys, which have gained popularity for their vibrant colors and intricate designs.

    “We have invested heavily in R&D and plan to expand our footprints in developed markets while tapping into domestic demand,” said Zeng Hao, manager of a toy company producing and selling 3D-printed toys.

    A dragon dance is staged at a square of the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    In late 2024, China’s State Council approved an overall plan for deepening comprehensive international trade reforms in Yiwu, which outlines a vision to promote reforms through further opening up, along with initiatives such as innovating market procurement trade mechanisms, promoting import trade development, enhancing the functionality of comprehensive bonded zones, and strengthening cross-border e-commerce regulations.

    Innovation has become a driving force behind Yiwu’s enduring success. Since 2023, the Chinagoods AI platform, launched by Zhejiang China Commodities City Group Co., Ltd., has gained attention for enabling Yiwu’s business owners to effortlessly create multilingual versions of product videos, supporting over 30 languages.

    Today, more businesses are using new technologies to expand their reach and attract customers.

    At a digital shop in the market, manager Bao Haigang demonstrated a headset that accurately translates over 100 languages via a smartphone app. He said this AI-powered headset launched in 2024 has seen strong sales in markets like Brazil.

    “We will continue integrating AI into traditional products and expect over 30 percent sales growth this year. We are very confident,” Bao said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign investment upgrades amid transformation

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    For Anna An, president for China of German industrial and consumer goods group Henkel, 2025 is undoubtedly shaping up to be a busy year.

    The company’s new plant, with a total investment of 900 million yuan ($124 million), is set to begin test production in Yantai, Shandong province, later this year. This facility is expected to raise the company’s production capacity to supply high-end adhesives for industries such as electronics and automobiles.

    “We are also planning to launch our new inspiration center for adhesive technologies in Shanghai this year, boosting our innovation capabilities for industrial businesses across China and the broader Asia-Pacific region,” said An.

    “The tone-setting Central Economic Work Conference held in December emphasized technological innovation and the promotion of consumption, creating significant opportunities for multinational companies like Henkel,” she added.

    Echoing that sentiment, Nathan Stoner, vice-president of Cummins Inc, a US engine manufacturer, said his company aims to increase its market share in key application sectors within China, including power generation equipment for data centers, high-tech manufacturing, and the engineering, procurement and construction sectors this year.

    Highlighting that the company’s hydrogen fuel cell products successfully powered 239 transit buses and trucks, and the accumulated mileage of over 16 million kilometers across China in 2024, Stoner, who is also chairman of Cummins China, said the company will continue to innovate on the internal combustion engine system, including high efficiency diesel, natural gas and hydrogen internal combustion engines in China this year.

    “We are targeting our investments in zero-emission solutions into various Chinese regional markets where we see demand and adoption happening sooner, and iterating those products to be the best they can be, when customers want more of them,” he added.

    These examples highlight the growing optimism among multinational corporations regarding the long-term potential of the Chinese market, fueled by the country’s economic resilience and its commitment to innovation and openness.

    Initially, foreign companies were attracted by China’s cost advantages and abundant labor force, using it as a base for producing competitive goods, said Xu Wei, head of the macroeconomic research department at the Development Research Center of the State Council.

    As China advanced its infrastructure and industrial systems, it remained a low-cost production hub while evolving to offer sophisticated, high-value manufacturing, allowing foreign companies to integrate more advanced production processes, Xu said.

    “With China entering a new era of green and innovation-driven growth in recent years, global investments have increasingly focused on supply chain optimization, high-end manufacturing, customized innovation, and digital and green solutions,” he said, adding that sectors such as trade in services and healthcare have also become key areas of foreign investment.

    For instance, in addition to announcing a record high of over 657,000 electric vehicle sales in the Chinese mainland in 2024, marking an 8.8 percent year-on-year increase, Tesla Inc, the US EV maker, is currently conducting trial production to manufacture energy-storage batteries at its Shanghai factory.

    The US automaker said mass production at this facility is expected to commence fully within the first quarter.

    China has been revising its sector list to attract more foreign investment. These efforts, along with the removal of all market access restrictions for foreign investors in the manufacturing sector last year, reflect the country’s proactive approach to openness.

    Li Yongjie, deputy international trade representative of the Ministry of Commerce, said China will further open up its services sector, with a particular focus on accelerating pilot programs in key areas such as telecommunications, healthcare and education.

    A total of 59,080 new foreign-invested firms were established across China in 2024, an increase of 9.9 percent year-on-year, according to information released by the Ministry of Commerce.

    Wang Xiaohong, a researcher at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges in Beijing, said that China’s ongoing commitment to further opening-up and fostering innovation is positioning the country as both a key player in global supply chains, and a prime destination for investment and strategic expansion.

    This evolving environment is expected to create new opportunities for business growth, particularly as China adapts its policies to align with the shifting dynamics of the global economy, she said.

    More than half of companies from the United States plan to increase their investments in China this year, according to the 2025 China Business Climate Survey Report released by the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) in late January.

    The survey, conducted from Oct 21 to Nov 15, involved a total of 368 member companies of AmCham China. It found that nearly half of the participants rank China as one of their top three global investment priorities.

    About 68 percent of the US responding companies expect industry markets to see growth in 2025. Two-thirds of them plan to focus on growing their core business activities in China as their primary objective for 2025. Meanwhile, the consumer and services sectors are increasingly focused on driving growth by targeting new customer segments.

    Jeff Losch, vice-president and business manager for coating additives technologies at Milliken & Company, a US specialty chemical and performance materials firm, said China is a key market for Milliken, not only because of its vast scale, but also due to its forward-thinking approach to sustainability.

    “We have observed a strong demand in the EV and industrial coating businesses. China’s EV industry is extremely strong and has led the global market this year, with Chinese manufacturers making their presence felt in markets across many countries,” said Losch.

    He said that the quick growth of China’s EV market has clearly created significant opportunities for the coatings industry. EV manufacturing requires coatings with high durability and environmental standards, which align closely with Milliken’s innovation goals.

    Eager to seize more market share, the US company plans to continue investing in its innovation unit, expand sales networks and enhance supply chain operations within China.

    As China undergoes a profound transformation, making business navigation more challenging than before, Denis Depoux, global managing director at German consultancy Roland Berger, suggested multinational corporations make targeted investments to navigate the unique characteristics of the Chinese market and local competition.

    “This strategy emphasizes enhancing localization efforts, particularly by tapping into China’s innovation ecosystem, while also adapting to increasingly differentiated norms and standards,” he said.

    Affected by shrinking global investments in recent years, together with factors like slower economic growth, rising geopolitical risks, weak demand and stricter investment reviews in certain countries, foreign direct investment in the Chinese mainland in actual use totaled 826.25 billion yuan in 2024, dropping 27.1 percent on a yearly basis, statistics from the Ministry of Commerce showed.

    The adjustment of China’s domestic industrial structure and rising labor costs have diminished the country’s low-cost advantages, said Cui Fan, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

    As a result, some labor-intensive industries have shifted gradually due to changes in comparative advantages. This reflects the evolution of China’s economic development stage and factor endowments. This is a natural and expected process, said Cui.

    Driven by China’s stable political, economic and social environment, as well as its large-scale production capabilities and efforts to grow strategic emerging industries, FDI flow is expected to continue recovering within the country in 2025, said Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Institute of World Economics and Politics, which is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing.

    Strategic emerging industries in China include sectors such as energy-saving and environmental protection, next-generation information technology, biotechnology, high-end equipment manufacturing, new energy, advanced materials and EVs.

    For efficiency-driven multinational companies, regions with dense and well-connected networks are emerging as primary targets for strategic expansion. This emphasis is closely tied to factors like strong industry integration, complementary capabilities and easy accessibility, and all these factors enable streamlined operations and growth, said Gao.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Over 20M consumers apply for electronic products trade-in subsidies

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    More than 20 million consumers have applied for China’s electronic products trade-in subsidies since the government launched the pro-consumption program three weeks ago, data from the commerce ministry showed Sunday.

    Some 20.09 million consumers applied for the subsidies to buy 25.41 million units of electronic products such as mobile phones as of Saturday, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

    China started to offer subsidies for electronic products trade-in from Jan. 20 as the country expanded the scope of consumer goods trade-in program to further boost consumption, which provides consumers with up to 500 yuan (about 69.7 U.S. dollars) apiece on the purchase of digital products.

    Card payment giant China UnionPay said it has recorded 6.27 million subsidized transactions with sales value totaling 20.58 billion yuan in the reporting period.

    Driven by the government incentives, mobile phone sales in China jumped by 74 percent in volume and 65 percent in value on a weekly basis in the week prior to the Spring Festival, which fell on Jan. 29 this year, market data revealed.

    China launched an action plan to promote large-scale equipment renewal and trade-in of consumer goods in March 2024 as part of efforts to boost domestic demand and support economic growth. Official data showed that the trade-in scheme has boosted sales of automobiles by 920 billion yuan last year, and that of home appliances by 240 billion yuan.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Israeli army says struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The Israeli military said Sunday that it has launched airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in eastern and southern Lebanon.

    An Israeli aircraft struck an underground tunnel used by Hezbollah for arms transfers in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa region, which extended from Syria into Lebanese territory and had previously been targeted by Israeli forces, an Israeli military spokesperson said.

    The Israeli Air Force also struck sites in southern Lebanon that contained “munitions and rocket launchers that posed an imminent threat,” the spokesperson added.

    Meanwhile, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli fighter jets carried out multiple airstrikes on Sunday evening targeting areas in the Nabatieh region of southern Lebanon, the rugged outskirts of Hermel near the Lebanese-Syrian border, and areas in the eastern Bekaa region.

    A ceasefire that took effect in November 2024 halted nearly 14 months of fighting between Hezbollah and Israel. Despite the truce, Israeli forces launched sporadic attacks in Lebanon, saying they were targeting Hezbollah positions that violated the ceasefire agreement.

    The Lebanese government has repeatedly condemned the Israeli attacks. After Israel failed to meet the initial deadline to withdraw from southern Lebanon, the Lebanese authorities extended the deadline to Feb. 18.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Israeli army kills 4 Palestinians in Gaza

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    People warm themselves with fire next to their tent after heavy rain in Gaza City, on Feb. 6, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Israeli troops killed four Palestinians, including an elderly woman, in two separate incidents in the north and south of the Gaza Strip on Sunday, the Gaza-based health authorities said.

    “Three Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces while returning to their homes near the Kuwait Roundabout, east of Gaza City. Their bodies were transferred to the Baptist Hospital,” the health authorities said in a press statement.

    In a separate incident, the health authorities reported that an elderly woman from the Mahna family was shot dead by Israeli forces east of the town of Al-Qarara, near Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

    The killings follow the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Netzarim Corridor — a strip of land that bisected Gaza from north to south.

    Meanwhile, the health authorities announced that the death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, has risen to 48,189, with 111,640 others injured.

    Gaza’s health authorities reported eight deaths and two injuries in the past 24 hours, including seven bodies recovered from the rubble and one additional fatality.

    They warned that more victims remain trapped beneath the debris in areas that are difficult to access due to ongoing shelling.

    On Sunday, the health authorities urged Palestinian residents to donate blood, warning that supplies have been completely depleted after 15 months of war.

    “Our blood bank is empty, and we need immediate donations to save lives,” they said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Spring Festival temple fair held in Malta

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A young girl watches a puppet during a temple fair at the China Cultural Center in Valletta, Malta, on Feb. 8, 2025. The temple fair celebrating the traditional Chinese Spring Festival was held here on Saturday, drawing around 300 attendees eager to experience the richness of Chinese culture and intangible cultural heritage. (Photo by Jonathan Borg/Xinhua)

    A festive temple fair celebrating the traditional Chinese Spring Festival was held at the China Cultural Center in Malta on Saturday, drawing around 300 attendees eager to experience the richness of Chinese culture and intangible cultural heritage.

    Visitors were greeted at the entrance with a lively lion dance performance. Inside the exhibition hall, the air was filled with the aroma of tea as attendees explored displays of national and Zhejiang provincial intangible cultural heritage, including sugar painting, rice sculptures, puppetry, shadow puppetry, and woodblock printing.

    While watching a puppet performance by Chinese artists, guests also had the opportunity to try their hand at creating sugar paintings and woodblock prints.

    “The Spring Festival is not only a celebration for the Chinese people but also a UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage and a festival for the world,” Charmaine St. John, mayor of Santa Lucija, told Xinhua. “Just like the Spring Festival temple fair, we can share happiness through Chinese traditions, culture, and art.”

    Dawson Camilleri, a longtime member of the China Cultural Center, attended the event with friends. They experimented with woodblock printing and were fascinated by the technique. “It’s amazing how vivid images appear on paper with simple smearing,” he told Xinhua, emphasizing the significance of printing in cultural transmission. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Sharing their love of culture

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Golden threads dance between silver needles, threading vitality into the intricate snake-pattern embroidered fan in the warm sunlight in winter.

    As the vibrant colors bring the snake to life, Liu Xiaoyan, an embroidery master, weaves her heartfelt wishes for a prosperous Year of the Snake with each stitch.

    Liu was demonstrating her craft in a fun park in Greece on Jan 19, which is part of a cultural trip she and her team are on, called “Happy Spring Festival “organized by the Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center to spread Chinese culture to the countries they travel to.

    The cultural celebration is an annual activity held since 2016 to celebrate the Chinese New Year with Chinese community in other countries as well as other local people wanting to discover more about Chinese traditional culture. This year’s activity included a series of events in Greece, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Turkiye, and Nigeria.

    In her display table, Liu presented over 40 exquisite and captivating embroidery pieces, ranging from garments and scrolls to smaller items such as brooches and earrings to display the enchantment of Chinese aesthetics. Passersby couldn’t help but stop and admire the works, with some excitedly trying their hands at creating their own embroidered fans.

    “We are happy for this,” said Nadia, a local woman who watched Liu’s performance in Athens, “The Chinese community in Athens is really vibrant and strong, and I hope you’re going to be healthy and happy throughout the Year of the Snake.”

    “My heartfelt thanks to you — both the artistic works and the food are amazing,” said a local man named Vassili, who was happy watching Liu’s performance and expressed his “Happy the Year of the Snake” congratulations to all.

    What Liu displayed at the exhibition is the art of Beijing embroidery, recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of the nation, to which she is inheritor and master of arts and crafts in Beijing. Liu’s family has had a long connection with the world of tailoring as four generations of her family worked as tailors, which brought her an early exposure to the craft of embroidery and naturally sparked her interest in Beijing embroidery, a form of classical Chinese royal embroidery that dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

    Characterized by exquisite details and auspicious patterns, the demanding techniques of Beijing embroidery are a time-consuming challenge. “It took me three months to embroider just one peony leaf at my first attempt,” Liu recalled.

    The skills needed to become an exceptional embroiderer, however, were not the only lessons Liu learned from several masters of Beijing embroidery over the course of 17 years.

    “My teachers always advised me not to limit myself to the needle and thread,” Liu recalled. “Instead, they encouraged me to think about how I could carry the essence of Chinese traditional culture into the modern era, ensuring this form of national intangible cultural heritage would continue to thrive.”

    In addition to mixing the popular snake motif for the New Year into embroidery works, such as fans, brooches, and earrings, Liu also experimented with traditional colors and techniques to convey grand messages of the times through these small pieces.

    Hitting new heights

    “Turquoise and lapis green are commonly used in traditional Chinese painting. With these two colors in this mountain-shaped brooch, I hope to convey our current pursuit of a better life and a cleaner environment,” Liu said, pointing to the brooch she was wearing.

    From Jan 18 to 28, during the “Happy Spring Festival” trip, Liu showcased her works in Greece and Italy. “For me, it’s not only an opportunity to show Chinese traditional culture, but also a way to inspire me to keep this intangible cultural heritage alive by learning the tastes of global audiences and the methods of my global counterparts,” Liu said.

    Organized jointly by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism and local Chinese embassies, consulates and cultural centers, among other institutions, the “Happy Spring Festival” events feature a diverse array of activities such as display of Liu’s embroidery products, interactive activities with local audiences, Chinese New Year photo exhibitions, exhibitions of award-winning entries from the Global Zodiac Design Competition, and VR exhibitions of Beijing’s Central Axis that was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024, all showcasing the rich connotations of Chinese New Year culture.

    Another of the intangible cultural heritage practitioners taking part is Ha Xin, a fifth-generation inheritor of kite-making skills named after his family name, which, with a history of over 160 years, was included on the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008. While all ordinary kite-making procedures are similar and involve making the different parts of the skeleton of the kite with bamboo, then gluing them together and covering the framework with paper, Ha’s kites are uniquely artistic as he invests a lot of time and energy into the drawing and design.

    For Ha, drawing is the gene of the kites he makes and he usually spends over 20 days drawing on a kite. His grandfather, the third-generation inheritor of the art, once said: “A kite might last only about 100 years but the drawing and design on it might exist much longer.”

    Ha’s drawings on the kite include birds, butterflies, goldfish and dragons. This time he has creatively designed kites with drawings of Dala horses in Sweden and moose of Norway, to convey China’s friendliness to the people of Scandinavian countries, which are his trip destinations.

    To make it interactive, Ha has also halfmade a large dragon kite and invited local audiences to participate in finishing the kite on-site. “By allowing locals to do it together, I hope they can enjoy the process and gain a love for the Chinese art of kites.”

    Expressive dance

    The Beijing Dance Academy also participated in this year’s activity. Zeng Ming, a teacher in its Department of Chinese Classical Dance, led a group of seven dancers to perform in Nigeria and Turkiye, showcasing the beauty of Chinese classical dance.

    Among the performances was Zeng’s solo dance titled Calligraphy and Painting. This piece is a fusion of two traditional Chinese art forms — calligraphy and classical dance. In the performance, Zeng held a calligraphy brush throughout, using the movements of writing as a form of expressive dance.

    The dance reflects the passion and flowing strokes of Chinese calligraphy. As the music progresses, the rhythm of the dance grows more intense, akin to the moment when ancient Chinese literati moved their brushes vigorously to express their inner passion with strokes powerful enough to penetrate the paper.

    Calligraphy and Painting is not only a celebration of Chinese calligraphy but also a vivid portrayal of the artistry and philosophy behind it, according to Zeng. By integrating the fluid motions of calligraphy with dynamic dance steps, Zeng’s performance embodies the harmony of body, mind, and spirit.

    The dance accentuates the elegance and intricate beauty of Chinese calligraphy, while also conveying its deep cultural significance, reflecting the Chinese literati spirit and profound historical roots of Chinese tradition.

    Through the performance, Zeng and his fellow dancers brought Chinese culture to international audiences, demonstrating how Chinese classical dance and calligraphy can transcend cultural boundaries and resonate with people worldwide. There are also dances in which the dancers manipulate long silk ribbons to resemble snake, through which they hope to wish the audiences a happy Year of the Snake.

    “I believe that in this overseas performance, we represent our country and demonstrate the grandeur and broadmindedness of China as a nation of etiquette,” Zeng said, “We want the audiences to see the spirit of the Chinese people and feel the depth of Chinese culture.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Books open youth up to whole new galaxy

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Within the first month of 2025, the trend of reading pop science books, particularly ones with fascinating text and illustrations attractive to children, has risen among young readers thanks to policy support from various authorities.

    On Jan 1, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Science and Technology, along with cooperating departments, announced its annual New Discovery Pop-Science Booklist of 21 types of books, including one that explains sound to readers and one about flying birds, both of which had good sales records on domestic bookselling websites.

    The Beijing Book Fair was held from Jan 9 to 11 at the China International Exhibition Center (Chaoyang Hall), where pop science books appeared as a genre that both readers and publishers marveled at. Their popularity was evident with over 2,900 display booths seeing their opening hours hosting pop-science writers’ lectures where they shared knowledge that was well-received among audiences.

    “We get double the information by attending the lectures,” said 38-year-old Deng Hong, who attended three pop-science book-sharing lectures with her daughter on Jan 9.

    “We both get to know what a new book is about and take in science knowledge,” she added.

    One of the lectures Deng attended was given by Cao Yong, a professor from Northwestern Polytechnical University Ningbo branch, who was in charge of a team that designed a robotic “ghost fish”, a bionic submersible that could travel autonomously in the ocean. Cao shared how the “ghost fish” swims underwater and answered questions such as, “would such a bionic fish be eaten by a bigger fish”, or “what materials is its skin made of that can withstand high water pressure”. Cao also gifted a book about big airplanes to Beijing No 15 High School whose students attended his lecture.

    The Young Scientist, a pop science cartoon series, is another major product that attracted over 100 people on-site and sold more than 1,000 copies online during the past two weeks. Written by 10 renowned domestic scientists and pop science writers with illustrations by 11 professional artists, the series teaches readers about the latest advancements in major science sectors and enhances their prospects. Four of the 10 writers held an open seminar in which about three dozen were kids that they “hope to influence the most”, according to its editor Zou Li.

    The four writers shared key points in their books. For example, “a long rumor is that mankind invented radar-imitating bats that find their way by sending ultrasonic waves”, said Yuan Lanfeng, chief editor of the series, “but while writing and editing the book about bionics, we consulted a bat expert, a radar expert and an acoustics professor and found that mankind invented the radar long before discovering that bats emitted ultrasonic waves. The two are similar but not imitating each other.”

    The writers also answered questions raised by the pupils. The most popular question was: “What do we do now to become scientists like you?”

    “If you want to be an astronaut or astronautic scientist, stay healthy and do your homework to become educated,” answered Zhou Binghong, one of the writers who is also a researcher at the China Academy of Space Technology, pointing out that the line between astronauts and astronautic scientists is vague as these professions need extensive knowledge to travel to space for on-site experiences. “Health and knowledge are the most important factors for both professions, which are becoming increasingly popular at a lower cost.”

    Wang Dapeng, a researcher at the China Research Institute for Science Popularization, encourages the idea of recruiting scientists to write their stories. “We need more scientific researchers to tell stories of their research fields. Science in the form of stories is more digestible to children because reading is not only for acquiring knowledge but also for enriching lives and improving oneself.”

    Li Hui, deputy Party secretary and vice-chairperson of the board of Hunan Publishing Investment Holding Group, said that pop science works play an irreplaceable role in cultivating children’s scientific literacy and stimulating their innovative potential. The publishing group follows the national innovation-driven development strategy and is committed to publishing excellent popular science works and enhancing scientific literacy.

    “How many galaxies are there in the universe besides ours?” asked a 7-year-old at the end of the seminar.

    “So far, we know of about 100 billion,” Zhou answered, “which means for each of the 8 billion people on Earth, there is an average of a dozen galaxies. The coming generations have a mission to work harder on space science so that one day we can travel at the speed of light into the deep universe to explore them.

    “Let’s find our own galaxies,” Zhou said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Merchants at Yiwu Int’l Trade Market welcome first business day in Year of Snake

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Merchants at Yiwu Int’l Trade Market welcome first business day in Year of Snake

    Updated: February 10, 2025 09:02 Xinhua
    This photo taken on Feb. 9, 2025 shows a store open for business in the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province. Merchants at the Yiwu International Trade Market on Sunday welcomed their first business day in the Year of the Snake. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People watch a performance at the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Merchants display Spring Festival decorations in the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Children perform at the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A merchant adorns her store with Spring Festival decorations in the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Actresses perform at the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A merchant (L, front) from Nepal watches a dragon dance performance outside the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    People visit the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A dragon dance is staged at a square of the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Long-term care insurance becoming more popular

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China is making strides in popularizing long-term care insurance, improving the quality of life for people who have lost the ability to perform daily activities and easing the burden on their families.

    The National Healthcare Security Administration recently announced that by the end of 2024, more than 180 million people were covered by long-term care insurance, with 2.6 million individuals receiving benefits. The program, which began its trial phase in 2016, now covers 49 cities, including Beijing and Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province.

    Long-term care insurance is designed to assist people who are unable to perform basic daily activities such as eating, bathing or dressing due to aging, injury, illness or mental deterioration. Participation in the insurance program is voluntary.

    Experts say the insurance is an important supplement to China’s existing social insurance system, which includes pension, healthcare, work-related injury, unemployment and maternity coverage.

    Local governments have pushed for broader implementation of long-term care insurance to address the aging population and improve the quality of life for impaired people.

    In Ningbo, Zhejiang province, the program expanded from 2017 to 2023, eventually covering the entire city. Hangzhou and Huzhou, two other cities in Zhejiang, fully implemented the program last month, allowing local residents to join for an annual payment of 90 yuan ($12.35).

    Before receiving benefits, insured individuals must undergo a scientific evaluation by professional workers to assess their abilities in areas such as mobility, eating, bathing, cognition and communication.

    Despite its progress, the expansion of long-term care insurance faces several challenges, including a shortage of certified long-term care workers and reluctance from some people to pay for the insurance.

    According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China’s elderly population — people age 60 and above — reached 297 million by the end of 2023, and the proportion of these individuals who have lost the ability to perform basic living tasks has risen in recent years. It’s estimated that 46 million elderly people will lose such abilities by 2035, with the number rising to 58 million by 2050.

    However, the number of certified nursing workers remains around 500,000, while the demand for such workers is estimated to be 10 million, according to state broadcaster China Central Television.

    Li Yanqing, a 28-year-old nursing worker in Shanghai, said the demand for nursing talent will continue to increase due to the growing elderly population. She pointed out that issues such as low social recognition, low pay, physically demanding work and unclear career advancement have caused many colleagues to quit in recent years.

    “I plan to get the official certificate of long-term care worker,” Li said.

    Fan Weidong, an official with the National Healthcare Security Administration, said at a recent news conference that the administration is working to establish a long-term care insurance system that alleviates the financial burden on individuals and families.

    “The implementation of long-term care insurance has created about 300,000 jobs and attracted approximately 60 billion yuan in social and industrial investment,” Fan said. “We will continue exploring ways to involve commercial healthcare insurance and social organizations in expanding coverage, and encourage local authorities and companies to develop smarter, more digitalized services for people with impaired living abilities.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Cook Islands crisis: Haka with the taniwha or dance with the dragon?

    The Cook Islands finds itself in a precarious dance — one between the promises of foreign investments and the integrity of our own sovereignty. As the country sways between partners China and Aotearoa New Zealand, the Cook Islands News asks: “Do we continue to haka with the Taniwha, our constitutional partner, or do we dance with the dragon?”

    EDITORIAL: By Thomas Tarurongo Wynne, Cook Islands News

    Our relationship with China, forged through over two decades of diplomatic agreements, infrastructure projects and economic cooperation, demands further scrutiny. Do we continue to embrace the dragon with open arms, or do we stand wary?

    And what of the Taniwha, a relationship now bruised by the ego of the few but standing the test of time?

    If our relationship with China were a building, it would be crumbling like the very structures they have built for us. The Cook Islands Police Headquarters (2005) was meant to stand as a testament to our growing diplomatic and financial ties, but its foundations — both literal and metaphorical — have been called into question as its structure deteriorated.

    COOK ISLANDS NEWS

    Then, in 2009, the Cook Islands Courthouse followed, plagued by maintenance issues almost immediately after its completion. Our National Stadium, also built in 2009 for the Pacific Mini Games, was heralded as a great achievement, yet signs of premature wear and tear began surfacing far earlier than expected.

    Still, we continue this dance, entranced by the allure of foreign investment and large-scale projects, even as history and our fellow Pacific partners across the moana warn us of the risks.

    These structures, now symbols of our fragile dependence, stand as a metaphor for our relationship with the dragon: built with promises of strength, only to falter under closer scrutiny. And yet, we keep returning to the dance floor. These projects, rather than standing as enduring monuments to our relationship with China, serve as cautionary tales.

    And then came Te Mato Vai.

    What began as a bold and necessary vision to modernise Rarotonga’s water infrastructure became a slow and painful lesson in accountability. The involvement of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) saw the project mired in substandard work, legal disputes and cost overruns.

    By the time McConnell Dowell, a New Zealand firm, was brought in to fix the defects, the damage — financial and reputational — was done.

    Prime Minister Mark Brown, both as Finance Minister and now as leader, has walked an interesting line between criticism and praise.

    In 2017, he voiced concerns about the poor workmanship and assured the nation that the government would seek accountability, stating, “We are deeply concerned about the quality of work delivered by CCECC. Our people deserve better, and we will pursue all avenues to ensure accountability.”

    In 2022, he acknowledged the cost overruns but framed them as necessary lessons in securing a reliable water supply. And yet, most recently, during the December 2024 visit of China’s Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, he declared Te Mato Vai a “commitment to a stronger, healthier, and more resilient nation. Together, we’ve delivered a project that not only meets the needs of today but safeguards the future of Rarotonga’s water supply.”

    The Cook Islands’ relationship with New Zealand has long been one of deep familial, historical and political ties — a dance with the taniwha, if you will. As a nation with free association status, we have relied on New Zealand for economic support, governance frameworks and our shared citizenship ties.

    And they have relied on our labour and expertise, which adds over a billion dollars to their economy each year. We have well-earned our discussion around citizenship and statehood, but that must come from the ground up, not from the top down.

    China has signed similar agreements across the Pacific, most notably with the Solomon Islands, weaving itself into the region’s economic and political fabric. Yet, while these partnerships promise opportunity, they also raise concerns about sovereignty, dependency and the price of such alignments, as well as the geopolitical and strategic footprint of the dragon.

    But as we reflect on the shortcomings of these partnerships, the question remains: Do we continue to place our trust in foreign powers, or do we reinvest in our own community and governance systems?

    At the end of the day, we must ask ourselves: How do we sign bold agreements on the world stage without consultation, while struggling to resolve fundamental issues at home?

    Healthcare, education, the rise in crime, mental health, disability, poverty — the list goes on and on, while our leaders are wined and dined on state visits around the globe.

    Dance with the dragon, if you so choose, but save the last dance for the voting public in 2026. In 2026, the voters will decide who leads this dance and who gets left behind.

    Republished from the Cook Islands News with permission.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Ne Zha 2’ smashes box office records, becomes first non-Hollywood film to hit 1 bln USD

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    People walk past a poster of the animated feature “Ne Zha 2” at a cinema in Shenyang, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

    Chinese animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” has shattered multiple box office records, becoming the first film to cross 1 billion U.S. dollars in a single market and the first non-Hollywood title to join the coveted billion-dollar club.

    The sophomore outing in the mythological franchise has also set a new record for all-time admissions in China, drawing over 160 million moviegoers, per data from ticketing platforms Maoyan and Beacon.

    Helmed by Yang Yu, known as Jiaozi, the film hit the big screen during the lucrative Chinese New Year frame on Jan. 29, surpassing 2017’s “Wolf Warrior 2” to become China’s most-watched film. Meanwhile, its total revenue (including presales) hit 8 billion yuan (about 1.12 billion U.S. dollars) by Sunday.

    In just eight days and five hours after its release, “Ne Zha 2” became China’s highest-grossing film of all time on Thursday, exceeding the 5.77 billion yuan record set by “The Battle at Lake Changjin.” A day later, it overtook “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” to become the highest-grossing film ever in a single market, reaching over 6.79 billion yuan (including presales) in China on Friday.

    A follow-up to the animated sensation “Ne Zha,” which grossed 5 billion yuan and topped the country’s box office charts in 2019, the sequel has captivated audiences with its breathtaking visuals, rich storytelling and deep cultural resonance.

    The record-breaking run makes “Ne Zha 2” not just a box office titan but a cultural phenomenon, further underscoring China’s ability to produce homegrown blockbusters that strike a chord with domestic audiences.

    Industry analysts are now watching closely to see if “Ne Zha 2” can sustain its momentum and set even higher benchmarks in the days ahead. Maoyan on Sunday night once again raised its domestic box office forecast for the film, now projecting it to surpass 12 billion yuan — up from its estimate of over 10.8 billion yuan just three days ago. This marks the first time a Chinese film has ever been expected to cross the 10-billion-yuan threshold.

    The sequel continues the story of the iconic character from Chinese mythology. Set after the events of the first film, it follows Nezha and Aobing as their souls are saved but their physical forms face dissolution. With the help of the immortal Taiyi Zhenren, who uses the Seven-Colored Lotus to reconstruct their bodies, the two heroes must face numerous challenges.

    Taking audiences on an emotional journey that blends action, humor and heart, “Ne Zha 2” alone accounted for half of what has amounted to a historic 2025 Spring Festival holiday box office total — a total which surpassed 9.5 billion yuan from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4.

    This robust performance marks a major win for China’s film industry, which faced a tough year in 2024, with box office revenues down 23 percent from 2023 and 34 percent from the pre-pandemic peak in 2019.

    In this context, the record-breaking success of “Ne Zha 2” is being hailed as a much-needed boost for the sector.

    People walk out of a movie screening room at a cinema in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Peng Yikai/Xinhua)

    Maoyan analyst Lai Li described the film as a major milestone, particularly for China’s growing animation industry. “The success of ‘Ne Zha 2’ has set the tone for the year,” Lai said. “It highlights the incredible resilience and growth potential of China’s film market, and we’re excited to see how the rest of 2025 unfolds.”

    Beyond its domestic success, “Ne Zha 2” is poised to make waves internationally as a cultural bridge, offering global audiences a glimpse into China’s rich mythology and traditions.

    Jiaozi, who rose to fame following the success of “Ne Zha,” has emphasized that the international success of Chinese cinema depends 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 in a video interview. “These are not things that can be outsourced.”

    Jiaozi also shared the personal journey the “Ne Zha” films have taken him on, explaining how the series has evolved from his own passion into a broad cultural phenomenon.

    “The first step was creating something I loved, and domestic audiences loved it too,” he said. “Over time, I’ve worked to improve it, to refine my craft. I believe that one day, new ideas, deeper meanings, and new soul will emerge from it, and the whole world will be able to appreciate it.”

    His views have been echoed by film industry experts.

    Yin Hong, vice chairman of the China Film Association and a professor at Tsinghua University, attributes the film’s success to its sophisticated narrative layers.

    “The film’s reimagining of mythology, with its portrayal of demon-spirit duality, conflicts between magical and celestial realms, and struggles between heaven and the underwater world, creates a dramatic tension that works on multiple levels,” Yin told Xinhua.

    “It captures universal themes of childhood development, forming an Oedipal archetype that bridges individual and societal narratives,” Yin said, particularly praising the film’s subtle yet masterful storytelling.

    Rao Shuguang, president of the China Film Critics Association, praised the film for its fusion of traditional Chinese mythology and modern storytelling, which makes it highly relatable to contemporary audiences.

    “The film proves that a good movie needs a compelling story, sharp storytelling, and well-developed characters,” Rao said, expressing hope that China will continue to produce high-quality films that engage audiences and draw more people to theaters.  

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Rescuers race against time to find landslide survivors

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Braving the cold, rescuers are making all-out efforts to find survivors after a landslide in southwest China’s Sichuan Province left one dead, 28 missing and two injured.
    The landslide occurred at about 11:50 a.m. on Saturday in Jinping Village, which is located in Junlian County in the city of Yibin.
    On Sunday morning, firefighters from multiple regions across Sichuan assembled to continue the rescue operation.
    At the rescue site, which has been divided into 10 search grid zones, multiple excavators have been deployed at the lower end of the landslide, while rescuers equipped with search dogs and life detectors conduct a thorough search.

    Rescuers search for missing people at the site of a landslide in Junlian County in the city of Yibin, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    “The rescue operation faces three major challenges: cold and damp weather, slippery roads and narrow passages due to rain, and the risk of secondary collapses at the site,” said Li Zhuo, head of the fire and rescue brigade in Yibin.
    Advanced equipment, including slope monitoring radars, drones and oblique aerial cameras, has also been deployed in the rescue operation.
    The landslide also buried 10 residential houses and a production building.
    So far, 360 people from 95 households have been evacuated, with temporary shelters set up. The two injured people are receiving treatment at a hospital in Junlian.
    Due to continuous rainfall and geological conditions, the landslide has transformed into debris flows, which, according to a preliminary assessment, have resulted in an accumulation of debris stretching approximately 1.2 kilometers and having a total volume of over 100,000 cubic meters.
    The landslide body is approximately 10 to 20 meters thick and about 100 meters wide.

    Staff members work at an emergency command center in Jinping Village, Junlian County in the city of Yibin, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Feb. 8, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    On the national level, the Ministry of Emergency Management on Saturday launched a Level-III emergency geological disaster response, while the national commission for disaster prevention, reduction and relief has activated a Level-IV national disaster relief emergency response.
    China has a four-level emergency disaster relief response system, with Level IV being the lowest and Level I the highest.
    The country also allocated 80 million yuan (about 11.16 million U.S. dollars) to support disaster relief and recovery efforts in Sichuan.

    Rescuers transfer emergency equipment at the site of a landslide in Junlian County in the city of Yibin, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Feb. 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Sichuan has mobilized 949 personnel from the military, armed police, firefighting, emergency response, transportation, medical, telecommunication, and other forces to carry out or assist the rescue efforts.
    In addition, engineering rescue equipment and emergency supplies have been dispatched to conduct rescue assessments, search and rescue operations, and emergency investigations.
    Local authorities have provided 30 generators, 100 cotton tents, 400 beds, and 1,100 quilts to ensure the essential needs of the affected people.

    Staff members set up an emergency medical service site at a middle school in Junlian County in the city of Yibin, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Feb. 8, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    “We have prepared ample cotton clothing and shoes for the affected residents to ensure they stay warm,” said Gao Jianzhong, Party secretary and executive vice president of the Yibin Red Cross Society.
    Considering the ongoing temperature drop, continuous rainfall and landslide conditions, local authorities have designated danger zones in Jinping Village and surrounding areas.
    Real-time monitoring has also been implemented for the mountain slopes on both sides of the landslide, with designated emergency evacuation routes and signals in place, to prevent secondary disasters and ensure the safety of rescue operations, local authorities said.

    MIL OSI China News –