NewzIntel.com

Category: China

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese publishers shine at Indonesia International Book Fair

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    People visit the booth of China Publication during the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair at Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 25, 2024. A delegation of Chinese publishers on Wednesday showcased more than 700 volumes of premium Chinese books at the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair (IIBF), held from Sept. 25-29 in Jakarta. Organized by China National Sci-Tech Information Import & Export Co., Ltd, the collection featured over 400 types of books, covering topics such as traditional Chinese culture, Mandarin learning, literature, social sciences, children’s books, and traditional Chinese medicine. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)

    A delegation of Chinese publishers on Wednesday showcased more than 700 volumes of premium Chinese books at the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair (IIBF), held from Sept. 25-29 in Jakarta.

    Organized by China National Sci-Tech Information Import & Export Co., Ltd, the collection featured over 400 types of books, covering topics such as traditional Chinese culture, Mandarin learning, literature, social sciences, children’s books, and traditional Chinese medicine.

    The delegation set up a digital reading stand showcasing Chinese history, culture, and advancements in fields like economics and ecology. The stand’s interactive photo feature allowed visitors to capture memorable moments.

    A highlight of the event was a signing ceremony between China’s publisher Higher Education Press and Indonesia’s PT Legacy Utama Kreasindo, which secured the Indonesian language rights for “Experiencing Chinese for Primary Schools (International Version).” This comprehensive series, designed for overseas elementary students, will be published in Indonesia later this year.

    IIBF Chairperson Wedha Stratesti remarked that the 2024 event, featuring publishers from 15 countries, represents a milestone for the fair. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Death toll from coal mine explosion in E. Iran rises to 50

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The death toll from a coal mine blast in the eastern Iranian province of South Khorasan has risen to 50 after one of the injured succumbed to his wounds, the official news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday.

    Of the 16 workers injured in the mine explosion in Tabas County, two were in critical condition, with one declared dead after suffering brain death, IRNA quoted Mohammad-Ali Akhoundi, director general of the provincial crisis management headquarters, as saying.

    The explosion occurred Saturday night in a mine tunnel about 540 km southeast of Tehran, triggered by a sudden rise in methane gas. At the time, 65 workers were present in the mine, the report quoted Akhoundi as saying, revising the initial figure of 69 workers.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Thousands flee Lebanon to Syria

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    People gather at the Jdeidat Yabous border crossing in the countryside of Damascus, Syria, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Thousands of Lebanese and Syrian families fled Lebanon for Syria as Israeli airstrikes continued, said the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday.

    According to a statement issued by the UN Refugee Agency, hundreds of vehicles were backed up in queues at the Syrian border, with many people arriving on foot, carrying whatever belongings they can. Large crowds, including women, children and babies, reportedly waited in line after spending the night outdoors in falling temperatures. “Some carry fresh injuries from the recent bombardments,” the statement added.

    Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence, stating that the bloodshed was taking a heavy toll, displacing tens of thousands of people from their homes.

    He highlighted the plight of families who had previously fled the war in Syria, only to now face bombings in the country where they had sought refuge. Grandi urged the international community to prevent further scenes of despair and devastation, warning that the Middle East could not endure another displacement crisis. He emphasized that protecting civilian lives must be the top priority.

    Israel has carried out its most extensive bombardment of Lebanon since 2006, starting on Monday, resulting in over 550 deaths and more than 1,800 injuries nationwide. The attacks have also forced thousands of residents in Lebanon to flee their homes.

    The UNHCR, along with its partners, has been present at border crossings, offering essential supplies such as food, water, blankets, and mattresses to incoming refugees, said the statement.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s FAST telescope continues to contribute to global radio astronomy research

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Core Array of China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    The construction of the Core Array of China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) started Wednesday, highlighting China’s growing potential in global radio astronomy research.
    As a proposed extension of FAST, the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope, the Core Array integrates 24 secondary 40-meter antennas implanted within 5 kilometers of the FAST site, said Jiang Peng, deputy director of the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
    The Chinese-designed array will combine the unprecedented sensitivity of FAST with a high angular resolution, thereby exceeding the capabilities at similar frequencies of next-generation arrays in the world.
    The FAST Core Array is estimated to be completed and put into operation in 2027.
    According to a study conducted by CAS, the Core Array will be equipped with advanced devices to improve the survey efficiency of FAST, whose broad frequency coverage and large field of view (FOV) will be essential to study transient cosmic phenomena such as fast radio bursts and gravitational wave events; conduct surveys and resolve structures in neutral hydrogen galaxies; monitor or detect pulsars; and investigate exoplanetary systems.
    Jiang said that once operational, the FAST Core Array could provide more possibilities for global radio astronomy research, owing to a wide range of potential scientific applications from cosmology to exoplanet science.
    Wednesday also marks the eighth anniversary of the launch of FAST. In less than a decade, FAST has already significantly expanded its astronomical observation capability, and the FAST Core Array is set to enhance its observational capabilities further.
    Jiang said observations made solely with FAST are like using a pencil to draw a sketch, while the FAST Core Array is akin to capturing the night sky with a digital camera.
    To date, FAST has identified more than 900 new pulsars since its launch in 2016. The number of new pulsars discovered by FAST is more than three times the total number of pulsars found by foreign telescopes during the same period.
    FAST started formal operations in January 2020 and was officially opened to the world in March 2021. The telescope provides astronomers around the globe with a powerful tool to uncover the mysteries and evolution of the universe.
    Since its formal opening to the global scientific community on March 31, 2021, FAST has facilitated over 900 hours of observations for research teams from 15 countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, and Australia, covering various scientific objectives.
    On April 6 this year, FAST reopened applications for observation projects for the 2024-2025 season, offering 1,600 hours of telescope time for freely applied projects.
    British astronomer Ralph Eatough said that opening up FAST to the world means that astronomers can now perform experiments that were previously not possible due to insufficient telescope sensitivity, with a prime example of this being the potential to detect pulsars located in external galaxies.
    Chen Xianhui, an academician at CAS, said, “FAST is helping mankind explore the origins, evolution, and structure of the universe, providing crucial observational data for understanding pressing scientific questions, while also serving as an important platform for international scientific exchange and collaboration.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s water conservancy projects create 2.1 million jobs

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China’s investment in water conservancy projects totaled 801.94 billion yuan (114.23 billion U.S. dollars) in the first eight months of this year, up 10.7 percent year on year, a government official said on Wednesday.
    At a press conference on water conservancy infrastructure construction held in Beijing, Wang Bao’en, vice minister of water resources, said that water conservancy project construction on a massive scale has contributed to employment. Construction of such projects created nearly 2.1 million jobs in the first eight months, up 6.9 percent year on year.
    Wang said that during the period, the five provinces of Hebei, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong and Anhui each posted investment exceeding 40 billion yuan in the sector.
    Government data also shows that since the beginning of this year, a total of 42,000 water conservancy projects have been implemented nationwide, up 14.1 percent year on year. Among them, 28,000 are newly started projects, up 18.7 percent.
    Wang said that in the next step, the Ministry of Water Resources will continue to make solid efforts to promote water conservancy infrastructure construction after the main flood season. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tajik PM meets with senior CPC official

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda met with Chen Wenqing, a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official here on Tuesday.

    Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, noted that under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, the relationship between China and Tajikistan has continued to improve and upgrade.

    Both countries are at critical stages of national development and rejuvenation, Chen said, adding that China is willing to work with Tajikistan to jointly promote the building of the China-Tajikistan community with a shared future, actively implement the three global initiatives, deepen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, enhance law enforcement and security collaboration, and effectively address various regional threats and challenges, ultimately benefiting the people of both nations.

    Rasulzoda congratulated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and expressed Tajikistan’s firm support for the three global initiatives proposed by Xi. He also expressed a desire to deepen practical cooperation in the security field with China and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.

    During the visit, Chen also met separately with Tajikistan’s Secretary of the Security Council Nasrullo Mahmudzoda and Chairman of the State Committee for National Security Saimumin Yatimov.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM urges China, Switzerland to back economic globalization with action

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in New York on Tuesday that against the backdrop of rising protectionism and anti-globalization, China and Switzerland, both defenders of free trade, should demonstrate with concrete actions that economic globalization is unstoppable.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during talks with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

    He hailed the two countries’ announcing the launch of negotiations on an upgraded version of the free trade agreement a piece of good news.

    The two sides should cherish and maintain a high level of political mutual trust, adhere to mutual respect and equal treatment, and ensure a sound and steady development of bilateral relations, he said.

    For his part, Cassis said the Swiss side will make every effort to push forward the negotiation process and promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

    Switzerland values its partnership with China and always adheres to the one-China policy, he added.

    During the talks, the two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China ready to be Argentina’s good partner in development

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in New York on Tuesday that China is ready to continue to be Argentina’s good friend and good partner in pushing forward development.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during talks with Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

    China, he said, always attaches great importance to its relations with Argentina, and maintains continuity and stability in its policy toward the country.

    He called on the two sides to continue to place China-Argentina relations at an important position in each other’s foreign policies and deepen political mutual trust.

    Noting that the two economies are highly complementary and their practical cooperation enjoys a solid foundation, Wang also urged the two countries to support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns.

    For her part, Mondino said Argentina prizes the Chinese market, and Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest and do business in her country.

    Mondino also expressed her hope that the two countries can expand bilateral economic and trade cooperation, saying that Argentina is ready to actively participate in China-Latin America cooperation.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM meets Nauruan counterpart

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Nauruan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday met with Nauruan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that in January this year, China and Nauru resumed diplomatic ties, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries.

    China attaches great importance to its relationship with Nauru and is committed to strengthening communication and exchanges at all levels with Nauru on the basis of equality and mutual respect, he said.

    China is also keen on actively expanding practical cooperation to continuously advance the bilateral relations, Wang added.

    Aingimea, for his part, said that the resumption of diplomatic ties with China was undoubtedly a correct and historic decision.

    He also expressed the hope of continuing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields to support Nauru’s economic and social development.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM calls for joint efforts to promote peace talks on Ukraine

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends a Security Council high-level meeting on the situation in Ukraine at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in New York on Tuesday that all parties should be truly committed to promoting peace talks on the Ukraine issue.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at the United Nations headquarters while attending a Security Council high-level meeting on the situation in Ukraine.

    The Security Council should serve as a bridge between differences and contradictions, an advocate of seeking common ground while shelving differences, a defender of common security, and a builder of lasting peace, he said.

    Wang put forward three propositions in this regard:

    Firstly, it is necessary to enhance the sense of crisis in cooling down the situation. Weapons of mass destruction should not be used, nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes such as nuclear power plants should not be attacked, and civilians and civilian facilities should not be targeted, the envoy said.

    Secondly, it is necessary to enhance the sense of responsibility in promoting peace talks. Dialogue and negotiation is the only viable way out of the Ukrainian crisis, he noted, urging the international community to seize the current opportunity to form joint efforts to promote peace talks.

    Thirdly, it is necessary to enhance the sense of urgency in managing spillovers. China calls on the international community to strengthen cooperation on energy, finance, trade, food security and the protection of key infrastructure such as oil and gas pipelines, so as to jointly maintain the stability and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains, Wang said.

    China is not a creator of the Ukraine crisis, nor is it a party concerned, the top Chinese diplomat noted. China has always sided with peace, and maintained contact with all parties, including Russia and Ukraine, he added.

    Warning that any attempt to blame, attack or smear China on the Ukraine issue is irresponsible and will not succeed, Wang called on the international community to join hands to uphold a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 41,495

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    A truck carrying about 88 unidentified bodies is seen near the Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 41,495, according to Gaza-based health authorities in a statement on Wednesday.

    In the past 24 hours, the Israeli military killed 28 people and wounded 85 others, bringing the total number of injuries to 96,006 since the conflict erupted in early October 2023.

    In a separate statement, the health authorities reported receiving about 88 unidentified bodies from the Israeli side, adding the Israeli side did not provide any information about their identities, the locations where they were recovered, or the time of death.

    The authorities have suspended procedures for receiving the bodies until complete data is available to identify the deceased and notify their families, as this is considered a fundamental right, the statement added.

    Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza in retaliation for a Hamas attack through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and around 250 hostages taken.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Protectionism hurts Europe’s competitiveness: Chinese FM

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with French President’s Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Protectionism is detrimental to Europe’s competitiveness, and engaging in a trade war does not align with the interests of Europe or China, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in New York on Tuesday.

    Wang made the remarks when meeting with French President’s Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

    Wang expressed hope that the European side will demonstrate sincerity and engage in serious consultations with China to resolve trade disputes in a mutually acceptable manner.

    China is committed to further deepening reforms comprehensively and expanding high-level opening-up, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, welcoming France to seize the opportunity to deepen and expand mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

    Bonne said that France is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in areas such as artificial intelligence and the ocean, and to continue expanding bilateral investment.

    Europe and China can fully resolve differences through consultation and strive to avoid a trade war, he said.

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    On the same day, Wang also met French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot.

    Noting that both China and France are independent major countries, Wang said that the two sides should continue to uphold mutual respect, cooperate with each other for mutual benefit, and enhance exchanges for mutual learning, so as to promote the continuous fruitful development of China-France relations.

    Barrot said that France always adheres to the one-China principle and is committed to strengthening cooperation with China, a position that will not change.

    Both France and the European Union do not wish to engage in a trade war with China and hope to find ways to achieve fair trade, said Barrot.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, US agree to maintain communication on law enforcement

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong had candid, professional and pragmatic exchanges with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas via video link on Wednesday.

    Wang said that the two sides earnestly implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, adhere to mutual respect, dispute management and mutually beneficial cooperation, and have achieved many visible outcomes in areas such as drug control, repatriation of illegal immigrants and cooperation on individual cases.

    China is willing to maintain communication with the U.S. at all levels, and push for steady and long-term law enforcement cooperation between the two countries. The U.S. side should attach importance to addressing China’s concerns, demonstrate sincerity with concrete actions, and remove obstacles for deepening cooperation, Wang noted.

    The two sides agreed to stay in communication on important issues in the field of law enforcement.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-Australia ties see positive progress: Chinese FM

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China-Australia relations have made positive progress, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi when meeting his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

    Both sides should continue to build a more mature, stable, and fruitful comprehensive strategic partnership, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

    Both sides should properly handle the issues in bilateral exchanges and not define China-Australia relations from the perspective of differences, Wang said, hoping Australia joins hands with China to ensure that bilateral relations go on the right track and achieve more results.

    Wong, for her part, said Australia is ready to work with China to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, engage in constructive communication on issues of differences, and promote the stable development of bilateral relations.

    The Australian side’s adherence to the one-China policy has not changed, Wong said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese FM attends 8th Dialogue of Foreign Ministers of China, Quartet of CELAC

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attends the eighth Dialogue of Foreign Ministers of China and the Quartet of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday attended the eighth Dialogue of Foreign Ministers of China and the Quartet of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

    Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that Latin American and Caribbean countries are an important part of the “Global South,” as well as active participants and contributors to global governance.

    Wang stressed that China will continue upholding the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests, strengthen solidarity and cooperation with Latin American and Caribbean countries, implement the three global initiatives, promote synergy between the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the development strategies of countries in the region, and deepen and substantiate the building of a community with a shared future between China and Latin America and the Caribbean, so as to bring more benefits to the people of both sides.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China builds high-voltage AC/DC hybrid power grid project

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China on Wednesday started the construction of its first high-voltage alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) hybrid power grid project in Jiangsu Province, marking another step toward a cleaner, safer and more efficient energy system.

    The demonstration project will connect the two cities of Huai’an and Danyang, adding approximately 228 km of DC transmission lines to the existing power grid with two ±200 kV converter stations to be built at both ends, according to the State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power Co., Ltd.

    The project is expected to be operational after completion in 2026.

    China’s current main power grid is primarily composed of AC power grids. However, compared with AC transmission, DC transmission at the same voltage level can transmit larger amounts of power with lower energy losses.

    Once operational, the project will significantly alleviate the pressure on north-to-south power transmission in Jiangsu and enhance grid flexibility, further expanding the application of hybrid grid technologies and helping develop a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system, according to the company.

    China recently issued a plan to promote advanced technologies in key energy fields, including hybrid AC/DC power grids.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Global economy growth stabilizes at 3.2% in 2024, 2025: OECD

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A trader works on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, the United States, on Aug. 21, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Global gross domestic product (GDP) growth is projected to stabilize at 3.2 percent in both 2024 and 2025, while inflation should continue to ease, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Wednesday in its latest economic outlook.

    According to the OECD economic outlook, annual GDP growth in the United States is projected to slow down to 2.6 percent in 2024 and further down to 1.6 percent in 2025, but be cushioned by monetary policy easing.

    For Euro area, the OECD said that GDP growth is projected to be 0.7 percent in 2024 and speed up to 1.3 percent in 2025, with activity supported by a recovery in real incomes and an improvement in credit availability.

    Headline inflation has continued to fall this year in most countries, partly due to further declines in food price inflation and low or negative energy and goods price inflation, the organisation noted, adding that the recent steep fall in oil prices, and the ongoing easing of global food prices could place further downward pressure on headline inflation in the short-term.

    “Oil prices have declined by over 10 percent since July, amid expectations for excess supply next year and market concerns about weakening oil demand growth… If oil prices remain at their current level, global headline inflation could be reduced by around 0.5 percentage points over the coming year,” the OECD explained.

    According to the OECD, declining consumer price inflation has supported household spending, providing a counterbalance to the negative impact from restrictive financial conditions and the uncertainty about the ongoing Ukraine conflict and the evolving crisis in the Middle East.

    Along with stable GDP growth and further disinflation, the OECD also said that real incomes would improve and less restrictive monetary policy in many economies would help underpin demand.

    The recovery in real incomes could provide a stronger boost to consumer confidence and spending, and further oil price declines would hasten disinflation.

    Headline inflation is projected to ease from 5.4 percent in 2024 to 3.3 percent in 2025 in the G20 economies.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Official: China reports broadened engagement in global market

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s investment is playing an increasingly prominent role in promoting economic development worldwide, data from the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) showed on Wednesday.

    In 2023, outbound direct investment drove 273.1 billion U.S. dollars of China’s import and export of goods, accounting for 4.6 percent of the total value, said Zhang Li, an official with the MOC, while introducing a yearly statistical bulletin.

    China’s overseas enterprises achieved sales revenue of 3.5 trillion U.S. dollars and paid 75.3 billion U.S. dollars in taxes to the places where they invested last year, said Zhang.

    From 2013 to 2023, China’s overseas enterprises have paid 518.4 billion U.S. dollars in taxes to host countries, providing about 2 million jobs, he said.

    In 2023, China’s outbound investment reached 177.29 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 11.4 percent of the global total and ranking among the top three for 12 consecutive years, said Zhang.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China firmly opposes US proposed ban on Chinese connected vehicles

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China strongly objects to the U.S. proposal to restrict the use of Chinese connected vehicles, as well as their software and hardware, in the United States, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday.

    A ministry spokesperson made the remarks in response to a media inquiry, emphasizing that the U.S. proposal smears Chinese connected vehicles under the pretext of national security.

    The proposal is one of the U.S. actions that targeted Chinese automobiles in recent years, also including tariff hikes, procurement restrictions and discriminatory subsidy policies, said the spokesperson.

    The proposal has no factual basis, violates the principles of the market economy and fair competition, and is a typical act of protectionism, the spokesperson said, adding that it will severely impact China-U.S. cooperation on connected vehicles, disrupt and distort global automotive industrial and supply chains, and harm the interests of U.S. consumers.

    It is also a non-market practice that uses government power to interfere with economic and commercial cooperation between enterprises, constituting economic coercion, said the spokesperson.

    “China urges the United States to cease its wrong practice of generalizing national security, immediately lift the relevant restrictions, and end its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies,” said the spokesperson.

    China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its companies, the spokesperson added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s water conservancy projects create 2.1 million jobs in first 8 months

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    China’s investment in water conservancy projects totaled 801.94 billion yuan (114.23 billion U.S. dollars) in the first eight months of this year, up 10.7 percent year on year, a government official said on Wednesday.
    At a press conference on water conservancy infrastructure construction held in Beijing, Wang Bao’en, vice minister of water resources, said that water conservancy project construction on a massive scale has contributed to employment. Construction of such projects created nearly 2.1 million jobs in the first eight months, up 6.9 percent year on year.
    Wang said that during the period, the five provinces of Hebei, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong and Anhui each posted investment exceeding 40 billion yuan in the sector.
    Government data also shows that since the beginning of this year, a total of 42,000 water conservancy projects have been implemented nationwide, up 14.1 percent year on year. Among them, 28,000 are newly started projects, up 18.7 percent.
    Wang said that in the next step, the Ministry of Water Resources will continue to make solid efforts to promote water conservancy infrastructure construction after the main flood season. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese researchers isolate anti-HIV antibody from alpacas

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A Chinese research team has isolated an antibody from alpacas that can effectively inhibit HIV, providing a promising avenue for the development of new anti-AIDS drugs.
    The findings were recently published in the international academic journal Nature Communications.
    Antiretroviral therapy is currently the primary clinical approach to inhibiting HIV replication, according to Wu Zhiwei, professor at the School of Medicine, Nanjing University.
    While this treatment effectively extends the lifespan of patients, it may lead to significant drug resistance in the virus. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore new therapies, said Wu, who is also a co-corresponding author of the research.
    The primary approach in the clinical development of new anti-AIDS drugs targets the process by which the virus enters host cells. In this process, a receptor known as CD4 acts as a “doorknob,” which the virus utilizes to open the cell’s “door.”
    The researcher team isolated thousands of CD4 nanobodies (a smaller, more stable type of antibody) from alpacas, of which Nb457 showed the potential to inhibit HIV.
    They built a series of pseudoviruses to simulate 117 HIV strains and caused them to interact with Nb457.
    The results showed that Nb457 effectively inhibited 116 virus strains, showing good broad-spectrum and antiviral activity.
    In true virus tests, the trimeric nanobodies engineered from Nb457 have demonstrated potent inhibition of HIV, said Wu Xilin, a researcher at the School of Medicine, Nanjing University, another co-corresponding author of the research.
    The results of mice experiments also showed that the virus was almost undetectable in the treated mice, and no drug-resistant mutations were found, Wu said.
    HIV mutates rapidly and is prone to drug resistance, leading to a decline in drug efficacy, according to Wu.
    The newly discovered antibody does not target the virus itself but the “doorknob” CD4, making it less likely to induce drug resistance in the virus and offering significant implications for the development of new anti-AIDS drugs and clinical treatment, Wu said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Mainland says 1992 Consensus anchor for developing cross-Strait relations

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The 1992 Consensus is the anchor for improving and developing relations across the Taiwan Strait, a Chinese mainland spokesperson said on Wednesday.
    Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks in response to Taiwan’s leader Lai Ching-te’s recent comments that distorted the 1992 Consensus.
    Zhu pointed out that the 1992 Consensus features both sides of the Strait orally stating that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait both adhere to the one-China principle, and was reached following authorization by both sides of the Strait and through repeated communication, consultation and correspondence.
    “Its core connotation is that both sides of the Strait belong to one China and should work together to seek national reunification,” she said.
    The consensus clearly defines the fundamental nature of cross-Strait relations, Zhu added.
    Only by adhering to the political foundation of the 1992 Consensus can cross-Strait relations sail steadily into the future, or else the situation in the Strait would become tumultuous and unstable, Zhu said, calling on Taiwan compatriots to safeguard the 1992 Consensus and jointly push cross-Strait relations back onto the right track. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Mainland’s Taiwan affairs official meets KMT vice chairman

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    A Chinese mainland’s senior Taiwan affairs official met on Wednesday with a delegation led by Sean Lien, vice chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, in northeast China’s Liaoning Province.
    Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the mainland will continue to improve the systems and policies for promoting economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and Taiwan to boost integrated development across the Taiwan Strait.
    Song said the mainland is willing to work with the KMT to oppose “Taiwan independence” separatism and external interference, seek peace across the Strait, and work for the well-being of compatriots across the Strait.
    Lien said that based on the common political foundation of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing “Taiwan independence,” the KMT will continue to promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation in various fields, safeguard peace and stability across the Strait, and create more benefits for people on both sides of the Strait. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Eight years on, China’s FAST telescope continues to contribute to global radio astronomy research

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The construction of the Core Array of China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) started Wednesday, highlighting China’s growing potential in global radio astronomy research.
    As a proposed extension of FAST, the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope, the Core Array integrates 24 secondary 40-meter antennas implanted within 5 kilometers of the FAST site, said Jiang Peng, deputy director of the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
    The Chinese-designed array will combine the unprecedented sensitivity of FAST with a high angular resolution, thereby exceeding the capabilities at similar frequencies of next-generation arrays in the world.
    The FAST Core Array is estimated to be completed and put into operation in 2027.
    According to a study conducted by CAS, the Core Array will be equipped with advanced devices to improve the survey efficiency of FAST, whose broad frequency coverage and large field of view (FOV) will be essential to study transient cosmic phenomena such as fast radio bursts and gravitational wave events; conduct surveys and resolve structures in neutral hydrogen galaxies; monitor or detect pulsars; and investigate exoplanetary systems.
    Jiang said that once operational, the FAST Core Array could provide more possibilities for global radio astronomy research, owing to a wide range of potential scientific applications from cosmology to exoplanet science.
    Wednesday also marks the eighth anniversary of the launch of FAST. In less than a decade, FAST has already significantly expanded its astronomical observation capability, and the FAST Core Array is set to enhance its observational capabilities further.
    Jiang said observations made solely with FAST are like using a pencil to draw a sketch, while the FAST Core Array is akin to capturing the night sky with a digital camera.
    To date, FAST has identified more than 900 new pulsars since its launch in 2016. The number of new pulsars discovered by FAST is more than three times the total number of pulsars found by foreign telescopes during the same period.
    FAST started formal operations in January 2020 and was officially opened to the world in March 2021. The telescope provides astronomers around the globe with a powerful tool to uncover the mysteries and evolution of the universe.
    Since its formal opening to the global scientific community on March 31, 2021, FAST has facilitated over 900 hours of observations for research teams from 15 countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, and Australia, covering various scientific objectives.
    On April 6 this year, FAST reopened applications for observation projects for the 2024-2025 season, offering 1,600 hours of telescope time for freely applied projects.
    British astronomer Ralph Eatough said that opening up FAST to the world means that astronomers can now perform experiments that were previously not possible due to insufficient telescope sensitivity, with a prime example of this being the potential to detect pulsars located in external galaxies.
    Chen Xianhui, an academician at CAS, said, “FAST is helping mankind explore the origins, evolution, and structure of the universe, providing crucial observational data for understanding pressing scientific questions, while also serving as an important platform for international scientific exchange and collaboration.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: International film festival in north China to screen movies from 22 countries, regions

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Visitors are seen at the eighth Pingyao International Film Festival in the ancient town of Pingyao in north China’s Shanxi Province, Sept. 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Zhihao)

    The eighth Pingyao International Film Festival opened in the ancient town of Pingyao in north China’s Shanxi Province on Tuesday evening, with nearly 60 movies from 22 countries and regions to be screened.

    All the works, from countries such as the United States, France, Portugal, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Japan, Argentina, Columbia, Uruguay and Denmark, will make their debut on the Chinese mainland’s big screen, and nearly half of them will premiere globally at the festival with the theme of “Earth.”

    “In an era of technological transformation, looking back at our journey on earth will empower us to move forward,” Jia Zhangke, founder of the film festival and a renowned Chinese director, said while interpreting the theme.

    By screening excellent films from around the world, the festival focuses on discovering and promoting exceptional works by young directors, especially from emerging and developing countries.

    The festival will run until Sept. 30.

    Founded in 2017, the Pingyao International Film Festival is held annually in Pingyao, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Shanghai Disneyland to adopt real-name ticketing policy

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Shanghai Disney Resort announced on Tuesday that it will make a significant adjustment before the end of the year by introducing a real-name ticketing policy, requiring visitors to provide the name on their valid government-issued IDs in order to purchase admission tickets.

    A photo captures Shanghai Disneyland in autumn. [Photo courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort]

    Since its grand opening in 2016, a visitor to Shanghai Disney Resort could buy up to five tickets at one time using their own ID card, leading to clear loopholes for ticket scalping. 

    Once this new policy is implemented, each guest will be required to use their own government-issued ID to book an admission ticket, and a valid government-issued ID can only be used to purchase one ticket for the date of visit. When entering Shanghai Disneyland, each guest must bring and provide the valid government-issued ID that was used at the time of ticket purchasing. This policy also applies to guests purchasing the Shanghai Disneyland Annual Pass with each guest required to use their own government-issued ID to purchase their own annual pass. A valid government-issued ID can only be used to purchase a single annual pass.

    The resort further noted that the new real-name ticketing policy will apply to all guests, including those eligible for special tickets such as children, seniors and guests with disabilities. To streamline the process of verification for children, a child’s age will be the only criteria needed once this new ticketing procedure is in effect. Children from the age of 3 to 11 years old are eligible to purchase child tickets on the day of their visit to the park. Children under the age of 3 years old will receive free park admission. 

    Additionally, for Chinese mainland children who have not yet obtained an ID card, an acceptable ID certificate can be used to purchase a ticket and enter the park. Guests under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a guest who is 16 years of age or older in order to enter the park.

    The official launch date and detailed ticket-purchasing guidelines will be announced closer to the policy’s effective date, according to Shanghai Disney Resort’s announcement for this new policy. Tickets or annual passes purchased before this date will not be affected. Shanghai Disney Resort stressed that this new policy aligns with its commitment to enhancing guest experience and supports the resort’s ongoing collaboration with relevant government authorities to combat illegal activities that harm its reputation, business and normal operations.

    In fact, real-name ticket purchasing requirements have been widely implemented and accepted across China for years, particularly in sectors with high visitor traffic such as popular tourist sites, cultural events and transportation, including railways and airlines. For instance, since 2015, the Palace Museum in Beijing has used real-name ticketing to combat ticket scalping. Similarly, 17 well-known tourist attractions in Shanghai as well as venues also require visitors to provide their real name in order to purchase tickets. This includes the Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower, the Shanghai Astronomy Museum and the Shanghai Natural History Museum.

    Shanghai Disney Resort in their announcement for this new policy urged guests to only buy its products and services through official and authorized channels, warning that purchases from other sources are likely either counterfeit or fraudulent and could result in financial loss to the buyer.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Lingnan cultural show held in New Zealand

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    An opera artist from south China’s Guangdong Province presents a performance showcasing the charm of China’s Lingnan culture at the National Museum of New Zealand in Wellington, New Zealand, Sept. 25, 2024. This cultural promotion event was jointly held by the China International Cultural Association, the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the China Cultural Center in Wellington, and co-organized by the Federation of the Chinese Association of New Zealand. It aims to promote exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations between China and New Zealand. (Photo by Meng Tao/Xinhua)

    Artists from Guangdong Province, southern China, showcased the charm of China’s Lingnan culture to New Zealanders at the National Museum of New Zealand in Wellington on Wednesday evening.

    This cultural promotion event was jointly held by the China International Cultural Association, the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the China Cultural Center in Wellington, and co-organized by the Federation of the Chinese Association of New Zealand. It aims to promote exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations between China and New Zealand.

    At the beginning of the event, five inheritors of intangible cultural heritage from Guangdong presented a unique performance, including the Lingnan school of Guqin art, Chaozhou Kung Fu tea art, Canton Porcelain, and art of Dongguan agarwood incense.

    The performances also featured Chinese folk musical instrument performance, Chinese folk song and dance, attracting more than 200 people. At the final of the show, the audience cheered and applauded in ovation for the artists’ performance.

    A Wellington citizen who named herself only as Barbara told Xinhua that this has been the largest Chinese cultural event ever held in Wellington since COVID-19, and the whole show was “amazing” and “impressive”. The programs about Chinese tea especially broadened her horizon as a tea lover.

    “China is the hometown of tea and the birthplace of the tea culture in the world,” she said, “I truly immersed in the profoundness of Chinese tea culture in this event.”

    Zhang Yimin, deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, said it is exciting to be here to engage in friendly exchanges by enjoying tea and artistic performances.

    He hoped this event will help New Zealanders gain a deeper understanding of Guangdong’s culture and tourism, further promote cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation between Guangdong and New Zealand, and inject vitality into the long-term friendly exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations between China and New Zealand.

    Guangdong Province is the heart of Lingnan culture, the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, and a pioneer in China’s reform and opening-up. The province is working together with Hong Kong and Macao to build the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) into a world-class tourism destination, Zhang added. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Technologies bring faces of Neolithic men back to life

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    This image shows the facial reconstructions of two men who are believed to have lived during the Yangshao culture period 5,600 years ago (L) and the Longshan culture period roughly 4,000 years ago. Chinese archaeologists have unveiled facial reconstructions of two men who lived near the Yellow River, the cradle of Chinese civilization, during the Neolithic Age. One man, believed to have lived around 5,600 years ago during the Yangshao culture, was approximately 40 years old, while the other, from the Longshan culture period roughly 4,000 years ago, was around 50 years old.(Xinhua)

    Chinese archaeologists have unveiled facial reconstructions of two men who lived near the Yellow River, the cradle of Chinese civilization, during the Neolithic Age.

    One man, believed to have lived around 5,600 years ago during the Yangshao culture, was approximately 40 years old, while the other, from the Longshan culture period roughly 4,000 years ago, was around 50 years old.

    These groundbreaking portraits were released on Tuesday by the Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archaeology. The reconstructions were based on skulls unearthed during a recent excavation.

    Given the absence of written or visual records from these ancient people, archaeologists meticulously gathered numerous data points from the skulls to create highly detailed 3D models.

    Using these models, they reconstructed the muscles by referencing populations with the closest genetic background, while genetic analysis was employed to predict skin tone and hair characteristics, said Li Shiwei, deputy director of the institute’s prehistoric archaeology research department.

    “We believe our reconstruction accuracy could reach approximately 90 percent,” Li said, underscoring the scientific precision of the process.

    The skulls were discovered at the Yangshao Village site in central China’s Henan Province during the fourth phase of excavation, which began in August 2020. The site holds great historical significance, as its first excavation in 1921 marked the birth of modern Chinese archaeology.

    The facial reconstruction project was initiated last year, with the Henan institute collaborating with various organizations to bring the ancient faces to life.

    “The project offers us a glimpse into the faces of our ancestors, providing a vivid insight into the diverse cultures in ancient society,” Li said.

    Currently, the research team is conducting further studies on ancient DNA to uncover more about the historical dynamics of prehistoric human populations. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Meeting with Chinese counterparts in Beijing

    Source: Australian Treasurer

    Over the next two days, I will meet with key Chinese counterparts in Beijing.

    This is another important step towards stabilising our economic relationship with China.

    It will be the first visit by an Australian Treasurer to China in seven years.

    These meetings are part of the Albanese Labor Government’s methodical and coordinated efforts to re‑establish dialogue with China, Australia’s largest trading partner.

    The main purpose is to co‑chair the 2024 Australia‑China Strategic Economic Dialogue with Zheng Shanjie, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, on Thursday 26 September.

    Our relationship with China is full of complexity and opportunity.

    We recognise a more stable economic relationship between Australia and China is a good thing for Australian workers, businesses, investors and our country more broadly.

    That’s why in the last week I have consulted directly with the chairs, CEOs and senior executives of major China‑facing Australian employers, including Rio Tinto, Wesfarmers, BHP, Woodside, Fortescue, Macquarie, BlueScope, HSBC, King & Wood Mallesons, the Port of Newcastle, Sydney Airport, Cochlear, the University of New South Wales, GrainCorp and the Business Council of Australia.

    Dialogue and engagement gives us the best chance to properly manage and maximise these important links.

    Our approach to China has been to cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in Australia’s national interest.

    The Strategic Economic Dialogue has not been convened since 2017 but our Government has agreed with Chinese counterparts to restart it.

    I’ll also be meeting with other counterparts from the Chinese Government during my two days of engagements.

    My meetings in China build on Prime Minister Albanese’s engagements in November 2023 and Premier Li Qiang’s meetings in Australia in June 2024.

    We recognise that there’s a lot at stake and a lot to gain from the relationship with China.

    We’ve got an opportunity to make sure both countries benefit from the continued complementarity of our economies, while protecting Australia’s interests.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China issues guidelines to promote high-quality, sufficient employment

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    The Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council have unveiled a set of guidelines to promote high-quality and sufficient employment by implementing the employment-first strategy.
    According to the guidelines, efforts should be made to create more high-quality jobs, including transforming and upgrading traditional industries, fostering and strengthening emerging industries, developing future industries and accelerating the development of advanced manufacturing clusters.
    Measures should be taken to expand new employment spaces in the digital economy, create more new jobs related to green industries and cultivate new growth points of employment by developing the silver economy, the guidelines state.
    They urge efforts to tackle structural unemployment, such as improving the system of lifelong vocational training.
    They call for refining the targeted and effective public services system for employment and the system of providing employment support for key groups, as well as optimizing the system for supporting self-employment and flexible employment.
    The guidelines also stress the promotion of reasonable increases in people’s remuneration for labor and expanding the coverage of social insurance.

    MIL OSI China News –