Bangladesh's President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday dissolved the parliament, a key demand of the protestors, following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation. 

"China is closely following the developments in Bangladesh. As a friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic cooperative partner of Bangladesh, China sincerely hopes that social stability will be restored soon in the country," according to remarks by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday.

Global observers are closely monitoring the development of the unrest in the South Asian country with a focus on whether the disturbance can be ended by an interim government and elections, and how the incident will influence regional situation.

The coordinators of Bangladesh's student protest movement were scheduled to meet with the army chief, General Waker-Uz-Zaman on Tuesday after the military announced plans to form an interim government, the Guardian reported.  

Hasina, 76, resigned and left the country on Monday. She landed at a military airfield Hindon near Delhi, Reuters cited two Indian government officials as saying. India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met Hasina there. 

Students in Bangladesh started demonstration in early July against a quota system which reserves some government jobs for families of veterans of the country's 1971 war of independence. The Supreme Court rescinded the job quota policy on July 21. But the protests continued as students and other citizens assembled and called for justice for those killed in the protests and demanded Hasina to step down, BBC reported.  

In Dhaka on Monday, police and other government buildings were attacked and set on fire. Protesters attempted to tear down a statue of independence leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Hasina's father, BBC said. 

Last month, at least 150 people were killed and thousands injured in violence during the protest.

The protests began with strong economic reasons rather than solely political motives, Liu Zongyi, director of the Center for South Asia Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

Bangladesh is one of the world's most densely populated countries - around 170 million in an area of more than 148,000 square kilometers - and has a significant number of young people in need of employment, Liu said. 

"Inflation and economic problems may have intensified the unrest. But after the job quota policy was rescinded, the situation did not settle down but evolved into a political movement," said Liu. 

Given the US and some Western countries' long-term criticism of Hasina's tough stance toward the US, there are speculations about potential Western involvement in the Bangladesh movement, experts said.  

Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, said the unrest in Bangladesh also underscored the challenges many developing countries face. 

After Hasina's resignation on Monday, the military chief, Zaman, announced in a televised address to the nation that he was temporarily taking control of the country, with soldiers attempting to stem the growing unrest. Zaman had also held talks with leaders of major political parties, excluding Hasina's long-ruling Awami League, to discuss the way forward, the Guardian reported. 

With Hasina reportedly going to India, it is possible that the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) may come to power to form a new government. However, the road ahead is challenging, given the domestic issues related to employment and economic development, Lin Minwang, deputy director at the Center for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

President Shahabuddin on Monday ordered the release of Begum Khaleda Zia, BNP's chairperson, who was convicted in a graft case in 2018 but was moved to a hospital a year later as her health deteriorated. Zia has denied the charges against her, according to media reports. 

Analysts said the stability of Bangladesh hinges on upcoming political negotiations. If the military and the opposition reach a consensus, social order may be quickly restored; otherwise, the situation could remain turbulent.

Global reaction

The month-long protests in Bangladesh have caught world attention. On Monday, the White House and the US State Department separately urged parties in Bangladesh to refrain from violence and restore peace at the earliest. The EU also called for an "orderly and peaceful" transition, according to media reports. 

On Tuesday, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar told an all-party meeting that India has assured help to Hasina and given her time to decide the future course of action, newswire PTI reported quoting sources. 

Hasina's resignation could affect India's diplomacy with Bangladesh due to New Delhi's close ties with Hasina and her family, experts said. However, some analysts believe India may exercise restraint to avoid escalating anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh and it may not immediately offer asylum to Hasina. 

Indian broadcaster Times Now cited sources as saying that Hasina would leave for London.

No matter how the situation in Bangladesh further develops, the country has the demand to tackle its social and economic problems. Therefore, maintaining good relations with China, a country having the capacity without intention to interfere its internal affairs, is crucial for Bangladesh, Liu said.

In the eyes of many Chinese, French culture is often regarded as a symbol of romance, elegance and beauty. However, some parts in the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games have been somewhat challenging to understand, sparking controversy. Is the French culture itself going through an unprecedented increase in cultural divisions? 

During the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, a performance featuring drag queens, dancers, and models sparked enormous controversy. Mimicking Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, the act drew severe criticism from Western conservatives and religious groups.

Some hailed the performance as a celebration of France's rich cultural diversity and openness. However, right-wing critics argued that the portrayal of France's multicultural society and the inclusion of avant-garde art forms undermined traditional French and Christian values.

This controversy highlights the deep-seated cultural divisions in France and other Western developed nations in the post-industrial era.

As societies become increasingly diverse and globalized, the notion of a singular, unified cultural identity is being challenged. The tension between preserving traditional values and embracing cultural diversity - often framed as a left-wing versus right-wing conflict - is common in many Western countries.

In France, the concept of "Frenchness" has long been closely tied to the nation's rich cultural heritage, including its art, literature, cuisine and history. However, the growing diversity of France's population, particularly in urban areas, has led to a reevaluation of what it means to be French.

On one side, conservative groups strive to maintain what they consider the quintessential French identity, characterized by the country's history, language and tradition. Conversely, progressives advocate for an evolving identity that embraces diversity and modern influences. This tension extends beyond art and culture, touching on issues pertaining to national identity and social values.

Economic inequality has further exacerbated these cultural tensions. 

In recent years, France has experienced several socio-economic upheavals, most notably the Yellow Vests movement. This grassroots protest stemmed from widespread discontent with economic disparities, government neglect of rural areas and the impacts of neoliberal economic policies. The movement highlighted deep divisions between urban and rural populations, elites and working-class citizens, and those who benefit from globalization and those left behind.

Such cultural divides are not unique to France. In many Western developed countries, the post-industrial era has brought significant cultural shifts. The decline of traditional industries and globalization have increased mobility and diversity, challenging conventional notions of cultural identity. 

For example, in the US, debates over immigration and cultural diversity have been contentious for decades. The rise of nationalist and populist movements in Western developed nations reflects a reaction to perceived threats to traditional and religious values and economic security.

The rise of social media has also played a crucial role in exacerbating these cultural divides. Social media platforms create echo chambers where individuals can connect with those who have the same views and values, reinforcing existing beliefs and biases. This leads to polarization, with individuals becoming increasingly entrenched in their viewpoints.

The post-industrial era has also brought significant economic changes. The decline of traditional industries has led to unemployment and financial insecurity, particularly in rural areas. This has fueled resentment toward globalization and immigration, which are both viewed as threats to the traditional way of life.

If the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games showed us anything, it is that Western culture is experiencing an unprecedented gap. How this will evolve, and whether it will be reconciled, are related to the impact of Western culture on global geopolitics.

The Biden administration is reportedly working on a set of unilateral restrictions on China's access to artificial intelligence (AI) memory chips and equipment capable of making those products, in the latest hegemonic move to contain China's AI industry in order to maintain its global monopoly.

Chinese observers said the US cannot impede China's technological progress and will only impel Chinese enterprises to strive for technological self-reliance. They said China may take countermeasures, including lodging complaints with the WTO, when it is necessary to fight back as the US continues to expand its "small yard" policies.

Observers said the US' intensifying crackdown on and "decoupling" from China will lead to further deterioration in China-US bilateral relations, bringing monumental losses to US firms that are betting on Chinese opportunities.

US' stepped-up restrictions

Bloomberg reported on Thursday that the Biden administration is expected to announce a set of new restrictions as soon as late August to curb China's access to AI memory chips and related equipment.

The measure is designed to keep Micron Technology Inc and South Korea's leading memory chipmakers SK Hynix Inc and Samsung Electronics Co from supplying Chinese firms with so-called high-bandwidth memory, or HBM, chips, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. HBM chips are required to run AI accelerators like those offered by Nvidia Corp, it said.

"By putting patches on its chip export restrictions on China, the US' ultimate purpose is to curb China's technological development so as to maintain its global monopoly in cutting-edge technologies," He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Thursday.

He said the US' political maneuvers are not sustainable, as they go against economic rules and the interests of US enterprises and residents.

"China may take countermeasures when it is necessary," He said, noting that China could also lodge complaints with the WTO if the US' restriction measures against China reach a certain scale.

At a routine press conference on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian blasted the US for continuing to politicize trade and tech issues, tie them to national security and use them as a weapon to tighten control over chip exports to China and coerce other countries to go after China's semiconductor industry, which severely undermines international trade rules, destabilizes global industrial and supply chains, and serves no one's interests.

The Biden administration is taking an increasingly hardline stance on China issues in the election year. In June, the US Treasury Department issued draft rules for banning or requiring notification of certain investments in AI and other technology sectors in China that could "threaten US national security."

Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, warned that the US' intensifying crackdown on China's technological rise may further harm China-US relations and send bilateral relations to a new low.

In addition, the US' attempts to crack down on China will backfire on itself and its allies, Lü told the Global Times on Thursday.

"For example, South Korea and Japan previously exported a large number of semiconductor products to China every year, but the US' export restrictions led to South Korea posting a trade deficit with China. The US' selfish moves will harm its allies' production capacity, and will prompt those countries to resist the US' coercion one day," Lü said.

China market indispensable

"For US, tightening chip export controls on China is a double-edged sword," Fu Liang, a Beijing-based tech analyst, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Faced with external pressure, Chinese chip producers are accelerating research and development to boost domestic replacements, which means medium- and low-performance US chip products will become increasingly insignificant for the China market, Fu said.

Despite the Biden administration's continuous crackdown on China's high-tech field, US firms such as Nvidia are striving to tap the great potential of the huge market of the world's second-largest economy.

Nvidia is reportedly working on a special version of its AI chip for the China market. Nvidia will work with Inspur, one of its major distribution partners in China, on the launch and distribution of the chip, which is tentatively named "B20," and the shipments are planned to start in the second quarter of 2025, Reuters reported in July.

Taking Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's China visit as an opportunity, the two countries expressed their willingness to strengthen multilateral coordination, oppose division and confrontation, as well as decoupling and disconnection, and work together to address global challenges, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson revealed on Wednesday at a press conference.

Meloni has just concluded her five-day visit to China from Saturday to Wednesday. The trip marks Meloni's first visit to China since she took office. She is the first European leader to visit China after the third plenum.

As this year marks the 700th anniversary of Marco Polo's death, both sides will deepen cultural, educational, tourism, and sports exchanges and cooperation, making the friendship between the two countries more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian introduced at Wednesday press briefing.

Both sides support the deepening of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Europe, support resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, and support avoiding the escalation of economic and trade frictions. Both sides are willing to strengthen multilateral coordination, oppose division and confrontation, oppose decoupling and disconnection, and work together to address global challenges, according to Lin.

During her time in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Meloni, while Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Zhao Leji held separate talks and meetings with the Italian leader, Lin stated.

Noting this trip coincided with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy, Lin said the two countries issued a 2024-2027 action plan on strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership, emphasizing their willingness to uphold the Silk Road spirit, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, promote cultural exchanges, and elevate bilateral relations to a higher level, making greater contributions to world peace, stability, and prosperity.

During the visit, Li and Meloni jointly attended the opening ceremony of the seventh meeting of the China-Italy entrepreneurs committee and witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation agreements covering industry, education, environmental protection, geographical indications, food safety, and more. Meloni also visited Shanghai, according to the Chinese spokesperson.

During the meetings and talks, the leaders of both countries exchanged in-depth views on China-Italy, China-Europe relations, and the international situation. Both sides agreed that friendly exchanges between China and Italy have deep historical roots and have made significant contributions to the exchange and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations. They pledged to inherit and promote the friendly traditions, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, strengthen political mutual trust, and jointly build a more resilient and mature bilateral relationship, Lin stated.

The Italian side reiterated its adherence to the one-China principle. Both sides agreed to make good use of the China-Italy government committee and various dialogue platforms to enhance practical cooperation in trade and investment, industrial manufacturing, technological innovation, green energy, artificial intelligence, and other fields, Lin told the press.

With the lighting of the Olympic flame in Paris on Friday night, the world has officially entered Olympic time. At this very moment, the Chinese delegation has been fully prepared for this grand event. 

Chinese athletes are intensively preparing in various locations, from the athletics track to the swimming pool, from the gymnastics hall to the shooting range, with each training venue brimming with the sweat of their hard work.

Table tennis, China's national sport, carries some of the highest expectations of Chinese spectators. This time, veteran Ma Long will serve as the flag bearer for the Chinese delegation at the Olympics. Ma, also the men's team captain, said that this role has given him great confidence and encouragement. 

"Over the years, our predecessors have laid a solid foundation through their efforts, and now the baton has been passed to our generation. I hope to continue this legacy and tell the story of the spirit of Chinese table tennis and the spirit of Chinese sports at the Paris Olympics," Ma told media, according to a report by the Beijing Youth Daily on Thursday. 

Ma is aiming for his sixth Olympic gold medal in Paris.

Another highly anticipated team is China's diving team, known as the "Dream Team." On July 21, the Chinese diving team arrived at the Paris Olympic Village. Just a few hours later, the entire team completed their first training session at the aquatic sports center, making their final push.

Chinese gymnastics team departed from Beijing on July 18, starting their journey to the Paris Olympics. In Tokyo three years ago, the Chinese gymnastics team won three individual event gold medals. This time, they aim to defend their titles in their strong events while seeking breakthroughs in team events in Paris.

To better acclimatize for training, the Chinese swimming team arrived in Paris on July 6. The team consists of 31 athletes, including 18 female and 13 male swimmers, featuring Olympic champions such as Zhang Yufei and Ye Shiwen.

The total size of the Chinese sports delegation for the Paris Olympics is 716, including 405 athletes (136 men and 269 women) and 311 officials and support staff. The athletes' average age is 25, with the oldest being 37-year-old race walker Liu Hong and the youngest being 11-year-old skateboarder Zheng Haohui. The delegation includes 42 Olympic champions, and 223 athletes are making their Olympic debut.

Amid accelerating global changes unseen in a century, countries will either progress together through connectivity and unity, or retreat separately through closure and division. China and Italy should uphold and promote the Silk Road spirit, view and develop bilateral relations from a historical dimension, strategic height and long-term perspective, and push their relations to go steady and far, Chinese President Xi Jinping said when meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Beijing on Monday.

Xi said the healthy and stable development of China-Italy relations is in line with the common interests of both countries and their peoples.

Meloni's first visit to China since assuming office is poised to restart the relationship between the two nations, with experts anticipating a return to regular dialogues at various levels. This visit signifies a shift in Italy's approach to China, moving away from ideology-driven policies toward a more pragmatic and economically focused strategy after Italy's withdrawal from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), said experts. 

The strengthened ties between China and Italy, the third-largest economy in the European Union, are expected to serve as a model for other European and Western countries, highlighting the advantages of mutually beneficial cooperation with China in a time of global uncertainty and waning US leadership.

Noting that China and Italy are at the two ends of the ancient Silk Road, Xi said the time-honored friendly exchanges between the two countries have made significant contributions to the overall exchanges and mutual learning between Eastern and Western civilizations, and to the progress of humanity.

The Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit is a shared treasure of China and Italy, Xi said.

The Chinese President said China is willing to work with Italy to promote the optimization and upgrading of traditional cooperation in economic and trade investment, industrial manufacturing, technological innovation, and third-party markets, and explore cooperation in emerging areas such as electric vehicles and artificial intelligence. 

China welcomes Italian companies to invest in China, and is willing to import more high-quality Italian products. China hopes that Italy will also provide a fair, transparent, safe, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies investing in the country, said Xi.

Xi emphasized that in an era of economic globalization, only by adhering to open cooperation in the global industrial chain and supply chain can win-win development be achieved. China adheres to the path of peaceful development and never pursues hegemony, and is willing to share development opportunities with all countries. 

Meloni said that the current international situation is undergoing profound changes, and China, as an important major country, plays an irreplaceable role in addressing global challenges. 

Italy adheres to the one-China policy, and hopes to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with China, tap more potential, deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, and enhance people-to-people exchanges to promote more Italian products entering the Chinese market. 

Italy opposes "decoupling" and protectionism, and is willing to play an active role in deepening EU-China relations, said the Italian leader. 

Restart ties

Italy and China signed a three-year action plan on Sunday to implement past agreements and experiment with new forms of cooperation, Meloni said on an official visit to China, according to Associated Press.

Meloni told business leaders that the two sides had signed an industrial collaboration memorandum that includes electric vehicles and renewable energy, which she described as "sectors where China has already been operating on the technological frontier for some time ... and is sharing the new frontiers of knowledge with partners."

Chinese experts said that the action plan is more like a "compensatory" deal for Italy following Rome's withdrawal from BRI last year. 

"The action plan serves to minimize the negative impact on Italy after it pulled out of BRI; signing the plan also signals Italy has vast demand for cooperation with China, as it used a alternative plan to focus on areas where there is demand from both countries," Cui Hongjian, a professor with the Academy of Regional and Global Governance with Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times.

The action plan, however, doubled down on both countries' collaboration on electric vehicles (EV) despite Italy supporting the European Commission (EC)'s decision to impose provisional tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China.

Stellantis, a major automaker that includes Italy's Fiat, announced in May that it had formed a joint venture with Leapmotor, a Chinese electric car startup, to begin selling EVs in Europe, media reported. 

Zhao Yongsheng, a research fellow at the Institute of Regional and International Studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, pointed out that the action plan provides an opportunity for both countries to enhance cooperation in the EV industry, as Italy requires China's technology and China has a need for its capital and technology to be exported. Southern Europe has proven to be a good location for such investments.

Chinese experts believe that both Italy's withdrawal from BRI and supporting EC's tariffs on Chinese EVs are partly due to pressure from the US and other Western countries. 

After experiencing the detrimental impact of strained China-Italy relations following Rome's withdrawal from BRI, and the failure of the US to deliver significant benefits, Italy has pivoted from an ideology-driven policy approach to a more pragmatic stance. This shift is expected to provide a much-needed boost to Italy's economic development, according to Zhao.

The Italian leader said her five-day trip was a "demonstration of the will to begin a new phase, to relaunch our bilateral cooperation". The action plan aims to experiment with new forms of cooperation, per Reuters.

After Meloni's visit, dialogue and cooperation between different levels from China and Italy will return to normalcy, and this will also be part of the "relaunch" of ties, said Cui, noting that the frequent exchanges will help enhance understanding and disperse disputes, leading bilateral relations, and China-EU relations to a healthier direction. 

Demonstration effect

When meeting with Meloni, Xi said China hopes that Italy will understand and support China's development philosophy, and play a constructive role in promoting dialogue and cooperation between China and Europe and promoting the positive and stable development of China-Europe relations.

"Italy can have an important role in EU relations and creating balanced relations," Meloni said Monday. "We need a rules-based order" as a way "to guarantee stability, peace, trade that remains free," she said, Bloomberg reported. 

Meloni's visit will have a demonstration effect among European countries, as the trend of "decoupling with China" becomes more prevalent on the continent. Substantial cooperation between China and Italy will demonstrate the benefits of collaborating with Beijing, leading Europe to realize the advantages of such partnerships. This collaboration will help to bring stability amid rising uncertainty surrounding the upcoming US presidential election, according to Zhao.

As Europe is grappling with a myriad of external and internal challenges, certain countries are turning to practical cooperation with China in order to safeguard their own interests. This shift has prompted nations like Italy to consider more pragmatic adjustments in response to the mounting pressure they face, Sun Keqin, a research fellow at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times. 

China attaches great importance to its relationship with Europe. Italy is a major country in the EU, and Meloni's party achieved a major victory in the European elections, thus strengthening the relationship between China and Italy is of great significance for enhancing economic cooperation between two countries and promoting China-Europe relations, said Sun. 

As the 2024 Paris Olympic Games unfolds, the sports gala has become a source of heightened people-to-people exchanges as Chinese tourists descend on the "City of Light" in massive numbers that will create new opportunities for both countries.

"My whole family landed in Paris on Friday, and I was struck by the Chinese-themed advertisements in the city. They were visible not only on taxis and buses but also in metro stations and other places, showcasing a blend of Chinese and French corporate culture," a tourist surnamed Zhang told the Global Times on Sunday.

Zhang, a financial worker in London together with a diverse team of international colleagues, said that deeper cultural integration is of great help to doing businesses.

"I saw many Chinese men and women visiting Paris' museums, with a notable number being young people," another sightseer in Paris who would only give his first name as Thomas told the Global Times on Sunday. The streets around La Vallée Village, a main shopping area, were vibrant with throngs of Chinese visitors, Thomas added.

Vibrant cultural exchange

Even as the hosting of the Paris Olympics has significantly raised the costs of traveling in the city, many Chinese are still drawn to Paris, with new consumption patterns observed by local tourist organizations.

A manager from Mandarin Voyages, a Paris-based Chinese-owned travel agency, told the Global Times that, from January 2023 to July 2024, there had been an increasing number of tourists from the Chinese mainland that engage in a wide variety of cultural exchange activities in Paris.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations and the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.

"In addition to sightseeing and shopping, we currently receive many Chinese groups visiting Paris, including academic study tours, business trips and cultural exchanges," the manager said.

And, Chinese tourists have noted that during their stay in Paris, they have found that the Olympic Games is creating new opportunities for expanding China-France trade.

"For out Chinese tourists, we have a penchant for purchasing souvenirs from major festivals and events," Zhang Zheyu, a Chinese tourist flying in from Germany, told the Global Times.

Chinese online travel platforms are now reporting a surge in travel bookings to Paris and other European destinations, with online travel agency Qunar.com revealing a 240-percent increase in international flight bookings to Paris and a 100-percent rise in bookings for Paris-based hotels, from July 27 to August 31.

China Eastern Airlines, a major operator of air links between China and France, has witnessed a 3.94-percent month-on-month increase in the number of passenger turnover during July 1 to 18, according to a statement the airline sent to the Global Times on Sunday.

A boost in trade

Besides the participation to the Paris Olympics by a host of Chinese corporate sponsors such as global cloud services provider Alibaba Cloud, Chinese dairy firm Mengniu, as well as equipment supplier such as Shandong-based TaiShan Sports, the sales of other manufactured goods have also seen a boost as Made-in-China takes center stage at the gala event.

The 2024 Paris Olympics have brought massive orders to Chinese manufacturers, with some 80 percent of the "Phryge" mascot dolls being made by Chinese companies, the CGTN reported on Thursday, citing the Paris Organizing Committee.

As the Paris Olympic Games officially kicks off, a growing number of Chinese goods are being exported to France at an accelerated speed.

Helped by the Olympics, the exports of Chinese tea to France surged 31.77 percent in the first six months year-on-year to reach 1,867.76 tons, according to an article posted on the WeChat account of the China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation on Thursday.

Since June, air freight cargo volume from Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province to Paris has increased by 65 percent year-on-year, according to the China Southern Airlines. 

The French market has seen a strong demand for cross-border e-commerce goods from China, including mobile phone accessories and fast fashion apparel, which are favored by local consumers.

Two-way investment

In addition to these emerging trends, observers said as the Chinese and French economies enjoy a high degree of complementarity, a wide range of sectors are expected to benefit from the enhanced people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.

"The Olympic Games has a powerful sway in China. A good number of Chinese people have visited France in person and millions more will watch it on TV and become more familiar with French culture and French products, paving way for broader economic and trade cooperation between the two countries," Zhang Yi, CEO of iiMedia Research Institute, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Zhang said the two countries can explore more opportunities emerging in cross-border e-commerce, digital cooperation, and services sector such as entertainment, banking and medical care.

In addition to China's steadily rising investment in France, French companies have also been expanding their footprint in China.

French sports brand Decathlon has recently revealed plans to add 20 to 30 new shops a year in China in the coming two years, eyeing a more niche, mid- to high-end market, according to a report by Beijing Business Today in mid-July.

An executive with France-based fermentation company Lesaffre told the Global Times that "the potential of the Chinese market is limitless and the Chinese economy remains the world's largest engine of development" last week during an event marking the 100-day countdown to the 7th edition of the China International Import Expo, one of the largest trade shows China hosts on an annual basis.

And, French banking group BNP Paribas recently established a wholly owned securities firm in Shanghai, becoming the fourth foreign financial institution to set up a wholly owned brokerage in the Chinese mainland, the Securities Daily reported last week.

Despite US' intensified restrictions to stymie the development of China's cutting-edge technologies, Chinese researchers remain committed to excelling in quantum computing with a long-term vision and strong determination, a leading Chinese scientist and a pioneer in China's quantum technology told the Global Times.

"I see an increasing convergence of 'Chinese strength' in the quantum computing industry in China, which fills me with confidence in the self-reliance and improvement of China's quantum computing technology," Guo Guangcan, director of the Key Laboratory of Quantum Information of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), who is also an academician at the CAS said, expressing his optimism in the future of China's quantum computing endeavors.

The remarks came as some Western institutions and media outlets reported that the US and China are in a pivotal race to achieve "quantum technology supremacy" and capabilities that will have national security and commercial ramifications. China's potential to eclipse the US in a quantum-technology arms race is an issue of acute concern to US national security, according to the Heritage Foundation, a US-based think tank.

In a recent exclusive interview, Guo shared his insights on US' technological "decoupling" push with China, and displayed an unwavering belief in the self-sufficiency of China's quantum computing technology.

Quantum computing has long been considered as a crucial measure of a country's technological advancement and has the capability to transform national security and drive economic development, the 82-year-old Chinese scientist said.

"Certain countries have imposed stringent barriers and restrictions on quantum computing technology, posing challenges for China's quantum computing industry," Guo noted. In order to maintain its competitive edge, the US is actively working to limit China's progress in areas such as semiconductor technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and quantum computing.

In recent years, the Biden administration has rolled out a raft of restrictive measures targeting China's quantum development. In its latest move, US Department of Commerce on May 9 announced stringent export controls to stymie Chinese quantum research, by adding 22 institutions and firms to its Entity List for "their participation in the China's quantum technology advancements," under the excuse of safeguarding its national security.

The move is part of an updated strategy by the US and its Western allies' suppression of major technology industries in China, because they have seen China's potential to eclipse the US in the quantum-technology arms race, Guo said. "The US is taking a leading role among Western countries in efforts to counter China's advancements in quantum technology, because it is afraid that China may surpass it."

According to Guo, the Western blockade on quantum computing against China has manifested in various forms, including imposing sanctions on China's quantum computing enterprises, blocking high-end quantum computing equipment exports, and limiting cross-border talent exchanges.

Despite these backlashes, China's quantum computing technology is breaking through international barriers and accelerating pace in achieving greater self-reliance and strength, as demonstrated by the progress and inventive spirit of companies like Origin Quantum Computing Technology Co.

Origin Quantum Computing Technology Co, a 7-year-old startup focusing on quantum computers and related technologies, has developed third-generation superconducting quantum computer Origin Wukong. Since it became operational in January, it had completed 250,000 quantum computing tasks for global users as of July 20. The number of times it was accessed remotely from more than 125 countries around the world exceeded 12 million, according to the information the company shared with the Global Times.

The delivery of that computer marked that China has established a basic independent industry chain for superconducting quantum computers, which is believed to be critical for future development.

"The US blockades will only push our nation to accelerate the quantum technologies," Guo believed, adding that the world watches with anticipation as China continues to push the boundaries of this cutting-edge technology.

New computing paradigm

Quantum Computing and Its Real-World Implications
As traditional computing approaches reach their limits, there is a pressing need to explore a new computing paradigm capable of solving problems beyond the scope of conventional methods.

"Quantum computing represents this new paradigm," Guo said.

With the advent of AI and quantum computing, computational power will increase exponentially, ushering in a groundbreaking era," Guo explained, emphasizing that quantum computing will enable the resolution of previously insurmountable challenges.

"The distinction of computing power between quantum computers and electronic computers is equivalent to that between electronic computers and abacuses," Guo said, underscoring that quantum computers are designed not to replace electronic computers but to complement them, addressing technical hurdles and efficiency issues that were once viewed as insurmountable.

For example, generative AI needs the power of quantum computing to make fundamental advances, which means AI relies on the ability to crunch huge rafts of information, which is where quantum computers excel. Also, in the pharmaceutical sector, quantum computers can expedite drug development, ultimately benefiting public health.

Looking ahead, quantum technology demonstrates remarkable application potential across diverse fields. Quantum computing is poised to revolutionize large-scale computations in drug research and development, energy exploration, financial analysis, and weather forecasting.
ming International Barriers with Homegrown Innovation
"Collaboration between tech companies, academia, and research centers is key to driving the advancement of quantum computing technology. Through practical application, quantum computers will continue to tackle and solve complex problems, creating a virtuous cycle that fosters ongoing scientific and technological progress and industrial growth," Guo stated.

An emerging industry

The development of an independent and controllable industrial chain in quantum computing is crucial for China amid global challenges and fierce competition in science and technology, Guo said.

Quantum computing, as a frontier technology, is poised to be one of China's future industries, which will help nurture new productivity boosters and further drive economic growth. Guo highlighted the importance to foster collaboration between industry, academia, and research to advance quantum computing technology and create a quantum ecosystem for scientific progress and industrial upgrading.

China has reached a significant milestone in quantum computing as its first self-developed superconducting quantum computer came online on January 6, meanwhile, China's first independent superconducting quantum computer manufacturing chain was established on May 12 in Hefei, East China's Anhui Province. Guo said these breakthroughs represent a major leap toward establishing technological autonomy and positioning the country as a key player in the global quantum computing industry.

"I hope that the development of quantum technology will continue to advance through the efforts of self-reliant innovative research and development as well as Chinese tech industry. By transforming the achievements of relevant research into key technologies that drive social progress and economic development, quantum technology will become source of new quality productive forces," Guo said.

China has set developing industries of the future as one of its key missions as it ramps up efforts to explore frontier technologies as a major driving force for China's economic growth. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology unveiled an action plan for the development of industries of the future which targets sectors including humanoid robots and quantum information, and focuses on breakthroughs in key technologies, cultivating products and expanding application scenarios.

US-based electric car (EV) maker Tesla's driving assistance system, Full Self-Driving (FSD), is likely to be approved by Chinese regulators and enter the China market within 2024, said Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

This move indicates China's openness to international enterprises in EV technology research and development, and achieving fair competition and mutual advancement amid mounting pressure from Western countries on China's EV industry, Chinese experts said.

Tesla will soon ask for the regulatory approval for Supervised FSD in China, said Musk during Tesla's earnings call for the second quarter of 2024. He also mentioned the autopilot program will be approved to enter Europe and other markets.

Tesla will reportedly bring its latest version 12 FSD program to China. Following the approval by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Tesla's employees can commence internal tests of FSD on public roads before opening the system to users in China, Reuters reported on May 30, citing people familiar with matter.

In June, the Lingang New Area in Shanghai began to promote trials of Tesla's FSD, involving 10 Tesla vehicles, the China Securities Journal reported on Wednesday, as analysts said that it may accelerate the entry of FSD in China.

Tesla now provides two less advanced driving assistance programs -Autopilot, which is free to use, and Enhanced Autopilot, which costs 32,000 yuan ($4,397.30) - in China, the company's official website showed.

The FSD will now be optional for installation when car buyers choose a configuration for their Tesla vehicle, and it will cost 64,000 yuan. However, it can't be used before the official introduction of FSD in China and the approval of relevant regulations.

Tesla's FSD is in a leading position in the global driving assistance sector, which can be widely used by Chinese consumers and enterprises, Zhang Xiang, secretary general of the International Intelligent Vehicle Engineering Association, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Ten automakers including Mercedes, BMW, BYD and GAC's EV brand Aion have been granted Level 3 autonomous driving testing licenses, according to Chinese media outlet thepaper.cn.

Level 3 autonomous driving technology allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel and their eyes off the road, according to national standards, but carmakers should be responsible for any accidents.

On June 4, the MIIT and three other departments released a document allowing nine entities - vehicle production companies and actual user companies - to further refine nation's testing procedure for autonomous driving programs.

Aside from financial implications, the implementation of Tesla's FSD in China will accelerate its own technological upgrade, Wu Shuocheng, a veteran automobile industry analyst, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"China's super large consumption market and abundant application scenarios will provide Tesla substantial revenue as well as valuable data to upgrade its autonomous driving technologies," Wu noted.

Tesla's financial report for the 2024 second quarter showed that the current installed annual vehicle capacity of the Shanghai Gigafactory surpassed 950,000, ranking first among other plants, which helped the EV maker significantly increase deliveries in several markets supplied by the plant.

Zhang stated that China is the world's largest new-energy vehicle (NEV) market with the most highly integrated NEV industrial chain, both becoming pillars of Tesla's global business.

A government procurement list released by East China's Jiangsu Province recently included the Tesla Model Y for the first time, along with other domestic EV brands, in stark contract with high tariffs levied on Chinese EVs by the EU and the US.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva revealed a plan for Brazil to join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) during an event on Friday, according to a report by the South China Morning Post. This announcement signals a positive shift in Brazil's stance toward the significant global cooperation initiative.

As an important emerging market, Brazil's potential involvement in the BRI, an important international cooperation initiative promoting economic cooperation and connectivity among countries and contributing to the common prosperity of the world, is expected to enhance Brazil's economic and trade relations with China, as well as bolster Brazil's economy.

Discussions between Brazil and China on advancing BRI cooperation have been ongoing for many years. Lula's announcement comes as China and Brazil are continuously enhancing economic and trade cooperation. In June, Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin visited China, expressing willingness to enhance cooperation in infrastructural construction, agriculture, mining, new-energy vehicles and climate change response. 

The latest encouraging announcement by the Brazilian president indicates that both countries are committed to enhancing their robust bilateral economic and trade relations to new heights, even as Western media outlets are relentlessly discrediting the BRI and hyping Western countries' geopolitical interference in the mutually beneficial cooperation.

With the joint efforts of both sides to promote bilateral and mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation, trade between China and Brazil has formed a positive development trend. China is Brazil's largest trading partner and export destination. There is still great potential for growth in China-Brazil trade.

The joint construction of the BRI is an international cooperation platform to promote the inclusive and beneficial development of economic globalization. The cooperation concept advocated by it is highly compatible with Brazil's efforts to promote infrastructure construction and economic development. If Brazil joins the BRI, its infrastructure and economic development strategies will usher in significant opportunities and obtain tangible benefits.

The level of infrastructure development in Brazil is in dire need of improvement. Overcoming the bottlenecks has long been a challenge in the country's economic development. 

Brazil's infrastructure investment gap remains large due to high demand. Brazil must invest $778 billion (or 3.7 percent of GDP per year) to bridge its infrastructure gap by the Sustainable Development Goals deadline of 2030, according to a World Bank report. Efforts to address this issue are urgently needed to support Brazil's continued growth and development.

China's expertise and advanced technology in infrastructure development make it a valuable partner for Brazil. The potential for collaboration in this area is promising, with opportunities for mutual growth and development.

By participating in the BRI, Brazil stands to benefit from enhanced connectivity, increased trade opportunities and improved financial integration, which can help Brazil obtain more financial investment to develop its infrastructure. The bottlenecks of Brazil's economic development can be resolved and bring greater support to its economy.

Although there is great potential for cooperation, Brazil's move to join the BRI may also face challenges and external interference. In particular, some Western countries are expected to continue their geopolitical games and interfere in win-win cooperation between Brazil and China.

However, facts prove that the BRI pursues win-win cooperation instead of antagonism, and has gained increasing recognition worldwide. Brazil's interest in joining the BRI demonstrates that it is not swayed by unfounded criticism from Western countries and is committed to making independent decisions that benefit its own development. 

Hopefully, the deepening economic and trade cooperation between China and Brazil can yield more positive outcomes as they mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.