The first batch of US-made M1A2T tanks sold to the Taiwan island reportedly arrived in Taipei on Sunday following the arrival of accessory equipment of the tanks in Kaohsiung on Friday, but a military expert from Chinese mainland said the tanks, trumpeted by media on the island as "the most powerful combat vehicle on the ground," are too bulky and heavy for island combat and will only serve as easy targets for drones and attack helicopters.
Following the arrival of the first batch of the M1A2T tanks at Taipei Port on Sunday, they are scheduled to be transported to Hsinchu from Sunday night to Monday morning. These tanks will be deployed to the Taiwan army's training center in Hsinchu, in preparation for training after the Spring Festival next year, according to Taiwan media outlet Liberty Times Net on Sunday.
It was originally reported that the tanks arrived in Kaohsiung port on Friday, but it was confirmed that it was the arrival of the tanks' accessory equipment, Liberty Times Net reported.
The US State Department announced in July 2019 the sale of 108 M1A2 tanks and related support to Taiwan island. As per the information unveiled in the public budget of the defense authority on the island of Taiwan, its army is scheduled to receive 38, 42 and 28 vehicles in three batches in three years from 2024 to 2026, and the M1A2T is a customized version for the island of Taiwan, Liberty Times Net reported.
Liberty Times Net dubbed the M1A2T "the most powerful combat vehicle on the ground," claiming that it is equipped with "a lethal 120mm gun, highly protective composite armor, and exceptional mobility and combat efficiency."
However, mainland military expert Wei Dongxu told the Global Times that the M1A2 is not a good choice, as the island is densely covered with water networks, while the M1A2 is over 60 tons in weight, posing great limitations on mobility and deployment.
In addition, the M1A2 uses a highly fuel-consuming gas turbine, arguably a type of tank with complicated maintenance and upkeep needs, said Wei. Even if the M1A2 is considered advanced, it will be shattered into parts when confronted with aviation forces such as attack helicopters armed with a large number of anti-tank missiles, Wei noted.
The M1A1 tanks, in the same family as the M1A2T, failed to perform effectively in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Ukraine has sidelined US-provided Abrams M1A1 battle tanks for now in its fight against Russia, in part because Russian drone warfare has made it too difficult for them to operate without detection or coming under attack, AP reported in April, citing two US military officials.
The M1 Abrams has suffered heavy losses on Ukrainian soil, with many reportedly destroyed due to advanced Russian weaponry like the Kornet anti-tank missile, US media outlet the National Interest reported in September.
Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of the Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Sunday that roles and survivability of tanks face serious challenges in modern land combat, as they face unprecedented threats from drones.
If the Taiwan authorities believe that tanks can bring a significant boost to its military capabilities, their hopes are too high, Wang said. "The time has changed, and the combat patterns of the past are no more," he said.
The Chinese Embassy in the UK on Tuesday urged the UK side to immediately stop creating trouble, stop anti-China political manipulations, and stop undermining normal personnel exchanges between the two countries after a Chinese businessman is reportedly being banned from entering the UK.
It is reported that the businessman banned from entering the UK has asked his legal team to disclose his identity. This businessman has also made it clear in a statement that he has done nothing wrong or unlawful. In the meantime, the UK Parliament (on Monday afternoon) heard an urgent question on this issue, during which a few Members of Parliament continued to accuse the businessman of being a "Chinese spy," according to the Chinese Embassy.
The businessman has been banned from Britain on "national security" grounds, according to media reports.
"I have done nothing wrong or unlawful and the concerns raised by the Home Office against me are ill-founded," the businessman said in a statement issued by his lawyers on Monday, Reuters reported.
Chinese Embassy in the UK said in the statement on Tuesday that: "As for the anti-China clamours made by a handful of UK MPs, they have done nothing but fully revealed their twisted mentality toward China, as well as their arrogance and shamelessness. What they are really up to is to smear China, target against the Chinese community in the UK and undermine normal personnel exchanges between China and the UK."
It must be pointed out that the CPC and the Chinese government uphold that countries should pursue friendship and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit. "This is what we have been saying and what we have been doing. This is also why China has so many friends around the world," the statement said.
Chinese Embassy's statement also urged the UK to have a right perception of China, see the historical trend clearly, and handle its relations with China on the basis of mutual respect, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit.
"We urge the UK side to immediately stop creating trouble, stop anti-China political manipu-lations, and stop undermining normal personnel exchanges between China and the UK," it noted.
Citing four sources with knowledge of the matter, Reuters reported on Monday that "Britain's Labour government has pared back an audit of relations with China, preparing the way for a less critical report that could help Prime Minister Keir Starmer focus on improving economic ties."
On Monday, when he was questioned about the case, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was pleased with what he called progress on ties with China. The PM was cited by the Guardian as saying "Of course, we have to challenge where we must, but it's better to engage to challenge than to stay aside, as it were, important to cooperate where we can on issues like climate change, which need that cooperation. So I'm very pleased with the engagement and the progress that we've made."
In response to an inquiry on whether the mainland is planning to conduct more military exercises surrounding Taiwan island as Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te has completed "transiting" through Hawaii or Guam, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and the foremost, non-negotiable red line in China-US relations. China's determination to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity is unwavering.
Previously some Taiwan local media claimed that the mainland military is poised to "encircle Taiwan proper in military exercise 'Joint Sword-2024C,'" as Lai returns from his visit to "diplomatic allies" in the Pacific via "transit" through Hawaii or Guam.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged EU to refrain from applying double standard and stop listing Chinese companies, smearing China and shifting the blame to China without providing any factual basis, in response to the European Union's proposal that it'll sanction several Chinese firms that it claims helped Russian companies develop attack drones that were deployed against Ukraine.
China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council. On the Ukraine issue, China is committed to promoting talks for peace. China has never provided weapons to parties to the conflict and strictly controls the export of dual-use articles, even drones for civilian use, and opposes using civilian drones for military purposes, spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday.
The EU is proposing to sanction several Chinese firms it claims helped Russian companies develop attack drones that were deployed against Ukraine, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.
The G7 foreign ministers, who are meeting in Italy on Monday and Tuesday, are expected to vow "appropriate measures consistent with our legal systems, against actors in China and in other third countries" who are supporting Russia, according to an early draft of the communique seen by Bloomberg.
Communiques are often changed before the final version is published and tweaks could still be made to the wording, Bloomberg said.
The normal exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Russian companies do not target any third party, and should not be disrupted or interfered with by any third party, Mao said at Tuesday's press briefing.
"As we speak, most countries, including European countries and the US, carry out trade with Russia. We urge the EU to refrain from applying double standard and stop listing Chinese companies, smearing China and shifting the blame to China without providing any factual basis," Mao said.
China will do what is necessary to firmly defend the lawful rights and interests of Chinese companies, the spokesperson added.
East China's Zhejiang Province has initiated a campaign to promote bamboo as a replacement for plastic products in offices, meetings, cafeterias, and other scenarios across government bodies, public institutions, and state-owned enterprises.
According to the provincial development action plan of "replacing plastic with bamboo" recently rolled out by Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission in collaboration with other departments, priority should also be given to bamboo instead of plastic products during office upgrades or replacements, thepaper.cn reported on Wednesday.
The theme for the Earth Day 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics. "Replacing plastic with bamboo" refers to substituting plastic products with fast-growing, biodegradable bamboo products and bamboo-based composite materials.
In daily life and the cultural and tourism industries, bamboo is used to produce shopping bags, stationery, tableware, and furniture. In industrial production sector, bamboo composites, vehicle interiors, and packaging materials are utilized. Besides, bamboo products are also widely used in the construction industry.
Last October, China's National Development and Reform Commission released a three-year action plan to accelerate bamboo as a plastic alternative and proposed that an initial "bamboo replacing plastic" industry system will be established by 2025, with the comprehensive added value of main products increasing by over 20 percent from 2022, and bamboo utilization increasing by 20 percent.
Zhejiang Province has over 14 million mu (933,333 hectares) of bamboo forests. In 13 counties, bamboo forests exceed 300,000 mu, while 43 counties have over 100,000 mu of bamboo coverage.
According to the development action plan, Zhejiang will promote "replacing plastic with bamboo" by fostering industrial ecosystems, driving innovation, and securing resources for development.
In terms of expanding application scenarios, the authority vows to regularly update the catalog of bamboo products and promote the use of bamboo-based building materials and bamboo products in government investment projects and explore setting a minimum ration of usage of bamboo products.
Besides, bamboo will be encouraged to use in a variety of industries such as transportation industry, daily commodities sales, hotels and bed and breakfast business as well as courier industry.
The spat between the US and the World Anti-Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) continues after the 2024 Paris Olympics, with a recent media report saying the Biden administration is holding up the annual US payment to WADA to press the organization as it "chose not to discipline elite Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned drug."
According to a New York Times report, the White House has told WADA that it needed to have "more accountability and transparency" and that it must submit to a wide-ranging outside audit of its operations.
A WADA spokesperson told the Global Times in an email on Thursday that WADA has not received any notification from the US Government that it has decided to voluntarily withhold its annual contribution for 2024.
The agency also said "WADA is unaware of any conditions that the US Government wishes to attach to its payment… no provision exists within WADA's governance model whereby a government may unilaterally withhold its contribution based on its own set of conditions."
The Biden administration made its 2023 payment for $3.4 million in August of last year. The payment for this year was expected to be paid around the same time, but so far relevant US official has yet to sign off on having the money sent.
Shang Ximeng, a research fellow at the Center for International Sport Communication and Diplomacy Studies at the Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times that the US has repeatedly threatened WADA with default or refusal to pay the annual dues, but as a signatory to the WADA Code, the US is obligated to pay it.
She noted that the US has not only played these kinds of tricks in international anti-doping cooperation, but has frequently threatened to do the same with respect to other international cooperation.
Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, said the US' political manipulation has not only weakened WADA's authority, but also slandered China's anti-doping efforts, and undermined the global efforts in the regard.
US' attempts to hijack international organizations exposed its hegemonic mindset and politicizing sports for political purposes, Li noted.
In April this year, along with USWADA, The New York Times hyped that some Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) before the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, accusing WADA of shielding Chinese athletes and failing to hold them accountable.
WADA has commissioned an independent review into the reported incident after refuting these claims, labeling them as "misleading and potentially defamatory media coverage." The agency said that following the TMZ contamination incident in swimming in 2021, the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) promptly initiated a comprehensive and meticulous investigation, and based on its results, it was determined that the TMZ positives among these athletes resulted from inadvertent ingestion of contaminated food without their knowledge, and therefore no further doping charges were brought against those athletes, according to previous reports from the Global Times.
In September 9, the independent Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier backed WADA's handling of the issue in his final investigation report, saying that WADA had not been complacent nor shown bias toward China, according to a Reuters report.
WADA was established in 1999 as an international independent agency to lead a collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, recently delivered important instructions on the program to study and develop Marxist theory in the new era. Xi pointed out that studying and developing Marxist theory is the fundamental and strategic program of the Party's ideological and theoretical development. Over the past 20 years, those involved in the program have always focused on the central tasks and served the overall situation, producing a large number of high-quality research results. The program has also played an important role in the study, research and publicity of the Party's innovative theories, consolidating the guiding position of Marxism in the realm of ideology.
Xi stressed that on the new journey in the new era, we must uphold fundamental principles and break new ground, focus on the study, publicity and implementation of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, make efforts to deepen systematic and theoretical research and interpretation, and strive to render the study and publicity more targeted and effective, so as to make the Party's innovative theories more popular among the people. We must adhere to integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional culture, proceed from China's realities, carry forward Chinese cultural traditions, build a solid academic foundation, conduct in-depth research on major issues in our great efforts to build a strong country and achieve national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization, accelerate the development of an independent knowledge system in Chinese philosophy and social sciences and nurture high-caliber theoretical talent, so as to make greater contributions to adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.
A meeting concerning work on the program to study and develop Marxist theory was held in Beijing on Nov. 29. Xi's important instructions were studied at the meeting. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.
In his speech, Cai pointed out that Xi's important instructions profoundly expounded on the status and role of the program to study and develop Marxist theory, and clarified the requirements for the task of upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground in promoting the study, research and publicity of the Party's innovative theories. In his instructions, Xi expressed the hope that efforts would be made to integrate the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional culture in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. Xi's instructions provide important guidelines for the implementation of the program in the new era.
Cai pointed out that since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to strengthening the Party through ideological endeavor and theoretical development. General Secretary Xi has issued a series of expositions on studying and developing Marxist theory, which have provided answers to the fundamental questions concerning upholding and developing Marxism. At the same time, the expositions have systematically clarified the targets, basic principles, tasks and work in the study and building of Marxist theory. We must thoroughly understand the significance of the "Two Affirmations," act on the "Two Upholds," and thoroughly study the related theories and implement them, Cai said.
Cai stressed that to innovate the program of studying and developing Marxist theory, it is imperative to regard the study, research, and publicity of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the fundamental task, ensure that the studies and education are more targeted and effective, further make the research and interpretation more systematic and theoretical, and ensure that the publicity and popularization work is more attractive and influential. He also called for efforts to advance the research on the basic tenets of Marxism, further answer the questions concerning China's specific realities, further explore the contents and values of fine traditional Chinese culture, intensify efforts to research on and have a command of integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional culture, and continue to bring out vitality for theoretical creation. We should adhere to the Party's innovative theories as guidance, meet the requirements the times have laid out for us, have a thorough understanding of China's realities, and systematically refine and summarize defining concepts and original theories, so as to advance the development of an independent knowledge system in philosophy and social sciences. We should strengthen organizational leadership, improve institutional mechanisms, enhance incentives and support, foster a healthy academic environment, and accelerate the formation of a well-coordinated, scientifically-managed, and innovation-driven work framework.
Li Shulei presided over the meeting, and Shen Yiqin attended the meeting.
Leading officials from the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Education, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences delivered speeches, and so did representatives from the consulting committee of the program and theoretical work platforms, and relevant experts and scholars.
Those who attended the meeting included members of the Central Leading Group for Public Communication and Cultural Work, leading officials from the department in charge of the program, central media and cultural institutions, and relevant people's organizations, as well as some members of the program consulting committee, experts and scholars, along with leading officials from the publicity departments of local Party committees and key universities under the central management.
China's continuous improvement of air quality and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has benefited not only the country itself, but also the rest of Asia and the world, foreign scholars said Monday at an event held in Beijing, calling for more success stories like "China Blue" to spread across the Asian region and help countries reduce air pollution.
Representatives from authorities and research institutions from China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, the Philippines, totaling nearly 50 participants, attended the event.
At the opening ceremony of the Asian Regional Exchange for Clean Air held in Beijing on Monday, Lei Yu, director of Atmospheric Environmental Planning Institute, Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, said that since the implementation of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan in 2013, China has implemented a series of measures, including adjustments to the energy structure, industrial restructuring, and major emission reduction projects. These efforts have led to significant progress and notable achievements in air pollution prevention and control.
"Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei is renowned for turning smog into blue skies, much like what we are seeing today on such a beautiful autumn day," Glynda Bathan-Baterina, deputy executive director of Clean Air Asia, an international NGO, said at the event, hailing China's impressive results in this regard.
The deputy executive director noted that China has achieved 40 percent reduction of PM2.5 in merely seven years, a similar feat accomplished by the US in three decades.
"We need more success stories across Asia like this and having those spread throughout the region," Glynda said.
Gantuya Ganbat, a professor of Environmental Engineering at the German-Mongolian Institute for Resources and Technology, told the Global Times that Mongolia, particularly its capital Ulaanbaatar, is facing severe air pollution challenges due to the burning of fossil fuels, especially in winter. Insufficient financial resources, a shortage of skilled professionals, policy instability, as well as a lack of technological advancements are the major causes for the problem.
"Mongolia has a lot to learn from China's experience and expertise in environmental planning," Ganbat said. For example, Mongolia could learn how China's specialized institutions, such as the Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning, operate, the processes they use to develop strategies, and how they approach issues like air pollution and carbon neutrality.
Sharing China's experiences and methodologies could not only support Mongolia, but also provide valuable insights for other countries, fostering broader regional cooperation, Ganbat told the Global Times.
Ririn Radiawati Kusuma, Indonesia director of Clean Air Asia, told the Global Times that in Indonesia, the main challenges regarding air pollution are the lack of government commitment and weak law enforcement.
China can coordinate with Indonesia to address these issues in several ways, Kusuma said. First, regional exchanges are essential for facilitating knowledge sharing between local and national governments. Second, partnerships with Chinese entities, including universities and institutions, can facilitate the R&D of environmental programs. Furthermore, Chinese green investments such as electric vehicle manufacturers in Indonesia can accelerate its effort to combat air pollution in the country.
A report was also released at Monday's seminar as part of the "China Air" report series. The report said that as many Asian developing countries are still in the midst of rapid urbanization and industrialization, they are facing grave challenges in air pollution control and greenhouse gas emission reduction. Being the largest economy in Asia, China's continuous improvement of air quality and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions has benefited not only the country itself, but also the rest of the region and the world.
In 2023, countries in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia have shown great economic growth momentum, but this has also been accompanied by increased energy consumption and emission intensity. Countries in South Asia face more severe air pollution challenges, as PM 2.5 exposure concentration in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan have nearly doubled the global average.
China, undergoing green transition, has shown a new development trend after encountering the situations seen in other countries, the report reads. As China's GDP per capita exceeded the $10,000 mark and crossed the inflection point, the relationship between the country's economic development and environmental quality improvement have turned from being "a compromise" to a "win-win situation," according to the report.
According to the latest data released by the MEE, in the first three quarters this year, the percentage of days with good or excellent air quality across 339 Chinese cities at the prefecture level and above reached 85.8 percent, an increase of 1.6 percentage points year-on-year. The average concentrations of PM 2.5, PM 10, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide were 27, 47, 147, and 18 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively, representing year-on-year reductions of 3.6 percent, 7.8 percent, 0.7 percent, and 10 percent.
The local government in the Subei Mongolian Autonomous County, Northwest China's Gansu Province, has recently introduced an incentive scheme offering families with two or three children a cumulative subsidy of up to 100,000 yuan ($13,823).
The main incentives for families with permanent household registration in Subei who have two or three children include support for childbirth, maternity leave, and medical assistance, as stated on the government's official website on November 14. The medical assistance includes subsidies for residents' medical insurance, maternity medical expenses, and inpatient care.
The policy applies to families who have a second or third child over a three-year period. In the first year, families receive a monthly allowance of 1,000 yuan and 2,000 yuan respectively. In the second year, these amounts increase to 1,400 yuan and 3,000 yuan, and in the third year, they rise further to 1,700 yuan and 3,300 yuan per month.
For those living and working within the borders of Subei County, who register themselves and their children as residents of the county and voluntarily have one child, an additional reward of 10,000 yuan will be granted to those who meet the assessed conditions.
The region is currently in the policy promotion phase, and relevant departments have not yet received any subsidy applications. However, some individuals have already inquired about the specifics of the incentive policy, according to thepaper.cn.
He Yafu, an independent demographer, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the incentives introduced by Subei provide relatively higher subsidies compared to similar policies in other regions. He also noted that the action is a response to the new birth support policy measures unveiled in October by the General Office of China's State Council to promote the building of a birth-friendly society.
So far, many regions including Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Southwest China's Yunnan Province and Shenzhen offer subsidies for families with two or three children. Bangjiangdong village in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, introduced an incentive scheme in May that offers 10,000 yuan for a second child and 30,000 yuan for a third child. This policy officially took effect on June 1.
Hohhot, the capital city of North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, has also introduced parenting subsidies to families with more children. For families having a second or third child, they will be given a one-time subsidy of 5,000 yuan.
He added that there is also a need to enhance the availability of inclusive childcare services to address the concerns of families with working parents.
The 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) is currently taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, providing an opportunity to accelerate action in addressing the climate crisis that increasingly affects the world today. China has assumed a responsible role in the global fight against climate change and has been ramping up its efforts in new and green energy in recent years. How does UNDP view China's green efforts and transformation? How has the cooperation between China and the UNDP evolved in recent years? Global Times reporter Xie Wenting (GT) spoke with Beate Trankmann (Trankmann), UNDP Resident Representative in China. GT: What outcomes do you expect from this year's COP29 and what role do you see China playing in the global fight against climate change?
Trankmann: Coming out of the COP16 biodiversity summit in Columbia, COP29 is now a critical opportunity to continue the momentum in responding to our global environmental crises, tackling climate change, and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In particular, it will be vital for countries to raise ambition levels including by incorporating biodiversity and social considerations in the next generation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) through a comprehensive approach backed by actionable plans. Nature and climate are two sides of the same coin, and addressing these challenges collectively, is the only way for the world to keep the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 C within reach. Within this context, as a large and growing economy with sizable emissions, China can play a pivotal role. By pursuing enhanced commitments in its next NDC, China can point the way toward more ambitious targets and accelerated actions globally.
Indeed, China has already had a strong track record in recent years of taking measures toward decarbonization. For example, the government's dual carbon goals to peak carbon before 2030, and reach carbon neutrality before 2060, as well as its announcement three years ago to stop investing in new coal power plants overseas are important steps. In addition, on climate finance, China has shown leadership with China's domestic climate finance mobilization accounting for 51 percent of all domestic climate finance globally.
Moving forward, it will be important for China to continue its work to reduce emissions and make green investments. Besides advancing its own low-carbon transformation, China's experience in driving green development can also offer valuable lessons to other countries including through international development cooperation and exchanges. When demand-based, and aligned with the SDGs and international best practices, China's global engagements can provide financing and support for partner countries in adopting sustainable approaches, which can contribute to putting the world on a low-carbon trajectory.
GT: In terms of green cooperation, what initiatives are being discussed or implemented between China and UNDP to promote sustainable practices? How can these initiatives be expanded to include other countries?
Trankmann: The low-carbon transition and green development are top priorities for UNDP's partnership with China. Our joint efforts have seen a wide range of projects and initiatives that have aimed to advance this mission in a variety of ways including informing policy, exploring cutting-edge low-carbon technologies, and directing increased financing toward climate action.
For example, UNDP is working with the Ministry of Science and Technology and others in developing China's hydrogen and fuel-cell industry, as a green transportation solution. The work to commercialize hydrogen-based clean energy transport is ongoing in eight Chinese cities. As part of these efforts, we supported the establishment of a vocational college in Foshan, South China's Guangdong Province, which provides education and training for hydrogen industry workers. The college has trained over 400 students since 2021, helping to prepare people for the future of work, and ensure that pathways to a low-carbon future are inclusive, with new opportunities accessible to everyone. A total of 30 percent of trainees are women - the first women being trained for the hydrogen industry in China.
In directing financing towards sustainability, UNDP has helped to support China, including by providing technical input on the first pilot on social and sustainability bonds launched by the National Association of Financial Market Institutional Investors, opening new opportunities for sustainable finance in the Chinese market. In the last three years, since its launch, a total of $259 million was issued under this initiative.
In addition, in 2023, our SDG Investors Map initiative identified 18 SDG-aligned investment opportunity areas in China worth over $280 billion by 2026. The opportunities are focused on renewable energy and the circular economy, both central to China's goal to reach carbon neutrality.
Looking ahead, we will continue working to advance SDG progress at the local level and accelerate the low-carbon transition in cities while also addressing social and economic issues. In particular, we are looking to support initiatives in several of China's 11 National SDG Demonstration Zones. For example, in Shenzhen, we established an innovation lab earlier this year focusing on sustainable development in megacities, and we also expect to work with the city of Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region focusing on renewable energy and green hydrogen.
Finally, the climate emergency our world faces cannot be solved by any one country alone. That is why, through these and other initiatives, UNDP works to leverage our experience in sustainable development and global network across 170 countries to share knowledge and insights between China and other countries. In particular, through South-South Cooperation, UNDP can help to facilitate exchanges between China and partner countries, providing guidance on alignment with the SDGs and climate goals.
GT: What role do you see being played by emerging technologies in achieving sustainable development in China and globally? How do you evaluate China's investment efforts in renewable energy and how do these efforts impact national and global green development?
Trankmann: In China, the country's green transformation has been heavily driven by technological innovation. In 2023, clean energy sectors were the largest driver of China's economic growth, accounting for 40 percent of the expansion of its GDP. In the mobility sector for instance, in 2009, fewer than 500 electric vehicles (EVs) were sold in China. In 2023, there were over 8 million new EV registrations, and today one out of every two vehicles sold in China is either electric or a hybrid.
China is indeed also a world leader in renewables such as solar and wind, accounting for nearly a third of renewable energy installed globally. Non-fossil fuel sources now account for more than half of its total energy generation capacity, meeting the central government's target two years ahead of schedule.
However, there is still room for further progress, and it will be critical to continue building on these achievements to realize the SDGs and climate targets. For example, as in all countries, there are challenges in integrating renewable energy sources into the electricity grid, with renewables accounting for a third of actual electricity output in China. Greater investments in grid infrastructure and energy storage, as well as further reforms in China's power market are important to address these challenges.
In addition, while emerging technologies offer great potential, as China has shown, it will also be critical to ensure that everyone can benefit from these advancements equally. In the field of artificial intelligence (AI) for example, AI-powered solutions can be a great development enabler, especially in critical areas like climate and healthcare, but only if they are developed and deployed responsibly with appropriate governance and safeguards in place. If not, they can also work to exacerbate divides and deepen inequalities both within, and between countries.
At the UN Summit of the Future held in September, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future, committing to take urgent actions toward achieving sustainable development and addressing global challenges. As part of this pact, the Global Digital Compact was agreed to - a comprehensive framework for global governance of frontier technology and AI. This framework recognizes the critical role that emerging technologies play in advancing sustainable development, as well as the potential risks they present.
Moving forward, given China's position as a global pioneer in emerging technologies and cutting-edge innovations, its knowledge and experience will continue to be vital to inform discussions on global governance and the regulation of frontier technologies, and how they can be harnessed for positive development impact.
GT: How has the partnership between China and UNDP evolved over the years, from when the organization first started working in the country to the present day?
Trankmann: This year, UNDP is celebrating its 45th anniversary in China. When we first established our office in China in 1979, our focus was on tackling poverty, improving agricultural production, modernizing industries, and introducing new technologies, including some of the very first computer systems.
Over four and a half decades, China has experienced remarkable development progress. Since UNDP began its Human Development Index in 1990, China has been one of only four countries to move from "low" to "high" levels of human development. China has also lifted over 770 million people out of poverty, an incredible achievement, and one which UNDP has been privileged to support.
As China has evolved, so has UNDP. Since 2015, our partnership with China has been guided by the SDGs, and has seen an increased focus on environmental protection and low-carbon development in an effort to address climate change. This has also been in line with China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), which has placed a greater emphasis on green development and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Looking ahead, China, and the world, will have to navigate new challenges, including balancing climate commitments, energy security, and socio-economic concerns. Working together with our partners, UNDP will continue to assist China in integrating the SDGs into development decisions, and inform China's international development cooperation engagement to advance global progress on sustainable development.
GT: There are many unstable factors in today's international community that may impact the global sustainable development process. What is your perspective on this situation? How will UNDP respond to the variety of variables in the future?
Trankmann: Sustainable development today does indeed face formidable challenges and unstable factors around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic set development progress back by years, and global conflicts, accelerating climate change, and worsening environmental degradation are all existential crises that threaten the future of humanity and our planet.
All of this has contributed to a worrying lack of progress on the SDGs. Since they were launched in 2015, only 17 percent of SDG targets are on track, with many stagnating or even regressing. In the Asia-Pacific region, at the current rate, it will take until 2062 to achieve the SDGs - more than three decades too late.
However, despite the troubling situation, there are also optimistic signs. In the Peoples' Climate Vote 2024, a global survey carried out by UNDP with the University of Oxford, people in 77 countries, representing 87 percent of the world's population, were asked about their views on climate change. Four out of five people globally, or 80 percent, want their governments to take stronger action to tackle the climate crisis. In addition, 86 percent want to see their countries set aside geopolitical differences and work together on climate change. This is clear evidence that at the individual level, people are invested in the future of our world and are calling for action to be taken to ensure that it can continue to thrive.
At the global level, there have also been positive developments. The Pact for the Future represents a pledge from countries around the world to overcome differences, and work together to respond to shared challenges and safeguard our collective future. While there are many who might question multilateralism amid the many issues our world currently faces, this global pact, alongside the consensus that we aim to build through the ongoing COP29 conference, is a reaffirmation of just how fundamental international cooperation is to addressing the existential crises of our time.
As the lead development agency of the United Nations, UNDP is committed to building consensus, facilitating multilateral cooperation, and working together with all countries to ensure that progress toward the SDGs is reignited and that the Pact for the Future is realized. In carrying out this goal, we understand that there is a great deal of uncertainty and unpredictable variables, and sometimes development is indeed a process of two steps forward, one step back, but this is all the more reason why we are focused on helping vulnerable communities, both in China and around the world, to strengthen their resilience and their ability to buffer against crises and setbacks.
