Chinese President Xi Jinping and Botswanan President Duma Boko on Monday exchanged congratulations over the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
A total of 95 people have been confirmed dead and 130 others injured as of 3 p.m. Tuesday, after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri County in the city of Xigaze in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region at 9:05 a.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time).
After a 6.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Dingri county of Xigaze in Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Chinese President Xi Jinping made an important instruction, demanding utmost efforts to carry out search and rescue and provide medical treatment for the injured, and minimize casualties, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at Wednesday's routine briefing, introducing the rescue and disaster relief work in affected areas.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made an important instruction, urged prevent secondary disasters, properly resettle affected residents, and handle the aftermath effectively, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.
It is essential to strengthen earthquake monitoring and early warning, promptly allocate disaster relief supplies, expedite the repair of damaged infrastructure, ensure the basic needs of residents are met, and guarantee a safe and warm winter for all, Xi said.
In a Tuesday instruction, Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged efforts to organize all-out search and rescue operations and minimize casualties.
Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, led a team to the quake site to guide the rescue and relief efforts.
The Chinese government has activated national level-II emergency response and disaster relief operations are proceeding efficiently and systematically, said Guo.
The first batch of central disaster relief supplies has arrived in the affected area. All earthquake-damaged road sections in Dingri county have been cleared, and power supply has been restored to Dingri county and several townships. Communication signals in the disaster-stricken area have been restored. Thanks to the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, we believe that the people in the affected areas will surely overcome this challenge and rebuild their homes, said Guo.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Wednesday released a music video to celebrate the New Year, with a scene showing a ginkgo leaf and a bird triggering netizens' associations to the alleged debuts of China's sixth-generation fighter jets that have been circulating on social media recently.
A number of videos and photos emerged on Chinese social media on December 26, showing alleged test flights of a new type of aircraft, shape of which resembles the ginkgo leaf. The term "ginkgo leaf" was first used by Chengdu-based Defense Times as an apparent metaphor for the new aircraft given their resemblance in appearance.
"It really looks like a leaf," the South China Morning Post reported on Friday, citing Defense Times' post on its Weibo account alongside an image of a ginkgo leaf.
Neither the Chinese military nor the Chinese defense industry has verified the videos and photos, or made any official announcement on the aircraft as of press time.
Shortly after the emergence of the large "ginkgo leaf" aircraft, another video circulated online on December 26, showing another new type of aircraft, seemingly smaller than the "ginkgo leaf" one, in an apparent flight test.
Since then, Chinese netizens and some overseas media outlets have been engaging in heated discussions about the two new aircraft.
Reuters reported on Friday that the two seemingly new Chinese military aircraft have stealth characteristics. Both designs are tailless, meaning they do not have vertical stabilizers to help maintain control. Such aircraft are typically kept stable by computers that interpret the pilot's control inputs.
The larger of the two designs is roughly diamond-shaped, with three air intakes for its engines - two alongside the fuselage and one on top. The smaller one has a more conventional layout, but no tail. Both lack the 90-degree angles typical of stealth shaping, which is designed to reduce radar detection, Reuters said.
According to US media outlet the Warzone, which cited unconfirmed accounts, the larger aircraft is from the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, while the smaller aircraft is from the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. Chengdu builds the J-10 multirole medium fighter and the heavy J-20 stealth fighter, while Shenyang is responsible for the production of fighters such as carrier-borne J-15, heavy J-16 and stealth-capable J-35.
The Washington Times quoted defense analysts as saying that the two new fighters "appear to be Beijing's first advanced sixth-generation stealth fighters."
Despite the new Chinese aircraft garnering attentions overseas, not all mainstream large Western media outlets have covered them. The Washington Times noted that the Pentagon has remained quiet, with Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh saying on Monday that she had seen the news reports but declined to comment on the flight tests.
Reuters quoted an analyst as saying that as China modernizes its military, the designs "show the willingness of China's aviation industry to experiment and innovate." The analyst said, "They deserve kudos for that, and should shake off any lingering complacency that the US and its allies always set the pace."
The US is also developing its sixth-generation fighter jet. However, the US Air Force has decided to let the incoming Trump administration make its own decision on the path forward for its Next Generation Air Dominance fighter. This summer, the US Air Force paused its effort to develop and build a sixth-generation fighter amid concerns about its potential costs, US media outlet the Defense News reported on December 6.
The UK, Italy and Japan are also jointly developing an advanced stealth jet, meanwhile France, Germany and Spain are working on their own next-generation fighter project, Reuters reported on December 13.
Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the so-called sixth-generation fighter jet has become a key vantage point major powers have been contesting to reach.
In the past, it was usually the US that first developed and defined generations for aircraft, but the US' sixth-generation fighter jet has been stalled given huge risks in costs against the backdrop of the US' deindustrialization and its breaking of industrial chains, Fu noted.
Song Zhongping, another Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday that China's development of new aircraft, believed to be sixth-generation fighter jets - faster than the US, will buy China more precious time for its peaceful and stable economic development.
The US will likely accelerate its own projects, as it will not resign itself to losing technological hegemony. But China will continue to develop its national defense capabilities at its own pace, with the aim of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, Song said.
On this aspect, both Fu and Song mentioned another recent milestone of China's military development, the launch of the world's first electromagnetic catapult-equipped amphibious assault ship, the Type 076 Sichuan on Friday.
Fu said that the concentrated debuts of China's military equipment is not a coincidence. It took China years of development at its own stable pace, and it is now that the country's weapon and equipment systems have reached a new level.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has recently congratulated Mikheil Kavelashvili on his assuming of the Georgian presidency.
Editor's Note:
In today's world, green has become the defining color of the New Era in China, with green development emerging as a significant feature of Chinese modernization. Green development, which seeks to promote harmony between humanity and nature while maximizing economic and social benefits with minimal resource consumption, has now become a global consensus. China is actively implementing the concept of sustainable development and is playing a key role in driving the global transition toward a low-carbon future.
However, earlier in 2024, the US launched a narrative of "overcapacity" to attack China's new energy sector as part of its unilateral trade protectionism. Against this backdrop, we are launching the year-ender 2024 series that casts a global eye on the transformative power of China's green energy initiatives, illuminating how they empower individuals around the world to realize their dreams and foster hope and development.
In this installment, we travel to Europe with China's new energy vehicles (NEVs), taking a closer look at how Chinese NEV makers strive to expand their European market, and better serve local consumers with their advanced technology and satisfying cost-performance ratios. Their efforts integrate China's green development concept into Europe's growing demand for a low-carbon lifestyle.
This summer, Vunk embarked on his first road trip across Europe in his new Chinese EV.
From the Netherlands to Switzerland, he was deeply impressed by the convenience and efficiency of the battery-swapping process. "There is no need to leave the car, and within five minutes, you're ready to go with a full charge," he told the Global Times.
Vunk is among the earliest Dutch customers to purchase a vehicle made by NIO, one of China's leading EV brands.
Since first seeing the car at a German auto show, Vunk was impressed by NIO's offerings. After interacting with the car up close at the launch event in Berlin, he decided to become a NIO owner and promptly ordered an ET7.
This decision was far from impulsive. Like many other European car owners, Vunk had long been following the development of Chinese EVs.
On the popular question-and-answer website Quora, there's a post asking, "Why do we allow Chinese cars in the European market?"
Under this post, a user commented, "Presumably for the same reason that European cars are sold in China: because there's a market for them." The user then cited a vice-president of a French auto consultancy as saying, "Forget what you might think that Chinese means lower quality or lower safety performance… Their quality is now better than others."
Environmentally friendly and cost-effective Chinese electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common on the streets of Europe. In Paris, a passerby captured a photo of a car from the Chinese brand Leapmoto and praised it as "beautiful" online; In Oslo, an EV from the NIO slowly pulled up to a street-side charging station…
China exported about 1.14 million NEVs in the first 11 months of 2024, marking a year-on-year increase of 4.5 percent, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. As more Chinese NEVs appear on European streets, they provide local consumers with more travel options, trying to be icing on the cake of Europe's auto market and a contributor to a climate-neutral Europe.
Icing on the cake
In October, 48 auto brands showcased their offerings at the week-long 2024 Paris Motor Show, one of the most historic and influential auto shows in the world. Nine Chinese brands including Leapmotor, Xpeng, and Seres, made a strong appearance at the show and attracted great attention. "It's truly a 'boom' for Chinese vehicles," a visitor told the Global Times at the show.
Leapmotor's small-size EV "T03" received many orders during the show. With a starting price of 18,900 euros ($19,648), this model "has been experiencing a steady increase in sales since its official launch in Europe in October," with the top five countries by sales being Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and Malta, according to Leapmotor.
This Chinese EV manufacturer stated that the age demographic of its European buyers is quite broad. "Notably, last month [November] in Germany, a 93-year-old buyer came to test drive the T03, and he immediately paid in full to purchase it," a Leapmotor employee told the Global Times.
Leapmotor also has another EV model, the "C10," available in the European market, starting at 36,400 euros. "Currently both of the two models are fully electric with zero carbon emissions," the company said. "Through the sales of our EVs globally, we strive to help address the urgent issue of global warming."
Chinese EV brands have gained widespread recognition across Europe.
NIO's models have all earned five-star Euro NCAP safety ratings.
"The Chinese car market is quietly revolutionizing the EV world with its innovations and we're barely aware it's happening," read the website of Top Gear.
An owner of an NIO EV, Vunk said he has been highly satisfied with the product, services, and user community. He expressed his enthusiasm for Chinese EV brands, saying he would continue to recommend Chinese NEVs to more of his friends.
Green travel
As the global call for environmental protection and sustainable development grows stronger, the demand for NEVs in the European market has increased rapidly as well.
China drives the majority of global EV sales growth. According to the International Energy Agency's report "Global EV Outlook 2024," China exported over 4 million cars in 2023, making it the largest auto exporter in the world. Among them 1.2 million were EVs, an 80-percent growth year-on-year. The main export markets for these vehicles were Europe, and countries in the Asia Pacific region.
China tries to lead the way in green travel. "China is at the forefront of the global transition to EVs largely because it has spent decades investing in and building up its talent, production capacity, and infrastructure in the green technology field," commented a September article on Global Voices, an online, community-based media outlet.
Against the backdrop of Europe's energy crisis, China's EV industry has actively engaged in supporting the region's transition to electrified mobility.
For instance, the battery-swapping model of the NIO provides an efficient alternative to traditional charging, significantly enhancing user convenience through its "chargeable, swappable, and upgradable" system. Supported by a global network of over 2,400 battery-swapping stations, users can ensure their vehicles are fully charged in less than four minutes, the Global Times learned from NIO.
The European Union (EU) has set an ambitious target to phase out combustion engines by 2035 as part of its Green Deal. And this target, if it places a responsibility on vehicle customers, can be embodied as greener and more convenient modes of travel with fewer carbon emissions. Or in other words, options for high-quality NEVs.
Many vehicle customers in Europe have made their choices. For example, one customer, Yolanda Jonas, spoke highly of Chinese NEVs, saying they are well-balanced between technology, quality, and performance.
"Although German cars have a higher level of powertrain performance, I would still choose Chinese NEVs from a configuration perspective," she told the Global Times. "This is because, in the same market segment, Chinese cars offer a much more competitive price-to-performance ratio compared to others."
'Simply great'
Through improvement of service networks, collaboration with local partners, and plans to establish Europe-based factories, Chinese NEV companies are stepping further ahead in facilitating the region's green transition by offering affordable, cutting-edge EVs to consumers there, regardless of the incessant chatter from some trade protectionists.
Chinese EV brands are taking a comprehensive approach to their expansion in Europe.
NIO, for instance, established its first global design center in Munich in 2015. In April, the company inaugurated a Smart Driving Technology Center in Berlin, followed by the opening of its largest European NIO House in Amsterdam in June, alongside a new experience center in Oslo.
The company plans to open more experience centers while steadily rolling out additional battery-swapping stations and charging infrastructure across Europe. Chinese EV manufacturers are also poised to contribute to local economic growth and generate new job opportunities across Europe in the near future.
In partnership with multinational automotive company Stellantis, Leapmotor had opened 339 dealerships in Europe as of October, all of which offer sales and after-sales services.
"We plan to establish 500 sales points in Europe by the end of 2025," Leapmotor told the Global Times, adding that in 2025, it will speed up exploring European markets, and particularly "in restricted markets, Stellantis group assists us in achieving localized production."
China's annual production of NEVs surpassed the 10 million milestone for the first time in November, making China the first country in the world to do so, said the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The vigorous development of China's NEV industry is representing a positive contribution to the world's green transformation and climate security.
Earlier, one day in October, customer Norbert Neidhart entered a Chinese-branded EV store in Frankfurt, and was soon attracted by the design and technology of the Chinese EVs. He praised the vehicles on display as very modern and even "perfect."
"They are amazing. I would recommend them to my friends," he told the Global Times in German. "Made in China, simply great!"
In response to an inquiry on that German authorities are launching an espionage probe into a Chinese national who allegedly took pictures at a German naval base, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that he is not aware of the case and the Chinese government consistently urges Chinese citizens abroad to abide by local laws and regulations.
The Chinese government protects the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese citizens and enterprises in accordance with the law. We hope the German side will base its actions on facts, stop manipulating and slandering under the guise of the so-called spy case, and effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in Germany, said Lin.
China has decided to impose countermeasures against two Canadian organizations as well as 20 personnel from these organizations in accordance with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, according to a statement published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. The decision took effect on December 21, 2024.
"China's countermeasures have a very clear delineation of responsibility, aimed at non-governmental organizations that ignore facts, and Canada should not keep playing an inglorious role in spreading misinformation targeting China," Wang Jiang, a deputy director of the Institute of China's Borderland Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, told the Global Times on Sunday.
The countermeasures include freezing all movable and immovable property and other types of assets of the two Canadian organizations "Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project" and "Canada Tibet Committee" within China's territory and prohibiting organizations and individuals within China's territory from engaging in any transactions or cooperation with them.
Additionally, movable and immovable property and other types of assets of certain individuals from the two Canadian organizations will be frozen within China's territory. Organizations and individuals within China are prohibited from engaging in transactions, cooperation, or other activities with them personally. In addition, they will not be issued visas and will be denied entry into China, including the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions.
Wang pointed out that in recent years, the West has continued to spread misinformation targeting China's Xinjiang. Canada has played an inglorious role in this process, constantly hyping and slandering human rights situation in Xinjiang and Xizang to attack and smear China. Such misinformation campaign forms the broader context of the current events.
Current Canadian government policies and its stance toward China differ significantly from those of the past, adopting a more aggressive and confrontational approach, especially on issues related to Xinjiang and Xizang, Wang said.
"Canada's actions are an attempt to use human rights issues in Xinjiang and Xizang to enhance its international presence and strengthen its influence in global diplomacy and ideological discourse," he said.
Some Western countries have begun to adopt a more pragmatic attitude toward China in their engagements, as they started to realize playing the "human rights card" brings no significant benefits to their national interests. In contrast, Canada has gone in the opposite direction, becoming increasingly conspicuous, Wang added.
A total of 20 individuals are involved in the measures. Among them, personnel related to the "Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project" include Executive Director Mehmet Tohti, Policy and Advocacy Director Jasmine Kainth, legal advisors David Matas, Sarah Teich, John Packer, Clive Ansley, Yonah Diamond, Justine Bernatchez and Linden Dales, and Policy Advisors Charles Burton, Margarett Mccuaig Johnston, Marcus Kolga and Scott Simon, as well as research advisors Conor Healy and Geoffrey Aharon, making a total of 15 people.
Personnel related to the "Canada Tibet Committee" include Chair Samphe Lhalungpa, Vice Chair Luisa Durante, Executive Director Sherap Therchin, Board Member Eliza von Baeyer, and Community Engagement Manager Youngdoung Tenzin, making a total of 5 people.
As part of the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, the 2024 "Family of the Maritime Silk Road" ASEAN online celebrity conference was held in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province, on Thursday. Internet celebrities from 10 ASEAN countries with a total of nearly 100 million followers participated in the conference. They shared personal stories and experiences in China through self-made videos, fostering friendly exchanges and solidarity between China and ASEAN.
From interviews with several internet celebrities from ASEAN, reporters from the Global Times explored their perspectives on China, their personal stories, and the benefits of China-ASEAN cooperation.
Seeing is believing
"I was a little worried before I came to China, as a foreigner, I was afraid that there would be much restriction or I would be excluded. But after I came here, I realized that China is indeed very inclusive," Han Bing, a Thai influencer who previously studied at Nanjing University, told the Global Times on Thursday. Han believes that China's inclusiveness demonstrates a mentality that only comes from a major country, which gives him the freedom to express himself and pursue his dreams in China.
A Singapore-based internet celebrity, Shantay, visited China for the first time in 2018, "Before that I had only heard that Shanghai was highly developed, but when I was physically arriving, I was stunned," Shantay said. "At that time, while most of the world remained cash-paying, Shanghai was already almost completely transformed into a cashless payment city, leaving me with the impression that China was more advanced than I had imagined." Shantay added.
Una is an internet celebrity from Indonesia with about 21 million followers, and the conference marked her first visit to China. Una told the Global Times that before she came to China, many of her followers asked her why she was visiting China and what she expected, "We never know if we never try," Una replied. Now Una can't wait to update her social media platforms and update her followers and those who don't understand why she visited China about how wonderful and picturesque Haikou is.
China in Their Eyes
When the Global Times asked Shantay to describe China in one word, she chose "powerful." "Power comes from growth and innovation, and China has improved tremendously over the last 10 year. It really taking the world by stun," said Shantay.
Echoing Shantay, Una also described China as a "powerful" country, which everyone would like to pay attention to. "China holds unique and magical characteristics, and in Indonesia, if someone says they are in China, we will know that he or she is going to be successful in China soon," Una told GT.
"The whole world is speaking Chinese" is a lyric from the famous Chinese girl group "SHE," which Shantay used to describe China. Shantay said in Singapore nowadays children are learning English and Chinese, and she feels that Chinese is increasingly popular worldwide because the influence of Chinese culture is growing. "The next line of the lyrics is 'the words spoken by Chinese people will make the world listen carefully,' and I am confident that it will be achieved in the future as well," Shantay said.
The Best of Both Sides
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted in July's ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting that China and ASEAN, who are friendly neighbors and close partners, have seen the building of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future being steady and fruitful, benefiting 2 billion people on the two sides while greatly promoting common development, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Han said that for him, the greatest benefit of China-ASEAN cooperation is the visa-free policy between China and Thailand. The visa waiver has made it easier for people to travel between the two countries, said Han, which has also boosted personal exchanges between both countries.
Vietnam, another socialist neighbor, shares cultural and social affinities with China. Last year, the two countries announced the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, ushering in a new stage in their ties, according to Xinhua.
For her part, Bella, an internet celebrity from Vietnam, said she has benefited considerably from the cooperation between China and Vietnam in the field of education. "Studying in China will bring a lot of opportunities; it is the cooperation between countries that makes educational exchanges possible."
"For a travel-orientated online celebrity, I have enjoyed the most from the cooperation between China and Russia including visa convenience and increases in flights, allowing me to travel to and from China very smoothly," a Russian influencer, Cody Miller, told the Global Times.
Shi Zhongjun, secretary-general of the ASEAN-China Centre, said on Thursday that internet celebrities can become ambassadors of goodwill to present the real story of win-win cooperation between ASEAN and China to the international community, while gathering positive energy for regional development, to convey to the world the confidence of ASEAN and China in cooperation and development in a truthful, accurate and comprehensive manner.
Talking about how to promote people-to-people exchanges with her role as an internet celebrity, Shantay expressed her interest in trying on traditional Chinese dresses, like cheongsams and Tang suits, noting these would help her fans better appreciate classical Chinese culture around the world. Bella said that the exchanges between people are a vital approach to enhance relations between citizens. She will post more videos of her travels in China on social media in the future, showing more people the beauty and delicacies of China and the hospitality of the Chinese people. Miller, meanwhile, said he would introduce more of what China is doing to protect the environment in his videos, bringing more people to know about China's vision and its contributions.
The way of interaction among major powers has always existed; the question is under what background and international context this interaction takes place, and what values we need to promote in order to meet the demand of each nation's strategic development, a Chinese scholar said at Global Times Annual Conference 2025, themed "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World," held in Beijing on Saturday.
There are three characteristics of major power relations this year: first, domestic political factors have fermented to create new uncertainties in the foreign policies of major powers; second, divergences and controversies over core strategic issues are deepening; third, the US' interest-centered approach and protectionism may exacerbate to challenge the global economic and trade situation, said Zhu Feng, dean of school of international studies at Nanjing University.
Zhu said that as the world's second-largest economy, China's understanding of the global order and its rules is evolving, especially regarding its relations with the world. The essence of major power interactions lies in understanding changes in relationship between us and the world, and identifying China's key international interests during this transformation. A rising China influencing and reshaping the world is not an overnight process; it requires long-term and sustained efforts.