The Chinese Embassy in Chile on Thursday firmly opposed the recent actions and statements by the US over a China-Chile astronomical cooperation project, condemning them as "outright Neo-Monroe Doctrine behavior."
During a recent US Senate hearing, ambassador nominee Brandon Judd disregarded Chile's sovereignty and its right to choose its partners, claiming that he would seek to "restrict China's access to Chile's resources." At the same event, US Senator Jeanne Shaheen criticized China-Chile astronomical cooperation.
Additionally, former US ambassador to Chile Bernadette Meehan pressured the Chilean government to cancel the China-Chile astronomical cooperationTransient Objects Monitoring（TOM）project before leaving office.
In its statement, the Chinese Embassy detailed the TOM project, short for Transient Objects Monitoring, which focuses on time-domain astronomy and aims to observe phenomena such as supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, gravitational wave counterparts and solar system objects using survey telescopes.
This project is of great significance, aiming to uncover fundamental questions such as the origin and evolution of stars, the nature of black holes, the state of neutron stars and the origin of superheavy elements in the universe, the embassy said.
Many survey instruments like TOM are around the world, the embassy said in a statement. In Chile, there is the large synoptic survey telescope (LSST) at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which was installed in January this year with investment from the US government, as well as the next generation transit survey at the Paranal Observatory, a collaboration between Chile and European countries.
Additionally, there are important projects such as the Pan-STARRS in the US, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, the Catalina Sky Survey, and China's Mozi Wide Field Survey Telescope, all of which are key roles in cosmic exploration, it said.
The US side deliberately ignores that its LSST telescope at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory is completely consistent with the scientific nature of the TOM project and covers all the scientific research objectives, the embassy said.
By spreading disinformation about TOM and obstructing normal China-Chile scientific cooperation, it is engaging in outright Neo-Monroe Doctrine behavior.
The TOM project is a collaborative initiative between the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Catholic University of the North, based on mutual interests and conducted under the principles of equality, mutual benefit, openness, and transparency, the embassy introduced.
In line with Chilean laws and regulations, the project will be jointly built. Once completed, both parties will not only conduct joint observations but will also publicly solicit observation applications from international astronomical institutions, share observation time and engage in collaborative research.
Additionally, the project will support science outreach and astronomy education in Chile and Latin America by organizing scientific seminars and conducting educational activities for young people, according to embassy.
Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his state visit to Cambodia on Friday, with both nations agreeing on jointly building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.
On Thursday, Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, respectively.
The two sides exchanged more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents covering such fields as production and supply chain cooperation, artificial intelligence, development assistance, customs inspection and quarantine, as well as health and media.
ALL-WEATHER COMMUNITY WITH SHARED FUTURE
"We must work together to promote the steady and sustained progress in building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi wrote in his signed article published on Thursday in Cambodian media outlets.
During their talks, Xi and the Cambodian prime minister agreed to build an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.
Xi called on both sides to build on the momentum, strengthen unity and cooperation, and speed up the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.
During his meeting with the Cambodian King, Xi expressed confidence in writing a splendid chapter of building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.
China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi.
For his part, King Sihamoni said that with the joint efforts of both sides, cooperation in various fields has become increasingly close and the building of a community with a shared future has been continuously deepened.
While meeting with the Cambodian People's Party president and Senate president, Xi said that building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future is a choice of history and the people.
He said that the two sides should keep in mind the well-being of their people and the progress of humanity, strive to set an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind in the course of advancing their respective modernization endeavors, and join hands to become forces for peace, stability and progress in a world undergoing profound transformations unseen in a century.
UNBREAKABLE IRONCLAD FRIENDSHIP
Friendship is a term frequently emphasized by Xi during his trip to the country.
In the signed article, Xi said this visit "feels like going to the home of a good friend."
He fondly recalled the historic legacy of the good-neighborly relations between the two nations and the friendly exchange that spans two millennia of their shared history.
"The great Chinese and Khmer civilizations have flourished together, inspiring each other through centuries," he wrote.
Xi also highlighted the two countries' mutual commitment to friendship and righteousness, emphasizing that the friendship was forged by Cambodia's King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, among the elder generations of Chinese leaders.
In 2020, Xi presented Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk with the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China. This medal, Xi said, embodies "the profound friendship of the Chinese people toward the people of Cambodia."
When meeting with the Queen Mother on Thursday at the Royal Palace, Xi said she is a witness and promoter of the China-Cambodia friendship and has special friendly feelings towards the Chinese people, while Cambodia's King Father Norodom Sihanouk was a banner of this friendship.
Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward this ironclad friendship, endow the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with new connotations of the time, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said when meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni on Thursday.
King Norodom Sihamoni presented Xi with the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar.
Xi said that this medal fully demonstrates Cambodia's high regard for developing China-Cambodia relations and carries the deep friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Chinese people.
This honor, he said, belongs not only to him personally, but also to all the friendly people who have cultivated and contributed to the friendship between China and Cambodia.
Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin has said in a written interview with Xinhua that as history and reality have both proven, China and Cambodia are good neighbors, good brothers, good friends and good partners who share weal and woe and stand together through thick and thin.
The friendship between the two countries is not a transactional relationship, nor a stopgap measure, still less a bloc confrontation. It is rooted in the practical needs of the respective national development and rejuvenation, serves the common interests of both nations and peoples, and aligns with the historical trend of solidarity, self-strengthening and shared development among Global South countries, Wang said.
STRIVE TOGETHER, THRIVE TOGETHER
In his signed article, Xi said that as important members of the big Asian family, China and Cambodia must ride the tide of history and heed the two peoples' aspirations, and must strive together and thrive together.
Noting that this is his second visit to Cambodia in nine years, Xi expressed hope that the visit will spearhead progress in building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future.
For many years, China has been Cambodia's largest trading partner and top source of investment, and industrial and supply chain cooperation between the two countries has continued to deepen. The entry into force of both the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement has further strengthened the foundation for bilateral trade and investment.
Thanks to such free trade agreements, premium agricultural products from Cambodia, including banana, mango and longan, are finding their way into Chinese households.
"China is a trustworthy partner for Cambodia," said the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's Secretary of State and Spokesperson Penn Sovicheat. "Looking forward, our two-way trade volume will continue to rise, undoubtedly."
During talks with Hun Manet, Xi urged the two sides to expand mutually beneficial cooperation of higher quality and voiced China's readiness to share opportunities and seek common development with Cambodia.
He called on both sides to vigorously promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and continuously enrich the "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation framework, so as to inject new impetus into their respective modernization efforts.
China encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia, Xi said, adding that it will open its mega-market to Cambodia and import more high-quality agricultural products from the country.
In his meeting with Hun Sen, the Chinese president said the two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia's Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors.
In view of the headwinds on the international landscape, Xi said unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people, adding that history has shown the unstoppable trend toward a multipolar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity.
In response to media inquiries regarding US Vice President JD Vance's comments in a media interview about the Trump administration's trade policy toward China — in which he claimed, "We borrow money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that we have made very clear China's position on China-US economic and trade relations has been consistently clear. Lin noted that it was both surprising and saddening to hear the Vice President made such ignorant and disrespectful remarks.
The Ministry of National Defense will hold the 3rd International Security Cooperation Seminar for Foreign Military Attachés to China at the International College of Defense Studies of the National Defense University from April 10 to 11. Foreign defense attachés and the representatives of some international organizations will attend. During the event, civilian and military experts will be invited to deliver themed presentations, discussions and exchanges will be conducted on topics including strengthening international military cooperation and addressing regional security challenges, and a visit to model new rural communities will be organized. The seminar is to help foreign military attachés better understand China and the Chinese military and further enhance friendship and mutual trust.
As the Qingming Festival, a day of remembrance and paying tribute, fell on Friday, people across China honored the revolutionary martyrs who sacrificed their lives for national independence.
Various commemorative events ranged from post-95 volunteers recounting stories at martyrs’ cemeteries, to using digital technology to recreate sites during the wars, from millions netizens offering virtual flowers in livestream platforms, to schools organizing teenagers to follow in the footsteps of the fallen heroes. As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-fascist War, Chinese people commemorated the martyrs and honored the heroes to learn their spirit and turn it to strength to keep forging forward, CCTV reported.
People nationwide visited cemeteries, memorial halls, and museums to express remembrance and respect for the martyrs.
A Qingming-themed memorial event to honor fallen heroes, organized by the Longhua Martyrs’ Cemetery and hosted by the Shanghai Youth Activity Center, was held simultaneously at 76 martyr memorial sites across Shanghai on Friday morning, Shanghai-based media the Paper reported. At Longhua Martyrs’ Cemetery, the flag was raised at 9 am, the national anthem was sung, and flower baskets were presented. Nearly 200 people bowed, cleaned tombstones, and laid flowers solemnly. Descendants of Red Army soldiers shared heroic stories, while youth recited tribute poems.
The Chinese Embassy in Serbia held a memorial ceremony at the site of the former Chinese Embassy in Belgrade, which was bombed during NATO’s 1999 aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The event honored martyrs Shao Yunhuan, Xu Xinghu, and Zhu Ying—three journalists who lost their lives in the attack.
Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming, along with embassy staff, Chinese journalists in Serbia, representatives of Chinese-funded enterprises, and members of the overseas Chinese community, laid flowers, bowed in silence, and paid their highest respects to the fallen.
Some China Coast Guard (CCG) law enforcement officers also held memorial activities aboard ships, according to Wechat account of CCG on Friday. They stood on the deck of the ship, observing a moment of silence toward the sea in honor of the fallen heroes, and gently scattered white chrysanthemums into the ocean.
At around 5 am on Thursday, more than 1,600 teachers and students from No.2 Middle School of Guyuan and Hongwen middle schools in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region began their memorial walk to honor the 391 fallen heroes buried at the Renshanhe Martyrs’ Cemetery in Pengyang County, Xinhua reported. The 54-kilometer round trip has seen over 30,000 participants in the past 30 years.
According to Ningxia Daily, more than 600,000 people, including officials, local residents, and primary and secondary school students, have taken part in online and offline memorial activities to commemorate martyrs. These included site visits, storytelling sessions, digital memorial platforms, and efforts to identify relatives of fallen heroes.
In addition to traditional memorials, AI has been deployed to restore the appearance and voice of fallen heroes. In South China’s Guangzhou, the Yinhe Martyrs' Cemetery has completed a digital upgrade of its martyrs' memorial hall, which is now open to the public, Yangcheng Evening News reported. Using new technologies such as AI digital simulation and VR interaction, the memorial hall has created a space for a timeless dialogue of revolutionary spirit, allowing the fallen heroes to "tell" their revolutionary stories through digital representations.
Liu Jingwu, Deputy Director of the Yinhe Martyrs' Cemetery, told media that 2025 marked 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-fascist War. Holding memorial events revisits heroic deeds, pays tribute, and helps pass on their spirit. “We must inherit and promote the heroes’ spirit to gather strength for building a strong nation and revitalizing the Chinese nation,” Liu said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Wednesday urged certain people in the Philippines to refrain from making provocations and playing with fire on the Taiwan question, stressing that resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese people that no one can interfere.
The remark came after Philippine Armed Forces chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Tuesday told troops at the Northern Luzon Command to "prepare for any eventuality" such as the "invasion" of Taiwan. He also claimed that "if something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved," according to Philippine Daily Inquirer on Wednesday.
According to The Philippine Star, Brawner claimed that part of his soldiers' job would be "to rescue" a quarter million Filipinos working in Taiwan, without detailing how the military would execute that mission. "As members of the armed forces of the Philippines, we should have that mentality that we are already at war," Brawner claimed.
Guo said on Wednesday's routine press briefing that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair and is at the core of China's core interest. Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese ourselves that no one can interfere.
We urge certain people in the Philippines to refrain from making provocations and playing with fire on the Taiwan question. Those who play with fire will perish by it. We also oppose relevant personnel calling white black and making groundless accusations, said Guo.
Chinese experts also slammed the Philippine military chief's hypes on the PLA's drills around Taiwan island. They said such remarks reflect Manila's self-serving motives to draw greater attention in the South China Sea and seek more backing from Washington.
The PLA Eastern Theater Command on Tuesday started joint exercises around Taiwan island. The drills serve as a stern warning and forceful deterrent against "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and are a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China's sovereignty and national unity, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the theater command, said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Philippines is using the so-called "emergency" in the Taiwan Straits to stoke regional tensions and create a pretext for interfering in China's internal affairs, Ge Hongliang, vice dean of the ASEAN College at Guangxi Minzu University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
While the Philippine military chief claimed he was not being "alarmist," such remarks are, in essence, alarmist and politically motivated, aimed at portraying the Taiwan question as a regional flashpoint to justify any external interventions, Ge said.
He added that the Philippines has shown a tendency to portray China's legitimate actions in the Taiwan Straits - particularly the latest military exercises - as a so-called "regional threat," in an attempt to manipulate international opinion, hype up alleged "regional security risks."
Ge said the military chief's remarks reflect Manila's self-serving considerations - by hyping up the "China threat" narrative, the country aims to advance its own agenda in the South China Sea.
Analysts also noted that the Philippines is using this narrative to draw greater attention and support from the US. Despite recent visits by the US defense secretary, Manila remains unsatisfied with Washington's stance and aims to seek more military support and security assurances.
Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday that Brawner's remarks are little more than political stunt intended to attract public attention.
By hyping up the so-called "protection" of Filipino citizens in Taiwan island, Manila is seeking to appeal to certain voter groups and rally public support, said Xu.
Regardless of how the Philippines seeks to manipulate the narrative, such actions are both futile and irresponsible. They ignore regional peace and stability and risk further complicating the situation, the expert said.
In a miraculous survival tale reminiscent of the novel Life of Pi, a 10-year-old boy from a village in Lingshui county, South China's Hainan Province survived a perilous 24-hour drift at sea. The boy, who went out to sea to catch squid, fell asleep and drifted a whole day and night before being rescued by a fishing boat in Sanya.
A video of the boy drifting alone at sea in a small boat went viral online over the weekend. According to China National Radio (CNR) on Sunday, the video's uploader said they were fishing when they spotted a small green boat in the distance and heard someone calling for help. They approached and found a child, then worked together to rescue him.
"We received the rescue request from our fishing guests at around 5 pm on Saturday," said Luo Wen, captain of a local rescue team in Sanya. "They had rented our boat for fishing and rescued the boy near a coastal area. After bringing him on board, they contacted us and soon brought him back to shore, handing him over to the local police."
Luo noted that the boy's skin has been severely sunburned from prolonged sunlight exposure, but he was in stable condition after receiving milk and bread given by the fishermen.
"He was very scared at the time, crying and saying that he had gone out to fish squid but couldn't find his way home," Luo told the CNR.
The boy said he is 10 years old, and this wasn't his first time fishing alone at sea, according to Luo.
At around 9 pm on Friday, , the boy went squid fishing near a village in Lingshui and fell asleep on the boat from sheer exhaustion and drifted away.
Lost at sea, he saw distant lights, but the strong waves and relentless winds had drained him of strength, leaving him too weak to paddle, Luo said.
According to the report, the land distance between the boy's departure point and the location where he was rescued surpassed 30 kilometers.
Luo said that on Friday night, the sea near Haitang Bay is windy and rough, with winds of around Force 6 and waves up to 1.5 meters high on Friday. "Even adult fishermen would hardly survive in such conditions, let alone a child. He was very lucky."
After recuring the boy, Luo and the local police managed to connect his family. An hour later, the parents of the boy arrived at the local police station and took him home.
Liang Qiuming, the Party secretary of the village, told the CNR that they organized rescue teams to comb the village and coastal areas on Friday night to search the lost boy. They also issued a missing person notice.
Liang said that the boy is safe at home. Staff from the township government have visited his home to provide safety education and will arrange psychological counseling if needed, according to the report.
Some US senators have introduced a bipartisan legislation, attempting to change the name of "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office" to "the Taiwan Representative Office." They claimed the move is to "underscore the US' commitment" to the island's democracy and enhances clarity in their relationship, US media reported on Wednesday.
Experts said the legislation essentially aims to create "one China, one Taiwan," and support "Taiwan independence." They pointed out some US senators are exploiting China hawks and pro-Taiwan island factions in the new US administration to further their own political goals.
Senators John Curtis and Jeff Merkley introduced the Taiwan Representative Office Act to rename "Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office", National Review reported on Wednesday.
In a press release issued by senator Curtis, the legislation does not alter the US position on Taiwan's international status, it stressed.
Similar legislations were introduced twice, in 2023 and 2024, in both the US House of Representatives and the Senate, but did not gain enough traction to pass in either chamber. But the senators said there is "high hopes" for it this time around, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio co-authored the 2023 iteration of the bill, media report said.
In September 2021, China lodged solemn representation with the US over media reports that said the US is "seriously considering changing the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO)'s name to the 'Taiwan Representative Office,'" the Chinese Foreign Ministry slammed the move of causing serious deterioration of the China-US relationship and peace in the Taiwan Straits.
Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Thursday that internationally, the island of Taiwan is usually referred to as "Chinese Taipei" or as an economic entity, while the direct use of "Taiwan" is rare. Therefore, the latest legislation essentially aims to create "one China, one Taiwan," supporting "Taiwan independence," Wu said.
As for the timing of the legislation, the expert said with China hawks and pro-Taiwan forces in the new US government, the senators may be seeking to leverage these forces to advance their own political agenda, driven by personal interests.
However, the current US administration's priority is handling domestic affairs, particularly economic issues, while properly managing relations with China, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.
In contrast, US Congress has consistently taken a high-profile stance on Taiwan question, actively working to enhance the island's international presence, Li said, adding that some of the congressmen may have received substantial financial support from Taiwan.
It has been reported by Taiwan island-based media CNA that senator John Curtis previously served as a missionary in Taiwan, has a clear pro-Taiwan stance, and is fluent in the local language.
Nevertheless, Wu warned that this development should not be underestimated. "If the new US administration's China policy does not meet expectations, it may play the Taiwan card, potentially crossing established red lines, especially under the influence of pro-Taiwan figures," he said.
During a Cabinet meeting in February, US President Donald Trump declined to make a commitment to the Taiwan island when asked by a reporter whether "the US would allow China to take control of Taiwan by force," Instead, US President responded by expressing desire for Chinese investment in the US, Reuters reported.
Taiwan is never a country, not in the past, and never in the future. The only reference to the Taiwan region in the UN is "Taiwan, Province of China," said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the press conference on March 7, 2025, during this year's two sessions.
Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 has surpassed the global box-office earnings of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, breaking into the top 5 at the global box office on Saturday with a total box office of 15.2 billion yuan ($2.07 billion).
"This is not only a milestone in breaking Hollywood's dominance, but also advances China's cultural soft power. The film's universal theme of individual determination of one's fate transcends cultural barriers, blending Chinese mythology with a coming-of-age story that resonates with audiences worldwide," Zhang Peng, a film researcher and associate professor at Nanjing Normal University, told the Global Times.
According to Xinhua News Agency, Ne Zha 2 is set to be released in 37 countries and regions across Europe. The UK and Ireland just hosted preview screenings on Friday followed by a wider release in over 200 cinemas across France, Germany, Spain, Italy and other countries on March 21.
Trinity CineAsia, the company handling the European distribution of the film, has long been dedicated to bringing Asian films to Western audiences. In recent years, it has distributed Chinese-language films such as Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, Hong Kong's official submission for the Oscars.
The film has achieved remarkable success at the global box office. On February 17, it amassed a cumulative total of 12.052 billion yuan, surpassing The Lion King and securing its position as the first Asian film to enter the global box office top 10. Alongside this milestone, its overseas earnings reached 76.86 million yuan, establishing a new record for Chinese-language film screenings in nearly two decades.
By March 9, the film's global cumulative box office had soared to 14.88 billion yuan, overtaking Avengers: Infinity War and climbing to sixth place on the all-time global box office chart, further cementing its historic achievement.
Notably, US media outlet Deadline described the performance of Ne Zha 2 as "a rare example of a non-US film" citing one of its senior analysts, adding that this "rare" hurricane is still ongoing.
The US critics have largely celebrated Ne Zha 2 for its quality as a sequel after it was aired on February 14. For instance, New York-based film critic Simon Abrams' review highlights it as a "rare sequel that amplifies both its action and drama without sacrificing much of what already worked in the last movie."
"Rarely do you get a film that truly defines an era, shows again the unique power of cinema to move audiences, and makes an indelible mark on culture. This is 'Ne Zha 2,'" said Cedric Behrel, managing director of Trinity CineAsia, as reported by Euronews. "It signifies a major turning point in further establishing Trinity CineAsia as a pan-European distributor."
"By seamlessly integrating elements of intangible cultural heritage and philosophical metaphors, Ne Zha has transformed Chinese mythology into a vehicle for global cultural dialogue. This success lays the foundation for the future development of a 'mythological universe,' supporting China's film industry in transitioning from a single box-office-driven model to an ecosystem-based economy," Zhang said.
French media have also been closely following Ne Zha 2 and eagerly anticipate its release in France. The French film website Écranlarge noted that this record-breaking Chinese animated film is finally coming to French cinemas, and "Beyond showcasing the growing strength of a local film industry that is increasingly turning away from Hollywood blockbusters, this record-breaking film also reinforces the ambition of Chinese cinema: to establish itself as a tool of soft power on the international stage."
Additionally, Ne Zha 2 already hit theaters in countries such as Malaysia and Thailand on March 13, followed by a release in Japanese version in Japan on April 4.
China on Sunday made public a plan on special initiatives to boost consumption. This comes as the world's second-largest economy moves to make domestic demand the main engine and anchor of economic growth.
The plan, issued by the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, aims to vigorously boost consumption, stimulate domestic demand across the board, and increase spending power by increasing earnings and reducing financial burdens, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
It also aims to generate effective demand through high-quality supply, improve the consumption environment to strengthen consumer willingness to spend, and address prominent constraints on consumption.
The move came after China's policymakers have delivered clear and decisive signals to encourage consumer spending, addressing doubts about the country's transition to a consumption-driven economy.
China will "place a stronger economic policy focus on improving living standards and boosting consumer spending," according to this year's Government Work Report at the just closed two sessions.
Promoting consumption is not a new concept in China's policy toolbox. Consumer spending plays an increasingly important role in China's economy. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that in 2024, final consumption contributed 44.5 percent to China's economic growth, surpassing investment and exports, and driving GDP growth by 2.2 percentage points.
The latest approach to boosting consumption is very comprehensive, underscoring the government's determination with pragmatic efforts to strengthen the economy, where consumption plays a key role, Hu Qimu, deputy secretary-general of the digital-real economies integration Forum 50, told the Global Times on Sunday.
The ramped-up measures to boost consumption are particularly crucial this year, as China's economy faces challenges amid the rise of trade protectionism and global headwinds, as well as the shift from traditional growth drivers like real estate to new, more sustainable sources of growth, Hu added.
"Stimulating consumption to expand domestic demand can effectively counter external uncertainties, stabilize short-term growth, and contribute to long-term structural transformation," Hu said.
Increasing residents' income
Among the 30-points plan, it has put increasing income of urban and rural residents as the first part, which highlighted promoting reasonable growth of wage income, with the measures to implement employment support plans for key areas, key industries, urban and rural grassroots, and small and medium-sized enterprises.
In light of changes in the situation, it will increase employment support, especially for key groups.
It also highlighted expanding channels for property income, saying that it will implement multiple measures to stabilize the stock market, and strengthen strategic reserves and enhance market stabilization mechanisms. Introducing a wider range of bond-related investment products tailored for individual investors is also highlighted there.
Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday that wage income and property income need to progress together. "The preservation and appreciation of assets are the foundation of consumer confidence, directly influencing residents' willingness and ability to spend," he said.
Wang also said consumption and income create a positive cycle. "Increased consumption boosts economic vitality, which in turn generates more jobs and income, further stimulating consumption. In this process, government policies play a crucial role in 'activating the overall situation,'" Wang added.
The measures also include increasing support for trade-in scheme, which was launched a year ago and has played a vital role in revitalizing the consumer market.
It said it should make good use of ultra-long special treasury bonds, support local governments to expand the scope of the trade-in program policy for consumer goods, promote the green and intelligent upgrade of large durable consumer goods such as automobiles, home appliances, and home decoration.
To support this pivotal transition, the Government Work Report unveiled stronger supportive measures, including issuing ultra-long special treasury bonds of 300 billion yuan ($41.45 billion) to support the consumer goods trade-in program, doubling the scale from last year.
In 2024, the program brought in sales of more than 1.3 trillion yuan, including more than 6.8 million cars, 56 million home appliances and 1.38 million electric bicycles. This year, more items have been added to the list of subsidized products.
"The trade-in scheme goes beyond being just an economic policy," Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao stated at a press conference during the third session of the 14th National People's Congress on March 6, emphasizing that it has spurred new growth drivers and enhanced the quality of life for millions of households.
Chinese policymakers also linked consumption to lifestyle improvements rather than just spending volume. The measures also include expanding cultural, sports and tourism consumption, promoting ice and snow consumption and boosting inbound consumption.
The market size of the ice and snow economy in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province reached 266.17 billion yuan in 2024, of which the output of ice and snow tourism was 182.33 billion yuan, said the provincial bureau of statistics.
During the 2024-2025 winter season, Heilongjiang received 135 million domestic and overseas tourists, up 18.5 percent compared with last year's winter season. Tourist spending also increased by 30.7 percent, Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.
