"I truly benefited greatly from this training session for new employees. Not only have my skills improved, but I also had a chance to develop other personal qualities. This experience has filled me with anticipation for my future work life," said Pei Yanan, a new hire of the State Grid Qingdao Power Supply Company, on September 9, 2024.
During this new employee training, the State Grid Qingdao Power Supply Company developed a training program for its new hires in 2024. Through a two-way selection process, career mentors were assigned and individualized development plans were created, helping the new employees transition from "workplace novices" to "business pillars." This initiative also reflects State Grid Qingdao Power Supply Company's broader efforts in youth talent development.
To address issues such as an un-optimized talent structure and a lack of vitality among the work force, the company has established a "Talent Reservoir" focused on identifying and nurturing young talent.
They emphasize the selection of top performers and have built a "reservoir" for young leaders and core staff members coming from all levels and stages. Focusing on team development, they reserve and cultivate talent, invigorate the cadre team, and improve support and tracking measures for young employees. Employees under 40 years old maintain individual growth records through a "One Person, One File" system called the "Young Employee Growth Archive," creating an efficient "young leader supply chain" to promote orderly mobility within the cadre team and ensure a steady flow of fresh talent.
Additionally, they have established a mechanism to identify the capabilities and qualifications of young leaders relative to job requirements, incorporating methods such as tool-based identification and impression assessment to proactively and accurately recognize talent.
Inclusiveness builds an ocean. State Grid Qingdao Power Supply Company follows the principles of cadre development, employing a systematic mindset. They focus on critical areas such as selecting, cultivating, and deploying young cadres, building a comprehensive training system and enhancing relevant management mechanisms. This ensures that young cadres, who are politically sound, morally excellent, and academically qualified, enter an optimal career ladder at the best age to maximize their impact. The company actively cultivates 'compliance + business' composite talents, thereby accumulating 'youth strength' for constructing a world-class power grid company.
The EU remained China's second-largest trading partner in the first eight months of the year, with bilateral trade posting growth of 1.1 percent during the period, slightly up from a reading of 0.4 percent in the January-July period, data from Chinese customs showed on Tuesday.
The data reflected the continued improvement of trade, after January-July data reversed a downward trend, underscoring the resilience and complementarity of the two economies, despite some recent protectionist measures implemented by the EU such as the bloc's hefty provisional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs).
Total bilateral trade reached 3.72 trillion yuan ($522.61 billion) in yuan-denominated terms between January and August, up 1.1 percent on a yearly basis, according to the General Administration of Customs.
The data confirmed the improvement from the first half, during which bilateral trade declined by 0.7 percent year-on-year.
China's exports to the EU increased by 2.9 percent year-on-year to 2.44 trillion yuan while imports from the bloc decreased by 2.1 percent on a yearly basis to 1.28 trillion yuan, the GAC data showed. Trade with the EU accounted for 13 percent of China's total trade, unchanged from the January-July period.
The trade data came as the EU has increasingly resorted to protectionist measures in face of fierce external competition. The latest improving data showed that the economies of China and the EU are highly complementary, and that China's mega-market and the EU's single market can offer huge opportunities for each other's economic development, analysts noted.
Instead of resorting to protectionism, the EU should remain open and confident to create a fair competition environment to allow trade to flourish, they said.
In August, trade reached 500.51 billion yuan,down from July's 503.3 billion yuan.
In the month, the bloc unveiled a draft decision to impose final countervailing duties of up to 36.3 percent on Chinese EVs.
Overall, China's foreign trade grew 6 percent during the first eight months. Auto exports value grew by 22.2 percent on a yearly basis to 540.84 billion yuan while imports of autos slid by 6.6 percent to 193.61 billion yuan.
At the invitation of Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to Mongolia on September 2-3, with meetings between two sides would be devoted to key issues of bilateral relations and promising areas of cooperation.
Analysts said Putin's visit is a continuation of Russia's "Pivot to the East" policy, and is aimed at enhancing economic cooperation, with neighboring countries, against the background of continued pressure from the West amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to the Kremlin official, Putin will arrive in Ulaanbaatar on the evening of September 2. He will meet with Mongolia's President Khurelsukh, Chairman of the Great State Khural of Mongolia Dashzegviin Amarbayasgalan and Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene during his visit, according to TASS.
Yury Ushakov, the presidential international affairs aide, said that "Promising areas for interaction between our countries will be discussed, including cooperation in the sphere of industry, agriculture, energy and transport, including the railroad one. Naturally, international and regional problems will be highlighted."
Chen Yurong, an expert with the Beijing-based China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Monday that Putin's visit to Mongolia will see economic and political connections between the two countries strengthened, especially in the energy sector.
Due to its unique location between China and Russia, Mongolia places great importance on its relations with both countries, according to Chen.
Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times that Putin's visit to Mongolia also marked the continuation of Russia's "Pivot to the East" policy.
He said the policy has promoted the industrialization in Russia's Far East region and helped forge closer cooperation between Russia and Asia-Pacific countries.
Over two months after two American astronauts were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) for an eight-day mission but ended up being stranded there, NASA finally "settled the case" with its sophistry.
The truth is, the two astronauts are stuck in space due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft and will have to wait until next year for a ride home with SpaceX, turning an eight-day "space trip" into an eight-month "star trek." However, NASA has refrained from acknowledging its predicament. In a press release at the end of August, it redesigned the tasks for the astronauts and commended the NASA and Boeing teams, as if everything were under control, downplaying the fact that there are still two astronauts trapped on the ISS.
The incident has not only exposed shortcomings within Boeing in its technology and management, but also reflects the limitations of NASA in today's American space industry, shedding light on a broader decline in US aerospace capabilities.
Boeing's problems are evident. Once a dominant figure in global aerospace, Boeing has faced a series of setbacks in recent years, struggling with both commercial aviation and space endeavors.
The technical failure of the Starliner highlights problems in the company's manufacturing, management system, as well as its research and development (R&D). It relies heavily on government contracts which come with minimal market competition, hindering innovation and R&D investment.
Additionally, under the banner of "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)," positions have been filled by individuals lacking the necessary technical expertise, leading to a decline in technical capabilities.
As the leading agency in American space exploration, NASA also shares some of the responsibility. In recent years, NASA appears to be losing its efficiency and rigor in project management and oversight. In response to Boeing's repeated technical failures, NASA failed to implement timely remedial measures and instead exhibited a laissez-faire approach to critical projects, which only exacerbated the issues.
Moreover, there are criticisms regarding NASA's partner selection and resource allocation. Despite Boeing's long-standing history and experience in space, its innovation capacity and market responsiveness now clearly lag behind emerging competitors like SpaceX. Whether NASA should continue to rely heavily on problematic companies like Boeing is now being questioned.
These problems are not isolated to Boeing or NASA, but reflect a broader challenge for the American aerospace sector.
First, the innovation capacity of the US aerospace industry is facing serious problems. The US, which used to be a global leader in technological innovation, now shows signs of stagnation or even regression in key areas. Boeing's struggle has demonstrated a troubled scenario of the industry as a whole. Long-term market monopolies and dependence on government contracts have hindered technological innovation and reduced competitiveness against emerging challengers.
Second, the US also finds itself in trouble in terms of industrial manufacturing capabilities. Boeing's problems are not merely about mismanagement, but also about a declining manufacturing capacity. Manufacturing is fundamental to a country's technological innovation and economic strength. Without a robust manufacturing foundation, the US' global leadership in technology will be inevitably weakened. A decline in manufacturing capabilities will directly impact national security and international competitiveness, especially in the aerospace industry.
Digging down to the roots, problems can be found in US policymaking and management systems. As the leader of national space endeavors, NASA's decision-making failures and management laxity have directly affected American space projects. Meanwhile, the US government lacks clear policies on supporting emerging enterprises and addressing the recession of traditional companies, leaving the industry as a whole without a clear direction in global competition.
The failure of the Starliner is more than just a technical malfunction; it offers a glimpse into the challenges facing the US aerospace industry. Once a global leader in space technology, the US now faces unprecedented challenges and urgently needs to reboot innovation, enhance manufacturing, and optimize management systems.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Liberian President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
With this year's Mid-Autumn Festival drawing near, China's tourism market is gearing up for another surge in travel and consumption activity, building on the strong momentum from a bustling summer travel season, industry insiders and experts said.
They predict that this year's Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, from September 15 to 17, will see sustained high demand for short-distance travel. Combined with the upcoming National Day holidays, this is expected to inject continued vitality into consumption, contributing to economic growth in the latter half of the year.
Data from China's online travel services platform Fliggy showed a double-digit increase in bookings for hotels, domestic car rentals, and tickets for this popular traditional festival compared to 2019. The overall booking volume for the Mid-Autumn Festival holidays is significantly higher compared to the Dragon Boat Festival, despite both having a three-day duration.
Hotel reservations have surged by around 50 percent from 2019 levels, with high-end and boutique accommodation accounting for 60 percent of total bookings, according to a recent report published by Fliggy.
Several travel service platforms in China have reported that the Mid-Autumn Festival travel trend is dominated by short to mid-distance trips, with "micro-vacations" to nearby cities and provinces being especially popular. Routes within a two-hour drive or three-hour high-speed rail journey are particularly busy.
According to Tuniu, an online travel platform, nearly 40 percent of travelers are planning short trips to local or nearby areas during the festival, with around 30 percent opting to start their journeys 1-2 days before the festival.
Experts attribute the strong travel demand to favorable weather, off-peak prices, and the traditional cultural significance of family reunions during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
"Emerging travel trends, including cultural tours, urban leisure, and sports tourism, not only reflect an expansion in the Chinese consumption preferences but also promise to inject sustained vitality into the domestic economy," Jiang Yiyi, vice dean from the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism at Beijing Sport University, told the Global Times on Saturday.
Tuniu's report revealed that theme parks, resort getaways, and traditional cultural tours are among the most popular bookings for this year. Another online travel service provider Tongcheng reports a 77 percent increase in searches for ancient towns and gardens over the past week.
Moreover, the buzz surrounding China's home-developed blockbuster game Black Myth: Wukong has highlighted the rich cultural heritage of North China's Shanxi Province, where many of its filming locations are situated. As a result, Taiyuan, Datong, and Shuozhou in Shanxi have recently become popular destinations.
Data from the travel platform Mafengwo indicated that Mount Wutai in Shanxi, a notable filming location for the popular video game, topped the list of favored 'moon-viewing' destinations for this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, per media reports.
Yu Jia, a tourism enthusiast from Changzhi in southeastern Shanxi, told the Global Times on Saturday that she has planned a driving holiday with two of her friends to Taiyuan and Datong, inspired by the cultural sites shown during the game.
China's recent summer travel season broke records for passenger volumes and saw strong growth in bookings and spending. Jiang expects this momentum to carry into the coming month, potentially boosting sectors like transportation, hospitality, and cultural products.
China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said in a notice on Thursday that it determined that brandy from the EU has been dumped in the Chinese market, posing a threat to the domestic brandy industry.
It also found that there is a causal relationship between the dumping practice and the threat of substantial harm, the MOFCOM said in the notice on its official website.
Provisional anti-dumping measures will not be implemented in this case for now, according to the notice.
Chinese experts said the probe complies with Chinese law and WTO rules, while the initial decision takes into account the overall China-EU economic and trade relationship, creating a relatively favorable atmosphere for the ongoing consultations over the EU's tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), and the EU should cherish China's sincerity.
The decision not to impose provisional anti-dumping measures reflects a consideration of the overall economic and trade relationship with the EU. It is hoped that the EU will handle relevant trade friction in a compliant manner, Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance with Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday.
While no measures are being taken now, China reserves the right to take further action if necessary, Cui said.
From the beginning, China has adhered to WTO procedures in addressing trade disputes with the EU. The investigation was initiated at the request of the domestic industry and conducted in line with WTO practices. This stands in contrast to the unilateral trade protectionism measures taken by the EU against some Chinese industries, Cui noted.
China's anti-dumping investigation into brandy from the EU, prompted by a complaint from the domestic brandy industry, neither targets any specific EU member state nor carries predefined findings, said China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in April.
China will conduct the investigation openly and transparently in accordance with Chinese law and WTO rules, while fully safeguarding the rights of all stakeholders, added the minister.
The MOFCOM held an anti-dumping hearing on imported EU brandy on July 18, 2024 which covered industrial damage, cause and effect, and public interest in the anti-dumping probe of related brandy products. It aims to ensure that the investigation procedure is fair, just and transparent, the ministry said.
China started the anti-dumping investigation on January 5, following a request from the China Alcoholic Drinks Association on behalf of the domestic industry. The probe is expected to end before January 5, 2025, but may be extended for half a year under special circumstances, according to the MOFCOM.
Fortunate Punungwe, a 20-something African radiographer, starts her daily work on Wednesdays by reviewing the patient list and making sure all the X-ray equipment is set up and working properly. Her work is mainly about using portable devices alongside artificial intelligence (AI) technology to spot tuberculosis (TB) patients in Zimbabwe, where over 40 percent estimated TB cases reportedly go undiagnosed.
The African continent as a whole accounts for 23 percent of TB cases and 33 percent of deaths globally., according to an article published on WHO website.
At the beginning of the year, Zimbabwe in collaboration with Chinese tech company Infervision, applied AI in larger scale in local community TB detection. Punungwe joined the program and received training at that time.
According to her, the wide use of digital technology, especially AI, has been a "game-changer" for Zimbabwe, with far-reaching impact on the country's healthcare system.
"Before, the screening process was slower and relied a lot on the radiographer's experience. Now, with AI, we can analyze X-rays much faster and handle more cases each day without sacrificing quality. This also means patients can get diagnosed and start treatment much sooner, which is crucial in stopping the spread of TB," she told the Global Times on Wednesdays.
Punungwe now could screen about 80 to 150 patients on a busy day. And she believed that the cutting-edge technology imported from China has been "making a real difference" in the lives of local people.
Bilateral cooperation momentum in emerging industries like AI is just a recent example of Chinese companies' active participation in Africa's digital and technological transformation. From building digital infrastructure, launching mobile payment to setting up tech know-how training center, there has been no shortage of evidence underscoring how collaboration between China and Africa complements each other's advantage, leads to win-win result and illustrates South-South cooperation that defies zero-sum mind-set.
This year marks the 11th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), under which China-Africa cooperation flourished. The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be also held in Beijing from September 4 to 6. Industry insiders expected that the summit to build on previous achievements, while unfolding a new chapter of digital and tech cooperation between the two economies that will close Africa's digital divide and open new avenues to propel its modernization and industrialization push.
Cooperation in tech, digital fields
A spokesperson of Infervision told the Global Times on Wednesday that cooperation in emerging sectors like AI has allowed Chinese companies to fully leverage their advantages, taking account of China's expertise in AI good quality data and leading technology advancement. Also, there's capacity building and knowledge transfer throughout the process, which enable local professionals to improve their skills. The company also plans to further advance to more sub-Saharan African region where rates of TB remain high.
China is currently one of the major countries exporting AI technology and products to Africa. The booming AI cooperation also aligns with the development priorities of the African region, where a number of countries have rolled out AI strategies and stepped up investment in digital infrastructure.
Recent estimates suggest that AI could increase boost Africa's economy by $2.9 trillion by 2030 - the equivalent of increasing annual GDP by 3 percent.
"Collaboration between China and Africa in AI and digital technology has the potential to be revolutionary. Some of the African development problems in Africa can be addressed with the help of China's AI tech breakthroughs," Toumert AI, the General Secretary of the China Morocco Friendship Association, told the Global Times.
As the two economies further spearhead cooperation, he also highlighted the massive opportunities that AI technology could unleash for Africa's modernization efforts across several sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, and education.
Observers stressed that as the expansion of digital infrastructure lays the foundation for widespread application of AI, African nations can also benefit from China's experiences in developing and implementing digital infrastructure to further boost their technological capabilities.
In addition to infrastructure, cooperation between China and Africa in the digital sector has takes taken various forms in the past decades, ranging from information devices, mobile phones and internet applications, which have enhanced Africa's level of digital connectivity and brought technological convenience to its residents, a spokesperson of Chinese mobile phone manufacturer Transsion told the Global Times. Transsion accounts for over 40 percent of Africa's smartphone market.
Setting an example
Since 2000 when the FOCAC was formally founded,Since the founding of the Forum on FOCAC in 2000, Chinese companies have helped African countries build a communications backbone network of 150,000 kilometers and a network service covering nearly 700 million user terminals, according to the white paper entitled "China and Africa in the New Era: A Partnership of Equals." white paper.
Botswana's Digital Delta Data Center, undertaken by the Botswanan branch of China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Co (CJIC), is another case of Chinese companies' involvement in Africa's digital infrastructure construction. The two-storey date data center, located at the capital of Gaborone, is another milestone of BRI cooperation and has become the country's largest data center when delivered last year.
Li Qing, the manager of the Botswanan branch, told the Global Times that the data center is vital to ensuring Botswana's network data security.
"Network data exchange will no longer be conducted through data centers in other countries. Meanwhile, the internet speed is also expected to greatly improve, which in turn will significantly promote the development of network transaction, data mobile payment, contributing to digital economy growth in Botswana," Li noted.
Africa is a "blue ocean market" with a population exceeding 1.4 billion. It also has the world's youngest population, meaning that its digital economy has great potential and will expand steadily with the penetration of digital infrastructure, the Transsion spokesperson said.
"We look forward that the upcoming summit will deepen bilateral ties and usher a new chapter of cooperation between China and Africa, especially leading to substantial, deeper development in digital and technology fields," the spokesperson said, stressing that China will play an even greater role in Africa's future digital transformation.
While certain Western forces have been spreading false narratives around China-Africa cooperation and stigmata slandering on digital collaboration, observers stressed that China's engagement with Africa is based on mutual benefits and mutual respect, and is voluntary.
"China's approach, which addresses Africa's genuine needs at heart, is fundamentally different from certain Western countries' whose moves which are out of zero-sum and hegemonic mind-set," Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at the Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times.
The US government's decision to once again postpone the announcement of a final determination for additional tariffs on a wide range of Chinese products, including electric vehicles (EVs), fully reflected the growing opposition from US businesses and industries, Chinese experts said on Sunday.
As the US continues to intensify its crackdown against Chinese products, the costs for US businesses and consumers will continue to increase, which will in turn translate into growing criticism of the protectionist US actions. Washington should stop politicizing trade issues and focus on addressing disputes through ongoing talks, experts noted.
The US Trade Representative's Office (USTR) was scheduled to announce the final determination for the hefty tariffs last week, but on Friday it delayed the announcement again, Reuters reported on Friday.
A USTR spokesperson was quoted by Reuters as saying that it would make the final determination public "in the coming days."
This was the second time that the US delayed the announcement. At the end of July, the USTR also announced that the implementation of the tariffs, which had been scheduled for August 1, would be delayed for at least two weeks.
The postponements came as the USTR faces growing criticism from US businesses and industries, which are worried about additional costs resulting from the tariffs. Some EV battery makers, including Ford Motor Co, urged the USTR to reduce the proposed 25 percent tariff on graphite used in battery anodes, according to Reuters.
"I think the postponements are due mainly to the opposition from the US domestic industries," Xin Qiang, an expert on US studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Sunday.
Xin said that many US businesses will still have to buy the products from Chinese producers even if the US government imposes additional tariffs, but "only at higher costs."
He said that the US government has previously ignored the opposition of US domestic industries in implementing additional tariffs on Chinese products. However, "the opposition toward the planned tariffs on a new batch of Chinese products has grown louder, which is having a greater impact on the US government's decision-making, because it faces the risks of economic losses if it continues to crack down on China."
Chinese officials have also repeatedly criticized the US crackdown against Chinese businesses and products, as the two sides continue to hold talks.
On August 27 and 28, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, held talks with visiting US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Chinese and US trade officials also plan to hold a meeting in North China's Tianjinon September 7, the Chinese Commerce Ministry announced on Thursday.
Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times on Sunday that the ongoing talks are conducive for the two sides to exchange views on issues of mutual concern and at least try to find ways to address policies that affect bilateral and even global trade.
Xin noted that Chinese officials repeatedly raised serious concerns over the additional US tariffs during recent talks.
"If the US government hopes to stabilize China-US ties, imposing additional tariffs will only cause further damage," Xin said.
As Japan seeks another record defense budget of 8.5 trillion yen ($59 billion) for fiscal 2025, Chinese experts said on Saturday that the continuous increase reflects the militarism resurgence of the country which has committed serious humanitarian crimes in the past, and that Japan's dangerous ambition warrants global vigilance and should be jointly stopped by the international community.
Japan's Defense Ministry requested a record budget of 8.5 trillion yen for fiscal 2025 on Friday, aiming to enhance remote island security by deploying unmanned vehicles "amid China's growing military assertiveness," Japanese media outlet Kyodo News reported.
The ministry also wants to use its budget to prompt acquisition of foreign missiles and expand the domestic production base for those capable of striking distant targets, according to the report.
Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, said at a press conference on Thursday that in recent years, Japan has continuously hollowed out the pacifist constitution, seeking to break free from the constitutional restraints, significantly increase its defense budget, intensify military connections with countries outside the region, and continued to run wildly on the dangerous path of expanding military preparations. This deserves high vigilance from neighboring countries and the international community, Wu said.
"We urge Japan to face up to and deeply reflect on its history of aggression, and gain the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community through concrete actions. We will never allow militarism to rise again," the spokesperson said.
Chen Hong, executive director at the Asia Pacific Studies Center of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Saturday that Japan's planned record defense budget is driven by its ambition to expand military presence, particularly to strengthen its influence in the Southeast Asia region.
Chen added that the continuous rise can also be attributed to the ongoing pressure from the US on its ally to bolster Japan's budget to support Washington's military deployment in the so-called Indo-Pacific region.
Lü Chao, dean of the Institute of American and East Asian Studies at Liaoning University and research fellow at the Charhar Institute, underscored that the hype of "China's growing military assertiveness" by Japan as an excuse to expand defense budget is completely groundless. "China has never made any so-called military threats against any country, including Japan, and the development of the Chinese military is entirely for self-defense," Lü said.
In contrast, Japan has continued to provoke China on the South China Sea issue, the Taiwan question, and the Diaoyu Dao issue, with the aim of creating tension and shifting the blame to China for increasing defense budget, Lü told the Global Times on Saturday.
According to the Japan Times, the country's budget request for fiscal 2025, a roughly 10 percent increase over last year's record 7.7 trillion yen, is the third of a five-year spending plan of around 43 trillion yen, as Japan aims to spend two percent of its gross domestic product on defense by 2027.
Experts emphasized that Japan's remarkably high defense budget, which far exceeds its actual defense needs, is raising concerns among neighboring countries and the international community. They warned that it's crucial to remain vigilant to prevent a resurgence of militarism in Japan.
Japan must learn from the lessons of history, take concrete actions to completely forgo militarism, and avoid losing credibility with neighboring Asian countries and the international community, Chen said.
The US is also urged to abandon unilateralism as well as double standards, given the fact that its promotion of the "Indo-Pacific strategy" is a contributing factor to the resurgence of Japanese militarism, Lü said.
