Editor's Note:

In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping for the first time raised the principles of "zhen shi qin cheng" for China's Africa policy in a speech at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Tanzania, meaning sincerity, real results, amity and good faith.

Many years have passed since that momentous day in the history of China-Africa ties, but the principles endure. They have not only underpinned China's engagement with Africa in numerous fruitful cooperation projects, but also helped people get closer and closer through exchanges and deepening friendships. 

From wild elephants to rare plants, China and Africa have been working together to maintain the world's biodiversity, contributing to the world with their solutions and experience. In this issue of the special coverage of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Global Times reporters Ji Yuqiao, Dong Feng and Xu Liuliu introduce more details of this cooperation and joint efforts.

The size of the African elephant is something that profoundly impressed Bu Guijun when he engaged in anti-poaching efforts in Zimbabwe.

"Did you know African elephants can walk without making any sound? Once while we were focused on testing our equipment, we suddenly felt something unusual behind us, and then turned around with terrified faces as the giant creature, around five meters tall, stood just two to three meters away from us," he recalled in the interview with the Global Times.

After taking part in the efforts, Bu also became more keenly aware of the survival dilemma the largest terrestrial mammal faces.

"Before 2017, there were at least 1,000 elephants killed by poaching just in Zimbabwe," Bu said. At that time, due to limited equipment and manpower, local park rangers had to spend a large amount of time patrolling around the 2,900-square-kilometer Mana Pools National Park, which had only a minimal deterrent effect on the crimes committed against the wild animals.

Since 2015, dozens of Chinese volunteers, organized by the Beijing-based non-profit organization Peaceland Foundation and furnished with advanced equipment such as delta wings and night-vision devices, lent a hand to the national park to protect these creatures from the threat of poachers. Bu was one of them.

Four years later, poaching in the national park was virtually eliminated.

Also in 2015, more than 20 abandoned African elephant calves were rescued and brought to China through the joint efforts of relevant authorities in China and Zimbabwe. They have been settled at the Qingyuan National Ex-situ Conservation Base of World Endangered Flora and Fauna in South China's Guangdong Province.

Chinese breeders built a home suitable for the elephants' growth according to expertise on the species' habitual nature. The first of the second generation of these special "immigrants" was born in 2022, and by August 2024, a total of 10 baby elephants have been born at the base. The family is thriving.

Be it on the vast African savanna or at the breeding grounds in South China, the population of African elephants has been regaining vitality through Chinese cooperation with African countries. This return mirrors the current situation of other species on the African continent.

An initiative to strengthen China-Africa cooperation for green and sustainable development was launched in Beijing on August 27 before the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) with the aim of sharing the best practices in areas such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and environmental pollution management. Additionally, the initiative facilitates collaboration in standards and technologies.

Before that, a series of efforts aimed at environmental and biodiversity issues had been launched. For instance, the China-Africa Environmental Cooperation Center, a platform for broad environmental policy dialogue, information exchange, capacity building and cooperation on green development, was officially established at the 7th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit held in 2018.

Experts pointed out that China and Africa are enhancing collaboration in the burgeoning area of biodiversity preservation.

"This partnership can be seen as a model for how countries can work together to address global environmental challenges. By sharing resources, knowledge, and expertise, China and Africa can enhance their capacity to protect endangered species and ecosystems," Edward Mungai, chief editor of Africa Sustainability Matters based in Kenya, told the Global Times.
Population rebound

All 10 elephant calves have survived and are in a healthy state since the first was born in 2022, the Chinese breeding base told the Global Times in a statement, emphasizing that "All baby elephants are raised by their mothers. As these are orphaned elephants, which did not receive any instruction on survival and nurturing from the elephant herd, them being able to raise their own young can be seen as a miracle."

Now, even the two youngest elephants are gaining one to 1.2 kilograms in weight per day.

To maintain the herd's health and capability to reproduce, Chinese breeders spent lots of time searching for a suitable environment for the elephants to live in. They also hired people to plant 300 acres of elephant grass and other varieties of trees in the mountains as food for the herd.

"In the beginning, we already had experience taking care of Asian elephants, which helped us take care of these young African elephants. At present, the African elephants have their own healthy menu for their diet, and breeders have established a firm rapport with the herd by caring about their mental state at the same time," the statement said.

As the African elephant herds' needs change across different stages of their lives, the base is mulling whether it will be best to send these elephants back to their homeland that would be more suitable for them.

"This progress highlights the potential of ex-situ conservation, where species are maintained and bred outside their natural habitats. The successful breeding of 10 baby elephants is evidence of the effective management and care provided at the center. It demonstrates how human intervention, when properly executed, can contribute positively to the survival and propagation of species at risk of extinction," Mungai commented.

The success at the breeding base highlights the potential for further collaboration in other areas of biodiversity conservation, such as the protection of other endangered species, habitat restoration, and the development of sustainable wildlife management practices, Mungai explained.

Data from international organizations also indicate that some progress has been made in efforts to preserve biodiversity in Africa.

With joint efforts, mountain gorillas are also making a comeback. The species based in Virunga Massif, an area of about 450 square kilometers straddling the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda, saw an increase in numbers, which jumped from 620 individuals in 1998 to 1,063 today.

The African rhino population has also been growing. Ahead of World Rhino Day in September 2023, African authorities estimated that there were 23,290 rhinos across the continent at the end of 2022, 5.2 percent more than in 2021.

Experts emphasized that there is plenty of room for China-Africa cooperation on biodiversity conservation to further increase the population of these endangered species.

Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy, Beijing Foreign Studies University, highlighted China's active role in its commitment to the international convention on biodiversity. China was among the first to sign the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), considered to be the key document for supporting global sustainable development.
Chasing hope

In recent years, the Chinese government has reinforced wildlife protection laws, launched major biodiversity conservation projects, banned the trade of ivory, and taken a strong stance against the illegal trade of wildlife products like elephant and rhino parts. China has also been proactive in international wildlife protection cooperation, signing agreements with African nations such as South Africa and Kenya.

Furthermore, China has supplied container monitoring systems and wildlife protection gear to countries like Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, while also assisting in training efforts. This support has significantly boosted these African countries' law enforcement capabilities and efforts to protect their wildlife.

All of these endeavors aim to create a safer and more suitable environment for wildlife so as to maintain their population.

Without the threat of poachers, the African elephants living at the Mana Pools National Park have been flourishing.

What contributed to this result is the sea-land-air three-dimensional protection model jointly established by local patrolmen and Chinese volunteers like Bu.

Bu told the Global Times that the volunteers recognize the idea that rather than giving someone a fish, it is better to teach them to fish, so they sent various tools for patrolling, including gliders, delta wings and speed boats designed for shallow water territory to the park, aiming to enlarge patrolling areas and enhance efficiency.

Chinese volunteers worked hand in glove with local rangers almost every day and took part in patrols with these rangers. During this process, they tried to teach rangers to use various advanced equipment such as night-vision devices and thermal cameras.

"At the beginning, local people queried whether we sincerely wanted to help them fight poachers, but time has proven our commitment. After taking helicopters, boats and vehicles together on patrols and sharing our food with each other, we became friends," Bu said.

Even today, Chinese volunteers back home remain in touch with the African rangers. "They still look forward to us visiting the park," Bu said.

Even though volunteers have left the national park, the foundation still delivers supplies such as hay to support the conservation efforts.

There have been some institutions concentrating on talent cultivation and scientific research, including the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center approved by Chinese Academy of Sciences. Based at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology of Kenya, the center has built long-term cooperative relationships with over 20 universities and scientific research institutions in more than 10 countries in Africa. Meanwhile, it has provided scholarships to more than 140 students from Africa to pursue master's or PhD degrees while over 160 scientists and senior technicians from 13 African countries have also been trained since the inception of the center.

"China has been regulating Chinese enterprises in their investment and operations in Africa. Take protecting local biodiversity for instance. While building the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway [SGR], Chinese organizations attached great importance to ensuring the migration of animals was not affected," Song added.

Sharing her outlook on China, a responsible major country, Song said that the Chinese government will continue to regulate Chinese organizations to protect biodiversity and promote green development.

She also foresees that China will continue its commitment under the framework of the UN and its support for the CBD as well as provide necessary development funds for the international convention.

"China will work with developing countries to improve their capabilities in biodiversity protection, raise awareness among the people and offer financial and technical support," said Song.

The 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum kicks off on Thursday. The number and level of participants has exceeded all previous years, with over 500 official representatives from more than 100 countries and international organizations, as well as over 200 experts and scholars from both China and abroad. The forum comes at a time when China and the US are enhancing military exchanges, with foreign media outlets reporting that the US will send higher-ranking officials compared to last year. Despite the severe challenges currently facing global peace and prosperity, building trust and resolving doubts through dialogue and communication remain the overarching focus of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum.

The theme of this year's forum is "Promoting Peace for a Shared Future," with four plenary sessions that include topics such as "Security cooperation and Asia-Pacific Prosperity and Stability." There will also be eight simultaneous special sessions covering issues such as "ASEAN and Security Architecture of Asia-Pacific" and "Maintaining Northeast Asian Security." 

In addition to addressing current pressing global security challenges, the forum will also practice the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security. This reflects a pursuit of the "greatest common denominator" for global security concerns and aims to provide a Chinese solution for global security governance.

In the past, internationally influential security forums were predominantly dominated by Western countries, leaving the voices and concerns of developing and smaller countries easily overshadowed and ignored. 

In contrast, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum has always emphasized providing a platform for these nations to engage in equal dialogue and express their collective voices. Two main topics at this year's forum were "Multipolarity and the Evolving International Order" and "'Global South' and World Peaceful Development," offering more opportunities for the "Global South" to be heard. This aligns with the contemporary demand for replacing unilateralism with multilateralism and transcending zero-sum games through win-win cooperation.

This year's forum has further increased the participation of representatives from developed countries and emerging powers, with European and American scholars comprising about one-third of the foreign participants. This truly reflects China's advocacy for a more just and equitable international order, dedicated to creating more opportunities to strengthen South-South cooperation, promote North-South collaboration, and advance progress for all of humanity, demonstrating valuable inclusiveness. From guiding principles to topic selection, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum's approach to global security concerns is proactive and constructive, contributing positive energy to global security.

Currently, there is a general consensus in international community that "humanity once again stands at the crossroads of history." However, differing views exist regarding some specific issues surrounding this fundamental judgment. For instance, when it comes to maintaining global and regional security, should we employ collective deterrence or resort to dialogue and consultation? Should we prioritize "one country" or "a camp," or focus on the reasonable security concerns of all countries? These questions reflect varying perspectives on security. Countries generally share a common need to avoid confrontation through dialogue, but this dialogue must be equal, allowing nations of all sizes, wealth, and strength the opportunity to participate and express their concerns. This is also an important goal that the Beijing Xiangshan Forum is dedicated to achieving.

How military interactions between China and the US will unfold at this forum is also one of the most closely watched topics by the international community. This year, the two militaries have held multiple meetings. On September 10, Wu Yanan, Commander of the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army, held a video call with Samuel Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command. This marked the first video call between the theater commanders of the two countries and signified the restoration of all four military exchange and cooperation mechanisms agreed upon during the meeting between the two heads of state in San Francisco last November. 

Finding the correct way for China and the US to get along with each other through dialogue is not only a matter of considering the fundamental interests of both countries and welfare of their peoples, but also a response to the world's expectations.

Safety is the prerequisite for development, and humanity is an inseparable community of security. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. China has always been a steadfast advocate for peace and development, and a major contributor to regional and global prosperity. Therefore, we look forward to exploring a new path to security with countries around the world, one that features dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance, and win-win results over zero-sum game, under the guidance of the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. This is a challenge that all of humanity should respond to together, and it is also a key reason why the Beijing Xiangshan Forum has gained increasing influence and is becoming an important international public security platform.

"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.