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A recent report on the 2022 US National Defense Strategy (NDS) was released by the US Commission on National Defense Strategy. The report highlighted that the NDS is "out of date," the US military is not correctly structured and the nation's industrial base is "grossly inadequate," and claimed that these shortcomings make it impossible to simultaneously confront the dual "threat of Russia and China." The report proposed an "all elements of national power" approach and called for strengthening the US military's readiness to operate across multiple theaters of war.

Information from the RAND Corporation shows that the US Commission on National Defense Strategy was created under the US 2022 fiscal year National Defense Authorization Act, with the chair being a former senior member of the House Intelligence Committee, and receiving analytic and administrative support from the RAND Corporation. Therefore, while this report is not an official US government document, it still holds significant reference value due to its bipartisan representation. Specifically, this report, along with some other actions and statements by US officials in the past two years, reveals several throughlines in US policy. 

Firstly, there is the possibility that the US military strategy is shifting away from an expectation of peace to an expectation of war. After the end of the Cold War, the US had long-term plans for dealing with two simultaneous regional conflicts, rather than the expectation of war with major powers. Based on these considerations, the US built a highly advanced and mobile military force, emphasizing global deployment and intervention capabilities rather than long-term combat capabilities. However, with the trend toward a prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict, the US is changing and adjusting its previous military strategy, leaning toward preparing for "great power wars." 

Secondly, the US is further adjusting its attitude toward China and Russia. At the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the US strategic community tended to differentiate between China and Russia to avoid pushing them together at a strategic level. However, since the end of 2023, there has been a trend in the US strategic community to treat China and Russia as an almost singular threat. This year, both former and current US Indo-Pacific commanders have made similar remarks. On one hand, this indicates that the US is trying to shape its image as still strong by showing that it is not afraid of "fighting on two fronts;" on the other hand, it also suggests that Washington intends to promote internal unity in the West by forcibly linking China and Russia and exaggerating related "threats." 

Thirdly, there is an attempt to use war expectations to drive the revival of the American manufacturing industry. In this report, the US Commission on National Defense Strategy pays particular attention to the recovery and development of the defense industry. Objectively speaking, in peacetime, defense manufacturing typically operates at relatively low levels, which naturally cannot be compared to the "full throttle" state required to meet wartime demands. Therefore, the US Commission on National Defense Strategy's claim that the American defense industry is not sufficient to meet the "demands of great power conflict" is a deliberate act of pretending to be ignorant. 

Fourth, the report aims to promote domestic national unity. With this report as the latest example, some politicians in the US have been emphasizing the importance of bipartisan and cross-class mobilization, even using the so-called expectation of a "great power war" to promote consensus and unity in American society. Amid growing social division and political polarization in the US, they believe they have discovered a "shortcut" to unite the country quickly. However, in reality, they may be placing themselves in a risky situation and could ultimately face a serious backlash.

Fifth, it indicates that Washington may be reassessing the military threat from Russia. This report suggests that the current US defense strategy "understates the threat from Russia" and recommends increasing US military deployments in Europe. Against the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, these findings reveal that some in the US may be attempting to elevate Russia's priority in the US national security strategy, emphasizing the threat from Russia as a means to unite domestic and foreign policy consensus.

In short, this report suggests increasing military expectations and preparations for potential conflict with China and Russia. It proposes that the US will need to make major changes and investments, possibly even "wartime mobilization." It is unclear how these recommendations will be incorporated into official US policy, but the bipartisan nature of the report and similar statements from domestic politicians in recent years serve as a reminder to remain vigilant. We must be cautious of the potential for war implied in these US statements and prepare public opinion and strategic plans accordingly. Additionally, we must maintain our composure, be wary of falling into the trap set by the extreme anti-China faction in the US, and prevent their extreme rhetoric from becoming a reality.

As the world's most important bilateral relationship, the China-US relationship will not easily fall into the new Cold War or even hot war that some individual American politicians are trying to provoke. The complexity of the relationship between the two countries and the constantly changing international environment have led to a variety of voices in this relationship. China must always remain vigilant about the dangerous trends exposed by some extreme voices, such as the further shift toward expectations of a "great power war" advocated by some in Washington. At the same time, we must grasp the overall situation, not be led astray by extreme rhetoric, and continue to shape the China-US relationship in a positive direction.

Throughout world history, many conflicts or wars have often been sparked by misjudgments or miscalculations. Many in the US continue to clamor for a tougher stance against China and attempt to create a certain strategic consensus on this issue, but in reality, voices within the US on how to handle relations with China remain diverse and malleable. We must continue to strive for those rational and progressive forces, while remaining vigilant and critical of extreme and radical rhetoric.

As the hashtag "Radiant post-2000s have started to take responsibility" gains traction on Chinese social media, young Chinese athletes are making youthful waves in Paris. On the global stage of the Olympics, these athletes embody the spirit of the games with their exceptional performances, breaking records and achieving miracles through their determination and perseverance. They pay tribute to the Olympic motto of "Faster, Higher, Stronger, Together" with their best competitive state, setting records and making miracles with a spirit of daring to fight, never giving up, and striving for national glory. Not only are they showcasing their competitive prowess, they are also promoting unity and friendship with athletes from around the world. Whether it's through their sharp or lively responses to media inquiries or their heartwarming interactions with competitors of various countries, these young athletes are presenting China's confident and open image with a "radiant" image.

The outstanding performances of a big team of athletes born in the 1990s and 2000s are undoubtedly making the Chinese delegation a prominent presence at the Paris Olympics this year. The average age of the 405 Team China athletes in this Olympics is just 25, with 11-year-old skateboarder Zheng Haohao as the youngest athlete at this Olympics. These young athletes, called "Brother kid" or "Sister kid" by netizens, have lived up to the expectations, from the first gold medalist Huang Yuting, to the record-breaking Pan Zhanle. The young Chinese athletes have shown their strength at this Olympics, with 10 of the first 13 gold medals won by the "post-2000s." In addition to leaving a mark in terms of results, they are also infusing the competition with their unique style and characteristics.

China's young athletes are more confident, leaving a strong impression on some foreign media staff who have been paying attention to China for a long time. These young athletes are undoubtedly powerful shapers of this impression. Domestic audiences also praise the "post-2000" athletes for being "unyielding and resilient," and are moved and inspired by their sporting spirit and inspirational stories. Some joke that watching them compete requires a strong heart, as they often fall behind by large margins before turning the tables with their fighting spirit. Zheng Qinwen staged a comeback against world number one Iga Swiatek and Fan Zhendong's semi-final victory after a tough start are just two examples. These breath-taking moments showcase the competitive spirit, mental toughness, and strong will of these athletes.

In the arena of competitive sports, aspiring for gold and chasing victory is natural and expected, but from these young athletes, we also see many valuable qualities that transcend gold medals and result. These young Chinese athletes increasingly manage to combine the courage to fight hard with the enjoyment of the competition and the process. "Winning glory for the country" is the phrase these young athletes say most often before and after competitions, and the waving of national flags in the stands has become a source of spiritual strength for these athletes during their arduous battles. Of course, this Olympics has seen some of our athletes being put under considerable pressure due to inaccurate foreign media reports and political manipulation by a few countries. Even so, our young athletes have demonstrated with nearly perfect performances what it means to let their strength and adherence to rules speak for themselves, embodying the spirit of fair competition in sports.

On the Olympic stage, we have also seen young athletes' multidimensional understanding and practice of the Olympic spirit and competitive sports. Although Zhang Yufei didn't win a gold medal, she proved that Chinese athletes are not flashes in the pan. Yang Siqi, 15, the first Chinese athlete to compete in Olympic surfing, expressed her desire to "show the vitality and confidence of Chinese youth on the broader ocean." The Chinese women's rugby team exclaimed, "We made it to the top six!" All this demonstrated the charm of the Olympics that goes beyond winning and losing. Some young athletes see the Olympics as a stage for promoting their niche sports, while others see it as a platform for exploring the world. These attempts are continually deepening the connection between China and the Olympics, and between the Olympic spirit and ordinary people.

From the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics to the 2024 Paris Olympics, from the "post-1950s" to the "post-2000s" generation, Chinese athletes have consistently built upon and passed down their legacies at the Olympics. Time and again, their resilient performances have proven that "the younger generation truly has immense potential." These young athletes carry on the fine traditions of Chinese sports on the Olympic stage, while also showcasing a new image of confidence, vitality, and openness in contemporary Chinese sports. They are confident yet ambitious, patriotic yet global-minded, eager for success yet accepting of failure. In fact, these confident and open young Chinese athletes are a natural reflection of the confident and open Chinese sports community and the entire country, as well as a manifestation of the deep integration of China and the Olympic spirit.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command released videos in commemoration of the 97th founding anniversary of the PLA. In one video, segments of four countermeasure missions against "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces were included. 

Drawing on classic historical battle examples in China, the video "Battlefield at maritime frontier," adapted from the Peking Opera song "Dingjun Mountain," conveys the message of soldiers being ready to fight at all times and able to engage in battle at any moment.

The video that lasts two minutes and 16 seconds has garnered numerous likes online since its release late Wednesday. The video features classic images of the PLA Eastern Theater Command's combat preparedness patrols and major military operations in recent years.

Among them are segments of the PLA Eastern Theater Command's four countermeasure missions against "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces.

The video showcased the crushing strength of the Eastern Theater Command against the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and their military equipment, demonstrating the capability of destroying their "support pillars," striking their "main base," and cutting off their "supply lines."

It conveys the message that each provocation from "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces is met with a step forward of PLA's counteraction.

The ending, presented through fast-paced visuals with a wealth of information, reviews the glorious journey of the PLA from its inception and its course of fighting in the flames of war, and its image in the new era. 

It concludes with references to the five famous mountains in Chinese mainland, scenes of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan island, and the Great Wall, expressing that the PLA Eastern Theater Command will not forget its original intentions, continue its traditions, remain loyal to its mission, and serve as the iron Great Wall in safeguarding national unity and territorial integrity.

"I cannot tell your name, but in times of hardship, I know that I'm safe; amidst crowds, I feel a sense of security," read the opening lines of another heartwarming video released by the Eastern Theater Command.

This video resonated with the public, highlighting the role of the PLA in safeguarding peace and stability. The narrative continues, "In this war-torn world, you have made peace and beauty a part of my daily life... Though your name remains unknown to me, I know you are the PLA."

Chinese scientists from the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) reported on Thursday their discovery of a gamma-ray line with an energy of up to 37 million electron-volts from an extremely bright gamma-ray burst. This represents the highest energy spectral line feature ever emitted by celestial objects in the universe, according to information from the IHEP shared with the Global Times.

The scientists also found that the gamma-ray line evolves according to a power-law function over time, providing crucial clues to unraveling the mystery of the line.

Their paper was published as a cover story in Science China Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy on Thursday.

"These findings provide new and important clues for unraveling the mysteries of gamma-ray bursts and relativistic jets, marking a milestone in the study of gamma-ray bursts," corresponding author of the paper Xiong Shaolin told the Global Times.

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most energetic explosion phenomena in the universe, which can be produced by either the core collapse of a massive star or the collision of two compact stars, such as neutron stars and black holes.

The abovementioned discoveries of the Chinese scientists were made on the so-called brightest of all time GRB, named GRB 221009A, which belongs to the former category and arrived on Earth on October 9, 2022, and was observed by many telescopes all over the world, according to the IHEP.

Researchers from the IHEP of CAS, the Yunnan observatories of CAS, Hebei Normal University, and Guizhou Normal University have formed a collaboration team and executed a comprehensive analysis of the observation data from two space gamma-ray monitors named GECAM-C and Fermi/GBM. The CAS-funded GECAM-C provided an accurate measurement of the low energy band spectrum of this GRB, while the Fermi/GBM covered the high energy band where the gamma-ray line showed up.
In particular, this burst is so bright (too many gamma-ray photons in a short period of time) that the Fermi/GBM detector suffered data loss during the bright part of the burst, making reliable data analysis very difficult. GECAM-C did not experience such a problem thanks to its dedicated design of the instrument; thus, the GECAM-C data was used to correct the Fermi/GBM data, the IHEP noted.

After the very challenging analyses of the data issues, instrumental effects, and background modeling, the research group managed to derive the reliable spectra of the GRB and further identify a series of gamma-ray lines throughout the burst, including the surprising gamma-ray line with energy up to 37 million electron-volts detected during the bright part of the burst. Interestingly, they found the line energy varies as a power-law function of time, while the ratio of the line width to line energy remains almost constant. Such features provide solid proof of the reality and the GRB origin of these gamma-ray lines. These discoveries shed a new and unique light on the physics of GRBs and their relativistic jets, according to the IHEP.

The US persists in a mistaken perception of China, often viewing China through the lens of its own hegemonic logic. China is not the US and does not aspire to become the US, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Laos on Saturday. 

"China does not seek hegemony or power politics and has the best record among major powers on peace and security issues," Wang said. He warned that the risks facing China-US relations are still accumulating, and challenges are on the rise. 

"The bilateral relationship is at a critical juncture where it needs to be stabilized and improved, requiring continuous adjustment of direction, risk management, proper handling of differences, elimination of interference and promotion of cooperation," he said.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Blinken in Vientiane at the latter's request. The two sides exchanged views on China-US relations and agreed to maintain communication at all levels and further implement the important consensus reached during the heads of state meeting in San Francisco.

During the meeting, he emphasized the importance for the US to understand the CPC and China's present and future as well as the CPC's aspiration to seek happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation while adhering to the path of peaceful development. 

Over the past three months, the two sides have maintained communication through diplomatic, financial, law enforcement, and climate change teams, as well as military channels, and people-to-people exchanges have also been increasing, Wang said. However, it must be pointed out that the US has not ceased its containment and suppression of China and has even intensified these actions in some cases. 

Wang said  that China's policy toward the US remains consistent, adhering to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. He urged the US to return to a rational and pragmatic policy toward China. "Both sides should work together to promote stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US relations," he said. 

Blinken said that the US is actively committed to stabilizing US-China relations and adheres to the one-China policy. The US looks forward to maintaining regular communication with China and continuing cooperation on issues such as drug control and artificial intelligence. The US is willing to manage differences, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments.

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Saturday that Wang's remarks "once again demonstrate to the US that China is responsibly managing China-US relations and hopes to develop them in a direction of cooperation and mutual benefit. The statements are highly responsible, forward-looking, and constructive."

Regarding the Taiwan question, Wang stated that Taiwan is part of China and will never be a country, neither in the past nor in the future. "Taiwan independence" and peace in the Taiwan Straits are incompatible. Every provocation by "Taiwan independence" forces will be met with countermeasures, he warned.

Wang elaborated on the rights and wrongs relating to the Ren'ai Jiao issue, pointing out that China has reached a temporary arrangement with the Philippines to manage the situation. The Philippines should keep its word and stop transporting construction materials, and the US should stop fanning the flames, disrupting, and undermining maritime stability, he said.

Li told the Global Times that the main risk in current China-US relations lies in the US' inability to tolerate China's rise in comprehensive strength and international influence. 

"This does not conform to the US' tradition of maintaining its own advantage and certainly not to its hegemonic mindset and tradition. Another critical issue is the US' strong tendency to blame China for its internal problems, viewed as 'curing internal issues with external measures,'" he said.

"Additionally, the US attributes its declining global influence to China. This is extremely dangerous and deserves condemnation. Therefore, in Wang's exchange with Blinken, he frankly pointed out these issues. This candor could help the US reflect and possibly make adjustments. If the US fails to reflect and continues the wrong path, it won't solve its problems, and maintaining international order and security will also be problematic," Li said.

Wang pointed out that China's position on the Ukraine issue is open and honest, adding that China will continue to promote peace talks. The US should stop the excessive use of unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. 

"China opposes smearing and framing, does not accept coercion or blackmail, and will take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its major interests and legitimate rights," Wang said.

Li noted that the US not only fails to reflect on, but also flaunts its power and insists on a zero-sum mindset of winning and losing in the war in the Ukraine issue. 

"The US should have the courage to take responsibility and not shift the blame for its responsibilities and failures in the Ukraine crisis onto China."

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), the country's top securities regulator, vowed on Monday to effectively maintain the smooth operation of the capital market, strengthen comprehensive research and response to market risks, and improve the targeted effectiveness of trading regulation.

The CSRC on Monday held a conference to study and implement the spirit of the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, deploying work to further comprehensively deepen reform of the capital market as well as the key work in the second half of the year.

The CSRC said it will ramp up greater efforts to serve the rebound of the real economy, deepen the registration-based IPO system and cultivate high-quality listed companies. It will also make efforts to prevent and resolve risks in key areas such as private equity funds, trading venues, bond defaults and industry organizations, in addition to enhancing the effectiveness of supervision and law enforcement.

The meeting noted that at present, China's capital market has reached the stage of accelerating the transformation to high-quality development. Further deepening overall reform is needed to remove the institutional barriers and resolve structural issues, as well as accelerating the construction of a safe, standardized, transparent, open, dynamic and resilient capital market.

The commission will establish a long-term mechanism to enhance the internal stability of the capital market, and better serve high-level sci-tech self-reliance and the development of new quality productive forces, including enhancing the ability to provide full-chain services to sci-tech innovation enterprises.

It also vows to effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of investors and deepen the self-revolution of the CSRC system.

According to a communique adopted by the third plenary session, the country will pursue coordinated reforms in the fiscal, tax, financial and other major sectors, and work to enhance the consistency of macro policy orientation.

In addition, it will improve the national strategic planning system and policy coordination mechanisms, deepen reform of the fiscal and taxation systems, further reform the financial system, and improve mechanisms for implementing the coordinated regional development strategy, read the communique.

Editor's Note:

With NATO's continuous expansion, it is evolving from a regional security alliance into a global organization. The alliance, which celebrated its 75th anniversary with a summit in Washington recently, has played a major role in exacerbating the Russia-Ukraine crisis. As the crisis has been in its third year, how to see the trajectory of the conflict? How likely is the possibility of a nuclear war in today's world? Global Times (GT) reporter Ma Ruiqian recently interviewed Scott Ritter (Ritter), a former US Marine Corps intelligence officer, over these pressing issues. 

GT: How do you see the trajectory of the Russia-Ukraine conflict this year? How much more support can the West provide to Ukraine?

Ritter: This is a very difficult war. It's a war that didn't need to be fought and shouldn't have been fought. Russia did not want to invade Ukraine. It's the last thing Russia wanted to do, but they were compelled to take this action because of the irresponsible behavior of the US and NATO, and the European Union. Russia's initial plan was based on putting pressure on Ukraine to accept a rapid peace settlement, but that peace was rejected by the West. 

Russia today is better prepared to not only continue this war but is also positioned to win this war more than Ukraine or NATO. Can this be turned around? Unlikely. The amount of investment that would have to be made into Ukraine exceeds the capabilities of NATO and the US. The reinvigoration of military industry is beyond the capacity of Europe at this point in time because of the economic consequences of this conflict and the sanction of Russia, and now that has backfired for Europe and the US.

So far, Russia has prevailed militarily. Now we come to the political endgame. This is where China has to pay attention, too, because how this war ends will likewise impact the West's posture toward Taiwan region. Ukraine is a tool. Taiwan is also a tool of the West. If this tool emerges still usable, still viable, that's a defeat for Russia. Then the West will say we can use Taiwan region as a tool against China. China is participating in discussions about peace, but the peace between Russia and Ukraine, in large part, will determine the future potential for conflict between China and the US over Taiwan region. How this war ends in Ukraine is very important for dictating the future of war or peace in the Pacific.

GT: NATO is reportedly in talks to deploy more nuclear weapons. How likely is the possibility of a nuclear war in today's world?

Ritter: We are closer to nuclear war today than we have been at any time. The US is not an honest partner. The US continues to view nuclear weapons as an expression of American supremacy, believing that we must be the supreme nuclear power. China has, historically speaking, had a very pragmatic and responsible approach to nuclear weapons. China has never used the nuclear bomb, but it has developed nuclear capabilities to provide a deterrent against the American nuclear system. However, the US has positioned itself to have the potential for a preemptive attack that could neutralize China's nuclear deterrent. This takes us away from deterrence theory and into war-fighting theory. This is a very dangerous place to be. When you look at the irresponsible expression of American nuclear policy, which now extends to NATO, it talks about putting a certain number of nuclear weapons on operational standby so they can be used quickly. When we talk about fighting a war with the assumption that nuclear weapons are going to be used, it means that if there is a war, there's a high probability nuclear weapons will become part of it. And that is a disaster for humanity. 

If I'm a Chinese diplomat, and perhaps the diplomat shares my opinion about the danger we face, what can be done? How do we begin to approach a nation that is very aggressive and incapable of negotiating in good faith? The US has to change. We have to change our approach to nuclear weapons and how we deal with the world. But we're an empire in decline. When an empire is in decline, it tends to fall back on its strongest position. Right now, the US is very strong in nuclear weapons, so we're falling back on the nuclear shield, which makes everything going forward even more dangerous. If the nuclear option becomes our only option, there is a real potential for nuclear war.

GT: Ahead of the NATO summit, China hosted the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which China is a major participant, was held in Kazakhstan. How do you compare China's and the US' contributions and concepts regarding world peace?

Ritter: When you compare the Chinese approach with the NATO approach, you see that China is doing a very good job, behaving very responsibly, and looking for alternatives to conflict. Why is the SCO succeeding? Why do so many people want to join BRICS? Because these are viable alternatives for the rest of the world. China is a very responsible global leader, sitting down with the world and trying to articulate a common position on the peaceful resolution of global problems. China wants good relations with the West.

NATO, on the other hand, only talks about war and confrontation. NATO is a tool of the US. And the US is seeking to use NATO to bolster its weakened position in the Pacific and to get NATO expanded into the Pacific. This is one of the things that was discussed at the NATO summit.

Also, it's the US that is being irresponsible in terms of responding to China's activities in the South China Sea. It's the US that is building military alliances to contain China militarily. China is economically defeating the US that the Chinese model of global development is more efficient than its American counterpart. Since we can't compete with China economically, we seek to move to where we feel we have the advantage, which is military confrontation. 

GT: From the Ukraine crisis to the Gaza crisis, how have the so-called universal values of the West been influenced?

Ritter: I think Gaza is exposing the ugliness of the US. The tragedy is that the US has lost all credibility when it comes to the very things that should define us, the universal human values. When you take a look at Gaza, it's such a contradiction of what we claim to stand for and what we do. It's so gross that it allows people to legitimately say that the US is a fraud. When that is exposed as a lie, our existence becomes meaningless. This would be a dark thing for the US and for the world. I'm afraid that Gaza is showing that the US dream of human rights and liberty is a fantasy and that the US has stopped working to make it a reality.

GT: Julian Assange gained "freedom" after pleading guilty last month. Reflecting on your experience of having your passport confiscated by the US State Department on your way to Russia, what are your thoughts on the so-called human rights and freedom in the US?

Ritter: It's a dark day for the US, when you find out that there is no free speech, that there is no freedom of association, that it's all a lie — that the government controls you instead of you controlling the government. Julian Assange was arrested for exercising free speech as part of a free press. He committed no crime. In doing so, the US sent the signal to every American: if you challenge us, we will break you, we will arrest you, we will destroy you. They've sent that message to me many times, and they tried to send it again by taking my passport. But I'm going to get my passport back, and I will continue to travel. I will continue to speak to defend the free speech, free press and freedom of association in the US.

There is full confidence that China will be able to achieve its full-year GDP growth target of around 5 percent in 2024, as the resolution on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization adopted at the just concluded third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee has injected fresh growth momentum to the economy, an expert said on Thursday.

China's economic growth rate is expected to reach around 5 percent in the second half of the year, and as a result, the economy is expected to achieve its pre-set annual target. This year, China's contribution to the world economy may still remain at a high level, casting itself as a key driver of the global economic recovery, Li Xuesong, director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Quantitative and Technological Economics, told the Global Times.

From now to 2035, the foundation supporting the high-quality development of China's economy remains solid, Li said at a seminar held in Beijing on Thursday, noting that China's economy is expected to maintain a significant growth potential over the period.

"The new technological revolution offers strategic opportunities for high-quality development. A robust industrial foundation provides continuous momentum. A vast market generates demand traction and the comprehensive guarantee of production factors offers solid support," he said.

Debunking some Western media outlets' smearing of China's economic prospects citing so-called disappearance of the demographic dividend, Li said the country's advantages in the quality and quantity of the labor force persist.

The working-age population remains sizable, contributing talent and labor to economic growth. In addition, continued improvements in the health and education level of labor force facilitate the rapid accumulation of demographic quality dividends. Third, new urbanization drives ongoing improvements in the distribution of labor in various regions, offering substantial potential for enhancing the efficiency of labor resource allocation, he said.

After China reported a steady 5 percent GDP growth for the first half of 2024, multiple international organizations and banks have maintained their forecast of 5 percent GDP growth for China this year, thanks to remarkable performances in areas such as exports, even as many major economies and the global economy as a whole face serious downward pressure.

Looking ahead, Li said China should foster the high-quality development by seeking major upgrades in three aspects. "We should leverage the advantages of the hyperscale market to drive demand expansion, enhance quality, and facilitate structural upgrading. In addition, we should accelerate the iterative process of supply and promote structural upgrading, while driving sustained efficiency enhancement and structural advancement," he said.

He called for efforts to boost the synergistic growth of traditional and emerging industries, and foster the development of new quality productive forces.

Li noted that the Chinese government has accorded paramount importance to the stable and healthy development of the real estate market, with a series of policy adjustments.

In addition to current policies, we can explore the establishment of specialized asset management agencies to take over and restructure certain real estate enterprises in the future, Li said.

China is a key driver of world economic growth. According to the IMF's research, every 1 percentage point increase in China's economic growth will lead to a 0.3 percentage point increase in the growth of other economies. As the world's second-largest economy, China has added important stability to the world economy, Li said.

Key investment projects are set to improve the quality of China-Russia trade and provide further impetus for bilateral trade to reach $300 billion by 2030, Chinese experts said on Tuesday, as cooperation meetings were held in Russia this week.

Russian and Chinese authorities agreed to update the list of significant projects during a meeting of the Sino-Russian intergovernmental commission on investment cooperation, Russian news agency TASS reported on Tuesday, citing First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Denis Manturov.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang is in Russia from Sunday to Tuesday, co-chairing the meeting as well as the 21st meeting of the China-Russia Energy Cooperation Committee and attending the sixth China-Russia Energy Business Forum.

"I consider our meeting to be rather timely and fruitful. Reaching agreements on updating the list of significant projects is very important. There are more than 60 initiatives with the total amount of declared investment exceeding $138 billion," Manturov said.

"We also saw trade rise so far this year, and it has the potential to rise to $300 billion by 2030, according to our estimates," Manturov said.

Ding said that the two sides have strengthened the top-level design of investment cooperation, steadily promoted cooperation on key projects, created new highlights in sub-national cooperation, and achieved new positive results, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The potential of investment cooperation should be tapped, and sub-national cooperation should be better carried out, Ding said, adding that the two sides should strengthen policy support and actively create a favorable investment environment.

Observers said that frequent and continuous high-level official exchanges and intensified cooperation among localities in recent weeks showed that concrete steps were being taken in line with the strategic guidance of the two heads of state. These meetings and exchanges will further boost bilateral trade and economic cooperation, especially investment.

Song Kui, president of the Contemporary China-Russia Regional Economy Research Institute, told the Global Times on Tuesday that trade between China and Russia is in a state of vital transition, as industrial cooperation featuring key projects will vastly improve the quality of bilateral trade and the trade structure.

"This is a major change. Key project cooperation will become a symbol of higher-level bilateral cooperation," Song said.

Bilateral trade grew fast in recent years, hitting a record of $240.11 billion last year, up 26.3 percent year-on-year, customs data showed. However, trade growth slowed in the first half of this year as the US tightened its unilateral sanctions on Russia. In the first six months, bilateral trade reached $116.87 billion, up 1.8 percent year-on-year.

Bilateral cooperation on key projects will greatly enhance the cross-border flow of productive factors, improve the quality of trade toward high-level development and become a new engine to drive trade higher, Song said, noting that more processed Russian goods with higher added value will be traded in addition to the current range of basic resources and materials.

Even as bilateral trade growth was affected by the intensified US financial crackdown during the first half, there's still a good chance of meaningful growth for the full year as more work is being done to improve the financial infrastructure to counter the impact of US sanctions, with possible breakthroughs in the second half, Song noted.

More than 90 percent of mutual payments in bilateral trade are now conducted in national currencies, TASS reported, citing Manturov.

China and Russia are actively advancing bilateral cooperation despite external disruptions, with the two sides zooming in on expanding trade and improving its quality, Zhang Hong, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

China has delivered the world's first 14,000 cubic meters liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering and transport vessel capable of river-sea navigation in Shanghai, breaking international technology barriers with a record of more than 85 percent in the localization rate.

The vessel, Huaihe Nengyuan Qihang, built by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co, a subsidiary of the China State Shipbuilding Corp, was delivered and named in Shanghai two months ahead of schedule, the company told the Global Times on Sunday.

The completion of the vessel is of great significance for implementing the carbon emissions reduction strategy along the Yangtze River, promoting LNG-powered vessel refueling in the Yangtze River Basin, and opening up inland LNG vessel transport channels, according to the vessel's builder.

The ship is 130 meters long, 23.6 meters wide and has a depth molded level of 15 meters. Its dual-fuel propulsion system allows the vessel to navigate along the Yangtze River as well as in deep-sea areas.

The delivery of the ship reflects the application of several localization technological breakthroughs, especially within the main equipment used in the vessel's cooling system, and other facilities such as LNG compressors and incinerators, dual-fuel power generator sets, the vessel's power distribution system, and electric propulsion systems.

Multiple domestically made components mean the ship has a localization rate of more than 85 percent, making it China's LNG storage and transport equipment with the highest localization rate, according to the company.

Hudong-Zhonghua said that the Yangtze River is China's major east-west waterway, with an annual water transport capacity exceeding 3 billion tons, accounting for more than 60 percent of the country's total inland waterway transportation.

For a long time, the Yangtze River water transport has relied on vessels powered by diesel and heavy oil, leading to increasingly severe environmental pollution issues.

In June 2023, the "Initiative of E-Yangtze River" was jointly released by the Ministry of Transport and 13 provinces and cities, aiming to address the carbon emission issues of the river.