The dance drama Only Me, Qingbai, which uses porcelain as its narrative thread and focuses on the iconic figures of celadon porcelain craftsmen during the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties, made its grand debut at the Beijing Poly Theatre in Beijing on Friday.
Inspired by the archaeological discovery of the Nanhai One shipwreck, the drama tells the story of an elderly porcelain craftsman from the late Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) who dreams of his youth when he traveled south to China's porcelain capital Jingdezhen in East China's Jiangxi Province to learn the craft. The production reflects the personal story of an ordinary man amid the historical turning points in Jingdezhen's history, while also vividly recounting the changes in the porcelain industry and the evolution of its firing techniques.
At the premiere, the audience gathered to check out the themed merchandise inspired by the elements of the show as well as Qingbai porcelain from Jingdezhen.
Expected to bring a feast presented by global artists, the 23rd China Shanghai International Arts Festival (CSIAF) is scheduled to be held between October 18 and November 17 this year. This annual one-month festival in Shanghai serves as a vibrant platform for artistic exchanges and showcasing outstanding Chinese literary and artistic works.
The festival will present more than 700 art-themed events this year, including 168 main performances, CSIAF Center President Li Ming said.
“The world’s top artists and troupes will gather [in Shanghai], with nearly 5,000 artists from 36 countries and regions participating in this grand event,” Li said at a press conference on Monday.
Approximately 60 percent of the performances will be presented by international artists this year.
The opening and closing ceremony performances are respectively the highly anticipated dance drama Azure After the Rain and symphony concert Tugan Sokhiev, Haochen Zhang and Münchner Philharmoniker.
Azure After the Rain by the Shanghai Dance Theatre highlights the spiritual world and patriotic sentiments of the renowned ancient Chinese female poet Li Qingzhao (1084-1155). Through the combination of music, dance and stage art, this dance drama creates a concise, implicit and profound aesthetic atmosphere of China’s Song Dynasty (960-1279), showcasing the outstanding charm of traditional Chinese culture.
“In the process of creation, we looked for many traditional cultural and aesthetic elements, trying hard to enable the audience to experience the exquisite and elegant life of ancient Chinese literati,” famous dancer Wang Jiajun told the Global Times after the press conference.
Wang will act as Li’s husband Zhao Mingcheng in Azure After the Rain. He shared that there are some details in the dance drama that contain beautiful Chinese intangible cultural heritage and folk customs. “But it’s not entirely traditional; we do it from a modern perspective,” said Wang.
Including Azure After the Rain, numerous performances with Chinese cultural themes will be presented at the 23rd CSIAF, showing the cultural confidence of Chinese people and conveying the romantic spirit of Chinese culture from various perspectives, such as the drama Beneath the Red Banner.
Beneath the Red Banner by Beijing People’s Art Theatre is adapted from a semi-autobiographical novel by Chinese novelist and dramatist Shu Qingchun, known by his penname Lao She. This drama tells the story of the great changes that took place during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), showing the spirit of the Chinese nation in that era through stories of an individual and his family.
“I felt flattered when they told me that I would play Lao She in the drama,” recalled Pu Cunxin, one the most celebrated actors in China.
“For this drama, I hope to get closer to Lao She’s inner world and bring the audience’s heart to his side. And [I hope that we can] tell some history of the Chinese nation to our future generations in an artistic way,” he told the Global Times.
The press conference for the 2024 Qiandeng Lake Youth Theater Festival was held on Friday in the Nanhai district of Foshan, Guangdong Province. The theater festival aims to create a locally distinctive theatrical event that caters to the Gen Z audience.
Professor Hu Yu, director of the Tsinghua University Institute for Cultural and Creative Development and Chief Advisor of the Qiandeng Lake Youth Theater Festival, emphasized that young people are the most vital force in theater. The festival focuses on youth performances and expression at its core.
Liu Xiayuan, director of the Nanhai District Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism, and Sports, expressed his hope during his speech that the young artists and audiences attending the festival will "enjoy the theater festival, enjoy a theater vacation and embrace their brilliant and youthful lives."
Over 14 days, the festival will present more than 60 performances, 30 theater activities, three artistic installations, two themed fairs, two exhibitions, and feature collaborations with over 100 performers and artists.
India is poised to celebrate its inaugural National Space Day on Friday, commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which achieved the historic feat of landing a robotic probe on the lunar south pole—a first for humanity.
While India may have entered the space race later than some, the nation has rapidly strengthened its capabilities in space exploration, closing the gap with established space powers. On this significant day, New Delhi has much to celebrate, from past accomplishments to an ambitious future agenda that includes plans for manned spaceflight—a milestone achieved by only a select few countries worldwide.
According to the local media, the first Indian national space day is themed "Touching Lives while Touching the Moon: India's Space Saga," and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has organized events, exhibitions and educational activities across the country aiming to showcase the country's growing capabilities in space science and technology, and after all, inspire and engage younger generations in the field.
The Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft managed the first ever soft landing near the south pole of the moon in 2023, marking a triumph for the ISRO, according to the London-based New Scientist magazine.
Over the past few decades, India has made remarkable strides in space exploration, including advancements in satellites, launch vehicles, and space missions. The country's space program is distinguished by its application-oriented approach, focusing on the development of application satellites and satellite technologies. Building on this foundation, India has established a comprehensive space organization and system, Pang Zhihao, a senior space expert, told the Global Times on Thursday.
The development of India's space program unfolds in three key phases: first, by leveraging foreign financial and technological resources to build a foundational national space system; second, focusing on the advancement of communication and remote sensing satellites, along with launch vehicles; and third, by innovating new space vehicles and broadening the scope of space applications, according to the expert.
This approach has proven to be effective, showcasing advantages such as diversity, speed, quality, and cost-efficiency, Pang said.
However, India's space activities seem to be limited by its economic input and technological resources, he said.
Besides honoring the remarkable feat of Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft robotic lunar mission, India also revealed its ambitious manned spaceflight missions ahead of the celebration of national space day, with ISRO senior official announcing that the first test flight of its human space mission "Gaganyaan" is expected to take place in December this year, the NDTV reported.
According to the ISRO chairman S Somanath, all the systems for the Gaganyaan rocket code named G1 will reach Satish Dhawan Space Centre in November this year and the target for the rocket flight is December, the report said.
The ISRO chief also revealed to the Indian media that lunar missions will be ISRO's focus for the next few years. "Chandrayaan-3 was successfully completed, and we are now working on Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5. The designs for these have been completed, and we are seeking approval from the government," he said.
By April next year, an Indian astronaut is expected to fly to the ISS as part of a collaborative mission between NASA and ISRO. Indian Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh shared this news during a press conference, Business Today reported on Thursday.
New Delhi also aims to send first crewed space mission by mid-2025, the Print reported on August 20, citing the space agency's head Somanath.
India aspires to become the fourth country, after Russia, the US, and China, to independently complete a crewed space mission, and such ambition underscores the significant achievements of India's space industry. As such, India's space program remains a noteworthy area of interest and study, Chinese space observers said.
Over the past few decades, India has made remarkable strides in space exploration, including advancements in satellites, launch vehicles, and space missions. The country's space program is distinguished by its application-oriented approach, focusing on the development of application satellites and satellite technologies.
Experts suggested that to become a major space power, India should consider addressing challenges such as enhancing its rocket payload capacity, increasing investment in space programs, and reducing reliance on foreign technology and resources.
In the first round of Group C matches at the 2024 UEFA European Championship on Monday, Denmark drew 1-1 with Slovenia. The most touching part of the game for fans was when Christian Eriksen, three years on from suffering a cardiac arrest in the last European Championship, scored a crucial goal for Denmark.
Eriksen's triumph over death was a fairytale moment for Denmark that deeply moved countless fans.
For Chinese Manchester United fans, Eriksen's return was particularly joyful. He not only scored a goal but was also named man of the match, showcasing his strength and value.
One netizen, @Jiu Zhuangshi, commented on Weibo: "Death did not take him, and illness did not stop him. He embodies the indomitable spirit of humanity, proving with his actions that he never gives up."
On the same day, Nicolae Stanciu, who previously played for Wuhan Three Towns Football Club in the Chinese Super League, scored a stunning goal to help Romania beat Ukraine 3-0. Faced with numerous reporters, Stanciu prioritized questions from Chinese journalists.
"I want to say thank you to the Chinese fans. I am very grateful for their support of the Romanian national team. I have many wonderful memories from China. We won the league championship and the Super Cup, and Wuhan and its people are great. I wish Wuhan Three Towns Football Club all the best for the future," Stanciu said.
The official Weibo account of Wuhan Three Towns Football Club responded, "Go, Nico! Take our gifts and blessings, and continue to shine at the European Championship!"
A fan named @ZhouZhou commented on his social media: "The best foreign player in Wuhan, the man who kicks free kicks like they're penalties!"
On Tuesday, in the first round of Group D matches, tournament favorites France secured a 1-0 victory over Austria. However, star player Kylian Mbappe was injured near the end of the match, suffering a nasal fracture and having to leave the game.
Mbappe will miss the next match against the Netherlands, and it's currently unclear how long he will be out. In coach Didier Deschamps' tactical system, Mbappe remains an indispensable element.
After the match, Mbappe jokingly asked on social media if anyone had recommendations for a mask.
While some Chinese fans expressed concern about this unexpected situation affecting the French team, more were joking about it.
"Try the green fish mask from the Ugly Stuff competition. It could have the added benefit of distracting opponents on the field!" one Chinese netizen quipped.
On the first day after the Paris Olympics' opening ceremony, Chinese shooting pair Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao ignited Chinese social media not only because of the first gold medal they won for Team China in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team match but also because of their personalities and social media usernames.
After defeating their South Korean counterparts Keum Ji-hyeon and Park Ha-jun in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team match, Huang and Sheng were congratulated by many Chinese netizens. Sheng, whose Weibo user name is "only by eating", quickly sparked widespread attention, as this online nickname paired with the words "duoguan" (win the championship) in Chinese turns into "Winning the championship just by eating."
However, Sheng never expected such a coincidence. He said that this username was something he "came up with casually," and he reassured concerned netizens that he would "take good care of himself." This kind of "Versailles" humor reveals a sense of wit and attracts the audience, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Netizens also discovered that Huang always carries cute plush toys with her, and her social media pictures often feature cute dogs. While Sheng often appears cool, he is known to be rather playful on occasion and netizens seem to appreciate the transparency, uniqueness and authenticity that perspire through their favorite athletes' online accounts.
Huang, making her Olympic debut, is only 17 years old, while Sheng, competing in his second Olympics, is just 19 years old. "Young athletes should have their own personalities. I like their relaxed attitude," a netizen remarked.
According to Xinhua, although the two athletes have their own hobbies and interests off the field, they show remarkable calmness and composure during competitions. In the past, they have jointly won world championships, World Cups, and Asian Games titles. Huang was a triple champion at the Hangzhou Asian Games, while Sheng won a silver medal in the men's 10-meter air rifle individuals at the Tokyo Olympics at the age of 17.
After winning the championship at the Paris Olympics, they still appear calm and relaxed. "We achieved this result just by sticking to what we should do," Sheng said when receiving an interview from CCTV. Huang also explained that this championship was just a result of a long processof training and it provided her with a lot of experience to block out external noise and stay determined.
"Shooting is a psychologically driven sport. Compared to other sports, athletes need to maintain focus without becoming overly excited," Bi Xiaoting, a sports psychology expert said to China Youth Daily.
She noted that for athletes that have maintained professional training and possess good psychological qualities, the pressure of winning the first gold medal may not be as great as the outside world imagines. "Especially the younger generation of athletes, who have stronger autonomy and resilience, and who actively use sports psychology to improve their competitive state, often find creative solutions to problems," Bi said.
However, she also warned that external interference could still affect the athletes' long-term growth. While focusing on the first gold medal can increase attention, she hopes that the public will focus more on the athletes' personal charm and hard work, and "notice the uniqueness of each person."
According to China Youth Daily, Wang Lian, deputy director of the Shooting and Archery Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, said that athletes of every generation carry responsibility for their era.
"Our perception of Olympic gold medals has changed significantly from decades ago. The confidence and openness of today's Chinese shooters have also been brought about by the new era," Wang said.
Team China concluded their Paris Olympics campaign with 40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze medals, marking their best performance at an Olympics held abroad.
In diving and table tennis, the Chinese players achieved a landmark sweep of eight and five gold medals respectively across all categories, a rare achievement for the teams at a single Olympics.
As the Olympics concluded on Sunday, Global Times reporters Jiang Li, Wu Jie, Li Yuche and Lu Wenao picked up several stories behind the scenes that can help you remember the glory and sportsmanship displayed in Paris. Among the big contributors to the Chinese delegation's medal haul, the Chinese swim team concluded their campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics with two golds, three silvers, and seven bronzes. Totaling 12 medals, this marks the highest number ever achieved by the Chinese swim team in Olympic history.
This was a hard-earned result for the team, considering the Chinese swimmers had undergone excessive doping tests ahead of and during the Paris Olympics, which many believe disrupted Chinese swimmers' preparations.
Prior to and during the Games, some US institutions and media stirred controversy over alleged doping issues with Chinese swimmers.
According to the World Aquatics, since January, Chinese swimmers have undergone an average of 21 drug tests per athlete, compared with four for Australian swimmers and six for US swimmers.
Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle's sensational gold medal in the men's 100m freestyle helped the team shrug off anxiety.
On July 28, Pan won gold with a world record setting time of 46.40 seconds. This victory marked the first time a Chinese male swimmer won a gold medal in the 100m freestyle at the Olympics.
"This gold medal is very significant for our country, as it represents a historic breakthrough in a new event for Chinese swimming. It's a very exciting achievement," Pan said after the race.
Notably, Pan had revealed in an interview before heading to Paris that he was already capable of swimming under 46.5 seconds but wanted to avoid exposing his true strength too early.
"Fortunately, at the world championships I swam to 46.80 seconds, so my competitors thought that was my limit - it was a smokescreen," Pan said.
Adding to Pan's gold medal, male backstroke swimmer Xu Jiayu won silver in the men's 100m backstroke with a time of 52.32 seconds and female breaststroker Tang Qianting won silver in the women's 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:05.54 on July 30.
In the mixed 4x100m medley relay final on August 4, the Chinese team, consisting of Xu, Qin Haiyang, Zhang Yufei and Yang Junxuan, won silver with a time of 3:37.55, breaking the Asian record and finishing just 0.12 seconds behind the US team.
In the men's 4x100m medley relay, backstroker Xu, breaststroker Qin, butterflyer Sun Jiajun and freestyle star Pan ended 40 years of US dominance since the 1984 Olympics with a sensational 3:27.46.
"I've lost count of how many tests I've undergone. Often, I'm called for testing as early as 6 am, which has definitely affected the rhythm of our overall preparation," said Qin following the 4x100m medley relay final.
Following the men's relay final, the Chinese women's team, featuring Wan Letian, Tang Qianting, Zhang and Yang, secured a bronze medal in the women's 4x100m medley relay final.
A notable moment occurred during the group photo session after the men's 4x100m medley relay.
When taking a group photo at the award ceremony after the relay, the Chinese team originally planned to sit down, but the US team members took the initiative to signal the champions should stand on top. The US team sat down with the French team, and then all team members shook hands and hugged each other.
It's said that the best way to earn respect is through undeniable performance. The impressive performance of the Chinese swim team not only secured medals but also strongly countered doubts.
Culture-powered breakthroughs
Chinese athletes have made a string of historic achievements at the Paris Olympic Games, marking the country's growing competitiveness in a broader spectrum of sports and leaving a powerful legacy for youths in China.
Zheng Qinwen, 21, made history by becoming the first Asia-born player to win a gold medal in the Olympic tennis singles event. Her victory is especially significant as tennis has traditionally been a sport dominated by Western players. Zheng's ground-breaking victory reflects China's growing prowess in a wider range of sports and is sure to inspire the younger generation of tennis players. As Zheng withdrew from the tennis mixed doubles event to focus on singles, Wang Xinyu paired up with Zhang Zhizhen right before the mixed doubles event began. In only four days, this interim duo secured a silver medal in China's first attempt in the Olympic mixed doubles.
Deng Yawen, an 18-year-old Chinese BMX prodigy, chalked up a historic victory in the women's BMX freestyle park finals. Her stunning performance, scoring 92.60 points in her best run, not only secured China's first-ever gold medal in this event but also highlighted the rapid development of BMX as a sport in China. Deng's victory is particularly significant given that BMX freestyle is a relatively new discipline in the Olympics, having debuted in Tokyo 2020.
China's artistic swimming head coach Zhang Xiaohuan said she felt it was "a bit unreal" when China won its first-ever Olympic gold medal in artistic swimming with a fluid acrobatic team routine. Wang Liuyi and Wang Qianyi also secured China's first Olympic title in artistic swimming's duet free routine. Zhang attributed the milestone triumph to generations of effort.
"We have shed blood, sweat and tears, but in the end, we all held on. This is the result of the collective effort of the team and the relentless pursuit of generations of Chinese synchronized swimmers," said Zhang.
Zhang noted that one of the key reasons for Chinese team's breakthroughs was their commitment to incorporating Chinese cultural elements into their performance. For example, they used movements from the martial art Wing Chun and created a visual representation of the Chinese oracle bone script character for "mountain."
"As a non-English-speaking country, it's incredibly challenging for China to achieve a breakthrough in this sport, which has long been dominated by Western countries. Gaining global recognition is no small feat. We will continue on this path, showcasing more elements of Chinese culture and expressing our cultural confidence to the world," she said.
On Friday, China's women's hockey team took silver after a tense 3-1 shootout defeat to the Netherlands, equaling the team's best Olympic record set during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
The Chinese women's rugby team has also achieved their best-ever performance at the Olympics with a 6th place finish.
These achievements are significant as they highlight China's growing competitiveness in global sports beyond their traditional strongholds like table tennis and diving. The success of younger athletes in these diverse disciplines reflects the country's investment in broadening its athletic capabilities and signifies a new era of Chinese sportsmanship on the world stage. Moments of Olympism
Whether it's Chinese player He Bingjiao displaying a Spain flag pin on the podium or weightlifter Shi Zhiyong competing on-site while injured, Chinese athletes at the Paris Olympic Games have shown the true sportsmanship, making sports a channel to convey the human spirit.
China's two-time Olympic champion Shi created a poignant memory in Paris on Friday. Competing in the men's 73kg category, he failed his three attempts to lift 191 kilograms. Behind his "failure," it turns out the athlete had torn his adductor muscle during the competition.
In a post-match interview, Shi teared up as he said he was "very sorry for the whole team" and that he "did not expect things to end like this." His words and resilience inspired numerous Chinese netizens to flock to social media platform Sina Weibo to express their love. One netizen noted that "his courage weighs a thousand pounds."
Shi failed to win any medals, marking a departure from his previous Olympic successes in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. However, his regrets in Paris highlight the invisible physical toll that athletes endure.
Chinese netizens' attitude of showing understanding toward an athlete's loss has commonly been seen during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Another example was the encouragements sent to Chinese men's gymnastics team, especially to the 24-year-old Su Weide after he fell from the horizontal bar down twice.
"Losing a gold medal in the gymnastics finals is generally unacceptable to us because we are so good at it, but I'll accept Su's mistake because for a true fan like me, I prioritize our athletes than any results," Li Yang, a sport fan, told the Global Times.
Besides Su, sports fans were also much more light-hearted in expressing their support rather than blame after Tokyo Games champion fencer Sun Yiwen was eliminated in the Round of 32 in Paris.
Chinese fans' growing tolerance toward these setbacks reveals the public are more than ever "wanting to be a part of sports" as well as "reflecting more deeply on sports values," cultural sociologist Xu Shuming told the Global Times.
"Friendship" might be one of these "sports values" that Chinese athletes have shown in Paris.
To show her support for Spanish badminton player Carolina Marin, who forfeited her semi-final match due to a knee injury, China's silver medalist He Bingjiao brought a pin with the Spanish flag onto the medal podium.
Although the pin was difficult to see pinched between He's fingers, the Chinese athlete's gesture was timeless and what one netizen called on Sina Weibo "a gesture of the Olympic spirit."
Chinese industry groups said on Friday that the EU's imposition of additional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) and its incessant probes into Chinese companies within the bloc under the so-called Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) - regulation known primarily for deterring foreign companies - have seriously disrupted normal business activities, and undermined fair market environment.
The FSR, which grants European regulators overly broad powers to initiate investigations and raid investment projects mostly involving Chinese companies, needs to be reviewed and restrained, Chinese experts said. Otherwise, the European economic bloc risks losing more investment from Chinese companies, they warned.
The China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) warned on Friday that the EU members' backing of anti-subsidy measures targeting Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers will inevitably lead to a loss of investment in Europe.
In reality, many EU members have long hoped that Chinese EV makers could set up factories in Europe to provide decent jobs, the experts said.
The European Commission (EC)'s imposition of high duties on Chinese electric cars, according to some observers, is actually intended to push Chinese companies to invest in Europe, to help boost the EU automotive industry, create local jobs, and achieve green and sustainable development goals.
'Opposite effect'
However, the CCCME warned that "the reaction from Chinese companies indicates that the EU's approach has had the opposite effect."
Before the EU initiated the anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs, quite a few Chinese carmakers had already planned to establish their operations in Europe. "Since the EC decided to impose temporary anti-subsidy duties on Chinese EVs, the Chinese EV industry has expressed strong opposition to the EU's actions… Many Chinese companies have voiced significant concerns to our chamber regarding the investigation's results and the potential risks of facing scrutiny under the FSR rising from their European investments," the CCCME said.
Since the beginning of 2024, the EU has launched five investigations under the FSR into Chinese companies. To date, there have been three in-depth probes, one proactive probe and one unannounced raid, with all three in-depth investigations forcing related Chinese companies to withdraw from bidding projects in Europe.
The EU's multiple investigations targeting Chinese companies are very discriminatory, severely distorting fair competition, and bringing significant risks and uncertainties to Chinese companies operating in or investing in Europe, the CCCME warned.
The CCCME said that the "subsidy label" identified in the EU's probes targeting Chinese EVs is likely to become an excuse for future investigations under the FSR into more Chinese-run businesses in Europe, raising deep concerns among Chinese enterprises.
After the European Commission announced levying provisional duties of up to 37.6 percent on Chinese EVs, some major EU member countries voted in support for the move, despite widespread opposition from other member countries and EU industries. Notably, among those who voted in favor of the duties include France, Italy and Spain, according to Reuters.
Strikingly, these countries have been actively courting Chinese EV makers to set up plants in their lands. In May, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said that France would welcome BYD to open a factory in the country, according to Reuters. Spain has also launched an ambitious plan to attract Chinese companies to set up EV and battery factories in the country. Italy is also reportedly in talks with Chinese carmaker Dongfeng Motor Group on setting up a plant in the country.
Investors' concerns
However, Chinese companies are increasingly worried about the business environment in the EU following the EC's announcement of levying high tariffs on Chinese EVs as well as the enactment of the FSR, which has created significant uncertainty for Chinese companies.
Illustrating the profound uncertainty for Chinese investments in the EU, after foreign media reports suggested that Italy has demanded Dongfeng Motor Group agree to safeguards on cybersecurity and data protection as the price of support for a new plant in the country, the Chinese company told the Global Times that the two sides had only held initial talks and have not made any substantive contact.
"Dongfeng hasn't held discussions on issues cited in foreign media reports, including cybersecurity, data protection and a 45-percent localization rate for all components," the company said in a statement sent to the Global Times.
Recent moves by EU authorities under the FSR, including investigations and raids, against Chinese companies have sent a chill through Chinese companies operating in Europe, not just EV makers, experts said.
In total, EU authorities have launched at least five major FSR investigations into projects involving Chinese companies. In March, Chinese train maker CRRC withdrew from a 610 million euro ($660 million) public tender for a Bulgarian railway project, after the EU launched an investigation into the bid under the FSR framework.
On April 3, EU launched two probes under the FSR concerning "potentially market distortive role of foreign subsidies given to bidders in a public procurement procedure." The investigation focused on a joint venture comprising ENEVO from Romania and a branch of LONGi from China, as well as subsidiaries of Shanghai Electric Group. This consortium submitted a bid for a solar panel project in Romania.
On April 9, EU announced the probe into Chinese wind turbine suppliers to the bloc under the FSR. Two weeks later, on April 23, the bloc suddenly conducted an unexpected raid on the offices of a Chinese company in Poland and the Netherlands over subsidy allegations.
Although EU's FSR, which took effect in January 2023 aimed at combating distortions of competition within EU's internal market caused by foreign subsidies, did not single out China explicitly, it has been overwhelmingly targeting Chinese companies, making clear the EU's intention to crack down on Chinese companies, experts said.
Apart from EU's arbitrary investigations and raids, Chinese companies are also increasingly concerned about the EU's attempts to obtain their commercial secrets through the probes.
The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) told the Global Times that Chinese companies recently reported that the European side had exceeded the scope of the FSR investigation. Despite the opposition of Chinese enterprises, the EU side copied documents containing information about Chinese companies' key technology components, which are classified as commercial secrets, the CCCEU said.
Fighting back
Chinese officials and industry groups have repeatedly criticized the FSR, for its being used as a protectionist tool in the hands of EU to suppress Chinese companies.
On July 10, China's Ministry of Commerce said, at the request of the CCCME, it launched a trade and investment barrier investigation into EU's related practices in its investigations of Chinese enterprises based on the FSR.
Measures investigated involve relevant practices adopted by the EU in investigations such as preliminary examinations, in-depth investigations, and unannounced raids on Chinese enterprises under the FSR terms.
Those EU member countries that want to attract investment from Chinese carmakers need to recognize the fact that supporting additional tariffs on Chinese EVs could result in losing investment opportunities, while an open and fair EU market would be far more attractive for Chinese investors, the CCCME stated.
"Chinese EV companies are closely monitoring the progress and outcomes of the EU's anti-subsidy investigations and will use this information - the member countries' stance on FSR - to assess the risks of investing in Europe and make informed investment decisions," the CCCME noted.
EU's logic targeting Chinese companies is to avoid "any perceived influence" on its rules from foreign investments, as it has linked the construction of a single internal market with the regulation and management of foreign investments, Cui Hongjian, a professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University's Academy of Regional and Global Governance, told the Global Times on Friday.
Such approach by the EU will negatively impact overseas investors' confidence in investing in Europe, while worsening investment environment in the bloc, as it raises trade and investment barriers, Cui said.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed that the environment concerns the well-being of people in all countries. During his many inspections, Xi has always emphasized the importance of ecosystems, spanning from cities to rural areas, and from enterprises to communities.
Under the guidance of President Xi Jinping's Thought on Ecological Civilization, China has been advancing the green transition of its economy over the last decade. Regions across the country are actively promoting the construction of an ecological civilization and advancing Chinese modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature. These efforts go toward creating a "Beautiful China."
The coming five years will be critical to the building of a "Beautiful China." The Global Times is launching a series of stories to explore the progress of ecological civilization projects inspired by Xi's words, delving into the positive environmental changes occurring now, and offering valuable insights and references for both national and global efforts. Through this prism, we can see how Xi's thoughts on ecological civilization is being put into practice and further inspiring public action.
Recently, the Global Times reporter visited an island village in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang Province, delving into the secrets behind the village's success in achieving "net-zero carbon" goal and looking into how the coastal village is implementing Xi's concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." Upon entering the island village of Xinjian in Zhoushan, an archipelago city in East China's Zhejiang Province, the Global Times was welcomed by a picturesque rural scene of verdant mountains, babbling brooks, fluttering butterflies, and chirping birds, alongside impressive modern features such as photovoltaic panels adorning rooftops, electric sightseeing vehicles, and a state-of-the-art sewage recycling system.
Twenty years ago, this small village was unnoticed, impoverished, and isolated. The only link to the outside world was a rough, bumpy road. On rainy days, the road became so muddy that villagers hesitated to wear their new shoes. On sunny days, groups of villagers would trek up the mountain to chop down trees and haul them through the village via this road to sell to brick kiln operators to eke out a living. Due to poverty, most young adults left the village to find work elsewhere, leaving only a few senior citizens to tend to their old homes and the stream in front of their doors.
Was there a way out? What kind of life did the villagers want to live?
An innovative initiative dubbed the "Thousand Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" project provided an answer.
In June 2003, under the guidance of Xi Jinping, who once served as the provincial Party chief, Zhejiang launched the Green Rural Revival Program, which selects 10,000 administrative villages in the province for comprehensive improvement, and plans to turn 1,000 of them into demonstration villages of moderate prosperity in all respects.
This project has created a large number of beautiful villages in Zhejiang, benefiting countless farmers and jumpstarting a new era of building a "Beautiful China."
Xinjian village is one such example. A decade later, on May 25, 2015, Xi, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visited Xinjian village for inspection, believing it to be a typical representative of a "beautiful economy" and a confirmation that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." Xi emphasized, "It is scientific and sustainable development that we should strive toward."
Net-zero carbon, also known as carbon neutrality, refers to offsetting greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide generated by human activities through energy conservation and emission reduction, industrial adjustment, afforestation, and other forms of environmental conservation, ultimately achieving the goal of "net-zero emissions."
During a recent field visit, the Global Times delved into the secrets behind the village's success in its "net-zero carbon" goal and gained a deeper insight into how this island village is effectively implementing Xi's concept that "A 'Beautiful China' is built upon beautiful villages. It is imperative that we steadfastly adhere to this path, ensuring that lucid waters and lush mountains yield continuous ecological, social, and economic benefits."
Power station in the sky
Under the guidance of Lu Haifeng, deputy secretary of the Xinjian village Party branch, the Global Times visited the Nandong Homestay Area in the village and heard an interesting story. At the beginning of construction, the branches of a plum tree reach toward the windows on the second floor of building No.9. Due to lighting issues, this tree was supposed to be removed. However, it was already a century old, so local villagers decided not to remove it. The designers then changed their approach and doubled the size of the windows on the side of the room, preserving the existing tree while ensuring adequate lighting.
During the construction process, local materials were utilized with idle old wood mostly being used to reduce material transportation. The entire homestay building is fitted with double-layer insulated glass, with the summer air conditioning demand being 63 percent less than that of buildings fitted with single-layer glass. The homestay building also has an exhaust heat recovery unit, which can recover energy from the air being exhausted outside, minimizing the loss of cold or heat sources indoors in summer or winter.
It is estimated that compared with Shanghai, the homestay building in the village can save up to 15.7 percent more energy than the hotel with the lowest energy consumption in Shanghai, according to data provided by Ge Linlu, a staff member at the publicity office of Ganlan township, Dinghai district.
After leaving the Nandong Homestay Area, Lu took the Global Times reporter to see the wind power energy storage project. Walking to the parking lot, Lu pointed to the gray solar panel on a farmhouse rooftop, saying that this is a special "power station in the sky" that provides shade while being environmentally friendly.
"This is the wind power energy storage project that we have started building since the development of clean energy," Lu told the Global Times. "The solar and wind energy resources in Dinghai district (which administers Xinjian village) are abundant, and by combining wind power equipment on mountain tops with installing photovoltaic equipment on the roofs of farmhouses, we can provide clean energy for the village's landscape facilities, electric vehicles, and more." The photovoltaic rooftop panels also utilize roof space without taking up land resources, Lu added.
Among the completed projects, the average annual power generation of photovoltaic modules can reach 21,000 kW per hour, and annual carbon emissions can be reduced by about 12.14 tons.
At present, the village is working with an expert team from Tongji University in Shanghai to plan the construction of new energy projects in the Nandong reservoir, train station square, and other points, and realize the functions of heat insulation, lighting, and power generation through the introduction of green technology such as photovoltaic tiles, she said.
Disappeared foul-smelling ditch
Passing through the Nandong Daxi pit in the village, a bay of clear water flows gently.
"In order to prevent sewage from affecting the environment and promote water recycling, we dispose of domestic sewage and septic tank water centrally every day. After more than 10 treatment processes, the sewage is then used for irrigation," Lu said. "In this way, the once foul-smelling sewage ditch has disappeared, and a lot of water has been saved."
Not far away, the Global Times noticed that the water in the pit comes from the upstream reservoir. The water flows down in a step-like manner along the terrain, passing through ecological swimming pools, ponds, pits, and households, and is finally purified through the sewage treatment plant before being used for irrigation.
"Our sewage treatment plant can process 10 tons of sewage per hour, and operates 24 hours a day during peak season," said Lu. Along with Lu's introduction, the Global Times saw the water that had undergone multiple treatment processes flowing clearly from the outlet.
With the rolling out of the "Thousand Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" project, villagers and tourists have gradually developed green living habits, and enhanced their environmental awareness.
Local villagers told the Global Times that they spontaneously participate in cleaning up garbage, dismantling pig farms, relocating outdoor manure pits, among other environmental improvements and infrastructure construction. "It's like participating in an 'ecological revolution' to protect the environment and change the appearance of the village."
"This is a natural oxygen bar, a 'beautiful economy,' confirming that 'lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.' We always keep Xi's words in mind," said Lu.
This is not an empty phrase. On the embankment of the Nandong Reservoir, the Chinese characters "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" shine brightly in the sunlight, and on the walls of villagers' houses, Xi's quotes left during his inspection of the village can be seen everywhere.
Compared with the mainland area, the islands are relatively short of fresh water, energy, food, and other resources, and the economic and social development mainly depends on supplies from the mainland, so they are more vulnerable to the impact of climate change on water supply security, food security, tourism, local economies, and human health.
In 2019, Xinjian village was selected as the UN-Habitat "Net-Zero Carbon" rural planning case in China. At the forefront of addressing climate change, the exploration and practice of Xinjian village in achieving its net-zero carbon goal provide valuable experience for rural low-carbon development in other small islands and coastal areas.
