US electric vehicle maker Tesla announced on Saturday that it has shipped its 1 millionth made-in-China vehicle from its Shanghai plant. Experts say the milestone reflects China's strong and complete industrial supply chains.
A batch of Tesla Model 3 vehicles was shipped from Shanghai's Nangang Port to Britain on Saturday, marking the milestone of 1 million China-made Tesla vehicles have been exported in less than four years, the Global Times learned from the company.
"Today, the one-millionth exported China-made Tesla car sets sail from Shanghai's Nangang Port. In just four years since the first batch of vehicles was exported, Tesla cars made in China have been sold in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand, earning high recognition in overseas markets," Tao Lin, Tesla's vice president, wrote on Weibo.
The speed of Tesla's production shows the high quality and efficiency of China's manufacturing capabilities to produce products that are in high demand internationally.
Tesla said that its Shanghai Gigafactory is a key global export hub and production base, playing a vital role in China's manufacturing sector. An entire new vehicle rolls off the assembly line at around every 30 seconds.
On January 7, 2019, Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory broke ground in the Lingang New Area, and on December 30 that same year, the first batch of vehicles was delivered. From groundbreaking to delivery, Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory took less than one year, Xinhua News Agency reported at that time.
Tesla's Shanghai Megapack energy storage plant in the Lingang New Area is also progressing rapidly.
By the end of September 2024, the construction of the main factory building has been completed by over 60 percent, with plans in place to officially commence production in the first quarter of 2025, Tesla told the Global Times on Saturday in a statement.
The gigafactory plans to produce 10,000 Megapacks annually, with a total storage capacity of nearly 40 GWh. The new factory aims to supply the global market and further establish Chinese intelligent manufacturing as a prominent brand on the international stage, Tesla said.
China and Portugal enjoy an ever-deepening comprehensive strategic partnership. As this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Portugal was among a group of countries that set up an independent booth for the first time at the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, seeking opportunities to deepen bilateral trade in services. The Global Times (GT) reporter Chu Daye recently conducted an exclusive interview with Portuguese Ambassador to China Paulo Jorge Nascimento (Nascimento), during which the envoy shared his views on the win-win nature of bilateral economic and trade cooperation. The ambassador also noted the potential of the two countries to develop the green economy, energy transition and jointly address climate change.
GT ：China-Portugal economic and trade ties have maintained a stable growth momentum. What opportunities does the enhanced China-Portugal economic and trade cooperation bring to Portuguese companies?
Nascimento: Over the past 12 to 15 years, China has been an important investor in Portugal, initially through M&A and recently with greenfield and brownfield investments from many Chinese companies in Portugal. In this respect, I think this has proven to be a very good experience for both Chinese and Portuguese companies involved, and therefore for both Portugal and China.
This positive experience is now the basis also for new investments. In 2023, nearly 70 percent of announced foreign direct investment in Portugal came from Chinese companies, which is highly significant. We believe that in the future there will be opportunities to increase that level of investment. It is in fact one of the main objectives for our participation at CIFTIS show this year - to show up the case of Portugal as a destination for Chinese investment.
We hope the good results achieved with Chinese companies in Portugal will endure and serve as a reference for new companies looking to invest in Portugal.
Also, we look forward to increasing our trade in services alongside our trade in goods. There is still an important difference between both trade in goods and trade in services. We believe that there is huge room to increase the bilateral trade in services.
GT: China and Portugal are partners of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). What are some of the latest achievements in BRI cooperation?
Nascimento: Portugal has been one of the first European countries, particularly among EU countries, to adhere to the BRI. Since then, we have been following closely the developments of the BRI. Furthermore, we believe that Portugal, due to its geographic location, may act as a good partner and enabler within the BRI, namely in trade with South America and Africa. That's the framework upon which we position ourselves in the BRI.
GT: What opportunities exist between Portugal and China in green development?
Nascimento: We believe that the expertise and market-oriented frameworks of both Portugal and China regarding the greening of our economies constitute major opportunities and a path to explore on implementation of joint projects, investments and scientific and technological advances. Those are fundamental to carry on the path of the new economy and the shared efforts to fight climate change. Green development is clearly a framework for cooperation that we must explore together to tackle the common threat of climate change.
Portugal and China can complement each other. While China has scale and huge green-energy needs compared to Portugal, Portugal has been proving to be one of the leading green transition countries in Europe. In fact, over the past several years, we have been perfecting this sector by leveraging new technological developments and expertise.
Last year, 61 percent of all energy used in Portugal came from renewable sources. Wind energy and hydropower plants alone were responsible for 25 percent and 23 percent, respectively. This allowed Portugal to close its last coal power plant at the end of 2021.
We sincerely believe that green development can be a win-win cooperation for both Chinese and Portuguese companies, as it is the case in other sectors where Chinese and Portuguese companies are closely working together.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Wednesday strongly condemned and rejected a report on academic freedom in Hong Kong published by US-based infamous NGOs, noting that its content is all malicious smears and sweeping remarks.
The HKSAR government has noticed that most of the interviewees of the report published by the so-called Human Rights Watch and Hong Kong Democracy Council have used pseudonyms, a tactic frequently adopted by anti-China forces, making it difficult to ascertain if the interviewees truly exist. The authenticity and credibility of the report is questionable, the HKSAR government said in a statement.
As regards the report containing fabricated content and irresponsible remarks that academic freedom has declined in Hong Kong, the statement stressed that academic freedom is an important social value treasured in Hong Kong and the cornerstone of its higher education sector.
In the statement, the HKSAR government said the fundamental rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents have all along been guaranteed at the constitutional level by the Basic Law, adding that the laws of Hong Kong to safeguard national security attach special importance to human rights.
The Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) have clearly stipulated that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the city and that the rights and freedoms its residents enjoy under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong shall be protected in accordance with the law, the statement said.
Any measures or enforcement actions taken under the relevant laws must observe this principle, it added.
After the implementation of the HKNSL, Hong Kong residents continue to enjoy various rights and freedoms, including the freedom of academic research, literary and artistic creation and other cultural activities, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of association.
According to Article 137 of the Basic Law, educational institutions of all kinds may retain their autonomy and enjoy academic freedom. Hong Kong residents can exercise their freedom of expression legitimately, including criticizing government policies or decisions made by officials.
Since the implementation of the NSL, academics or post-secondary education institutions in Hong Kong continue to conduct normal exchange activities between their foreign or external counterparts.
The HKNSL and SNSO complement each other, providing a strong framework for safeguarding national security in Hong Kong. This allows all sectors, especially higher education, to flourish in a safe and stable environment, enabling scholars and students to pursue their studies and research in a stable, secure, and inclusive setting, the statement noted.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake of Sri Lanka's National People's Power (NPP) was on Sunday elected as the country's new president.
Chinese experts said that his victory will likely further boost relations between China and Sri Lanka, as Dissanayake is expected to adopt a more pragmatic and friendly approach to strengthen ties with China during his term.
Citing figures released by the election commission reported by local TV, Reuters and other media reported on Sunday that Dissanayake won the presidential election. It is the first time in Sri Lanka's history that the presidential race was decided by a second round of counting.
The relationship between China and Sri Lanka has continuously strengthened over the past decade, particularly with the alignment of local development strategies with the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), observers said.
Under Sri Lanka's new administration, this pair of relations is expected to be further enhanced, as Dissanayake's party shares many ideological similarities with China, and values the country's ties with China, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Sunday. He said although the new administration is expected to maintain a balanced stance between its relations with China and India, the new president is likely to reduce reliance on India and seek closer alignment with China's development strategies, by adopting a more pragmatic and friendly attitude.
Sri Lanka's new administration will likely still prioritize the development of its economy and improving the livelihood of its people amid an upward trend in the country's economic situation, experts said. This indicates that there is significant potential for China-Sri Lanka relations, as China also views the South Asian country as an important node in the BRI, having invested in a number of infrastructure projects, including ports, that have brought tangible benefits to the local population, observers noted.
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, China's film industry is gearing up for a promising season, offering a diverse lineup of 21 new releases to draw audiences back to theaters. At a time when the market faces challenges, will this mix of films have the potential to energize the box office? An industry expert told the Global Times that he has confidence in this year's Mid-Autumn film season.
Among the highly anticipated films, Stand by Me, which premieres on Sunday, stands out due to high pre-sales.
Following that, there's the Hollywood thriller Speak No Evil. On September 17 when the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated, there will be realism-orientated films such as Like A Rolling Stone and Enjoy Yourself, as well as comedies like A Frozen Rage and Keep Rolling.
Moreover, there will be re-releases such as The Wandering Earth II, along with a behind-the-scenes documentary about the film.
According to online ticketing platform Maoyan, by 12:29 pm on Wednesday, pre-sales for this season have already surpassed 40 million yuan ($5.62 million), with Stand by Me, Like A Rolling Stone, and Enjoy Yourself leading the pack. From thrillers to comedies and animated films, the Mid-Autumn season caters to diverse audience preferences.
This year's Mid-Autumn Festival falls in mid-September, right between the summer and National Day film seasons, serving as a bridge for the market. The recent summer box office was not ideal, with a decline in both revenue and viewership compared to 2023.
The summer box office (June 1 to August 31) reached 11.64 billion yuan, a decrease of nearly 9 billion yuan compared to 20.619 billion yuan in 2023.
Additionally, this summer saw 285 million tickets sold, a significant drop compared to the 505 million from the same period in 2023.
According to a report by Maoyan, the long-tail index for summer blockbusters has significantly decreased compared to 2023, with overall post-release box-office performance and film discussions being less favorable.
The long-tail index refers to the total box-office earnings divided by opening day earnings.
Additionally, there was a scarcity of large-scale family films, which led to a decrease in group viewership, while single-viewer rates reached their highest in the past six years.
The most prominent reason for not watching films during the summer is "lack of interest in the films." The "cost-effectiveness" of going to the cinema was also a crucial factor in audiences' decision-making.
However, since the box office for the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays in 2023, which were combined that year, reached 2.734 billion yuan, one interviewed expert noted he is optimistic about this year's performance during the Mid-Autumn Festival holidays.
"Although the summer season didn't meet expectations, the film market is not lacking in excitement, and there is a certain level of anticipation for the Mid-Autumn Festival," Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, told the Global Times.
According to Sun, this year's Mid-Autumn Festival benefits from its timing. If it were closer to the summer or National Day periods, many films might opt to release during those peak times instead.
"I believe that this year's Mid-Autumn releases might actually perform slightly better than last year's. The key is that the lineup for this year is quite rich for a smaller season, offering a wide range of choices across various genres, including Hollywood films, realistic themes, and comedies," he added.
Realism is a major highlight of this year's Mid-Autumn film season. Movies like Stand by Me and Like A Rolling Stone stand out not only for their narratives but also for their focus on realism, often tackling pressing social issues.
A reception was held to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the 5th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Solomon Islands in Beijing on September 13.
Shen Xin, secretary general of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, KS Vincent Sivas, Ambassador of Micronesia to China, and Barrett Salato, Ambassador of Solomon Islands to China, attended the reception and delivered speeches.
Shen said that the friendly exchanges between China and the people of Pacific Island countries have a longstanding history.
In recent years, the two sides have actively expanded cooperation in various fields, which has not only enhanced the well-being of the people on both sides, but also made important contributions to regional peace, stability, and development.
Looking into the future, China is willing to work together with countries in the Pacific region to continue to deepen friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between the two sides and promote continuous new progress in China-Pacific friendly cooperative relations, he said.
Ambassador Sivas said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the FSM and China, the exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as politics, economy, and culture have been continuously deepened, while mutual understanding and trust have been continuously strengthened. Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), cooperation between the two sides has greatly benefited the people of the two countries, he affirmed.
It is expected that the two sides will continue to expand friendship and cooperation in the future, the ambassador noted.
Ambassador Salato said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the two sides have carried out a number of development cooperation projects, which have provided a solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations.
The Solomon Islands is willing to work with China in the future to push bilateral relations to a new level, he said.
Students from the Minzu University of China and their counterparts from the Solomon Islands, who are studying in China, performed folk songs and dances at the reception.
The opening ceremony of the "ACE! Australian Comics Exhibition" hosted by the Australian Consulate-General in Shanghai, IllustrateYourLife studio, and Sinan Mansions, was held in downtown Shanghai on August 23. The Australian Consul-General in Shanghai John Williams mentioned the comic traditions of both Australia and Shanghai, saying the purpose of this exhibition is to promote cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia.
"The role of this exhibition goes beyond just the artistic; it also connects Australian art with the younger generation in China," hoping that the event would create opportunities for educational cooperation, he added.
"Through this opportunity, I have gained a deeper understanding of Chinese comics and also made friends with Chinese artists," said Australian cartoonist Ben Mitchell, the designer of the exhibition's mascot, Casey, in his speech.
Open until September 16, the exhibition features the works of 20 outstanding Australian cartoonists, drawing the attention of numerous comic enthusiasts and professionals.
Cartooning had a long tradition in Australia, dating well back into the 19th century. The Australian Cartoonists Association is one of the world's oldest cartoon organizations.
Shanghai, as the birthplace of modern comics in China, has also nurtured outstanding cartoonists like Feng Zikai, and important publications in the history of modern Chinese comics like the Shanghai Sketch.
"The ACE! exhibition series showcases the outstanding and original comic art from Australia. Australia's comic industry is booming, with the continuous rise of the global interest in 'graphic novels', and diverse comic themes and creators," said Williams, the consul general of Australia in Shanghai, at the opening ceremony.
Cheng Zhiqiang, chief cooperation officer at Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO), a Beijing-based organization for promoting sustainable energy development worldwide, held talks with the Ambassador of Malawi to China, Allan Chintedza, in Beijing on August 29.
The two sides had in-depth exchanges on the construction of Malawi's power infrastructure and the development of energy interconnection in southern Africa.
Cheng said that since the establishment of the GEIDCO, the organization has achieved remarkable results in global system architecture, participation in international mechanisms, and academic research via think tanks.
The organization looks forward to future technical exchanges and experience sharing between the two sides through Malawi's energy development and power grid upgrading, and deepened practical cooperation, Cheng noted.
He said that the GEIDCO expects to jointly promote the construction of the African Energy Interconnection project.
Ambassador Chintedza affirmed the achievements of the GEIDCO in recent years. He said that Malawi still has a large number of people living without electricity. He said that it is expected that the cooperation organization will play a role of the platform to provide technical solutions for Malawi's power and energy development.
With 94 gold, 76 silver, and 50 bronze, China once again topped both the gold medal tally and the overall medal table at the 17th Paralympic Games that concluded on Sunday, marking the sixth consecutive time to do so since the 2004 Athens Paralympics.
On top of that, Chinese athletes have broken 20 world records. Swimming, athletics, table tennis, and wheelchair fencing contributed the largest number of medals to Team China's tally.
The State Council - China's cabinet - on Sunday sent a congratulatory letter to the Chinese Paralympic team following these achievements to encourage them to continue embodying the spirit of perseverance and excellence.
"Generations of Chinese athletes have consistently delivered exceptional performances on the Paralympic stage, and this has become a tradition. This confidence is not only the athletes' personal belief but also a reflection of our nation's self-assurance as a global sports power," Luo Le, a Beijing-based sports scholar, told the Global Times.
Luo noted that Paralympic athletes' greatness lies in their extraordinary determination and perseverance despite physical challenges. Their stories inspire the world and demonstrate the boundless potential of humanity. Therefore, Paralympians deserve more support and encouragement, and Paralympic sports should receive greater attention. Continued legacy
In Paris, the Chinese sports delegation participated in 19 major events and 302 minor events at the 2024 Paralympics, claiming a total of 220 medals - 94 gold, 76 silver, and 50 bronze.
The Chinese wheelchair fencing team competed in all categories, securing 10 gold medals in 16 events. The badminton team participated in 14 events, increasing their gold medal count from five at the previous Paralympics to nine this time. Team sports such as sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and goalball all advanced to the semifinals and won medals.
In the swimming events, Chinese swimmers won two golds, three silvers, and two bronzes in a single day. In the mixed 4x50m relay, Chinese swimmers won the final with a time of 2:24.83, breaking the world record. This marked the 600th gold medal for the Chinese delegation in the history of the Summer Paralympics.
In athletics, Chinese players won four golds, three silvers, and four bronzes. Wen Xiaoyan broke the Paralympic record in the women's 100m T37 to win gold; Jin Hua set a new Paralympic record in the men's 800m T54 to claim the top spot; and Wu Qing broke the Paralympic record in the women's shot put F33 to take gold.
Li Yujie, who won China's first Paralympic gold in taekwondo, told the media that she hopes more people will take the time to understand Paralympic sports and realize that people with disabilities are not a burden to the society, as they are striving for excellence like anyone else.
"I treat every match at the Paralympics as if it were my last, trying hard to achieve the results I desire," Li said. Her lifelong passion for sports and rigorous training has led to her impressive achievements in both domestic and international competitions.
"China has consistently dominated top spot on the Paralympic podium, now regularly surpassing 200 medals. I believe that the brilliant performances of Chinese Paralympic athletes reflect the enduring sports spirit of China," Deng Bowen, a frequent spectator of the Paralympics, told the Global Times. An indispensable role
"China has consistently supported the training and competition of Paralympic athletes, whose achievements serve as important role models, inspiring people with disabilities nationwide in their rehabilitation and pursuit of an active life," Luo Chaofan, a rehabilitation therapist from the National Health Commission, told the Global Times.
According to reports, China has integrated Paralympic sports into its national sports strategies. As sports services for people with disabilities are increasingly accessible in communities and homes, more people with disabilities are engaging in sports for rehabilitation and fitness purposes.
Since the third National Games for Persons with Disabilities in 1992, this event has become part of the national sporting calendar. This has marked a transition toward the institutionalized and standardized development of Paralympic sports.
Luo Chaofan said the Paralympics has become a crucial part of promoting public health and social inclusivity in China.
According to Qiushi Journal, over 10,600 fitness demonstration sites for people with disabilities have been established across China, with 125,000 social sports instructors for people with disabilities graduating from training programs over recent years. Fitness programs for people with severe disabilities have provided services to 434,000 households.
Luo Chaofan noted that the country is increasingly investing in rehabilitation technologies and assistive devices for the disabled.
"Today, high-tech prosthetics, smart wheelchairs, and other advanced equipment are helping athletes with disabilities enhance their performance and improve their daily rehabilitation training," he said.
US Vice President Kamala Harris and former US president Donald Trump faced off in Philadelphia on Tuesday night local time in their first presidential debate ahead of the November election, clashing over a wide range of issues including abortion, immigration, the economy and foreign policy in a showdown that lasted one hour and 45 minutes.
Describing the event as "one of the highest-stakes national debates in a generation," CNN said the fundamental question is whether -and how-one of them can deliver a compelling message to swing voters while bolstering the confidence of their respective bases.
For the first question, Harris was asked on the US domestic economy. She outlined her plan to increase child tax credit and offer tax deductions for small business startups. She said Trump left the Biden-Harris administration with the worst unemployment level since the Great Depression and the worst attack on the US' democracy since the Civil War, a reference to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
Trump said he's in favor of imposing tariffs, in some cases, "substantial tariffs," and went on to say undocumented immigrants are taking jobs from Black and Hispanic Americans.
In terms of tariffs, Harris said that Trump "invited trade wars," while also attacking Trump's plans to impose broad tariffs on foreign importers as a "sales tax" on everyday goods that the American people will ultimately pay.
Responding to an inquiry that both candidates mentioned the US imposing tariffs on China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday that US presidential elections are the US' own affairs, and she has no comment on that. However, China is opposed to making China an issue in US elections, Mao added.
The two candidates also trade barbs on foreign policy, including Russia-Ukraine conflict and Gaza War.
When asked about the Ukraine crisis, Trump said he wanted the war to stop without directly answering whether he wanted Ukraine to win its war with Russia. Harris accused Trump of being willing to abandon US support for Ukraine to "curry favor with Russian President Vladimir Putin," media reported.
When debating the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Trump said Harris "hates Israel," while also claimed Harris "hates the Arab population," because the whole region is going to be "blown up," to which Harris said it's "absolutely not true" that she hates Israel, while calling Trump "weak and wrong" on foreign policy.
Shortly after the debate, Trump told Fox News Digital that he thought it was his "best debate ever," while a New York Times analysis claimed that "throughout the night, Trump found himself in a defensive crouch."
According a post-debate poll from The Washington Post, a group of uncommitted, swing-state voters interviewed thought Harris performed better, regardless of how they plan to vote in November. In another CNN poll of debate watchers conducted by SSRS, registered voters who watched Tuesday debate broadly agree that Harris outperformed Trump.
As having been much anticipated among Democrats, Taylor Swift, one of America's most celebrated pop-culture icons and has an enormous following across the world, endorsed Harris late Tuesday after Harris's debate against Trump.
