上海后花园419

In May, Beijing's Longtan Central Park was full of fresh vitality. The trees had turned lush green, and a light breeze rippled across the lake. Early-morning exercisers moved slowly through their Tai Chi routines, while joggers circled the path at an easy rhythm, blending into the lush spring scene. On an island in the lake, the main event of the 2026 National Nutrition Week was underway, this year centered on the theme "Nutrition at the Family Table." The goal was to bring healthy eating into everyday homes, with crowds drifting between booths to pick up practical tips on improving their diets.

Among the exhibits, Zespri, the New Zealand-based kiwifruit marketer, drew some of the liveliest activity. Children, eyes wide, tossed small balls representing vitamin C, dietary fiber, and potassium into bowls, turning the concept of "high nutrient density" into a game. Nearby, younger visitors scanned QR codes for the brand's "Diet for Good" AI-powered diet mini-program, uploading photos of recent meals and receiving instant analyses of calories, nutritional gaps, and suggestions for better combinations.
Zhao Boya, a young nutrition professional, had just tried all the interactive stations. "People used to focus on whether they were full," she told Global Times. "Now they want to know exactly what's in their food and how to balance it. It's a shift from eating enough to eating well."

A spirited 64-year-old retiree worked her way through every interactive station, laughing as she described her own daily routine: breakfast at her house was more likely to be coarse grains and fresh fruit than fried dough sticks or steamed buns, supplemented with protein powder and vitamins when needed. She said this kind of game-like education felt far more approachable than flipping through dense textbooks.

After finishing the fun, knowledge-filled experiences, each participant received a plump, fresh SunGold kiwifruit. The retiree posed happily for a selfie, the fruit held up like a trophy. Against the backdrop of China's deepening Healthy China Initiative, public awareness of health is rising fast. Consumers are moving beyond simply wanting more choices toward demanding higher quality, paying closer attention to nutritional content, sourcing, safety, and overall health value.

So what can a kiwifruit from New Zealand - with its natural nutritional strengths and Zespri's long-term commitment to the Chinese market - contribute to better-balanced meals for Chinese families, and to a healthier nation as a whole?

Refreshed global platform

At the Zespri booth, a robot named "Kiwi Brothers" stopped pedestrians in their tracks. The interaction was simple: visitors listed what they had eaten for their previous meal, and the robot analyzed it against the "Balanced Meal Plate," a model promoted by the Chinese Nutrition Society based on The Chinese Dietary Guidelines. A scientifically sound plate, the guidelines state, should contain four parts: grains and tubers, animal-based foods or soy products, vegetables, and fruits. Based on the input, the robot offered straightforward feedback.

Light as the game seemed, it turned an otherwise abstract question into something concrete: What did I actually eat last meal? Was my plate all grains and meat? Did I get enough fruit, vegetables and fiber?

A parent confessed, "The hardest part is dealing with a picky eater who won't touch fruit. I worry she's not getting enough vitamins." A group of young adults, by contrast, focused on sugar control, calorie management and lighter eating. Fitness enthusiasts naturally wondered which fruit delivers efficient energy with high nutritional density.

This rising public awareness is mirrored at the national policy level. In recent years, China's National Health Commission and other authorities have rolled out landmark frameworks including the Healthy China Action and the National Nutrition Plan (2017-30). The policies aim to widely spread dietary nutrition knowledge, issue tailored dietary guidelines for different age and social groups, guide the public toward scientific eating habits, and foster a broader culture of balanced nutrition. From top-level national strategy to everyday family dining tables, balanced eating has evolved into a core priority in China's public health agenda.

Yet, a significant gap remains between policy frameworks and daily reality. Data released by the Chinese Nutrition Society reveals a stark paradox: more than half of the population faces nutritional imbalance, marked by energy excess alongside micronutrient deficiencies. Some 63.6 percent of residents exceed the recommended fat-to-energy ratio of 30 percent. Meanwhile, 76.4 percent and 81.9 percent fall short of recommended vitamin C and potassium intake, respectively, with dietary fiber, calcium, and B vitamins consistently below recommended levels.

"Currently, consumers are far more involved than ever," Kok Hwee Ng, Chief Marketing Officer of Zespri International, told the Global Times. "They see health and nutrition not as a solution when you fall sick, but as something they want to integrate into their everyday life."
This shift, Ng noted, has reshaped expectations of premium brands. "When consumers choose a premium product, they naturally expect superior quality, taste, and nutritional value," she said. "But in an increasingly volatile world, they are asking for more. They want brands to play a bigger role in improving their lives, the well-being of their families, their communities, and their future."

That expectation arrives as 2026 marks the official launch of Zespri's decade-long strategic roadmap: its 2035 ambition to become the world's healthiest fruit brand. Central to this vision is the rollout of its refreshed global platform, Grown for Good.

At its core, Grown for Good places natural nutrition at the center of every decision, from orchard cultivation to marketing initiatives and value creation.

Ng believes Zespri is uniquely positioned to lead this charge. "As the world's leading fruit brand, built around one of the most nutrient-dense fruits in the produce aisle, we have both the right and the responsibility to help societies become healthier," she said.

The mission extends beyond the fruit itself. By promoting nutritional literacy and championing the value of natural nutrition, Ng sees a path to unlocking shared value. "It's about creating a cycle where consumers gain health, society gains knowledge, and our growers gain the stability to continue producing high-quality fruit," she added. "That is the essence of Grown for Good - delivering lasting value for people and the planet."

From orchard to table

The SunGold kiwifruit handed to visitors at the end of the interactive games in Longtan Central Park looked simple enough - fresh, plump and ready to eat. For many participants, it was a small reward after a round of nutrition games.

Behind that small reward was a much longer journey.

Before it appeared at the booth, it had already traveled through a chain of growers, standards, cold-chain transport and digital tools linking New Zealand orchards with Chinese dining tables.

Ng said the complete industrial chain is one of the features that makes the brand special. "What makes Zespri even more special is its complete industrial chain layout. The brand is jointly owned by nearly 3,000 local growers in New Zealand, and we take natural nutrition as the core driving force of the whole industrial chain operation," she said.
This chain includes dry matter testing in New Zealand orchards, scientific maturity control, cross-border temperature-controlled cold-chain logistics and digital traceability. These steps support the fruit's journey from orchard to dining table, before it appears in the everyday scenes already visible at the booth: in a child's hand, in a family's breakfast, or as part of a balanced plate.

The emphasis on standards is also connected with the way nutrient density was presented during the event. The report released at the National Nutrition Week advocated high-quality diets and greater intake of high-nutrient-dense foods. Event materials described kiwifruit as a representative high-nutrient-density fruit rich in vitamin C, potassium and dietary fiber; 100 grams of SunGold kiwifruit provides 171 milligrams of vitamin C, meeting the adult daily requirement of 100 milligrams.

The other end of the "orchard to table" route was not a supermarket shelf, but a phone screen. The "Diet for Good" mini-program, which had already drawn visitors to scan and test their own meals at the booth, uses AI image recognition to analyze meals and show users their structure, calorie level and key nutrient information.

The mini-program is supported by professional content from the "National Nutrition Literacy Promotion Program " under the Nutrition Literacy Branch of the Chinese Association of Health Promotion and Education , and combines that content with technologies including Volcano Engine and the Doubao large model. The platform also supports continued meal records and trend tracking, helping users move from a single meal check to a longer-term view of their diet structure.
Ng linked the AI-powered balanced plate activity to a gap between willingness and daily action.

"It's not that people don't want to keep a healthy diet, it's just hard to carry it out in busy daily life. So we're finding simple ways to make healthy eating easier, guide subtle behavior changes and remind consumers to make conscious dietary choices," she said.

"The AI-powered platforms we newly launched this year make it easier for people to stick to healthy eating habits in the long run, because balanced nutrition intake needs long-term persistence, and progress comes from small daily changes," Ng said.

Zespri's partnership with the Chinese Nutrition Society dates back to 2021, when the two sides jointly released their first white paper focusing on working women's diet and health.

The Global Times learned that cooperation has since extended to reports on food nutrient density, visualized food-selection tools and participation in national nutrition events. Ng said the company sees its work in China not merely as selling products, but as contributing to the well-being of Chinese communities.

Toward a healthy China

The family table is also where long-term eating habits begin. That is why Zespri's work in China has extended beyond product promotion into children's food education, parent guidance and hospital-based nutrition programs.

One example is the "Nutrition & Dietary Knowledge Standard Course Program," a children's food education standardization program, supported by Zespri China and launched by the China Association for Student Nutrition and Health Promotion in 2023.

Research from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that 76.21 percent of children consume less than 60 percent of the recommended daily intake of fresh vegetables, while 85.21 percent consume less than 60 percent of the recommended intake of fresh fruit.

The Global Times learned that, over the past three years, the "Nutrition & Dietary Knowledge Standard Course Program" has covered 35 cities, nearly 2,000 schools and more than 300 communities, benefiting 1.5 million students and families.
Ng said the focus on schools is linked to the importance of forming eating habits early. She noted that good eating behaviors, nutritional knowledge and dietary habits take shape from a young age, while changing dietary habits in adulthood is much more difficult.

Hospitals are another setting for nutrition education. The "Sunshine Education & Healthy Growth Program," supported by professional partners including the Children's Hospital of Fudan University, extends nutrition guidance into medical settings and provides scientific support for children and families.

Ng said hospital cooperation helps guide children to develop good eating habits and gather scientific evidence on balanced diets and fresh fruit intake, especially nutrient-dense fruits. She also said cooperation with industry experts can support the building of scientific guidance systems for dietary nutrition.

Looking ahead, Ng said Zespri will continue to deepen cooperation with institutions including the Chinese Nutrition Society and the China Association for Student Nutrition and Health Promotion, bringing nutrition education to more cities and more scenarios.

In that sense, the small kiwifruit becomes part of a bigger story - not only about what people buy, but about how healthier habits take root, one household at a time. At the family table, even one more piece of fruit can quietly echo China's broader pursuit of better health for all.

The 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), which runs from Friday to Sunday, officially opened in Singapore on Friday evening, bringing together defense officials and scholars from 44 countries and regions to discuss regional and global security issues.

With multiple pressing challenges facing the Asia-Pacific, experts attending the gathering reached by the Global Times called on all regional parties to enhance mutual trust, instead of stoking confrontation and division. Against such a backdrop, China's engagement carries profound significance for safeguarding enduring peace, stability and common development across the region, they said.

According to China's Ministry of National Defense (MND), China's delegation to the SLD this year is led by professor Meng Xiangqing from the National Defense University, with members comprising experts and scholars from the National Defense University of China, the Academy of Military Sciences and the Navy.

Jiang Bin, an MND spokesperson, said on Thursday that China attaches great importance to defense and security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Upholding the vision of openness and inclusiveness, China actively participates in all constructive dialogues.

"The participating experts and scholars will elaborate on China's concepts and initiatives in depth, work to enhance mutual trust, dispel misgivings, build consensus and deepen cooperation, and contribute wisdom and efforts to safeguarding peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific," Jiang said.

Standing at inflection point

According to the introduction by Singapore's Ministry of Defense, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) will see 44 countries and regions in attendance, with 54 ministerial-level delegates and more than 42 Chief of Defense Forces-level delegates and senior defense officials, as well as prominent academics.

In his opening remarks on Friday evening, Vietnam's top leader To Lam said the world is beset with multiple risks and uncertainty, which include an erosion of international rules and law, a crisis of development models including slowing growth and climate change, and a crisis of trust among nations, Reuters reported.

He called for reinforcing international law, setting up inclusive and sustainable growth drivers, as well as initiating dialogue and transparency.

On the agenda of the SLD released on the official website of the IISS, words such as "disorder", "threats", "tensions" and "fragmenting" frequently appear in the topics.

Channel News Asia said that the conflict in the Middle East, uncertainty over US commitments in Asia and rising tensions over Taiwan region are expected to dominate the agenda.

Chong Ja Ian, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore, told Reuters that there will likely be some continued anxiety over the unpredictability and volatility of US policy, and the consequences for stability. He said the most pressing issue for Asia would be the US-Israel conflict with Iran and its effects on energy supply.

The Asia Times stated that this year's SLD arrives at a precarious inflection point.

"The primary anxiety animating this year's dialogue is whether a distracted Washington can simultaneously underwrite security in Europe, the Middle East and Asia," the media outlet said. "The inconclusive fallout from the recent Iran conflict has only sharpened those doubts."

In addition to factors regarding the US, the Asia Times also mentioned Japan. While China remains the focal point of Western rhetoric at the forum, "the deepest strategic headache" at SLD may "actually be Tokyo," Eric Olander, editor-in-chief of the China Global South Project, was quoted as saying.

Japan has recently stepped up its moves in military expansionism through the revision of security documents, loosening of weapons controls, and reform of its intelligence system, along with provocations against China over the Taiwan question.

The Asia Times reported that there is rising concern in Beijing that Japan is moving "aggressively to occupy the geopolitical vacuum" left by an inconsistent US, positioning itself as the new, assertive anchor of a post-American security architecture in the Asia-Pacific.

The Global Times reporter tried to capture firsthand views from scholars and experts present at the event. However, one Japanese representative turned down our interview request as soon as we introduced ourselves. Another Japanese scholar agreed to speak, but refused to reveal his name and identity.

"While concerns related to security competition, territorial disputes, and geopolitical rivalry have become increasingly prominent in recent discussions, I sometimes wonder whether the frequent emphasis on terms such as 'threat', 'tension', and 'division' fully reflects the broader aspirations of the region," U Ko Ko, Chairman of Myanmar Narrative Think Tank, told the Global Times on Friday, on the sidelines of the SLD.

"Sustainable security is built through mutual respect, dialogue, trust-building, and win-win cooperation. Regional discussions should therefore focus not only on challenges, but also on common interests and opportunities for cooperation that can contribute to lasting peace and shared prosperity," he said.

Participants should come not merely with their own agendas or narrow national interests, but with a genuine commitment to constructive engagement, mutual respect, and cooperation, the expert added.

Eyes on Beijing

Ahead of the official opening of the SLD, professor Meng Xiangqing, who leads the Chinese delegation, held separate meetings with Regis Savioz, regional director for the Asia-Pacific International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and representatives from UK's Ministry of Defense.

Global Times reporters at the scene noticed that experts from some other national delegations took the initiative to greet the Chinese delegation during the event.

Certain media outlets focus on the scale and rank of the Chinese delegation, playing up alleged "threats" from China over the South China Sea, the Taiwan Straits and its military development. The Associated Press also noted that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will highlight the US "Indo-Pacific strategy" at this year's SLD, a framework that puts regional competition ahead of cooperation.

Nevertheless, some other media and scholars acknowledge China's potential to deliver constructive contributions as a major regional power safeguarding peace and stability amid global unrest.

"At a time when perceptions of US leadership are falling, Beijing could soothe some jangled nerves in the region," said the Interpreter, published by the Lowy Institute, on May 27.

"For many Southeast Asia states, strategic neutrality and working with willing partners are central to national security and prosperity. Being forced to choose sides would be counter to these interests," reads a commentary piece by Channel News Asia.

"China is a regional and global power, and it remains one of the centers of global development. China currently has many initiatives aimed at promoting global cooperation, development, and security, including the Global Security Initiative, which promotes regional and global security," Duong Van Huy, a senior research fellow with the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

"China is fully capable of acting as a responsible power in promoting security and stability in the region. At the same time, the development of economic cooperation between China and countries in the region will undoubtedly boost security cooperation between China and these countries in the future," he added.

China plays a vital role in regional security and development. As a major power and one of the world's largest economies, China has made significant contributions to regional prosperity through trade, infrastructure development, connectivity, and economic cooperation, according to the Vietnam expert.

According to Wang Dong, executive director of the Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding at Peking University, as one of the most important and influential security forums in the Asia-Pacific, the SLD is notably characterized by a Western-centric agenda and discourse system. Consequently, forum discussions are often dominated by Western perspectives, including groundless criticisms and accusations against China.

"As an international venue for strategic interactions, SLD carries important practical significance, and that's why China will take part in it in a pragmatic manner," Wang remarked. "We will refute fallacies with facts and rational arguments. We will also take this opportunity to share China's development vision and present its true image as a responsible major power."

On September 26, the finals of the Global Agrilnno Challenge began. Nine international teams and dozens of young entrepreneurs showcased their artificial intelligence-empowered solutions to address the challenging issues in the global agrifood system transformation.

After nearly three hours of intense on-site competition, the "Identity" team from Peru won gold medal, the team from Tanzania took silver medal for their Climate Smart Irrigator, and the "Smart Tomato" project from China earned bronze.
The Global Agricultural Maker Competition was jointly initiated by Zhejiang University and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and was successfully founded in 2020. This competition is jointly hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Zhejiang University, and supported by the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the People's Government of Binjiang District, Hangzhou, and Pinduoduo. This is also Pinduoduo's fourth consecutive support for this competition.

Since the global recruitment notice was released on the FAO's official website in late June, the competition received over 200 applications, with 155 teams entering the preliminary round. After selection, 9 teams advanced, including 3 teams from China. It is reported that representatives of the gold and silver teams in this competition will have the opportunity to travel to Rome in October to showcase their innovative solutions to global agricultural technology entrepreneurs and investors at the 2024 FAO Science and Innovation Forum.

The Global Agrilnno Challenge is a global competition brand aimed at young agricultural entrepreneurs. It aims to unleash the innovation potential in the agricultural field by widely soliciting innovative business models and digital solutions, helping transform the agrifood system, and achieving the "Four Better" goals proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, namely: better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life.

The competition showcased numerous digital agriculture solutions, innovative concepts, and technologies that are transforming the global agricultural food system. Our innovation and dedication today will become the seeds of changing the future of the agricultural food system, making the global agricultural food system more sustainable and resilient, Wei Longbao, chairman of the judging panel of this competition. Wei is a distinguished professor at Zhejiang University, and the director of the Institute of Food Economy and Agricultural Business Management.

The Chinese "Smart Tomato" team won bronze, while seawater rice is being sold nationwide with the help of Pinduoduo

Since 2020, the Global Agricultural Maker Competition has been held four times. The previous three competitions attracted active participation from 1,044 young agricultural technology entrepreneurs from 65 countries as well as 427 teams, attracting widespread attention worldwide.

At this year's competition, AI technology became the focus of agricultural research innovation for participating teams. Nine teams showcased their solutions for applying artificial intelligence to transform traditional agricultural production systems, covering breeding, planting, management, and sales.
The Peruvian team leading the competition launched a "decentralized interactive protocol system" to address the widespread "digital divide" problem among farmers. It is reported that farmers can synchronize various demands in agricultural production in real time to the system, and accurately match relevant entities such as government, purchasers, and nongovernmental organizations under the recommendation of the system to solve problems faced in the process of production, sales, and other links.

The "Climate Intelligent Irrigation Device" solution of the Tanzanian team won the silver award. Team members introduced that in 2021, the severe drought in East Africa exacerbated the local food shortage, and the cost of using traditional diesel engines for water diversion irrigation was high. In this context, the team developed the "Climate Intelligent Irrigation Device," which uses sensors and other real-time analysis of soil and water conditions, combined with AI and big data technology, to accurately and efficiently irrigate farmland and prevent waste of water resource. The irrigator is powered by solar energy, significantly reducing carbon emissions compared to traditional diesel engines, and promoting environmental sustainability.

The "Smart Tomato" project from China won the bronze award. The team from Guangzhou Guangxin Technology Co Ltd in Guangdong integrated spectral imaging and artificial intelligence technology to monitor the full-cycle growth of tomatoes during the planting process, resulting in higher tomato yields and higher levels of nutrients such as lycopene. "Food safety concerns in underdeveloped regions are significant, and we hope to help farmers around the world grow high-quality tomatoes without posing higher environmental challenges, "said the project members. It is reported that the cost of this equipment has been significantly reduced, and the mature technology has reduced the cost to one-tenth of what it was a few years ago.

In addition to the winning team, other finalists presented innovative plans. A team from Uganda innovatively proposed to turn kitchen waste into treasure by incubating black soldier flies and other tools to address issues such as food waste. The team from Guangdong Haidaohong Agricultural Technology Co Ltd in China, based on the reality of 1.5 billion acres of saline alkali land in China, efficiently selected and bred a salt tolerant variety ̶ seawater rice using artificial intelligence technology. This not only effectively utilizes saline alkali land but also promotes increased grain production. It is reported that the seawater rice developed by the team has been sold to the national market through Pinduoduo, with nearly 100,000 bags sold by merchants.
induoduo continually supports agricultural research and technology to enhance agriculture

In her speech at the competition, Hou Kaidi, Vice President of Pinduoduo, mentioned her renewed support for the Global Agricultural Maker Competition, stating that the development of AI will inject new vitality into traditional agricultural production. Pinduoduo hopes to build a platform for young agricultural technology entrepreneurs around the world to exchange ideas and explore the possibility of "AI+agriculture" landing together, so that more emerging technologies in the agricultural field can be explored and popularized.

Besides the Global Agricultural Maker Competition, Pinduoduo has been continuously increasing its investment in agricultural research and technology. In 2022, Pinduoduo was awarded the 2022 Innovation Award by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, becoming the only global enterprise winner of the award that year.

In 2023, Pinduoduo donated 100 million yuan to China Agricultural University to establish the "Pinduoduo China Agricultural University Research Fund," supporting China Agricultural University to actively explore the strengthening of basic research and key core agricultural technologies around major national strategic needs, based on the forefront of global agricultural science and technology. Among the 50 ongoing research projects supported by the research fund so far, multiple projects have achieved important interim results, and some of the results have been published in authoritative international academic journals such as Cell and Nature.

In addition to supporting basic agricultural research and tackling bottleneck technologies, exploring the application of emerging technologies such as AI in agriculture has also been a key focus of Pinduoduo in recent years. In the finals of the "4th Duoduo Agricultural Research Technology Competition" that recently kicked off, six teams from enterprises, agricultural research institutes, and universities used AI to subvert traditional agricultural production methods. One team customized a "smart brain" for a container plant factory, allowing operators to complete tasks such as watering, fertilizing, dimming, and warming the entire space with just a few clicks of their fingers; Some teams have also designed and adopted a combination of large and small models to monitor various environmental indicators inside the container in real time and adjust the planting plan in a timely manner.

In addition, Pinduoduo also leverages its platform advantages to bridge the "last mile" of agricultural research commercialization, using market sales to support agricultural research innovation. On September 19, before the opening of China's Harvest Festival, Pinduoduo teamed up with representatives from 17 science and technology schools in Lankao, Henan Province and other places to showcase nearly 20 new agricultural research achievements, including Northeast Sea Buckthorn Health Tea, Guangxi Beihai Fresh Shrimp Crisp, Sichuan Ebian Fresh Bamboo Shoots, and Yunnan Erhai Fragrant Rice, to the on-site audience. Under Pinduoduo's concentrated exposure, the live broadcast attracted a total of 18.5 million netizens to watch and purchase on the spot.

"Pinduoduo is one of the representatives of Chinese e-commerce platforms. We would like to thank Pinduoduo for its support of the Global Agricultural Maker Competition. The future food security and sustainable development depend on our breakthroughs and innovations today. We anticipate these innovations will have a sustainable impact on the global agricultural food system in the future, "Wei Longbao said in his concluding speech.

Hou Kaidi stated that the future of agriculture is promising, and AI will provide greater opportunities for growth. "Pinduoduo will continue to work with young scientific and technological innovators and ambitious individuals from around the world to join this promising cause and bring new vitality to agriculture."

China completed a trial operation of an unmanned heavy-haul train on the railway connecting North China's Hebei and East China's Shandong provinces, marking a key milestone in advancing from automated to unmanned heavy-haul railway technology. 

The test train, comprising108 cars with a total length of nearly 1,300 meters and a total weight of 10,800 tons, travelled from Huanghua city in Hebei to Dongying city in Shandong in two and a half hours on Thursday, according to China Media Group (CMG). The test route is primarily used for coal transport. 

Once unmanned driving is widely adopted, the average operation speed of nation's trains will be increased by 1.7 kilometers per hour, while the average traction energy consumption will decrease by 2.9 percent, significantly boosting transportation efficiency of China's west-to-east coal transportation, CMG reported. 

Previously, the unmanned train technology was primarily used in urban rail systems both in China and abroad, and has not yet been applied on a large scale on heavy-haul transport railways.

The test train was independently produced and controlled, from key technologies to management models, according to the Economic Information Daily. The research team created China's first smart heavy-haul railway transportation paradigm featuring a centralized station control system and intelligent train driving system. 

Three key technologies of the test train - comprehensive support and simulation, remote control and autonomous driving, and integrated safety monitoring from air, space, and ground - fill critical manufacturing gaps in China. 

The Line 27 phase I of the subway system in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, commenced no-load trial operation on September 19, 2024. It will be the city's second fully automated subway line, after Line 9, which launched in December 2020, China News Service reported. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for consolidating and developing the unity of the Chinese nation.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the call at a grand meeting held in Beijing to honor role models for ethnic unity and progress.

He urged efforts to advance the building of the community for the Chinese nation.

Shenhai Yihao, or Deep Sea No. 1, China's first homegrown ultra-deepwater gas field project, was completed on Thursday after the construction of its second phase came to an end. The achievement sets a major milestone for the country's self-reliance in accessing deep-sea resources and shows its commitment to securing a sustainable energy supply, China Media Group (CMG) reported.

This breakthrough followed the successful launch of the first phase in June 2021. Operating at a maximum depth of nearly 1,000 meters, the latest development features the deployment of 13 world-leading technological facilities, the CMG reported.

It introduces an innovative development model combining a subsea production system, a shallow-water conductor platform for processing, and a remotely operated deep-water semi-submersible platform, which is designed to facilitate more efficient deep-sea exploitation, according to the producer, China National Offshore Oil Corporation.

In addition to the newly constructed subsea production system and the comprehensive processing platform weighing more than 14,000 tons, the project includes 12 state-of-the-art development wells and five subsea pipelines that stretch around 250 kilometers.

All offshore drilling and completion operations for the project were wrapped up by the end of August, with production testing exceeding expectations, highlighting China's global leadership in deep-water high-pressure drilling technology.

The project also includes the world's first 1,000-meter-deep water manifold constructed by China, along with other key facilities, including the country's longest deep-water oil and gas pipeline, setting multiple industry records in deep-water operations.

These milestones were made possible by the development team's targeted efforts to overcome deep-water construction challenges in the complex, high-temperature, and high-pressure marine environment, according to the producer.

The second phase of Deep Sea No. 1 has revealed more than 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves. When fully operational, it is set to increase peak annual output from 3 billion to 4.5 billion cubic meters, significantly bolstering China's energy security, according to CMG.

Launched in June 2021 in the Lingshui waters off South China's Hainan Province, the initial phase of the Deep Sea No. 1 project has confirmed geological reserves surpassing 100 billion cubic meters, making it the deepest and most challenging offshore gas field currently in operation in China.

In recent years, China has made notable strides in oil and gas resource extraction, transitioning swiftly from shallow to ultra-deepwater operations while developing a series of cutting-edge production equipment, reflecting the country's enhanced self-sufficiency in the sector.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) renewed its call for comprehensive reforms in the US anti-doping system, citing growing concerns about American athletes participating in major international competitions without undergoing adequate testing. 

On Monday the WADA published on its official X account a recent letter to Tobie Smith, board chair of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), in which the WADA revealed that 90 percent of American athletes, particularly those in professional leagues and college sports, compete outside the jurisdiction of the World Anti-Doping Code. WADA vowed in the letter that it will continue applying the World Anti-Doping Code without fear or favor "in the face of ongoing geopolitical interference."

James Fitzgerald, head of media relations with the WADA, told the Global Times on Wednesday that USADA's CEO Travis Tygart seems to recognize that anti-doping in college sports is a joke and has even said that he wonders if foreign athletes are coming to US universities to enjoy a "doping vacation" in America.

"This is a shocking admission and it is strange that Tygart does not seem in a hurry to improve things. We feel the USADA board should lead the way and push for reforms within its anti-doping system," said Fitzgerald.

"Of primary concern is the matter of college sports, which account for so many athletes who go on to compete at the very highest levels, including the Olympic Games," the WADA said in the letter. 

"75 percent of US athletes competing in Paris came through the collegiate system. That is three-quarters of American Olympians who were at one time part of an elite system that operates far below the globally recognized clean sport standard."

WADA also published a reply letter in response to a letter sent in July from the Central European Anti-Doping Organization, representing 32 National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations from Europe, Asia, and Africa. The letter requested clarification regarding the worldwide enforcement of the World Anti-Doping Code.

In the letter to Smith, WADA reproached USADA's testing efforts as insufficient, pointing out that in 2023, USADA collected only 7,773 samples from 3,011 athletes, based on its own data. WADA deemed this figure "disappointing," considering the US population, its vast athlete base, and the size of its Olympic team.

"The French National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) collects significantly more samples than USADA, despite having a budget that is just a little more than one-third of USADA's. USADA also collected fewer samples than the NADOs in China, Russia, Italy, and Great Britain," WADA noted.

In August, the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) called for an independent investigation into USADA's misconduct and for intensified testing on US track and field athletes to rebuild global trust in fair competition, after the USADA allowed American sprinter Erriyon Knighton to compete in the Paris Olympic Games without suspension, despite him having tested positive for banned steroid trenbolone in March. 

WADA also expressed concern about the wider implications, emphasizing that the issue affects more than just US athletes. Media reports indicated that National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) schools sent over 1,000 former, current, and incoming student-athletes, representing more than 100 countries and regions, to the Paris Olympic Games. Among them, 272 athletes secured 330 medals for 26 different countries and regions.

"We are sure it horrifies you to know that top overseas athletes may be taking 'doping vacations' on US soil," said WADA in the letter to Smith.

WADA also criticized USADA for allegedly operating a scheme that permitted athletes guilty of serious doping violations to go undercover and continue competing for several years. WADA viewed this practice as unfair to clean athletes.

WADA emphasized that "In the face of ongoing geopolitical interference, WADA will continue applying the World Anti-Doping Code without fear or favor, working with athletes, the sport movement, national and regional anti-doping organizations, and governments."

"The completion of the supercharging station has brought great convenience to the surrounding residents. It used to take three hours to fully charge my car at home, but now it only takes five minutes," Liu Wei, a new energy vehicle owner from Taizhou City, Jiangsu Province, said with surprise at the New Energy Theme Pocket Park in Jiangyan District on September 10.

In March 2024, while continuously following up on the construction needs of the New Energy Theme Pocket Park, State Grid Taizhou Electric Power Supply Company constructively proposed the idea of building an integrated demonstration station for photovoltaic storage supercharging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) interaction.

In response, State Grid Taizhou Electric Power Supply Company arranged personnel to actively visit several new station-grid interaction demonstration centers in the power system across various locations, strengthened communication with designers from Jiangzheng Jinjiao Company, fully considered the characteristics and needs of each subsystem during the design phase, and formulated a scientific and reasonable system design plan. Meanwhile, the company continuously invested in research and development resources, paid attention to the latest advancements in photovoltaic storage charging and discharging technology, introduced advanced technology and equipment, and improved the overall integrity and stability of the system. The final design was finalized in April 2024. The new installation includes a distributed photovoltaic capacity of 45.25kW and one 100kW/215kWh energy storage device. The modern, intelligent, and new charging station, integrating photovoltaic storage, charging, discharging, advanced charging technology, and smart energy control, was completed and put into operation on August 28, 2024.

"The construction of the integrated 'photovoltaic storage, charging, and discharging' demonstration station helps reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and the emission of vehicle exhaust, which is of great significance for improving urban air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the promotion of V2G technology will also facilitate the utilization of renewable energy and enhance the scheduling flexibility and stability of the power grid," introduced the relevant person in charge of the company's marketing department.

A recent protest against a lithium mining project broke out in Serbia, with demonstrators filling the streets of capital Belgrade. They reportedly obstructed the tracks at two railway stations in the city, and briefly halted traffic on a major highway.

While Serbian government believes that the mine is an opportunity for economic development, protesters say it would cause pollution on the Jadar Valley.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told reporters that although the main protest was done democratically, the blockage of traffic on the highway amounted to "terror of the minority over the majority."

"It is part of the hybrid approach" designed to topple the government, Vucic said, adding that he had been tipped off by Russian intelligence services that a "mass unrest and a coup" were being prepared in Serbia by unspecified Western powers that wish to oust him from power.

Analysts said that under the environmental protection slogans are probably subversive activities by the West, in an attempt to stage a coup d'état in Serbia and install pro-American opposition forces in power.

And this protest, similar to the previous ones, was ostensibly spontaneous, organized by Serbian citizens and ENGOs (environmental non-governmental organizations), but in reality the influence of a few Western countries including the US was lurking behind the scenes, analysts noted.
Whitewashed 'color revolution'?

Earlier this month, tens of thousands took to the streets in Belgrade against a government-approved lithium mining project in western Serbia's Jadar Valley. It is a cooperative project between the Serbian government and Rio Tinto, a British-Australian multinational metals and mining corporation.

The protest, which Western media outlets described as "one of the biggest in recent years" in the country, was allegedly organized by the country's ENGOs and environmentalists concerned about the project's potential impact on the environment.

According to Western media, the protest seemed reasonable and reflected public sentiment, as many mainstream Western news outlets shone the spotlight on a protester named Zlatko Kokanovic in their stories, introducing him as an individual who loves environmental protection.

In a Reuters story on August 9, for instance, Kokanovic was described as "a 48-year-old Serbian farmer" and "a father of five." An Associated Press (AP) story on the same day used a similar description, calling Kokanovic a 48-year-old farmer who has five children. Another individual, Marijana Petkovic, has also been frequently covered in some stories as a "local resident" or "neighbor" of a villager close to Jadar Valley.

However, the two names above are president and key member of the ENGO "Ne damo Jadar" respectively, a main initiator of the protest, the Global Times found. In a story published by Belgrade-based newspaper Danas, Kokanovic "called on all citizens of Serbia to come to the protest in Belgrade."

Rather than making their roles in the protest public, some Western media outlets seemingly preferred to carefully portray them as ordinary citizens who are purely passionate about environmental protection and who happened to participate in the demonstration. Clearly, they made every effort to depict this riot as a spontaneous act by the Serbian people based on their will.

But various signs have indicated that, as Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on August 11, this was no ordinary protest but rather "part of Western-backed 'hybrid' warfare" against his government. "We knew everything in detail," AP cited Vucic as saying. "You think you have surprised someone… we have always been restrained, without violence we ensured order in the country, without a problem."

According to a TASS article published on August 10, Vucic told the media that Moscow had warned Belgrade of preparations for mass riots initiated by representatives of Western countries. "Today, we received official information from the Russian Federation," said Vucic. He added that the information was provided through formal channels, and the Security and Information Agency - Serbia's intelligence body - was responsible for that.

The TASS article also noted that, Serbian newspaper Vecernje Novosti earlier reported that members of Serbia's opposition were ready to take advantage of the pro-Western protests in Belgrade planned for August 10, "to seize the presidential palace, eliminate the head of state, and launch a similar scenario as in Ukraine."

It has obviously gone far beyond just a simple environmental protest. In an interview with news agency RIA Novosti, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin implied that the nature of the protest was a color revolution and foreign interference.

"The lithium protests are not so much about the environment. Their goal is to overthrow the government," said Vulin, according to a Sputnik article on August 12.

Connections with US

Some of the ENGOs involved in the protests against the lithium mining project actually have connections with the US, although such connections are not well known to the public, the Global Times discovered.

Ekoloski Ustanak, or "Ecological Uprising," for instance, is one of the most active organizations engaged in the protests against the lithium-mining project. Early in June, Ecological Uprising reportedly "called for mobilization" of Serbia's opposition parties, civic environmental organizations, and activists "for a joint front" against the project, according to local media reports.

The biggest funders of environmentalist groups are "certainly, from the United States of America," Serbian President of the National Assembly Ana Brnabic once said in January 2022, according to website Balkan Green Energy News.

Mass protests were organized by the Ecological Uprising and other groups to demonstrate against the same lithium mine in December, 2021, Balkan Green Energy News reported.

"I lack words to describe the hypocrisy of foreigners that finance these organizations and these foreigners," Brnabic criticized. She listed some of the biggest US funders - the Rockefeller Foundation, USAID, the Open Society Foundations, the NED, and Edge Funders Alliance. Some on the list are disreputable veterans of inciting color revolutions.

"The infiltration of American influence in Serbia is often evident in environmental protection matters. By providing support to environmental organizations at a relatively low cost, the US is able to achieve significant results efficiently. The so-called NGOs that represent American interests can take a moral high ground in shaping agendas and garnering support from local pro-American factions," Ju Weiwei, deputy director of the Central and Eastern Europe Office, Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

An anonymous scholar who has conducted multiple research trips to Serbia told the Global Times that American support for opposition forces is almost an "open secret."

Attacking Chinese projects

For the ENGOs in Serbia, Chinese observers may be more familiar with Tvrdjava ("Fortress"), a health and environmental NGO that hyped the "carcinogenic Chinese-owned steel company" rumor in late 2021.

A Reuters report in November 2021 cited data obtained by Tvrdjava, alleging that Smederevo Steelworks in central Serbia caused more pollution, after being purchased by China's HeSteel Group (HBIS) in 2016. Tvrdjava said that "the municipality (Smederevo) of around 100,000 people reported 6,866 cancer cases in 2019, up from 1,738 in 2011."

Chinese media outlets later refuted the accusation, and provided solid data proving that China's takeover didn't increase, but largely decreased, the pollution emitted by Smederevo Steelwork.

It's worth noting that, Tvrdjava, "as Reuters mentioned, is found to have a connection with the USAID," the Xinhua News Agency reported in January 2022. The Washington-based agency has a bad reputation of interfering in other countries' internal affairs under the White House's instructions, said Xinhua.

The US' "white gloves" have long been colluding with some Serbian NGOs, in defaming China and Chinese-invested projects. "NED-backed Serbian NGOs coordinated with CNN's Serbia branch to fabricate China-related fake news, slandering projects undertaken by the Chinese side and hyping up so-called environmental protection, labor, and corruption issues," pointed out a report released by Chinese Foreign Ministry on August 9.

The NED's website showed it funded various Serbian NGOs in 2021. With the NED's backing, some recipient organizations were found slandering Chinese-invested companies and projects in Serbia.

The "Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia" was one of the recipients on NED's list, receiving $59,000 in 2021. In a report it released in 2022 that specifically attacked China-Serbia relations, the "committee" groundlessly accused Chinese employers of "inhumane and humiliating treatment."

All these tricks just expose that, the US is dissatisfied with the significant practical investment and cooperation between China and Serbia. As a result, they have allegedly influenced some local opposition forces to oppose Chinese investment in Serbia and undermine the projects involving China, Ju said.

Ju, who had been in Serbia before for field research, discovered that some individuals, despite knowing the lack of evidence in their lawsuits, persisted in suing Chinese companies under the guise of environmental concerns. He noted that it is not ruled out that there may be support from other foreign forces behind this.

This tactic, commonly employed by American-backed NGOs, aims to disrupt Chinese companies under the pretext of human rights and labor issues, tarnishing their reputation in the process, said Ju.

However, due to the current Serbian government's commitment to an independent foreign policy and stable diplomatic ties with the EU, China, Russia, and other nations, along with Chinese companies' adherence to legal and ethical business practices, these attempts to tarnish our reputation are unlikely to succeed. It is evident that Chinese companies and the Chinese economy have greatly enhanced the quality of life for the local population, the expert stressed.

A total of 20 Australian companies, organizations and institutions, including a number of universities, are attending the ongoing 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, as they look for opportunities to boost cooperation amid improving ties.

The attendance to CIFTIS by Australian entities in 2024 has improved markedly from last year, amid an improvement of bilateral relations highlighted by a series of recent high-level interactions between officials of the two countries after years of frayed ties.
At the CIFTIS, Dale Pinto, global president of CPA Australia, a global accountant organization, told the Global Times that the relationship with China, Australia’s leading trade partner, is “absolutely critical.”

“It is really important to us, in the opening ceremony on Thursday, to hear that China is ready to increase its collaboration and cooperation [with the world],” Pinto said.

According to Pinto, many of the challenges people face today cannot be addressed by one country alone and needs collaboration, such as emission control, and that’s what makes the CIFTIS platform, which reinforces people-to-people exchange and cooperation, significant.

“We like to work with China. China is very advanced in many ways and can help Australia,” Pinto said, noting that in other areas, Australia can help China as well. “It is a mutually beneficial relationship.”

Australian representatives at the CIFTIS noted that a series of trade talks, high-level communications and official visits in the past two years sent really positive signals that the dialogue is really moving in a positive direction. And Australian companies and institutions are looking for opportunities in enhancing bilateral cooperation in several areas, including international education, green financing, digital transformation, and technological innovation.

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers is visiting China later this month, according to Bloomberg, in another high-level visit by officials of the two countries.

“Those high-level visits between the two sides have sent a signal to our business communities that we are talking and we are engaging. And that's really important,” Dominic Trindade, minister (commercial) at the Australian Embassy in Beijing, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Trade in services from Australia is quite diverse. A very large element of that is in the visitor economy – tourists, students, people visiting family and friends, and short-term business visitors. Those were affected during the pandemic years, according to the trade official.

“We'd like to see those links, those strong people-to-people links continue to build, but also looking at new avenues, new services, particularly in the technology areas, and in those areas around sustainability, environmental services [at the CIFTIS],” Trindade said.

“Australia’s multi-year attendance to the CIFTIS attests to the long tradition of cooperation between our two countries in services trade. Also, we will have a range of other events during the next 12 months that will culminate in Australia being the CIFTIS country of honor in 2025,” said Trindade.

Australia is China’s seventh-largest trading partner, and China has become Australia's largest services export partner in 2023, public data showed.

Australia’s services exports to China surged by more than A$5 billion ($3.36 billion) in 2023, reaching A$14.7 billion, accounting for 12.9 percent of the total service exports in the year.