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China and ASEAN member states have agreed to explore the possible establishment of cooperation mechanisms to enhance regional energy security and resilience, and further strengthen cooperation in regional power interconnectivity, energy supply chains, according to a China-ASEAN joint statement on addressing the regional impacts of developments in the Middle East and strengthening regional energy cooperation, which was released following the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting held on Wednesday in Manila.

In the statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday, China and ASEAN noted that they acknowledged the continued communication and cooperation on international and regional issues of common interest and responses.

The two sides recognized that the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East and its spillover effects pose a grave threat to the lives and safety of civilians, as well as to regional and global peace, stability, and economic activities including regional trade, investment, energy and food security.

According to the statement, China and ASEAN have agreed to carry out exchange of information on energy policy and practical cooperation and explore the possible establishment of cooperation mechanisms for this purpose as mutually agreed to enhance regional energy security and resilience to contribute to sustainable development in the region.

"We will further strengthen cooperation in regional power interconnectivity, energy supply chains, clean low-carbon and renewable energy, energy technology innovation, civilian nuclear energy, and other relevant areas, in support of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (2026-2030) and by exploring opportunities for cooperation under China's Global Development Initiative (GDI) and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)," reads the statement.

The two sides also pledged to make appropriate use, where mutually agreed, of relevant cooperation initiatives, such as the partnership between ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and the China-ASEAN Clean Energy Cooperation Center, and mobilize available public and private financing resources, including relevant ASEAN institutions, multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, and partner-supported financing mechanisms such as the China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund.

Ma Bo, an associate professor at the School of International Studies at Nanjing University, told the Global Times on Friday that what distinguishes this joint statement is its integration of spillover risks from Middle East conflicts with China-ASEAN priorities of regional sustainable development and energy security under a unified framework.

According to the expert, China and ASEAN will likely center future cooperation on energy transit security. The two sides may seek to diversify transport routes, with plans to upgrade the Myanmar-Thailand overland energy corridor and push ahead with Kra Isthmus planning, said Ma.

In addition, China and ASEAN may also speed up talks on joint South China Sea oil and gas exploitation, said Ma, adding that the majority of coastal South China Sea nations, except the Philippines, is open to such practical cooperation, putting pressure on the Philippine side.

In the statement, China and ASEAN member states also reaffirmed support for ASEAN Centrality in the evolving regional architecture and all ASEAN-led mechanisms and fora, and recalling ASEAN's acknowledgment of China's active efforts to promote closer ASEAN-China cooperation, including China's vision to build a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

In this regard, Ma said that on traditional security matters such as the Myanmar crisis, Thai-Cambodian border clashes and South China Sea disputes between China and the Philippines, ASEAN always stays neutral and sticks to mediation instead of deep involvement. Energy security, a typical non-traditional security sector, may become a key pillar cementing ASEAN's centrality through future cooperation.

Furthermore, the push for deeper energy security cooperation between China and ASEAN will help transform ASEAN from a mere venue for consultations and dialogue into a full-fledged mechanism that delivers and implements tangible cooperation outcomes. This also represents an effective way to further boost ASEAN's strategic autonomy, said the expert.

After Japan's Asahi Shimbun revealed that Japanese right-wing forces have been using artificial intelligence on a large scale to churn out disinformation denying the Nanjing Massacre and claiming Japan treated civilians humanely during its invasion of China, China's Ministry of State Security on Sunday published a commentary slamming such acts that trampled on historical justice and human conscience and have drawn fierce criticism from the international community and visionary people in Japan.

Such blatant distortion of wartime history tramples historical justice and human conscience, drawing fierce condemnation from the international community and insightful figures within Japan, per MSS.

Japanese right-wing forces post assignments on major crowdsourcing platforms including CrowdWorks and have long run recruitment ads explicitly calling for production of so-called "criticizing China" videos. Contractors provide assignees with detailed operation guides. After inputting simple prompts into AI software, creators can generate a smear video within mere minutes.

Public budget data from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows that since 2015, Tokyo has allocated more than 56 billion yen ($3.43 billion) under the name of "overseas strategic information dissemination" specifically for launching opinion-based smearing campaigns against China. Such efforts include twisting historical perceptions and downplaying Japan's war of aggression responsibilities.

An investigation by Asahi Shimbun revealed that a 30-second AI-generated disinformation video distorting the history of Japan's invasion of China is priced at 5,000 yen. Creators earn a bonus of 1,000 yen per 1,000 views for China-related negative content — over three times the reward for ordinary videos — with additional payouts for hitting viewership targets. This flagrant, price-tagged model has drastically lowered barriers to participation, drawing large numbers of creators lacking capacity to distinguish historical facts, and fueling mass output of falsified historical content.

AI-manipulated videos distorting the history of Japan's invasion spread rapidly across online platforms, continuously stirring disputes and muddying public opinions. Such content disrupts normal information circulation and poses risks to China's ideological security.

As wartime witnesses pass away and the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression fades into history, the internet has become a key channel for younger generations to access and understand historical facts. Yet AI-propagated fabricated historical narratives easily mislead teenagers with incomplete historical knowledge, diluting and distorting collective historical memory as it passes between generations.

Disinformation generated overseas may flow back into China's cyberspace. Left unchecked, such content risks dismantling the collective memory and unity the Chinese nation forged during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Worse still, if these falsified materials contaminate training datasets for domestic large language models, AI systems may internalize historical biases espoused by Japanese right-wing forces when answering history-related queries, warping Chinese people's understanding of history. Rigorous precautions must be enforced to block infiltration of these problematic videos into China, MSS noted.

From toning down references to "aggression" in textbooks and annual visits to the infamous Yasukuni Shrine worshipping war criminals, to reclassifying the Nanjing Massacre as an "incident" at the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, and now leveraging AI to whitewash wartime crimes, Japanese right-wing forces have relentlessly strived to cultivate a public image of Japan as a "peaceful nation". They seek to whitewash the crimes of militarist aggression through carefully crafted narratives and symbolic vanity projects. But truth cannot be tampered with, and war guilt can never be erased.

The judgment of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East in 1948 featured a dedicated chapter ruling on the "Nanjing Atrocities." In 2015, the Documents of the Nanjing Massacre were inscribed onto UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. Over 192,000 cultural relics preserved at the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, alongside witnesses' diaries The Good Man of Nanking, Terror in Minnie Vautrin's Nanjing, the John Magee footage and survivor testimonies, archival records, relics and remains, all constitute overwhelming, ironclad evidence and brook no ambiguity or any attempts to "reverse the verdict." 

The fact that Japanese right-wing forces resort to elaborate disinformation tactics instead of reflecting on their historical guilt speaks volumes: they are fully aware that crimes of aggression can never be washed away, nor historical facts erased, leaving them no choice but to fool themselves with lies.

History brooks no revision, and justice resides with the people. The more petty schemes and wrong turns Japanese right-wing forces take over historical issues, the greater vigilance and opposition they will encounter from the international community. Any attempt to erase historical truth via technological tools is destined to collapse in the face of irrefutable evidence and universal justice. Only by facing history squarely can nations march toward the future; only genuine remorse can sustain peace. China will work alongside the international community to resolutely resist and dismantle lies fabricated by Japanese right-wing forces and safeguard historical justice, the MSS stressed.

As extreme weather battered several parts of China, including a landslide in Northwest China's Gansu Province that killed 21 people, flooding in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region that left six dead, and severe thunderstorms that left 11 dead in Hubei Province, central and local authorities, together with volunteer rescue organizations, mounted a large-scale emergency response to carry out search, rescue and disaster relief operations.

The landslide in Dangchang county, Northwest China's Gansu Province, killed 21 people, local authorities said on Wednesday. The disaster occurred at around 6:56 am on Tuesday in Renzang village, Nanhe township, trapping 33 people. Emergency, firefighting and public security teams were swiftly mobilized to carry out rescue efforts after the incident, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

Longnan municipal government held a press conference on Wednesday morning to brief the public on the latest developments. Search and rescue operations have been completed, officials said. At the event, government officials and journalists stood for a moment of silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the disaster.

As of 12:20 am on Tuesday, severe thunderstorms and strong winds in Hubei Province had affected 14,600 people, leaving 11 dead, one person missing, and 331 injured. Rescue and disaster relief efforts are proceeding in an orderly manner, while authorities continue to verify the full extent of the damage, the Xinhua News Agency reported, citing local authorities.

Following the disaster, authorities in Huanggang quickly mobilized nearly 3,000 rescue personnel from emergency response departments, police, firefighters, urban management authorities, the armed police and stationed military units to carry out overnight rescue and relief operations, according to the China News Service.

Luo Jie, director of the medical affairs department at Huanggang Central Hospital, said the hospital had treated 178 injured people as of 8 am on July 7. Most injuries involved skin abrasions, lacerations and soft tissue contusions. After the injured were transported to the hospital, medical staff immediately opened a fast-track treatment channel, carried out wound cleaning and suturing, conducted necessary examinations and provided targeted supportive care.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Emergency Management urgently allocated 50 million yuan ($7 million) in central natural disaster relief funds to support emergency rescue and disaster response efforts in Hubei and Gansu, with the aim of minimizing casualties and preventing secondary disasters, China Central Television reported. 

Of the funds, 20 million yuan was allocated to Hubei to support the relocation and resettlement of affected residents, as well as the restoration and reconstruction of damaged homes. Another 30 million yuan was allocated to Gansu to support search and rescue operations, emergency geological disaster response, and the investigation of potential risks from secondary disasters.

In South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where torrential rains have triggered floods which have killed six people and affected 375,000 people so far, rescue work is continuing. 

More than 1,700 engineering and rescue vehicles, as well as over 5,700 vessels and lifeboats, have been deployed. In addition, 40 civil rescue teams, including those from the Red Cross, Blue Shield and Blue Sky rescue organizations, involving more than 300 personnel, have joined the operations, the official said. 

A resident surnamed Zhu of Guigang, Guangxi, told the Global Times on Wednesday that some elderly people in her community remained trapped as of Wednesday, with power outages and water shortages still affecting the area. She said some residents had organized themselves to help rescue elderly people who were unable to leave their homes.

Pan Zhenguo, a member of the Blue Sky Rescue Team currently involved in relief efforts in Guigang, Guangxi, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the most challenging phase of the rescue operation had passed, with rescue operations now focused primarily on large-scale evacuations and the relocation of affected residents. Water levels in previously inundated villages have receded significantly, though some areas remain flooded.

Pan also said that, since Tuesday, they had begun receiving disaster relief supplies donated by people from all sectors of society. Since Wednesday, conditions for delivering supplies to affected villages have gradually improved.

He noted that some technology companies had also provided drones to support rescue operations, which have significantly improved the efficiency of disaster response efforts.

China has allocated more than 36,000 additional disaster relief items to Guangxi, the Ministry of Emergency Management said Tuesday, per Xinhua.

The items, including woven bags and rubber boats, were jointly allocated by the office of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

The Ministry of Commerce guided pharmaceutical distribution enterprises to carry out self-resumption of production and emergency supply guarantee to fully meet the demand for medical supplies in disaster-hit areas, according to Xinhua.

Headquarters of pharmaceutical retail enterprises dispatched staff to disaster-hit areas to assist with store silt clearance and disinfection, stocktaking of supplies, emergency distribution and other tasks. Some stores that were flooded have reopened. 

Against the backdrop of global climate change, compounded by ocean-atmosphere anomalies associated with El Niño, extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent. In response, societies will need to further strengthen disaster risk governance and resilience, Bao Cunkuan, a professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at Fudan University, told the Global Times. 

In coping with disasters, China has established emergency response mechanisms for both single disasters and compound disasters, while its coordinated, top-down governance system enables the rapid mobilization of resources, enhancing emergency response, self- and mutual-aid efforts, and post-disaster recovery, Bao said. 

Lithuania's new Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius recently presented his government's policy agenda to parliament, outlining a program focused on defense, civil resilience and a recalibration of foreign policy toward China, which some media outlets described as a shift after years of strained bilateral ties. Chinese experts said a more pragmatic approach would better serve Lithuania's national interests and would be welcomed, but added that any policy shift by the new government should be demonstrated through concrete actions rather than rhetoric.

According to a report by Euronews on Wednesday, the government program presented by Sinkevičius to the Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday said that Lithuania will "normalize diplomatic relations with China to the level maintained by other EU member states", signaling a more pragmatic approach after several years of strained ties.

The shift marks a departure from the previous government led by the Conservatives. In 2021, Vilnius allowed Taiwan island to open a representative office using the name "Taiwan" rather than the commonly used reference of "Taipei", leading China to downgrade diplomatic relations with Lithuania.

By shifting its policy toward China, Lithuania's new prime minister appears to be returning to a more pragmatic diplomatic approach. The new administration has recognized the substantial economic benefits enjoyed by other European countries through cooperation with China, while domestic economic pressures have further driven a recalibration of its foreign policy, Zhao Junjie, a senior research fellow at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

Jian Junbo, director of the Center for China-Europe Relations at Fudan University's Institute of International Studies, said Lithuania's China policy remains contradictory: while the new government emphasizes both security and economic cooperation, some politicians may still view China as a security threat. This biased and hesitant perception may limit practical cooperation with China going forward.

According to Euronews, Conservative Žygimantas Pavilionis asked the prime minister why "the threat of China is not seen" and why "you love China so much" during the agenda's presentation. "I don't feel either love or dislike toward China," Sinkevičius said, adding that he has two priorities in foreign policy. "The first is security; the second, without overshadowing the first, is economic cooperation — those matters related to bilateral relations and trade."

The previous administration pursued a so-called "values-based" approach that crossed China's core red lines and severely damaged bilateral ties, while its hardline stance also cast a shadow over broader China-EU relations, Zhao said.

"We welcome Vilnius' return to a rational, pragmatic and normalized diplomatic track. However, concrete actions - including correcting previous mistakes and returning to the right path of upholding the one-China principle - rather than words alone, are needed to truly bring bilateral relations back on track," said Zhao. 

China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should ensure that the development of bilateral relations always helps consolidate their respective socialist causes and promote their modernization drives, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Pak Thae Song, premier of the Cabinet of the DPRK, in Beijing. Pak is also a member of the Presidium of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea and vice president of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK.

While the current international situation is volatile and intertwined, Xi said, China and the DPRK should maintain strategic resolve, enhance strategic confidence, and accelerate the implementation of the consensus reached by him and General Secretary Kim Jong Un, ensuring that the relations between the two parties and the two countries keep pace with the times.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday hailed the 105-year history of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as the "most magnificent epic" of the Chinese nation and urged the Party to press ahead to build China into a modern socialist country on schedule.

Addressing a gathering marking the CPC's 105th founding anniversary, Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called on Party members to remain steadfast in their convictions and work tirelessly to fulfill the Party's missions in the new era and on the new journey, Xinhua News Agency reported. 

Founded in 1921 against the backdrop of a weak China plagued by foreign humiliation and poverty, the CPC has grown from a small group of just over 50 members into the world's largest governing party with tremendous global influence. Xi underscored the importance of meeting the goal of fully realizing socialist modernization by the middle of the century.

"Time stops for no one, and neither does history," he said.

Across China, celebrations were held to mark the anniversary of the CPC's founding. Party members gathered to renew their vows and remember their mission, while many others visited historical memorial halls to pay their respects and learn about the Party's journey.

Epic in millennia-long history

The CPC has led the Chinese people in writing the most magnificent epic in the millennia-long history of the Chinese nation through unremitting endeavors, Xi said at the gathering marking the 105th anniversary of the CPC on Wednesday, Xinhua reported. 

The endeavors over the past 105 years have fundamentally transformed the future of the Chinese people, opened up the right path for achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and demonstrated the strong vitality of Marxism, said Xi.

They have also produced a profound influence on the course of world history, and made the CPC a powerful Communist Party, he said.

Xi also stressed upholding the absolute Party leadership over the people's armed forces. He urged efforts to achieve the goals for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army in 2027 and elevate the people's armed forces to world-class standards at a faster pace.

Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China's complete reunification is a historic mission and an unshakable commitment for the CPC, Xi said on Wednesday. He pledged resolute actions to fight secessionists seeking "Taiwan independence," oppose external interference, and advance national reunification. 

President Xi's speech comprehensively answers three fundamental questions about the CPC's 105-year history: what it has accomplished, why it has succeeded, and how it has advanced its cause. It highlights the Party's role in transforming China and influencing the world, attributes its achievements to its distinctive qualities and explains that its success has been driven by a scientific approach to governance, Xin Ming, a professor from the School of Marxism at Beihang University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

Together, these arguments present the Party's defining character, explain why the CPC has succeeded, and reaffirm its determination to continue along its chosen path, Xin said. He added that it is especially important at this critical juncture to strengthen confidence in the country's future development and maintain strategic resolve across society.

At the gathering on Wednesday, Xi also conferred the July 1 Medal, the Party's highest honor, on model CPC members at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing on Wednesday morning.

Across China, various events were held to celebrate the anniversary. The Museum of the Communist Party of China in Beijing launched a series of special exhibitions showcasing the Party's history and the enduring spirit that shaped its development. A Global Times reporter on Wednesday witnessed streams of visitors visiting the museum to experience the exhibitions and revisit the Party's history.

"Visiting the museum today, on the Party's birthday, feels especially meaningful. Witnessing probationary members take their official oaths reminds me once again of the honor and responsibility of being a CPC member," said 73-year-old Gao Jilie.

"I brought my granddaughter so she can learn about the Party's history and traditions from an early age. Today she is a Young Pioneer, but in the future, she may join the Party, which is a lifelong journey of growth and commitment. I hope this visit helps us reflect on our history, carry forward our revolutionary heritage, and find inspiration for the future," Gao added.

Meanwhile, in Shanghai, the Memorial Hall of the First National Congress of the CPC also drew large crowds despite the rain. Among the visitors was Yan Weiyong, who joined the Communist Party of China in 1976 and has made the site an annual destination for decades. 

Seeing so many visitors today, including children, reflects the Party's deep roots among the people and gives me confidence that its mission will endure, Yan said, noting that over the past 105 years, China has transformed from a poor nation into an important force for world peace and development. Amid profound global changes unseen in a century, China's stability and development path can offer valuable lessons for humanity's future.

Wider recognition

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing on Wednesday that political parties, leaders and people of various sectors from many countries have expressed congratulations in one way or another on the 105th anniversary of the founding of the CPC. They spoke highly of how the CPC has always put the people front and center, taken solid effort to rejuvenate the nation, constantly improved itself, led the Chinese people in making great achievements in economic and social progress, and made important contribution to world peace and development. 

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has sent a congratulatory message. In the message, the CPV Central Committee congratulated the CPC on its achievements over the past 105 years in uniting and leading the Chinese people to overcome numerous difficulties and challenges and secure remarkable accomplishments, according to the Vietnam News. 

President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko also sent greetings to President Xi on the 105th anniversary of the CPC founding. Lukashenko noted the special importance of Chinese initiatives in the fields of global development, security, civilization and governance, according to Belarus Today. 

While the founding of the CPC was historically hailed as an epoch-making milestone for the nation, today it must be viewed through the lens of world history. Under the Party's leadership, China's rapid rise has profoundly reshaped the global landscape, Yang Xuedong, director of the Department of Political Sciences at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times. 

Xin said that under the leadership of the CPC, China has engineered a development miracle that defies traditional Western political theories by successfully pioneering modernization and shattering the myth that modernization equals Westernization. This historic rise proves that when China does well, the world does better.

Today, a strong China is also actively translating its domestic success into Chinese wisdom, offering new models for human advancement and practical solutions to global challenges, the expert said. 

An article published by the Herald in Zimbabwe recently noted that the 105th anniversary of the CPC is a rare and resonant milestone in modern statecraft.

"The CPC's journey is a testament that a people, guided by a strong and visionary party, can overcome any obstacle to build a nation that commands respect on the world stage… The CPC's 105th anniversary is therefore not just a Chinese celebration but a milestone for global solidarity. It represents a commitment to multilateralism and a vision of a world where the Global South can rise together," read the article. 

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced on Tuesday that China will establish a coordinated ground- and space-based monitoring system for near-Earth asteroids to provide early warning and monitoring support for planetary defense against potential asteroid impacts, China Central Television (CCTV) News reported on Tuesday.

The risk of near-Earth asteroid impacts is regarded as a potential threat and a common challenge facing all humanity. According to the United Nations, June 30 is observed each year as International Asteroid Day.

According to CCTV's coverage, as a responsible major spacefaring nation, China is advancing plans for its asteroid defense system. Effective planetary defense requires early warning, with integrated ground- and space-based monitoring network at the core.

As of June 2026, more than 40,000 near-Earth asteroids had been discovered and catalogued globally. Although none has been confirmed to be on a definite collision course with Earth, many smaller celestial bodies have yet to be detected. According to CCTV, China has made initial breakthroughs in early-warning models and algorithms for asteroid impact risks, and is developing an operational near-Earth asteroid risk warning system.

Following the detection of a potentially hazardous asteroid, the next step is determining how to deflect it. Song Zhongping, a military affairs and aerospace technology expert, told the Global Times on Tuesday that one of the most straightforward approaches is kinetic impact, in which a spacecraft or missile collides with the asteroid to alter its trajectory or break it into smaller fragments, thereby reducing the overall threat.

Song said another set of approaches focuses on changing the asteroid's orbit. These include gravity tractors, laser ablation and continuous-thrust techniques, with the ultimate goal of nudging the asteroid away from Earth's orbital path well in advance, preventing a potential impact.

Wu Weiren, Chief designer of China's Lunar Exploration Program, said that China plans to carry out a kinetic impact test on an asteroid tens of millions of kilometers away around 2027, with the aim of altering its orbit. The mission will also conduct in-orbit assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of the impact, according to a report posted by CNSA, citing the Science and Technology Daily. 

Song said with the capabilities, technological expertise and resources to advance such efforts, China is contributing to global planetary defense and the shared goal of safeguarding humanity from potential asteroid threats.

A 5.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Gaoxian County in Yibin City, in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Monday left 15 people with minor injuries as of 2 p.m., the city's earthquake relief headquarters said.

Among those injured, one was still receiving treatment in hospital, while the remaining 14 had been discharged. A total of 211 people have been evacuated and resettled. A total of 1,819 rooms in 933 households sustained general damage, while 40 rooms in 18 households were reported to be severely damaged.

The earthquake occurred at 0:12 a.m. Monday (Beijing Time). The epicenter was located at 28.50 degrees north latitude and 104.69 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 6 km, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

After the earthquake hit, 31 rescue teams consisting of 340 personnel from fire and rescue services, emergency rescue forces and militias, as well as 62 vehicles, were deployed to the affected area for search and rescue work.

Local authorities have evacuated people under threat from 296 registered geological hazard points and 342 high-risk areas. A total of 1,300 pieces of emergency relief supplies have been urgently allocated.

All expressways, national and provincial highways, and rural roads in the affected areas have resumed traffic. Power supply remains stable, and communication networks are operating normally.

To prevent secondary disasters, local authorities have pooled forces to conduct full-coverage post-quake screening for geological hazards.

British Columbia Premier David Eby is scheduled to leave for his trade mission to China on Saturday in hopes of diversifying trade relationships, Canadian media reported. The reported trip, which builds on the bilateral consensus reached during Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's January visit, demonstrates the provincial government's proactive stance toward strengthening economic ties and bilateral exchanges with China, a Chinese analyst said.

Posting on social media on Saturday, Eby wrote that "China is B.C.'s second largest trading partner. To strengthen ties and expand markets for B.C. goods, I will be leading a trade mission to China." He also said the planned trip is for "reducing our reliance on the US." "Growing trade with other countries is one way we will continue to support good jobs for British Columbians," Eby posted.

Speaking with the media, Eby also said "We want to double our international trade beyond where it is right now, outside of the US," CTV reported. "The US has been historically a very good trading partner for us, but we've been too dependent on the US." 

Speaking with the media on Saturday before catching a flight to China, the premier described China as British Columbia's second-largest trading partner, and said he and Minister of Transportation Mike Farnworth will be making stops in Beijing, Shanghai, and Wenzhou, and the focus on this trip will be jobs and opportunity for British Columbians, Canadian media outlet CTV News reported.

"We have lots of connections, people-to-people connections with China, 500,000 Canadians of Chinese descent in British Columbia alone," he explained, per the report. "Those people-to-people relationships have gotten us through some tough times."

Eby's planned trip is expected to include Wenzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province, where the two sides have maintained broad people-to-people exchanges. Educational cooperation has been one channel of such engagement, with the Canada British Columbia International School in Wenzhou operating since 2023 as one of seven such schools in China.

The Canadian Press reported on Saturday that Eby also said his first-ever trade trip to China will focus on pitching the province's forestry products and energy sector around LNG development, approaching the mission with both excitement and caution. 

As of press time, the Global Times hasn't found confirmation from the Chinese Foreign Ministry regarding Eby's visit to China.

The reported trip comes after Carney's visit to China in January, the first trip to China by a Canadian Prime Minister in eight years. During Carney's visit, both sides signed multiple cooperation documents covering trade, customs, energy, construction, culture, and public security, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Zhao Xingshu, a deputy director of the Department of Canadian Studies at the Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday that the reported visit builds on the consensus reached by Chinese and Canadian leaders during Carney's official visit to China this January.

Eby also pointed to Carney having "opened the door" for this opportunity to expand trade with China, and outlined that he'll be "at the table" to discuss lumber trade, agricultural products, and "opportunities like tourism" that can grow British Columbia's economy at home, CTV News reported.

In the months since Carney's China visit, exchanges between China and Canada at various levels have gathered momentum, Zhao noted. 

On May 29 local time, Carney met with Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Ottawa. During the meeting, Wang said that facts have proven that a better China-Canada relationship serves the interests of both countries, meets the expectations of all parties, and represents the right choice for Canada, according to Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Earlier this month, Minister of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) Li Lecheng met with Canada's Minister of Industry Melanie Joly in Beijing, and the two sides exchanged views on deepening industrial cooperation, according to MIIT.

Zhao added that British Columbia stands out as one of the provinces hit hard by past China-Canada trade frictions. Against this backdrop, British Columbia has a strong desire to grow economic and trade ties with China, the expert said.

Despite being locked into long-term structural reliance on the US market, Canada's push for trade diversification aligns with public sentiment, Zhao said. By expanding ties with China and other global partners, authorities intend to reassure that the country is moving beyond one-sided dependence on America.

The delegation's reported visit itself sends a clear signal for deeper cooperation, showing the provincial government has adopted a proactive attitude toward boosting economic links and mutual exchanges with China, Zhao said. The visit is also expected to lay the groundwork for more extensive collaboration down the line, bringing mutual benefits to both countries, the expert noted.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson announces:

At the invitation of Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Tarique Rahman will pay an official visit to China from June 24 to 26.