Both competing in the last subdivision of the day, the men's team and the women's team of artistic gymnastics of Team China gave their home crowd performances worth waiting, both bagging gold medals.
On Monday night, an enthusiastic crowd filled the Huanglong Sports Centre Gymnasium and burst into biggest cheers and applaud for the girls of the Chinese team. With a very young squad aged from 15 to 22, the girls snatched a team gold medal despite a few glitches during the beam competitions.
"Even if there were various degrees of faults during the competition, everybody has worked hard and adjusted out mindset," 15-year-old Zhang Xinyi said to the reporters after the game. "We were able to adapt quickly and get ready for the next events."
Zhang also credited their victory to the team and the crowd. "The audience was very enthusiastic, cheering us on," she said.
The team compiled the top team scores on each of the four apparatuses. After the match, the team dedicated their victory to team spirit and perseverance.
Japan ranked closely behind China, while North Korea snatched bronze.
During the competition, the members of the Chinese team and the members of the Japanese team displayed a warm and friendly attitude to each other, cheering for the other team's athletes when they were switching apparatuses.
Speaking to the Global Times, Zhang said that they would like to encourage each other even if it was a competition.
"Whilst in the match, we both cheered each other on. We respect each other," she told the Global Times.
"Even if we're from different countries, we can cheer each other on," Japan's Mikako Serita told the Global Times. "The Chinese gymnasts were waving at us and we felt the friendly vibe."
"To put it simply, I think gymnastics is a great sport," she said.
Earlier on Sunday night, China's men's team also finished with gold, while Japan and Chinese Taipei were silver and bronze medalists.
"Our preparations were actually very thorough, but we still encountered some difficulties," said Xiao Ruoteng of Team China.
Xiao credited the enthusiastic crowd for inspiring and empowering his team. "We felt the audience cheering us on, and it felt like there was still a strong force behind us pushing us forward," he added.
The artistic gymnastics team finals also served as qualification games for the all-around and apparatus finals. During Monday's competitions, veteran gymnast Oksana Chusovitina also earned the loudest cheers from the crowd.
The 48-year-old eight-time-Olympian performed well enough to qualify for the vault apparatus final. She blew a kiss and showed a heart-shape with her arms to the supporting Chinese audience.
"As long as I enjoy gymnastics, I don't know when I will finish," Chusovitina said after the game, expressing her love for the sport.
Amateurs proved prominent during the opening round of the Mitsubishi Electric FA Golf Open in Suzhou, East China’s Jiangsu Province, on Thursday. Hong Kong SAR’s Alexander Yang and Chongqing’s Zhou Yanhan each carded a six-under 66 to share the early lead with veteran Yuan Tian.
Chinese players Jin Daxing, Huang Zijie, Luo Xuewen, Liu Enhua, Sun Yan, and Wu Di were a shot off the pace at the event taking place at Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club.
Zhou, the 15-year-old son of Tour player Zhou Xunshu, turned it on late in his round when he carded five birdies over the last seven holes to grab a share of the lead.
“I didn’t hit it solid for the whole round, but my putter was hot. I made four putts from 15 feet. I missed some putts on the front nine, but I kept my patience,” said the teenager who won last year’s Chongqing Open against a pro field.
Yang, who earlier this year became the first Hong Kong man to play in the US Open, started his round on the back nine, carding three birdies and two bogeys to make the turn at one-under.
“Today was a great start. I think I did most things pretty well,” said Yang, who is currently on leave from Stanford University. “I’m still getting used to the grass here. It’s definitely unique and different from what I’m accustomed to in the US. I made a couple of bogeys and mistakes here and there but otherwise I played really solid.”
Yuan, a 41-year-old veteran who continues to chase his first China Tour win after 18 years as a pro, carded his best round of the year on the strength of seven birdies and a lone bogey in his early morning start that began on the back nine.
Think Like A Dog, the China-US co-produced film, hit the big screen on Saturday at the ongoing 19th Chinese American Film Festival and the Chinese American Television Festival in Los Angeles, the US.
Nearly 200 families watched the film at an Alhambra theater in Los Angeles County and celebrated the "Happy Family Day" held on the sidelines of the festivals.
The film, which won the award for Best China-US Co-Production Film, follows the adventures of a Chinese boy named Xiaoxiao and his American friend Oliver.
When Oliver discovers a way to hear his dog's thoughts, he joins forces with his furry friend to find a way to keep their family together.
Addressing the event, US Congresswoman Judy Chu said the movie is a "unique blend" of Chinese and American cultures, appealing to a global audience.
The Chinese American film and TV festivals kicked off in Los Angeles on Wednesday evening, with over 500 film and television entries received. A total of 10 films won the Golden Angel Award at the event.
Artists from China and Uzbekistan wrapped up their concert on a high note on Tuesday in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province.
The concert was dedicated to commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Qingdao Summit, promoting cultural exchanges among Belt and Road Initiative partner countries and strengthening cooperation between SCO partner countries.
The concert, featuring renowned singers and conductors from China and Uzbekistan, was held in four Chinese cities - Lanzhou, Xining, Xi'an and Qingdao - from Friday to Tuesday, offering an artistic feast for local music lovers.
Rustam Abdullaev, chairman of the Union of Composers and Bastakors of Uzbekistan, told the Global Times that "the kind and hard-working characteristics of people in China and Uzbekistan give us a lot in common in music."
One work was jointly performed by artists from China and Uzbekistan. Based on the distinctive music of China and Uzbekistan, the symphony celebrates the friendship and shows that in the context of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, China and Eurasian countries are committed to creating a better future.
One Chinese national has been killed and another injured, the Chinese Embassy in Thailand confirmed late Tuesday night after a shooting incident which left two dead and five injured at one of the most popular shopping malls in Thailand on Tuesday afternoon.
The embassy said it activated its emergency response mechanism to verify the situation in the wake of the incident and has confirmed the identities of the victims, adding that the injured individual has received medical treatment and remained in stable condition.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin visited the injured Chinese national at the hospital, the embassy confirmed. Both the prime minister and Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, the deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, respectively made phone calls to Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang to express their condolences to the deceased Chinese national on behalf of the Thai government.
They vowed to quickly deal with the case to ensure a safe and reliable environment for the Chinese nationals in Thailand.
A chaotic scene unfolded at the Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday afternoon as gunshots rang out near an upscale retail area. According to National Police Chief Torsak Sukvimol, at least two people were killed and five others injured in the shooting and the police has arrested the suspect, a 14 years old suffering from a mental illness.
On Wednesday, Thai Police filed five charges against the suspect, including intentional homicide, commission of homicide, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm into a public place without authorization, and discharging a firearm in a public place without authorization.
Thai police said the other victim was from Myanmar and the four injured included a Laotian and three Thai people.
According to local media, the 34-year-old Chinese female surnamed Zhao was shot dead when walking through the Siam Paragon building. A Chinese netizen named “Chloe Wan” wrote on China’s Twitter-like social media platform Sina Weibo that the shooter began shooting at the female toilet on the second floor, killing her acquaintance and injuring her mother.
“Aunt Zhao is a nice person. We three families, including Zhao’s husband and twin daughters, travelled to Thailand together. I didn’t know how she was hurt. I only saw her fainted on the ground with blood flowing out of her mouth. Her five-year-old children didn’t know about this. They were staying with their dad,” wrote the netizen, as quoted by Shangyou News.
The hashtags including “A Chinese visitor shot dead in Siam Paragon” had received more than 290 million views and comments on Sina Weibo as of Wednesday morning, and some netizens have expressed safety concerns on travelling to Thailand.
In September, the Thai government announced a temporary tourist visa exemption scheme for Chinese and Kazakh travelers to boost tourism.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has conceded defeat in the country's landmark referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, and vowed continued efforts to address disadvantages faced by First Australians.
Speaking in Canberra on Saturday night hours after polls closed, Albanese said it was clear a majority of Australians had voted against changing the constitution to establish an Indigenous advisory body to the federal parliament.
"My fellow Australians, at the outset, I want to say that while tonight's result is not one that I had hoped for, I absolutely respect the decision of the Australian people and the democratic process that has delivered it," he said.
"I never imagined or indeed said that it would be easy. History told us that only eight out of 44 had done so," he said, adding that "and of course, when you do the hard things, when you aim high, sometimes you fall short. And tonight we acknowledge, understand and respect that we have."
In order to be successful, the "yes" vote needed to achieve a double majority, meaning more than 50 percent of Australia's 17.6 million enrolled voters as well as a majority in at least four of the country's six states needed to vote in favor of changing the constitution.
With 60 percent of votes counted by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) as of 10 p.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) (1100 GMT) on Saturday, 59 percent of Australians had voted "no", including a majority in all six states.
Albanese, an advocate of the Voice since it was first proposed in 2017, said it was time for Australians to come together to address disadvantages faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including lower life expectancy and higher rates of incarceration, disease and suicide than the non-Indigenous population.
"A great nation like ours can and must do better for the First Australians," Albanese said.
"We intend as a government to continue to do what we can to close the gap, to do what we can to advance reconciliation, to do what we can to listen to the First Australians."
Peter Dutton, the leader of the opposition Coalition parties and a leading campaigner for the "no" vote - said the result was "good for our country."
"The Coalition, local Australians, wants to see Indigenous disadvantage addressed. We just disagree on the Voice being the solution," he said in a speech to a campaign event, "and while Yes and No voters may hold differences of opinion, these opinions of difference do not diminish a love for our country or our regard for each other."
Coming amid the third China-Central Eastern European Countries Culture and Arts Carnival, traditional dances from all over Greece, such as ipirotikos, tsamiko, kalamatiano, sirtaki and ikariotiko, were performed on October 22 in Chaoyang Park, Beijing, by the Cultural Association "Peiros" dance troop from the municipality of Western Achaia.
The performance was aimed at preserving and transmitting cultural traditions and various aspects of Greek cultural heritage from generation to generation.
Along with the performances, videos showcased the beauty of Western Peloponnese, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, and informational materials were made available.
The eight-member dance group of the cultural association "Peiros" performed in Beijing as part of the third China-Central Eastern European Countries Culture and Arts Carnival, hosted by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Chaoyang District People's Government of Beijing Municipality, and organized by the Beijing Overseas Cultural Exchange Center, Chaoyang District Bureau of Culture and Tourism of Beijing Municipality.
A series of activities titled "Sensing Beijing for Chinese Envoys" was held at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM). Fifteen diplomats from more than 10 countries, including Grenada, Serbia, Singapore, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Zambia, Chad, and Dominica, experienced the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in an immersive way.
The event was co-hosted by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Beijing municipal government and the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.
For the first time, the diplomats gained a systematic understanding of the historical background and cultural connotation of the TCM. The diplomats were amazed by TCM and said it was " amazing!" They also visited the TCM exhibition hall at the BUCM to experience the profound culture and witness its progress and development in recent years. The diplomats also experienced Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage), acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion, and other forms of TCM treatment.
The crisis in Ukraine has escalated dramatically over the past year, with ongoing hostilities inflicting enormous trauma on both parties involved - Ukraine and Russia. In mid-July, Gao Zhikai, vice president of the Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing-based nongovernmental think tank, visited Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine. During a recent interview with Global Times reporters Chen Qingqing and Bai Yunyi, Gao shared his observations and experiences in Kiev, as well as his interactions with Ukrainians from various fields. Gao said he hopes for an early end to the crisis and wishes for the Ukrainian people to lead peaceful, harmonious, progressive and prosperous lives. "Peace will not come easily," he said, "but it is worth every effort to strive for."
This story is a part of the Global Times' series of "Witness to history," which features first-hand accounts from witnesses who were at the forefront of historic moments. From scholars, politicians and diplomats to ordinary citizens, their authentic reflections on the impact of historical moments help reveal a sound future for humanity through the solid steps forward taken in the past and the present. Three air raid alarms within 36 hours
Gao's journey was somewhat complicated due to the no-fly zone over all of Ukraine: He had to first fly from Beijing to Warsaw, Poland, then take a train to the Polish-Ukrainian border, and from there catch another train to Kiev. He only spent 36 hours in Kiev, but the round trip took him four days in total.
What struck him the most was that during his 36-hour stay in Kiev, he experienced three air raid alarms. The first was at noon and was quickly lifted, so he didn't pay it much mind. The second occurred at 4 am in the dark of night when the alarm suddenly sounded, prompting him to quickly put on his helmet and rush to the second basement level of the hotel, which has since been turned into a "shelter" since the outbreak of the conflict.
He then noticed that the decent-sized hotel only had five or six guests. Everyone was silent yet tense, and they waited in the silent, anxious atmosphere for over an hour.
The third air raid warning occurred at noon the next day, just as he finished a working lunch with Ukrainian officials and was about to board a car. Suddenly, the alarm sounded again over the entire city of Kiev, and every person's phone also buzzed with an alert, making it seem as though the entire world was booming.
Many people ran past Gao in a panic, and the streets quickly emptied. Gao said his Ukrainian friend quickly pulled him into the basement of the restaurant, telling him that during an air raid warning, anything moving above ground could potentially become a target of attack for both sides.
Gao said his Ukrainian friend told him that since the outbreak of the conflict, almost all underground spaces in Ukraine have been turned into shelters: City subway stations have become the largest "air-raid shelters" - due to the influence of the Soviet era, Ukraine's subway stations are very deep underground, so they are relatively safe.
Many restaurants, office buildings, and hotel basements, first, and second floors have also been converted into shelters, but many are quite "basic" and it's hard to guarantee safety. As soon as an air raid warning sounds, everyone must immediately seek shelter in the nearest bunker.
Gao said that although he experienced three air raid warnings during his 36 hours in Kiev, the main target of Russia's military action is not actually Kiev. The frequent air raid warnings during this time were mainly because the NATO summit was taking place in Vilnius, Lithuania, and Russia was trying to express its dissatisfaction and display its "toughness" through air raids on the Ukrainian capital city.
'Hardly see faces of adult men'
While the frontlines are mostly concentrated in Eastern Ukraine, the traces of the crisis are very evident in and around Kiev.
Heading north out of Kiev, one can see that the suburban roads are still heavily patrolled with numerous roadblocks and iron fences set up to impede the progress of tanks.
Gao said that he noticed that Ukraine's preparations are strict, with the rigorous inspection of people and vehicles at each checkpoint, and the tense atmosphere is palpable.
The destruction of suburban buildings is severe: Some buildings are half-destroyed, revealing their contents like pianos, furniture, and even children's backpacks hanging on the walls inside; there are also half-collapsed shopping malls, the insides of which are in disarray. Life inside Kiev is much calmer. Aside from the occasional air raid siren and nightly curfews, people can generally continue to work, shop, and eat normally. In Kiev's supermarkets and shops, aside from medicine, Gao said he didn't notice any significant signs of shortages, and prices were stable. Prices for grains, vegetables, and fruits were even slightly cheaper than in Beijing and neighboring Poland, though imported goods were more expensive. Most restaurants were operating normally, and the one in which he had his working lunch was almost "packed."
However, in downturn Kiev, the exteriors of all major institutional buildings are tightly surrounded by makeshift defensive barriers made of sandbags and bricks. The doors are tightly sealed and guarded by soldiers to prevent sudden infiltration, and military vehicles and personnel are visible everywhere on the roads. On his first day in Kiev, Gao saw a long row of ambulances standing by at the train station, perhaps waiting for the arrival of injured personnel from afar.
What he will never forget are the faces he saw on the streets of Kiev: There were women, children, and the elderly, but very few adult men, and it was the same on the train from the border to Kiev. Once, while he was walking on the street, a soldier in uniform came out from barrier behind to check on him. Upon closer inspection, Gao noticed that the soldier was a boy of 15 or 16 years old. His face was rosy and still had some baby fat. Gao believed that perhaps most adult men in Ukraine have already gone to the frontlines.
Regrettable process of 'de-Russification'
During his trip, Gao had conversations with the Ukrainian government personnel, military officials, and ordinary citizens about their perspectives on the future of the crisis. Every Ukrainian he encountered essentially held a "resist to the end" mentality. The Ukrainian government displays Russian tanks and weapons captured during the conflict in some squares to boost morale.
However, most Ukrainians, including those in the military and government, still place their hopes of "victory" on NATO, Gao said. They like to talk about "if NATO approves Ukraine's membership, this or that could happen," or "if NATO provides us with more weapons, we could do this or that," despite the US clearly stating that it won't admit Ukraine into NATO before the end of the conflict.
Some Ukrainians place their hopes on political changes within Russia. One member of the Ukrainian military told Gao, "The key to Ukraine's ultimate victory may not lie in the battlefield, but in Moscow." Since the outbreak of the conflict, the process of "de-Russification" has become increasingly apparent throughout Ukraine. This trend began in 2014, but the outbreak of conflict undoubtedly accelerated it. Nowadays, it's rare to see statues or symbols from the Soviet era or related to Russia in the streets of Kiev and other cities. Not only were statues or monuments of Soviet politicians like Stalin and Zhukov toppled, but also the statues of Russian writer Pushkin and Soviet writer Gorky were gone.
Ukraine is also renaming streets and villages, eliminating any associations between place names and Russia. Moreover, the government has issued orders that effectively ban the use of Russian in newspapers and broadcasts.
From the perspective of an outsider like Gao, all of this evokes a sense of regret. For many foreigners, it's hard to distinguish between Russians and Ukrainians when walking on the street, and to his ears, Russian and Ukrainian sound as similar as the Beijing dialect and the Tianjin dialect. The intertwined histories and cultures of the two countries are so deeply entwined.
Importance of China's role
How do Ukrainians view China's role? China and Ukraine established diplomatic relations on January 4, 1992, built a comprehensive friendly cooperative relationship in 2001, and jointly announced the establishment of a strategic partnership in 2011. The two countries have fostered friendly and mutually beneficial relations across various fields, with rapid cooperative development.
During Gao's visit, he had this discussion with many Ukrainians and sensed a kind of "complex" feeling among Ukrainians toward China.
On one hand, over the years, American media and public opinion have had a great influence on the Ukrainian public. Since the outbreak of the conflict, American narratives have attempted to demonize Russia, while also portraying China as a "complicit party."
Today, many Ukrainians have been blinded by the American narrative, believing that the US is helping them achieve independence and freedom, while China is "assisting Russia," which is a clear misinterpretation of China's real stance.
China is neither the creator of the Ukraine crisis nor a party involved. On the issue of the Ukraine crisis, China has always stood on the side of peace, and its core position is to promote peace and encourage dialogue.
On the other hand, they have expectations for China - they are very aware of China's significance in promoting peace and talks.
"For instance, a Ukrainian government official once suggested to me that China could act as a 'middleman' in taking care of the prisoners of war from both Russia and Ukraine. Currently, both sides have captured a large number of prisoners, who are being treated very poorly with frequent reports of abuses," Gao noted.
In the eyes of Ukrainians, the relationship between the West and Russia has deteriorated to a freezing point, and no Western country can play this role.
Only China might be able to help the prisoners on both sides to receive humanitarian treatment. This shows the importance Ukrainians attach to China's role, as well as their complex yet expectant feelings toward China, Gao said.
Upon leaving Ukraine, Gao said that he kept thinking that Ukraine is a country rich in resources, its people are hard-working, kind, intelligent, and brave.
With proper governance, Ukraine can certainly become a prosperous country on the Eurasian continent. And the beautiful future of Ukraine firstly lies in ending the current crisis and restoring peace as soon as possible.
From the Songliao Plain to the banks of the Hailan River, from the shores of Chagan Lake to industrial parks, since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has visited Northeast China's Jilin Province three times for inspection and research. He has gone to the far reaches of rural areas, communities, science and technology parks and enterprises, providing fundamental guidance, providing direction and injecting strong impetus to the comprehensive revitalization of the region in the new era.
Recently, the Global Times reporter, together with teachers and students from the School of Journalism and Communication at the Communication University of China, followed in the footsteps of Xi's visits to Jilin, tracing the red memories left behind by the president, understanding the original aspirations of the Party's centennial struggle, and drawing wisdom and strength to continue moving forward in the century-long journey of the Party.
Through exploring high-end manufacturing, to gain an intimate understanding of the development of national advanced technology industry clusters, appreciate the innovative charm of a major country's cutting-edge technology, and deeply comprehend the strategic significance of a manufacturing powerhouse advancing toward a strong manufacturing country, the research team visited villages, witnessed the development of agricultural modernization, experienced the beauty of a harmonious China under the protection of the ecological civilization system, and gained a profound understanding of the scientific concept of harmonizing economic development and ecological environment protection.
By following in the footsteps of President Xi, the most authentic stories of China are documented and the most touching profiles are presented to the world.
What are secrets behind accelerating Chinese Dream?
More than one year has passed since the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games concluded with a spectacular and unforgettable closing ceremony featuring stunning venues and technological innovations that captivated the world, yet its essence still lives on in every Chinese person's heart.
Among the many moments that the Games have left a deep impression on the audience, one must be the promotional video played before the opening ceremony - a Winter Olympic special train developed by CRRC Changchun drove out of the snow and ice with athletes "together for a shared future," as this sporting extravaganza fully demonstrates the style of China's high-end manufacturing "golden card."
"To boost the manufacturing industry, innovation-driven development is the core," Xi said in July 2015, while on an inspection tour of the CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Company, where the president learned about the assembly line of high-speed trains (Electric Multiple Unit) EMUs, and boarded the assembled high-speed EMUs to understand the performance, facilities onboard and operation. Xi encouraged everyone to make continuous efforts in the construction of high-speed rail, drive innovation, continue to lead and climb the peaks of success, and drive the entire equipment manufacturing industry to create an environment of learning and cooperation.
The research team visited the CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Company, the train's manufacturer, and explored the secrets behind the acceleration of the Chinese Dream via an exclusive interview with Liu Junyang, chief designer of the Intelligent EMU for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
During the Games, the CRRC gave full play to its technological advantages, unveiling a brand new, state-of-the-art Fuxing bullet train, said to be the world's first intelligent and autonomous high-speed train with a top speed of 350 kilometers per hour and a 5G live broadcast studio on board.
Accompanied by Liu, the Global Times reporter embarked on a journey to get to know more about the model train operating on the Beijing-Zhangjiakou High-Speed Railway line, becoming immersed in the cutting-edge service technology and human-centric design.
Inside the compact train carriage, numerous surprises await. The ordinary dining table can be transformed into a spacious media workstation when unfolded. Intelligent displays are omnipresent, catering to diverse information needs such as self-service ordering and live broadcasting of sporting events. The snowflake-patterned interior on the partitions and the ever-changing five-ring-shaped starry sky ceiling above evokes an unmistakable Winter Olympics atmosphere.
One of the unique characteristics of the EMU is that it has a live broadcast studio that can transmit ultra-high-definition content via a 5G connection, Liu said. The installation, one of the first on the world's fastest trains, has brought convenience to global media professionals when covering sporting events.
On July 21, the Fuxing Intelligent EMU for the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou was officially launched in Changchun, capital of Jilin Province and was hailed as being customized, environmentally friendly, intelligent and comfortable.
The engineer revealed that the most special thing about the Asian Games EMU is the exterior and interior designing. "We did some innovative designs according to the requirements of the Asian Games Organizing Committee and the publicity department of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. For example, the theme of the appearance design is 'Warm Jiangnan,' using Hangzhou's landscape meaning, urban culture and combined with the emblem, sports livery, to create a unique style."
In the near future, the Asian Games special train will officially enter operation, providing athletes and visitors with a refreshing and revitalizing travel experience. CRRC Changchun, a railway hallmark with a 69-year history, is also set to embark on a brighter future under the dedicated efforts of young engineers like Liu.
How was first domestically built limousine developed?
"To promote high-quality economic development, efforts must be made to strengthen the competitiveness of the economy, as well as its capabilities to innovate and fend off risks," Xi said while visiting the R&D headquarters of the automaker FAW Group in Changchun, on July 23, 2020.
During his inspection tour, Xi chatted with employees who had recently graduated from universities. He said the Party committees and governments at all levels should pay very close attention to the employment of university graduates, and strengthen the independent development of core technologies and components to promote the high-quality development of China's automobile manufacturing industry and build strong domestic auto brands.
Inspired by Xi's remarks, FAW has made significant strides in the last three years by making breakthroughs in key and core technologies, advancing the development of self-owned brands and building itself into a world-class auto manufacturer.
Stepping into the Changchun-based headquarters of the FAW Group, one can see vehicles under the Hongqi brand on display in an exhibition room. Hongqi, meaning "red flag" in Chinese, used to be reserved for use by national leaders, also being used as parade cars during National Day parades.
At the three-year anniversary exhibition after President Xi's inspection, the research team gained a close insight into how China's first domestically built limousine was developed and its innovation path to the world. From self-developed high-performance cells and intelligent EE architecture, to Kingpin Steering with technical features of high integration, precision, and safety all these outcomes reflect China's new manufacturing intelligence.
In the field of traditional fuel engines, thermal efficiency of the engine that FAW designed has surpassed 39 percent. In terms of new energy, FAW has achieved nine key technologies and is carrying out research and development in other technologies such as hydrogen fuel engines, which reveal FAW's aspiration and determination in promoting new energy.
With the reputation of being a "domestic carmaker," FAW has taken the lead in breaking through bottleneck technologies. The Global Times learned from the group that the company has achieved 73 technological breakthroughs, including hybrid power system integration and control technology, low-temperature resistant battery technology.
With an increasing number of people opting for domestic vehicle brands, the Global Times reporter observed the trend of a growing number of Hongqi cars on the streets of Changchun. The cars are equipped with domestically developed engines and other key components, which show that China's national brands for autos are rising rapidly and gradually becoming more influential in the domestic market.
FAW's achievements over the last three years are a snapshot of China's automobile industry, which has made great progress and is expected to reach new heights in science and technology.
What can we learn from Lishu Model?
"When I introduced the situation of our local mechanized and large-scale farming operations, what surprised me was that the president had a very good understanding of the global black soil situation, while asking follow-up questions about ways in which we protect the arable land," said Wang Guiman, director of the Agricultural Technology Promotion Station in Lishu county, Jilin Province.
On July 22, 2020, Xi inspected Lishu to learn about the protection and use of black soil at a demonstration zone for green food production. Wang won't forget the day Xi entered a cornfield, stressing effective measures to protect and utilize the high-yielding black soil, which is "as treasured as giant pandas."
Black soil, one of the most fertile soil types in the world, is characterized by its high humus content. Northeast China has the reputation of being a "Golden Corn Belt" and the "Land of Soybeans." However, compared with the other two major black soil areas in the world - the Ukrainian Plain in Europe and the Mississippi Plain in the US, only the Northeast Plain in China needs to be cultivated and protected at the same time.
At the beginning of 21st century, due to long-term intensive cultivation and burning of straw in farmland, the black soil in Northeast China has faced a number of problems such as degeneration, soil compaction and a decline of organic matter in soil. Consequently, the protection of black soil has become a pressing concern.
How can black soil be better protected? The research team followed in the president's steps to take a closer look at why the practice in Lishu is worth promoting.
Since 2008, Lishu has employed a no-tillage technique with full-scale corn stover cover for mulching to scientifically utilize and protect its black soil. This approach has yielded remarkable results.
Currently, Lishu has a cultivated area of 3.938 million mu (262,500 hectares), and its annual grain output is 2 million tons, making it an important grain production area not only in Jilin Province but also in China.
"We must protect the black soil akin to safeguarding the giant panda," "we must thoroughly summarize the Lishu Model and promote it on a larger scale," and "we must develop specialized farmers' cooperatives based on local conditions." These are three important instructions that Xi made during his visit to the county.
The Lishu Model refers to a set of mechanized protective techniques developed by agricultural scientists to optimize the utilization and protection of black soil. After the autumn harvest, corn straw is used as mulch to maintain soil moisture and nutrients. At the same time, with major breakthroughs in the development of key tools for protective cultivation, farmers can use no-tillage seeders and carry out multiple cultivation operations in one go.
The Lishu Model offers four no-tillage sewing forms tailored to different topographical and terrain conditions, addressing specific issues, and producing numerous positive effects, including stable and high crop yields, reduced soil erosion, decreased soil moisture evaporation and improved soil fertility.
Regarding how to transform the Lishu Model from simple promotion to comprehensive implementation, Wang shared the planning strategy and expected goals, stating that "The Lishu Model should be rooted in the Northeast, promoted throughout the country, and extended to the world."
"The Lishu Model has been implemented in some countries along the route of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative," Wang said. "In the future, it will continue to serve as a crucial cornerstone for black soil conservation and utilization and sustainable agricultural development."
