A few days ago, The New York Times published a story with the headline “China's Robots Know Kung Fu and Can Scale Walls. Can They Woo Investors?” Soon after, China's capital market delivered its answer through Unitree Robotics' IPO. Investors piled in so heavily that the preliminary online subscription multiple hit an eye-watering 8,288.82 times. The strong demand can, to some extent, be seen as a vote of confidence from investors in the commercial prospects of humanoid robots. The market's verdict is clear: China's robots have received a high score.

China saw robust exports in electric vehicles (EV), lithium batteries and photovoltaic products, known as the "new three," in the first half of this year. More notably, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and innovative drugs, which represent the future direction of industrial development, are also emerging as new calling cards for China's foreign trade.

The designation of Deutsche Bank, a key and influential bank in Europe, to serve as the yuan-clearing bank will greatly facilitate and expand the use of the yuan in the EU market, providing more impetus to broader China-EU economic and trade ties, a Chinese analyst said on Tuesday.

Global automakers are forging deeper and longer-term ties with China, as the country's role evolves beyond a key market into an increasingly important hub for automotive research and development (R&D) and innovation.

China continues to be the leading destination for Brazilian soybeans, and the Brazilian soybean industry wants to further deepen this relationship, expecting historically high volumes in the coming months, the Brazilian Association of Soybean Growers (Aprosoja Brasil) told the Global Times on Friday.

In economics, overcapacity is a dynamic and relative concept. Supply-demand balance is temporary, and imbalance is the norm. The Western narrative that equates the sheer scale of China's production capacity directly with "overcapacity" is, frankly, economically illiterate. It conflates size with pathology.

China's robust industrial chain and rapid iterative innovation have propelled its artificial intelligence (AI) hardware sector into a global leadership position, with Shenzhen's Huaqiangbei — the world's premier electronics hub — emerging as the core gateway for Chinese intelligent products to go global.

China's top internet regulator announced on Thursday that it has launched a cybersecurity review into products sold by US-based Palo Alto Networks in the country, a step that Chinese analysts said was necessary for national security as Washington increasingly engages in cyber activities seen as threatening national interests.

This year, artificial intelligence, robotics and innovative medicines - dubbed the "new new three" - are expected to emerge as new pillars of China's foreign trade. This shift from last year's "new three" of exports - namely electric vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products - is not merely a policy signal, but a precise positioning of China's next wave of export competitiveness.

Australia's rooftop solar story is moving beyond households. In a media release on Wednesday, Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said that the government is helping businesses, farms and community organizations cut energy costs by reducing the cost of installing medium-sized solar systems by about 20 percent. The measure could give Australia's renewable energy market a fresh boost, creating new momentum for the next stage of its development.

The US administration is reportedly drafting a ban on US imports of new models of Chinese data center components, Reuters reported, citing four people familiar with the matter. A Chinese veteran industry analyst said the move shows that the US' unilateral attempts to curb China's technological development is expanding from individual technology sectors to the broader digital infrastructure ecosystem.

China's economic growth is undergoing a structural shift, with new and emerging technologies moving beyond a supporting role to become genuine drivers of growth. According to data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in July, the high-end manufacturing, the digital economy and the modern services contributed more than 40 percent of China's growth in the first half of 2026.

The US-based OpenRouter, a leading global AI platform, released its latest weekly ranking of AI model usage, with all of the top five models developed by Chinese companies, a trend that a Chinese industry analyst said underscored the rapid rise of Chinese tech firms in the emerging AI sector despite the US' attempts to contain their development.

During a recent visit to Xiamen, Global Times reporters observed how openness and sustainable development have become two defining forces behind the city's transformation, shaping not only its industries but also its communities and urban landscape.

Shanghai Port's single-day container throughput surpassed 200,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) on Saturday, reaching a record high of 203,881 TEUs, according to the Shanghai International Port (Group) on Sunday.

US lawmakers have requested information from food delivery company DoorDash on its use of Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) models, CNBC reported over the weekend. Chinese industry experts said on Sunday that the US lawmakers' actions are largely driven by a political agenda to curb the rising adoption of Chinese AI models in the US, reflecting a deep worry of losing its sci-tech hegemony. Such actions would raise the costs of US companies and consumers, they warned.

China's humanoid robotics giant Unitree Robotics said on Thursday evening that it plans to open subscriptions for an initial public offering (IPO) on Shanghai's STAR ⁠Market on August 10, after the company's IPO application was approved for registration by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), moving a step closer to listing.

China has launched the 2026 innovation task program in the industrial and information technology sector, targeting key technology breakthroughs in areas including artificial intelligence (AI), humanoid robots and computing power, as the country accelerates efforts to build new industrial strengths around emerging technologies.

The US Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced on Monday the launch of the “Call to Action for 6G Leadership and Security.” The move is an attempt by Washington to seek to blunt China's influence over the next generation of telecommunications, according to the US media outlet POLITICO.

From four-legged inspection robots operating in European nuclear power plants to automatic coffee-making robotic arms serving travelers at airports and transit hubs around the globe and smart AI systems supporting local Chinese teaching in Thai schools, these varied overseas applications offer a vivid snapshot of how China's “next new three” industries are expanding globally.

China's GDP growth jumped 4.7 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026, remaining well within this year's target range of 4.5 to 5.0 percent. The economic figures show that macroeconomic performance in the first half of the year maintained overall stability while making progress, demonstrating notable resilience amid both domestic structural adjustments and external uncertainties.

Amid surging cross-border travel fueled by China's visa-free entry for South Korean sightseers, authentic Chinese food brands from new-style milk tea chains to hot pot outlets have emerged as a fresh cultural bridge between the two peoples.

China's economic performance in the first half of the year cannot be contextualized through a two-quarter snapshot. The results are more than numbers when they tell a tale. From the political-economic perspective, the results would display the multi-year growth trajectory.

Geely Auto will build two electric SUVs at Ford's factory in Spain and the two firms will jointly develop a new model, Reuters reported on Thursday. A Chinese industry expert said the cooperation between Chinese and US automakers reflects the growing role of China's new-energy vehicle (NEV) companies in supporting Europe's green transition while expanding in the European market with the advanced NEV technologies and production capacity together with the US counterpart.

Hong Kong has given the green light to its first fully driverless autonomous vehicles testing permit for Baidu's Apollo Go, allowing the company to conduct public road testing on Airport Island without a person at the wheel.

The US administration will reportedly investigate whether Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) models were "distilled from American models," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed on Tuesday, according to a CNBC report. A Chinese expert said that Bessent's remarks once again reflected the anxiety among certain US politicians over China's rapid advances in AI and their continued adherence to a technological hegemony mindset.

At the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, one of the most crowded booths did not showcase humanoid robots, autonomous vehicles, or the latest consumer chatbot. Instead, it drew diplomats, engineers, journalists, and visitors from across Asia and Africa to a meteorological early-warning system named after a Chinese sea goddess: MAZU.

Shanghai released its economic data for the first six months of 2026 on Monday, with the city's half-year GDP reached 2.788 trillion yuan, or rising 5.6 percent year-on-year.

From hand-forged heritage silverware to ingenious bamboo weaving, China's diverse intangible cultural heritage (ICH) handicrafts have staged a remarkable comeback.

Stepping into the machine room of Sugon 8000 (Dengfeng), China's first domestically developed 100,000-card AI supercluster, the scene was far less imposing than expected — but behind the compact space lies an extraordinary concentration of computing power.

The FIFA World Cup is not only a global sporting event, but also a power engine for influencer economy, as football stars with massive global followings increasingly serve as bridges connecting brands, consumers and markets.

The global artificial intelligence (AI) wave has not only supercharged sectors like computing, chips, and hardware devices – it has also quietly ignited a brand-new track: air cargo.

From Brazil in South America to Kazakhstan in Central Asia, a growing number of countries are turning their attention to China's bond market and rushing to issue a special type of bond - panda bonds.

From a 100-fold sales surge in Vietnam to a 14-fold exports jump to South Korea, C-beauty is no longer a niche player — it is redefining cosmetics competition

China remains an important market and strategic partner for many Dutch companies, with its scale, innovative capacity, and dynamic business environment offering significant opportunities across a wide range of industries, Boudewijn Poldermans, a vice chairman of the Netherlands China Business Council (NCBC), told the Global Times in an exclusive interview.

On Shanghai's bustling Huaihai Road, foreign shoppers weave through the TX shopping mall, a well-known hub for streetwear brands, where local labels are suddenly in the spotlight. Inside, several homegrown fashion stores are drawing strong overseas attention.

In a processing workshop in Linqu, East China's Shandong Province, a piece of foie gras is undergoing transformation from raw material into food. Unlike the traditional perception of a luxury ingredient often appearing on French restaurant menus, the foie gras produced in Linqu is entering a broader international market through industrialized production.

Multiple Chinese chip companies have forecast sharp increases in earnings, driven by booming demand for memory chips, with some expecting profits to surge more than 600-fold.

As China's industrial profits for January-May 2026 reached 3.14 trillion yuan, up 18.8 percent year-on-year and accelerating from the first four months, the data reveals more than a cyclical rebound. It signals ongoing structural dynamics at work, as evidenced by a sustained reallocation toward higher-value sectors, supported by policy-driven liquidity and a shifting consumption landscape.

Editor's Note： A grand gathering in celebration of the 105th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday. Zhong Jue, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a leading expert in mechanical engineering, is one of the eight recipients of the July 1 Medal, the CPC's highest honor. Recently, Zhong, a witness to China's industrial development from the very first Five-Year Plan to the 15th now, was interviewed at Central South University in Changsha, Central China's Hunan Province. She revealed her life story of national service, perseverance, scientific rigor and mentoring.

Foreign investors' holdings of Chinese A-shares hit over 4 trillion yuan ($588 billion) in the first half of 2026 to set a new high, with some overseas institutions continuing to expand their allocations in Chinese science and tech companies, according to a report by state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) on Wednesday.

Sales revenue of China's embodied intelligence industry enterprises rose 22.4 percent year-on-year in the January-May period, indicating that the sector's overall development continues to trend positively, according to the State Taxation Administration on Tuesday.

China's rapidly growing logistics network is accelerating the outbound flow of "Made in China" goods while simultaneously smoothing the inbound route for premium products from around the world。

Nearly every high-tech product being displayed at the 4th China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing is more or less intertwined with artificial intelligence (AI) - either it has an AI brain, or one of its functions is empowered by AI innovations.

Chinese car brand Polestar said on Thursday that the Trump administration was forcing the electric vehicle (EV) maker to stop selling cars in the US starting with the 2027 model year, as Washington ramps up its crackdown on Chinese EVs. A Chinese analyst said the move reflects the US' overreach in using so-called national security concerns to disguise underlying weaknesses in its own EV sector.

Africa's massive two-wheeler market is undergoing a rapid green transformation. Once dominated by costly fuel-powered motorcycles, the continent is rapidly embracing affordable, smart electric bikes. As African countries accelerate green transportation upgrades, China's complete industrial ecosystem, covering vehicle supply, battery swap infrastructure and capital investment, has become a core driver powering a new chapter of win-win China-Africa electric mobility cooperation.

As cheers echo through the streets of Mexico City and crowds pour into stadiums, the World Cup is ongoing in one of the world's most densely populated cities. With the tournament pressures the city's public transport network, China-made new-energy buses have taken on the role of the main shuttle fleet, putting their performance and service support to a world-class test.

The US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reportedly told executives at a closed-door ‌meeting Monday that his department is studying so-called "Chinese state-subsidized" robotics imports and signaled the administration could take action once the review is complete, Politico reported on Tuesday, citing anonymous sources.

Instead of buyers and sellers, exhibitors showcased their cooperation with upstream and downstream partners at the 4th China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE). The expo opened on Monday under the theme "Connecting the World for a Shared Future," sending a strong signal of China's commitment to openness and international collaboration amid a complex global environment, participants said.

With the 2026 World Cup now underway in the US, Canada and Mexico, a quieter battle has started - not on the pitch, but inside artificial intelligence (AI) labs.

China and Timor-Leste signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) during the first Belt and Road Forum for international cooperation in March 2017. Since then, BRI cooperation between China and Timor-Leste has entered a fast lane of development. Against this backdrop, Global Times reporter Li Xuanmin (GT) conducted an exclusive interview with Mariano Assanami Sabino (Sabino), deputy prime minister and coordinating minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. In the interview, Sabino spoke highly of the BRI's role in Timor-Leste's infrastructure development and economic growth.

From streetwear brands and chocolate marques to fashion labels, foreign companies have been accelerating their entry into China this year, opening their first stores in major cities as a springboard for entering the Chinese market. Experts attribute this trend to the certainty of China's economic growth and the potential of its consumer market.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met with German Economy and Energy Minister Katherina Reiche in Beijing on Wednesday, where the two sides exchanged views on issues such as deepening China-Germany economic and trade cooperation, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Chinese authorities have rolled out targeted policies to support the micro drama sector recently, aiming to foster industry growth through stronger cultivation, artificial intelligence (AI) technology integration, and high-quality content creation. Industry observers noted that the industry is transitioning from a quantity-driven model to a quality-oriented one, with policy support, tech empowerment injecting fresh momentum.

The just-concluded APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting held in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, achieved multiple results and consensus, with 2026 APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Joint Statement (Suzhou Statement) and APEC Roadmap for Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Services, achieving fruitful outcomes, an official from the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM)'s Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs said on Tuesday, according to the MOFCOM's website.

Chinese manufacturers are riding the boom in the sports economy, with goods ranging from footballs to sports shirts and hats as well as vehicles ramping up sales in the international market ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to kick off on June 11.

As China embarks on its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), some international media are hyping the so-called "modest" economic target. However, viewing this through the lens of traditional GDP metrics is a miscalculation. This target is not a harbinger of decline; it is a deliberate signal of structural transition. Having established a robust foundation of infrastructure, China is now moving to a new stage of economic development - prioritizing domestic demand and achieving institutional autonomy in technology.

The Chinese market is of exceptional importance for Serbian businesses because of its scale, sophistication and growing demand for quality, specialized and trusted products, Jelena Grubor Stefanovic, director of the representative office of Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview.

As a major drone and aerial industry exhibition opened in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province on Thursday, visitors crowded the exhibition stands to check out the state-of-the-art aviation products, gathering around a streamlined 2-ton electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) prototype to experience the vision of future air travel.

In District 2 of the Yiwu International Trade Market, the store of Zhejiang Xingbao Umbrella Co. is filled with thousands of colorful umbrellas — lightweight sun umbrellas, retro long-handle umbrellas, cartoon children's umbrellas, and high-end custom umbrellas — presenting a dazzling array of products. Chairperson Zhang Jiying stands at the counter, skillfully introducing new products to several Middle Eastern merchants in Arabic and English. While 29 years ago, Zhang started with only a 98-centimeter-wide stall in the Yiwu market.

For more than 40 years, Yiwu has stayed true to its blueprint, consistently pursuing the strategy of "prospering the city through commerce" and creating more opportunities for entrepreneurs. The Securities Times launched a series titled "Close-up observations on Yiwu's development experience," exploring the vibrant "world supermarket." Through on-the-ground perspectives and close-up observations, the series delves into the rich essence and enduring vitality of Yiwu's development experience.

The “FuXi” meteorological artificial intelligence (AI) model, capable of forecasting 60-day weather patterns in three minutes, is processing first-hand meteorological data taken from space in real time. This is made possible by a computing satellite, part of the "Three-Body Computing Constellation" which is operating in Earth's low orbit at an altitude of about 500 kilometers.

Chinese economy is maturing into an economy that is no longer reliant on a low-cost labor model but is instead driven by advanced technological innovations. This model sets an example for other nations, demonstrating how long-term stability and tech investment foster sustainable growth over time.

China's economy has performed well in the inaugural year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) as shown by steadily rising tax revenue, high-tech products export, and corporate profit margins. Though certain Western media continue to badmouth China's economy, the country will focus on managing its own affairs and push ahead with stable development.

In the first quarter, China recorded better-than-expected GDP growth of 5 percent. This strong performance sends a clear and positive message to the world, effectively refuting the narrative promoted by some Western analysts that China's economy is on the brink of collapse or already in crisis. It is true that China faces certain economic challenges. However, every country encounters its own difficulties and overall, China maintains a very solid and resilient economy.

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) held a promotion conference in Beijing on Wednesday for the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), sending another positive signal of the country's ongoing commitment to expanding high-standard opening-up and further stabilizing foreign investment and inflows.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump will pay a state visit to China from May 13 to 15.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump will pay a state visit to China from Wednesday to Friday. This marks the first face-to-face meeting between the two heads of state this year and their first meeting in Beijing in nine years, carrying special and significant meaning. The international community is paying close attention and has high expectations that this meeting will bring stability to a turbulent world and demonstrate the responsibility and strength of major powers in promoting peaceful development.

As temperatures begin to climb across much of China in early May, the fields around Xining, capital of Northwest China's Qinghai Province, remain cool.

In its latest push to improve multimodal connections, Beijing launched a pilot program on Sunday allowing passengers to bring compliant bicycles onto the subway, according to the official website of the Beijing Municipality government.

As China's consumption structure continues to upgrade, experiential and technology-driven consumption has become a mainstream trend. A host of AI-themed, experience-focused first stores and exhibitions have debuted across the city during the shopping gala.

Multiple foreign envoys and business representatives have voiced expectations for expanding cooperation with Chinese high-tech companies in artificial intelligence (AI), where China's competitive edge can help boost traditional sectors such as agriculture and education in their countries.

An official of China's Ministry of Finance (MOF) extended appreciation on Monday for Moody's decision to affirm China's sovereign credit rating and upgrade its outlook to "stable," according to the official website of the MOF.

China has stressed that advancing Chinese modernization requires promoting the marine economy's high-quality development and forging a Chinese path of leveraging marine resources to achieve strength. With a mainland coastline stretching 18,000 kilometers and a sea area under its jurisdiction of around 3 million square kilometers, China is a major maritime nation with vast potential for developing its marine economy. To document the high-quality development of China's marine economy, the Global Times is launching the "Blue Momentum" series of in-depth articles from local marine economic powerhouses. The second installment focuses on Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province.

Amid the ongoing reshaping of global food supply chains, China is evolving from a major consumer market into a key supplier of high-quality agricultural products. Chinese analysts say that blueberries are just one example, as more specialty products scale up, standardize and build brands, signaling a deeper shift in China's role in global agriculture landscape.

From forming a health industry cluster centered around a university dedicated to health and rehabilitation sciences, to combining its cruise tours with health and wellness elements, Qingdao in East China's Shandong Province is charting a new course in integrating its coastal resources with the silver economy through the development of a Health Bay.

Shares of Chinese robot-related firms rallied sharply at the close on Monday, buoyed by the strong performances of robot runners at the 2nd Humanoid Robot Half Marathon in Beijing on Sunday, with several stocks hitting their daily limit-up. Multiple component suppliers related to the championship robot runner said that their products have already entered mass delivery.

The Chinese nation made the historic choice to pursue its own development goals in strict accordance with the prevailing conditions and objective reality. The fact that Chinese leadership in several decades has managed to advance the once backward country to the undisputed rank of a global power is recognized throughout the world as the most outstanding achievement of the 21st century.

As China's artificial intelligence (AI) sector accelerates, competition for talent is heating up, with local governments, technology firms and the broader market all stepping up efforts - a trend that industry analysts said will help address talent shortages while underpinning the country's push for industrial upgrading and global competitiveness.

A strong start with a steady and promising beginning. On Thursday, the first-quarter report of China's economy during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period was released, showing that GDP grew by 5 percent year-on-year at constant prices. This growth rate reached the high end of this year's full-year target range of 4.5 percent to 5 percent, and ranks among the top major economies in the world. Despite a complex and volatile external environment, major economic indicators exceeded expectations.

The first quarter of 2026 has turned out to be quite a busy season for Chinese new energy firms in overseas markets.

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) market delivered an impressive performance in the first quarter of 2026, with initial public offerings (IPOs) generating HK$110 billion ($13.3 billion) in proceeds, a record high for a single quarter since the second quarter of 2021, according to a Securities Times report on Sunday.

Recently, some foreign media outlets have claimed that, despite the enormous success of China's high-tech industries, traditional sectors, which account for the largest share of the economy, are under pressure. They argue that this economic divergence could intensify during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30). The rhetoric about China's economy falling into a "hot and cold divide," if not intentionally misleading in an attempt to slow the development of high-tech industries, reflects a failure to understand the internal logic of China's technological progress and ignores the deep connections among traditional, emerging, and future industries.

At a time when protectionism is rising and economic globalization faces growing headwinds, why does China remain committed to expanding opening-up? What does its high-level opening up mean for the world? In a recent interview with the People's Daily (PD), John Ross (Ross), British economist, former director for economic and business policy for the mayor of London and senior fellow at the Renmin University of China's Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, shared his insights based on more than four decades of research on China's economy.

The US Republican Senator Bernie Moreno claimed on Tuesday that he will introduce legislation next month to expand an existing US government ban on Chinese automakers to more strictly forbid Chinese hardware, software and even partnerships from entering the American market, according to Reuters' report. A Chinese expert said the move reflects a broader tendency among some US officials to stretch the concept of so-called national security as a political maneuver. The proposal would be extremely difficult to implement in practice, as today's global automotive supply chain is deeply interconnected, the experts said.

China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) is not only a blueprint but also a practical roadmap of opportunities for international investors, Liu Yue, deputy director of the Foreign Economic Research Institute at the Institute of Macroeconomic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said during a salon discussion held by the China Public Diplomacy Association on China's economic development on Monday.

In the small coastal town of Boao in South China's island province of Hainan, about 2,000 representatives from over 60 countries and regions gathered for the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2026, which runs from Tuesday to Friday.

Global orders have been pouring in since the start of the year, with production lines for China-made construction machinery operating at full capacity, according to industry data, business insiders and experts interviewed by the Global Times. This reflects the growing international footprint of Chinese construction machinery.

On Friday, gold dipped below $4,500 a troy ounce, erasing its gains across the past two months. Gold, usually considered a safe haven during periods of economic uncertainty, has slumped. According to a CNN report on Saturday local time, gold dropped 11 percent this week, posting its biggest weekly loss since 1983.

As China enters the first year of its 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–30), it does so against a backdrop of heightened global uncertainty. Geopolitical tensions, supply chain realignments, and uneven economic recovery have made the external environment more complex than at any time in recent decades. Yet such periods of disruption also create opportunities for economies that combine strategic clarity with policy consistency. China's planning framework is designed precisely for such moments.

In an era shaped by digital technology and evolving consumer expectations, China is transforming how people connect, experience and spend. This shift, termed “new consumption scenarios,” moves beyond traditional retail to integrate digital innovation, emotional engagement, and thematic experiences into many immersive environments. These scenarios emphasize experiential value, shifting focus from goods transactions to selling experiences.

As China enters its 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), its economy showcases a form of resilience that is becoming increasingly rare globally: the ability to convert scale into speed, and speed into competitiveness.

China's development over the next 5 to10 years is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory and regional dynamics of the Asia-Pacific and the broader global landscape. For ASEAN countries and others in the Global South, Chinese modernization offers an opportunity to collaborate in achieving shared prosperity without the fear of political interference, which is often a condition set by Western powers.

My engagement with China began in 2005 during my tenure as Egypt's Minister of Transport. At the time, much of the Western narrative portrayed China as a developing country struggling with poverty and lagging the industrialized world. Yet my first visit to Beijing and Shanghai revealed a very different reality.

US technology giant Apple announced on Thursday local time that it is making changes to the App Store in China by reducing commission rate for standard Apple In-App Purchase and paid app transactions to 25 percent from the current 30 percent, according to the company's official statement.

With China's GDP growth rate at 4.5-5 percent, the country's contribution to global economic growth will remain 30 percent every year, which is of confidence, Justin Lin Yifu, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and dean of the Institute of New Structural Economics at Peking University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) shows the unique strength of the world's second largest economy in long-term planning. By carefully mapping out multi-year strategies, China not only supports its own economic growth but also provides stability and predictability for the global economy, Simon Lichtenberg, founder of Trayton Group in Shanghai and All China Founding Chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China, told the Global Times on Friday, on the sidelines of the ongoing two sessions.

Just days after the Chinese Spring Festival, robots are making frequent appearances at offline events. From dancing at shopping malls to greeting guests at brand launches and interacting with visitors in open squares and scenic spots, a wave of "robot fever" has spread beyond the Spring Festival Gala stage, after robot performances on the show drew widespread attention.

On the eve of this year's Lantern Festival, which fell on Tuesday, a 25-year-old consumer surnamed Wen shared her plans aloud to her phone: "I want to see the lantern displays on Lantern Festival night, and maybe visit a theme park." In under 30 seconds, the AI assistant on her device generated a complete, tailored itinerary. This experience is becoming increasingly common among Chinese travelers.

A netizen on People's Daily Online recently raised a question: With the upcoming annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), public attention is turning to key agenda item - the NPC's deliberation on the draft outline of the 15th Five Year Plan (2026-30). The 15th Five Year Plan is closely linked to everyone's daily life - yet how are the voices and concerns of ordinary people incorporated into its formulation?