In today’s podcast:
China's GDP grew 5 percent year-on-year to 134.9 trillion yuan in 2024, surpassing the 130-trillion-yuan threshold for the first time. The economic growth aligns with the country's annual target, demonstrating that the world's second-largest economy effectively sustained its growth momentum. What lies ahead for China's economy in 2025? Chinese economist Li Daokui forecasts steady and noticeable recovery in 2025, with consumption set to be a key driver.
China has discovered that the US has been conducting long-term, systematic, and large-scale cyberattacks against China, a Chinese foreign ministry official stated on Sunday, adding that the Chinese side has firmly rejected US accusations of Chinese-linked cyberattacks, citing the lack of substantive evidence. This came after the US repeatedly hyped claims about so-called China-linked hacker groups.
Xizang, a region known for its breathtaking landscapes and unique cultural traditions, has long become a target of Western smear campaigns and falsehoods about China. David Blair, a senior economist and former chairman of the economics department at the Eisenhower School of National Defense University who has visited Xizang, told the Global Times that most Western reporters lack a real understanding of Xizang, and they seem to be repeating claims made by people who have no direct experience.
The Global Times ventures deep into the mountains of Southwest China's Sichuan Province. Accompanied by researchers and experienced keepers, several panda mothers and their cubs are undergoing training to prepare for the cubs' return to the wild - a process that reflects the dedication and ingenuity behind giant panda conservation efforts.
For decades, writing letters in English exams to an imaginary English-speaking foreign pen pal on behalf of “Li Hua” has been a common practice for Chinese middle school students. As the app of RedNote becomes popular among US users, some have started replying to “Li Hua.” Among them was Miranda who shared a post on RedNote featuring both Chinese and English. Inspired by the recent enthusiastic exchanges online between Chinese and US netizens, the Global Times wrote a fictional letter on behalf of "Li Hua."
