Editor's Note:

The past year 2023 was a busy one for China in terms of its interactions with the rest of the world. Its foreign relations always have a profound impact on its economy, strategy and people's livelihoods. The Global Times, in collaboration with China's universities and think tanks, is now releasing a series of country reports. The aim of these reports is to enhance understanding of relevant countries, provide a framework for dealing with China's relations with these countries, and grasp the trajectory of these relations.

In the fourth report of the series, we focus on Tajikistan, a country located in Central Asia.

Over the past decade, China and Tajikistan have collaborated to build the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), achieving significant progress in infrastructure, agriculture, culture and trade through extensive cooperation. The two countries should further promote the bilateral high-quality construction of the BRI by taking the following actions: first, fully implementing the consensus reached at the China-Central Asia Summit; second, prioritizing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, promoting relevant projects in Tajikistan with infrastructure projects as the core, attaching importance to small-scale projects, such as dispatching Chinese medical teams to Tajikistan at the grass-roots level and promoting agricultural technology in villages; third, publicizing the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Tajikistan.

Fruitful results of BRI cooperation

Tajikistan has been one of the countries that have responded most positively to the BRI since it was put forward. In September 2014, China and Tajikistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on building the Silk Road Economic Belt during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Tajikistan. In 2016, Tajikistan enacted the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period up to 2030, which is in deep connection with the BRI. In 2017, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon was in China for a state visit, during which he attended the Dialogue between Emerging Market Economies and Developing Countries, and the two countries signed a joint announcement on establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership. In May 2023, Rahmon came to China for the China-Central Asia Summit.

Thanks to the leadership of the heads of state of China and Tajikistan, bilateral cooperation in the economic and trade fields has developed rapidly. The BRI has brought new vitality to Tajikistan, and the two countries have achieved fruitful results in investment, trade and production capacity cooperation. 

In terms of investment, China is Tajikistan's largest source of foreign investment. The Export-Import Bank of China and other institutions have provided financing for many important infrastructure projects in Tajikistan, including thermal power plants, power grids and transportation. This support has effectively helped Tajikistan in initiating key infrastructure projects and injected a strong impetus into the economic and social development.

In 2017, in the field of aiding construction, China pledged a 1.5 billion yuan grant (over US$230 million) to build new parliamentary buildings for the Tajik government in Dushanbe.

Under the impetus of the BRI, a number of landmark large-scale projects have been successfully implemented in Tajikistan. In transportation construction, the Vahdat-Yavan railway tunnel has become the hub of international railroad transportation connecting China, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Iran, and the successful completion of the Dushanbe-Chanak Highway has improved Tajikistan's transport system. 

In power construction, the operation of Dushanbe No.2 thermal power plant in Dushanbe marked the city's power shortage in winter becoming a thing of the past. The South-North power transmission line (500 kV) constructed by TBEA connected Tajikistan's two major power grids in the north and south of the country, thus alleviating the dependence of the northern regions of Tajikistan on the power supply of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

In production capacity cooperation, Tajikistan has turned from a cement importer to an exporter with the support of China. The Tajik-Chinese joint venture, Zeravshan Gold Company (ZGC), has become one of the largest gold mining enterprises in Tajikistan.

China and Tajikistan have also been cooperating in the cultural field. In 2015, the China University of Petroleum (CUP) built the first Confucius Institute with the Metallurgy and Mines Institute of Tajikistan in 2015.

In 2022, China opened its first Central Asian Luban workshop in Tajikistan at the Tajik Technical University. The Luban Workshop in Tajikistan is an important initiative to implement the important consensus of the two countries and the results of the China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers' Meeting, and it is a typical case of serving the BRI and sharing China's vocational education experience with the world.

Driven by the BRI, a number of Chinese provinces and municipalities have carried out practical cooperation with local governments in Tajikistan: China's Henan Province and Tajikistan have jointly built a new high ground for regional economic cooperation; China's Shaanxi Province and Khatlon region of Tajikistan established twinning relations and built up a cooperation mechanism; the Tajik city of Khujand (the capital of the Sughd Province) and the Chinese city of Taiyuan (the capital and largest city of Shanxi Province in China) signed an agreement on the establishment of sister-city relationships.

Fostering connectivity under BRI

Tajik government officials publicly express their support for various Chinese initiatives, including the BRI, a global community of shared future, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative. For Tajikistan, active support for the BRI allows the country to benefit from Chinese investments in critical infrastructure projects. Additionally, in areas such as energy, industry and agriculture, Tajikistan receives substantial financial support and assistance from China.

Tajikistan's society suggests that Tajikistan should actively integrate into the BRI for development. It is recommended that Tajikistan actively align its national development strategy with the BRI.

Tajikistan considers the BRI more suitable than other major countries' plans, such as the US' New Silk Road Initiative, which is deemed "overly politicized." Tajikistan believes that the BRI can significantly contribute to completing essential infrastructure projects in the country.

Due to Western sanctions on Russia, which have resulted in a significant decrease in remittances from Tajik migrant workers, Tajikistan's economy is currently facing challenges. In light of this economic crisis, Chinese investment is being considered as a crucial option to alleviate the situation. Jointly building the BRI with China is deemed highly significant for Tajikistan. It is expected to reduce logistics costs and time in Central Asia, promote the circulation of goods and funds, raise living standards for Tajikistan's people and advance modernization.

The 2023 China-Central Asia Summit marked a historic milestone in China-Central Asia relations. China and Tajikistan should fully implement the consensus reached at this summit. They should engage in a series of in-depth collaborations in key areas such as social governance, security, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges, strengthen legislative cooperation between the two countries and explore bilateral repatriation legal mechanisms in line with international standards. They also should foster practical cooperation at the local level. 

Enhancing economic cooperation is mutually beneficial for both China and Tajikistan. Strengthening economic ties and attracting Chinese investment are logical choices for Tajikistan, as various sectors of Tajik society are expected to benefit from local economic development. For this to happen, the following needs to be done. First, advancing regional connectivity, strengthening logistics infrastructure development in Tajikistan and enhancing customs clearance efficiency for goods. Second, leveraging technological advantages such as satellite remote sensing to improve efficiency in Tajikistan's resource development and ensure mining safety. Third, facilitating the entry of Chinese new energy companies into the Tajik market to assist the development of green energy. Fourth, enhancing cooperation with Tajikistan in high-tech fields such as new agriculture, digital economy, and 5G communication to support its transformative development. Fifth, promoting Tajikistan's participation in the supply chain of China's advantageous industries, such as new energy vehicles and photovoltaic power generation. Sixth, assisting Tajikistan in poverty alleviation primarily through investment, supplemented by aid, in accordance with the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Seventh, expanding channels for the import of Tajikistan's agricultural products.

China should try to win hearts and minds of Tajik people. First, the two countries can conduct basic public education in Tajikistan's cities and towns, focusing on green agriculture, environmental protection, and healthcare and assisting the Tajik government in addressing livelihood issues. Second, relevant Chinese institutions can engage in various levels of seminars and discussions with Tajikistan's think tanks and universities about China's achievements in human rights, poverty alleviation, sustainable development and anti-corruption efforts. Third, they can establish a China-Tajikistan civil diplomacy platform with a primary focus on sports and arts diplomacy, intensifying efforts in civil diplomacy. Fourth, they can research how Western media report China's presence in Central Asia and deal with their slander accordingly.

Outlook for 2024

In 2024, guided by the political mutual trust and the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit, China and Tajikistan will demonstrate robust cooperation momentum. Both sides will continue mutually beneficial and pragmatic cooperation in traditional areas including infrastructure, trade and cultural exchanges as well as promote bilateral common development. Breakthrough achievements are expected in emerging fields like 5G communication, digital economy and new energy vehicles. In 2024, mutual cooperation and win-win collaboration remain the overarching direction for China-Tajikistan relations. However, it is essential to remain vigilant, considering global uncertainties arising from profound changes unseen in a century, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, escalating great-power competition, the Afghan issue, as well as rising regional instability.

Apple announced a price reduction of its iPhone 15 series and older iPhone models in the Chinese retail market on Monday.

The rare move caused heated discussion on social media in China, with many netizens claiming that the era that iPhone often outclassed its competitors "has largely gone," as many Chinese local smartphone brands have shown "very good quality but lower prices."

According to Apple's website, consumers that buy seven iPhone models including iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 15 can enjoy a price cut of up to 500 yuan ($70.27) between January 18 and January 21, if they make payment via Alipay, WeChat Pay, Ant Group's Huabei or several major credit cards.

In addition, consumers will enjoy a price reduction of up to 800 yuan for buying MacBook Air laptop (13-inch or 15-inch models) with M2 chip, or 13-inch MacBook Air with M1 chip, the company said.

The hashtag "Apple's rare price reduction" has become a trending topic on China's Sina Weibo since Monday, generating 370 million reviews by Tuesday noon.

"I'm a fan of Apple and have been using iPhones for years, but iPhone models released over the past several years have displayed few innovations. If the trend continues, I may shift to purchase a Chinese smartphone brand," a netizen said in a Sina Weibo post on Monday.

Another netizen said that "The gap between Chinese smartphone brands and iPhones is narrowing. I'd like to buy a local smartphone at a much lower price."

It's worth noting that during the "Double Eleven (November 11)" online shopping festival last year, Apple's iPhone 15 series saw a sharp drop on China's e-commerce platforms.

Apple faces fierce competition from local competitors such as Huawei, OPPO and Xiaomi. "Apple innovation seems to be waning," Ma Jihua, a Beijing-based industry analyst, told the Global Times. Ma said that Apple has to do more to stabilize its market share in China.

Apple CEO Tim Cook visited China twice in 2023, highlighting the importance of the Chinese market to the tech giant, while acknowledging Apple's growth pressure in the market, Ma said.

China and the US have recently engaged in a series of interactions across various levels, including inter-party and military exchanges. This extensive communication between the world's two largest economies signifies China's genuine efforts to stabilize relations, especially during a year when bilateral ties are expected to face challenges.

Experts pointed out that through these interactions, the Chinese side also expressed the necessity to the US to maintain a consistent and stable China policy during US presidential election year; as US inconsistent policy will not only harm the bilateral relationship but will also impact the whole world.

Chinese officials have also strongly cautioned the US against interfering in the Taiwan question during the exchanges, said the experts. It is important for the US to understand China's strong message against colluding with Taiwan secessionists, particularly in the lead-up to Taiwan's regional leader election. If these secessionist forces push their agenda too far, they will face harsh measures from Chinese mainland, and the US will also be put in dilemma, the experts said.

On Tuesday, Xie Feng, Chinese Ambassador to the US, delivered a speech at the Carter Center Forum commemorating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-US diplomatic relations.

Xie said China has recently taken a series of positive measures to further open up and facilitate China-US exchanges and cooperation. "We have authorized Mastercard NUCC to conduct bank card clearing operations in China, and approved Broadcom's acquisition of VMware. All Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in China are back in service."

The ambassador noted that it is hoped that the US side will also take real actions in the same spirit to address China's concerns. It is important to start with small steps which can go a long way, pursue reciprocity and mutual benefit, both give and take, fully utilize the restored and new mechanisms in foreign policy, economy, finance, commerce, agriculture and other fields, expand the list of cooperation and shorten the negative list, and solve rather than create problems.

China's Ministry of National Defense announced on Wednesday that the 17th China-US Defense Policy Coordination Talks were held in Washington DC from January 8th to 9th. The meeting was co-chaired by deputy chief of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China's Central Military Commission and deputy assistant secretary of defense of the US Department of Defense. 

The Chinese side expressed that China is willing to develop a sound and stable military-to-military relationship with the US side on the basis of equality and respect and work together to follow through the important consensus on mil-mil engagement reached by the two heads of state during their meeting in San Francisco, according to a read out issued by the ministry. 

Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, also visited the US this week. 

In a speech delivered at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations in the US on Tuesday, Liu said China does not seek to change the current international order, instead, China is one of the builders of the existing world order and benefits from it. As the world enters a period of turbulence and change, people from all countries hope that China and the US can take the lead in solving more global issues, he noted.

The recent slew of interactions between the two countries shows that China is willing to enhance communication with the US at various levels and also demonstrates China's sincerity in trying to stabilize bilateral relations, Lü Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. China also hopes these exchanges can help prevent negative factors within the US from becoming overwhelming forces before the upcoming US presidential election, when anti-China rhetoric will be amplified, he added.  

Liu Weidong, a research fellow at the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that China has made significant efforts to enhance bilateral relations, the onus is on the US for further progress. The incumbent US President, Joe Biden, is acutely aware that strained China-US relations could will not benefit him in the upcoming election. However, he also faces pressure to avoid appearing too soft on China, as he fears potential attacks from Republican candidates. Liu believed that the China-US relationship may encounter significant turbulence this year. 

According to experts, China aims to use recent interactions with the US as a reminder for Washington to maintain continuity and stability as a superpower. They argue that inconsistent policies of the US not only affect China-US relations but also affect the entire world.

While it may be unrealistic to expect China and the US to agree on everything, it does not imply that the two nations are in an antagonistic state. Experts argue that beyond the polarizing extremes, there exists ample room for both countries to coexist. The focus now lies in finding a peaceful way to co-exist for China and the US in this space.

Sensitive question

Both Xie and Liu Jianchao sent clear message to the US side over the seriousness of the Taiwan question.

Xie said that the Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive question in China-US relations. When it comes to "Taiwan independence" separatists who betray their motherland and refuse to identify themselves as Chinese, the Chinese government simply has no room for compromise, Xie said. 

The US side should abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués with practical actions, and implement the statements of US leaders not supporting "Taiwan independence" and not using the Taiwan question as a tool to contain China. 

Liu Jianchao said that China takes the US' commitments of not supporting "Taiwan independence" seriously and hopes that the US will abide by these commitments.

During the just concluded China-US Defense Policy Coordination Talks, the Chinese side emphasized that China will not make any concession or compromise on the Taiwan question and demanded that the US side abide by the one-China principle, honor relevant commitments, stop arming Taiwan, and not support Taiwan independence. 

Washington however has not shunned from sending wrong signals to Taiwan secessionists before the Taiwan regional leader election this weekend. In the latest move, island of Taiwan's representative in the US Alexander Yui met with US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday. 

China firmly opposes the US having any form of official contact with the Taiwan region, Mao Ning, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a Wednesday conference. She noted that the US should prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues, stop official contact with the Taiwan region, stop sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and refrain from interfering in elections in the Taiwan region in any form.

Experts have stated that the outcome of the Taiwan regional leader election won't affect the reunification process. Instead, China's strong message sent during recent interactions with the US is rather a reminder for Washington not to collude with Taiwan secessionists. "If these secessionists were to win the election and push for Taiwan independence, it could potentially lead to ultimate measures from the Chinese mainland. This situation would also put the US in an awkward position, as that would mean an inevitable conflict between China and the US," according to Liu Weidong.

According to Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice (BMBJ), a local forensic institute has cracked the transmission principle of AirDrop function of Apple devices, which enables mobile phone number and email address of the AirDrop content sender to be extracted from content receivers, while authorities have received more complaints from public over receiving offensive and inappropriate messages from other anonymous Apple devices.

This technical breakthrough has successfully helped the public security authorities identify a number of criminal suspects, who use the AirDrop function to spread illegal content, BMBJ said through a releases posted on its website on Monday. 

According to the BMBJ, the Beijing police have received reports from the public that their iPhones received videos with "anonymous inappropriate messages" in subway in Beijing. Following investigation, the police found that the suspects took advantage of the AirDrop function to anonymously spread these inappropriate messages including pictures, videos, audio and other files, in crowded public spaces like transport hubs, bus stops or shopping malls. 

As AirDrop function allows anonymous transmission without an internet connection, it is almost impossible to effectively regulate this behavior through conventional network monitoring means, which has become a challenge for public security organs to crack these cases, and some internet users have started to imitate this behavior. Therefore, it is necessary to quickly identify the source of the sender and determine their identity in order to avoid negative consequences, according to the release. 

A local forensic institute named "Wangshen Dongjian" was commissioned to analyze iPhone device logs. A rainbow table correlating phone numbers and email accounts was created during investigation, and has "effectively assisted the police in identifying several suspects" involved in such cases.

The breakthrough of AirDrop's anonymous traceability technology has improved the efficiency and accuracy of case detection, and prevented the further spread of inappropriate information and its potential adverse effects, the BMBJ said. 

Apple has limited the use of the AirDrop wireless file sharing function on devices in Chinese mainland in November 2022, after some anti-China forces used the function to spread inappropriate digital leaflets, according to media reports. After the updates, users can only opt in to receive files from non-contacts during a 10-minute window before it automatically shuts off.

Concerns over the AirDrop feature are global. Western nations like US, UK, and Australia also noticed the rising of "cyber flashing," where explicit and abusive images are anonymously sent to strangers through iPhones.

On May 10, 2023, the Metro branch of the Hangzhou Public Security Bureau issued a notice saying that a female passenger received an explicit picture through AirDrop on Hangzhou subway from a stranger," triggered huge amount of public attention. 

China has become a major intellectual property (IP) power and important pole in the world's innovation landscape after 30 years in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press briefing on Wednesday. 

"China attaches great importance to international patent cooperation and intellectual property protection," Wang said, noting that the number of international patent applications by Chinese applicants through the PCT has ranked first in the world for four consecutive years.

According to Wang, in the 30 years since joining the PCT, China has actively participated in the revision and improvement of international rules such as those of the PCT and continuously improved the domestic IP legal system, while carrying out fruitful cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). 

"IP is an important source of support for innovative development. With the support of patented technology, China has continuously improved its IP quality and efficiency to accelerate innovation," Wang noted. 

He gave the example of China's 126,400 global patent applications for solar cells, which ranked first in the world. China's leading new-energy vehicle producers have more than 100,000 valid global patents, leading in the green and low-carbon industry.

China continues to expand the opening-up of the IP field to create a market-oriented, legal and international first-class business environment, according to Wang. 

A total of 115 the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries have applied for 253,000 patents in China during the past 10 years, with an average annual growth rate of 5.4 percent. As of the end of 2022, the number of valid foreign invention patents in China reached 861,000, a year-on-year increase of 4.5 percent, which fully reflects the recognition of foreign-invested enterprises in China's IP protection.

China will continue to adhere to the principles of openness, inclusiveness, balance and universal benefit, strengthen international exchanges and cooperation with other countries in the field of IP, promote the development of global IP governance in a more fair and reasonable manner, and allow innovation to benefit more people of all countries, Wang said. 

According to the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2023 released by the WIPO in September, China ranked 12th globally, with six indicators ranking first in the world. Three science and technology clusters - Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai-Suzhou - were among the world's top five. 

In addition, the GII identified 24 science and technology clusters in China, up from 21 in 2022, as the country is now home to the greatest number of science and technology clusters, said the WIPO.

US-based Citigroup Inc plans to launch a wholly owned investment banking unit in China by the end of 2024, according to Reuters, adding to an increasing number of global financial institutions that are actively expanding their presence in the Chinese market.

While some foreign media outlets and institutions continue to paint a grim picture of the Chinese market's outlook, global investors' concrete business plans in China are a "vote of confidence" in its economic prospects, Chinese analysts said on Friday, noting that continuous financial opening-up and an improving business environment offer greater opportunities for global businesses.

Citing an unnamed source, Reuters reported on Thursday that Citigroup aims to launch a wholly owned China investment unit by the end of 2024 and hire about 30 employees. The unit, which will focus on the Chinese capital market, could hire nearly 100 people in the coming years, including local hires and transfers from Hong Kong and other markets, according to Reuters.

Reached by the Global Times on Friday about the report, Citi China referred to a New Year's message from Christine Lam, CEO of Citi China, in which she talked about Citi's long history and extensive presence in the Chinese market.

"The Chinese market is extremely important in Citigroup's global strategy," Lam said in the message posted on the company's WeChat account, pointing to two trips made by Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup, to China in 2023.

"In this market full of opportunities, Citi will remain committed to providing excellent cross-border services to corporate and institutional clients," Lam said. "At the same time, we will continue to help foreign-funded institutions participate in China's ever-opening market and share the new opportunities brought by China's opening-up and development."

Reports of Citi's plans for the Chinese market came just two days after Chinese regulators approved US-based AllianceBernstein Holding LP's application for a license to run its wholly owned mutual fund business in China.

Following the approval, "AllianceBernstein will provide Chinese investors with domestic investment products and solutions, and help tap investment opportunities in China's local market," the company said in a statement sent to the Global Times on Tuesday.

The plans by Citi and AllianceBernstein are latest examples of the growing number of foreign financial institutions that are expanding in the Chinese market, which shows their confidence in the Chinese economy amid continuous opening-up and an improving business environment, analysts said.

"It is mostly foreign media outlets and so-called analysts who are smearing the Chinese economy because of bias and political and other motives, but for businesses that are seeking opportunities and profits, they are obviously optimistic about China's economic prospects," Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade, told the Global Times.

Li said that China's continued financial opening-up measures and efforts to improve the business environment, including through institutional opening-up, have made "tangible progress," which explains the growing expansion by foreign businesses in the Chinese market.

"Also, importantly, Chinese officials of all levels pay great attention to foreign businesses and they often hold talks with foreign executives to not just hear about the problems they face but actually solve them," Li said.

During her visit to China in June, Fraser met with several Chinese regulators and clients. During a meeting with Li Yunze, head of the National Financial Regulatory Administration (NFRA), Fraser expressed confidence in China's economic and financial development and Citi will continue to expand in the Chinese market, according to an NFRA statement.

In October, Citigroup was one of several global financial institutions that raised China's 2023 economic growth forecast. Citi expected China's GDP growth to reach 5.3 percent in 2023 up from its earlier forecast of 5 percent.

Chinese regulators have also stepped up efforts to expand market access for overseas financial institutions. In December 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission approved six overseas institutional investors' qualifications to conduct businesses in the Chinese market, bringing the total to 81 in 2023.

China's Central Financial Work Conference in October, a crucial meeting that sets financial work priorities for the coming years, called for efforts to promote high-level financial opening-up. Specifically, the meeting called for the steady expansion of institutional opening-up in the financial sector, improved cross-border investment and financing facilitation, and more foreign financial institutions and long-term capital to expand and conduct businesses in China.

"There is a growing number of reasons that more foreign capital will flow into China's capital market in 2024," Yang Delong, chief economist at Shenzhen-based First Seafront Fund Management Co, told the Global Times on Friday, noting that China's economic recovery is expected to speed up, while the US is entering a cycle of rate cuts which will pressure financial markets.

The "Linyi Trade City  China Aggregation" International Brand Promotion Conference themed on "Gathering and Selling of Quality Goods around the World" was held in Beijing on December 10, 2023. The conference gave a detailed introduction of the achievements of Linyi, East China's Shandong Province in the trade and logistics industry in recent years and the development and deployment of Linyi Trade City's transformation and upgrading, aiming at further enhancing the influence of Linyi Trade City's international brand and helping the investment attraction to a new level. 

Zhang Xiaobin, member of the Standing Committee of CPC Linyi Municipal Committee and head of the city's publicity department presided over the conference. More than 100 foreign envoys, heads of business associations and representatives of trade and logistics enterprises attended the event. 

Linyi is a well-known commercial city in China and the country's logistics capital. And Linyi Trade City is the city's market cluster. Linyi Trade City is a fruitful achievement of more than 40 years of reform and opening-up, and has become a world-renowned bright business card and a source of vitality for Linyi's modernization.

Ren Gang, Secretary of CPC Linyi Municipal Committee, delivered a speech at the conference. He pointed out that in recent years, based on the advantages of trade logistics, Linyi has vigorously implemented the strategy of putting trade logistics first, and cultivated Linyi Trade City, which is "buying and selling goods all over the world."

He said that at present, Linyi is in a critical period of great change. The overlapping empowerment of major policies such as "the Belt and Road Initiative" and achieving green, low-carbon and high-quality development has brought unprecedented opportunities for city's leap-forward development. Linyi will continue to optimize its business environment, actively adapt to the trend of restructuring international economic and trade rules, promote exchanges and cooperation with all partners, and strive to achieve mutual benefit and common development.

Chen Jian, former vice minister of China's Ministry of Commerce, delivered a video speech and put forward three suggestions for the next development of Linyi Trade City: First, drive the city's development to a new level through the "big channel." With the channel to bring logistics, trade and industry, the city will be able to continuously enlarge the opening-up and market advantages of Linyi Trade City; The second is to promote trade growth with digitalization as a new engine. The city will continue to accelerate the innovation of digital technology and carry out high-quality cooperation in cross-border e-commerce and mobile payment. The third is to stimulate new impetus with the construction of an excellent environment to empower the park. Strengthen the creation of an excellent business environment for the park, and make Linyi Trade City a powerful cornerstone for enterprises' development.

Awais Zafar, First Secretary of Pakistani Embassy in China, said that China-Pakistan friendship is profound and long-lasting. The development of Linyi in recent years reflects the vitality and innovation of China's economy. Building a modern commercial and logistics city not only tapped Linyi's own development potential, but also promoted it to become an important participant in the global economic structure. In the face of unprecedented cooperation opportunities, China and Pakistan will be able to further strengthen economic and cultural exchanges and expand new areas of cooperation.

Juan Xinyang, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Linyi Municipal Committee, and Vice Mayor of Linyi, made a promotion of "Linyi Trade City · China Aggregation." He pointed out that Linyi Trade City has adhered to the integrated development of "commerce, warehouses, logistics, parks and exhibitions," accurately served and merged into the construction of "four trade cities" - digital trade city, international trade city, green trade city and chain trade city, and has developed into a pilot area of market procurement trade mode, a national logistics hub of business service, a cross-border e-commerce and a provincial "Belt and Road Initiative" comprehensive experimental area, with obvious advantages of policy superposition. Juan said the city expects domestic and foreign merchants to visit Linyi for sightseeing, negotiation and cooperation, and make new and greater contributions to comprehensively accelerating the pace of transformation and upgrading of Linyi Trade City.

At the promotion conference, Zhou Keren, former deputy minister of China's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, delivered a keynote speech entitled "grasping the present situation and trends of international trade development and promoting the foreign trade construction of Linyi Trade City." He pointed out that in the face of the current challenges in global trade, the city needs to respond by strengthening cooperation, promoting innovation and inclusive growth. In this process, Linyi Trade City should exert its efforts in deepening regional economic cooperation, focusing on innovative cooperation in new fields, cultivating new formats and models of digital trade, strengthening international cooperation and exchanges, and increasing the international spread of brands.

Zhu Siqiao, an associate research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said that the digital economy which brings with it new innovation, strong permeability and wide coverage has become a new economic growth point, a fulcrum for transforming and upgrading traditional industries, and an important engine for building a modern industrial system. Empowering business logistics through digital technology, realizing intelligent warehousing, logistics and other scene applications, and promoting related enterprises to carry out model innovation and product innovation, which can organically link production and consumption, expand the scope of transactions, promote the deepening of division of labor, and improve production efficiency, which is of great significance to promoting the stable development of China's economy.

Yu Xinwen, CEO of Shandong Huafeng Enterprise Group, Guan Zhaojun, CEO of Shandong Lanhua Group, Sun Siyong, Chairman of Linyi Wholesale Market Group, Sun Baoan, President of the Linyi Wholesalers Association, and Li Hui, General Manager of Linyi Xinminghui Safety Technology spoke as enterprise representatives respectively.

The conference was hosted by Linyi Municipal People's Government, and jointly undertaken by Linyi Trade City Management Committee and the government of Lanshan district.

Beijing Subway on Friday issued measures to maintain normal operation of parts of the city's Changping Line including using shuttle buses to ensure normal commuter traffic, with all subway trains on above-ground and elevated lines being operated manually, at reduced speed and increased intervals between trains to ensure the safe operation during extreme weather, after a carriage disengagement incident occurred on Thursday night.

Beijing Subway apologized again on Friday over the incident, which injured more than 30 people, while putting in place measures to reduce the inconvenience to passengers. 

The Changping Line will maintain normal operation from Zhuxinzhuang Station to Changping Xishankou Station, and the section from Xi'erqi Station to Xitucheng Station. Residents can transfer to downtown via Line 8 and Line 13. Shuttle buses will be available for transportation between Xi'erqi Station and Zhuxinzhuang stations. In addition, bus services along the route will be increased to provide transportation options for commuters, according to Beijing Subway.

On Thursday evening, several videos circulating online showed that a Beijing subway Changping Line train split in the middle as carriages disengaged. Beijing Subway said a preliminary finding shows that the incident on the Changping Line was due to a vehicle malfunction.

More than 30 people were injured due to the incident and no one died. The injured are being sent to hospitals for treatment, and the cause of the accident is being investigated, according to an official announcement.

Around 10:30 pm on Thursday, the Beijing transportation authority stated that all people involved at the site had been completely evacuated and that all injured individuals had been transported to hospitals for treatment. There were no fatalities.

The authority also issued a reminder to residents that service between Xi'erqi Station and Life Science Park Station on the Changping Line has been suspended. However, service on other sections of the line is operating normally.

Beijing Subway said there was no power on the contact rails on the section from Xi'erqi station to Life Science Park station on the Changping Line (northbound). Some trains have been temporarily stopped and some have been delayed. The staff are currently organizing rescue operations.

A passenger was quoted as saying in media reports that around 6:50 pm, they heard a loud noise in front of them, and then the train stopped with "a strong sense of impact." There were many passengers in the carriage and many of them fell down.

"I was pinned down, and everyone was shouting in the dark. Fortunately, the people next to me pulled me up," the passenger recalled. "Now everyone is standing."

On-site videos show that the subway was in a suspended state, with dark and crowded carriages. Some passengers were searching for their lost phones on the floor. Many were using their phone lights to gradually walk out of the carriage and wait for rescue. The sound of nearby rescue vehicles could be heard, according to media reports.

A netizen named TY_lizhenwei said via Sina Weibo, "I never expected to experience such an incident in my life. I was near the door where the subway carriage disengaged. I am grateful that I was not injured and thank the private car driver who gave me a ride, ensuring my safe arrival home."

Another netizen expressed a wish that each worker could get home safely and early during the snowy day.

There was currently a power outage in the subway. Passengers called 110, 119 and other emergency numbers, and some rescuers were heading to the site of the incident. Some netizens also saw ambulances and fire trucks parked near the Life Science Park station. Online videos showed that passengers in the train were injured.

The meteorological information shows that on Thursday, there were moderate snow in Changping, a district in Beijing. The highest temperature during the day is -1 C, the lowest temperature at night is -6 C, and the wind is easterly.

Some passengers who were stuck in the train used survival hammers to smash the windows to escape from the train, some online videos showed.

With the highly watched trial of secessionist media tycoon Jimmy Lai taking place on Monday at West Kowloon Court, some Western politicians and media have exploited this occasion to smear the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong and badmouth the rule of law in the city. Officials from both the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong have called these criticisms blatant interference in China's internal affairs, adding that any attempts to slander, disrupt and sabotage the NSL for Hong Kong will never succeed.

Lai, wearing a light gray suit jacket, was escorted into the courtroom on Monday morning. Presided over by three national security law designated judges, the prosecution's first charge was "conspiracy to print, publish, sell, offer for sale, distribute, display, or reproduce seditious publications."

The three judges overseeing Lai's trial are Madam Justices Esther Toh Lye-ping and Susana D'Almada Remedios, and Mr Justice Alex Lee Wan-tang, according to Hong Kong media.

Lai, along with three companies related to Apple Daily and six former senior executives of Apple Daily, are charged with conspiring to collude with foreign or external forces to endanger national security and conspiracy to publish seditious publications. In addition, Lai faces two charges of violating national security laws, including conspiring with individuals such as wanted fugitive Andy Li Yu-hin and others to collude with foreign countries or overseas forces. The trial is expected to last 80 days.

Representatives from the consulates of more than 10 countries, including the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, and the EU, were also seen lining up to wait for tickets to enter the court to observe the trial, some local media said.

At a press conference on Monday, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said Lai is a major mastermind and participant of the anti-China riots in Hong Kong. "He is an agent and pawn of the anti-China forces, and the person behind the riots in Hong Kong. What he did was detrimental to Hong Kong's prosperity and stability and the wellbeing of the people in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong law enforcement and judicial authorities have handled and tried the case in accordance with the law."

As for the US' and UK's statements, making such irresponsible comments on an ongoing judicial process is against the principle of the rule of law, the international law and the basic norms governing international relations, Wang said. "This is politically motivated and one hundred percent double standard. China firmly rejects this."

Some legal experts in Hong Kong say that despite of international political and public opinion pressure, the trial will become a classic case in upholding national security in Hong Kong, fully reflecting the independence of the city's judiciary, the spirit of the rule of law, and the professional integrity of its judges.

Evidence is demonstrated in the courtroom, witnesses are subpoenaed and cross-examined by both the prosecutor and the defendants' counsels and the court hearing is open to the public, and thereby a fair and just trial is secured, Chu Kar-kin, a veteran commentator based in the HKSAR and member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, told the Global Times on Monday.

The verdict is determined by law and by facts. An appeal mechanism is available in Hong Kong, and defendants can appeal against convictions and sentencing, Chu said.

"The legal system in Hong Kong is based on the rule of law and so-called 'political prosecution' never exists in this jurisdiction."

"I think the US and the West have double standards, because Hong Kong relies on the rule of law. Since someone has violated the law, they must be punished," former member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Tam Yiu-chung told the Global Times on Monday.

"No matter what his background is, he must be prosecuted according to legal procedures. Other countries should not interfere in this matter and should not affect the work of the law," Tam said.

Lai's case also has a milestone significance, some experts said, as it shows that challenging national security and violating national security laws are absolutely not allowed, and all those who violate the law will be punished.

While the US and the West talk about the rule of law, they are using Lai's case to wreak havoc on Hong Kong's rule of law and judicial independence, a spokesperson from the Commissioner's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong said on Monday.

Their "clever excuses" for criminals have no other use than adding more evidence to Lai's charges of colluding with external forces, the spokesperson said.

This aerial photo shows the site after a fire at a slum area in Manila, the Philippines on Dec. 12, 2023. The pre-dawn fire that erupted Tuesday left 240 families homeless, the Philippine Bureau of Fire Protection said.(Photo: Xinhua)