Editor's Note:

Friendly exchanges between China and Africa have enjoyed a long history and have deepened in recent years, covering various fields such as politics, the economy, and culture. The Global Times is launching a China-Africa Rhapsody series, aiming to showcase the profound human connections and development visions between the two peoples by sharing the true stories of Chinese people in Africa and African people in China. From touching stories of China-Africa cooperation and exciting collisions of youthful ideas, to debunking fallacies concocted by some Western sources about the China-Africa collaboration, this series hopes to promote closer cooperation and deeper understanding between the peoples of China and Africa.

In this installment, we turn our attention to Chinese agricultural experts who have been actively collaborating with African countries to improve local rice cultivation techniques, significantly boosting agricultural productivity. This cross-continental partnership exemplifies a commitment to global food security and highlights the importance of international cooperation in fighting against hunger and achieving sustainable agricultural development.

Around 733 million people - meaning one in 11 people worldwide - had to go to bed hungry in 2023, with a significant number from Africa where one in five individuals face this plight, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations' latest figures.

In the face of this persistent challenge, the cycle of hunger and poverty continues to deepen, exacerbating the issue. To combat chronic hunger in Africa, Chinese professor Xu Jianlong at the Crop Science Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences has embarked on a mission to fight against hunger by empowering smallholder farmers and households to boost their agricultural production.

Since 2008, Xu, together with a group of Chinese researchers, has managed to use genetic molecular research to breed Green Super Rice (GSC) that can be grown in the resource-poor regions of Africa, with support from the Chinese government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

When it comes to solving the difficult problem of hunger and alleviating poverty, China is undoubtedly a good forerunner. The country announced in 2021 that extreme poverty had been eradicated and it has lifted nearly 800 million people out of poverty over the last four decades. Agricultural development was used as an effective way to lift people out of poverty. Therefore, China has valuable lessons to share.

According to Xu, they have been busy breeding different GSR varieties to adapt to different ecological environments. In Africa, for example, the GSR varieties need to be more resilient to drought and high temperatures.

"It's important to teach them 'how to breed rice' instead of just 'giving them rice,'" Xu told the Global Times.

One step further
Over the last decade, Xu and his colleagues have successfully developed 236 excellent rice varieties, with nearly 6,000 imported materials being tested and screened in different countries in Africa and Asia. Ninety-six GSR varieties have been approved or registered, with a promotion area of 6.12 million hectares, helping farmers increase their income by $1.4 billion, Xu introduced.

During his work in Africa, he noticed that farmers living in remote and scattered areas have difficulties accessing good quality seeds, which greatly influenced their rice yields.

"People often say that a single seed can change the world. We believe that it is more important to get these seeds into the hands of smallholder farmers, plant them in the soil, and only then can there be subsequent harvests and celebrations," he said.

It is for this reason that Xu is collaborating with the Gates Foundation to jointly decide on the next step forward after developing GSR. In September 2021, they launched a program to promote the construction of the rice seed industry system in West African countries through a dual-track approach, from upstream breeding and seed production to downstream seed promotion and marketing, forming a complete chain. They first piloted the scheme in West African countries and established rice demonstration areas in Nigeria and Mali.

To appeal to local farmers, they first rented large demonstration farmlands to plant the developed GSR and the most widely planted local varieties side by side. When the rice matured, they invited nearby small-scale farmers to witness the harvest of both types of rice. They weighed the results on the spot, showing that the hybrid rice varieties could increase yields by more than 50 percent.

"The farmers were amazed. Furthermore, we distributed seeds for free on-site, giving two pounds to each invited farmer, encouraging them to plant the seeds," Xu said.

For West African farmers, their primary concern is yields, so Xu's team brought high-yielding and stress-resistant rice varieties for local cultivation. But after actual inspections, they found that farmers also had their own preferences for rice taste, preferring long-grain aromatic rice. Therefore, they introduced hybrid rice varieties that are high-yielding, long-grain, and aromatic, which the farmers liked and more easily accepted.

However, the road has not been that smooth. In the GSR breeding project, they initially imported developed varieties from China to countries like Nigeria for testing, hoping to find seeds suitable for local cultivation in Africa. But African soil and climatic conditions are very different from China's, and out of 100 varieties they brought over for testing, only a few - one to two varieties - succeeded.

Besides, Xu noted that even the same rice variety, for example, may produce different results in experimental fields and farmers' fields due to differences in water and fertilizer conditions. Because smallholder farmers find it difficult to plant rice in the same way as in the experimental controls, optimally controlling all the water and fertilizer conditions and using the most suitable pesticides. Therefore, even if a variety can increase yields by up to 50 percent in experimental fields, it may only increase yields by 20 percent in farmers' hands, a difference that must be considered.

"It is important to start from reality. Like breeding work, projects must consider local temperature and light conditions and work in real environments," he said.

"We must always consider the actual situation in farmers' fields and their actual needs, which places more specific requirements on our breeding work," Xu told the Global Times.

Lesson to share

Over the last 40 years, China has made significant progress in agricultural development, which has not only ensured China's food security but also laid a strong foundation for the sustainable development of Chinese agriculture. This path of agricultural development that benefits smallholder farmers has great significance for Africa, where smallholder farmers are also the mainstay.

Xu told the Global Times that after finding the most appropriate seeds, it is more important to help locals master breeding and planting methods.

To do this, they worked closely with local technical experts to pass on breeding knowledge, hybrid rice seed production, and high-yield cultivation techniques, allowing them to achieve self-breeding and food self-sufficiency. They also went into the fields to observe how farmers planted rice and helped them find specific skills on how to water, fertilize, and spray pesticides during different rice growth seasons.

"Only by giving people the ability to sustain themselves can sustainable development be achieved," Xu said.

In addition to rice planting, China and Africa have established extensive cooperation in the agricultural sector under multiple mechanisms including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

In an interview with the Xinhua News Agency, Felix Dapare Dakora, former president of the African Academy of Sciences, noted, "Learning from China is the right path." He hailed China's great achievements in solving food shortages through technological innovation and China's efforts to help Africa strengthen food security.

Recently, experts from the China Agricultural University participated in an international agricultural expo in Tanzania. The red slogans in both Chinese and English reading "Harvesting Festival for Small Technology Big Harvest" at the scene.

Li Xiaoyun, a professor at the China Agricultural University, told The Beijing News that they arrived in Tanzania 10 years ago and found that the local corn yield was very low. Traditional Chinese corn planting techniques could help local farmers increase their production rapidly without incurring higher investment costs.

Initially, they promoted the technology in one local village and now the program has been expanded to 10 villages, helping to increase local farmers' corn yield two- to five-fold. They also assisted local families in trying corn and soybean intercropping, producing soybeans, and making soy milk and other soy products by themselves, to solve the problem of nutritional deficiencies in the local area, read the report.

Meanwhile, the training of African experts is ongoing. According to the China Agricultural University website, the "China-Africa Science and Technology Backyard" is a China-Africa agricultural education project launched in 2019, implemented by the China Agricultural University, which recruits agricultural students from Africa to study in China.

It uses China's agricultural experience to help Africa cultivate high-quality agricultural talents and promote the development of African agriculture. The project has experimental bases in Quzhou County, Hebei Province, and Malawi. Over the last six years, the project has recruited 91 agricultural talents from 12 countries in Africa. These students have also become builders and witnesses of the deepening cooperation between China and Africa. The feedback from farmers showed that they have benefited a lot from the training, which greatly increased their production yields, according to the university.

Xu's lab also provided advanced training regarding GSR breeding techniques to about 942 scientists and technicians from 15 countries and this training program continues to expand.

"The use of Chinese technology to ensure food security in developing countries is of great importance to BRI construction and the building of a global community of shared future," Xu said, eyeing the promotion of techniques to help African farmers in more countries in the future.

China's Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) on Friday announced "maximum" penalties on global auditing firm PwC over its failure to perform due diligence in its audit of Evergrande's annual reports and bond issuances, including a total fine of 441 million yuan ($62.16 million) and a six-month business suspension on PwC's auditing unit.
Chinese experts said the move reflects the country's firm determination to enhance regulatory supervision to ensure market fairness and stability, and such an individual case will not affect China's continuous efforts in opening up to foreign businesses that abide by Chinese laws and regulations. 

In a statement, the CSRC said that an investigation found that PwC failed to perform due diligence in its audit of Evergrande's annual reports and bond issuances in 2019 and 2020, violated multiple auditing standards, and failed in many audit procedures. 

Specifically, the CSRC said audit working papers were distorted, and 88 percent of real estate project observation records were inconsistent with the actual implementation. On-site visit procedures also did not fulfill their purpose, as most of the real estate projects that were considered to have met delivery conditions during the visits were actually not completed or delivered, and some were just "pieces of vacant land."

PwC's behaviors are not just a simple audit dereliction and failure. It has, to a certain extent, covered up and even condoned Evergrande's financial falsification and fraudulent issuance of corporate bonds. It seriously eroded the foundation of law and integrity, seriously damaged the legitimate rights and interests of investors, seriously undermined market confidence, and should be severely punished in accordance with the law, the CSRC said. 

The CSRC imposed a "maximum fine" of 297 million yuan and confiscated a total of 27.74 million yuan in PwC's financial gains from the related business. 

In a separate announcement, the MOF also said that an investigation found that PwC knew misstatements in Evergrande's financial reports but failed to identified them, issued inappropriate audit opinions and false audit reports between 2018 and 2020. The ministry imposed a fine of 116 million yuan and suspended PwC's operations in China for six months. 

The MOF and the CSRC vowed to enhance regulatory supervision and ramp up crackdown on illegal activities to ensure stable market operations. 

Strengthened regulatory supervision is conducive to maintaining fairness, ensuring market order and promoting high-quality development, Cao Heping, an economist at Peking University, told the Global Times on Friday, adding that relevant efforts will also further improve the environment for businesses, including foreign companies. 

China's business environment for multinational companies is becoming increasingly optimized, which will help attract more foreign investment and promote sustainable economic development and provide a more standardized and secure environment for multinational companies to expand their businesses in China, Cao said.  

China has been continuously opening up its market for global businesses, and the Chinese market welcomes foreign businesses as long as they abide by Chinese laws and regulations, experts said.

The case against PwC will serve as an example that China regulates market entities in accordance to the law and aims to build a fair and just business environment for all types of businesses, Dong Shaopeng, a senior research fellow with the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Friday. 

Meanwhile, foreign businesses continue to flock to the Chinese market. In the first seven months of 2023, nearly 32,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China, an increase of 11.4 percent year-on-year, according to official data.   

The Paris 2024 Olympics has embraced contemporary trends by featuring a growing number of niche and emerging sports, thus infusing the Games with youthful energy. As the Paris Olympics comes to a close, the popularity of outdoor sports such as BMX, mountaineering, bouldering, and kayaking continues to rise.
According to data from Meituan, a tech-driven retail company in China, the overall search volume for "outdoor sports" has surged nearly threefold compared to last year. Since July, searches for "bouldering" have increased by 62 percent, and group-buying orders have risen by 104 percent, with consumers aged 20 to 35 becoming the primary drivers of this growth.

Yang Gen, a government official from Chongqing's Development and Reform Commission, told the Global Times that this enthusiasm is reflected in consumer spending and the development of the entire sports industrial chain.

The National Development and Reform Commission and other departments in China recently issued measures to "create new consumption scenarios and cultivate new growth points." These measures include advancing the construction of sports parks and community fitness centers, developing high-quality outdoor sports destinations, and guiding and expanding sports leisure consumption.

Blending elements

New and engaging activities with low entry barriers and strong social elements are attracting many young people.

Data from DianPing, a platform focusing on consumer lifestyles in China, reveals that this summer, at least 400 million instances of participation in outdoor sports have been recorded in China, showing a notable trend toward broader participation and lightweight activities.

At the Paris Olympics, Chinese freestyle BMX rider Deng Yawen won the gold medal in her sport's debut. This victory has generated significant interest among the younger generation in BMX, a sport known for its visual appeal and fashion elements.

A customer service representative from a BMX club in South China's Guangdong recently shared that their summer enrollment has been excellent, with courses filling up within two weeks of opening. The club is expanding their biking park with new tracks.

"Outdoor sports blend various elements of sports, leisure, entertainment, ecology, and culture, effectively meeting the diverse needs for slow living, experiential, and personalized activities," Yang noted.

The new measures also include encouraging the organization of rural sports with agricultural themes and promoting activities such as "sports events in scenic areas, street districts, and business circles," "event-oriented travel," and "vibrant outdoor sports" to boost consumption.

"In response to national calls, we continue to offer international marathon events to provide diverse and personalized experiences. This marathon will be one of many upcoming outdoor projects aimed at bringing health and joy to the public," Zhi Luxun, General Manager of China International Trade Center, the initiator of Beijing International Marathon events, told the Global Times.

Surfing's inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and its continued presence in Paris 2024 highlight the Olympics' support for emerging sports, significantly boosting surfing's global visibility and interest.

In many coastal cities, tourists have embraced new marine activities, grabbing surfboards and hitting the waves, transitioning from merely "watching the sea" to "playing in the sea" and enjoying the unique charm of this sport.

"The leisure and social attributes of outdoor sports greatly enhance their popularity. From the data, outdoor sports will exhibit trends of diversification and personalization in the coming years," Yang said.
Supporting facilities

Camping is a major highlight in outdoor sports. Some regions are enhancing camping base facilities and offering a variety of outdoor sports activities, including mountaineering, hiking, racing, and equestrian sports around the campsites, to improve the consumer experience.

According to Meituan and DianPing, the transaction volume for leisure camping-related categories on their platforms has increased nearly threefold, with keywords like "camping base" and "outdoor camping barbecue" becoming popular.

In the Tengger Desert of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, thousands of tents are scattered across the sand, within well-planned and fully equipped desert campsites. These sites offer various activities such as desert off-roading and sandboarding, and young people can relax and enjoy stargazing with friends after their adventures.

"When engaging in outdoor activities, it is better to avoid exercising during the hottest hours of the day, as UV rays are particularly strong at this time and can cause skin burns and even retinal damage," Luo Chaofan, a rehabilitation therapist at the National Health Commission told the Global Times.

Luo reminded that due to high summer temperatures, outdoor exercise causes the body to lose water very fast, thus it is usually recommended to replenish electrolytes and sugar with some sports drinks before and during exercise. "Sudden and extreme weather is prone to occur in these months. When you are outdoors, once the weather changes suddenly, you should stay away from ravines and steep slopes as soon as possible and go to open areas to prevent uncontrollable risks such as thunder, landslides, and falling rocks," Luo added.

Once a niche pursuit, marathons now have a vast and enthusiastic following, uniting amateur and elite athletes in a celebration of endurance and community. In 2024, the Chinese marathon scene has been making headlines with record-breaking performances and a growing wave of participation. From the energetic streets of the nation's capital city Beijing to the scenic canals of Changzhou in East China's Jiangsu Province, these races are positioning China as a burgeoning hub for one of the world's most challenging yet fulfilling sports.

This year, He Jie completed the Wuxi Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 57 seconds, setting a new national record. Wu Xiangdong achieved a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, and 34 seconds in the Paris Olympic marathon, marking the best performance by a Chinese male athlete in an Olympic marathon. 

In recent years, mass sports in China have developed rapidly, with fitness for all becoming a national strategy. Policies such as the "Healthy China 2030" blueprint have been introduced. As one of many popular fitness activities, marathons have garnered widespread enthusiasm from the public.

According to the 2023 Blue Book of China Road Running Events released by the Chinese Athletics Association on March 22, a total of 699 road running events were held nationwide in 2023, with over 6 million participants. Over 2.5 million people nationwide have now completed either a half or full marathon. 

Unlike many other sports, marathons hosted in different cities across China offer a unique experience where amateurs and professionals can compete side by side. The growing popularity of marathons provides exciting new opportunities for Chinese athletes and cities alike. Marathons breathe new life into cities by promoting tourism and boosting local economies. 

These events have become powerful tools for city branding and promotion, often integrating local landmarks and culture into their routes. For example, in a marathon held this year in Changzhou, the course incorporated ancient and modern attractions, as well as the history and culture of the Grand Canal. In addition to city marathons, some Chinese cities are actively bidding to host international marathon events. 

The future of Chinese marathons lies in fostering inclusivity, maintaining high standards for public events, and continuing to integrate the sport with the unique character of each city. 

With this momentum, China is poised to become a rising star in the marathon world, inspiring millions to lace up their shoes and run toward a healthier, more active future.

Chinese mainland Olympians who have accomplished historic sporting achievements at the Paris Olympic Games are set to visit Hong Kong and Macao Thursday through Monday, allowing local residents to share in the honor and joy while inspiring national pride and patriotism.

A total of 65 Chinese Olympians, including 59 gold medalists from the Paris Games, will take part in a series of exchange activities and demonstrate their skills to the public, according to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government. 

The Chinese national team finished second in the overall medal table with 40 golds, 27 silvers and 24 bronzes, achieving its best ever results at an overseas Olympics. Swimmer Pan Zhanle, who won two golds in Paris and broke the world record in the men's 100m freestyle, said that the visit is a great opportunity for exchanges. 

It's been a tradition for the mainland delegation to visit Hong Kong and ­Macao after an Olympic Games. The delegation's first visit to Hong Kong dates back to the Seoul 1988 Olympics.

The visits foster a sense of national pride and unity, reinforcing the bonds between the mainland and its special administrative regions, Liu Yu, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times. 

It provides an opportunity for residents of Hong Kong and Macao to celebrate and share in the success of the athletes, enhancing local enthusiasm for sports and national pride. It also allows athletes to engage with the public directly, fostering a sense of connection and community, Liu noted. 

The delegation, which includes table tennis legend Ma Long and diving star Quan Hongchan, will attend a gala show, visit the Hong Kong Sports Institute and give sports demonstrations at Queen Elizabeth Stadium and the Victoria Park Swimming Pool. Over 5,000 tickets for the public events sold out in about half an hour last week. 

A survey revealed that over 80 percent of Hong Kong residents feel proud of the performance of both the mainland and the Hong Kong delegations in Paris.

US technology company International Business Machines Corp (IBM) reportedly cut off intranet access for Chinese employees in research and development (R&D) and testing positions without prior notice, news media outlet jiemian.com reported on Saturday citing sources. 

A lab technician confirmed that the employees were working regular hours with no warning or "signals" before the access was shut down, and at the time a number of technological staff workers were still working overtime.

The Chinese employees have been removed from product groups on communication software and cannot log into the company intranet via VPN, though email remains accessible, according to the jiemian.com report.

The Global Times sought a comment from IBM China, but received no reply as of press time.

During an AI-themed forum held by IBM on Thursday in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, Hans Dekkers, general manager of IBM Asia Pacific region, said that the company has been operating in the Chinese market for four decades, where it has built up valuable experience, talent, and trust. An article on IBM's official website stated the company's commitment to further exploring opportunities in China as it moves into the AI era.

Chen Xudong, chairman and general manager of IBM Great China Group, said at the forum that they would continue to focus on tapping into key major clients, breaking into new markets, and expanding channels in China to help Chinese firms bridge the generative AI process from experimentation to large-scale application.

According to IBM's earnings report for the second quarter 2024, its business revenue hit $15.8 billion during the period with a year-on-year increase of 2 percent. Software revenue rose by 7 percent, while consulting revenue fell by 1 percent. 

China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Friday disclosed a case involving overseas intelligence agencies attempting to recruit Chinese youths, and the authorities reminded the public to be vigilant of individuals who may be disguised as “kind-hearted” persons around teenagers.

These individuals from overseas intelligence agencies often disguise themselves as "enthusiastic,” or "considerate” around teenagers, subtly influencing teenager targets, attempting to achieve their own purposes and steal state secrets, endangering national security, said the MSS.

In the case disclosed by the MSS, Xiaowei was an orphan from the mountains in the south of China, who performed well in both academics and character. “Teacher L” appeared after Xiaowei achieved the highest score in the county and entered the best high school in the area, offering to sponsor him.

The so-called teacher promised to provide Xiaowei with financial support until he graduates from university. 

Despite moving abroad, the so-called teacher would occasionally call Xiaowei and ask him to take part in the public servant exams and assign him tasks such as field surveys and social information gathering for extra pay. Xiaowei saw it as an opportunity to earn money while studying and continued to complete the tasks as requested, according to the ministry.

After graduating from university, Xiaowei passed the public servant exams and got his job. He shared the good news with “Teacher L,” who started asking for sensitive information under the guise of research and report writing. 

Xiaowei initially provided some public data out of gratitude. But “Teacher L” requested more sensitive information, including classified documents, Xiaowei became suspicious and refused the request. Eventually Xiaowei decided to report “Teacher L” to the national security authorities.

After investigation, "Teacher L" was found to be an overseas spy who targeted talented individuals from poor backgrounds like Xiaowei, encouraging them to pursue careers in government agencies, research institutes, or the military to gather sensitive information and engage in espionage activities detrimental to national security, according to the ministry.

China’s Counter-Espionage Law stipulates that all citizens and organizations discovering acts of espionage shall promptly report them to the state security organs. 

While Chinese couriers rush to deliver the packages after the June 18 mid-year shopping festival, one from Beijing has also set his sights on the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Luan Yushuai is one of the Chinese runners who have qualified for the Mass Participation Marathon, a first in Olympic history, which allows the public to run in two races on the same course as the Olympic marathon.

"For an ordinary person to participate in the Olympics, it is something unimaginable. I feel that this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, so I will definitely prepare well and strive to achieve my best in Paris," Luan told the Global Times during a recent interview.

A total of 40,048 runners from around the world will participate in the two historic races.

The first covers the marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers while the other is a 10-kilometer run.

Each will feature 20,024 participants. Both will be gender-equal races, with the same number of berths allocated to women as to men.

The lucky draw

With over 800,000 people worldwide reportedly eyeing a spot for the race, winning a berth is no easy task.

According to the scoring system released by the organizing committee, eligible applicants needed to accumulate 100,000 points by the end of 2023 to be able to participate in a draw that would award berths to the lucky few. Entrants are required to take part in running, walking, or cycling to earn the points.

Although the 39-year-old felt the odds were slim, he still wanted to give it his all. After registering, he trained hard while amassing the requisite points.

The Mass Participation event, which will take place on August 10, will depart from the Hôtel de Ville in central Paris, taking runners through the city's iconic landmarks and monuments to Versailles, before returning to the capital and crossing the finish line on the Esplanade des Invalides. The route alternates between urban landscapes, parks, and woodland.

Recalling the moment when he was selected, Luan said that it was on New Year's Eve 2023 when he had brought his parents from their hometown to Beijing for a family reunion dinner.

"Suddenly, I received an English message on my phone. I quickly translated it online and found my name on it, saying 'Congratulations, you have won the lucky draw.' I was so excited that I shouted out loud," he said.
A fast runner

Being a versatile young man, marathon amateur Luan had tried several different professions like a waitering and a construction worker before finally landing on his current career as a deliveryman. This profession became a deciding factor in Luan's marathon career.

He told the Global Times that at the very beginning of his career in 2015, he was given tasks to deliver parcels for people who live in old residential areas. In Beijing, old communities are often not equipped with ­elevators, so, climbing stairs has become Luan's daily routine.

"I run fast and I am hardworking. I was one of the swiftest kids when I was at school, and now I am one of the swiftest deliverymen," Luan remarked. He also said that he can deliver 10 more parcels than other staffers daily, and once he delivered a record 600 parcels per day.

The young man's diligence and talent were soon discovered by his company, which later selected him as a representative to participate in the 2017 Beijing Marathon.

Although he finished the whole competition repertoire with an average record of over 4 hours, his running ­experience was like a seed ­being planted in his heart. He said that despite the failure, the marathon itself has given him the confidence.

"I have never run a marathon before, so my first experience was extremely exhausting and ­uncomfortable. But I gritted my teeth and ­persevered to the finish line," Luan noted.

A shared inspiration

Luan's 2017 experience ignited his aspiration for marathon running. He said that to date, he has participated in many marathons. His personal best was accomplished at the 2020 ­Nanjing Marathon, where he finished the race in 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 55 seconds. It has never been an easy journey for Luan to improve his best time from 4 hours to 2 hours.

His self-­training schedule has been strict. In the daytime, he discharges his duties as a deliveryman and he can only pursue his marathon passion after work. He usually runs about 400 kilometers per month and normally takes one day off every week. Maintaining such a training course was "difficult," he said.

Some of his colleagues even said he was "foolish," yet those words never dampened Luan's passion for the sport. In order to boost the strength of his muscles, Luan tied sandbags to both of his legs for two years.

His marathon story is now a source of inspiration to the public. He said that the marathon has made him feel powerful, especially after his stories were shared with school children.

"I was quite shocked, because I never imagined my stories could bring such positive energy to others. The fact that many people were motivated by me has touched me too. I will keep running to inspire more people," Luan said.

"In fact, it's not so much about how fast I can run, but rather that I stand on the Olympic marathon track as a Chinese courier," he said.

During a series of meetings of foreign ministers of Southeast and East Asian countries in Vientiane, Laos, over the past few days, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated China's consistent stance on the South China Sea issue. Judging from the latest joint communique issued by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which emphasizes the importance of peace and stability in the South China Sea, the differences among ASEAN countries are gradually narrowing, and consensus is gradually expanding, experts said, noting that this is particularly evident in the shared belief that the situation should not be allowed to escalate in a way that would affect regional security and relations with China.

China also sent strong signals to the US regarding the South China Sea issue and the Indo-Pacific Strategy, urging it to stop inciting trouble, causing disturbances, and undermining maritime stability. The US-led Indo-Pacific Strategy exacerbates security dilemmas and runs counter to the long-term vision of peace and prosperity in the region.

Some experts believe the US intends to provoke a proxy war and incite a new Cold War in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in the South China Sea. ASEAN countries should resist actions that disrupt regional peace and provoke bloc confrontations to ensure peace and stability in the region.

Solemn stance

There is a full historical and legal basis for China to uphold territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, Wang said in elaborating on China's solemn stance on the South China Sea issue on Saturday.

With a view of safeguarding neighborhood friendliness and regional cooperation, China signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) with ASEAN countries and has consistently and effectively implemented it, Wang said, adding that China insists on managing differences properly through dialogue and consultation with all parties involved.

Ren'ai Jiao is China's inherent territory. The Philippines unilaterally changed the status quo by grounding its warship illegally at Ren'ai Jiao, and even attempted to build it into a permanent outpost, which severely violated Article 5 of the DOC and reneged on its commitments made to the Chinese side, the Chinese official said.

Wang also called on the Philippines to honor its commitments, not to break its promises and not to make more trouble.

In a joint communique of the 57 ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting released on Saturday, ASEAN countries reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability of the South China Sea, avoiding actions that may further complicate the situation.

"It is evident that the South China Sea issue has become a major topic at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The positions of various parties, which were previously quite divergent, are now increasingly converging. While not completely aligned, there are emerging consensuses between the different sides," Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Chen said the consensuses mainly refer to the agreement that differences should be managed through dialogue.

On Saturday, the Philippines sent a civilian ship to deliver daily necessities to its warship grounded at Ren'ai Jiao in accordance with a provisional arrangement reached with China. The China Coast Guard (CCG) supervised the operation throughout, said Gan Yu, a spokesperson for the CCG.

China and the Philippines reached an understanding on managing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry on July 22.

"ASEAN countries have been quite concerned about the continuous escalation of frictions recently, as peace and stability are important to ASEAN. The provisional arrangement reached between China and the Philippines has allowed ASEAN to relax a bit," Ding Duo, a deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the China Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday.

The US factor behind the Philippines has always been prominent, but this time the ASEAN series of meetings have highlighted ASEAN's own unity, independence, and centrality, Ding said.

Although the South China Sea issue is indeed a significant concern for ASEAN, it is not the top priority among ASEAN's key focus areas. "ASEAN does not wish for this issue to divert the attention of member states, ASEAN, and external major powers," the expert said.

With the increasing tensions at sea, it is becoming more apparent that more ASEAN countries are realizing that handling the situation as the Philippines and Vietnam have done, particularly the Philippines, could increase their own pressure due to China's firm stance, Chen noted.

"If ASEAN were to become divided, different countries would pressure other ASEAN members, potentially changing ASEAN's stance on the issue. Now I believe the role of ASEAN in the South China Sea issue is gradually becoming more prominent again," he said.

Also, Wang met Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo on Friday during the meetings, warning the Philippine side over the deployment of a US intermediate missile system and calling on the Philippines to fulfill its commitments and refrain from changing its position on Ren'ai Jiao.

Commenting on the Philippines' resupply mission to Ren'ai Jiao on Saturday, some experts considered it as certain consensus reached by China and the Philippines. China hopes that the purpose of the dialogue is to manage differences, while the Philippines aims to continue its unilateral actions, experts said, noting that although the objectives of both sides are different, there is still room for dialogue.

"Recently, we can see that the Philippines has at least adhered to some of its commitments. However, the question remains whether it will continue to do so in the future, and I have my doubts about this," Chen said.

Due to the recent tense maritime situation, the Philippines has recognized China's resolve and significant pressure, leading it to make some compromises, Chen noted. "I believe this is not necessarily the genuine intention of the Philippine government, but rather a result of pressure from China, forcing it to accept this situation."

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting also indicates that the Philippines is currently undergoing some internal changes, but these changes will likely require further compromises among different political interest groups within the country.

Proxy war

Besides warning the Philippines side over the US intermediate missile system deployment, Wang also urged the US side not to take any more action to fan the flames, stir up trouble, or undermine maritime stability during his meeting with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Saturday.

Meanwhile, at the foreign ministers' meeting of the 31st ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Vientiane on Saturday, Wang said the US-led Indo-Pacific strategy exacerbates security dilemmas and runs counter to the vision of long-term peace and prosperity in the region.

The Chinese top diplomat also urged alert and opposition to intervention in the region by the NATO, which he said is bound to trigger confrontation and escalate tensions.

The US insists to believe that China is a country capable of and willing to challenge the "rules-based international order," with the South China Sea being a testing ground for this. Therefore, the US is unlikely to make significant adjustments in its involvement in the South China Sea issue, Ding noted.

"Currently, it hopes for chaos in the South China Sea but does not want this chaos to spiral out of control and ultimately backfire on the US. As a result, the strategy of using the South China Sea issue to sow discord and pressuring the Philippines to provoke China will continue," the expert said.

"Of course, ASEAN countries remain cautious and vigilant about this and see the situation clearly. China will not stand by in face of US' actions either," Ding added.

From January to May this year, China's total import and export of intellectual properties amounted to 180 billion yuan ($24.8 billion), a year-on-year increase of 14.1 percent. Exports of intellectual property rights (IPRs) rose 17.7 percent compared to the previous year, higher than the growth rate of imports by 4.7 percentage points, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) said on Monday.

The CNIPA noted that IPRs are a strategic resource for national development and a core element of international competitiveness. In recent years, more high-value IPRs have been emerging in China.

As of June this year, the effective volume of China's domestic invention patents has reached 4.425 million pieces, and the proportion of invention patents whose right holders are enterprises has increased to 72.8 percent, with enterprises becoming more active innovators, according to the administration.

The number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 people reached 12.9, realizing the expected goal outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) ahead of schedule. The number of valid domestic registered trademarks reached 45.91 million, which is a new record high.

In terms of utilization, intellectual property has effectively empowered economic innovation and development. In the first half of this year, the number of patent transfer licenses by universities and research institutions increased by 22.2 percent year-on-year.

The value added of patent-intensive industries reached 15.3 trillion yuan, with the share of the annual GDP increasing to 12.7 percent.

Moreover, the number of foreign IPR applications and authorizations and validity in China, have all increased rapidly. 

As of June this year, the number of valid foreign invention patents reached 919,000, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.9 percent, and the number of valid registered trademarks in China totaled 2.13 million, up 3.8 percent. 

Data revealed that foreign enterprises attach great importance to the Chinese market and have full confidence in the country's intellectual property protection framework, according to the administration.

The CNIPA said that it will continue to improve the level of intellectual property protection, deepen international cooperation on intellectual property and follow the high-standard international economic and trade rules, in a bid to allow foreign-funded enterprises to better share the dividends of China's development and its mega market.